Sunday, Domingo, Sonntag, Dimanche.

BLAM. Sunday in the four most influential languages on earth. Not bad, eh? Too bad I only speak/understand two of them, and one of the two very poorly. :/

Anyway...

It's been a good Sunday. I got to fast and pray for some pretty significant things right now and I felt good about them. Meetings at church were great, too. Tonight, I'm going to meet Greta's family, since they're visiting from Fallbrook. I'm pretty psyched.

I'm going to go get ready.

I'll pick this up later if I have anything more interesting to say.

Mes

This month I'm trying to get Madelyn to NaBloPoMo with me, since I failed in December. I figure if I do this with someone I'll be more committed and whatever.

This morning I went to work, where I sent a bunch of emails for some professors I know who are advancing to full professor. After work was French and Italian Cinema, which is one of my favorite classes this semester. We watched a film called "Rome: Open City" today. Basically, every day in film, I fall asleep for about fifteen minutes-ish and then wake up and pick up the story again. Today I fell asleep for a long time, though, and woke up to see the end, which was one of the coolest endings all semester. I'll have to re-watch it.

Anyway, after that I met up with Greta and we talked for a long time about life and such. Then I walked home and called my mom and argued with her for a while, even though I can't figure out the basis for my argument entirely(Don't ask, it's not really relevant). I got home and listened to Simon and Garfunkel for a while on Marissa's computer.

Later tonight, we're having FHE at our apartment and then an extremely talented friend of mine is coming over to practice. I'm playing the piano for him at a show he's doing in about two weeks. I'm psyched, to say the least. :)

Madelyn: this is your queue. Go write something.

Last Day of Classes!

Today was the last day of the semester, as the title denotes. I went to all my classes and whatnot. Yep.

In more interesting news, today I went to the Sloan Speech Showcase with Greta, which was way fun, and later she and I and our friend Caitlin all went to Five Guys Burgers or something together. The burgers are HUGE, which is why all my fries ended up in my fridge. Anyway, those were the highlights of my day. :)

Blah

It's been a good day, kind of. Finals and final projects are eating me alive. I think I'm getting sick, too, and on top of all this, it's FRIGID outside. Augh.

Still, it's good to remember that I'm going home soon and that everything is going to work out all right. Anyway, I have to go make a PowerPoint and write some stuff for my classes tomorrow.

10 Things I've Been Doing Lately

Hello, my dears! So much has happened in the past month or whatever that I think I will just make a list.

1. Last Friday, I bought my first pair of TOMS. TOMS is a wonderfully humanitarian company that gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair of shoes you buy from them. It's really a beautiful thing. I bought the Aira Cordones, and they're adorable!

2. Registration has begun at last. It's pretty near impossible to get exactly what you want; therefore, I'm enrolled in Psych 111 and trying switch it for an impossibly full creative writing class.

3. My roommate Charne and I Skyped each other from adjacent rooms yesterday. It was hilarious.

4. I have written a new Sestina and a Villanelle, which are both really good.

5. I was accepted into BlazeVOX Fall 2k9 yesterday! Once the issue is up, please read my three poems here.

6. I finally have a job as an accompanist for a friend of mine. He's taking voice lessons here and needed someone to play his pieces. This is really good for me, because it gives me a more concrete reason to practice, and I have to learn pieces I wouldn't have picked myself.

7. If you are near Provo, check out the newest exhibit at BYU's Museum of Art, "Mirror Mirror." It's a really interesting look at how people perceive each other-- and who can beat the flaming moustache? (also, admission is free!)

8. I was a flapper again for Halloween, only this time I was Daisy Buchanan and I friend of mine was Jay Gatsby.

9. I'm trying to write a song in G, since I have this idea that I'll do a show and move up a key for every song. G is such an awkward key for my voice, though. I don't really know what I'm doing. :/

10. Sammy's has the best milkshakes EVER. They are also having a "Hot Chocolate Kickoff" this weekend that I really want to go to.

