October Randomness

Here I am, sitting at work, waiting for an audio recording of a show to be done to send it off to the composer for approve the tempos. This time, it's Nunsense. (I love this show.) This seems to be the only time I can ever find to write blogs. Busy, busy, busy.

I hardly get any blog views anymore. I blame that on two factors: my lack of posting, and my decision to make my blog "permission-only" last year. When my out-laws cut us off just over a year ago, I decided it was best to end ALL communication, and since my mother-out-law used to read my blog all the time, I decided that counted. I took the privacy setting off a few months ago, but it may come back. You never know. In the meantime, I guess they can see all the things I posted to trash on them (that's the reason I supposedly put up the block). Fun fact: as far as I know, I've never trashed my out-laws on this blog (unless calling them out-laws counts as trashing). But sometimes, when I'm being passive aggressive or talk in code...

October is always such a nostalgic month for me. Not only because I love Halloween and all things related (except pumpkin-flavored things - YUCK), but because I love the fall. I love when the days start getting shorter, darker, and cooler. I love the smell of wet leaves on the ground. I love all the edited scary movies on cable. I love that it's the kickoff of three straight months of holidays, and I get to partake in all kinds of traditions and see a lot of my family and friends.

October also reminds me of my Grandma Orton. She was one of the best people in the whole world, and you didn't even have to be her grandson to think so. She treated everybody like family. She even left money and things for her neighbors when she died. Who does that?! She was such a good example of unconditional love and charity. I miss her all the time, but especially in October. Her 98th birthday would have been on October 6 this year, and Halloween marks the 8th anniversary of her death. She was older when she got my mom (oldest of 7), so by the time my mom got me (2nd youngest), Grandma was already pretty old. I'm lucky I got to know her for 23 years. Since I'm starting a family at an older age than the average around here, I hope my kids won't take their time with my mom for granted. She's such a carbon copy of her mother in so many ways.

In just over three months, I'm going to have a baby. A BABY. And she's going to be like a little female version of me. Sorry, Lauren. She is. She already loves The Beatles, Ace of Base, and musical theatre. Now we've got to get her into Batman. I'm not sure how we can do that while she's still in the womb. But as soon as she's born, I'm going to surround her with as many Batgirl items as I can find. Thank goodness my mom has an embroidery machine. Finding pink Batman symbols is HARD. However, finding infant/toddler Batgirl costumes is easy, so guess what she'll be wearing in a year? That's my girl!

Before Lauren got pregnant, we already had two boy names picked out. We were sure it was a boy. That was good, because we could not agree on any girl names. Luckily, 4 days before the gender check, I finally came up with a name that Lauren liked. Then after we found out the gender, we had a hard time trying to find a middle name. We're still keeping her first name fairly secret, but her middle name (and also nickname) is Elle. We were finding that whenever we'd talk about her, we'd start to slip and say her name. We SUCK at keeping secrets. So, I started referring to her as Elle, which is French for "she/her," because it seemed like an appropriate nickname AND we really liked how it went with her first name. For a while, I was worried that once we saw her, we'd decide that her name didn't fit her. There's still a possibility of that. However, her personality seems to fit it really well, so we should be good.

I've gotten back into a slump with church. I hate my calling, and I don't connect with the majority of my ward. On a good Sunday, ONE person will talk to me in church (not counting people who comment when I teach). I get snubbed by my own bishop a lot. At the last ward party we attended, he came and said hello and asked how I was, and he practically walked away before I had finished answering. He has a counselor who I'm 87% sure doesn't even know my name. I know that I could probably reach out more, but it's frustrating that when we do try things, like going to ward parties, only a few people will acknowledge our presence. I used to go to ward choir, but it was really contentious. Everybody argued with the choir director. And even though it's not my calling, every time I go, I get suckered into playing the piano. When I was asked to lead warmups one day, a guy snickered and commented about how weird my warmups are. Apart from a few neighbors that I really like, and ONE guy in our ward who talks to me on a regular basis, church is the opposite of a social situation for me now. (It's a great way to get caught up on others' blogs/Facebook/Twitter between classes, though!) Sorry. I almost made it through a random list without anything negative.

