A California Adventure

Hello Friends,

I know it has been awhile, I'm not really sure where all my time went (oh, yeah, that Netflix binge might account for some of it), but I wanted to share with you my latest adventure, which definitely transported me out of my normal wilderness.

My little sister, Kenra, graduated from high school this year, so per family tradition, we all got to go on a trip.  She chose California, so for the second time this year, I got to go to San Diego. After three days in San Diego, we spent three days in Disneyland.

The whole crew was in attendance, Mom, Dad, Rexton, Carson & Janae, Kenra, and of course, me.

San Diego Temple

One of the highlights of the trip was that we spent the morning of May 26^th at the San Diego Temple.  Mom, Dad, Rexton and I did an endowment session and Carson, Janae, Kenra and Dad did baptisms.  The San Diego Temple is really beautiful and it was a fabulous way to start off our trip.  

Journal writing at the temple

Our visit to San Diego also included the Mormon Battalion Visitor’s Center in Old Town San Diego, the San Diego Sheriff’s Museum, The Whaley House (which is reportedly haunted),  the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and obviously some time on the beach.  Rexton may have found his calling: beachside ukulele performer.

Rexton playing his uke

At Mission Beach

Cheetah

Hungry Giraffe

Baby & Mama Elephant

Our first day in Disneyland, Janae & Carson bought Kenra (and all of us) a character breakfast in the park.  So we headed over to the Plaza Inn just off Main Street, U.S.A to enjoy our meal in the presence of Minnie, Chip & Dale, Captain Hook, Tigger, Eeyore and the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella.

It’s a good thing we had a hearty breakfast, because after that we ran around doing everything we possibly could in Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure.  I was able to ride Indiana Jones three times, Radiator Springs Racers twice and Pirates of the Caribbean twice also. Star Tours is great, although our 2 randomly generated rides ended up being almost the same (oh well). I did Tower of Terror, so I’ve crossed that off my bucket list and I never have to do it again.   I loved Cars Land.  It is almost possible to believe you’ve walked into the universe of Cars (and I got to eat at Flo’s V8 Café!!!!!).  California Screamin’ was great, but as I’m not really a roller coaster kind of gal, once was enough.  Soarin’ Over California won my heart when we drifted over the orange groves and part of the simulation included the scent of the oranges.  Mom (surprisingly) loved Toy Story Midway Mania even though she got the lowest score both times we went on the ride (hint: go for speed not accuracy).

The last afternoon in the parks, we all divided up to do the things we wanted to get in before we left, so Kenra and I rode the Pinocchio ride (just because), explored Sleeping Beauty’s castle, and rode the train all the way around (and we loved the displays in the tunnel between Tomorrowland and Main Street, U.S.A.). And we got our silhouettes cut by the neatest lady at the Silhouette Shop on Main Street.

Kenra and I also forced our way into the closed snack shack at the Grand California Hotel to each get a Chip and Dale smashed penny (what’s a vacation without a little trespassing?!) and then finished off the night with fresh, hot beignets from Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, courtesy of Rexton.   

Hope this post finds you well and enjoying your own summer adventure!

Love,
Mailee

(P.S. I got tired of trying to artistically arrange the photos, so here are the rest. . . )

Minnie and the Boys

Minnie and the Girls

In addition to breakfast, I also got a proposal from Dale.

Kenra and I in Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Me, Eeyore, Janae & Kenra

Kenra, Rexton & I on Radiator Springs Racers

Dad, Mom, Mater, Me, Rexton and Kenra

The Silhouette of Me and Kenra

'A heroine whom no-one but myself will much like'

'A heroine whom no-one but myself will much like' is how Jane Austen described her character Emma.

Personally, I've never had much patience with Emma. Before yesterday, I didn't think we could be friends, if she was a real person.  In fact, I may have even made a point of telling any one who cared to listen that the reason I read Emma is for the love story between Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill, which I find simultaneously immature, frustrating, complex and sweet.

