i was thrilled (to say the least) when i found a mix for alfredo sauce from Fred Meyer that i could have...gluten free, dairy free, soy free. i haven't had alfredo in geez, i can't even remember how long. i've always been a little scared to try gluten free, dairy free alfredo sauce...doesn't it scare you? well this new brand looked pretty legit so i decided to try it and called Derek on the way home cause i was so excited!
the first thing i noticed when i added the extra ingredients to the dry mix was that the sauce was green? ok. i've seen some weird colors in my day but this color resembled a diaper, not food. i also assumed that the sauce would be the consistency of sauce...weird i know...but as i stirred the sauce didn't become saucy, ever? needless to say...we did not use this sauce - and when i tried to clean the pan, it wouldn't come out...i even turned the pan upside down and shook it and, nothing. what are they trying to do, kill me? sooo, you tell me...green refried beans or alfredo sauce?
Mitch. a 6th grader at Rolling Hills Charter. one of the most animated students in my music and drama classes. Mitch has a rare disease...he struggles to walk and gets tired easily. i have seen him grown more and more weak this year. he falls down often...and graciously denies help to stand back up. he still participates in P.E. - and works his tail off! he always wants to be in front of the class in drama and honestly, he is incredibly witty - one of the funniest kids i know.
about a year ago Mitch's family started working with Make A Wish Foundation to make Mitch's dream come true. his dream is this: to direct and star in a movie. the process began about 4 months ago when a team of directors, screenwriters, and producers began working with Mitch and the 6th grade class. a screenwriter named Doug (his last name is absent from my memory) wrote the script...taking into account the ideas of the 6th grade and the theme Mitch wanted: a spoof off of Star Wars. the result: Star Waiter.
Star Waiter uses food to explain the difference between the dark side and the power of the force (or fork, in this show). the good guys eat healthy food: Luke Piewalker, Pretzel Leia, Clam Solo, CH2O, and others. the dark side indulges in dark chocolate and fatty sweets: Darth Waiter. sounds cheesy, i know...but i promise you this movie is hilarious.
i had the priviledge of being on the movie set while they were filming. oh, did i mention we had try outs for the characters in this movie and all of the actors and actresses are my 6th grade drama students?!!...(with the exception of a few adults). it was fun and enlightening to see how a movie is filmed. granted, it isn't a Feature Film, but it is a real movie...with real directors, producers, equipment, and such. the first day was shot at Camel's Back Park, the second day at Riverstone High School, and the third and final day was at Donnie Mac's! the kids had the time of their life, of course. i have to admit i was feeling the pressure when the production team came to me 1 week before shooting and said "here is the script...make sure the kids are ready." eeeek! but, i was so very proud of them!
my favorite scene they shot was the very last one. it is a dance scene. 200 plus people showed up to support Mitch and dance in this final sequence. an amazing choreographer successfully taught all of us a dance in one hour - i was impressed! Boise shut down the streets surrounding Donnie Mac's and we danced down the streets to "We Are Family." oh, and this is cool: Joni Sledge called Make a Wish and gave us the rights to the official Sister Sledge version!
it has been such a joy to see Mitch's dream come true. i love this kid. i can't wait to see him star as Luke Piewalker in Star Waiter. speaking of, you should come! this Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. is the premiere of this movie - at the Egyptian Theatre in downtown Boise! it is open to the public...we are hoping to pack it out. Mitch will be arriving in a limo as the star and there will be a red carpet. why not come you know?!
a big sidenote: Lucas Films also called Make a Wish and the directors of Star Waiter and gave them the rights to all of the original Star Wars music and all of the sound effects!!! rumor has it George Lucas might be there Saturday night...no, i'm not making this up. come!
i saw this picture on my beautiful sister's blog today and had to steal it. my nephew is thee cutest pirate!
my top ten most listened to albums of 2009 so far:
(no, this does not mean they came out in 2009).
