The GAME

In which we shall see: Drama-related non-drama FUN.

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

I know I haven't been around for a while - I've been so busy trying to figure out how to teach high school AND have some kind of life outside the "job" AND clean and pack my house (hint: only the first of those three things is something I've made any headway with) that I haven't thought really at all about blogging. If you live for my blog posts, sorry... no, really, I'm sorry - that's just pathetic. (Ironic future blog post: List of Current and Exciting Hobbies That Do Not Involve Keyboards.) But I still love you.

Last weekend I spent all day Saturday (unpaid) at the State Drama Competition; quite frankly, it was oodles of fun. No, I'm not being sarcastic. (Seriously.) I was hoping to sit in on a few of my students' competition rounds to watch their final performances, but instead I was corralled in the library with the other teachers for the day tabulating all the scores as they came in from the judges. Instead of being cranky and surreptitiously ticking off the half-hours in mechanical pencil on the wall, I found myself at a table with the teachers from West Jordan, Jordan, and Skyline High Schools. It was FANTASTIC. First off, to combat his ADD, WJ started a "State Competition Bingo Sheet" complete with odd gestures, swear words, and bodily functions relating to another teacher's newborn baby. Listening to him trying to get random people to say some of the things on his sheet was hilarious. Watching the other people at the table try to keep straight faces as he did so was just about as good. (Next year, J plans to bring official Bingo cards for the entire room.) It took me back to "Fred Bingo" from college (also referenced by a teacher that I went to school with) and that's just good times for everybody.

Second, S taught us an absolutely BRILLIANT game - once we learned how to play, it was nearly impossible to focus on anything else. Evidently, back in college S and one of his roommates realized that every person resembles one of four animals. The full extent of the game is looking around, identifying an animal, and sharing your results with another player. That's it. We pegged our table (we had one of each), all the remaining occupants of the room (under our breaths), and then on the lunch break wandered the halls of the school and zeroed in on students. You don't even know. I got a better workout from laughing that day than I had doing anything else in months. YOU HAVE GOT TO TRY THIS.

The animals:

RAT: It's all in the teeth. Pointy chin, slightly (or not-so-slightly) bulbous eyes. Females are rarer than males in this group, making for much more exciting finds. WJ.

MONKEY: Round face-shape. This has to do more with cheeks, forehead, and ears - it's hard to describe, but you know it when you see it. Me.

PIG: Nose, of course. Otherwise monkey-ish faces will slide over the line if the schnooz has a tip-tilt. Big eyes, small eyes, ears, cheeks - it all comes down to the nose. J.

BIRD: In a way, this one is about the "direction" of the face. The long, straight nose, the delicate bones, the lines that move the eye in a smooth swoop down and out, with the chin and mouth pulling into a ski-jump. They're also just "bird-like". One woman who was sure she'd be pegged as a pig turned out to be a bird because of the actual shape of her facial features. S.

Once you start noticing, and passing on your observations to someone else, it's really hard to stop. My students have no idea why I was stepping into their conversation groups, "listening" intently (I haven't a clue what any of them said), and then ducking out just as I was about to burst into laughter. We four teachers would wander around the commons area where our kids were gathered, make a few mental notes, and then re-group to giggle and nosh on fruit salsa and cinnamon tortilla chips WJ had liberated from one of his crew. It was a very good day.

Honestly, a day like that (even unpaid) would nearly be enough to make me reconsider becoming a real live high school teacher. (And apparently the school's administration is interested in keeping me on as a real teacher, too - but that's another story.)

Family Home Evening, Date Night, Shopping at the Mall - you haven't lived until you've tried The GAME.

(Oh, and apparently an excellent way to combat boredom in church is to set up your own "Testimony Meeting Bingo". Why didn't I think of that?!?)

Watch for falling rats, monkeys, pigs, birds, AND turtles -

Cyd

Some Days...

Then it was Friday...

It was an... interesting day. I saw a "straightforward" movie that left me completely confused, and went to a very unusual and compositionally twisted concert that gave me new focus and clarity. Fo real, yo.

