It's Always Better on Holiday IV, pt. III

Wednesday Night I went to the world famous Red Iguana for the first time ever (actually, it was my second time ever, but the first time I went ordered so poorly that I've decided it didin't count)


My partner for the evening? None other than (hold on to your socks) MATTHEW GOLD ALLEN!!!


Something amazing about the Red Iguana: The pool at the motel next door.




After our 30 minute or so wait for a table (I'm not hating, the time was well spent) it was time to dine. Matt had some sort of chimichanga.


I had the Red Pipian Mole. Word.


Red Iguana: Truly you are as amazing as they say you are.

Best Not Super Exciting Project Runway

Sure, last night's episode of Project Runway was spicy and there were some good one-liners and jabs, but really, it wasn't any big deal. Every dog has his day, so Vincent wins a competition. We all see Jeffrey be mean to Angela's Mom and make a pretty lame dress, but fat gets trimmed at Robert goes home. Hmmm. No big deal. But it was a little decent when they showed Jeffrey upset that a good fellow like Robert was leaving when so many awful people remained.

I don't know about designing for my Mom (or yours), but this is me and Mom looking stylish a few years back.


Next Week: Designing for a jet setter, with a twist? I'm guessing she's an amputee.

It's Always Better on Holiday IV, pt. II

Monday!

This is the Benny Memorial at Grandma's house. He was a fairly good dog.


Grandma and I had lunch at "La Cocina" by her house, which was recommended to Grandma by her checkout girl at Reams. Grandma's enchiladas were good.


I ordered the taquitos. They were the exact same as the taquitos you buy from the grocery store. Which must be why Grandma's checkout girl liked them so much.


In the afternoon I went down to old Provo. I visited BYU.



I've always liked this map in the HFAC.

There were handpainted signs everywhere.


I consider this to be a fairly goodlooking "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" poster.


The JKHB is getting tore up!


I was really curious to go check out the new Humanities Mothership.




To say it made me feel like I was at the Jurasalem Center West would be a serious understatement.





Ooh, I would love to take Anthro 490!


For the record, BYU was absolutely deserted and just about everything was locked up, except, of course, for the New Building's terrace.






I walked around the building seeking out evidences of my favorite professors. Evidence was found.



I don't remember Royal looking like this.





Okay, I know. Pictures of buildings and signs, "yawn." So here's something exciting! Marsha!. Marsha and I ate some excellent Mexican food at Gallo Giro. Excellent!


I forgot to have my picture with my food so here's me with my beverage.


Then we were like, "What do we do, what do we do" as we drove around in Orem and then all of a sudden, we were like "DUH!"


Woooooo! Nickelcade! Woooooo!


First Marsha and I played Time Crisis II for a while.


After Time Crisis I wandered around, looking for ways to spend my nickels. All the Street Fighter games had messed up controls, and Puzzle Fighter was long gone. But then I found this game, "Dynamite Cop." Whoah! Turns out that I Love Dynamite Cop!



I totally beat it! (It only took about a $1.20 in nickels to do so)



Also turns out Marsha and I weren't the only cool kids to decide to swing by the Nickelcade that night.


So, yeah. That was Monday. I took 0 photos on Tuesday, so the next day you'll read about will be Wednesday, if I take any pictures tonight.

Also Remember when I went to have Latin food by a soccer field in Brooklyn? Here's what the New York Times has to say about the grub. It is possible that I did some light translating for the author of this article.

It's Always Better on Holiday IV, pt. I

I'd like to send a shout-out to Grandma's neighborhood library's wireless internet for all of a sudden working so well and uploading all these pictures.

Saturday Morning, a quick ride up to Idaho.


We were there to celebrate the old and noble Brim/Hyde Homestead’s 100th birthday.


Downey view.


Not too many houses get birthday cakes.


Relatives I had never ever met before (and others that I knew) crowded the porch for the commemorative portrait.


Photographers assembled. Whenever I see an older sort with a digital camera I think, “Yes, yes.”


On the porch it was pure bedlam.


A proper Idahoan potluck . . .


Results in a proper plate of three sorts of potato dishes, additional salads, and barbecue.


Famous fellows assembled.


Birthday cake prepared for cutting.


Loyal hound left out of festivities.


Across the street, the American Legion Hall (in my years of Downey visits, I have never seen a soul enter this building)


In my day, the thing to do in Downey was climb the guns. Now there's a Nintendo in the house.


A visit to the old Downey House is a trip to re-see familiar sights you nearly forgot but remember immediately.







Sometimes you’re at a family reunion, sitting in the den because you’re running out of things to talk about with the relatives that you don’t know but who have met your father and then a kid who is kind of your cousin walks in and asks you to take his picture. And then you’ve got a new friend.








Here’s the thing. He’s two. Can you believe it?

No one ever told me about Grandma Brim being the old South Bannock County Beerfest Queen.


Before leaving, we visit Grandpa in Cambridge.



Saturday Night, New York ex-pats unite. At the Sizzler. To celebrate Erin Enke's birthday. The Sizzler is for adventure.


Rebekah and I say, “Viva la Cheesey Bread.” (click here for Director’s Cut, Behind the Scenes Making of Photo)


Natalie and Mitch, Malibu and Hibachi chicken, respectively.


A proper feast of steak and seafood. It looked good enough to eat.


The soundtrack at the Sizzler kept trying to bring the mood down, stop hating on our Saturday nights, Sizzler soundtrack.