Graduate Schools

So I got into San Francisco Conservatory into Jodi Levitz studio. I just think it is funny after the whole sh-bang and the lesson etc. It is still pretty cool though.

Money wise, I am not really that happy about what I got. With the scholarship and the government loans, it wouldn't even pay for tuition. At least I got something right?? Now I just have to think if this school is really worth all the money that it costs, $39,000 a year (ahem). We shall see.

I heard back from Mannes, remember, the school that I really wanted to go to but had such an awful experience (aka faculty not being there and people being hoyty toyti to not just me but Chris as well).... I was not accepted. I am not really that surprised, but it still hurt a little. Hopefully I hear back from CCM soon. I did call them today though and the Admissions Office says that Cathy Carroll has not said anything about graduate students. I have a friend who applied and got rejected so at least this a positive sign? I hope so. Dr. Biggs says that usually the No's hear first. Haven't heard no...

2 down, 1 to go.

the gravel IS the place for me

So, this past weekend I have been working on two presentations. Of course, with me, I over work things and so I spent 40 hours in three days working on these projects. Saturday, I worked from 8a to 2a with a three hour break to see Blood Wedding at BYU. Anyway, I learned a lot about Joan Tower, Ruth Crawford-Seeger and Virginia Woolf. When I was choosing a reading example from A Room of One's Own for my Masterpieces of English Literature class presentation, I really admired what she is saying in this work. At first, I was kinda upset that the selection we were assigned to read came from a series of essays based on lectures, but then I realized that though it is not Mrs. Dalloway or To the Lighthouse it is still a masterpiece. The things she says are just so profound and deep. :) This is why I am not afraid of Virginia Woolf. I also had to incorporate the movie The Hours into the presentation. This is just a remarkable movie with an astounding message. I am showing the beginning where Woolf kills herself, which, btw I learned, is actually how she killed herself by putting stones in her pocket and walking into the river, and the letter she writes in the clip is exactly what she wrote to her husband Leonard. Such a profound movie about decisions and life itself. With a life full of death, sexual abuse and mental instability, Virginia Woolf was able to write some pretty amazing things. Here is the section I chose from A Room of One's Own. It is long, but it is great:

“It was thus that I found myself walking with extreme rapidity across a grass plot. Instantly a man’s figure rose to intercept me. Nor did I at first understand that the gesticulations of a curious-looking object, in a cut-away coat and evening shirt, were aimed at me. His face expressed horror and indignation. Instinct rather than reason came to my help; he was a Beadle; I was a woman. This was the turf; that was the path. Only the Fellows and Scholars are allowed here; the gravel is the place for me. Such thoughts were the work of a moment. As I regained the path the arms of the Beadle sank, his face assumed its usual repose, and though turf is better walking than gravel, no very great harm was done [….]

“Strolling through those colleges past those ancient halls of roughness of the present seemed smoothed away; the body seemed contained in a miraculous glass cabinet through which no sound could penetrate, and the mind, freed from any contact with facts (unless one trespassed on the turf again), was at liberty to settle down upon whatever meditation was in harmony with the moment. As chance would have it, some stray memory of some old essay about revisiting Oxbridge in the long vacation brought Charles Lamb to mind—Saint Chares, said Thackeray, putting a letter of Lamb’s to his forehead. Indeed, among all the dead (I give you my thoughts as they came to me), Lamb is one of the most congenial; one to whom one would have liked to say, Tell me then how you wrote your essays? For his essay are superior even to Max Beerbohm’s, I thought, with all their perfection, because of that wild flash of imagination, the lightning crack of genius in the middle of them which eaves them flawed and imperfect, but starred with poetry. Lamb then came to Oxbridge perhaps a hundred years ago. Certainly he wrote an essay—the name escapes me—about the manuscript of one of Milton’s poems which he saw here. It was Lycidas perhaps, and Lamb wrote how it shocked him to think it possible that any word in Lycidas could have been different from what it is. To think of Milton changing the words in that poem seemed to him a sort of sacrilege. This led me to remember what I could of Lycidas and to amuse myself with guessing which word it could have been that Milton had altered, and why. It then occurred to me that the very manuscript itself which Lamb had looked at was only a few hundred yards away, so that one could follow Lamb’s footsteps across the quadrangle to that famous library where the treasure is kept. Moreover, I recollected, as I put this plan into execution, it is in this famous library that the manuscript of Thackeray's Esmond is also preserved. The critics often say with its imitation of the eighteenth-century style was natural to Thackeray—a fact that one might prove by looking at the manuscript and seeing whether the alterations were for the benefit of the style or of the sense. But then one would have to decide what is style and what is meaning, a question which—but here I was actually at the door which leads into the Library itself. I must have opened it, for instantly there issued, like a guardian angel barring the way with a flutter of black gown instead of white wings, a deprecating, silvery, kindly gentleman, who regretted in a low voice as he waved me back that ladies are only admitted to the library if accompanied by a Fellow of the College or furnished with a letter of introduction.

