HBO's "The Gilded Age"...Beautiful To Look At

 Of course, anything that's attached to Downton Abbey causes people to sit up and take notice. It worked on us...we bit.

The new show from the creator of Downton Abbey is called, The Gilded Age and it's a show on HBO. I haven't watched the entire series, but we've seen most of the episodes that are available. I have some thoughts on what I've seen so far...both the good and the not so good.

The Gilded Age is a period story set in America--New York City, specifically--in the later half of the Nineteenth Century. The show's IMDb page describes the show as such:

A wide-eyed young scion of a conservative family embarks on a mission to infiltrate the wealthy neighboring clan dominated by ruthless railroad tycoon George Russell, his rakish son, Larry, and his ambitious wife, Bertha.

We are introduced to the powerful in the city and those vying for a piece of that power. Visually, the show is stunning. The costumes and set design are beautiful. It almost draws you in and allows your brain to swim in a sea of visual wonder. 

Too bad the story can't compete.

I'm not saying the story and the character developments are bad--they're not, necessarily. The characters are interesting and we understand their motivations. It's almost too bad that it's associated with Downton Abbey. To compare this show to Downton Abbey is unfair. Downton has been in our lives for almost a decade. We know those people. Here, we're being thrown into the lives of the New Yorkers. We're forced to understand them quickly, whereas I feel we had time for the characters and storylines at the Abbey to come at us naturally.

One other thing that stuck out between this new series and the British one...the Americans have (or seek...) the same power as the monarchy in England, but it's impure. The American power is corrupt and evil, something full of distain, whereas the British power is honorable, almost sacred. The American's power is used to ruin lives; the British power is used to allow society to function properly. I know I'm simplifying this point, but it's a thought I had while watching the show.

If you want to see a beautiful show, check out The Gilded Age. If you're thinking you'll love it like you love Downton Abbey, maybe you will...hopefully you will.

Give Thanks...Where I Live

 You see the colors everywhere now...an invasion does that. It took only a few days for the colors of blue atop yellow to be known across the globe. I've seen the Ukrainian flag more the past few days than I have my own flag.

Across the country and the world people are wearing the colors of blue and yellow on their shirts or they're making posters to show support of people they mostly have never met but feel they must do something.

I know our country has its issues, some serious, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I've never had to hide in the basement of a building due to an air raid. I've never had to flee for my life because of an invading army. The thought of having to do these things seems foreign and almost impossible to even imagine. Yet, half a world away people are doing just that. 

I'm thankful for where I live. I love to see buildings lit in blue and yellow lights. Reading supportive messages for others makes me feel good about our country, even with all its faults. I don't have all the answers...in act, I have very few. All I can say is I pray wars will stop, that people will stop being killed at the hands of others. And I pray those horrors will never reach any other country of land.

My Favorite SPAM Joke...So Far

 A few weeks back my wife and I were shopping at WinCo...just picking up things we needed in a store that has both things we need and things we don't necessarily need. We meandered through the aisles, back and forth. We ended up on the soups/stews/canned meat aisle.

That's when I spotted the SPAM.

So many things to say...

SPAM, in my opinion, gets a bad rap. Books have been written about it and its importance. As we all know, important things sometimes become larger than what they are. Such is with SPAM. I snapped a picture in the store and posted it on social media. I also added a weak joke as a caption, something about not knowing there were three types of SPAM. I've since found out, there are more than just the three types.

This week I came across a SPAM meme and it turned out to be my favorite SPAM joke.

At least, it's my favorite so far.

We ended up buying several cans...might come in handy if the world goes to crap. Then, of course, SPAM is no joke.

Remembering A Random Day...Thirty Years Ago

 The Date, February 22 means a lot in our family. I mean, it's a cool date 2/22, but other than that, it's the day my wife and I had our first date. Of course, she was not my wife at the time...that came several months later.

This week, the date 2/22/22 came up. It's a very cool date, but it also means that it's been thirty years since that first date. And because I kept a daily journal at that time, I was able to look up the day and see what happened. Because I wrote down events of the day, there are some things I had forgotten about the day.

I do remember she and I went to a University of Utah Men's Basketball game. I forgot who they played...on the ticket I found the answer. Wyoming. I remember not liking that team. They'd come into Salt Lake and fill the cheap seats at the Huntsman Center. They had good teams back then and when Wyoming would win, their fans were so loud. Such was the cased 2/22/92. Wyoming beat Rick Majerus's Utes bad.

The game started late so before the game, my wife and I went bowling. It makes me laugh a little, imagining my wife and I going bowling, then going to a university basketball game now...probably not going to happen.

