Into the Woods

I went on another date tonight. I'm setting my world record. My blind date, Nick, took me to the Hale Centre Theatre to see Into the Woods. Into the Woods is not a Halloween play like I thought it was going to be. It was awesome, but not what I expected with that title in October. I highly recommend the play. The stage setup was awesome. There were all sorts of moving props, etc. I want so much for the Empress Theatre to be able to afford such cool equipment. I'd love to see the Empress with a costume supply storage like what I saw at the Hale Centre tonight.

The play Into the Woods has taught me to be careful what I wish for, but if you want to help my wish come true you can make a donation to the Empress Theatre which is operated by the Oquirrh Hills Performing Arts Alliance (OHPAA).

Be sure to come see the Empress Theatre's production of Wait Until Dark, and tell your friends to come see it too. It's running now through November.

Remembering Molly Robbins

I'm sitting here eating Kit Kat minis. I'm getting ready to sign up for my poll worker training. I quickly looked at my blog subscription list to see if there were any new posts. I realized I've gotten so involved in reading other people's blogs and have neglected to post to my own.

I have been caught up with the writing of Kristin Robbins Sellers. We grew up in the same neighborhood. She married Brandon Sellers who lived across the street from me. I think she's amazing.

The day after my last post, her mother's life was senselessly taken by another neighbor. It's still difficult to comprehend. I was away from the neighborhood camping with my family at the time. My brother and his family were unable to make it to the camping trip. He was at home watching the news when he found out. He called and left a message for us to call him when we got back into civilization. My dad returned his call and my brother asked if it was true and what we knew. (We knew nothing, we had been living in the mountains those last few days.) My brother couldn't believe it. (None of us could believe it.) Molly was like a second mother to him. She was the first one waiting at our front door, with a pizza and balloons, when Dave came home from his mission. She always asked for updates on how he was doing. I know she loved my brother.

When I read Kristin's writings I am lifted. I haven't been able to stop reading what she posts on her personal blog as well as the tribute to her mother on www.rememberingmolly.blogspot.com. She is amazing and I love her. I pray for her and her family.

Oh what do you do in the summertime?

I just downloaded some pictures and videos from my digital camera onto my computer. I had forgotten already some of the things I've been doing this summer that I've never done before.






I went to the Days of '47 Rodeo with my friends - Stephanie, Shana, Christy, and Hailey. It was fun. Those cowboys really know how to ride. I didn't know that Rodeo was a way of life. These guys do it for a living. It's pretty intense.

I entered my first 5K this summer. My nephews Oscar and Zeke did it with me. It was the "I am the Future" Days of '47 5K. I'm so proud of those two boys. Zeke was so fast that he got way ahead of Oscar and I. I had to call his mother and my mother who were waiting at the finish line. I told them "I lost Zeke. Look for him at the finish line." My mom started from the finish line towards us and found him along the way. I was so happy she found him. He just barely turned 6 years old. That's kind of young to be on your own on a crazy day in the city, on any day in the city for that fact.



Let it be known, that I didn't lose Zeke because I walk too slow. I tried to catch up with him, which leads me to why I'm proud of Oscar too. Oscar was the one keeping me from catching up to Zeke. I'm proud of him for the fact that, in the end, he made it to the finish line.


Oscar was not moving. He was finished before we even went a block. I had to slowly drag him the rest of the way. We stopped every 4 yards it seemed. We were the last to make it to the finish line. He mumbled the whole way about how much he hated himself for entering the 5K with me. His mom had to come walk him the last block and a half. She coached him. She runs marathons, so she knew what to do. They even made plans for the day when Oscar would run a marathon with her. I couldn't believe it. He wouldn't even walk half of a mile without stopping to say how tired he was. I sure hope his mom can get him ready for a marathon some day. I'd be delighted if he could do the 5K with me again next year. I don't know if I dare. I'll have to make sure there's someone to go on ahead with Zeke.


It was a fun experience registering and getting our packets. Oscar was so hyped about it. I was hyped about it. It was Zeke that we were worried about, and he ended up running/walking the 5K all by himself. I was carrying his water, he didn't even have that with him on his walk, and he still kept going ahead of us until I lost him from my sight. Wow. I'm sure glad he didn't dehydrate.


