weird thoughts . . .

I've had the weirdest thoughts lately; weird meaning strange. I've been out of the real dance scene for a couple years now, and as I was walking down center street the other day I saw a building off to the side and the first thought that came to my mind was how cool it would be to have a studio in that building. I have no idea where that thought came from, but when I actually think about it, I've been wanting to have my own studio for a while--its just finding out how to start that is holding me back. I'm thinking that if I can get other people to join me in this, I might have a chance to get this studio to float. I know that Jakob and a few of his friends would love a spot to practice their stage combat stuff, and if I have a genres of dance in the studio, I think that it would be a bigger selling point.

I guess I have too many ideas running thought my head right now because coupled in with the though about starting a studio, I've wanted to continue with my costuming stuff. I guess being married to someone who is in the performing arts, I'll always have those ideas running around. There is an old reception center (that looks like an old church) that is for sale and if I could get funding for it, I would turn it into a performing arts center. Possibly have classes offered in acting, stage/film combat, and dance. Then I would also have an area to house costumes and a studio area to produce them. Also an area to do the film transfers and film work that I did at BYU and wanted to start my own business doing. I know, I never think in small things, and I need to start small, but I'm sure that I would have people who would be willing to work with me to make this work.

Yep, I've got some strange thoughts running through my head, but I guess a dream has to start somewhere. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to quit my day job without have some type of financial back-up. A dream may come to reality, but a back-up plan is needed in case the dream tanks. I'm also thinking that now isn't the best time to be starting something like this because of the way the economy is. I mean, the big stores can't get people to come in and spend money; how is a little business going to survive. Eh, I guess its just something that will have to though out for a while.

But today at work was disgusting! Word of the wise: don't ever use a computer without gloves if the previous user was a kid. UGGG! It was gross! I had to update and clean the mobil labs that we have. I was able to do one cart (about 30 computers) today, but along with updating them, I had to disinfect and clean them. I have never seen more dirty, disgusting computers ever! I had to wear gloves and a mask while I was cleaning them because of all the stuff that was coming off them. Did you know that some lab tests show that your computer keyboard has more germs on it than your bathroom? Gross huh?

A new dawn, a new day

Well, it is the start of a new week and not much has happened since the last time that I actually wrote. I guess with life just kicking into gear, I really don't have a summer anymore--which is fine with me, since I really need to have a paycheck coming in.

The job is going good. It is nice to be able to say that I have money coming in at the end of the month. It isn't that much different from what I did at BYU, which is great. It means I have more time to write my book and edit a couple scripts. If I remember, I'll even write on the blog--believe it or not! I primarily just stay in my office until someone needs something or until I get a call about some computer systems. it is weird being back in my old elementary school. I don't remember much from elementary--well, I really don't remember much before age 12 or 13. But I went back over my old school pictures and talked with my mom and found out that a few of the teachers that were here when I was are still here. They of course don't recognize me (thank goodness!) but I haven't said anything to them either. They've had so many student in the past 10 or so years that I don't think they would remember me. Although I did have one of the teachers ask if I knew the Zanandrea over at BYU and I said that I did, but I didn't say that I was related to her. I'm enjoying it so far. We'll see if I end up staying around for the year. I think that once Timp Elementary opens up, they may need a tech person over there and if I have the opportunity to go over there, I may take it. It is a bit closer to where I live--which would be great because of the price that gas is going to get when the winter comes around.

Jakob is having fun in his show. He said that it is interesting to see people that he knows in the audience but most of the time they don't recognize him because he plays a man that is over 80 years old. I think the costume I made turned out good. I know that he wasn't too happy with the fact that I put Velcro on it instead of making the buttons workable. I didn't have time to do the buttonholes correctly. Now that the show is moving, I may have time to redo it and put buttonholes in. I know that he wants to use the costume for our next film project, so I'll have to change it over to loops or buttonholes eventually. I had a hard time with the pants. Since it was such a rush job, we decided to go over to the local thrift store and find a pair of pants that fit him really well and that fit the time period closely. Luckily we found a pair that fits rather well and they looked really good on him. So we bought them and after we got home and I started sizing them did I notice the brand and I about cried when I had to cut them! They are designer from Italy! No wonder they fit him so well and felt like good quality! I feel like such a dork to not look at the brand when we were at the store. Those would have been perfect dress pants and I cut them! Arg! I blame Jakob for that. . . . . . . he made me. ;p

I'll be posting some more pictures later about our trip to Seattle and some other stuff that we've been doing.

