My thoughts and philosophies

Ginger and Pineapple Chicken

2011-12-22T10:42:00.004-07:00

I've been telling people that I'll put this up on the blog for a long time. I just finally have time. This is really good, my parents loved it.

4 boneless chicken breast
2 cans of chunky pineapple
1 tablespoon of ginger or more depending of taste
3 cups of rice brown or white (I use brown)
a pinch of Frenches Onion

Method:

Combine the chicken, the juice of the pineapple and ginger. Place the pineapple chunks in a bowl. Cook the chicken in a skillet or Dutch oven until the meat thermometer reaches 160-170 degrees. Cook the rice use the directions on the box of the rice. When the chicken is done, cut up length wise, bite size if serving to children.

Put about 2 tablespoons of rice on a dinner plate. On top of rice place cut up chicken. On top of chicken put 2 tablespoons of pineapple. Than sprinkle a pinch of Frenches Onion. Place on some fresh carrots, peas, etc as a side dish, then serve for dinner. Enjoy!

Cheers Everyone!

Homemade Totally Nuts

2011-11-27T18:32:00.002-07:00

I was happy when I have found this recipe on the net. My mom and I did a slightly different variation on this recipe. The original recipe is this:

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 cup hot water
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups whole toasted almonds.

Preparation: Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
In a small saucepan, combine the water, cinnamon, sugar, and cream of tartar over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 246 degrees on a candy thermometer.
Once the mixture is at the proper temperature, remove immediately from the heat and stir in the Vanilla. Add the nuts all at once, and stir with a wooden spoon until they are completely coated with the sugar mixture. Continue to stir until it becomes difficult to stir and the syrup turns opaque.
Quickly turn out onto the prepared baking sheet. Separate the nuts and allow them to cool and harden at room temperature. Nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several weeks.

Ok, so that is the original recipe. As my mom and I found out we can and needed to do somethings different. This is our recipe:

1 cup of granulated sugar
1 and 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon OR 1 and 1/2 tsp of ground cloves
1/8 tsp of cream of tartar
1/4 cup of hot water
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 cup of whole raw almonds

Preparation:

Baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. (the aluminum foil ripped and bits of foil was sticking to the almonds. So I got rid of the foil)
In a small saucepan, combine the water, cinnamon/cloves, sugar, and cream of tarter over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 246 degrees on a candy thermometer.
Once the candy is at the proper temperature, remove immediately from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Add the nuts all at once, stir with a wooden spoon until they are completely coated with the sugar mixture. (I didn't continue to stir until the nuts became opaque the second time. The mixture cools fast and it became hard to clean the saucepan of the nuts that was stuck to the sides.)
I just coated the nuts with the mixture then pore onto the baking sheet. The sugar coated nuts will still turn opaque while you are separating the nuts on the baking sheet. Cool at room temperature. Nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several weeks.

By using ground cloves instead of ground cinnamon, created a different unique taste. Both ways are equally good. Enjoy!

Cheers Everyone!

The Dickens Theater Company

2011-11-09T14:23:00.006-07:00

I know that I have always said:

"I'll never do theater again."

Yeah, well "never say never." So now I'm apart of "The Dickens Theater Company" for Christmas. We are going to put on Oliver, Scrooge, and street theater. The performances are at the Utah State Fair Grounds, December 8,9,10-15,16,17. The Saturdays performances are pretty much all day long for me, because of the street theater that I get to do.

Oliver time during the week is 6pm. Saturday matinee is 1pm, again at 6pm
Scrooge time during the week is 8pm. Saturday matinee is 3pm, again at 8pm

The picture above is part of a element in the choreography that we are doing in Oliver; Oom Pa Pa. We were all thrilled that all of the girls got up. I feel so bad for the boys who need to lift us up. I'm trying so hard not to put all of my weight on their arms. The boys *bump* us off, and I can't help but think:

"A tone of women, coming down all at once!"

For a while now I have been trying to get away from theater. The more I fight, the more people have asked me to direct a play, or be in it. So really this is the first time that I am on stage for a very long time, a very, very long time. I was actually shocked that I was chosen to be apart of both plays. I didn't think that I'd get into any of the plays, I mean it's just been so long that I have been on stage. It's been a challenge for me to *dust off* my acting skills. Yep, I think I stink on stage.

I'm so used to putting together a play in about a month, putting it on, and then moving on. We have been practicing more then a month so now I am getting bored, well.....I have been bored sense the first of October. I am trying so hard not to show that at all, it's been a challenge.

So far this has been an experience, I have learned a lot. Not only have I learned that I THINK that I stink on stage, but I have learned how to tape Shin Splints. By taping my legs I can dance on them, hmmmmm.........the things that I have learned.

Cheers Everyone!

My great-aunt Glady's Butter Crunch

2011-10-27T14:36:00.005-06:00

I was looking for this for a long time. I am so glad that my Mother found it.

Butter Crunch

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup Margarine plus 3 tablespoons of water
1 cup sugar
1/2 semi sweet, milk chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips (optional)

Line an 8 inch square baking pan with foil.
Butter or spray lightly.
Cover bottom with nuts and set a side

In a heavy 2 quart saucepan or a 12 inch electric skillet combine butter, margarine, water and sugar. Place over high heart and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. The mixture will foam. Cook stirring constantly, until mixture becomes a light tan color. Do not let the mixture get brown!

Remove from heat and poor over the nuts in your 8 inch square baking pan. Spread mixture evenly over nuts. Cool at room temperature for 24 hours then brake into pieces.
If you choose to use chocolate chips. While the mixture is hot spread the chocolate chips of choice on top. The chocolate chips will melt. Let cool at room temperature for 24 hours then break into pieces.
If you want to use a dipping chocolate instead of chocolate chips. Let the mixture cool for one hour at room temperature. Then spread the melted chocolate over the candy. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Then break the candy.

Cheers everyone!

My big epiphany

2011-08-28T14:25:00.002-06:00

I wrote on my twitter page: "Had a big epiphany last night. The result; I may not be going back to choir." I think I freaked out my Choir Director. Understand that I did not say this to get attention, the epiphany really did happen.

It started when I was invited to audition for a musical or two. I was little confused, the person who invited me knows that I am not an "Show Tune Singer. " In fact I am a "Classical singer." Classical because if I say Opera, people will tune out and cringe. I am so much a Classical singer, I took a show tune and turned it into an almost Opera song. It was unintentional. I tried so hard to keep this show tune as is and not turn it into a classical type category. So what I sang during the auditions was only a fraction of what I can sing when I really try to sing Opera at full voice. It was weird, people that was standing on the other side of this big room, could hear me and was looking at me like I came from another planet. Go Venous!

So my mom asked me how it went I told her from my point of view. Then I asked her: 'How do you sing "Show Tune."' She told me how I tried it and honestly, and please know that I am not exaggerating when I say this. I sounded like something was dying in my vocal cords. I wanted to claw out my own vocal cords and it was so harsh on my own ears.

During choir my choir director would always tell me to "lighten up." Mostly because the natural tone of the choir is light and airy, they are not classical singers. As having a classical voice, I have a deeper tone with a natural dramatic vibrato. It is so hard for me to "lighten up" and sing the way the choir director wants me to. I have tired, heavens knows I have tried. While trying I have notice a problem and a change, a change that I didn't like. I started to back off like crazy and singing without spirit, without heart.

I was thinking all of this over last night in the late night hours. I have realized that wasn't singing to my full potential, I was cutting myself short. I was having so much fun preparing for this audition, I was singing Opera songs, then I stopped myself short because I knew that I needed to sing an show tune and try and sing it as a show tune. As I said before, I failed to do that.

By not singing up to my full potential, cutting myself off short, I am not happy by doing this. I am happy when I do sing in my full classical voice. So that is why I may stop going to choir. If I sing to my full potential I stand out and cant blend in with the other choir members. If I stay and back off like I have been, I'll become more and more unhappy.

This decision didn't come easy and I am still on: should I or shouldn't I? I do like to sing. This has nothing to do with the auditions, or the choir director. I just want to be happy, and sing the way that I was meant and taught to do.

Cheers Everyone~

Road Construction

2011-07-29T17:46:00.004-06:00

A Satire poem by me....Hollie Ruth Robb

Road Construction

Oh road construction how do I love thee?
Who needs to have the smell of Eggs Benedict and Bacon in the morning,
When I do have the lovely smell of Asphalt, and Tar instead?

Road Construction....please never leave.
Thou have been here for over ten years.
Thou will never over stay thine welcome.

Momma said that delays, confusion, and disappointments
will be apart of life...but who knew that it would come from thee Road Construction!
The orange cones, the smells, the road closes, what could be better?

Dear Road Construction, you are perfect in every way!
Thou must know that I do love thee.
I just love that thou have blocked every road.

Remember this is Satire. It had to be done. I haven't read many poems upon this subject.

Cheers Everyone!

Rediscovering my curls #3

2011-07-21T14:46:00.003-06:00

Curly Girl: The Handbook by Lorraine Massey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok I do love this book. But I still have a question. I live in a desert and the gel's that I have been trying on my hair have just been making the hair have the freeze look, and would weigh down the curls. And I have very curly hair.

So now I am currently asking a pro. hair dresser also with curly hair about this problem.

Also I love the added chapters and information in this book. The chapter about Chemo really touched me.

I am trying to love this curly top of mine. It is a process.

View all my reviews

Yes, I am still on a quest to love my curls. But as living in the second most driest state in the US country. We have such extremes as in one day we could be 100 degrees with 0% humidity but the next day we could be at 90 degrees with 30% or more humidity. So I am having problems following the "Curly Girl" cleansing and styling regime as prescribe in the book. I'll put in the gel and the problem is that the gel would make my hair look frozen and the curls would just be weighed down. I do have very curly hair, with the gel in it makes my very curly hair looks like a wave.

So I have asked questions, as I have said above. I am currently hoping that my questions will be answered. Once I do get the answers then I'll let you know.

