bjean

Finally Found Reprise

2009-12-08T10:13:00.005-07:00

I like this version better than the original:

Check it out on YouTube

Musically...

2009-10-16T09:12:00.005-06:00

Hi. A few things:

The new Mollies album is recorded. Miles left us for grad school in Bath England a few weeks ago. We're still working out how to get the album mixed and mastered but we're shooting for production time around Christmas.

The new Late Night Alumni album will be digitally released next Tuesday, Oct. 20th. We're hoping for hard copies by Christmas. There are a few low-fi, low-budget acoustic version videos we put together up on YouTube. This one of just John Hancock and I in his studio is my favorite:

As for Derek and I, life is good. We bought a condo in South Salt Lake, but we're hoping we can keep renting it out and stay here in the loft and manage the building. Oh, and my brother John's band "Faded Paper Figures" is going to be played on Grey's Anatomy! That is rad.

Williams Family Vacation '09

2009-09-04T14:41:00.005-06:00

Check out my pics from our Whidbey Island Vacation.

Apart from the rampant flu

contracted by 3/4 of the family, it was lovely.

Wedding Video

2009-07-31T15:13:00.003-06:00

Watch our wedding video on Vimeo.com or Facebook.

What's Done is Done

2009-06-16T10:28:00.007-06:00

The Cut

Thanks Lunatic Fringe

Stylist: Jaque

I like it.

Rive Krispies Karma

2009-06-16T10:21:00.002-06:00

For Heather's Day of Birth

Cast Your Vote

2009-06-09T10:57:00.008-06:00

Hair Anxiety. What should I do? (If anything)

The Please Don't Take My Elvis Suit Dream

2009-04-30T09:50:00.003-06:00

I was in a forest wearing an Elvis suit when I was approached by two teenage boys. They asked me if I had that special Mormon underwear on under my suit. I said "Why yes I do, thankyouverymuch" in my best Elvis voice.

Suddenly, the two boys came at me. I knew they were plotting to beat me up and take my Elvis suit. For a split second, I was grateful that they thought to ask if I was wearing Mormon underwear because I'm sure they knew that it would provide a little more coverage than my regular underwear upon my being stripped of the pantsuit and having to walk home in my skimpies.

So I ran away, yelling "Wait! No! I haven't been endowed yet!", hoping this might prevent them from advancing upon me...but no, they chased me through the forest while I beat them off with a stick.

Strangely though, every time I hit them, they grew younger and younger until eventually I couldn't justify smacking them any longer. After a while, they had morphed into two cute little toddlers. Another false threat.

THE END

Coconut Over The Rainbow

2009-04-14T12:29:00.005-06:00

Happy birthday Joanna! I got the idea for this from my new friend Shanua's blog. The original recipe is for a 14-layer yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Yum. Click here for that recipe

Oh My Funny

2009-03-31T09:57:00.015-06:00

My friend Lili's nine year old niece created these worksheets.
Check them out:

Mabel's Satirical Worksheets

Yummy

2009-02-13T10:09:00.007-07:00

They gave out free chocolate bars at work last week. However, the labels were very poorly designed and in order to feel justified in gifting them, I was forced to make my own personalized labels for my roommates.

P.S. Just to clarify, I don't have a roommate named yummy. Fun.

One Ring to Bring Them All...And in The Darkness Bind Them

2009-02-13T09:46:00.005-07:00

We sent the ring back to American Pearl in NY to have a smaller pearl put into the setting so that it'd be less top heavy. A few weeks later we got it back and took it into Bennion Jewelers to get it sized. Sadly, the size of my ever-popping knuckles poses a fitting problem. If I can get it over the knuckle, it's too big for my finger. So, we opted for this senior-citizen "spring in your ring" option (see image below). Having that soldered into the ring took another few weeks. Derek picked it up yesterday and...sigh...now it's too small. Turns out the old lady option is not ideal. Back to the drawing board.

Do you think it's a bad omen? A sinister message from the engagement ring gods? I'm pretty sure I don't think so. I should stop cracking my knuckles.

Lo and Behold...

2009-01-15T10:15:00.022-07:00

It's true. I am engaged...to be married...to Derek Eugene Swanson. I know, I'm eating my words, but they taste pretty good. It hasn't been a long, drawn-out courtship. I knew pretty early on that Derek was high-caliber marriage material, but if you'd told me back in September when we first met, that I'd be engaged by mid-January, I'd have laughed you to scorn and followed the aforementioned laughter with something like, "Do you even know me?"

