In many ways this has been really cool. I have had some in-depth and spontaneous discussions about faith, religion, temples, family history, The Book of Mormon with several of my new friends. On the whole they are pretty unbiased about the church, and religion in general, and also full of questions. Yet, there is a sense of spiritual isolation.

It’s not that I feel tempted to drink or smoke with my new mates, who do so, liberally.

(Note the number of empty glasses)

It’s not that I am forgetting to say my prayers, or read my scriptures more than usual. It’s not that I feel my testimony weakening in any area, in fact the opposite on that count. But I miss having someone around me who has a deep understanding of the fundamental structure of my world view, paradigms, and thought processes. I’ve missed the automatic acceptance and understanding that exists in the church.

That’s why I have felt so blessed to be part, however briefly, of the Sanremo branch. They are adorable. I was welcomed with kisses on the cheek and hugs from everyone. They are just the branch you hope to find when you travel to a far out limb on the kingdom’s tree.

(Elders and Branch President)

There was someone there to translate for me in every hour I attended, but I found that the spirit carried me far beyond the spoken word as I listened to these good members. The language of the gospel is so unique, in any case, that I was frequently able to help my translators along.

(My faithful translators, Francesca and Antonia, and Francesca’s silly husband.)

The branch is smallish, but strong as branches go. The missionaries told me that it has nearly been made a ward numerous times, but each time it gets close to having enough priesthood, a large family, or two, have moved out of the area for work reasons. So they plug along. The same 60 people rotating talks, lessons, hymns, and presidencies with a smile year after year in their little converted chapel above the local super market.

The lessons were lively, the sacrament talks were personal and moving, and the prayers—well, I didn’t understand them very well, but they went on long enough to ask a blessing for each member and their dog.

I am going to miss them. They all invited me to come back again whenever I can, and to be sure to visit their cousins, and former hair dressers. who live in Milan and Rome.

(The Relief Society Presidency, maybe.)

Sadly, I don’t think I will have the opportunity to attended meetings in any other congregation more than two Sundays in a row the rest of the time I am here, and even going each week will be pushing it if I am traveling and working as many Sundays as I think I will be. I think the fellowship of my fellow saints will be the thing I’ll be the most homesick for. But being among these beautiful brothers and sisters who live so far from ‘Zion’ reminds me of the truth of this little church. The fire of faith burns as just as brightly, and in many ways casts a stronger light here, where it is surrounded by darkness, as it does anywhere in Provo or Holladay.

It is a comfort to remember that I am home, wherever I go, when I go to church.

But it’s not all romantic. Now it’s tonight, my third Saturday night in Italy. I am in a decent-sized hotel room in a nightgown at 10:15pm with two other lovely ladies also in PJs. We are all staring at computer screens or scripts and looking anything but romantic. All I want to do is try and stream Season 2 of Downton Abbey, but the internet net is not cooperating.

This morning I was up at 8:30 for 9am breakfast service. From there I made my way to the Sanremo market with my roommies with the goal of buying coat. I found a pretty nice one. It’s black, warm, and puffy and has a furry collar. Not a bad description for a boyfriend. Any probably the closest I’ll get to something to snuggle with for the next long while. I managed to get the coat, some cheap gloves, socks, and scarves for under E50, which seems pretty good.

I needed to get a few things to bundle up with because I found out one of my first tour stop is going to be in the North East of the country, which is essentially the Alps. Alps are not an image I have associated with Italy in the past, but they were the very first thing I saw as I flew into the country. They are SERIOUS mountains. Like the Rockies. Like, they are scary looking. Like, Hannibal, what were you thinking?

Here is the list of the approximate places I will be going by ‘state’, in approximately the order I’ll be there with absolutely no specifics, and in Italian. (This has about as much meaning for me as it does for you, since my understanding of Italian geography is limited, to say the least.)

Jan 30- Feb 18

Emilia-Rommagna

Piedmonte

Lombardia (Milan is the capitol here)

Feb 20-Mar 10

Lombardia

Trevenito

Mar 12-April 4

Liguria

Roma/Umbria (1 week)

Romangna/Lombardia/Marches (1 week)

April 5-10 Easter Break, this location is up to me. And I am open to suggestions on what to do with it. Maybe Napoli (Ie

Naples)?

