For Christmas, my parents took my brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephew on a cruise to the Western Caribbean (you know, since the Mexico cruise was cancelled). We spent seven lovely days playing around, eating terrific food, and having as much fun together as is humanly possible. Instead of an itemized travel log that would only be interesting to me, I thought I'd just share favorite photos and captions... enjoy the gorgeous Caribbean colors and my even more gorgeous family members!
above: My brothers singing/rapping/yelling "Fight for your Right to PARTY!" by the Beastie Boys. They were awesome! I was so proud to claim them as my brothers!
above: David and Aaron didn't win anything in Bingo. Peter won $30 though!
below: A "sof drink" from Jamaica -- gotta love the local dialect!
above: The boys and Lindsey playing tag while we waited for our taxi.
below: Aaron and Gunner skip rocks in the Caribbean sea on a nameless beach in Jamaica.
below: Dave zipping above the beautiful Jamaican foliage.
below: Seven Mile beach in Grand Cayman -- one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.
above: Sitting on a beach in Cozumel, drinking a virgin pina colada... what did YOU do on Christmas Eve?
What do you get for parents who pay for their entire family to go on a cruise for Christmas, and insist on no additional gifts for themselves? My brother Adam had a brilliant idea. All of us kids submitted questions for a board game, and he and Lindsey put it together. My parents loved it! They opened it on Christmas Eve night and we played until quite late. It was fun to relive old memories, and learn some new things about each other!
below: The board, illustrated with family photo caricatures drawn by Adam.
Christmas Day!
above: My brother Aaron owns an Elfcostume, which just increases his "awesome" factor. He walked around in it for quite awhile, refusing to be paparazzi'd. If you wanted a photo with Aaron the Elf, you had to be in it!
below: Christmas day on the ship. We were on our way back to Galveston and it was FREEEZING! By the time I convinced myself to brave the cold air and get out of this hot tub, I was beyond pruney!
I adore my family. I am so lucky to be related to them, and that we all get along so well. I'm glad we got to share these experiences together, and I look forward to the next family trip, whenever that may be!
Dear Santa Claus, How have you been? Did you have a nice summer? How is your wife? I have been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents that I want. Please note the size and color of each item, and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself: just send money. How about tens and twenties? All I want is what I... I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share.
As you read, I am sitting on the deck of a cruise ship, eating ice cream, and soaking in the sun with my family. But even though it's a nontraditional Christmas this year, I know what the reason for the holiday is, and I can celebrate Him anywhere:
Melchior: How many days have you come with us on this journey?Gaspar: One hundred and four. Melchior: And how many days have you complained about it? Gaspar: One hundred and five ... I am counting tomorrow
I'm not a huge fan of the choices that Keisha Castle-Hughes made as Mary, but I ADORE Joseph. This movie has a wonderful feeling about it. It's a good interpretation of the Luke verses in the Bible relating to Christ's birth. Rent it. Love it. I did!
You all know how much I love Phineas and Ferb, and they pulled out all the stops for their Christmas episode. I was fortunate to watch some of the Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation the other night, and was reminded of how funny and clever it is! I wish the Disney channel would let everyone broadcast it; it deserves to become a classic.
Fozziwig: My speech! Here's my Christmas speech. Ahem. "Thank you all, and Merry Christmas."
Jacob Marley: That was the speech?
Robert Marley: It was dumb!
Jacob Marley: It was obvious!
Robert Marley: It was pointless!
Jacob Marley: It was... short!
Jacob and Robert Marley: I loved it!
- The Muppet Christmas Carol
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Not just one of my favorite Christmas movies (it probably is my very favorite Christmas movie) but one of my favorite any kind of movies.
Do I share this clip every year? Oh well, Iif I do it's because it just feels like Christmas to me (no pun intended). I love Christmas time and Christmas lights and Christmas carols and Christmas traditions and spending so much time with family!
I must confess, I've only seen this movie once, and I hated it. For me, the 5 minutes of happy at the end didn't quite erase the 2 previous hours of anger, disappointment, self-pity, and abuse. I felt the same way about The Pursuit of Happyness. A very good film -- well-acted and ultimately conveyed a great message -- but at the end I was so depressed that I wanted to go home and cry (not in a good way).
BUT, I respect that it is acknowledged as a classic and many other people LOVE it... and I like this quote.
This is not really one of my favorite movies. I want to punch every character at some point. BUT, I think it's a very good representation of what it would be like to go to a stranger's house and try to figure out how to blend when they are all so close. I love the scenes with Meredith and Ben when he's trying to help her see that it's okay to be herself, and not the "perfect" girlfriend. Good times.
This is probably one of my top 5 favorite Christmas movies. Love it. Love it. Love it.
Here is another of my favorite quotes from this particular movie:
Scott Calvin: What if don't buy any of this Santa Clause thing? What if I choose not to believe it?
