Adventures with Allie Part I

I realized that I'm embarking on Adventures with Allie Part II tomorrow (Hello, New York and Ragtime!), so I should get part I in really fast.


Besides touring the capitol with Chance and Jenny (who were in SLC today and I got to give them a tour of the Church Administration Building -- some day I'll even post pictures), Allie and I walked around D.C. for miles and miles enjoying all the architectural delights my heart could ever desire (I hear that's just because I didn't make it to the ugly 60s building -- then I would have architectural horrors). Here is Allie in front of the Library of Congress. Some day I plan to go in and this time I will remember not to wear a belt (darn security).


I have an unnatural love of friezes and Corinthian columns.


After the tour of the capitol, there was a protest happening against the health care bill. Allie and I went to that for 15 or so minutes. I took pictures for my blog, she took notes for her job and then we left to continue on adventuring. Isn't the little protesting boy cute?


This was as we were walking away from the protest. It was actually really cool experience-wise. I met and saw all kinds of people and appreciated that we have the freedom to do things like that. It made me feel ridiculously patriotic.

Allie and I then headed over to the Cannon building where Chance works (because while we protested, they went and ate lunch) and saw Congressman Flake's office. I LOVE old buildings. They have such character. It's embarrassing to see Chance's office and then take him to mine in the COB that looks like it got remodeled in the 70s and no one's bothered to realize life and style has moved on since (or was better a couple hundred years before).


Chance had to keep working, so we took Jenny with us to get delicious cupcakes. Jenny thought I hated them, but what she doesn't know is I just bought them to eat the frosting off the top because that's how I am. I can vouch with sticky certainly that the frosting was delicious.


Allie and I parted with Jenny and headed to the International Spy Museum where, lo and behold, Allie knew someone working there (because she knows people EVERYWHERE! Maybe more than I do, even).


Since her friend was doing the spy mission thing whatever it was, we decided to do that. Her friend is a fabulous actress and adorable guide through our bomb-finding mission, but things like that (interactive) stress the snot out of me. I love being a passive participant at things. I'm glad we went, though, because aside from having to DO things, it was fun. And not only did no one die, but we totally rocked the mission.


We came out and it was dark. Since I wanted to see the monuments at night, we headed back over that way. I like to use the zoom on my lens so I don't have to cross the street to look at signs. This is one of many pictures I took from across the street to see where we were going.

I just decided that now I should mention how I know Allie because it doesn't fit in ANYWHERE with the story and I sort of like that.

Once upon a time Allie wrote for the 100 Hour Board (dun, dun, dun!) and a friend of mine filled out her dating application and asked her on a date and she agreed. Long story short, we decided to make it a double date but then he dropped out so she found a different date and I invited another couple and we all went to see The Osmonds 2nd Generation at the Conference Center. Which concert we still mock aspects of to this day. I love that sort of bonding, the kind that's mockable. And Allie didn't go out with her date again and I didn't go out with my date again and the other couple married each other and Allie and I have been friends forever -- the end. Which means I was seeing THREE internet friends (Allie, Jenny and Chance) last weekend.


Our first monument! Washington's! I'm sad it's closed so we didn't get to go inside. Next time, though (because I'm realizing there can always be a next time). It was night, so I thought it would be a great idea to be on f1.8 right? Right!


Then I took this picture of the Lincoln Memorial as I laid on the grass by the Washington Memorial. I wanted little stars, so I put the aperture on f22.


THEN I forgot I changed the f-stop and WHY were none of my pictures turning out and how is life so horrible? (I have ZERO good pictures of the war memorial. NEXT TIME!) Then I took this picture and realized 1. Oh no! Star effect! F-stop!! and 2. Holy snot, my lens is dirty.


WHEW! Fixed f-stop. Thank heaven! The first time I was in there, NONE of the pictures were turning out and people were getting pictures with their cell phones and I could NOT figure it out and it was maddening. I am awesome.


Then we walked by the water to get to the Roosevelt Memorial. It was a gorgeous night. Actually, the whole weekend had perfect weather. All for me!


And back home here's a picture of Allie's husband Carl because I did see him this weekend, but he stayed home Saturday to get the emissions test done on Allie's car because he's a good husband.

