How a Friday got even better

Friday I was in Target and I saw this beautiful black woman coming towards me. She was with a man, who looked slightly familiar to me. It was Will Swensen and Audra McDonald!

Now, at this point, some of you are freaking out. Not so much over Will Swensen (aka the sell-out from the Single's Ward, now working in NYC in Hair.... and if you know anything about Hair you understand why I call him a sell-out) but over Audra McDonald. My hands indeed began to shake and I could think of nothing else.

For those of you who don't know who Audra is, this next paragraph will help. She's won Grammy award winner, an Emmy award winner, and -most notably - a Tony award winner. In fact, she had 3 Tony awards by age 28. My personal favorites include her performances in Ragtime and Disney's new (and awkwardly historically incorrect) Annie. She's also been in Raisin in the Sun, but I've never seen it. (Currently she's on TV in a rather lame show called Private Practice.)

Will and Audra (who are dating, seriously Audra?) are in town apparently rehearsing for a show at the Hale.

No one else seemed to know what was going on. I walked around Target, pretending I was having reception problems, in order to get my camera phone high enough to take a photo. I called up Miss J to freak out together, who attempted to rush to Target and get a glimp but was too slow.

They were parked, like, one car over from me. I have a rather noticeable car. I don't think they realized that I was taking photos of them from my car (photos did not make it in to the blog) but if they did, then they now know that the chick in the yellow PT is a freak.

In short, it was a really great day.

PS22

Move over Von Trapps, PS22 "rawks my socks" (as my 17 year-old nephew would say). I don't know who this teacher is but he is amazing! And the kids are amazing. I've never heard kids that can sing like this. Here's their version of Viva la Vida, but you can go to the website and see much more.

Zum Geburtstag Viel Glück

In mid-July I turned 26. I found at deal on a hotel and the night before my birthday I stayed over alone. It was soooooo enjoyable! I spent the first fifteen minutes in the hotel alone just jumping around and squealing to myself. I turned on the TV (which had fantastic picture quality) and what was on? Nothing less than one of my favorite movies - Sister of the Traveling Pants II. I cried with Bee, swore I'd never reject a man with a British accent, wondered if I could get away with a wig, and wished that I lived in Greece always.

In the morning I went into town in search of breakfast. I had hot chocolate and a nutella-banana crepe and did some quick shopping. I felt on top of the world, doing exactly those things that make me happiest. It was like God said, "Hey, Happy Birthday - I got a day for you with all the coolest things packed into it!"

After breakfast I spent some time in peaceful meditation. I evaluated life (I'm for it), and set goals. For a while I've felt really chaotic, especially at work. During this time (and in the couple weeks since) I felt leagues more centered and focused in life.

I'm converted. I'm doing this every year and I've been recommending it to everyone.

In the afternoon friends met me for a fun afternoon. We went to the Olympic Park. We rode the ski lift, sped down the alpine slide, and experienced the world's steepest zip line.

We watched ski jumpers practice. We messed around with a neglected and apparently unattended bobsled, after seeing someone really go down the track.

We went shopping. Number of items purchased by girls: 0. Number of items purchased by men: many. And a special thanks to Isaac who put on skinny jeans just because it was my birthday.

At night even more friends met us at a restaurant for a birthday feast. It meant a lot to me to see how many stellar people wanted to celebrate with me.

That night, a couple friends stayed in the hotel with me. We projected a movie on the wall. What movie, you might ask? None other than another favorite of mine - High School Musical III: Senior Year.

Could life be more perfect? I submit that it could not.

The Night Routine

So I promise myself on a daily basis that I will go to bed earlier, due to the daily hangover that greets me every morning. But I don't. At night I putter around. I do this and that. Check Facebook, email, and my friends' blogs. Then I have to chat with the roommates, get a bite to eat, wash my face, check everything online again, read a little, brush my teeth. Finally I go to sleep, promising myself to do better the next day.

Fourth of July

On the Fourth of July most people go to parades. I was IN one! Miss J works for the local Uni and Kate and I volunteered to pass out candy and tattoos with her. This car holds the land record for El Caminos -- sweet.

Once we were out of stuff Miss J and I rode, but not Kate. No Kate got commitments from small children that they will go to university. And she inspired adults that it's "not too late."

Yum! Lunch on the Uni and time with super fun new friends!

Every year LaVell Edward's Stadium becomes the Stadium of Fire (cue cheesy music). On a spur-of-the-moment decision Stranilla and I bought tickets off this 70-something "scalper." The show featured Glen Beck and SheDaisy and... The Jonas Brothers!

Kevin Jonas

Joe Jonas -- of whom I later dreamed.

And finally, Nick Jonas.

After shakin' like we just don't care, singing along to S.O.S, Burning Up, Paranoid, Year 3000 (trippy lyrics) and LoveBug, the fireworks began. Ooo, ahhh. Delightful.

