"(Sumo Wrestlers) are Infants on Steroids"- Rikishi

This is what I did on my lunch break today!

I dare anyone to top this lunch break!!!!!. . . . . . . . .

Oh Yeah. . . . .Gwenny got the Sumo suits for her party tomorrow, so we decided to test them out and surprise her Mom at work. . . . and let me tell you Food Pavillion got a show!!!!

Yum. . . .Duncan Hines!

Hmmmmm zero trans fat means it's good for you right?

Go Go Gadget Arms!!!!!

Where's Gwenny??????

THERE SHE IS!!!!!

I took a little video, because I thought this had to be comedic gold, and it was!!!

And now it's time for a face off. . . . . Don't worry I gave Gwen the Stank eye!!!!

EXPLOSION!!!!!!!

Yeah that was a bad call, my stomache still hurts from that collision, we needed way more air in those suits, but don't worry we will be pumped and ready to go SAturday!!!!

Until then Happy Friday!!!!

Peace Out!

"On my command, unleash hell."- Maximus in the Movie Gladiator

Ok so wayyyyy long time ago, we had an amazing American Gladiators activity that was super cool, of course because it was Gwenny's idea! Anywho, I got some pics from Aubs, but I haven't gotten around to posting them until now, but it's cool, because you can compare which activity was more awesome, what I mean is Saturday is Gwenny's B-day/super singles ward activity night, and Gwen got Sumo suits, so I should have awesome shots from that, so stay tuned! Anyway here's of some shots of me battling as the Gladiator "The Black Widow"

Gwenny and me facing off in the jousting event, I totally dominated!

Take THAT!!!




Deidra trying to mess with the bull!!!


WHAT!!!! That's what I'm talking about! The Black widow is undefeated in the joust!

Ok so wrestling event wasn't my forte. . . . .Gwenny straight up bulldozed me out of that circle!

So once Me and Deidra went the go around, I wasn't gonna except defeat!



Try to push THIS out of the circle!





Yeah I totally made these jousting sticks! and they where totally durable. . . . NOT!!! I still have the pieces of these in my trunk!



Me and Dr. Death (aka Mike Asay) demonstrating the face off!


Are you intimidated or what????




I wish I had a video of James Baker and Shay and there unfortunate attempts at competing, because James is approximately 300 pounds and shay is like 50, so it was very much like David and Goliath.

Surprisingly enough there where only a few rolled ankles, no serious injuries, just a lot of laughs! This should definately be a repeat activity. . . way way fun!


Peace Out!

“Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world.” - Unknown

Hey! Today is a special day, it’s Angie’s birthday! Yippee! And I think we all know it’s vital to give your friends shout outs on your blog when important events like birthdays transpire, so with out any further adu here is my . . . .


Top 10 “Pearls of Wisdom” I’ve gained from Angie!

1.There are two relationship paths you can take with guys, the friendship path, or the romantic path, beware the friendship path, for once you’re down that road there’s no crossing over!

2.Anyone can sing Country Music

3.Writing a hit Hip Hop song requires One or more references to your “Shawty”, mentioning something about having “Money in the Bank” followed by several random “Eh’s” and your pretty much guaranteed a number one jam!

4.The less work your straightening iron has to do, the better!

5.Good Mac and Cheese takes patience!

6.You never steal your friends

a) Old boyfriends or love interests

b) Jokes

And

c) Schtick

7.It’s just Kissing!

Disneyland really is the “Happiest Place on Earth”

9.Tube Tops are a privilege not a right!


And last but not least. . . . .

10. Hickeys are for White Trash Carnies!


Now my math could be a little off, but I believe I’ve made mention of Angie in about 90% of the blogs I’ve posted, so if you guys aren’t aware of how much I Heart Angie, then you obviously don’t know me!

At the risk of sounding awkward and making you uncomfortable I will not spout out all the things I love about Angie, but I will say this! I’ve noticed most professional people have a mentor, someone they look up to that teaches them, and councils them, and helps mold them into the person they want to be, I guess you could say that’s Angie for me!

There have been many examples I could share to further my point, but one that sticks out to me is when we where in San Francisco riding the trolley down to Fisherman’s Wharf, and the trolley was so crowded and we where all shmushed together with all these strangers, and Angie starts joking around with the people she was mashed up against and pretty soon before you knew it, she’s got the whole trolley laughing and eating everything she says right up, and I remember thinking. . . . .MAN, I wanna do that!!!!!” Or she’ll be making fun of something on TV and her exact same joke will end up being told by Joel McHale on “The Soup” that week.

