Holiday Magic

The best part about flying standby during the holidays and getting stuck in airport for three days is that when you land at LAX (with a dream and a cardigan) and finally accept the fact that you will not make the final connecting flight to Vegas your parents call to say they drove from LV to come pick you up and you get to sleep in a bed that night after all.  And then when they actually show up, they have your two sisters with you and announce that they are taking you to Disneyland the next day.  That is happiness.  Seeing Disneyland at Christmas time has been on my bucket list for far too long and it was great to check that one off the list.  They do it up right around there.  It's a Small World gets 10x happier (which I didn't think was possible) and the Castle is gorg (not that you can tell from my crappy photo, but I needed some proof) and they even make it SNOW on Main Street after the fireworks.  And despite the bajillion and a half people that were there (I've never seen a Disney park so crowded) we still got to ride Indiana Jones TWICE!  It was a lovely "Welcome back to the Mainland" indeed.

Whacha Doooin'?

So, here's the thing.  I have a love/hate relationship with Zooey Deschanel.  I know everyone thinks shes the cutest, greatest, trendiest quirk there is, and don't get me wrong, she's cool (there is a love part of this love/hate thing) but she can kinda  bug.  I mean, I liked She&Him for a grand total of one song one time and then it just got annoying.  Maybe it's the entire blogosphere attempting to be her little cookie cutter minions that drives me nuts, I don't know, but I'm just can't seem to keep myself on the band wagon.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt, however, is a different story.  I adore him!  All of him!  All the time!  And plus a majority of the love that I have for Zooey comes from the fact that I love 500 Days of Summer, where she starred alongside JGL.  And what?! He sings?  Sorry, this video is adorable. I just had to share it.  I love M. Ward like crazy, but its only with Joe that I seem to be able to understand the obsessive ZD love.  Plus this video is super festive!  So . . .  what are you doing New Years Eve?

Aloha Oe

Oh my tears and sadness! In just a few short hours I will taking the dreaded drive down town for the last time in the foreseeable future. This is a problem you see, because Laie has been my home for the last three years and I don't like the idea of not knowing when I will be coming back. This week has been nutso, but in the midst of all the crazy finals and preparing to leave stuff, I managed to make a last few memories on this beloved isle.

Eliza, Eevanna and I took a trip up to the North Shore for the Pipeline final on Saturday.  Somehow, it's when I have the most to do in the least amount of time that I manage to do something awesome even though I should be studying instead.  Procrastination in my main motivator to find something fun to do.  Plus, like I'm going to miss Pipe when I'm 15 mins away.  Please.  
Please note how I'm making the same not smiling face in all of these pictures.  I'm not sure where this pattern came from, but alas . . .

Just pretend i'm smiling and look happy, cause I am.  Two Aussie men surfing crazy waves . . . seriously.  I was happy :)

My last Sunday in Hawaii I got some more leis and took a another awkward picture.  You're Welcome.

And of course the face changes when it comes to food.  True tragedy is the thought of not knowing when the next chance I will have to eat a Kahuku Grill cheeseburger or Hukilau Cafe Chocolate Chip Pancakes.
Sniff.  Tear.  Frowny Face.

But, of course, I put my studies first always.

Perfect last day at the beach can not be ruined by chinese flashcards

No matter how hard they try. Wo bu xihaun xuexi zhongwen.

The aftermath of this weeks cramming.

Oh Oahu, I am going to miss you and the life we've shared.  It's been real. Mahalo.  Now I'm going to stop before I cry.

This one time I studied Photography in Europe . . .

And this was my homework:

Way better than writing a 20 page paper analyzing the negotiations that ended apartheid in South Africa, which I am currently procrastinating.

I should just buy a camera (instead of using my iPod all time) and take lovely pictures.

These were all taken on my $200 point and shoot I purchase after my other camera was stolen in Italia. And I don't have US charger for it and don't think I've used it since. Someday I will own a decent camera.

If only.

How to Conjure a Patronus . . .

