D.C. al Fine

From the beginning to the end

What a year this has been! So many amazing things have happened. A quote from "Ally McBeal" (remember that old TV show?)

“If you think back and replay your year, if it doesn't bring you tears either of joy or sadness, consider it wasted.”

I've been thinking back over my year for the last couple of days, and I have to say, I've cried more than a couple of times, both in joy and sadness. But, that's okay. I love that my life if full of ups and downs. Everything in opposition...right?

Some memorable moments from this year:
Aunt Shirley passes away.
Annie Get Your Gun
Cheese Pizza vs. Nachos
Les Miserables
Mount Rushmore
Bye Bye Birdie
Ella used to have long hair
Gilmore Girls (with Rachael)
Drewser comes to my house
Ben is Cub of the Month
A 45 mile bike ride (and being willing to do it again next year!)
The Drowsy Chaperone
14, 13, 10, 9, 4 (14 years of marriage, Sarah turns 13, Ben turns 10, Josh turns 9, Ella turns 4)
Many, many tags
Sarah got a ballet solo
Two good friends move away from me
Three friends get engaged
Arrow of Light
Ben bDen
Harry Potter vs. Bobby Pendragon
Baseball games
Opera (especially Puccini)
Teaching Relief Society
Playing in the water at Gateway
Deciding to sell our home
Perfect Princess for Halloween
You stinkin' little rat!
Michael Phelps
Cow tipping
Sabrina
Joshua being bullied
Doctor Who, Eureka, other sci-fi shows
Pink hair, purple hair, red hair
Smart (alec) children

and now...
Almost 15 (Our 15th anniversary is in two weeks)

I leave you (after 430 posts this year of 365 in 365...stupid overachiever!) with all my best wishes for 2009. May you find joy in abundance and just enough sorrow to season it.

With love,
Patti

showing

We had our first showing yesterday. I never realized that I could be so frantic about cleaning my house. I remember feeling that way in college just before dorm inspection, but to be honest, I haven't felt that way since...until yesterday. I was running around like a mad woman with a rag in my hand cleaning as I went. I didn't even dare just put things into the closets, because maybe the buyers would want to look in the closets! I must have swept the kitchen floor half a dozen times, and I know I wiped down the bathrooms three times each. Sarah and I were scrubbing walls right up until the last minute, and poor Ella was hiding in her room (maybe she thought I'd clean her, too!)

In the end, it didn't matter all that much...the buyer hated my doors.

The doors? Oh well. I'll probably be doing it all again soon.

the beginning of the end

This year of blogging every day is nearly over, and I'm not certain how I feel about that. On the one hand, I used to write in my journal every day anyway, and this hasn't been that much different. On the other hand, there's a lot of things that I'm willing to put into a journal that I just won't put on a blog. Combine that with the pressure, and the tendency to blog stupid things in a pinch, and I think I'm glad it's almost finished.

As for the year itself, I think I'm glad it's almost over as well. It's been a good year (not a tire), full of some amazing experiences. I think I've learned a lot (one can never be certain), and know I've laughed a lot and cried a lot. My children have grown, my pocketbook has shrunk, but all in all, I think I came out ahead.

I'm looking forward to the new year.

abundance

"Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

Sarah Ban Breathnach

Happiness is...

I have to teach Relief Society on Sunday and the conference talks I've been assigned to teach from are Pres. Monson "Finding Joy in the Journey" and Pres. Uchtdorf "Happiness, Your Heritage". Well, it's got me thinking a lot about happiness and joy. Why wouldn't it?

As I was waking up this morning a song was running through my head (not an unusual occurrence...it's more unusual if there isn't one) and I realized that this song fits perfectly into my lesson.

HAPPINESS IS FINDING A PENCIL.
PIZZA WITH SAUSAGE
TELLING THE TIME.
HAPPINESS IS LEARNING TO WHISTLE.
TYING YOUR SHOE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
HAPPINESS IS PLAYING THE DRUM IN YOUR OWN SCHOOL BAND.
AND HAPPINESS IS WALKING HAND IN HAND.

HAPPINESS IS TWO KINDS OF ICE CREAM.
KNOWING A SECRET.
CLIMBING A TREE.
HAPPINESS IS FIVE DIFFERENT CRAYONS.
CATCHING A FIREFLY.
SETTING HIM FREE.
HAPPINESS IS BEING ALONE EVERY NOW AND THEN.
AND HAPPINESS IS COMING HOME AGAIN.
HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.

HAPPINESS IS HAVING A SISTER.
SHARING A SANDWICH.
GETTING ALONG.
HAPPINESS IS SINGING TOGETHER WHEN DAY IS THROUGH,
AND HAPPINESS IS THOSE WHO SING WITH YOU.
HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.

My wish for today? To find the Happiness is all the little things. And maybe to help those around me find it, too.

