In Anticipation

Papa John and Mama Tracy arrive in the DC area in T minus 4 days.  I talked them into coming out for my first concert performance for the National Philharmonic Chorale.  This Saturday we're performing Mahler's 2nd Symphony, called "Auferstehung" or "The Resurrection."  I am waiting in anticipation for this concert, because it is going to be...incredible. 

I auditioned for the chorale without really knowing what I was getting myself into and I am so grateful that I followed through with the idea.  In the many choirs I've sang in, I never sang whole movements of classical music.  We might have picked out one or two pieces to sing from a symphony or set, but we never sang a work in its entirety.  I think I might have been gypped in my choral experiences.  Perhaps we didn't always have the money for the necessary orchestral accompanists, but I wish we would have tried harder to make it work. 

For now I am in love with Mahler's Symphony No.2.  I can only imagine how different my life would be if I had heard it sooner.  Okay, probably not that different, but perhaps more edified.  A friend gave me a burned copy of the music and I have listened to that CD almost everyday.  The words carry such a powerful message and they are written so well into the music.  Though the lyrics are in German, the music itself is able to carry the meaning to the listeners.  By the end of the piece you feel like you're being carried into heaven. 

Listen to it. Read the text.  Love it.  "Prepare yourself to live!"

I'm also waiting in anticipation for...lab results.  T minus 3 days.  They're not for me and I'd rather not share whom they're for, but it's kind of a big deal.  I know this will sound dramatic, but I know these results will impact the rest of my life.  I've tried not to think about it too much over the last several months, but now that we're so close to knowing, the potential results are occupying more of my thoughts.  I'm praying for miracles in modern medicine. 

beck

The Great American Apparel Diet

So lately this saying has been on my mind as I've tried to save and be frugal: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." I have an inkling it's from the WWII era.  A simple google search could confirm or deny this inkling, but I'll leave that for the really interested people to look up. 

I've made a few changes recently in an attempt to be frugal and save money.  The hardest has been an unofficial commitment to The Great American Apparel Diet.  It's not a caloric diet.  It's a spending diet, found here: http://www.thegreatamericanappareldiet.com/

Diet followers pledge not to buy new apparel for a year.  I learned about this (I think) at the beginning of August.  At that time I had not made any purchases since Memorial Day, so I thought since I've already started by accident, I might as well continue for a whole year.  I'm not an official dieter, but I liked the idea, and have decided to stick with it.  I also felt justified because I already wear clothes that are quite worn--a quick skim of my closet and drawers will easily show about 1/3 as hand-me-downs.  Another inspiration for wearing the same things over and over again is my host mom in Paris.  I remember being baffled to see her wear the same pink sweater several nights during the week at dinner.  If a fashionable French lady can do it, so can I.   

Though I have to admit that I have been craving a little something new in my closet.  Lucky for me, a couple weeks ago, our Church had a huge clothing exchange.  People brought clothes to donate and people came away with free clothes.  I was able to acquire new clothing items without buying anything, which would break my diet.   

I want to spend less and I want to be more conscious of what I am spending.  I want to be happy with and use up or wear out the clothing or apparel which I already own.  [Side note: this idea of frugality in apparel has also caused me to reflect on the difference between being fashion-conscious and having your own sense of style.  Lately, I'm of the opinion that having your own personal style is so much more important than following fashions.  That said: I will continue to track trends in the fashion world for stylistic inspiration.] 

My one regret in starting this diet is that I have slimmed down a tad and now I have several clothes items that are ill-fitting.  I also gave away a few bagfuls of clothes that came out with my truck last summer.  I might have held onto some of those items a bit longer if I knew I was going to be getting down to the nitty gritty in my closet. 

So if my clothes start to look a little threadbare or if I seem to wear the same things over and over again, you know why.

beck

Missionaries

So this week has been a bit difficult.  I had a new group arrive from Europe this week.  It's always good and bad when I have a group of new delegates arrive.  Despite weeks and even months of preparing for some groups, it is always stressful when they are finally in DC.  The good thing is that I finally get to meet them and converse with them. 

On Monday we had lunch as a group at Busboys and Poets.  (I just noticed that the only times I've written about my groups on here seem to be when we go to Busboys and Poets. We eat at other places too, I promise!) During lunch I sat and talked with our State Department supervisor, a Croatian and a Fin.  Somehow a good portion of the conversation was turned to my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Both the Croatian and the Fin knew about the Church and had seen our missionaries in their countries.  They asked me all about my faith and knew quite a bit already.  I was amazed at their inquisition.  Since our State Department rep was sitting there, I made sure not to say anything that could veer toward proselyting.  I really only answered their questions.  Of all the international visitors I've met, they're two of three who have seen our missionaries.  They're the only two who knew anything about the Church. 

Later that night my roommate happened to have our ward's missionaries over for dinner.  We try and feed them as often as we can.  I related to them the conversation I had with my visitors and they were pleased.  There are missionaries working hard here in DC as well as in Finland, Croatia and many other parts of the world.  Not excluding McAllen, Texas, where my lil bro is currently serving a mission.

I got a letter from that lil bro today.  He found a typewriter so he typed out my letter that is usually handwritten.  He gets a limited time to email so he usually only writes my mom while on the computer.  I think he'll soon realize that typewriter typing is very different from using a word processor.  I'm sure the novelty will wear out before I receive another letter from him.  I miss him so much!  It feels like he's been gone forever!

beck

m a g g i e

I had the pleasure of celebrating the birthday of my dear friend Maggie for two weekends in a row.

