Still Alive

So, I decided to write a little post just to let you all know I'm still kickin'. I got behind on a few posts and school started, and well, I'm sure you understand. It's a familiar story.

This semester has been easier yet harder than previous semesters. I actually have a lighter credit load (only 16), and opera rehearsals were actually reasonable and didn't completely take over my life. But I've had a serious case of senioritis. I just want to move on to the next phase of life, as much as I've loved this one. I go through periods of being reconciled to where I am, and then I'm itching to get it over with all ready. If I just didn't have to take those dumb classes I don't want to take... ; ) I know, right? Why can't I just have what I want?

Okay, I'm done. It really hasn't been that bad. I'll be doing some updates in the semi-near future (meaning within the next two months), but in the mean time, here's a run-down on some things I've done this semester.

I'm taking Ballet 1010. This class has been a combination of hey, I kind of like this! and what in the world was I thinking? It's been good to have regular exercise and to learn some new skills, but some things have really been a stretch for me, in more than one sense of the word. :)

I directed two scenes in our productions Vixens, Rascals, and Saints. One was from Wicked and the other was from The Marriage of Figaro. I was also in two scenes.

I'm preparing for my Senior Recital, which will be on January 30th.

I work at the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery on campus. Love my job.

I teach three violin students, and one voice student. Unfortunately, my 12 year old violin student thinks she wants to quit. :(

I've been bit in a major way by the creative bug. I frequently look for good ideas online. Finally one day, I decided I didn't care how busy I was, I felt like making something, and by dingo I was going to! So I'm working on an afghan. I find crocheting rather theraputic. I made a super cute hat on Sunday for my friend's baby that was born a couple weeks ago. And Terral got me a sewing machine for my birthday and I made my Halloween costume with it.

Okay. I feel caught up enough. :) Pictures coming soon! Well, maybe only semi-soon...

A Fish Story

Back in October I planned a small fishing trip with by brother-in-law and a friend. We loaded the canoe on the minivan and left town at 6 a.m. We got to Newcastle Reservoir just before the sun came up. Newcastle is now known for it's mix of Rainbow Trout, Small mouth Bass, and Wipers. A wiper is a hybrid between a Stripped Bass and a White Bass. There is not other lake in the area where these fish can be found.

Although plenty of trout were being caught with worms I was after a wiper. As the day went on I had only had one good bite and I had lost the fish before I got it to the boat. I was beginning to think that I wouldn't catch my wiper after all.

At one point our lines were tangled and we drifted towards shore where the lake was shallow. We fixed the lines and began to paddle off. Suddenly my pole bent hard and I was sure that I had a lunker of a fish! My excitement was shattered when I realized that my "lunker" was a snag. We turned the boat around to un-snag my lure. I could see under the water that my lure had caught on to a small detached bush under the water. I slowly reeled it in to unhook it and begin fishing again. I realized that I could see a fish swimming around as if it were interested in what was going on. It was a wiper! The fish began to swim away and my pole started moving along with the bush that I had caught. After a fight I reeled in a bush and a fish. Someone had snagged their line on the same bush but they broke their line off. Later the fish came along and took the bait getting hooked onto the bush. Who knows how long that fish sat there hooked to a bush before I came along and caught the bush!

Mini Backpacking Trip

Now that Terral's whole family lives in Cedar again, we've had a lot of fun hanging out with his two sisters and their husbands. For Labor Day Weekend, we took a little trip to a place we like to call Raspberry Canyon. That is of course not its real name, but it was rechristened by Chris (ha ha! rechristened by Chris!) while I was on my mission. Anyway, it's really close to home, and it is GORGEOUS. I was filled with wonder by my Heavenly Father's creations.

We saw lots of interesting things, but the arch and the two waterfalls are what bring most people to the canyon.

This is us en route to finding a campsite. We were standing below the arch, but my puny camera couldn't get us and the arch.

We were sure hungry by the time we set up camp and got dinner going! BTW, if you ever need any ideas for backpacking food, Terral has some good ones.

We had a lot of fun that evening just talking, laughing, and playing games. The next day we did some more hiking. This was when we reached the falls. And the canyon's namesake: yummy, little, bitter-sweet, wild RASPBERRIES!

