Birthdays!

These are the four July/August birthday girls!

For Dev's birthday this year she took her friends to see (you guessed it) Footloose!
She wasn't too excited about it but I think everyone had fun all the same!

This was a major birthday for Kam. SWEET 16! I had a surprise birthday party for her on her actual birthday! The last three birthday's we've either been at girls camp or Lake Powell! It was fun, Here are just a few pictures!

Footloose!

As you can tell dress rehearsals and performances have monopolized my time and I'm just beginning to catch up on my friends blogs and laundry etc....

Here's some pictures. Thanks to all of you that came and supported us, it meant so much to have friendly faces in the audience.

Kambree and I in our first outfit!

Me as Betty Blast. (I HAVE A FAT SUIT ON, this is not truly the size of my butt! )

Look at these cute girls. So 80's! Kambree looked so much like me in high school. Everyone asked how me how I got her bangs to look like that. (These girls all have smooth hair and straight bangs, not the claw that was so popular in the 80's) I had to remind them that I am an original 80's girl and with enough hair spray anyone can have an authentic 80's claw!

Photo Shoot

Here is the final photo of the photo shoot I did last month. Remember that this was on top of parking garage in Provo. Not on the Salt Flats.

I have no idea what the rocket represents or why it's on the car. I do however, think I look substantially younger than the guy posing as my "husband". Don't you think?

Fat suit, camp & scissors!

It's been awhile since I've posted. James has been home and Kam and I have been very busy with rehearsals for Footloose. Today I'm hoping to talk Classic Skating into letting me borrow two pair of skates for the "Burger Blast" scene. I'm playing Betty Blast (one of my small character parts) and I get to wear a fat suit! It's pretty fun but very hot. Last night the costumer brought my "boobs". (She just stuffed a big old double D bra.) The fat suit has no boobs and so I sort of looked like androgynous Pat in it. It is not pretty. I'm going to have to take a picture and put it on my fridge. I figured this image may help curb my appetite!

As mentioned, James was home and now he's gone again. He'll be back in time to catch the show before it closes. It was great to have him home for two weeks. We went to Raging Waters with Ry & Austin while the girls were at camp and James and I went to the Diamond Rio concert in Wendover. Besides that he worked a lot on the sprinklers and I'm happy to report that I no longer have to water the backyard by hand! Aren't' husband's great?

My girls went to girls camp and had a great time! Here is a cute picture of them. (Many thanks to the leaders who have sent me pictures. I didn't dare send my BRAND new digital camera with them after the pickle incident!)

The other day I was driving and my car suddenly made a horrible noise, I pulled over and I had a very large pair of scissors stuck up in the bottom of my car with the handles rubbing on the pavement. These were HUGE scissors. James came and had to jack up my car to pull them out. The scissors had barely missed my fuel lines. Apparently there are three fuel lines running side by side and the scissors were jammed in between the lines so it went line/one scissor tip/line/other scissor tip/line. I didn't think too much of it until I found out that had the scissors punctured my fuel line and with the sparks from the scissors rubbing across the pavement as I drove that my car could have EXPLODED! Yikes! I guess when it's your time to go, it's your time to go. And luckily it wasn't my time.

Anyway, the day's a wasting and I've got to go find skates. (Who knew skates would be so hard to come by? I've been to the DI about 4 times with no success!) And you just never know how long you'll remain on this earth so I better get going!

My Commercial!

So, Tuesday July 1st I skipped rehearsals to go film my commercial.

I had to be downtown @ 6:00 pm on 3rd South and Main Street. As mentioned I was just told to wear pants and heels. I wore black dress pants (the only pair I have) and a black and white shirt. (I've been told I look skinny in this shirt-which is why I chose it!)I did at the last minute throw a few shirts, jeans and a couple more pairs of heels in a bag just in case they didn't like what I was wearing.

When I arrived I introduced myself, "Hi, I'm Wendy. I'm here to fall off a curb?"
There is a little canopy for shade set up on the sidewalk with a few chairs and lights and cameras and screens everywhere. We even have a police officer to stop traffic while we shot. People keep passing by and are very curious as to what we're doing.

