To Be Fair

Okay, obviously I've found a lot of things about where I live wanting. There are a lot of reasons for this, but primarily I think the reason is that when I moved to Boise 14 years ago, things kind of fell into place for me. I met The Husband the first week I was there, we got married six months later, Big Bit was still small and all of the turmoil ahead with his situation was still far in the future, the summer was beautiful and for the first time as an adult, I felt "home". So I have been, and in some ways, continue to be desperately homesick.

However, it is true I am "lostinutah" for at least a while, and have been for two years next week. Man, time flies.

So, in honor of this anniversary, I have compiled things I actually do like about Utah. Don't fall off your seats!





Yes, I love the Utah Jazz. This started mid-season last year - we had gone to a game, didn't really get it, the boys were bored etc. Then we watched a few games on TV. I've never been able to get into pro basketball ever ever, but suddenly, maybe because of the media coverage here which portrays the players as real people, we got interested. Or maybe we just needed something to like. At any rate, we've been to several games this year and have our particular favorite players. Mine is Carlos Boozer. No jokes from the peanut gallery, here.


There is another player, however, who has really caught my interest. Kyle Korver. He looks like Ashton Kutcher, only better.









Next thing, the mountains. We've only been skiing a few times in two years - so much more expensive than Idaho to ski in and so many more people competing for the mountains but the view from our 2nd story windows in our house is really beautiful. Even with snow on the mountains (it's supposed to snow tonight..sigh). I'll put a better picture out, this one's not the best but you get the idea...




Lastly, some of the people we've met. I go to a really small start up Lutheran church in a movie theatre, very laid back, nice people, great pastor (who used to be an engineer on the Space Shuttle program, no kidding!), a few of our neighbors, who don't mind that we don't head up to their ward on Sundays (though we do go there for Scouts), a few people we know who moved here for the company we work for (including one couple we've known for a good 12 years), and lastly, The Husband's great boss (as opposed to mine, but that's another story).

So, to sum it up, all is not bad here, now if the "one true church" would quit telling me how to live my life, it might be bearable. Even with the drivers.

Pinewood Derby Update

I would be remiss if I didn't report Little Bit's standings in last week's Pinewood Derby, held at the local Ward. It was his first year, he actually did do the work on the car with supervision, but minimal hands on help from The Husband, and he made the finals! It all happens in one night, and he ended up placing 6th overall, but with around 25 cars in the racing, several heats and some obvious (on some parts) evidence that any given Scout had NOTHING to do with making his car...he did great. He was so excited, it was pretty cute.

Utah Bumper Stickers

Utah drivers are NOTORIOUSLY bad. Worse than the Idaho 2C drivers. Honest.

I stole this list (or some of it) from a hilarious post Sister Mary Lisa did a while back. It summed up, to me, driving in Utah. I remembered it while being passed in a 60 mph zone by a grandpa(!) in a Cadillac with a BYU license plate (and he cut me and lots of other people off). Some of it you won't get unless you have lived or live here, I think, or are/were LDS. But here goes (and yes you should feel sorry for me for having to drive here!):


"Praise to the Man who communed with his road rage"

"Will You Drive This Bad in the Celestial Kingdom?"

"Have I Done Any Good on this road today? "

"No garments? THAT explains why you're driving the speed limit!"

"Forgive me, brothers and sisters, I'm late for a(nother) meeting! "

"I don't cut people off on Sundays, so back off! "

"I am your chance to practice Christlike love and forgiveness. "

'Choose the right...lane, when a choice is placed before you'

'We all must work, let no one shirk, now put your hand on the damned wheel and drive along'

'10% better than yours'

'Babies on board'

"Zoom Zoom Ye Saints."

"My Other Car is a handcart, but THIS one hauls ass!"

"I wouldn't have to drive like this if I were allowed to have a Starbucks."

"Go ahead! My real driving history is locked in a vault, and I won't let anyone see it!"

"CTR--Especially If You're Going Only 5 Over the Speed Limit"

"My SUV's Better Than Your Hybrid"

"If You Can See This Bumper Sticker Which Reads Women Should Have The Priesthood Then you're Too Damn Close! "

"Mountain Meadows Maniac!"

"Get off my ass, or I will go TELESTIAL on you!!"

"I dunk dead people"

"My driving is sophmoric, I mean bisophric"?

I've done my good today, now move along!

"You want to hie to Kolob?! I'll hie you to Kolob!"

“Stick to your bicycle, it’s safer for me.”

"Now I know what UTARD means."

Going Back to Cali

Wasn't that a LL Cool J song? Why is it I know a LL Cool J song? Scary.


Anyhow, The Husband and I used to go to Wine Country pretty much every year. We often took Big Bit, as he was small and enchanted with the birds, butterflies, flowers etc and loved, even then to eat at fine restaurants. (another good story about Big Bit I must post someday involved him eating very properly in a nice restaurant at 18 mos old).

Little Bit, we took once or twice and then we couldn't afford to get out of Dodge for several years. So this is probably our first visit in seven years, and the first one he remembers. He does NOT like to eat at fine restaurants. He likes cheeseburgers. Period. So we had to be creative. And buy a $10 cheeseburger here and there (ouch!!!).