My Amazing Award

Once upon a time, Th. had a post on his blog about awards because HE got an award and asked if any one else wanted one. Of course I did, and here is what I ended up with.


It is, as advertised, my own tasteless award that is "more exclusive than a Nobel!"

I have never been more proud.

Favorite E-Mail of the Day

I think it might have been noticed that I like to surround myself with people who have a sense of humor. There is nothing more wonderful than friends who constantly make me laugh. It's even better, though, when I get coworkers who are funny as well (which is reasonably easy considering how many seminary teachers I work with).

Today Melanie forwarded me this e-mail from a teacher who she helped earlier.


After seeing his name, she asked him on the phone if he were the same Matthew Morrison as the one on GLEE and if he'd sing for her. Apparently not (o:

Melanie also, after reading my MASH results, gave me a Certificate of Advanced Achievement to "Kristy C. Blakeney". Which, while I appreciate, where exactly do I display that without confusing everyone who actually reads it? I guess I can always bank on no one reading those things. I should get it framed!

Touring the Capitol -- So You Don't Have To

This past weekend I was, of course, in D.C. (well, Maryland, whatever) to visit my favorite Allie. One of the main things we did on Saturday was metro into D.C. and tour the capitol. A few people mentioned they'd been there, but never inside, so with the help of my faithful tour guide and trusty camera, here is a picture tour! Sort of.


The start of our awesomeness involved playing MASH on the ride in. Allie looked at me and said, "What game should we play?" and I suggested MASH because that's clearly what 20-something year-olds would do.


I'm so a fan of this outcome. Also grateful I don't have to marry Edward Cullen. Granted, we only picked fictional people, so marrying any of them might pose a problem.


We found a capitol!


The entrance was underneath and through security. We went in and met my friends Chance and Jenny. Chance used to give tours of the capitol and was willing to give us one, too. It was might nicer because instead of a large group, there were four of us.


I saw this and thought of the Louvre. Everyone else was all, "Remember the part in that movie where he falls through the glass?" (was the movie National Treasure or The da Vinci Code? We were talking about both quite extensively).


This was me being the very center of Washington D.C.


The pillars are designed to look like stalks of corn.


They have little holes in them that are rumored to be bullet holes from the War of 1812, but since the British took the Capitol without firing a single shot, they're just iron deficiencies in the sandstone. I like the rumor, better, however, and choose to believe that instead.


This is the rotunda in the Senate wing.


From a different angle, the chandelier is rumored to be from a pirate ship or a brothel in Maryland. However, it actually came from a church on Capitol Hill before it was demolished. Again, I prefer to believe the rumors.


When we went into the room with the main dome of the Capitol, Chance told us we weren't allowed to look up until he told us to because we'd stop paying attention to him. He was very correct in that. The ceiling is gorgeous. Here is The Apotheosis of Washington.


Small detail (because I wanted to show off my zoom) of a scene called War. It depicts Freedom fending off tyranny and kingly power.


The entire dome. There is a roped off line on the floor (which no one seemed brave enough to walk through, so of course we walked through it and I didn't feel brave) where they put presidents' caskets for their viewings. This picture was taken right on that spot.


This is the ceiling in the Old Hall of the House or the National Statuary Hall. The House of Representatives met here from 1807-1857 and they have little markers on the floor where each desk was. Also, the room is a whispering room where you can talk in one spot and be heard in another clear across the room. I love designs like that.


That room was also filled with statues since each state is allowed to have two. Allie and I found Brigham Young. Utah's other statue is Filo T. Farnsworth (who invented TV), but we didn't find him. Allie and I had fun picking which statue person we would marry if we had to marry a statue in the room based solely on his marble representation. Great game.


Still in the same room, there is a clock of Clio, the Roman muse of history on the chariot of time. The clock is the wheel. Going out from 2 o'clock is Washington's head and it all stands on a globe with the symbols of the zodiac carved in it.


Chance's favorite room is the Hall of Columns. The capitals are tobacco leaves and this room has two statues of women, so the girls in the group were supportive of that.


