Robin Hood, round 2!

In 2006, the West Jordan Theater did a FABULOUSLY fun show called Robin Hood.  Probably one of the best times I've had on stage EVER, Robin Hood was a little different every night--different jokes, different things going wrong, different lines--it really kept all of us on our toes.  I have had more opportunities than I probably deserve to be on stage, but that show is numbered among my very favorite--even if, as Lady Clydesdale, I had to suffer an unbelievable number of horse jokes...

Fast forward four years later (that would be NOW).  Due to some very bad luck (the condemned Sugar Factory Playhouse) and the need for a simpler set, we have decided to perform Robin Hood again.  Bob (the director and the Sheriff of Nottingham) cast as many people from the 2006 show as were available (including me!), and we're bringing on some fun new faces.  We start rehearsals tomorrow--because we open in four weeks, on September 23rd!

How many people get a chance to do their very favorite thing TWICE?!?!  I know it won't be exactly the same the second time,  but let's be honest--it was very rarely the same the FIRST time.  Another set of performances, another opportunity for adventure!

Midvale Arts Council has graciously agreed to let us use their facility for our performances.  It'll be fun to perform in a new space, although I miss the Sugar Factory.

One sad thing is that I think Cody might have been cast in this show if he'd auditioned.  It would have been fun to do this show with him!  It's okay, though--the reason he didn't audition for Robin Hood is because he's already been cast as Ren in Draper Historic Theater's Footloose.  That's right--Cody is Kevin Bacon (I've always sort of suspected...).  I'll finish with Robin Hood just in time to watch Cody "put on [his] Sunday shoes..."

What a fun way to end the summer!  Don't you wish you had more drama in YOUR life?

Independence Day

Some memories stay with you for always.  I'd like to say that my fondest memories of the 4th of July are about learning about those brave men and women who have sacrificed to make our country what it is today.  I'd like to say the first feeling that comes to mind is pride in the old "Red, White and Blue".  I've got to admit that, although those things are close to my heart, my fondest 4th memory is the year we finally got an icemaker for our freezer ('member when they didn't come pretty much standard?).  The box said, "Do it yourself! 20 minutes to install!"  Dad said, I'll just install this icemaker this morning, and as soon as I'm done, we'll go to the 4th of July carnival.

Hours later, after watching Dad drill a hole through the floor into the basement, watching him run to Home Depot seven times to buy copper tubing and who-knows-what-else to finish the job, I think we may have made it to the park in time for fireworks.  Maybe.

To this day, anything "easy" or "quick" to install inspires comments like, "Hmm, just like the icemaker, right?"

This year, for Independence Day, let's celebrate icemakers that come installed in the freezer.  And let's give a shout-out to all those "Do-it-Yourself-ers" who are making their kids wait THIS holiday weekend while they "just finish this one quick thing..." :)  Love you, Dad!

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

As I anticipate the closing night performance of West Jordan's "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (Copper Hills High School, show starts at 7:30pm), I wrote down some thoughts to share and then promptly changed my mind.  I have had a wonderful time at each performance, and I'll enjoy tomorrow night's, too--no need to clog the internet with my random musings about it!

I must confess that, although I LOVE the show, and everyone did a FANTASTIC job, I giggled a lot at the fake fighting.  There were a couple of good, realistic punches, but I'm not going to lie--most of the time, the guys missed by a mile.  One night, Cody even tried taking out a rival with the Vulcan neck pinch (?!?!).  Luckily, his rival was ready for it and dropped like a rock... ;)   I guess it's a good thing they don't fight a lot in real life...

Time for a new week--may it be a great one!

Another Father's Day

There's a good side and a bad side to Father's Day.

The good side is thinking about all the great memories I have of MY dad.  The bad side is thinking about all the memories I'm NOT making with him, and knowing it'll be a while before I make MORE memories with him.  The good side is knowing that I WILL make more memories with him.

The good side is seeing my brother and my brother in law grow as fantastic fathers.  The bad side is wondering when I'll meet MY kids' father.  The good side (?) is knowing I WILL.

The good side is seeing the fabulous influence of so many fathers in my life--my grandpas, my dad, my brother, my brother in law, my siblings' in-laws, my uncles, my cousins or their husbands, my friends or their  husbands, my branch presidency... too many to name.  The bad side is--well, I guess there's no bad side to that.

