Thursday, June 28, 2012

Jumping OFF the Political Bandwagon (Was I Ever Actually On It?)

I avoid most things political.  I am registered Republican, but I'm really a Flaming Moderate.  (That's a term I got from one of my History professors in college.)  I'll vote along party lines unless I feel strongly about something the other party is doing.

But really, I won't discuss anything political.  I'll just stay out of it.  Occasionally, I'll feel the need to post something on my Facebook page about something political.  Almost immediately, someone will comment and make me feel dumb.  I really, REALLY hate that.  I was just stating my opinion or my perception of the issue.  I don't need a diatribe from someone about how wrong I am, how I'm not informed enough, etc.  I get reminded really quickly why I don't post stuff like that.

I vote in every election.  I read up on the issues as needed.  But I don't like to get in political debates.  Nobody wins.  Ever.  That's right.  EVER.

I hate politics with the burning passion of 10,000 suns.  So there.

Monday, June 25, 2012

My Titanic Moment















You and I are getting in the lifeboat.
Father will be staying here awhile.
It will be like rowing in the Serpentine.
Come along now, let us have a smile.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

From the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" File

Tonight was opening night of "Titanic: The Musical" at the Union Colony Dinner Theatre.  The weirdest thing EVER happened.  There was a bat in the theater.  I'm not kidding.  It was flying around before the show.  I don't know what it did or where it went after the show started.  But right in the middle of "The Blame", it decided to become a part of the scene.  Kevin (Captain Smith) was singing and the bat was swooping past his head.  I was just off stage as this was happening and looked out just in time to see the bat swoop upstage.  I freaked out a little, because I had a solo at the beginning of the next scene.  If that bat came anywhere near me, I was going to scream.  Luckily, it didn't.

In the 8 years that Cathy & Raja owned that theater, they never had a problem with bats.  Some pigeons got in, but no bats.  Opening night of the first show under Brandon's reign, and we have a bat.  WHAT. THE. HECK?!?!

Bats and sound issues aside, it was a pretty good opening.  1 iceberg down, 29 to go!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Opening Night!

With apologies to Mel Brooks:

Opening night!  It’s opening night!
Union Colony’s latest show!
Will it flop or will it go?
The house lights are dimming,
The footlights are bright.
The toast of society’s burning tonight!
We’re so excited, we can’t sit down.
'Cause Titanic the Musical’s off to town!

That's right...Titanic the Musical opens tonight at the Union Colony Dinner Theatre!  It's been a long, exhausting tech week, but it's all worth it.  It's going to be a great show!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

I can't think of a name for this blog post.

So I was just looking at the list of shows currently running on Broadway.  For the first time in a long time there are almost as many plays that I want to see as musicals.  This is weird...especially for me!

Musicals I want to see:
Anything Goes
Newsies
Sister Act
Porgy & Bess

Plays I want to see:
 Harvey
One Man, Two Guvnors
Peter and the Starcatcher
War Horse

Now, I know what you're thinking.  I said ALMOST as many plays as musicals, but I listed four each.  But that's because I left off other musicals that I would like to see but have seen before.  Like Mary Poppins, The Lion King, & Wicked.  I have seen Anything Goes before, but it is currently starring my favorite Broadway actress:  Stephanie J. Block!

Now I just need to win the lottery so that I can afford to spend a week or two in NYC seeing all of these shows!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

2012 Tony Awards in Review

  • I did not like the opening.  At all.  That musical can take a flying leap off a 747 without a parachute.
  • Neil Patrick Harris' opening number, however, was AWESOME!  It was legen...wait for it...dary.
  • I WANT TO SEE NEWSIES SO BAD!!!!!
  • Sondheim is now an adjective.  That number from Follies was very Sondheim.
  • I want to see Peter and the Starcatcher!!!
  • I also want to see One Man, Two Guvnors!
  • NPH's homage to all of the best scores was awesome!
  • I like how they are giving more attention to the plays this year.  Normally it's HEY LOOK AT ALL THE COOL MUSICALS (oh, yeah, and there were some plays this year, too.)
  • Tracy Turnblad at age 35?  Sure looks like it.
  • I've said it before and I'll say it again many more times:           I LOVE HUGH JACKMAN!!!!
  • Yay for Audra McDonald!  One of my all time favorite stage actresses!!!
  • A good night overall for the Tonys.  NPH should host every year.  Seriously.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Common Sense Ain't So Common

If I sign says "Box Office" with an arrow pointing down a hallway, and at the end of the hallway is a door with "Administrative Offices" next to it, wouldn't you think THAT WAS THE BOX OFFICE?!  I don't think we could be much clearer.  Well, I guess we could if we put up a permanent box office sign, but we don't want people wandering in there during shows.  So we figure people are smart enough to find the door.  Ha...yeah, right.

