Bible Bashing and ROBERT!!!

So the last couple days have been busy and eventful to say the least. The next day (28th) after my flight was cancelled I flew out from Salt Lake City to Minneapolis, on it I was seated next to a Episcopalian Pastors wife (Jenny) and a Pentecostal Pastors son (Ken) who were very eager to "save me" so to speak. They were very genuine and sweet in their efforts to save my soul, feeling like we were meant to meet on this airplane. Little did they know what they asked for when they began our conversation. None of their arguments (and they were attempting to prove to me my church was wrong) were very solid, and I found that they simply ignored much of what I had to say. They repeated that I was a good person, and very "believable", by the end of the conversation Ken was convinced that I was sent by the devil to tempt him into believing the Church (he said I'd almost convinced him). I wasn't trying to convince anyone of anything, mostly I just wanted them to understand that I loved my church and there wasn't another one for me. I promised Jenny that I would read the book of John and Romans with her over the next month (even though I have read them several times before and mentioned this to her), and I am hoping that if I do this for her she will read some of the Book of Mormon for me (we exchanged e-mails). After an entire 2.5 hours was spent arguing, our flight was over I felt exhausted but happy about the interaction.

When I got on my next flight I got an AWESOME surprise, I was in first class on my flight from Minneapolis to DC. And when they say first class they mean it, I felt like I was royalty or something. A small cloth for my tray was laid down for me, I had a complimentary feast of beef, potatoes, bread sticks, fruit etc, I was drinking from a glass, they gave us a warm towel (for what I don't know, I politely declined), and served everything to us like we were at a restaurant. With the extra leg room, pillow, blanket and my book I was one happy little queen let me tell you- I LOVE Delta. After I landed I got in my first cab, my cabby was Pakistani and did not speak English, which worried me at first but I got here safely and he didn't try to cheat me at all by taking unnecessary turns. My apartment is wonderful!! You can see the pentagon from my window, the living room is huge and I am in the master bedroom!!

My first day in DC we rode the metro to the National Mall (where the Smithsonian, Washington Monument, Capital Building etc is) and at one of our stops something interesting happened. Someone was robbed. What I saw was a little boy, about 10, sprint through the metro station we were at, he was followed by a black woman carrying a heavy backpack who was trying to catch him, who was followed by a white lady speed walking to try to catch the little kid-she was screaming "Robert!! Robert!!" or at least thats what I thought. I found out soon after she was yelling robber and had been robbed. (Sidenote the DC metro is very safe, this was an unusual occurrence). I know I shouldn't find it too funny, but I really did watching the line of people try to plow through after this speedy little dude made me chuckle. After arriving at the National Mall we went to the National Gallery of Art! It was fun, my favorite part was seeing the Genevere De something, its a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, the only one in fact that he painted in the United States. I also have since visited the Library of Congress, ate lunch at the Union Station and taken pictures outside the Capitol Building (we plan on touring it soon).

Good Ole Irene

Well hello there ladies and gents, and welcome to my brand new blog. Today was my scheduled flight to DC however it has been (wait for it.....drum roll.....)CANCELLED! I flew from California to SLC for a 30 minute lay over. After boarding the plane that was to take me to Washington D.C. the pilot was notified that Good Ole Irene (aka the hurricane sweeping the east coast) had increased in intensity and we would be unable to fly there safely.We exited the plane and I proceeded to reschedule my flight, I will be leaving tomorrow at 2:15pm and arriving in DC around 10:30pm east coast time. Here comes the great part though, I am in SALT LAKE! At first I was worried but luckily I have two AWESOME friends who live in Salt Lake. Brittany rode to my rescue in her deep blue ride (aka the Van) and I will be staying with them for the evening. Everything worked out really well, now I get to say goodbye to the Gevas's (previously I was unable to do so because of conflicting schedules), I have a bed to sleep in, food to eat and I will have a packed lunch for the trip tomorrow! Plus I am surrounded by sweet little girls who love giving hugs and tickles (Katie and Ella, Britts two little girls who are ADORABLE!) I was also able to witness (as I people watched and awaited my hero at the airport) several reunions. I witnessed a missionary return from South America. A woman arrive home from the military (her entire family awaited her including her husband who gave her a yellow rose and was dressed to kill), a newlywed couple reunite after a long trip apart, and quite a few dads returning home to their small but sweet little families (both were greeted by their daughters with a run and jump!). Each was unique and special, and while it may have been slightly creepy of me it was neat to see so much love in my one little corner of the airport.



After a 5 hour nap on the Gevas couch, they took me out to the Spaghetti Factory for dinner and it was AWESOME! I had no idea the decor was so cool, it felt like old italy or a mob bosses house (because they are easily interchangeable haha). There was a trolly in the center of the restaurant, mismatched chairs and awesome chandeliers. Needless to say it was pretty amazing. Add that to the delicious clam sauced pasta I devoured (I was previously too nervous about the trip to eat so it had been a good 14-15 waking hours since I'd eaten), and the FREE glass I got with my dinner I am one happy camper.

Well, bye for now! Next time you hear from me I will hopefully have arrived safely in Washington DC and maybe I will even get to witness the tail end of Good Ole Irene, my very first hurricane experience (gotta love those hurricanes!).