Conclusion

In conclusion this blog was a lot of fun to create. I enjoyed having a place to go to free write and lay out all my ideas and thoughts. I'm excited to see what I"ll thing of it in the future if I ever remember to long on. Maybe i'll keep up with blogging craze an post regularly. What i've learn from writing this blog is that there are so many different experiences that i've had. Without this blog I might have forgotten what it was like to attend SALT or that I wrote a personal narrative about getting a shot from the doctors. It is important to write things down not only to inspire new thoughts but to be able to look back and share what your life experiences were.

Number 1

My  solo for my 244 dance class was inspired by Jackson Pollocks painting  Number 1. The theme for my movement is Beautiful Chaos. The action painting was created by whipping various colors of acrylic paint around on a large canvas. The large scale engulfs the viewer fill their sight down to the peripheral vision. The Chaos comes from the complete disorder and confusion of the paint splatters. It is unexpected yet pleasing to the eye which makes it beautiful. I am the art piece, the Beauty and the Chaos. It was a process to come up with my movement. My creative process is to start with improve to different songs. I'll turn on a random song and start making up movement on the spot. While I do this I usually have my computer film. Later I will go through my footage and decide what movement I liked. from there I will set the moves to the chosen song and create. Below is a  photo of the painting that inspired me. 

DancEnsemble Choreography

Power lines

My idea for my dance piece was inspired by power lines. I was out on drive when I noticed how cool they looked. Power Lines stretch across long distances with long thin wire. Its purpose is to transmit electrical energy. My movement will consist of long liner lines that move from space to space. I also would like to incorporate the idea of electric impulse by having my motif start with my palms pressed together then quickly rub them together creating a friction that builds. I then will shoot out one hand and have the other slide across the arm to show the electrical idea moving throughout the body. I also would like to play with the idea of having my dancers be the power lines or conductors that transfer the energy to one another. The piece will be a little over two minutes and will be performed to the song titled “elevator song” by Keaton Hensen.

Scary Movies

Before college I was so opposed to scary movies, although I had never actually seen one. The scariest thing I watched before college was the grinch who stole christmas. I was the girl who would freak out and try to change the channel when a scary movie trailer came on but would end up running outside the room and wait until someone else told me it was over before I came back into the room. The reason why I don't like them is because I hate scary dreams and I'm afraid if I watch them then I won't be able to sleep. This thought process has changed thanks to a certain boy. His favorite type of movies are horror. In the beginning I was admit about not watching scary movies and I made it clear to him that I never would.



(Movie poster for Psycho)

He was very respectful of that but somehow along the way I became curious as to what would happen if I watched one. I'm happy to announce that I've watched Three scary movies Psycho, Nightmare on Elm street, and Scream, and I have yet to have a scary dream. Although I have proven myself wrong with the theory that scary movies will always cause me to have scary dreams, Horror is not my first choice of movie nor will it ever be.

P Town

Living here in Provo for the last couple months I've made a lot of fun memories  doing great activities Utah has to offer. Here are just a few.
1. Disco skating!!!! Every Saturday night at classic skating is Disco Skate night! If you show your student ID you get a nice discount. They place super groovy throwback tunes that are fun to skate to. My favorite thing to do is to is make friends with all the expert skaters and have them try to teach me cool tricks. So far I can skate backwards.
2. Rock Climbing. Up rock canyon there are a lot of cool routes to climb. It ranges from beginner to expert. My personal favorite place to climb is called red slab.
3. Music at the Velour. I've been to about four concerts at the Velour and each one has been a blast! Provo has a lot of amazing local musicians. Make sure you have cash on you because they don't take cards. The space is perfect for bouncing around and dancing with friends.
4. Dollar theatre. See all the movies that came out just a couple months before for only a dollar! It's perfect for a movie date night and is right by cafe rio which is delicious.
5. Hruska's Kolaches. Most amazing thing you will ever eat is a kolache. It's basically a roll with stuff baked inside. I go every saturday morning with my pals. It's delicious and right in down town provo.