The girls all agreed that this door was the best thing ever. Most of the words were broken up in odd places for spacing. Jenny said it reflected her personality. She gets so excited to do something, she forgets to plan the details. I could relate very well.


I loved the hallway in the Brumedi Corridors the best. The walls were beautifully painted.


Unfortunately the hall was only for members and staff, but since they don't define what you had to be a member of....


A gavel at the ready. I really wanted to go in this room, but I'm not actually brave enough to ignore Do Not Enter signs.


After the tour, we split up for awhile so Jenny and Chance could get lunch and Allie and I could protest on Capitol Hill (or something -- I mostly took pictures). Chance showed us where he worked so we could find him again.


Chance, our fabulous guide, and Jenny in front of the Capitol. The lady to the left of Jenny kind of flipped out and went all crazy in the elevator. I was a little frightened for her child. What a fun city.

And that is everything possible to see in the capitol...aside from the things I didn't take pictures of (o:

(Also, Melanie tells me she can't see pictures I post from Flickr, so they're all on Smugmug -- oh, and more! -- for her)

Things That Made Me Laugh This Week

Oh, hey, I'm going to D.C. this weekend (in about 10 minutes, even) to see my favorite Allie who ALWAYS makes me laugh which automatically means this weekend will be amazing. Some day I should maybe tell the story of How I Met Allie because it's one of the more amazing friend stories I have. Not today, however.

Kristy: "When I get to heaven, I'm going to have to talk to God about some things." Bridget: "And if it's about hair color, she's probably serious." I went over to Bridget and Dane's house and was complaining that I ended up with the wrong natural hair color (too brown, not enough red!). Dane didn't really believe me that I'm going to take it up at the Pleasing Bar of God.

Brooke: "When is National Breakup Day? It should be soon. Aw, January 11th."

Allie: "I will never name my sons those names, so I have to settle by naming other people's appliances instead." She was trying to name my car. I don't remember what we settled on.

Tianna: "Sleep is the New Pink!"

Kristy (complaining about something work-related): "Why is he so surprised about having to pay money back? I wonder if people do this to banks. 'You want ME to pay back a LOAN?'" Brooke: Um...OF COURSE THEY DO. Did you notice we're in a recession because of that?" Suddenly it all makes sense!

Cari (on her plan to get me married): "I shall take the picture of you jumping where you have no neck and the crowds will just FORM. Mass, even."

Daniel A. (on how computers work on Prince Edward Island without electricity -- because CLEARLY they can't be that advanced yet)): "Actually, I'm not really sure how this thing works. Prayer, I think."

Daniel R.: "Wow. I've seen Sleepless in Seattle and you haven't. Looks like I fail as a guy."

Kristy (after Brooke changed my status and I started getting comments on it): "Who is Sergeant Tina???" Brooke: "I don't know, but her name totally rhymes with Argentina! MAKING HER AWESOME!"

Melanie (discussing someone who is coming to Salt Lake to sing and I jokingly told her she should go and see him): "I heard him on TV once. I wanted to eat my own face." Kristy: "I don't even know what that means." Melanie: "Me either. Frankly, reading what I typed kind of unsettled me."

Josie: "I love your commitment to that scale." She has the funniest compliments (o:

When Jenny's Gone

I went over to Jenny's house tonight -- like I do EVERY Thursday now for months -- and found she was on her way out. That was okay, I managed to find something to do without her. I even feel okay posting about what we did because by the time Jenny reads it, I will be in D.C. and not here for her to call and say, "You guys are weird" in a disapproving way.

First, though....


I told MamaLynne I was going to post this picture for her to enjoy for the rest of forever. We were driving home last night and I wanted her to drive by the COB so I could get a picture for my PAD. She wouldn't but told me to take a picture of "that beautiful tree with the pretty light behind it." This is the exact picture she wanted.

So, Jenny's house.


Jenny's house is a land of peril and danger. The foremost being Giselle not always liking me. Or anyone who isn't Jenny. This is the glare I got when I walked into the room.


A different kind of danger comes from the dinosaurs who roam the kitchen and attack the legs of distracted aunties. The only way to keep dinosaurs at bay is by taking pictures or pretending you're going to make them eat vegetables.