. . . think of a powerfully happy memory . . . Got it! (See following post for details)

I think I can safely say that I have the best job on campus. In addition to getting paid to go to events and interview interesting people and then write about it, the Ke Alaka'i (the BYUH news where I work as a multimedia journalist) recently sent a lucky few of us to Orlando for a college journalism conference. Lucky for us, however, we were still left with plenty of time to go on adventures. We spent a few days at Disney World (of course, like I wouldn't go back home to visit), but most importantly, dear old Charlie, (gosh I love the kid) made sure we got to go to Islands of Adventure, particularly, THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER!!! We rode dragons and broomsticks and shopped in Hogsmeade. It was wonderfully happy. As usual, I was to busy having fun to whip out my camera, but my iPod managed to document a few magical moments of that day. Check it out:

Charlie was spending his day "hanging out" with Sam I Am, so of course, we went to visit him. He is oh so talented.

Eating at The Three Broomsticks was easily the best part of my day. Seriously amazing. And the Butterbeer! Oh the butterbeer! Oh the odes that were inspired by that delightful stuff. For those of you that have yet to experience this splendorous treat, make it a priority in your life. It's not beer at all, but like a butterscotch cream soda with this extra magical whipped topping. And get the frozen one. You will die. Pretty sure The Mirror of Erised will show me with a lifetime supply of the stuff.

*photo from my last Orlando adventure with Charlie and Sari*

And . . . I have no more photos for you. Yes, sad. I feel like i just cheated you out of all of the fun by robbing you of more delightful documentation. Sorry 'bout it. Guess you will just have to live out your own Harry Potter adventure. Also, I think I am now inspired to do a nostalgia post about the good old days working at WDW. So stay tuned.

EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!

True Americans

The impossible has been achieved. Twice. First of all, Taeler & I talked Alex Allred into sitting through a sporting event on his beloved Fourth of July, & Second of all, the experience was documented & successfully shared so we could remember the experience. So, 3 months later, I thought would share with you just a part of our epic Washington D.C. Independence Day. Check out the video below of that beloved experience.

I think Alex actually enjoyed himself too. He had no idea what was going on the entire time. He kept asking what color costumes our team was wearing & when intermission was. We tried to teach him slowly. The concept of the day was "full count" & I think he almost understood what that was by the end of the game. Sadly, the Cubbies lost, but I feel like my first Cubbies experience wouldn't have been totally authentic had they won.

Ain't We Cute

To see more of my cute fam click here

I think I'm gonna like it here

i moved into a great new place with my dear friend Pam. as I was unpacking, Pam's grand kids slipped these under my door. love having keiki in the ohana.

Almost Famous

BYU-Hawaii is the greatest. For Real.

Me, Myself & Irene

the last 6 weeks I have been sharing a studio apartment with the one & only Irene Lolofie.

she is almost as lucky as i am to have had such an awesome roomie. :)

sadly, our time together as roommates has come to an end & I would just like to take this opportunity to document in cyberspace just one of the great adventures that we shared:

"The Great Centipede Scare of 2011"

other adventures include (but are not limited to):

"The Most Epic Oatmeal Spill of All Time"

"The Night of One Too Many iPod Videos"

"The Great Chocolate Chip Pancake Feast" (Parts I, II and III)

"The Mystery of the Mysterious Bleach Spots"

& of course the daily episode of

"Good-bye Neighbor, I Love You!"

but it is of the first that I wish to address at this moment.

the story goes a little something like this:

Once upon a Time in the town of Hauula it was a regular weekday Hawaiian evening & Ambree was laying on the couch reading a book & minding her own business. Irene was out for the evening doing something responsible. Ambree's book reading was an attempt at being responsible because it was for school, but she was having a hard time focusing. she started daydreaming & staring around the apartment & was suddenly completely distracted & annoyed by the uncooperative state of her hair (which of course was just an excuse to stop reading because honestly, who cares about their hair when they are all alone reading a book, right?)

