Tonight ...

I took my young women here.

I had been looking forward to it for awhile.

It was AMAZING,

beautiful,

thought provoking,

touching,

insightful,

and

inspiring.

I am grateful for people who are such beautiful examples

of grace through difficulty,

and for their willingness to share their stories

to inspire and buoy the rest of us up.

She is an inspiration.

My New Happy Place ...

I want to live in the library at

Trinity College in Dublin.

Don't these pictures just make you want to sink

into a comfy leather chair with one of these old volumes

and never leave?

I Have A Confession To Make ...

I broke down and listened to Clay Aikens Christmas album today.

I couldn't help it.

I know I am not supposed to listen to Christmas music yet,

but I heard one song when my ipod was on random

and was sucked in.

I PROMISE I will not listen again

until the day after Thanksgiving.

Please forgive me.

I Am Pretty Sure That I Am Being Stalked ...

by Hall & Oates.

Their music has been following me around ALL week.

It has been played multiple times on

the radio a work.

Twice this week I went to the grocery store,

and both times one of their songs was playing.

And today I put my ipod on random

and the 1st, 3rd, and 7th song that played

were Hall & Oates.

And I have over 5700 songs on my ipod ...

Are you as creeped out as I am?!?

Dear Hall & Oates,

Your kiss is not on my list

and you do NOT make my dreams come true.

Sincerely,

Because I am a maneater

and my private eyes are watching you,

I would kindly ask your music to quit following

me around.

Dear Mother Nature,

Today is the first official day of fall.

And I am ready for it!

Bring on the crisp Autumn air,

and all the beautiful colors.

I love FALL!!

Sincerely,

Fall Enthusiast who wants to make sure you really heard her ...

F.A.L.L.

Not winter ...

FALL.

I included the picture to make sure you didn't get confused

like you have in years past.

Like that one year where it was 80 one day,

and the next day I was scrapping the snow off my windshield.

FALL!!!!

Do You Think It Is Possible ...

that Tim Gunn was driving a silver Toyota Tacoma

in Provo today?

Because I swear I saw him!

Just In Case There Was Any Question About My Athletic Prowess ...

Tonight I took the Young Women to play

bean bag baseball with the residents of a senior center nearby.

I was beat by a blind woman named Margaret.

I'm not kidding.

On the way home one of the girls said

"Sister Chalk, I think it was really nice of you

to let Margaret win."

I just smiled and nodded my head.

Tonight I Spent The Evening ...

with my boyfriend ...

Brian Stokes Mitchell !

Just him and me

and a piano

(and about 1200 other people).

He came to sing me all of my favorite

Broadway songs.

Stars, Dulcinea, Wheels of A Dream ...

(I emailed him a list of my favs last week and

he was happy to oblige,

except for he didn't sing that excerpt from

Legally Blonde like I asked!)

And when he sang

"Some Enchanted Evening"

he totally winked at me.

(I totally saw him do it from my seat

high in the balcony.)

My fav moment was when he sang Soliloquy

from Carousel.

Love that song.

(I also loved it when Ben Newton sang it

oh so long ago at the Macys Theater competition

when I was a junior in high school

ALL the girls were SMITTEN with Ben Newton!

I wonder what happened to him ...)

His last encore was my all time fav ...

"The Impossible Dream".

If you ever drive by me and I am sobbing while I drive

there is a 99% chance that it is because I am listening to

him sing this song ...

Thanks Bri for a great night!

P.S.

If they ever make "Obama, the Musical"

I think you'd be a shoe in!