March is tomorrow.

I have this new goal of blogging at least once a week, while slowly building up to multiple times a week. And considering it's the end of the month, might as well make sure I get it in. (kind of like visiting teaching)

I still keep thinking back about how much has changed in the last year. Everyone is married, I swear. My two best friends from high school both got married a year ago. (as in, one it's her anniversary today...and tomorrow...they got married on the 29th) I've actually lost count of whose married, whose having babies, whose gone on missions for the LDS church. I can't keep up like I use to.

What's crazier is how many people are graduating college soon. Almost 4 years ago, this was going to be me. I was going to be graduating this year in theatre education. That didn't really pan out. Then I was going to be graduating next year in Choral Education...yeah...that didn't work either. So I'm graduating eventually, in who knows what, going to get a job who knows where, doing who knows what.

Somedays it makes me wonder why I plan. They always get twists and turns and I never end up where I thought I was going.

Which isn't all bad, don't get me wrong. You learn a lot when you are thrown a curve. But it would be nice to be able to control a little bit.

I guess that's all just part of the adventure.

I love The Weed. (this might be placed on my blog in a different spot. I pushed a button I didn't know what did)

So I'm not actually sure what to write. I'm just trying to get better at writing more regularly on my blog, since I was rather terrible at it for the last while. Although, have any of you ever read "The Weed?" It's a blog I follow written by Josh Weed.

For anyone who missed the viral blog post he put out this summer, he is an LDS man who is also a homosexual, but he is married to a woman he loves very much and has 3 beautiful daughters. He wrote a blog post about it last summer, I stumbled on it over facebook, and ever since then I've followed his blog, mostly because it's usually pretty funny. For those who may be interested here are some links to some of his posts that I've enjoyed.

His coming out post, I don't know how many times I've read this post. It is so good for a number of reasons.-

www.joshweed.com/2012/06/club-unicorn-in-which-i-come-out-of.html">

the post about when he had to call poison control 2 times in a week.-

http://www.joshweed.com/2010/12/sometimes-you-just-have-to-call-poison.html

the one where he tells his daughters a bible story without thinking all the way through it first.-

http://www.joshweed.com/2012/12/bible-story-of-horror.html">

this one is one he gave at a conference. Many people (especially mormons, sad to say) have taken his coming out post as the way that all homosexuals should choose to live. He doesn't want that at all. It's really good, and also a good reminder for me. I have several friends who are also homosexual and I have to constantly remind myself that they have their agency and it is my job to love them. I would never want any of them to think that I would love them any less for having a significant other of the same gender. When you believe something so strongly sometimes it's hard to let others govern themselves, because you love them so much. anyway, here is the post. -

http://www.joshweed.com/2012/11/lessons-in-unconditional-love.html">

a post about his daughters first crush-

http://www.joshweed.com/2012/10/crush.html">

a post about lessons learned while camping.

His daughter asking about sex...in primary. -

www.joshweed.com/2012/07/sometimes-6-year-olds-have-questions.html">

there are so many more. i just enjoy his writing style, his honesty about life and the ability to laugh at life, and it's sometimes just nice to read about other peoples adventures. So if you are looking for another blog to follow, I suggest the weed. It's pretty excellent. (joshweed.com)

Happy Sunday!

Also, I am terrible with technology, so I'm hoping the links showed up, I also tried to edit it so now it may get put up again in a different spot.

Clue Party!

I just had the realization that I don't think I've ever blogged about mine and Jordan's clue party.

Two years ago, when we were first becoming friends, we decided we were wanting to try and be more social people. So we decided to throw these random parties. We had our pork night, poultry party, we have every intention of having our alternative meats party eventually (where we will pay homage to spam.) But having recently seen clue, and also having received the board game for Christmas, we though "Oh my gosh! How fun would it be to have a clue party?"

So that what we did. We decided that we would have a murder mystery dinner, play clue and then watch clue. Although, I don't know if you have ever tried to throw a murder mystery dinner, but the ones you can buy on-line are kind of expensive and we were busy being poor starving college students. So instead, Jordan decided to write the murder mystery. (Which he does a fabulous job!) We started asking our friends who may or may not be interested in coming, and there was an overwhelming amount of YES! So we finally put a cap on it, because he had to write it and I was cooking for it.

In the end the story contains 12 people. 6 suspects, 4 witnesses, and then the butler and the maid. (Wadsworth and Yvette...also known as Jordan and me) He based it off the movie clue, while adding in 4 extra characters.

