Autism and Education

For those of you are not flowing my autism post, you may not know that my nephew is autistic, along with my oldest brother. Lately my nephew has found my music stand fascinating. My music stand is the kind of stand that can be taken apart for storage, put back together for use. I have shown my nephew once how to put the music stand together, for about an half hour he will take it apart and put it back together, it keeps him entertained. His little brain is a mechanical brain; as in he can figure out things fast, stack things up and have them balance. The fun thing is that what he can make things balance, you'd think it would never work.

Researchers at University in Vancouver believe that autism and schizophrenia are genetic opposites in this article called Study links autism and schizophrenia. I thought that it was far fetched, how? Was my question. The *how* they believe according to Philip Stead and Michael Elliot, is that autism and schizophrenia are caused by anomalies in the same places in the human genome. People with out these disabilities have two copies of this genome, autism disorder has one copy, schizophrenia has multiple copy's. Also read if interested comparative genomics of autism and schizophrenia

One parent comment on this find, suggest that she believes in this study. Is it right or not? I believe that further research and study needs to be conducted. Now, I am not saying that they are wrong or right. With this *find* they hope to have new treatments for autism, and schizophrenia. Like I have said more research needs to be done, before they do anything what so ever. If they can treat autism then what would happen to my nephews mechanical brain; would it be in some degree different, or would he still be able to figure out things just as fast if he was treated?

Interesting articles nevertheless. I'll leave it up to you to decide what to think.

Birthdays

I have been wanting to write this for awhile, but put it off, for personal reasons.

A good friend of mine had her baby boy on the 17. She was afraid that people would forget her new born son's birthday, reasonable it is on the week of *crunch* time preparation for Christmas. This last week of Christmas, as we know is crazy, to say the least. With last minute gifts to get, concerts, parties, goodies to eat/make, plays, and etc. This is what I told her.

It is easy to let this season take away what is important. My birthday is during this month, during the same week of Christmas; this is what I learned over my 30 years, (remember this is my entire 30 year life span, I have learned a lot). I can't boycott the December holidays, (believe me during jr. high and high school, I have tried). I hated telling people when my birthday is,( I have not met one person who has not forgotten, at sometime). I have had to work, finish finales, go Christmas shopping, do secret Santa (loved to do that one. (no sarcasm was attached)), family parties, and etc. In short I hate it it. I have had this weird dream, that on my birthday I would be some place on a worm, white beach. Or rock climbing. I didn't care, both sounded great, just as long it wasn't snowing and, I wasn't shivering.

During one amazing year I have learned something that have helped put things back in to perspective, and all of these years I have tried to keep that perspective. During this particular year I was having a hard time, on top of everything only one person remembered my birthday; my mom, got to love mom's. As the day wore on, a still small voice whispered to me; reminding me that everyone forgets Christ birthday also. I have felt so selfish after that reminder I cried so hard, I had a hard time catching my breath.

I have told what I remembered to my friend and her husband. He told me that he loved that and, will teach his son that same thing. It made him feel better that his son's birthday is on the 17th. So teach the children what this time of year is all about. To borrow the phrase from "The Grinch stole Christmas" ".....maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store." We celebrate the birth of Christ, His role, sacrifice, teachings, and the hope He has brought to this world.

Autism Christmas Poem.

I have totally stole this one from my brothers blog. All I need to say is:

"Welcome to Special needs!"

This poem is perfect on how a parent/care giver feels, all though out the year.

Autism Christmas Poem

Twas the Night Before Christmas
And all through the house

The creatures were stirring
Yes, even the mouse
We tried melatonin

And gave a hot bath
Asleep early for Christmas?
…an unlikely path
The children were finally
All nestled in bed
When visions of Christmas
Ran through my OWN head
Did I get the right gift?
The right color and style?
Would there be a blank stare
Or even, maybe, a smile?
Friends & family come
But they don’t understand
The pleasure he gets
Just from bending his hands.
"Just make him stop it," some say
"Just tell him "no",You must learn to be tough.."
On, and on they do go…
We smile and nod
Because we know deep inside

The debate is moot
Let them all take a side
We know what it’s like
To live with the spectrum
The struggles and triumphs
Achievements, regressions.

But what some don’t know
And what some don’t see

Is the joy that we feel
Over simplicity.
He said "hello"!
He ate something green!
He looked me in my eyes
He did not cause a scene!
He peed on the potty!
(Who cares if he’s ten)

He stopped saying the same thing
Again and again!"
Some others don’t realize
Just how we can cope
How we bravely hang on
At the end of our rope

But what they don’t see
Is the joy we can’t hide

When our children with autism
Make the tiniest stride
We may look at others
Without the problems we face
With envy, with wonder,
Or even distaste.

What we want them to know
What’s important to see

Is that children with autism
Bring simplicity.
We don’t get excited
Over expensive things
We jump for joy
With the progress work brings

Children with autism
Try so hard every day

That they make us proud
More than words can say.
They work even harder
Than you or I
To achieve something small
To reach a star in the sky
So, to those who don’t get it
Or can’t get a clue

Take a walk in our shoes
And I’ll assure you
That even 10 minutes
Into the walk
You’ll look at us all
With respect, even shock.
You will realize
What it is we go through
And the next time you see us
I can assure you
That you won’t say a thing
You’ll be quiet and learn
,Like the years I learned too
When the tables were turned.

-Anonymous

ll Silenzio (Taps)

I got this in my email, and it is absolutely gorgeous. According to the email:

The Trumpeter's name is Melissa Venema while Master Andre Rieu is conducting. In 2008 Maastriecht (sp?) Netherlands, the city officials closed off the town square and closed everything down, for that perfect noise control.


Take a look.

You can leave your religion on the door step. Thank you!

I came back from VT. The woman that I VT is inactive and bitter about the church, and would like it if I would leave my religion on the door step. I have known this inactive sister for quite a long time. About three years ago she and her husband has stopped smoking. I was so proud of them! But over time I would talk to her and her husband, and was appointed to be her visiting teacher. My companion and I are the only ones that she would let in to visit teach her. From time to time I have bean able to tell her of some experiences that I would have with an LDS program called "Special Needs Mutual." She would laugh or be in awe with some of the experiences that I have shared. But never apostolate or teach.

Well I have found some painting's in the December Ensign (pg 39) called "GARDENING IN THE RAIN" By Brian Kershisnik and the other on, (pg 41) call "THE FACE OF NEW ENGLAND" by Robert Duncan. This inactive sister loves art and so I took over the Ensign to show her the incredible paintings. She laughed at "GARDENING IN THE RAIN." She thought that it was cute, so did her husband. But "THE FACE OF NEW ENGLAND" she loved, she couldn't believe that it was a painting. Robert Frost once said:

"Art is anything that moves you."

I didn't apostolate or teach to her, I have only shown her and her husband the paintings in the Ensign. So who said that the Ensign cannot be in every home, in one time or another. They have come so far.

Thanks Giving

This year for Thanksgiving, not everyone will be home. Some of my family members will be with their in-laws, one brother will be in Afghanistan. We still pray for his safe return home. All sorts of people have asked me what my family and I will do this Thanksgiving with one brother in a war zone. "Not all of your family will be their!" My question is:

"What are we supposed to do?"