Lessons From Nature

Here's a poem I really enjoy called 
Lessons from Nature.
I watch the waves crash in, breaking on the shore
All their anger dispensed on the oceans floor
I look at the sky so blue, sun shining so bright
Spreading heat and happiness with its blinding light
Long blades of grass swaying in the gentle breeze
Dancing in rhythm with so much ease
Look up at the trees hearing the singing of the birds
Happily chirping singing at ease without words
Sitting here holding my knees to my chest
Watching and hearing nature at it s best
I ponder how Nature could get it so right
When we have let Natures lessons get so out of sight
We hold our anger, let our happiness slip away
Making our survival a struggle each and every day
We have forgotten the little things that mean so much
Like the laughter, the freedom, and someone's loving touch
If only I could make people stop, watch and listen to Natures tale
We could all sit back happily and our world would not be so frail
In each others existence in harmony we could all survive
I'm sure like the sun, wind, tree, and birds our lives we could revive
If only we let nature take its course in each and every one of us each day and night
As I sit and ponder how Nature got it so right and we lost all sight.


I like this poem because it gives the same thoughts that I have looking at the pretty mountains when I'm walking across campus. Lately I've loved the snow covered tips of Mount Timp. I get a perfect view of it every morning as I take my ballet class. It's a great way to start off my day. I'm able to look out the large windows and be grateful for how beautiful Utah and nature is.
Source: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/lessons-from-nature#ixzz3tPvH9OjT
#FamilyFriendPoems 

Thankful for Handwarmers

This Thanksgiving I was very thankful for hand warmers. Here's why... My family decided this Thanksgiving we would spend it at Grand Targhee Ski Resort. Grand Targhee is located in a little town in Wyoming called Alta. We drove out on Wednesday and drove back Sunday. our hole was right off the ski run so we would literally walk out the front door, slap on our skis, and head for the lift.



(map of Grand Targhee resort)


The temperatures were freezing! If you weren't wearing hand warmers then your fingers would begin to hurt and eventually go numb. The first day was twelve degrees at the base of the mountain and five degrees at the top. It only got colder from there. The last day we skied was seven degrees at the base of the lift and negative two at the top. Luckily my dad let us take quite a few hot chocolate breaks to warm our faces. I loved spending time skiing with my family. It's one of my favorite things to do and I hope to teach me kids one day. Thanksgiving this year was  a lot of fun and hope we go again next year.

The Nanny

Kelsey Gray has always been someone i've looked up too. I met kelsey when I was two years old. I don't remember meeting her because I was so young. She was my nanny from age two until my middle school years. She was the best nanny anyone could ask for! We would do fun activities like swimming, seeing movies, and sometimes she would take us to her house so we could jump on her trampoline. To me Kelsey is the closest a person can get to Christ. She was always so kind to my sisters and I even when we were being little snots which happened often in the early years. She would never lose her temper at us but rather calmly talk to us about the situation and try to understand where we were coming from so she could resolve it in the best way possible. Kelsey taught me the importance of being kind to everyone in the world and how we are all Gods children. She taught me how to share with others. The best thing she taught me was how to look for others needs and creative ways on how to serve them. Growing up I wanted to be just like Kelsey because she was so beautiful on the outside and a big part of her beauty was due to her selflessness. As I entered my teen years I've tried to model my actions after her. Many times I've thought to myself "what would Kelsey do?" I'm so glad she was able to be apart of my life. I'll always strive to be like Kelsey.

Update: sick of the cannon

Update! Because I was so sick of eating at the Cannon I've done some research and made a grand discovery. My meal plan works at other restaurants and eating joints other than the cannon! This includes the Museum Of Art Cafe which has amazing soups and salads. I can also use my meal plan at the Blue line which is inside the tanner building. The Blue Line has sandwiches and Mexican food along with a small market for drinks fruit and candy. The last two places that i've discovered take my meal plan are the cougar eat and the sky room. Both are inside the Wilk. The cougar eat is like a food court at a mall where they have a variety of different food chains to pick from. The sky room is at the top floor of the Wilk and is a fancy buffet. The only problem that i've found with these new places to eat using my meal plan is that they are rather expensive. In order to eat a meal at one of these restaurants I will have to save up some money by not eating a meal so the cash amount will add up and i'll save enough. Honestly it's so worth it to me. Sorry Cannon.