[a dead silence falls upon the workshop]
Bernard: Then there would be millions of disappointed children around the world. You see, children hold the spirit of Christmas within their hearts. You don't wanna be responsible for killing the spirit of Christmas, now would you... Santa?
I love this movie. Here is a man who takes no responsibility for his actions, who complains and blames and feels sorry for himself. For his son's sake, he takes a chance on something totally contrary to anything else he's ever done, and discovers in the end that real happiness and fulfillment come in serving others.
I think a lot of people nowadays need to learn this lesson better. Including me.
Wonder if I can get my hands on a copy of this movie this week...hmmm.
My mom likes to say that whether you do a job yourself or you hire someone to do it for you, that job is made up of two of three different components:
cheap (inexpensive)
good (well done)
fast (quick)
You can have two, but you can't have all three.
If the job is cheap and good, it won't be done quickly.
If it's good and quick, it won't be cheap.
And if the job is cheap and was done quickly, it won't be good.
When she told me about this philosophy, she was referring to home improvement projects.
On a related note, I think my nephew looks a lot like the kid who plays Ralphie in the movie, minus the glasses. Same bowl-cut blond hair, same big blue eyes and snub nose. Adorable!
He would get these far-off looks in his eyes and he would say 'Life doesn't always turn out the way you plan'. I just wish I'd realized at the time, he was talking about MY life. -While You Were Sleeping
My daily meeting was bumped up 15 minutes for the foreseeable future. It's amazing how difficult it has been for me to get to work 15 minutes earlier. It's required a whole new change in thinking ("how much time do I have to sleep in?"), a different alarm clock time, and I have been completely exhausted all week. Today I managed to get to work a whole half hour early, and while I wanted to be excited about leaving a half hour early, too, I really wish I'd slept in the extra 20 minutes. I am SO TIRED!
I love going out after the show with my cast. I keep thinking I should say no and good home instead, but I just can't will myself to do it, even on work nights. They are too funny and fun! Quick Wits, movies, chocolate milkshakes -- it's all so very, very good, and I'll only be young once! (Yes, this is prolly why I am so tired.) It kills me that I won't get to perform with them closing night, but there is no way I will give up my particular prior commitment. I want them to be fine without me... and yet I don't, too. No one likes to feel she is replaceable, including me! I'm just enjoying the time we have together while I can :)
HALLELUJAH! I absolutely love and cry through this whole thing. There's just something brilliant about all of those "regular" people singing such a gorgeous, classic, difficult song in the middle of the food court! I would have joined in, too!
Sometimes I look into the lunch/snack bag that I pack for myself each morning, and think "That's odd: everything in this bag is orange." (Carrots, Lean Cuisine box, actual orange, Reese's Pieces, etc.) Actually, it happens a lot. At least I'm eating some fruits and vegetables in my monochromatic meal.
This is the only weekend I have before Christmas where I'm not doing a play, and consequently it is frightfully busy. Somehow, I will use my Groupon for at Nordstrom, eat the rest of my leftovers from this past week, see a movie with my cast (we have the weekend off and we still want to hang out together!), bake some sort of dessert for my ward Christmas party tomorrow night, help set up and cook for said Christmas party (which I can't go to, by the way), wash my hair, celebrate Christmas with my cousins, attend church and tithing settlement, see my nephew perform in a childrens' choir (he takes after ME in at least one way!), and watch at least one Christmas movie I have recorded on my DVR (I'm thinking 12 Men of Christmas). Notice I didn't mention Christmas shopping... I'm hoping I have a chance to work on it next week, and that it will go quickly!
I feel very grateful to have a cubicle with a window. The view isn't the best, but it is so fun to see the rain splatter on the window, or the snow floating lazily, or a pink and purple sunset, or a rare rainbow, or just a sunny, perfect sky. "And I think to myself, what a wonderful world!"
My best friend and I are both totally swamped for the next couple of weeks, so to give ourselves and each other a break we've decided to exchange gifts in January. She has dubbed this "Besty Christmas" which just makes me smile every time I think of it!
The reaction to my red hair has been pretty funny. Most people see that something is different -- I can see it in their expressions -- but don't say anything. If I bring it up, they say, "Okay, I thought it was different, but I wasn't sure if you've always had red hair or if that was new." When I confirm that I'm naturally and usually a blonde, they nod like, "Yeah, that's what I thought." SO FUNNY! And everyone says it flatters my skin. Aw! Say more nice things!
Christmas music is my favorite, hands down. I especially like that I really only listen to/sing it for a few weeks in the year, that way, I don't get tired of it, and I always look forward to it! Thank goodness for online streaming, and a job that lets me sit quietly for most of the day!
