Comment Card Responses Part 1

I'm going through the comment cards at work and I really wish that I could respond to these people to make them realize how insane they are.  Allow me to share...(But I'm not going to write what the actual comment was, just the snarky responses I wish I could give.)

*Oh, really?  Because it's all about you?  There are 2 things you can choose from on the menu, and if you don't like it you can come for show only and sit in the back.

*Did you ask if you could move?  Oh, you just wrote it on the card for us to read later and not help you.

*Did you ask for butter?

*You are the only person who likes that kind of dressing.  We aren't going to cater just to you.

*Oh, I totally agree with you on that one.  I'd like us to bring it back as well!

*Did you ask for split checks?  Because we can totally do that if you ask.  And if you ask us, we can tell you the approximate cost of your meal, so you can figure out your tip.  You just have to ASK.

*Wow...did you come for the mushrooms or for the show?  (And guess what!  The mushrooms are back!  And you were so mad you won't return and find out that they are back!)

*You weren't charged per cup of coffee.  And you should get season tickets.  Then coffee is included.

*Try going out to dinner separately and then going to see a touring show.  You will pay WAY more than you paid for your ticket tonight.

*We have all kinds of wine.  If you don't like what we have, drink at home.

*Did you look around?  Was it busy?  Did you flag someone down?  Be proactive!!!  And if it's super busy, give us the benefit of the doubt!!!  Sheesh!

*Those are starters.  If you eat a lot of it, you won't eat your dinner.  Therefore, the portions are small.  Duh.   And if you want more, you can always ask.


This is just a small percentage of the crazy comments we get.  And 99 times out of 100, they haven't mentioned any of this to their server.  We can fix it, if we know about it.  But leaving it on the comment card and leaving is not going to help YOU.  And it's all about YOU, right?

Christmas Eve "Minute to Win It" -- Milligan Family Style!

Here are some pictures from our hilarious game of "Minute to Win It" on Christmas Eve:

Moving a Grand Piano: A Story in Pictures

Here at the Candlelight, we have had a special event over the last 2 days.  Debby Boone was here and did 2 concerts, both of which were really great!  We had to move our grand piano out of the pit and onto the stage for this, so last night we had to move it back down in preparation for the remaining performances of "Scrooge".  Here are some pictures I took while they were doing this:

 If you would like to know any specifics about what it is they actually did, talk to Shauna or Neal.  I was just the photographer.

Golden Globes Nominations!!

I have been living so much in "Scrooge"-land, that I was completely unaware that they were going to announce the Golden Globe Nominations!!!!  There are a bunch of movies I have wanted to watch this year and haven't made it.  But I've seen enough, I think.  I guess we'll see.  Here are some instant reactions to this year's nominations:

Best Motion Picture-Drama:  "THE HELP"!!!!!  I LOVED that movie!  (And the book is even better!)  I REALLY want to see "War Horse."

Best Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical:  I haven't seen any of those, but I REALLY want to see "The Artist".  I've heard some really great things about it.

Best Motion Picture-Animated:  I've only seen "Cars 2" and I was great!

Best Lead Actress-Drama:  Viola Davis absolutely deserves that.  She was AMAZING in "The Help"!!!

Best Supporting Actress:  Both Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain for "The Help"?  Gah!!!  Who to choose?

Best TV Comedy/Musical:  Glee is up for it.  I haven't watched Glee in several weeks.  I've kind of fallen off the Glee train this year.

--

Well, I see that there's not a lot that I care about this year with the GGs, but I'll watch anyway.  Hello!  Ricky Gervais is hosting again.  He's HILARIOUS!!!!

The Sad Saga of Winnifred the Saturn

Oh, what a sad story.  I am having to say farewell to the car that has been so good to me for the past 7 years.  Winnifred the Saturn has been a great car...until now.

But first, here is a picture of Fred when I first got her:

So she really has been great all this time.  A few minor repairs here and there.  Last year was a little bad, what with the new radiator and timing belt.  But she kept running, so I didn't replace her.  Well, last week she almost overheated as I was driving from the theater to my parents' house.  She almost overheated again while driving to my house.  So I took her into the mechanic and got the bad news a few days later.  She needs a new head gasket.  It's a very expensive repair, and one that I don't want to pay for.  Especially, because the transmission will probably be the next thing to go.

So I needed to find a new car.  But I am INSANELY busy at the moment with "Scrooge".  Not to mention that I don't have the money for a new car.  So I borrowed my parents' car for a few days, but they needed it back on Friday.  So I got to borrow Craig's car for a few days, but he needed it back on Wednesday.  I just needed to find the time...make the time...to go car shopping.

I took the day off on Tuesday so that Dad and I could go out looking for cars.  I had looked online, but nothing had really jumped out at me.  I drive by a few car dealerships occasionally, so there were a few I wanted to go to, just because I thought I had seen some cars that might work.  I had some parameters set.....4 doors, smaller, lesser miles and newer than my current car.  Those were all negotiable.  My price range was not negotiable.  I knew I'd really like another Saturn, but I was open to other makes and models.

So we set out around noon.  We started out at Keck Auto Sales on N. Garfield, across from Runza.  They had several Saturns on their lot.  The first car I saw was a 2005 Saturn Ion.  The price was just under my price cap.  They also had a 1999 Saturn SL2.  (Fred is a 99 Saturn SL1.)  We didn't talk to anybody, just looked around.  But I really liked the Ion.  So we wrote down the information and then left.

Next we went to The Car Guys on the corner of Lincoln and 12th St.  They didn't have a lot, but they did have a 3 door Saturn that they had just gotten in and was going to be fixed up.  The guy we talked to there was really nice.  I knew that car wasn't going to work, so we moved on.

We went to Warner's Auto, but they didn't have anything that would work.  Then we went back up to Finish Line Auto, on the corner of Monroe and Eisenhower.  They didn't have anything that would work, but we did see a gold Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo that was in my price range.  We joked that I should buy it so that Shauna and Neal and I would all have the same cars, just different colors.  As much as I would like 4 wheel drive, I know I couldn't afford that gas for that car.

Next we went up the street to Auto Integrity.  The guy there was really nice.  I test drove a 1999 Dodge Stratus.  It was a nice car, with actually really low mileage for a car that old.  And the price was right, but it just didn't feel right.  I couldn't stop thinking about the Saturn Ion back at Keck.  We told the guy we'd call if we were coming back.