~Cheers Everyone!

Rediscovering my curls part zwei (2)

2011-07-19T14:19:00.003-06:00

I haven't been able to update on this, I haven't exactly had that time. I have been keeping an account in my personal journal, so I don't feel that bad.

Saturday afternoon: The dry wicked wind blew and dried out the curls. The result: Frizz and untamed-unmanageable. Argh!

Sunday: All I did was sprayed my curls with water and natural lavender oil mixed with water. The Lavender oil is a natural cleanser. How I made this stuff is:

Regular spray bottle filed with cold water and about 3 drops of lavender oil and shake well.

Sunday continued: That wind again was there and my curls this time wilted and frizzed. By-the-way if anyone in my ward reads this: thank you for not laughing at my hair. If you don't know by now my hair and I have issues.......still.

Monday: Again I just sprayed my curls with lavender oil/water mixture. Left it to dry. The curls look good. Possibly/most likely because of the extra moister in the air. Also possibly because I was working with a lot of water. I was shampooing my mothers carpet.

Today: Washed my curls with of curse conditioner and lemon juice. I toweled dried it and then jest let the air do the rest. While it was mostly dry, that is when I put in the all natural conditioner and left in. The abundance of curls are back!

Note to self: Look for an deep conditioner for these dry and windy summer day's. That might help, but use it to wash the curls combine with lemon juice; to keep as much moister in as possible.

Cheers Everyone!

Rediscovering my curls

2011-07-16T14:33:00.002-06:00

I hope you don't mind but I am going to wright an online journal about Rediscovering my curls. This is mostly to help me. I am also going to put in my personal journal. However if it helps anyone else then.......sweet!

About 10 years ago I have stopped straightening my curls but still was at a loss on how to work with my curls. Then I got a book called Curly Girl. The book it's self explains that using shampoo will damage the hair and scalp, and make it frizzy and somewhat straight......mostly frizzy. So I had to use a lot of conditioner and oil; yes I do put oil on my hair. Now I was noticing that my curl was starting to get weighted down with way too much product.

So Thursday night I washed my hair; not with shampoo but with conditioner and lemon juice. To take out build up and clean it. Then I decided that I wasn't going to put in any conditioner while it was still dripping wet, like I'd usually would do . I just used a towel to dry it, then let the air do the rest. The result was more curl then I could even imagine that existed on my head, and they stick out everywhere. However I still have a little issue with frizz. So while my hair was still slightly damp, I put on an possibly 1- 1.5 teaspoon of a all natural conditioner. By doing that it controlled the frizz more still had some but not as much. And the curls looked great.

Yesterday I didn't wash it at all. I just use an leave-in-conditioner. One that was free of silicone's, the curls did come back and they still look good.

Today well, I tried to go without washing it again. Result was: it looked dirty, and the curls was seriously weighted down and unmanageable; as in the curls would not behave, some would only wave then frizz. So I washed it with of course conditioner and lemon juice. Right now it is currently drying. So I am hopping that I can somewhat repeat the process/cycle. We'll see how it goes. Then I'll do a new update.

Ginger and Lime Marinade

2011-06-07T15:12:00.006-06:00

I have made this marinade. It was a big hit in the family!

Ginger and Lime

2 Tablespoon of Ginger (or to the preference of your taste)
2 cup of lime

Mix the two together and then pore it over 4 pieces of pork,or chicken in a dish that you can cover. I used a zip-lock bag. Put in fridge over night. Now because of the lime juice it make the meat look like it is done. The meat won't be so you can either grill the meat, bake or fry. Just make sure that the middle of the meat reaches 160-170 degrees using a meat thermometer. The next time I use this marinade I'm going to dutch oven it, Mormon style.

~Cheers Everyone!

Book Review The Princess Sisters.

2011-05-27T15:18:00.001-06:00

The Princess Sisters by Stacy Lynn Carroll

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was cute. Great for preteens, and early teens. With five girls named after the Disney princess and all 5 hating everything cliche that has to do with their name sakes, with teens teasing them with using their names as the object of the teasing. Who hasn't lived through that?

Learning to live through high school, finding out who is a true friend and who is not. The five sister Princesses learn some heard lessons,and find a way to over come the difficult time of being a teenage girl.

With each girl with different personality's they are just like how I remember how teenage girls are, along with how high school is like.

The antagonist of this book is always the girl that you love to hate. Oxymoron? Yes, but tell me that while YOU were going to public school there was that one person that you loved to hate. We all found lest one.

With each girl with different personality's they are just like how I remember how teenage girls are, along with how high school is like. Also how almost every girl you know would like the same boy you liked. With that tensions would arise between the group and out comes the green-eyed-monster with that starts the competition.

Carroll, writes about pop 80's- 90's culture with in the book, and the flood of memories come back. It reminded me that I am so glad that the 80's are over, along with the leg warmers. They better not ever returned! What my mom would say:

"The leg Warmers did keep the legs warm!"

Very well done Carroll. I think that you got the teen girl high school seen spot on.

View all my reviews

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-06T22:09:00.004-06:00

This is my Mother with her "Mad Hatters Hat" I have helped her make this hat for a contest. I'm pleased to say that we got "Best in Show" award. We were happy about that.

In honor of Mothers I have found a quote by David O. Mckay.

A Mother's Heart is a Child's Class Room

The Noblest calling in the world is that of Mother.

True Motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions. She who can paint a masterpiece or who can write a book that will influence millions deserves the plaudits and admiration of mankind; but she rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters whose immortal souls will be exerting an influence through out the ages long after painting shall have faded and books and statues shall have been destroyed. Deserves the highest honor that man can give .

~David O McKay~

Thank you so much for not "blowing your top" when while my brothers and I had a water fight in the kitchen when we were children.

Thank you for your understanding, love and support.

Happy Mothers Day! Love you!

Cheers Everyone!

Part II of the National Poetry Month Challenge

2011-04-30T12:43:00.004-06:00

Now this is the last of the poem that I have done for the National poetry month challenge. It has different types of poems and different patterns. This was a fun challenge for me to take.

Ode to honey-

Bees are attracted to honey
Not vinegar. Mom always says.
Honey is sweet, smooth with a golden color.
It is infectious if you let it.
Honey can get everywhere.
You cannot be deceived by honey.
Vinegar can look like drinkable sweet water.
Until you open the bottle.
The strong smell doesn't tickle your senses.
It's bitter to taste.
It is a natural disinfectant,
good to clean with.
So those who are like Honey will gather spread love.
Those who are like Vinegar will chase out the love.

Monorhyme poem

The gleaming instrument is a bell.
Packed inside the clock makes time tell.
Get up! Time to go to work, go to school, get the mail.
Time; the task master, with it you cannot fail.
The on going ringing of the bell,
makes you want to drink some ale.
If you did drink ale.
So instead you grab some water, more healthier you tell.
On and on you go though, only in time you sell.
Time to sell that blasted bell.

What if poem

What if I could go back in time.
I might see the Parthenon be built twice!

What if I did go back in time.
I could see the civilizations over run with mice.

What if I saw the great men in history.
I would ask them questions for directions thrice.

I know I couldn't, but if I could; would I?

Nature Personified poem.

Fire

Fire stars from a spark of lightning.
It consumes everything it touches.
The colors yellow, orange, and read dances in delight.
The forest screams as the fire does it's worst.
Rain comes and snuffs, suffocates the fire, giving the chance for a reborn.

Holiday poem

Memorial Day
Flags waving in the wind.
Smoke from family baroque, flowers in the flower shop.
Laughter at the telling of family stories.
Baroque chicken, aunt Mable's famous apple pie.
Cut flowers for the Vets. grave.
Memorial Day.

Alliteration Poem

Mr. Nutter found his Mutter on his butter.
"Flutter", says Mr. Nutter "I want your cutter."
"The Cutter will cut the mettle latter." Says Nutter.
"You are a nutter Mr. Nutter".
Says friend Flutter.
"Your mind is in a Flutter" Says Mr. Nutter.
"I'll tell you, it is better that the cutter will
cut the butter." Says Flutter.
It will matter that the butter is cut by the cutter.
"The mettle latter will not be cut by the Cutter. I'll tell you Mr.
Nutter"
You maybe right Friend Flutter, I'm afraid that the mettle
latter, have cut the cutter." Says Mr. Nutter.
"You are a nutter Mr. Nutter"
Said Friend Flutter.

A-B-A-B poem

In the middle of the meadow.
Is a rabbit hopping lazy in the sun.
Watching the rabbit is a widow.
On his back by watching the clouds, her son.
He sees dragons, turtles,and bears, imagination is his window.
The shadows come from the drooping of the sun.
The pair get up to run, laughing from the meadow.

Rictameter Poem

Singing
Joyful praises
Happy noises at home
Laughing, giggling as the song
progresses, melody combines harmony.
Different types of children laughter.
Adults come in with the base line.
Join in our song
Singing.

Quinzain Poem

Little boy with autism
Plays with the music
stand, singing.

The Quinzain Poem again was inspired by my nephew. At the time he was taking apart my music stand and putting it back together, while singing/ humming.

If You were poem

If you were a book
Then I am your reader.
I'd read you from cover to cover,
only if you were good.
You would keep me company during the
midnight hours.
Come to think of it I would "man" handle you!

Lantern Poem

Shoes
fabric
fun, flirty
hard 2' heel
Yellow bright
Slippers

Clerihew Poem

The way Robert had his breakfast.
With eggs,toast, and milk to break his fast.
He ate much gusto, he tore his toast.
Robert that silly man, liked his eggs the most.

This one about Robert, I was thinking of my Uncle. I was looking through some very old family pictures and he became my subject! He doesn't know so I hope he doesn't mind.

The 5 W's poem

Ruth
Had her lolly pop ,
in her hand,
her older brother took it,
he wanted the lolly pop.

The last poem

The burn

Exercising
Make muscles grow
Jumping up, down, heart rate speeds
Is it abusing the body?
Exhausted.

