Engagement! Part 1

Spencer is amazing and planned the most spectacular proposal. His cover was that we were meeting a friend we'd been trying to see! We got together at a restaurant and after having our meal Spence got up and said he was going to use the restroom. Well the waiter comes a minute or so later and said, 'the bill has been paid, and this is for you!' He then handed me this gorgeously sealed envelope that immediately sent me into a state of elation because why else would a WAITER bring an envelope from my BOYFRIEND unless it was significant... well it was... I have told everyone the story of the scavenger hunt around LA that ensued, but here's a pic that captures my excitement as the journey begins...

A few one liners

Char and I used to watch this comedy show in the UK that featured all kinds of differenct stand up comics. There was one episode we saw where the guy's performance was just one liner after one liner. It was pretty good and also pretty incredible to have any kind of flow with so many one liners - but I thought he pulled it off well, here are some of his famous one liners that I thought were pretty funny:

In university I was going to join the debating club but somebody talked me out of it.

"My girlfriend say's that I'm afraid of committment....well she's not my girlfriend...more a wife"

"My therapist says I have a preoccupation with vengeance. We'll see about that."

"I quit my job at the helium gas factory. I didn't like being spoken to in that voice."

My manic depressive buddy was attacked by a bi-polar bear...

"I dedicate this show to my dad who was a roofer. So dad, if you're up there...."

"I went to a Karaoke Bar last night that didn't play any 70s music, at first I was afraid, oh I was petrified"

We had such an amazing time with all of you when we saw you in Edmonton earlier this month! I was fortunate enough to have just acquired a beautiful new camera before we came so had an opportunity to take some photos in an attempt to capture our time. I wound up with so many favorites!

 I decided to post my project 52 page for this past week. I had a really hard time picking which ones I wanted to include. Unfortunately they are cut off, but click on the photo to see the whole thing!

First CFL game in a long time

Yesterday Charla's dad and sister came up to Edmonton for the weekend with one sole reason - to watch the CFL match between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. They invited me to come and I thought I may as well go along for the ride. I wasn't really a huge CFL fan before we left for the UK and my interest decreased even more during our time in the UK. But the one thing that stuck out at the game was how many Saskatchewan Roughrider fans attended. Even from the loud banter that went on before the game as we were entering the stadium you heard typical cliches - people from Saskatchewan are into the Roughriders so much because they have no hockey teams to cheer for there, there are so many Saskatchewan fans at the game in Edmonton because they all tend to leave Saskatchewan and settle in Alberta eventually, etc. But I was surprised in the end by how many Sask fans were really at the game - i described it as feeling like an only black man walking around in an all white neighbourhood later and i don't think it was just the section I was in either. Of course it didn't help that Char's sister and dad were cheering for Sask but you could also see and hear them all over the stadium and they seemed to take strength from their numbers and being the pestering opposing team fans in the stadium. Edmonton did end up winning a close game but the experience awakened me to the fact that there is a fierce rivalry between Edmonton and Saskatchewan at those games and if I ever do go again cheering for the Eskimos again I'll certainly be in for another fierce battle against proud Saskatchewan fans where ever I end up sitting in the stadium.

Flight Cancellation or 24 hour flight delay depending how you look at it

"Whoever said that the journey is more important than the destination obviously never had to endure a long airport layover!" So on Thursday, August 19, me and Rachel were to catch a flight from Edmonton to Seattle. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 6pm. Alaska/Horizon is notorious for delaying this flight. I had a flight cancellation when I tried to go from Seattle to Edmonton 4 years ago. When Rachel and I arrived at the airport, the flight had been delayed 2 hours, so we knew we were in for some trouble. We cleared customs and then heard the news that our flight would be cancelled. After waiting in line for about 2 hours we finally booked a flight to leave Edmonton at 6pm, but on Friday, August 20. Thankfully, Mom and Dad were able to pick us up and we were able to go to Swiss Chalet and see a movie, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. This movie was much better than Nacho Libre, the movie I saw 4 years ago during my layover in Seattle. On Friday, things went well, there were no delays and we arrived in Seattle.

