Another One Bites The Dust

It's that time again, folks. Another year-in-review, with a few changes but mostly more of the same. Hey--at least I got more than one blog post in this year, right? (very small yay)

What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?

I was a guest host on two different podcasts (Radio Ronin twice, and So B.I.G. one time). It was really fun, and I hope to do it again soon. I'll be hanging out with the ladies of Life On The Rocks, Please in a few weeks. They are awesome, and it will be a blast.

Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Yes, I did make some. Did I keep them? Well . . .

To finish the unfinished projects before I start more (uh . . .)
To spend less money on makeup (uh . . .)
To be unapologetically myself (uh . . . I still find myself apologizing for myself frequently)
To ask for what I want (I've been a little better about this, but there's lots of room for improvement)

I think I'll keep these very generic goals, and add a few more, though I'm not writing them here.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

My brother Dave & his wife Lexy had baby #6 (Eve Ximena-Renee) in March, and I was privileged to be there for my niece's birth. What a lovely experience.

My sister Sarah gave birth to a sweet baby boy (Miles John), but he was born too soon (19 weeks). It has been devastating for her and Chad, and we are all still so sad from losing him. I kinda feel robbed of getting to know my nephew, though I know he's close. Chad & Sarah are doing IVF again, so we are hoping for another miracle next year.

Did anyone close to you die?

See above.
Also, Tollene's dog Ginger died. (We got a new dog, Finn, or as Benji calls him, "Hi-Finn.")
And a very nice guy from my ward, Brad Andreason passed away not too long after Miles and Ginger. He was in his early 50's and had lots of heart problems, but seeing so many people grieving is rough. I cried a lot in August and September. (Who am I kidding? I cry all the freaking time.)

What countries did you visit?

I should really just change this question to states, but within the next 5 years I will be able to write different countries! So until that point, I'll answer: Wyoming, Idaho, California, Washington State, and two I hadn't visited before: Minnesota & Iowa. They are lovely places!

What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?

Confidence and organization

What date from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory?

August 30 (Baby Miles's birthday)

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Surviving December. It was brutal.

What was your biggest failure?

Attempting to teach Microbiology. Ha! That was a joke!

Did you suffer illness or injury?

I spent a few days in the hospital with sepsis. Not fun. I got better, though I still have some lingering effects therefrom. My friend Erica Dawn had a terrible infection and was in the hospital for two months. Mine was a breeze compared to hers.

What was the best thing you bought?

Tickets to see two of my favourite bands in Seattle. Best. Mother's Day. Ever.

Whose behavior merited celebration?

Benji has been doing great. He was SO GOOD at Disneyland! I was very impressed with the way he handled the crowds and the rides!

Where did most of your money go?

Bills. Car. Food. Concerts. Gifts. Airline Tickets. Disneyland. Bath & Body Works. Ulta. Amazon. (Not necessarily in that order)

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My trip to Seattle. The food was great, the company was great, the music was beyond great. 

What song will always remind you of 2017?

The big songs of the year (that I've heard once or twice and kinda liked) were "Despacito (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee w/The Biebs) and "Sign of the Times" (Harry Styles). I listened to that Taylor Swift song a couple of times and it was terrible. I liked Chainsmokers (w/Coldplay) "Something Just Like This" in spite of myself. I also listened to a lot of Tom Petty (R.I.P.), but my personal favorite is "Lights of Home" by U2, which is better than all of those other songs combined.  

My album of the year is "Songs of Experience" by U2 (I know this surprises nobody). I usually have more albums, but since I've started listening to a lot more podcasts, I haven't had as much time for music. That's why three of my top ten are from U2, and two are from my community choir (Salt Lake Singers). I should probably branch out a bit more, but I was kinda sparse in my concert partaking this year.