We stopped by the dealership at the corner of Washington and Eisenhower.  They had some Volkswagons.  I drooled over the black Jetta and laughed at the '98 Beetle that was red with some weird yellow stripe.  I joked that if I got that car, I would name it "Ronald".  As in...Ronald McDonald.

We headed back to Keck and the note on the door said he would be back at 2:30.  It was 2:25, so we walked around and waited.  At 2:35, he wasn't back yet, so we went back to the car and were going to head up north.  But I made a phone call first, following up on a lead (which didn't pan out) and while I was on the phone, the guy came back.  So we talked about the Saturns with him.  I found out that the '99 had a practically new engine and 89K miles on.  (Another car with surprisingly low mileage for a 12 year old car!  Crazy!)  The Ion had 78K miles on it and was about $1000 more than the Dodge Stratus I'd driven earlier.  Similar mileage, $1000 more, 6 years newer.  And with the SL2, sure everything was pretty much new under the hood, but the rest of the car is still 12 years old.  I voted in favor of the Ion.  I took it for a test drive.  It's really quite nice!  Similar to Fred.

The only thing now was what to do with Fred.  With the need of a new engine, I wasn't expecting a lot for the trade.  But the tires are practically brand new!  I just bought them in August!  But he needed to see it before he could tell me how much he could give me for it.  (Oh, and I couldn't switch the tires.  Wrong size.)  We don't want to drive it too much, because it overheats, so he came over to take a look.  She really is a great looking car.  No body damage, since I've never been in an accident.  He thought the engine sounded okay.  So I am going to get $500 for the trade, which is about what I expected.

I decided that I definitely wanted the Ion, but I really needed my mechanic to check it out for me first.  But he couldn't get it in until Wednesday morning.  The dealership gave me the key on Tuesday and said I could come pick it up early and take it over.  So I did and got it Mark by 9 am.  But he couldn't look at it right away, so I called Dad and had him come pick me up.  I didn't know how long it was going to be, so I just stayed at their house for awhile.  After awhile, it was getting really close to when I needed to go to work.  So we got it all worked out so I could go get Craig's car and then come back over when the car was ready, but then Mark called just as we were about to leave.  So Shauna took me to get the Ion and Dad drove Fred over to the dealership.

It didn't take long to fill out the paperwork and what not, so I am now the proud owner of a 2005 Saturn Ion.  Here's a picture:

I'm still debating on a name.  I like to name my cars after iconic musical or movie characters.  Rosebud...Winnifred.  I have a couple of ideas for this car, but I'll have to wait and see.  The name needs to be earned.  Emily said that should name it Fred.  I told her I wasn't giving this car the same name as the old car!!

I'm a lot poorer now, much more in debt than I would like.  But I have wheels.  I don't have to walk to work.  I still think it's funny that I bought the first car that I saw.  Literally, the first car I looked at.  But I looked at so many other cars before I came back to that one!  That way I was sure!

Merry Christmas to me!

Follow up:  I named the car Adelaide.  I couldn't decide between Adelaide and Penelope, so her full name is Adelaide Penelope.

To Wish or Not to Wish...

It's annoying, but it's true.  It has virtually becoming completely politically incorrect to wish someone a Merry Christmas.  You never know anymore who celebrates it or not.  People get soooooooo offended these days.  I don't know if you celebrate Christmas or not.  Wear a sign or something if you don't want me to say it.  Sheesh!

However, I have discovered that I have no problem at all wishing patrons leaving our production of "Scrooge: The Musical" a Merry Christmas.  It's a fairly safe assumption that if they have paid to come see a musical based on Dicken's A Christmas Carol, then they probably celebrate Christmas.  I'm guessing that if someone has season tickets and they didn't want to see it, they gave their tickets away to someone else who wants to see it.  So I say "Merry Christmas!" not "Happy Holidays!"

So.....MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You Know You're from Colorado if...

• You eat ice cream in the winter.
• It snows 5 inches and you don't expect school to be cancelled.
• You live above 5,000 feet.
• You'll wear flip flops every day of the year-regardless of temperature.
• You have no accent at all, but can hear other people's. And then you make fun of them.
• "Humid" is over 25%.
• Your sense of direction is: Toward the mountains and Away from the mountains.
• You say "the interstate" and everybody knows which one.
• You think that May is a totally normal month for a blizzard.
• You buy your flowers to set out on Mother's day, but try and hold off planting them until just before Father's day.
• You grew up planning your Halloween costumes around your coat.
• You know what the Continental Divide is.
• You went to Casa Bonita as a kid, AND as an adult.
• You've gone off-roading in a vehicle that was never intended for such activities.
• You always know the elevation of where you are.
• You wake up to a beautiful, 80 degree day and you wonder if it's gonna snow later.
• You don't care that some company renamed it, the Broncos still play at Mile High Stadium!!!
• Every movie theater has military and student discounts.
• You actually know that South Park is a real place, not just a show on TV.
• You know what a 'trust fund hippy' is, and you know its natural habitat is Boulder, Aspen, Crested Butte, Paonia, and Telluride.
• You know you're talking to a fellow Coloradan when they call it "Elitches," not "Six Flags.
• A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you.
• Your two favorite teams are the Broncos and whoever is beating the crap out of the Raiders.
• When people back East tell you they have mountains in their state too, you just laugh.
• You go anywhere else on the planet and the air feels "sticky" and you notice the sky is no longer blue.

Repost if you're PROUD of being a Coloradan.

First "Scrooge" Picture!

Here is one of the first pictures that I've gotten from "Scrooge"!!  This is the scene where the Dilbers are trying to negotiate with Scrooge for more time to pay.  I'm in the middle.  Michelle Sergeeff (Miss Dilber) is on the left and Brian Burron (Ebeneezer Scrooge) is on the right!

