Life is interesting...but still good. I would be such an ungrateful brat if I tried to claim that I'm going through a hard time, even though sometimes I want to.
Some of you are aware of my ear situation. I started complaining about it seriously when I was in China, but I've been struggling with it since January. I'm going deaf in my right ear, and I've decided to not go to graduate school quite yet.
Every time I try to play my flute, I notice my hearing getting progressively worse, especially the last few times I've tried to practice. As a serious music student, I'm not OK with doing only 30 minutes a day, and I can only do about 5 minutes at a time before I start suffering from intense pain. It's kind of weird, being separated from my flute not because I'm burnt out, but because it's not good for me right now. I've been in and out of a few doctors, some who think they know about ears when they really don't, and I think that I will not be ready to start a masters degree of music by the end of August. I'm working on getting a deferral, so we'll see how that goes.
In the meantime...
I got a job as a Legal Assistant at Myler Disability! My dad actually does Social Security law, so I find it more interesting than most people probably do. This law firm is really big (and has been growing for quite some time) and is hiring a lot of people. Everyone starts out in a call center, so I'm on phones (on my left ear obviously) talking to people who have sometimes very serious disabilities and are starving to death. I get to file an intake for them and tell them that we're on their side and we are going to do our best to get them the money they need. And the best news? After 90 days I'll get health insurance benefits so that maybe I can afford to see a better ear doctor than the one I've been to. Not that I think they'll be able to wave a magic wand and make my hearing come back completely, but at least I can feel like someone really cares about helping me get better. I'm also prepared for a long, arduous process, but hey, I'm just excited to get started!
In other news, since I can't really practice all day every day, I am spending a lot more time at the gym. It feels great to get healthy! I would go into more detail about my people-watching, but that might have to wait til this weekend. 8 hrs a day every day at the same place is a little much for my energy level. I'm still getting used to it.
Thanks for reading. Just thought it would be good to get an update out there.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
My Fault
Each year I've been at BYU, I've managed to pass as a college freshman, a high school visiting student, and even a pre-teen. Each year I age, just like everyone else does. This year I'll be 22. Let me share an experience of mine with an EFY child.
It's a beautiful sunny day outside, and I can't wait to get some vitamin D absorption. Eager for a practice break, I trot off to the Cougareat, where I purchase a delectable barbecue chicken wrap at L&T...one of my favorites. I decide that it would be nice to eat outside, so that I might maximize my break time with the sun. I sit on one of the benches outside the HFAC and the Wilkinson center, and proceed to people watch. EFY kids are always so entertaining. Way too eager to be normal, and constantly showing off. Hey, it's free entertainment for me. I'm not complaining. Suddenly I am approached by an adorable little EFY girl who says, "You look lonely." Really? I didn't think I was necessarily wearing a melancholy expression, but you never know. She sits by me and asks me what group I'm in. Can I tell you how tempted I was to play along? It would have been perfect! Only problem was that I don't know enough about EFY to pretend that I was there. I tell her that I'm a graduate student and suddenly she feels really embarrassed. However, she did tell me that she's starting as a freshman in the music school in the fall and I was able to give her some pointers. After she leaves to spend some time with her EFY comrades, I laugh to myself. Do I really look that young? Then I look down at my shirt. Sure enough, I'm wearing a bright pink Hollister shirt, complete with pink and brown plaid shorts and pink memory foam flip flops. It's my fault. I like pink too much.
This brings another scenario to mind. On the plane flying back from Michigan to SLC (my first venture home) I was fortunate enough to receive a seat switch into the exit row. I was so excited. I NEVER get to sit in the exit row on a plane. It's pretty much like sitting first class. You get so much leg room. Not that I need the leg room...but it's still really nice. When the flight attendant walks by, she explains the customary warnings of sitting in the exit row. Before she leaves, she asks me, "Are you old enough to be sitting in that seat?" Shocked, all I could do was laugh at her...which probably wasn't very nice. I was with the other chamber orchestra members, and I thought it was obvious that I was an adult. And then I looked down at my shirt. It was indeed pink.
So instead of blaming these scenarios on other people, I hereby blame them on my pink shirts. Maybe one day I'll get rid of them. Until then though, I suppose I can take advantage of 12-and-under discounts, kids meals, and special treatment.
It's a beautiful sunny day outside, and I can't wait to get some vitamin D absorption. Eager for a practice break, I trot off to the Cougareat, where I purchase a delectable barbecue chicken wrap at L&T...one of my favorites. I decide that it would be nice to eat outside, so that I might maximize my break time with the sun. I sit on one of the benches outside the HFAC and the Wilkinson center, and proceed to people watch. EFY kids are always so entertaining. Way too eager to be normal, and constantly showing off. Hey, it's free entertainment for me. I'm not complaining. Suddenly I am approached by an adorable little EFY girl who says, "You look lonely." Really? I didn't think I was necessarily wearing a melancholy expression, but you never know. She sits by me and asks me what group I'm in. Can I tell you how tempted I was to play along? It would have been perfect! Only problem was that I don't know enough about EFY to pretend that I was there. I tell her that I'm a graduate student and suddenly she feels really embarrassed. However, she did tell me that she's starting as a freshman in the music school in the fall and I was able to give her some pointers. After she leaves to spend some time with her EFY comrades, I laugh to myself. Do I really look that young? Then I look down at my shirt. Sure enough, I'm wearing a bright pink Hollister shirt, complete with pink and brown plaid shorts and pink memory foam flip flops. It's my fault. I like pink too much.
This brings another scenario to mind. On the plane flying back from Michigan to SLC (my first venture home) I was fortunate enough to receive a seat switch into the exit row. I was so excited. I NEVER get to sit in the exit row on a plane. It's pretty much like sitting first class. You get so much leg room. Not that I need the leg room...but it's still really nice. When the flight attendant walks by, she explains the customary warnings of sitting in the exit row. Before she leaves, she asks me, "Are you old enough to be sitting in that seat?" Shocked, all I could do was laugh at her...which probably wasn't very nice. I was with the other chamber orchestra members, and I thought it was obvious that I was an adult. And then I looked down at my shirt. It was indeed pink.
So instead of blaming these scenarios on other people, I hereby blame them on my pink shirts. Maybe one day I'll get rid of them. Until then though, I suppose I can take advantage of 12-and-under discounts, kids meals, and special treatment.
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