Give Thanks...Share Your Talents

 Today, as I waited for the second hour of church to end and choir practice to start, I circled the Relief Society room that doubles as the Stake Center's baptismal room. The room is similar to others with framed artwork lining the walls.

I noticed a piece on one wall, on the north side. It wasn't the subject of colorful flowers in a vase that caught my attention, but the plague underneath. A plaque is there to draw attention to something. It tells the viewer there is something special with this specific work of art.

I walked over, read the engraved plaque.

The plaque worked. It caught my attention, drew me in, and gave me information that I would otherwise not have known.

This particular piece was created and donated by Hazel Rogers Call to the Relief Society of the Garland II Ward. Since I'm relatively new to the area, I have no idea who Hazel Rogers Call is, but the beauty of the situation is I don't need to know anything about her to have the artwork tell its story.

What I do know about her is that she was a giving person. The plaque doesn't tell me if Hazel actually created the artwork...I'm guessing she did. If she's the artist, then it's even more personal. If she didn't, well, she at least gave something to the building she didn't have to give. A selfless act.

Through the large church original paintings and copies of famous artwork hang in rooms and along hallways. They're all special, but for a certain piece hanging in the Garland Stake Center Relief Society, Sister Call's donation means a little bit more.

I'm grateful for Hazel for sharing her talents, be it creating or donating or both. Thanks, Hazel, for the gift.

Behold...The Northern Lights!

 If you're looking at this photo and expecting to see another picture of the beautiful Northern Lights that made a rare appearance over Utah last week, well...this is what you get. Technically, the shot was taken north of our house and the photo includes lights.

The picture is my contribution to the photo library that is "Pictures of Utah's Northern Lights."

My streak continues.

I have a streak of  unsuccessful attempts in catching celestial events with my camera. I've tried to take pictures of lunar eclipses, comets, what have you. Each time, I come up empty because of cloud cover or the camera didn't pick it up. I heard that the Northern Lights were going to be visible from where we lived last week so after it got dark, we went outside and looked north.

Nothing. 

Bummer.

I brought out my Nikon and set the shot for a long exposure. This is what I got. Yes, I was bummed that I didn't get to see the Northern Lights. The fact that I didn't catch it on camera is not a big deal. If I had seen the lights, photographing them would be a distant second.

I remember when I was little, we were visiting my family in Driggs, Idaho. We all gathered outside because they said we should be able to see the Northern Lights. We went outside and looked north. I don't remember if the were there, but I didn't see them. I'd ask my family if they saw anything, but I don't believe anyone would remember. 

I also lived in Northern Europe for two years and I didn't see them, either. I figure one day I'm going to see them for myself...

Last week was not that day.

Going To Build A Wedding Arch...Never Made One Before

 There are things in life that when you go through them, you forget stuff. For example, whenever we brought home a new baby, I remembered certain things. I remembered the feedings, the changing of diapers, but what I always forgot was how much sleep we did not get.

It always slipped my mind, until, of course, from the day we brought them home, I remembered sleep would be a much coveted commodity. 

In our family, we're preparing for a wedding. I've forgotten just how much there is to do to properly prepare for a wedding. Truth be told, we don't have a lot of experience planning weddings. There was the the wedding of my wife and I, but that occurred more than three decades ago. Then, a few years ago our oldest son got married.

Preparing for a wedding as the groom's parents is much different than preparing for a wedding as the bride's parents...

A world of difference.

My daughter wants a wedding arch...not an unusual or extravagant request. We could rent one or buy one, but both options would cost more than if we just built our own. We priced lumber at our local hardware store, did a little math, and we're going to do it. 

I think it'll be a fun project. We need input from the daughter, naturally, to make it like she wants it, or at least like she wants it with our budget.

Building a wedding arch...rest assured, I won't forget doing in the future.