We cant change the circumstances; we will still have family, not all of us will be there. We are however, still going to calibrate how the Pilgrims survived starvation, and gave us the first building blocks of America. In Plymouth on December 22 1820 they have started a tradition called the "Five Kernels of Corn."I have also found a poem called the Five kernels of Corn

This year we are not going to do the bird. Turkey will still be on the menu. We are going to do something that my family loves. We are going to barbecue (sp?) turkey wrapped in bacon. Very good. I know it is November and we are going to barbecue. :)

Turkey breast
Smoked bacon
grill
kabob skewers

Method:
Cut the Turkey breast into bite size pieces. Cut the Bacon horizontally. Wrap the bacon around the turkey. Put through a Kabob skewer. Place on top of grill cook until done.

All month I have seen and herd people saying how they are thankful, and what they are thankful for. For some it is to sleep in, days off, family, friends, to have a job....still, to have a home to be living in, religion, and etc. Me I am thankful when I hear from my brother, it means of course that he is still alive. So this year this Thanksgiving to me means different then past years.

Rewriting another play

Writers are usually told to rewrite their work, for whatever reason. When it comes to plays it is different. You rewrite to fit the number the cast, the dialog; if it is a musical then it would be the songs, or choreography.

This particular of rewriting will be a play that I co-wrote for special needs. It is a very cute Christmas play called "Back to Bethlehem" It is about a boy who is special needs who want to be a "normal" boy with normal needs. He has given the task to prepare the hay to be made into a soft bead for the baby Jesus, at the end he is blessed. This play was put on by special needs 3 years ago. The way this play is written is so perfect for special needs. After the performance their wasn't a dry face anywhere to be seen. One amazing sister said to me, (her name shall stay anonymous)

"My husband and I went to see "The Savior of the World" last night. This was far more better."

My bishop wanted me to put this play on for the ward. I so didn't want to. This play is so dear to my heart, because it is written for special needs and they did an excellent performance. The question is how can a cast of non special needs put on the same quality of performance, with a very simplistic play and not be insulated, or bored?

So for the past year, yes year........I know. I have been thinking about this, and been putting it off, for reasons that were poor. You know like "I'm too busy." Truth was I just plane didn't want to do it. So now for the past week I have been thinking of how I can rewrite the play "Back to Bethlehem;" make it more of a challenge for the cast, as in something that would be much more interesting for the cast and audience to keep their attention, but keep the integrity of the original simplistic play.

I keep coming back to one truth. Every time we talk about the Savior and His role within our lives, the spirit will always come. So how am I going to do this? I think I have figured it out, and notes have been taken down. I plan to sit down after the Holidays, birthdays, parents anniversary, New Years and start writing. Then it should be ready for when I start directing it.

Conflict, Resolve

Today in the world of literature; typicality there is a conflict and then comes the resolve. We see love triangles, (gag :0), wars, spin offs, the most poplar in LDS chick lit is over coming sin and true love concurs all. But that doesn't happen until the end of the book and it is over and over gain and a gain.......:

"I can't marry you because_______."

Yes, I know annoying. Every time I read such a novel I want to scream.

"GET OVER YOURSELF, AND GROW UP!"

Then I remind myself that it is just a book. Thank heavens. I have notice that Covenant an LDS publisher, have been going through authors like Shakespeare went through charters in his tragedies. Yes he did, within his tragedies you know who ever comes on stage they will die. I could say that the reason why is mostly women will by the books, but that statistic have not been proven. If that statistic is right then, to all LDS authors, keep writing about over coming sin, love concurs all, and love triangles. That formula right now works, as sicking as that is.

Now the world of publishing is changing. Within a blog called "Story tellers unplugged" there is a post by Mur Lafferty. Mur says this in the blog post:

"A growing trend, started by Cory Doctorow, is to release a free PDF of a book when you launch the print version. Some, like Doctorow, release the whole book; others release a number of chapters. Still, it’s the concept of the free sample or teaser that works–check it out for free, if you like it, then buy."

Now most of you who are reading this, are probably are having raised eyebrows. For as long as we can remember, we have ether went to the library and rented books for a month, or we have paid with that hard earned money and bought that book. Why is this? Nathan Bransford found this link. "Advice to Aspiring Novelists: Don't shoot yourself". Thank you Nathan.

I am writing this post, I know that it is unusual for me to write something like this. The conflict is that new aspiring, talented writers are having a hard time getting notice by lit, agents and publishers. The most common response is: "The economy is way too shaky." This is true, publishers don't want to invest in an unknown. It is safer to go with tried and true authors.

So the resolve for new writers is, "think-out-side-the-box." If you want to get notice by a large audience in the world of literature; use the resources you have in your own home at your own desk. I am talking about your computer, utilize the internet, make book trailers, do a PDF format or ebook. So in a way you are self publishing. Something that I never recommend is, don't get desperate enough to go though a self publishing outfit.

So, think out side the box, utilize the internet. It will be interesting to see how the publishing business will grow, and evolve. The question is, are seasoned writers, publishers, technology, and the world ready for this type of "publishing".

Halloween is here, if you didn't know

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a Halloween dance with some special needs that I used to work with. I had so much fun. It was so therapeutic for me. So many questions were fired at me. The most popular was:

"Are you coming back? We missed you."

It broke my hart to say:

"No, I am only visiting."

I was so happy that Russel Hastings remembered my name. It only took him almost a year to put my name and my face together. Note: Russel Hastings is part of the special needs group that he belongs to.

This is Russel Hastings!

It was so much fun, I have so much more photos. We danced, we laughed, we had a live band, and learned new country dances. It was so much fun watching special needs learn something new.

Now because it is Halloween
I have decided to carve this pumpkin. Happy Halloween!!! Stay safe.

Check out this Chili Recipe

First of all I was signed up to do a Chili recipe for my wards social next week. So I have found a chili recipe that called for chocolate. Yes, you have read that right, chocolate. It's good, I think I am getting better of this whole cooking thing. Here it is.

1 pound of ground beef/ground chuck
1 large onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 32 oz of stewed tomatoes
1 29 oz of dark red kidney beans
1 46 Fl oz of spicy hot V8 vegetable juice
2 t. salt
1 t. pepper
1 1/4 t. ground cumin
1/4 t. ground Cayenne pepper
2 t. ground cinnamon
2 sq. semi-sweet baking chocolate

You can use a large Dutch Oven, but I have used a slow cooker
Brown ground chuck/beef, drain. Add onion & Garlic & saute till golden. Drain and rinse the Kidney beans, for thick chili add 2 cans of kidney beans. Add remaining ingredients and simmer on low, uncovered, for at least one hour, or until ready to serve. Best when after you let it set for 24 hours in the fridge
Sprinkle each portion with cheddar cheese if desired. Serves 8

Gardner Village

These are only a small sample of what is at Gardner Village in UT. These are so supper cute.

The one up above is so Margaret Hamilton.
She just needs her monkeys.

Student driver

She is fishing with dynamite, that is the only

way to fish.

The sign says "Baseball Tryouts today"

Christians and Pumpkins

This is a new analogy; Christians are like Pumpkins. I have found this in my email. I have heard that we are all in Noah's boat. This one was new to me, but I like the photo. So here is the analogy:

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff-- including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see. Happy Fall!

Cheers Everyone!

My bout of jealousy

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to watch "Arsenic and Old lace" at a theater. It was very well done, but it was not the same "Arsenic and Old Lace" the I read. This theater did more of the movie version, and not the play, but still very well done.

These actors had 3 weeks of practice as a cast. When it comes to plays and musicals there are 2 types of casts that I love to work with. One is professionals, the other is special needs. The reason is with professionals, and special needs, they do what I tell them. I see the audience perspective, the actors on stage, don't.

