"It's A Wonderful Life"...Not Just For Christmas

 Family and friends have gathered and we have a decision to make...what movie do we put on while we prepare dinner and get ready for the New Years Eve festivities?

Why not, It's a Wonderful Life?

That's a good question, and the obvious answer is also a question...why not?

 I don't think I've ever watched one of my favorite movies on New Years Eve before. We watch it every year before Christmas and usually on Christmas Day (if not several times...). For me, it's a timeless film. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to be in a stage play production of the show. Now, whenever I watch the film, the memories of those amazing casts return, making the show even that much better for me.

But, I don't think I've ever watched the show the week after Christmas. 

Other than the ending scene where everyone sings Auld Lang Syne, what makes this a "New Years Eve flick" and not just a "Christmas film?"

It's a tale of reflection. George Bailey is given the opportunity to see, not only who he is, but what he means to the world. I don't know if many of us go this deep on New Years Even when reflecting on things, but there's a connection.

It's a tale of starting over. Many people--myself included--use the New Year as a focal point to do better, to improve, to make the next year better than the previous. That's what George does--he just doesn't come out and say it in that manner.

It's a tale of redemption. Thanks to the help of others, George realizes his contribution to his family, his community, even to every man on that transport. He is saved as the bell tolls and the music fades.

Of course, you could watch the show on many holidays throughout the year. Memorial Day/Veterans Day, lots of time dedicated to the war and those who served. You could watch this on Independence Day. This movie is such an example of a truly American film. It's part teen comedy--George and Mary's courtship (though short as it was). And, naturally, you can watch it at Halloween, what with all the ghosts and alternative realities...it's a natural.

Maybe next year when we gather, God willing, I'll recommend we watch, It's a Wonderful Life on New Years Eve.

Why not?

Happy New Years, everyone!

Probably Should Get Back To The Story...

 A few weeks ago, instead of taking the week between Christmas and New Years off, I asked to have every Thursday off in December. I had "Use-Or-Lose" time to burn. I thought it was a great idea, and for the most part, it has been, but on this last of my "no work" Thursdays, my thoughts have circled back to recent events that I don't necessarily want to think about.

How to escape?

I probably should get back to the story.

Last spring I stopped writing a novel I've written/thought about/fiddled with/tinkered with/and planned for years. I wrote the final climatic scene leaving only a few loose ends to wrap up. Then, I let it sit. I have many author friends who are writing machines--they never stop writing. I admire them and hope to one day be like them, but right now, I'm a weekend writer (if only I would write every weekend...). 

Sure, I've filled the day doing things that need doing, but tonight, with thoughts of this past horrible week, I decided to open SCRIVENER and see what I could do. I've got one more chapter to write, a chapter that brings one group of characters to their destination. They will then find out something so shocking, the characters (and more importantly, the readers...) will demand more information. That information--part of it, anyway--will be revealed in Book 2, the sequel. Once I finish that chapter, I can go back, clean up the story (and it needs cleaning...), then move on to the next phase of being an author...editing, pitching, praying.

Many people say that when they read, they escape in the pages of a book. They can forget about their lives for a brief period and enter a different world. The same can be said of the author who writes the words. In fact, I wonder if most books are written that way. Looks like mine will.

Gone...Just Gone

Today was the first time in over fifty-three years I woke up in a world in which my sister was not a part. It's been a surreal experience since Monday when we learned of the incident that took my sister's life. Yesterday, there was hope, but after we found out the details, the hope dimmed. The human body is not designed to survive what she went through. A test performed last night confirmed what all of us knew...no brain function...no way to come back from that.

She was surrounded by her children when they last breathes came, then stopped. 

And just like that, she was gone...just gone.

Why is it that some with the biggest hearts have those hearts fail them? If you knew my sister, you knew she was a caring person, sometimes to a fault. She wanted everyone to be happy...an impossibility in an imperfect world, but don't tell her that--she'd only try to not only change your mind, but prove the impossible possible. It's ironic her heart gave out...one of her best qualities.

Of the three of us, my sister took our mother's passing the hardest. Maybe it was that mother-daughter bond. Maybe she was my mom's favorite. Maybe it was just the way it was. If there's any consolation in this, it's that she's with my mom and with our father whom she barely knew. The thought of her being with him, getting to know our dad...what a wonderful gift.

As I woke up, the dreams fading and reality setting in, I thought of the word, "gone." When my brother called with the news we already knew, he said she was gone. The words "passed" or "died" have such specific meanings...they're definite, specific, final. But "gone" is different. People go places. Mom's gone to the store. Son's gone to college. To me, it means there's a returning, albeit implied, but it's there. My sister's gone, only not coming back in the world we think we understand.

But, maybe she's not gone. She's not gone to her two children and their children. She's not gone to cousins and aunts and uncles and two her two brothers left behind. She's in the smiles of her granddaughters, the laugh of her grandson. When my brother and I and our families meet up on Memorial Day at the Farmington City Cemetery, even though they'll be three names etched in stone instead of just our parents, she'll be there.

