iNews

I've been distracted lately... but for good reason. In case you haven't been in the continental United States and heard my cries of excitement, I am now a proud member of the iPhone community. Now when I say "call me on my iPhone" I mean it!

There is an entire iWorld out there I was so out of touch with. Did you know that you can bowl on an iPhone? its true! Did you also know that you can turn yourself into a bobble head on an iPhone? Also true! Mine even makes Lightsaber noises when I swing it. How cool is that.

It would be even more enjoyable if I had any money. Dad's fronting the bill for the phone, I'm on my own for ringtones. Someday, someday...

Weekly Update

Its been an exciting week. Ready for some highlights? Good.

I've sorted out housing for when I go back to school. The destination is the glamorous Roman Garden Apartments, where all your dreams come true! My contract is in the mail.

I gave my "homecoming" report last sunday. It was so good to be in my home ward. It made me feel like a stinkin' celebrity! And that's my biggest addiction. I also went to institute... I won't say it was boring... but I'll have to lie then, if you decide to ask me about it. Okay, it wasn't that bad, but it was not worth the invested hour of driving (each way!)

I watched Pirates of the Caribbean 3 (disappointed), Transformers (better), Kung Fu Panda (amusing), and Hairspray! (Fabulous!)

I also got caught up on a lot of my High School friends by Nate Rotunno, Esquire. We ate Thai Food, and went and saw the Importance of Being Ernest at the High School. I really enjoyed the performance. And just as the newspaper said, they had "intimate" seating. They haad bleachers set up right on the stage. I love it when plays have fun seating like that. Love it!

Oswego Snowfall

It snowed in good ol' New York last night. Like 4 inches or something. So after watching Star Wars Episode III I took a drive.

Here's my town


and here's the steeples


open the doors and see all the Seagulls



There is something serene about the woods and the lake. A dusting of snow just makes it more magical.





As always look at more photos of this event on facebook.

Muggle Musings

Now that I've returned to the Land of the Living, I did what every self-respecting Return
Missionary does: I watched Order of the Phoenix and read The Deathly Hallows!

Now I don't know what is so captivating about Harry Potter! I still don't think its particularly good writing. But it sure rakes in the dough. Let's start with a few comments on the movie. LOVED IT! Way more than I expected. After all I hated the 5th book. Best parts? Way sweet battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort. I loved the actress who played Luna Lovegood. And of course Helena Bonham Carter.

I finished The Deathly Hallows like 30 mins ago. Now there were some things I didn't like. All of those boring scenes with them wandering in the woods, or Harry Potter. Gag me with a spoon, I was all for him dying at the end of the book. Sorta got my wish. But I am glad I do not have any more pages of his whining left to read. I was also way disappointed in Hermione and Hagrid. Both have been characters I loved in the past. In this book they were both kind of inept. After Ron and Hermoine really became an item, she was less appealing. And Hagrid started out good (shooting a brick wall out of your flying motorbike? Brilliant!) but went down hill fast.

That sad, here is what was FABULOUS. The war scenes in the story, towards the end, were pretty exciting (centaurs and Trelawny shooting crystal balls). But these are the star players that made me LOVE it...

one: Neville Longbottom. He has always been one of my favorites, and I've been waiting for him to really be heroic!

two: Mrs. Weasley. Probably the best Mother Hen scene ever when she rushes in to save Ginny from...

three: Bellatrix. As far as the villains go in this book, she's my favorite. There might be another one I'm forgetting, but I don't think so. I think she was superbly written by J.K. Potterwoman. Her evilness, her twisted devotion, her fierce loyalty. And don't forget who plays her in the movies ...

four: Kreacher. As far as chracter turn arounds go, his was my favorite. I think the House Elf is one of the best examples of my opinion that this stories three Heroes are not nearly as endearing as the other characters in these books. Plus we have to give an honorary note to
Doby, too. Because it makes me seem sympathetic mainly.

and lastly

five: Dame Maggie Smith! or maybe I should say Professor Minerva McGonagall! Again, she is a character I've loved since book one, and when my favorite Dame played her in the movie I was in Maggie-Heaven! But in this book she did what I always wanted her to do - kick butt! I can not wait to see Maggie pull that off on screen. But even more than my imagined special effects, I loved her most for her stern compassion and her powerful presence even when she was conceding to a undesirable predicament.





So there they are! The best of the best! Three Cheers!







What did I miss though? Need we say it? I'm sure we all missed Moaning Myrtle.

Matchy Matchy

I've spent the last couple days shopping for clothes. I'm very satisfied with my wardrobe. Mumsie is always a blast to shop with, but then you have to show Dad your purchases. Bless him, he tries so hard to be excited. But he's convinced that now that I'm home I'm going to Balloon up to 400 pounds or something. Whatev.

My hit list in shopping was:
Argyle Sweater
V-Neck Sweater
Non-White French Cuff Shirt
Fancy Slacks
New Jeans
Belt
Suit
Coat

All success except a belt and a new suit so far!

Good morning Brothers, it's a joy to be here.

Today was day one of Stake conference. I was asked to speak for a few minutes in Priesthood leadership... big whoop. Mum was very content pointing out the cute single girls. Her favorite was a 28ish woman who has already completed graduate school and was working in Syracuse... no mum, no.

Earlier I went with Mumsie to go selling for her job with Brenda Moore sales reps. I love retail. I really do. We sold jewelry to Oswego Winds and Tea/Spa stuff to the gift basket place in Canal Commons. It was fun, and I'm going to start visiting some of her stores on the days she works at palmyra.

Oh how lovely...

Yesterday was an amazing day. Where did I go? The birthplace of the Restoration: Palmyra, New York! It was a cool, but unseasonable warm morning. But lots of foggy-fog was out and about. It made for some beautiful scenes.

My mum works at the church's sites down there. Before my session at the temple she took me to go see the "Gold Plates." She was pretty excited about it... and kept saying "Just wait and see." Mum works for the FM (facilities management) group and gave a tour in her GO-Kart.

So after a scenic drive through a bit of the 500 acre field the church leases out, Mum shows me a large piece of metal on the ground. She hoists it up and TA-DAH! There was a big hole in the ground... Playing Indiana Jones I looked inside, brushed around some leaves and discovered two sets of "Gold Plates" and a Plastic Liahona. Funny Funny. And no angels required.

Other highlights? A wonderful session at the Palmyra Temple. Lots of people saying "You know, I have daughter." Others point out how cute the sisters at the sites are. Chatting with a bunch of locals from Kaysville. And McDonald's for lunch (I love parfaits!).

Last of All I took a walk through the Sacred Grove. I can't adequately describe how much that place means to me, so I wont try. But seeing it in its fall colors was striking. It was a good day.




For more pictures check out my facebook albums.