ChinGear

Just three days of ten hour shifts this week and I was cruising. 

Just three hours of driving before Greg sent me the hotel address I was headed for. 

Just another two hours of driving before I realized the address he sent me was in Yuma, AZ. 

And another four before I finally made it to LA. 

"Our family is so strange, we should be
cast in Stranger Things as the demigorgons."

Thanksgiving was tight in the cramped studio apartment, but it was with the Chins, so no complaints. We watched movies and stopped watching movies so we could watch more movies. We ate food and we played games - including Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Flux, and a trivia game. 

The signature manspread. 

I started Shan's favorite book series while the rest of the family played. I'm like the Derek of books - I stop reading books so I can read more books. Not even mad. 

We took D's car to the shop and he borrowed Alex (mine) for the weekend. She needs an oil change prettttyyy bad, but I wasn't anticipating so much driving on this trip. 

Those tortillas sustained us.

First Hollywood adventure was to the Observatory, from which we had a beautiful view of the sunset and Hollywood signs. I like seeing the close-up slow-mo's of the sun surface. And the night sky. Even if I fell asleep during the presentation. 

The inception of ChinGear started here. Get ready for family reunion gear. 

"They sure did do a a good job of hiring people:
a lot of them look like little trolls."

Universal was an adventure to be repeated. I try to play down my nerdiness - but sometimes I just have to face up. I loved Hogsmeade and everything in it. The ride was awesome and exhilarating and I wish I could play real quidditch. The stories and the magic are wonderful and they did a great job at recreating. 

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."

Other highlights included the Jurassic Park ride - a water ride with a huge, sheer drop that I was not quite expecting. Water world - which I thought was going to be a dolphin show and ended up with an airplane crashing into the pond. The Single Rider line at the Mummy ride that happened to let us all ride together. The Studio tour - which took us through some boss 4D simulation sets. 

We ended the weekend with a trip to Johnny Rockets, a complementary complimentary postcard from a Russian man, and a long carried home (after deciding that Greg is the worst bed-sharer). 

"You're the predator, ya nasty!"

Things I realized about marriage:

1. I'm not sure I could marry someone who doesn't like to read. 

2. I get why people go stargazing. It's rather nice. But only if nobody talks.

3. It'll be nice to always be able to use the HOV lane on trips. 

WISDOM

Ask and ye shall receive: This is a real principle. Ninety percent of my life is only possible because I unabashedly ask for things. Like food. 

• Cookies and fries. We were at FHE this week (frisbee/volleyball), and I was looking forward to there being cookies. I expressed my disappointment at the lack thereof and we jokingly asked our leaders for cookies and some kind of nacho fries. John and Bart (team MVP's) eagerly agreed and took us out for second dinner. Love them. They still aren't invited to Fight Club.

MVPs though. 

• Computer hacking skills. Rather than actual monetary compensation for my personal training services, Peter is trading me for coding lessons. Because I asked. So if my blog gets to be really posh and high-tech, that's why. I'm excited for yet another useful skill. 

• Ice cream and French. Saturday Stake Conference was B-O-M-B. Hugo - funniest Spaniard you've never met. And there was some clutch ice cream afterwards and (per my request) Andrew Deppe hooked me up with seconds. And the mustached stake food guy got me thirds. AND Andrew introduce me to Noah, who just got back from Congo Kinshasa and speaks beautiful French and (per my request) talked to me for a long time and that's the story of the best day of my life. 

• Old people and KOTD. Jackie hooked me up with some inpatient volunteer hours. Highlight: this 90+ year old woman saw my Jordan's and could not STOP commenting on how classy they looked and asking details on pricing/how to purchase. Can't wait for her to start rolling around the hospital in these suckers. But emphasis on the hookup. 

Christmas cards with her little family. 

• Spiritual blessings. This is a twofer. First, I refused to attend Institute until Rod asked me to come. (For normal humans, it might be more enticing to have a peer invite you, but not this kid.) And second, the missionaries asked Heidi's fiancé when he wanted to be baptized and now it's a real thing. Ask hard questions. Another great example: Who do you love?

• Directions to the Kitchen. I'm never afraid to ask for directions because I'm the literal worst navigator even with Google and Apple maps. Which is good, because both attempted to lead me astray on my way to a colleague's birthday party with homemade enchiladas and wings. Obviously, not something I'm boutta miss out on. 

• Videography and Titling. Things to look forward to - a pokémon themed original rap with music video. And SO to Autumn, Keaton, and Cenita for helping a sister out when asked. 