I am going to miss my sister. She had some tough times in her life, physical, and otherwise. She was much too young to have this happen. There was so much life ahead of her, but such is the way of things...life has no guarantees.

I've been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and prayers for our family since the news was announced earlier today. It means so much. We now turn our attention to a memorial and all that involves, followed by living our lives without her by our side. Goodnight, Sis. It isn't right and it doesn't seem fair, but I'm eternally grateful you were part of the family and proud to call myself your big brother. Rest easy, and enjoy the family reunion.

The Secret To Their Success...It's Funny

 There's a saying out there that I've heard many times. I don't know where it originated or how long it's been around, but the fact that I still hear it, it must be true.

Funny is hard.

For example, in the world of acting, have you ever wondered why people who are best known as "funny" (comedians, comedic actors, etc...) can be excellent dramatic actors, but it's rare when an actor known for their dramatic rolls tries comedy? It's because it's tougher to be a good comedic actor than a dramatic one. It's not a two-way street.

I finished Marvel's latest television series last week, Hawkeye, and I was impressed. I wondered why I liked it so much--it had most of the elements found in a Marvel franchise...action, explosions, daring tricks that defy both logic and physics. No, the thing that they did well--and what almost ALL Marvel shows do well--is it was funny.

There were moments when I LOL'd--yes, laughed out loud. Looking back, the humor in those movies and series is, in my opinion, the one of the biggest keys to their success. In a similar way, we have been known to watch a lot of Hallmark movies, some may or may not be downloaded to our DVR at this very moment. There's one thing that all those downloaded Hallmark films have in common...

They're funny.

They have humor as a major part of the plot, of the dialogue, of the story. 

Of course, not all shows intended to be funny actually are funny. Writing humorous dialogue is one of the toughest things to do...ask any writer (the funny writers might say it's easy, and if so, don't believe them--they're being modest...).

I recommend Hawkeye. There's a good chance I'll watch it again, and when I do, I'll probably LOL...

Again.

Sometimes...I Don't Feel Like Writing

It doesn't happen often, but there are times when I don't feel like writing...writing anything really. I'm a few posts shy of four-thousand on this blog so you'd think I can write something...write anything, really. And I have pushed through in the past, and I'll push through tonight...

And tomorrow night...

And God willing, for as long as possible.

A snow squall ripped through a few hours ago. After, I went outside and took pictures of our front door. Not the most interesting pictures I've ever posted (though some might say I've posted less...). Still, I thought it exemplified my mood...cold, but tinged with the fading memory of a holiday.

The squall has passed, but another storm waits in the west. Such is life...we experience the bad weather then it's replaced by the good. Then, another bout hits us and the whole circus begins all over again. Today's been one of those days.

And just like that, another post is done. Not the most interesting I've ever posted (though some might say I've posted less...). But, it's done.

Give Thanks...Second (And More...) Chances

 You may have already seen this extremely funny meme (funny, of course, is subjective, but I think it's funny...).

There's a reason Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is still read, performed, quoted, watched almost two centuries after it was written. It tells a story of a man with values that are misplaced and because of those misplaced values, his life has gone in a certain direction. The story teaches us that had he chose differently or embraced other values, things would have been different.

And because of the hauntings and the lessons taught (and learned...) in the story, Ebenezer Scrooge changes. He makes different choices and his actions directly affect the lives of many others.

Thank God for second chances.

As this year ends and a new one begins, many take time to reflect on where they are. Many make resolutions to improve their situation. They get a second chance. I've had (and needed...) more than my share of second chances. I'm grateful that they are there.

Dickens wove a ghost story that continues to impact us today. I'm glad he wrote a tale of second (and more...) chances. Now...if I only didn't need those second chances in the first place. That's the key.

Last Christmas...The Title Means Something Different Now

 Over the past couple of weeks I, like many of you, have listened to Christmas music. Listen to it long enough and you'll begin to hear repeats of songs, then three-peats of songs, and so on. For several decades a little number from Wham! entitled, Last Christmas has made its annual showing--there's even bands doing covers of the hit. A few years ago the made a movie with that title...never saw it--know nothing about it.

But the song...we can't seem to escape it.

The song is a parable of sorts...a song of regret and resolution to make changes so next year the singer won't make the same mistake as they did this year. There's not much to the song. High poetry it is not, but it's an upbeat ditty, the kind of tune that sticks with you, stays in your head. I'm sure that's one of the keys to its success.

I've thought a lot about the song this year, not so much the lyrics or the melody, but the title...

Last Christmas.

Since March 2020, so much has changed. I think the whole world thinks about life and mortality differently. People were with us one day, then gone the next. Of course, this happens all the time, sickness, accidents, age can take lives in an instant. But, we all know people who have left us since the day the world changed.

Last Christmas...this year my children and their only living grandparent came together. We played games and ate too much delicious food. We were blessed with safety from the storm that blew in and shared the warmth that only family affords. Though there were some small changes, this year's holiday reflected pretty much what we did last year.

