Well, I just read all your posts... Um we have had quite the whirlwind in our family. I was so happy to read your blog posts!!! So I thought I better put one up too. I'm FINALLY back in Rexburg. I had to yell that because our car broke down on the way. And it is no more. I'm pretty disappointed. It threw a rod I think? I can't remember what it was exactly but basically it would have cost a minimum of 850 dollars to fix. Literally every fluid in the car was spewing out the muffler. Honestly I had a premonition about it. You guys get those too right? Like you know when something is going to happen and you know you won't be able to do anything about it. I'm never sure if it's the Holy Ghost or the great Irish granny's second sight... maybe both haha!
Anyways, Alex was driving and it just stopped going and we pulled over. Alex looked under the hood, Britta called the local bishop and I sat in the front seat feeling like I might just go die in that field, because this is the second time this happened to me this summer. But a really nice man in the ward came in literally the biggest Ford excursion I've EVER seen. It was lifted and I had to literally jump and climb to get in it. He towed us into town, which would have cost us a million dollars, and called all the mechanics which were all full until WEDNESDAY!!! And he brought us home to his house. We then called around for salvage yards, and looked for a rental car. He drove us to pick up a rental car, offered us 200 dollars for the car, let us have dinner with there family (which was crazy because they had 7 KIDS!!!!), Bought us all ice cream sandwiches and let us sleep at their house. It was so sad and I'm so disappointed but we were so blessed.
But eventually we got here. Sorry for my crazy writing... I have none flow haha! I think its because I'm such a slow typer. But I'm now in Rexburg. Nervously about to start my last semester of college.
I loved hearing about your weeks through the blog!! Keep writing and I'll try to too. I love you guys and I pray for you every day!
Love, Mia
I woke up like this! (No, really bahaha, It's Sunday morning and church isnt till noon fifteen :( )
Hey Family!
We're totally lazy on the posting... I get intimidated by Mom's awesome pictures. I will never have awesome pictures... But! I kind of do have one today! I have a LOT of good things happen in grad school but it really has felt like this: https://www.instagram.com/p/BI9iS9lh4db/
Stress has been an underlying problem. Am I doing this right? Am I supposed to already know this? Am I supposed to be more prepared? Did I miss something? Did I procrastinate something? Do I smell weird? (Hey! It's really hot out AND humid.) Does that person like me? Am I good enough? Am I accurate enough? Am I cool enough? (You'd think that that question leaves as you get older, but it really doesn't unfortunately.) Where is that?... Where is that with exact instructions for a nincompoop? How much should I practice? How long can I sleep in today? What is your problem Smokey?! How much is that? Why won't my car start? Does she think I don't know anything? Am I doing the right thing?
These have been some of the most prevalent questions in my head since I moved here. Also, the stress has manifested itself in the form of horrific, prolonged acne. Thanks face.
But my vocal coach is also my accompanist and she is a kindred spirit. And everyone in my opera studio is really wonderful and kind on top of being good musicians, but a couple of them are really kindred spirits too. It's funny how pursuing such an emotional roller coaster of a career can really help you connect with the people around you- the people who have had to overcome their own mountain climb to get to where they are. That's been a really sweet experience in our teeny brand new friendships. And I've never been around so many people who know so much about opera. I'm learning a lot just by spending time with them. Eileen (my vocal coach) said to me today that I'm this amazing blank canvas just waiting for someone to tell me how to be great and I really feel that way. Someone point me in the right direction and I'll work my butt off to figure it out. She has told me what an amazing instrument I have and that gives me hope that maybe I could actually do this.
I'm playing Minerva in "Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria." That whole thing is the name... Monteverdi is hard tonally, rhythmically, wordly... what's a better word for that? Because it's one of the first operas ever created, the rules aren't really there yet. It feels a bit like a free for all in fancy Italian. Even the professors have said we're learning it together... so it's an adventure. Haha!
