I recently moved back to Utah after nine years in some of the world’s great cities (NYC, Cairo, Tokyo, St. Petersburg — Florida). I miss public transportation, good bagels, and the beach. In a lot of ways, though, Utah more than holds it own, even when it’s colder than a witch’s mammary all winter. Spring is finally here, a weird, wet spring where one day is 90 degrees and the next there’s fog and new snow on the mountains.
Ireland
Yesterday we joined my family’s yearly Memorial Day camping pilgrimage. We used to go every year to the cemetery where Aunt Jodi and Uncle Kurt are buried. I’m sure my grandparents and Mom went today. We had insane temper-tantrum kids this morning; sometimes all you can do is strap them in their carseats and turn the radio up really loud. And think to yourself, as you pass the turnoff to the cemetery, that Aunt Jodi would understand, and we’ll try to make it next year.
Washington State
As we drove up the canyon, I kept nagging imploring Dick to look out the window. I pointed out the green fields, and those mountains that are brown ninety percent of the year. I love it when you can see seven different shades of green, from sage to myrtle. Dick said (smug, impatient voice) “I grew up in Washington State. This is nothing. This is crappy.” (I might be exaggerating a tiny bit). So, we are not in Ireland, or even Washington State, but right now, this is as beautiful as Utah ever gets. Enjoy it.
Utah
Top 10 Reasons to Live in Utah
10. Fry Sauce. I heard someone ask a new transplant if they’d gotten “used to” fry sauce yet. What? “Used
to”? Fry sauce is to French Fries as hot fudge sauce is to vanilla ice cream. Start with ketchup or barbecue sauce, then throw in some mayo and maybe go wild with a drop or two of liquid smoke (only on the ketchup-based one, I’d think). Or I could send you Some Dude’s Fry Sauce.
9. Caffeine-free Mountain Dew (C-F MD). I was extolling the virtues of C-F MD to a new transplant (see above) and other Utahns chimed in to say, “What’s the point of that?” Which is a valid concern. Mountain Dew is glorious for its efficient caffeine-delivery system. Yet there are times (late at night, say), when a caffeine-free version is preferable. Oh, said my new friends, That’s what beer is for. But since A) beer is not an option for me and B) I don’t believe you get a sugar high from beer, I just don’t think it would be the same.
8. Dooce. Everyday trips to the grocery store for edamame are exponentially enlivened by the possibility of running into a mom who, though she acts as though having one kid is as hard as having a million, or, say, three, gets that letting your daughter watch Cinderella seven times in a row is completely healthy. (I have no idea what Edamame is).
7. Grandparental babysitters. So Dick and I can go enjoy nature.
Taken just last week 10 years ago.
6. Young-skewing population growth. I could probably have a playdate every single day for my girls, if I were so masochistically-inclined.
5. Utah Geek Bloggers group. There were probably geeks and/or bloggers in the other places we lived, but I didn’t meet them, and I doubt any of them could be any nicer than those we’ve met here. Laura Moncur is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, but that’s another story. I love talking with blogger people, even if they are “getting used” to fry sauce and think that beer could ever substitute for Mountain Dew.
4. Speaking of beer, Rootbeer on tap almost everywhere. If I ever won the lottery, I’d have a soda fountain installed in my family room with Coke — Mountain Dew — Cranberry Ginger Ale — Mug Rootbeer — Sprite (for the kids) — Caffeine-Free Mountain Dew — Apple Slice — Code Red Mountain Dew — Squirt. Not that I like carbonated beverages or anything. Do you know what a can of Coke can do to a rusty nail in four seconds?
3. Grandparents who like to babysit.
2. National Parks and Monuments. Sure, the Great Salt Lake may be pretty shallow, and salty, but Utah is gorgeous. I went on a week-long survival trip to Southern Utah as a senior in high school. I don’t know that it changed my life, but I’d spend time in Escalante National Monument any day.
Calf Creek
1. It’s where some of our dead are buried, even if our living childrens sometime prevent us from visiting them or otherwise living normal lives.
It’s fortunate that we have found something even better than seatbelts for containment.
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I’ve linked this to We are THAT Family’s ‘Fro me to you. Thought my Snow White/Superman photo was humiliating enough to qualify!
Tags: kids, memorial day, national parks, top 10, utah
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Love the picture….funny that in both your picture and mine the kids look as if they enjoy being caged. Silly children
Adriannes last blog post..Air Show
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If I hadn’t been able to talk Brad into NM, Utah was next on my list. I’ve been there a few times. I hate SLC, I think it’s the most depressing place I’ve ever been, but I loved the outlying cities, as well as St. George. It was freaky driving up the I-15 in the middle of a lightning storm though.
