It's time to remember the days surrounding last Easter.
Thursday, April 2. I was dismayed to find that my brand-new laptop had bugs that had been on our home computer. Apparently I had downloaded some internet extensions that included adware. I tried to delete the programs, but every time I tried to delete it, it would try to install it again. Of course I also hated McAfee. (Seriously, why does that exist?) That night, I drove up to Tunnel Springs Park to go running. I went on a little trail that goes down in front of the hills, where I'd never been before. I passed some little flags and some kinds of wood structures. I felt like I was in a really random place, but there was a sign that said not to get off the trail because it was a blasting area. I had to cross a few ravines, but since I'm terrified of falling, I didn't care to cross over one and turned around, even though it wasn't really scary or dangerous. It definitely wasn't a good trail for running. I continued on that trail to places parallel to the main trail, and as I passed some tiny groves I thought it would be a nice place in the fall. (Everything's better in the fall.) I came up a trail that had been put in place when they were doing renovations in 2011. I passed a lady who seemed concerned about my lack of warm clothing, but running makes me warm. I went up a little trail that led into a small ravine, but soon the trail disappeared. I went up a hill with no trail, and there were ridges that were obviously man made, which perplexed me. I found what looked like a trail going down the other side of the hill, but it looked very steep, so I came down the side of the hill, careful not to step on the cactuses. Then I went home and watched The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town while eating bunny-shaped Sour Patch Kids. I journalized as follows:
"It was good to be down working in the library again, but I did get a little distracted with new features (and bugs) on my computer.
"Mom and Dad got home from their trip right after I got home. I went running on unofficial Bonneville Shoreline trails. I got a little uncomfortable in places, so I turned around. I followed a trail up a ravine, and then I climbed up a hill without a trail. I had to come down slowly. I was puzzled at man-made ridges on the hills.
"Then I came home and cut a pineapple and watched The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town. Now my stomach doesn't feel very good.
Friday, April 3. Since my journal tells me that Journal History of the Church wasn't working online, that might have been the day I emailed the reference people asking when it would be back up, since it was essential to the project I was working on at the time. I decided to go to a mission reunion that night, since it was better than spending Friday night at home. I didn't want to go home beforehand, so I went to Smith's Marketplace downtown to look for an Easter decoration, and I was in no hurry, since the reunion didn't start until later. I got a box of carrot cake Clif Bars, and I went upstairs to their seasonal section and got a decorative egg tree. I also looked at their selection of Easter DVDs. Then I went back downstairs to their Easter candy aisle, and I got a carrot cake egg-shaped candy. While I was standing in the aisle, a little girl was talking to her dad about my egg tree, and I felt like a jerk for not saying anything, but she wasn't talking to me. I might have bought something for the reunion, I can't remember. Then I drove out to President Clark's house in Draper. I think I was the second person to arrive. President thought I knew the other guy there, but I didn't, although he had served in one of my areas after I had left. I told President Clark about how I worked for the new Assistant Church Historian, and he said he had read about his new calling. I think I ate some seasonal sugar cookies someone had brought, along with chips and things. I looked at the Clarks' books with all the missionaries. Elder Proctor was there and said he wasn't in the books. I said I thought I saw a picture of him, but when I showed him and his new wife, they said it wasn't him. His wife said her brother had gone on a mission but wasn't active anymore. I heard that my old companion Elder Wilson was coming, so I stuck around until he came. I talked with Colby Johnson, who said he didn't know where he was going to move once he finished at UVUl he said his mom wanted him to move home but he didn't know if he wanted to. I talked with the former Sister Van Noy, and later the Wilsons came. They brought their adorable daughter and let me hold her for a bit, but she didn't care for that. He showed her my Easter bunny tie, and he said he liked my "teal" shirt. He said they had moved to Provo, and I was sad that I had missed them there, but they didn't move there until I had left. We exchanged phone numbers in case we were ever in each other's territory. One of President's neighbors came over and he was telling him about my job and said "super smart." I remember him saying that twice, and one time I thought he was saying it about me, and another time I thought he was saying it about my boss, so one time I replied "I try my best," and the other time I said, "He is really smart." I felt silly if he was saying my boss was smart and he thought I was talking about me. Then I went home and wrote at my journal.
