So once again I haven't blogged in awhile. I thought I would just do a quick update.
- Work is good, but sooooooo busy. Lately there have been several nights when I am there until after 5:30 and a few nights when I have been there until almost 7:00. I am so glad we had Vetran's Day off and Thanksgiving Break. They were defintely needed.
- I had been serving as the 1st Counselor the Relief Society Presidency in my Ward. The Bishop called me in to his office and said we were going to be released. Then he asked if I would be willing to serve as the 1st Counselor in the new Relief Society Presidency. I was surprised, but so excited. Love it, love it, love it!
- My sister, Brittney, came to D.C. to visit me before she left for her mission. Here is a list of the things we did. We saw a lot and it was exhausting, but worth it!!!!!
Went to the temple and also the Vistor's Center
Night tour of the monuments
National Portrait Gallery
National Cathedral (We went to the top were you get an absolutely amazing view of D.C.)
Library of Congress
Surpreme Court Building
Scupture gardens
- I got sick :-( I even took a sick day and didn't go into work.
- Brittney is now in the MTC (Missionary Training Center) and we got her first email Monday. She is doing fabulous and her email made me miss my mission.
- Thanksgiving was wonderful. I went to my Bishop's house along with a few other people. The food was delicious! We played games and just chatted.
So there is my attempt to keep up my blog :-) Loves to ya!!!!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The things my daddy says...
(Pic of my dad and his sister, Sanae, doing Karaoke in Japan)
It is my dad's B-day today! Here are just a few of the funny/cute things my dad has said to me.
This just happened today...I was talking to him on the phone for his B-day and this is how the conversation went.
A - "So what is mom fixing you for your B-day dinner?"
D - "She is fixing me Okonomiyaki. Do you remember eating that at Sanae's house?
A - "Yeah, I remember."
D - "We got the materials for it yesterday."
A - "Materials? You mean ingredients?"
Both of us started laughing
In Japan we took a rope tour up a mountain. You are suppose to be able to see monkeys, but we didn't see any. This is what my dad said to the family, but while looking at me.
D - "I have a little monkey." (says this while looking at me)
D - "And I will keep you, and I will love you, and I will feed you bananas!"
When we were little and my dad wanted us to hurry so we could leave (mostly this was so we weren't late for church) he would say, "Chop suie". I thought this was something everyone said until I said it to a friend and she had no idea what it meant.
The last one my dad actually didn't say to me, but this was in a letter he wrote me while I was serving a mission in Georgia. He ended his letter by saying "I love you from the bottom of my heart."
I love you too Dad!!!!!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Cool random things about Japan
- They are way better at recycling than we are.
- Some the hostels have heated toilet seats and some are toilets dug in the ground and you have to squat.
- At some restaurants they give you a hot, wet washcloth to wash your hands.
- Everyone is extremely polite and the children are well behaved even while riding public transportation! I am sure the bus drivers for my school would love to have a bunch of Japanese students :-)
- They sale huge peaches that are so juicy!
- Most signs are in Japanese and English.
- On the bullet train, the stewardess would bow when he/she would enter or exit the the train.
- Giesha girls do not want their picture taken.
- The fish market did not smell as bad as I thought it would.
- Japanese game shows are funny even if you can't understand them!
- Japenese people show a lot of experssion in their face. Yep, I'm Japanese alright.
- You can order a teriyaki burger at McDonald's
- They only have white bread, at least at the stores we went to and that is what my dad told me.
- Their cups are small.
- They have vending machines that sale drinks all over the place. We even saw vending machines that sold ties and vaccum bags!
- Banana milk is delicious!
- It was not unusual to see people at a shrine saying a little prayer :-)
- The women's line is still always longer than the men's.
- If you have a tatoo, you are not allowed to go into a waterpark.
- It is a gorgeous county!!!!!
- Some the hostels have heated toilet seats and some are toilets dug in the ground and you have to squat.
- At some restaurants they give you a hot, wet washcloth to wash your hands.
- Everyone is extremely polite and the children are well behaved even while riding public transportation! I am sure the bus drivers for my school would love to have a bunch of Japanese students :-)
- They sale huge peaches that are so juicy!
- Most signs are in Japanese and English.
- On the bullet train, the stewardess would bow when he/she would enter or exit the the train.
- Giesha girls do not want their picture taken.
- The fish market did not smell as bad as I thought it would.
- Japanese game shows are funny even if you can't understand them!
- Japenese people show a lot of experssion in their face. Yep, I'm Japanese alright.