Back then, I kept a daily journal. It's something I've continued doing and I'll write about today before I go to sleep. When I wrote my entry back on 2/22/92, I had no idea that the person I took bowling then to a Utah loss would end up being my spouse or that we'd be together thirty years later. That's one of the cool things about keeping a journal, This past week, most people enjoyed experiencing 2/22/22. For us, it meant more.

So...This Is Why We Went Without An Oven For A Year And A Half

 Yesterday I posted a photo of home-baked cookies for my Pic Of The Day. They weren't ordinary cookies--we waited eighteen months for them. It generated more than a couple of comments on social media and most of those comments asked one question...

Why did you go without an oven for a year and a half?

Good question.

Here's the answer.

Thanksgiving Day, 2020. We had been in our house for just over a month. We decided to cook Thanksgiving dinner in our new house. We were excited. We got everything ready for the big meal, including a big turkey. My wife prepared everything, then shoved the big bird into the oven and we were good to go.

Except, the oven decided not to work. It fired up to the desired temperature, but when it came to stay at the desired temperature, it would not re-fire. It was our first gas oven and we had no idea what was wrong. 

No problem--it's under warranty. We called the appliance people and they sent out a repairman.

Great, we thought. We used the oven sparingly the next couple of times and when we were cooking a frozen pizza, the same thing happened. So, we called the appliance people and they once again sent out the repairman. After they "fixed" it, they even tried it out to make sure it worked. This process repeated itself about five times.

The problem was, it would work when they were there and even a few times after, but it always ended up doing the same thing...it would not re-fire. Of course, it took a few times for us to figure out it wasn't fixed and that could be a few weeks or a few months.

Last fall, we realized it was getting close to the end of our warranty, so we made one last call and the appliance people said they would order us a new oven. That was in September.

Then, we waited, and waited, and waited. Earlier this week a van pulled up with our shiny new oven. They hooked it up, tested it, and it worked. We've used it several times since and it's still working.

The reason we didn't get the issue fixed or get a replacement was due to a couple of reasons. First, we kept waiting for our new oven, or that they would fix the old one. Also, we live close to my mother-in-law and when we absolutely needed to use an oven, we used her's (like to finish cooking the 2020 Thanksgiving turkey...). 

We hope the ordeal is over. Now, we'll be one of those couples who remind their kids, and possibly grandkids one day, that we had to go without an oven for a long time.

So, now you know.

Destroyed TV...I Blame The Cat

We all heard the crash, of course, the only one in the room at the time...

Was the cat.

I was working. The boys were in their rooms. My wife was in the front room. In our house, it's not normal to hear things crashing to the ground, so I jumped up to make sure everyone was okay. When I opened the door from my office, I spotted the TV, not atop the dresser like it should have been. No...it was laying destroyed on the bedroom floor

Maybe it still works, so I returned it to the dresser and plugged it in.

I got an ode to St. Patrick's Day.

We had to toss it...too bad, it was a good, old--yet reliable set that served us well for almost a decade. It survived a move, and several cats. It did, however, not survive our huge rag doll cat.

There were times, when it was just the cat and I, when we were watching a program--most likely, a sports program--the cat would jump up on the dresser and scratch at the action on the screen. Then, he would stretch to his full length (which is very long...) and place his paws over the top of the TV. I had only ever seen him do it when there was something on the screen.

Looks like he didn't have to have something on the screen to be interested in the TV.

We love our cat...I mean, he's a cat and even though he caused the damage, his brain didn't understand what he did. Such is the life of a cat.

Oh...we're still looking for a home for him and if you're thinking he might be the perfect cat for you, we'll even throw in a wall TV mount...for free. 

It's Much Nicer Being Inside...When Looking At The Moon At This Time Of Year

 

Earlier this month, I had a burr in my saddle, or a bug in my ear, or some other phrase that is meant to share the idea that I wanted to do something. And that thing I wanted to do was dig out our telescope from storage and set it up.

So, I did.

The telescope used to belong to my father-in-law. I'm pretty sure he picked it up because at some point he had the same bug in his ear. He wanted to see what far away things looked like closer up. The model he bought shows a direct connection between how much he wanted to spend to achieve those views of far away objects.

Needless to say, he didn't want the very best views of things.

My father-in-law was a very logical and practical man.

After his passing, we ended up with the telescope and it's perfect for us. If I or any of my family were more interested in astronomy, maybe we would have bought our own telescope, but things didn't work out that way. I set it up and went outside to get a good look at the moon. The only problem was, it was freezing outside. That happens in Utah in February. It's hard to see clearly when shaking hands are trying to hold the thing steady.

So, after checking out the moon in below-freezing temperatures, I brought it in--both of us very very cold--and I stowed it out of the way. The next night I was preoccupied with something (maybe even writing a blog post...) when my wife glanced out the window. 

"Look at that moon!"

