7 Random Things About Me

1. I love Nag Champa incense. I burn incense when I'm spending time in my craft room and am going to be here awhile (not just checking email...). I like candles, but I'm more likely to burn a stick of Nag Champa than light a candle. Himself calls it my Opium Den when I'm burning incense.

2. I make really excellent cookies. The original recipe calls them "Flying Saucer" cookies, so-named because of the size of cookies the children would created with the recipe. I've modified it somewhat -- and I call them my "Healthy Breakfast Cookies" because they have it all: oats, cornflakes, coconut, raisins & nuts (and of course chocolate chips -- but they aren't part of the breakfast concept) I even took pictures of the cookies that I made for the TGC Fun Day we had yesterday at work (a la CoffeeGal), but my pictures do these fabulous cookies absolutely no justice.

I want to play with the recipe and see what 'healifying' the recipe would do -- you know, applesauce for oil; baby prunes for oil... I'll be sure and post my results when the time comes.

3. I love the smell of doing laundry -- the smellier the detergent and fabric sheets, the better. I recently read about the invisible film build-up if you don't wash the dryer lint trap with soap and water regularly -- and on this site it tells the story and it is a 'truth or legend' website, and says it is true. (just some helpful information in exchange for your wasted time reading blogs...)

I feel clothes are certainly cleaner if they smell good. (Yes, I know that isn't true, but that's okay)

4. I thought I was really going to get into beading... but I'm not. I like knowing a little bit for accenting my paper clay stuff, and for the one off project perhaps, or accenting fabric creations... but I'm thrilled to say I'm not going to have to have another "area" in my craft room just for that stuff. It all fits okay into a plastic painter's tray on a shelf. Whoo Hoo!!!

5. I want to travel the USA in a camper truck.... for at least 6 months, preferably a year... and visit every state and see -- at least -- the top 13 things (making that number up arbitrarily right now) that the state is known for. I bought a 1988 Reader's Digest Book titled "America's Historic Places" - 'an Illustrated Guide to Our Country's Past' and want to use that as a starting place. A Random Flip into the book puts me on page 275 - Texas, part of the "South Central States" and #6 in Texas is The Alamo. Second Random Flip leads me to page 114/5 in Georgia - "The Southeastern States" and number 4 is Stone Mountain Park, 5. is The Wren's Nest (home of the author of the Uncle Remus stories and so named for the bird found nesting in his mailbox), and number 5 is the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site.

I would scrapbook along the way -- and do a blog, too. I'd visit everyone I know who lives all over the country.

And I don't want to wait until I'm retired. And it would be great if Himself wanted to come with me, but I also would enjoy the trip by myself.

6. I believe everyone should sing. I believe everyone can sing. I also believe not everyone should have to listen... that audience members are just as important as those up on stage, for without them those on stage would be alone. More and more science studies are proving that there is a harmonious balance that happens when we sing -- it is already proven that singing is better for your vocal folds than speaking -- much easier!! And if singing correctly you should be able to sing far longer than you can speak.

7. I always want to go back to college. I really think I ought to have been a teacher -- I love the idea of learning new things (that I want to learn... not necessarily about the things I am not interested in, such as chitin, or statistics (well ---- maybe stats for dummies), or Glycosaminoglycans, or even complex archeology (though I do remember at one point in my growing up times thinking being an archeologist would be fun -- me, who believes roughing it is staying at the Motel 8 instead of the Holiday Inn Express....!)

Caught My Fancy....

Painting on Rocks...

I watched a 2005 Carol Duvall show last night and Lin Wellford demonstrated painting houses on rocks... well ~ I'm inspired now! Talk about the perfect garden (she has a 'paint flowers on rocks' book as well as a paint garden art on rocks book)! Here in Arizona especially... no watering, it is movable....

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I also was researching above ground pools, portable pools.... and found an "endless pool" for above-grounds! This is great -- small pool, can take it with you if you want and is the exercise/cooling down I'm looking for.

Unfortunately, we're kinda broke at the moment so no pool this summer. Bummer

Thursday Thirteen - TV Theme Songs - belated

Thursday Thirteen - Fave TV Theme Songs (with a link to go and listen)

From November!

