What is it about this show?

I know at least a couple dozen people who LOVE this show. And they all know dozens of others who love it too. And from what I understand so do thousands of others. I'm trying to figure out why there's such a huge fan base. The acting is fantastic - especially Maggie Smith, and the story is intriguing - WWI in England, with kind of an 'Upstairs, Downstairs' them. The whole thing is actually pretty soapy. Does that explain such rabid fandom?

I don't have any answers except I know I'm hooked too and can't wait til Season Three..

Festival of Colors

Rico and I got to go to the Holi Festival of Colors in Spanish Fork on Saturday. I think I blogged about it last year, but just wanted to share a picture or two for fun.

Port of Morrow

Just recently an album from one of my favorite bands came out. If you haven't heard of them, the Shins are an indie rock band from New Mexico that formed in '96. This is their fourth album. I wasn't sure how I would like it, but I've really enjoyed it so far! If you are a fan, you should definitely check it out- it's called Port of Morrow. It's probably worth a listen! You can find it on Spotify :)

And here's a link to what is probably my favorite song off the album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro6xCdPP86E

On My Way Home

Spring is my favorite time of year. I just got back from Mercer Island where the cherry trees and daffodils were blooming. Everything was teeming with new life.

I think spring is a great symbol of the renewal that happens with the atonement. Through repentance we begin anew, because of the love of Heavenly Father and his Son.

What a great blessing it is to have the power of the atonement as a source of renewal and hope.

Luv Gramps

Podcast listener

So for one of my classes, we are supposed to listen to a podcast called On the Media every week and then do a short write-up about one of the topics that interested us. When I first heard about podcasts all the way back in 2004 (or so), I felt they were for older people and was not really intrigued by them. I have listened to a few podcasts since that time in 2004 and before I took my current class, but I never really found them that interesting.

Well one day in the library I realized I had left my computer at home. Instead of going to a campus computer I decided I would just listen to the On the Media podcast from my phone while in the library. When I was about to download the episode, I noticed the iTunes list of top podcasts. I thought I could check out some of the podcasts that were in the top 10 list.

One of the podcasts that I have now started to love is Radiolab. For those of you who don't know about this podcast, it is hosted by two guys named Jad Abumrad and Robert Kurlwich. They explore mostly scientific topics. The first episode I listened to was called "Escape." This hour-long episode focused on 3 stories of Escape. The first was about a man, Christopher Daniel Gay, who has escaped from jail about 13 times and is trying to change his life. The second segment was about the Voyagers 1 and 2 , the furthest objects from Earth that are man-made. The third segment focused on a blind man who tried to escape his traumatic childhood after discovering he could whistle the dial-tones on a telephone and as a result would go on to work for a telephone company.

Anyway, podcasts are actually kind of neat and they are pretty accessible, especially if you have a smartphone. I may write more about this particular podcast, Radiolab, in the future so stay tuned...

Just when I thought I had life all figured out...

Yesterday I pulled up to the Dairy Queen drive thru with my window open. I waited for the guy infront of me to order what ended up being an order of six blizzards. I could hear him ramble off familiar flavours which were listed on the menu board when all of a sudden I heard "and a Cherry Chocolate". Cherry Chocolate? There was no Cherry Chocolate option on the menu board. Suddenly I felt like I was in an episode of The Twilight Zone. The man infront finished his order and I drove forward. I also ordered this mysterious "Cherry Chocolate" flavour half expecting to be asked to come up with a secret password and handshake. The woman, without hesistation, simply told me what I owed and prompted me to drive up to the window. Of course at that point I was dizzy with intrigue and when finally face to face with one of the employees asked how it was possible to be getting a Cherry Chocolate blizzard when it wasn't on the menu. I was in the wardrobe about to step out into the magical world of Narnia. She explained that there were many flavours that were available but not listed on the menu. I asked if the other flavours were listed somewhere else. She replied that there was no written record of these flavours but that they indeed existed. She cited another example - the Buster-Bar Blizzard - available but not on the menu. I drove away both confused and delighted. I felt as though I had just discovered a secret chamber in a video game - but this was no video game, this was real life. I was thrilled to be reminded that just when you think you've got life all figured out and you think you've got the full menu of options memorized, life can surprise you and offer you choices beyond the menu, beyond the expected. So the next time you visit Dairy Queen open your mind, drum up your courage and ask for...whatever you want in your blizzard - the possibilities may be endless.

