Expect the Unexpected

<— So, you know how I have that motto under my picture. That's right the one right over there <—

Well, today is a perfect example of how life happens when you are planning for something else. Let's start at the beginning.

It was a rainy day in early October. Chilly, wet and cold, but all together lovely. My sister, Abi, and I had just finished our last class and were headed home. We were excited to change into our p.j.s and make the drive, over the river and through the woods of course, to my grandma's house in Woods Cross. The purpose for this excursion was to get a much needed hair cut from my Aunt. Well, it didn't happen and here is why...

Abi and I arrived to our cute little apartment, changed and then loaded up our stuff. Only problem, was that I realized that the really annoying beeping sound, that always goes off in our car (when the door is open, whether the key is in the ignition or not) wasn't happening. I then realized that the automatic unlock for our car wasn't working either...very odd. We both eventually got in the car, I put the key in the ignition and....nothing. It was dead! Abi killed it. It was all her fault. ;) She left the lights on and consequently drained the life from Roger's poor little battery.

We called for backup, which consisted of a list of about everyone I know. Thank you Bryan Tagge, for saving the day. He came to our rescue, with his brand new car and a jumper cable. We were saved, or so we thought. Well, Bryan and I are both intelligent people, and we both have jumped cars before...but this unfortunately doesn't make us fool proof. Bryan looked at me and told me which side he was hooking to the positive and which one he was hooking to the negative, only I wasn't paying as close of attention as I should have been because I had the colors swapped in my mind. Consequently, we got our positives and negatives mixed up, my fault entirely. I hopped in our car and Abi told me to wait a bit before starting up the ignition. I did, and then...our car started smoking. Not a good sign. Quickly, I jumped out and waved at Bryan to have him turn off his car. We got the engine stopped, unhooked the cables, and then realized our mistake. How silly am I? It was one of those, "Oh no! I can't believe I am so stupid." moments. You know, when you wish you could turn back time and just keep praying that you didn't destroy anything.

Bryan got back in his car and started his engine, only it wouldn't start. At this point, I was thinking, "Great, not only is our car smoking, but now I have ruined Bryan's car as well." Needless to say, I got a little distressed. Thankfully Bryan kept his composure and just kept reassuring me that it was a learning experience. We checked spark plugs, called parents and friends, and read the owner's manual, but nothing was working. (Note: all of this was done in the rain that was mentioned in the first sentence of this story.) Eventually, we decided that a tow would be the best option. While Bryan was on the phone with the tow people, this really nice guy, all dressed up for a church meeting, came over to the car and asked if we needed help. I told him we sure did and he kindly replied by saying that he was a car guy, whatever that means. He looked under the hood of Bryan's car and then had me try to start it again. He told us that all that was wrong was that the battery was dead and that he would be willing to give us a jump. So, we hooked the two together, correctly this time. Much to my relief, the car roared to life. The kind man explained to us what happened, and then told us to drive the car around for about 20 minutes before parking it for the night.

Relieved, we headed out for a '20 minute' excursion. Abi had the brilliant idea to go get Cheerwine from a store in the Riverwoods. Can I just say, it was the best decision ever! The store was a toy store/candy store called Blickenstaff's. We played with toys, road the mechanical horse, and drank our Cheerwine to our heart's content.

Then we went to a giant surf/beach store—thing...aka. Provo Beach Resort. We explored, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. In this particular Provo Beach Resort, since there is obviously more than one, there is an ice cream shop called "I Like Ike's". It was in the Daily Universe last week. I read the article. It talked about how it just barely opened, it is currently the only ice cream shop in Provo that sells Bluebell ice cream, and the honorary 'opening' scooping was done by Lavel Edwards and Jimmer. In my excitement at recognizing the shop, I turned to Abi and Bryan and explained what I had read. Bryan looked at me and said timidly, while pointing over my shoulder, "That is Jimmer." I looked over my shoulder and lo and behold there was Jimmer, staring at me like I was crazy...haha...ya it was a little embarrassing. Abi, Bryan and I looked awkwardly at each other, laughed nervously, and then shuffled out of the door quickly only to burst into laughter once we were out of Jimmer and his fiance's earshot. We headed home in high spirits, visited and ate apple pie.

Now for the moral(s) of the story. Number one: life never ends up how you expect, number two: negatives can be positives—it all depends on your attitude (thank you Bryan) and number three: be spontaneous, it's fun sometimes.