Tuesday night we went to dinner with some friends. I knew Derek was planning on having a little chat with my dad to ask for his blessing, but he'd asked me for his number only the day before...so what followed after leaving dinner was completely unexpected.

We stopped at Hatch Family Chocolates (great little place) in the Avenues for hot chocolate and then Derek casually drove up to a park that overlooks the city. This was exactly what we did on our first date in between conference sessions last October.

Derek really wanted to get out of the car and walk around but I was freezing and not wearing socks so I resisted. He then took his socks, put them on my feet and insisted we catch the view from a better spot. I reluctantly agreed and we walked about 50 yards before my teeth began to chatter uncontrollably.

So...I convinced him that we should get back in the car because I might die (still clueless). But as we approached the car, he stopped and said, "Becky, I have to tell you something. I haven't been completely honest with you." My first reaction to this statement was something like, "Oh no, he's gay...or he's addicted to something" but that was a quick, fleeting suspicion...you see, I have no doubts about Derek...but after so much dating...the wiring in your brain can become a little faulty. It quickly occurred to me that the thing Derek wasn't telling me was that he'd actually already talked to my dad and that he probably had a ring in his pocket at that very moment; which he did.

Just then a car drove up and interrupted Derek spouting out a myriad of sweet, knee-weakening words. We back-peddled behind the car and Derek got down on one knee and the rest is a little blurry. I'm pretty sure he said, "Will you marry me?" and opened the ring box. My reaction was completely unrehearsed as I was not prepared for this moment. I think I leaned in to look at the ring (it was dark), said "uh huh" and then proceeded to take the ring from the box, and slip it onto my finger. No sooner had I done this, than I realized with some mortification that this was not the traditional protocol. I hurriedly took it off and handed it back to him so that he could place it on my finger himself. I am a nerd.

The ring is perfect. A simple Japanese pearl in a dainty platinum setting. It's just a little too big so I might have to wait a week or so to wear it while we get it sized.

And there you have it. We are getting married. Most likely in May. Crazy. I am crazy. But I feel good about it. I was never going to be one of those nutty people that rushed into ETERNITY with one person...so it's ok, you have my permission to call me a happy hypocrite. These last two days have actually been quite humbling. I've been so independent for so long that playing the role of the engaged girl is quite a transition and a little bit of a shock to my system. But I wake up excited about my future with Derek. That has never happened to me. Ever. Also, the unsolicited attention is hard for me. You might be asking yourself, "Why, Becky? It would appear that you love attention." And in some cases, as with my music, yes I do. But this is different. I find myself blushing like mad whenever someone sends congratulations my way. I think I'll get over it...in time. It still seems a little unreal at this point. But I'm excited. Wow.

La Viv

2009-01-15T10:07:00.003-07:00

Vivian, my roommate/second cousin/fellow band member, is one of my favorite people in existence. Her mom was just recently diagnosed with colon cancer and poor Viv has been madly running around helping her with the kids while Ann Marie undergoes chemo. It's been crazy and I've been amazed at how well Viv is coping. It's a lot to deal with. Keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Oh Christmas

2009-01-08T16:34:00.009-07:00

Angelina went nuts with our Christmas presents this year. They were themed and everything. My theme was "A satisfied reality" and satisfied I was. What a gem she is.
The beautiful Angelina

Oh Derek

Derek and I at the Space Needle.

We spent Christmas in Seattle with Amy's cute family. See her blog for more details if you like.

Pizza Cake

2009-01-08T16:29:00.005-07:00

I made this pizza pound cake for my co-workers Lucas and Derek H. It has cream cheese frosting for sauce, coconut for cheese and Airheads for pepperonis. Fun....or gross. Whichever.

Angelina The Musical

2008-12-15T09:28:00.012-07:00

For Angelina's birthday this year, Viv and I wrote a short, surprise musical in which we enlisted beloved ward members as cast and crew. Leo has a video we'll post on YouTube soon. What a smashing success! Angelina really rose to the challenge as we handed her the surprise script. Miles played the leading man: A janitor at Primary Children's Hospital whom Angelina mistakes for the new Medical Unit MD and falls desperately in love with. When she learns the truth she is devastated...but like in all good romantic comedies, she ends up loving him anyway. I think we might take this one all the way to Broadway. Happy Birthday Ang.

Angelina The Musical Cast

Review in IN Magazine:

2008-12-12T09:55:00.005-07:00

They had such nice things to say about us! I get so excited when we get positive feedback like this...

http://www.inthisweek.com/articles.php?id=1360#article

The Mollies

'Yours Around the Rosies'

For fans of: Ditty Bops, Joanna Newsom
www.myspace.com/themolliesmusic

The Mollies may sound sweet, but beware, they are secretly little sirens. With their gorgeous voices, Becky Jean Williams and Vivian Smith carefully lure sleepy sailors into deadly waters.

