I had a very active and fun weekend in Iowa City with my friends and it is my last weekend of fun before rehearsals pick up this week.
First up was the Relief Society Slumber Party. We learned how to make cinnamon rolls and bread. I helped knead the dough and Michele took a pic of me, looking nice and domesticated (her words). Look for pics to be coming to my Facebook and here soon. :) While the bread and rolls were baking, we played games and gorged ourselves silly on junk food. And Michele was giving away things she didn't think she'd need as she was getting ready to move (I came home with some CDs!). Also we were oblivious to the fact that a couple guys from our branch had too much time on their hands and had decided to "decorate" the other girls' cars with shaving cream and toilet paper. I got pics of the "vandalism" so watch this space and Facebook for pics coming soon.
In the wee hours of Saturday morning, a bunch of us decided to deliver some cinnamon rolls to members of the Elders' Quorum Presidency and a few other guys in the branch. I went in a car to deliver rolls to Brian, Josh, and Ian (one of the "vandals"). By the time we were done, it was almost two am. Yes, we had stayed up really late (taking some of the time while the rolls were baking to watch a movie). We didn't get to bed until almost three am.
Saturday morning, I overslept and missed my chance to play ultimate frisbee. I was a little disappointed, but I took the time to study my scriptures and read over the First Presidency message while the other girls were asleep. The others finally woke up at nine-thirty and we had rolls for breakfast, and then after helping to clean up, Michele and I went to her place. I had originally planned to veg out and take a nap in the afternoon, but she invited me to a concert she was giving at a retirement home later in the afternoon.
While Michele got ready, I took the time to study my script and listen to the soundtrack. At one-forty, we left for the retirement home and I helped her out by taking pictures for her with her digital camera. Those things still intimidate me!
After the concert, Michele took me back to her place so I could get cleaned up because I had made plans with another friend, Melissa, to go down to Nauvoo to see the pageant. This weekend was the only time I could go, because my rehearsal schedule for Lucky Stiff will be picking up this week.
Melissa and I had hoped that we'd be able to do some things at the temple before the pageant, but we were running late and by the time we got there, the temple was closed. So we went to Zions Mercantile and she treated me to ice cream and snacks to munch on down by the pageant. We hit some of the pre-show fun first, talking to cast members and missionaries, and even going to the dance area. We both did a couple of round dances and it was fun. I tried to get some pics of Melissa dancing, but they were moving so fast that all I could get were shots of the back of her head. *lol*
The pageant itself was good. It was my fourth time seeing it, and I never get tired of going every year. :) This time, I seemed to feel the Spirit more. I don't know what it was. Whatever it was, I enjoyed it. It was kind of bittersweet, because there's a recording of the late President Hinckley near the end of the pageant, talking about the temple. I had been wondering if they were going to keep that in, and I'm glad I did. I got to hear "my" prophet's voice once again (he was prophet when I was baptized back in '96, so I think of him as "my" prophet).
After the pageant, Melissa and I hung out for over an hour, talking to cast members. The guy who played Parley Pratt last year was there again this year and he remembered me from last year. I told him what I'm up to with the play, and I was surprised to learn that he knew a lot about Lucky Stiff! I was able to explain some things that I was doing for the play and it was great that he knew what I was talking about. I am giving serious thought about going out for the pageant next year. I hope I can. :) Long story short, Melissa and I didn't get back to Iowa City until after one am, but it was worth it to hang out with her at the pageant. :)
Today, Michele gave her talk since it was her last Sunday with us, and I personally thought it was good. After Relief Society, she had us all pose for a group picture so she'll have something to remember us by. I am going to miss her very much.
All in all, it was a good weekend. :)
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
At last!!!!
I think I can breathe easy now. Actually, I think we all can.
We finally have a full cast! Zach Minder will be playing the emcee. I think he'll work out. Savannah knows him and suggested him to Scuba. I'm happy because I was running out of people in the branch to ask. I even asked President Peters, even though I knew it was a long shot that he'd be able to do it.
However, there is one girl who might get kicked out of the play because she hasn't been to a lot of the rehearsals. Hopefully, she won't get tossed, but she very well might. *keeping my fingers crossed that she'll get her act together*
Rehearsal was okay tonight. We went through Act 2. I took some more shots for the play's photo album on Facebook (and I'll post some here too when I get them back). There's a cute one of Courtney (as Rita LaPorta) pointing her pistol at my camera. I also took a shot of James as the dead guy in the wheelchair.