Performance Techniques is one of my classes and it's an acting class for singers. The stage director for Ulisse is the teacher. He's an amazing director according to everyone and an amazing actor. I have a goal of making emotional choices and then sticking with them through bigger physical actions to convey to a larger audience what I'm doing and we explore a lot of things with animal movement and quick emotional changes. We've also talked about how important breathing is in acting not just singing, young artist programs, and how to budget as a performing artist. It's real-life training for a job. He is so cool. He's made decisions about who he wants to be and then he does it. I want to be able to do that in my acting and my life. And I do to an extent, but I'm little wishy-washy sometimes.
I have never had to memorize so many things at once in my entire life. There's no slacking on practice. I have lesson songs and arias, the opera, Knoxville opera, 2 monologues and an aria for perf tech, ornamentation for Oratorio, songs for an opera benefit, and anything I might need for an Oratorio test a little later. I had to make a chart to keep track of it. Eileen showed me hers. And I copied it.
Speaking of KO, Gilbert and Sullivan are two of the funniest men to ever grace the earth with their presence. I laugh at every. single. rehearsal. They are genius and it is so fun to explore the comedy and humanity in every song. And I'm getting paid (a little) to do it! I can't even believe that.
I've cried a LOT since I got here. But I come home most days feeling really fulfilled or at least ready to be better the next day. And if I have crappy days, I have these new friends who know what I'm feeling and will support me in picking myself up and trying again. In the next couple weeks, the pressure will really start. I guess we'll see what happens then.
Oh! Kerry found a job! As a installer of the lift things in dealerships and mechanic shops. It's $15 an hour. It's not full time, but he can take his extra time to find other maintenance jobs or he's been thinking about taking the A+ test for computer repair stuff. He's doing pretty good. Kitties have gotten used to being inside, but holy cow they're needy if we leave. I get yelled at soundly by Smokey every day and I have to hold him for at least 5 minutes before he feels good again. Baby cat anyone?
You're welcome for the novel. Ha...ha... I guess I should write more often. Look what you started Mandy.
Oh hey, I was the last one to blog...awkward...basically my family is super lazy. That is what I'm gathering at least...
SO I survived my first week! Here's how it went down:
Auditions-horrible
Orchestra-short (I only played in one piece)
Band-Super boring, but ok. Just easy music
Lesson- It was horrible, I cried, I was embarrassed.
First actual class-Boring, I swear, the prof has never taught a class in his life. He literaly scripted everything he was going to say (including transitions, corny jokes, and asides) and read from his paper. I thought I was going to die. 3 hours of this folks.
Horn class and ensemble-Good! Even though it's new people, and new place, and new teacher, the feel was very similar and that made me happy.
So there were a lot of unhappy times, there were some good ones too. Like Thursday after that super boring class, I practice for a long time and it was a really good practice. Also horn ensemble, I was so happy afterwards (ha that was only like hour ago so still happy :) ) There were moments of reminders that I do actually like doing this. Playing music with other people is where it's at. Solo stuff is the worst.
It's the weekend though :) and that is so happy. So an awkward thing happened today. I was talking to another horn player. And he put his hand on me. It was clearly a planned move. I was so uncomfortable. He does not have the moves. He is the classic horn player personality (if that means anything to you) Basically a big nope! He offered to drive me home after class, but I couldn't do it. Such awkward very wow!
I saw more deer a few days ago, that was cool.
I had other things to say, but I can't remember now that I'm writing everything down. So, I guess I'll leave with, I think things are going to be ok. There were a lot of tears this week, but it got better.
Oh yeah! Everyone here has been so nice to me. One day I was crying outside the music building and this guy came up to me and was like "are you ok? I saw you crying, just want to make sure you're ok" and gave me some Kleenex. It was so nice. And one time I was waiting for the shuttle, and it kept not coming and not coming and I was getting frustrated and didn't know what to do (I mean, I could have walked home, but it was sooooooooo hot!) One bus stopped (it was out of service, so just dropping people, not picking anyone up. ) I asked the bus driver if this bus would take me to the right place (I hadn't realized it was out of service) He said it was out of service, but then he asked me where I was going, I told him, and he let me on, and specifically dropped me off. It was so nice. So things have been good.
K, Bye, have a good week.
Song of the day: I love this whole album. (why yes, that is P!nk you hear!!!)
So I think starting up the blog again is a great idea and doing our own days is good too. I know that means that my day was yesterday, but Mia is driving all day today, so I'm sure she won't mind if I steal her day this week.
