Leaving

I finally finished Reading Lolita in Tehran. It really was a very interesting read, although not for the faint of heart. I think I read three other books over the course of reading just this one. Anyway, I want to share just one small quote from near the end of the book during the time the author is getting ready to leave Tehran. I just liked the way she summed up, so succinctly, these kind of experiences in life.

You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again.

The Passion of Sister Dottie S. Dixion

After hearing on the radio an advertisement for this show, something along the lines of "Sister Dottie S. Dixon, bridging the gap between the LDS and gay communities one casserole at a time", I knew this was a show I could not miss! I promptly got tickets and enjoyed "The Passion" today, along with a healthy dose of poorly played primary songs, hymns and patriotic tunes, thanks to Dottie's friend Dartsey FoxMoreland.

This show is a one woman (er...man?) show with Dottie played by Charles Lynn Frost. It depicts her journey growing up as a 10th generation Mormon, marrying in the LDS temple, raising their child Donny (who comes out to his parents at age 16), and ultimately dealing with her deep alliances to and love of both her gay son and the LDS church. She believes she has received a calling from the Lord to bring together the LDS and gay communities by the year 2012 and promptly begins in the only way she knows how (by cooking a casserole for each of the Apostles and the First Presidency of course!). The show was equal parts humerous, sincere and serious with one of my favorite moments being her depiction of driving to Nevada to play the nickle slots with her friend Dartsey only to have the car breakdown on the way there. Of course they knelt down and prayed for help, first asking for forgiveness (although they hadn't really sinned yet and they were, after all, only going to play nickels) and then asking for the Lord to start their car so she could complete her newly found calling.

In the end the message of the show really was that every person's journey to God is a deeply personal one and that no one can follow the same path as another. You could tell that most of the audience members connected to the show on a very personal level and could easily relate to the experiences of this mother. The show gave each person there the recipe to living an authentic life with the key ingredients being to be true to themselves, stand up for what they believe is right, be courageous in the fight and finally to add in a can of Cream of Mushroom soup!

I loved this quote that she continually referred to as well:

"Well behaved women seldom make history."

I also about died when she was wondering how her son could be gay, after all he had grown up doing all the right LDS things and singing all the LDS songs, including "I'm a Mormon, yes I am".

In honor of this fantastic show and my childhood memories growing up LDS, here's a link to all those great songs on the "I'm a Mormon" record by Janeen Brady! Go ahead, sing along...I won't tell! =)

Something Other Than the Olive Garden

Okay, folks. After one too many of my friends have told me how they came downtown and went to the Olive Garden before such and such event, I feel it my duty, to step in, and give you all some advice on the many other options you have for dining in Salt Lake City! Friends!! If you are coming downtown, I implore you to try something new, and enjoy all the various options you have when dining in the city! To that end, here are some of my local favs (along with my favorite dishes)! Try them out! You won't be disappointed.

Bruges Waffles
This place just opened across from Pioneer Park. I know what you are thinking but it is actually a really nice place to hang out in during the day. Trust me. Bruges makes the best waffle I have ever had. Ever. Even compared to Waffle House waffles (and those of you who have tried Waffle House waffles will know what i mean) Anyway, back to Bruges, their waffles are more like dessert tho, so to round out the meal I suggest getting some of their tasty Frites (french fries). Thats at least two food groups, right?

Banbury Cross
The best donuts in town. Hands down. Try a cinnamon one or a bear claw. Delicious!

ACME Burgers
Everything is good at ACME! Everything. It is a great place to go for Sunday Brunch. My favorite dish being the Rabanada French Toast - think, churros for breakfast. But not a bad idea to split that with someone who is getting something a little less sweet, like possibly the Frittata.

For lunch or dinner they have amazing burgers and amazing everything else. My fav is the ABC Mini (a small burger) with sweet potato fries. If you want to go all out try their Cheese and Beer Fondue with Zuchinni sticks as an appetizer. Also, the bread pudding is a tasty dessert.

Settabello
Settabello serves Napoli style pizza (very thin crust) that is light and yummy. They use the finest imported ingredients and everything is cooked in minutes in their wood fire brick oven. My favorite pizza is the Margherita. If you are planning on sharing the pizza, then you may want to get a salad as well. I recommend the Caprese salad (fresh tomatoes and mozzerella covered in olive oil).

Red Rock
Right next door to Settabello is another Salt Lake staple. Apparently they make great beer but I tend to favor their homemade rootbeer! Everything I have tried there is good so you really cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Their dark chocolate cake, tho, is perhaps the best reason to go.

Blue Iguana
Great, fresh mexican food. Salt Lake also offers the Red Iguana on North Temple, but I like the way the Blue Iquana prepares my favorite dish, the Enchiladas Suiza.

Thaifoon
Thaifoon serves Thai and Chinese dishes and the dishes are fresh and original. My favorite is the Sizzling Beef w/Asparagus. If you know someone who doesn't think they like Chinese food, have them try this dish and they may just change their mind. Also good are their coconut shrimp and their tasty chocolate volcano dessert.

The Bakery
All around best desserts. Tons of options and they are open late (I think 9 pm). They also have a good lunch and dinner menu but really, its the desserts. They are amazing and plentiful.

Ben's Cookies
Best cookies in town. They close at 9-ish (really, that's is what it says on the door) so go before the show to pick out some treats for intermission or for afterwards. Its at the Gateway so parking can be a bit tricky, if you are driving with someone, I recommend dropping them off and let them run in and get the cookies while you drive around the block. Yeah, I know, probably more than you needed to know, but I just don't want anyone to miss out on the yummyness that is Ben's Cookies because they couldn't find a convenient parking place!

Belief-o-Matic

I tried this out and found the results interesting and somewhat entertaining. I wasn't surprised my beliefs most closely fit with the Unitarian Universalists but what exactly is a "Liberal Quaker?" Isn't that an oxymoron? Anyway, if you try it out, post a comment with your "scores"!

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (98%)
3. Reform Judaism (96%)
7. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (79%)
8. Mahayana Buddhism (75%)
9. Secular Humanism (70%)
14. Scientology (62%)
18. Islam (58%)
19. Hinduism (49%)
23. Seventh Day Adventist (31%)
24. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (28%)
26. Roman Catholic (20%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (13%)

A Day In the City

So I'm standing in front of three African young women in the Starbucks line today...I was intrigued and couldn't help listening in on their conversation... Here are a couple of the interesting fun quotes from that conversation (From what I could gather it seemed they were somewhat recent immigrants from Africa)

"Everyday is Mother's day [in America] for women from Kenya"

In looking at the Ethos water bottle ...."Rural Kenya? Where is that? It says the sale of the water benefits the children in Rural Kenya...." Which just struck me as funny, since it seems they were from there and were trying to figure out where, exactly, rural Kenya was...

"The Arabs have all the money, and we ended up in America!"

Then on my way home another random guy on the streets wished me a Happy Mothers day. Which was almost as good as last week when another random guy passed me and said "Hey Baby, what's goin on?"