Dinner and Bowling....the down south way

So me and Joe decided that it would be fun to take the family out for dinner and bowling. Well, you see, in our small town, the only "family" restaurant is J.B's (yeah, high dining)and the only bowling center is, well, I will describe that one in a sec.
So we take the kids to this fancy restaurant named J.B's, which by the way, the initials stand for "Just Broke", anyway, we sit and order. Our waiter asks us for drinks, and we give him our order for drinks. We sit, and sit and sit and wait and wait, playing hand games with each other, creating new worlds out of napkins, comparing the size of each others hands, etc, etc. Then we get our drinks. I'm thinking to myself, "If this is how long it takes to get drinks, then by the time we get our food, we will be bowling at midnight!"
And we are maybe 1 of 5 tables of customers that night, so I can't blame it on how busy they were.
So, we order and continue to play more games, stare into nothingness...
A million years later our food shows up, well, everyone's but Christophers and Jayce's. Which is really bad, because Jayce is starving and thinks that he won't get any food, and well Christopher was just eyeing my fries the whole time.
A little while later after I had thrown Jayce some pity fries, his food came. We ate and had to put the rest in a "to-go" container and left for bowling.
We arrived at our little bowling alley, now let me take a moment to describe this place. It's a business, at one time, I was told, was really fun, it had a water slide, a mini golf course, 20 lanes of bowling, pool, video games, a restaurant. Fast forward to now, the golf course is overran with weeds, and closed, they put up a wall and cut the bowling alley into 10 lanes, no restaurant, and the water slide looks like something post apocalyptic.
We get there about 45 minutes before they close. The lady behind the desk looks like we just woke her from a hundred year slumber, and with her sat a man with a tiny dog next to him. Enough said.
We get shoes, and go to our lanes. They actually had to turn the lights on for us, well, because we were the only ones there.
I kept thinking to myself, "If they would paint the walls, install some lights, replace the carpet, hire someone alive, and advertise, this place could make some money. And with that money, they could fix the mini golf course, maybe turn the other side into a roller skating rink and open the restaurant again. I wouldn't even try to fix the water slide, that thing looks beyond repair."
It's sad, because that place is the closest thing to our home that has some semblance to "fun".
After we got home, I just decided this:
1. I make way better food then J'B's and a lot cheaper
2. Playing wii with the family is ten times funner then putting on ancient bowling shoes and playing in the "land before time" bowling center.

Gas cooking for Dummies (I say this lightly)

So the other day I wanted to bake some cookies (Hey, they were healthy!)so I mixed up my batter, preheated the oven, and sprayed the cookie sheet, you know the routine. Well, about 10 min later I started feeling slightly light headed, (insert joke here). I looked around the kitchen and couldn't spot anything at first, then I thought, "Hmmm, I smell gas". Yep, the logical conclusion would be that my oven sat at 100 degrees permeating the kitchen with gas.
I cleared out of the kitchen and opened up all the windows, and sat thinking to myself. Well, you would think I would be worried about the gas effects, but NO, I was thinking "now how am I going to cook these cookies?"
Then lo and behold, I caught a glimmer of sun reflecting off my shiny BBQ-er, and got one of those "AH-HA" moments.
I made a mad dash into my gas filled home and grabbed that poor cookie sheet and ran back outside.
Step one, Fire up the grill
Step two, Put cookie sheet in grill
Step three, drink some diet coke
Step four, watch the temperature slowly creep up to 450 degrees
Step five, singe arm hair removing smoking cookie sheet
Step six, (now this is the most important step) DONT GIVE UP
Step seven, give the kids the half cooked burnt on the bottom cookies, so they can dare each other to eat them
Step eight, make another batch and THIS time, turn the burners down to medium, watch the gage go to 375 and then put the new batch in.
Now the amazing thing is that it works! So while my pathetic oven refuses to behave itself, I have been cooking on the grill outside.
I've used it to cook casseroles, cookies, stuffed zucchini, just about anything I can think of, in fact, I've been trying to "find" reasons to use it,
that is until today...
it ran out of gas
(sigh)
I wonder what cookies would taste like over the fire pit? hmmmm
I will be right back.....