This I Believe

In addition, for the seminar I am taking, I have written my first This I Believe essay, which was really fun. We're going to write several this semester. My professor liked it and so did the other students, and since I'd like to put more effort into my blog posts, here it is:

The Crush I Composed For

I never had a really big crush until the eighth grade, and I was all of thirteen the first time I remember having my thoughts completely overtaken by a face and perfectly imagined persona. He had straight, white teeth and curly blond hair, his smile could flip my stomach in fifteen different ways, and he played the guitar.

Despite all this, what really sets this crush apart is something completely different: he was the first boy for whom I wrote music. I have been composing for five years now, so when I have any strong feeling, a new piece comes running invariably after it. That feeling, however, was the first to draw such a response. I used a fairly standard chord progression, I was later to find out, but I felt like a musical genius when I incorporated my own initials into the notes of the song. I continued to write for this boy throughout the eighth grade. Then, in high school, I continued to compose for various crushes, most of whom didn't know I was doing it. I wrote good music, I think; it was thoughtful, well-worded stuff (when there were words), and the idea of these boys inspired me to do better work.

The boys were not important, in the end. It was the emotion that drove me to music, and the reason that today, I can look through my old notebooks and amateur recordings and have a record of the way I felt from the eighth grade to the present. I know the way I felt and I know when and what made me feel that way- and what I thought of it.
Music changes people; it can affect their emotions and therefore, their actions. But as a musician, composing helps me let my emotions go. Regina Spektor, a popular singer, songwriter, and pianist, sings, "Ideas that have left you never come home." Whereas, for a listener, music may intensify emotion, writing music lets me step away from my emotions and examine my feelings with more distance. I can put everything I feel into words and music and walk away better and happier for it.

So I believe in music, and I believe it's taught me to see my thoughts more clearly- to feel more clearly, in a way. I know that composing music and writing lyrics for songs has helped me to understand myself better. I think it's also helped me not to explode. I understand now that the boy in the eighth grade- or the ninth or the tenth, for that matter- wasn't what made those years so wonderful. It was the personal growth I experienced, which always resulted in my knowledge that I had developed a lot that year, and that the music was there to prove it.
This I believe.

The Bucket List

This semester, I am taking a freshman seminar titled "This I Believe," (after the wonderful NPR program) about personal narratives and statements of belief. For one of our first assignments, we had to write a list of one hundred things to do before we die. Here is mine (organized by categories my professor suggested):

Community

1. Write to the President.
2. Write to my Congressman.
3. Have an editorial published in the WSJ.
4. Vote at all major elections.
5. Serve on some sort of decision-making board.

Creativity

6. Publish a novel.
7. Learn to play the guitar.
8. Publish an album on iTunes.
9. Perform a big concert.
10. Publish poetry in a big magazine.
11. Conduct an orchestra or choir, performing a piece I composed.
12. Be in a musical.
13. Learn to play the cello.
14. Be in a band.
15. Get an essay published on This I Believe.
16. Sing opera in public.
17. Participate in Story Corps.
18. Participate in NaBloPoMo without missing a day!
19. Paint a picture I am proud of.

Friends or Friendships

20. Don't be afraid of strangers.
21. Don't withhold compliments.
22. Smile at random people.
23. Show genuine interest in people.
24. Be a better conversationalist.

Spiritual Life (or values)

25. Have mighty, sincere prayers.
26. Read the Old Testament.
27. Have a smile for everyone.
28. Fulfill my Patriarchal Blessing,
29. Always be willing to serve in callings.
30. Go to the temple frequently (once a week, if I am close).
31. See my whole family in the temple.

Health

32. Never be overweight.
33. Always keep the Word of Wisdom.
34. Exercise daily.
35. Take vitamins.
36. Ride my bicycle places, even when it's far.
37. Be a vegetarian for a week.

Helping, Service, Civic Action

38. Serve a mission (senior or as a sister missionary).
39. Work as a poll worker.
40. Volunteer at various organizations.
41. Give a bunch of cheeseburgers to hobos, like Chris McCandless in Into the Wild.

