Happy Halloween

The single's ward was having a stake conference so we went to a family ward instead. After, we had a picnic at the Mount Auburn Cemetery. It is so beautiful there! To increase the Halloween factor, we started watching the movie Hocus Pocus on Ashley's computer while eating. Then we explored the cemetery stopping at the lakes, churches, and climbing the Rapunzel tower. Very cool!

My driving skills were put to the test as I drove us around Boston to the Bunker Hill Monument, Beacon Hill, the Financial District, universities, Cheers, etc. Good stuff!

Last stop was to turn in the rental car and get some take-out to eat while finishing up Hocus Pocus. Happy Halloween!

Stained glass window in my bathroom stall.

Southbound Again to SALEM

An early morning start...but why? Apparently it only takes 8 hours to drive back down to Boston as opposed to 10 1/2 hours to get to PEI. Even driving the same roads. It's a mystery.

Speaking of mystery...Salem! We spent quite some time in the Witches village. Three haunted houses, a wax museum, witch's spell casting, candlelight night walk, a fabulous cheesy broccoli pasta dinner, and apple cinnamon dessert later, we had a happy Halloween celebration! Of course, as we weren't drunk, the haunted houses were definitely NOT scary. Utah ones are way better! Location does improve them significantly of course...

Prince Edward Island

Turns out I don't have the right cord for my camera anymore. I'll be taking my storage device to work to see if I can down load the pictures that weren't on my phone for later...

Road Trip

It stayed misty leaving Maine, with lots of crows flying along the side of the road. The colors were beautiful! Yes, we missed the peak time, but they were still colorful.

At the Canadian border, the patrolman made fun of Ashley for saying we were headed to Prince Edwards Island. He still let us across though...without a stamp in our passport!  :-(

Only a few more hours and then we made it to our hotel in Charlottetown. Dinner was at Maggie's, a homecooked family restaurant. We were a bit carniverous and got the steaks. Delicious!

Back home, I missed the farewell party for a few guys at work.
Including Scott Armstrong. Come back to visit!

Travel Day

Had a nice non-stop flight to Boston Logan Airport. I arrived two hours earlier than my friend Ashley, and then her flight was delayed three hours. With the extra time, I decided to pick up the rental car early and go to the Boston Temple. Unfortunately, the address didn't register on the GPS, so I put in the meetinghouse addresses for the city and drove from place to place until I came across the temple. The people there were so nice! And though I changed in the parking lot...twice...there were no problems in making it in and out in time to get back to the airport to pick Ashley up. Then there was a misty, spooky 2 1/2 hour drive to Brunswick where they had our room key taped to the office door since we arrived after their closing time. Road trip time!

Halloween's Come Early?

At work today we did trick-or-treating in our department between divisions. WAY too much food, but oh was it good! Our division did caramel popcorn bags and had an industrial popcorn popper with flavored salts that people could use.

Fred Edwards and Edgardo Carbajal making popcorn

Mom came up for lunch again while waiting for the boy at Primary Childrens. We went to Winger's, but it really didn't do me any good since I was so full from our office trick-or-treating! I just went for the company and to chat.

The ward FHE activity was carving pumpkins. I tried my hand at carving a bat...free-hand. It was so ugly that I ended up just leaving it there. Wonder what's become of it...?

Spanish Ward

I went to my parents' Spanish ward again with them - still as part of my mom's bday present. She likes it when someone sits next to her translating what is being said so she understands what is going on better. I actually felt really comfortable in understanding and communicating...almost as if my Spanish is improving. How can that be though?

Jenny and Brett left a gorgeous bouquet of flowers for me outside my bedroom door. They said it was just because. I think its because they really enjoyed their time at Packsley's Penthouse!

I forgot to mention that last night after the presents, I played with all the nieces and nephews. They had little guns that shoot out eight, soft, styrofoam darts, which I would shoot at them while they tried dodging. SO MUCH FUN! When the parents started yelling for their kids to be quiet, and realized I was with them making the noise, we were banished from the room. Instead I counted to twenty so the kids could hide, would shout - 'ready or not you shall be shot', then I stalked them around the house and shot them when I found their hiding places. Hehehe...

Happy 6-0-th Birthday Mom!

We had a surprise birthday party for my mom. She is an ordinance worker at the temple on Saturdays, so we arranged with her supervisor for her to be assigned to an endowment session. She went in to the chapel before the session and Deborah was in there. My mom got excited because they were going to be in the same session. Then she saw me and thought it was a great coincidence that I was going to be in the same session too. The tears came when Jenny and Brett showed up because she realized it wasn't a coincidence anymore. She expected Lori and Cody after that, but the tears came again when her brother Deron and his wife Angie showed up too. It was a really good family session!

