Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Have Yourself A {Wicked} Little Christmas!!!

Lemme explain...

My mother has been wanting to see Wicked ever since Gailon and I went to see it. She was a bit bummed that she didn't tag along the first time. So Gailon and I decided that we would take her for her Christmas gift. So we decided to find the date closest to Christmas but before it, because it is closing in January and we will not be here after Christmas. Well, I chose Tuesday, December 23 because I am off from school and Gailon has a somewhat flexible schedule. Turns out that he is not feeling well so I am taking her alone. Mind you she doesn't know about this whole adventure, I just told her to be ready to go by 4.

We leave for the theater and there is tons of traffic, (in L.A at 4:30pm, really?) and I am not sure we will make it there by 6pm. Gailon calls me several times because the Bishop is there with three of the young women from the ward and he is getting nervous that we won't make it either!

(I digress, the Bishop gave the youth a challenge to read the Book of Mormon during the month of August with the Stake. If they chose to complete the challenge, he would take them to see Wicked. Be good for a Wicked reward, hmmmmm. At any rate, we were talking after the Ward Activity on Friday while sipping our yummy hot cocoa at Starbucks about the process for the lottery and discovered that we would be there at the same time, hence the calls and updates on the line...) Whew!

He calls Gailon one more time and tells him that there aren't any extra tickets for sale, you can only get in if you win the lottery tickets or pay $250 a ticket. OuCh!! At this point, we are about 2 miles from the exit in creeping traffic and it is 5:45. I change lanes, say a little prayer that we will make it, traffic lanes open, and we hemify it to the exit, get off the freeway, make it through the first green and then the next!

It is 5:50, Mom knows where we are going at this point, I explain to her the lottery process and have her jump out and get in line. I am looking for a quick parking spot (in front of a crowded theater, yes I was a bit crazy at the moment!!), and found a taxi loading zone that didn't "start" until 6pm! So, it is 5:57 and I throw mom's blue plackard up onto the mirror and run to put my name in. I get to the podium and the gentleman says" Ok folks! That is it, no more for the lottery! Let's pull some names!" I was the last "legal" name to go in! (A gentleman snuck in beside me and begged to put his name in too, and they did! Ah the Spirit of Christmas is alive and well).

They are only giving out 13 sets of tickets for the front row of the theater. They call about 6 names, none of us.

Then... "Kevin ______"! WaHoO!!!

Person number 8,

"Karen_______"!! No way!! Their group is in! I am so excited for them!!

Person ten.

Person eleven. My mom turns to me and says, "I hope they pick your name!"

"Sara Tucker! ArE YoU KiDdIng Me!!?!! All six of us are getting in!

What are the odds?









I purchase the tickets, we make our plans, and then I park the car in a much more secure place. We had a great time! I could easily go again and again! If we did not get tickets, we were going to take Mom to SLC to see it in April. Maybe we will anyway!!

Oh dear, I think that I am addicted to Wicked! Is there a thirteen step program?

Thursday, December 18, 2008

On a more positive note...


We have truly been blessed! We have been very busy with family portraits, at least 5 a week for the last month or so. It is so great to work with the families and their various wishes and personalities.

We have also been given a great opportunity to work on a special project! The Marketing and Art Directors of this project have been so great to work with! What an opportunity!!!! I took a photo of Gailon doing what he does as a way to document this adventure!

So much going on right now! I am so glad that Winter Break is almost here so I can unwind and evaluate things. Maybe sleep a bit too, raccoon eyes are so not attractive!

Merry Christmas to you too! Bah!

So, we received an early "gift" from Gailon's company, and it is pink. Gotta love corporate games and downsizing... SO we are in a fervent job hunt mode rather than shopping mode. Good thing Mom is a great landlady and does not charge much!!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Blogerney...

Having fun on my blogerney today and I found these really cool decals.

Scribble It GIVEAWAY!!


And then there was this adorable frock!!!

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!


And would you believe another beautiful frock! I am amazed by the talents of others!!

Tree Lighting Wrap Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!


Better get back to my own creations!!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

ChRiStMaS TaG!!

Christmas Tag Time Is Here!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I LOVE wrapping paper because of all of the fun designs and such. Plus it can be multi-purposed. But I usually do a little bit of both because bags are way faster.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real is the only tree there is!!! Potted to be re-used of course!

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the second week of December.

4. When do you take the tree down? A couple days after Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog? A teeny tiny bit.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Wonder Woman UnderRoos!! I loved those things!

7. Hardest person to buy for? Gailon! His list is too expensive ;)

8. Easiest person to buy for? My students, well I guess that would be people.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? The one from my childhood.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, if I get them done....

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A used bottle of lotion from a student...it's the thought that counts!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? That is what White Elephant parties are for!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My dad’s fudge and divinity!

16. Lights on the tree? white ones only.

17. Favorite Christmas song? All of them! I really like the ones we learned in Primary.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph! (Of course I had to sing it first!)

20. Angel on the tree-top or a star? Star and an angel.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Depends on the family we are with, we do both.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who have lost their Christmas spirit and their focus on the reason for the season.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? We do a different themed tree every year. We have done a cooking tree, photo tree, stars only tree, country tree, and a general ornament tree. I just like themes! It makes for a fun ornament collection to be sure!

24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Ham and cheesy potatoes.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? whirled peas!


Consider yourself tagged!!!

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