vague recollections

-I have an absolute ton to write about today, so if you don't have time for this, please refrain from reading this, since I don't want to be responsible for anything bad(actually, I don't really feel like being responsible for anything in my tired, jet-lagged, sorry state- I very much would like to go to bed, especially after I almost fell asleep where I stood while passing the sacrament and had to regain what was left of my composure in front of what I'm sure were many mental "boo, kid- BOO!"'s.). As you can see, this might also prove to be too weighty and dull for anyone to read.

-On that cheerful note, I would like to continue going through the motions. Thanks for all your comments, by the way- it's always been a little frustrating to hear that someone read your blog,but didn't know what to say, hence obliterating all proof that they actually took anything in after all. Even if you have nothing to say or think you might have something to say but fear that it might be terribly insulting, you can always just give it a try and see just what my reaction is. And, even if I am terribly insulted, chances are that I appreciate it anyway and do not quite want to throttle you, even if I do tell you that I'm never talking to you again.

-I know you've all been waiting for an editorial on my trip with Uncle nige(or at least everyone I've seen lately wants to hear)Also, keep in mind that I haven't written much for a long time, so this is really just me getting it all out of my system. Here goes:

On Thursday, I get home needing to do the route, homework, and also having not thought a single bit about packing or preparing for the trip. I rushed through the route, my homework, and then got to the packing. I had to copy an entire chapter out of my health book, and another 20 or so pages of Saxon math. I then proceeded to find all of my clothes, toiletries, and miscellaneous junk. I had been talking to mom earlier and she had told me that luggage that you checked was likely to dissipate, so I packed my homework, my books, the contents of my underwear/sock drawer, all my toiletry stuff, and my suit into my little backpack- I didn't know that suits wrinkled prior to leaving and Uncle Nigel let out a gasp of horror at what I had done(luckily, the suit is pure polyester and almost bulletproof) to my poor suit. The suit was fine, and I am sure that that was the least of it's overall ordeals. I then stuffed all my clothes that were fit to wear in public into the little suitcase that I got from Grandma when I was just turning 3. I had to jump on it to get my Sunday shoes in. Then Dad puts my vacuum-packed baggage into the car, and we zoom over to Grandma's. Grandma, Grandpa, and I take the Highlander to Spokane for the night and get a hotel room there. We wait throughout the night for 4:45 A.M. to come around.
On Friday, I go to the airport, register along with the long line of grumpy people, take all my stuff off, get patted down by a groggy-yet-gruff customs official, and...sit for half an hour. Then, I fly to Rochester. I'm skipping an entire day here, so I will tell you the most interesting part of the day, this being when an elderly African-American man took me to the basement. I sat in the basement while two other elderly people chatted with him in an unrecognizable language. Then they took me to an abandoned bus on the flight ground and drove us all to my gate. It was a strange experience, being on the flight ground, although it did not make me want to work there- it looked extremely boring. Come to think of it, it also looked like there was nothing actually going on, just a bunch of people driving around and yelling at nobody in particular about nothing in particular. When I got to Rochester, it was just having it's first snow and looked pretty, especially from the airplane when we were on the final approach. Uncle Nigel, gillian, and Jonathan were waiting for me at the airport. We drove to Aunt Gillian's, and I thought they had a great apartment, according to my experience with apartments, which is closer to nil than I'm usually willing to admit. I slept on the couch.
On Saturday, we went to all the church history sites. I don't really have much to say on this topic, except for that I wondered how there could be any sweet birds singing in the sacred grove- it's pretty darn cold there. Otherwise, the only things that they don't all talk about s the printer's shop. They made me realize there that printing just one book was extremely tedious, painstaking work to be doing- especially in the hot summer hours.
On Sunday, we realized that we needed to get out on the roads ASAP to beat the snow. We do, and listen to the first Saturday session of last General Conference on the way to Vermont. I really don't remember what we did after that, so I'll skip to the next day.
On Monday, I waited at home while Uncle Nige did his interview at Dartmouth. Then, we went to the Dartmouth campus, looked at where he interviewed, and then went to a chocolate store nestled into the side of a mini mall. It turned out that the lady's family had been running chocolate stores in England for generations. We got some chocolate, then went to Ben & Jerry's. Then, we went to go find an art school to see if there was an attached museum- there wasn't. after that, we went to this rather enticing store called the Price Chopper. It lived up to it's name, selling seafood dip for only 99 cents and shrimp for only six bucks a dish. We bought up to half our limits, then brought it all home and chowed down while watching half of Gettysburg. I was too full to eat my shrimp, but otherwise we had a great time.
On Tuesday, we drove to Portland. We went to the hotel, which had a marginal view of the sea, among many other perks. We went outside to case the joint, walked stiffly around, and then went back inside. After that, we simply crashed onto our beds for the night.
On Wednesday, we went to the art museum right next to our hotel. It had a variety of things, including Picasso and a little Monet. When we were done there,we walked again out into the wild dirty white yonder. We walked all the way to the waterfront, then walk(again, very stiffly because of overpowering wind and cold) into the restaurant. It was a great place, with plenty of business even in the off season. I named the lobster Bob, after our server. Our server was very friendly, and was the one who showed us how to eat lobster. I ordered shrimp, and Uncle Nige got two lobsters, one Bob and the other remaining anonymous as it was the one I had to eat. We ate the lobster, which I'm sure was the freshest lobster you can get. I liked it and the shrimp, although it's hard not to look at poor Bob as you're chewing. Afterwards, we were walking home and happened upon a Cold Stone Creamery, one of those places where they add in all the condiments right in front of you. It was great ice cream, even if it did taste like Bob. After eating our monster-sized Bob-flavored ice creams, we walked home in the slush and fell asleep.
On Thursday, we drove to Burlington, Vermont after Uncle Nigel's interview at Maine Medical center. We also went to dinner with the current residents in Burlington. I learned much in the way of residency that night, and also found out that I like Cajun spices on chicken.
On Friday, Uncle Nige went to his interview. By the time he was done, it was already the afternoon.We started out driving at about noon, visited the Joseph Smith Birthplace-did you know that the largest polished pillar of granite in the world is located there as a monument? And that they put it up in 1904?- we then drove for a while more, ate, and drove again to Rochester. On the way, we saw a city sign labeled, "Scott's Sweets" and "Stewart's candy". We laughed a bit about that once we got to the Bowman's house, then I said goodbye and went to bed.
On Saturday, I got up at four and went over the whole ordeal once again. My parents picked me up, zoomed me over to Pullman, gathered all the kids together, attended Eric's baptism, then rushed to Moscow to make potatoes for the Ward Christmas Party. We went to the party, dragged ourselves back while half asleep, and whit the sack completely exhausted.

-So there you have it- my entire week, laid out in front of you. It was all a bit hazy in my head, so it's not in perfect chronological order, but I'm sure you're too tired of my writing to really care. Thanks for reading my blog, and again, please comment!