Salt Lake in Sept

This past weekend I had the chance to go to Salt Lake for a dear cousins wedding. What a fabulous weekend it was. I got to spend some time with my ever amusing Walker cousins. I definitely cement my place as the Alpha Cousin! So happy I was able to be there and be apart of things.

So good to see so many dear faces and spend sometime catching up. I just love how there are people in our life that might have been around for a short time and some longer, but when you are able to get together, its like no time has passed. It was a weekend full of these fabulous visits.

A few pictures. Definitely didnt get near enough.







Also. Mistakenly was referred to as my (other) cousins girlfriend, and then wife to same said cousin, and then a friend's sister, and surprisingly also as her husband's twin. Funny stories. Lessons to me on not making snap judgments, or at least voicing them!

Out Of Office

I just had to pass this along. I found it rather amusing. Its from a co-worker who took 3 weeks off for his wedding and honeymoon.

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening-

On the scale of lameness, this out of office email will rate rather highly. Do you ever have those periods when you’re just not feelin’ it? Call it writer’s block, temporary correspondence atrophy, or general email funk; the malaise goes by many a name. Like those medic-alert bracelet commercials of yesteryear, “I’ve fallen and can’t get up.” Sigh…this too shall pass. Until I get my groove back, you should probably contact one of the following highly communicative individuals to obtain more astute commentary on the state of affairs:

For data requests, please send an email to

For email campaigns, please send an email to

For issues regarding eFolio, please send an email to

For hosted Delphi support issues, please send an email to

For ISAC > Opera interface support, please send an email to

For questions about Hoovers, please send an email to

For concerns about the mapping tool, thank you for your feedback. I will be refreshing that data in late September upon my return. I am grateful for your continued patience.

For everything else, please send a note to:

If these guys are also experiencing a temporary communication shortfall, be not afraid. You can only keep good people down for so long before they rebound and send something really ridiculous. Until then, we can only ride out this storm comfortable in the knowledge that better times lay ahead.

Have a great start to September, and I will look forward to speaking with you on or around September 20th when I return.

Warmest Regards,

Conversationally Deficient in White Plains

Daily Amusement

Antoine Dodson warns a PERP on LIVE TV!

Religious Freedom

Warning. Politics and Religion are not usually topics that I share through this venue. But I feel the need to share. . . .

In the wake of controversy here in New York City over a Mosque near Ground Zero, I am thankful for a country that allows for religious freedom. Being that I am Mormon and our history is packed with countless stories of being treated horribly for having beliefs different to those of the communities we lived in, my heart goes out to those Muslims that are looking for more space so that they may practice their religion.

Yes, yes. The events of 9/11 are pinned back to members of the Islamic world. But it was a small portion of the Islam world that have these radical beliefs. And in comparison, there are plenty of things that the general public pins on Mormonism, that is not the whole or even a part of the Mormon faith. It is frustrating and sad that people dont find out the truth but rather just listen to (non researched and bias) voices around them. I had the chance to study the Islamic faith earlier this year, and found many commonalities with my own faith.

My heart goes out to all those that experience hatred and fear due to where they live and the faith they practice.

Im grateful for those that came before me and made it possible that I may go 60 blocks north to attend church every Sunday, that I may attend a Temple not only in Manhattan, but all around the United States and even the world, and that I may outwardly share my religion with those around me. Thank you.

Cut Off

For two+ weeks, I was greatly removed from the internet. Every once in awhile my iPhone would connect to wifi and I would get emails, and updated on Facebook. But it turned out to be more seldom than I thought would happen.

I got home from my trip and started to get back into my normal life, and I got depressed. After about a week, I realized that it was largely due to the amount of "social media" I allow into my life. Dont get me wrong. I love it, and am a huge advocate of it for many years now. But like everything else, there is a balance to life. And when one area has a larger hold than others, its just not good.

So. Im cutting myself off, slowly! And granted Im not great at this, but Im starting small. I took off certain apps from my iPhone. Im trying to reduce my personal internet usage at work, etc. Ive already started to notice a difference. Now if I can just keep with it and make it more of a habit.

I noticed that the new Mormon Message on Parenting is largely about media/electronics in a child's life and regulating it. Looks like I need to start with myself, if Im ever going to be a good parent, when that day comes.

