U.N. Foundation Reception

Scott and I attended the United Nations Foundation screening of a video on global health, followed by a reception with AMAZING food and some performances.

Utah State Society Reception

LOTR at the Wolf Trap

On Saturday night we attended an event that makes my top ten list of all time favorite events. We watched a screening of Return of the King to a live orchestra, choir and soloists. It was outstanding.



The Wolf Trap is a very unique venue, with outside seating that looks down into a regular theater and stage.

Food in China Town

Saturday a few of us U of U students headed down to China Town where we ate from a very large vat of paella, followed by a delicious gellato served in a frozen baby pineapple.

Night of Shakespeare

Scott, Matt, Emily and I got $15 tickets (regularly $60-90) for the DC Shakespeare Company's production of "All's Well that Ends Well." It was fantastic, and we even ended the evening with a cupcake.

RGA Film Premier

We were invited to the Republican Governor's Association event to premier the film "A New Jersey" about conservative Republican NJ governor Chris Christie. We got our picture taken with Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi.

Philadelphia

Jenny, Scott and I spent the afternoon in Philadelphia. We visited Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the Rocky steps. We finished the evening with a great philly cheese steak and a trip to Target.

Moscow Reunion

My mission companion Emily and I met up with our friend Katya for dinner. All three of us were together in Moscow and Zelenograd, Russia.

Georgetown Cupcakes

This famous cupcakery has its own TLC show. We waited in a line behind 100 others to try our first Georgetown Cupcake.

Ray's Hell Burger

First stop DC: Ray's Hell Burger. This is the hole-in-the-wall burger joint that President Obama brought the Russian president for dinner.

North Carolina

I got home from Europe at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, and by 3:00 on Thursday I was on a plane headed out to the East Coast. My former roommate, Jenny, picked me up from the airport and we went straight to Richmond and then to the beach in North Carolina. It's so hard to be me!

First Class from Paris

The best moment of my life was when our buddy passes on Delta got us bumped to first class on the direct flight from Paris to Salt Lake City. Not only did I get a 6 course meal with real stemware, flatware and quality food, but at one point in the flight I was literally woken from my peaceful slumber by the aroma of freshly baked cookies and milk. Thank you Kate and friends!!!

And then there was Slovenia

Kate and I flew from Istanbul to Lubljana, Slovenia. My great grandmother immigrated from Slovenia after WWI when she was 17 years old. Her sister and other family stayed behind. My cousins Kate, Liz and I stayed with family for a week, and we were treated like royalty. Slovenia was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We visited Lake Bled, the Alps, Mini Mundos, Lippitza horse farm, Italy, Austria, and on our last day we visited my 26th country: Croatia.

Turkey in a Nutshell

After Ukraine Kate and I flew to Istanbul. We stayed for two days visiting Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Cistern, a Turkish bath and a Hookah/Whirling Dervish Bar.