This evening my Dad, Alvin and I went down to Abravanel Hall to go to the Messiah Sing In. This is a fabulous tradition. The Utah Symphony along with their choir deliver several selections from Handel's Messiah. On many pieces they ask the audience to join in. We're always pretty lucky to sit next to people that can really belt it out. I just pretend and trail behind the professionals adding in a Hallelujah here and there. I just liked the conductor's advice, "Don't forget to breathe." We missed you tonight Rose! (I can't pretend to follow the alto line without you!)
Friday night the Elton's came up for a little birthday party for Allie. We just love these girls to death! They especially love hanging out with Uncle Alvin. He had fun playing with the girls while Lissa, Mom, Evie, and I went and saw Twilight. Here's a few pics of their escapades.
Alvin and I want a kitty or puppy sooo bad but we've got really strict landlords. So we've recently added two new members to the Rodgers family. Please meet Fritz & Ernst:
It is inching closer and closer to Thanksgiving. It’s tradition at a King Family Thanksgiving to go around the table and say what you’re grateful for. Some years it goes rather smoothly and others end inevitably in tears. I’m probably one of the biggest of the teary offenders. As our family is spread out this year I don’t know that we’ll have a chance to do this. That being said, the following could get very long and sappy, just a warning.
First, I’m grateful for my sweetheart. I am so proud of his accomplishments this year. He has really pushed the pedal to the metal with his education, with many semesters taking over 18 credits and still pulling 4.0’s! I’m thankful for his dedication. I’m also grateful for his patience with this King girl. Marrying a King woman keeps one on his toes; it’s a daily game of, “what’s in that head of hers?” and “how was I supposed to know that?” He is my best friend, therapist, gopher, cheerleader, and tutor!
Second, I’m grateful for family. On the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Toula’s dad Gus says, “You know, the root of the word Miller is a Greek word. Miller come from the Greek word "milo," which is mean "apple," so there you go. As many of you know, our name, Portokalos, is come from the Greek word "portokali," which mean "orange." So, okay? Here tonight, we have, ah, apple and orange. We all different, but in the end, we all fruit.” We’re all different, we’re all crazy, and we’re family. The love and support that I have from both the King’s and the Rodger’s is irreplaceable!
Third, I’m grateful to my Heavenly Father. There is a scripture in John 16: 12 that says, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” It goes back to patience, a virtue that I am depleted of. Alvin and I are at the mercy of the 11 Physical Therapy schools we’ve applied to. Heavenly Father has a plan for us but waiting for it is molasses fast. Another King girl characteristic is not living in the day you’re in. I worry and stress over what could happen May 2009. In praying to know what could happen, I’m grateful for the noted scripture above. I’m eternally grateful that it is His plan, on His timeline, and to know of His hand in our lives.
Lastly, there are some honorable mentions: the opportunity I have to get an education, a generous employer of whom I love working for, friends that see me through, and good health. On a more materialistic note: hot showers, four wheel drive, Butterfinger’s, and internet. (lol) I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving this year!
This was posted on msn.com as sunken dreamboats, it was too funny not to share. I couldn't believe it. If you don't know, Top Gun is quite possibly my favorite movie ever. It's sad to see Ice Man hasn't aged as gracefully as many of his Hollywood counterparts. But it's kind of reassuring, he's human right? That's pretty cruel to do now and then photos anyway. I used to think if I ever met Val Kilmer in person I'd ask him to do the jaw snap, now I think I'd forgo that request. It's not as hot with the jowls. I sill love ya Tom Kazanski!
Am I missing something? I think the memo for the blogger's armistice bypassed my inbox. The few blogs that I follow seem to have fallen off the earth. Is it because we've all run out of things to say about ourselves? Blogging is a funny thing isn't it? Look at us! Look what we just did! Just wait until Thanksgiving...lol. Well to those of you who might actually read this, snap to it! My morning log ons aren't quite the same without the "1 - 23 hours ago" updates.
Alvin & I feel like old foggies cause we barely made it through the 10:45 showing of the new Bond last night. I won't spoil it but I will say Daniel Craig is saucy as usual. If you have seen it I want to know what you thought, before I go into my own opinion. So let me know!