The last cast that I directed was not professional or special needs. The result we fraught each other the whole time. My choreographer and I have heard every excuse in the book with this last cast. It was not until I have said:

"Don't question us, we will not make you look stupid, or do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable with."

Then that is when my cast started to trust me, and my choreographer. If the cast members are uncomfortable then the audience will know it, and the odds are that the audience will be uncomfortable also, some will start laughing and others will just feel for the cast member or members.

Why am I writing this? I am just plane jealous of Lee Anderson. The Director of Arsenic and Old Lace. He had a great cast. Yes I did spot some problem areas, but they were very miner, and it just did not matter.

Cheers Everyone!!

Another spin off

Yesterday I went to the library. I cleaned out my bookshelf. I decided to donate books that I haven't cracked opened for years. Did I get rid of my out of print books? Heavens No, parish that thought! However they were books that I did not liked, haven't used, or books I was disappointed with.

While I was at the library I saw another Jane Austen spin off. This time it was Sense & Sensibility & sea monsters. I didn't get it. I mean how can a sea monster have anything to do with S & S. I think that it should be Persuasion & Sea monsters. Persuasion has sea captains as characters, S&S however does not.

I have read enough spin offs, so no, I did not rent this one. Another time, perhaps when I have nothing else to read.

I have found a trailer for Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, enjoy.


I have also found P&P&Zombies.


Cheers everyone!!

My rant!

I woke up this morning and for one brief moment, all was well, I had no worries, it was just another morning. I was in fact thinking about DWTS and who blew me way with their dancing, what to eat, you know stupid every day mundane stuff. Then reality hit me in the head after I had read an article. This article is very inspiring, it was very well written. Saving soldiers from suicide: The army seeks to stamp out stigma, by Kim Reischling. As I read this article I remembered what we as a country are facing. We are fighting what some would call a loosing war,*The war against terror.* As I see it there is no game plan, their never was a game plan. All it was, for our troops; as well for the troops around the world, to go in and fight, and all will be well. All is not well, it never was.

The military within the US is seeing a higher suicide rate then ever before. I am sorry, but I do not know about what other country's suicide rate are, but I assume that other countries have the same problems as the US. There is places to go to get help. Not only the military wants solders to be physically strong but mentally also. How can that be when military troops see more horrors then we at home can ever imagination? Oh sure Hollywood can somewhat recreate/simulate war movies. We watch movies like G.I. Joe, or John Wayne war movies; but we know that the actors who are "killed" will be standing up and walking around in the streets. Holly Wood, is and never was, the same as real life.

Our friends, brother, mothers, fathers, sisters, uncles, aunts, and etc, will always come back different, because of what they have seen, and had to do. My brother is a solider in Afghanistan, our *mighty* leader, refuse to send any more troops into Afghanistan with out a game plan. My question is why put them in their in the first place with out a "game plan"? What the heck was he thinking? We pray for my brothers safety, as well as the safety for other troops who are fighting this idiotic war.

May you all come home safe.

Hot Carrots that bites back.

A couple of weeks ago I helped my mom make Hot Carrots. The original recipe has pearl onion, jalapenos, and cauliflower. Well I went out side and found some nice looking red peppers. I couldn't remember what they were. We have 5 types of peppers and of course they were not labeled. So I took three of these nice red, plump, peppers, cut them up and put them in our hot carrots mixture. After they were made and bottled, ( yes I am learning how to can), all done. My brother told me what the red peppers were. Get this; they are Santa Fe peppers. So not only do I have jalapeno peppers, but also Santa Fe Peppers. Oh yeah you bite into one one of the veggies, they will bite back! They are so good.

SIL Andria, do you want a bottle? They are good!

If interested this is the recipe, ( this is for 18 pints):

2 1/2 Cup of white vinegar
1 Cup of sugar
1/2 Cup of water
3 tabl. canning salt
1 tabl. mustard seed
1 tabl. celery seed
1/4 tsp turmeric

Combine vinegar, sugar, water, salt, mustard seed, celery seed, and turmeric. Bring to a boil.

in separate pan. 40 pearl onions, 24 jalapenos, 4 bags of baby carrots, 2 heads of cauliflower.
For perpetration of the jalapenos make sure you use gloves. ( if desired 3 Santa Fe peppers, cut)
Peel onions, cut jalapenos, and cauliflower into bite sized pieces. Cook veggies in water for 5 min.

Pack veggies into sterile jars fill with vinegar mixture in jars leaving 1/2-inch head space.
Recommended process time for boiling water caner.
Half pints or pints:

• altitudes of 0-1,000 ft. =15 min
• altitudes of 1,000-6,000 ft. =20 min
• altitudes above 6,000 ft =25
  

Cheers Everyone!!!

Finding Hope

A man describes his journey from the tragedy and trauma of 9/11 to hope, healing, and renewal through Jesus Christ.




Thank you Kelsi Simpson for showing this, what a wonderful way to remember 9/11. Finding hope though Christ sacrifice, making Christ and family the center of our lives, comes the healing.

May we never forget.

cheers everyone!

New adventures

I'm totally going out on a limb hear and I am dead scared!! A couple of people have planted a seed in my head. They want me to be an editor, one talented author wants me as his agent, as well as his editor. I have thought about it for a while and tho I am scared out of my wits; I have never thought of myself as doing anything like this. I have also talked to different family members about this; they think that it is a good idea, they are supportive. I still don't think that I am qualified to be an agent, so I am very timid at that idea. I am afraid that I point someone in the wrong direction.

It all started as various people asking my opinion on novels. These people wanted novels that entertains, easy reading, but not something that would make them embarrassed to read. Then different authors wanted my help with their novels. One is very talented. Sorry I cant tell you who, he is just starting out and his novel is still in editing stages.

I have decided to use the contacts that I have to benefit everyone involved. So now I am a freelance editor.

I have lost my muse

I know I haven't written anything. My only excuse is that I have lost my Muse. Oh dear........, pigs still don't have wings. :}

Anyhoo for the last week I have been reading a manuscript for a book, one many different manuscripts. This manuscript was written by a LDS member. He is a very good story teller, but this member as written somethings that I was surprise that this member would even consider writing such things. On top of that another writer asked me if I would help him write his book better. I did not like this book one bit. A sister in my ward knows the dilemma that I am in, her company publish books. She just laughed, only because she runs into this a lot. She knows my pain. We both don't want our names connected to martial that rises eyebrows, and make your hair curl,(in my case straightened my hair).

There are two things that I could only think of:

1- Everything that I do, I have to stand before God and tell him why!

2- The 13th Articles of Faith: "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after things.


For those who are not LDS the two things that I have listed are what all man should do and believe. We try our best, we keep trying to do good. That is all is ask of us.

Cheers Everyone!!!!

Hints come what may!

I keep getting strange hints from my choir director. Ever since she just happen to hear me sing she has made it her life mission to get me to join the choir. This is her latest attempt. She wrote me a note.

CD: "Hollie 11:00 A.M really isn't that early! Come join us.......pleas!"

What I wrote on her FB wall:

Me: " For some reason you keep hinting something at me. But I can't figure it out what it is. I should tell you that I sang to my plant and it got infested with bugs. The bugs killed my plant. So what would my singing do the congregation?"

I can just see it now. I start singing one Sunday and that day will end up as "SciFi meets LDS meetings." The congregation will get infested with bugs. It will be like "The Fly" allover again.

Her FB reply: "I have herd you sing! So get over it and come to choir." :)

It cracked me up, it made my morning.

So to my wards choir director. Thank so much for making my morning.

Cheers Everyone!!!