Cheers Everyone!

Autism is explained by Carly

2011-04-28T12:24:00.005-06:00

I know that this have been blogged about so many times over but this is amazing. I also know that not every child with autism is the same. This is still amazing to find out what most children experience while having autism. So I'll provide some links if you wish to look at:

Autism Breakthrough: Girl's Writings Explain Her Behavior and Feelings

Carly Fleischmann blogs about her journey with Autism

Carly Fleischmann on Twitter

Cheers Everyone!

National Poetry Month

2011-04-13T22:07:00.004-06:00

Since this is National Poetry Month I have taken up the challenge to write different poetry. Two are Japanese themed structure, one is Onomatopoeia, Grammar, Senses poem, two are Limerick themed, with along with others. This is the first time in a long time that I have written any poetry. Tomorrow is Poem in your pocket day! So find a poem that you love and carry it in your pocket and share it with friends, family, coworkers, and etc.

These are the ones that I have written thus far, for this month:

Autism is a disability.
Autism, blue puzzles, April.
Blue, pants, shirt, and socks!

~

Computers the existence of our lives.
They work,
They Don't,
frustrations, broils tempers.
The new computer have arrived!
excited you hope it will work,
only to find out it has a worm.

~

I am one in a million, just like others.
I write plays, I'm a director.
I can play 4 instruments, I want to play others.
I can sing but in my life isn't a factor.

I know food more then I do people.
I think, in my opinion, people are generally strange, people I don't
understand.
I may be able to help you if you ask me something about food.

I have trials just like others, in that I am just like others,
In these trials I have felt anger and disbelieve.
I try to understand my current trial.
I have found out something new about my trial and disbelieve came.
I am now angry because of the choices of others.

I don't really care about Romance movies, unless they are old.
I am now got currently hooked on Sci-fi.
I blame my brothers for cock picking me.
I laugh at the new Romance movies.
I just think they are funny, it doesn't matter if they are a Romantic/
comedy or not.

Tulips
Pleasing to the eye.
Daylight color shows this
Red, yellow, pink, and orange
Sunsets.

~

Snow
Cold, wet
White powder flakes
It's spring, not winter

~

Spring Senses Poem

Spring looks like a roller coaster.
Spring sounds like birds chirping .
Spring feels like winter is trying to stay around.
Spring tastes like warmer temperatures are around the corner.

Bye!

~

I think I can do the Limerick
I just need to ask Rick
To give me ideas for this to work
To think of a subject so I won't smirk
"Day 11 is a challenge" says Sir Mic
Who I is Sir Mic? You might say.
You'll meet him at the end of May.
And Sir Mic shall tell you his Limerick.

~

I have enjoyed all of the poems that we all have been writing during
this month.
So now I hope we all keep writing so the skills we have gained won't bye
with the moths.
The creative writing we all have been writing.
Sometimes the creative juices I have been fighting.
Fighting, for something to come up with.
Lots of fun, poetry are not all myth.

~

I'd like to read things.
She cry's to reach the night stars,
Hopes that Odin hears.
The Norse god says he is mighty,
But he cannot make her stop.

~

That friend you dream about.
He is loyal and fun.
becomes your secret keeper.
Like's you no matter who you are or what you do.
If only people are like your favorite stuffed animal.

Cheers Everyone!

April, Autism, and Poems

2011-04-05T10:03:00.002-06:00

This month is not only autism awareness month but also national poetry month. So all month long comes from Stephanie Abney to write different poems. Yesterday was to write a Haiku poem. Haiku poem is a traditional Japanese poem, Stephanie Abeny explained it this way:

Haiku is a popular form of Japanese poetry. It usually centers around a nature theme, but you can make one up about anything. Haiku poems don’t rhyme; they follow a pattern.

The pattern for haiku is as follows:

Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables

You need to pay attention to the number of SYLLABLES, not words.

So in honer of April being both autism awareness month and national poetry month, I have written this:

Autism is a disability.
Autism, blue puzzles, April.
Blue, pants, shirt, and socks!

Cheers Everyone!

April=Autism Awareness Month

2011-04-04T14:05:00.003-06:00

April is autism awareness month, along with poetry month. On April 1 places around the globe have been lighting up blue. Everywhere from the Empire State Building, to The White House, to the Opera house in Sydney Australia, and everywhere in between. This month we are encouraged to put on blue clothing. Blue is the color of Autism. So that is why places around this globe have been going blue.

The number right now for autism is staggering, and they are estimated to be growing. The current number right now is 1 in 110 children will be diagnose with autism. 1 in 70 boys will be diagnose with autism,( numbers from Autism Speaks), Remember this is just the current numbers, they may change latter this year and I do expect it to change.

Now my nephew and oldest brother is currently on the the autism spectrum. People keep telling me:

"But they don't "look" like they have autism"

My answer is:

"What are they suppose to "look" like?"

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints says this about autism:

"Autism is a disability with characteristics that vary across a wide spectrum. While persons with autism can’t be identified by their physical appearance, they have similar attributes that can be observed. They usually have difficulties with language or communication, social skills and behavior, often due to sensory difficulties. Children with severe autism may be nonverbal and seem unaware of other people. Those with mild autism can appear to be incredibly smart, but may seem very odd in social interactions. Most people with autism are somewhere in the middle. Even though they have difficulty expressing their feelings and relating to others, people with autism still sense how others feel about them.

Whether a person’s autism is mild, moderate, or severe, it is commonly accepted to be a lifelong developmental disability . The exact causes of autism are unknown; however, it is a brain-based disorder. It is clear that individuals with autism are born with the disorder or born with the potential to develop it. Autism is not caused by bad parenting. "

I could not have said this better then my self. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints also provides information on what to look for, ways to help, and teaching tips. So please click on the link to get additional information. The website also provides additional links to other autism websites, also other information to other disabilities. All of this information is not only exclusive to the people who belong to this church. The information that the link provides belongs to everyone everywhere.

Please put on some article of blue clothing during this month and support Autism Awareness.

Cheers Everyone!

What is Woman Suffrage

2011-03-14T11:47:00.004-06:00

This is unbelievable. If you are confused what Woman Suffrage really is. This is also a Scholastic version of woman suffrage. Obviously some people are confused, so I have provided the links.

This clip is all in satire, but still please don't take away my right to vote. I am glad and thankful for the feminist who worked for my rights. :)

Cheers Everyone!

My Grandpa Robb's Fish recipe.

2011-03-10T14:49:00.003-07:00

4 Fillet Trout

aluminum foil

Lemon pepper

garlic powder

lemon juice

1- 8 oz pkg Philadelphia cream cheese

green onion

mushrooms

1 tablespoon butter (optional)

Method:

Put 1 trout on one aluminum foil wrap. Sprinkle trout with lemon pepper, garlic powder, and lemon juice to taste. Cut up 8 oz of soften cream cheese in a bowl mix cream cheese with chopped green onion, butter, and mushrooms. Put one tablespoon of cream cheese mixture on the trout. Fold aluminum foil over the trout and mixture. If barbecuing throw the wrapped trout onto the coals for 10 min. Or in the oven on 450 for 15 min or in the broiler for about 8 mins. OR cook until done. ;p Enjoy!

The cream cheese, (or any dairy), will take out the fishy taste in the fish. I promise. I hate fish, but this is the ONLY way I'll eat fish. However I eat this one in a *blue moon* because of the dairy. I'm sure that you can also use any fish, but I don't know.

Cheers everyone!

Is this art?

2011-03-08T16:15:00.006-07:00

Robert Frost once said:

"Art is anything that moves you."

With that said, this is what happens when I get bored. So yes, I did sketch this.

This is a sketch of my electric violin. It sounds really bad without an amplifier, something that I don't have. It's possibly a good thing. I compare it with one child's voice. It's cute, it's sweet on it's own. Hook it up to an amplifier then the quality of this instrument becomes a rich majestic tone. Much like the richness and majestic tone of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

I like to compare this instrument to the Atonement. Without it we cannot achieve our potential.

The Crayon Messages Book Review

2011-02-12T17:52:00.004-07:00

This book by Christine Thackeray, was a treasure to read. It does have the typical LDS tone, but the message within the book was just plain cute. I like description of the Organ, and the way she wrote it I felt myself wishing I could hear it, instead of reading about it.

This book is an easy read. About a woman named Cath who is trying to fit in her new ward. Three months of one devastating moment after another, she finds herself wanting to pack up her family and move back to Utah. Decides against it only when an little old Sleeping Beauty, and her Relief Society tells her of all of the good she has done in the past three months. I felt myself wanted to slap the antagonist silly, along with an other character. They had the way of blowing things out of proportion, and making Cath pay for things.

Synopsis:

The nurse looked at Cath with raised eyebrows and then laughed out loud with a raspy smokers' laugh. 'Let me get this straight,' she snickered. 'You are new, and the ladies from the Mormon Church, who probably knew exactly what they were doing, strapped you with a totally incoherent visiting teaching companion and a bunch of inactives? That is rich. What did you do to get on their bad side?' She chortled again.

Who would have thought that moving into a new ward could be so hard? Cath Reed is at the end of her rope. Her husband travels constantly, her teenage daughter is going off the deep end, and to top it off, her new ward has made it clear that they wish she'd never moved in. Now Cath has been given the worst visiting teaching assignment in history--and a companion who never wakes up! The stern Relief Society secretary tells Cath not to visit her sisters in person. Cath doesn't feel that neglecting her calling would be right, but is she ready to face the challenges of visiting unfriendly or even hostile women? And how can she visit them if she can't even speak to Gwen, her visiting teaching companion, who stays asleep most of the time?

Between hot fudge, a valuable organ, and a lot of crayons and scratch paper, life will take Cath on a roller coaster she won't ever forget--her sleeping companion is about to awaken her to a whole
new world of possibilities.

Cheers Everyone!