Some People Want To Watch The World Burn...And Others Want A Clean Garage

 From my office window, I have an excellent view of my neighbors yard. Not that I'm stalking, but I notice things from time to time. We all have our little things we do, things that may seem perfectly normal to some, strange to others. My neighbor likes to keep his garage clean, and by clean, I mean, at least once a year they unload everything in the garage, clean it, then put everything back.

I'm kind of jealous, really.

I'll bet when everything is put back into place, they know everything that's inside. I'll bet they never have to search for anything--they just go right to the thing they're looking for and pick it up. What a concept. Point is, it's important for them to do this on an annual basis. It's something they do.

We could do the same thing, clear out and clean our garage every year. It would definitely help organize our stuff. I'd love to be able to know not only what's in our garage, but where it is. It would save so much time. And if we continued that same methodology throughout the entire house?

What a concept.

Watching them work, I thought of something. When my neighbor's kids grow up, there's a good chance they'll follow their parent's example and clean out their garage. Their spouses might wonder why they're doing what they're doing as there is a good chance their spouses did not grow up with that tradition. And they'll say, "My folks cleaned out their garage every year...just something we did. I like it, because I know exactly what's in the garage and where to find it."

And the spouse will agree, it's great.

And their children will grow up following the tradition.

That's just how life is, sometimes...they just want a clean garage.

Good Product...A Little Extra Information Would Have Been Nice

 The process turned out to be anything but simple. And it's not done yet. 

If only...

Several months ago I bought a small trailer that was once the back end of a Datsun pick-up truck. The problem--none of our cars could tow it. I installed a hitch on the back of Donk, the Subaru and was able to bring it home. When you add an aftermarket hitch to a car, you need to figure out how to make the trailer legal, or in other words, how to add working break lights and turn signals.

I thought it would be an easy, and maybe it would have been (easier...) if only I could have seen a small bit of information that appeared on the package I ordered through Amazon. Unfortunately, the dates of the automobile years and models for which this product was no where on the Amazon webpage.

A little extra information would have been nice.

I don't understand why it was missing on the website. I'm sure I'm not the only one who ordered the wrong part. I re-checked the website after finding out it wouldn't work and couldn't see anywhere it was made for a 2010 Subaru Forester. It would work for '98 to '08 models, but not mine. I've often wondered how much returned products cost companies, especially with clothes. For me, I need to try stuff on. Even if things fit, you may not like the look of them. It's why I've thought internet shopping would never fully solve all problems, even though it's getting close.

Thankfully, the return process for returning the product is smooth. I just take it to a UPS Store and they'll send it right back. I've already ordered a new part and I made sure it covers the 2010 Subaru Forester. 

At least, I think it does...I won't know for sure until the earliest date of May 2nd.

It May Be A Little Thing...But It's HUGE For Me

 Someone I know on social media posted a link to a short story fiction contest. I clicked on it and didn't think much about it. A few days later, I clicked on the still-open webpage...

Then, I thought about it more.

As writing goes, I've been in a major funk, a multiple month funk, even a multiple year funk. It's something I hate to admit, but it is what it is. I just couldn't bring myself to even open a writing program on my computer, let alone work on anything.

Something happened a few weeks ago. I just got sick of not writing. I opened a story I finished two years ago--finished the first draft, anyways. I started some basic edits, one chapter, then another. I've tried to do three or four chapters a week. It should be done with that round in a month or two. It's not much, but it was a start.

I think doing that little bit of editing made me save information on the short story. And because I saved the information, last week I sat down after writing my blog post and cranked out a 4k short story. It's not perfect, it's not finished, but it's a real thing. It's something that I'll submit and hope for the best.

Even if my story's not chosen, even if I get no feedback, I've already conquered a huge hurdle. I've written something. I felt so good, I actually began another short story for another contest that also ends April 30th. I don't know if I'm going to finish that story, but I'm going to try.

I remember a prolific writer tell a crowd of fans and fellow writers that he doesn't believe in writer's block. He says it is basically laziness disguised as an excuse. He's right, of course. I had no one to blame for my lack of production but myself. And when you're a writer who is not writing, the shame can compound upon itself to make matters even worse. 

