Celestino's

The front entrance of Celestino's as seen from our banquet room

The company may have had their big bash at Knott's Berry Farm for Christmas, but our Monterey Park office celebrated a little more quietly with a lovely luncheon at Celestino's Italian restaurant in Pasadena the week before Christmas.

The menu

We got to choose whatever we wanted to eat off the menu, which was nice.

Albert, Stephen, Charlie and Eugene decide on their meals

My boss Eugene said his family enjoys this restaurant, and he hoped we would, too.

We were seated in a private room, around a large table.

Barbara, Frank B., Carmen, the lady from the OC office, and Edward

It was soup or salad for the first course.  The garden salad looked very fresh and inviting.

Garden Salad

I ordered the seafood salad.  It was huge!  It could have been a main course.  It was full of mussels, clams, shrimp, squid, octopus and scallops.  It was subtly dressed with an oil and vinegar dressing and had some nice little cornichon pickles to brighten it up.  

I really enjoyed this dish, but it was too much for me.  

Chilled seafood salad

A couple of people ordered the soup.  They all agreed it was delicious.

Tomato basil soup

My main course was a grilled salmon.  It was just perfectly crispy on the outside and mouth-wateringly melt-in-your-mouth on the inside.  Nice!

Grilled Salmon

My friend Barbara ordered the ravioli.  When she was first served, she had a plate of black raviolis that were black and smelled like seafood!  She truly dislikes seafood, and this just freaked her out.

It turned out that she'd gotten someone else's lunch by mistake.  The error was quickly rectified.  When she got her actual order, she said it was quite tasty

Ravioli with tomato sauce

The black raviolis turned out to be colored with squid ink.  I'm sorry, but that doesn't seem appetizing to me at all!  The people who ordered this, however, found it very good.

Raviolis with squid ink and seafood

Eric, Kenneth, Ana and Albert

I got to try one of Hilary's pumpkin filled tortellini.  They were delicious!  The filling was creamy and subtly seasoned with sage.  If I ever go back to this restaurant, I would order this in a flash.

Pumpkin tortellini

Hilary is married to an Irishman.  She and her hubby were headed off to Ireland for Christmas in a few days, and she was looking forward to the trip.  (I would be, too!)  She was seated next to me, so, sadly, I didn't get a good photo of her.  She's a beautiful young woman.

Charlie, Eugene, Doug and Hilary

We had a good time, even if engineers are not striking conversationalists!  But this is a great bunch of people.  I enjoy working with them every day.

Edward, his brother Walter, Giuseppe and Frank G

Walter is one of the co-founders of our company.  It was nice that he could come join us.

Panna Cotta with fresh strawberries

Panna Cotta is a traditional Italian custard.  I should have ordered that!

Instead I opted for the cannoli.  When I lived in Arizona, we used to drive from Phoenix to Tucson, to a delightful Italian restaurant named Mama Louisa's, just for a cannolo.  They were wonderful - light and crispy and filled with a sweet creamy ricotta filling.

The cannoli I got at Celestino's were not good.  They were thick and hard. I almost broke my teeth on them!

What's worse, when the waiter asked me what I wanted for dessert, instead of saying cannoli, I blurted out "cannelloni!"

My rock hard Cannoli

I have no idea what possessed me to say that!  I started to laugh, but the waiter didn't think it funny. He took about five minutes to berate me for my mistake and educate me on the difference between cannelloni (a pasta) and cannoli (a dessert).

I was mortified.  It had just been a slip of the tongue, after all.

To be served rock hard cannoli after that was just adding insult to injury.

Another dessert option was a flourless chocolate cake.  That looked pretty yummy.

Flourless chocolate torte

The service was great at Celestino's, and, for the most part, the food was excellent. It was fun seeing all the various choices people make for lunch.  I think if I ever go back, I'll have a better idea of what to order.  (No Cannolis!)

I am lucky to have a great boss and nice co-workers.  It's always fun to go out as a group to enjoy a meal, regardless of the cuisine.  I can't believe I've already celebrated five Christmases with this bunch!  What a great blessing in my life!

