For the Love of the STAGE

A couple of weeks ago was my ward's talent show. Truthfully, I usually dread talent shows. I always feel like I should do something to be supportive, but I can never think of what to do, and it becomes stressful within the first few minutes of thinking about it, so I always just opt out...which is a bummer, really, because I actually LOVE to perform. I just don't always have tons of time to put into performing these days.

I'm the kind of person who needs a lot of support and encouragement in situations like this one. Thankfully, I have three ridiculous friends for roommates who fit the bill perfectly. We (much to my initial dismay) decided to do a lip sync/dance to "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls. We choreographed the whole thing in less than two hours on a random weeknight, and ran through it only a handful of times before performing, but I was so pleased with how it turned out! We had a ball coming up with the moves in our too-small living room, and we got a great reaction from the crowd as we hammed it up on stage. I LOVE the adrenaline of being in front of a crowd. All tiredness melts away with the applause and laughter of people you know and love cheering you on. Talk about roommate bonding!

Things I've Learned from My Big Sister

My sister, Ann, turned 37 last weekend. I was only seven years old when she moved out of the house, but as I've gotten older, we've become great friends. I don't even think about our age difference any more. She's been a great support to me over the years, as well as a great source of strength and knowledge. So, here's to Ann and all the things she's taught me:

*It is unacceptable to wear pink and red together, unless it's Valentine's Day. (Equally unacceptable are polka dots and stripes.)

*Alliteration can be used under any circumstances to liven up a dreary day. For example, Dancing in the Dining Room, Lounging in the Living Room, Cuddling in the Kitchen, etc.

*Cleaning corner by corner is the most efficient way to be sure your room is spic and span.

*Take time for yourself. Read, do yoga, or whatever makes your socks go up and down.

*You can drive for quite a while with fuel gauge on empty.

*Dancing is not just a hobby; it's a way of life.

*Follow your dreams, even if they lead through unknown paths.

...and the list goes on. Thanks, sis! I always know I can count on you for good advice and a listening ear.

March's Identity Crisis

Spring is finally here!...Or, is it? March is always a unique month in Utah. After a long, dreary winter for those of us Californians who can't stand the snow, the first hints at warmer weather appear. Finally, sunny days actually mean warmth (as opposed to January sun, which just means there are no clouds to insulate us, leading to deceptively COLD days).

Still, March is always indecisive. One day it might be warm (65 degrees is a heat wave here!), like last Friday, and the next day it could alternate between rain and snow for 12 hours straight (that was last Saturday). CRAZY.

They say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, but in Utah, the lamb and the lion aren't doing a very good job at taking turns. Oh well. I'll rejoice in the sunny, warm days as they come, and remember on the cold days that their days are numbered.

The warmth is on it's way!

The Power of Persuasion

It's that time of year again. No, not tax season...time to prepare my students for their persuasive essay test at the end of this month. It's amazing how much 7th graders DON'T know about essay writing, so I'm trying to give them lots of strategies and do lots of modeling. Today in class, we were writing supporting body paragraphs together as preparation for them writing their own tomorrow. To keep it exciting we did crazy prompts and (for my own sanity) I did a different topic with each class. Here is what they came up with (with a little prompting from the teacher). Enjoy!

2nd period
Thesis: Pigs are great animals.
Supporting paragraph:
First, pigs are experts at providing food. Without pigs, Cafe Rio pork salads would not exist. This dish is one of the restaurant's most popular items, and it would be a tragedy to lose it. In addition, pigs are the source of ham, bacon, and sausage. These meats are common, inexpensive parts of most Americans' diets. The variety offered by pigs makes them perfect for any meal of the day!

4th period
Thesis: Chocolate solves all problems.
Supporting paragraph: First of all, chocolate gives people energy in a quick and easy way. Chocolate contains sugar, which can increase blood sugar levels. This increase of sugar allows people who are on the go to have a quick energy boost. Chocolate also includes a small amount of caffeine. This can help people stay awake to do homework or while driving. Chocolate is not only a quick way to refuel, it's also a tasty treat.

6th period
Thesis: Love is dangerous.
Supporting paragraph: First, love is dangerous because it makes people do crazy things. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, the teens who are in love kill themselves at the end. Because they are so sad that they can't be together, the end their lives prematurely. In another instance, a guy might drive several hours every weekend just to see a girl he likes. He will waste money and time that might be better spent on something more valuable. When in love, people sometimes irresponsibly give up everything, even their lives, just because they want to be with that person.

Okay, so we're still working out the kinks, but they're making progress...I think.

I LOVE MY STUDENTS.

The Need for Renewal

I am a busy person, sometimes CRAZY busy. I'm pretty sure everyone feels this way, and I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. I always say, I'd rather be busy than bored. I like knowing that I've been productive and seeing all that I have accomplished at the end of the day. However, sometimes, I say "yes" too many times, do too many things and end up tired, overworked, and somewhat discouraged as I look an my endless list of things "to do".

