It's Christmastime in the City

Well as you already know Reza was in NYC for 2 weeks for work, and once I finished my finals and school work I went out to meet him!

Here are some highlights from the trip:

Seeing my cousins Libby and Tracy who I haven't seen in forever and now live in Brooklyn.
Hanging out with the Hardie's--Reza's old roommate/good friends from the BYU days.
Seeing my bff's Wendy and Hayley who came from DC and Philly to play with me.
Going to see Mary Poppins! It was a surprise early Christmas present--and it was Supercalifragilisticexpiladocious!
Seeing lots of other friends like Clinton and Doug and Kristen.
Watching the Today Show being filmed.
Seeing Jacob.
Shopping in NYC, and in Chinatown.
Eating burgers everyday.
Having breakfast at Norma's--apparently it's the best breakfast in the city.
Going to F.A.O Schwartz to see the Big Piano!
Just hanging out in the city with my husband and feeling the energy of the city.
Seeing the Rockefeller Christmas tree!
Going to the MOMA--and getting into the Van Gogh exhibit and taking an illegal pictures of Starry Starry Night which is Reza's favorite painting.

A Christmas Miracle

So Reza has been in NYC for two weeks for training, once I finished my finals I came up to meet him in the city for a long weekend. I got in Thursday night and we came home on Monday evening. Jacob knew Reza was going to be in NYC, and Reza was planning on going to "stop by" at the church Jacob goes on Sunday. But before he had a chance to go to church there, Jacob emailed Reza asking him not to drop by because he felt like it would be breaking the rules/guidelines. Obviously, Reza complied and we stayed away. I also feel it important to mention that 1.5 weeks ago when Reza was coming back to Ohio for the weekend, he ran into a bunch of missionaries at the JFK airport who were going back home from their missions in Russia---he bought them dinner.

Fast foward to last Friday. Reza had finished training, and I was in the city. We wandered around the city, met up with some friends and had planned to go to Time Square. Our friend who works in Manahattan was kind enough to let us store our luggage at his office at Rockafeller Center while we were tourists. We had talked about staying in the city later and going to Time Square etc...but we decided we were tired and just to go back to our friends for the evening. (This was small/insignificant decision number 1).

Small/insignificant decision number 2: Things were pretty insane at Rockafeller Center, and we were trying to drag around our luggage, plus it's kind of cumbersome to drag suitcases all over the subway. Along with our friends the Hardies, we decided just to take the subway instead of taking a cab.

So we get down to the train platform and I notice 2 missionaries. I realize we are in Manhattan, so therefore we are in Jacob's mission so I thought I would ask them if they know Jacob. I wave them over and ask if they know Elder Frost. Their faces light up--and that's when I noticed that their nametags say "American Sign Language". These two elder's LIVE with Jacob! I am like freaking out and ask if I can write a note that they can give to Jacob. They say sure, and we are thinking, wow what are the chances?

This is where it gets good....

So the Uptown Train arrives, I am writing a note and I walk unto the train, someone with us go "more missionaries" I look up and Jacob is LITERALLY right in front of me. We meet eyes, I am crying/laughing and everyone we are with are just blown away at the chances of that happening. It turns out they had spent their Friday night at the church watching movies with investigators and were headed home. We were on the train for a good 10-15 minutes today. Jacob hugged me, and he told me "Isn't Mahanttan the best city ever?" He also said "I used to think that 2 years was a very long time to serve, but now that I am so dedicated to the work I don't think 2 years is long enough." It was a very touching experience which truely was a miracle.

We feel as though we were all being blessed for serving missionaries and obeying the rules. It was a truly wonderful experience.

Above the Christmas at "the Rock"

Last week was the annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller center. I had the opportunity watch the "lighting" 21 floors above the action. My good friend Carl office over looks Rockefeller center. He let some of us watch from his office, we watched the NBC broadcast "live" on TV and from above.

Getting to Rockefeller center that night was half the adventure. The NYPD closed off many of the streets around the area. There was police vans with P.A. systems advising people to stay away from the area as all the viewing pens are full, and that the Jonas Brothers are NOT performing live...

I was stopped at a police checkpoint...Carl had to vouch for me and I had to give my scouts honor to the Police not to go to near the tree, that I would watch from a Building.

Below is a video that one of Carl's friend Reagan took:


Lighting the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center

A long way from the Shire...

I am in New York taking a two week training class for work. I have spent the last five days here in New York. I came in early to see my good friend and former roommate Carl and his wife Becca. Having never been to New York, I decided to explore the city by getting lost. I accompanied Carl to His office at Rockefeller Center, and from there I wondered the city from the far south tip to 110th street in Harlem.

