Tribute to Chase

Happy Thanksgiving

Who is ready to eat Thanksgiving dinner?

I am, I am!!

I can't wait any longer, so please put Cheerios on my face

Grandma & Grandpa are you finished cooking yet?

Texas

Silly me, I was at the airport way too early, but with it being the day before Thanksgiving I wanted to play it safe. Wednesday morning I flew out to Austin, Texas to join my family who had flown out on Monday. My brother, sister-in-law, and adorable nephew live in Round Rock, which is where we are spending Thanksgiving.

Family in front of Texas State Capitol Building

Me and my sister inside the dome
My sister and mom taking a crazy picture for their Amazing Race application
Gotta love this
The cool bowling alley we went to
The whole family at the posh Austin 300 Bowl

San Diego with my Homies

A week off work for Thanksgiving is great, but is even better when you get to spend that week with friends and family. Sunday night a mission companion, Kaylynn, and her husband and child came down to visit. Monday morning we drove down to San Diego where we went to Sea World.

Shamu showing off his jumping ability

An ugly shark with a nasty hump on its back, seriously this was one ugly shark
Wally, the sea lion begging for food

Dolly the Dolphin leaping out of the water

Kaylynn, Emily & Cory

Tag I'm It

I was tagged about a week ago where I am supposed to disclose 6 facts or habits about myself. Sorry it has taken me so long but here goes...

1. I love going to the dentist. Really, I do. Who doesn't love having clean teeth?


2. I hate, nay despise, to cook. But I love, nay enjoy, to clean.


3. I have a passion for traveling.


4. I am addicted to chap stick. Bonne Bell Lipsmackers the drug of choice for the past 10 years, but C.O. Bigelow Cinnamint Mentha Lip Shine from Bath & Body Works has been introduced to me recently.


5. I can't stand listening to radio commercials.


6. I don't like going to bed with dirty feet, so will clean them before hopping into bed.

More of Boston

Boston Continued

Boston!

I'd always wanted to go to Boston and with the recent move of a friend to Beantown, I figured that time had come. So after my fascinating hour long conversation with a Rabbi, I landed at Boston's Logan Airport and was greeted by my good friend Teresa. The activities of the day included, but were not limited to:

Bunker Hill monument on the North side of town, where we found it to be very chilly.

USS Constituntion, also known as "Old Ironsides"

A gorgeous tree full of fall colors.

The Boston Massachusetts Temple

Downtown Boston skyline at night

21 Questions...with a Jewish Rabbi

So Thursday night at midnight I found myself on a JetBlue flight sitting next to a Jew. A Hasidic/Orthodox Jew. A Hasidic/Orthodox Rabbi Jew. A very inquisitive, yet polite, Rabbi Jew. We ended up talking for about 1.5 hours about almost everything about the church, from tithing, to the Word of Wisdom, the temple, rated R movies, dating and marriage, missions, church leadership in the form of a prophet, apostles, seventy, to patriarchal blessings and family size. From him I learned about how food is prepared to be Kosher, the purpose and use of a matchmaker, particulars about worship service and about his family of 8 children. We finally took a break from gentle interrogation to sleep for a few hours. But as we were pulling into the gate I gave him a pass along card with the church's website, although he was a bit hesitant to take it. I told him I knew he was going to search more information on the Internet so he might as well go to the correct source. He took it and we went our separate ways.

Vanessa Carlton

If ever you go to the Ivar Theater on Ivar and Hollywood Blvd, be prepared for the small and quaint venue. Such was the case last night when my mother and I went to a Vanessa Carlton concert. The lobby is about 5 feet deep and then you are in the theather which seats max 250. It was a great show with lots of soul, as this tiny little lady pounds on her piano and belts out tunes.

The show was opened by Graham Colton

Visitors & Visions

Two great things happened this past Sunday.

1. I saw an old BYU friend. Hillary and family were on their way from Merced, CA to Disneyland and were able to meet up with me at church and then come over to my apartment for chocolate cake.



2. One of the greatest shows started up again, The Amazing Race. I'm pulling for brother-sister team Azaria & Hendekea. Their names should win a million dollars in and of themselves, plus they seem nice so far... but I'm loving the fact that they have a crazy goth couple.

While meeting up for ice cream with a good friend Monday night, I found out abouta great event taking place today. Sister Julie Beck, LDS General Relief Society President, was going to be speaking in Glendora. I had nothing else going on from 10-12, so I was able to attend with my friend. Sister Beck was hilarious and spiritual, with wonderful counsel.

LDS songwriter/singer Katherine Nelson also spoke and sang some of her music.

Spinning class and me don't get along

Friday morning I found myself rolling out of bed at 5:15 am so that I could throw on some workout clothes and meet up with my mom and sister for the spinning class at 24 Hour Fitness. This was probably my 4th time going in the past 6 years, and I still don't like it. My sister says she wants to start this Friday morning class as a weekly mother daugthers bonding time, but I'm not too sure about that. We shall see.......