Movie Moments 2008

Netflix is both a blessing and a curse. Looking back through my Netflix history, I found that I have watched over 130 movies through that service alone in 2008. Here are some of the highlights:

TV Series we caught up on DVD: Big Love, Weeds, The Wire*, Mad Men*, Burn Notice*, Baldwin Hills, Entourage, Battlestar Gallactica*, Spaced, The Tudors, The Staircase, The Farmers Wife, Country Boys, Flight of the Conchords*, and Big Love.

Foreign Films that we Watched: The Edge of Heaven (German), Man on Wire (French), Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton (French), Black Book (Swedish?), The Deal (British- almost too much), Beaufort (Israeli), Please Vote For Me (Chinese), The Band's Visit (Arabic), In Bruges (Irish), The Counterfeiters* (German?), Into Great Silence (French), Merry Christmas (French), Vitus (Swiss), Terror's Advocate (French), To Be and To Have (French), Persepholis (French/Iranian), The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (French), La Vie en Rose (French), Paris Je'Taime (French), The Orphanage* (Spanish), Diva (French), Steal a Pencil For Me (German), and Once* (Irish).

Movies I Teared Up In: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Steal a Pencil for Me, The Farmer's Wife, Young @ Heart*, Nanking, 51 Birch Street, Into Great Silence (from boredom), Autism the Musical, Sister Helen, Lars and the Real Girl*, and Once*.

Movie that Made me Cry because it pulled my heart out, stomped on it and makes me sad just thinking about it (though it is brilliant): Dear Zachary*

Movies Seen with Parents or In-Laws: The Dark Knight*, Quantum of Solace, Elaine Strich at Liberty, Into the Wild. Renae and my mom both bravely started an episode of The Wire. They didn't last long.

Favorite Documentaries: The King of Kong* (a man tried to beat the high score in Donkey Kong), The Staircase (did the famous Florida author kill his wife or not? I still don't know), An American Teen* (follows 5 high school kids their senior year), Hiding and Seeking (about a family that hid a Jewish man in their barn for years during WW2), My Kid Could Paint That (is the little girl an artistic genius?), Sister Helen (a nun that runs a halfway house for men in NYC)), Autism the Musical (Autistic children in LA put on a show), Confessions of a Superhero (weirdos in Hollywood), 51 Birch Street (did our parents actually love each other?), What Would Jesus Buy (Silly), Where in the World is Osama Bin Landen (by the same guy that did Super Size Me), Young at Heart* (a choir made of elderly people that do covers of Coldplay and Metallica), Surfwise (crazy hippie doctor and their 8 kids that lived in a van at the beach), and Life After Tomorrow (what happens after you play Annie on Broadway?)

Movies Seen in Theatre: Role Models*, Quantum of Solace, Mamma Mia!, The Dark Knight*, Horton Hears a Who*, WALL-E*, Charlie Wilson's War*, Iron Man*, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and An American Teen*.

* means highly recommended

Theatrical Moments 2008

As a high school drama teacher, I have the opportunity to see a bunch of theatre- here are some memorable moments from 2008.

Feelin' Good- This was my Music, Dance, Theatre class revue in January 2008. Jackie's parents flew out to see it. We did numbers from Movin' Out, Little Women, Wicked, A Chorus Line, Hairspray and Parade (just to name a few). Kelly DeHaan accompanied and sang Summer Highland Falls. Great show.

The Vertical Hour- This drama was at Pioneer Theatre Company (also in June). Interesting, but still not sure what it was trying to say.

The Robber Bridegroom- This was done by UVU for the Utah Theatre Conference. I have always been intrigued by the soundtrack, and it was great to see it live. Dave Tinney (the director) did an outstanding job. Very fun bluegrass musical.

Cyrano de Bergerac- Bradley Moss did an outstanding job with this romantic drama at our high school. The kids got to play with swords and Caleb Hansen was an outstanding lead.

Arabian Nights- This was a hard show to direct (and trim down to under 50 minutes)- but my cast of 13 was amazing and we took first in Region. I'm sad we didn't get straight superiors at State, but I'm proud of our work (and I think we created a true ensemble).

A Midsummer Night's Dream- At Pioneer Theatre Company- the set was amazing and the animal concept for the fairies was pretty cool. The actor's were great and made the story easy for students to understand (still not as good at the traveling Utah Shakespeare Company show we saw the previous year).

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee- Worth the price of admission to see two of my students plugging their ears during the song My Unfortunate Erection. This show is always great, but our seats were bad (Kingsbury Hall) and I got sick next week (I blame Amanda Cox). Still, the show will always be one of my favorite Broadway shows ever.