Well, I had an epiphany yesterday. I am Emma.  The reason her faults bother me is because they are my faults also. For years, I have told people that if I was a Jane Austen character, I would most likely be Anne Elliot or Elinor Dashwood or maybe even Elizabeth Bennett.  But it is with a newly opened eyes, I have to confess I am not any of my favorite Austen characters, I am Emma.

Gentle Reader, let me describe to you how this realization came about. While at a church activity,  I was sitting at a table of new acquaintances making the typical small talk.  A young woman related a story, which to me, was not that interesting of a tale.  In reply, I made a small joke, thinking how clever I was.  And it was genuinely funny.  Several others at the table laughed in appreciation of my wit. However, while my intention was not to offend, my words were not uplifting. In their worst light, they were demeaning. In that moment, I behaved just like Emma when she teases Miss Bates.  I took someone I considered to be silly and mocked her in front of others.

Since this incident, I have been giving myself Mr. Knightley's lecture to Emma.  I know better and I have a duty to treat others with respect. I should build people up, not tear them down.  The last several hours have been spent in uncomfortable analysis of my actions.

In her, and my own, defense,  Emma has many good qualities.  She is a loving daughter, sister and aunt.  She performs charitable works and cares for her friends.  She can be very patient and thoughtful. Alternately, she has a tendency to dismiss those she has no use for.  She can be snobbish, but dislikes snobbery in others.  I could go on, it is almost frightening how many of my least favorite things about Emma are so exactly mirrored in me. Fortunately, Emma has the ability to learn.  She takes what Mr. Knightly tells her and she changes her behavior. She works to repair the harm that was done.

And just like Emma, there is hope for me too.  I do not have a Mr. Knightley of my own, but I do have the gift of the Holy Ghost and a relationship with my Heavenly Father and with Jesus Christ, whereby I can be made aware of my faults and I can overcome them.  I am grateful for the moments where the Lord takes me aside and says, "Mailee, you know better and you could have done better. Repent. I am with you and we will work on fixing this together."

While perfection is a long way off, I do hope to be the heroine of my life story and hopefully, one that others will like.  And today, I make a promise that I will do a little more to be better and say a little prayer of gratitude for the opportunity to grow.

I beg to remain your most humble and obedient servant,
Mailee

It's a Beautiful Day in this Neighborhood . . .

Two things inspired this post: 

First, a friend of mine posted on Facebook about an assignment that she is planning for a class she will be teaching. The assignment is to write a biography of a real or imaginary person and focus on how that person influenced their community for good or ill.  Since reading her post, I have been pondering who I would choose to write that essay on.

Second, March 20th commemorated what would have been Mr. Roger's 86th birthday.  And I have always loved Mr. Rogers. 

So today's post is dedicated to Mr. Rogers.  While this may be a strange blog post for me to write, when I look at some of the shows that people (including me) watch today, I have a longing for the simplicity and sincerity of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

For 31 seasons, he taught us the difference between real and make-believe.  He wanted us to be neighbors and friends.  He introduced us to new things and guided us through childhood challenges, like the first day of school.

And his words continue to comfort us.  Shortly after the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook, articles sprang up across the internet featuring this quote from him:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world.” 

While I do not have a television audience and my circle of influence is considerably smaller, I would hope that I could instill in those around me the idea that they matter to me.  I desire to be the helper, the caring person that others can turn to. 

So, yes, one of my heroes is the host of children's television show, largely because the man I saw on the television screen was real.  Mr. Rogers was not an actor portraying a positive role model for children - he was the person we looked up to both on and off the screen.

So, please won't you be my neighbor?

Mailee 


P.S. If you are interested, here is one of the articles featuring the quote, and it is also where I took the above image from: article link.

How I (nearly) got picked up at a bar . . .

So, as my last post explains, I got to spend four days in San Diego, CA for a work trip and I realized I left one very funny story out of my previous post.

As part of this conference, my work sponsored a mixer at a bar and grill a few blocks from the resort where we stayed. As I was sent on this trip to assist our meeting coordinator, I went with her went to the mixer to make sure everything ran smoothly.  Everyone was given 2 free tickets for drinks.  I politely declined mine and settled in near the food.

