Happy Holidays!

I tried to blog yesterday, but the site wasn't letting me go further than the entry page. I'd be there for about a second, and then it would turn off! Boo.

Anyway, I had a wonderful Christmas, and I hope everyone else did too. It was perfectly marvelous! Family, good food (corned beef and cabbage this year--one of my favorites!), great music, films, etc. Twas loverly.

So a very Merry Christmas, happy Boxing Day today, and I wish you all a fabulous New Year's!

This title comes from the song with the same title by Irving Berlin. It was used in the Christmas classic Holiday Inn. It's worth your while to see Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby try to trick each other throughout the film--so funny!

Make the yuletide gay

Just out of curiosity, did I miss the big beta parade? I must have, for everything seems to be going that way. And I missed it, so now I'm stuck playing catch up. GRR! Oh well, better than never, right? We have a teacher affiliated with our school who has yet to learn how to use his e-mail account, and is "doing" it this week. He's been in the district for awhile. We'll see. I guess I'm not as far behind as some and I can live with that. I even have my own website for school: http://www.teacherweb.com/NV/OpportunityHighSchool/MsBrown/

So it is December. Brigadoon seemed to go pretty well. A well-respected theatre person in this area (I certainly cannot understand how this person earned this reputation, but I certainly don't agree with it!) who is notorious for sharing the most truthful and ripping opinion possible at all times even said it was beautiful. Yay! I don't think highly of this person's opinion about theatre, but I know it meant a lot to our director and other members within the cast.

Some friends and I are doing one old Christmas movie a weekend throughout this month. I came up with the idea, and I find it absolutely genious. Okay, I just love nostalgia, there, you happy? Last weekend it was White Christmas. This weekend's marquee is reading, Miracle on 34th Street (which was originally released in JULY of 1946! Can you believe it?). I love these old movies. Particularly with friends. It's better with hot drinks to go around (Chai has my vote). It's immensely improved with the serving of a soup of your choice in a bread bowl. If you have not tried this night in, I highly recommend it. If Christmas songs are sung or lights are looked at, it's improved even more. Sigh.

There are 14 school days left for us, but I'm okay with getting out on December 21. I love not having to go back until January 8!!!!!!! It doesn't feel as rushed. It gives me time to truly appreciate a good vacation. Especially since the semester ends prior to this break. Huzzah!

I've seen a couple of good movies lately. I liked The Prestige (but found it predictable). I laughed enough to lose 5 pounds in For Your Consideration. And I found that even Will Farrell's appeal can grow when he's working in a film with my favorite actress, Emma Thompson in Stranger than Fiction. Good times.

I spent Thanksgiving with about 24 or so people, most of whom I am related to. It was weird. We spent it at my aunt and uncle's place in Sparks (just outside of Reno). Their oldest, Bradley, went to Chicago on Monday with the family (this week) to start his training for the Navy. That's the third of my cousins, and I'll bet I have a couple more soon. It's so weird. Each of them is younger than me, and still can seem childlike in my eyes. I love them so much, and wish them all the safety possible. So, it was good, but it was bittersweet.

The song comes from "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from Meet Me in St. Louis.

Everything was beautiful at the ballet

Tonight we open Brigadoon. Yay for us! I feel more prepared to open this show than I have in about a year. I mean, I'm usually ready but the show isn't. Until now! I think it'll be good. They've poured on the cheesy and I'm laughing up a storm during the whole show. We have some classic lines like, "Where do I get a passport to disappear?" Ah, Broadway shows of the 1940s!

Seriously, though, the show is going well. Our dancers are well prepared. One of my favorites is Alice who was one of my younger sisters in Fiddler. She is an exquisite dancer and is mesmerizing to match in her dance with AJ, and then the mourning dance when Harry is found dead (AJ plays Harry, Alice is Maggie). I know I'm watching something very special, and I love that I get to be onstage watching the mourning dance. If any of you see the show, you'll know what I'm talking about.

The show has been fun. It's been a rare treat since there are absolutely no egos in the show. It has been so long since I was in a show like that. It greatly reduces the drama, and it's so relaxing.

So, if you're around, come see the show. Yes it's a shameless plug, but it's my blog and I'll write what I want to! :)

The title of this post comes from the song "At the Ballet" from A Chorus Line. It's one of my favorite numbers in the show.

When she knows as much as we know, she'll be on her way to Reno . . .

I've never claimed to like Nevada too well. I like living close to family. I like many of the people here. But Nevada itself, with the exception of our half of Tahoe, is BLECH!!!!!! However, today seemed pleasant to me, and I liked it. Go figure.

I had to do a workshop today regarding how to interpret the info for the ALTs. It wasn't too bad. Well, my mom asked me earlier this week if I wanted to do this thing called Dream Dinners with her. I agreed because it sounded intriguing, and let's face it, my mom's fun to do things with. She gets very excited about things and pretty much hilarious to watch. At any rate, we had to be there at 4:30. The workshop ended at 3:30. Rather than go home, I decided to drop off my Voter Registration form that changed my address.

I had thought that I needed to drop off the form near the Capitol building. It was actually 6 blocks away. I walked because it was such a pleasant afternoon. I love 70 degree weather. I love the green grass littered with scarlet and gold gems. It was a great walk. I extended it by walking around the Capitol building and the Nevada Supreme Court building. I paid my respects to John Curry, Kit Carson, and the memorial to police killed in the line of duty. I walked reverently over the letters forming the Preamble to the Nevada Constitution. I lingered at the memorial to children from Nevada killed at the hand of another human being. I proudly gazed at the Memorial to the U.S.S. Nevada, and those who have served their country.

I realize that sometimes Nevada's laid back pace does not always agree with me. I wish we had fewer "hicks" and more urban sophistication. But we don't; at least not overall. We have our share, but they do not shape NV so much as these other people. However, when I am in such a great mood with such a perfect afternoon, I appreciate my home's relaxed approach to life. I like walking down the street and smiling at perfect strangers without them thinking I should be locked up. I like the enthusiasm with which this state capital has decided to approach the "Think Pink" campaign. I embraced it all.

The title comes from the song, "Shuffle off to Buffalo" from 42nd Street. Not quite CC, but it will do.