Since I'm not a full-time author, if I write or don't write, I won't lose the house or fail to make a payment. In some ways, that's good, but in other ways, that lack of motivation makes a difference. I don't know how long this burst of writing will last. I'm enjoying it as long as it does.

Writers Cantina Presenter Spotlight: Steve Diamond...Honestly, Great

 Steve Diamond has been announced as a presenter for the Writers Cantina Writing Convention taking place exactly seventy-five days from today on July 8th.

Believe me...if you're into horror writing and how to do it well, Steve is one presenter you won't want to miss.

Steve's literary stock is rising with current and future projects on many bestseller lists. What makes Steve so successful is he's put in the work. I first met Steve when, in addition to his writings, he was a much sought-after reviewer. I asked if he'd review my book and he said he would, but he gave me a warning. He told me that if my novel was chosen, I'd better be prepared for an honest review, and not just honest, but brutally honest. He told me that good reviews from him can very much help a book, but the opposite an be said if they find my words less than adequate.

I ended up passing on the review, not because his words scared me. It's just something I didn't do. Even thought I didn't know Steve well at all, that little conversation told me one thing--he is honest. What you get from Steve is the real article. He is who is says he is, no matter the consequences.

This is not only a fantastic trait for a reviewer, but for an author as well. 

Check out Steve at the Writers Cantina website by clicking: HERE, and Steve's page specifically by clicking: HERE. Steve and the other presenters are well worth it.

Give Thanks...A Favor Asked

 Recently, a friend and fellow author reached out and asked me for a favor. He asked if I'd help with an upcoming literary project--something I've done for my own stories, but never for anyone else. I said yes. It's an honor to be asked.

Because the upcoming project is a continuation of his well-established series, one thing Ben wanted to do is provide me a copy of the previous five novels he's written...

Five novels.

It's an entire world.

I snapped a picture of me holding the entire series and I though how amazing it was that this world included in the pages came from the hard work of my friend. Each volume forwards the adventures of Billy Blacksmith, a gifted child who is called upon to battle evil. I'm almost halfway through the first novel and it's wonderful.

I know what it's like to need help when it comes to literary projects. I've been sitting on two novels for a while, and by "sitting," I mean, they've remained stored digitally inside my computer. I don't know why, but I've have not been able to work on them. Maybe it's because I think they might not be very good and no one would wan to read them. It's so much easier to find faults than it is to see the good. This month, I've dug one story out of the digital mothballs and started to edit it. It's such a long, but needed process.

I'm grateful to be asked the favor and the Ben's kindness to send me all his books--hardcopies at that. He did not need to do that. I could have downloaded the Kindle editions easily enough. I'm grateful someone feels my work is good enough to ask for help. It gives me confidence...much needed confidence.

The project won't be ready for a few months, so I've got a lot of reading to do. So far, I'm loving the story so for me it's a win-win. I'm excited to see how thing whole thing works out.

Cool...Very Cool Stuff!

 I experienced history Thursday, as did millions of others. We watched the Space X Starship liftoff and rise into the sky. Yes, it blew up, but from what I've read, whether or not the rocket blew up, the launch was a success.

Since I was a kid space travel has fascinated me. How could it not? Some of my first recollections were watching the moon landings, watching the capsules splashdown and the astronauts be picked up from the sea. Plus, I grew up watching Star Trek re-runs. Space was not just a fantasy, but in some ways, a reality.

The launch Thursday took place at work so I set up my camera, aimed it at my laptop, and filmed the whole thing. It was awesome. I'll be watching it in person was, to use a phrase, "out of this world."

So, I watched the video and appreciated the skill of those involved. The commentators kept saying the Starship rocket was the biggest rocket ever built. That surprised me because it didn't look like the biggest rocket ever built. I found a comparison chart of the largest rockets ever built and they were right. The thing is twice as tall as the space shuttle.

