Traveling with some Feds who will no doubt need to tag along if I find something fun to do. But we were thinking of doing something like going to a rehearsal of the Tabernacle Choir. Is that possible? Someone thought those take place on Thursdays...
Anyway, we could maybe mix in a little pleasure (not too much, of course) with business if there are people willing to meet up on Thursday the 29th...or maybe other days like the 26th - 28th in the evening.
Ideas???
Things to do?
Do we have to convert to LDS first?
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Go through their big Mormon convention center complex. It is really quite cool -- I've been there twice and I'm not LDS!
Farmgirl
Posted by Occasional (Member # 5860) on :
You mean the Temple Square?
Posted by skrika03 (Member # 5930) on :
Anything you would have to convert to do, you couldn't do by April anyhow. But it is a great time of year to see the sites. Don't know the story with the Feds. You never know when there will be snow. I think seeing some of the natural beauty is a good investment of time as well.
P.S. The feds remark is now causing me to think that Bob is actually former President Gerald Ford.
[ March 19, 2004, 11:39 AM: Message edited by: skrika03 ]
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Well, I was thinking of the particular building -- where they broadcast their big conventions from each year. It is neat. And the visitor's center.
It is only the TEMPLE itself that you can't enter if you're not a member.
Farmgirl
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Are you talking about the Tabernacle on Temple Square? That's a neat building. That's where they used to broadcast General Conference center from.
But now they've built the huge Conference Center across the street. I have never been able to go on the tour of it. I'm jealous.
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
Wow! *Falls over* Bob here???
I will meet you downtown. I can take you anywhere in this town you want to go. I can be your tour guide.
Tabernacle Choir rehersals that are open to the public are on thursday evenings at 8:00. Their "Music and the Spoken Word" radio broadcast is open to the public on Sunday mornings. The tabernacle itself is open everyday and there are demonstrations on the tours.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
My uncle's in the choir. Do you want an introduction?
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Wow!!!
Amka, a tour guide would be great!!!
kat...that sounds so cool!
Posted by cochick (Member # 6167) on :
I'm sure means the new Conference Centre not the Tabernacle - I've visited it too and agree its well worth - especially if the roof terrace is open - great views of the Salt Lake area and surrounding mountains - very beautiful. There's lots of art in there too if you're into that sort of thing.
I thought this might help too Calendar of Temple Square Events. It'll probably be updated towards the end of March with rehearsals.
By the way if you're going around the weekend before Easter prepare to be swamped with LOTS of LDS - its General Conference time and members flock from all over the world to attend.
EDIT - now given correct weekend for conference.
[ March 19, 2004, 12:21 PM: Message edited by: cochick ]
Posted by cochick (Member # 6167) on :
This also tells you where you can go and what you can do around Temple Square Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
Hey, I'll probably have that whole day off. If you're going to have a Jatraquero lunch or something, count me in (assuming I'm invited). Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I'll see what I can do. No promises - he's in the Choir, co-owns a business, is in the bishopric, and has six kids. Not a lot of free time, but I'll try. Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
I'd be willing to do this.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
I would love to meet you, Bob, and have another excuse to get together with Hatrackers. Maybe this time I can get a babysitter so that I can focus a little better. Maybe I can even convince Porter to stay home with the kids!
My birthday just happens to be on the 28th, turning 30. I can't think of how that is terribly relevent, I am just throwing it out there. Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
This is sounding pretty good! I could actually SCARE my travel mates with how many LDS members I know. Could we get like 50 or so people together?
Actually, I've always wanted to show up at SLC airport and have people waiting there with a huge banner with my name on it.
I love those homecoming things for the kids coming back from their mission trip.
I'd wear a white shirt & dark suit if you'd all come to the airport to greet me with a banner.
(okay, it's asking too much. I know...)
Well, how about we shoot for getting together on the 29th and going to hear the Tabernacle Choir rehearse?
And then maybe hanging out after and/or before???
There might be as many as 5 or 6 others joining us if the training team came along. They're federal employees from Boston or D.C. and judging from their e-mails so far don't know beans about LDS. I'll remind them not to make polygamy jokes (no, I'm not kidding...I already got one via e-mail), but you know how Yankees are...