She also has an amazing eye for what’s cool, some people can pick up an instrument and just play, some people can throw some ingredients together and make something delicious, and just like those that just naturally have a flair for decorating, Angie’s eyes and ears have a keen sense of being able to pick out what’s awesome, and what isn’t gonna work!

But it isn’t just her entertainment factor that makes her so wonderful, it’s the things she does for her friends and family behind clothes doors that makes me cherish her so much, I can’t tell you how many heart to hearts we’ve had and she’s tried to help me figure out my life, or give me the honest truth when I really needed to hear it! The moments I love the most are the ones when it was just us talking and hanging out!

Angie’s the true friend everyone says you should have! I love her more then my luggage, and hope this next year is full of even more memorable moments!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANG!!!!!!

"Anything that is too stupid to be spoken is sung." -Voltaire

The Tony awards where on last night, so I sat down and watched the first part of the show, and it got me to thinking about the big trends I’ve noticed in the Musical world now a days.

The biggest fad as of yet is turning random films into live musicals. Broadway’s produced some big hits like The Lion King, Hairspray, The Producers, and Legally Blonde. And also done well with adaptations of The Color Purple, Young Frankenstein, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Wedding Singer, Cry Baby, Footloose, Spamalot (Musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail), and The Little Mermaid.

They also just recently announced they will be turning Broke Back Mountain into an Opera, so get jazzed for that, because that should drop sometime around 2013!

It seems to me they’ve had pretty good luck converting the most random movies into like Tony award winning shows, so I decided to come up with my own list of movies I’d like to see them attempt to make into a musical!

1. Forrest Gump- This could prove to be a lot of work for the people that build sets because this show would require a lot of scene changes, but I’m welling up now just thinking about the kind of music they’d compose for the death scene of Bubba after Forrest runs him out of the jungle and he dies in his arms. Or the end scene when he’s talking to Jenny’s headstone and talking about Forrest Jr.! Man I’d have to stalk up on Kleenex for that!

2. Rumble in the Bronx- One of the most amusing things about musicals like “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and “Westside Story” was the fight scenes that are really dance sequences. So, I think if you take a movie like this that is known best for its crazy fight scenes, and throw some pirouettes and leaps in the mix, I think that would be the sweetest combo ever!

3. Nightmare on Elm Street- Come on Freddie Krueger live and in person! How ridiculously scary would that be! Plus this is an untapped genre; I’ve never seen anyone turn a cult classic horror film into a Broadway show!

4. Ocean’s 11- This could be like a modern day “Guys and Dolls”. And they could get a bunch of adorable Crooners that sound like Sinatra and Dean Martin to play the lead roles, plus if you ask me there just isn’t enough musicals about bank heist’s

5. Sword in the Stone- forget all these Disney Princess Musicals!!!!!! I need this redone into a Broadway show, simply so I can play Mad Madam Mim! That’s it!

6. Weekend at Bernie’s- I’d feel really sorry for the guy that had to be dead the whole show; a death scene is bad enough, but for two hours? That would be ruff, but I’d like someone to make it happen, just to see if it could be done.

7. Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun- why not? They did it to all my other favorite 80’s movies, plus all the dance numbers would be Spectacular!!!!

8. 8 Mile- Aside from MTV’s remake of “Carmen” where they modernized the story and made it into a Hip Hopera, no one has attempted a serious show with strictly Hip Hop music, and I think it’s high time they did! I mean if they can find guys to sound like Richie Valens, I’m certain they could find someone who could emulate Eminem, it would be a tough order to fill, but sweet if they could pull it off!

9. The Passion of the Christ- Totally a joke, I think Jesus Christ Super Star is all the blasphemy we need!

10. Dances with Wolves- Indians need more props, and I think this is just the movie turned musical to do it!


If any of you would like to start a pool to see which one of these gets done first, be my guest! Or if any of you have movies you think have what it takes, let me know!! But for now I say. . . . . .

Peace!

" Oh Say Can You See?. . . . . "- The Star Spangled Banner

Wanna know about something that just happened today. . . . Ok I’ll tell you!

I got asked to sing the National Anthem at the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall opening ceremony here in town. Maybe some of you aren’t aware, but I guess they have this traveling brigade of Veterans that set up shop at various venues and show off there replica of the famous wall in Washington DC.

All fine and Dandy my padre is a Veteran, and served in the military for quite some time and has instilled in me a love and respect for those that have fought for freedom, so I was more then happy to oblige even though singing the national anthem isn’t my favorite, because it’s more about quality of voice rather then entertainment. And as you all know, entertaining is more my bag, but I was appreciative of the opportunity none the less.