My top 10 SONGS of 2017 (or, the songs that have meant the most to me this year)

10. "All Praise to Thee" by Elaine Hagenberg

9. "The Work of Christmas" by Howard Thurman/Dan Forrest

8. "Top of the World" by Greek Fire

7. "The Sky is a Neighborhood" by Foo Fighters

6. "Solid Gold" by Tom Chaplin & JONES

5. "Take Me As You Found Me" by Anberlin

4. "Landlady" by U2

3. "You're the Best Thing About Me" by U2

2. "You Don't Know How It Feels" by Tom Petty

1. "Lights of Home" by U2

And the concert list for this year (short but great): 

Young the Giant (2.4.17 at the Complex)
U2 with Mumford & Sons (5.14.17 at CenturyLink Field)
Depeche Mode (8.23.17 at USANA)
Offspring/Sublime with Rome (9.30.17 at USANA)

I had tickets to see Foo Fighters, but ended up selling them. I'm such an idiot.

I should really add my top Podcasts of the year, since that's become a thing:
10. The Park Hoppers
9. Rolling Stone Music Now
8. S-Town
7. Gregg's Guide to New Music/Ticked (tied)
6. Radio Ronin
5. This American Life
4. Baconsale
3. Life on the Rocks, Please
2. Awesome with Alison
1. Heavyweight

Compared to this time last year, are you:

   Happier or sadder? Not sure at the moment. It depends on the day and how much sleep I've had.

   Thinner or fatter? Don't ask.

   Richer or poorer?  We just got back from Disneyland. I'm feeling very poor at the moment.

What do you wish you’d done more of?  

Exercising.  Spending time with my boy.

What do you wish you’d done less of?  

Staying up too late, saying yes when I really want to say no.

How will you be spending Christmas? 

Honestly, I'm not sure

Did you fall in love in 2017?

Not so much

Who were your best friends?

Peggy, Heather. My sisters.

What thing did you do that was meaningful to others?

I spent LOTS of time taking and editing pictures this year (and several of these sessions were free of charge); I hope they are meaningful to others, or what the hell am I doing?
I also worked really hard on the Christmas Program for my ward/choir (I'm the ward choir director), and coordinating and practicing with all of the groups, getting them to participate, writing, copying, etc., etc. It was rough, but I think it turned out well, and I hope it was a nice and meaningful meeting for everyone involved.

What were your favorite TV programs?

The Mindy Project, Madam Secretary, Designated Survivor, This Is Us, Mr. Robot, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel 

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Not really. There are people who I really looked up to in the past, for whom the shine has dulled a bit. 

What was the best book you read in 2017?

I did not read a lot this year. The best book I read was "Origin" by Dan Brown, with "Artemis" by Andy Weir coming in a very close second. They were both excellent. I keep thinking I'm going to read more once I get caught up, but I'm never caught up anymore.

What was your greatest musical discovery?

How good the Offspring still sound! They were rocking! Subime--not so much.

What did you want and get?

Disneyland for Christmas. Yay! (And never again!!)

What did you want but did NOT get?

A Kindle. Good lord--this has been on my list for like 5 years now.

What was your favorite film of this year?

I actually liked Star Wars Episode VIII, though it's getting a lot of flack. I LOVED Baby Driver (which I got to see in a critic's screening with Kenny D) and Wonder Woman, but Dunkirk was AMAZING. Best film of the year, hands down. 

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

No idea. I turned 38. Gads, I'm getting old.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More sleep. And a lot more sex.

What kept you sane?

Friends. Good people at work and church and in my life.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I'm currently crushing on Adam Driver, a.k.a., Kylo Ren, a.k.a., Darth Tall Jew. I don't know what it is, but I'm hooked.

What political issue stirred you the most?

I've been following Seth Abramson, an Attorney and Criminal Law/journalism professor on Twitter. He has been following and analyzing the "Trump-Russia Thing" for months now. He uses a lot of different reputable sources, and he explains things in such a clear, fascinating way. It's SO MUCH to take in that it hurts my brain sometimes, but I feel like I'm watching Watergate unfold before my eyes. Can I just say--Bob Mueller is THE MAN.  

