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!