Twin sons of different mothers

Vaya con Dios, Matty. TK will follow all too soon.

We love you both!

-jake

Boyz in the Hood

What a gangsta (he was trying to avoid chores at the time, thus the excited look).

-jake

The Christmas Recital

So excited to dance and looking cute in her sparkly dance suit.

It's a numbers game

Liberally combine

• 1 sweet La Reine
• 1 jake
• 2 years dating
  
• 22 years marriage
  
• 6 children
• 3 pets
• 1 condo, 2 apartments, 1 home
• 7 cars, 2 motorcycles
• 4 teenagers (that's 4 down, 2 to go...)
• 0 regrets

To achieve intense joy, happiness and grand memories in boundless, immeasurable quantity

2 or 3 times 22 years more? yes, yes, yes!

eternity waits, my breath bated...

Happy Anniversary my sweetheart!

- jake

Concentration

Passing Weezer's "My Name is Jonas" requires strict focus and attention to detail.

I've got to say it is a little disturbing when your seven year old daughter is able to sing "Talk Dirty to Me" and "I am a Child of God" with equal facility.

*sigh*

- jake

Connected? My first mobile blog post

I hope this works. I'm excited about blogging from my phone - I mean, is this like the 90s or what?

- jake

The Art Critic

Say hello to my little friend, Maximillian Thanksamillion, the up and coming critic of the arts.

Upon completion of my most recent recital, I was walking down the steps from the podium, at which point I glanced at Max, who gave me an endearing smile, and then proceeded to raise his hands in front of him, palm downward, and then rolled them back and forth, back and forth, repeatedly, in the universal sign of "your performance was, how shall I say, mediocre".

Thanks Max! (Sadly, I thought so too... dratted colds)

- jake

(Stolen Photo copyright, Dear Diary, 2007)

The New Job

In mid-October I took advantage of an opportunity to leave Novell through a layoff, and in November, I took a job working for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I'd already been seriously considering a change, and had been passively looking for other work since July. The nice thing about leaving in a layoff was that I received a generous severance.

And, because of that severance, I had the luxury of not taking the first job that came down the pike, but I was antsy and so still started a new job sooner than I initially told myself I would.

I had several leads, and even several offers, so why the church? I suppose because I didn't receive any confirmation about taking the others, even though they'd have paid better, looked better on a resume, and have been closer to home. In fact, I couldn't feel good about those other jobs, no matter how hard I tried, so when and old friend and former co-worker called and asked me to apply for a job she had open, I thought - why not, and during the interview, received abundant confirmation that this was the job I needed to take. Pretty cool.

So why the church now? I'm not entirely sure as yet, but I do know that I won't be working any 60-70 hour work weeks in the forseeable future, and I've loved, loved, loved the opportunity to be home more with the fam, particulary as TK prepares to leave us for a few years.

The down-sides? I'm still trying to find some. Okay - I'm really not still trying to find down-sides though there were and are some minor difficulties from the adjustment.

The first? A commute. I've never had to drive for more than 15 minutes to reach my place of employment from my home. I know, a blessing. Now - I travel to Salt lake 3-4 days a week, and I have the choice of driving or taking the express bus. I usually drive (~45 minutes travel time), since it's easier to determine when I arrive, when I leave, who I sit next to etc., but the bus (~an hour travel time) isn't too terribly bad, and I'll probably end up riding it at least a couple of days a week.

The second? Coming to work and not knowing what to do every minute of the day. At Novell, I'd essentially been doing the same job for nearly 2 decades. I knew exactly what I needed to be doing every minute of every day, and what I could be doing even if I worked 24 hours a day. Now? I sit in the midst of a bunch of wonderful people I don't know, though that's changing slowly, and I'm still trying to get the hang of the tasks, who I should talk to, who I shouldn't talk to etc. I've been advised that I just need to "slow down" and take it easier, and that the what to do will come - I suppose that's true, but it's not my nature, so I'm trying to surreptitiously work fast, and on those days when I still find myself sitting at my desk wondering "what now", I read process documents - ugh.

Now - as to what I do.

At Novell I was a senior program manager - basically I was responsible for the day to day success of a major product, working with many directors, managers, and engineers. I was a process control and improvement whiz, and spent much of my day in meetings, meetings before I arrived at the office, meetings while at the office, and meetings in the evenings again from home. I generally spent 12 hours a day working during the week, with another 10 or 12 over the weekend, and that didn't count the email from the blackberry.

