August happenings

Yesterday morning I got an email from Benihana wishing me a happy birthday and I thought, wow, they are months early. And then it dawned on me that it was indeed my birthday month. I am sitting here on September 2nd noticing that the leaves on the mountains are changing colors. Where in the world did the summer go? School is in session and I am seeing more and more bloggers pulling out pumpkins for their centerpieces.

Well, August was full of summer activities so at least we managed to do what we could to feel fulfilled. Maddy had her last swimming birthday party of the season and the ones that come hereafter will likely be inside. Good thing about those is that I don't feel compelled to hang around and supervise as I do when there is a swimming pool with a deep end involved. I do love a good 3 hour birthday party on a Saturday so I can run errands alone :)

We joined Phil and Rachel Sanderson, (another couple we didn't know) and Tiburon and Adam Erickson, (and the last couple on the right we didn't know) in the Mystery Escape Room at The Gateway. They put you in a room and you have 60 minutes to figure out clues and puzzles that will lead you to the keys to disarm the bomb on the door as well as to find the keys to the door so you can escape the room.

We were probably 3 minutes short on time and unfortunately died in the terrorist bomb. Darn it. It was fun and exciting but we kind of walked away frustrated and for two days I kept thinking about what I could have done different and faster so that we could have gotten out in time. I want to go back and do another scenario now that I understand the gist of the experience. What a fun date!


The best part of course was the Black and Tan at Leatherby's afterwards.

Sarah, Katie and I each got an email inviting us to come and be a part of recording Saturday's Warrior. Saturday's Warrior!!! We watched the movie as kids and knew all the songs and used to dance in our flowey slips while on screen they did the ballet scene in Heaven. Then when we met the Lex de Azevedo and joined Millennium it was a privilege to since selected songs from the show through the years at various firesides and concerts. Through the 15 years of singing in Millennium we have heard Lex talk about how he has always hated the movie that was made. He talked about the show back in the 70s when it was performed in Los Angeles and then toured for years around various states. He talked about how the play as he wrote it was so very different than what the movie portrayed and how he was always a little disappointed that that was his legacy on file - something he didn't like.

So when he told us that he wanted to make a motion picture of Saturday's Warrior, not a stage play that was filmed like the one we had grown up with but a real movie, I hoped that maybe, just maybe, there might be a place for his old choir friends.

Fast forward to August and the email saying that he was going to record and we were invited to join the choir. Yay, yay, yay! We immediately called each other "did you get the email?" Huge sigh of relief that we were all asked to join. So we recorded the opening number and they did some filming with a mind to add the shots to "the making of" or during the closing credits.

I keep waiting to see if we will record the rest of the choir numbers as well sometime soon since I know they have started shooting the movie this week. Very exciting project to be a part of.

I joined a few co-workers for a golf tournament/fundraiser for the UofU cheerleader (our owner has a daughter who is a cheerleader). Ironically, all four of us are Huge BYU cougar fans. I tried to keep my BYU colors to a minimum but when you looked at us as a team I think it was clear that we didn't belong! It dawned on me later that if we were in a BYU fundraiser, I would never wear red even accidentally so I suppose it was clear to everyone there that we were rivals. Perhaps that's why they never stopped by to offer us drinks or snacks.

I was very pleased with my driving but still have a lot of work on putting and my irons. Boy, I stink at hitting anything with irons. Driver, got that down finally but no irons.

Austin Gunn (social media coordinator), Billy McCleary (tax director) , Mel, Jason Gough (controller)

Sarah gave us and Katie a few tickets to see Julianne in "Guys and Dolls" at Centerpoint Legacy Theater. This is a community theater along the lines of Hale Centre Theatre. It was really exciting for Julianne to have auditioned and have been given a part - a mission doll - but a part!

We were the audience for the preview night so we went with the understanding that they might stop the show if they had to and in fact, and one point they did stop the scene because some major props were missing from the stage. It actually gave the actors a chance to do some ad lib and then started over and actually was charming and fun.

I especially enjoyed the show because it was what we performed in 9th grade at Eisenhower Jr. High. I was a bag lady (which is not a real part) but that meant i was in 80% of the scenes including the ones full of the "guys" gambling.

Anyhow, the show was great. The girls we brought along with us enjoyed it as well. I'm glad Maddy is now old enough to sit still and enjoy a 2.5 hour show. I love sharing with her something I enjoy so much.