April 11-May 5

Tuscany (Florence is the capitol here)

“South” (One week+)

Lombardia (ie North)

May 7-June 2

Marches (2 weeks)

Lombardia (1 week)

Vento (1 week)

We may have a couple more weeks of work after that.

Things to notice.

Sardinia is actually a real place! I thought it was some ancient kingdom that crumbled centuries ago. Turns out it’s just an island, that has been crumbling into the sea for centuries.  Tangent: I ate sardines more or less on purpose this week. They were on a foccacia bread I bought, and I ate it without even attempting to pick them off. No Fear!

I don’t think that Sicily actually pricks the toe of the boot as it is pictured here.

Italy boarders Francy (this is a typo, but I’m gonna leave it, cuz I like it), Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia, And is really close to Croatia. I am suddenly captivated by the idea of Croatia. I don’t know why. Also Morocco, but that one I understand. My friend Crystal went there and has amazing pictures. Also, that would be Africa, which would be incredible. The wild beauty of Africa has drawn me since childhood.

The tour will almost certainly be finished by June 15. I have already purchased my ticket to come home on July 5. That gives me more than three weeks to go wherever I want/can on a limited budget.

Did I mention round-trip flights to Jerusalem are only about $400 from Milan. Just something to keep in mind.

It’s a big world. The more I’m in it, the closer I end up to other thing that I want to see, and the more I want to see.

In the words on Inigo Montoya “Let me splain… No. There is too much. Let me sum-up.”

I found out about this program in August from a friend who is teaching English and Theatre in Asia. I had been hanging out in Cedar, feeling too old and single to socialize much, spending my weekends watching Netflix alone, loving my job, but knowing, in my heart-of-hearts that it was time to move on. I’d been praying for an opportunity, and waiting to be pushed in a new direction.

I decided to apply after sitting in church and hearing the words, “God can’t direct your steps until you move your feet.” Duh! Almost immediately in my journal I wrote “I am going to do this. I am applying!”

That week I applied via email and auditioned via YouTube. I was very busy at work again by then with Christmas Carol auditions and preparing for a conference in Virgina, so I tried not to think about the possibility of being gone in a few months, and prepared myself for another winter in Cedar. I was offered the job on my birthday. I fell on my knees and said thank you. Then I panicked for an hour, and Michael took me to my birthday lunch, as planned, and within the hour, I had made up my mind.

By the end of that week I was selling apartment contract and all my furniture (pulling in a decent profit on Craigslist, I might add), putting myself through the heinous process of getting a Visa, closing up my 5 year-long position with the Festival, and applying for Grad school so that I might have something to come home for. Needless to say that from that day till Christmas was a bit of a whirlwind. Many headaches, tears, recommendation letters, last minute flight purchases, goodbyes, and Christmas presents later, I found myself getting off a train in Sanremo, Italy: my home for these three weeks.

Here is what I was greeted with:

Some of the staff of ACLE at my welcoming party the first night.

A kind and welcoming staff of cool UK/Euro Zone people who live and work and drink lots of wine in this beautiful sea-side town.

Erin and Clare my new roommies. Very Sweet.

Two adorable roommates. They are both Veggies, and beautiful, and great at conversation, and heavy sleepers who don’t seem to mind my late night blogging habits.

 

Hotel Londra

This is a seriously classy old hotel. Some of the furniture and carpets could use some restoration, but the staff is very kind and English speaking. They seem to primarily cater to three 80 year-old classy dames who seem to do nothing but move from dining room to lobby in their fur coats every 5 hours. It’s wonderful.

Mountain climbing team exercise

I was also greeted by the 31 other actors that will be touring this spring. They are an amusing collection of accents from several places I have visited/lived, and not been, including Manchester, Perth, Bath, Wales, Tanzania, Melbourne, BC, St. Lewis, and Wagga Wagga. There are only 6 Americans, I think. Not counting the Canadians, because who would. I had forgotten how much I love the way these other English speakers talk. It’s great to be reminded, and to slip back into using phrases and words like ‘had done, fringe, jumper, and can’t be bothered.’