I did...it was beautiful. And because the moon shown in the middle of the window, I thought I'd try and see if I could get a better view through the telescope. Turns out, it worked wonderfully. The best part, of course, was being inside, all toasty warm with non-shaking hands, and checking out the moon. I'm glad my father-in-law had the same bug as me.

Did A Little Writing Today...It Felt GOOD!

 I think the call from a high school friend this morning was the motivation. I hadn't spoken to Jimmy in years, but he called and we chatted, mostly about days almost forty years ago (I can't believe it's been that long...). We talked about our pre and post-mission lives, hanging out in the summers, and what we're up to now.

The conversation then turned to writing and writers. He asked me how things were going. I was honest and told him that I have not done much in the past couple of years.

I decided I'd get some writing done today.

I have a YA novel I working on. I just completed the first draft. I spent last month reading through it and it left me a bit down. In short, it needs a lot of work. It's too short, too predictable, and too flat. These are serious problems for any story. Thankfully, it's still in the first draft stage. After reading through it, I thought about how I could fix those issues, specifically, the length. I had a thought come to mind about some of the middle chapters. I could expound one section and answer some of the questions a reader might have.

Today, while doing laundry and enjoying President's Day, I broke out the laptop and started writing. I might do more writing tonight after dinner...we'll see. And even though it was only a thousand or so words, it felt SO good to get something down--get anything down.

I've had many jobs in my life, dishwasher, groundskeeper, telemarketer, computer audio technician, stuntman...writing is one of the most bizarre things I've ever done. One second you are convinced what you are writing is brilliant, something everyone will want to read. A poorly written sentence later and everything you've written is pure crap. Still, days like this make it worth it. Thanks, Jimmy for the call...

And the push.

I Am Thankful For...

 On Sundays, I try and find things I'm thankful for and blog about them. I use the hashtag, "#GiveThanks" on these posts. I've been doing this for several years. I know by writing fifty-two #GiveThanks posts a year, I've used the same topics several times. Sometimes it's hard to come up with things to write about.

But, should it be?

Should it be difficult to find things for which I am thankful?

The obvious answer is, no. There's an old saying that if you ever feel down, just count your blessings and you'll realize just how good you have it. I truly believe this, mostly because it's worked for me on several occasions. 

There's the obvious reasons to be thankful...health, work, interests, the love of friends and family. I've had those things all my life. There's been times when some of those things are missing, but they return. Thankfully, I have all those things in my life right now.

I'm also thankful for the country where I live. I'm thankful for our freedoms, especially when seeing how people live in other countries do not have these freedoms or are having them taken away. I'm thankful for the experiences I've had in my life, for the people I've known, for those I call friends and who call me family. 

I hope to continue my #GiveThanks posts. If for no other reason, so I can remember what a gift this life is.

Improving The Neighborhood...One Streetlight At A Time

 From my office window I saw an odd truck rumble up the street. I'd never seen such a truck before, at least, one that I can remember. It looked like it might be used for cleaning out sewer pipes. Once it passed I didn't think much about it.

Shortly after, a group of men gathered on the corner across the street. They were obviously workers of some sort. Then, the truck re-appeared. Ah...I thought. They were connected. I went back to work and from time to time, wondered why a strange truck and some workers were across the street. The truck eventually left and I realized why they were there...

They installed a shiny new streetlight.

Yay!

I know it's silly...excited over a streetlight. When my father built our home in Davis County, there weren't even paved roads leading to our house. This was 1970 and instead of installing large streetlights, they set up these fiberglass pods that looked like eggs sticking out of the ground. When a new house was to be built, they would remove the egg and install a short light. I loved the one in front of our house. When we built across the street from that house 30+ years later, I wished we had a pod so we could have put in a light. No such luck. We spent almost twenty years without a streetlight.

In this neighborhood, we arrived after the streets were paved. We're no longer the first ones here. And even though we still don't have the option of having our own individual streetlight. I like having lights on the street...more lights at night is an improvement. Though the neighborhoods are separated by miles and decades, it's good to see those improvements.

Remembering A Favorite Son...

 When we moved north, one interesting aspect of the town (among many...) is the many murals that grace the sides of buildings. One particular one that caught my attention is located downtown. I knew it was special because shortly after we arrived, the official unveiling took place. I remember a large crowd gathered on and across the street.

At the time, I didn't know who was being honored...it was so large that I didn't have a good angle to see the entirely of the mural. I found out quickly the painting was honoring Gail Halvorsen, better known as The Candy Bomber.

I thought it was nice the city of Tremonton was showing its appreciation to a hero. I only found out after that Halvorsen was from the area. It made more sense, then. 

I think most Utahns knew about Halvorsen and his inspiring history of dropping candy to the children during the Berlin Air Lift. I have surface knowledge of what happened. I'm sure he would have been a fascinating person to sit down and talk to for an hour or so. He passed away this week.

