Screen on the Green

Jenell, me, and Dan

Tonight a huge group of LDS singles made their way the D.C. mall for the screening of Wait Until Dark with Audrey Hepburn. It was such a treat!! Every once in a while I would take my eyes off the screen and appreciate the Capitol Building in front of me and the Washington Monument behind me. It is moments like this that make me think that I could never leave D.C.

The movie itself was great. If you have not seen this movie then you should. My favorite part of the evening was during the scariest part of the movie. Jenell and I were so scared that we jumped back so far that it felt like we would do a back flip. We laughed so hard....and so did everyone around us.

There is some strange tradition that as the movie starts everyone stands and dances for a half a minute.

Public Service Announcement # 23: If you are looking for other boss things to do in D.C. click here: http://www.ehow.com/how_2027023_enjoy-concert-dc.html

Luau

This weekend was our ward luau. There was a roasted pig, dancers, and fun music. It is interesting that I go to these huge events and just end up talking with my friends that I see everyday. Either I am really content with my friends or I just don't like new people. We all know the truth - I just really like my friends. Who wouldn't?

No Public Service Announcement

American Graffiti

Kaylyn, me, Jenell

I am the luckiest girl in America!!! I was able to go to Baltimore again. This time I took my good friends, Kaylyn and Jenell. We went to Little Italy for the outdoor viewing of the classic movie American Graffiti. The evening was magical. We got takeout from my favorite Italian place, Amicce's, in Little Italy. We were planning on just sitting on a porch stoop but a very nice woman said that she could find us some chairs. She went straightway and found three chairs for us. All my senses were taking in the scene around me: the aroma and taste of the Gnocchi, watching the movie and the people around us reacting to the movie, the sounds of Kaylyn, Jenell, and I singing with the movie, and the light rain. It was spectacular!!!

We also addd three new phrases to our daily dialogue, all taken from the movie

1. "That would be boss." - translation: neato.
2. "Going steady."
3. "Shut up, baby." - spoken by a very handsome, young, cowboy version of Harrison Ford.

Public Service Announcement # 22: If you'd like to stimulate all of your senses click here:http://www.ehow.com/how_1000341_five-senses-summer.html

Jello Slip n' Slide Birthday Party

Joe and Matt's birthday's are both this week. How do you celebrate two unique people? How about with a jello slip n' slide? Brilliant!!! This was the most fun birthday party that I have attended during my adult life. A group of us went to a nearby park, set up a slip n' slide, and then added jello for effect. By the end of the evening, everyone was covered with jello, cool whip, and birthday cake. We all might show up to work with stained hands, feet, and faces. This was worth it.

Kaylyn, me, and Matt

Bryan, me, Jenell

Kaylyn and I after going face first into the jello

Kaylyn, Matt, me, and Ann have jello poured on our heads by Peter

Rub a dub dub. Lincoln and Peter in a tub.

They look completely happy.

Kaylyn and I washing off

Public Service Announcement # 21: If you would like to make your own slide click here: http://www.ehow.com/how_17532_make-own-water.html

MoveOn.com

Top: Bryan, Mary, Rob, Kaylyn, Maggie, Matt

Front row: Matt, me, Ben, Kevin

One of my favorite people in all of D.C. has moved on to bigger and better things. Rob is starting business school at BYU. To mark this joyful, yet sad occasion we held a party in his honor. Here are a few highlights of the night:

• All the loyal BYU fans sang our fight song (rise and shout the Cougars are out) one last time with Rob. I could always count on Rob to join me in singing the fight song and remembering all of the words that I do not know.
• We went in a circle and were able to ask Rob just one question that we had always wanted to know. This was funny!!! I asked why he used to just text my old roommate instead of asking her out on a date. It was something that used to frustrate us.
• We went around the circle again and discussed some of our favorite memories with Rob. Mine was the time that Rob refused to eat boneless chicken and then sang Josh Groban at the top of his lungs. After that experience, it is amazing that we became friends.
• We ate Mary's delicious cake.
  