PS: I can't convert to LDS, though. I'm still working on Methodist and they're a whole lot easier.
[ March 20, 2004, 04:20 PM: Message edited by: Bob_Scopatz ]
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Oh, that would be soooo funny if we set that up!! With you dressed in a suit but with a beard--people would be pretty confused. Too bad people can't be met at the gate anymore. I miss that.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Yeah, it was A LOT better when people could all meet a the arrival gate. HUGE groups of people clumped into bands waiting for specific missionaries to return home. What a great thing.
I always felt twice as lonely flying into SLC as I would when flying into any other airport in the US.
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Naw, Bob, I wasn't so much thinking of missionary gatherings, it was more like all the times I had to separate from my at-the-time sweetheart and we could spend our last minutes together cuddling and being mushy in public. It seems so harsh when you can't part with or meet your sweetie at the gate.
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
Oh sure, Bob comes to Utah like 5 days after I'll be going home to Colorado for the summer. Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Well crud!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Wow, Jennie! The semester is over that early?
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
Yep, finals end on April 21, but we don't get a Spring Break like other schools (plus our winter break is only two weeks long). It's nice to have such a long summer, and BYU fits in a spring and summer term between fall and winter that way.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Interesting. It's remarkable how many different ways colleges come up with to schedule semesters/trimesters!
Posted by Trogdor the Burninator (Member # 4894) on :
I could probably show up for that. Just tell me the time. Afternoon works best for me, but if you're downtown, I could always break away for an hour or so.
And I'd love to see this Bob guy. I hear he's pretty cool.
Pat
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
::bump::
Ok, so Thursday then would be the main day?
Posted by Lara (Member # 132) on :
So do all of you guys recognize each other already, or have some people never met in the flesh?
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Most of us in Utah recognize each other, and have met.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
All Mormons look alike anyway. Finding Bob would be the easy part.
<--- Waaaay southeast and has Zero chance of being there.
Posted by Lara (Member # 132) on :
If you're around us long enough, you notice certain distinguishing features. Among women you'll notice the hair flip varies from nearly rolled back on itself to just slightly turned up at the tips.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Actually, its the ears.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*wistful*
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
So far, yes it looks definitely like Thursday is the day.
Or rather the evening.
It is a workday afterall. There's a chance that they may boot us out of their conference early since our part (the training) will take place earlier in the week. But I doubt it.
If my clients are feeling like sightseeing before the workday is over, then I'd be with them. But if they need to hang in there at the meeting, I'll be in the meeting too.
So, I'm thinking rehearsal, a bit of sightseeing, and maybe a meal???
Definitely open to suggestions.
It won't be a huge crowd on our side. As it turns out, the bulk of the training group already had plans to head home Thursday morning. So, it's just me and the two main Federal folks from D.C. Maybe a couple of other folks.
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
I am soooo looking forward to this! I am hoping we can get a babysitter so that both Porter and I can be there. Our kids would need to much attention for us to really interact much if we brought them. So, since we need a babysitter and since SLC is about an hour away for us, we will need *some* advanced notice on times in order to make it.
Bob, your suggestions on activities sounds great. I suppose we will have to figure out where and when we are meeting in order for this to work. How 'bout the "seagull statue"?
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Hmm...I'm not really sure how well I can plan this in advance. It's sort of a problem, really, of being on the road for business in the first place, and then needing to schedule time with my clients.
It'd be really inappropriate to have them along if we're going to do a big GANG thing with Hatrackers, actually. They wouldn't necessarily "get it" and we'd be stifled in our ability to just socialize as we would want to as it would be rude to leave them out and far too difficult to explain everything that we were talking about.
So...I'm thinking I can't really decide what the best approach is until I hear who's up for what activities among the various members of the group I'm traveling with.
If my clients are out with me, it'd be very nice to have knowledgeable tour guides. But a crowd??? I don't think that's going to work.
If they aren't up for anything that night, then the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned.
I hate being so indecisive, especially when people do have to do things like plan, get sitters and so forth. But I really can't make the decision until I know who among the people I'm working with is interested in going out and who isn't.
