. . . and away

You know how having certain connections can get you some cool stuff or allow to do things no one else does? I like to think that I have a couple of those, but in reality, no. However, through a friend of the family connection, I did get to do something Monday morning that very, very few people can say they've done.

So, what were you doing at 5:50 am Monday, April 27th? Were you sitting in a custom-built armchair suspended about 40 feet in the air by 67 huge helium balloons? If you were, wow, because so was I. Let me explain.

My family lived in Albuquerque for a few years, and through a neighbor we got the chance to experience hot-air ballooning and meet people who do it on a regular basis {there's a huge hot-air balloon fiesta every October there}. One of these people got hooked up with Disney and their efforts to promote their new movie "Up" that tells the story of an old guy who ties thousands of helium balloons to his house and flies away on cool adventures.

Anyway, this promotional team is traveling to different cities over the next 5 weeks. But they don't have enough people to help them set up, so they get volunteers in each city. That's where I come in. Two of my brothers and I showed up at a parking lot across from the Franklin Covey Baseball field at 2 am on Monday. We helped blow up huge helium balloons {like, 7 feet in diameter} and then helped hook them up to a special armchair.

Here I am testing out the chair:

I was also the lucky one who got to take the test run to make sure the balloons would actually lift up the chair. The only reason I got to do that is because I was the lightest one there at the time. Since the sun hadn't come up yet, the helium hadn't expanded and wouldn't lift as much {I think - I'm actually a little fuzzy on the science of it all}.

This is our worksite. See how big the balloons are? Oh, and it was freezing cold that morning. My feet were totally numb by the time the sun came up. It all just added to the fun, of course.

So, after everything was ready, different media outlets {tv stations, newspapers, radio stations} came, starting at like 6 am, and talked to the other part of the promotional team about the film. And anyone who was over 18 and willing to sign a release could go for a ride in the chair. It was super thrilling.

Anyone driving by the ball field Monday morning might have seen a sight like this in the sky and been bewildered. I would have. That's probably why we got some random people stopping by as well.

Besides the experience, all I got was a t-shirt and a hat, not even movie passes - cheap-o Disney. But it was fun and unique and I'm glad I don't have to do it again.

Sweet is the Work

Last night I had the opportunity to help out at the LDS Cannery at Welfare Square. Earlier in the day, jam had been made, bottled and boxed up; our ward was asked to supply some volunteers, and I was on the clean-up crew. I've helped out one other time, but that was at the bakery {we sliced and bagged bread}.

I didn't quite know what to expect, but I hoped that a) big hoses with spray nozzles would be involved b) I would get to wear some sort of ridiculously unflattering outfit, complete with head gear and c) we wouldn't be there the whole three hours I was assigned. And guess what? All my wishes came true!

We arrived and had the usual safety and information meeting. Then we were taken back to put on our hair nets and ill-fitting smocks! I was pretty excited. The kind lady then showed us back to the canning area where we were given large hoses with with to spray down everything! I got a little too enthusiastic sometimes with the spraying and ended up completely soaked from the knees down, but I didn't mind. Next time I'll just wear my Wellies. And since we had a good-sized group, we were done in an hour and a half.

I know that spectacular blessings can come from the service we chose to do, but, frankly, last night was just a good time. The next time they ask for volunteers for clean-up at the cannery, I will be all over it.

And a fair birthday to you

I would be a poor English lover indeed if I did not recognize the Bard's birthday. I have a love/hate relationship with his work. I love it. And I hate that more people don't.

He added quite a bit to our vernacular. Here are some phrases we still use that first came into being in his plays:
-Sink or swim
-In my mind's eye
-I have not slept one wink
-My heart on my sleeve
-A sorry sight
-All the corners of the world
-Fight fire with fire
-Love is blind
-The game is up
-Vanish into thin air
-Wild goose chase

And because I love his words so much, I leave you with one of my favorites of his sonnets:

Sonnet Number 29
When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Happy birthday, Will.

Random Ramblings

-Fake moustaches are highly underrated.

-I want grandbaby #19 to be here now. But probably not as much as my sweet, very-pregnant sister-in-law does.

-People falling down is always funny.

-Chivalry is not dead. Some guys just don't practice it, and that breaks my heart a little bit.

-I think I have a grandpa complex - in that I never really knew either of my grandpas, and so every cute litte old man I meet, I want to adopt.

-As I discussed with a friend recently, there is a very thin line between cute little old man and creepy little old man.

-Footloose was mentioned in an NPR news story this week. Such a universal movie.

-I'm officially an adult. I got excited over a mortgage re-finance this week.

-Some day I will have a dog. And it won't be named Sadie Girl or Sweets or Precious.

-Singing along with a blaringly loud radio in your car is one of life's great pleasures.

-I think if we could talk to the pioneers who made the trek across the country and explain how things are for certain people nowadays, they would agree that dating is a major trial.

-I don't think it's wrong that great shoes can make you blissfully happy.

-There are times when it's perfectly appropriate to talk back to the tv show you're watching or the book you're reading.

-Hope pokes its head up in the oddest places sometimes. But at least it's still there.

A-freakin-men!

I know I've mentioned this blog before (because I luuuv it), but if I don't tell everyone I can about this post, I would be in the wrong.

Seriously, can I get an amen?