A Spooky Night in York England, 2017

(Recollections are from a pre-pandemic world)

September 28, 2017

The morning was an early one, as is typical when on a tour.  Wake up super early to grab the continental breakfast, assigned by the hotel as to not interfere with other hotel guests.  We, my Mom and I, were in Chester, and we had to pack, eat, give the bus our luggage, and be in the meeting place for a tour of Chester, just at the crack of dawn, before all the shops were open.  The tour was nice, but that's not why I'm writing this blog post.

I'm writing in regards to what happened in York later that evening.

On the two hour bus ride from Chester to York a memory came to mind, one that I haven't thought of in well over a decade.  I was either a sophomore or junior in High School, and was sitting in early morning seminary at the church, 6:30 am.  The lesson itself is long forgotten, but what is clear in my mind was the sudden entry of a man.  No one knew who he was.  Disheveled.  Unkempt.  He swayed and wobbled as he walked.  Did he say anything?  I can't recall.  What I do remember was the way he paced back and forth in front of our class, charging forward in quick motions to scare us.  Our teacher hanging against the wall doing nothing.

All of a sudden this man got closer to us, and then started to hover around the spot where I sat, my right arm table up supporting my books, attached to my seat.  All of a sudden he stopped right in front of me, dropped to his knees, and banged on my table as he met me at eye level.  How long did we hold that stare?  I don't know.  It felt like an eternity.  But I held his gaze.  I didn't quiver.  I didn't flinch.  And then all of a sudden he stood up, left, and we never saw him again.  Days later I heard rumor that he might have escaped from the state hospital.

That memory kept circling through my mind as our bus drove into York.  The same queasy feeling I felt as a teenager, the feeling of repressed fear bubbling under the surface, was thick and hard to shake, but I did as we toured York.  A walk down the shops, getting lost in the Shambles, dinner at Bettys cafe tea room.  After stopping in a couple shops it was dark, and the stores were beginning to close.

Ghost tours were starting to come upon the city.  Random groups gathering around men wearing top hats.  It was fascinating to watch from a distance, but I get spooked easily, and that feeling was back.  The feeling I had as a teenager with the swaying man.

I looked up the street and noticed a man watching me.  He was in shadow, hidden from lamp light, disheveled with a sway.  Not wanting to make much of it, thinking it was only coincidence, I put it to a test.  As my Mom and I walked up the street, he followed on the other side.  I purposely stopped and watched him out of the corner of my eye, avoiding ghost tours in the process.  When we stopped, he stopped.  When we walked, he walked.  After establishing the pattern I alerted my Mom to the situation, going through the walking and stopping movements to prove my point.  We were both scared by this point, and made it a point to continue where there were lots of people, and to delay heading to our hotel as not to be followed.

Finally, after quite awhile, he got impatient and just left.  And at that point, checking behind us several times, we fast paced it to our hotel.  Adrenaline going crazy.  We made it, felt safe, and then had a good laugh.  York is really quite charming in the daytime, but at night it's a different animal.  The city feels different.  Maybe it was seeing all the ghost tour groups moving up and down the streets that played with my imagination.  Not far fetched.  But I was so glad to be safe that night.  So glad to be away from the feeling of being spooked.

It's Never Too Late

I almost went another day without blogging.  Sorry about that.  Sometimes I'm super jazzed up and write a whole lot, and then sometimes I'm banging my head on my desk while fighting procrastination.  But I didn't want to go another day without sharing a little something.

One of the things I enjoy doing while surfing the net is to collect quotes.  Little sources of inspirations and motivation.  They're gems that I gather into a little treasure trove, opening and reading through when times are tough, or when I'm struggling.

The quote below, which hopefully hasn't already been shared, is one of my favorites.  It is religious, but a lot of the quotes I gather are spiritual.  This quote is one that's saved on my desktop and read often.  

“However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.”~ Jeffrey R. Holland

Have a wonderful day,

Sarah :0)

Flies Are Seriously the Dumbest Insect

There are a lot of annoying things in this world, one of which are flies that get trapped in cars.  They come in and no matter how many hints you give them they wont go out the window.  I've found a couple other insects far more intelligent.

Several years ago I wrote about a praying mantis that got trapped in the car.  Written September of 2012 I wrote: "So a couple days ago I was in the car with my Mom and brother Steven, who was sitting in the back seat.  He made a startled sound.  On his backpack was a large, tan colored praying mantis who had climbed up to let Steven know it was there.  My Mom rolled down the window, and the mantis flew up, waiting for the window to be completely lowered.  Then it flew out of the window... where it hopefully wasn't squashed by a car."

