Things my mama told me

My lovely mother came to visit us a couple of weeks ago, and I'm a terrible person for not blogging about it sooner.

We didn't take many pictures because mom told me not to... and I obey my mother, so there. 

She was here for FIVE days! It was so great! Although when she first got here on Thursday, Southwest Airlines lost her luggage. That was a downer. But we got it back the next day around 11 AM, so hurrah for Southwest.

We spent most of Friday down in San Antonio attending the Mormon temple. She loved it. She kept saying how gorgeous it was, and it's true. It's a mini temple, but it's a super pretty one.

We ate at Smashburger (which has crack fries that are called Smashfries... not crack fries) and Ander insisted that we eat outside on the covered patio. Well, in 104 degree weather, even a covered, shaded patio is not pleasant. I could feel sweat dripping down my back the entire time we ate.

On Saturday I treated my lovely mommy to a lash tint and a lash perm at the Lash Lounge! I have to say, he eyelashes looked AWESOME when we finished. Perfectly curled, and super dark. We both were very pleased. After the Lash Lounge we drove to a shopping center called The Domain, which is very big and very expensive. But they've begun to incorporate smaller, more affordable shops there for the peons like me, so we went to buy some new undershirts for me. We also had some yummy frozen yogurt with fresh fruit on top, and milled around Charming Charlie, which is the largest jewelry/accessory store I've ever seen. Talk about sensory overload. There we bough Katie a birthday present, and some things for ourselves, and we were on our way.

Saturday night we went to a karaoke bar. I was extremely surprised that my own mother, the one who sang all the time while I was growing up, WOULDN'T KARAOKE!

Mom: "I'm just afraid I'll mess it up!"

me: "Well, that's kind of why they have the words right up in front of you. Plus, half of these people are drunk anyway."

So I sang two songs, and loved every minute of it, and she didn't sing anything, but cheered me on all the way.

Sunday we went to church and mom gave the best comments in Young Women's, every told me the next week how much they had appreciated her words. That night we went and braved the triple digit weather to watch millions of bats fly out from underneath the Congress Bridge in downtown Austin.

 What's that? A cloud of smoke? Naw, it's just 5 million bats,  no biggie.

Ander being... Ander.

My mom is so beautiful

We didn't do a whole lot on Monday, since I had run completely out of ideas, but we did go grocery shopping, and mom was amazed that we only spent $40 on groceries. Mom and I also had a lovely time chatting at one of our favorite burger restaurants Moonie's Burger House. We ended up watching a bunch of X-files that night on Netflix, because who doesn't love the X-files?

Tuesday was her last day here. Those days are always a little sad and slow moving, but we grabbed a bite at the Boathouse Grill (awesome southern comfort food) and we were off to the airport.

It was such a great trip! It was absolutely perfect in every way, except when mom lost her luggage. That totally sucked, but other than that we had a wonderful time. It was so wonderful to see my mommy, and to attend the temple with her, and show her around my "home". She graced us with her presence and we loved every minute of it... especially May-May.

Miss you mama.

A dry desert rat

It was 106 degrees today. Do you see that six day forecast? Do you see the time? It is now 8:07 PM and it's 99 degrees outside. 99 degrees! And here's the kicker: Austin has now had over 70 consecutive days of triple digit weather. And there is absolutely no. rain. in. sight.

We're having a stake-wide fast for rain at the beginning of September. Go figure. Hope it works. We could really use a hurricane right now... well, not us. We could really use a hurricane somewhere else right now so we can bum the rain off of it. Yeah, that would be great.

Hilariously crazy

The other day a Master Stylist AKA Best stylist the Lash Lounge has to offer, came and visited us at our little shop here in Austin. Her name is Kathy, and she's great. She came to check up on us and see how we were all doing in our lash extending adventures. We all went to lunch together and she told us this story:

This little old lady, Betty, liked getting her lashes done at the Lash Lounge in Dallas, or rather, the Plano TX shop. She was about 70 years old, wheeled a little oxygen tank around with her, and was on a lot of medications. Her medications made her entire body itch like crazy, so as she got her lashes done she would scratch different parts of her body constantly. She moved all over the place, and it was extremely hard for the stylist to actually get lashes on her, as she was literally always a moving target.
One day Betty showed up in front of the shop 45 minutes past her hour long appointment time.
Kathy: "Jamie, her husband drove her here because she can't drive. Hurry and run out there and tell her we can't take her because she's so late. Quick before she gets out of her car!"
Jamie: "Right." Runs out to the car
Betty is already of the car at this point, oxygen tank in tow
Jamie: (In a thick, throaty southern accent) "Betty I'm sorry, but we just can't take you today. You're appointment was 45 minutes ago and we just can't get you in. I'm so sorry!"
Betty: ........" I want my lashes."
Jamie: "I know sweetie pie, I know. But you're 45 minutes late to your appointment and we just can't do it today."
Betty:......."I WANT MY LASHES!"
Jamie: runs into the shop "Kathy, she won't listen to me!"
Betty's husband: gets out of the car "Come on honey, let's go. You're late and they can't take you today."
Betty: "I WANT MY LASHES!" Grabs onto a tree and begins hugging it "I WANT MY LASHES!"
When Kathy comes to the front, she sees Betty hanging onto a tree for dear life screaming "I WANT MY LASHES!" at the top of her lungs while her husband is pulling on her from behind. She's also hitting him with one of her shoes, while hanging onto the tree and her oxygen tank with the other arm.
A passerby sees what's going on and thinks this man is abusing this woman, so he calls the cops. A fire-truck and three cop cars show up to the shop and literally have to place a hospital gurney in front of the Lash Lounge doors to keep Betty from getting inside
"I WANT MY LASHES!" she yells to the cops. All of the clients that have now finished their appointments are waiting inside because the gurney is blocking their way out. This is the most mortifying moment in Kathy's work history.
As things calm down, Betty's son comes to pick her up.
Kathy: "Jamie, just you watch. Betty's gonna come in here and ask to reschedule her appointment."
Jamie: "Naw Kathy, she wouldn't do that. You're crazy."
Betty's son approaches the front desk while his mom is sitting in his car.
Betty's son: "Uh..... yes, um, my mother would like to reschedule her appointment with y'all...." awkward look
Kathy then explains to him that they can no longer have Betty as a client, because of her medication, and because of the spectacle today, and because she's habitually late, and she apologized but said they would not reschedule her. Betty's son looked terrified and said, "Thank you." and walked out.
Now you all KNOW that he waited until he got her home before he told her she could never go back. And she called every single day for two weeks straight begging to get her lashes done. Then end.

Wasn't that story fun? I thought so. I looked at Teresa after we all wiped the tears from laughing out of our eyes and said, "well, looks like we have some good times to look forward to. There's bound to be some crazies around here!"

Dear Heavenly Father, please bless that we don't ever. EVER. have miss Betty hanging onto a tree screaming that she wants her lashes. Amen.

Smiles

Any Zelda fan would love these, and as I am a Zelda fan, I totally do. I thought they were hilarious.

