I might explode anyway...

"Don't you understand how Cho's feeling at the moment?" she asked. 

"No," said Harry and Ron together. 

Hermione sighed and laid down her quill. 

"Well, obviously, she's feeling very sad, because of Cedric dying. Then I expect she's feeling confused because she liked Cedric and now she likes Harry, and she can't work out who she likes best. Then she'll be feeling guilty, thinking it's an insult to Cedric's memory to be kissing Harry at all, and she'll be worrying about what everyone else might say about her if she starts going out with Harry. And she probably can't work out what her feelings toward Harry are anyway, because he was the one who was with Cedric when Cedric died, so that's all very mixed up and painful. Oh, and she's afraid she's going to be thrown off the Ravenclaw Quidditch team because she's been flying so badly." 

A slightly stunned silence greeted the end of this speech, then Ron said, "One person can't feel all that at once, they'd explode." 

"Just because you've got the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean we all have," said Hermione nastily, picking up her quill again. 

- JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Thank you, JK Rowling, for so eloquently explaining why girls sometimes seem "crazy." I especially like that last sentence, as a reminder that not all of our worries are about boys, though they do seem to be the most confusing part, don't they? :)

I needed the reminder today that I am normal.

The Ride of the Rohirrim

I saw this tag on two friends' blogs this morning. It's been awhile since I've done a "tag" post, and we all know I like seeing what happens when I put my iPod on shuffle, so I thought, "What the hey?"

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. Write down the song name and (if applicable) the movie it came from, no matter how silly it sounds.
4. If you read this blog, then consider yourself tagged. Have fun, and I’d love to read your answers if you do it, so please leave a comment so I can go to your blog!

Here goes...
(Note: I had to skip at least 40 tracks from the Harry Potter book series. Maybe I need to move them to a different part of my iPod.
Note 2: This took forever, because I listened to every song all the way through. I forgot about some of these gems!)

If someone says "Are you okay?" you say... Isengard Unleashed (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)
This will get those nosey folks off my back!

What would best describe your personality? Work This Out (High School Musical 2)
Heaven knows I tend to be positive!

How would you describe yourself? Walkin' Back to Georgia by Jim Croce
I have this album on my iPod 'cause I updated my mom's iPod and she wanted this one. I hadn't listened to this song before. It was sweet.

What do you like in a guy/girl? Joseph's Dreams (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
This made me smile. Strong leader, dreamer, faithful, confident (not arrogant), hard worker, family man? Sure, why not?

How do you feel today? Don't Write Me Off Just Yet (Music and Lyrics)
Conflicted and hopeful and inspired and vulnerable. Appropriate shuffle!

What is your life's purpose? I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Oh gosh, I hope not.

What's Your Motto? I'm an Indian Too (Annie Get Your Gun)
Now you know ;-)

What do your friends think of you? Mercy's Arms by Marla Bulleigh
I love this beautiful song. Seems a little arrogant to imagine my friends think this about me, but I hope at least that I don't make things more difficult for them.

What do your parents think of you? Once Upon a December (Anastasia)
Guess we are always children in the eyes of our parents. In my case, a child who still thinks she's a princess.

What do you think about very often? This is the Night by the cast of Glee (Lady and the Tramp cover)
Um, I'll pretend this isn't true. But it is. (This tag and my shuffle luck is starting to freak me out. Thank goodness the next question is silly.)

What is 2 + 2? We'll Meet Tomorrow (Titanic the Musical)
I like it. Implies that the answer is a given. Or maybe I just need more time to think about it...

What do you think of your best friend? Company (Stephen Sondheim's Company)
Yes! "Deep talks, long walks. Telephone calls. Thoughts shared. Souls bared. Private names. Photos up on the walls. With love... That's what it's really about!" Perfect!

What do you think of the person you like? Patterns by Simon and Garfunkel
Another song on my mom's list that I had never listened to. "The pattern never alters until the rat dies... In darkness I must dwell." That's bleak. I should think better of the guy I like.

What is your life story? Somebody to Love by Anne Hathaway (Ella Enchanted)
No comment :P Except for: Anne rocks this song.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrews Sisters
Yay! This is my favorite so far. I just want to play, play, play forever!! 

What do you think when you see the person you like? Dead Puppies by Ogden Edsl
Whaaaaa--? I will now! Just kidding. THIS is my favorite! 

What will you do at your wedding? Hello, I Love You by the Glee Cast
I hope my husband will already know my name by the wedding. He WILL be the guy to make me sigh!

What will they play at your funeral? O My Father guitar solo by Michael Dowdle
Oddly appropriate, but a little depressing. 

What is your hobby/interest? Don't You Remember? by Adele
Yeah, guys. It's not like I've made my favorite hobby a secret (click the link for one of my favorite YouTube videos)!

