Fur Activist on Fire

This happened just outside my office yesterday:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/man_apparently_tries_to_burn_h.html

It's a link to the story about the fur activist that lit himself on fire, ran around the streets yelling that "animals are dying!!", tried to get into the fur shop but found it was locked, and then eventually burned to death. Crazy

This is a picture of the crime scene. If you click on the picture, you should be able to see his shoe, just before the cone on the left.

First Day of Work

I had my first full day of work last Friday so I thought I should write down some of the memories. For those who have not heard, I'm working as a financial representative with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in downtown Portland. Who wants some more life insurance?
I'll do it in bullet format, even though I'll still probably write in paragraphs...

• So I planned to go in Thursday for my first day, but it didn't work out the way you want your first day to go. As I pulled into downtown, the street lights were not working. I didn't really think anything of it. I find a parking lot and pay the $8.50 to park all day. Ouch. I then walked into the building where there were about 20 people just standing in the lobby. Power was out in our grid due to the wind storm the night before. I don't recognize anyone but I stand around and wait for about 10 minutes to see if I will find a familiar face. Nope. So I head back out to my car and wait inside to wait and see if it comes back. At 9:00 I decide to call Jim and see what the story is. He forgot that I was going to start that day so I was not included on the call list. He told me to head home. So much for my $8.50.

• Friday I decide to try out the MAX line that starts just down the road at the Clackamas Town Center and goes all the way into downtown. I just missed the 7:45 train so I sat down and took the 8:00 one. I sat there reading the book that Jeri recommended, the Hunger Games. I was enveloped in the book when someone came and sat next to me, asking, "pretty good book?" My initial thought was I can't believe someone is engaging me in conversation this early in the morning. I looked up and to my surprise it was Joel. He left the house after I did but because I barely missed the previous train, we ended up riding in together. It's a good thing too because I honestly had no idea where to get off and he helped guide me when we arrived.

• For lunch I decided to try the taco stand out in the parking lot because I had heard good things. I ordered my burrito and as she was about to hand me my bag, she asked if I wanted hot sauce. I said yes and then she wanted to know if I wanted the green or red sauce, as she was just about to put the green sauce in the bag anyway. I said red and then she gave me a look that I recognized. It was a look I had been given while I was in Mexico as a teenager. I had asked for hot sauce when we were at a restaurant and the guy looked me up and down, trying to get a confirmation of what I had just asked. I figured I could handle "Del Scorcho", why couldn't I handle this hot sauce at this taqueria. He asked if I really wanted it and I said yes and then he just kind of laughed and put it in my tacos. My mouth burned for about an hour. Nothing could extinguish the pain. Anyways, this lady gave me a similar look when I asked for the red sauce. When I got back, I put it on a few bites and it was definitely very strong, although not as strong as the prior incident.

• As I waited for the MAX on my way home, I moved off of the sidewalk to get closer to a few stores that were partially underground, so they had an overhang. This way, I could avoid the rain. I made contact with a guy walking up on the sidewalk, big trench coat and carrying a big bag. He said hello and so did I. He took a few more steps, looked at me, then back tracked so he could get around the fence and come stand next to me. It made me a little nervous because it's always hard dealing with crazies. He stood right next to me for a second, then looked over and said hello again. After a few seconds of pure awkwardness, he began to speak up.
  
• He proceeded to tell me that he worked for a church, was trying to put together some money for a mission trip, and then straight up asked me if I had $1,000 that I could give him. As you can imagine, I was completely shocked by his initial asking price. Usually they'll ask for a few bucks, but not this guy. My next thought was that I was actually a little flattered. I mean, I did look like a million bucks, with my new suit and all, why wouldn't this guy ask for a grand. I then told him straight up that I didn't have any money, that it was actually my first day at a job that strictly pays on commission. He then asked what I did and I told him. We stood there for a moment and he broke the silence by asking if I didn't have like 5 bucks or anything.
  
