Amazing April

April was an odd, rainy month, full of new beginnings and celebration. I started my new job, went to Disneyland, and played a lot. Life started to slow down and settle down a little. I'm grateful. After three stressful months of unemployment, I needed to find "normal" again.

The month started with General Conference. I was sick in bed on the Saturday, but I moved my laptop into bed with me and listened to quite a bit of it in between naps. I love General Conference. I listen to the talks every day and continue to draw strength and wisdom from the messages shared by the leaders of my church. I crave the peace of the Holy Spirit. I'd be a different person without it.

I met Wendy six years ago on my very first day in my current ward. She and I were both late to church and walked in together. She introduced me to Sylinda, and the three of us became good friends. Sylinda was married earlier this year, and she and I celebrated Wendy's April Fools Day wedding together. Wendy designs wedding dresses, so we were both curious "What does a wedding dress designer wear?" Something gorgeous, obviously. She looked so happy and radiant. She gives me hope. I am thrilled for her!

We all laughed that of COURSE Wendy had three different desserts at her wedding. Too perfect!

I was gifted a ticket to see Cowgirls at Pioneer Theatre Company. My friend Angie played a role in this all-girl musical, and I was impressed and proud of her skill. Everyone in the cast played their own instruments, and Angie nailed the fiddling, not to mention the singing, dancing, and acting. The play was at times poignant and other times hilarious. It would be a difficult one for community theaters to do, so I'm glad I had the chance to see the play at least once. It's was an entertaining evening!

Chantryce invited me to join her and a few others for lunch at Chili's on her birthday. Cutie Chantryce and her collection of loved ones. She loves with her whole heart and will protect and fight for the people most important to her. I'm honored that she includes me in the group.

I started my new job, and marveled at the view from my new "front door." At the Gateway, when I had a window, it overlooked the rooftops at the Gateway. Here, I see the mountains and grass and trees. It's glorious! I love living in Utah.

My first desk. Pretty sweet setup!

Sometimes I write myself helpful notes.
Sometimes I slap in a placeholder and call it good.

Rainy day view. Love the blossoming trees!

It seems that once in awhile during our team meetings, my new boss likes to give everyone a creative writing assignment and five minutes to explore an idea. Then we all read our stories out loud to each other. I don't remember the last time I did something like this. I enjoyed it. Not an exciting story, but I'm pretty proud of it anyway. #creativewriting #sliceoflife #outofpractice #worktolive #skillz

I finished several books this month: The Bands of Mourning, The Way of Kings, and Stars Above. All fantasy novels from different series. All wonderful. I don't understand how some people can not enjoy reading. I hope they find something someday that catches their imagination -- for me, there are few things more wonderful and relaxing!

I'm currently addicted to nutella. It's a problem.
No, I won't tell you how many jars I've eaten in the last three months.

Spent some time with the G-unit while he shot hoops. I admire his skill and tenacity in sports. He loves the activity and cannot wait to finish dinner and run over to the neighbor's house to use their hoop (he always asks them first). I expressed a curiosity if I could shoot a basket, and he went into coach mode, encouraging me to try, and being very impressed (and surprised) when I made 75% of the shots I tried. We talked about books and school. He told me his electives next year are choir and drama and I felt proud and hopeful. He's always loved to sing, so I hope he enjoys it. He's so grown-up all of a sudden.

THIS IS TRUTH!! I feel like every story I tell is terrible. My friends are sweet about it, though, always willing to listen. Someday the telling will match the ideas. Persistence is key!

Liz and I visited the Ogden Temple on a relentlessly rainy day. I'm glad she likes to go with me, and that she's always up for a photo, even if it's an adventure finding a photographer!

Dinner and hanging out with Laura, Theresa, and Shilene, and Theresa's family. We spent some time jumping on the trampoline (trying to get in our FitBit steps) and coloring. Most of the time we talked each other's ears off. Love these long-time friends!

Vanity selfie of a curl usually hidden by the rest of my hair. It's always a perfect ringlet underneath my mane. I'm a little obsessed with it.

