Creative Wanderings

Can you find the gnome?Dravograd, SloveniaWednesday July 1, 2009 This was a cute house in a a cute town where we did an evening performance during Festival Lent. Part of doing festivals is performing on the main stage and also going to neighboring cities for other shows. Dravograd was our first outreach show in Slovenia, and talk about a fabulous audience! We headed off on the bus, leaving around 4pm for an 8pm show. Slovenia is rather hilly and the roads wind along– it reminded of Pennsylvania a lot, actually. We followed the river most of the way down, and we passed some absolutely beautiful views of the countryside. The houses are lovely, not ostentatious or suburban at all, but very much a part of the landscape surrounding them. The forests are filled with trees, turning the hillsides vibrant green hues with the foliage. And of course the river nearby… Read more…

So while in Germany, I heard about this treat called Spaghetti Eis (Spaghetti Ice). Apparently, it’s a unique specialty that originated in Germany. I’d vaguely heard about it on some Food Network show once, but didn’t really put it together. One of our days in Bitburg, most of which were quite cool– people were buying jackets and sweaters– we decided to sum up a few hours of shopping with a stop in the local ice cream shoppe. Of course, we all ordered spaghetti eis! I really enjoyed this delectable creation. Beneath the vanilla ice cream noodles was some whipped cream. A delicious strawberry sauce covered the “noodles” and the “cheese” was shreds of white chocolate. So good! The little wafer wasn’t particularly memorable, but overall the whole creation was delectable! I’ve found some recipes online for the strawberry sauce, so one of these days i’m going to find a spaetzel Read more…

The exterior didn’t nearly betray the beauties inside. Scaffolding and paper facade mimicking the underlying structure being renovated, I didn’t really think the cathedral was all that impressive. I walked in the small doorway, which seemed almost lost in the wall. A dark, tunnel-like passage led through to the vestibule. And then I was in the cathedral. My jaw literally dropped. I was awe-struck by the scene unfolding and soaring before me. The space felt so vast! True to Gothic style, the verticality in the building captivated my eyes heavenward and my jaw downwards. After appreciating the artistic beauty and vision, I finally gathered my wits to look at the rest of the building. Intricate stone carved pulpits, rich stained-glass windows, and at least two pipe organs… it was a feast for the eyes. Even with all the tourists milling around, you could sense the reverence inside, a feeling inspired Read more…

Karlovac, Croatia July 7, 2009On the way down from Dubovac, the old castle above Karlovac During tour one of my friends said something to the effect that I was a bit of a lone wolf type. Not a loner, just a lone wolf. He said that it means I’m strong and I do my own thing, although I don’t avoid or dislike social settings. That characterization seems potentially right-on. I’m not sure I see myself as strong, but I have certainly survived by doing my own thing for quite a while. I’m just feeling more introspective today. I guess it’s hard for me sometimes to see my friends hooking up…. I am really happy and not jealous or anything like that, but it throws me off a bit. I came back from Europe actually really content with being single, but give the Provo atmosphere a few days and the same Read more…

This is probably one of my favorite “artistic” photos that I took while in Europe. We came across this lovely building during our marathon walking tour of Vienna. Armed with a small tourist map showing some of the city’s cool buildings downtown, Heather, Daniel Jackman, and Daniel and Tina Adams and I headed out for a day on Vienna, thrifty style. We seriously walked ALL DAY LONG! Our hotel was relatively close to the old downtown district, so we meandered down to see this group of buildings. Of course, Heather, Daniel, Carson, and I had already been downtown earlier that morning checking out some of the sights. (We had to return to the hotel to move our bags out of the rooms and into the front breakfast area; technically we were checked out, but they were kind enough to let us store our luggage there for the day.) We came Read more…

Our first venue: Maribor, SloveniaJuly 4, 2009- closing night of the festival This is the stage where I lived a life dream: June 30,2009. On that big stage, floating in the Drava River, the flags of the participating countries lining the backdrop and the bright lights illuminating the floor, I walked up the wooden gangplank and waited for the musicians to play. Did I walk? I’m pretty sure I hopped and skipped, tapped a friend on a shoulder just to say how excited I was, maybe even twirled once. I’ve performed hundreds of times, in many locations. But nothing can really equal the feeling I had as I stepped out to the strains of “Devil’s Dream”, doing a dance of my country as a representative on foreign soil. I think, just maybe, that beautiful dancer in my soul made a rare appearance that night. So often she is just a Read more…

Today was a rather thoughtful day. Life has been going pretty well lately… at least with enough positives that the negatives seem almost non-existent. I’m leaving in two weeks for my dance trip to Europe, I’ve been getting to know more people in my ward and make new friends, and I’ve gone on some fun dates lately too! I have a fabulous family, amazing amigos, I have a great job, and I’m fulfilling a life dream soon. That’s a lot to be thankful for. Some other thoughts played around in my head today. I saw to new friends in the ward today who are now dating (so cute!). Once again I realized that I haven’t been in a serious relationship for over two and a half years. Not so much as a self-pity reverie, I did ponder for a few moments on the situation. I have gone on lots of Read more…

I have found a passion lately for ultimate frisbee! I guess I never lost it, but I’ve gotten to rediscover it. I LOVE IT! Monday we played ultimate against another FHE group… it was windy and rainy and perfectly fabulous for crazy catches. I dropped so many easy passes, but I had a few great catches and passes, and some incredible dives and slides on the awesomely wet grass. I had a blast! I could have kept playing, but some of the others were kinda done, so…. that’s why we have Wednesdsay nights to play!! I always wear my knee brace because I’d hate for something to go awry so close to Europe. I need to work on strengthening my muscles more too. Well, its about time to head out, so I’m gonna go change and get my groove on!

Well, I’m definitely not a model, but I have some “headshots” of my new hair-do! I got it cut about 2 weeks ago, and it’s also a lot lighter too, with some fantastic highlights. And it’s so versatile!! I love my hair, and now you can love it too. This is the trick behind my self-portraiture– my bathroom mirror. Decent lighting, decent background, and a great way to make sure I get a decent shot!

I want to run outside and cry. I want to dance and eat ice cream. I want to climb a mountain and sleep in. I want to be loved. That’s what it is, really. I am somewhere between wistful that another guy I could have liked really isn’t interested, but at the same time so at peace because I know that even if it’s not him, there’s someone out there, who I’ll soon meet. “Soon” having an ambiguous meaning of course, but …. well yeah. What inspired this split reverie? I got the rappelling pictures! And that is exciting for sure. Ready? Watch me get more and more nervous… Doing okay… I’m not scared of that blackness beneath me…. Can’t put off the inevitable WAHOO!! Coolest thing ever