Random Musings of an Unfocused Mind.

All day I have felt the need to write. Felt the need to release something... I feel like I have an incredible amount of unfocused energy in my body and it isn't doing anything positive. In fact, I think about it, get overwhelmed and then shut down completely and get pretty down on myself.

Happy Monday and 5 Happy Things

Its another beautiful Monday!! Ready for 5 Happy Things?

 

The BIG Trip- New York

I knew quite a long time ago that on the anniversary of my moms death, I wanted to do something big every year. I wanted to spend the day celebrating her, and her memory, and experiencing something new and exciting that she never got to do. 

Happy Monday and 5 Good Things

Despite my feelings about yesterdays holiday, it really has been a pretty good week!

Happy Monday and 5 Good Things

Its been a crazy busy week. Good kind of crazy busy week though. The kind of busy you are grateful for. helps you navigate the everyday stresses (and the not so every day ones.) Here are a few bright spots in my week.

1. I accepted a last minute stage management gig for the opera. What an experience. We were all brought in pretty last minute from all over the united states. Fortunately we all just clicked, trudged forward and staged an opera. In an airplane hangar. Yep... an airplane hangar. The stage was about 20 feet from a DEA jet with a CRAZY expensive night vision camera. It was awesome! Aside from the fact that is was an incredibly sad opera (Glory Denied-about Americas longest held POW) I am truly grateful to have met some really, really great people who I hope to be able to collaborate with again someday.

2. During my one day off this week, I got the opportunity to finish a painting I'd been working on for a few weeks. I don't think I am quite done with it, but I am happy with the progress.

 

3. Before work one day we decided to sneak out as a family and enjoy a bit of nature. We walked a few miles along the river on the greenbelt. I feel terrible when we all work so much that its nice to be able to get the dogs out.

 

4. I made time to get some baking done. Kitchen time is always a little therapeutic, especially when you get to use 3 generations of cookie cutters. Pictured are cutters owned by my mom, grandma and great grandmother. 

5. Today actually, even though I felt pretty terrible most of the day, we took advantage of an evening off and went to Lucky Peak. The weather was gorgeous! I am SO ready for summer...

Happy Monday and Ten Good Things

Its a MONDAY!!

As I write, I'm stage managing an opera, in an airplane hangar. Bringing together people from all over the country to tell a story. Combining creative efforts to turn an hangar into an acceptable performance venue. Its quite the process, and its been powerful to watch it all come together to be able to tell an incredibly moving story.
 

Speaking of writing, I find that I have an ever evolving relationship with it. Depends heavily upon the state of my mind. I write what is on my mind and heart, and sometimes facing that is a lot easier said than done. I can't promise consistency. But I can say I've missed this little space. 

So, ten good things about the last several months since I showed my face around here...

1. A few more months of mountain living happened. Backpacking, trips to the lake, breathtaking sunsets and day hikes until the first snow fell. I feel like we milked every last second we had up there.

 






2. Mental health trip to Salt Lake, Vegas and Zions- Took a little time for myself and visited family in friends and family in Salt Lake. A few weeks later brought me to Vegas to spend some time with friends, and then a few days camping and hiking in Zions.










3. Thanksgiving Break in Portland- Matt and I met our sister/friend Katie in Portland and explored, read, ate and drank our way through the town while planning our future trip to the UK.





4. Christmas- This one was hard. We lost my grandma the week prior, so celebrating was really, really hard. The tree was up, but it didn't ever get decorated. But we made due. 



5. New Years in Seattle- I joined some friends for a week and rang in the new year on a boat on the Puget Sound watching fireworks being set off from the Space Needle. Amazing.







6. UK trip- This deserves its own series of posts, and I will get there. Promise :0)


7. Reno! I make the trip not for the city itself, but to visit some very dear to me friends. When you've experienced a lot of loss, you close your heart. I have a few I still let in, and they know how special they are to me. Unfortunately, most of them live elsewhere in the country.



8. Winter Escape- We found ourselves in the Sawtooths for a weekend this March and it was exactly what we needed.




9. Learning our new family Normal- With the death of my grandma, Matt and I became guardians of my aunt. She lives with us permanently and it has definitly changed our family dynamic. We have had to redefine what our "normal" is. More on that later as well



 

10. Feeling the BERN! What a crazy year it has been politically and it is only April. We are proud to support Bernie Sanders and were able to attend a rally and hear him speak, then participate in Idahos record shattering democratic caucus. What an experience!

Happy Monday and 5 Good Things

I know it isn't Monday but lets just say it's close enough. There is no way I will remember or have time to get this up tomorrow. These last few weeks have been a literal roller coaster. So much going on with that I have very little control over. I've been all sorts of proactive (hah!) about the situation and just held on for dear life. I'm kind of excited about not really knowing where life is leading in the next few months. 

That being said... Happy Sunday night/Monday morning. I have a lot to be grateful for and feel its only right to articulate those good spots in my life right this moment.

I have foxes living in my front yard. I don't care if I've said this before, its still freaking cool. This video is terrible, but watch it on your phone, it won't be so grainy. I never get to see these little adolescent babies because of my work schedule. My one day off this week i happened to come back from a hike just in time to catch these guys in a bout of rough housing. Cutest thing I'd seen all day! 

