"I Wanna Rock ' n' Roll all night, and party everyday!"- Kiss

It was Valentine's day weekend, and as usual I attempted to get everyone in Singles ward excited about another themed dance! Now this particular party I am especially proud of because I came up with everything all on my own, which is an unusual feet for me, because I am almost always stealing somebodies idea. . . . (mainly Angie). So I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment and it completely trumped the fact that I got zero play on Valentine's day ( I thought this was really gonna be my year! :))


Anywho. . . this years theme "the Headbangers Ball" and everyone was ordered to come dressed as their favorite "Rockstar" and or their own Rockstar persona!

I was super bummed because Miss Gwen in her usual genius came up with the plan for her and Meredith to be Axl and Slash from Guns N Roses. And I was left shaking my fist and wishing I'd thought of it first, so then I thought maybe I'll be Courtney Love, or Janis Joplin, or Brett Michael's circa Rock of Love. . . . none of which panned out or made me very excited, so finally two days to go until the big show and the idea hit me that I've wanted to be Lady Ga Ga for quite sometime, why don't I just be her? Sure it was a bit of a stretch considering it was "Rockstar" themed party and people were probably expecting something different from me, but everything for the costume fell into place (after a lengthy mental debate about whether or not I could work the no pants look.) and I was fired up about it, and decided forget what people think. . . . it's my dance right?





Here's what I came up with. . . . . . .

The Inspiration

The Imitation

I made those glasses myself thank you!!!!





I need to give a little shout out to the crew from Wenatchee that hit us up! Without their presence we would have been dead, so big ups to them for being the life of the party!

Here you see Axl Rose(Meredith), Steven Tyler (taylor Byington) and Slash (gwenny). Gwen made her Top hat out of felt and her hair out of black curling ribbon. . . . . . I don't know why she feels it necessary to out do me every time we do these things!!! but seriously. . . Brilliant I tell you brilliant!

Lady GaGa and Avril Levine aka Nette

Miss Stephanie Cobb and I posing for the Paparazzi!

Gotta love the faces in this pic!

I'm not sure how Alvin the Chipmunk fits into all this, but good work anyway Dan Heldt!

This is probably my favorite moment of the night. Bro. and Sis. Black are new leaders in our Singles ward, and they are a pretty quiet, conservative and a farely laid back couple, so you can imagine when they came waltzing into the dance dressed like this. . . . . . . .

It caused quite a stir. . . actually hardly anyone recognized them! It was pretty much the highlight of my night! This is the reason why I do this every year, because every time somebody steps out of their box, and completely surprises me with their commitment to the dress up theme!

A tip of the hat in your direction Bro. and Sis. Black!

The Kiss theme was a popular choice, but then again nothing says "Rock" more then them right? Major props to this foursome, because their costumes were magnificent!

Here is Jarna Knickerbocker and Derick Hines, Judging by this shot I think Jarna was miscast as Ace Freely. . . I mean look at that tongue!!!!!

GROUP SHOT!!!!! All six of them!

Daniel Justeson as Enrique and Kayla as Joan Jett

Mr. Perry is workin' that scarf!

Sarah Bryant and Keturah with a little bit of Lightning Mike in the background!

Victoria Alvarado lookin' totally outrageous!

Daniel looks ready to party, either that or somebody spiked the punch!

Looks like Taylor is serenading his table mates with a little "Dude Looks like a lady"

Rachel keepn' it Gangsta as always!

Please believe their was plenty of singing. . . . . . . . .

................Headbanging

. . . . . . and of course Air Guitar!

Meredith and Gwen. . . owning the air band competition!

The night was super fun and I couldn't have asked for a better activity! I think everyone came with great attitudes and so the party was a success. Biggest thank you ever to my "posse" for helping with set up and tear down. . . no balloons were lost in the process and if any of you know me and my luck, that is an impressive feet all in itself!

Well. . . . until next time

Peace out!