If the past two years have taught us anything, it's that there's no guarantees, no way to know for sure if we'll be here next year to gather and enjoy those we love.

I have friends and family that--unbeknownst to them--last Christmas was their last Christmas. If asked, I'm sure they would have said they had a wonderful holiday, but if they had known it was the last time they'd have the opportunity to share the day with loved ones, would they have done anything differently? Would they have changed anything?

I hope this was not the last Christmas for any of us and that in exactly a year from today we can once again gather with our favorite people like many of us did today. I hope we've lived in such a way that we can honestly say, "I wouldn't change a thing." I hope when we think of last Christmas, it won't be a regrettable one...you know, like the song.

Happy Christmas...From TheTop Of Utah

 The family's chilling in the basement playing games. I took break to sneak outside and snap a quick photo...not the best photo, but you can see our little inflatable nativity scene and some newly-fallen snow. It's been a wonderful day.

Sometimes, like tonight, we feel a million miles away from others. We're only an hour north from where we once lived, but the distance feels sometimes (like tonight...) compounded. Then again, leaving the world behind and being gathered under one roof with your loved ones does not necessarily guarantee an isolated feeling, but it can be one of gratitude and reflection.

Navigating this world is not supposed to always be easy...there's a lot of pain, a lot of trails, roadblocks, things that get in your way. Yet, on the other hand, through the pain and heartache comes growth and development. Tonight I'm blessed to be surrounded by family. Many are not. Many have people missing at the dinner table, presents not under the tree for loved ones this year. I pray for their comfort, for we will all be them one day...if not this Christmas, then one in the future. One day that missing place, those missing presents will have been for us.

I hope all who this post reaches will enjoy the day, enjoy the time. I know if they reflect on others, it will be a good day. Happy Christmas from the Top of Utah! May your day be wonderful.

Recognize This Puppy...?

 As Christmas approaches, I have found myself in store after store the past couple of weeks. Sometimes I'm the one shopping, sometimes I'm along for the ride. When it's the latter, I will check out what there is to see in whatever store I'm in.

So it happened today. While others searched for items to make the holidays even better, I spotted a tower of greeting cards. It was a little out of the way--sure it was at the end of an aisle, but not prominent...sort of an afterthought. This isn't to blame the store or those inside the store for short-changing these cards. It seemed to me that if anyone were looking for a card, they can easily find the selection of cards and hopefully find a card that suits their needs.

One card stuck out to me...

This particular card--a card with a puppy in a denim jacket and sunglasses holding a drink.

Maybe it's just me, but I definitely saw a resemblance to a certain famous musician.

I opened the card to see if the puppy was supposed to resemble the musician, but nope...it was a card that highlighted the dog, the jacket, the drink, and the glasses. 

If you're of a certain age, there's no denying the dog looks like a specific person. Though not perhaps a household name, you will most likely recognize the music he's created (in the various bands...) and the music he'd produced (in the various bands...). He is a legend, so much so, that when I saw the pup, I thought of no one else.

If you recognize the person the puppy looks like, then you know what I'm talking about. If not, well...that's a shame.

A "Northern Utah" Star Is Born...

It was the stuff of dreams, a fairytale story that seemed appropriate for Tinseltown. The storyline of the Utah State University football team was already a winner...what happened on the field only added to the magic. And the next day the country woke up to something new...

A star was born, and he was from Northern Utah.

If you didn't see the inaugural Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl game played last Saturday, December 18th, you may think it was just another in a long line of non-New Years Six bowl games. A program from the Pac-12 and another from the Mountain West conference met in Los Angeles, each team having something to prove. 

For Oregon State, who came within one game of playing in the Pac-12 Championship (and the only conference team to beat Pac-12 Champions, Utah...), they wanted the country to know they were good, better than their record...good enough to have won it all.

For the Aggies of Utah State, well, after proving all the critics wrong and beating nationally-ranked San Diego State in the Mountain West Championship game, they wanted to prove to the country that they could beat a second team from a Power Five conference, and like their foe, to let everyone know they were good, too.

The game turned out to be more than just another bowl game, at least, it was for me--a USU Aggie fan.

If you do an internet search of the game, one name will scream out from any story, that of third-string USU quarterback Cooper Legas, and deservedly so. He replaced the starting Aggie quarterback after an injury in the second quarter--a quarterback that did so much to get the team to that game in the first place. 

If you didn't know his name before, after one play, everyone knew Cooper Legas. He was--according to the commentators--the first college player ever to throw a touchdown pass with his very first throw in the very first play in the player's very first bowl game--ever. From there, his inspired play continued. 

I re-watched the game over the weekend. It wasn't so much the accurate passes or the way he ran the offense, but what impressed me was the poise he showed, the way he looked like a seasoned vet on the field against a very good defense. He was just good, flat out good.

USU won the game and the team lifted Cooper on their shoulders to show their appreciation. You don't see that very often because it's rare. Football is a team sport. The record-braking touchdown pass would not have happened without the receiver who caught the ball and ran it in, or without the offensive line that kept the defense from reaching the quarterback. So, for all of them to lift him on their shoulders like that...it showed me they were as impressed as the rest of us.