Sheesh...do people not have common sense anymore?  Let's wander around the balcony in the dark.  Maybe the box office is up there.  OY!!!  BUNGUS!!!!!!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

It's the Little Things

My grandpa used to walk all over town.  Even in his late eighties, we would walk about 5 miles a day.  As he started to slow down a bit, he started walking around the downtown Safeway.  He made friends with the lady that works in the deli in the mornings.  He would always buy a Dr. Pepper from her.  Sometimes he would try to buy a donut from the bakery, but they knew that Grandma didn't like it when he had the donuts.  But he'd always try.  Sometimes he would succeed, sometimes not.  It got to be a cute little thing between Grandpa and the employees who knew him.

Well, at the viewing at the mortuary last Friday night, the gal from the deli came.  She handed Grandma a little sack.  Inside was a Dr. Pepper and donut!  How sweet is that?  It's the little things that mean so much, you know?

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Milligan Cousins Photo Tradition

In the summer of 1988, all of my cousins were in town.  The following picture was taken:









Sorry it's a little blurry.  But Sam is holding Neal, and then it's Steven, Melissa, Me, David, Scott, Eric, Nathan, Melanie, Craig, Stephanie, and Shauna.

When we were all together in 2004 for our Grandpa's 90th Birthday, we re-created the picture:















This picture was taken yesterday at the luncheon following Grandpa's Funeral:
















So for anyone wondering why Sam was holding Neal, this is why.  It's tradition.  For a good laugh, take a close look at the expression on Steve's face.

And here's the "serious" picture:

















If you know my family, you totally understand why the word serious is in quotation marks.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Memories of Grandpa

Today was Grandpa's funeral service.  It was a wonderful service.  The cousins compiled a list of memories of Grandpa for Sam to read.  We voted Sam to do it, mostly because he is the oldest grandson.  But also, we told him if he would read it, then we wouldn't make him sing with us.  I had everyone send the memories to me and then I wrote the whole thing out.  Sam pretty much read everything I wrote, but put it into his own words a little.  But here is what I wrote:

Memories of Grandpa

It’s hard to share all of our memories of Grandpa.  We all have different ones, but many are the same.  We’ve tried to compile our memories into a succinct form for today, but there are so many more that will be left unsaid for now.  There are not enough words for us to truly express how wonderful our Grandpa Milligan was…and still is!

The most important thing we want to express to all of you is that we had the best Grandpa ever!  He was so incredibly supportive of all of us.  Whether it was coming to our choir concerts, piano recitals, plays, soccer games, sitting in the pouring rain during the State Championship football game or just talking to us about what we were doing in work or school, we all felt the love and support from both Grandpa and Grandma. 

That’s another thing we need to make clear today.  Most of our memories are just as much about Grandma as they are about Grandpa.  She was there just as much as he was.  Although, she’s not the one who got pulled over for speeding the time Melanie got left at the ranger station in Estes Park.  That was Grandpa.

We all loved to hear Grandpa’s stories.  He had some great ones!  Growing up in Loveland, playing football in the intersection of Eisenhower and Lincoln and having bonfires in the middle of Lake Loveland during the winter.  His service in the Army during World War II and the amazing things that happened to him, like the time he was sitting on a garbage can eating a sandwich.  Someone called his name and he stood up.  Right after that, a shell blew up that very garbage can.  Or the funny things that happened at the grocery store, like the time he found the tarantula in the bananas and the cricket that set off the burglar alarm.  We all spent a lot of time at Grandpa’s knee, hearing these great stories.  That is time well spent. 

Grandpa was a great example to us, too.  An example of love, of service, and of living life to the fullest.  We are so thankful that he paid for all of the piano lessons for our moms, that he supported Grandma with the church until he FINALLY took the plunge and got baptized himself, that he loved us all and showed us in so many ways.