Sick of the Cannon

Living in the BYU dorms has been such a great experience. I've met so many fun new people and I have the coolest R.A. in BYU dorm history. Theirs always some fun activity going on which makes for great memories. My only complaint is with the cannon center. I don't understand how kids fill their trays with plates of food and still go back for more. Everything is starting to taste funky to me and I loose my appetite walking into the cafeteria. Not to bash on the cannon canter. I think it's a very clean place it's just i'm sick of the food. Lately i've been eating the gluten free coco crispy's with 2% milk. Its the only thing I find tasteful. I'm going to look back in a year when I don't have my meal plan and wish that I could be eating the all you can eat buffet. I'll look back at this post and wish I hadn't taken it for granted. As for now I'm sick of eating there and I'm not too excited that I still have another semester of waiting in line to the eat food.

SALT

Back in October I had the opportunity to watch a performance by Salt Lake City's professional contemporary dance company SALT.  The performance was at a small venue in Park City which made a perfect intimate setting for the dancers and audience. The show was an hour and a half long and consisted of six works.

Below is a photo of SALT company member Eldon Johnson.

My favorite piece was called 10,000 Hours. It was choreographed by Joni Tuttle who is on faculty here at BYU and let me say her movement is amazing! I've taken three or four of her classes and every time I leave feeling so inspired and wishing that class would go on for another hour. The other choreographer for 10,000 Hours was Garrett Smith who is a well-known choreographer around the globe. He's worked with Huston Ballet and all over Europe. The dancers were Joni and Garrett and the music was by Philip Glass. Both of them are amazing movers and my friends and I decided they were the perfect power duet. Their movement complemented each other so well that it evoked emotion while I was watching. SALT's show left me so inspired and longing to be apart of their company.

My Major and My Plans

Ever since I was a little girl I've wanted to be a professional dancer. That passion for dance and longing to make it a career has stuck with me. I'm currently a dance performance major with an emphasis on contemporary dance. I've loved the program so far! I'm taking a ballet and contemporary technique class which means I have an hour and a half of each technique everyday. On top of this I participated in DancEnsemble which is a contemporary performing company. We would have two to four hour rehearsals three times a week which were a blast! I was able to make so many friends and learn new choreography that was later performed called Ordinary Festivals. I've already auditioned for next semesters DancEnsemble which will be student choreography works.


(orignal photo of Sarah Pearson and Patrick Widrig in their piece Ordinary Festivals)

 One of the things I want to do in my career of dance is choreograph my own pieces on other dancers. I'm excited to see what I create and the skills I build for future use. As for my future I want to audition for SALT which is salt lake's professional contemporary dance company. I would like to dance with them for a while until I graduate. After than my plan is to move out to Portland Oregon and be apart of Northwest Dance Project company. Once my body grows old and I can no longer dance then I want to create my own works on other dancers either in large companies or small studios. That's the plan for now but who knows what will actually happen.

One, Two, Ouch

I pressed my face against the glass of the smooth window as I counted how many bicyclists we passed. So far I had counted three until I was interrupted by the sound of my name. “Abigail Ray I hope you have your seatbelt on” nagged my mother as she sat in the front. I quickly grabbed the belt with my left hand and swiftly tugged it across my body. “click” “You know the rules if you don’t wear the belt then i’ll have to put you back in a carseat. They’re going to ask you if you wear your seatbelt and a helmet and I want you to be able to answer yes.” I always wore my helmet when riding my bike. It was bright pink and matched the ribbons that stuck out of my handlebars. I lost count of how many cyclists we had past and began a new count. I was able to find two before the car was parked and I had to unbuckle my belt. 

My Mother took my hand and briskly walked through the front doors. The building was very clean and had a weird smell that I wouldn’t find anywhere else. 

“Can I press the button?” I asked my mom hopeful that she’d say yes.

“sure, numer 4”

I pressed the dull button with the number 4. It lit up at the touch of my left index finger which made me happy. The doors slid open and my mother and I stepped into the office space where we were greeted by a young lady who held a black pen in her right hand while holding a phone to her ear in the other. 

“We’re here for Abigail Roush’s appointment”

“They’e ready for you in the back. You’ll be in the first room on the left.”

My stomach dropped as we entered the small room. The walls were marked with images of butterfly’s and flowers. I sat quietly on top of the wrinkled sanitary paper, clenching my mothers hand. She tried to comfort me by rubbing her thumb gently across mine. It was no help. My mind was moving at high speeds remembering all the  horror stories my friends had told me. The paper crinkled under my thighs as I shifted from side to side in nervousness. Just minutes later a plump women with dark hair wrapped into a twist walked through the door. Her friendly appearance distracted me for just a moment.

"I'm just going to clean the area" she said as she unwrapped an alcohol wipe.