Johnson Candlelight Family Tree

It's kind of fun to let people guess & wonder, but I will finally clear this up for everyone.  The following are the members of the Johnson Family (and extended family) who have worked or currently work (as in, on the payroll) at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse....and how we are related:

Murell Johnson (Dad) - Props Master
Angela Johnson (oldest child) - Box Office & in the cast of Scrooge
Shauna Johnson (3rd child) - Technical Director & Stage Manager
Neal Johnson (youngest child) - Sound Designer, Sound Engineer, Master Carpenter, & Server
Amanda Johnson (Neal's wife) - Has worked a few tear downs
Brian Spotts (husband of our cousin Stephanie) - Has worked a few tear downs
Tiffany Sabec (Amanda's sister) - Has worked a few tear downs

Also...
Judy Johnson (Mom) - Doesn't get paid, but does pretty much whatever is needed.  (Like, today I called her at home with a message from Dad to "please make more of the brown play-dough.")
Craig Johnson (2nd child) - Has helped out moving sets on occasion.

It should also be noted that our parents, grandparents, aunt & uncle, and brother & sister-in-law all have season tickets.

So there you have it.  The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse is crawling with Johnsons.  And Johnson relatives.  (But any other Johnsons are of no relation, and there have been a couple.)

The Fezziwig's Family Tree

We decided last night at rehearsal for Scrooge the Musical that the Fezziwigs had 26 daughters.  Only one is named in the show...Isabel.  We decided that each daughter had a "Bell" name, and there was one for each letter of the alphabet:

Annabelle
Bellatrix
Clarabelle
Dorabella
Ellabelle
Florabelle
Gisbelle
Hannabelle
Isabel
Jessabelle (not be be confused with Jezabel)
Katiebelle
Lizabel
Mirabelle
Norabelle
Orabella
Pollybella
Qiyrabell
Rubybell
Sabella
Tarabella
Urabel
Vannabel
Willabella
Xiomarabella
Yettabelle
Zarabelle

Oh, and they had one son.  His name was Bello.

Tongue Ulcer Update

I got a call back from my doctor this morning.  My phone was off, so she left me a message.  The culture came back negative for a virus.  She thinks is might be an allergy that causes the ulcers.  Either a nut allergy (which I find unlikely) or an antibiotic allergy (which is pretty likely, but doesn't explain why I got the ulcers in July.)  I think they are caused by a combination of hormones and stress.  I wish I could nail it down so that I never get them again, but I can't deal with it this week.  It's Tech Week!  Scrooge opens on Saturday!!!!!!!

Losing a week of my life.

I have been so sick the past week and a half.  (What horrible timing!!!)  I developed the canker sores on my tongue again for the THIRD time this year.  Sometime during the night/early morning on the 3rd, I got really sick.  I remember trying to throw up and it not happening.  I was lying on the bathroom floor for awhile and then made it back to bed.  I then proceeded to sleep until noon.  I missed my doctor's appointment and my chiropractor's appointment.  I vaguely remember talking to Shauna on the phone so that I could get out of rehearsal that afternoon.  She came and took me to Urgent Care.  The doctor prescribed an anti-viral drug and I went back to using the Lidocane.  She swabbed the back of my throat, because there was a huge canker sore back there, but nothing showed up.

The next few days are a blur.  I was sleeping at least 10 hours a night.  I made it to rehearsal and to church.  I went to the doctor again on Tuesday.  That doctor took a chunk out of my tongue to test the canker sores.  I still haven't gotten the results from that test yet.  She thinks it could be an allergy that is causing it.  Great....that's all I need.  Another allergy.  I think it's stress-related.  I really just wish they would GO AWAY AND NOT COME BACK!!!!  I can't eat when I have them because it hurts so dang bad.

The timing with this has been horrible.  I am amazed at how quickly I forget the choreography that I'm learning for Scrooge.  We open in a week and I'm not comfortable with any of the dances except for maybe one.  Uuuuuuuugh............

Murphy's Law Day

The following is the timeline of our Murphy's Law Day:

1. Shauna and I left for the temple around 9:15 am
2. As we were turning off C470 onto University, suddenly the Jeep wouldn't shift.  Wouldn't go over 20 mph.  We made it to the temple parking lot, though.
3. Once we were in the temple and dressed, we found Mom and told her not to leave until we got done so we could figure out what to do about the car.
4. We were supposed to be on the 11:00 am session, but they had mechanical difficulties in that Ordinance Room, so we got bumped to the 11:30 am session.  (No biggie.)
5. We met up with Mom and Dad and then foyer and headed out to look at the car.
6. The car still wouldn't shift, so we decided to go to CiCi's for lunch while we decided what to do.
7. We decided that Neal and Amanda would come down and tow the Jeep back to Loveland.  We would start heading north and we'd meet in the middle.
8. We drove north on University, west on Belleview, and north on Federal...all at about 20 mph.  (35 mph when we coasted down hills!)
9. We made it to the Safeway at Federal and 102nd Ave.  We waited for Neal and Amanda (who had been on Wadsworth, not Federal).  Once the cars were hooked up with an interesting rig that consisted of a tow chain, ratchet straps, and duct tape, we headed out.  (I had a lovely hot chocolate from Starbucks!)
10. But BEFORE we headed out, we got a call that the power was out at the Candlelight.  Great.
11. We made quite the caravan, what with Neal's Jeep and Shauna's Jeep almost bumper to bumper with Mom & Dad following close behind with their hazards on .  (Shauna's Jeep had a signal light out.)
12. We left Safeway at about 4:30 pm.
13. Not too long after that, we got word that the power was back on at the Candlelight.
14. We went north on Federal, west on 104th, and north on Wadsworth/287.
15. Somewhere along the way, Shauna realized that there would be a problem with microphone batteries because of the power outage, so a series of phone calls followed to get that situation covered.  (As of press time, I haven't heard how that all ended up.)
16. As we were turning into the King Soopers parking lot (near our mechanic's), the wheel caught the towing rig and we were stuck halfway.  Neal got it fixed quickly, so we didn't block traffic for too long.
17. We arrived at our mechanic's about 5:45 pm.  We left the Jeep there and we took Shauna back to her house so that she could get ready to head to work.  I took Mom & Dad home.

WHAT A LONG DAY!!!!  STUPID MURPHY'S LAW.  I've had enough adventure for one day.  I'm beat!  But it really was quite interesting to see what's along Federal when you're going 20 mph.  We counted 9 Dollar Stores and 20 "Pot Shops" as I call them.  Crazy!!

Wal-Mart Real Estate

On my way to work this morning, I saw one of those manufactured houses being pulled down the interstate.  There was a Wal-Mart semi truck next to it.  For a brief moment, it looked like the Wal-Mart truck was pulling the house.  I thought "Wow!  You really CAN buy anything at Wal-Mart!!"

