The Golden Compass

I don't normally critique films, but this one was . . . interesting, so I thought I would tell you my thoughts on it. I actually have two points of view on this.
First, I had a hard time caring about what was going on. I didn't relate to any of the characters, and I didn't care about any of them. I wanted to, I tried, but they couldn't reach me. One of the elements in the story are the daemons, and in the movie, the daemons are said to be a person's soul. Ok, a little odd, but it is Science Fiction, so we'll go with it. What I don't understand is how your soul can have a totally different personality than you. How is that possible? Lyra's daemon was a little whiney "we shouldn't be here, we shouldn't be doing this" personality and Lyra was "let's go conquer the world" personality. Now in the book (supposedly) these daemons are their conscience, which would make a whole lot more sense!
Ok, second, which is a more personal point of view, so if you want objectivity, stop here. I really didn't like the film. I didn't feel good in it. I had heard that the movie was atheist, but I generally try not to listen to people who just listen to gossip, so I went to see it. I did read the books back in high school, but I don't remember anything from them, except that there were daemons and the golden compass. Oh, and back to the daemons being people's souls, they were trying to cut the children's daemons off, they were trying to cut off their souls. That just really gives me an icky feeling. So I would have to say that there is some truth to the atheism in the movie, and it did not leave me with a good feeling.
Anyway. There are my two cents. I really liked Enchanted, though.

I don't watch talk shows . . .

Except that last night, I was watching 'What Not To Wear' and they kept having commericials for 'Fashionably Late' With Stacey London. So I watched it. And I really enjoyed it. They took some of the fashionable clothes and put them in a wind machine, a rain machine and an industrial freezer to see how they held up. They also took some of those runway fashions and tried them in the real world. It was quite hilarious. Shoulder pads and plastic jackets. And a dress bedecked with feathers. Crazy!

Tag. You're it.

5 things I was doing 10 years ago
*Playing Meg in Little Women
*Was repeatedly mocked by my friends about my stage
kiss
*Taking classes at the community college
*Watching my favorite all-time tv show 'the Pretender"
*Ok, if you seriously think I remember that period of
my life, you really are delusional. I think I blocked
out that time

5 things I've read recently
*Antigone by Jean Anouilh
*Three issues of the Ensign
*Les desastreuses aventures des orphelins Baudelaire
*Various articles about living/visiting/surviving in
France
*Magician's Ward by Patricia C. Wrede - I love young adult fiction

5 favorite possessions
*My "herbal aromatherapy" hot pack thingy. Helps my
feet stay warm at night!!
*My black wool coat I bought last year
*My computer that does really cool things
*My car. It's almost paid off!!
*Toeless nylons. Best invention since sliced bread

5 things I'd do if I were a millionaire
*Invest
*Buy a small house and many pets
*Travel!!
*Have a personal assistant whose job it was to pick
out my outfits and fix my hair everyday
*Take a group of friends on weekend getaways

5 things I'd never do again
*Trust the airline company with my luggage and not my
boyfriend
*Live in Vegas
*Go through a corn maze. I hate them. Really.
*Date a guy under 21. I promise, guys, I mean it this
time.
*Go on a road trip with my sister and her fiance

Closure for Pretender

I found this on the web today. I wish they had just made the last film!! I don't want it to continue, just end already!!
"On September 7th 2007 in an interview for their new miniseries "Tin Man", creators Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle stated "Our fans still clabber for the answers because we never closed “The Pretender” out. We will just say to them please be patient, it’s going to happen, hopefully soon." They also referred to it happening in relationship to "Strange Highway" Entertainment and that the story line would continue digitally on the web."

I knew it!!

You Should Learn French

C'est super! You appreciate the finer things in life... wine, art, cheese, love affairs. You are definitely a Parisian at heart. You just need your tongue to catch up...

What Language Should You Learn?

Lost keys

Today I came home from work and did some stuff at home before going to my class. When I was about to walk out the door, I realized that I didn't have my keys. I checked every room I had been in, three times. Could not find them. Finally I gave up, pulled my spare key from my room and went out the garage. I was fifteen minutes late to my class.
Now, it is a rare occasion that I can actually remember the last time I had possession of something, but this was one of those moments. I had left my purse on the stairs, and I almost went outside, but then remembered what I wanted was upstairs, so I tossed my keys back in my purse and went upstairs. This means my keys should have been either in my purse or on the stairs, though they were in neither place. I had the sneaking suspicion that a small person might have helped me lose my keys. So I come home after class and empty out my purse. They are not there. So I turn to the Small Monster and say "Small Monster, do you know where my keys are?" He starts to shake his head no, then breaks into a broad grin and says "They're upstairs in my room." So I ask him to go get them and he comes downstairs with his hands behind his back and says "Pick which hand" I can never decide if I should be mad, or just laugh. Generally I pick laughing.

Cool!

Get a Cash Advance

Never . . .

Go on a thirteen hour car trip with an engaged couple. Its like having your own romantic movie running in the back seat. Except without the editing. You get the long version, not the short version.

Help!

I need some good ideas for bridal shower games. I personally prefer ones where I don't have to do dumb stuff, but the bride does. Especially since the bride is my sister, any embarassment is ideal!

