Friday, July 29, 2011

Happy First Anniversary to Us!

On the Road to Tuscany

I wrote this as part of the Central Utah Writing Project summer institute that I participated in. It was a good way to spend 4 weeks of the summer--I'd recommend it to any teacher. Maybe I can post some of my other writings....or some of the other goofiness that occurred.


On the Road to Tuscany


I slipped into the warm water and peered into the depths below where a new world of colors and fantastic creatures opened before me. I couldn’t turn away from the seascape that was unfolding, filled with magical sights I had no name for. Copper colored fish sparkled and popped against the aqua depths of the water as strange spiky animals appeared in what I had been sure was just grass.

But wait. That was just my imagination talking. When I really went snorkeling on my honeymoon, I had to change into my swimming suit on the boat with the guide, my white butt bare under the sun. Our guide had attempted to procure a bathroom for us to change in, but the restaurant owner he chose to solicit was not inclined to acquiesce. During the string of foreign obscenities that ensued, we quickly exited the premises as our guide repeated, “Esta loco! He’s crazy!”

Once clothed in appropriate attire and out in the water, I struggled with salt water getting in my mouth and burning the blister I had gotten from one of my flippers. My mask was on too tight, giving me a headache and angry red welts. Ruefully, my husband pointed out that my upper lip was puffed out like I’d been kissing a vacuum cleaner. Needless to say I passed on doing the second excursion—and of course, missed seeing the barracuda, a highlight of the trip.

That was my reality, but I came into snorkeling expecting the first experience. Traveling is over romanticized. We expect that when we travel everything will be like the commercials we see on TV, or the movies we see, or the memoirs we read. Traveling is supposed to allow us to experience exotic places and foods. We’re supposed to come to a greater understanding and respect of diverse cultures. Everything is colorful, romantic, and artsy, and somehow we arrive at this magic self-enlightenment in Tuscany. But often reality doesn’t match up to expectation.

And furthermore, popular culture tends to skip over the bad parts of traveling. People fight with their travel companions. Hostels up and disappear. Lots of time is spent doing boring things like hunting for water or a bathroom (two things that are surprisingly hard to find outside of the US where it seems drinking fountains and public restrooms are nonexistent). And of course, the experience of actually getting from point A to point B isn’t exactly always pleasant: air pressure changes, crying babies, motion sickness, and let’s not forget, TSA.

I recently returned from a trip to the east coast. Beltless and shoeless, I was waiting for the person in front of me to walk through the metal detector when I saw another metal detector to the side with no line. The TSA agent made eye contact with me and beckoned me, so I walked over. However, once inside, it became apparent that this was not a metal detector but, in fact, one of the new and controversial body scan machines. As I stood with my hands over my head, I thought, “Oh well. So they’re basically seeing me naked. At least I’m almost through this business.”

But . . . I wasn’t.

After I had the body scan, apparently I needed a pat down as well. I was confused. Isn’t it supposed to be one or the other? If they already saw my near-naked silhouette, what more did they expect to find?

Well, I still don’t know what they expected to find, but I quickly discovered that “pat down” was a misnomer. Caressing would have been more accurate; I kid you not. It felt more like a seduction than a search for weapons. The woman actually felt INSIDE my pants all around my waist. She felt all around my boobs and put her hand on my inner thigh—all the way against my crotch—and brought it down.

Now as disturbing as this experience was, I found that as soon as it happened I couldn’t wait to tell people about it. After the shock passed, and I was seated on the plane, I called my mom and gave her an earful of impassioned rhetoric (probably to the dismay of my seatmate). Then when I arrived home, I relayed the drama to my husband who suggested that I should have made snide comments like “You really know how to touch a woman” or “Is this as good for you as it is for me?” I may not have arrived at self-enlightenment in Tuscany, and my dignity may not be wholly intact, but I’ve sure had a lot of laughs along the way.

Crossing to Safety

Crossing to SafetyCrossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Once upon a time (January of 2009) I needed a book, and I solicited a request from some literary friends. Here was my request:



“I need a book that I can really sink my teeth into. I don't want a cold, overly-intellectualized book. (No reading War and Peace just to say I have. None of that garbage.) I want something that tantalizes and draws me in. I'm already reading at least three books that aren't very gripping. Now, do not misunderstand. I don't want a drivel novel—the equivalent of orange soda and disco lights. Nothing flashy and trashy. I need a book like sunlight on a summer's morning—wholesome as milk or a cozy fire. Something where I feel like the characters are my friends—and I end up knowing them just as well. Something that lingers with me as I go about my day...like Joshua Bell on the violin. Something with philosophical undertones. Something with meaning and richness. I want to drink down the words, savoring their weight and texture—words that are not just a meaning to an end, but art.”



