I have a suggestion for the new head coach. Now, I understand that there is no reason why I should have any sway in the matter. I am, by my own frequent admission, a fair-weather fan at most. Not because I only follow the Broncos when they are winning, but because I don't care that much for football in general. But when the Broncos do well, I am happy for them.
That aside, I think you should look at Joe Glenn for head coach. I first became acquainted with Coach Glenn when I started college at the University of Northern Colorado in the late 1990s. I didn't know much about the football team at first, but I was in the Pride of the Rockies marching band. My first experience with Coach Glenn came during band camp. He came one day to visit, and I discovered that he was a huge fan of the band. This was shocking to me. I'd never known a football coach who loved the band. I'd always felt like they thought we were a necessary evil. Not Coach Glenn! He was our biggest fan! What a wonderful start to my college marching band career! The football players also liked us (another first for me!) and even formed a tunnel for us on the field every Homecoming (we usually formed a tunnel for them as part of pregame.) The relationship between the band and the football team was something special. They made us feel like an important and integral part of the team...not just the game. We didn't fully appreciate this until we traveled to an away game in a neighboring state. The coach of that football team cursed at their band when they took slightly too long at half time. Needless to say, we were shocked. We hadn't realized that our situation was not the norm! Upon our return to Greeley, several of us wrote a letter to the editor of the school paper. We publicly thanked Coach Glenn and the team for supporting us and being our friends.
Coach Glenn led the football team to 2 National Championships in a row, the 2nd of which I was able to attend. He is a great coach, as evidenced by his continued success after he left UNC. He is also a great man. I'll never forget the day that I sang the National Anthem at a playoff game. I had sung it twice before, I'd had the band for back-up. That day, I was singing by myself. I was a little intimidated, surrounded by the giant football players (I'm only 5'3".) Coach Glenn found me on the sidelines and was genuinely helpful to me, making sure I knew where I was going. He also promised to protect from getting trampled by the team. I'll never forget this small thing. Coach Joe Glenn is a wonderful human being, as well as a great coach, and I think the Broncos organization would benefit greatly from his coaching skills.
Thank you for your time, and best of luck in your selection process,
Angela Johnson
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
How to do a Nativity Scene
This is how to do a nativity scene with 6 kids, ages 6 and under:
First you have to corral the kids and get them in costume.
Now try to introduce "Baby Jesus" into the scene:
Don't forget the angel! Give her a bottle so she'll stay happy. Oh, and be prepared to switch out "Baby Jesus" with a doll if he gets fussy!
Just add sheep!
The Angel declares good tidings of great joy.
Try to reintroduce "Baby Jesus" into the scene. This will lead to the following discussion about whether or not Baby Jesus had a binky:
Craig: I didn't know Baby Jesus had a binky!
Brian: There is the part in the song about "no crying he makes."
Angela: Well, it was because of the binky!
Miscellaneous chaos ensues
And the Angel chills on her perch, looking cute and angelic with her trusty bottle.
Last step: Hope the kids didn't go blind from all the camera flashes, and also hope that their parents got better pictures than you did. (Like one with all of them facing forward!!)
First you have to corral the kids and get them in costume.
Now try to introduce "Baby Jesus" into the scene:
Don't forget the angel! Give her a bottle so she'll stay happy. Oh, and be prepared to switch out "Baby Jesus" with a doll if he gets fussy!
Just add sheep!
The Angel declares good tidings of great joy.
Try to reintroduce "Baby Jesus" into the scene. This will lead to the following discussion about whether or not Baby Jesus had a binky:
Craig: I didn't know Baby Jesus had a binky!
Brian: There is the part in the song about "no crying he makes."
Angela: Well, it was because of the binky!
Miscellaneous chaos ensues
And the Angel chills on her perch, looking cute and angelic with her trusty bottle.
Last step: Hope the kids didn't go blind from all the camera flashes, and also hope that their parents got better pictures than you did. (Like one with all of them facing forward!!)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Christmas Memories
Some Christmas Memories:
From before I was born: My parents lived in Roosevelt, UT and my dad was the choir director at the high school. One night, some of the kids from the school came Christmas caroling. They sang the "Hallelujah Chorus" a cappella! We've talked about that for years, and I've always wanted to do that...but I'm afraid to sing that song without accompaniment!
From the I don't know if I was born or not file: I know this happened in Loveland, but my parents had 2 Christmases here before I joined the fray. Anyway, the story goes that they were caroling with some members of the ward and someone wanted to know what "Figgy Pudding" was. So someone made some...and we've never had it again. Apparently, it was nasty stuff. Not because the person who made it did a bad job, but because it was just nasty stuff. (Maybe they followed Gonzo's recipe from the John Denver and the Muppets Christmas Album. "It's made with figs...and bacon.")
I don't remember this one, but I was only 2: My mom told me this story again just last night. They were unwrapping the Nativity Scene and I was on my mom's lap. As my dad put each piece up, they talked to me about them. When they got to Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, I kept saying "I know." My mom thinks it's because I remembered seeing it happen for real.
Finally, one I DO remember: When I was 4 or 5, I swear I saw Santa Claus in the living room. Seriously.
A few years later: I got up at 4 in the morning because I saw a light on (my bedroom was in the basement by this point, but I think it was before Craig moved downstairs.) My mom was still up!
The Advent Calendar: We don't do this anymore, but for years we had an Advent Calendar made out of felt. (I remember when we made it, too.) We would have to put the pieces of the Nativity up one day at a time and there were scriptures and such for each one. Then it evolved into us just putting the pieces without the scriptures. Eventually, I think we just put the whole thing up at once (except for Baby Jesus...which we saved for Christmas Eve.) Then the calendar disappeared altogether. I'm sure we still have it, but we don't put it up.
Christmas in Idaho: I need to find this picture. We did a Nativity Scene and Neal had the toy shotgun. He was Baby Jesus' body guard. Priceless!
All I Want for Christmas is Contacts: My senior year of high school, I got contacts for Christmas. I was sick with a nasty cold, so my head wasn't quite right. I opened the package (which was one of those velvet covered jewelry box thingies) and there were 2 round pieces of clear plastic. I was SO CONFUSED!!!!!!!!! I had to have it explained to me.
Christmas 2000: Okay, it wasn't over Christmas, it was just after Thanksgiving, but we went to California to attend the Annual Frederickson Family Christmas Party. We were the entertainment! We were missing our Bass (Craig was on his mission at the time), Neal's voice hadn't changed yet (he was only 12), but we made it through. It was a lot of fun! It was awesome to meet family that I'd only ever read about in Sense & Nonsense (the family newsletter.)
The Once in a Lifetime "Silver Bells" Performance: We had a 2-year tradition of Progressive Dinners a couple weeks before Christmas. (Okay, I don't think that qualifies as a tradition, but for 2 years in a row we did that.) Shauna, Melanie, and I were in one car, heading I don't remember where. We started singing "Silver Bells" and we had the most amazing harmony. It was AWESOME!! And we have NEVER been able to recreate that harmony. It was totally spontaneous and apparently, unrepeatable!
No Angel Display is Complete... without my picture. I haven't done it this year, but for the past several years, I have slipped a picture of myself into our Angel Display.
My Christmas Week Traditions: I don't have many, but I try to keep them up. I read "Christmas by the Book" and watch the Muppet's Christmas Carol. And now that I got the book back, I'm reading "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham. (Read the book, don't see the vastly inferior movie version, "Christmas with the Kranks".) I also eat way too many peanut M&Ms.
Warm Fuzzies: I can't think of any more specific memories right now. Christmas is a conglomerate of warm, fuzzy (and some caroling in the freezing cold) memories. These days, I look forward to the yummy goodies the contractors bring us at work. (I'm eating chocolate covered pretzels from our roofer right now.) I kind of miss the years when Craig and Neal worked for the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. We got all kinds of yummy goodness then! Okay, so maybe it's better that they DON'T work there anymore.
This year: I love seeing Christmas through Emily and Rebekah's eyes. (I especially loved getting a Disney Princess Christmas card. Hmmm...wonder who picked that one out.) It's like reliving your childhood to have little kids around at Christmas, for me anyway. :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!!!!!
From before I was born: My parents lived in Roosevelt, UT and my dad was the choir director at the high school. One night, some of the kids from the school came Christmas caroling. They sang the "Hallelujah Chorus" a cappella! We've talked about that for years, and I've always wanted to do that...but I'm afraid to sing that song without accompaniment!
From the I don't know if I was born or not file: I know this happened in Loveland, but my parents had 2 Christmases here before I joined the fray. Anyway, the story goes that they were caroling with some members of the ward and someone wanted to know what "Figgy Pudding" was. So someone made some...and we've never had it again. Apparently, it was nasty stuff. Not because the person who made it did a bad job, but because it was just nasty stuff. (Maybe they followed Gonzo's recipe from the John Denver and the Muppets Christmas Album. "It's made with figs...and bacon.")
I don't remember this one, but I was only 2: My mom told me this story again just last night. They were unwrapping the Nativity Scene and I was on my mom's lap. As my dad put each piece up, they talked to me about them. When they got to Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, I kept saying "I know." My mom thinks it's because I remembered seeing it happen for real.
Finally, one I DO remember: When I was 4 or 5, I swear I saw Santa Claus in the living room. Seriously.
A few years later: I got up at 4 in the morning because I saw a light on (my bedroom was in the basement by this point, but I think it was before Craig moved downstairs.) My mom was still up!
The Advent Calendar: We don't do this anymore, but for years we had an Advent Calendar made out of felt. (I remember when we made it, too.) We would have to put the pieces of the Nativity up one day at a time and there were scriptures and such for each one. Then it evolved into us just putting the pieces without the scriptures. Eventually, I think we just put the whole thing up at once (except for Baby Jesus...which we saved for Christmas Eve.) Then the calendar disappeared altogether. I'm sure we still have it, but we don't put it up.
Christmas in Idaho: I need to find this picture. We did a Nativity Scene and Neal had the toy shotgun. He was Baby Jesus' body guard. Priceless!
All I Want for Christmas is Contacts: My senior year of high school, I got contacts for Christmas. I was sick with a nasty cold, so my head wasn't quite right. I opened the package (which was one of those velvet covered jewelry box thingies) and there were 2 round pieces of clear plastic. I was SO CONFUSED!!!!!!!!! I had to have it explained to me.
