Hmm…it seems that this blog has slipped into the realm of biweekly things.  I’ll try to correct that in the coming weeks.  Thanksgiving was practically perfect in every way, just like Mary Poppins.  My grandpa (Mom’s dad) had another little stroke though.  Please say a little prayer for him and thank God for this time in our lives—we’re young, healthy, happy, and have so much ahead of us! As for the present…here is a pictorial representation of November 2010:

 This is my hero-mentor-friend informally known as "Smith."  She was my high school Spanish teacher and track coach.  I work out with her on Mondays when we put on our thiz faces (seen above), do cleans, speak Spanglish and dance.

This is my friend Heidi.  We met when she was volunteering at Habitat and she invited me over for dinner the other night.  We're going to lunch this week and I'm going to try Pho' for the first time.

Ali and Cameron paving the way for our sled and snowboards in the Horse Heaven Hills.  We were very adventurous and discovered this little run the day before Thanksgiving.

 On Thanksgiving morning over 3000 people braved the snow and ice to participate in the Turkey Trot along the Columbia River.  My family finished the 5K holding hands. My dad's wearing his mom's hat in her honor--she spent last Thanksgiving with us and died earlier this year so this was a tough holiday for him.

Zach and Corrie were in the Tri over break and we celebrated Shivyon's birthday with cake, drinks, dancing, more drinks, and drinking games. I suppose it's good to let loose every once in a while!

According to Johnston family tradition we headed to the Blue Mountains to cut down our 15' Christmas tree.  This is by far the most beautiful one we've ever had.  I was in charge of documenting everything on account of an injured back, but Mike Jones and Ginny enjoyed frolicking in the snow.

Almost, Maine

Last week's post left me less than enthused about my everyday adventures in Kennewick.  I'm a single twenty something with lots of time on my hands and zero excuses to not be exploring every inch of the youth I have left. So, when I pulled out the "Around Town" section of the local paper on Friday and saw that there were auditions for a play at a local theater, I dared myself to try out.

Honestly, I've always loved acting.  If I could be anything--regardless of talent, fortune, and bone structure--I'd be Scarlett Johansson. So I was really excited to try out for Almost, Maine at the Richland Players Theater. I showed up for audtions on Monday night without having read the script or having any idea about what I might have to pull off on stage--was I going to have to disrobe to my skivvies? speak with a Boston accent? play a mime? I had no clue, but they shoved a little blue tablet in my hand, put me on stage with a guy I'd never met, and told me to start reading on page 35.

Auditions lasted for two hours and I had such a blast.  The play is composed of short vignettes starring a couple working through the tougher issues that arise when love goes sour.  Each scene evoked memories of past boyfriends and the guy on stage with me morphed into Mitch, Elijah, or Oscar accordingly. At the end of the audition I was so jazzed it was hard to get to sleep. I couldn't care less if I got a part because the try out itself was so much fun.

Be that as it may, I did get a "We're happy to offer you a part..." call the next day. My excitement waned ever so slightly as the voice on the phone explained Monday through Thursday night rehearsals starting this and mandatory "tech week."  I checked my calendar, accepted the offer, and braced myself for the busy months that are headed my way.

Play dates: January 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29

Variation on a Theme

Last night as I conference-Skyped with Emily and Joanna, I felt a bit sheepish as it came time to give the Lindsay Update.  There's a reason I haven't blogged in two weeks and it pretty much boils down to the fact that there's not a whole lot to talk about.  I'm in a routine here at home and while I'm enjoying myself and thanking God for the simplicity, it's not the stuff of interesting conversation topics.

I get up, work out, head to work, take a half hour lunch break and walk to Goodwill, go back to work, head home, make dinner, drink wine with my mom, and play my guitar. On Sundays I go to church with the family, check out Costco with my mom, and sometimes Grandma and Grandpa come over for dinner. Mondays bring guitar lessons that still make me nervous, and hitting the gym at my old high school with Mrs. Smith--my Spanish teacher/track coach/mentor/hero.

The funny thing is, since I'm stuck in the mundane, I forget that everyone else's lives are moving forward and filled with exciting news.  Joanna is headed to Seattle for another commercial??? Emily is spending the next week with Zach in California??? News to me!

Apparently I need to do a better job of calling all my friends up for regular check ins.  How crazy to think that I'm not getting word about boyfriend visits, blossoming romances, artistic direction, drunken snafoos and the like!