When Fall comes to New England...

Goal #27: Visit Maine in the Autumn. Check.




















Above: Nubble Lighthouse: Cape Neddick, ME















(This picture taken from the tower at Mount Auburn cemetary)

Several of my friends have moved to Boston over the past 5 years. Two remain, and I finally bought a ticket to visit them and the region of the United States that I have been most passionate about seeing. The result: A sudden understanding of why people are drawn to the area. It's beautiful! ...A city of history, education, sports, museums, beauty and good people. Though it's a big city it doesn't feel as crazy as New York or LA. There is an endless supply of places to visit and things to see, and it only leaves you wanting more. If my work allowed for a leave of absence (which it doesn't), I would probably move out for a few months next year. I guess I'll settle for a week-long visit again... hopefully next fall. It was the perfect time to go.

Dre (Andrea) and Shells (Shelly) took time out of their packed lives to spend the weekend with me. We went to Salem, Walden, Mount Auburn, saw some of the Head of the Charles rowing competition, and went to Trader Joe's (sure, it's a grocery store, but when I don't have one where I live it becomes my own idea of a good tourist trap). I saw all but one the main sites on the famous FreedomTrail in Boston (but didn't have my camera) and also went to Concord on my own.




















Shelly, Andrea, and I in front of (though you can't tell) the Boston LDS temple




















A slightly better picture of the temple















Dre and I in Salem with the customary Sox fan in the background
















Me at the Head of the Charles rowing competition















Walden Pond. I voted this my favorite spot of the year.

















I joined up with a couple new friends yesterday. Christie is Andrea's wedding photographer who was out here taking Dre's bridal pics, and I was reaquainted with Jen whom I had originally met when we both lived in Sugarhouse. We went to a beach town in Maine (Ogunquit) and another beachtown in Massachusetts (Rockport). The drive was amazing. The autumn colors were breathtaking, and we topped it off with a great lunch at a waterfront restaurant.





















At the beach in Rockport, MA

Thanks to Dre and Shells for taking me around and giving me a place to stay on a very comfortable air mattress. It was a fantastic and refreshing vacation.

Good times and more good times

I haven't posted anything here for a bit mostly because I haven't been online too much... so here are the key updates:

Last Saturday (September 27th) was a packed and fantastic day... I went to the farmer's market, then to the Bodyworlds exhibit downtown at the Leonardo. That was an amazing exhibit and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to gain a greater appreciation for just how miraculous the human body is. It was literally awesome. Then we went to eat at Settebello's, an authentic Italian pizza place downtown. It was excellent. Follow that with the General Relief Society broadcast including one of my favorite talks ever: the one on Happiness by President Uchtdorf. And last we had a combined birthday party for me, Christian, and Heidi and Loni (our birthdays are all within 5 days of each other). It was a great day. Here's the one picture I have from the day:















This weekend was general conference. I love conference weekend. I treat it as kind of an oasis. Sure, it's 8 hours of talks, but I don't have to get dressed up or go to church. I can hang out at home and listen to the talks. It was a very inspiring conference listening to the words of the prophets and apostles. I truly enjoyed it and was actually sad when it ended knowing it wouldn't happen again until next April. At least I can re-read and study these talks in the meantime.