August Odds and Ends

The longer I look at the word "report" the less meaning it has and the more it looks like it's spelled incorrectly. Same with the word "tree."

I am now the owner of the best paper doll book of all time. It was necessary to buy it. There are six Disney Princesses (Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, Aurora, and Snow White) and they're all standing in the same position, so I can mix and match the 150 outfits! It's awesome! I saw the book at Albertsons last month, leafed through it, and then put it down because I'm 30 and have no use for a paper doll book. I could buy it on the pretense of giving it to my 3 month old nieces, but if I were to buy it I'd want it for me! Well, a week later I really, really wanted it, but it was gone. I even checked a bunch of Albertsons stores. I ordered it online and now it's mine! I don't even feel the need to punch out the dolls and clothes right away. I'm just happy having it on my bookshelf for a rainy day...

Traffic school was not as bad as I thought it would be. I was pulled over for not fully yielding at a stop sign and I don't remember if I did or I didn't. I probably stopped but it might have been at the curb instead of the line. Anyway, I had never been to traffic school before -- and I qualified -- so I thought I'd give it a shot. One of my friends said she went to traffic school in Sandy and it was three hours long and super boring. Luckily, I was pulled over in Midvale, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was only an hour long, and the officer in charge went over a bunch of traffic rules he's most likely to pull people over for. (Oddly, he never mentioned mine, and I forgot to ask about it so I'm still not entirely sure what I did wrong.)

My company is doing an office-wide challenge where the person or team of people who log the most steps wins some sort of prize. I admit, I haven't been paying a lot of attention to what's involved. I don't walk or run for excercise, so I'm more doing it just for fun. I am enjoying the pedometer part, however :) We each recieved one for free, complete with company logo across the front. I lost the first pedometer within 24 hours; I put it on when I stepped out of the car, but by the time I sat at my desk it was gone. The second one died after too weeks, possibly because I dropped it so many times. It wouldn't stay clipped to my pants! So, I bought a third. I've had it two days and it seems fine so far. I learned today that it's possible to cheat with the company-issued pedometer by adjusting the stride of your steps. Like I said, I'm not taking the whole thing very seriously. Just having fun so I'm not too worried about it.

Pantene hair products have treated me very well for the last couple of years, but I decided to try something else. From some study I read somewhere (how's that for specific?) curly blonde hair is the most prone of all hair types to damage, because it's often so fine and snarly. Well, a friend recommended I try sulphate-free shampoo to keep my hair from drying out so much, so I'm using L'Oreal EverPure. It smells amazing, though I haven't noticed a huge difference in my hair's hydration level. I can't say my hair looks better, but that may be because I'm washing it in the morning instead of at night. I get really warm while sleeping, and that coupled with my reluctance to turn the A/C on means I need to shower in the morning during the summer. However, since my hair now dries vertically while I'm doing my morning activities instead of lying on my pillow at night it doesn't dry as crazy-curly as I prefer. I may go back to showering at night come wintertime. My hair was way cuter during Babes in Toyland than it is now. I'm glad it's getting longer though and it does seem more healthy!

It's official. I'm bummed I didn't do a show this summer. I originally decided not to do one because we were supposed to have the big deadline at work July 15. Then in May it was postponed until January 15 which means it may foul up my winter-performing plans. Or I may do a show anyway and REALLY not have a social life. I haven't decided. But I almost-desperately miss performing!!! Thank goodness so many of my friends have been in shows -- giving me an excuse and reminder to go -- otherwise I'd be in complete withdrawls. In the last three weeks I've seen James Blond at the Desert Star Playhouse, The Scarlet Pimpernel at Hale, Once Upon a Mattress at the Empress, and Lucky Stiff at Rogers Memorial. The latter three are now on the "shows I want to do someday" list... which just keeps growing and growing! (They were all fantastic, though. Go if you still can! They close soon!)

Let's Go -- GNO!

Closing night was awesome because SO MANY of my friends were there! It was the only night I was nervous, isn't that weird? I just wanted them to have fun and to think I was great and I wanted it to be a really good closing performance. It went well, and all of the other cast members were totally jealous that I had my own fan club! What a way to end the run!

With Tiffanie and Z

Back row: Tiffanie, Sarah, Emily H, Debbie, Candice, and Stephanie J
Front row: Rachael, Olivia, Emily B, me, and Mandee

After the show, these lovely ladies waited for me in the lobby while I changed -- man, that costume took forever to take on and off -- and turned in my skirt and vest and zils. Thirty seconds later I realized I should have kept the zils so my friends could play with them, and then I thought, "Hey! I could make my own!" I said good-bye to my castmates. I would have been sadder about it if I hadn't known I'd see a bunch of them on Monday for the other cast's closing night and at the cast party in January.

