Burn the Floor

Wednesday night I got to see "Burn the Floor" at the Pantages. A lady at WB had 2 extra tickets, so my dear friend, Emily, and I went. I wanted to see the show and was so grateful for the tickets. IT WAS AWESOME! If you haven't heard about it, it's a ballroom dance show - but not like traditional, old school, but rather an exciting spectacle of all types of ballroom dance. These dancers were ridiculous! So good. The show just flew, it was so much fun to watch. So much energy emanating from the stage. My favorite part of the show? Pasha! Pasha was on So You Think You Can Dance and I loved him on there. It was really cool to get to watch him dance live. Don't wanna be inappropriate here, but wowsers he is one gorgeous Russian man. After the show, we waited at the stage door. Kayla, who had been great on SYTYCD as well was waiting and Emily was excited to meet her.



Then out came Pasha. Took one pic with him, but our eyes were freaky looking, so I asked if I could get another because we looked evil in the pic, he said "We are evil!" with his great Russian accent and then we took the second. So, not gonna lie, he felt really nice. Ok. I'm done.





Fun night with Emily. She's cool.

SLC Friends and Family

I went up to Utah over Easter weekend. I so needed to get away. I wanted time to just be with my family and friends and I got just that.

Wednesday I arrived in town in the morning and spent the day with my parents. It was a really nice quality time kinda day with them. We had lunch, talked, my dad played piano, seen in this little clip of my parents singing "Heiden Roslein" - a German poem/song, which I consider my song as I am Heidi Roslein.



I looked for the first time at my mom's geneology book and was fascinated by the pedigree charts - just from those simple charts I feel I learned so much about my family - things I never knew. I took notes, but really should get copies for myself at some point. So, it was a nice first day with the parents.

That evening I went out to dinner with my favorite person, Carter. He's a very important friend and I had a great great time. We went to an old favorite of mine, Bombay House (love me some Indian). Talking and hanging out with Carter is just the best, what more can I say? (I actually do have a pic, but promised him no one would see it!)

Thursday I went to Hogle Zoo with Alex (my sis) and Dylan. It was an overcast day, which is the best for zoo visits as the animals are usually more active and the crowds smaller. We had a great time. Loved being with Alex and Dylan. Here are some zoo pics:















After the zoo we went to The Soup Kitchen in Sugarhouse, another old time favorite from my college days. Dylan LOVED his grilled cheese "It's good. It's just good." Then we went out to their place in Sandy. Got to hang with Jerad. We had Lone Star Taqueria, which had been featured by Guy Fieri on the Food Network. Totes yummy. Jerad had to work that night, so Alex, Dylan and I watched "Tangled" - very cute.

Friday did some shopping with the Nighs, went bowling, then Alex made a great meal of Kung Pao Chicken, rice and edemame. Played Settlers of Katan (and barely won).

Saturday afternoon I headed back up to the SLC. I got to go back to the store I used to always buy my Converse from and got a couple pair - still great selection and prices! (NOTE: I realize how boring this post is, but I wanted to have this for my memories) Then I went to visit Elizabeth at work (KUTV). It was fun to hang out with Elizabeth. I got to talk to Brian Mullahy - news reporter that I first met when I was a little kid - he's the nicest dude! I took a bit of a drive around SLC then met up with my old ATP friends, Cassie and Eric for dinner. I love these two so much. I miss them and had a really nice dinner. They were good to me.






I then headed out to Liz, one of my bf's in Farmington. I proceeded to spend the next several hours with her catching up. I'm sorry I forgot to get a pic. It was really great to spend a quality night with her, just talking and being together. It was nice to be really open and commiserate over our trials but also have plenty of laughter. She's great.





Sunday was Easter. I went to church with my parents. The speakers moved me. Then all the family came out for a Rouladen lunch. We had a nice afternoon together. Of course, lots of laughter at the dinner table. Did some exploring of the basement with my sisters. Reminiscing. Nice day. Then Elizabeth, the Nighs and I headed to Sandy and kept the party goin. We ended up watching "Parenthood" (the movie) at the end of the night as it happened to come on and although I've seen it a couple times already, I loved it as much as ever - really a pretty perfect movie.

Monday was more quality Nigh time. Tried their favorite sandwich place, Firehouse Subs, played some Yahtzee, as evidenced in the pics below:


Alex so serious at her gaming.







Stayed one last night at my old house in the Avenues, then headed to the airport Tuesday morning.

There are always some friends I wish I had seen, but didn't get to, but I really do want to try to go up more often. It did me a lot of good to see so many people I love. They remind me of who I am. I love my family and friends, hope to be back soon.

Jiminy Glick interviews Anderson Cooper

Oh, man, always loved Jiminy Glick and I love Anderson and his adorable laugh:

The Unknown

"Part of our knowledge lies in accepting that there are some things we cannot know, and a great many more where uncertainty is more beneficial than a firm standpoint."
-Erasmus of Rotterdam

Resilient

"We learn that we are resilient. We learn that we can live in a world of imperfect, even inhumane, people and events. We learn that we do not have total control over our lives, and yet we do have control over our attitude toward our adversity. We can survive in a world that can break our hearts but not our spirits. We can use our innate strength to adapt, to see what is left, what new possibilities are offered, how we can build happiness on another foundation. We need not complain nor return in kind the evils we endure. We learn that goodness and decency, compassion and kindness will always, in the long run, be stronger than their opposites."
-S Michael Wilcox

Stephen Colbert High Tea

I couldn't love this more. I can watch it over and over and still die laughing.

The Colbert Report
Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Perhaps

Reading an awesome S. Michael Wilcox book right now, "What the Scriptures Teach Us About Adversity" and loved this story from the writings called the Huainanzi, which he shared to illustrate a point:

"The story comes from Taoist philosophy which, generally hesitates to make many value judgments, seeing possibilities in all things and all experiences.

Near the northern border of China was a man who lived his life according to the Taoist pattern. One day his mare wandered off and was lost in the territory of the Hu, northern tribes who were enemies to the Chinese. All of his neighbors offered him their sympathy.

"How unfortunate!" they said.

But the man was hesitant to pass judgment. He said, "Who knows? Perhaps this will turn out to be a blessing. We will have to wait and see."

Within a few months, his mare returned and what is more, a fine horse from the northern territories accompanied her. Everyone now congratulated him. "How very fortunate you are! You have an additional horse, a fine stallion!"

The man replied, "Perhaps, but his may also be a cause of misfortune."

The man had a fine son who loved horses, and while he was riding the new horse, he fell of and broke his leg.

The villagers felt sorry for the man and his son. "What a disadvantage to have a broken leg. It will leave the boy crippled," was the common sentiment.

"Perhaps even this will one day turn out to be a blessing," said his father.

About a year later, the northern Hu invaded China. All able-bodied young men were required to take up arms and fight against the invaders. There was a terrible war, and as a result, around the border regions, nine out of ten young men died. This man's son was not required to join in the battles because he was crippled, and so both the boy and his father survived.

As this story suggests, it may be wiser to delay our judgments and face what we must face in the present, leaving the future to take care of itself."