5.18 One day til done

 Life has been really good. In most ways.

Sarah and I decided to start a weightloss program called Optavia. We are a week and two days in to it and both of us have lost weight. It consists of eating 5 meals that they have provided and one lean and green meal, which the lean is established in our books and we follow it for maximum lean. LauraMae is our coach and she is an amazing friend. She checks in on us regularly as we manage figuring things out with this new program, as she and Kyle are also on the same program.

Fathers and Sons was this past weekend and Kyle, as soon as it was announced months ago asked me if I wanted to join him in going on the campout. I, of course, agreed, and he had invited another Man from our ward named Jason Rasmussen. I was in the backseat on the way up and on the way down, listening to Kyle and Jason talk. On our way up, we went through Globe and Miami Arizona. After those two towns, the car ride got crazier than we expected, riding on a side of mountain and going up and down hills. Kyle decided not go back that way on our return, as he tries to choose the safest route possible. He helped me set up my tent and I brought food that Sarah helped me to cook (chicken and spaghetti squash with tomatoes and red wine vinegar). The food was so good. I used a stove that Sarah and I bought for trek, which worked like a charm. It was cool to see Brother Young get dressed up in a Ninja turtle costume, to impress the kids. Kyle and I played foosball against each other and while I was leading most of the game, he came back to beat me in the end. It was nice sleeping in our tent again. Sarah and I had slept in it for the Pre-trek campout at the end of April. Which, by the way, we are still not ready for. There was a little zipline that we were able to go off of, and I made a basket with my feet going down it. We also played card games in the evening, and I was the only one without a jacket that wasn't complaining about the cold. On our way back I was feeling a little sick, having only eaten a pancake, some bacon and eggs, and a bunch of optavia bars, so Sarah bought me some soup that I could eat.

We had to be back really soon because Sarah and I had a photography session with Lexie McMullin. We took 15 photos in Veteran's Oasis Park in Gilbert. We had scouted out the area before, having been recommended it by Lexie. She was fun to do pictures with. And then right after LauraMae and Kyle invited us over for Moe's (their dog's) birthday party. It's really nice to have friends like them.

This week is my last week of school. Tomorrow I have my long awaited Music Theory IV Cummalative Final with Dr. Schindler. I feel like I got this, having prepared extensively this week and this semester.

Today was my Jury/Auditions for Ottawa. I had prepared 6 songs, and had to sing 2 of them. I was originally suppose to sing 3, but Dr. Peterson stopped it, having heard enough with my first two. I think he thought I did well. Tommy said that I had a solid Jury in a text. So I'm happy with how everything went with it. I had chosen to sing Stanchen, from Schwanengesang by Franz Schubert as my opening piece, and the jury member chose Lonesome Polecat from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I thought that I was going to have to do some more things for Dr. Peterson in the same Jury, but he told me we were going to be doing something a different day. I think the things are sight-singing and simple piano skills.

I've kinda been put into a dilemma. I am pretty sure I am 3 classes away from transferring completely to Ottawa University. But that's even if I want to. Dr. Peterson let us know that in about 2 years, they may make it so that that MCC can offer a four year degree in Music Education, instead of having to go to Ottawa. In the mean time I could work on getting my piano certificates, completing the 3 classes I have left, among taking more classes that will teach me about Music.

3.21 Life Seven Months Later

Sarah and I have been doing really good. We moved in October to Chandler, Arizona...about a 10-15 minutes drive south of Tuscany Palms, which is interestingly called The Tides and is now white instead of brownish-beige. It's actually kinda ugly, and if there were any reason why I would have moved, it would have been that. Which isn't actually true, because it's a bit shallow, and I'm not that shallow.

We moved for many reasons. We didn't feel like we were progressing in our old apartment. We felt ostracized from the branch. We felt alone. The Santos did not reconcile with us, and neither did most of the branch. We only found solace in the Naumanns. Who let us come over many a time, especially when I was sick.

