My inspiration

Davy

The Monkees were a huge part of my childhood. My sisters and I spent hours watching the series, re-watching on the VHS tapes we recorded, listening to the music and just generally loving them. I was sad to learn that Davy Jones died today at the age of 66. I remember watching the very first episode on TV20 in the afternoon with my sisters and instantly thinking that Davy was so cute. We saw them in concert for the first time in 1987, I believe, and then years later on another concert tour we met them at a meet and great at which Davy kissed me on the cheek. I couldn't help thinking of all the screaming teen fans in the '60's who would have died for the pleasure.

Oh, Davy, always falling in love, with the stars in his eyes, always the brunt of short jokes ("I am standing up!"), with the smooth, little British voice, thanks for the fun childhood, rest in peace.

Central

This past weekend I drove up to the bay for my interview for Central School of Speech and Drama. I've loved this school since I was in high school and finally did something about it. I applied for the Voice Studies program. I have no sense of how it went. I wish I had breathed more, stammered less, but I did what I could. I feel good about my written materials. So, it is done. Out of my hands. If it's meant to happen it will, if not, other avenues will be explored. Either way I had a nice weekend in Napa and San Francisco. It was nice to drive up the 29 again.



Great to hang out with my Aunt and Grandma.



I had a magical night when I went for my walk through the neighborhood in Napa and came upon the beautiful deer in the hills. We quietly watched one another for a while. It was magical. They are so lovely.

Enjoyed walking around SF, going to the Ferry Building - getting some good food, taking in the sites.





There was lots of activity for the Chinese new year parade. This name made me chuckle. I wish I had a cool woo-woo nickname.



The Fairmont Hotel where the interview was is gorgeous and has a rich history.




Driving around the streets of SF make me question my faith in gravity, however, so scary having to stop on such an extreme angle. Walking on those streets is also killer, my butt would be great if I lived there (well I can only assume). So there was a random smattering of thoughts and pics from last weekend.

I Kare for Steve Kerr

All You Need Is Love

well, and food, money helps, roof over your head, but love, back to love, all you need is love: Happy Valentine's Day!

Pygmalion and Galatea Jean-Léon Gérôme


The Kiss Klimt:


The Little Mermaid Edmund Dulac







I know you I walked with you once upon a dream


-She is in love.
-I don't even know her!
-Oh, you know her.
-Since when?
-Since always. In your dreams.


"I am not full of virtues and noble qualities. I love. That is all. But I love strongly, exclusively and steadfastly."


Nina: I am like someone who carries their loved one on their shoulder.

Nina: Tell me about the first night we spent together.
Jamie: Why? Seriously? You want me to?
Nina: [nods] What did we do?
Jamie: We talked.
Nina: What else?
Jamie: Well, talking was the major component. You played that piano. Then I played, then we both played... something - duet - something... can't remember. And then you danced for about three hours, until I fell asleep. But you were fantastic. And then we had some corn flakes. And when we kissed, which was about 11 o'clock the following morning, we were trembling so much we couldn't take off our clothes.


Ashley: Isn't it enough that you've gathered every other man's heart today? You've always had mine. You cut your teeth on it.
Scarlett: Don't tease me now. Have I your heart, my darling? I love you. I love you.
Ashley: You mustn't say such things. You'll hate me for hearing them.


Macaulay Connor: A magnificence that comes out of your eyes, in your voice, in the way you stand there, in the way you walk. You're lit from within, Tracy. You've got fires banked down in you, hearth-fires and holocausts.
Tracy Lord: I don't seem to you made of bronze?
Macaulay Connor: No, you're made out of flesh and blood. That's the blank, unholy surprise of it. You're the golden girl, Tracy. Full of life and warmth and delight. What goes on? You've got tears in your eyes.
Tracy Lord: Shut up, shut up. Oh, Mike. Keep talking, keep talking. Talk, will you?

Put me in your pocket, Mike.

Jean Dujardin - the love continues

Jean Dujardin's Villain Auditions from Jean Dujardin

Silver Bells

A brief Christmas summary for the ol' blog. I went up to Utah on Christmas Eve morn. I was able to spend time with my parents that day and then my sister, Elizabeth, came up as well. We had lunch, looked through some of my photos, just generally hung out. That evening as Pop was out like a light, Mom, Elizabeth and I had a little Christmas Eve program: my Mom shared a couple nice stories, we read from the Bible and that was that. Then Elizabeth and I went downtown to see the lights on Temple Square. I hadn't been for a couple years and it was fun to go back. It was really beautiful and just great to spend time with Elizabeth. It seems hard to find quality time together in brief visits, so it was really nice to have that whole afternoon and evening together. We wandered around downtown a bit, went to the roof of the Joseph Smith Memorial building.