"That a famous library has been cursed by a woman is a matter of complete indifference to a famous library. Venerable and calm, with all its treasures safe locked within its breast, it sleeps complacently and will, so far as I am concerned, so sleep for ever. Never will I wake those echoes, never will I ask for that hospitality again, I vowed as I descended the steps in anger. Still an hour remained before luncheon, and what was one to do? Stroll on the meadows? sit by the river? […]”

Tata for now. Go see the movie The Hours. It is so great.

"To look life in the face, always, to look life in the face and to know it for what it is. At last to know it, to love it for what it is, and then, to put it away. Leonard, always the years between us, always the years. Always the love. Always the hours."

Brody and Brahms

I am done with auditions for graduate school. Let me tell you how awesome this is!!! No more stress, no more losing sleep over what ifs, no more buts, no more practicing 7 hours a day on one piece. Yes, my recital is in April, but I have played this rep literally across the country, so it will be a piece of cake. My recital is April 10 at 3:30P in the Madsen Recital Hall at BYU. This is my rep list:

Bach Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor BWV 1008
--Sarabande

--Menuet I

--Menuet II

--Gigue

Fuchs Sonata Pastorale

--II. Pastorale

Taylor Pulse Aria & Achoo Lullaby for electronic tape and amplified viola

Brahms Sonate in E-flat, Op. 120 No. 2 (whole thing)

Vieuxtemps Elegie, op. 130

I am really excited for my recital. I am very prepared and it will be fun to just perform rather than being nervous about how things will go because I am not prepared as I could be...aka last year and the Walton.

So let's talk about graduate auditions in order.

San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) was a really nice place. I flew in on a Saturday and stayed with Joe McCall (Chris's grandmother). We just watched the olympics all night. It is fun to watch intense programings with her!! I had a lesson with Paul Hersch on Sunday. It was a great experience. Even though he teaches both piano and viola I think that he would be a great teacher to study under. His ideas are not aimed towards technique and the like, it is all about the musical language of a piece and what it is trying to say to the performer/listener. This sounds like the easy way out, but there is no other way to explain it. We meshed pretty well I think. The facilities at SFCM are quite new and very nice. The practice rooms have wonderful windows and a thermostat control in each one (these are two things that BYU is lacking in very heavily). My audition was on Monday (Feb 15). While Sandra and I were driving there, we saw an accident happen two cars in front of us. It was really intense I must say. A linen truck ran the red light going who knows how fast, smashed into this small silver honda and the car would have flown into the building had it not been for the car next to that. When we drove by, all I saw was the lady sitting with her head tilted to the side and her hair covering the face. I still do not know if she was hurt or not or even if she died! I must say, I am glad this was at 8:30A with my audition at noon. I was shaken pretty bad. The audition went well. I played Walton II, the Sarabande and the first mvt of Brahms. Pretty standard. The weather was really nice. Fog in the morning and sunshine in the afternoon. I love the area that SFCM is in as well.

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). I absolutely loved this school. So much. From when Anna picked me up in Kentucky at the airport (yes Kentucky...) I knew that this place felt right. The school is marvelous and everyone is so nice. So so nice. I went to Transmigration at CCM which is a series of eight student produced, written and directed plays. They were all good, of course. Some better then others, but I really enjoyed seeing all 8 of them over the course of three days. My audition went well here too. I played the Fuchs, Walton II, Sarabande and Pulse Aria. Cathy Caroll is such a nice lady, very similar to Dr. Bigelow in a way. The program that they have at CCM, especially in Viola, seems rather stellar and right up my alley. I wish I could have had a lesson with her, but I generally do not like lessons when I have an audition because then it makes me nervous in the audition because I try to incorporate things they say etc etc... oh well. We shall see what happens. I could on and on and rave about this school, the heated parking garage, the cheaper living, the nice layout etc...but I will spare you. It was also nice to run into Jessica as well form SOAP as well to see Anna again and make new friends!Mannes was an interesting experience. I do not want to say to much because the school is still on my list of where to go. Let me just say that I was surprised by the reception, especially after coming from SFCM and CCM. What can I expect it is NYC? I brought Chris with me because these auditions had piano accompanient. I am glad that he was there with me, let me just say that. It was also nice to visit Austyn, Dustin and Brody. Brody is an interesting kid...CRAZY at times for sure. Chris and I went to the New York Phil when Andras Schiff played Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 (man there is a lot of Brahms in my life...). It was spectacular. I learned a lot from the performance and the "flawless" orchestral playing. I will never forget hearing those violins so together and so perfectly refined. Such a stark difference to what I am used to.

