Holiday Happenings

Spence and I packed up the car on December 16th, and we headed for Quartzsite to spend the night with our dear friends, the Clydes. It was in the 50's on the desert, and the air was sparkling clean. Neither Colleen nor I wanted to cook the salmon I brought for our dinner, so we dined out, and guess what Colleen and I had....SALMON. It was delicious. We just spent the evening talking, and talking and talking, and that was delightful.

The next morning, bright and early, we headed for Phoenix where we had a Bruncheon date with about 12 of my old West High friends. It is amazing to me that we have kept our friendships and communications open for 53 years plus. Some of us actually go back to grade school. It is always fun to hash over old stories and memories, and of course, eating is one of our favorite things.

We then headed on to Mesa for a visit with my Dad. He looks great, and he gets around great, but we are starting to hear lots of his stories over and over and intertwined with each other. He is a GREAT story teller, however. I am so glad he has such wonderful health. We actually stayed in a Time Share in Scottsdale which was much more comfortable that the pull-out couch in Dad's living room. (It is fine for me, but not quite large enough for the two of us.). We took Paul, Gracie's son, out with us for Mexican food on Wednesday night, and on Thursday, Crystal and Josh went with us for Chinese. YUM...on both occasions.

On Friday we had the most beautiful drive up Highway 93 through Kingman and Hoover Dam to Las Vegas and then on to St. George. The desert was beginning to green up and we drove through the heaviest Saguaro forest and Joshua Tree forest that I have ever seen. Dumb me! I didn't think to take pictures. I finally remembered I had a camera when we got to Hoover Dam. They are building an amazing bridge across the river many feet above the dam and about 1/4 mile south. It is going to make an amazing view of the dam and the lake when it is finished in 2010.

That evening was spent with Garth and Patty Crofts, and on Saturday we headed north for Highland and LaMar's family. I have been praying for weeks that there would be no snow today (Spence HATES snow) and my prayers were answered. We had gorgeous weather all the way, with temps as low as 16 degrees. The Provo area was overcast, but hopefully the rest of the week will be nice. Lotsa snow here, however.

Well, my wishes didn't fare so well. It started snowing on Sunday and essentially didn't stop until the next Friday evening, and during those days, about 20" of fresh snow was dumped at LaMar's place. Each day they would go out and shovel the driveway, shovel the walk and wait for the snowplow. LaMar has a quad with a snowblade which he uses to clear the sidewalks up and down the street. Lisa did most of the shoveling (LaMar is recovering from rotator cuff surgery.) Lisa has been tentatively diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, so the shoveling was really painful for her, also. She also has Renaud's syndrome, which means her hands and feet lose circulation and become painfully cold. She goes through dozens of hand warmers each winter season.

We were essentially snowed in, because we have no snow tires on our Buick. I did go out on Christmas Eve to get some fresh rosemary and thyme for my Coq au Vin that I was preparing (which was delicious.) And we did borrow their 4 wheel drive truck to go to Salt Lake City to visit our dear friends, the Zornes, on Friday. We also piled all 8 of us into the truck to head for a movie on Christmas afternoon. The rest of the time we spent cooking for 3 different family parties, including one with Shannon and Doran and their kids. Christmas Day we ate glorious leftovers, and it was so relaxing.

Saturday we awoke to sunshine, and my other prayer was answered...no snow on the roads for our trip back. We stopped in and visited my brother Bill and Marlene on our way down, and then stopped again in Cedar City for a good Mexican dinner with my old boss Don Myres, and his wife Helen. St. George was home for the next two nights...with Patty and Garth Crofts, and then back to good old Simi Valley. I love traveling, but it is always SO GOOD to get to our own wonderful home.

Simi Community Christmas Update

December 9th has come and gone, and so has all my energy and get up and go, but it has been worth every minute of it. The 2008 edition of Simi Community Christmas has come and gone, but the memories will continue in my brain, and will probably keep waking me up night after night until we have a post-event meeting and talk about everything.

The live nativity (Photo at left, with the Nathan Moffet family) was the first thing that greeted our guests, and their sweet smiles set the tone for the rest of the visit. The grand hall was filled with 378 nativities from all over the world displayed on lush velvets, satins, and accented with everything from small smooth stones and sand to glittering crystals and lush greenery. It was truly 'eye candy' to behold

At the same time, the most wonderful music was continually flowing from the chapel where our performers, over 260 in all, filled the air with the music of Christmas. I even sang, and it was pretty darned good according to our wonderful sound man, Bob Adams. We enjoyed everything from Middle School bands playing the Star Spangled Banner and Christmas songs , to ethereal harp music, and from opera singers to a marvelous jazz group with Jacquelyn Levy, vocalist, who worked her way right into our hearts with her songs from the soul. All of the musical performances repeated over and over again the spirit of Christmas and the love we have for our Savior Jesus Christ.

On the last day of our event, KCAL 9 news (CBS 2 also) came to Simi Valley, and Leila Jones, our event coordinator and I were interviewed as the beautiful nativities were being shown. We made it on the 2 PM news on KCAL 9 and the 5 PM news on CBS 2. Catch our interviews by Amy Johnson by clicking here.

There were 2300+ guests for this, our first year of our expanded program, and we were thrilled. We are already looking forward to next year.

Too Big For My Britches

Oh how I remember first grade. Mrs. Stetson was my teacher, and when I started I was sure that I already knew more than she did. I don't know where or how I learned to read, but I had already mastered that skill before I started first grade, and it got me into big trouble. I sat in the back of my row in the class, and one day, Mrs. Stetson gave some kind of assignment which I ignored, because I wanted to read my book. The next thing I knew, she was standing over me and yelling, saying that I was NOT paying attention to her....then WHAP....she hit the back of my hand with a ruler, and I yelped. Believe me, that was the last time I tried that little trick. I also remembered her punishing poor Leroy Owens (a blue baby), and it made me cry. Those were the days when teachers could do whatever they wanted to maintain discipline. Many students during my grade school days, were sent to the office for a paddling from Mr. Staples, the principle. An interesting note...Mrs. Stetson actually came to my wedding reception as did my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Polly Gilbert.