Jungle

I was really hoping to blog about how wonderful Christmas was (it really was) or how brilliant Esther is (it's true) or how much fun we all had yesterday (we did). Or maybe even how much I enjoyed "The Dark Knight" (I did...finally!) But, Joshua came into my room late last night, sat on my bed, and cried for an hour. Why? We finally got it out of him that he has been unhappy since the middle of October and has been pretending all this time because he didn't want other people to worry.

As near as we can tell, sometime in the middle of October, Joshua became the victim of a bully.

Since that time, he's been teased mercilessly, and even physically assaulted (the bully body slammed him). He has not felt safe enough to tell anyone...not even David and I...until last night. He doesn't feel that his teacher can protect him. He is unhappy and afraid.

I am livid.

I got online last night and looked up the Granite School District policy about bullying. Among other very vague and confusing statements it says this:

A continuum of intervention strategies that emphasize education shall be made available
to assist students whose conduct falls short of reasonable expectations.

Isn't that saying that help will be provided for the bully? What about my child! What about the other poor children who are his victims? Isn't the teacher supposed to be disciplining this student? The picture we got was that on occasion she will reprimand him, but that's it! The entire document can we found at this link.

I've requested a parent/teacher/principal conference. In the email I was polite and non confrontational. David, the more threatening of the two of us, will not be attending the initial meeting. I will call the school first thing in the morning on January 5, 2009 to ensure that the meeting happens (hopefully in the afternoon of Jan. 5). We are having Joshua talk to a counselor (we asked, he thought that would be a good idea). We are praying that our home sells quickly so we can just remove him from this horrible situation.

Meanwhile we'll be spending some extra time with Joshua.

The mama lion is on the loose.

Merry Christmas!

A gratitude

Thank you to Aunt Sandy for having all four of my children sleep over at her house last night.

Thank you to Grandma R. for baking cookies with the children yesterday.

Thank you to Sarah for helping with the railing.

And early thanks:

To the Hutch family for our yearly traditional Christmas Eve morning breakfast.

To Grandma and Grandpa B. for having the kids help deliver Christmas goodies.

One More Sleep

countdown

2

Find your Joy

Luke 2:10-11

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

echo

If you want really good advice on how (and what) to listen to, listen to a teenager.

I love Genius!

brouhaha

more haha

haha

morning

There are some mornings when it isn't worth it to get out of bed.

So Close

(So close and yet so far)

Yes, I've been listening to Frankie Valli again.

Anyway, Christmas is right around the corner. Quite literally. And yet, I have not finished my chores. The painting is almost done, but my hands have rebelled (I couldn't play piano yesterday after I finished painting, which is a problem because, hello!, lessons!) so I won't be able to finish the painting...David will have to do it, which with our combined schedules means this weekend if I'm lucky. All of this adds up to my family room being torn apart for another week, and hopefully put together in time for Christmas.

My kitchen is a mess. Wouldn't you be a mess if there were extra shelves, storage boxes, and bags of garbage (the stupid carpet guys used my garbage can to throw away all their "scraps", which ended with my garbage can being completely full on Friday...collection is on Thursday...ARGH!). My poor kitchen has been whining at me to clean it, but I can't get up the energy to get in there and deal with the confined space.

The kids bathroom was beautiful and completely redone: new paint, new floor, new toilet. Now it's paint central...we clean all the paint stuff in there. It doesn't look so beautiful and redone anymore. And other than periodic surface clean to keep the stink away, it's not ready for showing either. One more thing to do, but I can't do that until the painting is finished (see family room).

On the other hand, I have finished my shopping, except for last minute candy and treats. I've got a good start on wrapping, and Ella and I will wrap some more today. My tree is finally up, which made the kids more than a little joyful, and Elvis' Christmas album has been ringing through the house...and Ella Fitzgerald, the Cambridge Singers, Bing Crosby, Harry, Amy Grant...bunches and bunches!

Walk like a man! (and have a great day!)

Family

I love the family Christmas party!

Thank you,

Michael, Joey, Sandy, Greg, Kathy, Gary, Terri, Mom, Dad, Anna, Jessie, Ellyse, Kathleen, Bryan, Brandon, Kyra, the seemingly hundreds of other family members...and especially...Cyndi, Amanda!

Our Family Rocks!

Kate

KICK SOME BUTT!!!!

Salvation

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Brian Stokes Mitchell

David and I went to the Tabernacle choir concert last night (yes! I was lucky enough to get tickets!) and it was absolutely amazing. Brian Stokes Mitchell is one of my favorite performers, yes, he has an amazing voice, but he always, always, acts while he is singing. Imagine that! Singing and acting at the same time.

I found a clip on Youtube that I just love, and no, he didn't sing "The Impossible Dream" last night, but while I was watching it tears were streaming down my cheeks and I, well, it's amazing to me that two years after the fact "Man of la Mancha" still affects me that way.

Normal

Kate called on Thursday and we talked for a little while (very little, we are both very busy right now). Cindy Johnson came by on Tuesday and Thursday and we worked on her song. Kate dropped by to pick up her music and stayed for about three minutes. I did talk to Crystal for a while on Thursday.