I wonder where she gets it from

My sister is crazy. She is getting married, which isn't the crazy part. The crazy part is that originally they had planned on getting married in April, and just this Sunday they changed it to December!! Just seven weeks away.
Actually, I am glad they are not waiting, but I just wish they had decided to go with December three weeks ago the first time they thought about it instead of changing their minds because now I have less time to make things work. And I can really afford helping with their wedding right now. And my sister has informed me that I am her wedding planner too.
Crazy!!!!

Osmondmania

So on Friday, we had some people over and we had to watch Oprah with Donny and Marie. It was quite entertaining to watch, actually. I was making dinner at the time, but I caught pieces. My land lady actually sold Marie four pairs of ballroom shoes a few weeks ago, and when we watched Marie doing her quickstep (with no connection to her partner, actually), they did a close up of their feet. My landlady screamed "My shoes are on Oprah!!!" It was quite possibly one of the funniest things I've seen in a while.
So Osmondmania has hit our house, but only because its tied to ballroom dancing. Crazy.

Always be prepared

This totally made me think of Parker. This one's for you!!

Whoops . . . .

I am now in the phase where the composure starts to fray. The sad part is that I always do this to myself! You'd think I would learn.

It didn't help that I lost my planner on Tuesday! I can't remember anything without my planner. Seriously. I used to have to tell my boyfriend the things I needed to get done, or I would simply forget. Good news is that even though I left it at one of the schools I subbed at, they found it and I retrieved it.

Also, its competition time. Which means I no longer have weekends to recover from the week. I do have a really good time competing though.

And I am in the middle of switching jobs so I can make more money before I leave for France. We'll see if I last at my new job.

Ah if only I could find a nice soft room with a nice white jacket . . .

Warning! Warning! Insanity levels reaching critical!

So I'm getting to the point where I am so busy that I can't remember what day it is. How do you forget what day it is? Especially when you've got everything so tightly coordinated that you would miss five things if you didn't know what day it is? Maybe its not because I'm busy, maybe its just because I'm crazy.

Remember that Study Abroad program . . .?

Well, I decided to do it. I am going to Paris this winter!!! I am so excited!
And very broke. So any donations . . . . ;-) I'm thinking you could all get together and get me a digital camera for Christmas so I could post lots of pictures on my blog for you. Oh wait, you all have about as much money as I do . . . never mind.

Breathe. In . . and out . . .

Last night I was watching Dancing With The Stars and Marie passed out. First I thought she was just being funny, but she wasn't. During the commercial break, I realized, she forgot to breathe. I do that in practice sometimes, forget to breathe, but generally I remember after a few measures. Marie must not have breathed during the majority of her dance. Sure enough, when they filmed her after she came to, she said she got winded. (That was a little more than winded if you ask me)

Ok, but the cool part was, my landlord and landlady were at the taping. They were in the back row behind the judges, not an area much seen on camera. However, when Marie passed out, her family went to help her and left their seats open. Well, on television, they hate having empty seats, so they moved my landlady and landlord to their seats until the family got back. And I saw them! It was cool. They moved back to their original seats later, but it was still cool to see them. And they were interviewed for the show tonight too, so I hope they are on!

Need City Planner

I subbed at a school today that had the worst planning I've seen. There were two streets that I had to take to get into the school, but that was the only way into the school, so there was only one way out and three crosswalks with crossing guards. So when school got out, it was just about impossible to get out unless you wait fifteen minutes. Then I went to the Home Depot and the parking lot had no straight lines to get to the actual street. Anyway.

Can't wait for this one!

Check it out!

I think its because J.J. Abrams is directing. That just tickles my funny bone!! I wonder how it will be without the original cast. Weird

To Dream

I absolutely love this song. To do something just because it is a good thing to do. I think I need to make that my goal.

"The Impossible Dream"

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star!!

I am really annoyed . . .

That there is never enough time in the day!!!

I"ve been taking way too many quizzes!!

You are very intelligent and have high moral standards. You truly care about people and helping them. Your knack for solving problems and pleasing two warring sides makes you unique and a desirable friend to have, even if sometimes you have to tell people what they might not like hearing.

Yeah, this was Which Twilight Character are you. Carlisle, in case you were wondering. So, yeah, not that any of those characters come across as real, but when you are bored at work and have a tendency to get addicted to online quizzes . . .

I lead a sad life

And my life is . . .

What Type of Movie Would Your Life Be?
	Your life would be an Action Flick. You live for the adventure and run on adrenaline. You are fearless and aren't one to let anything stop you from what you need to do. You most definitely are a thrill seeker, which sometimes gets you into trouble. However, you always find a way out of whatever predicament you find yourself in.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

The other choices were horror, comedy and drama. I definately prefer action

And I like . . .

What Kind of Guy Will You Fall For?
	You would fall for the gentleman. Keep an eye out for your love at your next formal or field trip to the opera. Watch out for bad boys who walk on the inside of the curb and don't hold the door for you, and you'll end up with the guy who's suave, sophisticated, and classy through-and-through.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

Quelle surprise!!

Today I am . . .

Which Female Action Hero Are You?
	You are part Wonder Woman. You have a powerful and strong personality, and you use your persuasiveness and wisdom to keep firm control over your world. You are hard to break.
	You are part The Bride. When you get an idea in your head, you simply won't let it go! You constantly search for normalcy, love, and sometimes revenge--and your vicious stubbornness inspires you to fight to the death to get what you want.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

I think I prefer the first

Is there a graduate level institute class?