The End! :D

26.2

I am pleased to announce that I, Eliza Christensen, completed my goal of running a marathon without stopping and I survived to tell the tale! YAY! I did the Top of Utah Marathon this year up in Logan Utah. What an adventure it was. The night before the race, I met up with my parents in Logan. It rained all night and didn't stop at all the next day. A little hail even visited around mile 13. No biggie though... :D Here are the pictures. Enjoy!

The Bend in the Road

I'm reminded of a quote that I read in Anne of Green Gables a few years ago. Anne is talking to Marilla about how her plans are changing. In this part of the book, she has reached a point where it has become important for her to stay and take care of her caregiver and give up her education for a while.

"When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes--what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows--what new landscapes--what new beauties--what curves and hills and valleys further on."

I'm reminded of this quote because I have reached a bend in my own road. I'm not sure what exactly lies beyond, but like Anne, I prefer to think of it as a path with checkered light and shadows, new landscapes, beauties and curves, hills valleys and much more. Though change isn't always as splendid as one would like to think, it still has a "fascination of its own."

The Journey

When I was a freshman at BYU, I came to school with rose colored glasses. I was going to conquer the world, choose the perfect major and everything would fall right at my feet. Well, I decided on the perfect major, I wanted to do music, specifically vocal performance. So, I auditioned in December and lo and behold I did not make it. That was a bump in the road for sure, but I was determined to continue. I did a little research and heard that Music Education did an audition for the School of Music during Summer term. I didn't really have any passion for music education at this point and thought that I would be sneaky and try to make it in under music education and then eventually switch to performance, because once you were in, you were in.

Then another bump hit, I took the introductory course and fell in love with music education. Just the whole concept of helping to mold the next generation of musicians was magical to me. At the end of this course, I auditioned again. I made it into the School of Music this time, but with a new objective. I was going to become the best music teacher out there and change the world (since that is the goal of every person, right?).

I continued on this path for two years, things were going great. Occasionally I would hear of a friend, or peer in the music education program switching to performance. I would entertain the idea for a moment and then quickly decide I liked where I was, plus music education was more stable and I would have a career once I graduated. It just made sense.

The Bend

This current spring semester was my last semester of voice lessons (as a music education major you take only two years of voice lessons vs. the four performance majors take). So, I decided to do a recital. Why not finish with a bang? Well, I had my recital (read previous post), it went as well as I could have hoped for and graduation was just around the corner (3 semesters away).

Then one day, last Thursday, I got this crazy idea. Like most conclusions, or decisions we make in life, there are things that sort of unravel the idea before us. This then leads to the big 'ah-ha' moment where everything changes. These little nudges alter our path ever so slightly, and like a turn in the road, they don't happen all at once. It's a gradual process. These, for me, were the compliments received from family and friends after my performance, the compliments from the head of the vocal department and his encouragement to not give up because my voice was getting 'there', and my overall desire to continue my own vocal development. I could feel that although I had come a long way, I still wasn't as grounded as I wanted to be in my technique and my desire to continue lessons just kept growing. I was afraid though. I really wanted to ask my teacher, Dr. Reich, if I could continue studying with her, but I knew she had a very busy studio and that she was in high demand. I just didn't know if she would consider taking a student on for another year who was done with their vocal requirement and who just wanted to take lessons for their own personal benefit.

The other worry that was weighing on my mind at this point was graduate school. I had been looking into schools and I had started to realize that I didn't feel prepared to apply to graduate school with the training I would get from music education. So, as is characteristic with everything I do, I tried to find a solution. First, I needed to further my vocal skills. The above fear of asking my previous teacher to take me on was the conclusion of that thought. I also needed to have a basic reading comprehension in all of the Romantic languages (French, Italian, and German). I definitely could do this goal, but my graduation plan was set, and I didn't have any room for three more four credit classes before graduation.

Then the crazy idea hit. What if I changed my major to vocal performance? This idea had never seemed like a possibility to me, but for the first time it sounded like it might actually work. So, I figured out a graduation plan. Good news I would only need to extend my graduation by one semester. Then I talked to my academic adviser, who I happen to work for. Everything would work out there as well. Now I just needed approval from the head of the vocal department. I sent him an e-mail. A couple hours later I received this response:
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"I would be glad to speak to you about this topic. You know that I am a fan of your voice. You meet the VPS standards for entry into 360, so the decision rests with you. Dr. Reich has a tight load in the fall, but I am sure she would make room for you. If, for some reason, she cannot, I would be pleased to help, as I know several other teachers would, too."

*VPS standards refers to how your voice is scored at juries on a 5.0 scale. To pass onto the next level of voice lessons, in vocal performance (360), a student has to receive a VPS of 3.0 out of 5.0.

