My weekend

My weekend consisted of:
-going to the Ashes and Snow exhibit
-having a ward party friday night and not being in charge
-spending Saturday at an orphanage where we put in a new playground, planted flowers, painted all of the inside rooms, built and stained "cubbies" for the kids clothes, had a clown show for the kids, distributed quilts, and held babies - all part of the best Eagle Scout Project I've ever seen
-going out to dinner at "El Lago" (a fabulous restaurant on a lake) with dad-the-bad
-getting four dozen pink roses (two from dad-the-bad and one from my filipino friend) as well as a beautiful box made from oyster shell
-having a new ward member from Costa Rica over and listening to his conversion story
and
-receiving phone calls, chats, and blogs from my kids for my birthday, definintely the best part of my weekend (tied with going to dinner with dad-the-bad)

Ashes and Snow

Today I went with a friend to an exhibit that has been in Mexico City a couple months called "Ashes and Snow." It is an exhibition of photographs and three movies depicting people living in harmony with animals. The images depict a world that is "without beginning or end, here or there, past or present." The photos are amazing. The exhibit has been shown in Italy, NYC, California and Tokyo. If you want to see some amazing pictures (none of them superimposed or digitally collaged) go to ashesandsnow.com. Sorry, we weren't allowed to take pictures. You'll have to go to the website.

New Languages

I knew moving to Mexico would necessitate learning Spanish, what I didn't know was that I would have to learn "Utahn" as well. I have several friends from Utah who have introduced me to an interesting new language. A few examples:

"kid" - a term used for a friend, usually girlfriend. "Hey kid, have you been to the zocalo?"

"Lordy" - usually used during an "almost" collision in traffic. (Apparently, if you add a y you're not really taking the Lord's name in vain.)

"Well I'll be dipped!" - an expression of exasperation or surprise.

"Fer" - precedes an adjective to form a "complete sentence," such as "fer rude (most common), fer cute, fer gross," etc.

These are only a few. Please feel free to add to the list if you know any Utahns.

Any takers?

After my seven days in Hawaii, half of them alone, I decided the next time I go with dad on a "business trip" I'll take someone with me. Actually, the only future trip that interests me is the Cisco Summit conference in Paris in 2012.

Seven Days in Hawaii

Hawaii

Days 1 - 2

This is where I spent the first couple of days for several reasons:
I was sick
Dad-the-bad was "working"
It was raining

Two heavenly days of lying in bed feeling achy.




Day 3 - I got lost trying to find Pearl Harbor and ended up somewhere that looked like west Texas. In my defense - it was raining, I didn't have my glasses, and I was having coughing fits.


Day 4 - We made it to Pearl Harbor. This is the U.S.S. Missouri.









Day 4 - Spent all day visiting the Hawaii temple (beautiful!)

and the Polynesian Cultural Center
(amazing show!)












We returned to Waikiki late that night only to find our hotel was on fire! The street was blocked off, and several fire trucks surrounded the building.

So, we pretended we were patrons at the Marriott across the street and hung out there until it was safe to return. We weren't able to park the rental car at the hotel that night, however, which thrilled dad-the-bad because he saved $40 in hotel parking fees.



Day 5 was spent at church and hiking Diamondhead crater.









More hikes on Day 6 - beautiful waterfalls and breathtaking views






We wrapped it up on Day 7 with a trip to the North Shore and to
the Dole Pineapple plantation.
This is as close as we ever got to the beach.

Hawaii

Can you believe? I'm going to be in Hawaii in only three days!