Before:
After:
I like it. What do you think?
2.24.2011
2.18.2011
Piano
I know this may be a little ambitious but I am working on several songs and I want to share them with you.
I'm working on the first movement of this piece. My old piano teacher Bob recommended that I play it back when I was leaving for college.
Schubert Sonata #13 in A Major D.664:
This is another one that Bob recommended for me. I've only starting learning it today, and it is pretty long, but I absolutely love it. Love love love.
Chopin Scherzo #2 Op. 31:
Yet another Bob recommendation. There are 3 novelettes but I am going to learn #2. #3 is so beautiful though, so I'll probably play it a little too. :)
Francis Poulenc Novelette #2:
And if that isn't enough I'm working on re-learning/improving this song that I also played with Bob.
Liszt Nocturne #3 A flat major:
And of course it wouldn't be my repertoire if I wasn't working on a Chopin Waltz, because I love them. Love them. I'm working on Op. 64. I learned #1 (the minute waltz) way back when, and just finished learning #2. On to the third!
Chopin Waltz Op. 64 #3:
This seems like a good load for me and reminds me of when I was playing constantly back in high school. I'm finding that I wish I had a Debussy book to peruse through and also something by Bach. I have a lot of old copies though, so I might be able to find something in there.
Should be tough but fun! Maybe when I actually get somewhere with these I'll post myself playing them. But probably not. :)
I'm working on the first movement of this piece. My old piano teacher Bob recommended that I play it back when I was leaving for college.
Schubert Sonata #13 in A Major D.664:
This is another one that Bob recommended for me. I've only starting learning it today, and it is pretty long, but I absolutely love it. Love love love.
Chopin Scherzo #2 Op. 31:
Yet another Bob recommendation. There are 3 novelettes but I am going to learn #2. #3 is so beautiful though, so I'll probably play it a little too. :)
Francis Poulenc Novelette #2:
And if that isn't enough I'm working on re-learning/improving this song that I also played with Bob.
Liszt Nocturne #3 A flat major:
And of course it wouldn't be my repertoire if I wasn't working on a Chopin Waltz, because I love them. Love them. I'm working on Op. 64. I learned #1 (the minute waltz) way back when, and just finished learning #2. On to the third!
Chopin Waltz Op. 64 #3:
This seems like a good load for me and reminds me of when I was playing constantly back in high school. I'm finding that I wish I had a Debussy book to peruse through and also something by Bach. I have a lot of old copies though, so I might be able to find something in there.
Should be tough but fun! Maybe when I actually get somewhere with these I'll post myself playing them. But probably not. :)
2.14.2011
Love Story
I've been listening to an oldies station on the radio. Last week they were advertising that they were going to share "Love Stories of San Angelo" on Valentines day and that if you wanted to share the story of you and your sweetheart you could submit it at this location at this time and they would air it blah blah. Paul and I heard the advertisement again yesterday when we were driving around looking at the big expensive houses in the rich neighborhood here and we discussed how we thought our story wasn't romantic enough for the radio. But then, I discovered that you pretty much can make any story about two sweethearts uber romantic if you just emphasize the cuter parts and exaggerate how desperate you were to be together. So, in honor of my sweetheart, here is our worthy-of-the-radio love story.
"Paul and I were not searching for love, but when we saw each other across the classroom one day we knew that we wanted to be with each other forever. He thought I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
We quickly fell hopelessly in love with one another. We spent everyday together and started planning for our future. Paul turned down internships to stay near me, and he even extended his time at our university so that we could graduate together.
Then, I had to leave him for 4 months. We ached to be separated for so long, but we wrote love letters everyday and talked as much as we could. The separation only taught us both that we were needed each other in our lives and that we could love no one as much as we loved each other.
When I returned we became engaged as quickly as possible and never wanted to be parted again. 3 months later we were married for all eternity! It was the happiest day of my life.
I love my sweet heart with all of my heart!"
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
"Paul and I were not searching for love, but when we saw each other across the classroom one day we knew that we wanted to be with each other forever. He thought I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
We quickly fell hopelessly in love with one another. We spent everyday together and started planning for our future. Paul turned down internships to stay near me, and he even extended his time at our university so that we could graduate together.
Then, I had to leave him for 4 months. We ached to be separated for so long, but we wrote love letters everyday and talked as much as we could. The separation only taught us both that we were needed each other in our lives and that we could love no one as much as we loved each other.
When I returned we became engaged as quickly as possible and never wanted to be parted again. 3 months later we were married for all eternity! It was the happiest day of my life.
I love my sweet heart with all of my heart!"
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
2.08.2011
Moovies
Lately, for some reason, Paul and I have been enjoying Mario Kart and Plants vs. Zombies as our time wasting, brain cell smashing, super fun activities. So we haven't been watching too many movies. In fact we've had our Netflix movie for more than a week now. Oh, the shame.