Ok, so I have a small problem with pride, as relating to my intelligence level. I really try to learn and apply concepts I have learned. But when I go to institute, for some reason I expect to learn something I didn't know before. Is that wrong? They tell us we need to be attending some kind of institute class, but then all they offer are classes where I already know the material. Why should I go to a class when I know what the teacher is teaching. I could probably teach the class just as well.
Maybe I just feel that when the teacher writes "infinite atonement" on the board and then asks how the atonement covers people who were alive before He atoned for our sins, I feel like my intelligence has been insulted. I understand what "infinite" means. Thank you, I think I learned that fifteen years ago.
Ok, so I know that apparently I went to institute with the wrong mindset. I went expecting them to give me knowledge when I did nothing to prepare myself for the class spiritually so that I could be touched by the Spirit. But really, I learned everything we talked about in high school. This class should be building on previous knowledge, not just building the foundation still. Ok, I forget that some people joined the church late. I just wish we didn't have to always teach to the lowest common denominator!

Give me your cell phone

I subbed at a high school today. The never ending problem with high school is that everyone has a cell phone. I told the class that if I saw it, I would take it away. So of course someone has to challenge me. This one kid had his cell phone out. There were approximately two minutes left in class. I asked for it, he refused. (a reasonable request cannot be refused without repercussions on the student's part) I asked him several times and then asked for his name. He wouldn't give me that either. Sadly for him, he was in the corner computer, so he couldn't escape without getting past me. Sadly for me, he was twice my size and probably had almost a foot on me. Then he started threatening and swearing at me. I still wouldn't let him go. Then the bell rang. He left and the other students told me his name.
My question is this? What is he thinking? I guess he really does not realize that it doesn't end with me, I wrote a full report for his teacher and he will have to deal with the consequences. He really thinks it is that unfair that he cannot use his cell phone in class and of course he does not have to follow the rules because he is different. Honestly, I do not get that mentality. What happened to respect in schools? Because I'm telling you, its not there.

Changing Seasons

I hate the cold. I hate that time of year when you go outside to leave for work and you have to defrost your windshield. When I grow up, I'm moving somewhere that does not happen for eight months of the year! (Why do I live in Utah? What was I thinking?) I love being able to go out to my car and just drive off, not spend five to ten minutes scraping my windshield.
Of course, if I didn't have to go out in it, I don't think I would mind so much.

I want to go to France

Today in my french class, the teacher in charge of the Paris study abroad next semester came into my class to advertise the program. She's also my stake relief society president. How I wish I could go! Here are my reasons why I can't. a) it will cost over $7,000. b) I'm not really a student. c) I really need to take an english class next semester that is not offered any other time so that I can get into a master's program next year.
Still, Paris in the spring would be so neat . . .

I picked a winner

My Blind Date

Good news
1. He was 26
2. He paid for parking
3. He paid for dinner

Bad news
1. He didn't go on a mission
2. He didn't go to college
3. His last name is a first name
4. He's a body builder
5. He watches R-rated films
6. He is a sloppy dresser
7. He needs a haircut. Actually a new hair style


Interesting facts
He is an entreprenuer. He wants to be his own boss and doesn't think he should waste time doing something he doesn't want to do. (I think he needs to put the time in where it is needed because sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do in order to get where you really want to be. Different sides of an opinion)
He definately thought I was cute. Or funny. Or fun to be with.

Best part of the night . . . (besides watching Keith Lockhart dance to the music he was conducting) President Monson was at the Symphony!

And the music was fantastic! Tribute to Oscar and Tony and there was a sing-along part! You can imagine my glee!

Blind dating

Many people keep telling me they are going to set me up with someone they know, but so far only one person has done it. So here is my fantastic story about how I set MYSELF up on a blind date.
First of all, I have season tickets to the Symphony. I think its fantastic even though I shouldn't have spent the money. So every time I go, I have to find someone to go with me. I am getting a little tired of the dating game right now, as boys have a tendency to not talk to me for about two months after I go out with them on a first date. So I asked one of my friends, Singer's Son, if he was able to come. Sadly, he was not. But then the first Blind Date guy called me back. So I thought, perfect! No pressure. Unfortunately, he has gotten back together with a girl he had been previously seeing. By that time I was a little fed up. I called my sister for some reason and asked her if she knew any cute guys who liked the Symphony. Apparently, there was a guy visiting from her ward and essentially (to make a long story short) now I am going with him. I have never met him, I talked to him on the phone last night to work out details of going, but that is it.
Sad that my life has come to this. Setting myself up on blind dates.

My so called life

I feel like I haven't posted in a while. This is not because my life is so exciting that I don't get around to writing. No, it is because my life is so insanely busy that I don't have time. I wish it were more exciting. Right now, I am taking a french quiz online and it is taking a long time to load. I have spent the last two days both up late and up early to work on a french paper. (I can't write well in English, my French is worse) I almost had a standard partner, but I decided that my sanity was worth more than having a partner. Meanwhile, my latin partner and I have just had two lessons from the "pros" (Paul and Olga), which take up time and money. And working two jobs and trying to do my homework and help the sisters in my ward has pretty much made it so I wish I had remembered to schedule in meals and sleep. Ah well, I wouldn't be happy if I was bored!!

