The week of Cooper

This week began with a bang on Sunday with a delightful Sunday drive. Mary and Viktoria had some Sunday deliveries to make, so I tagged along as the driver. Many sights in Springville and Mapleton delighted us, and the adventure evolved into an exploration of rural neighborhoods. You might be surprised what kind of items you can find just driving around. I was.

Cooper

Technically, Cooper came home with me last week (on the Fourth of July, actually). But the fun really began after he became accustomed to his new home.

Cooper is a Chinchilla. He is three months old, and still extremely skittish. Everything I've read indicates that it can take up to six months for a new chinchilla to get used to you. After the first week I'm starting to believe it. Though he will eat from my hand now, and he seems to be getting more comfortable with his new environment.

A lot of people have asked, "Why on earth did you get a chinchilla?" I don't really have a good answer. Some of you may remember Hank, the Demon Crab of South Provo. Keep in mind that I had no pets growing up, and the stress of having Hank as my first interactive pet was immense. I don't really count the fish and interactive pets, though I did manage to keep them alive and happy (except for the ones Hanks murdered) for a very long time—a proud accomplishment for this new pet owner.

So after pretty (but dull) fish and a bloodthirsty crab of ill intent, I decided it was time for something fluffy and cute. Ideally this new pet would be a puppy. But given my singleness, my work schedule, and my commute (and let's face it, my lack of commitment), a puppy was out of the question. I hadn't thought of a chinchilla, but upon Mary's suggestion, I began research. One thing led to another and the rest is history.

Musical rehearsals

I've played for a number of musicals, but I've never been involved so early in the production. Usually the orchestra just shows up for the final few rehearsals. In this case the orchestra consists of a pianist, a guitarist, and myself. I've enjoyed watching the cast rehearse. One aspect that I've never seen before is the directing. I've always been curious how plays are directed. Turns out it's quite similar to how films are directed. I've learned more about the art of acting in the past several weeks than I even knew existed. I'm very impressed with the talent it requires. Thanks to Alisa Anglesy for the photo. Have I mentioned how much I love this play?

The weather

Summer-like weather seems to have settled in for good. It's been hot. In the 90's (Arizonians and such will scoff). It's not so bad considering that I work in an office building all day. Aside from the hot, sweaty train ride home after work every day, I don't have to confront it much. The evenings are beautiful, though. Perfect for barbecuing, walking, and enjoying fresh air. It actually rained for a few minutes today, and the skies were very gorgeous.