waiting for wednesday, again

Write or Die, or in other words, Time to write

2011-11-01T15:01:00.000-06:00

My first dive into Write or Die. Trying to see if this can be the motivator that I need in order to write as much as I really would like to. Back in September I committed to try and blog every day. I think I was able to complete a full two blog entries during the entire month. (I double checked, and I wrote 0 blog entries in September or October - 0... crap.)

In fairness, e.g. the excuse du jour, this was largely due to the fact that we had some interesting family things come up. Here we are two months later, and I have another daughter in law, and another grandchild on the way. Very exciting stuff - but to get ready for that involved changing our living areas to physically enclose an additional bedroom in our house.

This included building a wall, electrical work, hanging drywall, doing mud and tape - including learning how to mud and tape corners (both inside and outside - and who knew that corners can also mean where walls meet ceilings - not me that's who) and sanding, followed by painting with the associated taping, drop cloths, color selections and the like, together with all of the cleanup, and lastly the installation of all of the trim which required borrowing tools, ensuring proper cuts of the board and getting it all thrown together. This whole project running concurrently with getting everything else that we needed to get done for the wedding done. It was great fun, and we're all certainly glad that it's finally over. Phew.

Now we're looking Christmas time squarely in the face. More checklists and to - dos to get everything done and ready for that. Including getting things sent early enough to the missionary son in California that he can participate in some of the fun Christmas traditions that the Roseville mission has as part of it's history. Last night whilst keeping abreast of all of the trick or treaters that were visiting with great regularity, La Reine and I successfully selected a large number of family pictures, loaded them on a digital picture frame, wrapped it up in pretty Christmas paper, and got it ready to be shipped. We're going to be shipping that today with some hand written letters, and at the same time I'll be shipping a few other things that he's wanted, though they'll be going in a separate package so that he can get them sooner than Christmas.

I'm also doing this on Write or Die so that I can be challenged to actually write a set length entry in a ridiculously small amount of time - and lo and behold, I didn't make it. But I got close - 435 words in the 10 minutes I gave myself - but my goal was 500 words. Oh well.

Back to the interesting dialogue. I am excited about some of the other fun things we've got coming up in the next couple of months as we roll full steam into the holidays. Christmas music, family time, anniversary to plan, Christmas shopping and the like.

That's it for today I think - but I'm going to come back again tomorrow to see if I can get those 500 words in 10 minutes and we'll see what happens. Wish me luck.

Respectfully,

- jake

There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist...

2011-08-31T10:07:00.002-06:00

There's a James Taylor song that I love - well he has lots of songs that I love, but one in particular, "Shed A Little Light" is resonating with and for me today.

The particular lyric that's getting to me is:

"...that we are bound together
in our desire to see the world become
a place in which our children can grow free and strong
we are bound together
by the task that stands before us,
and the road that lies ahead
we are bound and we are bound..."

The last couple of days have been ones during which I've reflected a great deal on the road behind, and the repetitions that come when others choose to follow the same road.

As I look back at the road, I see that it is now reflected in the eyes of those I dearly love as they look ahead. I am overcome by emotions - both good and bad, but all poignant - so much so they are nearly painful.

The one thing that I know for certain is this: the Lord will indeed shed a little light so that we can see, and many years from now as we look back together on this road, we will smile, we may shed a tear or two, and we will share the joy of the journey with those whom we so dearly love.

respectfully,

-jake

A rededication

2011-08-29T11:21:00.002-06:00

I recognize that I’m not a very committed blogger. A post once a year whether I need to or not, and then seemingly unable to commit to following through with more than that, regardless of professions to the contrary.

Part of the problem is not having a direction – what do I want to write about? Who am I doing it for?

Secretly I want to write about whatever comes to mind, but I’m worried that when others read it they’ll judge the content or the author. An inner monologue akin to “wow – he thought that was worth writing about? Seriously?”. This is my fear. Will it be funny at the right time, poignant when required. Will people come back to read it because it’s compelling? Will they want to be my friends? Do I care?

I think you get the point here.

I suppose that what I need to do is come up with a focus and then go with it.

To that end, I'm going to attempt writing a blog entry every day in September. Wish me luck, and feel free to comment...

- jake

Someone saved some guys life last night

2010-09-16T11:20:00.001-06:00

I was hanging out with Baby Girl last night. It was just us - we'd arrived home from her dance class - and were enjoying some quality time together. La Reine was out shopping for a homecoming dress with CK's date, SK was at Rugby practice, and CK and Q weren't home from football practice.

Basically just really nice. We were chatting about how dance had gone - "fabulous", and if she needed any help getting homework started and the like. She had opted to sit on my lap, which doesn't happen all that often anymore - heaven.

Then reality set in as CK and Q arrived home.

And then...

A phone call. It was a friend from a few blocks away calling to make sure that SK was alright. Apparently she'd seen him standing on the side of the road near an accident - overturned car - and wanted to be sure that everything had turned out okay since she'd been unable to stop.

She may not have been able to stop, but my heart did for a brief second as I wondered myself if he was alright since I'd had no phone call.

We chatted for just a minute and as CK and Q figured out what we were talking about they chimed in with more information.

Apparently SK had driven past the accident on his way to Rugby practice and had pulled over to see if he could help. He's a certified first responder and is required to do so. The young man who'd been driving the car was a friend of his and he checked out okay despite some minor lacerations on his face and a nasty bump. S determined that 911 had already been called, and that's when he realized there was a passenger who was out of the car on the other side but who was not responding.

The details are a little fuzzy at this point, but essentially S determined he wasn't breathing and started CPR which he continued for 10 minutes until the paramedics arrived. Then, after turning things over to them, he double checked with his buddy to be sure he was getting taken care of, and then continued on to rugby practice with no further fanfare.

CK and Q had heard about it because S had called his mentor Donny who is the trainer at the school and had thanked him for helping him get the skills that he's used to save that young man's life. Donny had shared the information with several of the players as they were leaving practice.

When SK got home, he was beat. I asked him how he was, if he'd been scared, had he struggled with remembering what to do. He replied - "I'm tired from doing CPR and then from practice. I was scared, but not really until I was well into it - it's one of those things where adrenalin kicks in and you just act. I'm really glad I was there and that I had some knowledge which helped." He also talked about how he wondered why it had taken so long for the paramedics to arrive since they came from the fire station that was literally less than a mile down the street - and how he'd thought about that a lot while doing the CPR.

And that was about it - he showered and headed to bed.

I've got to say that I'm impressed and pleased with all of my children. I'm continually amazed by the things they do, and even more by the incredible people they have and are becoming.

I really couldn't ask for more.

respectfully,

-jake

Once there was a way to get back home

2010-09-15T16:11:00.000-06:00

It's been nearly a year since I last posted.

I'm not certain why I stopped, but it felt right to have a hiatus for a time. I don't believe that anyone was really reading this ramble anymore anyway, and certainly no one has complained or even remarked on the fact that I've not been posting, so that confirms that no one has really missed it.

There have been days when I've missed it, but there have been many days when I haven't. I've been feeling lately like it's time again so we'll see how that goes.

drop me a line or comment if you're still around.

respectfully,

- jake

Baby Girl's first Dance Solo

2009-11-30T21:34:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday BG had her first dance solo at the Covey Center.

You were fantastic little one! And thanks to T. Lougee for the great choreography.

What's something funny that I did?

2009-08-21T13:02:00.005-06:00

Baby Girl is loving, loving, loving school. She couldn't wait to go back almost as soon as last school year was over. I love her so much, but I sometimes wonder where she gets these traits she has. But, since they're overwhelmingly good I don't worry so much that she didn't get them from me. Small favors no?

Last night as she was anxiously engaging in her homework (uh... again, not from me) she was filling out a get to know you type survey and it was a lot of fun to help her with that.