Then we headed back to the parents' and watched a short Christmas film, called Star in the Night (1945), which was really cute and then watched Christmas in Connecticut, which was delightful. Some chatting up in Elizabeth and Alex's old bedroom and then time to sleep so Santa could come.

Christmas morning I went with Mom to her church - they had a super nice musical Christmas program - I couldn't believe how many for real musicians her ward had: bagpipes, drums, guitars, brass instruments, singers, etc. It was great. Then the Nighs and Elizabeth came up and we ate a kind of smorgasbord lunch, opened gifts and did our usual chatting. We went up to see Pop and give him our gifts as he was still needing to be in bed. It was rough to have him so down and out, but I'm glad we could be there.









That evening I headed out with the Nighs to stay with them for the week. The Nigh clan came over and opened gifts, ate dinner and played games: Alex, Cori and I domineered in Pictionary and then we had a Balderdash marathon. Fun.

I had a fantastic week with the Nighs. It's now been a few weeks, so I don't remember the exact order, but sufficient to say we always have fun, watching TV and movies, playing games, talking, shopping. Alex and I had fun watching The Foresyte Saga in the evenings. I love hanging out with her. Dylan is endlessly amusing, he's such a funny guy. One day when Alex had to work, I took him to see Arthur Christmas (I liked it, but I always love Aardman, Dylan just liked it ok), but it was fun to take him out and he was so funny, had a funny comment for every commercial and preview before the movie. I also saw The Adventures of Tin Tin with Alex and Dylan (it was all right, maybe I was just tired). Could not convince anyone to see War Horse but don't worry, I saw it once I got back to CA and I loved it.

One day Alex, Dylan and I went to Mulligans (poor Jerad was feeling sick) - we played a round of miniature golf. It was pretty quiet out there in the cold, which was fine by me. Then we played some arcade games and a 3D simulator rollercoaster thang. I really love the Nighs, they are so nice to house me and feed me. Speaking of which: I ate the wonderful pulled pork salad from Cafe Rio and I hit up Hires (Big H) this time - it's been so long! I love their burgers and shakes (and I NEVER do shakes, but when in Rome).




Time was short and schedules are busy, so it can be hard to see all the friends I'd like to but on this trip I was able to go to dinner with Carter - we always have fun, well I hope he does! No, it was nice. Crazy to realize I've known him something like 17 years now. I love hanging out with him. I was able to get some tea with Liz - a too short but very exciting tea! Then I had dinner with Cassie - delightful and wonderful to be with her, she is still hilarious and we do laugh a lot.

Thursday evening Alex drove me up to the parents' and then Alex and I went on our old walk through the Avenues. We walked to A street where there is the lookout over City Creek Park(?) and the Capitol and SLC. I'm so glad we did this. It was really special. It makes me a little weepy thinking about it, actually. I miss the days of going on walks in the Avenues with Alex. I wish I could do this every week with her.





Then early early Friday morning I flew home. I love my family and friends dearly and I am always happy to go home to Salt Lake City. I was a little sad I didn't get any snow, but another time perhaps. I'm very worried for my dad so I hope the two of you who may read this will keep him and my mom in your prayers (and since the two reading are probably just my sisters, I'm sure they will ;)). I love them so.

Happy New Year. 2011 was quite a year, to say the least. Hardest for sure. But also I was blessed tremendously and I'm grateful for that. I am going to do my very best to make 2012 a fulfilling, exciting, fresh and new year. There is so much up in the air, so much I don't know, so much I'm trying to figure out, but I think if I just stay focused on what's important and do my best to be a good, kind, positive, driven person, I will be okay.

Best ever.

I Know You By Heart

Wow, I think this is one of the prettiest songs ever. I am a recent discoverer of Eva Cassidy. Great stuff.



You left in Autumn
The leaves were turning
I walked down roads of orange and gold.
I saw your sweet smile
I heard your laughter
You're still here beside me every day.

‘Cause I know you by heart,
‘Cause I know you by heart.

I've been considering the word bittersweet. Feeling that bittersweetness is harder really than just feeling sad. Strange how one thing, one act, one conversation, one person can create such a duality of emotion. Confusing to feel happiness and richness and uplifted and at the same time feel so blue and hurt. Bittersweet. And yet, it's hard not to take that strong dose of bitterness in order to experience that lovely sweetness. But with time the melancholy afterglow dissipates and life moves on....until the next time....