What is your biggest fear? Now or Never (High School Musical 3)
Gah! Stop being accurate, shuffle button!

What is your biggest secret? It Takes Diff'rent Strokes (Theme from Diff'rent Strokes)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Guess the secret's out now!

What do you want right now? Any Dream Will Do (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Yeah, up for pretty much anything at the moment.

What do you think of your friends? Gaston (Disney's Beauty and the Beast)
I certainly do think very highly of you all!

What's the worst thing that could happen? Mix Tape (Avenue Q)
This makes me think of this. I shan't editorialize further.

What is the one thing you regret? Brimstone and Treacle (Mary Poppins the Musical)
*Shrug*

What makes you laugh? Wait (Grey's Anatomy musical episode)
No, this song makes me cry.

What makes you cry? The Medallion Calls (The Pirates of the Carribean)
No, this makes me laugh. It's the music that's playing when we meet Captain Jack for the first time (when he's sailing into harbor on the sinking ship).

Will you ever get married? I've Just Seen a Face (Across the Universe)
Prognoses looks good!

What scares you the most? What Makes You Different by the Backstreet Boys
Interesting. 

Does anyone like you? Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler (Footloose)
Inconclusive. Or maybe this means that someone does, but I either don't notice or am not interested. Poor hypothetical guy...

If you could go back in time, what would you change? The Love of My Life (Brigadoon)  
Haha! It sure wasn't the guy I wasted the most time on!

What will you name this post? The Ride of the Rohirrim (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
Ah! Full circle. That's nice :-D

Thanksgiving weekend

Was it just me, or did Thanksgiving weekend totally rock? Oh man, I had just the right amount of "family" time and "getting things done" time. I could have used a smidge more "friend" time, but happily the time I had was quality!!

Forgive the travelogue nature of the rest of this post, and for the somewhat random inadequate photos. I was more concerned with enjoying myself than with documenting the moments. We can't all multitask our fun the way Aaron does!

Tuesday
I baked a pecan pie and a pumpkin pie, and they both turned out very well. This is amazing, because I made them both from scratch and with almost no help from my mom. If, as a missionary leader on my mission once said, the only prerequisite for getting to heaven is the ability to bake a pie, I am IN!

Wednesday
PIE NIGHT! My family's at-least 15th annual celebration of pie and friendship. For some reason, this party stresses me out, so I didn't invite as many friends as I have in years past. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the group that came. I have some of the most terrific friends in the world. I need to spend more time with you all! Maybe next year I'll feel brave enough to include a few more :-)

My nephew took this photo of me with my
pretty pumpkin offering. I don't know why
my hand looks so huge!

A selection of pies. I have a new favorite from this year:
buttermilk coconut
*Drool*

Thursday
Thanksgiving Day was an especially good one, in spite of the fact that I didn't feel very well (mostly an annoying headache). I watched the parade and then headed over to my Mom's house to join the other 25 or so folks for lunch. We had to have 3 tables! I sat at the "we don't have any kids" table. The actual kids' table was adorable, though. It's weird to me that kids that young apparently don't need any supervision.

Just kidding! We supervised them plenty

Tablemates

After dinner I caught up with the cousins and took a nap. Then my family and grandma saw Rise of the Guardians. This is pretty significant because it's only the second movie my nieces have ever gone to see in a theater. Usually, someone (my mom) ends up staying home with them while everyone else goes out. I'm glad that no one was left behind this time. Plus, it was a pretty good movie, even if the title is cooler than the concept. One cousin was interested until he heard the words "Santa Claus" and "the Easter Bunny". Still, it was entertaining and funny and had some really neat ideas. Good times!

Friday
I had this day off from work (yay for paid holidays!), so I decided to treat it like a true holiday and do things I don't often get to do. This included sleeping in, walking to the bank, walking to the movie theater, seeing Lincoln AND Wreck-It Ralph (both excellent in their own ways though I didn't like Wreck-It Ralph as much as I'd expected and liked Lincoln more than I expected because I didn't know quite what to expect), and using a coupon to purchase chicken littles at KFC during my walk home. After that, I watched the last two episodes of Gilmore Girls. I'm sad it's over. You were right, Sharon and Rach: I loved it! I also watched Miracle on 34th Street. The Christmas season has officially begun!

Saturday
Since I had been lazy the day before, I wanted to be productive on Saturday. The goal was to clean the house sufficiently so that I could start putting up Christmas decorations. I have a small house, so this wasn't too daunting a task. However, I decided to pull absolutely everything off the glorious shelving unit in my living room and thoroughly dust the shelves and the stuff. One thing lead to another, and before I knew it I had spent five hours reorganizing and putting the shelves back together. I am so very, very happy with the end result!

"Shelves in the closet? Happy thought indeed!"
(No, these shelves are not in a closet.
Just a Pride and Prejudice quote that I love.)