Having the huge mural in town to honor a favorite son is cool. The fact he was able to see and appreciate it is even cooler. Hopefully now his story will be told to others who may see the painting and ask their parents who he was.

Such A Beautiful Show...

 Such a beautiful show...

I know my mom had a copy of All Creatures Great & Small. I remember seeing it in the bookshelf in her bedroom. I never read it, though. Then I remember a series of the books came out years ago...I never watched them.

Then a new series came out recently, and this time we decided to give it a shot.

The storylines are engaging, characters--though not so complicated--interact with each other with the background of the English countryside. It's set during the 1930s and it centers around a veterinarian and how he adapts to live in a new land.

But, it's not the stories that captivate me...it's the scenery. And as amazing the scenery is, what is overwhelming is the fact that right now, as I'm watching the shows, that very scenery can be seen to anyone living in that area. 

We live in a time when absolutely any terrain, any world imaginable can be reproduced digitally. We watch dinosaurs on screen as life-like as our own pets. We see planets in distant galaxies as true as our own. Maybe that's why watching this show is so impressive...because it's real. I can (if I had time and means...) go to where the show is filmed, which, according to IMDb, is Grassington, North Yorkshire, England and drive those roads, walk the city streets.

The series has not concluded. I have no idea of how many more they'll create or if they follow James Harriot's books. Still, when we sit down and watch each episode, the scenery gets me every time. 

The show is many things...simple stories, adversity overcome, hearts broken then mended, all wrapped up in a beautiful package.

So That's What Ghost Energy Is...

 The electronic billboard kept showing "Ghost Energy" over and over again.

It's funny...my wife and I used to watch the ghost hunter and ghost adventurer reality shows. They try different methods to contact and speak with the dead. Those in the know say that spirits are associated with energy. A classic way to know that ghosts are in the vicinity is the draining of batteries of their electronic equipment. Their cameras will be fully charged then suddenly...nothing.

When I saw the electronic ad that was the first thought that came to my mind. I knew that was not what the ad meant...no way to make money from ghost energy in your local convenience store.

A quick internet search and I found out Ghost Energy is an energy drink. No wonder I'd never heard of it. I've never had an energy drink. To be honest, they scare me a little. There were times in my life that I was addicted to caffeine--not so much, now. I know millions of people have consumed millions of energy drinks every day and they seem to be okay. Still...if I don't need it, why drink it?

Obviously, the ad wasn't for me. It was for the thousands of drivers who pass that sign every day and who do consume energy drinks. And if I ever change my mind and feel the need to start buying energy drinks, Ghost Energy sounds kind of cool.

Saw This...Thought It Was Effective

 Last week I was picking up some food at a local diner. Instead of waiting in line in my car and using the Drive-Thru, I decided to go inside and order. There is no inside eating (like it is with many eateries...) but I was able to order and soak in the restaurant's ambiance.

That's when I spotted the interesting tables. 

They had a clever idea of rounding up ads from local businesses and laminating them atop the tables. 

There was a time when I thought I'd make a career out of marketing. It's a tough world, especially because there's no "final answer," no "best way of doing things." In marketing, imagination is vital, at least, how I understood it. Sure, you can run statistics and use numbers to justify decisions, but I think there's a lot of "gut feeling" when it comes to marketing.

That's why I thought the tables were genius. Local businesses can advertise as people chow down. As with all ad campaigns, you never know just how effective they'll be. Will the diners actually look at the ads? Will they decide to use Mountain Transmissions over another transmission shops just because they see the ad while they scarf down a burger and shake?

I'd like to think so.

Unfortunately, as I said before, in-eating dining is not an option. Too bad...all those ads not being seen. Even a good idea can have its drawbacks.

Well Done, Mr. Weddle...Well Done

 Not being a world-class athlete, I have no way to relate to what world-class athletes go through as they train, prepare, and participate in the big game. It's hard to imagine working most of your life towards a singular goal--to win a championship...to walk off the field knowing that for a brief moment in time, no other team is better than you at your sport.

The feeling must be amazing.

The Super Bowl was played last night. For the second year, I did not watch. This doesn't mean I wasn't interested in the outcome. Since I like underdogs, I would not have minded if the Cincinnati Bengals had won. I love it when team that have never won before finally get their ring. But, I wanted the Los Angeles Rams to win, and not because they have three former University of Utah football players on the their roster,

It's because they had one former Ute on their team...

Eric Weddle.

If you know his story, you're as amazed at how his a career ended (for the second time...) as me. If you're not familiar with him, do an internet search and you'll be impressed, too. But what makes the man one of my favorite players in a game I no longer follow is the fact that he is universally loved. Those who know him personally cannot say enough about his character, the type of man he is, the example he is for boys and fathers everywhere.

