Since the last time we talked a lot has happened!
School:
The semester ended quite nicely. I ended up losing my voice right in time for juries (yay!) but still got good grades. I just sing so stinkin much during the semester sometimes it is hard to keep up! I supported my fellow voice students and saw A Christmas Carol (which was fabulous, contrary to the cast's beliefs). I know so many talented people it's not even funny!
This semester so far has been crazy, insane and wonderful. I auditioned for The Addams Family at CGCC and I ended up getting cast as Wednesday! It was double-cast so I was only Wednesday 3/6 performances, but I'll take what I can get! It was challenging for me as an actor and vocally since I have almost always been type-casted for the energetic, "blonde", girly, more-often-than-not soprano and Wednesday is the literal exact opposite. Wednesday is a dark and twisted type of person which voice part is a belt. HA. Me. Belting. That's a good one. But I managed to pull it off! I am quite proud of myself actually and of the entire cast! We pulled it out of our butts during tech week and it was a fabulous show! The script could use some work but the music was to die for (get it? to DIE for? oh man). This was definitely my favorite show so far, and for many reasons. Mainly because there was very little drama among the cast. For the most part nobody hated each other! That's quite the accomplishment if you've done any type of production. Any who. I'm going to miss performing it. /sigh I feel like I'm still progressing in my voice lessons (yay again!). Especially since I finally have the time to put in the practice.
Me as Wednesday! I could pull off dark hair...right?
I looked pretty awesome. Not gonna lie.
The family portrait.
My official last day at State Farm was 2/20/2015. My last day working was the Monday (2/16) before. It was definitely a bittersweet day. I hated being on the phones with a firey passion of a thousand suns, but I loved the people and the atmosphere. My supervisors were simply the most amazing and the most supportive people. I turned in my badges, gathered my things out of my locker, and my supervisors walked me down to the lobby after my shift, I gave my main supervisor Tyrone a hug and off I went! It was a weird and yet invigorating feeling driving out of the parking lot knowing I didn't have to drive there at 3 AM ever again. Let's just say I have adjusted quite nicely of having a normal sleeping/social schedule now that my bed time is no longer 8:30 PM. HUZZAH. I mean I consistently stay up to around 11 each night and it feels great! I'm a human again!
Now that I haven't worked for about a month, I've finished the show and have had a nice break, I decided to apply for a job closer in that does not involve any sales! I applied for VIK (an after-school program for the elementary schools in the Gilbert Public School District) and I got an interview! Tomorrow at 11:30. Eeep! I'm nervous/excited. I haven't interviewed in over 2 years! We'll see what happens. Fingers crossed!
Home/Husband/Family:
Well life has been going on an uphill for these McHardy's. In December Ian received a call from the Verizon recruiter and there was a job opening for him! Ian successfully passed through all the supplemental interviews and was hired! All the praying and waiting finally paid off and Ian is now excelling at his new job. He also loves it, which is a definite plus. I'm so grateful for everything he does and how hard he works. :) He's a keeper, for sure.
On the downside, in December we lost our kitty Socrates. We have a little kitty door that leads to the garage, where he litter was (that way the litter wasn't stinking up our house) and our garage door has been acting up lately so one night it decided to open by itself and he got out and never came back. We searched for a couple days, had the missionaries keep an eye out, and we even put up posters but nothing. :( I admit we cried. We loved our cat. A lot. We were sad for a while but we're to the point we are going to get another kitten in the near future.
Other than that, everyone is doing pretty well. :) I am really enjoying life right now. I'm so grateful for everything we've been blessed with.
Now, on to my main reason for this blog post!!
Ian and I have been wanting to go camping since we got married. Like I've been begging him to take me (someone document this, because I have never been one to BEG to go camping. Ever.) and we finally went! It's Spring Break for me and Ian traded a shift with someone so that way he could have Wednesday (today) and Thursday off to give us plenty of time. Since I have my interview and Scouts on Wed evenings, we went last night! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. Just an overnighter out at Picacho Peak. I loved it. We gathered up a bunch of blankets and pillows and made a bed in the bed of Ian's truck. Voila!
*check out that smolder...*
We ate some MREs (Meal Ready to Eat, they are military issue) and watched most of Crazy Stupid Love and went to sleep.
After breakfast we took a short hike up a trail on Picacho Peak
Then we went to the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch that was right next to our campsite.
IT WAS MAGICAL.
This sign killed me! They went above and beyond here.
I legitimately felt like I was feeding a dinosaur!
Watching the goats eat is the most hysterical thing you will see.
My favorite part was feeding the Rainbow Lorikeets!! They gave us a little container of fruit nectar and when we walked in the birdhouse we immediately had like 4 birds on each of us to eat. They even popped off the lid of the container themselves!
UGH so much fun. Anywho. I've got to get ready for my cubbies. Have a wonderful evening, my lovelies.
