Now leaving for London and Milan

Just a quick note as I get ready to pack for a five day trip to London and Milan tonight. I simply can't get enough of London. I can no longer count the number of times that I've been there and I never, ever tire of it. Ever. I'm looking forward to a delightful Cornish pasty (or two) while I'm there.


And then, of course, the obligatory stop at Wagamama, London's favourite noodle house. I have met some great people from all over the world while dining at one of their communal tables:


I'll have to limit myself to just one trip to Wagamama and two pastys the entire trip. The hotel I am staying at, which is adjacent to the Chelsea Football Club, charges an exorbitant 25 pounds a day to use the gym. The weather is crappy in London, so I am going to have to get creative on getting my running in. Perhaps the Guest Services Manager and I will chat upon check-in about that fee..

This will be my first trip to Milan and I am there less than 24 hours, so doubt I'll have time to see/do much in between meetings, I'll endeavor, however, to make the best of it. I'll also try and post a couple of times from across the pond.

Our Sacrament Services today were good (although initially marred by a rumor that Mitt Romney was attending the 9AM Sacrament Service of the other ward in our building, as he is here in Chicagoland for a rally today - I would have had to have left the building were it true). A lot of testimony about the solid nature of God's plan for us and gratitude for the restored gospel, a living Christ, and His prophets. Sunday School was a good discussion on the last chapters of 1st Nephi in the Book of Mormon. We talked about how we, in this day, are often like Laman and Lemuel of old, griping about not wanting to be obedient when it infringes on what we want to do, but then trying be like Nephi and be righteous too. Some wonder why Laman and Lemuel just didn't go back to Jerusalem. No one put a gun to their collective heads to hightail into the wilderness. While Laman and Lemuel at times appear to be the "Dumb and Dumber" of the "Book of Mormon," these two were hedging their bets. I get the sense that although they didn't want much to do with what their father, Lehi, was teaching them, they figured they better go along for the ride, just in case. Of course, it really didn't work out so well for them, but what a lesson to us today - if we are willing to learn from them and their actions.

I'll be on a BA flight tonight as the Super Bowl is being played. Shari and the kids are going to the Taylors to watch the game and to eat Italian Beef sandwiches. I'll miss being with them but could care less about the game. I'm just glad that Spring Training really isn't that far off. Anyway, I'll be curious to see how the English press treats Super Tuesday. Eager to see those papers later this week. The British press makes for the greatest reading around!