FEEL BAD FOR ME

Because basically I don't get to see

 

this man:










all weekend.

Boo.



Also consider that this is the third week in a row, and it will also happen again over Valentines weekend. Double boo.This is on account of the fact that we are both musicians and "get to" perform.  I guess the life of a musician means you'll never have a friday/saturday night to yourself.



We used to be in the same orchestra, but that was back in the good ol' days when I would sneakily glance at The Cute Trumpet Player-- as he emptied his spit valve on the floor... (I know. Gross. THAT is why I play a string instrument)  He didn't even know that I existed.  So, time has passed and he stayed in the philharmonic and I moved on to the Orchestra at Temple Square.  Let's just say that many a time we have been 50+ miles apart, but both on stage performing at the same time.

Aww. How sweet.

And it is going to happen again this weekend.


But hey--I'll be in warm St. George while he is stuck in frigid Provo. 




Who wins on THAT one? 

UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY

Do you remember that feeling you felt when you took one quick, timid hop across The Line while playing capture the flag in grade school?

The surge of adrenaline

The terror that you might be tagged

The sheer thrill of rescuing from jail 

      or dodging opponents' outstretched fingers

And if you're me--

      the skittish scurry back to your side for safety

Oh, the glorious playground days.


I had very similar feelings this weekend in Ute Land at:
The Pie (π) Pizzeria
{Way cool. I know. SO fitting for my blog.}


I had two very contradictory feelings while eating here, since it is basically a culinary rite of passage for any true Ute.  Therefore:

1. I felt like a real, cool college student
2. I felt like a squeaky clean Cougar

I mean, there were beer logos all over the walls! Ah! My eyes!
Just kidding.

See this expression? What a beautiful mix of  the emotions
described above.  I just couldn't comprehend that I could actually buy
a coke WITH CAFFEINE.

I hope you hear the sarcasm dripping from my voice. 

Anyways. I had this supergood pizza called The Greek (appropriate, I know) with gyro meat, tzatziki sauce, feta cheese, dash of lemon etc. Wowzers.

I wish I could take more appetizing pictures. My bad. 

And speaking of feeling a bit out of place...I was in the audience for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas Concert. That was a bit weird.  I even sang along to some of the songs.

(A picture of two stressed individuals after ticket, parking,
waiting-in-line, and seating ordeals.)

Oh and one last "unfamiliar territory":

I got bored waiting for the concert to start...
these are my vintage oxford shoes.

This is the only picture I have of this moment, but I went to a baptist church to listen to the Boy Next Door perform Handel's Messiah. He had a marvelous trumpet solo on The Trumpet Shall Sound.  The entire chapel was filled with his majestic melody.  Nothin' like a trumpet to proclaim tidings of good joy, in my opinion. A-maz-ing.

He was still in his tux when we went to get pizza.  OK. Maybe we do dress up to go out to eat.

A good weekend in the city, if I do say so myself. Later days!

THE SITUATION OF MY SOUL

So, approximately 4 years ago I sold my soul--

to my orchestra teacher, Sam:

Let me define....

If you sell your soul to Sam 

you enter in a promise

of participation in 2 renowned orchestras

 6:30 a.m. rehearsals

{never late}

performances every month

and high standards 

of professionalism.

For instance, I didn't sit with my class at graduation.

I sat in the orchestra.

Dedication? Oh it is more that just that.

                                      We are talking about my soul, remember?

Sam always played along with the joke and assured us orchestra members that we would receive our souls back upon graduation from high school.

****************

Fast forward four years.  In college, I have joined folk music groups, the Philharmonic orchestra, and  I have recently taken up membership in the Orchestra at Temple Square.  I play a variety of instruments and am spending all of my free time making music. Last time I checked, I didn't get my soul back.

But I have been thinking...and I understand now.  As a naive high school sophomore, I didn't give my soul to Sam, I gave it to music.

And you know what? 

I don't think I want it back.

Thank you, Sam.

AN EPIC WEEKEND OF SORTS

So it was a crazy weekend.

I 

1. set a world record

2. crashed into a tree on a mountain bike

&

3. performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Story #1: BYU basically maneuvered its way into the Guinness Book of World Records by having the largest waterballoon fight.  

I was fully a part of this...

Me, Halie, Karen, and Jordan SOAKING WET

I have never seen so many water balloons in the air at one time. INSANE!!

Story #2: Basically, Jordan's family went mountain biking on a somewhat intermediate to advanced trail. His dad thought I could do it, so did his brothers. I didn't believe them, to tell the truth. Then Jordan stood there with his hands on his hips, smiling at me, with those melt-your-heart-chocolate-brown-eyes just sparkling and told me I would be just fine.

