Juicy

I like figs.

I had no idea.

I knew I didn't like fig newtons.

I knew that much.

But then I was reading this article about figs and how magnificent they are, and how good they are for your body that I went straight to my mom and said, "Have you ever tasted a fresh fig?"

And she said, "Yes, of course."

(Of course of schmorse, who eats figs? I read they are only in season for a short time, so it's not like these things are bananas, mom. These suckers are rare!)

I said, "I'm simply dying to try one."

She says, "Oh Marie has some out in her orchard."

Me, "What?!" (Marie is our old neighbor who comes over for Sunday dinner.) "Well, let's go see if she has any on her tree!"

I was super excited about this. Mary was too. She even stopped her homework to come along. Seeing how it was dark, I grabbed my headlamp, and after something of a hullabaloo getting mom out the door, we finally crossed over onto Marie's property. Her property butts up to the creek, and she gets deer and other wildlife frequently.

Well, we were walking towards where we thought the trees were, when we hear a rustling in the dark. Something was definitely moving over there, but we couldn't see anything with the headlamp. Mom said she wouldn't go a step farther until she could see what was over there, but seeing how the only way to get the light to that area was to move closer, we were kind of at a stand still.

It was a bit scary, I must admit, but I was on a mission for figs, so I started moving my light around and making a lot more noise, and pretty soon you hear another loud rustling in the leaves (at which point I'm pretty sure mom thought a large bear or murderer was going to come straight at us) but we didn't see anything, so I decided all was well and forced the expedition along.

And lo and behold what did I find, but FIGS!

I was so excited.

I pulled one off the branch, took it home, opened it up, decided it looked like the underside of a starfish, took a bite, and decided I liked it.

Well, if you don't think about it looking like the underside of a starfish.

Mom and I went to sushi earlier that day, and as it was her first time, she said, "It tastes good if you don't think about it," and I think I had the same experience with figs.

Tasty if you don't think about it.

They Closed the Forest

Dad and I were going to go backpacking this weekend but we couldn't because the forest was closed.

I was so sad.

I have never been backpacking before, and felt like I was some sort of wuss because I've never done it.

I'm not interested in being a wuss.

This is where we would have hiked, had the forest not been closed:



So, we had two options:

1) Go eat lunch at the Mexican Restaurant we passed on the way up.

2) Go hike Cerro Alto with packs on, just to get the feel of things.

We went with option B.

It was so windy at the top, I'm surprised I am standing in this picture. I'm almost certain I fell to the ground immediately after this was taken.


On the way down we walked through Whooville or something. I'm not really sure about this fuzzy plant:

When all is said and done, we had a great time. It wasn't quite the same as sleeping in the great outdoors, but at least I got the experience of carrying a pack.

Also, I got two huge blisters, as usual.


These pictures are from the last time I hiked Cerro Alto, 4 years ago, and before I started getting blisters like crazy:

This is one of my favorite pictures of my parents.


It was a gorgeous morning.

I went to the library to pick up that book I ordered, and I was very excited to see what it was going to be.

It was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.

Who knew?

Has anyone ever read it?

Addicted to Books

I'm addicted to books.

I just can't stop getting them from the library. I just can't.

Growing up, we were allowed only one due date at a time.

I currently have three due dates I'm working on, seven books.

I took three books back tonight, bringing me to my current seven.

I'll wander into the library, knowing full well I have a few books to read at home, and find myself placing an order for a book that happens to come to mind.

I went to the SLO library today, and the checker-outer mentioned that I have a book ready to pick up at the Atascadero library.

Do I know what that book is?

No.

(By the way, I just left this post to go watch the Olympics, and still, after all that time, cannot think of the book I had ordered. It will be a surprise I suppose. A surprise for Monday, because I don't think I will be able to get to the library before then. This is going to haunt me all weekend...)

Okay, now I'm thinking I was wondering around the Classics section and couldn't find what I wanted so I ordered it... I wonder what it was...

So today I went with the intention of finding only one book but picked up four.

So I'm addicted to books.

Or maybe I'm just addicted to collecting.

Side Pony Sunday

I was sitting in Institute, and Tara leaned over to me, or I leaned over to Tara, I can't really remember, but someone mentioned that we needed to throw down a Side Pony Sunday. I said, "How about this Sunday?" It was agreed this was a good idea, so I waited through the prayer and immediately afterward made the announcement. I invited all women who would like to participate to come to church with their pony's high and on the side.

On Friday at the 1st annual 3rd ward RS camp out, I reminded people of the side pony nature of the coming Sunday. People were excited about it.


But not that excited.

Showed up to church today and there really wasn't as many side ponies as I anticipated. Turns out there are a few side pony pansies in our ward. BUT, we did get more than just Tara and I, so I think it turned out pretty well.

We only coordinated hair, not the black and pink theme. I suppose those people who would rock a side pony were inclined to think that black and pink would complement it well.

I do love a good themed Sunday.

OLYMPICS!

I simply adore the Olympics. I catch Olympic fever and I am hardly able to be productive. I'm pretty sure during the last Winter Olympics productivity went down about 50 percent.

I only decided to post this because there is a commercial on, but I turned up the volume so I can hear it all the way in my room.


