San Diego Trip part 2

So, the San Diego trip continues...

After several hours at the zoo, we felt like we had seen enough animals and headed back to the homestead located in the "gated community" where my parents live. But first I posed with an elephant. I'm the shorter one.







We also decided to start a side business of taking pictures for people posing in front of the San Diego Zoo sign. We got really good at it and had people referring our services to the people standing in line waiting for a chance at the sign. We eventually got our own taken. It was well worth the wait. And the tips.

That evening, Mom and Dad insisted that we go to In N Out Burger for dinner. We said, "Ok, but just this once."

It's something about those fries and the shakes. And with the burger - on top of it all...it just is beautiful. It makes you want to cry it's so beautiful!. Sniff. Yeah, I can't explain it.

Afterwards, it was an evening with the "Batsons" - well, with the Doug and Ann Batson family...we crashed their place to hang with the boys, Jake and Kyle and take silly pictures. They LOVE that when I come into town!!

Kyle, our football player, was cleaning his helmet. Not missing a great opportunity, Kyle and I took another picture together. Please excuse the "zoo bangs."






Then for some crazy reason, Doug, Kyle's dad and my big brother, decided to put the helmet on. This was the result:
Silly big brother...








Sunday was Dad's 68th birthday so we had a little celebration. Sarah made her family's famous chocolate cake (without eggs) and we decorated it just beautifully...ok, mom didn't have a big "8" so we make-shifted with 8 regular candles. But I thought the lovely balloons we got from a "bought" cake - probably back in 2001 - really pulled the cake decoration all together. Dad did a great job at blowing out the upside down 9 and the 8 single candles. Good job dad!!





Here is Sarah and my other big brother, Mike goofing off at the birthday party...







Here's Stefani, and Mom watching Dad open some gifts. Entrancing...









So, my present for dad was a new hat (at mom's suggestion). He lost the last one...As you can see, he looks quite dapper!! Yeah, I think he liked my gift best...but don't tell the siblings....









My sister, Stefani is a master seemstress and every Halloween she comes up with the BEST costumes!! I've been Princess Leia ("Help me Obe Wan Kenobe, you're my only hope!!") and Batgirl. Last year she was Supergirl, so this year for Halloween I got to be Supergirl! Here I am trying it out and posing with Mike.




The next morning Sarah and I had to go back to reality...yep, we returned to Salt Lake City. Because we booked separately, we didn't have the same flight back. Sarah was the unlucky one and had to return first. But before we went to the airport we took another look at the waterfront of Downtown San Diego to get a nice, brisk walk in as well as check out some of the artwork along the boardwalk. This particular artpiece was also a huge kaleidoscope. Here is Sarah checking it out....


My turn to return to SLC came a few hours later, but before we left, Mom and Dad took me to lunch at Seaport Village. We had some good fish and chips and a double chocolate chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Fantastic combination!!!

Then we did a little shopping...Mom did a HORRIBLE thing and left her earrings at home that day. She was practically naked!! I was rather embarrassed that mom would forget such a thing!!! She only wears clip earrings so finding earrings is a little tough these days. But in one of the great silver shops, we found the PERFECT earrings to match her necklace and to cover her nakedness. Here she is showing them off:








After that, Mom and Dad dropped me off at the airport and sent me on my merry way back to the land of cold. It's always sad but the good news is that I return for Thanksgiving in just a few weeks. And that is ALWAYS a happy thought!

Until next time...

San Diego Trip part 1

The purpose of the trip was to see one of my short guys, Kyle play JV football. Also, it was Dad's birthday. So it was a great excuse to run away from Utah and soak in the humidity and warm weather of Sunny San Diego!

My good buddy, Sarah Ward, decided she had to escape Utah for the UEA weekend, so she came along for the ride.

We got off the plane Friday morning and my mom and dad came to pick us up. The weather was delightfully at 72 degrees. Dad did the tour of the waterfront for Sarah before getting back to mom & dad's house. Did you know that San Diego had a Bob Hope Memorial? Yeah, me neither!! I got a picture or two with Bob. He said some really funny jokes for me, Sarah and the folks, too. I've always loved that Bob!!

After we saw some of the sights, Dad & Mom took us to IHOP. There we had some crepes. I forgot to take a picture of it before I ate it. Sorry. Just try to imagine some bacon, eggs over easy, hashbrowns with ketchup and some FABULOUS apple crepes. I had to remove the nuts off the top but I survived.






