Hard times ...

I realize that this economy is tough on a lot of people, but really? WOW! From today's Salt Lake Tribune:

OKLAHOMA CITY » A man in Oklahoma City says he was attacked for his bologna and cheese sandwich. Police say 24-year-old Roger Hamilton told them he was sitting on a bus station bench Wednesday, about to put mayonnaise on his sandwich, when another man began staring at him. Hamilton told police that the man then punched him in the mouth and grabbed his sandwich and left. Police say Hamilton has a swollen lip and his face was covered in blood. The police report listed the value of the sandwich at 76 cents. Police have not found the attacker.

A good laugh ...

Moo Shoo Pork

San Diego Getaway

While not always sunny, it was warm and better weather than in Salt Lake. The Paradise Point Resort was beautiful, but it was just a place to sleep and shower. Overall, not the relaxing getaway I wanted, but when you go to a new city you've never been to, you're bound to just run from one place to another trying to catch everything the city has to offer. We LOVED the GPS system that came with the car and now want one for home.

Places we went to, people we saw, things we did:

• 
  
  Lunch at Phil's BBQ
• 
  
  SeaWorld
• 
  
  Hotel del Coronado
• 
  
  Lunch at Miguel's
• 
  
  Swap Meet at the Sports Arena (nothing like the swap meet in Honolulu -- too much junk, not enough souveniers)
• 
  
  Wild Animal Park
• 
  
  San Diego LDS Temple and met Elder and Sister Nixon (we knew people in common)
• 
  
  Dinner at Anthony's
• 
  
  Shopping at Seaport Village and getting another bottle of Del Sol nailpolish
• 
  
  San Diego Zoo
• 
  
  Old Town
• 
  
  Lunch at Cafe Cayote

TMI? Depends ...

CW = Construction Worker
Me = Me

YIKES!!!

Me: What do you do at the construction site?

CW: I pour concrete.

Me: Tell me ... those crane operators up there? Do they have a porta-potty up in the back of those cabs?

CW: Nope.

Me: It's a long way to go down just for a potty break isn't it?

CW: Yup, but they don't take potty breaks ...

Fleetwood Mac -- Unleashed: Hits Tour 2009

I needed some wadded tissue plugging my ears and despite the uncomfotable seats that killed my back, it was GREAT concert! Definitely got our money's worth. My bottom line: GREAT friends + GREAT music = GREAT time!

The Salt Lake Tribune's article on the concert last night summed it better than I can ...

… a fevered showcase during the band's two-and-one-half-hour show … generous 23-song offering …

Nicks, 61, also looked and sounded ageless. She dressed in several different costumes that included long, billowy dresses, a top hat, and a tambourine and microphone adorned in charms and laces, and still played the part of the band's muse and fairy-rock goddess. Fleetwood and McVie looked nearly identical with matching vests and berets that covered their balding heads: Fleetwood is also 61, and McVie is 63.

Buckingham, 59, couldn't help stealing the spotlight from his older bandmates, who were backed by five musicians that included three back-up singers. It's not that he was envious, jealous or scheming. He just fed off the crowd all evening, and the large video screens hanging from the ceiling of the arena often focused in on his pickless right hand strumming and picking furiously near the scratch plate. Clad in a leather jacket and jeans, he danced joyously on the heels of his black boots all night, often standing at the slightly outstretched lip of the stage like a guitar hero.

Seven songs were from "Rumours," the band's classic 1977 album that was produced during the break-up of the McVies' marriage and Nicks and Buckingham's relationship. While the band was still able to blow kisses to one another, Buckingham was able to summon the rage and anger during the emotional "The Chain," with him seething during the lyrics, "Damn your love, damn your lies." And he changed up the fingerpicking classic "Never Going Back Again," also from "Rumours," into a slower song that barely masked the resignation and the pain.

The sound of the arena was strong, with the sole exception of McVie's bass, which sounded like muddled thunder during "The Chain," sounded better on "Rhiannon," and then became awful again during "Gold Dust Woman." Another quibble is that the concert's arrangement of songs lacked a consistent theme; for example, the show's opener, "Monday Morning," is a song about early mixed feelings about a relationship, but then the band followed that with the devastating break-up song, "The Chain." It was too sudden a change, and too early.

The band played songs from its entire, vast catalog – including Buckingham's stinging take on "Oh Well," a bluesy rave-up that predated his entrance into the band.

