Some of the best things about a Whittaker Family Reunion

1) Ninja destruction.
2) Fireworks/sparklers.
3) Bowling.
3b) My cousins' awesome bowling methods.
4) Frisbee.
5) More food than you know what to do with.
6) Guitars.
7) Dance parties.
8) A toddler who's always stealing the ice from your cup.
9) An iPod touch that's constantly being passed around so that everyone can have a turn to play "Pocket God."
10) A cousin who's wheelchair is continually being stolen for wheelie practice.
11) That annoying movie "Madagascar II." Several times a day.
12) Reading bedtime stories laying in bed next to Cadence, and her little face as she asks for one more story.
13) The waterslides at the Provo City Pool.
14) Talking politics and religion with cousins late at night.
15) "Truth or Whatever" with cousins.
16) "Monsters Vs. Aliens" and then Ninja Destruction in front of the theatre, waiting for our ride to come.
17) Sing-a-longs and talent shows.
18) Sorta jamming with Cody on the guitar and 12-string.
19) Testimony meeting with little kids.
20) Cody carrying Candace up and down the stairs.
21) Visiting Mel's school.
22) Did I mention a lot of really good food yet?
23) My dad's testimony of families.
24) Having all 3 of my sisters and our parents in one place at one time.
25) Celestial families.

That's damn articulate

"I think that suffering is the way we test our love. Every act of suffering, no matter how small or agonisingly great, is a test of love in some way. Most of the time, suffering is also a test of our love for God...the Holy Koran tells us that all things in the universe are related, one to another, and that even opposites are united in some way. I think that there are two points about suffering that we should remember, and they have to do with pleasure and pain. The first is this: that pain and suffering are connected, but they are not the same thing. Pain can exist without suffering, and it is also possible to suffer without feeling pain...The difference between them is this, I think: that what we learn from pain--for example, that fire burns and is dangerous--is always individual, for ourselves alone, but what we learn from suffering is what unites us as one human people. If we do not suffer with our pain, then we have not learned about anything but ourselves. Pain without suffering is like victory without struggle. We do not learn from it what makes us stronger or better or closer to God."

--Abdel Khaderbhai, "Shantaram"

Harry Hype

I'm not usually the type to be pro-Dress-Up-For-A-Midnight-Movie-Release...

...but this is effing brilliant.

A mandrake plant. This is my friend Adam. As a mandrake plant.

Dressing up for Harry Potter just became a whole lot awesomer.

"But there's still this...this problem..."

Production shots from BYU-Idaho Directing Final One-Act!

This was one of the most challenging--and one of the most rewarding--theatrical endeavors I've ever had the pleasure and privilege of being involved in! Although the challenging part is probably not immediately evident in these pictures. I was pushed beyond what I thought my abilities were, and grew close to some wonderful people in the process. Thanks to Nancy and Jacob for a wonderful experience, and to Danica's sister for taking these pictures!

THE SHOW: The Problem

THE PLAYWRIGHT: A. R. Gurney, Jr.

THE DIRECTOR: Nancy Chaffin

THE PERFORMANCE: Monday, July 13th, 2009

THE HUSBAND: Jacob Chapman

THE WIFE: LizAnne Whittaker

"Just look at me. Just take a gander."

"I'm just letting you know. So you could...plan..."


"Hmmm? And what's that, dear?"

"Ah. So THAT's the problem..."

"Well, you had your work, your intellectual life--"

"Yes, but, darling, that doesn't really answer the question!"

"Lying?"

"Shhhh....lying."

"Don't look at me, darling!"

"Yes, you see, my darling! Or you're beginning to..."

"Sit down, I have a tale to tell-o!"

"What about THAT?!"

"Social injustice!!!"

"Oh, aren't we awful?!"

"No, Tarzan! White men are civilized!"

Punctuation makes a difference

One example of the need for a comma, APA rules be damned.

From this week's "BYU-Idaho Scroll" (student newspaper):

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

"It would be multiplicity because then I could be in class, at FHE, out saving the world, sleeping and [going] out with five different guys...all at the same time."

Allison, I feel a portion of your pain...

It's ironic that I'm sharing this news on the internet. Via a computer. Good thing there's not much to do in the English Department today...

So, the dreaded technological event has happened. I've never had a problem with a Macintosh my entire life, and this weekend, the worst problem made itself manifest. That's right. THE dreaded technological event.

My hard drive is gone.

Not entirely. I hope.

I was planning on getting a new computer in September anyway, with my extra financial aid. I need one with a superdrive, and the latest operating system is always nice. I was just planning on being able to transfer everything, and give Beckah my old one. I guess we're moving on to Plan B.

Starting from scratch.

I'm over the initial knock-the-wind-out-of-you shock and horror, and I've decided that it could be worse, and that perhaps this is a blessing in disguise.

CON: I'm pretty broke this semester, so I simply don't have the means to replace the hard-drive or pay for file recovery until September. Therefore, I shall have to go without a personal computer for the last three weeks of school.
PRO: There are computers at work and at the library.

PRO: There are only 3 weeks left of school.

CON: I don't know what can be recovered, including current fictional works in progress. Like my screenplay!!!!

PRO: I just backed up my pictures, and most of them are on facebook anyway.

PRO: I just synced my iPod, and I have an external charger. So I can still at least LISTEN to my music. And though it might take some doing, I'm SURE there's a way to get those tunes back onto a computer eventually.

CON: I can't connect to friends who are far away quite as easily or immediately, via facebook, namely.

PRO: There are always cell phones.

PRO: There is always the US Postal Service. And e-mail. And facebook occasionally.

I spent this afternoon in tired, hungry, and somewhat hopeless frustration. An order of nachos, a trip to the library, and a stern self-talking-to later, I've decided that it really isn't THAT bad, and that all will be well, and that this IS a blessing in disguise!

Instead of spending hours on my computer, I can spend hours with books, in the great outdoors, with friends, doing chores, etc. etc. I'm sure I'll discover that I actually have time for all those things if I let them replace the somewhat less worthwhile time I spend staring at a screen.

I say as I type this up online.

I value technology. I think its an incredible tool that can forge connections in ways we couldn't have dreamed of even 5 years ago. I'm not ashamed of blogging, facebooking, emailing, etc. And a personal laptop sure makes homework a breeze! But maybe the Lord's trying to let me know that my priorities need re-examining. Or something.

We'll see how it goes.

Tech week + homework + housing + work + one-act =

"My candle burns at both ends
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends -
It gives a lovely light!"

--Edna St. Vincent Millay