The Producers- Pioneer Theatre Company. Nothing will beat seeing this on Broadway when it was still a Broadway hit, but this version was pretty fun too.

When You Wish Upon a Star- This Music, Dance, Theatre revue almost killed me, but the kids were great and put on a great show of Disney hits. Millie still talks about it.

NYC June 2008

Jersey Boys- Worth it just to see the lone elderly man in the balcony below us try to lead a big sing along by standing up and waving his hands near the end of the show. Everyone just stared at him and he slowly sat back down.

Spring Awakening- Worth it for the music and the fact that Jackie and I smuggled in an entire pizza (no, we didn't eat it) because we had spent a lot of money on it for lunch and didn't want it to go to waste. We ended up giving it to 4 of my Stage crew kids for dinner.

Young Frankenstein- Worth it for the set, the Puttin' on the Ritz number and the talk back afterward with Megan Mullaly.

Mary Poppins- Worth it for the set, Step In Time, anything Bert was in, anything the drunk butler was in and the really cool New Amsterdam Theatre.

Wicked- Worth it for Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba.

In the Heights- Worth every penny. Great seats, choreography, story, songs and a cast that was fantastic. They deserved Best Musical 2 nights later.

The 39 Steps- Worth it for it's originality and those 4 actors that are brilliant.

Boeing-Boeing- Worth it for Mark Rylance (the lead) alone -(but all the actors were outstanding). Hilarious design and the German stewardess was hilarious too.

Back in Utah

The Drowsy Chaperone- Saw it with my Dad in Salt Lake on the tour. Still hilarious.

The Civil War- At Hale Center Theatre. Jackie made us go to see Merrill Osmond. She still weeps when she thinks about it (him).

Gaslight- Amazing production at the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Top notch!

Julius Ceasar- Great before intermission.

Taming of the Shrew- Great job to my actors in our 10 minute western version! We took 2nd and got to perform for the entire festival.

My Fair Lady- At Pioneer Theatre Company. Outstanding.

Noises Off- Not as fun as when I saw it on Broadway, but great Freddie, Belinda, and Brooke.

NYC with Jackie

13- Worth it to watch with the composer (Jason Robert Brown) in the house- and a very winning cast.

August; Osage County- Worth it for the script and the mother from hell (and breaking dishes!)

A Tale of Two Cities- Worth it for the leading guy's voice and the little old ladies behind us and next to us.

Billy Elliott- Worth it for the dance, story and the leading 12 year old kid that carries the weight of a 20 million dollar show on his shoulders.

Back in Utah

Cats- It's Cats.

No No Nanette- Probably one of the only high schools in the country that did this show.

The Light in the Piazza- One of the best productions EVER done at Pioneer Theatre Company. Beautiful songs, sets, lighting and most of all, acting and singing. I loved every minute of it.

This montage says it very well:

Family Moments 2008

It's the time of year where I look back at things I vividly remember over 2008. I'll do other categories (books, movies, tv, theatre, etc.) later.
Jackie Moment #1: Laying in bed in March, sick as could be with the flu. I had taken a gallon of Nyquil, thrown the girls in bed and was passed out in an alcohol-induced stupor. I vaguely remember Jackie telling me she was going roller-skating with the Young Women in our ward. 3 hours later, I hear Jackie weeping in the room (I think I thought I was hallucinating- or was dead and was being taken to heaven by a bi-polar angel). She was holding her elbow in great pain. She had fallen (on her skates) and was in a great deal of pain. She then took an Advil and tried to sleep. At 1:00am she woke up and said she needed to go to the hospital. Because I was not fit to drive, she drove herself to the hospital, found out her elbow was fractured, drove home, took her pain medicine and passed out next to me. That was a fun week.
Jackie Moment #2: We're in San Diego. At the hotel. The girls and I are ready to go to Sea world. Jackie is in the shower (with the above broken elbow). We hear a crash- Millie and I run in to see Jackie had fallen and couldn't get up. She wasn't able to catch herself because of her elbow. Ellis then contributed to the situation by coming into the bathroom and fowling herself.
Jackie Moment #3: Bursting into tears on our first night alone in New York City because our room was a smoking room.
Millie Moment #1: Millie singing (in church), "Too Many Rings Around Rosie" (from No No Nanette) at the top of her lungs. (also, screaming I Am A Child of God in sacrament meeting).
Millie Moment #2: Pooping her pants in nursery and not saying anything- just sitting in the middle of the room not moving for 1 hour.
Millie Moment #3: Going with me early in the morning to get Jackie's birthday gifts- and serving breakfast in bed to mom.
Millie Moment #4: Singing Defying Gravity in the kitchen and ending the number by laying dramatically on the floor and raising one leg into the air.
Ellis Moment #1: Barfing all over me 2 minutes before we leave to get a babysitter to go out.
Ellis Moment #2: Learning to do a car seat dance to the Mika CD.
Extended Family Moments: Renae (Jackie's mom) taking me to Insta-Care on her birthday. And buying me delicious grape juice for my bronchitis.
Renae watching the girls while Jackie and I jet off to NYC.
Driving my Mom and Dad's van to Jackson Hole (and having Ellis barf in it outside of Logan).
Seeing Mamma Mia! with Greg and Judy in Wyoming
Seeing The Dark Knight with Greg and Judy in Wyoming
Eating at the chocolate place (with the crazy chef) in Wyoming
River rafting with the Summers in Wyoming
Moving furniture at my parent's house for new carpet
Having my parents watch the girls while we went to NYC with students
Having Renae find a bug in her salad in NYC
Listening to Ray snore in our room in NYC (poor guy was sick for the first 3 days of the trip)
Listening to Avery (my cousin) act shocked at Boeing-Boeing in NYC (but also laughing hysterically)

