I will have the usual with a side of completely unusual, please.

Jason and I have been to the temple quite a few times in the last few months. Half the time we set up dates with other people. All the other times it's, "I'm feeling a need for the temple. Want to go?" The answer is NEVER no.

Let me tell you how our visits usually go. Jason gets off work and I want to make it to the temple by X time. We rush to get ready, we are rushing on the freeway and generally I am getting irritated, if Jason's driving, cause he loves the speed limit and I feel like, HEY! We've got somewhere to be!!! HURRY!!! Then, we are usually fumbling for our recommends, rent clothes and in we go. Calmly. We do whatever is needed, and then we leave. The last however many times we've gone, I usually am done changing before Jason. Everyone is usually done before him so we wait in one of the waiting areas for him. And, typically, he exits the men's dressing rooms about 5-15 minutes after the rest of us have. Then we go eat.

Yesterday, as I left work around 1300, I called Jason as I usually do, and told him I wanted to go to the temple. I got home about 1320 and just relaxed for a while. I really wanted to make the 1700 session, but was happy with just making it there. We took the next 4 hours getting ready to go and we got in the car to leave around 1730. Jason drove, but since we didn't have an exact time to be there and we weren't holding other people up, I think it helped me to remain calm the whole way there. He even took Charleston which didn't bother me... too much. I'm more of an Eastern to Bonanza girl cause I DESPISE CHARLESTON!!! Anyway, we got to the temple and I was feeling good. Jason was feeling good. It was just past 1800 when we arrived at the temple so we were most likely making the 1830 session. After getting inside, we went our separate ways. I sat waiting for Jason in the chapel til he rejoined me about 8 minutes later. (See, still a typical trip.)

After our session (which we got to be the WC for the first time - which helped us pay more attention), we went our separate ways yet again. The only thing I did differently from times before was make a pit stop at the restroom. That only took maybe 2 minutes. I grabbed my stuff and exited the women's side to go wait for him. Most waiting areas were pretty crowded, so I went and sat by the windows where you can see those leaving the changing rooms and those in the lobby. After sitting for about 5 minutes, I heard a lot of chatter from the lobby. I looked down to see who or what was going on and just saw a couple guys on a couch, one bald one and one that looked like John the security guy. I thought, when Jason is out we'll see what's going on. (WELL, this is when the good stuff comes). All of a sudden it registered in my head that that bald guy sitting next to John was my bald guy!!! I felt like such a dope for having to take a double take at him! I grabbed my stuff and started walking down to the lobby.

Under the dome was Jason and John on one couch, another guy in shirt and tie on the opposite couch, and a guy in a green tee, navy gym shorts, sometimes a baseball cap (depends on if he was throwing it around or not), and tennis shoes. The three shirt and tie guys were talking with this guy. At first I thought it was an investigator and they were talking to him trying to explain the church and whatnot. But, oh no. It was much more than that. I could sense that there was something slightly wrong about the situation, so I sat at the far end of the couch furthest from "David".

John had been trying for a while to get David on his way. The temple was getting ready to close and he obviously could not stay there. David had said a few things like, I don't want to go home. I walked here to get help. My mom is in a lot of pain. She has multiple sclerosis and I hate her for making me take care of her. She doesn't love me and that's why she makes me do it. John explained to him that that is why he is allowed to take care of her is because she trusts him enough to take care of her and that MUST mean that she loves him. David also was very interested in where the President was. He asked, "Where is the president?" over and over. Finally we got it narrowed down to President Monson is in Utah and that was enough info for him on that topic.

Throughout the different conversations with David, he would jump out of his seat and run towards the painting of Jesus on the wall. The one of him teaching everyone outside the city. David would run back to his seat and mimic how Jesus was sitting. No one really caught that but me, but that's prolly cause they all were concerned about everyone else's safety, including David's, and because he was acting out already, they prolly thought it was just him being him.

