The Forest for the Trees

May We Never Forget

2011-09-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-12-12T13:03:00.001-08:00

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

2010-10-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-09-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-12-27T23:48:00.000-08:00

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!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T23:24:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it is that time, but Merry Christmas 2009! I love the holiday's and feel a little cheated this year. I mean, I enjoyed the Temple Square lights, A Christmas Carol and all of the Christmas music I could ask for (thank goodness for radio stations that play music starting in November) but it just went so fast. My job, which I am so grateful for, is at night. I feel like I haven't really had time to enjoy hot chocolate, snow falling and my favorite Christmas movies.

Well, had to work both on Christmas Eve and Christmas, which means I was alone in Utah while Nick and my parents were in Arizona celebrating with my grandma. I'll be honest...I hated it and hope it never happens again. After work last night I tried so hard to find "It's a Wonderful Life" or "White Christmas" on t.v. for a little holiday fix. I had to settle with a documentary on the Three Wisemen and an Oprah rerun about the best surprises on her show. I slept until about 9:30 Christmas morning and then got up and opened a few presents by myself. Ashley came by Christmas Eve and put a stocking and presents under the tree for me. I got some great gifts:

Michael Buble CD: Crazy Love (from Kris)

Kris Allen CD (from Ashley)

Angels and Demons DVD (from Mom and Dad)

The Holy Secret book (from Mom and Dad)

A web cam (from Mom and Dad)

An Amazon Gift Card (from Kris)

and some extra spending money.

Although I was alone, I am grateful for those who love me and did what they could to make Christmas special.

After enjoying a nice Christmas dinner of Steak and Potatoes, I went off to work. It was so slow! I don't know why we were open. Throughout the night, they were sending people home. Somehow I found myself there until closing at 11:00 p.m. This is probably good, because there are a lot of employees that had family to get too, so I didn't mind. But I was definitely ready for my shift to end.

So here I am, at home, watching Enchanted, and reflecting on the day. It doesn't really feel like Christmas. But I can't help but reflect on the Savior and his birth today. I know that Jesus Christ was born the Savior of the World and is the Redeemer of my sins. For this, I am grateful.

Six Years

2009-12-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

Six years ago, on December 19, 2003, I flew into Portland, Oregon, marking the end of my mission in Hong Kong. I can't believe it has already been that long. These last six years have just flown by. I have had a lot of great experiences, but my life is definitely far different from what I had planned back then.

Anyways, here are a few pictures of a younger (and thinner) me from my time in Hong Kong.

Me and Elder Yamane during the SARS outbreak.

With the Turvaville's in Macau (my favorite Senior Couple)

Serving as the Mission Secretary

With Elder Brown and Eric. Eric was baptized a week before I came home and now is serving as a missionary in Hong Kong.

I love this city! Can't wait to go back.

My Life As I Know It

2009-11-08T18:09:00.000-08:00

Okay, so once again I have fallen off the blogosphere bandwagon, but I figured an update on my life is long overdue. So here you go...

At the end of the summer, I decided that I'd had enough with Idaho and it was time to move to Utah and find a job. I love Idaho, but there isn't much there for me anymore...and much better opportunities if I pack up and leave. So the second week in September, I loaded up my car and made the move, without really a plan or a place to live.

Ashley and Jonny (my sister and her husband) were still in Chicago and let me stay at their house for a few weeks before they came back. I spent nearly every hour of every day applying for jobs and looking for a place to live. I probably applied for close to 150 jobs...but with only a few interviews.

I was also excited about the potential theatre opportunites in Utah. I auditioned for Christmas Carol at the Hale Center in West Valley and got called back. They seemed to really like me, but alas, I wasn't cast. But it was a really good experience for my first audition. I would love to work for that theatre.

Finally, I was offered a position working for Convergys in Orem/Provo area. About this time I was starting to get excited, thinking that things were working out great and there definitely are a lot of opportunities for me in Utah. I even met with someone about graduate school at BYU and took the GRE (not my favorite experience).

About a week later, I got another job offer. I was offered a position working in Draper for eBay's Resolutions Department. It paid better than Convergys, and definitely had more perks. About that same time, I found out Nick's roommate was moving out, and there was an opening at his place. The rent is great and the house is really nice...only one problem-it's in Farmington. Well, these offers turned out to be too great to turn down, so I moved to Farmington, began work at eBay, and now have a life in Utah.

It definitely isn't the most optimal condition. I work nights and my days off are Thursday and Friday. So auditioning for any other shows is definitely on the back burner for a while. But I'm glad to have work and a place to live. It is only temporary as I am hoping to be in the Public Administration Master's program at BYU next fall.

Things haven't completely worked out for me as I had planned, but I feel like it's a time for starting over and I have a lot of new opportunities coming my way...I hope. It's nice to be working, and to have a place to stay. And I'm excited about going back to school so that I can find a more permanent career.

So that's my life as I know it. Hopefully updates will be a bit more frequent. For your entertainment, and a little bit of eBay fun, enjoy this video of Weird Al's eBay Song.

The Curtain Falls on Playmill 2009

2009-08-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

Another Playmill season is coming to an end. We only have three days of performances left: Thursday-Saturday of this week. This season has been full of stress and trials, but has been memorable and enjoyable.

I have roles in both Guys and Dolls and The Secret Garden. In Guys and Dolls I play Nicely-Nicely Johnson, one of Nathan Detroits sidekicks. This show has been exhausting, but a lot of fun. Throughout the show, Nicely is constantly eating. I love hearing the audience reaction to whatever food item I might have in my hand as I walk on stage each time. The most common reaction I get at the end of the show is, "I bet you're full!" The highlight of this show personally has been "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat." This is my solo in the show. This role has definitely pushed me as a performer.