That afternoon we went to Kyle's football game. He and his team made a great effort against a bigger and tougher team. I was really proud of my short guy! Of course, he's well over 6 feet tall. So he's not really that short anymore...He's number 52...

The family had a good time sitting in the stands with some ants while cheering Kyle on! It was fun to see him playing football!



Sarah took the time to catch up on some reading - she's not much of a football watcher. We also got to check out her foot. Some of you may have known that she had bunion surgery over the summer. Things are healing well. And she now has one sexy scar!!

Here is Jake- the younger shorter guy who is just millimeters from becoming taller than me - and me enjoying ourselves at the football game. Isn't he handsome??? Well, he's ALSO athletic, really smart - and HILARIOUS!! Yeah, he totally takes after me...







That night, the parents continued to show me and Sarah a good time. They took me and Sarah to Old Town where they have some great Mexican restaurants. We went to the El Fandango - it's like we were south of the border - without all the dead bodies laying around. (you can read more about the "problems" of Tijuana here.) I had some great tacos! They also had a Mariachi band playing for the customers. Dad asked them to play the most romantic song from Mexico and they sang, Perfidia which actually was a song that Sarah's dad used to sing to her family all the time. It was really cool, because she was just talking about that song before they played it. It's like we were all on the same wavelength! We were "one" with the Mariachi band! Not an easy thing to do with the language barriers...







The next morning, Sarah and I headed to the San Diego temple for an endowment session. The San Diego Temple is the best temple in the whole wide world! But I might be a little biased. People have called it a cross between Cinderella's castle and Dracula's castle. It's kinda cool. We thought we were going to the Spanish session but we missed it and had to do a English session so we didn't get to play with the headphones. Bummer....

After a great session at the temple, we went the San Diego Zoo. Mom and dad belong to the Zoological Society so they had some free tickets. How cool is that?

So we visited the Zoo....

I made Sarah take a picture in front of the flamingos because...well, it's tradition at the San Diego Zoo! Every time you go, you HAVE to take a picture in front of the flamingos...because it's the first animal enclosure in the park. And you can't mess with tradition!! Doesn't Sarah look natural with those flamingos? No really! They are back there...they are the pink things with sticks for legs.






Sarah insisted that I take a picture as well but this time with the giraffes. It's a new tradition.









We also saw our first solar powered trash compactor there at the San Diego Zoo. What will the world think of next!! Solar powered cars??? Oh wait...







The San Diego Zoo is famous for the Koalas -not Koala bears, they are marsupials, don't make that fatal error. We were lucky enough to see some of them eating. Apparently they sleep 20 to 22 hours a day because all they eat is eucalyptus leaves. They are picky eaters...MUCH picker than me!! I only require 8 hours of sleep...



Then we saw the half zebra better known as the half zebra. Ok, you got me! I don't remember what the heck this thing is called. I remember being very impressed by this animal though, so I thought I'd throw it onto the blog...







Then we ran across a Stroller enclosure. They are NOT an endangered species. They in fact thrive greatly in the wild as well as in captivity. Strollers. One amazing animal...









So each of the animal enclosures include a sign saying whether the animal was endangered or not. That way you would know how much trouble you were in if you actually ran one over with your car...or something like that. We both laughed at the "vulnerable" status. Why? I guess we both feel vulnerable lately. Wouldn't it be cool if we could carry around signs that give our status? Like "officially endangered" - that would be we are teetering over the edge and we'd need extra understanding by those around us. Those "not endangered" would be totally confident and riding high on life...or something like that.

Now, the polar bears were hard to find. Why? Because they hide them in the back of the park!! On our way there we even did an evil thing and walked down the "bus road" by accident. So the Zoo police came after us and escorted us to the "proper path." All in the search of polar bears! Here's the evidence that we did indeed find the polar bears. (polars really are bears and ARE NOT marsupials, just in case you wondered.)


After we found the polar bears at the end of the park, we found that we were pooped. So we paid the $3 a piece and flew across in the skyfari and back to the other side of the zoo. It was well with it.




Here is a shot of Balboa park from the skyfari with a plane going by...yeah, you can't plan this sort of shot...serendipity, baby!!

GC Puzzle Project - COMPLETE!

So, my parents worked on a puzzle while they were visiting me here in Salt Lake City a couple of weeks ago. It helped them pass the time with General Conference weekend.

