World's Greatest Blanket

So my mother--the same mother that had my aunt hand carry u-pick dahlias on the airplane to transport a little bit of home for me in Provo--gave me the world's greatest blanket yesterday. Here is the story: last Christmas my mother gave these blankets to all the married couples and close family friends. Since I am not married and a little more than a close friend, I did not receive a blanket. Honestly, in most cases I could care less about receiving a blanket; however, once I experienced this brilliant throw I had to have it. I even contemplated stealing it off the sofa and taking it back to school with me. My mom still has to remind me every time I visit to leave the blanket.

It may seem weird that I am obsessed with this blanket. Part of the obsession stems from my general love for all blankets. I am always cold and 

I prefer to be cold with a blanket draped around my body. But even if I did not love blankets, I would want to steal this one. You make think that it is an ordinary throw, but once you try it on you are converted; no other blanket will do when it comes to keeping you warm. One side of it is cable knit--so it has a good heavy feel to it--and the other side is this faux fur, glorious fabric.

Anyway, my mother sent me this blanket the other day without even telling me. She is possibly the world's greatest mom because she sends surprise gifts like the world's greatest blanket. Now I feel ready for the Fall and Winter weather ahead; I can face anything with the world's greatest blanket.

If you are lucky, and a hygienic person, I may just let you try it out for yourself.

Doris Day & Improving Your Latin

Today someone asked me to provide a definition of a word because I'm an English major. Do I look like a dictionary? I love how people just assume that because I'm English major they should "watch their grammar" and use me as a source for an unlimited supply of definitions . Little do they know that my grammar is possibly worse than theirs. Memo: English Language majors are the grammar Nazis, not English majors. I focus on literature and rhetoric, not grammar usage. Anyways, this person asked me for a definition of a word that his Humanities teacher used in class. I was so nervous; I hoped that it was a word I knew so I could prove my worth as an English major.

"Probitas."

That was the word.

I responded, "I think it is Latin for Honor. I don't know if your teacher is using some word that derives from the Latin, but I believe that the etymology is at least Honor."

Super impressive, right?

Do I speak Latin? Not a chance.

How do I know this impressive bit of Latin? A Doris Day movie.

Yes, a Doris Day movie.

Here is a clip from Lover Come Back, the movie where I learned Latin - go six minutes into the

clip.

I think this proves how brilliant Doris Day movies are. I mean they combine the eye candy of Rock Hudson,

outrageous hats,

beautiful 60's clothing

and they also teach you Latin so you can impress people at dinner parties.

You just got to love these two.

Downton Abbey Series 2

Downton Abbey is brilliant. It is perhaps one of the best mini-series ever produced by BBC/Masterpiece Classic. I would know, I have watched about every mini-series that they have filmed. It's not just me who is raving about Downton Abbey; the show received six primetime Emmy awards. How could they overlook such a masterpiece (notice the pun)? The cinematography is gorgeous, the clothing and sets are lovely, the acting is wonderful, the characterizations are fantastic and the time period is so intriguing....sigh.

Yesterday was the premier of Downton Abbey in the UK. Sadly, the US does not get to see it until January 8th. I have read all the blogs and magazine articles about this upcoming season because I simply cannot wait. Some of the information was not pleasing to the ears: Mary and Matthew both are engaged to other people. It should be an interesting installment with the waves of change crashing more heavily than the first season. It will be an even more precarious balancing act between tradition and Modern disenchantment brought on by the horrors of the Great War. I get chills just thinking about it.

U-Pick Dahlias

I left home this summer before the Dahlia season began. I didn't have the opportunity this summer to follow the "U-Pick Dahlia" sign in my neighbors yard to find a pair of scissors and arranged bouquets in a tent with a small mason jar to collect the five dollars fee for a bouquet.

My aunt just visited my mom in Seattle and came directly to Utah to see her daughter; she hand carried a bouquet of Dahlias on the flight for me. This is the best gift of the summer. My mom is the best.

Dahlias are summer's brilliantly colored, final hurrah to celebrate the closing of the season.

Again, sorry about the quality of the photos. I really need a camera.

Mad for Mad Men Banana Republic Collection

I love the TV show Mad Men. The reasons for my love range from deep (e.g. characterization, historical accuracy) to shallow (e.g. Don Draper is attractive). I would be lying if I did not admit that one of the main reasons I love the show is the clothing. Subsequently, I was ecstatic to learn that Banana Republic is having Janie Bryant - Mad Men costume designer - assist in designing a line for both men and women. My excitement is on par with when Gilt had a Neal Caffrey day.

As the campaign says: shop now. you'd be mad not to.

My Summer Soundtrack: The Rip Tide

In the summer film that is Hillary Gamblin's life, the soundtrack is a lightly strummed ukulele, the hum of an accordion and intermittent bursts of a brass band.

Zach Condon, you have done it again. Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

Each Beirut album is an innovative experiment in sound. This particular album, The Rip Tide, is phenomenal because of its mature restraint in instrumentation. It is simple and has a sunny disposition. It sounds like summer, or what summer should sound like. It even indulges my lingering feelings of summer nostalgia...Once I hear that accordion and ukulele, I feel like I'm sitting in a field of sunflowers in the old country.

Picture of sunflower fields in Hungary (i.e. Old Country).

Rainier Cherries

I love fresh fruit and the stands that sell it.