Second grade brought Mrs. Eagan, a teacher that I really really liked. I have two memories of that class. The first one was a read aloud experience where I had the word 'machine' to read, in a very difficult book (so I thought). I remember sounding it out and saying MACH- een, instead of Ma SHEEN. She did praise me for a good try, however. The other experience was when she was handing out parts for the Christmas program. Of course I thought I was brilliant and wonderful and should obviously be given a large part, but.....as she went around the class, skipping over me, assigning parts, I decided I was not even going to be IN the show, let alone have a big part. But I was wrong. She came to me last of all and offered me the role of Mrs. Santa Claus. I was to be the 'star.' It was an amazing experience, and probably the humble beginnings of my love for the theater...little did I know then that I would be doing what I do now....theater wise.

By third grade, in Mrs. Davis' class, I was less cocky and really became interested in learning. I don't have any outstanding memories of the class itself, but this is the time I became interested in Blue Birds and began forming friendships that would last for years.

In fourth grade, with Mrs. McDonough (I thought she was quite old), I learned to play the Tonette (quite well I might add) and I had my first boyfriend. His name was Stephen Miller. On Valentines Day he gave me a valentine that he signed with the words, "I love you and I'm not kidding." I was on cloud nine, needless to say. Those were the days when students were not required to give everyone a valentine or the same amount of cards to each person, and I remember counting with my friends to see who got the most. I must have become a lot nicer by then, because I always got a pretty big pile of cards.

Fifth grade was one of my joys of grade school. Polly Gilbert (who came to my wedding if you remember) was my teacher, and probably one of my favorite teachers of all time. She had my number. She knew I was an eager learner and she gave me many opportunities to grow. One that I remember (that she used to keep me busy because I always finished my work so quickly) was to have me re-copy National Geographic articles in long hand, which would then be mounted on colored paper next to the appropriate picture, and arranged on the bulletin board. Not only did my penmanship skills imrove (I should be so lucky now) but the knowledge I gained from reading all these wonderful articles was just amazing. Smart lady, that Mrs. Gilbert. She also introduced me to Spanish. I can still sing the little songs she taught us, and I was again cast in another play, all in Spanish, in which I had the lead. Gretchen Wolf, one of my friends, played the part of Rosa, and that name stuck. We called her Rosa for years....

Sixth grade was with Mrs. Jones ( I maintained a friendship with her until she moved from Phoenix several years ago, because she was no longer able to live alone. I would go visit her at her house when I went home to visit my family, and she would play the piano and I would sing. She lived about a block from my house.) This was one large class. We had 55 students in the room, and they could barely fit the desks in. She was a good and loving disciplinarian, however, so it continued to be a learning atmosphere. My most memorable moments were the study of all the Greek and Roman Gods. We drew beautiful chalk murals on the blackboards depicting the various scenes from mythology. This was also the year that I won the school spelling bee. I went to district competition and screwed up on the word 'cinnamon.' You guessed it. I switched the m's and the n's. I could spell every other word in the contest....but I was NOT the winner. (After thinking about the spelling bee, that might have been in 7th or 8th grade, but it matters not.)

All the above experiences were at Longview School, part of the Osborn District. They also had a wonderful music program, and I was able to play Buttercup in HMS Pinafore, participate in the Nutcracker, and sing in the school choir. They also had a Home economics program, and that is where I learned to sew. I not only made a pot holder, but I made a 4 gore skirt. It taught me enough skills that, with my mother's further tutelage, from that point on I made about 90% of my own clothes.

Another vivid memory is of purchasing Savings Stamps and Savings Bonds at school during WWII. I still will never understand how my purchase of these stamps would help the starving children in Europe. No one ever really explained that little bit, but every week I would take my pennies to school and buy my stamps, which I glued in a book.

My favorite memories of those years were Bluebirds and Campfire Girls, howevever. Mrs. Solomon was one of our leaders (her daughter Carolyn was one of my friends.) Others in the group that I remember were Catherine Hogg, Barbara Basham, Kay Kincaid, Gretchen Wolf, Charlotte, Gretchen Ziegler, and Rosemary Tolliver. I went through all the ranks of Campfire and became a Torchbearer. I had my ceremonial gown filled with strings of beads, and my name was Da Shu Denksa (part of it meant butterfly, but I don't remember the rest.) I can still sing "Burn Fire Burn." It was after 4th grade that I began attending Camp Wamatochick in Prescott with these girls. That will be another chapter.

A Meal To Remember

With Thanksgiving approaching, I was beginning to become very apprehensive about how and when I would prepare a neat meal for the family. I have been so tied up with Little Shop, Meeting in Durango and Simi Community Christmas that I have barely had breathing and sleeping time, let alone cooking time. I checked into prepared heat and serve dinners and realized they would cost just as much as eating out, and I would still have to serve and clean up.


Spence driving us to Thousand Oaks

I talked with Audrey and discovered she felt the SAME way...so we opted for Thanksgiving out. I had hoped to go to the Grand Vistas for their Thanksgiving buffet, but this year they discontinued it...bummer, because at a buffet, everyone gets something he likes. We waited too long to get reservations at Marie Callendar's, so we ended up with noon reservations at Mimi's in Thousand Oaks....not exactly our favorite time for the meal, but a lot better than doing dishes!