So since today was the second day of "Spring Break" (hopefully the quotations will communicate how I feel about the length of this particular "break") I decided it was high time I got to a movie - and I walked over to the matinee of "He's Just Not That Into You". I had read the book and seen the reviews, and I had gotten reports from people who'd seen the movie, so I thought I knew pretty much what to expect... and yes, on first reflection, it's a surprisingly good movie. It seems to be, as the kids would say, "legit" - essentially a series of examples showing how someone is not into someone else, and the someone else should pack it in and move on since there are far more "rules" than "exceptions" when it comes to relationships (no matter which stories of miraculous happily-ever-afters you've heard). Pretty up front, right? Then I really started thinking about it, and I realized how many mixed messages the movie had been sending. For example:

1. As stated, you are the rule, not the exception. Stop listening to and believing all the stories.
2. Men do not change, and they all act pretty much the same way.
3. People lie to themselves and each other about the signals they're getting and sending all the time.
4. You should listen to us, since this movie is based on a book that was obviously written by experts.
5. When it comes to relationships, people will change if they want to.
6. You just might be the exception.
7. If you are a Hollywood movie star, you will actually be the exception (several exceptions if the movie is an ensemble piece).
8. We are experts, but this is a movie, so anything we say doesn't really apply.
9. Please buy into the stories, so you will keep buying movie tickets.

And so on. It was fairly frustrating to contemplate on the walk home... Here's my thought: relationship books and movies are not places to turn to when looking for dating advice. (Remember the "Rules" book from a while back?) The best thing to do is figure out how to be happy with who you are, and share that happiness with people you meet. If you want advice about the opposite sex, try asking a member of that sex - if they'll give you honest-to-goodness answers, it means they care about you (one way or another). Nothing applies to everybody, and in the end, all you can really do is be observant, go with your gut, and err on the side of kindness. And stop giving people advice. (Still working on that one!) There were a few points I liked and agreed with from the movie, but overriding that was the fact that it annoyed me by pandering to the "happily-ever-after" crowd. Why did everything have to be tied up so neatly? Life really is messy, and frustrating, and annoying, with good stuff mixed in. At least, in my experience...

And then tonight I attended a concert (after I stopped in at a wedding reception, which was lovely - congrats, Chels and Dave!) entitled "Water Passion" - it was a passion piece, sort of like the Messiah. This one could have been subtitled "Chinese Buddhist Easter Cantata for Choir and Soloists, With Nearly No Instrumentation but Heavy Percussion Consisting Mainly of Bowls of Water, Incorporating Eastern Chord Structures and Sounds but Based on Bach" - okay, maybe that's a bit much for a subtitle, but it pretty much covers the premise of the concert. It was amazing. (I typed "amazong", which is kind of funny, considering.)((Or maybe it's just me, and really late.)) Anyway, it was a fascinating piece of work, with the water used for baptism, rebirth, tears, change, and sound effects. The percussionists were doing some astonishing things with strange instruments and the bowls of water... I don't think I could do them justice if I tried to describe them. I was riveted to the performance, as was most of the crowd... If you have a chance to hear this work at some point in the future, TAKE IT.

I'd like to say something funny and pithy and self-deprecating here, but I'm really really tired, so it'll have to wait until later. Hopefully coming soon - PROM updates! Oh, and Ballyhoo.

Easter Vampire

Step off, Bella - THIS is MY brand of heroin!

My one true love. (One-sided, sure, but it does tend to stick around, even after the holiday...)

Blogging General Conference - Part 5

In which we shall see: Warnings, and blessings, and WORK. Oh, my.

* * * * *

The 179th Semi-Annual General Conference is over, and it was marvelous. There were some very stern messages, and moving messages, and heart-tugging messages, and they were all delivered with a great deal of love and compassion. This last session could have had "The Temple" as its theme - I think three people in a row used the Temple as their main topic, and it was mentioned several times by others as well.