Started a new journal. This one was a gift from Larissa. She bought it for me at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter last year. I love that she thought of me, and knew me well enough to know I'd love it. Thank you, darling friend!

Silly Facebook games and random generators. I am always curious and cannot resist trying every one!

This may be the only photo Lindsey allowed while she was pregnant. She's, like 36 weeks here. Tiny! She and Adam are a beautiful couple. I think it's awesome they're best friends. #lifegoals

Never know what I'm going to get when I ask these girls to "Smile!"

Note: Grammy and Papa put this new swingset in their yard this month. They are the cutest grandparents. I need a better photo of the set!

Baby PJ is a baby no more! He's a big, handsome two year old! His mom threw a barnyard-inspired party and we sang and celebrated the implacable, devious, adventurous little boy who has wrapped us all around his little fingers. What would we do without him?

With his favorite person, Papa!

Big cousin G teaches PJ how to hit a ball off a tee. The little guy is a natural!

Judging by all of the rain we got in April, the flowers in May are going to be AMAZING!! Cannot wait to visit the temple grounds and see for myself ;) May will be filled with work and play and auditions and I don't know what else. Should be fun!

New York for Carrie's birthday, part 2

Carrie invited me to join her on her first trip to New York City. I'm thrilled I said, "Yes!"
NYC trip part 1

Day 3 - Friday

Friday was Carrie's 35th birthday! 

The Statue of Liberty

I hadn't been to the Statue of Liberty since I was about 14 years old. I forgot how majestic and lovely the statue is, and how cool the view of the NYC skyline is. I walked up about 6 flights of stairs to get to her feet -- my knees will never forgive me. The good news it is wasn't as cold a day as the previous days had been. Plus, since it wasn't tourist season the lines were ridiculously short and we pretty much walked onto the ferry at every stop. Hooray!

Ellis Island was very cool. It was inspiring to be in the same room as the immigrants whose lives were changed in every way.

We had a bit of an adventure looking for someplace to eat lunch. I'd intended taking Carrie to Black Tap for burgers and some crazy milkshakes. The line was so big there were two lines. We stood in the back for about 10 minutes, and when the line hadn't moved I asked the people at the front of the second line how long they'd been waiting. They'd waited and hour and a half and moved 10 feet. We left, of course. It took half an hour to walk to Venieros and ate some dessert. It was pretty good, but I'm not going to lie: I felt like a HUGE failure that Carrie didn't get a proper lunch.

911 Memorial Museum

By the time we found the 911 Museum we only had about 45 minutes to look around. Here's a tip: You're going to want MORE than 45 minutes to look around. There were artifacts from the day, pieces of the building, and stories of survivors. It was all very respectful and hopeful and somehow not depressing. I want to go back and spend more time there.

Musical #4 - She Loves Me

The catalyst for the trip was Carrie's desire to see Zachary Levi in She Loves Me. She lucked out that the first preview happened to fall ON her birthday. The production was delightful! The cast was perfect, the set deserves a Tony on it's own, the story (basically a musical version of You've Got Mail set int he 1950s) is sweet, and the music is charming. Zachary was darling, but Laura Benanti stole the show. I could not get enough of her facial expressions and glorious voice. Throw in Jane Krakowski and Gavin Creel and I was enchanted. Just so cute. The quintessential old-school musical. 

After the show, we waited at the stage door. Carrie's wish was a photo with Zachary -- and she got it! We were at the end of the line, but he went down (with music blasting from his car) the entire line and signed everything put in front of him. Then he went back down the line, starting with "Birthday Girl" Carrie, and took photos with everyone. There were at least 100 of us. He was such a good sport. He kept thanking everyone for coming and telling us to bring our friends. Such a doll. I was disappointed Laura didn't show, but she'd been sick so I guess I can't blame her.

Then Carrie and I finally got an actual meal. Tom's Diner is famous because of Seinfeld. It wasn't the greatest food ever, but Carrie was happy with her pancakes, and it was her birthday, so I was satisfied.

The final step total for the day. Not bad!

Day 4 - Saturday

We spent Saturday hanging out with friends of Carrie's who live in New York. It was a nice, relaxing way to end the trip.