The season's over. And now it's time for every fan to sit back and consider, what will the future bring? For those following Utah State, they'll think about how on a December night in LA, a Northern Utah star was born.

Twas The Weekend Before Christmas...

 If you look closely at the picture above, you may be able to see a layer of fog hugging the valley floor over the marshlands of western Cache Valley. For those of you familiar with the valley, you may have seen this numerous times. I lived in Cache Valley for a few months almost forty years ago. I never saw the fog. Then again, I never knew there was marshland on the west side.

Going to school at Utah State University for one quarter didn't allow me a lot of time to explore the region.

I had heard there was a road connecting Logan with Box Elder County on the north side, but...once again...I never saw the road, either.

My loss.

The first time I drove on the road was a year ago, shortly after moving north. There's a gentle rise as the road curves east. You pass Beaver Dam, then Petersboro, then the road turns again and the Cache Valley opens up below. The first time we saw it, it blew us away.

Twas the weekend before Christmas...and that's as far as I'm going to go trying to come up with new words to the classic poem. As self-contained as our valley is, there are things unobtainable here. We have to venture either due east, or southeast for supplies. And as parents, preparing for Christmas is a never-ending pursuit to "get everything done" before the big day. This year, we're doing okay, but there's always something we'll miss.

The layer of mist spread across the valley. The white mountains matched the cloud resting just feet above the water and grasses. It was beautiful.

We shopped and searched for things we need and things we don't necessarily need. By the time we drove west, the fog had disappeared, blended into the nearly frozen air above. I hope one day we'll be fortunate enough to see the mist again. Maybe next year...maybe on the weekend before Christmas.

Thank You Robert...The Honor Was Mine

 I've been blogging for ten--almost eleven--years. It's more a hobby, something I do that takes a few minutes (relatively speaking...) out of my day. For me blogging is a way to keep a digital journal, a way to honor friends, especially those who have passed on. It's a way for me to keep up on my writing and a way to express myself in a somewhat creative way.

And because I write daily, it's hard to spend more than a few minutes (relatively speaking...) of my day to dedicate to my thoughts. If you're observant of blogs, you can tell...I just don't put in the time. It looks okay--passable--but it's not "visually pleasant." For me, the blog serves its purpose.

Something interesting happened a few weeks ago. I was asked to be a guest blogger. That has never happened before. I thought it was an honor to be asked. Now that the guest blog has been written and posted, I can say, not only was it an honor, but a special honor for me.

The blog is called The Lemonade Initiative. A member of a family I've known for over a half a century asked me to help out. The subject I was given was "Inspiration." I immediately thought of my father. A better example of an inspiring person for me cannot be found.

Sometimes blog posts are a little tougher to write than others. Not this post--I could write about my dad all day long. In an afternoon I wrote up the blog and submitted it. It came out today on The Lemonade Initiative. You can read it by clicking the link: HERE. I recommend you check it out yourself.

I was blown away.

Robert, the creative mind behind The Lemonade Initiative did an amazing job with the post. It's beautifully designed--very pleasing to the eyes. He even went the extra mile and found some pictures I've posted on my own blog in the past and included them with my words. I'm a big believer in having visuals to a blog--it can add so much. 

Because I've written so many blogs, I can see the care Robert puts into his creation. I can see he wants it to be a work of art. And he's succeeded. And he's succeeding.

Thank you, Robert for the opportunity. The honor was all mine.

Give Thanks...For Neighbor Gifts At Christmas

 

Last year, we handed out gifts to neighbors...to people we didn't even really know. We'd only been in the neighborhood a few months and because of covid, we didn't spend a lot of time hanging out with...well, anyone. And they brought us tasty treats in return.

It's one of the things I love about Christmas and the accompanying traditions.

Why do we do this? And do people in other states and countries do the same? I know that, at least for us living in Utah, neighbors prepare plates of goodies and take them around to the neighbors. I spent three Christmases outside of the state (two of which outside of the country...) and to be honest, I can't really remember us doing the same thing when I lived away, though it's likely we did.

When I think about it, I'm pretty sure most people do kind things for neighbors at Christmas, for those who celebrate Christmas. Why wouldn't they? For the most part, people are generally good. If they weren't, society would not succeed. There must be a foundation of trust for humans to successfully interact, and trust can only exist when people are--for the most part--good.

I'm grateful to be surrounded by neighbors who take time out of their day to think about each other. I must admit that the treats we received from others have all been homemade, unlike the ones we passed out. Still, I'll put the butter cookies up against almost anything.

Last year, we knew almost no one here. Since then, a year has passed and I'm happy to say we know our neighbors better than we did twelve months ago. And next year, God willing, we'll know each other better when Christmas comes around.

It's one of the things I love about Christmas and those accompanying traditions.

Where's Your Home's..."Chamber Of Secrets?"