Ketchum All: coming to a YouTube near you. 

Trip Highlight 6/792

Ten hour days aren't so bad. Actually, they seem the same length as a normal day until about 3 o'clock on Thursday when reality hits. But I had to make up a lot of hours for the day I'd be missing Friday.

Rod's Institute classes are always superb. He said first dates should be max 1h/$4. And I agreed - and then realized that I would probably still say no to quite a few...

Try the "Buttery Nipple" shot. 

Cen and I went out for drinks at Booty's - a Hutchins restaurant (by name only) if I've ever seen one. The drinks were subpar, but the company was good, so no complaints really.

Thursday, I drove my fruit basket home and picked up Autumn to get to the airport. I flew all night via Denver to Charlotte, NC, where I arrived at 3:30 my time. I picked up my rental Jeep (which is outlandishly expensive because I'm underage) and drove the two hours to High Point University.

One of the gates separating this haven from the sketch town.

There were about 15-20 other kids interviewing and we all arrived about the same time to a large room with tables and name tags. Naturally, I felt way more comfortable sitting with the teachers. We sat and chatted and teased one about her scandalous SC knowledge. It was nice.

They have super nice, state-of-the-art research/clinic/classroom facilities. And they come from an athletics base, which is ideal. The campus is beautiful (aside from the creepy 20-ft nutcrackers everywhere) and there are tons of stuff students can get for free - printing, arcade access, movies, etc.

Trev would love this.

I just don't know how I feel about it yet.

My actual interview were pretty good since I had already spoken to the professors. It ended up being more of a question/answer session for me.

Afterwards, I dropped off my rental and met up with Sam Boyd, my old apprentice from HS. I love her because she hates people, lives in isolation with her dog, teaches P.E., and is super nice.

Trip Highlights:

Indian Trail welcomes you!

• A giant straw man. 

• FB stalking and reminiscing.



Best fries. 

• Bojangles chicken, spiced fries, and cheer wine. 

• Wingate basketball and a drippy tower thing. 

• We both still have our LHS mugs.



Saved from Death Row.

• Geno.

• Losing bowling, soccer, track, and ping pong - but not by much.

• The "fun" room.

• The Russian chicken toy. 



I need more colors and denser trees. 

• Trees.

• Watching Hook. And Lemonade Mouth - which I was wayy into.

The Virginia Slice.

• Pizza the size of my face. 

• And French pastries. 

• Chocolate shakes. 

• Tyson chicken factory

• Nugs, not drugs. 

Sam Boyd, herself. 

I flew back early Sunday and went straight to church, where everyone made fun of me for wearing a jersey. At least I was there. And I actually played a game at Bo Jale's cookie night - "Gossip" where you make up outlandish lies about people.

Here for the Boos

(Un)fortunately, no takers.

The Stake put on a Halloween Carnival. Which ended up being a great time to just mingle - naturally, I talked to Rod and his wife almost the entire time. And crushing some kid in musical chairs.

 Tuesday was actual Halloween, so the whole gang dressed up as the Seven Dwarves, with Shea's daughter Isla as our Snow White. Classy kids.

Day time haunts.

I went trick or treating in a few friends neighborhoods, including Tom (and his whole Bible class, who were all waiting for me) and Peter (who didn't know I was actually coming).

Then I hung out with some kids back in my adult costume (which was actually much less scandalous than the bright blue tights of my childish one).

Institute, getting crunk. And by that,
I mean being responsible adults of course.

Wednesday turned into a girls night with Autumn, Payton, Cenita, and Addison. We had nachos, piña coladas, and watched New Girl. Note to all: Goya cream of coconut is available by pre-order only. 

I had a nice, long chat with Bryan before his impending move to Utah. Then he misled me, or rather, I misled myself, on the way to his farewell party. Still made it, just fashionably late.

RIP White House. 

I basically spent all day at work on Friday- early morning at the clinic, to personal training with Peter, to CCV Stars at night (my last). It was a long day, I was tired, and after this week, done with personal contact. I checked out for a bit.

Saturday was ideal. I slept in, took care of a few chores while watching Stranger Things II. Then I hit up the temple, calling my favorite human, Kenneth Gordon Hutchins en route. [The man who found a soap bear I carved for him almost 15 years ago.] I borrowed Bart's keys to shoot some hoops. I did some shopping and made myself a bomb-a smoothie and some more bread while talking to the fam.

The comeback.