I will have to look into the fry sauce. Brad always asks for a dish of mayonnaise when we go somewhere and mixes in a bit of ketchup, so I’m guessing that’s basically what it is?
I don’t know if I’d want to run into Dooce. I think IRL she’d be a bit of a snob, especially when encountering a blogfan. Here in NM I’m pretty much the only blogger so I think I’m safe.
Memarie Lanes last blog post..Project Self Portrait
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LOL – why such a big cage for them?!? It looks like they still have room to squirm which will only make it possible for them to tease one another and whine to their parents
Glad you are enjoying Utah!
Erics last blog post..Memorial Day Weekend
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Adrianne — my kids could play in that cage for hours. Should have a carnival of the silliest places kids voluntarily go.
Marie — Wow, Brad is like an intuitive fry sauce-er. There’s even a recipe for fry sauce on allrecipes.com. As usual, the reviews are pretty entertaining.
I don’t know what (if anything) I’d say to Dooce IRL. Would probably just stalk from afar.
Eric — That’s the smallest cage my mom has. I can see where you would think it’s big, though, seeing as you are the Mini-driver.
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Never heard of fry sauce before – am I missing much?
Trying to work out where in Ireland the photo is of – can you help?
JanMary, N Irelands last blog post..A Room with a View
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JanMary — You’re missing out BIG.
Sorry, no idea where in Ireland. Got the photo on a free photo website.
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Thanks for the link! By the way, I LOVE what you did with the header. It’s perfect how the features are muted enough that it could be ANY mom! Good job!
Laura Moncurs last blog post..Nicole Lee Analyzes the Weezer Video
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Edamame are fresh soy beans that you eat like candy. (well, not really candy. but they are addicting- though they are the best when loaded with salt) soooo much protien! actually really good for- depending on how much salt you want to add!
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That is a good list. I’m actually thinking about moving to Utah, though we probably won’t. But fry sauce is definitely on top of the list, my kids insist on it when we drive thru every summer. And I’m glad to know I could still get edamame…though it looks like I’d have to live in SLC to join an organic food co-op.
I have no relatives there, so the whole family/babysitting angle is out. however, Utah has cheap real estate in its favor, compared to more publicly-acknowledged-to-be-cool places.
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Great post. I feel so validated. And that photo of “children contained” is priceless!
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I am looking for LDS bloggers to review the upcoming DVD, “Passage to Zarahemla.” And would love to have you participate.
The movie will be released on June 6 to the public. We are looking for volunteer bloggers to review the movie on their own blogs prior to the release of the DVD. If you would be interested in doing this, we will send you a free copy of the DVD.
If you are willing to do this, please email us back your mailing address where we can send the DVD. (Please no PO boxes.)
You can reach us at contact@passagetozarahemla.com.
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I love this list!
I have to say, when I go to places in Utah that don’t have fry sauce I get ticked off. Hello, this is Utah, get some fry sauce!
Azúcars last blog post..Notes From Two Mediums and a Spector
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How fabulous is that superhero/princess photo.
And all the other ones are so pretty too. Hmm, I like the cage idea too.
Tammys last blog post..Career Cut Short
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Okay. I think I’d like to move to Utah. The french fry sauce sounds yummy. And I love me some root beer! Not to mention all the free babysitting from grandparents I’ve never met! Oh yeah.
Thanks for playing along with ‘fro me to you!
We are THAT familys last blog post..Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You- A Star is Born
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Ok first, is that Silver Falls up in Mt. Rainier National Park ? I would bet money on it, only because I’ve hiked that trail a million times, and think it is the most beautiful place ever.
Love the cage! My daughter actually broke our ferret cage climbing into it. Once we sold it, I kept wishing I had it to lock em in.
TJs last blog post..Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You
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Your right..it’s very nice there although we go into Moab and it’s not so lush..more like beautiful reds!
Love the containment idea! TOO funny
Also your pix of the title space, that’s orgnial love it!
Dawn ;0)s last blog post..What works for me Wednesday!(Up-dated)
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Gotta love the kids in a cage!
Muthering Heights and Other Senseless Sensibilitys last blog post..Girls Behaving Badly
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When my husband’s parents took the entire family to Utah to drop their oldest daughter off at BYU, they were introduced to “fry sauce.”
The cashier at a fast food place kept asking “Do-you-want-fry-sauce-with-that? over and over again, but they couldn’t understand what she was asking. She finally spelled out fry sauce for the dumb Texans to get it.
World’s Greatest Mommys last blog post..Morning Routine Hypothetical Questions
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