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm9ew7zRa91qk6i2lo1_500.gif

Blast from the Past: August 14th, 2000: THE END

August 14th 2000

"Last night Joe, Katie, and I could not get to sleep! We were all too excited. So, we snuck into the bathroom and played 500 until we were sleepy. Then we went to sleep but had to wake up again at 4:45 a.m. to go to the airport. We got all our bags and took them downstairs, and Mom has been sick for three days now, so she took a little longer to get down. Dad was talking to a shuttle bus driver and was telling her we had lots of luggage. I got on, put my backpacks on, then went to go get mom. When we came back, the bus left... with all my stuff on it!!!!! Joe obviously didn't see it when he was checking. I was so scared! All my personal things were in there! We didn't know what to do. A really nice guy at reception tried to contact the bus but her radio wasn't working! I started to cry. All of my belongings! I was so scared! I didn't know if I would ever see you, and all my other stuff again! Oh, I was scared! But, turns out, that bus comes back at 20 after, so there was a chance. Most likely my stuff would still be there. Oh, thank heavens there was some hope that I'd get my stuff! Dad and Joe took all our suitcases to the airport with a taxi and would meet us there cuz we'd come on the bus. We waited and waited. I was so tense and I prayed and prayed and finally, the bus came! We got on, looked, and there it all was!!! My stuff! I was so happy I could have screamed! Mom was mad at the bus driver for telling us to get off the bus before. We reached the airport, found Dad and Joe all happy and everything, except mom because she's sick. I feel bad for her. She looks so distraught and sad. But there is nothing I can do.
We finally got on the plane, but there were delays (like always). We finally got up in the air. I was feeling sick, and I felt like if I ate anything, I'd throw up, so I just sat there. Dad told me that it was because of my emotional breakdown, so if I sit and relax, take deep breaths, and say to myself, "Just relax and rest," I'd feel better. Well I did just that and my stomach ache went away! The breakfast wasn't great, but of course, it's airplane food. Oh, and there are little television screens in the seats in front of us! And 5 is the Disney Channel! So I got to watch 101 Dalmations, Goof Troop, Rescue Rangers, and a whole bunch of other cool shows! It was better than the last one where there were like, no cartoons or good shows to that. Actually, they just repeat the cartoons, but a different series. I'd been watching cartoons until a movie called "Where the Heart Is" with Dad. After that, we watched on the Discovery Channel a show about elephants and how they survive. The baby elephants were so cute! I love elephants! One of the babies was sick and needed water, and they were in the middle of the desert. Finally rain came and soaked everything. I was happy because the baby didn't die! We also watched some baby elephants play together. They were so adorable. We also got some little crackers. There were really good. By that time we only had 1 1/2 hours left. I was practically counting the minutes.
Finally we got off the plane, mom was feeling really sick, but she said she wasn't going to throw up. We ate at Panda Express which was really good. Mom still isn't feeling well, I felt bad. We went to the terminal and waited for an hour. Then, they changed terminals! and then we waited for another 45 minutes! Then they changed the terminal again! Another 45 minute wait! It was so annoying! Finally we got on the plane and we taxied for a half hour! It was so annoying! We finally got up in the air, and now it's only two more hours. Mom was feeling worse. When we started to get off the plane, and when I saw mom, she was crying! She was in so much pain! It was heartbreaking to see her in so much pain!
When we got out we found Russ. I asked mom if she wanted to go to the bathroom, but she said "No, just go and get the luggage, and let's get home as soon as possible." So we went and got the luggage (mom sat down) and loaded it into the car, then we started home. Mom laid in the second seat, and just rested. Katie, Dad, and I all sat in the back seat, not saying anything and Joe sat in front with Russ.
Home came slower than I though. When we got there, Shanna, Paul, Brendon, and Steve were there! They'd waited for three hours! We all helped mom into her room, then all of us just separated to all of our rooms,(Angela was there too) and told our friends everything. I unpacked immediately. No one else did. I told Shanna everything. She stayed over for like, 6 hours until her mom came and picked her up. It was nice to lay in my own bed."


We still don't know why mom was so sick, and every possible thing went wrong on our way home, but we finally made it. Russ was a friend of ours who had been house sitting for us while we were gone. He had no idea what to make of mom being as sick as she was. Dad gave her a blessing in the car at a gas station. Mom tried to tell him to just get her home, but I believe that blessing is what got her home.

I know that my Heavenly Father was watching over us during this trip. There were so many crazy things that happened to us that could have really turned ugly. I couldn't believe that I had written in my journal for 8 weeks and then almost had my journal stolen from me on my last day in Europe. When I realized that bus had taken off, the only thing I could think of was my journal. I don't know why someone would have stolen it, but why does anyone steal anything? I was terrified. Looking back on it now, I've realized that this journal is the most precious thing I could have brought home from the trip. This is the only written recollection we have of our trip. Granted, it's a 14 year old's view of the trip, so it's sprinkled with hormonal frustration and cute boys, but it's our Europe trip none-the-less. I haven't really been able to legitimately keep up a journal since, so I'm not quite sure why I was able to keep this one.

Thank you all for letting me share these entries with you. I know I got really behind there at the end. I apologize for the barrage of blog posts sent to your inboxes. It was so fun to read back on this amazing trip of ours. I hope to go back someday. Ander tells me there is no way he's going to fly on a plane for 10 hours to get to Paris, but I know that one of these days, if I just purchase the tickets, he won't really have a say. *Evil laugh* Or maybe someday I'll just go with a friend, or my mom or my sister. They'd probably go with me, right? Who knows...