Oh and Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

"All things are cause for either laughter or weeping."- Seneca

SO. . . . . I happened to be at the dollar store last weekend, and I came across a package of various bible themed card and trivia games, and since we are studying the Old Testament in our Sunday school class, I decided some of my friends who are teachers of this class could benefit from something of this nature, especially since sometimes that particular block of church can use a little something to get people to participate.

Now the quality of things purchased at the dollar store is never very top notch, because it's THE DOLLAR STORE, but little did I know what a gem of an investment I was making!


I decided to keep for myself the "Bible Trivia Flash Cards" mainly because this picture of Christ was on the cover. . . . . .so I knew what was inside had to be good!



Why does The Saviour only have four fingers in this picture? (PS this card's question on the front says "Jesus rose form the dead in how many days?" if you were curious.)






OK Here's the question for the next card. . . . . . .




What did Jesus do for Lazarus?

What has two thumbs and was resurrected. . . . . This Guy!!!

Who was in the Belly of the Whale?

Nice Goggles Jonah. . . . .and was that the belly or the blow hole?

Who were the first humans?

Wait, wasn't the snake the bad guy in this story. . . . I wanna take this snake home, he doesn't not look like a threat to my salvation at all!!!!

Who was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at Sodom and Gomorrah (spelled Gamora on the card. . . . not that I'm one to judge about spelling, but it just adds to the credibility)?

Get it? she's a salt shaker?. . . . . . just plain silly is what this is!

I saved the best one for last. . . . let's see if you have the same reaction I did!

Which disciple betrayed Jesus?

Does this shot make you as uncomfortable as it did me?

I cannot understand what made the creators of this game think, this picture didn't look a little shifty. . . . but then again they did only give Christ 4 fingers. . . . . oh silly dollar store game!

Anyway, I just thought I'd share with you this amazing find, it made me laugh, and I hope it did the same for you!

Peace Out!

"To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly"- Henri Bergson

In 2001. . . . . .


I was shocked by the announcement of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's divorce ( If they can't make it no one can. . . I thought) the death of Aaliyah one of my favorite singers and. . . . . . how unattractive Halle Berry is when she cries (due to her tearful acceptance of the Oscar for Best Actress making her the first women of color to receive one)


but in all seriousness


I think the event that rocked 'o1 for everybody not just me was 9/11! Everybody has a story about where they were and what was happening at that moment and how it affected them, the thing that I thought was funny was the year America was probably at it's lowest I had one of my biggest personal triumphs, 2001 treated me well.



I got a new job at Perkins as a Hostess (JonathINN's wasn't giving me any hours!)



I did 2 plays: Fame ( I had a small part as Mrs. Schwartz the overbearing stage Mother) and Dracula ( I played a female Reinfield, it was pretty fun!)




But that September while the world was astonished and saddened by the terrorist attacks in New York and D.C. Ivan Craddock and I were named Homecoming King and Queen.



I remember the night of the big game was the same night they had that telethon to raise money for the victim's families of 9/11. The one that almost every television and radio station had cancelled it's regular programming so as they could all broadcast the same event.




My Father was driving me to Lions field where the game took place and we were listening to that program. I remember feeling a little guilty that it was such a somber time for our Nation, and I was having one of the most exciting and memorable nights of my life to date. It was humbling, I have never felt so big and yet so small in one moment.

Big things really started poppin' in '02






Kelly Clarkson was crowned the 1st American Idol, Britney Spears made her film debut in the BLOCKBUSTER "Crossroads" and both NSYNC and Backstreet Boys disbanded!







but there were lots of life changes and monumental moments for me as well. . . . .









1. I ended my High School theatre experience as The Wicked Stepmother in "Cinderella"







2. Graduated from High School







and said farewell to my best friends








3. Entered the Moses Lake Young Single Adult Ward!








4. Got a sweet Bank job!





and. . . . . .






5. Hit up the Big Apple-





Oh man in 2002 the world was my Oyster! I was a fresh faced 18 yr old ready to make my mark! Little did I know it would take me a lot longer then expected to do that. . . . but that's growing up eh?







OK I know it's a double dose

but what were your favorite moments of 01-02?

