Salt Lake City, UT

So I'm sitting in the lobby of the joseph smith memorial hall and thought I'd write an update. I am surrounded by kids. Little aryan kids. They are all rediculously beautiful (except for the chubby one that keeps trying to read this over my shoulder) but seriously: enough with the blonde hair and the blue eyes. Dirty up the gene pool a little guys. Or are your people not "down with the swirl?"

Every day that passes, I see new differences between the way cameron (my friend visiting from London) and I work: I don't like asking for directions (or anything from strangers) and saying you're from London when someone asks is much more impressive than saying you're from san francisco. Probably because of all our mexicans and butt sex. But it's probably a good thing he likes asking for directions, since he has the worst sense of direction ever. There are two visitors centers in Temple Square, and one for the city itself. We both waited for each other, each at the wrong center, before he finally figured out we hadn't had the same meeting place in mind.

Right now, cameron is out on the obersvation deck talking to two couples (each with 37 kids) while I sit in the lobby alone (save for aformentioned nosey chubster) typing away on my blackberry. For the most part everyone is incredibly kind, but there is definitely a perception that cam is the saintly one of the two of us, even though I'm not the one leaving every ten minutes for a cigarette or checking out the pretty mormon missionary sisters. But I did just see a movie about Joseph Smith and after, was overheard by an elder telling Cam that i wouldn't mind helping the actor that played JS "see God". so I guess we're not all perfect (at least I'm close).

The streets are rediculously wide here. A map will show your destination as two blocks away, and thirty minutes later, you get there. I guess because they had six horses pulling their carriages, they needed wide streets to turn around in. Well, up yours Brigham. My feet hurt.



We've been here for 3 days, and I'm sorry SLC, but that's 2 1/2 days too many. Downtown reminds me of San Francisco's Financial District on a saturday - empty streets and abandoned high rises; and yesterday morning, when searching for a good place to grab breakfast, it was suggested to us by a security guard that we either go to Carl's Jr or the Mall. No wonder this country has issues with morbid obesity.

But I'm glad I came. It's been very interesting learning about the Mormon faith as a Catholic. You realize that each religion believes it is the full testament of God and the only true religion. And while I do not subscribe to the Mormon faith, I generally respect it, since I know many people who have found great comfort in it.

But i can't help but giggle at the portraits of Joseph Smith being visited by Jesus and His Father in the forest. I mean...seriously??

look like a couple of Gibbs to me

Was Joseph visited by a higher power? or the BeeGees?