Last year I got to watch in person a test firing of the Artimus rocket booster. That was cool. The Artemis rocket lifted off and went to the moon last November. Watching all these launches takes me back to my childhood...

It's cool, very cool stuff!

Grandpa Reads The Comics...

 I LOVE a good success story. It helps restore my faith in humanity, and we all know how much we all could use more of that right about now. A success story is what I call the YouTube channel, Grandpa Reads the Comics...

A success story that's growing.

A few days ago my friend posted something on social media about her father and the incredible success his channel is having on YouTube. I'm a little ashamed to say that my first thought when reading her post was, "That's cute." Then, I checked out the site.

It's more than cute. It's a sensation.

When I checked the YouTube site a few days ago, the comic-reading grandpa had 97k subscribers. I just checked today and it's up to 237k. I can definitely see the draw. The videos are shot, sweet, and to the point. Grandpa reads a comic, then gives an inspirational thought. And I know why it's successful and growing. We need to hear these things. We need to know there's someone out there concerned about us. 

The fact that so many don't have people in their lives telling them these things is sad, but I'm glad Grandpa is filling that void, even if it's on social media. There's definitely a need for more of that.

If you want to check out Grandpa Reads the Comics, click: HERE to access the YouTube link. Good for you, Grandpa! You're doing something amazing.

Writers Cantina Presenter Spotlight: Jana S. Brown...She Loves The Written Word

 I've never read any of Jana's books, but from doing a little research, there's one thing I can say about her...

She loves the written word.

I mean, she must considering how much time and effort she's put into writing, editing, collaborating. To do that, you have to be dedicated to the craft. Otherwise, you'd throw in the towel a long time ago. 

In exactly 79 days, Jana will be among other writers and editors gathering at the Writer's Cantina writers convention, held on July 8th, 2023 in West Valley City, Utah. You can learn more about the convention by clicking on her webpage on the convention's website: HERE. You can also access Jana's Amazon page by clicking; HERE.

What I've found while researching these presenters is a kinship, common bond among writers. When I see the number of titles, the collections under her name, I respect what she's done. It's not easy to create that amount of work.

If you go to the conference, you'll learn more about her and the other excellent presenters scheduled to attend. I hope to get to know them better myself.

Stormy Days Ahead...

We have endured one of the longest winters/cold wet weather in recorded history. We shoveled so much snow we wore out snow shovels, winter gloves, and our patience. With billions of gallons of water still in the mountains waiting to come down, we exist in limbo--the bad has come...

But, is it gone?

I think we're in for stormy weather.

And I'm not just talking about the snowpack.

I've lived in Northern Utah most of my life, save a couple of years. Almost as far back as I can remember, I knew that our region is due for a big earthquake, and by "big," I mean devastating. Earthquakes have always made me nervous, but not nervous enough to live somewhere else (mostly because no matter where you go, some sort of natural disaster can wipe you out...). 

Even though I don't think about earthquakes all the time--almost never, actually--it's always something buried in the back of my mind, a darkness that exists.

The same can be said about our society today. We live our lives, day-to-day, we go to work, to the store, to church, to the movies, the whole time something evil exists, something that will change our lives and the lives of our posterity forever. Because of the choices being made now, we may one day soon wake up and there will not be enough medicine, electricity, clean water, food...help. It wouldn't take much, really. Cut petroleum yields and the country literally shuts down.

Of course, none of this may happen. People have prophesied doom and gloom for as long as there have been people. There are things, however, that history can teach us. We have the advantage of seeing the building and fall of civilization after civilization so we should know the caused of these falls and how to make sure they don't happen again. So why is the world looking more and more like the world in the 1930s?

I do not have the answers, except to say we are a society today that seems to run not on oil, but hate. It seems to be the main ingredient for most public policies and the rule of law. And if that doesn't change, we'll one day look back at today and say things were so much better back then.

Yes, maybe those dark days will creep from the shadows and punch us in the face. I believe stormy days are coming. Time to prepare. 