So the guy told me to be at the fair grounds at noon on Thursday and then again at 1 on Saturday. I made arrangements with work to have someone cover the front desk, and my Supervisor Steve told everyone at the meeting this morning I would be performing, so it was like all anyone talked to me about almost all day.

I left at 11 to get the pipes warmed up, and showed up ten till and looked for Pat (the guy that asked me to sing) Finally found him about 4 minutes to noon and told him I was here to sing the national anthem, and the dude was like “Oh OK” an continued on with his conversation. So I thought ok, I guess he will let me know when he’s planning to start. Then my Mom called and informed me, the ceremony didn’t start until 1. . . . “No Problem” I thought “More time to warm up”

An hour and a half later, the flag guys start assembling and there’s some hustle and bustle around the podium, so I go up to Pat and say “Is there anywhere you want me to stand?” and he was like. . . . “No your fine” . . . . . then I see him walk up to this white haired guy that looked like Sam Elliot and ask “Bill West’s Daughter? She was here earlier?” So I walk up to him and inform him of who I am . . . . . again! And the bugle started, the flags start to come in and I lean in and ask him “you just want me to go up there?” and he was like “yeah just go up their and sing your heart out” . . . . . and blah blah blah!

Now here’s the thing, I don’t know much about the military color guard thing, I don’t understand what they are saying, and if I was supposed to get some kind of cue from them about when to go up there, it was a little ambiguous, because there was long pauses in between their little presentation, so when it was finally over, Sam Elliot was looking around the audience, I made eye contact with him a few times but he just continued to look around, and I thought is he gonna announce me? Every other time I’ve sang the Star Spangled Banner, there is some kind of announcement. But nope, not this time! Mr. White beard looks up one final time, and announces the first speaker.

I looked over to my Mom and I was like. . . I think I just got skipped! So I stood in the same spot for almost the whole time, that guy was speaking, thinking maybe that Pat guy would notice what went wrong; communicate with the other dude, but nope! I went and stood by my Mom and the next thing I know Sam Elliot announces a change in plans and has some guy rockin’ a POW shirt sing the anthem! And I was like “Are You SERIOUS? I’m right Here!!!!!!”

So crazy right? Well really no skin off my back, it was actually kind of a relief. And I’m pretty sure that POW guy should just sing it for them all the time. Because A) He’s an actual Veteran and B) He had a really great voice! Any who . . . . I’ve never been looked over like that ever in my whole life, but oh well. . . . Can’t be the star all the time! And it was probably divine intervention coming in and saving me from a potential embarrassing situation, meaning as the chords are still a bit out of shape.

Well until next time!

Peace Out!

"Life is Like a box of chocolates..You never know what you're gonna get"- Tom Hanks in the 90's classic Forrest Gump

I really feel not enough is said about the 90's! This decade is one I feel the closest too, because so much of what shaped me as a person came about in this time frame. I look back on this decade fondly for many reasons some of which I will list for you now!

Here is My Top 10 things that defined the 90's. . . . for yours truly!

1. Flannel Shirts

I've always been pretty stalky, so the grunge era did not flatter this body, especially when it was way cool to tie them around your waist. . . . . . yeah usually the sleeves weren't long enough to fit all the way around me, so I had to settle for admiring it on the rest of my friends. But seriously the Flannel shirt is to the 90's what Bell Bottoms where for the 70's. . . .am I wrong? And if your flannel shirt had a hood. . . . even cooler!!!!

Beavis and ButtHead-

Every adult I know hated this show, and every kid I know secretly watched it behind their backs! I remember hearing about kids lighting stuff on fire and being all destructive because of what they saw on the show, and they had to add that disclaimer at the beginning of every episode, I remember contunially hearing boys imitate that staple laugh of Butthead's you know the one right? or constantly saying "Fire, Fire, Fire!" in that high pitch raspy voice that Beavis had. Also, One of my fondest middle school memories was Becky Fisher attempting to do her impression of "Cornholio" and flashing everyone! Embarrassing, but drives my point even further, I think we have these guys to thank for our "I don't give BEEEEP!" attitude my generation is known for!

3. OJ Simpson Trial-

This was the longest most over covered event of my younger life!!!!! I remember in 6th grade halting everything we where doing in school that day, to watch the verdict, and then the huge uproar at the outcome, and me not caring just hoping this meant I'd never have to hear about it again! I wasn't that lucky unfortunately! Just like Jean Benet Ramsey, this case never dies! And I will never look at a White Bronco the same ever again!

4. Clueless

ClueLess to me is "The Breakfast Club" of the 90's and Alicia Silverstone is like Molly Ringwald.

This movie shaped the way I dressed, spoke, and lived my life!