Before I knew it, it was time to get gussied up for my cousin's wedding reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Note to self: Do not schedule a wedding reception at the JSMB on a Saturday night during the holidays. You will have a tough time fighting the holiday shoppers and Temple Square light views for a parking spot. It was a gorgeous reception, though, and so fun seeing the family all dressed up. My cousin and his bride looked so very stylish and happy. Hooray for big changes and big parties to go with them!

Since we were already in the neighborhood, my parents and grandma, Aaron and his friend Becca decided to view the lights, too. It was crazy-crowded, but the lights were beautiful, and again, it was fun to feel fancy and dressed up for once. It made this tradition feel just a bit more special. Luckily, it was a warm night!

Aaron and I

We all loved this tree!

My evening didn't end there! A bunch of our friends were performing in Quick Wits that night, so I joined Larissa and her friends as we cheered and laughed at Melissa, Rob, and Russ and Co.'s antics. I am thoroughly terrified of having to improvise cleverly, and I admire those who can. Holy granola -- my friends are funny!! Made for a long day, but what an ending! I'm glad I went!

Sunday
After so many busy days in a row, I was exhausted, so I slept in until later than I care to admit. After church and some other church-related activities, I went home and decided to finish cleaning and start putting up decorations. I vacuumed, watched the latest episode of Once Upon a Time, then White Christmas, and before I knew it I had put up ALL of my lights and decorations! I mentioned that my house isn't very big, right? I must say, I am absolutely delighted with the Santa station above my television

and thoroughly in love with my tree. Last year I bought some new ornaments on clearance, and those sparkly pink stars make me smile every time I see them.

Next year I may buy a taller tree (probably fake), but this one is perfect right now.

It may seem a little early to put decorations up, but I'm opening a play not long after New Year's and pretty soon I'll be busy with rehearsals. I thought it might be a good idea to enjoy as much Christmas as I can at home before then. There are few things I like more than sitting in my living room, watching a movie, with nothing but the tiny lights twinkling about me. I doubt I'll be in much of a hurry to put them away -- they may stay up until my show starts, at the very least. I'm a big fan of stretching out the holidays as long as possible :-D

Before I knew it, it was time for bed and I had work to look forward to again on Monday. Thankfully, Christmas is coming soon and a nice long break to go with it! Can't wait!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you have plenty to look forward to during these next couple of weeks! What traditions (old and new) are you the most excited about?

A guilty pleasure

Confession: I liked the Twilight books. I have also enjoyed the movies.

Actually, I enjoyed the movies more, because I didn't have Bella's obnoxious "self-deprecating" point of view monologuing about every character and situation. I didn't notice "poor writing" in the first book as much as the fact that very little happened in the first 300 pages, but I loved all the action in the second 200! I read all of the books in a relatively short period of time. I liked most of the characters and was very invested in the Bella/Edward/Jacob triangle. I still maintain that Jacob is the better fit, but I am satisfied with the way that worked out. (Maybe I just wish I had a Jacob in my life. I wouldn't ever trust that the "perfect" guy was in love with normal, imperfect me. The best-friend-who-mutually-adores-me is what I'm hoping for.)

Sure, I don't feel the need to see the Breaking Dawn: Part 1 film ever again (loved the wedding dress, but hated the birth scene), but I'll need to see Part 2 at least once more -- maybe twice or three times -- before it leaves the theaters. It. Was. Awesome. I cried during the battle, and again at the end. Such a good ending for the series. And, again, better than the book, which was slightly anti-climactic.

I'm admitting all of this, because I've been embarrassed about my enjoyment for the last, oh, several years. I'm sad that it's become cool to bash on Stephanie Meyer and the Twilight books (click the link; it's awesome). I'm sad that I've chosen to be embarrassed. I fully acknowledge that they aren't as good as the Harry Potter series, or The Lord of the Rings, or The Hunger Games, or plenty of other young adult books that I liked and are considered "acceptable" by the masses, yet I like Twilight anyway. I'm not necessarily a superfan, but, yes, I like it.

A while ago, I told my brother David that I had been watching Merlin -- basically the King Arthur Legend but Arthur, Merlin, and Guinevere are teenagers. So, sort of like a medieval Smallville. It stars Anthony Head (Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as King Uther; he's wonderful! David asked me if it was any good, and I had to acknowledge it might be cheesy and imperfect, but I love it anyway.

This forces me to finally accept what I've known for awhile now:

Something doesn't necessarily have to be good in order for us to love it.

What's wrong with that? Don't we all have "guilty pleasures?" We feel guilty for a reason, but they still make us happy.

I have a girl friend who loves terrible shark movies, and a guy friend who is a fan of the Jem cartoon. Knowing this allows me to feel a little less silly about my own vices.

Have you seen UHF? It's a terrible, hilarious, brilliant 80s movie. I love it. Or maybe that doesn't count, since it's considered so bad that it's good. Hmmm...