I know that one guy in particular wants to go to the rehearsal on Thursday night. And he (and I) would be VERY grateful to anyone who cared to come and show us around and make sure we understood at least a little of what we were seeing and hearing.
And frankly, if it is just him, he'd be fine with meeting new people and would probably enjoy the time out.
But anyone else along and it's not going to work to have a crowd. And, again, I won't know until I get up there and see who's up for what.
So, I'm betting there won't be a great deal of advance notice. And I'd feel really bad breaking any plans we made at that last minute, especially if it cost people time and money to be there.
I am, however, in SLC airport in the early afternoon on the 26th and don't have to be anywhere until the evening.
If we're going to PLAN any sort of group thing, I think it needs to be then. Maybe lunch? or just sit around gabbing for a couple of hours at/near the airport?
Another thing: If my clients are around, we simply will not be discussing my private life. I trust you all to be discrete, but it does mean that we wouldn't be able to just talk like we would probably want to. If they are there, for instance, we aren't going to be talking about wedding plans... So, you see, Thursday could be rather frustrating as a time to socialize in a big group. But it'd be a lot of fun as a time to meet a small # of local people and get a more insider view of SLC.
So, if I have to be definite on times and places now, the best thing would be to do any large group on the afternoon of the 26th somehow in conjunction with my arrival at the airport (i.e., near there or actually IN the airport).
And I could definitely accept the assistance of one or two people who wouldn't mind acting as unofficial tour guide(s) on Thursday when my clients are there.
I hope this helps you all decide whether to invest time & effort trying to meet me this trip. There will definitely be other trips in the future if this one doesn't work out for your schedule. And I'm not usually part of a large contingent where I have to coordinate my time with the people who pay my salary. So in future I'm sure I'd be more free to make plans in advance and also not worried about managing the discussion topics away from areas that I need to keep private. At least for now.
Anyway...does this still work for anyone?
Thanks for understanding!!!
Bob
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
Still works for me. I've been looking foward to this quite a bit. I could be there on the 26th too, between 1 and 3. My kindergartener goes in the afternoon.
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
*is still mad that she's going to miss Bob by two days*
Oh, sorry. Carry on.
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Mmmm, I guess the 26th is as good as the 29th for us. It is tough with the not knowing ahead of time.
We probably aren't the most knowledgable tour guides, either. But we could pretend to "accidentally" meet you in the tabernacle before the rehersal and see if you are in a position to hang out or if duty calls. We could pretend we are old friends or something at a chance meeting. If nothing else, we don't go on nearly enough dates and haven't hung around SLC in a long time. If you just couldn't know the circumstances ahead of time, we wouldn't mind taking off and doing our own thing.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
There's no reason to lie about how we know one another. No big thing.
It's just a question of having fun and being able to discuss personal details or not. And basically a crowd would be intimidating and they'd feel like 5th wheels. Not good since they pay for the trip...
Anyway, here's a way to do this:
bscopatz@data-nexus.com (cut & paste this so you get it right -- anyone who wants to e-mail; otherwise it won't reach me.)
I'll e-mail back my cell # and we can discuss.
My plane arrives in SLC at 2:05 pm on the 26th, if that works for anyone. I can send flight info or you could pick an area to meet in.
Anyway, if we're able to get in contact we can also figure out what's up for Thursday.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I work tuesday and wednesday, but I'm very much free on monday or thursday. I live very close to downtown, and it will be simple for me to adjust my schedule around yours for lunch or something either of those days. However, I am kind of the new guy with the <1000 post count, and I don't know you as well, nor you me, as most of the other people that would likely come. So if there will be any problem with having a group around you, I'll volunteer to be the first to clear off. Anyway, I'll keep checking the thread. Let me know what's up.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Monday is not a problem. It's a travel day and I can take some time for a late lunch and still make it to the hotel for whatever we're going to do that night. Probably nothing...
Thursday is really more of a thing where it'd be nice to have one or two people to show us around and make sure we get to the right spot. Sort of be informal ambassadors to the entire Mormon faith, if you will...