Last week I was waiting in the car for my Grandma and Aunt.  The front windows were completely rolled down, though the back windows were slightly cracked open.  I was in the passenger seat, alone, and through the drivers side window flew in a giant dragonfly.  It was huge!  And it made quite the sound as it was frantic!  He ended up in the back, noticing the cracked window, and tried to get out.  I didn't have the keys and couldn't lower the window, so I was in the process of getting out of the car to open his door, but he made it out before I had the chance to get out myself.

Now a couple days ago, on the other hand, a fly came in.  And, as in times past when this sort of thing has happened, when I rolled down the window the fly didn't want to leave.  He just flew this way and that.  To the front, back, and whatever way he wished.  No care in the world.  Even when he was next to the window there was just no coaxing.  Then he flew to the back of the car again.  I had to quickly get into the house to do something, so the little guy is probably still in the car, probably quite merry in his predicament.  Maybe flies are quite social and like being around humans.

Heh, unrelated to cars, the other day I met a little flying insect of some sort.  Kinda looked like a little beetle, though most likely something else.  Reminded me of the cockroach in WALL-E, but it wasn't a cockroach in the slightest, just reminded me of the representation.  I was sitting outside on a step, and at first it flew away from me making a clicking like sound which alerted me to its presence, and then he flew back, landing right next to me near a railing. It turned and looked up at me, raising the front of his body while his back stayed down.  I bent down and told him, "Don't worry, I'm not going to flick you." So he turned to the side and flew up to the railing where he started to climb up.  The next day I was in my Mom's room talking, and the same insect flew at the window, hitting the glass and falling down.  He then flew back up, landing on the glass about where I was, and then climbed to the top.  I think I've made a friend. :P Haven't seen him since.

Until next time, c'est fini.

Changing Seasons, Cilantro, Macarons, and Songs that Fill Moods

Autumn never seems to last long enough.  Summer and Winter are the forever seasons while Spring and Autumn tug back and forth between the first two, never getting a true fair shake.  Last Tuesday was north Utah's last day in the 70's, and now we are in a temperature freefall, bouncing about here and there with a chance of snow on Sunday.  Yippee!! :P 

Anywho, in other news, I told my Mom that cilantro is really good for detoxing.  Read that somewhere, so it must be true.  And it must be why green smoothies always list it as an ingredient.  And then I told her that some people have a gene that makes cilantro taste like soap.  Sadness.  She's never had a problem with cilantro before, but bought a tiny bunch to try.  While having lunch yesterday she ate it and declared, "It tastes like soap!"  I told her it must be in her head, because she's never had this issue before.  After a few chews she decided that it was 50/50.  The cilantro tasted normal to me. *shrug*

Now lavender sometimes taste like soap in things.  But tasty soap!!  Oh my goodness, there's a little shop in the Paseo Nuevo outdoor mall in Santa Barbara called Le Macaron French Pastries, and I just checked and they seem to still be in business.  That's fantastic.  They have a pastry chef from France, and they make Lavender macarons that are so good.  But want to know the best flavor??!!  Rose!!!!  It's so good.  And no other macaron place I've been to has them.  I haven't been to Santa Barbara in well over a year.  It's probably going to be awhile before I get the chance to visit California again.

Please tell me other people are like this... have you ever loved a song so much that it goes on loop, sometimes for days?  A couple weeks ago I was digging "Fallin' (Adrenaline)" by Why Don't We.  Slow beginning, but goes into a great beat.  Then it was Rascal Flatts album "How They Remember You."  That lead me to discover the song "Ocean" by Lady A (formally known as Lady Antebellum), and that song went on loop a full two days.  It fed a mood.  And it crazy slowed down my productivity. -_-;;  Oh, and then I went on a Radio Disney kick and discovered the song "Lie Like This" (clean edit) by Julia Michaels.  It has such a nice chorus.  And now I'm digging the Christian song "Haven't Seen It Yet" by Danny Gokey, which has three versions, and they're all nice.  

Hope you're having a great day! :D

 “Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, we have had our summer evenings, now for October eves.” ~ Humbert Wolfe

 

A Sunset in Pastels

Every now and then I come across a scene that must be captured by photograph.  Last nights sunset was one such scene.  The sky in vivid pastel hues, bright and beautiful.  Looking as if a painter quickly brushed the colors on the horizon.  It's one of the more beautiful sunsets we've had in a long time.