Un autre fois

After looking at my friends blogs and reading at least three or four posts per person, I realized it was time again for me to say something. I had one of those weeks where I thought, oh, I need to post on that, and then haven't had the time to actually sit down in front of the computer and write anything.
I have to tell you, substituting is actually going quite well so far. I have only had second grade classes so far, but that is really a cute age. The thing about them is that if I were in the class longer than a day, I would probably want to take them home with me. My land lady says I should have gone into elementary teaching instead of secondary, but I think I would just want to take them all home. That would not be a good thing. But in other subbing news, I have a job every day for the next two and a half weeks. So job stability can be mine. And, today, one of the teachers at the school I was subbing at asked if I could sub her class this month. So that's good too!
Also, as part of my insanity, I have decided to take a french class. Let me think when the last time I took french was. It had to be at least five years ago. I am planning to use it to get into Grad school because for an English Masters, you have to be able to read a foreign language. That's good, becuase reading isn't the problem, its speaking. Next semester I'll have to take an English class as a prereq, but right now, that's a little bit of a difficulty, and its going to take some finesse. I'll let you know how that goes.
I was hoping that my class would broaden my social circle (ie have cute boys to date) but there are only about four, two are ethnic (which is fine), one looks like a pre-mi, and the other leaves class faster than a speeding bullet. So that was not the social avenue I had hoped it to be. Oh well. I'm sure I'll figure something out.
In other news, I am getting a new dress made to compete in, and it is going to be hot! I am very excited. But I can't afford it. I can't afford anything right now. But that's ok, some things are worth it!

One more reason NOT to go to football games

Today I walked outside to get the mail, and there were about eight cars passing my house. My street is pretty slow, we don't get much traffic. So I look down the street, and the entire road is full of cars. They are backed up to my house, which I think is insane, because everyone was going to the game. Crazy.

Here's the brief, general

You know, I never know how to start my entry. Apparently, I am not very good at introducing subjects. I have that problem with my journal and with papers I write to.
So, my blind date. Before we went out, I had enrichment. Unfortunately, this being the church it is, we started fifteen minutes late. Which means, we ended fifteen minutes late. I only live about two minutes from the church, but apparently he had already been to my house and the eight year old had told him I wasn't home. But I had text messaged him and he got it when he got back to the car. I left enrichment right after the prayer, neglecting to even say hi to a couple of my guy friends in the parking lot. (If you know me, you know that I stop to talk to everyone. I felt bad I couldn't). I got home and went to fix my hair and text messaged him and he came.
He wasn't too bad looking. About 5'9" ish, with brown hair. Trim, which was a definate plus. We went to Happy Sumo. I've never had sushi, but I figured I might as well try it, I might end up liking it. I always say that, and I am always wrong. I had a stomach ache all night. But Blind Date was nice. He tried to make conversation, which was nice. Sometimes its hard to find a topic of conversation. He was much better at it than I was. He is a big football fan. I'm having difficulty finding someone who's not, I'm thinking I might just have to give in to that one. Doesn't mean I have to go, though. Another downside, he's lived most of his life in Utah.
On the other hand, he always seemed interested in the conversation, and after they boxed up our food, he leaned across the table while listening to me. He opened the doors (that's a big one in my book), and walked me to the door afterward. And he gives good hugs.
He invited me to go country dancing sometime. I might have to take him up on that, though I do not like anything country. Who knows, maybe I'll like it? (I really should know better)

Richard Marx

I took my mom to the Richard Marx concert. He said we were a great audience, and I thought, how many audiences have you seen lately, because no one was drunk and most people were just sitting in their seats until the last two or three songs.
I actually quite enjoyed the concert. I'm not normally a concert person, the music is too loud and the people are too crazy. I think the fact that it was in an outdoor theatre was very helpful, the sound had somewhere else to go other than reverberating around my skull. He has a new song I just loved called 'Through My Veins' He saved 'Right Here Waiting' until the end. He was very funny.
I have to tell you the part I thought was amusing. He told us he wrote a song for N*Sync and then he played his version. Wish I could find that version. I don't really care for boy bands, but I did like that song (I promise you). Now I know why I liked it. It wasn't written by boy band writers, and I do like Richard Marx's ballads.

The Joys of Life

Truth is I don't really want to write today, but as I get bored when other people don't write, I figured I had better.
Today was my first day substitute teaching. It was a second grade class. I was more worn out after subbing a second grade class than I was after teaching all my classes when I taught dance at both a middle school and a high school. Maybe I just don't remember being this tired because I did it everyday. Now I know why I don't work out when I am teaching.
Also funny thing today. I won Richard Marx tickets off the radio this morning. They asked for caller six. I was caller two, caller four, and caller six. Apparently, I was one of the only ones calling. So after my (long) day subbing, I drove to the radio station (a nice hour drive) only to find out that they had given away too many tickets. Fortunately, they are calling and there will be two tickets at will call for me. Crazy. Just crazy.
And I have a blind date tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

Laugh of the Day

I was so excited for my first substitute teaching job that I showed up TWO WEEKS EARLY! Hm. That could be mildly embarrassing. Except I don't really see the point in getting embarrassed.
Needless to say it was very interesting to walk into the classroom and have the teacher there preparing her lesson. Poor girl, wondering who on earth I was.
That's my 'laugh of the day!!'

What is it you're doing?