What a tragic event

Oh no the tragic revelation of this century. BYU is running low on ice cream. The tragic of it all. What will happen to BYU? Will the students revolt and go to the U instead? The U have the life sustaining ice cream that the student needs to keep up with their studies. (evil laugh) hehehehehehehe

:}GO UTE'S

BYU running low on ice cream

Catching up

Ok my summer have been weird. So many things have happen. But last week the hot water heater broke down, there was a flood. The flood was deep enough that you could have sailed your toy boat. Maybe have a race? The blue boat vr. the red boat. If there was a race my money would have been on the red. I still need to rip out the carpet. After trying to drying it out, it is still beyond saving.

Right now there is nothing else to do but laugh. Hope for tomorrow will be better.

"The happiest person is the
person who thinks the most
interesting thoughts"

-Timothy Dwight-

So yes if you are wondering; I'm going around trying to think of "interesting thoughts." heheheh:}

Cheers everyone!!

You know when you are a musician when...................

Ok first off I am an musician. I can play 4 different instruments, sing, and I am proud of it. It did made me to have the label of "music junkie," but that's ok by me. I have read so many; you know you are a _________ when........ So I have decided to lest my own, about being a musician. The reason on how to find out if you are a music junkie.

You know you are a musician when.................

You throw up during American Idol
You cant bear to watch America got Talent
You hate going on vacation because you half to leave your violin, or other instruments. So you take your substitute (ie Ipod,electric violin, keyboard etc)
You listen to the radio and scream HOW DID YOU GET ON?
You analyze music for fun/or it just comes naturally
You find music in every noise
You sing or hum in the shower
You find reasons to *practice* singing or your instrument instead of going on a date
You wounder if the person you are dating is tone def
When the dog is barking you can name the note
You end up composing your own arrangement of songs because you think (oh sorry) KNOW you can do better.
During the movie "Master and Commander, the far Side of the World" You watch the Violin and Cello duet over and over again.
You name your children after classic composers
You hug your instruments when you leave them
You have a bust of Beethoven, Mozart, Paganini, and etc
You have more then one metronome
You have sheet music to fill 3 filing cabinets
You cry when someone else touches your instrument
You have a heart attack when someone touches your instrument's (that is me!)
You hide photos of instruments, if people saw these you are afraid they will think you a freak
Your knees go weak when you see a Stradivarius
After you find out how a Stradivarius is made. You make your life mission to get that driest wood available, only so you can make a violin that sounds just like a Stradivarius.
You learn how to make a violin
You learn how to tune a piano
You tell yourself *Make a Joyful noise it is a prayer unto God*
You stand their perplex when the best singers on American Idol get voted off
You want to throw up when "artist's" give their own interpretation's on show tunes. BLAH!
You relive the time when you sing and played with the 63rd army band (oh yeah that does happen)

Ok I will stop. But you have most likely figured out that I can list more, but that will just solidify the title of music junkie. I hope you have had fun reading this list. And if you can check more then 10 reason's then you are a music junkie as well.

The Purpose of trials.

Within the last seven years my family and I have experience some pretty intense trials. I have jokingly thought that the mirror's that I have accidentally broken wants payment. I don't know why I have been asked to go though these trials. Like I have said they have been intense. My family and I hate talking about our trials. Family, friends, and people in general do not understand, the pain, or the confusion we have experienced. This is the "Readers Digest" version of it. I just hope they don't mind.

One trial was an experience as a family, it was that the loss our home. This was before the economic melt down. Some strange, unexplainable events have happen that have caused this. It had started out that my parents getting sick. They were ok, sick, but ok. Then they lost their jobs, but still they were ok. They had saving, pensions, and promise of a new job, and so on. So they assured that things will be ok. Then I had a back injury. It took this back injury one year for it to heal, it was a muscle injury. So there was nothing to do but let the muscle heal it's own way, in it's own time. So of course I was home to heal. Then trouble started to happen and more trouble's. Savings, pensions was drying up, that promise of a new job was broken. I drained my accounts to help my parents, others have helped also. But in the end it wasn't enough. We have lost our home, respect, friendship's, family, and other acquaintances.

Another is a personal trail. I am still single. The reason is not so clear to me other then I am not married. It is not like I had planed to being single. I would loved to be married, just like any other single. But as it is I'm trying to do the best as I can right now with my life.

A "concerned" family member called me the day after I got home from Idaho. She was not very tactful. During the conversation she asked me how old I am. So of course I told her that I'll be 30 this December. Her response cut me to the core, and she rubbed salt into it. I shoved the phone into my fathers chest, and told him to talk to this family member. I cried for almost 2 hours, and I wrote what my mother would call a Scott's blessing on my facebook page. This family member was way out of line. She had no right to say what she had said, she doesn't understand what I have been going though. Right now my mother and I don't want to talk to this family member. We were both hurt, we don't want to hear any more.

My mother said this:

"I'm sorry that I had raised you to be a free thinker. I should have raised you to paint your nails barbie pink, bleach your hair platinum blond, try on shoes all day long, blow money, and to be stupid. Then maybe you would be married. Not happy but married. But when you do get married you will be happy because you have waited for that amazing guy."

She is right. I don't know why I am asked to go though these intense trials. Now this is in a book called "His Final Hours" by W. Jeffery Marsh. So please consider this:

"Knowing that the trials and afflictions awaited them [the Lords disciples], the Savior blessed his disciples: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27).

"He has promised similar rewards for our placing our trust in him. Even when we do not understand the purpose of a trial, ( as with me being single, loosing my home, family, friends, peoples respect, and etc.), or commandment, we can be confident that following God will always be to our benefit and blessing: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good-yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit, which will enlighten you mind, which shall fill your soul with joy; and then shall ye know,or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive," (D&C 11:12-14) [emphasis added]

I believe that this promised that the Lord give his disciples, also is a promised to us. He knows what trials we are going though and will go though. So my advice to all of you in cyberspace land; put your trust in the Lord he will never lead you astray. Remember what the Lord said to Joseph Smith Jr. "And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and be for thy good." (D&C 122:7)

I am a great admirer of President Benson. He had many trials in his life, he is a great example to me. He was a great disciple of the Lord, he followed his words, did what the Lord told him to do. But his life was not all a "bed of roses." He had many health problems. But he still had great faith in God and His gospel, he still got up every morning and did what needed to be done. He himself may not understand all of his trials and problems but he still had great faith. The result God blessed him for his faith and his obedience. Remember: "All these things shall give us all experience, and be for our good." (D&C 122:7) [emphasis added]

Cheers Everyone!!!

Shoshone Falls

Ok I have more pic's of my vacation. I have also done the last of my packing this morning. I want to go back on the road. Sound fun to me! Anyway I saw my coat. On the arm of my coat, have been melted/burned off. I was waring that coat when that happened. So thank my "lucky stars" that it was my coat and not my arm. The bad side of it is that now I need to buy a new coat for this winter. Oh well, I'm still glad that it was my coat and not my arm.

Going from Craters of the Moon towards Twin Falls. My parents and I passed though, I guess it's a mountain pass. Anyway people have been putting graffiti on the rocks. Come on don't do that, it take a way the natural beauty of the rocks. I rely don't care that L+M. Or that Micheil has been their, or that Lindsey is hot, and ect. You are just a name's and initials to me, nothing more.

I have also saw that people have put graffiti on the rock walls going to Shoshone falls. But without further a due here is the picks of Shoshone falls and the Canyon up above Shoshone falls.





These are just wild flowers. They were at the rest stop going from Utah to Idaho. They are just so pretty.