This is why I need renewal. Thankfully, this weekend has been filled with opportunities to do just that. I got to take two days off work and go to a literacy conference in Salt Lake, I went to a regional YSA temple day at the Salt Lake temple yesterday, and I am currently enjoying some much needed relaxation time.

As backwards as it seems on the surface, we sometimes need to stop and rest in order to be more productive later. Stephen R. Covey calls this "sharpening the saw." I call it remembering why I love all the things I do in the first place. To "renew" is literally to make something new again. We have "renewable resources" and plants that are renewed to life each spring.

This weekend has truly made me a new teacher, disciple, and individual. I like my students again, and I am amazed at how much more capable I feel. I'm ready to take on the world and whatever chaos may come my way. Oh, what a little rest can do.

So, take some time for YOU this week!

The Joy of Live Theatre

I have been a "theatre nerd" my whole life. I'm such a nerd, in fact, that I spell the word with an "re" instead of "er" at the end because I think it looks cooler. Sadly, I don't get to perform on stage too often anymore (unless you count standing at the front of my classroom--which often IS like putting on a three-ring circus to keep the children awake and on task).

Once a year, however, I get to harness my inner performer and direct/facilitate the student talent assembly at my school. I have been working on this year's show for the majority of January, and our performances were Friday.

I am relieved that it is finally over, but I LOVE this experience. Despite the long hours of rehearsal and sometimes frustrating complications of getting everyone in the right place at the right time doing the right thing in the right way, the thrill of hearing the applause when the lights dim at the beginning of a performance is like electricity shooting through my veins. The immediate response from a live audience is exhilarating!

Now, there are some potential downsides to live theatre: like the fact that you can't just call "CUT!" and get another take if the first one doesn't work. You have to be able to cope with whatever problem might arise on a moment's notice. The whole goal is to make everything look as smooth as possible on stage so the audience has no idea what chaos is ensuing behind the scenes. Here are some of the FUN problems that came up this time (these did not all happen in the same performance, thankfully):

1) One boy's mom forgot to bring his guitar, requiring a frantic phone call home and all sorts of speed limits being broken.

2) One girl lost her sheet music, even though she "just had it a minute ago". Thank you to kind mothers who can drive to the school on a moment's notice.

3) The tech crew tried to use a new version of one of the minus tracks, but it WAS NOT the same song. It's always bad when you realize that AFTER you push play. Kudos to a girl who kept going even though I know she wanted to burst into tears and run off stage. (P.S. - Thankfully, she got a second chance at the second assembly, and it went really well)

4) One of the stage crew members was standing on the mircrophone cord so the performers were getting stuck half way across the stage and looking at the wings for help that never came because no one could figure out why the cord was so short.

5) One of the microphones cut out even though it was switched on...still not sure about that one.

6) A girl hit her electric violin on the music stand she was carrying and knocked it out of tune. Two minutes of off-key Bach is not pretty... (Thankfully, that was during dress rehearsal, not the show).

Despite all of this, after the show the students received countless compliments about how well they did and how much they all enjoyed the show. So, I guess no one noticed the frantic use of walkie talkies. That's the joy of live theatre!

P.S. - I'll post pictures from the show once I get them from my co-worker.

Welcome to a New Year!

I've been a little absentee for awhile, but I'm back in the blogging game for the new year now. Here's a brief update of what I've been up to:

*I went home to California for Christmas and LOVED having everyone home, even if only for a short time. It's wonderful to be blessed with a family that I just can't get enough of. We snuggled during many movies, made a gingerbread igloo, and enjoyed some wonderful food! Here's the igloo, complete with penguins!

*While in California, we celebrated Oma's 90th birthday. Here's the whole fam--all 24 of Oma's living descendants--crowded around her. What a woman! I admire her so much.

*I've been trying to keep on top of grading at school while acting as adviser for the student talent assembly. The show is a hodgepodge of a bunch of different acts--everything from stand up comedy to modern dance to classical piano. I LOVE this part of my job. It makes my life a little crazy, but there's nothing like spending an afternoon bonding with teenagers over spotlights and blocking. The whole thing will be over Friday, and I'll be happy to relax after that.

*I'm getting a new roommate this week. Thankfully, she's one of my best friends in my ward here, so I'm sure we'll get along just fine. I feel so blessed to live with my best friends right now! --At least all the ones who are in this state and not married :)

*Speaking of roommates that ARE married, Katie Johnson (formerly Barrus) had her baby boy on Monday morning at 3:08 AM. She and her husband, Drew, were at my house on Sunday night until 10:00, and she wasn't in labor then! Apparently, she wasn't feeling well when she went home that night, and 4 hours later...voila! She had her first child! I saw him last night, and he is SOOO cute.

So, overall, I've been enjoying being social and having lots going on to keep me busy. Life is wonderful. Hope your new year is getting off to a great start, too!