At the Church I am a release manager, and though as I said I'm still working out what that means from day to day, in a nutshell, I work with 2 large portfolios of projects that support and sustain the workings of the Church. So I still attend many meetings, and I still look at processes and how to improve them. The difference is that instead of wondering about how my product can help businesses be more efficient, I get to have a fabulous feeling that the work I do, and the help I provide, is furthering the work of the Lord, and will have eternal consequences. Can you see now why I want to work hard?

The bottom line is that I'm thrilled with my new job, I'm loving it, and I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing now. And I've just got to ask - how cool is that?

- jake

Since the last post

• I left Novell and started a new job, and I am so much happier, but also much busier as I find myself in the strange "new employee" funk which I've not experienced for nearly 2 decades.
  
• TK received his mission call to serve in the Argentina Resistencia Mission
• SK re-tore the ligament in his right elbow and tore a meniscus in his left knee
• Term the first ended at the high and middle schools to some shouts of praise and other shouts of concern
• TK went to the temple
• Much shopping occurs pursuant to the realization that Christmas is only weeks away, and TKs departure is only 2 months away.

I'm trying to get back into the swing of posting and reading, so we'll see how quickly that happens.

Thanks Guy

Popurls is cool...

Couldn't help but pass that along.

Thanks Guy

Word of the Day - A Renaissance

I'm bringing back the word of the day - which may be completely misnamed as I doubt I'll actually post every day, but we'll see.

To kick things off, I thought I'd re-post one of my favorites from the early days , and start with a new word tomorrow.

WOTD - bordello

Definition - a brothel

Usage - Jonquil, a vivacious, ratted-haired blonde in high school, had turned into a nebulous, though still wanton, introvert by the time she'd finished with Descartes. Her professor, preoccupied in those days with ethics (and brimming with perspicuous insights, fatuous hindsights, sagacious sound bites), could not take his eyes off her knees during his lectures, and was discomfitted with lacivious thoughts. How might he lead her into tenebrous chambers with a thousand pillows and drifting, silken light beams, then expose his tendentious intentions? He would propose a preposterous night under the town and throw off his donnish gown! The truth is, Jonquil was way ahead of him on this one, and was already setting up on her own! What had become of the gregarious flashing eyes? Quoting Diderot, "My ideas are my trollops," she opened a bordello of platonic love where fetching notions, scantily clad and fatally attractive, drove many a young man out of his mind and into business, pre-med, or law.

The Boss, Now & Then

Now:

Download the new single for yourself here:

Then answer this question - Do you think mr. Tommy Tutone deserves a royalty check? I think he might just.














Then:

Every six weeks

Hi everyone, still busy, but still thinking a lot about writing.

Bought a new notebook to scribble random thoughts in while running around. Hoping to evolve some of the scratches into blog entries soon.








Can't believe the kids are almost back in school.









Can't believe TK is turning in papers in a month.












Can't believe I'll get to go to Aggie games at USU for free this year to watch one of the non-biological sons play football.







Had fun listening to http://www.refinery29.com/seasonal_playlist/post.php?topcategory=music

Where has the time gone?

Every Day in May? - Not so much

It's been busy lately - despite, and is some way due to, taking two weeks off of work.

I really am still interested in writing more - and maybe I'll actually find or make time to do it - right now, I'm catching up at work, and enjoying as much time as possible with the fam.

And just cause it's fun - may I present the new couch (envision it in duplicate at right angles in my living room, and yes, I know you've not been there...)

Kari - We'll miss you

Goodbye for now.

http://www.karimasonfund.org/

EDIM9: Mothers Day Angst

I love mothers. Mine, my wife's, my kids, other peoples kids, those women who are mothers to those who aren't their children biologically etc. etc. etc.

Given that profound love and respect - I always struggle at this time of year. What could I do? What should I do? Is there a perfect gift out there for all of these mothers? Is there?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

When I asked my children what they wanted to give Mom this year - they looked at me with a blank expression for a few seconds and then said - uh whatever you buy for us to give her, just like every year.

And - La Reine has requested "a tree".

Double and - It's La Reine's birthday 5 days later...

Help a guy out?

- jake

And, because I loved it so much last year - I'm bringin' it back:

EDIM4-7? Not hardly. But here's 8 - Biology and the facts of life.