Blast from the Past: August 13th, 2000

August 13th 2000

"The train ride today was long. We didn't have to change trains, thank goodness, but it was 5 hours on the train. Sort of in the middle of the ride, Joe and I started playing cards, and Katie was playing Gameboy. This little kid kept walking by trying to watch what we were doing. He would be really cute if he were older. He'd pass, then stop and watch, then walk away again. Finally mom came by and said, "This is Antonio, and he's like to watch you play cards. He lives in London," I said sure, and he kept asking all these questions. He started to get annoying. Then, I said, "Do you want to play a card game called B.S.?" he agreed, so I taught him how to play and then mom came and said what I THOUGHT was, "London is our next stop." So when the train slowed to a stop, Joe, Katie, and I frantically got off the train, and when we did, mom and dad weren't out there! The lady was closing the doors, and we stopped her and asked where we were. "Stevenson," she said. "Stevenson!?!?!" we demanded we got on again, and they let us. That was freaky. I was about to die! If that train had left, we'd be stuck. After getting settled again on the train, we just sat there in awe, so glad we had gotten on. When we did reach our destination, we all got off and got a taxi to go to our hotel, off out by the airport. I didn't really like our taxi driver, he was weird looking. Turns out he took us off the freeway, around the city, and back to the hotel, so he took us the long way, so he could get more money! It cost us 43 pounds! 42! It was insane! We got up to our room, which is really nice, and watched Courage the Cowardly Dog because we had cartoon network. That was good. We also had dinner which wasn't great, but good. Joe found out there was a weight room. He asked me to go with him to it. I did. I had to change into my t-shirt and shorts and tennis shoes. I worked on every machine and did the bike for 10 minutes! I did pretty well! We went back to the room at 9:30, but we had to go to bed. I first took a shower, so did Joe. Good night!"


My family doesn't like to think about our little escapade outside the train. We have no idea what would have happened if that train would have left us. We had been sitting in a different car than my parents, so we got our stuff and left, thinking they were already outside. We almost got stranded in Scotland with no phone, no money, and no place to go. Who knows what would have happened!? When we got inside the train, mom and dad were laughing at us. I don't think they realized quite how scary it would have been if we had been left. They realized it later, but at the time, they obviously thought we were a bunch of bums. We just heard them wrong, that's all, but thank goodness Joe acted and asked that lady what stop we were at. Heavenly Father was definitely watching over us that day.

Blast from the Past: August 12th, 2000

August 12th 2000

"Today was our last day in Scotland, our second to last day in Europe. Mom didn't feel well today, so Joe, Katie and I took a taxi into the city to meet dad at a pub. We found dad (I got another chocolate bar) and dad gave us 40£ to spend on our last souvenirs and brass rubbings. The Brass rubbing place was cool. I made two, Katie made two, and I got Joe to make a dragon for Sally. It added up to about 8 pound, and we were all starving so we went to Pizza Hut. The bill added up to 17 pounds! So there went some money. I got a cute little scottie dog toy for Nicole, and Joe got some things for Paul and Brendon, so we spent all of our money. Those were the last things we could get. After all that, we took the bus to some friends house, who has three children. Tessa is 5, Fraiser is 9, and the other one, I can't remember his name, is 11, but turning 12 this year, and he is cute, but not HOTT! His brother is sort of too. Their little sister, Tessa, is a cutie. Euan (The cute 11 year old) kept asking me all these questions about the U.S. He is going to be my pen pal! He asked me if he sent me a pound, would I send him a dollar, and what is a buck, and why do you call your trousers "pants"? He is starting High School (as they call Junior High) this Wednesday. I am so excited that I finally have a pen pal! I mean, in second grade we had "linked" pen pals. Like, they lived up the street, but now I have one halfway across the world! That is so cool.
When we came home, we packed. Tonight is our last night in Scotland. Tomorrow is the long train from Scotland to London. I've gotta get some sleep, so good night!"


The family we went to visit was the same family that came to my dad's show. I don't know how I didn't make that connection... or at least write about it. Euan was all on board to be my pen pal, and when I got home I sent him a big ol' letter with pictures, and a dollar bill. I heard he got the letter on his birthday and that was all he cared about, which was sweet. But I never, EVER heard from him. So much for being pen pals. He never wrote back to me, and we haven't written or talked since. I actually found his address on a page in my diary. Maybe one of these days I'll write to his family and see what he's up to. I'll bet he's on Facebook, but how many Scottish Euan Hendersons do you think there are? A billion. That's how many.