so she sat up on the couch and leaned over the arm of the couch in attempt to address the hair issue in the mirror on the other side of the room. she began fiddling in vain with her hair when she suddenly sensed that she was no longer alone. almost simultaneously she sensed something moving & quickly glanced toward the floor. after the world's fastest double take to validate what her eyes had just communicated to her brain, Ambree squealed a great squeal & when she looked back up into the mirror saw that she was now squatting in terror on the back of the couch. she watched in disbelief as what she concluded was the world's largest centipede (easily 8 inches long and 2 inches wide) slithered away from the kitchen towards her bed. it

took it's sweet old time too. Ambree was so paralyzed by fear that she could take a picture of the thing, but after a thorough Google image search, she was later able to find the closest likeness available to use as a visual aid (see picture below, but make it blacker & add a bajillion more legs)

obviously, she couldn't get up and get the thing, she just wanted it way from her. this being her first encounter with a such a creature, however, she was not sure how to do this. so she experimented. mostly she just tried a lot stomping and barking (yes, barking. she crazy) but apparently the centipede liked her shoes and no amount of temper tantrum or dog impersonation was going to divert him. so Ambree, doing the only rational thing left, called Irene in hopes that she could somehow magic the thing out of the apartment. in her panicked state, and still hunched on the back of the couch, Ambree left the following message on Irene's voicemail:

Irene tends to bring out the crazy in Ambree already, so you mix this with sheer terror & the results, as you have just witnessed, are interesting to say the least. an hour later, Irene came home and found Ambree still hunched on the back of the couch staring underneath her bed where the centipede had since disappeared. Irene then became the bravest human that Ambree had ever encountered because she went after the thing as Ambree continued to monitor all possible exits in case the thing decided to emerge. after a long and thorough attempt, however, Irene was unable to recover the centipede. that night, Ambree dreamed of all things creepy crawly & toxic. it was miserable. but the centipede never showed his legs again. The End.

i miss you already Irene! here's to you & your bravery. may you never have to deal with a centipede or a roommate as pathetic as me ever again. CHEERS!!!

Hail to the Chief

Hey, remember that one time when I interned in Washington D.C.? Me too. Remember when I told you about that one time where I hung out with the most important people in American politics on the White House Lawn as they ceremoniously welcomed the German Chancellor to Washington? You don't? Oh yeah, well that's cause I never did. Silly me.

But, because of my generous Washington buddy, Sarah, I get to! She was awesomer than me and brought a camera that day. She has generously sent me the photos and I thought I would share with you the perspective we had that day. It was a llllooonnnggg HOT morning, but I'm pretty sure I will never get this close to a President of these United States of America again (or at least until I serve as Ambassador to China, but that might be a few years off) , so I'd say it was worth it.

There were all sorts of fancy military shenanigans that attempted to keep us entertained for HOURS before the President deemed to make an appearance (sheesh, like he has more important things to do than walk by so I get a picture. Right. Sure. Whatever.)
Hilary Clinton was rocking that awesome blue suit. Man. I just wish I had a pic of the matching blue John Lennon sunglasses she was sporting. (I think she's putting them in her pocket here) Style. Icon. Joe Biden's sunglasses were pretty legit too though, right?
And finally, the Prez got his priorities straight and appeared. It was good to see Michelle again too. I felt kinda snubbed when she didn't recognize me and run over to say hi. Sigh.
Then they just stood there and smiled all dignified for a really long time while everybody basked in their presence.

And then Ms. Merkel pulled up in a fancy car.

And then they stood next to each other while both national anthems were played and I think something else happened, but I kinda was overwhelmed in all of the excitement and stopped paying attention.

Then they both made their fancy diplomatic statements. I can proudly say that I understood about 11.5% of the German that was spokened.

This pic I took of Sarah gives you perspective on how close we were. Pretty much we couldn't have gotten any closer without being trackled by the secret service. I thought about maybe turning my fancy program into a paper airplane and flying it up there, just because I could, but I thought better of it. There is also a picture of me in this same pose that I would have posted to prove I was like there too, but I try not to make a habit of posting incriminated pictures of myself that make people shriek in terror and will one day show up to haunt me when VH1 does one of those "Before They Were Stars" specials on me. Plus Sarah looks awesome in her sunglasses.