The Liberty Idaho LDS Chapel...Amazing

I saw the building at a distance as I drove Donk the Subaru though rural Southeastern Idaho. I'd seen the building only once before...a church on the small town's main road (appropriately enough named Church Street...). On the way in I admired it as I drove just under the posted speed limit. But on the way back...

I stopped and took a picture.

Maybe it's because I attended a historical church growing up, and I attend another one now.

Unfortunately, I was unable to go inside and look around. It might have been opened on a Saturday morning. Maybe some 20 - 30 somethings were playing a pick-up basketball game in a vain attempt to capture lost youth, or maybe some families were inside fulfilling their promise to help clean the building. 

But, this is in a rural area where members of the congregation may have morning chores and no one was there. When I drove passed in the late afternoon, the chances were most likely slimmer anyone was there. Too bad...I'm sure it's fascinating inside.

What I really would have liked to do was meet with someone who knows the building's history, knows what the community was like before it was built and what it meant to them after its dedication. Those stories are amazing. You can know and understand a people by looking at what they build and what they feel is a priority.

I don't know...maybe one day I'll step inside the unusual church. Then again, even if I don't, just seeing the building atop the crest of a small hill conveyed something to me...

Something good.

The First Author Signing Event Of 2023...Is In The Books

 My phone said the drive would take around two hours...two hours from my small town to an even smaller town in southeast Idaho.

And I was relatively close.

Last fall I spoke with another author who lives in Montpelier, Idaho. I first met her when her family lived in Utah County, Utah, but they moved north years ago. I got an e-mail asking if I'd like to participate in an author signing event mid-April of 2023. I said, "Sure." Always nice to be invited and I generally enjoy hanging out with fellow authors. There are things all authors share (like being a little insane...) and being together is an uplifting activity.

I made the drive, stopping only at Costco to buy some candy (to lure in potential buyers...) and I made the drive in just under two hours. To be honest, the "Flooding Warning" on my phone and the "Road Closed Ahead - Local Traffic Only" sign as I entered the road taking me over the pass had me worried, but I trusted GPS to not lead me into a flood. Thankfully, I had an uneventful trip...there and back.

Montpelier is a human oasis in a land void of others. Last year my wife and I drove to a community just west to attend a family funeral. You could see Montpelier from the hillside cemetery. This time I drove all the way into town. A movie theater was showing The Super Mario Brothers Movie, storefronts, gas stations...the basics to keep the residents alive lined the street as I made my way to the event.

I sold a couple of books, which is good for me. It certainly didn't pay for the gas to get me there, but I sort of knew I'd be losing money when I took it on. The best part was meeting the people and letting them know that they mattered to a bunch of writers. They were worth our time.

My friend who invited me and who organized the event sent out an e-mail yesterday thanking us for coming. She admitted the numbers were down from the event held the year before, mostly because the community's had such a hard winter that the weekend was one of the first times all the roads leading to and from were clear for people to finally run their much-needed errands.

I've done a fair author signings in my day, more than some, not as many as others. This one was special, even though the sales totals weren't stellar. There are other reasons to do these, after all.

Give Thanks...Less Contention

 The leader of the religion of which I am a part spoke to us two weeks ago. During the two-day event leaders of the church give talks with instruction and encouragement. One talk hit close to home.

Be a peacemaker.

The world needs less contention.

In the talk President Nelson asked us to be less contentious with our social media interactions and other interactions as well. He stressed the importance of being a peacemaker. As I listened I thought of a few people I know who could be a little less contentious online. President Nelson then said that as we listened to his counsel, we might be thinking of others who would benefit from his words. That caused the audience to laugh...

Myself included.

No way he was talking to me because I go out of my way to avoid contention online. My posts are "vanilla" at best. 