We shall see what comes of these auditions. Hopefully it is positive!! Now I just get to move onto my recital, graduation then working at Disney World. Hoorah! Should be very exciting. I am sad that I cannot do CLOC as well for a second summer (especially with the season they have), but beggars cannot be choosers. I will enjoy my time at Disney World, especially since I have wanted to work there since I was four and first stepped foot onto the boat that travels across the lagoon. Never forget it!

Hypocricy, Insomnia and Rain

Moe, Julia and I went bike riding last saturday (January 16). It was fun. I have not been on a bike in a while. The seat was way too hard...I got a bruise. Very uncomfortable. We were riding bikes/visitng with Dallin and Giff Giff when Chris came home. At 2am, we all decided that we were just going to go to San Diego for fun. Why not? It is warm there right? At 3, after getting a bag each, ice and some scrambled-together-food, we were on the road. Road trips are very fun I think. On the way, we listened to some Louis Black. Have you ever heard him? He is HYSTERICAL, though I would advise those opposed to swearing to stay away, but man, his candy corn skit is hysterical. We we were getting close to oceanside, we started blast R&B/Rap. Wicked sweet.

Oceanside was fun. We went to the beach, watched some surfers do some nice cool tricks and then went with Chris's friend Ryan to some cafe in the area. It was really nice. The hamburgers were good, and not to expensive.
We then drove down to SD (first stopping at the temple). We took a "family" portrait in front of the temple. It was nice to actually see it for real, instead of in pictures. With the grey sky, the temple was very starkly contrasted. It was cool. Moe made fun of me though because I found a nice fuzzy caterpillar. Everyone knows about me and caterpillars...
Then we went over to Aldo's house (one of Chris's friends from high school). It was a sweet pad with a BEAUTIFUL kitten. Also, when Aldo got the lease to the house, he had to sign a waiver that he wouldn't add or mess up the landlord's beer collection. It was actually a pretty impressive collection. I mean, there is no beer inside, but it was just cool to see SO many beer cans and bottles. I didn't know that people collected them like they would baseball cards.

We went shopping at a mall in SD. It is the nicest mall I have ever been to. It kinda was like being on 5th ave in NY in an outdoor Simon mall. Interesting huh??

That night, we all got dressed up and had Thai food. YUM! I love that genre of pallet. So good. We also went and saw some two pianists battle it out, kinda like karaoke, but they would take requests and see if they could play it on the piano. It was fun.

The next day we left at noon. We were in So Cal for about 24 hours. On the way back, it was raining SO hard. SO SO SO SO hard that it was hard to see ten feet in front of you. It took something like 15-16 hours to get home because the first hour took maybe three hours. Something like that. I am just glad that it did not snow like it said it was going to. That would have been worse.

During the rain, we came across a car that was in the right two lanes perpendicular to traffic. It caused a traffic jam, but as we got close we noticed that this woman had fish tailed and spun. Luckily she did not crash into anything and that the drivers were cautious enough/not going so fast that they could notice she had spun out. I was rather sad though because she was crying. How scary would that be...traumatizing probs.

Oh! I got a hair cut. European mullet.

Auditions are coming up soon, and it just seems that so much happens all the time. I have no time to practice for now CCM...learning new pieces for that on tops of practicing for SFCM and Mannes... PLUS seating auditions on Mahler 5, which I haven't even really looked at. AND we are playing Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream...joy! That scherzo is going to be the death of me, and I have to perfect it because I am principle. Not that I am complaining though.

I went and saw Tartuffe. Dallin Alred was in it. It was SO good. I liked the costumes and what they added. It was very Tim Burtony, and quite hysterical. I like how they added music. A very good production. Up there with Hamlet. The violin playing/singing could have been a bit better, but it was not a musical so I guess that is alright. Also, sometimes the projection was not good, especially with the woman (minus Norine and Dorine, the maids. They were superb). I think the best part was the costume/makeup design--oh, and the whole picture frame/silohuette idea was bretty nifty.