This is Us - a collection of wonderful artists such as Aimee Mann, The Byrds, The Constantines, Mark Geary, etc. this album makes me think of family, friends, and home...which is it's exact purpose, well done.
Juno Soundtrack - so playful, so fun, hours of joy with this cd.
Kings of Leon: Only by the Night - enough said.
Feist: Open Season - i have a feeling one of her cds will always be in my most listened to list. this is a cd of remixes and collaborations. wonderful.
The Waiting Kind: In the Land of Hope - first full length! it will change your life, truly.
Cat Power: You Are Free - her breathy vocals melt my heart.
The Honey Trees: Wake the Earth - i've said it before, Becky Filip and i are meant to be best friends. her melodies are some of thee most lovely i have ever heard.
Pedro the Lion: Control - i miss them often, but am forever glad Dave Bazan is still making great music. this album tells a story...it has always intrigued me. i could study Dave's lyrics for probably years and never truly figure out what he means in some of his lyrics.
Brandi Carlile: The Story - one of the greatest lady performers i have ever seen. she writes brilliant music. and what a voice!
Kings of Convenience: Quiet is the New Loud - indie folk pop duo, delicate tunes, warm guitar melodies.
i could probably give a top 25 list, but we'll stick with 10 for now. cheers to good music!
my 6th grade drama class is preparing for a program. they will be performing an array of skits and improv. i am so excited! part of the night will be similar to "Who's Line is it Anyway?" today, we were working on improvisation - the lesson was titled, "Imagination is the Funniest." the objective was to imagine and create a vivid scene, with the emphasis on believability, that supposedly happened in the past. everyone did a pretty good job. Aaron was up last...his prompt was: i witnessed a murder. here is how he told us his imaginative story:
"oh hey guys. let me take you back to one of my most vivid memories.... a few years ago, i was walking home from school all by myself and i came across a light alley. you know how alleys are usually dark?...well this one was light, very light. and there were two guys in the alley...one had a lollipop, and the other had a...(long pause)...lollipop. and they were staring at each other and looked so mad.
then the first guy said, "don't you know tutti frutti is better than peach?"
the second guy answered, "no way! peach is the bessssssst."
then the first guy said, "oh dang!"
and the second guy said, "oh snap!"
and the first guy said, "don't DO IT!"
and the second guy said, "oh i will DO IT!"
and then, the second guy pulled out a knife and stabbed the first guy....(long pause)...right in the lollipop. and the knife went through the lollipop and hit the first guy's epidermis. and the first guy was like, "dude, not my epidermis."
and that was the day i learned that murder... can be funny."
this will be waiting for me when i get home! i adore this mirror...courtesy of etsy.com, of course.
cheers to this beautiful dayyyy!
i wasn't going to blog about this, but i keep thinking about it and getting mad and then laughing (repeat).
i ran to Walmart last night to look for some kazoos...yes, kazoos. as i was walking to my car, about four feet away from me were three teenagers (two boys and a girl) walking to their car as well. the boys started to make comments at me and "hit" on me or whatever. of course i kept walking and didn't look at them but believe me, i hated every word they said. as we both got to our cars, which were right across from each other of course, the girl said, "nah, that's just some skinny a#& anorexic white girl." of course she said it in a booming loud voice, just in case i couldn't hear her from a few feet away. i still didn't look at her or the guys - why give her the pleasure of knowing i was so angry? the thing that bothered me the most about this is that these teenagers were black - and what she said to me was racist - especially the way it was said. now, i have replayed this story in my head ten or twenty times today and really, it makes me chuckle - but she was still way out of line. one time i was replaying the story in my head and i punched her in the face...we all know there is no way that would have happened - but it's a fun thought. ok, not a fun thought, but that is what i felt like doing! what i do know for sure is that it was God's grace that Derek was not walking with me - i feel like things would've turned out a bit different.
there's my story. i don't know why i told it. but i do know that i am thankful God gave me the grace to keep walking and quietly get in my car.
(oh, and thanks Jeff for helping me laugh it off :))