The air wasn't so bad today, what with all the fire smoke we've been having.  Yesterday I took a drive up the canyon to see the fire damage.  The north side, at the mouth of the canyon, was scorched.  Thankfully the fire didn't jump the rode to burn the waterfall side, which is prettier.  As I was coming back through the canyon, turning at Deer Creek, a helicopter was dumping water where the earth still smoked near the mouth of the canyon.  After dumping the water the helicopter flew to the river to gather more water for another soak.  The road leading to Sundance is blocked off, open to local traffic only.

I hope you're having a nice day.  Hopefully the leaves are turning where you are, making that wonderful rustle sound with the wind blows.  Autumn truly is a nice time of year.

"A heart that can feel is a heart that can heal." ~ Emily Orton

Random Thoughts: October Edition

'Tis the season of pumpkin goodness!!  Seriously, pumpkin everything is the best part of Autumn, followed by the changing leaves and the nippy crisp air.  Though I can't have pumpkin treats!  The agony.  Buuuuttt, there's a pretty good herbal pumpkin tea at Trader Joe's.  It's not pumpkin bread, but it's nice and warm and hits the spot.  Though you can't smother it with whip cream. :\  Sadness.  Pumpkin scented candles are nice, too.

There's a fire in Provo Canyon.  Started yesterday morning and still going into last evening. Three helicopters and six planes are trying to put it out.  The canyon is closed. The fire itself is close to the water treatment plant.  Hopefully it goes well and everyone is safe.  Evacuations have started near the canyon, so not a good situation in that regard.

My car has hopefully had its last major problem this year.  Last year I had to replace all four tires and rims, because my tires kept going randomly flat.  Not safe.  Then the fuel pump had to be replaced.  And my 13 year old battery finally died!  Yay.  My brother Michael came over and helped me with it.  He also replaced the headlights I ordered a month ago, because the seal cracked and water was getting into the light and rusting.  So kudos to Michael for being amazing, awesome, super smart, humble, patient, and always willing to help not just his big sis, but everyone who needs it he's always there to lend a hand.  Drove my car this afternoon to get the core money for returning the old battery, and it was driving so nice.  The nicest in a long time.  Maybe the battery and fuel pump have been fighting each other?  Just guessing, and just hoping nothing else will go wrong for a little bit.

Meanwhile at Walmart all the Halloween stuff is out.  It's probably been out for quite awhile, I just haven't been there in awhile.  For the kids sake I hope they get the Halloween they want.  One of my nieces is so excited for it, but I haven't heard word what's going on in that regard.  Kids need their Halloween and candy.  

So in the past I've blogged about the Mickey Memories and the Disney Wisdom collections at the Disney Store.  This year it's Minnie Mouse based on Disney Park attractions.  When the shut downs started I was able to get Tea Cup Minnie Mouse off of the website.  That was under the old system.  For the most part I haven't been crazy about the designs, except Peter Pan.  All the Peter Pan Minnie stuff is adorable, and the King Arthur Minnie ears and loungefly backpack. I wasn't able to get those items, which is probably a good thing.  Sometime in May-ish/June the Disney store went to a lottery system.  From the Facebook groups I'm in so many people are upset and some have stopped trying to collect the series.  I only tried for Peter Pan and King Arthur carousal, and didn't win the lottery.  Didn't need to spend the money, so it's all good.  Tea Cup Minnie is adorable, so I'm glad to have gotten her.

Next month is Nanowrimo, in two weeks!  Haven't done it in years, but I'm excited.  These next two weeks will be prep.  The story will be fantasy for kids, so it'll be silly and cute.  Mainly I'm writing it for my nieces and nephew.  I prefer third person, but this will be in first person, and I want to read and record it as well.  Haven't done any acting in years... almost two decades.. but I'm going to have fun with this.  Just have fun.

So, the podcast my brother Michael and I are working on isn't coming out this month.  There were some set backs.  The music software is being agreeable, so I'm just playing around with intro song ideas.  Not quite happy with it yet.  But... oh, I want to tell you the theme for the podcast, but I'll leave that for the official announcement.  It's not like Steven and Robbie's podcast.  It's in a subject realm.  All I'll say is that it plays to Michael's talents and expertise and to my curiosity.  We're having fun.  We just haven't put a complete episode together yet, because we're working on form and all that jazz.

Anywho, I hope you're having a good month, despite everything.  Keep your head up.  Try to keep smiling.