One short day in the Emerald City

Okay so I ADORED Wicked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Paint me green now, and start calling me Elphaba ! Good show, good music, good energy, good costumes, lousy dancing but eh! There's no such thing as a perfect show, and the dancing not being overly impressive is fine by me because that means there's a chance I could perform in it. Huzzah!!!!!!!

I also got to see many of my college friends. Christi, Megan, Esther, Sara, Tiffany, Andrea--it was so refreshing. I miss having friends my age and moral value. I don't know. I never seem to have a good balance of friends. I have either all Christian or all non-Christian. I don't mind having friends from both beliefs; in fact, I prefer it. But that just doesn't seem to work out for me. I don't know why. Anyway, that rant is over. It's just something I've been thinking about lately.

We took the kids to the ropes course again and had a good time again. I did the Zip Line for the first time and had a good time. It's fun to scare myself with heights. They used to totally freak me out, but I can push myself to do it.

I'm also administering the ALTs for both Pioneer and Opportunity. Kind of crazy. I'm working madly on the bubbling in and whatnot for the tests on Wed and Thur.

Beth, one of my former students, got married today. I was there and it was weird. I knew a lot of the teenagers and made a lot of small talk with people I don't know. I guess it was fine. The wedding was adorable. I guess I just am not much for weddings myself. They seem pretty anti-climatic to me.

The title comes from the song with the same title from Wicked.

Dit dit dah dit dah dit . . .

Sooooooooo, life is busy but not at the same time, if that's even possible. I guess what I should REALLY say is that life is busy and stress-free. Therefore, it doesn't necessarily FEEL busy. I'm taking tap again after the summer healing of the over-sensative ankle. I've rejoined the church choir for the Christmas production. I'm contemplating being a stage manager for Bugsy Malone Jr. at the BAC. I've got about 2 rehearsals a week. I'm taking a class on SMART Boards. I've joined a gym and am attempting to go every day. I've got a MaryKay party on Saturday afternoon, so I'm cleaning house. I've got two weddings coming up here in the next month. My trip to Seattle in about a week and a half (friends and Wicked! Delightful to look forward to!). I've got plays to see for the people I know in them. Oh yeah, and a little thing I like to call work! :)

I don't mind teaching at the school I'm in. But I think I'm attempting a move next year to . . . SOMEWHERE! I know I don't want to make my life in Carson, and therefore don't want to become too settled. I'm looking at the New England area, Washington, Oregon, or (maybe) teaching overseas next year. I just, I don't know. I guess I've become a little restless out here. It's funny. When I was a kid, I loved Exeter. I truly did. I bawled buckets from September until January over that move. I never wanted to leave it. Now I want to live everywhere and experience everything. Not that Carson's all that bad, certainly not the worst place I've lived. I like having access to so much so easily. But I don't feel a strong desire (outside of my own fear of this risk) to stick around. I love my family and all, but I've never felt the need to live so close to them.

Anyway, just some thoughts on my mind. I figure if I work at it now, I'll be a little more prepared for it later! We'll see.

The lyrics come from the song, "The Night was Alive" from Titanic. The guy is singing about Marconi's telegraph and how it changed his life. I couldn't think of anything better, so I apologize.

I've been spinning round in a dizzy spell

Yes it's been awhile since I've posted. I need to get some internet at my new apartment, and I just keep up my lazy approach: sitting back and hoping it magically appears. At the moment there is no luck, but I'll keep you posted! :)

So I love, LOVE my new apartment! I'll have to get some pictures up sometime. It's adorable. It's comfortable. It's ME! It's the first time I can honestly and completely say that. I'm happy. I just need to finish unpacking.

So as far as Brigadoon is concerned, I am encoring the part I played my senior year of college. I will be playing Meg Brockie again! HUZZAH! It's a fun part, and I get to play her uncensored this time around. She's a bit of a tart, to be sure. When NNU did the play, I just referred to kissing a lot of guys. We sure cleaned her up a lot. My beloved alma mater had done the play before on a few occasions, but here's the humorous part: I was the first person to perform the role at NNU!!! They'd always cut her out because of her "controversial" lifestyle. I think that's pretty funny. Anyway, this time around Stephanie has promised there will be no toning down lyrics or lines (not to say they're horrible, but just a little much by the Crusaders' standards). Ha ha! I'm excited. Chris has the lead, Sarah is Fiona (I love her!), and Kirk will be playing Jeff. I don't know him that well, but he's a nice guy. Once again I will be playing a "romantic" opposite someone my parents' age. Weird, but whatever. Meg pursues and Jeff gives sarcastic denial. It'll be fun.

School starts on Thursday, and our inservices begin on Tuesday. I'm a little nervous. Kirsten may not be back, meaning we'd need a new Science/Math teacher on our site. We also don't have a Sp. Ed. teacher--and we probably have the greatest need in the district for one. Pioneer will have a new Math teacher and we also have a new counselor. Should be interesting. I really hope we still have Kirsten. She's interviewed for a position where she would be training teachers in the district. They'd have to be daft not to hire her, but the three of us gel so well, and we've planned for next year with some exciting stuff . . . Plus, she's the one who "runs things" for us (credit counts, scheduling, district mentoring, etc.).

The lyrics come from the song "All Choked Up" from Grease. We cut it out of our production and went with the movie's "You're the One that I Want". I like the other song better. Well, I should now unpack, lesson plan, work on a Scotish accent, learn lines, or work on harmonies. Adieu!

There is a brotherhood of man . . .

So I've been watching the two younger boys of a family from church since Friday night. Tomorrow night is when their parents get home. Kevin and Lynda farmed out the other three children. They asked me to watch these two because they've begun football practice in Dayton. Benji (9) and Jonathan (7) had their first practice yesterday.

Now, I've never been around football that much. I was the oldest of three girls. And while we each played sports here and there whilst growing up in lovely Exeter, we weren't what anyone would call jocks. We were MUSICIANS! We were THESPIANS! We were ARTISTS! And that was how we liked it. Jessica readily admits that she had two reasons for playing T-ball and softball: A) For the snacks that came after the games and B) If she played the catcher, she could look for bugs during the games. We weren't completely prissy, and we actually have pretty good capabilities when it comes to atheletics (when we put our minds to it) thanks to the Smith side of the family. But rough, tackling, pig-skin throwing, dirty, helmeted girls we were not. I enjoyed playing touch football in middle school for P.E., but that's where my involvement with the game ended.

