May We Never Forget

Being the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 Terror Attacks in America, I have been reading, listening to and viewing a lot of comments and documentaries on the effects of the attacks. I remember that day and the days that followed so clearly.

Mom woke me up that morning and told me that two planes had flown into the Trade Center towers. Moments later, after dropping Dad off at the "Park and Ride" so he could go to work, I remember hearing the deadening silence on the radio as the hosts witnessed the towers fall to the ground. All of America was stunned and feared what would happen next.
At this time I was working for Horizon Air in the Portland, Oregon, Operations Center. I forgot my I.D. badge and couldn't get into the building. I went home to get my I.D. and returned to work. There was an eerie feeling as employees tried to do their work but were more interested in sneaking a glance at the television reports for the latest updates. Working in the airline industry I was aware of the high concern of future attempts and I watched as security was tightened and strictly enforced.

I remember the sadness I felt as I learned that Brady Howell was killed in the Pentagon attack. Brady lived across the street from us in Sugar City and was someone I always looked up to. It seemed that nearly everyone had a personal connection in one way or another to the attacks and was deeply affected.

I remember the Sunday memorial meeting in church as I sang "God Be With You 'til We Meet Again" as part of a quintet. I remember the days later as my mission call came. I was excited about the call, but worried about what would change over the next two years. I was concerned about leaving my family and living halfway around the world.

Mostly, though, I remember the patriotism and strength that united America as we remembered those that were lost; unity that came as we watched the rescue workers in New York search with undaunted faith and strength for survivors. The fears of the future were overcome with the strength and unity that brought us together.

We each remember where we were that day and have a story about how we have been changed. I just wanted to share, maybe for myself, what I remember.

Semi-Annual Update

Maybe this is revealing too much about myself, I am as good at blogging as I am at keeping a journal. I think it is important to keep a record of yourself...I just don't do it well. That being said, I have decided to finally write what is I'm sure the much anticipated semi-annual update of my life. Sorry to keep you all waiting.

In the past months there have been many changes in my life. After four months of not finding work, I finally moved to Utah and began a job at American Express. Once again, it is a job in customer service, which is not my favorite thing to do. But hey, it's a job right?


I accepted the job and began work in February. I'm definitely grateful to have a job and be able to pay my bills. I do hope, however, to someday move away from the customer service field and find work in something that I really do love.

With the difficulty of finding job after what was another incredible summer in West Yellowstone at the Playmill, I made the tough decision to not return this summer. I had six incredible years in West, which is probably more than anyone could ask for. But it has become harder to leave behind work and other things to go up to the theatre. I decided to take sometime to focus on discovering what my future holds. I felt that this meant finding stability. I will definitely miss the Playmill and hope that door isn't permanently closed, but I feel good about the other opportunities that will be available to me now.

Even though I'm not returning to the Playmill, I haven't given up on performing. I've been doing it for so long that it is now permanently embedded into my life. I'm excited for the opportunity to perform as "Percy" this summer in Murray City's production of "The Scarlet Pimpernel." More on that to come, I'm sure.

Next week I turn 30. That comes with many feelings and emotions, but I have been told by many of my friends who have crossed that threshhold that the 30's are even better than the 20's. Maybe they are just trying to make me feel better. Either way, it's happening. I'm looking forward to many new experiences and adventures in the months to come. Stay tuned...

Tis the Season!

Last night I was sitting on my floor wrapping Christmas presents and watching "It's a Wonderful Life" and I finally felt the Christmas spirit. Aside from performing in "White Christmas" over Thanksgiving (I mean, how can you not feel the Christmas spirit while watching snow fall indoors while singing "White Christmas") I haven't really connected with the holidays. But now all I want to do is give presents, drink hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies.

So, here is a little tribute to the season. Somehow these songs were staples for the holidays in our home growing up. It just isn't Christmas until they've been heard. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!!

Another Playmill Summer

I know it has been almost two months since the 2010 Playmill Season came to an end. But I couldn't miss the opportunity to share some of my favorite memories.

This summer the Playmill produced Beauty and the Beast, The Foreigner, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I played Cogsworth and Preacher Bigsby. Playing Cogsworth really pushed me to become a better performer and Preacher Bigsby taught me that playing a minor role can be more fun than playing a lead (is that what an actor with small parts says to make himself feel better?).

One of the best parts about doing Beauty and the Beast was watching the children react. I've never seen so many young children sitting on the edge of their seats with their eyes glued to the stage the entire performance. It never got old watching them get excited to meet Belle.

Here are some of my favorite memories:

• Every performance at least one child would get scared by the Beast. After his first scene, David would always be found in the lobby to give the children a lollypop and show them his picture on the wall. To convince them he wasn't mean and scary, he would take off his Beast hands and let them touch his mask.
  
• One performance, a little girl in the audience was very vocal about her perceptions and opinion. At a pivital moment of the show, Belle leaves and just before the Beast says, "I'll never see her again" this little girl on the front row in section A says "Hi Beast!" The same little girl reached out and touched my clock costume in the middle of the show and then turned to her mom and said, "Is he really a clock?"
  
• The second act starts with a wolf chase. A father and his little boy rushed through the curtain just after the show began. A few seconds later the Beast enters and roars! Immediately the boy ran out of the curtain screaming and crying!
  