But then, I re-thought his message. He was dead-on talking to me, because even though I don't post things, boy do I feel them. I'll read a post on Twitter or Facebook and the fuming begins. I think of many things to post--total destructive zingers guaranteed to render all other opinions obsolete. I think them, and sometimes I've even gone so far as to write them out, but when it's time to hit the "Post" button, I chicken out--mostly because I know it will do absolutely no good. My opinions have never been changed because someone basically yelled at me their opinion. Why should I think my opinions would do anything different?

I need to be less contentious in my life. I need to not think of argumentative things. If that means abandoning social medial all together, then that's what I should do. I'm grateful for the advice. Now, all I have to do is follow it.

These Suckers...Are Evil

 I swung by Costco this morning and picked up two packages of candy. I needed candy to lure potential customers to my book booth at a book fair I attended today. With other authors all vying for the limited buying pool, I needed an edge...something irresistible...something like...

Ghirardelli chocolate.

Yes, they were for last week's Easter, but six-day old chocolate is not a deterrent in my book. I've eaten chocolate much older than six days.

So, why call it evil? I mean, it's just a bewitching combination of ingredients in proper amounts that when added together created an almost hypnotic concoction...something you cannot resist, cannot control. Of course, I'm talking about myself here, but from the reactions of my children, I'm not the only one (maybe it's a genetic anomaly...) that's loves the stuff.

At the book fair I placed the candies strategically in front of the books and like pollen to a bee, it drew them in. Now, I'm not saying the candies was the main reason for my success, but I'm also not saying it, either.

In many ways I'm happy Easter Candy is only available four months out of the year...it's already evil. Why make it more dangerous?

Every Neighborhood Has One Perfect Lawn...It's Not Ours

 There's always one--sometimes more than one--but there's one that stands apart, one lawn in the neighborhood that's as close to perfect as possible. In our neighborhood it's the house next door.

It makes all the other lawns not-so-green with envy.

We knew when we moved here that our neighbor was particular about his yard. They moved in several months ahead of us and as we would drive up and check the progress on the house from time to time, our neighbor was always outside working in his lawn-less yard. He was smoothing the land making sure it was perfect. Then, we helped put in sod. 

You could see how much work he had put into it.

And it didn't stop there. Ever since the first rolls of sod we put down, it's been his passion. Today he mowed his lawn for the first time this season. It looks great.

We made a conscience decision to put in less grass rather than more. Our front yard has basically a strip of lawn that goes to the backyard. In the back we have two large sections for gardens, spaces where we could have planted grass but decided not to. It takes about fifteen minutes to mow the whole thing.

Our lawn isn't a complete failure, but I know it's not the priority as others. We like it green. We don't want it to die. We take care of it. As with all things, there are, of course, varying degrees of "taking care of." Mine is somewhere lower than perfect.

A new growing season is upon us...and some are already mowing their lawns.

Not us, at least not now.

When You Post A Timely Photo...

 Last week I needed to post a picture for my "Pic Of The Day." I could have gone outside and taken yet another photo of the incredible amounts of snow we've received this winter and spring. Instead, an idea came to me. I went downstairs to our bookshelves, did a little searching, and found what I was looking for...

Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic, The Long Winter.

I thought it was funny, so I posted it.

It was, in a word, a hit.

I read these books when I was in elementary school. We've read them in our homeschool to all our kids as they grew up. The stories hold a special place in my heart and I hope kids and adults alike will continue reading these books for generations to come.

It seems many others remember the books, too. The posted photo generated many responses...likes, laughs, and several commented that they remembered the series, and The Long Winter in particular. The fact that we have been experiencing our own long winter added to the timely photo.

This morning, we got another couple of inches of snow. Then the sun came out and all that snow is gone, as is (hopefully...) any new snow until next fall. I'd like to say I believe this was the last snowstorm of the year.

That's what I said during the last storm, and the storm before that...

And the storm before that.

One of these times, that statement will be true. Who knows...maybe someone will write a book about our long winter.

Writers Cantina Presenter Spotlight: D.L. Campanile...She Knows Her Business

 News dropped recently of another presenter at the Writers Cantina writing conference. D. L. Campanile will be included with other excellent presenters at the inaugural event taking place exactly 87 days from today.