My mom running around the house at Thanksgiving thinking the house was burning down- only to find that Andrew (my cousin, not my dad) had put Tim's mission pics in the fireplace vents.

Peach Days with my parents- and how the canal was more interesting then the parade.

Playing Blokus and Ticket to Ride with family

Introducing Guitar Hero to Bim (Krista's husband)- and get him quickly addicted.

Jackie Moment #4: jackie playing Guitar Hero so much, she breaks it.
Waiting in the rain in NYC with Arianne while looking for a restaurant with the Bob Cope family- only to have them loose their children.
Watching Project Runway with the Summers family in Wyoming
GREAT TRIPS- NYC (2x), SAN DIEGO, WYOMING, CEDAR CITY (Shakespeare Comp), and PERRY, UT.

Oh yeah- Ellis also learned how to walk and talk as well this year (she did more than just expell bodily fluids).
And many others- add comments for things I've forgotten.

Why Costco is like Heaven

I imagine when (not if) I get to heaven, it will be similar to visiting Costco. For example, I imagine I will have to show some sort of photo ID to St. Peter and he'll have a little counter/clicker in his hand that will let him know when heaven is full.

I also think if you are an upgraded (business or executive in Costco terms- Bishop, Nursery Leader or Ward Choir director in other terms) member, you will get to enter earlier.

For some reason, I also picture heaven as a place where you can wander around and be fed tasty treats by kind elderly people. (Fried cheese? Cheese on a cracker? Cheese on a stick? Cheese thrown into my mouth like a porpoise at Seaworld? Don't mind if I do.)

I also think heaven is where you can feed your children for $1.50 a pop (and that includes unlimited refills of Diet Coke- to give your day a little lift).

Surely heaven is a place where you can get the softest goat-skin and fleece-lined slippers right next to the macadamia nut and blueberry cereal. It's also a place where you can buy 15 gallons of garlic-stuffed olives.

And of course, when you leave heaven (to zip down to earth to make a quick manifestation here and there), you will need to have some arch-angel mark some sort of receipt so you can make it back for the resurrection.

An Observation

Sometimes it will be around 8:00pm and I will realize that I need to go to the bathroom. Not only that, but I realize that I've needed to go since 10:00 in the morning. Starting in the morning, about every 45 minutes I say to myself, "Clin, you need to pee"- but then I go on my merry way photocopying Hairspray music or watching a scene from the play Polish Joke in Theatre 3. After the girls are asleep, I sit down to watch the final remaining episodes of Pushing Daisies or the hussies on Real Housewives of Orange County and find myself ready to wet my pants. Is the life of a high school drama teacher so busy that I cannot find time to urinate? It does make one pause.

Why I Loved this Thanksgiving

Here are a few reasons why Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays:
* It revolves around food. Not just any food (I'm still sneaking Millie's halloween candy) but my favorite kind of food. Much to Jackie's dismay, I could honestly eat turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. once a week. Although, to be fair, the family went to an Indian food buffet the night before Thanksgiving. We were worried the girls wouldn't like it, but they loved it. Although at the beginning, Jackie was nervous because we were the only people there (and everyone, including Ellis had to drink out of glass goblets), soon she calmed down (although service was spotty because our server kept watching CNN about the terrorist attacks in India). Ellis couldn't stop eating the soup (which I can't spell let alone pronounce) and Millie had 4 helpings of their rice pudding. An added benefit was that the soup cleared up Ellis's constipation- we celebrated Thanksgiving by changing her diaper about 140 times.