Christmas 2000: Okay, it wasn't over Christmas, it was just after Thanksgiving, but we went to California to attend the Annual Frederickson Family Christmas Party. We were the entertainment! We were missing our Bass (Craig was on his mission at the time), Neal's voice hadn't changed yet (he was only 12), but we made it through. It was a lot of fun! It was awesome to meet family that I'd only ever read about in Sense & Nonsense (the family newsletter.)
The Once in a Lifetime "Silver Bells" Performance: We had a 2-year tradition of Progressive Dinners a couple weeks before Christmas. (Okay, I don't think that qualifies as a tradition, but for 2 years in a row we did that.) Shauna, Melanie, and I were in one car, heading I don't remember where. We started singing "Silver Bells" and we had the most amazing harmony. It was AWESOME!! And we have NEVER been able to recreate that harmony. It was totally spontaneous and apparently, unrepeatable!
No Angel Display is Complete... without my picture. I haven't done it this year, but for the past several years, I have slipped a picture of myself into our Angel Display.
My Christmas Week Traditions: I don't have many, but I try to keep them up. I read "Christmas by the Book" and watch the Muppet's Christmas Carol. And now that I got the book back, I'm reading "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham. (Read the book, don't see the vastly inferior movie version, "Christmas with the Kranks".) I also eat way too many peanut M&Ms.
Warm Fuzzies: I can't think of any more specific memories right now. Christmas is a conglomerate of warm, fuzzy (and some caroling in the freezing cold) memories. These days, I look forward to the yummy goodies the contractors bring us at work. (I'm eating chocolate covered pretzels from our roofer right now.) I kind of miss the years when Craig and Neal worked for the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. We got all kinds of yummy goodness then! Okay, so maybe it's better that they DON'T work there anymore.
This year: I love seeing Christmas through Emily and Rebekah's eyes. (I especially loved getting a Disney Princess Christmas card. Hmmm...wonder who picked that one out.) It's like reliving your childhood to have little kids around at Christmas, for me anyway. :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!!!!!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Angela's Christmas Letter 2008
This year did NOT turn out the way I had planned…or even imagined! Funny how you think you know how a year is going to go, and then it totally throws you for a loop! And it’s all theatre…there’s really nothing else that happened all year long!
I started out the year in rehearsals for Savior of the World: His Birth and His Resurrection with the Loveland and Greeley Stakes. It was high stress (simply because there were SO MANY PEOPLE involved), but in the end, it was a wonderful spiritual experience for everyone. I’m so glad I was involved, and I would love to do the show again…albeit with a smaller cast!
I got the best phone call ever in mid-March. Now, I had been cast in Fiddler on the Roof at the Union Colony Dinner Theatre in June 2007, and it wasn’t opening until May of 2008. Well, one day I got a call from the new director. Now, I had heard rumors that there were going to be a few casting changes, but I had no idea what was coming. They offered me the part of Tzeitel! (For those not familiar with the show, Tzeitel is the oldest daughter, the one who gets married to Motel the Tailor.) Needless to say, I was shocked! I usually am in the chorus, with just a few lines or solos. That’s all! Tzeitel is a supporting principal! Well, obviously I accepted. And thus began my amazing journey. Fiddler was an amazing ride from start to finish. We had a wonderful cast and I loved every minute with them. The show was scheduled to run for 8 weekends, but we extended for 2 additional weekends. As we got closer to the end of the run, I had no idea what I’d be doing next. I fully expected to go through an extended period of mourning. Not so! Read on…
A couple of weeks before we closed Fiddler, I discovered that the Loveland Community Theatre would be doing The Miracle Worker in September. Now, I’m a musicals kind of girl. I have a short list of plays that I would like to do…and The Miracle Worker was on it! I couldn’t NOT audition. Well, I got cast as Kate Keller, Helen’s mother. Rehearsals started the week before Fiddler closed. No rest for the weary! I had a marvelous time with the show! It was quite the change for me, having done musicals all my life. I had to learn a ton of lines, which freaked me out! But I learned two very important lessons about having lots of lines. I ran through them every day, no matter what. And I also reviewed them in my head before I went onstage for each scene. The show was a beautiful. We didn’t have large audiences, but the ones who came really enjoyed it. I fully expected a break after that show closed…and again I was wrong.
One of my friends asked me one day which show I would drop everything for, and my answer was Little Women. Not a week later, I found out that Up in Lights Productions, a local group, was doing that very show in November! So, the weekend before Tech Week for The Miracle Worker, I auditioned! I was cast as Aunt March! I know, I know…I’m a little young to play that old of a character. But Up in Lights is more or less a youth-run organization. Even though I look young, I look and act older than the mostly teens and college kids that were cast in the show. While I’d still love to play Beth someday, I grabbed the role of Aunt March by her horns (and yes, she has horns. She’s EVIL!) and ran with her. I had a BLAST!!!! Character cameos are my forte, and she is the queen of those type of roles! The show itself is absolutely gorgeous! It’s one of my favorites. The audience loved it and we had some great houses. In mid October, I sang in the Loveland Opera Theatre Gala. We did a George Gershwin/Cole Porter show. I sang “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Friendship”, as well as singing with the ensemble. Luckily, my rehearsal schedule for Little Women was light.
The week in between Little Women’s 2 weekends of shows, I auditioned for another show…another play. I figured, who needs a break? Well, I didn’t get cast…and so I finally get a break! I do need one! The first thing I did was cut my hair. I’ve had to have it long all year (long for me is anything past chin length), and now it’s short! I’m planning on auditioning for another show just after the first of the year, but until that time, I am enjoying my time off!
I really have no other news for the year besides theatre. I turned *cough*30*cough* in March, which was mildly traumatic. But it hasn’t been so bad, I guess. I still work 2 jobs, at Falcon Properties and for Loveland Opera Theatre. I also find plenty of time to spoil my adorable nieces! Emily is now a very spunky 3 ½ year old firecracker. She is becoming quite the musical theatre buff. She came to see Fiddler and loved it! (In preparation, she watched the movie several times. Robin finally had to take the DVD away, because it was all Emily wanted to watch. She memorized the show!) Rebekah turned 1 in October and is quite the little cutie-pie! It’s fun to watch her sparkling personality develop. Everything will go to upheaval in March, however, when Baby Brother joins the family. I’m very excited to have a nephew! Oh, and my brother Neal is on his mission right now, in Manchester, England. He went out at the end of April. He’s loving every minute of it!
So, that’s the news from Angela-World. General craziness abounds. There’s never a dull moment! I am very thankful for a wonderful family, great friends, and the blessings of heaven that have poured down on me this year! It’s been an awesome year! I hope 2009 can top it!!
I started out the year in rehearsals for Savior of the World: His Birth and His Resurrection with the Loveland and Greeley Stakes. It was high stress (simply because there were SO MANY PEOPLE involved), but in the end, it was a wonderful spiritual experience for everyone. I’m so glad I was involved, and I would love to do the show again…albeit with a smaller cast!
I got the best phone call ever in mid-March. Now, I had been cast in Fiddler on the Roof at the Union Colony Dinner Theatre in June 2007, and it wasn’t opening until May of 2008. Well, one day I got a call from the new director. Now, I had heard rumors that there were going to be a few casting changes, but I had no idea what was coming. They offered me the part of Tzeitel! (For those not familiar with the show, Tzeitel is the oldest daughter, the one who gets married to Motel the Tailor.) Needless to say, I was shocked! I usually am in the chorus, with just a few lines or solos. That’s all! Tzeitel is a supporting principal! Well, obviously I accepted. And thus began my amazing journey. Fiddler was an amazing ride from start to finish. We had a wonderful cast and I loved every minute with them. The show was scheduled to run for 8 weekends, but we extended for 2 additional weekends. As we got closer to the end of the run, I had no idea what I’d be doing next. I fully expected to go through an extended period of mourning. Not so! Read on…
A couple of weeks before we closed Fiddler, I discovered that the Loveland Community Theatre would be doing The Miracle Worker in September. Now, I’m a musicals kind of girl. I have a short list of plays that I would like to do…and The Miracle Worker was on it! I couldn’t NOT audition. Well, I got cast as Kate Keller, Helen’s mother. Rehearsals started the week before Fiddler closed. No rest for the weary! I had a marvelous time with the show! It was quite the change for me, having done musicals all my life. I had to learn a ton of lines, which freaked me out! But I learned two very important lessons about having lots of lines. I ran through them every day, no matter what. And I also reviewed them in my head before I went onstage for each scene. The show was a beautiful. We didn’t have large audiences, but the ones who came really enjoyed it. I fully expected a break after that show closed…and again I was wrong.
One of my friends asked me one day which show I would drop everything for, and my answer was Little Women. Not a week later, I found out that Up in Lights Productions, a local group, was doing that very show in November! So, the weekend before Tech Week for The Miracle Worker, I auditioned! I was cast as Aunt March! I know, I know…I’m a little young to play that old of a character. But Up in Lights is more or less a youth-run organization. Even though I look young, I look and act older than the mostly teens and college kids that were cast in the show. While I’d still love to play Beth someday, I grabbed the role of Aunt March by her horns (and yes, she has horns. She’s EVIL!) and ran with her. I had a BLAST!!!! Character cameos are my forte, and she is the queen of those type of roles! The show itself is absolutely gorgeous! It’s one of my favorites. The audience loved it and we had some great houses. In mid October, I sang in the Loveland Opera Theatre Gala. We did a George Gershwin/Cole Porter show. I sang “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Friendship”, as well as singing with the ensemble. Luckily, my rehearsal schedule for Little Women was light.
The week in between Little Women’s 2 weekends of shows, I auditioned for another show…another play. I figured, who needs a break? Well, I didn’t get cast…and so I finally get a break! I do need one! The first thing I did was cut my hair. I’ve had to have it long all year (long for me is anything past chin length), and now it’s short! I’m planning on auditioning for another show just after the first of the year, but until that time, I am enjoying my time off!