Learning blocking

We use the hotel ballroom, and I do mean ballroom in the Von Trapp sense of the word, as our rehearsal space. It’s pretty amazing.

Course 1/3, Lunch

We get fed breakfast and lunch by the hotel. It’s a very orderly thing. In that way, it’s reminiscent of the M.T.C. We have a very set schedule times for most things between 8am and 6pm. But no one is checking how I made my bed, thankfully.

Once the training time is over  I will be traveling by car around Italy with a curtain just like this one. I will be a group similar to the one pictured here. I think I will not be acting as much as those pictured here, since I have requested to be placed in the one group that goes to middle and high schools focusing more on directing kids in comedy sketches, a REALLY cut down Chicago, and some “Shakespeare” (I do mean quote-unquote) scenes. But I am hoping to know a little more about that, and who is in my group tomorrow. I’m very excited to get up and work on my feet and get ready to knock some Italian kids around.

So far so good. Any questions, comments, rude remarks?

Also yes.

Cioccolato Caldo, DTRing hot and chocolate for me

Or is it?

In this instance I have to say: no. When dealing with Italy, I was all about the destination. Getting up at 4:30am and traveling until the equivalent of 10am the next day and having irregular sustenance provided in little lukewarm plastic trays by ladies wearing pantyhose and heels  gets one feeling a little loopy and not much interested in the journey, and a little unsure of what giorni it is.

Lessons I learned:

Go with the flow. The flow of people will almost always lead you aright, especially when they can read the signage and you have only ‘Englese.’

1. Always explore the whole terminal before you buy a $9 gross oliveie pizza. There was Wendy’s right around the corner. Duh! (I still got Wendy’s as a final American salute.)

2. Try not to judge the people around you for their on-demand in flight viewing choices. Except those fat teenage boys from Sweden who are watching Mr. Poppers’ Penguins.

(I on the other hand was able to take in Contagion (not a great choice when you might be coming down with something while traveling in foreign lands) Crazy, Stupid, Love (in which Steve Carell and Emma Stone continued to win me over, but in which I was disappointed in both Julianne Moore and Ryan Gosling)) AND (remember how many hours spent at 38,000 feet toady?) Cowboys and Aliens…which sucked despite Daniel Craig’s eyes. You see, even my own good taste and reason got squeezed out of me as the leg room closed in.)

3. Birds. They are always watching. A Sparrow in the Dulles airport escorted me back to my gate hoping for a French- fry before he got too scared of my unwashed hair and confused stare to stick around for the rewards of his efforts. I wonder if that sparrow got stuck in the airport on accident or if it was a life choice, or if he was born there in the Dulles Airport Sparrow Colony. Also, the pigeons at the Milan train station, fat pigeons, are pecking awfully close to my feet.

4. As I wandered around the Brussels Airport I realized there are a lot of places in the world. There were lines of people going places I’ve never heard of: Faro, Fuerteventura, Chennai, Kinshasa, Djerba. I don’t even know what countries those are in.  Yet there they are. These are people I’d never ever seen or been aware of, and they are on their way to places where our paths will likely never cross again.

Weird.

Other Thoughts I had while in the Brussels airport:

1.  I can’t find a waffle.
2. I am having a hard time believing that it’s really 8am here since there is no hint of sunrise.
3. The Chocolatier doesn’t sell individual truffles. And I’m won’t spend E18 on a box. Which is sad. A lot.

I was too tired, and frankly too scared to try and fit anything else into my car. Another 2lbs of internal pressure might have caused the trunk to internally combust. Plus the adorable kit was an awkward round hatbox shape and not at all in line with my carefully arranged Tetris pieces. But I wanted to keep the fondue pot. The door of the apartment was locked behind me. The car keys were in the ignition, and I was over an hour behind schedule. I was ready to go. But I didn’t want to let go of this thing that I had loved.

That’s when it hit me. I was leaving Cedar and my life for the last five years. I didn’t want to leave this thing that I had loved. I sat down on the steps of the apartment building, hugged the fondue pot goodbye, and cried Clorox flavored tears.