Jakob is excited about the start of BYU Football, and the fact that we're working with the Varsity Club again. It is funny to see his reaction now as to the first time that I went to a football game and invited him to our tailgate. The first time when he saw some of the older athletes coming in and talking to my mom or the coaches coming over and giving me a hug, his jaw used to just drop, but now its fun to see his eyes light up with some of the people that come in, but now that we've been doing it for a few years, he seems to just take everything in stride. It'll be funny to see Jakob's brother's reaction. Since he's now in the state, we were able to find a pass for him to be able to come down and watch the game, but in order to get the pass he has to work for it. It isn't anything hard, but I'm going to laugh if he gets star-struck by some of the athletes that are coming in. I guess I'll just put him on ticket detail. It's also great considering that we are having fun with the people that are catering and I'm going to see if I'll bring my camera this time and take some pictures. My mom has a parking pass, so I think I can just drop it in the car afterwards, or take it in and take some fun pictures. (Of course, none with me in them).

Do the happy dance!

WOOT!!!!! I am so excited!

I got a job! I am so happy you all have no idea! I have been worrying about what I was going to do once I finished with graduation (which happened on the 15th, pictures--eek!--will be coming later) and I was pointed in the Provo School District website. There happened to be a technology support position open at one of the elementary schools. The weird thing is it is the elementary school that I went to. So I applied, got an interview, and the later last night he called me and said he'd like to offer me the job! I was at Jakob's show and when my phone started going off, I ran out of the show because I didn't recognize the number, so I assumed that it was the guy I had interviewed with and it was! I had to try and contain my excitement in case I didn't get the job but he said that he was really impressed with me and he wanted to offer the job starting today! But, I have to wait until he calls to let me know what I need to do because he's not sure if I can just jump into the schools without some paperwork. I'm not too worried because my fingerprints are already in the system (a requirement for all teachers) and my paperwork is already with the USOE, so I guess I just need to get my stuff with this school district.

I'm a happy with getting the job, but I guess I'll reserve judgment until I finish a full week of work and I see what I've gotten myself into, but I don't think it will be that bad.

Yay for me!

Back in the grove of things. . . kind of

Well, I've really been slacking off lately, but I have good reason. I've been on the job hunt for a while since I think I lose my job on friday. Yep, I graduate on friday. Wow. That is a really weird feeling if you think about it. After being in school straight since kindergarten, I'm actually going to be out of that loop. Now, many know that I graduate with a teaching degree, but in all honosty, I'm not too sure if I want to teach. With the way the school systems are, I don't know if I want to do that. I know, I know, if you want change, may times it needs to start with you, you need to be the catalyst, but that is a really big order and I'm not sure if that is something I really want to do right now.

So, what do i really want to do? That is a good question. I've always had interest, but "school came first" and since I didn't pay for it, I guess that I needed to follow the advice of the person who was paying for it. Now that I'm done, I think I might want to explore things. I guess I should have done that before I got married huh. (:-p) All kidding aside, I really want to explore my talents and my aspirations and see if they get me anywhere . . . meanwhile have a steady job that can pay the bills. I think I want to figure out if my dancing or costume making gets me anywhere. Eh, we'll see.

But lately I've just been trying to get as many hours at work as I can before my job is gone. It is a weird feeling to think that I'm done on friday with my job anyway. They've been trying to figure out a way to keep me around, but I don't think that is going to happen. I wouldn't mind doing what I'm doing for a real job. I have fun looking at everything that passes through my computer and working with all the different formats. I've had fun and if I can figure out what exactly I need and how to get the funding for it, I'm thinking about starting up my own business doing what I'm doing here now. I have too much fun with video and the production aspect of it!