I made a couple really fast trips to Boise to work load in and load out of Book of Mormon the musical. It was a lot of work, a lot of hours and SO worth every hour of sleep I didn't get. I've lost quite a few friends over the last year for one reason or another, but these four have hung on. They've seen me cry, and made me laugh and love me still. I haven't seen Sean in about 2 years (thankfully he works and travels with the show) so to have a few minutes to spend real quality time together after the year we have both been through was awesome. The universe knew I needed a Hammy hug.  I don't have a lot of faith in friends, but I have faith in him :0)

 After load out I got to see my Lindsey for a few short moments right as she got off the plane in LA before I left for Smiley Creek. I told you this trip was worth it! She is my little sister from another mister and more importantly, she has faith in me. She carries me far more than I carry her. I don't know what I would do without her. 

Ive snuck away a few evenings and gone on a few hikes. There are times I am still in awe of what my body is capable of.  A year ago trail running wasn't even in my vocabulary... not its my favorite, even when I biff it and bruise the crap out of my legs. (no ma'am, I don't need to talk to someone about being abused, I did a 9 truck load out then tripped over my feet while hurling myself down a mountian. But thanks for the concern) Here are a few shots of my adventures.

I finally got Jerrad out in the kayak!! Never thought it would happen. We enjoyed a beautifully quiet Saturday morning on Pettit Lake before work. It was also good to spend some one on one time with my friend. We work with each other everyday, but haven't actually talked about anything real. It was nice to enjoy each others company and undivided attention. 

Happy Monday and 5 Good Things

I'm writing this while on break during load in for Gypsy. Hopefully I actually finish this and get it posted before Monday is over. We had a fantastic Sunday off after a very long week. We were able to get most of our garden in, sprinklers set up, laundry done, groceries bought and was able to spend a bit of time on the couch enjoying our day off. That time on the couch was much needed. Now, I just need to make it through Gypsy and I can pack and leave for Stanley!! 7 days... I can do it!!! okay, moving on...  Here are 5 good things from my week!

 BOOKS!!!

Rick and I drove out to Nampa to check out a few used bookstores. I found more mini Shakespeare books!! Sadly, they didn't make it home with me this trip. They are om my wishlist though!!

Pretty feet happened...

I am not girly at all, so painting my toenails is a big thing you guys... Of course the event had to be documented!!


Texas Roadhouse

Matt and I finally got to catch up with our good friend Brenda, whose life is about as hectic as ours. Yummy food and great conversation is always a sure thing when getting together with her. I didn't get a photo of dinner, or us, or Brenda, but I did wear this Deathly Hallows nerd shirt so I am counting that. Don't judge me.


BBQ

We hosted our first big bbq of the year, and it was amazing. I clearly have been terrible at documenting things this last week. If I fire myself, can I go home? No? Okay, fine... We all ate, drank and were merry around the fire pit in the backyard. Afterwards a few of us went and sat the new Avengers movie... AAAHHHH it was amazing!!

All That's Jazz

 

For the first time ever we had Jazz night for Music Week. 6 different Boise jazz groups and they were all fantastic. Aside from a few attitudes, it really was a fun, albeit long experience. The concert itself lasted over 4 hours, but I got to listen to my high school choir teacher as part of one of the groups, so that made it all better. Hugs from Mama Schmidt are the best!

 

Happy Monday and 5 Good Things

Oh my goodness guys... three weeks in a row. This will probably be a personal best. Just sayin in case you get your hopes up. Another busy week survived! Hooray! The only downside to this week was the intense amount of pollen in the air. Allergies have been insane this week leaving me with WAY too many not so nice headaches. On the plus side, today marks two weeks until I leave for Stanley and cleaner air! 

Because it was such a busy week, it was quite easy to find 5 good things...

1. Linner!!

All three of us, Jerrad, Matt and I, had an impromptu afternoon off so we actually had time to make a proper late lunch, early dinner. Hence, Linner!! We made eggplant parmesan with butternut triangioli (fancy word for triangle ravioli), an awesome salad with blue cheese, blackberries and candied walnuts and rosemary bacon chipotle bread. It was A-MA-ZING!!!

2. Surprise packages

Several weeks ago I donated to John Barrowmans No Hate campaign and wasn't expecting to see the tank top I ordered for another few weeks. Seeing this on Tuesday really made my day. I will gladly wear it with pride all summer!! 

3. Music Week

Rehearsals started quite a while ago for the actors. The technicians were finally able to attend a few of them this last week in order to get map out light cues and make notes for follow spot pickups. The creative process, starting from words on paper and turning them into a show complete with lights, sound, sets and actors is what I love most about my job. With touring shows we don't get to be such an integral part of the process very often, so participating in Music Week is quite a treat! I'm looking forward to getting it onstage a week from today and seeing what it becomes. 

4. Reckless Kelly

Reckless Kelly is a fun country band we had come into our theater on Friday. They claim Texas as their home now, but the two brothers that front the band are originally from Stanley. Small world, right? Above is a photo of on of their merch cases. It was fun to see stickers from a few of my other favorite obscure country bands like Mickey and the Motorcars (also have ties to the Stanley area) and The Crooks. Both bands that you should check out if you don't know who they are. Especially The Crooks!!

5. Nature

One of the best things about working on campus is having the river so close. It is always nice to be able to grab a quick lunch much needed coffee and head down to the river just to get away and clear your head for a few minutes. Its also useful when you need to blow off a bit of steam or stretch your legs to hop on the greenbelt and walk for as long as necessary. Thank you nature for being there when I need you!!

Bonus!!!

6. Fork and OK GO

We had a much needed night out with friends last night that started out with dinner at Fork, which was as usual, fantastic. We then walked over to the Knitting Factory and enjoyed one of the best concerts I've seen in a while. Superb job Ok Go! I would definitely pay to see them again. It was so nice to spend some time with a few of my favorite people at such a crazy fun concert.