In the midst of some of these feelings, I tried to find some poetic expression of these feelings. Found some specific lines that spoke to me:

I will complain, yet praise;
I will bewail, approve;
And all my sour-sweet days
I will lament and love.
-George Herbert

Twas pretty, though plague,
To see him every hour


I know I love in vain, strive against hope;
Yet in this captious and intenible sieve
I still pour in the waters of my love
And lack not to lose still. Thus, Indian-like,
Religious in mine error, I adore
The sun that looks upon his worshipper
But knows of him no more.

O, then give pity
To her whose state is such that cannot choose
But lend and give where she is sure to lose;
That seeks not to find that her search implies,
But, riddle-like, lives sweetly where she dies.
-W. Shakes.All's Well That Ends Well

That time was like never, and like always.


Why will the whole of love come on me suddenly
when I am sad and feel you are far away?
-Naruda

Summer '11 Catch Up

I decided to do some photo catch up here from my activities over the Summer as I hadn't posted any of these. I got to see and do some fun things. It's a lot of photos, here we go:

Summer's mean interns at WB. This Summer I got to meet and hang out with some really fun folks.
This was from a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. I love going there. This was a jazz concert. I managed going to a classical/Rachmaninov night and the John Williams night as well.



WB has a skybox at Dodger stadium, so I got to attend as an honorary legal intern. This is Sherrod, who had an awesome roving internship with WBTV (and who became my great friend as you'll see), and Jonathan and Mellinda who were our legal interns all Summer and who were fantastic and also became my friends.



I spent lots of time with these two fine Southern gentleman (both here from Ole Miss): Sherrod and Brent. Nicest, most positive guys ever. We were the Three Amigos. This was a Saturday that we went walking around the Hollywood Reservoir and then got as close as we could sneak to the Hollywood sign.








Me looking thrilled to be there, ha:



While hiking we decided to go to San Francisco! It had been discussed but as soon as Sherrod found out I had an Aunt we could stay with in Napa - we were on our way! We ran home, showered, threw some things in a bag, met back up and we were on the road. I loved the on a whimness of this all. It was exciting to end up in Napa that night and be with my wonderful Aunt and Grandma. The next morn we drove up the 29 and I got to share my beautiful Napa with Sherrod and Brent. Sherrod adores his wine, so this was heaven for him. We went on a tour at Berringer Bros., which is a great one as it's old and impressive. I hadn't done a tour in years. We also stopped at Suttor home and then Mondavi. These two boys sure enjoyed their sampling - I mean they are Southern after all! Good thing they had me as their DD. (We took lots of photos over the weekend, but I'll just share a smattering)








Proper technique:







Good to the last drop:


And the results! (I'm sure he'd love that I posted this pic, tee hee):


Aunt Elaine & Grandma:





All these years and I'd never walked across the Golden Gate bridge, but we went, we walked, we conquered:











We went to a Giants game. This was the most beautiful stadium I've been in, with the greatest views.



We ate some good food, did some exploring, packed lots in two days.
And sites on the way out:



The three amigos also hit up Disneyland. I'll forever be sad we didn't get to the Muppet show before it closed for the night.




A couple of Sherrod's Mississippi friends were in town and we went to Catalina Island. I had never been and have always been curious. It's funny that living here I don't explore enough, but having out of towners come in meant I got to do some new things. I really just saw a teensy bit of the island.

Sherrod's turn to look thrilled:


A cool old huge theatre:





And I love this picture. We went to a Rodgers and Hammerstein concert at Disney concert hall - another place I'd always wanted to go, but hadn't. This was my I'm getting squished in the elevator face; it amused him so:



Here are a few pics I took when I went back to the Reservoir one evening - so gorgeous at twilight time:







And Hollywood Bowl John Williams night with my dear John Beach:




I went up to see the fam in Utah over Labor Day weekend, which meant I was there to celebrate Alex's birthday. I went with the Nighs to Park City and rode the Alpine coaster - it's so fast, so fun!




Carter night up the canyon, lovely and great:



Mom playing on Alex's new piano. I did my best to teach her "Heart and Soul":



And finally, I was the camp leader for the Young Women's camp at my church. We went up to Big Bear, another place I'd never been. It was beautiful and spiritual and fun. These girls are really wonderful young ladies.

A few of the girls on my boat out on Big Bear:




Destination of our hike. Super peaceful, sensory time for me:





I had some really nice evenings where I could reflect, write, read and breath:





Archery was awesome! I want to do more of it!




The greatest family, The Udalls:



One of my best friends, the wonderful, lovely, dear Emily (silly photo, but it makes me smile):



Dinner time with our girls: