1st Half of the Western Caribbean Trip

My cruise to the Caribbean was awesome! I can't believe it's over already, but it was just about as good a vacation as I could have wished for. Plenty of dancing, karaoke, tropical weather, gorgeous scenery, and fun people to play with! It was rainy and cloudy most of the trip, but since the "cold" was a good 70 degrees I won't complain too loudly! I am so glad I got to go! Perfect timing :)


First day: I took a red-eye flight to Miami, and found Shonni (above) after we had both checked in and made our way onto the boat (here, I am pictured with the first of many, many soft-serve ice cream cones). We were roommates with two girls we didn't know but who were great. That first day was spent mostly hanging around the ship meeting people, attending a mixer, eating really, really tasty food, and sleeping through the introductory cabaret show. Busy day!

[below: Shonni and I with our creme brules]

The second day was our first day out to sea. There was lots of volleyball, laying out, and, yes, ice cream. I was proud to wear my new swimsuit. I feel so sassy in it!


Also, that first night at dinner was a "formal" night. I absolutely loved my purple dress! I can't wait for another opportunity to wear it in public. It was fun seeing everyone dressed to the nines! The photo below is of Shonni and I with our two charming dining partners, Jared and Pat. We were assigned a table near the front doors, so we had plenty of opportunity to greet friends and take photos as they came in. It was fun to share meals with them each night, talking about what we had done that day and making plans for the next. They were good guys.

[above: posing with a "Zonkey" - zebra and donkey - which I think has something to do with a restaurant]

Day three, we stopped at Cozumel. I joined Michelle B and her friends at Playa Mia for some sun, relaxation, and swimming in the ocean. The water was colder than I thought it would be, but it was worth it to swim out to the trampoline just offshore. Michelle and I even kayaked for awhile (and sang, too, of course. We love to harmonize). I had wanted to spend at least one day at the beach -- I got my wish and it was a wonderful day!
[below: Michelle, my brother Aaron, and I at the beach. Notice the newly acquired braids and beads around my face.]


That night, I tried out to impersonate Britney Spears in the final night's karaoke "Legends" show. I didn't get the part, but at least I lost to someone freakishly talented. Aaron tried out for Ricky Martin and lost to a guy who did not sing well and looked horrible without a shirt on (I know this because he removed it during the performance and it was funny but painful to watch). Michelle and I later sang "My Boyfriend's Back" and we both agree it was a disaster. She didn't know the song very well, and my voice was failing. Oh, well.

I discovered on the first day that my cousin Shelby was on the cruise, too! Small world, eh? We didn't spend much time together, but she and Aaron sang at least one karaoke song together. (There was a lot of karaoke going on with our group.)

[below: me, Aaron, and Shelby]

Day four, we took a ferry to Belize, where Shonni and I joined a big group for some cave tubing. We hiked through a gorgeous, lush jungle and then floated through some caves and then in the sunshine while wearing head lamps. It was nice and relaxing, but not terribly exciting. Now that I've done it I probably don't need to do it again. The group we were with was really fun, though, and I met a guy with a British accent, of which I am always a fan!


Continued in 2nd Half of the Western Caribbean Trip.

Bittersweet News

It seemed like every time I thought I was going to get all of the work done for the big software release at work, something would come along to derail me. I'd have to readjust and prioritize and figure out how I was going to get it all done.

Well, the release was on Saturday, January 30. Since I would be out of town Sunday the 24th through Sunday the 31st, my last day to finish up all of my projects was Friday the 22nd. I worked through Martin Luther King Day, came in early, and left as late as I could considering I had to be at Kiss Me Kate rehearsal by 7pm most nights. And my efforts were going to pay off; I was going to get it all done.

And then, Wednesday the 20th, my projects were derailed once again. Indefinitely.

I was laid off.

Gah! Talk about adding insult to injury! I'd been working on this stuff for a year, and I was laid off two days before completion. Bah! I want very much to be bitter -- I'm a Virgo! I like to finish things! -- but there's not much I can do. I did laugh a little when I heard that the project manager of one of my projects wrote my manager in a panic asking who's going to be working on my stuff now. We were understaffed as it was, and now my overworked former co-workers have to pick up my projects, too. I would be worried about them if I weren't trying so hard not to think about it. I am so frustrated I didn't get to do it myself! It seems like poor appreciation for my 2 1/2 years of dedicated service.

I knew it was likely -- the company hasn't been making any sales, of late, so money has been tight -- but I never imagined it would happen before the release. As such, I was unprepared. I was planning to finish up my work and then after the release start updating my resume and looking for other possibilities. So, the timing was inconvenient, to say the least.

I liked my job. The work was challenging and I was good at it. I had some good friends there. The company wasn't perfect, but no company is. I would have stayed until the bitter end if they had let me. I will miss it.

Anyway. I spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday getting ready for the trip, determined not to let myself freak out about my not having a job until I returned. Now that I'm back, I'm working on my resume and looking into some leads. I am mostly optimistic. I'm worried about finances, of course, but I've had some resources show up recently that should help. Plus, I'm eligible for unemployment. This is not to say I don't wake up in the morning stressed out about my mortgage. But, as long as the search doesn't take too long, I'll be okay. (Knock on wood!)