Alice's Teacup

None of her friends had been to Alice's Teacup, and I dream of the Curious French Toast, so I dragged them there first thing in the morning. Carrie bought Adrien's brunch as a thank you for letting us stay at her apartment. Not having to pay for a hotel was a HUGE relief for both of us.

Adrien, Angela, and Kyle

Play (matinee) - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

When I walked into the theatre and saw the stage for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, I thought, "I didn't know they were going to perform on the Holodeck!" I had no idea what I was in for. Wow, was this play good. The story is about an autistic teenage boy dealing with changes in his life. The brilliant stage and storytelling was used to tell the story from his point of view. I was amazed by what they could do with the stage, and with the focus and skill of the young man playing Christopher. I can't say enough nice things about it. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes good theater and is interested in something new and a little different.

We spent the afternoon with Lee, who I previously had known only by reputation. That didn't last long as Lee is an open book! We hung out at his apartment with his huge dog, Nancy, for an hour or so, and then he joined us at Arriba Arriba for dinner. Lee is gregarious and entertaining and apparently knew everybody -- totally added to the New York experience!

Musical #4 - Something Rotten!

Dinner went a little long, and I ended up being too late to be seated right away for Something Rotten! Fortunately, I was allowed to watch the first couple of numbers while standing next to the usher, and then seated in the front row of the first balcony -- Carrie and I had seriously fantastic seats. I was about 20 feet away from the stage. The show was hilarious! The basic idea is that a duo of script-writing brothers gets frustrated that Shakespeare is more successful than they, so they decide to write the first-ever musical. It made fun of musicals and Shakespeare and I was totally up for all that. The songs were entertaining, the dancing great, and the characters lovable. Having seen both, I am surprised Fun Home won the Tony because Something Rotten! hit all the sweet spots. It was the perfect show to end the trip on.

We intended to take a photo in front of the curtain, but they raised it right as the camera snapped. And then the ushers yelled at us for taking a photo of the stage. Whoops!

We stood at the stage door again for more photos and autographs. We're officially musical-theatre fangirls -- haha!

We joked that it looks like Christian Borle is about to murder me. In reality, he was the sweetest, more humble man.
Proof that I have the worst selfie skills.

I asked the girl behind me to take a photo of me and Brian D'Arcy James. He can sing to me any time. He's so talented!

After the play, we met up with one more of Carrie's friends, Whitney, at Schmackery's bakery. I'd never been before, so I got a classic chocolate chip cookie, but Carrie's Ginger Rogers was delectable, too. Next time, I'll get that. Whitney is a dresser on Broadway and Off-Broadway, and it was cool to hear her stories about the backstage life. She's living the dream!

Day 5 - Sunday

Carrie had an early flight and left before I got up, sadly. My flight wasn't until the afternoon, so I walked around Lincoln Center and Columbus Circle a little bit, drinking in my last few hours in New York.

I attended about 20 minutes worth of Sacrament meeting at the local LDS church ward. I was in my casual clothes and too embarrassed to go into the chapel, so I sat on a comfy chair in the lobby. Visitors are welcome, after all.

I wandered all around Columbus Circle trying to find Bouchon Bakery. Who knew it was in the mall? I found it eventually, and the macaroons were as good as advertised, particularly the mango. Still not my favorite cookie, but worthwhile when made correctly!

After about 10 hours on a plane (6 of which was next to a man who sniffed and coughed through the ENTIRE FLIGHT), I made it home safely and happily. My mom and dad were kind enough to pick me up from the airport and let me prattle on about my adventures. There had been many!

An eclectic collection of magnets to go along with my theatre experiences

Not a bad week for walking.
Too bad my FitBit died two days before the trip. Thank goodness for a pedometer app I downloaded to my phone.
I do like to keep track, particularly on vacation!

I feel a little badly that we never managed to visit Central Park. We were right next to it several times but we ran out of time in the end. It was cold and leafless, anyway. Better for Carrie to return at a more verdant time of year :)

I am grateful for the trip and the break from reality for a few days. Can't wait to go back!