T-66 : Dough Nuts?

In the 6th Grade Spelling Bee I was one of the last 3 contestants.  My word was "dnt".  I started off with a "D" followed by a confident "O".  Then I paused.  I pondered whether to go with the "U" "G" "H" or to head right for the "N" "U" "T".  A vision popped into my head of the "DONUT" shop in Idaho Falls and I was convinced.  The second vision I had of a tub of "DOUGH" having anything to do with the tasty morsel paled in comparison.  With all the confidence I could muster I finished off with the "N" "U" "T" and was promptly met with a frown from the judge and politely asked to sit down.  The next part of the story is a bit hazy in my memory but I seem to recall sitting in the audience watching Jeff and Kenneth battle over numerous words that neither of them could spell until one of them finally got one.  Further, I imagine that I could have spelled at least one of those that they'd missed if only I wasn't dismissed for missing the "UGH".  Perhaps this disappointing tale has shaped my life for the better after all.  I like to think so.  I was probably bitter for years, though.  Don't let this happen to you.  Focus on enjoying the "small usually ring-shaped cake fried in fat" rather than persnicketing over some silly letters in a contest.

T-67 : Diabetic Reaction

Today at a work luncheon one of my coworkers had a diabetic reaction.  I've never really been around someone when something like this happened so it was a little freaky to me.  We were giving him soda pop and candy to try to get sugar in his system as fast as we could.  When he finally came out of it he said that honey is actually the best emergency antidote because it's nearly pure sugar and that the bees have already processed it.  He's got some in his desk drawer.  So, I'll know better next time to run downstairs for the honey instead of to the candy jar for a holiday Snickers square.  Hopefully this is helpful to you and maybe you can even share with me even more tips?

T-68 : Car Crattle

There's a rattling noise in my Corolla, especially when idling at the light.  Click and Clack, the guys on Car Talk, would likely tell me to turn up the radio.  I wonder if anyone else has any good tips for narrowing it down?

T-69 : Stretch Armstrong

I've gotten pretty steady with my workout routine over the past few years.  One thing I could stand to get much better at is my flexibility.  I can't even touch my toes -- standing or sitting -- without bending my knees.  Anybody got any good remedies?

T-70 : Short Cuts

There's more than one barber school here in Rexburg.  The other day I overheard Tara and a sister-in-law conversing about the speed (or lack thereof) of getting in and out of one of those establishments.  I'm just thankful that I haven't been to a barber of any sort in years.  Early on in our marriage my sister -- a trained barberina -- taught my wife the art of the buzz cut.  Now I get trimmed in the kitchen for free!  It's a wonderful life!

T-71 : Room Possession?

I'm trying to make more room each and every day.  How about you?

Link: http://ldsmediatalk.com/2012/11/26/do-you-have-room-christmas-song/

T-72 : Tree Hunt

The other night for Family Home Evening we went Christmas Tree hunting.  We've retrieved trees from almost any place you can imagine over the years.  This year it was down to the trusty corner store, Valley Wide.  Trekking into the woods and hauling one back is fun but there's something to be said for the speed of simply picking one up pre-cut 3 minutes from home.  What's your favorite tree memory?

T-73 : IKEA Smoosh

The other day we went to the SLC for the weekend in honor of Tara's birthday.  After spending some time at the temple and at City Creek we moseyed on down to IKEA.  We were driving the Corolla and hadn't really planned on getting anything but a bath mat and maybe some stocking stuffers for the kids.  We ended up getting more, including some long boxes (contents may be included in children's Christmas presents and thus will not be divulged until a later time).  Some of the other cars I saw there, including some pictures I found on the Internets tonight tell me that I'm not alone.  Many apparently try to fit large items into small vehicles.  Anyway, I'm thankful that Tara rode all the way home with one knee in the jockey box without even complaining.

T-74 : Let's Snig!

When I was a teen back in the 80s I liked to watch Saturday Night Live.  One of my favorite characters was Rich Hall.  I especially liked his creations of words that don't exist but should, otherwise known as "sniglets" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniglet).  Bovilexia is the one shown in this example.  Did you have any of his that were your favorites? Or have you come up with any of your own?