I'm a social person! What has happened to my life?

I haven't seen Cat or Tammy. I usually speak with Crystal, oh, every day! I haven't emailed, phoned or seen Lisa, Dawn or Rebecca since the last book club. I talked to Susan, but only because we were at church. I haven't even really talked to Rachael in about a month.

I think this fixing of my house has taken over my life (and given me gray hair to boot!).

Well, the house goes on the market on Monday, so for better or worse, we're nearly finished. I know that we can continue to fix things, make thing prettier, or more neutral, but most of it will be done today. It has to be...I want my life back.

I haven't had my breakfast yet

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Habitable?

The living spaces in my house are nearly bare, well, most of them. My kitchen is packed full of furniture, including my piano (on it's side!) and music shelf. Even the contents of my closet are on the couch in the kitchen. My computer/sewing room is packed with shelves and boxes, and the occasional bag.

The carpet guys are coming today.

Junior High School Choir Concert

...otherwise known as a lesson in deteriorating manners

The sopranos were out of tune, but hey, I sing with the Sterling Singers, so I'm rather accustomed to that. The men were barely audible, but it's Junior High School, so the fact that there were men at all is an accomplishment. The show choir was all show and very little talent...but, junior high, duh.

The part of the evening that drove me the most nuts was the audience. I could not believe the idiot children who sat behind me. Obviously junior high students, obviously there with a parent (no license yet!), had to sit by their idiot friends and talk the entire concert. And if they weren't talking, they were kicking the row of chairs. Stupid kids.

David had adult sitting behind him. Guess what? No better! They talked and laughed (loudly, I might add) the entire concert. And had a cell phone problem, too.

Sarah mentioned that her teacher was worried about having listed concert etiquette in the program. I wish she had stopped the concert, turned around, and spelled it out for the audience...oh wait! Idiot children can't spell!

Joy

The first Nowell the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heav'nly Lord
That hath made heav'n and earth of nought,
And with his blood mankind hath bought.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel.

The Light at the End

I'm beginning to think I might actually be able to finish everything to get my house ready to sell.

It won't be nearly as good as I originally wanted it to be, but it will be enough. It's funny how time alters our perceptions of what is possible. Sometimes I'll realize that I can accomplish more than I set out to, sometimes it's going to be less. Maybe the secret to living peacefully with yourself is the ability to adjust your goals as needed. I'm not saying that we should give up half way through a project, but perhaps small adjustments to the timeline or our expectations are somehow necessary, especially when there are circumstances out of our control that come into play. Maybe it's all about flexibility...

Stress

I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. I still don't want to be up, but there's too much to do, and too little time to get it done in.

Wish me luck.

distracted

My hair is wet, my clothes need to be ironed, I haven't even started makeup yet. We leave for church in less than one hour, and I just barely woke the kids up.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is playing in my bedroom.

Life is fine.

Train

Audition this morning, spark of creation...flickering, burning, boiling, kindling, flaming...why am I getting those words confused, should be obvious. I think I'm getting a headache. I want to debate the qualities of Coke vs. Pepsi. My house is completely torn apart. I will be getting new carpet next week. Stairs. That's where the installers earn all of their money. Stairs. I've got to call a piano mover. I'm glad we decided to get the family carpeted, too. The baptism today is at 4:00. My audition is supposed to end at 3:00. Oh well. I'll tell them I absolutely must leave on time. It should be okay, after all, it's Sandy and Eric. I wish my minus track sounded better, but it's my own fault, I made it. I prefer singing with a live accompanist, not a dead one. Red, blue, white, which shoes...flame, creation, vacation...rattlesnake, hockey puck, monkey, monkey, underpants.

This is the kind of week it's been

WhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhy


BecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseBecause

(go ahead and sing it, I am..."Because of the wonderful things he does")

Ow...Pain

We're nearly finished with the kids bathroom.

Ella's room is prepped and ready to prime.

The boy's room is nearly empty enough for me to start prepping.

The family room no longer looks like the staging area for "Madagascar"

11 days left...

Really?

Getting ready to move is hard work...

(my molecules have left the building!)

Book Tag

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence along with these instructions.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, use the CLOSEST

Here's mine:

"Nevertheless, Einstein never accepted that the universe was governed by chance; his feelings were summed up in his famous statement "God does not play dice."

A Brief History of Time (from the big bang to black holes)
Stephen W. Hawking

Tag! You're it!

(Thank you, Kate, I was wondering what I was going to post this morning.)

Hope

Come, Thou long expected Savior,
Born to set Thy people free;
From out sins and fears release us,
let us find our rest in Thee.
Israels' strength and consolation,
Hope of all the world, Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
And unto Thy kingdom bring!
Come and reign in us forever,
Come and be our gracious King.
Hark! all heav'n above is ringing,
For 'tis love on earth that's born!
And our hearts in joy are singing,
"Welcome, welcome, happy morn!"