But alas! My parents didn't finish it before they left one week later (it was 500 piece puzzle). I guess they needed just ONE more GC session!

It's one of my puzzles that I bought while visiting Zion National Park a couple of years ago. (NOT ZIONS - like some people like to say) It's a great picture of a canyon in the park. It makes for a great souvenir! It's got a purpose (hours of entertainment in puzzle piece assembly) AND it reminds you of the trip. Really, a genius idea! I give props to whomever thought of that first. Well done you, puzzle-souvenir creator person!

Anyway, this is how much they got done.

I didn't have the heart to take it apart without it being "complete," so I took it on myself to finish it up! I'm blogging it now so my parents can have some sort of "completion" from the experience. It's all about the "completion" endorphins...

So live it up, Mom and Dad!!!

And come visit again! I've got a puzzle from Arches National Park we need to do....

GC Weekend

It's General Conference(GC) time!!

I have loved General Conference - REALLY LOVED - starting back in 2005. When you are Relief Society Pres any time you have a Sunday off you embrace it with joy and rapture! And since I was released May 4th, 2008 (yes, I remember the date), I still appreciate that extreme happiness GC brings! Who doesn't love hanging out at home listening to GC in your pjs? Because MAN, Sundays have the possibility of being really stressful and not so Sabbath feeling in that calling. Oh, and the talks by the apostles are so inspiring and amazing that it's well worth every minute of it. So I guess it's two fold...pjs and really good talks.

Anyway, this GC weekend, mom an dad have come to visit!! They are here to see Alexis' play (they've never gotten that chance) and to see some friends they met while on their mission (at the San Diego Mission Home Office). So, here they are!!

Last night, we took - ok dad - took Alexis to dinner to celebrate her play, Dracula vs. the Hunchback (see www.theobt.org). We would do it Monday when we see it, but it would get out too late to be having dinner (plus mom and dad shut down at about 10pm). So off to Sizzler for some steak and chicken strips! It was a great time! Although mom's brownie was as hard as a rock...

Today (Friday) we decided to start with breakfast at our favorite breakfast dive and former (I hope former) drug headquarters, The Coachman on 13th and State Street. I got french toast, dad got a Denver Omelet (although he doesn't really like green peppers or onions) and mom go the waffles!

Then off to Lowes to get a replacement bulb for my lamp. Yes, I bought the only reading lamp that requires a "specialty" F4 light...geez! But I was successful and now I can read again when it's dark....

We then hit the Salt Lake City Cemetery to see Grandma and Grandpa Hansen's headstones. Mom hasn't seen them since Grandma died in 1992. We went to the office to get the map and official coordinates. Now, you may ask, "Dan? can't you get that info and find that all by your lonesome?? You've been there before back in 1998 and you didn't have a problem then! Why would you need to get help from the office?" Well, that's a good question! But alas, yeah, I tried to find it - with coordinates AND map in hand and didn't achieve the goal....lame, huh? I even had help!! But no relatives could be found. I do admit, I MAY have been a little distracted at the time...

No problem though! The sexton lady at the office had a more detailed map. We were just a row off last time - which makes a difference in a cemetery!

We found Grandma & Grandpa Hansen. And they are buried by Grandma Hansen's brother, sisters, and parents. Unfortunately, poor Great Grandpa William Thompson's tombstone is sinking and the grass if growing over it. We asked the lady at the office and she said we'd have to call the monument company to see if they could bring it back up. Poor Great Grandpa!! But don't worry! I'll check into it and make sure he doesn't sink into oblivion...

Then it was off to This Is The Place Monument and Heritage Village. Dad hasn't seen the monument since he was at BYU - a million years ago - so this was exciting for him. See, the monument has changed a bit....I'm not sure when the big one was put up. I do vaguely remember being at some dedication of something up there at This Is the Place Monument - I'm thinking it was 1999ish and Pres. Hinckley was there...I'm not sure how I heard about it or who I went with, but I remember hanging out there.

You should know that the Heritage Village has a "season" and we just missed the end of it. But that means all three of us got in for $11! (it helps when your parent's get the senior discount). None of the buildings were open but we wandered around waiting for our chance to ride the train that goes all over the property. We got to see some real pioneer llamas along with the pigs and cows. I hadn't realized that llamas were in the valley at the time of Brigham. Where they native to the area or did they make the trek across the country? Something to ponder....

