Mitt

I finally met my second cousin, Mitt Romney.  I was a member of the committee that put together a $500 per person dinner on January 14, 2014, for the Utah Chapter of NAIOP, a developers' organization, at which Mitt Romney spoke.  The event was held in a ballroom at The Canyons resort near Park City, with a sell-out crowd of 330.  Mitt's advertised topic was "Elevating Real Estate," but he admitted at the outset that he knew little about real estate but much about what was right and wrong about America.  We heard an excellent, polished speech, complete with graphs and power point,  which was so partisan that I wondered how a "retired" politician could still have such passionate views.

 

 

Mitt was sophisticated, well prepared, and charming, and I was thrilled to be scooted next to his side, while he talked earnestly to someone else, for a photo op.  When I receive that picture, it will be carefully edited and added to this blog posting.

One of the perks of being a committee member was staying at the Hyatt Escala overnight.  Dave had his own commitments in SLC, so I reveled, alone, in the luxury of a fireplace in my bedroom, over-sized beds and shower, and a view of the steaming swimming pool outside my window.  There was no 5:30 a.m. alarm to waken me.

 

 

I didn't know The Canyons was so large or so luxe.  When I left the resort, early in the morning of January 15, 2014, the light was still blue and frosty, the taillights gleamed red on the cars driven up to the lobby by the valets, and bins of snowboards and skis lined the porch.  A couple of guests in snowpants hurried to a van, chatting in Hindi (?).  The valet assured me that the season was "pretty good right now."

Defrosting

January 10, 2014.  Christmas was over and the kids were gone.  Dave and I headed south to St. George to defrost. 

We attended a temple session.  I found the temple particularly interesting because I had just finished a book about the building of the temple, for which my great-great grandfather, Miles Romney, was general contractor.

 

We sampled the shrimp/pineapple salad at Costa Vida, our favorite Mexican restaurant in St. George.

 

 

We then watched the movie, "The Butler," which told the story of the Civil Rights movement from the point of view of an African-American man serving as a butler at the White House.  He remembered the lynchings in the South in the 1930s, yet his career stretched forward, through the Civil Rights movement to the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American president.  Dave remembers, as a little boy in Maryland, going to theaters where African-Americans entered through a special door and sat in the balcony, yet we have also lived to see the election of Barack Obama.

We also had time to sleep in, hang out, and just recover from the delightful indulgences of Christmas.



And Finally, Goodbye...

On Saturday, January 4, 2013, the last of our Christmas visitors had to go home.  Jonny, Jenny, and Sam flew back to Raleigh, North Carolina.  We picked them up at Jenny's mom's house, where Sam was in his traveling clothes, binky in mouth.

We stopped by Camille's house, just down the street in Holladay, to say goodbye.  Sam got lots of hugs and attention.

 

We were impressed at the healthy food Camille set out for her family, when she didn't even know we were coming!  Lots of fruit and veggies.

The room was full of our favorite people, and it was sad to have Jonny, Jenny, and Sam leave us.

Jenny and Jonny promised to come home at Easter for a week.

Sam gave one last hug and kiss, and then Jonny and his family were off to the airport.

 

 

Sledding and Chili for New Years.

The Flindts had returned to Seattle and the Eberts were back from St. George by New Year's Day. We planned a sledding party up Big Cottonwood Canyon, followed by chili, cornbread, salad, and sundaes at the Eberts' house.

The kids went sledding, accompanied by their mom and dad, Jonny, and Jenny.  Mike had to work and Dave watched from the sidelines.  I sat in the car, all toasty, looking out the window at the white snow, green trees, and vibrant blue Utah sky. 

After the sledding, we ate supper at Camille's house.  There were football games, board games, charades, and lots of food.  Ezra showed me his treasured Christmas gift.

Sam got lots of love.

Someone painted Oakley's back green, but it didn't bother him at all.  Most of the time Oakley got to be with his people, but occasionally Camille would order, "Oakley! Kennel!" and he would slink into his cage in the laundry room.

The salsa, guacamole, and chips were a hit, even with connoisseurs like Annelise, Dave, and Jonny.

As usual, once the food was eaten, Steve was in the background, putting the food away and doing the dishes.  Camille explained: "I'm the cook, but Steve's the clean-up guy."  What a deal!

 

On New Years Day, Mike helped close out the year's books at Goldman Sachs, and then he joined us for supper and games.

Proud Papa!

Dave and I brought the ingredients for sundaes--ice cream, maple syrup, butterscotch and chocolate sauces, maraschino cherries, and whipped cream.  Camille guarded the maraschino cherries to make sure the kids didn't devour too many....

 

There was no going home till the football bowl games were over!

Dinner at Uncle Mike's

It was a special treat for Jonny and Jenny, the Flindts, Dave and me to eat dinner at Michael's house on Monday, December 30, 2013.  Camille, Steve, and their family were visiting St. George.  This was Michael's first dinner party, and he had the table in his mansion decorated spectacularly, with runners, chargers, candles, china, and crystal!

The entrée was Ethiopian berber chicken, which Michael learned to cook through his Blue Apron cooking classes. Chicken was covered with berbere, an Ethiopian spice made from peppers, and then was sautéed and served with steamed green beans over couscous flavored with cilantro and lime.  Delicious!

Michael is a gracious host.

The Flindts are great guests--they go anywhere and eat anything with enthusiasm and a smile!