Wag_Toons

Good bye Apple MAC mini

2011-12-30T07:13:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if it was three years ago or longer--I know it was before Brig left on his mission--Jack bought me a MAC mini. The main reason was that I kept getting viruses on my PC (and he was probably tired of healing my computer over and over.) Another reason was that we had both heard how GREAT and USER FRIENDLY apples were. I remember we discussed that if we really liked it we could (over time) convert all our computers to Apple--if we really were happy with mine--if we wanted to--if, if, if.)

What happened is that almost immediately I was disappointed. But (being the technologically challenged marvel that I am) I decided to try and learn to like my MAC. (It was expensive and I felt I owed the initial output of money at least that much.)

I use my computer mainly as a word processor. And it was okay for that. (But not better than a PC.)

And I use my computer to check email and comment on sites I belong to. (And actually, I've got to give Apple props that in all my site wanderings I never caught a virus.)

But Safari (the browser that works best on Apple) had certain bugs I never got rid of. For example, when I open my gmail, it loads continuously until I manually turn it off. (And Safari worked better with the MAC than firefox, the browser I used with a PC.)

About a year ago my MAC started sporadically crashing. I'd open a site or be watching hulu or youTube and either it would start beach balling, then crash, or it would just crash immediately.

I asked Jack to reinstall the whole thing, thinking that might fix the problem. It didn't.

He also took the little power source thing out to the garage and "dusted" it with the air compressor. This seemed to help for a few days.

In researching and reading about my MAC I've learned that many MAC minis die in 2 1/2 years. I also discovered that I can spend $300 at an Apple Store and maybe get the problem solved. Ah, no. I don't think so.

I never learned to love my MAC. I miss some of the applications that aren't available on a MAC but are on a PC--like the one that let me do cartoons to music. I miss that.

So I'm going back to a PC.

Lies and dang lies

2011-11-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

Yes. I was going to use a stronger word in my title. But I thought the better of it.

Blog main sentence--I have decided (through my life experience learning) that lying is the worst sin.
Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of almost any transgression. The unspoken ending of this statement is: any transgression that we repent of. Before we can repent we must admit that we have sinned. And people who lie never admit that they made a mistake. Therefore, people who lie can never repent of their sins--sins that Jesus has ALREADY atoned for--sins that He wants us to give away so that we can be happy unburdened of, unless we stop lying.

This is true for HUGE sins and little indiscretions.
Let's say you are unhappy with your weight. If you lie to yourself and say that "I really don't eat that much," or "I have no idea why I can't lose weight," then you will never be able to fix your addiction (or bad food choice making.) You will continue to weigh more than you wish because you never tell the truth about either the quantity or the quality of the food you put in your mouth.

Let's say you have a problem with laziness. If you say to yourself, "I work hard," and don't do some serious introspection, you won't fix that either.

Whatever you are "addicted" to, if you deny that it is too important to you (lie) then you will not fix it.

Brig had a Sunday School teacher who said, "if there is some thing (inanimate object) so important in your life that you couldn't drag it out and burn it in a bonfire in front of your house" then it is too important. (I'm sure I quoted that wrong. It always sounded so profound when he said it.)

This is a blog more to me than to anyone else. I need to look at myself and see what I am lying to myself about. Then I need to get on my knees and try (with help) to remedy my shortcomings--which sounds better than repenting from my sins, but is the same thing.

I can see a loving Father in Heaven, wanting us to confess--to realize where we are today--wanting us to change and to be happy. Because unless/until we stop lying and start admitting uncomfortable truths, we are stuck (damned.) And that's not a swear word, that's a gospel principal.

Back to school--redux

2011-08-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

I think this was in either 1986 or 1987. (I could be wrong--probably am.) After reading Jenn's "back to school" blog I just felt like posting this "first day of school" photo.

jace laughs

2011-07-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

kyler and jace

2011-07-05T16:59:00.001-07:00

Block Castles

2011-07-03T17:04:00.001-07:00

Jace poses for the camera.

2011-06-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

Kennedy and Rikki play UNO

2011-04-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

You know you're desperate when you play cards with a dog.

It looks like Rikki is going to win.

Building a birthday bunny and driving a tractor with Grandpa

2011-04-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

Kennedy and Kyler are here. And we're having a great time. Here are a few photos.

My Three Daughters (and Jace.)

2011-04-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

Brie came down to visit for a while so I took a photo of "my three girls."

They Were Right

2011-03-07T20:44:00.000-08:00

I remember (way back when I was a young mom) people saying, "don't be too upset about a messy house. The time will come when your house will be clean--but you'll miss the mess."

Here are two photos of Molly's room. (Jack and I finished cleaning it after she left today.)

Her room is so clean.

And they were right.

Dog Baths and Grand kids

2011-01-17T17:37:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Card

2011-01-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

This year we got a Christmas card from a neighbor in Rialto. Jack said I should share it on my blog, but then I misplaced it. As I was cleaning off my computer desk I "re-found" it. So here it is: (I didn't write the name of the writer for privacy reasons, but my family will know who she is.)

I hope you are all in good health and enjoying life. I think of your family often. If it wasn't for Brie I'd never have listened to the missionaries. (I thought they were like Jehovah Witnesses.) I never thanked her. I heard she went on a mission. Thanks again you were also a good example. I'm still active, after your family left my mother and a niece also joined. I'm one of the old ladies now!* We have a nice Bishop and his family. He's young and has small children.
Sincerely,

*When we lived there every Sunday a bunch of single elderly women would always sat together on the back row in church. I guess the tradition continues.

Dog Dolls?

2010-12-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

Kennedy, her dad, and I played "dog dolls." Harvey and Riki were very obliging, but Roxie? If looks could kill anyone reading this blog to the end would be dead.

Kennedy and Kyler are here

2010-12-21T10:21:00.000-08:00

These are the placemats that Kennedy made for her family.

Here is Kyler playing in the living room. We moved all the furniture out and we're going to build a fort--because it is raining and we can't go outside.

Kennedy is really having a good time--she just doesn't like to have her picture taken.

Hello from the recesses of the fort.

An architectural wonder. . .

Welcome Rick!

2010-12-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

Here is our newest house guest, Rikki the "doc russel." [dachshund/jack russell.)
(He looks so much like Roxie, we had to rescue him from our local animal shelter.)

Happy Birthday Elder Fox!

2010-12-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

Brig turns 21 this Saturday. We sent him two packages. I think you can tell what was in them by this email letter we got today.

You sent 2 packages? I got a dear elder one... with nasty cookies. AND I got the really awesome package with the game you guys played, (I sent Brig all the pages of the "write a line and illustrate it game from our Thanksgiving trip to Arizona) lots of stroopwaffles, (thanks for introducing us to these, Inga!) and the shirt (we sent him a green Grinch t-shirt) and candy and pretzels and stuff. I was happy to get that one. And I did need more Shirts for p-day stuff, so thanks for that a lot.

Brie's story definitely was funny, (I sent him Brie's Robotic story) I didn't laugh out loud, but I got a kick out of it. Good news, and bad news. Bad news is, I'm getting taken away from elder guthrie, and Moving back to syracuse, the REALLY difficult area I had my visa waiter with. Well... Now I'm training, and its ANOTHER visa waiter, in the same freaking area I just barely got out of. It kind of feels like president is just trying to tick me off. This will be my 10th companion... in 13 months. (I am sure that Chase can sympathize.) Thats more than a companion a transfer. Its pretty freaking ridiculous how much I move, or my companions. I feel really sorry for my companions, and a little for myself.

Yesterday, me and guthrie went to a member of our branch, who has mastered like 4 martial arts, and is a masseuse? or however thats spelled. And knows how the body works and stuff from studying stuff as a martial artist. He checked me out (cuz I'm sore from having the flu) and told me I either don't sleep, or I don't sleep correctly. The 2nd one is moreso right. I usually get 6-7 hours of sleep. So, enough to keep my functioning without passing out during dinners n such, but thats happened before. So he told me I have a really stressed nerve in my neck from depression and anxiety and stuff, and that keeps from sleeping well.

So he told me to meditate every night before I go to bed, after my shower. He told me a bunch of stuff, like how to meditate, what it does, and how meditating with out religious knowledge is a little different from traditional meditation. So I tried it last night, just to see what happened. Magic, I had dreams last night. That NEVER happens. And I'm decently rested from only 5 hours of sleep. So I guess I'll keep goign with this and see if it gets better. If this is true, I probably won't need melatonin (but thanks for the bottle, my companions sometimes ask for some).

Thats about all thats happened, this is my longest letter I've had in a while.

Love, Brig

Four Feasts, lots of Games, and a Wedding

2010-11-30T13:25:00.000-08:00

The Happy Couple--

She's got black olives on her digits--but you can't see that.

Most of Grandma and Granddad Black's great grandchildren.

If I didn't include you in these photos, I'm sorry. Or if I did include you and you wish I hadn't of--I apologize for that, too.

Best Burger's Evah!

2010-11-22T18:12:00.000-08:00

When Chase and Jenn were here we watched a "Man vs. Food" where the a hamburger patty was smashed on top of some grilled onions. Chase posted photos and wrote about doing this in Texas. Tonight, Jack tried it. I've got to say, IT SMELLS HEAVENLY IN HERE. (What does heaven smell like, Barb? Heaven smells like grilled onions and hamburger with provolone cheese. Thank you very much for asking.)

And everyone who ate one says that they are the absolute best burger Dad has ever cooked.

Email from Brig--

2010-11-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

Hello family. I am cut and pasting Brig's email for today (November 9?) I wrote him and told him that Molly doesn't like Institute on Wednesday nights because Brother Gibbons keeps trying to "match make" everyone who is there. This is why he wrote:

Institute on wednesday night is NEVER EVER a good idea. Social hour and nothing but talking. I don't really think much gets done unless bishop shows up.

Morning classes are more interesting, definitely. You learn more, you aren't paired up, less people, more focus on the people who are there and participating, ,and it isn't built for a group of people like wed's are.

I haven't got any mail (because my comp who went to mexico lost the freaking key... so I dunno if I'll ever get your letter... Which really sucks. But I'm moving to woods cross (close to bountiful) and am gonna be companions with elder guthrie for the last 2 weeks of this transfer.

Not much else is happening though. Comp goes to mexico, Im in a diff area, diff district, same zone, with my 2nd cousin as my companion (grandma will be thrilled, lol).

A Political Message from the past--and a cartoon from the present.

2010-11-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own…It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness." -Abraham Lincoln

I Have the Heart of a Teen Ager

2010-10-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

I just got back from my biannual (that means twice a year, doesn't it) visit to the oncologist. It was fun. (No really. I like my oncologist. We talked politics. We talked about five mile walks with the dogs. We also discussed what would be a good school for his four year old son to attend next year.)

Dad drove me. First we went to Trader Joe's and then to Kaiser. (What a fun date!)

Anyhow, my blood pressure was 97 over 62 and my heart rate was 64. The doctor said, “that is an athlete's heart rate.” And I laughed. And he said, “no! Seriously. You're laughing but I'm serious. That is an athlete's heart rate.” So I came home and looked it up on the internet. Sadly, no. It's not an athlete's heart rate. (An athlete's rate is under 60) But it is an excellent heart rate. EVEN FOR SOMEONE WHO IS 18 years old. (I have a young heart rate.)

The doctor said, “you have a good heart.” And I said, “yes. I'm kind.” And (he was getting frustrated now) he said, “no. You have a very good, strong heart.”

(I don't do well with people complimenting me. But I am happy that I am in pretty good shape, health wise, except for that used to have cancer thing I've got going on.)

