Vocabulary Lesson

Synthetic Oil = "You know, the kind you can put in a Honda and it will go longer."

You learn something new every day!  They love me at auto shops.  They really do.

Weekend Roadtrip in Pictures

Me and my friend Steve from work outside the Art Museum at BYU.  We took a Friday off to road trip to Cedar City to see Les Miz.  (Yes, it was my second time seeing it.  Don't hate me.)  We were also excited to walk through the "Beauty and Belief" exhibit featuring Islamic Art.  I have to say, the "People in a Hard Land" exhibit was a letdown after the "Beauty and Belief" exhibit, which was exceptional.

So you can't take pictures inside the exhibit.  But here is me just outside the exhibit.

 Love this shot of me in downtown Provo.  WELCOME HOME!  And don't you love that my shirt matches the sign?  What are the odds? 

For whatever reason, I cannot get this photo to download right side up.  However, it's a picture of an ex-Mormon standing in front of a sign reading "Black Sheep" in Provo.  So it seems appropriate that it's upside down.  And I mean that as a compliment. 

 All the world's a stage....  Don't I look like I OWN this stage?  Maybe next summer I should perform in the Shakespeare Festival instead of just going down to watch the plays every month.  Or not.
 

Outside the Adams Memorial Theater in Cedar.  There was not a play going on that night in this particular theater, so it was a great time to get pictures around and on the stage.

Are you kidding me?

I had the following conversation with the receptionist at my eye doctor's office when I called to set up an appointment.

Me:  I was calling to schedule an appointment.  I just got a reminder postcard in the mail.

Receptionist: Ok, what was the date and time on the postcard?

Me:  Monday the 17th at 5:15.

Receptionist:  So you must be Traci.  Does that time work for you?

Me:  Yes.

Receptionist:  I'm sorry.  We don't have a doctor in the office that day.  Is there another day that works for you?

Me:  Sure, ok.  I could pretty much come any evening that week after about 5:00.

Receptionist:  We have Tuesday at 11:30 or 3:00.

Me:  Is there anything in the evening?

Receptionist:  How about Monday the 17th at 5:30?

Me:  I thought the doctor wasn't in that day.

Receptionist:  He will be in that day actually.

Me:  Ok??? That would be fine.

Receptionist: Ok, Stacy, I've got you down for Monday the 17th at 5:30.

I'm not holding my breath that the doctor will be there on Monday, or if he is there, that I will have an appointment set up to see him.  It will certainly be interesting to see.

A Shout Out

Tyler got to pick something from the Treasure Box in his kindergarten class last week.  And guess what he picked?  A bracelet for his cousin Lauren, who was about to turn 2.  Way to be selfless Mr. Man.  Aunt Traci is really proud of you!

Dreams

Last night I had a dream that I was getting ready for work and I couldn't find my brown pants.  It was one of those dreams where you're really anxious and you NEED to find those pants or life as you know it will cease to exist.  In the same dream, I ended up in Florida and I was attacked by a crocodile.  When I woke up, I was much more upset about losing my brown pants than I was about potentially losing my arm.  I do love those  pants, but I'm afraid to think about what the interpretation of this dream might mean for me...

(If anyone is wondering, I am wearing my brown pants and a purple cardigan today.  And I have not been bitten by a crocodile so far this afternoon.)

Down in Sugarland

Rainy summer night.

Outdoor concert.

Good friends, good music.

SUGARLAND

ABC's of Summer

At the beginning of the summer, I was in charge of a Relief Society activity where we talked about the "ABC's of Summer."  We gave everyone a sand pail and encouraged the sisters to make a bucket list of activity ideas for summer that corresponded with each letter of the alphabet.  Of course I didn't make my list in advance; I filled in my letters as the summer progressed.  (Remember I can't handle the pressure of making New Years Resolutions!)  Here is my bucket list. 

A      Aladdin at Tuacahn

Tricia and I had a delightful trip to St. George over the 24th of July.  Aladdin was wonderful and the Tuacahn Theater is fun.  It always makes me happy to see palm trees... and the beautiful St. George Temple as well.

B      Bountiful Handcart Days Parade
This year's parade was complete with 2,000 Stripling Warriors.  A truly historic event for Davis County.

C       City Creek
There's a new mall in Salt Lake City, and Heather and I spent a morning wandering through Tiffany's and toy stores.  We also shared treats from Kneaders, a fruit tart and a berry pastry.  Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

D    Dates with Lauren
To further cement my status of being a cool aunt, I had some play-dates with Lauren this summer.  We learned that Lauren loves Bountiful Park and could spend hours going up one set of stairs and down a particular slide.  I also learned that Lauren doesn't like it when store employees at Cutler's Cookies give her stickers.  She wanted a cookie, dang it.  What's the deal?

E     Ensign Peak

This was the most challenging of my alphabet activities.  Hiking and I don't exactly get along very well and I am 99.9% sure that hiking triggers migraines.  Along the trail, I kept motivating myself with sayings such as "If Cub Scouts can do it, I can do it too."  Which isn't true, because there are  a lot of things Cub Scouts can do that I can't do.  (Tie knots, cook pork and beans over a buddy burner, etc.)  But I did climb Ensign Peak.  And I was rewarded with this lovely view of air pollution in the Salt Lake Valley.

F     First Stitches Ever

My dinner at Texas Roadhouse with some friends turned into an adventure at Urgent Care when I sliced my finger with a steak knife.  Don't try this one at home.  I ended up with 3 stitches, a tetanus shot, and a neon green bandage that would have been perfect for a 4 year-old boy.  Semi-graphic picture to follow of my finger five days after the accident.  I can't believe how well it healed up.

