Lately

It's the end of June and I've already finished 6 credits worth of summer classes.  Summer school is totally the way to go.  Three weeks of class, no huge papers, no huge tests, low stress, and I'm completely done already!  Although my degree is in cello performance, music education is my related field. And since I am starting my last year of school, I thought I better get started with some related field classes.  :)

The first class I took was called Educating The Imagination.  For our textbook, we used Jonah Lehrer's new book called Imagine: How Creativity Works.  Let me tell you, this book is AWESOME!  I recommend it to anyone for an interesting read.  It takes a look at extremely creative people and companies, and then breaks creativity down case by case to see what each of them did to become so creatively successful: people like Yo Yo Ma, the creators of scotch tape and clear plastic wrap, Pixar, William Shakespeare, etc.  The class was hard for me to take seriously at first, cause we would do stuff like go for a walk for 30 minutes and pick up 3 things from nature.  Then we used our 3 things to create a collage.  Then we wrote hiku poems about our collages.  Then we wrote and acted out monologues based on our poems.  Then we danced and improvised music and played african drums.  It was lovely, but so much unlike any doctoral class I've ever taken.  We ended the week-long class with a creativity conference for Utah Educators.  And we submitted a weeks worth of lesson plans incorporating some aspect of creativity.  Easy Peasy.  But awesome.

The second class I took was a workshop in academic writing.  The goal of the class was to be able to successfully write academic articles and know how to submit them for publication.  We studied academic and more casual trade journals.  We discussed formal writing.  We talked a lot about grammar.  We spent hours editing each other's articles.  And then we submitted them to actual journals. So, if the stars align, I might be published someday soon!  Crazy?  Yes.  This class was so helpful.

And this past week I spent "coaching" young chamber music groups at the University of Utah's 3rd annual Chamber Music Festival.  Coaching chamber music really is the best.  If I could do that for the rest of my life and make a good living doing it, I totally would.  Anyone want to hire me?

Besides that, we have been to five wedding receptions in the past two weeks.  The Palmers, The Mathewses, The Dutsons, The Otts, and The Campbells.  I love weddings.  It has been so fun to see so many friends fall in love and get married recently.  And it significantly increases our number of married friends.  :)  We're so happy for you all!  Can't wait for the Archulettas in September and the Leonards in October!

Now that school and weddings and stuff are over, here comes the wonderfully unscheduled part of the summer.  I can't wait to organize the pantry, go running some more, play with my puppy, go camping, use our pass of all passes, and relax!

5K!

June 9, 2012

7:00 am

2nd Annual Cancer Thrasher 5k

Thanks sister Erin for running with me!  

(Also sis and bro-in-law Matt and Cassie)

We ran the entire race, even the gigantic hill

We beat our practice run time

And we remembered our Mom

On a chilly June morning, I finished a goal that I started.

I thought about thrashing cancer 

and about persevering when things get tough. 

I think I could become a runner

for health

for fun

and for the thrill of finishing!

** I think I ran a lot faster due to my new Nike Air shoes! 

H O M E

For the past 26 years of my life, home has been called...

Everettwood Drive

Snow Hall

Everettwood Drive

Merrill Hall

Garden Court 1

Garden Court 2

Yellow House

Party House on Frat Lane (For 2 weeks) 

Michigan Yellow House Studio

Michigan Yellow House Upstairs

Everettwood Drive

Donna Manor

Uncle Jeff's Basement

And now we're back to Everettwood Drive

And it feels like home.   

Summer Goal

I'm not really a runner.  I enjoy running short distances- I'm talking like a mile and a half.  And as a Michigan friend once rudely told me, I'm more of a trotter than a runner- because I'm kind of slow.  But I've always really admired people who run and enjoy running for miles and miles.  I'm inspired by people who finish marathons and triathlons and Ragnar relays.

And so I'm making a goal.  I'm going to run a 5k this summer.  Which, for a girl who can't even run 3 miles without stopping right now, is a very good place to start.  There is a "Cancer Thrasher" 5k on June 9th.  I think I'll do that one.  I have a sub-goal to run for 30 minutes 6 days a week until that day.  Because it's coming up quick.