Real Salt Lake

I generally don't like team sports. Baseball and football are too slow. Basketball just isn't interesting too me. But soccer. Soccer's sweet. A couple of weeks ago I got to go to a Real Salt Lake game at the new Rio Tinto Stadium. I sat next to my niece in some pretty sweet seats.

The RSL team on the bench.

My niece shook her drink then looked at me in surprise when it spilled all over her. The bathroom I was directed to was actually a locker room. My niece was having way to much instead of cleaning herself up. I used the time to take random photos of myself.

The team played Toronto and won 3-0. I guess I'm good luck. ;)

Glee

The Queen of Nonsense told me to check out this new series. She described it as High School Musical in TV format. It is not; though there is singing. I watched it with Kate who wondered if the lead chick was supposed to be the "blonde girl" from HSM. So don't think HSM. It will only confuse you.

Only the pilot is available (the rest comes in the fall). It has a fun cast of characters and a tight plot. There are some normal characters (see the lead guy and the teacher) and some abnormal ones (see gym teacher and the wife). The plot is modern and relevant. Although there is singing and dancing, it's not cheesy or sentimental. The main character (teacher) is good looking and (thus or also?) very likable. It not super drama (like OC or all the other teen shows) and it's not a sitcom.

Check out this clip of Journey's Don't Stop Believin' and also this link of Amy Winehouse's Rehab.

While we mourn the loss of Pushing Daisies and while this is completely different from Pushing Daisies and could never take its place, I will be watching this fall.

*Side note: guest starring this season are Josh Groban and Kristin Chenoweth! Could life get better; I submit it could not.

Observations

I was at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and noticed a sign that read "Your choice - $19.99" with a myriad of colors of a kitchen item (the "Beyond" portion of the store). I thought this was very generous of them. I just hate stores where you give them money and they give you something you didn't choose at all. 

Sitting at a stoplight a noticed a man with an interesting nose. This got me to thinking: an odd nose can really mess up a perfectly good face. 

The Tanners (of Full House) had a pretty big back yard for living in a town home. In fact, I'm pretty sure they parked in the neighbor's yard. Come to your own conclusion about their neighborhood plan here.

I said "What's up"

It was my first week in Germany. We stopped everyone on the streets. "Hallo! Wie geht's?" I asked an older gentleman. He gave me a strange look and replied. "You don't ask people you don't know how they're doing," Crolace explained to me. 

In America How-Are-You is synonymous with Hi, Hello, or any other greeting. No one expects a reply. I recall many conversations, passing friends on the way to and from university, and saying, "Hey, what's up?" to be answered with, "Hey, what's up?" and we walk on. 

And at the time I didn't mind, but since living in Germany I side with the Germans -- don't say things you don't mean. 

So, naturally I've stopped asking. But not everyone has gotten the memo. The receptionist at work never fails to ask.

"Good morning!" I say.

"Good morning!" she says. 

I'm almost out of sight. "How are you?" It is like she is waiting for me to ask first and then refuses to let it go.

"Fine," I call back. Does she really want me to round the corner back and have a heart-to-heart? I doubt it. 

The only time I do like the question, or rather a version of the questions is this. Instead of saying, "Tell so-and-so I said hi" I like to say "Tell so-and-so I said what's up." I think it's cuter than hi. 

So if I don't ask you how are you it's because, at least at that moment, I don't want to know. And if I do ask, I'm not just greeting you.

Music

Got the most exciting text from my mom and it was as follows: Josh is going to be on channel 11 @ 7.  (I know! My mom used the @ symbol.) So I rushed home and enjoyed all my favorite songs. Honestly, though I own every CD and DVD, I rarely listen to Josh; yet every time I do I just can't help but feel cheerful. He sang Lullaby and Weeping, both of which have an African vibe... not African-American but Africa Africa - as in South. Most of his songs have some international flare but these two are especially meaningful to me for some reason. These two songs especially remind me that there is a big world out there.

Music does that. It points out that there is a world beyond us. It gives us a chance to be in a space different than where we are. Through music we connect to distant people, ideas, and emotions. 

Not that everything I listen to is intensely meaningful and profound. I could not argue that there is much to gain from the JoBros and I don't profess to really "get" the musical genius of Cold Play. What I do get from music is a varied experience. I can grow, if only emotionally, from it. For a moment I'm elsewhere in someone else's life. I'm in Germany with Xavier Naidoo, in a London pub with Mika, in some smoky cafe with Matt Nathanson, at some venue in Long Beach with Sublime, then to 1960's Baltimore with Tracy Turnblad. I can synthesize their experiences -- expressed through music -- into mine.  

Paradoxically, music is a way for me to express or, rather, tap into my many sides. I listen to my Kanye before I got out on the town and Sissel on cool autumn days. There's Jesse McCartney for that leaving-work excitement ("Don't stress, don't stress, don't stress") and Claire de Lune for dinner time. We the Kings for the inner-teenager and John Mayer and Jason Mraz when I'm just being me.

It's almost as if my mom could have texted "Ben Folds/ Paramore/ Beach Boys / Michael Buble

is on" and I would have also expanded my world view while tapping into myself. Music just does that.