also in July

Many moons ago I lived at the Riviera Apartments in Provo when I went to BYU and I met Linda, Leslie, and Linsee. We have been getting together for dinner dates through the years when we happen to all be in town. Linsee is the one who basically drives these dinners because after we all graduated, she and her family moved first to Detroit and then they've been in Mexico City for several years. We get together when they come to Utah for Christmas or Thanksgiving. 

This visit was thanks to the month they had in Utah before relocating from Mexico to China! She has quite the adventurous life with a husband who does expat work for OnBase. China would certainly be an adventure. I'm not sure that I would like to live overseas. I admire people like her and like Tom and April who seem to love and thrive in those circumstances. I for one like eating what I like and shopping at the stores I like and using the US measuring systems and paying in dollars. 

Our traditional meeting place is at The Mandarin, a Chinese restaurant in Bountiful. Linsee orders for us because she used to work there and knows all the good dishes. We sit around and catch up on what everyone has been doing, how our kids are, what our husbands are up to... The often drift around to talking about people from their mission (I forgot to mention they all served in the same mission, which is how they knew each other) and in those moments I simply eat and listen and enjoy watching my friends.

Great to still be friends and to catch up even after all these years.

In addition to seeing great theater like "The Minions" with Maddy, I also was given some tickets from a member of the Tab choir to go to the Pioneer Concert featuring Laura Osnes. I have read a blog for years called "Mormon in Manhatten" written by an Orem girl named Natalie Hill who moved to New York for school and then stayed to work as an actress. Through her blog I was introduced to Laura Osnes who played Cinderella in the Broadway revival.

When I found out she was coming to sing I was so excited to also be gifted some tickets! Mom and dad were also gifted tickets (we got them from Bonita at Day Murray Music when we were at a choral reading. Bonita is in the Tab choir and mentioned this lovely young lady who was featured and I was thrilled is was Laura Osnes and jumped when she said she had some free tickets for anyone who wanted them). (Phew that was a long aside!)

Mom and Dad and I got to sit on something like the 9th row but a little off to the side. We were interested to see that the choir and all the singers have a huge screen back at the back of the main floor just below the first tier balcony with the words to each song scrolling. What cheats! We spent a lot of time watching the words - kind of like when you have closed caption on the TV and can't help but read along even if they are speaking English.

Sarah and Julianne also had some tickets but they were up in the balcony so we didn't even see them. Sarah and I talked with each other on the phone and tried to pick one another out of the crowd but the conference center is simply too big. It was a wonderful concert with mostly show tunes. Laura Osnes is a lovely woman with a beautiful voice. And she's so darn cute. I found myself many times when the sopranos hit their lovely high notes thinking that I wish I could be one of those high note singers! Maybe some day. Bucket list item to be in the choir some day.

We got a call from Melinda saying that Zoe was flying to Utah to spend a week with her Krantz grandparent and would we mind meeting her and taking her to Payson for Sunday afternoon to visit her Bishop grandparents. Dad didn't know that she was coming so he was thrilled when we showed up and we had her in tow. As is usual, Cody and Hayley and Harper came also and we had a great afternoon having dinner and visiting and sitting in the hot tub before we delivered her back to her other grandparents.

Maddy mentioned that she had a piece of her gums sticking up in the back of her mouth so we took a look and lo and behold - new teeth! When I looked online and read about six year old molars it sounded vaguely familiar but I certainly didn't remember that molars would be coming in at this age. She still has no loose baby teeth but officially has two permanent teeth! Gotta get those sealants in and probably have to be better about getting her to brush twice daily.

Saturday the 24th of July we headed back to Payson to celebrate dad's birthday. We brought Italian soda flavors and had an Italian soda bar (thank you (or darn you) Katie for introducing us to this wonderful treat). We barbecued hamburgers and had corn on the cob from the garden and topped it all off with a cookie monster pinata filled with little toys and magic tricks and chocolate.