We moved to the Desert Jewel Apartments, aptly named Luxury Apartments. Our new apartment is 1300 square feet. 2 Bedrooms. 2 Bathrooms. Hardwood floors. A huge living room and dining room. But what we really love is that we moved into the Amberwood Ward. The bishop is Alan Norton. A good go-getter man. Sometimes too enthusiastic for my taste. Always wanting the best for the youth (which isn't bad). He incorporates an Activity in a Box. He's always going above and beyond.

Probably the greatest joy of being in our new ward, is having met the Klinglers. Kyle and LauraMae. We first met them at Christmastime. Sister Tina Miller, music leader of the Amberwood Ward, asked me and Sarah to both sing and to play the piano for the Christmas program, even though it was in the middle of the Coronavirus. She asked me to play for LauraMae, who has a beautiful voice. Way back when we were still trying to feel our way through the ward. But since then, we have had a relationship that has blossomed into a great friendship. When Wandavision came out, we found out that they are really big Marvel fans. And we watched the next 8 episodes at each of our houses, alternating every week. It was a really cool system we had set up. I had to warm up to Kyle, and LauraMae, but I was given the calling of an Activity Days leader, with Kyle. And Sarah was given the calling of Young Woman's Secretary, and LauraMae was a teacher. So we both worked together, which led to more interaction. They are like the best of friends. They listen to both me and Sarah. And we have been very open with them about our lives.

School has been good. The last time I wrote, I had been worried about upcoming Piano Class III. Which was very hard for me to try for. But it went really well, an now I am in the middle of the Spring Semester 2021, taking many a class including Piano IV, which is going well.

I am taking so many credits this semester. Music Theory and AP IVs, Piano IV, Choral Methods, Choir, Conducting, One on one voice lessons, and Composition class. My composition class is with Karl Schindler at Phoenix College and I have really enjoyed working with him. I have been working on a composition called "The Standard of Truth" using the text from Joseph Smith's words. I also have been composing a piece for Sam and Ashley, who are getting married in April.

I wrote a paper on both Madrigals and Felix Mendelssohn as a composer, and I plan on writing a paper on Franz Liszt's contributions to music. The first paper was a real trial and challenge for me, but Sarah really helped me through it.

8.13 Summer session and Piano Placement Test

I never told you about my Summer Term at Phoenix College. It went so well. So well, that I am signing up for Theory III with Dr. D'Ercole for the Fall of 2020. Before I talk about the upcoming fall semester, I am going to talk about my first ever online classes.

Dr. D'Ercole is so awesome. She is of Asian decent. I was one of 6 or 7 participants in her Theory II class and 4 students in her Aural Perception class. At first, Theory II was a little difficult. I got an 80% on my first homework assignment. It had to do with part writing, which is something that was never really discussed in my Theory I class. I told myself that I was going to do well from then forward and from then on, I conquered those homework assignments and I did extremely well on the tests. Throughout the duration of the classes, I averaged from 96-97% in both classes.

Doing it online was not that difficult. Probably the hardest thing was getting up for the 9am classes. Things that I didn't like were that I didn't really get to meet any of the classmates. Aural Perception was a little different, with only 3 other students. But it was still difficult to meet people.

I had a talk with Dr. D'Ercole, to see if it was at all possible that I take III with her and still go to MCC. Of course she said yes. I then had a good opportunity to talk with her about who I was and what I was aspiring for. She told me that I would make a perfect Choir teacher. And that I was a joy to have in class. I was happy for the praise. And I told her that I really liked her teaching. It was definitely much better than the theory teacher at MCC. I really liked talking with her and connecting.

Today I had my placement test for Piano Class. I was a little nervous, I do have to say. I wasn't nervous getting prepared for it, though, which is interesting. The actual doing of the thing in a performance was a lot more nerve wracking. I asked, in an email, for Dr. Stojanovic to send me the placement pieces to get into Piano Class III, but then decided, after playing those pieces, that they were pretty simple pieces. So I asked for the pieces to get into Piano Class IV.