I know that Brie and Chase are competing for how fast they can fun a mile. I remember when we used to do "family olympics" I could hold my arms out longer than all of the kids (and Jack, for that matter. I think other than a couple of times in miniature golf it was the only physical thing I ever beat him at.)

But here's a challenge. Can any of you best my blood pressure and heart rate? (And I will be thrilled if you can.)

We've Got Apples

2010-10-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

Years ago we planted two fuji apple trees. And every year (even though I'd thin them) all we'd harvest were buggy little knobby dry things.
This year Bailey, Cam, Addie, and Emery helped me thin the apples (back in June.) They thought we were going to eat the ones they thinned. I tried to explain, but still, they were sad when I'd dump buckets of green (mommy, daddy, and baby) tiny apples into the trash.

Just Clouds

2010-10-02T18:42:00.000-07:00

It rained night before last. And when I went out to take out the trash, the clouds were gorgeous. But I forgot to take photos. Tonight, when I went out to get the mail, I couldn't believe how high the clouds were. So here, without any further explanation are some cloud photos.

Walking the Dogs and Climbing to the Water Tower

2010-09-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

Molly and I have been walking all over Apple Valley. We have a "route" we take where we know all the dogs. I'm posting some of our favorites.

This girl follows us the whole length of her yard, begging Arrow to run with her. Arrow pretty much ignores her.

Molly loves this girl. (Actually, she'd like to have her hair. I think Molly would look strange with red hair sprouting all over her body--but who can argue with a person's secret desire?)

This is our favorite. She is a basset labrador--a blabrador? Her coat is so shiny and she's the coolest dog.

This boy is a "pit dane." (We think.) He is a super shy sweetheart of a dog.

On Bailey's last day of school we hiked to the water tower. Molly and I have been walking the dogs there after Bailey gets on the bus for school. She wanted to hike there before she moved back to Utah.

It was pretty windy--if you couldn't tell.

Bailey's Room

2010-09-06T16:27:00.000-07:00

We don't know how long she's going to be here, but as long as she stays, this is Bailey's bedroom--decorated in early Native American. (That's what she is studying right now in school.)

Since her dad posted photos of his digs I thought we should post photos of hers.

Cam tries to skate board

2010-08-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Emery

2010-08-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

Missionary Mail Problems

2010-08-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

For the past three weeks all letters mailed to Brig have come back "No such number." I am endeavoring to fix this. But I just want people to know that if they send him a letter by post and it is returned, we are trying to remedy this.

Funny, I don't remember having this much mail trouble with my kids who served outside of the U.S.

Early Reader

2010-08-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

We start reading early in our family. : )

"What's the Weirdest Thing You Ate On Your Mission?"

2010-08-03T11:21:00.001-07:00

For Night Relief Society they asked the mother's of missionaries to ask them, "what is the weirdest food you've eaten while on your mission and what is the best?" So I asked Brig, and here is his answer.

Well, weirdest thing I ever ate was possibly the first day. That, and this one day where member's made us steak (all of this is in the spanish program) and when they brought out the steak, maybe 10% of it was meat, the other 90% was fat and grizzle, and they expected us to eat all of it. That... was not very good.

And the first day meal. We walked into a member's house late at night and the members asked if I wanted some soup. My companion said sure, so we got some soup. I noticed the soup was crunchy, but I didn't know what was in it, so I just kept on chomping. After I finished the whole bowl my companion looks at me sort of funny. He said "You ate all of it?" I said "yeah... was I not supposed to?"... he started laughing and said "There were nothing but bones and liquid in this soup". That wasn't too fun.

Best thing I've eaten.. hmm.. All you can eat sushi, probably. But at a member's home... I would say that the answer is... Argentinian Pizza, with nothing but meat and onions on top with a sort of barbeque sauce. Everything ON the pizza was grilled, and then sorta put together halfway through the pizza cooking. It was REALLY good.

Pizza Redux

2010-07-26T05:10:00.000-07:00

We made pizza (again) after church for Sunday dinner. Ceri came over (and brought old fashioned soda pop. Thank you Ceri.) And Jack took a picture of the biggest pizza--we made three--when it came out of the oven. Somehow it looked better in person, but here it is.

Addie gave the family night lesson. It was on gratitude. Addie read a scripture from Ephesians on being thankful. Then she told a story about how to express gratitude. Then she passed out a card with one alphabet letter on the back to everyone. We all said something we were thankful for that started with the letter we'd been given. I got "u." ????

So I said "unity." After I thought about it I decided it wasn't such a bad letter after all.

(I am much more thankful for unity than for unicorns--the other word suggested when I announced my letter.)

But I am most thankful for my family.

Who Make-A Da Pizza?

2010-07-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

We made pizza (for the second time.) The grandkids are getting very proficient at pie making.
Jenn took a photo of the first one when we took it out of the oven--but here are pics of the kids eating their creative handiwork.

(I like cooking as art. How many times do you get to eat a picture?)

My Thoughts On Prayer

2010-07-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Prayer was—for a long time—a very difficult subject for me.

I knew I should pray, but for most of my childhood it was not easy for me to pray because I never felt like anyone was listening. I felt like I was talking to myself. I realize this is a flaw in me and not “proof” of the nonexistence of God. But for whatever reasons I had: laziness--not willing to expend the time and effort into working at prayer, poor self image—not believing I was worth God being interested in, or lack of a testimony of His love, I was not particularly good at communicating with my Father in Heaven.

This changed when I had children. Somehow, even though my problems weren't worthy of God's ear, theirs were. And I began to pray with more sincerity.

Recently I heard the statement that “prayer doesn't do any good.” The person making this statement didn't expound upon it, but the meaning might be, God is going to do His will no matter what you pray--so why bother?

And to a certain extent I agree. No matter how fervently you want something, God will not allow your prayers to take another person's agency.

One story that really made an impression on me as a youth was the Martin Harris/Professor Anthon experience. Was Martin's wanting to get the 114 pages documented by an "authority" an evil desire? I don't think it was. I do think that when God said, “no” the first time Martin (and Joseph) would have been better off to accept that. But Martin thought he knew better. So he convinced Joseph to keep asking (pestering.) And eventually the Lord said (not in these words) “Fine. Go ahead. Take the pages to the learned man. But don't say I didn't warn you not to.”

And we know what happened.

When you pray for something (or someone) it is not like you're giving God information He doesn't have. Like, if you pray for a blessing and He slaps his forehead with his hand and says, “Wow! I never thought of doing that. I'll get right on it.”

Prayer is an exercise for us to learn to communicate with our Heavenly Father. It is for us to express our gratitude for blessings He's already given us. And it is for us to mold our will to His.

Lately, before I pray I ask that I might only pray for things I should be praying for. Although it sounds kind of odd writing it down. It is helping me.

If I am supposed to pray with full faith I need to believe what I am praying for is what God knows I am supposed to receive.

I will say, lately, when I say a thank you prayer it seems that the blessing I'm expressing gratitude for is taken away. It's getting a little frustrating, but I am trying to remember that God knows better than I do. (But it also makes me a little wary.)

Finally, I am trying not to pray for what I want just because I want it. I don't want to wind up in an 114 lost pages situation. I want the things I pray to be given are the same things that the Lord knows I should be blessed with. And if there is a reason I shouldn't get what I am asking for, I want to have enough faith to believe that God knows the reason I shouldn't get it now.

Tuesday Email from Elder Fox

2010-07-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

(See my previous blog. I sent Brig a bunch of his name's anagrams.)

Dear Family,

barf waxing hoe my. Thats my favorite out of them too. Its pretty amazing.

Ok, mom, I found the exact breed of dog you need to replace maddy. Its called an american eskimo. Its like a mini fox/dog, thats all white. They look SOOOOOOOOOOO cool. It'd probably need to be shaved to like an inch and a half of hair, every once in a while. They look kinda stupid with really really long hair. The ones I saw though were so awesome though.

This week has been weird. Evil spirits in basements (they wanted us to cast em out, and dedicate their home). People going to prison because their girlfriend's dad didn't like em and told the police they were illegal. People punched in the face, being late for almost every appointment because people talked a LOT this week, sleeping in (I was sick with the cold... IN JULY?).

It was a weird week, but it wasn't too bad. We have 3 places to choose from at the moment for replacement apartments. Although, only 1 of the 3 I would WANT to live in (because the ceiling isn't 5 feet tall like the other ones... psh, short hispanics, lol).

Well not too much though. That dog looks really cool to me though, the ones I've seen anyway. It might be bad though in the hot desert though, I'm not sure.

Oh well, Maybe we need a doggy door or something. Well, thats it for now, don't have a lotta time today (unfortunately).

Love, Brig

Anagram Your Name--hours of fun for simple minds.

2010-07-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

Click here to Anagram Your Name

So I have been finding anagrams for my name (and for friends and family names.) My favorite anagram for my sweet husband is, "A Comfy Ex Jerk."

My name anagrams into the political, "A Barrack Fax Blob," or to the ridiculous, " Barf A Balk Boxcar."

Brig could be, "Mahogany Brew Fix,: or "Why Frogman A Ibex?"

Molly's are even more fun, "Mothball Zee Foxily," "Hamlet Flexibly Zoo," "Axle Thimble Floozy," and "Tallyho Zombie Flex."

Emery Is A Funny Kid

2010-06-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

Gretchen Secrist invited us over to swim today. It was kind of last minute and we were running around trying to get ready. Jenn asked, "Should we take hats to the pool?" (I want you to say that out loud.)

Immediately afterwards Emery called out, "yes! I want to take a cat!"

It was pretty funny

Brig's Email This Week

2010-06-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

In my email to Brig I wrote:

Last night Molly came in declaring that her toilet was plugged up. Jenn asked each of the kids if they had used too much toilet paper or flushed something down it. When she got to Emery she said, "were you playing with the toilet?" And Emery said, "No. I didn't flush that duck down the toilet."

We don't know what that meant. (But I'm buying some of those door knob locks for the bathroom today.)

Yeah. It's a zoo here. But I think it will work out fine. (When we invited Chase, Jenn and the kids we didn't know Grant was going to be living here AND we thought Molly was going to be leaving for BYU Idaho. But things change, don't they?

Love, Mom

He wrote this back to me:

Emery is the best. Rofl. And I bet the house is a hassle, but at the same time, you're loving it. Although, after like a month or so you'll be kinda fed up. That seems to always happen. The magic wears off after about a month usually. I saw Kennedy and Kyler. Brittany wasn't there, but her dad was. I saw em right before they headed to school, it was cool. I said "Do you know who I am?" she said "Uncle Brig?" I said "yep" and she sorta just sat there.

It was really cool.

Stuff is good here, I'm getting a companion change. Everyone says he's a crazy kid from Chile, and you can't understand his spanish. We'll see. lol

Love, Brig

Brig's Tuesday Email

2010-06-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

We're doing good. I'm serving in a semi-rich area, sorta, except its hispanic. I like the people we're teaching, and I like my companion and leaders here (my companion is one of the leaders), but president doesn't know what he's going to do for next week when transfers come. So, whatever lol.

But yeah, its definitely getting better here. I'm just hanging around, lol, but the sleep is getting better. I can usually get up by 7:30 now and be "ok" for the whole day. Not perfect, but not dead tired. So I guess being more comfortable with the people I'm around definitely helps.

Well, thats about it, Love you all tons, Brig

Two Days, Three Near Death Experiences

2010-05-29T05:52:00.001-07:00

I had three “near death” experiences in the last two days. Okay, maybe not near death for sure, but I've had three scares in the past two days. Or three “I am thankful and know I've been watched over” experiences.

On Wednesday I went for a morning walk with my friend, Deanna--and I took, like I always do, Arrow and Roxie. Arrow is a big baby. Both he and Roxie are skittish when a car drives by, when somebody makes a noise, or whenever. And I believe I blogged about the time when that big bloodhound attacked us and Arrow was so scared he wrapped the leash around my legs and nearly tripped me.