My reaction to his cute persuasion tactic: "Why of course I will go mountain biking with you, Jordan! I would love to ruin my shoulder and get dirt-road rash on my elbows! As long as I am doing it with you!"

{Ok, I didn't really say that, but that was practically my irrational train of thought.}

Story #3: Yes, it was my first broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word with the Orchestra at Temple Square.  We accompanied MoTab and Igor Gruppman on his violin.  I don't have a picture of this, I am sorry.  Just imagine beautiful music :)  

It was a dream come true.  [And yes, I did play with a screwed up shoulder.] Don't worry, Jordan brought me ibuprofen which he handed off to me in the underground parking lot of the Conference Center.  We looked like drug dealers.

"I CAN HAVE IT ALL!!"

Ok, I have some big dreams for the next seven years that don't quite fit into my budget or my time table. You ready for this? (One of my greatest joys in life is creating lists and organizing things into perfect time slots...oh so fulfilling...)

1. Graduate from BYU's Mechanical Engineering program ( April 2013)

2. Serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (CLICK HERE)
(February 2012)

3. Participate in a humanitarian group called Engineers for International Development (CLICK HERE) and travel to a 3rd world country to implement the product that we would design. (April 2012)

4. Study Abroad during spring/summer semester (April 2011)

5. Get a summer internship with some airplaine company...like Boeing...or Lockheed Martin. Maybe Northrop Grumman. (Summer 2012)

6.Get married (??)

7. Maybe work one or two years in industry at one of the above mentioned companies

8. Participate in the Orchestra at Temple Square(In the process of auditioning...)

I want you to notice that THREE of my goals would theoretically be occurring the summer after my junior year. Simultaneously. Dang. (mission, internship, EID)

Also consider that a mission and study abroad would probably cost me $15,000 if I did them both...And if I truly want to graduate from BYU in April of 2013 then if I take a year and a half off for a mission it will set me off to December of 2014.

And then... WHAT IF I GET HITCHED? Just to make things a little more complicated all around....That means that study abroad, mission, and possibly the internship wouldn't be possible.

Do you see my dilemma?

When I get frustrated I just remember what my roommate Victoria had hanging on her wall: A picture of Liz Lemon devouring a sandwich and exclaiming " I can have it ALL!"




{In the “Sandwich Day” episode from the second season of 30 Rock, protagonist Liz Lemon hopes to reconcile with her ex-boyfriend Floyd at the airport, who is leaving New York City to head back to Cleveland. Stopped by security, Lemon must choose between him and her sandwich, which she can’t take with her to the gate. Refusing to compromise, she yells “I can have it all!” and promptly devours her delicious sub before running through security.}

HOLY MACKEREL

SOOOOO I had a funny experience today....

You see, I am in the process of auditioning for the Orchestra at Temple Square. You have probably heard them because the orchestra frequently accompanies the Mormon Tabernacle Choir-directed by Mack Wilberg, and organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints. (CLICK HERE)

Background: I play the viola. No one hears the violas. We are smack dab in the middle of the orchestra and provide alto harmonies that gently hum underneath the soaring melodies of the ensemble. We are a bit under appreciated, and many people cannot tell us apart from a violin. We are constantly the butt of orchestra jokes, but everyone knows that if our section was nixed, there would be a gaping wound.

At least that is what we tell ourselves.

But that is ok with me. This means I can get away with a wrong sound here and there and not worry about tricky notes. Less stress in the back of the viola section-you know what I mean?

So back to my story....
I received an email from the audition coordinator that went something like this...

"Could you audition a week later than scheduled? I spoke with Mack Wilberg and he is unavailable on the date you listed...."

Uh....of course. Mack Wilberg. Yes, um...how silly of me. A week later will be no problem at all.

holy mackerel. (pun intended)

Mack Wilberg. THE conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Top Dog, Commander in Chief, Team Captain. Last time I checked, I was auditioning for the orchestra, and for a benchwarmer position on an insignificant instrument, none the less.

Wowzers. This will not be helping my nerves one bit. I already have to play six orchestra excerpts, a concerto, a piece by Bach, my favorite hymn, and some on-the-spot-sight reading. ( Do they want my firstborn child as well?)
I jest, but I am exited. Nervous, yet excited. Pray for me, I will need all the help I can get.

And remember to tune in at 9:30 every sunday for Music and the Spoken Word. :)