RENT!

RENT closed on Broadway on Sept. 7th after 13 years. A film crew went in and captured that closing night performance, and it is being shown in movie theaters this week. I went last night and enjoyed the glorious-ness of that fabulous show for...yep, the sixth time.

I first saw RENT in L.A. during High School (a perfect Christmas present from my brother and sister-in-law). I was already in love with the majesty of the somewhat rock music, the brilliance of the harmonies, and the tenderness of the message- "No day but today..."

That love only increased as I experienced the performance four more times in the next few years- in L.A., New York, and Salt Lake. I can honestly say that the music of that show has touched me and even changed me. How grateful I am for the amazing Jonathan Larson who wrote, casted and directed the whole thing. What a contribution he made to this world not only with the content of the show, but with the talented actor's he chose to portray the rolls! He didn't care about politics or resumes-he wanted TALENT and a specific type for each character. He found that in many non-experienced amateurs, and now look where they are! Anthony Rapp, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Jesse L. Martin, and Taye Diggs... (original cast pictured below)


The irony of Jonathan's life and passing is just such a crazy emotional story. There are incredible minds in this world and I'm so happy that they share!

The movie theater experience last night was not quite the same as being there live, but still wonderful...and it was great to see it with Kevin, who I saw it with once in L.A. in the FRONT row about 9 years ago. We loved the performance last night!

The fellow who played Roger was FANTASTIC! His name is Will Chase and I am now in love with him. This is him:

Successfully haggled...unfortunately

On Monday I went to the mall after the chiropractor and before I had to be at the theater for my show. I had approximately 20 minutes and thought, "Hey, I'll kill the time in Deseret Book or something..."

I made it through Macy's and about 20 ft. into the "middle part" of the mall- when I was young that is what I called any portion of the mall that wasn't a department store. Anyway, at that point I was approached by one of the many hagglers from a little cart or kiosk, whatever you call it.

There was NOBODY around so I felt bad saying no.

Next thing I know, I'm sitting on stool getting my hair straightened by some expensive product from France that uses "new technology," and "works from the inside out,"- "no more split, no more dry, no more frizz," "100% ceramic plates"....blah blah blah
All this was being recited to me OVER AND OVER again as I sort of felt like I was dozing off due to my mass fatigue lately and the lovely feeling of the straightener going through my hair. The voice saying all these things came from a charming, yet pushy Israeli woman with a THICK accent. These phrases were possibly the only things she knew how to say in English. However, I was intrigued and interested in her because I have such a love for Israel and the people, and such a longing to visit Jerusalem.

Basically, I don't know what happened. Fifteen minutes later I was walking out of the mall with a $100 straightener...that I don't need. So much for a soothing trip to Deseret Book.

16 Again!

I am having an excellent time being a part of a fun cast of kiddos in Seussical the musical. I mean, there are lots O' folks my age and older, but there are also tons of teenagers and some kids. My great friend Robbie is in it with me and that is a blast! Anyway, last Friday night some of the cute "bird girls" from my show- they range in age from 15-22- wanted to have a slumber party. I offered to have it at my place since I'm super cool and don't live with parents...ha ha Anyway, it was seriously a blast! We ate, played DDR like nobody's business, did some Disney Scene It, watched Girl's Just Want to Have Fun...etc. You know! That stuff you did at slumber parties long ago! Some of the youngins had to leave before midnight because they weren't allowed to spend the night. BUT by 2:30a.m. there were five of us still awake and kickin' and planning on partying all night. My eyelids were dropping and my head was hurting and I thought...wait! I'm a night owl! What is this tired sensation? Surely it's due to a week of working hard and going to rehearsals and then getting about 5 hours of sleep a night...

...or I'm getting too old for this...

IT was just at this point, that we received a text message from one of the "monkey" boys in our show that told us to open the door and follow the bird seed...they had prepared a surprise for us. OH boy! Now, this is when I realized the insanity I had gotten myself into! Basically, about 3 minutes later I found myself at 27 years old running, screaming through my parking lot at 2:30a.m. with no bra on, dodging water balloons coming from all directions at amazing speeds, laughing so hard, scared to death I would pee my pants! I felt very youthful and invigorated! I loved it! (Robbie WAS a large part of this ambush). I have no pictures of the actual attack, but here are some from earlier that evening...




Yeah, that's Amy...she's adorable...and my fav...love her!

Gratitude

Four things I'm really grateful for today:

1. I REALLY like our new roommate Rachel. She's funny, cool, from So. Cal, loves Disney, and owns seasons of 24 that I haven't seen yet.
2. I LOVE the people in my cast of Seussical. It's a really fun show and I enjoy rehearsal because there are so many fun cute people of all ages to have fun performing with. It will be exciting when the show opens!
3. For the most part, I really like my class. They are good, fun, smart, interesting kids. It's a lot of work, and so tiring, but I feel like trying extra hard for them.
4. This morning I was driving past a Jr. High bus stop. I've driven past the group of kids that are there waiting for the bus a couple times and noticed one kind of unfortunate girl that looks...different...and stands at a distance from the rest. It has made me sad a couple times now. HOWEVER, today when I drove by, she was in her normal spot, but there were about 5 other girls that had moved over and included her in a circle and were talking to her. Because of how it looked, I assume they were saying kind things. It made me very happy and I got a little tear in my eye. See the world isn't ALL bad!