After the show we met Julianne for some pictures.

Maddy loves meeting the actors (well the ones that aren't too scary - read that as - girls) so we had to get a picture with Adelaide and with Sargent Sarah Brown.

And one of the hot box dancers that Maddy thought was really pretty. When I asked her if Maddy could take a picture with her she looked surprised and flattered since she was a chorus member without even a specific named character.

We also made a trip to Benihana for dinner. On our way into the parking garage the parking attendant told us that if we brought back a Benihana hat he would show us a magic trick. So Maddy made sure to bring it and was so excited. He had her come close to the window of the booth and he leaned out and took her hat, turning it upside down and said "ta-da, I turned your hat into a warrior hat". I'll admit I was a little bit disappointed but Maddy thought it was great.

And we leave with a picture of Toby, ever patient Toby, who let us dress him up with a barbie superhero mask and a kerchief cape. What a good sport he is - we love our Super Dog!

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

June happenings part two

Maddy second from the right

Maddy has been taking dance classes at the city Rec Center since February and they held the recital at Taylorsville High School this month. She took classes a few years ago but when it came to the recital day, she was sick and so this was our first experience. Though Maddy's class is held at the Rec Center, it is just a satellite of Becky's School of Dance in Kearns. All the various classes have at least one number to perform as well as the competative team had several numbers. I found it enjoyable, sometimes painful, mostly cute. Scott on the other hand would have rather eaten beets! Well, maybe that's too drastic but I think they might be up there together in terms of painful things. I promised him that the moment that Maddy's number was over he could leave. Ironically, her's was second to last and after about an hour and a half of performances. So, he sat ans sweated and was uncomfortable the whole time but he stayed. He's a good dad.

Maddy's group of 6-8 year old girls performed to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". I was pretty impressed with my girl. She wasn't the best dancer by far, but she held her own.

Third from the right

 

In order to keep the kids entertained back stage until their turn they had games and coloring and princesses. Maddy is still so enamored of princesses.

Maddy made a little  house for fairies ("Feres Welcum") and to her surprise the next morning when she came out as we were on our way to day care she noticed she had some visitors "Mom, what is that doll?" She ran down and found some friends in her house. Turns out that when I had posted the top picture of her fairy house on day one, mommy came over during the day and brought the dolls. We didn't notice them that night and they were still there perfectly in place the next morning where we found them. Clever Maddy did recognize that they were grandma scooter-rides dolls. I tried to convince her that they must have heard about her fairy house and come over . . . too smart for that but she was enthralled and ever so pleased. Clever Mommy!

For Father's Day, we girls and hubbys living in Utah took  Mom and dad to Texas Roadhouse and then visited in the backyard under the new pergola.

Now that Maddy is 6 I try to bring her to one play each season. This year it, obviously, was The Little Mermaid.The only bad thing about bringing her is that I spend half of the time on the big numbers glancing over at her to see if she is smiling and enjoying herself. In this case it was more of open mouth amazement than smiles - but I was pretty amazed with this production as well.

We (Sarah, Katie, Mom and I) discussed why we were emotional about this show and decided because it was the Disney movie that started all the good ones (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast) that we knew so well as kids. I do admit that in the play in one part of "Part of Your World" I found myself with my breath caught and my eyes a little teary.

It was a fantastic show, every actor was fabulous (well, King Triton had a weird speaking voice) and the singing was great. The big numbers like "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl" had so much going on that it was hard to decide what to look at. The use of the stage was imaginative and the costuming was so colorful and beautiful. Loved it!

My only complaint was that after the show Maddy wouldn't take a picture with Sebastian and Flounder. I understand her not wanting to be around Flotsam and Jetsom but Sebastian and Flounder??!! I should have just taken one myself I guess because I would have liked to have their picture for my memory book. Maddy of course cares about the princesses. So, we have all the important characters at least. Ariel taught Maddy how to hold her hand out "just so" in true princess fashion.

XANGO Employee bowling day at Jack and Jill Lanes in Lehi. It was 70s themed and if we do another 70s theme, I'll find me a poodle skirt to wear. Never have had need to own a poodle skirt before. I always bowl terribly until everyone leaves and we've cleaned up and then I bowl a few more frames and then the strikes and spares just come. I guess I do not bowl well under pressure. If you were going to ask me to join your bowling team you should probably move on to someone else.