Rainy Day in the City

Chris, Alex, Jess, Meredith with some shady characters
Meredith's friend Chris came to visit from Utah and of course the day we planned to go into the City it was pouring rain. But we still had a great time, getting wet, having chocolate sundaes, and playing tourist. I feel it is necessary to play tourist at least once every four months partly because it is vital to polish your tour-guiding abilities (for when other guests come) and partly because otherwise you get stuck in the mundane and forget about the awesome place you reside in.

Days in the Bay

Heather (HC), Mr. Pookie, and Mike. Yes, those are rubber ducky pajamas! Mike is my HERO!
Saturday morning Mer, Mikey, Keena Walters, and I went out to breakfast after WoCo. While we were waiting we saw this little girl and the Sponge Bob balloon man and I couldn't resist. Older photo of Mer, Nic, Mike, and I. Mer hates touching! Hehe...so this is us helping her "practice" hugging. As you can see, she looks thrilled to be there.
Mikey napping in the Salon, prior to her amazing hair sculpting with Gustavo! Mike and I were out, those chairs were comfortable!
Mer post-Gustavo hair sculpting! Her hair looks great!

Oscar Night---FHE Style

No, we did not attend the real Oscars. We did however have celebrities in our mists. Matthew McConaughey, Michael Scott, Lance Armstrong, Hilary Clinton, and Google to name just a few. Mikey and I definitely looked amazing enough to make the "Best Dressed" list in People magazine! All the FHE groups had spent months making mini-films and then we all got dressed up and viewed the films. The winner of the best film was the "FHE-Office", let's hope it gets on YouTube soon! My favorite film moment is a toss up between Brooke Crosland playing Angela from The Office or Meredith Bergin's hair tossing. Hard decision! Too hard! They tie.May I point out four things in this photo: 1) Mikey's hot red handbag/wrap duo. 2) Mikey's heels! 3) Mikey is NOT a whole head taller than me! (Please refer to point #2) 4) Mikey did my eye make-up (a new skill that she's developing and I'm happy to be the test dummy).

We were sure how the wrap worked initially.

Mikey and I at our real heights!

The Human Christmas Tree!

In December we had a ward Christmas party and Mikey had the awesome idea to make a Human Christmas tree. The Human Christmas Tree only has two requirements: one green person and at least one red person. Beyond that people are able to freely express their artist abilities and philosophies. The first picture is Mike, Mer, Nic, and I at the Christmas party. Obviously you see the Human Christmas Tree is expressing peace, happiness, and a slice of a Broadway show flare. The second was taken last week after Mikey and I attended the Oscars. We figured since we met the two requirements to make a Human Christmas Tree, we better create one, especially for Meredith. In this tree we are exciting hotness and a thrill for life. Side note: If you look at the 2nd photo from the waist up, it kind of looks like Mikey is trying to baptize me. (What an apostate!) :)

Apples to Apples and MASH

Preface: Karren, Roni, Maren, and I were recently released from the RS presidency and we felt the occasion deserved some real celebrating. What we did: Had a legit slumber party as adults (It was obviously at my place because I only do "sleepovers" when I get a bed (preferably my own)).

Apples to Apples:First let me say that I am not that fond of this particular game. It is way too subjective to actually be competitive, which let's face it I play games because I LOVE competition (almost to a fault). Yet, when you play this game with Karren Thomas, Roni Lane, and Maren Pearson; combine large quantities of sugar and my late night delirious humor this game becomes extremely entertaining! Classic moment: We had been boasting throughout the evening about our favorite people in the ward (Peter Finlayson and Mike Orgill). We adore them both and KT and I tend to swap adoring comments daily about them! So when the adjective was Awesome, I used my wild card and opted to use Peter Finlayson (I figured I had that round in the bag). Roni must have had too much cheese and Kool-Aid because she picked Maren's card! Please! Sorry Peter, we have since explained how the word "Awesome" is your middle name! :)

Various quotes that the four of us might only find funny include but aren't limited to these: Jess: Taking pictures of cards is hard. (This was super late, remember) Maren: I have showered occasionally this week. Jess's response: Awesome! We thought the adjectives that we won fit us so well that they deserved a blog post, hence the comment about taking the pictures!