Bug Hotel

So the other day, Jayce comes in the house and asks if he can collect all the earwigs and rolly-polly's in the yard so that he could put them all in one place and call it a "hotel for bugs". Cute enough, so I said, "Yeah, of course".
I kind of remember when I was a kid, treating bugs like toys. I remember playing with ants, rolly polly's, ant lions, flies, spiders, and whatever unfortunate insect that had the misfortune of crossing my path on a day of boredom.
So seeing that Jayce wanted to collect these, didn't really faze me, especially since it's just a kid thing to do.
I was in the kitchen and every once in a while I could hear him, and his friend Gabe, shouting out their victories, "Look this one is real fat one!" or "Look, I caught two at one time, and they are trying to pinch me".
I thought, I have got to get a picture of this, this is just too cute, well, the boys, not the bugs.
Before I had a chance to grab my camera, I got distracted by a phone call and about 10 min later, I went to hunt for this "Bug Hotel". I searched in the front yard, where I heard the boys playing, and no boys. Went to the backyard, and still couldn't find them. I felt bad I missed the opportunity to take a picture, so I came back in the house and put my camera away. Just as I was sitting down at my computer, Jayce runs by with his hand cupped, I call him over and this is the conversation:
Me: Jayce, what do you have in your hands (this is such a dangerous question to ask a 8 year old)
Jayce: Look mom, I have at least 20 Rolly Polly's
(As he opens his hands to reveal at least 20)
Me: Great, so is this for your bug hotel?
Jayce: Yep, we have collected so many bugs for our hotel
Me: You know, I wanted to take a picture of you bug hotel, is that ok?
Jayce: Yeah, follow me
So I follow him, down the hallway, to the laundry room, wait, not to the laundry room, where the back door is, he's still walking
Me: Jayce, where are you going?
Jayce: To show you the bug hotel.
Me: (Calmly)But I thought you made this hotel out in the backyard?
Jayce: We did
(Whew!)
Jayce: But we moved into my room, we want them to be comfortable
Me: AHHHHHH
As I gingerly follow him into his room, he leads me over to a spot, boxed in with pillows and cardboard, and lo and behold, a TON of earwigs and rolly polly's and some other bugs thrown in for good measure.
So as a Mother, and as all Mothers know, you have to not show repulsion as you kid beams with pride at his creation. And as all good mothers know you have to be quick with a solution
Me: Aww,um, hey Jayce, you know what Hotels are right?
Jayce: Yeah, they have a bed and tv and we get to stay up all night.
Me: Yeah, but the most important thing is that they have beds right?
Jayce: uh-huh
Me: So let me go get a special spray that will put these bugs to sleep.
Jayce: Oh yeah!
I run to grab the bug spray, with a mix of guilt and humor, and a whole lot of plain creepiness.
I get back and tell the kids to gather the rolly polly's and take them outside, really because I like them and they had no choice in their relocation. But watching those earwigs run around with their tiny pinchers and gazillion legs, yep, no sympathy!
So as the boys took the bugs outside, I sprayed with everything I had into that bug hotel and watched as they insects slowly "fall asleep"
The boys came in and I had them take their cardboard box outside, I told them that the bugs "sleep" better in fresh air (well don't we all?)
So they happily take their hotel outside. When they come back in, I gently tell them that bugs like it in their homes, outside, and we like them to stay there because we like our home inside.
My son is very compassionate, and always thinks of the wellfare of other and soon he will understand, so do I

