T-143 : Stressed Desserts?

We talked as a family about too much stress in our lives recently.  While it's common to quote the phrase at right, that's a quick-fix mentality.  I'm not opposed to some sweets now and again but here's some tips for how we can handle racked nerves on a more long-term basis with fairly simple diet and exercise tweaks:

1. Oranges
2. Sweet Potatoes
3. Dried Apricots
4. Almonds, Pistachios & Walnuts
5. Turkey
6. Spinach
7. Salmon
8. Avocados
9. Green Vegetables

More stress-busting tips: 

• - Exercise regularly 
• - Eat small meals throughout the day, which will keep your blood sugar stable (when blood sugar is low, mental, physical, and emotional energy decreases, and stress increases).

I wouldn't advocate eating them all, especially if you think they're nasty (like dried apricots)!  But a little here and a little there might go a long way toward peaceful nirvana!  What other tips help you?

Link: http://www.marieclaire.com/health-fitness/advice/reduce-stress-foods

T-144 : Simply Solitary

Yesterday we took advantage of free admission to Yellowstone by day tripping to Old Faithful.  We had lunch in the cafeteria then went on a stroll around the backside.  It's not true that there's a little man behind a tree turning the geyser on and off on a schedule.  At least, if it is true, we didn't see him.  We walked around through the trees looking for the overlook.  By the time we got there we'd missed the eruption.  As we moseyed back down the trail we came upon Solitary Geyser.  It "erupts" every 5-7 minutes but only reaches about 4 feet.  The 2 eruptions we saw only lasted seconds, too.  In fact, the one before this one that we caught on video was less than a split second and made Emily shriek.  I even jumped.  Good times, though.  We made a commitment to get back there again sometime and spend even more time enjoying this treasure that's only a 2 hour drive from our house.  C'mon over and we'll take you there!

T-145 : Harvest Lunicity

Tonight is a Harvest Moon.  I heard about it on the EarthSky 90-second podcast.  They've got better photos than I do on their website but I kind of like the picture here of our corn patch with the moon in the background.  How's your harvest?

T-146 : Déjà vu

It seems like I've written about this before...but...anyway...  I've had the distinct impression multiple times over the past couple of days that I've been experiencing things that I've experienced before.  HowStuffWorks.com reports that:

As much as 70 percent of the population reports having experienced some form of déjà vu. 

Have you?  Do you feel like I've asked you this before?

T-147 : Potato Skies

There's a song by The Fixx called Red Skies.  There's a part of the song where they sing the lyric "...red skies at night..." 4 times in a row with the emphasis coming on each of the different words in the phrase sequentially with each phrase.  I don't know if I'm describing that very well.  The same type of thing happens in the potato song where each of the syllables of the word "potato" are emphasized.  Do you know what I mean?  What's that concept called, syncopating rhythms or something?

T-148 : Superior Inferiority

So it seems like sometimes I have no clue what others are talking about while other times I don't feel like anyone has any clue what I'm talking about.  Sometimes I feel like I'm doing all I can do just to keep up while other times I can't figure out why others aren't keeping up with me.  Sometimes I feel like a real cow; sometimes like a cartoon cow.  I know neither way is optimally healthy.  Do you ever feel the same?  How would you advise me to try to strike a better balance?

T-149 : As Sume

"Assumptions are the termites of relationships."

~Henry Winkler

(1945-)

I'm learning that this must be true in work relationships, too.  I'm going to work harder to be a better communicator rather than waiting and hoping for others to communicate better with me.  I'm trying to keep it clean but I don't want anything to be made out of "u" and "me", if you know what I mean.

T-150 : Give Take

That Lao Tzu was a pretty wise guy.  Here's one of his ponderables:

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." - Lao Tzu

In case you don't know him:

Laozi was a philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching. His association with the Tào Té Chīng has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of philosophical Taoism. Wikipedia 

So, while he's not a "Christian", I believe that all "truth" can be circumscribed in one whole.  In that way, each wise person or saying has a part in making me a complete person.  Thanks, Lao!

T-151 : Some Mores

So, this is the traditional s'mores recipe.  Tara's family often uses the Keebler Fudge Grahams cookies, which can avoid some of the mess.  It kind of takes away from the fun of making them from scratch, though.  Also, I think I usually use 1 graham broken in half with 1/2 a chocolate bar and 1 marshmallow.  Do you have a better recipe?

T-152 : Counting Pages

When I read a book I always like to look at how many pages it is before I start.  Then as I read the book I continuously (continually?) do math in my head to figure out what percentage of the book I've read.  Some would say that interferes with the enjoyment of the book.  What say you?