Well, Deanna and I were walking and talking (we solve the world's problems as we walk) and without any warning I hear this “tappity, tappity, tappity” scurrying sound on my left. I looked over, (Deanna hadn't heard it—she just kept on talking) and there was this queensland heeler (Do you know what kind of dog that is? They are built like pit bulls, only they have a longer pointier snout. I'll put an illustration at the end.)

Any how, this dog was hurling towards us—not growling, not barking, just aiming right at us. Now, when I tell you this, know that all this happened in an instant. But as I tell it, I'm telling it to you as my brain processed it. I saw the dog. It was wearing one of those plastic cones around it's neck. And barreling for us. And I thought, “That dog means business. It's not warning us by barking or growling. It's trying to sneak up on us and I wonder who it's going to bite?” (I thought all this in about two seconds.) I had the metal little league bat with me. (Thank you Ceri and Harvey. I'm sorry Harvey was attacked, but he's the reason I arm myself now.) And I had both hands free, since I walk with Arrow and Roxie tethered to my waist. So I held the bat like I was getting ready to hit a pitch and I shouted, “NOOOOOO!” as loudly as I could. That was when Deanna realized something was wrong. (I scared her more than the dog did, because she hadn't heard it coming.) And the funny thing is, the dog skidded to a stop. I would have laughed if I hadn't been so terrified. Then the owner came running out. And called, “Bosco! Bad dog. Come here!” (Or something like that. I don't remember exactly what he said. I only know he apologized too.) And it was over. It was only then that I realized both Arrow and Roxie had just calmly stood there. I was so happy that they didn't run away and trip me. I guess they trust that I'm going to take care of any situation.

Second near death: The next morning Dad started a 48 hour shift with an overtime at station 9. About 7:30 (after he'd left about 45 minutes before) he called and said, “I blew it. I left all my stuff on the living room floor. Can you drive them out to me?” He was almost at the station and would have been late if he turned around and drove back. He didn't even have his uniform—it was folded on top of his stuff. So I woke up Grant (he's working swing shifts) and asked him to enter the address of the fire station into the GPS. (Station 9 is possibly the furthest station from our house and I'd never been there before.) Because Grant was awake and since Molly hadn't left for school yet I said, “Let's have our family prayer.” It was my turn and as I prayed something told me to say, “and keep me safe as I drive to the fire station.” So I did.

Well, as I drove to the freeway and was coming up to where the road gets to the top of that small hill, just past Tuscola, I noticed a landscaping truck acting kind of antsy, wanting to turn left. I could tell he was going to turn right in front of me, but as he did, I could also see a car coming up the small hill. He was not going to make it. If he kept going he was going to be side swiped. (Again, my brain said all this in one second.) So I slammed on the brakes and pulled over to the right hand side so the car that was on my butt wouldn't rear end me. Lots of brake noise, lots of rubber burning sounds, and somebody honked. In the end the landscaper guy blocked my side of the road until he back up. I had to turn right since there was no way to safely get back into traffic.

I thought, wow. And said a thank you prayer. I followed the GPS instructions and drove Dad's stuff to him. Then I went to Trader Joe's--Brie's favorite store in the world--and bought some fake milk. Molly says she feels much better since she's given up milk. And I know Brig's stomach problems are better. And we aren't having near the sore throats we used to have. But this is sounding like an infomercial now. And I'm sure you're on the edge of your computer chair, wondering what happened next.
What happened is, I drove home. The drive was pretty uneventful until I got through the pass. When I got to summit I could see a large group of cars merging. I was in the center lane, so I didn't think about it too much until this white car driven by a woman with all her hair pulled back into a pony tail—I can still see her since she was about two inches from my left window—drove RIGHT INTO MY LANE without even looking. This time I honked. And I stayed on the horn as I swerved into the very left hand lane—and my brain said, “You're not checking! I hope nobody is in that lane!” (I kept on the horn hoping if someone WAS in the left lane they'd be alerted that I was coming.) Luckily (and again I said another thank you prayer) no one was in the left lane—which was a small miracle, since the freeway was pretty packed.

So, that's it. I am grateful to be unharmed.

(Not actual size.)

Magic Rice

2010-05-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, yesterday, a grandma and grandpa went to Winco in search of food. They liked Winco because of the (almost) endless supply of different varieties of beans, lentils, rice, and grains that you can purchase in bulk. The grandma needed some rice. The grandpa found a curious kind of short, fat, white rice called "pearl rice."

"Let's try this!" he said. "It looks cool. And it's cheap." (It was 59 cents a pound. What a deal!)
So they bought a small bag (two cups) and brought it home--along with six bags of other groceries.

At home, that evening the grandma discovered that neither of them paid any attention to the preparation instructions Winco so kindly prints out above the price, in every bin. So the grandma went to the internet and searched. Here is what she found:

Pearl rice is "sticky rice" and is usually used in ethnic desserts. Mix two parts water to one part rice, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and stir constantly for twenty minutes. One cup dry pearl rice makes two cups cooked rice. . .

(And here is where you interject me saying, "HA!")

The grandma told the grandpa what she'd discovered, that pearl rice is sticky and will come out like risotto. He was still game to try it, so she measured, boiled, simmered and stirred it in her big saucier pan.

After the first seven minutes she could tell this cooking adventure would not go according to recipe. The rice was swollen, no liquid was visible, and it was impossible to stir. So she added one cup of water. This too soon evaporated, so she added two more cups. After twenty minutes she tried a small spoon taste. The (supposed to be done) rice was crunchy. She added two more cups of water and brought the mass to a boil (and lowered it to a simmer) again. Again and again she tasted and added more water.

KNOWING dinner would be late (because she'd have to spend forty minutes making "real" rice) she answered the door for Ceri and Mark--and their new dog Charlie. Well, at least maybe the dogs would like the rice. She asked the grandpa to try the rice. He did and said, "It's perfect."

So the grandma has decided that it was MAGIC rice. Two dry cups of rice worth filled the 10 cup saucier. It was creamy, not that sticky, and everyone who ate the Hawaiian Haystack dinner that night liked it.

There is no rice stalk or giant in this story. Sorry.

Roxie's Ancestry Solved

2010-05-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (a brilliantly gorgeous day, by the way) I walked the dogs with my friend, Deanna. As we walked down Crow an older gentleman in a golf cart waved us down. (I thought he was going to ask for directions.) He pointed at Roxie and asked, "do you know what kind of a dog he is?" (No. But I know she's a girl. I didn't say this out loud. What I said, was:)
My daughter rescued her from the pound. We know she's part chihuahua.

And he said, "I have a dog at home who looks exactly like him." (Again.) "He's a chi-weenie."

He was a very nice man. He said you can tell she's a dachshund-chihuahua because of her length and the way her tail curls up.

When I came home and told Molly she agreed. So she gets her bad behavior from both sides. (We've read that dachshunds are notoriously hard to train--something about being stubborn--which Roxie is--most definitely.)

But at least now I have a category to place her in, if I ever need to. She's Roxie Fox, Chi-Weenie.

If It's Tuesday I Must Have An Email From Brig

2010-04-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

I sent Brig an email about how Grant and I went Trikke/bicycle riding and these two ferocious chihuahuas raced up, snarling and barking. But I was ready for them. Dad installed an air horn on my handle bar and I blasted a HONK at them. One just kept running, but changed directions and headed back where it had come from. The other stopped dead and looked horrified. Then it raced back to where ever it had come from.

He answered:

Mom,
I've been bit by a few chihuahuas. Out here I'm like the dog whisperer. All the mexican elders have no idea how to handle dogs. I got some really evil chihuahua to sit with me on the 3rd visit, and they were amazed.

About dad's hives, if they've only recently started, has he tried quitting the coconut stuff? He's been taking that for about a year right? it might've taken that long to create a high enough quantity of it in his body to develop the quantity needed for an allergic reaction to take place? Or maybe its just being old =( . I feel old, and fat. Although, I look neither old, nor fat.

Love, Brig

Good Bye Maddy. (A Eulogy.)

2010-04-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Years ago we shared a black lab with my brother Ken (and later with his wife Inga and their children.) Bring 'em Back Scooter was a special dog. Smart, loyal, and loved by many. After her sudden death we wanted another black lab. When we purchased Skeeter we thought we were getting one. But she turned out to be a mutt (and if I am being truthful, a disappointment. Not because of her mixed breed, but because she was--how do I put this delicately?--stupid.)

But this is not either Scooter's or Skeeter's memorial blog. It is Maddy's.

Shortly after we adopted Skeeter one of the crew Jack worked with told him about his puppy. She was (he said) a black lab and relegated to the back yard because his wife was pregnant and they had no time to care for her. Would Jack like a black lab puppy? Jack asked me and I said yes so he brought her home. It wasn't too long afterwards that we figured out that she too, was of mixed heritage. She had a barrel chest, a thicker face, and not the lab "otter" tail, but a tail that curled upward. She had some pit bull in her, a pit lab.

But she loved us from the first day. I believe it was in the first week she was here that I took Maddy and Skeeter on a long walk over to Lion's Park and let both dogs off the leash to run in the area where AVHS did their cross country runs. It was not an intelligent move on my part. They ran off chasing rabbits and Skeeter came back, but Maddy didn't. Panicked, I ran home, planning to get in the car and retrace the route, worried that poor Maddy had only been here for a short while and wouldn't know where she was, even thinking "Incredible Journey-like" that she might try to find her way back to the Southern California Beach Town where she had come from. But when I reached our house, I was shocked and pleased to see her standing inside the fence of our back yard. She.was.our.dog. And she knew it from that first week.

I am sure you have all heard pit bull horror stories. I have. But Maddy was a patient loving dog. Molly used to pull on her ears and face, but Maddy never even growled. And later, Molly and friends would dress Skeeter and Maddy up in Molly's outgrown clothes.

Maddy was our protector. If you came into the house, or the back yard with one of us, she was fine. But if you came in unannounced, the fur on her back stood up and, well, you left. There is nothing better for getting rid of unwanted door knockers than a big black dog staring them down.

Maddy was smart. When our first grandkids came to visit she'd patrol the halls. And I always felt safe when our kids invited friends over to spend the night in the back yard. I don't think Maddy slept much when that happened. She was a terrific guard dog.

She had problems with her back hips for a long time. We gave up long walks and rabbit chasing years ago. And lately, when I'd walk Arrow and Roxy we'd leave her at the back gate, crying. It was heart breaking.

Lately she started having bowel problems, both kinds. What can you do when a dog is too arthritic and blind to live outside, but too incontinent to live in the house?

I took her to the animal shelter yesterday. When I called to make the appointment the receptionist was very kind. I was impressed. The tech who administered the medication was kind too. He assured me Maddy would be asleep before I got home.

She is chasing rabbits now. (Is that where the bad bunnies go, to dog heaven?) And she's forgiven me for putting her down. Because that's the kind of dog she was.

I'll miss her.

Brig's E-Mail

2010-04-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

Time for a decent letter. We got a new baptism date, she's a friend of the family of 5 we baptized last tuesday. she's probably getting baptized either this sunday or next, she loved the baptism of her friends. Mmm, I watched all sessions of conference. I fell asleep during 3 of them, but not the whole thing. My favorite talk was probably uchtdorf's talk about the canned mormons, or whatever he said. To me it related to me and being patient with things (I might be relating anoter talk) and to stop being racist against people. Oh, today I bought some gouda cheese (the expensive smoked kind) ooooo, its soooo good. I don't ever wanna eat with members again its soo good.

