C 'Est Si Bon...Simone Simone!

I have finally done it. What 'IT' is doesn't make me incredibly happy or pleased. I moved. It is bitter sweet. I didn't head that far away yet. I only made it to Pittsburgh. I have always felt lost, like a don't really belong anywhere and DC was the first place where I really felt any roots. Now I am uprooted. I don't really know why I never let myself get attached to a place. Is it because I think I am missing out on something somewhere else? Or because I fear getting hurt in remaining? Or maybe I thought there would be more things happening in my life at this point that aren't and moving is going to help me take the next step? I can't put a finger on it. But this isn't just starting a new chapter in my life, but a whole book. I closed the final chapters of my last book, it was filled with varying degrees of joy and sorrow but these experiences have been irreplaceable.

Now Pittsburgh...

I had a job interview Monday. I pretty much have the job but I need the recommendations filled out, which can be hassle in itself getting someone to fill it out in a timely fashion. I will most likely be working in the ICU Float pool at UPMC Passavant hospital, which is 10 minutes from Josh’s house. I like Pittsburgh a lot. I like that downtown is about 10 minutes from their house and it doesn’t take long to get there or anywhere in the city. The Science Center, museums, hospitals, sports arenas, and shopping are all really close. I like the rivers that run through the city, and the steep hills throughout the city. Why did I move here? I like it. It may be a single’s suicide but the city is great.

Other exciting news. Danny is having a little Boy! After they found out what they were having they went on a shopping spree. Danny actually started making a quilt for the little boy they are going to have. He will be a great daddy!



And Cindy could deliver any day, we still don’t know what she is having but she thinks it is going to be a girl. My namesake then, lil’ Harriet Eloise. I love the name Eloise and it will most likely be a name of my daughter (I am being optimistic).



I also had my first outing with any of kiddos. It was a learning experience for me. Marta wanted to come with me when I offered to run errands and grocery shop for Cindy. It is so hard to concentrate on my list or consider any items that are not on my list having a child with me. I have difficulty shopping with anyone. I generally don’t get things done. The challenge began trying to get the car seat situated in my Honda. Then when I got Marta in the seat and ran back to grab something from the house, Marta was crying. She thought I’d left her there, but she knows how to get out herself. I didn’t understand what the problem was.

My next highlight of my move was skiing with the family. Each Christmas we draw names. The name that we draw is the special gift we buy for someone that year. This year Josh had my name. Of course the kids always want to help, and by helping it gives them something to do as well. Since I am going to be living with them attempting to help out, he figured by getting me boots I’d be more likely to ski with Thomasin than otherwise. Josh is going to be spending his time studying for his boards, and Cindy occupied with the baby so Josh got me ski boots so I can take Thomasin and she can practice her skiing. My present was given to me midweek before Christmas. Josh has had several days off this week so he took all of us skiing even Emil.

The name gift came in a paper bag with to two separate drawing of a large mountain. One had Thomasin and I skiing and the other picture of Marta and I skiing.
Then my table gift came a couple days early as well. Josh got tickets to a Steelers game for him and me. I’ve always mention to Josh that I wanted to go to a Steelers game. He said that tickets are really hard to come by and cost a fortune, because fans in Pittsburgh are serious so the tickets aren’t sold cheaply. It was awesome to be there. The stadiums in Pittsburgh are all along the water and are really beautiful. Josh happened to have hook-ups and got us Club tickets. We sat on the 10 yard line bundled up in all our winter gear. I mean I wore every piece of winter cloths I own: ski pants, sweaters, vest, and fleece, down jacket, another jacket, and 2 pairs of gloves. We definitely were going to be warm, but we worked up a sweat during the 2-mile brisk walk to the stadium. When we sat down the sweat on our bodies cooled and it didn’t take long for me to apply every layer I hadn’t already put on. Did I forget to mention that we also had wool blankets?. The Steelers beat the Panthers (who aren’t a good team) 27-3. It thought it would be a higher scoring game and a shutout since the Panthers really aren’t good but didn’t happen that way.

Christmas Eve went by very quickly. It is amazing how fast a day can go by when you have children that go to bed at 6PM. You have to have dinner ready at 5 so already preparing it around 4. I am not used to eating that early. Josh wanted to have a seafood feast for dinner. Josh took his family out to seafood and the kids loved cracking the shells, and pulling the tails of the shrimp that he thought it would be fun for the kids and delicious for us adults. Great idea! I helped make the clam chowder in the morning,which was the BEST clam chowder I have ever eaten. I don't normally like it but this chowder was Amazing!
Josh and I took the kids in the morning to get the lobster and shrimp which was an event. When we sat down to eat the kids all wanted to help daddy break open the lobster. Once the tail was pulled off there was processed food in the intestines that spilled out onto the plate. Marta immediatly pointed out to all of us that it was 'POOP!!' Apparently that is one of her favorite forbidden words right now.