A book that was recommended to me in response was Wallace Stegner’s Crossing to Safety, and let me testify that it does indeed meet my criteria. Take for example this quote from the novel:



"How do you make a book that anyone will read out of lives as quiet as these? Where are the things that novelists seize upon and readers expect? Where is the high life, the conspicuous waste, the violence, the kinky sex, the death wish? Where are the suburban infidelities, the promiscuities, the convulsive divorces, the alcohol, the drugs, the lost weekends? Where are the hatreds, the political ambitions, the lust for power? Where are speed, noise, ugliness, everything that makes us who we are and makes us recognize ourselves in fiction?"



Clearly this is not flashy and trashy orange soda fiction because Stegner did make his novel out of those quiet lives. This is fiction of clarity and light. And certainly the words themselves are something to be savored. Stegner’s mastery of the language is delightful. And I wholly felt the characters were real people whom I knew well. And the book has unmistakable philosophical undertones dealing with art, friendship, marriage, and death. In every way this novel has met and exceeded my criteria. Read it. Read it now instead of waiting for two years like I did.





View all my reviews

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

New Jersey and NYC

On Saturday in NJ we all went to Turtleback Zoo with the kids. It was a busy day because it was free! That night I saw some wedding pictures my mom had on the fridge and I got all misty eyed, missing Clint. This was the longest we'd been apart since before we got married--eight days!

On Sunday we basically sat around and gorged ourselves on lemon cake and coconut cake. After dinner the girls watched Don Juan and gossiped about how many boys we'd kissed. It was a fun girls night and a good prelude to girls day!

On Monday Jacob promised Megan some time away from the kids so we escaped to eat lunch at a Greek place and get manicures. Afterwards we plopped and watched Strictly Ballroom. It was lovely! When we came downstairs Ben had lots of questions about my flute, so I found a recorder to let him play with. I quickly realized that this was a grave mistake and managed to hide the thing when he wasn't looking. After we dined on steaks that evening, I helped Ben get his energy out by running laps and chasing him around the house. I'm pretty amazed at that kid's energy. He's kind of a whirlwind of flailing limbs, really.

On Tuesday Mom and I drove to an iris garden. We also attempted to drive to great falls, but Mom wanted me to drive while she navigated, and this did not work out. So we got take out Chinese and returned home. Later that evening we went into the city and watched Mary Poppins on Broadway, something I'd been wanting to do since all my semester abroad friends proclaimed it was "magical." Parking in the city wasn't fun, but the show was!

On Wednesday I went with my parents into the city again and visited The Cloisters, a branch of the met that specializes in medieval art. It was quite lovely! The museum is designed to feel like a monastery and the hushed, dim hallways certainly had that effect. We enjoyed the gardens and everything we learned on the tour. It was especially interesting to hear how some of the pieces were gained--one sculpture was being used as a footbridge over a stream!









After the Cloisters Dad drove us to Great Falls--this time with success. However, the falls were not as we expected them. The water had been diverted away or something, and the falls weren't much of falls at all. After that we went to a good Thai restaurant. Next time I want to try the exotic dessert with sweet potatoes and jack fruit.

The next day I flew back home where Clint welcomed me with an orchid plant. I had a lot of fun on my trip, but it was good to be home.

Connecticut

The Amtrak to Connecticut was much better than I expected; it has to be the best form of public transportation. I sat next to a renaissance man with whom I shared a delightful conversation on the way up. When I arrived in Stamford, Megan and the kids picked me up and took me to a children's museum.







On that next fateful day, Thursday, June 2nd, we went to the beach. There we played on the playground for hours while Ben chased "bad guys" and visited the fish house. We also played for a few minutes on the beach, which was my downfall. As we were rinsing off our feet, someone lost control of her long board, and I was struck directly on my ankle. I still bear the remnants of this injury almost two months later. Boo. That night we dined on stroganoff that Ben "improved" with extra paprika and parsley.



On Friday I smooshed in between car seats and we all headed to Kent Falls.






After Kent falls we headed back to the house, then smooshed in the car again to visit New Jersey.

DC Day Two

This day we slept in. Clint's feet were covered in blisters from our wanderings the day before, so we took our time. We had brunch at La Madeline, got some change to feed the meters and drove into DC. Our first stop was the white house.





If it was possible, this day was even hotter than the day before. Fortunately, we happened upon a white house visitor center where we were able to get some water and hit the bathrooms. Then we were off to the monuments walk. First, I got friendly with George Mason.