The joys of a public restroom

I really never gave much thought to public restrooms, really tried hard not to think about it, but none-the-less, I had an experience that seemed blog worthy.
So we are traveling home from Salt Lake and thought it would be good to stop at Fillmore for gas. There is a whole other story about Fillmore and "Gas" but that will have to wait. Anyway, I decided to use the bathroom, got there and there was a line, of course, so I decided to wait till we get to a rest stop.
We drive a little more way and find one, a great little rest stop, everything you would desire in one, such as large building with lots of trees for hiding bodies, garbage cans that had such a tiny hole to put trash in, that one could really lose a hand throwing away a drink, um, let see, bad "stalker" lighting, you get the picture.
But alas, the bathrooms where actually not that bad. I go in among the maze of walls and when I get there, no one is there, nice change!
As soon as I thought this, a caravan of women and children come in. Its funny when they think no one is there the conversations that they have. Here is a sample.
Kid: Whew, I made it!
Parent: I told you we would, and see now you don't have to use the bottle.
me: (thinking) poor child, and ewww
Kid: I don't think I want to drink any more, I don't like waiting to pee.
Parent: If you don't drink anymore, you will look like a raisin and then we will have to put you in our cereal
me: I can see this parent looking at her child's future therapy bill.
Parent: Are you done yet, you've been in there a long time
Kid: but Mom, I want to make sure all the pee is gone, I don't want to wait again
Parent: If you have to go really bad, you can always use the bottle, Dad does it all the time.
Me: OK! Time to get out of here!
I didn't know if I should feel sorry for this child or for myself, since I am now scarred for life and will never take a bottle of ANYTHING with me in the car.
Well, it's probably not that bad, but still....ewwwwww

What?! I don't look old enough?

So, I auditioned for this movie being filmed in my area. As I sat in my chair among all the young beautiful people, I couldn't help get the sense that maybe I was a little "old" to be auditioning for this play. Which really, sucks, because as you all know, I am eternally young! So moving forward, it came time for me to audition for real (as opposed to 'pretending' to audition, ah the joys of adrenaline! I walked up and introduced myself, looking at a panel of faces, I couldn't tell if they were about to crack up laughing, giving me that "I'm trying to keep a straight face" face, I started to question why I even came. But alas, my ego, kept me standing there with a script in my hand and a camera and light shining in my face. It's funny when you get to a point where you are trying so hard to look like you know what you are doing, but your confidence slides out the back door, you realize what if feels like to do something for the first time (all over again).
They gave me a couple of parts to read, the old medical examiner, the old mother, the old dispatcher, etc, I, of course, seeing the trend jokingly asked, "Do you want me to read for the young, attractive, women who dies in the first 15 min of the film?" ha,ha, he....he....little snicker...C'mon People! It was a joke!
After I read, I got the "head nods, and handshakes" and "thanks for (making us laugh, it made our day) coming in and auditioning"
Went home, shook my head and decided that I would stick to writing and directing my own little theater.
Fast forward, a day later, (I guess not that fast, but it felt like a long time) they called me. Here is the conversation:
Them: So we thought we might have a part for you.
Me: Really? Cool!
Them: Um, yeah. Well we think you would be great in the "dispatcher" role.
Me: Really? Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun!
Them: Yeah, but we have to make you look a little different, are you ok with that?
Me: As long as you don't give me facial hair, no teeth, and make me say "ya-all" I should be ok.
Them: Well, it's actually your age
Me: (thinking to myself..I knew it, I look too old for the part, damn!) Really?
Them: You look to young, we have to make you look like your 40.
Me: HAHAHAHA
Them: No really
Me: HAHAHAHAHA.....really? You do know that I am 40 right?
Them: Well, you need some gray hair, some wrinkles, you know.
Me: You just so totally made my day!
Them: (silence) Great, ok then, we will contact you later with a script.
And the kicker (ok I have to think of a better word) is that I will get paid for it! Yeah for me.
I'm sure this experience will provide me with much useful blog fodder, I will keep ya'all updated.