In The Secret Garden I play Dr. Neville Craven, the evil brother to Archibald Craven. I think I have a new passion for playing the bad guy. Throughout the show, Neville is at odds with Mary, the young girl who moves into the household. He strives to inherit Misselthwaite Manor and will stop at nothing to make sure that happens. This role has definitely been one of the highlights of my summer, and possibly even my favorite of all roles I've played. I don't know if it's because I get to sing "Lily's Eyes" or because it's an outlet for all of my "pent up aggression" :), but I've thoroughly enjoyed each performance of The Secret Garden. Usually by this point in the summer I'm looking for a break from the shows, but I look forward to each performance. The only regret I have is that so many people have missed the opportunity to see this powerful, touching musical.

I'm grateful for another great summer and for the opportunity to do what I love in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Many people have said that our three shows are some of the best ever seen at the Playmill. They are definitely some of my favorites. I never know what's ahead, or if the opportunity to return to the Playmill will come again, but I appreciate the many memories I've made.

Much too long

2009-08-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I've once again failed at blogging. The summer is almost over and I haven't blogged once. In the next couple of weeks, hopefully I will provide updates and reports of my many adventures of Playmill 2009. But for now, just one.

I've recently discovered something that makes reading much more exciting and accessible. It's called the Kindle, from Amazon.

Sunday was Playmill Christmas. For those of you who don't understand this tradition, each year around the 25th of August, we celebrate Christmas. It stems from a traditions started years ago at Old Faithful Lodge. Anyways, for Christmas the Merrill's gave me a Kindle. It's incredible. You can purchase books on Amazon for a discounted price and download them to your kindle. Some classics under public domain can be downloaded for free. They have over 300,000 titles available.

In addition to reading the books, you can download magazines, newspapers and blogs. You can also search Google and other websites. It has a 3G network, just like a cellphone, so you don't have to look for a wireless connection. You can access it anywhere.

I'm really excited. I like to read, but don't like the hassle of buying and storing books, or remembering to bring a book with you when you travel. This way, I can have my entire library, including the scriptures, with me in a sleek, lightweight electronic device. If you like to read, check it out.

Bizkit the Sleepwalking Dog-So Funny

2009-05-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

Sun Roof

2009-04-18T17:25:00.000-07:00

So when I bought my car about two years ago, I had a list of things that I wanted. Of course power steering, power windows and power locks were a must. But also very important on that list: a sun roof. It might seem trivial, but I've always wanted a sun roof. Well, I've always wanted a convertible, so a sun roof seemed as close as I was currently going to get.

Well, I got my sun roof. Looking back, maybe I didn't choose a car that was "within my means" but I definitely have enjoyed it. It's nice to not worry about if your car is going to start, or if you'll make it down the road without your car exploding.

I love using my sun roof. I love summer nights with the roof open. I love looking at the stars through it. On one occasion, me and Kelly actually stood through the roof as we watched the coolest lightening storm ever. I also love the spring when it first is warm enough to open the sun roof. It's a sign that winter is finally over and summer, my favorite time of the year, is here.

Well, that time has come. Just yesterday, I had my sun roof open. I enjoyed a drive down the freeway with the sun on my neck and the wind blowing through. I got home and went inside, thinking it shouldn't be a problem to leave it open. I've done this many times before.

One hour later, I went to my car to run some errands. One of the things I hate is when you see your newly cleaned car with a big blob of bird poop on it. Well, there it was, right on the hood of my car. As I walked to the driver's side, there was another on the driver's door window. I looked up and realized my sun roof was still open. In a somewhat anxious manner, I opened the door and got in, hoping that I wouldn't find a surprise inside. I looked at the center console--nothing.

With a sigh of relief, I started my car. Then I saw it. I turned to look out the passenger window, and that clever bird had managed to poop all down the inside of the passenger door. How he did it, I will never know. Either he is very agile, or he did it on purpose. I'm not sure what I did to deserve this, but I cleaned up the mess and learned to never leave my sun roof open. They always get you when you least expect it.

I'm Officially a Thief

2009-03-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

Now that I have your attention, I guess it really depends on who you hear the story from. Here it is:

My friends Kjersti, Julia and I all went to Walmart on Saturday to buy a flash drive. We were in a hurry because we had tickets for a movie in a half hour. I found the flash drive and went through self checkout, then started to exit the store. Apparently I didn't deactivate the sensor, because it started to beep. I walked back through the door and pulled out the receipt, knowing that I had paid for it.

The associate at the door turned and said, "Sir, please step away from the sensor, stand over here, and wait for me until I am finished with these customers!" A bit of an over-reaction, if you ask me. But, I waited for a few minutes, while he escorted the other customers to Customer Service. Kjersti went to get the car while me and Julia waited. I just wanted to show him my receipt and get on my way.

Finally he returned. He scanned my flash drive, scanned my receipt, and scanned the sensor. Then he put a yellow sticker on both the bag and my receipt and told us to go to Customer Service. I think he was confused and thought we were returning something.

When we got to Customer Service, the wait was almost 15 minutes. We didn't have that kind of time, so me and Julia began to discuss our options. Knowing that it was the packaging that was activating the sensor, we decided to take it out of the package and try a different exit. I tore open the package, put the drive in my pocket, gave the packaging to Julia and went through the door. No sensor, so I turned and signaled to Julia that it worked. She threw the package out and ran through the door.

Well, one outstanding citizen saw what was happening and was convinced that we were stealing the drive. She alerted the associate and he asked me to bring my bag to him. I said, "Sure, and here is the flash drive that's on the receipt." He took a minute to examine the receipt and search my bag. When he was convinced that I paid for everything, he let me go.

I was sure to thank him and the outstanding citizen for their assistance. It took more time to exit the store with paid-for merchandise than it took to actually find and pay for it. Now I know what it takes to steal...at least steal something after paying for it.

The Man Cold

2009-03-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

So, I don't get sick very often. But I woke up a couple of days ago with a sore throat, and it's turned into a pretty nasty cold. I hate being sick. You can't sleep at night, you ache all day long, and you just feel miserable.

Last Week in church somebody mentioned this video, and I thought it appropriately portrayed how I feel. Enjoy!