Home

42. Learn to make clothes.
43. Sew a decent dress.
44. Learn to make Foccacia and other bread from scratch.
45. Have a "famous" recipe for something.
46. Read to kids.
47. Bear testimony to kids.
48. Teach kids to be responsible.
49. Have pictures of Christ all around the house.
50. Have a musical family.
51. Read the scriptures every night as a family.

Learning

52. Learn Swedish, French, and German.
53. Learn to compose music really well.
54. Be a great, coherent writer.
55. Be a ham radio operator.
56. Finish The Brothers Karamazov.
57. Read Crime and Punishment.
58. Consistently read different books out of any general type.

Love or Love Relationship

59. Fast and pray before marriage.
60. Marry a return missionary.
61. Marry in the temple for eternity.
62. Write a song with my future husband.
63. Do whatever I can to make my spouse happy.

Money or Standard of Living

64. Be able to stay at home with my children.
65. Make a living composing or writing.
66. Live in a house with lots of windows.
67. Have well-designed furniture.

Neighborhood

68. Paint a mural where I live.
69. Have a "park day" with other moms and kids in my neighborhood.

Play or Recreation

70. Get really good at tennis.
71. Learn to play ultimate frisbee.
72. Learn to waterski.
73. Live on Gotland for at least a year.
74. Drive a fast car, fast, on Gotland Ring.
75. Visit Charne in South Africa.
76. Play with lions.
77. Swim with dolphins.
78. Go on the big roller coaster at California Adventure, overcoming my fear of roller coasters.
79. Skip around New York City, especially in public places.
80. See the Pyramids.
81. Go to Israel and Jerusalem.
82. Go to Australia.
83. Go to Spain and speak Spanish to real Spaniards.
84. Pull one all-nighter. Then never again.
85. Hike Timpanogos.
86. Visit all fifty states.

Relationships with Children

87. Give birth.
88. Teach children about the gospel.
89. Make sure they know I love them.
90. Have great Family Home Evenings.

Relationships with Relatives

91. Be patient with uncles and aunts.
92. Write letters to grandparents.
93. Be the future host of Cousin's Conference.
94. See grandchildren often.
95. See great-grandchildren.

Self-Esteem

96. Don't be afraid to take risks.
97. Smile at everyone.
98. Overcome phobiae.

Work and Retirement

99. Work at a radio station.
100. Be a professional musician.

This is flawed; some of the "Home" stuff belongs in "Relationships with Children," but for me, those will be basically the same thing. Plus, these aren't all exactly concrete. That is, I can't check them off the list in the near future. I guess I've made it more like a list of goals I'd like to accomplish in the long run. Anyway, I'm sure I will edit and add to it in the near future, and I'll keep you updated when I do.

A note to Madelyn: can you configure your blog so that I can leave a comment? As it is, I will just have to say here that I have never seen a Beanie Babie with the seam ripped; now I wonder what's in one. :) Ha ha ha! I miss you a lot, and when I get back, we will have to go on some kind of adventure. I am glad you're having fun in school; re-read what I wrote in your yearbook if you need me to reiterate how wonderful you are!

Another thing: you all need to log on to Skype more or Google Chat or something. And write something new on The Brown Dirt.

I think that's all. :)

Not So Much Today...

Today was just my last assembly in high school, but it's not like I'm going to miss those. I didn't really do anything after school but work on composition and stuff, since I had to stay home with my little brother and sister. I'm going to more one-acts tomorrow, so that should be fun. I love watching plays and concerts and stuff. 

Leslie's boyfriend Justin is coming soon! I'm so excited to meet him! :)

Leslie, don't worry... I don't really know what's going on, but I'm vaguely depressed too.

This too shall pass.

Twin Day

Today at Palm Desert High School, we had, for the third day of Spirit Week, a Twin Day. Since my sister and I already look so much alike, and we could find clothes we have in common, we decided to dress up. This is what we looked like!