We acted out the Nativity. This year Cindy had sewn leggit costumes. The kids played their parts better this year than last.


We exchanged our name gifts, and Cindy gave us all our new Christmas PJ's.



Ben didn't have a stocking so he hung one of his dirty socks instead. Marta went down the row of stocking, 'pretty, pretty, pretty...' and when she came to Ben's stocking she said, 'not pretty.' We all got a kick out of it.



The girls in their new pink night gowns laid down by the tree for the night in sleeping bags. They were a little chatty so to encourage them to sleep, Josh instilled the fear of Santa in them. Santa came out by their window in the sunroom. Marta froze when she saw Santa. They know that Santa won’t come if they are awake. It didn’t take much longer after that for the girls to quiet down to sleep. Santa came a little after midnight in his big red coat, suit, jingling bells and all. He filled the stocking with care, and surrounded the children with oranges and a lone coconut. Christmas morning was a bit of a whirl.

Boy, did we all get spoiled by the food tables Santa set for us to eat for the coming days.



Emil was the first to wake, besides Thomasin’s attempt to get mommy to come down at 3AM to open presents with her. He was a little terror for candy, presents, and had a hard time with understanding that not everything was for him. So the big gift of the year…IPod Touches for the kids. The kids are 5, 3, & 2 mind you but next summer we are going to Europe. Cindy actually home school’s both Thomasin, and Marta so having this piece of electronics will come in handy. Cindy and Josh spent hours playing games, and finding apps for all purposes. Some help them learn to write, match, spell, and learn German. It was by far the favorite gifts of the kids although when Marta talked with Oma over Skype she told Oma that the CTR Oma bought her favorite gift.




Love Christmas with little children!

I love the Holidays. I love going to see the city decorated in Christmas with wreaths, red bows, and lights.

Hannah, my roommate and I got tickets to see The Nutcracker back in September and the awaited day had arrived.
The Warner theatre and stage sets were really beautiful as well. The beauty was also attributed to the magic of the season.


The Nutcracker. I’ve never seen the Nutcracker before. If I can recollect correctly I believe it was because I thought ballet was boring and definitely didn’t like classical music. As I have matured I have an appreciation for the performing arts. I remember my last semester at BYU I bought tickets to so many different events, and most of them I attended by myself. I had finally realized at the finale of my college career what an amazing deal you get by being a student. I mean $10-20 for a performance, and it was well done. Back to the Nutcracker, I liked the first half of the ballet the best. The Christmas party, mysterious Count, the little brother jealous of Clara’s gift, and then when all things come to life, and the rats and soldiers battle.

The only disappointing factor of the performance was the lack of a live orchestra. A distasteful decision in my opinion.


Early that day I met up with Sergio and I once again took the afternoon into the city. This time we headed for some of the city’s holiday glamour. Annually during the holidays The Botanical gardens has a display of miniature that highlight the buildings surrounding the National Mall which include The Capital, White House, Jefferson and Washington Monuments, The Castle Smithsonian, and Library of Congress. The buildings are made from all natural items bark, seeds, gourds, etc. Another element that Sergio pointed out to me was the fountain/pool in the middle of the Botanical gardens is in alignment to represent the reflecting pool that runs along the Lincoln Memorial.


This year to both our delight was a Wonders of the World exhibit. Both Sergio and I have a love of travel for various interchangeable reasons but to varying degrees of passion. I had Sergio read the booklet about each place as I snapped a photo. The whole East Gallery was a scene and you snaked through the room looking at miniatures of things like: the Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, the Easter Island rock statues, Petra, the Great Wall, the Eifel Tower, the White Heron, the Neuschwanstein Castle, Hagia Sophia, Tikal and Macchu Picchu. I loved it!




Instead of leaving me and heading home Sergio walked with me to the Capital Christmas tree, and over to Chinatown near where my ballet was being performed.