Earlier this month, I went and saw a project of They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Now that was one moving piece of art. Not a play, a piece of art. Man. I don't think I have been effected by a play before like that. I couldn't talk. It took everything I had to actually go up to my friends and tell them good job. The sad thing is that many of the audience members were stoic and did not really know what was going on. I loved how the people in the marathon dance represented the people in Robert's life. I also like how it differentiates from the book. Very good. So, I do have one question though--did Robert shoot his mother as well? That is what I got from it. What does someone have to feel like to ask someone to shoot them, and what kind of person actually does it?? Oh wait....I have experienced this....I don't deal well with suicide/death....not at all. This was some of the best acting I have ever seen, and definitely the best "production" at BYU, though BYU could never do it because of content and because of swearing. Luckily I saw this. Oh, I loved how the dance marthoners wore masks and then when they were part of Robert's life, they took off the mask. I also liked how the judge/announcer was almost like Big Brother, how he would always be lurking around, but never do anything or interfere....creepy. Tartuffe was the same as Robert. It was interesting to see him play a dramatic role and a comic role and do both pretty darn well. Way to go Andrew Veenstra.

This brings me to the topic of Angels in America...but that discussion could go on for novels and sequels. That is such an amazing two plays...and the HBO movie is BREATHTAKING!!

"Respect the delicate ecology of your delusions."

Summer and snow, winter and critics

Hmm...So much has happened since I posted last summer.
First of all, the College Light Opera Company was one of the best and worst experiences of my life. I will start off with the worst--the humidity was a big problem, and the fact that each of the cottages that we lived in did not have air conditioning was a huge problem, as was the mold that grew from the lack of dry air. It rained so much at the beginning of the summer that there was an enormously large number of biting bugs. Being related to my mother, I was attacked, all the time. The only other problem was that I missed people too much. Because it was a high stress situation, nerves were always tight and emotions always rampant. Then again, when is that not the case with many Musical Theatre nerds?? However, CLOC was a great experience. I met some wonderful people, made some amazing connections (woot on that factor) and had a great time doing 9 shows. We performed Brigadoon, Yeomen of the Guard, Lady, Be Good!, Me and My Girl, Titanic, The Most Happy Fella, Carousel, H.M.S. Pinafore and Jekyll and Hyde. Some shows were definitely better than others...but overall I loved it and am SO glad I did it (even if I had dish duty three times). The really impresive thing about CLOC is that everything is done in a week. We rehearse for the following show during the day (includes vocalists rehearsing, orchestra rehearsing, sets being designed, painted, cut, etc and costumes being made, fitted etc). We, the orchestra, only rehearsed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (Thursday was Matinee Day), Friday and then it is stiz probe on Sat with Dres Rehearsal Monday night. It is pretty daunting. Got tiring after a while with no air conditioning in the theatre during rehearsals (sorry for the women in FUR coats during Tech rehearsal of Tianic in the middle of July. They were supposed to be freezing in Winter 1912, but sadly, they were dying of heat exhaustion instead). My father was able to come see Me and My Girl and H.M.S. Pinafore. Those were good shows, wish he could have seen Most Happy Fella, Titanic or Jekyll, but Me and My Girl is hysterical.
I lived on the beach basically. Cape Cod, for a whole summer. Free room and board and I got paid. Sweet gig right there. Shout out to all my friends, I miss you!
School last semester was bad! Although it started off with Moe, Chris and me going to SF to celebrate Chris's birthday (in a way I guess), but I hated most of my classes. I had graduate school pre-screens which didn't turn out so well. I was stressed all the time. I was annoyed very easily and basically, I just did not have a nice semester. We did Tales of Hoffman as the Opera. Mom and Dad came to see it. Love the score! The story...not so much.

Burton Fisch came to talk about the Bartok Viola Concerto. It was really cool to hear the person who worked with Tibor Serly on finishing the work. We also got to listen to his LP of the work. Nice job! Other cool things happened like Jay Brannon, Pinkas Zukermann, Spring Awakening (eh) and stuff.

Halloween was nice. I dressed up in two costumes--A vampire (as seen in vampire diaries) and a masquerader. It was nice to hang out with Moe, Sarah, Charolette, Julia etc...