Oh mom, I miss your cooking. We eat with people who're really poor, and theres like pieces of bone from the meat they use in everything they make. You'll be chewing, and then you'll get something REALLY hard, and have to spit it out (without letting them know you're spitting it out, or else it offends them). And we have to eat a TON or else they're like "No le gusto, no le gusto" (He/you didn't like it). And its kinda annoying. Almost every meal we're stuffed until it hurts to move at all. I've been more painfully stuff on my mission countless times already, than I ever had at home. I never got anywhere NEAR this stuffed at home. Even at christmas or thanksgiving, or at a fancy restaurant, or eating something I really liked.

OH, did you know they brought the cheeseburger chips back? I saw them today and bought 2 bags. Well, they weren't "called" cheeseburger, they were an unknown flavor or whatever, but everyone knew it was hamburger or something like that. And we're gonna try to make eggnog. Oh by the way. Silk (Soymilk), thats like all I drink now, besides this really expensive apple juice. Its apple juice NOT from concentrate, and 100% juice. Its REALLY good. Its like... R.W. Knudsen or something. I know knudsen is the last name, so if you want, you can look it up on google and try it. Its REALLY good.

Well, thats all for today. My mission is slowly improving, and its a heck of a lot better than when I started. Thanks for all the prayers and letters you guys send me.

Love, Brig

Two Tuesday Letters between Kennedy and Brig

2010-04-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Brig,

I just had an earthquake. It was my first one. I hardly even felt it. But Grandma said it was a baby one and all of the pictures on the wall were shaking.

Today was Easter. And we wanted to say "HAPPY EASTER!"

We got candy. And peeps. And a bike helmet (Kyler and I brought our bikes with us. When the wind stops blowing we are going to go on a long bike ride.)

Probably the day after tomorrow because tomorrow it is supposed to rain.

AND my dad and I are going to buy me a toy for my birthday. Because he didn't get me my present yet because he knew I was coming to visit. And Kyler was playing with everything in the whole entire room. He keeps trying to ride or hug Maddy. Because she always chases him.

If I see you at my house I will shout out your name. BRIG!!!!!

And you should say, "THANKS! I like your writing to me" if you are liking it.

So, how is your Easter?

Well, maybe I'll get some more candy next Easter. LOTS OF IT!

Kyler is making Grandma very retarded!

And well, I discovered that I am crazy.

Grandma is crazy too.

Love, Kennedy (and Grandma.)

P.S.

Well, have a great Easter!

Dear Kennedy,

Thanks for the letter, its much appreciated Kennedy. Easter is fun. I went to a barbeque and ate cactus. It was good.

Love, Brig

Dear Brig,

Did the cactus poke you? Well, we went on a two mile dog trip.

Have a good mission. well, I was wondering please send back a letter of you going on your mission. Well, I was wondering, I miss you Brig.

Love , Kennedy

Dear Kennedy,

The cactus didn't poke me, but it was slimy and green. It tasted like jalapeno, without spicy, so it was pretty good, and it was grilled. People take the poky things outta the cactus before you eat it.

Love, Brig

I'm a little tardy--where's my turtle pass?

2010-04-01T06:07:00.000-07:00

Brig's Tuesday Email: (and my emails to him in blue--just so some of his replies make sense.)

(We sent him some g-rated movies, some in Spanish. He is allowed to watch them. In my email to him I asked him if he liked The Princess and the Frog.")

I haven't watched princess and the frog yet. People have wanted to watch hayao miyazaki movies before it. So I'll probably get to watch it this week, but I have the soundtrack, and I like the music from it, so chances are I'll probably like the movie too.

But this last week was ok, I wasn't really sick, my companion was.

I'll be right back, we're being moved from rooms... I dunno why. Utah is so strange mom.

But this week has been just fine.

About the DVD's. Its fine if they all aren't in spanish,

But we ARE doing work. We have 5 baptisms this week, 1 (or 2) next sunday, and 2 the sunday after that, but thats just the dates that're scheduled for the baptisms. That almost never actually means they're getting baptized that day, unless they get everything done, and they actually decide to get baptized. Oh well, thanks for the letters, and I love the packages you guys send. I'm planning on sending the package today as long as the post office has a box big enough. I just want all the music burned onto a computer, and then 4-5 mp3 discs out of them (or however much discs they occupy for the music). I want every song from every cd (NO EDITING... mom =P).

But seriously I love emails, thanks again mom, and dad, for the dvds and praying, and everyone.

Love, Brig

Molly really likes the Princess and the Frog music. She listens to songs from it all the time.

I'm sorry about your companion. And I'm sorry about Utah being weird. Hopefully you will learn to love it--but not so much so that you will ever want to move there.

:)
Did you get the care package from the Merrell's?

Yeah, I got the package from the merrell's. I keep forgetting to answer that question. But I like my companion mom, I don't remember saying I didn't. Or maybe I'm becoming retarded now, lol. Or senile. I really wouldn't be surprised.

OH I said he's sick. Yeah, thanks for the concern. I'm going crazy or something.

But just whenever you guys feel like sending whatever, its fine.Oh well.

Another Tuesday Email

2010-03-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

What I wrote to Brig (in blue) Hey Brig, it's me again. I decided to make myself a CD for Sunday. So I went through all the more faith promoting songs I had in my iTunes and burned one. And, well, I guess I'm like you. The player got to (number 34 in the first CD I sent you, Brig #1)--and even though I was just sitting in the kitchen doing a crossword puzzle and really not paying that much attention to the song, I just started BAWLING.

* The song is Broken by Kenneth Cope.

I guess we do need to be broken for God to be able to use us. And I suppose we should remember that when things are going badly. That nobody ever said, "hey. My life is going PERFECTLY! I think I should change. I think I should serve God more."

Nope. We need to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit in order to be good servants.

Any how. I thought I'd give you some solidarity--I mean about the crying when I heard a song--and I'm glad I wasn't in public.

love, Mom

And what he wrote back to me:

Mom, you're weird. But then again, I've cried randomly listenin to music too. I mean... one time I was delivering a pizza, listening to the song "My Sweet Shadow" as loud as I could stand it (which was REALLY loud) and I started crying. Now if YOU listen to that song (Which you can, no swearing or nothing) you won't understand why I cried listening to it (and many more times with that song, its probably my most favorite song ever). So I can't blame you for crying sometimes, because I cry at stupid things also.

Anyway, if theres anyway of me getting te movies Pom Poko, My Neighbors the Yamadas, Graveyard of the Fireflies (you don't have this one). Ogden is a really weird city. Its like felony flatts back home, although not quite as ghetto.

Oh well, I love my new companion, I had food poisoning last wednesday. Diarrhea for 14 hours and throwing up for about 7. Most of the time it was at the same time. It was fun. But yes, things are looking up so far. so thanks for all the prayers.

Oh, and for music. I REALLY loved that violin stuff you sent. If you'd send more classical violin. I would really love it! But Everything so far you've sent has been just great. Although I still want the space ghost. I wished those cd's worked. And I have the box prepared to send back home, but I dunno if I'll get the chance this week to send it, this p-day is kinda packed. I'm being forced to bowl.

Love, Brig

Email From Brig and Photo of Molly

2010-03-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the options Molly has for her Senior Picture. I love it. (It just makes me grin to look at it.)
I sent it to Brig and this was his email today:

Wow, molly is like... Really pretty. Thats weird. Everytime I think of molly, I think of... someone less athletic than me, and weighs more than me (Which isn't the case any more, molly is losing weight, and I gained like 25 pounds).

Then here is his other email. He asked for some g-movies and then said:

I wanted the dvd's with all the features (so I could watch em in spanish with members) but just in english is fine too. I just watch em with the people that have incentive to learn english. So its going just fine with the movies. And I do like all the music you guys sent me, however, one that grant sent, Like 4-5 folders don't work on the cd, maybe they're protected itunes or something, anyway, its plenty of music for now, and I love watching these movies.

Speaking of watching movies, last night, me and my (now my new companion, last night he wasn't), went to the church and took a projector and a dvd player, and watched it at the apartment with other missionaries. We returned it at like 5am. It was fun.

So I'm a little tired right now, but things are looking up. I get along pretty good with my new companion, and he likes music. And anime. So, things are lookin good.

Anyway, thanks for the packages, things are looking good here, and I'm moving into my new apartment tomorrow morning. Bye!

Love Brig.

Oh, I would like dad's peanut butter cookie recipe. AND I wanna know how much flour I'm supposed to put in sister rankins cookies. Cuz... There was NO flour in that recipe. lol that you sent anyway.

Dancing (goal for the grandkids?)

2010-02-21T07:35:00.000-08:00

Email Day

2010-02-16T13:40:00.000-08:00

I am not going to post Brig's email from today. He is having a difficult time. He is still not able to sleep and I think it's really creating problems for his mental and emotional condition.

Please continue to pray for him. I hope this is something that can be remedied.

Thanks.

Two Email Twos-day, from Brig

2010-02-09T17:01:00.000-08:00

Dear Family,

molly said Roxie had pooped in her room a few times... Has it really been raining for like 2 weeks straight? That sounds so cool. All that happens here is snow, or really cold wind. Its kind of annoying now. Elder Muro is a good guy, but the third day he was here, he got a phonecall at 3am from his stepdad (the only dad he's really known), saying that his mom was dying in ICU... So yeah, its been a crazy 6 days so far. Yeah, the time for me (at least last transfer and MTC) has gone pretty fast, but... these last 6 days have felt like 6 months... They're so long.

Well, thats it. Oh, about Molly's love life singing and all that, she should try. I did the rockband thing at one of the senior night coffee house thingamajigs. Sure, I was nervous as crap and that made my voice already worse than it is, but whatever. It was NOT fun.

Thats it for now, I'll be back on later today I believe. Love Brig

In between I answered a couple of questions about who has gone on a mission after him. He'd also asked (I edited out) about some music on his computer that he'd like to have. But his computer is in pieces in the closet. He had said (in a past letter) that we could set up his computer in his room and leave it there. But his room is now the guest room. There is also no place in that room for the computer--except on the floor.

Dear Mom,

on the floor is where I'd imagine, if its possible, if not, then whatever. Oh... I dunno if you have a "list" or anything of the music I said I wanted off my computer (eventually, whether it be 1 week or 6 months), but I remembered I want Mika too. The british dude with a really high voice, yeah. Mika. I don't know if you're making a list or whatever, or if you have all my old emails with what I wanted exactly (whether you get it off youtube {single songs} or my computer {whole albums or single songs})and compiled it INTO an actual list. Anyway, I'll write back next week, my companions mom is dying (literally in the hospital as we speak) So, pray for her. Elder Muro's mom. Sister Muro? Or Hermana (silent H). Whatever you're willing to do. Love, Brig

PhotoBucket Moved My Photos

2010-02-08T06:26:00.000-08:00

I am sorry. I posted this. Then I spent a bunch of time fixing it.

If you click onto a post and instead of a photo or drawing you get the,

"Photo moved" message. Please refresh your computer.

And while you're at it, pour yourself a glass of cranberry juice to refresh yourself.

(Disclaimer: Wag_Toons gets no remuneration from Ocean Spray.)

The Growth Required To Return Home

2010-01-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

Our home teacher came last night and taught us out of this month's Ensign. I've got to say the following quote hit me right between my eyes and quieted my whiny heart. I don't need to tell you how much I've been praying for all of my children lately. And so, with that in mind, I'd like to share this thought from Neal A. Maxwell:

“One’s life … cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free. …

Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say,

‘Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken.

Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art!

Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!’ …

“Real faith … is required to endure this necessary but painful developmental process.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Lest Ye Be Wearied and Faint in Your Minds,”Ensign,

Email from Brig and News from Molly

2010-01-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

First, Molly's news. She was accepted at BYU Idaho. So, unless we find our that BYU Provo has also approved her application--they don't send out okays til Spring--Molly will be spending her freshman year in Idaho.