I wish I could have taken a picture.  But I was driving.  Oh, well!

World's Largest Pumpkin

This is the time of year when we keep hearing all about the world's largest pumpkin.  Well, they are going to have it on Regis and Kelly this morning.  I can't help but wondering...what happens if they drop it?  I mean, it's got to be a major hassle to move that thing.  Right?  So, my question is...if something happens and the world's largest pumpkin gets dropped, do they investigate the owners of the world's 2nd largest pumpkin for suspicious behavior?  They really could have something to do with the demise of the largest pumpkin so they can get bumped up to the largest pumpkin.  Am I right?  I think I am.

Scrooge the Musical

This is just a friendly reminder that I will be in Scrooge the Musical at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse this holiday season.  The show runs November 19 through December 31.  Tickets are going really fast, so if you want to come, I HIGHLY recommend getting your reservation soon!

You may purchase tickets anytime at www.coloradocandlelight.com
You may purchase tickets over the phone (or in person)
Tuesday-Friday from 10 am to 5 pm
Saturday from 12 pm to 5 pm

970-744-3747

4747 Marketplace Dr.
Johnstown, CO  80534
(Behind RV America, accessible off the I-25 Frontage Road just south of Exit 254)

I really hope to see you at the show!  It's going to be FABULOUS!!!  We start rehearsals next week and I'm so excited to get started!  :)

Good Economy vs. Bad Ecomony

Good Economy vs. Bad Economy...you be the judge.

The RV America that is right next to where I work is expanding.  They are adding on to their building as well as building onto their parking lot.  This means that business must be booming!  So that makes me wonder....  Are they selling more RVs because the economy is good and people can afford to buy them?  Or are people losing/selling their houses and buying RVs to live in permanently?

Makes you wonder, huh?

Columbus Day

People get all worked up about Columbus Day.  They think "Oh, my gosh, he came over here and wrecked everything for everybody.  He stole land and killed the natives.  Why do we honor him?"  Umm...hello?  Do you think we'd all be living happily over in Europe?  Can you believe how overcrowded it would be?  America is the Promised Land.  Columbus was meant to come over here.  Just look at 1 Nephi 13:12

And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that is came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.

See!  It's right there in the Book of Mormon!  Nephi saw it in a vision in 600 BC!

So you can celebrate Columbus Day if you want to or not.  It's a free country.  Whether you like it or not, the banks and post office will be closed.  But you can go on with your regular life...you just can't cash a check or mail a letter..

Dumbest Case of Road Rage EVER!

I just witnessed something so incredibly stupid.  I can't even believe it!

I had just picked up my mail and I was sitting in my car, waiting to be able to back out of my parking space and go home.  There were cars coming in all three directions, so I was just chilling, waiting for them to be gone.  Well, I don't know exactly what pissed this lady off.  It didn't look to me like she had been cut off or anything, but she laid on her horn for almost a full minute, all the while leaving her car halfway into the road (so NO ONE could move) and kept gesturing out her window toward the supposed offending car.  What in the world was your problem, lady?  Somebody must have spit in her corn flakes.

Now, I am known to be a little road rageous at times, but I never stop traffic and lay on the horn for a full minute.  I'll yell through my closed windows.  And if I manage to honk the horn, that's just a bonus.  (It's kind of difficult to honk my horn...it's a little button.)

Seriously, this was like the dumbest thing ever.  Really?  Was it necessary?  Idiot.

Mount Rushmore and Beyond!!

This week, we took a whirlwind, less than 3 days, road trip!  Mom, Dad, Shauna, and I left at o'dark thirty on Monday morning and headed north!  The destinations:  Mount Rushmore and then Billings, Montana.  Here are some excerpts from the trip journal (complete with pictures):

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Crazy Horse Memorial is AWESOME!!!!!  When it's finished, it's going to be GINORMOUS!  What am I saying?  It's ginormous now!!

The Needles Highway is beautiful!  And it's fun to drive through the small tunnels.

Mount Rushmore is A-MAZ-ING!!  So hard to imagine it was done so long ago!  How did they do that?

If you want to be extra proud to be an America, visit Mount Rushmore.  No joke.

We went back to Mount Rushmore for the Illumination Ceremony.  That was super cool!  The talk by the ranger and then the movie they showed were really great.  But standing to sing the Star Spangled Banner while the lights were coming on was BEYOND AWESOME!!


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

We went back to Mount Rushmore to take the Presidential walk, which takes you pretty close to the base of the monument.  Mount Rushmore really does look better in the morning light!  Less shadows.

9:00 am = on the road to Billings

10:00 am = We can now say that we have been to Sturgis.

While looking for the Loaf 'n' Jug in Sheridan, Wyoming, we end up in the airport parking lot.  Whoops!

Arrived in Billings at around 3:00 pm.

The Billings Temple is GORGEOUS!!  We got on the 5:10 pm and 7:30 pm sessions.  We even got a little tour between sessions.  That was nice!  We got to meet the Temple President and Matron, too!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

8:00 am = Back on the road after going back to the temple to take pictures.

We stopped at the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument.  (AKA Custer's Last Stand)  We didn't stay for very long, but we were there to hear one of the Ranger Talks.  Very interesting!

Dropped Shauna off at her house at 5:30 pm, meaning the entire trip lasted 60 hours.  I would say approximately 20 of those hours were spent in the car.  Oy.


We had a great time!  We are already planning a whirlwind road trip for next summer!

Phone Dilemmas

I am currently eligible for a discounted upgrade to a new phone.  However, my contract does not expire until April of next year.  I really need a new phone now.  I am about ready to set my Blackberry on fire.  It freezes at least 3 to 4 times a week and I have to take the battery out in order to reset it.  It's incredibly annoying.

So here's my dilemma:  I am paying $100 a month for my wireless service.  (My regular service is $39.99 a month plus $50 for unlimited internet/data & texts, plus all of their fees and taxes and stuff.)  Now, I can switch to a different carrier and pay $69.99 a month (same amount of minutes, internet/data & texts included).  However, my early termination fee would be about $100 and I'd have to pay for the phone and probably change my number.

It seems like such a hassle to switch to only save $20 a month.  ESPECIALLY if I have to change my phone number.  I've never had a problem with the coverage my carrier provides.  It's just the price that I have a problem with.