* Shopping on Black Friday. I'm not much of a shopper (unlike my brother Nate who spent the day driving around the state looking for deals), but I got up at 5:00 to go to the Walmart in Brigham City. I was an hour late for any good deals (and I had to abandon my shopping cart in the middle of the laxative aisle), but it was fun being a part of the madness. I also got to help a woman that slipped and fell on her bum right in front of me on the way out of the store.

* Seeing a movie in the theatre. It's a tradition to see a movie either Thursday night (we were too tired so we played Ticket to Ride and Blokus and watched Season 1 of Burn Notice)- or Friday, so my Dad took Jackie and me to Quantum of Solace. It wasn't as good as Casino Royale but it was entertaining. It's also fun to have my mom watch the girls so they can get their toe nails painted.

* Reading a book. Normally I have 3 or 4 really good books, but this time I had to read plays to decide what my school should do. I decided on the play Rumors- it will be really funny. I did start The Book Thief (which is really good) and I started The Book of Vice which is pretty funny.

* Playing games. We have owned Blokus for 48 hours and already a small yellow piece is missing. Probably in one of Ellis's 140 poopy Indian diapers. Iwas also very proud of Jackie- although I'm sure she wanted to swear during Ticket to Ride, she controlled herself. She also didn't take my cards, train pieces or internal organs and run out of the room with them (like the infamous Risk game from 2000). All in all, a successful, delicious weekend!

The Play(s) the Thing...

So I recently was denied the rights to do the new/re-discovered Mark Twain play Is He Dead? for my high school play. Auditions are coming up in 3 weeks, so I need to start finding a play now. Here are some titles that intrigued me. Let me know what you think. (We have a big program at Riverton- but after doing such a huge musical, it's fun to do a show that is a little smaller- between 10-15 people).


Dracula vs. the Nazis- If I'm just basing this on title alone, this would win. Unfortunantly, this is a 2 person show (they play all of the characters).

Rumors- A funny farce- 5 girls, 5 guys (plus, 1 unit set. No set changes!)



A Flea in Her Ear- a huge hit a few years ago at the Shakespeare festival in Cedar City. Big cast (14), funny plot (one character cannot pronounce any consonants so everyone thinks he's emotionally unbalanced). Minuses: kind of naughty (act 2 takes place in a hotel where "married people go- just not with each other"), crazy set (2 bed need to be on a revolving platform in Act 2), and Act 2 probably has over 290 entrances and exits with the entire cast that have to happen lightening quick.


Inspecting Carol- A funny comedy about a group of actors putting on the worst performance you've ever seen of A Christmas Carol. I think this could work (even being performed in February), and there are 5 women and 6 men. Minuses: the set has to fall down at the end of the show (not really that hard for my stage crew to do...) and the jokes may be to theatre-insidey.


Postmortem- A Sherlock Holmes play. 10 person cast (4 women, 6 men)- interesting plot/mystery. Minuses: Act 1 is kind of talky- lots of "effects" (sound and technical).

Any other ideas? Plays only! (Comedy or mystery- I'm trying to stay close to the same genre that Is He Dead? is).

The Life of a Drama Teacher

This gives me new ideas how to hold auditions for my school play in December:

Things that Millie Prays For

Ah... the sweet, innocent prayers of a 3-year old:
* Bless Cinderella, Ariel, Belle and Aurora
* Bless my bum
* Bless I can go poop in the potty and not my pants
* Thankful for babies, Jesus and Cheetos
* Thankful for Mommy, Daddy, Ellis, Grandma and Grandpa and dancers on the stage
* Bless gymnastics and school
* Bless that I'll be good in sacrament meeting
* Bless we can have movie night
Amen.

Say "Yes Yes" to Nanette

If like were more like the musical No No Nanette, this would be a typical day:

* Having $200 in cash on you would make your fiance break up with you.

* When life throws you a big curve ball, your legal guardian would come in and tap dance for you.

* After the tap dance, random strangers would enter your house and play the ukulele to cheer you up.

* When you are having marital difficulties, you would sing the blues in your living room accompanied by 11 strange men who sing backup for you.

If this sounds like your life (or the life you wish you had), come see Riverton High School's production of No No Nanette on Friday, Nov. 14, Saturday, Nov. 15 and Monday, Nov. 17th at 7:00pm in the Auditorium. The students are great and Bradley Moss (the director) and the rest of us have put a lot of time into it. Tickets are $5.00 for students and $7.00 for adults. Come see the show where the set has given me multiple ulcers! (And say your prayers that all 43 ukuleles in the show will stay in tune.)