Born all people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Charles Wesley & A.T. Gurney

Reverence

Sure On This Shining Night

Sure on this shining night
Of star-made shadows round,
Kindness must watch for me
This side the ground.

The late year lies down the north.
All is healed, all is health.
High summer holds the earth.
Hearts all whole.

Sure on this shining night
I weep for wonder
Wand'ring far alone
Of shadows on the stars.
-James Agee

Question

What was so all-fired important at Walmart, or Toys-R-Us for that matter, that it was worth taking human life for?

Crunch Time

My house is scheduled to be listed on Dec. 15. In other words, I have a little more than two weeks to get everything finished to make my house show ready. There are a couple of things in my favor: I already did most of the deep cleaning (the kitchen and the bathrooms are remarkable), we rented a storage unit (which David has been taking boxes over to for two weeks already), and David took the next week off of work.

This week we are going to prep and paint. Next week we are going to carpet and tile. Then I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure the kids don't mess it all up.

Any heartfelt prayers you want to send my way? They are greatly appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving

My girls are still at Grandma's (they slept over last night).

My boys are watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The turkey smells divine.

David is peeling potatoes.


I am grateful for my life.

Panic Mode

2 1/2 weeks until the house goes on the market.

Must finish cleaning.
Must paint.
Must recarpet.
Must pack "extra" stuff.
Must eliminate 1/2 my furniture.
Must weed the backyard.
Must clean the basement.

MUST STAY SANE!!!

Art as Therapy

Imagine my surprise when Ella came out of the preschool yesterday, took one look at me, burst into tears and came running over, inconsolable. Being four years old and incredibly shy, she doesn't give explanations easily, so I felt like I was playing twenty questions with her: "Uhuh" for yes and "I don't know" for no.

What I discovered was this: her cousin (who is not shy) made a new friend and decided to sit by said new friend at the Thanksgiving feast. She (being unable to even say 'hi' to new kids without a serious amount of coaxing) couldn't just join them. At this point she was feeling lonely, and so the natural course of action is to get mad at her cousin. Then, the teacher reprimanded Ella, which hurt her feelings even more, the end result being that when she saw me she burst into tears. Confused? So was I.

Ella has relied so heavily on Jacob for friendship, but we know, even though she doesn't that there is no chance of them being in the same school next year. I wish she could be just a little bit less shy. Her first year in elementary is going to be tough...new school, no Jacob, unfamiliar teachers...I suspect the list goes on.

Back on track...Ella drew me a picture when we got home. She was pretty upset until that time, but once the picture was finished, she said that she felt better; still a little sad, but not devastated anymore. If that's what it's going to take to get her through kindergarten, well, I'll buy her as much paper and as many crayons as she needs.

Part One: Life

XXXII

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

Bits and Pieces

David took me to see "Quantum of Solace" on Friday night. May I just say, "I loved it!" To me, it was all that James Bond should be; fast paced with pretty women, too much violence, but so much fun! Just a quick warning: the chase scenes, and several of the fight scenes were filmed with that stupid "camera on the head of a drunk goat" technique that certain directors find so charming. One more thing...Daniel Craig...my favorite bond since Connery.

Utes by 24! Woohoo! Take that, BCS!

I took my entire family to see "Once on This Island" at West Jordan High School on Saturday night. Ella was bored, Benjamin didn't really care for it, Sarah, Joshua, David and I loved it! Many, Many congratulations to the students at WJHS for a job exceedingly well done. (I guess I should congratulate Bradford Garrison, the drama teacher, and Kelly DeHaan, the music teacher, too, but I don't really want to.) The show doesn't close until tomorrow night, and it only cost $7 (?) at the door. It was worth every penny, and I paid for six of us!

Alma Mater

Utes by 3!!!

Numbers

ratios
percentages
totals
___________

future


bottom line

Arrow

Last night Benjamin received his Arrow of Light award. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's the highest award a boy can receive as a Cub Scout, and it takes a lot of concerted effort on the part of the scout, his leaders and his parents for him to earn it. Nearly the entire pack meeting was dedicated to honoring Ben for this acheivement, which Ben thought was really cool. Even the refreshments (it's a church meeting of sorts, there has to be refreshments) centered around Ben...a cake with a big frosting arrow on it.

I'm proud of my Ben!

Question

Why is it that I'm more excited to see "Quantum of Solace" than "Twilight"?

Cleaning

I'm not a terrible housekeeper. My children have clean clothes to wear (although they don't always take advantage of that). We eat off of clean dishes. There are no fur balls the size of baseballs hanging around.

But...(there's always a big butt)

There is no way that my house is clean enough to show prospective buyers.

So, I'm cleaning. And cleaning. And cleaning. And renting a storage unit. And cleaning some more. I finished the master bathroom yesterday. I must say it looks amazing.

My plan is to clean the places that I know I can keep clean first, i.e. my bathroom, my bedroom, the storage room, the linen closet, the sewing room. Then clean the places that I'm almost positive I can keep clean, i.e. Ella's room, the living room, the computer room. And finally the places that I know once we're in show mode I'm going to have to thoroughly clean every day, i.e. the kid's bathroom, the boy's room, the family room, the kitchen.