First thing it's explained to me that due to all intersections being handicap accessible in Salt Lake there isn't a curb to fall off of and so I'll need to twist my ankle out in the street, a guy will attempt to help me to the curb but he becomes distracted by a stunning woman walking by and instead of helping me, leads me into a metal post where I hit my head and fall to the ground. I am thinking: Are you kidding? I've never done stunts. What if I don't do this like they want? I thought I was falling off a curb! I am pretty nervous but don't say anything. It's not like I can back out now!

Not to mention everyone knows everyone. The guy leading me into the post was at the auditions and I think an employee of the advertising agency (he does tell me I was the best by far at acting like I was falling off a curb!) and the two other back ground actors I meet are the directors daughter and her friend. (Twee and Olga-beautiful girls that look 14 until they light up. They're actually 20 and 21.) The other background people are the cute little make up lady, and two tech guys who I'm sure have important jobs but I'm not sure what they are.

One of the guys walks me through my action shot. He tells me not to sacrifice myself. (Sacrifice? I'm just worried I'm going to get a hole in my pants and I don't have another pair to change into. I mean I'm falling on pavement!)

The director has me change my shirt to a pink, short sleeve sweater I threw in my bag that makes me look sort of pregnant. Keep in mind there is no dressing room, I just change on the sidewalk-luckily I'm pretty good at this and my shirt is stretchy that I change into. However, I do think it's possible that a glimpse at my under clothing may have shown which shouts "She is a MORMON!"
I then get my makeup done by the tiny makeup girl dressed in black with a huge tool belt full of make up brushes tied around her waist. (My fav! I love being in the make-up chair!) She takes like 20 minutes putting on my makeup. I have no mirror so I'm just assuming I look beautiful now.

Then here comes the "stunning woman". Holy cow! I am distracted by her. She is beautiful in a stripper/hooker kind of way. The first words I hear out of her mouth are swear words but she truly is stunning. She is a personal friend of the directors too. So, technically I'm the only "hired" talent. I'm sure pretty sure that no amount of makeup is going to make me look good compared to this tiny, blond, 105 pound hooker/stunning woman in the highest heels I have ever seen.

We wait for the sun to set more and then it's show time! I got one rehearsal which, stops the whole production as everyone starts saying "OMG" are you okay? I'm of course lying on the pavement at this point and unsure if I did okay or what. Yes, I'm fine I say. Then I hear a "She's (f-word)marvelous" from some guy and everyone starts explaining that they really thought I was hurt and how real it all looked. (Gosh, that was easy! But I'm wondering how buffoon like I really must look! )

Then we do the same shot about thirty more times. From a few different angles and with tight shots on me and the guy leading me into the post and then from the top of a very tall building where I'm sure we look like ants.

Now, honestly, I'm not marvelous. I'm just good at being a klutz. I'm asked again how I know how to do this. All I think to say is "I'm a stage actress and we do our own stunts?"

While doing it over and over again it didn't really hurt but I could feel my knees clonking into the post and my shoulder was taking quite a hit. (I used my shoulder to catch the post instead of my head. I only clonked my head on the pavement once.) Everyone was very concerned and sweet to me. Wanting to know if I wanted a break, a drink, or was okay each time. The director even said "G-d that was great, I mean GOSH that was great!" (Apparently he had picked up on my LDS vibes!) Anyway, I was just fine, until I woke up the next morning with multiple bruises on my right shoulder, both knees and shins. Oh well, bruises heal. However I do look like a battered wife right in time for James to be home!

The funniest thing was that when I got ready for bed that night, I couldn't get my bra off. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I finally slipped the straps off and twisted it around and the eyelets were smashed flat. I had to pry them up to undo my bra! How funny! Lesson to self: When doing stunts be sure to wear a sports bra! (I think I probably have a bruise in the middle of my back under my bra eyelets, I can feel it but I can see it.)

So there's my story. The commercial is for X insurance and will air on channel 5 during the Olympics. I really hope I don't look stupid. Kambree's pretty worried it will be embarrassing. But I will happily nurse my bruises, cash my check and do it again if they ask me!

Monday Thoughts....