The tears were bittersweet. I loved Cedar. I fell in love in Cedar. I found, and lost, and found myself again, and again in Cedar City. Cedar changed me, and changed the way I see the world. I am wiser, humbler, fatter, and much more patient than I was before Cedar.

I will miss Cedar. I’m going to miss long hikes in slot canyons, lonely walks along Coal Creek, and long drives up and down mountains. I’ll miss traffic shut downs on Main Street for every of imaginable parade. I’ll miss the friendly faces of my checkers at Smiths, and the overpriced steak houses with ugly taxidermy decor. I’ll miss the regularly changing soup menus, and regularly changing restaurants to try soup at.

I will miss my job. I already sorely miss the good times and great talks I had with my co-workers Josh and Ashley. Michael, the best boss imaginable, taught me passion, perseverance, art, and everything I know about catching flies with honey. I hate that I am going to missing out working on Peter Pan with Playmakers this spring after three years of pushing to produce it. I am going to miss the kids who I have watched grow up before my eyes in our programs. The Festival is made up of an incredible group of artists and people who are making great things happen. It is on the cusp of really monumental work in the regional theatre scene. I loved feeling I had a place in it and the comings and goings of Utah theatre education. No more.

I will miss my friends. Caroline and Emily saw me through every up and down, and there were dozens of other men and women whose lives touched mine as we passed each other on the way. Melissa, Matty, Julie, Melanee, Tiffani, April, Shaka, Bill, Devin, Bethany, and so many more. I was blessed with amazing leaders in each of the four wards I attended. And grew spiritually in ways I never could have guessed at when I arrived expecting to stay for six months. I faced the most difficult trial of my life and was given the strength I needed to survive it through the grace of the angels who walked around with me each day in Cedar City.

I know I will always look back on Cedar as a peculiar and divine time of my life. So I cried as I drove south out of town and didn’t dry my eyes till The Gorge.

Goodbye Cedar, and goodbye my fondue pot. I’ll miss you forever.

So, here is my list complete with grades and reviews for movies I saw in the theater, and a few things from late 2o10.

In the Theaters:

True Grit: Best line of the year: “I do not care for guns. If I did I would have one that worked properly.” Best Long Johns of the year: Rooster Cogburn. Best Legal Negotiation Scene of the year: Mattie Ross verses Beleaguered Western Businessman. Best awkward wakeup scene: Hailee Steinfeld and Matt Damon. Best Loveable Tool Role of the year: LaBoeuf. Best Finger Chopping Scene of the year…need I go on? This movie is the best thing the Coen Bros have yet produced. And that is a high bar of weirdly awesome stuff. Best film that did not get an Oscar for Best Film of the Year. A+

The King’s Speech: This movie deserves a slow clap that rises to a crescendo. It deserved all but one of the Oscars it won. (See above). Colin in a 3 piece suite, Geoffrey not in a plumed pirate hat, and Helena Bonham Carter not dressed solely in black. Good on you, Tom Hooper. I loved the scenes of King Colin fixing his Anointed of God Death-Stare at Hitler. Everyone loves that. Award: Best use of the F-word, seriously warranted in a movie about language. I am not offended. Best Reason to Entirely Give Up Taking Advice from the MPAA. A+

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2: I am quivery just thinking about how epic this finale was. I breathed a big sigh of relief that we made it through the HP movies without losing more than one precious relic of Motion Picture fame. (That’s two thumbs up for you Maggie Smith. Way to last! Sorry about that, Richard Harris.) All the reasons I love Harry Potter cannot be summed up here, but the reason I love David Yates’ directing of the films is that he shows the proper balance of light and dark and creativity and adherence to the mythology. I really appreciate that. And I’m glad it’s over. A

The Muppet Movie: While I have long respected the Muppets, and Jim Henson studios more particularly, I have always been rubbed the wrong way by Muppet movies. Until now. This movie perfectly blended nostalgia, star power, popular culture, and wide-eye optimism. I couldn’t have asked for more. I will say, I think Miss Piggy is a fool. I get that she loves Kermit, but girl, it’s never gonna work! He is a totally Kermitment–phobic (see what I did there). You’ve got a lot going for you, Pigsy. Time to move on. Best Spontaneous City-Wide Dance Sequence. (Previously awarded to 500 Days of Summer.) A