I really have no other news for the year besides theatre. I turned *cough*30*cough* in March, which was mildly traumatic. But it hasn’t been so bad, I guess. I still work 2 jobs, at Falcon Properties and for Loveland Opera Theatre. I also find plenty of time to spoil my adorable nieces! Emily is now a very spunky 3 ½ year old firecracker. She is becoming quite the musical theatre buff. She came to see Fiddler and loved it! (In preparation, she watched the movie several times. Robin finally had to take the DVD away, because it was all Emily wanted to watch. She memorized the show!) Rebekah turned 1 in October and is quite the little cutie-pie! It’s fun to watch her sparkling personality develop. Everything will go to upheaval in March, however, when Baby Brother joins the family. I’m very excited to have a nephew! Oh, and my brother Neal is on his mission right now, in Manchester, England. He went out at the end of April. He’s loving every minute of it!
So, that’s the news from Angela-World. General craziness abounds. There’s never a dull moment! I am very thankful for a wonderful family, great friends, and the blessings of heaven that have poured down on me this year! It’s been an awesome year! I hope 2009 can top it!!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Golden Globes Nominations
Newcomers to my blog may not know that I am an Awards Show Junkie! I love (most of) them! I like to share my thoughts on the nominations, the winners, and the shows in my blog. Well, the Golden Globes nominations were announced today. I am just about to look at the list. Join with me as I share my immediate feelings! (Seriously...I haven't looked at the list yet. I'm going to right now.) You can view the entire list here: http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/index.html
Best Motion Picture - Drama
Hmmm...Haven't seen any of those.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Haven't seen any of those performances yet, but I do want to see Doubt.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Haven't seen any of those either.
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
I have seen Mamma Mia!, but not the others. Have I mentioned that I'm really glad that the GGs have this category? Comedies should not be judged against dramas. Apples and Oranges!!!
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Yay for Meryl Streep! wouldn't it be great if she won for both Doubt and Mamma Mia?
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Once again, haven't seen any.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Ooh...2 noms for Doubt! Yay Amy Adams!
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Haven't seen any yet, but I intend to watch The Dark Knight very soon. (I had a very busy summer. Don't judge me!) I think we all know that Heath Ledger will get this one, though.
Best Animated Feature Film
Wall-E better win!!!!!! I haven't seen the other 2 yet, but I want to.
Best Foreign Language Film
nada
Best Motion Picture Director
Nope
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
No again
Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Nooooooooo....
Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Ah, the one from Wall-E is cute.
Best Television Series - Drama
I don't watch any of those shows.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
I watch Law and Order SVU very rarely. I do like Mariska Hargitay.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
don't watch any of those either, but I hope Hugh Laurie wins, because I always love his acceptance speeches.
Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Yay The Office!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
I really don't watch any of those shows.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
YAY STEVE CARELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
Oh, crap. A Raisin in the Sunand John Adams were both MAGNIFICENT!!!!!! John Adams won the Emmy, though.
Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Yay Laura Linney! She was amazing in John Adams...and she won the Emmy for it.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
They should just hand this to Paul Giamatti ahead of time. It's his. Wait...why is Kiefer Sutherland nominated for 24? Isn't that a TV Series? I'm confused.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Meh.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
They seem to give this one to Jeremy Piven every year, but Tom Wilkinson was great as Benjamin Franklin in John Adams.
***
In my defense...I have had a very busy year. I didn't go to the movies all that often and I don't watch much TV anymore. Just wait until I post my Oscar Nomination Predictions (which are based only on movies that I have seen.)
Best Motion Picture - Drama
Hmmm...Haven't seen any of those.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Haven't seen any of those performances yet, but I do want to see Doubt.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Haven't seen any of those either.
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
I have seen Mamma Mia!, but not the others. Have I mentioned that I'm really glad that the GGs have this category? Comedies should not be judged against dramas. Apples and Oranges!!!
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Yay for Meryl Streep! wouldn't it be great if she won for both Doubt and Mamma Mia?
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Once again, haven't seen any.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Ooh...2 noms for Doubt! Yay Amy Adams!
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Haven't seen any yet, but I intend to watch The Dark Knight very soon. (I had a very busy summer. Don't judge me!) I think we all know that Heath Ledger will get this one, though.
Best Animated Feature Film
Wall-E better win!!!!!! I haven't seen the other 2 yet, but I want to.
Best Foreign Language Film
nada
Best Motion Picture Director
Nope
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
No again
Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Nooooooooo....
Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Ah, the one from Wall-E is cute.
Best Television Series - Drama
I don't watch any of those shows.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
I watch Law and Order SVU very rarely. I do like Mariska Hargitay.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
don't watch any of those either, but I hope Hugh Laurie wins, because I always love his acceptance speeches.
Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Yay The Office!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
I really don't watch any of those shows.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
YAY STEVE CARELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
Oh, crap. A Raisin in the Sunand John Adams were both MAGNIFICENT!!!!!! John Adams won the Emmy, though.
Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Yay Laura Linney! She was amazing in John Adams...and she won the Emmy for it.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
They should just hand this to Paul Giamatti ahead of time. It's his. Wait...why is Kiefer Sutherland nominated for 24? Isn't that a TV Series? I'm confused.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Meh.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
They seem to give this one to Jeremy Piven every year, but Tom Wilkinson was great as Benjamin Franklin in John Adams.
***
In my defense...I have had a very busy year. I didn't go to the movies all that often and I don't watch much TV anymore. Just wait until I post my Oscar Nomination Predictions (which are based only on movies that I have seen.)
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Hindsight is 20/20
There are two things that have happened in my life that I wish I could go back in time and change. Okay, there's probably more than that, but for the purposes of this blog, there's 2.
The first happened when I was 5. The Fort Collins Stake was doing The Sound of Music. I can't remember exactly what happened, but I'm pretty sure I could have played Gretl. I think my parents told me I could audition, but that if I got the role, I would have to stay up late. I wouldn't get a lot of sleep. Well, being the lover of sleep that I am, I chose not to audition. STUPID! What was I thinking?!?! Considering what I do now, I should have given up the precious sleep. HELLO, LITTLE 5 YEAR OLD ANGELA...YOU COULD HAVE PLAYED GRETL IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC! SLEEP, SCHMEEP! Ah, well. As it was, my musical theatre debut was at 13, playing Lucy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. That looks good on the resume', too
Okay, the 2nd thing happened in college. Victor Borge came to perform at the UCCC. I think I was probably a freshman or sophomore. I saw that he was coming, and I really wanted to go. I don't know what happened, but I ended up not going. And he passed away a couple of years later, never coming back to Colorado. I never got to see him perform live! What a dork I was! Why didn't I go to the concert? What could have possibly possessed me to not go? Incidentally, because of that little error in judgement, I made sure that I did not miss Peter Schickele (PDQ Bach) when he came to perform with the CSO. And now he'll be here with the Greeley Phil next year, so I can see him again!
If you don't know who Victor Borge is, then you really need to discover his greatness. He was a virtuoso, classical pianist. And he was the funniest classical pianist EVER! I was just watching a special about him on PBS last night. I was laughing so hard! He was HILARIOUS!!!! Check him out on YouTube. There are TONS of video clips on there.
So, if I could go back in time, I would. But I have learned from my stupid decisions. What have I learned? No amount a sleep can compensate for passing up on a good role in a good show. (Boy, did I take that one to heart this year or what!) And don't assume your favorite performer will ever come back. Go see them now! (Okay, that doesn't explain why I didn't go see Linda Eder last month, but I have seen Bernadette Peters. And Josh Groban. And Celtic Woman.)
The first happened when I was 5. The Fort Collins Stake was doing The Sound of Music. I can't remember exactly what happened, but I'm pretty sure I could have played Gretl. I think my parents told me I could audition, but that if I got the role, I would have to stay up late. I wouldn't get a lot of sleep. Well, being the lover of sleep that I am, I chose not to audition. STUPID! What was I thinking?!?! Considering what I do now, I should have given up the precious sleep. HELLO, LITTLE 5 YEAR OLD ANGELA...YOU COULD HAVE PLAYED GRETL IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC! SLEEP, SCHMEEP! Ah, well. As it was, my musical theatre debut was at 13, playing Lucy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. That looks good on the resume', too
Okay, the 2nd thing happened in college. Victor Borge came to perform at the UCCC. I think I was probably a freshman or sophomore. I saw that he was coming, and I really wanted to go. I don't know what happened, but I ended up not going. And he passed away a couple of years later, never coming back to Colorado. I never got to see him perform live! What a dork I was! Why didn't I go to the concert? What could have possibly possessed me to not go? Incidentally, because of that little error in judgement, I made sure that I did not miss Peter Schickele (PDQ Bach) when he came to perform with the CSO. And now he'll be here with the Greeley Phil next year, so I can see him again!
If you don't know who Victor Borge is, then you really need to discover his greatness. He was a virtuoso, classical pianist. And he was the funniest classical pianist EVER! I was just watching a special about him on PBS last night. I was laughing so hard! He was HILARIOUS!!!! Check him out on YouTube. There are TONS of video clips on there.
So, if I could go back in time, I would. But I have learned from my stupid decisions. What have I learned? No amount a sleep can compensate for passing up on a good role in a good show. (Boy, did I take that one to heart this year or what!) And don't assume your favorite performer will ever come back. Go see them now! (Okay, that doesn't explain why I didn't go see Linda Eder last month, but I have seen Bernadette Peters. And Josh Groban. And Celtic Woman.)
Monday, December 8, 2008
One Year Ago
This is kind of personal, but I'm going to summarize on here. Hope no one minds.
One year ago today, I took a very important step in my eternal progression. I went through the temple for my own endowments. I had put it off for way too long, mainly because I didn't know what I was missing! But I am glad that I waited, because I don't think I was really ready before that. And this past year has been amazing! I have literally felt the blessings of heaven raining down on me! I haven't been able to go back as often as I would like, but the time that I have spent in the temple has been AMAZING!!!! It's the best place on earth!! You can't get any closer to heaven than when you are inside the temple!
One year ago today, I took a very important step in my eternal progression. I went through the temple for my own endowments. I had put it off for way too long, mainly because I didn't know what I was missing! But I am glad that I waited, because I don't think I was really ready before that. And this past year has been amazing! I have literally felt the blessings of heaven raining down on me! I haven't been able to go back as often as I would like, but the time that I have spent in the temple has been AMAZING!!!! It's the best place on earth!! You can't get any closer to heaven than when you are inside the temple!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!