My blunt bob swag back and forth as I gave her the nod that showed my approval.

"How bad is it going to hurt"

"You will only feel a pinch that lasts about two second’s."

One, two I counted in my head. I can do anything for two second’s.

“Alright I'm ready"

I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth as the cold alcohol wipe brushed against my thigh. I took a deep exhale in an attempt to calm myself down. I was nowhere near a relaxed state. I felt a small pinch where my thigh had been wiped.

One, two,

It wasn't working.

Three, four,

I began to panic as the pain had lasted longer than two second’s and was growing more intense.

"Abby let go!" my mother screamed

I didn't listen to what she had to say. I was shrieking at the top of my lungs eyes still closed. The pain was moving down my leg.

"stop it" the nurse yelled

I opened my eyes to see my hand on the nurses.

“what a tight grip you’ve got there” 

I looked down to see the damages I had done. Blood was running down my leg as I noticed the inch long cut that appeared. 

“Did I do that?’’ I asked the nurse in shock

“Next time we will have your mother hold both your hands. I wouldn’t have been as painful if you hadn’t grabbed my wrist.” 

The thought of me dragging a needle down my own leg made me cringe. The nurse cleaned my wound and offered to let me pick out the bandages. My options were Mickey Mouse or Transformers. I wasn’t particularly fond of either so I let her decide. I left the office with a red lollypop in my mouth and three Mickey bandages down my thigh. They didn’t even ask me if I wore my seatbelt or bike helmet I thought to myself as I glared at the lady behind the front desk. I kept the glare as the elevator doors closed. Without asking I pressed the button that read one. I lit up just a before but this time I didn’t receive the same feeling of happiness. To much was on my mind. Next time I wont close my eyes and i’ll keep my hands grip free. As we descended down to the first floor I decided I would let the nurse do her job and not try to control things that I don’t know much about. 

Personal Narrative Scene

I sat quietly on top of the wrinkled sanitary paper, clenching my mothers hand. She tried to comfort me by rubbing her thumb gently across mine. It was no help. My mind was moving at high speeds remembering all the  horror stories my friends had told me. The paper crinkled under my thighs as I shifted from side to side in nervousness. Just minutes later a plump women with dark hair wrapped into a twist walked through the door. Her friendly appearance distracted me for just a moment.
"I'm just going to clean the area" she said as she unwrapped an alcohol wipe.
My blunt bob swag back and forth as I gave her the nod that showed my approval.
"How bad is it going to hurt"
"You will only feel a pinch that lasts about two seconds."
One, two I counted in my head. I can do anything for two seconds.
"Alright I'm ready"
I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth as the cold alcohol wipe brushed against my thigh. I took a deep exhale in an attempt to calm myself down. I was no where near a relaxed state. I felt a small pinch where my thigh had been wiped.
One, two,
It wasn't working.
Three, four,
I began to panic as the pain had lasted longer than two seconds and was growing more intense.
"Abby let go!" my mother screamed
I didn't listen to what she had to say. I was shrieking at the top of my lungs eyes still closed. The pain was moving down my leg.
"stop it" the nurse yelled
I opened my eyes to see my hand on top of the needle.

Personal Narrative

Time to brainstorm. I could write about the time I overcame my fear of heights by spending time with my father on a rock climbing trip. Or the time I overcame my fear of flying on airplanes. I'm not sold on either of those stories. Once when I was little I had an accident with receiving my chicken pox shot. What I learned from that experience was to trust my mom and nurses. I could tell the story of receiving my first and hopefully last ticket. I learned from that experience to do what is right even if everyone around you isn't. I could take it back to the second grade where I took a stand against a girl who I thought was my friend but really she was a bully. Or I could talk about the time my parents sat me down a week before middle school started and tried to give me the good grades talk.For now I think i'll go with the shot story.

General Conferece

This last General Conference was truly inspiring. This was the first conference that I was able to watch the Saturday session live since sophomore year. Usually I’m busy dancing every weekend all weekend so to be able to sit down and listen as the leaders of the church were speaking felt nice. I listened intently with questions in mind and received the answers need. One of my favorite talks given and the talk that  I received answers from was Elder Larry R. Lawrence’s talk titled “What Lack I Yet?’’. Elder Lawrence is a member of the Quorum of the Seventy which gives him a large sense of  credibility to his character. Another example of ethos that I noticed in his talk was when he referred to his conversion story. It is easier to live the ways of the world especially as a young adult. This is not the case for Elder Lawrence. He was drawn to the gospel and was willing to live the commandments to be baptized. Those who have lived life without the gospel have a deeper knowledge of its importance. He knows the Church is true and is able to receive revelation to share with the members.