My Heart Hurts

When I was with my friend and her family in Germany, her little guy would say "my heart hurts" anytime that he was unhappy or his feelings got hurt.

And that is the only thing that has been coming to mind lately. My heart hurts. Maybe its just the post-travel blues. Maybe its the irrational behavior that I have been exhibiting lately.

Im a romantic at heart. But I also hate to be the center of attention. In someways those two things contradict. But still, I want someone to make some outward expression of their 'love,' but Ill even just take interest, right now.

I think that is why I love the scene in The Wedding Date when Nick tells Kat:

I'm allergic to fabric softener. I majored in comparative literature at Brown. I hate anchovies. And I think I'd miss you even if we never met.

And then he grabs her hand.

Something so simple, quiet, and perfect.

Im turning 29 next month. Ohh. My heart just hurts.

Mangum Bars are the new Pan au Chocolate

I have been hesitant to post about my trip as I am waiting for all the pictures from my two travel companions. But. Oh well.

What a lovely European Whirlwind Trip that was. I wont bore you with ALL the details, but will just give you an overview.

Karlsruhe, Germany - Meet up with an old high school friend, Brandi, whose husband just took a job in Mannheim, Germany. Since it was so recent they still werent in their house yet, and we decided to visit in a different city altogether. It was great to spend time with her and her little family, and experience all things German together. I was amazed at how much German actually came back to me.





Luxembourg - What a fabulous little place. So clean and immaculate. Loved it here. All 18 hrs of it! I included a picture of Ilja, a fellow backpacker from Germany.






Brussels, Belgium - It took a few hours to enjoy it as the cleanliness was starkly different than that of Luxembourg. But the buildings were amazing, the food delightful, and the people so kind. Wish I had a local to show me around. Next time!







Delft, Netherlands - A relaxing few days spent with an old friend, Leah, from my days of pretending to learn German! She has been living there for 1.5 years now and her husband has been there for 3, so it was so nice to be with locals, and feel like a local. We rode bikes, enjoyed the country side leisurely, watched a movie (in which I was the ONLY one laughing at the movie in the whole theater), went to the North Sea, and just enjoyed being together and catching up.








Amsterdam, Netherlands - Leah and her husband joined me for the first afternoon there, and we meet up with my two traveling companions, Jasmine and Angela, and another fellow Boston friend Amie. We were all so glad to have 'locals' who knew where to go and what to see. Rent bikes again, but this experience was alittle more frightful. Enjoyed riding along the canals. We walked through the red light district, during the day and it wasnt really what I thought it would be like. Lots of nice parks, and museums.









We will not mention the night we hung out in the train station, er the platform.

Copenhagen, Denmark - Saw the original Cristus statue, and where the mermaid statue should have been, rode bikes again, and enjoyed the city.







Stockholm, Sweden - This was my favorite city. Visited the Palace. Saw where the Nobel Peace Prize is given out. Went to SoFo (thought to be like SoHo in NYC). Stadhuset. Historiska Museet (Sounds so much cooler in Swedish, the History Museum). And loved wandering through the streets. The Swedish people are so friendly, and beautiful! :)




** My favorite lunch. French Hot Dog and a bottle of Fanta Exotic.




This was taken on the cruise ship, er ferry, that we took to Helsinki. Loved leaving Stockholm and seeing all the islands. We played the 'Guess which one is Elins' game! Lots of good options.

Helsinki, Finland - We were tired by now, and just relaxed on the one day we had here. Visit a cathedral, relaxed in the Esplanade park, enjoyed a coffee shop, and watch Inception.

Fest i Nord - Background: This is an annual Scandinavian singles Mormon conference that has been happening for many, many years. This year it was in Lohja, Finland about an hour outside of Helsinki. I met some great people from all over the world. Visited with old friends. Enjoyed the spirit of Saints from all over the world who have such amazing testimonies. Danced, man do those Scandinavians love to dance!







When are we going back? Or to the other hundreds of countries that are out there?! My bags are packed, at a moments notice.

- When I traveled to France with a dear friend, we, er I, ate Pan au Chocolate everyday, if not multiple times a day! Since it was summer, I traded in my pastries for ice cream. I would give anything for a Magnum bar right now!