 Even though the term became famous from a second book in the most successful literary series of all time, in our house we have our own Chamber of Secrets. 

It's the master bedroom closet.

Of course, everyone living in our house knows it's where our Chamber of Secrets can be found. The location of the room is not "secret," but what it contains, is...

Or at least, some of it is.

But, is it good to have secrets, any secrets? Some say yes, others, no. Personally, I believe there's a time for truth and a time for that truth to be revealed later. Secrets can be good or bad, depending on the circumstances. Normally, there's pretty much nothing in our Chamber of Secrets that can't be known by anyone in the house. This is, however, a special time of year.

Growing up, I found the Chamber of Secrets in various places in my childhood home. The first one I remembered was an unfinished half-bath on the main floor of the home my father never got to finish. It was a good choice, but once the secret was out, it was no longer technically a "Chamber of Secrets."

It moved to different locations, and I believe, during the final years I lived at that house as a teenager, the chamber became mobile, then was located off-site. There might have been a sub-chamber somewhere--I'm not sure. If so, it truly was a secret chamber.

One day my kids will have their own homes where their family will work and play, eat and sleep...and they'll have Chambers of Secrets, too. 

I wonder if I'll ever find them...

Time will tell.

Maybe I Should Just Become A Cat Photographer...

 Because we have a semi-large dog that does not "appreciate" the uniqueness of cats, we have divided our home. We have cat zones and dog zones. So far, no complaints (that I understand...) from the animals. Oh, I'll bet they would enjoy free-range of the whole house, but animals make questionable decisions at times, so we do not allow that to happen.

One of the cat zones is upstairs, pretty much in our bedroom. We try to make it a nice space for Sam-Dean. He has different rooms to explore, a hallway where he can look through the gate and see humans and a big dog, and one of his favorite things--a large window where he can look out over his kingdom.

Maybe it's the natural light, but something about that window can often times bring a wonderful place to take photos...of the cat.

Maybe I should become a cat photographer.

Ever since my mother bought me an incredible piece of photographic technology--my Olympus OM-10--back in 1979, I've tinkered with the idea of becoming a professional photographer. I've never done more than tinker...nope. But thanks to social media, I've been able to post some of my favorite photos and not-so-favorite photos. Many have left some wonderful comments on these pictures.

Being a photographer is sort of like being a writer. Sometimes finding stuff to photograph (or finding stuff to write about...) can be daunting. Maybe I could spend all my time taking photographs of the cats. I mean, why not? Many people love cats. They spend half their lives watching cat videos, so we all know the market exists. 

In all seriousness, many people make a living photographing animals and many of them photograph cats. Cats are part of this natural world and nature can be beautiful. There are others who maybe don't make a living with their photography, but love the art form anyway. I could do much worse trying to find a fascinating subject to photograph. 

A Day I Thought I'd Never See...An Open Farmington City Post Office

Went back to my old stopping grounds today. It's only been a little over a year since I drove up and down State Street going to and from the home of my youth and adulthood. Though, not many, I see some changes here and there, small changes in the old neighborhood. In fact, I'd say if I walked out of the front door where I lived and interacted with the neighbors, things would be pretty much the same.

However, there was one change I noticed...

A very big change.

The Farmington, Utah branch of the US Post Office is open, not almost open, not the parking lot is finished but the building is still closed open. And to prove the openness was authentic, I actually parked the car and went inside.

I can attest to the fact that the building is, indeed, open.

You maybe thinking, "He's going a little overboard about this whole open thing," but if you lived in Farmington for the past...oh, I don't know...ten years, you would see the existing post office that was once new about forty-five years ago, closed for renovations. I think, if the rumors are true, they were going to build a big super-nice post office where the old post office once was. Instead, they left the old building and re-did part of the front, at least, that's what it looks like to those of us watching the slow transformation of the federal building.

I'm glad it's finally open. See--some changes can be good.

The Struggle...Is Real

We've had the inflatable nativity scene for years. We don't do a lot of Christmas Decorating, but we saw the nativity in a store and thought it was perfect. Over the years, a few of the lights in the display have burned out and I haven't been able to replace them. I suppose in a few more years, the remaining lights will go and we'll have to make a decision.

It seems everyone in my home state has shown pictures on social media from a much-needed show storm that blew in last night. The pictures--for the most part--were beautiful, but I'm a sucker for a good winter landscape. In the past, we've been able to set up our inflatable nativity scene close to the house, someplace we could get to. With the new house, we found a place that's a little more out of the way.

Last night's storm covered everything in white, cars, streets, sidewalks, tumbleweeds, even Christmas decorations. After a few hours in the sun, I thought enough snow had melted off the display so I turned on the power and watched...

The struggle is real.

Mary made the most progress. She rose about halfway, but Joseph and the manager kept her down. Now, I could have walked through the snow and smacked the display a few times. It would have popped right up.

 Did I do that?

Nope.

I stood on our porch and threw chunks of snow at the thing until it rose like a frozen phoenix.

I know, it's not much of a story, but I thought it was fun and I had a good time taking shots at the Holy Family.