This is *Christmas*. The season of perpetual hope. And I don't care if I have to get out on your runway and hitchhike. If it costs me everything I own, if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I am going to get home to my son. - Home Alone
"Iris, in the movies we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend." - The Holiday
"Maybe wassail is an old word that means waffle. After all, what can be more Christmassy than a thick stack of syrup-drenched waffles?"
- A Claymation Christmas Celebration
I can't believe this hasn't aired since the mid-nineties -- it's such a funny show! Thank goodness for old VHS tapes, new DVDs, and like-minded and sense-of-humored cousins who watch this with my family every Christmas Eve!
For the last couple of days, I've been doing a post on Facebook each day with a quote from a Christmas movie. I had hoped that I would have a chance to actually watch all of these movies, but that hasn't quite worked out. I have, however, been enjoying thinking about the films and the funny and inspiring lines. It's also been fun to see who knows where the quotes come from, since I'm not posting the movie titles!
I'm going to start posting the quotes here, too. Why not? I'm having fun!
December 3: "We need Kate and we need Leo and we need them now!" - Love Actually
December 4: "I guess I got carried away." "She carried me right with her - I don't weigh very much!" - White Christmas
December 5: "Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want ...an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void." - You've Got Mail (not technically a Christmas movie, but the musical and movie it's based on are and I love this quote)
December 6: "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup." - Elf
December 7: "All right, you go back and tell them that the New York State Supreme Court rules there's no Santa Claus. It's all over the papers. The kids read it and they don't hang up their stockings. Now what happens to all the toys that are supposed to be in those stockings? Nobody buys them. The toy manufacturers are going to like that; so they have to lay off a lot of their employees, union employees. Now you got the CIO and the AF of L against you and they're going to adore you for it and they're going to say it with votes. Oh, and the department stores are going to love you too and the Christmas card makers and the candy companies. Ho ho. Henry, you're going to be an awful popular fella. And what about the Salvation Army? Why, they got a Santa Claus on every corner, and they're taking a fortune. But you go ahead Henry, you do it your way. You go on back in there and tell them that you rule there is no Santy Claus." - Miracle on 34th Street
Christmas is coming! I even decorated my condo! I'm excited!
Put your foot down today, Virgo. Don't let others push you around. It could be that you're used to letting people have their way in order to keep the peace. The problem with this is that your dreams and goals may get lost in the shuffle. Don't lose sight of your true destination. There's much more to life than you might see on the surface. Dig deeper.
I could have used this earlier today. Someday I will learn to relax and not try so hard and not worry about what people might think when I try too hard, but today was not that day.
I bet you didn't know there's a musical version of the Lord of the Rings, did you? It was produced two years ago and played in Toronto and London. Sadly, it never made it to the States. Too bad. I love what music I've heard, and this Lothlorien scene is amazing!
Hobbits being hobbits:
This might be my favorite, though. I'm a sucker for Irish-influenced tunes:
It got terrible reviews, but I don't really care. I wish I'd known about this when it was actually playing! I would have gone to London SO FAST!
My two latest... well, I wouldn't necessarily call them "obsessions" per se, but they are causing me endless delight nowadays are the culture in the 1940s (mostly the war era) and details about the British monarchy.
It's not hard to see why they'd be on my mind. I'm rehearsing a show set in the '40s right now, and I've been watching a lot of movies and documentaries to learn more about the culture and fashion and the war itself. I must say, it's fascinating! I watched the original Miracle on 34th Streetthis weekend and LOVED it! The more I learn about the war, the more I want to learn (and the more movies like Pearl Harborbother me in their inaccuracy -- flying without flight suits? They would have passed out SO FAST!) I kind of feel like it was the last time the United States was actually united in any way. I think it's awesome that several of the current leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fought in the war. It was a time when people really had to be responsible; they worked hard to support the soldiers and keep things running at home. And the war itself was horrible -- fighting on two fronts in terrible conditions. I am so proud to state that I am the granddaughter of a WWII hero.
I learned today that England's Prince Philip fought in the Pacific, and Queen Elizabeth also supported the war effort. I've been watching a documentary series called The House of Windsor on KBYU and it's fascinating. At the moment, I'm watching the episode that discusses their wedding (in 1947 which combines my two "obsessions", natch). I guess I'm just another sappy girl who wishes she were a princess. I did a report on Queen Victoria in college and discovered that she was the first to invite the press into the palace to take photos. I have seen the movie The Queen multiple times (Helen Mirren is genius and totally deserved that Oscar), and I still remember that day in August when I returned to my dorm and found everyone gathered in the common room watching the news broadcast stating that Diana had died. I am thrilled about Prince William's engagement to Kate Middleton and if I don't stay up late to watch the wedding live in April, I'll probably DVR it to watch over and over -- I can't wait to see what her dress looks like (though, to be fair, I've been having a lot of fun looking at wedding dresses and web sites lately; I love pretty things).
