Adventure Time

Hi Fam!
Guess what? They cancelled school!!!! It's a amazing! I have no idea how much it has snowed, but it's supposed to snow somewhere between 5-10 inches.  They cancelled school before it had even started snowing! It's pretty ridiculous, but I'm not complaining. So let me update you on my life the past month.

I'm doing the pit for West Side Story! I'm soo happy to be doing it, but sometimes rehearsal gets long and I want to fall asleep because it's been 3 1/2 hours and so late at night... Here are two pictures of me...the one in the right is of Rebecca and I going to rehearsal.  She is the other horn player in the show.  She is only a sophomore, but she's cool.  I like her.  Also I like that picture.  Also I really like taking selfies in that elevator. The door is a mirror, and I have a new love of selfie taking...

I don't remember when or where the picture on the left was taken, but I like it.  So I put it on here :)

 I played in a recital the first or second weekend of school.  It was for a conducting master's recital.  I was really happy to play in it.  It was fun good music and they specifically asked me to do it.  Dr. McCauley is the director of bands here and he totally has my back.  It's fantastic.  Anytime someone goes to him looking for a horn player, he sends them to me.  I am so grateful for him.  He is also the guy conducting for West Side Story, which is why I got in on that.  It's nice, because my private lessons teacher favors other other grad horn student (who drives me crazy, and also sexually harasses the other girls in the music department.  I get left alone because I have a boyfriend. Lucky me :/ ).  But Dr. McCauley favors me, and I'll take it because he has lot's of connections!  The picture below is from that recital.  It's one I post on Instagram, but I really love it.  My hair and makeup were on point!  It was also awesome, because after the recital, everyone who played went out with the tab on the guy who's recital it was.  Free appetizers all night :) Yes, I took advantage of that hardcore.  Everyone else took advantage of the fact the he was paying for their drinks, and I was just like, MOZZARELLA STICKS!

These next three pictures are showcasing my hair.  I don't think I have ever had hair this long, and if I have, it's been a looooooooooooong time.  So I spend a lot of time taking pictures of it.  Because it makes me happy.

Right before the semester started again, Mike and I went on an adventure to the city, aka NYC.  We took the train.  Mike is super NOT PHOTOGENIC.  Which is most unfortunate.  I always be trying to get a picture of us, but they always turn out bad.  The one on the left is ok, but not great.  I told him to take a silly face for the next one and we got this one.  It's horrible of me, I gotta work on my silly faces clearly, but I think it's the only time that took a picture and we intended to have it turn out that way...

                                  

So this adventure took us to Central Park and the Museum of Natural History.  Also a delicious burger place. So here are some pictures of that day.  It was super fun.

This is Central Park.

This was the museum.  I told Mike that if this guy was still
alive, I would make him my steed, and I would cover his shell
in Christmas lights.  Mike was unconvinced.

  

This is a piece of the largest meteor to ever fall on the earth.  It is like
40 tons or something (Ok, I pulled that number out of my head. truthfully
I don't remember)

Another of my Valiant Steed.

Central Park.  Mike wouldn't climb on the rocks with me because
he didn't want to get his new shoes muddy.  I can respect that,
they were brand new and beautiful, so he took pictures instead.

Here's one I took of Mike from the rock...See the mud? I can't blame him
for not wanting to ruin his shoes.

This was our burger place.  We split a milkshake.  At this point my phone
was on the fritz so that's not awesome. But it was a good milkshake.
Also, Mike and his inability to take a picture.

My burger was SOOOOOOOOO good! It had bacon, blue cheese, pickles,
and some chipotle mayo sauce stuff.  It sounds like a weird combo, but it
was one of the best burgers I've ever had.  10/10 would go again.  10/10 would
recommend.  Too bad it was some hole in the wall and I don't remember what it
was called.  It's a weird thing, but I am 100% in love with blue cheese lately.
I basically want it all the time on EVERYTHING!