Without this movie I would have never known the joys of pleated skirts, knee socks, and mini backpacks!

Without this movie I wouldn't have words and phrases like

"Total Baldwin"

"Betty"

"Full-On Monet"

"Whatever!"

"As If!"

"Totally Buggin'"

"Jeepin'"

"I'm Outtie"

and. . . . .

"Cake Boy"

Also I learned valuable life lessons like. . . . .

When your allergy's act up, take out your nose ring

Or it's one thing to get laced at parties, but it's quite another to be fried all day

People lose everything in disasters, that includes sports equipment and cavier

. . . . . and then of course. . . . .

It does not say RSVP on the statue of Liberty!

There's just so much I could say, ClueLess is my definition of the 90's. . . .period!

5. The Death of Selena-

A lot of influential people died in the 90's, but because I live in Moses Lake and I think we are all well aware of the large Hispanic population in this area. . . . it might as well have been the Pope. Even white chicks where rocking RIP Selena shirts! And almost every talent show, middle school choral concert, recently at the Lip Sync and frequently at karaoke some one would do some kind of tribute to Selena. . . . and I'm not gonna lie I requested "Dreamin' Of You" a few times back in the day, and I almost know all the words to "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", and "Como La Flor". It's True!

6. Calvin Klein-

Also on the list of items I coveted, was anything Calvin Klein. . . . .the perfume, the shirts, the jeans. . . . .well underwear was underwear, but if it had CK on it. . . . .I wanted it really bad! And this was before designers realized Fat people existed, so there was no hope for me because it just simply didn't come in my size, but I think it was pretty safe to say, you where a nobody unless you owned something from Calvin.

Before you start feeling too sorry for me, I did manage to find a knock off Calvin shirt at the fair one year. You know the ones, they have the designer screenprinted on the front, but say Hanes on the tag inside. I had everyone fooled with that, not to mention I cut out their adds and make collages out of all the designer labels and put them on my binder to make people think I rolled like that!

7. Nirvana-

Grunge Music and Gangsta Rap was the music to listen too, unfortunately this all came during my massive fascination with Country Music, so I missed the boat on appreciating it early on, but whenever I think Grunge I think Nirvana, and if I where to do word association and somebody said "The 90's" I'm positive the first thing that would come to my mind is this band. I feel bad about not mentioning Pearl Jam, but they come in a close second, maybe it's the death of Kurt Cobain that really solidifies this band in my memory, but there was so much Pop Culture that came from this band and their music. . . .do you disagree?

8. Full House-

I know what your thinking. . . . .Full House? What about Saved By The Bell, What About Family Matters, What about Blossom?

These where all great shows, but when I think back on what made TGIF for me. . . . it was this show!

I don’t wanna hear about what you guys think is better choice, this is my list, and my pick is Full House! I Loved, Loved, Loved this show! ,

This show is packed full of laughs, life lessons, and tender moments! And if you don’t think so all I have to say to you is. . . . . “How Rude!”

9. Princess Diana-

Here’s why Princess Diana makes this list!

A) She’s like the most famous Princess ever!
B) She made me care about land mines
C) Her death is still talked about and hashed over
D) Elton John re-wrote a song for her
E) She has like the Hottest Sons ever!!!!

I’m not gonna lie, I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news about her death, it’s not an interesting story, so I won’t tell it, but it seriously kind of got to me, and I think the more I learned about her and the good she tried to do with her life, she made me want to care a little bit more about the people around me, and I really wanted to marry William!

10. Doc Martin's-

I would call you a fool if you told me Doc Martin’s didn’t rule the 90’s! This was a High quality brand of shoe that had a very diverse crop of clients if you ask me!

You had the Goth’s and Skin Head’s rockin’ the knee length black boots

You had the garage and punk bands rockin’ whatever crazy colored boots

You had Preppy girls with their Mary Janes preferably in black or brown R>
You had your artists in holograms and silly patterns (Trust me I saw it! And wanted them!)

Then you had the missionaries and every Priest in my home ward sporting the classic black lace up oxford!

You see what I mean! I had 2 pairs of Doc Marten’s that I don’t I could have loved a human baby more then I loved those shoes! The first pair I got had to have been the ugliest pair of shoes you’ve ever seen, but because they where doc’s (and on sale!) I was like these are the coolest shoes ever!!!! Under pants they looked like boots with really thick soles, but they only came to my ankle, they where black suede leather and had would kind resembled a belt like flourish on it, but not a buckle, it served no purpose that’s all I remember, the toe was more square then round, and they made my feet look huge, but man I loved those things! I also had a pair of blue and black (The color depended on the light you where in) Mary Jane’s and I do believe my life was complete after that!