I did this today, but since I had it in the 'drafts' section of the blog, it published it in November, so I'm posting the link today...

eta:
*The Greatest American Hero

I love that song!

I should be crafting and organizing, but I end up reading about crafting and organizing.

There are tons 'o blogs out in blogland -- yesterday I found a site dedicated to crafty storage. It was so fun to look around at a bunch of different craft rooms and studios... but it doesn't get MY room more organized.

I want to continue scrapping my college albums and get them done -- the end of April is the retirement of the Tech Director at Pepperdine who has been there 25 years... he put the word out and I think a lot of former students might show up -- I'd love to have my albums there for perusing... along with a reunion in June.

Then there is the organizing part -- labeling, putting things away and then knowing where I put them... making page kits for faster scrapping when I actually to get to go to crops... making some cards with the cool new stamps and supplies I got -- I get inspired by these blogs but then spend hours on blogs and not on my own stuff.

It reminds me of that saying -- something about people who watch, people who do and people who wonder... I used to be a doer, now it seems I'm becoming a watcher.

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Went to see a high school production of Little Shop of Horrors Friday night --it was really excellent. The voices on those kids were terrific. This high school has quite a bit of money among the student population, and they obtained quite a bit of community backing so the sets were fabulous -- it really was a high quality high school show.

Next week some friends and I will check out a newer local musical theatre group, because I'm curious -- Cabaret. I've never seen the stage show, just the movie -- and I it is always different, so I'm looking forward to seeing it for a number of reasons.

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I'm getting the name of a well-spoken of voice teacher -- thinking I need to get back into 'legitimate' voice coaching/lessons for reminders of things I learned 20 years ago but have been out of practice with.

The only time I've ever lost weight was with the secret hope that I may get a certain part in a musical while I was in college. Maybe another carrot like that is what I need to get my rear in gear back to a fitness routine.

Trader Joe's

We have TJ's here in Arizona (all the California transplants probably demanded it, and I'm very thankful!)... so tonight I went in and shopped for dinner, knowing I wanted to make homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and knowing I needed chicken and noodles and more chicken broth, and the rest could be improvised once I looked up my favorite recipe site: www.allrecipes.com .

I tend not to call TJ's my 'regular' store -- it is small, with too many carts it is a pain to get around in, but it isn't that expensive and they have extremely cool stuff. This is where I get marscapone cheese and I think they have the best cinnamon graham crackers around -- a little marscapone on a TJ's cinnamon graham and it is like a wee slice of cheesecake. Yum.

I was happy tonight with what I found and the prices I paid, so definitely will be going more often on my way home from work. :-) And the Chicken Noodle Soup was awesome!!

Found this quote that just flew at me and stuck today:

"One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must g i v e u p before you get it." ~ Author Unknown.

I've been thinking about my quartet and how much I miss singing harmony, but how much I'm enjoying not having to be responsible for it. I've been thinking about how changing our lifestyle and eating habits is going to take me giving up sitting on the couch vegging out watching the boob tube for 3 or 4 hours a night after eating frozen crap for dinner. And as much as I don't want to give up music right now - my health (our health) needs to be the priority, and it is hard to make changes.

Sacrifice.

Self-denial.

It isn't just about making right eating choices, it is all-encompassing. What do I want and what am I really and truly willing to give up in order to get it. Do I want it enough... whatever "it" is.

Start with the end in mind, as Stephen Covey says.... what do I want people to say about me at my funeral? How do I want to be remembered? "It" isn't all about me... what positive energy/vibe/influence do I have? How am I going to live my life once I know what my end result should be?

Tricky.

All the messages we get from advertising, media etc... is that we can have it all -- we shouldn't have to give anything up. I don't agree. Giving something up makes us stronger. And I am so weak. So very weak.

I haven't formed any conclusions. I am not sure where I'm headed in this self-discovery. I'm not even sure that I haven't thought it before now... and I'm just being reminded.

What am I willing to give up? In order for me to reach goals I have, I need to give up time, and time is so precious. hmmmmmmmmmm.

Feeling Better

Still have stuffy nose and head, but the fever off and on again is off... most of the aches are gone, and I can think a bit better. Not much, but a bit.

Got my hair cut before the Open House....



