6

Number: 6
Name: Tom
Date: July 11, 2013

Tom is an awesome guy, a member of my LDS Young Single Adult ward, and he also happens to be another one of my home-teachers.  When Tom asked if there was anything he, as my home teacher, could do to help me out, I casually responded that he could take me on a date to help me achieve my 100 date challenge.  Tom responded very enthusiastically that if it meant helping me get to Brazil he would be willing to take me on a date whether he was my home teacher or not.  (See what I mean?  Great guy!)

Tom could probably write the book on how to treat a girl like a lady.  He arrived on time, picked me up at my door, opened the car door for me . . .the whole works.  He had previously checked with me to see if I liked Cafe Rio (For the record, it is probably in my top five favorite places to eat, maybe even my top three!) and he had a fun activity planned.

But we'll get to that.  First: if you've never been to Cafe Rio, get thee to one immediately and order a pork-barbacoa burrito enchilada style.  It will change your life.  (Also,you now have knowledge of one of my greatest weaknesses.  If you ever want to get on my good side . . .*wink*)  As Tom and I ate/devoured our burritos we got to know each other. We talked about our missions, our education, our families, our favorite foods, etc.  Tom served his mission in Canada and is studying psychology at BYU.  He just hiked to Havasupai at the beginning of July (which was kinda crazy, but kinda awesome) and is getting ready to go visit Europe with his family in a couple months.

Pool-style trick shot.  Believe it or not, that actually went in!

After dinner we went mini-golfing at Trafalga.  Tom apologize for planning such a cliché activity, but the truth is I have never been to Trafalga and I haven't been mini-golfing on a date before (gasp!) so it wasn't at all cliché for me.  Especially the way we played.

Let me just start by saying that I am a terrible mini-golfer.  (I lost spectacularly to Tom by quite a bit as proof of that.)  But, then again, we weren't playing by the conventional rules of mini-golf.  Tom has an extra rule: If you can sink the ball using a "trick shot," you take one stroke off your score.  Trick shots can be almost anything unconventional or creative: pool style, croquet style, left handed, between the legs, etc.  So, hypothetically, if you got a hole-in-one on a trick shot, you could actually get a zero for that hole (Which I did once!!!  Croquet style!  It was my big accomplishment of the day!)

It was quite the game.  While we drove home afterward we talked about the movies we have seen this summer, which ones were good and which ones weren't.  (Seriously, don't even get me started on Man of Steel.)  We talked about how bad we both are at mini-golf (me more than him) and how awesome our Young Single Adult ward is.  We talked about our favorite board games and card games and group games and how someone really needs to start game nights or Disney movie nights on Sunday evenings in our ward.

When we got to my house, Tom walked me to my door (See? Perfect gentleman.)  Everything from the Cafe Rio to the mini-golfing to the conversation was really enjoyable.  So, Tom, if you are reading this: well done, my friend!  Thanks again for a fabulous evening.

5

Number: 5
Name: Brian
Date: July 2, 2013

First a bit of history:  Although Brian and I have only known each other for a few months, we actually go way back.  True story.  We went to the same elementary school until second grade - although we were never in the same class - and my uncle Todd was his eighth grade health teacher.  But it wasn't until we moved into the same single's ward in Provo a little less than a year ago that we actually met each other.  Confession: this was not actually our first or second date.  We have gone out a few times in the past.  But this was our first date since I started the hundred-date-challenge so I decided I am going to count it anyway.  And, honestly, I always have so much fun on dates with Brian that I would have said yes even if I couldn't count it toward Brasil.

Brian presented me with a few different date ideas and I chose hiking, despite the fact that we are in the middle of a heat wave right now.  (What can I say?  I love the outdoors!)  We would be hiking in the evening when it was slightly cooler and the hike we chose - Battlecreek Falls - was pretty easy and short.  We decided to go to dinner first and let the temperature cool off a little bit.

We ate at a little Mexican restaurant in Provo called Emanuel's Fresh Grill where we both got enchiladas as well as free entertainment by a cute little boy dressed as Captain America, complete with a frisbee-shield, who kept running up to our table and posing for us.  So cute!  By the time we were done eating the temperature had cooled off a little bit and by the time we drove to Pleasant Grove to begin our hike it was even cooler.

The hike was really pretty.  If you haven't done it you should.  It is only about half-mile to the waterfall and the trail winds through canyon maple and scrub oak as it follows a little creek.  Being a botanist, I had to stop and point out all the plants along the way, but Brian was a good sport about it.  (Future reference: If you take me hiking just plan on getting a botany lesson along the way.)  Once we got to the waterfall we sat and talked while we watched the sun set.  We had the whole place to ourselves.  The sky turned pink and the dragonflies came out.  I cooled my feet in the water and we both enjoyed the cold spray coming from the falls.

