A time to prepare and a time to slack...

This weekend has been about the preparation for the upcoming week. A big one by any standard with Thanksgiving coming up...but we've also got my mother headed for a Tuesday surgery and overnight hospital stay. This means that so many things have to be cleaned and in order so that while we are a recovery ward for the next two weeks, life will just roll along.

I'm not sure if I'm the only one who is like this - but if I know there is housework to be done...I can't just relax while dirty dishes just sit there. My final year at BYU made this element of my personality very clear. I was living with half man/half beast Eve Spear, who was a slob. She would cook, but leave the dishes all over the house (and when you're living in a hobbit hole that clutters up the place VERY quickly) and given the opportunity would leave them for days at a time. Each day I would come home from work or school or rehearsal and would have to clean up the kitchen. I didn't spend much time in the living room - despite all the furnishings being mine - because that would mean I would have to clean that room before I could enjoy being in it. I couldn't read or work on anything if the dishes in the sink were dirty and had been since the morning.

After months of her filthy habits, I couldn't stand it. I tried to just leave the dishes because I figured eventually they could gross her out enough to clean them. And I figured wrong. So, thanks to Josh, a dirty casserole dish ended up in her bed...and it was clean the next day. I think she did get the hint that I was unimpressed with her household hygiene and she did make an effort to be cleaner. But even in the end, I never did get my security deposit back from the Shire, because she was the last to vacate the property and it was not clean enough for Old Man Withers who owned the place.

So I pose this question: When told to put "first things first" - what do you do? For me it's to make sure the kitchen is clean, and then my bedroom and bathroom. Because if I know those places are in order - I can face just about anything. What about you?

He'll get by with a little help from his friends

Geoffrey had his two wisdom teeth removed yesterday. He was very apprehensive about the whole procedure but he sailed through the whole thing and is recovering very quickly. I'm so glad it hasn't been a traumatic thing for him - so many people have awful experiences with oral surgery. But what we did discover is that he is so happy and emotionally gushing when he's high. The pain meds they gave him were rockin' and he thought everything and everyone around him was "AWESOME!!"

I really did toy with the idea of recording him in is stoned state - but I'll be honest, he didn't do anything that would be embarrassing beyond being super loud. He was so kind and thrilled to be alive - and I think we could all take a little of THAT medicine now and again.

I looked out the window and what did I see?

It has been super rainy here in Portland...and oh, my, do I love it!! Flooding is a sad side effect - but otherwise I love it!! I was called to be the Primary Chorister today and will be starting next week. I must say I'm pretty excited and must equally sad to say that I will be missing Relief Society. I never thought I would say that last part!!

I filled in teaching the Mia Maids today. It was crazy as I've known most of these girls since they were 3 or 4 years old. And only one of them was wearing flip-flops to church today, so BONUS! And the lesson was super short due to all other factors running long in time...and they were setting apart the new class presidency. The lesson was about having the courage to try new things...so I gave them a handout (of course I did) with this quote:

"A ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are built for."

The girls in the class were really great and despite not using even half of the things I'd prepared - I think the lesson went very well.

And I will just say this: I'm so glad that I am NO LONGER a young woman...cuz...wow.

This one is for Becky.

I've started a blog update several times - but with so much pressure for clever or funny or whatever that I've made it into a thing. So here we go.

I've gotten back into the rhythm of being home. My London trip was amazing and moving and life changing. I do look forward to going back someday. I am also so glad to be home and doing all the mundane things that I'm sure I'll be sick of so soon (but I'm still enjoying now).

I am so reveling in the weather of Oregon. We've had some really blustery days and it's glorious. But hooray for global warming that will most likely give us very little snow and ice through the winter. (HOLY CRAP I'm talking about the weather)

I've revamped my two classes that weren't fulfilled in Europe, so I'm reading a lot of French plays and trying to make sense of some of them. I'm writing papers and working very hard to to not procrastinate the previously listed tasks. The newest diversion is watching The West Wing. In my defense of watching the first season in 36 hours is that I'm trying to fill the whole that was left in the cosmos by not having a Studio 60 on Monday night.