Elder Anders on the Jazz

Elder Anders and Elder Nelson at the Provo Temple
I can't believe he's already been in Texas a month!

Well, I've been hearing from my nephew Anders, who is currently serving as a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Missionary in the wilds of Texas.  He seems to have weathered the holidays just fine.  I was a bit worried, as it was his first time away from home, but he's been so positive and upbeat in all his letters that I realized quickly I had nothing to worry about.

Elder Anders spent a few weeks in the Missionary Training Center (MTC) prior to leaving for his area of service. While there he was assigned a 'companion', an Elder Nelson, with whom he got along famously, and got into the missionary mode quickly.

Elder Anders was on the Provo, Utah temple grounds when the above photo was taken.  He looks like he's catching flies, but there is a great photo-bomber behind him, so what can I say?  They're young kids. They're goofy.  They're a little crazy.

I love them.

These are good kids who are seriously trying to change the world for the better, one person at a time.

HOLINESS TO THE LORD / THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

So reads the sign on every Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I love seeing that!  It always thrills me.  In temples we learn about our relationship to God and His Plan for us.  This is the good news of the restored gospel that missionaries are teaching all over the world.

The Provo, Utah temple.
I attended ground breaking ceremonies for this temple while I was an undergraduate at BYU.
Photo: Wikipedia

At the Missionary Training Center (MTC), everyone is divided up into companionships of 2, and into Districts consisting of several companionships.  This is a photo of Elder Anders' District.  I assume these young men were all headed for English speaking areas of service, if not to Texas, as Anders was.

Elder Anders' District at the MTC

I tried sharpening up the focus on the above photo, but it's just off.  Sorry about that!  I take what I can get! According to Elder Anders, the young man in the middle of the group was one of their instructors.

When Elder Anders arrived in Texas, he was greeted by his mission president and assigned another companion.  This one is a "Senior" companion, who has been out in the field for a while and 'knows the ropes', so to speak.  

Since Anders is new, this young man, Elder Boetcher, is considered his trainer.

Elder Boetcher and Elder Anders

So far, Elder Anders reports things have been going well.  They've had lots of opportunities to teach, and for service.

The army of the Lord marches on in Texas!

New York at Christmas

Lights, like gigantic lipstick tubes, explode into the night at Rockefeller Plaza

My neighbors had a fabulous vacation in New York City again this December, and brought us back a few photos so we could enjoy a few the sites too.

Downtown Los Angeles doesn't really compare to the Big Apple when it comes to Christmas!

Towering Reindeer cavort in an icy downtown

 Of course, I'd rather have Los Angeles weather any day!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art always has a fabulous tree in their foyer

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is always a favorite.  Their collections are superb.  And there is nothing like just walking around and seeing people and poking around in small shops in New York.  My friends always try all kinds of new restaurants with varying cuisines, too.

They come back full of stories and laughter.  They have a good time!

Throngs of people outside Radio City Music Hall

 I'm so glad they share.  New York at Christmas is truly beautiful.

The Post Office gets creative with their display!

I hope you enjoyed this little postcard from New York City in December!

An Earthly Life is Over

Mary Genevieve Powers Pineda
January 12, 1963 - December 15, 2013

The last time I saw Mary she was wearing a beautiful silk scarf on her head to cover her baldness from the chemotherapy.  Actually, she'd shaved off the hair before the chemo could get her, in a ceremony documented with laughter and pictures posted on Facebook for all to see.

I told her then that I loved her; that she was such a good person and that I was so sorry she was going through "all this".

She smiled sweetly and told me there was no need to feel that way, because "a lot of good has come from all this".  I was moved by her quiet response, born of her faith and trust in God.

I first got to know Mary Pineda as she served as the Whittier LDS Stake Relief Society president.  A wife and a mother, she was a beautiful woman.  She also possessed a dignity and gentleness about her that drew people to her.  It was just hard not to love her.