This coming year, I am substitute teaching. Apparently in this part of the valley, subs get paid very litte, which I did not know because in other parts of the area (ie where I used to work) they got paid more. So I have to get a second job, which I did. I am now working for a guy I used to work for. In retail again, but its a super flexible job, which I totally need.
I also have an 'unoffical' third job (did I mention I'm crazy?). I work for my land lady. Sometimes babysitting, sometimes selling shoes, and sometimes whatever else she needs me to do. It's kind of like being someone's clone. Maybe I should go watch Multiplicity, I've never seen it all the way through.
Oh and in case all that doesn't make me busy enough, I'm still dancing and the RSP. Sometimes I think someone should seriously put me out of my misery.

Viva Las Vegas!!

My last vacation of the summer. Because school starts . . . TOMORROW! Truthfully, I am very grateful to be home. I feel like I have been gone so much, I am very out of sorts. But, it was great fun!! First we drove down to LA (my dance partner and I). We went to the beach, where we saw a seal!! He couldn't have been more than thirty feet away from us. From there we met up with my sister and her boyfriend (can't wait to see where that goes!) and had dinner. Pizza on Sunset Boulevard (after spending an hour driving Hollywood Blvd, Sunset Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd looking for a parking place. And seeing Sunset and Camden and singing it just like Debbie Reynolds. My partner didn't get it) Then we saw Wicked. Fantastic! Amazing! Loved it! So much better live! And we were in the seventh row!! Orchestra! Got to see everything. Amazing. Did I say that already? 'Cause it was!
Anyway, moving on. The next day we drove to Vegas and competed. That was really fun. There was a first round in Pre-Champ, which makes it quite a large event. I think we would have made the final if I hadn't been off-rhythm in the cha-cha. Totatlly sucks. Didn't like the DJ, it sounded as if the music started partway through the song. None of the judges called us back for the cha-cha in the semi and only one or two called us back for the other dances. That's what happens when the judges all watch you first and you start off rythym. But it was fun, I always enjoy dancing. The next day we went to the Cheesecake Factory, which quite possibly might be my favorite restaurant, and had dinner. We competed Amateur, but didn't get called back. Didn't expect to. This event only had a semi final, but there were many good dancers. Watching the Pro events was so much fun. My friend Jeremy competed there and did quite well and the standard event had an excellent level of talent.
Well, that was probably more on dance than you wanted to hear, but now I'm back! And probably won't be going on vacation for a while, considering school is starting. I sure had a busy summer!

Sad, sad day

It is always a sad day for me when I realize the summer blockbuster season is over and there really are no good new movies coming out that I want to see.

Lake Powell

I have decided that next year, my family needs to rent a house boat during the summer and go out on Lake Powell. I had so much fun! It was a decent temperature, not "kill me" hot, and it was fun to be on the lake. I think I might have been a fish in another life

Here are a few things I could have done without . . .
1. The fish that nibbled at us the first night. One of the boys ended up bleeding. I only felt a slight tug on my suit.
2. Forgetting the one swim suit I actually wanted to wear, because it was drying in the shower from going to another lake the night before we left
3. The 20 and 23 year old girls who were already married! How do they do that? Why do I have such a hard time even dating! (oh yeah, and I was the oldest one of the 'kids' who was unmarried.)
4. The abrasion type burn thing on my thighs that I got from lying belly down on the tube while we went insanely fast.

A few really good things
1. I managed to NOT turn bright red!! Hallelujiah for SPF 50! I was just barely pink
2. I went tubing, which I absolutely love. I don't like roller coasters, but I could go tubing all day.
3. I got to go swimming anytime I wanted!! (Really, a fish)
4. Lots of snacks. I ate all the time
5. My friend's husband couldn't come, so I didn't have to compete with him for her attention. (not normally a problem, but when your on vacation with a friend, who wants the friend to spend time with someone else?)
6. Sleeping outside on top of the houseboat and NOT getting eaten by mosquitos!
7. Hiking up to see the Indian ruins and pictographs (and announcing that one of the warriors is Moroni and having an eight year old believe me. I really shouldn't be so convincing. That's what comes from doing too much theater!)
8. Getting ice cream at the dock
9. Coming home and taking a REAL shower and sleeping in my OWN bed!!

Anyway, I had a really good time!

Where I want to go on Vacation

This place looks really cool, and I would love to spend a three day stay there. Now I just have to figure out how long it will take me to save that much money . . .

Need Reflector!

This is a hot picture of me after my shower washing off all the gook from the lake. Ok, I was just figuring out how to get pictures on my blog

On the water . . .

We had a ward boating activity for FHE tonight.. We went to one of the shallowest, greenest lakes I have ever been in. I was wary about getting in the water until they pulled out the tube. I have never been wakeboarding, I don't think its really my style (though I should try it eventually), but I sure have a good time on a tube. The tube we had was huge! It fit three people. They really tried to get us to fall off. The first time I went, both the other girls flew off a couple times, but I held on. The second time I did fall off once.
We were up in the front of the boat eating sour patch kids. Jewelry Girl finished them off and put the bag in the guy's lap who was next to her. All the leftover sugar spilled into his lap. He said we could call him Sugar Britches. So he shall henceforth be referred to as Sugar Britches.

Run, run, run!