This is 6 inches of hair on the floor... It is a great cut, and feels good. I go back and forth with keeping it short and growing it -- I think I'll keep it short for awhile.

We watched Ratatouille (sp?) tonight -- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at some point this week... and Jungle Book played pretty much the whole time my 5 year old nephew was here...

Need to get back into my routine now -- the house is in a bit of order -- need to make menus, get into an exercise routine and get back to scrapbooking. I'm missing it.

sick

achey.

head.


nose, stuffed.

sore nose and face from blowing...
dry mouth from sleeping with stuffed nose...

body hurts.
peeing every hour on the hour at night

Gilmore Girls Fest....

We survived -- and thrived -- and had a great time :D

And had a fabulous time.

I think I'm sick now, though -- this flu thing that everyone has had may have touched me - I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm headachey, my throat is scratchy and I'm wanting to cough. I'm achey and really exhausted.

Happy and Sad -- when I'm this tired I cry -- I cried during the Oscar speeches, I'm such a flippin' wuss.

So awesome to see my relatives -- less folks than last time at my Open House - but I'll blame it on the busy busy town Tucson is in February, March & April.... it IS Rodeo Weekend, anyhow!!

I do love my family, and appreciate them so much. And there is a possibility of being Oklahoma Land Owners in our future... lots to consider and think about in the next year or so.

sleepy time now

It is what it is.... letting go... procrastination finds another face

I have people coming to s t a y IN my house -- the kitchen is a mess. The guest room isn't even funny. My studio is obscenely neat on one side and tornado-hit-it on the other. Himself's bathroom is vile. I haven't grocery shopped. The back yard is a mess. I'm going to see the Putnam County Spelling Bee tomorrow night -- and while I have Thursday off and Friday off -- and my sister doesn't know it yet but she's going to (hopefully) help me with the finishing touches of getting my rear in gear for Saturday... I still will be a raving maniac in the meantime.

Not enough to do anything about it, though.

I'm "letting it go" -- and "it is what it is" -- which just means really, "I can't be bothered" -- but my little inner guilt voice is nagging and whining... and the judgement that will be upon my head because my house is d i r t y .... well... I'm not sure how my recovery will go.

Will it be with copious amounts of colorado bulldogs....
Gilmore Girls Fest (Season 1) -- or West Wing Fest (still haven't opened the last 3 seasons... and I missed a lot of stuff in there)... or other guilty do-nothing pleasures?

I need to wash my clothes -- I need to buy food and while I've sketched a menu I'm still unsure how all that will go.

ack.

COLD!!!!

Today is Freakin' Cold - yesterday it rained pretty much all day -- I had some great Volunteer Management Training -- went home early and went to a crop where I punched tons of Sizzix Birthday dies for Craft Class today -- am still in my pj's, with pants on and my robe, drinking coffee and procrastinating getting the rest of the stuff ready for class.

Himself was upset that there is a tiny imperfection in the cover of the console in the two-seater couch, so he made me call Sam Levitz and get a new one -- he was hoping they'd offer a price reduction, but since he didn't talk to them and I'm not the haggler/negotiator, we're getting a brand new couch delivered today.

We have to finish clearing out the guest/himself's room and set up the double bed and make it presentable for guests -- I'm so excited that we're going to have 6 people staying with us for a weekend -- it'll be crowded but I think we'll all have fun. Family from Oklahoma and California coming for the Open House a week from today. :D

oh, and I'm enjoying triple chunk brownie from Betty Crocker for breakfast with my coffee. yum!

Valentines Day 2008

I'm so lame... I punched out over 1,000 hearts for work and am so done with hearts... don't have a card - valentine or birthday for my wonderful himself who has given me the entire series of "Gilmore Girls" on DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So unexpected and so wonderful!!!!!

So I'm fixing a favorite dinner -- Safeway meat lasagna, salad in a bag, pre-made garlic bread, I'll make triple chocolate brownies and bought wine and Kahlua with half and half and whip cream & Dr. Pepper for our favorite drink "Colorado Bulldogs" and got some ice cream too --

I was going to make him breakfast in bed this morning, but that went out the window when I didn't go to bed until 11pm.

Ack. I'll have to make up a real home-made dinner after the Open House and when some of the work madness is in a lull.