My 2nd dilemma is which phone to pick, if I just upgrade and stick with my current carrier.  I can get a refurbished phone for significantly cheaper than the new version.  I've never gotten a refurbished phone before.  The difference in warranty troubles me.  (90 days for refurbished, 1 year for new).  But the cheaper price seems to make it worth my while to try it out.  I've talked to a few people who have had good luck with refurbished phones, but I'm still hesitant.

I don't know what to do.  I can't decide.  Ugh!!!  Why can't this be simpler!?!?

Pay it Forward!

A couple of weeks ago, I dropped a wad of cash out of my pocket while walking around the outside of Coors Field.  Someone saw this happen and told me, so I could pick it up.

Today, as I came out of Albertsons, the girl walking in front of me dropped a five dollar bill.  I said "Hey, you dropped some money!"  She didn't heard me.  So I picked it up and chased her down.

Just paying it forward!

International Talk Like a Pirate Day 2011

It's that time again!  Talk Like a Pirate Day!  (Of course, in our family, every day is Talk Like a Pirate Day.)  This year we celebrated a day early, because it was more convenient for all involved.  So we called it "International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Observed)".  Here are so fun pictures from the event:

Captain Peg Leg, the Pirate Cake (Courtesy of Robin)

The Warbling Wench, this year with crazy hair!!!

The new (old) Tavern Table!!

Captain Ben, the Sock Hand

And now, for your viewing pleasure....the Talk Like a Pirate Day Song, featuring the NoCoMo Pirates!

Seaweed Salad

Otherwise known as Mock Seaweed Salad  (See NOTE below)

Equal parts:
Baby Spring Mix
Baby Spinach
Mâche Rosettes (Lamb's Lettuce)

Mix the Spring Mix and Spinach together in a bowl.  Top with Mâche (do not mix in!)


Serve with Thousand Island Dressing, Kraft Seven Seas Green Goddess Dressing, or Ranch (fer ye land lubbers!)  Use Sour Cream and Onion Goldfish crackers instead of croutons.

NOTE:  If you have seaweed, feel free to add to the salad in whatever way you desire.  Just make sure it's not dirty seaweed right out of the ocean.  That's gross!  That being said, store-bought seaweed is gross, too.  Tastes just like goldfish food smells.

Broadway Dream List of the Moment

Every now and then I sit and ponder the following "if"...

If I was going to NYC this week, what shows would I see?  The list is often huge...the total price of tickets being more expensive than my flight & hotel.   Here is the list of this moment:

• Anything Goes! (Hello!  Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney?  YES, PLEASE!)
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (I am intrigued by "Daniel Radcliffe in a Musical")
• Sister Act (I adore Victoria Clark and she's playing the Mother Superior.)
• War Horse (The concept of this show fascinates me!)

And of course, my "safeties":

• Mary Poppins (I want to see how much cooler the Broadway set is versus the touring set.)
• Wicked (I will see that show whenever and wherever I can.  Just because it ROCKS!)
• The Lion King (There's a chance I won't get to see it when it's in Denver, even though I already have a ticket.  So I'd totally see it on Broadway if I could.  It's Theatrical Perfection, people!!)

I'm a nerd.  What can I say

Book Recommendation: "The Kiss of a Stranger" by Sarah M. Eden

Sarah M. Eden is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.  Maybe it's because she writes about the Regency Era...Jane Austen times, for you non-Anglophiles.  Maybe it's because they are great romances.  Whatever it is, she writes some good stuff!

Read my recommendation of her book "Courting Miss Lancaster" here.

I just read "The Kiss of a Stranger", which is a spin-off of "Courting Miss Lancaster".  I read it in one day!  Seriously!  Actually, less than a day.  Less than 12 hours.  I couldn't put it down.

Crispin, Lord Cavratt, kisses who he thinks is a servant girl in the garden to make a girl who's been pursuing (and annoying) him angry.  Well, the servant girl isn't a servant and her uncle is the one who gets angry.  Crispin and Catherine find themselves married within minutes, forced into a marriage that neither of them expected or wanted.  What follows is a parade of the worst of London's gossips and an emotional roller coaster (you know...if roller coasters had been invented back then) for Lord and Lady Cavratt.

Great book!  I highly recommend it!!

By the way....I'm also eagerly anticipating being able to find a PRINT version (not a Kindle version) of "Seeking Persephone", which is the book we all are supposed to read before reading "Courting Miss Lancaster".  That ship has sailed, obviously, but I'm still desperate to read it! 

New Dancing with the Stars Cast

I didn't want to watch Bachelor Pad in order to see this announcement live.  So I used a spy on the East Coast to tell me when it had been announced there, and then I went to Wikipedia to get the list.  Cheating?  Maybe.  Smart?  Totally.  I'd rather poke my eyes out with a dull spoon than watch Bachelor Pad.

So....here are my initial reactions to the list:  (NOTE:  This is a stream-of-consciousness blog.  I did not go back and edit after I found out the REAL list.  If I did edit, it's in red.)

Elisabeta Canalis:  Apparently, she's George Clooney's ex.  I don't know what other claim to fame she has.  Once again, Dancing with the C-Listers!  Woot!

Ron Artest:  Obligatory athlete

Nancy Grace:  Obligatory news person.

Kristin Cavallari:  I've heard of her, but I don't know if I've ever seen her in anything.  Oh, she was on "The Hills"?  No wonder I've never seen her.

Ricki Lake:  Aww....I've always liked her.  Especially in "Mrs. Winterbourne".

Chynna Phillips:  Ha!  I remember when I saw her as Kim in the TV movie version of "Bye Bye Birdie".  She was WAAAAAAAY too old to be playing Kim!!!

Hope Solo:  Who?  Never heard of her.  (Wikipedia says she's a goalie.)

David Arquette:  Obligatory funny guy!!!

Rob Kardashian:  I don't know that I've heard of him. Is he related to Kim?

Ryan O'Neal:  Obligatory old guy.  Love him on "Bones"!

J.R. Martinez:  I don't know who that is.  (After a little research, I now know who he is.  While I wouldn't consider him a "star", I think it's awesome that he's going to be on there!)

Carson Kressley:  That'll be interesting.

Chaz Bono:  That'll be ever more interesting!