We miss you Rob!!!!

Me, Mary, Rob, Kaylyn, and Maggie

Mary feeding me her wonderful cake

Cousins: Kaylyn and Rob saying goodbye with their strange Peterson ritual

Public Service Announcement # 20: If you are saying goodbye to your friend please read here: http://www.wikihow.com/Say-Goodbye-to-Your-Best-Friend-That-Is-Moving

To pageant or not to pageant....

What a great weekend!!! My friends and I joined 80 other single LDS adults in the pilgrimage to Palmyra, NY. Other religions have pilgrimages of their own: Mecca, Way of St. James, and Graceland. Some pilgrimages are sorrowful or hopeful... ours was a delicate balance between fun and reverence.

The drive there was full of music, laughter, singing, a brief drive through the wonderful streets of Baltimore where we saw people dressed as anime, and races between cars (boys are silly.) Our car ride included Matt, Peter, and our new friend Amy. We finally arrived at the camp around 1:30 am. The camp sits on the tip of Seneca Lake. The camp includes cabins (with electricity) and showers...... my kind of camping. Although we were tired, we did not go straight to sleep because the stars were so entrancing.

We woke up the next morning and went canoeing. Thanks to my superstar canoeing partner, Matt, I felt like I was a pro. Being on the lake was completely refreshing and it felt as if there were no worries in the world. After canoeing, we drove to Palmyra. We ate at a local drive-in. I was sickened by how much food they give you..... I could feel my heart being clogged. They also had a map that you could place a star for where you lived. I placed the first star on Arco, Idaho!!! After stuffing ourselves, we drove into Palmyra. It is a cute little town. Peter saw some protesters against the LDS church and with the loudspeaker he formed the best line of the whole trip "Be nice to the Mormons, they're good people." Of course, Peter continued to use the loudspeaker everywhere we went. I laughed so much.

Matt and I: canoeing superstars

Proud to be from Arco, Idaho

Palmyra

Peter on the loudspeaker

We then climbed Hill Cumorah, where Joseph Smith, Jr. was told to locate the gold plates that was later translated into the Book of Mormon. From there we went to the boyhood home of Joseph Smith Jr. It was inspiring to be on that plot of ground and visualize his life. Just outside of the home there is a grove of trees that LDS members call the Sacred Grove. This is where Joseph Smith first saw God and Jesus Christ. As I walked through the grove, I could not help but think about how personally significant that place is to my life. The events that happened there have shaped who I am. The Sacred Grove is an enlightening place where the Spirit was very strong.

Me in front of the Palmyra temple

Joe, Michael, Peter, Matt, Lincoln, Amy: looks like a Mormon family photo

Ryan, Kaylyn, Me, Matt, and Peter take a rest from pageanting

The Sacred Grove

That night was the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Pageant is a officially a noun but that day it also became a verb. To pageant: v. when one or a group partake in events surrounding a pageant. I must say that we were naturals at pageanting. I love the act of pageanting but the actual event was not really my thing. I found it to be too dramatic but I did like the costumes and the effects.

The next day we drove back to D.C. We stopped by Cornell University to visit the campus. It made me just want to grab a book and study!!! I love campuses for that very reason. All in all, it was a fantastic road trip. New friends were made and old friendships became stronger.

The beauty of Cornell University

P.S. Please see Peter's blog about this same trip. I must admit that his blog, this time, is better than my own.

Public Service Announcment 19: http://www.wikihow.com/Join-the-Mormon-Church-(Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-Day-Saints)

RU LDS 2?

Rob and I decided to go to the LDS bookstore near the Washington D.C. temple. I enjoyed leafing through the books and ended up buying four. I wanted to buy even more but I disciplined myself. Rob and I started to talk about how we did not like gimmicky LDS products. We saw a bumper sticker that said "RU LDS 2?" and thought that it would be funny to put it on our friend Mary's car. However, we knew it would be hard to get off and almost gave up on the idea. Then I noticed this license plate cover that said "RU LDS 2? Return with Honor." It could not be more perfect. We bought it and drove straight to Mary's work and placed it on her car. We laughed the entire way back home.