*sigh*

Catching Up!

I've been away for awhile -- work has been crazy busy with an over-500 person Valentine Mailing... with yours truly Sizzixing over 1,000 hearts -- I was reimbursed $146.00 for the supplies and stuff -- and I can't believe I heard myself say... "I'm tired of going to JoAnn's" (!)

With the addition of another 180 names -- we decided that store-bought valentines would do -- and wow -- it has been awhile since I bought children's valentines. Things have come a long way baby! I bought Hello Kitty, Tigger (so cute!), Shrek, and Strawberry Shortcake -- I refused to buy Barbie Valentines... but they come with stickers -- and kids get to fold them and do more than just write their names! I remember when I was in 2nd grade and I think mom and I must have chosen a Disney Pack -- and I saved the best valentine (Snow White) for my best friend Laura -- the teachers didn't want kids picking through his or her stash for the best one to give to best friends, you had to rush around the Valentine Circle -- but I remember taking Laura's out and putting it at the bottom of my handful so when it came to her I just grabbed from the bottom.

But I digress.

Since many of the hearts were run through the Xyron machine, I kept those scraps for other smaller projects -- that adhesive is expensive -- but oh-so-wonderful. A mom who came in to volunteer at TGC... I put to work using the Xyron and the Sizzix... and unbeknownst to me she is a card maker/stamper who hasn't had a chance to get together with people who do that since her friend who got her into that moved away. awwwwwwwwww.... so I'm walking her down the garden path to the papercraft craziness.... I'll be sure and invite her to the next gathering *heh heh heh* She says she has hundreds of Stampin' Up Stamps -- I can't wait!!

But I digress again.

At Coffee Gal's blog she always does such a nice job of posting photos of things she is working on... I'm such a copy cat that I'm going to post a few of the things that I've been doing since January... along with photos of my "Studio" (studio sounds so much nicer than craft room, or even office -- doesn't it?)




The first image is of a paper clay pin -- paper clay is clay that once dry, is like paper -- you can color it with chalks, pens, pencils etc... add glitter, beads or whatever, then a final layer of glaze for protection and to help it last longer. I'm self-teaching myself a little about beading, so the hanging beads are just me learning how to do that and use the beading tools etc... very fun!

The second image is the Stampin' Up Demonstration I went to at my friend T's last week -- we also decorated a frame -- though like my craft class for seniors -- while it looks great, we didn't do a lot of creative stuff with it, we just copied the demo. I like the results, but I like taking the ideas myself and doing something different (I'm such a rebel)... the card on the left is an example of what I tend to do -- it is kinda different from the sample that was shown. I love the card on the right -- but it is pretty much exactly the sample that was shown at the class.

I try to give the seniors in my class options within the framework of what we're doing -- next week we'll be doing a pop-up card... I'll have all the stuff for the 'kits' - but leave the decisions on which paper they'll want to use, and which 'Happy Birthday' greeting pre-stamped or printed they'll use. That way they're all making the same card, but with their own 'stamp' of creativity on it. Some of them don't want to choose for themselves and do it exactly like I've done it -- but I encourage people to 'create out of the box' and do something different.

There is a balance, however -- too many choices leads to being unable to make a decision -- and we only have an hour. It is a fine line -- and sometimes I've been rigid in what they're making, and other projects give them tons of creative choice. The prep-time is longer for me/us when we're getting ready for the class, but I believe in the process and want to give them all the options I can.

Now for my Studio:



Picture [1] is what you see almost immediately upon entering; Picture [2] is the far wall, and Picture [3] is where I sit at the pc. (Coffee Gal's post is still on the computer screen ;-)

This is actually pretty organized -- but did you notice I have empty spaces??? Gotta get busy and put more stuff away!! I'll be getting a shelf unit that used to be in the living room (new couch photos later on down the post), so will have some more places to put things. I tend to like to put everything for a project in its own container -- rather than having all my components together -- for things like flower fairies it makes sense -- I don't use those materials for anything but making flower fairies -- but for paper crafts it doesn't make as much sense. It would be better I think if I put everything away like we do in kitchens -- utensils, consumables, embellishments... like with like -- and I've started labelling things more -- but I'm still unpacking from the move, so lots of things were put in with other un-like things and I'm still in that discovery mode... "oh THAT'S where I put that!!" :D

Now for the new couches.... for those of you who knew what my living room looked like (T is the only one who has been allowed over I think....) -- this is so different than what it looked like before. Oh. My. Gosh. It's awesome. Last night we watched Spiderman 3 -- it was great!!!