Now, I'm a little confused.  This is a list of 13 people.  There are only 12 professionals listed.  Just more proof that you can't trust Wikipedia!  BAH HA HA!!!  I just went back to wikipedia after looking at ABC's website and that entire list is gone.  I got in there at just the right time to see that list!

Okay, so I went back to ABC's website and saw the official list.  No Ryan O'Neal.  That's a bummer.  He would have been fun.

So there you have it!  This season will be...interesting. 

Book Review: "The List" by Melanie Jacobson

Ever read a book that's predictable so you just skip to the end to see if you're right?  Ever read a book that's predictable but interesting enough to keep reading?  This book is the latter.  I saw certain plot points coming from a mile away, but I enjoyed reading the witty dialogue.

Everyone has a bucket list, right?  Well, Ashley Barrett has "The List".  It's a list of 25 things she wants to do before she gets married.  She wrote it as an act of defiance at age 18.  She didn't want to be like her mom and sisters and marry super young.  Over the next 6 years, she's been checking things off the list.  The summer before she starts grad school (#5 on the list, by the way), she heads to California to stay with her cousins and learn to surf (#13).  She wasn't expecting to meet Matt Gibson, the hottest guy in the singles ward.  She manages to snag his attention, by playing hard to get.  And he quickly becomes #17 on the list (Have a summer fling.)

I really enjoyed the witty dialogue (as I said before.)  (I even posted 2 quotes from the book on my Facebook page!  I liked it that much!)  I also enjoyed reading the vivid descriptions of every kind of girl in a singles ward.  Having spent more than my fair share of years in singles wards, I can attest that every single description was spot on.  Melanie Jacobson does a great job of perfectly encapsulating the feeding frenzy that IS a singles ward in the summer time (or all year, in some cases) in a fun and engaging way.  (No pun intended.)  She also writes in a way that engages the reader with humor and truth.  Sure, I saw the ending coming a mile away, but I enjoyed her writing style so much and the story was cute, so I kept reading.  A few twists and turns kept me guessing there at the end, though. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Mormon Chick-Lit.  If you're not a "fluffy fun" kind of reader, you might not like this one.  But you're missing out on a silly good time. 

Hay...it's a Nightmare.

Ever have one of those moments where something happens and you feel like you're living out a nightmare? Today I followed a truck hauling hay.  The hay was "shedding" and it was all drifting onto my car.  I am very much allergic to hay.  So I sat there thinking "This is how I'm going to die!"  Luckily, I only had to follow the truck for about a quarter of a mile.  But that's a long distance when you're holding your breath.

"Scrapbook Movies"

There are a couple of movies that I call "Scrapbook Movies".  That means that I can put turn them on and then just listen to the them while I scrapbook.  I've seen them so many times that I don't need to see the action.  I can just listen and look up occasionally.  I have found this to be a great way to get my scrapbooks done!

Here is a partial list of my "Scrapbook Movies":

Enchanted
Ever After
Harry Potter (all of them)
Lord of the Rings (all of them)
Miss Congeniality
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
North & South (BBC Miniseries version)
Ocean's 11
Persuasion (2007 BBC Version)
Pride & Prejudice (2006 Keira Knightley version)
Tangled
13 Going on 30
The Wedding Planner
While You Were Sleeping

There are more, but these are the only ones I can think of at the moment.  Mostly because all but one are currently on the shelf next to me.

A complaint about the complainers who complain.

I don't have a subscription our local newspaper.  I can't afford it, and I can read the highlights online.  But one thing they DON'T put online is the "R-H Line".  It's a phone number people can call and they print what you say.  It's like writing a letter to the editor, but you can call it in...and you don't have to give your name.  I have been known to call this line, and occasionally I've gotten in print.  (I have the number memorized...is that a bad thing?)

Well, today I was at my parents' house and I was reading today's newspaper.  I was shocked to see some people complaining about this past weekend's Sculpture Show.  Okay...shocked isn't the right word.  Mildly surprised.  Slightly annoyed.  I don't know.

Once a year, the 2nd weekend in August, they have these big sculpture shows in our sculpture park and at the high school.  And one day of that, there is a craft fair in the other park that's right there.  It's actually pretty fun to wander around and look at all of the art.   But traffic in that area is beyond crazy. 

Well, that's what these callers were complaining about.  The one guy says they've lived near there for 10 years and why can't they move the show somewhere else?  People put trash in his lawn and in his car.  (Really, people?  That's what dumpsters are for.)  And he can't park in front of his own house.  The other guy went as far as to call it a stupid art show (I'm surprised they printed that!) and why couldn't they do something about the traffic.

Seriously?  People will ALWAYS find something to complain about.  I have lived in Loveland for my entire life and so it's no secret to me that Sculpture Show weekend is beyond crazy.  I lived within a mile of the craziness.  But you know what?  I don't complain to the city telling them to cancel the darn thing.  What do I do?  I just don't drive that way.  Our church building is very close to that area, and we would always take an alternate route.  Now, I understand that some people can't avoid the traffic, because they live closer than I did.  But you know what?  The show is the same weekend every year.  GO ON VACATION THAT WEEKEND!!!  Don't call the newspaper and complain because YOU are inconvenienced.  This show is a big deal for the artists...and the city gets a lot of revenue from it.

Basically, get over yourself and be a part of your community.  Not a thorn in your community.

Scrooooooooooooooge!!!!!

I am pleased to officially announce (now that the cast list has been posted) that I have been cast as Mrs. Dilber/Ensemble in Scrooge! The Musical at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse for this upcoming Holiday Season!  The show opens November 19th and runs through December 31st. 

We will have shows on Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons.  In December, we are also adding some Wednesday evenings and Saturday matinees.  Tickets are already going really fast, so don't wait around!!!  Call the Box Office!  You might even get to talk to me!  970-744-3747  Or visit our website:  www.coloradocandlelight.com

I hope to see you at this fabulous show!  Usually I say to let me know when you're coming, so I can come out and say hi.  But since I work in the Box Office I will probably already know you're coming.  I'm a stalker like that!  And I might even be working at the Will Call desk when you come.  You never know!!!

The Song You've All Been Waiting For!!!