G     Grandpa Moments


Carly's blessing in July. She was pretty angelic in her white dress and strawberry blond hair. I think her Grandpa likes her.


H      Happy Birthday Celebration for President Monson
I celebrated President Thomas S. Monson's 85th Birthday at the Conference Center with 19,999 other people.  It was a night of Broadway performers and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.  It doesn't get much better than that.

I     I Love My Look-Alike Nephew
Despite the fact that he looks shockingly like Aunt Traci, Tanner is super cute.  It was so fun to see him take off walking and talking this summer.

J     Javier and Jean Valjean in LES MIZ

I would be hard pressed to say I have a favorite musical.  You can't compare "Wicked" to "White Christmas."  It just can't be done.  With that said, however, the Shakespeare Festival's production of Les Miz was incredible. 

K     Kimball Arts Festival in Park City

I got a postcard in the mail about the Arts Festival in Park City.  I texted my friend Sara in Boise that she should come.  And she did!  It was like magic.  We had a fantastic weekend, eating cinnamon scones at Granny Annie's, wandering through the upscale booths at the festival, being jealous of the 12 year-old singer we saw who was amazing, sharing onion rings at Training Table, and watching Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight Rises."  So good to have My Sara in town.

L     Las Vegas Temple

I have a goal to attend one new temple each year.  This summer I visited temple #22, the Las Vegas Temple. 

M     "Merry Wives of Windsor"

The outdoor theater in Cedar City is how Shakespeare ought to be done.  The play was hilarious.  Tricia and I had a marvelous time.  The Shakespeare Festival is one of my favorite summer traditions.  (Two years in a row now... that's a tradition, right?)

N     New Swimsuit

Once every decade, I buy a new swimsuit.  2012 was my year.  Thank you Lands End.  I'll see you again in 2022.

O     Open House for the Brigham City Temple

My family went to the Open House for the Brigham City Temple.  We completed our Brigham City experience with dinner at Maddox and peaches on Fruit Way.

P     Patsy's 60th Birthday Celebration

How excited were we that Aunt Patsy wanted to celebrate her 60th birthday in Mountain Home, Idaho? VERY EXCITED. And Patsy and Hal got to meet Carly too, which is a great birthday present at any age.

Q     Quiet Time Reading Anna Quindlen's "A Short Guide to a Happy Life."

And "Being Perfect."  And "Black and Blue."  And "Blessings."  And "Rise and Shine."  Some fiction and some non-fiction.  But this summer, it was pretty much all Anna Quindlen for me...all the time.

R     Red Barn in Santaquin

No offence to the city of Santaquin, but you never feel like stopping there on a road trip.  You've just past Provo, so you really haven't been on the road long enough to justify stopping.  You want to keep going to Nephi at least.  And on the way back, Santaquin is about the point where if you got out of the car, you might not get back in.  You're just ready to be home.  So I have glanced longingly at the Red Barn just off the freeway in Santaquin many a time.  On the way home from St. George this summer, I finally made the effort to stop.  And was rewarded with all the fudge, ice cream, and jams you can eat.  It's my kind of place.  My first stop at the Red Barn won't be my last.

S     Snowcone.  With Cream.

All last year I meant to stop at a snow cone shack near my house.  I never did.  So this year I made a special point to stop there.  No Regrets!  I had strawberry with cream (ok, it's evaporated milk) and I felt like I had really accomplished something.  Go Me!

T     Tyler and Bryce - First Trip to Lagoon

They've been doing their jobs and saving their pennies.  And finally the big day was here.  We went to Lagoon!  The boys loved it.  I wonder how many summers we'll get before they learn what "season passes" to Lagoon would mean for them.

U     Utah Landmark - Cove Fort
I've passed the billboards for Cove Fort in the Middle of Nowhere a million times and never stopped. But when Biz and I drove home from St. George on the 24th of July, it seemed wrong to pass this landmark honoring the pioneers. Really, the only obstacle was that my sister had a kidney stone, and if you time the Lortab just right, that's not as big of an obstacle as one might think. She had a great time, trust me.

V     Violinist Jenny Oaks Baker
I went to a fireside where Jenny Oaks Baker performed.  She plays the violin and she has great hair.  I want to be her when I grow up.

W     Waterslides at Lava Hot Springs
My family spent a great weekend at Lava Hot Springs.  We liked the hot pools (of course) and the water slides.  It's just so fun to have everyone together!

X     eXperimental Recipes

I experimented with some new recipes.  Loved the cinnamon baked apples, strawberry jam and peach jam.  Liked the butterscotch potato chip cookies.  Will not attempt cinnamon rolls again without a specific measurement for flour.  It's kind of an important ingredient.

Y     Yogurt - Dannon's Light and Fit Greek Yogurt With Strawberries

This is a new product and I would like to be their spokesperson if they will let me.  It's 80 calories, 7 grams of sugar, and so rich tasting and yummy good, I can't always finish one serving.  Try it, people.

Z     Zoo

For Fathers Day, we decided to take my Dad to Hogle Zoo with all the grandkids.  (A plan he effectively spoiled by buying tickets for all of us online in advance so we "didn't have to wait in line."  Happy Fathers Day?)  But we had a great time at the zoo.  I love the new polar bear exhibit.  And I had the best job of waving at the kids as they rode by on the carousel. 

So there you have it.  My Summer Alphabet.  And now I believe it is time for a nap.