Pure, Proud, Plaid

A few thoughts about my "Forever Plaid" experience:

- For those who are not familiar with this musical, you're missing out. The music is great. The characters are endearing. It's funny. It's innocent. It'll keep you reaching for your own dreams.

- I really had a lot of fun putting this together and doing something miles away from my comfort zone. I'm glad to have my Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings back, but I'll miss spending time with some great people.

- If I had a nickel for every time I heard the word "thespian" during the pastt two months, I'd have about $1.15

- Fear is an powerful motivational tool. Thank you Fear, for keeping me in the right place, on the right foot and in the right tune most of the time.

These are the faces of seven people who just realized their days of putting up with "Diva Rob" are over. Me? I'm smiling because someone said BYU beat TCU that night (not funny).

Welcome to Yuma, where outdoor dining in late October makes complete sense.

Backstage calm before the storm

Warning: Excessive use of falsetto may cause neck strains

My directions were to look nervous, scared and uncomfortable.

Check, check, and check.

Mercury Monterrey = chick magnet

Mickey Mouse doesn't hold a candle to Topo Gigio

I wish I had better pictures of our other album covers.

Photoshop is a fantastic toy.

We were also featured in a little publication some of you may have heard of called the Yuma Sun.

I won't be winning any awards for my work in Forever Plaid, but I prepared a little speech anyway:

First I want to recognize my family for their support and encouragement. As it turns out, those four years of piano lessons weren't a complete failure.

A big thanks to my three brothers in plaid, Troy, Ian and Richard. They are stalwart men loaded with talent. It's been a privilege to practice and perform with them.

I owe so much to our directors Amy and Kris and our accompanists Erika and Nate for taking a chance on a shy kid from Salt Lake and unleashing the inner Jinx from within me (orchestra music softly begins to play in the background). Oh no, wait! Our props helpers Angela and Melissa. Shawna Perkins, our executive director. Sally, oh Sally, you are my bellowed angel. Serenity now. Serenity now.

One more second Kanye. Please everyone, we need a college football playoff. WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN!

My main squeeze(box)

Family, friends. It's time you all met someone.

A mutual friend of ours introduced us at church a couple months ago because she thought the two of us might hit it off. While it was certainly love at first sight, we didn't exactly get along at first. Totally my fault. I'd been told she was kind of fragile and a little messy, so I was very cautious, a little overprotective, and tried to keep my distance.

I soon figured out this girl didn't need any sympathy from me. She was full of energy, beaming with personality, and could really light up a room. Since then I've made a point of seeing her every chance I get. I plan my days around her. It's been pure bliss.

"Sally" and I didn't want to deal with the questions from others if this didn't work out, so we felt it was best to keep our relationship on the down low as long as possible. We rarely went out in public or hung out with other people until we were comfortable with each other.

But I'm happy to report that things have been absolutely fantastic of late. We spent a couple nights at a dinner theater over the weekend and lots of people we're anxious to meet us.

Before I start to get people's hopes up, I should point out this story will not have a happy ending. Our time together is nearing its end because Sally's moving to El Cajon, Calif. in a few weeks and a long-distance relationship just isn't a possibility.

But boy do we make sweet music together.

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1. For those of you totally in the dark about what's going on, I've been in a community theater production of "Forever Plaid." We did our first performances this past weekend, and part of my role was to play the accordion for one of our numbers. I will post more about the play when I have more photos available.

2. Before anyone wants to tease me about the hat, take it up with these guys first.

3. I owe my fondness for the accordion to my neighborhood friend Jeff Stirling, who introduced me to The Who.

First Tenor Jinx

Ever been told you need to step out of your comfort zone once in a while?

A word of further advice: Step, don't catapult.

What I hoped would be a fun, personal challenge to audition for community theatre has become a full-time commitment for the next two months as Jinx, one of the four Plaids.

Brighton High Madrigals and LDS Institute Encore show choir don't hold a candle to this.

There are a couple things working in my favor:

 -I know the three other Plaids from church pretty well, which makes rehearsal something to look forward to. 

 - My character and I share similar personalities, so I shouldn't have to do too much acting.

Hopefully come Oct. 22, I'll be ready to "Cry"