LDS Apostle Oaks calls for coalition to defend religious rights

2011-02-05T13:58:00.002-07:00

LDS Apostle Oaks calls for coalition to defend religious rights

I like these key phrases that Elder Oaks says on this subject. These phrases were taken from the news article.

* Religious teachings and religious organizations are valuable and important to a free society, thus "deserving of their special legal protection."

* Religious freedom "undergirds the origin and existence of this country and is the dominating civil liberty."

* The constitutional guarantee of free exercise of religion "is weakening in its effects and in public esteem."

* Such a weakening can be attributed "to the ascendancy of moral relativism."

He is right we all have a right to worship how where or what (we) may. It is the human right and religious freedom is in the Constitution of the United States. Heck even our founding fathers were christian. They belong to different churches but they were christen, because they believed in Christ and worshiped Christ in their own way.

Cheers Everyone!

A blast from the past.

2011-02-01T15:42:00.003-07:00

1001 ways to be more ROMANTIC! My mom have had this book for years, and years. I think she got it hoping that my dad would stop "putting out her fire". Yep, she got the book. Last night I was flipping through this book and low and behold it has a section for singles. It was so ridiculously funny that I had to share on the blog.

Do you remember when you were in grade school and you wrote little notes to that cute boy or girl that went something like this?

Do you like me? Circle yes or no.
What is your favorite color?
What are you going to do at recesses?

Well I have found something like that in this book that got me laughing. Check this out.

~Need a clever ice-breaker? Try creating you own, personalized personality quiz to hand-out to potential date. Here's a sample.

Men........

a)........make life worth living.
b)........have their faults, but they are easier to train than dogs. (what? sense when, I have brothers. Dogs are easier to train)
c)........are only good for lawn care and vehicle maintenance.
d)........should be shot on sight, no question asked

The best film in history is....

a)........Citizen Kane
b)........Gone With the Wind
c).........It's A Wonderful Life
d)........The Wizard of OZ
e).........I was a Teenage Werewolf
f)..........Other

The Perfect man resembles.........

a)........Albert Einstein, but is a better dancer.
b)........Arnold Schwarzenegger, with better diction.
c).........Cary Grant, but not dead
d).........Donald Trump, but with fewer tabloid headlines.
e).........Danny DeVito, except shorter and fatter.

Directions:

Your answers to the questions will reveal an elaborate psychological profile of yourself. We already know you're unbalanced enough to voluntarily hang out with me, so we're just trying to help your before it's too late. There are no right answers, which should horrify the perfectionists and thrill the delinquents among you. Drinking during the quiz is strictly encouraged. So just circle what fits you.

Yeah I know this is just wrong, we are not in grade school any longer. On top of that, this quiz just encourages singles to put themselves down with the phrase:

"We already know you're unbalanced enough to voluntarily hang out with me, so we're just trying to help your before it's too late."

Singles, please don't say anything like that. It's just not exactly a good phrase to tell your date, or anyone else at all. In fact, don't even put anyone through this quiz. It is laughable that this is a grown up version of the notes that went around in grade school.

Cheers Everyone!

My eyes are Opend?

2011-01-31T18:18:00.003-07:00

Like I have said in my past post that my eyes have been opened, it's true they have. I am writing this post because of a question that people have asked me.

I have found out that soy is in peanut butter. Bummer there goes my brownies with peanut butter frosting! Yeah it taste almost like a peanut butter cups. I have also found that soy, milk, and whey is in bread, and in a lot of other mass produce foods. Crazy!

It has been an adjustment this past month. The good thing is that I feel so physically good, it's a change. It has been interesting to say the least.

A friend of mine and I have different food allergies. Hers is gluten. So it was a crazy conversation between her and I. What we both end up with is:

How can you eat? You do find a way, somehow you do find a way. Reading labels like crazy, control what goes in the foods you eat. Unfortunately the food bill goes up. Fortunately you loose the inches!

Cheers everyone.

The "New" Oven

2011-01-20T18:48:00.005-07:00

I have found out to day that I can use the old Nesco 18 Qt roster oven to bake stuff. I can't believe that it took me so long to find this one out. The temperature will go up passed 350 degrees. So I decided to try and bake frozen/thawed rolls. I can't really do this without the help of frozen rolls from the store. I have tried making bread from scratch......that was an interesting adventure.

Anyway it so worked! I was so surprised that it did. I had to put a 9/13in pan on the bottom first then a cookie rack on top of the 9/13in pan. On top of that was the thawed out rolls. Bake for 20 mins and there you go! I am sure that you can use almost any roster oven to bake stuff.

My next stop with this method of baking? Brownies, once I have the box mix stuff, or flour whatever comes first. I can make brownies from scratch. One of the few things that I can make from scratch. :)

Now on a update on my Rosy Complexion. Within a week the rash on my face spread to my neck fast. So all week I was hunting down labels and reading them. Freakzoides my eyes were opened! That is when I have found out that almost everything has dairy, soy, and whey in it.

Just this last Sunday I went to see this older couple and the wife asked me if I was out in the sun, she told me that I look sun kissed.I had to laugh a little. So I told her that it was a rash, and that I had to take off my make-up because it was aggravating my rash.

I had a rash that was a long streak going down my cheek. It looked like someone whipped my face. So with the aggravation the make-up was causing, hence the taking on and off the make-up. Had it on for church, took it right off after choir practice.

The good news is that the rash is gone! I have also miss placed some inches that I am not missing, so I am not looking for it, I am not missing the inches. So please don't ask me to look for the lost inches.

Cheers Everyone!

Book Review: The Road Show

2011-01-14T01:57:00.002-07:00

The Road Show by Braden Bell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was very surprised about this one. I wouldn't call this book *fun* to read, but inside this piece of fiction was a powerful message.

Be prepared for some repetition, and to be honest that was a little annoying for me to read and reread. When I read a book I just like it to move forward without going around in circles. However the repetition in this book was well worth it. When we as humans do something that is wrong and experience shame or guilt we do attend to repeat that shame and guilt. So the repetition in this book was well worth it.

Their was a power to be felt at the end of this book and it was amazing. I didn't expect such a powerful ending.

My advice with this book, would be give it a chance. It takes a little bit to get into, but it is well worth it.

View all my reviews

Cheers Everyone!

A Rosy Complexion

2011-01-12T10:58:00.004-07:00

Yesterday I have found that I some how developed a rash (rosy complexion) on my face. It itched like crazy at 4. A.M. I still haven't found out were this rosy complexion came from, but I have a pretty good idea.

You see there is this bag of chocolates that I fell for when I first tasted what was inside. It's called Dark Chocolate Pomegranate. Before when I would eat the stuff I would notice little things but didn't think anything of it. So when yesterday when I had total 4 big hand fulls of this dark delicious stuff I started to get the unwanted rosy complexion. Confused I had one more had full of the delicious dark stuff and by 10:30 last night I end up with a bright rosy complexion! :D

So I started to hunt down what was causing the rash. Go figure it is in the Dark Chocolate Pomegranates. On the back it says food allergy information: This product contains Milk and Soy. So my plan Stan is to stay a way from this dark goodness. No brainier there...........right?

Cheers Everyone!

Coming soon!

2011-01-11T14:58:00.005-07:00

I so need to redesign this blog. So their well be changes, if you haven't notice them already, and more will be coming. :)

I have decided to create another blog called The Book Club Blog it will be an online book club with the hope that people all over joining. It will have multiple authors. All I need to do is add you in as an author to the blog, by doing that I need to have your email address to add you on. Multiple people/ authors can set up monthly book reading assignments so the participators/readers can choose what book to read during that month, discus it by leaving a comments and so on. We can have book challenges, like how many books to read in one year, or to read the Book of Mormon and etc. We can have all kinds of Good books on their. I don't want any harlequin, erotic (sp?), or anything questionable, if I do see anything questionable I will take it off. So anyone interested, let me know? Also authors can tell readers of their up and coming books.

You don't need to be an "Author" to join, and if I put anyone in as an author to The Book Club Blog then that person can go to the blogger dashboard then press the design tab and press "add a gadget" to put in challenges for people to take, books covers, links to your blog, and etc. That blog author can also blog about book they like or start a book club so people can comment to join to read that particular book. I am thinking this up as I go.

Cheers Everyone!

Autism, The Latest Findings and Articles

2011-01-07T00:32:00.003-07:00

Autism have always been in the media. Now the latest on this topic. Click on the link. You will find that Dr. Wakefield's license have been evoked by the British gov. Wakefield doesn't even have a license to practice medicine in the US. Yet people still take is word as gospel. Why has is license in Britten been evoked? Simple, he changed patients medical rerecords to support his false findings. Other licensed medical researchers have found Wakefield's clams that the MMR shot will give children autism is so false. I do like what Dr. Paul Offit have said, and it is true; sadly. "This scared people and it's hard to unscare them."

Why am I writing about this? Simple. My older brother has autism, my nephew, and various cousins have children who happens to be on the autism spectrum. I am tired of the lies. I want what all other families want; The Truth. We want the truth on diagnosis and treatments. Now various medical researchers want to do more study on the autism spectrum, so that they can find treatments, but because Wakefield and other people are making that hard on them to find treatments.

Remember: this false data on autism has scared people and it is hard to unscare them.

Will autism fraud report be a vaccine booster? - ksl.com

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Cheers Everyone!

My top 5 books for 2010

2010-12-28T22:46:00.013-07:00

I got this idea from my SIL go to My Meandering Musing for my SIL's picks for 2010.
Some of these books may not have been published in 2010, but they are still my top picks for the books that I have read this year. Unfortunate I only picked 5 books, there are others that I have loved from start to finish. I tried not to put up series. I have read book series and they tend to drive-me-up-the-wall and yet I keep reading book series..........hmmmm that explains it. So my 2010 picks are:

I couldn't believe it took me so long to pick this book up, and I am so glad that I had. I had felt so sympathetic for the Invisible Man, I just couldn't help it. So you can possibly imagine my surprise when I found out that this main character (Griffin) was just a deluded, mad, stupid, smartest, albino scientist, I have ever met. All in all I did have fun reading this book. H. G. Wells makes the question of invisibility a possibility, however after reading this book and the adventures that Griffin has, I think being invisible is an option that I don't want want to make.