T-153 : Gauge Anxiety

As the gas gauge in my car approaches E my anxiety increases.  At some point the light even comes on to send an extra shock to my system that things are getting serious.  Years ago on a trip I ignored the light thinking that the next gas station would be cheaper.  In my quest to save a few pennies I ended up losing a day and a half of travel time and $1000 repair bill.

When I hurt my toe this year I postponed going to the doctor for weeks.  When I finally went, the dislocated toe couldn't be relocated without surgery.  The bills are finally rolling in and it looks like that's about a $2500 decision (or lack thereof).

It's tough to be patient and responsible at the same time.  I'm confident, though, that God teaches us lessons in whatever way we can best learn them.  Sometimes we pick up on on it and sometimes it takes expensive experiences to embed the memory of the mistake into our psyche to the point that we're forced to remember not to make the same mistake in the future.

Regardless, I still get that uneasy feeling that grows as the needle goes from F to E.  It's healthy.  The key is to just go ahead and fill it up at half a tank, go to the doctor a little quicker, and rest easy.

T-154 : Rural Paths

James Taylor says:

Take to the highway, won't you lend me 

your name?

Your way and my way seem to be one and the same.

Mamma don't understand it, she wants to know where I've been.

I'd have to be some kind of natural born fool to want to pass that way again,

But I could feel it on a country road.

Sail on home to Jesus, won't you good girls and boys.

I'm all in pieces, you can have your own choice.

But I can hear a heavenly band full of angels and they're coming to set me free.

I don't know nothing 'bout the why or when but I can tell that it's bound to be,

because I could feel it, child, yeah, on a country road.

I guess my feet know where they want me to go walking on a country road.

Take to the highway, won't you lend me your name?

Your way and my way seem to be one and the same.

Mamma don't understand it, she wants to know where I've been.

I'd have to be some kind of natural born fool to want to pass that way again,

But I could feel it on a country road.

Walk on down, walk on down, walk on down, walk on down, walk on down a country road.

Na na na na na na na na na na na, country road, yeah, walking on a country road

John Denver says:

Almost heaven, West Virginia 

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River 

Life is old there, older than the trees 

Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze 

Chorus: 

Country roads, take me home 

To the place I belong 

West Virginia, Mountain Mama 

Take me home, country roads 

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/john+denver/country+roads_20073876.html ] 

All my memories, gathered 'round her 

Miners' Lady, stranger to blue water 

Dark and dusty, painted on the sky 

Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye 

Chorus 

I hear her voice, in the morning hour she calls me 

The radio reminds me of my home far away 

And drivin' down the road I get the feeling 

That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday 

I don't know if there's hidden meanings in either of the songs but I like the concept of a country road.  Taking the scenic route got me in trouble in Ozark, Arkansas years ago when I chose to keep on driving toward the next gas station without stopping.  I learned my lesson the hard way by forking over $1000 to the repair shop before we could get back on the road.  I still like to mosey, though.  How about you?  Are you more like me or do you like to take the fast track?

T-155 : Serendipitous Circumstances

Today I took a walk to our family bank to withdraw money that we'd been using as a business account then promptly walked across town to deposit it in another bank where I had an account that I opened months ago when they had a "free iTunes card" promotion.  I'd since let the account go dormant and had accrued $10 dormancy fees for the last 2 months in a row.  As I got there I'd forgotten that my good friend -- who I served in the Elders Quorum with -- was the branch manager.  Also, my next door neighbor is a customer service rep.  They reversed the fees and he took me out to lunch on his dime.

Earlier in the day I'd gotten the approval to rehire a student that is more knowledgeable on SharePoint than anyone I know on campus.  That will be a great boon to me.  I didn't expect my boss to approve it so quickly.  Then he reported to work moments before a major meeting to discuss the future of SharePoint in the new IT reorganization.  It was definitely a blessed course of events.

Tonight Tara taught the FHE lesson on the concept of "optimism".  I believe that will lead to great goodness in our family as we continue to practice.  The thing I want to caution against is the Polyanna Principle; where people will regard one as being too positive to be real.  Do you think that's a valid concern?

T-156 : Covenants Calling

One of the phrases uttered in tonight's Stake General Priesthood Meeting was:

"...serve by virtue of covenant not by virtue of call..."

I think it means that you're supposed to be a good person because you told God that you would be rather than because you've been assigned to a position that requires you to be as an example to others.  Do you think I'm understanding it fully and correctly?

