Archive for the ‘adventures’ Category

They Came from Outer Space!

Saturday, December 16th, 2006

I don’t know about you, but I had a wonderful evening.

I called up my friend Michelle earlier today to ascertain if she was busy this evening. It was spur-of-the-moment, I admit, but it was only this morning that I discovered that the International Space Station would be visible this evening. I wanted to see it, but I also wanted to share this wonderful experience with someone else so I decided to make a date of it.

It turns out Michelle was free, so she met me at my apartment just in time to see the Space Station pass across the night sky. I was afraid she would miss it, but her timing could not have been closer, for the pass only lasted about one minute, and then it was gone. But we definitely saw it, and hands down it was the coolest thing I have seen orbiting our planet this week.

With that spectacular light show out of the way, we each made a cup of hot chocolate and proceeded to walk around my neighborhood in search of Christmas lights. We found some really good displays, we drank some really good chocolate with real candy canes melted right in, and we even took turns spilling the aforementioned chocolate onto ourselves.

We also had an enjoyable stroll and pleasant conversation. We ended the evening back at my apartment with ice cream cake and looking at photographs. Oh, what fun!

TACC Tour

Friday, November 10th, 2006

Today I went on a tour of the Texas Advanced Computing Center. I saw a lot of computers. The main room that was full of equipment was hot in some places and cool in some places, depending on which row I was standing in.

When I’m older, I want a big rack of computers in my closet or my basement. My website will be a lot faster then.

The Texas Eagle

Thursday, November 2nd, 2006

On Friday I sang with the UT Men’s Chorus, “if that train runs me right, I’ll be home Saturday night.” As it turns out, I was home Friday night and I rode in a car with my parents.

Saturday morning found us at the temple in Dallas, and in the evening we went to a Halloween party. My younger brother Mark dressed very convincingly as the Grim Reaper, and my youngest brother Matthew jumped around as Mario (but without the mustache). As for me, I threw on a three-piece suit and sang Sinatra and Jiminy Cricket while serving punch. No foolin’.

David and Chelsea appeared at the party, too. How did they know where we were? They checked the calendar.

Monday evening, to go back to Austin, I actually did ride a train. I did! I had my first American train experience. I’ve ridden many trains, but they were always in England. Trains in England are different than the train I rode on Monday.

First, it was huge. It was huge! The train was as tall as a two-story house. Second, the seats, they were like airplane seats, but wider, and with more leg room. Third, well, how many of you have ridden with Amtrak?

So I was pretty excited about riding the train.

I Should Have Told You

Monday, September 11th, 2006

I should have told you two weeks ago that I saw The Sound of Music on the big screen.

Image: Wide shot of the Paramount Theatre

See more pictures of my Sound of Music trip.

I should have told you a week ago that I visited my parents over Labor Day Weekend and had my mother cut all the hair off the top of my head.

I should have told you a few hours ago that when I got out of bed Sunday morning I did not intend to jump on a trampoline, yet later that day I found myself doing exactly that. Not only was I jumping on a trampoline, I was doing it while wearing a suit. It was a glorious day.

A Recipe That Worked

Sunday, June 11th, 2006

A week ago I was invited to a dinner with the Relief Society presidency and the Elders Quorum presidency of my ward. It was to occur today and it was to be pot-luck — which, as an aside, is a very interesting word when looked up in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Accordingly, I had a week to decide on and prepare something to bring with me to the pot-luck dinner of presidencies. I opened my trusty Jackson Family Cookbook and spied the recipe for “Impossible Pie (Crustless Quiche)”. I was certain this was to be my dish.

As the moment of truth approached, I surveyed my cupboards, and listed the ingredients I lacked. I walked to the grocery store and purchased, among other things, bacon, Swiss cheese, milk and an onion. I walked back.

The timing of the dinner forced me to serve the dish cold. Therefore I gathered the necessary tools and ingredients the night before and meticulously followed the recipe. I preheated to 400 degrees. I fried bacon. I grated cheese. I chopped onion. I beat eggs and milk and salt and pepper and Bisquick. I put it all together in a greased baking dish. I put it in the oven and waited.

Several tens of minutes and a few incredulous instant messages later —

(19:12:21) Jerry: so what have u been up to?
(19:12:38) William: Working, and working. And cooking a quiche at the moment.
(19:12:43) William: But mostly working.
(19:12:50) Jerry: ur cooking?

— I removed a beautiful quiche from the oven and carefully placed it in the refrigerator. It smelled good.

Today I brought it to church and put it in the fridge there. After church I rode with Marc (the president) to the home of Tamara (the president). We ate dinner and everyone loved the quiche. I was so happy.

The end.