So far...

Trip highlights so far...
-Burgers at Dave's place in New York-where I finally met my travel buddy...turns out we get along just fine :)
-Carrying luggage all over London while switching airports
-Learning that my limited Norwegian is sufficient...I can greet people and ask them if they speak English. So far everyone has said yes
-Belgian waffles at the Viking ship museum
-Leftsa at the Norwegian culture museum
-Watching the folk dancers at the culture museum
-European chocolate in so many forms
-Seeing old friends and catching up
-Swimming (read wading) in Trondheim's fjord. It was so cold my teeth were chattering by the time I was in up to my knees!
-Trying lots of things at the food festival here in Trondheim

There is lots more, and we have some fun things planned...eventually I'll post pictures, but not until I get home...meanwhile I hope this is sufficient.

Funny

I had some people over last night...a lot of people, whom I fed. Happily. I love to cook. We then had a lovely gospel discussion about things like charity, purity and the Sacrament, and they fed me with their knowledge and insight. I thought it was a fair trade. None of this is the point of this post, however. The point was for me to relate a funny side conversation that took place in the kitchen between me and an undisclosed male friend who was helping me clean up after dinner.

To set the stage, there was a giant bowl of applesauce with a serving spoon in it on the counter. Well, the bowl was giant, but there was barely any applesauce left. The conversation went something like this:
Him: Do you think there's enough applesauce left to save?
Me: No, I'll just eat it so we don't have to worry about it...that spoon won't fit in my mouth-can you give me a small spoon? (I think he thought I said something about being a small spoon)
Him: You want to be the big spoon?
Me: (Getting the spoon myself because I'm just as close to the silverware drawer as he is, and smiling because at this point I'm in on the joke too) No, I like to be the small spoon.
Him: You are what you eat...with?

It made me laugh. Maybe no one else will think it's funny, but at least I'll get a laugh every time I re-read this blog.

Irony

Some friends and I were talking about books the other day. I mentioned that another group of friends had invited me to participate in a book club, and that I am not enjoying the book which was chosen. As they asked me why and I enumerated my distaste for the characters in the book and their behavior, then had to laugh at the fact that I was complaining about the main character because I think she complains too much. I don't know if I'll make it through the book before the designated time. We've had it about a month (maybe only three weeks), and I'm on page 15. It's not a short book. Maybe I'll just watch the movie:)

Patriotic

The older I get, the more patriotic I feel when July fourth rolls around. I don't know if it's because I'm getting old enough to really appreciate what I have, or if it has to do with the growing amount of time I've been able to spend outside our country. Traveling really makes clearer the blessings we have as Americans.

I took my parents to a rodeo in Bulverde, TX last night. They were celebrating the fourth on the third, so there was a patriotic theme. My favorite part was the singing of The Star Spangled Banner. I don't know who started the singing (someone official, as it's something they usually do before a rodeo), but the entire crowd (myself included) started singing along. It was a moment of unity for everyone in the stands, in spite of our differences, to recognize and appreciate how truly blessed we are. There was a reading-I'm including the text below though I'm not sure who wrote it. The website I found attributes it to John Mitchum. What they played sounded like John Wayne. A moment in my life for cowboy poetry that can only be rivaled by a recitation of "I Love a Sunburnt Country" somewhere on a ranch outside of Gladstone, Queensland.

AMERICA, WHY I LOVE HER

You ask me Why I Love Her?
Well, give me time and I'll explain.
Have you seen a Kansas sunset
Or an Arizona rain?
Have you drifted on a bayou
Down Louisiana way?
Have you watched a cold fog drifting
Over San Francisco Bay?
Have you heard a bobwhite calling
In the Carolina pines,

Or heard the bellow of a diesel
At the Appalachia mines?
Does the call of Niagara thrill you
When you hear her waters roar?
Do you look with awe and wonder
At her Massachusetts shore,
Where men who braved a hard new world
First stepped on Plymouth's rock?
And do you think of them when you stroll
Along a New York City dock?
Have you seen a snowflake drifting
In the Rockies, way up high?

Have you seen the sun come blazing down
From a bright Nevada sky?
Do you hail to the Columbia
As she rushes to the sea,
Or bow your head at Gettysburg
At our struggle to be free?
Have you seen the mighty Tetons?
Have you watched an eagle soar?
Have you seen the Mississippi
Roll along Missouri's shore?