One of the questions - Name 3 things that you're afraid of. Her response? How my brothers smell when they get home from football practice, My Brothers armpits, and poisonous snakes.

Another question - Tell about something funny that you did. Her response - Drew some pickles on a piece of paper and used the paper to save my place on the couch. Well let me tell you - we all fell about laughing at that one. Wait - don't tell me you're not laughing? Really? Could it be that you don't have the backstory? Well, in the mode of Dr. D:

A couple of years ago, I took my boys to see the latest Bourne movie on premier day. We got to the theater kind of late and had some trouble finding a spot where we could all sit together. We finally found a spot on the 2nd row and moved over to the center. Q said - "Dad, there's something in this chair." I looked, and sure enough someone had left a half eaten pickle - one of those huge deli variety pickles that they sell at the movie theaters... tucked inside a napkin and wedged into the cup holder of the arm rest.

Never one to be afraid of pickles, I gingerly grasped the napkin and chucked the pickle under the seats for those lucky theater workers to clean later. Just as I was letting go of the happy bundle, I hear a rather loud, angry voice yelling something on the order of "What do you think you're doing?". And this twentysomething young man is getting in my face about why I threw his pickle on the ground. He was really heated about the whole thing and I apologized to him and told him I was sorry, and that I had assumed that someone from a previous showing had left it there and it hadn't been cleaned up.

Well - not good enough for him - he was really mad and was getting more angry. So I quip "Well in my experience it's not customary for a pickle to save someone's seat", and then people around us started to chime in saying things like "Dude, you need to calm down.", "Get over it - it was a pickle" and the like. Well - he went from angry to embarrassed in about 2 seconds. And that's when I started to feel bad for the kid. He mumbled something about how that pickle was the only thing he could afford and that he was sorry for losing his temper etc. I offered to buy him a new pickle, or anything else he wanted from the snack bar, but he'd moved from embarrassed to mortified and didn't want to talk to me anymore - the problem was that there were so few open seats in the theater now, that he had to sit just 3 seats down from us.

I tried a couple more times to get him to allow me to buy him something to replace the pickle, but he pulled his hat down over his face a bit and said he was fine, and asked me just to drop it. So I decided it was best just to honor his wish, and let it go.

Just then, one of the guys in the group behind us said "Hey, I'm going to run get a drink, save my place." to his buddy - to which the buddy replied, "Sure, I'll just put a pickle here on your seat."

Everyone around us laughed - except me and this poor young kid.

He got up and left, and I'm assuming found somewhere else to sit in the theater.

Today the story is oft told in our family, and we generally laugh about it - but I confess I still feel badly for that young man, and wish I could go back and make things better.

That said - I laughed right along with the rest of them when BG decided to choose the pickle drawings place saver as her funny thing. Because it truly was funny my friends - it truly was.

Respectfully,

- jake

Testing

2009-08-19T21:48:00.001-06:00

I've had a new phone for a few months now, and I've not remembered to configure it to work with blog posts, until today.

Seems to work well, which is nice.

Enjoy a snapshot of dinner - we call it our triple bypass mac & cheese. This time I sautéed up some ham until it was nice and crispy and sprinkled it on top, but I left some without ham for Baby Girl who rarely eats "Wilbur" related foods - Thanks Charlotte's Web.

Wait - I have a blog?

2009-08-12T22:11:00.003-06:00

I'd sort of forgotten. Okay - I'm not going to lie. I remembered the blog, and have received many gentle reminders that it's been a while since I've updated. I'm sorry. A lot has gone on over the past couple of months, and I don't know that I'll have time to go back and write about all of the things that have gone on since I last update - especially considering that my previous updates were sporadic at best - oh well.

That said, things are going well - and we're excited about the new school year, and the new football season.

Three boys at PHS this year, and all of them playing football. SK and CK will be playing varsity, and Q will be playing with the sophomore team.

Blogging interupt - La Reine just asked what I was doing. I looked over
and told her I was blogging. She smiled and mumbled something like it's about
time - restart blogging...

It turns out that free education is only so free btw - though we did manage to keep it under $2000.00 this year - so I'm glad of that. I can only imagine what it would have been like if instead of Q, Baby Girl had been our 3rd at PHS this year, we'd have added several hundred more for dance and cheer - at least most likely we would have. So I'm choosing to be grateful about the amount of our fees thank you very much.

I'll keep this one short - but it's good to be back. I know I likely have very few readers left - if any, but once upon a time I said that I do this for myself - so I'll continue to labor under that statement.

respectfully,

-jake

BG's Concert

2009-05-27T08:40:00.001-06:00

Baby Girl's recital piece:

Prom 2009 - First Part

2009-05-04T11:10:00.006-06:00

I really need to download all the pics from the camera onto a computer and go on a posting rampage - there are so many great things to share...

But - until I do, here are some pics of Sean and his date Eliza from my phone...

P.S. It's a good thing I didn't really have a bet going with Cari on who would post first...

Excuse me. I believe I ordered the large nasal gas delivery system...

2009-03-24T12:55:00.002-06:00

Baby Girl lost a filling. We've found the Nitros to be a very helpful addition to our dental excursions. No more screaming, crying, throwings fits, grabbing the Doctor's hands and jumping out of the chair.

- jake

Disney videos of my youth

2009-03-23T23:32:00.004-06:00

I loved these when I was a kid. I was talking with my kids about them the other day, specifically about Lambert the sheepish lion, and I found them on youtube - of course. Here they are for my kids, and for you all too. Enjoy.

Peter and the Wolf part 1

Peter and the Wolf part 2

and to complete the wolf theme, Lambert the Sheepish Lion

BTW - I was terrified of these wolves when I was little. For literally years after I first saw them, I was certain that the wolf lived in my laundry room and when it was dark in the house, I'd run like crazy for my bed, and if I couldn't get to sleep, I'd see the wolf's nose edging around the corner of my bedroom door. Chilling! I'll confess that I still get a frisson of remembered fear when those wolves snap those jaws, even today.

- jake

Big dance trophies are cool!

2009-03-21T14:18:00.001-06:00

What you can't see here is that the trophy is sitting on the floor (yep - it stands nearly as tall as does BG)

-jake

Books

2009-03-13T12:29:00.006-06:00

At the end of our team meeting at work today, after we'd wrapped with business and were just chatting, we started talking about books. Someone asked me if I was a member of goodreads (yes) and suggested that we should be goodreads friends. We went on for 20 minutes asking around about which books we'd read, what each of us like reading, made recommendations and so on.

It was great.

Then I realized that I still haven't really made the effort to keep goodreads up to date, or even to make the smallest effort to actually add books I've read in the past. So at lunch today, I logged into my account and started updating. I've made a small dent, but the process has made me feel kind of weird - almost melancholy. I don't know why - sometimes I get that way in the middle of a Barnes & Noble too. Not sad really, more contemplative. I can't really explain it.

Why is it that my association with books tends to put me in that mood? Books definitely have the ability to cause me to swing out amongst the entire gamut of my feelings. As a kid I spent a lot of time reading. Though I had good friends, I never had lots of friends, so when Bob or Jeff or Brooks couldn't play - I'd read a book. Whatever the case or reason, I still read all the time, at least an hour a day, not counting scripture study. Crazy? Selfish? Perhaps, but fulfilling to be sure.

Ah well. As with all things, I'll try to do better about getting goodreads up to date, so if you're interested in being friends - just ping me with a comment. If not, that's fine too.

-jake

Why Mormons build Temples

2009-03-12T11:06:00.005-06:00

Why do Mormons build Temples anyway?

I guess we could thank HBO and Big Love for raising awareness about the Temples built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Temples are built by the Mormon church in obedience to commandments from a loving Heavenly Father. They are built to allow for the conducting and performance of sacred ordinances that enable our Heavenly Fathers children, both living now, and those who have lived in all ages of the world, to receive a fulness of the blessings that our Father desires for each of us.

