Santa Barbara

I was planning on taking the Coast Starlight train from Anaheim to Salinas for the last leg of my journey. My friend Kate got her first teaching job and I wanted to come see her new digs and go to Monterey and San Francisco too! The thing is, I waited too long to buy my train ticket and it was about the same price to rent a car, so that it precisly what I did. I decided to drive up Hwy 101. My dream is to drive all the way up 101 someday, and this is a partial fulfillment of my dream.

I took the train to LA and then a shuttle to LAX and then I was FINALLY able to pick up my car. A silvery-blue Kia. Not gonna buy one of those, but it was nice to drive a car with windows that roll down!

I stopped in Santa Barbara for lunch and a ahort visit. I parked at the Chamber (all parking costs $$) and walked to Stearns Wharf. While I was trying to figure out where to have lunch, I heard a woman talking about the water taxi. For $4 I could ride to the other side of the harbour. This was the place to eat, she tells me. So I jumped on the next taxi (called Li'l Toot). We passed yachts and boats galore. It was gorgeous! Our cute guide told us about some of the boats and their owners (like the CEO of Pepsi, and the Wrigley heiress). I then had the most delicious seafood chef salad while watching the boats bob in the water.

The water taxi lady told me about the electric shuttle. For 25 cents it would take me right by where I parked. Except that after I told him where I wanted to go, he thought I was gonna pull the signal that I didn't plan on pulling cause I was 1 of 2 people on the shuttle and I had already told him where I was going. So-- I saw more of the waterfront as we made the loop and it cost me another $2 in parking and 20 minutes later on the road. But really it isn't too bad. It was a gorgeous day!

I would really like to go back to Santa Barbara and see more of it. I have heard from a lot of people how great it is. And I really enjoyed my 2 hour layover there :)

One World, One Love, One Mouse

I really do love Disneyland. I may not be a fanatic, but I enjoy being here. I've only met 2 grumpy people in the last 3 days. Everyone is so nice and they really seem genuine.

My favorite ride is the Toy Story ride in California Adventure.




A close second is the Hollywood Tower of Terror.




It's nice to have a bit of time to enjoy the parks, rather than rushing to get everything done in one day. On Monday, David and I joined Allyson, Linda and Elaine. Yesterday we took it easy in the morning then in the afternoon we met up with some of Allyson's cousins.


Splash Mountain was perfect in the 100 degree weather, we might not have made it without the cold water (That and the Dole Pineapple Whip).





There's also Grizzly River Run...



and Astro Blasters...







and trying on hats...




and the jungle cruise...


and Mr. Toad...




and the Mark Twain boat...



and Tarzan's Tree House...




and Autopia...


and The Matterhorn...


and posing with random characters...









All in all... it was a GREAT TIME!!!

Let me see that sushi roll!!!

David and I have a tradition of sushi. Whenever we get together, we have to have a sushi party. So when I knew I was coming to LA, I begged to have one after church on Sunday. Chris Mann and other invited guests couldn't make it, so it was just me and 3 handsome men (sometimes life is so hard!). Jet and Kevin are from Taiwan and Jet had never made sushi before (Kevin's first sushi rolling was at our party last year). This time, David did all the shopping and I put the food and table together. I think I did pretty well…


When I opened the seafood, we had the usual crab, tuna, halibut and salmon. And then I saw the octopus. I didn’t want to mess with it (cause it's nasty), so I garnished with it. Once everyone was there, we had some miso soup and seasoned rice. Then we took turns making delicious sushi rolls. My favorite was crab with cream cheese, lemon and cucumber. Mmmmmmm…… yummy!

We showed Jet the ropes and then let him make one. BUT, we kinda started talking and not paying attention to what Jet was doing. Before we knew it, he had a megaroll going. He ended up cutting it into four pieces. I was the only one that ate it in four bites. The guys all did it in one!








When we’d had our fill, we ate some mochi (Japanese ice cream)and the guys enjoyed some plum wine. Overall, it was a great night for sushi with friends!!

I wish a falling star could fall forever...

As the party in Baltimore didn’t end until nearly 2am, and I hadn’t packed yet, and I had to leave for the airport at 4am… I stayed up. With my silk eye mask (my favorite thing I own) in my carryon bag I was ready to snooze on the plane. And snooze I did-on both legs of my flight. This means that I never got my V8… so I got a blanket instead.

I was so glad that David was willing to host me for a couple of days before I head to Disneyland. He is WONDERFUL! I think the perfect host. He thinks of everything! He zoomed up in his snappy Mercedes and we immediately went to In n Out where I had my first cheeseburger in 4 months! I skipped on the shake as I didn’t want to overdo it :)

After a short nap and a quick shower, we headed off to THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL!!!!! Ever since I saw “Some Kind Of Wonderful” I have wanted to go there. When I saw that my favorite band was gonna be there, I arranged to be there too! David was in charge of tickets. We saw them several years ago in Cannon Beach at the Coaster Theater with 198 other people. China wove her magic spell over us then and I thought David was gonna have to change his shirt cause of the drool coming out of his mouth. Last night was no different (except there were nearly 16,000 people. 16,000!!). THEY WERE PHENOMENAL!!!!!!