Did you know researchers in the UK discovered the most interesting thing about smiles?  A smile has the same neurological boost as eating a bunch of chocolate or receiving $25,000.  A simple 'ol smile can do that!  These days we're being deprived of smiles.  Some people seem to be okay with masks.  I'm on the side that's not in favor of them. Touchy, controversial subject, I know. (Not going to get into it, because no matter what one believes there's scientific evidence to support it).  But one of the reasons I have a hard time with masks is smiles.  We're isolated at home, and then we go into public and we're isolated in public.  We need smiles!!  I wonder if one of the reasons so many people are depressed is because we need to give and receive smiles.  It really does make us feel better.

"Some people could be given an entire field of roses and only see the thorns in it. Others could be given a single weed and only see the windflower in it. Perception is a key component to gratitude. And gratitude is a key component to joy." ~ Amy Weatherly

 

Space Aliens, UFOs and Me

Whether or not we are alone in the universe has been the stuff of legend and wonder for decades.  This last year, just one more stone added to everything else we've been dealing with, the talk of UFO's and ET's have escalated.  The Pentagon declassified videos showing UFO's performing unusual feats.  I just watched a video on YouTube about declassified Soviet information about underwater divers seeing underwater aliens and flying saucers above and below the water.  Last year a bunch of people wanted to crash Area 51, which I don't think really happened.  A new documentary called The Phenomenon, which I haven't watched, is stirring up more debate.

It's hard to know what to believe, really.

When I was a kid I thought I might have seen a UFO.  I say might because sometimes it feels like I might have been hallucinating.  It couldn't have been real, right?  As a kid I would sleep on the trampoline starring up at the Milky Way.  One night I was looking up, and suddenly there was this big bright light growing bigger and bigger as it came close to me from the South.  How close?  I don't know.  I closed my eyes, and when I opened them it was gone.   I looked up and saw the blinking light of an airliner, as we lived under a flight path, but the object of light itself was gone.

And want to know what's weird?  As I write this I'm watching an episode of Brad Meltzer's Decoded, S2, Ep7 "Proof of UFOs Reveled" off of YouTube, and as I typed the above paragraph I was listening at minute 32.37, relating an experience President Reagan had in 1974.  He was in an airplane near Bakersfield CA.  He saw a bright white light, they followed it to Bakersfield where they saw the white light shoot right up to heaven.  

Get this, when I was a kid I lived an hour driving distance North of Bakersfield, and it was a bright white light.  This is the first time I've heard someone seeing something I saw, and in the neighboring area I saw it.  Albeit I saw it in the early 90's, but still.  Crazy, right?  I'm a little freaked out right now.  I always wondered if I dreamed it.  I started suffering from Sleep Paralyses attacks at age 9, and still deal with them.  My last attack was a couple weeks ago and was quite terrifying.  It's why I sometimes fear sleeping.  But with SP attacks hallucinations are involved, and then some.  My SP experiences I'll never talk about, though my family gets an earful.  It's why they won't tell ghost stories around me.  I've lived it.

But all growing up I wondered if what I saw that night was a dream or not.  I wasn't paralyzed. I was fully able to move.  But even though I saw the white light, I don't recall any light being on me, and I don't remember hearing anything.

For the longest time I kept it secret, until several months ago when I heard both my Dad and my brother Steven saw lights doing weird things in the sky when we lived in Porterville.

So, this will go down as a childhood mystery.  Did I or didn't I see a UFO?  And if so why was it getting closer to me before disappearing?  I wished I didn't squeeze my eyes shut, but I was scared, so I don't know if it shot up to heaven or not.

With all this alien and UFO talk I've been seeing an increase in discussions if whether those of us who are Christians would suddenly lose our faith if we found out alien life was real.  I'm apart of a Facebook group called "Super Geeks of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," and a little while back such a discussion broke out with 298 comments.  The resounding answer was that we wouldn't lose our faith.  I wouldn't.  At all.  Our faith believes God created worlds without end, and that there's life on other worlds.  It's probably why there are so many Latter-day Saint nerds, because we're curious about the universe.  The statistical probability of there being intelligent life out there is so minuscule, what with all the conditions that must be met with a perfect world, etc, that if there was alien life it would prove intelligent design as legit.

Even so it's all interesting and fun to talk about.  Have fun looking at the stars.

Sarah

Reliving this Last Year While Reading Past Texts

Every now and then I like to go into my family's text thread and back it up for safe keeping, which is what I was up to over the weekend.  Download all the pictures and re-read everything.  I didn't get through this entire last year, only making it from the beginning of November to the end of this past March.