We start dress rehearsals tomorrow (well, we started yesterday but I was sick so I couldn't go), and I'm packing up my make-up and looking for my hairnet. I can't wait to see everyone in their costumes! A character and consequently a show never feels complete without the costumes (always the finishing touch) so this will be fun! Every time I get dressed up I feel beautiful and princessy. I can't believe we open in three days. Scary!
Movies set in (or made in) the 40s that I have watched lately: Band of Brothers The Philadelphia Story Miracle on 39th Street Holiday Inn A Walk in the Clouds Adam's Rib Pearl Harbor A League of Their Own White Christmas
Movies I haven't seen that I want to: Woman of the Year Casablanca (never seen it!)
My blog title "How am I Still Single" was initially supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, acknowledging those wonderful, well-meaning people who can't get over the fact that someone as cute and fun as I am is single. The joke was, of course, that I name the blog "How am I Still Single" and then never actually discuss the question in any of the actual blog posts!
Well, I still don't plan to agonize over the question during my public writings, but I think it's also time that I stop beating everyone else over the head with it, too. I'm young! I'm cute! I'm fun! And I have a lot to contribute to this world.
So, I'm changing the name of my blog. After not a lot of deliberation, I've decided on the following:
Dizzy Dandelion
It's a reference to a couple of nicknames given to me over the years :) It's not perfect, and it may change again in the future, but for now I think this suits me!
As does this new/old hair color.
What can I say? Every 18 months or so I simply MUST go red!
I was one of the lucky/awesome many who stayed up late on a weeknight to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 at 12:10am! It was such a fun night. I loved getting to hang out with my bestest friend and a whole bunch of like-minded crazies. I felt just a smidge silly walking through the parking lot in my costume but once I got inside I felt UNDER dressed! I was also dog tired and in a terrible mood, and ended up over-compensating by babbling about everything and anything that came into my head. I felt like I was being terribly annoying, but Kate assured me I was still a lot of fun.
Can't wait for the final movie. I'm sure it will be even crazier, wherever I am when I see it!
Here's a sampling of the craziness that was the party at Jordan Commons, starting with Melissa's Gryffindor nails :)
At the end of the night I asked one of the managers if I could take home some of the balloons. I figured they wouldn't need them anymore since the party was over... but they just cheerfully deflated at my house. Oh, well, I'm still glad I asked. I loved walking outside with those balloons in my hand after the movie!
For a recap of my experiences seeing the first five movies, click here.
Did everyone else love Gwyneth Paltrow on Glee? Her character was totally like Jack Black's in School of Rock. And now I want to watch School of Rock and Shallow Hal. Plus, it just makes me happy that she sang a song from School House Rock:
We rescheduled our vacation. Phew! I'm a-goin' here next month:
(I took this photo during my cruise in January)
This is probably not the costume I'll be wearing for 1940s Radio Hour, but I still felt ridiculously pretty on Saturday when we took photos!
From left to right: Rossy, Larissa, Nichole, and me.
Oh goodness, I adore these women! Larissa, Nichole and I went shopping together on Saturday. Then Rossy and I saw Little Women at the Empress. It was a fun day; I needed some time out with just the girls!
I'm going to Disneyland for New Year's. 'Nuff said.
I'm going to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part I tomorrow night with my best friend and her other favorite people. And I have a scar sticker and glasses. 'Nuff said.
Last Monday, I came into work and found something new on my messy desk:
When our office manager came around a few days before, he asked if I needed any supplies. The only thing I asked for was these cups, so he brought me some. There are some days I don't know what I'd do without Richard's ever-smiling face and listening ear!
Jordyn sent me an invitation to participate in the Give and Get program last weekend, so I shopped at the GAP, Old Navy, Banana Republic and a few other stores for 30% off, and 5% percent went to Teach for America. I bought two pairs of pants, my mom hemmed them, and I am wearing the new chords tomorrow. BEST OF ALL: I bought the best knee-length trench coat; I've wanted one for so long! Yay for new, flattering clothes! (Next time, I'll try to remember to share the invitation...)
My nieces on Sunday were wearing striped sweaters, brightly-colored tights, diaper covers, and moon boots. They had worn skirts earlier in the day but ditched them at some point. There are few things as adorable as two little girls running around like superheroes in training!
I might get Friday off from rehearsal... let's all keep our fingers crossed that tomorrow's rehearsal goes really, really well!
Three of my brothers and one of my sisters-in-law called me tonight and left me a message from the Korean Memorial in Washington D.C. I'm jealous they were all there without me, but I love that they called! I am so excited to see them next month!
And now this song is totally stuck in my head. Sorry if it's caught in yours too!
Just got an e-mail from Carnival. They cancelled my cruise. I want to be glad they're taking ample time to fix the ship, and it's not like this happens all the time.
But it was my vacation.
I am so depressed right now.