So yesterday morning, I was awoken by a small child who needed to go to the bathroom at four in the morning. Now I know I'm a morning person, but I'm not that much of a morning person. Unfortunately, I was not able to go back to sleep. So finally after trying to fall asleep, and reading, I decided to go for a run (well, really more of a jog). The nice thing is that the school by me has posted on the tennis courts how far a mile is along my road. So I ran down to the marker and then back, so a total of two miles. Now I was only gone from my house about half an hour, but I saw EVERYONE running too. There were at least twenty people running on just that one mile stretch of road. As I was running past the hill, I saw a motorcycle coming down. I heard someone whistle. Now, normally, I just ignore whistles, but I realized I know people with motorcycles who live up that hill, so I turned. It was the Sunday School president (ps, in case you don't know, its a singles ward). So I waved and kept going. On my way back, I ran into one of my friend's dad. Then when I hopped in my car to go somewhere, I saw another guy in my ward running. Its like an epidemic around here.
And also of note, I can feel every muscle in my thighs right now. They are not very happy with me, especially since I danced for an hour and a half in the afternoon after I went running.

He's making me laugh

I saw Hairspray last week. I really enjoyed it, it was quite entertaining. I've been watching previews for movies and realized that James Marsden makes me laugh. I liked him in X-Men, though his character wasn't well developed, he was ok in Superman, but watching him in Hairspray and the next movie he is in is called Enchanted, just makes me laugh. I can't wait to watch that movie and see how they've twisted the fairytales.

Harry Potter

I actually wasn't one of those people who had to read Harry Potter 7 the day it came out. Honestly, I was in Reno and had ordered it from Amazon, so it was at my house and I wasn't. But I realized that I had to read it pretty quickly because otherwise people would start blabbing the plot and I HATE when I hear what happens before I read it. So I started Monday night and finished up Wednesday night. I have two things to say about it.
First, Borders had that whole "Snape: Friend or Foe?" and I did honestly pick one, though I didn't say anything. And I was so right!!!
Second, I really enjoyed it. It was a great ride. I like twists and turns and not being able to see everything that is going to happen. There were certain things I could predict, but there was enough surprise that I was satisfied. I thought it was very well done.
Well, if you have finished it, or are in the process, happy reading!

Reno

I spent the last weekend with my grandparents. They aren't actually in Reno, they are just over the mountain from Lake Tahoe, but we definately weren't in Lake Tahoe. We are about an hour and a half south of Reno, just about ten minutes north of the California border. It was fun to visit with my grandparents, but sometimes it is hard because we are at completely different places in our lives. All the people we met out there were retired (ok, not all, but most), and sometimes it was hard to carry on a conversation. My grandma is a very opinionated person (fyi, she's actually my mom's stepmother) and my grandfather just is happy you are there and doesn't say much. I was very happy that I brought five books to keep me busy, but I still went a little insane not having anyone to talk to. My cell phone also doesn't get reception at their house. Good news is that they took me clothes shopping and now I have new clothes.
My baby sister (who happens to be fifteen) came too. It is definately fun when you realize that can pretty much get her to do anything you want. Anything I told her she should buy, she did. One more good thing, she did look good in the things I told her to buy. We had to wear something cool to a picnic we went to, so I had her try on some of my capris. She found a pair she liked and decided to wear it. While she was changing, my grandma complained that she couldn't even get my sister to try on a pair at the store. Ah the joys of being an older sister. Of course, if we even lived close it would be easier to influence her, but maybe part of the magic is that I only see her about twice a year for three days to a week. Still, it was fun to realize I had that much power.

Sunday dinner

Ok, so I am super excited because I am watching some kids all weekend and I am really enjoying cooking for them. I have never steamed anything before and I figured out how to steam broccoli!! I was way excited. Than I made this sauce to go over rice that was cream of mushroom soup, cheese and broccoli. I really liked it and was really proud of myself, because I just threw stuff together, I didn't have a recipe, and it tasted good (Is there a better way to say that?). Now I just have to figure out what new thing I am going to make for them tomorrow!!

Shakespeare!!

Here is the promised update for my trip to the Shakespeare festival.