T-157 : Simple, Simon

Today we heard a good talk in Sacrament Meeting about simplifying our lives in order to be more ready to receive revelation.  I agree.  But, then again, Mr. Einstein said:

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

So it's one of them there balance concepts again. Simplicity is good but anything in excess becomes a vice.  Here's what ye ole nursery rhymes had to say about it:

 "Simple Simon met a pieman,

Going to the fair;

Says Simple Simon to the pieman,

Let me taste your ware.

Says the pieman to Simple Simon,

Show me first your penny;

Says Simple Simon to the pieman,

Indeed I have not any.

Simple Simon went a-fishing,

For to catch a whale;

All the water he had got,

Was in his mother's pail.

Simple Simon went to look

If plums grew on a thistle;

He pricked his fingers very much,

Which made poor Simon whistle."

Should be simple enough but I'm not sure I fully understand.  Care to elaborate on your understanding?

T-158 : Island Park

This morning the boys and I went to Island Park to join the other fathers and sons in our ward on the camp-out/canoe trip.  We didn't go up last night partly because of the Tabernacle Choir concert we attended.  The other part of it is that we don't really enjoy camping.  We've always attended the camp-outs in the past, probably mostly out of duty.  I do enjoy the campfire camaraderie and likely missed out on some of that last night, though I did participate in some of that this morning as we arrived shortly before breakfast.  After eating pancakes, eggs, and bacon from a bowl -- because someone didn't bring enough plates -- we headed out on the river.  It's a shallow stretch that had us touching bottom on more than one occasion.  Maybe I should have stopped at 2 pancakes.  Anyway, if you ever get a chance, come on down to Rexburg and we'll take you out for a nice float.

By the way, if you're wondering how Island Park got its name check out: http://www.henrysforkcountry.com/full.php?sid=65

T-159 : Tavern Apples

Last night we got the see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir live in concert. The only time I'd seen them live in the past was either at conference or at a 30-minute performance of Music and the Spoken Word.  This was a full-fledged concert with an intermission and everything!  I was very impressed.  I marveled at the fact that I was watching the choir that my dad used to watch on KSL so often on Sunday mornings.  I remember many times being disappointed that he wanted to watch that when so many other good things must be on.  Over time the appeal of the choir definitely grew on me.  Many of the numbers they performed last night touched me, including a Nigerian Carol, "Betelehemu" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7WdQ1xSkk4) -- which Lloyd Newell joked that the choir was actually singing and moving at the same time -- and the end number when Lloyd, the organist the conductor, the entire orchestra, and of course the choir looked directly at the audience and sang an A Capella version of "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again".  The one I'm sharing with you below probably touched me the most, though.  Let me know what you think:

 

By the way, the blog entry title is a nod to a Family Circus comic I remember from years back when one of the children referred to them as the "Mormon Tavern Apple Choir".  If anyone can find that panel for me I'll give you bonus points!

T-160 : Holy Steeples!

On a recent trip to Portland I made my way to the temple.  I was impressed by the steeples.  They were probably more pronounced because the building itself is so surrounded by tall, green trees.  Steeples are a common element of religious architecture worldwide and are generally viewed as attempts to reach skyward toward heavens and the divine.  Do you have a favorite steeple?  Does viewing steeples remind you of reaching skyward toward the divine?

T-161 : Scripture Power

I like the fact that each time I read the scriptures I have the potential of learning something new, even though I've read them many times before.  I enjoy marking certain passages, studying them at a future time, then remembering the foundational truth they taught me.  I also enjoy the concept that I might read something differently at a different point in my life that will affect me in a different way.  It's almost magical!

Focus - Stability - Foundation

T-162 : Malicious Compliance

In Sunday School the other day someone equated blind obedience with a term I wasn't familiar with, "Malicious Compliance".  Apparently it's corporate lingo for following too strictly.  In fact, after doing more study it seems it's the point of following strictly when you're certain that the result will be bad for someone else.  So, that's not good.  I guess it means that we ought to be obedient to our superiors until we can gain a conviction for why the rules exist in the first place.  Once we're convicted, we need to know when compliance will be harmful and when it's better not to obey.  One example I can think of is the speed limit.  I understand that there is a time when it's against the law to go the posted speed limit if all the cars around you are going faster or slower than said posted speed because you'd become a hindrance to traffic.  Can anyone back me up on that or am I dreaming?

T-163 : Chalk Up

I was thinking today of the phrase "...chalk it up to...".  The way I figure it you can either count every experience as a blessing or chalk it up to being the cause of some other effect in your life.  Either way, you come out on the positive.  Chalk this blog post up to looking for the positive.

