One Word

rULeS: aNsWeR tHe quEstIonS wItH OnE wOrD oNLy!!

Where is your cell phone? purse
Where is your significant other? preparing
Your hair color? honey
Your favorite thing? music
Your dream last night? forgettable
Your life dream/goal? family
The room you're in? cubicle
Your hobby? performing
Your fear? meaningless
Where do you want to be in 6 years? playing
Where were you last night? home
What you're not? bored
One of your wish list items? organized
Where you grew up? theatre
The last thing you did? work
What you are wearing? sweater
Your TV? companion
Your pet? nonexistent
Your computer? necessary
Your mood? nonchalant
Missing someone? often
Something you're NOT wearing? shoes
Favorite store? book
Your summer? delightful
Love someone? absolutely
Your fave color? jewels
When is the last time you laughed? Christmas
When is the last time you cried? today
Your significant other's hair: erm...
Your life in one word: surprising

Now it's your turn!

Hello? (Echo)

Um, I realize it's the day after Christmas, and there is a crazy load of snow in the valley, but last I heard today is still a workday for my company. So, how is it that it's 10 a.m. and I'm the only one here? No e-mails, no voicemails.

Boy, do I feel like a chump.

Oh, well. As long as I'm here, I might as well get some work done.

Cue the loud music.... bwahahahaha!!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve is a much-anticipated event for the Smyth clan, mostly because we love celebrating with the Craven clan -- my mother's brother's family. My Aunt Elaine prepares clam chowder, salad, homemade bread and plenty of candy, we act out the Nativity story (never mind that all the kids are now in their 20s and 30s -- we still dress up!), we have a little talent show, and then us "kids" watch t.v. Christmas specials while the parents of kids do... actually, I don't know what they do. Chat? Maybe I'll ask this year.

Our two favorite programs are "Garfield's Christmas Special" and "Wil Vinton's Claymation Christmas Special." They are funny! And since we've been watching them for 20-plus years, we often quote the best lines right along with the animated characters. I'm looking forward to it!

Claymation We Three Kings

The California Raisins sing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

I hope that you enjoy the holidays and are surrounded by loved ones. I am very thankful for the Savior that we celebrate on this holy night, for His teachings and His Atonement, and that because of Him I can be sealed to my darling family for eternity.

Happy Christmas!

Singles' Ward Primary Program

On Sunday as I perused my neighbor's program during Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, I noticed something you don't normally see in a Singles' Ward: an announcement that the Primary would be performing their Christmas Program. Now, there are a few people in the ward who do have kids, but they're pretty small, and we don't have enough for a Primary. Heck, I've never been in a Singles' ward that did have a Primary. So, I double-checked the program, and sure enough, it was for my ward. Hmmm.

Brother Cameron from the Bishopric announced that the 12th Ward's Primary was visiting to perform for us. Then a single little girl walked up to the podium, said she was going to play "Canon in D" and "Away in a Manger" on the piano, and wished us a Merry Christmas. She couldn't have been older than 8, but her playing was phenomenal. We in the audience were all a little confused -- this one girl was the Primary? -- but when she finished, another lady got up and started playing an interlude while 16 more kids, still dressed in their Sunday best at 3:15, ranging from probably four to eleven years of age, walked up to the podium. It was pretty much the cutest thing ever. They sang three songs, and as I looked into the audience, I saw that everyone's eyes were riveted to those children. They sang very well and it was such a welcome change!

As soon as the children finished and left, Brother Cameron stood up again and said, "That's what you have to look forward to." We all cracked up and he added, "How's that for a marketing event?" Oh, how I loved that remark! This Bishopric is really good at encouraging marriage without making us all feel guilty for being unmarried in a church that stresses the importance of family. I'll admit, it was true. Even though I didn't know any of those kids, I felt the spirit as they sang, marveled at their attentiveness and dedication, and hoped one day I'd get to be one of those proud/embarrassed parents watching to see what my own kids will do on stage!

To finish the meeting, a young man in our ward sang "O, Holy Night" and then the Stake President gave a Christmas message. I've mentioned before I've needed more "Christ" this Christmas season, and I'm grateful that's what we focused on Sunday. It was a great meeting.

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.

No Longer 12 Days to Christmas

But I still think this clip deserves a gander: