Alligators

From as young as I can remember until sometime after I was married, I had this recurring nightmare about alligators. I would be running through a jungle (I didn't always live in Utah, I lived in the Phillipines for awhile, so I know what a jungle looks like) sometimes being chased by carnivorous natives (the kind from Bugs Bunny that would have put me in a great big pot) sometimes not, but always being driven toward a gully that was full of alligators. I knew I could escape the natives, they were after all, animated, but the alligators always freaked me out. Even as a child, I was fortunate enough to be able to control certain aspects of my dreams. I almost always knew when I was dreaming (the alligators were a dead giveaway), I could create a cliff, and if I could get to the cliff, I could jump off and fly (I loved when I could fly!). And if that didn't work, I could wake myself up. The alligators never got me.

I never did like alligators. Even now, when I go to the zoo, I avoid the alligator enclosure. I'll send my kids through with David, and I will wait for them outside. Every one is allowed to have strange and bizarrae, non-harmful behaviors. Right?

A few years back, my family had all gathered for our weekly dinner at Mom's house and we started swapping stories. "Remember the time we did...?" "Remember this?" was the basis of our conversation that might. A story was told about when we went to Okeyfenokee Swamp. I wasn't very old, maybe four(?) years old, just about the same age Ella is now. My Dad wanted to take a picture of me by the water. He had a great camera and was always taking pictures of things. He sent me over by the water, warning me to watch out for alligators. I, being the dutiful daughter that I am, did exactly what he asked me to. Suddenly he yelled at me, "An alligator's coming! Run!" I freaked out and ran... It was a joke.

Do you see the connection? I didn't see it until I was more that 30 years old. More than 20 years of nightmares, and a refusal to ever see an alligator (except the white one, he was cool). I wonder what sort of nightmares I'm giving my kids.

The moral of this story is: We don't mean to damage our children, or in other words, never smile at a crocodile.

Ella Sings

One morning, before my latest audition, I was getting ready to take Ella to school and I could hear her start singing. She was sitting on the floor at the foot of my bed singing "The Lady is a Tramp". I know how she learned that one, it's my audition song. But hearing a nearly four year old sing that song made me laugh (inside! I wouldn't disturb her singing by laughing out loud!).

Later that same morning, on the way to preschool, I hear Ella singing in the back seat of the van. "All I need is one more try, Gotta get that kite to fly, And I'm not the kind of guy who gives up easily..." This is the hardest phrase in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and she got it pitch perfect. So when she went on, "Wonder why they stop and say," I filled in for her with "You're a good man, Charlie Brown!" She then sang, "Never liked me anyway". And me, "You're a good man, Charlie Brown!" It was a duet!

After school, I heard her again. This time she had turned on my digital piano, I'm assuming to provide accompaniment for herself, and started singing the "Hallelujah Chorus". What am I going to do with this child?

A Thank You

I don't remember exactly when it was. I know we were in Utah already, my parents family room is very clear to me. I know that President Monson was not in the First Presidency yet, he was still Elder Monson. Somewhere between the time my family moved to Utah and President Monson was called as a councilor is when I would place this memory.

My father and I were watching General Conference. I'm sure other members of my family were there, after all, we always watched Conference together. Elder Monson got up to speak and my dad turns to me and said, "That man is going to be the Prophet some day."

Every time I've seen President Monson speak since that day I've thought that thought, "That man is going to be the Prophet some day."

Thanks, Dad.

not right now

I slept in. Church starts in 90 minutes. The kids aren't awake yet. I'm not certain Joshua got a shower last night. It's snowing like mad. I'll have to get back to my blog later.

Today's real post

I got a callback! I've been so worried about it the last little while that I haven't even wanted to think about what I would do if I didn't. This, of course, does not guarantee that I'll make the show, but I am now officially one step closer.

Cat sat with me while I waited my turn. Then she waited through my turn and with me until I heard the magic words announcing my callback. So, not only is she an expert audition fashion consultant, she's also a fabulous stalker. Just kidding. What she is is a fabulous friend.

Kate waited with me as well. Only, she waited at home, connected to us as the theatre through the miracle that is the cell phone. She is currently suffering from a migraine and trying to get ready for her own audition. I am sending all my positive thoughts her way. If any of you readers want to do the same, I am certain she'll appreciate it.

Crystal got me through the hour this morning between the time I was ready to leave, and the time I actually left. I don't know what I would do without my friends who are all so supportive.

Lastly, my family has been nothing but positive about this whole thing. They prayed with me this morning. They always cheer me on. Without their support I could do none of this, and I hope they know that. And when I come home with the news that I got a callback, they are as excited as I am.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey. Hopefully, it's just beginning!

Bad Jokes

These are my favorites, but they are terrible! Brace yourself!

What do you call a cow with only three legs?

Lean Beef

What do you call a cow with no legs?

Ground Beef

Why does a cow have legs in the first place?

To prevent it's udder destruction.

What's green and red and goes round and round?

A frog in a blender.

What's green and red and brown and goes round and round?

Same frog, a week later.

What happens if you drink it?

You croak.

Sorry...

Creativity

Creativity is contagious.

I've been composing a new piece every week. I finished one, but couldn't come up with a title and decided that asking my family what they thought it should be called would be a good idea. Well, it was a good idea, but it also had some unexpected side effects.

Everyone got into the spirit of the "naming", asking me to play the piece for them, telling me what it reminded them of, and hoping to win the donut. They all started thinking creatively.

On Sunday, when I was sitting down to work on a new piece, Sarah planted herself at the digital piano downstairs and started composing a very nice piano piece herself. Ben sat down at the organ, which is right behind the grand piano, turned it all the way up, and started making up a new piece for organ. Joshua, who didn't have a keyboard to sit down at, hovered around me, asking all sorts of questions, until he decided to sit on the couch and draw video game illustrations. This lasted until I couldn't hear myself think, much less the piano, and gave up composing for the day, at which point Joshua took over the grand piano and started playing around with melodies and the like.

My composing time got interrupted, but I was not upset. How could I be? My three older children were all thinking creatively, and doing something with those thoughts. I love that they are willing to try to express themselves in different ways. I hope that I will always encourage them in their creative pursuits. I really love that they are all so excited to share these meanderings into creativity with me.

I was linking off of Kate's blog to all of her friends and found this great link that made me wonder if perhaps I shouldn't try a song this week instead of a piano piece. Take a minute, or nearly four, and listen to it. See if it can inspire you to be creative today. Share your creativity with those that mean the most to you. Maybe they'll be inspired, too.

Today I'm going to try something old, composing a song, something new, cooking a new dessert, something borrowed, free time for myself (I borrow it from my children), and something blue, maybe just blue jeans. I'm going to tap into my creativity and see what happens.