As for MASH, like all games of MASH the results remain in the sisterhood. Let's just say that while I ended up being poor as a church mouse and living in N.C., my husband was a catch and an accountant to boot. As for Roni, the opposite happened. Too bad money doesn't bring true happiness, but you'll always have the Phoenix Suns! :) HEHE!

For anyone that really knows me, the Fabulous and Arrogant cards are dead giveaways that these ones are mine.

Any guesses? The perfect and lucky card is where the hint is. Yes, Roni! Mostly so lucky because she spends time with us!

This one kind of represents Maren (that is what we were thinking until we got to Pure). Now we aren't sure? Maybe there was a fifth player that was invisible. That has to explain it.

KT is the only one left, easy guess. The top two are so fitting!

Karren impersonating Mike Orgill (whom we love!) in PEC Meeting. It is kind of scary how well she pulls off the face!

Roni is still smiling after a week of only sleeping two hours a night. What a trooper or insane person! Whatever one you prefer. Those three stayed up until 4 am and 6 am respectively, the girl with an 80 year old body hit the hay at 1:30 am. I'm still wondering how they pulled it off. Maren drinking more Kool-Aid...no wonder she lasted until 6 am! Karren still pleasant at that hour....amazing. I have a hard and fast rule that no photos are taken of me past 11 pm for good reasons. :)

Missy Higgins and the Search for the Phantom Wendy's

Preface to actual evening: I LOVE Wendy's! I'm the girl that when I fly home to Idaho my Dad has my favorite comida (Spicy Chicken, Fries, and a Dr. Pepper) waiting when I get off the plane. Yes, my Dad LOVES me! Keep this deep love of Wendy's in mind as the story below unfolds.

It all started with Mikey and I discussing our desire for Wendy's prior to the Missy Higgins concert last night. Mikey used her Google Maps Recon skills to procure directions to the 4 closest Wendy's. After a mid-day chat with Heather about what to order that evening, our mouths were salivating! Meredith and I should have guessed the evening would go awry after our attempt to win the Darwin awards for the evening by filling Mikey's car tires with air.

Our Wendy's of choice was in Daly City. While the Google Map was vague regarding the exit, we were determined and prepared like Boy Scouts with backup locations. If anyone knows the actual exit that Mission St is on, please email Google! After a quick drive-by in Daly City, we opted for procuring our chief navigator (Heather, who from this point on will be referred to as HC) and find a Wendy's in the City. Please note that about five years ago, my family was in San Francisco and one night we were starving and stumbled upon a Wendy's on Market St. To no avail we never saw the Wendy's that once was. Off to Pine St to satisfy our Frosty needs. After driving through the Tenderloin district (please keep all eyes forward, doors locked, and limbs inside the vehicle at all time!), we came to Pine only to find that it was One-Way. No fear HC quickly directed us to California St. to back track to Pine St. We were so close. You could practically smell the salt and grease of the fries. Once again the One Way streets were trying to deter our mission, but Mer and I opted for a good old-fashion "jump out of the car and run a few blocks". 200 Pine St does exist but is the proud home of the "Law Offices of WE DON'T CARE". At this point in the adventure you can't help but laugh at the karma that we were being served. One more drive up Market St. to prove that the Wendy's in the City is simply a Phantom, we were searching for 658 Market St, according to Google Maps. Now while I find Wendy's to be top notch, it is still fast food. So you can imagine our surprise and laughter by the fact that 658 Market St. is the home of The Ritz-Carlton! Mer will personally be filing a formal complaint with our resident Google employee (Ryan Brown).