My strange obsession

I have a strange obsession with rocks. I came from my grandfather Robb, that was his hobby. He also would make jewelry out of Opal, Crystal and others.

So I went to Stanly Idaho, camping. They have this Dredge. It's called Yankee Fork Gold Dredge. This link has pics of Stanly Idaho, the Gold Dredge and two of her ghost towns. Bonanza and Custer. These towns have amazing history.

Here is some amazing history of the ghost town Bonanza. A love triangle. This happened 130 years ago.

Richard King and Anges Elizabeth King. Were are from England. Richard was a Realtor in Bonanza and he died all of the sodden. Their best friend Charles Hawthorne bought the grave plot for 3 people. They buried Richard in the first plot the best friend named started to "court" Elizabeth. They were courting for a year. When this other guy came into town and just swept Elizabeth off of her feet. They were married and 6 days latter they were found in bead shot to death. The best friend was found in Stanly in a remote cabin dead with her locket, with her picture in it, within his hand. Who was the murder? No one knows, it was never solved. In the other 2 plots are Elizabeth and her new husband.

The Gold Dredge would pull up tons, tons and I mean tons of rock and dirt to get to the gold. They would take only a certain size of gold nugget, and spew the other nuggets out on to the ground. So yes their is still "gold in them their hills" but they are only very small grain like sand. To get anything that is worth something you need to dig miles and miles of dirt and rock to get only an ounce of gold. That can take you up to one year?

So I was walking on the piles of dirt and rock that the dredge spewed out, amazingly enough the piles were very stable and it doesn't look like it, but you still need to be careful when walking on them. I have found lots of fossils, crystal, copper, jade, and amethyst.

Get this my mom found the amethyst and I throw it away thinking that it was nothing. So I had to go to the saloon in Custer to buy the amethyst. Go figure! The Saloon in Custer is now a gift shop. No alcohol is sold their at all, no longer. Now I can say that I have been into a Saloon.

So here is some of my pics of the fossils and others.
This is a fossil of some tree/bark. The one on top is a fossil of some Lichen. I have one of a fern also.

This is my Jade rock in the raw. It is very brittle.

This one is a picture rock. But what it is rely I don't know.


This is a desert rose. This is rely a plant. I have seen it growing at the Creators of the Moon. While I was their I got to walk up the side of a Infernal cone volcano. I got mostly all the way up, I stopped only because I had sandals on. I didn't know how I could walk down, I guess I could roll down, but that would hurt. So now I can say that I have walked up the side of a Volcano.

David Garrett breaks violin record

David plays the Bumble Bee by Rimsky Korsakov. He will play it at normal speed, that is pretty fast by it's self but then he will seed it up. You need to see this for yourself.

Check it out

You may have seen this but; I have never have before this morning.

This is worth looking at.


This is called the ultimate wedding dance.


Cheers Everyone!!!

Where has the time gone

I know it has been almost a week since my last post. But a lot have been going on. My friend, my cat died Sunday morning. I know he is just a cat but he was my friend. I'm still trying to get use to having him gone.

I'm getting ready for a trip. And on top of all of this I'm also getting ready for a family reunion. I'll be ready for a vacation after my trip:}

I sent a care package of to my brother who is in Afghanistan. He said that he got their safely but the internet connection is not very good. He said this about Afghanistan, this is great:

"Afghanistan, looks just like Utah. I went half way around the world just to see home. What's up with that?"

So if you just want to see what Afghanistan looks like just come to Utah. If you live in Utah, well now you know what Afghanistan looks like and you don't need to go there to see it.

Cheers Everyone!!!

Bach

Dude I have so found my piano. Ok so in reality, it's just a dream that one day I'll have this piano. I mean this is so awesome!!! I guess that is why they call it a dream. Thanks JoAnn for showing this.

The impossible piggy backflip/ Up date

I don't know if any of you have seen this but all I can say is holy cow!





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Up date.
Yesterday I played my violin in church. Now I was not very confidant in some places in the song. But as my mother would always say:

"If you start together and end together, you are good. No one else knows what the song sound like."

She is right to a point. Another thing is that I don't know how it would sound I mean I was also playing with an organ, along with a piano. I have never done that before. But the good thing is that a lot of people was telling me that they loved the song, all three of us has done such a fabulous job.

Cheers Everyone!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well this book well make Jane Austen role around in her grave like a cat in a dryer. But it is still a good book to read. Seth Grahame-Smith makes fun the prized book.

View all my reviews.

Wow what to say about this book. It is so absurdly weird that I just couldn't help but like it.
The book cover had been voted as one of the best cover. This book has everything from ninjas, cannibalism, swordfights, romance, heartbreak, adultery, even illustrations inside the book.

This book is still Pride and Prejudice an all it's glory, Seth just added a lot to the story. You know I have wondered if Seth have herd from many women that they want to have someone like Darcy, and how much they loved Pride and Prejudice. So taking revenge on poor Jane Austen he wrote this book. I don't know it is just speculation.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."

• Bingley: the same as ever. Sometimes I have always wondered if he cant do anything with out Darcys OK, its like he cant function without Darcy. He is also not a very good fighter.
  
• Darcy: more delicious within this book. He has more whit. He fights Wickham, and leaves him bedridden. Still saves Lydia in his own way. Fights the Zombies with Elizabeth. Has his heart broken. Fights Elizabeth. Marries her.
  
• Miss Bingley: never understood her character. I mean she is after Darcy but she is so dimwitted that she cant see that he barley puts up with her. (I so wanted to have her become a Zombie.) She has no function.
  
• Mr & Mrs. Hurst: Same thing never understood their roles.
  
• Jane: loves Bingley, don't know why but she does. Fights zombies. Knows Kong Foo Has her heartbroken.
• Charlotte Lucas/Collins: Turns into Zombie very slowly. Marries Mr. Collins. Her head get cut off by Lady Catherine.
• Mr Collins: Still a disgusting, annoying, stupid, dork. Marries Charlotte Lucas. never notices that Charlotte turns into a Zombie. Commits suicide, over Charlotte's death.
  
• Elizabeth: Still the same as she was. Knows Kong Foo. She fights Darcy. Falls in love with him, marries him. She fights zombies, lady Catherine, and ninjas and disembowels the ninjas.
• Lydia: the same as ever but knows Kong Foo
  
• Mary: same as ever but knows Kong Foo
• Kitty: Same as ever but knows Kong Foo
• Lady Catherine: Stupid, gets used much as ever. She is a ninja so to speak. She has a legion of ninjas at her disposal.
• Miss Darcy: shy as ever but studding under Elizabeth.
  

Here is some lines in the book:

"Mr. Darcy watched Elizabeth and her sister work their way outward, beheading zombie after zombie as the went."

"Elizabeth lifted her skirt, disregarding modesty, and delivered a swift kick to the creature's head."

"The Creatures were crawling on their hands and knees, biting into ripe heads of cauliflower, which they had mistaken for stray brains."

Late spring cleaning

Today I spent 5 hours cleaning the rug. I had to get out red punch, grape juice, syrup, applesauce, and other unknown stains. Bonus the rug looks and smells better, and the stains are gone.

The funny thing about this is that Jonathan my nephew loves coming down and feeling the wet carpet. He will step off the wet rug, stare at it and then jump back on it, laughing. I'm glad that someone likes the carpet wet.

I don't think that it will stay clean for long. So I just enjoy it while it is clean. So how about this?

• You are such a good clean carpet.
• You smell so nice!
• You look better without the stains!

Is that enjoyment enough? HAHAH! I'm so tired.