Playmill 2009

2009-02-19T21:17:00.001-08:00

I can't believe it's already time for this, but we just had Playmill auditions last weekend and the weekend before. The cast is set and we are starting to get ready for yet another season at the Playmill. The 2009 season includes:

Footloose

Guys and Dolls

The Secret Garden

I'm so excited for these shows. This year, I will be working in the box office during Footloose, playing Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, and playing Dr. Neville Craven in The Secret Garden. The cast is going to be great. Hope to see you there!

Eric

2009-01-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

Serving a mission, I really feel, prepares you for being a parent. You meet an investigator and begin sharing the gospel with them. It feels so great to see them get excited about gospel principles, or to hear their testimony for the first time and watch it grow. Nothing is better than seeing the light of Christ shine in their eyes. On the opposite end, nothing hurts more than to know that they have the truth at their fingertips, and then see them turn their back from it. One of the most painful moments as a missionary is hearing an investigator, who had great potential, tell you they are done with the discussions and don't want to meet with you again.

Of course the moments you want to remember are the first. One of the last investigators I saw get baptized before I came home was Eric. He was about 18-19 and had been meeting with the missionaries for almost six months. About three months in, he was transferred to my companionship for some reason. I'll never forget him telling us he wanted to get baptized after we had fasted and prayed with him to help him resolve some of his concerns (i.e. tea).
Since I've been home, Eric has become a powerful intrument in the TST Ward, and has even shared the gospel with his family, which led to his sister's conversion. A couple of days ago I got a call from an unknown number. I figured it was from Hong Kong, but wanted him/her to leave a message so I knew who it was (I often screen my phone calls like that). When I got the message, I seriously regretted not answering. It was Eric. Here is what he said:

"Elder Boyle, this is Elder So (that's right). I'm in the Hong Kong airport right now on my way to the Philippines MTC. I just wanted to call and tell you that I will serve a mission in Hong Kong. (Now he began speaking Chinese) Thank you for sharing the gospel with me. Thank you for helping me get baptized. I want you to know, I will be a good missionary. I hope to see you again someday, either in Hong Kong or America. Thank you. Goodbye."

That was one of the greatest gifts that I have ever been given. It is a moment that I will never forget. You begin a mission thinking that you will have the opportunity to change people's lives. I have no doubt that is true. But now I know, that those who you help will in turn change yours.

2008 Pics

2009-01-13T13:45:00.000-08:00

Exciting Blog Post #2: Goodbye to 2008

2009-01-10T23:26:00.000-08:00

The beginning of a new year always puts me in a very reflective mood. So, I've decided to blog about some of my favorite or most memorable experiences in 2008. These are in no particular order:

1. My Sister's Wedding: Ashley got married in April. I wouldn't have guessed 10 years ago that she would be married before me, but it happened. It was strange to see it happen, but Jonny is a great addition to our family. (And for those of you who don't know, Chase, my youngest brother, will be getting married in July. Even stranger).

2. Arizona with My Grandma: I spent a week in Arizona in April with my grandma. I spent hours working on family history, and we even took a road trip to the small town where she grew up (Prescott). She told me stories along the way. A very memorable experience that will always stay with me.

3. Family History: I found a new love- Family History. I know, it seems like something meant for old, retired people. But I really enjoy it. I mostly enjoy reading the stories and seeing the pictures.

4. Ventura and L.A.: I also spent some time with Nick in California at the beginning of the summer (April was very eventful). We saw some of the studios in L.A. and went to some of the beaches. And for the record, I think the people at Venice Beach and Muscle Beach are very funny, and very crazy.

5. Oklahoma! at the Playmill Theatre: I played Curly in Oklahoma! this year at the Playmill. It was such a great experience, and full of many exciting moments (see my blog post about this from the summer). In fact, all the shows were fun. It was a great summer.

6. Kelly: Me and Kelly started dating this summer. We hit it off from the beginning. We just seemed to click, first bonding about some people's crazy theories about relationships. Little did we know what was coming. After the first two months of saying, "No, we're just friends," I realized how much I liked her. So Finding Nemo brought us together, and we've been dating since.

7. Spud Harvest: Hmm. I have realized that sometimes you just need to suck it up and humble yourself when it comes to employment. I spent two weeks working in the harvest (after 27 years of avoiding it). See my blog about it in October/November. Life changing for sure.

8. Marathons: No, not me. My dad and my friend Sarah. My dad does about two or three a year, and it blows my mind. This year he ran the St. George and Mesa Falls Marathons. I'm so impressed. Sarah ran the Logan Marathon. After seeing people cross the finish line in pain, I'm pretty sure it's not for me. But very motivational.

9. Disney World: I spent 10 days in Florida with some of my Playmill family. Roger and Heidi paid for the trip as a sort of end-of-the-year bonus. It was a lot of fun. Again, there's a blog about this.

10. A Visit From Hong Kong: One of my good friends, Calvin, made a visit to the United States in October. He spent a few days in Idaho with me, and we even drove through Yellowstone National Park. It was fun to see his reaction to the open space and natural wonders of Yellowstone.