Have you felt a chill at Michigan
When on a winter's day
Her waters rage along the shore
In thunderous display?
Does the word "Aloha" make you warm?
Do you stare in disbelief
When you see the surf
Come roaring in at Waimea Reef?
From Alaska's cold to the Everglades,

From the Rio Grande to Maine,
My heart cries out, my pulse runs fast
At the might of her domain.
You ask me Why I Love Her?
I've a million reasons why:
My Beautiful America,
Beneath God's wide, wide sky.

~ John Mitchum ~

So there you have it. Plenty of reasons to love our great country.

Dear Charlie,

When you showed up on Sunday morning, I figured it was because you saw me walking around most of Saturday in high heels...or maybe it had something to do with going Salsa dancing. While I admit, going shopping in heels wasn't the best idea, I didn't expect these consequences. You don't usually bother me unless I do something really silly, like running in heels. If your presence is due to dancing, then it was probably worth my while, because a good night of dancing will make up for almost anything.

I put up with you all day Sunday, and hoped you'd be gone when I woke up this morning. Unfortunately, you are still around. I stopped for bananas on the way to work, knowing how they are usually your cue to hit the road. I have now eaten two, yet you persist in forcing your presence on me. Please take a hint-you are not wanted. If you stick around for my soccer game tonight, I will be quite unhappy. You tend to make soccer a lot less enjoyable. Should you choose to stay until I get home tonight, I will be forced to take drastic measures and call Ben.

Thank you,

Janelle

Dreams

I seldom remember my dreams, but occasionally there are snippets. Last night I dreamt about a black Mustang-I don't know exactly what year 2007? Something newish. It needed a proper paint job-only the hood and trunk had a clear coat. The rest of the car was that matte color that makes me think it's only primed and not really painted.

Night before last I dreamt about a Delorean. Really. I can only think it was brought on by the fact that I got an email from the Boerne park and rec office saying they're showing Back to the Future in the park this weekend.

I don't know why the car dreams, nor do I remember much about the dreams other than the cars. Maybe it's because a friend of mine has been making fun of Hal. My sub-conscious is coming up with new car options?

California and Utah Trip

Finally, I'm writing about my trip home and to UT a few weeks ago. It seems like it's been so long, when really it's been about two weeks. It was lovely to get out of the Texas heat and enjoy some of the places where I really feel at home. I spent a couple of days in California. Most importantly, I got to see family...below is my mom with our dog, Zeke.



I miss family being close. I have such a good family; it's hard to be so far from them. I visited my Grandma Eunice, and chatted with Grandma Gigi (who lives with my parents). There were plenty of people to see, and while time was too short, I enjoyed the time I spent with all of them. I also enjoyed the fruits of dad's labor in the garden, pictured below.



Cherries have always been one of my favorites, and you can't beat fresh off the tree!

I confess, going home also brings the welcome opportunity to visit my car...



I can hardly wait to be somewhere I feel comfortable bringing her-I don't know what it is, but I feel so comfortable behind the wheel of the Mustang. It's so fun to drive! I also took the opportunity to drive dad's Cobra and his new Jeep. The Jeep is interesting...the steering wanders a lot and it's a pretty bumpy ride, but nothing beats knowing my dad has a(nother) project to keep him busy in retirement. It sounds like he's really enjoying the tinkering.

Next stop was Utah, for some time with my old college roommates. I had to see Cynthia and Tim's new addition (who is adorable!), and make sure Peter knows who I am. We spent time playing ball, reading and dancing. Peter makes a stage out of the hearth-below we are posing at the end of the song.



I had to take advantage of being in the mountains, so we went for a hike and a picnic. Cynthia made Avanti sandwiches (delicious), and we headed up the canyon for the morning. Peter was very good at holding my hand to make sure I didn't get lost on the hike.



Actually, he more held a finger or two. Each night, Cynthia and Tim ask Peter what he's going to dream about. His answer when I was there was "Mommy, and daddy, and Sam, and Janelle." Cynthia told me the trend has continued, and Peter still tells them he's going to dream about me. Not only do they have a cute boy, they have a smart one too! It's nice to be the girl of someone's dreams!