New York Adventure Day #5

On a crisp, clean Sunday morning, Jackie and I awoke in our hotel room and packed up all of our stuff for the plane ride home- but we would not be leaving until we ate a little more of New York City.

After getting our luggage held in baggage and checking out, we went to Le Pain Quotidien a New York bakery for breakfast. After walking in a brisk, cold wind, we stood in line with half of New York for Belgian hot chocolate, cheese and bread and a pistachio pastry.

After that, it was time to search for chocolate. As we walked up the Upper West Side (with thousands of people going to Central Park for a huge breast cancer awareness run), I saw a kid that looked familiar. I approached him (and his dad) and discovered it was the lead of the musical 13 that we had seen earlier on Thursday. He was a nice kid and he said hello. After that, we headed up by Gray's Papaya (where we had eaten a hot dog with tons of drama kids over the summer) to Jacques Torres Chocolate. After wanting to eat everything there, we decided on a couple of truffles- then it was off to Peanut Butter & Company.

After waiting for what seemed hours for a subway (and then missing our stop because of doziness on our part), we reached the village where peanut butter goodness lives.

We got our sandwiches to go (perfect airplane food) and it was off to the hotel.

After a horrible cab ride (where I really thought Jackie was going to vomit all over myself and our driver), we reached the JetBlue terminal.

We ate our final New York slice of pizza, met Kelly from The Office before our terminal changed (she has bright pink luggage and likes to eat a salad), read the Sunday New York Times, watched DirectTV on our flight home and got back to good old Lehi, Utah around 9:00pm where the kids were asleep and Jackie's Mom was packed and ready to go the next morning. All in all, a whirlwind trip that Jackie's bowels are still talking about.

New York Adventure Day #4

Saturday morning was sunny and COLD. We weren't super hungry so I told Jackie I'd go get hot chocolate at Starbucks. On the way, I stopped by the gift shop to get stamps for our postcards. They were charging $.75 a stamp but they told me there was a post office near by. I decided to walk to it- only to find it closed. I then decided to go to the Drama Bookstore to get some scripts for our school. It was fun listening to two actors right outside the shop because one kid just moved here from Ohio and was doing an Off-Off-Broadway show. I leaned against a street sign where a filming permit was still posted for the previous day for the tv show Friday Night Lights.

After my unsuccessful quest for stamps where you actually pay the price on the stamp, I ended up buying them at the gift shop (at least I found 10 great scripts for school).

Fortified with a Caramel Hot Chocolate and a pumpkin scone, we were ready for the city. We hit 5th Avenue with a thousand other people. After a quick stop at H&M, we hit the jackpot at The Gap. We always find stuff in New York for our daughters that can't be found in Utah. After spending the girls college savings on clothes they can wear for 4 months, we hit the Disney Store on 5th Avenue.

We realized that we were in desparate need for carbohydrates, so we went to our favorite spot in the East Village- S'mac. Jackie mocked me for getting the same thing I got over the summer, but it was still just as tasty.

After lunch, it was time for A Tale of Two Cities. We were on the 4th row on the right side and two elderly New York women were behind us. They were cracking me up because they were talking about all te shows they've seen and how they failed to live up to their expectations. I was hoping I'd see an old friend that I had done a show with a Hale (One for the Pot), but he wasn't in the show that day. It was a fun show (and James Barbour- the lead- was amazing).

After that, I had grand plans to take Jackie to a French restaurant in SoHo that supposedly makes the best souffles in the city (especially a hazelnut one). After walking a while, we found it- only it was closed.

This is what I didn't get to eat.

We walked around So-Ho a bit (and visited Dean & Deluca- a gourmet grocery store where a student ofmine 4 years ago was practically arrested for shoplifting a mango juice). We decided to go to Katz's Deli over on the lower east side.

After waiting forever for the subway we arrived to the craziness that is Katz's. On Jackie's blog, she explains the whole ticket thing- DO NOT LOOSE THEM!! They are serious that you will pay $50 if you loose it. Next time I'm sitting at a table with a waitress, but the corned beef and pickles were amazing.

After Katz's, it was time for the highlight of my trip- I've been wanting to see the stage version of Billy Elliot ever since it opened in London. It met my expectations (especially Act 1) and I highly reccommend it!

After Billy I was craving cheesecake so we went to Juniors and got slices to go and ate it while we watched Saturday Night Live. Only 1/2 a day left in the city.

New York Adventure Day #3

Friday morning was sunny and cool. It was off to breakfast at Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Center by Central Park. After wandering all over the Center (the ground floor is a humongous Whole Foods), we finally found it tucked away by the elevators. The bakery is run by Thomas Keller and all of the pastries and bread are French. I got a cherry danish and it was the best cherry danish I've ever eaten in my life. This isn't what we ate (see Jackie's blog for that) but it gives you the idea.After the bakery, it was off to the madness that is Century 21 Department Store.