Hopefully, things will start coming together now. :)
We finally have a full cast! Zach Minder will be playing the emcee. I think he'll work out. Savannah knows him and suggested him to Scuba. I'm happy because I was running out of people in the branch to ask. I even asked President Peters, even though I knew it was a long shot that he'd be able to do it.
However, there is one girl who might get kicked out of the play because she hasn't been to a lot of the rehearsals. Hopefully, she won't get tossed, but she very well might. *keeping my fingers crossed that she'll get her act together*
Rehearsal was okay tonight. We went through Act 2. I took some more shots for the play's photo album on Facebook (and I'll post some here too when I get them back). There's a cute one of Courtney (as Rita LaPorta) pointing her pistol at my camera. I also took a shot of James as the dead guy in the wheelchair.
Hopefully, things will start coming together now. :)
Flood pics in Muscatine...
Some of my friends have some flood pics and they're in Iowa City. I figured I'd put up a few from Muscatine's Might Miss that overflowed as well. Enjoy!
This was taken on June 9th, before everything broke loose. Nice and peaceful then.
What a difference a few days make. I usually walk this bike path for exercise. Couldn't do that now. Taken June 14th.
Remember the parking lot shot from June 9th? Once again, what a difference a few days make. It was difficult navigating my way around to take pictures and NOT get contaminated. I wasn't the only one doing it either. There were tourists and residents alike getting their shots in. It was CRAZY! Another June 14th shot.
A shot of the Pearl City Station on June 14th. I used to go down there just to sit and chill out. I wasn't able to do that for a while. ;)
This was taken on June 9th, before everything broke loose. Nice and peaceful then.
What a difference a few days make. I usually walk this bike path for exercise. Couldn't do that now. Taken June 14th.
Remember the parking lot shot from June 9th? Once again, what a difference a few days make. It was difficult navigating my way around to take pictures and NOT get contaminated. I wasn't the only one doing it either. There were tourists and residents alike getting their shots in. It was CRAZY! Another June 14th shot.
A shot of the Pearl City Station on June 14th. I used to go down there just to sit and chill out. I wasn't able to do that for a while. ;)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Some somber news put a slight damper on last night's fun
We left Muscatine around four and got to Pat McGuire's a little after five, after stopping at the Wonder Bread store to pick up cupcakes (will get into that a little later!). Mom had to go see my brother Dave about some stuff so she dropped Dad and me off and headed to Moline.
Usually, Andy and Martin come together but this time, for some reason they came separately. Martin had his daughter, Katie with him and she's a sweetheart. I was wearing my autographed Reunion t-shirt and I showed her where her dad had signed it on the back. And yes, I did wear the hair extension (actually put it in myself and pinned everything into place!).
A guy that my parents and I know, Joe, told Martin and me about Rick Sonneville being killed in an accident just the day before. Rick would come to Pat McGuire's with his young daughter, Anika. Anika was taking Irish dance lessons at the Mullane-Healy-O'Brien Dance Academy, and she's really good. I think I have a picture of her dancing on my Facebook, a couple of them if I remember correctly. Andy and Martin love this little girl to death, and actually so do we. My thoughts and prayers are with Anika during this difficult time.
Andy finally got there and I got my usual requests to the guys before they started. I included a new one: "A Rainy Night in Soho" from the Reunion CD. I fell in love with that one from the first time I heard it. :) Andy also saw the hair extension and was surprised that I was sporting long hair. Pretty much everyone was surprised that in the space of a month, I was sporting long hair. I explained that it was fake and that I was wearing it to see if it would stay in for long periods of time because I was going to use it for the play I'm in. And that led to me telling people about Lucky Stiff. I have to email some people about it, but hopefully some of my friends from Davenport will be able to come down.
First set was the usual stuff: "Whiskey in the Jar", "Danny Boy", "Dirty Old Town" and the like. Mom finally got there near the end of the set, but then they played my request "A Rainy Night in Soho". We finally ordered dinner during the first intermission.
Andy and Martin got to a couple more of my requests during the second set: "Wild Colonial Boy" and "German Clock Winder" (for some reason I LOVE that tune; don't know why!). And of course, they did "Finnegan's Wake" and we had tons of ammunition! I wasn't the only one to bring stuff. The "Cascade" corner all brought candies, cupcakes, and the like. During the third verse where it's sung, "The friends assembled at the wake, and Mrs. Finnegan called for lunch.", we chucked everything at the guys. Even young Katie Doyle had stuff and she joined in the fun. That's what happens when Martin sticks her with the "Cascade" crew. Anyway, Andy took a waiter's drink tray and held it against his head to ward off the projectile since he was in the line of fire. And he complained that we didn't have any good stuff. Come on, Andy! I'm on a very limited income, buddy! *lol* ;)
And we were in for a treat when young Katie danced for us. I got a few pics of her dancing and told her later that I'd send some to her dad, via email.