A really funny thing happened involving this after school ended today. Madelyn and I were walking out to the parking lot to go home when some boys from Madelyn's English class walking behind us said stuff like, "Awww; how cute; they dressed up together." I turned, and little did I know that Madelyn turned, too, and at the same time, we both kicked up our left legs and smiled in unison. I was on the outside, so I couldn't see what had happened, but the boys went, "Whoa!" and Madelyn said, "Yeah, we're that good." It was so funny. They wanted us to do it again. Ha ha ha. :)

Another thing: today was my last Chamber Singers concert ever. EVER. I've been in Chamber Singers for the past four years and that was my last official concert. Well... I guess there is graduation, but at least I'll never have to wear that dress again, right? The experience is still kind of surreal... we sang really well tonight. It was great! :)

A Piano.

Piano

Perfect! I just had to do this the other day... :)
When I need to relax (i.e., because of Prom nerves, college freak-outs, etc.) I ride my bike somewhere, which lets me think more clearly. Sometimes I go to the library and I read or look for books of music or art to take home.
Primarily, I guess (I probably should have put this first), I play the piano and compose music. The wonderful thing about playing the piano is that pianos turn up all the time whenever you go somewhere. You sit down on the bench and see the keys, and whether you're in Shanghai or Visby, you're at home. Playing the piano gives me a sense of gravity when I feel like I'm not anchored to anything.

Sorry about that post last night; I didn't have the time or energy to write coherently, so that's just what happened. I guess I could edit it later and write something interesting about yesterday.

Today I took the AP Microeconomics Exam, which is not as bad as I thought it was. I felt all right about the multiple choice, and I know I did really well on the last question of the free response bit of the test. True, I am not positive I aced the thing, but I have a feeling I passed. I hope.

Anyway, I have been composing a very lovely piece that I am obsessed with playing very fast, and very often. In fact, all the time. It's not actually finished yet, but hopefully I will find some more inspiration and get it done. (Hmmm, Leslie; guess what it's about. :) Yay!)

(Augh. It's weird to do a smiley within parentheses.)

That's all for tonight, then!

More News About BYU!!

I know where I'm going to live next year! Last week I got my housing all ready and such and I also found out who my roommates are and added them on facebook! They seem really cool! One is from South Africa.
I am so psyched about being able to study what I want to study at college! I am going to be double majoring in English and Music Composition! It's going to be amazing!!!
Plus, I have all these cousins who will be there and we are going to rule the campus!
In unrelated news, I took the AP Government Test today and it wasn't half bad. :)

Just a quick post!

I'm home this morning because, due to Standardized testing, seniors don't have to go to school until 10:50! It's really nice and I don't have to get up quite so early. 

Anyway, I just wanted to post about this: 

My friend and I wrote a song for graduation which we've been working on all year. Recently, we invited our other guy friend to play the guitar with us. We rehearsed the song a few times and it sounded really good. We all sing, so I was on the piano, this guy on guitar, and all of us harmonizing. We tried out last Friday to sing at graduation and we won! I am really happy about it. :))))

Also, I am working on a new classical song! We'll see how it turns out! :)

My Audition

I know the suspense has been killing you, reader, so here is what transpired at my Open Call audition last night.

Mom drove me to the McCallum around 8:30, since the email I got from them said to be there fifteen minutes early. My audition was at nine. I was wearing a white scoopneck blouse, a navy pencil skirt, and these new heels I got a few weeks ago. (I'm just saying... I put thought into this. I had to look like a gorgeous prodigy composer, whether I really am or not.)

When we arrived, I went in the back door of the theatre, signed in, and went to the green room. (Luckily, I had a performance there in December with my choir, so I was already familiar) The Varsity Dance Team from my high school was there, and had just tried out, and so I said hi to the girls I knew. Also, the kid who won last year (who's about a year younger than me, I think) and his two sisters were all there. 

I felt kind of embarrassed that I didn' t know anyone really well. Plus, all these people had at least some experience with Open Call, so I was a bit inept in comparison. The audition before mine was the guy and his sisters; they played a very cool trio all together on the piano, even though I only heard a little of it when someone opened the door. I stayed in the green room and talked to one of the girls from the dance team and pretty soon, I was alone in the Green Room. I was the last one to audition.