I dont like pink and purple together, at least on a wall

I don't know if in my later years, or mid years or early mid years, or whatever, that I have grown to like mellow colors. I used to love wild colors and strange mixes, but lately i seem to be gravitating toward subdued hues. Ok, now that I have gotten that out of the way, let me explain why I say that.
We decided that our front room and kitchen desperately needed a face lift. When we moved in, the house was decked out in that "what are you thinking" country wood carved, floral curtain, matching wallpaper like decor. A little past "cute" and into the "wow, did you really pay for this stuff" territory. So we ripped down the curtains, and tore the horrible floral border wallpaper off the wall, and then just kind of left it at that.
So fast forward, 8 years later and I decided that it was time to finally do something about the walls.
Me and Joe did what all good color enthusiast do, we cruised the website for paint colors. Now I want to give those who do the same thing some advice. Don't.
We went to the Ace paint website, we hmm'ed and haw'ed and tilted our heads and asked the kids for their advice on the colors we choose.
We all agreed, gray for the main walls, a rust color for the accent wall and a dark gray for the trim. Looked real nice on the website. HAH!
So we go to Ace and dump $200 on paint. As the paint is going up, I kind of notice that the Rust color is more like a Pink color and and the gray border looks a little purple. I keep thinking that it's the lighting or something. I know the internet couldn't be wrong, so it must be me.
So the job is almost done, and on Sunday me and Joe sat in the front room for a bit and just looked at the wall. We kept telling ourselves that it was rust and gray, and when I was finally convinced that it was those colors, my neighbor comes over and says. "I didn't know you like purple and pinks?"
Well, suffice it to say, our walls and borders are now repainted from colors that we actually looked at before painting a wall, and it looks nice!
Purple and Pink, Bah!

Mom's and "Monuts"

Time for a simple observation. We have in my sons Elementary school, a parent-child reading day. The one for dads is called "Dads and Doughnuts", catchy I like it. But the one for for Moms is called "Moms and Monuts" hmm. Either someone is feeling less then creative or has some strange sense of humor. I mean, really, what the hell is a Monut?
I can see it now, mostly because it has happened to me in the past...
Little kid walks into moms bedroom, where Mom is happily sleeping because, I don't know, it's freakin' 6 in the morning.
"Mommy, get up!"
Mom turns and covers her head with a pillow
Son shakes Mom "Mom! It's important! It's an emergency!"
"I told you son, cats are not flammable, so stop trying to light her on fire"
"No, its not that" Son is now bouncing on the bed
"What?!" Moms muffled reply
Little boy now in a tug-a-war with the pillow on moms head. "You have to get up! today is Moms and monuts!"
"What? What is a moms and monuts?" Now has the Moms attention
"We go early to school and read together and eat something" Little boy pleads
"We eat what?" Mom replies as visions of dehydrated eggs and tpv "bacon" float through her head.
"Monuts!, I want Monuts, so lets go!" Little boy eyes get big like a puppy "please, mom?"
Mom, feeling resigned, gets up and shuffles to the bathroom, "Ok, I will be ready in a little bit, go finish getting ready for school"
"But I won't eat, because I want Monuts!" Little boy happily calls from down the hallway
So now at school, mom and little boy are happily reading, stomach is rumbling and mom goes and looks for this mysterious food for her and her son.
"Hi, I wanted to know where we can get some of those things called Monuts?" Mom asks scary looking lunch lady
"Oh, we are out of those" Scary lunch lady replies
"Oh, ok, I guess they must be pretty good then, huh? I mean you can't beat a monut, right? heh?" Mom says, no reply from scary lunch lady
Mom goes back to son who is eagerly waiting for some monuts, "Son, all the moms ate the monuts and they are out of them, not sure why, because, I usually don't eat what I cant pronounce on the first try, but hey I have an idea."
"What?" Son asks
"We have some time before school starts, lets go and eat something that at least we know what it is!" Mom says
"Whats that?" Son says excitedly
"A Happy Meal!"
And somewhere in a far away land, where monuts are a regular breakfast fare, some mother is scratching her head while her son is bouncing on her bed at 6 in the morning and asking "What is a Happy Meal?"