Blast from the Past: August 11th, 2000

August 11th 2000

"My guess is that I'm going to go insane if these days don't go by any faster. I'm dying to get home. I can hardly wait.
Anyway, Joe left this morning by himself, Dad left early in the morning, and we three left at 1:30 p.m. We took a taxi to the Dean Museum, which was where the Dali exhibit was going on. Mom said she wanted to go, so we went. I saw lots of cool paintings. One was a weird naked lady all inflated. It was very strange. After finishing up the exhibit, we went outside and sat in a park that was beautiful and relaxing. We had to meet dad at 4:00 at the internet cage, so we sat at the park for about a half hour and then hailed a taxi to go to the IC. When we found dad he was just logging off, so I was afraid I couldn't get online, but I used dad's ticket and got online for 10 minutes. I went to go get Joe, because he wasn't coming. After I got Joe, we walked down the stairs and mom told me there were some cute guys "checking me out" but dad scared them off. He said he saw seven of them looking at me, smiling, and he put his arm around me and lared at them! I didn't see, but I could imagine what happened. I was so mad at dad! He embarrassed me! Oh, I was mad.
We found a place to eat, which wasn't delicious, but okay. Dad gave Joe and me our tickets to MacHomer, so at 4:50 Joe and I headed towards the theater to get in line for it. We hit the spot, 'coz we were the first ones in line! (It was first, first serve) so we were really lucky, but we had to stand in line for a half hour. MacHomer was really, really good! Mom and dad were right, he was amazing, and sounded exactly like all of the characters! Mom and Katie went to a play right when we got out, so we had to go to the internet cafe for an hour. I sat next to a really hott guy! Well, not really sat, but was close. It was fun though. But my credit ran out, and I couldn't find Joe, so I had to sit and listen to my discman for 15 minutes! Boring! Course I had a good shot of hott stuff. I found Joe spying on me! I was so mad. We both found mom and Katie right after I had just gotten credit. Oh well. We went home and we played card games with each other, and  mom said she didn't feel well. She could hardly stand up! I gave her some Alka Seltzer, but it didn't help her much. But now, we've gotta go to bed."


Forgive me: THIS was when we went to the Dali exhibit at a museum... I thought it was further back. My bad.

MacHomer was one of the craziest shows we saw on this trip. One man. The entire Simpsons cast. The entire Shakespeare play MacBeth. It was phenomenal. He sounded exactly like all the characters, and we sat in the very front row on the ground floor. We literally couldn't have gotten better seats. That is a very special memory of me and my brother. It was just the two of us and it was great!

And thus begins the long days where my mother was incredibly sick. Somehow mom got so sick she could hardly move at the tail end of our trip, and it lasted until we got home. We still have no idea what caused it. I've never seen her so sick. I felt awful since there was nothing any of us seemed to be able to do for her. It was a long couple of days for my poor mother.

Blast from the Past: August 10th, 2000

August 10th 2000

"Since we didn't get to see the museum part of the Dynamic Earth, we went back this morning. First, there was info and some other things about earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and then we went into a time machine (which was really an elevator) "back in time". We watched three videos, one was about the "Big Bang" which created our solar system, universe, everything is space. And then we watched how land was formed by volcanoes, which was pretty cool, and after that was a movie on glaciers, how they form and things. We then went through a door to the beginning of plants and animals. Then to dinosaurs, and man. Then where the ice animals came in, there was a huge block of ice in the middle of the room! That was cool, and then, to the rainforest. That was neat. There was a waterfall, plays, all sorts of things, and videos. then we watched a big video which I didn't care for, and that was it! It was kind of disappointing, but neat non-the-less.
After the museum we walked for a while down to a Brass Rubbing place, but we'd walked all that way for nothing. A sign on the door said, "Sorry, it's too late to start a brass rubbing, we close at 4:45," Mom was so pissed. I said I was sorry, I was really looking forward to it. We walked all the way back to McDonald's, ate there, then went to the internet cafe for a while. The e-mails I got were same old same old. "I can't wait for you to come home," blah blah blah. Then, we went shopping at Sainsbury's and got some treats and things for breakfast, and tortellini for a small snack. We called a cab, and went home, vegged out for a while, now, gotta go to bed."


It's funny that I say the Dynamic Earth was disappointing, reading it now it sounds like it was pretty awesome! I don't remember much about it, but apparently it wasn't as cool as we'd hoped.