Word Friend and I left my house around nine. We had checked the highway because of the wild fire between us and the festival. We had several alternate routes planned out in case of closures. Fortunately, we didn't need any of them, the road was clear the entire way. We did see a haze from the smoke and one random tree that was on fire.
We arrived in good time, but we couldn't check into our hotel yet. We parked and found out there was a student discount half an hour before the show. So we wandered around a little and ate our brown bag lunch. Then we went to get our tickts and we saw Lend Me A Tenor. We really enjoyed it, it was quite funny. One thing that tickled my funny bone was when we got our tickets, they saw which school I was from and warned us that there was swearing in the show. Lend Me A Tenor had some very Shakespeare situations. There were mistaken identities that led to some really interesting situations.
We went to our hotel and checked in. We had dinner there. Word Friend and I split a salad and scones. The scones were amazing!! They were so good. They were English style, so they were more of a pastry and came with raspberry jam, marmalade and Devonshire cream. I discovered I love Devonshire cream. Then we met with our group and brought up a couple questions to consider while watching Coriolanus. We watched the Greenshow before the show. They did it Festival of Fools style.
I don't know if you have read or seen Coriolanus before, but it is definately not a favorite. It is a very political play, and very military. We were sitting in the balcony, which was really hot, considering the theatre is a replica of the Globe. It was interesting to watch, some parts became clearer, but it was still a difficult play to digest.
The next morning we got up and went to breakfast at the hotel. It was a homemade breakfast for free! It was very yummy. Then we went to the literary seminars they had. We discussed Coriolanus and Lend Me a Tenor. The composer of Lend Me a Tenor was there and it was cool to hear so much about the play and how it developed. The discussion on Coriolanus was very helpful too.
We split a meal from Arby's and ate it outside the theatres. The campus was just beautiful. I think probably because it had so many trees. We had a discussion with our group on Coriolanus, but it started to rain a little. The auditorium theater was cold because the air conditioner was on and we were wet from the rain. We saw Twelfth Night. It was much easier to follow and the actors were really good. We really enjoyed that show. Word Friend and I went back to our hotel and went swimming. It was a little cool because the temperature had dropped because of the rain, but it was sunny, and we wanted to go swimming. I am really bad at breathing when I swim laps. We had leftover fruit (from breakfast) for dinner and then went to our group discussion. We talked more about the different roles the actors played. Then we watched the Greenshow. This time it was Irish. They sang ballads and danced soft and hard shoe. It was neat because that was the setting that King Lear was set in. I really liked that because it made a lot of the superstitions understandable. King Lear was amazing. They had a fabulous ensemble cast, they were all so good! I really appreciated the set. It was only a slab that had a map of the country on it with a decorated edge, but it was slightly cracked. When Lear's daughters kick him out, it split apart. That was the end of the first act. In the second act, it was spread out all over the stage and they moved pieces of it to different places to represent different places. His madness made so much sense on stage, reading it can be a little harder. It was a very moving show, I almost cried three times. If you get a chance to go and can only see one show, King Lear is my recommendation.
The next morning we had breakfast and went to the discussion on Lear. It was fun to hear what people said. They all thought it was a great cast and many of them thought it was one of the best productions they had seen. After that discussion, we went back to the hotel and I took a nap. We checked out and had lunch. It wasn't as good as I had hoped, but I had the scones again and that made me happy. Then we went to the gift shoppe. I bought some mugs that have phrases from Shakespeare on them (one has insults and the other love quotes). We saw Candida, by Shaw. It was really cute, we enjoyed it. We found out that one of the actors in the company had to fly out to New York because her mother had a stroke, which is why we saw several of the understudies in the shows. That was an interesting piece of information because the shows were all so good.
We drove home after Candida. We were worried that we would run into problems with the wild fire, because it was supposedly just as bad, but we didn't run into any delays. It was smooth sailing all the way. Word Friend and I are thinking about going down every year, we had so much fun. Seeing five plays in three days seems like a lot, but intellectually, I loved it. Physically, I had a hard time sitting still becuase the shows were mostly about three hours long. But it was really so much fun. If any of you would like to come next year, you should let me know!!

Summer Class

I am taking a Shakespeare class for educators this summer. I asked Word Friend if she wanted to come with me and she jumped at the chance. Yesterday we had the discussion part and today through Thursday we get to do the play watching part. However, there is a wild fire between us and the shows (being a few hours drive away) and they might close the freeway. So, here's hoping for a normal boring drive. But I am very excited to see some Shakespeare!!

Happy Independance Day!!

Ah, the insanity. I volunteered to help out at the Freedom run, so yesterday I had to be there at five thirty. In the morning. Which meant I had to wake up an hour beforehand. Especially since I decided to ride my bicycle because I was going straight to the parade afterward and didn't want to try to park my car ten minutes before the parade started. So I was there at five thirty in the morning and helped with registration and then helped remove digital recorders for time. I took my bicycle over to the parade and met up with my friends and their kids to watch the parade. As I sit there and watch all the pageant queens go by, I wonder why they even do it. What is the benefit of doing pageants? If anyone knows a really good reason let me know, because I don't see the intrinsic value. Of course my favorite part of the parade is the cannon at the end. They fire it alot, which is cool, its not as annoying as the sirens. And I like all the old cars, those are really cool.
Then, I had to take my bicycle home because there was not room for it in the car. This would not have been so bad if it hadn't been almost all uphill and at eleven in the morning when it was starting to get really warm. I only rode three and a half miles and it killed me! I am so out of shape. So then I took a four hour nap. I had dinner with my landlord and kids and then went to a barbeque with some other friends and then went to someone's work balcony to watch the fireworks.
It was a pretty good day, but boy was I tired afterward! And I'm starting to wonder if insanity is just some sort of disease I have that I can't escape . . .

Oh, Swedish

After spending a week selling ballroom shoes, I can say that people have very strange tastes. Sometimes I wonder what is really attractive and why are our views of that so different?

I saw the Invisible today. It was a rather strange movie, until I was watching the credits and realized that it was based off a Swedish book and a Swedish movie. It made a lot more sense after that. I really liked it. I would recommend it, go see it. Just remember its not an American story.

You want me to do what?

So I am pretty sure I didn't get that job I interviewed for three weeks ago (hence it being three weeks ago and I still haven't heard from them)

I did rent Flyboys and watch it. The good news was that James Franco was not the only good looking male in that movie, and I watched it with four other girls, which made it very entertaining.

This week I am selling Ballroom shoes to middle age/old people (those are two separate categories), which is interesting. Older people complain about different things than young people.

That's pretty much all that is going on in my life. Besides the fact that I complained to my mother about guys not working hard enough to get girls to date them and that guys of today wait for things to fall in their laps. Whereupon my mother told me to get into guys laps. She thought that was pretty funny, I'm glad she wasn't serious.