As for my weekend, I spent most of it either reading or watching the olympics. It has been interesting to watch the games with my parents. The gymnastics last night was fun considering my dad--when he was in Brasil and doing gymnastics down there--used to work/coach/compete with one of the judges. It was fun to watch him watch the TV intently to try and find her . . . which he did. Plus with all his insights into gymnastics, he was able to explain some things to me that I didn't understand and he was able to see the way the judges did; but he is like me, he doesn't like the new scoring system. He told me that it is harder to follow and it leaves more room for cheating. Agreeded. Plus, the chineese womens gymnastics team is bugging me! There is NO WAY that some of those girls are 16. They aren't developed and still have their baby teeth! Why doesn't the IOC have x-rays done of the girls and look at their growth plates? You can tell age very close by those. They spend a lot of time looking for doping (which I think they should) but why not look into age as well?

I can't wait for Track and Field to hear my mom's insights and see if there is anyone around that she knows. If they Olympics come back to the states, I'm hoping that she gets invited to judge again. She was invited in '96 for Atlanta, but turned it down because of conflicts with teaching and presenting at a conference.

But on to Monday weird news. . . . . . . .
Fireworks faked?

Ever wanted to be an English "Lord"?

Don't ride on the hood of the car with grandma

Why gardening can be painful

Viral Video Friday

Okay, so I've been slacking off lately, but I haven't forgotten to post a video or two!



I've had a few people ask about the film that I took part in a few months back. Here's a quick look at the film through some pictures. I can't decide which version of the slideshow I like, so here are all of them, each of them have a different feel to them (Thanks Tim and Tanya!).

Yep, I look like a dork! But I got to play with Saris and costume, so I was happy! Plus, the dancing was fun and I got to spend the day at the salt flats!

As soon as the movie is done, I'll see if I can post a link or a version of it here. I am excited to see the final product!

A Partial Review . . . . from Seattle

Hello all! Well, I'm back and I took the weekend off to get things done and to get some pictures off my camera. The still aren't all out, but as I'm making sure that everything is ready to go for my graduation, getting pictures off my camera really isn't on my priority list.

I'll post more pictures as I sort through them, but here is a quick review of how my last week went.

Saturday
We took off saturday afternoon. It was kind of a bumpy ride, and there was a flight attendant that thought he was funny, but really wasn't. He didn't make the trip any better. When we landed, it was great to feel the coolness in the air. Going from 100+ to about 75 is amazing! It was funny to feel that most of the buildings still had air conditioning going on. I didn't think they needed it, but I'm happy for it anyway! After we were picked up by Jakob's parents, we went to a theatre production of Oklahoma. It was a total rip-off of the Hugh Jackman version; right down to some of the costumes and the set. Yes, there was some originality to it and some of the actors you wanted to shoot! and don't get me started on the "dancing" but there were some great little highlights.

Sunday
Just a lazy normal sunday

Monday
Monday was seriously a full day. We got up early and went to the zoo! I don't remember the last time that I was at a zoo, and we were there early enough that we saw some of the animals getting fed. I've got a few pictures up, but I'll have to put up the video I have of an Otter getting food out from a tube. That was fun to watch!

We got there right before a lot of the groups showed up, so we had a nice time looking at all the animals.

I don't think Jakob realized that I took this picture, but I was trying to get the name of the place in and he just kind of stepped in front of the camera.

Doesn't Jakob fit right in with the Lemur family? tee hee hee
This was just too cute to pass up. I love the zoom on my camera!

After the zoo we went to the glass museum. That was fun. It was amazing to see what people can make out of glass. They have a part of the museum called the "Hot Shop" and you can see some of the artisans at work. When we were there, we saw them making a dinosaur head and some sort of vase or other little object. I wish I could have taken some pictures, but it was amazing to see the security they had up to prevent people from doing that. I've got a picture from the outside of the building.

As a saying goes. . . 'leave them wanting more' so I'll leave you with those few pictures and I'll write more later. (actually, I've got to get back to work)

More to come. Stay tuned. . . . .