T-164 : Trash Picker

There's a famous scripture in James 5:20 that seems to tell us we can compensate for some of our wrongs by helping others right their wrongs.  I don't know that I'm very good at being tactfully direct about that but I like to think that little things that I do -- such as picking up trash as I'm walking -- help to cover up some of my other sins.  It's not that I'm going to quit trying to get better in areas that I struggle.  It's just that I'm pretty good at picking up a gum wrapper here and there.  I don't do it to be seen but maybe if somebody sees me doing it and chooses to pay it forward by doing something themselves I'll have achieved a bit of James 5:20 in my life.  Maybe some of my other sins will be covered up.  Maybe over time I'll progressively become a better person.

T-165 : Ornamental Removal

Yesterday I was reminded that there are 100 days until Christmas.  That means that I now have 99 days left to figure out how to craft the newly-removed toe pin (yahoo!!  I get to shower now!!) into a tree ornament.  Ideas?

I was exceedingly surprised at how long the thing was!

T-166 : Smugly Insubordinant?

So, does this mean that you have to break the rules a bit in order to achieve greatness?  I tend to think there's a bit of truth in that but I don't want to seem blasphemous or disobedient, either.  If there's supposed to be balance in all things in life does that include the level to which we need to blindly obey as opposed to finding out the reason for the "law" and knowing when to follow the "spirit of..." rather than the "letter of.."?

T-167 : Black Clouds?

This is a painting in my doctor's office.  I don't know if the photograph does it justice.  When I'm sitting in the room on that butcher paper waiting for him to arrive perhaps I just stare at it too long and my mind plays tricks on me.  The thing that I try to figure out is if it's dark sky or dark clouds at the top.  It's pretty evident that there are clouds in the middle.  Then, just above the horizon, it looks like a clear sunrise or sunset.  Does it look peculiar to you?

T-168 : Ponderous Time

I value ponder time.  I need to do it more often.  I'll try to remember this song in my head as the string around my finger to remind me to stop and think:

This is ponderous man... Really ponderous...

I had this dream the other night...
I went to work one day... And nobody remembered who i was....
So, i decided to take the day off...
On my way out, i run into my boss and he say's, "hey, you look familiar..."
i said, "thanks, people say that a lot in these dreams."
then the horns kicked in (sfx) and my shoes started to squeak. (sfx)

then all of a sudden, i'm standing on a beach in some tropical part of the world...and there's this sign that says... "aren't you supposed to be at work..." (haha) it sort of screamed out at me... (scream)...

Then i remembered, i'd been here in other dreams, but usually there was a water polo game and a girl who could talk with her eyes... And she'd say.. "can you see what i'm saying?" then the horn kicked in (sfx) and my shoes started to squeak...(sfx)

before i knew it... I was walking near a lake when a phone rings (sfx) and the operator speaks to me in a language i don't understand...

Oom papachucka maka nanu singow.
Meling kapalana wani domo chingpow..
Heddy kapalua cuma jenising tea...
Oomama chucka pana one is now three....

Then the horns kicked in. (sfx) and my shoes started to squeak (sfx)

before long, i was coming up on this weird part of my dream... You know, the part where i know how to tap dance... But i can only do it while wearing golf shoes...

Now, i'm back on the beach... Walking with this girl who talks with her eyes. This time she say's. "i think you see what i'm saying..."

then just before i woke up. It started to rain in southern california...

(repeat chorus)

a girl who could talk with her eyes...

Can you see what i'm saying?

Aren't you supposed to be at work? (haha.)

This is ponderous man... Really ponderous...

Oooohhhh (horns)

(squeak sfx)

Do you have any tips to help you remember to take ponder time?

T-169 : Keratin Taratrim

Today I got a haircut by my resident barber.  I also trimmed my nails.  Now, normally I wouldn't mention something so common and borderline odd.  I had a vague recollection, though, that hair and nails were made of the same material.  As I went googling around the Internets I soon remembered that the substance is called "keratin".  So, I suppose it could be said that I had my Tara kin trim my keratin before I used some other tin to trim my toe keratin.  Part of the reason I got excited is that I'm scheduled to get the extra tin hook removed from my toe on Monday.  I can't wait to start running and bending again.  Then, as I was looking for an accompanying photo for this post I ran across something called a keratin horn.  If my telling you I trimmed my nails doesn't make you a bit queasy then I dare you to google "keratin horn" then look through some of the images.  I leave you this one as an example of how bad it could be.  I certainly feel blessed to only be hampered by a temporary pin and the occasional need to trim some nails or take a pumice stone to a rough patch on my heel or big toe.  Eww!