Synopsis:A gripping and entertaining tale of terror and suspense as well as a potent Faustian allegory of hubris and science run amok, The Invisible Man endures as one of the signature stories in the literature of science fiction. A brilliant scientist uncovers the secret to invisibility, but his grandiose dreams and the power he unleashes cause him to spiral into intrigue, madness, and murder. The inspiration for countless imitations and film adaptations, The Invisible Man is as remarkable and relevant today as it was a hundred years ago.

I was so surprised by this book, The Mark by M.R. Bunderson. Perhaps you have notice that I have this book on my side bar under the list of my favorite books to read. I didn't want to put this one down at all once I started to read it. There are twist, turns, teen love, forgiveness, murder, mystery, plotting, prejudice, fantasy, puzzle, with an emotional roller coaster. Oh yeah, this was fun for me to read.

Synopsis:She's had it forever. A tiny mark on her hand. No big deal, right? But when Tori discovers that her ordinary freckle is really some kind of microscopic tattoo, she doesn't know what to think, especially after meeting Eric, a guy she feels strangely connected to--and not just because he has a mark too.

All too soon, Tori and Eric realize that their marks are only the first clue to a mystery that will change everything. And with each new discovery, Tori finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into a world she could never have imagined.

Before My Heart Stops by Paul Cardall. Wow this one is emotional, and a hard one to read when you, yourself are going through a some hard trials. I have never had any heart problems but I have had some hard times myself. So even as different as our trials are, I still learned a lot on how to over come hard times.

Synopsis:"I was born with half a heart. God made up the difference."

After living for more than three decades with congenital heart disease, popular musician Paul Cardall has undergone twenty-eight operations and seven open-heart surgeries. But the one surgery he needed most - his last chance at seeing his three-year-old daughter, Eden, grow up - was a heart transplant. This is the remarkable true story of one man's struggle to survive long enough to get a second chance at life.

Along the way, Paul wrote down his thoughts, feelings, and observations in an online blog called Living for Eden. This book reflects those weekly blog entries - insights and wisdom beyond his years. After reading his story, you may come away asking yourself, "Who do I need to love ... before my heart stops?"

My Fair Godmother is a very fun, fast read loved it to the very end. As a younger sister I can relate in more ways then one. I loved how Janette Rallison put together different fairy tales to make a delightful read. I can't wait until the next one.

Synopsis:After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy.

As one of my non fiction picks this one is amazing! I learned a lot from this book by Dieter F. Uchtdorf .

Synopsis:If you are feeling overwhelmed with change, challenges, or checklists, you may wonder how you can partake now of God's happiness and find your pathway to peace, hope, and joy. With loving insight, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf addresses two attributes that contribute to our Heavenly Father's perfect happiness the power of creation and service with compassion. As a treasured daughter of our Heavenly Father, you can develop those remarkable abilities as well as find happiness in the journey. In The Remarkable Soul of a Woman, President Uchtdorf's timely thoughts on creating and being compassionate will buoy you up, give you strength, and help you realize what a great power for good you truly are.

Waffle Cookies

2010-12-24T11:59:00.004-07:00

This is a fun cookie/brownie. It's fun, fast, and easy!

4 one ounce square of Unsweetened baking chocolate
1 cup of butter
1 1/2 cups of sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour

Method:
Heat your waffle iron.
Melt together chocolate and butter in heavy sauce pan,(or you can use a glass bowl, melt in microwave on high 2 min. stir then 2 min. more.) Stir in sugar until dissolved,(I placed back in microwave for 30 seconds, it dissolved faster). Remove from heat whisk in eggs, vanilla and flour, mix until blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a heated waffle iron, bake according to manufactures instructions. ( I bake mine for about 2 min.) Top with chocolate frosting, confectioners sugar, melted chocolate chips, etc. Makes about 4 dozen. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

A very surprise day!

2010-12-19T18:28:00.006-07:00

Yey an updated blog post.

During choir practice the last couple of months the other choir members and I have been learning various Christmas songs. No matter what I have did I couldn't get into these songs. I would mess up the ASL on Silent Night, be out of tune, my heart would just not be into the songs. I was dreading today when we would perform the songs for the Christmas program. Two reasons I was dreading this day, one it's my birthday,(by-the-way I got tons of wonderfully awesome birthday wishes, thank you!), I don't do Christmas on my birthday. Reason is that I like to keep the two separate. The other big one was that I just couldn't get into the songs to do them justice. I worried over that. I fared that that what I was feeling would come out in the performance.

When I got to church this morning I was still concerned about my performance for these songs. During the first song something happen to me. I finely got into the songs. I was wondering about the change, what made the drastic change. All morning I was trying to remember that a lot of people forgets what Christmas is about. People forget Jesus birthday and why He came to earth. During this program I was finely able to forget my problems and focus on what I was doing. I wasn't just singing but I was singing praises to Jesus, thanking Him for coming down to earth to do the most important thing that one man could do; redeem mankind.

I remember back in 2006 I directed a play that was performed by special needs. It was the Nativity, special needs style. One special needs man was our angle in the play. What made the play so special was that this little special needs man kept kneeling down in front of baby Jesus during the performance and saying:

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Ever sense that performance night I have wondered if I did the same thing if I didn't then singing praises to Him I hope would be my thank you!

By-the-way I so got an awesome Happy Birthday song from some cool guys. What more could a girl ask for??

Cheers everyone and Happy Holidays!

A Heart Felt Thank You!

2010-09-29T20:30:00.009-06:00

During the past 3 weeks my family and I fave felt the influence, and power of collective prayer from family and friends.

Three weeks ago I went with my brother Elton, to not only pick up my mother from work, but also my brothers girlfriend from the airport. After we picked up my mother from work, she felt like something was wrong. We were going to go straight from my mother's work to the airport, but we all forgot cash money for parking fee at the airport, so we end up going home to get cash. My mother deiced to stay home, I picked up Elton's girlfriend.

When I got home I found out that my mother and brother Jeremy, took my father to the ER. My mother was worried because his legs was severally swollen and his left leg was a bright red. Come to find out that his lymphoid was full of infection. They gave him an antibiotic shot, and some antibiotic pills. As time went by the infection got worse, his legs became more swollen and the redness in his left leg became more red, and the color was spreading. He went back to the clinic and he got more antibiotic shots in his hip, one shot on each side. He also got different antibiotic pills. Before my parents left the Nurse Practitioner told my parents to see her in the day.

My mother took him the next day to see the Nurse Practitioner took his temperature and it was at 103. She said: "what hospital do you want to go to?" They chose IMC in Utah.

My dear o'le father was in IMC for three days. While there they gave him 6 different kinds of antibiotics, trying to find the right combination to kill the infection. This infection ravaged his body, because of this his doctor wouldn't let him take any of the pills that was previously prescribe. They wanted to control everything that was going into his body. Their was also a phlebotomist that took his blood 4 times a day, to find what caused the Staph infection. They couldn't find what caused the Staph, no kidding.

During this time my mother didn't know if she would have her job. While my father was in the hospital she had to go to work, they wouldn't let her have PTO to see her husband who was in the hospital fighting for his life. All what they could say was: "if I give you special treatment then I half to give it to everyone else." She finally got on FLMA, good thing.

It was a Monday when we got a phone call from my father saying that he can finally go home. He said that it took 4 different doctors to decide if he can go home. So that afternoon we got him home. His leg was still red and swollen, but looking very good. His antibiotics was in pill form. Soon one of his legs became its normal size, the other was still swollen and the color was still there.

Now it has been a week and a half that he has been home from the hospital. His legs are good, the color on the left leg is almost completely normal. He still needs to wrap his left leg so that the cells can regenerate. He has also lost over 20 pounds. We think that when infection in his body left that is what caused him to loose the 20 pounds or more. How insane was that?

His recovery wouldn't have happen as quickly if not for the collective prayers from family and friends. Thank you all so much for your support, love, and prayers. Their have been so many people that have offered up prayers on behalf of my family. Forgive me for not mentioning any names, I am afraid that if I do someone would get left out.

Cheers Everyone!!

Elder Dallin H. Oaks preaches protection of the Constitution

2010-09-18T00:14:00.005-06:00

I took this from KSL.com and loved it. Not because I am LDS, but because this came from a former member of the Utah Supreme Court Justice, Dallin H. Oaks. I also love this quote by Elder Oaks:

"Some of the things said by various persons in recent public discourse cause me to urge that we be more careful in the way we throw around the idea that something is unconstitutional. A constitution should not be used as a weapon to end debate."

Too many persons are using the US constitution as a *weapon* to get what they want. When clearly they have not studied the constitution themselves.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Click on the link for Elder Oaks full talk on Protection of the Constitution.

It was also claimed by religious leaders that Freedom of Religion is under attack. In the USA we have the right under the Deceleration of Independence and the US Constitution to have Freedom of Religion. That of course means that we can by law, have the right to belong and practice any religion in the USA. It is imperative that we keep our Freedom of Religion. Not only did our founding father's of the Deceleration but the founders of the Constitution gave so much of themselves to give us such freedoms. Some of our founding fathers lost everything; their family's, lively hood, riches and reputations to give us the freedoms that we so do enjoy! People are fighting to take away our precious freedoms, we must fight to take it back!

Cheers Everyone!!

Book Review: Welcome to Stalk Lake City

2010-08-28T15:52:00.004-06:00

Welcome to Stalk Lake City by Sheralyn Pratt

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Deciding to go "off grid" for a while, Rhea Jensen can think of no better place to disappear than Utah. She settles into a quiet Mormon lifestyle--unless you count the skydiving, racecar driving, mountain climbing, and overly obsessive workouts. But when her best friend, Kay, tips her off to a stalking case, Rhea takes the job out of sheer boredom. Only then does Rhea realize two things--first, being good is hard; and second, she knows way too much to get out of the PI game.