Exciting Post #1: Disney World

2009-01-01T12:27:00.001-08:00

Every year at the Playmill we celebrate Christmas. The story goes that one year at Old Faithful Lodge in August there was a blizzard. No one could come in and no one could go out. The lodge was full of patrons expecting a nice summer visit to Yellowstone National Park. Instead they got a winter wonderland. So they cut down a tree, decorated it and celebrated Christmas. Since then, every year on August 25 Christmas is celebrated.Anyway, this year for Playmill Christmas, the Merrill's surprised me and a few others with a trip to Disney World in December. We spent seven days in the parks, and one day at Kennedy Space Center. It was a great vacation. Now, I have only been to Disneyland once, and never to Disney World. So I wasn't quite sure what to expect. But I had a lot of fun. I even got my picture with some of the characters. Most of the parks even had Christmas decorations up, which helped you remember that Christmas was coming. It was about 75-80 degrees the whole week, so it was nice to have a reminder. The best decorations were at Hollywood Studios, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. They had a whole street decorated from top to bottom with Christmas lights. The building facades were completely covered. At night the lights flashed in sync with music. And it even snowed at the end of the show. Now, if I could have snow and 75 degrees at the same time, I wouldn't complain as much. Only at Disney.My favorite park: Hollywood Studios. I loved the ambiance- the 1940's Hollywood feel. The street performers were excellent. My favorite was a character named Bucky, Hollywoods next leading man. He's kind of a nerdy guy who plays the ukulele. His songs were so much fun.My favorite ride: The Rockin' Rollercoaster for sure. A few honorable mentions: The Everest Adventure, the new toy story ride (a 3D arcade), and Space Mountain. I suffered through the Tower of Terror, but I don't like feeling like I'm dropping to my death. The rush afterward was great. But they did make fun of me a lot for "screaming like a girl." I tried to keep it under control.Favorite Restaurant: The Sci-Fi Cafe. It was set up like a drive-in movie. The waiters served you in your car and you watched old sci-fi flicks as you ate. I just liked the feel of it. The best pastries are at the French pastry place at Epcot.

I loved Epcot, especially the section on China. I stayed there for almost an hour. It was like being home. I talked to some of the workers from Hong Kong and watched the Chinese acrobats. But all the countries were fun and interesting.

Well, it definitely was a great start to my Christmas holiday. Thanks to Roger and Heidi for an amazing experience and for being great employers (and for my job)!

Somebody help! This blog has flatlined!

2008-12-30T10:05:00.000-08:00

I just perused through my old posts and realized something...I have a seemingly boring life. Wow. Either that's the truth, or I need to update my blog.

I might be partial, but I don't think I'm that boring. Maybe it's looking at friends blogs and seeing pictures of their babies, or maybe it's me sitting in Vancouver with nothing to do. But my blog is BORING! So new and exciting posts will be coming soon. I need to prove to the world and myself, that I'm not a boring person. We'll see how it turns out.

Thank You Mrs. Gifford (and all the others)

2008-12-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

To make some extra money, I have been substitute teaching for the last month. This has sparked a desire in me to thank all of my teachers. I have taught 4th grade at Kershaw Middle School in Sugar City three times, and it's not as easy as it looks. So, thank you to my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Gifford.

I also have a renewed respect for those who have chosen this as their life-long profession. I think there is nothing more important than a good teacher that devotes their time and energy to the education of the upcoming generation. I've always felt that way, mostly because of a few select teachers that mentored me through school. Now, I really feel like I'm beginning to understand the challenges they face. By the time I'm done, I'm usually mentally exhausted. I'm sure it has something to do with me being a Communication major never enrolling in education classes. But I really do feel that it takes a patient, caring person to be a teacher.

I have also spent a few days in the Jr. High and one day with a one-on-one assigment tutoring an autistic teenager (that was a great challenge). Don't get me wrong, I have a good time doing it, and even have some great memories (i.e. the boy in the Jr. High Teen Living class that asked, "Why do they call it adolescence? Why not just call it puberty? That's what it is!). And I'm sure many more will come.

Being in the schools that I attending so many years ago has also reminded me of some great memories. Here is one of my personal favorite. My 5th grade teacher was Mr. Clark. I'm sure we tried every prank in the book on this poor guy. Even as a 5th grader, I remember him being a short man, maybe 5'6"-5'8". One day one student (Todd) was acting up. Mr. Clark tried to control him and put his hand firmly on his shoulder. Todd immediately jumped up and cocked back his fist. Mr. Clark started yelling, "you going to hit me? Go ahead, do it!" Todd stormed out of the room, throwing down his chair. Then we all saw something we would not soon forget. Mr. Clark lept over that chair like he was in an Olympic hurdles race and followed after Todd. We sat in silence, and awe, for what seemed like a half hour waiting for him to return. That day we all gained a renewed respect for our teacher.

It takes a special person to be a teacher. So to all those teachers that put up with me throughout the years, I would just like to say, thank you.

America's Last Acceptable Prejudice

2008-11-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

This article is very interesting. It discusses how religion, specifically The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the last acceptable prejudice found in America. The author makes some valid points.

http://www.lastacceptableprejudice.blogspot.com/

I love Halloween! But I love Cheesy Halloween Movies More!

2008-10-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

This video reminds me of my friends Chelsea and Cam. Enjoy!

No Life

2008-10-30T23:06:00.000-07:00

I don't usually like to do things like this, but this was just clever. So if you also don't have a life, and need to create some cheap entertainment, give it a try...

RULES:* Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, MP3 Player, or whatever on Shuffle.* For each question, press the next button to get your answer.* You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!* Put any comments in brackets after the song name.

1. If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?
- "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
2. How would you describe yourself?
- "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
3. What do you like in a guy/girl?
- "You Can Close Your Eyes"
4. How do you feel today?
- "How Great Thou Art"
5. What is your life’s purpose?
- "Honey Bun"
6. What is your motto?
- "Come, Lord Jesus"
7. What do your friends think of you?
- "Our Day Will Come"
8. What do you think of your parents?
- "On the Steps of the Palace"
9. What do you think about very often?
- "Steppin' Out with my Baby"
10. What is 2 + 2?
- "She Loves You"
11. What do you think of your best friend?
- "Your Fault; Last Midnight"
12. What do you think of the person you like?
- "I Love Being Here with You"
13. What is your life story?
- "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"
14. What do you want to be when you grow up?
- "Perfidia"
15. What do you think of when you see the person you like?
- "Poor Unfortunate Souls"
16. What will you dance to at your wedding?
- "Anything Goes"
17. What will they play at your funeral?
- "Boyz to Men"
18. What is your hobby/interest?
- "Juke Box Hero"
19. What is your biggest fear?
- "We've Got to Clean out the Freezer"
20. What is your biggest secret?
- "Another Bear"
21. What do you think of your friends?
- "What Goes Around...Comes Around"
22. What will you post this as?
- "No Life" And I think that just about says it all!