This is the point in our story that I started to get really excited. I just stared at the screen and thought, "You mean it is a possibility for me to switch? I can be the major that I originally wanted to be?" Crazy stuff, that's for sure. Well, I didn't want to be impulsive or anything. After all, this was pretty life changing. However, after much contemplation and advice I decided to switch. Two comments that particularly swayed my vote were:

"You might as well reach farther than you think you can and then even if you fall, you will have grown in the process." Said to me by my friend in the music education program, Sarah Hunsaker Machado.

(Interestingly, this comment reminds me of another quote from the Anne of Green Gables saga.)

"It's a no brainer to me, you can take education classes any time, what you can't get back is the talent development that you will have the opportunity to pursue." Said to me by my dear father.

So, there you have it. I am now a Vocal Performance major at BYU with two more years ahead of me. The turn has been taken. I am now rounding the bend. What lays before me is very hard to see at this point. And sometimes, like Anne, "I wonder how the road beyond it goes--what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows--what new landscapes--what new beauties--what curves and hills and valleys further on."

I guess I'll get to find out.

Amen!

This is incredibly accurate. My sister posted these lyrics from a Josh Turner song and so, being the copy cat I am, I am posting them again.

Well, I grew up wild and free,
Walkin' these fields in my bare feet.
There wasn't no place I couldn't go,
With a .22 rifle and a fishin' pole.

Well, I live in the city, but don't fit in,
You know it's a pity the shape I'm in.
Well, I got no home and I got no choice.
Oh, Lord, have mercy on a country boy.

My sister posted this along with a dead-on description of life as a 'country girl' in Idaho. Since I can't even compete, I thought I would just re-post for all of those folks who are interested in a great read. Country Girl by Abi

(except minus the running part, because that's one thing I do LOVE!!! Love you Abs!)

In Recital...

Well, I did it. I had my Senior recital. The culmination of my entire vocal collegiate work, summed up in one evening. The following is a list of my program:

Eliza Christensen’s Recital Program

Saper vorreste from Un Ballo in Maschera-Giuseppe Verdi (b. 1813-1901)

Voi, che sapete from Le Nozze di Figaro-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (b. 1756-1791)

Beau soir-Claude Debussy (b. 1862-1918)

Clair de Lune-Gabriel Fauré (b. 1845-1924)

Morgen-Richard Strauss (b. 1864-1949)

Der Gärtner-Hugo Wolf (b. 1860-1903)

The Metropolitan Tower-Lori Laitman (b. 1955)

Meadowlark from The Baker’s Wife-Stephen Schwartz (b. 1948)

The entire recital was about 55 minutes. I did the recital with another girl name, Gretchen Davidson. My portion of the program was about 24 minutes.

It really was great to get to perform what I had been working on so hard. I received many compliments and tons of feedback afterwards. One of the best comments of the evening was from my friend, Laura Turner (who is also a Music Ed. Major). She said, "Eliza's finally found her voice!" I just thought that was great, that a peer could see the progress and hear the difference.

I am extremely grateful for all of the family and friends who took time out of their busy schedules to come and see me. My Christensen grandparents and my Rodabough grandma came. All of my siblings and both parents (my dad giving up a bike race to be there) were also in attendance. My Aunt Stacy and cousins, Benjamin and Jess, were also there. I am so grateful for their support. Thanks!

"This was the best vacation EVER!"

Memorial weekend just came and went. I seriously have not done so many wonderfully delightful things in such a long time. I started the weekend, Saturday night, by driving down to Zion's National park to watch Utah Premiere Brass Perform.

The concert was here.Nothing like listening to Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man and John William's Hymn to the Fallen with a breath-taking view such as this:and this...So, amazing!
Then I went to an amazing farewell for my cousin Benjamin Larsen. He did such a great job and will make a fabulous missionary. He's the 3rd missionary from the same family to be out at the same time. What a dedicated family.
After delightful story time and lots and lots and LOTS of food, we then headed to Grandma Rodabough's house. Playing the Ukulele and singing the whole way there, of course. ;)
The next morning we all headed to a park in Woods Cross. Every year the city puts on a breakfast for the community. Such a great idea. Unfortunately it was rainy and cold, but we made the best of it. After sitting down with our hearty meal of pancakes, eggs and ham, lo and behold a group of people playing the bagpipes came to serenade us. Imagine that! Breakfast and bagpipes, who would have thought. After being thoroughly frozen, we headed back to Grandma's, snuggled, watched movies and ate delicious food. Such a good weekend!

It's a gift to be...