It was actually fabulous. I thought we would be ordering from their menu, but they had a one- size-fits-all menu for Thanksgiving, with just a few choices in starters and desserts. I love their French Onion Soup, and that was my choice. Their turkey dinner was huge...about 8 oz. turkey (your choice of white or dark or both), corn bread stuffing, mashed taters and gravy, mashed yams (a bit too sweet), pumpkin bread, rolls, broccoli, carrots, cranberry sauce (yummy) and choice of pumpkin pie, bread pudding or chocolate mousse pie for dessert We have enough leftovers for another meal (something we didn't count on). Spence (one might guess) was the only one to clean his plate.

We figured we wouldn't get dessert, so unbeknownst to each other, Audrey bought 5 pies and 4 kinds of ice cream, and I bought 2 huge Costco pies and 1 gallon of ice cream and tons of whipped cream in cans. Guess we will have to have a huge dessert party soon....that's a LOT of pie.

Of course I forgot my camera, so I took pics with my phone in not so good lighting, and you can see what a wonderful time everyone was having, simply by looking at the expressions on their faces.






















The best picture, of course is this last one. It will always remind me of the dishes I did NOT have to wash. And now.....I am going to relax and enjoy the rest of this WONDERFUL day. I have a great book I want to finish.

My First Memories

I was just 2 years and 9 months old when my brother Bill (formally known as William Hale) was born on February 21st, 1940. Go ahead...do the math...I dare you. My first memory is of a woman in a dull bluish green chenille bathrobe oohing and aahing over this little thing in a blanket. I am still not sure if this woman was my mother or my grandmother, but I must have been jealous, because I remember not having nice feelings at that time. I think I probably wanted to ditch that 'thing.'


Oddly enough, my second vivid memory also had to do with that bundle in the blanket...when he reached about 12-14 months of age (I was about 4 by then). We were on a family outing in the desert, and all of a sudden my baby brother decided to walk (well, that is what my memory says). Again, EVERYONE was so excited about the steps this adorable child (and he was) was making, that I was just simply forgotten....no one seemed to care at all. So, being the personality I am, I remember running up a little hill and shouting, "Look at me." Pathetic, isn't it. I laugh now, when I think of it.

My next real memories were at age 5 when I started to attend nursery school. I remember my little friend, Catherine Hogg, who later became on of my best friends in grade school. We enjoyed playing together. I remember a castor bean tree that we were all warned about. (I am surprised they didn't remove it.) They said we would die if we ate any of the beans. I also remember making beads from magazines. We cut long triangular strips out of slick, colored magazines, dipped them in glue, and rolled them over a nail, starting with the wide end first, and let them dry. They were so pretty. We also made teeny tiny furniture for a doll house, much of it from modeling clay. I remember making a fruit bowl with little pieces of fruit...really teeny tiny.

After that year, I began first grade, and my memories from then on are prolific to say the least. You will be amazed, I am sure.

Simi Community Christmas

Now talk about a time eater! Since May, I have been spending countless hours on this huge new project our Stake is undertaking this year.

*Amy Burr, soprano, (photo at left) will be featured as one of our performers. In addition to her solo performance, she will also be the assistant director of the Children's Choir and the Stake Choir performances.

For several years now our Stake has had an annual Christmas concert presented by the Simi Valley Stake Choir, with displays in the Cultural Hall of international creche/nativity exhibits. Last year we expanded to have the exhibits take a more prominent part. This year we are expanding the event to 4 days.

With the expansion of Simi Community Christmas to four days, we are adding a whole new dimension to our exciting event with the addition of mini concerts. These will run concurrently with the displays of the hundreds of Nativity scenes and our presentation of a living Nativity.

Admission is free and open to the public. Visitors may choose to browse through the exhibits while listening to the performances, or they may choose to take a seat in the chapel and have a front row seat for each of the mini concerts.

These musical programs will feature a large variety of performers including vocal soloists, both classical and contemporary, instrumentalists, school choirs and instrumental ensembles, plus a children’s and a youth choir. The Simi Stake Choir will present a full Christmas concert on Saturday evening at 7:00pm, and the 100 voice Channelaire Ladies Barbershop Chorus will highlight our closing night, Tuesday Dec. 9th.

And guess what? I am in charge of organizing and orchestrating these 25 concerts featuring over 300 performers. I have been madly collecting bios and head shots of performers and fitting together a schedule of the performers. I have met so many wonderful giving performers as a result. We hope to have the WHOLE WORLD come and see our event. Well, actually we would be happy just to have a great turnout from the community....

Check out our website for a complete list of performers and a schedule of events, plus pictures of nativities from years past.

simicommunitychristmas.com

Hope to see you there....

The Meeting in Durango

One of the other projects that has been keeping me busy is a new play entitled The Meeting in Durango, written and directed by an starring Ray Malus. Our opening November 14th will mark the World Premiere of this entertaining 3 act romantic comedy.

I play the role of one of the little old ladies who lives in a hotel in Durango. The other 'little old lady' is indeed just that. Nancy must weigh 85 lbs. dripping wet, and she just celebrated her 90th birthday. The part was written for her, and she is adorable.

This is my first real straight book show. I was cast 3 years ago in Arsenic and Old Lace, but had to withdraw when my knee went so bad, and I also had 14 short lines in Inherit the Wind about 10 years ago, but this show is really my first full blown performance in a non-musical.

It has been an interesting experience watching the show develop, and I am proud to be part of it. The show plays at the St. Martins of the Field Theater Guild on Winnetka just south of Sherman Way.

How I Turned Into A Mormon

My Conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

By Linda Smith

It all started when I was only 5 years old. Then I didn’t know what was possessing me, but I can still remember asking my Mom to take me to Church. Now I know it was the Holy Spirit at work, because He knew I was seeking for the truth.