And second, Brig's email:

This p-day is packed, so I really won't even get anything done today other than wash clothes and email ONCE... Ugh... I hate being forced to play soccer. I wanted to use today to email, wash clothes, and nap. Last night my district had a party, because we got 9 baptisms (our goal) for january (and the month isn't over). O well..

Thanks for going through all the trouble of sending me the music. I should get it this week if you sent it last friday? Or was the 23 saturday... I'm not really sure anymore. Time seems to be going fast, and incredibly slow at the same time. I only have a week left on my first transfer. Its been slightly successful. We have had 2 baptisms so far, and we have 8 people with a baptism date. We are hoping to get one more this week, and the goal for next month (for our companionship) is 7 baptisms for february, since we have SO many people with a date. But its been ok, The first transfer is hard and easy, because they don't really pressure you for anything (like waking up on time, sleep apnea is REALLY ticking me off) and its hard because the language is NOT what they taught in the mtc... Or at least it sure seems like it. But I'm doing ok. We mostly go visit recent converts, or the auxillary leaders (High priest leader and relief society president are married and live 30 seconds from our apartment). So we really hang out a lot there, and it helps me. Because if i hear the same person over and over, I start to hear more of the words they're saying, and I start to want to learn the words they're saying, since I hear more of what they're saying and how they're saying it, since I start to recognize their tone of voice. Well, thats about it. Not much to report on. Well thats it, I love you lots, and thanks for writing me. Until next week

Love, Brig

Son Of: Emails from Brig

2010-01-19T19:34:00.000-08:00

(I am going to post today's emails from Brig. If you're confused, here's the key. My post is in green. Brig's are in black.)
A little background. Brig downloaded a bunch of "missionary appropriate" music to a zune he bought right before he left. When he got to the MTC he was informed that programable MP3 players were not allowed. He could have an MP3 players that played discs. So at Christmas he asked Jack to download a bunch of songs from his computer. This turned out to be more difficult that we thought. So I looked for some music for him--and found some anime songs translated into Spanish--as well as some songs he asked for--just not ALL the songs he asked for. So today he thought perhaps we had sent him a bunch of discs which he didn't get. We haven't. Okay. The background is now complete. Here is today's email(s.)

One question, when did you send the package from dad, what did it have in it besides cds... Ok that was 2 questions and WITHOUT a question mark, but please answer them.

Today's p-day isn't as hectic as last p-day.

Lazor tag was alright, the best part was... It was a HUGE game place, and EVERYTHING was free, since we're missionaries. There was a rollerblade arena thing, so I rollerbladed for probably 3 hours that day... That day actually, I did so much activity, I lost 7 pounds in like 1 day, or SOMETHING, but by the next day, I had put 6 back on, but I'm staying pretty steady around 165, so I'm not too upset. I think the majority of it is muscle now anyway. I musta walked 15 miles yesterday. All of our appointments yesterday didn't show but meh, whatever. Hopefully our 4 scheduled baptisms this sunday... all get baptized, but I can't really expect anything. They've already cancelled 2 of there other dates. But I can't lose faith/hope quite yet. I just have to hope that they will get baptized eventually.

OH well, spanish is tough... Please. Tell dad I'm sorry for being a jerk, and I'm sorry to you too. Thanks for what you have done so far, I was just expecting more, but thats a lot of work to be done, and my computer is a pain. I'll talk to you next week. On a happier note, the beef jerky was REALLY good. I can't remember the name of it, but it was from that cheese factory from oregon or something I think. It was good. The other night, err... 2 nights ago, we ate at a members house, and ate something so spicy, I really couldn't taste anything. But I felt like I had to vomit the entire night, and I didn't sleep at all. It was an interesting experience.

Yeah, there was a blizzard last night, and supposedly a worse one tomorrow, and it was raining all yesterday, until the night. I kinda wish my harddrive I had at home was external. You could just mail that to me, I'd plug it in here, buy like 50 cd's, and burn whatever I wanted whenever (yes, I use discretion, on the cd's that I have bought, I DO skip the songs that I shouldn't listen to, I'm not a heathen missionary). But, I'm gonna go finish my laundry

Oh, and by the way mom. I don't know how you got those anime theme songs in spanish... but I love them, heh.

And don't worry about when you guys do it.

Everything here is free as a missionary, at least in the area I'm in).I dunno if I said it but. Yeah, Just whenever you can. A month, or two months, or whatever. Whenever you can send, 1 cd at a time, or all 20, or however many they'll be. I'm ok with it. And yes, It sounds familiar to my IBS, and my newly developed sleep apnea (which is awesome by the way, hahahaha). Love, Brig

Christmas Phone Call From Brig

2009-12-26T07:26:00.000-08:00

I just sent Brie an email about our Christmas phone call from Brig. After I sent it I started to write one to Jenn. Then I thought, "Why don't I just blog it?" So. . .I am.

Brig called about 1:45. Dad called Ceri on the cell phone and she and Mark came over.

I don't know all this just from what he told me, but after he had to go we compared notes.

He had bronchitis in the MTC, but the antibiotic they gave him there didn't kill the virus, so the first day in Odgen they took him to another doctor who listened to his breathing and said, "yeah, it's still rattling in there," and prescribed him a super five day dose of something. He was told to take it easy, but he can still work, so he has been, but he's feeling better. He still has a sore throat, which the doctor told him was something else. (Not the bronchitis.)

He likes his mission president. President Olsen came out just before Brig did, so he should be his mission president the whole time. He likes his trainer (Elder Johns.) The young man in the photo I sent who was in a wheel chair came out about the same time as Brig and is going to work in the mission office for two years. His mission president is kind of relaxed and expects the missionaries to "self censor." So Brig can have music discs from home. He can't have i-pod type device, so he is sending that home.

Lots of General Authorities are in his mission and Elder Uctdorf comes to baptisms when they're in his area. (Brig is not in his area now.)

Brig can understand Spanish, but still has trouble speaking it. He is giving a talk at a baptism tomorrow and is confidant in his ability to write it down. He is just nervous about saying it aloud. He is in a small zone, so they walk every where and don't ride bikes (for now.) He also has the worst apartment (structurally) in the zone, but we said, "It's better to have a crummy apartment and a companion you like than the best apartment and hate your comp." He said that his mission has the second highest baptism rate after Provo.

His mission baptized 2200 (I think) last year. I'll check with Jack (he's on his way to work right now) and fix that if I got a digit wrong or added or deleted a zero.

Brig said the time is going by quickly and he's glad to be out of the MTC. He said anyone can write to his email address but he is only allowed to send from that address to family.

I am so thankful that he is doing well. It was a Merry Christmas phone call!

Tuesday Email from Brig

2009-12-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

I got all the packages, I got the camera and everything. The superglue really helped, cuz all the leather little pieces on the insides of my quad were comin undone. I superglued it all down and its not going anywhere anytime soon. Yeah, my bronchitis is pretty much over, but my companion just got swine flu it seems like. He said last night he woke up like 10 times just shaking, when we keep our room at like 77 degrees (even though I think its more comfortable at 55) but I'm trying to change my selfishness. So yeah, he's gotta be pretty sick to shake from chills and wake up, when he has 4 blankets on. I don't think I told you yet that I'm leaving on monday. I got my flight plans (bus pass) to Ogden though. Only me and another dude from my district (he's a poophead) are going to Ogden spanish speaking though. Yeah, I talk to my teachers an awful lot one on one, to try to see what I need to improve on. I find it interesting (only found it out yesterday) I'm just extremely stereotypical I guess. Yesterday a teacher pointed it out to me. So, now I know of a HUGE reason why I was sent there. I never really thought about it before, but then again, I didn't realize I hated people from Utah until I got here. Like 70% of the people here are from Utah alone (and theres people from ALL over here). But I guess I'm going to get over my hatred of people and stereotyping on my mission (I hope, and am planning to work on). When I get to the field I'm hoping that I have like 40 minutes to email. Because I'm only emailing you (which is sent to everyone), but when I get to the field, That'll be 10-15 minutes for one email, but my friends should ALSO be writing once a week a least, since email is so much quicker than me snail mailing everyone back responses. I dunno if I told you either, I finished the Book of Mormon, first time by myself. Like thursday or something. I don't know if anyone else in our family had such a hard time as I'm having. All I EVER hear, is how people finish it, do the moroni promise about prayer, and they feel it. I've done it for the past 5-6 days and haven't gotten anything. But one of my teachers, and a counseler in the branch presidency told me that I should just be patient. Brother Harris (one of the counselers) said that even some of the Apostles didn't get it like that. (he worked with the 12 apostles for like 17 years he said, as their secretary or something). I'm just a bit annoyed that I have to have patience with everything I ever do. But then again, I knew it was coming. My patriarchal blessing says that God does things in his own time. So... I don't ever think my testimony of the truthfulness of the church will ever come all at once, or of the BoM, or anything, but it'll come gradually through praying and rereading, which is a little disappointing, but its just one of my trials. Yeah, bronchitis is about over, I think I have like 4 more days of pills, and theres almost no symptoms left of it, so thats over. Its funny that I like cold temperature the most, when it is the easiest to get sick from it. I don't recall ever getting sick during the summer, other than stomach aches and whatnot. But yeah, I'll get back to you later today. Tell Molly thanks again, and that I'm surprised the boys basketball team is undefeated. As far as I know, they were always awful when I went to school. Love you guys tons, and I'll write back later today. Bye!

Two Tuesday Emails from Brig

2009-12-08T17:30:00.000-08:00

Explanation: Brig is allowed to email home on Tuesdays in the MTC. So he emails (about 6:30 AM our time. And then he can email again in the afternoon. So here are his two emails from today.)

Naw, you hadn't said anything about the washing machine. Thats kinda lame, but then again, we washed like everything in it, or... You did. I finally got the package. It seems like everything except dearelder is like 5 days delivery. I'm pretty sure I'm getting bronchitis. I have the phlegmy chest cold, a little sore throat, and I feel weak. Here, they just tell you (before it gets real bad) "Just take some ibuprofen and sudafed, it'll get better". Well, I guess this is what happens when it doesn't. Its kinda lame. I might not be going to the temple today because I feel like crap.

But anyway, my teachers are getting fed up with my class. 2 people (one being my companion) never pay attention, and pretty much the whole class except 2 people (me and elder elder) are loud as jet engines like half the class. So, I dunno if you or dad know, but whoever spoke spanish, and it might apply to portguese too. But some of the meetings from my zone (all spanish) they talk about ser vs. estar missionaries. Ser missionaries are missionaries that don't do stupid stuff, they're professional most of the time. Estar are the missionaries like that do the work, but the rest of the time they're just goofing off. I'm not really sure if very many people from my district(class) will become ser, based on what I've seen so far. I was bad the first 4 weeks, but theres been significant changes, mostly because I feel bad for my teachers. I know I should feel bad for the missionaries here that're just idiots, and bad, but I really don't have that much love for them yet. I know that that is something that I'll need to work on. Especially out in the mission field. But man, It gets a little annoying with all the idiots here. I swear, that 90% of the missionaries IN the mtc... ok maybe 85%, but the vast majority of "missionaries" here, are gonna be goof offs and just waste 2 years that could be spent having fun, but in a better way than goofing off, and actually accomplishing something. So, I just want to let you know that I'm trying pretty hard to become better. I'm not just here to goof off, I don't wanna be that whiny kid from apple valley that I went on splits with, or whatever it was. But yeah, I think its cool you get to see grant's kids again so soon. Now I just have to wait out the rest of the time here in order to get to the field. I seriously cannot wait for the real world. I know that once I get there that I'll get my face smashed by the native spanish speakers are probably not understand a word of it. But man, I'm looking forward to it. I know that through hard work and the spirit, and the atonement (which I learned apparently applies to anything that is hard in life) will get me through it. Well, I think that I'll let you write me back, I suppose it'll be around 3-4 when I write back. Not completely sure though.