John got up for a minute and Jason went and sat next to David in the vacant chair next to him. They started passing notes back and forth. Jason introduced me to David as his wife, and I guess that was because David had written note to Jason asking "who is the prettiest girl in the room?" He may not have noticed, but I was the ONLY girl in the room. After a few note passings, Jason sent me out to call his mom to see what we do (she is a social worker and handles these situations a lot). I called her and she advised me that we should call 311 and get them to escort him to a shelter. Though the shelter's have closed their doors, sometimes they will let someone in if they are escorted by metro. I went back in and told Jason what she said and he got on the phone with 311. He motioned for John to come back and he went outside to talk to the dispatcher.

In the 5 seconds (which felt like 10 minutes) that Jason was walking away and John was coming over, David beckoned for me to come sit by him. I haven't been in too many of these situations, but I knew enough to stay where I was at. I asked him what he needed, and he just kept beckoning with his hand to have me come over. I pretended I didn't understand and then he made a thrusting motion at me. he then started to write something, but he saw that John had joined our circle again, he threw his head back in frustration, then started writing again. Ya, a very long 5 seconds.

Jason came back inside and sat next to David. David jumped up though and started running towards the drinking fountain. Jason and John escorted him back to his chair. They continued with notes until about 5 minutes later when the firefighter paramedics showed up. They walked in and surrounded David and there were 2 things that could've happened. 1. He could have flipped out and all of them would've been on him like defense on the carrier; or, 2. He would have completely mellowed out. Luckily David chose option number 2. Jason, after introducing himself to the paramedics, introduced David to the paramedics. The paramedics then started talking with David. Asking him if they could help him, which after a few pauses, he said, "You guys are the only ones that can help me!" A few moments later, the non firefighter paramedics showed up followed by two officers (one being my friend Garn).

The temple was closed by now so the officers tried to get him to leave. They asked him nicely quite a few times and then explained, David, you need to come with us now, or we can escort you out. He got up and started walking out just as the paramedics were bringing in a gurney. We were told we could leave, but I did not want to walk out the doors that they all just went. I HATE sexual advances, whether from sane men or crazy men, and even though I knew David would not be able to get past the 2 cops, 3 firefighting paramedics, 3 paramedics, Jason and John, I didn't want to maybe cause another scene, so I told Jason to get the car and I would be out by the street, cause I'm going out the other door.

President Stucki was there as Jason and John were going outside, and he is such a great guy. He told John that if it would help David, he would allow a blessing, so when John went outside, they already had David in the Ambulance. He came back in and let us know that it wasn't necessary and they have it under control now. Jason came back inside with Officer Crossman and they asked me about the threat David made to me. I said, it wasn't necessarily a threat as it was more a gesture. We were informed that in order to detain him, a threat needed to have been made. So, John told Officer Crossman that David told him at one time, I can't leave. If I leave, you die. The demons inside me will kill you.

That was enough to detain him. David went on his way with the paramedics, some of the cops went to David's mother's house. Yes, David said everything smelled like death. His mom also told him that he's crazy without his meds. So, we're hoping his mom is ok. And we're hoping David will get his meds.

We said good night to John, President Stucki and the last 5 remaining officers and went on our way to eat something (it was about 2215). David apparently had also made comments such as, You can't leave me alone. I can't control myself and someone could get hurt. And, TupakShakur was possessing him along with Dante Alighieri. David also had a green earth tote with him that had multiple books in it, such as a book on Joseph Smith, The complete Idiot's Guide to Creative Writing, a poetry book, and something like The Psychology of Persuasion.

Though David said he wanted help in getting back to the mormon life like it was when he was a kid when he came to do Baptisms for the Dead and stuff, he had a lot of anti mormon literature in his possession. Who knows if David is really possessed. Who knows if the demons inside him directed him to the temple to find help for his mother. Who knows if his mother is ok. I hope it all works out for him and his mother.

It seemed as if it was going to be a normal temple trip day, but oh how it turned out. I asked Jason, How is it that you beat me out of the changing rooms, and he said, I was just moving. Didn't do anything different, but it felt like he was moving quicker than normal.

Does it get any better than this???

Our weekend was one that we haven't had in a long time. My sister's birthday was last week and her friend (who has a 2 and a half year old) surprised her with a weekend trip to San Diego. So my mom offered to watch said 2 year old while they go out of town.