The first Church she chose was the Bethel Methodist Church just a few blocks from our home in Phoenix. We attended together for about two years, when I became dissatisfied. I asked her if she would try another church. This time it was the Phoenix Christian Church which met at Emerson Elementary School. I attended there for 3 years. I remember going by myself on the bus each Sunday. Can you imagine sending your 7 year old on a bus these days? I had my little black Bible which received shiny star in it for each week that I attended. I still remember being allowed into the grown-ups’s service one day where they were taking communion. I was in awe.

My 10th summer things changed. My parents arranged for me to go to Greer, AZ to stay with the Crosby family. Their daughter, Sylvia, was one of my friends at school, and my Dad knew her Dad from somewhere, so they worked out this arrangement where I would go spend 5 weeks with their family in this little mountain town in Eastern Arizona.

I arrived late on a Saturday night, so my first experience was Church on Sunday morning. It was a very small community, so the services and Sunday School classes were literally held in one room….for all ages.

For the Sunday School portion, the adults met in one corner, the teens in another, those from 7-11 in a third and those 6 and under in the last corner. Being 10 yrs of age, I was with the 7-11 group. There were about 15 of us seated in a circle.

The teacher was NOT a very good teacher, because (as I remember) she had trouble controlling the group. She finally became angry and ‘threatened’ that the next person who spoke out of turn would have to read the lesson. Well….being the ham that I am, this was a big invitation to me. Now mind you, I knew no one in this group other than my friend, but that didn’t matter. I took off my shoe and threw it across the circle, hitting someone square in the chest. The teacher didn’t even know my name but she yelled and me and then handed me the lesson manual and said, “Read.”

The lesson that day was on Joseph Smith and his ‘First Vision.’ I began reading. (The following is directly from Joseph Smith’s History.)

I was at this time in my fifteenth year. My father’s family was proselyted to the Presbyterian faith, and four of them joined that church, namely, my mother, Lucy; my brothers Hyrum and Samuel Harrison; and my sister Sophronia.

During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was bright and who was wrong.

My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others.

In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?

While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.

At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would bgive liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.

So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the awoods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.

After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.

But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” It seems as though thecadversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?

After reading these few verses to the class, I can still remember my feelings….I was overwhelmed with what I now know was the Holy Ghost. Immediately following the Sunday School class, all the groups broke, and reassembled as one body for the Sacrament Service. (That is what we call or main worship service, the main purpose being to partake of the Sacrament and renew our Covenants.)

This was the first Sunday of the month, which in our Church is designated Fast and Testimony Meeting. On the first Sunday we fast for 24 hours, donating the money saved on food to our Fast Offerings, which go to feed those in need. Having never been to a testimony meeting before, I did not really know what was going on, but as members stood to bear their testimonies of the truthfulness of the restored gospel, and their knowledge that Joseph Smith was a latter-day prophet, I was again overwhelmed with the feeling that I was ‘home,’ and I knew I had found the right Church.

When I returned to my family before school started, I told my parents I wanted to go to this Church, and my Dad (who by the way, had attended the LDS Church regularly all 4 years of college**), made the arrangements, and I began attending the local ward. After two years, just before my 12th birthday, I was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

** My Dad joined the Church when I was 22. My mother joined when I was 20 and my brother joined when he was 17.

It wasn’t until many years later that I fully understood what had drawn me to the Church. It was the simple fact that the Church believes in modern day prophets, and that God still speaks to his people in our very own day. Our current prophet, Thomas Monson, is literally the mouthpiece of God to us, his children. The Quorum of 12 Apostles are all ordained and sustained as Prophets, Seers and Revelators. In other words, we are never without the word of God as we need it to guide our lives in these times.

NOW…as to the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon in NO way takes the place of the Bible. It is simply ANOTHER testament of Jesus Christ. It is the history of the people who fled Jerusalem when they were warned by God that Jerusalem would be destroyed. They lingered for years in the wilderness before arriving on the waters where they were instructed to build a ship that would eventually carry them across the sea to land somewhere on the shores of these continents. It is their history. They were firm believers in Jesus Christ, whom they knew would come to be their Savior. This history begins about 600 BC and continues through 421 AD.

We use the Bible as the word of God. It is the history of the people on the other side of the world. There are many Biblical references that show us that there WERE others that Christ ministered to, after his death.

Below is a link that will discuss modern day revelation. It may clear up issues about the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

This link will give you several options. It will allow you to choose to read the talk, to listen to it, or to watch it live. I would recommend the latter. It is only about 15 minutes long, and I think the live delivery is better. Here is the link:

http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-851,00.html

Scroll to the bottom of the page to the Sunday Afternoon Session and to the first talk, “ Words…Never Cease,” by Jeffrey Holland. Then you can choose, to the right, if you wish to read, listen or watch. For all the references, just click on read, and then scroll to the bottom of the talk.

Jeffrey Holland is a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, one of our General Authorities.

Little Shop of Horrors

I haven't added anything new to my blog in ages because I have been wound up tighter than a drum working on three major projects. The first is the wonderful show, Little Shop of Horrors, which I have had the privilege of producing for the Camarillo Community Theatre.

I had forgotten how time consuming producing could be, not having been involved with a project since 2004, when I produced The Sound of Music, also for CCT. I have spent countless hours on the computer, writing sides, preparing for auditions, copying forms, writing press releases, and just about everything else you can think of, not to mention the time running back and forth between rehearsals, shopping and making leaves for Audrey II, and fixing the food for the opening night gala.

We only had 23 people audition for 9 parts, but we managed to get the most amazing cast. Elizabeth Stockton was cast as Audrey, Daniel Ross Noble as Seymour, Larry Shilkoff as Mr. Musnik, Patrick Beckstead as Orin et al, Ella Bowen as Ronette, Jodie Morse as Crystal, Ashley Driskell as Chiffon, Hannah Davey as the voice of Audrey II, and Janelle Meister and Keaghlan Bier as the puppeteer for Audrey II. We lost Janelle early on due to an injury, but Keaghlan very nicely covered for her.