Back in February of this year, Sister Pineda came to our Ward Conference and spoke in Relief Society. At that time, she told the story of her conversion to Mormonism, a story I had never heard before.  I feel like I need to share it here.  (I apologize if I have some of the details wrong.  I wrote down what I remembered the following day, so I think I at least got the gist of the story right.  Please feel free to email me with any corrections.)

Mary told us how she had grown up in a large Catholic family.  She was one of 12 children, and her parents were very devout.  When Mary was around 16 years old, her oldest sister went away to another town to work, and one day called their mom and dad asking for their permission to be baptized a Latter-day Saint.

Mom and dad were very surprised and concerned, but told her that at 24 years-old she was an adult and it was her decision.  So, her sister was baptized a Mormon, much to their parents' sorrow.

About the same time, Mary's second oldest sister felt the call to become a nun.

This sister went on a trip to visit a convent in Kansas she was looking to join, with that in mind.  However, while she was there, the Mother Superior took her aside and said, "I probably shouldn't be saying this, but I feel impressed to tell you that this is not the place for you.  Perhaps you should look into another convent, but I think you have a different path" (or words to that effect).

This sister was distraught as she went to visit her LDS sister for a few days on her way home from the Kansas convent. She had been so sure of her path!

The Christus Statue, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

The LDS sister consoled her by telling her the story of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  She bore her testimony of the divinity of the work she was involved in, and told her the story of her own conversion to the Mormon faith.

The second sister was touched by the spirit of her sister's words.  When she came home again, she announced that the whole family needed to take the Mormon missionary lessons!

Mom and Dad agreed, as they were now quite curious about this thing that their oldest daughter had done. They made an appointment for the Mormon missionaries to just 'come over and have dinner'. Sister Pineda said it was a Friday night, but all of the 11 kids still at home were told they needed to cancel everything and be there.

After dinner, the missionaries brought out a guitar and sang, "I am a Child of God".  That song touched the hearts of the entire family.  Next the Elders sang, "Joseph Smith's First Vision", another Mormon hymn that tells the story of the Restoration of the Gospel.  Then, the young men explained what the song was about.

Six weeks later, over the course of several Saturdays, the whole family, parents and children, were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mary was 16 at the time.  When she told this story to us in February, she added that her conversion wasn't a radical change in her life - she felt her whole family had they kept all the good things they already knew, they were just given more.

I was so very touched by her story.

I knew Mary had suffered through a bout of cancer some years ago and had been in remission for some time when the cancer struck again in 2011.  Although she fought long and hard to overcome it, the cancer finally won.  Mary passed on Sunday, December 15th, surrounding by her loved ones.

Her funeral service program bears the following scripture:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

- Proverbs 3:5-6

Mary leaves a legacy of faith and service in her hometown of Whittier, California.  She will be sorely missed!

My New Year Surprise!

My Nephew Nils and his friend Angela

I got a really wonderful surprise for New Year's Day.  My nephew Nils came down from BYU (in Provo, Utah) for a visit!  We got to have lunch and gab for a couple of hours.

He and his roommates had driven down for the big New Year's Eve bash at the Irvine Spectrum Mall.  It was a party for LDS singles in this area and according to Nils there were over 4,000 people there.

"It was a blast!" he said.

You can probably tell from the photo that he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before!  (I hadn't either!)

What a fun surprise for old Auntie M.  It really made my New Year!

Today is Epiphany, so the holidays are officially over.  (Sniff!)  The neighbors took down their Christmas lights over the weekend and dragged out their enormous tree to the dumpster.  Everything looks bare and a bit dreary - as it always does after Christmas.

At least the weather here is sunny and a balmy 75 degrees F.  I feel embarrassed even mentioning that, with the weather being brutally cold in other parts of our country.

Wherever you are, I hope you are safe and warm today.

Christmas Organ Concert at Disney Hall

Walt Disney Concert Hall by night

When my neighbor George attended the Christmas Organ Concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall last year, he couldn't stop raving about it to me.  He had thoroughly enjoyed it, and vowed to take me with him the following year.