The good side is that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me, and I love Him.  The bad side is--hmmm, again, there's no bad side to that...

The moral of my story is that, although Father's Day can be a little reflective and nostalgic, it's far from tragic.  There are too many good fathers out there to focus on the few who don't treat their children with respect.  There is too much faith in an eternal plan to worry too much about a less-than-perfect present.  There's too much of a good side to get caught up in the bad side.

Happy Father's Day--celebrate the good side!  Love you, Dad!

Professionalism...(?!?!)

I saw someone walk in to work this afternoon, and it made me think of a useful 'work appropriate' tip--if there is even the slightest chance you could be mistaken for Olivia Newton John at the end of Grease, you may be in an inappropriate outfit.

Choir, as a metaphor for the other crazy areas of my life...

What a great Sunday! I had a fun brunch with some RS friends, a productive choir practice, and a great church meeting block.  Then the family sat down and ate dinner together (we've really been too busy for that lately) and watched a movie together (see previous parenthetical comment).  Nice evening!

My branch choir sang today and sounded awesome (as they always do)--I wish I could take more credit for that (because I like taking credit for things...), but I'm pretty sure all the credit belongs to the choir themselves and to the heavenly help they get every time we sing.  I'm just the crazy person standing in front of them, waving my arm oh-so-helpfully to the beat of the music.

That makes me laugh, actually--we are singing a number with an a cappella section.  We'd practiced it several times, with me diligently leading each time, and finally the time came to try it with no piano.   For crying out loud--the song got slower with every note.  Seriously--we slowed so much we almost stopped.  I was still leading at the same speed, but no one was watching me.  Their eyes are glued to the music, so I think they're just used to following the piano!  I finally had to start clapping to the beat to get them up to tempo without the piano.  No one in the choir seems to question this method, but every time I think about it, I crack up--what am I even DOING up in front of the choir?  They're not watching me, and now I have proof!

My single consolation is that the choir pianist DOES watch me (Jennifer Hansen, if you ever read this, know that I think you're a genius).  The problem with that is she is better at setting tempos than I am, so I usually follow HER.  Sigh.  Callings are blessings to help you grow, right?

And it made me think--how often do we try to direct our lives, happily waving our arms, like we're in charge of the tempo and dynamics of the music playing, only to discover, somewhat awkwardly, that we're really not in charge at all, and the best we can do is try to keep up, knowing that someone wiser, more talented, and way more qualified is actually in charge?

Every moment is a teaching moment.  Life lessons--gotta love 'em!

Life's happy moments (name them one by one...)

Some of life's happy moments, joys and blessings:
* Waking up with a start, thinking you overslept--and then realizing it's Saturday.
* Taking a walk--fast enough to feel like you exercised, but slow enough to still enjoy it.
* Singing in the car at the top of your lungs, looking to the right or left at a stoplight and realizing the person in the car next to you is totally staring at you.  Hey--stare on, buddy, I'm living in the moment!
* Making a toddler giggle.
* Tearing out drywall without asking for help.
* Having the cheesecake AND the chocolate mousse (don't judge...).
* Singing in the shower, with the absolute conviction that you sound exactly like Barbra Streisand.
* Playing with my baby dog.
* Knowing I have another episode of Glee recorded but not watched yet.
* "Aha!" moments in the classroom, when someone's lightbulb goes on.
* Casually tossing something into the garbage can across the room--and totally making it!
* Having a coupon for something you were about to buy anyway.
* Being able to read.
* Owning a car.
* Having a job I am passionate about.
* Having a JOB.
* The way my most recent family portrait is much better than most of the ones that came before it, even though I don't really like getting my picture taken.
* That it's still raining, even though I bought an umbrella (it was touch and go for a couple of days--I bought the umbrella, and it immediately cleared up...).
*Applause.
* Close friends who still stay in touch with me even though I'm lousy at keeping in touch with them.
* Finding out your camera runs on AA batteries.
* Being thirsty and having clean, cold water to drink.
* Living in a city where the streets are in a grid.
* Living in a city surrounded by MOUNTAINS.
* When my dog snores.
* Grapes and tomatoes (although not necessarily together...)
* Free tickets to see Paul McCartney (hint, hint...)

So many more, I can't even think...