I don't know where that title came from, but i'm going with it. So, fall semester has ended and spring semester has already begun. I got a total of 4.5 days off from school. Exciting, right? Anyway, I am currently undertaking 7 credit hours on top of preparing for a recital, and continuing to train for a marathon and a triathlon and surprisingly it is much easier than last semester was. I think it is because I only have to split myself 3 ways instead of 9 (3 spring classes, 9 winter classes--just in case you didn't catch on :D ).

So, today has been kind of a down day for me. I don't do well with change, especially when I feel like I am being left behind. Today one of my favorite people in the whole wide world left for the summer. Her name is Jessica Hart, and she is simply amazing! I am just really going to miss her, especially since she decided to go on a mission and won't be returning next year. I also miss hanging out with my sister, who has now returned home to work for my dad. Everything is changing which is good, but I find it hard to allow the change to change me and to just let go.

Now onto the better things. This morning there was a hot air balloon floating over the Clyde building. It reminded me of how much I want to ride in one. Also, yesterday I played Ultimate Frisbee with some friends. I really enjoyed playing because I didn't get worn out. So, running everyday has its benefits. ;) I'm in love with the warm weather, I almost have my homework done for the day, I had an excellent voice lesson yesterday, I have a great new accompanist and she made me dinner last night (thanks Aurelia!). I really do love life and things are just fantastic! I also love, love, LOVE the gospel. I cannot say how important it is in my life. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who listens and councils and guides both tenderly and sometimes forcefully when I am not paying close attention to what I need to be doing. What a wonderful plan, work, and gospel I have the opportunity to take part in. It's a gift to be....a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!

The Spirit of Adventure

I really want to go on an adventure. Anyone want to come along?
Wait, I have finals to take...

So, I have a bucket list, or a "things I want to do before I die" list.
Here are a few of the things that this list consists of:
- Ride in a hot air balloon
- Shake the prophets hand
- Go to every state in the US
- Graduate from college
and many others, but the reason I bring up this list is because I am currently working on accomplishing one of the things on it...
- Run a marathon
That's right. I am running a marathon. I already invested $80 into it and have been training since February. Crazy right? The best part is that I actually am really enjoying it. Figuring out a training program, having the motivation to run, eating healthy...It's great! I love it in fact. Maybe this won't be my one and only marathon, maybe it'll become a life-long hobby! Wouldn't that be exciting. ;)
So, that is my new adventure I guess. Doing something I have never done before. Isn't life awesome?

Highlights

1. I competed in DanceSport this morning at 8:00. We made it through three rounds and then were cut before the Quarter Finals.
2. I had hot chocolate at work, made in our lovely Cocomotion machine. So, good!

3. The sun is shining!

Be Grateful

So, I have started listing all the things I am grateful for as I walk to campus every day. It is a great way to start your morning. I highly recommend it. Here is the list I came up with today.
Things to be grateful for:
-A temple close by
-Wonderful roommates
-Breakfast
-The gospel
-Being a Music major @ BYU
-Having a job
-Having a house
-Heating
-A warm bed
-Optimism
-The Sunshine
-Slightly warm weather that hints at spring
-The sound of a leaf blower, that sounds like a lawn mower, and so therefore makes it seem more like springtime
-Good health
-Being able to walk and not be weary and run and not faint
-Tender mercies
-The Lord's constant reminders of what I need to be doing and pursuing in life
-Great music (namely Chanticleer, you should listen to them)
-LIFE!!! :D

Music: A Way of Life

This is an essay I wrote for my World Music class. It is a basically a direct comparison on how music in my life can relate to

the music of other cultures, namely South Indian and Balinese cultures.

Standing at full attention, I take in every move of the conductor--the tiny flick of her hands and the expression on her face. I can feel the members of the choir all around me. Their sound engulfs mine and seeks for a balance. Everyone is working toward the same goal of unity while trying to deliver the precision and expression that our director knows we are capable of. Loud and soft, strong and weak, we dip between notes. Then suddenly it happens. We start creating more than just notes on a page. In many ways it is quite etherial. “How many people get to experience this?” I wondered. The pure excitement and joy of producing something so beautiful. Music serves such a meaningful role, not just in America, but throughout the world. It draws people together, it helps them worship, it allows for great expression and it in essence sums up entire cultures. Noting the two previous examples given in regard to South Indian and Balinese music, it would be safe to conclude that our music, here in America, is influenced and developed much the same way as theirs. Through our history, religion and culture.