T-170 : Torture Hold

Being put on hold for longer than you desire is probably the only thing worse than not being able to navigate through an automated phone menu.  Here's some tips:

• Press 0
  Interrupt the recitation of the telephone menu by pressing 0 or 0# or #0. 
• Wait...
  Don't punch any number.  The system will assume you have a rotary dial phone and connect you to a representative.
• Yell!
  Raise your voice. Some companies screen for tension in customers' voices and will route callers about to blow a fuse to the top.

Years ago Aflac actually added a menu option that said to Press 7 to hear the duck quack.  I enjoyed that they added that bit of humor to try to assuage impatient ones like me.

How patient are you?

T-171 : Brights Brake

What do you do when someone is driving either toward you or behind you with their high-beam lights on?

I'm pretty comfortable when someone's coming toward me giving them a quick bright-on/bright-off flash as a friendly reminder.  This usually works and I feel fine.  Occasionally the oncoming driver will either not pay attention to my dimming request or prove that I was wrong by turning their true brights on making me even blinder than before!  OK, I get it, I was wrong!  I console myself by hoping that if enough people continue to give them the flash that they'll get their headlights re-aimed.

I'm less comfortable knowing what to do when the car coming behind me is high-beaming my rear-view mirror.  There doesn't seem to be any universal signal for that gentle reminder.  Should I tap my break lights?  Should I shine my laser light in the rear view mirror right on their target?  I once was being followed closely by a vehicle with high-beams at close range while I was 4 abreast in the fast lane on the freeway in SLC.  I tapped my brake lights once but it didn't help.  I hit them a little harder than saw red and blue flashing lights and was cited for reckless driving.  Since then I've shied away from the braking action and either slow down a bit if the car's coming up on me or speed up a bit if I'm beginning to lose them.

If you've got a brighter idea I'd love to hear it!

T-172 : Morning Jackets

It's the time of year when it's starting to get cold.  I wore a jacket to work for today the first time since Spring.  It was 37° as I was driving to work at 8:00 AM.  Of course it was 75° as I left work at 5:00 PM, which is coat-carrying weather.  Then tonight as the sun went down I had to get out the hoodie to wear around the house as my t-shirt proved to be not enough to comfort.  I'm thankful for this time of year and for the concept of changing seasons in general.

T-173 : Camerlengo Misled

In the book "Angels & Demons" there are constant references to the term "Camerlengo".  I'd been trying to understand it in context for the longest time.  I couldn't get "camera lingo" out of my head, though I knew that made no sense at all.  Today I finally looked it up and learned that it's basically an assistant to the Pope.  That's a completely different meaning altogether!

On a related note, there's a word "misled" that I'd for years thought was pronounced mah-ee-zulled.  It makes some sense, doesn't it?  We won't even get started on the lyrics I've misheard over the years.  At least I'm not alone in that one, though, as evidenced by the website: www.KissThisGuy.com; which is a reference to the Jimi Hendrix song in which he actually sings, "...excuse me while I kiss the sky...".  Sing it to yourself fast and you'll hear the resemblance.  Perhaps I'll share more of my mishearings in a later post.

Before you leave, though, here's an honest question.  How do you pronounce "wreak"; as in "wreak havoc"?  Is it "reek" or "wreck"?  I await your enlightenment.

T-174 : Out Fashion

I think I've slowly reached the age where I no longer dress as much for fashion as I do for function.  Some would argue I never dressed that well in my "prime".  Some of my new habits include wearing the same pair of slacks all week, picking the next tie off the loop rack to go with the next shirt in line, and wearing socks with sandals.  Do you think I'm a fashion faux pas?  What's your biggest beef about the way people dress or groom themselves?

T-175 : Viewer Discretion

Don't worry.  There's nothing in this post that needs to be censored.  I'm reading the Dan Brown book "Angels & Demons" right now.  To be more precise, I'm listening to it in my car as I drive back and forth to work.  I can usually get 10 good quality minutes in my 5.5-mile daily commute.  Anyway, there's a part in the book today that they talk about a news report coming on the television preceded by a warning that some material in the next story might not be appropriate for all members of the family and that viewer discretion is advised.  They go on to pontificate that most people don't turn off the TV or even change the channel at that point.  Most people will take this as an invitation to watch and find out what could be so gruesome.  In fact, the author puts the blame on the television station for using this as a marketing tactic.  I tend to agree.  I admit, though, that I've always sided toward the "intrigued" side as I see those warnings as opposed to the "be careful" side.  How about you?  Are you a watcher of said thing or a switcher to the other channel?