Me with a bunch of the Washington Seminar students from BYU that came with us that day. And that's the White House behind us, for those of you that couldn't deduce that with out the help of Scooby or Sherlock.

After the whole ceremony thingy, we went to a meeting in the White House. It was pretty cool and addressed the Obama Administrations youth outreach. The guy pictured above heads up the department and spoke to us for a while. When he asked for questions I almost said, "Has anyone ever told you that you look just like Dr. Kutner on House?" Turns out it was Dr. Kutner from House. I felt special. In more ways than one.

And someday, hopefully soon, I will be telling you all about my DC 4th of JULY, cause it was pretty epic.

XXIII

"Twenty-three is old. It's almost 25, which is like almost mid-20s."

-Jessica Simpson

Today I am a legend. Today, I am Michael Jordan.

"Nobody likes you when you're 23. What's my age again?"

Mels Bells

Wedding bells, that is.

Not only did I have the joy of growing up with Miss Melanie Burr, I had the privilege of being a bridesmaid when she became Mrs. Melanie Marshall. Mel and I have been friends for 19 years. 19. That's a lot of years. Nearly 19/23rds of my life. (Mel's the math teacher so I will let her deal with that fraction) She was my first friend when we moved to LV when I was 4 and she will always be included on my list of greatest people in my life. I don't think I have many childhood memories (and trust me, I have many) that do not include Melanie (and, o'course Kelly, the 3rd musketeer). We held many a lemonade stand, built many a club house, and had many a sleepover (which always included watching TGIF). Beaver Cleaver would have been jealous of our childhood. It was so awesome to see her all growed up as a bride. Almost made me reconsider leaving my Never-Neverland life. Almost.

Love ya Mel! Thanks for the good ole days and I wish many more a comin'!

Kahuku. Where dreams come truhuku

New York Times

Guess what? I'm back in Hawaii!!! But guess what? Before I got back to Hawaii I went to NYC, concrete jungle where dreams are made of (is this seriously how the song goes, and if so, am I the only one who thinks this attempt at a sentence makes very little sense? Enjoy the song, but this troubles me. Help me out).

Two of my favorite people on the entirety of this planet (namely Taeler Herr and Alex Allred) came out to DC to visit me and the first thing we did was get on a bus for New York at 6:30am. Back in the day, the three of us plus the one and only Scott Brazee were masters of the suicide road trip (meaning spontaneous, dirt cheap, with little sleep and often under 24 hours). Scott couldn't join us, of course, because he's serving the Lord in South Africa but we brought a flat Scott (inspired by flat Stanley) to join us. Alex has since run away to Europe with a lot of the evidence of this splendid adventure, but when I track him down, I will post the goodness.

GOSH, I love New York!

After Alex got over the disappointment that Madison Square Garden was not an actual garden, and that we were not going to let him stop to wash his hair, we got to explore the city for a good part of the morning. That afternoon we used our sweet hook-ups to get VIP tickets for a David Letterman taping. The Late Show is actually filmed in broad day light at 3:30pm and days before it airs (for those of you who were unaware). It was pretty sweet to get the VIP treatment and watch Mr. Patrick Dempsey exist. The other guests were quite forgettable, but we had a good time.

Below you can watch the interview with Patty that we were present for in case the curiosity and jealously are killing you:

Later that night, we scored box seats to Billy Elliot: the Musical. Alex and I were dying to see "Anything Goes", but you can only sacrifice so many days of nourishment in order to see a good show. We were not disappointed, however, Billy Elliot was AWESOME! *Sigh* Angsty tap numbers preformed by 12 year old boys are surprisingly impressive. Loved it.