Any friends want to run this with me?  To thrash cancer??  :)

London In Review

Day One:

We flew from Salt Lake City to Boston to London.  

It took all day.  And I mostly slept.  

And read Tina Fey's book called Bossy Pants.  

Day Two:

We got to London and immediately went on a bus tour of London's sites.

We started at Hyde Park and Saw Prince Albert Hall and The Royal College of Music.

We drank tea at the cutest little cafe

We watched the changing of the guard

And walked around a lot.

It helped the jet lag. 

We ate dinner together at a pub in Covent Gardens (on Druary Lane!)

And later that night, we had a string quartet rehearsal in our swanky London hotel room.

Day Three:

We went to a masterclass at LSO St. Lukes with Nicolaj Znaider

And spent the night in Cambridge 

where we played a concert at Great St. Mary's Church.

Later that night Brecklyn and I ate dinner at a crepe place in Cambridge

And since it was "Crepe and Pancake Tuesday" we got free drinks too.  

Day Four:

We were coached in a masterclass by an awesome musician named Ian Brown

At an awesome church called St. Pancras Church.

(The patron saint of digestion?)

We also had a backstage tour of the Royal Opera House

And spent more time in Covent Gardens.

Later that night, we drove to Kensington and had a side by side rehearsal

with the Orchestra of the Imperial College.

Day Five:

A group of us took the tube to Harrods.

High end fashion to take your breath away.

Ate lunch at their amazing cafeteria.

Went to a mid-day solo Bach cello recital

Performed by Peter Wispelwey

Attended evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral

And saw La Fille Du Regiment at the Royal Opera House

on the very back row.

It was amazing.

Day Six:

Was lame.

We took a boring tour of the Handel House Museum

And then spent a lot of time walking around trying to find a place to eat.

If you're ever in London, DO NOT eat at a place called Garfunkels. It was gross.

Then some of us took a walk along the Thames River and saw stuff like

The Globe Theater where Shakespeare performed his plays

The Millennium Bridge- (the side suspension bridge in Harry Potter 6)

London Bridge

Tower Bridge

Big Ben

The Parliament Building

and evensong at West Minster Abbey.

Then Brecklyn and I got lost and missed an awesome masterclass

At the Royal Academy of Music.

Which is DIFFERENT than the Royal College of Music. 

Day Seven:

Had a chill morning of "lying in" ... the British form of sleeping in.

And much needed practicing.  Cause I'm a geek.

Then took the bus to a small town called Chalgrove

Where we had a rehearsal

And then ate a delicious dinner at the Red Lion 

Then played an awesome concert

(where a cute old man at intermission told me that I was his favorite)

The church where we played was built in the 12th century! 

Day Eight:

Brecklyn and I took the tube to Notting Hill Gate Station

Which is right past Paddington Station

And where you can find Portobello Road

Where truly anything on earth can be sold!

Bought some souvenirs

And the strongest ginger tea of my life,

Then took the bus to another small town

This one was called Pottersbury

Where we had a rehearsal

And then were invited to tea at the Duke's estate called Wakefield

Which is like the Downton Abbey of Pottersbury

They even have their own heard of free-roaming deer.

We played our last concert that night at St. Nicolaus Church.

Which was built in the 13th c. off of an original Roman Road. 

Day Nine:

We woke up early and flew from London to Minneapolis

Then spent four hours in the Minneapolis airport before finally flying home to Salt Lake.

I spent most of my time awake

Reading Imagine by Jonah Lehrer.

Coolest textbook I've ever read.  

Thoughts After A Blah Day

If your Mom is still alive, don't take her for granted.
Hang out with her more.
If you don't write in a journal, do it!  Especially memories of good times.
Turning on good music is the best way to wake up when you don't want to.
I hope potty training kids is easier than potty training a daschund.
Just because everyone else is pregnant right now is not a good reason to get pregnant.
Also, not everyone is pregnant.
I think I like being busy better than not busy.
I hate making big decisions.
I hate red lights when I want to drive fast.
Or get home fast.
I'm glad that I chose a husband that I love being with.
Listening to recordings of myself playing the cello is kind of depressing.
Sometimes I feel like I'm not that good at it.
I applied for a 'big girl job'.
I'm trying not to get my hopes up about it.
But I can't help it.
Jason Mraz's new CD comes out today.
I'm excited for some new tunes.
I want to talk to my mom about all of these things.
Do you think dead loved ones miss us as much as we miss them?