So, here I am Monday morning, blogging. I should be cleaning or working but I'm not.
James will be home in less than 72 hours and the house is still standing although there is a short list of things we need him to fix like my car, Austin's bike chain etc.... I'm not sure he's going to want to come home if we have a "to do" list for him each time. I didn't have to do any major repairs (except Jan and I rigged my car to make it home from the gym. I guess I rubbed the bottom of my car one too many times on the parking curbs and the underneath part of my car fell down and started rubbing on the pavement. We just shoved it back up there. So far it's holding but I'm sure my repair job will not be up to Jame's standards.) I also managed to not completely kill the back lawn or the vegetable garden while he was away. I'm hoping on this two week home he gets the sprinklers fixed in the back. I'm such a whiner, boo-hoo, poor me, I have to use a rain bird on the back lawn.
You'll notice this blog is picture less. This has everything to do with Kambree, my digital camera and a jar of pickles. "Mom, can I please use the digital camera for our dance company picnic?" "Don't get it wet!" (Water games were involved at this picnic) "I won't." Well when your 15, and you ride home on your bike with the pickles and the camera in the same grocery sack you just don't think that is a problem but if the lid isn't on too tight, it is a HUGE problem!The camera won't turn on anymore! I was very proud, as much as I wanted to scream, I didn't. I just didn't say anything. It's only material things right? Maybe we have an extended warranty? Uh, wrong. Maybe I'll add "buy a new digital camera" to Jame's list of things to do when he comes home.
Work is picking up. I actually got a listing and wrote an offer all on the same day. Wow!
We start blocking at rehearsal's tonight and my commercial (where I fall off the curb) shoots tomorrow night. I'm thinking that you will not even know it's me as the only instructions were to wear heels and dress pants. No concern as to what to wear up top, hair or makeup. Makes me think this is a leg/foot shoot. Perhaps I should be grateful as this could be very embarrassing. Maybe I should get a pedicure?
We'll enough of my rambling....Happy Monday!

Ta Da! The inside is finished! (Well, almost!)

We still have minor touch ups to do, a few lights to install in the entry way and all the exterior work (deck, siding, sprinklers) to do but it's up and working and I LOVE IT!

My Mom's Birthday!

Although my Mom may not appreciate this post, I'm going to post it anyway. My mom turned 60! She looks pretty great for being 6 decades old!

We had a surprise open house for her on the 4th (her birthday isn't actually until the 5th) and my cousin Paul put together a fabulous video of her life in pictures and we just invited friends and family to drop in and have cake and wish her Happy Birthday.

Then on her actual birthday, my siblings and I planned a very special night out for her an my Dad. Jeff arranged for a limo to pick them up and Troy & Arron paid for dinner @ Ruby Tuesdays and Kam & I paid for theater tickets to Hale Center's production of "Curious Savage". They're at the show right now! I hope she's having a great time. Here are some bad pictures (I only had my cell phone) of the limo and my mom!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM. I LOVE YOU!

Youth Conference!

Guyz and Dollz Dance Recital

All three of my girls perform with a musical/theater group called Guyz and Dollz. Here is video of Ry dancing with her group. Kambree & Devree had a duet that was fabulous all though I don't know if my recording does is justice. But for what it's worth, here are some video clips!

This is the last year they will all be in the same group as Kambree just made Dance Company at Murray High and will be dancing with them next fall. It's been so fun to have all three of them perform together. Even if all I do on Thursday's is drive them back and forth to the dance studio! Kambree and I were also cast in Murray Community's production of "Footloose" scheduled for the end of July. I'm playing Ethel McCormick (Ren/Kevin Bacon's mother) Kambree is a teenager. I think it will be fun and since James is going to be gone for two weeks at a time it will be a good diversion of my time while he's away! There's nothing more fun than putting on a show and to do it with my daughter is just fabulous!

Speaking of performing. You'll never believe it. I have been cast in a commercial. Get this....I have to fall off a curb. And someones paying me to do it! When I went to the audition, I was asked to pretend to fall off a curb. I did and the director & staff just burst out laughing and asked if I could do it again. Sure. I did it again and again they all laughed. I wish I could say that I thought they were laughing with me but I felt like they were laughing at me. One guy asked me if I had training in falling. What? Anyway, I didn't hear anything so I figured it had been a long day of auditioning and I was their comic relief. But low and behold, they loved me and I got the part. Don't know much more than that. It's scheduled to shot the end of June. Hopefully it won't be cancelled like my last part!

And even more hopefully, I don't look like a big buffoon on TV!