Why can't anyone go in? Why all the secrecy? It's important to make a distinction between secrecy and the sacred. A careful review of scripture shows us that the Lord hasn't told all things to all people. Certain prerequisites must be met in order to receive sacred information. All members of the church who are worthy and in good standing are encouraged to participate in Temple ordinances, and to do so with regular frequency.

Embedded here is a new video which shares information from leaders of the LDS Church on the Temples. I encourage you to watch it. (P.S. After the video plays, you can scroll through other Mormon Message videos - I also encourage you to do that.)

And you may check out this page for more information and to see pictures of all the Temples arround the world.

Respectfully,

-jake

Cari did it first - but this was cool

2009-03-05T17:55:00.001-07:00

Snoozin'

2009-03-02T15:33:00.001-07:00

Life is hard when you're name is Titan

Welcome to the Prado

2009-02-18T11:44:00.001-07:00

Last month, the Prado became the first museum to open its collection to Google’s mapping technology, allowing you to take a virtual trip to Madrid and see super-mega-resolution views of 14 masterpieces.

The paintings include Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, Rubens’s Three Graces, Fra Angelico’s Annunciation, and El Greco’s Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest, and you can zoom in so closely, it’s like putting your nose right up to the canvas (without angering security guards). Other museums, take note: It’s time to Google yourselves.

Check it out here

American Idol Recap

2009-02-17T22:14:00.002-07:00

Hey there Danny Gokey - 'nuff said. (I don't think anyone else sang did they?)

Music starts at the 59 second mark.

Just for fun 2 - Wordle is cool

2009-02-13T11:30:00.004-07:00

"Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends."

Here's 3rd Nephi Chapter 11:

Or perhaps the Declaration of Independence:

Just for Fun

2009-02-10T12:49:00.003-07:00

Modern English may have stopped the world to melt with you, but in their new video, “Catching Up,” Sweden’s They Live by Night stop time itself.

Directed by Senay/Kolacz, and captured on a high-speed Phantom HD camera at 1,000 frames per second, the video shows us an idyllic picnic that’s suddenly disrupted by a fight. Women scream, bottles fly, a clown tries to break up the fisticuffs — a few seconds’ worth of action that takes three full minutes to unfold. (The snail-paced visuals cut nicely against the uptempo song.) Favorite moment? At the two-minute mark, you’ll see a banana floating through the frame — as if it were in outer space.

Refiners Fire

2009-02-06T13:50:00.003-07:00

I received this from my Dad last night – I was impressed enough by it to pass it along.

“I heard a cool story from one of my colleagues at the temple today (Dad is an ordinance worker in the Manti Temple). As background, you need to read Malachi 3:2-3

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

and Moroni 7:48

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

A group of sisters were in a study group when they ran across Malachi 3:3. They wondered what the process is to refine silver. One of them was delegated to go to a silversmith to find out. He went over the refining process detailing how the silver was separated from the ore and all of the impurities were removed from the molten silver.

She had one question: How can you tell when the silver has had all of the impurities removed? The answer: I can see my image in the silver.

Think about it. - Love, Dad”

I’ve thought about whose image I see, and whose it is that I want to see...

Your turn if you so choose

-jake

PHS - Undefeated

2009-02-05T23:06:00.016-07:00

So far the Provo High Basketball team has gone undefeated this year, are ranked number 1 in the state, number 17 in the country, and are looking for the third straight state title in as many years.

But for us - the excitement is elevated when Baby Girl gets to cheer at half time as part of the cheer clinic!

Here are some pics from tonight's game:

Can you see CK?

QK just hangin' with the Dixon crew

The game got a little boring at times

Waiting to Cheer

Future Cheerleaders

Oh yes - some actual game snaps

Cheering at half time

Splits at the finale - too bad she was facing away.

A moment of counsel - um Josh? Josh? Are you paying attention?

Baby Girl - All Dolled Up

2009-02-01T21:18:00.003-07:00

Baby Girl had some surgery last Wednesday.

Doesn't she look sweet?

All went very well!

Lovin the bus?

2009-01-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

I have to confess that I really don't, but sometimes I have to make the sacrifice. How about you?

Family History - and my dad used to swear

2009-01-26T12:04:00.002-07:00

Last night while spending a great evening with my parents at their home, we were surprised by two things:

Surprise 1 - My younger sister Megan had come into town to be here to help out my Mom after she has surgery on Wednesday, which was a fun surprise, but a large part of that is she brought her employer with her (Meg's a nanny for 6 month old twin boys) and the twins. It was really neat to meet Allison and Nolan and Aidan. What a treat... we had no idea she was coming! The kids miss her since she moved to SoCal, and they had a great time with her.

And surprise 2 - My Dad shared a story about his grandmother and how she taught him poetry when he was a wee lad. I'd never heard this story before, but really enjoyed listening in as he shared snippets of the poem, and reminisced about his boyhood with my boys. It got me thinking that I really need to have him audio journal some of those things, so we can all have those memories, and I'm also interested in what other stories I've not heard.

The snippets he shared last night came from the poem "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes, and the very best part was when my Mom ratted out my Dad by sharing that he used to recite his favorite line over and over which was "I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way" only he mostly repeated the "hell should bar the way"

Granted he was only 4 or 5 at the time, but still, anecdotal proof!

Here's the poem in it's entirety if the kids are interested:

The Highwayman

The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight looping the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding--
Riding--riding--
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door.

He'd a French cocked hat on his forehead, and a bunch of lace at his chin;
He'd a coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of fine doe-skin.
They fitted with never a wrinkle; his boots were up to his thigh!
And he rode with a jeweled twinkle--
His rapier hilt a-twinkle--
His pistol butts a-twinkle, under the jeweled sky.

Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred,
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter--
Bess, the landlord's daughter--
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

Dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim, the ostler listened--his face was white and peaked--
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord's daughter--
The landlord's black-eyed daughter;
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say:

"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart; I'm after a prize tonight,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light.
Yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way."

He stood upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand,
But she loosened her hair in the casement! His face burnt like a brand
As the sweet black waves of perfume came tumbling o'er his breast,
Then he kissed its waves in the moonlight
(O sweet black waves in the moonlight!),
And he tugged at his reins in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west.

He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon.
And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise of the moon,
When the road was a gypsy's ribbon over the purple moor,
The redcoat troops came marching--
Marching--marching--
King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door.

They said no word to the landlord; they drank his ale instead,
But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed.
Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets by their side;
There was Death at every window,
And Hell at one dark window,
For Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride.

They had bound her up at attention, with many a sniggering jest!
They had tied a rifle beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
"Now keep good watch!" and they kissed her. She heard the dead man say,
"Look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though Hell should bar the way."

She twisted her hands behind her, but all the knots held good!
She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years,
Till, on the stroke of midnight,
Cold on the stroke of midnight,
The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!

The tip of one finger touched it, she strove no more for the rest;
Up, she stood up at attention, with the barrel beneath her breast.
She would not risk their hearing, she would not strive again,
For the road lay bare in the moonlight,
Blank and bare in the moonlight,
And the blood in her veins, in the moonlight, throbbed to her love's refrain.

Tlot tlot, tlot tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hooves, ringing clear;
Tlot tlot, tlot tlot, in the distance! Were they deaf that they did not hear?
Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
The highwayman came riding--
Riding--riding--
The redcoats looked to their priming! She stood up straight and still.

Tlot tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot tlot, in the echoing night!
Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!
Her eyes grew wide for a moment, she drew one last deep breath,
Then her finger moved in the moonlight--
Her musket shattered the moonlight--
Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him--with her death.