Until now. On Saturday I went with the boys to pick up their gear. Helmets, pads, pants, shoulder pads, and jerseys were all on the agenda. The coach of Benji's team seemed to understand my completely baffled look and instructed me (partially) how to get them ready for the first practice on Monday evening. Crazy!

Last night I dropped the boys off. I believe it was the first time I was ever at a kids event where I saw more fathers than mothers. Many big guys hanging around a fence talking about their glory days as a high school player were to be seen and heard. All the moms seemed to be wearing a uniform of atheletic skirts/shorts, a visor, a sleeveless shirt, tennis shoes (sans visible socks), sunglasses and a whistle. A stark contrast to my jeans, t-shirt and flip-flops. I came back around the time the practice ended. Jonathan's team looked like it was ending first, so I hung out by them. I now understand why football players pat each other's butts! The mystery has been solved! The coach told them it was a way to encourage someone. I never quite figured out how that worked, but whatever.

I have come to the conclusion that I would not have made a good boy. Obviously. My Uncle Jacque teases me often by saying, "Lynette, you're a gay man trapped in a woman's body." When the boys were trying on their helmets for size, it was difficult to get them on. The coach encouraged them by yelling his insistence that they keep trying. Now I would have broken down into tears at that point if I were them, but they didn't. I liked the way I was handled gently by teachers and coaches and ballet instructors. I thrived under that sort of encouragement. If I'd been yelled at that way (though, all "encouraging"), I would have quit with the helmet stuck on my head and walked out (returning the helmet via my parents). I'm sure glad I wasn't a boy . . .

The title comes from the song "Brotherhood of Man" from the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Speaking of musicals, I'm auditioning for Brigadoon tonight. We'll see how that goes.

It's too darn hot!

I leave for Oregon tomorrow! Yay for vacation! Yay for roadtrips! Yay for the friends I'll see! Yay for the Shakespeare plays I'm seeing! Yay for a mom who'll go with me!!!!!!!!

Here's the deal though. I get back Thursday. I move in as much as I can within a few precious hours on Friday. From Friday night until Wednesday night I watch Benji and Jonathan. Tuesday night I'm auditioning for Brigadoon and Wednesday night is the callback for this play. Am I overbooking myself? Hard to tell . . .

So this is a short post, and I apologize. I'm just tired. Tired and hot. My car is boiling with no a/c. My apartment (not for long!!!) is hot. Even when it cools down at night the furniture retains the heat. I've taken to spraying water on the bedspread on top of which I sleep. That's just so I can fall asleep. I bought a bike tonight for three great reasons: 1) Fun 2) Excercise 3) To cool off. I'm hoping I can take it with me to Oregon.

The title of the post comes from the song titled the same. It's from Kiss Me Kate.

Till your dreams come true, you'll live on Avenue Q!

So, the big news must come out. I am moving. Across town. To a nice apartment complex. One with airconditioning, a pool, a gym, covered parking, a barbeque, a beautiful grassy park-like setting, a playground--a real gem of an apartment. I will be rooming with Lissa. This is the good news. The bad news is the fact that I have to pack everything and be finished in less than a week (ideally). Ugh. There are fewer things I hate more!

I am weeding through my stuff like crazy, and I hate it. I have a lot of crap and I hate to be reminded of the fact. I go through it, but my stupid sentimental side keeps getting in the way of practicality. I normally embrace this nostalgia-loving-weeping part of myself, because I truly like this aspect of myself. Unfortunately it's just become such an irritation. I wonder if I could call in Rosie from The Jetsons to help me with this dilemma, because as a robot who doesn't know me she would certainly be an asset in this painful chore.

Why do I need to be done in a week? Well, the powers that be at this loverly residence have required a 10 day holding fee, which we paid today. I'm probably not getting back until late on the 27th from Oregon. Normally, I would not care for such a triviality. However, from the 29th-2nd I am housesitting/babysitting for some friends from church. I am also spending the night on the 28th since Lynda and Kevin will be flying out early on the 29th (we're talking pre-sunrise departure to get to Reno ontime!). ACK!!!!!!! This too shall pass, according the the Bible, and I'm clinging to that. Where has my summer flown to?

Today, 22 years ago, my darling sister Janina was born. We celebrated with our mother by seeing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abriged at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival this evening. It was probably the best thing I've seen up there, but I expected it to be so. The style in which their comedies are performed gave me the impression that that would be the perfect show for them to do. I laughed a lot, along with the rest of the audience. I shouted, "Cut the crap Hamlet! My biological clock is ticking and I want babies now!" with the best of them. Good times.

I found a DVD of Middlemarch at the library. I read the book over 3 years ago, and enjoyed it. Plus many good Brits are in it. What is it about Robert Hardy that just makes me grin all the time? Even when he plays a scummy character, I can't help but fall in love with that adorable old man; at least a little bit!

The title of the song is the same as that which is the show: Avenue Q.

We'll go down south, and see your people

Hello all! It's my last week of summer school. Oh darn! :) Like I said earlier, it's not been too bad at all. Cake compared to Opp (though I expect to see some of these kids again).

On Monday I was able to visit the kickoff to the Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at the Broadway Under the Stars concert. I was soooooo stoked! I have long been a fan of Rebecca Luker (I think she was the third person who starred as Christine in Phantom of the Opera). I went up with the church choir (Grandpa Smith went) and a couple of my older friends from the theatre (meaning age, but spiritwise at least my age, if not younger). Twas fun! They encouraged us to sing. Never one to pass up a good showtune, I was belting all night long! The guy was pretty amazing--like watching Gene Kelly or something.

So either tomorrow I am going to the Family Reunion in Mammoth. I'm just going up for the weekend--not the diehard like others in the Smith clan. It began last weekend. I did get to see my sister, brother-in-law, and lovely nieces for lunch the last couple of days. Brianna seems to really be warming up to me; even knows me by sight now! Leigha was her crazy self. This time around she told me that she is " . . . so going to move to Carson City when I grow up. I'll live next door to grandma and have a tunnel from my room to your house, Aunt Lynette!"