The great part about him writing it, he can change the ending. So we've had different people who done it. Then after the murder mystery, in theory, we play clue (this has yet to happen. just takes to much time) and finally we end with watching the movie Clue. If you've never seen it...SEE IT!!! IT'S SO FUNNY! I don't know how many times I've seen it, but I laugh every time.

So last night was clue party #3, and I would say it was probably the best one. Number 2 we threw together so last minute and it was interesting, but we survived and people enjoyed themselves.

So just below here is a picture of our first clue night. Which was indeed so much fun. Our friend Spencer played Colonel Mustard, and he kept muttering things in Russian. The funniest part was that he didn't know I had another friend there who speaks Russian and could understand everything he was saying.

This was so much fun, we decided that we were going to have to do it again. However, due to lack of funds and free time, it didn't end up happening again until this past summer, where these pictures came from. The first one Jordan took so I could be in the picture, the second one I took so Jordan could be in the picture.

And then finally we had our Clue night from last night. The first one I'm not in because I took the picture, and the second one Jordan took the picture.

We indeed has so much fun, as we always do. Clue is pretty much the most excellent thing EVER! I'm so lucky I've got a friend talented enough to write the story and crazy enough to be willing to throw this party more than once. (it takes a lot of time, planning, money, and stress to host this party) I can't wait till we throw it again.

Will you be my Valentine?

Someday, I'm going to have a Valentine for Valentines day, at least that's dream. But until then I will continue my tradition of buying tons of candy and giving to out to everyone. Just cause I don't have a Valentine doesn't mean I can't be one.

I also feel a little bad because I was invited to several activities for Valentines and I chose to stay home, I've been way busy this week and so I needed a night home. Kinda wished I'd gone to my friends house to watch a movie. Oh well. It's not like it's the end of the world.

But can I just say that I absolutely love what my dad does for my mom every Valentine? (and no, he has not forgotten one year EVER! the only times when he didn't get it is when mom said "don't you dare" when money was tight) He will buy a red rose for every Valentine they have had together and one white one for the next year. IS THAT NOT ADORABLE?!! It started out when they were first married and completely broke pretty much. But it wasn't a lot of money to buy two roses, a red one and a white one. The next couple of years, still not bad. But now that they've been married 25 years, it's getting pricey. BUT IT IS STILL SO CUTE!!!!!! I love how much my parents love each other. It's not as apparent to the entire world like newly wed couples. But I can see it, and that's what matters.

I love how my dad will call my mom "dear heart". I love that he loves bringing her her presents when he gets back from business trips. I love how we always had to get the house uber clean before she came back from out of town for whatever reason growing up. (I would like to clarify I did not love it at the time, but looking back IT"S SO CUTE!) I love how she is grounded from the kitchen on mothers day. I love how I know that my dad loves my mom.

I love how my mom calls my dad "dear" I love how she will go into the office to ask him something then go put her arms around his neck and give him a kiss. I love how she will go to the opera with him even though she does not like opera. (I think that's where I get it from) I love how she will ground him from the kitchen on fathers day. I love how I know that my mom loves my dad.

Don't get me wrong, they do not have a perfect marriage. They have plenty of fights and disagreements. They don't always see eye to eye. But that's what makes it real. Conflict is always going to happen, and they remember that they made a commitment and a promise to each other for eternity. So they work it out. And they still love each other everyday.

It makes me realize what I could have someday. I don't need some crazy romantic who will pull out all the stops. I just need someone who will hold hands with me for the rest of eternity. I'm glad I'm lucky enough to see my parents example. I know not everyone does. I love them both, and I know they love each other. And that makes Valentines a day worth having.

The immanent death of Shakespeare

Guys, my car is almost gone. He is going to be dead soon, and it's really sad and hard for me.

I've written about Shakespeare before. (My little Mazda Protege') And how he has his quirks. Well his quirks have turned into problems. Major problems.

I'm pretty sure the transmission is going out. He also has this problem where if I'm at a stop sign or switching from reverse to drive, he'll just kind of turn off. He turns off when I'm waiting to turn left in intersections. He turns off in parking lots. Also, he doesn't like it when I am stopped at night and have the head lights on. The belt starts yelling at me. I also can't have my heater or re-defroster going while I'm stopped. And sometimes I also have to turn the cd player off.