I like it when people keep their promises, especially really fun ones like this!  

And so it was that I found myself at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Wednesday, December the 18th, for the Christmas Organ Concert, aptly named The Holiday Organ Spectacular.

Organist David Higgs
Photo taken from MMS Organ Music blog

I was delightfully surprised by the organist.  I've heard world-class organists before, but David Higgs is a true showman.  He had a real connection to the audience and explained most of the pieces he was performing up front so that everyone, regardless of their musical knowledge, could enjoy them.

The program began with the Bach Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29, which was one of those pieces you know, and you know it's by Bach, even if you don't immediately remember exactly where it's from or what it's called.  I was immediately enthralled.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall by day
- photo: Wikipedia

I'd never been to the Walt Disney Concert Hall before.  The unusual and distinctive architecture has intrigued me, but this was the first event I had actually attended there.  It's an unusual building on the inside as well.  

I was surprised by how small and narrow the lobby areas were.  It's as if they tried to cram as much actual stage and seating space as possible into a very small area.  Actually, I'm guessing that might be close to the truth.  With available downtown Los Angeles real estate at a premium, I'm sure the architect was taxed with finding creative ways to fit a world class concert hall into the available space.

I was't impressed when I found myself in a narrow seat with my legs painfully scrunched into the chair in front of me. (My legs aren't particularly long.) We weren't even in the highest tier.  There was yet another balcony way above us.

This is not the most comfortable venue, especially for the mobility challenged, but my discomfort soon disappeared as the program began.

Simply put: the organ is magnificent.

The more than 6,000 pipes produce sounds that are thrilling.  I was swept away with the music and Mr. Higgs' artistry.

Soprano Lisa Christine Thelen

When soprano Lisa Thelen took the stage, and I heard the opening notes to "Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion" from Messiah by Handel, I was excited.  I've performed Messiah so many times and really love this aria.  When Ms. Thelen got to the middle section,  where the words proclaim: "He is a Righteous Saviour", I was moved to tears.  She has a beautiful, rich voice and every piece she performed was just perfect.  I'm often quite critical of sopranos, but I just loved her voice and interpretations.

Another fun aspect of the evening was that the audience got to do several sing-alongs!  I found myself and those around me singing with unmitigated gusto.  

There was also another artist performing, a trumpeter, Thomas Hooten of the L.A. Philharmonic.  He was a superb artist as well.  I was also pleased by the mix of ancient and modern pieces on the program.  There was a little something for everyone to enjoy.

David Higgs took time in the latter half of the 2 1/2 hour concert to explain the workings of the very complicated Disney Hall organ.  What an incredible instrument.  I'm so glad I had the opportunity to experience it for the first time at Christmas.

This concert was such a lovely addition to my holiday this year. Everything George had told me from last year was true.  If you get a chance to attend next year, by all means, GO!

Inside the Concert Hall lobby

For an excellent review of this concert, and more about the Disney Hall organ, visit KPCC Public Radio's website:

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/offramp/2013/12/19/15447/disney-hall-organ-spectacular-a-lesson-for-the-art/

Christmas Highlights

Emma modeling her funny Christmas shirt -
Be Naughty, Save Santa the Trip!

The last day of work before Christmas is always rather quiet and, well, not much actual work gets done! Our marketing director Emma came by to give me a Christmas present, and I had to snap a photo of her funny shirt!

She has a 5 year-old, she probably shouldn't give the little one any ideas!  Ha.  Just sayin'.

I received a beautiful Christmas bracelet from Emma.

My fun present - a Christmas bracelet!

I love stuff like this!  I know you're limited as to when you can wear it, but it's sure fun during the holidays.

We also had an office Tacky Christmas Sweater contest:

Gerry, Sabrina, Emma, Frank and Ana

Only five people entered, but they were pretty funny.  I love Sabrina's hat!  That took a special prize.  Ana's elf sweater actually won.  Who would you have voted for?

I hope you had a fun Christmas!