Who did you miss?

I don't get to see Peggy often enough, but she tries to make time for me. I miss DeLayna, who is currently living in Germany. And, of course, Joyce, Susan, Brittany, Todd, and the others who decided I wasn't worth their time.

Who was the best new person you met this year?

Make it two: Lara & Erin. The LOTRP ladies are so awesome. I adore them.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017.

Invest in people who invest in you. (Thank you, Alison!)

Quote that sums up your year:

Allison had so many tasty nuggets, and I learned a lot from working with my friend Daniel Blomberg on his brain consulting stuff, but I worked a lot on my handwriting/lettering this year, and I wrote this so many times it has stuck. The words are so beautiful, and the music makes me cry. This is what it's all about.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,

To make music from the heart.
--Howard Thurman/Dan Forrest

So there it is. I'm glad I was able to get this done today (another thing off my to-do list!). I want to know how your year went. Please comment or message me or whatever. If you're reading this, I can pretty much guarantee I have thought about you recently, so let me know how you are. 

LOVE YA.

Wait a Minute, Mr. Postman

Christmas cards. You either love them or hate them, but they are a thing. And I love them, even though they can be a pain. So Why do I send them every year?

Because I love to GET Holiday Greetings, and to see what your families are up to! I like snail mail, and I get more cards in December than the entire rest of the year. And if you like to get them, you gotta send them.

Still unsure about doing them? I have been told (by more than one person), that mine was the only card they received that year. This breaks my heart. I really do try to keep in touch with my friends, but some I can only do once per year. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to let people I love know that I’m thinking about them.

To that end, I’d like to help you with your cards, if you are so inclined to include pictures in them. (P.S., those are my favorites!)

Also, several of you have reached out to me about family pictures, and I’ve kinda dropped the ball. I’m sorry. To make it up to you, I’m thinking about doing some Christmas mini-sessions at a studio in the SLC area (where it’s nice & warm). It would be $50 for a 15-minute session (up to 8 people), and you’d get 5 pictures delivered by digital download. We’d have got chocolate, treats and props, And my friend @justinaden (a.k.a. “DrZzs” on YouTube) has been working on some super awesome lighting effects we’ll use, so it would be fun and pretty painless. This would also be a great opportunity to update your headshots for 2018!

But I need at least 10 people to sign up in order to make it happen. 

If there’s enough interest for outdoor mini-sessions, we can plan a day for that too, but the weather is slightly unpredictable and it’s a little hard to plan that in advance. 

I’m thinking Friday November 24th, so you can finish your Black Friday shopping and stop in for your holiday card photos! 

Please let me know if you are interested so I can reserve the studio! 

Thanks,

—Mary

cell: 801.310.8204

Running to Stand Still

Several people have asked me for a concert report. While Rolling Stone did a great job with their review, I wanted to tell you about my Mother's Day.

My concert buddy Allison and I flew to Seattle on Saturday May 13th, and we stayed with my dear friend Jason.

Airplane Selfie!

I love the window seat. 

Me & Jason on his roof. Words cannot tell you how amazing this man is.

We stayed at Jason's lovely home on Saturday night, and we got up early on Sunday for a Mother's Day brunch and ate lots of pastries.

Allison & I with the troll (and a random dude playing the ukelele)

Allison, Justin & Jason outside the "Silence-Heart-Nest" hippie restaurant

A delightful pain-au-chocolat

I had received an email from Century Link field a few days before I left, in which they told me they do not allow regular purses. They have to be clear. I debated on just stuffing my pockets, but luckily Jason had some leftover plastic bags from buying curtains. So I did a little arts-and-crafts project and made myself this super-classy crossbody bag. I literally braided some twine to make a strap and just kept everything else in the bag.