He turned, he spurred to the West; he did not know who stood
Bowed, with her head o'er the casement, drenched in her own red blood!
Not till the dawn did he hear it, and his face grew grey to hear
How Bess, the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.

Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
Blood-red were his spurs in the golden noon, wine-red was his velvet coat
When they shot him down in the highway,
Down like a dog in the highway,
And he lay in his blood in the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.

And still on a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a gypsy's ribbon looping the purple moor,
The highwayman comes riding--
Riding--riding--
The highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.

Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard,
He taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred,
He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter--
Bess, the landlord's daughter--
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

Alfred Noyes

Aunt Megan Visits!

2009-01-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

2009

2009-01-07T20:10:00.002-07:00

I know I've been terrible about updating my blog, but I'm going to give it a better shot this year, I swear.

Ta for now.

Respectfully

- jake

Baby Girl turns 9

2009-01-07T19:54:00.001-07:00

It's her ninth Birthday today - I can't believe how quickly the time has flown. It seems only a little while ago that she came into this world. I remember the overwhelming feelings of joy that day, and also the terrifying moments when we almost lost mom. Thankfully everyone came through beautifully, and we have our sweet little baby girl - and here she is (apologies for the crappy cell phone photo - I'll update with a better one later) still attired in dance clothes and proudly showing off her new webkinz friends.

We love you baby girl!

The Boys do love Christmas

2008-12-08T22:56:00.002-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Homecoming - Part Deux

2008-09-29T19:40:00.005-06:00

Here are some pics of SK and his date and his group.

The Group

The Group plus CK

A closeup

Happy and having fun

It's Homecoming

2008-09-26T13:51:00.004-06:00

At Provo High this weekend, and the Boosters have been busy...

Should you be around for the game, stop by and say hello, and I'll give you a "sweet sticker" for your car window (or other locale of your choice)... designed by moi - see below. You could also check out some of our other handiwork in the banners and apparel arenas - and you'll wind up wanting a sweet shirt - you know you will.

Also - SK is venturing forth on his first foray into the date dance scene with some of his football buddies - pics to follow in a post tomorrow.

"Oh hail Provo High, to thee our hearts will e'er be true!..."

Another tagging opportunity

2008-09-26T13:47:00.004-06:00

Hey Jude posted a funny one today, and since I read it whilst at lunch, I thought it would be fun to do the exercise myself. I must confess I thought it was pretty fun, so I'm posting my results.

The game plan is to google your name plus the word needs as in "Jake needs" and then list the top 10 results (or perhaps in some cases the top 10 family blog friendly results).

Doing the exercise I got:

Jake needs...
1 - To go!
2 - To stop telling us how d$@! good it is
3 - Help with his tight underwear
4 - Your support
5 - To lay the smack down on these guys
6 - A home ASAP
7 - To beware of fostering dependency in those people
8 - To get rid of the messy mop on his head and maybe go for a short, spiky do.
9 - To appreciate what is good for him and soothes his nerves
10 - Extra attention

If you've time to give it a whirl, post back your results in the comments (remembering to censor)

Ta,
- Jake

Brevity is the soul of it

2008-09-25T11:29:00.001-06:00

The shortest story attributed to Hemingway — “For sale: baby shoes, never worn” — required only six words. Well, Papa would have been proud of One Sentence, the website that encourages other, aspiring writers to top his achievement.

Check it out here:
http://www.onesentence.org

Tagged

2008-09-22T11:11:00.006-06:00

I've never been very good at responding to a tag, but I'm giving it a go.

Tagged by the glad housewife - here are my 6 unspectacular quirks (do the spectacular quirks come in a separate tag???)

Please don't leave the milk out. I hate it, and I swear the milk does not taste the same after having been left out. Even once it returns to the proper temperature there is some lingering mal-sapidity afterward. Oh and by the way - this quirk is not just for milk in my home, or for milk that I might drink - just ask the Vances - I would return their milk to the fridge for them on many a visit.
I read several books at once (well not at once, but I'll start several before I finish any one of them).
Metaplasms (the non-biological kind) make me laugh and at the same time I can't help but mentally lower my perceived IQ of the person who utters it.
When I'm out and about and see really interesting/odd individuals I mentally (and sometimes verbally) assign them to a "team", e.g. Hey Q - see that girl over there - she's on your team. I recognize this is not nice.
I'm a tie freak. I own far too many, and La Reine is quite sure I've spent far too much money on them as well. Same with watches.
Since I was a child, I can waste literally hours in bookstores, office supply stores, cooking supply stores and the like - basically anyplace that sells paper, pens, notebooks, books or any kitchen/chef related items etc. And at the end of it all I feel like I've only been there for 10 minutes.

I know I'm supposed to now tag others - but perhaps later.

Preparing for Sharing Time

2008-09-19T13:44:00.002-06:00

It's my turn in the Primary again this Sunday. I always, always just take something right out of the monthly Friend when I prepare - print some handout for the kids, and talk, talk, talk...

Any recommendations on an engaging activity or two - 3-7 year olds in one group, 8-11 in another on "Heavenly Father, are you really there?"

Ta,
- Jake

2 posts in one day? Are you kidding?

2008-09-17T11:28:00.008-06:00

The newest addition to the fam - Titan.
Boomer - we're gonna miss you sweet boy!

Baby girl with Ms. Law (in our home it is a requirement amongst the teenage set when saying her name to follow it immediately with the words "she's so fine".)

Okay - I get it

2008-09-17T11:04:00.004-06:00

It's been far too long since my last update.

To bring everyone up to speed - SK does have a small tumor in his brain. However it appears to be totally benign, and is not a concern at this point to the doctors. They want to see him again fairly regularly for the next couple of years so that they can monitor any possible changes and they gave us a list of symptoms to watch out for. There was also some advice given to SK not to use this information for evil, e.g. "Hey girlsnamehere it's okay that you're not going out with me, I just have a brain tumor and who knows if you'll get another chance, but that's okay." At any rate, it is a great blessing and relief to know that we don't have to fret and stress over this for now.

TK is doing well on the mish. You can see (usually) weekly updates on the blog we maintain for him at right.

Football is fully underway and all the boys are playing on at least one team and our lives are crazy and hectic and fabulously full of football. And of course we're rising and shouting all over the place - especially last Saturday (here you go UCLA - your first shutout in 83 years, courtesy of BYU and the Mt. West).

Baby girl is dancing several times a week, and has added a hip hop class to the regimen. PS - she loves activity days with the Glad Housewife and has a great time playing with friends here and there, and mostly is excited about going to her brothers games.

The oldest is also doing well, and is on again in his (mostly) on again / off again relationship with Ms. Jess. He told me the other day he'll be going with her to Houston for Thanksgiving. Do I really have a child old enough to be meeting the parents? I suppose I must.

I'll really try to update more regularly moving forward, but that's all the time I have for today.

And Hey Jude - a McDonald's Happy Meal is neither Happy nor a Meal - discuss.

You know it's a bad day...

2008-07-09T13:19:00.003-06:00

When you drive into a restaurant...

Or when your son's doctor calls and let's you know that you need a neuro consult for the lesion/mass in his brain.

And we've been so hoping that the spot on the CT was nothing to worry about, that the MRI would confirm that, and we'd all breathe a happy sigh of relief.

It may be nothing to worry about, but we're worried nonetheless.

Amy Winehouse without the beehive or the baggage

2008-05-13T10:08:00.000-06:00

Lovin' Duffy on Music Monday

Mercy

Syrup and Honey

Warwick Avenue

Rockferry

And a little one shall lead them

2008-05-06T20:10:00.000-06:00

Congrats Ryley! Way to go!

High on Y Mountain Top

2008-05-06T20:07:00.000-06:00

A testimony meeting after a themed hike (the pathway may not be easy, but the destination is worth it) four quick talks along the way, and a fireside provided by a gorgeous setting sun - oh yes, and dear Sister Brenda.