I saw Pirates of the Caribbean; The Dead Man's Curse. I liked it, but not so well as the first one. I cannot, however, wait for the third one! I also took my mom to see The Devil Wears Prada for her birthday, which we both enjoyed. It was quite different from the book, but still good!

The title of this post comes from the song, "Wheels of a Dream" from Ragtime. I love this show. This song, when sung by Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell, is amazing. Sigh.

The poet people call The Bard of Stratford-on-Avon

To all of my Oregonian friends:

I will be in Oregon from the 24-27 of this month. My mom and I are going to visit your fair state to witness the Ashland exprience, aka The Oregon Shakespeare Festival! Yay! We will be staying with my mom's best friend since grade school. We will be seeing King John, and Two Gentleman of Verona. I'm sooooooooooo excited! If you want to make arrangements to visit, call or e-mail moi!

See your state soon!

The title comes from the song "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from Kiss Me Kate.

Those magic changes . . .

Week 3 of summer school is over now. 2 to go--and only 7 days! Woot-woot!!!! I'm loving this four day a week, 5 hour schedule. I love that school is out at 12:30, because then I have the rest of my day for moi! Plenty o' time! I should petition with the powers that be to instate this policy year round . . .

So I might be becoming a Mary Kay consultant. I'm considering it anyway. It's kind of . . . weird. We'll see how I do. It would be a very part time 2nd job. I mean VERY part time. We shall see . . .

I had an unfortunate experience the other day. It was on Monday, and my mother and I had gone to Reno together. We went to see me sister and me da. We went to Newman's Deli (where Nina works) to eat lunch. My mom ordered a sandwich but could only eat half of it. Janina had been able to spend part of her break with us, and mom sent the sandwich with Janina to be wrapped up. Another girl came out to bring it out to my mom. "Which one of you is Janina's mother?" WHAT??????????? I was mistaken for the 51 year old mother???????? About an hour before that I'd been mistaken for a high schooler!!!!! I ask you, how does this happen???

The title comes from Grease and a song called "Magic Changes". I found it fitting, because it seemed to deal with each of these topics. BTW, my foot was just sprained! It hurts because of the bruising, but not too much!

You're standing on my toe . . .

So I am determined to be a better blogger again. One of my summer resolutions. Along with keeping my apartment cleaner, adding more to my grad school fund, enjoying the time off, traveling, prepping for next year . . . Oi!

LLL has one more weekend. I am somewhat saddened by this revelation because it has been the best cast I've worked with since . . . I dunno, college? YIKES! Four years ago! It's been fun, though I'm still finding areas to feel more comfortable in such a daunting role. Maybe I'll grasp command of it by Saturday, our last show! :)

So on Sunday I went hiking at Tahoe. I fell on some rocks and literally could have killed myself. I might read this and think "Wow! Lynette's reached a new level of exaggeration!" Don't. I. Wish. I was falling head first. There was a slide of rocks that I was falling towards face first. For some reason I my fall was stopped short. I hurt my ankle again--the same one I've hurt twice in the last 5 weeks pretty badly, and I scratched both of my arms. GRR!!!!!!!!! I'm headed to the doctor's soon, though. Sigh.

The song title is "The Song that Goes Like This" from Spamalot. It was the closest I could think of to about hurting a foot. Maybe I'll get to see it in NYC if Esther and I fall through with our plans to visit next month . . . :)

Newlyweds! Congrats to Tara and Chad! 

Caitlin, myself, Ashleigh, and Jen hook pinkies for the "secret Pink Ladies handshake". 

Frenchy lets her Teen Angel give her good advice. 

Don't the guys look cool during Greased Lightening? 

Everything's as if we never said goodbye!

So sorry for this ridiculously long absence. There actually have been times when I was attempting to write or send photos, but it just didn't work out. GRR! So, Grease went REALLY WELL. It was somewhat shocking. I rolled the ankle that I'd twisted about two weeks before during one of our dances, but what do you do? All I know is that I was very glad it was the last show at that point so I didn't really have to continue dancing like a weirdo. Umm, I went to Tara's wedding in Nampa. It was weird to go back since I haven't been there since 2003. I drove through the campus and just kind of took it all in. Oh, and I flew there. Yup. Rented my first vehicle. I ordered a compact car. I got a free upgrade. Yup. I was sporting in a grey minivan!!!!!!!! Oi vey! School ended, and ended well. I am teaching summer school--8th grade English at CMS. This was day 3--not too bad. Love's Labour's Lost--well everyone else was doing well. I've sucked to an embarrassing degree (starting with me going "Bleh!" onstage with my tongue hanging out on Opening Night. Leoney was there that night and said he liked it--and he'd expected the Theatre gods to strike me dead), but hopefully the next two weekends are better. I need to wrap this up at the moment. The song comes from the same title from Sunset Boulevard. Oh! And Happy Flag Day!

Ashleigh, myself, Jessica, Caitlin, and Katie dance our way through Grease! 

3 weeks and it couldn't be worse!

Yay!!!!!! I've grown up in blog years to the age of 2 now! Who'd have thought it'd last this long, huh? I don't journal as much anymore, but whatevah. I have an ONLINE journal!!! However, I have made it a point to not get overly personal here. After all, I will reserve some good judgement and distrust of the Internet so I don't end up having one of those creepy Urban Legend like stories of my own. *I really should avoid using my personal computer for blogging as it seems very shy of separating paragraphs. I'm not quite sure why, but as an English teacher this truly annoys me! *So Grease is going somewhere, but I'm not sure I can quite see the direction. Truthfully if I could I'm not that certain I'd be all that satisfied wither it goes. After all the hard work I've put in, and the fact that I show up to rehearsals always I'd hate to know that we do indeed suck. I've gone when very sick. When I've visited my dying great-grandmother (though I'm fortunate in that she lives in Reno). When I've been tired, irritated, in pain, snow, sleet, rain, etc. I'm just getting annoyed that we're now 2 1/2 weeks away and that people still don't take it seriously. I like doing the hard work during rehearsals. I don't expect everyone to feel the way I do, but it's gotten to the point of ridiculous! GRR!!!!!!!!!!! *The title comes from "Another Openin', Another Show" from Kiss Me Kate. Sorry my 2 year anniversary wasn't as cheery as last year. I guess I should be honest, though.