Still, I saw a few movies over the past few months that I didn't get a chance talk about. So I'm going to convince you to see the ones I liked and convince you to avoid the ones I didn't like. Ok? Ok.
Temple Grandin. This is an HBO semi-biographical film about an autistic woman who succeeds (on many levels) in the real world. Even though I don't know much about autism, I felt like I got to see a little bit of what it might be like to experience it. There is something about neurological and mental conditions (like autism or schizophrenia or OCD) that interests me, so I found the movie very interesting. I thought Claire Danes did a wonderful job and in fact she just won the SAG award for best actress in a TV movie. I would highly recommend seeing this.
The Shadow of the Moon. This was awesome! A documentary narrated by the members of the Apollo space flights. 'Course Paul and I have been into space travel lately, so of course we would really like it, but I thought it was interesting as far as documentaries go and fun to see the real people involved. See it!
Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day. This was not your typical romantic comedy, though it was very cute and funny. The characters were the best part and of course it ends happy. I remember really liking it. Plus I like Amy Adams quite a bit.
The A-Team. Watch this if you want some mindless action, I guess. It was kind of funny too.
If you are wondering what NOT to see then here's a list:
Knight and Day. Okay, there was one part where a bad guy falls halfway out of the window on a moving train and all of a sudden he gets pummeled by an oncoming train and dies! There were some other funny parts too, but the story was mostly lame and the action was sloppily done. Also, Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz were probably cast because they provide eye candy and not because they are fabulous actors. But still, that train scene ...
Grown-ups. Just awful.
Fantastic Mr. Fox. I know some people like it, but I thought it was painfully boring and also annoying.
Best in Show. Mockumentary about a dog show. Super weird. If you're interested find a clip online.
The Other Guys. Pretty lame actually.
Well there you go. I am looking forward to seeing a few movies that I've heard a lot about: Easy A, Red, The Social Network, and Megamind.
Paul and I watched Parks and Recreation (available through Netflix) last month and really like it. Really really like it.
Still, I saw a few movies over the past few months that I didn't get a chance talk about. So I'm going to convince you to see the ones I liked and convince you to avoid the ones I didn't like. Ok? Ok.
Temple Grandin. This is an HBO semi-biographical film about an autistic woman who succeeds (on many levels) in the real world. Even though I don't know much about autism, I felt like I got to see a little bit of what it might be like to experience it. There is something about neurological and mental conditions (like autism or schizophrenia or OCD) that interests me, so I found the movie very interesting. I thought Claire Danes did a wonderful job and in fact she just won the SAG award for best actress in a TV movie. I would highly recommend seeing this.
The Shadow of the Moon. This was awesome! A documentary narrated by the members of the Apollo space flights. 'Course Paul and I have been into space travel lately, so of course we would really like it, but I thought it was interesting as far as documentaries go and fun to see the real people involved. See it!
Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day. This was not your typical romantic comedy, though it was very cute and funny. The characters were the best part and of course it ends happy. I remember really liking it. Plus I like Amy Adams quite a bit.
The A-Team. Watch this if you want some mindless action, I guess. It was kind of funny too.
If you are wondering what NOT to see then here's a list:
Knight and Day. Okay, there was one part where a bad guy falls halfway out of the window on a moving train and all of a sudden he gets pummeled by an oncoming train and dies! There were some other funny parts too, but the story was mostly lame and the action was sloppily done. Also, Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz were probably cast because they provide eye candy and not because they are fabulous actors. But still, that train scene ...
Grown-ups. Just awful.
Fantastic Mr. Fox. I know some people like it, but I thought it was painfully boring and also annoying.
Best in Show. Mockumentary about a dog show. Super weird. If you're interested find a clip online.
The Other Guys. Pretty lame actually.
Well there you go. I am looking forward to seeing a few movies that I've heard a lot about: Easy A, Red, The Social Network, and Megamind.
Paul and I watched Parks and Recreation (available through Netflix) last month and really like it. Really really like it.
2.03.2011
Snow Days
On the first of February we got hit by the snow storm. So, our house once looked this THIS, and it now looks like this:
Pretty grim eh? Now I know that everyone else in the country is worse off than this. I mean we only got an inch max. But do you see that walkway covered in ice? That's why they give people snow days and shut down airports! And really, why did the snow storm have to happen the one winter I'm here?? I thought the main reason we liked Texas was because it was warm!
It is no fun to go from 70 degrees to 20 degrees over night, no matter where you live. The worst part about the weather here though is that someone didn't insulate our pipes. We've been without running water since Monday night and suspect that all of our pipes are frozen. No one we've called seems to have a solution for us, and we've tried a few things, but nothing has worked. We will probably have to wait until they thaw naturally and hope they don't burst or flood us. It won't get above freezing until Friday ... and if we don't have water by Friday it is supposed to get up to 60 on Saturday.