Amazing, right?! (Preview of young Barack on the right)

After my little project, we thought about going to Pike Place, but got caught in traffic and couldn't find anywhere to park. So we just went to Century Link,

As close as we got

After having paid $50 to park (gah!!!), we tried to find the General Admission (GA) line around 2pm. It was already around the building, so I'm glad we got there when we did. Allison had to go find a restroom, so I just started chatting with the guy in line in front of me. I noticed he was wearing a Joshua Tree hat, which he could only have gotten at the opening night of the tour in Vancouver. We started talking, and he has been to 50 concerts over the last 30 years (his first U2 show being during the original Joshua Tree tour). 

Simon (a.k.a., @BadAcrobat, a.k.a. Dad)

As we kept talking, the people around us started listening and joining in on the conversation, and we all realized that we needed to stick with Simon. He knew exactly where to stand and what he was doing, despite never having been to this venue. So we all started talking to each other and getting to know each other a little, sharing our cheesy popcorn and chatting. And I kinda started calling Simon Dad, because he kept looking back to make sure we were all with him. Simon is originally British, but lives in Alaska. The couple ahead of us were a French girl (Lisa) and her latino boyfriend; I don't remember his name, but he looked exactly like a young Barack Obama. Seriously. The couple behind us were Chaveli and Bryan, who were from the Philippines. How cool is it that people from all over the world met each other at a concert and became fast friends?! I love it. 

When the line started moving, we had to make our way into a Disneyland-type line, when we found out that it was Chaveli's birthday!

Moo.

At this point, I got to skip out of the line to use the restroom for a minute. It was pretty nice to wash my cheesy fingers, and my little group remembered me so I could get back in line.

We finally made our way onto the field around 5:45pm, and I decided I needed a group picture. I have no idea who the guy on the left is, but whatever.

L-R: Some random dude, Young Barack, Lisa, Simon, Bryan, Chaveli, Me & Allison

I also had to sneak a better picture of Barack.

It was throwing me off a little bit.

Lisa and Young Barack

So we waited for another hour or so, until Mumford & Sons came out onto the stage. they stayed on the main stage, so I was a little doubtful as to our positioning, and a little sad I didn't get a better view. But they still sounded fantastic.

This is what the stage looked like in the light. It was probably 30-40 feet tall,
judging by the very small, very talented Brits on stage.

 I was a little disappointed that the people around me weren't as excited as I was for Mumford & Sons; I'm also sad they didn't play more than they did. But I'm a total fangirl, and I know that people usually don't go to concerts fo the opening act. Even so--WHAT AN OPENING ACT. Here's their setlist:

Snake Eyes

Little Lion Man

Below My Feet

Lover of the Light

Tompkins Square Park

Believe

The Wolf

They played for about 45 minutes, and I knew I wasn't going to make it until the end of the concert, so I made my way out of the pit and up to the restroom. It wasn't bad going out, but coming back in was another story. I picked up some Fish & Chips (mediocre) and a beer (I bought a beer!) and trying to get back into our fabulous spot right by the stage with food in hand was, uh, not pretty. I have a whole diatribe on concert ettiquette, and I knew I was that annoying person, but I really was there earlier! I kept apoligizing and admitting what an a**hole I was for trying to get in front of people. But I did what I had to do, and I had to get back to my friends! 

I finally made it, and delivered the beer to Simon as a thank you for getting us to where he did. (Chaveli asked him how he got a beer, and he said that it magically appeared over his shoulder!). I'm not sure if buying a beer on a Sunday is considered a good deed, but I'll leave that up to you to judge. I probably should have bought Bryan a beer, considering that he bought me a lemonade earlier, but I barely made it through the crowd with one!

Anyway, after Mumford & Sons was done, we had to wait for another hour or so for the sun to set. And when the boys walked out onto that stage, literally 15 feet in front of me, I was jumping up and down! Simon really came through for us.

The Edge is so freaking adorable.

Seriously?! How amazing is this lineup?!