when the flu really means the flu

I really hate when people who have the common cold call it the "flu". Let me, even in my current state of misery clarify the difference for people who may not know. First off, lets start with the Body Aches, someone who has the cold, may feel a little achy, a little more tired, but with the Flu you feel like you have been run over by a Mack truck, every muscle feels like its been strung through a wringer, like a million tiny hyper active kids used your body as a bounce house, every turn, slight adjustment, any itty bitty movement create vibrations of pain in your whole body. yeah. Now lets move onto the chest and nasal congestion. First the cold, yeah you sneeze, have a running nose, or cough a little, definately not fun, but its not the flu. When you have the flu, your face feel like its the size of a balloon, but not a fun balloon, you feel like someone is inside your head practicing boxing with your eyeballs, when you cough, it actually vibrates your whole body and your balloon head feels like it just grew two sizes. When you have a cold, you just don't feel well, but you take some medicine and go about your day. When you have the flu all you can think about is lying in bed, not moving, no sound, no motion, no anything, just laying in bed and repeating the mantra "this is not forever, this will end".
Now dont get me wrong, I don't like colds and I know they can make you feel crappy, but please don't come see me with a slight cough, a small sniffle and tell me how much you hate having the flu, because you know what, I might just have to sneeze on you and share this experience known as "the Flu"

Do I look like a bank robber?

I decided that I need to post all the interesting things that happen to me, and as you will see, thats almost daily. So let me start with today...
You know when you want to do something totally normal, like feed the cat, or go grocery shopping, you don't sit and think about all the things that can go wrong before you do what you are going to do. Like "hmm, if I feed the cat today, I should be careful because it can become instantly rabid, bite my pinky off, I will pass out because of all the blood and have to be rushed to the hospital, where of course there will be a toxic leak and the start of a pandemic, etc, and so forth, so guess what fluffy your out of luck, go find a mouse". Nooo, normal people don't think that way or don't own cats, not sure. So I decide I need to run to the bank and cash a check a client gave me, no problem, drivers license, check, fingerprint, check, good to go.
So I get to the bank, sign the check and then proceed to the counter. The nice young man smiles at me and says simply "how can I help you?" I grab a couple mints from the counter and plop down my check and drivers license. "I just want to cash this". I look around, grab another mint, then notice he's still staring at me, didn't move an inch.
I had to take a second look at the check to make sure I'm in the right bank, yep, and look back him, smile and say very slowly "I just wanted to cash that check" and smile at him again, he smiled back. So this whole time, he was waiting for my account number. And this is the conversation:
"Do you have an account with us?"
"nope, just want to cash this check"
"Oh, so did you want to open an account with us?"
"Nope, just want to cash this here check"
"Is this your drivers license?"
"Uh, yeah (what I wanted to say,"of course not, its yours") but I don't think he has a sense of humor.
"Do you have any other form of ID, passport?"
"Passport? really?"
"Or a visa card, or something with your picture on it?"
"I have a Visa, but its for my bank, it dosen't have my picture on it, and looky here, this thing called a drivers license has a picture of me, as well as other personal info I wish wasn't there, so that should be enough"
"Give me a minute" he says, walks over to another teller, gives her the check and my drivers license and they both kind of nod and look at me, talking to each other.
He comes back
"I can cash this for you but I need you to put your fingerprint right here"
"Yeah, no problem" So i put my finger in the ink stuff, and press it down, but my print is very light.
"Hmm, that might not work" he says
"Not work? Not work for what?" I say
"Well, you know, if you open an account, we wouldn't have to do this"
"Wha..."
"If you want to open an account, I can put you in touch with our Customer rep over there.."
"No sir, I don't want to open an account, I just want to cash this check"
So he goes to his computer, types the numbers in, gives me a quick glance or glare, not sure, and counts of the money. Brings it back to me and counts it out on the counter in front of me. You would think he would look at the money while he counts, but No, he was looking at me. I know I couldn't have offended him because of bad breath or something like that, mostly because I ate so many of those damn mints by now I'm sure the whole bank was smelling minty fresh, No, it must be something else.
I grab my cash and promptly leave but not without hearing the poor lady who was standing behind me say, "I just want to cash this check"