Turns out, the ladies had met at Rachael's house and carpooled to the theatre. The plan was to go back to Rach's and hang out, so I got to drive Rach and Sarah over. Laren met us there and we talked and laughed and ate Reeses peanut butter cups, chinese pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, and clementines, and drank fizzy fruit juice and V8 Splash. I adore these women! We totally talked until after midnight and I had a great time. I cannot begin to say how grateful I am that they all came to the play, and that we got to hang out together afterwards. My friends are awesome and I don't get to see them enough! Thank you Rachael for organizing the whole thing, and thanks everyone for being there! You have no idea how much I needed that Girls' Night. You are the best.

The Monday Cast

Since neither my double nor I had any conflicts during the run of the show, we decided to pick a random day to switch casts. We both wanted to perform with the others -- we made friends in both casts, and each one has such a different dynamic. It's really fun!

Well, we picked Monday the 8th and Tuesday the 9th to switch. As I drove to the theatre on Monday, I was kind of nervous! It occurred me that most of the people I was close to in the show are in my cast. Of course, as soon as I walked in everyone was completely welcoming. They were all excited to see me there, and to see how the show would be different. I imposed my preferences on them -- my Vadoma is a lot more huggy than Skye's -- and they imposed their charm and talent on me. I hung out backstage with Shauna, Nate, Stormy, and Tara for the most part.

Tara, Shauna, Stormy, and me

The show went by too quickly, and before I knew it, it was over! I was rather bummed that I wouldn't get to perform with them again. At least, not all together like that. Sami, the Monday cast's Allan, gave me a hug and said it had been a pleasure. It was just one of many well-wishes, but I felt so loved and appreciated. To think I'd been nervous!

Well, Wednesday night I had just sat down to dinner at Rodizio Grill for my office party, and I happened to check my phone and found a message. It was Skye. She was having car problems and wasn't sure if her parents would let her borrow their car. She asked if I could do the show. Did I mention it was 6:20 when I saw that message? I kind of flipped out. Not only did I not want to ditch the party, a free meal, my friends at work, and the chance to make my boss look good in front of her boss, but I was not at all sure that I could drive home to pick up my show stuff and get to the theatre in Magna in time for the performance. If I wasn't in the first act it wouldn't have been a problem, but I'm the second character onstage and the first to open her mouth! I told Skye I couldn't do it. I felt guilty, but I knew if I'd tried to make it I would have been stressed, the performance would not have been good, and I would have resented Skye for making me miss my party. I called Skye later that night, and she said she'd been able to borrow her step-dad's car and made it in time. The show was fine, we are still friends, I had a good time at the office party, and all was as it should be. Phew!

So, when at 5:45pm today I saw two messages on my phone -- one from Nolan the director, and one from Skye -- I rolled my eyes. It turned out that not only was the freeway closed up in Lehi where Skye lives, but so was the road that leads to the freeway. Fortunately, all I'd had planned for tonight was Christmas shopping. It was a little hectic driving home from work and then to the theatre. On a good day it would have taken 45 minutes. Because of the snow, it took me and hour and 15 minutes, which was actually about what I expected. I was able to go slow and the roads were not too bad. The funny thing is, at 5pm, a coworker had suggested that if I had the show tonight I should have left then. At the time, the messages were on my machine, but I'd been in a meeting when they called so I had no idea... Oh! The irony!

I arrived at 7pm and discovered I can get ready in 20 minutes -- who knew? It helps that I don't do anything special to my hair. I signed in, did mic check, and saw a whole bunch of people in the cast, so I was quite surprised when Nolan called to see where I was at 7:15. At that point, I was dressed, in make-up, and putting on jewelry in the dressing room. He was in the room just outside and had no idea I was there.

I was thrilled to get to perform with this darling cast again. Such neat people, and I felt like I got to do everything I wanted to. I'm excited to see them perform on Monday -- the show's closing night.

The audiences since Saturday have been awesome! For the first week, we had maybe 80 people in the audience each performance, if we were lucky. Since Saturday, we've had full houses, and they are the kind of audiences that laugh and applaud. If you've ever been in a show, you know that performers feed off of an audience's energy, and if we can tell the audience is having a good time, we can relax and give them an even better show.