There is actual snow outside. I am SHOCKED!!!!! (Actually, the fact that the first measurable snowfall in Loveland didn't occur until December 4th is rather shocking!) We got several inches. It's the light and fluffy kind, but it's still pretty slick outside. As of 7:55 this morning, there hadn't been a snow plow on Taft or Eisenhower. Not sure what THAT'S about. The roads are pretty nasty. I drive reeeeeeeeeeeeally slow on snowy/icy roads, so I only fishtailed a little bit. And now I'm safe and warm at work.
The real question is this: why do I get hungrier at work on days when the weather is nasty? I'm starving right now! Normally I'm not hungry this quick! And of course, this is Thursday. I don't go home for lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I guess I could walk next door to the coffee shop and see if they have any of that yummy poppy seed bread. Just my luck, they probably don't. Or I could brave Cleveland and walk across the street to Safeway. But I can just see myself slipping in the middle of the street. I don't fancy myself doing ice ballet in the middle of Highway 287, thank you. So, I guess I'll brave the roads...if I get hungry enough.
I can't complain too much about today's snow, because I've been asking for it. But now that it's here, I am ready for Spring. I'm so fickle!
The real question is this: why do I get hungrier at work on days when the weather is nasty? I'm starving right now! Normally I'm not hungry this quick! And of course, this is Thursday. I don't go home for lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I guess I could walk next door to the coffee shop and see if they have any of that yummy poppy seed bread. Just my luck, they probably don't. Or I could brave Cleveland and walk across the street to Safeway. But I can just see myself slipping in the middle of the street. I don't fancy myself doing ice ballet in the middle of Highway 287, thank you. So, I guess I'll brave the roads...if I get hungry enough.
I can't complain too much about today's snow, because I've been asking for it. But now that it's here, I am ready for Spring. I'm so fickle!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
My New Headshot
I have been in desperate need of a new headshot. People kept telling me that I did, and I kept insisting that a) I didn't have time, b) I didn't have the funds, and c) I AM NOT PHOTOGENIC!!!!! But I knew that I needed a better one. I took the last one by myself. What more do you want from me? I thought it looked okay, but in retrospect...I looked like crap. So......after getting my haircut on Friday, I headed down to the Hansen's house and Kelsey took some pictures for me. Here are the finalists for my new headshot:
Let me know what you think!!! And call Kelsey Hansen for all of your photography needs! :)
Let me know what you think!!! And call Kelsey Hansen for all of your photography needs! :)
Friday, November 28, 2008
The Hair Saga
So, many people have to privy to my griping about my hair this year. (And I apologize.) I have been complaining all year that I wanted to cut it! Anything longer than chin length is LONG to me, and we were way past chin length this year!
So, here is the year of Angela's hair in pictures:
This first one was taken in November of 2007:
This was the first time I dyed it red, too. Yay!
Okay, so by March it was long enough to pull up partially. I dyed it brown again for "Savior of the World", but it was just past chin length. Well, Fiddler came up right after that. I didn't decide to clip the braid on until Tech Week, but I could get a fairly decent pony tail by then. Here's a picture from mid-May, after I had taken it out of pin curls:
It's starting to attack!!!!!!!!!
Here's a picture from Fiddler:
I think we took this closing weekend, or close to it. So, we were too my shoulders by the end of July.
Well, I went into rehearsals for "The Miracle Worker" before Fiddler closed. That show takes place in the 1880s, so I knew I was going to need big hair...and I was right. I would curl it, tease it, pin it down, and then put a hair piece on top of it! Imagine what it looked like when I pulled the bobby pins out. Oh, wait...you don't have to. Behold:
YIKES!! When thick hair attacks....
Here's a picture from the show that really shows off what my hair looked like done:
Okay, so after The Miracle Worker came Little Women. Being Aunt March, I knew I'd have to have big hair. But I didn't know what my wig would be like. So I got my hair only trimmed and I waited. When we got the wig figured out, it ended up that I used my own hair in the front, teased up and blended with the wig. I needed something in the back for the wig to hang on to (the bobby pins...not the wig...). So no hair cut. Besides that, I needed long hair to pull off my hair style for my Elizabeth Bennet costume on Halloween.
So, by this point, my hair is past my shoulders (well, the longest layer was.) It's so hard to deal with! I clings to my neck when I leave it down. It's no fun to pull it up all the time. When I leave it down, I have the tendency to drop the phone at work. It takes FOREVER to dry!!! So, we make it through Little Women, and my hair looked awesome in the show!
So, I didn't get cast in the next show that I auditioned for, so I'm on a break now for awhile. My next audition isn't until January. So..........here's what I did today:
I took these two pictures first:
Ack! My hair is attacking me!!!!
And then....I GOT MY HAIR CUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't have the best pictures yet (I got my official Headshot taken this afternoon), but here are a couple I took myself:
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For those of you who have endured my whining about long hair this year, you totally understand why I am so excited! My hair is completely off my neck now! My neck can breathe!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I kind of look like Alice Cullen. Not what I was exactly going for, but she's my favorite Cullen, so it works out! :)
So, here is the year of Angela's hair in pictures:
This first one was taken in November of 2007:
This was the first time I dyed it red, too. Yay!
Okay, so by March it was long enough to pull up partially. I dyed it brown again for "Savior of the World", but it was just past chin length. Well, Fiddler came up right after that. I didn't decide to clip the braid on until Tech Week, but I could get a fairly decent pony tail by then. Here's a picture from mid-May, after I had taken it out of pin curls:
It's starting to attack!!!!!!!!!
Here's a picture from Fiddler:
I think we took this closing weekend, or close to it. So, we were too my shoulders by the end of July.
Well, I went into rehearsals for "The Miracle Worker" before Fiddler closed. That show takes place in the 1880s, so I knew I was going to need big hair...and I was right. I would curl it, tease it, pin it down, and then put a hair piece on top of it! Imagine what it looked like when I pulled the bobby pins out. Oh, wait...you don't have to. Behold:
YIKES!! When thick hair attacks....
Here's a picture from the show that really shows off what my hair looked like done:
Okay, so after The Miracle Worker came Little Women. Being Aunt March, I knew I'd have to have big hair. But I didn't know what my wig would be like. So I got my hair only trimmed and I waited. When we got the wig figured out, it ended up that I used my own hair in the front, teased up and blended with the wig. I needed something in the back for the wig to hang on to (the bobby pins...not the wig...). So no hair cut. Besides that, I needed long hair to pull off my hair style for my Elizabeth Bennet costume on Halloween.
So, by this point, my hair is past my shoulders (well, the longest layer was.) It's so hard to deal with! I clings to my neck when I leave it down. It's no fun to pull it up all the time. When I leave it down, I have the tendency to drop the phone at work. It takes FOREVER to dry!!! So, we make it through Little Women, and my hair looked awesome in the show!
So, I didn't get cast in the next show that I auditioned for, so I'm on a break now for awhile. My next audition isn't until January. So..........here's what I did today:
I took these two pictures first:
Ack! My hair is attacking me!!!!
And then....I GOT MY HAIR CUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't have the best pictures yet (I got my official Headshot taken this afternoon), but here are a couple I took myself:
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For those of you who have endured my whining about long hair this year, you totally understand why I am so excited! My hair is completely off my neck now! My neck can breathe!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I kind of look like Alice Cullen. Not what I was exactly going for, but she's my favorite Cullen, so it works out! :)
Black Friday
I used to get up early on Black Friday and stand in line for hours outside Mervyn's. They would give away really cute stuff to the first 700 people in the door. I wouldn't actually buy anything...I'd just go inside, walk around for a few minutes, and then leave. I'd hit a few other stores after that, but I wouldn't ever buy very much. It was just the thrill of getting up early and getting free stuff, you know? Well, I don't do that anymore....and here's why:
Nothing is so important that I have to give up my precious sleep to stand in the freezing cold to buy. Nobody ever gives out cool free stuff anymore. (As soon as Mervyn's wised up and started giving out $10 off coupons to the first 700 people, I said FORGET YOU!) It was back in college when I used to do this, and sleep was not something that was in short supply all the time back then. When I worked at the bank, I always had to work on Black Friday, so I couldn't go out shopping. Now, I have it off, but I still don't want to drag myself out of bed that early! No way!
I'll get my Christmas shopping done by Christmas. I don't have to cram it in today! I did look through all the ads last night to see if there was anything to entice me out. There were a few things that caught my eye, but nothing that I couldn't do without...or get later when there's not 10,000 people in the same store.
So basically what I'm saying is, I have lost the thrill of Black Friday. I'm sure there will be something, someday that will strike my fancy and I'll have to get up really early to go buy it, but until then....I'm thankful that I could sleep in this morning! Yay!
Nothing is so important that I have to give up my precious sleep to stand in the freezing cold to buy. Nobody ever gives out cool free stuff anymore. (As soon as Mervyn's wised up and started giving out $10 off coupons to the first 700 people, I said FORGET YOU!) It was back in college when I used to do this, and sleep was not something that was in short supply all the time back then. When I worked at the bank, I always had to work on Black Friday, so I couldn't go out shopping. Now, I have it off, but I still don't want to drag myself out of bed that early! No way!
I'll get my Christmas shopping done by Christmas. I don't have to cram it in today! I did look through all the ads last night to see if there was anything to entice me out. There were a few things that caught my eye, but nothing that I couldn't do without...or get later when there's not 10,000 people in the same store.
So basically what I'm saying is, I have lost the thrill of Black Friday. I'm sure there will be something, someday that will strike my fancy and I'll have to get up really early to go buy it, but until then....I'm thankful that I could sleep in this morning! Yay!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Blogging on the Blackberry
I tried to blog from my Blackberry, and I don't think it worked quite right. I couldn't figure out where the body of the blog should go. I'll keep trying. But I think I'd rather blog on the computer anyway. The keyboard is MUCH BIGGER!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Little Women Wrap Up!