Friday of the 24th since I didn't have to work and since Maddy had a play date with her kindergarten friend Ava, I spent the day pulling sheet rock and  insulation from the basement walls. I was hoping that if I could get all that out then there would be no reason to keep us from starting to work on it. I'm hoping that once we get started it will move quickly. I've been very anxious to have it finished and to live in 2600 square feet instead of the 1300 we currently occupy. It will make our home feel positively spacious by comparison I just know it!

Maddy didn't mind my working because while I did, she got to swim at Ava's house and not only did she swim, she got to wear a mermaid tail. Where were these when I was a kid?!

We also found a day in July when Maddy could join me at the office. She has been begging all summer so I gave in and we were so excited to see that, without any coordinating, Yoko had also brought her six year old Leah that day and they were able to play together. These little girls have become good friends over the past few years as we've brought them in on bank holidays. When school and day cares require a day off but business is still going on.

They spent a lot of time writing in my windows with dry erase markers and coloring and then quite a while in the lobby making up plays and performances that I was required to watch and video tape. The lyrics to their songs were almost as hilarious as the actions that went with them. These girls are both creative and funny and it is always fun to watch them interact.

Maddy at one point rushed to the bathroom but unfortunately didn't make it and had an accident in the bathroom stall. Good thing was it was in the stall. Bad thing was she was now wet and far from home and spare clothing. What we learned is that the infinity scarf worn by mom (basically a big tube of fabric) can double as a skirt with a little help from a pony tail holder to keep it all up and tight around a little girl's waist.

And last but not least, I was recognized for my 10 years of service at XANGO. I can't believe I've worked in the same place since May 2005. It has been a pleasure and I wouldn't mind in the slightest if this is the last job I ever have. I'd be quite content to retire from XANGO 25 years from now. I hope they will be quite content to keep me until then.

Brad Belnap, TJ Schiess, Dave Webb, Yoko Little, Leslie Gallacher, Joe Morton, Mel, Aaron Garrity, Kent Wood, Beverly Hollister

November in review

November was an interesting and busy month. I was promoted to be the Chief Financial Officer at work. While I was, and am still, so flattered and honored to be promoted, I am still trying to find my way in this new role. There were a few big fires left to put out when my predecessor left and then the controller quit and so it left me looking to find a tax director and a controller and doing three jobs, the big one being the shoes I was least comfortable filling. So, some really great November activities of course helped to keep me on track and happy and remembering that there is more to life than late nights at work.

Niece Rebekah sang the national anthem with her Davis High Madrigal group at the Grizzlies hockey game. Sarah and Lilian, and Maddy and I went to watch the game and to support the singers. We dragged Scott along with us to be the commentator for the game. I have to admit, hockey is definitely more interesting with him to tell me the rules and explain strategy behind the fights. Believe it or not, they are not just because hockey players are all angry or because it brings in the crowds (though it does bring in the crowds unfortunately).

 

The Saturday after Thanksgiving Sarah got tickets for me and mom and her to the Messiah Sing-In with the Utah Symphony in Abravanel Hall. I so enjoyed singing the choruses with the big orchestra and while I did know a good number of the songs, I learned that it's no so easy to sight read your way through Handel! Luckily, Mom sat between me and Sarah and she sang soprano so I leaned on her to keep me on my part. I was super impressed with how well she knows this music and how well she did singing those high soprano notes considering she sings alto in choirs these days. My Mom rocks!

  

And the best for last! (that makes me feel like singing the Messiah with my mom and sister wasn't the best, which it was - but, well . . . we're talking about The Bubbley!!!)

 

The Michael Buble concert. Oh, this boy can sing! I have about a hundred pictures that I took but they are all on another computer so this quick iPhone photo we will have to suffice. Sarah is my Michael Buble companion. She of course is a bigger fan of Josh Groban but The Bubbley wins out in my book. He sings with that Frank Sinatra style that I do so love. It was such a fun concert and we had some great seats. So glad that my best friends are my sisters so we can go do these fun things together.