Giselle can sometimes be placated by giant ball pit balls, but at a moments notice she will go into a ball-throwing frenzy. Her aim is getting much more accurate. Now all she needs is muscles to support maximum impact.


Mark, Giselle and Ziggy plotting what to do with all the balls.


Giselle decided to use balls as an accent for her hair.


I love when she poses. It's so rare!


Ziggy, despite what it looks, decided to hoard the balls. This was one of those moments I knew I shouldn't laugh, but failed. Same with how he was earlier jumping from the fireplace hearth to the lovesac -- which is not allowed. I hope to show this to his future dates.


Ziggy was being a mix between a camel and dinosaur with extra armor. Giselle supported that idea. Here you can see her handing him more balls.


Giselle wanted to hoard balls, too, but her clothes didn't fit as many as Ziggy's.


Giselle being a ball girl. I am reasonably certain that Jenny doesn't normally let them wander around with balls in their clothes trying to bump into things/people to prove how extra padded they are. Luckily, though, no ball lives were lost and I have HOPEFULLY maintained my title as favorite auntie.

Halloween with the Fjeldsteds

At some unknown point in my sister's life, she decided to become Domestic and a Hostess. This worked out really well for us as she wanted to have the family over for a Halloween party. Our neighborhood doesn't get many trick-or-treaters these days anyway, so it seemed like a great idea. Jenny had dinner and made wassail and appetizers and even organized crafty projects like creating pumpkin and spider cookies or eating graveyard dip. She even loved us enough to buy non-diet root beer (has anyone ever tried the diet kind? That is all kinds of nasty!).

She's come a long way from the time when Mark had to teach her how to make Macaroni and Cheese (yes, the Kraft kind) or when I'd visit, every last cereal bowl would be dirty because that's all they ate.

While those things were all fun and fodder for teasing, the New and Improved Jenny's house is much more delicious.


The thing I was most excited for this Halloween (and the reason I didn't spend Halloween in Salem, MA as I wished to -- because wouldn't that be amazingly fun?) was seeing Ziggy and Giselle in their costumes. I'd never had that chance before since we haven't managed to live in the same state/country for more than a week since Ziggy was born and that week wasn't Halloween. Giselle was a unicorn.


Her favorite thing ever is walking -- especially walking away -- so she's harder to get a picture of now. I'd try chasing her down and she'd turn. This means Jenny needs to have another baby (she's not, for the record) so I have someone new and immobile to pick on. Giselle, when you don't have a million Halloween pictures to choose from for your eventual wedding video, THEN you'll be sorry!


I promise she was delighted to be dressed up. She just didn't take too kindly to posing.


Ziggy, being less likely to scream when not costumed, was just a little boy when I arrived, but soon transformed into a scary leopard.


RAWR! He's also taken to racing toward my camera so the focus freaks out and hates life. And then, less fun, SWINGING at my camera when he's done posing. I think I prefer the walking away.


The only picture I have of the two of them together.


Aside from hosting and cooking, Jenny was in charge of passing out candy. We loved that she had that job as it meant MamaLynne and I could talk and eat instead while Dad and Mark took Ziggy trick-or-treating.


The only downside was this happened every. single. time. Jenny went to that door. Giselle couldn't handle the stress of the people and the door and the candy being given away.


She was happy again once we rerobed in unicorn and playing with Ziggy's toys (the ones he doesn't let her play with) while he was gone. I can admit to letting her do this because Ziggy can't read yet. I'm sure he'd be upset if he could.


Ziggy, back from trick-or-treating, making his crafty spider cookie. Jenny isn't as fun as our parents, she's rationing Ziggy's Halloween candy. Our parents never did that, which means mine was gone in a week (and then I'd have to sneak into Jenny's room and eat some of hers -- she CAN read but is old enough to get over that) and Jenny had to throw her uneaten candy away around Easter (she likes saving things and isn't a big fan of candy anyway. My candy drawer at work will attest that I'm not that way).


Ziggy and Giselle decided they wanted to decorate ME like a cookie. Using Legos as sprinkles.