Sisterhood

If you know me pretty well, you've probably heard me sometimes "complain" that I don't have a sister...or you at least probably understand why I would do well having one. I really enjoy my girlfriends a lot, and I seem to have been able to find absolute gems every place I've gone and in many circumstances. I think I have an over abundance of love sometimes. I often try to turn some of my friends into my sisters in my head...which has sometimes not worked out real well because then I think our friendship should mirror some of the best sister relationships I've seen...and eventhough I am willing to put forth that effort...usually it's not reciprocated in quite as much abundance...most likely because they already have a sister!-or something Even still, I consider myself very lucky and blessed because of the fabulous friends I have in my life. I'm pretty good at keeping in touch with all of them because I just don't know how to be any different. I love them all! I wish they were all my sisters. Chances are, if you're reading this, you're one of them! Some of you love that I keep in close contact, some are just as good at it as me, and some probably feel overwhelmed...whatever your situation may be, I love you! And thanks for being my friend!
I was thinking about all this as I watched "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" WITH some of my very best friends!!! Ally, Lisa, Carrie, Jessica, Jen, and Heather. It was a really fun and special night. We definitely missed Jamie, Mandy, and Amy(s)! We took some pictures of course:



Speaking of fabulous friends, I took a trip down to California for the weekend and got to see more of them! Lisa came with me and it was lovely. I ran with Brynn in the Disneyland 5k, which was fun and kind of hilarious because there were so many people to weave around. Then Lisa and I got to spend time with Mandy and Nate at Disneyland because they were up from Arizona. And I got to see my Schmoop Dog, Carrie, and her family and cute kids on Sunday. Fabulous! (Adriane, Holly, Lindsey, and Sari- I wish I could have seen you too! Next time!) On our way back we stopped in Vegas and saw Natalie and Jason too! We miss them being up here!





Also, last week Aunt Cindy came up from Cali so I had my women all in one place :0 Cindy, Pam, Jane, Honey, and my Mom:

Nothin' like a Hike to Clear the Mind...

"August Rush" is the title of a movie because that is the kid's fake name, but if you think about the phrase it's pretty intuitive...Does anyone else feel like the month of August is a huge rush??? It always is, but this year has been particularly crazy. Getting back to the teaching full-time (the first day with students was yesterday), got a new large calling in my ward, I'm in Seussical the Musical (which is fun, but rehearsals every night), moving things around, getting rid of old clothes, switching out roommates, trying to get in some quick fun before the summer is over...you know, just stuff. Rush, rush, rush...I'm at least TRYING to avoid a speeding ticket when I drive lately, but I definitely speed. I even eat in the car most of the time...and put on makeup...a couple days ago I changed, my whole outfit, while driving. Plus, things just change when reality starts setting in, usually in August...people change...relationships change sometimes...emotions...SO, it was extremely therapeutic for me when I got to take an hour yesterday afternoon to hike up to the waterfall in Battlecreek Canyon- right up the street from where I live. It's amazing how quick one can find beautiful nature in Utah...well, in lots of places. I love the outdoors and I LOVE hiking- the smell of the air, the sites, the feeling of my body getting a work out...it just clears my mind.

Speaking of school starting, I want to thank all my wonderful friends and family that helped me so much in the "setting up the classroom" process. I know that I am really blessed to have a great family and so many giving friends. I don't take you for granted! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Mostly my mom and Aunt Pam are the bomb and helped a ton...I think Pam gets the trophy since I pretty much called her everyday for a week in a panic to come help me. Good thing she lives here now! ha ha ha Here are some classroom helpers:

Tiff! She is pictured here with Mckay, who is not her baby....lol...a little trickery

This is Rachel...who is McKay's mom, but is holding Dylan...who is Tiff's baby...he he

Carrie "Mate" and her cute baby Chloe

My mom and Chloe

AUBRIE!!! Leslie came down from Idaho and came and helped out a ton too...Aubrie is not quite as helpful :)

Layna and Andrea..they're checking out the math books!

The Reality of my Life...A, B, C, & D

Before I get going on this reality I speak of, I just need to say that I've been putting off blogging lately because I don't know how to catch up!!! There's so much more I could say about my crazy summer experiences, but I will leave that alone for now. I did recently spend a wonderful week in Oregon with my family and we did fun things like biking, hiking, swimming, river rafting, water-skiing and eating great home cooked food! It was a blast and a perfect detox from EFY. We also stopped in Boise on the way back to Utah to see Gerard & Janie, Shannon, Bill, and all their kids. Twas wonderful to spend time with them! Here are a very few photos to give a glimpse:




So, I've been back in Utah for...what?...4 days now, and it didn't take long for 4 very prominent realities of the life I lead here to reveal themselves again...