Meanwhile, I am very grateful that I'm doing Kiss Me Kate. I auditioned for the show on a whim, but it has become a huge blessing for me. Not only do I love performing the choreography, singing the harmonies, and playing with my character, but the cast has been really supportive. It's been wonderful having at least one thing to count on during the day, since I am no longer required to get up early and/or shower. I don't know what I'd do without something scheduled during the day (did I mention that Virgos like organization and structure? Well, I know I do). I cannot believe the play opens next week! Crazy!

So, I'm yet another casualty of the recession. And it sucks. There are pluses and minuses, and I'm trying to look on the bright side. I would be very grateful if you would keep me in your prayers while I'm looking for a new job. If you learn about an available job that you think I would enjoy or be good at, please let me know. My last job was in technical writing. However, I am open to trying different careers and would even consider moving if the enticement were great enough.

I love you all and appreciate your support and kindness. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of me and that I will be all right in the long run.

LOST

I got the 4th season of LOST for my birthday this year, and the 5th season for Christmas. I watched both during the week between Christmas and New Years, and cried during both finales. I cannot wait to see what happens during the final season which starts in two weeks! Who survived? (Sayid and Sawyer better be okay!) Will the Dharma crew return to the present? Will they find Claire? What will happen now to those who have been following Jacob? Are the Others the good guys or are the New castaways the good guys? Will any of them get home again and/or live happily ever after? And what would "happily ever after" even mean for this group of people? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I can't stand the suspense! This is my favorite show for a reason!

Two weeks!

Yaaaaaaaay!

Gettin' Outta Here!

My Caribbean cruise is coming up fast! Finally! I am so glad I had the foresight last summer to sign up for this trip. I really, really need this vacation and I cannot wait. Tropical beaches! Terrific food! Fabulous friends! Ensuing hilarity! Sunny sun (I hope)! I am excited that my brother Aaron, my best friend Michelle, her friend Brooke, and my friend Shonni are all coming. With them around, every place we go will become a dance party! Aaron even speaks Spanish, which will be most convenient where we're going. Oh, and Michelle has a reliable source that says the South Jordan Fire Department will be on this cruise with us. Sweeeeet!

I've done waaaay too much -- and yet just the right amount -- of shopping in the last couple of weeks. I have some really cute clothes! I love my sassy new swimsuit so much I put heels on and pretended to be Karen from Mean Girls. And I bought the most ROCKIN' purple cocktail dress and shoes last week at Macy's, both of which were 75% off! I would like at least one more suit, and I am in need of flip-flops; otherwise I think I'm ready to go, apparel-wise.

I am SO READY to get out of town!

Me in St. Maartens in 2008

Rehearsin' KMK

(I am really tired, so I apologize if this isn't totally coherent)

So... remember how I auditioned for Kiss Me Kate on a whim? Yeah, it's pretty much pure awesome. I love it! I love the cast and rehearsing is so fun! I am even glad that I'm not one of the leads, because I love the crazy, manic, superhard dancing. There are lifts in every dance that I have yet to master. We need two more men for the chorus (do you know anyone who's available and a good dancer?). I don't get to see my friend Jason hardly EVER but I'm sure he's still in the show. I haven't been in an ensemble in so long I forgot how hard it is to create a character completely from scratch. I have decided on a character name: Norma Billings. My darling double cheerfully agreed to adopt the name with me. She is the BEST!

But, like I said, I have an awesome cast to discover it with. And the pro[duction] team could not be more fun and funny. The director tonight mimed getting on a soap box before he lectured us, for crying out loud! We get pretty wacky and have full permission to be crazy... as long as we're quiet offsides (which, by the way, is why he was lecturing us). We get pretty loud and chatty.

One of my favorite things about the cast is that most of us are in our mid-twenties to mid-thirties, most are married, and everyone is totally comfortable with themselves. We've discovered that the play is rife with innuendo, and some are really good with making it even more naughty (which I'm sure will be toned down before we open). We're having fun with the switching of couples between dances and the fact there are more men than women in the cast! That doesn't happen very often!

It also amuses me that our clothes are getting really beat up. I have owned my character shoes for 12 years, and they didn't start getting scuffed up until this show! The color on the sides of my shoes is almost completely worn off. I will probably have to polish them at least once a week once the show opens. Plus, we do a lot of sliding on the floor, and since most of us wear black sweatpants the dust marks on our hindquarters are inevitable! Why do I mention this? Why not? It's a part of the whole experience!

Several of us have even gone out after some of the rehearsals. A month ago we went to Dairy Queen, and last Friday we ate out at Iggy's. Good times!

We open in less than 4 weeks! It's weird to think I auditioned nearly 3 months ago, and it will all be over in 2 more. I am so glad I randomly auditioned for this play! It's been awesome so far!

A Snow Spell

I might try this tonight...


Ah Cul de Sac. Always so attuned to what I'm feeling at any given moment!