Jodie made a big 75-foot banner that said Happy Bday, and had all the grandkids holding it for my mom as she drove home from the temple. It was super cute. Then, Joaquin Fenollar from my ward came and played Happy Birthday for my mom on his trumpet. After, he also sang a song for her in Spanish then the English version plus gave her a card. It was very sweet. Lots of presents and desserts to finish up the evening. Hope you had a great birthday mom!



With mom in the picture.



Baby Tiffany





Mom and Joaquin after the serenade.

 

Mom and Dad dancing
at the end of the night.

Auction and Anne of Green Gables

My ward does a sub-for-Santa project every year. People in the ward donate items that are then auctioned off and the funds are used to buy Christmas presents for different families in need. Tonight was the auction. I  bid on a few different items from the silent auction (the live auction items were way too expensive for me!) and I got one of the items. A happy birthday song to be played on the trumpet to a loved one. I arranged it to take place for my mom's surprise party tomorrow. In years past they've raised up to $22,000!

I left the activity early to make it back for Amy and Amanda to come over to my place. In preparation for my trip to Prince Edward Island next week, we watched the first disc of Anne of Green Gables. Had to check out all those places I'm going to go see!

6-Year-Old Birthday Wish

Today is my nephew Bryan's birthday - he just turned six. I called to sing to him and after asked what he was going to do for his birthday. His response? 'I get to lay back on the couch and watch TV while everyone else has to clean the house around me and I don't have to help or nothin'!' And really, who could fault him for wanting that as his present??!!

Vote By Mail

It's official! I have sent in my vote by mail. I used to be registered in the Pleasant Grove area, but figured my vote would count a bit more now that I'm in Salt Lake so I moved my registration and voted by mail. Way better than taking off work to go to a booth!

Had a bad heart day. Serious heart pains for about three hours. It got to the point I considered not driving all the way down to Provo for my doctor and just going to one here at the University hospital, but I waited it out and they went away. I think it had something to do with the three arrythmias I felt last night. Just one of those off days! Unless it comes back again...

Schmidt and I met up in Sugarhouse for a little shopping and then dinner at Olive Garden. We both got coats, then I went a little overboard with three sweaters and a jacket too. Hey, I've got a trip coming up that I need to prepare for!  =D  We had some more good laughs. On the countdown now for the next time she comes down!

Castle of Chaos

Lori, Cody, Sarah and I visited the Castle of Chaos tonight. I'd have to say it was one of the better haunted houses I've gone to. It was a long course which was good, but had lots of variety like tight spaces, a jiggly elevator, uneven floors, separated from your group crawl spaces, and a coffin you have to climb into and lay down in. When they close the lid on you, your feet tilt down and you slide out into another room where someone with a chain saw tries to cut your feet off. Good fun! And I've discovered, that apparently I don't feel like things are as scary if I have one eye closed or am squinting. That way I kept my eyes opened (or partially opened) the entire time. Quite an improvement for someone who can't even watch 'What Lies Beneath' without getting scared!

I did let out some pretty good screams due to being at the back of our group (Gus' comments in Psych kept coming to mind from one of their Halloween episodes about going into a mental hospital with Shawn - 'I will not go first. I will not go last. I will not be left alone. I will not be left behind.' And then all of those things happen. Both to Gus...AND to me!)

There were some very creepy comments whispered by the workers in your ear as you scuttled through their room. One girl hovered right behind me and kept whispering that she wanted to eat my heart. I already have a love/hate relationship with my heart. At that moment it was definitely a love moment so she couldn't have it!

All in all, a fun time!

Schmiiiiidttty!

Schmidt is in town! And whenever she is, the girls from our MTC district get together to celebrate. This time, Emily, Alisa, and I met Jennifer at her hotel in Park City and went out to eat at a place on Main Street. We meant to go on the Haunted Ghost Walk, but ended up talking and laughing the whole time at the restaurant. We finally had to leave because they closed down. My stomach and cheeks ached afterward because we laughed so hard. Fond remembrances? Schmidt scaring a girl in the MTC bathroom because she had hiccups. Singing the Halloween song of 'Witches Flying Through the Sky' and scaring Jennifer with the BOO at the end. The infamous spider in the bed in the middle of the night, etc.