This cast, under the direction of Jeff Wallach, who also choreographed the show, and under the musical direction of Marina Pogosyan, has turned out a WONDERFUL show. Sean Harrington designed Audrey II, and this was her debut show. (Audrey II, that is.)

I have enjoyed attending as many performances as possible, and one AWFUL night, I actually had to run the sound. I was a total basket case, being the techie that I am NOT, but it went just fine. Juanita Seavey, our Stage Manager, had to cue me a couple of times over the headset, but all went well.

We managed to get two wonderful reviews, but are still having trouble getting the people out to see the show. I guess these economic times are just playing havoc with many pocketbooks, but hopefully our last 8 performances will bring in more audience members.

Hats off to the cast and crew! I love you all!

Family Adventures and Then Some

Last Friday, August 22, our little family from New York blew into town for a reunion with granparents and cousins AND our dog Kasey (actually Courtney's dog). The first afternoon we just kind of spent lying around the house, after eating lunch at Carillo's Mexican deli. Evan helped me with my multitudes of computer problems and Liz helped me learn how to put photos and videos into my blog.

The kids got acquainted with Kasey, who outweighs even Sophia. When they first came in, she went wild with joy....new blood to play with. She knocked the boys down and licked them, and they came up laughing. Sophia was a bit more reserved with the dog, but she also seemed to enjoy her.


All three had a great time feeding the fish in our pond. The coi are huge now, after 12 years. We still have about 6 of the original gold fish and some new fish that must have come from spontaneous combustion....because we didn't put them there. We think Courtney's bass either died or was devoured by a local racoon or the local heron (huge thing.)

That evening all of Audrey's kids came over to baby sit (and play with Grandma and Grandpa) while Evan and Liz and Steve and Audrey enjoyed a night out with Trevor and Leila. Those who stayed home watched Lava Girl and Nemo (my favorite). By the time they got back from dinner, jet lag had taken over so the kids crashed on the couched. I didn't expect them to stay, so I hadn't had Courtney clean the upstairs for guests. Oh well....next time I will do better.

Saturday all of us (except Spence, who had committed to work at a local civic event) headed for Point Dume, after buying sub sandwiches to take for lunch. The day turned out beautiful, and I took lots of pictures.








The highlight for me was totally being dumped in the surf. Kristina and Matthew had to rescue me and get me to my feet. The waves were breaking right on the sand, so it was difficult to get past them...for this 'older' surfer with weak knees. Oh, how I wish I had had a video. When I hit the shower, I must have had two cups of sand in my suit...not to mention my hair. By the way, I did make it past the breakers for a nice swim in the surf with the kids.

I did get a picture of Audrey being knocked by a wave, as Liz was trying to snap her photo. She landed with a plop, also.

We were going to BBQ for dinner but Liz suggested that we just order from Reds so we could stay and extra hour and a half at the beach. That was a cool move and I didn't get tired from cooking dinner at all! It was delish.





It was a bittersweet farewell...as the kids, already out like lights, were tucked in their carseats and kissed goodbye.

Little Women: Aunt March or Maxine

I recently had the opportunity to understudy the role of Aunt March/Mrs Kirk in a production of Little Women the Musical in Simi Valley. NO, this isn't my picture, but it gives you an idea of the character I played. One of my friends said it was like watching Maxine play the role, and I took that as a great compliment. Actually, Maxine is my idol....love all her cartoons.


In our local Simi Valley production, we had the most incredible cast of daughters (see flyer below). Anna Graves, Jo; Liz Stockton, Meg; Tessa Grady, Beth; and Dawn Notagiacomo, Amy, were amazing. Marmee, played by Chris Zirbel was equally as amazing. I had seen a professional production of the show, starring Maureen McGovern, and I don't think that cast could hold a candle to our local cast.

I was understudying Kim Blake, who had a big family hoo hah which gave me the opportunity to do the role(s) for two performances. I had never performed for the director, David Ralphe, before our brush-up rehearsal, so I was literally scared spitless. The first night was a bit scary, but I felt like I nailed the role on Sunday...a great feeling. It was also my first time to try an Irish accent (used by Mrs. Kirk, the boarding house super).

HY Katlein's comment on Goldstar.com was: (my first internet review...tee hee)

"This was a beautiful presentation of a standard, set to music. This performance was well acted, very well presented and the music and orchestra were terrific. We saw this presentation with 3 understudies and they were all great. Highly recommended."

I was exhausted during the show because the dressing rooms are downstairs, and I had 5 costume changes which meant I did a minimum of 7 flights for each performance, including the ups and downs to be 'miked' and to change back into my own clothes. I did it, however.

On the first night I actually threw a party at my house afterwards in honor of Spence's 74th birthday....Happy Birthday Spence!.

My next thespian adventures include producing Little Shop of Horrors for Camarillo Community Theatre and playing the role of Amanda in a world premiere of Meeting in Durango, a new play by Ray Malus, which will be performed in Canoga Park. Obviously I will be very busy for the next 3 months....exactly what makes me happy.

My First Film

Well, I certainly had an interesting experience this weekend. I was featured in my first film....a MOST interesting piece. It is amazing to me me that SO much work and so much time is spent creating a piece of film that will last only 5-6 minutes. It took a crew of about 20, another 20 or so actors and 2 twelve hour days to accomplish the goal. This doesn't include any of the hours and hours of pre-production work.

I started out on Thursday by driving to ABC costume studios where I tried on several outfits, until they found the one that thought was right for me....I was playing the role of the grandmother.

