Calvin Has Arrived

At 11:07 pm on Friday night, we welcomed our baby son, Calvin Thomas into the world. He weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long! He has so much hair! We are still at the hospital right now, faithfully uploading pictures for the virtual world to see, but Danniey and the baby are both doing very well. And Calvin has just been getting cuter and cuter by the second. Stay tuned for baby updates. (Hopefully these will occur more often than normal updates on this blog.)

Eat Out

Tyler and I have been to alot of restaurants in the Provo/Orem area over the last 6 years or so that we have lived here. I decided to make a list of all of the places we have been to eat because I think it's pretty impressive:

American Pie Pizza/Pizza Pipeline/Big Daddy's Pizza/Wise Guys Pizza
Appleby's
Arby's
Asuka
Bajio's
Bamboo Hut
Beto's/Rancherito's
Bombay House
Burger Supreme
Cafe Rio
California Pizza Kitchen
Callie's Cafe
Carl's Jr.
Chili's
Chill Out!
Coney's
Costa Vida
Del Taco
Demae
Denny's
Doc's Pizza Buffet
Einstein's
El Azteca
El Taco Llama
Fazoli's
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Fortune Chinese Food
Fuddrucker's
Gandalfo's
Gloria's Little Italy
Goodwood BBQ
Guru's
Hickory Kist
Hogi Yogi
Hollywood Juice Bar
IHOP
Italian Place
Jason's Deli
J Dawg's
Jerry's
KFC/A & W
Kneader's
L & L BBQ
Las Tarascas
Leatherby's
Little Ceasar's
Lon's Cookin Shack
Los Hermanos
Lucky Buns
Magleby's
Magleby's Fresh
Malt Shoppe
Mamma Chu's
McDonald's
McGrath's Fish House
Mimi's Cafe
Munchies/Cooking Taste Right (CTR) Cafe and Bakery
New York Pizza
Nicoitalia Pizzeria
Noodles and Co.
Olive Garden
Ottavio's
Palagi's
Panda Express
Papa John's Pizza
Papa Murphy's Pizza
Papa's Southern Smoked BBQ
Pastorero
PF Chang's
Pier 49 Pizza
Pita Pit
Pizza Factory
Pizzeria Seven Twelve
Red Robin
Rocky Mountain Drive-in
Rodizio's
Sconecutter
Sensuous Sandwich
Shoots
Sizzler
Smokehouse
Spaghetti Factory
Subway
Taco Bell
Teriyaki Stix
Terra Mia Ristorante
TGI Friday's
Thai Chili Garden
Thai Kitchen
Thai Ruby
Tommy's Burgers
Tony Roma's
Training Table
Tucano's
Wendy's
Yamato
Zupas


We will continue to add to this list since we are planning on being around for another couple of years. I don't think we'll ever add Hot Dog King or Arctic Circle to this list. Let us know if there are any places we are really missing out on. Or if you'd like to know our thoughts on a place!

For Crabs!

I saw a billboard for a crab festival that is happening in Salt Lake this month. I really like seafood alot, especially crab. I wish crab festivals were a place in which you could celebrate by getting crab for cheap because there is so much of it there. Instead, there is just usually alot of expensive crab. Not as fun. Not much to celebrate either. It's aways expensive.

The Island Beckons

Tomorrow, the fifth season premiere of LOST will air. Now, I have borne my testimony to many about the greatness of this show, and many of you even have your own testimonies of this truth. I just want to take this moment while I am in the biggest of LOST moods, to discuss why I am so grateful for this show.

Tyler and I have seen a lot of television. When you have a Tivo, it allows you to quickly sample through a lot a crap in hopes of finding something that is worth watching. As a result, we probably watch or are at least very familiar with more television programs than the average person. We aren't, however, very big TV fans. When it comes to deeming what is a "good show" or not, we are pretty harsh judges. Even if we watch something, we probably have a lot to say about it as far as criticisms go. LOST, however, has been a show that for 4 seasons, has never let us down, nor given us any reason to criticize. Of course, there have been a few minor doubts or concerns, just as there is in just about anything in life, but LOST has always come through strongly in any little tiff we may have had, making us more in love than we were before the lover's quarrel. Right now, I just want to write about why I think LOST is one of the greatest television shows ever made.