Halloween was a little disappointment as we didn't have very many tricksters to visit our spooky porch. But we did have a spooky porch, complete with fog machine and scary music.

I'm currently reviewing my Fall goals:
Try: sewing a skirt
STATUS: no progress
See: Wicked...despite not liking a majority of the soundtrack and everyone being shocked that I'm not really interested in seeing it.
STATUS: so I lied. I still haven't seen it...nor will I.
Taste: more curries and Indian food
STATUS: well...I'm not sure how to go about testing foods that may set my internal organs on fire.
Listen To: NPR for a week - despite my normal aversion to talking on the radio
STATUS: I'm starting to wonder why I made these stupid goals...but no I haven't done this one either.
Visit: my Uncle's Aunt in Paris
STATUS: whoops.
Start: making Christmas gifts so they can be mailed on time
STATUS: I've got a list and am checking it twice.
Stop: hitting the snooze button
STATUS: WHEW! I did this one (since I don't set an alarm anymore - har har!)
Organize:an actual play library - instead of just buying a copy when I need it
STATUS: Seriously, what was I thinking?!
Read: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
STATUS: In progress
Play: euchre
STATUS: I hope that this will be accomplished at the New Year when I visit the Malleys. So, at least I've got a plan, right?
Learn: about the history of Portland
STATUS: UHG. I'll work on reading books on this topic instead of books by Terry Pratchett.

So that's all for now...I guess it wasn't that big a "Thing" but now I've updated and can do so much more frequently.

Have you noticed?

This morning as I'm getting ready for the day and cleaning the house - I've been watching a new "Great Performances." This is the 250th celebration of Mozart. The music is so lovely and relaxing - but seriously - why do opera singers look so retarded* when they sing?! Trying to emote so much and still hit all the right notes - and then if they have mouths that move oddly...wow. They are painful to watch, that's all I'm saying here. Plus - who chooses what they wear when they are just singing in a concert?

And so are the members of the orchestra. They are bobbing and weaving, squirming and leaning like a two year old in church. They play so beautifully but all I can keep thinking is "SIT STILL!!!"

*approved Michael Scott usage

Ready, Set, READ!

The departure time approaches (Monday at 1:00pm) and I'm quickly reading plays that I'll most likely be seeing whilst in London and Paris...I just don't want to take any unnecessary books with me. There are enough plans in place that I can arrive in London and Paris and have a place to stay but still having adventures and flexibility. A plan with room to deviate!

Since I've been home...

'I went to see three movies...that's more than Ive been to in the last four months combined. I saw Beerfest with my father, Talladega Nights with my brother, and Little Miss Sunshine with my mother. I wonder if our selections have revealed too much about my relationship with my family members.


I worked at my mom's office doing simple assembly stuff...mindless and tax free.

I went to the circus. The greatest show on Earth? Probably not. But I went with Eric Snider - so that made it fun. The most enjoyable aspect of being in the audience at the circus is that you don't have to try to keep quiet during the show - because there is no real story to follow and the music is loud enough to cover anything I would say...at full volume. I know!


I went on a tour of the Portland Underground Tunnels - haunted and all. My friend Ryan from Los Angeles is in town visiting with his mother (who is very nice). Their main purpose was to see Wicked which is in town. But they invited me to join them on the tour of the underground tunnels in Portland which were used for "Shanghai-ing" people and white slavery. Creepy and HOT. You'd think that being underground it would have some sense of cool...and you'd be wrong. But the tour was very interesting. I didn't have any haunting experiences my ownself...nor anyone in my party. But I would go again...

Make new friends?

