Revenge Has Never Been So Sweet

I absolutely love my friends! I cannot express that with enough enthusiasm!!
Today, I was the unsuspecting recipient of a long overdue revenge.

Imagine taking a break from baking to practice the flute. After running scales up and down till your mouth hurts, you sit down to a good book for a few minutes. The doorbell rings, but you don't go downstairs to see who it is. Mom will get it. A moment later, you decide you need a drink of water. As you head down the stairs, there is suddenly a person in front of you, standing on the stairs! It's one of your best friends, Hungry!! But wait. She's supposed to be in Provo at school! Oh, who cares! You shriek like all self-respecting girls do and give her a big hug! What better revenge could anyone ask for?

Alright, I suppose I should explain the revenge part. Way back in January of this year, I was supposed to leave for Russia on a certain date. I said my goodbyes to everyone and two days later found out my visa had been delayed. Instead of informing my friends that I would be around for a few more weeks, I took care to seem out of town. I hid in the house and didn't talk to anyone! Then, that Friday, I suddenly showed up at the YSA dance, surprising everyone! Thus, the need for Hungry's revenge!

I love you, Hungry! You can get me back like that any day! :D

P.S. Due to a pie crisis, I could not obtain a current picture of Hungry and myself. "Sad, but true." (Name that movie quotation!)

Scriptural Amputation

In my Institute class last week, we read Mark 9:43-48, which talks about "if thy hand offend thee, cut it off". We discussed the meaning of those verses and determined quite quickly (especially after reading the Joseph Smith Translation in the appendix) that Christ isn't telling us to literally cut off our hand. Instead, He tells us to evaluate the people around us and see if there needs to be improvement.

In the last month or so, I've been trying to accomplish this type of evaluation for my life. Now, don't worry. Anyone who reads this is in no danger of being cut from my life! However, there are a few places I could improve in. It finally hit me like a ton of bricks that the time to "cut off my hand" is now. If I don't make an effort to "cut off my hand", I will not be happy with the path I'll walk down.

I know this process won't be easy at all. It's going to take a while to adjust to the changes, but I'll be better off in the eternal spectrum. If nothing else, this process will teach me to rely on the Lord that much more. There is no way I can do this without the Lord's help and guidance. It is He who helped me recognize which hand needs to be cut off in the first place.

So, wish me luck as I start work on my "amputation"; any and all prayers are welcome!

To Flute or Not to Flute...

is never a question! When the opportunity arises, always play the flute. Although, I find I always want to practice my flute AFTER I eat a meal! Go figure.

I had my first flute lesson this afternoon. Man, it was a tiring two hours!! Usually, lessons only go for one hour, but my teacher and I were having such a good time getting started that I think we forgot that time existed! I think I'm really going to enjoy this teacher. She is a WSU graduate and has a fun personality. She's a little scatter-brained, just like me! We should get on just grand. She actually is friends with one of my former flute teachers. The music world is certainly a small one!

I'm starting preparations for an audition at USU in February. It'll be a long, hard road full of wrong notes and learning. And I do mean every word of that. With only twelve weeks to learn two pieces, I am a little concerned I won't make it. However always the optimistic one, I'll work my hardest to get there, and that hard work will not be for naught.

Taking a break from music is not a good thing. Really, taking a break from any skill for a long period of time doesn't help in the long run. I've reverted back to some old habits and sloppy aspects in my flute playing. My teacher and I determined that I open my jaw too much to focus my sound. (Normally, it is quite the opposite in flute players; they don't open enough!) So, I have to consciously think about closing my jaw as I'm playing. On top of that, my teacher has me learning another tonguing technique. I had initially learned one way with another teacher, but my current teacher is having me switch back. I guess knowing how to use both will help me in the long run.

Who knew a flutist actually has to think about their tongue position while they play?! That is the hardest part; no one can see into your mouth to analyze the tongue position. I have to describe where I feel it to my teacher, and she, in turn, has to try to help me understand where it needs to be. Crazy and exciting stuff!

Things to Look Forward To

As the time to jump into music classes again approaches, I am again reminded of all the work I will gladly need to put into these classes. I have a lot of review work to do these next two months before I jump back into Music Theory and Ear Training! Fun, fun, fun!

I was driving home from the Adult Session of Stake Conference and I heard the song So You Want to Write a Fugue? playing on the classical radio station. This is a crazy song! It reminds me of what I have to look forward to in my theory classes- all the analyzing, making sure there aren't parallel fifths or other rules broken in my harmonizing.

Enjoy!

P.S. Just ignore the subtitles! Also, click on the first video. I couldn't figure out how to get rid of the second one. I'm still learning.

Wailings of a Sore Throat

As you know, I am singing with my school's Women Ensemble this year. My throat is not used to being used so much. After each rehearsal, I come out with a tired voice. No matter if I cut out on the high notes or if I belt out all my notes, my voice is almost gone. It's a good work out for it, though, and I'm learning a lot.

For instance, cold pudding is great on a tired throat! That is about the only sure thing that will give comfort to my throat after singing. However, it isn't so friendly to the waistline! So, I need to find something better to soothe my throat after rehearsals. Water works, but it doesn't really do much long-term. Hot chocolate is good, but my tongue always ends up burned because I lack the patience to let it cool.

Well, my brain is too scattered to write another cohesive paragraph!

Extra! Extra!

Some very exciting news is hot off the press!

I have been given a scholarship to take flute lessons next term! I was shocked to learn that I got it. I didn't really think I would, but I suppose it helps that I'm currently taking classes from two of the teachers on the decision board! :)

Also, I'm switching my major back to music. Crazy, I know! Music is one of the hardest majors because of all the "unfair" credit classes (i.e. ear training for two credits when the work is at least four credits). I'll be majoring in flute performance. I'll finish my first year music classes this year and transfer to USU eventually. My education goal is to double major in Flute and English when I get to USU. We'll see if that's what really happens. Hey- I'm a young single adult and a girl; I have the right to change my mind!

Have a great day!

Vote, Vote, Vote

This is the first Presidential Election to I get to vote in. It's been quite the experience deciding on who I want to vote for. I think this is the most I've ever paid attention to politics. I had a great discussion with my friend to really help me see points of view I hadn't even thought of.

When it comes to politics, I really don't know a lot. I have opinions about certain issues, but they are few and far between. I'm really glad this friend had me explain what I think to him in our discussion. He gave me a better grasp on what my views are. He also found a website that helped me compare candidates and issues in one place without a lot of digging.

I've decided I want to take a political class next term to gain a better understanding of how the political system works in the United States.

Everyone should vote! Your opinion does matter!