I saw the filming of the today show first. From there I meant to walk from Rockefeller center to Times square and ended up walking the wrong way. As a result I found some cool buildings and wandered in to Grand Central Station.

I found Times Square, I was way, way, to early for TRL. Disappointed- I Boarded the next Subway train. Seemingly random I got on a train that was going to the south end of Manhattan. I took the subway until it ended at South Ferry. From there I walked all over the Financial district.

I walked and walked and walked, I knew the NYSE did not allow visitors. So I went to the AMEX, I asked the guy at the door if I could go in to check it out. I was told I couldn't.

For Lunch I met my friend Helen (a former ski buddy). She was moving to Harlem, so she suggested "soul food." We ate at this diner in Harlem that was amazing. So Amazing I can't remember the name. I had this BBQ chicken that was so sweet and juicy it fell off the bone. I thought to myself that our friend Zachy would love this place and could write pages and pages of commentary about it. I also thought of S. Jones who would be the guy who picked up and read old copies of Ebony Magazine. I thought of Christy who would have ordered a piece of the homemade pie.

Since my adventure in the city I have been camping out in Long Island. Our NYC office across the Jamaica bay from JFK airport. I am in an intensive training program to learn about Ocean Export products...

to be continued...

P.S. the Los Angeles Lakers are 15-2.

Scarlett and Gray

Few things are worse (IMO)...

I would say that there are few things on earth that I find more distasteful, despicable, putrid than a jazz fan AT a jazz home game. But the utah yewt fan at rice-eccles stadium is worse.
I have been to six of the last seven BYU/yewtah games; and have concluded this. So with the "Holy War" this weekend I would like to share the following links:

An NY Times Story on the "Holy WAR" Its titled "Fire, Brimstone and Football.

A Las Vegas Sun Story on how a BYU loss would earn the Conference a big payday...
Apparently the UNLV football team is taking a bus their San Diego State game tomorrow and could use the money... (BYU flys a JetBlue charter to it's away games)

A Denver post story on the cultural aspects of the "Holy War"

Its generally agreed that the biggest best baddest College Football Rivalry is Ohio State, Michigan. We will be attending the game tomorrow so I will see if Michigan fan can make my list of terrible sport fan.

A small perk for living in Columbus...

Gas Prices for the past 24 months. According to Gasbuddy.com Gas in Columbus is more than a dime less expensive than the US average.

St. Louis

Reza's dad works in Kuwait, and his little brother and sister live in St. Louis, and last weekend Reza's dad was in St. Louis as well---so we packed up the car and went on a road trip! We left Friday night at 10 and drove to Indianapolis, where we paid 1.97 per gallon of gas, we then woke up early Saturday morning to drive the rest of the way to St. Louis just in time to watch's Ali Joseph's soccer game.

We spent Saturday afternoon down at the Gateway Arch. It really is an amazing structure. And the weather was perfect. It was like 74 degrees and sunny the entire weekend. We ate lunch at a Persian/Italian restaurant and even went to the top of the arch. I personally have been to the top of the arch before--I think I was 4 years old, and I slept the whole time. The little elevators to the top of the arch are these cool little pods that you climb in, then they crank up to the top. The top of the arch is not very big, and very crowded, but still totally worth it.

The next day we spent the morning at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, which I think are the largest such gardens in the US. It was beautiful, and the gardens were perfect. After a lunch at the garden cafe we headed home. All in all it was a great, albeit quick, trip.

NOOOOOOOOOO

It's true, they have broken up. And Deanna actually pulled the "I love you, but I'm not in love with you line." I am so disappointed.

Remember the Camry?

Don't worry, she is still alive. But remember how I mentioned that the driver's side window had fallen down, and we had to screw it shut? This is important to the following story.

We got one of those postcards in the mail that says you get 250 dollars in free gas, and 2 nights at a hotel. We called the number to redeem our prize. Long story short you have to go to this meeting, they try to sell you a 10,000 dollar membership to a travel club and basically try to hussle you. Anyways our meeting was at 8 pm, and I have class until 7:15.

I had told Reza at 5:30 that I was going to eat some fast food during class, and that he needed to stop and get something on the way home from work. But he didn't.

So we have to stop before we go to this meeting (by the way they said we got a $500 dollar visa gift card for showing up on time). I am driving and we stop at Taco Bell on the way. I am one car away from the ordering microphone and realize that the driver's side window won't roll down. At this point I start getting the giggles, and I make Reza yell his order out the back window.

But then we have to go to the pick up window. I am beyond mortified at this point, Reza climbs into the back seat so that he can pay and pick up his food. It was so GHETTO-FABULOUS/AWESOME.

