Time in Zion

I thus far have survived the trip to Utah and it actually has been a lot of fun. Yes, the mountains continue to be awe-inspiring and my drive to Cache Valley, about 75 miles northeast of Salt Lake certainly was a highlight. The weather was warm for them, pleasant for me: 95ish. And now, back to the record-broken city of Austin.

Driving out of Cache Valley

Time with my brother and his family proved wonderful. I had nieces crawling all over me, requesting to sit by me, and not asking to dive bomb off the couch on top of me. Bliss! Had take out from China Platter, my favorite Chinese in Bountiful, but I forgot to request no MSG and never fessed up...Mom, consider this my confession. Just let me know how many Hail Marys (can I substitute a Bloody Mary instead?).

Love these girls

Couldn't you just eat her??

The Game Of The Year occurred last night, with a wild mega game of Ticket to Ride. I won. Am I a bad houseguest or what? However, I loved catching up and eating burgers and Utah Sweet Corn at the kitchen counter with my parents. And sleeping with the window open. The mornings were gorgeous.

Utah Sweet Corn - mmmmm!

The Owl helping me.

Intense!

Mega Ticket To Ride Game!!!

Mom, breasting her cards.

Today, I had an early meeting after dropping my Dad off at work, and it was over early...so a perfect time to drop in on Ryan's parents! They we in the middle of a picture hanging project and I loved helping out. I even got to chat with their German neighbor Harold. His life story is incredible: born to an abusive mother, his father an abusive German soldier who never returned from Italy, he later left the East German army and escaped to West Germany. The story goes on, from a month of interrogation from all the West Germany protectorates, to two weeks in a castle in the Black Forest, to being the only non-military passenger on a battleship headed for New York.  he bought a bus ticket to Utah and has lived there ever since.  He calls everyone "Baby" and is a eternal joker. We traded words in German, Italian and he even pulled out a few Russian words too.

Me and Sandy at Crown Burgers

The parentals treated me to Crown Burgers, where I gorged on Fry Sauce and Onion Rings. Fry Sauce is a godsend. Then, off to the airport for my flight. I'm somewhere in Texas, high up, and excited to be home and then return to the road with my hubby.

P.s. I am still loving the packing cubes. It made this morning a cinch although I do have to bend the corners on one side down into the pack to make it form...I don't think this is a permanently bad thing but it does bend the corners of the plastic backing a bit.

Ciao!!