After the party broke up, I spent the night at Schmidt's hotel (the Yarrow) and drove in to work the next morning. I must waste a lot of time in the morning because I got up at the same time as back home, made it to work at the same time, yet had a 45 min drive in. Where does that time go?

The Gang

Weekend Visitors

My sister Jenny and brother-in-law Brett came to spend the weekend at Packsley's Penthouse. It was UEA this weekend so Brett didn't have to teach school. They got babysitters for the five boys and came for a relaxing weekend away. I made breakfast burritos, waffles, and fruit smoothies for breakfast before we went for a walk up and around the State Capitol. We even went in for a bit of a tour. Here are a few pictures documenting the visit-

I can't believe they actually have five kids with what she wears to bed!

Kissing the buffalo.

Lookout from the COB 26th floor







Ancestor John Pack on a plaque at the State Capitol.

Seminar Time

Long hours, cool experiences, successful seminar.

Great devotional given by all of the First Presidency in the SL Temple chapel. Elder Nelson was so kind and shook hands and wished a good morning. Played the piano for 10 min for Elder Bednar. Spoke ALOT of Spanish...most of it was understood. =D  Had a coworker spend a few nights so she wouldn't have to drive so far home with the late evenings and more early mornings. Special concert by the Mormon Tabernacle choir. Can't wait until next year!


MaryAnn & Karen deep

in preparations.



Ushers (a.k.a. Temple Dept employees)
waiting for their next assignment.









View of the temple while waiting for the MoTab concert.



Visitors

We had visitors today at church. Elder L. Tom Perry, Sister Julie Beck, and Elder Ringwood of the Seventy came and spoke to us during our Sacrament meeting. Sarah Joy joined me and it was really good. There is a definite plus to living in the Salt Lake area. Lots of contact with leaders of the Church that one normally wouldn't have in other areas.

Early Morning

An early Saturday morning start time for work. I don't like to be up by 6 am let alone starting work at that time. This next week will be full of the same, but it's for a good cause though - it's seminar time!

I drove down to PG in the late afternoon to go to a movie with mom. After, we took a picture together with dad to send to Lisa and the boys so they won't forget us.

Late Night

Did you know there was a protest at Temple Square and the Church Office Building tonight by the homosexual community regarding the remarks made by President Packer at last week's General Conference about marriage being between a man and a woman? I certainly didn't know about it and I was even there! Working late at the Church Office Building and didn't hear or see anything though there were over 2,000 people surrounding the building! Guess we were protected from the craziness and were able to get the work done that we needed for the seminar for new temple presidents coming up next week. What a difference between the two objectives!

Off KILT-er

Today's observations:

- A man in the cafeteria today at work dressed

   full out in a kilt.

- Two very attractive men at the grocery store walking

   hand-in-hand.

- My Comcast DVR finally working...after having

   to buy a part.

- And, my new fabulous boots causing pressure marks

   and indentations on my legs.

What a day!

Grrr Comcast!

I had to take a number and wait in line for a very long time today at Comcast. They have a long counter with about ten people behind it helping people and it still takes forever! When it was finally my turn? They couldn't help me because I sublet my apartment. They need a signed letter and copy of picture identification from the owner before allowing me to rent a DVR. Germany! The owners live in Germany! I'm going to have to work my magic...

Conference Weekend

We've been able to watch the sessions of Conference while in St. George. Saturday evening we went to dinner together again and once dad got back from Priesthood session, we all watched a movie. It's been a nice relaxing weekend...yes, I'm still in my pajamas...always a prerequisite for relaxation. Dad picked up dinner on his way home last night from Priesthood for us to eat today. I could get used to this!

T-A-R-Z-A-N-!!!

My mom turns the big 6-0 this month. To celebrate, my dad and I took her on a surprise trip to St. George. She didn't know where we were going, only that she was supposed to pack a bag and be ready to go. We are staying with my Aunt Ann and went to dinner with her at the Texas Roadhouse Grill. STEAK! We left the take home boxes in my aunt's fridge and hit the road again (almost breaking my mom's heart thinking she wasn't going to get to eat her leftovers later) and went to Tuacahn theatre to see Tarzan. That cheered mom right up since not only was she going to get her steak, but she got to see Tarzan who she's wanted to see ever since the float where he was swinging around at the Days of 47 Parade. We made sure she got a picture with him afterward. She didn't even mind the long line for it - she spent that time trying to think of a way to ask Jane to step out of the picture. Unfortunately she didn't come up with a good excuse so she had to share Tarzan in the photo. Our front row seats were fantastic! Happy Birthday mom!