Thank you dear youth for helping me along my path.

Once upon a time in Mexico - part Dos

2008-04-28T10:43:00.006-06:00

Though of course there are many great things about our trip - the most exciting event was making a wrong turn near the border on our way out of the country...

I know. I should have taken a few minutes to review the map and the directions for getting back to the border. I didn't.

I'm still not sure exactly how I missed the sign or the turn or whatever. We were moving along quite nicely, sign after sign pointing to San Diego I5/I805, and then no more signs... I drove on for a few minutes thinking perhaps we were still okay, and then I looked at La Reine, and she looked back, and we both said - "I don't think we're going the right way."

I turned on my cell phone, and called up the GPS and handed the map screen to La Reine who watched for a minute and confirmed that we were definitely not headed in the right direction... Crap.

La Reine's younger brother and his family were with us - in their own van, following along valiantly. (Yes, not only was I losing myself, but others as well.) And we were all headed merrily back into Tijuana toward Otay - another border crossing 30 miles East - not what we wanted for sure.

We radioed back to the inlaws that we were going the wrong way, and that we were going to try to navigate back to the right path, so to stay close!

La Reine was navigating, and indicated that I should take the next exit she thought, and sure enough there was a sign indicating San Diego etc. So I took the turn, and BIL followed along right behind. And right behind him?

A police officer on a motorcycle.

I hear the siren and see the flashing lights.

We pull over and he talks to BIL for a minute, and then pulls up and talks to me. He tells us we were speeding on the exit (limit 45kmh ~20 mph) and that we need to pull up ahead to the side of the road so he can cite us. Crap!

We pull over as indicated. BIL gets out of his car and comes up to meet the cop as he approaches on La Reine's side of the car. We roll her window down, and she begins to cry. The policeman asked where we were headed, we told him we were just trying to make it back to San Diego and the states. He looks at our licenses and registration. He tells us that we're going to have to follow him to the police station so that we can pay our fine, in cash. We ask how much - $1560 each (my heart stops) then he mentions - it's pesos... So a mere $143 dollars per vehicle. I look at BIL and ask if he has that much cash left - no, of course not. I do, but I don't have enough for him, so we ask the policeman if there is a bank near the police station. Of course - we just have to park our cars in the impound lot, and walk a couple of blocks through one of the worst sections of tijuana to the ATM - remove money in broad daylight, and walk back through those couple of blocks to the police station to pay the fine. Or, if we don't have the money, we can see the judge and get some papers that will allow us to pay the fine once we return home. How long will that take I ask - he replies that it depends on the courts. I also infer here that while we wait - it won't be in the lap of luxury - and my wife and children, and BIL's wife and children will be waiting right there with us in the police station - no thanks.

Eventually senor policeman says that maybe, in order to save us time and hassle of course, we could pay just one of the fines, to him, right there, in cash, and he could even take us to the border. At this point - I jump all over that. Hand him $140 american dollars (cervezas y tequilla para usted y para sus amigos!!!), and he proceeds to jump on his bike and ride away... We believe he's left us at this point - but he was waiting at the next corner, and true to his word, led us right to the border.

BIL was mad after the fact. He says, and I agree, that there was no way we were speeding, and we should have fought it... I remind him that you don't fight the police or the judges in Mexico, and that we were lucky to get away as we did.

Adios senor policia!

Once upon a time in Mexico - Part Uno

2008-04-24T10:45:00.006-06:00

For spring break this year we planned a trip to Mexico.

As we prepared for the trip, I remember having feelings of trepidation, after all I was taking my family south of the border way, and I hadn't been there myself for more than 25 years, and I was driving my own car, and I was worried about getting lost, getting run into, going to jail, losing one or more of my children, and similar thoughts galore.

Silly I know, and as it turns out - totally unfounded (or very nearly as you'll hear).

We simply had a marvelous time!

We traveled to Rosarito Beach, Baja CA - roughly 25 miles south of Tijuana and stayed in our timeshare right on the coast.

Some pics:

It was great fun for all of us - I took about 700 pictures, so can't post them all, but I'll continue to post a few more in subsequent updates...

Wait until you hear about how much fun we had finding our way back into the U.S.! (remember that comment about staying out of jail? by the skin of my teeth friends, by the skin of my teeth...)

Improve Anywhere Anyone?

2008-03-18T09:52:00.001-06:00

I wonder if we could stage something around here?

http://improveverywhere.com/2008/03/09/food-court-musical/

Book Tagged by Compulsive Writer

2008-03-18T09:03:00.007-06:00

Compulsive tagged everyone who wanted to play today to participate in the book tag.

The rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Find the 5th sentence.
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog.
5. Tag 5 people.

Here's my line:

"Later researchers concluded that the Dutch word was an import from French, and the entire structure collapsed."

- From "Word Origins ...and how we know them."

The fun thing about this for me is that the quote would have been radically different if I'd been home vs. at work when I ran with this one. Or, more specifically, it would have been different depending on which room of my house I was in. I tend to be a rather voracious reader, and books are scattered all over the house. But the more important question I'm sure you're asking is who reads books like this anyway - I'm a freak, I'll admit it...

Also, please note that I had to use the second closest book, because the first closest book, "Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes" had only 2 sentences on page 123. I was tempted to use the second sentence anyway because it was sweet, reading "There is another existentialist puzzle buried in this cartoon - namely, 'Who the hell do those ducks think they are?'", but I wasn't sure I should cheat like that.

Feel free to take the challenge yourself if you'd like, that's how the fun expands. And thanks CW for the indirect tag.

- jake

If you're happy and you know it...

2008-03-17T09:29:00.006-06:00

On Friday last, La Reine and I were blessed to be able to participate in the sealing of a sweet young woman whom we've known for many, many years (at one time long ago she was the childhood betrothed of our TK, but as we apparently don't have arranged marriages any more, that clearly didn't work out, but I digress).

Elder Joe J. Christensen, emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy was the sealer, and he gave marvelous counsel to all of us there that day. Of course, I took the opportunity to thank him and called him by the wrong name - ouch.

Given my reflection on Elder Christensen, and his wonderfully happy and graceful advice, together with his quick and happy forgiveness of my social ineptness, I quote here from an address he gave which I've always loved. Feel free to take his challenge. I did again, and now I'm smiling.

- jake

"Take a sheet of blank paper and write on it at random those things for which you are most grateful. Write whatever your most important blessings are in whatever order they come to your mind.

After writing the list, on another sheet of paper put those blessings in order of priority. What is your most important blessing? The second most? And so on.

On my list, I had to go down a long way before I came to any blessing that could be bought for money. Our most important blessings are without price. Blessings such as faith, testimony, and family are the kinds of blessings in defense of which, if necessary, we would be willing to give our mortal life.

Of course, chief among all the gifts for which we should be thankful is our Heavenly Father’s gift to us of His Son. As we read in scripture, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The Doctrine and Covenants teaches us that “Jesus Christ your Redeemer … so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God” (D&C 34:1, 3).

Father gave. Jesus gave. And we must give. There is no other blessing for which we should be more grateful than that of being recipients of the blessings that come through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Add all of these blessings to your list. Then, on those days when you may not feel like smiling, take out your list and read it and recognize how blessed you are. You will find it easy to smile and to be of good cheer. You will also find it easier to be grateful."

Just for Fun

2008-03-13T09:27:00.002-06:00

Loved these enough to share...

Debate #1:

Debate #2

Chillin 2

2008-03-06T19:47:00.001-07:00

J&C

Chillin' at MB20

2008-03-06T18:55:00.001-07:00

Q&T

mid-life reflection

2008-03-05T13:42:00.004-07:00

Once again it’s been a while since I’ve written. I’ll confess that I’ve been in a strange state of mind lately. As Ferris Bueller once said – “Life moves pretty fast, If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” It has seemed to me lately that I’ve been less observant than I should be, and I wonder what I’m missing.