I love you all tons, and thanks for the support.
Love, Brig

Well, glad to hear that the washing machine guy was nice, and glad to hear from everyone. Thanks for the support, and yeah, when I got into the doctor's office today he said I had bronchitis. I got shot in the butt, and I have to take it easy the next 3-4 days. I'm glad its something I can cure though, and not just wait out, like the flu. But, anyway, tell Molly thanks, a LOT, for the letters. They mean more than she knows. Its kinda weird only getting letters normally from you mom. Lol. Am I allowed to lol as a missionary? not sure about that one. But yeah, I'm going to dinner with bronchitis, taking my meds, and then going back to sleep. I just wanna get out to the field. I feel molly's pain about the people that have no skill at all though. I've been here 7 weeks, and I play volleyball well, for some reason. But the weird thing is, is that everyone else here is has almost no coordination, except for my zone. Its kinda weird. Its also weird that it seems that 90% of the mtc has p-day, the same day as me. Its a little annoying, because I can't really find a washer/dryer n stuff for like 10 minutes on tuesday morning. So we have to leave our dorm like, 15 minutes early, in order to actually get done on time. But yeah, I don't wanna whine anymore to you. I'm waiting for letters from friends, except brian, cuz he has finals this week, and said he wouldn't write, and he least he writes WHY he won't write, my other friends just seem to forget. OH well. Love all of you tons, especially the ones at home. Mom, Dad, Molly, Ceri, Mark, and all the the family outside the states. Its good to hear that grant might actually have a job once he is done in the airforce. Bye!

(Sniff) My Washing Machine Died

2009-12-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

Friday, as I was doing the third of eight loads my washing machine died.
We had a Fisher and Paykel (New Zealand) washer and I loved it. So off we went to Lowes where we discovered our local store has discontinued selling them. "BUT," said the Lowe's helper, "We have one left in the back." "Is it a floor model?" my sweetheart asked. "No. It's brand new in the box."

We went home and moved out the old washer. I stayed and cleaned the gunk that collects under a washer (what gremlin puts it there?) and Jack drove a trailer to Lowe's.
When he returned he opened the box and SHOCK it had been opened and returned before. The little adjustable legs were broken and the washer's shape was not rectangular, but parallelogram-ish.

So I called, (not real happy.) The sales guy said to just go ahead and install it and he'd give me a discount.
But while I was on the phone with him, Jack did some further checking and doubted that the machine would even work. I called Lowes (again) and told them it was trash and that we were returning it. And we were annoyed that we had to do so.

We drove it back. Jack stayed out front and waited for someone from inside to come pick up the defective washer while I went inside to get our money refunded. The clerk (who initially sold us the washer) offered me my choice of three Fisher and Paykel washing machines. She said that we could take the bad one back and use it until our new ones were delivered. I said no deal. She then offered me a "loaner" washer.
So we picked an upgrade, a loaner that works, and they didn't charge us extra. Hopefully (the plan is) on December 11th our new washer will be delivered and installed.

We'll see. I feel like I've been through the wringer. (Pun intended.)

A Too Quick Trip

2009-12-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

First off, thank you Kennedy and Kyler for helping me decorate this most GORGEOUS Christmas tree!

On Tuesday we drove Kennedy and Kyler back to their mom. But first, we stopped at the cousins' house (because Kyler had barfed orange juice all over his car seat.)
Thank you to Jenn for letting us use the washing machine.
Thank you Cam for being the first one to greet us at the door.
Thank you to Emery for giving me a bell hug.
Thank you to Addie for letting me sleep in your bed.
And Thank you to Bailey for being the last one to see me before I left. (I hope you gave everyone love and thanks from me and your Uncle Grant.)

I hope to see you all soon!

I Am Thankful For. . .

2009-11-29T10:23:00.000-08:00

A (Nice) Surprise Visit From Kennedy and Kyler

2009-11-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

On Thanksgiving Day Brittany called and offered Grant the best present ever--a long weekend visit with Kyler and Kennedy.

So here are two photos of the dare devil kids, fearlessly jumping over Mark and Ceri and Harvey. (I love these photos!)

And Another Letter From Brig

2009-11-16T20:07:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom AND Dad and Molly.

It's cool that you're watching "One Piece." I miss watching it. But when I get home I'll have 100 episodes to watch and I'll have a movie or two to watch. I hope you can actually read my letters. I am finally starting to focus, and am trying desperately to stay awake.

I also need a haircut apparently. But 300 appointments per week or something fill up in about 30 minutes where they put the sign up sheet. It makes me a little mad. The people that're getting haircuts already are almost bald and they're getting a haircut. People are incredibly selfish here. People cut in line waiting for food, for laundry, and a bunch of other stuff. Sometimes it's hard to believe they're missionaries. I've ticked a few off though. If they cut right near me I usually start yelling at em, or just say, really loud, "YEAH, CUTTING IS COOL. IT'S LIKE GRADE SCHOOL FOR 19 YEAR OLDS!" Sometimes they go back. Sometimes they're jerks. I really don't know how some people got here. It's a little disappointing. Well I'm sure you're tired of me whining. There we go and this is the end.

Love, Elder

I can SO see him yelling this. (And for those of you who are clueless about the first sentence. "One Piece" is a Japanese anime serial that Brig got me addicted to.)

Letter From Brig

2009-11-14T05:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a letter from Brig. I edited out all the stuff where he asked me to send him gym shorts and thanked me for the stuff I've already mailed to him AND asked me to look up some information on the internet. Molly had the flu, but she's better now (so that's why he wrote what he did.)

It's not very long, but I thought I'd share it. (He likes us. He really likes us.)

Hey Mom and Dad
How's things going back home? Is Molly still sick? Hmm--I hope not.
. . .
Someone in my district got some serious congestive disease and we all had to take pills to prevent us from getting it, but it upset our stomachs. I can understand what Molly is going through.

There's an Elder in my district whose last name is Elder. His name is Elder Elder. 9/2200 missionaries in our class and I got the only Elder Elder here. Cool thing is, he's the best guy here. . .My companions act like 12 year olds and have annoying habits. . .

But I know I loved my family before I came out here, but now that I'm out here I know that you and dad and my whole family are definitely the most important that to me while I'm out here. I love you all, more than you'll ever know.
Love, Brig. . .

This Is Only A Test

2009-10-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

I have tried everything I can think of to make my blogs show up on people's list.

I deleted the last one showing up. I wrote a blog WITH a photo and two without photos--thinking that maybe that had something to do with it. I REPOSTED the blog I deleted--nothing.

SO now I just signed in and out and am writing another one. I'm only doing this to test the system, which isn't working for me right now.

If anyone has had this happen to them--or can think of something I might try--please let me know.

("Take the computer keyboard apart; Put it in a brown paper bag; Swing the bag over your head and scream like a chicken!*)

*Very old Dick Van Dyke TV Show Reference nobody but Dad will get.

UPDATE: I went to the Blogger help page and wrote about my troubles a few days ago. And this morning when I went to Grant's new post, there I was--updated.

Thank you Blogger Helper Person Bot.

Empty-ish Nest Syndrome

2009-10-26T21:58:00.000-07:00

Geez. Now I can't see my photo of Brig.

This morning (October 22) I woke up with the monkeys jumping on the bed rhyme going through my head.
(Honestly, could there be a more annoying way to awaken?)
And as I contemplated why I was thinking this I realized that
Molly is the last monkey jumping on the bed.

I think about Brig in the MTC all the time and hope he is adjusting and doing well. (Like Chase and Grant he never did acclimate to slumbering at night and waking in the morning. I hope he's not laying in bed, unable to sleep all night and then snoozing through all his classes in the daytime.)

And the house seems HUGE. I visit taught a sister yesterday who also has a big house that she and her husband live in by themselves. Because of the market neither of us will sell any time soon. And so we own these oversized dwellings. (Anybody who wants to visit may--except dad and I are such old boring hosts now. Still, call and let me know if you want to come see us.)

Wow, this is a strange entry.

Yes. I am reposting this entry, just to see if any of my kids' or husband's blogs will update me. Please--if you've already read this excuse me. I'm trying to figure out why my posts are not updating. Thank you for your patience.

I'm Gonna Buy Me An Air Horn

2009-10-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

FIrst off. Nobody's blog is updating me. I mean, I wrote about Brig leaving. And I wrote about cooking dinners. And when I went to check, nobody's blog had updated me. Now, I know sometimes it takes a while, but blogs written AFTER me are listed. What's the deal? Do the powers that be who run Blogger.com read my entries and think, "well this is stupid. We don't need to tell anyone she's written again."?

Okay. Now to my subject (rant) of the moment.

I have decided to buy me an air horn and tape it to the bar of my bicycle. I mean a BIG HONKING air horn--I'm searching the internet under, "possibly illegal because ear drums may be shattered if this device is used" type air horns.

Today I was biking in a neighborhood area. I was on the right hand side of the street--like I'm supposed to be. And I was coming to an intersection where I had NO stop sign, but the crossing traffic did--a two way stop.

As I neared the intersection a woman on a cell phone, driving an SUV approached the stop sign. I slowed down a bit because her head was turned. (I like to make eye contact with driver's in the mistaken perception that this will make it more likely that they will be aware of me.) When she turned my way, she sped up and ran the stop sign. I braked and missed hitting her. (Yeah, that would have shown her up if I would have gotten my blood and entrails all over her van.)

I yelled, "That's a stop sign!!!!" at her as she drove down the street.

My sweetheart wasn't with me this morning--because I know if he wasn't at work he would have run her down and hollered at her. But I have decided that I want an air horn. (It might work on dogs, too.)

And I fantasize about making a citizen's arrest and she'd have to pay a fine for talking on a cell phone (not too expensive) and running a stop sign (much more costly mistake.)

Cooking for 1? 3? 2?

2009-10-24T06:01:00.000-07:00

This is going to take some getting used to. Because of my dietary limitations I almost never eat what the rest of the family eats. And because I eat a lot of rice and lentils I can't say, "we're all eating what I'm eating for dinner tonight, AGAIN."

When more kids were at home I'd cook a big bunch of stuff and (usually) it would be eaten--if not by the family at least by the dogs. I remember Magic even ate the leftover sour kraut that Granddad Black gave him. But this cooking for 3 (or 2 when Molly's gone) is going to be a puzzle for a while. (And Molly has very definite likes and dislikes. Basically--if it's sugary and sweet she'll eat it. If it's not; she won't.)

I guess what I'm saying is somehow it was worth it to cook a big meal for everyone else and a single serving for me, but it's not worth it to cook one serving for Dad and one for me. (Is that what I'm saying?)

I don't know. But as my family knows, cooking has (almost) never been a joy. Molly says I make the same thing over and over--and I probably do. Possibly because I don't remember what I made because I didn't eat it. So I think, "hmmmm. Shepherd's Pie sounds good," even though there is STILL some in a tupperware hidden in the back of the refrigerator.

Amazing Half Time Show

2009-10-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

I am inspired to start jumping rope. It's kind of long, but watch the whole thing.

Problem, Solved

2009-09-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

For years, even when we were dating, I noticed that during outdoor physical activity, if I was getting a good work out, my sweetheart was barely breaking a sweat. And if he was exercising at his beneficial peak, I was killing myself and not keeping up at all.

