Sabegalli

January 2011 CES Fireside

2011-01-10T13:08:00.001-07:00

Even though these firesides are directed towards Young Single Adults in the church, this is one of those firesides that can apply to everyone and anyone who might happen to feel swamped in life. I think we all are there at some times...

:-)

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

2010-12-05T19:54:00.009-07:00

I know that many of you may have already seen this text on my Facebook account, but I was really impacted by this song as I sang it with St. John's Episcopal Church Choir recently. Please notice with envy the age of the composer. Here is the piece as sung by the St. Olaf Choir, along with the text (if you're on Google Reader or other RSS feed, go to the actual blog at sabegalli.blogspot.com):

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
pub. 2009, Stanford Scriven (b. 1988)

The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit, and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the appletree.

His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell,
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the appletree.

For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the appletree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the appletree.

I'm weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile.
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the appletree.

-----------------------------------

Words: Anonymous; from Divine Hymns or Spiritual Songs
Compiled by Joshua Smith, New Hampshire, 1784

Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T12:09:00.003-07:00

Thanksgiving was awesome this year! I know I haven't posted in a while, but I'm not going to apologize and try to recap. Instead, I'm going to post the things that I really feel grateful for. This is not an exhaustive list by any stretch of the imagination; I just feel the need to express my appreciation for the things in my life that really matter. :-)

A family that loves to be together
Numerous houses and homes where we can congregate (I mean, we live all over the place)
Family members that open up their homes to all of us
My grandma Loretta's yams (Oh. My. Gosh.)
Pets, that remind us to take care of something all the time
Asa, who reminds us of what's most important in life
Siblings who are not afraid to slap me when I say something remarkably stupid (or just stupid)
Three beautiful sisters
An extremely handsome identical twin brother (is that self-serving?? ;-) )
A father who's a doctor
All of us being in good health (these two don't really go together...)
Financial means to attend school
Understanding and approachable professors (SO important)
Tallahassee Singles' Ward and Institute
All of my friends in Tally (including a new best one)
The many talents I enjoy
The many NON talents that remind me what humility is
The love and support of friends far away
Contacts. Because I hate wearing glasses.
My trooper of a Civic, Cindy, who has put up with me from coast to coast and 12k feet to sea level
The situations I've been in that have required me/given me the chance to travel to so many different places
The many life experiences I've been blessed to have
Facebook. Just think about it.
The love my parents have for each other and their family
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the community it entails
The Book of Mormon - it is an anchor to my soul and the foundation of my testimony
The Gift of the Holy Ghost, which has saved me on numerous occasions and giving me so much direction in life
The love of God, without which I would not be here (not to be melodramatic...)

I had to stop a bit before I thought I would, because I could feel the beginnings of emotion coming on (you know, those emotions). I'm just so thankful for all the blessings that I have and have had - they've all led me to where I am today. :-)

Update: FSU beating UF soundly. Life is good.

A quick post...

2010-08-10T10:03:00.008-06:00

If any of you follow my sister's blog, you would have seen this a-dorable photo of my nephew putting his entire rattle in his mouth.

Well. Like uncle, like nephew.

First week of classes!

2010-06-27T19:36:00.017-06:00

Hello everyone. Sorry for the extreme nostalgia last week...but that kind of stuff happens every now and then. Oh - and thanks, Becca, for unwittingly allowing me to borrow (aka steal) that picture of us three. ;-)

I'm finally taking classes here at BYU! My schedule is no simple one, despite the fun I'm sure I'll be having. I have German 102, Beginning Ballroom Dance, Martial Arts (Jiu-Jitsu), Beginning Weight Training, and Flexibility. I'm hoping to be in much better shape at the end of this summer than at the beginning! Just in time to destroy the hard work on my body with a semester's worth of books and singing at FSU.

By the way, if you're the really creepy kind of sneaky person who likes to try to recreate people's school schedules from clues given in blogs, be warned - I could kill you with my pinky.

I can because I'm in a bunch of athletic classes. (Honestly, don't you read??)

So my first week of classes went by really well! It was incredibly good because I was able to learn all about myself. After all, what good is education if it can't teach you about you? So here are the eight big things I've learned this week:
1. I am woefully underprepared for my 2nd semester German class.
2. I have the tenacity to stick to a subject I'm not prepared for.
3. I'm not as good a dancer as I had previously thought.
4. I look like a ninja in my Jiu-Jitsu gi (uniform).
5. I turn very red while doing Jiu-Jitsu in the heavy, very warm gi.
6. My upper body is weaker than even I originally thought.
7. Having incredibly sore abs feels a lot like having a bad stomachache.
8. I fail at Flexibility. (Literally. I failed the pre-course test.)

My favorite class so far has to be Jiu-Jitsu. It's called Martial Arts in the BYU Catalog and on the Course Schedule, but the coach told as at the beginning that it's all Jiu-Jitsu. For those of you who don't know - and I didn't until we began the course - Jiu-Jitsu is pretty much all grappling. Grappling is like wrestling, except that the fight isn't over when someone is on their back. Rather, that's when the real fighting begins.

This is a gi. A Jiu-Jitsu gi. A Jiu-Jitsu gi that's very warm. It's a shame you can't feel it through the screen (how awesome would that be!! Could you imagine?! Just reaching through the laptop or monitor and -- woops, sorry, back on track--) If you could, you'd realize how thick and stiff the top is. I can practically hold it horizontal and it will keep it's shape. I know, I know, that's one Hefty piece of fabric.

Most of us in the class are brand new. That being said, we tend to hurt each other on accident often, mostly through trying the different moves a little too zealously.
Just to show you what I mean, I got a pretty sweet bruise on my inner arm this week! It's a shame you can't go back in time and see it the day after it happened (but oh my gosh, wouldn't that be insane?? Just imagine if--woops, sorry again--) It was a beautiful conflagration of greens, purples, reds, and yellows. It was like I had a Great Red Spot on my arm...only smaller...and seen through a weird color filter...

So that's my Martial Arts/Jiu-Jitsu class. A barrel of laughs!

The other interesting thing this week was my German class. I took the first test on Friday, and that was one of the first tests that I've ever taken that I was not prepared for. Usually I can just wing something that I haven't really studied for and do pretty well (good test-taking talent), but this was something else. Not exactly like my (Hel)LSAT experience, but even worse in a weird way. A weird, horrible way. I mean, I had actually studied and prepared for this test! And what did it profit me?

Shame. That's what it profited me. Shame. I seriously felt like drooling on my keyboard in the computer testing lab that day, then maybe mumbling to myself while shooting furtive glances around me. After all, people wouldn't blame a weird crazy person who drooled on technology. They would pity him and wonder why he was subjecting himself to something obviously beyond his menial and limited abilities.

In short: the test was way over my head.

And for your viewing pleasure, here are my instruments of self-esteem-malevolence in all their glory. Feast your eyes well, for they are expensive to obtain.

2 Editions. 1134 pages. Priceless? Nope: $300.

Some Sunday Nostalgia

2010-06-20T21:40:00.007-06:00

I know it's been a long while since anything has popped up here. I think I'm going to be letting people know a bit more about what is going on in my life...but right now I'm a wee bit tired, school starts tomorrow morning at 8, and I just had a brick named Nostalgia hit me between the eyes when this song came on iTunes.

This Marriage - Eric Whitacre, sung by BYU Singers

(If you're using Google Reader, you might not be able to see the player)

That was recorded in the BYU Museum of Art, part of a recording project that lasted a few nights. Just like the rest of my years in BYU Singers, that was an experience that I'll always cherish and never forget.

Recording Session

Skinnier version of me, weird smile...

Thank you, BYU, for all the friends and memories. I'm glad to be back for the Summer!!

It's been a long while.

2010-02-10T11:00:00.003-07:00

I was reflecting on my lack of postings on this blog the other day (like I do many days), and I realized that the last post was about a sickness that I couldn't exactly shake off. I suddenly thought that, not having posted here for months, people might think I'm dead!!

But then I realized that all y'all that check my blog also see me online on Facebook and Gmail and all those other social networking I-know-you're-alive websites. Or we talk on the phone. You know how it is.

So here I am now, sitting in the Allen Music Library at FSU with plenty of time on my hands. This is a perfect time to throw a post at my oft-neglected blog. There is an issue, however: I don't know what to say.

Oh no! What's the world coming to? Ben doesn't know what to say!!

I'm glad that many of you would appreciate that sarcasm.

Things have been very up and down the last few months. Thanksgiving was awesome at my grandpa's place in Alabama, Christmas and New Year's were fantastic at home in TX, and Valentine's looks to be fun here in FL (without a valentine, but fun nonetheless). In more recent news, my little sister just had her first baby last week - and if you don't yet, you should know that little Asa is adorable.

In fact, you can see for yourself...

So there you go. The most adorable nephew that's ever entered the world. :-D

As for the down parts of the last few months...well, thinking about what I've just written and about Asa has pretty much shown me that all the crap I felt was hitting me really isn't crap at all. Instead of monkeys throwing their poo at me, this is more like monkeys blowing dandelions in my face. Just annoying little things: like realizing my classes are going to take more time and effort than I thought they would. Like the opera taking up more of my time than I expected (what was I thinking? Of course it would take up all my time). Like having my debit card info stolen and used to buy $250 worth of junk online and in my name.