 

Everyone's Got A Guilty Pleasure...Mine's "Transformers"

 It's true. Everyone has a guilty pleasure.

When it comes to movies, I think we all have a film that whenever it's on, we stop and watch--if not the whole thing, at least part of it. Last night I was channel surfing and I came across one of my guilty viewing pleasures...

Transformers

I'm sorry. I know there's a lot not to necessary like about the film. It's "over the top" and gratuitous in places. I know that the film's protagonist went on to have a turbulent career with several questionable choices (both onscreen and off...). I know that it's the type of movie where you turn off the logical side of your brain and just watch, but I can't help it.

I think it's a gas.

Being the first of many, the movie that starts a franchise needs to be good. I thought the casting in Transformers was exceptional. The side characters make me laugh every time. It's well-paced. There's lots of action, even if much of it makes little sense. We have patriotic themes, fantasy themes, science fiction themes, government conspiracy themes...lets face it--it's got it all.

The show was on last night and so I sat down and watched it unfold. Nerdy kid gets his first car, a car that's not really a car, but an alien. Nerdy boy also gets the "bad" girl and together the work with government officials, military heroes, and sidekicks to literally save the world from invasion.

The film spawned others, two more with Shea LaBeouf, then two more, with another slated for 2023 (at least, according to IMDb where I lifted these photos without permission...). I do not like any of the other Transformer films as much as I like the original, though I did enjoy Bumblebee, mostly because the alien is a VW, not a Camaro. It is also a guilty pleasure, though they don't play that one as much as Transformers.

There will be a time in the future, I will once again find myself surfing the channels and I will come upon this film--first debuted in 2007--and I'll find myself watching it, and enjoying it again.

Living In The Land Of The Tumbling Tumbleweeds...

 Last summer, it was a race against time for our new neighborhood. We all worked hard to get our yards in before the winter hit. We started putting in our yard in April. Thankfully, that was enough time for us to get most of it in. A few neighbors across the street were able to complete their projects as well.

There's a house on our street that wasn't able to put in their yard...they'll have to wait until next spring. But, last weekend we woke to the sound of a four-wheeler puttering around the neighborhood. When we looked out, we saw they had attached a blade to front of the four-wheeler and they were removing most of the weeds that had accumulated throughout the past year.

Boy...there were a lot of weeds.

Growing up, we'd see movies set in the old west and inevitably, a lone tumbleweed would lazily roll across a dusty road. I never really thought too much about those weeds. That is, until we moved up north. Those things are all over the place, and we've found them tumbling into and around our yard. Having dealt with them in an up close and personal way, I can say I do not like tumbleweeds. They're nasty things. They have small barbs that can easily attach to your skin...nasty things.

Our neighbor built a couple of monuments of tumbleweeds. They look really cool, but I'm glad they're not in our yard.

I'm also glad they're downwind...

GiveThanks...To Be "A Little" Jealous

 Almost thirty-seven years ago (I can't believe it's been that long...), I met a group of people in Provo, Utah...four men and one woman. We lived together, in a manner of speaking, for ten weeks. In those ten weeks we learned how to communicate in basic terms in a different language, we learned about a different culture, and we prepared to travel halfway around the world to live in a different country.

I had no idea what experiences I'd have in the upcoming two years, nor could I possibly imagine the impact those people would continue to have on my life.

We've all gone our separate ways, we all married, had children, moved across the country and across the state.

One even moved back to Denmark.

It's a temporary move, but a move just the same. And because we live in a world of technological marvels, we can correspond with him and his wife and they continue the work we stopped doing decades ago. 

Am I jealous of him?

To be honest, when I heard he and his wife were going back, it surprised me more than anything. When we served there were several couples in the mission, but they were old! We can't go back--we're not that old, yet. Apparently, we are.

I was happy for my friends, happy for the experiences they were going to have, happy they had prepared in advance to be able to go during this time of their lives. But, it wasn't until I saw a Facebook post from my friends about a Christmas concert that took place yesterday, that I was jealous.

Christmas in Denmark is special, magical, wonderful. You add all the good things of the holiday, then throw in decorations in a setting straight out of a fairy tale. And the Danes know how to celebrate the holiday. The food, the celebrations...it all adds up to an amazing experience. Seeing my friend's post brought it all back to me and I wished I could be there.

My friends have all gone on to have families, careers, good times, tough times. Jealousy is such a difficult emotion to overcome. It's easy to fall into its trap. There have been times I've wished for experiences my friends have had. I try not to let jealousy overcome me or change my outlook on life. Negative thoughts like that can do so much damage.

But, there's another side of the equation. Being jealous means there was a time when I experienced those events first-hand. It means I was there and felt and saw the things they're feeling and going to see. I'm grateful for my friendships for the past almost thirty-seven years. I'm grateful that my friends can once again enjoy another Danish Christmas. And I'm happy to be a little jealous of them, because they're doing the Lord's work. 

God jul, til i allesammen, især de i min missionær sprogeskol gruppe.

