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

Ella's interpretation of "Giants in the Sky"

There are giants in the sky.

There are big, tall terrible giants in the sky.

Who are fat....

Like Daddy.

A funny and a gratitude

I went back to Sterling Singers last night. For anyone who doesn't know, it's a community choir founded by Sterling (I can never remember his last name) and conducted by Kelly DeHaan. Kelly is an old friend of mine.

Yes, I know he's amazing.
Yes, I know he's like a rock star in Mormon theatrical culture.
No, I don't care that much. (Can you spot the lie?)

Anyway, back to the topic, I was sitting at Sterling Singers last night next to someone I hadn't met before (which isn't hard in a choir of almost 300 when the person you usually sit by is on vacation) and she asked me if I was one of Kelly's students.

Yes, I laughed.
Yes, I told Kelly.
No, I don't think he was so offended that he'll never let me sing again.
....................................

I'm so grateful for Christmas music. Especially really good music that makes you want to sing along.

Priceless

With the cost of gas and groceries through the roof, I've been pondering upon the things in my life that are worth more than that, but cost less. Yes, I've been taking stock of what I have and what I haven't (sorry, the song just popped itself into my head, I had absolutely no control over it whatsoever)...What have I found?

• the look on Sarah's face when I handed her the sheet music for Vince Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy"
• sitting down with Ella for her very first piano lesson (we clapped, a lot)
• listening to Joshua and Sarah talk excitedly about "Into the Woods" (I think I've raised a bunch of theatre kids)
• watching the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis movie "Money From Home" with the family...there is a lip sync scene that is one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life
• having Ben tell me he's read 1350 minutes this week (his class total is 9000)
• knowing that I haven't been wasting my life...it's a good one
• I've got the sun in the morning and the moon at night (*sheepish grin* I just had to!)

As the world goes on, the stock market continues to fall, the economy continues to slide and panic ensues, I think I'll keep looking for these moments and remember that the most important things are priceless.

Completely random and bizarre quote

(Kudos to anyone, besides Rachael, who can figure out where it's from)

"Yente tripped! I knew something like this would happen!"

ARGH!

The high price of gas and groceries is wreaking havoc upon my budget.

A gratitude

Thank you to David for helping me with all the canning this last week. Especially for finishing up the plum jam last night.

Factoid

Benjamin is currently taller than Joshua. Think this doesn't really matter? The look of exultation on Ben's face when we discovered this tells a totally different story.

One of my favorite sounds in the entire world is the pop of canning jar lids. I learned this from my mother.

I learn difficult tap steps by relating them to music. Surprised? No? How about this. I hear them, and then I see the rhythm in my head...quarter, eighth, eighth, triplet, triplet, triplet. So, when I learned a new two-part step yesterday, there was a grand staff, feet on the bottom staff, claps on the top. I was the only person in the class that got it.

That Kind of Day

It all started with a bunch of really happy kids. Everyone got dressed and ready to go without me having to tell them repeatedly. Ben forgot his French Horn, and Josh forgot his lunch.

Ella and I went to Cindy's to get our hair done. We are both ecstatic about the results which means, Ella can see again, and my neck is currently turning purple.

It was beautiful weather, so Ella and I had lunch at the park. Rachael was able to join us, along with Jacob, Drew and Sabrina. I bought Ella a kids meal from Wendy's and some extra Frosty's, so I wouldn't be responsible for any little broken hearts. The kids shared all their lunches, chicken nuggets, french fries, string cheese, fruit snacks, water, root beer, and Frosty's.

I worked on Ella's Halloween costume; she's going to be a princess. Is anyone out there surprised at all? I didn't like the way the vest/corset was put together, so I changed the design. And now, instead of one flimsy layer, with bias tape binding, it's flat lined, and then fully lined, giving it much more durability and body. It's also much more suitable for a four year old.

Sarah A. came for her lesson and we laughed so hard I thought she was going to turn purple (like my hair). I'm grateful that I like most of my students.

David and I went to the temple to do a sealing session with his family. Calm, peaceful, beautiful...how many more adjectives can I think of? Crystal made me a fabulous fifties style hairnet to keep my hair from turning my dress and veil purple. After followed our traditional stop at Sconecutter for shakes.

At home, all the kids were calm, the boys were bathed, Ella was asleep...my life is good.

Joy in the Journey

You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.

This talk really struck home with me. I remember thinking, and saying!, when Ella starts preschool, I'll have three mornings a week all to myself! Think of all the things I'll be able to accomplish! Well, Ella started preschool a month ago, and I'm still waiting for those mornings to myself. The funny thing is, I get more accomplished on the mornings that she is with me.

Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

I know President Monson didn't quote Ferris Bueller. But it seemed pretty appropriate. Especially given that I'm resolving to look around more often. I have four beautiful children who are growing up faster than I can say, "Boo!" I want to build memories with them. I want them to be able to look back (when they have beautiful children of their own) and say, "Remember when Mom and Dad did this? Remember that day? Remember the water fight?" I want my children to know that I made time for them.

"Each one of you is living a life filled with much to do. I plead with you not to let the important things in life pass you by. Instead, find joy in the journey now."

The quote above is not from General Conference. President Monson gave this talk last May at a Women's Conference. President Monson is the Prophet of the Lord. I believe that he speaks for our Heavenly Father, and he has counseled us to find joy in the journey. And not just once! Doesn't that make it even more important?

"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute?"

Today I'm going to take time to talk, really talk, to my children. I'm going to look at the world around me. I'm going to appreciate God's Creations.

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans”

Today, I'm going to live.






Answers for yesterdays movies quotes:

• The Man From Snowy River
• Charade
• Breakfast at Tiffany's
• Somewhere in Time

Monday Movie Quotes...

with a purpose.

"He's not a boy, brother, he's a man."

"Oh, I love you, Adam, Alex, Peter, Brian, whatever your name is, I love you! I hope we have a lot of boys and we can name them all after you! "

"If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name! "

"Is it you? Is it? "

Sarah was playing music from these movies as I was falling asleep yesterday afternoon.

Tally

2 Sessions of General Conference
5 Talks I want to turn into lessons (I only get six, so this is a problem)
6 Kids running around like maniacs (I only have four of my own...)
6 1/2 Quarts of spaghetti sauce
5 Pints of plum jam
20 Pints of Salsa
1 Repaired dishwasher
+ 2 Loads of dishes
_________________

1 Satisfied Mother

a funny quote from Sarah's ballet teacher

When life hands you a bag of lemons, Throw them at some one and run away...

It's That Important

I got this from Kate, and yes, I feel it's that important.

Pass it on, and do it today! Time is running out.

How many teenagers will fit on my love seat?

Clockwise from bottom left: Aleks Arteaga, Sarah Rogers, Ammon Black, Kathy Burton, Sarah Ashcraft, Michaella Greef

(Yes, the picture is right side up!)

Late Morning

So, the party last night was a lot of fun (finally), but I ended up staying awake later than I'd planned on, talking to David. And this morning, I woke up almost on time, but again, David and I laid in bed a kept on talking (almost a continuation of last nights discussion).

Now I'm running late.