T-176 : Transtheoretical Model

In the most recent Time magazine there's an article by Dr. Oz that refers to something called the "Transtheoretical Model".  I'm not sure I ever heard of it before but I really like it.  Some people also simply called it "The Process of Change".  Here's the basic premise:

1. Precontemplation
   You're not even thinking about change.  In some cases, you don't know a problem exists.
2. Contemplation
   This is when you've begun considering the pros and cons of changing but you've made no decision.
3. Preparation
   Change could be imminent.  You begin taking proactive steps like telling family and friends.
4. Action
   A behavior has been changed -- which can be thrilling at first but requires commitment to continue.
5. Maintenance
   The new behavior has been practiced for six months.  Slips are still a risk.

In all the pictures I previewed online to accompany this post I really like the ones that referred to this concept as an upward spiral.  That's the way I feel about life.  We should be constantly changing for good.  Thanks, Dr. Oz, for helping me put words to my thoughts; even if they're big six-cylinder words!  Do you feel transtheoretical?

T-177 : Secret Scrolls

There's a book that I really like called "The Secret".  The basic premise is that great people over the years have know that the power to success is a positive mental attitude.  Since I read the book I've also been subscribed to "The Secret Scrolls", a weekly email newsletter that just reminds me to stay positive.  Here's today's, which I really liked:

There is a difference between feeling gratitude and appreciation for something, and feeling attachment to something. Appreciation and gratitude are states of pure love, while attachment contains fear - fear of losing or not having what you are attached to. When it comes to something you want in your life, appreciation and gratitude attracts, and attachment pushes away. If you are feeling afraid that you will not get what you want, or losing what you have, then you have attachment.

To remove the attachment, keep shifting yourself into a state of appreciation and gratitude, until you can feel that the fear has gone.

I appreciate the thought.

T-178 : Singing Opportunities

Today while singing the hymns at devotional I realized that I get many opportunities each week to sing.  At sacrament meeting we sing an opening hymn, sacrament hymn, sometimes a rest hymn, and a closing him.  At priesthood meeting we sing an opening hymn.  At Family Home Evening on Mondays we always sing; usually hymns, sometimes pop music with lyrics on the computer...kind of like karaoke.  At devotional we sing an opening hymn and a closing hymn.  We even sing an opening hymn at Elders Quorum Presidency meetings on Tuesday evenings, just the 4 of us.

I'm thankful that I have a decent voice.  At least I like to think so.  Your opinion(s) may differ.  I'm thankful that I've sung so many of these hymns for so much of my life that I basically have them memorized; at least the tunes, if not the lyrics.  I almost always have music playing out of my computer at home, too.  I'll even occasionally try to sing along with them.  Right now it's Kenny Chesney.  Earlier tonight it was Dave Matthews.  Before that it was Howard Jones.  Spotify is my current player of choice.  I even have it going at work, though I don't usually sing along there.  Today I listened to Van Halen, Night Ranger, Perry Como, Roger Williams, among others.

How 'bout you?  Are you a singer?  Car?  Shower?

T-179 : Seat Savers

Have you ever saved seats for someone?  We all probably have.  I admit that I look at others saving seats and think it a silly and sometimes unfair practice.  Seat savers are in the same vein with line cutters and traffic speeders.  On a tangential note, why are radar detectors even legal?  And why do speedometers go up to 120 when the highest posted speed I've ever seen was 80 in Texas; aside from the "reasonable and prudent" that existed in Montana for a short time a few years back?  Why do I feel this way?  Am I justified to some extent or just wrong?  I want to understand; I just don't, yet.

T-180 : Gonna Blow?!

Do you back up your important computer files?

I've got an external hard drive that seems to be getting smaller by the day.  I have a flash drive I keep in my pocket but it's not big enough to hold all of my files.  Plus, I had to replace it the other day because it stopped working.  I've got accounts with DropBox, Box, SkyDrive, GoogleDrive but none are big enough to hold all my stuff.  I've heard of Carbonite but I'm too cheap to pay $60/year.  I'd like to test out this new one called CrashPlan where one can back up to a friend's unused hard drive space.

Wanna give it a shot with me?  Let me know and I'll send you an invitation.

T-181 : Sleepy Affirmations

I don't really know how to spell "uh huh".  It's the slangy word that means "yes".  I recognized the other day that Tara said it sleepily as I was climbing into bed.  I think she was already nearly asleep but just conscious enough to agree to allow me to join her under the covers.  I think I've done the same thing from time to time.  It's much better than the grunts and groans that I sometimes elicit when covers are being pulled seemingly unfairly, children are coughing too loudly in the other room, or things generally are just not going the way that I want them to go and I hope for change by making guttural noises.  I'll try to do better.  How about you?