A. All the good ones are taken
Firstly, my favorite thing about being back is that Pam now lives here so I've been at her house everyday and night and am in denial about returning to my condo for some reason...well, maybe because when I walked in the other day it was 90 degrees inside, not clean, and smelled like a dead rotting rat. So, Pam and I go to Knight's Furniture and Mattress a couple days ago because I'm in the market for something to sleep on that I don't have to fill with air first, or that I can't feel the springs poking into my back, or that isn't made of plastic in case of an accident. Anyway, the fellow that was helping us there was all smiles and really talkative and seemed to be halfway flirting...he was also quite attractive, obviously successful, and just cool. So, as he's chatting with me, Pam is winking and giving me the eye behind his back as if to say, "Hey, check him out! And he likes you" This went on for a good 15 minutes until he says, "My wife and I manage the store." Dum duh dum dum DUM!!! Crap! Quick glance to the left hand...NO WEDDING RING!!! WHY DON'T PEOPLE WEAR THEIR WEDDING RINGS?! It would sure save all of us poor single souls from any wishful thinking/humiliation!

B. I'm still in the "second best" club
Remember how I was the second fastest girl runner in elementary school every year? Behind Katie Alba.
Remember how I was 1st runner up for Touch of Class Princess in Jr. High? I don't even remember who won...actually, I think it was Nicole Huntinck.
Remember how I got the second highest number of votes for Jr. class secretary? Did Jenny Dasenzi win? Who was it?
Remember how I was second place for best smile in high school? I actually really don't remember who won that one...dang, it seriously might have been Nicole again.
Remember how I was second to last at my high school graduation? There was one"Z"
Remember how BYU shut down the Jerusalem Center the semester I was supposed to go?
Remember how I auditioned for the Nauvoo performance mission and they sent me a letter to the affect of, "we narrowed the group down three times and you were in the last 25 possible acceptances, but sorry you didn't make it to the top 12 we decided on."
Okay, that's enough background...So, a few of the musicals I've auditioned for in this happy valley have called me back for a leading role, cut it down to two or three and then...I never get it. For example, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers got down to Mandy and I for the part of Millie, and then she got it (which I was way happy about and wanted to happen, but it helps prove my point). Then a few months ago I auditioned for Joseph and the Amazing... and they called back 10 of us for the Narrator, cut it to 4, then double casted their daughter and one of the other chicks...so I actually ended up just quitting that show...lol Well, Tuesday I auditioned for Suessical the Musical, got called back for a dance audition Wed night, got called back last night for the part of Gertrude...how many people were called back for that specific part? 2... I think just the irony of the situation made me extra nervous and I had almost already given up so it didn't go so well...I haven't found out yet, I will know tomorrow, but the odds are in her favor...

C. I spend a lot of time with babies
And I love it that way! This is not a complaint at all, but seriously...they are everywhere...all my friends have them. I already got the chance to help out my friend Tiff in a pinch and babysit her cute little Dylan yesterday, then finished up the evening visiting another friend pregnant in the hospital. She's actually having some minor complications and could use your prayers...her name is Alisha. And today I was planning on going to see Kim cuz it was her birthday, and I would have been able to hold cute Mclaren...but alas, I didn't have time because of point "D" See below

D. Moving crap...always
I have moved so many damn times...pardon my cursing...pretty much every blasted fall for the last 10 years, I've moved into a new place. There is ONE time that I didn't...bless the Riviera apartments where I lived 2 years in a row. I've also helped others move countless times of course, as I'm sure you all have. And at least 6 times I've moved classrooms or closets or across the country and had to store my teaching Paraphernalia, which is a hefty load, in family basements. So today Pam and I had access to my Aunt Jane's dads' truck...we thought we better take advantage of the situation so we went and bought my mattress and took it to my place, put all my teaching crap from Rick and Jane's basement in the truck PLUS a way heavy piece of furniture that Pam wanted me to take off her hands (all this was a hilarious sight to see, by the way, and wasn't what you'd call smooth). Off we went to try and get into the school, which had all doors roped off by our ever so loving janitor who doesn't want any of us walking on his waxed floors. The ride there was death defying, as we could not manage to close the bed of the truck, due to too much crap. I also was sitting behind and under piles of file crates inside the cabin of the truck and contorting my body to make it work. So...now...luckily, the secretary who is awesome lives close to the school and has a magic key that opens everything. She came to the rescue and let us in one of the outside classrooms where I stashed all my stuff until next week when I face the reality of going back to teaching full time and having my own class, the same kiddos everyday, teaching every subject, going to work without Tiff and Rachel :(, and getting up at 6 a.m. Sick...