Excuse me while I call my mom and let her know. Hopefully we can figure something else out in time.
**Update: I just talked with my dad and he already has a few ideas for alternate vacations. He even joked, "This could be the best thing that ever happened to us." I had to laugh. He knew I was upset and was doing what he could to cheer me up. I sure do love that man.
Have you heard about the Carnival Splendor, the ship that caught on fire and took 3 days to limp home while the passengers dealt with cold food and no bathrooms? (If you haven't, click here.)
Yeah, that's the ship my family's supposed to cruise on next month.
I sure hope they fix it in time. It will be really difficult trying to plan something else in time.
I have really been looking forward to the big vacation!!!!!
I believe that it's possible to be aware of our own strengths and good qualities, and to give ourselves permission to be proud of them. Everyone is unique. Everyone is beautiful. And everyone deserves to feel that they are wonderful and not feel guilty or embarrassed about it.
I don't think "pride" is the acknowledgment that we are terrific; I think pride is treating others like they aren't. If that's true, we need to be better about being our own form of awesome.
Example 1: Self-Esteem
In college, I often said things like "I am so dumb" or "I'm such a loser." I was usually joking, but my roommate commented one day that some part of me must have believed what I was saying. She said that every time I said something mean about myself I hurt my self-esteem. She challenged me to stop using those negative phrases and promised that if I did I would be a much happier person. She was right! You would not believe how much happier I was. I started to believe the nice things I said, and I learned to like myself. It's an ongoing battle to remind myself of the things I like, but to this day I am grateful that my roommate recognized my need to be kind to myself and gave me permission to do so.
Sometimes we are so busy trying to be humble and build other people up that we feel we have to tear ourselves down. But each of us has something to offer. We deserve to feel good about ourselves and should not be shy about it when the situation is appropriate. Just because we are terrific, it doesn't mean that our terrific-ness detracts from anyone else.
There isn't a whole lot lately that I feel is in my control. The one I can control is my perception of myself. There are many days when I still feel like the scrawny, frizzy-haired, flat-chested, emotional, fearful, lonely 12 year old I once was. So, I work at it. I continually strive to focus on the things I do well, rather than those I don't do so well. I might not have a gym membership, but I am vigilant about eating fruits and vegetables. I may not vacuum very often, but I always make my bed. I might not know how to play my nephew's video games, but I am pretty good at Go Fish! It's a daily struggle, and one that will likely never end since my infinite mistakes imply I still have a lot to learn. It's a worthy struggle, though.
I'm the only person I'm going to live with for my entire life. It's common sense to want to like that person. If I indulge in self-torture, I'll never be happy no matter how wonderful everything else is. Let alone, I'll probably miss out on a lot of wonderful stuff. I don't want that!
If any of you women still need permission to feel good about yourself (or even if you don't) read this awesome post from the Single Dad Laughing blog. It's so good to hear a man say that women have worth and that he wants to help us recognize it! Do many men around us have any idea how much that affirmation means to us women while the rest of the world seems to be telling us we're just not good enough? Do many women offer the same kind of affirmation and appreciation for them?
Example 2: Spreading Esteem
At church on Sunday, I was talking to two ladies and made a reference to how awesome we are. The girls started laughing delightedly. I responded with, "What? We are darn good looking. I'm looking at you right now and I know what I look like!" I think they were surprised that I said it so matter-of-fact. But the statement was completely true. My favorite part is that although they laughed neither of them rejected the compliment. They just enjoyed it!
While we're at it, it doesn't hurt to share with other people what wonderful qualities they have.
Can you imagine if everyone in the world complimented one person a day?
Even better, can you imagine if the complimented person chose to believe what was said? I hate, hate, hate it when I compliment someone and they don't accept it. Don't imply that I am somehow mistaken; then I just regret my attempt to acknowledge your individual awesomeness! Let me take pleasure in seeing that my honest, unsolicited compliment made you happy! Someone else recognized how great you are! You're not alone! Instead of saying, "You're too nice" and brushing it off, say "Thanks! I needed that today!" and bask in the feel-goodness.
And if you feel so inclined, you can even compliment me back. Don't feel compelled to -- that's not why I give compliments. I do it because I sincerely believe that you are beautiful and I want to make sure you know I notice.
Please forgive me though if you do compliment me and I say something like, "I know!"
Example 3: Mutual Esteem
My best friend in High School was involved in a lot of the same activities I was... and she always seemed to be just a little bit better at them. When I won the "Best Supporting Actress" award during the Regional Drama competition, she won "Best Actress." When we auditioned for Madrigals together -- the elite singing group at our school -- she got in and I didn't. She was a star athlete, she was third in our academic class of 363 people (I have no idea what my ranking was), she was ambitious, she was taller and more slender, her hair grew faster, and she had no fears about making friends in new situations. She was a poised, intelligent, talented Amazon.