The spectrum article

The Spectrum
Making an impact: LaVerkin woman involved in theater, photography, family, more
BY BRIAN PASSEY
bpassey@thespectrum.com
Christy Webb of LaVerkin is always up for a challenge. If there's something that interests her, she does it.
"Every day we're just getting older," she says. "One of these days we won't be able to do them."
She recently began playing the guitar again, something she hasn't done in a couple of decades. She also just began her own portrait business, Webb Photography.
That's on top of raising six children and remaining involved in the LaVerkin Community Theater, which she founded about seven years ago. As the founder, Webb would often write and direct the plays, as well as sew many of the costumes herself.
She also loves to cook.
"She is the best cook I know," says Nicholas Wolsleger, who works for Webb at the photo studio. "I've never eaten as good as I do at her house."
Bill Brown, who is taking over many of the administrative duties for the community theater while Webb gets her photography business off the ground, says his family has also spent a lot of time eating at Webb's house. He says Webb has been easy to work with in the theater.
Webb says she believes God put people are on this earth to live and we're not really living if we aren't trying new things.
She's not one of those people that just likes science and math or only thrives on writing and the arts. She loves it all.
Webb says people can be good at anything they devote themselves to, which is why she devotes herself to many things.
Hitchhiking
Originally from Salt Lake City, Webb also spent three years in Mexico as a child. Her mother is Mexican so they lived in a poor fishing village where Webb attended school on the beach. Her teacher used the sand like a chalkboard.
However, the three years in Mexico were difficult because Webb did not know any Spanish when she moved there.
"We learned to speak Spanish basically by being immersed in it," she says.
Webb says she is grateful she had the opportunity to live there because it taught her about the differences in peoples and cultures.
She tries to pass on that understanding to her children. She and Joe have been married 19 years and have six kids, ages 8 to 18.
Each month they choose a different country they want to learn about. Then they immerse themselves in elements of that country, including cooking food from each place.
"I think it's important for my kids to know how big this world really is," she says. "Hopefully one day they'll go out there and explore it."
Webb studied at both Salt Lake Community College and Dixie State College. She actually met her husband while hitchhiking.
She was living in Salt Lake City at the time but had a boyfriend in St. George. The boyfriend called and broke up with her over the phone. Upset about the method of breakup, Webb decided to go to St. George and talk with him, but she needed a ride.
A friend put her in touch with Joe, a man she didn't know but one who would become her husband.
"We got to know each other on the drive," she says. "His car broke down in Beaver. We had to hitchhike to the gas station to call his dad to come get us."
They became quick friends but did not start dating until a year later. Finally two years after they first met the couple married.
She says they have been blessed with a great family, including six "smart and mindful" children.
Photography
Webb and her husband, a computer programmer, share a passion for photography. They often go on hikes together where he uses his talents to capture the beauty of nature.
Her photography usually happens inside her studio at 204 S. State St. in LaVerkin. They started the business, Webb Photography, about two months ago.
On their Web site, PhotoByWebb.com, his scenic photography is shown next to her portraits.
"I think it's so important for your spouse to be your best friend," she says.
She spends about an hour with each client or family, taking about 300 photos during that time. She then posts the best pictures online for her clients to examine. They pick out the ones they like, with no pressure to buy, she says.
Webb says it's important for her to get to know her clients so they are more than just a number. She thinks the personal nature of their interactions helps her reveal the clients' personalities in the photographs.
"I'm not your run-of-the-mill portrait photographer," she says. "I want to get the character and personality of the people. ... I want to see that sparkle in their eyes.'
Like playing the guitar, photography was a former passion that she recently reignited.
Aside from photographing people, Webb says she also enjoys animal photography.
Theater
The Webbs moved to LaVerkin eight years ago, in part because her husband's family lived here. Webb says they really wanted to get out of the snow and out of the city.
Webb says she likes small towns better because they are safer and friendlier. With her involvement in the community through the theater, she feels a part of her new home.
"I think we've made our own little footprint here," she says. "I think we've made an impact with our theater."
About a year after moving to LaVerkin, Webb discovered little theater in the community building. Aside from occasional community events, the stage didn't get much use.
"It almost seemed sad," she says.
So Webb approached the city about putting on a play. From there the project snowballed and became a regular community theater.
They have consistently produced three or four family-friendly plays each year. She sees the plays a means to introduce more people to the arts. Because they are free, those who can't afford to visit Tuacahn or even St. George Musical Theater can catch a show.
"I see it as a service to the community," she says. "Community theater is my love."
Yet it's not just the LaVerkin community that benefits. Webb says patrons have come from as far as Las Vegas and Salt Lake City to see their shows.
The theater is located in the community building at 111 S. Main St. in LaVerkin. Webb says an eventual goal is to build a new theater building.
Because the shows are free, the budget is extremely tight. This means they often cannot afford the rights to many shows. Instead, Webb takes familiar theatrical stories and writes her own plays based on the basic plot or the central characters. She may choose to tell the back-story of one character or turn the villain into the hero.
The community theater is preparing for a show based on Don Quixote in May. Webb says they invite anyone with an interest in theater - even if it's simply an interest in learning more about theater - to stop by and contribute.
"Everyone's invited," she says. "It truly is a community theater."

