Yes I'm still Alive

I realize that it's been a while since I posted. I'm pretty sure the only person who is sad about that is my loving mother, who actually thinks I'm funny. So, I thought it would be appropriate to create a Top Ten list of things that have kept me from updating my blog:

Top Ten Reasons you Haven't Heard From me in a While (which may or may not be true):

10. I've been too busy dating. (and if you think that is true, I could also use some money.)

9. My new bedding is so comfortable, I can't bring myself to actually leave it (or wake up).

8. EPIC WARD ACTIVITIES 'nuff said.

7. I'm addicted to working on my personal history. I started it this summer, and am re-doing it
right now. Yep, that's right. Re-doing it.

6. I've been too busy making t-shirts in honor of my new favorite tv show: Glee!

5. I've been in a cocoon, progressing towards becoming beautiful butterfly.

4. Training a pack of wild dingoes takes dedication and stamina.

3. I've been watching so much Star Trek: The Next Generation that I actually thought I was Commander Riker.

2. School has left me a dry, husk of a woman.

1. I've been washing my hair. . . a lot.

School! We're Movin' on Up!

School starts tomorrow morning.
Officially.
I'm so excited.
Some people think that having an entire summer off is the ultimate in fun and excitedness. And it is. I've been able to do lots of fun stuff this summer (being in a play, visiting family out of state, picking up new interests, etc.), but there comes a time in every summer where I miss being in front of my class. I miss teaching Math. I miss talking about fun books with people who are reading them for the first time.
Plus, it will be extremely welcome to have work to take my mind off of other things. So, wish me luck!

The kids on the bus look so happy. Wouldn't you if your bus driver was able to drive using only one side of the bus?! Talk about cool!

On My Way Home

I'm actually sitting in the New York JFK airport at the moment, deciding which of the possibilities for time wasting sounds the most exciting. I have a brand new copy of "Flight of the Conchords" season two sitting next to me, and ipod in my bag, an awesome book that I'll probably read cover to cover before I get to Provo, and a Best Buy vending machine down the hallway that just looks so interesting (it appears as if I can buy ipods of all types and electronic accessories by inserting my card into a soda machine-looking like-thing). I chose blogging.
I have been lax in my blogging (about a month since the last tidbit of Michelle-ness-osity) and I apologize, kind of.
I've been traveling around a bit. Currently, I'm finishing up a trip to visit my brother, Mike, and his family in Boston (where they moved this past spring). Mom and I planned to show up on the same day, and we'd be followed by my sister, Tina, and her family. I assumed my adventure would be full of beans and cream pies.
Nope. Regardless of how grand my brother's house is, any place starts to feel small when 12 people are put inside it. My trip was filled with outings to various beaches, shopping in downtown Boston, and visiting the Plimouth Plantation (and no, I didn't spell that wrong). Being a history teacher, I loved the Plimouth Plantation (where actors dress up as the original colonists and they've recreated the original village of Plymouth.) I also got to go aboard the Mayflower II (a reproduction of the original). I saved several historical sites for my next visit (I'm looking forward to also seeing Lexington/Concord and Salem). So, if anybody's interested in joining up on the next Boston trip, let me know.

Top Ten Things I Love About Oroville (My Home Town)

I'm visiting home for a couple weeks (I promised Mom and Dad I'd make my trip longer this year, so I purposefully didn't get involved in any plays for the end of the summer.) Yesterday I went "exploring" and had a grand ol' time (but not a grand ol' opry). As I wandered around my home town of Oroville, CA, I noticed many things and a top ten list was born. Though it might only make sense to an Orovillian, perhaps the rest of you will enjoy it as well.

10. When in Provo, I'm always thinking there's nothing to do. Then I come to Oroville and I realize here, there's REALLY nothing to do.

9. When I say I'm going to "go into town" it actually makes sense, because my parents live outside of town. Whereas when I say it in Provo, I get funny looks.

8. Everything, everywhere you go, is on sale. I've already done all my school shopping for the fall and got it all at killer prices.

7. My multi-tasking skills get quite the workout. While waiting and waiting for my parent's dial up modem to do anything, I've had to find other things to do (watch movies, read books, pick nose, etc.)