Okay - so no surprise that I've not met the challenge for posting something every day in May so far. But here's another post, and some of the titles of posts I've started and "may" yet finish.

"I wear my sunglasses - part 2"
"Friends turning 40"
"Mothers Day Angst"
"Rain Rain go away - I need my ticket to ride"

And "Biology and the facts of life" - appearing below

I recently posted about TK's graduation and even invited you all to be there, however the deep dark secret is that though he's on track to graduate with high honors (3.8+ gpa) he may not graduate at all... You see, way back in his sophomore year, TK wound up in a biology class which proved to be rather hard for him and he (gasp) failed a term.

Needless to say we weren't thrilled, but we didn't worry that we'd be able to work it all out well before graduation.

We just didn't realize that well before graduation meant 3 weeks before graduation.

A couple of months ago TK sought and got approval to do the necessary work via proctoring with a teacher at the school, because doing a packet would allow him to graduate just fine, but would not fulfill the requirements for NCAA eligibility. Every day since then La Reine has inquired as to his progress with the standard response being "mom, don't worry about it, I'll be fine." And now - here we are, the aforementioned 3 weeks before graduation, needing to complete the work and still get approval in a final, hopefully "pencil-whip through the process" appeal with the graduation board.

So this week TK is being forced to complete a term's worth of biology and then he'll go through the appeals process and all will be well, at least that's what we're telling ourselves. It's a mantra really.

- jake

EDIM3: Brushed off those Adobe Skills

Announcements from school sponsored vendor: $100.00 for 50
Do it yourself and print at costco: $30.00 for 100

Care to come?

- jake

P.S. - Thanks again Hey Jude and Cari for the most excellent example from last year!

EDIM2: I wear my sunglasses at night

Night before last, I came home from the church at about 9:30 after our fa-bu youth etiquette night.

(btw, cjane if you read this - can I hit you up to make some of your most excellent thank you cards? I think we need about 8 of them for all those who helped out the youth that night, if not, no worries...)

Anyway - walked in the door and running up the stairs was baby girl. "Daddy - would you please read me a story and tuck me in?" "Yes honey, give me a few minutes to change and I'll be right in." After I read her a quick story and began to pull up the blankets, BG sat up slightly in the bed, lifted her pillow, reached under and pulled out...

sunglasses.

"Cute new quirk" says my inner monologue. A quick besito, a flick of the light switch, and I'm on my way upstairs to see how the american idols do with Jon Bon.

About an hour later, La Reine went downstairs for something, and came back up with a huge smile and a comment of "you've got to see this". TK and I go downstairs, and sure enough - there's BG sound asleep still wearing her sunglasses. Of course TK snaps a photo with his phone and we all have a good chuckle.

Yesterday TK pulls out his phone, shows BG the picture of herself asleep wearing sunglasses. BG looks and states, "well, the lamp in my room is very bright, and if I don't wear sunglasses, then I get confused that it's not night time." We all laugh again.

The funny thing is - BG has a cute little lamp on her dresser. Normally I stock 15 watt light bulbs which we put in this lamp, and she keeps it on 24/7.

The last time the bulb died, guess what I didn't have? That's correct - 15 watt bulbs. So, since she asked so sweetly if I'd replace the bulb, I used what I had - which was a 60 watt-er. Needless to say she's fine with this, and I haven't worried overly much about getting a 15 watt bulb as yet - ergo, sunglasses.

And yes - she keeps the glasses under the pillow and wears them every single night, and apparently has been since I changed the bulb more than a month ago - how cute and sweet is that.

- jake

Every day in May

I've taken the challenge from a friend to post something on the blog every day this month.

What do you mean I already failed - doesn't April have 31 days? My watch says it's the first, so there.

So here's to a post a day. (clink noises)

Last night we had an etiquette dinner with the youth. It was truly amusing - though I think at the same time it was truly great. I believe we have etiquette dinners principally for the young men, and it's a good thing.

We had a couple in our ward provide the instruction, and my favorite part was as they were discussing the place-setting at a traditional table, the part when they began discussing the glasses, you know - water, red wine, white wine, etc. The look on the faces of the youth was priceless - most especially the look on CKs face as he gave me a knowing smirk, as though to say, "but you already knew all about that - didn't you dad?"

P.S. - cari? I owe you three glasses - so very sorry again for my over-exhuberant washing last night.