She was also my biggest fan!
She was always the first to find me at lunch, invite me to her house, come to my numerous plays, laugh with me at my silly dating stories, and tell me how cute my haircut was. She saw me as a talented, darling, smart, gorgeous, funny, brave, thoughtful, positive person... attributes I didn't always see in myself. How could I feel inferior for any length of time when she seemed to think I was as wonderful as I thought she was?
Okay, I'm not perfect; it killed me that she was in Madrigals and I wasn't, and I still wish that she were the fatter of the two of us, but there's not much I can do about the former, and I'm learning to accept the latter. Sometimes it takes an effort to focus on what I do well rather than what she does better.
We have similar interests, but we are not the same. Instead, we are friends who love and support each other and have for the last 16 years. Isn't it great?
We build each other up. It doesn't diminish either of us in any way to feel happy for the other. I am proud of my friend's accomplishments, and am always thrilled when she feels the same for me.
Based on hers and several other friendships, I've decided that whenever I encounter a woman who intimidates me, I need to become her friend. That way, I can stop being jealous that she seems to have so much that I don't, and instead celebrate her successes with her. Someday I will successfully learn to be happy for those women anyway, but for now it's enough just to summon the courage to talk to awe-inspiring strangers... and remind myself that I am just as awesome in my way (so easy to forget)! After all, my girl friends are seriously amazing. I am grateful every day for the way their experiences and talents and endless support enrich my life!
I am also extremely proud of my male friends. They totally rock!! I can't believe that I have the honor to know them and I and thankful for their influence on my life (but I'm not quite ready to apply the "let's be friends" method to strange men who intimidate me... that's a completely different ballgame).
I'll say it again: It does not diminish us to recognize and celebrate the wonderful people around us.
In conclusion, here's a short film called Validation. It reminds me of the time I went to the movies, asked for a validation (meaning a parking validation) and the worker said, "Your hair is so pretty!" It made my whole day. I don't remember what movie I saw, but I remember how good that unexpectly sincere compliment made me feel!
You, reader, are wonderful and you are unique. Go and be your wonderful self. Don't apologize and don't hold back!
I'm naturally a soprano, but there are so many sopranos (in addition to lazy mezzos and altos and small children) in the musical theatre world that if there is an alto option, I'll generally sing the harmony. This can be an advantage when auditioning *cough*Hale Centre Theatre*cough*, but it does take its toll; extended alto is hard on my voice. Even if I can sing the low notes it doesn't always mean I should.
So: Hooray!! In 1940s Radio Hour my character is a soprano! Not just a soprano -- the soprano! There are two other girls who flip between soprano and mezzo, but I always sing the soprano. I admit, it's a little difficult adjusting to singing the melody all the time -- I love singing harmony and at this point I pick it out almost instinctively. I'm really not sure I could sing the melody for anything from Kiss Me Kate, and although I am a little sad about that fact, I am proud that it means that I learned my second alto part so well! However, it feels wonderful to flex my soprano muscles! I'm loud, I'm gaining confidence, and I'm grateful.
Last night we had a music rehearsal for Radio Hour. I sing in quite a few numbers, I have one where I'm the "featured" soloist, and then an actual solo -- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -- at the very end. I was singing through the songs wondering if friends and family would enjoy it. If they're coming just to see me... well, I'm not one of the more colorful characters in the show. I mostly sit back and listen to conversations. One of my Seven Brides friends who is also in this show joked that it's not as big a part as Milly was, and she's right. I love my character and I'm learning a lot about acting, but I don't want people to be disappointed, you know?
Great, now I sound like I think I'm the only person worth going to the show to see, and that is definitely NOT TRUE! I love watching the others and seeing what they're doing. Plus, they are perfectly cast to sing their songs. I am really grateful I went to that pick-up audition and that I get to work with them. It's pretty cool to do a musical where there are scenes that do more than just introduce the next song. The beginning and ending "scenes" are bascially just 10-20 minutes of us getting to be our characters with no musical interruption. My castmates are actual actors as well as singers, and they shine!
But I digress, we were singing the songs in the order we'll sing them during the actual show, and I was worrying about whether people would like the show, and whether we'd be ready to open in three weeks, and where the devil some of the cast members were. Like I said, my solo comes at the very end of the radio show, so I had plenty of time to fret. But it finally came time for my solo, which happens to be my very favorite song in the show (and I get to sing it!!!!!!!!).
I killed it. Seriously. It felt SO GOOD to sing like that! We picked an arrangement in a higher key than comes in the score (because I was struggling with the low notes) and since I know the song pretty well and I know Cheryl the accompanist so well I could just sing and not worry about anything else. It was so fun! When I finished, Cheryl and I were both smiling as big as we could. I could tell she'd had as much fun as I had. I wish I got to sing like that all the time -- I'd forgotten that I had it in me! I feel so grateful that my big solo is a song I love and sing well. It would be awful to have to sing one that I feel uncomfortable with in any way. Been there. Done that. I wish my songs in Seven Brides had been soprano so they could have been that much fun -- at least there were plenty in that show and my most awkward song was the very first one!