But honestly, that stuff isn't really that bad. The school stuff just means that I'm actually having to study and learn this stuff, the opera is teaching me what I really have to do to stay afloat in such a career, and I'm getting all the money back from the unauthorized use of my card. Life isn't bad at all...but occasionally I truly believe that God has a sense of humor that is far above what we mere mortals can understand.

So, despite my incredible lack of any kind of life exhibited on this blog, know that I'm alive and well. I've just been getting really busy...and my passion for writing on this blog has been waning. But now that I've been seeing other friends upping their posts on their own blogs - well, I feel guilty that I know so much about their lives while selfishly hiding my own in the ground.

Here's to having a post much more often. Even if it's as boring as this one!

Song of the Week / Sickness Update

2009-11-10T11:23:00.019-07:00

So this post is going to be a lot like the last post. Except I'm going to start with the sickness part this time!

So, for those of you who didn't catch it on facebook, I had something like the flu this past weekend. Now I say like the flu because I never had a test done...nor did I ever go to the doctor. But that's the joy when you have a doctor for a father! I called him up about my fever - 100.8 - and my sore throat with a cough, as well as my body aching and a horrible headache. So he had me take ibuprofen and acetaminophen, alternating every 3 hours or so, and Mucinex D (guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine) to relieve the cough and sinus congestion. For the lay people out there (this includes me...most of the time...), that's Advil, Tylenol, Mucinex, and Sudafed. This terrific drug cocktail pulled me up and out of the abyss that was my weekend.

"Yay Dad!" (waving a tiny flag)

...That was a quote from Disney's Robin Hood.

Anyway, my fever broke Sunday evening. But now this flu, or whatever it was, has developed into a headcold that has been hanging on these last few days. Horrible! Especially because I have a solo movement (the "Agnus Dei") in the Mass in B minor by Bach that FSU is performing tonight. We had one concert last night and I did fine...until the very end when I desperately wanted to cough. But that would have been bad on many levels, including infecting the first few rows of the audience. They certainly didn't pay for that.

So to make a long story short - too late! - I am now mostly better. I contacted my voice students and given them the option of rescheduling their lessons for today due to my potential contagiousness (a real word), and most of them agreed to reschedule. One of them didn't, though...so I now have to wonder if she's somewhat of a masochist, hoping to get sick, or has a wicked immune system that puts mine to shame.

Those of you with more experience around me would probably vote highly for the latter.

Alright, now on to the Song of the Week! This one I found while surfing the web for French restaurants (long story), and stumbled across it while on the menu page for a French restaurant called La Caille, just outside of Salt Lake City on the way to Little Cottonwood Canyon. It's très, très expensive for a student like me, and for many other people that aren't students. In fact, unless you're a good lawyer or doctor or executive, La Caille is probably out of your league. Just sayin'. Their website is AWESOME though, so go and visit it if you have a chance. Very chic. Just go past the first page.

The first song was a nice French one, called "Un Jour Comme un Autre" (A Day Like Any Other), but it was just 'eating' music to me. You know...it just fills up the background and makes lags in the conversation less awkward than they should be. But THIS song, On n'a pas besoin, immediately caught my attention when it came on while I was perusing the menu. I forgot about the über-expensive meals on the page and scrolled down to the bottom, where they had a little blurb about the music. So good!!

Click the picture, then click the play button at Playlist.com to listen to the track.

On n'a pas besoin, or There's no need in my limited French, is by a French group called "Paris Combo", and all their music is (naturally) in French. If any of you are into modern jazz that's catchy and singable, then this music is for you. Maybe. If you happen to like Becca's Brazilian music at all, then I promise you'll love this stuff.

If you'd like to buy it, go and do so on Amazon.com for only $0.89! It's a steal, really. And the whole album is only $7.99.

Pretty cool, n'est-ce pas?

Song of the Week

2009-11-05T17:54:00.008-07:00

Every now and then I find a song that just sticks in my head and screams for me to play it on my iPod nearly nonstop. That unsatiable desire sometimes lasts for about a week. My love affair this week is with Owl City's "Fireflies". It has been playing itself over and over in my head and on my iPod. I just find it incredibly catchy and (dare I say) cute - it talks about fireflies giving hugs! And dancing!

Anthony, you can lower your eyebrow now.

It's just a nice little something different from my standard Lifehouse and Coldplay playlists. The rest of the album - most of which you can listen to on their website - isn't bad, especially if you're into electronic and/or dance music. And the lyrics are all pretty good! But the single "Fireflies" is probably enough for me to buy right now, although I kinda like "Hello Seattle". As a whole, Owl City has a quasi-video game quality to it (being synthesized) that pulls me back to my childhood when I played Nintendo and Sega Genesis. Nowadays the video game music is practically orchestrated, but thanks to Owl City I can re-experience the good old days.

*sigh* How can I resist music that does that?

On a different note, I'm coming down with something ghastly that's causing a sore throat. Aaaack! And I have to sing my solo in the Bach Mass in B minor on Monday and Tuesday! I'm trying to deal with it on my own: drinking tons of water (and having to go to the bathroom way too often), gargling salt water, and getting plenty of sleep. Well...at least trying to get plenty of sleep.

I'm also chugging along with NaNoWriMo. I was up to par on my word count last night, and now I need to get to typing to keep up with my 1,667 words today. It looks like victory could be a possibility!

Quick Update

2009-11-02T16:03:00.013-07:00

My phone is ALIIIIIVE!!

(This is the Transformer that turns into a cell phone in the movie.)

That being said, if anyone wants to call me they now can. I doubt I'll have any unusual amount of phone activity, but just so you know that the potential is there. :-)

I also wanted to post the link to my NaNoWriMo homepage (<~~ click the picture!). This is the page that will have my wordcount (hoping for 50,000!) as well as a small excerpt from what I typed up yesterday.

And, for your knowledge and viewing pleasure, here is the daily wordcount I have to stay up with in order to win NaNoWriMo by November 30th. The number list refers to the date (on November 1st I had to have 1,667 words, etc.)

Day 1: 1,667 words
Day 2: 3,334 words
Day 3: 5,001 words
Day 4: 6,668 words
Day 5: 8, 335 words
Day 6: 10,002 words
Day 7: 11,669 words
Day 8: 13,336 words
Day 9: 15,003 words
Day 10: 16,670 words
Day 11: 18,337 words
Day 12: 20,004 words
Day 13: 21,671 words
Day 14: 23,338 words
Day 15: 25,005 words
Day 16: 26,672 words
Day 17: 28,339 words
Day 18: 30,006 words
Day 19: 31,673 words
Day 20: 33,340 words
Day 21: 35,007 words
Day 22: 36,674 words
Day 23: 38,341 words
Day 24: 40,008 words
Day 25: 41,675 words
Day 26: 43,342 words
Day 27: 45,009 words
Day 28: 46,675 words
Day 29: 48,343 words
Day 30: 50,000 words

So bug me a lot if the wordcount on my NaNoWriMo homepage doesn't reflect this! Thanks a bunch in advance for keeping me on top of this. :-)

Now I'm off to a rehearsal for the Bach Mass in B minor. Woohoo!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T16:40:00.010-06:00

An update: my phone has gone into a coma. Living for two days without being able to communicate via speech to any of my family or friends away from Tallahassee has been surprisingly difficult. I mean, I know that we used to live like that until the last few decades - but I never did! So any kind of loneliness I might have felt beforehand is now exponentially stronger. It's just a little tough. :-(

But never fear! The Sprint people (as though they are a separate race of humans...) told me that I will be getting a new phone on Monday after 2pm. Why such a different answer than a few weeks ago when I complained of screen issues? Apparently they have a different opinion on phones with condensation under the screen. Hooray!

And it's Halloween!! Woohoo! I've learned to become a bit wary about 'parties' around these parts, what with underage drinking and skankiness always making a showing. So my big celebration ended up happening last night instead of this evening, when the FLYSAGA (FLorida Young Single Adults GeorgiA) group threw a Halloween dance at the Institute building in Gainesville, FL. The "Zombie Prom" as it was affectionately named was awesome, with dancing and food and fake blood and dead faces galore! But I must admit...I was a bit of a bum and didn't go in a costume (I've had a hard week, okay!). Thankfully, a friend of mine named Claire viciously applied eye shadow to my entire face - along with a few artful dabs of pomegranate Burt's Beeswax lip balm - and made me a zombie-fied college student! Hooray again!

I'll try to get some pictures from...um, well, I guess from anybody that was there, and then put them on here. It was a ton of fun! Even the 2 1/2 hour drive was a lot of fun (especially leaving Gainesville after 1am - and getting back into my own bed at 5am).

So here is my tribute to the Halloween spirit. After all, we must remember the reason for the season.

("Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?" from The Onion)

I overslept! September's LONG over!

2009-10-29T13:03:00.012-06:00

A lot has happened here in sleepy Tallahassee over the last month. Let me explain. No, there is too much - let me sum up. (Yes, that is a quote from The Princess Bride for those of you that caught it.)

