Salt Lake City/Ogden

Polygamy Porter! You can't just have one!

The Deschamps

Roasting Marshmellows

Me and Moose

Snow Basin Hike: Paul and Moose

Paul and I

The Wasatch Mountain Range

Ogden Valley

It was great visiting Salt Lake/Ogden! I stayed with friends, Paul and Lindsay Deschamps, who lived in Philly the past four years and just moved out to Utah a few months ago. You can see the entire Ogden valley from their 2nd story outside deck...I felt like was on vacation. There is something about the rocky mountains that inspires and heals. If you heart is heavy or burdened (and mine was due to all the mechanical failures and set-backs), a long stare into the mountains has the power to reinvigorate...a deep breath of mountain air clears the body, mind and soul. When you allow yourself to get lost in the majesty of God's creation, it seems easier to shed the psychological yolks that around your neck.

It was equally comforting to see familiar faces and spend time with Paul and Lindsay...and not to mention the newest addition to their family, Moose. Moose is their 1 year old chocolate labrador retriever. He reminds me so much of Smoke....playful, curious, clumsy, and energetic.

While I waited for repairs to be made on my scooter, I stayed with the Deschamps for (3) days. They were great hosts - cooking me dinner, driving me around, taking me for hikes up snow basin mountain resort, taxing me down to Salt Lake City, letting me wrestle with Moose on their family room floor....you name it. They made me feel at home. Thanks so much guys!

By the way, Paul, you're a great cook, man! I really appreciate all those delicious meals!

I found the Mormon domination of Salt Lake quite fascinating. I mean, it seems they control everything (heck they discovered the place)...and everything is influenced by their presence - even the beer (Polygamy Porter pic) and pubs (there's one called the Tavernacle). The LDS church is an interesting mix of psuedo-Christianity with some gnostic, secretive customs and beliefs. For instance, they don't allow outsiders inside the Temple downtown. And did you know they wear special underwear too? I kind want to become a Mormon so I can see what goes on in their temple... the curiousity is killing me. And they get to live like King Solomon with multiple wives! Lucky bastards...the rest of us just get one :(

And that's all the Mormon teasing I will do on this blog...I could go on for days but I'd feel guilty because they're so darn nice.