It's official. The musical is over. We had a BLAST! Adam is not liking the calluses on his fingers. Lyssa and I can't get the songs out of our heads. And Brian keeps leaving his "Candle Man" prop around on the floor so I keep stubbing my toes! ;)
However, tonight would have been a rehearsal night and ... we didn't have one! It was actually quite odd to be able to do the "normal" things. Lyssa was able to go to a friend's house after school do practice the flute and to do homework. Adam was able to get his bike tire fixed and ride his bike to his soccer game and home again after. I was able to teach piano lessons and pick up Lyssa and watch the last 20 minutes of Adam's soccer game and then rush home to straighten up the living room to then host my monthly Book Club. (Thanks to everyone who came!) Brian went to a seminar with a friend he made while doing the musical. All in all, a great evening!
We took TONS of pictures of the people in the musical, and us, of course! However, I haven't learned how to get them on the computer, let alone to a place where I can attach them to this blog. I promise to learn very soon and will add them.
Thanks to everyone who came and supported us. My sister, Heather, was able to take some pictures and a few short video clips. You can check them out at her blog, http://tendermercies1.blogspot.com. That will have to tide you over until I can figure out how to get things on this one!
We had a great time. We made great friendships. We feel like we now have friends everywhere in our area. We created lasting memories. It was worth every minute!
-Bobi
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A Case of "The Nerves"
So tonight is the official Opening Night of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". We are prepared. We haven't peaked too soon. We had our "bad rehearsal" for the "good show" last night. Except, the choreographer said the dancing had never looked better! Wow. That makes me wonder how it's really looked all along! ;-)
The orchestra sounds marvelous. The mikes all work. The costumes fit. We've figured out how to put on the appropriate amount of make-up so we look alive on stage instead of half-dead. We are READY!
Have I mentioned that we're ready? Well, we are. However, the closer the time approaches to 7:30 p.m., the more my hands are getting sweaty and my heart is pounding in my chest. I haven't been this nervous in I don't know how long!
I have survived multiple surgeries, many, many doctor's visits that include all kinds of pokes and prods, bearing 2 children, unemployment, playing/performing in church, "performing" in front of all kinds of people as I have been charge of many, many meetings, and have not had a case of "The Nerves". Why now?
Probably because I am so EXCITED and want to do my absolute best. I'm excited for people to come see us. The show is almost completely sold out! Last night, the guy in charge of the Box Office said that out of the 2500 tickets to be sold (5 shows selling 500 tickets each show), there are only 216 tickets left! WOW!
Since it's bad luck to say "Good Luck", I'm going to say, to myself and everyone else involved -- BREAK A LEG!!!!!!!
~Bobi
The orchestra sounds marvelous. The mikes all work. The costumes fit. We've figured out how to put on the appropriate amount of make-up so we look alive on stage instead of half-dead. We are READY!
Have I mentioned that we're ready? Well, we are. However, the closer the time approaches to 7:30 p.m., the more my hands are getting sweaty and my heart is pounding in my chest. I haven't been this nervous in I don't know how long!
I have survived multiple surgeries, many, many doctor's visits that include all kinds of pokes and prods, bearing 2 children, unemployment, playing/performing in church, "performing" in front of all kinds of people as I have been charge of many, many meetings, and have not had a case of "The Nerves". Why now?
Probably because I am so EXCITED and want to do my absolute best. I'm excited for people to come see us. The show is almost completely sold out! Last night, the guy in charge of the Box Office said that out of the 2500 tickets to be sold (5 shows selling 500 tickets each show), there are only 216 tickets left! WOW!
Since it's bad luck to say "Good Luck", I'm going to say, to myself and everyone else involved -- BREAK A LEG!!!!!!!
~Bobi
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
He's Caught the Vision!
Our stake (collection of several wards [congregations]) is putting on Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". Brian, Lyssa, and I are on stage. Adam decided he wanted to be in the orchestra, playing the double bass. We have all been practicing a lot in preparation for our performances the last full week of April. The orchestra is just about ready to join the actors on stage. Adam has been making comments about how long the songs are. "Be Our Guest", for example, has over 400 measures. That is a long song, especially when you consider the stuff he's playing in school has around 100 measures. Also, Adam hasn't been enjoying "Be Our Guest" since he plays almost the entire song (remember, over 400 measures) pizzicato. (That means plucking the string instead of using the bow.) Pretty boring for him.