Bono . . . still sounding fantastic

Adam . . . who only looks better and better with age

I wish I had a better camera, but my curtain-bag crossbody would only hold so much. And I try to not take too many pictures, because I want to BE THERE and enjoy it. But the views were so incredible I had to take a ton! Plus, Allison's phone had died, so I had to get pictures for her too.

They stayed on the B-stage (right in front of us) for a few songs:

Sunday Bloody Sunday

New Year's Day

A Sort of Homecoming

Bad

Pride (In The Name of Love)

 Then the screen turned on and they made their way back to the main stage to play though the entire Joshua Tree album (in order):

Where the Streets Have No Name

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

With or Without You

Bullet the Blue Sky

Running to Stand Still

Red Hill Mining Town

In God's Country

Trip Through Your Wires

One Tree Hill

Exit

Mothers of the Disappeared

Each song was accompanied by an original mini-film (with a very American flair) on the giant screen. Some were really cool; some were a little weird, like the one of Edge's wife, Miss Mysterious Ways herself,  wearing a stars-and-stripes bikini top and jeans while throwing a lasso . . . but the screen was incredible. Apparently it's 8K (top-of-the-line TVs these days are 4K, so I'm just saying). I can't remember which images went with which songs, but I'll do my best.

Where the Streets have No Name

In God's Country

Red Hill Mining Town, featuring a Salvation Army brass band

This shows you the scale of the screen

I think this was Trip Through Your Wires 

One Tree Hill

Not sure which song, but a cool visual of the screen

On Mothers of the Disappeared, they had Eddie Vedder and Mumford & Sons come out to join them. Now that's a supergroup I could get behind! (Who am I kidding? I love supergroups.)

That was the end of the main set, but (of course) they came back for an encore. They played a few more songs on the main stage, accompanied again by amazing (if political) videos:

Beautiful Day

Elevation

Ultraviolet (Light My Way)

One

Miss Sarajevo

I love how Ultraviolet became a girl-power moment, changing HIStory into HERstory, and they showed faces of amazing women, like Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, Patti Smith, Angela Merkel, and Lena Dunham. (I'm sorry--I can't even type that with a straight face, but she was one of the chosen few).

Bono has always been political, so you have to expect that at a U2 concert. What I did not expect was to be close enough to see the whites of his eyes. They came back out to the B-stage to finish out the show.

 They played a new song (the only song less than 15 years old) from the upcoming "Songs of Experience" album, called The Little Things That Give You Away. I really liked it, and apparently that's where they ended the show in Vancouver. But they gave us one more to send us out on a serious high: I Will Follow.

(Side note: Simon posted in the atU2 forum on Twitter after the Vancouver show that they should end the concert with I Will Follow. Coincidence? Maybe. But he was unbelievably stoked about it!)

Here's my favorite picture of the night:

Bono and Adam stuck in a moment, with the Edge (larger than life) looking on

I love this picture, because it really encapsulates what I love about this band. They are brothers. They know how lucky they are to make so much money doing what they love. They use their celebrity for good causes. They have fun and live every day to the fullest. These guys are well into their fifties, and have literally been doing this exact same thing since they were teenagers in the 70's, still going strong after 40+ years. 

Are they the greatest band in the world? Probably not. Are they the most amazing musicians? Not really. But I adore them. Their lyrics mean something and the music is heartwrenching, and they just figured it all out together, becoming unbelievably successful through hard work and perserverance. It's so cool to see. And their music speaks to people all over the world--even to just a few people who would have otherwise never met. 

*sigh*

That's about it. We drove Simon back to the bay to catch the Bainbridge Ferry, and went back to Jason's for the night. We slept for a few hours, then got up early to catch our flight home (and there were plenty of people in the airport, and even on the parking shuttle at SLC also wearing their JT30 gear). It was an amazing couple of days, and I'll never forget it. Some say I'm crazy, but this was definitely money and time well spent. I hope you have something you are as passionate about, and that it brings you as much joy as this did for me.