Da Vinci at the MFA

Evan and I got cultural by going to the MFA. The library pass gets you in with half the price and part of my $60,000/year tuition covers free entrance to the local museums for MIT students.

There was an exhibit about Leonardo da Vinci and beauty. Basically, it was a bunch of sketches of ugly old men and beautiful young women.

As soon as we entered the exhibit, Evan had many questions for me:

1. Leonardo! Are the Ninja Turtles here?
2. Where's Michelangelo?
3. Where's Raphael?
4. Where's Donatello?

Later, we walked down a staircase that was part of a classically designed rotunda. Evan had many more questions for me:

1. Is this the capitol?
2. Where's George W. Bush?
3. Is Obama here?
4. Is "Night at the Museum" here?

How was your summer? I am going to Utah.

Evan the conversationist always has a go-to question and fun fact to share. His current question is, How was your summer? His current fun fact is, I am going to Utah in October.

This was his line at the temple recommend desk. With Anwar as he checked our receipt at Costco. While I was talking on speakerphone with the car mechanic. And to the information help desk guy at Boston Children's Hospital. He also asks me once or twice a day.

Funny Bones

I have never played nor even heard of the game Funny Bones. Basically, it is 3D Twister without the ground-sheet-circle-board. Each card has two different body parts that need to touch - elbow to head, knee to shin, toe to knee, hand to head, and the intimate nose to shoulder. Then you hold the card between the two body parts. The more cards your team can hold up at once, the more points you get. Basically, it is a BYU-approved touching game which also gets people comfortable with physical closeness. Evan loved it. When he had to put his hand on a girl's back he said, "Oh! I like this!"

More Texts

I don't know what it is about Evan texts that make me smile. When they are perfect English, I smile. When they are indecipherable Evanic, I smile.

Since we are packing up some stuff, I suggested we would take some stuff to Goodwill. I asked Evan if he had anything to give to poor people. He said no. Then when he left for work he texted me: "Do not tuhce anything sep why do good you."

Leaving a Man Behind

With all of the trips Evan and I have done together, he gets pretty disappointed when I leave him behind. In April I went to Florida without him. He felt jilted. Back in Boston we went at a munch-and-mingle after church and he was introducing himself to new people. We weren't next to each other, but definitely within hearing range. Evan went from person to person with this introduction:

Hi.
My name Evan.
Yours?
Where you from?
I from DC, St. Paul, Utah, and Florida.
Brigham went to Florida with Peachie and left me alone.

When? Where?

Some CES fireside speaker mentions Adam Ondi Ahman. Evan turns to me and animatedly says:

I went there.
You did not come.
Paige, Janney, and I were there.
Not you.
What year was that?

Weather Text

Evan loves to know the weather forecast. In Harvard Square, there are LCD screens that show the predictions for the next couple of days. He checks them religiously.

Evan saw a bad weather warning for Thursday evening, his normal temple night, so he texted me: "I not go temple bad thing about is big tuderstore night trueday."

Fettuccine Alfredo: EEEEH!

Evan loves fettuccine alfredo. It is his go to winner at Italian restaurants. Saturday we went out to eat to a family favorite local restaurant for Mom's birthday. After ordering our food, we went about our normal chit chat. Four out of the five of us chose the pan seared snapper. Evan was the only one to get something different. He got fettuccine alfredo. All of the fish came out at once. Then the server (who know us well) turned to Evan and said, Are you the guy who ordered the PB&J sandwich? With a quick response Evan horned, EEEEH. Wrong! and dismissed the idea with his hand in the air. Classic.

Why I Never Win at Scotland Yard

When we moved to Boston a year ago, Evan had a whole new city to learn. We practiced getting off the T at Harvard Sq., choosing the right exit, and walking to the chapel on Brattle Street. It is a confusing station with curving hallways and three exits. After doing it 2 times, he said he knew where to go and didn't need my help. The next week I decided to play James Bond and follow him.

I did a stakeout in the station and when I saw him walk near, I turned around to hide my face. He walked by, but took a wrong turn. Hoping it was a short-term error, I went another way to cut him off. Instead, I lost him.

I walked all over the station. In and out of every exit. Scanning my CharlieCard multiple times as I frantically searched. 

I called him once, and he said he was close to the church. So I walked to the church. He was not on the street. He was not at FHE in the church. 

I started calling too often, so he stopped answering. He didn't want to talk with me. He stopped answering texts. After 15 minutes unresponsive, I had my parents and siblings try to get a hold of him.

10 minutes later he answered and told me two cross streets he was near. Here was his walking path:

And showing why I am bad at Scotland Yard, here is my walking path: 

We finally made it to FHE, and I sat down next to my roommate. Not knowing of the previous 30 minute travails, he whispered to me, "Evan is much higher functioning than I thought!"

Winning an Argument

Evan sometimes disagrees with people. When an argument ensues, he applies two principles:

1. The most important task is to win
2. Logic is irrelevant

If a third person joins the conversation, it doesn't matter what that person says. Evan will claim that they are supporting his point of view, treat the statement as if it supports his point of view and finish the argument in his favor (even if it disagrees) with a "thank you." It's hilarious.