Last Week

If you've never had a kidney stone, you don't know pain. Well you might know pain. But not kidney stone pain. This was my last week. Horrible. Excruciating pain that makes you so nauseous. Well it's over at least. That's all I can say about that. 

Welcome To Hawaii

"Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people." I have no clue who said this, it was just on the Merrie Monarch Facebook page. Last week was the competition and even though we may not have been able to go to Hawaii to go see Merrie Monarch this year, so we brought Hawaii to us.

About 11 at night we gathered around the TV, made spam and rice and pani popo and enjoyed the sounds of the Hawaiian people and enjoyed some pretty good looking eye candy. My personal favorite? A group called Ke Kai o Kahiki. Don't believe me that they're mouth watering good looking? See for yourselves. There is nothing better than good food and good eye candy, really good eye candy.

I told you that it was some really good eye candy. The whole time I was watching the competition, all that could go through my mind was, "Can I have your babies?" Marco always says to think about your future children and posterity and that you want them to be as good looking as possible. Well....my future posterity would be well taken care of with these men. So needless to say, it was a very good night. I love always being with Momi and Maddy and Steffi and all of their roommates. 

Also recipe for the delicious pani popo. What you'll need: 1 package of Rhodes rolls (because making your own rolls, ain't nobody got the time for that!), 1 can coconut milk, 1 cup water and 1/3 cup of sugar (you can add more or less to taste). Let the rolls rise, then pour the mix of everything else on top and bake at 350 until they turn a golden brown color. Then eat until you feel ashamed of yourself. 

I Told You So

Remember back to my post a few weeks ago when I made poi balls and I put the title "Sometimes I Think I'm Poly." Well I told you so felt like a good title for today's blog. I danced in Luau a few weeks ago and got in touch with my Polynesian side. My little sister asked my why I dance in Luau but I've never danced in Fiesta. Good question Cece, maybe I'll dance in Fiesta next year just for you. 

But this has been my second year dancing in Luau and even though the early 6 AM every Saturday dance practice for 4 hours is a pain, it's always worth it in the end and I later find myself missing it. 

Although even if I feel like I put in lots of hours at practice, the instructors put in even more time. Seriously this couldn't have happened with wonderful people like Keoki, Kawehi, Kamaile, Kiana and Kira. (Apparently to be a luau instructor your name has to start with a K.) Mahalos to everyone that participated or came out to watch the show. 

We Like To Party

Well we had a St Patricks party at my place a few weeks ago (I know Easter has already passed and I haven't posted this yet) so instead of trying to tell you how much fun we had, I'll just post the pictures. Thanks to everyone that came. PS: For those trying to think of a fun activity to add to a party, homemade photo booth was a hit!

Starstruck

Elder Richard G. Scott came into my work. Yes last night. I think it's safe to say that I was a little bit starstruck. So story time, I was up at the front of the restaurant taking orders when a family comes in. The old man (AKA Grandpa AKA Elder Scott) is wearing a sweater that resembled a Mr. Rogers sweater. I keep looking at him and he probably thought I was crazy. 

"I know this man," I kept thinking to myself. "Where have I seen him???" He hands me his credit card as they start to order and I immediately look at the name. RICHARD G SCOTT! Of course! How could I have not known who he was at a first glance??? I think I went into fan girl mode because I don't remember much about taking their order. I would have given them free meals if I could have! 

I didn't want to be one of those people who interrupts people that are famous or well known for a picture, no matter how badly I wanted one. So what did I do? I did what any respectable person would do and let him eat his meal in peace. But then I grabbed a taco (to pretend it was my break time) and sat down facing right in front of him diagonally and whipped out my phone and started taking pictures of him. Yes I had a paparazzi moment. Don't judge me.

As you can tell I don't have run ins with General Authorities very often. There's only one other time that I've ever had that experience, and it's not necessary the best. So way way back in the day while I was still in junior high, my wards youth went to the Conference Center for a choir practice for this big Joseph Smith Commemoration that was to be held a few weeks later. We got stuck in the parking garage for a good 40 minutes and finally once we got close to the light, it turned yellow. My young womans president (who will remain nameless as to avoid the teasing that could possibly occur from the telling of this story) got tired of waiting and decided to run the red light and turn left. In doing this she cut off a car coming out from a different parking garage ahead of us and who did she cut off? Thomas Monson. He just smiled and waved and let us go ahead of him. Yes we cut off the next President of the LDS Church. Hopefully we can eventually get that erased from our book of life, because I don't think that would look very good. But hey in my defense I wasn't driving, so I think I'm good. 

There Was A Festival

So as everyone knows whether you went to it, saw it on Facebook or Instagram or some other form of social media, Saturday was the Festival Of Colors. Which meant lots of people in Utah Valley. Which meant lots of random visitors coming down to every store, restaurant and gas station in Provo and Orem. I ran into a girl I went to high school with. I asked her what she was doing down in Provo for the day. She answered back that she had just gotten back from Festival of Colors.

"Huh," I thought to myself, "they cleaned off really well for just having had been attacked with colored dirt." And then right as I thought that, I saw a group of about 15 people walk right past us in the store and go straight into the restroom to go clean off. They came out looking like somewhat clean people. So then I went to go see the damage in the bathroom and it looked like a crime scene. So dirty. I was so upset. People couldn't go clean off in their own bathrooms because they don't want theirs to get dirty. So they come and dirty other places bathroom. Thanks, but no thanks.

I don't want you all to think that I am a Scrooge when it comes to Festival of Colors because I actually really loved it. I went last year and got attacked with color (see picture below if you don't believe me.) But maybe I don't believe in getting everyone else's things or restaurants or stores dirty with the chalk that is literally falling out of my hair every time I move my head. (This is a big thanks to being right in the middle of the mosh pits when the throwing was going on.)

Perhaps I don't believe in dirtying peoples things because of the car ride home (or common decency, but we'll say it was the car ride.) The guy I was kind of seeing (or whatever we were) was living out of his car at this point in his life. He gladly drove us down there but he wanted to make sure his car didn't get terribly dirty because it was also his house. We brought garbage bags to cover the seats in the car, brought about 1000 baby wipes to clean off with, brought a change of clothes and changed in the middle of a parking lot even before we got into his car. 

So soapbox over. Just clean off before you go anywhere. It's really not that hard.