You know you’re living in the Northwest when… Feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant. Know at least eight people who work for companies that manufacture computer parts, airplanes or athletic shoes. Can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai food. Return from a California vacation depressed because “all the grass was dead.” Take a half day every July 1 to find your sunglasses and sunscreen. Feel guilty for days after throwing an aluminum can in the trash instead of recycling it. Get very, very happy when the early morning weather forecast includes the term “sun breaks.” Are able to use 10 words to order a beverage the rest of the country calls “coffee.” Never go camping without waterproof matches, ponchos, and mattress pads that double as flotation devices. Know more people who own boats than air conditioners. Consider that if it doesn’t have snow on it or has not recently erupted, regardless of elevation, it is a “hill” and not a “mountain.” Complain about Californians until the day you sell your house to one for twice what you paid for it. Personally know someone from Alaska. Find a wallet with $500 in it, return it all to the owner, and refuse a reward. Know the difference between Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye salmon. Used to live somewhere else. Believe swimming is not a sport but a survival skill to prevent boating deaths. Believe swimming should only be done indoors, except in emergencies. Own more than 10 articles of clothing that have the names of microbreweries/brewpubs printed on them. Bonus for embroidery. Can point in the direction of two or more volcanoes even though you can’t see them through the clouds. Think downtown is “scary” because you were panhandled there, once. Go to work and return home in the dark in the winter, even though you only work an eight-hour shift. Replace your hiking boots with Birkenstock or Teva sandals when the weather gets above 60 degrees. Believe people who use umbrellas are wimps or Californians, or both
Well, I don’t call Oregon home anymore but it sure seems like I’ve moved back this week. I wish Mother Nature would make up her mind and decide that it’s winter. Speaking of winter, is it just me or are the holidays in the retail stores beginning a little early?! I was at WalMart on November 3rd and the Salvation Army bell ringers were already out in force. Really? For reals…? It’s got my holiday biological clock out of whack. All of the sudden I’m ordering my Christmas cards and worrying about what to get Alvin. Slow the freak down holidays! What happened to Thanksgiving kicking off the season? Is that Halloween’s job now? Well, for now I’m going to have to ignore the symptoms: craving pine scented anything, baking, trying to organize family trips that are two months away, and shopping. Good luck right?!
Alvin and I have submitted all 11 of his grad school applications! HOORAY! Now it’s a waiting game, which is going to drive me crazy. We probably won’t start hearing back from these schools until the first of the year. I’m really not one for surprises, especially when these 11 schools hold our future in their hands. To them we’re just a GPA and $$$. So the final 11 are as follows (in no particular order, wink wink): 1. University of Utah 2. AT Still – Mesa, AZ 3. Shenandoah University - Winchester, VA 4. Eastern Washington University - Cheney, WA 5. Northern Arizona University – Flagstaff, AZ 6. Regis University – Denver, CO 7. University of Puget Sound – Tacoma, WA 8. Washington University - St Louis, MO 9. Des Moines University - Osteopathic Medical Center – Des Moines, IA 10. Creighton University – Omaha, NE 11. University of Nevada - Las Vegas, NV
It's the day after this crazy historical election. Obama won with a landslide. All I can hear around me is trash talk. "Obama the Anti-Christ", and so on. I'm sure you've heard it too living in this great state of Utah. I'm not one for talking politics. I like to have researched the issues before I will even comment so I don't get badgered into a corner. Even then there's talk that just shouldn't be out there. Obama won - disrespect him all you want before the election but now that over 3/4's the nation has put him in office it's time to respect the position. This is how democracy works folks! I respect the man that is walking into this hell hole of a situation with a smile on his face!
I managed to get Alvin to dress up this year... Chillin in scrubs wasn't so bad but he shaved off his goat leaving his mustache. Very classy don't you think? He started to give me the creeps actually. I pulled together an 80's outfit but since it's kind of back in style people thought that's just how I dress normally... yipes! Step, clap, step, clap... I think that's how it's supposed to go. I'm just greatful I dodged adolescence in the 80's by a hair (ha ha no pun intended). We had a fun night though. My sister threw a "Twilight" themed party. She went all out, I mean fresh red roses everywhere, votive candles floating in "blood", and even the cups were labeled "type O-, AB +, & A-..." So kudos to her! Her girls are always so dang cute too! Hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween as well!
