Times Square at dusk.

There is only one Broadway!

This is my great friend Israel Ehrisman. He was my tour guide for the week and host. I had the best time thanks to him! We were best friends in high school. Although we lost touch with each other over the past 10 years or more, we were able to pick up where we left off. After catching up on old times, we got on to making new great memories in NYC!

This is in Times Square and the days' headlines run by as the tourists crowd by.

More Vnyl photos. All the tables were mosaics- I loved this one! In shadow boxes on the wall there were action figures of various artists. We were sitting under a shadow box of Vanilla Ice, but this one pictured was on the opposite wall. I noticed it and wondered who it was. I could only guess Donny & Marie Osmond but hoped I was wrong... I wasn't. I went in closer for a better look and had to take a photo. Obviously the restaurant owners don't know enough about the Mormons- or they thought Donny & Marie were Catholic!

There is this great restaurant in New York called Vnyl. I ate there my first night in town. It is so eclectic and fun. There are four restrooms and each has a theme: Cher, Dolly, Nelly & Elvis. They each are featured with a mosaic portrait and their room plays each artist's music! So fun!

Four, Four, Four, Four...got this in an email and wanted to share...

A) Four places that I go to over and over;
-church, Target, Harris Teeter, gym

B) Four people who e-mail me (regularly):
-Barb H., Julia D., AC, Mary K. A.

C) Four of my favorite places to eat:
-Pei Wei, Panera, Lemongrass, Gandolfos

D) Four places I would rather be right now:
-the beach (any), the Blue Ridge Mountains, Italy, Ireland.

E) Four people I think will respond by emailing their answers to me:
-Julia, AC, Vron, Jessica

F) Four TV shows I watch:
-Ugly Betty, Samantha Who, Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies.

Here's a great quotation from Elder Richard G. Scott's 14 August 2008 Commencement Address at Brigham Young University:

"Radiate a positive attitude. Let your attitude be that of continuing happiness. The challenges you face, the growth experiences you encounter, should be like temporary scenes played out on the stage of continuing peace and happiness. Don't become so absorbed in a single event that you can't think of anything else. Challenges are not intended to be the substance of life. It is by understanding and obeying the teachings of God that your life will fulfill its glorious purpose. That perspective keeps challenges confined to their proper place -- stepping stones to further growth and attainment. Life should and can be wondrously beautiful."

I was given this blog award and to fulfill my award duties I have been asked to post 6 things I value, 6 things I do not support, and to pass it on to 6 blogger friends. Here goes:

6 things I value:

1. The gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. My family.

3. My health & life.

4. My friends.

5. My freedom.

6. This beautiful world we live in.

6 things I do not support:

1. Violence.

2. Illegal Drug Use.

3. Abortion.

4. Pornography.

5. Dishonesty.

6. Prejudice.

6 people I pass this on to:

1. Julie M.

2. Megan Y.

3. Stacey H.

4. Merideth C.

5. Julia D.

6. Julie S.

"Let Your Light So Shine..."

When I was in high school I was in several plays: Guys & Dolls, 45 Minutes from Broadway, The King & I, Thurber Carnival... and I had a great time. I went on to college and didn't have the time. I went on to get married and have kids and didn't have the time- but I missed being on stage.

So, when a friend told me about auditions for a production of Steel Magnolias, which I'd also done in high school, I decided I could find the time. I was Ouiser and had a blast- even though I was in the early stages of pregnancy with my youngest daughter at the time. That was about 5 years ago. About 3 years ago, I was in a Raleigh Stake production with my girls entitled "Backstage on Broadway" that was a lot of musical numbers and I got to perform with my daughters so it was great. Then there was the Raleigh Pageant. My two oldest girls and I were in that the first year (we were out of town the second year and couldn't be in it).

But that was 2 years ago- I was missing the limelight! Finally, a few months ago, my dear friend in the Debbie Rollins (who owns the theater where I did Steel Magnolias in 2003) told me about "Opal's Million Dollar Duck."

I play Queenie, a theater diva, and I'm loving it. We perform next weekend! If you are in the Raleigh area, please come see it. The play is a well-written comedy about a woman who has an antique shop. She finds a painting and decides to give it to her best friend for her birthday present. My husband & I find the painting and recognize it as one that is missing from a local museum and has a large reward offered for it. We decide to buy it and keep the reward for ourselves but the woman, Opal, doesn't want to sell it (her friend's happiness is worth more than anything). You will have to come see the show to find out what happens next!

The performances are September 10-13 at 7 pm at SuzAnna's Antiques (or across the street at Durant Road Musical Theater if it rains), right by the railroad tracks on Durant road. Tickets are $10. Weather permitting, we will be outdoors sipping lemonade! It will be wonderful- I hope to see you there!