Let's Hope It Works!

The Sunlamp

          This is me sitting next to the natural sunlight lamp.  My classroom has no windows and is in the basement of the school.  For years I have thought about getting one of these, and now I finally have one.  I found it for cheap on amazon.com.  According to the directions I need to sit 12 to 16 inches away from it for 20 minutes a day (good thing it is on a timer.)  It is not a tanning lamp.  It works with your eyes, so every now and then I am supposed to glance at the lamp directly.  Let's hope it works.
          Last Friday night my mouth and tooth started to hurt.  By Saturday afternoon it wan unbearable, so I was forced to call my dentist on his day off and get some meds.  He prescribed some loratab for the pain and antibiotics.  On Monday he decided I needed a root canal.  I go in today (Jan 28) for the root canal.  I have been popping Advil and loratab like an addict to get rid of the pain.  Last night was the first time in days I was able to sleep through the night because the pain is finally subsiding - the antibiotics must be kicking in.  So, root canal today.  Let's hope it works.

Addison in Cole Porter's ANYTHING GOES

          On the bright side, Guy, Preston and I are going to see my nephew Addison and his cute wife, Bre in the Weber State University production of ANYTHING GOES.  He has had a couple of bad dress rehearsals because his costumes didn't fit and he has quick costume changes.  But things should be fixed by tonight.  Let's hope it works!

Whew! Normal life resumes

I LOVE long weekends.  I was able to clean up the house a little bit.  Go to church.  Do laundry. Read the newpaper. Read my Kindle (thanks Guy for the Christmas gift). Spend time with Preston. Go to the grocery store.  And a thousand other things that needed getting done. I am looking forward to teaching my 2nd semester classes (Stage Craft, Speech 1, Advance Theatre, Film, and Children's Theatre.)  It should be fun and really "hand's on."  I haven't taugth a speech class in years, but as I am the only one "highly qualified" to teach speech at BHS, it is now my "baby."  My friend LeeAnn Hyer at Davis High really helped me out by sharing a bunch of her speech rubrics and papers.  Thanks to her I feel prepped and ready and my head has not exploded because of stress. 

Guy will be glad things are back to "normal."

Picture of me as "Truvy" in STEEL MAGNOLIAS

So I was stopped at Dick's Market the other day.  This stranger recognized me from my performance as Truvy in STEEL MAGNOLIAS.  She gushed and gushed about how terrific the show was and what a great job she thought I did.  It was almost like being famous! 

Preston the "Star"

Preston is having such a good time being in CINDERELLA at Bountiful High School.   He LOVES hanging out with the high school students and his cousin, Laila.  He is cute on the stage.  He is "the boy in the blue hat." During the bows at the end of the show, he takes off his hat and makes a "sweeping bow" and gets everyone's attention. Below are pictures of Preston and some of the cast. These pics were taken at the dress rehearsals before the scenery was finished being painted. 

Preston with the blue hat.  Laila Welch in the brown sweater.

Hayden Call (cousin) as the Prince

Preston dancing

The Kids: John Sandorf, Mackenzie Hess, Laila Welch, Preston, Caleb Sandorf, Rachel Sandor, Lauren Sandorf.  Mark Brand as the Steward

Final pose.  Preston is being held by Danny Dawson who is his "father" in the show.

Cinderella Opening

Yes, Cinderella is opening on January 7th (that is tomorrow for me.)  Still lots to do.  Still things that need fixing.  But I think the show will turn out to be a gem.  I saw 3 high school productions in the last few months.  One in Layton High School's new little theatre, another at Clearfield High and the third at Hillcrest High.  As a director, I always look with a somewhat critical eye, and try to decide how to make my show even better.  There were several things in each show that were good, and, some not so good.  After seeing them, I decided to take a radical new direction with the show and make it NON-BORING.  I immediately had a production meeting with Megan, Sheri, Melinda (choreographers) and Marcie (costumer) about my "vision." They are a great team.  So creative.  We now have wonderful costumes, cartoon-like scenery, beautiful waltzing, darling musical numbers and a super-magical transformation scene.We have physical comedy, bright energy, and an an overall "non-boring" show. 

 My nephew Hayden Call as Prince Charming and Erin Crouch as Cinderella in the Ballroom scene. They are terrific in these leading roles. 

Kesley Schwab as Joy, Hayden as the Prince and my neice Jenna Cole as Grace.  They are so funny as the wicked step sisters.  These girls are not afraid to go completely into character.  I laugh at them constantly.  You would think that after so many rehearsals, I would no longer laugh.