Phew! I feel so much better now that that's off my chest!

So, out with it: what are your guilty pleasures? What "cringe-worthy" media are you embarrassed to admit you love? I promise not to make fun of you... to your face anyway ;-)
Just kidding! My blog is a safe place, and if you can love me with all of my guilty pleasures, I can love you and yours.

Pre-Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner

My singles ward had a big Thanksgiving dinner/activity last night. Seriously, the turnout was ridiculous. There are about 600 people in the congregation, and at most weekday activities you can expect somewhere between 50-200 people. Last night, at least 400 people showed up. I took a photo, but couldn't fit the entire room in the frame. Wow.

See what I mean?

I arrived about 15 minutes after the start time, and waited in the food line for 40 minutes. I quite enjoyed the live concertina/fiddle music as I slowly moved through the line, and chatted with friends and people-watched. Of course, the food was cold by the time I got to it, but there was still plenty of turkey, salad, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, nuts, rolls, and a myriad of desserts for all of the people who waited behind me, or wanted second helpings.

As I sat at my table, looking at the traditional food in front of me, I rebelled a little. I thought, "This is weird. I'm having pretty much this exact meal again in three days. Why am I eating this tonight, too?"

Don't get me wrong: I quite like "Thanksgiving" food, and am often sad that we don't really eat cranberry sauce or candied yams any other time of the year. I'm the girl who has asked for corned beef and cabbage for my birthday because I like it too much to only have it once a year on St. Patrick's Day. However, it felt silly to me to have the same meal twice in one week. Why not space the turkey dinners a bit and have the ward Thanksgiving activity six months early (in May?) so that it's more of a treat?

My guess is that the Thanksgiving dinner is just a good excuse to get everyone together. I talked with several people who said they only plan on attending two (of the at least 200) activities during the year, and one of them is Thanksgiving. Also, some people don't have anywhere to go on the actual Thanksgiving, and this way they still get a meal. In addition, we really can't have too many opportunities to be thankful for all that we have.

A segment of the insanely long, slow, wrap-around line

Still... I didn't have any problem saying no to dessert, because I know I'll be eating pie for the rest of the week.

And, let's face it: food is almost always better when made by family, especially my mom. While yummy, the meal I ate yesterday just doesn't compare to the real celebration.

It'll be nice to eat a warm meal, too!

Oh, man! I love Thanksgiving food!! Especially the pie!

My favorite is spending time with adored people I don't get to talk with nearly enough. It's fun to chat while we prepare and eat the meal, clean up, and head to a movie or play board games. Nothing like family time.

Then, on Friday, I plan to SLEEP IN and putter about my house. It's going to be glorious!

What are you looking forward to the most about the holiday weekend? Will you have both Thursday and Friday off, or do you have to work at all? Are you going out of town?

Whatever you're doing, I hope it truly is a happy Thanksgiving for each of you!

Steer clear of the elderberry wine!

If you saw my status on Facebook last night, you already know that I'm involved in a new show. However, I never feel like anything is official until I've posted it on my blog, so here goes:

I'm in a new show!

I'm going to be playing Elaine Harper, the love interest, in the Monday, Wednesday, Friday cast of Arsenic and Old Lace at CenterPoint Legacy Theatre, January 14 through February 9.

This is a funny play -- I've seen it twice in the last year and I'm really excited to be a part of it. Here is the basic premise:

Spinster sisters Martha and Abby Brewster have a hobby of "providing a kindness" to the lonely old men who come looking for a room to rent: the sisters poison the men, and then bury the bodies in the basement. On the day of his wedding, their nephew Mortimer discovers the secret and does his best to manage the situation... but things get out of control when his older brother -- an escaped prisoner convicted for murder -- shows up at the house.

It's a dark comedy for sure, and full of weird moments and great characters. I laughed a LOT during the callback on Monday, and I can't wait to learn what the directors have in mind for all of us. It's going to be crazy and fun!

I am a little nervous that most of my friends who were also cast are performing on the other days... guess that means I'll have to make more friends and hope they are as talented as the others! I just wish I had heard from more people in the other cast so far. I can't wait to get started and meet everybody (or at least see an initial cast list) on Saturday.

One of the coolest things about this play is that anytime I mentioned to someone who knows it that I was thinking of auditioning, they got really excited and immediately talked about how much they love the play! Even people I didn't know enjoyed theater love the movie.

It just cracks me up that I and two of my best friends will have all played this same role within a year. Ha ha! With the amount of repeating that goes on in the valley, it was bound to happen! I'm excited to make this character my own and see what they and the rest of you think :)

Start planning and book your tickets now; the holidays are busy and January will be here before you know it. Click here to purchase tickets.

I must say, CenterPoint has been very nice to me this year. First Earnest, then Little Women, and now this? I am thrilled and so very grateful!