It was fascinating.  Emotionally draining.  Some months more active than others.  It was strange literally watching the world close in on us all.  And it brought me back, reliving things I had forgotten.

November was a festive month, mainly for my parents.  They went on a two week cruise in the Pacific, traveling from Hawaii to Tahiti.  It was an epic trip, and they shared all of their fun details.  And then right when they got home my Mom decided she wasn't in the Christmas spirit and off the two of us went to Disneyland.  We're annual pass holders, but it still felt super reckless, but I just can't say no to Disneyland.  In hindsight I'm glad we were spontaneous.

The Holidays were carefree.  Sicknesses were going around, but we were still getting together as a family and going out doing stuff.

It was coming home from Disneyland in early February when the virus made its first mention, us all chatting about the whistle blower dying, and the effect it was causing overseas.  Early March was the toilet paper crises.  Disbelief after Costco running out of toilet paper.  Then Walmart.  And then everywhere else.  Texts of shock and dismay.  And a whole lot of toilet paper memes.  For the record duck tape isn't the end all, fix all.  Don't put it on a toilet paper holder. 

I forgot about the insanity that was my Mom's birthday.  Her's was the first to be impacted by the craziness.  We had bought everything, and then hours before the party three of my nieces, from two households, got sick.  The youngest of the set with a fever.  The party was cancelled, and then the next several hours was spent with my Mom and I making meal kits for everyone, cutting up the cake and putting them on plates, and then visiting everyone to drop them off.  Everyone was well fed during a time of grocery store craziness (we luckily bought everything before the shortages began), and my Mom got to see her family and the grand babes.  Around 10 pm our meal was cooked and we were eating.

Then shortly after that was the SLC earthquake, and just the mental shock that was.  

March was a crazy month.  Dang.  

It was interesting reading everyone's reactions.  Our questions and confusions.  The unknowns. A little debate here and there.  Crazy enough, even after all this time, there are still a lot of questions and opinions we all have.

So I had a very surreal weekend.  It was just strange watching the progression.  In the texts I made a joke on News Years Eve about hindsight being 2020.  Isn't it, though?  Hindsight is 2020.

I still have to backup April till now, which will be a trip to experience, but I'm giving myself a little brake.  Actually kinda not looking forward to it. 

I don't know what to say.  I literally don't know what to write past this point.  Funny enough I was going out more and visiting more stores at the start of all this than I am now.  Masks give me anxiety, so I can only go to places that let me wear my mask under my nose.  So no Disney Store, no flying in planes, no visiting Disneyland when it opens up, even with my pass.  

I did read a funny moment when the lock downs first happened.  Some news stuff was texted, and one of my brothers wrote, "This just got real."  and then I wrote, "That's it.  I didn't make my bed this morning.  I'm going to go restore some order to this world."  And I did.  And I've made my bed everyday.  My room has been remarkably clean all year.  And that's how I'm managing my feelings.  Controlling what I can.

And with that said, I've officially reached three weeks of no sugary treats.  So some things are going right.  Heh, though I got Panda Express last night, and I did eat the fortune cookie because it only has 2 g of sugar, and my bread is that much per slice, and fortunes don't come true unless you eat them, and my fortune was really cool so I had to eat it: "Your talents will earn you the highest status and prestige."  So I ate it, not the paper, the cookie.  

 

I've Now Lived in Utah as Long as I Lived in California

It's happened.

I'm at a midpoint.

That conundrum of how do I answer when asked, "Where are you from?"

California or Utah?

19 years in both.

California was my youth.  My growing up years.  That's important, right?  

And Utah is my young adult years. Navigating life post primary education.  Equally important.

My family moved to Utah several months before the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.  We were not expecting on moving at all.  I was attending College of the Sequoias in Visalia California.  Honestly, I loved that school.  They had just finished building a multi-million dollar music building.  Started several new music associate degrees.  And I LOVED that choir.  Having a music degree I've been in a lot of choirs, but that choir from a junior college was my favorite.  Great musical literature.  And we sounded awesome.  Plus the choir director gave me challenging parts.  I mainly sang alto, but also got to sing tenor and second soprano, and it was just so much fun.

I didn't want to move to Utah. At all.  I didn't want to go live where the "Utah Mormons," as we called them then (we call ourselves Latter-Day Saints), lived. There was a stigma that I just didn't want to be apart of.  When I was a kid I vowed never to move to Utah. No joke. I really did.

But my family needed a change, and my Dad decided to put out word in possibly wanting to move to Utah in a couple years.  Putting out the feelers.  That very day his boss was talking to the SLC boss, who said they just had an opening and needed someone.  My Dad asked, two hours later he had a job offer.  When God wants you to move somewhere, the doors flood open.