And to my fears I thought, "Well, I think my friends will think the show worth it, if I sing my song just like that."
I'm still smiling!
Everyone else seemed content to move onto the next song -- Harli's been known to say "I don't worry about you" -- but since they all got to sing through their solos twice, I insisted on a second time, too. Honestly, the second attempt wasn't as good. It was pretty good, but it wasn't the same. I was too busy thinking about how well the first time had gone and thinking "Wow! I am so talented! Totally worth the price of a ticket!" But I'm glad I did it anyway. I will take all the practice I can get.
Tonight we're putting the whole show together. This means that some cast members will be hearing the solos for the first time (there's one song even I've never heard, and I've been to all of the music rehearsals). It's going to be rough, but I'm excited! I love to sing! I'm so glad I'm doing this show!
And now back to my regularly scheduled humility...
So... I'm ready anytime my left wrist is ready to be completely healed from the sprain I got in June.
Yeah, it still hurts.
Probably because I spilled a t.v. dinner on it and had to stop doing the physical therapy while that injury healed. Happily, the burn seems to be healing at a miraculous pace!
I'm just really, really annoyed that I'm still in pain from that blasted sprain, and that my right wrist hurts too because I baby the left one so much.
However, it is a relief to not wear the brace anymore. I took it off after the burn accident and don't feel the need to put it back on.
So, I keep doing the physical therapy, and hope that all will be well by Christmas.
PLEASE be better by Christmas! I love Christmas miracles!
While I'm wishing, I'd also like to not be sick again until February at least. I'm still recovering from the second virus I've had in three weeks. I loathe viruses. There's nothing I can do but treat the symptoms and sleep. So frustrating. I almost wish it was something like the flu or strep throat so that the doctor could give me antibiotics. Of course, that takes longer to recover from. Illness is never simple. I'm glad I'm not a doctor.
Woe is me :P (I'm totally kidding.)
No pain, no gain, but I'm tired of the sprain!
Meanwhile, look at how pretty my nails are right now. I feel pretty lucky they are as healthy and strong as they are, considering how long I bit them. In about a week they will be too long and I will need to cut them short, but for right now they look nice!
So, I didn't get to wear the full fairy costume for Halloween, and the medieval/Lord of the Rings costume I ordered didn't come in time for Halloween either, so I decided to dress up last week just for fun! Seriously, though, someone needs to throw a costume party so that I can actually wear these outfits somewhere, because it will be hard to choose what to be for Halloween next year...
(Oh, and Yes, I did straighten my hair last week. It turned out okay and was fun to leave straight for seven days... but it was a relief to go back to curly!)
ensemble 1: What I should have worn as a fairy. What I did wear was cute, but this feels more magical!
ensemble 2: I wore this to work one day with my straight hair in a ponytail and felt like I belonged on a detective show. Detective Beckett from Castleanyone? Sassy!
ensemble 3: Medieval princess. It's one of Arwen's gowns from The Lord of the Rings. Sadly, it didn't arrive in the mail until last Wednesday... and is blue and orange. *eye roll* I still love it!
accessory: This hat was a birthday gift from my talented sister-in-law, Lindsey. Isn't it adorable?! I wish I could knit! (I also wish that either my nose were smaller or my mouth bigger...but that's a conversation for another blog.)
ensemble 4: This is not a costume, but I bought this dress at Anthropologie on Saturday and wore it to church on Sunday. I completely adore the color scheme! And as a bonus: a teenage girl in the dressing area at the boutique told me twice that it looked great on me -- she just had to make sure I knew!
Just in case y'all are wondering how my burned hand is healing, here's a little update: All in all, it's doing very well!
WARNING: The photos and descriptions that follow are pretty mild, but might not be appreciated by the squeamish.
Above: day 1 (or day zero, as in: the day I burned my hand). I soaked it in cold water for a good 5 hours and then rubbed burn ointment on it and covered the whole thing before going to bed. It didn't hurt at all while I slept!
Below: day 4. I wish I'd retaken a better picture, because this was when the blister puffed up the most. The blister was in an odd "G" shape.
Above: day 6. Never fear! The burn is merely slathered in Neosporin. I had to cover it with something because the protective blister covering the main part of the burn had torn the day before, so I removed the ragged-blister skin (by myself, using tweezers and my clumsy right hand -- totally hard core!) and consequently the raw, sensitive skin was exposed. I missed a few outlying sections of dead skin, though. The parts I couldn't pull off are ultimately what is going to scar. Grrr!