Earlier in the Week I visited the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in North East DC. It is beautiful inside and out. It is the largest Roman Catholic Church in the United States and North America, and one of 10 largest in the world. It is dedicated to Virgin Mary. If you haven’t gone to it regardless of your religion it is definitely worth a visit to the various chapels designed by many nations. The architectural design is Byzantine-Romanesque in style. I went on the coldest day of the season for a visit. It was on my list of things to see before I moved. I’ve driven by it on the way to work on several occasions and hadn’t ever taken the opportunity to visit. I arrived midmorning, and started the tour alone for no one else was waiting. The tour consists of chapels in the Crypt level and the Upper Church. There are several large domes with various pieces of art in the domes, and one that remains untouched.


(I happened to forget my camera when I visited the Bascilica, so I borrowed some from online hence everything looks green and warm).

What an awesome week I had, or mostly later half.

I spent an afternoon with my friend, Sergio. We are both jobless and hence have quite a bit of time on our hands. So we went to the National Portrait Gallery together. We visited the Norman Rockwell, and Elvis exhibit. I have an recent obsession with Elvis. Why? He is good looking #1. The dark hair, that falls into his face when he gets going on the stage, #2 his shy but confident nature, and #3 the style that is his own. His own slogan was TCB with a lightening bolt, which interpreted to be 'Takin Care of Business in a flash.' Awesome.
Then we got some Tangy Sweet Yogurt. The limited time flavor is pumpkin, and they have a delish apple compote. Thank you Sergio for a providing me with great company on a blistery afternoon.


I just started this boot camp workout in the early morning. It is a early wake-up call, 5:30AM, which is difficult enough but then you have to add freezing cold. I struggle every morning to get out of bed. Once I'm warmed up I don't want to be anywhere else, and man Melany, the instructor, kicks my butt. The 32 degree mornings end up being quite nice once I've got my blood flowing, and it doesn't take long.

Friday evening I went to see The Messiah with my roommate Hannah, and friend, Stephen. I had planned on leaving at 5:30PM so I could go to eat at my favorite restaurant, Founding Farmers, but some people run on a different clock. So we scarfed down some Chipotle instead. I expected to be astounded by the music and choir at the National Cathedral but maybe I have been spoiled by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The choir was small, and the cathedral enormous...not a very good combination. The music was beautiful but the performance wasn't.


Saturday I hit the REI garage sale. I arrived a little early and ill prepared for the weather. I hid myself behind a corner cement ramp but was happy I came early because the line did eventually get really long. Although it didn't compare to the lines in the West. I chatted up with a couple nice guys, who later spotted out what I was looking for and gave me the heads up. I went there on a mission. I decided prior to going there I just wasn't going to wander and grab for things but made a checklist in my head:
1.)internal frame backpack
2.)sleeping pad
3.)bicycle trainer
I found all 3 with an addition little Camelback daypack. I paid 250 for these items which the bike trainer itself normally would run $329. I had several people come up to me and ask me I was going to be purchasing both my items because I grabbed a couple bike trainers, and a couple backpacks. Most items have some malfunction, or fault, or maybe just aren't what the purchaser desired so they are returned to REI and sold at the garage sale. I wanted to make sure that whichever item I chose could be fixed or wasn't damaged beyond repair. I felt like I was a predator protecting my spoils. I set something down to pick something else up and someone grabbed my backpacks.

Hannah and I went for a run, ran errands for the dinner we were having Sunday, then went to eat at the Eden Center, little Vietnam. Yummy! Vietnamese sandwiches and Bubble tea! Memories flooded back to me of my trip to SE Asia. Hannah could see my excitement of being there and asked me why I loved Vietnam so much. Memories, beauty, and good food. After all that she dropped me off in the District. I had a ticket to see the Christmas Carol at Ford Theatre. I loved it! The performance was excellent, the venue was great. It is a small theatre, quaint, and historical. The stage is small so there couldn't be too many layers of stage sets, but nonetheless an enjoyable theatre.

Sunday a dinner party with some new and some old friends. Then some Christmas cheer over at our neighbor. You know the usual, egg nog, popcorn stringing for the tree, timtam slams, and a lil' George Michael christmas. Thanks Pete for the invite.

Amaretto. Have you wondered where the flavor of Amaretto came from? Well I went to a coffee shop a while back with a co-worker. When I went to sit down and wait for my friend I noticed a bottle of Amaretto flavoring with a picture of apricots. So my little research on Wikipedia:

Amaretto is an Italian sweet almond-flavoured liqueur. It is made from a base of apricot or almond pits, sometimes both. (Side note: over the summer I went to NY with my brother's family. My sister-in-law told me to keep the pits of the apricots we bought at an orchards because within the pit is a seed that tastes pretty good. I got a nut cracker and cracked the pit, the nut wasn't bad).