As promised, pictures. Here's Little Bit at a store at Fisherman's Wharf, where we went immediately upon deplaning to have lunch:















Then, it was off to wine country. Here's the boys actually sitting together without fighting. It does happen once in a while:


It was so beautiful, warm but not too, sunny, etc. etc. This is a view from Jack London State Park, which was really cool:



Not to mention, we saw an exact replica of an Italian castle that V. Sattui Winery built a few years ago, it is used as a functioning winery but you can tour it. It even has a chapel that looks like a Renaissance period chapel. Remind me to quit drinking wine because these guys have WAY too much money.

Little Bit had fun pretending to be an archer:



Here's another view:




I hated to get on the plane. In fact, I did everything possible to avoid getting on the plane. Not really, but I did consider running off to become a server in a tasting room in Napa Valley while I attended the Culinary Institute of America.

First vacation I've had in years where I wasn't checking the BlackBerry every 10 minutes. And it was AWESOME. The boys had fun (all three of them) and so did I. Wish I was back right now.

Anonymous

Still new to the Blogger thing, so I have figured out how to allow anonymous comments. This is so certain Bears fans can bash me without having to create a Google/Blogger account. Heh. Post away, Stevarino!

(Also, someone who wouldn't bash me wanted to post and couldn't). Hi Renee.

Just wanted to let y'all know. I'm downloading Napa/Sonoma photos as I type and will have to explain with them why we went this week instead of Easter. I can blame it on two things: Stupid Nevada School Districts and Aging Mother Who Doesn't Do Homework.

More soon.

New Masthead

Not that I am no longer a Packer fan (just don't think it will shut off) but I am in search of a new masthead, so for now it's Big Bit, Little Bit and my amazing grandmother. All three of them are pretty awesome people.

Been on vacation until tonight. It was pretty damn hard to come back. We were in the Bay Area and let me tell you, there are many things about Cali that are pretty cool. It was green, people were friendly, though a bit taken aback at the wineries when we said we were from Utah. Then we had to clarify we "live" there we're not "from" there.

Pictures coming from the trip - Little Bit went nuts as a potential paparazzi and we have lots of photos.

The tale of the Mayor vs. "The Wrong Element"

Okay, although severely delayed by horrible news from Wisconsin, here as promised is the funny story. Of course, since I've referred to it as that for so long, it probably won't live up to the hype. I guess this is more the "example of why I find Utah so freaking weird" story.

Once upon a time, you had to go to a State Liquor Store (SLS) to buy anything other than 3.2 beer. You had to pay IN CASH OR CHECK (no credit cards, mind you) and there were many restrictions and few liquor stores. Yes, this includes wine, people and you can't buy any of it COLD. BECAUSE THEN YOU MIGHT DRINK IT. OR SOMETHING. (Yes, we have SLS in Idaho, no I hardly ever had to go to one because cold beverages were sold at grocery stores).

Apparently a few years back a social drinker was selected to the DABC (who operates the liquor stores for the State). This wonderful woman got a lot done - you can now buy with a credit card, some of the other issues (all of which I don't know enough about to list) were resolved and with the Olympics coming to town, most of the stupidity around having a drink with dinner were resolved. Sadly, none of these solved the private club issue, which is a whole other ball of wax that I will speak to at a different time, and you still pretty much can only buy 3.2 beer at the store, everything else is at the SLS.

So, to make a long story longer, the DABC has been actively expanding the number of SLS around the state. It is their decision on where to put them and when, the municipalities do not get a vote (though they yell a lot about it and occasionally get the location at least moved).

Shortly after buying our house, plans were announced to build a store in our little burgh. We are in one of the fastest growing areas of the state and the closest store is AT LEAST 10 MILES. On the other side of I-15. If you go north it's 10 miles. No biggie you say? Perhaps not, but one right down the street is much more convenient.

After announcement, the mayor of our fair city, who is of a certain religious pursuasion, put up a fuss that could have wakened the dead. Resolutions opposing this horrible event were passed by the city council, people were harassed who would have sold or leased land to the DABC for the store, a website was created showing that this store was WITHIN A MILE OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL. OH MY HECK. The mayor referred to "the wrong element" who come to this beautiful corner of Zion when this type of horrible place is introduced. I sent him an e-mail and told him we were already here. I don't think he likes me very much. I love ya, Bill.

Nothing had happened in almost two years and I was getting depressed. Then, two things happened. Home Depot donated a lot for the land (I LOVE YOU HOME DEPOT). Then a few weeks ago on the way home from work, I noticed the beautiful sight below (sorry the pic is bad). All SLS's built recently have the same architecture, and this is it.

My problem is with this whole thing is the pervasive belief in this state by certain people that the "wrong element" must be controlled so they won't corrupt the "one true element". People, live and let live. And in a few months at the most I will be able to buy a bottle of wine two minutes from my house. Just like when I was in Idaho. AND THE WORLD WILL NOT COLLAPSE AND THE DEVIL WILL NOT SHOW UP ON THE MAYOR'S DOORSTEP.

Rant over. Cheers!