100-yr-old Cake

So, while in Cedar City for USF, I made arrangements to see Lilly, a friend from BYUH days. We met up in Hurricane. After lunch, we drove around for a bit and made a stop at the Hurricane City Museum. I swear the museum takes anything its residents are willing to give to put in a museum from dolls to old tools ... to this 100-yr-old cake. Yup, this city museum needs to learn to toss out its junks.

Cedar City Trip

Things have been a little hectic for me this past week or so and I'm a little late getting this out. Here are some highlights from my recent trip to the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City with Julie. 

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This is my second trip with Julie Jensen to the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s summer season and we’re starting  a few traditions.

The main stop we HAVE to make is the city of Beaver for several things:

1. Fresh cheese curd (aka “squeaky cheese”) from the Cache Valley Dairy factory. I know, right? Beaver is NOT in Cache Valley, but whatever. I’ve found the NEED to stop in Beaver for squeaky cheese each time I pass through town. If you don’t believe me you can ask my friends about the highly dangerous and illegal Dukes of Hazzard move I made on I-15 as I said, “I must have my squeaky cheese.” If you’re plugging this into your GPS systems, search for “Dairy Farmers of America Cheese Factory”. Do not buy your cheese from the gas stations, it’s not as fresh and is no longer squeaky. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but it’s just plain old cheddar cheese when it’s not fresh and squeaky.
2. Arshel’s Cafe. By the time you’ve been on the road for three hours or so, you’re ready for a meal and this is one of your options in Beaver. I’ve always been happy with my selection of grilled ham and cheese or burger. HOWEVER, the reason Arshel’s is a must is their homemade chocolate peanut butter pie. TO. DIE. FOR. Enough said. Check it out! 

Last year, on the way home, we stopped at Cove Fort for a potty break, little look around and considered the guide’s tour presentation Sunday School. This year, we went to Cedar Breaks to worship amidst God’s creation. Believe it or not we did talk to a couple of strangers about the Church and how not every Mormon are Republicans. Tada! I’m living proof! Aside from that look at the view! God is good.

Tattoos

We found these tattoos the night before we went to see
"A Midsummer Night's Dream".

I thought it was very appropriate ... although very temporary.

A chat with Bill

 Julie was a bit shy and didn't talk much to Bill.

I, on the other hand, got really comfy with Bill ...

We got into a few arguments over his work ...

... but in the end we made up.

2011 Utah Shakespeare Festival

In what may look like an annual tradition, Julie and I, went down to the Utah Shakespeare Festival this weekend. This year I picked to see “The Glass Menagerie” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Both were excellent plays!

I’ve not read Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” since high school and have not ever seen it performed, so I wanted to see it as USF because I know it will be done well. I knew that it was a “heavy” play. I knew going in that I’ll be able to relate well to the play. When it play ended, I found myself in tears. Without going into too many details, it certainly gave me a lot to think about and I may have to go buy a copy of that play for further reading.

At the Greenshow prior to the perfomance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, the actors performed a skit telling the story of the inception of USF. They wore various jackets and wigs to portray the forefathers of the festival. Fred Adams, who is the founder of the festival, was found after the Greenshow as usual mingling with the crowd. I couldn’t help myself and tapped him on the shoulder and said, “You look much better in person than the actor that portrayed you on stage.” “Well, that’s because you have great taste!” was his reply. What a cute man! I told him that when I first came to the festival 15 years ago, he took the time to chat with me and that had made a positive lasting impression that got me coming back. As we walked away from him, Julie said to me, “Did you just flirt with Fred Adams?” Hmmm, I guess I kind of was … can you blame me?

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a favorite of mine. I wasn’t too crazy about some of the costumes they put on Tatiana, the fairy queen, Oberon was HOT and I found Puck borderline annoying. Otherwise, it was a fantastic production. The night’s performance was being taped to be aired on one of the BYU TV stations. I’ll have to watch it again in the comfort of my own home and see if I can get more out of it.

Inge, Jr.

Background: Boss S (who is currently serving as a LDS Mission President in Guam) inherited this plant from another attorney. He named it Inge, Jr. because he said he wanted to have an Inge in his life who doesn’t talk back to him :/

Email thread between me and Boss S:

Me: Today at CNM …

Boss S: What is she doing in a garbage bag? She is deserving of far more than that.

Me: Euthanasia …

DDD: Garlic Burger, Wildflowers and Wizards

On Pioneer Day, Tracie, Angel, Amy and I decided to check out a local dive/bar, the Cotton Bottom.

When we arrived around 12:30, the tables on the patio were already packed with patrons and had to go inside to find a table. The bar is run down and dark, but clean enough as far as I can tell. The bartender came over to serve us and we told him that we were there for what makes them famous. "Four garlic cheeseburgers coming up! Anything to drink?" Our Cokes came in red plastic cups and as far as I can tell, free refills.

The presentation was simple, just the burger, a bag of chips and a pepper. It wasn't too garlic-y (which I am grateful for) and the burger is on what looks like a nice soft french bread. It was delicious! The burger was large enough that I should have stopped at eating just half of it, but it was so good I didn't want to waste it.

After that big of a meal, we had to somehow work off the calories, so we went for a little nature walk at the nearby Albion Basin.

Due to the large amount of snow we got this year, I think we might have been a little early for the flowers, but the few we saw were pretty.

As I just got done listening to "A Room With A View", this is my impersonation of Miss Honeychurch ... without the white linen dress or the field of violets, but good enough to remind me of the novel.

Although the skies were overcast, it was plenty hot and we finished the day by cooling off with a frogurt (frozen yogurt) and into a movie theater and saw the last installment of the Harry Potter movie franchise.

A good day's outing with good friends, good food, some exercise and a little bit of nature and some good entertainment.

HoJo Concert

Yeah, I know ... I'm stuck in the 80s. Went to a concert tonight featuring Howard Jones (aka "HoJo") with my friend, Dave. HoJo performed songs from his "Human's Lib" and "Dream Into Action" albums. Still a great voice and performer. It was as sold out concert and the fullest I've seen the amphitheater. The local chapter of the HoJo fan club was definitely there. I had to smile hearing the people around me sing along. I thought I knew most of his songs from listening to his greatest hits album, but I think I may have listen to the songs on the two albums performed. We felt a couple of raindrops, but never amounted to anything. Great evening, good concert.