Here are a few more of my favorite points of interest.

And a few more shots of us.

M & M Visit

My side of the family gets together for a big FHE every other month. This month it just didn't work with schedules to find a time when everyone would be able to go. Terral and I ended up being among the non-attendees because of a previous commitment, but Mom and Matt took pity on us and came to visit us in Cedar! I was really glad because Matt will be going back into the mission field soon, and I wanted to spend some more time with him. Plus, he got to see our new-to-him apartment.

We didn't do anything particularly exciting, and to be honest, I was still feeling quite a bit of anxiety from school starting, etc. But we did enjoy each other's company! Here are some pictures of Matt being goofy.

Mom made some dinner for us the first night, since Terral and I didn't get home till after 7pm. She was also helpful with some little things around the house. I kept telling her I could do it later. I don't want her to feel like she has to work every time she comes to visit, but she said that she enjoys helping out, so we were grateful. She had some good relaxing time too. Isn't she cute?

This is her on our formerly teal leather couch. She helped me to basically re-upholster it last spring break.

Yay for family!

(Normally you can't see that foam under the couch, but we didn't put it back very well after Matt slept on the hide-a-bed.)

Thanks Mom and Matt! We're so glad you came!

Finally Fence

We finally got a fence put up around our garden! Chris's dad got some free chain link from someone at the beginning of the summer, but we didn't get posts until a few days ago. The boys did a lot of work putting the posts in. We girls helped too, of course.

The plan is to put some barbed wire between the chain link and the top poles--then it will be finished. Oh, and the gate still needs to be attached. In the mean time our garden feels so much safer! No Deer Allowed!

Toddler Mix-up

So as we were leaving our friends' house last night, they told their two-year old daughter to "Say bye bye Foxies!" Obediently, she repeated, "Bye bye Fawkies!"

Tribute

Terral and I just got back from a viewing. The funeral is tomorrow, but we both have class. I'm so glad we were able to go and remember our friend and neighbor.

When we were first married, we had an apartment on 500 W. Pretty soon we started noticing an old lady that walked frequently down our street. She looked a little ornery, and I didn't want to intrude, so I just minded my own business at first. Then we started to get settled in, and I felt a need to get to know my neighbors and fellow ward members. So one day I said hi to her as I passed, and we fell into a short conversation. Bit by bit I got to know Irene better. At church, she played the organ in Sacrament meeting and the piano in Relief Society.

When winter came, Terral would often shovel her driveway. Sometimes I helped. We had a hard time avoiding the money she kept trying to give us in return! We also had a hard time convincing her to go back inside when she had already started shovelling. Once, Terral noticed some footprints in the snow by the mailbox. They were made by bare feet. We caught her walking in the snow barefoot a couple of times, but she always said she was fine. We couldn't do much but shake our heads and smile. :)

She was such a people person. Talking to her always brightened my day. I had a few conversations with her about my schooling. She had been a music major once, but she stopped going to school when she got married. She said it was about the only thing in her life she regretted, and she made me promise I would finish. She was a very motivating person. And she was so talented! She accompanied me a few times. She played beautifully, and we were always in sync. She got frustrated sometimes when she was sight reading a piece and she missed a couple notes or a repeat sign. Her fingers, ears, and eyes hindered her from using her full talent, but most people wouldn't notice anything amiss in her playing.

She had several heart attacks in the past year, but she wouldn't go to a nursing home. She had some long stays at the hospital, but she always insisted on going back to the home she and her husband had built. And she couldn't sit still and rest. She was always out walking as much as her body would allow her to--around the block was good. She said that as long as she was alive she wanted to live.

Thank you Irene, for sharing yourself with me. I want to be like you. I want to be generous with my talents and friendship. I want to take advantage of the time given me. I want to make a difference in peoples' lives. I only knew you for two short years, but I don't think I'll ever forget you. Your body was failing, but your bright spirit always shone through.

The viewing wasn't depressing. There were smiles and memories being shared all around. I think Terral said it best: "She lived in the right way, and she died the right way."