This place is a madhouse and we were overwhelmed- everything is designer labels and discounted- but we're used to the Old Navy discounted section- not Versace. It was fun but we had to hurry over to the Lower East Side for our scheduled walking tour with Big Onion. Big Onion does walking tours all over Manhattan. The one I signed us up for was the Eating Tour of the Lower East Side. After buying Jackie a Diet Coke so she could use the restroom at Popeye's Chicken, we were off exploring the Lower East Side with 20 other people and a doctoral student in history at Columbia University. We had Dominican Republic Fried Plantains, pickles from Jewish picking company, dried rose petals and plums in the Asian section, meat and cheeses at an Italian deli and cannoli's in Little Italy. It took 2 and a half hours and it was great.

After the walking tour, we went to Pomme Frites in the Village. They were closed when we went last summer so we were so happy to find it open (and busy). Other than burning my mouth with fresh hand-cut Belgian style fries, it was amazing.

After our salty nourishment, we went to the Seaport to pick up our discounted tickets for our Friday night show and our Saturday matinee. Even though it was only discounted 25%, we got tickets that night for August: Osage County. Our friends (the Coxes) saw it over the summer and loved it- it also won Best Play and the Pulitzer. We knew the show was long so we headed up to SoHo for a little chocolate sustenance. We headed for Vosages Haut Chocolate.

After a hot chocolate (as in both temperature and spices) and curry ice cream, we were off to the show.

August was amazing. The 3 and a half hours flew by and the actors were amazing. It was funny and sad (like a Eugene O'Neil drama- but contemporary- meaning it has F-words). The set was also phenomenal. Check out the clip for an idea.

After the play, we were hungry for real food so we went off to The Burger Joint inside Le Parker Meridian Hotel. We love their Norma's restaurant for breakfast, but this place was supposed to be good (and cheap). The hotel is 5 stars- and looks it. There is no sign up for the Burger place- you just have to go behind a big curtain and it's like you're in another world.

Lobby Burger Joint

The food was great and we went back to bed with sore feet from all the walking. Another great day in NYC.

New York Adventure Day #2

We awoke Thursday morning with a song in our hearts, smoke in our lungs and scratchy throats. We had much to accomplish today, but the number 1 priority was switching rooms. I talked to a desk agent who said, pack your bags, leave them in your room and we will switch you to a non-smoking floor.
We headed out the door to discover a rare New York City first. Jackie leaving the hotel for breakfast (as opposed to Clin bringing it back to her). We walked up 7th Avenue to Central Park South. After going the wrong way for a bit, we found the restaurant Sarabeth's . After indulging in a current scone and omelet and Jackie's lemon ricotta pancakes, we walked up 5th Avenue to the Frick Museum. Before we went in, I called the Letterman show to try to get stand by tickets. I had to answer a trivia question (which luckily I knew) and we were assigned number #7 and 8. On our way to Sarabeth's, we stopped by NBC to get standby tix for Conan. We were in the mid-50's there so I hoped we'd have good luck with Letterman.

After getting in the Frick (see Jackie's Blog for my trying to get a discount story), we went on the self-guided audio tour. My favorites were these:

These fresco's by Boucher depict arts, sciences and humanities- as demonstrated by 3 year olds. It's hard to see the detail, but they were very funny. Another favorite was this:

of Sir Thomas Moore (it looks amazing in person).

Finally, Jackie's favorite was this:

I guess at one point the codpiece was painted over in the early 1900's. I tried to buy Jackie a magnet of the painting but she would have none of it.

After that it was over to Jean-Georges in the Trump building for lunch. They do a gourmet 3 course lunch for $24 (considering that dinner there is over $100, that's a pretty good deal. Paparazzi were waiting for someone outside the hotel, but Jackie refused to ask who they were waiting for. Here's what the restaurant looks like inside. They even sat us wearing jeans. That's Central Park out the window:

After a great lunch (and an expensive house-made soda), we split up so Jackie could resolve the room situation and I could get tickets for the musical 13.
I got a great deal on tickets ($25 for orchestra seats) and off we went for Letterman. Long story short, we got in (barely), made friends with a couple from Alabama, had a crazy homeless black man tell us that Obama was the Anti-Christ while waiting to get in the studio, we stood in line forever because the guest was John McCain and they had to do security sweeps of the entire building, they physically watch you turn your phone off (no honor system here), and Letterman told us he had profuse snot due to a cold. After that, we grabbed a quick bite to eat (a hot dog), and we were off to 13.

