You're Welcome

Huckleberry Knickerbocker nicked knick-knacks in unique New York, picked a peck of pickled peppers, sold sea shells by the seashore, seized his knees and sneezed, because he really wasn't fuzzy, was he, at least so Moses supposes.

Hay-Yah!

Effective Birth Control

The names have been changed to protect the innocent:

"Jimmy, you can either go pick a book to read with Nancy, or you can go to bed." "I choose play games. Or watch a movie." "No, Jimmy. You only have two choices: book or bed." "Or the choices are to play games." "Jiiimmmmyyy..." "Okay, I choose to watch a movie." "Jimmy, it's either read a book or go to bed." "Fine. But I don't like this book. I'll go choose another one." Ten minutes later... "All these books are boring." "Fine, we can make up a story." "Oh, I have an idea!" So then the two read a book. Then he bargained his way into one more book. He was then carried to bed. Twenty minutes later... "Jimmy, why are you up"? "I ran out of juice." "Okay, I'll get you more juice but then you need to go to bed." He goes. Ten minutes after that: "My leg hurts." "Okay, Jimmy. Time for bed or no DS."

BAHAHAHA! People who say kids don't know what's going on have absolutely no idea what's going on. Mothers and fathers everywhere... I salute you!

Bond. James Bond.

It was a Jonah week. But, things got better for him, right? So, I decided to do something to cheer myself up... and then I was too tired, so I spent the night at home, eating Chinese food and watching Psych. Then, I started thinking about all my favorite tv shows and movies, past and present, and I realized that they definitely run in themes. All I'm going to say is, I may or may not have a hero complex.

I blame it on Psych, Alias, Burn Notice, Monk, Good Night and Good Luck, Hitchcock, Breach, Poirot, Miss Marple, Harrison Ford, and many, many others.

The effect this has had on me is interesting. Musician by day, international woman of mystery by nighttime wanderings. I have definitely been to the International Spy Museum, and Julia Child definitely became more interesting to me when I found out she was in the OSS. I love suspense in all its delicious forms, and if I can predict the ending to a movie or book, it's dead to me. I also may or may not have had upwards of 10 dreams one summer in which I was a spy. Some of you have heard songs from a musical I partially wrote called "How to Be a Villain."

Since I'm actually kind of an open book (or am I), a life of espionage is probably beyond me (or is it?), and that is probably for the best. So, for now I'll pick up one of my favorite Agatha Christie novels and bury myself deep in other people's problems. It will, as always, pleasantly distract me from real life when I read a book in which the person who dies is nearly always universally disliked, people are quirky but loveable, and you never liked the villain anyway.

New Favorite Quote

"What, you can't be bald and confident?"

"Um... your scalp... is out all the time."

BAHAHAHAHAHA! Classic.

Shimmy, Shake, Make an Earthquake...

...is what I wanted to title this post, but then I realized I didn't want to quote Shania Twain. Ever. Oh well. It's been a while since I've blogged. I was thinking about this the other day. It's not that I don't have anything to blog about. On the contrary, I've spent the past month doing very blog-worthy things. Hmm.

But I'm back. As the title would suggest, I just survived my first California earthquake. It was a 6.9 down in Baja, and by the time it made its way to us, it was about a 4. Not huge, but kind of long. It was enough to rattle me, especially when we all went outside and watched the neighbors' glass windows rippling and the water sloshing around in the pool. It's definitely the biggest quake I've ever felt, but it was over quickly and didn't do any damage, thankfully. Interesting.

The rest of my time in CA was great. I got to spend Easter with family for the first time in many years, and it was nice to be with them. I also took my four-year-old nephew to Disneyland. We had a great time, and I taught him about April Fool's jokes. His parents can thank me later. :) I didn't, however, shatter any kids' hopes and dreams this time around. (See here.) So, it was a successful outing.

I also got to play in a wonderful concert. My friend Brandon called me to play in a new oratorio composed by his brother about the Savior's visit to the American continent. (This story is told in the Book of Mormon, for those who don't know.) It was a great opportunity, and I think we'll be seeing a lot more of Brett Stewart. Pay attention. He's amazing.

So, Happy Easter/Conference/April Fool's/Spring to all.