Add to the fact that his football playing career had a fairytale ending only makes his story more incredible.

I have a friend who had the opportunity to meet him on several occasions. My friend lives near San Diego and when Weddle played for the Chargers, he would speak to youth members of his church. My friend--an avid BYU fan--told me Eric Weddle is the only good thing to come out of the University of Utah. It was a tongue-in-cheek comment, but his opinion of Mr. Weddle eclipsed those negative feelings he had for his rival school.

So many players retire without ever winning a championship...many players never come close. It's good to see a great athlete and from what many say, a better man, walk away from the game a champion. The post-game ice cream is well-deserved.

Give Thanks...Open Spaces

Open Spaces...

They are becoming an endangered species.

For the moment, we live at the edge of a field on a sloping hillside. To the west and south of us, homes are popping up like weeds. It's only a matter of time they'll expand north and east, too. Such is life.

I never noticed how much I enjoy an open field, a place where deer and wild rabbits call home, until we moved. There's something about looking out and not seeing humanity everywhere...it's almost spiritual. I can only imagine what those who first spotted this valley--and other valleys like it--centuries ago. Were they filled with awe? Could they envision roads and interstates criss-crossing the land and incredible inventions of machinery screaming over those roads at 80 m.p.h. or faster. I doubt many could ever imagine jet airplanes thousands of feet overhead flying people to all parts of the world.

Maybe they guessed some things correctly...

I also wonder if they looked over the dry desert landscape of this valley and it filled them with wonder...a place where a man could build a home, grow their food, raise a family, and be basically left alone to live as one saw fit.

Two weeks ago my wife and I drove through valleys and mountain passes to attend a funeral. The views were amazing. And the D.N.A. from many of those people who long ago traveled to this part of the world to settle still resides in those doing the same thing now. I'm grateful for open spaces. I'm grateful some are still around.

That One Time I Thought My Computer Was On Fire...

 From the above picture, it's a little difficult to see, but the scene caused me to believe for a brief moment I thought my laptop computer was on fire.

Of course, it wasn't, but my brain told me it was.

A little background. Yesterday was a long day. My wife and I woke up early and then got in the van and drove for a couple of hours. Once I got home, I took a few short naps, then I got back in the van and drove for a couple more hours. This and the fact that I had eaten fast food for three of the past four meals, all added up to a not-so-clearly-thinking mind.

Fast forward several hours. I had been home. I was watching the Utah State Men's Basketball team battle Nevada (USU ended up losing the game, bummer...) on my laptop. I've found that for some games, I'm interested in the game, but not so much that both my wife and I want to watch, especially college basketball. I've found that I can have the game playing in the background. This way I'm able to hang out with the Mrs., and even get some writing done. That's what I was doing last night.

Also, last night we fired up the fireplace and enjoyed a pleasant and calming flame dancing in front of us. Now, if you look carefully in the photo, you'll see a mist hovering just above my laptop screen. My wife had our humidifier going. In a moment of confusion, I glanced up and saw the flame in the fireplace, then I noticed smoke rising above my computer...

Computer fire!

The moment lasted only a split second, but it jump-started my heart. 

Funny how things happen sometimes.

Something I Never Thought I'd See...A Thrift Store In Farmington

 I had to drive to my old hometown today...we've been gone for almost a year and a half and we still find ourselves needing to return every once in a while. While in town today, my son and I stopped in a local eatery for lunch and that's when I spotted something I thought I'd never see...a thrift store in Farmington, Utah.

Now, you may or may not know much about Farmington. I lived there off-and-on for half a century and since the community was first settled in 1847, that means I lived in there for a third of the city's existence. I saw probably the most change the community ever experienced. It went from a sleepy little town of 2,526 in 1970 when we first arrived to 24,531 in 2020 when we moved. But something else other than rapid population grown happened in those years...the city nurtured an identity. 

I should say that I LOVE Farmington. I have so many wonderful memories of the town, the people, the sunsets, the amusement park, the mountain trails. It is a truly unique place to live and raise a family. Sure, things have changed over the years. More people bring differing views--some good, some not so much. They bring experiences and personalities. And because there's not a lot of livable/buildable space in Farmington (it's sandwiched between the mountains and the lake bed...), not everyone who wants to live in Farmington is able to live in Farmington. It's sort of exclusive and becoming more and more so.

That's why I was surprised to see the thrift store there. Before my son and I left town, we checked out the store. It is a great place. It's clean, the products there are not "junk" that people dropped off at the thrift store instead of just throwing them away. They do their homework and the prices were fair. I was impressed. It was a thrift store that felt right at home in that community.