The creators of LOST hold their show to a very high standard. The show excels in ways that other TV shows don't, and the strict quality control permeates throughout all aspects of production:

The Script: Always very solid. Textual clues to plot elements in the show are not repeated unnecessarily, forcing the viewer to pay attention. The script uses a lot of pop-culture references and intertextuality from books, television, movies, art, religion, folklore, philosophy, history, etc. Lines are not repeated after commercial breaks for those with such a short term memory that they cannot remember parts of the show that happened 3 minutes beforehand. The characters maintain a consistency through their dialogue. Overly explanatory or expositional lines are rarely included. This makes LOST's writing stand heads above other TV dramas, and are some of my biggest complaints when watching other programs.

Cinematography/Production Design: The entire show is done very cinematically. It is filmed more accurately/specifically than television normally is, focusing on the artistic aspect of shots. The production design is also quite impressive. The attention to detail is very evident, and continuity errors are few and very far between. Since the entire show is filmed in Hawaii, the fact that scenes realistically take place in Australia, Korea, Iraq, LA, Tunisia, England, etc. is quite impressive. The design has a consistent "look" to it that is very engaging and leads you to believe in the world of the Dharma Initiative and "Mystery Frickin' Island." As a scenic designer, the commitment to quality in this aspect is very much appreciated.

Character: The show revolves around its characters. Each character has a clear arc, with many interlacing and affecting one another. The characters are consistent throughout. They don't usually act without a decipherable motive or without reason for the possible lack of one. Their stories are engaging and dramatic without being too outrageous and unseemly (we will forget about the episode "Stranger in a Strange Land"). The characters do follow some stereotypes, but become archetypal instead of stereotypical. (The difference being that stereotypical is transparent, predictable, and 2-dimensional, whereas archetypal is familiar, yet 3-dimensional.) I have seen so many shows whose characters I do not care about at all. On the contrary, the depth of character exploration in LOST, blurs the lines between "good guy" and "bad guy," forcing me to care about each one individually (Except for Keamy. He is only evil.). Both the writers and actors deserve credit for the excellence in this aspect.

Story: The quality character arcs lead to a great story. There has been continuity throughout all 4 seasons so far, and I have confidence that the creators will bring it home to a conclusion for the end of the series (Season 6). This huge story that they have been telling us is extremely complex, but consistent, as they unravel the thousands of details they would like to tell us as part of this experience. The information is told in a very coherent way, as long as one is willing to watch each episode from beginning to end and mull over the information between episodes and seasons. They relay the information through carefully crafted story arcs present in each episode, character, season, and so far, series. The complexity has led some to complain that there is "just so much," that the story just gets "so convoluted." This implies a lack of clarity in the focus of the show. I disagree with this notion. I do accept that the show has extremely involved and far-reaching story lines that weave in and out of one another, but I have always felt that it very clearly directs the viewer what to focus on at what time. I feel that its complexity only enhances its substantiality and appreciate the responsibility the show puts on me to pay attention and draw conclusions.

Admittedly, LOST unashamedly requires a lot from its audience. It does not spoonfeed connections to one. It will not routinely reiterate clues it so delicately puts in. The team knows that fans will be watching the episodes again and again online, on their Tivos, on DVD, etc., searching for more, and they will enjoy being able to pick up on things they didn't notice before. It demands the full attention of its audience. I am ready to do that, and believe it is worthy of that attention. It gives to me what so many television shows before it could not.

I have talked to many people who do not care for the show. They don't appreciate it like I do. They don't like feeling obligated to watched every episode. They have trouble remembering every little detail in order to make the connections necessary to feel engaged. They have many reasons why LOST does not cater to them. That is okay. It may not be the TV show for them. It is fortunate that there are many TV shows that will give them exactly what they are wanting from TV. In that same spirit, I am so glad that there is something different out there for me, who is looking for a show to give and require a little bit more.