I auditioned for the opera Serse (Xerxes in English), and have been cast as Arsamene. Woohoo! There goes my Christmas break, learning a role! ;-)

I have taught voice lessons now for a couple of months. Who knew that I would take to private teaching?

My truck has now been replaced with a green Honda Civic. Crazy! But SO MUCH BETTER in gas mileage. You have no idea.

Also, I have decided to plan my descent into the 9th Level of Hell by signing up to do National Novel Writing Month next month. There are a few people in my ward that are going to do it, and they explained the whole thing to me. The basics: I'm going to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. As in 30 days. That equals out to about 1,667 words a day!

When they (my "friends"...) first told me about this, I thought they were simply crazy and/or masochistic. A whole novel in 30 days? What are they thinking?! I mean, I considered doing it at the time...but along the lines of crazily considering what it must be like to get struck by lightning (sizzle/KABOOM!), get in a fight with a shark (poke it in the eye!!), or leap off the Empire State Building (it would be pretty windy). Those aren't exactly serious considerations here.

But then I thought, "Ben, you used to write all the time when you were younger! Why not search for that creative side of you again?" And I have to admit...I had a pretty creative and active imagination. Even now my id likes to play around with me, giving me intense dreams with Blu-ray detail and elegant plotlines. But to actually dredge that part of my brain out of the muck of mediocrity? It'd be difficult to do.

So I decided to do it on a whim. That's how these crazy decisions work, isn't it?

Wake me up when September ends

2009-09-01T12:04:00.010-06:00

Alrighty, it's been a little bit since my last post, and a lot has happened since then. For example, I'm in Tallahassee right now! Crazy! It's SO humid here, and combined with the heat...well, it's pretty much death. It's been raining almost every day here too. Yeah. There have been a lot of good things that have been happening (especially in school), but there have been a lot of crappy things happening as well. Like my backpack breaking last week. And not having a bed until (hallelujah!) two nights ago. Or not having any income from my assistantship until two weeks from now. And realizing the voice faculty want me to take 15 extra credit hours of language that I will have to pay for! And not having my financial aid money until I can deposit my check (which hasn't arrived yet) into a bank that doesn't exist yet in Tallahassee!!

*cough cough*
Sorry.

But anyway, I wanted to write today (especially today) because of a wee little occurence last night. It seems that my closet decided to herald in the new month by...imploding!! Yes, ladies and gentleman, my closet did pretty much the exact opposite of exploding by dropping it's largest closet rod/shelf on to the floor. At approximately 1 AM. As the story goes (...and I know, because I was there), I woke up early this morning with a loud and resounding CRASH that left me staring stupidly around my dark room. Without a lamp to see what had happened, I just assumed that one of the many boxes still stacked up in the middle of my room had fallen over or collapsed. I woke up this morning and saw...nothing out of the ordinary - as though my boxes had intelligently righted themselves (cue music from "The Twilight Zone"). I then assumed that the sound I'd heard the night before had to have come from the apartment upstairs. So I took a shower and got ready for the day.

I opened up my closet to pick out my clothes and found...

I stared at it for about a minute or two. Just stared. Marveling at the unexpected but inherent beauty in the angle at which all the clothes were laying, the perfect dichotomoy of order and chaos that were literally existing right next to each other, as well as the unbelievable-ness of what had occured. How?? Why?!?

On closer inspection I discovered that the screws and nails that held the shelf "securely" to the wall had been pulled out, ripping through the drywall and causing the loud CRASH at 1 in the morning. All of this from a bunch of shirts, some slacks, a canvas shoe holder, and some practically empty luggage on top of the shelf. For what I'm paying to live here, you would think that the closets would be adequately constructed! And I'd better not hear the management tell me that I shouldn't have things on top of the shelf. Otherwise, what is the POINT of a shelf?!

I pondered all of these things as I stared.

When I was done, instead of curling up on the floor and sobbing for Mommy, I decided instead to laugh and take a picture. After all, how often do we have the chance of having our closets implode?

Senioritis & Saigon Café

2009-07-29T17:29:00.008-06:00

I've always been a "good" student. You know the kind, the ones that work hard on their papers and projects so that they are the best they possibly can be. I wasn't a total recluse, though; I've had my late papers and stuff like that. But overall, I've been a very conscientious student.

That student died a few weeks ago.

Now I find myself sitting here, with two papers and an exam looming over my head, writing a blog post. Me!! Of all people!! I hardly ever blog!! But Senioritis has now stepped into my life with a horrible vengeance. And as such, this seemed to be a perfectly good time to write some stuff down about what I've been doing.

Today I went to Saigon Café with Anthony, Angie, and my friend Kristin. I have to tell you - it's certainly not the best Chinese food you'll ever find, nor is it the most charming of locations and decor. But for the price...it's the best value around. Looking at different reviews from the Google search page, Saigon Café actually has gotten about an average of 4 out of 5 stars! Pretty impressive, eh?

As you probably saw on my previous post (#38), we go there often. It's just such a nice place to get cheap food that's not bad at all. In fact, combos are only $4.95 for the Chinese-style chips and dip, soup, entree with fried rice, and an eggroll. It's difficult to argue with that. BUT, every day they have one of their combos for only $3.95. So take a dollar off, and then it's almost impossible to say no! It has been a much cherished lunch locale for many years now.

Anyway, that's my little spiel about Saigon Café. For those of you still in Provo, please go enjoy it while you can. For those of you that have left - hold on to the memories!

A post for BYU-bound students

2009-07-26T19:01:00.008-06:00

My little sister is about to come out here and start her college career at BYU! How exciting! There's a big part of me that's wishing I would be here for just one more year to enjoy it with her. Alas, that is not to be. So, instead, I've thought of something that should help out.

Here is a list of 50* things that I thought my little sister should do. Some of these simply can't be done in her freshman year (like #32), but many of them can. And, by the way, I've done each one of these things listed. There's a heck of a lot more that I could put on here, but I either couldn't think of them or I forgot. Hahaa...they're both kind of the same reason.

Anyway, let me know what you think of these! And see if they bring back any good memories. Or bad ones. ;-)

Things you need to do at BYU:
1. Hike the Y.
2. Stay up all night just talking to somebody (preferably of the opposite sex).
3. ALWAYS stop the car on 8th North for the ducks.
4. Play Frisbee at night with a light-up Frisbee.
5. Remember to sell back your books.
6. Read your textbooks.
7. Read something other than your textbooks.
8. Do not do homework on Sundays. Ever. Don’t even worry about it. Trust me.
9. Let your room become a pigsty at least once.
10. Now clean your room.
11. Participate in at least one performing group, officially BYU or not.
12. Participate in at least one athletic team, officially BYU or not.
13. Take an exercise class just for fun (Trevor’s hint: try Flexibility).
14. Speak to each of your professors at least once throughout the semester.
15. Get a job on campus.
16. Stay in the library until it closes at midnight – and enjoy the music.
17. Go night-skiing at Brighton.
18. Drop everything to go help a friend.
19. Play night games.
20. ALWAYS respect curfew. You signed your name and agreed to it.
21. Randomly burst out in song in the middle of Brigham’s Square.
22. Go camping.
23. Longboard down Provo Canyon (you’ll need 2 cars – try Nun’s Park).
24. Drop a bucket of bouncy balls down the SWKT stairwell. OR…
25. Drop/roll a bucket of bouncy balls down the spiral staircase in the JFSB. They’re both fun.
26. Laugh with a group of people until you all nearly pass out.
27. Go to the BYU Christmas Concert. Every year if you can.
28. Strike up a conversation with a completely random stranger.
29. Get lost in the basement of the HFAC.
30. Try out all the hands-on stuff in the ESC.
31. Go to J Dawgs.
32. Be a part of a dinner group.
33. Explore Salt Lake City Cemetery in the dark. Find Pres. Hinckley’s tombstone.
34. Start calling the Mormon Tabernacle Choir the “MoTab.”
35. Attend the MoTab Christmas Concert at least once.
36. Keep a picture of your family in your room.
37. Buy fudge from the BYU Bookstore.
38. Go to the Saigon Cafe for lunch. Often.
39. Keep a plant.
40. Attend a session of General Conference at the Conference Center.
41. Magnify your church calling.
42. Go to a midnight movie. Or a lot of them.
43. Go to the Holi Festival of Colors.
44. Don’t trust everything in Mormon Doctrine, no matter what other students may tell you.
45. Go and develop your own opinion of Sub Zero Ice Cream.
46. Stay at BYU for Spring/Summer Terms.
47. Drive through the Alpine Loop.
48. Get your car booted only once.
49. Take your friends and occasional date to lunch/dinner with your meal plan.
50. Go to the Bean Life Science Museum.
51. Go to the Skyroom with your friends at least once a semester.
52. Go to the Cracker Barrel every semester during reading days. Pajamas are necessary.
53. Take advantage of two-for-one massages at the school of massage therapy! Get a masseuse preferably of your own sex.
54. Break down BAWLING in front of someone at least once (preferably not in your family).
55. Have a picnic in the mountains.
56. Get ice cream at the BYU creamery. At least monthly.
57. After a huge snowstorm, observe the naked Indian.
58. Scream yourself hoarse rooting for BYU at the BYU-Utah game.
59. Go sledding at Rock Canyon.
60. Start cleaning for cleaning checks EARLY (and don't ask your mom or aunt for help).
61. You MUST go to a cornmaze during Halloween. At least once, preferably multiple times.
62. Take complete advantage of the BYU Lost & Found sale. Just get there a couple hours early and wait in line.
63. Have several DTRs. OR...
64. Have as many DTRs as would result in maximized utility, as circumstances may require.
65. Buy clothing from the BYU Bookstore (Becca's hint: shoes).
66. Volunteer at the TRC.
67. Attend the temple regularly. You will literally NEVER live that close to a temple again.
68. Live in the FLSR.
69. Stay up all night to write a paper.
70. Stay up all night studying with a friend of the opposite sex. At Denny’s.