I could have stayed in California.  Live with my Grandparents and finish my associates.  A good financially responsible choice.  But I prayed, and knew.  I just knew I needed to follow my family to Utah and put my education on hold, which ended up being a 1 1/2 year pause so education was at an affordably manageable rate again.  

Years later it was the right choice.  I'm where I'm meant to be. I love it here.  

And now I'm at that cross road, the further down this road I go my Utah years overshadow my California.  I guess, now, I'm an official Utahn.

But, just so you know, I say the "T" in Mountain.  So my Cali-ness still shows...

Are Movie Theaters Going to Survive?

This afternoon I heard that the next Wonder Woman movie was skipping the theaters and heading towards streaming.  A quick search later and it looks like that may actually happen, though Patty Jenkins', Wonder Woman's director, is sending this warning: "If we shut this down, this will not be a reversible process.  We could lose movie theater-going forever."

3 days ago it was announced that Regal theater will be shutting down 536 theaters, affecting 40,000 employees.  AMC has been suffering as well.  Cineworld is closing theaters across the US and UK.

And all this while major blockbusters are getting pushed back: James Bond, Black Widow, etc.  I appreciate the fact that TENET came to the theaters that are open, but I guess its box office gross (either $150 million-$200 million global, depending on the source) is scaring other movies from being released.

Problem is, if you hold back a movie hoping for more money, but the holding back causes movie theaters to close because they can't survive, then will blockbusters ever make the money they once did?  You have to have theaters for that, unless streaming really is a goldmine.  I find that questionable.  Besides, the whole multiple streaming services has become fatiguing, and I canceled Netfix last month over moral reasons concerning a certain French film.  You can't release a movie to a theater if there are no theaters left to release movies into.

I've been to the movies a few times now, and there isn't anything to fear, if there are people holding back for that reason.  The theaters are clean, and much care is being taken to ensure safety for those that are worried.  I don't like to see anyone lose their jobs, especially in this market, and when it comes to the movies there are a lot of people, from all walks of life and situation, that keep the film industry going.

Time will tell.  I love entertainment and stories, and I would be sad if theaters go away.  I also have a huge imagination and love different forms of storytelling.  Times are tough, true, but we're all suffering.  And we have priorities.  But also, I do hope large screen storytelling survives, but the industry needs to wake up before it's too late.

A Nice Little Midweek Thought: A New Perspective on Perfection

Last weekend was General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It's like the Super Bowl of the Latter-Day Saint world, only we get it twice a year with 10 hours of broadcasted talks.  It's a chance to renew my spirit, and I always look forward to conference with great anticipation.  Though, funny enough, a year ago I missed conference because my Mom and I were at Disneyland.  (Yeah, I need to pull those talks up on the app and have a listen).  Heh, but all during conference this year I was like, "a year ago to the day I was at Disneyland..." and then I'd sigh and drown in withdrawals. -_-;; ... :P

I have a lot of thoughts over conference, but they're more of a personal sacred nature.  More a feeling of all the ways I need to improve.  But there were many talks that filled my spirit with hope and peace as well.  The Women's session Saturday night was extremely powerful.

Memes start floating around social media during conference each year, and it's always fun to collect them and save them to my phone for later readings and inspiration.  So I'm ending this post with a quote, which I don't really know if it's from conference this year as the print version of the talks aren't available, only the videos are up on www.churchofjesuschrist.org.  

"The commandment to be like Him is not intended to make you feel guilty, unworthy or unloved.  Our entire mortal experience is about progression, trying, failing, and succeeding." ~ Scott D. Whiting

Ha! I take it back.  It is up on the website, from the Saturday morning session: Elder Scott D. Whiting "Becoming Like Him".  Along with this theme, Book of Mormon Central did an incredible lesson on Becoming Perfect.  Puts things in wonderful perspective.

Visiting Places That Suddenly Feel Like Home, Part 1

Since the worldwide pandemic started I haven't ventured further then a county passed where I live.  Needless to say I've been romanticizing past travels.  Reliving memories.  Looking over photos.  Heh, and going stir crazy.

What's always interesting when traveling is how some places, even after just a few hours, suddenly feel homie.  Familiar, even when those places are drastically different from everything I know here in the States.

While there are other places that don't really click.  It was a nice visit.  Glad I went.  But I'm ready to see something new.

Whereas the homie places I want to visit again and again.

