Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Welcome to the Crys McDonald Show!

You may have noticed that I changed the name of my blog. While it is still my stinking cool blog, I decided perhaps people should not get the idea that I do not shower. So welcome to the Crys McDonald Show, because at least in this tiny little corner of the world, it's all about me. So there.
And in celebration of...well, me...Kara once sent me one of those fabulous and not at all time wasting surveys asking all kinds of random questions, and since I know these are very important things you all want to know about me, well consider yourself enlightened!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30 am
2. Diamonds or pearls? Whichever one I can pawn for the most gas money.
3. What was the last film you saw? The Brother's Grimm
4. What are your favorite TV shows? Friends!!
5. What did you have for breakfast? Smart Start Cereal
6. What is your middle name? Lee
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Italian
8. What foods do you dislike? Not a big seafood fan.
9. What is your favorite crisp flavor? Not sure what this question is, but the best flavors are always chocolate!
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? all of them since they're in my brand new iPod!
11. What kind of car do you drive? the big green machine, a Ford F150
12. Favorite sandwich? as long as it's not ramen noodles I'm happy
13. What characteristic do you despise? lying
14. Favorite item of clothing? jeans and a tshirt
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? road trip across America! and then a road trip across Europe! And then...you get the idea...
16 What color is your bathroom? just white...no painting in apartments!
17. What is your favorite brand of toilet paper? whatever's the cheapest...does anyone really have a favorite brand of toilet paper?
18. Where would you like to retire to? never thought about it before.
19. Favorite time of the day? sunrise or sunset
20. What was your most memorable birthday? This last one was pretty cool, Kara took me to Medieval Times! The black knight was hot.
21. Where were you born? Weymouth, Massachusetts.
22 Favorite sport to watch? I'd rather play.
24. Coke or Pepsi? Dr Pepper dude, this is Texas.
25. Are you a morning person or a night owl? night owl...like I could be anything else in theatre!
26. What is your shoe size? 9
27. Do you have any pets? Only the best pet a gal could have, my cat Duncan!
28. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with your family & friends? I'm getting married!!.....well, someday.
29. What did you want to be when you were little? an actress, until I realized I can't act my way out of a paper bag so I decided to be a stage manager, so I could boss all the paper bags around
30. What are you doing today? duh, posting my blog...
31. What is your favorite color? black or green
32. What is your favorite flower? daffodils. Roses are great but run the cliche risk.
33. What do you honor most? The God-Meister

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Just to Prove My Nerdiness...

So yesterday I got the crazy idea that I should audition for the praise team at Fellowship Church...yes, the same Fellowship Church that has about 18,000 people every weekend!
I had a blast. I am already a part of the choir and had to audition for that, so I knew a little of what to expect.
So I walk onstage...yes, onstage, with a spotlight and everything...to audition. "Hi Crys" I hear Yanci's voice say, although I can't really see her in the audience. "What are you singing for us?" "I'll be singing How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin...because he has a really cool name" (NERD!!!) They chuckle at my nerdiness...phew. "And also Angel by Sarah McLaughlin"

It was so much fun. And by fun, I mean scary beyond all reason and I was going to throw up....but fun! But let me tell you what a cool experience it was to hear my voice filling up that huge worship center. Even if I never get to sing again on that stage, that's ok with me because that was cool enough right there! I'm so glad I got to do it!! I was never really convinced that I would actually make it, I mean with people like Rob Johnson and Eric and Yanci and Vanessa and Michael on the praise team, their standards are pretty high! I just wanted to do the best job I could do and enjoy the experience. I was a little dissapointed because I was sooo nervous that I don't feel like I did my very best, but I guess that's ok. Whatever happens, happens.

So I enjoyed each moment as it was happening, not taking for granted a single second because I might never get the chance to do that again...and it was awesome. Afterwards, I went into the audience so they could tell me how I did...and here's where my true nerd-dom shone thru. Let me preface by saying that the last time I auditioned, it was for Yanci and Vanessa, so for some reason in my head I just expected them to be there again. But instead it was Yanci and Michael Higdon...yes, Michael Higdon who is the coolest worship leader ever and I wish I could play guitar like him! So what do I do? Do I conduct myself in a calm and professional manner, impressing them with how blasse I think it is to audition because I'm so experienced and I've done this so many times before? Nooooooo. Instead, before I realize what's coming out of my mouth, I say "!! It's Michael Higdon! I want to be you!!"

NERD NERD NERD NERD NERD!!! He laughed and joked "you're in!", meanwhile I'm sure he was thinking "I've never met a bigger nerd in my life". But they said I did a great job and they love Sarah McLaughlin. They didn't ask me to be on the praise team, but they didn't kick me out of the choir either so I figure that's probably pretty good. :)
But what was even cooler was since I noted that I play the piano and guitar on my audition form, and my music track to How Great is Our God was actually me playing the guitar, Michael asked if I would come to the band auditions in a few months b/c they always need girl players! I thought that was way cool. Of course that is no indication of what they'll say when I actually audition, but it was still cool. Honestly, if I had to choose, I'd have much more fun playing guitar than singing anyways....plus people stare at you less if you're not the lead singer, and that's always a plus in my book. ;) So I guess now it's time to start practicing for band auditions!!

Well that was my praise team audition experience and the latest in the Adventures of Nerd Girl. At least I was wearing my Napolean Dynamite t-shirt so there was no mistaking my nerdiness.

Friday, October 07, 2005

Crystal Cathey

This Wednesday October 5th marked the 2-year anniversary of when one of my best friends from high school, Crystal Cathey, passed away in a car accident. I can't beleive it's been two whole years already...it seems like only yesterday that I was graduating college. Then again, I can't believe two years is all it's been, it seems like so long ago. Funny how the brain works like that.
I went to visit her grave yesterday (and let me tell you how surreal it is to see your own name on a gravestone...). I can still remember what it looked like on this day two years ago...the cars that lined the street, the tent over her coffin with all the flowers. I could look at different places in the ground that now are nothing but tufts of grass, and say "that's where Blake was standing....that's where her parents were sitting..."

But on the other hand, it was only a few weeks later that I attended my very first hometeam at Fellowship church. Interesting how a memory with so much sorrow can be attached to one with so much joy! I really can't believe it's been two years at Fellowship. The friends and relationships I have made here haven't been like anything else in my life. I treasure those people and those relationships so much and I would surely give anything for any one of them! I can't even put into words how meaningful they are to me. So to all my brothers and sisters in Christ who are also my very best friends in the whole wide world...I love you so much! Thank you so much for everything you've done in my life over the past two years that I have known you...and drive safely.