• During intermission a girl, about 9-10, came up to me and seemed to be in awe to see me and the other characters up close. I didn't think anything about it because a lot of kids did this (which I loved). She walked by a few times and then stopped and said, "Your voice sounds gay." Hmmm. Not really what I was expecting.

Seven Brides was probably my big surprise for the summer. I wasn't that excited to be Preacher Bigsby, but I decided to enjoy it. It turned out to be a lot of fun. Even though I was only on stage for a very small portion of the show, I looked forward to it. I had a signature line in the show which became a hit. For some reason, the Playmill audience is okay with swear words as long as the one swearing is a preacher. The only drawback was when the young kids would come up to me after and say their favorite part was when I said, "And you will all go to hell."

I never know what the future will bring and if I will find my way back to the Playmill. I've been very lucky to find a summer job at the Playmill that has allowed me to do what I love for six years and get paid for it. I'm thankful for another great summer.

Asian Tours at the IMAX

I have been working at Yellowstone IMAX in West Yellowstone for the last couple of months. One of the highlights of the job is all of the Asian tours that come through. We probably have 5-6 tours a week. They are from Korea, Taiwan, China or Hong Kong, but they all follow the same routine. I love watching them run through the doors and race to the bathroom, laugh when they try and push through the line and slide their merchandise in front of you so you think they are next in line, or wonder at their excitement for trivial things like little toy bottles of "gold." Occasionally I even get to speak to a few of them in Cantonese, though my Mandarin speaking roommate tends to find more success in that area.

Well, today was the cherry on top. A tour of 40 Chinese people came bursting through the doors with a cup of noodles in each hand (some had three or more) and rushed for the hot water on the coffee machine. I couldn't help but sneak a few pictures on my phone of them lined up. I love it! It takes me back to Hong Kong so fast! What an interesting culture.

13.1 Miles...Are you Crazy?

That's what I used to think about a year ago. That is until my friend Sarah told me that she would be running the Mesa Falls half Marathon in Ashton. She has done a marathon before and was looking for a way to get back into running after her baby was born last fall.

I don't know what came across me, but I told her I was in, laced up my running shoes and started training. It seemed like a good way to get into shape and an opportunity to check something of my list of "Things to do Before I Die". So I started running. It took a lot of will power and a lot of motivation to try and eat healthy or to wake up early so I could go to the gym before rehearsal. I missed out on a lot of late nights with friends and birthday treats. But I was surprised at how commited I was.

Well, finally the day of the race came. I had invited about 6 people to run with me. All of them wanted to, but each one slowly dropped out through the training process. I mean lame excuses like, "I have asthma," "I blew my knee out and the doctor said I can't run" or "I sprained both of my ankles." Just kidding. Valid excuses. But I wasn't going to quit. I was committed now and needed this sense of accomplishment.

I was surprised at how prepared I was. I finished the race in 2 hours 14 minutes and 50 seconds, fifth place in my division, which I was pleased about. I had a lot of friends there supporting me and cheering me on. The funny thing was, even though my knee really started to ache, it wasn't as hard as I expected. I think I may even consider myself a runner now. And I can't wait to do it again.

Reflections of the Last Decade

As we begin a new year, I can't believe that we have already completed the first 10 years of the 2000's. It seems like it went so fast. I thought it would be interesting to look back at where I have been and what I have experienced over the last ten years. Here are a few highlights from each year:

2000:

• Finished my first year of college
• Moved to Vancouver, WA to be with my family
• Began working for Horizon Air

2001:

• Went back to Ricks College/BYU-I for the summer
• Watched the second plane crash into the World Trade Center
• Decided to go on a mission, and left November 28 for the MTC

2002:

• Stood outside the MTC with all the missionaries as the Salt Lake Olympic torch passed by.
• Arrived in Hong Kong and looked around in awe at the many sky scrapers for weeks
• Spent my first Christmas away from home and in a foreign country

2003:

• Finished my mission in Hong Kong
• Made many friends and saw some of them get baptized
• Looked around in awe at all of the open space and breathed fresh air for the first time in two years after arriving home.

2004:

• Returned to BYU-Idaho with my brother and sister to finish school
• Spent the Summer at Starlight Mountain Theatre (one last summer of theatre...so I thought)
• Auditioned for my first college show

2005:

• Auditioned for the Playmill and was cast- A long time goal
• Visited my grandma in Arizona with my sister
• Went to New York with the BYU-Idaho Theatre Department
• Performed in Savior of the World at BYU-Idaho and grew in admiration and respect for Joseph, the father of the Savior

2006:

• Turned 25-I felt so old at the time
• Completed a Communications Internship at the Playmill
• Returned to my job as the Manager of the Reading Center
• Performed in Spitfire Grill-My favorite show yet-and made some life-long friends

2007:

• Bought my first car-I hope to own it someday (four more years to go)
• Finally graduated from BYU-Idaho (just in time-they were ready to kick me out)
• Went on my first cruise with Playmill Friends-Western Carribbean

2008:

• Joined the ranks of many other unemployed Communications graduates
• Returned to the Playmill for the best summer yet and played Curly in "Oklahoma!"
• Went to Disney World with my Playmill Family

2009:

• Another year at the Playmill- Dr. Craven in "Secret Garden" (a personal favorite role)
• Moved to Utah and began working for eBay
• Took the GRE and prepared for graduate school

Here's hoping the next 10 years are just as great!