For Thanksgiving, I went with Krista and some of her friends to seem some of the fam in El Paso. It was so nice to see my brother, his wife and my nephew/neice, my cousins, aunt and uncle and my grandparents. We had a grand ole' time. I also hung out with MaryCatherine which WAS AMAZING! I haven't seen her in two years...about time. It is always nice to see that we have a connection still even if we do not talk regular...about that...that needs to change!
My parents moved to CT, which I liked much more than El Paso. It is beautiful, clean and the house is great. I got to hang with Dustin, Austyn and Brody before they went to Portland. I am glad that all the airports were closed (even though it cost them a lot of money).

Krista came home and we just played games as a family THE ENTIRE TIME. We went and saw The Princes and the Frog. Why is this show so poorly rated? I don't know... I loved it. Oh! speaking of which--oscar lovers! Precious is one of the best movies I have ever seen in my life. Mo'Nique needs to win the supporting oscar even if she is being a douche about the whole NY critics thing. Who cares, it is based upon acting and talent rather than appearances and personality. It is about time that the academy give an award based on merrit and not "we are sorry you have never won an award Kate Winslet."

Dad and I went to NYC. I saw A Little Night Music with Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Tres chic and tres good. Once again, I don't know what critics are saying. They complain about the tempi being too slow? I actually prefer Every Day a Little Death at that tempo. For the first time, I actually understood what that song was about. Granted, Angela does steal the show as Mme. Armfeldt, but I did not think Larkin was overly sexual. I liked the sombre take the show had. The orchestration was nice. Being a violist whose goal is to do shows, I have a right to judge on that. Oh! Over the summer, I saw Next to Normal. Great score. That one! Great acting too. When Alice Ripley signed in bubble letters, I was like...makes sense why she acted so well. Jennifer Damiano should have won the Tony. Nugh said. I liked how the costumes matched who Gage was controlling. As he began to fade, so did his purple shirt. Is that what is supposed to happen or am I adding things? Who knows. The set was cool. Intriguing I guess. I am so glad that I saw this production with the replacement Kyle Dean Massey. I like his voice better than the Aaron Tivet. This is one of the "loudest" shows I have seen, and with such a small orchestra...reminiscent of Idina blowing the speakers no? I did not like J. Robert Spencer much...my own opinion. However, I do love the song Everything Else--kinda pertains to me know? I bet everyone and their dog loves it though. Also, the Dream Dancing/There's a World was so touching, heart wrenching and miserable to watch. However, I don't think I agree with what people are saying--is Next to Normal the most overrated musical of the year? I certainly enjoyed it a lot, but I could see what they are saying. The whole psychopharmicologist thing. Now, Spring Awakening...I could agree on that being overrated.

My dad and I then went and saw Ragtime. Why is this show closing? It baffles me. Well, I could tell you why, but an article does: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/31/AR2009123101255.html

It was so great. 28 piece orchestra (what?!). Very huge and grand. I just remember when the curtain opened how breathtaking that was. I don't really have any more comments about it rather than I was impressed and am very sad that more people can't see it. Wish I could have seen Cheyenne in Finian's Rainbow. Oh well, I will just have to look forward to Promises, Promises, La Cage... and Addams Family. I also wished I lived in NYC right now so I could see Benanti in the vibrator play. Love that woman too. Maybe throw in some Carrie Fisher.

School this semester should be much better. Last one in Utah! hoorah! hopefully I get into Mannes and get outta this state and be one step closer to fulfilling my dreams! As Jennifer Damiano would sing "you know that it's just a [Brahms] sonata away and you play [...] and everything else goes away..." Tis my life.

Sorry there are so many pictures. Enjoy.