Partly I think it’s been that TK is gone, and though we’ve adapted to that in the main, there is still a visceral longing that lurks in the back of my spirit somewhere whenever I see “TK’s” car, or wear one of the ties he left behind. It’s not really a tangible thing, but the feeling of loss lingers. I think we’re all hoping that it’ll be different once he actually leaves Provo, but a big part of me doesn’t want it to be different. In fact, one of the fears he and I share is that somehow through the process of changing and growing he’ll do over the next 22 months, that our relationship will change in a way neither of us wants. On the surface I know this is a baseless fear, but still, aren’t most of our fears rather baseless? Doesn’t make them any less real.

Today SK and CK both left their wallets at home, and SK also needed his knee brace for an alumni wrestling match this afternoon. I’m working in Orem today, so grabbed their forgotten items on my way out the door to work, and drove them down to Provo High at lunch time to drop them off. I swung across the street to Costa Vida to grab some lunch for La Reine and me, and while there saw three of TKs friends in line. I saw them before they saw me and I watched their easy banter and fun – and that darn longing swung back in full force – I missed my boy.

MT was one of the friends there and a young lady in line behind me asked him for a hug – which he readily gave, along with a kiss, whereupon MT looked up and saw me smiling. “Coach” he yelled, “good to see you – how is TK?” I replied that TK was fine, and then I asked MT for a hug… I’ve never done that before, but bless his heart, he came over and wrapped me up, then he looked at me, and said – “but I’m not giving you a kiss”.

I smiled, he smiled, and he moved back over to CC and TN. I looked at these fine young men, themselves preparing to leave to serve the Lord, and I was grateful for them, and for their friendship of TK and of all of our family through many years, but mostly, I was grateful for a hug from a 19 year old young man who could, for a brief moment, stand in the place of TK, and provide an easing of that longing for a few moments.

Enough of that I suppose, perhaps it helps to get it out on "paper"…

This weekend we’ll attend two more farewells for some of our other boys, those friends of TK, and of mine, and I’ll have the opportunity to once again affirm those reasons why we send our sons and daughters out into the world to serve the Lord.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not all melancholy or anything, life if good, most times even great! How could it not be with PHS winning state again this year?

I know, I know – but that’s why it’s called jake rambles, n’est-ce-pas?

- jake

Should you be in Logan this weekend

2008-02-06T14:37:00.000-07:00

And if you're interested in the arts, check out La Reine's cousin Steve at his latest opening.

"Painter Stephen Teuscher is the first artist whose work will be exhibited at the 700 S. Main St. facility. The gallery opening takes place between 6 and 10 p.m. this Friday and the public is invited."

More info here.

Way to go Steve! We're looking forward to seeing you soon.

Broken 2? Are you kidding me?

2008-02-05T20:43:00.001-07:00

SK was ice skating, when all of a sudden he needed to avoid a collision. Next thing he knew, mr. Nose met mrs. Ice.

SK and others at Provo High

2008-02-01T11:52:00.001-07:00

Speak about their feelings on President Hinckley

SK is about 1/2 way through in the blue sweater, and again near the end. "Go forth to serve with honor" indeed!

Broken?

2008-01-28T20:24:00.001-07:00

Not too clear from this picture, perhaps the x-rays will tell us...

The last month

2008-01-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

Has been simply crazy.

Christmas went very well, the New Year - excellent too.

Then the real countdown to sending off TK began. When he would parrot how many days were left, La Reine would tear up and tell him to be quiet, and at times, so would I.

The day prior to his farewell we baptized baby girl - it was a fantastic experience, but quite a milestone - our last to be baptized. It was great to have all the kids there, and we had a fantastic day.

Then on Sunday, TK gave his talk in Sacrament meeting which was excellent, and it was a thrill for me to be his companion speaker, and also to have him stand in the circle as we confirmed his sister a member of the church he was going out to preach.

The after-party (sorry President) was also fantastic.

On Tuesday TK was set apart as a missionary, and received some fantastic council from all members of the new Stake Presidency, and a celestial blessing from Pres. B. - Thanks Pres. B.

On Wednesday we took him to the missionary training center, and shed many tears of happiness and many as a result of the difficulty.

We've already received a letter from him, and he is doing exceptionally well - which helps us do much better too.

For more on TK and his experiences on the mish - check out my newest blog - TK on the Mish.

Since Wednesday, it has felt a bit like recovery from major surgery, but things are returning to a sense of normalcy.

Look for more frequent updates here moving forward, and thanks gentle readers for checking back on occasion.

with love and best wishes

-jake

Twin sons of different mothers

2007-12-16T14:06:00.001-07:00

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

We love you both!

-jake

Boyz in the Hood

2007-12-15T20:08:00.001-07:00

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

-jake

The Christmas Recital

2007-12-15T17:16:00.001-07:00

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

It's a numbers game

2007-12-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-12T20:53:00.001-07:00

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

2007-12-12T14:20:00.001-07:00

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

2007-12-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-28T10:29:00.001-07:00

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

2007-11-19T11:12:00.001-07:00

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

2007-09-19T17:13:00.000-06:00

Popurls is cool...

Couldn't help but pass that along.

Thanks Guy

Word of the Day - A Renaissance

2007-09-10T17:07:00.001-06:00

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

2007-08-28T16:45:00.000-06:00

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

2007-08-08T16:25:00.000-06:00

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

2007-06-20T18:50:00.000-06:00

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

2007-05-16T17:36:00.001-06:00

Goodbye for now.

http://www.karimasonfund.org/

EDIM9: Mothers Day Angst

2007-05-09T10:44:00.000-06:00

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:

And for those of you who appreciate BNL, here's a fun re-make

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

2007-05-08T15:30:00.000-06:00

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

2007-05-04T20:07:00.000-06:00

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

2007-05-03T18:18:00.000-06:00

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

2007-05-02T11:38:00.000-06:00

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

2007-04-16T11:05:00.000-06:00

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

2007-04-16T08:46:00.000-06:00

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

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

Ou est Jonquil?

2007-04-13T16:21:00.000-06:00

Once she was here.

Solid, waiting, the very air redolent with her presence, her essense.
Ojects 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

2007-03-12T17:19:00.000-06:00

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...

2007-03-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

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

2007-01-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

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

ave atque vale

2007-01-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna miss you Art.

How to be creative.

2007-01-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

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

2007-01-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

This commercial used NO special effects or animation.

Suggestion Box

2007-01-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-01-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

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

I felt like Michael Jackson

2006-11-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

Only becuase I had nothing else, and because a) I really laughed, and b) it goes with the daily bread quote. For your viewing pleasure, I give you this:

project status

2006-11-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

"we accidentally destroyed the french satelite and are now at war with france. On a positive note our headcount expenses are trending downward."

It's been a great last many days. I know I promised to post more often, and I will continue to strive to do better. In the meantime, let's see if I might catch you up a bit...

Last Thursday:
Rise and Shout! BYU rocked - 'nuff said.

Last Friday:
TK, SK and I took the day off and traveled to Satan's summer home (aka Rice Eccles Stadium) to watch the state High School 4A semi finals. We had a great time hanging out together, and we saw lots of other PHS fathers and sons there too.

Too bad Box Elder fell apart in the 4th quarter - it was a heart breaker for them, but Highland was able to capitalize and come back to win in overtime 24-21. (It was 21-7 Box Elder at the start of the 4th quarter...)

Timpview D managed to save the team's collective bacon and keep them in it to the end. They held East twice in the redzone, giving Timpview the win 10-7. Provo represents yo. My prediction? Timpview will easily beat Highland in the 'ship this week.

