Mountain Meadows

I'm Not Dead Yet

So here's a story for you: I planted flowers last spring(2009), a bunch of different kinds, and one type in particular grew like a bush but never flowered. When winter came I just left everything out on the porch and everything died of course...or so I thought. The flowerless bush plant in particular turned all brown and crusty.

This spring when it started to get a little warmer something green started growing in the big pot with the dead brown bush...I just figured that some seeds from the overhead trees must be sprouting. I just paid it no mind for about a month till the end of March when I started to think about planting some more flowers. When I got around to cleaning out the dead plants from the pots I had I noticed something that I thought to be impossible the plant growing in the big pot was the same plant that had been the massive bush the year before! It was growing again and it wasn't growing from an old seed or anything it was growing right out the what I thought was the dead plant! Anyway it's been growing like crazy again but this year...

I had planted more of the same flower this year because I didn't know what the bush was till it flowered...here's a new spout...

Fear Not...

...I am once again reachable by phone! After my phone completely died last week I finally buckled down and took the time to purchase a new phone...and yes I stayed with Sprint. -I just couldn't give up my free minutes after 7pm deal! So there you have it you can once again talk to me live over the phone without it cutting off every few minutes! ...I know everyone is excited but probably not as much as I am.

I got to go see PHISH 3D at the Windsong Carmike Theater in Provo last night! Even though I only officially found out about the movie coming out about a week ago I've been waiting for this movie since last October when I was at Festival 8 watching all the camera crews doing their thing.

As I had expected Leslie and I were the only ones in the theater for the 7pm showing of the festival...a private showing! -what more could one ask for?

The movie was amazing...first of all seeing parts of the festival was just like being there all over again and being reminded of how huge and fun Festival was, like a 3 day non-stop party. Also getting to see Phish play again and remembering how they played so incredibly well nailing every single song and making each moment memorable.

The movie, as referenced in the title was in 3D. Now for the most part I don't enjoy 3D movies(they hurt my head), but seeing the concert in 3D made it all the more like being right there...I actually enjoyed it. Since we were the ONLY ones in the huge theater they were playing it in I couldn't help but stand up and dance during some of the songs. Phish music just makes you want to feel it.

Anyway it was fun, exciting, nostalgic, entertaining and just completely awesome music to enjoy for 2 and a half hours...I can't wait for the next festival ;)


(Below is a still from the costume set Phish played...Exile on Main Street by the Rolling Stones...complete with horn section and amazing backup singers! It was awesome)

Mirror Images: Great Salt Lake

I got to attend this art show opening last night...I really enjoyed it. Lots of different pieces about the Great Salt Lake, while I expected it to be a little more political it wasn't...mostly a lot of really nice imagery of the Lake. My good friend Tyler Jensen had a piece of his on display that Westminster purchased and will hang in their science building after the show is over.

Here's the info posted on their website and there is a link HERE to the flyer Tyler did for the show...the photo and art are his.



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Art Show – Mirror Images: Great Salt Lake
Tanner Atrium, Jewett Center for the Performing Arts Opening
Reception: May 1, 6-9 p.m.
Exhibit: Runs May 1-7, 2010

This group exhibition, curated by art historian Hikmet Sidney Loe, features the work of over 30 contemporary artists working in a variety of mediums as they explore the unique mirror of GSL. Artists include Nancy Holt, David Maisel, Matt Kruback, Diane Tuft, Rosalie Winard, and Westminster’s own David Baddley, Tyler Jensen and Kay Kuzminski, to name a few.

Each artist’s work is as varied in medium and purpose as is each experience with the lake; each work is a perfect and personal mirror of Great Salt Lake. Mediums include photography, sculpture, installation, printmaking and painting/drawing.

“This exhibition is an overview of contemporary responses to the lake,” explained Hikmet Loe, exhibit curator. “Contemporary artists are continually drawn to the lake to draw out its beauty and rely upon its special nature for inspiration. The land, water, and sky provide an endless array of moods and settings to capture as seasons and atmospheric changes come and go. Realistic representations of the natural world are included in this exhibition along with images that only exist in the world of art.”

“We invite the public to look at this lake through a diverse collection of lenses,” said Dr. Bonnie Baxter, director of GSLI. “Through viewing art, we may inform science. In doing science, we may inspire writing. In writing words, we may find stewardship. Mirror Images: Great Salt Lake is meant to inspire the interconnectedness of the many reflections on this lake.”

Ani DiFranco Concert

I got to attend my third Ani DiFranco concert last weekend at Kingsbury Hall. I went with Leslie, Aimee and Jill and we really enjoyed it. It was a fantastic show! Ani played 80% new/unpublished music that no one had heard before; and while there are some bands from which this might be difficult to sit through, from Ani it was amazing. For an artist that already has 21+ albums out she's still creating awesome music and the new stuff she pulled out was very beautiful and exciting. It made me wish that EVERYONE could be like Phish and have the show you just attended ready to go on an SD that you can take home with you when you leave that show. Ani's opening act was Buddy Wakefield...who is not a musician but a poet. He recited/preformed about 6 or 7 poems for us which I enjoyed. We were lucky to have really close seats on the third row(hence the decent photo and video). For me it's inspiring to watch Ani preform. She talks a lot with the audience sharing stories and talking about her music. While being a strong independent woman she always shows her vulnerability and humility. The theme of the evening from both the artists was a one of self acceptance, integrity, being a positive influence in the world, personal divinity and striving to understand and accept one another. Ani's shows always make me think and evaluate what's important to me and what I want to make of myself. I left with a stronger determination to be a better, kinder more aware and spiritual person. I suppose it seems like an extremely strange thing to take away from a folk rock concert but I guess I sure did.