There are only two seasons left of LOST. This decision between the creators and producers is a great comfort to me. They have been planning from the beginning of the show to end at that time, solidified the contractual agreement to do so, and now have the creative freedom to tell the story that they desire. I am ready to hold on until the end, very confident in the story they are telling. I trust in LOST.

The Holidays are a Time to Slam Tim Tams with the Flim Fam

In order to properly do a Tim Tam Slam, you will need a Tim Tam (or Arnott's Original as they are called in America) and a cup of hot cocoa. They are chocolate cookies covered in chocolate that you can purchase at an import food store. They are sold at Cost Plus, but other import food stores such as LiLi's Oriental Market in Mesa may also have them. Just ask for Arnott's Originals.

Once you have your cookie and mug of cocoa, it is time to prepare for slamming. Be sure to read these instructions in their entirety before you attempt a slam.

1. Be sure that your mug of cocoa is fairly full, and place it in front of you.
2. Select your Tim Tam and carefully bite off two opposing corners. (For example, the top left corner and the bottom right corner.)
3. Using your Tim Tam as a straw, place one of the bitten corners in the cocoa and one in your mouth. Begin to suck the cocoa up through the Tim Tam straw.
4. When the cocoa gets to your tongue, IMMEDIATELY* shove the entire cookie into your mouth.
5. Experience the chocolate bliss.

* Note: It is imperative that this step is done quickly and smoothly. Delaying even a second may cause your cookie to disintegrate in your hands. No one wants chocolate bliss in their hands as opposed to their mouths.

The P-town Culture Club

I am sorry for the long hiatus since my last post. Tyler and I have been doing some important field research at the many yogurt shops that have sprouted up around Provo this year. Provo seems to consistently invite enthusiastic entrepreneurs to try their business ideas out. Tyler and I have noticed a quick turn around time for businesses here to open, try a new product, and close. Perhaps it has to do with the close proximity of the Marriott School of Business. Whatever the cause, though, the truth is that the businesses here seem to change almost yearly, and several similar ones just sprouted up in the past few months.

For the "pure yogurt" craze, it all started with Yoasis, which found its home as a replacement for Glazies in the strip mall at Bulldog and Freedom, creatively entitled "The Corner" (which has always seemed to have this blatant and desperate desire to become a popular hangout for BYU students). Yoasis seems to have that same goal in mind, and seeing as Tyler and I are generally anti-establishment, we vowed never to go. Our curiosity quickly got the best of us, and we shamefully tried a number of times to patronize this strange new place, but left each time, too turned off by the long line of morons inside. We finally bought our first pure yogurt in the middle of a weekday from the "paradise" at The Corner. The first taste of these pure yogurts is a little shocking. It is much more bitter than your standard frozen yogurt. It definitely feels healthier, leaving you with a nice feeling afterwards. It's as if you feel like you have done something good for your body. We returned a couple of times for the intriguing new taste despite the high cost.

Then, within a few months, we saw "Spoon Me," "Red Mango," and "Hello Yogurt" all sprout up in different areas around Provo and Orem. Tyler and I were further intrigued. Not by the apparent "demand" for pure yogurt, but by the sheer audacity and confidence that these new places displayed. We set out to attend each one and note their strengths and weaknesses, hopefully determining which yogurt reigns supreme. This research has been thorough, the results have been compelling, and we now display them for your education and interest.

Update for our readers outside of Utah (both of them): "Pure Yogurt" is frozen yogurt that has not had any artificial flavors added, making it both tart and creamy. This yogurt is considered to be more healthy than flavored frozen yogurt because it uses natural ingredients and has live and active culture counts in amounts that researchers have determined to have positive health benefits as certified by the National Yogurt Association. (See AboutYogurt.com for more details.) It's as if you were to buy plain yogurt at the store and stick it in a soft-serve machine. I suppose what makes people want to go to one of these places, as opposed to say "trying to find a TCBY that hasn't closed down yet," is the feeling that you are doing something healthy for your body. Plus, everyone's doing it!!! You'll read below all the reasons why having pure yogurt is "cool."