The vocals on "Yours Around the Rosies" are nicely complemented by acoustic guitar, bass, and hints of violin, cello, and ukulele. Though the album has an overall folk-y feel, the songs range from soda jerk ditties like "Float My Boat" to the ghostly "Costume" with its haunting strings.

The stylistic changes are held together nicely by Williams' clever lyrics. "If we sink we die/If we float, we're dead/Witches under water holding our breath." Witches or no, these sirens will suck you in.

Merry Christmas From The Windsor Ladies

2008-12-11T15:42:00.001-07:00

This is what happens when they do free family portrait sittings at work: Magic.

Mollies For The Special Olympics...etc.

2008-11-18T11:12:00.007-07:00

Did you miss The Mollies show last week?

Well...it's ok because we're playing again this weekend.
Friday and Saturday!

U of U Special Olympics Benefit Concert
Friday, November 21st
@ The Officers Club at the U of U
150 S Fort Douglas Blvd (Bldg 649)
Salt Lake City, UT

7:45-8:45 pm

The University of Utah Special Olympics Team has three athletes going to the World Winter Games 2009. We need to raise around $2400 for each of them! Suggested donation for the benefit concert is $5.00. Come support the Athletes... they need your HELP! Each band will play for one hour. As of now the order is Send no flowers (6:30-7:30), The Mollies (7:45-8:45), and the D'loreans (9-10:00).
http://www.myspace.com/themolliesmusic

Mollies with LAKE and Desolation Wilderness in Provo

Saturday, November 22nd
7:30-11:30 pm

369 N 300 E
Provo, UT

We were first introduced to LAKE last year when we both opened for Half-Handed Cloud.
You'll like them. Come see us all get together to play some little ditties. Cover charge: $5.
http://www.myspace.com/lakemusicmusic

Mollies with Paul Jacobsen

2008-11-10T13:14:00.008-07:00

Come see The Mollies play with fellow local wonders,
Paul Jacobsen And The Madison Arm.

Thursday, November 13

7:00pm - 10:00pm $5

At The KAYO Gallery
177 east 300 south

Also, listen to THE MOLLIES LIVE on KRCL (90.9 fM)
this TUESDAY, Nov. 11th at 12 noon.

And then! Listen to PAUL JACOBSEN LIVE on KRCL (90.9 fM)
this THURSDAY, Nov. 13th at 5 pm.

http://www.myspace.com/pauljacobsenmusic
http://www.myspace.com/themolliesmusic

We'd love to see you there.

Halloween at Work: Costume #2

2008-10-31T16:36:00.015-06:00

For work today I dressed up as my Emo Co-worker in the Design deptarment, AJ. He dresses like this every day. His hat has the DW logo on it which I recreated to read AJ. And...I won first prize for funniest costume! Thanks AJ.

Yes, I dressed as a man twice this year without experiencing any gender confusion. No worries.

Two Chord Songs Are My Favorite

2008-10-29T12:12:00.004-06:00

See previous post

In Flight

2008-10-29T11:08:00.013-06:00

This year we combined our Halloween party and Open Mic Night. We very appropriately dressed up as Brett, Jemaine, Murray, Leggy Blonde, and Mel from the HBO series, Flight of The Conchords.

We played the two-chord intro to the episode until it stopped being funny...which didn't take long. Then we just sang some Mollies songs dressed like men...and woman. It was a good time.

Murray, Bret and Jemaine...all present

Leggy Blonde and Murray

Mel and a Redneck

Looking cool

Only in Vegas

2008-10-17T09:39:00.012-06:00

Last weekend I took a quick trip to Vegas to see Mates of State. Good show. Dainon and I were there for a total of 12 hours...which is the perfect amount of time in my opinion. Spending more than a half hour on the strip can make you a little bit physically ill.

It was a marathon trip...exhausting...but nice. As a result, on the 5 am drive home, I fell asleep in an awkward, mouth-open, car-sleeping position and was soon dreaming...

We were still in Vegas perusing through the casino mall when we happened upon a kiosk advertising Body Replacements. Turns out, for a small price...you can be decapitated and have your head placed on an entirely new body. There was a crowd assembled to watch the modification process, which believe it or not, proved to be disturbing. Especially when a full-faced elderly woman opted to have her wrinkled, toothless, old-lady head welded onto a cryogenically frozen Playboy Bunny body.

(Sigh)...only in Vegas.