Sainsbury's is a grocery store in Scotland...just FYI

Blast from the Past: August 9th, 2000

August 9th 2000

"Today we went to the Dynamic Earth, a science museum. Mom got some tickets for two shows, something about the moon, which used stilts, and was kind of cool, and then a science show called Dr. Bunhead's Exploding Vegetable Show. He was really funny and interesting. He sure exploded vegetable. Barney the Banana, Carlolina the Carrot, and Mr. Chip the Potato. It was really funny and cool! When we got out of those two shows, the line for the museum part was like, an hour long! So we decided to come back tomorrow morning and go back to the flat.
Dad had said he was going to get tickets to a show called MacHomer instead of MacBeth. I thought he meant only for mom and him, but I was wrong. Mom and Dad left at 5:30 to go to it, and came back at 6:30 saying, "we got tickets for you, so we just wasted 50 bucks." Oh well. Mom said this thing was amazing though. It was a one man show where he did all the voices, every single one. I said, "that probably would have been an amazing show," but I didn't go anyway. Dad had gotten tickets for the Tattoo tonight, so we mostly hung around until we had dinner which was pizza while watching Buffy. I had about five slices of pizza. Finally at 8:30 we called a taxi and it took us to the castle. Someone important was there, because the police held us back for the cars to get through. Our seats weren't and, but they weren't good either. The Tatoo was really cool though. First, there was a huge military Scottish Band, then, there was a Mauri dance, and then there was another Scottish Band, and after that, the Trinadads Steel band came out and performed then, the Zooloos performed in front of us and then two African guys (with boomerangs and a dijeridoo) and the Scottish Jazz Band! That was cool, and the Austrailian dancers and band, then the Hiland Dancers, and then the Entire Finale. It was really cool! They also had a soloist, who had a really pretty voice. I loved it! It was really rad! They had fireworks and everything. I loved it! But now I must go to sleep, so good night!"


Dr. Bunhead's Exploding Vegetable show was AWESOME! He was basically a Scottish Bill Nye. One of the coolest shows we saw during our entire trip. He shot potatoes through guns and hammered a nail into wood with a banana... it was all pretty cool.

I hardly remember a thing about the Tatoo. It was basically a huge musical show that played at Ediburgh castle. It was long, loud, and totally awesome!

Blast from the Past: August 8th, 2000

August 8th 2000

"We got up and went to the zoo today! It was so fun! I liked it much better than the Amsterdam zoo. I got some great pictures! The monkeys were adorable, the Rhino was right up next to the cage wall, but my favorite animal (which I got close up shots of) was the Red Panda! It was so adorable! It looked like a mix between a raccoon, a small bear, and a cat! It was so darling! I loved it! Most of the animals were sleeping or hiding. After coming home from the zoo, we all just hung out until we had to go to this Cailidh. It's a Scottish Participation dance. I didn't really want to go, but it actually turned out to be really cool! I mostly danced with Joe, but in one dance the girls kept changing partners. I didn't like dancing with all these old guys. After that, we went to the internet cafe. Crystal said she hopes I'll encounter the joys of kissing soon. I said I hope so. I got another boring e-mail from Liz. Good night!"

Red Pandas are pretty adorable, I have to admit. That was the first time I'd ever seen one. I told Ander we should get one as a pet and he just laughed at me. They are really cute animals.

Cailidh is pronounced kay-lee

I apologize to my dad for the kissing stuff. I was such a teenager! Sometimes I find it hard to believe I actually wrote all this stuff... then I think back and say, "No, it's true. I was totally that way. I was a boy-crazed idiot." I still am... but just for one boy.

Anyway, here's a Red Panda!