I mentioned in my previous blog that Little Women closed on Saturday, but I didn't go into more detail about the show itself. I had SUCH A BLAST doing that show! I didn't do a lot onstage, I was only in 4 scenes and had 1 song. But my part was memorable...as is usually the case with "character cameos". Aunt March basically blusters on, destroys Jo's hopes and dreams, and then blusters off. It's great fun! She's so deliciously evil at times. Behold the pictures that prove it:
And the picture that just makes me giggle:
My hair isn't gray in that picture, because it was taken at the pick-up rehearsal. I didn't feel like washing my hair when I got home that night, because I had to go to work the next morning.
I am so glad that I able to do this show. It's one of my very favorites! I always love the book, and the musical is just divine! The music is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would LOVE to do it again!! I want to do it again soon with an older cast so that I can play Beth, and then I want to do it when I'm older so that I can play Marmee! Heck, I'd play Aunt March again! She's fun! It's such a fantastic show! I'm desperately in love with it! Sometimes I'll love a show until I do a production of it and then I'm sick of it...but not this time! I still love this show and I will forever and ever!!!!! It makes me sad that it didn't last longer on Broadway, but at the same time, I'm glad that the rights are available now so that I could do this amazing, ASTONISHING show! :)
And the picture that just makes me giggle:
My hair isn't gray in that picture, because it was taken at the pick-up rehearsal. I didn't feel like washing my hair when I got home that night, because I had to go to work the next morning.
I am so glad that I able to do this show. It's one of my very favorites! I always love the book, and the musical is just divine! The music is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would LOVE to do it again!! I want to do it again soon with an older cast so that I can play Beth, and then I want to do it when I'm older so that I can play Marmee! Heck, I'd play Aunt March again! She's fun! It's such a fantastic show! I'm desperately in love with it! Sometimes I'll love a show until I do a production of it and then I'm sick of it...but not this time! I still love this show and I will forever and ever!!!!! It makes me sad that it didn't last longer on Broadway, but at the same time, I'm glad that the rights are available now so that I could do this amazing, ASTONISHING show! :)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
BREAKTIME!!!!!!
For the first time since the beginning of January, I am not working on a show, nor do I have one in the works. Little Women closed yesterday, and now I have nothing! Well, okay, that's not totally true. I have a couple of caroling gigs in December, as well as the Holiday Soiree for Loveland Opera Theatre. But those are low stress performances. No problem!
In celebration of my break, I am getting my hair cut! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I whined about my long hair way back during Fiddler, and then I had to keep it long for Miracle Worker. I was going to cut it before Little Women, but it ended up that I needed to keep in long since I didn't put the wig all the way on. I needed something for the bobby pins to hang on to, so it's still long. But I'm definitely getting it cut next week! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I can concentrate on some important things....like SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!!! I will probably be auditioning for another show in January, but I haven't 100% decided yet. We'll see what happens. But boy, oh boy, was I lying when I told Hannah in the dressing room at the UCDT that I had no idea what I'd be doing after Fiddler closed. Pshhhh! 5 show in 11 months! Yeah, baby! I'm crazy! :) But it was an absolute BLAST and I wouldn't trade any of them away for anything! :)
In celebration of my break, I am getting my hair cut! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I whined about my long hair way back during Fiddler, and then I had to keep it long for Miracle Worker. I was going to cut it before Little Women, but it ended up that I needed to keep in long since I didn't put the wig all the way on. I needed something for the bobby pins to hang on to, so it's still long. But I'm definitely getting it cut next week! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I can concentrate on some important things....like SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!!! I will probably be auditioning for another show in January, but I haven't 100% decided yet. We'll see what happens. But boy, oh boy, was I lying when I told Hannah in the dressing room at the UCDT that I had no idea what I'd be doing after Fiddler closed. Pshhhh! 5 show in 11 months! Yeah, baby! I'm crazy! :) But it was an absolute BLAST and I wouldn't trade any of them away for anything! :)
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Ex-Husband's Club
Tonight I was trying to figure out how many guys are in my "Ex-Husband's Club". These are guys who have played my husband in shows. I was trying to count, and I missed a couple. So here they are, in order of appearance:
Jeff Padget
Charlotte's Web - Bill Reed Middle School 1992
The Proud Parents of Fern & Avery...Mr. & Mrs. Arable
Chris Logan
Bye Bye Birdie - Loveland High School 1994
We were Mr. & Mrs. Mayor of Sweet Apple
Scott Moore
The Music Man - Jesters Repertory Theater 1998
Oliver & Alma Hix (The night I decided the Hix family needed a baby...he almost dropped it.)
Raja Salaymeh
The King and I - Jesters Dinner Theater 2000
He was the king...I was Wife #9. This really shouldn't count, but I'm including it.
Cole Paulson
Titanic: The Musical - Front Range Music Theatre 2003
As 2nd Class Passengers, we died together! I even found actual 2nd Class Passengers who refused to be separated.
Michael Bowser
Titanic: The Musical - Front Range Music Theatre 2003
No, I wasn't cheating. We were 3rd Class Passengers with a baby in one scene.
Jon Shafer
The Secret Garden - Jesters Dinner Theatre 2004
Albert & Rose Lennox, Mary's parents. We were either ghosts or flashbacks! And I was very cranky.
Nick Izzo
Fiddler on the Roof - Union Colony Dinner Theatre 2008
Awww...Motel & Tzeitel. The show was all about us. At least, that's what we said.
Lang Johnson
The Miracle Worker - Loveland Community Theatre 2008
Captain & Kate Keller...Helen's parents. We yelled at each other a lot.
So there it is...my Ex-Husband's Club. I told Lang that it was a lot smaller than that. I lied!!!
Theatre makes for a very interesting life, I've decided. If I ever got amnesia and was then trying to remember my life, I'd be pretty confused. I'd think I was a time traveler or something. Or able to transform into inanimate objects. I was a plate, for heaven's sake! Oh, excuse me...Enchanted Object. :) But seriously, when else would I get to be a very rich, grumpy old lady? Or a passenger on a the greatest ship that ever sailed the sea? Or a nun? Or a comic strip character?!?!
Theatre rocks!!! Nuff said!
Jeff Padget
Charlotte's Web - Bill Reed Middle School 1992
The Proud Parents of Fern & Avery...Mr. & Mrs. Arable
Chris Logan
Bye Bye Birdie - Loveland High School 1994
We were Mr. & Mrs. Mayor of Sweet Apple
Scott Moore
The Music Man - Jesters Repertory Theater 1998
Oliver & Alma Hix (The night I decided the Hix family needed a baby...he almost dropped it.)
Raja Salaymeh
The King and I - Jesters Dinner Theater 2000
He was the king...I was Wife #9. This really shouldn't count, but I'm including it.
Cole Paulson
Titanic: The Musical - Front Range Music Theatre 2003
As 2nd Class Passengers, we died together! I even found actual 2nd Class Passengers who refused to be separated.
Michael Bowser
Titanic: The Musical - Front Range Music Theatre 2003
No, I wasn't cheating. We were 3rd Class Passengers with a baby in one scene.
Jon Shafer
The Secret Garden - Jesters Dinner Theatre 2004
Albert & Rose Lennox, Mary's parents. We were either ghosts or flashbacks! And I was very cranky.
Nick Izzo
Fiddler on the Roof - Union Colony Dinner Theatre 2008
Awww...Motel & Tzeitel. The show was all about us. At least, that's what we said.
Lang Johnson
The Miracle Worker - Loveland Community Theatre 2008
Captain & Kate Keller...Helen's parents. We yelled at each other a lot.
So there it is...my Ex-Husband's Club. I told Lang that it was a lot smaller than that. I lied!!!
Theatre makes for a very interesting life, I've decided. If I ever got amnesia and was then trying to remember my life, I'd be pretty confused. I'd think I was a time traveler or something. Or able to transform into inanimate objects. I was a plate, for heaven's sake! Oh, excuse me...Enchanted Object. :) But seriously, when else would I get to be a very rich, grumpy old lady? Or a passenger on a the greatest ship that ever sailed the sea? Or a nun? Or a comic strip character?!?!
Theatre rocks!!! Nuff said!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Tagged!
I was tagged by Holly and can only use one word answers.
1. Where is your cell phone? upstairs
2. Where is your significant other? who?
3. Your hair color? auburn
4. Your mother? loving
5. Your father? hardworking
6. Your favorite thing? theatre
7. Your dream last night? forgot
8. Your dream/goal? mommyhood
9. The room you're in? laundry
10. Your hobby? music
11. Your fear? rejection
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? content
13. Where were you last night? theatre
14. What you're not? athletic
15. Something on your wish list? money
16. Where you grew up? Loveland
17. The last thing you did? facebook
18. What are you wearing? nightgown
19. Your TV? small
20. Your pet? nada
21. Your computer? desktop
22. Your mood? tired
23. Missing someone? always
24. Your car? Fred
25. Something you're not wearing? shoes
26. Favorite store? Kohls
27. Your summer? short
28. Love someone? family
29. Your favorite color? burgundy
30. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
31. Last time you cried? recently
I tag: Jamie, Katina, & Diana
1. Where is your cell phone? upstairs
2. Where is your significant other? who?
3. Your hair color? auburn
4. Your mother? loving
5. Your father? hardworking
6. Your favorite thing? theatre
7. Your dream last night? forgot
8. Your dream/goal? mommyhood
9. The room you're in? laundry
10. Your hobby? music
11. Your fear? rejection
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? content
13. Where were you last night? theatre
14. What you're not? athletic
15. Something on your wish list? money
16. Where you grew up? Loveland
17. The last thing you did? facebook
18. What are you wearing? nightgown
19. Your TV? small
20. Your pet? nada
21. Your computer? desktop
22. Your mood? tired
23. Missing someone? always
24. Your car? Fred
25. Something you're not wearing? shoes
26. Favorite store? Kohls
27. Your summer? short
28. Love someone? family
29. Your favorite color? burgundy
30. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
31. Last time you cried? recently
I tag: Jamie, Katina, & Diana
Friday, November 14, 2008
I do not believe such thing as snow.
So, this is the 4th time this Fall that they've said "A big storm is coming...prepare for snow!" Yeeeeeeeah....I looked out the window this morning at grass. No snow. Okay, that's not entirely accurate. Half of my back deck (the part still in shadows) had a skiff of snow. Just a skiff. So I'm sure if I had gotten up at my normal time of 7 am, I would have actually seen snow on the grass and on my car. But this is the last day of my week's vacation, so I slept in until 10. (Boo-yah!) So I'm still waiting for SNOW!!!! A skiff doesn't count. I'm ready to go outside and scream "HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!"
