Jane Austen

So now that I am officially caught up on my blog, I get to post stuff like this.  

I am currently reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  I am really enjoying it!  The writing style is different then what I have been reading lately.  I love you J.K. Rowlings, but you don't challenge my intellect like Jane Austen.  Before reading this book I read a short biography on her life.  I am so glad I did this because it was nice to know that her stories reflect the social structure she was plopped in. 

She herself never got married, but certainly felt the social pressures too and spent way too much time developing the skills to beome a proper wife.  During this time (the turn of the 19th century) women could not make a cent on their own.  They were defined by the husband they married, and spent their time developing skills that would make them more qualified for a better match.  BLAUGH.  I threw up in my mouth a little when I read this.  Can you think of anything worse?  The only, only, ONLY cool thing about this was that piano happened to be one of these skills that were developed. 

The fact that the brilliance of Jane Austen emerged from this time is incredible.  Her father encouraged reading and writing which was her saving grace.  The Austen family would spend evenings acting out different plays often written by Austen herself.  I read one of them called Love and Friendship.  It was very funny! She was only 14 when she wrote it.  I love that I too came from a family where education was such a high priority.  I never questioned whether or not I would be going to college because it simply was the next thing you do once you graduate.  Reading was such an important part of growing up.  I think some of my favorite memories are at Barnes and Nobles with both my mom and dad.  It is still one of my favorite places in Bountiful.  

Lauren use to read out loud to me every single night.  To this day I can't think of anything better to fall asleep to!  

Senior Recital

In order to graduate as a piano performance major I was required to give a 60 minute recital.  I got to perform in the Utah State University Performance Hall which is a world renowned venue (for good reason).  Not only were the acoustics blow your mind amazing (as the performer you can LITERALLY hear any whisper from the audience perfectly) but I was also playing on a hand picked Steinway from the New York Steinway Factory.  For all you bikers, this was like going from a Sedona Hybrid to the bike Lance Armstrong road winning the Tour De France...only WAY better.

This recital has been stressing me out perpetually for four solid years.  The anticipation of the event was far more difficult emotionally then the actual performance.  In fact with each passing piece performed I felt a bit disappointed that it was that much closer to ending.  I knew that once the recital concluded, so was a chapter in my life.  I was probably eleven years old when I knew I would be graduating in piano performance.  Aside from this, nothing else was nearly as certain.  These were some of the things running through my mind as I was playing all of these pieces that have become apart of who I am.

I was also thinking about my mom, who created this huge world for me.  She was so sensitive to what was needed in order for me to pursue this passion.  She knew how much I would grow to love piano way before I did.  She observed every piano lesson, became close friends with most my teachers, and NEVER missed a performance.  The most incredible thing about all of this is I never felt pressured or stressed in reaction to her.  She was always 100% supportive.  Never critical, never disappointed, and always proud.  Mom, could you teach this to everyone else?  My students parents could use a seminar.

And I was of course thinking of Paul in the audience.  So grateful that he lets me (as he puts it) "nerd out" about piano and so many other things.  He comes to not only all of my performances but also my students, which is a whole new level of boredom.  He listens to me rant and rave about the piano department no matter how endless the conversation seems to be.  He gives me a million reasons to not become too immersed in practicing or stressed about performing.  Life became balanced when he came along.  I realized everything I had been missing out on, and we are slowly making up for it.  Not that I regret committing to school in the ways that I did, but I am glad to have a more healthy perspective on what matters most.

So my senior recital was one of the few events in life that was built up to be something huge, and ended up being even bigger then I thought.  It was perfect.  My playing of course could have been much better, but over all I felt good about the performance.  But probably the best part of it was knowing I could skip entire measures or play in the wrong key and those that mattered would still love me just the same.  I will never forget the way they clapped in between almost every movement of my pieces, but sometimes not in between one piece to the next.  Thank you all for coming to this event, and know that I will remember you were there forever!  (Lindsay, I know you wanted to make it and that is good enough for me :). 

They came all the way from St. George!

Both Lauren and Melissa spent many early mornings cursing my name from their beds.

Bridget McBride (left) and Jaime Caliendo (right) are the two most pre-college influential piano teachers I had.  Jaime sparked my love for piano then continued to fuel the fire way after our lessons ended. 

My high school buddies George (left) and Kels-Dawg (right) even came!

I know there are a lot of weird pictures of us three like this one, but oh how I adore them all.

I stinking love this girl.  She is a budding musician.  In the car if she is upset Melissa can turn on classical music and she stops fussing immediately.  Best. Thing.  Ever.

This is Mattie, a very close friend of mine in Logan.

Graduation BBQ

In May we had a BBQ celebrating graduation.

Gary and Kitty (Paul's parents) bought us all of the necessary supplies to do yard work (including a lawn mower).  And if that wasn't enough, Gary DID all the yard work!  It was no small job.  I don't think he grasps the concept of a vacation.

Paul and his mom Kitty.

Our hand-me-down grill was replaced with the one you see in this picture thanks to Kitty and Gary!  Gary gives me plenty of grief for being a vegetarian.  When Paul told him I don't eat meat his response was, not even chicken?  Paul's parents are phenomenal cooks.  They went to the grocery store while they were here and cooked us dinner every night.  I think they were confused...Paul and I weren't supposed to be treated like the guests!

Any event that doesn't allow Chacos is not for Paul and I.  Do I talk a lot about Chacos?

The dude jamming next to Paul is our friend Walter.  Not everybody was as lucky as T-dizzle, he managed to score the only back stage pass.

Jardine juniper.

Jardine Juniper is an absolutely stunning hike.  I was too busy trying to keep my butt on my bike and my bike on the path to observe all the beauty.  This is by far the most challenging mountain ride I have gone on. Three hours and ten and a half miles later Paul and I made it safely back to our car.  Even the Sherpa was pooped.

New friend we met on the trail #1.

New friend we met on the trail #2.