Doesn't get more "Idaho" than this!

2008-10-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

Since finishing Playmill the beginning of September I have been trying to figure out what to do with my life. I've been in serious need of a job, but I have also been considering making a move to Utah. Each fall, as many of you know, brings the annual "Spud Harvest." As a child/teenager, this meant two weeks off of school for night games, hanging out with friends, and family vacations. In my 27 years I have proudly avoided the the dusty fields and smelly potato cellars...until now.

Ivel, knowing my need for extra cash, kindly arranged for me to work with the Bott's in the harvest. Harvest usually lasts two weeks, and though the days are long, can usually bring in quite a bit of money. So I decided to give it a try. I had no idea how awful it would be. I knew it would be bad, but I didn't expect this.

For those of you who don't know, potatoes are dug up in the field, loaded into a big truck, and then brought to the potato cellar. The potatoes are dumped onto a conveyor belt. As they pass by, workers are expected to pick out the rocks, dirt clods, weeds, and rotten potatoes. Days are usually 12-15 hours, and you can stand by that belt for four or five hours at a time.
One of my greatest challenges was my lack of communication skills. I'm bilingual (or at least used to be), but Idaho farm laborers don't speak Chinese. Many of them only spoke Spanish, so I could go the whole day without speaking more than three or four words. Many days I stood by the machine for five minutes after work was completed because I couldn't understand what was going on. I slowly learned how to communicate with them.

About two days into the harvest, I may have started to hallucinate. I started seeing images (faces and such) on the dirt clods and began looking for interesting shapes in the potatoes. The potatoes started to mock me. Many times I heard them say, "Ha Ha Ha. Look at the college graduate picking potatoes!"

I tried to make myself feel better as I took this job by saying, there must be some reason I am doing this. There has to be a future Family Home Evening lesson here somewhere. Then one particularly cold and dusty day, I stood by the belt and I got my answer. I was freezing, and I had been staring at potatoes all day long and I thought, "This is what Hell is like. How could anything be worse than picking dirt clods and rotten potatoes for eternity!" I decided then to reevaluate my life so I didn't have to do this for eternity.

Well, after almost a month of on and off work, harvest is finally over. It was definitely an experience, and I can't say I'm happy that I did it. But I guess I did learn from the experience, and I have a renewed determination to get an advanced degree and get a good job to support my family. Oh, and I still love potatoes. I guess a part of me will always be loyal to Idaho.

P.S. Kelly, this post is for you. I know how much you love to hear me talk about this.

A Visit from Hong Kong

2008-09-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

The last few days I've had a friend from Hong Kong visiting. One of the few people that I have really stayed in contact with since my mission is Calvin. He is a native from Hong Kong. I served in his ward in TST. He has been planning this trip for over two years and finally arrived in Salt Lake on September 16th for a month long stay. I decided that if he truly wanted to know what America was like, he needed to leave Utah and experience Idaho and Montana. So on Wednesday I picked him up and drove home to Teton.

Our first stop on the exciting tour of Idaho/Montana was the Idaho Falls Temple and visitor's center. He was excited to meet the missionaries in the visitor's center and was in awe of the temple.

Thursday we visited Yellowstone National Park. We hit all the "must see" locations- Old Faithful, the Paint Pots, Gibbons Falls, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. We even saw some elk (he kept calling them "L"), a family of deer, a few herds of buffalo and a handful of squirrells. I was hoping to see more animals, but he was still very impressed.

On Friday, we toured BYU-Idaho campus, hit the new bookstore, and visited the Rexburg Temple. We hung out with Jeff and Jordan for a while and then went to see Get Smart at the cheap theater. We even had a clear night to see the stars. It's things like that which we take for granted.

It was fun to see his reactions to everything. He kept saying it was so beautiful and he was impressed with "the neighborhood and people." He was surprised that the waiters were so nice and everyone was so friendly. I forget how lucky I am to live in a place like this. Some of natures most beautiful wonders are only a short drive away. People in this area are really friendly and we have relatively few worries. We really are lucky.

Oh, and he also had a really nice camera, which provided a lot of entertainment for me. I've got to get me one of those.

Idaho State Fair

2008-09-13T11:26:00.001-07:00

The first item on our agenda after the season ends each year is to go to the Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot. On Labor Day we head to the fair to eat, look at exhibits, eat, go to the petting zoo, eat, and then whatever else we can fit in. I usually gain about 10 pounds in that one day of eating. Its greasy, discusting, and oh so good.

This year my friend Sarah Jackson was performing on one of the entertainment stages with a friend. Her concert was about a half hour long, and she invited me to sing a song with her. We sang I'd Give it All for You by Jason Robert Brown (from Songs for a New World). It was cold and windy, but really kind of fun. Sarah sounded amazing. She is so talented. I was glad to have the opportunity to sing with her.

Kelly came to the fair with us. She was excited to experience it, and I was glad to have one more day with her before she moved to Utah. The Idaho State Fair is not commercial like other states. It's smelly, dirty, and full strange and interested people. We had a good time, but once a year is probably enough.

And the Curtain Falls

2008-09-08T12:12:00.000-07:00

Another Playmill season has come to an end. I've worked at the Playmill for four seasons now. For the last three seasons I have been part of the administrative staff, working as the house manager (box office, merchandise, advertising, etc...). This summer I decided that I needed to enjoy the experience more than I have. Not that I haven't had a good time in past summers, but I worked so much in the box office. I've also let my need to be in charge get in the way of making lasting friendships and memories. So this summer, I stepped out of the box office (really only working twice a week) and enjoyed the experience. I'm leaving with a lot of good memories and close friends.

Unfortunately, enjoying the experience has made it harder to say goodbye. I feel really close to most everyone in the cast, and I've also really had a good time on stage. We had relatively few problems this summer, and the shows were a lot of fun. Sure, there were times when it was hard for me to get up and go to the theatre, and times when it felt more like work. But when you do twelve shows a week for four months, that's bound to happen. But I've realized this summer how lucky I am to do what I love. Both Oklahoma! and Hello, Dolly! have been great experiences. I love both of those shows. And I've been very lucky to work with some incredibly talented people.