Unfortunately, the train broke. Something about a caboose being out of alignment. So we ate at the Monument Cafe and had a This is the Turkey Sandwich (on a Kaiser roll) with some chips and lemonade. (I'm not kidding...)

While we waited we saw a Magpie. Pretty little bird! I don't think it's hostile - you never know with birds (you've seen the movie, right? The Birds? Never trust a crow!! I've had crows throw walnuts at me to break them open. At least people SAY they were trying to break them open. I think personally they were attacking me!! Maybe they were anti-Mormon. it was while I was in Canada on my mission. Hmmm. Crows are violent AND anti-Mormon! Interesting...)

I also checked out dad's new Rockport shoes! Aren't they snazy?!?! I like them...Dad's one stylin' man.

We also took a couple of candid shots at the base of the statue of Brigham and Joseph. (did you know Joseph was taller than Brigham?? Yeah, I didn't.)

The train finally came and we got to see the lay of the land. If you have never been, its a fun place! Even more fun when it's open - but still a pleasant ride on the train in some excellent abnormal slc warm weather.

We saw the Pony Express Monument. Did you know they only did the Pony Express for 1 1/2 years? Yeah, you remember Young Riders from TV? Didn't that last 3 seasons on TV? Yeah, it's like MASH - not done in real time. (the Korean war lasted 3 years but MASH lasted 11 seasons)







We saw Brigham Young's Forest home. Did you know he had a forest home? Apparently he experimented with planting all sorts of trees to see how they would grow in the desert out in Sugar House. I had no idea! And apparently Brigham was ok with pink. Interesting....






We also saw a great view of Hogle Zoo across the way. I've only been there twice. Once as a 10 year old - I'm afraid I wasn't as impressed because I grew up going to the San Diego Zoo, but it had a really cool display of all the things they found in the cages. They had all sorts things in it. I found an old picture of it that I just had to share.

My other experience there was about 3 years ago. I went to a horrible Dee's dance there. I got to dance with a 57 year old. Not cool. But that's the night I met Jubi and he's cool! Look at me see the bright side!!

Over all it was a very pleasant afternoon and I think the parental units (as my sister in law, Ann likes to call them) had a good time. At least they are smiling in the picture!!

Lava Hot Springs - the end

yeah, so I love to finish my stories...even if they don't have exciting endings. But I need closure in everything I do, so let's finish this sucker, up!

So the question was, what would I do with the rest of my afternoon if I wasn't going to go down that dreaded river. I decided to revisit the hot springs. They are therapeutic. They are hot. They calm the soul. Or at least make the soul sweat. Who doesn't love a sweating soul???

I enjoyed every minute of it! And faced no uncertain death. NICE!

After goofing off in really hot water, it was off to the park to meet up with the ward for Flirting 101. Apparently a ward of 31 to 45 year old single people need help when it comes to flirting. I'm not sure why people assume that. OH wait! We are still single! HA! Actually, what I think we need is Commitment 401. Because really, we can't seem to get to that point. The flirting is a done deal! I can really lay on the flirting when I want/need to. But it's a great excuse to get the sexes to get together and...do whatever is we do.

We played games and such. It was a good time...then a delicious dinner! Got to love fajitas!! This activities committee went BEYOND the call of duty on this trip!

Then it was off to see the Bulls Only Rodeo. I've only ever seen the 24th of July rodeo before so I'm still new at this. It's some crazy people that ride bulls that are really angry. And who can blame those bulls! You all know why they are mad, right???

But it makes for some excitement...

And did you know that they auction off the bull riders and the bulls at their "half time"? (or maybe it's a "seventh inning stretch") It's all very complicated and was quite confusing at first. But I got some info from a fellow ward member that "knows" this kind of stuff, I now see how it works. Seems like a big risk but apparently people have hundreds of dollars just laying around to buy a bull for a night. Crazy!

After watching the rodeo it was time for the trip home. There were no pitstops this time...just some great music from Callie's IPOD and me driving like a banshee to get home before midnight...

And honestly, it's been so long ago, I have no idea WHAT time we arrived.

I think I'm getting old....

Lava Hot Springs continued....

So, that night the whole ward had dinner at the White Wolf Restaurant. I had a fabulous steak with a baked potato and a couple other exciting things to eat! (Yeah, I totally can't remember). The best part was the chocolate cheesecake. Yes, life is always easier to deal with with chocolate cheesecake (there were small chocolate chips on it too!! MMMMMMM!)