At this point we had to get to the venue of the concert or else we'd be missing the main point of the adventure. Upon Mer and I rolling out of the car while it was moving to obtain our tickets, Mer realized that one must have their ID to enter the club. Using her classic "Mer charm", she started chatting the Bouncer up and explaining her absent mind of leaving her ID in Palo Alto. The bouncer proceeded to drill her with questions. Here were her classic and impressive responses. What year were you born? 1983, March 25! What year did you graduate high school? 2001! Where ever it was in Ohio, followed by a Mer signature fist held high "Go Bucks!". Did you go to college? Yes, BYU. BS in 05, MS in 07! That ladies and gentlemen is how a girl that looks 18 years old gets into a club without an ID! After Mikey Page parked on Page St., the Fab Four made it to the concert! It was amazing!!! Missy Higgins can do an awesome American accent and has pipes to boot!

At 11:27 pm in a little place called Redwood City, we finally found our Wendy's! Better late than never! Mer's gchat status this morning read "I heart Frostys". A perfect ending to a crazy evening in the City that won't soon be forgotten.

Go Home!

I will never forget the time in fourth grade when Bryan Wade told me to go home because I was trying to make sure his “best buddy” at the time, Tyler Jones, was alright after getting hurt in P.E. class. After he told me to go home the first time, I told him that if he told me that again I really would go home. Like any typical fourth grade boy, he proceeded to tell me to go home again. I turn on my heels, got on my green and pink bike and pedaled as fast as I could the two blocks home. I’m not sure how that was standing up to Bryan, but I felt good about it! I was reveling in all my glory until my Grandma realized that I had ditched school. I'd probably listen to Bryan all over again. ;)

Excerpts from the Life of Jess Berry

For the last few years I've been compiling my life history. What started as an assignment in a writing class has turned into one of my favorite hobbies. Yes, keeping a history of your life sounds like a nerdy hobby. Guess what? I have always been a nerd so it doesn't really shock me that I'd have such a hobby. It also proves to be a great stress-reliever. Preserving my life memories has provided very insightful understanding of why I'm the way I am, it has helped me see and remember the many wonderful blessings I've had and continue to have in my life, allowed me to express my gratitude for my family, and chuckle everything I remember an old memory or make a new one. I also wonder what's the point of certain experiences if we simply forget them with the passing of time.

As I was in the gym this afternoon I had the idea (some of my best thinking happens in the gym) of sharing "excerpts" of my life history on my blog. So probably weekly I'll be posting installments of my past memories, experiences, and lessons learned. For those of you that would like the current version of the complete history you are welcome to shoot me an email and I'll share.

Sharks vs. Flames Hockey Game!

Reasons why Hockey is my new favorite LIVE sport to watch:

1. Zamboni. I love it! It is more enthralling than most of the game. Maybe it is the OCD part of me, but watching the ice be smoothed over with such perfection is AMAZING! I relate it to the relaxing calmness one receives when watching cement being poured.

2. The players get to fight while the refs just watch, literally! We are talking, rip the gloves off and start throwing punches! It creates a thirst to see blood on the ice. Two minute penalties are totally worth paying for the excitement!

3. Body-checking! Do I really need to explain why this aspect in general is just awesome?

4. The HP Pavilion has better Hot Dogs than AT&T Park!

On a side note....look at those eyebrows! Amazing on all three ladies! Jess, Mikey, Meredith.

Mike "attempting" to get the Hot Dog in his mouth. He missed a spot. :)
I bet Mike that a goal would be scored within the first 6 minutes of play. As my prize I got the best hot dog ever! ;) Mike is quickly learning that one should never bet against me!


The Flames WON!!! I'm just saying that I was singing "Oh, Canada" very proudly last night! I had to represent for my Canadian family! ;)

Days in the Bay

Atop the Berkeley Institute Building. The views from this roof are amazing. It is the best thing Berkeley has going for itself.
Mikey! If she had her Red ruby slippers on she could pass for the Wicked Witch of the North in that position. But on every other day, she is more like the Good Witch of the East. :)
I also knew I was famous...this just proves it! This street is also right next to AT&T park, how fitting.

Mikey and Meredith, with Coach Page's awesome "We LOVE You" card!