Last night, the leads went in to where the orchestra was rehearsing and sang "Be Our Guest" with them. Adam said it was so AWESOME! He says that playing while they were singing makes the song not be boring anymore! He was so excited! He has caught the vision of playing in a large orchestra (or band) while others are performing. He is now so psyched! The orchestra will be joining the full cast at our rehearsal tomorrow night. He can't wait.
I am so grateful that our family has this opportunity. We are each enjoying what we are doing and the parts that we are playing. I am especially glad that Adam is enjoying his experience in the orchestra so much. I am so glad that we are in a position to be able to be a part of something like this. It's been (A LOT OF) years since I have performed on stage, dancing and singing and just being a part of something that is larger than I am. I am loving the chance to be able to do it again. It's even better because my family gets to experience it with me. So much fun!
~Bobi
Last night, the leads went in to where the orchestra was rehearsing and sang "Be Our Guest" with them. Adam said it was so AWESOME! He says that playing while they were singing makes the song not be boring anymore! He was so excited! He has caught the vision of playing in a large orchestra (or band) while others are performing. He is now so psyched! The orchestra will be joining the full cast at our rehearsal tomorrow night. He can't wait.
I am so grateful that our family has this opportunity. We are each enjoying what we are doing and the parts that we are playing. I am especially glad that Adam is enjoying his experience in the orchestra so much. I am so glad that we are in a position to be able to be a part of something like this. It's been (A LOT OF) years since I have performed on stage, dancing and singing and just being a part of something that is larger than I am. I am loving the chance to be able to do it again. It's even better because my family gets to experience it with me. So much fun!
~Bobi
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
"Yes! I Can See!"
Yesterday, Lyssa got CONTACTS!!!!!!! After struggling for quite a while, she was able to put a contact in her right eye. She looked in the mirror, and with hands punched in the air, she exclaimed, "YES! I CAN SEE!" The technician and I laughed. She wasn't able to get the second contact in, so I helped out with that. She has fairly large astygmatisms in both eyes, so she gets to experience the joys of wearing her contacts for a few hours the first day and add on an hour or two each day after, due to the shape of the lens. She is loving having her contacts. She already came home from school today and begged me to be able to put them back in again. It's hard to be patient! I remember feeling the same way!
~Bobi
~Bobi
Friday, March 6, 2009
"I Like Myself"
The other evening, after Lyssa finished freshening up prior to that evening's activities, she came to me and said:
"Mom, I've decided that there is more to me than being pretty. I'm smart and funny. I LIKE myself. I mean, I'm pretty, too, but there really is more to me than just that."
I told her that I agreed with her and that I was really glad she likes herself. I encouraged her to take a few minutes and write down her thoughts and feelings so she could remember in the future. (She did.)
Later that night, she told me that at her last Up With Kids rehearsal, one of the directors had encouraged the students to go home and look themselves in the mirror each day and tell themselves "I like who you are and what I see". That was the impetus for the above.
I am very grateful for kind, thoughtful, caring people in my daughter's life who are helping her with her self-esteem. I'm grateful that she is open enough to listen and confident enough in herself to take it to heart and own it.
~Bobi
"Mom, I've decided that there is more to me than being pretty. I'm smart and funny. I LIKE myself. I mean, I'm pretty, too, but there really is more to me than just that."
I told her that I agreed with her and that I was really glad she likes herself. I encouraged her to take a few minutes and write down her thoughts and feelings so she could remember in the future. (She did.)
Later that night, she told me that at her last Up With Kids rehearsal, one of the directors had encouraged the students to go home and look themselves in the mirror each day and tell themselves "I like who you are and what I see". That was the impetus for the above.
I am very grateful for kind, thoughtful, caring people in my daughter's life who are helping her with her self-esteem. I'm grateful that she is open enough to listen and confident enough in herself to take it to heart and own it.
~Bobi
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Long Time, No Read
I know it's been quite a while since I last created an entry. Sorry for that! Life has been EXTREMELY busy. That's probably not the best exucse, but there you have it.
Since I last posted, Adam has continued to attend school and jazz band, to go to Young Men activities and Scout activities (including planning a couple of Scout campouts -- one this weekend to Lava Hot Springs and one in March to go cross country skiing), sold flowers at school and put together flowers at school and delivered flowers at school, done homework, practiced his instruments, cleaned house, eaten food (including help make meals), slept, read, watched TV, played on the Wii and the computer, helped clean house, hung out with friends, including sleepovers here and there. In short, he has lived his normal, regular life.