*This is the updated post, including the additional items from comments. Feel free to keep adding! :-D

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T19:33:00.002-06:00

So this is going to be a simple post. No pictures, no links to various pages or Wikipedia articles (okay, maybe just that one). One of the reasons I've been avoiding posting for a while is because I just don't have any very good pictures, or funny little stories, or engaging debates that I've had recently. But after reading a bunch of other blogs, I have realized that I don't really care whether or not a friend has any pictures up. Or funny little stories, or even engaging debates they've had recently. I like knowing what's going on.

So here's where I stand right now. Summer term starts tomorrow (!!), my last little taste of BYU before I head out. Where to, do you ask? Why, the great Florida State University! About as different from BYU as you can get. Well...maybe not the most different from any other university, but pretty close. I've already found a couple places to live (hopefully in this one house with a bunch of other LDS guys...), and I can feel the end coming closer and closer.

Interestingly...as I get closer to the end of my time at BYU, I have started realizing how absolutely beautiful BYU is during the summer time! I also noticed in my pictures how gorgeous BYU is during this winter time! And during fall, when the leaves are changing color! And during spring, when everything is starting to bud and bloom!! I live in beauty!!!

Kind of funny how it's taken me all of five years here at this university to figure that out. Now I have the rest of these eight weeks (slightly less, actually) to completely soak in the essence of Brigham Young University. Then, when I begin my time at FSU, I can still bleed true-blue among all of that garnet.

A post!

2009-04-28T07:31:00.005-06:00

A post, a post! My kingdom for a post!

Yeah yeah, here is my dinky little excuse for contact with anybody who happens to read this thing. This poor, dilapidated thing that used to be a weblog. Anyway - today I leave the country with BYU Singers to spread choral and gospel cheer throughout Ireland, Wales, and England! How cool!

So...if you want to keep on top of my doings along with the rest of Singers, go to the Singers' blog to follow along with our tour. It's going to be great!

:-D

My first post! In how long...hmm...oh dear...

2009-03-06T07:57:00.003-07:00

So, in case people have been hanging on my blog for the sake of my continued existence - I'm still alive and breathing. You may rest easy.

My life has been pretty up and around and across the western hemisphere these last few months. While I don't have the time or space to detail my decisions, travels, hopes, and dreams that have occurred recently, I'll try to get the main point across.

A number of months ago I finally made the decision to pursue music as a grad degree and career instead of law. That was a pretty tough decision. Once it was made I spent a lot more time (and a lot more money) than I ever had before singing and studying up for auditions and stuff. I can't even begin to describe the anxiety I've felt during this time. Not simply because auditions are scary things, and changing your life's plans are simply horrific to me, but also because I have no idea if I'll even be able to support a family well in my future musical career. Thankfully, I do have the greatest assurance in the world: the Spirit (not to get spiritual on y'all). My decision was based on study and prayer (D&C 9:7-8), and now I know that this is the right thing for me to be doing in my life at this moment. In fact, it took me 8 months to get any answer to my question at all.

So this past month has been full of auditions. In order of weekends:
1a. New England Conservatory (Boston, MA)
1b. San Francisco Conservatory (San Francisco, CA)
2a. Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)
2b. Brigham Young University (Provo, UT)
3. Mannes Conservatory (New York, NY)

Simply for clarification, that Boston audition and the San Fran one were in the same weekend. But I'm not complaining that much. I actually got to spend an hour with Becca and Tyler when I was stuck in the Philly airport for 4 hours that weekend! My stupid connecting flight through Philadelphia was horribly delayed, but it was a blessing in disguise since it placed me in the exact position I needed to be in to see a well-missed friend.

Ooooh, I wanted to post the airports that I've been through this last month as well! In weekend order too. It gives a better understanding as to why I've been so exhausted lately...
1a. Salt Lake City
1b. Denver
1c. Boston Logan (audition city)
1d. Philadelphia
1e. San Francisco (audition city)
1f. Salt Lake City
2a. Salt Lake City
2b. Memphis
2c. Tallahassee (audition city)
2d. Atlanta
2e. Denver
2f. Salt Lake City
3a. Salt Lake City
3b. Phoenix Sky Harbor
3c. New York JFK (audition city)
3d. Minneapolis/Saint Paul
3e. Salt Lake City

What a list! Eleven different airports!

Alright, I can see that now I'm just rambling about things that aggravated me a bit, but really don't have that much bearing or interest to other people outside of myself. Not that I have anyone else inside of me.

And now, with such a lame post, you can be guaranteed that I will write again soon! If for no other reason than to have a different post at the top of my page. ;-)

BYU Weekly

2008-11-26T20:03:00.005-07:00

My first post in months!! And it's going to be extremely short...sadly. I actually don't have any time to write anything more tonight. :-( I tried to load this video on YouTube, but it doesn't seem to like my computer. Or my home router. Or just me.

Anyway, here's the BYU video that showed during the second week of November! :-D

And now, as I finally got it loaded onto Blogger, I realized that the sound and the video desynchronized. Great. Well, I'm afraid that this is the best version that I'm going to get on here for a little while, so I hope you enjoy it!

Whew!

2008-08-08T15:09:00.007-06:00

Hello world!

It's been a while since I last updated my blog (yeah, 'a while' meaning just over 2 months), so I figured I'd go ahead and throw something on here. I also got a comment by my friend Becca on the last blog post "Death of a Computer," letting me know that my computer has been dead for a while now as well.

Ahem.

Thankfully, my computer has been up and running for about a month and a half now. Once I got back to Provo - and my external hard drive - I was able to clean the bugger out and replace all the info on the hard drive anew. My computer, however, has been one of the lower concerns of my life since I left Tallahassee.

Just a really quick bit about my travels along the east coast afterward: I left for DC on June 26, then the next day hopped on to a scary Chinatown bus to meet Becca and Tyler Johnson in Philadelphia! I stayed with them during the weekend and went to ther very interesting ward on Sunday. Monday came and I Greyhounded my way up to New York City!! That was the coolest thing ever, to go to such a city with nothing to do but be a tourist. :-)

I visited/saw/did the following things (I made a list on my phone so I wouldn't forget):
Museum of Modern Art
Central Park
Times Square
The GAP (for a cloth belt - you try finding one in Manhattan)
Banana Republic (...just because)
Manhattan Temple
Lincoln Center/Met Opera House
Julliard
A really cool cathedral
Time Warner Center
Serendipity3
Empire State Building
Max Brenner's (there are no words)
A HUGE Post Office (sent a postcard)
Ground Zero
Battery Park
Staten Island Ferry
Got my umbrella stolen
Walked like a nomad on crack
Conquered the Subway!

After two wonderful days in New York, and staying with Joseph Olson's family, I hightailed my way up to Boston to visit Harvard University and see Boston. And wouldn't you know? The one day that I was up there - it rained. A LOT (see above about my umbrella). And then, after Boston and delicious clam chowder, I turned around and went all the way back to DC to start the Crittenden Opera Program.

By the way, my bus up to Boston and back down to DC was BoltBus, an incredibly effective bus...as long as you aren't trying to string two bus rides together. But it's the cleanest bus company, and they have free WiFi in the bus during the trip! Of course, I didn't have my computer with me, so that point was moot.

And I'm afraid that the rest of my Crittenden experience is going to have to wait until next time. As will the pictures of Philly, NY, and Boston. Sorry! I'll have to wait until I'm back at my own computer.

Until next time!! :-D

Death of a Computer

2008-06-03T00:08:00.009-06:00

So I don't have much time right now, as this is lunchtime in between our class sessions at this law program at FSU. But I wanted to be able to begin my post lamenting the impending loss of my faithful and honorable laptop. Sadly, I never named him (he's definitely a guy, since I can't have girls in my bedroom at BYU...hahaha), and so I have no name on which to bestow my grief!

On Saturday I realized that I never downloaded the correct drivers to make my Bluetooth module work properly. I decided to fix that problem. Bad idea. I couldn't remember where inside my laptop the module resides, so I began taking things out and looking around - I needed to know the make/model of the Bluetooth module in order to get the right driver. In my own defense (next to my own prosecution), I have taken many an item out of my laptop before, including my hard drive. This time, though, my hard drive did not work properly when I rebooted my computer. In fact, it didn't really work at all.

Behold the dreaded blue screen of death!
Except my dreaded blue screen didn't have half of these words on it, all the text was in the top left corner, and it only lasted approximately .7 seconds. Then the entire system restarted. If you try to load Windows in any format, Safe mode or whatever, you get the same screen: the Blue Screen of Death.