We got a picnic to enjoy before the show. David brought me up to the top of the hill, like as far away from the stage as is possible. I asked if we were going to a picnic area, or if there was a place to eat at our seats. He informed me that we would just eat off our laps. I guess the look I gave him said “Uh. NO we aren’t” I noticed that someone was renting cushions for the hard benches and I sent a memo to myself to make David go get me one. At the top of the hill, our view was worth it. We could see the stage AND the Hollywood sign. So cool!



I asked him again if he knew where we were going. “Oh, yeah. I got this” he tells me. We get to the first set of ushers and they tell us “you guys are way at the front” David starts chuckling at his little joke… I couldn’t believe he made me walk all the way to the top of the hill!!

Each set of ushers we met kept telling us to go closer. We finally found our spot and it was PERFECT! David whipped out the white tablecloth and wine glasses and we had ourselves a nice little dinner.






It was the best beginning to one of the best concert experiences I’ve ever had. We were so close that I didn’t need my glasses. I am sure China could see David drooling over her, and Robert could see me making googly eyes at him. The show was superb. Although I just saw them in June, they played some songs I had never heard. They also had some GREAT special guests.

Here are some things I love about Pink Martini. Thomas is a theatrical classically trained pianist and I love to watch him! You can see that he loves his job. And he is so funny and sometimes awkward. China has a beautiful voice. She continually improves and hones her talent. Every single one of the musicians is EXCELLENT in their own right, and together they are DYNAMIC! They perform all across the world and cater to their worldwide audience. They have recently added a Turkish song to their repertoire. They find ways and songs to feature the talents of thier musicians and I love it!

I didn’t want the show to end. It eventually did (but not until the encore Brazil complete with guests and family on stage) and we made our way home. I totally fell asleep in the car. An exhausting and wonderful day!

The Queens of Cooksie

My last day on the east coast was perfect. It is 5:30am and I’m sitting at the Baltimore airport, I haven't slept since I don't know when. I smell like smoke and my hair and makeup aren’t nearly as fabulous as they were 8 hours ago when I went out to play with the Queens of Cooksie, but I am taking some great memories with me.

For starters, the water taxi. The water taxi was our afternoon fun! There are 3 routes that take you all around the harbor for $9. Such great views of the city. We stopped at the East Harbor for lunch at James Joyce, an Irish pub. We did the water taxi loop and on our way home, some Red Sox fans (in town for the game) became our new bff's. They were there for the boys weekend and they were sauced! Such friendly and respectful drunks... and cute too!









After visiting with our new bff's, we headed home to dinner on the rooftop prepared by John's friend Drew. He made us delicious spaghetti.





Then we had to get ready to party. This is a production, let me tell you. But it was so worth it in the end. I'll introduce you to the players. Jill and I met in Utah when we were both missionaries. We were also roommates for a while, but then she moved back to Maryland and we've talked on the phone ever since. Scott and John work at the same company as Jill. They are both great. Scott is funny and can pull off a grey suit and pink shirt like no one else I've met. Johnny is such a sweetheart and has a smile that can light up Manhattan. Then there's Joey--the Italian Stallion! When he dances with you, it's like you're the only one in the room. Intense.


Scott, Joey, Jill, John

We all met up at Central and let me tell you... it is one of the best times I've had!! I danced with the hottest boys and they were sooooooo complimentary. I have to say I was nervous about partying with the gays, I didn't feel like I was cute enough. But with a little help from a makeup master I was good to go. John was adorable, as he said with a saucy wink "I might need to get your number". The words hot, smokin' and fierce were also thrown in my direction. I felt great! Everyone was concerned that I might not have a good time so they made it a point to keep me busy. And the dancing was AWESOME!!!!



It was the perfect way to end my East Coast Adventure. From Drew fixing my hair, to Derek only willing to dance with me if I LOVED Kelly Clarkson. And my favorite -- singing with Whitney at the top of our lungs. Thanks guys! I miss you!

Heather and Koko

When I was a junior in high school, my parents started a restaurant. They moved in March to open it and I didn't want to leave, so we arranged for me to live with a friend down the street. Heather and I have now known each other for ages, but until a few days ago had not seen each other for about 10 or 12 years neither of us are certain when we last saw each other. So, knowing she was in DC I told her we had to get together. Thankfully, it worked out this time!!

I stayed Friday night with my friend Heather-used-to-be-Hughes (now I can’t spell her last name --I looked it up --Aiolupotea). We met in DC for lunch and it just wasn’t enough time to catch up on the last 12 years or so. Her sweet husband could tell we were excited to see each other and he offered their spare room for the evening. After my sightseeing adventures, I met up with Heather in time to go to a dance rehearsal with her. Heather and Koko (the husband) are Polynesian dancers. Koko is Samoan, so he is really a real Polynesian dancer! They are giving free lessons to some BYU-H alums and they are preparing for a performance at the Washington DC Temple Visitors Center. I got to meet some really great people and totally enjoyed myself. Then Heather and I drove to some of the monuments so I could get my pictures with my AMAZING new camera. I AM IN LOVE WITH IT!!!!!!

I woke to the smell of waffles and bacon and after some Dr. Phil with Koko, Heather drove me to the temple. It is gorgeous. And the sun came out! I got some nice pics, I think. I was then delivered safely to Jill in Baltimore.

Thanks guys for your hospitality!!



This is Kope, Koko's son... sad I didn't get to meet him this time. He's so adorable!

Hello to the Obama's

I AM

SO

exhausted...