Radiant, Ravishing, Riveting, R!

R is for Rachel. What a coincidence-- I was born in the Chinese year of the Rabbit. Wish I could hang this on my bedroom wall.

That Shocking Time of Year

I'm back. Despite popular belief that my life expired having fallen from the edge of a cliff and rumors of being otherwise incapable of blogging, I have returned to haunt you once again. Aurelian is back on the market, boys!


Guess who wasn't ready for the picture? If you guessed sullen-face-Cassidy with the bow in her hair, you'd be right.

You seek explanation? Very well. This past month I was away from the internet (zooks! zounds! egads!) and any semblance of normalcy. My life was deliciously turned topsy turvy; I was on tour with a folk dance team from BYU, visiting 58 elementary schools to perform for children. What exactly did we do? We shared worldwide culture with kids by showing them dances from:

South Africa, Russia, Korea, Colombia, Poland, Sweden, Italy, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ireland, Mexico, the United States, and we even did a Yiddish dance.

Four weeks hanging around these beautiful people? Cant beat that!

This is the dance from Colombia. I'm the saucy one in the pink skirt.

Half way through our final number in the show (Ukraine), we pose. Everyone thinks the song is over and starts to clap, but no-- we're not done. Then it happens again (cue clapping? not yet) and then the music stops again-- okay NOW we're really finished. Reminds me of an orchestra performance when people start clapping before the third movement has really ended and "...diminuendo sheepishly."

Shown below is our first POSE-BUT-THE-SHOW'S-NOT-OVER-YET moment. My eye scrunching smile is visible front and center (which is slightly to the right from the camera's angle). Heaven and saints be praised, I finally got to wear those red boots! Huzzah!


Proof that I've done Hopak? Check.

P.S. A true story addendum to the top picture.

Friend #1: Bacchus elementary? Wasn't Bacchus the Greek god of... something dirty?
Rachel: Wine and Revelry. And it's Roman, actually-- Bacchus is the Roman form of the Greek's Dionysus.
Friend #2: Geez, do you know everything about that stuff?
Rachel: Not complicated, chief. Cartoon education--Bacchus is in Fantasia.
Friend #1: No way!
Rachel: Dude with the splashing-wine goblet and the nymphs. Yes way.
Friend #2: Hey, you're right-- that guy is in Fantasia.
...
(A moment later)
Principal: Are you with the BYU assembly?
Friend #2: We sure are! *dimpled smile*
Principal: We're so excited to have you all here.
Friend #2: Thanks so much, we're glad to be here too.
Rachel: (rudely interrupts by raising her hand) I have a question.
Principal: Okay.
Rachel: Please tell me you didn't name your elementary school after the ancient god of wine and revelry.
Principal: Our school is named for Thomas W. Bacchus, the distinguished founder of our city.
Rachel: Good! Cause I was gonna say...
Friend #1: You'll have to excuse her. She gets carried away with mythology.
Rachel: (glares playfully at Friend #1) You get no cookies from me. Tee hee.