Super 8: Have a mentioned that I am personal friend of Reily Griffiths, the Jerry O’Connell of this movie? Yeah, I’ve known him since he was 10. I’ve hugged the body that has hugged the body of JJ Abrams and Steven Spielberg. Putting that personal note aside, this movie was SuperCharming. Even though I don’t like ET or the Goonies as much as most people seem to think I should, they are still part of my childhood and I loved the throwback feel of this film. I also love the very underrated Kyle Chandler. Best Credits of the Year. A-

Hugo: What do you get when you blend a great adaptation of a great children’s book about cinematic history, charming story-telling by Scorsese, with Ben Kingsly, and a heartbreakingly blue-eyed boy? A film called Hugo that didn’t need 3D. Aside from annoying eye glare and fuzzy edges the movie was a definite winner. Asa Butterfield with his lady-killers always half brimmed? Sigh! I loved and wanted more silent film sequences, but really felt there was a good balance in the stories of the broken boy, broken man, and broken machine. Best use of The Smashing Pumpkins ‘Tonight’ video footage…oh wait. How about, Best at really making me excited to see the new silent film ‘The Artist.’ A-

The Help: Viola Davis. I love you. I get the controversy over this film’s source. Why hadn’t a black woman already written this story? I would have loved it so much more if she had. Maybe she did, but couldn’t get it published. I don’t know. Alas we are stuck with the musings of a white girl who also experienced her side of the story almost first hand. (I mean the author Kathryn Stockett, who grew up with a maid like Constantine.) All I am is glad that the story got told. Bryce Dallas Howards was so wonderfully bitchy. I adored her, but not as much as Viola Davis. Could have done without that final ‘long road’ shot though. Moving on. A-

Moneyball: I hate sports movies, except for Rudy. Luckily this was not a sports movie (neither is Rudy). Mostly I liked the fact that this movie showed two sides of Brad: the d-bag side, which I think is mostly his real side, and his insecure side, which I think is the real complimentary side of most d-bags. I’m such a sucker for Aaron Sorkin. Also those scenes with the old crotchety management team, superb. A-

17 Miracles: I was very skeptical. Very. Everyone said “It will make you cry.” And I was like “Whatever. Your emotional manipulation isn’t going to spiritually move me.” But it did. Way. I sobbed. A lot. I loved the cinematography, the writing, the performances. And the story telling was beyond solid, which is SO great to see in an LDS film. I loved that the film showed the leaders of the church as men, fallible men, without discrediting the grace of God over the members of the church. A-

Jane Eyre: During this week I saw two Michael Fassbender movies, and it was good. I think I loved him more as Magneto. I have just seen too many dark, rugged, super sexy Rochesters to have this blondie compare. Mia Wasikwhosit may just have been the very best Jane since Anna Paquin. Best Beard of the Year. B+

X-Men, First Class: This was First Class fun! I think it was a terrible use of a pun title. I like puns more than the next person, but not when you’ve got a movie with that stellar of a Hugh Jackman cameo. Come on. Otherwise I loved James McAvoy (he’s my replacement for Paul Bettney as under-dog-go-to-British-guy actor…I hope he doesn’t fall into a bottomless pit of creepy-guy religious roles) and Jennifer Lawrence.* B+
*JLar is winning the award for my new favorite actress this year, and I am pumped up kicks about her in The Hunger Games! A+

Footloose: Good times. This was a great choice for a girl’s night of watch slightly slutty things happen on the big screen. Just dirty enough to be a good time. And I am a sucker for sweet dance moves, with or without that kid who isn’t Kevin Bacon¹. B

Captain America: You can’t hate this if you have any form of a heart. I was genuinely upset when the BF tumbled to a freefalling death. And Hugo Weaving looking all ‘ewww.’ Award: Best Use of Stanley Tucci, short form…not counting the Hunger Games trailer. B