After feeling poorly for two weeks, I discussed my symptoms with my aunt - and we realized that I'd contracted a parasite up at camp! Thank goodness for Mina and Dr. Pierce (our family doctor) as they diagnosed over the phone - and called the pharmacy in Boise to get me on antibiotics. This made the trip of canning peaches so much more enjoyable. I learned how to can peaches - and the most important thing to remember is to have at least four grown adults doing the work. My Aunt Connie and Uncle Crockpot and Grandma and Grandpa "put up" 72 quarts of peaches in four hours. I worked on my knife phobia and did my best to be more of a help than a hindrance...but it sure was fun. And we have a great new song about the whole thing.



It's so hard to believe that I've been away so long - getting settled in at home is taking a while - but I'm getting a lot done in preparations for my trip to Europe. Trip details will be coming soon but a countdown is underway....19 days until departure!

Airport bound...

This evening I'm flying back to Portland for a quick lay-over before my Mother and I fly to Boise. We'll be joining my Aunt Connie and Grandma Siple in a peach canning workshop. I am so looking forward to seeing my Grandparents...haven't seen them since February. But I am sad to be leaving the Malleys...

Apotheca Malley

IF you're ever going to vacation or be sick...or both...the place to do it is the Malley Apotheca. Since the last day of camp I've been very nauseous...praying for the ability to vomit and end the misery. This was unpleasant at camp and at home, but it's an even bigger inconvenience when vacationing in Utah. The food around here is so good - it's so sad to have to miss out since the idea of food makes me want to ralph. But this morning, Cap'n Malley and Malley Haus Frau got me some Pepto and club soda - and things are looking up. Plus, on Sunterday there is plenty of napping, reading, watching football, and (apparently) not barfing. HOORAY.

Out of the woods...

To anyone who checks my blog, I'm so sorry for the last 3 months. Being out at Camp Namanu left little time to try and blog and on my 22 hours off, I could barely read all my e-mails, let alone write back.

But the good news is that camp was so much fun. A lot of work, but there was much fun to be had! I was the office manager and nurse's assistant. For the first month of camp I spent every Tuesday going to the emergency room. One night we had two campers going in...but usually it was only one camper at a time. We did have some staff injuries...like my dear friend Matt - who broke his leg during staff training...leading our Risk management workshop...NO JOKE.

Mainly my world was paperwork and band-aids...and getting the mail and running the camp store. I also answered the phone...a lot.

It's a really good thing I'm headed to Utah tomorrow, because I think I'm starting to get camp sick...like home sick...but for camp.

On my honor...

Tonight was an Eagle Court of Honor for a friend of ours. We've known McKay a very long time and tonight our whole family was asked to participate in the presentation of his award. Geoffrey read the Scout Challenge and then Mom, Dad, and I were asked to do the presentation of the medals and pins. And I, of course, was a weepy mess. Of course I was. It was a real honor to be asked to participate in the celebration for McKay - and no, his momma didn't want a Fresca.

Evening out...

Tonight was the end of the year party for Camp Fire. The food wasn't great - but I was voted "Most likely to make you laugh so hard you snort a little" so the evening wasn't a total wash. Since the fruit and veggie platter didn't cut it for dinner - a bunch of camp folks headed to the Restaurant Bleu. This is the culinary institute's restaurant. Such a great deal and so much food. We did the three course meal and I'm stuffed to the gills. And any meal that starts with a shot glass with an artichoke heart and sauce in it - is one fine meal. Plus being out with the great camp peeps - that was great too!

Get the picture?

Tonight I saw a production of Charles Mee's "Big Love." This is a play that is assigned in my American Theatre class but I haven't read it yet. I think I would rather see a production of a show before reading it - to create some mental picture or frame of reference. I guess that's why I read the book version of Back to the Future III over ten times when I was in the sixth grade. And that's just another reason I'm a super nerd.


PS - the play was very good.

Tuesday people...

I'm normally a Tuesday person. It's a great day for lunches. But today didn't really feel like a Tuesday, so it's okay that I didn't feel super accomplished today.