The second set would NOT be the second set without the usual rendition of "The Unicorn". And all the "Unicornettes" made their way up to the stage (myself included). It made for cramped quarters, but we made it work. :)
Third set was more pop tunes interspersed with the Irish tunes. They did "Brown Eyed Girl", "Sweet Caroline", "Alice" (a clean version since we had a child in our midst), "Margaritaville", and even Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire". Sadly, they weren't able to get to "Carrick Fergus", but it was okay. I have it on their concert CD so I can listen to it whenever I want. And they ended with the usual three Irish patriotic songs: "The One Road", "A Nation Once Again", and "Amhrain na bhFiann", the Ireland national anthem. A few months back, Martin sent me the Gaelic lyrics (and pronunciations) and I printed them off during a slow moment at work back in December so I'd have them. Once that was over, we said our goodbyes and headed home.
Check this space soon. I may have pics of last night's fun. :)
Usually, Andy and Martin come together but this time, for some reason they came separately. Martin had his daughter, Katie with him and she's a sweetheart. I was wearing my autographed Reunion t-shirt and I showed her where her dad had signed it on the back. And yes, I did wear the hair extension (actually put it in myself and pinned everything into place!).
A guy that my parents and I know, Joe, told Martin and me about Rick Sonneville being killed in an accident just the day before. Rick would come to Pat McGuire's with his young daughter, Anika. Anika was taking Irish dance lessons at the Mullane-Healy-O'Brien Dance Academy, and she's really good. I think I have a picture of her dancing on my Facebook, a couple of them if I remember correctly. Andy and Martin love this little girl to death, and actually so do we. My thoughts and prayers are with Anika during this difficult time.
Andy finally got there and I got my usual requests to the guys before they started. I included a new one: "A Rainy Night in Soho" from the Reunion CD. I fell in love with that one from the first time I heard it. :) Andy also saw the hair extension and was surprised that I was sporting long hair. Pretty much everyone was surprised that in the space of a month, I was sporting long hair. I explained that it was fake and that I was wearing it to see if it would stay in for long periods of time because I was going to use it for the play I'm in. And that led to me telling people about Lucky Stiff. I have to email some people about it, but hopefully some of my friends from Davenport will be able to come down.
First set was the usual stuff: "Whiskey in the Jar", "Danny Boy", "Dirty Old Town" and the like. Mom finally got there near the end of the set, but then they played my request "A Rainy Night in Soho". We finally ordered dinner during the first intermission.
Andy and Martin got to a couple more of my requests during the second set: "Wild Colonial Boy" and "German Clock Winder" (for some reason I LOVE that tune; don't know why!). And of course, they did "Finnegan's Wake" and we had tons of ammunition! I wasn't the only one to bring stuff. The "Cascade" corner all brought candies, cupcakes, and the like. During the third verse where it's sung, "The friends assembled at the wake, and Mrs. Finnegan called for lunch.", we chucked everything at the guys. Even young Katie Doyle had stuff and she joined in the fun. That's what happens when Martin sticks her with the "Cascade" crew. Anyway, Andy took a waiter's drink tray and held it against his head to ward off the projectile since he was in the line of fire. And he complained that we didn't have any good stuff. Come on, Andy! I'm on a very limited income, buddy! *lol* ;)
And we were in for a treat when young Katie danced for us. I got a few pics of her dancing and told her later that I'd send some to her dad, via email.
The second set would NOT be the second set without the usual rendition of "The Unicorn". And all the "Unicornettes" made their way up to the stage (myself included). It made for cramped quarters, but we made it work. :)
Third set was more pop tunes interspersed with the Irish tunes. They did "Brown Eyed Girl", "Sweet Caroline", "Alice" (a clean version since we had a child in our midst), "Margaritaville", and even Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire". Sadly, they weren't able to get to "Carrick Fergus", but it was okay. I have it on their concert CD so I can listen to it whenever I want. And they ended with the usual three Irish patriotic songs: "The One Road", "A Nation Once Again", and "Amhrain na bhFiann", the Ireland national anthem. A few months back, Martin sent me the Gaelic lyrics (and pronunciations) and I printed them off during a slow moment at work back in December so I'd have them. Once that was over, we said our goodbyes and headed home.
