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...

Lava Hot Springs

What does every "single" person who attends a singles ward love to do each summer??? YES! Go on a ward trip! It just screams FUN! Ok, maybe not non-stop fun. In fact it will be full of some awkward moments BUT with some fun...it's the price you pay for going on these suckers...

Now, when you start out a trip and drive by a moped that carries a blowup doll, YOU KNOW you are going to have some real fun! As Ward says, "It's a good omen!"

We - that being me, Callie, and Dona - made the trip to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho after work on Thursday night. We made good time even though mapblast made us make a detour that wasn't necessary ("Mapblast, you're FIRED!").

We did find a fabulous rest stop just inside of Idaho. Those Idahoans put there money in those rest stops...nice!

The trip was to last two nights. I weighed my options and decided that the first night I would spend it in the hotel. Then the next night I would be 'tough' and camp out. But the first night, LUXURY!!

And the Lava Hot Springs Home hotel was just that!! The bed was FANTASTIC as Callie would say...it was pillow top and KING SIZED!!

The room had just been redone. No seriously, like the day before...it had a brand new bathroom. The water that came out of the sink faucet was beautiful!! It looked crystal clear! The most gorgeous H20 I've seen in SUCH a long time!! Beautimous!

Now, let's talk about that bathtub! It had enough room for a small gathering (which is 4 or 5 and not 15 to 20 which is my normal size for "small gatherings"). The tiles were beautiful! and I must say, I look so well rested in that tub!

What was crazy was this place was only $65 a night! Whoa!

The only bad part were the drunken pseudo-hells angels rejects. It was so pathetic...but who's judging!!

The only painful part of the evening was a sudden Charlie horse in my 3rd toe from the right on my left foot. I believe that is known as the Little Piggy that had roast beef...

Dude. The middle toe is totally giving the bird!!

The morning came and the new day was beautiful! Especially because we had breakfast and Sunnyside Restaurant. Oh! I had some lovely eggs and hashbrowns! Oh, delicious!

The rest if the day was full of adventures at the local shopping district...ok, the local grocery store and two touristy shops - one that sold water shoes and one sold Indian artifacts and funny reindeer standing with Santa Clause - as seen here - although it was very much disguised.

The water shoes were a good idea because - yes, I forgot them!! And if you are going to go down the river, you are going to need water shoes. I got an excellant price - $12 - pretty good for the only water shoes in town!

The afternoon was left for some hot springs living!! So we spent $6 and sat in some 104 dgree water. Then there was the 108 degree water with gravel. The 112 degree pool was just not my idea of a good time...but I was able to FINALLY finish Don Quxiote. Yes, I finally finished all 1000 pages!

Day 2 - Shoe Tree

On the way back to Cedar City, we encountered a "shoe" tree. We aren't sure of the significance of it, but it was well worth a photo op!

Here's a close up...

On our last night in Cedar City, we went to dinner at O'Sullivans where we had a fabulous waiter that made all of our dreams come true! (like bacon that shatters for Lex and endless cokes for Lynn) The experience at O'Sullivans was so much fun, we even documented it!

We then went for our last shows of the trip. Sarah and Mark decided to go with a tragedy and watched Othello. Me, Lex, and Lynn decided to go with a comedy and saw, Taming of the Shrew set in the 1940s in Italy. It was a very interesting version of it and they pulled it off very well.

Just before the play, Lex got to pose with Shakespeare. I personally think he was drunk, but he at least sat for the picture and didn't charge us for it.

On Sunday, we ended the trip a little early then we intended. Those mushrooms from Brad's Hut did a number on our driver, Lynn most of Saturday night. (I won't go into detail) So, after hitting a sacrament meeting, we decided to take the leisurely drive back to SLC instead of goofing off some more in Cedar City.

Oh, and for those that wondered, we did manage to play in the pool during the weekend so the quest for Mark's new bathing suit was not in vain! (Mark wouldn't let me post a picture of him in that new bathing suit...party pooper!)

Day 2 - 100 year old Fruit Cake

Hurricane, Utah was our next stop on our big adventures. Why go to Hurricane?? Because that is where they have a 100 year old fruit cake! How cool is that???!!!

Yes, we went to the Hurricane Museum and talked with a lovely lady who told us all about the history of Hurricane and showed us the famous patina covered fruit cake. (Patina = "A thin greenish layer that forms on copper or copper alloys, such as bronze, as a result of long exposure to the elements and often valued aesthetically for its color." Apparently, patina can also be found growing on fruit cake! Ask Lynn to say the word "patina," it brings a smile to my face, every time."

"Two top layer cake baked in 1907: Yes, this was once a four layered cake made by Mrs. Dave (Maria) Ballard of Grafton, Utah for Ella Wood and Jow Scow. It is a fruitcake, originally with fresh pink blossoms of "dew plant." It also used to have little pink candies on it. Ella and Joe's children, Clinton, Itha and Milden took care to make these candies gradually disappeared. This unusual item has been a much treasured heirloom." [Taken from the card describing the fruit cake. Edited for content. They forgot to proofread it..]

Apparently, at the Hurricane Museum, they specialize in old food, because they also had 50 year old bacon! Found in someone's attic ...it doesn't really look like bacon. But they swear to it.



Another plaque that gave us a some history of the area was "Mollies Nipple" I'm not kidding here. "It's a Butte." Literally. I really am not making this sign up! They actually printed it as seen here...

The hard part was finding the actual butte in real life. We couldn't find it until after we sat in the back of the museum to recover from the excitement of the old fruit cake and decrepit bacon. But alas, I spotted the "nipple" just due south...