You read my previous blog about:  Operation Secret Kumquat

Now, for your listening pleasure, the song:

I'm wondering if I should do a complete slideshow with other pictures of Grandpa.  Let me know what you think.  This picture (taken last year by Norm Rehme) is so adorable that I think it works for the entire song.

****If you are having trouble viewing the video on here, I have uploaded it to youtube and you can view it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYtV_BOIBSE

Criminals SUCK!!!!!!

Ironic, isn't it?  Just last Monday morning, we were sitting around the kitchen table talking about identity theft, purses being stolen, credit cards being stolen.

And what happens today?  I get a call from my bank asking me if I am, by chance, in Spain?  Uh...no.  I'm at work.  I wish I was in Spain.  That would be sweet!  Unfortunately, my debit card number is in Spain at the moment.  Greeeeeeeeeeeat.  Someone has made several purchases, all under $100.  Jerks.

Who knows how they got my number.  I have used my debit card in a couple of different places over the last couple of weeks.  (Would it be profiling to blame the employees at 3 Margaritas?  Probably.)  Gah!!!!

So now I get a new debit card in a couple of days.  And I'm not responsible for any of the charges.  I'm VERY thankful for the diligence of my bank to check up on bizarre activity on my account!

What's in a Name?

Many of you reading this know that my dad's name is Murell.  (Pronounced mur-ELL, not MEHR-ell or myur-ELL.)  It's family folk-lore that Grandma named him after a furnace repair man who came to the farm shortly before Dad was born.

Well, today I was sitting at work and a girl came into the office.  She looked to be in her early 20s.  She said her name was Murell.  (That's what I heard.)  I thought "WHAT?!"  But then the phone rang and I didn't get a chance to ask her about her name.  But I did hear when she spelled it out for the message she was leaving for our Food & Beverage Manager.  She spells it:  Mirelle.  So she probably pronounces it:  mirr-ELL.  But say it out loud.  mur-ELL.....mir-ELL....  Sounds the same right?  I think so.  I called Dad and told him.  He got a kick out of that.

Names are funny things.  People keep coming up with more unique names.  Pretty soon we're going to be naming our kids after more random things.  "Toshiba!  Take out the trash!"

Operation Secret Kumquat

Today is my Grandpa Milligan's 97th birthday! Several months ago, we (my cousins, siblings, and I) decided that we wanted to form a Cousins Choir and that our debut would be a surprise performance in the Lakeside Ward (our parents' and grandparents' ward) on Grandpa's Birthday. We didn't tell them that we were doing it and basically just showed up in the chapel when it was time to sing.

Sounds easy, right? Not so much. Trying to keep a secret from your parents is not easy!!! Neal and Amanda had to lie right to their faces once! (After Dad decided the choir was going to sing today and the Bishop, who knew what was happening, told him he had a special number already planned.) The rest of us almost spilled the beans a couple of times. You'd think with none of us living at home anymore, we wouldn't have a problem. But it was difficult!!

Neal dubbed it "Operation Secret Kumquat". And it was successful! They had no clue until we walked in!! (Well, Randy saw Robin and Steph in the hall and figured out we were all there.). But they no clue what we were going to sing until we started.

We sang one our favorite songs, John Rutter's "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." Our singers were:

Sopranos: Amanda, Melanie, Robin, Shannon
Altos: Angela, Shauna, Steph
Tenors: Craig, Neal
Basses: Brian, Steve
Piano: Melissa

It turned out great! Everyone was bawling and Grandpa had a huge grin on his face! Success!!!

Now, I know what you're thinking. How can I hear this? Well, never fear! We also sang it in the Bison Ridge Ward, and we intend to sing it in all of our wards before the end of the year. We also went over to the Candlelight after dinner and recorded it with Neal's soundboard. We also got a video of it. So it's saved for posterity!

It's been a great day, and we had so much fun getting this song ready...even though there was much lying involved.

Happy Birthday and many more to my awesome Grandpa! Love you!

Can't Dance....or Won't Dance?

I can't dance.  Okay, that's not totally true.  I can dance, just not very well.  It takes me awhile to pick up choreography (as long as it's not too hard.)  But here's the thing...the time it takes me to learn the choreography is longer than the time I am given to learn it during a dance call back audition.  This is SO FRUSTRATING!!!  I am not given the time to prove myself because there's just not time.  So then I don't get cast in something and when I go to see the show later, I get really sad when I see the choreography that I would have been doing.  I think "Well, I could have done that."

I guess this is my lot in life.  I'm a good singer, a pretty good actor, and a mediocre dancer.  Audition notices will say "Experienced singers, actors, and dancers needed."  What they mean is "You will be cast if you are experienced at all three.  If not, best of luck to you."

Sure there are shows where dancing is not required, or certain characters are not dance roles.  But at theaters where actors play multiple roles in a show...you have to be a triple threat to be cast.  I'm not a triple threat.  I'm a 2 and a half threat...if that. 

*sigh*

The Anti-Midas Touch

J:  I'm going to retire when I'm 32.
A:  Oh, really?  How do you intend to do that?
J:  I'm going to make my millions by then.
A:  And how do you plan to do that?  Print the money in your basement?
J:  Shhhhhhhhh....
A:  *laughs*
J:  Didn't you hear?  I have an alchemist stone.  I can make my own gold.
A:  And I have the Midas Touch.
J:  Don't touch me.
A:  Actually, I have the Anti-Midas Touch.  Everything I touch turns to crap.

Don't you wish you worked with me so you could be part of these silly conversations that we have?

The Hills WERE Alive with The Sound of Music

This past Sunday I closed my 3rd production of The Sound of Music.  It was a lot of fun, despite some bizarre sickness DURING TECH WEEK.  I played Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper, as well as a nun.  Here are a couple of pictures, for your viewing pleasure:

At the very beginning of the show, I did all of the chant solos!

Frau Schmidt with Franz (Josh Nelson) and Captain Von Trapp (Trevor Warren)

On-Stage Dance Party to "All the Single Ladies" after the closing performance.

Must be nice!

Phone conversation that took place tonight, about half an hour before the start of the show:

Me:  Hi, is this ?
Patron: Yes.
Me:  This is Angela at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse.  We have some tickets for you for tonight's performance of Big River.  Were you still planning on coming?
Patron:  No, we actually can't make it.
Me:  Oh, okay.  Would you like to exchange for another performance?
Patron:  No, that's okay.
Me:  (pause)  So you just want to let the tickets go?
Patron:  Yes.
Me:  (pause)  Okay.  Well, have a good night.