Ok people! let me know your feelings. . . . what would make your list?

“Junk is the ultimate merchandise. . . "- William S. Burroughs

Stealing other peoples good ideas has been my thing for a while now, for example whenever Angie would come up with a cool saying or watch something funny and quote it, I would steal it and pretty soon everybody thought I was the genius behind the material, but not the case, it was usually Angie or somebody else I admire for their coolness, so why should it stop with blogging.

The Other day I was catching up, with some of my friends and reading what was going on in their lives and a stumbled across my good buddy Katie's blog about helping her parents move and finding a bunch of stuff she couldn't believe she'd held on too for so long, and because a lot of the time I like to one up people, I decided to post some of the most ridiculous things I've held on to over the years, because I believe I'm the hugest pack rat this side of the Mississippi! And I challenge anyone to one up me!


















Pam Curnell was the choreographer for all the musicals I participated in High School and at the last performance she always gave us a little token to remember the show by. My freshmen year we did a musical called Rock N Roll (it was a dandy let me tell you!) Everything was 50's themed, so she made all the girls in the cast these little decorative boxes filled with Candy. I was a freshmen in '99 and it wasn't until about 2005 that I actually got rid of the candy inside of it, and I still have yet to use it for anything. . . . .why do I still have this thing? A side note. . . the next three years she made us all dolls that resembled the characters we played, I still have all of those, and those are completely exempt from the toss out pile, so don't even ask!

















At one point in my life I believe I had in my possession every stitch of music we ever performed (or thought about performing) in choir, but for some reason I decided to hold on to these ones in the hopes that maybe someday I'd get a chance to perform them again, for what it's worth I have managed to use some of the Christmas music I saved like "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and "Oh Holy Night". But I'm still waiting for my chance to bust out "Dry Bones" or "The Sinatra Showcase".


















Just like the sheet music. . . .I never know when I might have to reprise my role as Irma in "The Boy Who Changed the World, or better yet as The Story Teller in "Wishes Come True, Secrets of the Rainbow Planet." And I'm pretty sure the school may have been fined for me not sending back my Cinderella Libretto! Oh well I still got my Diploma so I guess it doesn't matter. . . .Gee I hope Mr. Hendrickson doesn't stumble upon this some day!

















My first semester of College our Compassionate Service Leader in my relief society instigated this thing called "warm fuzzies" where every Sunday you would write someone a nice note telling them something you liked about them, or appreciated, and then the CSL would deliver them, Oh yeah I still have those. . . . I guess it's OK to hold on to notes especially when they say something kind, but some aren't signed and say things like "Your Nice". . . . and I can't remember half of the girls anyway. . . . sad story!

















This just might take the cake for craziness! This Lamp Shade has each and everyone of my corsages from High School dances pinned to it. Let's throw out some numbers, my first dance was in 2000 and it's 2008. . . . .not to mention I've been out of High School for 6 years! Is it really necessary for me to keep these, and I'm pretty sure this lamp doesn't even work anymore! I blame my mother as well as myself for this monstrosity.
















This little bear was placed in my incubator when I was first born. . . . .on second thought. . . .that isn't pathetic. . . .people keep this kind of stuff all the time. . . right? Ok I admit this bear has seen cleaner days, but the sentiment alone makes it worth hanging on too. . . .I hope!


















I'm sad to say it was after high school that I started collecting these, Dee and I would play with them when we went out to eat at Perkins or Shari's, and I think at the time we thought they where pretty cool to play with during Sacrament meeting, maybe that's why I still have them, so I can pass them on to my children. I have about 5 or 6 more, but I seemed to have temporally misplaced them. . . . I sure hope they turn up!

















The second to the last day of Kindergarten was Crazy Socks/Sunglasses day, and I didn't have any shades, so on the way to school my Dad and I stopped at Safeway and picked these little gems up, and he told me firmly "Now Emily, Don't you lose these!" and so far I haven't! They have survived about 5 or 6 different moves and obviously the test of time, because I'm pretty sure I saw these exact shades on The Olsen twins the other day . . . . take that! And you all thought I was irresponsible!






















I tried to save a real zinger for last. . . . .this my friends is My State Report on Tennessee from 5th grade! I just recently found this on a new book shelf my mother just purchased. . . .which means she is yet again to blame for my shinigans! I didn't even get a perfect score on this report so. . . . . WHY ON EARTH DO WE STILL HAVE THIS??????





I Challenge all you, my dear blogging friends to a battle! Anyone out there dare challenge my impeccable pack ratting skills. . . . let me know, and we will see who comes out the pack rattingest of them all!!!


Keep it Real!

Peace!