"Today I was a little distracted at work, but I don't know why. Journal History of the Church wasn't working. I researched various plants, Amasa Lyman in California, and the Great Salt Lake.
"After work I went to the downtown Smith's Marketplace, where I got an Easter egg tree (which is already broken) and some carrot cake Clif Bars.
"Then I drove to Draper for a mission reunion at the Clarks'. It was good to see them. I also saw Elders McKell, Critchfield, Johnson (Colby), and Proctor, and Sister Van Noy (Smith). I waited so that I could see Elder Wilson; it was good to see him again."
Saturday, April 4. Susanne came over and gave me some malted milk eggs and an egg decorative plate for watching their dog that week, and I didn't think I could finish all the candy before Easter was over, since we were having other candy as well. We received baskets with candy that my mom had bought from Winegar's, and their selection hadn't been good. We got the last two chocolate bunnies (Reese's) and spice jelly beans. I liked the spice ones and determined all the flavors: white peppermint, pink wintergreen, green spearmint, red cinnamon, orange orange spice, black licorice, and purple clove. Susanne said she didn't like the spice jelly beans. We dyed eggs while I turned on Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie. I had five eggs to color. 
We also had an Easter egg hunt. My dad and I went downstairs for the
afternoon conference session, while my mom stayed upstairs, but she came
down later. After that session, I knew I didn't have much time before
the priesthood session, so I changed my clothes and ran up to the Wild
Rose Loop. I was delighted to see that the "Restroom Closed" sign was
taken down at the park, which meant they had turned the water on again,
so I could get a drink from the drinking fountain. I was surprised,
because it was supposed to be closed until April 15. I might have run
past people going to view the session at the stake center. Then I went
home and quickly showered before watching the priesthood session.
"Before the priesthood session, I ran the Wild Rose and Chukar Loops in their entirety. It was warm and sunny, but fortunately the park's drinking fountain was on again.
"I've been eating lots of candy, since my time is almost up. Nan got me some Easter gifts for watching Buddy."
Sunday, April 5. My mom was grating carrots while watching conference in the morning to make carrot cake for dessert. That afternoon, our relatives came over for Easter dinner, and my grandparents brought a ham. I was wearing my black "Hanging with my Peeps" shirt, and my cousin Peter told me he was disappointed that my holiday outfit was something that other people would wear, and he told me I was a hipster, which was definitely not true. My mom announced we were having carrot cake, and Peter began laughing, because he knew why we were having it. My mom had decorated it with jelly beans and bunny marshmallows, and the young kid Brennon wanted marshmallows by themselves. I made a Facebook status: "Whenever I read in Isaiah about "wizards that peep and mutter," I think of something like this."
I was surprised I wasn't getting more positive feedback, so my cousin April said she'd "like" it for me. After everyone had eaten cake, there were only two pieces left, and I was surprised that Allie wanted one, since people were still there and there most definitely was not enough. After everyone had left, there was only one piece, and I had it, but felt bad because I would have saved it for my sister, but my mom said she would have eaten it if I hadn't, so I didn't feel as bad. I did, however, feel sick from eating two pieces of cake and lots of candy. But it was the last time I would eat candy until May 22 (when I ate some red, white, and blue Twizzlers).
"I ate lots of candy and carrot cake today.
"After conference, G'ma and G'pa, Peter, Gildersleeves, and April came for Easter dinner. Renee forgot her e-cigs, and I don't feel bad for that. I wrote on my blog tonight. We found three extra candy-filled eggs that we didn't find yesterday. A decent Easter."
Monday, April 6. This might have been the day I took my personal Geologic History of Utah book to work for research and annotation, because I was dealing with a document where the First Presidency of the 1850s said they heard volcanic eruptions in the mountains, and I knew that was impossible.
"Today I talked with Reid and continued researching. I even wrote a note about geology, because I know the early Utah settlers didn't hear a volcano.
"I didn't know about FHE tonight, so I went running. It took me eighteen minutes to get from the trailhead to the radio towers, so it probably isn't too much further to Ensign Peak, which I need to try again."
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