Rain, when it comes it pours.

Hilfe! Ich bin Ertrinken. Es müssen alle Regen, Utah wird in letzter Zeit. Ich meine auf jeden Fall bin ich nicht auf eine Geschenk Pferd in den Mund genommen. Hören Sie in Utah sind wir die zweite trockensten stat in dem Land, so bin ich mit Genugtuung über den Regen. Aber ich muss sagen, dass, wenn die Luftfeuchtigkeit wird mehr als 15% meiner Kollegen Utahan und ich denke, wir werden subtropic.

Aber trotz aller noch, dass ich ertrinken. Ich bin im Rahmen eines viel Stress. Ich jetzt, dass mein Bischof hat mir gestern ein Segen. Vielen Dank, Gott hat geholfen. Es hilft mir zu merken, dass Gott in und Er liebt uns sehr. Das geht so weit, er ist sich bewusst, von uns.

Ich habe eine harte Zeit im Moment. Ich fragen mich

"Was bin ich bereit, den für den Aufbau des Reiches des Herrn?"

Ich habe bereits meine Heimat, das Ansehen, Arbeit, Freunde und Familie. Die letzten 5 Jahren wurden brutal auf mich und meine Familie. Manchmal, wenn ich meine Gebete wounder ist in Gottes Ohr.

Cheers Everyone!!!

Don't by Pepsi in the new Can

Don't buy Pepsi in the new can. Pepsi has a new 'patriotic' can
coming out with pictures of the Empire State Building , and the
Pledge of Allegiance on them.
However, Pepsi left out two little words on the pledge,
'Under God.'
Pepsi said they didn't want to offend anyone. In that case, we don't
want to offend anyone at the Pepsi corporate office, either!
So if we don't buy any Pepsi products, they will not be offended
when they don't receive our money that has the words
'In God We Trust' on it

Well this goes to show that we are so worried about offending others that we are starting to offend ourselves.

Cheers Everyone!!!

Oh yeah I forgot (sorry) but the Pepsi thing is false. But not my commentary under it. I still believe that we are starting to offend ourselves.

Wow! How true

Amen!

Cheers Everyone!!!!

Blog

Ok I've shocked up the blog today! I've deleted somethings, and added somethings.


Things went not so smooth, it took me all day to do it. Mostly because I had lots of interruptions. Sheesh, yeah I don't very much like interruptions, they get annoying after a while.


Cheers Everyone!!!

Baby watch & Early intervention

I have heard a lot of misconceptions about autism. I have hard some that are um.............out there, like:

• autism can come on later in life, like cancer.
  
• Then the popular misconception that autism is cause by the MMR shots.
  

The disorder is indeed genetic.

The questions is, how do we know that a child has autism? As a parent you can do what is called "Baby watch." This is easy enough and you can do this watch when the new born is about 3 day's old. What you do is you watch your new born while you are talking to him or her. If your new born can focus on your face/eyes then that is a good indication that the child in question is autism free. If the child cannot focus on your face/eyes, then I would recommend to have the child tested.

Not only test for the disorder but also test for an allergy to gluten and calcium. The reason why is autism is now overly diagnose. If the child in question has an allergy to gluten and calcium then the child will exhibit systems as if it were autism, if the allergy is consume. How this happens is that the allergy creates an chemical reaction within the body, as a result it will make the child appear as if he or she has autism. If the child is allergic to gluten and calcium then of course take it out of the diet.

Autism is on the rise. The question is why? With in the past "experts" thought that the disorder was caused because the person is overly sexed. So the "experts" would castrate them if they were male. If female they would just give a full hysterectomy, then put both the male and the female into locked separate cages. Or they would be killed.

In France back about 250 years ago they have found a girl who they called the chicken girl. This girl was locked up within the same cage as the chickens. She acted just like the chickens who she was around night and day. Now remember this event was before they have found out what autism was; there was not a diagnose if this girl had autism or not. But today as doctors and sociologist have studied this "chicken girl's" case the more they are convinced she had autism. She is the classic example of what people would do if their child who had autism.

The reason for this to happen is that people did not know what autism was. They didn't understand how to help their child. They may have thought that they were consumed by the devil. So the distraught parents did what they thought was best. They would put them into institutes, where they would be abused unto the point of death. Or they would just be locked up in cages after the doctors would perform the surgeries. When this was done the gene pool of the disorder was somewhat contained.

So how can a parent help their child who has autism? There are schools for autistic children. The sad thing is that some parents cannot afford the $28,000 or more a year to put their child in school, every year. So some parents have been thinking out side the box; so they can effectively help their child. One possible solution is parents, caregivers, and teachers needs to be trained to teach a child who has autism. What it is, how it is came to be, how to create a successful routine. The teachers in public schools will know how to reach and teach the child successfully. So the abuse of the child in schools will stop, so will the accidental death.

If there is any other solution that you can think of please let me or Jeremy Robb know at his blog. We are open to ideas.

Cheers Everyone!!!

Sick! Come what may.

You know the funny thing about having a sinus infection, (or any other ailment), is that "they" tell you to get plenty of rest. So while resting up all day, your up all night. Go figure.

Yes, I have even skipped church. I didn't have the energy after the shower. So while I'm at home I thought I might as well be productive. I thought I'll try and make much needed banana nut bread. HAHAHAh that didn't work out. It's not that I'm a bad cook, but because I have ran out of steam fast. So I thought that I would take an arrangement that I wrote for the clarinet called "Come thou Fount of Every Blessing" and tweak it a little. Again hahaha that did not work.

So what is next? Of course is sleep, I was up all night. Now because I'll be sleeping during the day I'll be up all night again. The cycle never ends.

Cheers Everyone!!

My new toy

I have downloaded a new toy. Song writer by Finale. I'm having so much fun. So yes I'm making arrangements for my violin. I'm so tired of playing other peoples arrangements that I swear they have no idea how to play the violin. So they just put notes on the page and call it a "violin arrangement", believe me it turns out bad. It's like me trying to make an arrangement for the percussion, a bunch of interments that I have no idea how to play. So for me to try and write anything would be a huge blunder.

So yesterday I made an arrangement of Kolob for my violin, no piano accompaniment it sounds cool. I also took an old arrangement that was written for SATB, piano, and violin, called "The First Noel-Canon in D". I just put the violin solo on a page by it self. This arrangement was written back in 1996. It sounds amazing, Linda Wagner along with my Mother figured it out the arrangement. It's completely original and sorry you cant buy it or download it. I may however figure out how to make a page and put all the arrangements on line to so people can download them if they want them. However if I decide this it will take me a while to figure it all out, I also need to copyright everything, that is a must.

Cheers Everyone!!

Philological discussions

Get this the Jack who is the second councilor to my bishop told me:

Jack: "I'm going to come over one of these days, so I can hear your family's philological discussions."

Me: "When you do come over we will discuss the history of shoelaces, maybe it will be pond scum. We haven't had any of these 'discussions' after we have heard that you want to hear our strange 'discussions'."

I didn't think that we are that interesting. All this time I thought that my family and I are boring. Who knew!!!

Cheers Everyone!!

A Kitten named Bella

SIL Andria got a kitten for her boys. Guess where that kitten is right now!

In my bathroom!

I put here in there because of an adult male cat nicked named "His Highness". Yep he has me trained, (go figure). I'm allergic to cats, and this little kitten loves to coddle so she is very social. I will only have her for only a couple more days. My SIL is getting her house ready before she moves in. After she is done with that and is moved in, she is taking the kitten Bella with her, (she is a Twilight fan). My nephews loves their new kitten. They cant wait to take her home for good.