Playmill Patrons and memories

2008-08-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, Roger Merrill's parents came to see Oklahoma! They come up all the time but this was their first time seeing Oklahoma! this summer. Roger's mom has always been so kind to me. Once after singing in their ward, she gave me a hug and told me I have always been one of their favorite Playmill Players. When she found out I was playing Curly this summer, she was so excited for me and said she couldn't wait to see it.

After the show, she came up to me and asked if she could give me a hug. Then she said, "You were so good tonight. Since your first summer I have told Roger that you were suited for lead roles. Tonight you far exceeded my expectations." Then she turned to David to tell him how good it was. I was very touched. Sometimes compliments mean more from certain people, and from her it meant a lot. This is my first lead in my four years at the Playmill and it is always nice to know that people believe in your abilities.

I also had the opportunity to have lunch on Sunday with the Arbons. They are some of my favorite Playmill Patrons. They are so supportive and always appreciate the shows. A couple of weeks ago they offered their cabin for my family when they come next week, so I drove out to see where it is. They invited me to stay for dinner. It was great to get to know them a little better. One of the things I love about this theatre is the relationships that you build- not only with the cast but with the patrons. Some become just like family.

We only have about two and a half weeks left of the summer. It's gone by so fast. I have always enjoyed my summers at the Playmill, but this one will be especially hard to leave.

911, please state your emergency!

2008-08-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday night I laid down at 1:30 for a good nights rest, only to be awakened by my roommate Jeff. As he shook my arm and and whispered my name I asked him what was the matter. He said quietly, "Um, I think the neighbors are being robbed." "What!?!!" I sat straight up and reached for my phone to see what time it was. As my phone shed light on the entire room, Jeff grabbed it, slammed it shut and threw it back down on my nightstand.

Jeff continued to explain that there were four men dressed in black standing just across the ally from our apartments. There are four trailers right across from us, and the men were standing next to a jeep just outside. When he went outside, the door squeaked and each of the four men froze. So he came inside, locked the door, and woke me up to report. I looked out the window to see what was going on, but because I was in bed I didn't have my contacts in.

As Jeff was also looking out the window he said to me, "What does it look like they are doing?" I couldn't tell but I told him it looked like they were passing things back and forth. They were really quiet and just kept circling the car. Of course, my mind started to race. "Is my car locked?" "Did we lock the kitchen?" "What would I want the neighbors to do if I was being robbed?" I didn't know what was happening, but it did seem suspicious.

Jeff asked me what we should do. I said, "I can't tell what's going on, but if they are really being robbed we should probably call the cops." Jeff agreed, but since I wasn't quite convinced yet, I let him use my phone to make the call. He told the operator, who didn't seem quite as concerned as we were, that something suspicious was going on and asked if he would send an officer by. After watching these four men circle the car for about 20 minutes, finally they started to run. They saw the cop before I did and panicked (comforting that in such a small town it takes a cop 20 minutses to report to the scene of a crime). The cop car drove by four times with a flood light sweeping the area, and of course didn't see anything.

As I was peeking through the curtains I had visions of men suddenly appearing in front of the window, or people hiding in our kitchen or laundry room. Finally convinced that they weren't coming back, Jeff and I decided to go to bed. Before I fell asleep I said to Jeff, "I wonder if this isn't as big of a deal as we're making it."

When I woke up the next morning I immediately looked out the window, only to see the neighbor's jeep covered in plastic wrap. Apparently it was all a prank. We ran into Bri, the girl who owns the jeep, the next morning and she knew immediately which four guys it was. When she talked to them she found out they had run from the cops for almost 45 minutes.

Now, how did a friendly little prank turn into such a dramatic event. Maybe it was because I was so abruptly woken up, or maybe it was that Jeff had just finished watching Silence of the Lambs. Paranoia, or a really efficient neighborhood watch program? You be the judge. But one things for sure- Criminals don't stand a chance with me and Jeff around.

Yellowstone 2008

2008-07-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

The Stage, a Curious Profession

2008-07-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

Last night during the Smokehouse scene I had a humbling/embarrassing experience. Brant was in the audience, so I felt the need to perform well (since he played Curly at the Playmill in 2003). I felt like the show was going well, until Jud started to explain to me how he would get even if he needed to. He said, "If it ever come to gettin' even with anybody, I'd know how to do it..." And then there was silence. And a long pause too. I kept thinking, "Jud, just say your next line." Finally I faked my way through prompting him by saying, "What do you mean, Jud." I was a little frustrated and told Adam all about it when I got off stage. I was explaining to him how it is suppose to go. "So Jud says his line about knowing how to get even and then I say... Oh Crap!" That was the first time that I realized that it was me, not Jud, that forgot to say the line. All I'm suppose to say is, "That?". And I completely forgot. I felt so stupid and was so mad at myself.

So that made me think of all of the stupid things I've said/done on stage this summer. Here we go:

My personal favorite: In Surry with the Fringe on Top I sing: "Cat's and dogs with dance in the heather, birds and frogs with sing altogether and the toads with hop." But one night I couldn't remember the words, so I sang: "Cats and dogs will moo in the heather, cow and frogs with sing together and the toads will hop."

While understudying Toop in See How They Run for Roger, I come on stage and ask the Bishop, "Are you Humphrey?" Christian was understudying the Bishop the same night and during the first show completely forgot his lines in this scene. Right before I went on, I commented to Jessica and Adam, "I hope he remembers his lines." I go on stage and say, "Are you Toop?" He stares at me and then says, "aren't you Humphrey?" I get that Oh Crap look in my eyes, and say, "Oh wait, I'm Toop, who are you?"

Again in Surry, I started singing the wrong verse, and panicked my way through the rest of the song. Luckily, I was able to think quickly and switch the verses, so it worked out just fine.