 I'm super excited next time I go to the city I'm going to go three places.  First the Steinhardt Conservatory! It's like the Como Conservatory, but in Brooklyn!  And then I'm going to stop at this place called DO (dough), because, YUM!!!! And then I'm going to end the night at New York Philharmonic and listen to them play Mahler 1.  It's going to be a good day :)

That's what I have for you.  Just living life.  Most days are rote and boring, and I have to work hard all the time, but occasionally I get to do something fun. :)  

Middle School *shudders

Okay just kidding. Middle school isn't THAT bad. But sometimes I come home exasperated. Kayla's post inspired me but also bummed me out. I am such a passionate human being and one thing I'm passionate about is singing and music. And lets be honest... opera is the best kind of singing and a... (pardon me while I put on my music snob spectacles) one of the best genres of music. It's so incredible what people can do with their own tiny tiny cords and face and mouth and lungs and stuff!!!!! Middle school singing is, pretty underwhelming for me. I feel like a glorified babysitter most of the time. Although today my eighth grade choir was on fire!! When they all sing the same vowel they sound amazing!!! We were very excited. Over all my student teaching is going really well. Next week I will be half way. I am actually really loving band too, although my dislike of saxophones has grown. Of course I would never tell them that ;) There are a lot of things I really do enjoy about being a teacher. When students see me in the hallways and say "Mrs. Gruber!!!!!" It makes my whole self just feel so awesome. When they are excited to see me or we make really good progress, it makes me feel so great and like I'm making a difference. I don't know if I'll teach forever but it is a great start. I'm doing well and missing the fam! Alex and I are pretty boring. Haha, he has three part time jobs on campus and has loads of homework and I come home completely exhausted every day. We've been watching a lot of parks and rec. It's a hilarious show. We also cook delicious dinners most nights... We LOVE to cook together. I hope you're all doing well and pray for you all every day! Love you!

p.s. guess what calling I just got...

yep. Ward choir director :'D Claaaaaasic

Here's a picture of us being weird and boring.

Just a Fun Thing

Hi!

Guys, I really want to zip line.

Particularly somewhere awesome. 

Check this out! 

And the bear is pretty cute too.

http://www.usatoday.com/videos/virtual-reality/vrtually-there/2016/12/29/-adorable-encounter-grizzly-bear-vr/95922112/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=exchange

Make sure you click on the screen and then use your

 arrows to see the whole 3D thing.

Jump ahead to about 2:00 in this one and watch

a little of this one too.

Very pretty!

( ignore the people. Kind of annoying.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKIPqY7KB2A&t=58s

That's all.

Mom out

Rehearsal Nights

Hey guys!
My thoughts on Mom's post- I think one of the best things we can do is actually post on this stinking blog. I'm so. bad. at remembering it.... SO, I thought I'd tell you about my night.



Specifically, I'll tell you about a love story since we're close to Valentine's day.

Mimi lives next door to a group of artsy guys in the crappiest, coldest part of the city. She comes in one day hoping someone can light her candle since it's getting dark and she doesn't have anything. She accidently drops her room key when she meets this handsome, kind, writer named Rodolfo who happens to live right next door to her. He tries to help her. (He's cold too, since he and his roommates just burned the manuscript for his drama to stay warm.)

They realize they're perfect for each other and fall in love. They do fun things like go to town, buy bonnets, sneak out of restaurants after eating so they don't starve on Christmas Eve (they had to pay rent) and help Rodolfo's friend Marcello with his crazy love for the town star, Musetta.

But Mimi gets sick and he becomes a jerkface to hide the fear that he's going to lose her. They reconcile and tell each other how much they love each other as their friends run to sell things for medicine, but Mimi dies before then. And it's devastating. 

That's the condensed version of La Boheme. And Puccini writes some of the most passionate music in the history of the world. I was sitting in rehearsal today with lines of people doing tech notes, chorus members dispersed around the room, and I was horribly sick trying not to cough more horribly than Mimi, sitting on the dirty floor watching these two actors sing about the pain and joy that come with love for each other in various states of rehearsal costume and I was still tearing up. The gut instincts of both hurt and love and excitement and loss that come with this opera are why it's one of the most loved operas ever. It's so beautiful. I get to sit on that dirty floor and see them rehearse this. I have singers coming to my school who would later perform in rehearsal giving me advice about my career and what they've done. And I get to work with a creative genius of a stage director who has given me quite a bit of individual direction. And I'm getting paid a little to do it.