Now, you must think that I like snow. Actually, I really don't. I don't like being cold, and I REALLY don't like driving in snow and ice. But, when the first big snow hits, it pulls most of the leaves down...thus ending my fall allergy season! YAY!!!!! THAT'S what I need.
So SNOW, DARN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, you must think that I like snow. Actually, I really don't. I don't like being cold, and I REALLY don't like driving in snow and ice. But, when the first big snow hits, it pulls most of the leaves down...thus ending my fall allergy season! YAY!!!!! THAT'S what I need.
So SNOW, DARN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
What?!?! NOOOOOOO!!!!!
I am a diligent watcher of only 2 Reality Shows: The Amazing Race and Dancing with the Stars. (No, I do NOT watch American Idol. That show breeds bad vocal health. Seriously.) Anyway, that is the extent of my reality TV viewing. Now, the only way that I could ever see TAR live is if either a) they happened to come to Loveland as part of the race (not likely), or b) I happened to be in one of the foreign countries that they visit (even less likely!). But...I could see DWTS live. I could a) go to LA and be in the studio audience (somewhat likely...but really, not likely) or b) the tour would come to Colorado. NOT HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just looked at the tour schedule. They will be stopping in Salt Lake City, Tulsa, and Kansas City...BUT NOT COLORADO!!! That is SOOOOOO not fair! We have some great arenas here...Pepsi Center, Bud Center, Broomfield Events Center...Hellooooooooooooooo!!!! Get with the program and bring in the tour! I can't be driving to Salt Lake at the end of December!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Happy Veteran's Day!
If you ever want to be reminded of why you should be proud to be an American, go to a Veteran's Day Parade. I went to Loveland's today, because my grandpa (a WWII Vet) was riding in it.
As I watched all of the veterans go by, I got a little teary. They risked their lives so that I can enjoy the freedoms that I have...and often take for granted. They were proud to serve this great country...so I need to be proud to be an American. I love this country, and even though I get really disappointed in my fellow citizens sometimes, I need to remember what my grandpa and countless others did and do to preserve my freedom!
So, a big THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!! to all Veterans and those currently serving in the military. You are all AMAZING!!!!!!!!
As I watched all of the veterans go by, I got a little teary. They risked their lives so that I can enjoy the freedoms that I have...and often take for granted. They were proud to serve this great country...so I need to be proud to be an American. I love this country, and even though I get really disappointed in my fellow citizens sometimes, I need to remember what my grandpa and countless others did and do to preserve my freedom!
So, a big THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!! to all Veterans and those currently serving in the military. You are all AMAZING!!!!!!!!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
E-Money
So, I was at the bank today, seeing a demonstration on this nifty new gadget. You can scan checks in for your deposit and it automatically deposits them into your account. No trip to the bank. You keep the checks for 30 days and then shred them. I don't think I'm going to go with it (for various reasons). However, I did have a question. I have to deposit cash every now and then. Can I scan the cash in and then keep it? Surprisingly, the answer was no. "Nice try, Angela" was the exact response. :) But wait...isn't money all electronic anyway? Shouldn't we be able to do that? Unfortunately, no.
I ask you...what is this world coming to? ;)
I ask you...what is this world coming to? ;)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Count Your Blessings
I was surprised to learn that I'm living in an "terrible situation". I was surprised to learn that it needs to be "fixed." There needs to be "change." Well, I'm sorry...I don't know anything about this "change", but I can count my blessings right now. And here they are, in no particular order:
- I have a warm house to live in with a family who loves me.
- I have food to eat.
- I have a car that runs.
- I have 2 jobs that pay my bills.
- I have a wonderfully fun and entertaining family.
- I have wonderfully fun and entertaining friends.
- I am called Aunt Angela by 2 of the most adorable little girls in the world!
- I am an singer/actor who has been working consistently this entire year so far. (Not always getting paid, but money is the icing on the cake when I'm performing.)
- I get to use the college degree that I paid big money for. (It's the most expensive thing I own.)
- I am most of the time fairly healthy. (Freaking allergies of doom....not a blessing.)
- I have the Freedom of Speech that allows me to even be writing this blog right now.
- I have the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the knowledge that His Atonement is there for me.
- I have the opportunity to attend the temple whenever I want and feel the Spirit there, and feel of the blessings in my life.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Happy Halloween!
I hope everyone had a great Halloween! I sure did! It's one of my favorite holidays, mainly because I love dressing up in costumes! The candy isn't so bad either. :)
As usual, I had more than one costume. I was a pirate at work, because it was easy to deal with in the office. Here's a picture:
However, my main costume was this:
I told everyone that I was going to be Jane Austen, but then I got my hair finished, and I decided that I looked exactly like Elizabeth Bennet in the BBC miniseries of Pride and Prejudice. So, that's who I was!!!! Here's a close up of the hairdo:
I love picking costumes that either need to be explained, are characters from musicals (or literature) or just get the reaction: "BWA HA HA HA!!!!!" This costume only needed a little explaining this year, but kudos to Corey Pratt for guessing without me telling him who I was! Most reactions were "And who are you supposed to be?"
And a HUGE THANKS goes out to Robin for making the dress for me!!! I cut it out, but she did all the sewing!!! It turned out GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As usual, I had more than one costume. I was a pirate at work, because it was easy to deal with in the office. Here's a picture:
However, my main costume was this:
I told everyone that I was going to be Jane Austen, but then I got my hair finished, and I decided that I looked exactly like Elizabeth Bennet in the BBC miniseries of Pride and Prejudice. So, that's who I was!!!! Here's a close up of the hairdo:
I love picking costumes that either need to be explained, are characters from musicals (or literature) or just get the reaction: "BWA HA HA HA!!!!!" This costume only needed a little explaining this year, but kudos to Corey Pratt for guessing without me telling him who I was! Most reactions were "And who are you supposed to be?"
And a HUGE THANKS goes out to Robin for making the dress for me!!! I cut it out, but she did all the sewing!!! It turned out GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wake me when it's over
So, we're supposed to turn our clocks back an hour on Saturday night. Great! An extra hour of sleep! But do you know what it also means? One more extra hour until the election is over! Instead of turning my clock back one hour, can I turn it forward until November 5th? That would be great!
Seriously...I voted last Saturday. I don't need to hear any more campaign/attack ads, listen to any more political calls (not that I answer them anyway...yay for Caller ID), or get any more crap in the mail. I just want it all to go away!!!!!
That being said, I am going to step on my soap box for one brief moment...something very rare is going to happen here....I am going to say something political. I'll say stuff like this around my family and coworkers, but I tend to keep my mouth shut in other situations. I don't like to pick fights. But I have to say the following:
Socialism destroyed Russia...and Hitler was a good public speaker, too. Doing your homework means looking at History. There's a reason I was a History minor in college. We have to learn from history if we're ever going to learn from past mistakes and be better people.
Just sayin'. I will now go back to keeping my mouth shut to avoid confrontation. Thank you and have a nice day! :)
Seriously...I voted last Saturday. I don't need to hear any more campaign/attack ads, listen to any more political calls (not that I answer them anyway...yay for Caller ID), or get any more crap in the mail. I just want it all to go away!!!!!
That being said, I am going to step on my soap box for one brief moment...something very rare is going to happen here....I am going to say something political. I'll say stuff like this around my family and coworkers, but I tend to keep my mouth shut in other situations. I don't like to pick fights. But I have to say the following:
Socialism destroyed Russia...and Hitler was a good public speaker, too. Doing your homework means looking at History. There's a reason I was a History minor in college. We have to learn from history if we're ever going to learn from past mistakes and be better people.
Just sayin'. I will now go back to keeping my mouth shut to avoid confrontation. Thank you and have a nice day! :)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Early Morning Phone Calls = Rude Awakenings
So my cell phone rang this morning at about 5:45 am. What the heck?! When the phone rings that early, you expect an emergency, right? So I stumble out of bed and try to dig my phone out of my purse. It was dark...my phone was buried...I didn't make it in time to answer. I checked to see who it was. A Utah phone number, the same one that had called me last night when my phone was on silent. I can understand calling me once, having dialed the wrong number. But to call again at 5:45 am? Are you freaking kidding me?! The weird thing is that I had another missed call yesterday from a Colorado number with the same last 4 digits. Odd... If I find out they were political call, I'm going to be seriously pissed! I voted last Saturday. I don't want to hear anything about the election until it's over!!!!!!!
I'm not going to call the numbers back. I never call back on a missed call unless it's a) someone I know or b) they leave a message. I did try to look up the numbers on Google. For $15 (per number) I can find out who called me. Uh, no thanks! I don't need to know that bad! But if they call back today....I'm answering. So beware!!!!
I'm not going to call the numbers back. I never call back on a missed call unless it's a) someone I know or b) they leave a message. I did try to look up the numbers on Google. For $15 (per number) I can find out who called me. Uh, no thanks! I don't need to know that bad! But if they call back today....I'm answering. So beware!!!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A "Little Women" Preview
You may have already known that I am doing a production of "Little Women" with Up in Lights Productions. We will run the show the middle of November. I just got some of the promo photos today, so here the two that included me:
I look really evil!!! Well, Aunt March isn't exactly the nicest old lady in the world. My make up will look way better than that, now that I've learned how to put on "old age" make up. (Thank you, Ashley!)
Come see the show! November 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23rd at the Rialto Theater in Loveland!
www.uilproductions.com
I look really evil!!! Well, Aunt March isn't exactly the nicest old lady in the world. My make up will look way better than that, now that I've learned how to put on "old age" make up. (Thank you, Ashley!)
Come see the show! November 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23rd at the Rialto Theater in Loveland!
www.uilproductions.com
Monday, October 27, 2008
"Perform Service"
So...Shauna and I were driving in her car today and all of the sudden, there was a beeping sound and her little display screen said "Perform Service." Now, it really meant that the car is due for an oil change, but we thought it was pretty funny. What kind of service should we perform? We get told all the time at church that we should do service. We do service projects, etc. But when the car gets in on the act and tells us to perform service, that's just weird!!! Next thing you know, the car will be reminding us to do our visiting teaching and read our scriptures!!!
