This Summer I...

• Had to go to a urologist 4 times. The first time was three days before leaving for New York (without going into too much detail, imagine trying to pass a watermelon through a straw- and it was not kidney stones). Let's just say, to save me a possible trip to an emergency room while in NYC, they quickly performed an emergency procedure (without out pain meds)... with the entire office staff gathered round. The other fun story was a trip to the radiologist and getting to hold my own catheter (and accidentally letting go halfway through the procedure causing a Bellagio-style fountain effect all over the place). Everything appears back to normal now.


• Drove the family out to Oregon and coast. We played at a windy beach, took the girls to eat at the same pizza place Jackie and I ate at on our honeymoon, played Ticket to Ride with cousins at the beach house, watched Jackie clog up the 1 toilet at the beach house numerous times (until Judy found the "hidden toilet" in a scary basement), ate at the Otis Cafe (delicious), drove along the coast while everyone in our van watched The Princess and the Frog, went to the world's largest sea cave and saw lots of sea lions, went to OMNSI in Portland, ate at the street carts in Portland and read lots of books.


• Taught 6 weeks at Hale Center Theatre summer camps. That's enough about that.


• Bought a new king-size bed with frame, pillows, sheets and a actual headboard. I guess we're truly grownup now that we have a headboard.


• Hung pictures up on the wall that had been on the floor since we moved in June of 2009.


• Went to Pioneer Village with my parents and the girls.


• Saw 14 plays/musicals. 9 in NYC (see previous posts), 1 The Wedding Singer at Hale (with my former student Matt Baxter stealing the show as George), 1 Pirates of Penzance at Hale (with my former student Bailee Paxman as a fantastic daughter- took Millie to this one and she loved it. Well, I know she loved the free cookie and root beer that she got at intermission thanks to Clint), 1 110 in the Shade at Hale Center Orem with the fantastic Audra McDonald. Seeing her in that show that close was worth every penny. It was fantastic. 1 Hairspray at Riverton City with 10-12 RHS Theatre alumni as leads and ensemble. They were great.
• Millie went to her 1st Broadway show. We (and a few Riverton Drama students and alumni) went to see the Broadway touring show of The Lion King in Salt Lake City. She did great. It helped that she already knew the songs (she's sat a few times in her room and wept to Shadowlands) and story. Having a bag of Skittles ready for Act 2 also helped. The cast was great and Millie loved it. It was good preparation for Mary Poppins next year.

• Saw (in the movie theatre) Toy Story 3, How to Train Your Dragon, Inception and The Other Guys. Also became addicted to The Shield and we are currently on Season 4.

So now school's back in session- I already cast our Shakespeare ensemble (a bloody good King Lear) and we're holding auditions for South Pacific after Labor Day. Happy 3 day (birthday) weekend.