It all makes sense, but my arms hurt already, and I only have until Dec. 15 to get everything (including the painting and carpet, should we decide to go that way) finished.

I think I'd better get to work.

Nothing

I'm staring at the computer screen, and nothing is coming into my mind.

I'm completely empty headed this morning.

Go ahead and laugh.

More Woods

Last night I took Sarah and Ella and we went to Cottonwood High School's version of "Into the Woods" Remember how this isn't my favorite musical? Well, it wasn't terrible. There were things that I enjoyed quite a bit.

I enjoyed seeing Sam Smith as Cinderella's Prince. He's such a nice kid, that seeing him as a ladykiller was a little bit of a shock, and reaffirmed how good of an actor he really is.

I enjoyed the orchestra. I don't usually expect a high school orchestra to sound very good, especially for the school musical, but this one was great! Although, Sam Noyce said the music was really easy, really repetitive, and really boring (but it did grow on him after a while).

I enjoyed talking to JaNae.

I enjoyed talking to Megan.

I enjoyed seeing Sarah reconnect with all her friends.

Afterwards, Ella liked the show, kind of. She was upset because Cinderella's story was not what she wanted it to be. (She's supposed to wear blue! And have a godmother!) But, when I asked her what her favorite part was, the answer I got out of her was "the Prince". Later she asked me who Cinderella's Prince was, and when I told her Sam Smith, David and I realized that she has a little crush on Cinderella's Prince. *smile*

Unexpected Twist

Last night the most amazing thing happened...I enjoyed "Into the Woods". As many people know, "Into the Woods" is not my favorite show. In fact, I have never really liked it...before. I could tell it was well-written, with some problems (at least I considered them that) in the script and the score. I thought the idea was good, but the execution was sketchy.

Well, last night I saw "Into the Woods" at Hale Centre Theatre, the MWF cast. The first time I saw it I saw the TTHS cast, and quite frankly, the MWF cast, with a couple of small exceptions, is the stronger cast. There was something about the way Jennie Richardson played the Baker's Wife that I suddenly understood. And I really think that is the entire reason that I enjoyed the show last night. I've always loved Jennie, I think she's one of the best actresses Hale has, but now I have even more to be grateful to her for. I finally liked "Into the Woods"! (Still not my favorite, but at least I don't hate it!)

More Spirit

Youtube has this way of listing related videos next to the video you're viewing. I'm so glad they do!

Merry upcoming Christmas!

Christmas Spirit

I'm not one who starts playing Christmas music as soon as Halloween is over (or heaven forbid even before that). But, I've been feeling a little down the last couple of days, and decided I needed a pick me up. Truthfully, I was searching for Hugh Jackman, because that would have cheered me up, I mean, really, and this is what I found.

Yes, I feel better now.

disrupted

Ella woke up just over an hour ago and threw up.

She almost made it to the toilet...almost.

There goes all my plans for the day.

Amazed

Ella, my sweet little girl, has been working on cleaning her bedroom since last week Thursday. Well, last night she finished the job. It looks amazing! She even cleaned under her bed. I have never had a child so intent on a sparkling clean room as this one has become.

There are a couple of dust bunnies and a tiny scrap of paper under her bed, but I think that's it!

Pretty good work for a four year old, isn't it?!

A (belated) gratitude

A big thank you to Carrie Barlow. When I was a junior in high school she made me stand up straight to sing...no bobbing of the head, no bending at the waist, just stand there and stand straight! If it hadn't been for her, I could possibly be as bad as the "moving lady" I sat next to at Sterling Singers last night. No...I could never be that bad!

A gratitude

David made homemade pizza for dinner last night....yummy!

Mamma Mia

David took me to see "Mamma Mia" last night. Yeah! Everything everyone said was true. Pierce Brosnan can't sing (but he looks great!), Colin Firth is darling, Meryl Streep is amazing, and the audience is the funnest part of the show. One question...why would Christine Baranski get so much plastic surgery that she looks absolutely grotesque?

Fourth

Rachael tagged me with this one...fourth folder, fourth picture.

This is me and my Indian Boys during Annie Get Your Gun...Craig is on the left, Andrew on the right. Don't we look like we're having fun?

Today

I woke up this morning and thought, "Isn't it enough that I'm awake?"

The answer to that, of course, is "no".

Today I have a plethora of lessons to teach, a house to vacuum, a skirt to cut out, checks to deposit, bread to make, exercising to do, a Christmas card to design, a desk to clean off...not to mention knitting, sewing, quilting, carving and recording.

But hey, I've got a great start. I am, after all, awake.

Pretty much self explanatory

Be Responsible

VOTE!!!

Knit

I love knitting.

I really, really do.

I haven't had a new knitting project in a long time...at least a year. So, when I started my newest project my hands went "Ohhh!", my blood pressure dropped, my breathing steadied, and I thought, "I remember this!"