Giselle also liked trying to stick things in my eyes. What an adorable child.


Giselle blowing me goodnight kisses as I left. My only regret? Not taking more craft cookies home with me. Jenny, I'm coming back on Thursday and expect cookies. Also, Jen, why on earth is your entry light green-tinted? It's so weird!

Things That Made Me Laugh This Week

Oh, look, it's Sunday and not Friday. I actually stayed in Salt Lake this weekend, but didn't post what made me laugh because some of the things that made me laugh were written on a piece of paper on my nightstand and every time I'd go down to get them, I'd lay down for a second and end up sleeping for twelve hours. It was a great weekend filled with sleep (and a lot of other things). Of course I am now feeling a lot better. Also like I wasted 36 or so hours of my life sleeping.

Annalissa (at our Relief Society activity about what our moms wished they had knonw when they were our age): "We'll have to teach our husbands how to do finance in case we die." I think the catch here would be finding husbands first.

Brittney (on "How do you not keep having failed marriages): "Don't get married three times; that's my goal in life."

Brittney (on how often to give gifts to marrying friends): "I have a one-wedding rule."

Erin: "I'm having an 'I'm 31 and single' shower. I mean, I need a toaster, too!"

Sister Bruin: "It was 1971, back when hair dryers were attached to a life-support system."

Melanie: "You can always opera cheer!" She used the surprisingly loud opera cheer at Wicked. I need to learn to do that. It carries a lot better.

Kristy (after Melanie turned GPS on her phone): "Now people can stalk you!" Melanie: "I know, now we can be found by the police." It was while we were lost with the taxi guy.

Melanie: "Zombies are the in thing these days. All the kids are doing it."

Allie: "I've been noting to my own self to look good at Allie's -- because I know you'll bring that camera and I'll have no escape." I told her I need to look good when I visit her next weekend so I can meet all her friends and leave a good impression. She had different reasons.

Jen: "I thought she was on Facebook and I was to do our experiment again, only to end in sadness and betrayal. I feel better now." We tried adding someone to FB but he turned her down. It was tragic.

Jenny: "He's kind of aloof." Kristy: "I wish I were aloof." MamaLynne: "Too bad you're a girl."

Jenny (on why Giselle is so good at taking her medication): "Well, the only way they can make this in liquid form is to add some alcohol to it."

Brooke also should get an honorable mention with an e-mail she sent me. We were talking about e-mailing boys and she created a form letter for me (for the record -- not that I feel this record needs to be made, but you never know what some people might think -- I would never in a million years use this e-mail).

Dear [Boy's Name],

Faith is like a little seed
if planted it will grow
Pray, he is there
Speak, he is listening
You are his child
His love now surrounds you
I see my mother kneeling with my family each day
I hear the words she whispers as she bows her head to pray

I want you to know that these sacred words epitomize my testimony and my potential nature as a divine wife and mother in Zion. I would like to be this for you, sweet [Boy's Name]. Please allow me this opportunity.

Love always,
Your loving future wife Kristy

And then Allie who changed her Facebook interests to:
"Lots of things--but mostly politics, good reading, current events, music, bioenergetics, performing, poking holes in the alleged global warming. Also, Kristy."

I love being Allie's interest!

Bling

A few weeks ago I went to Portland to visit my friend Lindy. She's a photographer and the one who I can credit most of my continued desire to do photography to (she let me use her D200. I was HOOKED!) and is just an amazing friend. I was sad when she moved away from Utah, but still visit her, of course, because that's really just been my year.

Then I found this picture in my inbox this morning*.


Lindy took the picture while we were taking a Starbucks break (the hot chocolate kind). I do need my own magazine. We should work on that (o:

Unexpected e-mails are always my favorite.

*I realize it's no longer "morning", but I'm claiming being sick as the reason why I just woke up. 12 hours of sleep, how delicious!

Things Joseph Smith Nutcracker Likes - Harry Potter

(This post is for Tianna, Melanie, Amy, Erin, Auntie Chris and Jenny)


With Halloween fast approaching, Joseph Smith Nutcracker had to decide what he wanted to be. Last year* he didn't even dress up, just went as himself. I mean, he's JSN, so he can get away with that one year or maybe alternate years, but certainly not every year. What a lucky nutcracker he is, Jenny made him glasses and Erin crocheted him a scarf that meant he could go as Harry Potter! (notice how low his hair goes -- that's why he doesn't have a lightning bolt.)