I will give you a few examples. Years ago we went on a ski vacation in Utah with my brother Ken. We were shushing down the beginner slopes of Alta and I was spent. Jack was still raring to go. I decided to ignore common sense and kept skiing and--I broke my ankle. Another skiing time, (a few years later and in California) we had done a few runs and were standing up, deciding what to do next. He wanted to go down a harder hill and I was so tired I couldn't stand up. So I fell down where I stood. And I broke my knee.

Later we joined a biking club. This was almost perfect, because all the men--and one very athletic woman--rode a longer route or left earlier. And I and most of the woman rode slower and less miles. We all met at the end and socialized. Still, even though I saw him when he left the house (earlier than I) and again when we reached the picnic at the end, I never felt like we were doing it "together."

Usually when the two of us walk, jog, ride bikes, trikkes, or anything I wind up out of breath and wanting to die and he ends up needing to go a few more times around the block when we're done.

UNTIL NOW.

Years ago I saw an ad for Trikkes. I convinced my sweet husband to purchase two. And then (because of my lymphodema issues) I couldn't ride mine any more. (Actually, I was not all that broken hearted. Because I could never keep up with him.)

Time passed and a few weeks ago Molly asked if I would ride a bike behind her as she ran. I said sure. Then Jack asked if I wanted to ride with him, me on the bike and him on the trikke. IT IS PERFECT! I have no problem keeping up with him. He gets a workout. I get a workout. And we both leave and get back at the same time.

And it only took us a little over 35 years to find the answer.

(I'll post photos as soon as I take them.)

The Phone Call

2009-08-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

About a year ago Grant was in Iraq. After he came home he had a one month leave. He decided to bring three tupperware containers of her things that Brittany had asked him to ship to her before he went to Iraq with him and drive to Utah to visit his children.

Because of statements Brittany had made to me in the past, I advised him that she might be nervous if he arrived alone so he should contact the police first. (I thought maybe they'd even give him an escort.) He agreed that this was a good idea, but when he got to the P.D. Brittany had already reported him as "dangerous" and said she would be out of town when he got there, he had NO custodial or visitation rights, and she didn't want him near her apartment.

The officer he spoke with was very sympathetic. But after calling Brittany (while Grant was waiting in another room) he told Grant there was nothing he could legally do. He advised Grant to take Brittany to court and gave him his card if Grant needed it.

Grant voluntarily left Brittany's containers and left--without speaking to his daughter--without meeting his son.

Since I'm trying to keep this short (and civil) I won't go into all the reasons we decided to help Grant sue Brittany for custody/visitation. I will just say after reading her own words in the divorce papers--that were in direct opposition to what she told me in person, coupled with her refusal to allow Grant to see his children after he'd driven across the country, and her "version" of what happened at the Logan PD (disputed by Officer Barber when I called him to verify whose story was true about what happened when Grant went to the Logan Police Department) we decided to pay for Grant to go into litigation.

It has not been fun. It has not been easy. But, as of last night, it has been worth it. Finally last night, after months of arguments, stalling, and silence, Grant was able to speak by phone with his two children.

I am thankful.

MONKEY BREAD!

2009-08-11T18:23:00.000-07:00

Brig Got His Mission Call

2009-08-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

Brig has been called to serve in the Ogden, Utah--Spanish Speaking mission. He reports in on Oct 21, 2009.

We're all happy. (And hope that he develops a love for the indigenous people of Northern, Utah.)

I just got an email from Duane

2009-07-23T14:51:00.001-07:00

There is a new Black boy in the family.

Tristan Soriano Black 8.2 pounds

After about 28 hours Nerissa had a C section. She and son are doing well. She is a little sore

(That is so exciting!)

Walking the dog Part ?

2009-07-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

This morning (early) Arrow and I went for a run. (And it is going to be Africa hot here today. I can already tell. It was warm at 5:45.)
But back to my blog. When we got home I noticed a bird sitting on our chain link fence. Now, normally I do not try to identify birds--because I can't. But although it was the size of a morning dove the head did not look dovish. As I continued to walk closer (and study it more) it flew away. I could tell by it's tail it was a ring-tailed hawk.

It flew up in the neighbor's pine tree and as I am writing this it started to screech--not a finger's on the blackboard screech, but kind of an "I'm king of this backyard" announcement.

I hope he doesn't eat Roxie.

In my "what would I be if I could be anything--no matter how bizarre or unlikely I am to attain this" possible career category, in the top ten would have to be "a falconer."

They are amazing birds.

Transformers 2 Review AND I get political (again.)

2009-07-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Parley P. Pratt story

2009-07-05T05:39:00.001-07:00

In the previous post, the one where I was attacked by a bloodhound, I referred to an incident from Parley Pratt's journal that helped me deal with the loose dog.

Here it is. I hope you can see how remembering it helped (although in my case, the dog was not so obliging. BUT in my case, I didn't need him to be.)

We had stopped for the night at the house of Simeon Carter, by whom we were kindly received, and were in the act of reading to him and explaining the Book of Mormon, when there came a knock at the door, and an officer entered with a warrant from a magistrate by the name of Byington, to arrest me on a very frivolous charge. I dropped the Book of Mormon in Carter's house, and went with him some two miles, in a dark, muddy road; one of the brethren accompanied me. We arrived at the place of trial late in the evening; found false witnesses in attendance, and a Judge who boasted of his intention to thrust us into prison, for the purpose of testing the powers of our apostleship, as he called it; although I was only an Elder in the Church. The Judge boasting thus, and the witnesses being entirely false in their testimony, concluded to make no defense, but to treat the whole matter with contempt.

I was soon ordered to prison, or to pay a sum of money which I had not in the world. It was now a late hour, and I was still retained in court, tantalized, abused and urged to settle the matter, to all of which I made no reply for some time. This greatly exhausted their patience. It was near midnight. I now called on brother Petersen to sing a hymn in the court. We sung, "O how happy are they." This exasperated them still more, and they pressed us greatly to settle the business, by paying the money.

I then observed as follows: "May it please the court, I have one proposal to make for a final settlement of the things that seem to trouble you. It is this: if the witnesses who have given testimony in the case will repent of their false swearing, and the magistrate of his unjust and wicked judgment and of his persecution, blackguardism and abuse, and all kneel down together, we will pray for you, that God might forgive you in these matters."

"My big bull dog pray for me," says that Judge.

"The devil help us," exclaimed another.

They now urged me for some time to pay the money; but got no further answer.

The court adjourned, and I was conducted to a public house over the way, and locked in till morning; the prison being some miles distant.

In the morning the officer appeared and took me to breakfast; this over, we sat waiting in the inn for all things to be ready to conduct me to prison. In the meantime my fellow travellers came past on their journey, and called to see me. I told them in an undertone to pursue their journey and leave me to manage my own affairs, promising to overtake them soon. They did so. After sitting awhile by the fire in charge of the officer, I requested to step out. I walked out into the public square accompanied by him. Said I, "Mr. Peabody, are you good at a race?" "No," said he, "but my big bull dog is, and he has been trained to assist me in my office these several years; he will take any man down at my bidding. Well, Mr. Peabody, you compelled me to go a mile, I have gone with you two miles. You have given me an opportunity to preach, sing, and have also entertained me with lodging and breakfast. I must now go on my journey; if you are good at a race you can accompany me. I thank you for all your kindness--good day, sir."

I then started on my journey, while he stood amazed and not able to step one foot before the other. Seeing this, I halted, turned to him and again invited him to a race. He still stood amazed. I then renewed my exertions, and soon increased my speed to something like that of a deer. He did not awake from his astonishment sufficiently to start in pursuit till I had gained, perhaps, two hundred yards. I had already leaped a fence, and was making my way through a field to the forest on the right of the road. He now came hallowing after me, and shouting to his dog to seize me. The dog, being one of the largest I ever saw, came close on my footsteps with all his fury; the officer behind still in pursuit, clapping his hands and hallooing, "stu-boy, stu-boy--take him--watch--lay hold of him, I say--down with him," and pointing his finger in the direction I was running. The dog was fast overtaking me, and in the act of leaping upon me, when, quick as lightning, the thought struck me, to assist the officer, in sending the dog with all fury to the forest a little distance before me. I pointed my finger in that direction, clapped my hands, and shouted in imitation of the officer. The dog hastened past me with redoubled speed towards the forest; being urged by the officer and myself, and both of us running in the same direction.

Gaining the forest, I soon lost sight of the officer and dog, and have not seen them since. I took a back course, crossed the road, took round into the wilderness, on the left, and made the road again in time to cross a bridge over Vermilion River, where I was hailed by half a dozen men, who had been anxiously waiting our arrival to that part of the country, and who urged me very earnestly to stop and preach. I told them that I could not then do it, for an officer was on my track. I passed on six miles further, through mud and rain, and overtook the brethren, and preached the same evening to a crowded audience, among whom we were well entertained.

DOG ATTACK! (sort of)

2009-07-03T07:36:00.001-07:00

I woke up this morning and as I was reading some web sites I noticed that I was starting to lose my vision. Feeling totally disgusted, because I had been going to take the dogs for a walk, I decided to amend, not cancel my plans.

Instead of walking all three, I left Maddy home and took Arrow and Roxy for an undetermined distance. I figured if it got too bad I'd just turn around and walk home. It was a lovely morning (6:00 AM, still cool, but wow, I could tell it is going to be HOT today.)

I felt pretty good and the dogs were behaving, so I decided to walk up towards Rancherias. (Jenn, we walked this way. Do you remember the Doctor's house on the corner with the big bloodhound that barked and bayed at us?)

As I was walking up towards Rancherias I heard a deep howl and then a growl and then I saw this BIG (he is huge) red coated bloodhound loping towards me. You know how when stuff like this happens time slows down? I remember thinking, "He's lunging at me! Why doesn't he go for Roxy or Arrow?" Then at the last moment he did veer toward Arrow, who pulled back (he was tied to my waist) and then SAT DOWN! The bloodhound ran up to Arrow and stood over him, growling. Arrow did NOTHING. Roxy did nothing too. I was shocked that she wasn't barking or growling. So I yelled, "Go away!" And the bloodhound backed up. Shocked that he listened to me, I became emboldened. "You are a bad dog!" He just stood there. "Go home!" I tried to be as calm and authoritarian as I could. (At times like these I always try to channel The Dog Whisperer--or Parley P. Pratt. If you don't understand the second reference, I'll post the story later.)

The bloodhound did NOT go home, but slowly slunk down the street away from his house. I unstrapped Arrow from my waist (in case the hound made a second sneak attack) and walked away. Then I said a thank you prayer.

And when I got home I called animal control.

(I also noticed my vision immediately cleared up after the attack. Maybe I need to carry some adrenaline with me whenever I start to notice my sight blurring.)

Search, Ponder, and Pray

2009-06-24T05:10:00.001-07:00

I have been praying over and pondering a certain family situation.

And this is what I believe.

As a principle of love, we have been promised that children are not responsible for mistakes that they make because of the false teaching of their parents.

D&C 68: 25
And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.

Moses 6: 54
Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world.

Our Father in Heaven and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ will make everything equitable and fair after the final judgment.

Members of our family, born under the covenant and bound to our family who are raised with false ideas and make choices based on these false ideas may still be with our family in the eternities.

President Joseph Fielding Smith said that the advantage those born under the covenant have is that, “being heirs [to the kingdom,] they have claims upon the blessings of the gospel beyond what those not so born are entitled to receive. They may receive a greater guidance, a greater protection, a greater inspiration from the Spirit of the Lord; and then there is no power that can take them away from their parents. … Nothing except the unpardonable sin, or sin unto death, can break this tie. …

I have no control over the courts or the actions of adults. But I do have control over choices I make and all I need to do is to continue to repent for mistakes and try to follow the example of Jesus Christ in how I live my life.