We also got a new Kitchen Armoire (Martha Stewart from K-Mart) -- and Himself was saying it was the best piece of put-it-together-yourself furniture he'd ever seen. Quite quality, as a matter of fact. Himself will finish painting the kitchen today and I'll get the kitchen put away tomorrow (fingers crossed).

The Open House/Housewarming motivation to get my house in order -- never fails!!

New Furniture!

REAL new furniture... virgin cushions that have seated none but our behinds! It is so exciting!

Himself and I went to Sam Levitz and bought a SET (I pushed for a set - loveseat and 3-seater couch) and they both have 2 recliners! (So that means 4 recliners in all :-) The love seat has a middle bit for storage of remotes etc... and a little tray. It's a 'aged-worn' brown Micro-fiber that we're having master-stain dipped, and, knowing how hard we are on the furniture, we bought the lifetime (10 year) recliner parts replacement deal.

We're going to get rid of two chairs (which I really love but they're way past their prime...), keep another comfy chair for the spare room, and himself has ordered a ceiling mount thingey for the projector. He built two additional shelves in the front closet, and we're slowly getting the laundry room so that it will hold spare kitchen appliances that we love but don't use very often.

Once we get the dining room table cleared off (this week), I want to get out the sewing machine (gasp!) and make some curtains... still not clear on what color scheme I'm going to go for in the living room -- we originally were going for a Movie House theme -- we have a couple movie-themed things that go on the wall, and we bought some classic movie posters, but I'm not sure...

When I get the Christmas Tree down (!) I'll really feel like we're moving along. I think the Christmas stuff is going to go out in himself's shed for the time being, until another shed can be built for a workshop for him. I have concern about Christmas stuff being outside in the summer...

Nothing like have people over to get your house in order!

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The trip to California was worth it. Giving my mom and myself a chance to hang out without our husbands.

I'm finally really angry at the entire house situation, and at how it has turned out. Mom's house hasn't sold yet, and L allowed the price to be reduced by $10,000 -- and they had an Open House on Sunday (don't know how that went yet), and we're really crossing our fingers it won't sell and she can rent it.

There's a lot going on there that isn't really for blogland, so please keep us in your prayers and good thoughts.

Mark Gungor ~ Laugh Yourself to a Better Marriage

You have to watch this -- 5:27 worth of funny funny truths.

I'm Back

Very Sleepy after the 12+ hour drive from San Jose to Cave Creek yesterday...

So thankful it worked out that I could go out for Uncle Bob's memorial.... seeing family, singing with other family at the funeral.... whipping my sister, brother and cousin in Hearts (only 'cuz I play the computer version every once in awhile...).

More later... home safe and sound and while very tired, I'm very thankful I was able to be a part of this gathering... and so very blessed and thankful to be a part of this amazing family.

Owwwww and *sniff sniff*

Well, my tooth extraction today turned out to be a "two for one" -- in that I got to skip 3 months of between time waiting 'cuz I got the post in the same day the tooth came out... er... disintegrated.

I still have 3 months for the implant to heal before getting the crown to cover the gaping hole... but it doesn't look any worse than it did before, which is good.

So that was the owwww. And yes, I've taken a percocet.


In other news that hurts, my great-uncle passed away yesterday. My late nana's brother, he was 89, and it is a miracle he lived as long as he did. He was affectionately known as SOB (Sweet Ol' Bob) and he will be missed. A large gaping hole will be in our family where he once stood as patriarch. He organized family reunions that kept the family together and are significant in my older-childhood memories, and his daughter is one of my favorite cousins. I cried buckets last night at work when I got the email that the doctor had said it was not good, and it turns out he passed away at 6:45 pm last night, right when I was in the flurry of tears.

