highlights of san francisco labor day trip

Besides not having been there in several years, the main attraction that got me on the plane for this Labor Day getaway was the Chihuly exhibit at the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate park. I'll go almost anywhere to see his work. It just makes me so happy. Here are some of the
better shots.







Here are some of the gorgeous jelly fish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They had a hard time holding still for the camera, but they were amazingly beautiful. I'd always wanted to go there and it's an amazing place. It was a beautiful drive down, but on the way back in the dark and in the fog on highway 1, we thought we just might die.



We also stayed in a fabulous hotel. The Orchard Garden. Just up from Union Square and a couple of doors down from the entrance gate to Chinatown on Bush St. They had valet parking and turned down our beds at night! I about cried!

We also went over to Sausalito to their arts festival. Gorgeous day! (I'd forgotten how beautiful northern California is.) Lots of cool stuff. Went to a great Sacrament Meeting at the Bay ward where the San Fran mission Pres and his wife spoke. They're cattle ranchers from Sugar City, Idaho. Awesome! They were really great. Found some great bargains at the Ross in
Union Square and got some great samples of Jo Malone perfume and body cream at the Saks Fith Ave. We were also offered a bag of rocks by a homeless man in return for all our cash. He had a hammer and everything, but we decided not to take him up on it. Saw him later that evening—still had the bag of rocks.

And here is the place to go

for these incredible silver dollar pancakes.

They give you 18 so we thought we would just split an order. Uh uh. You need your own. And get them with the lingonberry relish. Divine! They're on Powell across from the Sir Francis Drake hotel.

serious LOL

So I sent this to my brother today because I thought it was hilarious. I seriously found it doing research on action figures for a job.

So he sends back this with the caption THIS MEANS WAR!

And then this



Oh my stars I'm still wiping the tears away.

good times

Here are some pics of my weekend at the ward outing in Lava Hot Springs. That's Idaho you know. I'd never been there and must say that it's very pleasant in that extremely-small-town- tourist-spot kind of way. The hot springs were fabulous and they make a great shaved ice up there.


Here's my friend Cinda floating down the river. Before this three of us went down on a three seater which we thought would be more stable. We actually only got dumped out once, but the water is so shallow that you go right onto the rocks below. Needless to say most everyone in the ward that went down the river came out bruised and bleeding. Good times.




This was the all bulls rodeo we attended. I haven't been to a rodeo since the ones we'd go to out at the state prison when I was about five. ('nuther story) It was facinating, hilarious, and horrifying all at the same time. Luckily they wear helmets and everything now or we might have witnessed something fatal. One bull landed on his bucked rider's chest and then threw the clown about 10 feet in the air. Everyone walked away. We had to leave early, but I heard later that we missed one of the cowboys getting four teeth knocked out and the ensuing search for the teeth in the dirt of the arena. Once again, good times.

highly recommend

I had been thinking about the old Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman movie version of this that I only really remember snipetts of when I came across this in the bookstore. I thought the cover was stunning as well so I bought it. There were questions when this was released in 1969 about the truthfulness of Mr. Charriere's account of his life in and eventual escape from the penal colonies of French New Guinea in the 1930s and 40s. There were investigations and his story checked out, but there are definite times of incredulity during this read. Nevertheless, I couldn't put it down and, if it is true, is an amazing tale of hope and perserverence.


I also finally saw the new X-Files movie the other night. When this series first came out I was a total and complete X-Files nerd. My friends and I would get together every week and watch it and I video taped and re-watched several episodes. When the series switched from Friday nights to Sunday nights I pretty much stopped watching. 1) There was really no way I could justify watching this show on the Sabbath 2) I'm still rather a video/dvd recording dufus and 3) I think they had all but "jumped the shark"* with the series at that point. I saw one of the movies (Have there been two prior to this?) and was pretty much ashamed that I ever was a fan so I didn't run out to see this. May I now just say that I should have. My faith in the X-Files has been renewed! I think it was great because it wasn't trying to move any big conspiracy or alien theories along. It was just a great story with great characters and mostly great writing, great cast, and great signature X-Files creepiness that I came to know and love. Thank you Chris Carter, et all!
* "Jumping the Shark" refers to the Happy Days episode when the gang is on vacation in sunny California and the main plot line involves the Fonz taking a waterskiing jump over a tank of sharks. The phrase is now used to define the episode or exact moment when a tv series starts it's swift decline to its cancellation.

beautiful day

Here are some photos of an outing we took to Pine View to inaugurate my brother-in-law's new sailboat. That really is a very pretty lake. My bro-in-law totally knows how to captain that thing too. Especially with all the motor boats and wave runners on the water that day. Very impressive. A beautiful day.

the ultimate tortured artist

Yes, It's Don Music the famous song writer from Sesame Street. When he comes to an artistic crossroads he screams, "I'll neva get it! Neva! Neva!" and throws his cranium onto his keyboard. CLONG!! It's awesome! And a reality check to make me laugh when I actually feel that way. (Also, FYI - Don Music and Guy Smiley are only separated from each other by a set of eyes and a wig.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M30g3In8ao&feature=related

some july outings

Here are some photos from a little road trip I took with my sister to Zions and Kolob a couple of weeks ago. Not recommended in July, but it was beautiful none the less. One of the highlights was wading into the water at the end of the River Walk in my new Keenes. Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh. I love those shoes! The Taylor Creek trail at Kolob was beautiful and there was actually water in the creek! We also hit a couple of Shakespearean Festival plays.

The last two are little Lucy and Henry on a trip to the zoo. Lucy felt the need to get into the mood in her tiger suit before we left. Luckily we were able to leave it at home. Future oceanographer Henry, of course, had to ride the dolphin on the carousel. They're so cute!