Since I last posted, Lyssa has continued to attend school, to play in the band (she decided to be in the Honors Band as well), to go to Activity Days activities (only 3 more months of those!), attended Up With Kids rehearsals (she got the part of Nathaya), to go to violin lessons, to play with friends, to have sleepovers and late-overs, to watch TV, to read, to eat, to sleep, to practice her instruments, to help clean house (including cleaning up her room -- did you know she really does have carpet in there?), to play on the Wii, to check her email, to attend Girl Scout activities, sold Girl Scout cookies, performed on the violin at Libby Gardner Hall with other violin students. In short, she has lived her normal, regular life.
Since I last posted, Brian has continued to work part-time at The Piano Gallery, he has looked for additional side jobs (and found some!) and completed said side jobs, has researched what he needs to do to officially set up a business, has read scriptures and other good books, has cleaned house, has prayed, has fulfilled Church callings. In short, he has lived his normal, regular life.
Since I last posted, I have continued to teach piano, attended PTA meetings, held Girl Scout meetings, helped sell Girl Scout cookies, checked email, worked at my online transcription job, cleaned house, done laundry, made meals, done ironing, read, read, read, planned and executed a Couple's GNO (thanks to everyone who attended), was part of the State PTA Nominating Committee meeting (which involved an overnight stay), played for the violin students who performed at Libby Gardner Hall, volunteered at my children's schools, filed our taxes, etc. etc. etc.
As a family, we have decided to participate in the Stake production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." I have been asked to be in charge of all the singing. We had our first singing rehearsal last night. It's going to be great! Adam has decided to play the string bass in the Orchestra. He says it will fun and challenging. Brian and Lyssa are singing in the chorus and plan to help with the stage crew. I will be leading the singing and eventually will be on stage in the chorus. We have 8 weeks until production week. If anyone is in town April 22-25 and are willing to pay $3.50 a ticket, please plan to come see us! It should be great!
I'm sure there are more things to write about. Life is never slow or uninteresting. That's all I can think of at the moment. Know that even though the blog doesn't get updated regularly, we are still alive and well, happy and healthy.
~Bobi
Since I last posted, Adam has continued to attend school and jazz band, to go to Young Men activities and Scout activities (including planning a couple of Scout campouts -- one this weekend to Lava Hot Springs and one in March to go cross country skiing), sold flowers at school and put together flowers at school and delivered flowers at school, done homework, practiced his instruments, cleaned house, eaten food (including help make meals), slept, read, watched TV, played on the Wii and the computer, helped clean house, hung out with friends, including sleepovers here and there. In short, he has lived his normal, regular life.
Since I last posted, Lyssa has continued to attend school, to play in the band (she decided to be in the Honors Band as well), to go to Activity Days activities (only 3 more months of those!), attended Up With Kids rehearsals (she got the part of Nathaya), to go to violin lessons, to play with friends, to have sleepovers and late-overs, to watch TV, to read, to eat, to sleep, to practice her instruments, to help clean house (including cleaning up her room -- did you know she really does have carpet in there?), to play on the Wii, to check her email, to attend Girl Scout activities, sold Girl Scout cookies, performed on the violin at Libby Gardner Hall with other violin students. In short, she has lived her normal, regular life.
Since I last posted, Brian has continued to work part-time at The Piano Gallery, he has looked for additional side jobs (and found some!) and completed said side jobs, has researched what he needs to do to officially set up a business, has read scriptures and other good books, has cleaned house, has prayed, has fulfilled Church callings. In short, he has lived his normal, regular life.
Since I last posted, I have continued to teach piano, attended PTA meetings, held Girl Scout meetings, helped sell Girl Scout cookies, checked email, worked at my online transcription job, cleaned house, done laundry, made meals, done ironing, read, read, read, planned and executed a Couple's GNO (thanks to everyone who attended), was part of the State PTA Nominating Committee meeting (which involved an overnight stay), played for the violin students who performed at Libby Gardner Hall, volunteered at my children's schools, filed our taxes, etc. etc. etc.
As a family, we have decided to participate in the Stake production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." I have been asked to be in charge of all the singing. We had our first singing rehearsal last night. It's going to be great! Adam has decided to play the string bass in the Orchestra. He says it will fun and challenging. Brian and Lyssa are singing in the chorus and plan to help with the stage crew. I will be leading the singing and eventually will be on stage in the chorus. We have 8 weeks until production week. If anyone is in town April 22-25 and are willing to pay $3.50 a ticket, please plan to come see us! It should be great!