Himself and I have the leather chair that was his a long time ago, and
it is kinda cool to have something of his in our house. He had a big booming voice, even when his health had declined so tremendously, and would call me "Carrie-Me-Back" (to old Virginie, I believe is the song...). He was punctual, a staunch Republican, traveled extensively with his wife and sometimes with his family; he was loyal, demanding and a force to be reckoned with. He was a pilot during WWII, and he and his wife dated two weeks before getting married back in 1945. He grew up poor, son of an Oklahoma sharecropper, and has written quite a bit about life with his 6 brothers and sisters during the depression - think "Grapes of Wrath."

I just accidentally deleted a memory of a long time ago... perhaps I'll write it again later.

A good man has passed away...

I've talked to me dad a couple times -- finally told him the 'drama that is my life' story, talked to my sister, and have talked to mom about driving out to N. California for the funeral.

There is so much going on at work right now though -- crucial things that need to happen that I'm in the center of or co-ordinating that I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to go. It will depend on how much I can get done tomorrow and Saturday afternoon after the TGC Auditions.

Not going to the memorial makes me feel ill.

A part of me knows it will be the last time I see branches and leaves of this part of my family tree... sad doesn't really adequately describe how that feels.

This is me and SOB in April 2005 ~ at he and CJ's 60th wedding anniversary. That wasn't the last time I saw him, but that was a great night of memories with the family.

A Story worth stealing (and posting on my blog from someone elses...)

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, “Notice that all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it is just more expensive, and, in some cases, even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups, and then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; your job, money, and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The type of cup one has does not define, nor change, the quality of life a person lives. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.”

hrmph

Went to bed at 10:30 -- almost asleep when himself came in at 11:30 -- could NOT go back to sleep -- got up and watched M*A*S*H reruns until 2:00 am.

So much for the grand "go to bed early and get up and be productive" plans!

Yeah Yeah.... make plans and God Laughs.

"Not Funny" as I used to say to my mom when she'd laugh at my 4 or 5 year old tribulations!

Busy Day Before Going Back To Work!

I got up early -- did dishes, loaded the dishwasher, turned it on AND emptied it all in the same day. This is a miracle, truly.

I emptied five boxes, arranged things in and on my craft shelves, went to Target to return the food processor that was missing a part, made meatloaf & broccoli with the last of the Christmas mashed potatoes (yummy), and even had bread and salad. AND made another meatloaf, uncooked which is in the freezer. AND cooked the rest of the ground beef and made taco meat.

I washed most of the dishes (I should really be 'shining my sink' a la Flylady... but my feet are killing me and I'm exhausted!), and looked at my "to do" list tomorrow -- which starts the beginning of my routine.

I resist routine -- in a big big way -- it rarely disguises itself as fun, and is usually something you have to 'get through' in order to get to the fun stuff. And I'm all about fun. [sidenote: I got one of those emails tonight that says should eat ice cream, don't put things off, spend time gazing at a butterfly's erratic flight through the flowers etc... well, I don't have a problem putting things off and spending time daydreaming, taking time to chat over coffee, tea and whatever fattening goody I fancy. My issue is being self-disciplined... following through. I'm so easily distracted by things that are more fun than swiffering my floors, picking up dog poop and emptying the garbarge!]

It is now 10:06 pm -- time to go to sleep so I can get up and accomplish most of what is on my list for my "morning routine."

Watching Movies...

Himself and I watched the original Sci-Fi channel's mini-series "Tin Man" last night (I love TiVo!) and it was quite good... Both himself and I love Alan Cumming (though he reminds me of a Scottish Pee Wee Herman), and I like Neal McDonough.

Tonight we watched "The Flying Scotsman" about Graeme Osbree, who achieved a variety of bicycle world records in the 90's. It also stars Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings) -- if you like Scottish accents and a good story - be sure and see it.

Today I talked to a number of family and friends I've not talked to in awhile, and started the initial stages of planning a "Quilters" (& Friends) Reunion in 2010 - 20 years after we performed the show at Pepperdine. For many reasons it was one of the best shows the Theatre Department ever put on -- and if it is done wrong, it could be slow and boring and suck, but the 7 of us who did it bonded in ways we never imagined, and the entire experience (which I almost missed out on) has become one of the most 'impactful' (I don't think that is a real word, but it's late and I'm being lazy) on me and my life.

One more day to do whatever I want, then back to work!