So, even if I am not able at this time to see certain loved ones, at some point I may--when a loving Father and Brother untangle the effects of sin and mental instability.

This gives me hope--and peace.

Good Bye Bailey. It was fun!

2009-06-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

Bailey left yesterday. We teased her that she was going to roll into Mesquite, because she (like her Dad in his youth) seemed to have a hollow leg when it came to ingesting food. While she was here she made millions of place mats. (Well, maybe not millions, but a lot.)
She played computer scrabble, had a visit with a girl in the ward, swam, helped us give the dogs a bath, had all twenty nails painted by Molly, drank smoothies (yes I know I owe you one), and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember.

We enjoyed your visit, Bailey, and Arrow misses his "roommate."

We look forward to some "just Addie," "just Cameron" and "just Emery" time too when they are eight (or nine.)

Addie Dreams About Emery

2009-06-21T10:37:00.001-07:00

Cameron Dreams About Roxy

2009-06-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

Father's Day Chocolate Coconut Cake

2009-06-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

Bailey and I think this one looks like she's licking the beaters in her dreams.
And here's what happens to your face when you wake up from dreaming about licking the beaters.

Bailey's Visiting

2009-06-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

Bailey's here for a while, so I thought I'd let her post whatever she wants to say.

I am enjoying being an only child for a while. It was fun building the house by myself.
I miss you and I love you.

Emery's Got Some Moves

2009-06-07T16:49:00.000-07:00

Cam Plays the Wii

2009-06-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

Cam is playing a balancing game. He uses pressure on the pad on the floor to make balls fall through a hole in maze, without falling off the sides.

I love all the "body English" he employs.

Bailey Hula Hoops While Addie Gets Tickled

2009-06-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

Ceri Gets An Award (Video)

2009-06-07T07:43:00.001-07:00

Oh, I am such a technical genius. (I can't believe I was able to do this without Jack's help. Maybe I do like my MAC.)

Ceri's Graduation

2009-06-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

I just read Jenn's blog and wanted to add this photo I took at Ceri's graduation. I just uploaded this video of Ceri walking across the windy stage to receive her diploma.
Congratulations Ceri!

The Meanest Grandma In The World

2009-06-06T14:57:00.000-07:00

We have the meanest Grandma in the world.
When we visit her she makes us sleep on the roof.

She doesn't let us use the towels in the bathroom.
"Don't touch anything! Just stand there for a couple of hours
until you are dry."

When she does make us something to eat the portions are so tiny
it feels like we're putting specks of dust in our mouths.

She always forgets our names.
"Beulah! Chesterfield! Dumpy!
I told you to pick up these blocks!"
.........."But our names are Bailey, Addie, and Cam!"
"Not any more they aren't!"

She doesn't let us play with toys.
"Now it's time to play the fun game of "don't move a muscle
or make a noise until your parents come to pick you up."
...."But Grandma--"
"Uh-uh. You just lost points."

Our Grandma makes us walk on our hands so we won't get her clean floor dirty.

Sometimes she yells so much that our ears fly off.
"What are all these ears doing on my floor?"

When she does take us out to eat it is to MudDonald's or
Jack-in-the-Blah.
"Hey! There is dirt on my hamburger!"
......"No. That dirt IS your hamburger."

And she makes us comb and walk her pet dog, only he's not a dog.
He is a porcupine.

We have the meanest Grandma in the world!

Thank you to Bailey, Addison, and Cameron for helping me illustrate my book.

Oh, and I AM the meanest Grandmother in the world.

Old Age

2009-05-29T10:25:00.001-07:00

Arrow had a tough day yesterday. He didn't have much of an appetite and he barfed three times. At 1:00 AM Jack got up and gave him some pepto bismal. I woke up at 5 to check on him. As I walked down the stairs I could hear him "thump, thump, thumping" his tail in his kennel in anticipation of being let out. He looked SOOOO much better that I wondered if I should give him some of the white rice I'd made for him. (White rice is bland and good for an upset stomach, dog or human.)

I climbed back up stairs, thinking I was going to say to Jack, "Arrow looks better. He's hungry. Should I feed him?"

But somewhere a synapse misfired in my brain and what I said to Jack was:
Arrow looks better. He's hungry. Should I eat him?

Then we both laughed. Ah, old age. It's coming whether you want it to or not. You might as well keep a sense of humor about it.

My Adventure With The Legal System

2009-05-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have written a HUGE post about my adventures with the legal system but since the case is still open I have decided not to post that blog, yet.

Thank you to all of you who prayed for us. I don't know how it will end, but I have seen positive things. I pray that whatever happens it is the best for Kyler and Kennedy, who everyone should admit are the ONLY innocent ones in all of this.

Today the case was postponed until June 25.

Dogs 1, Ravens 0

2009-05-20T06:59:00.000-07:00

Our backyard is a war zone.

And there has been one casualty so far.

We don't know when the confrontation started, but it has escalated from a skirmish into a full scale war.

Monday morning I heard a growl, then a huge BUMP against the window. I thought it was probably Maddy reminding Arrow he was too close to her doghouse (again) and the window bump was him hurrying to exit. Now I don't think so.

After we walked the dogs I went to make sure their water dish was full and I saw a dead raven.

Luckily Jack was home (usually dead animals find their way into the yard on days when he's gone for 24 hours.) And after he'd disposed of the corpse we ran possible scenarios back and forth and decided that the bump I heard was most likely the raven, flying into the window.

Later in the day Jack went to the back door and called the dogs inside. He then told me he believed our initial explanation was wrong. The bird hadn't flown into the window. The bird had flown into one of the dogs. He had witnessed them "dive bombing" our poor pack--which is why he had called them in.

I was a bit scared for Roxy. (We're in coyote country. Many neighbors have lost dogs to coyotes.) But this morning when Arrow and Maddy were outside, Roxy--in her kennel in here with me in the computer room--could hear the croaky tones of the ravens outside, and was antsy to join her two pack members.

So now, (what we believe) is that there might be a nest in the big pine tree next door. And the ravens are protecting their young.

OR it was just a game (until somebody got killed) and now the raven clan is out for revenge.

I'm not sure yet. I'm going to try to take videos. Oh, and if the ravens dive bomb Jack or me, we're contemplating buying a BB gun.

Diets Stink

2009-05-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

I am trying a "ploy" that has worked for me in the past.

The variables are these: If you eat less and/or exercise more you should lose weight. If you do something consistently for three weeks, or 30 days--I'm not sure which, I remember the final product has something to do with a 3--it should become a habit.

So for the past week I have not eaten after six 'o clock. (I know what you're thinking. I do NOT stuff myself from the moment I awake until 5:59 PM, either.) And I have done it consistently for seven days. Two more weeks and it will be a habit. If I goof up one day I will start over and then the trick I will use it to see how many days in a row I can accomplish my "no after six eating."

Still, this morning I got on the scale to revile in my triumphant weight loss AND--(big fan fare of trumpets please) I had not lost a thing.

(Big sigh.) Okay. I will continue to do this. But I'll tell you, the feeling of satisfaction I get from the knowledge that I have such awesome self control would be greatly magnified if I could just see a lower number next Sunday morning when I weigh myself.

Update: May 23, 2009

I have lost two pounds.

I will admit, I hoped it was going to be more, but also I feared that it was going to be none--or even that I might gain--you never know. Still. I will continue.

It is not difficult (in comparison to other dietary modifications I have tried in the past) to stop eating every day at 6 PM. I have done so for fourteen days now and it does feel like a habit.

Update: Friday, May 29

I read an article in the Costco magazine about a woman who lost weight (and ate healthy) after cancer surgery. She said the drug they put her on for five years after the cancer made it difficult to lose weight. THAT COULD BE THE REASON for my low weight loss.

But, back to my update. As of today I have lost 5 pounds. And it has been fairly easy not to eat after 6:00 PM.

June 3, 2009 It's still at 5 pounds. (Big sigh.)

June 26, 2009. Hurray! It's still 5 pounds! (I'm going to look at this positively. I still haven't gained it back. And I know. I'm not fooling anyone.)

We Visit the Dog Park and Almost Kill Arrow

2009-05-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

Dad and I learned last week that Arrow has two speeds--all out and stop. We discovered this at The Norm "Something" Park, a grassy greenbelt area that is fenced all the way around and located near by the first house we rented while we were building our current one. The park is an "L" shaped area, with only one entrance and exit. You walk down a concrete path in a switch back fashion, so it is easy to get into and out of the "scooped out bowl" that makes up the park.

We take Arrow (and sometimes our other dogs) and hit a tennis ball for him. Many times there are other people (and dogs) at the park, but last week when Dad and I took Arrow (and Roxy) it was completely empty. So instead of hitting the tennis ball where other people aren't, Dad had the entire length of the park to let Arrow play in. Dad estimated that every time he hit the ball and Arrow ran to retrieve it and bring it back, he was running the distance of one and a half football fields.

After some time playing, the poor dog was dying--tongue hanging out, panting. Dad tried to get him to get some water from a drinking fountain, but Arrow just wanted him to hit the ball again. So, Dad hit the tennis ball again, (and again--and again.)

Meanwhile, I was climbing up and down the sides of the park with Roxy. I heard "Arrow! Arrow, come back here!" And I looked up to see Arrow climbing the concrete pathed switch backs. He heard Dad yelling, and even turned and looked back, but then he dropped the ball and kept going towards the exit (and the car.)

Dad jumped up over the sides of the path and blocked Arrow from leaving.

I dragged Roxy over to where Dad and Arrow (who was now lying on his side, head on the ground, panting. I took the Frisbee, which we'd brought, but Arrow likes the tennis ball better, and put some water from the drinking fountain in it and set it beside Arrow's head. He lay there, head still on the grass and stuck his tongue out and lapped up some of the water without moving any part of his body. . .except his tongue.

Dad and I were laughing so hard now. (Are we heartless?) It was really funny. As I write this it isn't as humorous as it was at the time. (You had to be there? You almost kill your dog and you find humor?)

He lapped up all the water and I filled it again. This time he rolled over to a laying down position and picked up his head and drank. We waited until he wasn't panting so much and drove him home.

But it was really funny. Dad yelling, "Come back here." And Arrow saying, "I don't care what you say. I'm going to the car."

Next time we go I'll take and post a photo of him. He looks so cool all stretched out, going for the ball.

Totally off topic:

People keep thinking we're calling our dog, "Harold." Strangers come up and say, "Hello Harold." (Actually one woman thought his name was Errol.)

Many times people think Brig's name is "Greg." And I remember when Chase was younger and in rec sports, people would mishear his name as "Jase," (short for Jason.)

Come on, people! Did Harry Nilsson ever sing a song, "Me and My Harold?"

Ceri, Harvey, Molly, and Roxy, After Family Night

2009-04-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Give a man a fish, he eats for a meal. Give a woman some seeds and she gets flowers for a lifetime.

2009-04-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

Years ago for (I think) Mother's Day, Jenn gave me two packets of sweet peas. (I love sweet peas. They smell SOOOO good.) And I planted them and they keep having volunteers sprout up every Spring.

Here are the first ones that have bloomed this week. I wonder if this year they'll all revert back to this bright pink color, or if I'll get a variety of hues. (I feel a little like Gregor Mendel--look him up if you don't know what I'm talking about.)

But thank you (again) Jenn, for the gift that keeps on giving.

Happy Birthday Jack!

2009-03-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

Did you know that. . .

I truly believe I hit the jackpot in the husband lottery.

Please Watch This! It Is Less Than 2 and a Half Minutes Long

2009-03-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Please watch this. I saw it a couple of days ago and I can't get it out of my mind. It's not as dry as it looks.