Trip to LA

I had a fun time visiting Serena and Tucker. After the Midwestern winter, it was great to go to the warmth of California, plus I hadn't seen them since they moved out there a couple of years ago. Thank you both for your hospitality.

I was got there Friday afternoon, and left early Tuesday afternoon. On Saturday, we went to a Dodger's game, as noted in the previous post. It was nice to go to a game in warm weather this season (I have already been to a White Sox game on a 50-degree night). The fans were great there; I got to know the people sitting in the row before us who drove down from Northern California for the game. One guy was telling me who each of the retired numbers represented, since I couldn't read the names from our seats.




Outside of the stadium, we got a nice view of LA as well.











After the game, we drove down to Santa Monica and stopped at Palisades Park. I did not get stuck at the top of the Ferris Wheel, but I did get my first experiece of visiting the ocean. (Yes, I am almost 32 years old, and had never been to the ocean before.)



The water was colder than I expected, although my expectations were off since it is April. I was also curious, so I took a small taste--it was saltier than I expected as well.











After the beach, we drove up Santa Monica Blvd., Rodeo Drive, and Sunset Drive. I was disappointed that you couldn't see any of the homes along Sunset since people let their hedges grow so high, although I really don't blame them given the entertainment media. We saw the Hollywood sign as well, although by then it was dark and the sign was still unlit so I didn't get a good picture.

More to follow from Sunday and Monday events.

New Look

I decided to update my blog layout a bit. The photo is Dodger Stadium from the game agains the Colorado Rockies on April 18, 2009. I know its not the Cardinals, but I will hopefully get one of Busch Stadium to replace it when I finally make it to a Cardinals game. I don't mind paying homage to the Dodgers for a while since they knocked the Cubs out of the playoffs with that wonderful three-game sweep last year.

And the winner is...

As some of you know, I have been conducting an informal survey to determine the best apple for eating. While there were lots of good contestants, one eventually stood out.

I asked around for ideas from others, and Honeycrisp gathered a lot of support. And I did try many good Honeycrisp apples, which came in second overall. I also tried Ambrosia apples which were pretty good, although they didn't last long in season and I only saw them one place. Braeburn were ok, as were Fuji. I wasn't a fan of Jonathan. Granny Smith are by far the best, and the only ones I use, for cooking, but they sometimes give me a stomachache when eating.

Which leaves Gala. They had the best texture of any apples, and were sweet without being too sweet.

And there you have it.

Random Wikipedia search:
James Caan

Christmas Tree

Well, inspired by Serena, I decided I should post some pictures of my Christmas tree too.

I finally got a tree topper this weekend. I haven't had one until this year. I remember we used to have this blue one on our trees when I was little, but I never knew what happened to it. I got a similar style for mine, but this one is reddish/purple with some silver scrollwork on it.

Most people who know me well, especially around Christmas time, know my love of Christmas ornaments. Here is a closeup of a few.

I will collect any ornament I think is cool, but there are several themes. I collect a lot of different birds - cardinals and flamingos are my favorites (although I don't have a lot of flamingos yet). I also collect a lot of fairy and angel ornaments - maybe I just like flying things.

I also collect a lot of fruit and vegetable ornaments too. You can kind of see the eggplant ornament in this photo.

Last year, I decided to collect the 12 days of christmas in ornaments. The above picture shows one of my 9 ladies dancing (the ballerina) and one of the 12 drummers drumming (you may not be able to see, but the tiny angel is playing a drum).

If anyone wants to help me, I have the hardest time finding the maids a milking and lords a leaping. I have 1 of each, but only 1. (maybe 2 lords) I am also looking for ideas for the golden rings. Geese are suprisingly hard to find too, since I can find almost every other kind of bird.

Anyway, I'm thinking I may start branching out to other decorations. It would be fun to get a train set up. Or other decorations around the house for future years. I have never really put lights up. I usually get a poinsettia or two - I love them - and I got a wreath last year. I think I want to wait until I have a house of my own though. Well see.

Random Wikipedia searches:

• Bonnie Prince Charlie
• The Kirk
• Francis Hutcheson

Hype

One of the things that has recently bothered me is the whole Obama-Lincoln comparisons that have cropped up. They came up from time to time in the primaries and campaigns, and recently with the whole "Team of Rivals" cabinet. I don't know if this is coming from his people or the media (and the cynic in me wants to exclaim "what's the difference"), but its getting a little irritating because Obama isn't Lincoln and shouldn't try to be Lincoln. He has many gifts, is a very capable politician, and may become one of our greatest presidents, but he should try to do so on his own merits, not by becoming someone else.

This sort of thing isn't specific to Obama or even politics. The Republicans have been looking for the next Ronald Reagan since 1988. Every NBA draft talking heads on TV are looking for the next Michael Jordan.

The thing is, it is important to have good role models and people we want to emulate, whether in our chosed profession, or just in life. But, before we anoint someone as the heir to a previous great person, let them be themselves and make their own mark.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

I received an email today that informed me that Elder Wirthlin passed away on Monday. While he will me missed greatly by his family and the membership of the church, it is hard for me to be sad because I feel it is a cause to rejoice when any righteous, faithful servant of our Heavenly Father is called home.

I looked forward to his talks every conference. When I was a missionary, one of the qualities we were encouraged to develop was quiet dignity. Elder Wirthlin was one of the people who best represented this trait to me. In his quiet, understated way, he bore witness of the Savoir and testimony of His Plan of Happiness with great strength and power. I will miss hearing Elder Wirthlin each April and October, but his testimony will always be with me.

Restaurants

I think one of the biggest ways people who live in Chicago are spoiled is the wonderful restaurants. Whenever I visit home, whenever we go out to eat, most of the restaurants I went to growing up just aren't as good as I remember them.

This thought came to me when I was dragged to a Chinese Buffet back in Lafayette over Thanksgiving weekend. While the restaurant used to be better, it just wasn't very good and all I could think about were two better Chinese Restaurants and four better Thai restaurants I knew of in Chicago.

Pizza is similar, although we ordered from a different restaurant the last couple of times instead of Papa Johns. The place we ordered from was pretty good, but there are 3 different pizza places I order from here, depending on whether I want thin crust, pan crust, or stuffed.

That and there are wonderful Italian places everywhere, and I've been to several good Greek places. And I really don't go out looking for new places very often, but there are a lot of places I want to try.

Maybe I'm just being a little snobbish about all this. :)

Random Wikipedia Search:
Meme