Now, the observant among you will realize that I have created this post on a computer. Indeed, I am typing this on my very own laptop. The contradiction is resolved with this: Ubuntu! My old roommate and good friend Antony directed me to the Ubuntu website where I could download the Operating System, burn it onto a CD, and then use that OS directly off of the CD in a Live Session. Basically I could throw my hard drive out and just use this CD. Unfortunately, it takes a bit longer to use than I'm used to because it's constantly reading off of the CD, and I can't make any changes that will last longer than a single restart. But for the time being, I can use the internet and type up assignments.

Speaking of which, as soon as I get some more time, I will post a sampling of some of the best assignments that I've done with this beloved machine. They will be sparse; do not fear.

Death of a Camera

2008-05-28T13:41:00.010-06:00

You probably noticed in my last post that I actually took the picture of my room (I know, that might be a little on the "Duh." side). Well, that picture you see of the bulb-less light was the last good picture my camera will ever take. *sniff* Yes, it is a very sad thing.

Apparently the inner workings of the camera have lost some of their connections. Immediately after I took the picture I noticed that neither the zoom nor the menu buttons did anything, anything at all. This poses some problems: I can't zoom, obviously; I cannot edit any of the settings of the camera; and, most importantly, I cannot delete any photos without putting the SD card into a computer and doing it manually. That means that the random photos I have saved onto my camera's internal memory are permanently saved there. And are irretrievable. So sad!

So this post is just going to be a trip down memory lane, so to speak, to revisit some of my camera's most wonderful achievements. Please ignore the atrocious arranging that Blogger insists on using for my pictures, but think instead on how each of these pictures was taken by my camera. Let us take a moment of silence as we remember with fondness how well my little camera fulfilled the measure of its creation.

Happy Memorial Day!

2008-05-26T19:04:00.007-06:00

I realized after my last post that there is a lot about this program that I just didn't put into words. Like how I live in a totally crappy place called Southgate.

Do not be fooled by the adjective it gives itself on its website - "relaxed luxury" - for there is nothing relaxing nor luxurious about this off-campus dorm. There are two different locales within Southgate - the normal dorms, and The Lofts. The Lofts are two story, more private, nicer apartments that we do not have the privilege of enjoying. The dorms themselves are bigger than the normal dorms you might find in other universities. We do get private bathrooms (full bathrooms, complete with showers) and a good bit of wiggle room. What we do not get is a light in our bedroom. Nope. No light.

My room from my bed.

Oh wait!! In case you didn't quite see where my light should be, here's a better view above the door.

Bulbs anyone?

The picture just can't quite do justice to the deplorable status of light in these rooms; this little non-working light above the door is the ONLY light in the room! And ours doesn't even work!! We've had to constantly use a lamp that my roommate J.W. bought at Target. I ended up taking the bulbs out of our actual light and trying to replace them from the bulbs in the hallway. I figured that if they wouldn't fix the lights in our bedrooms, they would surely replace the lights that are supposed to be on 24/7 in the hallways. But then, sadness! The bulbs in the hallway are different. They didn't fit our room light. :'-(

But anyway, on a better note, we went to the Rez today! The Rez is a recreational area at a lake, owned by FSU and used by students and family. FSU Law School bussed all of us little undergrads over there this morning, we played a bunch of teamwork games that actually were fun, and then spent a few hours playing at the Rez. We had the option of going on the lake, playing football, playing volleyball, climbing a rock wall, swimming, etc. So I picked the one thing available to me that I had never done before: I went kayaking! It was a ton of fun, and I now feel like I should buy a kayak if I ever move to a location that has a bunch of lakes and rivers. We then played volleyball, where I made some fabulous shots by kicking the ball (translation: I suck at volleyball and ended up treating it like soccer).

By the time we got home at 4 o'clock I was exhausted. I ended up being domestic and folded my laundry, cleaned up my part of the room, then collapsed on my bed for over an hour. I still have a large part of the evening open to me, so I think I'm going to head over to Walmart and buy Catch Phrase and see if I can get anyone to join me in a no-alcohol-required-but-fun passtime.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Memorial Day!

Hello from FSU

2008-05-24T10:08:00.017-06:00

I must say, not only has it been a while since I last posted on this blog, but the post that I ended with last time left it looking like I was going to return as some newly-formed Apollo, complete with rippling abs. Reality, however, is normally satisfied with the mundane; I have no rippling abs to report. But I do have another major update: I'm in Tallahassee!!

I've been in Tallahassee now for almost a week. Let me tell you: Florida State University is about as similar to BYU as a kitten is to a cobra. Or a table. Florida State is, of course, a university as BYU is, but their focus at the student level is almost antithetical (if that's a word). Now before I go any further, let it be known that I do not in any way speak lowly of FSU. It's a great university that's just a bit different from my own. I hope that I do not step on any toes by publishing this to my blog (Becca understands, I'm sure).

BYU students generally have a source of motivation - and dare I say, hope? - that lies in the independent region of the heart. The combination of the Church, the Honor Code, and the expectations of faculty and staff cultivate a deep sense of responsibility and wholeness within the students that they usually don't even recognize, and yet it produces an ingrained type of maturity. They're motivated by their grades as are students at other universities, but they are emotionally motivated by activities and friendships that are inherently wholesome. At Florida State such a motivation must come solely from themselves and their choice of lifestyles. BYU students get recharged by simple, fun, social activities that only really involve each other (and a game). Interestingly, a good number of FSU students recharge by going to a club or bar nearby campus where they participate in sociality, but under the cloud of alcohol.

I have to say, after seeing groups of my new friends here go out to bars or nightclubs three times so far in the first week of the program, their motivation and/or "recharge" is a pretty dang shaky one. On a personal note, it also leaves me somewhat alone during those times. But never fear! A number of the students here have also begun to express their distaste (at least) for such frequencies to establishments of alcohol, and I have begun to find some wholesome relaxing and recharging even here. A few nights ago we stayed up for a while playing Taboo (what a blast), the next night Uno (halfway in Spanish), and last night we went to a 10:00 o'clock showing of Iron Man with a trip afterwards to Sonic - and we all had fun! I don't think they believe me when I mention that this is what I do every night at BYU and still manage to have a ton of fun. Granted, alcohol wasn't entirely avoided - most of the Uno players were drinking white wine - but overall it was not a major part of our fun.

Anyway, I didn't want to spend all my time writing about the imbibatory differences in our college cultures.

This program is harder than I thought! We aren't being graded or anything like that, and our days are only from 9 to 3:15, but we all end up taking or wanting to take naps by the time we're through! We have two classes a day that we attend: Legal Writing (which is more like Legal Analysis) and Law Class. I know, the latter sounds almost comically generic. Legal Writing is a lot of fun; so far we've learned a ton about different kinds of laws and how they're applied to cases. This is the class that will have us present 8-minute oral arguments in a mock court session at the end of this program. The Law Class is an intense perusal of appeals covering the different types of law that are available for study. We've glanced over Torts, Insurance, Evidence stuff, Negligence and Personal Injury, with a large number of cases left to study in next three weeks. So far I can tell you that my least favorite law subject is Insurance law. Ew.

Overall, I'm having a blast out here! The days are hot, humid, and long; all the flora is a living green color, with all the trees adorned in spanish moss (the blackish gray moss that hangs from branches); and the people in this program are smart, different, good people that are making the same decision I am: is law school for me?

Tomorrow I'll go to the Singles Ward and figure out how they deal with entertainment stuff here in Tallahassee. :-D

An email to my dad while on tour...

2008-04-29T22:34:00.001-06:00

Dad-

That would be awesome! I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to get anything out to you - since I don't have my computer here and the internet isn't free very often, it's difficult to check my email. This is actually the first time since Sunday. Your plan's better than the one I've thought of, and since I don't need a car I say go for it!
Tour is going very well so far. This morning I started an exercise regiment consisting of little exercises (push-ups, sit-ups, back exercises, shoulder ones, etc.) that I will vary day by day. Tour is a terrific way of gaining a good 10 pounds or so, eating copious amounts of food that is so willingly given by members and host families. I also bought an Aerobie frisbee and played my heart out today a few times. The result: I am now sore, and can feel the deep soreness coming on. I will most likely be comatose in the morning. Other than that, things are going terrificly!
I'll try to keep things updated more! Tell mom and the girls that I (we with Anthony) love them and can't wait to see them on the 10th!

Love,
Ben ;-)

On Mon, Apr 28, 2008 at 5:38 PM, Greg Gardner <gggardner@gmail.com> wrote:

Ben

It is actually cheaper to fly roundtrip DFW to Tallahassee on Saturday the 14th then fly one way to SLC on Tuesday the 17th. This would save about $150 and have you visit home for 3 days. If you don't need a vehicle there, this is the best way. A vehicle would probably mean taking the Suburban as it would be very difficult to get rid of or trade for a smaller vehicle.

Dad

Book tag and movie quote exhibition!