The long weekend was spent out at Camp Namanu at Family Camp. Despite the never ending rain - it really was a great time. I lead a card making class and took all my stamps. The ladies loved the stamps. Two hours flew by and then I was on to running the camp store and then skit night. OOOHHHGGG SKITS...uh...yeah. The next morning I was the driver up to our high ropes course and had a great time coaching (and having no real clue what I was talking about) couples on our High V element. Harnesses are involved. It's a pretty good time - even in the rain. More camp store - and then our closing council fire. I sure love fire. Burning things is great. On Monday we began cleaning up - and then paused for some races on the duck pond. The adult in the boat was blindfolded and the child in the boat was to shout directions. Several families did really well. Some did not. And then the sun finally came out. Just in time to mop the dining hall floor. Which was actually fun. No kidding! OH...and did I mention the BINGO!?!? Remind me to tell you about it if I talk to you. BINGO...oh yes.

Today was early, as I was picking Mom up at the airport at 7:30a.m. and then to meetings and classes. But now I'm in my pajamas - and I'm sleepy. Feeling good - but feeling that there are many miles to go before I can really relax. MUCHO.

Overdue...

I haven't blogged in quite a while - but I guess that's because I haven't had too much that's new going on. Still working with the Camp Fire kids and I went out and taught some camp songs a few weeks ago. That was really fun - much better than sitting in an office!

Schools is really fun this quarter. I'm loving my American Drama class. I wish it were a full year long series. I'm also a director in our New Play Workshop. This means that I was directing staged readings of two short plays. I was also a director for a short play written by a young lady that was 14 years old. Our class is the "performance arm" of the Afield Playwrighting Project. The Afield plays are written by troubled young people and then the scripts come to our class and we performed them. All ten plays from this year's group were performed last week during our class on Thursday and on Friday evening. Oh my, were these plays full of great lines! Such as:

"I'd say you could come and visit me in space, but there isn't enough space in space!"

"But! I was planning to have a plan with you!"

"If you don't help me, I"m gonna suicide. I'm gonna suicide right here."

"I need your money so that I can have a place of my own and be free to be a vegetarian"

"Look, dude. You know how we've been friends and stuff."

I fully believe that all the actors should get medals for getting up and seriously saying the words these young playwrights wrote. And the playwrights did get to come and take a bow at the end of their play. It seemed like this was the first time anything these kids have done has gotten any kind of applause.

One of my other "classes" is an internship with the Every 15 minutes film shoot in Pasadena, California. My Aunt is the producer and with a few pieces of paperwork, I'm getting credit for being here in balmy SoCal. Right now it's a quiet morning and I'm watching the squirrels try to bust into the bird feeder. The new stream/pond that my aunts had installed is amazing. It's so relaxing and beautiful. I'm really excited for them.

The film shoot is tomorrow morning, and then Friday morning I am back in Portland with just enough time to change clothes and drive out to Camp Namanu for an overnight with 200 kids from our after school program. I'm the nurse for the weekend...

If you have to ask...

So, the Entertainment Weekly website has a headline which reads: "Lost": Does it suck or does it rock? And I don't watch "Lost" so I can't answer the question. But I do know this: If you have to ask the question, the answer is usually the latter. Because in the world, rare are the times that you don't realize if something is awesome. Now, we might not know just HOW awesome it is, but we have a sure understanding that it certainly doesn't suck.

One thing I know that doesn't suck is birthdays, and today was my Aunt Karen's birthday. I sure hope she had a good one!

Too good to be NOT true...

There is a contestant on the Price is Right today and her name is Cletus. She's from Texas. Of course she is. In the future I think we will be chart the decline of humanity by watching the Price is Right contestants and how trashy they have become. Plus...how would I know the price of a carousel crib? It's so ugly.

May I recommend...?

So I got my new flipflops for the summer - and I love them. Do get yourself a pair of Croc Athens shoes. The memory foam is so comfy - and there are no pressure points to cause blisters. Get some...get some now.

Sunny morning!

I am sure enjoying the morning. So sunny and bright. It's quite a busy week coming up with dinners with friends and school and work and laundry and cleaning and...blah...it means I'll be busy and getting things done. Spring might be here for reals.