So...I moved to New Jersey. It's been weird and exciting. My first day I ate this bagel. It was probably the best bagel of my life. And they 100% did not skimp on the cream cheese.
Then Mia and Alex helped me move in all my stuff. It was super easy, even though I was super worried. Because I didn't turn in my immunizations. But it didn't matter!
Remember those immunizations? I got some last minute ones. Tetanus and meningitis. Basically the worst. Here are some pictures of the bruise I received from meningitis. The Tetanus didn't bruise but I have a huge red hot welt the size of my fist on my arm. Sorry, no pictures.
Yikes! AMIRITE?
Anyway, I got all most of my things put away, and in a home. Here are some pictures of my room:
It's really small, but it's pretty cute, and it's my own space. So that's all that really matters.
Today I decided I would study my theory stuff. To do that I wanted to print some things off because I do better with real paper. Lucky me, I have a printer! I thought it was all set up, only to discover, it wasn't. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. I searched the printer brand website, I scoured printer forums, I even ventured onto Ask! yahoo. I attempted to set it up, but everything ended in failure. I went at this for 2 1/2 hours. I ate a bowl of cereal in the middle of it all-hoping that maybe a full stomach would help me think better. Then I had a thought! I looked up the owner's manual :) there it was, the solution in plain sight. Why did not websites or forum answers point me to the manual, I don't know, but once I found the manual, the printer was set up and ready to go in 2 minutes! At one point during all of this, I almost threw my computer and printer out the window. I live on the 5th floor though, so I restrained myself.
After figuring out all of this nonsense, and eating a super late lunch, I went to go practice. I live 1.5 miles from the music building, so it's a long walk. But that just means that I can hatch so many eggs on Pokemon Go! So I opened the app and walked down.
Once I got to the music building I got my horn out. I was the only one on that floor practicing (the building has 5 floors, 3 are just practice rooms and offices) It was nice but for some reason, I wasn't playing well. I was shaky and had a thin sound. I stopped myself. Took many deep breaths (man, taco breathing has saved me! Thanks Emma!) And I told myself that I DESERVE TO BE HERE! Dang it all! I didn't come here to compete with anyone, I didn't come here to be a mediocre player. I came to learn to be an astounding player. I came to compete with myself. And I auditioned and got in, and I deserve to be here, I deserve the best and nothing less.
After I had the serious conversation (yelling match?) with myself, I played much better. I played until I got tired and decided to walk home. I decided to go the long way to see if I could get any decent pokemon/stop and pokestops.
Also I took the long way to see if I could find a vending machine in any of the buildings. Because let me tell you, the water here is SO GROSS!!!! It smells and tastes like lake water. I'm not kidding. I asked my roommate if she thought it was gross, and she looked at me like I was crazy...but to be fair, she is from New Jersey, and not that far away...
Anyway, because the water is so gross, I haven't been drinking as much as I should. I was hoping to find a vending machine to buy a bottle of water. I wandered in and out of buildings, looking for something. And guess what I found? Nothing.
I went into the education building so find something, and I ran into the custodian. As I aimlessly wandered by her, she asked me in her black sassy city voice, "Are you lost?" I didn't know what to say. I said yes. I said I was looking for a vending machine. She then told me where the best one on campus was and how to get there. I was so grateful! So I moseyed over to the business building where she told me it was. I found it, I was so happy.
Then I walked home the rest of the way. I still had Pokemon open, to hatch eggs, catch Pokemon, ya know...when suddenly something brown and fast ran across the sidewalk right in front of me! Seriously, if they had been moving any slower, I would have ran into it. I looked up from my phone to see two deer!!!!!! It was crazy! By the time I shut down Pokemon and opened up my camera they were pretty far away-but i got these really bad pictures. You can see them sorta...
It's pretty crazy that I saw to deer! At least to me. I mean there are a ton of trees and forest-y areas around, but I'm so close to the city. Anyway, I was excited. There was a girl and who looked at me like I was crazy, but what are you gonna do?
I start school on Tuesday, which is also when I have my auditions. So wish me luck. I'm nervous, but mostly excited. It's going to be great.
