My Dream Roles

Someone asked me last week what my dream role is -- the part I want to play most of all -- and my mind went blank. I made a list of "dream roles" once, but as for a #1? I don't know.

Sometimes it seems that I don't realize that a role is a dream role (or a dream show where I'd take any role) until I find out there's an audition coming up for that show. That was true of Into the Woods. I had several auditions planned for shows I was looking forward to, but when I heard about Woods, I knew I had to audition. Thank goodness I did!

I have been lucky enough to play dream roles, though. Milly in Seven Brides, Amy in Little Women, and Ado Annie in Oklahoma come to mind rather quickly. I would do any of those again, given the chance!

Here are a possibly my top 6 dream roles; these are those I would (and have) run to audition for given any and every chance:

• The Importance of Being Earnest, Cecily
• Steel Magnolias, Shelby
• The Music Man, Marian
• Nunsense, Sister Mary Amnesia
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Helena
• Guys and Dolls, Sarah Brown or Miss Adelaide

I have auditioned for each multiple times, but never been cast. Still, I hope someday to put my stamp on these very different and iconic roles!

It is fun to dream...

Sugar plums and water glasses

I know several people who see The Nutcracker ballet every year. I haven't seen it in a long time, but I adore the music, and this video is just so cool!

Gracie Lou was totally on to something here.

Happy Friday!

Why the devil am I sick all the time?!!

You know how I seem to get sick every time the weather changes, which, in Utah, is freakishly often?

Turns out, there IS a reason!

Finally had the chance to go to an allergy specialist and after some itchy tests (pricking me in the back with a whole bunch of different/likely allergy-inducing compounds) he determined I'm allergic to all grass, most weeds and and a lot of trees.

Basically, it's like The Happening, except in real life (okay, I never saw that movie, so I don't know how like this it is).

Oh, also I have asthma. Surprise!

So, the dust in the air messes with my lungs, sinuses, and throat all through Spring, Summer, and Fall, so that they are so swollen they take the whole winter to recover... at which point spring arrives and it starts all over again. Any virus or bacteria that came along immediately got trapped in my lungs, which is why I get EVERY THING that comes along... like whooping cough, pneumonia, the flu...

I knew I had hay fever, and suspected I was allergic to some things, but I didn't realize quite how many! Sheesh! How in the world did I survive as a child in a subdivision in the foothills where there were no other houses for several years? I'm lucky that my brothers usually had the lawn-mowing duties covered!

Don't worry, I'm not pretending this is debilitating in any way. It's not cancer or MS or even diabetes. It's nowhere near life-changing, and the treatment isn't terribly inconvenient. The doctor only gave me two new medications and adjusted the others I was already taking. The allergies are more irritating than dangerous; I don't have to carry an epi-pen or anything, and I can totally play outside and perform in plays outside and stuff. It's just really nice to finally know what I'm dealing with and have a plan of action.

With any luck, I won't feel so dang sickly this winter or beyond. Hooray for knowledge!

My neighborhood tried to kill me!

"Ha! Ha! I am woman!"

Today during a routine oil change, the technician said, "Oh, you know about the passenger-side light, right?"

I replied, "Yes.. wait, what? No."

Apparently it was out. He asked if I wanted him to fix it. My dad showed me once how to do it myself, so I said, "No, thanks." Immediately upon leaving the Jiffy Lube, I headed for a local auto-supply shop, where a nice lady looked up my make and model and lead me right to the appropriate light bulb.

Then I went home, opened up the hood, and replaced the light. Sure, I had some trouble when I realized it was in an awkward position in the car -- smashed up against the washer-fluid container and obstructed by unnecessary metal? Really? -- but I managed to finagle the wire-holder-dealie shut with the strap of a paper bag I found in the backseat (that thing really didn't want to snap into place). Yep, I took care of it all by myself.

When I flipped on the lights and saw that my newly-installed acquisition was working, I couldn't help but scream out: "Ha! Ha! I am WOMAN!!"

There are few things that make me feel as helpless and out-of-control as car troubles. What with everything else I feel like I've failed at recently, I really, really needed this win. I can't tell you how good it made me feel!

Thanks, Dad, for teaching me how to take care of myself!

Enterprise crew watches Star Wars

Set phasers to LOL strikes again!


Should I be embarrassed that I can tell from the uniforms, Riker's beard, and Pulaski's presence that most of the clips are from season two? I can also name several of the episodes these clips are from...

Happy Friday!

Impossible

The definition of "impossible" is trying to decide which of the 85 photos your sister-in-law sent you to include in the family calendar. This would be far easier if her kids were less attractive and didn't have so much personality...

I may or may not have laughed and cried at times while reviewing the pictures. I love their family!

Can't wait to see what the others send me!