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Fountain of Youth or Something: Cpts. Johnny Sparrow and Jeff Barbosa are at it again, and they’ve added really cool mermaids. This was enough to get me excited. Best opportunity for me to vote with my wallet to return 3D back to the pit it came from. B-

Anonymous: A charming-until-it-gets-disgusting conjecture on Shakespeare’s authorship. Oh Puleez. Shame on you Derek Jacoby. You owe Shakespeare more than this. I am ashamed for you. I am blaming this on whoever let all these people with too many vowles in their last names get together and make a script. Ifans, Thewlis, Emmerich, Orloff. That’s a lot of Old English in one place. Clearly too much. C+

Thor: Hot dude lost his hammer. His skeezy little brother is an…alien-demon-bastard? Both? Neither? Was that the black Swan? Kenneth Branagh? What has happened to you, and how did you get Mario’s Rainbow Road in this movie? Oh, who cares, back to Hemsworths abs. Best Abs C+

Red Riding Hood: So little happened here, and yet so much of it was wrong. There was no redeeming plot. The visuals were cool, but inconsistent. It was fun…no. It wasn’t. It was almost scene for scene like the first Twilight movie, which makes disappointing amount of sense since they share a director in Kathleen Hardwick, but laughable bad acting that movie had going for it. This one actually had decent actors doing their damnedest not to get laughed at. Which was too bad, really. Best Actor Channeling a former Role: Colonel Tigh from Battle Star Galactica can almost be heard muttering “Frakin’ Werewolf!” D

Breaking Dawn, part 1: So little happened here, and yet ALL OF IT WAS WRONG. At least K-Stew died in the end! Spoiler Alert! It was pretty amazing to see the terrifying miracle of her actually getting skinnier. I just…can’t believe… there will be a part 2. Even the actors, who are making millions, look terrifyingly bored during the movie. Best Worst Moment: Jacob falls, literally-on his knees, in love with an infant. D-

Other Movies I Saw by Category:

Romantic Period Pieces:

Wuthering Heights: A (Masterpiece Theatre)

Mansfied Park: A-

Lady Jane: A- Helena and Cary Elwis, yes!

The Last of the Mohicans: B+, but I should have paid better attention

Mary Queen of Scots: B

Moll Flanders: B made me want to read the book

Elizabeth, the golden age: B-

Princess Kaiulani: C, I want Mel Larsen to remake this

Animation/Children’s Films:

The Color of Paradise: A , Like a kick in the chest

Ponyo A, Thanks, Liam Nison

Mega Mind: B+ Melancholy, as it should be.

Despicable Me: B

The Baby Sitter’s Club: B, Most shockingly good movie view of the year.

Gnomeo and Juliet: B, Better use of Shakespeare references than Anonymous

Rio: B

Coraline: B You are freaking me out!

Howl’s Moving Castel: B So close to good, and yet…

Nanny McPhee Returns: B-, mostly you lost me at Returns

Castle in the Sky: B-. wait? Was this a separate movie from Howl’s Moving Castle?

Percy Jackson: The Lightening Thief C-. I HATE kid pandering.

RomCom:

Ms Pettigrew Lives for a Day: A+, so much to love!

Music and Lyrics: A This is HughGs and DrewBs finest work.

Date Night: A- Tina and Steve, I’d like to see more of you together.

Fever Pitch: A- Clever

Bridget Jones’s Diary: B I watched this the night I broke off my engagement. It was a snotty messy.

LA Story: B-, so much 90’s

Spanglish: B-, this might be in the wrong category.

Roxanne: C, It’s sad to see something with so much potential just fall apart.

The Proposal: D. and that’s not a smiley face.

Biographical/Based on a True Story:

Temple Grandin: A+. Must See!

127 Hours: A, A must see, except for the part where you need to cover your eyes.

The Social Network: A, Sorkin, you saucy minx..

Amistad: A

Shine: A- I waited years to see thing, and it was worth it.

Eat Pray Love: A-, Beautiful.

Shindler’s List: B+. Major points lost during the credits.

Defiance: B, Robin Hood with a sad ending.

Unstoppable: B

Amelia: B-

Shadowlands: B, This was the old BBC version, and not what I meant to be watching.