Google Yourself!
When did the word "google" become a verb? Just sayin'.
Have you ever googled yourself? Have you done it in a way where you really can find yourself? If you put quotation marks around your full name, it'll come up with more specific references. If you also include the town you live in (not the state, but you can try that, too, if you want), also in quotation marks, you can narrow it down even more! It still throws in other random stuff. Here's what I found out about myself today:
*I'm 39 years old and I live in Ohio. (Uhhhh...no.)
*I donated something to the Loveland Concert Band raffle (Oh, wait...that is me!)
*I went to Loveland High School. (HA! Me again!)
*I wrote a book. (Nope.)
*I am Judy's daughter and a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Vocal Performance. (Yep, me again!)
*I wrote a letter that was printed in the People Magazine "Mailbag". (Yeah, that was me, too. They edited down my letter to make me sound like a crazy stalker. Not so happy about THAT!)
*I came to Falcon in 2004 (Yes, that's me again!)
*I'm a trustee for some trust. (Nope, not unless someone forgot to tell me something)
*I'm apparently some sort of R&B singer, or something. (They got the singer part, right. But I DON'T do R&B)
*I made the Dean's List at St. Ambrose University. (Well, I don't go to school there, and I've never made the Dean's List anywhere.)
*I was in a Rodeo Pagent. (No way, Jose!)
*I was born in Tuskagee, Alabama (No...but I did visit Alabama once for about 36 hours.)
*I played Vittoria in The Gondoliers. (Hey! Me again!)
*I'm married to a guy named Tim and live in Warrenton, OR. (Noooooooo....)
*I placed 1st in an event in a track meet at Abilene Christian University. (I don't do track. I only run when chased.)
*I'm an Amateur Radio Operator in Tucson, AZ. (Not the last time I checked.)
I actually did find myself a few more times, along with a lot of other wierd stuff! It's fun to see what's out there...and who has my name!!! :)
Have you ever googled yourself? Have you done it in a way where you really can find yourself? If you put quotation marks around your full name, it'll come up with more specific references. If you also include the town you live in (not the state, but you can try that, too, if you want), also in quotation marks, you can narrow it down even more! It still throws in other random stuff. Here's what I found out about myself today:
*I'm 39 years old and I live in Ohio. (Uhhhh...no.)
*I donated something to the Loveland Concert Band raffle (Oh, wait...that is me!)
*I went to Loveland High School. (HA! Me again!)
*I wrote a book. (Nope.)
*I am Judy's daughter and a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Vocal Performance. (Yep, me again!)
*I wrote a letter that was printed in the People Magazine "Mailbag". (Yeah, that was me, too. They edited down my letter to make me sound like a crazy stalker. Not so happy about THAT!)
*I came to Falcon in 2004 (Yes, that's me again!)
*I'm a trustee for some trust. (Nope, not unless someone forgot to tell me something)
*I'm apparently some sort of R&B singer, or something. (They got the singer part, right. But I DON'T do R&B)
*I made the Dean's List at St. Ambrose University. (Well, I don't go to school there, and I've never made the Dean's List anywhere.)
*I was in a Rodeo Pagent. (No way, Jose!)
*I was born in Tuskagee, Alabama (No...but I did visit Alabama once for about 36 hours.)
*I played Vittoria in The Gondoliers. (Hey! Me again!)
*I'm married to a guy named Tim and live in Warrenton, OR. (Noooooooo....)
*I placed 1st in an event in a track meet at Abilene Christian University. (I don't do track. I only run when chased.)
*I'm an Amateur Radio Operator in Tucson, AZ. (Not the last time I checked.)
I actually did find myself a few more times, along with a lot of other wierd stuff! It's fun to see what's out there...and who has my name!!! :)
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Drowsy Chaperone
This show is one of the most ridiculous shows I've ever seen! AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!! The premise is just, well....genius! There's this guy called "Man in Chair" who tells you all about his favorite musical from 1928, "The Drowsy Chaperone." He plays the record (yes, record) and the show comes to life in his apartment! It's hilarious! He interjects his commentary, joins in the scenes, etc. Crazy? Ye.? Entertaining? DARN TOOTIN'! Holy cats, this show is funny!
I've wanted to see it FOREVER! I was in NYC 3 weeks before it started previews. I have pictures of the outside of the Marquis Theatre, with all the posters up. But alas, I never made it back to NYC to see the show. But I finally saw the tour yesterday! And I did get to see one of the original cast members. Georgia Engle is touring, playing the incredibly daffy Mrs. Tottendale. She's amazing! I want to have that much energy when I'm her age. How old is she? Wait...what? She's only 60? I thought she was older than my parents. Oh, well.... But the biggest thrill of the day was that Jonathon Crombie was playing the Man in the Chair. Hello!!! Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables movies?! He's really good!!! We met him at the stage door after the show... and yes, I was "that girl" at the stagedoor. I couldn't help myself. I geeked out. I'm sorry!!!!
One thing I liked about the set was that it started out in the apartment. As the show started coming to life, the apartment stayed the same. But gradually, the set changed...adding more and more pieces of the show's set as the scenes went on. By the end, the only thing that remained of the apartment was the stuff on the procenium and the chair, lamp, & record player. Then after the curtain call, the apartment reappeared, in it's entirety. Loved it! The more we got into the show, the farther we moved from reality. That's how theatre should be!!!!!
Anywho..."The Drowsy Chaperone" is amazing! If you get a chance, see it! It's an hour and 40 minutes PACKED with laughs! They recreated a cheesy 20s musical, but with the added flair of today. I loved it! It's a love letter to musicals...specifically a love letter to musical theatre fans. How could I NOT like something like that?
I've wanted to see it FOREVER! I was in NYC 3 weeks before it started previews. I have pictures of the outside of the Marquis Theatre, with all the posters up. But alas, I never made it back to NYC to see the show. But I finally saw the tour yesterday! And I did get to see one of the original cast members. Georgia Engle is touring, playing the incredibly daffy Mrs. Tottendale. She's amazing! I want to have that much energy when I'm her age. How old is she? Wait...what? She's only 60? I thought she was older than my parents. Oh, well.... But the biggest thrill of the day was that Jonathon Crombie was playing the Man in the Chair. Hello!!! Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables movies?! He's really good!!! We met him at the stage door after the show... and yes, I was "that girl" at the stagedoor. I couldn't help myself. I geeked out. I'm sorry!!!!
One thing I liked about the set was that it started out in the apartment. As the show started coming to life, the apartment stayed the same. But gradually, the set changed...adding more and more pieces of the show's set as the scenes went on. By the end, the only thing that remained of the apartment was the stuff on the procenium and the chair, lamp, & record player. Then after the curtain call, the apartment reappeared, in it's entirety. Loved it! The more we got into the show, the farther we moved from reality. That's how theatre should be!!!!!
Anywho..."The Drowsy Chaperone" is amazing! If you get a chance, see it! It's an hour and 40 minutes PACKED with laughs! They recreated a cheesy 20s musical, but with the added flair of today. I loved it! It's a love letter to musicals...specifically a love letter to musical theatre fans. How could I NOT like something like that?
Friday, October 24, 2008
Haunted? Yes. Scary? Psssssh...
I went to the Fritzler Corn Maze in LaSalle tonight. I had never been to a corn maze before, mainly because I have really, REALLY bad allergies. I thought I'd probably die in the middle of the maze and they'd have to airlift me out. But I decided to suck it up and go tonight. I've been managing my allergies since I was 12, so I took a couple of precautions. Turned out alright, mainly because it wasn't windy. Just cold, which is probably better.
Anyway...we went through the haunted side. I learned very quickly, that if we hung back just slightly from the group in front of us, the people would jump out and scare them. I would be tipped off by their screaming and not react. Plus, there's a definitive swishing sound that dried corn makes when you go crashing through it. That's your sign that someone is coming. So no screaming for me!
You get through the main part of the maze, and then you get to the really haunted part, called Scream Alley or something like that. You have to wait forever to get in, but it's worth it. Very cool stuff in there. Did I get scared? Nope. I'm a jaded theatre nerd. I know how they do it, I know it's safe. Why scream? It just encourages them. I don't want to be their prey.
So what did scare me? Well, the fake fog they used in one part was not the dry ice-based fog that is common in theatre. It was the silicon based kind that is VERY VERY BAD FOR YOU!!!! I was scared because I breathed some in. I was also disturbed by the number of people I heard yelling and screaming. That is SO BAD for your vocal cords. I could just hear the nodes forming. ACK!!! I will admit that I jumped when the next to the last chain saw guy jumped out at us. He literally came out of nowhere (I didn't hear the tell-tale swishing), and he jumped at us and not the people in front of us. But I didn't scream. I just went "Whoa!" and flinched. The best part of the whole thing was when we were in the spinning room with the chain saw guy. When the spinning stopped and we were waiting for the door to be opened, I said "Hey, a branch fell off my neighbor's tree into my yard. Can you come take care of it for me?" LOL!
So that's the way to do a haunted corn maze or haunted house. Don't take it seriously! It's not real. It's probably very disappointing for the people running it when I'm not screaming my head off, but that doesn't mean I wasn't highly entertained. I had a great time! And I didn't destroy my vocal cords in the process!! Yay!
Anyway...we went through the haunted side. I learned very quickly, that if we hung back just slightly from the group in front of us, the people would jump out and scare them. I would be tipped off by their screaming and not react. Plus, there's a definitive swishing sound that dried corn makes when you go crashing through it. That's your sign that someone is coming. So no screaming for me!
You get through the main part of the maze, and then you get to the really haunted part, called Scream Alley or something like that. You have to wait forever to get in, but it's worth it. Very cool stuff in there. Did I get scared? Nope. I'm a jaded theatre nerd. I know how they do it, I know it's safe. Why scream? It just encourages them. I don't want to be their prey.