During the Waiter's Gallop in Hello, Dolly we come on stage with napkins and do some cakewalk kicks as we swing the towel above our head. On my third swing I smacked myself right in the eye. For the rest of the scene my eye was puffy and red, and I couldn't stop crying.

While singing Pore Jud is Daid my mind went blank. I stood on stage in silence for two full lines, trying to remember the words.

The stupid gun didn't go off in the Smokehouse. Not once, not twice, but three times. Each time I cocked and fired, but nothing. I tried again, nothing. Sometimes the third time worked, but sometimes I had to borrow Jud's gun. Really intimidating, right? Some of the adlibs include: Ali coming on to sell me Ammo, Aunt Eller asking who fired and me telling her I tried twice, telling the cowboys during the auction scene the gun works great when it's loaded. Finally, the last time I was so sick of it that I ignored that it ever happened. (2/3 time I had actually loaded the gun. About that third time, I plead the 5th).

If I've missed any, I'm sure someone will let me know. That's what I love about theatre, there is always something new and different. I just hate looking like a fool!

It's about time, right? Eh? Eh?

2008-07-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

For me, I think blogging is like a journal. I'm really bad at keeping up with both of them, and then all of the sudden my thoughts become like vomit on the page (sorry for the gross analogy). I try and catch up with everything that has been missed so that I can keep the memories. If only I was one of those people that wrote in their journal at least once a week. Then it wouldn't seem like such an insurmountable task.

Playmill is going great. We are finally out of rehearsals (as of about two and a half weeks ago) and now it's time to have fun. This year I have decided not to spend as much time in the box office so I can enjoy my time a bit more. I've already done more than I did last year. Kelly, Tim, Jessica, and I (with some other people) have already gone to Mesa Falls, Sheep Falls, and Black Sands. We also spent this last Sunday in Idaho Falls with the Pingel's. We had a picnic around the green belt and hung out at Tim's house.

Last week was the big West Yellowstone Independence day celebration. I know what your thinking, how could any celebration in such a small town be worth blogging about. But they really do put on a great fireworks show. We had performances at 3:00 and 6:00 and then we went to the Merrill's house for a barbeque. After shooting off some of our own fireworks (and a few visits from the cops) we climbed up on the roof for the main event. We watched the fireworks as we sang the National Anthem and other patriotic songs. I spent most of my time trying to get the perfect picture of some fireworks. I love the Fourth of July. Spending the night watching fireworks, hanging out with good friends, and eating. What could be better?

We also finished our Playmill Summer Camp last week. The summer camp is a lot of fun for most people, but for me it's a lot of work. I love doing it, and it's so much fun seeing the kids get excited about it, but I'm usually relieved when it's over. Tim and Kelly were the counselor's and I think they were completely worn out when it was over, but it was fun seeing them get so involved and watching them interact with the kids.

The summer is half over and I can't help but think how this summer has been so different from the past few years. I can't imagine my summer without good friends like Kelly, Tim, Jessica and most all of the cast. Well, this blog is long enough, and I just got sappy, so that's it.

Opening Night

2008-05-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

Well, the 2008 Playmill Season is off and running. We began rehearsals on May 5 and opened Oklahoma! last night. I love opening night- the excitement of the first show finally having an audience, the cast members having no clue to how it all works, forgetting the sing-along lyrics, and the feeling that comes after a successful show.

It was a good opening show. When I woke up yesterday morning I thought I was going to die. We went to breakfast and I took one look at my food and wanted to throw up. I was so nervous. But the closer we came to show time, the more calmed my nerves were, surprisingly. We had all worked so hard and it just felt so good to have an audience there to enjoy it. Some people commented that it is the best production of Oklahoma! and the best opening show they have seen at the Playmill.

This year's cast is so easy to work with. By the end of the first week, I felt like I had 15 new best friends. It usually takes me some time to adjust to the cast members and feel comfortable with them, but this cast made it easy. And they are all so talented. I love how the shows are cast this year, because in one show you may have a principle role, but in another you have an ensemble role. We have a strong ensemble. I am looking forward to the rest of the summer and to getting the other shows up and running.

"On the Road Again..."

2008-04-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a month. I left Idaho on April 2 to go to my sisters wedding I was gone for the whole month. After the wedding I flew to Arizona to spend some time with my grandma. It was great. 80-85 degrees and sunny. I sat by the pool and worked on my tan (which was really a sunburn). When I wasn't at the pool I was filing and organizing genealogy and old family pictures. I know, sounds boring but I love it. My grandma kept asking if I wanted to do anything else, saying she felt like I was probably bored. But I enjoy reading about my ancestors and looking at old family pictures.

After ten days, I flew to Washington for my sisters second reception. Again, I went through family history files and pictures. I was there for about a week. We had the reception on Saturday, and then (becasue I made some smart comment about how it's been all about Ashley and I need it to be about me) we celebrated my birthday on Sunday. My birthday isn't until May 14 (I'm accepting gifts), but I haven't been with my family on my birthday for about 6-7 years. We had an ice cream cake.

I flew with my sister and her new husband back to Salt Lake and stayed there for a few days. I saw some friends and, you guessed it, did some family history work. I went to the Family History Library with my brother, and I was amazed at how much information they have, but how long it takes to find it. I could stay in there for days at a time. I also made a visit to my Uncle Tommy, my Grandma Boyle's brother. I interviewed him about his family and my grandma's younger years.

On Thursday the 24th, me and Nick began our drive to California. Nick is moving there for the summer and needed some help getting his truck there. We stopped for the night in Las Vegas, then got to Ventura on Friday. Through the weekend we went to Malibu Beach, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Hollywood, and walked around Universal Studios. I also saw NBC studios.