Blast from the Past: August 6th, 2000

August 6th 2000

I got to sleep in today. The curling iron wouldn't heat up, so I just put it up in a bandana. It still looks really good. I had chips for breakfast. Dad had to leave early, then Mom, me, Joe, and Katie went with a taxi to the bus station. Joe split and went off by 'imself, while me, mom, and Katie went on a tour bus. It was sort of interesting. We got off to go to the castle upon the hill. Mom kept changing her mind, but we finally went to the castle. It was really interesting! We saw a cute little pet cemetery, the oldest chapel in Medieval times, and the Crown Jewels of Scotland. I really liked it! After that, we went to a really cool Magic Gallery. We saw a cool show, saw a whole bunch of cool demonstrations, and a whole bunch of holograms. It was pretty cool! Then Katie and I got some white chocolate bars. There were really good! We met Joe and Dad for dinner, and ate at a hotel. It was good! Then, dad left to go to another play, while the rest of us went to the internet cafe. I got an e-mail from Crystal saying she'd had her first real kiss! With a really hott guy! I'm so jealous. I want to kiss guy so bad :( Dad would kill me. But I think I will. I don't think it's that bad. I know I probably will. Oh well, too bad dad. I'm a teenager! I shouldn't have to be a Molly Mormon!"
Let me just stop right there. This is probably the funniest thing I said in my journal the entire trip. "I'm a teenager!" Cracks me up every. single. time. Sorry dad....

"We went to go get some food for tomorrow morning and dinner. Then came home. Joe and I watched a funny show, and then we watched a "Mystery on a Rapist" show. It was really cool. It's interesting! The show left us hanging and it'll continue this Monday night, which we'll be home by then. That was sort of disappointing. We flipped through channels seeing there was a comedy show (which was sick), a show on teen generations (Generation X), and a backstage show of Jerry Springer. Joe was just painting Warhammer, I was stamping postcards. I decided to go to bed. Joe stayed up later than I. Good night!"

At this point in our trip, we are all very anxious to go home. We're feeling very...."trunky". We kept our days filled with activities but in the back of all of our minds is the fact that we will be going home soon. 8 weeks is a long time to be abroad with a family of five. We were champs.

Blast from the Past: August 5th, 2000

August 5th 2000

"Today we got up and ready for the church at 8am. I got up, curled my hair, put on my dress and I was ready. We left at about 9:15 to wait for our taxi. It took 20 minutes to get to the church. This was so amazing. I sat down and mom suddenly said, "Susie! C'mere!" I stood up and went over to the three people mom was talking to. One of the girls looked really familiar somehow. Mom took me in her hand and said, "Do you remember Erica Shirt from dance?" I paused and stared. Now I recognized her. She was in my dance class like, 2 years ago! I was in awe! Here I was, halfway across the world, and I was meeting a friend from Provo, two years back, in Scotland! I was so amazed! After the meeting she came to Young Women's with me, so on the way, we started to talk. In YW's we practically talked all the way through, then also in the next class! We really reunited! After church we asked our parents if we could do something together. After much debating, we decided on all of us going to dinner (her sister Kirsten was there too) and then some would split and go to the castle, and some would go back to the flat. Erica and I, and Joe, Katie, Mom, and Dad went back to the flat. I taught Erica how to play 500, and we played it until she had to go. She went back to the church with Dad to meet her fam, and watch Dad;s fireside, then go to their inn. Turns out she'd been gone from home since January! 6 months! There were going home Thursday. She was really excited. I mean, we've only been gone for 8 weeks, and we were homesick, but she had been gone 6 months! So she was really excited. I also finished Anne of Green Gables. Matthew died, it was sad, but it was a really good book! One of my faves. It was sad though. Matthew died and Anne gave up her scholarship to stay home and help Marilla because Marilla is going blind. Anne also makes up with Gilbert and he walks her home. I thought he would kiss her, but he didn't. I thought it was so sweet! It was really good!
After mom and dad got home, Joe turned on the TV and the modern Romeo and Juliet was on! I've always wanted to see it, and we watched the beginning until they met and then dad turned it off. Rgg. Oh well, I read mom some of this stuff and now we've got to be getting to bed."


Caution: Anne of Green Gables spoilers in this post... apparently.

What a small world. I'm literally halfway across the world and I run into a long lost friend. Seriously... what are the chances??

Blast from the Past: August 4th, 2000

August 4th 2000

"I forgot to tell you something. Katie and I got three new beanies. A pterodactyl, a bat, and a cute little mouse. We had a fight about it, but all came out good in the end. Anyway, I finally got the curling iron to work so I got to curl my hair! I also wore my Fringe shirt. I looked so cute! Don't mean to brag, but I do think I am cute and pretty."
I just have to interject right here... this last sentence made me laugh pretty hard. Way to go, Susie.