Here is a link on how to survive Airport Layovers:

http://www.wikihow.com/Handle-Long-Layovers-at-an-Airport

I think I've got a bit of a green thumb

Today I went out on our balcony and brought in all of the herbs I've been growing over the summer because I'm nervous about the growing chill in the air. I pulled them inside and gathered them together. It was hugely satisfying to see them all there after a summer of watching how hardy thyme is, how delicate basil can be, how parsely just shot out in the lead in terms of growth but suffered and wilted when there was too much heat (which my chili plant thrived in). I could go on about the little personalities I've discovered in my plants. Tonight as I sat for a moment admiring how much my herb garden has grown I felt incredibly grateful that I've had the opportunity in my life to watch little things grow. To nuture them , worry over them and to hope for them. I was telling John a few days ago that when you have kids you get these precious and amazing gifts of patience, love, understanding, wisdom (the list goes on and on) but that you are required to journey into the very heart of Hades itself in order to redeem your gift vouchers. I guess I forgot to mention that aside from the trips to Hades, bonus trips to Mt. Olympus are included in the package as well. The view is second to none. You get to peek into the life of the Gods and witness the miracle of life like you've never seen it before. I am incredibly grateful that I have the opportunity to watch my little ones grow (and no, I will never stop complaining about those horrid trips to Hades).

Yosemite!

It was such a blast to camp in the gorgeous Yosemite National Park with Beej and Rach. I’ve wanted to do more camping here in CA and with the Beej and the Wooze, both proactive, avid hiker camper types, with a deadline of when they’d leave, we got right out to Yosemite for a couple glorious days of hiking! Our first hike was the half dome, and we got a (much needed) early start- the hike had a 5000 foot elevation gain! It's about a 16 mile round trip. So it was a toughy but a goody. Beej and Wooze, in much better shape, were patient as I dragged my butt up the hill! We had a great time though! The challenge was fulfilling.
Rach and Beej in front of a pretty valley as we started the hike


Some of the beautiful sights... the falls.


Our destination. (Courtesy of the website) The Yosemite site made this hike sound like a death march. Although it was a tough hike (for me!) it didn’t break us.


The cables! The last 200 yards or so…


Beej lead us in climbing the cables



The view!!



It felt really great to complete the hike and we had a fun time with the friends we made along the way! We explored other parts of the park the next day too... I think those pics are on Beej's camera. We'll have to get out there again!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDSAY DEAR

Lindsay has the rare reputation of being both admired AND loved by many people.

Her list of accomplishments is so long, but maybe not quite as long as the list of kind things she does for others because making others happy is as important to her as making herself a better person.

I don't even know where to start to list Lindsay's many accomplishments and kindnesses to others this year. Her graduation from LMU is an example of how she blends those two things so well. Dad, Rach and I traveled to LA for the commencement ceremony in May. And Lindsay planned outings and meals and rides for us so that the weekend was really more about us than her. We attended the wonderful outdoor ceremony that was really all about her and after it was over she seemed to think it was all about us, making sure we found the food tent and staying out of the sun. And then to top it off each of us got a thank you card from her for coming!

She made room in her apartment and her life for her little sister to stay with her this summer, she helps out with her nephews, she writes dozens of little notes to people to thank them or encourage them. And she basically lights up a room whenever she walks in. Because I forgot to say that she's also as much fun as she is kind.

Linds' musical accomplishments are many. And this year among other things she's used them to direct a choir, sing to her elementary students and write a Christmas song for her Mom.

She's also earned a stellar reputation as a TA and student teacher, learned to stretch a dollar until you can pretty well see through it, and become a master cookie maker.

She's found a wonderful boyfriend who's also accomplished and kind and she loves to spend as much time with Spencer as she can. Which is understandable.

Good work Linds - you've had a GREAT year! Happy Happy Birthday!

We love love love you!

BIRTHDAY BOY RICO

RICO!!!

Truly the most exciting thing about hanging out with Rico is this - you never EVER know what to expect. Take for example any random question directed Rico's way - most of the time the answer is 'good' or 'I don't know'. But OUT OF THE BLUE an answer comes at you that is at least ten minutes long, with passionate and eloquent opinions about anything at all - like the 'vibes' of different cities or even the merits of DNA testing.

Or say on Christmas Eve when you know for a fact that Rico CANNOT be coerced or even bribed to get off the couch -- then you see him break into a dance routine with his sister. Or when he has you convinced that its DOUBTFUL he will be accepted into the school of accountancy and he gets early admission almost immediately after he submits his application.

David is known for his incredible ability to work like a crazy man and focus on any given task that comes his way - the brand new fence at our Belgravia house is one example. After one 10 hour day I asked Rico if he wanted to come in for something to eat - and his answer was - 'I can't - I'm obsessed - I've gotta get this thing DONE' :) Even 'Legendary Les' complimented Rico on his work ethic. He takes things seriously - himself especially - but he's also known for his unique, wry sense of humor and his fresh angles of looking at the world. He likes sports, Glee, pretend play with his nephews, Subway and doing things right.