Then, of course, we hit the Thomas Jefferson memorial.






And continued to the Roosevelt memorial and walked past the in process MLK monument. Eventually we made it to the WWII memorial.





We then proceeded to walk the Vietnam memorial path which felt like descending into the inner circle of hell. Walking down into the depression with the black stone emanating heat waves, it was all I could do to make it out the other side. Fortunately, Clint was able to snap a few pictures.





Our last stop was the Lincoln memorial. Some girls were lying down in the shade in the memorial and a security guard told them to get up. I felt their pain.



At this point I was a walking sweat zombie. I barely made it to the car with Clint's encouragement. "We're almost there....you can do it..." Finally we did make it to the blessed air conditioning. Then we drove to Karen's apartment in Arlington. She and Rupert didn't head out to their honeymoon until a week after the wedding, so Clint and I were able to snag some post wedding time. We headed to Arlington Cemetery with Karen in tow.










Afterwards we returned to Karen's apartment to share some wedding leftovers and white chocolate "crack" with Rupert. My hands got so swollen in the heat that my wrist had bruises from my watch, and I couldn't get my wedding ring off! I spent some time at Karen's soaking my hands in ice water and soaping my finger, to no avail. I wasn't able to get the ring off until that night when I showered. It was the conditioner that did the trick. After we left Karen's we headed to our hotel in Baltimore where we snagged a few hours of sleep before Clint left for his early flight, and I left for the Amtrak.

Monday, July 25, 2011

DC Trip

So after Karen's wedding Clint and I explored DC for a few days. I was excited to show him my favorite city! I also have to confess that he thought the national mall was a shopping mall. It made me excited because I felt all cosmopolitan--like I was showing him the world! We got a late start on the first day due to chatting with Karen's mom (who graciously allowed us to stay in her house during the wedding!) and due to the Memorial Day parade in downtown Rockville. We eventually made it in though, and first thing headed to the Capitol Building.



Then we had to hit my old favorite, the botanical gardens.





Our next stop was the Air and Space museum. Clint enjoyed seeing all the crazy engines etc. After that we headed to the National Gallery, though at that point we were so beat that we had to take a rest in the air conditioning!



After we were rejuvenated enough to continue walking, we walked off the mall and bit and stopped at the first restaurant we saw--some slightly ghetto trolley restaurant. After a cheese steak for me and a burger for Clint we headed to the American History museum--but the line was out the door. We thought we'd skip it and migrated on to the Washington Monument. We were so exhausted at this point that we laid on the grass in bar of shade created by the monument. Remember that we'd left Utah's very cold and rainy weather and jumped into around 100 degrees and humid DC weather. We weren't quite equipped for it.






After we gathered what little reserves of strength we had, we headed to the Kennedy Center for a free show at the Millennial Stage. I really enjoyed the performers, The Revivalists. You can actually see the show here. They were a fun band from New Orleans--they felt a tad like OAR or DMB. We ended up leaving a tad early though because we were both so exhausted!





After that we hopped on the metro and headed to our hotel in Rockville. It wasn't bad if I do say so myself! We even had a little towel creature like we were on a cruise.



That night I decided we should go to the Silver Diner for dinner because most of the nicer places were closing down. I was weirded out by the whole locavore vibe that the Silver Diner is now trying to pull off, as well as the fact that the restaurant didn't seem like I remembered it. As we started a wild goose chase to find ice cream after dinner, I saw the OLD Silver Diner building--and felt a little better realizing that my memory hadn't betrayed me. It was kind of sad though, seeing that dark old building. It brought back a few shimmery memories from my past.

MD Trip

I used the trip to MD for Karen's wedding as an excuse to show Clint my old haunting grounds. We stopped by my old neighborhood and Malcolm King Park.









We also snuck off to see the DC temple grounds. Clint was very impressed at the size of the temple.










I was sad we didn't end up attending a session because I've never been inside the DC temple except for baptisms. I guess I'll have to make it happen another time.

Clint's Birthday

Yes, I am the greatest wife ever and organized a birthday extravaganza! First I presented him with his gifts to get excited about for later. Then we hopped on this



to go here:



After we enjoyed our wings, we headed to Tracey Aviary at Liberty Park. We watched a bird show and attempted to rescue a baby quail.











Then we went to the dollar theater and watched The Adjustment Bureau. Finally we returned to the house for dinner, presents, and the awesome cake that I made. Well, it looked awesome, but was a little dry. What can I say, it was my first attempt at making a layer cake.