Everyone's favorite private investigator is back in this second installment of the Rhea Jensen Series by Sheralyn Pratt. Packed full of new mysteries, new relationships, and all of Rhea's old habits.

I know that I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars, to be honest that was generous. Their was some things that bothered me about this book. This is my honest opinion. There was a hot debate that was approached in this book. The question is the women and the Priesthood.

Why can't women have the priesthood in the LDS Church, when we preach of equality?
Why does God want this earth to be patriarchal and not matriarchal?

Like I have said, this debate have been going on for a long time, probably ever sense the LDS church and the Priesthood was restored. Some women have been so passionate about this debate that these same passionate women have apostatize over this debate. Some men have called these passionate women sexist. I don't think that their is one answer that all women would be satisfy with. I'll say this, I understand that it is in God's wisdom that only worthy men of the LDS church can receive the priesthood.

Some men have said that the priesthood it the equalizer for men. These men believe that women are by our nature, naturally more closer and sensitive to the Holy Ghost/spirit. So much so that these men believe that the priesthood equalize them so much that they can finally be on the same level with women. Is this true? I don't know. All I know is that "Many [are] called but few are chosen,"( D&C 121:34 ), with both men and women.

Now I'll say this, I'm going to trust in God's wisdom, after all I am not smarter then God.

The other thing that I have a problem with this book is that, it was way to easy to figure out. Rhea, is such a stupid character, all of the clues were right in front of her face and it took her forever to figure it all out. There were minor editing problems.

View all my reviews

One of my Hobbies

2010-08-20T17:34:00.001-06:00

I'm a photographer, however once in a while I'll have fun plying around with the pic's that I'll take. This one is one of the latest one I goofed around with. It's of my cousin Shella. This pic of her is so cute, and I thought that it turned out pretty good for not being a pro.

A Delightful Summer Desert

2010-07-30T14:51:00.006-06:00

Blackberry Cream Pie. This Summer desert is really good, and perfect for hot Summer days.

2 8oz of cream cheese
1 16 oz or one pound of frozen whipped cream
1 10 oz of Blackberry jelly
2 9in gram cracker pie crust
Fresh Blackberry's

Method:

Mix cream cheese, whipped cream, and Blackberry jelly altogether until smooth. Put mixture in the gram cracker pie crust, (or make one big pie. I didn't buy 2 gram cracker pie crust. yeah oops) Freeze the Blackberry pie for 3 hours or more. Served with fresh Blackberry's on top.

My mom made this and a friend of hers was surprised that he coulden't smell any sugar. He was a diabetic, and was excited that he could have some, and loved it.

Cheers Everyone!

(dis)Abilities in the Gospel

2010-07-27T18:58:00.004-06:00

Ok, I know that it is past the 23rd for posting a VR. tour about (dis)Abilities in the Gospel.
Well I have not read this book. I have never got it from the company that have asked me to do a VR. book tour. I have found out that the company is restructuring. I also don't know what is going on with the book.

So sorry about this.

cheers everyone!

Autism and Surfing

2010-07-09T09:57:00.004-06:00

In states that are not close to the Ocean, we have Horse back riding lessons for autistic along with other children with disabilities. One mom of an physically disabled child sees her son on a horse, he becomes a different child. I have never thought that surfing would create something of the same results.

Cheers everyone!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This post is for every Parent and Caretaker!

2010-06-29T13:00:00.002-06:00

The Swagger Wagon!

Reading Challenge part B

2010-06-05T21:00:00.005-06:00

"Who Invited the Undertaker?" Is an other one that is out of print, however you can find it at amazon.com. It is another one that should have never been out of print. It's about a family who is trying to survive, and cope with the loss of their father. At the same time Dale the oldest boy, is trying to keep his family especially his mother happy. Dale sets his mom up on dates, and crazy things start to happen. One night she ends up going on a date with an Undertaker? Ruckman uses some dry humor for instance, this is some of the undertaker's jokes that is in the book:

She was talking about this recipe with the mushrooms, see?And how she'd simmer the sauce all day long?Oh, my gastrics!
Do you have any idea how we interns eat? And where we eat when we're on call?
Pale is something people expect. You hear what happened with Bob Smedley's first case? He's colorblind, you know, a terrible handicap in this business. You might get by with high blush, but making someone bright red? With bright-red hands? We put this tasteful little sign on his door that said, 'Better bodies by Bob.'
No one ever invites the undertaker. He just shows up!

Ruckman's book takes the reader on a year long series of mishaps, that are piratical, everyday things that just happens.

Book Synopses:

"It's not easy being the man of the house when you're only in seventh grade. And Dale has decided that he's had enough. If Mom isn't interested in finding someone-well, he will just have to do it for her!

Since she won't go to Single Shoppers' Night at the supermarket. there's only one solution: an ad in the personals section of the paper. Something like "To owner of Honda Prelude. Call me. Black Corvette," but a little more conservative, because this is Mom, after all-and she only drives a Ford station wagon. It seems like the perfect plan- until the phone calls start coming, and Dale gets a lot more then he's bargained for!"

Another book that my mom read to me as a kid, thought that is was funny as a kid. Now as an adult the jokes that I didn't get as a kid, I got now. It made it even more funny read.

Cheers Everyone!

Autism & Sacrament Meeting

2010-05-28T18:20:00.005-06:00

Last Sunday my nephew who has autism came to church with me. We went to go out the car, when low and behold he escape from me and went across the street to play in someones backyard. During Sacrament Meeting he escaped me and his dad and ran around the choir seats. He came and ran towards me; before he could get a way from me, I caught him. He made more noise then usual. His dad took him home early. He was on his way for a melt down.

He usually doesn't act like this. Usually he is more calm. What happened? Why was he acting like this? Why can't he behave like *other* children? The answer to all of the questions is; my nephew has autism.

He likes a schedule, he likes what is normal to him. When he is out of his norm. that is when he acts the way he did last Sunday.

People still say: "why he doesn't look like he has autism"

What does autism supposed to look like?

So now my mom and I got on a discussion. One thing I told her was that I believe in "strengths and weaknesses." Ponder about this for one moment. You are not going to ask a musician to perform brain surgery. The strength of a musician is to perform music.

Special needs have some amazing strengths. One strength is to except people, and love them without restraint or judgment. To love without restraint or judgment, is the Pure Love Of Christ. That is an amazing strength indeed.

Within our discussion, she told me something different. The autism spectrum is large, very large. So her thought was ( note, this is just thinking ) that in some way we are all on the spectrum. Everyday the autism spectrum is getting larger and larger. Everyday people are limited in strengths. Not everyone is a doctor, musician, writer, painter, carpenter, educator, and etc; be we appreciate others talents and strengths. We can go to them ask them for their help in their expertise in their field.

While I was working with special needs, is that the first thing that I have notice is that special needs are so ready to accept people. They don't care who you are, or where you come from. They just love you, you are their instant friend. If anything that is one thing that all special needs can teach us. How to love people, and in that same instant be a friend to all.

Cheers Everyone!

Reading challenge

2010-05-11T12:01:00.005-06:00

It has just occurred to me that upon right hand side bar, I have two books that do not have links to them. "Don't call me Katie Rose," and "Time Riders," you might be wondering what they are about. These two books are out of print, you can however find "Time Riders" By Sierra St. James, at amazon.com for a little over $200.00, no kidding. "Don't call me Katie Rose" you can't find, lest I can't.

"Don't call me Katie Rose;" by Lenora Mattingly Webber, is an old love of mine. This book was read to me by my mother when I was very young. I also read it as a teen.

Synopsis:

"Sensitive Katie Rose Belford longs to be called Kathleen, which she feels is more glamorous, but that's an impossible dream in her informal family! Katie is on of six children, and her widowed mother has little time for Katie's "airs."

During a very eventful year-which includes transferring to a new high school and meeting a divinely handsome boy who just might be a beau-Katie struggles to come to terms with herself, her more extroverted family, and her name."

A delight. This book should have never been out of print.

The next is "Time Riders" By Sierra St. James. Another delight, and just all around fun.

Synopsis:

Sheridan and Taylor are ordinary college students until a mistake by twenty-fourth century scientists drags them 300 years into the future. They find themselves in Tachames, a colorful, orderly, and completely corrupt city. Religion is banned. All citizens are tracked. As the government and a mafia like organization called the Dakine struggle for power over the population, Sheridan and Taylor search for a way to escape the deadly walls of doomed Tachames. Echo, a mysterious, brilliant "wordsmith," says he’ll help them escape; Sheridan is drawn to him and wants to trust him, but Echo has secrets of his own.

Time Riders is an exciting and suspenseful adventure through an Orwellian world of lost freedom and humanity; yet the novel is interlaced with the humor of Sheridan and Taylor communicating through twentieth-century idioms that bewilder their Tachamesian hosts, while preserving their secrets and freedom.

Now you know why two of my books on the list do not have links.

Cheers Everyone!

Rooted in my ward?

2010-04-29T22:47:00.006-06:00

Time has flown-on-by for me. The past two months I have been looking for a new place to move into. With a lot of houses setting empty (unfortunately), you'd think that this task would be easy. It is not.

However something strange has happen. Let me explain, but please bear with me, as I try to make this easy on both of us, it's a bit complicated.

Two years ago on the last of May, my ward boundaries changed. The result of course my new ward was filled with lots of new faces, I hardly knew anyone. My poor bishop need to organize the new ward from scratch. People were outraged that the new boundaries had formed. I was excited to get to know more people in the stake; sure I would miss the friends within the old boundaries, but thought this was such an exciting time!

Now after the new boundaries was presented to us, on the following Sunday was time to meet my new ward members. We gathered in the cultural hall to introduce ourselves, it was loud. People were saying that they were freaked out about their new calling, others (including myself) was saying:

"Yay! I don't have a calling!"