- You can order a teriyaki burger at McDonald's
- They only have white bread, at least at the stores we went to and that is what my dad told me.
- Their cups are small.
- They have vending machines that sale drinks all over the place. We even saw vending machines that sold ties and vaccum bags!
- Banana milk is delicious!
- It was not unusual to see people at a shrine saying a little prayer :-)
- The women's line is still always longer than the men's.
- If you have a tatoo, you are not allowed to go into a waterpark.
- It is a gorgeous county!!!!!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Didn't eat sushi, but still had a great time!
We did so much in Japan that it is hard to know where to start. I've decided to do a few posts about the trip. This one will be more of what we did and the sites we saw. I posted most of my pics of Facebook, so check them out.
I guess I better start with the flight over. We flew from Salt Lake to L.A., where my sister, Chrystal, met us. Then it was a long 11 hour flight to Tokyo. I have to say it was the best flying experience I have ever had. Each person had their personal "entertainment system" to watch movies, play games, watch TV. I got a little addicted to Yahtzee!
We visited four cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Nagoya and stayed in hostels the whole time. I have never walked or taken public transportation that much in my entire life!!!!
Tokyo
Shopped at Asakusa - There are a bunch of little shops that have everything from food to kimonos. It was really crowded, but so much fun!
Rickshaw ride - A rickshaw is a two person carriage that is pulled by a person. These guys and girls do this for a living. It was really hot and humid and I have know idea how they do it everyday.
Lunch with the family - My aunts, uncles, and cousins met at a Chinese restaurant for lunch. It was the first time I have seen this side of the family in 21 years!
Fish market - They catch and sale fresh seafood here. They have all kinds including octopus, turtles, and every kind of fish you can think of. They chop it right there, which is a little gross, but kinda cool. My family ate at this little famous sushi place right by the fish market. After they were done, we went to McDonald's so I could get something to eat :-)
Sony Building - This is in downtown Tokyo and has all these cool Sony products
Harajuku Street - This is street in downtown Tokyo just for teenagers. They have crazy dressed teenagers walking up and down it. They also have these cool photo booths that take amazing pics. They make your eyes bigger (I guess Japanese people like big eyes) and you can choose the background. You can also write on your pic or decorate it. Definitely one of my top 10 things we did on the trip! My cousin Saeka showed us around this street and we would have never found these places without her!
Karaoke - This was one of the best things we did! Each group has there own room set up for karaoke, so you don't have to sing in front of people you don't know. They had a ton of songs to choose from. Everyone in my family got into to it! Spencer and I did "La Bamba", mom and dad did "I Got You Babe", and we went on and on. Nothin' like seein' your family singing their guts out! My dad did some Japanese songs which was awesome. My uncle, Kenichi, and my aunt Sanae joined us and let me tell you, Kenichi knows how to Karaoke. He was amazing!!!!
Ate dinner at Sanae's - One night we ate a fabulous dinner at Sanae's house. We looked at pictures, I played Saeka's piano, and just had fun. The best part was getting to put on a kimono my grandma (obachan) made 40 years ago. It was absolutely beautiful and very special!
LDS temple - We went to the Tokyo temple, which I definitely wanted to see!
Kyoto
Gion Corner - We saw traditional Japanese performances of a tea ceremony, Koto music (it is a 13 stringed instrument that is a little like a harp), Gagaku (court music), Kyogen (ancient comic play), Kyomai (a dance performed by Geishas), and Bunraku (puppet play).
Ate at one of the top 5 Gioza places in Japan
Kiyomizy Dera Temple - This was one of the most amazing temples. They had a spring that you could drink fresh water from, Love stones (see the FB pic and caption), gorgeous Bhuddas, and you could see most of Kyoto from the mountain.
Japanese garden - The best part was standing on the stones in the middle of a pond filled with lilly pads. Christmas card pic for sure!
Hiroshima
Hisroshima museum - It had a reverent feeling to it, kind of like the Holocaust museum. We were given personal translators that we hung around our necks so we could hear the videos in English. One part of the museum tells individual stories of those that survived the atomic bomb and those who lost loved ones. To see the photos of the devastation the atomic bomb caused was unbelievable.
A-Dome Peace Memorial - This was a building still stands today as a reminder of what happened and a memorial to the over 70,000 people that lost their lives.
Ferry ride - We took a ferry ride to island of Miyajima
Miyajima - This island was amazing! Deer just wandered free on the street. They were so use to people feeding them that they would come up to you looking for food. We took a rope tour up the mountain. We didn't see any monkeys, but the view was amazing!
