Inspired...

Hi All. I am inspired by Jamie to encourage all my lurkers post comments on my page. I'm just curious. It's my new fascination... I'll be over it in a week or so but for now I would really like to know who looks at this thing! :-)

Two Days Till SNOW!

I will admit that my excitement for winter weather will last all of five minutes- or less- but yay! I am excited to see some significant snow for the first time in almost two years! I love snow. It's pretty. I hate the cold that comes along with the snow- but ya know- when I know I don't have to deal with it for too long, I can just sit back and enjoy.

Kensie's blessing in on Sunday. I fully intend on cuddling, hogging, and even fighting for the attention of that baby. Everyone else there will be people who see her all the time. SHE'S MINE FOR THE WEEKEND! :-) Hee.

So I am trying to get a start on this piano thing. Now here's the problem: I am WAY too ADHD for the adult piano books. When I was in college I had to take a few classes, and little did I know that every so often our teachers would secretly listen in on our playing as we practiced during class. (THAT'S what she was doing with those headphones on... dang digital pianos...) ANYWAY- I would practice for all of, oh, a minute, and then I would sit there like a kid whose mom is trying to make him eat peas at the dinner table. I would whine in my head- which would eventually turn into me plucking away randomly at the keyboard. Quickly this plucking would evolve into what I used to do as a child- POUND POUND POUND RANDOMNESS AS LOUD AS I CAN until my mom would scream for me to stop. I was a smart one, you know? Unfortunately, this method didn't work in college...hmmm. Anyway, after weeks of doing this, my teacher finally came up to me one day and said, "Amy, is everything ok in your life?" HA.




Anyway- I have decided to start with the piano books I used as a kid... you know those Alfred ones with the toothy pianos on the cover? "Hi Kids! Piano playing is fun... just look at me!" But I am really thinking this will bring the best results for my little HYPER brain. :-) We'll see.

I love my life. Today I don't work till 3. Ha. Life is good. I work for three hours and come home. Tonight I wanna go see the movie 27 Dresses... yay for fun.

18. And Stuff.

Today the new wig lady at work told me she thought I was 18. Hmmmm. Well, I ACT like I am 18 (I have to keep all those people at work happy, you know- so I turn on the hyper button) and I don't look like I'm almost 27, but 18? REALLY?

Hmmmm... what else do I report? Not much. This weekend I get to fly home. I am super excited for Kensie's blessing and I am also going to see several of my friends that I haven't had the chance to see for awhile. So happy happy! When I leave Utah my mom and Grandma with fly back to Orlando at the same time, stay here with me for a week, and when they leave, my cousin Lindsey comes. During all this I also get to do a gig as Cinderella- so that will be fun. YAY FOR VARIETY. :-) But that is also so tiring. I need a vacation. I wanna go to Hawaii. Let's go.

This month went fast, don't ya think? Life is good.

My Love for President Gordon B. Hinckley

Tonight as Chuck left my house his mom called. Soon he came back through my door with that dreaded look of "something is wrong."

President Hinckley has passed away.

President Hinckley has been the president of the Church since I was 14 years old. Of course I remember previous prophets, but President Hinckley is the prophet of my youth. He taught me time and time again the things I need to know to be a successful and happy person. I was constantly amazed by his enthusiasm for life, his energy- especially at 97 years old, and his ability to stay positive during the tough times. He established the "B's," inspired us to rise above the ordinary and "be a little better," taught each one of us the importance of families, and he constantly testified of the reality of our Savior.

President Monson spoke in our stake conference this morning. He seemed unusually worn and reflective- which we all commented on as we discussed the things we'd heard in the meeting. His unusual state made us wonder if something was wrong with HIM.

I know that President Hinckley was a true prophet of God. His inspiring words, optimism, and testimony of Jesus Christ have enthused me since I was a young girl. I loved watching him wave his cane during his later years, and will always cherish the Ensign articles, conference talks, and devotional memories I have to remind me of this incredible man.

"I am no longer a young man filled with energy and vitality. I am an old man. I'm given to meditation and prayer. I would enjoy sitting in a rocker, swallowing prescriptions, listening to soft music, and contemplating the things of the universe. But such activity offers no challenge and makes no contribution. I wish to be up and doing. I wish to face each day with resolution and purpose. I wish to use every waking hour to give encouragement, to bless those whose burdens are heavy, to build faith and strength of testimony."- President Gordon B. Hinckley.

May we all choose to live our lives as this incredible man did.

To Audition or To Not Audition

OK- I need advice:

There's a theatre in Daytona Beach- about an hour away- doing Les Miz this summer. I have signed up for an audition this Thursday. Problem is, that the more I think of it, the more it seems stupid to me to do it. Here are the pros and cons... and I want y'alls opinions.