In a vicious twist of fate my work has decided to give me more hours next week. I usually appreciate that, but this means my Olympic viewing time will be severely diminished.
I am working more because my coworker has decided to take a vacation. Probably just going to watch the Olympics all day.

I should have done that...

Ahh... I hear Men's Swimming!

Peace!

Davis & Co. Part 2

The next morning found us ready to play soccer but no one to play soccer with. So we decided we should go jogging. Apparently Davis has many a jogging/walking/biking trail, and it was up to me to pick one. I picked the arboretum because Claire kept saying it so fast I could have sworn she was talking about a burrito, and I like burritos.

It was a lovely run, although it was a very hot day, and I do remember admitting that I hadn't been that drenched with sweat in many years. It was delightful.

I Googled these arboretum pictures, so we are not in them, so stop looking for us.

After the run we were starving, so we decided to go to the Fuji Sushi Boat place and eat a lot of sushi.

I really did end up eating a lot of sushi, and I am sorry to say I wasn't able to get a really great picture of it all.

Right before I thought I would pass out, I decided it was best to just leave the table and go pay for my meal. We walk up to the front desk place, and no one was around. No problem, we can wait.

We didn't wait long, because soon a 6ish(?) year old kid came up behind the desk, climbed into the chair, and held out his hand for my bill and payment.

I gave it to him.

After he played with the machine and my card for a moment, and after Claire and I exchanged bemused glances, an adult came over to help the small boy and that is when I realized I should have taken a picture earlier.

But I was filled to the brim with sushi, so I was kind of slow. I did manage to grab this picture, though:


Afterwards, I passed out in the car while Claire drove us to the Sacramento temple. All I have to say is, "Whoa!" The inside of the Sacramento temple is absolutely amazing. It is gorgeous. I have been in ten temples and I think this one might win "best interior decorating." It in no way wins "best all-around," but I was really stunned the moment I walked in, it simply took my breath away, and caused me to come up with this award system.

An interesting feature of the Sacramento temple is the wild turkey herd right on temple grounds. Who knew?


I just want everyone to check out these flowers:

They are as big as my head!!!!

See?

The next day I went to Claire's ward, and while she was in a meeting for the ultra-righteous, I stumbled upon this little bit of heaven:


Yup. A dating box.

Really.

I was so glad I had my camera with me.

It took every ounce of self restraint and goodwill I had in my body not to put Claire's name in there. While I was contemplating what a great joke it would be if I did put her name in, I was also contemplating who to put her with. I only knew one male first and last name set, a rather infamous gentleman in the ward, when I glanced over and discovered the entire ward in pictures. While I was suddenly overcome by all the possibilities, I talked myself out of ruining Claire's life and just decided to walk away.

It was maybe one of the hardest things I've ever done.

Davis & Co. Part 1

Last weekend I had the pleasure of taking a jaunt up to Davis to visit with my friend Claire.
Our first order of business was to immediately go to Claire's favorite pizza place, the Symposium! (I added that exclamation point. It is not part of the restaurant's name.)
The following picture serves a few useful purposes. You get to see the restaurant. You get to see that it is painted orange. You get to see Claire, and you get to see a tree. This is not the only tree in Davis. This tree is only one in a million. In fact, Davis has so many trees, that if I had a fear of things dropping out of trees and onto my head I wouldn't leave the apartment.

Ever.

Yes, there were that many trees.

The Symposium(!) is Greek in nature, and the first thing that happens to your senses (after your eyes adjust to the dimness of it all) is this mural:

I suppose she is a likeness of someone from the old country. Not Meryl Streep, though.
My favorite aspect is the blending of the old and the new, the real and the unreal. I think that plant in the left hand corner is an excellent example of both of those things.


I don't really remember how it all came about, but suddenly, words were flying between me and this guy, and how we came to be on those podium things I think had to do with "needing the upper ground."
I would just like everyone to notice the store next to the Symposium(!), which is "All Things Right & Relevant."

I have no idea what that store contains. You'd think by the name of the store it would be obvious, but I really need it spelled out for me.

After the Orange Buildings, we went to Claire's homie's house for a little Wii action.
I've never Wiid around before, so it was quite the mental experience. Here we are boxing with our excellent fighting stances:

The following picture is included because I really like the style of the guy on the right. His boxing moves mostly include shaking and shimmying. Who knew that the same technique one might use with maraca's would win a Wii boxing match?

This place was pretty great, because we were offered ice cream after our boxing matches. I like ice cream, but not all ice cream is created equal. So, basically at the same time, Claire and I say, "what kind do you have?" (Or, a variation on that question.) Our host said, "Ummm Blackish Cherry something... and Chocolate Malt..." I'm not so sure about this, but Claire asks if they were Thrifty's and he answered yes. Suddenly we say, "Black Cherry and CHOCOLATE MALTED CRUNCH?!?!?!" our voices getting louder at the end as we realize one of our favorite ice creams was in this very house. Chocolate Malted Crunch, baby.

It was delightful.

I had been extremely thirsty since arriving in Davis. Thirsty thirsty thirsty. The appearance of Chocolate Malted Crunch did nothing to curb my desire for water, and when asked for a glass, I received the largest cup I've ever seen. I call it a torso cup because It is mostly the size of my torso.

I must have had something in my eye...