Free Verse Poetry Night

The ward activity turned out to be more of a success than I originally thought. I was told that we were planning for 60-80 people. I didn't think that many would show up to a poetry reading... and for the most part I was right. But we had at least 45 people come and that was more than I thought would come. We had fun and the hot chocolate bar turned out magnificently! (unlike the pictures I was able to get... I really need a new camera)

Each of the tables had a centerpiece of old books stacked on a square of fabric. We used a mini easle to hold a faux calkboard with an inspirational/famous poetry quote. Some of the books were poetry books for inspiration/help. There were also instruction papers on how to write haikus and such... and pens with stationary for guests to write their own poems.

The mic was at the front with a few soft chairs around it and the lighting was low and relaxing. We had a guitarist and drummer to serenade us while we wrote. There was even a bongo drum for added drama. (Yes we snapped our approval and everything.) 

To complete the "coffee house" feel it was necessary to have a drink bar. :) Through a series of events I was basically put in charge of the food and drink. I admit I was excited to give it a try in the full scale as I have only done a very small version. 

We started with two options for a "base." I made a homemade basic hot chocolate and kept it warm on the table in a crock pot. I also used our Cocomotion to warm up plain milk for another option. 

Then come the mix-ins. We had a wide variety to keep the creative juices flowing... Flavored syrups, peppermint powder, cinnamon, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and peanut butter chips,caramel syrup, sea salt... the flavor possibilites were endless!

 

Top it off with one three types of whipped cream (peppermint, cinnamon, or vanilla) and grab a donut to complete your delectable creation! :) 

Being one who likes a little inspiration we used the "chalkboard" theme onto the drink bar and had instructions for flavor ideas. It turned out so great! I am pleased with how it turned out.

An Emergency

This morning was quite an adventure. I am so very glad I was able to have my dear friend Ica with me through such an experience. I spent this morning at the hospital. Why? you might ask... Well I shall tell you (and then you can get mad at me in the comments...)

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were at a public event and something happened? What would you do in the mass chaos of an emergency? I found out today...

8:00 this morning found me discussing today's activities with Ica. Its her last week before she leaves me again for the summer and I am going to miss her. We had some fun stuff planned. :)

8:30 Ica is at my house, we are on our way to see an exciting game at the stadium. We needed to be there early for good seats! And boy what an exciting game it was too! the ball was moving so fast, you could hardly see it! *phew* it makes me tired just remembering it...

Not long into it (I don't recall exact time because I didn't have my phone with me...and I don't wear a watch...) a police officer came up to us and asked us if we had seen anything suspicious. They had received a report that there might be something dangerous at the stadium and that it was supposed to be around where we were...

Next came in the men in funny outfits... completely decked out in their head-to-toe gear, gas masks the whole shebang! I couldn't help but think of the CDA in Disney Pixar's Monster Inc.

They filed us out according to medical needs and put us through a detox trailer. Yes, I had to strip my clothes off, use a scrub brush and rinse off... they gave me a little towel to dry off with... it is a good thing I was wearing my swimsuit under my clothes this morning! *phew*

We were put onto a bus where we were taken to the hospital to be treated for any symptoms we might have. Boy what a fun experience that was! :) I was given one of those scandalous robes, put into a wheelchair and wheeled into the emergency room. It was like an episode of ER... I asked for my mom and they told me they would find her for me, but needed some information and wanted me to tell them what was wrong. I told them that it hurt to take deep breaths... and that my eyes burned a little... but that I really needed my mother...

A nice young intern brought in a warm blanket for me, as I was still shivering and told me to hold the oxygen mask to my face to calm my breathing so they could get me ready for a better examine... Turns out I'm fine... but I did decide that if it was a real emergency and not a drill, I would have died in a wheelchair...

Ok, so it wasn't a real emergency... there wasn't even a game... I tried to make it sound a lot more exciting than it actually was. But it was interestingly fun to play a victim! Although I do kinda wish I could have had a scenario that was unconscious... they got to ride on gurneys
and in the ambulances... next time... for sure...

Ica was 28 weeks pregnant with contractions and nausea... no she is not pregnant for real... but I did decided we need to work on that pregnant walk if she is ever going to need assistance again... no one seemed to believe her...

Me, I was a 28 year old female who has red eyes, and complains that it hurts when she takes a deep breath. She is a little disoriented and no one seems to know who she is or where she's from. She keeps asking for her Mom. Pretty exciting eh? it did get me into the red medical group behind the 16 yr old who was experiencing intense abdominal pain, and the 2 pregnant ladies...

But my eyes were opened today about how important it is to be prepared. The volunteers for this drill were the nursing students (hence why I got involved, as Ica is going to be a nurse...) But I have a better idea of what goes on and what I need to do if an emergency should ever occur. In short (or maybe not so short) it was a great learning experience for me and I hope to participate again.

Colby and Megan have finally tied the knot and we are so excited for them! Their wedding day was so special and it was fun to go to my first wedding since my own... The sealing was wonderful and the food delicious. It was fun to see the love they have for each other and from their families. We wish them the best in their new life, and good luck with that wall...

Bryce and I tied the knot only a five short months ago and yet I felt that it had been so long for me... :) So naturally we went home and pulled out our pictures... :) I was reminded most of all about how much I love my husband and how much he loves me!

This weekend was also Lindsey's 18th Birthday. It was fun to be a part of that! I smiled when Dad had a hard time with the "I'm now a woman" comment. Linds is the first girl to get ready to leave home and she is going to excel here at the Y. :) Yay!

Life is still busy as always for me, so this post is short. Just wanted to post a quick update (and take a short break from studying).

Baby Animal Days

This weekend is Baby Animal Days... Today we had approximately 2300 people come through the park... and we are expecting more on Monday...boy are we tired... Yesterday we planted my garden. I am very excited as this is possibly my first full-sized garden... I have a pumpkin patch, 3 rows of peas, and a row of green beans... we saved half of it for corn. We get to try a historical experiment. The first pioneers in the valley arrived here on July 24 cultivated some land and planted ASAP to have something of a crop. So we are not going to plant my corn until July 24... or soon thereafter... we are going to see what kind of crop we can grow! How exciting.

This summer I have a regular site that I am assigned to. I am stationed at the John Gardiner cabin right at the front of the park. This little 13 X 22' log cabin housed 13 people (10 children; 7 boys and 3 girls) and was originally located in Pleasant Grove, Utah. I have come to adopt my little cabin and it is slowly becoming my home. The activity in my cabin is pioneer chores and games. We do laundry on washboards, beat rugs, water my garden... and some children make me think of other chores like sweeping my cabin and such... but its fun to see the glee in the children's faces. After chores are we bring out the stilts, hoops and graces, and the barrel ring...thing... I now have a flower bed in the front of my cabin... the seeds have yet to sprout... so we are crossing our fingers...

About two weeks ago three little robins hatched in the nest that is sitting on the fence out in front of my cabin. I have named them Shadrack, Meshack, and Abendigo... Sadly, I found Abendigo in my garden this morning... featherless... and not breathing... so he is buried in my garden. I was a little upset at Ms. Wells (the mama bird) but I am learning a lot about birds and the cycles that nature has gone through for many years now... so I'm having to suck it up.

Pioneer life is great. Despite being dreadfully tired, I am enjoying the sunshine and the people, and the history of it all. The ambiance of this place is just... never ending... :) Well, I know this post sounds way tired... but I shall leave it until next time...