It's the hard-knock life for us!

Sooooooooo, it is finally SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!! We went from my birthday (Feb. 20) to April 17 with no break. It was long. Hard. But it's now here!!!!!!!! After this, I just have to make it to Memorial Day, and then to June 6th. Huzzah!

Some sad news on the homefront. My great-grandmother has really taken a turn for the worse. I was able to leave school about 12:30 on Friday to go spend time with her. The doctors didn't give her a week to live. So we've all kind of gone up to spend time with her and whatnot.

Grease is opening in less than a month. I feel prepared. I think I'm the only one who knows lines. I know the dances, so I'm just trying to make them look good now.

This break has been all about cleaning for me. Sleeping and cleaning. Oi! I wish I wasn't such a messy person, and I wish that messes truly did bother me. I try to be neat, but I think I go to about a month and a half at the longest. What is wrong with me?

So the song comes from Annie when all the girls are trying to clean the orphanage. I may not have a Miss Hannigan on my tail, but I know how they feel!

Drop that Name!

So, do you ever find yourself in situations that you just have a hard time believing, even if you know there's no way you could possibly be dreaming? I do. Very occasionally. This weekend was one of those situations. It was great. *Blogger is so dumb on my laptop, so I apologize for the lack of paragraph breaks.* First things first: I auditioned for Love's Labour's Lost last Wednesday. On Friday I found out that I'm playing the part of . . . the Princess of France! Yay! It's going great cast, and Chris is directing. It'll be in June, so if you're in the Reno area at that time, be sure to see it! *We also had a great weekend for theatre. WNMTC opened Forever Plaid, which I saw on Thursday during the final dress rehearsal. I also got to be a PART of the show and helped Stephanie make something look like fog. Carson High School put on Suessicle the Musical which opened this weekend. I actually thoroughly enjoyed it! Very colorful and fun. This weekend also had a professional opening; A Couple of Blaguards, the touring show, opened at the BAC. Frank and Malachy McCourt wrote the show based on some of their own experiences. *So I got to hang out at Adele's (a world renowned resturant in CC, which has amazing food at posh/swanky prices) for FREE with John and Chris (who both work at the BAC). Oh, and did I mention Howard Platt, Mickey Kelly, and Steve McGraw were there? Because they were. Howard and Mickey were the actors in the great 2 man show, and Steve is the producer. All of them know the McCourt brothers personally (Mickey's been in the show with Malachy, Howard was the best man at Frank's wedding . . .!) and told fabulous stories about them. Steve also owns the theatre where Forever Plaid opened; Forbidden Broadway also plays there, and HE HELPED START IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know if I can possibly express how incredibly amazing this experience has been for me. I mean it, they are such great people. It's also been so fascinating to hear about the experiences of professionals and such. Like the time Mickey was performing in Ireland with Malachy, and Malachy literally left the stage during the show to use the restroom and didn't tell Mickey. Or working with famous actors in films and shows. Mickey's experiences growing up in Ireland. I just loved the whole thing! I'm looking forward to this next weekend when I get to do it again. *The title of this post comes from the song with the same title from Bells are Ringing. It's a very funny number.

Leigha loves spending the night at my place! 

Janina and I with our 91 year old Great- Grandmother, Evelyn. 

Tea with my Grandma, Lissa, myself, Janina, and my mom for my birthday! 

Turning 26 isn't so bad, right? 

How we gonna pay last year's rent?

Did I mention this yet? I can't remember. My roommate has decided that living closer to work would be wise. While I certainly cannot disagree with her, I must admit the financial bind could make things a tad tighter. Ugh. I hate budgeting and blah blah blah. I suppose that's what comes of growing up and what not. I can't say I'm too upset. I'll miss her, yes, but Jeanne and I have this phenomenal way of missing each other 90% of the time. I frequently get home after she's in bed, and I have to leave for work prior to her arousel in the morning. I'm sort of looking for another place, but I figure I really want it to be worth my while, so I am working it out. We'll see what becomes of this.

Next week we have NO REHEARSAL!!!!!!!!! I am excited, I must admit. I love rehearsing, but it'll be nice to have a week off. Hopefully by the time we resume Spring will have peered her teasing head for good, and all will be lovely. I'm sick of the cold, the snow, the ice, etc. It's icky.

Monday we start a new quarter at school. The LAST ONE!!!!!!! I'm having a hard time believing it. I love that I get paid through the summer, too. Huzzah! I'm not forced to work this summer. I'll only do it if I want to! I may select to do so simply to help myself out financially, but tis not a necessity.

Happy Ides of March, people! My best friend from Wilson Middle School, Tracie, text messaged me with that today. I texted back, "Don't befriend anyone named Brutus today." She texted back, "Et tu Brute?" Ah yes, I believe we'd still be friends today. She's funny.

Well, I must be off to thaw out my wonderfully freezing fingers. May your Friday be filled with blarney, pots o'gold, luck of the shamrock, and many Irish blessings. I intend to watch Darby O'Gill and the Little People (Which was Sean Connery's first American Film!) and The Quiet Man starring wonderful John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

The title comes from lyrics from the song Rent from the show Rent.

Gotta Dance!