DeLovely: C, somehow I DeDont believe this is all accurate. Great Soundtrack.

SciFi

V for Vendetta: B+, you could have been great, without Natalie

The Island: B

The Scorpion King: D,

I Am Number Four: D-

Critically Acclaimed/ Hard to Market:

Shall We Dance (Japanese): A

Company: A-, Not a good choice on a lonely night.

Everything is Illuminated: A-, Beautiful and funny, and hard to understand.

An Education: A, what really happens when dreams turn to reality.

Bridesmaids: B+ Crass, but hurray! Real women doing real stuff!

3:10 to Yuma: B+ Russel and Christian, that was fine, but I expected more from you.

Children of Men: B+

Dirty Dancing: A- Jerry Orbach!!!

Run Lola Run: B+, It didn’t quite top 13 years of expectations

Do The Right Thing: B+ WOW. Never again.

Richard III: B+ Ian McKellen, better on stage.

Sweet Land: B

The Kite Runner: B, better than expected.

Documentaries:

Life In A Day: A+ Thrilling, WATCH IT!

Exit Through the Gift Shop: A, Baffling.

Conan O’Brian Can’t Stop: B, By turns funny and worrying.

Freakonomics: B Entertaining

Waiting for Superman: C, As mediocre as our Educational System

Movies I watched for the first time, again.

Hello Dolly: A

Amalie: A

Pinocchio: B+ Such beautiful art!

The Ghost and the Darkness: B Not as great as I remembered

Still to See this Year:

The Artist

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

War Horse

Want to Sees from 2011:

Tree of Life*

Contagion

50/50

Like Crazy

J Edgar

The Descendants

Hanna

Midnight in Paris*

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Whinny the Pooh

The Three Musketeers

***************************

Updates as of 1/4

The Tree of Life: B-. I admire the scope and it sure was beautiful, but really, dinosaurs?

Midnight in Paris: B. Woody Allen is like Honeybadger. He don’t care. He does what he wants. Except, everyone says they love Woody Allen. This was charming, and surprisingly clean, but I know a hundred Film/English majors that could have written this story, and some of them would have done it better (and several of them probably have), but it would have been passed off as too silly, because they aren’t Woody Allen. Whateves.

Water for Elephants: B-. I, like that one funny/interesting girl from Forks High School (not Bella), can only ever think of Robert Pattenson as The Hair. I did like the circus side of this, but thought the love story was, in the words of my 14 year-old niece, ToatsAwkMo (Totally Awkward Moments)

Sherlock Holms: Game of Shadows. A-. This was a good time. I didn’t find it quite as exciting or entertaining as the first film, though I think the performances and plot were both stronger (See! I’m not a film snob. I appresssiate a fun holiday film). Also my New Year’s resolution is to look a be mistaken more often for Jude Law’s film wife, Kelly Reilly. Can’t you just see it?

Also re-saw:

Twister: B+ for the resee. It’s solid summer entertainment.

Excited for in 2012

Hunger Games (March)

The Hobbit, p1 (December)

Woman in Black (February)

The Lorax (March)

Life of Pi (December)

Les Miserables (With much trepidation) (December)

The Great Gatsby (December)

Lincoln (December)  (Also maybe, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter ((June))

2013 ENDER’S GAME  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Here’s the thing. Even from the day I started blogging I didn’t like how overwhelming it felt. Every time I sit down to write a post I feel like I’m commiting myself to an hour or more of work. Photos, videos, text…blah blah blah. It takes to long.

I want a place where I can post anything I want FAST.

I know this is probably my own messed up mind set, but I have felt the need to find a place to post my thought that is less daunting.

Huzzah for Tumblr. It’s is cool because it’s sort of a midstep between Facebook and a Blog. It’s actually called a Microblog. It’s quick, it’s versatile, and unless I have something really BIG to talk about I’ll be posting there from now on.

Find me at goodmorninggoodmorning.tumblr.com

I put it in my links —–>

Happy Blogging.

This was my third year walking in Relay for Life. My first year I just sort of showed up and paid ten dollars to walk with some my co-workers on their team. It was fun. It was peaceful. I ended up walking for a few hours.