Other items of note:

- President Monson really is the great storyteller of the Church. HE WILL GET TO YOU. *sniffle*

- Primary songs were the popular thing to quote - we estimated at least five speakers recited lyrics from various childrens' songs. (I loved how the postlude music from the organ was "I Love to see the Temple" - both following the recent session's theme and the overall practice of referencing Primary songs.)

- Neil L. Anderson, newest Apostle, is an extraordinarily sweet and humble man.

- The Bretheren REALLY want us to get up off our couches and serve each other; actively nourish our testimonies; share the gospel; go to the Temple; and FOCUS on the things of the Lord.

- Follow the Prophets, Be Faithful, Be Obedient, Be Cheerful.

- Be very careful, particularly of the Internet - be clean, be modest, and AVOID PORNOGRAPHY.

Hopefully in six months I'll be... elsewhere - I love my family, but I really want to focus on Conference, and hearing the buzz of people discussing business ventures while GA's are speaking is VERY distracting. I take it as a mark of personal growth that I didn't storm off or even express any irritation. I've got probably a third of the pieces I need for a new afghan finished. Here's to figuring out how to get it done in less than two years!

See you in six months!

Blogging General Conference - Part 4

In which we shall see: Good stuff.

* * * * *

Today's session started with a bang - Elder Uchtdorf started things off with a powerful plea for us to take action; a reminder that this church and our testimonies are not "spectator sports". (He looks a little more natural today - somebody must have talked to his makeup person!) A little later the message was given that it's time for all of us to "get on with our lives"... It's like they knew I'd be listening today and wrote the messages just for me! Elder Holland (one of my favorite speakers ever since I had the opportunity to see him literally pound the pulpit during an address at the MTC) gave a deeply moving message about the Savior, His Atonement, and the necessity that we never betray or abandon Him as He was betrayed and abandoned - and to remember that He and Heavenly Father will never betray or abandon us.

A couple of little kids running around this session - might be disctracting, but they're so stinkin' cute it doesn't really matter. The adults are a little chattier - we've all got computers or other projects though, so it never gets really noisy. All about multi-tasking, my family.

I'm still full from last night's dinner - I even broke out the dessert I didn't eat then to nosh on for breakfast, and only made it halfway through.

I'll be waiting for this Conference to come out on DVD - I have every intention of watching and re-watching these sessions to remind me of the things I need to be doing, and to help me stick to my resolutions. (Kathy, this has been a very interesting Conference for me - it's been very very good in regards to that one thing. The big one.)

One more session to go - in the meantime, we'll eat; I'll get my taxes done (Dad's OK with doing it on Sunday since he doesn't intend to charge me); I'll make cookies (the Careers class has been great, again); I'll work on lesson plans; and I'll finish up the photo CD for Rules of Comedy. Oh, and I'll go for a walk. For at least a little while, there's sunshine today. Appropriate.

Bonus Content #8 - Sunday Comic

Stupid is as stupid does.


I heart Frazz.

Blogging General Conference - Part 3

In which we shall see: FOOOOOOD!!!!!

* * * *

I am SO FULL. As part of our family's bi-annual Conference tradition, all the boys (the ones in-state, anyway) go to the Priesthood session with my dad at the local stake center, and then all the wives (and me) meet up with them afterwards at a restaurant for dinner. We went to the Asian Star tonight, which was a departure for us - we're not usually very exotic when it comes to our food choices (we're generally Mimi's/Olive Garden people). I was pretty excited, though - the one time I'd been before I remember it being very good, and I was happy to go for Chinese again - especially when someone else was paying for it. (Also tradition - thanks so much, Dad!)

It was all fabulous. SO TASTY! Usually Mom makes all the guys report back on things they heard at the meeting - tonight everyone was so busy talking about working out and diet and exercise tips that we never got around to it. This is not normal for us. Exercise is generally NOT at the forefront of any of my relatives' minds. That weight-loss contest really did shift things around for all of us, though - and nearly all of us are planning on doing the half marathon my sister is setting up. Craziness! In a good way!