Seeing as it would take way to much time to discuss music as it relates to the entire culture, I will use personal experiences. First off, music is a way in which I have learned to be unified with others. Ever since I was little I have been singing in ensembles (note the example above)--ward choirs, school choirs, district and all-state choirs. I have had some very poignant experiences with each of these experiences but most influential in my life was the opportunity I had to sing with my sisters while growing up. Participating in a small ensemble with siblings definitely teaches you how to be unified and patient. We had to learn to blend with each other, be sensitive to each other and learn how to enjoy the time we spent singing together. Sometimes this was harder than others, but some of my most cherished memories of my childhood involve four girls gathered around our mother at the piano singing.

The second thing I would like to address is the fact that I am a music major. This is a unique position to be in. I spend everyday listening, learning and creating music. It isn’t just a part of my life anymore, it is my life. I think the greatest value to be gained from this unique position is appreciation. There are many types of music that I study that I do not enjoy listening to. I try to keep an open mind and I have learned that even some of the strangest things can be beautiful. I think of one particular moment in particular. I was in theory and my teacher was introducing a song to us. He showed us the lyrics to the song and then explained the type of word painting and composing that went into the piece. We then listened to it. Here was a song that I would definitely never chosen to listen to on my own, but now with the knowledge I have gained, I might consider singing it someday. Being a music major has taught me the value of looking a little deeper.

The third thing I would like to address is the value of religion as it relates to music. I have had so many moments in my life were music has touched me to the core. Music, in a way, is a very interwoven part of my testimony of the gospel and Jesus Christ. I can’t even count the many times I have been singing in church, listening to a musical number or some other recording and been moved to tears. Religious music, especially in the LDS culture, is very comparable to other religious music around the world. What makes it so meaningful to us is the context in which it is used. The words are sacred, but the context of the music is usually in a sacred setting as well.

Spring boarding off the previous idea, I think most music throughout the world is beautiful to us because it is what we are use to. Listening to a Balinese gamelan will probably never move me as much as listening to a religious text sung by a choir and vice versa. So, in many ways I think our musical preferences are developed and not necessarily hard-wired. This being said, I think that aspects of music are hard-wired in the human race in general. Sounds, techniques, settings and many other aspects of musical expression will vary from culture to culture but the important thing is that there is music in every culture. That is the universal aspect.

Dating at BYU

This topic has been one that I have wanted to write about for a long time. So, today, after reading an article in the daily universe, I thought I might as well share my opinion…just in case you cared. :D

First off, the dating scene at BYU drives me crazy. The reason: people take it too seriously. This may sound flippant, but I hope after some further explanation it will make sense.

As a couple girls in the daily universe article said, “You wonder, when a guy asks you out, ‘Are you asking me out because it’s expected? Are you interested or are you just dating to date?”Angela Lopez said she would rather not be asked out than go with a man who felt obligated.” Ok, so my reply to this is…get over it. Who cares if they are asking you out just to date. The point of dating is to get to know people. Why not go on the date, get to know someone new and make the best of the situation?

In the small town that I was raised in, dating was something you did for fun. I had friends to hang out with, but that same group of friends also planned group dates and switched off the girls that they dated every weekend or so. They dated for the pure fun of getting to know someone a little better than before. At BYU, I have too often come home from a first date and been asked by my caring roommates if they thought I could “see it going anywhere.” At first I didn’t think much of this question, but after some key observations I realized that this question revealed a view on dating that I have deemed unhealthy. I get frustrated when this is asked now, simply because I have no idea at this point if the young man I have only spent a few hours getting to know is right for me or not. For me, I am working on the friendship still. Sure I might find the person attractive and funny and who knows I may have even had a fantastic time, but experience has taught me that these things might be an indication of future potential, but just as likely they may not. Besides, why worry about something that shouldn’t be evaluated at this point anyway, just get to know the person.

I had a recent conversation with a guy that I know from class. He shocked me when he said that he hardly went on dates anymore. Of course, I couldn’t leave it at that I had to know why. He simply said that he would be interested in many girls at the same time and so go on dates with a number of them, only to be scolded by a few of them because they said he was leading them on. Oh…girls…stop thinking that if a man asks you on a date that he wants you as his eternal companion. Don’t jump to conclusions, just get to know the person and enjoy your time together. On a slightly related side note, I have seen many women, roommates, friends, classmates, tie themselves in knots because they don’t know if they like a guy who keeps asking them out. If you don’t know, don’t worry about it, just keep getting to know them.

The problem with dating at BYU is that we think too far ahead. We get anxious and worried about what is going to happen instead of just enjoying life. I have been guilty of this before and I still have to remind myself to be calm and less frantic. As I am constantly reminded by those dearest to me, life isn’t a race and I can’t force things to happen.