". . . . .Oh Two Thousand Zero Zero Party Over OOps Out of Time!" - Prince

Well people the end of the decade is upon us, and I really can't believe it's been ten years!!! It's seems like only yesterday I was preparing my bomb shelter with the necessary means to survive the end of the world! :)

Seriously though, do you remember where you were that New Year's Eve? When the Y2K was supposed to be the end of it all! I was at my buddy Lacey Martin's House with all my BFF's at the time. Lacey, Katie Jensen (Reese), Crystal Montoya (Harris), Lena Campbell (Gilbert) and Danny Payne. I remember there was sparkling cider and I'm pretty sure I fell asleep when everyone was watching "Strange Brew", lucky for us the world went right on turning after the clock struck midnight, because man were we party animals!!!!

This has caused me to take a walk down memory lane and contemplate the highlights of my life over the last decade and so the next few blog posts will be dedicated to the reminiscing of my life from 2000-2009!

IN THE YEAR 2000. . . . . .

Coyote Ugly, Bring It On, and Centerstage where some of my favorite movies, and I could be found singing ". . . I'm sorry Ms. Jackson, whooooo, I am fo REEEAAUUULLL!" at the top of my lungs because that song was THA JAM!!!

It was a year of firsts for me in January I got my first legit job AS a Waitress at this little Restaurant called JonathINN's. It was located less then a mile away from my house, and the owners knew my parents, so that helped me land it, even though I had zero experience! I still crave their steak and twice baked potatoes to this day!

I turned 16 the end of 1999, but because I've always been a late bloomer I didn't end up getting my license until that summer (mainly because it took me three trys to pass the written exam!). In July of 2000 my father bought me my first car, a 1986 White Ford Tempo I later dubbed "The Temptation"! That car made many a pilgrimage to McDonald's for the 49 cent Cheeseburger's with my good buddies DeeAnne Green (Mecham) and Ryan Schmidt! Those were good times!

And I had my first lead role in the Musical "Our Miss Brooks". I played Connie Brooks a Single English Teacher in the 1960's, who gets thrown into producing the school Musical and spends most of her time fighting with the School's Athletic Coach Hugo Longacre (played by Noble Brown) who she then ends up falling in love with, and blah blah blah yada Yada yada!

The end of the year I got to play one of my most favorite parts. . . . Yente the Matchmaker in "Fiddler on the Roof"

This is me with one of my Best friends (and lunch buddies) from High School Ryan Schmidt, He played Motel the Tailor!

I went to my first High School Dance, finished my term as Secretary and moved on to Vice President of Masque and Gavel (My High School Drama club) I got into Jazz Choir which had been my goal since my sister was involved, and it's also the year I became obsessed with Jewish culture and using Yiddish words like "Mazeltov", "Faklemped" or "Mommalla". I blame "Fiddler" and studying the Old Testament in Seminary!

I don't recall having a lot of care's or worries that year, life was good, I was right were I wanted to be, I had good friends, plenty of stage time, and a car that only broke down on a occasion and even then all I had to do was call my Dad and we'd get it fixed!

2000 it was a good year!

What were some of your greatest moments for Y2K?

"Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there." ~Amy Li

Last week was my sister Amy's Birthday, Wednesday we decided to do a little sisterly bonding to commerate! We did lunch, got a pedicure, and bought matching hats! All was enjoyable. . . well except for the tickle fight I had with the guy that did my toes! :) But that's beside the point.

One of the things I love most about my sister is she always found a way to make me feel special when it was my day! Weither it was Balloons, funny cards, cute stuffed animals, or a ticket to a movie I was dying to see, she made birthdays special and It's my hope to live up to that someday!

I'm sorry it was two days late, but I hope you know I love you Amus!

Before

AFTER!!!

I felt bad though because she didn't get a cake this year. . . . .but we did get matching hats right??? SO I hope that makes up for it. . . . . .

With that said. . . . . .

Happy Belated Birthday to my favorite Sister in all the world!

Peace Out!!!!