Christmas Letter 2009

Top ten U2 Songs that defined 2009 for me!

10. “Lady With the Spinning Head” – I’m so grateful to have the perfect job for me! I have now been at Goodrich Aerostructures for almost two years. I work in the Supply Chain and travel around the world helping our suppliers become more efficient using the Toyota Production System (Lean) Tools. I work with the nicest people! We’ve gone through a lot of changes and unfortunately members of our team have left us to pursue other things (retirement or Goodrich Euro). Barry, Olivier, and Alex are sorely missed. I’m so glad our paths crossed! Thanks for what each of you taught me this year and last. The year with work has been crazy and there have been many times where I’ve been “spinning” but it’s been great every step of the way. I love traveling all over the place and being able to see old friends and roommates and meet new people from Wisconsin, Ohio, Maryland, other parts of California, and Malaysia. It’s been a great year! Thanks Bob and Martin for taking a chance on me!

9. “Even Better Than the Real Thing” – When Jenny moved in we decided to try different restaurants in the San Diego area. I encourage anyone that comes to visit to try the local “interesting cuisine”. Jenny and I have most enjoyed the sushi across the street and their “Monthly Roll” and Crazee Burger where I had my first taste of kangaroo, gator and bison. Mmmmm….tasty!

8. “When I Look at the World” – I am always amazed at what I learn from other cultures. One of my most memorable trips this year was with my good friend Jennyanne Parr Anderton. We saw the beauties that Italy had to offer: Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Venice, hiked the Duomo in Florence, saw the “David”, Roma, ate TONS of gelato, learned the benefit of tours by blackberry, and much more. It was a great trip. Along the way we found new friends from around the world (Pete and Karen, Pat and Jo, and the Del-Linz family) that took care of us. From the experience I came home a changed person. Thank you Jennyanne for insisting on going to Italy. It was a trip to remember!

7. “Where the Streets Have No Name” – Malaysia, what can I say about Malaysia? But that it is a beautiful country with the nicest people I have ever met! The country is covered in palm trees. The food is almost unbearably hot. I’m not kidding folks, it’s HOT (burn the back of your throat for over an hour hot). But it was great! Fahzany, Suriani, Ayman, the Zuls, and Saru were great hosts and hostesses. Things that happened whilest there: a lizard crawled up my leg during dinner, I ate food I have no idea what it was but it was tasty, learned that McDs has a VIP drive-thru line, the A340 all business class by SingAir is the greatest plane on earth even when you are sick, and I made some of the greatest friends. See you next year! ☺

Did you know that the Mission Inn in Riverside is haunted? In October a couple co-workers and I went on a “Haunted Tour” of the Mission Inn by Blackberry. It was AWESOME! We even got to go under the Mission Inn in the catacombs. I highly recommend it! Don’t worry, Aunt Alice won’t get you, she’s a singer…

6. “City of Blinding Lights” – Sometimes it seems like Disneyland is more than the happiest place on earth! I must have gone to Disney over 12 times this last year. From pouring rain and riding the Matterhorn (Tasha, “every corner I’m getting soaked!”), to family trips of 12 people (12 is the EXACT number needed to fill most of the cars on the rides. I’ve never had a more efficient day than the day with Aaron, Pat and their families. Come to think of it, I don’t think ANYONE has had a more efficient day there than that day.), eating corn dogs (converting people to eating corn dogs - Tash, seriously people they are the best in the world) and just spending all night running around with friends and family. I’ve got a deluxe pass this year! Bring it on!

5. “Magnificent” – It was an incredible experience seeing my nephew Lance turn eight and get baptized. I’ll never forget the feeling that I had watching him step into the waters of baptism. He’s an incredible kid (like all my niece and nephews). His testimony strengthened mine.

4. “No Line on the Horizon” – There is no end to Heavenly Father’s plan. I have loved continuing to work at the San Diego Temple this year. The shift is VERY early in the morning on Saturdays. But every moment has been wonderful. I’ve been able to work with many men and women who are coming to the temple for the first time. God’s blessings are endless!

3. ”Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own” – Living with Lisa and Jenny has been a great blessing in my life. We laugh constantly! 5am Pilates, So You Think You Can Dance TV, “Lisa if we buy the ingredients…will you make it?”, Murder She Wrote, broken arms, Disneyland, “Have I got a song for you!” (With or Without You, Circus), no washer and dryer, “Thai food is spicy to the tongue” (Castle), and last but best of all: Friendship. Thanks ladies! You’re wonderful and I’ve enjoyed every minute, here’s to 2010!