The legend:
Despite the known history on the introduction and acceptance of almonds into Italian cuisine, more recent takes on the meanings and origins have come about, further popularized by the two major brands. Though of sometimes questionable factuality, these tales hold a sentimental place in Saronno culture.

In 1525, a Saronno church commissioned artist Leonardo Da Vinci and student Bernardino Luini to paint their sanctuary with frescoes.[4] As the church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Luini needed to depict the Madonna, but was in need of a model. He found his inspiration in a young widowed innkeeper, who became his model and (in most versions) lover. Out of gratitude and affection, the woman wished to give him a gift. Her simple means did not permit much, so she steeped apricot kernels in brandy and presented the resulting concoction to a touched Luini.

Silly me but knowing the legend, knowing there is some history behind the flavor, Amaretto makes me more inclined to enjoy it although rarely since I don't drink.

I went today to get an oil change. I got there at 7:30am in hopes that there wouldn't be many cars before mine. I was in luck, or not. It just so happens that they ran out of my filter and I had to wait for one to be sent to this location. I brought a book but after 1.5 hrs and maybe the cold air I became impatient. No surprise for anyone who knows me. I complained to the worker manning the desk. Well, in the holiday spirit when he asked me to come up to the desk to sign the paper, and informed me there would be no charge today since I had to wait so long. That kinda made my day, saved myself $20. What a holiday surprise!

If you are going to mop, please clean out the mop after you've come out of the bathroom and please change your water. Such a random request so I will give you my background. At work the housekeeping will mop up the whole unit with the same bucket of water and by the time they are finished the water is sooo filthy and it smells like crap everywhere. Literally. Then again at the car service this morning, mopped the bathroom and came out and mopped the rest of the sales floor; public bathrooms are the worst. I tred very lightly when I left.

Have you ever read a book and felt so engrossed in the book, the characters, the story that when you put it down you felt lonely, and sad? It was almost like having your best friend move away. There are a few series of books I have an attachment to: Anne of Green Gables Series, Wizard of Oz Series, The Work & the Glory, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter. I have a decade of love for the Potter series. I can't believe it has been that long. I remember so clearly how it all started. It was my Christmas break Freshman year at BYU, My mom had bought my brother this book series that was suppose to be good, the first 3, to encourage him to read. I picked it up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and finished the 3 books a week later. From that moment on I have been at all the midnight movies, or book releases. I cried in books 5,6, & 7.

I'm a planner. I plan things. I want to do things so instead of waiting around for someone else to spontaneously think to do something I plan it. It isn't really a good quality because when things don't go as planned it is disappointing for me. SD & I planned on going on a cruise for 6 months. We talked about possibly going on a road trip prior to that so we both had an idea of where we wanted to go and had the exact opposite plans. Awesome!

1.) Asheville, NC Loved this place. Great downtown, restaurants, scene. SD has a friend who lives there so we stayed with him. He met us in the afternoon and gave us the 5 hour tour. He works seasonally at a resort and we went there to watch the sunset and see the place. As we walked through the resort we stopped by the spa, what would be like to sit around in a robe waiting for one treatment or another.







2.) Gatlinburg & The Smokies Initially the idea was to stay with a friend and go to Dollywood but I found out the day before that Dollywood was closed in preparation for the Holidays. I was totally bummed. But it we had a marvelous time despite the change in plans. We rode into Gatlinburg, The Gateway to the Smokies. We went on a little hike, and then rode up the tram at the mountain top resort. What is most memorable about this night is our attempt to go to a small town restaurant. We called the place to get directions, she told us to go Right. We went til the pavement ended, through the windiest road, deep in the the forest and we kept going hoping we'd hit the place thinking the lady was smart enough to give us accurate directions. I was so pissed off and was just gonna eat a PB&honey sandwich but we stopped at a convenience store that was serving dinner at 10PM. Small town places close at 9PM so we considered ourselves lucky.





3.) Nashville, TN It was a beautiful city. I really loved it through the pouring rain. I didn't let the rain stop me from sightseeing. We walked around the Grand Ol' Oprey which was almost washed away recently (the mall and the museum were), the District, and the River Front (which you could see the stadium from the pedestrian bridge), and the Parthenon. I wasn't going to miss seeing a life size replica of the Parthenon at Centennial Park. We had the best BBQ at Jack's (really good BBQ sauce too)on Honky Tonk row. We drove through one of the more prominent neighborhoods in Nashville. The next morning we went to the Dukes of Hazard Museum, Love Circle (an overlook of Nashville), and the Bellemead Plantation.