T-75 : Traffic Pleasures

I discovered recently that I can approach a green light while driving and count on how long it will stay green if I pay attention to the "Don't Walk" sign that's counting down the seconds; purportedly to help pedestrians get across the street in time.  I as the driver not wanting to be faced with a decision of whether to speed up or screech to a halt when the light turns yellow reap the fringe benefit.  I wonder why they don't do that at more locations.  At any rate, I'm thankful for this traffic pleasure!

T-76 : Head Usage

Are you an ostrich, a giraffe, or a lion?  I think I'm more often either a giraffe or an ostrich; looking at the other guy wondering how he could be so dumb.  Sometimes I don't even realize there's a lion around.  The key is to pay attention

T-77 : Passed Pepper

Maybe we should have had an intervention with our cat sooner.  He passed away today after a long battle with a wound that we never quite knew where it came from and that never quite healed.  We'll remember the good times, Pepper.

T-78 : Pedestrian Avoidance

Ever since I was little I remember avoiding people on sidewalks, in store aisles, etc.  What does that mean?  Do you ever do the same?  I'm trying to force myself to not veer neither right nor left but look into oncomers' eyes and at least say, "Hello".  Think it'll pay long-term dividends?

T-79 : Milk Dribble

Cold cereal is one of my favorite foods.  It's becoming a weekend lunchtime favorite.  Mornings are still reserved for oatmeal and an egg.  My problem with the cold cereal, though, is that I get milk dribbles on my chin.  I'm afraid my long-sleeve shirts are going to get lactose-soaked.  We've all got problems.  Do you dribble?

T-80 : Aerosol Match

I've noticed recently that I often can't get the air and the juice to come out evenly in some of the following aerosol cans:

• Foot Spray
• PAM
• Air Freshener

Who's with me?  Do you have trouble matching the air with the juice?

T-81 : End OK

Are we there yet?

"Everything is okay in the end, if it's not ok, then it's not the end." - Author Unknown

So, just keep swimming!

"My mother assured me that if I stayed on the road of truth, even when it seemed hot and dusty, even when there were distractions, the end would be better than the beginning. I will be eternally grateful that Mother told me." - Bradley D. Foster, "Mother Told Me," Ensign, May 2010, 100

 Focus, Daniel San!

"Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!" - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue in Patience," Ensign, May 2010, 57

Well, OK, then.

T-82 : Phony Privy

I don't want to gross anybody out but I need to share my thoughts about cell phones and toilets.  I admit that I usually carry mine in when it's time to take a seat.  In fact, I always carry it in my shirt pocket.  So it would be difficult to go potty without it.  Whilst sitting, I also admit that I take it out and read emails, news, weather, sports, etc.  I can't seem to sit and just let things flow without something to distract me.  A cell phone is more-readily available than a crossword puzzle book, you know.  There are cautions.

It's possible to drop the electronic device in the drink.  I've never done that but I did have an iPod fall out of my shirt pocket into the sink while I was rinsing my toothbrush.  That didn't end well.  I learned about putting it in a bag of rice for a few days to suck out the moisture before trying to turn it on after I'd already made the mistake of pressing the power button to see if it still worked.  Because of that experience, I'm all the more careful to lean away from the bowl when tidying up after doing my business.

Another problem within a problem is that cell phones supposedly carry 10 times more bacteria than is on a toilet seat.  So, if you have your cell phone with you while you're on the toilet seat does that math change at all?

Stay clean and stay dry out there, y'all.

T-83 : Failure Passage

You rarely become an expert on your first try.  An expert is the person who's made all the mistakes and learned from them.  Mickey is so fine, he said it this way: 

"You always pass failureon the way to success."Mickey Rooney
(1920-)

I think the key word in this thought is "pass".  The problem that I often have is that I meet failure without passing it.  That can create despondency.  I appreciate Mr. Rooney reminding me to push on through and keep my attitude up while I just keep swimming. 