We stayed and watched the parade after the 5K. My sister and mom set up chairs for us. I missed most of the parade due to another first for me. I got to witness a woman high on drugs, at least that's what my sister said was wrong with her behavior, stand right in front of me. Shortly into the parade this lady comes pushing her little girl in a stroller and stands right in front of me. It was really sad and a bit scary. I tried to encourage her to shade her daughter's head with the stroller shade thing. She couln't even concentrate. She kept talking to someone who nobody else could see. People were really getting frustrated with her. The police even approached her. My main concern was that it was a hot day and she was saying something about fireworks. I didn't want her to keep her baby in the sun the whole day. I used my camera to film her strange behavior. I wanted to have documentation, if it was needed to help her daughter. I kept watching as she would go to feed her daughter or give her daughter a drink. She couldn't hold still long enough to finish the job, or she dropped the food everywhere. She would pull it out, wait one second, and then put the food back in the back and continue to pace back and forth talking to the unseen. She had a couple cans of Coke, she kept drinking from. She got her drink but couldn't hold still long enough to let her daughter drink anything. I don't want her to loose custody of her daughter. I just want her to have help, if she'll accept it. She wouldn't let any of us help her. I asked the police officer if he was watching her still. He said that he was and that he had the same concerns I did. She took off after the parade. I don't know what became of her. I prayed in my heart that the police in the area would be able to notice if she needed some more help throughout the day. I heard her say how she felt guilty and she wondered what her support group would think. My sister said that she wasn't necessarily high at the moment, but that her brain had been damaged as a result of heavy drug usage. She wasn't in her right mind any more. It was sad.


On a brighter note, my dad and sister were watching a movie called "Song of the South" tonight. I've never seen it before. I could hear part of it as I've been making some preparations for our camping trip tomorrow. I always wondered where Brare Rabbit and the song "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah-Zippity-eh" came from. Now I know. I can't wait to watch the movie. It sounded really good.

Milestones

The family reunion last Saturday was very nice. We had it at George Washington Park by Mountain Dell Golf Course up Parley's Canyon. The sno cone machine was awesome. It wasn't too hot where we were so we really didn't eat that many sno cones.

I found out today that my great aunt Gayle fell on Monday night after going to Lagoon that day. She's been in the hospital ever since. She's all bruised. I hope she's comfortable. Her short term memory recollection capabilities have been deteriorating during the last year or two. She's such a lovely woman and my great uncle John is so good to her. I'm happy that he's my great uncle.

Some of my family went over and had some cake at my Grandma's house on Monday. We were celebrating my uncle Ted's 40th birthday. My aunt Tracy turned 50 this year in April. My nephew Braxton is going to have his first birthday party this month. Charity turned 21 this year. My brother David turns a quarter century old in August. My family has a lot of milestones this year. I've got a couple of my own too. I'm going on my 2nd date this year tomorrow night.

This week I was reminded once again how mindful Father in Heaven is of us. I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately about some things. I'm so thankful for the tender mercy shown me this week with Divine intervention on my behalf to provide me some needed and wanted relief. I need to remember this. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart...and lean not unto thine own understanding."

It was a GREAT birthday.

I had a great birthday yesterday (June 26th). My boss got a delicious birthday cake, my favorite kind, white cake with fruit filling, and we had a little party in the afternoon. Semil gave me a birthday phone call while I was at work, I thought that was nice.

I came home, and Stephanie, Shana, and Christy took me miniature golfing at Muligans Golf Course. We went to IHOP afterwards. I ran into Alberta Fualima'a I haven't seen her in years. She has four kids now. Wow. Stephanie gave me some stuff to pamper myself. Now I can give myself a pedicure.

I came home and saw that Ann Christensen had brought me a card and a big back of miniature candy bars. I stuck them in the freezer, we'll see how long they last in my home. My mother loves sweets. Charity loves Twix. I froze them, so that they might last a while.

Today after going to the Salt Lake Temple, I went over to my uncle's office to see if there was some work to be done. My Aunt Kathy had decorated my desk. She gave me a music cd of Paul Cardall's music, and some wheat crackers (I love to snack on wheat crackers), and a big bag of yummy peanut m&m's. My Aunt Kathy is the best.