Pros:

1. It's Les Miz. I have been obsessed since I was 8.
2. It would be an Equity job outside of Utah- great for the resume.
3. It would be a change from Beauty and the Beast on speed...

Cons:

1. It's an hour away from where I live... probably add another hour during bad traffic.
2. Rehearsals and performances will amount to about two months. Commuting? YUCK.
3. I doubt I would be able to keep my Beauty and the Beast job AND work in Daytona. So I would do the show in June but then be out of a job after that.
4. There's a serial killer loose in Daytona... (AND THIS IS NO LIE! http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=c7b9c82f-a29c-4653-aeca-31a82a53b566)

Thoughts people?

And obviously, AUDITIONING doesn't mean I will be cast... but ya know... sometimes I think, "Why bother if I dunno if I really wanna do it...)

Update on My New Years Resolutions

This is what a nerd I am:

I am reading more. Yes I am. My goal is to read two books per month... and what did I begin with??

Great book. Love it. She writes like she talks and I LOVE that. Buuuuut I am ADD and have to read each page like twice cuz my mind wanders.

NEXT on the agenda:

I AM SUCH A NERD! But I LOVE American history. I want to know about the Civil War. So I shall learn.

Next month a have a lovely fiction book on the agenda. Any suggestions for book #2?

Go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth... I kind of feel like I have, but it's been a

BUSY BUSY BUSY

two weeks. My cousin Justin came to visit- lots of fun- and basically the only other thing I've been doing is working- exciting. Oh yeah- and I took a two day trip to NYC for an audition (which I subsequently failed at... failure is good for me once in awhile I think...) Ha ha. Anyway, the next couple weeks will be fun at work- tomorrow and Wednesday I get to do a special event as "Bo Peep" from Toy Story, and in three weeks I get to do a Cinderella gig. So ya know- at least I am getting a variety in my life here... considering I just signed a contract to stay with the show for another YEAR!! I am very blessed with my job here. I get a steady paycheck, lots of overtime with special events, and yeah- it's STABLE. So ya know...

At Ripley's Believe it or Not in NYC!

Ground Zero- Construction construction construction...

Attack of the Giant Hershey's Bottle

Happy Justin

More exciting news: In two weeks I get to come home. Kensie is being blessed and I am going to spend just a few days in Utah. Then my mom and grandma are coming back to FL with me! Good stuff.

She's Developing My Saucer Eyes

Kensie

Amy the Political Geek

I am fascinated with this whole presidential election process that officially begins in Iowa tomorrow. I have become addicted to news channels such as CNN and FOX. What's happening to me? Ha ha.

Breathtaking Moments

As I discussed in the previous post, I am determined, in 2008, to write in my journal faithfully- like I always have up until April of this past year. As I opened my dusty journal today I found an entry that I wrote last New Years- "Moments of 2006 That Took My Breath Away." What a great thing to have- to be able to look back on my year at the tiny, but pivotal little moments that make my life as beautiful as it is. These moments remind me constantly of the blessings, even the itty-bitty, minute ones, that I am constantly given.

I am now reflecting on the moments of 2007 that "took my breath away." They're a little more subtle than the ones from 2006, but my year was full of them.


Challenge: Write down (anywhere- journal, blog, the back of your checkbook...) the "Moments of 2007 That Took Your Breath Away."

It's That Time of Year...

HAPPY 2008 Everyone!!!

I love starting a new year. I love making resolutions and thinking about how I need to improve myself in the next several months. Yep.

So here we go...

In no particular order, I am going to:

* Learn to play hymns by the end of 2008. I took piano lessons for at least 4 years of my life. I CAN NOT play. It's RETARDED. I am too ADD to sit there and read the notes and practice and stuff. But I am gonna do it. Music is inherently in me, and I know that when I do the work to make it happen, it will. AND it will open a whole new world for me. Being able to play hymns will most likely allow me to play lots of other things too. I need a piano. Yeah.

* Eat better. I was good at this for half of 2007 and it was GREAT! But in the last few months I have faltered. Ha ha. I am a sucker for holiday food. In addition to eating better, I am going to get back into my routine of working out at least four times per week.

* Write in my journal regularly. I have been good at this my entire life- until April of 2007. When I came home from Hong Kong I just stopped writing. Since then I have maybe written only three times. LAME!

* Read more. As a kid I LOVED to read. I think seven years of college ruined me- ha ha- and I just don't like to read anymore. Maybe I'm just 2 ADD. But I wanna try to read two books per month. Yep.

And now: I tag you all to blog your New Years Resolutions. I dunno about you, but I am MUCH more likely to stick to them when I have admitted them to the world. Ha ha.