I'm sure there are more things to write about. Life is never slow or uninteresting. That's all I can think of at the moment. Know that even though the blog doesn't get updated regularly, we are still alive and well, happy and healthy.
~Bobi
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I've Been Tagged!
I haven't been able to get online for a few days. It's amazing how busy life ends up being at times. I was grateful to get on tonight to catch up on my blog reading. I thought I'd even post something, since it's been such a while.
Imagine my surprise when I read a few friend's blogs and saw that I had been tagged! I decided I'd better do it now, or I'd forget. So, read on. I hope you enjoy my answers, just as I enjoyed theirs!
RULES~
1- Post the rules on your blog.
2- List 6 random things about yourself.
3- Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
4- Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
5- Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
Rule #1? Check.
Rule #2? Here goes...
1. I have two single sisters. One lives in the States and travels throughout the world quite frequently. The other is currently living out of the country. She also has an opportunity to travel a bit. They bring me gifts from their travels around the world. I love that! I love to travel; however, I am not in a position to do so at this time. So, I am even more grateful for the gifts they bring me from their travels. I feel like it gives me a taste of other places, even if I don't get to experience it for myself right now.
2. I love to read. I read voraciously. I usually read at least 2 books a week, sometimes more. I know I've been really, really busy if I haven't been able to finish a book in a week. I enjoy reading fiction mostly.
3. I'm auditioning for the role of Mrs. Potts in the Salt Lake Hunter Central Stake production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". I haven't been in a production since I was a senior in high school. I'm actually really, really nervous about the acting part of the audition because I was told as a freshman in high school that I am incapable of keeping the action moving along on stage. To quote, "Faster! Jump in with your line! Speak over the person who is speaking!" And then, after I delivered my lines: "That wasn't fast enough! Do it again!" I didn't get the role of Chava in "The Fiddler on the Roof" my junior year because the director remembered that and wouldn't give me another chance, even though the dance director and choral director were confident that I could pull it off and really fought for me. I expect that I've learned a few things over the years. Maybe I won't freeze up? We'll see.
4. I LOVE being a Girl Scout leader. I love the Girl Scout program. I love tailoring the program to fit the girls that are participating with us. I love seeing the girls join together and participating together and learning and growing together. I work very hard with the other leaders to make our troop meetings and activities fun and inviting. I want them to feel safe with me and with what we are doing. I attended a Leader Training day-long workshop thing (what do you call them?) and learned through an exercise there (an Aha! moment) that I have great memories of my experiences in Girl Scouts as a girl because I felt safe there. I wasn't asked to be a miniature adult. I was allowed to be a girl who was whatever age I was at the time. It was very, very hard for me to give up being a Girl Scout when I was 12 and in the 7th grade. I remember fighting my mom about it for a long time. I was very jealous of my friend who was able to continue. I wanted to be with her so badly! I'm very grateful that I get to be an adult leader and share my love for the program with other girls. I was so glad when Lyssa was born. I planned almost from day 1 to get involved with Girl Scouts with her. I'm glad that we get to play together in that way.
5. When my dad was getting ready to remarry, he called me to tell me about my stepmother-to-be and about her family. There are 5 children in my family -- 4 girls and 1 boy (in the middle). There are 5 children in her family -- 4 boys and 1 girl (in the middle). I reminded my dad that I had always wanted an older brother and asked, "How old is the oldest boy?" I was informed that I am STILL the oldest. Argh!!!!!
6. Growing up in Chicago meant that we made a lot of trips across the country to visit family in Utah and Idaho. It seemed to be that no matter where we went, my dad would find someone that he knew. Once, we had just crossed into Wyoming and stopped to get gas at the tiniest place just off the highway. My dad went in to pay for it, and didn't come back for a very long time. My mom was about to send one of us in to find out what was up, when he returned to the car. He had recognized the clerk inside as a person he had attended high school with. It started to be a family joke: "We can't take you anywhere!" In college, twice I was a member of a dance team that went to Europe. The second year, my sister and I were able to be roommates when we stayed with host families in Holland. While there, one of the guys on the team was excited because a person he had baptized to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while serving a mission in Sweden (or Norway -- can't remember exactly), came to visit him. My sister and I started visiting with this guy and learned that he had family that lived in the Chicago area. As we visited more, we figured out that his aunt and our mom worked at the same company! I enjoyed having a story to tell my dad so that he could say back to me "We can't take you anywhere!"
