Adina couldn't make it to the concert tonight with Dave, Mom and I so Taylor was the next in line to default to when one of the parents can't make it. Isaac made it to James Taylor. Taylor makes it to, "HEART". Well, as it turned out, PaPa bought tickets in the seating section four rows back from the stage and at the right side. Now,this puts you pretty close to the singers, however, once we caught on to the protocol there, Taylor and PaPa ended up on the rail/fence in front of the stage, about two feet off the front of the stage and closer to the entertainers as you can see in the photos or film, whichever I am able to get uploaded. Taylor and I watched a young girl one person away from Taylor receive the drum sticks from Ben King, the drummer for Heart after the first goodbye. I know they were coming back to do a couple more so I told Taylor to stay up front with me and he might get a surprise after the last number. So, ends the last number and Mr. King walks down to the front of the stage right in front of Taylor and I and hands Taylor his own autographed set of drum sticks used in the last piece played for the audience tonight. I'll try to download that song and a picture of the happy recipient. I also, just plain enjoyed listening to Heart, one of my favorite rock groups. Listen on.....sorry, couldn't load the video.

I found these as I was looking for Tom's mission pictures....

Tom, hamming it up with the other missionaries

Now we know that Taylor got his face pulling from the Duker side as well!

Anne from Softball Days...I think about 1998 would be my guess

Dad at Basic Training-obviously posing! 130 lbs!

Quick update from me - I'm tired. I have too much to do. So, naturally, I am blogging.

Anyway, things are a bit stressed here this week. This will probably end up being my busiest week of the semester in regards to school work. One of my three classes is over this weekend. There is no final for the class, but instead we have case discussions. Basically these involve the prof giving us four different cases last week and telling us we have to prepare a 20-min presentation and analysis for one of the cases for this Friday and then moderate a 2-hour discussion with other class members about that case. Then we have to discuss the other three cases (for 2 hours each) with the other groups presenting. It all works out to a lot of work, group work no less, stress, 10 min of presentation time from just me and two full days, Friday and Saturday, of discussing (read arguing) over four company cases. Doesn't that sound exhausting?? Well, it is.

I'm more than halfway through the week at this point so I am pretty sure I will survive but I feel like I have gotten the majority of the work due to my enviable position as "THE native English speaker". This means that, of course, I know the best way to say everything and so I have to write out what needs to be said for our entire presentation and present the majority of it. Let's just say, at this point I haven't even read the other three presentations I am supposed to discuss and I have one day to get that up to snuff. Yuck. Oh and on top of this I have another group in another class that has meetings just about every day for a marketing "game" that I have to be constantly reading up on and make decisions for.

Anyway, this isn't my favorite part of studying abroad - the studying part. But, yes Mom, I know that is why I am here. I am frequently reminiscing of my last weekend in Paris (see my blog for the report on that, if you are interested) and looking forward to my next trip to London in a couple weeks.

It is getting cooler here. Still not cold but enough to need closed-toed shoes, a jacket and the occasional pair of gloves when you go out and to turn the heater on when inside. I hear it's burning hot in San Diego. Don't totally miss that part of the year but a good day in the warm sun would be pretty nice right about now. I warn you that I will probably look a little Cullen-like by the time I get back from here.

Ok...sleep is not going to be held off for much longer so I'd better get back to work. Great hearing from everyone - keep it up!

After 5 weeks of waiting, here they are! They already make a huge difference. She looked at my face like, "That's what you really look like!?" haha She says that "Outside looks silly!" She was scared to walk at first because her depth perception was off , but it is already catching on. She is watching Tinkerbell right now (she has seen it like 100 times) and she is saying wow at every part like she has never seen it. The doctor showed us what the world looked like to her... all I can say is Wow! It made me go cross eyed! I am SO glad we went in!