Salem & Gloucester

October 17, we traveled to Salem in the morning. As a child I was fascinated by the history found here. I was greatly saddened by the stories I'd read. I never understood how easily adults could believe the words of young teenagers without thinking twice about what was suggested about the character of great human beings....all out of sheer fear.
All my life I wanted to come to Salem and honor those who died because they would not lie and dishonor themselves or their own integrity by simply saying they were a witch and worshiped the devil.
When we arrived to Salem I was again disappointed to discover the commercialism found in the town. People I know had suggested I would find a "bad feeling" when I arrived. I did not find such a feeling. I found a town ... a tourist town, with little shops, cobble stone streets. There were actresses and actors selling tickets to the various shows and tours; none of which captured my attention enough.
I searched out the main museum, eager to see some artifacts and hear some of the tales, but found the cost to be ridiculous and not worth the tour (from what friends had said). So we searched out what I really wanted to see: the memorial in honor of the lives lost. This was where they were honored:

Each tablet has a name of one of the individuals that were killed. We walked around and read each name and how they each died. We found on one tablet this touching letter: 

After Salem, we traveled to Gloucester, saw the most beautiful vacation homes (EVER!) and watched the sunset and captured some beautiful images of fishing boats and my sister (thanks, Golden Hour!)....my favorites, for sure: 

Marblehead Sailboat 

Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial

Gloucester Harbor

Sandy in a beautiful light

Me :)

Friday Night Videos

So, I kinda got sucked into the Olympics and didn't do much blogging (or much else) for two weeks.  Well, that's not entirely true. Eric and I went to LA for a long weekend and didn't want to come home....which has made it really hard to get back to life at home. (ho-hum)

Here are a few very random videos:

I love this video from my sisters.  It's one of those that I watch when I'm having a rough day:


This one is a very strange video: A-Z of Epidemiology:


I thought this Discovery Channel commerical was fun:


A quick Nike video: Find Your Greatness:


Last, I just LOVED this Paranorman trailer:

Friday Night Videos

I love TED talks:

My beautiful nephew, Mason, as recording by Sandy:

Largest Rope Swing (scary):

My sister makes me laugh!! I love this video, "...favorite dog hands dow...oh!" LOL! :

Weirdest thing EVER!! This (evil) cat barks like a dog, gets caught and suddently begins to Meow:

Great Salt Lake Photos

While Sandy was in town, we hung out with Richard and his kids. We took them on a cold and windy day, to the Great Salt Lake (near Saltair) and took pictures. We'd hoped to get the sun setting, but it was c-c-c-cold! It was nice that my dad could join us for pictures.

It was fun to watch them run around suggesting pictures for my project. We had too much fun. I just love when my family is together.

Sandy Comes for a Visit

I love when Sandy comes to town! It makes me happy from my very core! She was in town for a week in February and we had such a nice time.

Of course, she brings her adorable dogs...and I get my boxer fix.

And we visit friends and their babies and pets:

One of the days, on our way to my mom's house where Sandy was staying, we ran into the most adorable little boxer puppies:

Another night, we went to dinner with Richard. Yummy Sugarhouse Bar-B-Que.

On The Road Again

My dad and I took another little trip to Southern Utah on Sunday (2/22/09) to return Bruno and Beanie to Sandy and April.
We began our journey a little earlier than Sandy and April did, so we had a couple of hours to find something to do. We found that "something" between Fillmore and Beaver (which sounds so bad when you say that out loud).

We stopped in Fillmore to see the original state capital, which looked nothing like a capital at all.
Later on the journey, we decided to stop in Cove Fort. I've seen the sign many times on I-15 (going mach 90) and I always think: "I'll have to go there one day, to see what's there." This was that day.

One of many discoveries was that it is owned and run by the LDS church. Where have I been????
So when we pulled up that morning, we were greeted by missionary couples, who gave us the tour. It was a really neat place to see and the stories were amazing. I have to say that I'm really glad we stopped.
It is definitely worth the stop - but plan on an hour or two when you go.
Here are a few of my pictures:




Click here for the rest of my pictures on flickr. I tried to remember the stories behind some of the items and I've done that on flickr.
Another site for Cove Fort.