I arrived on location at 9:30 AM on Saturday, where they immediately had the make-up artist add her touches to the basics that I had applied. I felt GORGEOUS!... Shooting had started at 7:30, so during the times when they were actually shooting, they would call "rolling," and we would all have to be quiet.

They got a little behind so my 'big' scene was skipped (postponed to Sunday), so I actually didn't shoot my first scene until about 4 in the afternoon. Fortunately, they served us a delicious Greek lunch at 1PM, and there were snacks and drinks all day long. And after all that time, they touched up my make-up again.

It was nearly 100 degrees and the group shot was in the sun in the backyard at the peak of the afternoon heat. We were all dying.... Of course every scene is shot a minimum of 3-4 times, just to make sure they have what they want. By the time that shot was over (an hour in the sun) we all thought we were going to have heat stroke.

WE were finally dismissed at 7:30 that night, and I was told to return at noon the next morning for my 'big scene.' When I say big scene, it means that I was the only one in the shot. As the grandmother, I was doing food prep in the kitchen, and I turned around at one point and greeted my granddaughter. I was then shown (hand only) turning on the stove. I had no real dialogue. All the voices in this 'weird' film are being done out of sync...sort of surreal. (Did I spell that right?) There were only 5 lines of actual diaglogue in the entire film and all but the final one are being tweaked with out of sync/slowmo sound.

Then we had HOURS of sitting, waiting for the other daylight scenes to be shot. Around 8PM they began shooting the dinner scene, which was held outdoors. I was finally dismissed at 1215 AM....We had Baja Fresh for dinner and Pizza after we finished, so at least we ate.

I must say the plot of this film, which is being made to be entered into film festivals all over the world, is really weird...with a cult feeling. The idea occurred to the author/director, after she had seen some documentaries on different cultures and their coming of age rituals. Had I known the plot, I probably would not have done the film, but the positives outweighed the negatives in the long run. I met some of the most wonderful people. And I got to see how they work with fake arms and hands and how blood squirts....VERY interesting and totally believable. I saw the out-takes (I think that is what they are called) on the gory scene, and they were WOW!

BUT, now I is an actor! On film! If they sell the film I will even get paid...about $400. I DO hope someone wants to buy it..tee hee.

Repent

Repent!
I just had the most delightful experience in my acting class. After seeing one of the gals perform and off-the-wall song, I decided I wanted such an experience, so I asked Rachel (the only other LDS girl in the class) to direct me in a number called Repent.

It is a saucy little number from a musical set in the 1940's called On the Twentieth Century. For those of you who remember Imogene Coca...she did the role. The character is a bit demented, but lovable. This song is all about her calling everyone to repentance for their 'dirty little doings.' At the end of the song, it is revealed that she ALSO did those dirty little doings, but she was called to repentance...and saw the light! Fortunately, as she explains, this did NOT happen until she had done it all! The song leaves to your imagination what the word ALL connotes...tee hee

It was a very physical song, and during our final rehearsal onstage, I was sitting a box, and when I went to get up, the box collapsed...and I did the same! I crashed to the floor, but fortunately I just went plop...right onto my nicely cushioned derriere. It was quite funny, and would have been a good bit in the number, had I the dexterity to quickly upright myself. Fortunately, I suffered nary an ill effect from the fall...fat comes in handy sometimes.. I am excited to be able to perform it in a benefit called Fundtastic Follies, a fundraiser for a local community theater in Camarillo.

Fun in Seattle

After the Chef's school, I definitely needed R&R. My friends Trini and Jesus de la Cruz, from Madrid were planning to be in Seattle for 5 days the first week in July so I decided it would be fun to go up there and meet them. I quickly called Marilyn and Rowland to see if I could hang out with them for a few days, and their son Scott offered to let me use his son Derek's car (he is at BYU for the summer.), so I found a good price on airfare and I was off and running....well actually flying.

Trini and Jesus arrived the same day I did, so I planned to pick them up the next day for a tour of Seattle's underground city. They were suffering from jet lag, and the guide's jokes were so subtle that they went right over their heads, but we had a lovely tour and then headed off to go shopping.

Trini and Jesus were staying with members of our travel club (that is how I met them...I stayed in their home for 6 nights in Madrid in 2006)so I dropped them back off at the house and got acquainted with the Egans. He is a retired physician (former doc to all the Fords, the Clintons, Colin Powell and the elder Bush family.) She is from Germany, so we had lots of interesting things to talk about.

When we first got back to their house I asked Joe to check the oil in my nephew's car, because it smelled hot to me. Sure enough...no oil, so we went to the store and got a couple of quarts. I mentioned to him that the brakes kept getting softer and softer throughout the afternoon, but the brake shop had already closed.

I headed back to Marilyn and Rowland's house, but I missed the turn that would take me onto the freeway. I ended up on Main Street in Bothell, and when I realized where I had gone wrong, I turned up a side street to turn around. When I was coming back down, I put on the brakes and there was NOTHING. I coasted to a stop...fortunately no cars were coming on that side street. I called Rowland and he came and rescued me. He managed to drive the car home by continually pumping, but he said he could hear brake shoes dragging and main cylinders doing something...I know not what. I feel like I experienced a tiny miracle. Had I NOT missed the turn, the next time I would have braked would have either been in heavy traffic on the missed road or on the freeway....I am so grateful.

The next day I drove Rowland's car....much better. We did a tour of Pike's market where I was the one who kept stopping to buy things. We then went on a lovely Lake Washington Cruise, after which I dropped them off and went back to cook the same marinated pork chops for Marilyn and Rowland.

The next day I had a chance to visit Megan and Michael and their adorable son, Lucas. We all went to the movies, Wall-e, where I promptly fell asleep and only saw the first ten minutes and the last 5. What a waste of money.