Here's a little taste of the show:

By 11:30 we were dodging fans trying to get a peak at Robin Williams (who was performing next door) as we sprinted like mad for 11 blocks in order to catch our bus back to DC after only 10 hours in the city. We caught our bus and got back to DC at 3am and entertained ourselves until the Metro opened at 5:30. We got back to my house at 6:30 and by 7:45 I was back on the Metro on my way in to work. Talk about exhausting, but so worth it. I mean, really, how often do you get to live out the fantasy of being lost in NY for a day with 2 of the most hilarious people on earth? Exactly.

*This adventure was made possible by a generous donation from parentals that manage the "Ambree's Birthday Fund." Without their generous gift supplied more than a month in advance, non of this would have been possible. Thank you.*

Daddy's Day

Happy Daddy's Day! Especially to my daddy! He is all kinds of grand and wonderful.

You know, since I started this blog, I often get asked the question, "Does your dad really call you Bruce?" The answer is, "Yes, indeed. He sure does." That is always followed up with "Why Bruce?" Well, here is the reason as I remember. My dad might have a different version of the tale, but this is the origin of my nickname according to me:

When I was but a wee young cherub, I was very good at stalling when it was time to go anywhere. One of the more common ways I approached this was by delaying putting on my shoes until the last possible moment. This usually led my dad to serenade me with a chorus of "Put your Shoes of Lucy" (which, for the record, I think was a very civil way to approach the situation rather than just losing his patience at me). I, of course, having not yet fully developed my keen sense of musical metaphor, would respond with something along the lines of, "Dad, My name is not LUCY!" So my dad would change the name to Ducy or Goosey or Brucey. And somehow Brucey stuck. I have been Bruce ever since. I don't know if I was the first victim of the rhyming name game my dad always plays, but I was certainly not the last. I think Kelly will always be Smelly to him.

If you are unfamiliar with the song, I have provided the music for your listening pleasure:

My nickname is certainly not the only thing my father has bequeathed upon me. My green eyes may have come from my momma, but I'm pretty sure most of me came from my dad. This list includes (but is not limited to):

1. My Winning Smile If only I had a picture of him smiling to show you just how accurate this is.

2. My brilliant mind. My dad used to be a rocket scientist you know. For reals! He used science to build rockets! Professionally! How many of you can say that?! I daresay, few. I'm also pretty sure I've never had to use the phrase, "Come on, it's not rocket science" with my dad. He pretty much knows everything. A few years ago he went back to school just because he wanted to. He done really good too. My mom always said that one of the reason she married my dad was because he was smarter than her, unlike most of the people she was used to dating. It was also his brilliant mind that got me through math in high school. Every night at the dinner table. Once again, patience is a virtue he possesses. I should probably try to steal that one too.

3. My taste buds. (Notice how I didn't just say taste. My dad always says that all of his taste is in his mouth, except when it comes to pretty girls like my momma. This is probably pretty true.) My dad is not a big sweet eater. We would both choose chips and dip over dessert (unless is was a Silver Mint bar). For as long as I can remember, my dad has had the same salad pretty much everyday. I picked up some Italian dressing at the store last night so I could have a true Father's Day meal today. I have some popcorn too.

4. My love for Classic Rock. My childhood memories are filled with road trips soundtracked by the likes of Styx, Boston, America, Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, etc. I have since developed a pretty extensive collection in the genre. Dad doesn't much care for The Beatles or Bob Dylan, but I have forgiven him . Perhaps I can convert him in the next life.

5. My need to frequently burst into song. So if you know me, it is not news that pretty much anything is capable of inspiring a musical number. It was not a foreign concept in my house growing up that cheese or sweeping the floor may be deserving of a song belted at the top of our lungs. My dad has mad skills too. While I did not inherit his impressive piano playing ability, he is definitely the reason I can carry a tune to the back of a crowded theater. He has often been my accompanist, even when I have called upon to sing at an event last minute somewhere. One time, he even took on a role in show I was doing because someone bailed. Purely selfless, I can assure you. Pretty cool daddio, pretty cool.

So even though my dad might not be able to beat up your dad, he's still probably cooler. I prefer his non-violent nature anyways. I'm a lucky kid indeed. Thanks for being awesome dad! Happy Father's Day!