Ani Difranco -If You're Not

Nihon Matsuri

So I attended the Japanese Festival in Salt Lake last weekend. Unfortunately I didn't realize that the SD card for the camera was still plugged into the computer at home until I was already at the festival(sad face) so I didn't get to take any pictures. But here's a link to some pictures of the event. It was a good time and it made me miss Japan a lot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/slc-japanfestival/sets/72157623802261153/show/

Tulip Fest!

Did I Mention that I want it to be Spring?

It's been snowing here for the last 3 days on and off "and I'm thinking, that's gotta stop". I feel like it has snowed more consistently over the past few days than it has all winter. The trouble is that it's not winter anymore and yes Winter, you've missed your allotted time to shine and now it's Spring's turn. So MOVE OVER and let it come please.


It's especially times like these that I miss The Garden and look through my pictures anxious for the time when I can go back...the Tulip fest is in one week! So Spring better get here right?

I've always been very blessed to have wonderful people in my life. The people that become my closest friends as odd as it may sound seem to be chosen for me because when I meet them for the first time I instantly feel as if I already know them. This has happened many times for me with the people that I become close to. The reason this is on my mind is because very soon a good friend of mine is moving back to Canada and I will dearly miss her as I do with all my close friends that don't live near enough. Of course we will continue to be good friends but it will be different not seeing her everyday. It's always sad when a friend moves away but I am grateful for strong relationships that don't wane because of distance. It reminded me of a poem by James Kavanaugh that I wanted to share some parts of...

The sun lingers over the ocean a little longer tonight,
While I remember everyone I love
And wish I could hold them in my arms all at once

...Curse time and distance and all the banalities of life that tear us apart

...I wish as I watch the disappearing sun that I could gather together all those I love and all that love me
And remain in one house, one town, one union.
No one left out, no one unavailable, no one whose
voice and words and smile could not be at my beck and call.

...But I am grateful for the friends that life has permitted me,
Grateful for the memories, the reunions that lie ahead,
The laughs and tears and stories that cannot be told enough,
Grateful that the sun lingers over the ocean a little longer tonight.

Sakura Season

Every year now when spring comes I miss the sakura(cherry blossoms) in Japan. I see them here too but it's not even close to the same. They are amazing there. It makes me want to jump on a plane and go back...I miss it. I miss speaking Japanese and eating the food and the people and the culture etc. Someday again perhaps...

Happy Retirement Dad!!

"Way to go Dallas!" Congrats on 38 years and my best wishes to whatever adventure you have next!

Syd and the Snake

Sydney loves snakes or maybe it was just the theme of the week but everywhere we went the zoo the OMSI etc. Sydney was the most interested in snakes. This video is from our trip to the OMSI, keep in mind this is after we had already been watching this snake for 10 minutes.

I miss you guys in Oregon so much already and it's only been a week!

Finding Peace in Cohab

After being sick at home in bed for the last week I was dying to get out of the house this weekend so I made my commonly reoccurring pilgrimage to Capitol Reef. I know I visit this place at least 5 or more times in a year and well I guess I just have a weird emotional bond to it. Everything just feels right when I'm there.

I specifically love Cohab Canyon. It's a river wash trail in a slot canyon on top of a mountain. The first part of the trail is switchbacks up and up to the top of the mountain, you then descend just a little into the canyon. It's beautiful, colorful, interesting place and it's extremely quiet. I rarely see any other people on this trail and it just feels very intimate. I like to go to Cohab when I need to refill my cup.

Yesterday was a beautiful day for a trip. The drive down is also wonderful because you get to drive through many canyons with amazing vistas, crystal clear lakes, and daunting mountains. It sounds cheesy but it was definitely a good day for me to be in nature and reconnect with myself. Here are a few pictures I took...as I always do:

The Beach!

Check out this link to the album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=156890&id=534954161&l=a48dd86df6

Tigers continued...

Wednesday and Thursday here's the pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=155924&id=534954161&l=1f69ad3d88

Here's the discription

Wednesday:

We started the day with Talmage's St. Patricks Day music concert. T participated in easily 20 songs! It was amazing to watch all the kids sit and perform for a whole hour! Talmage did so well!

After the concert was swimming lessons (again, Talmage has swimming on Monday and wednesday) Talmage is in the Catfish class of one...so he gets a private lesson. He is very proud of the fact that he puts his whole head under water and blows bubbles.

After swimming we returned home to gather up Sydney who did not take a nap, she insisted on reading books the whole time we were gone. We loaded up the car and headed to the Zoo. I love the portland Zoo. Probably because it feels like there's more plants than cement. We spent the most time looking at the Tigers, Sydney's favorite, but also saw the new baby elephant, monkeys, giraffe, bats etc. --and lets not forget the Zoo sandbox that Talmage constantly asked if we could go play in.

At home we participated in a St. Patrick's Day dinner/party, complete with 7 kids who ran in circles around the house non-stop all night...which resulted in a few scrapes.

Today: We went to the OMSI, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, as part of Talmage's preschool class field trip. They got to be dinosaur hunters as we went through the dinosaur exhibit. As we moved on to other things the snakes were Sydney's highlight of the trip and Talmage of course loved the sandbox. As long as there is a sandbox where we are going T is happy.

After OMSI we headed over to Nicholas an amazing Lebanese restaurant with the best pita bread and hummus, yum! The kids did great! We then we came home and played with bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

And well the day isn't over yet...

The Little Tigers...

..so far. We've got 4 more days!!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=155459&id=534954161&l=60a9dcad47

I'm excited...

Remember that one time when I lived here for a few months? ...I really loved it. I miss Oregon and I'm excited to go back next week!