Carving out our niche.
On July 30th Kristie and I went back east for a backyard open house hosted by my parents. Mom and Dad McConnon did a terrific job preparing everything for the event (thanks a million, we love you guys!)
The event itself was wonderful…thanks to all the friends and family that came to show their support. Here are a few pictures taken before, during and after the event:
[That, boys and girls, is called alliteration...which may, or may not be the only thing I learned while obtaining an English degree.]
Tonight Kristie and I didn’t feel like cooking, so we went out to dinner at Los Hermanos for a little mexi-excellence (or at least mexi-mediocrity, depending on your mexican food standards). I personally happen to be fine with the Del-Taco-Bell’s of the world, having never lived south of the border, or anywhere near it.
After dinner we met up with Kristie’s girlfriend Amanda and her fiancee Houston for dessert at Maestro’s (tasty gelato…check it out). It was great to catch up with them and get to know Houston. He plays QB at Snow College (a renowned D-1 feeder school) so we’ll be keeping tabs on his college career.
When Kristie and Amanda were talking earlier, they discovered that both of us had purchased movie tickets to an 11:30 showing of the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight. So after dessert we headed to the theater, where we were met by a monstrous line, even thought we were 45 minutes early. Despite having to sit in the wayyy close seats, we all really loved the movie. Ledger’s Joker really did live up to the hype, as did the film in its entirety. See it if you get the chance…
Kristie and I got to help plan the ward campout this year up at a beautiful cabin somewhere south in the boonies of Utah (Schofield, perhaps?) It was fun, and a lot of work. We’d never had to buy and organize the preparation of three meals for 50 people before. Let’s just say it was a learning experience, and I now know each isle of Costco intimately.
Before retiring to our trusty two-man tent, we had an evening filled with campfire s’mores and various activities in the cabin (foosball, pingpong, etc…they don’t mess around). Saturday was more of the same, with plenty of lounging around.
Kristie and I decided to pick up a couple of $4 lawn seats to watch our local minor league baseball team, the Orem Owlz duke it out with the something-or-other Voyagers. It was really fun and made me nostalgic for the “America’s Favorite Pastime” that I feel like I never knew.
I gotta hand it to these organizations, there isn’t a thing they won’t do to entertain fans and lure new ones. Tonight, for example, they let fans down onto the field after the game and projected a movie for all to watch. Besides the fact that they picked the laughable “National Treasure 2,” it was a blast.
We got 9 innings, plus two hours of solid entertainement…for $4 each!
Well–until you factor in parking ($2…seriously?), hotdogs (c’mon it’s a ballgame!), drinks (half price with stolen bases), dessert (who can resist Dippin’ Dots?) and kettle corn for the film (think: theatre prices).
Ah well, I’m proud to support the local club.
This summer the Salt Lake City Arts Council is hosting its annual Twilight Concert Series at the Gallivan center. We caught the opening show, The Roots, and it was amaaazing. I’ve wanted to see them since I copped Illadelph Halflife andThings Fall Apart back in the 90′s. Their live set is captivating, Questlove (?uestlove) on the drums, Black Thought on the mic, with and a great supporting cast of instrumentalists on guitars, tubas (Tuba Gooding Jr!), keyboards and congos. I think they’re easily one of the most talented hip hop acts ever to take the stage.
Kristie and I lucked out and got perfect seats (and eventually standing spots) where we had an elevated view of all the action. Nothing beats live music…unless it’s free live music.
Next week is Josh Ritter and Andrew Bird!
This weekend Kristie and I decided to drive up to her family’s home in Eagle for a surprise visit. Instead of letting them know we were arriving, we just showed up on the doorstep. Much more fun that way.
The Wagstaff family had us all over for an impressive backyard fireworks show on the 4th, where we narrowly avoided catching fire.
Beyond all the festivities, perhaps the most memorable event was the conversation I had with dad Tanner about the founding fathers and their influence on his family history.
What a great country we live in.
