Stars, Food, and Hostels oh my!

I just realized I need to assess some fun times I've had.

June 4-8 Lydia, Lani, and I went to NYC to see some shows, the city, and eat Korean food. We had a jam-packed, fun-filled agenda for the four days we were there. Lydia had never been, and we got to visit my friend Monica who let us stay with her...so nice! The first night we were there we did the lottery for tickets to "9-5" with Allison Janney....and Lani, Lydia, and myself all won. 4 tickets for $25 and 5th row orchestra...amazing. Once we were sitting down ready to see the show, I realized I knew someone in the cast!! Kathy Fitzgerald had come to Sedona when I was in 6th grade and then again when I was a senior in high school. Awesome! Afterward we got to meet them both! Here's a picture with Monica and Allison:

NY was awesome and we got to see Wicked and In the Heights also!!!

I will share this...on the last night we couldn't stay with Monica since she was going out of town, so we thought we would go to a hostel...cheap, easy for travelers, etc. We booked it that morning and figured we'd be in room with mostly girls. (We weren't thrilled that guys would be there, but there really wasn't another option) We spent the morning on the lower east side, ate some delicious mac and cheese and (HUGE) cupcakes, and then took the subway up to our hostel....on 114th street...we were on 6th street. I happened to notice at about 90th, we were the only white people on the train. Then when we got to 114th, we were also the only one's who spoke English. We get off at the cross between Spanish Harlem and Harlem, and I was praying the entire time for Heavenly Father to keep us safe. We checked in to the hostel, which was only like 8 blocks from the subway, but when we turned the corner I notice a NYPD van and four cab cars. Super. Once we checked in...we decided to leave again to go out. The hubbub was a couple blocks from where we were, but we were still moving quickly. I was praying pretty much harder than I had in a while and when we looked up....who was there? Missionaries!!! Oh I just breathed audibly and said, "Hold on girls...we need to say hi, they were sent for us" Oh it was just so cool!! 

We went off to see a show and grab dinner, but didn't want to be returning to our hostel in Harlem too late. When we arrived, we were the last ones in our room....which was now filled with 7 European boys in their tightie whities, one of which was modeling a shirt he just purchased that day. Oh. My. Word. At that moment I was glad we had already been to the Temple...because ugh. Naturally there weren't three beds together so Lydia had a bottom bunk, Lani had a top bunk next to Lydia's bunk beds, and then Sasha was on the other side of the room on a top bunk with a perfect view of Mr.-Dutch-I-adjust-myself-every-5-seconds man. I didn't get into PJs, I read until 2:30am, and we were outta there by 7:30am. 

This trip taught me a lot

1) Don't be surprised at who you see on stage...you may know them

2) Always have a camera with you

3) Friendships can last miles

4) People in the subway are willing to sing about anything...even cankles

5) Cupcakes that are bigger than your fists should be admired not eaten

6) Always bring Lani to a show lottery (she won for In the Heights too...first one called BOTH times)

7) European boys adjust themselves constantly and smell. 

Updates, updates, and so much more!

So it has been far too long since I have written a blog entry. School has completely taken over my life, which I don't exactly appreciate. And I really have wanted to take pictures of a few things to put on here. But alas, I'll have to digress (to turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument-so ha it fits in this scenario) since I didn't get pictures.

First: In order to finish my minor I need 9 upper division units in theatre arts. The class I was able to fit in my schedule this semester was scene painting. I've gotta say, I love it. I get to paint for 2 hours twice a week. My first project was shapes, and my second project was a picture of folded fabric. It sounds lame, and it didn't turn out that well, but I'll post a picture soon. 

B: School is always a frustration, but it's because I just want to be done oh so badly. I only need 120 credits to graduate, and when I finish I'll have about 160. Taking 20 units a semester can really just annoy a person to death. But I'm going to have to work through it. Next semester, hopefully, three of my classes will be through correspondence, which means my butt doesn't have to be in a chair for those hours a day and I can just do the assignments....uh thank you!

Fourth: Kenz had her babies as mentioned before, and their blessing was last week. I can't explain how wonderful it was to hear her husband giving them the Priesthood blessing they deserved from him. I was just so happy to be in the presence of a huge family welcoming these babies to this earth, officially. :D The Spirit was so strong, and I just appreciate being associated with this family and I love them SO MUCH!

Side note: I had to leave during a talk in Sacrament meeting since someone needed a key from my car. It wouldn't have been so bad...but you know that moment when you're walking around someone and you plan out your steps JUST enough to walk over them...and then they move THEIR foot? Hmmm, horrible. Well that happened to Keragyn and I, and as I walked out of the pew I completely tripped over her foot, and nearly fell on my face....during a talk....wearing neon purple tights (shut up, don't judge me, they're cute). How reverent of me.  Oh well, it was such a treat.

The rest of my time has been spending as much time as I can with the kiddos and Kenz. It's been fun, and Duncan and I match hair sometimes.