Mash Ups

Here are a few of my Favorite Mash Ups. Like I talked about before, I love music, and mash ups are a great way to experience the best parts of 2 songs at the same time. I love listening to how the melodies and progressions complement one another and fit together so well. I think Glee has done some amazing Mash Ups.

My Thing

So someone recently asked me what my "thing" was. What defines me? I had a hard time answering that question.

I finally decided on classifying my "thing" as music. I love music and everything

about it. I love listening to new things on the radio, and I love being able to play my violin or learn something new on the piano. Usually if there is a song I like I will listen to it over and over or study the lyrics on the internet until I know all of the words.

I think music has been my thing because its been part of my life ever since i can remember. Everything from private lessons, orchestra, solo and ensemble, and forced family bonding at band practice.

I know quite a bit about musical theater. I know songs from shows that aren't Wicked, Les Miserables, or Phantom (even though I love them). I am guilty of belting showtunes in my car at the top of my lungs, and yes, I like to listen to KOSY on Saturday night.

I even have a karaoke list going (not that I ever get to use it)

-Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

-Superstar by The Carpenters

-Mama Mia by Abba

I also have thought that If there was one job I would enjoy it would be a music supervisor for a movie studio. I don't know if it would be my dream job but I would love to be able to pick out songs that were used for certain movies. I believe there is good song to describe any particular feeling emotion or moment.

What would your dream job be? What are you in love with?

Too Much

You know I have realized something very profoundly this past week. Not only am I glad that after 4 years, the customers know me and don't think I am new anymore, but that I also know way too much about the customers at work.

No only do we have access to financial information, social security numbers, birthdays, addresses and phone numbers, but there is so much more.

We also know about

where people go out to dinner

who has had surgery

who is divorced

who has missionaries out

who is expecting new grandchildren

where people are going on vacation

why somebody is in the hospital

what people do for work

various hobbies

what cars people drive

This can't be normal. I feel like a creeper.

The Tall and Short of It

So Saturday I went on a blind date to our ward prom. We have a lot of extra girls so people in the ward recruited their guy friends to help out. I got set up with one of these fortunate recruits. Imagine my surprise when my date picks me up and he's freakishly tall. He is 6"6. Since I am lucky if I am 5"2, if you do your math right he is 1 foot and 4 inches taller than i am.

I have heard many of my friends bemoan the fact that they are tall and that it is hard to find guys that are tall and that they feel comfortable around. They don't want to date guys who are shorter. I never thought I would have this problem and worry about how tall the people are in my life because I am so short. Let me just tell you it was awkward standing next to him and trying to dance with this kid.

The Flying Irish

So I was very excited to be able to go see River Dance on Friday April 1st. I went with my parents, Lindsay, Jordan, Jake, Olivia, and Isabel.

Before the show Jordan and Jake were having a discussion that was making me laugh. They were talking about World War II. Jake's favorite person throughout all history was a General Name Erwin Rommel. They were taking about the invasion of Poland, Yugoslavia (or some Country like that. I can't remember.) They were having a philosophical discussion about what Hitler could have done to put himself ahead in the war. Jake was saying if they had moved ahead with a particular siege earlier they would have had a major advantage. It was just making me laugh. Then Lindsay pulled out this map of of the Pacific Islands and arrows and battle plans. She said that this is what Jake does during Sacrament meeting at church. And there is a couple in the ward that sits behind them and googles the maps on their Iphone to make sure Jake is accurate. It was making me laugh that this 10 year old might be smarter than I am. He is so funny.

Anyway. River dance was so much fun. There was a surprising variety, no necessarily music wise, but dance wise. There was Irish Step Dancing, Flamenco, Tap, etc. All of the dancers were so talented. The "Lord of the Dance" was really enjoying himself. He was so tall and slender and was literally flying across the stage. It was incredible. My favorite part was the second half that is set in America. The Irish Dancers and the American Tappers have a West Side Story Dance off. They get more elaborate and start teasing and in a sense mocking each other but the fight ends with mutual respect on both sides. That's probably redundant but oh well.

Anyway I was half watching the Dancers and partway watching the Musicians. The Fiddler is a champion violinist. He started playing the show when he was 16, the youngest fiddler in the shows history. He was so great. I was interested in his technique and came to a conclusion. True Irish Fiddling is so different than the style that I learned. From how much bow he uses to how he holds the bow, its a very distinctive style.

Anyway, I really enjoyed it and I am so glad I had the opportunity to go.

Memory Lane

Its funny how how something so simple, such as face, or a place or even a day on the calender can bring back such strong and vivid memories.

When I am at my friend's house with our group of friends I always think about all the movies we made while we were in High School, including the gem of a horror movie entitled Peekaboo.

On road trips I think about the many trips we took in our big old cave of a van. I remember sitting on a cooler up front or on the floor. Adrienne would be spread out on the bench that folded out into a bed.

When I go to my Aunt's house I think of violin lessons and band practice.

Today is March 31. Exactly one year ago was one of the greatest days ever. I got to see my boyfriend Michael Buble in concert. I love him. For full details of his amazing concert go here http://abbaqueen.blogspot.com/2010/04/mb-happiest-day-ever.html

Yesterday I saw my 8th grade Algebra teacher, Mr. Barker, at work. I remember his math class whenever I see him but I also remember one day in particular. September 11th 2001. This day will live forever in my memory, as i'm sure it will in yours. I remember watching the news all morning. I remember the phone call my dad got and how upset he was as he hurried off to work. Mr. Barker's class was the first class of the day and i remember how we didn't learn anything that day but we sat and watched the events unfold in New York.

Nothing Funny about Murder

So I am reading this book entitled Murder in Montparnasse. The "detective" in this story in Phryne Fisher. (To be honest I am not sure how to pronounce her name.) She is a wealthy socialite who is from France but lives in Australia. The time period is 1928 or 1929 so every character is understandably more conservative and proprietary. I haven't finished the book yet but I have learned 2 things.

Legs are scandalous-

"Mr. Jenkins, breath held, watched Phryne climb nimbly onto the chair and sweep the top of the cedar wardrobe with her hands. He averted his eyes from her knees, which were on shameless display."

You can marry some old guy that you don't love as long as he is rich.

"I can continue to be nagged all the time abou thow much money my parents spent on my education and how I have wasted it. Or I can undertake a marriage which will give me pretty clothes, unlimited food, lots of dances, and nice places to stay. Holidays. Champagne."

Sadly I did not hear anything in that statement about said husband, caring for him, or acknowledgement that he will be involved in her life at all. Anyway, I don't know why I find these silly things funny, but this book has been making me laugh.