Some of my recent favorite things

I have wanted to write about some of the things and places that I have experienced lately, so here is my smattering of information ...

Paperwork
My first favorite thing finishing a huge stack of paperwork. I have been in the process of picking up some extra work doing some technical editing. Because the company I will work for is a huge contractor of the Department of the Defense, I had a huge stack of paperwork. Really, I had no idea I needed to prove my identity so many times. And, I had the opportunity to get my first drug test: I will never forget walking into the clinic and seeing the row of bathroom doors. It was line up and deliver as quick as you could. I am glad it is over, along with all the paperwork.





Downtown Salt Lake City
One of the nice things about this employment process came last week when the editing team went to dinner in Salt Lake. Our boss flew in from San Diego and treated us to dinner. I love that too. We went to Caffe Molise in downtown. It is a great restaurant with delicious food and wonderful ambiance. Another favorite thing of mine is when I get a great parking place, which I did at the restaurant. I had budgeted in time in case I had to walk a bit, so I had extra time to kill before I had to be at the restaurant. Luckily there is this great little Art store next to Caffe Molise. It is called Utah Artist Hands, and if you couldn't guess by the title, only features local art and crafts. It was fun to see part of what Utah offers. The woman in the shop says she gets very few locals in the shop. She mostly gets convention goers, since the shop is by the Salt Palace Convention Center. But I highly recommend it; I got some ideas for bookmaking from the shop and found some great cards. This painting is by an artist whose work is at the shop.

I really enjoy Salt Lake City. I really just enjoy finding new, interesting places wherever I am. I love exploring new shops and restaurants in Provo as well. Wendell Berry talks a lot about establishing a sense of place in our lives, and I believe that exploring our own communities is part of that. There is so much that we don't take advantage of or even see for that matter. A friend of mine once told me he heard a show on NPR that stated there are two kind of people in Utah: those who see the mountains and those who don't. I guess it really comes down to those who look up and out at the world around them and those who choose not too.


A Witch and Barbie
I picked up an old favorite of mind last week: The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I haven't read it for years, and it was wonderful to rediscover the book. It is a quick read, and took me only a Sunday afternoon to finish. It deals with the early colonization of America and the social injustice that took place between faith and fortune. It deals a bit with the concept of witches in America, but is much more mild than The Crucible. It also has some romance, which is always a bonus. It is just an enjoyable, fun read.






As for going back to my youth, I must also report on a movie I saw last week--Barbie, Island Princess. Yes, I watched it. No, it wasn't my choice. As I mentioned earlier, my niece Cora came to Provo last weekend, and she got to choose the ice-cream and the movie. For what it is worth, it is better than Cinderella 3, which we watched last time. This makes my favorite list because I love how much Cora loved it and that the three adults watching it couldn't quite get on board with a similar excitement. I also have to say that I give credit to all the parents who have already watched this one over and over.