Nagoya
Visited Obachan - She will turn 100 in October. She has dementia and didn't recognize us. We think she recognized my dad for a little bit, but then it was gone. She was so sweet and happy. She actually was extremely funny too! When we would take a picture, she would cover her face. She also liked to stick her tongue out :-) She kept telling my dad that he wasn't Susumu (my dad's Japanese name) because Susumu had a fatter face. We brought her a 100 cake and celebrated with her. She thought she was around 60 years old, so I think she was thinkin' we were all crazy telling her she was almost 100.
Shabu Shabu dinner - We went to really nice Shabu Shabu restaurant. How do I explain the meal.....well, first they bring out a pot of bowling water. You dip very thinkly sliced beef into the water and it cooks it. You then dip the beef in a sauce. We had two kinds, a sesame sauce and a vinegar type sauce, which were both amazing. Next you dip vegtables, tofu, and clear rice noodles in the water. It is called Shabu shabu because that is the sound water makes. It is kinda like in English we say "swish".
Church - We went to church. We had English translators, so I could actually understand the talks. It was great to be in an LDS chapel and feel so at home. The Church is the same no matter where in the world you go!
House were dad grew up - We visited the house where my dad grew up. No one lives there so were could just walk through. My mom found a Japanese table that obachan used to burn incense and decided she was going to take it! My dad found some rice bowls that he remembered. We knew the house was going to be demolished eventually, but we found out later that it was demolished the day after we visited. There was beautiful shrine still left that no one in the family knew how to get out of the house and it was destroyed. :-(
I want to go again soon and hopefully can! (Just not in August, because it is so stinkin' hot and I got huge mosquito bites :-)
I guess I better start with the flight over. We flew from Salt Lake to L.A., where my sister, Chrystal, met us. Then it was a long 11 hour flight to Tokyo. I have to say it was the best flying experience I have ever had. Each person had their personal "entertainment system" to watch movies, play games, watch TV. I got a little addicted to Yahtzee!
We visited four cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Nagoya and stayed in hostels the whole time. I have never walked or taken public transportation that much in my entire life!!!!
Tokyo
Shopped at Asakusa - There are a bunch of little shops that have everything from food to kimonos. It was really crowded, but so much fun!
Rickshaw ride - A rickshaw is a two person carriage that is pulled by a person. These guys and girls do this for a living. It was really hot and humid and I have know idea how they do it everyday.
Lunch with the family - My aunts, uncles, and cousins met at a Chinese restaurant for lunch. It was the first time I have seen this side of the family in 21 years!
Fish market - They catch and sale fresh seafood here. They have all kinds including octopus, turtles, and every kind of fish you can think of. They chop it right there, which is a little gross, but kinda cool. My family ate at this little famous sushi place right by the fish market. After they were done, we went to McDonald's so I could get something to eat :-)
Sony Building - This is in downtown Tokyo and has all these cool Sony products
Harajuku Street - This is street in downtown Tokyo just for teenagers. They have crazy dressed teenagers walking up and down it. They also have these cool photo booths that take amazing pics. They make your eyes bigger (I guess Japanese people like big eyes) and you can choose the background. You can also write on your pic or decorate it. Definitely one of my top 10 things we did on the trip! My cousin Saeka showed us around this street and we would have never found these places without her!
Karaoke - This was one of the best things we did! Each group has there own room set up for karaoke, so you don't have to sing in front of people you don't know. They had a ton of songs to choose from. Everyone in my family got into to it! Spencer and I did "La Bamba", mom and dad did "I Got You Babe", and we went on and on. Nothin' like seein' your family singing their guts out! My dad did some Japanese songs which was awesome. My uncle, Kenichi, and my aunt Sanae joined us and let me tell you, Kenichi knows how to Karaoke. He was amazing!!!!
Ate dinner at Sanae's - One night we ate a fabulous dinner at Sanae's house. We looked at pictures, I played Saeka's piano, and just had fun. The best part was getting to put on a kimono my grandma (obachan) made 40 years ago. It was absolutely beautiful and very special!
LDS temple - We went to the Tokyo temple, which I definitely wanted to see!
Kyoto
Gion Corner - We saw traditional Japanese performances of a tea ceremony, Koto music (it is a 13 stringed instrument that is a little like a harp), Gagaku (court music), Kyogen (ancient comic play), Kyomai (a dance performed by Geishas), and Bunraku (puppet play).