Finally, on the 28th I flew back to Salt Lake. I stayed the night and made one last stop at the Family History Library. I had lunch with my friend Bitty, stopped at the Ogden Cemetery and drove by my very first house (3561 Grant in Ogden) and then made it home. I have never been so glad to be home. But I couldn't have had a better, more eventful month. (pics will come soon)

My Sister's Wedding

2008-04-03T22:22:00.000-07:00

Today was a very emotional day for me (the Boyle's tend to get emotional about things). My sister Ashley got married this morning in the Salt Lake Temple to Jonny Johnson. Ashley has always been one of my best friends. Regardless of the status of my relationship with other family members, she is always going out of her way to check up on me, show interest and support in my life, and fill me in on hers. It was strange to see her as part of another family interacted with Jonny's family.

It was really good to see some family and old friends that we haven't seen in a while. There are some family friends that I have known since I was little that came to the reception tonight. Also I met or was reunited with extended family that I haven't seen for years. It was good to catch up.

I am excited to have Jonny become a part of our family. I know that he will treat her well and will fit in with the rest of us. He is so easy going and seems to get along with everyone. They always say that you are not losing a daughter (sister) but you are gaining a son (brother). It's cheesy, I know, but I do feel that about Jonny. I feel like he will play an active role in each of our lives. I am excited to become closer to both of them and see their family grow. Regardless of where life takes them, I know that I will always be able to call Ashley on of my best friends. I am very happy for both of them.

Old Friends

2008-03-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

This last week I have seen some of my high school friends that I haven't seen for a while. Vanessa Davidson got married this last weekend, so Hilary, Stacey and Jake, and other friends from high school were in town. I went to lunch with Hilary and caught up, reminiscing about the good ole' days over a plate of pork and seeds from Fong's. Then, on Sunday, Brant flew into town. He is on spring break, but came home for a week to get engaged. He and Jennifer are getting married May 31 in Rexburg.

It's funny, although its been a long time, its really easy to be natural around good friends. You don't have to worry about small talk, or worry about what the other is thinking. You just fall back into your old comfort zone and it's like they never left (except that they all are married or getting married). Someone once said that you will become closer to your college friends than those from high school. But for me, some of my best friends are those from high school.

Disclaimer: I also have a lot of good friends from college. It just so happens, I spent the weekend with good friends from high school.

I Can't Stand It!!!

2008-03-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's the middle of March. For most people that means spring training, 60 degree weather, finally seeing the grass, etc. Then why in the heck is it snowiing in Idaho? Really, we have had the coldest, snowiest winter than Idaho has seen in the last 10 years. But this isn't something new. Every year Idaho decides to skip right over spring and go to summer-in the middle of June. We were just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I woke up this morning to a snow storm. And it's suppose to go on for the rest of the weekend. Mexico is looking pretty good right now. Or anywhere that the rest of my family is living (except Ashley-probably still cold in Utah).

West in the Winter

2008-03-07T10:59:00.001-08:00

I drove up to West Yellowstone the other day to do some advertising. I can't believe how much snow is up there. I don't know that I have ever seen so much snow. I tried to go into the Playmill apartments, and I couldn't get within 10 feet of them. There is about 5 feet of snow in front of them. I hope it melts by May, or we are going to have a cold start to the summer.

Could it Be True?

2008-03-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

My friend had an astrology book from the early 1900's that describes your personality according to your sign. This is what it said on my birthday:

May 14:
You can attain any goal you really set your heart on. You are determined, independent, dominating, and sometimes inclined to be headstrong. Your mind is clear and alert, and it absorbs and retains what you see and hear. You are sincere and generous in your love. You are a loyal friend and a bitter enemy.

I don't know, what do you think?

Snowshoes

2008-02-29T13:48:00.000-08:00

Mallori called me a couple of days ago and asked if I wanted to go snowshoeing with her. I have always thought it would be fun to try, so I said yes, thinking it would be a small trail just outside of Rexburg. Next thing I know I'm getting in a van headed to the Mesa Falls area. We got there at about 5:00 p.m. and began our four mile trek. It turns out snowshoeing is just like hiking but with big paddles on your shoes and in the snow. But at least we would get to see the falls- at least that''s what I thought before it got dark. We never made it to the falls, which didn't matter because it was foggy and dark. Well, by the end of the night, I had checked one more goal off of my list, and have blisters all over my feet to show for it. But it was fun.

Playmill 2008

2008-02-28T13:38:00.000-08:00

We recently went through auditions and casting for Playmill's 2008 season. I am playing Curly this summer in Oklahoma! We are also doing See How They Run and Hello, Dolly! I will also be in Hello, Dolly! I am excited and can't wait for the summer to begin.

Family History

2008-02-28T10:57:00.000-08:00

I decided to create this blog in December, and that is really the last thought I've had of it. I don't know what the purpose was, to share stories and pictures, or to just follow the need to conform. But alas, here I am.

For the last two months I have only been employed part-time, mostly by my choosing. I graduated in December with a Bachelor's in Public Relations. With Playmill coming again this summer, I didn't want to look for a full-time job. So I've kind of been stuck in limbo. To fill my time, I have been working on my family history. I always had an interest, but as in most things, if someone is telling me about it or telling me to do it, I think it's boring. But once I jumped in head first, I really found a passion for it. It's so interesting to learn about the people that have come before me and paved the way. Many of my ancesters were pioneers crossing the plains. It seems that their faith was so strong, that they really could perform miracles.

I just finished reading two books, one about Ephraim Knowlton Hanks (above) and another about his wife Thisbe Read Hanks. Their lives were guided by the hand of the Lord, and they really had faith enough to follow. Both sides of my family have similar stories.

I have also been spending a lot of time with my Grandpa and Grandma Boyle in Rexburg. My grandpa is 75 years old and has never kept a journal, so I decided to try and write his personal history. I've gone up a few Sundays in the last two months and interviewed him. He has had a very eventful life. I love listening to his stories. I think about the things that I have experienced during my life and wonder if I will have had such a fulfilling life when I'm his age.

Oregon Coast

2007-12-29T19:46:00.000-08:00

We went to the Oregon coast for Christmas. After the last few days at the beach in Mexico and the Bahamas, I didn't think I would be too impressed. But it was beautiful (if you could ignore that rain and hail). Watch out for those sneeker waves!