We arrived in Mesquite about 30 minutes ahead of Sandy, April and Elida. We had a quick dinner at a Mexican restaurant and then it was back to Utah for us and LA for them. Of course, they had the dogs in tow. We are pleased to announce that there were no major setbacks this time around. (aside from Sandy's car not starting in LA so she had to call AAA.)

One Day St George Road Trip

My dad and I took a little jaunt to St George this past weekend, to pick up Sandy and April’s dogs: Bruno and Ebony (Beanie).

It started with the need for a dog sitter and my mom being available to watch them. But there’s the snag: Sandy and April are in LA. My mom is in SLC. Yeah…..that’s over 700 miles distance…so how to pull it off?

I work a graveyard shift on Friday nights but asked someone to swap me my Friday for Saturday night instead. Done (we love Brandon).

My dad joined the road trip because it’s safer with two drivers.

That’s the beginning.

Saturday, January 30, 2009: My dad and I set off at 7:30 a.m. to meet up with Sandy and April in St. George. It’s a little past their half way point, but much prettier than Mesquite. Most of the drive there was uneventful. Foggy drive between Lehi and Fillmore, but other than that, we made good time. We got there around 12:15, which was an hour before Sandy and April (confusion due to the time difference), so we went to the St. George Temple for pictures. There was a little black convertible in front of the temple and soon after we arrived, a very young bride and groom came out for pictures getting in the car. My dad was curious of what kind of car it was and decided to join the throng of family members and gazillion photographers to find out.

I was across the street and couldn’t help taking pictures (see flickr)….it was like a car accident. I couldn’t look away. As the bride and groom were ushered to the car and posed for various pictures, my dad could be heard above the crowd of family members with such heckling comments as: “put your arm around her” and “pretend you like her” and so on.

After pulling my dad away from that little scene, we drove through the red rocks and took a few more pictures. Later we joined Sandy and April for lunch at the Twentyfive Main Café and Cake Parlor. Okay – can we say: Fantastic and wonderfully yummy food? If you’re ever in St George, head on over….and don’t forget the cupcakes. In fact, buy extra, because you’ll definitely want some for later! After lunch, we ran a quick errand to Costco for dog food. Sandy, April and I went shopping, while my dad stayed to keep Bruno and Beanie company. It was weird shopping there because it was typically busy but really quiet in comparison to the SLC Costco’s. As April put it: “It’s almost reverent.” We took some quick family pictures and then piled the two dogs into our car and said our goodbyes. I hate saying goodbye to my sisters. It’s always a bit emotional for me….choking back tears….I know I’m going to see them soon (in three weeks), but I hate it.

We left the parking lot and headed for the freeway; Sandy and April heading south, me and Dad heading north. A quick wave and we’re off.

We left with time to spare so I could hang out with Eric before I had to be to work by 10:00 p.m. and I was happy.

While I’m driving mach-ninety on I-15, just before we get into Parowan (some 70 miles or so from St George), my dad is looking in his pockets for his cell phone and what do his hands find instead? Oh, nothing. No big deal. Sandy’s CAR KEYS!

Now you might find yourself asking: How did she get on the freeway heading south if she didn’t have her keys? Good question. Sandy has a Toyota Prias, which only needs the key to be NEAR the car in order to start it. Evidently, NEAR really means at least 10 feet away, because that’s the distance we were when she started up her car in the Costco parking lot. (My dad had Sandy's keys because he was keeping Bruno and Beanie company while we shopped.)

My dad gets on the phone quickly to let Sandy know he has her keys…. I’m feeling a bit of urgency because I need to get to work on time and Sandy needs her keys.

Here’s the conversation from my perspective in the car:

Dad: “Heeeeeyyyyyyyy! Hoooowwww yooouuuuuuu dooooinnnnnn’?” (say it out REALLY slowly...like you're trying to keep someone it suspense)

Pause for response from Sandy/April....I’m thinking: Oh, he’ll get to the point shortly…but we’re fast approaching the only exit for another 10 miles…so I’m feeling a bit anxious.

Dad: “How’s the drive going?”

You know that devil voice you hear in the movies?…the deep raspy voice that chimes with dark and evil intent…well that was my voice:

Me: "Dad! The keys!!! Keys!"