I only had one day to prepare, but that was enough. It was very apparent that I was lacking in the skills of doing scales. However, all the pieces that I performed I did with flying colors. She could tell that I was a musician. She then explained to me that I would be floundering in level IV because at the end of level III they are pretty proficient with scales. So, we made the decision that I would be in level III. I had a small tinge of disappointment, but I got over it.

It's weird. I have been so worried about specifically piano class, and what level I would ascertain. Because of what it might say about me. But, I feel really good about my placement. I was practically in level IV, had it not been for my scales skill level. And frankly, I need that training, especially if I want to become a choir teacher. 

I still don't know how choir is run online. So that'll be a surprise when choir starts up.

I am taking French Diction. It will be probably my most difficult of the classes I take this semester. But I am really looking forward to this semester. It was really hard to think about all the things I will be doing this upcoming semester, because I didn't want to get overwhelmed with things. But I am looking forward to it.

I also don't know if I will be getting Leia back for voice lessons. I don't know if I weirded her out. I hope not.

Life is in the up and up again.

I am starting to feel again.

6.25

What is life like for me these days?

I've been at home with Sarah. Coronavirus full swing. It's been a month since I finished Momentum. Two weeks ago I had my court case. I was given Mental Health Diversion, which basically is that I must do everything that my clinic, Chicanos por la Causa says I need to do (appointments and stuff), I have to do Anger Management for 12 weeks. I have 10 weeks left. And I have to get my case manager, James, to write an update to the court every 60 days.

Sarah and I had an argument about the responsibilities of the house. And after it, I agreed that I need to do more about the cleanliness of the house. I was just letting it get bad because I thought that that was what was natural but turns out that she was getting annoyed by it as well. So, I've been taking care of the house since then.

I also got through all of Luke and about a quarter of Job. Trying to figure out what I should read next in the scriptures. I've been feeling Bible recently.

I'm kinda anxious to get started with classes again. They should be starting on Monday. But I am unsure if they will because of low enrollment again. 6 out of 20 have signed up for Music Theory II and 5 out of 20 have signed up for Aural Perception II. The person said they probably would get cancelled if there wasn't 10 that signed up. So that is a thing.

I've been trying to make friends, or at least, keep the friends that I have made. I've been trying to support Greg Schroeder, my friend from Momentum, Carlie Chatfield, and

5.22.2020

Today was my last day of Momentum. It was a good program. I made a lot of friends like AJ and Lauren, Sierra and Rafael and Torsten. I enjoyed getting to know them. Jamie was a good care coordinator.

Funny thing, is that Mesa Community College called me and told me that my two summer classes have been cancelled due to low volume of students inside them. This isn't good for me, unless, like Alma Quiros said in the message, I can do it at some other college, but it is a little ironic that  the thing that helped me graduate today, is cancelled. But I know that everything will be okay because I had good feelings about the outcome. Whether it be that I work or go to school. It should be something that I can accomplish.

If school doesn't start, I hope I can find something that will fill my time.

Church might start this weekend, according to the radio. But then again, our church hasn't really gotten back to us about if we are starting to open. If it does, we will be going to one in Chandler, because I found an apartment that we could move in to, depending on how everything goes.

5.6 Update for May

I don't remember if I wrote about this yet.

Two weeks ago, my parents and I had a video call falling out. I told them that they needed to treat Sarah and I like adults. They didn't take that too well. But I stood up for myself for once with them, which surprisingly felt a little bit liberating. I haven't talked to them since, except for a single text to dad saying that I didn't want to participate in last week's devotional and any others after (which may have been too much to say).

I have been feeling a wee bit depressed of late, not knowing what to do with myself on my days away from Momentum which are Mondays and Wednesdays.

I signed up for Summer classes at MCC. They start May 26th. They are Music Theory II and Aural Perception II. It means that I won't be at Momentum any more because AP is going to be in the middle of the day. It's good that I found them, because they weren't listed as classes offered like a week ago. I had to email Dr. Peterson to see what was going on with them.

My relationship with my friend Greg has been weird the last couple of days. I like him a lot, but I don't know what is expected from me as a friend and not as a family member of his.