I still can't imagine just throwing the money away.  Seriously...come again or give the tickets to someone else.  But just letting it go?  I wish I had that kind of money to just throw around.  Must be nice!

So much for A Bird on a Wire...

I arrived at the theater for work this morning and I immediately knew that something was wrong.  There are always lights on above the will call desk.  Always.  And they weren't on.  I flipped the switch, thinking someone had randomly turned them off.  Nothing.  We had no power.  The computers were off.  So I walked back to the administrative offices.  The lights wouldn't turn on, but the phones were on, as were the box office computers and the copier.  I tried to turn on the house lights, but they were flickering weird and not fully coming on.  It was about 10 minutes before work would begin, so I started calling around to the management.  Jon arrived shortly after me and we were able to clock in (with the one terminal that was working.)

Dave came over and started looking around and eventually we had a guy from Poudre Valley REA come out.  They poked around for awhile, and we went to work in the dark.  Our computers and phones were working, but we just had to use the light from the window.  At one point, we turned on the overhead lights and they were flashing like we were in a night club or something. 

A couple hours later, the problem was found.  A bird had gotten into the electrical box outside and had pecked into one of the breakers.  The bird, obviously, electrocuted itself.  But that affected the power to just certain parts of the building.  So weird!!!!!!!!!

Never a dull moment at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse.  I would say CDP 1, Blackbird 0, but he did take us out for awhile.  We'll call it draw.

Being Sick SUCKS!!!!!!

Why do I keep getting randomly sick at the worst possible times?  And what the HECK is up with the canker sores on my tongue?!  Seriously, I am so over this.

I can't remember about half of Sunday, July 10th.  I woke up, knew I was sick, managed to call people to make arrangements for my responsibilities for the day...although I called Juliana instead of Britni and this caused Juliana all kinds of confusion.

But spending the day in bed made me feel like I lost a week of my life.  It was the weirdest feeling EVER!  And getting sick like at the beginning of tech week for The Sound of Music was the worst possible timing.  Especially with the canker sores, because I could hardly talk!  By the time the show opened, I was okay, but it was super frustrating all week long!!

I'm okay now, but I think I have some nerve damage on my tongue.  I can't taste some things.  Maybe it's taste bud damage.  Who knows?  Ugh!!!

"The Princess Store"

Yesterday, I had Emily with me all afternoon.  We are all going to Idaho for the 4th of July, and we had to take two cars.  Because of various circumstances, the 3 younger kids went in the first car yesterday and Emily is going with the rest of us tonight.  We had a lot of fun hanging out yesterday!

We got over to Centerra about 45 minutes before our movie (Cars 2) was to start so I said "Do you want to go to the Princess Store?"  She says "The Princess Store?" like she can't believe there is such a thing.  I said "Yeah!  Let's go!"  So we went to Claire's.  Oh, come on....everything a princess could need is in there.  Why not call it the Princess store?  Hello!!!!  They have tiaras!!!

I told her she could pick out one thing.  She got a little pink headband that had a bow that had Rapunzel (Tangled version) on it.  We decided that I needed something, too.  I don't do headbands, because my head is a weird shape and they hurt me after awhile.  I don't really wear that much jewelry for everyday.  But I'm always on the lookout for various fancy jewelry that I can wear for performing.  I found a necklace and matching earrings.  They are probably glass....doesn't even say if it's any kind of crystal even!  They were originally $16.50 and were marked 1/2 off.  $8.25 was a little more than I wanted to spend, but it was the only thing I really liked and Emily said I should get it.  Well, when I got to the checkout, they took off another 1/2!  I got it for $4!!!  Sweet!!!

Emily loves her headband!  She put it on as soon as we got back to the car.  When we got back to my mom & dad's house, she took a shower and put it back on immediately upon getting out!  She probably would have worn it to bed if I had let her.  But I told her it might break, so we put it next to the bed.  I'm sure she's already wearing it this morning.  Rebekah is going to be so jealous when she sees it!  I foresee a return to the Princess Store in my future.  :)

It was a "Tangled" kind of night...Emily had on her Tangled PJs and we watched the movie!  And when I tried to comb her hair when it was wet...it was tangled, too.

Here's a picture of Emily that I took at Red Robin.  Check out the cute headband! 

Ice Cream Thirty and Hot Chocolate O'Clock

When I worked at Falcon Properties, at least one a week I would NEED ice cream at about 3:30 in the afternoon.  So that became "Ice Cream Thirty".  But during the winter, I didn't really want ice cream.  So at some point during the day (especially when the Circle Moon was open next door), I would NEED hot chocolate.  So that became "Hot Chocolate O'Clock".  I realized tonight that I don't get those anymore.  I haven't had either of those for almost a year now!  Well, I've had ice cream, and I've had hot chocolate.  But not like I used to, running out to get it in the middle of the day.  I miss that.  I miss having the money to do that, too.  Ah, well....  Life goes on.

Mid-Year Update

Are we REALLY already half way through 2011?!  REALLY?!  Wow, time sure flies!!  I guess it's time for a short update.  You know, in case you don't see my daily posts on Facebook.

I have been sick off and on for the entire first half of the year.  Bronchitis, a sinus infection, the flu...just one thing after another!  It's been so annoying!  When I started developing yet another cold, I started taking this vitamin called "Immunity Formula I".  It's very high in Vitamin A.  I have not been sick since!  Huzzah!  Being sick so much was really affecting my voice in an adverse manner, and I am happy to report that my voice is back!  Huzzah again!

After several failed auditions for various shows, I was finally cast in "The Sound of Music" with Up in Lights.  I'm playing Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper.  I'm also a nun, and I have all the chant solos at the very beginning of the show.  Rehearsals are in full swing and I'm having a lot of fun!  The show opens in a little over two weeks!

Life is busy.  Life is crazy.  Life is....a little lonely.  But that's a part of the story I try not to dwell on.  Moving on...  Let's see what the 2nd half of 2011 will bring!

A Change in Tactic

I've decided to change my marketing strategy.  Here goes:

Dear Prospective Husbands,

If you marry me, you will inherit a fun, crazy, and hilarious family.  Here are some pictures to show you that I am not exaggerating:

And I'm pretty weird, too: