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.