RSL Jersey

So as most of you know, I am a big Real Salt Lake fan. One of the ways I follow the team (and other soccer information) is through Twitter. It's a pretty good way to get short snippets of information that you otherwise may not get. Additionally, you may get responses from the players themselves, depending on the circumstances.

One of the Real Salt Lake players, Tony Beltran, recently did a contest on Twitter. He asked a question to his followers and the first two who responded with the correct answer would win a jersey autographed by the team. If anyone is interested, the question was "What country did Tony Beltran last play against while playing for the United States national team?"

After doing some quick Google and Wikipedia research, I submitted my answer. It was quick enough, because I was identified as one of the winners! A few weeks later, this came in the mail:



Pretty sweet! The jersey didn't have the autographs of all the players, but had most of them. RSL played here in LA this past weekend and I added a couple more signatures.

P.S. The answer to the trivia question is "Ivory Coast"

Shinny

So a time honoured tradition in Canada is the playing of 'shinny.' For our American friends and/or those who are not familiar with this term shinny is where you play hockey with only your skates and a stick you do not wear full equipment at one of the outdoor rinks that are all over the place in Edmonton. Every self-respecting community should have at least one outdoor hockey rink and it is where everyone who wants to play gets together to have a game. Very similar idea to pick-up basketball except often local kids or others who are just there that you don't know join in the game. Often it is played without goalies and to score a goal you have to try to hit only the crossbar or one of the 2 posts otherwise it would be to easy to score.

Anyways, enough about explanations, I think shinny is one of the top reasons I love living in Edmonton. It seems like it's the equivalent of shopping for women or "shopping therapy." Many times I've lost myself chasing after the rubber disc for a few hours completely forgetting about the stresses of school, work and everything else. With summer comes new great opportunities to get outside but I am always a little sad to see all of the outdoor rinks melt away. Especially the in between time where it's too warm to skate on the ice but still too cold to do anything else outside.

Recently I read an article talking about how outdoor hockey is being threatened by global warming. Personally I thought it was another example of bored academics with nothing else to write about trying to create tempests in tea cups (I mean never mind that we might lose entire cites to rising sea levels or important agricultural land in Africa ... we might lose our outdoor rinks!! ... That's unacceptable). But it did make me think if the outdoor rinks were no more I think I would definitely be more inclined to get me out of Edmonton.

Fast 'Breaking' News

Adversity is part of this mortal experience, and Nana has had a good dose of it these past few weeks.

An untimely fall led to a broken left wrist and subsequent surgery.

Nana has shown amazing courage, a positive attitude and a pain threshold that is off the charts. She has hardly taken any pain medication through the whole surgery and rehab experience.

Things are looking good with the rehab and the mobility is coming back. So much so that her physiotherapist says she's miles ahead of other radial fracture patients. Nana you're an inspiration to us all, except for the part where you broke that bone.

Chewy Butterscotch Squares

If any of you try this recipe let me know how they turned out and what changes you would recommend if any.



Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 cup brown sugar, packed
3 eggs
4 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions:

1. Heat butter in large saucepan until melted. Remove from heat.
2. Stir in brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth.
3. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well.
4. Spread mixture evenly in lightly greased 8" (20 cm) square baking pan.
5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until light golden. Don't overbake for chewy squares.

Phoenix!

Mom and Bonnie and Mercedes and I recently had a wonderful girl's weekend in Phoenix! It was long overdue and we had a blast! We want to get together again soon for the next one! (2013?)
Here we are on a great hike!

We had some yummy treats... Sprinkles...

Yogurtland...

Hearty ribs- met up with Reese's for this dinner before seeing 'Crazy for You'


Went shopping


Got hairdos- nicely newly blowdried!

Went to the Museum of Instrumental Music

Played some piano there

Saw the Slovenian Music exhibit

and read about the Kurenti as part of one of their carnivals.

We had such a blast!!! It was great to hang out, talk, and watch girly shows too, including Downton Abbey!
Here's Mom and I on the cool hike we all did!


Yay for Phoenix and girl's weekend!!!