While at the game I also ran in to a friend from high school who was there with his son. It was great to see him and spend 10-15 minutes catching up. He lives across town, but we don't see each other all that often so it's a genuine pleasure when we do. Turns out that SK and his son were good friends when they both attended Farrer in 7th grade, who knew?

Also on Friday TK took off for California with my younger sister. Thursday night my brother-in-law had called and invited TK to attend the USC - Oregon game with him on Saturday night. Meg heard and said "I've been wanting to get out of town anyway, I'll take him down there", so off they went.

Last Saturday
I got somewhat caught-up on all the church responsibilities (I figure I'm only a couple of weeks behind now - whew) and spent a couple of hours at the church with the primary kids (including QK and Baby Girl) as they prepared for the primary program on Sunday. I love being able to watch the practice, and then the real thing to see the difference.

They really come together on Sunday, no matter the stumbles they have on Saturday. The Lord loves and blesses His little ones for sure, and nothing seems to bring the Spirit quite as quickly as hearing them sing and bear testimony.

In the evening La Reine and I went out with friends and had a nice dinner and fab conversation. It was great to get back into the regular dating schedule now that football is over for the year.

TK also called to report on trip status and the game. He thought it was pretty funny to hang with his uncle and his game crew (my brother-in-law is named Troy in honor of USC - their family is fans of USC like we are of BYU, and yet I didn't name any of my kids Cosmo...), and it was made more interesting by the fact that Troy is a fairly recent convert and his crew still parties like it's 1999. At one point Troy's godfather turned to TK and said "boy hold this for a minute", handed TK his cigar (still lit) while he put on his game shirt. TK said that by the end he was getting just a bit overwhelmed by all the cigar smoke and beer fumes, but that it was worth it to sit in the coliseum and watch USC romp the ducks. (As an aside, TK is a huge football fan, his favorite teams are Florida, Oregon, BYU, and way, way down the list, USC... So he had to be a little careful not to accidentally cheer for Oregon)

It was homecoming for USC and so there was lots of stuff to see and do and a veritable plethora of "hot chicks dad". All in all a great time.

Last Sunday:
The Primary program was a highlight, so was spending time with La Reine's family celebrating birthdays.

I'm looking forward to changing church schedule in the new year so that we have more time for extended family activities in the afternoon's and evenings (I average getting home about 6:30 on Sunday night).

Today:
Hope you enjoy Walt Whitman week.

And, as usual, the fam is fab, life is grand, and my heart is full of joy.

warmest regards,

-jake

Get out the vote

2006-11-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Good thing I saw this, I nearly voted for Billy. Or I would have it Utah County polling hadn't been down this morning - aargh. I'm totally doing the early polling next go round.

and because i still haven't finished anything

2006-10-27T14:56:00.000-06:00

here's an interesting exercise.

If you're interested, you may contribute to mine here.

Or should you prefer, you may also choose this anti-version, and contribute to my version of that one here.

Come on - you know you want to. Contribute anonymously and get it out of your system.

-jake

poetry and thoughts worth thinking

2006-10-24T14:33:00.000-06:00

a quick one today.

i do have several draft posts which I hope to finish soon, but i'm curious about your thoughts (bloggers and lurkers alike) on the "pain quotidien" section of the blog. for those of you who don't speak french, "pain quotidien" translates in english to "daily bread". A very literal translation, and not the one used in the scriptures, but that's intentional on my part.

i've been throwing random stuff there that has caught my attention in some way - has it caught yours?

Slide away

2006-10-19T23:04:00.000-06:00

This is totally awesome - have fun.

p.s.

here's a video which shows what you might do with the "toy".

what i did over uea

2006-10-17T12:45:00.000-06:00

last week we made our annual family trip to park city. we used to go to california, but with all the football we live now, that's not really an option anymore, but park city, while no dizneeland, is a great alternative for us.

we stayed at the marriott's mountainside resort, quite a nice little place right at the ski resort, just steps away from the baja cantina and the rocky mountain chocolate factory.

la reine and the 2 youngest spent the whole week up there but came down on tuesday and wednesday for games. after the phs game on wednesday, we all went up for the balance of the week.

i must say it was about the best family vacation that i can remember. a great blend of lounging, exploring, playing, conversing, eating, and just enjoying. T had friends come up for short periods of time here and there, but for the most part we all just hung together and had fun.

i was impressed at how well the kids all got along with one another, at the patience everyone had with each other, and even the work ethic to keep the condo clean when we needed to.

the highlights ranged from having a great time just playing in the pool, playing pool, watching movies, riding the alpine slide & coaster, and the 4 boys riding the "worlds longest zipline", taking the whole fam to dinner at baja cantina, and la reine and i enjoying our first dinner at prime steakhouse - taking advantage of the off-season 2 for 1 entree special, finding a new artist and a specific piece that we're considering (don't worry la reine, i won't just run out and buy it... this time...).

sorry for not posting last week, but even though we had internet connectivity, i found much better things to do.

respectfully,

-jake

p.s. - neglected to mention shopping, see comments for more details, and here's a pic of the bag la reine picked up...

why we believe it

2006-10-06T13:13:00.000-06:00

In President Faust's Priestood session talk he related the following account:

Many spiritual nutrients come while serving on a mission—from being totally involved in the work of the Master. They come from helping people become spiritually awake so that they can accept the gospel. Over a century ago when Elder J. Golden Kimball presided over the Southern States Mission, he called for a meeting of the elders. They were to meet in a secluded spot in the woods so they would have privacy. One of the elders had a problem with one of his legs. It was raw and swollen to at least twice the size of his other leg. But the elder insisted on attending this special priesthood meeting in the woods. So two of the elders carried him to this meeting place.

Elder Kimball asked the missionaries, "Brethren, what are you preaching?"

They said, "We are preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ."

"Are you telling these people that you have the power and authority, through faith, to heal the sick?" he asked.

They said, "Yes."

"Well then," he continued, "why don't you believe it?"

The young man with the swollen leg spoke up and said, "I believe it." Here is the rest of the story told in Elder Kimball's words: "[The elder] sat down on a stump and the elders gathered around him. He was anointed and I administered to him, and he was healed right in their presence. It was quite a shock; and every other elder that was sick was administered to, and they were all healed. We went out of that priesthood meeting and the elders received their appointments, and there was a joy and happiness that cannot be described." Their nutrient of faith had been replenished and their zeal for missionary work revived.

I was in staff meeting this morning when my phone rang. I glanced down and saw that the call was coming from my younger brother. I was prompted to leave the meeting and answer the call, so I stood from the table, excused myself, stepped outside of the room and answered my phone.

On the other end was Matt. I could not at first understand his words through his tears and his broken voice. After a moment or two, he was able to regain sufficient composure to ask if I would be able to come to the hospital and assist him in administering to his newborn son, my newest nephew. He proceeded to tell me that he'd not wanted to disturb me at work, but he'd tried to get ahold of our Dad and had not been successful.

I stepped back into the meeting, asked for everyone's understanding and informed them that I would need to leave to handle a family emergency, gathered my things and dropped them in my office on the way out.

As I drove to the hospital I prayed to the Father to allow his Spirit to be upon us as we prepared to bless this new little one in his hour of need. I prayed for my brother and his wonderful wife. I prayed for their other children, my sweet neice and nephew, who at 4 and 2 were struggling to understand why they couldn't come and see their new little brother or why both Mommy and Daddy had to be away from them. I prayed for myself that I might be ready and able to assist.

When I arrived at the hospital I was pleased to see that our dad had pulled in to the parking lot just before I, and together we met my brother for the walk upstairs. We first went to my sister-in-law's room for a family prayer, and then proceeded down the hall to the nursery for the blessing.