Conspiracy Theory

I will be the first to admit that I am not a regular flosser. I floss when there is obviously something in my teeth, and maybe 2-3 times a week (though it's usually a half-hearted effort). Reza on the other hand is a very regular flosser. He thinks it's gross I don't floss more.

Anyways we both just went to the dentist for a regular cleaning after about 2 years of not going. I had no cavitities, and the dentist was impressed with my teeth. Reza on the other hand had 4 cavitities. One of which may need a crown because it's where a filling is and they have already replaced that filling 3 times.

I think that flossing really just pushes all that microscopic bacteria further down into our teeth and gums causing these cavitites. But dentists--being the greedy people they are--tell us it's good for our teeth because we all know they make more money while filling or crowning a tooth.

Worth It

So early in the week I was listening to the radio and heard them say that David Archuletta would be singing the National Anthem at the Upper Arlington vs. Dublin Coffman high school football game Friday.

I wanted to go.

It was pouring down rain, 50 degrees.

Reza's job is lame, so he wasn't able to meet me at the game.

I sat by myself in the rain at an away high school football game, to which I really have no connection.

But....I have new rain boots.

And hearing Archie sing live.....gave me chills.

So it was worth it.

And the Bears won!

Monday Night Football

Cleveland Browns Vs. New York Football Giants.


Our Tickets were left at will call, the guys in front of us in line were asking for tickets left for them by Willie McGinest. The dudes behind us said a Player left them tickets and told me "We should have great seats! I hope they are Club Seats!" Christy asked for our tickets, a thick envelope was revealed; two field passes along with tickets were revealed! I was bursting with excitment- I took off running to the gate. Minutes later I was greeted by our Friends Megan and Lance.

We walked around absorbing it all in, Standing behind the Cleveland Bench We were introduced to the Phil Savage (GM for the Browns). Watching the Browns warm up was so cool, I was amazed at the size and athletisim of the players.

I stood twenty yards away from them watching Anderson and Quinn throw perfect spiral after perfect spiral.






The visiting team warms up in front of the DAWG POUND. I passed the gaggle of reporters around Eli Manning to watch the Defence, I was hoping to get the attention of Bryan Kehl. The rookie from BYU. I watched Justin Tuck walk up to the dawg pound and tell them "we used to respect you, we used to respect you back in the early nighty's, we don't respect y'all anymore."
(that is Big Dawg wearing 98)


And then there was the game, I could not ask for a better game. The energy and atmosphere in the staduim was electric. We stood for most of the game. And there was much to stand and cheer for-the Browns did not Punt or get sacked. Every one of there possesion ended in a score.

A special thank you goes out to Aunt Bean, Megans Aunt who made this all possilble.

A haiku trubuite:

Full Moon Monday Night
Must win for Brownies, Go Team
eli defeated

1/4 century

I turned 25 last Saturday. Maybe it's just me but 25 just seems a LOT older then 24. It's like by 25 you are supposed to have life figured out or something. Anyways Reza and I spent Saturday with each other. We ate breakfast together, went to the Buckeye game together and with friends, watched BYU play, and went to Wal-mart. On Sunday, Reza had a 1/2 surprise party (as in I knew people were coming over, but I did not know who he had invited).

It was wonderful. Sometimes I whine because I don't think I have a lot of friends here. Boy was I wrong. I have a lot of great, wonderful, supportive friends! It was a great day.

PS. I failed to mention the Camry has 242,967 miles on it.

Ode to the Camry

Dear Bluebell,

I am sorry that I cried when you were purchased in 2001. I was only sad because you weren't a stick shift, didn't have a sun roof, and because you are incredibly blue and not cherry red.

I am very proud of you--my 1993 Toyota Camry. You survived Jenny, Jacob and me. You also made it through a trip to Utah, and then back again. I am happy that the only maintenance you seem to require are oil changes. Except for that one time the power steering fluid holder exploded.

I would have been very sad if that person who ripped off the drivers door handle had been successful in taking you. And I am glad that Dad was able to fix it as only he could. I do wish though that the lock on the driver's side door would work so we didn't always have to unlock you using the passenger side. I also your radio wasn't so temperamental, and that the air conditioner worked. I will also forgive you for a passenger side window that has been screwed shut, and try to look past that the driver's side window just feel down this week. I realize that all these things just make you who you are. I recognize that you are your own vehicle.

I am proud to say that we are apart of the 90% of Camry's from 1990 on that are still on the road. Please still be apart of that 90% in the year 2009.

Love,

Christy (and Reza)

Now that's classy

I am taking a class about reading difficulties/reading assessments this quarter.

