Blows My Mind

I know, three post in one day.  But I just feel like I have to share this.  

At said weekend from previous post, I was chatting with a particular young man.  He was interesting enough, but then this comes out of his mouth.  "I think deep down all Americans really want to be European." 

I must say that as much as I love Europe and want to visit as often as possible, and even try and live there, I do love America, and being American.  I was super perplexed as to why he would say such a thing.  Therefore, trying to understand why he would make such a statement, the conversation went on as follows:

ME: Why do you think such a thing?

B: Because Unemployment is getting to high, like it is over there. 

ME:  Have you even been "over there?"

B: Well . . .  No

ME: So, you really want to make a comment like that to someone you really dont know, when you havent even left the US. 

B: Ive been to Mexico

ME: On your Mission?

B: No, that was Brazil.  I went to Cancun and Tiwanna. 

ME: So you are going to base all your foreign concepts on what you saw in Cancun and Tiwanna?

(Seriously?!)

This is why I travel.  

Rhode Island . . .

. . . My Love!

Sam inticed me hang out in to Rhode Island with some of her NYC Friends for the weekend.  It was a lovely weekend.  I didnt head down there until Saturday afternoon due to a 2 y/o My Little Pony Birthday party, and I wanted to help some at the new house.  

There really is a special place in my heart for Rhode Island.  Its a quirky little state.  But it does definitely deliver for being so small.  

When I was living in Florida, and had never visited/lived in RI, I found myself dating a boy from Rhode Island.  I used to tease him that for being such a small state there must be only like two people that live there.  What must the other dude be doing with out him?!  Ahh.  Naive little me.  

Bold Move #5,555,678

Not going to expound on it at the moment.  But I made bold move #5,555,678 for the year. Trying to keep to my new years resolution that this was going to be the year for them.  Pray for me.    

The United Kingdom

Back state side after my random jaunt to the UK. It was a great trip. Made it to Northern Ireland, Ireland, England, and Scotland. It was beautiful, and only had about 2.5 days of rain, which the locals tell me that those are amazing odds! It was also really amazing to be able to meet up with a few old friends, also.

Now its time to face reality, but let me share a few pictures first.

You cant see too many sheep in this picture, but Ireland has more sheep than people. They are everywhere. We actually jumped a fence to try and get a picture close up with them, and they all scurried away, and then stopped, turned around and looked at us like we were lunatics.

Before almost dying on our ride around the Dingle Peninsula. Seriously, there was almost a funeral. Im WAY TOO out of shape to do stuff like that, sadly.

Cliffs of Moher. Totally went past the "Private Property, Do Not Enter" signs and

got some amazing photos.

The "Chair" at Giant's Causeway. GC was proof to me that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor. Loved it.

I was practicing in case we were to follow the rainbow to the pot of gold!

I was able to meet up with an old Boston friend in London, Aimee Latta.

She is lucky enough to be doing her Masters in London.

In front of Buckingham Palace, waiting for the changing of the Guard.

Hanging out in Glasgow with old friend Josh Barton.

Love this shot! Had to put it in.

Spontaneous!

On Sunday, I bought a plane ticket. . . For this Sunday.  Im heading to Ireland for a week, then off to London for a week.  Being unemployed is fabulous!

Sad Day in LDS Cambridge History

I came to Boston in time for Church this week.  Jasmine came to visit me in Hartford, and then we headed back to Boston last night.  

After about 20 minutes of sitting in the chapel, listening to Stake (Regional) Conference that was being broadcast from SLC, the fire alarm.  

. . .  Once the flames started, it didnt take long for this iconic building to be gutted.  

Its all still very surreal.  We all just stood around for hours watching.  Not really sure what to do, where to go, or how to help.  The Friends church across the street from us kindly opened there doors for us.  

This building was the first LDS Chapel in the area, New England Area.  Many, many people have passed through these doors.  Many memories were based on events here.  Many people consider this to be home.  . . .   Lucky, no one was hurt.  Everyone made it out safely.  And the biggest physical loss we endured is the pipe organ that will mostly be irreplaceable.  

One of the news crew commented on the fact that we werent hysterically cried or overly emotional about it.  He had been to other worship centers that had tragedy hit it.  But for many of us, I believe that we know that the building is not our faith/religion.  The building was merely a place of worship.  Another will be built.  We will continue to worship while its being built.  And that the Lord loves each and everyone of us, and will help.  

PS.  I made it to the news.  Trust me.  I didnt want to be.  I was asked to watch a friends bag as she chased after her two children.  So I was posted by the bag.  Not wanting to pick up three said bags when the news crew started to lurk, I tried to look uninterested in them.  Guess it didnt work.  I made it to two different stations.  One definitely proved why that was not my intention. 

PSS.  Thank you to the missionary that found my phone.  When I got up to evacuate the building, I heard a thud, just thought that a Hymn book fell, and kept walking.  Once I got outside, and realized that it was in fact a fire, and wanted to take a picture, I reached for my phone/camera, and did not find it.  I thought, 'Oh, its not bad, when its all over, Ill just go inside and get it.  Hope smoke damage is covered in the warranty!'  It started to get bad and I realized that I wasnt going to be getting in there, and I started to get alittle annoyed with myself for not checking when I heard the thud.  Well.  I mentioned it to a few of the friends around.  . . . And low and behold a friend came over and gave me my phone.  The missionaries got it, looked at my last text, and took it to that person.  Oh, thank you missionaries.  Saved me $400!  Lovely! 

Withdrawals

Seriously having problems.  I dont know what Im going to do.  

I started watching Season 2 - Lipstick Jungle.  You can get all the episodes on NBC.com.  

Darn them.  The series is over.  Which is sad.  Because this was a good series.  They need to bring it back.  Like yesterday.