Ashley Brown and Roller Coasters

Just like the title states, I went on a road trip with my dad. We stopped in Chicago where we went to the Museum of Science and Industry and saw Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee in Mary Poppins. Chicago is such a beautiful city and it was great to finally visit there. It is really different from other large cities. It is very laid back and not HYPER-active. When the light turns to walk, people meandor out into the road compared to running or pushing their way through when there is a break between cars. Everything closed early too.
The Museum was pretty awesome as well. We went on a tour of the U-505. That was pretty sweet, but let me tell you, I definitely would not want to be a sailor after seeing that. Too tight of proximity and some people never even saw the sky or deck for months at a time. BLEH! We also went into a working coal mine. That was pretty awesome, until I learned that miners make 125,000 dollars a year. Yeah, and I have been studying and practicing my whole life for hopefully half of that. Hmph.
Then we went and saw Mary Poppins. I saw it in NY with Austyn, and I love Ashley Brown, so it was an excuse since it is on tour right now with the original cast. It is such a great show. As stated earlier, it is hard to descirbe shows, but it is pretty cool how the stage just unfolds before your eyes and especially to hear Ashley's voice was pretty much amazing. It is just a great show and a spectacular tour as well. I am just sad that they took out Temper, Temper and replaced it playing the game. I do like the fact that Mary is on stage during the song, but it just does not leave the same message. Yes, it was kinda dark and disturbing, but musically, it is just quite amazing--and the tearing of the nursery?? So cool. Everyone should see it!! We had pretty wicked awesome seats too. Dad enjoyed it, but I do not think he cried and especially not as hard as I did...especially since I have a special place for Ashley and Mary Poppins anyway. I still cannot believe the ab control Gavin Lee must have....the visual effects are the stunning part of this show I guess. I also love the fact that bird woman says "Feed the Birds". One of my favs, fo' sho'
The next day, we went to Cedar Point, which I have been wanting to go to since I was 10. So GREAT! It was even better because there were NO! lines. Every roller coaster was walk-on-able. I do not understand me and my luck...everytime I go to Disneyland or any theme park it is like that. Sixteen roller coasters in five hours. They are way intense too. It has been voted the best amusement park for 11 years and there is a reason. The roller coasters are extreme. 450 ft tall monsters and crazy angels and speeds of 90 mph and launches up to 120 mph...CRAZY. I loved it. It is also full of many famous picture spots.We then went to Kirtland, OH which was really cool too. It was nice to experience that small bit of church history and to apply all I learned in my classes to actual visuals.

Now I am here at the College Light Opera Company. Brigadoon opens on Tuesday. It is pretty awesome here. The singers, costumers and sceners are AMAZING. The orchestra is pretty nice too. The shows will overall be great, better than BYU for sure.

Krista via Kelly with Lava, Nickles and Rain on top

So, I went to the Kelly Clarkson concert with my sister Krista. I basically know by name what, four of her songs--Since You've Been Gone, My Life Would Suck Without You, Never Again and Behind These Hazel Eyes. I was expecting to sing along to these four songs and then enjoy a nice time.

OK, let me just say that it was not only FREAKING AWESOME, it was really inspirational. I knew all the songs she sang, and now I am a Kelly freak. I bought a shirt that says my life would suck without you, and wore it to my lesson. Claudine was like, "Is that a Kelly Clarkson shirt?" Um, how in the world did she know that. I bet that Evelynn listens to her (haha jk).

It was great to see Krista one last time before I left, and it was so great to go to a memorable thing with her.

The concert was inspirational because it inspired me to not give up on practicing my Hindemith. I basically was like, what is the big deal. My recital is going to suck and I might as well just let it because I will be in Boston for 2.5 months. Nevertheless, her dedication and wicked radness made me rethink it. Juries went well, but I couldn't focus so I had a few bleeps.

Moe, Chris and I went to the Nickel Arcade on State street and we had a blast. :) We wasted what 15 dollars in Nickels playing that game where you just stick in nickles and try to knock more nickles off. Haha, basically, it was one of the funnest things I have done. We got 600 tickets, so we each got an animal print slap braclet, a ring pop and a fake tattoo of an artistic bug. It was really great. :)

It has been raining almost every day in Provo the past week. Whenever it started to rain, we would hop in the PT Cruiser and go Storm Chasing up to Y Mountain. We, being inspired by Twister, would roll down the windows and let the wind and rain blow through the car. Then we would bust out with Paper Planes and Rhianna once we got to the top. Fun times.

On Saturday/Sunday we went to the Soda Springs. They were really interesting...not what we expected (which was a hot wonderful spring), and it was basically a drinkable stream that tasted like stream tonic water. The cool thing is that it was ALL NATURAL! Wicked sweet.

Then we went to the Lava Hot Springs and snuck into the Spa, I presume is what it was. Anyways, the water was so hot that I thought the rocks were going to seer into my skin. Luckily they didn't, but then people showed up...workers and we freaked. Just as we were leaving, these two women started running screaming COPS! and we were freaking out. The workers of the State Spa let us into the bathroom, and then they told us when the police were gone and we bolted to the car. Overall, three hours is a tad too far compared to the two it takes to get to Filmore. The Filmore are not as hot, but they have more than one pool, and they are free. Moral of the story, don't do anything illegal.