Yeah I know, I'm allergic to cats and yet I have one.

You know the different between dogs and cats right? Don't think of the obvious.

Dogs have owners.
Cats have a staff.

Cheers Everyone!

Reading

I was reading another fluffy romance book. Why? I don't know, I don't even like them. But thanks to my nephew Andrew he lost my spot. I'm trying to decide if that is a good thing or not. It was easy reading but boring.


Wow, to day I was on the freeway going home, and almost a car accident happened. Yeah I watched it. The cars in question were in front of me. Thank heavens for defensive driving. On top of that I was turning on to 7200 coming of off 21 so. Their was a car accident It just happen because the police were not there yet. I didn't see this one.

Everyone watch where you are going and be courteous on the roads, it's not that hard. Stop the rad rage and drive carefully.

Cheers Everyone!

The great Popsicle debate

My nephews Daniel and Andrew are trying to convince me that having a Popsicle will make them settle down. This is how it went.

Andrew:"After you feed Nathan, will you give us a Popsicle?"(Nathan is Daniel's and Andrew's baby brother).

Me:"You too are running around and screaming enough. Do you think that having a Popsicle will make you settle down?"

Both:"Yeah!"

Of course that will be their answer. I wasn't expecting anything less. I know they don't have a very strong case. But between too brothers who are 4 & 3 that is the best defense they can come up with.

I'll give in and give them one.

Cheers Everyone!

Label: Freakish toothbrusher

Monday night a friend of mine and I were talking, we were at her in-laws and she called me a "Freakish toothbrusher." It took me a little bit to figure out what she meant. Mostly because I was on a sugar shock, so my mind was............................out there a little bit.

So I stared laughing at that label. I thought that it was hilarious, (I think mostly I was laughing because of the sugar shock, and all I had was one Cream Soda! I promise.). She looked at me with wide eyes that was all mirth, and said:

My friend: "You are! You brush your teeth every time after you eat! You are a freakish toothbrusher!"
Me: "I know, I jest had something to eat and my tongue keeps feeling my teeth! Years ago My dad got smart, he bought me an electric tooth brush, so I would stop brushing my teeth so hard! It works I don't brush as hard!"

To all of you reading this blog. I'm so sorry but all this time you have been reading the thoughts of a "Freakish toothbrusher."

Cheers Everyone!

Weekned

Still looking for a good place to take a vacation. I need one it has been almost 2.5 years!

I'm looking at camping, somewhere in the states. A friend of mine came back from Lake Powell. She said that it was nice and beautiful. It would be the lake is up.

My parents want to go. But they never pass up a chance to go camping. The problem is that my Father has a C-Pack. I told him that he needs to get a battery powered generator, solar power would be even better. So he has been looking.

But I have basically left it up to them. I don't care where we go. I just need to have a vacation.

Utah atrist combines 2 songs to make YouTube Magic

This is amazing. You may have seen this already but I liked it.

Enjoy!




Cheers Everyone!

Worm

Yesterday I've downloaded a piece from Bach. Violin Concerto in D minor. Well little be known to me, there was a worm stuck to the download. Who know that Bach would come with a worm? I guess he would, I mean he is decomposing. Yes I know very bad pun.

So all day yesterday the computer was being reformatted, to get rid of the worm. Everything was of course lost. On the bright side, the computer works better.

Cheers Everyone!!

Worlds of the Crystal Moon

Crystal Moon by Phillip E. Jones

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
If you take Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Xanth, and Fableheaven, put them together you have this book.

In introduction:

Sam Goodrich, a strong, friendly, dark-haired man with brown eyes, lowered himself to the edge of the bed. He couldn't grasp everything he had just heard. It all weighed on his heart, suffocating his every thought. Even though he was brilliant-studying with some of the best scholars on Earth and surpassing even their Knowledge-he now felt lost, struggling to stay focused.

"How could Earth possibly be destroyed?" he thought. Everything he loved, everything he had worked to build was gone. His family, his friends, and anything he identified with on longer existed.

Insanity rushed in to take control of him. But the firm , gentle and every-so -powerful hands of a god reached out to touch his head and slowly Sam drifted off to sleep.

"Rest My Child, Rest!"

View all my reviews.

You must read all of the forwards, to understand the book. He writes his own mythology, and his own rules a bout the gods, and the worlds they govern.

I get the feeling that the author is Christan, LDS? I don't think so, unless he has some double standard issues. Like I have said before I would not let a 13 year old read this book. this book has lots of violence in it like Lord of the Rings (movie version). This book has mythology in it, like the Greek gods loves to meddle into people lives just for there own amusement, the gods in this book reminds me of Narnia as in animal's are gods also. Like Xanth quest time, to save the worlds or get what they want, in this book "power". Like Fablehaven, Xanth, Narnia it has tons of creatures.

I also had a hard time to discern who is rely good. I felt like the line between good and evil wasn't always clearly drawn. It was very slow, easy reading but very slow story, lots of innuendos that I think didn't need to be in the book if this book was for 13 year old to read. I do think that I would let a 16 year old read it, but I would not make them. It does have bedroom scenes in it but tastefully done, it didn't spell things out, thank heaven. But I don't think that it needed to be there, these scenes did not add to the story, they did not need to be in there.

This suggestion is to parents:

Read this book yourself and then decide for yourself if you think your 13 year old can handle this. You know what I think. But I do think that parents have a responsibility to their children, I know that I'm not a parent, although I'm a second mother to my nephews. I would never let them read this book until they are a least 16 years old.

Have a happy Memorial Day!

Cheers Everyone!!

Research

As some of you know I have been writing a musical about pre Utah, so of course that is Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers. Now if you don't mind I'm going to write a little bit about Utah's history. This is fascinating stuff.

In short the Salt Lake Valley was barren, barren, barren. I think that the only thing that grew here was Brine Shrimp and Sagebrush, along with wild Snap Dragons, and other obnoxious weeds. No one wanted this land, not even the Native Americans. There have been reports from people saying that:

"The Mormons will be lucky if they can grow wheat and corn."

How about this quote by Jim Brigder:

" It was imprudent to bring a large population into the Great Basin until they were sure grain could be grown"

The mountain man's pessimism was such that he offered a $1,000 for the first ear of corn raised in the valley "or the Utah Outlet" (which the Mormons would name the Jordan River). Here is a quote from Brigham Young about this land:

"Until the Latter-day Saint's came here, not a person among all the mountaineers and those who had traveled here, so far as we could learn, believed that an ear of corn would ripen in these valleys. We know that corn and wheat produce abundantly here, and we know that we have an excellent region wherein to rise cattle, horse, and every other kind of domestic animal that we need.......There never has been a land, from the days of Adam until now, that has been blessed more than this land has been blessed by our Farther in Heaven; and it will still be blessed more and more, if we are faithful and humble and thankful to God for the wheat and the corn, the oats, and the fruit, vegetables, the cattle a and everything he bestows upon us, and try to use them for the building up of his Kingdom on the earth." (DBY, pg 483-485)

You see if this Salt Lake Valley was so dry and barren that people believe that nothing could grow here, it would need to blessed by God. And it still is!

Brigham young also said this:

"We have faith, we live by faith; we came to these mountains by faith. We came here, I often say, though to the ears of some the expression my sound rather rude, naked and barefoot, and comparatively this is true." (DBY, pg 481)

This has been seriously fascinating. A long cry from the traditional stories we are told; and yet still the same, but told in a different way. I am however going to try and keep this musical as historically correct as possible. So yes I will need to do much more research, and this will take a lot of time.