This does mean I'll have to go download all the talks or wait for my Conference Ensign before I can find out what happened tonight, though... And I'm also trying to work out a way to walk the three miles to my parents' house for the sessions tomorrow. I can't imagine not still being full even tomorrow. Urgh. (But yummy!)

Blogging General Conference - Part 2

In which we shall see: the reasons why I don't like going to my parents' house for Conference, progress, and the need for a nap.

* * * *

The second session is marvelous, though it started off a little rocky when my mom dropped me off at Costco to quickly run in, then vanished, leaving me standing outside in the rain waiting for her and fuming over missing the beginning of the afternoon session.

There was a wonderful talk on faith (I need to go look up the name of the speaker, and download it as soon as it's available) that discussed developing faith, and the things to avoid (all D's) that will erode and destroy faith. Several people have talked about tragic experiences and overcoming adversity - Elder Scott is currently tugging the heartstrings and going right for the jugular. He's GOOD. This was a good reminder from him - 'I've never asked "Why?" - but rather, "What is it He wants me to learn from this experience?"' He also mentioned a couple of times that he doesn't complain about his hardships. (Gotta keep working on that.)

My mom is sitting right behind me at the table, counting change and occasionally vocalizing - responsive non-verbals, and a reaction after every talk. It's not particularly annoying - she's done it for years, and I'm used to it - but it does make me wistful for my own TV and silent space. Two sisters-in-law are doing a photo shoot in the other room... ditto above. (I'm betting the pictures will turn out beautifully, though. My s-i-l has the knack.)

Elder Uchtdorf looks really orange today. I think it's probably the TV makeup, rather than the TV - somebody ought to tone him down a shade or two.

I've got a good start on my next Conference afghan - currently, stacks of granny quares in shades of green. I'm planning to mix them up with squares in purple and yellow, with a few oversized squares tossed in if I can get them to fit. Should be funky and interesting (I hope).

I have cookies to bake and lessons to plan and photo CD's to finish and photo posters to rebuild - all of which naturally leads one to expect that I shall head home and nap for a couple of hours before meeting all the family guys for dinner after the Priesthood session.

Blogging General Conference

In which we shall see: lots of Mormon stuff, potential gushing and confessionals, and crafts.

* * * *

I don't remember when it happened, but some years ago I discovered that I LOVE the Saturday sessions of the LDS General Conference. The messages seemed more important, more revolutionary (inasmuch as the bretheren are ever strident and - can you imagine? Guerrilla tactics from the pulpit?), more eloquent - anyway, those "extra" four hours on Saturday were no longer any kind of hardship.

So here I am in the middle of the first session of April General Conference, and already I'm so glad to be here. In combination of the snow and all kinds of stress from work lately, I've been somewhat depressed, and it was marvelous to come to my parents' house this morning (I have no TV - my roommate ((mostly)) moved out) and feel an immediate uplift. It's been interesting, too - I've felt like a few of the talks have had direct application to me, while others have not... but still I've gotten and have been feeling answers to questions and dilemmas that I've been facing that have had nothing at all to do with the topics discussed. (Wow. That was a convoluted sentence.) Just a few minutes ago I realized that not only did I not miss working Conference, I hadn't spared a single thought in the last couple of weeks for International Week, which always was a crazy time that I did, in fact, enjoy. Huh. Guess that wasn't the everlasting job for me after all!

Also, I'm working on a fun new design for a crocheted afghan (the yarn was all donated for Mothers Without Borders, so there are some strange and wacky colors) with a very simple base piece. I just hope it doesn't take me the next three Conferences to finish! (Seriously, I don't understand why people want to deal with all the crowds and the weather to actually be in the Conference Center. Well, OK, it's all very well to do at least once, but honestly - I'd so much rather be sitting at home in my pajamas, with my project and my junk food, relaxing and enjoying listening without the distraction of 20,000 of my closest friends!)