New Look

Ha!

I changed the look of my blog.

I HATED the purple background I had before. So I decided to do something about it.

Some of you may think the new look is random.

But those of you who know where we're moving to, will know differently.

THERE'S A METHOD TO MY MADNESS!

Lonely Living

Max and I text A LOT. It’s our main form of communication.

Frequently, I get a text from him as he leaves work and he says things like,
“Going back to Loneliness.”

What does that mean, you ask?

“Loneliness” is what he named his apartment.
His bachelor pad.
His place of dwelling.

Sad, huh?

It’s been awful for him to be away from his family this long.

Believe me, we miss him too, but our situation is different:
a) we are in our own familiar house
b) we have each other
which makes the separation somewhat easier to bear.

Since Inigo and I finished our production last week, we decided that since we have so much free time on our hands, we’d jump in the car and drive to New Florin to surprise him.

And we actually would have gotten away with it, if
a) we had left Florin a little earlier, I could have driven straight to his office and surprised him there
or,
b) if I actually knew where he lived.

He had to move out of the house he was renting, so he’s in a new apartment and I didn’t know where it was.

We texted Max when we were nearing New Florin and said, “Don’t go to the gym tonight because we want to Skype with you.”
So, he waited and waited for us to get to a computer
(we told him we were en route to Florin from Guilder)
while we drove up and down the streets of New Florin looking for the new apartment.

Finally, he said,
“I’m going to the gym now. I won’t be gone very long. We’ll Skype when I get back.”

Uhhhh……
”Please don’t go to the gym,”
I had to text back (or have Inigo text since I shouldn’t be texting and driving)

There was a short pause and the reply was,
“Are you in New Florin?”

He got up that morning with a feeling that we might be driving over to surprise him.

Seriously?
Can I EVER surprise that man?

In a nutshell, we had a FABULOUS weekend and spent some WONDERFUL time together!

In a desire to better acquaint ourselves with our new area,
we drove over two large mountain ranges that were around 10,000 feet in altitude.

We played in creeks, and walked through snowbanks to get to sacred Indian ground.
We gazed with awe and wonder at some amazing waterfalls, wondering where ALL THAT WATER could be coming from.
We went swimming in the local swimming pool
and walked up and down the Main Street of the nearest
”Tourist Trap” town.

And I took photos.
Tons and tons of photos.
So many photos that Inigo started yelling at me.

”STOP TAKING MY PICTURE!!! YOU’RE SUCKING THE HAPPINESS OUT OF ME EVERY TIME YOU DO!!”

But eventually he started smiling for the lens again.
Because he was having fun.

He didn’t want to drive over the big Bruin Bicuspid Pass
(don’t you love how I change the names?)
but in the middle of the teeth clenching drive said,
“Wow!! This is amazing!”

We missed Buttercup.
But she was down at the Shallows
(an amusement park south of here)
with Biff (her new fiancé) at his family reunion.

Hopefully Max’s life was a little less lonely while we were there.
And while I’m finding it difficult to leave Florin, I know that being with Max is more important and I’m anxious for our own reunion!

Looking forward to the many new adventures that await!

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Waterfall in the Large Antler Mtn. Range

There is a Native American medicine wheel in these mountains and these are some of the religious relics that you find there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On top of the Bruin Bicuspid Pass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To prolong our time together, we also stopped and walked through a geyser basin in
My Park.
(Max drove his own vehicle, so he could drive himself back to New Florin while I drove Inigo and I back to Florin. We each got to our respective domiciles at about 11 pm.)

Okay.
Here’s the end of all my clever names. :(

I wanted to take a picture of Inigo at the same place we took a picture of Buttercup.
This was the last time we had driven over this pass – 2002 – and I was only a month or 6 weeks away from delivering Inigo when we drove over.
(I can’t believe we drove it that close to my due date! What were we thinking?)
You can see our dear, wonderful dog, Bandon in the windshield of Buttercup’s picture.
Sadly, he passed away in November of that year.

Slipping Through My Fingers…

Not only is this song by the best musical group EVER, but they perform this song that sums things up PERFECTLY for me.

Today, Buttercup announced that she’s engaged.

I’ll get used to the idea.
It’s just that right now, I feel my baby slipping away, and I don’t know how to hold on.

Going Live!

How do I describe how I felt last night when we finally performed in front of a live audience?