The composer (Jason Robert Brown) was there in the audience and he signed my program. After the show (which was really good), we went up to a Mexican Restaurant called Rosa Mexicano. Jackie didn't want to go, but I'm glad I made her (and I think she was too) because the food was great. As you go in, they have this really cool waterfall with 100's of diver statues. It looks cool (and the mole was tasty):

After that, it was time for bed in a cool, comfortable smoke free room. A night that (so far) was tear-free!

A Quick Break

This clip today made me happy. It's from a British sitcom called Beautiful People. This clip involves neighborhood children getting ready to audition for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the school.

Can you name the 6 shows referenced to in the clip?

New York Adventure Day #1

So. ever since the end of July, I have been planning a fall break get-away for Jackie and myself. If you've been to my wife's blog, you've seen the clues I've given (all factual- but also intended to throw her off the track) and maybe you've wondered where we were going. Well, after our student trip in June, I thought it was about time that Jackie and I go to New York- alone. I'd been before without students, but Jackie had just had Millie (and it was for a conference). Jackie had been before without me (where she gained enough information to write a book on, "The Best Places in New York City to Breast Feed"). So, in conspiracy with Jackie's mom to watch the girls, I planned our trip.

For those of you that don't know Jackie (and you should read her blog to find out more), one of her more charming qualities is anxiousness. It's one reason it's sometimes best to make your plans and make her go because she's going to be nervous about something no matter what.

Last Wednesday, Jackie was under instructions to pick me up at the high school at exactly 2:25pm so we could make our 4:50pm flight. She was there, packed and ready to go (to Seattle she thought) when we arrived at the airport. I let her check-in at the kiosk so she could see where our flight was going (JFK) and the surprise would be over. As she read the flight information, tears of joy and gratitude filled her eyes as she embraced me at baggage check-in. "This will be the most fun we will ever had" she said breathlessly.

Oh wait. That was the Disney version. Let's recount what actually occurred (and I'm sure Jackie's side of the story will be up on her blog shortly).

"What the hell? I SO DID NOT PACK FOR THIS TRIP!! I brought heels! I packed for west coast! We were just there in June!" As we put our baggage up on the scale, a friendly desk clerk goes, "Was this a surprise? How fun!" to which Jackie replied, "I guess..." To calm her anxious heart, I quickly realized Diet Coke was needed immediately. After a discussion through security (where all of the agents learned that Jackie was not dressed for 4 Broadway shows or lots of walking) Jackie's mood became brighter when I got her gummi-Peach-O's and Diet Coke.

After a long and boring flight (Delta's satellite TV system has never worked on our flights), we arrived in New York. After waiting for an eternity for our bags, off we went to the Millennium Broadway hotel in Times Square.

Because I had purchased our hotel on Priceline, you cannot specify bed size or smoking/non-smoking until you get there. Well, we had been put on a smoking floor and though we protested, we said we would go check it out and if it was bad, we'd come back down. We went, we checked, it was bad, we came back down only to discover the desk agent had given the non-smoking 2 bed room to someone else while we were upstairs. They were sold out (and it was 1:00am in the morning at this point) and the desk clerk said we could be switched in the morning. We went back up to the hotel room where Jackie immediately burst into tears (even though I was pointing out that we had a cool view of the Chrystler Building) and flopped into bed pulling the covers up to act as an air filter. Clin and Jackie's NYC adventure had begun!!

Beepin' Night

4:30am Friday night/Saturday morning. Jackie is out of town with her mom, sister and father's 1st wife (not to be confused with polygamous term, "Wife #1"). I awaken to the sound of a "beep". I've heard the sound before and I think it's one of our 14 smoke alarms in the house notifying me that the battery is running down. I close my eyes and said to myself, "Jackie would make you get up now and find the source. She's not here, go back to sleep."

5 minutes later:

"beep".

Just once. Eyes open, Jackie still not there, eyes close.

5 minutes later:

"beep, beep, beep".

I sit up and say to myself, if it wakes the girls, there will be no getting them back down. Better find which alarm it is. I get up in my under-altogethers and begin to roam the house in the dark.

No beep for a few minutes as I lay perfectly still, ready to strike.

I get back in bed. The second my head hits the pillow:

"beep, beep, beep".

Back up, I realize the house is freezing. I turn on the heat and perch on the stairs waiting for the next series of beeps. I sort of doze off on the stairs when I hear the beeps again. They sound like they're behind me. Tricky little bas*****. I'm onto their game. I perch in Millie's doorway thinking it's the alarm in her room (and praying she doesn't wake up).