The professor is a middle-aged woman who is from Alabama. She has quite the southern accent, plus she is pretty loud and somewhat outspoken. This class is also one of the most disorganized classes I have ever participated in.

The following things have come out of her mouth:

"I am a nationally known expert on childhood literacy, I go around the country teaching people this stuff."

"I am a pretty darn good classroom teacher."

And so on. She makes it very apparent she gets paid a lot to do these kind of things.

The first day of class she was also wearing a silky, loose, black, jacket thing which was featuring the following print:
How am I supposed to take this nationally known expert seriously with her southern drawl, and neon cat silky jacket thing which features neon cat faces?

Oh academia.

Karma

So maybe there has been a 5 day marathon of CSI:NY on Spike TV.
So maybe I have watched several episodes daily.
So maybe I get really into these shows and HATE not seeing the ending.
So maybe I missed 30 minutes of a riveting episode to go to school.
So maybe when I got home the same episode was on so I can see the ending.

Reza sounds a lot like Earl (minus the sweet mustache) and he would have told me that this was karma.

All I Want

Is a dishwasher.

You don't have to walk...

We acted like pioneers this past week. Oddly enough we were hit by Hurricane Ike last Sunday. It was very windy for an afternoon, but it was enough to down power lines and rip trees out of the ground. We had sustained winds of 79 miles an hour which qualifies as a category 1 hurricane. It's funny, I always told Reza I liked living in Ohio cause of it's minimal risk of natural disasters. Hurricanes in Columbus, who knew?! Anyways, here are a couple of pictures. We were without power for 4 days, and without cable/internet for 7! I know what you're thinking-- "How did they survive?" But we did, and we have tales to tellThese lines were right across the street.

For better pictures of more damage in the area check out my families blog: http://fabulousfrostfamily.blogspot.com

Being Domestic

Yes I may be a serious grad student, but studying does not even amount to the majority of my life. I love being domestic---especially when it comes to sewing and quilting. I realize that "quilting" does not conjure up images of a 24 year old, newlywed, grad student, but I am hooked. I actually started sewing years ago, I was a member of 4-H and my sewing project I made in 4th grade won the Franklin County Fair and I competed at the State Fair (which I did not win).

I became re-interested in sewing when my Mom picked up quilting a few years ago. I have jumped on the bandwagon with my Mom and all her friends. I crash their weekly quilting groups when I can, and I really enjoy picking out patterns, fabric and creating something beautiful.

Here is a picture of my first "real" quilting project. I have made simpler quilting projects, but this is the first one that I have quilted and bound. It's my Mom's Christmas present. I also really like making bags/purses. I finished this one this morning. For really cool fabrics, and free patterns check out this website: Amy Butler Designs. The bag is one of her patterns, she does a lot of really cool stuff!

PS. If you are into quilting--Amish country is the place to go. They have great quilts, and amazing fabric selections. I went yesterday with my Mom. It was a blast!

Thank You

Thank you to each soldier who has risked their lives to protect mine.
Thank you to New York's finest for putting others well-beings ahead of theirs.
Thank you to each and every person who does the right things for the right reasons.
Thank you to everyone who has died to protect this Country, our Freedoms, and the Freedoms of Others.
Thank you for making our world a better place to live.
Thank you to each person who works hard so that I do not live in fear daily.
Thank you to everyone who understands the blessings of being and American and does what they can to protect and spread those rights.
Thank you.

Politics

Well...I am the first to admit I am pretty apathetic when it comes to politics. However, during the last couple of weeks I have realized that I need to be a responsible voter and in order to be that I need to figure out how I feel about the issues first. It's been an interesting road to try and organize my thoughts and feelings in such a manner that I can articulate them concisely. I am still working on that, so I won't bore you with them now.

Earlier today (while I was watching the Special Olympic Edition of Oprah) a man came to the door who was campaigning for a democratic candidate for the House of Representatives. He asked if he could ask me a couple of questions, and I said sure but I am not voting for her.

This was the rest of the conversation:

Him: "What about the presidential election?"

Me: "What about it?"

Him: "Who are you voting for?"

Me: "McCain."

Him: "That's too bad." (This was said with a very arrogant tone, and a look of disgust.)

Me: "I don't think so."

Now is it just me or do we live in America and we have the right to chose. Shouldn't those freedoms and opinions be respected? If I were the lady he was campaigning for I would not want him out trying to sway voters.

And as far as the whole Presidential election: what if I don't really like either of them?

What up Washington?