Saturday was possibly our best performance so far; we were all focused and everything seemed to go right. We all felt we'd performed a magical show, and then we went outside and it was snowing! It was like the fairy tale we just finished sharing with the audience was just continuing!

However, last night was the funnest show by far. We made all sorts of mistakes and had a few odd problems, but the audience loved us, and we just started goofing off and really having a good time. Not technically our best, but man, we enjoyed being together and appreciated all the whooping from our friends and family! Emily A, Wendi, and Michele S. from work all came. They've been hearing for awhile about how I love to perform, but they had never seen me onstage. I think they were a bit surprised -- they knew I had it in me, but knowing and seeing are two different things -- and I know they had fun. I watched them during the last scene, and they were laughing as hard as anyone (yes, I break the fourth wall all the time. It's a weakness of mine).

Sam, Aubrey, and me

'Twill be fun to perform twice tomorrow. We have a 3pm matinee, and then our closing performance at 7:30pm. It occurs to me that the last time I was double-cast in a show, I ended up doing either 9 or 11 shows in a row. My double got sick. Four shows is nothing. I did that in Birdie and loved every minute of it. I am really excited that a group of my Birdie friends are coming to the show! Nothing better than having some support from people I admire and adore.

And here's a photo of my brother, Aaron, my grandmother, and my mom after the show on Opening Night. You know, that was before the weather suddenly got bitter cold and snowy... Don't we all look fantastic?

Stressed and Blessed

Well, Christmas-time doesn't feel very Christmassy for me this year.

Perhaps it's because I'm not living at my parents' house anymore, and haven't been able to put up my own decorations due to lack of time and my belongings being every place but where they're supposed to be while I finish painting my newly-installed shelves.

Perhaps it's because the next release at work rolls out in the middle of January, which means we have to have all documentation-related stuff finished on January 9, which means I have to have everything written and passed off by January 2, which means I'll be trying to write my last twelve features in the next three weeks, not including Christmas and New Years Days.

Perhaps it's because the nights I'm not doing my show are already filled with FHE and dating (okay, one date) and other extra-curricular activities and I don't have any time to just sit around, unless it's after 11 pm. Perhaps it's because I've been staying up until after 1 am trying to find some time to myself and am of course exhausted.

I am completely stressed out, and have needed to cry for at least four days. That's why it was a relief when a child bit me today and I finally had the release to just cry and cry! I love the play, but I'm excited for when it's over and I can work late into the evening and just get things done. I am so excited to finish my shelves and put my condo back together. I can't wait for Aaron to come back into town and hope I get to spend some decent time with him. I'll miss Adam's family for Christmas Eve and Day, but I'm glad they get to spend some quality time with Lindsey's family. I don't fit into much of my clothes anymore, thankfully the sweaters cover up most of the awkwardness. I have waaaay too much money left to spend in my FSA spending account, but I'm having fun thinking of new things to do and buy to use as much of it up as I can before the deadline at the end of the year (two weeks?!). It's a different type of Christmas season for me. I guess that's what it is to be an adult.

So, since it hasn't been a conventional holiday season for me, I'm really making an effort to notice the little tender mercies Heavenly Father has been sending to me. For example, I was late to my FHE Committee meeting this morning, and as I made a U-turn to find the co-chair's house, I hit the frozen show on the other side of the street. There was a huge bang, and my heart sank as I imagined the flat tire, or dent in my front bumper. Payment for car repairs was all I needed. But when I parked and looked at the side of the car, there wasn't even a scratch! My car was fine, the tire was fine, I was fine.

I've also been very lucky driving the last couple of days in the snow. I heard today there were 200 accidents yesterday, but I didn't even get close to hitting anyone. Not only that, we had a full house at the play in spite of the snow! They were the best audience and all of us in the cast had a great time. Thanks again Wadsworth family for coming!

My cast also thought it hilarious I was tromping around in my snowboots between scenes yesterday. But, hey! My feet weren't cold! I am very grateful to Aubrey, and Sam, and Danny, and Dallin, and Rossy, and Amanda, and Brady, and Nolan, and the rest of the cast for making this such a gorgeous show and fun experience. They definitely make it worth it. I am glad I decided to be a part of this play!