• I then asked him where he wanted to take his mission trip. He said the United States, but there were also a few international ones. I asked where those were. He mumbled for a little bit and then said there was one in Japan. I told him that my Dad was a missionary in Japan for a little bit. He asked with what church and I told him The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He thought for about two seconds and then it clicked. He rambled on for the next three minutes, hitting these points: well, your Dad has probably done a lot for you, but you know, there is God, you know, and Jesus, he's the way, truth, and the life, and 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and there is the Bible and you should read it, and follow Jesus, you know you can repent..I'm sure your Dad is a good guy but you know I think you should join a good Baptist church and don't ever read the Book of Mormon!
• I was about to give him the quarter in my pocket because he quoted a scripture but then he just had to throw in that last part. I learned though that he was actually coherent and he recognized the name of the church when I said it. The train was pulling up so I told him I had to go and he wished me well on the way, asking that I remember the principle of repentance.
• UPDATE: I actually saw this guy again today while I was on my way home. He was hanging out at one of the stops and I noticed him. I waited for the doors to close before I waved. He gave me a confused look and then he at least pretended to remember who I was and he waved back. Kind of fun.

On a complete side note, we went to Target tonight to register for the baby shower. I have honestly never felt more lost than when we first started looking at the stuff we needed. I have no idea what to get so I was very little help.

Christmas Week in Utah

We flew into SLC on Christmas Eve and made the drive down to Highland, got there about 8 p.m. They waited for us before they ate dinner so that was very nice. We actually opened our presents that night because we wanted to get an early start on Christmas morning so we wouldn't miss the aebleskivers. My parents gave us a webcam so they can see their grandson when he arrives here in a little over two months. Look us up on skype or google video if you want to chat.

Christmas day was awesome, as it always is. We had the big Emmett party that night. I stole the following pictures from my Grandpa (thanks for taking them)

Here we are, dominating the sing-a-long

The next Monday, for family home evening, we went to the In-N-Out in American Fork. I couldn't resist putting up this picture of Lily going to town on her drink.

After the snowstorm in the middle of the week, we decided to go skiing at Snowbird on Thursday. It was nice and sunny with some pretty good powder. I went with my Dad, John, Michael, Tashina, and Kristin's poles and we all had a great time.

Here is Tashina, trying to show future in-laws that she can hang. She did an awesome job.

After a long day of skiing, nothing like coming home and hopping on a sled and going down the man-made hill in the backyard with your pregnant wife.

Yee-hah!

There goes Mom, always gunning for the tree!

Video of Mom and Jack almost running into the tree.



What's the rule on sledding while pregnant?

Week in Portland

We moved. Here is a picture of the van as we were wrapping up. It went pretty fast once we got the couch out of the apartment, it took us about 10 minutes to figure out how to angle it.

Action shot of driving the moving truck

We got to Portland that Saturday after classes and then went to Zoo Lights at the Portland Zoo that night. They keep the zoo open at night and set up animal light displays all over the zoo. Charlie, as seen above, is always on top of the video camera.

Jeri and Aurora

Jackie getting some action

It was freezing that night so the hot chocolate came in handy

I tried to get a picture with the bird...

...but the girls were a lot more successful

A shot of the African set up

I love hippos

Getting some Daddy practice with my nephew Benjamin

On Monday we had Family Home Evening and Charlie presented everyone with the gift he has been working on for the past couple of months. In September, he had us take the following pictures. We didn't know what exactly what he was up to. He had me take a picture holding a bowl.

And this is what he turned me into:

Aladdin, my true identity. He created an entire book with everyone drawn as a fairy tale character. Here is the picture of Jackie that we sent:

He turned her into Goldilocks. He also asked us to take a picture of Jackie holding her belly.

He wanted to incorporate the baby in the book so this picture represents the mother in Rumpelstiltskin and her "first born child". Pretty creative. I love this picture though, I have such a beautiful wife.

This video is of the sweetest display at Zoo Lights.