Birthdays Today

• 1828 – Leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist (d. 1910)
• 1890 – Colonel Sanders, American fast-food entrepreneur (d. 1980)
• 1941 – Otis Redding, American singer and songwriter (d. 1967)
• 1960 – Hugh Grant, English actor
• 1966 – Adam Sandler, American actor and comedian

History Today

• 1791 – Washington, D.C., the capitol of the United States, is named after President George Washington.
• 1850 – California is admitted as the thirty-first U.S. state.
• 1926 – The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was created by the Radio Corporation of America.

T-182 : Ping Thing

I have in my head that to "ping" someone means to contact them.  In other words, "ping" is the larger umbrella under which falls "call", "text", "IM", "email", etc.  I can't find any evidence, though, to back me up.  I told Tara the other day to "ping" me sometime during the day; then proceeded to explain what I meant.  Then next day she said that she would "bing" me.  Is it conceivable that "ping" is a word that I think means something that it doesn't mean?

T-183 : Prayers Pray

I believe there's a slight difference between saying a prayer and praying.  Think about it.  Does it sound different to tell someone that you'll say a prayer or even that you'll say prayers for them as opposed to telling them the you'll pray for them?  I think so.  It think it's much better to pray than it is to say a prayer.  Some might think I'm nitpicking.  I do that a lot so I can see where you might get the idea.  Saying a prayer, though, to me sounds like it's something that you'd have memorized or read from a note card.  Praying sounds like something you'd do more from the heart and soul as the ideas came to you.  M.C. Hammer said we need to pray just to make it today.  He actually said it...a lot:

That's word,we pray(pray,pray)
We got to pray
Just to make it today
I said we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray(pray)
We got to pray
Just to make it to pray
That's word,we pray

All my life I wanted to make it to the top
(That's word,we pray)
Some said I wouldn't
They told me no,but I didn't stop
(That's word,we pray)
Working hard,making those movies everyday
(That's word,we pray)
And on my knees every night,you know I pray

That's word,we pray(pray)
Ah,yeah,pray(pray) we got to pray
Just to make it today
I said we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray(pray)
We got to pray
Just to make it today
That's word,we pray

Now I just think that you
Can do what ever you want
(That's word,we pray)
I'm bustin' these rhymes
Making this money and I won't
(That's word,we pray)
Forget my people or may town or my ways
(That's word,we pray)
And on my knees.every night I'm still gonna pray

That's word,we pray(pray)
Ah,yeah,pray(pray) we got to pray
Just to make it today
I said we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray(pray)
We got to pray
Just to make it today
That's word,we pray

Time and time and time and time again
(That's word,we pray)
I kept on knocking,but
These people wouldn't let me in
(That's word,we pray)
I tried and tried and tried and tried to make a way
(That's word,we pray)
But nothing happened till that day I prayed

That's word,we pray(pray)
Ah,yeah,pray(pray) we got to pray
Just to make it today
I said we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray(pray)
We got to pray
Just to make it today
That's word,we pray

Childrem dying,oh,so fast from this or that
(That's word,we pray)
Needing that money
Smoking that dope and doing that crack
(That's word,we pray)
Ten years old stand outside
Better look out
(That's word ,we pray)
Dead and gone,necer had a chance
What's it all about?

That's word,we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray
We need to pray
Just to make it today
I need to pray(pray),ah,yeah,pray
We need to pray
Just to make it today
That's word,we pray

That's word,we pray( x3)

That's word,we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray
We need to pray
Just to make it today
I need to pray(pray),ah,yeah,pray
We need to pray
Just to make it today
That's word,we pray

On a mission start to doubt.here we go
(That's word,we pray)
Kicking back,read these words we need to know
(That's word,we pray)
Living high,living good,living long
(That's word,we pray)
Take a minute,bust a prayer
And you're good to go

That's word,we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray
We need to pray
Just to make it today
I need to pray(pray),ah,yeah,pray
We need to pray
Just to make it today
That's word,we pray

We're sending this one out to the Lord
(That's word,we pray)
And we thank you and we know we need to pray
(That's word,we pray)
Cause all the blessings that are good they come from above
(That's word,we pray)
And once again we want
To say "thank you" to the Lord with all our love
  
That's word,we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray
We need to pray
Just to make it today
I need to pray(pray),ah,yeah,pray
We need to pray
Just to make it today
That's word,we pray

That's word,we pray(pray,pray) (x4)
That's word,we pray

Pray tell, do you pray?  Do you pray for others?  What does it really mean when you tell someone you'll pray for them?