My company helps promote electric reliability across the Western U.S. and we answer to several higher powers, one of these higher powers had sent two of their employees to this meeting, so they were included in the mixer.  The one was more mature, very nice and professional.  The second one was in his late 20's or early 30's was single and cocky as all get out.  I'll call him "Ryan."

Towards the end of the evening, (translation, nearly everyone is now 2 alcoholic drinks in) Ryan comes up to me and asks, "Where's your cocktail?"

Here is how the rest of the conversation goes:

Me (with a polite smile): "Oh, I don't drink."

Ryan: "Oh, yeah, I should probably drink less."

Me: (internally) What do I say to that? Yeah, you probably shouldn't drink at all. . . umm, I'll politely nod my head. (Just realized I've used the word polite quite frequently in this post, I hope I was as polite as this indicates)

At this point there is a slight pause in the conversation, just long enough to begin to be awkward.

Ryan: So, where are you from?

Me: Salt Lake

Ryan: (internally, but visible signs of pieces falling into place cross his facial expressions) Doesn't drink . . . from Salt Lake City . . . Snap! This girl is a Mormon!  (out loud) Well, it was nice to meet you. (Forgive the creative license I took here, but I can't actually read minds, so the above is my best interpretation of Ryan's thought process.)

At which point, he proceeds to turn away and walk off.   And that folks, is how I get picked up in a bar.

Have a fabulous Friday!

Enjoy,
Mailee

San Diego and back again. . .

So, I've clearly neglected my new creation.  But now I'm back and I want to share just a couple highlights of my work trip to San Diego the last week of January.

So my company offers conferences and because I help process the payments for the attendees, I got to go to this one.

It was great to get out of snowy Salt Lake and spend a few days in San Diego.  It was kind of cold and foggy most of the time we were there, but I had a couple nice afternoons and at least it was not snowing.

We stayed at the Bahia on Mission Bay. Here is my view from my hotel room and another angle of the same spot.

 The Bahia has 2 rescue seals that live at the resort.  Both are essentially blind and can't survive in the wild.  They were fun to visit as I went back and forth from my room to the conference room.

Here is one of my better selfie attempts:

Of course I loved getting to walk on the sand and my co-worker and I walked everywhere we went. The second to last day we were there, my co-worker told me to take a long lunch, so I went to the beach. I played in the ocean and I got kind of wet (okay, really wet, like so wet that I turned the heater on in my hotel room, so that my only pair of jeans I took with me would be dry by the time I was out of the meeting.)

This bird came and landed in the seal pond one afternoon and he was there all day.  Just hanging out. I can't say I blame him :).


So there are some of the photos from my trip.  I promise that future posts won't be so long in coming!

Enjoy,
Mailee

It's Officially Here. . . My very first blog post

Well, it has been a long time coming . . . this blog of mine.  I've put it off and then decided against it and then started the whole cycle of considering it over again.

I will start off  by explaining the title, especially since several of you know the great importance I placed  in naming this little creation of mine. And no, this isn't going to be my descriptions of outdoor locations or adventures, although I do hope a few of those will someday grace its posts. 

This blog is a place for me to share life events and what I think and feel and how, perhaps, metaphorically, I am a "prettyish kind of a wilderness." For those of you who feel you've seen that phrase somewhere before or find yourselves saying it in a posh British accent, you are right. I purloined the phrase from Jane Austen. Although when reading Pride and Prejudice, I imagine Lady Catherine de Bourgh saying these words with contempt, the phrase has always tripped along nicely in my mind.  So when I was recently pondering how my life hasn't turned out as I planned, I began thinking of how sometimes we look for beauty in the wrong places or overlook joy because it isn't what we expected. My imagined life was an orderly garden with beautifully kept hedges and roses.  What I am really is no less wonderful, if perhaps, consisting more of daisies than roses and a little more scattered than neatly planted. So here I am, a prettyish kind of a wilderness and I'm ready to share a little bit of joy and goodness with the world and I hope you'll join me on this journey.