- jake

TK's last Prom

TK went to prom for the last time on Saturday, (unless of course he's like Dustin M. who, at 21, seemed a bit old to be taking Jessica to the prom. You can bet that Baby Girl won't be going to Prom with a 21 year old, unless it's her just returned from his mission older brother Q, which I suspect would be analogous in a 16 year old girl's mind to death, but I digress.), and it was great fun to meet up with he, his friends - our non-biological sons, all of their dates, to take pictures, to give advice on date etiquette "Jake - you really need to stay in close proximity to your date the whole night instead of running around and leaving her standing by the car wondering what she should be doing... Jake, you're doing it again..., uh Jake.", to make sure they all had enough money for dinner, pictures and the like.

Here are some of my favorite pics (from the more than 200 I snapped - I'm so annoying):

TK with his Date Nalani. For you dancing with the stars fans, she strongly reminds me of Cheryl Burke.













No, they didn't go on the motorcycle, but they all thought it would be fun to take some pictures on it. I liked the pictures where they smiled, and they liked the "hard" pictures, looking all biker dude... in formal wear.









"The 'stang" - Instead of a limo this year, all the guys begged or borrowed a sweet ride. It was a ~$450,000 convoy, and no - none of the vehicles are mine.














Another one in front of the 'stang. Nalani apparently didn't get the message that there were to be no smiles in this one.










The promenade!

Note to all parents. Instruct your kids to a) walk slowly down the stairs - no matter what instruction they get from the faculty, and b) pause 6 or 7 steps down and look to the side where you are patiently holding the camera.























The group

With the sweet rides:















Fish & Sarah, JT & Hope, TK & Nalani, Katy & Jake, Allie & Beaz

Go and visit

The french toast girl - Fun and refreshing blog, reminded me somewhat of cjane

http://www.frenchtoastgirl.com/weblog/blogger.shtml

Ou est Jonquil?

Once she was here.

Solid, waiting, the very air redolent with her presence, her essense.
Objects appeared brighter, limned by her aura, words as a flood.

Now, I sit at the keyboard, and everything I type is trite, hacked, boring - even this.

What is up with this writers block? Honestly.

Ta

-jake

Grammar Schmammar

Dug this gem up whilst doing some cleaning, thought you might enjoy it as much as I did again.

(P.S. I may have missed the memo - but have you noticed that the bon mot du jour seems to be 'whilst'? Freakin' anglophiles.)

Rules for writing:

1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat)
6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
7. Be more or less specific.
8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
10. No sentence fragments.
11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.
12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
14. One should NEVER generalize.
15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
16. Don't use no double negatives.
17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
20. The passive voice is to be ignored.
21. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.
22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
23. Kill all exclamation points!!!
24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas.
26. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.
27. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
28. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.
30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
32. Who needs rhetorical questions?
33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
And finally...
34. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

Since I've been gone...

Not much time these days. I miss this, but I'm still reading others blogs as I can snag a minute here or there.

guilty pleasure? Melinda Doolittle - man that girl can sing.

My fav Melinda so far (gives me chills even through my laptop speakers...):

Midvale represents

Ladies and Gentlemen, the vocal stylings of Mr. Nicholas Zitzmann.

ave atque vale

I'm gonna miss you Art.

How to be creative.

I read the this Hugh MacLeod ChangeThis manifesto today. I liked it very much. Since I believe most (of the 3) readers of this blog would appreciate this, I'm passing it along.

P.S. if you prefer not to mess with the PDF version found above, you can also find the original blog version here.

Sony Bravia - I think I might need one

This commercial used NO special effects or animation.

Suggestion Box

Because cw suggested it:

Doritos commercial?

Vote here, and tell us who you vote for in the comments.

Ms. Richmond? They're ready for you.

Thanks for the comments and the gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) reminders that it's been a while.

I have no real excuse other than to say that the muse has been on vacation, and so, perforce, was I. Sometimes I wish that writing were my career, but in the past weeks, I've been thrilled that it is not, else my kids would be starving, instead of stricken with affluenza.

I have several posts in the wings, starts and spurts yet, but soon to break forth visible, and hopefully, viable. Included in this mixed bag is the as yet unfinished, and loooong overdue response to cw's tag, which is high on my priority list.

Thanks gentle readers and lurkers for venturing, stumbling, drifting, zipping, perambulating, landing, linking, or otherwise, coming here.

all the best.

- jake