This summer when I was visiting my sister in New York, we went to Trader Joe's that had Rainier Cherries. Until then I had never considered people eating these cherries outsides of Washington. I mean, they are called Rainier cherries and I grew up in the foothills of Mt. Rainier, so it seemed like a local thing to do when I was growing up. I have been eating Rainier cherries my whole life. Correction, once I convinced myself that I could manage to spit out the seed and not choke to death, then I became a cherry eater. I have a lot of summer memories of going to local fruit stands to pick up Rainier Cherries. Let me tell you, there are no better cherries than Rainier Cherries; they are the sweetest type of cherry, larger than most, and  have a creamy texture.



After my discovery in the New York Trader Joe's, I did a little research on Rainier Cherries--I know it's super nerdy. I discovered that Rainier cherries were cultivated by a professor at Washington State University in the 1950's--hence the christening "Rainier Cherry." They are considered by most people to be the best type of cherry you can buy--no surprises there. In fact, the Japanese will pay the equivalent of five dollars for a perfect Rainier cherry.  The high price are a consequence of pampering necessary to make these cherries grow.  To begin with, they are so particular about climate that they are only grown in northern California and Washington, but they grow best when in their homeland. And it's not just the Japanese and myself that find them delicious: one third of the crop are eaten by birds. Yes, birds will eat the entire cherrie and leave the pit hanging on the stem.

Manchester United vs. Seattle Sounders

On my bucket list - along with items such as seeing Michelangelo's David - is to attend a Manchester United match at Old Trafford. While I did not see them play at Old Trafford, a few days ago I saw Manchester United play the Seattle Sounders. I had given up hope in buying a ticket; people were saying that acquiring tickets to this game was harder than Superbowl tickets. Yet, a miracle occurred as my brother Tyson bought two tickets off his friend the day of the match. Little did I know that Tyson's friend has the best tickets in Qwest stadium. I was literally thirty feet away from my idols; it was surreal.

Let me set the stage for one of the best nights of my life.

The team entered for warm ups with the captain leading the way. As a side note, my little brother Andrew finally converted to the Vidic fan club. I've always loved Vidic no nonsense style of defense, but after seeing him in person I officially have a crush on him. Goodness, the man is built. It is a well known fact that footballers are the most "fit" athletes (both denotation and British connotation apply), but Vidic is an exceptional example. Seriously, if you looked up athlete in the dictionary, his picture would be right next to it. So statuesque...

Then the team warmed up. Here is a picture of them doing what seems to be ninja warm ups, because they are soccer ninjas.

Here is the team returning from warm ups: I spy Rooney.

67052 fans made a tie died mural of green (supporters of the Sounders) and red (supporters of Man United). As I stated on my facebook: see all that red and green? Christmas has come early, and Rooney is the jolly old man that brings gifts to the kiddies: a hat trick in twenty minutes. But I'm getting ahead of myself here; I don't want to ruin the narrative I have going by giving away the ending.

Then Chihuly showed up. Random right? This narrative is getting a bit postmodern. Isn't he the epitome of a brilliant artist with his grey fro and eye patch?

They had done the coin toss on the space needle earlier that day. Brilliant.

Manchester United went out there and scored two goals, and we were on the end that witnessed them up close. Honestly, there is nothing more beautiful than a goal - everything must align perfectly for it to occur. Here is a picture of them celebrating after a goal.

Second half Man U showed us that the Sounders that are literally and metaphorically out of their league. They scored five goals in the half; Wayne had three of those goals. Here is one of my favorite pictures, because it has Rio, Rooney, and Vidic in it.

The final score was 0 to 7, and here is the man of the hour: Wayne Rooney. He made all of his goals seems effortless. Here is the best picture we have of him. It is not the most attractive photo; as one of my favorite youtube video says, "he's no oil painting," but his work on the pitch is art.

Thus ended one of the best nights of my life. If my narrative has failed to show the brilliance of this night, watch but this, and all is mended.

Meeting Will & Kate on P.E.I

Okay, we did not meet Will and Kate on P.E.I, but we missed their royal visit by a few days. Instead, we trekked to the hotel that they were going to stay in. We were so disappointed. If we had known about their visit to the small Provence, we would have stayed a few extra days. Can you think of a more perfect way to bump into the royal darlings? I mean, they are stranded on a small island that is not too heavily populated; perfect stalking situation. I am positive that if Kate and I met, we would be best friends. 

I mean, Kate and I would surely have met because we frequent the same classy institutions on P.E.I. For example, I am sure we would have met at the Lobster Supper: a brilliant restaurant located in a former V.F.W. hall that is popular among the local geriatrics. If we had stayed a few more days, Kate would have worn the bib next to me. 

Victoria, P.E.I

Victoria is a tiny town on the coast of Prince Edward Island. Although you can walk down main street in under 200 steps, this cozy coastal village became my favorite town that we visited in PEI. We originally visited it because it is well known for its functioning light house. 

But one thing that the guidebook did not mention is that there are three Newfies - Newfoundland dogs - that populate Victoria and hang out together.  Did I mention how large they are? They are bigger than my sister-in-law Sophia (see picture for evidence). On the left is Rufus; his owner decided to give him a lion haircut...possibly the greatest decision ever.

In such a small town--where the Newfie population rivals the humans-- they produce some fantastic dinning. Of course my mother, who is obsessed with chocolate, managed to locate the chocolatier in Victoria.

It is an adorable shop with peonies blooming in the front.

Most adorable antique/art shop.

Oldest tree in P.E.I


















Victoria is also right on the coast, so we went to the beach afterward.

Yeah, Victoria is pretty great.