Exhilarating!

Thrilling!

Exciting!

Fabulous!

I asked myself a gazillion times…

“WHY HAVEN’T I DONE THIS BEFORE?!?!?”

Seriously.

The adrenaline rush amazing. When we were on stage for our final bows, I found myself crying because:

1) our first night is over and you can’t ever repeat opening night

2) we only have 3 more performances left and I want MORE!

3) WE GOT A STANDING OVATION!!!

The theater wasn’t full… opening night usually has sparse attendance… but from where I stood, it looked like everyone on their feet.
That totally makes all the hard work, sweat and exhaustion worth it.

We put together a show that is full of fun and entertainment that our community LOVED!

 

 

 

 

 

That’s Oliver sitting to the right of Inigo. ^                Do our orphans look hungry?^

 

 

 

 

 

“The Artful Dodger” is front and center. ^               This dance is “Consider Yourself.”^
She did an amazing job!

I can’t wait for tonight’s performance!
(We will be playing to an almost full house.)

(Photos provided by Steck)

Testing

I downloaded/bought a new app for my iPad that allows me to write and post directly to my blog. I've waited a long time to find an app that allows me to do this.

I am sitting at my kitchen table, reading glasses on (!) typing away -- hoping this app actually works!

While I'm sitting here, I'll just mention that our play opens this week!! We are so excited but every time I think about it, I get butterflies in my stomach. I'm torn with wishing it would just be over so we can get on with our life, yet, wishing it would go on forever because we are having such fun. Each time I've participated in a stage production, I have found it to be life changing.

Here's to blogging on the iPad!

Inigo’s Newspaper Article

**The article featuring Inigo was finally printed in today’s newspaper! I am putting it on here, with obvious changes to protect our identity. However, for copyright reasons, I think I need to leave the reporter’s name as is.**

Local youngsters portray paupers in Florin musical

By LINDSEY BUSH

---

Boys and girls throughout Florin have won the battle against the wide-tooth comb and trimming shears -- at least for a while, anyway.
Though doting mothers typically don't allow their children to abandon personal grooming standards, the kids say it's all for a good cause.
Tangled locks frame the faces of more than 80 eastern Florin youngsters as they channel their inner paupers in preparation for the Florin Community Theatre's performance of "Oliver!"
The musical features about 145 cast members, the majority of which are "orphaned" children.
"The boys don't have to cut their hair for a long time," 8-year-old Inigo said.
That's his favorite aspect of the production and many other young actors agreed.
"We don't have to comb it either," 10-year-old Girl Orphan said. "We get to let it go all ratty. Sometimes I'll wash it, but I don't have to brush it out."
After months of learning songs and dances -- along with growing out the perfect hairdos -- the children are ready to bring "Oliver!" to life.
The production runs July 14, 15, 16 and 18 at the Florin High School Performing Arts Center.
While children make up a majority of the play, adult community members round out the cast and production crew.
"We really wanted to do something this year that would involve a lot of different ages from the community," director A C said. "I think it's fun to watch co-workers, neighbors, church members and family members share a talent that you didn't know they had."
The stage production is based on Charles Dickens' classic novel, "Oliver Twist."
It follows a young orphan as he struggles through life on the streets. Despite Oliver's sad situation, he's able to find happiness in the end.
"(The moral) is that you'll always be loved and you'll never be forgotten," Inigo said.
Though coordinating a play isn't easy, training a cast of young actors can be especially difficult. Production organizers must ensure that each child can perform and remember their parts, even when rehearsals conflict with summer sports and music lessons.
The children have worked to learn songs, dances and stage placement at each rehearsal.
"It's like a patchwork, it's a little of this and a little of that, and to put it together is really exciting," Director said. "We showered (the kids) with the fact that they are what this show is all about. They're just delightful to watch; the kids have been awesome."
Despite the time and personal grooming sacrificed to perfect the production, 8-year-old Boy Orphan said it's been worth it.
"It's a good experience to be in this," he said. "I'm glad to be in it."
If you go
When: 7 p.m. July 14, 15, 16 and 18
Where: Florin High School Performing Arts Center
(Photos courtesy of RBower)

(You can see Inigo on the far left of this photo)

(Inigo raises his hand to talk to the reporter)
 

I think it was a very nicely written article and I'm hoping that it will generate a lot of publicity so people will come see our show. Woo hoo!