I love knitting.

It Worked This Time

Halloween, all day long

a day in your life

The Rules: take one picture an hour throughout the day, then post them on your blog. Easy Peasy! (I took way more than one picture and hour, but it was Halloween, and I am a mother. Still, I chose one picture per hour to represent how my day was.)

I Got a Rock

Happy Halloween!

Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)

Rachael did not tag me with this, but ever since she did this blog, I've been thinking about it. It's been fun figuring out the who, what, and wheres of my whens. Still, I debated whether or not to actually blog the timeline, because quite frankly, so much of it has to do with me being pregnant. Anyway, I'll try to make it as interesting as I can. (If it's not interesting enough, just skip it! It's not as if I'll even know, or get offended if I find out!)

20 Years Ago - I was at BYU-Hawaii just having returned from Concert Choir tour to the big island. The funny thing about this tour was I was expected to have my parents sign a permission slip so I could go. When we left, I wasn't 18 yet. I guess the director of activities (not Dr. Smith, who was the director of the choir) decided that since I turned 18 while we were on the tour, they would fudge it a little bit...and throw me a birthday party, too! Being at BYU-H was one of those great experiences in life that you never forget. Smelling the beach on the way to class, the hearing the show at the PCC, wading through the "river" during the rainy season, seeing flowers every day...all these things really colored my year there. I wonder what the heck made me decide to transfer to Ricks College the next year?

10 Years Ago - Benjamin was 10 months old and I was pregnant again with Joshua. It's one thing to know that my boys are only 18 months apart. It's quite another to realize that means I was pregnant (and sick) when I had a 9 month old baby. What was I thinking? When Sarah was born I looked at her and knew I was finished for a while. When Benjamin was born I looked at him and knew that I had to have another one. I think I cried both times.

5 years Ago - Yes, I was pregnant again. I had just finished "The King and I" at Hale Centre Theatre. I found out I was pregnant opening week. If I had known I was going to be pregnant, I certainly wouldn't have agreed to be single cast. That was one of the most trying experiences I've ever been through and I look back on it and feel that it shows what I'm made of...I didn't miss a single performance, and I never threw up on stage. Back to the timeline, we had just come back from our first trip to Disneyland as a family. When we drove into Anaheim and saw the sign I cried. The kids were excited, but nothing like me. How could they be? They had never been to Disneyland before and didn't know what was coming. The second time we took them, when we saw that sign, everyone cheered.

3 Years Ago - I was the Primary Chorister (again), had just finished up my first straight play since elementary school, which amounts to ever (it was "The Odd Couple"), was not pregnant, was still suffering the aftereffect of my kidney stones, and was just going along for the ride. David was starting to have headaches, and we weren't certain what was causing them yet (oh, the pre-tumor years...). We were blissfully unaware that in a couple of months our lives would change forever. Still, I wouldn't go back.

1 Year Ago - I was released as Primary Chorister (finally) and put in as a Relief Society teacher. I'm still loving my calling. I was rehearsing at the OBT for their Christmas offering, and Joshua was part of the children's chorus for the show. I had auditioned for "Once on this Island" at Hale, had gotten a callback (for Erzulie and Andrea...my first callback for leads!) but hadn't made the show. In retrospect, I'm awfully glad, but at the time it stung a bit.

Yesterday - Ella went to school, I skipped tap in an effort to not let myself get sick. I think I succeeded, I'm feeling much better today. My special order came in at JoAnn, Ella and I went to pick it up and then stopped at Jamba Juice because, hey!, we were right there. We spent the afternoon watching PBS Kids, an Elvis movie, and taking naps. I taught a slew of lessons, had some good ones and some not as good ones (typical), then went right on to dinner. Being Wednesday, it was Joshua's turn to cook dinner, he did a great job with the hot dogs and french fries. After dinner I watched ANTM and CSI:NY. David scooped me some ice cream, I read my scriptures, said my prayers and went to sleep. Pretty normal Wednesday.

Today - I'll be watching Rachael's kids this morning. Ella will be very happy about that. She's been asking me all week if they could come over. I have lessons sporadically all day long, Thursday is my big day for teaching. It's Ella's turn to cook dinner, so I think we're having tortillas and cheese. Yum! There is a Halloween event at the elementary school that I'll be missing, but don't worry, David will take the kids. I'm planning on finishing "The Tale of Despereaux" between lessons today.

Tomorrow - Happy Halloween! Ella has her school party, it's short day for the older three, and spooky fun will abound! Sarah will be doing baptisms with her Rogers' cousins, the others will be trick o' treating...I think it's my year to take the kids around while David stays home and hands out goodies (of which we have four big bags...way too much!).

Next Year - I'm going to New York! I'm already on board to do "Utahoma" at OBT. I'll be doing "School House Rock" in the fall, and probably "Forever Dead" as well. Ella will be in kindergarten, Sarah in the ninth grade, Benjamin in sixth, Joshua in fifth. I have no idea what my lesson schedule will look like, except I will not be teaching on Fridays (it's been fabulous having that off!) Other than that, who knows?

iPod

When Ella sees me take my iPod to the van in the mornings, she knows that she is going to get to pick the music that we listen to. Our conversation this morning went something like this:

Ella: Sons of Dixie on the way home! And 1, 2, 3 on the way to my preschool!