Little did I know! Any how, I had this fleeting epiphany; it was fast and I thought I was crazy that time. This epiphany was that I would be moving. I don't know when and I still don't. Like I have said I am still looking for a place to live.

So came the realization of a decision, and while looking back, I think that this decision was a stupid one. It was that I would not try to form any real friendship's with any one, it would make saying "good-by" so much easier. At the same time I wasn't rude to anyone. I was still polite and talked to my fellow ward members; at the same time trying not to *root* myself in the ward. Do you know how hard that was? I thought that it would be easy, and that I was doing a pretty darn good job of it! Until last Sunday.

I didn't know how much I became apart of this ward. The choir director found out that I can sing a tune last spring. The *hidden* talent was found out while we worked together on the ward road show. For five months she persuaded, beg, and pleaded for me to join the choir. I made some pretty insane excuses,( if desired to look at some these lame excuses see Sunday the day of Confrontations and Hints, come what may! Please note: you have been warned, they are stupid!).

I did joined the ward choir. As last week practice came to a close, I happen to say to my choir director that I might be moving, however difficult that has proven to be. Her response along with another sister in choir, went something like this.

CD: "Inventing excuses, what is up with inventing such excuses? I don't see a problem if you do leave, all what needs to be done is to come back and do the songs."

SIC: "You're leaving?"

Their was more to the conversation that I will not type up. As I looked at this sister as she said that comment, I felt like how she looked. Like I had slapped her. I didn't physically touched her, but the news brought on a mental slapped for her. I was surprised. I have realized some things.

No matter how much I tried to *distance* myself from the fellow ward members, it didn't happen.
With the news of possible of moving away from the ward, bought on a mental slap for not only this Sister, but for myself as well. We became friends. Not close, but friends non-the-less.
If I leave my new *ward family* I will miss them. Life will go on, someone else will take my calling, but no one can, or will replace *me*.

Things I learn along the road of life. I thought that it would be easy to distance myself, but last Sunday proved otherwise.

Cheers Everyone!

Secret Sisters

2010-04-17T10:10:00.004-06:00

As promised, the book tour of Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston.

Synopsis:

Ida Mae Babbitt, president of the Omni 2nd Ward Relief Society, didn't mean to become a spy. But when visiting teaching stats are low and she learns that one family under her care is in financial trouble, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure they have what they need. If that includes planting surveillance cameras in their home and watching them from a parked car in the woods, well, isn't that what any caring Relief Society president would do?

With the help of her counselors Arlette and Tansy, Ida Mae soon learns that there's more to the situation than meets the eye. It's all in a day's work for the Relief Society.

I like the side stories within this book, Tristi brings out a lot of good points. I do agree with the book synopsis of Secret Sisters Ida May, have brought the Relief Society to a completely new level! The book it's self is a fast easy, delightful read.

I think out of the whole book of characters Arlette was the most amusing for me. The woman is always knitting socks in strange colors, like magenta. She is a good supporting character.

On page 21, paragraph5 Tristi created this paragraph:

"Sure, Darcy was a "good girl." No one ever worried about her because she was good. But in labeling her that way, was it possible that her needs had been overlooked? Had they been so busy shepherding the"lost sheep" that they forgot to feed the ones in the pen?"

It just reminds me that we need to look after all of our needs.

Cheers Everyone!

Dating-An endangered Species?????

2010-03-28T21:18:00.018-06:00

Back when our grandparents were teens and young adults, life and dating were so much different. Our grandparents got married for survival. They needed to have a companion and children to work the farm or the family business.

Just for laughs and giggles:

Men got married because they needed a women to tell them that “The meat is bad. Lets put in the flour sack and bury it!” Mens response “Or lets make Mince Meat Pie out of it. Waste not, want not!”
Women got married because, if she did not, she would be forever with her family or be the local school teacher. If she was lucky, then she would be the that governess.

Now when our parents got married, it was out of companionship and family. Then during the late 70's inflation was on the rise. So now "mom" needed to go to work to help support the family. So corporation's had to recognized the "Woman Suffrage Movement," and found out that women are capable of doing the same jobs as man. So many women then opened doors for other women, that were never even opened before, so women are walking though those doors.

Now it is our turn, singles. Face it, a lot of us have stopped dating, or just date to have companionship on a Friday or Saturday night; before that lonely week begins once more. Some problems have arrived for us singles. Once-upon-a-time a woman was defined on her ability to have a husband and children. If she couldn't do it, then the poor woman would not be viewed as a woman, she has failed. Today, if a woman had a husband and children; society would not view her as a woman, she as failed; her status, she would not be a women or a person. Society view a woman as a person of value if she has a career. Divorce has been made legally easy, you can do it online in one day. The family now is not as sacred as it was during the time of our grandparents and earlier times. Times have changed indeed, and the Plan of Happiness becomes discourage. A friend of mine said:

“It is so hard to find a good man.”

I disagree, I find good men all the time whether they are LDS or not! What is hard is to get that good man to take up their responsibility and get married; LDS men, Priesthood responsibility. So Men are not the only ones reluctant to take up their traditional role's. I agree that it is hard to challenge what society has foisted on us. Society have made single life look glamorous, but we singles who are 30 and over know better; we are the ones who need to deal with the loneliness during the week. Oh sure, we compensate the loneliness with family; a lot of singles who has siblings who have children of their own; we surround ourselves with their children, to only go home and think:

"I now have my fill. How do they do it?"

Sometimes I get the sneakiest feeling that my nephews love to come over because they know they will get spoiled. Like I have said, we are compensating.

Now a mother of a teen boy of dating age told me this:

"My son and his friends are not dating, AT ALL! My daughter couldn't wait to start dating, my son, he is a different story. "

I remember being in my teen years and couldn't wait to start dating. All I could think of is how much fun it would be, to be with my friends and date the boys we thought were cute. Now that society has made single life looking virtually glamorous, these teens are a new generation of Non daters . If our parents and other family members are looking at us 30 something and shaking their heads and wounder if we will ever get married; the parents and other family members of this new young generation of Non daters are discourage, scared, worried, that the devil's opposition of our Father's Plan of Happiness are getting to their youth. This opposition is, to stay single and avoid eternal exaltation, or to become as miserable as the devil.

We all want to experience great happiness, this is the shocker, (yes,that was sarcasm), to achieve that great happiness we all need to follow God the Father's Plan of Happiness. Within A Proclamation to the World given by the First Presidency of the LDS church says this:

"In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally."

Within the LDS Church, we teach that you must be married before we can "Be fruitful, and multiply, (Gen. 1:28; Abr. 4:28). The reason is, again it is in the A Proclamation to the World:

"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."

Now all we need to do is to challenge what society has foisted on us; that single life is glamorous. To achieve this great happiness that God the Father wants us to have, we can't give up hope, it can happen. We must keep keep our eye on what God the Father wants us to have, all what He has, Eternal Life, and Happiness.

Please note:
I saw this title in the New Era that is put out by the LDS church, I thought that it was hilarious and had to borrow it. The real article is called "Is Dating Dead?" If anyone is interested you can subscribe this Magazine and others that the LDS church make online at Subscriptions, Renewal, and gifts. Pleas note that you do need to register to make such purchases.

An Irish Blessing.....

2010-03-08T13:32:00.004-07:00

Wishing you a rainbow,
For sunlight after showers.
Miles and Miles of Irish smiles,
For golden happy hours.
Shamrocks at your doorway,
For luck and Laughter too.
And a host of friends that never ends,
Each day your whole life though.

-Author unknown.

Cheer's Everyone! :)

Beaslty

2010-03-05T10:59:00.008-07:00

I think that this needed to be 2.5 stars. First of all I liked the basic story, but hated all of the sexual harassment, groping, drugs, alcohol, and the sexual innuendos. If that type junk was left out then this book would be good.

Am I saying this because I am LDS, and I live in a bubble? Quite the contrary. while I was growing up I lived by a family with 4 girls. The first girl was 12 when she was pregnant, she now has AIDS. The second I confess, I don't know what happen to her. The 3 girl was in and out of rehab; had a little girl who was born without a brain. That was the result of the hard drugs, and heavy alcohol abuse. The last girl, well she end up in jail; with a DUI and possession of drugs. The best substance is abstinence.

Come on authors, you don't need sex, drugs, or alcohol, to write a good story. Notice that a lot of peoples favorites are books who by no means has that type of junk in it; I understand not all people but a lot.

Teen's and the family are under enough pressure. With the family under attack, mom & dad are hardly home, so-call-friends getting teens to do stuff because it is all the rage, or everyone it doing it; you authors don't need to part of the problem, but part of the solution.

Cheers Everyone!

Tell us what you REALY think.....

2010-02-26T12:21:00.004-07:00

I went to the library yesterday, I picked up a few books that people have suggested that I should read. When I went to check out the books I saw a small questionnaire form. On the top it read:

"Tell us what you really think..... Have you read an e-book yet? "

My answer? A resounding YES!

Now the future is e-books. Some are free, just like library books, with others their is a small fee. The cool thing is that, you can read in the DARK, with out your FLASH LIGHT!

Now I understand that their is something very personal about the traditional book in your had. Not only you can write notes in the margin of the pages of your book; but when you get frustrated with the characters in the book and you throw it, the book won't break, unlike an e-reader. No, I have never thrown an E-reader..........yet.........I hope that never happens. That book get even more personal when the author signs it, I so have a few of those.

The bad thing is that the e-readers will somehow one day make the public libraries obsolete. New public libraries will be found online. Take goodreads for instance you can download e-books for free. I expect that we will find more and more e-books to down load on line in the future. Meanwhile I will continue to go to that library and find the books that I can't find to down load.