So . . . I've been fighting a losing battle for the duration of this week, and gave in yesterday in the late morning. I am sick. It sucks to feel so bad and have a burning throat, achy head, incessant exhaustion, etc. I'm home today jiggity-jig. I feel bad because Kirsten is gone today, so Dave is the only "normal" teacher at OHS. Not a day I envy. I left yesterday so I would hopefully be well enough today to work and not leave the school in a lurch. I felt so bad, however, I called in sick. Apparently the district wasn't able to get subs for Kirsten OR me! Talk about guilt! (Bear with me, blogger isn't letting me separate paragraphs). *I decided to go to rehearsal last night anyway because I love rehearsing (though I didn't feel very up to it), and because we were learning something new; the dance for "Shaking at the High School Hop." Dance not being my forte was the reason I chose to go. I loved it! I get to do a lot of lifts in the dance--flying in the air is so gratifying! [Admittedly, this is part of the reason I want to play Elphaba; though the music and meaty role is also very enticing] I also get to BE a lifter! There is this move where the guys hook arms with the girls, the guys bend over and kind of roll the girls over their backs. Well, I dance with Adam (aka, "Doody") who is not supposed to be a dancer. Our dance looks ridiculous compared to everyone else. He'll just stand there while I move around. So, I get to "be the man" and Adam gets to be lifted. I feel so buff! *Anyway, last night I was leaving Gina's sauna, er, dance studio, and Stephanie was walking by me. She said, "So Lynette, it looks like you're becoming a dancer. I'm witnessing it happening!" Yay!!!!!!!!! I've always loved dance and adored it when I was taking lessons as a kid. The year I was five, I was so engrossed with the Mikhail Baryshnikov version of The Nutcracker, that I was barely able to be torn away from the television to help decorate the Christmas Tree. I remember being mesmerized by the grace and beauty. I was truly obsessed. Maybe I ended my chances along this line by dropping dance. I missed my calling! :( *The title of this post comes from the classic movie musical, Singin' in the Rain.

Oh one last kiss!

This weekend will be slightly on the insane side as surely all my weekends will be for awhile. My great-grandmother, Nana, is turning 91 this week. She is one of the two-and-a-half great-grandparents I've known (two great-grandmothers, and a step-great-grandpa), and the only one still alive. No one is really expecting her to live much longer, which is sad, but a darned good reason to celebrate a live that began in 1915! She tells us stories of getting her hair dipped in inkwells during school, and other forms of old fashioned elementary school flirtations. It's great.

Sunday, I must admit, I'm NOT looking forward to. Oh, the Oscars I am excited about, don't get me wrong. I loved Good Night, and Good Luck, Capote, and I thought Munich was very well done. I loved some of the performances I saw and agree with Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Straithairn, Paul Giamatti, Keira Knightly, Catherine Keener . . . the list grows with the more I see. Yessiree, I love the Oscars!

However, there is a dreaded awards ceremony for that same day. One I feel obligated to attend, but not so excited for. The Albert Awards. Never heard of them? Oh! Neither had I until January. Drat! Remember the summer of Shakespeare I had? Well, stressful as the summer was; for as much drama as there was, I guess I had some good experiences. Meeting new people and all.

Well, this troupe has an awards ceremony that frankly strikes me as silly. I was okay with being nominated for Best Supporting Actress originally. They sent us two ballots for nominations. I was gone from the second one. However, I have learned that Leoney and I are probably winning an award for (get this) best kiss!!!!!!! Ick. Embarrassing. I don't want to go. But I probably will to support the others getting awards. Ugh.

The title of this post comes from a song by the same name from Bye Bye Birdie.

Getting to know you!

Okay, another birthday post. Yikes!!!!!!!! Today I am 26. Yup. By the time my parents were my age, both myself and Jessica were born. I have a sneaking suspicion that my 26th year will be different than theirs.

To my post! I'll try to post pictures later, but technology is still kicking my butt, so I make no guarantees. I'll explain if I can post. In the meantime:

26 Things I've Learned in 26 Years

1) My attitude sets the tone for my dealings with everything. Religion, work, friendships, hobbies . . .

2) Learning to appreciate your own company is about the best investment of time you can make.

3) Traveling is the greatest of learning.

4) Kindred spirits can be found anywhere. Keeping your eyes and mind open helps the process immensely.

5) You are often the most inaccurate or accurate in evaluating yourself. It's rare that there is a happy medium.

6) Reading will give you some of the most satisfying relationships (both real and not) you can ever have.

7) To be yourself not only makes life easier on you, it makes it more fun!

8) A creative outlet is a fantastic way to deal with life's hardships.

9) Laughing is not only great exercise; it's a great way to make memories.

10) Work is ever so much more endurable when you enjoy what you do.

11) Attempting to live life with as few regrets as possible makes the past easier to face and the future brighter.

12) Families are to be cherished.

13) Follow your heart, it knows you better than your mind.

14) Technology is overrated.

15) Friendships should cross age barriers.

16) Have role models, and be a role model.

17) Never allow yourself to give into boredom.

18) Love others.

19) Indulging in whims once in awhile is healthy.

20) There is such a thing as good debt. It is worthwhile to make sacrifices because of it, too.

21) A playful spirit and a touch of innocence keeps one young.

22) You may as well spend time with music, films, literature and art that is of a high standard. It's educational and a good use of time. But leave room for some guilty pleasures. If for no other reason than this; it reminds you of what good quality is.

23) Trust is not an easy thing to earn and therefore should not be taken lightly.

24) If exercise is necessary for health, make sure it's fun as well.

25) Money saved is a good thing that can be invested in a future pleasure.

26) Singing for fun should not stop at the age of 5.

The title of the post comes from the song of the same title. It's from The King and I. Happy Birthday to moi!

Beauty School Dropout

So internet access has been the most ridiculous hassle of late. Wanting to blog, and having obstacle after obstacle is truly a curse of sorts. Perhaps I've angered the technology gods by shaking my fist at computers one too many times or something. At any rate, someone is laughing at my technological inadequecies and idiocy. At least someone can enjoy it, even if it's not me.

Anyway I have a wonderful life that I'd like to keep going. Wonderful.

I'm taking TAP DANCING and it's fun!!!!!!! Gina is the instructor. That woman is about as great as they come. Not only is she a blast to be around, but I'm being taught by a British lady who used to dance at the Moulin Rouge. Not too shabby. I seem to amuse her, so that makes life fun, too. I walked into class last week, and even though she knew I was in her class, I got a "LYNETTE!!!!!!!" as a greeting. It's nice to feel like people want you around.

I auditioned for Grease with the company I've worked with the most out here. I'm playing Frenchy, the high school and beauty school dropout. Ironically, I'm the only teacher of the 4 Pink Ladies AND (I believe) the only one with a Bachelor's of any sort. I got to laugh at that one. I've also been told to work on my voice as I come across as too intelligent. So I'm hamming it up, and it seems to be working. I'm looking for any clueless moment available. Though it's no Into the Woods like Steph gets to do (How fun!), I am already having a blast.