The way he presented his talk had me engaged the entire time. He made sure to use a comforting tone that still gave serious council. It left the viewer understanding how important his words were. As an example of Pathos, he told a story from the New Testament about a rich young ruler who asked Christ the question “What lack I yet?’’ Christ counseled him to give to the poor which he was unable to do. From this story I learned that it’s not enough to just be humble and ask of the Lord but one must have the faith to follow his divine council. He went on to further explain stories of real members and how they received answers to their prayers. He gave examples that showed how the Holy Ghost speaks to each of us on a personal level and gives us council on what we need to do to improve. 

One of the example Elder Lawrence gave was about a girl who was struggling with college. There was deep pathos of this particular situation because I am a first semester college student. It inspired me to take a step back and ask the Lord what I can do to improve. Elder Lawrence gives instruction on how to start this process. He says by taking time in our prayers to humbly ask the Lord What Lack I Yet? Or what is keeping me from progressing? Then he instructs us to listen quietly for a response. If we do then he promises a great blessing. “If you are sincere, the answer will soon become clear. It will be revelation intended just for you.”-Elder Lawrence. 

The Research Process

My research paper topic was inspired by my ancestor Able Garr who was a stone cutter for the Salt Lake Temple. A lot of my research will come from my darling grandmother who knows all about Able Garr's life and has his journals. I plan on comparing his experience with building the Salt Lake Temple and my experience with watching the construction of Provo City Center Temple. Or I could write about the process of building a temple today verses the process back then. Resources other than my Grandmother will include the Religious Studies Center specifically The article "The Design, Construction, and Role of the Salt Lake Temple". I'll also obtain information through LDS.org and other news articles documenting the Provo City Center Temples progress.

The Analysis Process

So far my analysis paper has had a bit of a slow process. I've had a hard time deciding which speech to analyze. The speeches on Americanrhetoric.com are either a couple paragraphs or 13 pages. After hours of being picky I decided to go with Ronald Regan's D Day speech which was only 4 pages. I'm excited to work on building my analysis skills since I haven't  had much experience. I plan on doing some more research over the weekend. Hopefully I will be successful.

What I've learned so far

     In this class I have learned the importance of Pathos, Ethos, and Logos. I understand that pathos is a writing appeal that captures the audience through emotion. Logos is a writing appeal that means persuading by reasoning. When a passage is logos it uses examples of statistics and facts to help the reader understand in a logical sense. Ethos relates to the credibility of the document. It convinces the reader by the character of the author.  I've also learned the term Kairos. Its a greek word meaning the right moment. Relating back to the Family Proclamation which was published in the right time before the worlds definition of family dramatically changed.  This important document sets clear expectations of how important marriage is between a man and a women. By being released at the time it was it prepared members for the confusion ahead.

      Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave two messages within the last five years. Both were about todays technology and social media. The first talk was titled “Things as They Really Are. In this talk Elder Bednar warned the members of the Church how dangerous gaming and the Internet can be. He informed us that the new virtual world can “disconnect us gradually and physically from things as they really are.” He gave numerous examples of people who were pulled into the virtual world unable to escape. To much time making relationships on the internet can heavily affect the relationships a person has in the real world. He also makes a point of how internet gaming and socializing  can be spiritually numbing if we become addicted. 

In his other talk “To Sweep the Earth as With a Flood” he focuses on the growth of technology and social media in the church. Over the time between his last talk the church has grown in followers on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. This has been a great tool to share spiritual messages quickly to the world. He also talks about how useful it is to the missionaries. They are able to make appointments, share gospel videos, and keep a controlled Facebook account that shares important and meaningful insights. The lord is hastening his work by this mass growth of powerful innovations. These programs can be used for good and be a blessing in peoples lives. Towards the end of his talk he invites us to “to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth.” 

Although these talks are similar in topic of internet and social media, they illustrate the good and evil of both extremes. One leaves a tone of disapproval for the extended usage of the internet and the other shares the blessings that can come from sharing good gospel truths. The Internet can be a tool  if used in moderation and for the right purpose.