2008-04-20T14:20:00.014-06:00

Following my sister's example, I have decided to relax a little in my postings and "reply" to a game that she tagged me with. Here's the deal: you have to grab the book nearest to you, open up to page 123, find and post the 5th sentence, then tag 5 people. I can tell you right now that I don't know enough bloggers to tag 5 people without exhausting my blogging contacts. So I'll skimp on that one. And then you put down a movie quote and see if anyone can pin it down. It might seem a little dumb, but it's pretty fun!

Here's my book tag. Alas, it's pretty lame:

Toward the end of the sixteenth century, the diamond-shaped notes of Renaissance notation changed to the round note-heads we use now, and ligatures fell out of use.

-Burkholder, A History of Western Music

And my movie quote!

He was always a rather stupidly optimistic man. I'm afraid it came as a great shock to him when he died.

-?????

Guess it right and win a prize!! ...Not really. But the imagination is always better than reality, right?

Okeedokee, I tag Alex, Becca, and Amy. Let's see if they do it. Good luck!

And by the way, here's an exceptionally good comic Dani showed me today. Enjoy!

It's been a little while

2008-04-19T11:43:00.011-06:00

So my last post was apparently on April 6, roughly two weeks ago. Dang. I need to get better at keeping this thing.

The biggest news that has come about in the last two weeks: I GOT ACCEPTED TO THE FSU SUMMER LAW PROGRAM!!! I just got the email on Thursday letting me know about it! I am so excited! In case you have forgotten (or I didn't mention it earlier), this program is 4 weeks long at Florida State University - and everything is paid for except for my flight to Tallahassee. How cool is that?! And even cooler, although it is a bit of bragging, only 60 students were selected out of a pool of over 500 applicants. It makes me so happy that I can achieve something like this! :-)

I also emailed the WINS program and the USCIS to inform them of my decision to pull out of my internship for this summer. It took me quite a while to do it, but I eventually (finally) sent them the message yesterday. The WINS Administrative Assistant, Liz Litchfield (an incredibly nice woman), wrote me back within half an hour and graciously wished me the best of luck during the summer and invited me to consider WINS again in the future. My internship sponsor from the USCIS has yet to responded, if ever, to the notification. Hmmm.

I only have a couple more things to do to cement my summer into place: first, I need to formally apply to the Crittenden Opera Studio Workshop and send in my audition recordings by May 4; I need to send in my Notice of Intent to the FSU Summer for Undergraduates by May 2; and I need to buy my plane tickets for both of the programs.

I also wanted to stay behind and work at the library when I won't be in FL or DC, but upon plotting my summer excursions on paper I realized that I will only have 3 weeks or less to work during the months of June and July, and heaven knows what our family might do during the month of August. So now I'm going to have to speak to my boss about letting me work for only a few weeks - maybe 5? - during the whole summer. I don't know how he'll take it, but it's worth a shot.

As for school right now, we are smack-dab in the middle of finals! I have two more left: a take home final for Supervised Teaching (Music 472), and a final in two parts for my last ever Music History/Literature class (Music 304). Then all I'm going to have to worry about is our concert for BYU Singers the night of Commencement and our tour only three days later. This summer is going to be TERRIFIC. :-D

This Weekend

2008-04-06T15:15:00.017-06:00

For those who might not know, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather together twice a year to listen to our General Authorities speak to the entire Church as a whole. The Conference is broadcast in 92 languages to who knows how many different countries. Living in Provo gives us the opportunity to go to Salt Lake and attend a session or two in person. Like my last post stated, the BYU auditioned choirs sang in the Saturday Afternoon Session, one of the five sessions of General Conference. This year I was blessed to be able to attend three of the five sessions in Salt Lake, two of which were in the Conference Center.

I always forget how big the Conference Center is! It's huge!! I got to see it from two different views during this General Conference: once from the choir loft (behind the pulpit), and one from the balcony. Both views make you feel like you're really looking at a picture, or a big IMAX screen, but certainly not a huge open building. This room seats over 21,000 people! Incredible.

I didn't really have a chance to rest this weekend like I wanted to. In order to sing at the Saturday Afternoon Session you have to be inside the Conference Center before the previous session ends (and the sessions are spaced 2 hours apart). We wanted to see as much of the Morning Session as possible - therefore, we left Provo a little after 7 o'clock in the morning to be able to park and watch the Saturday Morning Session in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It worked and we were able to see almost the entire session.

This morning, once again, we were gone a bit after 7 AM in order to park and be at the Conference Center to attend the Sunday Morning Session in the Conference Center. What made today more difficult was the fact that we had to bring our food with us instead of buying it in Salt Lake, since members of the Church do not shop on Sundays (since that requires other people to work on the Sabbath). But it worked out great! The Morning Session was beautiful - although I did have an impromptu singing competition with a guy sitting next to me (don't worry, I won) - and we had a picnic in the car in between sessions. And it was a good picnic, too. We ended up driving back during the Afternoon Session while listening to it on the radio and finishing it at the apartment. Not too shabby.

I also received all of my welcome information from the WINS Internship Program yesterday, the Native American program that arranged my internship for this summer...that I have not yet turned down. Now that my summer is beginning to look more concrete with the grant for Crittenden, I'm going to need to write both the WINS program and my internship sponsor and let them know that I won't be able to attend this summer.

...However, this is one of those things that you know you have to do but do not want to have to do it. You know? I made a commitment before, but now things have changed enough that this internship will not do much good for me either for music or for law. Grrr. I'm just going to have to put my nose to the grindstone and get it done.

Anyway, that's about it. Nothing too exciting, but it's still an update with my life. Well, at least my weekend.

Oscarson Discovery Grant!

2008-04-05T06:43:00.003-06:00

I got the grant! This is the grant that I applied for to help pay for the Crittenden Opera Workshop, and I was informed yesterday by email that I received it! Woo-hoo! This means that all I'll have to come up with is a measly $300 and the rest should be set.

I would certainly write more (and expound upon the joy that fills my breast), but I have to get ready to leave momentarily for the Conference Center. The BYU auditioned choirs are singing in the Saturday Afternoon Session of General Conference. That means that we have to be up there and ready to practice by the time the Morning Session is finished.

I got money!!! :-D

Self-Indulgence

2008-03-31T09:06:00.005-06:00

As part of my application for the Summer for Undergraduates Program at FSU I had to send in a Personal Statement. After some thinking, I decided to post that Personal Statement here.

If I can ever get it uploaded.

Ah, here it is: Personal Statement. The link will open another window where you will have to click the Download File box and then wait for the actual link to the file to load. Free file hosting. Yeah.

My Summer Plans?

2008-03-30T13:22:00.016-06:00

This being the first post in a while, I figured I'd try to bring y'all up to speed with the main enigma that I'm facing right now: what am I going to do with my summer?

Many of you probably remember my excitement in January of being accepted into an internship with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service for the entire summer. Even cooler than the acceptance was the fact that they would be sponsoring me - paying for my room and board, my textbooks and other school stuff, my transportation to the internship site from my housing, my transportation to Washington, DC, and a weekly stipend for miscellaneous stuff. You bet I was excited!! That internship was my entire plan for the summer, nicely packaged and conveniently affordable.

Unfortunately, the internship really will not do very much to enhance my opportunities with law. I would be working within the Training and Development Department of USCIS, hardly a position meant to enhance law school-ish opportunities. After a long talk with my dad (aka Wise Man) I decided that I should seek out other options for the summer that would lead me closer to law school or music.

Yes, music. I have realized that my odd ability to sing very high (like a woman) can actually earn me some major bucks down the road if I choose to capitalize on it. Countertenors are paid very highly to perform in early operas. Who knew? So I've been looking for programs this summer that can emphasize either of those two career paths.

And this is what I have so far.

I've been "accepted" into the Crittenden Opera Studio for this summer, a 2-week long workshop for opera performance held in Washington, DC. One of the voice faculty at BYU swears by this program, and I figured if I ever was serious about countertenor I would probably need to know a bit about opera performance. Accepted is a bit of a stretch...the same voice professor managed to get an acceptance email from Mr. Crittenden so that I could apply for a grant to help pay for the workshop, even though applications aren't even accepted until May (hehe). The workshop will take place during the middle of July.

I've also applied for an undergraduate law program at Florida State University, called the Summer for Undergraduates Program. This is a 4-week long program that teaches about the American legal system, teaches writing courses, explores careers in law, etc. Only 60 students are accepted each summer, and I have applied with great faith and hope (charity and love can enter the picture when I get accepted). This is the kind of program that, if you get accepted, pays for everything except your travel to and from Tallahassee, FL! You can imagine how much I want to go and enjoy FSU for 4 weeks for free!!!

I also have the goal of staying here at BYU during my "not-traveling-times" and working at the Library. My supervisor at the library right now wants me to be trained in an archival database project along with a few other employees, and I certainly want to take advantage of that. BUT - I cannot make a commitment for this summer with the library until I know what else I'll be doing and when.

And then, on top of all of these things, I still have not written my internship sponsor (USCIS) to tell them that I will have to withdraw my internship. I'm not really looking forward to it to be quite honest. I hate having to back out of any kind of commitment that I've made, especially in this type of situation where I was chosen after an interview process. However, the truth of the whole matter is that USCIS will not help me that much in either of my career aspirations.