Until then, I'll just have to keep showering at the gym, going to the bathroom at the church building or the mall, brushing my teeth with a little water bottle water, and letting the dirty dishes stink up the kitchen.
2.01.2011
Lubbock, TX
One Saturday, Paul and I were sitting at home and we couldn't think of anything to do. I mean we had exhausted all of San Angelo's evening activities, which include (and ARE limited to) going out to eat, and going to the movies. We ended up going to Walmart, probably because that is what you do in Provo when you have exhausted all of its activities (which are slightly more numerous than San Angelo's). Anyways, this was obviously unacceptable (Walmart? Really?) so we decided that we should take a trip. Lubbock was the destination we chose because A. our temple is in Lubbock, 2. Texas Tech basketball was happening, and D. well, there really aren't that many choices in West Texas. :)
Lubbock is a little less than 3.5 hours or 200 miles northwest of San Angelo. The drive is mostly flat but the scenery was pretty cool. We got to watch the sky turn all different colors during the sunset and we drove over a creek called Kickapoo! Yeah, Kick-a-poo. It's okay, we're 12.
We also saw something that I thought was amazing. Highway 84 (from San Angelo to Lubbock) passes through a few West Texas wind farms. If you didn't know, Texas produces the most wind power of any state in the USA (and actually, our electricity is powered by West Texas wind!). Ever since I did a report about renewable wind power in maybe the 7th grade, I've been sort of partial to it. And we got to drive right through the heart of the largest wind farm in the world, the Roscoe Wind Farm!! It was dark by the time we drove up to it, but every other turbine has a red light in the center of the blades that blinks on and off. So every couple seconds we'd be surrounded by hundreds and hundreds little red lights, until they went dark again. On, off, on, off, on, off. It looked so pretty! And it really is too bad that I didn't get a photo because we probably drove by those awesome wind turbines for half of the trip!
So I'd say the drive was definitely worth it. We made it to the Lubbock temple on Saturday morning and enjoyed the session. The the exterior was pretty, the interior was gorgeous, and there was a couch. Oh man, this couch. This couch can only be described as the most comfortable couch in the entire world! It was so squishy and sinky and soft. But it didn't swallow you like some couches. It was perfect, and it even looked nice! I did not want to get off of that couch, I wanted to give them an offer. Oh it was lovely.
After the temple we drove to Texas Tech to get tickets to a basketball game. Some of you might remember the generosity of Texas sports fans when I told you the story about the ASU football game. Well, it happened again. We must look poor or something because as we were walking to the ticket counter an older gentleman stopped us, asked us if we were going to buy tickets, and then after we told him yes, told us he had an extra one and we could have it no charge. :D :D :D
Before the game we found a Five Guys and went for lunch. San Angelo has a lot of restaurants, but mostly just national chains and Tex Mex, so we were excited to find Five Guys.
Anyways, the game turned out to be really exciting. It was close and went to overtime. The Red Raiders pulled out the win though and the crowd (including me) went wild! I love college basketball.
We drove home after the game, making sure to heed to the Texas stop sign (DQ). We saw the red lights on the turbines again and also some oil drills pumping away. Yay for Texas.
I was surprised that going to Lubbock could be such a good time. It was definitely better than Walmart.
Lubbock is a little less than 3.5 hours or 200 miles northwest of San Angelo. The drive is mostly flat but the scenery was pretty cool. We got to watch the sky turn all different colors during the sunset and we drove over a creek called Kickapoo! Yeah, Kick-a-poo. It's okay, we're 12.
So I'd say the drive was definitely worth it. We made it to the Lubbock temple on Saturday morning and enjoyed the session. The the exterior was pretty, the interior was gorgeous, and there was a couch. Oh man, this couch. This couch can only be described as the most comfortable couch in the entire world! It was so squishy and sinky and soft. But it didn't swallow you like some couches. It was perfect, and it even looked nice! I did not want to get off of that couch, I wanted to give them an offer. Oh it was lovely.
After the temple we drove to Texas Tech to get tickets to a basketball game. Some of you might remember the generosity of Texas sports fans when I told you the story about the ASU football game. Well, it happened again. We must look poor or something because as we were walking to the ticket counter an older gentleman stopped us, asked us if we were going to buy tickets, and then after we told him yes, told us he had an extra one and we could have it no charge. :D :D :D
Before the game we found a Five Guys and went for lunch. San Angelo has a lot of restaurants, but mostly just national chains and Tex Mex, so we were excited to find Five Guys.
Anyways, the game turned out to be really exciting. It was close and went to overtime. The Red Raiders pulled out the win though and the crowd (including me) went wild! I love college basketball.
We drove home after the game, making sure to heed to the Texas stop sign (DQ). We saw the red lights on the turbines again and also some oil drills pumping away. Yay for Texas.
I was surprised that going to Lubbock could be such a good time. It was definitely better than Walmart.
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