"We tried to call the "taxi hotline" but no one answered, so we had to wave one down. That took 20 minutes because all of them were full. Dad had 12 minutes to get ready for his show! since it took a s' long to get a taxi. The show did go on. There was a family there that everyone but me had met at breakfast in Windermeir! That's because I never got up to go to breakfast, so I didn't meet them. One of the boys looked almost my age, and looked like a cute Harry Potter with a cap on. Anyway, there were there at Dad's how! So I did meet them. Dad's show went great! It was better than before! He is so good and makes a great Brigham Young. After Dad's show he said he was staying to hang and watch play and stuff 'till 7 and then go home, so Mom, Katie, Joe, and I went off together. Mom wanted to take us to see Grey Friar's Bobby, so we ventured down the Royal Mile in search of the statue. We saw quite a lot of street acts, some the same as yesterday. We came and sat down to watch a street act in front of a crowd. These two drunk guys were slappin' hands in front of our faces! Mom said, "excuse me" but they didn't hear. We passed where we were s'posed to go down to the statue and Joe started to whine. Mom got mad at him, so they looked at each other and Joe would scowl. Joe is getting hard to talk to these days. Mom and Joe get in the most fights now. Finally we found the statue and it's grave. Then Mom said we could go to the internet cafe, but eat something first. So, Joe led the way to Burger Kind. We ate there (I saw a really hott kid who smiled at me) then mom let us go to the internet cafe, while she went elsewhere. So, we all made it to the cafe. I got an e-mail from Crystal, and it sounds like she'll be getting a new boyfriend soon name Nick. I do remember him, he is really cute. She seems to be happy. So does Liz. She sent me an e-mail saying all this tuff like, "i'm glad you play with them again," and stuff. Finally mom came to pick us up, and go home. On the way to catch a taxi we saw this poor homeless guy. Mom have him 2 pounds! How nice! We caught a taxi and came home. Mom and Joe got in another fight, and Joe got really mad. So did mom. We had dinner and she apologized, and Joe took it. Dinner was good. Joe got engrossed in a TV show, and Katie was washing herself, so I taught mom how to play 500 and we played two games of that, and I won both! Dad came home and watched with Joe until now, we have to go to bed. Good night! Only 8 more days!"


I do not remember drunk guys slapping hands in our faces.

And I remember I asked "Brigham Young" AKA my father, how many wives he had and he got mad at me. Ha!

Blast from the Past: August 2nd, 2000

August 2nd 2000

"Joe found a weight club, so he went to ti this morning, but I slept in until 11:30, so, Joe was home by then. Dad went to a rehearsal. We all got ready, then left to go to the mall. We net Dad at the mall, then ate lunch. I got some of the cutest things! Little Trolli gummy hot dogs and hamburgers and pizzas! They're so cute! When we got home, Katie, me, and Joe played Beanies. I'm not scared of hiding Juliette anymore. Joe knew because Mom told him, so he said he didn't care at all, so, I was glad! We played for about an hour and a half! Then, Mom told us we had to wrap up, so, good night!"


I thought those mini gummy hamburgers were the cutest things in the world.

Playing with Joe and Katie is one of the most vivid things I remember. I remember we had a blast :)

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Blast from the Past: August 1st, 2000

August 1st 2000

"I packed everything last night, so it didn't take me very long to get ready. Dad said we had to catch two trains, to go to Oxenholm, then Ediburgh. When we got to the station, we found out the train was delayed because of vandalism! "Oh, great!" we all thought. But we found out that a bus that was coming soon would take us there, so we waited for the bus. It came and it was quite easy to put our luggage in the back! The bus ride was bumpy and weird. Finally we got to our train to Edinburgh. That was more comfy, but long. Scotland is beautiful. It is so very green and we walked out of the bus and there upon a hill was a cast castle! Right there! It was pretty cool! We hailed a taxi that took us to our apartment. It is so great! It is brand new, never been used! Joe and me get a room, and Katie, Mom, and Dad sleep in the other room. It's small, but way nicer than London. We went down to find Dad's theater, then the internet cafe. It's just like the one in Amsterdam. I e-mailed everybody telling them only 12 more days until I get home. I love Scotland, but I have been away long enough."


You want to know how I can tell I'm still reading Anne of Green Gables at this point? Because never in my entire life have I ever used the words "vast," "upon," or "quite" in the same paragraph. I'm literally trying to sound like Anne. Way to go, self.