FHE in SLC

Debbie's boyfriend Dan, the huge guy in red, suggested we all met at an outdoor ice skating rink in downtown Salt Lake. I can't remember the name of the square but evidently it's a happenin' place to be. In the summers they have concerts in the plaza and it's a huge thing. The best part about it was it only took about 10 minutes from our house to get downtown. We just hop on Beck Street then over to Victory and we're dropped off on the east side of the conference center. Talk about fast and easy (that's what she said).

That night the rink was supposed to be reserved for students at the Salt Lake Community College but no one was there, so we were let in for free! Nice. We laced up and hobbled over to the rink and instantly felt self-conscious. Debbie didn't let go of the railing for a good 2 laps, then she would only stand while someone dragged or pushed her on the ice. Dan's sister Faye came with and was just the sweetest person. Dan is probably 6'5" I'd guess and Faye was maybe 5'4". They both spent most of the last 30 minutes trying to do a half turn - racing straight ahead then somehow switch to backwards. Dan was hillarious to watch; this huge guy with these long arms flailing around him trying to keep him in balance was so funny to watch. He ate it a few times, he'd lay there for a bit, maybe whimper.

It got to be a competition, who would be the last person standing. Dad was the first to fall, feeling a little too confident and attempting the cross over around the corner. Poor old guy, he konked his knee pretty badly, but was such a good sport and got up right away to "skate it off". Dan of course was on the ice a ton, Debbie only fell once when she was trying to help Dan up. It was between me and Faye. The last lap Faye fell trying to do the turn thing.

I WON!

My 28th Birthday

Yesterday was my 28th birthday, and though this is not how I had expected to spend my birthday, I had a great time. Monday night we had my brother Geoff and Janene, Megan, Ben, Mara, plus Debbie and Dan came over for dinner and cake. Mom had put together a lovely slide show of all my birthdays and Dad told the story of my birth.

Tuesday I worked a half-day then met up with Mom to go to lunch with Debbie. We had a fantastic lunch of soup and sandwiches at Gourmandies in downtown Salt Lake. After lunch we had a great time going through the local antique shops and as we waited for my hair appointment.

I decided to change my hair. I was not willing to cut it because it is just so long, I love it. So we just trimmed it and then decided to go reddish. I needed a little sass in my life. One of the guys I work with said I look like Jean Grey on X-Men, without the attitude.

Institute

I thought it would be beneficial to attend an institute class, not for social purposes (yet) since I'm not officially single, but for a spiritually uplifting hour and a half plus I get away from my parents.

I tried the Bountiful institute class just down the mountain from me, but it was basically high school continuation; I felt like the chaperon. All the children in the class were talking about how they're leaving for their mission in 3 weeks. I am almost 10 years old than these kids! That was a bit depressing. So the week after I went to the University of Utah Institute class, they have a class specific for 25-35 adults.

I sat in the middle of the row so people can fill in, I hate when people sit on the end and you have to crawl over them. Just scoot in people. Anyway, I'm listening to the lesson about the infinite atonement and this guy sits down 2 seats away. Then he scoots over to one seat away. I'm sitting rather slouched and leaning towards the chair between us with my hand on the seat kinda propping me up. He leans over and drags a finger of the back of my hand to get my attention and made some comment. That took me by surprise to say the least. Then he did it again. And again. Then instead of dragging a finger across, his hand sort of rested on my hand.

Now at this point a few thoughts are going through my mind. 1. Have I been out of the game so long that this normal? 2. Do I look that innocent and naive that this guy thinks he can touch my hand and I'll be ok with it? 3. What does he want? 4. Why is the only decent looking guy end up a total creep? (seriously, all the other guys look like dopes)

So the class end and I start putting chairs away and he's going on and on about nothing. I start to walk over to the snack area he follows, talking all the time. Then I say, I'm going to leave, he says he'll walk me to my car. I politely turn that down but he says he's also walking out. I figure, there are tons of people around he's not going to kidnap me or anything. So turns out he's parked right next to me. Lovely. We stand there talking about work, living in Bountiful, etc and all of the sudden he's holding my hands. Uhhh yeah definitely not normal. And he start talking about how he wishes he could say the perfect thing. About what?! Then he wants to show off is new stereo system, opens all the doors and starts rocking out to U2- "With or Without You". I felt like I was on candid camera. Thinking, is this really happening?

Then he bring the hands up to his chest area, holding mine all the while, which I didn't mind b/c it was cold (probably 25 degrees out) and I didn't have gloves. He starts swaying to the music. Then I started to look around for cameras or people watching. No one watched, they walked by as if this was normal! In the end we parted ways, he asked for my phone number and I gave him Adam's. I thought it'd be funny for Adam to get a call from a guy I met here. Mean I know.

I drove home that night thinking I needed to work on my, "if you're a creep don't bother" look.