I then went to the Egan's for a BBQ....NOT! We started with a very formal table setting with a first course of gaspacho made by Trini, salad, and a chicken dish with fresh spaetzle. We did have corn on the cob...which was actually cooked on the grill. Dessert was an Irish trifle....most unusal 4th BBQ I have attended, but delicious. The Egan's house is on Lake Washington, so we watched gorgeous fireworks for almost an hour from their patio. What a show.

The rest of the week I just hung out with Marilyn and Rowland and on Sunday we had a family dinner at Scott's house, with his family and Jon and Charlotte and Riley. I so enjoyed myself.

It is always good to return home, however, and when I did, I was greeted by La Mar's crew who were here the rest of the week before going on their annual Leo Carillo campout yesterday. On Saturday night we had an additional 8 people sleeping here...Wayne Sanders and his family always spend the pre-camping night with us.

Chef's School

Audrey told me that her son, Brandon, was interested in learning how to cook. Well, a bell went "ding" in my head, and I was off and running. The first thing Brandon and I did was to cook a meal together...one for which he planned the menu. We slaved making Baby Back Ribs, broccoli, Caesar Salad with homemade dressing, garlic mashed potatoes and best of all...a homemade apple pie. The meal was a huge success.

A day or so later I wandered into a new kitchen store in Simi Valley and noticed that they had cooking classes for teens. I looked at the price and about had a heart attack. I said to myself, "Self, you can teach a class just as well as they can." Not wanting to do the whole thing alone, I called my good chef buddy, Dale Falkenstein, and he agreed to work with me. Brandon and the three Hunt girls, Kelsey, Jennifer and Haley, became our students.

We designed a 4 session class and those kids worked. They all looked so adorable in their custom aprons, and Brandon even had a chef's hat. The first day Dale taught them knife skills and they chopped their way to fresh salsa and all the goodies necessary to make a homemade marina. They then made homemade pizza dough and each took home a pizza, a pot of sauce for pasta and a bowl of pico de gallo.

The next day we showed them the 'mother' sauce....a simple white sauce, which they converted into delicious mac and cheese, broccoli cheese soup, and roasted corn chowder with bacon. I also demonstrated how to make a roasted vegetable soup.

The third day was pan frying and sauteeing. Delicious marinated pork chops with a citrus pan sauce served with mashed potatoes with sofrito was entree #1. Dale guided them through making chicken with an apple cream and mushroom sauce which they served with oven roasted potatoes with rosemary and garlic. Yum.

Our last session taught them delicious dinner rolls and homemade pie crust, into which they put a Hershey Bar chocolate cream pie topped with tons of whipped cream.

Their final session will be next week. The four of them are going to plan a menu and cook for both families plus Spence and I and Dale and his wife. I can't wait. Should be yummy.

I must admit I was EXHAUSTED after the week, but a happy camper, and the kids were amazing....and think of the hundreds of dollars we all saved!!!!

Is it soup yet?

I am a real technical genius. I entitled this blog, hit the wrong button, and was told it already posted, and I hadn't written a single word! I AM clever in that way.

The title may be a bit confusing, but it is because I am gearing up for a couple of weeks of cooking. Brandon, Audrey's youngest, is interested in learning to cook so on Tuesday we are beginning a series of lessons. He has planned a menu for Tuesday night that he and will cook for his family. I can't wait....BBQ baby backs, mashed potatoes, broccoli, Caesar Salad and apple pie. I hope it doesn't discourage him too much (all the work), because next week my 'chef' friend, Dale Falkenstein, is going to join me are we are doing a whole week of cooking classes for Brandon and 3 of his friends. When they get through, they should have some very sound basics for cooking....at least we hope so. We are making it very teenager friendly, however....the end products will be yummies like fresh salsa, homemade marinara (which will go on their homemade pizza dough, homemade mac and cheese, Reds herbed rolls, yummy BBQd items and chocolate cream pie....


Another pot of soup was brought to fruition a week ago. In April I started teaching a VERY basic course in bells to 5 young Primary kids in our ward. They worked very hard (of course I had to bring treats every week to achieve that goal), and on the 8th, they did a final performance in Primary. Westarted with "Twinkle Twinkle," with them playing the melody line. Some of them had to handle 3 bells. We then went to the chord accompaniment format and they again played "Twinkle" and followed it with "Apricot Popping" and "My Dad." Of course the kids in Primary all sang along. We did it for both Junior and Senior Primary, and they were exceptional performers, if I do say so myself. Some of the mothers heard kids utter that "they wished they could have done that." Alas....their mothers didn't sign them up, but I am secretly glad I only had 5. It was so much easier....

Well....that's my soup for the week....

Firmly into that 8th decade, now.....

These posts are out of order, but I had to go visit Liz' post to figure out about things that I could rattle on about. A birthday is one of them.

I have now passed the milestone marker, and I am chalking up the numbers in this 8th decade of life....unbelievable. I had a wonderful birthday. My trip to Tahoe was the highlight. In fact, I told Spence if he would take me there he wouldn't have to buy an anniversary gift, Mother's Day gift, Birthday gift or Christmas gift. Spence, being no dummy, and hating to pick out gifts, was quick to snatch up the offer.

I also share my birthday with Matthew, my now 16 year old grandson, so we always do something fun together. This year, after Audrey brought over a 'gorgeous' red wool hat, trimmed with purple velvet (one of those ones for 'older' ladies), we met the rest of the family at Del Taco for Taco Tuesday...a cheap way to get a meal for $2. It was noisy and fun. The rest had just come from driving go-carts for Matthew's birthday celebration.