When a lady came in and told me I was next, I walked through the stage door and out to center stage, trying to keep good posture and look confident, and said,

"Good evening; my name is Emily Brown. I am seventeen years old; I'm from Rancho Mirage, and I will be performing a piece I composed called, 'June Impression.'"

Then I walked over to the piano, sat down and took a deep breath, placing my fingers on the keys.

Then I took another breath, and began to play.

The first thought I had was how beautiful the tone of the piano was. It was a Steinway, and while the keys appeared somewhat worn, the piano was spectacularly in tune, with a clear, smooth tone unlike any piano I have ever played before. I kept my shoulders back and concentrated on dynamics, remembering to keep certain bits stacatto.

Somewhere near the middle, and slowest part of the piece I felt somewhat nervous and started shaking a little. The muscles of my calf were spastically quivering while I held down the sustain pedal. I plunged myself in the music, and finished the piece with some small mistakes.

When I was done, I lifted my fingers from the keys gently, (which my piano teachers have been trying to teach me to do as long as I can remember) and stood up. The judges applauded politely. I said, "Thank you," though maybe not audibly enough, bowed, and began to walk off stage.

"Emily," said one of twenty or thirty judges. This one was a guy, about fifty, to my right.

I stopped.

"Are you classically trained?"

"Yes, I am," I replied.

"Who are some of your favorite composers?"

"Mmm...Chopin, Debussy...I have a favorite piece by Grieg," I trailed.

"Yes," he said. "That piece reminded me so much of Debussy."

I smiled again, said "Thank you," bowed, while they applauded again, and walked off stage.

On the way out, the guy in charge of sound said goodbye to me; so did some other people. I went back to the Green Room and got my bag. Another guy said goodbye and asked if I got my tape and then laughed when he realized I obviously didn't have a tape. Coming to the back door, I said goodbye to the guy at the front desk, and then pushed my way into the cold air outside.

And then- it was as if there was not enough air in the world. I literally started gasping for breath, shaking all over and crying. All I could think about was how much I wanted this, to get in to the show and perform my piece for everyone who would listen. I kept this up, until I got to the car. Then I took another breath, smiled, and got in to tell Mom how it went.

Hopefully I made it, guys. Everyone cross your fingers!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!

By the way, I want a piano just like this one:

It's got an interesting story behind it, too. Click on the picture for a link! :)

Rhymes with Coeppen (a rare surname in the U.S.) Thrall

Unscramble the letters to figure out this phrase!

celp anlo

Can you decode this clever anagram?

CLAP NOEL

27. Of the following responses, choose the best answer:

What is the name of the Coachella Valley wide talent show, hosted by the McCallum Theatre?

a. Free For All, a title which makes clear the fact that all amateur performers are invited to participate.

b. Big and Small, which means people of all sizes are free to join in the show.

c. Open Call, a name which basically sucks but reflects the idea nonetheless.

If you chose answer "A," you are for human rights! Congratulations! You should be a Libertarian, since Libertarians are awesome and they wish the government would leave everyone's rights alone.

If you chose answer "B," you are probably short or tall and wish more talent shows would accomodate your size.

If you chose answer "C," you have something in common with the staff of the McCallum Theatre, since they chose that name over the vastly superior "Free for All." (Plus, also, wouldn't it be cool if the show was at the Civic Center Park and it was actually free?)

Yes, reader. The correct answer to all three questions and the title is...

Open Call.

This year, it is vaguely important to me that I get into Open Call. I've never tried out before, and since I'm off to college next year, this is sort of my last chance. I sent in an audio recording of "June Impression," one of my compositions, and as of Thursday night, I have made it to the next level: Live Auditions. So now I've been practicing my song over and over, trying to act like I have some level of stage presence. I just want them to know that this is really important. This is my composition. My baby! If they don't pick me, it's like a diss to my life's work!

Which brings me to the fact that when I finally grow up, I want to write scores for movies. To practice, I am going to buy movies, strip the sound from them, and then write new soundtracks. I think that will be really fun. :)

In entirely unrelated news, I have basically memorized Dylan Thomas's "Fern Hill," my new favorite poem, with less than seventeen mess-up points. Thus:

"Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs,

About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green...