As much as I hate my car, he has been a good car for me. He's lived about 5 years longer than everyone guessed. He has put up with me not letting him die. Driving off and around when I get upset. Staying parked in random parking lots when I run and just need somewhere to cry. Shakespeare has been my biggest pain in my butt, but he has also been a safe place for me. (which is funny considering how unreliable he has gotten.) He is also impossible to break into unless you break a window. (please don't. he's going to die soon anyway.) I only locked my keys in one time, and that was enough.

So here is my eulogy to Shakespeare Bon Jovi, my dear little '98 Mazda Protege'. Shakespeare, my little friend who is old, white and still around. You have been a royal pain, but a trooper none the less while I ended high school and started college. You have kept going when everyone except me was betting against you. I guess thats where we are similar, we are both far to stubborn. But you have finally realized it is time for you to move on, and now I so do I. As much as I complained about you, and told you I hated you, I will miss you. I knew how you worked, and you knew how I worked. You taught me so much. I learned how to change oil, change an alternator, fix a head light into working, change spark plugs, test a battery, change a battery, check the oil and tranny fluid levels on a regular basis, change a tail light, trick an automatic into shifting, and much more. You were always more helpful than I gave you credit. So despite how incredibly insane you drive me, I will always have a special place in my heart for you. Rest in Pieces Shakespeare.

(p.s. For those who may not know, the Bon Jovi is because that car is living on a prayer.)

(p.p.s. For my original post about Shakespeare, see "The little Mazda that could." posted in March of 2011)

Voice Auditions

So I am currently outside my choir room helping with music program auditions. And I am fairly entertained. It reminds me of three...almost four years ago when I auditioned for the music program. I was terrified. I know their pain...but it is still funny to watch.

What I wish more people would believe me on is how incredibly nice the people they are singing for are. They are such nice people. They shouldn't be terrifying to sing for.

I mean yes, they have high standards, as the girl who got kicked out of the program I would know. But they have been so nice about it.

And I honestly, have not ever been bitter about getting kicked out. I've been beyond heartbroken. But I've never been bitter. I would rather be kicked out of a good program then have the standards lowered. I mean, I didn't practice like I needed to. It was a lot on me. I still love the people in the program.

But I'm sure the people they let in next semester will be amazing, and have no reason to be terrified about their auditions today. And when they get in, they will learn so much. Even if they don't finish in the program. There is soooo much you learn.

Life is full of unexpected twists. It's a matter of reacting to them. Being bitter doesn't solve anything. It just hurts me. So I'm grateful for the experience.

Violet- The musical

Sometimes having a theatre background is annoying. It actually makes it harder to watch shows. I sit there and see things that are wrong. I see things that are right too. But I wish that was all I saw. So last night I saw Violet the musical and I want to tell you things that were right with it.

The leading lady was wonderful. I like how you aren't suppose to see her scar. You see her as she is, not how she sees herself. I thought that young Violet was spot on. She seemed like a young child to me. She knew how to make her voice sound younger as well. It was a beautiful contrast to the older Violet.

The father was also brilliant and wonderful. I completely bought that he was old enough to be her father. The chemistry between the two was perfect. Some of their scenes were my favorite to watch. Especially how he teachers her to count by playing poker. Works great.

The ensemble was also great, all of them played multiple characters. And you could see the difference between them. They were acting in the background without upstaging what was suppose to be happening. Which many people underestimate the difficulty of. It isn't hard to upstage. But you could see that each person had a back story that was their own. Even you didn't know what it was, they knew what it was.

Although I didn't give it a standing ovation. (I reserve those for when I am completely blown away.) I did enjoy the show, and thought it was well done.

Sleep

Morning! guess what? I SLEPT LAST NIGHT!!!! Well...as much as i usually sleep. I woke up a few times, but i actually slept for extended periods of time in between waking up. It was great.

Yesterday was great. We had a women's conference at church with some workshops and a keynote speaker. And then they gave us lunch... OLIVE GARDEN!!! We got olive garden soup, salad, and breadsticks. that made life happy.

The workshops were cool too, and something that I really liked that I took away from the Keynote speaker was that girls should be getting an education. Don't just assume that if you get married you will never have to work. And if you have an education you will have more options if that day comes.

Then last night I hung out with my friends Brad and Ryan. We went to dinner, and went to an improv show. Twas great fun.

Funny how that can make a day okay. Free food and friends. I even attempted to study yesterday, I've got a test tomorrow.

Anyway, yeah. Mostly I'm excited that I slept a good chunk of the night.