(Pause of some length here)

E: How Many Devils on the way to my preschool!

(1, 2 pick 'em up and put 'em down again and watch the miles go by
3, 4 puck 'em up and put' em down again until you stop one and you die)

Me: *unbridled glee*

Eight is Enough

Sometimes I really like tags. Especially on mornings like this one when I can't think of anything I have a burning desire to blog about. So, here goes!

8 shows I love to watch

1. Doctor Who
2. Eureka
3. Numbers
4. Heroes
5. Chuck
6. America's Next Top Model
7. Arthur
8. CSI: New York

8 places I love to eat

1. PF Changs
2. Costa Vida
3. Mad Greek
4. (grand)Ma's Diner
5. the dining room
6. the park
7. Leatherby's
8. New Orleans Cafe

8 things that happened yesterday

1. Ella and I made cookies
2. I taught lessons
3. I finished a book
4. I got sick
5. David and I went to a concert at Highland High School (weird walking through the halls at the school...I haven't set foot inside that building since I quit teaching there 13.5 years ago)
6. Ella and I went to the grocery store the second time in two days
7. Sarah made dinner
8. The Arts Council decided to do "School House Rock" next fall instead of "She Loves Me" (I'm actually thrilled with this decision!)

8 things I'm looking forward to

1. Halloween
2. Chili and cornbread on Friday
3. Thanksgiving/Christmas
4. getting rid of this cold
5. having 2.5 hours to myself this morning
6. my next audition at OBT
7. New York next July
8. Disneyland in 2010

8 things I love about fall

1. my birthday
2. crunchy leaves
3. Halloween
4. Thanksgiving
5. soup
6. boots
7. sweaters
8. kids in school

8 things on my wish list (looks suspiciously like my life right now, with the exception of health, but even this cold is only a minor thing)

1. surrounded by people I love
2. happy family
3. health
4. enough sleep
5. clean house
6. balanced budget
7. music to listen to
8. books to read

This is the point where I'm supposed to tag 8 people. Tough. I won't do it. If you feel like doing this tag, feel free.

Listening to Ella

Ella: Mom! I drew a planet!
Me: Wow! Is that the Earth?
E: It is!

E: And this is another planet! It's not the sun.

E: This is the sun.

E: Now I'm going to draw the smallest planet. It's called Pluto.

Halloween Spoiler

Purple

I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.... People think pleasing God is all God care about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back. ~Alice Walker, The Color Purple, 1982

They thus invented Chess

And I'm very glad they did. Yes, I'm a little bit in love with Josh Groban right now, and I've never really been before. I've been listening to the Actor's Fund Concert Version of Chess for a couple of days now, and I must say, for all the sound problems (it's obviously a recording of a live concert) it's an incredible soundtrack.

It's my new (revised, I've always loved Chess) obsession.

Medicinal

Gonzo

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Homesick

Miracles

Why! who makes much of a miracle?

As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles,

Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,

Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,

Or wade with naked feet along the beach, just in the edge of the water,

Or stand under trees in the woods,

Or talk by day with any one I love--or sleep in the bed at night with any one I love,

Or sit at table at dinner with my mother,

Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,

Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive, of a summer forenoon,

Or animals feeding in the fields,

Or birds--or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,

Or the wonderfulness of the sun-down--or of stars shining so quietand bright,

Or the exquisite, delicate, thin curve of the new moon in spring;

Or whether I go among those I like best, and that like me best--mechanics, boatmen, farmers,

Or among the savans--or to the soiree--or to the opera,

Or stand a long while looking at the movements of machinery,

Or behold children at their sports,

Or the admirable sight of the perfect old man, or the perfect oldwoman,

Or the sick in hospitals, or the dead carried to burial,

Or my own eyes and figure in the glass;

These, with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,

The whole referring--yet each distinct, and in its place.



To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,

Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,

Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,

Every foot of the interior swarms with the same;

Every spear of grass--the frames, limbs, organs, of men and women, and all that concerns them,

All these to me are unspeakably perfect miracles.



To me the sea is a continual miracle;

The fishes that swim--the rocks--the motion of the waves--the ships,with men in them,

What stranger miracles are there?



Walt Whitman

Ten Things That Start With "T"

When Rachael assigned me the letter "T" I thought, "ooo, cool letter" and proceeded to make a list of things that I love that start with "T". It's a very good thing that my words don't have to be the things I love the best, because "T"avid and "T"amily aren't great words. Still, I have a respectable list, and I had a lot of fun thinking about it.