Another bonus is the thrift store is run by the Red Barn organization. We hired Red Barn Movers when we left town. It's a company that hires people who have had trouble in their past. They're people who may not have been given a chance by others but are thriving at Red Barn. 

I was happy to see the thrift store and after visiting, was even more happy it's located in the location it's in. Farmington needs a thrift store. They got a good one.

Sometimes...You Just Need Some Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream W/Wafers

 Ever since our then governor, Jon Huntsman, Jr. issued his inspired edict that Utah State employees would be working a four-day work week, ten-hour shifts with Fridays off, I've been fortunate enough to remain on that schedule all those years.

This is a long way of saying today--since it's Thursday--is my last work day of the week, or in other words, my Friday.

So, after a long work week (and dinner and taking out the garbage...), it was time for dessert. I've found Breyer's Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream to be wonderful. Throw in a couple of vanilla wafers and you've really got something.

Ice cream has been a dessert of choice for me for as long as I can remember. When I was a child my mom used to buy the gallon tubs of cheap ice cream for me and every single day after school I would come home and have a bowl of ice cream. I ate gallons and gallons of the stuff. 

A lot has changed since those days. First, the price of ice cream has exploded, as has everything else. And, there's no way I could eat a bowl of ice cream everyday without facing serious health concerns. This didn't appear to have any health effects on me as a child. Now, different story.

Even though I can't eat ice cream every day for health (and cost...) concerns, I still love it. And I'll still continue to enjoy an occasional bowl of ice cream, especially at the end of a long work week.

A Song For The Dying...

 Today, as I worked, my wife rehearsed a song. I heard her singing in the front room as I sat behind a closed door. Her high school classmate died recently and a request was sent out to her class madrigal group to sing a tribute to their friend, a song that was the student's favorite...

A song for the dying.

I first asked my wife why she was rehearsing. She told me the story of her friend who passed away. I asked what happened. Turns out the student had a heart attack while driving. It wasn't the crash that took her life.

Heart attack.

I've heard those words many times in the past year. I'm no statistician, but I'll bet you know someone who has had a heart attack, or you know someone...friend, neighbor, co-worker...who has had someone close to them who has had a heart attack in the past year. I say that because I've lost three family members and one friend (ages from 30's to early 60's...) in the past four months...one a month. Statistically speaking, I can't be the only one with so many deaths from heart attacks in their life in the past year.

In our church, there's a phrase I've heard all my life...that in the last days, men's hearts will fail them. This comes from Luke 21:26 which states, "Men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

I stated before I'm no statistician, nor am I really an expert on the scriptures, but I wonder if those who predicted the end times and talked about failing hearts were talking about actual heart attacks.

My wife recorded her part and downloaded it with the others. Because of the amazing times in which we live, her voice will blend with others and provide a loving tribute for their fallen friend...just another song, one of so many sung and performed in the past year. Too bad it won't be the last song sung for the dying.

If You're A Performer (Or Tech...) And Want A Summer Gig...Check Out This Link

 I happened to catch an Instagram video as it went live today. It was from Lagoon, the amusement park, and it focused on summer jobs...more specifically, summer jobs working in their entertainment department. I feel qualified to say that being in a show, or working behind the scenes for a show, at Lagoon gives you an opportunity that's hard to match.

I've worked in the Entertainment Department at Lagoon--off and on--since 1983. I've seen a lot of shows and been in a lot of shows. I worked as a costumed character (anyone remember Rascal the Raccoon...?), an usher, a lighting director, a roving entertainer, a house manager, a guide, and one of my favorite jobs ever, a stuntman in their Wild West Show. I've seen and worked with a many talented people during that time, but those creating shows at Lagoon now are world-class.

That's not hyperbole.

It's true.

Each year the Entertainment Department looks for dancers, singers, performers, as well as lighting techs, audio techs, and backstage help. If you're interested in this unique experience, you can go to Lagoon's Instagram page by clicking: HERE and watch the twenty-minute video that was posted today where those behind the amazing shows are interviewed. In the video you'll also get information about auditions times and dates and how to get your information to Lagoon.

Lagoon has existed for more than one-hundred years. The goal for the park is for people to have fun, both patrons and employees. Doing shows there can be a blast. If you're interested, check out the video. You'll be working with world-class talent and getting paid as well. It's a good gig.

We're...A Little Bit Softer Now

No, we're not listening to an Isley Brother's hit song...I'm talking about a new home addition that was installed in our home last week.

It's a whole new world.

Before I got married the only thing I knew about water softeners is that we had one in the house where I grew up, only my father passed away before he could hook it up and so it sat unused for decades. I also saw bags of salt for sale at stores and knew that people would buy the salt for their water softeners. After I got married, I found out my wife's family liked and used a water softener. 

