The Ballad of Gopher Gap

Our bishop decided to encourage a ward play. Nothing spectacular or epic, but something fun. Joanna and I decided that it would be fun to be in a play so we volunteered.

The play we presented is entitled "The Ballad of Gopher Gap". A melodrama set in the old west, with the classic villian, hero, heroine, and the unsuspecting victims that go with it. It was great fun and we loved working with the great people in the ward that were also cast in the play.

Joanna and I were cast, respectively, as the heroine and hero. Joanna was Verlinda Springblossom, a beautiful but airheaded heir to the town that wished to turn it into a hummingbird sanctuary. Daniel was Rocky Romance, the well known mountain man and poet of the wilderness who also didn't really mesh well with reality.

We were clueless yet well meaning couple of characters that almost accidentally save the day against a comical villain. Set in the town of Gopher Gap, the evil "Bunco de Sneer" has salted the mine with ore and gemstones. He tricks the foolish easterners into investing in the mine, and plans to make off with their money. Hilarity ensues.

It was a very fun to practice and even more fun to perform to a wonderful interactive audience for a couple of nights. After the 2nd (and last) show, we were all a little sad to see it come to an end. Joanna and I are still quoting lines from it to each other, it seems like everything reminds us of a line from the play, just like recalling lines from your favorite movies with your friends.

Here's some pictures we took around the performance days. Joanna and I never thought we'd play the couple in a play, and it was great! First, the couple in full makeup. Next, the assayer's table and entrance to Spenawampum mine. Next, us with Adam (my brother) and our niece and nephew Alyssa and Ethan. A widescreen shot of the stage with many of the wonderful cast, and lastly I had to include my trucker impression I did as I was shaving off the beard I'd grown for the part.

Still so much to talk about! Our trip to Southern Utah, finishing the 2nd bedroom, and a trip from the inlaws. It'll have to wait until later, but check back soon!

Joanna Clots

It has been a long time since the last entry! And so much to say.

It started when Joanna's right arm started swelling up again. Again, you might say? Well yes, she had a blood clot in her right subclavian vein about two years ago. It was removed by the doctors and she was on anticoagulants for six months. Warfarin is a nasty drug, lifesaving sure, but nonetheless not an enjoyable regimen.

Well, we thought it was behind us when her arm started swelling in late April. Nothing like it did before, but still noticeable. We met with some doctors and Joanna went into the University of Utah hospital for a couple days to have the clot dissolved. It was a successful procedure, but the resultant imaging showed that her subclavian vein was very damaged, and didn't show signs of desiring to widen up again.

Apparently the vein has been pinched repeatedly between the first rib and clavicle, causing damage and causing it to scar and close off. This we knew, but the first time around we thought it may be due to some sort of recent event. This time is was apparent that it is a recurring theme and an anatomical issue of some sort. Poor Joanna! Well, there is a bright side, and that's that a very good network of collaterals had already started forming and widening. This is where small vessels widen to bypass the narrowed area. The best would probably be for the original vein to completely close off and the collaterals to take over, then there would be no vein to pinch, and the liklihood of triggering further clots would be lessened.

I have attached a picture of the veins of the arm and where the pinch took place. Luckily this isn't life threatening, though it is certainly a difficult thing to go through! The changes have certainly set us back a little, one of the effects being the long break in blogginess. Everyone wish Joanna well!