After dinner, we heard some "local boys" play some country music. I believe Sarah Ward was the only one dancing at one point, but I'm sure she started SOMETHING! Then we had a DJ that played some good stuff! Among some slammin' songs (look at me try to be hip! I got that word from "Save the Last Dance") were some "slow songs" that I'm sure the bishopric made him play. From some of the "action" going on (ok, I didn't really see any of it, but some fellow ward members swears it happened), I think those slow songs worked! Because certain someones in the ward are now dating. I don't know who they are, but they are OUT THERE!! Personally, I'm very supportive of the "hook up" so I say go for it! - in the most respectful and righteous way possible, of course!! (I don't want to get a bad rep or a call from the bishop!)

Here are some pictures that verify we did attend the function....

Later that night was a little difficult and AWKWARD. Although I was equipped with a cot (you can laugh now, but I know there are MANY people that wished they had thought of it!!!), we had some ward members that love to be up all night long! Apparently, they were the younger group...they had to be. When you turn 35, your body says, "NO! go to bed at a decent hour when you camp, because the sun will rise whether you are awake or not." (profound, I know!!)

Those young whipper-snappers enjoyed the evening singing - even in harmony at times! Luckily, I had ear plugs (another sign I'm over 35...). It kept most of it out...

The morning came quickly, but that was ok - I slept on a cot!! HA!

The day was ahead of us with many options! After a great breakfast - that included sausage that some poor kind soul on the activities committee drove to Idaho Falls for - we all split up for different activities. I decided to try the hiking.

Now, you remember those water shoes that I left at home??? Yeah, they were right beside the hiking shoes I left at home. HA! Isn't that a funny story?

Anyway, I wasn't nervous, because the Lave Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce stated that the planned hike was "easy." So, my new, radical, out of control, cool, $12 water shoes were to be my "hiking shoes." Trust me, it was better than the flip flops I drove up in...

So, Tanya, Steve, Dona, Kevin, Joe, one really nice girl that I can't remember the name of at this junction, and myself headed out to try this "easy" hike! I was excited! Nice easy hike, then a trip down that river!

Sitting in the chairs in front of the Lava Hot Springs Home Hotel, waiting for the others to arrive, I casually asked Steve, "So, where's the hike??" "Up there!" Steve pointed to a small mountain. Yes, the hike was climbing the mountain that contained the glowing L that magically appeared each night. The picture of me is the smile I had on when I realized I was climbing a rather steep incline in $12 water shoes. Yes. I had chosen unwisely. (that's a quote from Indaina Jones and the Last Crusade).

But alas, I am not a quitter! So off we went! It was kind of a slippery walk. Rather steep, with straw along the way (who put that there???). The brush on the trail hadn't been cut back for ages and I really wished I had packed a machete (left it by the hiking shoes...) And I kept thinking, do the employees at the Chamber of Commerce for Lava Hot Springs climb Machu Picchu on a normal basis? Because DUDE! This hike was NOT "easy." They were odd people at that Chamber of Commerce with a strange sense of humor.

I made it though. I kinda slipped at one point thus slightly injuring my foot that I felt days later and skinning my knee. It kinda scared me - slippery $12 water shoes don't go well with steep hills. I would have taken a picture of the skinned knee but you'd all laugh and tell me to buck up. And that wouldn't evoke the sympathy I'm looking for here...

It was hot. It was a steep hike. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep the night before. I had a headache. I was dehydrated. The only thing left to do was to go to the deli for a smoothie!! And so we did.

After sustanence and an air conditioner to help dry up my wet shirt from the sweat that dripped down certain "places," I made a realization. I didn't WANT to go down that river. I was scared to DEATH to go down that river.

What?? Danielle was scared to death of something? Yes it's true. I had a huge revelation on this lovely trip. I really don't like tubing down rivers. I don't really like going down water ways that contain 9 foot drops off of rocks or other rapids that look really easy but in actuality may send you to your certain DEATH!!! And yes, I understand that at a certain "rock" all I was supposed to do was to go down to the right, then at the next really big "rock" go down to the left and I would avoid all injuries and live another day. But I wasn't feeling all that confident with the "information" provided by the Lava Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce....

Trust issues. Yeah, I got a few.

So yes. I chickened out! I didn't even get my feet wet - or my $12 new water shoes (as seen here). And you know, I'm totally ok with that!!


Still to be continued...