So the question is: can I do everything I want this summer and not be overwhelmed, emotionally or financially? First I will need to know whether I'm accepted into the law program, if I get the grant to help pay for Crittenden, and when I'll be here to work at the library. And those three things are out of my hands right now.

I hate having to wait on people. ;-)

Spam. A lot.

2007-10-30T10:24:00.000-06:00

I hate spam.

I'm not just talking about the pink meat wannabe, which I don't like anyway. Who doesn't notice their spam folder exponentially increasing in girth, or unsolicited email scum polluting their inbox, without disgust? Whatever hellions concocted the scheme of emitting mass emails to unsuspecting and unentreating innocents for the sole purpose of force-feeding their products should be flogged, verbally abused, whipped, and tickle-tortured. Then followed up with a nice round beating.

Perhaps I should ask for forgiveness for the strength of my declamation. I'm normally not an angry person (...I think I've said that before...), but sometimes my patience with a practice reaches a breaking point. Not only does my spam folder routinely break the 400-email mark, but the admittance into my Inbox of scandalous emails from people I have never known is becoming more common. So many times I want to reply to the emails that I find, but I know that by so doing I would only be confirming that my address is, indeed, connected to a real living, breathing, consuming individual.

No thank you, but I would not like to modify any body parts, whether naturally or artificially, mine or anybody else's. I'm afraid I would only get prescription drugs from my own trusted physician, not from your internet store, and certainly not for a condition that I do not have. I also have no desire for a Rolex knockoff, I do not want a relationship with an unknown (and most likely imaginary) young lady, and I would have no need whatsoever for Hannah Montana tickets.

Thank you Internet, but no thank you. Take your crap somewhere else.

My (Hel)LSAT Experience

2007-10-29T10:13:00.000-06:00

I spent the entirety of Saturday morning in a cocoon of quiet chaos. Saturday morning I took my first practice LSAT ever. As in, I haven't even looked at a real section of the test before. I knew that it was supposed to be a difficult thing to do, but I've been able to conquer a number of difficult things in the past. I figured: "Hey, I'm a smart guy. I can keep a good GPA. The LSAT is a fear only to lesser mortals."

I wish I could describe to you the horror that I felt about 50 minutes into the test when I realized that I had no idea what I was doing. My entire framework of confidence and perceived ability crashed around me, not so much like a house of cards as a house of African Elephants. On a foundation of mines. I was completely taken by surprise by the difficulty of the exam, and I was dismayed at my obvious lack of preparation.

Dismayed is a poor choice of words. In fact, I would call it hyperbole. I suppose horrified is a better word, or maybe aghast or thunderstruck.

In all truth, I think the best adjective to describe my experience with the LSAT is humiliating. I was severely humbled and innerly embarrassed by my presumptuous approach to the exam and its level of difficulty. This is not an easy test. Granted, it isn't impossible either, but I am not of the caliber of scholar to waltz into the exam room and polka out of it with top marks. I know there are some people that can and have done that; I, however, am not of that crowd.

BUT - do not think that this means that I will cower before the might that is the LSAT. I've only just begun, and now that I know my enemy I know how to defeat it. This test has not seen the last of me, no siree. I will make this test rue the day it ever set its beady little scanner on my social security number. And when the time comes when I shall poke it in its sleeping eye for real, only one of us will leave the exam room triumphant.

And on that future day - that bright, beautiful, future day - I will emerge from the bowels of hell bloody, but unbowed.

His Dark Materials

2007-09-30T16:47:00.000-06:00

This being my first real post for the class, I figured I'd go ahead and take my freebie and write about what I want. ;-)

When I saw the preview for the upcoming movie The Golden Compass, I realized two things: I wanted to see the movie, and that would require reading the book first. I learned from Amazon.com that there were three books together in the series. So, $13.50 and a couple of days later, I had the three books in a set and a week to go before school started.

I devoured the first book, The Golden Compass (The Northern Lights outside the US). It was a different experience than my normal Orson Scott Card-infused literary journeys, but it was very refreshing. The second book The Subtle Knife wasn't quite as good as the first, and the last book The Amber Spyglass was the hardest to follow. Pullman takes his (sweet) time to introduce the plot and main characters. You're halfway through the second book before the plot starts moving of its own accord without you having to help by turning the pages. However, the story was excellent and absorbing, even though the trilogy ended with a number of loose ends dangling into space.

I don't like to give plots away and such, but I do feel that I need to say something about the trilogy. Honestly, I don't know how the movies will be received since the United States is still a religious country, despite what many ACLU groupies tell us. The Golden Compass (and the corresponding movie, I assume) is innocent enough, but The Subtle Knife unfolds the central plot to the trilogy that drives the decisions of the characters. In a nutshell: Pullman is an atheist, and his trilogy is anti-organized religion, if not anti-God. It will be interesting to see how the entire story plays out on the big screen.

My recommendation: Read the books! They are enjoyable, witty, and leave you wondering almost to the very end which characters are with or against the protagonist. I'll end with my favorite passage...

Will said to his [father], "You said I was a warrior. You told me that was my nature, and I shouldn't argue with it. Father, you were wrong. I fought because I had to. I can't choose my nature, but I can choose what I do. And I will choose, because now I'm free."

His father's smile was full of pride and tenderness. "Well done, my boy. Well done indeed," he said.
-The Amber Spyglass

I'm back!

2006-09-25T08:52:00.000-06:00

Sporadic is certainly the right word to describe my constancy in writing. Things have been a little crazy since the beginning of school about three weeks ago. I originally had planned to take 19 credit hours not including the Fall Opera Die Fledermaus. In hindsight, I see that I would have died. So instead, I've dropped three classes that I was going to take along with my English minor that I so ambitiously planned to earn. I realized in my pondering of my situation that I really did not need that English minor. That hideous English minor. My apologies to all of you that happened to earn English minors, or went even to the extreme and earned/are earning your degree in English. You all are better people than I could ever hope to be.

So after some deliberation and encouragement from my good friend Trent (thanks a ton), a contract with the University to take 28 credit hours during this school year in order to keep my academic scholarship, and some huffing and puffing to and from One-Stop, I now have a wonderful schedule complete with 12 credit hours and 13 hours of work. :-D

Despite the simplicity of my class day, I'm still finding this semester to be incredibly stressful with all the music events that I have planned in the next few weeks. This week we have the Choral Showcase that will be on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, not to mention the complete run through of Die Fledermaus on Wednesday as well. Then it's into the evening rehearsals that we will begin shortly for the opera, not to mention as well the incredible memorization project for BYU Singers to prepare for our one-performance-mini-tour to San Antonio for the inaugural National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) Conference the first week of November. Oh, but before that 45-minute memorized concert we also have the opera to perform the week earlier. For six nights. And then I have all of the midterms for my different classes, and a wonderful trip to Vegas planned in there for my old roommate's wedding. It's just a tad bit crowded this next month.

And as for myself, I've just recovered from some crappy, debilitating back injury-thingy. I woke up on Thursday morning with a terrible dull pain in my lower back - rather, the pain woke me up repeatedly. I couldn't understand what it was in my sleepy state, and finally realized in the shower that it was my back (I tend to do most of my early morning stuff on autopilot). I had to move like an 80-yr old man so as to not hurt myself even more. :-( I ended up calling work and not going in that morning, then canceling a number of my classes that day. Friday was even worse, and I wound up in my bed for almost all day long. Literally, I was in my bed for about 10 hours. That seemed to do a world of good for me, so here I am at my job on campus with only minimal pain in my lower back.

Life is good. Life is stressful. Life is good and - you get the point.

I can't say no...

2006-07-28T13:19:00.000-06:00

Right now I'm at work, it's 1:15, and I have to leave in less than 3 hours to head down to St. George, UT. St. George is 260 miles south of Provo for those non-Provonians out there. I'll be singing for a wedding reception down there, then turning around (at an ungodly hour I'm sure) and driving back before morning - just in time to start a hike up Mt. Timpanogos at 4 in the morning. Really, I don't know what I was thinking.

I think that I have a problem of being too gracious and charitable. In speaking with my co-worker Danielle about this I realized that I did not even ask if this gig was a paying one until after I had firmly committed. Is it a paying gig, you might wonder? No, actually, it isn't. I'm doing this out of the charity of my heart.

Not that I'm bitter. I actually do find joy in helping people out, and these guys that I'm singing with tonight are extremely grateful and pleased that I can help them out. They had two members of their group drop out at the last moment, and they were floundering until I told them yes. Unfortunately for me, however, now I'm off on a 3.5 hour drive one way down there to perform for less than an hour, then back up again. Oh yeah, on my own as well. I hope that I can stay awake on the drive back.

This is where I pay my road-trip homage to the greatness and wonder that is the Amp energy drink. ;-)

The confusing world of Modern Islam

2006-07-27T14:45:00.000-06:00

One of the classes that I'm taking is a Western Civilization course (Hist 201), and my professor for that class is having us read a terrific book entitled The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain. Ornament is very much a history book, but the history that it describes so poetically is one that I had heard of only once, in a passing moment by my Spanish professor about some architecture in medieval Spain. I am only 60-some-odd pages into the book, but I have been fascinated so far by it. I have never very much enjoyed the subject of history. I believe my dislike of the subject is due to the constant references to unknown names of people and places - it's very hard on the memory to keep those things straight. On top of the memory issue, the names of places change every dynasty or so! It can be a very confusing, frustrating venture.