Yoasis:

This was the first experience we had with the concept of "pure yogurt." The yogurt is tangy and tasty, but the service needs some fine tuning. When we have been there, they only have one person working, and each yogurt is prepared with such care and precision that it becomes a borderline obnoxious ordeal. We definitely slow the whole process by ordering bananas as a topping. They slice the banana very thinly while it's still in the peel, then awkwardly use the peel to stick it around the rim of the yogurt. The slicing and placing of the banana takes a good 60 seconds or so. The only times we've gone, we haven't even had to wait in line, and it has taken 5 minutes for them to prepare our yogurts. I cannot imagine what the wait time would be on a Friday night with a line of 30 people in it.

Yoasis is definitely the most spacious of all of the establishments. There are many tables, including booths, to sit at, and since it adjoins Teriyaki Stix and Hogi Yogi, one can order a full meal befre topping it off with pure yogurt. The decor is clean and modern, but the plasma televisions showing nature videos are a little off-putting. I suppose it is to accentuate the "natural" and "paradisaical" theme of the place, but its weekly live rock music, Wii tournaments, and Rock Band jams seem decidedly un-natural and conflict with the theme Yoasis is trying to have me buy into. I know these events are simply an attempt to gain a community following, but as a result, I just get the idea that Yoasis is trying too hard.

As far as price goes, the yogurt is a little expensive, and the toppings are cleverly distributed as one topping for $1.25, two toppings for $1.50, and three toppings for $2.00. It forces you to buy more toppings for a better deal, when I am pretty sure you get the same amount of topping either way, you just pay for the agency of choosing more than one item.

Yogurt: 4/5 Decor: 4/5 Value: 3/5 Atmosphere: 2/5

Red Mango:

This little shop was much more impressive. It had the same sort of modern decor, but gave a more exclusive dessert club feel instead of the "we'll take anyone" desperation that Yoasis exhibited. The thing was, I believed Red Mango. The interior colors were sheek and smart, and all of the design seemed very coherant and consistant. While the patrons in Yoasis were a turn-off, we felt like we were friends with all of the hipsters here in Red Mango. Also, it's located in Orem, so the personnel seemed naturally more edgy. Their menu offered a bit more variety, but the pricing system was very similar to Yoasis. Here at Red Mango, however, the price seemed more called-for in an upscale dessert shop like this one. I know that I was paying for the quality and the experience. The yogurt had a similar tangy zip, but tasted higher in quality with a little bit more creaminess to it that Yoasis didn't seem to have. Overall, we had a great experience at Red Mango and enjoyed the exclusive yet inclusive atmosphere. We did not have any complaints here.

Yogurt: 5 Decor: 5 Value: 4 Atmosphere: 5

Hello Yogurt:

This shop, located next to Sensuous Sandwich in Orem, was definitely the most different of the bunch. You can tell that it is geared to a much different audience. While the furniture remained true to the Mod Ikea look, the rest of the place looked like a local ice cream shop that you remember from your childhood (my childhood being in the 80's with the recession).

The pricing system was the most innovative we had seen. The yogurt and toppings are priced solely on weight at $.38/oz. They offer the largest selection of yogurt flavors (while still including the "tart original") and toppings, and the entire place is self-serve. You take your cup and put as much or as little of any number of yogurt flavors and/or toppings. This gives a sense of freedom unprecedented at dessert parlors. You get exactly what you want, without worrying about getting the best value. To further ensure that you get what you will like, they have set up a table with little cups for tasting. Sine there is no direct supervision of the yogurt dispensing machines, you can try as many flavors as you need in order to decide what you want the most. The price is very modest as well, I got a pretty big yogurt, and paid less than I had at any of the other yogurt places.

The only downside to this place is the lack of supervision. We wondered how efficient the service would be if a lot of people came in to get yogurt at the same time. This place leaves the efficiency up to the patrons. Having been to both Disneyland and Disney World in the past year, and seen a major difference in the way the two are run, I can tell you that it makes a big difference between ensuring efficiency and trying to let it happen on its own. Also, it was interesting to see how many people had trouble operating the yogurt machines on their own. Perhaps it's because I spent many meals at Furr's Cafeteria and Home Town Buffet, but I thought everyone knew how to dispense yogurt sanitarily into their cup. Instead we saw some adults squirting samples into a cup, licking the top, then pressing their ABL cup right up under the dispenser again for more. That's gross to me. But besides the occasional residue left by other customers that might end up in your cup, it tasted great and the price was well worth it!