Dad: "Sooooo Saaaaannnnndyyyyy forgot something sheeeee might need…" more suspense voice...it's a game.

Devil Voice Me: "Dad! Get to the point!" (I ain't playin' no games)
Dad: "I have Sandy’s keys"

Silence from my end as they decide how to proceed…exit fast approaching…like, I’m on top of it……

It's decided that we must turn around at the exit and drive back. I’m so mad, at this point that I have my dad drive. I was shaking as I do the math in my head and realize: I’m not going make it to work on time.

Forty miles from St George, Sandy calls me to tell me SHE’S IN ST. GEORGE! What? Serious booking time, I’d say. They continue on the path and we meet up in at the exit of Toquerville…pass the keys off…say goodbyes AGAIN…choke back more tears…and back onto the freeway. The drive back was nice and quick…we made very good time. I got back home by 8:40 and was able to “rest” before working...I later passed out around 4:30 a.m. ……too tired.

All that said, it was fun and so very warm in St George…We’ll do it all again (minus the key drama) in three weeks.

See more of my pictures here.
I'll post videos of the dogs enjoying my mom's house later.

Lovin' California

Eric and I went to California last Friday morning and spent five days with my sisters. We also drove to San Diego to watch the Patriots and the Chargers face off.

We flew on my personal favorite airline: Jet Blue and landed in Long Beach - SO much better than LAX!

We had reserved our car through Enterprise, but realized when we landed that we'd booked it for SATURDAY not Friday...so we went to the counter hoping they would have cars we could rent one day early. I was happy when I saw this sign:

We approached the counter and told the guy of our silly error and that we needed to get a car one day earlier. He told us that he wasn't sure they had any cars available but that we could wait until 1:00 p.m. (3 hours later) to see if one becomes available (GEE WHIZ, can we?). Wait for 3 hours for the mere possibility!? Your sign says there are cars available!!! (oh, and it took about 30 minutes for him to get this information to us)
So we cancelled the car reservation for Saturday and asked where there was another Enterprise. "It's about 2 miles away" Oh good, well let's hook that up, then, shall we? "There's a taxi right outside that is about $10"
What? Um, do you realize that EVERY SINGLE ONE of your commercials says you'll come get us? Nope, not so, apparently...so $15 later we're at the other side of the airport trying to get a damn rental car. After another 45 minutes, we finally get into a car for about 3 times the amount of what we had on our reservation BUT we could be on our way...so off we went, lest I personally hurt the poor kid behind the counter.

We spent the first day at Elida and Damon's house, but had a great dinner with Sandy and April, too. Yummy dry buns - LOL! No really, they were just delish! Can I have a little water, please?
We helped Mason with his first taste of soda:
The drop of coke hits the tongue:

Thinking about it, rolling it around:

Um, not so much! Good kid!
How about some water to wash out the taste:

Saturday we all went to lunch and then to the tide pools...that was kinda cool.




And then on Sunday we drove to San Diego to see our NE Patriots face the Chargers. We loved our seats - well worth the gazillion dollars we paid for them...We were on the 50 yard line, 9th row up right behind the NE bench. Awesome!

To our dismay, our Patriots did not bring enough fight to the game and lost 30 to 10 - so sad *tear*
In boredom, I took several random pictures of the game and the disappointed fans and anything I could find of mediocre interest.
Airforce fly-over right before the game began

Me with NE Patriots superheroes - too bad they couldn't save the game for us.

Bill Belichick

Disappointed fan (around the beginning of the 4th quarter)

Our CRAZY neighbor! The obscenities and malice was outrageous!

Me and Eric - one of my favorite pictures of us (shhhh, don't tell Eric this picture is here).

After San Diego, we went back to LA and stayed with April and Sandy. We played the Wii and had a blast. Richard and Cynthia had been in Costa Rica the same time we were in California and they had a late night lay over so on Monday night, we all hung out together. What a blast!!
I miss my sisters and love when I get to hang out as a family. We have such a great time laughing and being ourselves - loud and funny.
It was nice to come home to my dogs, though. I missed them and they were very happy to see us. We got home with PLENTY of time to catch the final presidential debate and you can bet, I loved it! That will come later (maybe).