4.) Memphis, TN From what we saw of Memphis the city seemed really ghetto.

A pyramid in Memphis; the Parthenon in Nashville. huh...

Beale St. is suppose to be the most lively at night but for us it was dull. Maybe we hit the street a few hours early, or their must have been a game on that night or something.


We rode the trolley through town and a few different locals took it upon themselves to give a little tour of the city while we were on the trolley. It was great, a free tour! I was amazed at how friendly everyone was.
I thought Memphis BBQ would be amazing. Rendezvous was recommended by several sources but after we licked the BBQ off the bones, meaning there was no meat, we decided that Jack's in Nashville was soooo much better.



National Civil Rights Museum
At Riverfront Park we viewed the most amazing sunset. It was awww inspiring (is that how you say that?)





Graceland redeemed Memphis. We listened to some Elvis on the way into town to prep ourselves. I didn't know when we bought our tickets what a special treat was in store for us. Elvis did what he wanted, dressed, acted, helped people, was very generous, kind, and man he was a heartthrob. I understand now why women of all ages love him. The house was so cool. One room was called the Jungle room. It had green carpet on the floor, walls, ceiling, a indoor fountain, eccentric furniture. There were several museums after the house tour, automobile, jet, the fashion king. He really set a new fashion trend for the white folk.






Sun Studios were it all began!


5.) New Orleans, LA the 'Who Dat?,' capital

Cemetery #1

Camping at the KOA. Hotels were $75 cheapest so we decided we weren't going to pay that so we really went with the original plan this time. We put up the tent with the wrong poles, that SD brought from home, and camped.
After getting the campsite ready we made our way back to town, we parked, and first off hit a Pralines store. We bought a variety of those sugary treats, the rum, coconut variety were the best. Then we walked the street a little ways and ended up watching some street performers by Jackson Square. I got distracted by the bags of beignets that everywhere was carrrying so we left. Beignets are tasty fried dough pieces rolled and covered in powered sugar. It was a delightful experience. I hate to admit it but I think that we went 4-5 times in the few days that we were in New Orleans.

French Quarter with hanging flower baskets, wrought iron ballastrands, and weddings processions.
Jackson Square with street performers, palm readers, and people selling their arts.


Went to movie Life as We Know it, because we didn't want to go back to the campsite so early and freeze our butts off

We attended the First Baptist Church. We sang a lot is really all that I remember about it. Worship by song, prayer, and....don't remember the last one.

Garden District. Instead of walking through the streets because there was so many of them we drove through every street. Stopping to take pictures of the homes we really like or just to stare at how beautiful they were.

Other highlights:
Muffeletta Sandwich...sooo good.
Life Jazz at Cafe Beignet
Haunted History Tour of French Quarter

The airboat tour we initially had signed to go up on had boat trouble and wasn't going out til the afternoon ride. We tried to book another tour but with traffic, and the distance we barely missed it. The lady was nice enough to let us hop on a Swamp tour for free.


We drove across the longest bridge on the Nation


6.) Atlanta, GA
Christian was so nice to have us stay with him. We arrived so much later than anticipated because I had us starting the day in Biloxi (which I had planned on staying there with a friend) and then I didn't account for crossing time zones again.
One of the oldest Krispy Kreme shops


Aquarium. My highlight was seeing the whale shark.



Coke Factory. Loved the intro movie. I made myself ill in the tasting room. The Italian beverage Beverely is grusome. I wanted and felt like I was going to vomit after I tried it.


CNN tour.

Westin Hotel at night gave a beautiful view of the city. Apparently it is the tallest hotel in the nation.
We had a snack at the largest drive-in, The Varsity.

Christian took me to eat at an great BBQ restuarant which I tried Brunswick stew.
Before leaving town the following morning we took a hike at Stone Mountain.


7.) Orlando, FL
A visit with Bethany and Jake.
Introduction to Jeremiah's for some gelatti, and more delicious BBQ at a place I can't remember.

Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. Harry Potter Wizaring world. Butterbeer was fantastic! Pumpkin juice was delicious. Hogsmeade was great! And Hogwarts was so awesome.



I can't forget the Jazz vs. Magic game which the Jazz won. Dwight Howard is a man I could stare at all day, especially his arms.


to be continued for the Cruise