Joseph Smith Harry in his full outfit. He can't wait for all the candy he's going to get!**


This is the face he'll make when he sees Voldemort Nutcracker (I'm somewhat relieved that "Voldemort" sets off my spell check. However, Kevorkian works just fine. Go figure. I wonder what search hits I'll get with that combination).


Every good costume is all about the details. Harry Potter probably wouldn't have a map of Nauvoo, but he WOULD have a Marauder's Map.


And gold plates? Never! Now he has Gadding with Ghouls by Gildroy Lockhart.


It looks just like the one in the book -- we are, after all, seeking for accuracy here. Nothing less for our little Joseph Smith Nutcracker/Harry. Happy Trick or Treating, JSN/H!

*What's really sad (besides the noticeable difference in quality between my D200 and D700) is that I've been taking pictures of that poor Nutcracker for well over a year.

**Please feel free to send "him" candy!

A Story of Melanie and the Theatre

I think I mentioned it enough that no one could miss it (I was really excited!), but Melanie, my coworker, and I went to NYC this past weekend. We left Saturday morning (hi, red eye flight!) and came home last night. It was quick, but wonderful.

Despite spending most of the time in theatres, this post will probably be reasonably picture-heavy.



We started our day in the city by taking a nap. I'm glad we did as we were out very late and Melanie doesn't sleep on planes. The first real plan on the agenda was getting lunch. Melanie has someone thinking of her. (o:


The next order of business was finding theaters. The first show we saw was Wicked. Here's Melanie in Times Square. You can see the Wicked sign telling us which way to go.


I kept seeing signs and advertisements for Ragtime. I am so, so excited to see that one as well.


We found it! We're pretty amazing.


Inside the theater at intermission. We sat next to this lady from Idaho and her friends from Pennsylvania. They were very nice people except for one of her friends didn't get the jokes until at least five seconds after everyone else got them. Then he would clap and laugh loudly to an audience that had moved on. It was really odd.

We loved, loved the show, though. Everyone was, as one would expect, exceptional. Only, we missed the stage dooring time. So that was sad.

After the show, we shopped (purses! Everywhere. Not for me, though), ate and headed out for the Linda Eder concert (which is really the reason we went out there in the first place). Fun thing about that concert, it looked really close on the map, but a $100 cab ride in the pouring rain later proved that assumption to be incorrect. The concert was held at Long Island University. Yes, in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. At least far from the city. We arrived stressed about how to ever get back, so I didn't take any pictures.

The show was also great. I wanted more Linda, but, oh well. (o: Very worth the trip, in any case.

After the show we wanted to stage door, but the people said they weren't doing that. The security guys at the actual stage door seemed to prove this was a true statement. No autographs, no pictures, nothing to show! That is now two stage door fails.


I did take this picture of a gondola statue (it was cute) as we were walking to meet our car to take us back. So this statue represents an entire concert.


The drive back was also an adventures. Still rain, still dark, and a freeway being closed. We reversed on the freeway for at least half a mile to get back to an exit. That driver was amazing. Where do people even learn to drive like this? The guy whose car is pictured decided to turn the other way and drive the wrong way down the street of reversing cars. Also he flipped everyone off as he did it, so I didn't want him to see me taking a picture because I don't love confrontation. You can see a car going backwards behind him and all the cars still on the freeway as well.


Sunday was a gorgeous day. Here's the view from our hotel. It's the City Center Theater where I saw Music in the Air last January. Happy memories (o:


Hey, look, I'm cliche! It was great.

I'd like to believe I was in love with the Starbucks on every corner. I do love their white hot chocolate. If only they had pan au chocolate, I'd have been in heaven.


Hard to see because of the angle, but I so know how tired he was feeling.


Before we left, Brooke asked for a picture of a subway (she's weird). I wasn't going to do it, but Melanie is more indulgent than I am, so here is Brooke's 57th street station picture.


