Meeting the Super Carlin Brothers!

 It was looking iffy if we were going to be able to do it. But we did it! We met the Super Carlin Brothers!

The reason it looked iffy was because we knew we could not bring our car to California. So we reserved a rental car. The rental car seemed like it would be well within our means to get. But when we got to the Phoenix airport on Saturday night to pick up the rental car and start our 2 day trip to California, the Fox Rental Car place told us that since we were local residents of Arizona that the security deposit was going to be well over $500 instead of the $200 that we thought. We did not have that money. Well, a little dumb founded, we sat in the rental car place and I prayed to see if it was at all possible to take our car to Cali. I felt like this wasn't what was good for our car after praying, but after that answer I was a little sad and defeated. Sarah didn't give up, though. As we were driving home, she came up with a plan for us to pick up another car, kinda like Getaround, but this time with the Turo app. She saved us. We made our way, the next morning to California in a Turo app car, and the drive went smoothly.

We stopped at Mom and Dad's ward because we were told that Dad was going to be set apart as the second counselor in the Elders Quorum Presidency. We did arrive in time, but it turned out that they did it earlier in the day. We talked with them for a little bit, but then we left to make it to the event.

We went to Pasadena, and saw the streets where they held the Rose Parade, as well as the Rose Bowl. We stopped at the Gable House. It was an artistically made house. We couldn't go inside, but we went on the grounds and relaxed as well as went to the bookstore. As we were sitting on a bench outside, we looked down right before praying and we found a 20 dollar bill on the ground. What luck!

Then we went to a Hawaiian restaurant and a boba shop. We got a pistachio frap with boba. We ate at a park near the place. Then we headed to the event.

The event we were going to was a show of the Super Carlin Brothers' Harry Potter podcast called "Through the Griffin Door." This was affectionately being called "Through the Griffin Tour: West Coast." We had signed up to do the VIP pass, which gave us a free poster, and a few minutes time with the Super Carlin Brothers to chat. It was so exciting! We stood in line waiting and we met a few people that were just as excited to meet them as we were.

When we approached Ben and J Carlin, I immediately started out by telling Ben how much I appreciate his podcast: Popcorn Culture. I even told him about the podcast I started with my brother, inspired by their podcast. Then we told them about how Sarah was the one that told the Everlasting GOB-stopper joke in their podcast episode The Hobby Phenomenon that happened on Sarah's birthday and they were so impressed. I was just so happy to meet them and tell them how grateful I am for their podcasts that they do.

The show was awesome! We even got to watch a live J vs. Ben. In between that and the actual show, we got to meet Isybelle, who is the editor of Popcorn Culture, as well as one of the team members. And she is so cool. She drew all the posters for all the shows.

Sarah was so awesome during the show. She cheered them with a whoop that is singular to Sarah. She even caused dying down cheering to start back up again and have the crowd give them a standing ovation. She is so cool.

After the show, which was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, chapter 2: The Scar, we said tracked down Alyce and Beth Carlin, the wives of the Brothers and told them how much we appreciate them and the things they do to support their families and their husbands. They were so gracious.

Then we bought the Los Angeles poster and thanked Isybelle and she signed the poster.

We decided afterwards to drive back to Fontana to stay the night at my parents house at 12am and escape the LA traffic in the morning and waking up early.

The next day, I made it in time just for 4:30pm teaching at Gilbert School of Music.

Such a Good Trip. It makes me smile.