A year ago we watched Kyler over night. Our lives were a lot different then and Kyler was only one. I didn't despise my job yet, I just hated it. I was still on a high of being married to my best friend (we had only been married about 3 months). We had another newly wed couple living with us, Kevin and Nanci. So having Kyler overnight was not a big deal.

Our life now... Kevin and Nanci moved out. I quit my wretched job and now have a very Jessica Friendly one. I'm still on a high of being married to Jason. Mom and her big dog, that likes to bark at nearly everything, and cat who has gotten a lot more vocal lately, moved in. So, the house has been a lot louder than it was before with 2 newly wed couples. Kyler is also now 2 and a half and running around and screaming at everything. After many inquiries, I've been told, that's just what 2 year olds do. *sigh*

The last night Kyler stayed with us, as I was playing on the internet, I could hear Jason snoring in our bedroom and I could hear Kyler breathing/sleeping a few feet away from me. It was such a peaceful loving moment for me. I loved my life and relished in those few moments. I thought that the only way life could get better was if I had my own kid(s) and had my own houseful of snoring sleeping beauties and beasts.

Then the next day (today), I had the day off. I dinked around the house getting ready for the bug guy to come and have a Lia Sophia party. Jason got home about 1. Loved seeing him. My mom ran off to work about 3. Jason and I had a few hours to hang out with each other. We snuggled on our living room couch talking/chatting. Sometimes we have real important things to talk about, like the price of wasabi peas in China, and other times there are insignificant things we talk about, like Al Gore and Global Warming. Today we were talking about absolutely nothing. Then, for a moment, we were about to move on to a new topic, but we just sat there. In silence. The dog was laying on my mom's bed sleeping. The cat was outside prolly killing another bird. Even George, who is generally trying to break out of his tank, was basking in his light. It was a perfect moment. I can't remember the last time I had such a perfect moment. Yes, the night before was pretty awesome, but how often does a girl really get to indulge in listening to just her and her hubby breathe? How often do you lay there wide awake, not going to sleep and can hear his heartbeat? The last time I remember a true moment like that was over a few years ago when we first were dating and living in our apartments across town. It's nice to know that years later, you can still relish in those kinds of moments.

Sorry if this is too mooshy for some of you, but I think I needed to write this more for me than for you. To remind me that life is always going to be crazy, but those few moments you have of quiet sanity are worth the days of hectic loud insanity.

Garden Rotini Salad

We had a salad buffet potluck at our swim party the other day at my friend Gretchen's house. The night before, Gretchen and I shopped at Wally World to get ingredients for our next day feast. I had no clue what to make, so I was given the idea of pasta noodles and Italian dressing.

I knew I had some rotini at home, I had some chicken and some Parmesan cheese and all I needed was the dressing. I picked up a Kraft dressing that said Italian Dressing, but it wasn't just any Italian dressing, it was TUSCAN Italian dressing.

I cooked the noodles, cut up the Southwestern precooked chicken, and after the noodles cooled, I threw in the Parmesan. Much to my excitement, I still had some parmigiana reggiano left over from some baked ziti I made a few nights before, so I threw a handful of that in. I then drenched the noodles in the Tuscan Italian Dressing. I wasn't thinking it was that fabulous considering it was so simple and so few ingredients, but to my amazement, everyone really liked it!

I brought home what I was hoping to be my lunch the next day, but after Jason saw it and tried it, it was nearly gone before I was done getting out of the shower. =(

He asked me to make it for him last night, but I wanted to use the chicken I pulled out of the freezer earlier that was thawing all day. So, tonight I made it for him. He was stoked when I presented him with the special of tonight! I'm not sure exactly what it is about this dish that is so delicious, but it is. If you need a quick salad, dinner, or lunch... I suggest you whip this up.

Jess' GRS

1 lb Garden Rotini (cooked and chilled)
1 package of precooked southwestern chicken breasts (Foster Farms is my favorite!)
about 3/4-1 cup of grated Parmesan (not the stuff for spaghetti)
optional, about 1/4 cup of parmigiana reggiano (I can't pronounce this right, let alone spell it)
Kraft Tuscan Italian dressing to your liking

Of course you can always subtract the cheese from it. Or add more chicken or whatever. I am very much an add whatever it needs til it meets your approval.

Hope you enjoy!!!