Potpourri

This week we saw these two cool works of art at the beach.  The first one was at least three-and-a-half feet tall and the second one was at least 4 feet tall. 

I do sweep up a fair amount of sand from our floors.  I don’t mind.  Once we leave our mission, I’ll only be doing that on vacations!

Halloween is coming.  And since we are so close to Mexico, people here are also looking forward to Dia de los Muertos.  It is best known for the playful use of skulls and skeletons, as well as personalized altars that are decorated. It's a joyful way, rather than a somber way, to commemorate those who have passed away.  Many decorations are up.  Some are kind of scary and maybe a little creepy.

Old Town is preparing.  Quite a few of the businesses will have altars and people can go from business to business to check things out.  The Battalion won’t have an altar, but we will have some Family History computers that people can use to look up their ancestors.  Some Sisters will also be telling about 3 people from Battalion days.

Sea World is also decorated up for Halloween.

I think the bat rays kind of look ghostly when they glide up the glass.

While there, we were able to see the baby dolphin that had been born 5 days earlier.  She was swimming around a big tank with her mom.  She didn’t come out of the water, so no pictures.  Sorry.  Fun to see her, though.

We started apartment inspections again.  I think they give us the best apartments. 

While in an Asian store we saw this sign by the chicken legs.

This week there was a Mission President Conference in Del Mar, not very far from us.  One day they were given the option to go to three different places, the Battalion being one.  We had about 12 Mission Presidents and their wives come through, PLUS Elder D. Todd Christofferson and his wife!  It worked out perfectly that they were finished with their tour just at shift change so nearly all of the Sisters were able to have a picture with him.    How cool is that? 

Craig also got to say hello, shake his hand and tell him a little about our courtyard area.  The Mission presidents were so nice.

That same evening a man came into the lobby.  He explained he is here at a business conference and plays the bagpipes.  He likes to play in front of church Historic Sites and Visitors Centers where ever he goes.  He asked permission to play in front of the Battalion.  Of course!  He put on his hat and coat and played a medley of hymns while walking up and down in front of our building.  It was so cool!  I tried to get a video, but the flash doesn’t stay on and it was 8:30 at night.  All of the available Sisters on shift came out to watch.  What a day!

This week you get to meet a senior couple instead of a Sister.  (Don’t worry, more Sisters to come!)  This delightful couple are the Rasmussens from Utah.  They have eight children, the youngest one was a Battalion Sister herself!  They also have 27 grandkids.  Sister Rasmussen was born and raised in San Diego, so this mission was like coming home for her.  But that isn’t the only place she lived.  Her dad was a Mission President and they lived in Lima, Peru during that time. Sister Rasmussen is one of the best cooks you will ever meet.  Elder Rasmussen was an army brat and lived all over.

Their biggest adventure was in 1986 when they sold everything they had except the kids (they had 7 at that point) and one car so he could go to law school.  It all turned out great!  They were called for 12 months, but have extended a few months since they are over the golf tournament that raises funds for schools in this area to bus kids to Old Town where they visit the Battalion and a few other places.  The tournament is just about the time their year is over so they will stay and show the next couple what needs to be done.