Here are just a few random memories to close: 
  • “Camping” in the camper in the driveway.
  • Spending time at the store, stocking the shelves and getting paid in candy bars and Dr. Pepper.
  • Learning to play poker using candy canes.
  • Two words:  Skip-bo
  • Walking to Hardees for 25 cent ice cream cones (sometimes it was even blue and orange for the “Bronco fans”).
  • Watching Broncos and Rockies games
  • Going to Broncos Training camps in Greeley
  • All the great times at Hermit Park and Viestenz-Smith Park
  • Being nervous while backing a car out of their driveway while he was watching, afraid of him getting mad if we drove on the lawn.
  • Sitting on the porch or in the living room with him, just chatting.
  • Sitting with him at the dedication of the Denver Temple.
We love you, Grandpa.  You’re the best Grandpa anyone could ask for.  Thanks for all of the wonderful memories.  We are going to do everything we can to keep your legacy of service and love alive in our children and future grandchildren.

Sam also added the memory of getting weekly letters from Grandma and Grandpa on his mission and how there was always a copy of the Church News in there.  He also said that Grandpa lived an almost perfect life, except for one thing:  He was a Broncos Fan.  (Sam is a Cowboys Fan, and they always had a friendly rivalry.)

Today has definitely not been an easy day, but it's been a good day.  Being together as a family, celebrating Grandpa's life, feeling the Spirit so strong.  It's been good.  Now back to the real world.  Well, not until Monday. 

Friday, June 1, 2012

Places Kids Should See Before They Turn 15

Yesterday, I was watching The Today Show 4th Hour with Kathie Lee & Hoda.  They had a guy on who was listing 5 places kids should see before they turn 15.  Of the 5, I had only been to two, and waaaaaaaay after I turned 15.  I knew there was a longer list, so I looked it up.  I'm going to see how many I have actually been to...and how old I was.

Here we go:
  • Grand Canyon - Arizona - Nope, haven't been there.
  • Redwood National Park - California:  I don't think I've been there.  If I have, I was a baby.
  • Monticello - Virginia:  I don't think so.
  • The Freedom Trail - Massachusetts:  Nope.
  • Niagara Falls - New York:  Nope.
  • The National Mall - Washington, DC:  Yes!  Been there twice!  Once as a baby, and once at age 24.
  • Williamsburg - Virginia:  Nope.
  • Walt Disney World Resort - Florida:  Nope.
  • Independence Hall - Pennsylvania:  Nope.
  • Alcatraz Island - California:  Yes!!  I was 22.
  • Ellis Island - New York:  Yes!!  I was 28.  (I might have been there as a baby, too.)
  • Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming/Montana:  Yes!!  I was 32.
  • Fenway Park - Massachusetts:  Nope.
  • Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve - Idaho:  I don't think so.  Maybe?
  • San Diego Zoo - California:  Nope. 
 Wait...those weren't the ones they mentioned on TV.  How many lists are there?  The list they had yesterday was:
  • Golden Gate BridgeYes, when I was 22, and probably when I was a baby, too.
  • Field Museum - Chicago:  Nope.
  • Metropolitan Museum of ArtYes, when I was 28.
  • U.S. Space & Rocket Center - Huntsville, AL:  Nope.  (But I've been to Tuscumbia, AL and I saw Helen Keller's house!)
  • Volcanos National Park - Hawaii:  Nope.  (But I have been to Hawaii!!!!)

Now I'm curious how many other lists there are.  Researching now...  Yeah, there are 2 lists.  There's another Top 15, which the 5 I saw on NBC yesterday are included in.  The other 10 from that list are:
  • Sea World - San Antonio, TX:  Nope, but I did visit the Alamo when I went to San Antonio in 2003.
  • Carlsbad Caverns - New Mexico:  Nope, but I was in Albuquerque during the Balloon Festival one year.  That was pretty cool.
  • National Museum of American History - Washington, DC:  Nope, but I probably would have gone there if we had been in DC for more than 36 hours.  Drive-by sightseeing does not work with museums.
  • Arches National Park - Utah:  I don't think so.  Is it close to Lake Powell?  I've been there twice.  Can we go again, please?
  • Birmingham Civil Rights Institute - Alabama:  Nope.
  • Mount Rushmore - South Dakota:  YES!!  Just last year!
  • Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum - Springfield, IL:  Nope.
  • Hoover Dam - Nevada:  Nope.
  • Acadia National Park - Maine:  Nope.
  • Museum of Science - Massachusetts:  Nope.

So, out of 30 places to see, I've been to 7.  Wow.  That's sad.  But I've been to almost all of the must-see sites for Mormon kids to see:  Salt Lake City, Martin's Cove, Winter Quarters, Nauvoo, Far West, & Independence.  Just missing Kirtland & Palmyra.  AND I got to go to England and Scotland 2 years ago.  That was really cool.  :)  But yeah...I need to travel more.