Once it started getting dark we headed back down the trail.  We listened to some classical music and some jazz and even some Brazilian music while we drove home - a refreshing change from the usual pop music that plays in virtually every public building in Utah.

Brian, if you are reading this, thanks again for a very enjoyable evening!  I hope you had as much fun as I did.

4

Number: 4
Name: Kyle
Date: 1 July 2013

Yes, this is the same Kyle as date number 3.  This was our second date.

Kyle called me up (bonus points for actually calling!) and asked me if I had any lunch plans.  I told him I didn't and that I could really use a break from my thesis.  He told me he would pick me up in an hour and exactly one hour later he knocked on my door.

He gave me three options for lunch:

1. Sushi.  Gross!  I don't even like cooked fish and I am pretty sure I would like raw fish even less.  In all fairness, no, I haven't ever tried it.  But I really don't want to.  (P.S. This is NOT an invitation for anyone to try to convert me to liking fish/sushi.  It just isn't gonna happen, people.)
2. Vietnamese Food.  Never tried it.  I grew up in a family where "going out to eat" meant Happy Meals at McDonalds.  I never had much exposure to foreign foods growing up until I started dating.  I have tried Thai food and Chinese food and I like both, so I told Kyle that if he could vouch for it I would be happy to try it.
3. Brasilian Food.  WINNER!  Kyle said he knew that there were a couple Brasilian restaurants around but wasn't really sure which ones were good.  Which I interpreted as my cue to hijack the date.*

I told him to take me to Braza Express.  The truth is I had never actually been there, but I had wanted to go for a long time.  I had heard good things about it from friends and I knew it was cheaper than Tucanos or Rodizio Grill (which are very good, very authentic and very expensive).  Also, lunch was on me since he paid for our first date.

I know this blog is supposed to be about the date, but indulge me for just a paragraph and let me talk about the food.  SO GOOD!  Rice and your choice of beans (black or pinto), a side - I had bolinhas de arroz (rice balls) and Kyle had banana frita (fried banana) - a salad of your choice, and a meat of your choice.  The meat is cooked on a spit in a churrasco (brasilian style barbecue).  We both had Chicken - which was excellent - but I definitely need to go back and try some of the other kinds of meat.

We ate and talked and enjoyed the atmosphere.  I told him about the kinds of food I ate in Brasil and about my mission (Que saudades!).  Kyle is a convert to the church and never had an opportunity to serve a mission.  He told me how hard it is to date in this church because Latter-day Saint girls only want to date return missionaries, which he is not - through no fault of his own.  To any girls who are reading this: Kyle is awesome!  He has an amazing conversion story and as strong a testimony of the gospel as any return missionary I know.  I am so glad I have had a chance to get to know him!

Kyle, thanks for lunch and thanks for agreeing to Brasilian food over Vietnamese food.  I had a great time and am still enjoying my leftovers.

*I normally don't hijack dates.  I don't know what came over me.  I guess it was the prospect of Brasilian food.  But, I swear, I try not to do this very often.

3

Number: 3
Name: Kyle
Date: June 25, 2013

Kyle is a member of my Young Single Adult ward and also my home teacher.  For anyone not familiar with home teachers, they are men that are assigned to watch over and serve fellow members of their Latter-day Saint ward or branch.  Two home teachers are assigned to each individual or family in the congregation and they visit at least once a month to support them in their efforts to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They usually share a short message and make sure the temporal needs of the family or individual are being taken care of.  (For more information visit this link.)

At the end of a home teaching visit Kyle asked if there was anything he could do to help me out.  I mentioned that I needed to go on 98 more dates if I wanted to go to Brasil, and he said he would be happy to help.

Kyle and I met up with his brother and sister-in-law (Max and Bethany) and their friends George and Heather.  The six of us packed up to go rock-climbing in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  We stopped for dinner at Crown Burger in Sandy where Kyle and I split a pastrami crown burger - since neither of us wanted a big meal before going climbing - and then we headed up the canyon.

Max and George set a course for a climb called the Salt Lake Slips.  We arrived and unloaded our gear before completing a short hike down the road to get to the wall.  We had to hike down steep bank, cross a river and then hike up a short trail.  But once we got to the climb, we discovered that it was crowded and all of the routes were being used.  After consulting the all-knowing book of Utah rock-climbing, Max and George plotted a new course.  We walked back to the river and then hiked up stream until we found a wall that was free.  I say that we "hiked upstream," but we actually tried to stay out of the water as much as possible.  We just hopped from rock to rock and walked along the shore, although I think everyone fell in at least once.