Yogurt (plain): 3 Decor: 2 Value: 5 Atmosphere: 4

Spoon Me:

This may be the most disappointing for us. My first impression was that they are trying harder than all of the others. The interior looks as if it were designed by an interior design enthusiast as opposed to someone who has experience, and the menu offered the least agency of them all. In Spoon Me's scenario, you can choose from original, green tea, or Acai Berry yogurt, but the toppings are one blanket price. If you want toppings, you pay for the right to have them and then you can choose up to three. This bugged me. I had to clarify with the lady that that is really how they do things.

The biggest turn-off, however were the labels on the bathroom doors which just added to the interior confusion. The men's said "Yo Homie" and the women's said "Yo Mama."...This just didn't seem to mix with the androgynous modern design that the rest of the place was trying (unsuccessfully) to embody. I didn't like those doors.

I will, however, give one prop to Spoon Me in their attempt to be more eco-friendly. Their spoons are crazy-thick and seem like they were made for babies, but are so because they are completely biodegradable, or "fully compostable." Their cups, too, claim to save a billion watts of energy a year or something like that. I liked that. I mean, why not use products that are good for the environment? Their trash, then, was fully compostable, and as a result, this business could do its part in saving a lot of energy. It's too bad that I'm not going to go there anymore.

Yogurt: 2 Decor: 3 Value: 2 Atmosphere: 2

As you can see by this research, all yogurt places may not equal. Do not be discouraged if you haven't found the pure yogurt place for you. It is only a matter of time before one pops up that may satisfy your particular yearning. For us, it's Red Mango and Hello Yogurt, depending on what experience we're in the mood for.

Note: These reactions are based on isolated experiences at each of the establishments. Further investigations could not be performed due to lack or research funds. If you have had experiences that conflict or are in harmony with the above results, please describe your reactions. Thank you.

I Can Has Lesson?

So, I understand that it may be a lot to ask for every English speaker to have perfect spelling and grammar (myself included). I would like to expect, however, that we English speakers at least have a general understanding of commonly used words and their pronunciation. As I listen to my fellow speakers, there are a few uses of extremely common English words that are difficult for me to forgive. In fact, there is a small uncontrollable shudder when I hear them.

Here are the top 10 unforgivable words:

(Feel free to add to this list)

10. oviously

9. heighth (I have heard drafters and architects talk about the hieghth of a building)

8. irregardless

7. supposevly, supposebly

6. nuculus, nucular (Tyler's science teacher would talk about the "nuculus of the atom")

5. drownd (ex. don't drownd), drownding

4. sell, in place of sale (I actually saw a sign that said "Contract for Sell")

3. excetra

2. exspecially, and on occasion, even "exscape"

...and the number one bizarre and annoying pronunciation heard daily...

1. acrost

I really don't understand this one. And I have heard it in many different contexts:

My design classes: "Draw a line acrost the page."

My exercise class: "Reach acrost your body."

Film sets: "The camera will pan acrost the stage."

Stadium of Fire: "They'll run acrost the field (actually, "feld") AND "The cords will go acrost to the portal."

I really don't get it. One day, I heard it 4 times. 4 times! I think it was 100% of the times I heard the word "across" used that day. Do these users spell the word that way?? I mean, why on earth would anyone add a random "t"?

I actually read why someone would add a random "t". I guess as humans, we naturally want to end words with a hard consonant. Ending with an "s" makes us nervous, so sometimes one adds the "t". That's interesting, but come on. The word is acrossss.

The biggest problem I have with this epidemic is I don't see how I can help solve it. How can I, just one little girl, tackle a problem that is so widespread? It is rude to correct people, even though I think I would want to know if one of my "mouth habits" caused people to make unforgivable lists. I guess all we can do is take notice and try to correct our kids. Other than that, I am at a loss for ideas.