The best of all, though, has been preparing for the sacrament Christmas program. We performed today (we generally perform early in the singles' ward because a lot of folks like to go out of town or to their family's wards the Sunday before Christmas). I had forgotten how fun it is to sing in a choir! After I got acclimated to choir-singing -- like being able to breathe during words, or not at the end of a phrase because someone else can pick up the slack -- I was able just to enjoy the comraderie. We sang "Wexford Carol", "Star Carol", "Lo, A Rose E'er Blooming", my favorite, "O Come, All Ye Faithful", and a few others. The last number was "The First Nowell" and the spirit was so strong and the music so lovely that all of us in the choir had a difficult time not crying through it! I love to sing more than anything else in this world, and am so grateful that I have so many opportunities.

I admit, I have forgotten these past two weeks to remember the reason for the season. I haven't felt the spirit and I have missed it terribly, though I didn't realize it. I determined today to spend more time during my personal study to focus on the teachings and mission of Jesus Christ. I can't help but feel that I will feel more peace as I strive to accomplish everything else I have committed to. I am thankful that as I sang today, my testimony of my Savior was strengthened, as was the knowledge of what I need to do to feel happiness again. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of me. He is doing all He can to help and support me. I promise I will be more mindful of Him.

I am blessed.

Opening Night at Last!

My double, Skye, and I

Well, I must say that Opening Night was a great success! At least, the Opening for my cast. The Monday cast opened last night. I went to FHE so I missed the show, but my double, Skye, said aside from expected minor mistakes it went very well.

My Opening Night was a lot of fun. We had a small audience, but they were family and friends and laughed at all the appropriate and even some surprising moments. (You know how you watch a show often enough that you get used to laughing at certain lines and don't even notice that others are funny...?) My cast's last rehearsal was on Saturday, so I was worried I would have forgotten key dance steps or words in a song (which I forgot on Saturday even though I'd run the show on Friday). I have, of course, been reviewing them in my mind and practicing on my own a bit. Fortunately, with the dancing at least, I've done them so much they're somewhat automatic now. How I love the choreography in this show! (And I'm not just saying that because I know Jann sometimes reads my blog.) It was fun to perform and play to a new audience! The energy between the cast and audience was wonderful. I was so proud of my little show!

Afterward, the whole cast went outside to greet the audience, and that's when I realized I should have brought slippers or something. It was, like, 30 degrees outside and I had bare feet. I'm such a silly! It was worth it though to have the chance to hug my mom, my grandma, and my brother Aaron. I noticed during the show that my grandma was beaming at me from the audience! I am so grateful for such a supportive family. It's lucky Aaron was in town long enough to see my show. I can't wait for the rest of them to come, too!

Speaking of feeling grateful, I really, really appreciate Skye for coming and doing my make-up tonight. It looked so cool! Make-up is one aspect of theatre I haven't yet mastered, and she does a fantastic job.

One down, nine more to go!

Babes in Toyland Information

Babes in Toyland opens next Tuesday! Yaaaay! I am so excited to get to perform this show. Have I said before that the cast is brilliant and the music is wonderful? Well, they are and it is. I hope that all of you who choose to come enjoy it!

Details:

Babes in Toyland
Empress Theatre 9104 West 2700 South in Magna
December 2-20 (I'm in the Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday cast, but my double and I might switch Monday, Dec 8 and Tuesday, Dec 9.)
To order tickets, call (801) 347-7373, or order online here.

Zils and Jingling Scarves

So, my costume as Vadoma the gypsy for Babes in Toyland is AWESOME! We had the "costume parade" Saturday, where everyone in the show wears as much of the costume as they have. In addition to the vest and skirt the costumer made for me, I put my skull scarf on my head, and wrapped my fringed shawl and a scarf around my waist that my mom loaned me from her box of costumes. (What kind of mom buys a scarf with coins sewn to it "just in case?" An awesome one, that's what kind.) On a whim, the director, Nolan, decided to include me with the others he'd chosen ahead of time for publicity photos. I had no make-up and no jewelry. Thankfully, some kind castmembers made me up; I made do without the jewelry and apparently took some cool photos. (Unfortunately, for the fourth time last week I didn't have my camera with me when I saw the cool photo opportunity, hence the picture of Esmerelda from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame.)