Tears filled our eyes as our Matt placed his hand on the wire covered stomach of his new little Caleb, with my father's hand on his, and mine on both of theirs, he proceeded to pronounce a blessing.

We are at peace in our faith now. We know that the Lord has the ability to make whole those things which are incomplete. I have experienced it many times in my life, as I'm sure you have.

Dear little Caleb Asher, be well and strong and whole. And may the Lord bless each of us to be the same, through the Atonement of His only Begotten, is my constant prayer.

- jake

and everything after

2006-10-02T16:29:00.000-06:00

There are days which call to the soul, questioning the measure, generating a sense of wonder, of looking askance at the living of life to ascertain whether we are fulfilled, happy, and receiving joy.

Today was such a day for me. I think it had something to do with the weather over the weekend which changed today into one of our first true fall days. That, likely coupled with the time spent in conference sessions. Conference is one of those times when I do a lot of self-evaluation against the metrics put forth by the Lord's chosen.

I've found myself more introspective than usual. It's happening more and more lately. La Reine has observed a veritable multiplicity of times over the past few months that I am "in a funk." Mid-life crisis? Nah. Am I planning on walking away from it all? Nah. I suspect that I'm simply being a tad bit selfish and doing a lot of "I wish..."es. But it's just as likely that I'm being prompted to evaluate and make necessary course corrections in order to better align myself to the things I should be doing. This doesn't mean though that I'm unhappy, in fact, it's quite the opposite, and simply likely that I'm paying more attention to the process as I get older I think.

I do know that I'm subtly unhappy at work. I've blogged about that before. That's one of those “I wish...” items. I wish that I were teaching history and literature somewhere rather than playing politics with a bunch of engineers. It gets awfully tiresome being the bad guy enforcer. I've had a few calls about jobs which sound awfully nice over the past few weeks, but they'd all involve either a) tons of travel or b) relocating to another state. I'm simply unwilling to do either. I keep hoping that something local will come up eventually. I remain sure that it will if it should.

My family is gloriously wonderful. This is what it's all about for sure. The I love yous, the games and play, the hugs and kisses, the prayers – all of it is truly grand. In that same vein, my friends are also a true joy to be around. These are the things which build and strengthen the soul.

Pardon the rambling, and thanks for reading.

- jake

waiting for wednesday

2006-09-27T21:13:00.000-06:00

I've been reading a new book entitled "America's Constitution, A Biography" by Akhil Reed Amar, a law professor at Yale university and noted constitutional law expert. I've not made too much progress in the book as yet (I only started it yesterday) but I'm loving it.

I've always been one who believes that it's incumbent on each citizen to have an fine understanding of the law and civil process etc. For those of you who enjoy understanding the constitution, this book is an awesome read. If you don't enjoy it, but you feel compelled to understand more about the history of the constitution, still a great read. I'll plan to summarize and give a review when I've completed the book.

Let me know your thoughts - does this intrigue you as much as it does me?

Lost and Found

2006-09-26T16:22:00.000-06:00

Sorry for not posting yesterday. It's been a pretty hectic last few days.

On Saturday Q had a football bye which was wonderful since we had about a billion other things to do that day, okay, maybe only 10 other things to do.

Started the morning helping T get off on his homecoming date. I remember when these date dances were only dinner and the dance. Now - it's an all day thing. I know they have a blast, but wow - talk about added magnitudes of work and expense - oh well. T doesn't seem to mind at all.

Once he was off (and I'd taken him the football he forgot to take along), I went and picked J up and headed over to my parents house to help with thier move. I spent much of last week helping them prepare for, and then move. We'll miss having them close (they're moving about 35 minutes away to the south of us, and they've been only about 3 minutes away). But we're excited for them to be able to move into their "retirement" home - no steps, all one floor, nice and open, but smaller, so less to clean, smaller yard, smaller town, more relaxed and conducive to retirement-like activities I suppose.

Once we'd helped them get the truck loaded, moved and unloaded, we came back and tried to get our normal Saturday shopping etc. done. Then we helped clean our car until it sparkled inside and out so T could use it for his date (on account of his car is "lame").

Then we met some friends for dinner, which was fab!

Finally made it home for more than a 10 minute stretch at about 9 that night, changed and went out and sat in the hot tub for about an hour just soaking out the tensions and cares of the day - bliss.

Sunday was the standard round of meetings. I really enjoyed testimonies that were shared, the Sunday School lesson, and the portion of the young women's lesson I was in time for.

Yesterday was the funeral of a good friend - a gentleman in our neighborhood who'd lived a full rich life. Participating in his funeral was a great reminder of what's really important in this life, and in the life to come. Thanks Thirl for everything. For your gentility and grace, for somehow enticing every small child you ever met to allow you to "count" their ribs, for sharing your wisdom and the fruits of your labors, and for your example. I'm looking forward to seeing you again. Oh, and did you know it's only 2 months and 29 days until Christmas? I knew you did.

Sir Elton - the recap

2006-09-22T22:37:00.000-06:00

The concert was fantastic. La Reine and I met our friends just up the road a bit at a park and ride where they joined us. We drove up to west valley and had a wonderful dinner. During dinner we talked about our favorite songs, and which songs we thought he'd play, and which we hoped he'd play.

We arrived to find that our "cheap" seats were actually fantastic. We were in the upper concourse, but only about 50-60 feet from the stage with a great view of the piano (on our side) and of Elton the whole time.

And, it turned out that our thoughts on what he'd play and our wish list were not too far off from what he actually wound up playing!

The setlist from Tuesday:
1. Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding (One of B's favs - didn't think he'd play this, but really hoped he would.)
2. Bennie And The Jets (thought he'd play it)
3. Philadelphia Freedom (didn't discuss)
4. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (thought he'd play it)
5. Believe (thought he'd play it)
6. Tiny Dancer (thought he'd play it)
7. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues (thought he'd play it)
8. Take Me To The Pilot (didn't expect this one - loved, loved, loved it - Elton played a 10 minute "intro" which ranged from blues to gospel, to classical, back to blues etc. while his band took a bit of a break off-stage. AWESOME!!!)
9. I Want Love (didn't discuss this one)
10. Someone Saved My Life Tonight (Hoped he'd play - B's other fav)
11. Postcards From Richard Nixon (From the album that released on the same day as the concert - I bought it the next morning, most excellent)
12. Tinderbox (also from the new album)
13. Blues Never Fade Away (also from the new album)
14. The Bridge (Also from the new album - My fav of the new songs)
15. Old '67 (also from the new album)
16. Captain And The Kid (also from the new album)
(Note that Elton "introduced" each new song, and also explained the whole album, which is essentially the companion to the Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.)
17. Mona Lisa's And Mad Hatters (One of my favs, didn't think he'd play it, I was thrilled that he did!)
18. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (Another of my favs, didn't think he'd play it.)
19. Rocket Man (Thought he'd play it)
20. Daniel (didn't discuss it)
21. Levon (thought he'd play it)
22. Crocodile Rock (thought he'd play it, and when this one started this dude 10 seats or so to my left, probably in his 50's, started be-boppin and fist shakin' and singin' along, very fun.)
23. The Bitch Is Back (thought he'd play it)
24. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (didn't discuss this one)
25. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (thought he'd play it)
26. Your Song (thought he'd play it)

We've seen Sir Elton now four times (once with Billy Joel, three times just him) and this was without doubt the best I've ever seen him. The voice was as pure as the early seventies, though he no longer hits the falsettos like he used to. He seemed very connected to the audience and super happy.

The concert lasted about 3 hours total, with no intermission, though there was about a five minute break when everyone, including Elton left the stage - right after "Levon" I think. When Elton came back out onstage, he spent probably 10 minutes moving from one side of the stage to the other signing autographs, smiling and laughing the whole time.

Dear Sir - please come again soon. We've missed you.

- jake