T-184 : Harnessing Humor

"If you can't make it better, you can laugh at it."

~ Erma Bombeck

(1927-1996)

I like laughing.  I like making other people laugh.  I feel like I have a knack for it.  I distinctly remember an interview with Bishop Glade Moser as a youth in which he complimented me and my family for being able to joke around.  It's not important that he was a bishop.  It's important that I've remembered that for 30 years.  I'm thankful for the family I grew up in even though I now sometimes think some of them go overboard sometimes. ;)  Now I'm raising my own band of nitwits.  In case you hadn't already noticed, read some of their blog entries.  The key now is going to be to learn how to channel the humor to the right situations.  We can all get better at that.  Have I ever used humor inappropriately around you?  I could use some tips.

T-185 : Powerful Knowledge

The first time I heard the phrase "Knowledge is Power" was on School House Rock.  Now Bruce Lee tells me there's a higher law.  I believe Bruce Lee.  I'm scared not to.

"Knowledge will give you power, but character respect."~Bruce Lee(1940 – 1973 )

On September 6 in History:

• 1901 – U.S. President William McKinley was shot and mortally wounded (he died eight days later) by Leon Czolgosz.
• I think of Kennedy or Lincoln when I think of mortally shot presidents.  I didn't realize McKinley suffered the same fate.
• 1959 – The first Barbie Doll was sold by Mattel Toy Corporation.
• I never got into Barbie.  I never got into Ken.  I never even got into G.I. Joe.  I always thought Barbie belonged with Joe rather than Ken, though.
• 1972 : A gun battle between the Palestinian group Black September who had kidnapped nine Israeli athletes from the Olympic Village in Munich ends when the nine hostages are killed in a gun battle between German Police and the terrorists at a nearby airport, Five of the terrorists were also killed and one German Police Officer.
• Extreme events - like the Olympics - bring out extremists.  If only we could all get along, right, Jerry Maguire?
• 1989 – The Pittsburgh Steelers were banned from practicing on their own field, Three Rivers Stadium, because The Rolling Stones were rehearsing for their upcoming concert.
• I've heard that a Rolling Stone gathers no moss but I didn't realize they kept others from their own turf!
• 1997 : Princess Diana's funeral
• Princess Diana died?
• 2007 : Luciano Pavarotti the Italian operatic tenor, best known as a member of "The Three Tenors" who popularized operatic music dies at the age of 71.
• Luciano Pavarotti died?

T-186 : Lunch Sack

I have a magical lunch sack.  Each night I bring it home empty and set it on the counter.  When I leave for work the next morning it's always loaded with goodness.  I'm sure thankful for that magic.  Do you have any such thing in your life?

T-187 : Situational Humor

In the old days we used the phrase "you had to be there" when you tried to repeat a joke or humorous situation that left others unimpressed.  Now we show each other funny pictures or videos from the Internets that often have the same effect.  I am lucky to have a family that at least pretends to enjoy the same things I do.  I keep track of such things throughout the day and bookmark them temporarily so that I can show them to my family during "night stuff", which directly precedes scripture time, followed by prayer time, followed by daily documentation (blog/journal) time.  Does your family/friends always enjoy your humor?

T-188 : Educational Anticipation

I've seen a lot of folks posting lately about their kids going back to school.  Many Idahoans, including my kids, started 8/22.  Utahns started 8/23.  Montanans started yesterday or today.  BYU-Idahoans start next Monday.  So, in honor of all you gettin' some more edumacation I stumbled across this graphic today from one of my favorite RSS Feeds, Indexed.  It's been a while since I went back to school but I remember being both a dork and a nerd at different times in my life.  I still have recurring nightmares that I can't remember my locker number nor combination and that I have to go down to the office hoping that I won't get chastised by Mrs. Petterborg or Mrs. Krantz.  How about you?  Nerd?  Dork?  Recurring nightmares?

T-189 : Snoop Jog

While I was on my lunchtime exercise amble/limp today I realized that I like meandering around town blowing with the wind.  This facet of the routine might be even more pronounce at this slower pace.  Also, being in a more-urban setting gives many more options for turns at every corner and even through parking lots and back alleys.  While snooping connotes a sneaky and unsavory action I can't deny that I like to keep my eyes open to things around me as a way of making more sense of my world.  Agree?