Happy Reading! :)

Entertainment for Singles Awareness Week/Day

2010-02-10T23:05:00.012-07:00

This is a list of Entrainment for Singles awareness week/day. Within these list, (book and movie), are all about spurned love, tragic love, or it-took-awhile-for-the-characters-to-know-what-is-going-on love. Anyhow take a book or a movie, either on these list's or a book/movie that I have not listed and eat some popcorn with other single friends, (if you have decided to have Feb. 14 to be a movie night).

As of right now, I am reading The Scarlet Pimpernel, (so not like the movie). This is a paragraph from The Scarlet Pimpernel. pg 125, paragraph#2, Sir Percy Blakeney is speaking to Lady Marguerite Blakeney:

"Yet 'tis simple enough," he,(Sir Percy Blakeney), said with sudden bitterness, which seemed literally to surged though his words, though he was making visible efforts to suppress it, "I humbly put the question to you,(Lady Marguerite Blakeney), for my slow wits are unable to grasp the cause of this, your ladyship's sudden new mood. Is it that you have the taste to renew the devilish sport which you played so successfully last year? Do you wish to see me once more a love-sick suppliant at your feet, so that you might again have the pleasure of kicking me aside, like a troublesome lap-dog?"

Books:

Movies:

Google SketchUp

2010-02-04T07:40:00.007-07:00

I have found an article called Google workshop to help parents and teachers of children of Autism. Using a 3D program that is used and originally made for architects, however the entertainment industry have used this program also. Google have decided to put the program to use for a different type of audience, that audience is children with ASD,(Autism Spectrum Disorder), called Google SketchUp .

This is free to download, watch a video, create your own models, share with friends, and it is also for educators.

Also on Saturday February 6 10 a.m. to noon at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, 320 Alfred Emery Building, 225 S. 1400 East in President's Circle. The designer of SketchUp and a designer for Universal Creative will be at the University of Utah for a presentation on Google SketchUp.

Cheers!

Valentines day craft

2010-02-02T13:20:00.004-07:00

Ok I'm not really a crafty person, I need to be in the mood to do things like this. The mood needs to be after, I have no problem cleaning up after the mess. But I got creative. My mom had these wood cut outs, I painted one she did the other.

Mine is the pink one on the right. My mom did the one of the left. The creative part is that I used Pink Twinkle, glitter nail polish, on the wood lace that surrounds the word love. On the word it's self I used Pink glitter glue. It doesn't look half bad.

For what my mom used was just regular acrylic paint. But used red glitter glue on the on the small heart, and the same glitter glue was used for the dots on the white wood lace.

What a great way to decorate for Singles Awareness Day. You know what they say:

"The sky is the limit!"

Cheers!

My Epistle: Dear Sweeter

2010-02-01T12:54:00.005-07:00

My dearest sweeter, (sweater)

You have been so kind to this past winter, and you still are. I have enjoyed your warmth, and the feel of you against my skin. Oh how I have loved you during those cold, windblown, snowing nights. How I have love to have you near while I was drinking hot chocolate, curled up on the couch with a blanket, reading.

I have to confess something very important, I have Spring fever. So to day I did something that I know you would detest. I wore my short-sleeve shirt, purple; you know the one, you have shared the same closet for over a year.

I know what you are thinking. It's still cold! It snowed only yesterday, and still you choose an article of clothing that is for spring and summer! Please now my dear sweater, don't overreact, please. I am sure that before this day is out, I will put you on over my purple short-sleeve shirt; it is as you are thinking it is still cold out, but as of now, it is just the shirt.

I would appreciated that you would not remind me of February 14, singles awareness day out of spite. I am aware that day is stocking me. Boy do I know, I am the one who is single, after all. Mother always reminds me of just that often enough. Just yesterday in church she found out that their is a group of single young men who will go to the temple every Friday. How do I know this? I was bombarded by Relief Society women after church, they told me along with my mother's reaction. Just know dear sweater I have not forgotten you, it is just this blasted fever that I have.

You must understand, it is the first of February. That means that Spring is just around the corner also. So you must know of my anticipation for rock climbing, fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, running around in my sandals, or bare foot. How delightful would that be!

So again I plead with you, don't be angry. As much as I love the changing of the seasons, but my favorite time of the year is almost hear! My soul feels like it will almost burst with anticipation, and joy. All that I ask of you is that you will be happy for me.

With all of my love dear sweeter,(sweater).
Hollie

Now to all of you who are reading this. I really do have spring fever, and I am a huge fan of the warmer weather. So this was just all in fun, and I am warring a purple short sleeve shirt. :)

Cheers!

Young Single Adults & Dating

2010-01-14T15:35:00.005-07:00

Yet again the subject of dating and YSA are back. I think that this will never go away, as much as we want it to.

I have been part of a online discussion on the question;

"Why are their so many YSA's?"

The answer varies from person to person. Coming from a females point of view, a lot of girls are freaked out, we keep hearing from the media *X* number of spouses are disappearing. I have found this article "He says She says" by Kimberly Webb. It is a good read.

Parents and family members are frustrated that their son/daughter are still single. Sadly I fall into that group, I'm just as frustrated. One parent was so frustrated that he has suggested that arrange marriage should make a come back. To be honest I am so freaked out about that. I could just see divorce numbers sky rocked.

One question was, why are so many YSA's ignoring prophetic council. What I have notice is that a lot of us think that we are *smarter* then God. As in: We are in control of our lives, we can do what we please, if we half to pay for it later, that will be later. I know that a lot of us YSA's will half to face God and tell him why we are not proactive in seeking for that eternal spouse, or not get married altogether.

When I was in Young Woman's, the lessons were “Because dating is a preparation for marriage, date only those who have high standards, who respect your standards, and in whose company you can maintain the standards of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (For the Strength of Youth, p. 7).
This is all wonderful council, to the youth of the world, not just the church. This brings up a question of:

"Have we YSA's got so used to group dating/hanging out that we got into that habit?"

So problem is that YSA's are not being proactive in getting out their and dating, they are more incline to *hang out*. The problem with that is people don't know who they are with. In my former singles branch, the branch presidency was always freaked out that everyone in the branch was committing fornication, to my knowledge nobody was fornicating, as well as dating. They would constantly tell us to always be in a group, and get married. Yes, that is such a problem, Elder Dallin H. Oaks says this, in Dating versus Hanging Out

"Young women, resist too much hanging out, and encourage dates that are simple, inexpensive, and frequent. Don’t make it easy for young men to hang out in a setting where you women provide the food. Don’t subsidize freeloaders. An occasional group activity is OK, but when you see men who make hanging out their primary interaction with the opposite sex, I think you should lock the pantry and bolt the front door.

If you do this, you should also hang up a sign, “Will open for individual dates,” or something like that. And, young women, please make it easier for these shy males to ask for a simple, inexpensive date. Part of making it easier is to avoid implying that a date is something very serious. If we are to persuade young men to ask for dates more frequently, we must establish a mutual expectation that to go on a date is not to imply a continuing commitment. Finally, young women, if you turn down a date, be kind. Otherwise you may crush a nervous and shy questioner and destroy him as a potential dater, and that could hurt some other sister."

Awesome council if you asked me. My young singles branch presidency, should have said something like that to us. I don't think that it is right for ether men or women to mooch off of each other, or to go on a date just because you have nothing to do that night. As singles we must be sensitive to each other. Don't date just because, date because you are interested. The way I see it if you date just to get out of the house, you might just pass up an opportunity with someone who is interested in you; that person might think that they will never be good enough.

Hope

2010-01-10T07:41:00.001-07:00

I so love to be reminded of things like this. Never give up.

Autism and Education

2009-12-30T11:13:00.004-07:00

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

2009-12-22T11:39:00.003-07:00

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.

2009-12-14T14:53:00.003-07:00

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)

2009-12-11T20:49:00.003-07:00

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!

2009-12-06T19:47:00.003-07:00

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

2009-11-23T13:50:00.005-07:00

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

2009-11-19T18:22:00.006-07:00

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

2009-11-05T10:21:00.010-07:00

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

2009-10-30T17:46:00.005-06:00

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 photo s. 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

2009-10-23T13:47:00.006-06:00

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

2009-10-22T18:28:00.006-06:00

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

2009-10-12T12:18:00.005-06:00

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

2009-09-30T11:17:00.005-06:00

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

2009-09-24T07:50:00.006-06:00

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!

2009-09-23T11:55:00.005-06:00

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.

2009-09-14T12:03:00.006-06:00

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

2009-09-11T11:23:00.003-06:00

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!

Total Eclipse of the Heart-Literal Version

2009-09-08T15:49:00.002-06:00

This is great!

New adventures

2009-08-27T12:38:00.002-06:00

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

2009-08-21T15:13:00.005-06:00

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!

2009-08-07T10:35:00.005-06:00

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

2009-08-04T20:00:00.005-06:00

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

2009-08-03T13:16:00.006-06:00

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...................

2009-07-27T19:12:00.002-06:00

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.

2009-07-21T09:01:00.003-06:00

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 pane, 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

2009-07-20T12:52:00.005-06:00

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

2009-07-18T10:18:00.006-06:00

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

2009-07-10T22:17:00.002-06:00

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

2009-07-09T11:36:00.003-06:00

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

2009-07-08T17:52:00.003-06:00

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

2009-07-01T16:22:00.005-06:00

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

2009-06-29T16:07:00.003-06:00

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

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

2009-06-27T00:27:00.006-06:00

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

2009-06-25T20:24:00.004-06:00

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.

2009-06-22T11:20:00.001-06:00

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

2009-06-19T12:03:00.002-06:00

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

2009-06-18T01:01:00.000-06:00

Amen!

Cheers Everyone!!!!

Blog

2009-06-17T16:42:00.003-06:00

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

2009-06-16T11:32:00.007-06:00

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.

2009-06-14T14:59:00.006-06:00

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

2009-06-09T10:04:00.003-06:00

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

2009-06-08T14:49:00.003-06:00

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

2009-06-06T15:26:00.003-06:00

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

2009-06-04T15:31:00.006-06:00

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

2009-06-03T14:59:00.003-06:00

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!