This book, however, has not only captured my attention and my thirst for knowledge, but also has caused me to reflect and ponder on the plethora of problems that are plaguing the Middle East right now (how's that for alliteration?). The Wed. lecture of my History class covered the basics of Islam and the empire that rose from Muhammad. I admit, even though I understood that my opinion of Islam was a processed one that I had developed due to the media, I still felt a little biased against the religion as we began the class. I soon realized that what I understood to be Islam was something much different than what I was learning to be the true religion of the followers of Muhammad. Islam is meant to be a peace-making religion, one that promotes honesty, integrity, and morality. It was also a war-making religion and empire - but one cannot create peace without war. The peaceful side of Islam is plainly visible in the society of Al-Andalus (Medieval Iberian Spain) where Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived side by side underneath the Islamic polity of the time. The Christians and Jews were also not viewed as inferiors, as each religious body had members of their own serving in governmental and administrative positions. It was a harmonious blend of the three cultures (especially if you look past the eventual civil unrest between the Muslims themselves).

So now I wonder: why do the modern Muslims seek violence and domination in the name of Islam? Now, before anybody bristles too much, I understand that my statement is quite general and somewhat bigoted. I actually kind of meant it to be that way. But the question still holds much of its validity through the inherent bias: why do so many of the Middle Eastern world desire the domination of the Christian and/or Jewish world, in the name of Islam? I read today on CNN.com that the Al-Qaeda second in command released another tape, urging Muslims around the world to fight for the dominance of the Islamic religion and to seek Islamic control "from Spain to Iraq," all in the name of jihad. I learned in lecture that "jihad" orginally meant "striving (in the path of God)" and only became associated with "holy war" during the Crusades! How have things strayed so much?

Dr. Cooper, my professor, was asked the same question that I posed at the beginning of the last paragraph. He stated that if he could answer that question, he would be the most popular and famous history professor in the world. Things have changed so much across the world in the past two millenia; how can we expect any kind of tradition (such as religion) to survive intact for so long? The version of Islam that is propagated by Al-Qaeda and other such peoples is far removed from the one set down by the Prophet Muhammad. A greater Muslim understanding of their own religion would no doubt curb much of the animosity they feel toward those of other faiths - but alas, truth is not to be found so easily in a culture such as theirs. Even ours (as Latter-day Saints) required the intervention God the Father and Jesus Christ themselves and a living Prophet to set things right. Perhaps patience and love are the best replies to modern Islam...or maybe a more assertive response is more appropriate? I suppose that depends on your own political-moral outlook. And that is just another source of confusion.

Farewell, Brendan

2006-07-26T13:46:00.000-06:00

Last night I had the chance to hang out with a good friend of mine from this past school year, Brendan Owens. We sang in Concert Choir together, and his brother is a good friend of mine from some years past. Today he has just started probably the most influential period of his life. He entered the Missionary Training Center here in Provo, UT at 12:30 PM, for a three week training period.. He watched a short little movie with his family about the importance of missionary service, said goodbye, and then began the next two years of his life as a servant of the Lord. Wow, that sounds really poetic...and it kinda is.

Many (if not most) of the young men (and plenty of women)of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serve a mission of two years somewhere away from home in order to spread the Gospel. This experience is not only good for the Church (200,000+ converts a year) but is also a major factor in shaping the character and integrity of the young man or woman. Granted, everyone gets out of the experience exactly what they put into it...so if you put your all into it, you get all of it back and that much more. If you don't put anything into it, then you get nothing back at all. Many times you can tell just what kind of missionary somebody was by how he/she acts after the mission experience.

It's a difficult thing when others are going on their missions to not reflect heavily on your own experience. I miss it a lot! There's nothing quite like the feeling of dedication and focus that you have during that time: every day you do exactly the same thing, and you soon become quite good at it. It's hard at first to get into the swing of things, especially since we as a society are so used to so many sources of entertainment in our lives. Being a missionary, though, is all about getting in tune with the Spirit and keeping hold of that focus. Once you do that, you can be put through almost anything and still look back at it later and smile. :-D It's truly a miracle what the Lord does with these young people who give up so much of their lives to serve Him. There are many times when I wish that I could be out there again, knowing exactly what I can and should be doing. *sigh* I really feel a cheesy moment coming on, so I'll wrap this up.

Brendan is a terrific young man who's excited to share the Gospel with the people of Washington (Kennewick area). I know that he'll have a terrific time out there (missions are so much fun!!) and that he'll have the chance not only to grow immensely, but he will have the chance to help other people grow just as much. Good luck Brendan! And may God bless you in your efforts.

Pioneer Day Weekend

2006-07-25T13:33:00.000-06:00

This three-day weekend was a well-needed break. This is the first time in my life that I'm working and going to school at the same time (thanks to my parents, who made sure that I did not kill myself earlier in life), and I'm finding it to be just a little stressful. Especially when I can't study much during my job that consists of sitting at a computer for 4 hours a day and scheduling appointments. I can study if it can be done on the computer, but that doesn't help with all the books that I have to read for my history class. So this three-day weekend was a godsend!

The highlight of my weekend was watching the movie "Lady in the Water." I thought the movie was incredible! I saw the movie on Friday night with my roommates and some friends, and we all thought the same about the movie. It was a little weird, and definitely different, but with all the movies that have been coming out lately that are either cliche or reveal the entire plot through the trailers, this one was a breath of fresh - if exotic - cinematic air. I will not reveal anything about the plot at all, but be aware that it will express every emotion inside of you until it is finished. I ended up seeing it again the next night as well. Just like any good book or movie, I saw so much more in the details of the movie the second time, and the second time was just as good as the first.

I also spent a good deal of time up in Salt Lake these past few days. I love Salt Lake! Provo is a great place and all, but there really isn't that much to do here that you haven't done before. Hmmm...the same is true for Salt Lake, but at least Salt Lake is a little more exotic to someone who lives his life in Provo. I went up on Saturday evening with my roommate and some friends, and we spent a bunch of time on Temple Square. Sounds kind of corny maybe, but it was a blast. I went up again yesterday to Salt Lake with my roommate again, but this time to simply be with him as a "companion" as he met with one of his converts and her mother about church things. That was pretty cool too, as we both kind of jumped into missionary mode again to help the mother understand more about the church and her daughter's decision to be a part of it. It's fun to be a missionary again. :-)

But now it's back to normality again. I don't have classes Tues or Thurs, but I do work from 1 to 5. Mon, Wed, and Fri are kind of tough, with classes straight from 8 to 12 and work from 1 to 5. It's like a real work day, except I have a ton of homework to do when I'm not at either school or work. I'm glad the break was as long as it was, but I'm also glad to be getting back into the swing of things and earning some money. I just hope that I can stay reasonably on top of things for the rest of the time this term.

Wow, it's been a while

2006-07-18T13:56:00.000-06:00

Well, it's a good thing I don't get paid to keep this thing going, or else I would really be in the hole. I have a problem keeping a journal or something like that...and this is just one of those things. Anyway. I don't know if anybody actually reads this or not, but I think it's a good practice for me to keep a real journal. You know.

I got a job last week - FINALLY! I am now one of the Information Clerks in the College of Fine Arts and Communications Advisement Center at BYU. I'm glad to finally be working and making some money, even if it isn't that much. Now that I'm working and going to school I realize that I need a social life. Wow, I crave it now. It's kinda funny that now that I'm kinda busy, I see the need to fill my life with more. Hmmm...maybe with more of the things that matter?

Anyway, I'm at work right now, trying to fill up my time. My job consists of sitting at the desk at a computer, waiting for appointments to come in so I can mark them down and let the advisors know that they are there, or wait for the phone to ring so I can fight with my co-worker Danielle over who's going to answer it, or just surf the internet and do homework on my computer because it actually looks like I'm working to everybody else! But hey, at least I get paid. I actually am grateful for the job and the support that it gives me. I actually have spending money now!
Oh yeah, about the money thing: I have wound up with two half scholarships for next year, one academic scholarship and one vocal performance scholarship. Throw in the mix the native american scholarship that will be coming in as well, and I'll have tuition and a half paid for for the next year! Woo-hoo!! I'm way excited for that. It's always good to have more money. It's even better to be able to not be a burden on your parents who are paying for your schooling. At least now they certainly won't be paying for any of mine, because it's already covered! Man, that makes me happy. :-D

My first post!!

2006-04-12T23:49:00.000-06:00

I went to the Temple today! Woo-hoo! I haven't been there for a while, and it felt so good to be back again. That was certainly the highlight of my entire day. I thouroughly enjoyed it, even though now I'm going to be up till about 1 in the morning finishing my homework and preparing for my French quiz in the morning and mid-term in the afternoon. But hey, you gotta have your priorities, right?
I was also fit for my costume for the Spring Opera Signor Deluso - a red velvet costume with a lacy collar and sleeves and tights. Yeah. But what the hey, I'm still excited to be in an opera! Even though I have never really liked opera. One has to wonder what I'm doing in my current major...