Taking a break from theatre is refreshing, even though it drives me a little crazy. And I get super-productive when I'm not in rehearsal/performance. There are house projects that I've been meaning to get to for over a year that I'm finally getting done. Maybe I can FINALLY post that photo tour of my house for Sarah Culp. (Sarah, do you still read my blog? Miss your face!) By the time the baby comes, we will have painted walls, refinished furniture, replaced a mirror with a medicine cabinet, hung new curtains, added new furniture... It won't even look like the same house.

Also, I don't think I've mentioned it on my blog, but I bought a piano! I've always wanted an antique piano, and I found a 1939 baby grand for $500 on KSL. Couldn't pass that up. It's been in the shop for over two months, getting its guts completely refurbished. Then, when I can save up enough money, I'm going to have it refinished on the outside and painted black to match my black, white, red, and gray living room. I'm excited to finally have a piano in the house. The Clavinova just doesn't cut it when I'm in the mood for some Beethoven, Schubert, or Rachmaninoff.

Another plus to taking a break from theatre is the time I have to actually do things like cook. I made sugar cookies for the first time in 2 years yesterday. And DANG, they were good. I also remembered that 2 years ago, I perfected oven-fried chicken. Got to make that the other day. Pretty soon, much to Lauren's dismay, I'm going to pull out my meatloaf pan. *drool* I love a fancy meatloaf. The last time I made one, it was from ground turkey and chicken and had ranch seasonings. I'm craving a good beef/pork one. Also, I forgot how much I love making soup. There's nothing like a bowl of great soup on a late fall/winter night.

Nunsense is finishing up, so it's time to publish and be done. And it's almost time to go home, where I'll probably tackle something off my to-do list, instead of watching the Presidential debates like a good citizen. I can't get that riled up if I want to sleep tonight. Maybe we'll watch a horror movie off the DVR instead. Saw, maybe? Much calmer.

Random List on an Overcast Spring Friday

I get it. The Hunger Games in movie form is as big as the second coming of Christ itself. You can stop reaffirming that on Facebook.

I don't get to go to London next week after all, and that SUCKS.

I DO, however get more time to spend with my wife and puppies.

And I'm probably going to take a PTO day because I deserve it.

The song "What About Love" from The Color Purple sounds like the bastard love child of "I Swear" and "Reunited." And now that I've made that connection, I can't listen to the song anymore, which is unfortunate.

I've got three shows in rehearsals right now, and it's fascinating how different three shows can be. It's REALLY fascinating how different three directors can be. And it's mind-boggling how different three casts can be.

I'm starting to get really excited to direct The Wizard of Oz. Initially, I was hesitant, but I'm really starting to figure out a way to make it "my" version and still keep the masses happy who want a carbon copy of the movie. Spoiler: it won't even be close to the movie, but hopefully they'll like it...

I got to have a one-on-one session with one of the kids in The Secret Garden last night, and it made me miss teaching.

TV is starting to bore me.

I still really like my new ward, but there are some people in it that are fully grown children. And other people who enable/empower those people to act like children. And that's frustrating.

It's been a really rough week, but I have nothing to rehearse or work on tomorrow, and it's Lauren's birthday. I get to spend an entire day at home, hopefully catching up on some projects, making birthday cake, watching Mad Men (Lauren's THIS close to getting hooked...), hanging all of our Disney pictures, making food, putting together a Wizard of Oz concept book, and relaxing. I can't wait.

The Color Purple is almost done recording the audio, so I guess I better get back to work now...

Check It Out!

I tried to post this with my phone the other day, but it keeps coming back and saying that it’s undeliverable. *grumble, grumble*

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Look what I hung up last night! House is almost done. Electronic stud finder and laser level are my new best friends.

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Are you proud of me? I sure am. I’ve tackled SO many home repair/installation things in this house, and my dad never taught me NUTHIN’ about that stuff.

I’m SO glad we bought the leveler and stud finder, too. They really come in handy for big projects and even simple things like plastering the walls of your movie room with movie posters.

I have two more projects to finish, and then I’ll be done and post a photo tour of the house (since our actual in-person housewarming has been postponed indefinitely due to women’s conference, general conference, Little Women, etc.).