Below: day 7. Healing pretty nicely. I cleaned it up a bit more.
Below: Day 15 (yesterday). See how nicely it's healing? I've stopped putting Neosporin on it as frequently and started leaving it uncovered. It isn't as sensitive anymore. In fact, I'm rubbing the left side and base of the mark so that the scars dissipate a bit more. I am being careful and making sure to put sunscreen on it, though. Must keep it protected from the UV rays so it doesn't burn worse!
Oh, and in case you are wondering: Yes. I am afraid of t.v. dinners now. I still eat them for lunch on most work days, but I am afraid every time I walk it from the break room to my desk, and right before I remove the plastic covering!
The most interesting part of this whole thing has been the fact that other than the initial shock I've pretty much taken this in stride. I'm lucky it wasn't a deeper or larger burn. If it had been I would have had to go to the doctor pronto. As it is, I was able to care for it myself, and when I visited my doctor yesterday she told me yesterday I did a great job. When I was cleaning up that broken blister I could have freaked out, but I didn't. I was totally disinterested and just did what had to be done the best that I could so that it wouldn't get infected. I like to think this was practice for when my kids get injured and I'll have to patch them up... although, I imagine seeing my kids injured will probably bother me more than my own injuries. I can look at myself with a clinical detachment, but I don't necessarily like to see other people get hurt. Just another reason why I didn't become the heart surgeon my mother wanted me to be...
My friend Carrie introduced me to this little ditty by InsideOut A Capella, and I am completely enamored of it. Upon hearing it I immediately went online and bought the song for my iPod. Just listening to it makes me happy.
(This music video reminds me of the old-school skits on Sesame Street or Mister Roger's Neighborhood. Cute song, cute video. Cute! Enjoy!)
Well, my Halloween plans went a bit awry, and all because I'm such a space cadet lately! It doesn't help that I'm sick again. I was really excited to buy parts for a fairy costume from my darling Stephanie M, and then I didn't get to wear it anywhere... sigh. At least I got to hang out with her for a bit :)
I did have a lot of fun!
Friday, we had an office party/potluck... and guess who was the only person who dressed up? Yep. Me. (I thought about Mitchell in this week's episode of Modern Family all day!) However, it was easy to just not wear the fairy wings and crown and tutu during the work day. Couldn't hide the blue hair and glittery eyes, but I didn't mind too much because they looked freakishly awesome.
That night I had plans to see Thriller at Kingsbury Hall with my friends Carrie, Mandie, and Liz. We were supposed to all meet there. Of course, I was running behind getting out the door. I was actually halfway down the stairs in my building when I realized I didn't know the address, so I ran back inside and looked it up. Then I grabbed my purse again and headed out the door. As soon as the door closed I realized I didn't have my keys in my hand. Neither my car keys or my house keys. And the lock on the door knob was set to "lock." So, I was locked out of my house, and couldn't get into my car (where I'd left the fairy wings).
I called Carrie and asked her to pick me up. We ended up being about half an hour late to the show, but she was a complete angel and didn't let me feel badly about it. It helped that the show was fantastic! And I didn't miss my favorite dance, a pas de deux between Frankenstein and Frankenstein's bride! I love going to events like that with people who dance! We'd watched the dancers do crazy things with their bodies and we'd all freak out ("whaaaaat?! Oh my gosh!!") Liz, Carrie, Mandie and I had a great time at the show and at Chili's afterward. Did I mention we looked great? Carrie had gone all-out with a Rainbow Brite costume, Mandie looked gorgeous in her 1930's socialite get-up, and Liz looked darling in her cavewoman outfit. I looked okay without the wings, though I felt a little silly.
After Chili's, Carrie drove me to a place where I have spare keys and I was able to get inside again. Crisis over.
...Or so I thought.
Saturday I left the blue hair in all day! I wore my jack-o-lantern pajama pants and Harry Potter t-shirt, an outfit Kate jokingly referred to as my "Harry Potter fan who has blue hair from reading in the closet all day" costume (love it!). I was a big hit at rehearsal that morning:
Boy, do I look tired in that photo.
That night, I drove over to Kate's house, and when I got out of the car and shut the door, ONCE AGAIN I realized I didn't have my keys in my hand. Nope. They were on the front seat of my car.
Gaaaaaaaaaah!!
So, Kate drove me back to the place where I have spare keys and retrieved them (thankfully, I had returned them earlier that afternoon -- so glad I didn't have to call Triple A). Then we grabbed some hot chocolate and went back to her place to watch Monsters, Inc. with Brandon. Hooray! That's the kind of monster movie I like! They were very nice to indulge me.
I am very grateful that I had friends to help me out this weekend, since I apparently needed taking care of :P
I'll have to put on my FULL costume and have someone take a photo. At the very least, now I have some fairy wings -- I've wanted them for quite awhile!