Whenever I was at my in-laws house and I'd wash my hands, it always took forever (or so it seemed...) to rinse the soap off my hands. Because I didn't know anything about water softeners, other than what I explained which wasn't much, I was unaware the whole "can't get the soap off my hands" was due to the softener.

It took a while--a few months--for us to get the thing installed. It required a plumber and they're in great demand. We were able to get a hold of one and a week later he came over and put it in.

Just like that.

As the plumber installed the device (which, for some reason, reminds me of Cylon technology...), I asked for his opinions on softeners. He loved them and since we'd already purchased our unit and not from them, I felt he spoke honestly. He said he'd never live in a house without one. Then he said we'll be using much less shampoo. That does me no good, but for the rest of the family, it's a bonus.

We've had softened water for over a week and I can definitely tell a difference (except for the shampoo part...). I'm glad it's in, even though it's still an ordeal to rinse the soap off my hands.

Give Thanks...Family Meals

 Tonight we got together for a family meal, something I've been fortunate enough to do all my life. Currently, almost my entire immediate family lives under our roof. Our oldest is married and lives in the county over the hill. There are times when he and his wife visit us and often we get to sit down at the family table for a meal.

It's just the best.

Over the past half year I've had the opportunity, the privilege, of spending time with family...funerals have that effect. I'm thankful for my family.

Earlier in my career I worked with people who had lost their jobs. My job was to determine if the government would be able to offer financial assistance. Many times, we had to turn them down. I remember several conversations I had with people who had no one in their lives--no family they could turn to for help. That's one of the things those who believe government can help everyone fail to understand. It can't, not every time for every person. I remember those conversations and I put myself in their shoes. What would I do if I lost my job and had no income to care for my children?

I'd turn to family.

Over the years we've done exactly that. I'm glad they were there. And I suspect in the future my family will turn to us for help, be it financial or emotional. I hope we can help the way help was offered to us.

Grandma brought a cheesecake she made for tonight's family meal. It was delicious. I'm thankful she lives so close and we can help each other. I'm also glad we could get together on a Sunday evening, sit around a table, eat, and chat about life.

It's just the best.

Wanting Things...

 Wanting things...

For fun, I'll get on Facebook Marketplace and see what's for sale. People post pictures of things they want to sell. They present the best side of the things, make them look appealing, look wonderful. I used to spend time on KSL Classifieds, but Facebook has an easier-to-use interface.

I really shouldn't do it. 

I shouldn't do it for a couple of reasons. First, these are mostly things I DO NOT NEED. That's the biggest reason not to look. Then there's the price of things...don't really have the disposable income to spend on stuff I don't need. I think that's why I like shopping at thrift stores. There I can buy things I don't need and not spend a lot of money on them.

No, I shouldn't be wanting things I don't need and can't afford. It makes life a little miserable, if a person dwells on these kinds of things. There's a reason we can't get everything we want. Life wasn't meant to be that way, because humans tend to want more and more stuff...they get greedy and a greedy person is not a good person. Then, if they happen to get what they want, then they want what they can't get, want what others have. It also makes people believe they should get stuff just because they want it or that it's not fair that others have stuff they can't have.

I'm old enough to notice something else, too. There are times when I've wanted something (something I didn't necessarily need...) and I've bought it. It never quite seems to be as special as I thought it would be. I would love a drone because I love photography. I've had a couple of drones in the past, but they were on the cheap end and they didn't take good photographs--sort of defeats the purpose. But I know if I were to spend good money on a good drone, it would probably sit in my room most of the time, unused. It would be really cool, but I'd most likely get bored and go underused.

And the last reason I should stop looking at things for sale on social media is because spending more time on social media isn't good for me in general. It's full of people (mostly...) twisting the truth about how wonderful their lives are, showing everyone where they've traveled, the accomplishments of their children, how cute are their pets. I know, I know...I do it, too.

No, I shouldn't be looking at the things people are selling, but knowing me as I do, I'm sure I'll do it again.

Watching The US Men's National Team Play...

 The game was played in Minnesota, of all places, and in January. Those were some hardy players and fans. Thankfully, I watched from the comfort of my home (thank you, technology...). I watched the US Men's National Team beat Honduras 3 - 0.

Good win.

And the team needs good wins to get to the next World Cup...something they failed to do the last time the best soccer teams in the world gathered for the chance to win soccer's highest prize. 

I'm not the biggest soccer fan in the world, but during the past couple of years, I'm finding myself watch more soccer than say, professional football or basketball. And to me, there's no greater sports competition than national teams playing each other.

When the players play for their country, it's a whole new level. I fell in love with watching national teams play when I lived in Europe. It's hard for sports fans in America to understand what it's like to be in a soccer-crazy country when their national team plays.