(These recollections are from a pre-pandemic world)

Bath, England

I love this city so much.  It's very tourist friendly, since it's easy to get there by train or bus, and there's so much to see and do.  There's the historical stuff like the Roman Baths and the Assembly Rooms.  Seeing Pulteney Bridge from a distance is a must, and it's fun to walk across.  There's a hop on/hop off bus that goes on two different routes, which will hopefully be operational after the pandemic, going around the historic city and country.  So many charming shops with buildings spanning various styles and history.  Dining in The Pump Room is elegant and charming.  There's the Jane Austen Center for those who love Jane Austen.  Nice parks.  Views.  History.  Just so much to do.

The first time I stayed it was at the Apsley House Hotel in Bath, a Georgian House built in 1830 by the Duke of Wellington.  It's a Bed and Breakfast, about 1 1/2 miles from City Center.  Close to the hotel is a charming pub/restaurant with the best fish and chips next to the river.  The second time I stayed in Bath it was at the Apex City of Bath Hotel.  Reasonable prices.  Right in City Center.  Across the street is the Green Park Brasserie, which, simply, is the best food I've had on any trip.  So, so good.  And in the evenings there's jazz music.

Another nice thing about Bath is that you can easily visit Cardiff, Bristol, the Cotswold's, Cheddar Gorge, and the Stonehenge.

Cardiff, Wales

On my third trip to the British Isles my Mom and I wanted to visit Wales.  Cardiff is just a little over an hour train ride from Bath, and there's a lot of trains and buses going back and forth.  Easily accessible. 

Heh, okay.  So while in Bath the waiter at TGIF said he used to live in Cardiff and wondered what on Earth we were planning on doing, because there's nothing to do in Cardiff.  I started getting worried.  Were my Mom and I making a mistake in visiting!!??  I did research and it seemed like we would have no problem finding something to do.

So we get there, visit the castle after checking into the Holiday Inn, and really enjoyed the castle and the little tour.  The tour is worth it, and wasn't that much money.

But that night.  Oh, My, Goodness!!!  

Heh, so the Holiday Inn is next to the Rugby stadium, which is kinda a big deal there.  And there was a game.  That night there was a party going on in the room next to our room.  People coming in and out.  Door opening and shutting.  Loud music with beats.  Talking.  Etc.  Couldn't sleep, and I was still jet lagged.  At 2 am it quieted a little, only for the room on the other side of us to get a new occupant.  Must have been a single older guy, because he was drunk singing.  Loud.  Various swear words here and there.  After he fell asleep, around 4 am, the party guys came back to their room and cranked up the music.  My Mom and I didn't get any sleep that night.  I was really worried about our choice in visiting Cardiff.  Thankfully we got a new hotel room with less shared walls, right next to the elevator.  But I'll take elevator sounds over drunk singing and partying any day... and night!! 

Cardiff was a lot of fun, and there's tons to do!!  Silly TGIF waiter.   There's the castle.  All those shopping arcades which are a lot of fun to wander around.  Parks.  You can take a bus by water and land to the bay area where there's lots of restaurants and things to see.

We took a day trip to the Brecon Beacons which included Caerphilly Castle, seeing the countryside of south and central Wales.  We were suppose to do a day trip to the Gower Peninsula, but Cardiff city center was doing a no car day, so the tour was canceled.  I hope to return again to see the beautiful coast.

Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District, England

The land of Beatrix Potter.  But also a beautiful lake and cute little village.  I've been here twice, but with both visits I was on a tour and the stop was really quick.  The first time was about an hour, and all I really experienced was walking where the lake is and visiting places along the waterfront.  The second time was an excursion while doing a Disney Cruise around the British Isles, which included a boat trip across Windermere and 90 minutes in the town.  It was also a lunch stop, but my Mom and I decided to forgo eating and see as much as we could.  I want so badly to go back and just experience this area.

Orvieto, Italy

Orvieto was such a surprise.  On my Italy tour I was looking forward to Rome and Verona, but Orvieto stole my heart.  It's one of those Medieval rock cliff towns, perched up high.  The streets were so charming.  The homes quaint.  It was fun looking through the gift shops at all the ceramics, which Orvieto is known.  This little town is the sort of place I would love to spend a weekend, just enjoying the ambiance.  