2. “With or Without You” – What can I say about family? I love them. It has been so much fun watching the kids (niece and nephews) grow up and become the great people they are. I don’t think that I could ever properly thank my parents, brothers and grandma. Thank you for just being you. It’s so great living only a couple hours away rather than 12. ☺

1. “All I Want is You” – All I want is U2!!!! Yes folks I lived one of my childhood dreams! Thanks to perfect planning (and a little help from above in the form of a Welsh family and an extra ticket that worked). Jennyanne and I were able to see U2 in their home town, Dublin Ireland! What an incredible concert! We were about 20 rows back but got some of the most incredible pictures! There is nothing better than seeing them live in their element. I love the Irish! Truly an unforgettable moment for me. And then I got to see them again in Vegas with Cheryl and Cynthia! Huzzah! Here’s to turning 30 next year!

Well, thanks to all of you for being you and having been in my life. I hope that this Holiday Season leaves you all with gladness and joy. I love the holiday season where we can recognize God’s hand in our lives. I have truly been blessed throughout my life. I wish you and yours with all the blessings heaven has to offer.

Love,

Michelle, Meesh, Mish, Scullie, Scullinator, Shell-bell, etc.

To see more please log on to my Facebook page. Loves!

Catch Up

I know many of you might be wondering what the heck happened to me....Well, a lot has happened and the long anticipated (as if I have enough readers) top 10 travel log for the end of the year and last week has come! :)

First...CHINA! November 2008

10. Moutai smells like lighter-fluid and comes in a bottle that looks like lighter-fluid, why would anyone drink that? Ladies and Gentlemen, I learned this last trip that if you are someone that doesn't drink, like me, you do the following, "I'm sorry, I don't drink for religious reasons. But, Tou has informed me that he will be drinking my share for this evening."
9. Fitting four americans into one taxi cab to save money really doesn't make a difference when you find out your trip cost 25 cents.
8. Parrots in the US speak english and parrots in China speak Chinese, "Ne Hou Ma?" I'm not really sure why this surprised me, but it did...
7. We learned a whole new meaning to Hanedashi - or "to vigorously expel", Thanks Barbara!
6. Watching a bunch of Chinese high officials make paper airplanes and yelling in Chinese to make it go faster was hilarious!
5. Each part of the great wall that I walk I learn something new. This section had a maze attached to it. So when the enemy made it over the wall, they were still dazed and confused. Pretty ingenious if you ask me!
4. You know you're in China when you see everyone on a bike, people sweeping the freeway, cyclos on the freeway, etc.
3. Pulling silk is harder than it looks. Mike, Barbara, Barry, Bruce and I had a really hard time with it. "Here, let the ladies take care of that, they can fix the mistakes..."
2. Dumplings in Xi'an are still the best!
1. I never get over the culture and history of China. I am amazed by it! And it's true what they say, "The Olympics make everything magical" We saw the "cube" it's incredible to see a whole building change colors like that! I'll post pictures I promise!


Alabama December 2008:

10. Bama Pride! "Crimson Tide" Everybody wears something with Alabama on it, purses, shirts, hats, socks, ties, etc.
9. Everything is fried I had the following: Pickles (Which were the best!), Okra, Shrimp, Onions, Scallops, etc.
8. SO GREEN!!! Gorgeous green oak trees and fields. Amazing
7. I swear I gained 10 pounds in one week: Gumbo, Whiskey Steaks, Hush Puppies, Keylime Pie, Grits, the list goes on and on...
6. I love the accent, but I am a mimicker, I slipped into the accent a time or two. My favorite phrase from the whole week was in reference to someone level loading work as "Peanut butter spreadin'"!! LOL
5. It was the week before the "Big Game" Alamaba/ Florida...Football is life! I had a blast teaching them about the "Holy War" BYU vs UofU...Who knew that a couple weeks later the U would crush Alabama?!
4. I don't know what it is about the South, but it seems like there are outlet stores everywhere!
3. Houses on stilts, I don't think I'll ever get used to that...
2. I love the Southern Hospitality. It's SOOOO true! I loved the plant and Foley. Such a great place!
1. Beautiful WHITE sand beaches! "Alabama...Who Knew?!" Seriously some of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. I loved it. But the threat of hurricanes on the Gulf scare me.

North Hollywood January and Last week 2009:

10. Met a lot of famous people: Chucky, Dracula, some kid named Adam "Hi Adam"...yeah scary!
9. Walked the street walk with all the Stars
8. Saw the famous "Hollywood" sign
7. Stood on Harrison Ford's feet imprints at the Grauman's Chinese Theater! :)
6. Drove down the amazingly SHORT Rodeo Drive
5. Almost convinced someone in the group to get a tattoo because the other two of us won't. ha
4. If you go to Hollywood, make sure that you go with someone who has never been there, we had Tammy from Foley Alabama. It was a riot. Loved the Southern drawl in Hollywood :)
3. If you want a real taste of Burbank, go to Target after 9pm. You meet some very interesting people. One individual told me his philosophy on life and another lady offered me a job in finance for Citibank. Who knew?
2. U2 was on David Letterman every night that week!
1. The new U2 album came out while I was there.

I promise I'll post pictures soon! Thanks for your patience! Loves!