Cheers Everyone!!

Seth's up date

Hi everyone I'm doing a much needed up date for my brother Seth.

He is in Indiana for training before he goes off to Afghanistan. He says that it rains a lot there. He is taking Pashtu lessons. That is the language of the Pashtun (sp?) people. From what I gather on what he said, the army learned this language from the MTC (missionary training center). But knowing the army they didn't learn much. So this should be an interesting experience for him and wish him all the luck.

I had no idea who or what the Pashtun people are or where they come from. No offence to any of the Pashtun people. So I googled them. This is what I found out Pashtuns of Afghanistan

Cheers everyone!

Nephews

Mine are so funny. I 'll tell them to wash their faces. To them that is code for, you need to soak your hair down with water. I guess I was speaking some language that is only known to them. I don't know.

We are now stuck in a oven. It's summer time! Bring on the Root beer floats!

Cheers everyone!

Music

OK I did a new musiclist for summer. I have a strange list, everything from Beethoven-Rachmaninoff-Beach boys-Muppet-The monkeys-Jerry Lewis-Frank Sinatra-Judy Garland-Gene Kelly- and so on. Check it out.

I know it's strange. Classical I had to put on there, with the some nerdy stuff, and others that are considered as classic.

Have fun!

Awesome news/Review of Star Trek

I am an aunt again!!!!! Ok I'm not related to them but I have been their friend for over 13 years. So by all counts I'm an aunt. Char had her baby this morning at 2:58 little Ian is 7lb 11oz. I'm so happy for them. Al is on cloud 9. They are going to make the cutest parents!

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Ok last night I broke down and watched Star Trek. It was worth my time, and money. I thought that it was funny, I laughed all though it. I have never thought of myself as a die hard Star Trek fan, but enough to not expect a lot from this movie and hoping that it would not be bad. It was such a surprise for me. After the movie people in the movie theater were clapping, they are very impressed.

The directing, writing, special effects, and computer graphics were good. A long ways from a humble set in a garage. Yes my dear Star Trek fans. The T.V show started in a garage. You know the phrase:

"The sky's the limit."

I also saw the trailer for G.I Joe. It looked like the trailer gave a way the movie. So I don't need to see it now, I feel like I just have.

Friday

It's Friday! In three more hours it will be the weekend for me!!! I am doing my weekend happy dance!

This weekend I'm going to go and see Star Trek, maybe. I have been thinking about waiting until it comes out for rent. I don't want to leave the theater feeling "I have spent this X-amount of money to see this. What a wast." I have thought of that same thing with the latest X.Man, as well as other movies.

I know that a lot of die hard Star Trek fans loved the movie, and gave it great reviews. But I have read and herd others said that it didn't exceed to their expectations.

So should I? Or shouldn't I? You and I will find out soon enough.

Cheers everyone!

The Princess and the Bear

The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars



View all my reviews.


This book had some of the elements of a Germanic fairytale. No surprising, the author has a PHD. in Germanic literature. But still lacking the true Germanic tale. All of the Germanic tale's that I have read are well hmmmm............scary for little kids. Like for when the parents want their son or daughter to stop sucking there thumb. They would tell the tale of a boy who would not stop sucking his thumb and then with gigantic scissors his thumbs were cut off. Here is a picture of the book These tales were written by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in 1845. These tales were design to make the children behave, as sick as they are.

I still had a hard time reading this,(The Princess and the Bear). It is easy reading but still, it was too out there for me. Like for example dead bodies coming to life by the "magic" of animals. One good thing is that the two books that I have read of his are nothing like this German book of tales.

The future of dating

I have been thinking. My head has not explode yet. So I thought that it was safe to do so.

It was about the dating game. The pattern goes with dating that approximately every 10-15 years the seen of dating have changed. Not dramatically of course, but still have changed.

There were arranged marriages. Then the dating seen was dances/parties, under the close supervision of your parents. Then it was close supervision under your parents if you wanted to go for a walk, or a picnic.

These last still happen to day. School dances, parents were not aloud, but still chaperons where there and strict rules were observed. Group dating were all ways advised. Then came the bar seen, going dutch with no chaperons. Single dating, again no chaperons. Now we almost went full circle we are back to group parties, but the slang for it now is called "hanging out". Playing games, watching movies with a lot of people, that sort of thing. All of this with no chaperons.

So what is next? Texting is the new rage. People do it all of the time. So will that replace the traditional dating? The going to dinner, seeing a movie, hanging out, looking at each other face to face with that goofy look. What will the next generation of dating become?

Or are we going to go back full circle, to arranged marriages? As horrifying sounds, it maybe one solution. Singles will get married, with some it will be finely get married. I can't help thinking of Tevye asking Golde if she loved him. Of course the bad side will be divorce will be up.

So why are singles staying single longer? Are women becoming to imitating for men? I know various men have told me that I was imitating. Their reason was that I was too smart. So is that it, women are becoming too smart for men, so they are scared of us?

Sunday the day of confrontations.

Ok the choir director in my ward confronted me, this is how our conversation went.

C.D: "Hollie what do I need to do to get you to come to choir? If I need to tap dance on your door steep, I'll do what I ever it takes. "

Me: "Hmmmm a pregnant woman tap dancing on my door step? No I would feel so bad if you did that." ( can you imagine the mental picture I got? I felt bad, just thinking about that.)

C.D "What do I need to do. Choir starts at 11:00 A.M! How much later does to need to be?"

Me: "Well I have developed this habit. My time is from about 11:00 P.M to about 3:00 A.M. That is when I'll read, watch movies, things like that. So I don't wake up until 11:00."

C.D: (all the while laughing) "that's fine if I need to wait until church next year is at 9:00 A.M and choir will be after church. I'll do that! What ever it takes. "

One hour later my bishop and his second councilor found me in the hall way. Now you know it is bad when the bishop corners you. But when you do see not only your bishop, but one of his councilor's walking to corner you with the same expression on their faces; your life flashes before your eyes looking for some grievous sin that you have not repent of yet. I couldn't think of anything, so I was dead nervous that I had forgotten something.

They both asked me if I would speak in church. I about laughed out loud hysterically, just out of pure relief . This is how the conversation with the three of us went:

B:" We would like you to talk in sacrament on a topic that I know that you will be very good at."

Me: " Oh you mean on how to be bossy?"
(they both laughed)

SC: "You would love that wouldn't you?"

B: "No, but I'm sure you would be good at that. The topic is 'Being good to your fellowmen and Charity', the two are connected." ( yet they are. Read the article by Elder Marvin J. Ashton. "The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword.")

Me: "yes they are."

SC: "She is good, she got it faster then I got it. I had to think about it."

Me: "I gave a lesson on this topic in Relief Society while I was attending the singles ward."

B: "Yes he did had to think about it. I knew she would be good for this. Now all you need to do is take out your notes, and you have it all done."

Me: "No I don't have my notes any longer. When I moved I had to throw things away. It's called cleaning things out."

There is more to the conversation but I won't tell it. But the moral to this story is...........Don't throw out your old lesson's or talks. You might need them one day. My problem is that I'm not a exactly a pack rat. Or become inactive? Nah, I'll stay active. Will I still do the talk? I don't know, I can still say no.

Cheers everyone!!

Stupid printer!

You know sometimes I think that technology is the biggest oxymoron in the world. It is here to make our lives easier/better and the dang thing's stop working in the most inopportune times. What's up with that?





Cheers everyone!!