And So...It Begins

 We picked up the industrial strength butter cookies a few weeks ago. We knew then what we were doing...we always do, but that doesn't stop us from doing it again.

The dreaded Danish Butter Cookies.

They're dangerous.

Oh how we love them. 

It's deceptive, really. The tin is so big that you think--when you begin--that the deliciousness will go on forever. Your logical mind tells you that's impossible, but your tasty mind fights the logic. After all, a few butter cookies here and there isn't much. See--there's still loads left.

Then, you begin throwing away the white paper cups. In our house, the cookies with the sugar sprinkles go first. The top layer goes...no big deal--still have many left. Then instead of a cup missing here or there, the layers begin to go. Soon, the tin is half full.

How in the world can that happen?

With five people in the house, it happens. Each of us take a cookie here, a cookie there. There's really no way to stop it.

I have a connection to the cookies...more to the country after which they're named. Denmark. It's a small country, but world famous for its desserts. I was fortunate enough to live in the country for a couple of years decades ago. I still miss the bakeries and what's found inside. I feel I have an obligation to buy them every Christmas season. I owe it to my memories.

Next fall--having learned nothing--we will once again purchase the big tin and in December we'll open it as we did today. And we'll eat them all. And we'll love them all.

Trying Something New This year...Artificial-Wise

 For years, we pretty much knew what we were going to do for Christmas, as far a decorating the house and getting a tree.

We always got a real tree. Most of the time we went to a parking lot south of Layton High School and Layton Park, across the street from the old Pizza Hut (that has changed names and menus so many times since then...). A company from Montana brought trees down, we'd mill about for a few minutes--usually in the cold, pick out a tree, load it on top the minivan, bring it home, and bring it inside.

Simple. Done. The only thing to worry about was the cost.

Things changed last year. We moved and as Christmas approached, we needed a tree, but were to find one. We looked in our local area and saw no Christmas tree lots so we drove east, over the mountain pass to Logan. We found a nice tree, but in doing so, we discovered something--not new, necessarily. The cost of the trees had skyrocketed.

Fast forward ten months and my wife and I found ourselves in a Hobby Lobby store looking an artificial trees. There were a few reasons we never got a fake tree before. One, we really didn't have a place to store an artificial tree in our old house, and they were expensive. This year, we have space to store a tree and even though they are expensive, the real ones were catching up in price and catching up fast.

We found one--without lights attached--that we liked. We bought it and after Thanksgiving we put it up and trimmed it. It's tall and symmetrical--there are a lot of pluses to the tree. We don't have to worry about not watering it and it drying out, nor do we need to worry about how to get rid of it when Christmas comes to an end.

But, there are non-pluses as well. That smell of a fresh tree--I didn't think I'd miss it so much. And, I know it's not real. It checks off all the boxes of what a Christmas tree should be, but it just can't be what it's supposed to be, at least, not completely.

The cost of this tree would be the cost of two fresh trees, at current prices, so after next year, it's all gravy. And, I know being able to put it up at anytime without having to get in the car, drive to a lot, pick out a tree, try--without ever fully succeeding--getting the thing to stand completely straight, then taking it down, and throwing it away will be great. I think it's a pretty tree. It's one we'll have for a while.

Well Done, Utah...Well Done

 To say this college football season has been an amazing ride in the State of Utah is an understatement. I follow and root for a few local teams, but my main fandom lies with the University of Utah football team. 

I've followed the team since I was a student of the U back in 1987 and this has been a season like no other. What this team has accomplished is unparalleled, and it is, in a word, inspiring.

Yes, the season began with a rocky start. For the first time in more than a decade, the U lost to their southern neighbors. It was a good win for the boys in Blue. No loss is good, but if you can learn from those losses and improve, then good can come from it.

And good did come from it...so much good.

What's different about this team is that it appears to me--the simple fan--the players and coaches have a higher cause this year. They've been unashamedly vocal about what drives them, their purpose, their reason for playing the game.

In a world where we hear so much about how bad many in the sports community can be, their inflated egos, their selfish actions, to watch a team with a singular purpose and goal has been refreshing, It wasn't a perfect season, but I found myself connected to them on a personal level. Their goals were mine, their wins were mine. Now, I know I'm not a team member, but the team wore their hearts on their sleeves. They opened themselves up--laid everything bare for the world to see--all to honor their friends, friends who could not enjoy their success of the season.

The journey is not over. This team will play in the "Granddaddy of them all" bowl games on the first day of the new year. I have no idea what the outcome of the game will be, but I know--because I've seen it all season long--the players and coaches will give their all for their friends. 

I read a tweet that said basically, if someone were to write a story about a team that suffered through so much heartache, so much pain, and had a season like they've had, the story would be rejected because no one would believe it.

Sometimes I still can't believe it has happened. To see the men in Crimson take the field in Pasadena will be something special and because of how they got there, it means so much more. Well done, Utah...well done.

Goodnight, Sweet Amber...