1. Theatre - duh. Is there really an explanation needed for this?
2. Tap - happy feet! I love the sound of tap, I love the exercise I get from tap, I love watching tap...there isn't much about tap that I don't love. Besides, Gene Kelly does it, therefore, it must be cool.
3. Twerps - I have four of them. I just adore my children (most of the time). What would life be without them? Um...calm, quiet...boring.
4. Temple - I love to see the temple, (I'm going there someday!). Seriously though, the temple is one of my favorite places. Even just looking at one (there are so many in the valley!) as I drive by gives me a feeling of peace. And going to the temple, especially with David, well that's just heavenly. (sorry, kind of bad joke)
5. Tickling the Ivories - Ha! I knew I would find a way to get piano in here! I play piano 6-7 days a week, 2-4 hours a day. It's a good thing I love it. There's no feeling quite like the sense of accomplishment when I figure out a new riff.
6. Taking Trips with my Twerps - otherwise known as Traveling. I love getting up early in the morning, throwing the kids in the van (sometimes literally), driving all day, stopping for breakfast and lunch, and reaching a totally new destination (or Disneyland, whichever comes first). Our trip to Mt. Rushmore this summer was one of the funnest times I'd ever had with my family.
7. Tommy Boy - "Fat guy in a little coat" Did you just sing that phrase? Me, too. This is one of my all time favorite Saturday afternoon movies. "Did you eat paint chips as a child?" There is just something about a really silly movie that makes a dull afternoon so much more fun. "Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta hug!"
8. Three Sisters - I have three sisters. And truthfully, it's amazing how well we all get along. The four of us can sit around a table and not want to kill each other (very often). We will all sing the same song, in the same key (that's the amazing part) at exactly the same moment. We all get the same stupid jokes, and we all quote the same movie quotes. "These mashed potatoes are so creamy!"
9. Tosca, Turandot, La Traviata - and pretty much any other opera by Puccini. Actually, I love pretty much any opera, except Rossini's Cinderella, which in truth is deadly dull.
10. Teaching - whether it be piano, voice, Relief Society or any other opportunity, I love teaching! That's why I do what I do.

I had so much fun making this list, I recommend every get in touch with Rachael, get your own letter, and make one yourself! This list made me think about all the good things in my life, and how to express them to a "T" (sorry, another bad joke).

Things that didn't make the list - Tony's, take out pizza, tri-wizard tournament, tetris, thespian, and tunes.

Dracula vs. the Hunchback

Currently playing at the Off Broadway Theatre is "Dracula vs. the Hunchback". It is as cheesy as it's name would suggest. The script is full of regional jokes, strange word play, bizarre games and rewritten pop and broadway songs.

I loved it!!!!

I have never laughed harder at a game of Red Light, Green Light than I did last night. And when Jenny Fields jumped off of the stage and started eating bugs out of Joshua's hair, I thought I was going to pee my pants. (She then climbed her way through the audience: over chairs, over people, sitting on laps, eating bugs the entire way.)

Knock Knock
Who's there?
(Long pause)
I forgot my name...
You're backstage and you couldn't look at a script?!
There isn't one on this side!

Improv theater is a unique experience.

Butterfly

I went to see Utah Opera's production of Madame Butterfly saturday night with my mom, my sisters, and Sarah. May I just say, "It Was Amazing!"

Tired

so very, very tired

Barbaric YAWP

Again

I subscribe to a poem a day from About.com, and I love it. Yesterday's poem was "O Captain, My Captain" by Walt Whitman, and today's poem is another offering by Uncle Walt, "O Me, O Life!" What startled me was this poem is another reference to one of my favorite sad movies ever. And coming right after the initial reference? I am beginning to think that the editor of my Daily Dose of Poetry loves "Dead Poet's Society", too.

Enjoy. And contribute a verse.

O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless--of cities fill'd with the foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light--of the objects mean--of the struggle ever renew'd;
Of the poor results of all--of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me;
Of the empty and useless years of the rest--with the rest me intertwined;
The question, O me! so sad, recurring--What good amid these, O me, O life?

Answer.
That you are here--that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.

Book Club

We really do read a book every single time. It just feels more like ladies night out once we get there, and I think that's part of the charm.

Last night we went out to Carino's at Jordan Landing. Three out of four of us had coupons, and the waiter was kind enough to use them all (even though they all said, "no other offers or discounts").

We missed going out in September, because of "Honk", so we pushed our birthday celebrations back a month. Rebecca got her free dinner last night, and I'll get mine next month. The fact we missed September is, after all, my fault.

The book was "The Makeover of James Orville Wickenbee" and the discussion went like this: Did you read the book? Yes, but I was a little disappointed in it. Me too, I wanted the makeover portion to be longer. I hated the ending, it seemed to come out of nowhere. I agree. Did you all hear that Katie is pregnant with twins? Twins?! Oh boy!

I don't think we ever got back to the book.

Next months book? The Tale of Desperaux

Movie Reference

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up--for you the flag is flung--for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths--for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Walt Whitman
(the sweaty toothed madman)

Conflict

I was driving east, merging onto I-80 when I saw these two signs, one on either side of the lane:

Put Me in the Zoo