Trip highlights:
1) the Wal-mart customer service lady's phone ringing while helping us, and then she took it out of her bra to see who was calling
2) singing the National Anthem while looking at the flag flying on the US Capital building while accompanying by the National Symphony Orchestra
3) enjoying salmon for the first time (I have had it before, this just marks the first time I really enjoyed it)
4) being with Reza while he experienced DC for the first time
5) helping Miss Wendy set up her 3rd classroom for the 3rd time
6) seeing a homeless man sleeping in the middle of the sidewalk while wearing a t-shirt and his skivvies
7) seeing an overabundance of shirts worn as dresses
8) the best grilled cheese ever! (Tuscany Cafe in Georgetown)
9) riding on an underground train between senate office buildings and the Capital building
10) watching BYU play at the Hyatt sports bar

AHH!

The neighbor's dog has been barking non-stop for at least 2 hours. Usually it only barks for like 10 minutes when the mailman comes. I am going insane....especially since it's one of these:
I am really not a fan of small, white, yippy dogs. There are people outside repaving the parking lot....but the dog dosen't go nuts when the landscapers come. It's driving me nuts! ahh!

Another First...

I got a 4.0 this semester. (Jenny is the one that always achieves such grades...she promised to send me a "student of the month" certificate).

A Ghazimoradi First

We just bought our first box of trash bags. There were a lot left at our apartment when we moved it. Also for the record, we have only bought 1 Costco size toilet paper and paper towels and have yet to run out of either (6 months and running!).

0.01 seconds to Greatness

We were two of the 66 million Americans who watched Michael Phelps catch Cavic from behind to win his 7th gold medal in the 2008 Olympics. As with most of America we have been watching all of Michael Phelps swims. It was watching history.

The next day the American relay team captured gold in the 4 x 100m medley relay. It was such a big deal Kobe and Lebron showed up to watch!

I know how everyone here in the US has been talking about Michael Phelps, the media has overwhelmingly covered this. But I wanted to know what people outside the USA thought about this. I went to BBC news, it wasn't the cover story but it made the front page.

So I want to add my thoughts on the discussion " Where does Michael Phelps rank among the world greatest individual athletes?"

Some thoughts:
*Rodger Federer lost his number 1 ranking this last week, the ranking he has had since February, 2004. Four and a half years of being Number one.

*Tiger Woods has been ranked the worlds number one golfer for over 500 weeks over the past ten years. Voted AP male athlete of the year three times

*Michael Johnson still holds the current world records in the 200m, 400m and 4 x 400 m relay. He also has ran the fastest 300 m of all time, He won four gold medals and was crowned world nine times.

*Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France SEVEN times. (I know he did it with great teammates just like Phelps) Voted AP player of the year 5 times.

I'll post my rankings later this week. I welcome your comments.

It must be love.

I changed the background to be a mostly-masculine blue/black/white because it's almost football season and Reza loves the Cougars. Don't worry, it will be some sort of Red prior to the big OSU/Michigan game.

Marvin Gaye Brings soul to Team USA

I invite you to watch this awesome video montage set to Marvin Gaye's rendition of the Star Spangled banner A great way to spend 2:32 of your life.

Some of my comments on this:

*You can see how ripped Kobe is.
*Boozer actually dunks the basketball.
*Kidd is really light skinned compared to the rest of Team USA.
*It is really cool to hear the crowd clap to the beat at the Great Western Forum.

All in the Family

Jenny and Madelyn were able to come to Ohio for a week. We had a great time, and Maddy is a great baby! Here is the Frost Girl shot.

7 girls

So I pretty much had the best group of friends ever in high school. There were 7 girls (me, alexandra, claire, jean, julia, katie and megan) and 2 boys (danny and steve). While we now live literally coast to coast (from Palo Alto, CA to NYC to Chicago to Columbus to Charlotte, NC), we all manage to see each other at least once a year. Lucky for me 4 of us have gotten married in the last year giving us even more reasons to all see each other. Julia got married on Saturday and we were all back together again. Julia looked amazing, her new husband Jack is great, and the wedding was fabulous.

Pathetic

My sister will be very mad at me, but I will confess: Reza's mom, and our niece Farrah were here for 5 days and I took 3 lame pictures. It will be one sad looking scrapbook page.

While my lack of pictures may be pathetic, having Romina and Farrah here was not. We had a great time! We spent a day in Kirtland touring all of the church historical sites. Farrah and Romina also went to the zoo and COSI. We spent time with my sister (who was in town with baby Maddy). We also went out to eat and made sure we all had brand new Buckeye gear.
So we ate at the Burger King next to this restaurant. If you can't read the bottom line on the sign it says "where there's smoke, there's fire!" Well if you can't tell the Texas Cattle Company is closed because a fire destroyed it.