Ate at one of the top 5 Gioza places in Japan
Kiyomizy Dera Temple - This was one of the most amazing temples. They had a spring that you could drink fresh water from, Love stones (see the FB pic and caption), gorgeous Bhuddas, and you could see most of Kyoto from the mountain.
Japanese garden - The best part was standing on the stones in the middle of a pond filled with lilly pads. Christmas card pic for sure!
Hiroshima
Hisroshima museum - It had a reverent feeling to it, kind of like the Holocaust museum. We were given personal translators that we hung around our necks so we could hear the videos in English. One part of the museum tells individual stories of those that survived the atomic bomb and those who lost loved ones. To see the photos of the devastation the atomic bomb caused was unbelievable.
A-Dome Peace Memorial - This was a building still stands today as a reminder of what happened and a memorial to the over 70,000 people that lost their lives.
Ferry ride - We took a ferry ride to island of Miyajima
Miyajima - This island was amazing! Deer just wandered free on the street. They were so use to people feeding them that they would come up to you looking for food. We took a rope tour up the mountain. We didn't see any monkeys, but the view was amazing!
Nagoya
Visited Obachan - She will turn 100 in October. She has dementia and didn't recognize us. We think she recognized my dad for a little bit, but then it was gone. She was so sweet and happy. She actually was extremely funny too! When we would take a picture, she would cover her face. She also liked to stick her tongue out :-) She kept telling my dad that he wasn't Susumu (my dad's Japanese name) because Susumu had a fatter face. We brought her a 100 cake and celebrated with her. She thought she was around 60 years old, so I think she was thinkin' we were all crazy telling her she was almost 100.
Shabu Shabu dinner - We went to really nice Shabu Shabu restaurant. How do I explain the meal.....well, first they bring out a pot of bowling water. You dip very thinkly sliced beef into the water and it cooks it. You then dip the beef in a sauce. We had two kinds, a sesame sauce and a vinegar type sauce, which were both amazing. Next you dip vegtables, tofu, and clear rice noodles in the water. It is called Shabu shabu because that is the sound water makes. It is kinda like in English we say "swish".
Church - We went to church. We had English translators, so I could actually understand the talks. It was great to be in an LDS chapel and feel so at home. The Church is the same no matter where in the world you go!
House were dad grew up - We visited the house where my dad grew up. No one lives there so were could just walk through. My mom found a Japanese table that obachan used to burn incense and decided she was going to take it! My dad found some rice bowls that he remembered. We knew the house was going to be demolished eventually, but we found out later that it was demolished the day after we visited. There was beautiful shrine still left that no one in the family knew how to get out of the house and it was destroyed. :-(
I want to go again soon and hopefully can! (Just not in August, because it is so stinkin' hot and I got huge mosquito bites :-)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Top Ten Songs
My friend Marne listed her top 10 songs and I thought it was a cool idea! Marne - Hope you don't mind. Just remember that imitation is the best kind of compliment :-)
So here they are in random order... (Don't they say this during the Miss America pageant when announcing the finalists?....I digress)
1. Welcome to My Life by Simple Plan - This is my ring tone and how I feel sometimes. OK, a lot of the time.
2. Defying Gravity from the "Wicked" Soundtrack - All I have to say is WOW! It is even better in person.
3. Pary in the USA by Miley Cyrus - Definitely her best song and Cat agrees with me. It makes me wanna dance.
4. Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield - Her voice is unique and I really like it.
5. It's Your Life by Francesca Battistelli - The lyrics are amazing and so true.
6. Seasons of Love from the "Rent" Soundtrack - It's a classic.
7. Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson - She has an amazing voice and is the best American Idol. Well, Carrie Underwood is right up there.
8. Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson - Another classic song.
9. You Belong With Me/Fearless by Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me" was my ringtone and I can't listen to "Fearless" without feeling like I can do anything.
10. Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble - If only all guys could sing like him. The world would be a better place.
So here they are in random order... (Don't they say this during the Miss America pageant when announcing the finalists?....I digress)
1. Welcome to My Life by Simple Plan - This is my ring tone and how I feel sometimes. OK, a lot of the time.
2. Defying Gravity from the "Wicked" Soundtrack - All I have to say is WOW! It is even better in person.
3. Pary in the USA by Miley Cyrus - Definitely her best song and Cat agrees with me. It makes me wanna dance.
4. Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield - Her voice is unique and I really like it.
5. It's Your Life by Francesca Battistelli - The lyrics are amazing and so true.
6. Seasons of Love from the "Rent" Soundtrack - It's a classic.
7. Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson - She has an amazing voice and is the best American Idol. Well, Carrie Underwood is right up there.
8. Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson - Another classic song.
9. You Belong With Me/Fearless by Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me" was my ringtone and I can't listen to "Fearless" without feeling like I can do anything.
10. Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble - If only all guys could sing like him. The world would be a better place.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Grateful
Grateful for a life full of miracles and opportunities to serve
Grateful for times that stretched my faith
Grateful for an eternal family
Grateful for true friends
Grateful for laughter that can fill my heart
Grateful for a sense of purpose even though it still is not completely defined
Grateful for forgiveness
Grateful for heavenly guidance
Grateful for times that stretched my faith
Grateful for an eternal family
Grateful for true friends
Grateful for laughter that can fill my heart
Grateful for a sense of purpose even though it still is not completely defined
Grateful for forgiveness
Grateful for heavenly guidance
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Shopping Spree
Today was a day of "Retail Therapy" as my friend Rachel would say. Cat and I went to the Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge for some power shopping. We both work in schools and have some time off for the summer!!!!!
We found some cute stuff. (Cat has been looking for a black pencil skirt.)
We also so found some not so cute...I'll just say it...We found uuuugly stuff!
We even found a story named after Cat!
Girl + Shopping = Happiness :-) Thanks Cat for going with me and we have to do it again!
We found some cute stuff. (Cat has been looking for a black pencil skirt.)
We also so found some not so cute...I'll just say it...We found uuuugly stuff!
We even found a story named after Cat!
Girl + Shopping = Happiness :-) Thanks Cat for going with me and we have to do it again!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Laughed out loud!
Today two of my speech students told me something that I thought was really funny. These girls are sisters (identical twins) and in the 4th grade. Their younger brother is in 2nd grade and I have all 3 of them in speech. The sisters told me that their younger brother got a popcorn ball for a snack. Instead of eating it, he thought he could make it bigger and get more popcorn by putting it in the microwave and popping it. It acutally ended up burning. Oh the things that kids do!!!!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Letters
Dear Right Arm,
Thank you so much for healing and getting stronger. You simply are incredible. I didn't realize how much I depended on you and needed you. I am so sorry for breaking you. Please forgive me.
Love,
Angela
Dear Summer,
Why is it taking so long for you to get here? I miss you and am so looking forward to your arrival. Please come soon.
Impatiently waiting,
Angela
Dear Cafe Rio,
My grandma told me you were coming to D.C.! She heard it on the news and I am wondering if this is true! Please let it be so. Life just hasn't been the same without you.
Mouth watering,
Angela
Dear Silver jeans,
Why did you discontinue the Suki jeans? They are the best jeans ever. I went to buy a pair online and all you had left were a couple of weird sizes. I bought a different kind of Silver jean, but they just aren't quite the same.
Disappointed,
Angela
Thank you so much for healing and getting stronger. You simply are incredible. I didn't realize how much I depended on you and needed you. I am so sorry for breaking you. Please forgive me.
Love,
Angela
Dear Summer,
Why is it taking so long for you to get here? I miss you and am so looking forward to your arrival. Please come soon.
Impatiently waiting,
Angela
Dear Cafe Rio,
My grandma told me you were coming to D.C.! She heard it on the news and I am wondering if this is true! Please let it be so. Life just hasn't been the same without you.
Mouth watering,
Angela
Dear Silver jeans,
Why did you discontinue the Suki jeans? They are the best jeans ever. I went to buy a pair online and all you had left were a couple of weird sizes. I bought a different kind of Silver jean, but they just aren't quite the same.
Disappointed,
Angela
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Snow Days
This weekend the D.C area had record snow fall. Now I am a WY/UT girl, but it was a looooot of snow. The first pic above is from my front porch and ain't it pretty. The second pic is cars in the parking lot that haven't been scraped off. They don't really do the storm justice, but I am too lazy/cold to take any more :-). We got about 2 ft. of snow and all can say is bring on the snow days!!! We didn't work last Wednesday, because it snowed Tuesday night. We didn't work Friday, because it was gonna start snowing about 10:00am. Church was canceled today :- ( and there is no school tomorrow. Tomorrow will be another movie day!!!!!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
I Feel Like A Robot
I broke my right arm cross country skiing over Christmas break. My mom and I were up by Yellowstone where our family always goes. The trail wasn't groomed and I just lost my balance and fell backwards. Kinda lame I know! I can take off the two braces on Feb. 8th, which is earlier than I thought, so I am pretty excited. I just started therapy to regain strength and range of motion in my wrist and elbow.
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