 Earlier this week I received an invitation to join a Facebook group. I didn't really understand it because it wasn't to support an author or an artist or an upcoming event. It was titled simply, Amber's Place. I recognized the person immediately. 

The site was for Amber, someone I first met in 2015 when I worked as one of the Rainmakers at Lagoon.

I began reading the posts from the group and I realize this site was not to notify her friends of Amber's latest exploits, but as a way to honor her, a way for friends, family, and loved ones to remember her memory. It meant Amber was no longer with us.

Since 2015 I worked at Lagoon each season during Frightmares. If I remember correctly, Amber moved on to other things, other adventures. As with many social media "friends," I would catch up with what Amber was doing when she posted. But, as it happens with so many, people sort of fade into the digital mist. 

I began noticing something interesting since I was accepted into the private Facebook group. Dozens, hundreds maybe, of post have flooded the page. Person after person posted memories of Amber, several added pictures. The stories, the events, times in college, times on stage, times behind the stage...it seemed everyone who ever knew or worked with Amber felt the need to add their experiences to the thread of wonderful, incredible tapestry of what Amber meant to them.

I guess this includes me, as well.

The condolences all seemed to have similar themes...what an amazing person Amber was, how she helped people through difficult times, how she literally changed many of their lives. They included memories of working with her on shows--tough shows, and almost everyone remembers laughing with her. I know it's been a few years, but I can't recall greeting her where a smile was not included. She had a personality that was infectious and full of light. Though the word is overused so many times, in this instance it is true. Amber was special.

Today, I looked through my photos from the summer and fall of 2015. Amber would occasionally work with us on our Rainmaker show--we needed helpers to make sure no one was injured by the cart and to help with crowd control. I see a person content with making others look good--not needing to be the star. That can be a rare trait for someone in the entertainment industry. 

But, the one time I remember most was when she subbed in the Hackenslash show during Frightmares. After the show I asked if I could take pictures of her holding her chainsaw. I remember the joy and appreciation she felt after I forwarded her the shots. She loved them and I was glad I could do something to bring her such joy.

It's been a few days since I joined the Facebook group and the posts have not stopped. I suppose they'll continue for several days, maybe even weeks. Amber was just that kind of person. I'm glad I was able to know her, even if it was for a short time. I'm sad she's no longer with us, but reading the comments, seeing the photographs from others makes me feel blessed I was part of a special group, a person welcomed into Amber's Place. 

God's speed Amber. I'm sure where you are now is filled with people so happy you're there with them, just as we were when you were with us.

I Never Knew About This...Someone In The Family Passed Away At Pearl Harbor

 I signed up with FamilySearch a few years ago. It's a website operated through the LDS Church that tracks genealogy, and because I signed up with them, I got an e-mail a few days ago about a relative that passed away at Pearl Harbor.

I thought it was a mistake. I didn't know of any relative that passed away that day.

Turns out, I was wrong. 

I had no idea I was related to anyone who passed away eighty years ago today. On the page that gives me information about this person, there's a link to see how Byron Dalley Mason and I are related. The connection is, in a word, "distant." Bryon was my great-grandfather's sister's grandson. Still, I had no idea.

When I was a teenager, I visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. It's an amazingly somber and hallowed shrine to those fallen. I learned more of how that battleship suffered more than the others. If I remember correctly, the night before a musical group from the Arizona won a talent contest and part of their reward for winning was to sleep in. In reading of Byron, it was noted he was active in music and drama in high school. I wonder if he was part of the musicians that participated in the contest.

Of course, it's impossible to know if they had not been allowed to sleep in, would more of them survived. I suppose it really doesn't matter. What happened happened.

Since my father served in WWII I've always had respect and appreciation for those who went to war, not just WWII, but all wars. The horrific events of Pearl Harbor seemed distant to me, not personal. Even though Byron was not a close relative, it brought the events that happened on that day closer. It's been eighty years...such a shame Byron never got to come home and have a family of his own and create another line of distant relatives I would probably not know about.

A Simpsons Meme That Is Spot-On Perfect...

 Memes are funny little things that have invaded our lives in the past decade or so. They're a way to combine the creativity of an individual with the recognizability of a universally-known photograph or picture. And because humans gravitate to familiar things, many times a popular picture generates many many memes.

The other day I came across one that I thought was perfect. It wasn't political or historical or related to sports in any way.

It was about sparkling water.

It answered the question: What does sparkling water taste like?

It answered another question: How does it feel when your leg falls asleep?

Growing up I had never tried sparkling water. I remember seeing ads for Perrier and figured it was an acquired taste, something big-city folks enjoyed. Truth be told, I never thought it was be for me...

And then I actually tasted it.

And I knew it wasn't for me.

I did not like it, which made me wonder why so many people did. That was decades ago. I've tried sparkling water a few times since. Still, not my thing. I was even duped into trying the "lightly flavored" brands of sparkling water...same reaction.

So, when I came across the above meme, it fit perfectly. I don't think I could have said it better myself. Yes, memes can make us laugh or cry or get angry or do all three at once. And that's one reason why they're here to stay.