newspapers are interesting things

Ok, so let me give you some background on this story. This guys from our local paper "The Spectrum" calls me and says "We think you are an interesting person and I want to write a story about you." Then the second time he calls he says "Please don't hang up, this isn't a prank call" I say "Ok, what's up?" Thinking the whole time he would continue the conversation as "Mrs. Garcia..." or "Mrs. Smith let me first congratulate you...." or something like that, but no, he says "Mrs. Webb, a friend of yours gave me your name and said that you are an interesting person and we do articles about local interesting people, would you mind if I interviewed you?" I kind of crinkle my nose and look around my studio for some sympathetic eye contact, but no one is here, and I'm thinking here theres a lot of definitions for the word "interesting" but hey why not, so I say "Oh, ok" (What an impact two little words can make, right up there with "I do"). So he continues and says "me and my photographer can come out today, is that ok?" I immediately fire back "Dude, I am a photographer, and no one I don't know is taking my picture today" And what he didn't know is that I literately rolled out of bed, put my slippers on and did one of those 2 min makeup/hair jobs (I love the hair clip, hides everything). He said "Ok, thats cool, whatever you want" but what he's thinking is "This must be one of those 'scary' interesting people".
So he came, and sat and talked to me. Now one note here, I also write for a even tinier newspaper and I always bring my recorder, just in case. Well, this "City" reporter brings a stencil notebook and pencil, so I was a little worried. We began talking and I tell him about my business, my theater and he stops me and says "what about you? tell me something about you" Well people who know me, know that the Studio and the Theater are "me". So he asks me to tell him something about my childhood that stands out or made an impression, and I tell him how I once lived in Mexico for 3 months and watched the kids attend school on the beach. When the article comes out its says 3 years and that I attended school on the beach. Hmmm, now I have people coming up to me and saying "Como Estas? blah blah something in spanish, blah, blah" I smile and say "huh?" then promptly say "Oh, you read the article, funny thing....."
So interview over, story written. The only thing I really wish I could have said was that I am truly thankful to my Mom, for being there for me always, and for Lesa and Cherise for encouraging me and teaching me mostly my sense of humor (I never fail to laugh so hard I cry when I'm with them and we start being goofy) If you want you can read the article, but be warned I don't know Spanish, and since I am a local celebrity I may have to charge you if you want my autograph, (yeah, right).