I'm singing at our Valentine's Banquet at church in a few weeks, too. Kristen claims to be mad at me because the two of us made a point to miss it each year and celebrated our "Anti-Valentine's Date" instead. Well, she's gone and she has a boyfriend, so I say we're even!

School is making me want to go insane, but hopefully it'll get better because of some measures we're trying to take now. I don't know if I can teach at a regular school now, because I've become quite accustomed to kicking out the students who refuse to do their work. It's nice to have an alternative that is supported, I guess. The students in one of my classes have a new trick now. Yep. They like to make popping noises with their mouths so I can't figure out who's doing it. It's like teaching 3rd grade. Ugh.

Well, the title is from that song from Grease. I'll post more when I can!

The seven deadly virtues, those ghastly little traps!

I got this meme from Devon. I thought it was fun, and so I have slowly been doing it throughout the week. Enjoy!

Seven things to do before I die:
1. Live abroad.
2. Teach a strictly literature class.
3. Travel to Prince Edward Island.
4. Write a published book of some sort.
5. Do a lead that I'd love (coughEPONINEcough) in a great and professional-like musical production.
6. Be involved in some political campaign of merit.
7. Dance with grace, style, and skill.

Seven things I cannot do
1. Dive
2. Read music
3. Understand how Hilary Duff ever became famous or popular
4. Speak Italian
5. Drive a stick shift
6. See well without glasses or contacts when driving
7. Realize the appeal of running for fun

Seven things I say most often:
1. Sarcastic answers to questions for the purpose of making people laugh.
2. Guess what my students did today?
3. Oy vey! (I used it a lot during Fiddler, and it just won’t leave my vocabulary!)
4. Here’s the thing . . .
5. Quotes from Shakespeare, Anne of Green Gables, Jane Austen, Gilmore Girls, various movies . . .
6. Carson City is full of hicks!
7. I can’t, I have rehearsal.

Seven books I love:
1. Pride and Prejudice
2. Anne of Green Gables
3. Jane Eyre
4. The Chronicles of Narnia
5. Shakespeare’s plays (there are several I read over and over)
6. The Princess Diaries series (hilarious!)
7. Agatha Christie mysteries

(Okay, I realize I wasn’t completely staying true to the requirements of the section, but there are far too many to choose from! Reducing it this much was a hassle.)

Seven movies I watch over and over again:
1. Pride and Prejudice
2. Anne of Green Gables
3. Much Ado About Nothing
4. Meet Me in St. Louis
5. Roman Holiday
6. Emma (with Gwenyth Paltrow)
7. Love Actually

My seven most vivid memories
1. At my 8^th grade graduation was when the school decided to give us the awards that weren’t academic. The academic awards and student of the month awards were given at an all school ceremony the last week of school. I had been proud to get my award for Straight A’s, honor roll, Top 20 in Science, History, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, that was all I pretty much expected to have happen. The awards at Graduation were for Lion’s Club, or Valedictorian, or whatever. I planned to kick back and talk with the guys I was sitting between. I gave a half-hearted attempt to listen to the school nurse, who presented the first award. It was the Shirley Baker Humanitarian Award (she’d been a school nurse who had died midway through my 5^th grade year). They announced the winner—it was me! I don’t know if I’ve ever been so shocked or honored in my life! I’ve won other awards in my life, but that one has meant the most to me, because it was an award for my character, not my achievements.

2. The first speech meet of my junior year of high school was such a crazy day! I’d competed on the LJHS speech team my sophomore year and had done okay; not great, but okay. My junior year, I chose a piece very different from my piece my sophomore year. I competed in Drama Interpretation. I felt okay about my piece, but not totally enthused—it was about a baton twirler. Anyway, our first meet was at Wasson High School, in or near Colorado Springs. The meet, in fine Wasson tradition, was running about four hours off schedule. This meant I never bought any lunch, because our next round was supposed to start before our last one let out, and I wasn’t sure that I’d get to really have time to eat before competing. I didn’t want to leave my lunch if I had to go to another round, because A) Cold pizza which isn’t great to start with tastes nastier at a high school event. B) There was a chance that it would not be found in a sea of backpacks, coats, files, etc. C) I liked to eat afterward as kind of reward for my hard work in three rounds. When I came out of my third round, the food had been sold out and was gone. No worries. It was Jenny Jones’s birthday, and we had a cake. Not enough to fill me up, but enough to tide me over. Anyway, they posted the competitors for the final round. I went up to check, because that’s what we would do, but I didn’t expect to see my code. But there it was! And Julie Checketts, another girl from my school, was in it, too! We hurried to the room, because the round tended to start once everyone was there. We each competed, and I did the best I could, considering the stress. I was in with “the best”. Julie, Sean, Kourtney, Juliet, Katie . . . all of us were there. At about 9:30, they started the awards ceremony. I ended up getting 4^th place, I think. Yay! When we tried to go home, we couldn’t. Our bus driver had left around 4, and only told one of the kids, James. Apparently there were mechanical problems, and he was trying to get them fixed. We were all starving, cold, and exhausted. The people running the Wasson meet had to get a van to shuttle us to a Denny’s where we waited for our bus. We didn’t get home until 3 a.m. on Sunday. Oddly enough, the next year, Mrs. Smith didn’t have us go to the Wasson meet . . .

3. During my sophomore year of college, I did what any normal kid does on a Friday night; I was having fun with my friends. When I got back to the dorm, I had a voice mail . . . from my parents. This was odd, since we usually talked on Sunday nights. I could also tell from the tone of my father’s voice that something was genuinely wrong. I called immediately after I woke up fearing for whatever it was that I was going to hear. All semester long, I knew something huge and hard was going to happen to my family. Do you ever get that feeling? You just know something isn’t right, but you don’t know why? Well, I in all my imaginative glory pictured my entire family dying in a car wreck. Hearing my dad’s voice was reassuring. It was November. My parents answered and I asked what was wrong right away. My dad asked how I knew, and my mom said, “Lynette can always tell.” My 17 year old sister was pregnant and due in January. She had just told them that week (though she’d been showing for awhile). They also told me in the same phone call that they intended to move somewhere in the summer—either Arizona or Nevada! Needless to say, both of these pieces of news changed my life in a dramatic way.