Today is the anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Jr. I always remember, especially because it's the day after my birthday. I bear testimony that the Holy Spirit has witnessed to me that Joseph Smith, Jr. was called by God to usher in the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this last dispensation. I know that God the Father, and the Son, appeared to Joseph in that sacred grove in New York. The Priesthood keys have been passed down from him, through all of the latter-day prophets, to our current prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet.

Tomorrow I have a Platt family reunion. I'm excited, because I'm renting a sno cone machine, for the occassion. We're meeting up at Washington Park by Mountain Dell Golf Course. I hope the sno cone machine works well.

Primary Election and OHPAA Cultural Arts Festival

I served as an Election Judge in Salt Lake County today. I worked the polling location at Scott Matheson Jr. High School. I served as the Ballot Judge. Today was a closed primary election. The only party involved was the Republican party. We didn't have any non-partisan items on the ballots in our polling location today. Out of all the eligible voters in the districts, my co-workers figured that we had about a 10% voter turnout. The eligible voters are those who already affiliated themselves with the Republican Party, or those who were unaffiliated, but could chose to affiliate today before voting.

I'm not sure if 10% is really that good. It seems to me that many are neglecting their privlidges of being able to vote. What does that mean?

I got to work with some nice people. Our Poll Manager was Sonya Kingley. Jack Weiss served as the Provisional Judge. Rick Brewster was the Touch Screen Technician. Sedley Parkinson served as the Poll Book Judge and Norm Fitzgerald served as the Receiving Judge. Because I was the Ballot Judge I sat at the table with Norm Fitgerald and Sedley Parkinson. I had quite the experience. Norm and Sedley are so knowledgable. I learned all kinds of stuff today. My mom was so kind to bring Pizza to us from Dominos. I just love her.

Norm used to run the Copper Days Celebration in Magna. I'm on a committee putting together the OHPAA Cultural Arts Festival which is an attempt to accomplish the same vision that Copper Days had. After all my research lately, I already felt kind of overwhelmed by all the red tape I discovered exhists out there, speaking today with Norman didn't help alleviate any of my anxieties. I understand there needs to be responsiblity and justice, but I sometimes wonder if things have gone too far. I've heard that I live in a society overrun with law suits. Every agency, organization, and corporation has to be on constant guard, therefore flexiblity and freedom are being surpressed. I don't know how any festival or community event ever happens. There are so many permits, and their associated fees required to allow such an event to even be considered, it's all so overwhelming and a bit discouraging for me. We're just a few simple citizens with only our hands, our time, and minimul financial resources to offer. We want to do something nice for our community, but what we have to offer may not be enough. I hope things work out.

I got get out of this frame of mind. I need to remember to be positive and optimistic. There is lots of good in the world today. We have a lot to be thankful for.

Maizy has a Birthday

My neice Maizy turned another year older today. We had a princess party. (This photo of her was taken a while back. Zeke dressed Maizy up in her dressup clothes. She wasn't actually dressed like a princess for the party today.) It was a lot of fun. We sang some Karaoke with Charity's new machine. I got a Disney Princess Karaoke CD for Charity's new machine, in honor of the party. I saw my nephews singing away on the microphones for the first time. I used to try to get them to sing when they were younger. They never did. Tonight they sure were belting it out. It was fun. Zeke is just learning to read, so his skills aren't quite developed to read along with Karaoke. He just sang some other songs from school, and some he made up. He's got this new song "Driving with the Kids not Buckled." Sometimes it worries his parents that people will think they don't buckle their children up, which is not the case. Zeke just makes up funny songs.

Maizy loves her new princess scooter. Her brothers have Spiderman scooters, now she doesn't feel so left out.

Tomorrow my mom and I are taking the kids to see "Big Bad Musical" at the Empress Theatre. I think Oscar is really excited, because he heard that Jaret Bryce is in the show. The Bryce's used to live in my neighborhood, then they built a house by Pleasant Green. My sister's family bought a house up the street from them a few years ago. Oscar and Jaret's little brother, Ryan have been friends. I hear Zeke is playing with Ryan more lately too. I guess the other day, Crystal looked out the window and saw all three of them jumping off of her storage shed. She wasn't too happy about that. I have to admit, it does sound fun. I used to love to do things like that as a kid. I was definitely into doing crazy stunts, nothing real dangerous, just fun.

I'm excited to see the musical. The plot sounds like lots of fun. I'm wondering if it will be anything like "Hoodwinked." I liked that movie, I thought it was very clever.