Interesting habits.

So I've realized I have some interesting habits.

For one, I start reading my friends blogs, and then if I am bored (or my friends haven't written anything in two weeks) I start reading their friends blogs. And then their friends, and then their friends, and soon I have no idea where I am, but I have definately had an interesting time!!

I like visiting people one on one and pretty much I don't like meeting new people. Especially when it is nine stakes of people, and I get kind of digusted when they open with a prayer that we might marry some (or one) of the new people we meet tonight. How about just making friends and building lasting relationships? Because I will tell you right now that I only met one new person and he is eight years my junior. I pretty much wanted to leave that activity . . . as soon as I got there. And (we have these activities once a month) pretty much at these activities, I only associate with people I already know. Who wants to try to meet someone at an activity with nine hundred people? Thank you, I'd rather go home and read a good book.

I take baths as an excuse to read for several hours. The only problem with this is I have to put more water in several times as it tends to get cold.

I still hold my sisters hands in public.

I put Vaseline on my hands and feet before going to bed.

The good news is that even with all my eccentricities, I am still happy being who I am.

Summer Vacation!

Well, I am finally out of school, hallelujah! I actually got out a week and a half ago, but I have been getting some desperately needed R&R. Pretty much that means I have done absolutely nothing. I did that at my house for a while and then drove home to visit my mom, who laughed at me because I spent the first day pretty much sleeping on the couch and getting up to eat. But now I am back and feeling much more rested and ready to take on something very minor, which happens to be cleaning my room.

On another note, I watched a movie last night and decided that I think James Franco is . . . very cute. Now as I have relatives in the movie business, I have never been one to really go for actors. They have their own lives and it bears no relation to mine, though I do like to look at them and admire how fit they keep themselves. But as James Franco is actually close to my age, just a few years older (that doesn't normally happen, the actors tend to be old enough to be my dad and I tend to date men/boys younger than me) I have decided he can be my new movie boyfriend. Maybe I should go rent some of those movies he is in that I haven't seen . . .

Some good things . . .

I'm feeling definately better about life right now. Here are few of the reasons:

I got a call from a school I applied to for a job and I have an interview on Wednesday. The school is down the road from where I live, which is so much better than an hour commute everyday. And its in drama, not dance and its a one year contract which means I can go get my Masters the next year like I planned! That would be so great.

And Parker got the pictures we took a week ago up and I've told all my friends to check it out. I didn't tell my mom what was on the site, so she was annoyed, but mostly because she doesn't have internet and has to go to a friends house to look at it.

I got my Praxis score back and I passed. I was a little worried about that.

School gets out on Wednesday and only one of my classes I have until then. The other two have finished, so I have lots of time to clean my office.

My scheduling is totally working out. I thought I would have a bunch of activities that would overlap, but they are all working out on different days or different weeks, so I don't have to decide which one to do!!

I have a bunch of really good friends who are really supportive. Thanks to those who read this and those who don't!!

I am really excited about that job interview, I just don't know my chances of getting it!!

Grandma

I had a lovely little chat with my grandma last night. She asked me if I was working this summer. I said no, and she asked if I was just going to sit around all summer. Now for those of you who don't know me, I don't actually know how to sit around. If I don't have about ten things going, I get bored. So I promptly launched into my list of things I am doing this summer, including visiting my mom, my grandparents, Mexico, California, Las Vegas, and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Not to mention the things I am doing at home when I'm NOT on vacation. So I went from a lazy bum to someone with more projects than I can probably handle. Sometimes I wonder what information my extended family gets about me and where they get it from.

Middle School Miscommunication

Trying to communicate between teachers, students, administration and parents is hard enough. Then throw a doctor into it. You say one thing to the kids, they say something else to the parent, parent says something else to the adminstration who then ask you what is going on. I think there is something in the brains of teenagers that automatically twists whatever it is you say. Of course, it would help if they LISTENED!

I have a girl who has been sick and her doctor's note says she is not to run beyond her strength and ability. How am I supposed to know what her strength and ability is? So I tell her to run, but to be cautious and tell me if she has any problems. So then a week later I get a note from the principal saying the doctor said she is not to run. Fortunately, I had the note I got (never throw away anything!!) so I was just following my instructions, but I wish people would be more clear!

I hate that teachers get blamed for everything!!

And my peas that I brought for lunch spilled all over my bag. My dance pants smell like peas!!

Good news is: Only seven more days of school!!

Twitterpation

Ah the joys of teaching middle school. With the spring come those feelings of wanting to have someone to share it with. As I have the pleasure of lunch duty, I have noticed that the occurances of PDA have gone way up with the weather. Fortunately, PDA is not permitted at my school, so I get to bust them for it.
Meanwhile, I have caught some kind of bug. It only is affecting my throat and is making all my muscles hurt that are being used. And considering I spent five or six hours Saturday hiking and then dancing for two hours yesterday, that's pretty much every muscle in my body.

I'm so glad the school is almost out!!

The Beginning

So after much debate in my mind about how I don't want any information of mine online, I decided to do it anyway. I hate being left out and I feel that all my friends are online, and I read all their blogs, so I guess I can do it to. Hopefully the way this looks will change soon. And as I tend to be really bored all day long, odds are I will spend too much time here.