On Tuesday, Nolan handed my double, Skye, and I each a little red felt bag. I opened it up and found: finger cymbals, otherwise known as "zils"! Yay! Skye and I had both asked for them, 'cause how cool would that be? Nolan said if we wanted a set for each hand we'd have to share, but it turns out it's kind of hard to grab your skirt to dance when you have them taking up the finger space, so we're just wearing the one set. Now, between my zils, and the jingling scarf around my waist, I make a lot of noise when I dance! It sounds a little like sleighbells; it's the best! Now I just have to get comfortable with playing with them. Skye is an amazing dancer, so this is just like a duck to water for her, but I'm still working on it. Skye and the choreographers have all been really supportive and worked with me. The one dance we've learned is really cool. Thanks again, Jann, for giving me permission to change my solo a bit so I feel more comfortable with it! I'm excited to learn the other two dances tonight. I can't believe we open 3 weeks from today!

Hopefully, the script author will have presented Skye and I with the rest of the lines before then. There are at least two snippets of conversation we still don't know. Ack!

What I learned yesterday

1) It's much, much easier to find the clothes in my closet ever since director Steph helped me organize. Her expertise and advice is invaluable. Thanks again, Steph!!

2) I accomplished a lot of writing during the latest software release.

3) I wouldn't mind traveling with the ladies on my team.

4) Ordering raspberries and chocolate in my Red Mango frozen yogurt makes the raspberries taste a little like dirt because the rest is so sweet. I should just order the chocolate in the future, but will probably give strawberries and mangos a try.

5) Kate was correct: dessert should always be eaten first.

6) Subway restaurant employees are still nice to me when I eat fro-yo while ordering my sandwich.

7) Though Subway generally has the worst diet coke ever, the diet cokes at the franchise on 6200 South and Highland are not half bad.

8) It takes 25 minutes to reach the Empress Theatre from my condo.

9) I learn music pretty well by rote.

10) I learn even better when I hear the tune all the way through once or twice before I'm expected to sing it.

11) I love the music in Babes in Toyland.

12) I love the cast in Babes in Toyland.

13) I'm sad my double and I can never be in the show together because we are doubles. She's awesome.

14) I now understand why I didn't get leads when I was a teenager but am getting them now.

15) It's foolish to tell the associate behind the check-out counter at Albertsons that I'm in a play, because he will then feel the need to tell me all about when he was in a play in elementary school, and he would love to do another sometime.

16) It's especially foolish to tell said associate at Albertsons that I'm in a play when I very much need to use the bathroom and only stopped at the store for a moment for yogurt and peanut butter M&Ms.

17) It may be a bad sign when I have an easier time talking to someone on the phone than I do in person. I'm usually not a phone talker.

18) I think the next step in my home improvement is to get the shelves put up in the front room. I don't want to unpack my books and photo frames until that's done.

19) Dancing with the Stars is still one of my favorite television shows, and my vote makes a difference.

20) My dreams are hilarious, and always relevant.

Megan in Toyland

And just like that I'm in another show!

Last week when I went to see Seussical at the Empress Theatre, I was talking with Aubrey and Nolan afterwards, and Aubrey commented to Nolan that she thought I would do really well as the lead gypsy in Babes in Toyland. I had learned earlier that Nolan is the artistic director at the Empress, but I didn't know he was directing the Christmas show. I didn't audition a month ago because 1) Christmastime is kind of bad timing because work is going to be stressful up to the January 15th deadline, 2) I wanted to do A Christmas Carol at HCT in spite of the bad timing, and 3) Magna is FAR! Anyway, the way Nolan and Aubrey were talking, I didn't think they were serious so I didn't think much about it, though I was flattered.

Saturday morning, Aubrey called and left a message asking if I was considering the part because apparently Nolan had called some other people who had recommended me, and she thought it would be fun to do a show together. I called her back and then talked to Nolan. It turns out the lead gypsy isn't a terribly large part, but it's an important one. The script they're using is a new one based on the original stories, not necessarily the Disney movie, so my part isn't in the movie. I admit I'm vain enough to want to be a lead, but it's kind of cool this part is smaller, because I'll have fewer rehearsals, and if I need to work backstage during the show (yeah, right, like that will happen), I can. I asked Nolan if I could have until Monday to think about it, and he said that was fine.

So, I thought about it and talked to a few people. I called Nolan on Monday and accepted the part. He told me a bit more about the show and I'm pretty excited! I get to sing, dance, and act, it's not a huge part, everyone is double-cast which gives me even more room to breathe work-wise, and there are a couple of cast members who live in my area who I can carpool with. Score!

I'm in the Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday cast, and the show runs from December 1st through the 22nd; please pencil me into your calendars! My first rehearsal is tomorrow, and I'll have more details about tickets and such when we get closer to opening.

Yay! I'm in a show!