When I got home, the dog, Kasey, had been having fun with my hat. She managed to rip the stitches and completely undo the inside headband. The velvet rose on the front was VERY wet, so my guess is that she had it in her mouth ready to consume it when she heard us returning. Saved by the skin of her teeth....lucky dog. Fortunately I was able to totally restore the hat to its original condition, and it is now hanging on the hat rack in the hallway... Lucky dog....

I continued my celebration the next day enjoying lunch at Marie Callendars with my good friends Marilyn and Jeri. I supplied the coupon (courtesy of Marie) and we all enjoyed pie for dessert. I don't know why people dread birthdays. I look forward to them. Maybe it is because I enjoy pie!

One other note...Laurie Chapman, who used to live in Simi years ago, called for my birthday. She always remembers because her daughter shares the same day....so I called her daughter just for fun. It is nice to renew old ties.

In Exile at Lake Tahoe

Spence and I recently returned from a lovely week at Lake Tahoe. It was a 'free' week at an RCI resort which we received when we sat through one of those traditional 90 minute sales pitches in Mazatlan, two years ago. (We went there with our whole family, minus Courtney.) When I say 'free' I really mean that it is free except for the $189 reservation fee, but face it...how else would I get a week at a 5* hotel in South Tahoe?

On our way up we stopped in Sacramento for a visit with our friends, the Morikonis (probably spelled that one wrong), and Diane fixed us a superb salmon dinner. We worked together at the lab for many many years, before she got smart and got another job....which ended up with her getting a lovely husband. Bonus for signing on!

The weather in Tahoe was about 80 degrees when we arrived, which held for the next day. But we were so bushed the next day that we did practically NOTHING. I did get up and do my water aerobics in the morning, however.

On Tuesday, we took a lunch cruise on the lake (paid for in advance by promising to attend another 90 minute presentation), which was lovely. The weather was about 72 and the skies were blue, and if I can figure out how to do it, I will post some pictures, Emerald Bay was exquisite.
On Wednesday the temp dropped to the 50's, but it was still gorgeous so we took the day and drove all around the lake, stopping at every Vista and eating Chinese for lunch. We took a couple of short walks at various points...Spence climbed down some rocks to water's edge, but I respected my knee and hip and just stood topside photographing his efforts.

We took enough food with us that I fixed almost all our dinners in the room. One night we decided to splurge, but got downstairs too late....Tahoe closes up at 9. They recommended dinner at a casino, but.....didn't want to do that so we trudged to McDonalds (conveniently just across the parking lot from the hotel.) The next night we went downstairs plenty early and enjoyed a superb dinner at the in-house restaurant. We each ordered different entrees and then discreetly SPLIT them...yum. When the waiter came by and asked if we wanted anything else, I asked for the recipe for the tomato bisque....but he never came back with it. We split a dessert, which the waiter threw in for free, and then enjoyed a 15% discount for beings guests. NOT bad....

On Friday we drove up to Virginia City, which was a cool trip. I love old western towns and Spence loved the Radio Museum we discovered. He spent 1.5 hours just looking and talking to the proprietor. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting and talking to his wife. We had lunch in one of the oldest buildings in town, and then, in a shop, watched a craftsman making a beaver hat (they turn the fur into felt), which was really interesting. We also bought ice cream and homemade candy at the local store. The only disappointment was that we never did see Little Joe, Hoss or Mr. Cartwright. In fact, we couldn't figure out where the Ponderosa could have been. They always talked about going to town (Virginia City), and the Ponderosa was in the pines, but there were no pines within 20-25 miles of Virginia City....that must have been some trip into town.

The trip home was a delight. I talked Spence into traveling via the 395, which is a scenic route almost all the way to Palmdale. The weather had turned yucky over the weekend (started raining on Friday, intermittently), so the first half of our trip was in slight rain, and then snow, as we crossed over the two summits. I have great pics of that and here is one.
As is always the case, it is GOOD to return home....and especially to sleep on my own Select Comfort bed....I never do well in hotels.

So it was farewell to Tahoe and lovely memories...

A weekend in the life of Grandma Linda....boring

It is now June 2nd, and I can hardly believe the year is almost half over. My life last weekend was a whirl of my favorite pastime...theater. It gets very expensive sometimes, when you have so many friends in so many good shows, but we manage to volunteer to usher to see several things, and then with the good old senior discount......

Friday night Spence and I ushered for Raymond Michael's Elvis Tribute. I met Ray almost 22 years ago in HMS Pinafore at Moorpark College. He does a great Elvis show...keeps the audience right in the palm of his hand, and he looks great, too. He also sings in tune...something Elvis didn't always manage.

Saturday night I went to see The Curious Savage. If you have NEVER seen it, try to find a production. It is one of the most enjoyable shows I have seen...and it is G rated...takes place in a 'home' for the insane. I laughed and then I cried... David Burr was one of the characters, and he is a VERY good actor.

Sunday I went to see a Curtain Youth Theater production of Into the Woods. Those kids were astounding....The junior version only does the first act, but the voices and the acting were incredible. By the way, I did manage to attend Church, too.

After our Ward Picnic tonight, J.J. came over and we watched the movie Stardust...delightful fantasy.

Well, I just don't have anything clever or amusing to say, so I will sign off for now.

My Own Blog

To quote a dear friend, (well not a perfect quote), I used to couldn't spell 'techie,' and now I are one.

Seems as though all my friends are getting their own blogs, so I thought I would make my own. Of course I really don't know what I am doing, or when I will add postings, but this initial effort is an amazing accomplishment for a person such as I.

I thought this might be a good way for me to keep a journal of sorts....the kind one wouldn't mind being spread all over the net. That is one part of my life where I have been seriously lacking, but at least there will be an entry for today.

I went to lunch with my dear friends Marilyn and Jeri, and we used a Marie Callendar's coupon to gorge on a delicious meal which included pie all around. I chose Chocolate Silk....my favorite.