Check this space soon. I may have pics of last night's fun. :)
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The return of the liberal lass...
Normally, I keep my liberalism under control, but an incident with my dad this morning brought the inner liberal lass back to the surface!
Ever since the smoking ban went into effect, my dad has been on me on Mom to take the Nathan Reichert sign down from our little hill. Nathan was one of the Representatives in the Iowa House who voted for the smoking ban in public places. This morning, Dad told me that some people from the bars wanted to get rid of the Nathan signs.
I have every right to express my support for Nathan Reichert, even if there are those who don't agree with me. That is my right. My grandpa fought in WW II so I could have that right and I'm going to exercise it!
I will NOT back down!
Ever since the smoking ban went into effect, my dad has been on me on Mom to take the Nathan Reichert sign down from our little hill. Nathan was one of the Representatives in the Iowa House who voted for the smoking ban in public places. This morning, Dad told me that some people from the bars wanted to get rid of the Nathan signs.
I have every right to express my support for Nathan Reichert, even if there are those who don't agree with me. That is my right. My grandpa fought in WW II so I could have that right and I'm going to exercise it!
I will NOT back down!
Tonight's going to be fun...
It's been a little over a month since I've last seen them. Tonight, we're going to Pat McGuire's to see Stephen's Green, aka Andy and Martin. Yeah, there's rehearsal for Lucky Stiff, but I'll talk to Scuba and see what he wants me to do.
They have a pretty wide range of repertoire; from tradition Irish tunes to some pop songs like "Margaritaville" and "Sweet Caroline". Plus, they have some original songs in the mix, songs that Andy's written. They should do more of his, IMHO.
Tonight's going to be fun! :)
They have a pretty wide range of repertoire; from tradition Irish tunes to some pop songs like "Margaritaville" and "Sweet Caroline". Plus, they have some original songs in the mix, songs that Andy's written. They should do more of his, IMHO.
Tonight's going to be fun! :)
Monday, July 7, 2008
Stephen's Green...
I'm surprised I've had this blog as long as I have and only mentioned this band once.
Stephen's Green is a Chicago-based Ireland-born duo. Andy O'Driscoll plays the guitar and sings lead while Martin Doyle plays the synthisizer, accordion, and sings backup.
Here's a pic of them performing at Pat McGuire's Bar and Grill in Davenport.
But it wasn't always just the two of them. Their history spans twenty years, this past month being commemorated as their anniversary. Back in the 80's Andy and another Irishman named Martin Marron played together in the Irish pubs of Chicago and surrounding area. In 1988, they met up with Martin Doyle and Stephen's Green was born as a trio. Martin Marron later moved to Virginia, and then Tony McCabe joined the band. Tony was from County Cavan in Ireland, and eventually moved south to Texas, so the band became the duo I know and love.
I became familiar with their music in 2004, the third year I went to Erin Feis in Rock Island, Illinois. It wasn't until the Erin Feis in 2005 that I really started to get to know them and their music, and I've loved them ever since. In the summer of 2006, I started going with my parents to Pat McGuire's to see them perform once a month. It's become a family outing and is a lot of fun. I love the guys to death and they love me.
Stephen's Green is a Chicago-based Ireland-born duo. Andy O'Driscoll plays the guitar and sings lead while Martin Doyle plays the synthisizer, accordion, and sings backup.
Here's a pic of them performing at Pat McGuire's Bar and Grill in Davenport.
But it wasn't always just the two of them. Their history spans twenty years, this past month being commemorated as their anniversary. Back in the 80's Andy and another Irishman named Martin Marron played together in the Irish pubs of Chicago and surrounding area. In 1988, they met up with Martin Doyle and Stephen's Green was born as a trio. Martin Marron later moved to Virginia, and then Tony McCabe joined the band. Tony was from County Cavan in Ireland, and eventually moved south to Texas, so the band became the duo I know and love.
I became familiar with their music in 2004, the third year I went to Erin Feis in Rock Island, Illinois. It wasn't until the Erin Feis in 2005 that I really started to get to know them and their music, and I've loved them ever since. In the summer of 2006, I started going with my parents to Pat McGuire's to see them perform once a month. It's become a family outing and is a lot of fun. I love the guys to death and they love me.
I will leave you now with a pic from last month's reunion gig.
(From left to right: Tony McCabe, Martin Doyle, Me, Martin Marron, and Andy O'Driscoll)
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