The first weekend, Maggie, Kelli and I drove down to Richmond, Virginia, for a short day trip.  We visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Capitol Building, Careytown and Martin's grocery store.  Yes, a grocery store.  Look it up.  The art museum was my favorite by far.  I took a few fun photos. 

This made my heart happy.  I recognized it immediately.  It's Yosemite. 

I loved this for its whimsy. 

This was only a fragment of the piece.  It was about  6 X 8. 

Maggie took a picture just like this! I didn't see it until she shared her web album.  We had separated at this point of our museum wanderings.  (Mags, this is Hector Guimard--the French artist who designed the Metro signs in Paris.)

Adam and Eve

Kelli, standing dead center at the top. 

Les filles ensemble

Then last Saturday, Maggie organized a trip to the Kreeger Museum in Washington, DC, followed by a lunch at Jettie's.  The Kreeger Museum is a wonderful little unknown in DC.  I decided that I want to start an art collection the way the Kreegers did as a husband and wife.  In order for them to acquire a new piece of art, they both had to like it.  I don't necessarily want to build my own art museum like they did, but I'm not opposed to the idea either.  We couldn't take pictures inside, but it was a beautiful day for pictures of the exterior. 

beck

Mormons and Muslims

Some people I know have asked why I would ever date a Muslim.  Well, there were a few personal reasons, which I will not mention here. 

According to this Pew research article, Mormons and Muslims have a few more things in common.  Pew surveyed public opinion on Muslims and Mormons.  Results and article are found here: http://people-press.org/report/358/public-expresses-mixed-views-of-islam-mormonism

beck

CCCC Reunion

From third grade to ninth grade I sang in the Central California Children's Choir.  I worked my way up from singing with Cynthia Salmonson in Intermediate Choir to singing with Valerie Quiring in Advanced Choir.  Then finally I got to sing with Valerie Quiring in the Concert Choir when I was in seventh grade.  This was the best of the best.  It was such a treat to sing with Valerie and Concert Choir had the coolest performing opportunities.  Sadly I only sang with Valerie for one year before she decided to take a break from conducting to devote more time to her two young daughters.  It was heartbreaking for all of us when she left. 

I can look back and credit numerous formative experiences to my time singing in CCCC.  We practiced and practiced to perform exquisite and beautiful music.  I don't say it was beautiful to toot my own horn, but to express how meaningful it was to work so hard to produce truly beautiful results.  Valerie taught us a true love of music and singing.  CCCC helped me develop the foundation of my artistic expression.  CCCC gave me an opportunity to perform in the touring Broadway production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  I should also mention that I formed lasting friendships with three amazing girls through CCCC.

Ten years later, several of us CCCC girls wanted to get together and sing with Valerie.  We planned a reunion in Fresno this summer in the format of the retreats that we had each time we started new repertoire.  We sang Friday night and all day Saturday to prepare a concert for our family and friends.  All the music we performed was from our old repertoire--favorites that we were happy to sing again.  Most of the pieces came back quite easily from our memory.  Perhaps we performed them too often in the past.  The first time we sang through Psalm 100 and Thompson's Alleluia, I had chills.  It was marvelous. 

I realized in the weeks leading up to the reunion and reminiscing with choir friends that I needed to be a part of something like that again.  I needed to perform in a musical group.  I needed to produce beautiful music.  So I auditioned for two chorales in the DC area.  Last week I started rehearsing with the National Philharmonic Chorale.  I am overjoyed to regularly study music again.  My spirit needs this kind of fulfillment. 

Here are a few pictures from the reunion. 

All of us who could make it to the renion from the years when Valerie was director.  Valerie is standing next to me on the far left. 

The Carlsons, Roubiceks and Robin--all of our parents are neighbors now. 

The fab four--class of '04.  Like I said, three amazing girls.  We all went to high school together and performed there too.  It all started with CCCC...

This picture includes a couple more high school friends who came to our performance.  

beck

The Shows on My Radar

It is now September and I am excited to start a new year of...school? No. Work? No. Life? No.  Performance seasons? YES!

I am trying to actually keep my budget this year, so I am carefully planning and saving for each show I want to see.  Here are the shows that are in my queue, in order of appearance.  To all my DC friends: let me know if you want to join me!

A new staging of The Nutcracker.  Since I moved to DC, I have seen at least one nutcracker performance at Christmas time.  I will have to go up to NYC for this one, but I daresay it would be worth it. 

I have arleady seen the Washington National Opera perform La Traviata.  I loved it and felt fulfilled until I saw pieces of this staging from the Salzburg Opera Festival.  It was just so good that I want to see it live.   Sadly, this show is also in NYC, which requires a bit more mulah to trek up there. 

Most of all, I am anticipating the production of Nixon in China.  And the best part is that even though I would love to see it in the Met Opera House, I can see it in a local movie theater as part of the Met's Live in HD program for a much lower cost.  Tickets go on sale today!!!

I am happy that this performance is in DC.  Kelley O'Connor sang in the Central California Children's Choir (CCCC) back in the day. When we had a CCCC reunion this summer, she came and sang with us! Since myself and another choir member live in DC, Kelley told us about this concert she would be doing out here.  I quickly added it to my queue. Funny that she hasn't included CCCC on her professional resume yet...

Are you excited yet?! I can't wait!

beck