T-84 : Crow's Age

Not to be confused with a "coon's age", someone in church the other day mentioned Boyd K. Packer as having referenced a poem about old crows and young crows.  I looked it up and, of course, liked it.  Here it is for your pleasure:

ABOUT CROWS
by John Ciardi

The old crow is getting slow;
the young crow is not.
Of what the young crow does not know,
the old crow knows a lot.
At knowing things, 
the old crow is still the young crow’s master.
What does the old crow not know?
How to go faster.
The young crow flies above, below, 
and rings around the slow old crow.
What does the fast young crow not know?
WHERE TO GO. 

 So, kids, respect your elders.  Also, elders, respect them kids.  It goes both ways.

T-85 : Regimen Imposition

I'm excited about the change I made in my life nearly 4 years ago when I moved to Rexburg.  I lost 40 pounds by becoming active and eating better.  I think I've made the mistake more than once since then of not being understanding of why others couldn't do the same.  I've been self-righteous on occasion.  This thought, then, really touched me:

"The one thing more difficult than following a regimenis not imposing it on others"~ Marcel Proust
(1871-1922)

Thank you, Marcel.  This thought also comforts me when I see drivers coast through stop signs, pedestrians meander outside the crosswalks, or even shoppers cut in line in a hurry to get through the checkout.  Live and let live, right?  It's as if I'm now able to say, "I think I know better but I don't know your circumstances so I'll hold forth on the judgement and -- even though I don't hold 'Mother Mary' in as high esteem as the Beatles seem to -- just let it be".

T-86 : Blocked Views

My neighbor's trees are growing and "impeding" my view even more each day.  Of course, I knew this when I moved in.  I'm happy to have a house.  I'd rather have trees than open country, too.

At the movie theater the other night I was pleased with my seat until just close to showtime someone filled in the seats right in front of me and made it harder to see.  It's hard to remember that the world doesn't revolve around me.  I'm lucky to be able to go to the theater and it was a good movie, anyway, and I quickly forgot about my discomfort and compromised, like I should do more often.

T-87 : Never Same

My toe is healing.  The doctor, though, said it will never be the same.  Besides the unbendability of it there's a scar on top where the surgerization was done.  That adds to the other scars I have on my body.  I'm also gaining wrinkles, age spots, etc.  Whatever the issue, though, nothing will ever be the same.  Enjoy the change because that's the constant.  The resurrection's going to be pretty cool, though!

T-88 : Butterfly Rifles

This is one I should memorize.  I get too uptight about too many things too often:

A Recipe For Sanity

Are you worsted in a fight? Laugh it off. Are you cheated of your right? laugh it off. Don't make tragedy of trifles, Don't shoot butterflies with rifles.
Laugh it off.Does your work get into kinks? Laugh it off. Are you near all sorts of brinks? Laugh it off. If it's sanity you're after, There's no recipe like laughter, Laugh it off.~ Henry Rutherford Elliot
(1849-1906)

Ha! 

T-89 : Bark Bite

I recently realized that I need to be a better communicator.  I've asked my family to help.  Each of us has actually declared something that we want to get better at.  Each morning and evening at prayer time the person whose turn it is prays specifically for all 5 members of the family.  If nothing else I've been focusing on communicating better throughout the day.  I think I still have a long way to go.  I commented to Tara tonight that it's ironic that my new duties at work include managing email, Instant Messaging, and Group Chat; communications.  Can we talk?

T-90 : Class Break

I found this picture in my drafts folder.  On Aug 22, 2011 I went to Portland for training.  During one of the sessions we heard a loud noise outside and saw this car careen across the parking lot and ram through the wall of this Asian restaurant.  Turned out the guy had a seizure and his leg locked onto the gas pedal.  You don't see that every day!  What's the craziest thing you've seen recently?

T-91 : Calculation Tendencies

Today I bowled a 176, 160, 191, for an average of 175.
This morning I weighed 24.91.
My Corolla gets about 30 miles per gallon.
When does a knack for numbers become unhealthy?