Happy Almost New Year . . .

Sooooooooo Christmas was wonderful. I mean it! It was probably the best one I've had in years. It was better than feeling lousy and playing games at my parents' house with just Janina. It beat driving over ten hours both ways to get to San Diego, sitting in the back seat and feeling like a seven year old again. Yes, it was wonderful! I spent Christmas Eve at my parents' home. We went to church on Christmas Eve as opposed to getting up early on Christmas morning. We drove around looking at lights after dinner at El Charro's (unfortunately the waitress who seems to enjoy not charging me for my food wasn't our server). We opened our gifts.

On Christmas, we opened our stockings. We lounged around, and then we had dinner in Carson at Uncle Jacque and Aunt Laurie's. MMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!! Good food; I'm glad I'm blessed enough to be surrounded by family members who can cook!

All in all, Christmas was relaxing. That's my favorite type. Especially since school got out on the 21st (but we don't go back until the 9th!), and it was relatively hectic! I have no grading though--HUZZAH! I have an eye appointment tomorrow. I'm signed up for the three computer Praxis exams next Wednesday. I have the English pedagogy Praxis on the 7th. I'm visiting Seattle from tomorrow until Jan. 2nd. Yay! I've never been there! I'll be visiting another NNUite, Esther! The one who told me once, "Lynette, you have the best table dancing hair I've ever seen!" Uh, thanks? It's on my list of weird compliments, which I seem prone to getting.

Oh! Last night I saw The Producers! I laughed harder than I think I ever have in the movie theater before. Oh my goodness--anyone at all interested in theatre should see it! Uma Thurman's singing left much to be desired, but other than that everyone was wonderful! So funny, so very, very funny . . .

I hope everyone else had a good Christmas, and will have a great New Year's. The title comes from the song, "Merry Almost-Christmas," from A Year With Frog and Toad. Janina did that this month, and it's adorable, at TMCC. She's going to be Little Becky Two-Shoes in Urinetown with them in March. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!

Oh what a show!

So . . . . our play was a smash hit!!!!!!! HUZZAH!!!!!!!!! It’s been 2 years since I’ve directed something, and I was nervous. And to direct kids is an incredible feat; I challenge anyone to try it without tearing hair out. No, in actuality, we had a great cast who got along fairly well. We had our backstage drama (like the kid who was Ralph putting safety pins through his lip, tongue, etc. and making our Gladys feel queasy the rest of the night), but it was relatively minor.

And we had mostly full audiences. Friday we had about five seats left, Sat. afternoon, I took one, Sat. evening, about three, and Sunday matinee none! Sunday was the true miracle because we had a snowstorm and honestly considered canceling the show. I’m so glad we didn’t.

We had a great response from every audience, too. I mean GREAT!!!!!!!! Jessica and her family came from Kansas, and we were able to put Leigha (my 5 year old niece) into the show on Sat. night—she was so excited. She kept meeting people in the cast and saying, “I’m the new baby angel!” Anyway, back on track, I’ve done this show A LOT!!!!!! Our church in California did it every five years. When I was 13 our church did it AND my school did it; within a week of each other. Many of us were in both productions. So I’ve been in the show three times, and I’ve directed a scene from it before, too. You’d think I’d be sick of a play that I memorized 12 years ago and haven’t forgotten, but nope!

My dad was so funny. He told me that when he heard I was directing this, he thought, “Man, I have to see it again?” He told me when it was over that it was very funny and he enjoyed it. The thing is my dad will encourage me and support me all the time. But if he came up and said, “Good job kiddo!” that’s all I would have expected from him. The fact that he said it was funny and he enjoyed it was a true compliment.

And so now, since I’m feeling nostalgic about it, here are some highlights that I loved:

~Lissa Baker. Period. We threw her in as a nurse, and then asked her to play an angel during the “pageant” so she could help the kids we had sign “Silent Night” during the “pageant”. She stepped in as a fireperson, too. Every time she was onstage, I was cracking up. As the nurse, begging Mrs. Armstrong to take the pill and finally popping it herself, to being the fireperson saying, “Don’t worry; we’re professionals,” to her singing off-key and loud for the pageant! Thank you Lissa.

~Mikayla running up and hugging us with such enthusiasm all the time, and always remembering her lines—not everyone can do that at 6!

~Tessa and Emily for watching Mikayla and Charlie backstage, and for being so funny with their “twinness” and “crushes on Charlie (the character, not the 5 year old)”.

~My niece for being so dang cute and singing “Silent Night” with “Round young merciful and child,” instead of the actual lyrics. She was also very good backstage I heard.

~All the kids and adults for having fun with their characters and doing a good job at them.

~Dave Anderson for playing for the “pageant”.

~Ashlee never missing a line or cue, nor complaining about walking even though she had knee surgery in October—that girl was determined to do a good job, and she did! I also loved her line, “And arriving from the East, like my uncle from New Jersey, the wisemen . . .”

~Warren for being the “Hip Christian Father” and going all out for it. Leoney and Liz laughed when he walked onstage in his Christmas sweaters and khakis—It’s the first time I’ve seen him genuinely wear things like that. He’s the king of black pants, a Batman t-shirt, and a black vest. Yay Warren!

~Stephanie for doing the show even though it wasn’t up her alley.

Thank you cast, I love you!

The title comes from Evita from the song, "Oh What a Circus!"

You'll fall asleep, counting your blessings!

Sorry, I guess I haven't felt much like writing. Plus I lacked the time. Plus my internet connection sucks!!!! Plus I didn't want to whine; which is probably what I would've been doing.

So, for a quick update (the icky stuff):
~I couldn't take the Nevada Constitution test on the day offered for $15, because I was on Vicodin. I didn't trust myself to drive it or to take it under the influence. Dumb absessed tooth!!!
~So now I have to take it for $65 instead (blech).
~My Praxis test started at 2:15 on Nov. 19. Our only Saturday Matinee was at 2:00 on the same day, and I found out a week and a half in advance. So,
~Our director asked her daughter to do it. Maria agreed, IF she could have another performance, too.
~I had to give up Friday the 18! :( I've never had to do this before, so I was more than a little upset by it, but I couldn't do anything else.
~The financial backers for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever decided they didn't like some things (easily fixable and minor in my eyes), so they backed out and we weren't sure we could put it on! Luckily, Chris and I were able to talk John (the Executive Director of the BAC) into it. Phew! It would have been awful, but having to tell 20 or so kids that all their work was in vain was my personal idea of Hell on earth. Can you imagine the looks? How crushed they'd be? I get shivers thinking of it. Forget about the work I've done, it would be murder on them, and some of them may never want to try it again!
~The kids at school have had a real turnaround for the worse at school. I am so exhausted/drained/etc. every day. I'm so glad I have other things to keep me going!

That's it in a short blip. These things all happened in less than a month. It felt like getting slammed from every direction. I'm recovering. Thank God for prayer, tears for stress relief, good friends, family, movies, music, and books! These pulled me through!

And now it's all about the Spice Chai, Christmas music, and warming devices! Speaking of which, I'm cold! I hope all of you are doing very well with a wonderfully relaxing break just around the corner!

The title is from Irving Berlin's "Count Your Blessings" song. I love it when Bing Crosby sings it to Rosemary Clooney in White Christmas. It's a happy thing!