My wife and I went shopping today and we passed a display for the Super Bowl that's coming up. We had forgotten all about the Super Bowl. It is the biggest single sporting event in America. A lot of Americans knock soccer, and there's a lot to knock. Soccer fans have literally killed each other in the past. They're famous for bad behavior, not to mention some of the actions of the players themselves. 

The flopping is downright embarrassing.

Still, I'll take the flopping. I'll take the fanatic fans. I'll take it all. And when the next US National Men's Team plays, I'll do my best to catch it and I'll root for the red, the white, and the blue.

Ever Wonder How Things End Up At The Dollar Store? Me Too...

 Last month my wife and I ventured into our local Dollar Tree dollar store. Personally, I find that place fascinating. I should say from the beginning that I don't buy a lot of things at the store. Sure, if I need something that I know is in the store, I'll go in, but every time I enter a dollar store, I'm continually surprised at the things you can get for a buck (or, for a buck 25 because of inflation...).

On our last trip, it was my wife who was looking for things costing a dollar. I was along for the ride. As she shopped, I meandered through the aisles, looking at this and that. I stopped at the media section and that's where I spotted a movie I have not thought about for decades, Woody Allen's, Zelig. If you're unfamiliar with the movie, it's about a man who is able to modify his personality to blend in with his surroundings, so much so, he can change his weight and his skin color. It's a comedy, perhaps a dark comedy, but if you're a fan of Woody Allen films, it's one you've probably already seen.

This was a film I saw in the theater, not a "straight-to-video" situation. Of course, it wasn't one of Allen's most popular films, nor did it win any prestigious awards like some of his other films. No, it was just a basic film, but somehow it ended up at the dollar DVD section in the dollar media bin at the dollar store.

It's possible all of Allen's films have suffered over the years. The filmmaker's name no longer has the cachet it once had due to things that took pace in the actor/director's life years ago. And the society has moved on, moved on from his shows and from him. At least, that's the way it seems.

Back in the day, I used to see a lot of movies in the theater and I believe this was the first time I saw a film I saw in the theater for sale at the dollar store. I guess there's a story behind how it ended up there, too.

Yup...That's Crap On My Car

 We saw something ahead in the road, but we were unsure of what it was. Soon, the obstruction became obvious...

Cattle drive.

It's not everyday you and a herd of cattle share a road.

We were leaving a tiny town in southeastern Idaho last week and taking one of what I imagine are two roads leading away from town. That's when we saw it, a black mass in the distance. When we realized it was cattle coming at us, we pulled the car to the side of the road and waited.

I'm not the most "rural" person on the planet, but I'm also not the least. My grandfather ran a very small diary and until he passed away when I was ten, we used to visit often. In the town where I grew up there were many fields on the west side and and many had cows. I don't believe I've ever found myself in the middle of a drive (even though it wasn't that big a drive...).

After the last cow passed, we noticed evidence of the drive still remained on the pavement in the form of swarm, steaming piles. Oh, I tried avoiding them, and believe me--I had more than ample opportunity to drive right through many a cow pie. No, I did my best, but when we pulled into the garage, I saw evidence of the drive.

I wondered as the cattle man in quad drove passed, if he thought I was a "city boy." I gave him every indication to believe I was...there I sat in my Subaru Forester holding up my cellphone to video the cattle drive. Yup...I'm pretty sure that's exactly what he thought I was.

All in all, it was pretty cool and it only cost me a trip to Idaho and a car wash.

Just A Few Of My Hats...

 Here are only a few of the hats I own. In fact, it's only a few of the hats with the University of Utah logo on them that I own. Other U of U hats are in a box somewhere...I haven't gotten them unpacked from the move. And because they're still packed away, I ought to get rid of them. Most of my hats come from thrift stores (except the Rose Bowl U hat my good friend, Bob picked up for me last month...). 

Personally, I don't believe I have a problem.

Others may disagree.

Of course, some may think I have an obvious problem, not because I'm collecting hats, but because of the type of hats I collect. Many of my friends would never wear a read hat with at big U (or a couple of U's...) on them. No, they wear hats with different colors and different big letters on them. To be fair, I would probably never wear the hats they wear so I understand where they're coming from.

I wear hats almost every time I go out, mostly for logical reasons--I don't want a sunburn or I don't want my head to freeze. If I were driving and my car broke down and I had to walk for any length of time, I'd be in trouble without a hat, be it in the summer, winter, spring, or fall. So, having a hat on hand (or head...) is a good thing. I just happen to like hats that advertise my favorite sports team.

My mother told me many times that one of my father's favorite sayings was this:

"If one is good, then two is better."

My father (and mother...) grew up during The Great Depression so that saying has a deeper meaning. Is one hat good? Yes. Is two hats better? Definitely. Do I have enough hats? Of course. Will I buy another U of U hat if I happen to see one in a thrift store?

Probably.