We did a bike tour of Central Park. The driver had been in the country a week and certainly didn't know how to half-down focus (o: So here Melanie and I are in all our blurriness (o:


As we went along, Melanie asked me, "Have you ever been to the Pool of Bethesda?" I answered I had and it was beautiful. She started raving about the fountain. I didn't remember fountains. In fact, I remembered it being dried up. Apparently there is a Pool of Bethesda in Central Park and I thought she meant the one in Israel. I have now visited BOTH!


The fountain Melanie loves so much. With a rainbow. Aww.


He didn't get the focus idea, but I changed the aperture to give him more of a chance. He said he prefers point and shoots.


Walking to our next theatre, I saw where Ragtime will be! Again, so much excitement.


Melanie is already preparing to ring in the new year with some tacky sparkle glasses.


We found Mary Poppins! What a cool set! Laura Michelle Kelly, who is Mary Poppins, has an AMAZING voice. Those dancing animals were kind of strange. I loved how they used the set. They had the roof of the house come down and the kitchen come up and Bert walking on the ceiling and Mary flying away. I'd see it again for theatrics alone. Seeing as how I wasn't doing so hot with stage dooring on Saturday, I made Melanie come with me on the backstage tour. This was the set staircase. I only brought my 50 mm so I didn't get the whole set and wasn't willing to take tons of pictures and stitch them. (o:


With the adorable actors who played Jane and Michael Banks. She's 10 and he's 12. They're so cute!


Then with Christian Borle who is Burt. Melanie told him she saw him in Millie and then wasn't he in an eBay commercial? That got a funny reaction. I won't lie, the hair and the leather jacket makes me want to sing rebel songs from Saturday's Warrior.

Maybe it's just me.


Then with Laura Michelle Kelly. They all signed my Playbill and my life felt meaningful and validated all over again. Whew!

We then meandered through the street market where I got a gyro and Melanie looked at purses, made it back to our hotel at 5 and somehow made it to the airport at 6:20 and got on the plane leaving at 7. It was a miracle! Also a great trip. I am so excited to go back.

Things That Made Me Laugh This Week

I'm at home supposedly packing for New York, but then I started and remembered I hate to pack so I'm trying to put it off just a little longer. Isn't this always the way?

Carli: "Is it a live orchestra? That can do it sometimes, bless the violins hearts." I was texting Carli while Jenny and I were at Jekyll and Hyde (not during, of course) and complaining about how darn slow Bring on the Men was. It's so true. We love violins.

Ziggy (on why Giselle can't play with him): "She can't play up here! There are choking hazards!"

Michael E. (on dating quotas): "My roommate invited approximately 15 girls to our apartment last night and almost all of them came, so it was like a 1-on-15 date. Very romantic, I assure you."

Melanie: "I will try to not complain if my ear explodes so you can still enjoy the trip." Melanie has a broken or near-broken ear drum or something random and painful. It likes to ooze things and we're afraid it will pop in a fountain of horror. If that happens, however, she will suck it up until after I have enjoyed seeing Linda Eder. She's a great friend.

Melanie (on the movie Somewhere In Time): "I loved it all until that demmed penny."

Heather: "When the prophet says you should dye your hair red, you dye your hair red!" I think this was about Pres. Hinckley teasing President Monson that he needed to dye his hair red for some reason. Fun fact: President Monson has never dyed his hair, though people still send in letters believing he has and being offended about it. And there ya go. People are funny.

Brooke: "You forgot 'the children remain children. FOREVER.'" My g-talk status (which, as g-talk friends know, I like to change near-daily) was "It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But the half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor." and Brooke decided to finish it.

Dan (on the movie about Sherlock Holmes): "It's a new re-imaging with everyone being sexy and awesome. And they do NOT need a musical about that. What's wrong with you?"

Eric: "I will advise on strange dining habits and sexual orientation of food any time." I told him I didn't like to eat straight butter. We then discussed gay butter. It was so random.

Josie: "You just went from beautiful Italian to Utah Farm Girl. The moment is lost!" The lines are so easy to cross (o: Italy? Sanpete County? So, so very easily crossed.