The nearly sold-out arena -- although the entire upper bowl was curtained off -- was told some good first-hand news by Buckingham early on. He said, "There's no new album to promote ... yet."

Fleetwood Mac
When » Wednesday, June 3
Where » EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City
Bottom Line » Can't we just change the name of the band to Fleetwood Mac Buckingham?

A famous visitor at the office ...

Elder L. Tom Perry came by the office today to go to another meeting with an attorney here. He passed by my desk, so of course I had to do a quick facebook status to gloat, even though he didn't look in my direction ... it did, however, bring to mind a couple of experiences I had with Elder Perry when I lived downtown (close to his condo). He actually helped me with my groceries once ... and we used to gas our cars at the same Chevron on West Temple ... and one of his grandsons worked at our firm as a runner once upon a time. But anyway, on with my favorite stories about Elder Perry ...

Story No. 1: My friend, Pat, used to own a condo in the same building as Elder Perry. She invited me over one night for a swim in their indoor pool. When we entered, there was Elder Perry, the only other person in the room and pool swimming laps. When he saw us on sitting on the side, he mentioned that there's plenty of room in the pool for all of us. Pat and I felt self-conscious and there's just something wrong with appearing before an apostle in your bathing suit, so we told him that we just wanted to just sit and chat for a minute before getting in. He finished the lap and then got out and left. I hope he didn't think we didn't want to get in because he was there ... regardless, we considered it holy water after that.

Story No. 2: I was washing my car in the driveway of my apartment one beautiful summer day with a nozzle gadget a friend had given me. The nozzle was fancy as it controlled flow of water and you can add a detergent tablet for washing cars. Unfortunately, the nozzle probably fell off a truck and did work at all. I kept forgetting to turn off the water before taking off the nozzle, so water hose flying everywhere drenching me and half of the driveway. By the third time this happened, I was pretty ticked. I yanked the nozzle off and was about to throw it on the ground and a choice word was about to escape my lips. "Sh ... oot!" I said, as I turned and saw Elder Perry coming down the sidewalk. "Nice save, sister ... and a beautiful day for a shower."

Motherly Advice

2009 Living Traditions Festival

Being silly ...

Tracie and Darren

Inge and Marianne

Be careful what you ask for ...

Saw an episode of "Frasier" and this dialogue not only cracked me up, but also served as a reminder that "even though things may not happen like we planned, they can work out anyway."

Roz: Ever heard of Lupe Velez?
Frasier: Who?

Roz: Lupe Velez, the movie star in the '30s. Well, her career hit the skids, so she decided she'd make one final stab at immortality. She figured if she couldn't be remembered for her movies, she'd be remembered for the way she died. And all Lupe wanted was to be remembered. So, she plans this lavish suicide - flowers, candles, silk sheets, white satin gown, full hair and makeup, the works. She takes the overdose of pills, lays on the bed, and imagines how beautiful she's going to look on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper. Unfortunately, the pills don't sit well with the enchilada combo plate she sadly chose as her last meal. She stumbles to the bathroom, trips and goes head-first into the toilet, and that's how they found her.

Frasier: Is there a reason you're telling me this story?

Roz: Yes. Even though things may not happen like we planned, they can work out anyway.

Frasier: Remind me again how it worked for Lupe, last seen with her head in the toilet.

Roz: All she wanted was to be remembered. Will you ever forget that story?

Adios, IKEA!

I first met Shannon at work. When we were introduced, she was surprised that a Chinese-Indonesian would have such a Scandanavian name. I told her that I look forward to dressing up one Halloween to look just like her -- blonde, blue-eyed Swede -- to match my name. We got along nicely, became friends and over time I nicknamed her "IKEA" because she is so Swedish looking. She would even respond when I greet her with an, "Holla, IKEA." Shannon left the firm last fall and despite best efforts, we lost touch.

Earlier this week, another co-worker saw Shannon's obituary in the newspaper and passed the sad news on when she got to work. We were all so shocked. Shannon was only 38-years-old and left behind two tween daughters. They were not with her at the time of her death as they live with their dad in California. The thought of children losing their mother ... and on Mother's Day weekend ... I can't even imagine what those girls must be going through.

A group of us went to the viewing last night. After expressing our sympathies to her brothers, we made our way towards the casket when a wail came from the direction of the doors ... there stood Shannon's two daughters, shaking and sobbing at the sight of their mom in the casket. My heart broke.

Adios, IKEA! Rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family ...