Congratulations on successfully navigating your way through your post mission year David. Thanks too for getting the ball rolling and igniting our family into a FIFA frenzy, for driving the MOST BORING ever 10 hour solo trip from Provo to LA just so your little sister could have a car, for trying to accomplish everything you do with exactness and honor - never any shortcuts - and at the same time being your own man.

Love you so so so much David.

Happy Birthday!

Biking on the Beach

I just got back from a lovely bike ride on the beach! I decided that I had to do it before I leave. I went with a friend I met here, Blake, who I've gone on a couple dates with. We started out a little late, about 7 pm, but that allowed us to see the sunset which of course is always gorgeous on the beach. It's amazing to see the entire process of the sun setting too, and it always surprises me how quickly the sun sinks in those last few minutes. The colors are fabulous to see too, both before and after. We kept riding till we got to Manhattan Beach, which is several miles south of where we started, and we got some yummy dinner there. I have to remember how fun it is to bike ride on the beach and hopefully next time I visit LA I can make it a priority!

Bohemian Rhapsody

It starts out with an invitation to the audience to engage themselves, to "open your eyes, look to the skies and see". Then, the main character is introduced. A young man who seems to have given up. The music is slow,... it feels like it isn't really going anywhere. Kind of like this young man.

Is this the real life? /Is this just fantasy?/ Caught in a landslide/ No escape from reality/ Open your eyes/ Look up to the skies and see/ I'm just a poor boy (Poor boy)/ I need no sympathy/ Because I'm easy come, easy go/ Little high, little low/ Any way the wind blows/ Doesn't really matter to me, to me

There is a musical transition - a change (there is a slow bass line introduced). I personally think it is a flashback to the beginning of the young man's decline. He confesses and spills out his regret. The music is slow and the lyrics are clear. He is talking to his Mom here which brings the audience to a sympathetic point of view and we get a glimpse of him speaking honestly and earnestly.

Mama... Just killed a man /Put a gun against his head / Pulled my trigger, now he's dead /Mama, life has just begun /But now I've gone and thrown it all away/ Mama, ooh/ Didn't mean to make you cry /If I'm not back again this time tomorrow / Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters

He says his good-byes to the world and just when you think he may be thinking of running away he states "It's time to face the truth." There is honor in this young murderer.

Too late, my time has come / Sends shivers down my spine / Body's aching all the time / Goodbye, everybody / I've got to go / Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth / Mama, oooooooh (Anyway the wind blows) / I don't want to die / Sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

Again a musical transition - this time a fairly major one. The upper class of society is now talking about the young man. They seem to hold some lightly felt sympathy for his situation but the musical tone is playful and the people although aware, speak as though it were an exciting drama unfolding "thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightning, me" rather than really feeling the pain of the tragic end of this young man's future. (Scaramouch(e)? means skirmish or battle; there was a 1921 historical novel entitled Scaramouche)

I see a little silhouetto of a man / Scaramouch, Scaramouch, will you do the Fandango /Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me / (Galileo) Galileo (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo Figaro /
Magnifico-o-o-o-o / I'm just a poor boy nobody loves me / He's just a poor boy from a poor family /
Spare him his life from this monstrosity

Ultimately when he brought before the courts - there is no mercy. (Bismillah is an arabic word meaning 'In the name of God')

Easy come, easy go, will you let me go? / Bismillah! No, we will not let you go /Let him go /
Bismillah! We will not let you go / Let him go / Bismillah! We will not let you go /
Let me go (Will not let you go) /Let me go (Will not let you go) (Never, never, never, never)
Let me go, o, o, o, o / No, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Oh mama mia, mama mia) Mama Mia, let me go / Beelzebub has the devil put aside for me, for me, for me!

The young man is then overcome by fear and anger - who doesn't love how fantastic the musical transition is at this moment?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YDwj-BRKwc

So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye /So you think you can love me and leave me to die / Oh, baby, can't do this to me, baby / Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here

We are again brought back to the beginning (the present), the same melody is brought back and we are again witnessing the hopelessness of this young man, this time though with more understanding and sympathy.

Nothing really matters / Anyone can see / Nothing really matters / Nothing really matters to me /
Any way the wind blows...