Well, really, just someone to show us around would be great. Not like we CAN'T do it ourselves -- people do that, I hear -- but I do think it'd add a bit to the experience for us.
It's sort of like work, really, if you think about it. And I can't pay you since the Federal government doesn't reimburse entertainment expenses.
As for how many posts one has, or how long one has been here, it really doesn't matter. You were a Jatraquero before you were born.
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Looks like we wouldn't be able to make it Thursday anyway. My cousin's getting married that day. Monday should be fine though.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
You say when and where would be best, and I'm totally there.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
You know, I'm sorta irritated that SLC gets fair warning about a BobVisit.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Ok, so are most of us meeting tomorrow, or Thursday, or what?
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Tomorrow, for most...
I get in at 2:05 pm at SLC on the flight from Houston. Meet near baggage claim???
I can hang out for a couple of hours if people want to meet. Then off to the hotel.
I have one volunteer to act as tour guide on Thursday. That's about all we can handle. No crowd then, please!!!
Thanks!
Hope to see you tomorrow (Monday). Whoever is interested.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Whoa. I didn't realize I was so clueless about what's going on. So the get-together is tomorrow afternoon at the airport? Dang. Stupid job.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Ok, I'm going to show up to this, but may be about 5 to 10 minutes late (so, in Airport time, I'll be early). I'm going to be driving from the SLCC campus to the airport, and will undoubtedly get lost, as is my fate a lot of the time. No worries, though. I have mapquest! So am I going to be the only one, or who else is going to be showing up?
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
The wife and I will probably show up. See you there. Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Do you know his flight number? Or am I to just do the usual and walk around till someone recognizes me?
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Ok, well, I leave for class in 5 minutes, so if theres no reply, I'll just walk around baggage claim until you see me.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
Well, since we can't go to the terminal, there's only one place really to wait. That's where all the terminals empty out, and it's right next to the baggage claim. That's where we're going to be. I don't have any idea what Bob looks like, so how we're going to recognize him is another matter. Maybe we'll have to hold a sign like a bunch of limo drivers or something. Well, good luck to us.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
He's the one with the beard.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
alas I didn't look at this thread soon enough... I fear I may have posted in vain, because the time has already elapsed for them to leave to go to the airport.
dkw I was hoping they could figure out the beard thing on their own though.
AJ
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
One of the funniest homecomings I've seen at the SLC airport was a family that had a life-size cut out of President Hinkley to welcome home the missionary.
If I'd thought of it in time, they should have had a life-size cutout of Dana there.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I was thinking of asking someone to give him a hug for me, but I decided I'd rather wait and do that myself.
I hope you're all having fun. Posted by AmkaProblemka (Member # 6495) on :
Was supposed to phone Bob, but I lost the email he sent me when one of my memory cards went bad, and the bad cache wiped my hardrive. It is fixed, running with a bit less memory but good. Everything important backed up, except recent email.
dkw or Bob, if you get on, could you please email me that number again? Otherwise, I will be at the south entrance gate of Temple Square at 6:00 with a book.
Thanks,
Ami
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Your e-mail address is hidden.
edit, never mind, I got it off an earlier post. E-mail on the way.
[ April 26, 2004, 04:58 PM: Message edited by: dkw ]
Posted by AmkaProblemka (Member # 6495) on :
Thanks! Got it and got hold of Bob.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Have fun, everyone.
*laments*
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
Hey, just got back from the big goings on. That was loads of fun. It was just me, the wife (Elona, a.k.a. Zemra), Nate and Bob. But it was cool. We all met at the airport. We helped Nate find where he'd parked and then had some Brazilian food. After that we went up to the U of U and Elona and Nate played a little DDR, then we bowled a couple games, got lost in traffic, and dropped Bob off at the hotel. Good times.
I took some pictures and posted them to my website if anyone wants to see.
One: Bob, Elona and Nate on the U campus. Two: The same picture, but me in the middle making a truly scary face. Three: Another of my scary faces as I face the Split of Shame. Four: Nate trying to pick up his split. Five: Nate's triumphant/ omnipotent gaze. Six: Nate won the first game. This is his victory photo. Seven: My lovely wife hits eight. Eight: A candid shot of Bob. I didn't think it'd turn out too well, but it looks really cool. And somehow I got a funky effect with the background. I did it on purpose. Yeah, that's the ticket... Nine: Bob gets a strike. Score one for Texas. Ten: Bob's victory photo after winning game 2.