I've had a little bit of a pity party week being sick, tired, and tired of not knowing all the things I feel like I should know at my age. Not knowing what your actually doing with your life will do that... But that one moment (in Act 3 where Mimi realizes that Rodolfo is terrified) that Puccini gave me tonight was the reminder of why I'm trying to pursue one of the hardest careers in the world. To explore, express, and share the human condition is a worthy lifetime goal I think. Opera sunk in its hooks and the more I do, the more I want it. It's about love. And dang it, I love it.

We move into the theater for rehearsal on Sunday!!! YAY!!! I'll post a picture of it maybe. The Tennessee theater is BEAUTIFUL.

Listening To Each Other's Heartbeats

Hello, my Fellow Awesome Humans!.

It's been forever since I blogged. 

I have been thinking and thinking about something

for a couple of months now.

I have talked to some, maybe all of you about it,

but I would like to put my thoughts in writing so

I have a place to refer back to, and so you

can add your thoughts to the pot.

We are smarter all together, I think.

Also, this is as good a place as any to share

 some of my photos I took Saturday when

 Dad and I went to Minnehaha Falls.

It was gorgeous, by the way.

Although, so so grey!

(and there I go rhyming again)

So, what I've been thinking about is family unity.

It's something that we were known for, 

as a family,

as you all were growing up.

I taught Relief Society classes.

Dad and I talked in church.

We had many other parents ask us about

 it privately. For many reasons,we were 

a close group as you grew.

The biggest thing that I credited it to was TIME.

Time together is such a huge thing.

When you were young we didn't have internet or cell

phones (or money. Ha!) and we played together.

We read together. We went for drives together.

We explored, we sang, we talked, 

we ate, we laughed, etc.

We weren't perfect, but we did a good job, I think.

But times. They change.

You have all grown and are working on your own

 lives, and some of you, your own families.

But we are still an awesome family, 

albeit a larger one.

How do we maintain unity when we are in different 

states and busy  with such different things?

I think a big piece of that is still time. 

And I get that that is super tricky now.

But we have to KNOW each other to be connected.

To listen to "each other's heartbeats",

as it were.

Anyhoo, so I am asking you smart, grown up people:

How do we maintain that unity? 

I am really interested in your thoughts and ideas.

A couple of thoughts that I had were to

1 Have common things we all pray for, like

 specifically for family unity, or 

if we know someone is struggling,

 has a big test, is sick, etc.

 I know we do some of that already.

2 Have quarterly family fasts

3 Have some common goals?

4 I don't know. I'm reaching here.

Do you have some personal or family goals

 that you are  willing to share here?

 I would love to be  inspired and motivated.

You have always done that for me.

Do you have any ideas to promote family unity 

through our growth, change, and distance?

 (and help the newer folks feel included and part of the family)

Please share!

Guys, I like us.

I think we are pretty great.

And I like that whole forever family thing.

Seems like a good idea.

And to be honest,

I could use some bolstering.

Also, I really like being your mom.

It's pretty cool.

Sometimes our hearts get tangledAnd our souls a little off-kilterFriends and family can set us rightAnd help guide us back to the light.~Sera Christann

And a story for your enrichment:

The story is told of a young boy who visited his uncle, a lumberjack. At the lumber camp, the boy saw a massive tree standing alone on the top of a hill. He enthusiastically pointed the tree out to his uncle, saying, “Look at that big tree! It will make a lot of good lumber, won’t it?”

His uncle looked down at the boy and shook his head. “No, son, that tree will not make a lot of good lumber. It might make a lot of lumber but not a lot of good lumber. When a tree grows off by itself, too many branches grow on it. Those branches produce knots when the tree is cut into lumber. The best lumber comes from trees that grow together in groves. The trees also grow taller and straighter when they grow together.”

Drawing a lesson from this story, Elder Henry D. Taylor (1903–87) of the Seventy said, “It is so with people. We become better individuals, more useful timber when we grow together rather than alone.”

This is an article from the Ensign on

unity that I thought was nice.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2016/12/why-is-unity-important?lang=eng

Okie. I have nothing else to say, except I love you 

all and I'm proud of the

people you have grown up to be.

I clearly put an annoyingly way-too- many 

nature pictures on here.

Hehe.

So write some stuff.

And let's build each other.

Love,

Mom

 The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.  ~Thomas Jefferson