Rule #3? I tag Lara, Alayna, Russell, Ryan, Heather, and Amy.
Rule #4? Will do.
Rule #5? Will do.
Thanks for reading my random thoughts. I hope you don't feel there was TMI!
~Bobi
Imagine my surprise when I read a few friend's blogs and saw that I had been tagged! I decided I'd better do it now, or I'd forget. So, read on. I hope you enjoy my answers, just as I enjoyed theirs!
RULES~
1- Post the rules on your blog.
2- List 6 random things about yourself.
3- Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
4- Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
5- Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
Rule #1? Check.
Rule #2? Here goes...
1. I have two single sisters. One lives in the States and travels throughout the world quite frequently. The other is currently living out of the country. She also has an opportunity to travel a bit. They bring me gifts from their travels around the world. I love that! I love to travel; however, I am not in a position to do so at this time. So, I am even more grateful for the gifts they bring me from their travels. I feel like it gives me a taste of other places, even if I don't get to experience it for myself right now.
2. I love to read. I read voraciously. I usually read at least 2 books a week, sometimes more. I know I've been really, really busy if I haven't been able to finish a book in a week. I enjoy reading fiction mostly.
3. I'm auditioning for the role of Mrs. Potts in the Salt Lake Hunter Central Stake production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". I haven't been in a production since I was a senior in high school. I'm actually really, really nervous about the acting part of the audition because I was told as a freshman in high school that I am incapable of keeping the action moving along on stage. To quote, "Faster! Jump in with your line! Speak over the person who is speaking!" And then, after I delivered my lines: "That wasn't fast enough! Do it again!" I didn't get the role of Chava in "The Fiddler on the Roof" my junior year because the director remembered that and wouldn't give me another chance, even though the dance director and choral director were confident that I could pull it off and really fought for me. I expect that I've learned a few things over the years. Maybe I won't freeze up? We'll see.
4. I LOVE being a Girl Scout leader. I love the Girl Scout program. I love tailoring the program to fit the girls that are participating with us. I love seeing the girls join together and participating together and learning and growing together. I work very hard with the other leaders to make our troop meetings and activities fun and inviting. I want them to feel safe with me and with what we are doing. I attended a Leader Training day-long workshop thing (what do you call them?) and learned through an exercise there (an Aha! moment) that I have great memories of my experiences in Girl Scouts as a girl because I felt safe there. I wasn't asked to be a miniature adult. I was allowed to be a girl who was whatever age I was at the time. It was very, very hard for me to give up being a Girl Scout when I was 12 and in the 7th grade. I remember fighting my mom about it for a long time. I was very jealous of my friend who was able to continue. I wanted to be with her so badly! I'm very grateful that I get to be an adult leader and share my love for the program with other girls. I was so glad when Lyssa was born. I planned almost from day 1 to get involved with Girl Scouts with her. I'm glad that we get to play together in that way.
5. When my dad was getting ready to remarry, he called me to tell me about my stepmother-to-be and about her family. There are 5 children in my family -- 4 girls and 1 boy (in the middle). There are 5 children in her family -- 4 boys and 1 girl (in the middle). I reminded my dad that I had always wanted an older brother and asked, "How old is the oldest boy?" I was informed that I am STILL the oldest. Argh!!!!!
6. Growing up in Chicago meant that we made a lot of trips across the country to visit family in Utah and Idaho. It seemed to be that no matter where we went, my dad would find someone that he knew. Once, we had just crossed into Wyoming and stopped to get gas at the tiniest place just off the highway. My dad went in to pay for it, and didn't come back for a very long time. My mom was about to send one of us in to find out what was up, when he returned to the car. He had recognized the clerk inside as a person he had attended high school with. It started to be a family joke: "We can't take you anywhere!" In college, twice I was a member of a dance team that went to Europe. The second year, my sister and I were able to be roommates when we stayed with host families in Holland. While there, one of the guys on the team was excited because a person he had baptized to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while serving a mission in Sweden (or Norway -- can't remember exactly), came to visit him. My sister and I started visiting with this guy and learned that he had family that lived in the Chicago area. As we visited more, we figured out that his aunt and our mom worked at the same company! I enjoyed having a story to tell my dad so that he could say back to me "We can't take you anywhere!"
Rule #3? I tag Lara, Alayna, Russell, Ryan, Heather, and Amy.
Rule #4? Will do.
Rule #5? Will do.
Thanks for reading my random thoughts. I hope you don't feel there was TMI!
~Bobi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)