Umm. As the grass was green...

Argh."

I actually do know the next line. That's just a scenario of what it's like at different points in the poem. Very scary.

Anyway, everyone please cross your fingers that I make it into Open Call!

Otras cosas...

So... a couple weeks ago, I was at a choir performance in Palm Springs when my friend "Joe" came up to me and said, "Okay, Emily, brace yourself."
"Okay..." I said obliviously.

"We all got into All-State!" said Joe. (Meaning himself, the other guy who was in regional, and I)

Upon which, I literally squealed. A lady who  had been talking to us about our performance said something about insurance. :)

Anyway, it will be in March and I am very excited, of course! You are all invited to come and see me in the choir. I am sure it will be sensational!

I have more to tell, but I will do it when I have pictures to illustrate.

Letters That Are Not for Me

Some of you may know that when I was in eighth grade, I had a huge Billy Joel fetish. It was pretty serious. :)  I still love Mr. Joel's music, voice, and sincerity, but it now appears that my love of them has gone too far.

You will understand momentarily.

They ask you if you want letters from the Army and Navy and such, remember? Since I'm not interested in the military or any of that, I tried to thwart those questions in any way possible. And even though I'm pretty positive I checked "No" whenever they asked me, apparently, on one fateful instance, I enscribed Billy Joel's name onto a line meant for me. I don't remember it, but it must have happened because of what has ensued since.

Ha ha ha. Truth is stranger than fiction, huh? :)

This will be short-

Okay, here's what's been going on, briefly:

-I made SVCA Honor Choir! We will be performing in November. :)

-I went to the dance on Saturday and it was very fun.

- I got a senior most for the yearbook! It's called iTunes Featured Artist and it's for the most musical senior girl and boy! Yessssssssss...

-I am still alive after the Death of a Salesman test!

Anyway, I am pretty happy and I will post something interesting as soon as I have more time. 

Last Night

This is just a poem that entered my head last night after I sang at the Homecoming Game, so I thought I'd get it down here, broken and incomplete though it may be.

We, together,

Were singing. But I was singing aloud

And like a Greek play, we all knew the story

And its ending note. I was the choragos

But we were the chorus

Okay... not that one. That just spewed out out of my fingers randomly. This is actually what I was thinking.

All the world looked goodness

And the stars were surely closer

While I existed smiling

Sipping sweet effervescence

And drinking deep from the yellow cup of happiness

Surviving...

Yes, I have made it through my first ten days of senior year. Really. I'm alive. Not only am I alive, but I'm actually learning new things and I like ALL my classes!

Go ahead, double take. I really said "ALL" of them. And I can tell you why.

1st- Government AP. Take everything with a grain of salt. It can be confusing. But you love the teacher because of his obsession with undiluted truth.

2nd- Dance. This teacher is a little weird, but half my friends are in this class. Plus stretching in the middle of the day really is heaven.

3rd- AP Environmental Science, nicknamed "APES." I love it! We watched "The Lorax" within the first few days of class, we played a game outside about deer population vs. resources... let's just say this is extremely interesting. Conservation!!

4th- Choir. I've been doing this for the past three years, and now that it's my final year, it just feels like home. Sure, everyone's new and I've been here longer than the current director, but choir is seriously (no joke) one big, adorably musical family.

Feel free to giggle with warm fuzzies.

5th- Spanish. I thought I would really dislike the teacher at first, but I really like it now. We did an oral last week and I brought in my guitar and sang my oral in front of my class. They loved it, and my teacher basically asked me if I would do that every time. I said yes. It is so fun and I am learning so much about Spanish!

6th- English- duh. You know I love English. My teacher is hilarious; we have Friday Funnies and she tells us jokes. We talk about Jane Eyre a lot, which I actually LOVED, unlike the majority of my classmates.

And that's the day. I'll just post this, since my grandparents just arrived and we should be eating dinner soon. :)