6. "Yogurts to Go." Ever since I was a tiny person, the frozen yogurt store has always been amazing. The awesomest thing is that even though the business has changed names and owners through the years, the yogurt still tastes exactly the same.

5. With all sorts of free-time, I get to introduce Mom to various tv series she's unfamiliar with. This trip, it's Arrested Development. I didn't think she'd like it, but she keeps asking to watch more episodes. Rock on!

4. Whenever I bathe/put on makeup/brush my hair/brush my teeth, Dad always asks if I'm going out. Apparently, I'm expected to stay in my pajamas all day if I don't have any formal plans.

3. What I call the Oroville anomoly (and I know if I didn't spell that right, Andy will correct me). I drove through a lower income part of town, consisting of completely run down trailers and mobile homes. What struck me was that parked outside of EACH of these was a nice, new, shiny car. These cars had spoilers, new rims, custom tires, and chrome lights.

2. People here are so friendly! I went to a racquetball club to see if it was still open, and the members sitting outside started chatting with me and asking about my life (even talking about religion, go figure). I loved it! Easiest time making friends ever!

1. Men here actually look at me, like really look at me. Probably because of number 4.

Just Another of My Brilliant Ideas

I hate Kristen Stewart. I'm sure she's a nice human being and all, but I absolutely despise her as an actress. The only thing I've seen her in that I enjoyed was "Speak." In it, she does what she does best: nothing. I've seen her smile twice (and those were only half smiles) and she is the queen of non-expressive line delivery.
When she was chosen to be Bella, I was enraged and horrified (ok, that might be an exaggeration). I imagine that they will continue to make the movies, and they will continue to cast Kristen Stewart in the role.

Well, I have found a very happy alternative. She even looks a bit like Kristen Stewart.
Her name is Missy Peregrym, and she is the star of "Stick It"(a shameless teenage flick that I absolutely love and will lend to anyone who promises to return it). She smiles, she has humor, and she's likable, even when she's playing someone with issues (and doesn't that describe Bella? It does to me.).

The one problem?

She could probably beat up Robert Pattinson.

"The Pajama Game is the Game I'm In"

If you haven't spoken to me for a while (and why haven't you, because seriously, I thought we were friends) you haven't heard about the show that I'm currently in. It's called "The Pajama Game" and it takes place in the Sleep Tite pajama factory in Illinois. Technically it's a love story, but I don't really have that much to do with that aspect. My character is definitely a background type of individual. However, I have discovered that I am an eyebrow actor (somewhat similar to Michael Keaton). My facial expressions are off the charts. There's even a picture in the hallway of the theater where I'm making some sort of face that is way over the top. My character's name is Brenda, and she's a bit boy-crazy. I like to think of her sort of like myself, but without any common sense, or desire for the preservation of self-dignity. She decorates her sewing machine with pictures of her favorite film stars. It's been really nice because the director has really allowed me to ad lib a lot. Usually, my ad libs get bigger laughs than my written lines.
My absolute favorite character is Vernon Heinze. The actor who plays him is so creative and he can make even the quietest audience burst into the "Emphysema laugh" (you know, they're laughing so hard, it's mostly wheezing).
The show is playing every Friday, Saturday, and Monday until June 27th. Hopefully, you'll get a chance to come.

(photo courtesy of The Daily Herald)

Variety Show Pics/Dance Festival

I ended up being in only two of the acts this year for our variety show. And yes, it did take place over month ago. But the pictures were still worth seeing.
This shot was during an SNL skit where a teacher becomes very frustrated at students' lack of knowledge. Unfortunately, I had no real life experience to draw from.Jenni and I performed "Flute Wars." This is my interpretation of Darth Maul. Fun, huh?
The others are of our Faculty dance for the dance festival (choreographed by yours truly). We dressed up like old people.Here I am in my old person glory (and no, that is not my real rear end. There was pillow taped to me underneath). I think this shot should be a future album cover for me.


Randa and I were partners for the swing portion. Our leg lift/kick was the highest and lasted the longest. We're just that cool. And yes, my pillow was starting to fall out at this point of the program.