Last year I tried to raise some money and ended up with about $80 and I walked for about 17 miles. It was exhausting but it felt good.

This year I decided to make a little more effort to raise some cash. I sent out a simple email to just about everyone I had an address for. One thing that had surprised me last year was that some of the people who donated to the cause were people who I didn’t really know well, but who felt as strongly as I did about fighting cancer. I was a little nervous about sending it out, but I figured, ‘How annoyed can people get at being asked to support a good cause?’

Boy, was I right. I received donations from 18 people, for amounts from $10 to $100. All totaling $480. I was amazed to see how many people were willing to give to this cause. Their lives, like mine, have been affected by cancer. They were people from all different parts of my life, from a boy I haven’t seen since 7th grade to teachers I work with here in town. Thank you. Thank you.

As I walked I thought, of course about Dad. It’s hard to believe it’s been 8 years since I’ve seen him. I miss him so much. I thought about Grandma, who we lost this year after a long struggle, and I also thought about my wonderful Young Women’s leader, Lynne, who passed away just a month ago.

These are the Luminarias I dedicated to Dad and Lynne. They were set up around the track with candles inside, with hundreds of others, to light the way for the walkers during the night.

I had committed to walking 15 miles this year, and what with not having prepared myself this year, that was a long way.

I breezed through the first 5 on Friday evening with help from some of my good friends.

And these guys.

I went back to the track at 4am. Somewhere around mile 11 time really started to drag.

Probably because I had walked 11 miles, and because it was 5:15 AM.

Senor B came around 6:30 and walked with me for the last 3 miles, which was nice.

We are glamorous. I know.

So, my team raised over $4000 together. I was just a tenth of the total, but it’s something to be proud of I think. The event raised over $36, 000 in the fight against cancer. I’m not very good at expressing my feelings about this, but here is part of the email I wrote that does an ok job:

Cancer has touched just about every person I know. My father, a strong and good man, was taken by cancer almost 8 years ago. I remember the awful feeling of helplessness that settled on me with his diagnoses. Next week, on April 16, I will fight back as I walk 15 miles as part of the Iron County Relay for Life.
This relay is my opportunity to remember him, and my other loved ones who have fought against cancer. It is a way for me to fight back and gain some control in this war. I will walk to save my own life as well. I think of the children I hope to have someday and I walk with hope that they will not have to feel the helplessness I felt watching their loved ones suffer. I Relay because I want to see an end to cancer during my lifetime

I’m really glad that I’ve had a chance to participate in this event the last few years. My left foot is sore, and my right knee is a little swollen, but it was worth it. I’m already looking forward to next year.

In any case, taking a more literal approach, this is the treat I decided to make:

See the resemblance? Well, I hope someone gets it. The Twizzlers were Bubba’s idea. I thought they worked pretty well.

In other news, Bubba and I spent our combined Priesthood and Relief Society meeting in a very immature manner. The lesson was about using the new Family Search online resource. Which is easy, by the way. So we did this instead:

It’s full of all our recent inside jokes which mainly stem from Star Wars, Strong Bad Email, 30 Rock and the Scriptures (no disrespect intended of course).

We then broke our fast with some killer homemade Philly cheese steaks. Awesome.

So… HAPPY SUNDAY!

Something weird and cool:  Bubba and I have the same scripture on our mission plaques: Alma 29:9.

We both picked that scripture because we were trying to be humble. Kinda funny, but really weird.

Something fun: I’ve been getting paid to teach second graders to make puppets and put on shows. (When I was 11 I did this from my bedroom window for free.) These kids made a python.

Something funner: Bubba and I got a Wii for Valentine’s day. This is us playing baseball.

This is us dancing for joy.

Something dumb: a while ago, we went on a hike. This sign was at the beginning.

9! Say Wha? Sadly, the sign turned out to be the highlight. This is how we were feeling after a hour or so of walking to nowhere.

One word: Bust.

That has been life for the last little bit.

Jeff’s wedding in two days. Sally’s in about 35 more. I’m excited to see my family growing. Can’t wait to be the finishing touch.