"beep, beep, beep, beep". Four this time!

And from downstairs! I go and turn on the light in the dining room hoping the neighbors don't happen to look into the dining room to see the ward music director standing in his garments in the middle of the kitchen in pose much like a puma ready to pounce, waiting for the next series of beeps.

"beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep"- really fast.

It is now openly taunting me. I grab the broom and begin whacking the smoke alarm that is high up on our dining room ceiling. No beeps occur during this. I wait for a few minutes thinking the problem is now solved.

"beep".

A curse word slips out of my mouth as I whirl around because it sounds like it's behind me. I go into the front room and sit on the couch only to find myself fully illuminated from the headlights of our neighbors truck. I don't care anymore. Let our non-English speaking furniture making neighbor see me in my shame.

"beep".

Forget it. I'll find it in the morning.

I go back to bed and fall asleep.

The next morning I go downstairs to make the girls breakfast.

"beep". I realize it's the phone in the kitchen. I search for a moment to see why it's beeping and nothing seems to be amiss. I solve the problem by unplugging it.

Cedar City

So Jackie and I decided to go on a little vacation last week. We loaded up a bag and headed off to Cedar City, UT to see a couple of shows at the Shakespeare Festival. We saw Gaslight (which we loved) and Julius Caesar (which should end after Mark Antony's Friends, Romans, Countryman... speech). We stayed in a romantic Best Western Towne and Country Inn where we basically laid around with sparkling cider and candles.

Oh. Wait a minute. We were joined by 38 high school students- I went down on a charter bus (where we watched lots of The Office Seasons 3 & 4)- we shared the Best Western with approximately 698 other high school students (my students joined the students of Lone Peak High School in a dnace off in the parking lot). We competed against 97 high schools in Dance Ensemble (The Tempest- and student choroegraphed), Dance Duo/Trio (Antony & Cleopatra), Acting Ensemble (my western version of Taming of the Shrew), Technical Olympics and 3 monologues and 2 scenes. Overall, the Acting Ensemble took 2nd (and was asked to perform it at the awards ceremony in front of 3500 students), the Dance Ensemble took 2nd (and was also asked to perform) and the Dance Duo took 1st (and the female dancer won a $1000 dance scholarship).

Overall, it was an eventful weekend. One student lost their shoes (on the day it rained), our bus driver swore more than any Martin Scorcese film ever did (and kept commenting on how people he knows keep ending up in the paper talking about their arrests) and I didn't have to wait for anyone at the school to be picked up by their parents. Yay Riverton Drama!

1985

I kept a journal off and on from age 4 (1979) through high school. In an attempt to reminisce...understand myself....okay to come to terms with the 33 year old me, the following is a randomly chosen entry.

I was 10 when I wrote this. I think it is deeply significant and will give you the reader an insight into my personality.

January:

I started a postcard collection today. I'm sick. My little brother bonked me on the head with a radio. We have a day off Monday. I couldn't enjoy Friday because I was sick.

June:

I spent the night at Grandma Cope's and we laughed really hard (Editor's Note: probably me and my cousin's or sister- not me and Grandme Cope...) I peed my pants because I laughed so much and I told Grandma Jan I had spilled water. We had fun because we saw a Puff-And-Stuff movie.

If Life Were Like the Musical CATS

If life were like the musical Cats the following would be considered quite normal:

• When you die (or get reincarnated) you would ascend to the heavens on a large tire.
  
• You would be rude and shun the elderly woman in your neighborhood until they belt a high F. Then you would be best of friends and hope that you could ride that tire with them.
  
• When you portray the Siamese, you would use the same accent that Mickey Rooney uses in Breakfast at Tiffany's.


• Your dances under the moon would be more like the Jane Fonda high impact aerobics tape (as opposed to the low impact where you get to sit in a chair).


• Wealthy fat people would wear spats and sit on custom made top hats (large enough to support their weight).
  
• Perky girls named Jennie-Any-Dots would teach neighborhood pests (children?) how to tap dance.
  
• Leaping, jeteing, stag leaps and high kicks would be all you would need to greet the neighbors. If you had no legs, you would be put down out of your misery (go get the tire!)


• If you are naughty (like Macavity), you could kidnap someone- but a magician (like Mr. Mistoffalies) would make them reappear. The naughty person would fake his own electrocution (but probably live to kidnap another day).

Me Through the Years

In honor of my 33rd birthday, I thought I'd share with you photos of me throughout the years: Clin in 1952

Clin in 1964

Clin in 1974

Clin in 1984

and let's not forget-

Clin in 1998

http://www.yearbookyourself.com/ is the best website ever.