Playlist for November

Oh. Sorry. For a little while, I forgot I had a blog.

Well, here's the playlist for November:
1.Utah then New York
2.Oslo
3.Brussels
4. London (!!!!)
5.Utah
Utah
Utah
Utah
6.????One more trip at the end of the month.

I am just about to trip over thanksgving, it's that close. I probably will trip over it since we are not having our actual thanksgiving until the saturday AFTER. Hmmm. What to do on Thanksgiving day? Any suggestions?

This will be the first time ALL of my family will be together in six years and I am very excited. Alma will fly in from Texas, Tiffany is already here from Korea and so is Stephanie from California. Wow. We already had a mini reunion on Sunday (sans Tiff and Elmer) and it was a little surreal. Just looking at everyone with old eyes finally and seeing how much we've grown. . . and the Butterballs. All the little butterballs bouncing around everywhere. No one can say the S. family does not know how to multiply and replenish the earth.

I went to London this month for the first time in years. I flew with Natasha so we could go to the French Embassy and get our French Working Visas. Instead of going to sleep, we went straight out. We rode the Gatwick Express from the airport to Victoria Station then took the tube to the South Kensington stop. I kept trying to find street names while Natasha kept trying to say, "C., C., why don't we just go to that building with the French flag and see if it's there first?" Finally I got what she was saying and looked over. I couldnt imagine any other place in London flying such a huge French flag. It had to be it. "Sorry Natasha! That's got to be it." And it was. They sent us ahead of the long, long line to get through security. People objected. Then they sent us ahead after we paid to get out visas. People objected. Hey, we were just doing what we were told. .. don't ask me why we were sent ahead. But I was grateful. The lines were LOOONG. No wonder people objected.

Next, we walked all of TWO BLocks past the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-DAy saints, to one of my all time favorite restaurants (yes, Its in London. I can't believe it either) callled Daquise (South Kensington SW7 2LT for Booking call 0207 589 6117). It's Polish. (See Brigham, no worries, I got some Polish food after all. ) It's been there since 1947 and is open 7days a week from noon-11pm.

Well, it was ten minutes to 12 and the restaurant does not open til noon so we went to the bookstore next door. By the way, there was a huge christmas tree up nearby. Christmas in Europe is in full swing. I love it. Anyway, this book store was just GREAT! They had so many fun interesting books (including one-complete with PHOTOS-of hunks from the 70s nd 80s. I'm kicking myself for not buying it, it was that funny and er amazing. the comments were uniquely brittish and were just as good as the photos). I purchased a book called "the Merry Christmas Activity Book, 50 ways to make your spirits bright" By Jane Bull. It's great! there are recipes for minty snowballs and ginger cookies and paper mache ornaments and snowy bunting and winter woolies. . .what more could you ask for? I"m not going to be bored this winter. I bought four and will give one to Natasha, one to Stephanie, one to my mother and one to keep for myself. It was a jack pot, I say! A Jack pot!

And then,. . .we went next door and I ATE IT! I ATE the most DELICIOUS Polish food. I had Borscht and Potato pancakes with apples sauce and sour cream. Oh Paradise. Just paradise. Just think I don't even like Beets or Potatos very much. . .!!! that's what I'm saying, you've just got to try it! Next time you are in London, go to this restaurant. It's convenient because it's right next to the church (for all you Mormons) and next to a ton of other things for all you non-Mormons (ie museums, embassies, etc.). I learned about it from Richard, of course. He really has good taste and I really do miss him.

back tracking again, I went to Oslo and met up with Gaute. I brought him some snowboarding stuff (because of course the dollar is so low and its cheaper in the US). He took me to dinner as a thank you. We went to an old working class traditional Norwegian restaurant and ate meatballs with brown gravy and mushy pea soup. This too was delicious. then we walked to his apartment and listened to music. He made me a mixed cd with some stuff I have never heard of before. I'm really loving the song "The Old Man is Back Again" by Scott Walker and will definately, definately be looking up more of his stuff.

Also, Brigham reccommended an excellent, excellent, excellent book which I just finished called "The Braindead Megaphone Essays" by George Saunders. It's creative-non-fiction writing at it's best. This I bought in New York with Brigham (after we ate at a mexican restaurant after our plans were foiled to eat at another Polish restaurant becaused it was closed on Mondays) at another great bookstore called St. Mark's Book Shop, 31 Third Evenue, New York, NY 10003, 212-260-783 (or www.stmarksbookshop.com). This one is worth going to also.

Right, so this was BEfore I went to Oslo which was before I went to London. Do you get it? It's called backtracking. I do it a lot so don't lets get confused.

and then right back to the beginning. I am in utah having a glorious time with my family enjoying the fall leaves, planning Christmas and thanksgiving and rejoicing in my blessings. A good November, eh? Plenty of flowers to gaze at . . .plenty of flowers.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!