Sunday, September 13, 2009

How 'bout a little fire, Scarecrow?

Last night April and I walked down to City Hall to watch one of my all time favorite movies; The Wizard of Oz.  The Wizard of Oz was filmed at Sony Studios (formerly MGM) just down the street from our apartment.  To celebrate the 70th anniversary of its release the city put on a free screening of the film as part of the Made in Culver City series.
Judy Garland's son was there, which was cool enough.  But even better, Jerry Maren, one of the original Munchkins showed up.  He was the leader of the Lollypop Guild and was the one who gave the giant lollypop to Dorothy.   
Maren talked about what it was like shooting the movie in Culver City back in the 1930's and shared some stories about hanging out in the Culver Hotel with all the other Munchkins. It was the largest gathering of little people in history and their hijinks there are the stuff of legend.
But it gets even better.  Maren actually performed the Lollypop Guild song and dance on the stage for us.  I'm so glad I brought my camera.


It's really fun to have all this stuff right here in Culver City.
There's no place like home.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

You've Got it in Print

Steven got his law school diploma this week.  For a graduation gift, I got him a frame to put it in. Since we had to wait for the actual diploma to get mailed, it's just been an empty frame on the wall. Well, no more!  Everything else we've said about law school and graduation was inadmissable heresay, but Steve has graduated from law school and now we have proof!!!

My favorite part about getting the diploma (other than the fact that it means Steve did, in fact, graduate and having something to put in the frame) is that now we have Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph:
Update by Steve:  I have to add that Arnold is not the only celebrity to sign my diploma.  My law school dean, Dean Schill, was (unwittingly) on The Daily Show.  He was interviewed as part of one of the show's mock news segments.  Here's the video. I should warn you that there is some crude language, though the worst offenders are bleeped.  Dean Schill appears about 2 minutes and 45 seconds into the clip.
I think he did an excellent job.  When the interviewer started getting offensive, he told him so and then ended the interview instead of letting himself fall into the trap like so many Sacha Baron Cohen victims.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Donovan, Cortney, and Elinor visit

Donovan, Cortney, and Elinor came down to spend this last weekend with us here in SoCal. We spent all day Friday and all day Saturday at the beach in what were, weather wise, the best two beach days I've ever experienced. 
[Ok fine, I cheated.  These first two pics are from last year.  If April were'nt pregnant I would have gotten away with it too]  

Below you can see the ladies hanging out at Dockweiler this year.  We also hit up Topanga Canyon Beach and Ocean Park.
Elinor as a mermaid.
On Friday we made one sweet sandcastle.  
"Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
And here is what an hour of waves did to our effort. 

 "Nothing beside remains Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away."


Sunday, August 23, 2009

Stuck!!!

I've been meaning to post these pictures forever because they are just too funny.

Kiki likes to sit next to my side of the bed when we're reading scriptures. One night, she climbed partially under the bed. She started whining and barking when we asked her to go to her kennel, and we couldn't figure out why until we saw that she was stuck. Maybe she should lay off the doughnuts for awhile!!!  I felt bad that she couldn't get out, but we just had to take pictures before helping her out!



Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Hebgen

Along with President Obama, April and I decided to spend this last week in Southwestern Montana, which I’m sure the President would agree, is the most beautiful place in the world.

On Wednesday April, Nike, and I took the little boat down the Madison Arm to hike up to the Horse Butte Ranger Tower.


The Ghost of The Big Shee Wun even came and visited its old dock.

The Captain’s word is law.

 We spent two nights out at the beach watching the Perseid Meteor Shower and we were even treated one night to some faint Northern Lights. 

 Nike loved going on boat rides.

And exploring in the canoe.

On Saturday a group of us assembled on Observation Point to see President Obama fly out of the West Yellowstone Airport. Alas, we were foiled by the Secret Service and Air Force One took off twenty minutes early.  But the view was spectacular as always.

Here's the Obama-watching-party just about to be disappointed.

 To console ourselves we drove up the Contour Road and blew some clay pigeons out of the sky (don’t worry, Air force One was clear out of range).

 There is nothing better than a conversation after huckleberry pancakes, bacon, and fried eggs.

Yep, the most beautiful place in the world.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Dodger Day III


On Thursday April and I attended Mormon Dodger night for the third year in a row. Of course we sat in the all-you-can-eat section. This year April tied me in the category of total Dodger Dogs consumed, but I left her in the dust with nachos and popcorn.


The Dodgers hold a Mormon Night every year. They do the same for a host of other churches and organizations but Mormon Night is always the biggest. The church gets discount tickets and a portion of the proceeds goes to the Missionary Fund.


Elder Ballard threw out ceremonial the first pitch. Here he is walking back in.

And Olympic gold medalist Peter Vidmar threw the ceremonial “second pitch.”

This was probably our last event with the UCLA Ward. We'll miss everyone.

Yeah, it's a fake

On being lucky and stupid.

h/t: Times and Seasons.


See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

It's gotta be fake.