4. This event also took place during my sophomore year of college (it was probably the biggest year ever). I was in the Junior Class Play, which was The Night of January 16^th by Ayn Rand. It was a courtroom drama/comedy, and it was such a fun cast to be a part of. Anyway, I played an old Swedish maid whose belief in religious justice could probably make Jonathon Edwards’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” look like the 23^rd psalm. I had been the maid of the murdered man. Anyway, my testimony during the play could “make or break” the case, and it was one of those shows where the jury is picked from the audience. Because I had so much information, I would often run lines during intermission with the two lawyers, Jen Hill and Cory Schmidt. Cory and I really made a point to do this, because my testimony helped with her case and I had so much evidence for the case. Our final performance had a dead audience, and I knew my character was funny enough to bring them to life. I asked Cory if she was ready to run lines, and she said, “Nah. We’ve done a pretty good job with it.” Okay by me! When it got to our scene, Cory didn’t say two words put together that were in the script!!!!!!!!! It was so thrilling and scary at the same time. It got so bad that she said, “So . . . January 16^th was the night he got married, right?” “NO! That the night he DIED!” There were even parts where I knew my testimony was crucial to later testimonies, so I had to say things like, “I want to tell you something,” all the while trying to get the poor girl back on track. My heart was literally pounding as I left the witness stand for that performance.

5. My senior year of college was quite an exciting year for me. I did deal with bouts of loneliness/feeling left out and plenty of self doubt as to whether I was cut out for this senior project thing or teaching thing. However, most of it had a golden ring around it. I remember at the end of the year being so excited about London, but knowing I had to make the most of every day because life was going to be vastly different soon. On one of my last days, we had the Dooley Banquet. I was a sophomore girl’s R.A. that year, and it was truly an amazing wing of girls I had. I was feeling sad because I was going to miss them a lot, and they ambushed me! The girls got together and got me some amazing gifts and a card which I’ve kept in a scrapbook I specifically created for my experience as an R.A. I loved those girls so much, and it surprised me how much I meant to them.

6. The third and final semester of my senior year of college, I was broke. I mean, the if-I-found-10- cents-on-the-ground,-I-considered-myself-fortunate kind of broke. I was trying to find a job at first, but then I got the massive piles of grading that squelched that plan. I literally would get home about 4:00, have a quick dinner, and sit until 10-11 at night grading. Weekends were great, because I didn’t have to go to school, and I could concentrate on teaching. I could sit and grade. On a good weekend, I would put in my 3 or so hours of time set painting for the Fall play (because I wanted to honor my drama scholarship requirements) as a break, and go to church as a break. If I could finish up on Saturday night, then I could do my homework for the classes we had to take on Mondays, and give myself a couple of free hours to play. On a good weekend. Anyway, I was broke, and my parents weren’t helping me out that semester for NNU. I had a couple of scholarships, but it wasn’t enough to pay for the semester. I remember doing some heavy duty praying and constantly e-mailing my Financial Aide advisor. I finally was able to go in (school had let out early, and I’d made a point to get to school earlier so I could leave earlier) and Wes and I got to work. I sat there for a good 1 ½-2 hours. He came up with THREE different scholarships for me, and was able to get my drama scholarship increased by $1,000!!!!!!!!! I didn’t owe a single penny for that semester. It was truly phenomenal. I will never forget that time, because it was a miracle I witnessed and realized at the time—something that rarely occurs in one’s life. My parents had been freaking out, but for some reason I remained calm. God takes care of people; no one can tell me otherwise!

7. During my freshmen year of college, I made a lot of friends. There was a girl who’d moved onto our Morrison wing from a Ford wing mid-way through the year. I got to be her friend—not a great friend, but friends nonetheless. She was quirky; one thing I won’t forget. She had a pet guinea pig that the school let her keep. She had a leash for it and would “walk” it around the dorm. It was quite hilarious to witness. The more I got to know her, the more I realized how different we were. She was kind of wild. Did the drugs, did the alcohol, did the sneaking out of the dorm, or sneaking guys into the dorm thing. I didn’t, because I’m a perpetual goody two-shoes. But we became friends. I learned that she’d been moved to our wing because she was friends with our R.A., and this girl had issues—she’d run into the middle of the street next to the school trying to commit suicide was the rumor; she told me it was a reaction to her anti-depressants. Anyway, we would talk late into the night quite a bit. One night, she looked straight at me and said, “I wish I were more like you.” Huh? She was popular. At that time I wasn’t. She had a ton of friends, I was still very introverted around my classmates (until the end of the year when I said, “I want to change!”). Why did she want to be like me? I asked her, and was surprised at her response. “Because you see the person. You don’t look at the drugs, or whatever. You get to know them, and befriend them. You don’t judge me. You don’t seem to judge others. I want to be like you.” That shook me up and it made me very aware of myself and how I wanted to be.

The title comes from the song, "The Seven Deadly Virtues" from the musical Camelot. Hope you enjoyed it!

Traveling all around

Well, I love SEATTLE!!!!!!!!!! Particularly when it takes me away from Carson City in truly nasty weather. Apparently I missed some serious flooding, mudslides, and major snowing. I came back just in time for more "warm" weather. Couldn't have planned it better if I tried!

Esther and I had a grand time living it up in Seattle and Tacoma. I've never been to that part of Washington (I think the one year I was in Northwesterners was the one time they didn't go!) and I love it. I love being that close to the ocean and artsy things and green and the mountains and the shopping and the wonderful bookstore Esther took me to and the range of food and . . . sigh.

So the rest of my vacation is shaping up. I have three tests tomorrow morning that should take about 4 1/2 hours I'm told. One on Saturday that should be about two hours. I've mostly cleaned my room (It's a matter of trekking over to the other side of the parking lot to the dumpster) and realized yet again that I truly need another bookshelf but have nowhere to put one at the present. Drat!

I'm determined that part of my New Year's resolution will involve more travelling this year. I love it too much to quit! And now I can afford it a little easier.

The title comes from the pre-Broadway tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie from the song "Stumbling". Happy New Year 2006!!!!!