Even though it took a few hours to find our spot and get set up, the hike was pretty and the weather was perfect so nobody minded.  Bethany, Heather and I rested and cooled our feet in the river while the guys got the rope set up.  Kyle was the first to climb and he made it all the way to the top.  I was only mildly impressed until it was my turn to climb and I realized how flat the wall was and how much strength it took to climb it.  Then I was majorly impressed.  There was a ledge about 15 feet up (maybe?) that was reasonably easy to climb to and seemed like a good destination for me.  After that, the wall got really flat and there were less hand and foot holds.  The climb to the ledge was pretty easy, but with only my tennis shoes - my wet tennis shoes, I might add - I couldn't get any higher.  It was soon decided that anyone who made it to that ledge would get ice cream at the end of the night.  Luckily (but unsurprisingly), everyone made it at least to that ledge, and all the guys made it all the way to the top.

By the time the last person, Max, had ascended the wall the sun was down and it was getting dark.  There were bats flying around and the stars were coming out.  The guys took down the ropes in the dark and then we all went to Leatherby's to reward ourselves with ice cream and cheesy fries.  (P.S. If you haven't been to Leatherby's you must go there and you must try Traci's Peanut Butter Cup)  As we pulled into the parking lot, Heather mentioned that she always runs into someone she knows every time she goes to Leatherby's and this time was no exception.  Her sister and parents happened to walk in at the same time we did and our party of six became a party of ten.  We ate and talked and talked and ate until we realized how late it was and then we all said good night and went home.

I always enjoy rock climbing and ice cream, but even more so when it is with a group of really fun and interesting people.  Although my feet are blistered and my muscles are sore, it was totally worth it!  Kyle, thanks for a great time and a really fun date.  You are a great guy, a good home teacher and an amazing rock climber!

2

Number: 2
Name: Larry
Date: June 22, 2013

First a little back story:

We also share a love of the TV show Scrubs.  Once a year we
get together and wear our scrubs and drink fake "appletinies"
and watch our favorite episodes.

Larry and I met about three years ago when we lived in the same apartment complex dump, and we have been good friends ever since.  Among the many things that we have in common, we share a love - nay, obsession - for all things Lord of the Rings related, and he was appalled to discover that I still hadn't seen The Hobbit. (Note: I did go to the midnight showing, but I fell asleep through most of it and just hadn't gotten around to seeing it again since.)

Larry is also a chef, and I make it a rule to never pass up an opportunity to sample his cooking.  He never ceases to amaze me, and every once in a while I manage to impress him (kind- sorta) with some culinary creation of my own.  For example, a few years ago I made a Brasilian dinner for some members of my ward and I invited Larry.  For dessert I served Mousse de Maracujá (Passion fruit mousse).  While I like this dessert, Larry fell in love with it at first taste.  He has professed a desire to marry it and have its children.  However, it isn't a dessert that I can make very often because Maracujá concentrate - the key ingredient - isn't always available.

Last week I managed to find some Maracujá concentrate and I needed to use it up before it went bad.  Larry said he would provide the movie - The Hobbit - if I would provide the dessert.  I agreed and we called it a date.

We started our evening by making dessert.  We tried a variation on our usual Mousse de Maracujá recipe and it was probably the best Mousse we have made yet - we have nearly perfected our recipe.  Then we watched The Hobbit while we enjoyed the fruits of our labor and congratulated ourselves on being master chefs.  The movie was pretty amazing - I suspected it would be - and I am glad I finally watched it.  I managed to stay awake through all of it this time and I can't wait for the second installment to come out in December!

All in all, I would call the date a success.  Good food, good movie, good company.  Larry, if you are reading this, thanks for a fantastic adventure in Middle Earth.  We really should do it again sometime - maybe next time I find Maracujá for sale in Provo.

1

Number: 1
Name: Joseph
Date: June 5, 2013

Joseph was a guy my sister in South Carolina set me up with. (Thanks, sis.  You are the best!)  She was on a date with Joseph's little brother and they realized that they both had siblings in Provo working on Master's Degrees at BYU, so they set us up on a date.

Joseph is working on getting his Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (I think).  He is from a military family and so doesn't really claim to be from anywhere, although his family is currently located in D.C.  He likes hiking and spending time outdoors, which I think is pretty awesome.

Since both Joseph and I are busy writing Theses - Thesises? - we decided to go to lunch on campus. I will mention that sometimes taking a girl to lunch on campus can be really tacky, but in this case it worked.  In fact, I would have suggested it if he hadn't.  It was convenient for both of us, and it wasn't like we ate out of the vending machines or anything.  He came and picked me up from my lab in the Widtsow building and we walked to the MOA and had lunch in the cafe.  The food was good, the company was good, the atmosphere was good . . . really I have no complaints.  

I don't know if I will see or hear from Joseph again; but, Joseph, if you are reading this, thank you for a lovely afternoon.