Venice, Italy

What is there not to love about Venice!!??  Before the visit I've seen pictures and watched movies, but nothing prepares you for actually being there.  Venice is amazing.  All the tiny islands connected by bridges.  The atmosphere.  History.  My only regret was not being able to truly explore and wander around.  We were there for the day, but mainly stayed in St. Marks square, and there's so much more to see than that.  We saw Murano Glass being made.  Went on a Gondola ride, which is a must.  It seems touristy and cliché, but you have to see Venice from the water.  I would love to spend a week in Venice.  It was the last stop on the Italy tour, and the perfect way to end. 

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This blog post got long, so I need to do a part two.

Until next time!  Salut

 

Searching For Peace and Purpose

This will be a quickie because I'm not feeling the greatest.  Woke up yesterday morning with a crazy hunger feeling I couldn't quash, took me an hour to eat steal cut oats and cottage cheese, and then threw it up.  Heh, -_-;;  Needless to say I've been resting and didn't walk my planned miles.  Oh, life...

But this has been a crazy week, not to be redundant.  Just a real wrestling with my spirit.  I considered once again serving a mission, which I haven't contemplated in years, but ultimately realized how much I want to get back to working on the arts, and that's okay.

Even so, my insecurities were running miles high.  I called up my brother Michael and asked if we could postpone recording the episode we were working on.  Goodness, he's amazing.  I suppress a lot of emotion, because I don't like burdening people, and prefer to work on things alone, but as I talked with him my emotional gates opened up on things I was contemplating and other things I was battling, and he was completely understanding a patient. 

And I don't have the opening song composed for the podcast, and it only has to be a few seconds!  But I turned on the computer, opened the program, and discovered some of the instruments need to be re-authorized, which I can't do, so my brother Steven will come over next week to help me with that, because I can't figure it out.  I was just really being hard on myself, because I got my degree in Music, and I've forgotten sooooo much.  It's embarrassing.  So I just need to humble myself and get back to the basics.  Face my fears.

So that's some of the things I was dealing with last week.  It's a process.  But this I do know, I do love music.  I'm singing again, and it feels nice.  And I want to be a creative.  I want to tell stories.  Next month is Nanowrimo, and I'm totally doing it.  We all fight our demons.  I fought with one this last week, and survived with a renewed purpose of heart.  No matter what, I will remain hopeful for the future.

"Don't get overwhelmed.  Just do the small things as perfectly as you can, and the big things will fall into place." Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

October Health Goals: Just Keep Moving

Keeping this short and sweet.

Last week I declared my intention of going 101 days with no sugary treats.  Guess what!  I'm still at it.  Haven't had one yet.  And trust me, it's not easy.  Both Tuesday and Thursday of this last week has been tough.  Tuesday was an especially hard day, but I didn't give in.  I was like, "Body, I love you.  I don't hate you.  But I won't let you control me."  On the back of my door I have taped the written words "Spirit Over Body," so that's my focus.  

It is interesting, because with all the emotions I've been dealing with this week, I wanted to eat sugar to calm and mask those emotions.  Side step and avoid them a little with giving into tasty pleasures.  This is something I've known about me, this tendency to eat sweets when I'm depressed, sad, overwhelmed, or feeling anxiety.  Sugar is my go to distraction.  I was feeling all these emotions and couldn't satisfy the cravings.  Instead I sat there and dealt with the emotions.  Just felt them.  There was also a really nice drive, twice, to Sundance and back, which helped lift my mood.

Also, I believe I said I was going to aim for 5 miles of walking a day.  I realized by the end of last week my body was in serious need of a rest, so I amended my goal to 25 miles a week, which works out to 100 miles a month.  I did my 25 miles last week, and I have 2.5 miles left for this week.

What are the results?  A few weeks ago I hit my highest weight of all time for a third time, which scared me into action, and I'm down 4 1/2 pounds, plus I'm down an inch around my waist.  It's working.  I'm still only eating two meals a day, as I just don't seem to want to eat before 11 am, and that's with walking 5 miles every morning.  My two meals I do eat are normal.

A tiny bit of why I've been sad this week was because my Mom and I planned a trip for Hawaii to visit Kauai.  We planned and scheduled everything last May, getting good prices and ocean view rooms.  I've never been to Hawaii, and was hoping it would work out.  At the end of June my Mom and I searched news sites and realized we would probably still be dealing with this "stuff" in September/October, so we canceled and was able to get a refund.  If the trip was still on we would have left at the end of last week, returning next week.  I know it's a silly thing to be sad about, there's so many terrible things happening all over, but I'm still a little sad.  Someday?  Hopefully.

Anywho, I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing.  Establishing a habit.  Then when I'm in the groove with no sugary treats and tons of walking, I'll throw in strength training and other stuff.

One step at a time. Literally.