Mary called us the next day and told that she had discovered that someone had put the license plate cover on her car. As a good sport, Mary laughed heartily about the joke. And to answer Mary's question: "Yes, proudly."

Public Service Announcement #18: If you have a friend that you would like to play a joke on click here: http://www.ehow.com/how_7946_play-practical-joke.html

The Charm City

I love Baltimore!!! Yesterday I left from work and drove to Baltimore to visit some friends. I started my drive feeling very excited to visit with my friends and just be in Baltimore. Baltimore is about 40 miles away from D.C. However, due to traffic, an Orioles game, construction, a detour, and a train it took me 2 hours to drive to Baltimore. I was so frustrated. I kept thinking to myself "I should just turn around this is not worth it." And this is the power that Baltimore has over me...... when I saw the city I completely forgot about the long, frustrating drive and an instant contentment came over me. I can't quiet explain why I love Baltimore so much. It is a place that centers me and where I feel most like myself. I love the buildings, the people, and the feel of the city.

My time in the Charm city was just that.....charming. I went to a fun BBQ and caught up with old friends. Then we went to Little Italy. Litte Italy is lined with row houses, Italian restaurants, and Italian flags. As we were walking, we ran into a public Bocce Ball court that sat right in the middle of the city. I watched as two old, Italian men played against each other. That night there was a movie being projected on to the side of a building as people watched from their lawn chairs. We went into the most quaint pizza shop Isabella's. A man walked back into the pizza shop and asked to talk with the owner. The owner was working in the front. The man told him in an Italian accent "Thanks for the greatest sandwich ever. It was so good that I could kill you." Everyone in the shop clapped after this statement. Wonderful!!! Then we walked around the corner to Vicarro's Pastry shop where we ordered Gilato and then watched the movie. It was all simply wonderful. That night I fell even deeper in love Baltimore.

I was so happy to see Kristin -- she is the best

Inside Isabella's

Kristin, John, me outside of Isabella's
Public Bocce Ball court - I love this place!!!

The screening

Public Service Announcement # 17: If you'd like to visit Baltimore here are a few suggestions http://www.ehow.com/how_2005876_perfect-weekend-baltimore.html

07-07-07

07-07-07 was one of the top five best days while living in D.C. It was one of those days when everything is surprisingly wonderful. It started out with a delightful breakfast and then on to a small concert featuring Garth Brooks.

The day persisted to be great when a group of friends and I went to the Alexandria Days Festival. We stopped by Cosi to eat. We had fun eating s'mores and pie. From the restaurant we walked to the docks in Alexandria. So many people were out and there was great entertainment. We first came upon a group of bird protectors. They had the most beautiful birds and we were able to hold them. My bird's name was "sweetie pie" and she laid in my arms. I loved it.

Then we meandered down to the docks. There was an entertaining man that was heading up a patriotic parade for children. Of course, some of my good friends are children at heart so they joined in with their musical instruments. This man asked if anyone sang. We chanted for Jenell to get up and sing since she had been on Broadway!!! With some coaxing she got up and sang with this man for the next 30 minutes. She had about 100 people stopping to listen. It was magical!!! My friends are so great because they are so willing to just jump in and live life.

I was contemplating deep matters

We told Matt that this sandwich was too big for him.... did he listen? No.

I was gleeful to hold "sweetie pie"

Ryan and Kaylyn with birds on their heads-- Kaylyn now has her birds and her Bessey

Jenell (Ms. Broadway) singing Castle on a Cloud

Rob joining a children's parade

A run in with a fellow blogger -- you are the greatest Jane!!!

Jenell, me, and Kaylyn

Public Service Announcement# 16: If you'd like to be like Jenell click here: http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Street-Musician