Thanks for having us along. That was fun.
[ April 26, 2004, 09:50 PM: Message edited by: Speed ]
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Sorry we couldn't make it. Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
See pic #1: Elona wore my socks. I think it's some weird U of U ritual. I'm not sure what that means, but I hope Dana isn't too jealous. Nothing happened, honest! Speed is like 7 feet tall and knows some kind of weird Thai martial art that involves killing people with kindness. Besides, I think Elona and I might be related on my grandmother's side of the family. Or our families are mortal enemies on the other grandmother's side. Either way...
Elona & Mike are a wonderful couple. Very nice! And they have a huge trunk.
Nate = cool. He's a competitive dancer, ladies!!! Get him while he's hot! Hot Nathan.
He wasn't just hinting in that marriage thread you know!
Well met, people! Thanks for a fun intro to SLC. And still I was the first one at the hotel. Go figure.
By the way, Speed's nickname is not just a nickname. He is a drug merchant afterall.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote: And they have a huge trunk.
O_o Am I the only person wondering at the precise significance of this?
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
yes.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Ha ha ha!!!
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
I missed out on bowling with Bob Scopatz!
Posted by combustia (Member # 6328) on :
six body trunk.
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
Those pictures make me all misty. Ah, my old haunts. The U campus in the spring, after the smog of winter disperses. The lanes at the student union. It's all coming back to me.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Wow! It's actually springtime in Utah -- look at those flowering trees! I thought they thawed out, out there.
Oh yeah -- and great photos too! Looks like fun!
Farmgirl
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
I'll refrain from grumbling this time, even though I'm sad I missed out on the bowling.
Looks like a fun time.
(But next time you come out to Utah, Bob, try and make it sometime between September and the end of April. )
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
I have to laugh, Bob, I was actually in SLC tonight. I planned to attend my cousin's wedding reception, and only minutes before leaving found out it was in SLC!
I was up there with my three kids and my brother on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. I had fun eating cake and watching my 4 year old son flirt with a really cute 6-year-old. He said, "Mom, I'm going to go tell her she's beautiful. Is that OK?" Oh it was priceless! You should have seen him "dance" with her. I got pictures.
I might have tried to stroll around temple square on the off-chance that we might bump into Bob, but my brother had to get back home. Hope you had fun, Bob!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Amka, thank you so much for the tour. I haven't seen such beautiful buildings in a long time. And the people are so nice. How wonderful to actually run into people you know from Oregon, too!!!
Thanks for taking the time to come up to SLC and play tour guide. It was very neat to see the things a bith through your eyes. I think it added meaning for me and certainly hearing the stories behind pictures aided my understanding of the sacred nature of what I was looking at. To get the meaning behind the beauty of it all was very special.
Thanks again!
Bob
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
To everyone I didn't get to meet. This will not be my last trip to SLC, that's for sure. I hope to meet you all on a future trip.
Thanks again to Speed, his lovely wife "E" and T-Smith!!!
You are all great!!!
Flying out in the early a.m.
thanks again!
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Sorry I missed you, Bob. I kind of forgot and I've had a cold this week. It actually started when the weather was nice, before it started to snow again.
Posted by Mr.Gumby (Member # 6303) on :
I would have been able to meet you if T_Smith had told me that you guys were bowling at the U of U. He told me that you were bowling around 2:00-3:00 pm and I have a class that I could've easily gotten out of. oh well. Hope to meet you another time
![[Wave]](graemlins/wave.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
Don't know the story with the Feds. You never know when there will be snow. I think seeing some of the natural beauty is a good investment of time as well.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
My uncle's in the choir. Do you want an introduction?
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Evil]](graemlins/evil.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Cry]](graemlins/cry.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
It seems so harsh when you can't part with or meet your sweetie at the gate.
![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
Oh sure, Bob comes to Utah like 5 days after I'll be going home to Colorado for the summer. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)