A Weekend In Review

What a weekend was last weekend! 

Nathan's Uncle Brian is pretty rad.  He owns the most awesome gay club in Salt Lake City.  Even if you're not gay, The Jam is a rocking' place to hang out.  And he just recently bought, renovated, and reopened what used to be Club Vortex, and is now The Bay.  It's an 18 and older, alcohol free, club and it's going to be awesome!  He's really cleaned it up and done some cool things with it.  Last Friday was opening night, so we hung out at The Bay. Got the behind the scenes tour, met legendary DJ Harry Cross, enjoyed free coke, and had a good time! Go to The Bay!  It's fun.  

Saturday morning, we went over to Nathan's Mom's house and watched LDS General Conference with the fam.  We got to play with niece and nephew Brecklyn and Riley who we don't get to see very often, and we got to meet brand new baby Parker.  What a cutie! I love General Conference.  There are always at least one or two talks that are exactly what I need to hear.  This year it was President Uchdorf's talk about not gossiping, etc.  STOP IT, he says.  

Saturday afternoon we watched Conference just the two of us, at our own place, eating boneless buffalo wings from the new wings place down the street- Wing Nuts.  Gotta admit, not my favorite.  But wings are wings. Love to my husband for ordering them, choosing delicious flavors, and picking them up for us, all while I got ready for the day.  

Saturday night, we went to The Venue to see a concert that Nathan had been looking forward to for YEARS.  No kidding.  Years ago, Nathan bought tickets to see one of his favorite bands, The Format, and somehow he got the address wrong, went to the wrong place, and missed the concert completely.  And then, not long after that, the band broke up, and he lost all hope that he would ever see them again.  THEN, recently, the lead singer joined up with a new band called FUN. and they are just as awesome as The Format.  Their song was featured on a super bowl commercial, launching them into international fame, and bringing their song "We are Young" to the top of the music charts.  Their show sold out pretty quick, and when Nathan realized this, he was so disappointed.  He spent the next few days DILIGENTLY scouring ticket listings on KSL.  At the last minute, he found a really good deal and snatched the tickets mere seconds after they were posted.  And thus, we ended up at FUN.  A band called Avalanche City opened for them.  They were really great.  This is my favorite of their music videos:

FUN was great too!  So energetic!  And the crowd was so into it- that always makes it a great night.  They took a long time to come out on stage though, and in the mean time, we kept checking the score of the KU vs. Ohio State game on the phones of people around us.  Turns out that FUN was watching the game back stage, and didn't come out until the game was finished, because their bass guitar player is a KU alumni.  KU won!  And it was the guitar player's birthday, so we got to sing to him.  It was a FUN night.  A long night, but a fun night.  

On Sunday, we went over to my Dad's house to try to have Pig Breakfast- a tradition started by my Mom where we eat a huge breakfast as a family the morning of Sunday conference.  But since half of the family was out of town, and my Dad had already eaten his own breakfast by the time we got there, it didn't really go over as planned (or not planned, and that was the problem).  So Nathan and I made our own cinnamon  roll Belgian Waffles (recipe on pintrest) and enjoyed conference with my Dad.  

That afternoon, we (Nathan, my Dad, and I) headed to the U of U to watch the last performance of the Season on the Nova music concert series.  My favorite Mother Hen, Anne Francis of the Fry Street Quartet, had saved us some tickets.  Brahms, Schoenberg, Osborne, and Adams were all on the program. The Osborne piece for solo percussion was one of our favorites- the drum player yelled, fake played, knocked over the stand and stormed out.  It was awesome.  And it was so good to hear Anne play and to visit for a little bit after the show.  

After the concert, we headed back to Dad's house.  We tried another pintrest recipe- Chicken Cordon Bleu roll ups- delicious! And then watched the afternoon session of conference that we Tvo'd on Dad's tv.  

Yes indeed, it was a weekend to remember!