So what did scare me? Well, the fake fog they used in one part was not the dry ice-based fog that is common in theatre. It was the silicon based kind that is VERY VERY BAD FOR YOU!!!! I was scared because I breathed some in. I was also disturbed by the number of people I heard yelling and screaming. That is SO BAD for your vocal cords. I could just hear the nodes forming. ACK!!! I will admit that I jumped when the next to the last chain saw guy jumped out at us. He literally came out of nowhere (I didn't hear the tell-tale swishing), and he jumped at us and not the people in front of us. But I didn't scream. I just went "Whoa!" and flinched. The best part of the whole thing was when we were in the spinning room with the chain saw guy. When the spinning stopped and we were waiting for the door to be opened, I said "Hey, a branch fell off my neighbor's tree into my yard. Can you come take care of it for me?" LOL!
So that's the way to do a haunted corn maze or haunted house. Don't take it seriously! It's not real. It's probably very disappointing for the people running it when I'm not screaming my head off, but that doesn't mean I wasn't highly entertained. I had a great time! And I didn't destroy my vocal cords in the process!! Yay!
Well, now I don't know what the heck I am
What the Fach?! No, I did not just swear. Geez, people.
From Wikipedia:
The German Fach (pl. Fächer, literally "compartment") ([ˈfɛçəɐ]) system is a method of classifying singers, primarily opera singers, by the range, weight, and color of their voices. It is primarily used in Europe, especially in German-speaking countries and in repertory opera houses.
I was looking at this today, during one of my "really bored" moments. I have said for quite awhile that I am a Lyric Mezzo Soprano. But after reading the following, I'm not so sure:
Mezzo-soprano and Contralto Fächer
Koloratur-Mezzosopran
English equivalent: Coloratura mezzo-soprano
Range: From about the G below middle C to the B two octaves above middle C
Description: Found especially in Rossini's operas, these roles were written originally for altos with agility and secure top notes. Today they are often played by mezzo-sopranos and sometimes even by sopranos. At times a lyric or full lyric soprano with a flexible voice will assume the roles as written while a true coloratura soprano will sing the same music transposed upwardly to a higher key.
Roles:
Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia (Gioacchino Rossini)
Angelina La Cenerentola (Gioacchino Rossini)
Romeo I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Vincenzo Bellini)
Orsini Lucrezia Borgia (Gaetano Donizetti)
Okay...that's close. My range is a bit wider than that. (C below middle C to D flat above High C...just over 3 octaves). I like singing Rossini. Una voce poco fa is actually the only aria I have completely memorized. (I'm lazy.) So, then I look further down and see this:
Lyrischer Mezzosopran / Spielalt
Range: From about the G below middle C to the B two octaves above middle C
English equivalent: Lyric mezzo-soprano
Description: a lyric soprano's instrument in a lower range; the resulting sound is less piercing, more lachrymose and kind of sensitive. The voices are so similar in fact that many lyric mezzos with strong extensions to their upper vocal registers make the transition to singing as sopranos at some point in their careers.
Roles:
Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
Octavian Der Rosenkavalier (Richard Strauss)
The Composer Ariadne auf Naxos (Richard Strauss)
Arianna Arianna (Claudio Monteverdi)
Dorabella Così fan tutte (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
Carmen Carmen (Georges Bizet)
Dido Dido and Aeneas (Henry Purcell)
That's closer, and that's Lyric Mezzo. I can sing Dorabella & Carmen. But then, I looked further down and saw this:
Dramatischer Mezzosopran
English equivalent: Dramatic mezzo-soprano
Range: From about the G below middle C to the B two octaves above middle C
Description: Dramatic mezzo-sopranos have ranges very similar to a dramatic soprano. The main difference is the endurance and ease in which the two voice-types sing - a mezzo will concentrate singing most of the time in her middle and low registers and will go up to notes like high B-flat only at the dramatic climax. Consequently, many dramatic mezzo-sopranos have success in singing some dramatic sopranos roles that are written with a lower tessitura.
Roles:
The Sorceress, Dido and Aeneas (Henry Purcell)
Dalila, Samson et Dalila (Camille Saint-Saëns)
Amneris, Aida (Giuseppe Verdi)
Eboli, Don Carlo (Giuseppe Verdi)
Azucena, Il trovatore (Giuseppe Verdi)
Ortrud, Lohengrin (Richard Wagner)
Fricka, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre (Richard Wagner)
Umm...that's more me. I don't sing high consistantly, but I have a high B that comes out of NOWHERE. It's crazy. I don't think I'm technically a Dramatic, because my voice isn't that heavy.
Crap, I don't know what I am. I think I'm going to stick with Lyric Mezzo. It's not like I'll be singing at the Met any time soon...or ever. LOL!
From Wikipedia:
The German Fach (pl. Fächer, literally "compartment") ([ˈfɛçəɐ]) system is a method of classifying singers, primarily opera singers, by the range, weight, and color of their voices. It is primarily used in Europe, especially in German-speaking countries and in repertory opera houses.
I was looking at this today, during one of my "really bored" moments. I have said for quite awhile that I am a Lyric Mezzo Soprano. But after reading the following, I'm not so sure:
Mezzo-soprano and Contralto Fächer
Koloratur-Mezzosopran
English equivalent: Coloratura mezzo-soprano
Range: From about the G below middle C to the B two octaves above middle C
Description: Found especially in Rossini's operas, these roles were written originally for altos with agility and secure top notes. Today they are often played by mezzo-sopranos and sometimes even by sopranos. At times a lyric or full lyric soprano with a flexible voice will assume the roles as written while a true coloratura soprano will sing the same music transposed upwardly to a higher key.
Roles:
Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia (Gioacchino Rossini)
Angelina La Cenerentola (Gioacchino Rossini)
Romeo I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Vincenzo Bellini)
Orsini Lucrezia Borgia (Gaetano Donizetti)
Okay...that's close. My range is a bit wider than that. (C below middle C to D flat above High C...just over 3 octaves). I like singing Rossini. Una voce poco fa is actually the only aria I have completely memorized. (I'm lazy.) So, then I look further down and see this:
Lyrischer Mezzosopran / Spielalt
Range: From about the G below middle C to the B two octaves above middle C
English equivalent: Lyric mezzo-soprano
Description: a lyric soprano's instrument in a lower range; the resulting sound is less piercing, more lachrymose and kind of sensitive. The voices are so similar in fact that many lyric mezzos with strong extensions to their upper vocal registers make the transition to singing as sopranos at some point in their careers.
Roles:
Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
Octavian Der Rosenkavalier (Richard Strauss)
The Composer Ariadne auf Naxos (Richard Strauss)
Arianna Arianna (Claudio Monteverdi)
Dorabella Così fan tutte (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
Carmen Carmen (Georges Bizet)
Dido Dido and Aeneas (Henry Purcell)
That's closer, and that's Lyric Mezzo. I can sing Dorabella & Carmen. But then, I looked further down and saw this:
Dramatischer Mezzosopran
English equivalent: Dramatic mezzo-soprano
Range: From about the G below middle C to the B two octaves above middle C
Description: Dramatic mezzo-sopranos have ranges very similar to a dramatic soprano. The main difference is the endurance and ease in which the two voice-types sing - a mezzo will concentrate singing most of the time in her middle and low registers and will go up to notes like high B-flat only at the dramatic climax. Consequently, many dramatic mezzo-sopranos have success in singing some dramatic sopranos roles that are written with a lower tessitura.
Roles:
The Sorceress, Dido and Aeneas (Henry Purcell)
Dalila, Samson et Dalila (Camille Saint-Saëns)
Amneris, Aida (Giuseppe Verdi)
Eboli, Don Carlo (Giuseppe Verdi)
Azucena, Il trovatore (Giuseppe Verdi)
Ortrud, Lohengrin (Richard Wagner)
Fricka, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre (Richard Wagner)
Umm...that's more me. I don't sing high consistantly, but I have a high B that comes out of NOWHERE. It's crazy. I don't think I'm technically a Dramatic, because my voice isn't that heavy.
Crap, I don't know what I am. I think I'm going to stick with Lyric Mezzo. It's not like I'll be singing at the Met any time soon...or ever. LOL!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
FREAKING FROST!!!
If there's anything I hate about living in a climate that hosts all 4 seasons, it's frost. Frost on the windshield of my car. Sometimes it scrapes right off, but not today! It was the kind that apparently has glue in it. I scrape and scrape, and all I do is take the top layer off. I ended up driving to work today with my windshield about half covered. I had to lean over to the right just to see (when I was the driving east and all the sun was beating down on me.)
Ack! I HATE SCRAPING MY WINDOWS!!!! I HATE FROST!!!!!!!!!
Ack! I HATE SCRAPING MY WINDOWS!!!! I HATE FROST!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Umm...say what?!
I am preparing to vote. I am educating myself. Right now, I'm printing off a sample ballot for my precinct. This is going to help me know just exactly what I need to be studying.
Well, I started to look down the list of presidential candidates, and I got quite the surprise! McCain, Obama...yeah, yeah..a bunch of other people....wait. WHAT?
I kid you not:
Charles Jay/Dan Sallis Jr.
Boston Tea
Yes, they are running for the Boston Tea Party.
*SNERK*
then there's blah blah blah, a bunch more candidates, and then Ralph Nadar. I think he's going to run every time until he dies. Poor guy.
Ah, and here we are at US Senator. I can write someone in. I think I'll write in the following name: Joseph P. Emmons. That's my coworker. He wrote himself in already when he voted. I figure I can give him that crucial 2nd vote.
Okay, now I'm going to whip out my magnifying glass and try to read all this stuff for the amendments. I need to figure out how I'm voting and the print is really small. I might go blind trying to read this!!
Well, I started to look down the list of presidential candidates, and I got quite the surprise! McCain, Obama...yeah, yeah..a bunch of other people....wait. WHAT?
I kid you not:
Charles Jay/Dan Sallis Jr.
Boston Tea
Yes, they are running for the Boston Tea Party.
*SNERK*
then there's blah blah blah, a bunch more candidates, and then Ralph Nadar. I think he's going to run every time until he dies. Poor guy.
Ah, and here we are at US Senator. I can write someone in. I think I'll write in the following name: Joseph P. Emmons. That's my coworker. He wrote himself in already when he voted. I figure I can give him that crucial 2nd vote.
Okay, now I'm going to whip out my magnifying glass and try to read all this stuff for the amendments. I need to figure out how I'm voting and the print is really small. I might go blind trying to read this!!
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