You can find out more about D. L. on the conference website by clicking: HERE. On the author's page, we learn about D. L.'s background in business. If you know anything about being a writer, you understand the importance of knowing the fundamentals of business. In many ways, much of an author's success depends on this knowledge.

One thing I learned early on about being a writer is that you're also by default the owner/operator/sole proprietor of a business. Your product is not just the words you put on paper/digital paper, but your image, your brand, your style...pretty much anything associated with you and what your produce. It's something most authors don't consider, but should.

If you attend the Writers Cantina conference on July 8th in West Valley City, Utah, D. L.'s knowledge of both writing and business is only some of the excellent advice you can glean from our presenters and other attendees. Click: HERE for conference information above to learn more about registering, as well as the other announced presenters. 

D. L. Campanile...she knows her business.

Did We Just Buy A Really Heavy Coatrack...?

 We pulled the trigger on an exercise system. As you can see, it was not the most expensive one available on the used exercise equipment market. That was a huge selling point in our decision. That, and the fact that the seller was located in an obscure little northern Utah town.

Over the weekend, my son and I climbed into the van, drove the half hour to our destination, and loaded it up. Now it's set up in our garage/home gym. The one-hundred thousand dollar question is...

Will it get used?

And if it does, will it get used in the manner for which it was designed?

We've had a home gym set up for a couple of years. We decided to not sell our treadmill when we moved and we brought it along. We found a free stationary bike on the side of the road and we bought an elliptical machine. Part of my daily work routine is to take a break and use the equipment. And, had I not stepped on the power cord of the elliptical machine, I'd continue to use all three.

One thing we didn't have was a weight system. Granted, the elastic system we bought is not optimum, but it's something. Since we moved it into place, I've used it twice, yesterday and today. I only used one of the systems. I'm glad to say it wore me out a little, which is the only reason to have these machines in the first place.

There are days that I don't make it to the gym. Sometimes we have staff meetings during the time I usually work out, and now that summer's inching closer, I can only work out in the mornings because it gets too hot otherwise.

So far, so good. So far, the machines are being used for exercise and not a place to hang clothing. We'll just have to keep it that way.

So, If You Happened To Be In Northern Utah/Southern Idaho This Saturday...Come Check Out Authorpalooza!

 The title of this particular blog post is a mouthful. Then again, so is the event that's upcoming this Saturday. 

Authorpalooza!

I know I'm going.

I was approached last fall to see if I'd be interested in participating in the 2023 event. I had never heard of it, but it sounded fun. Whenever a bunch of authors gather, guaranteed it will be a fascinating time. After all, these are people who lie for a living (or, in my case, for a hobby...). I wonder if there's a name for a group of authors. If not, there should be.

My name was not included on this list. I was told there was a mix-up, but I am invited. 

 You can check out the Bear Lake Arts Council Facebook page, the group putting on the event, by clicking: HERE. It's in Montpelier, Idaho, on the border of Utah and Idaho near Bear Lake. I've only been to the community once. Saturday I'll double that amount. Yes, it's a bit of a drive, but there's some beautiful country on the way.

If you're going, come by and say, "hi." I love meeting people at these events. Plus, you can pick up a book or twelve from some excellent authors.

Give Thanks...For Good Friends, And Time

 A friend posted a photo on social media earlier today. The photo shows my friend along with other friends gathered together for an Easter meal. The meal was held thousands of miles away in a small country in Northern Europe.

And it sparked a memory.

A memory that took place almost forty years ago to the day...

Easter weekend, in Denmark.

Thirty-eight years and two days ago I sat in the house of my friends Bjarne and Ulla and we sat down for an Easter meal. It was my second Sunday in the country and my first time eating a meal not in our apartment. As a LDS missionary we travel in pairs, two-by-two, always together. My companion (as we call each other...) was Elder Richardson. He passed away due to covid complications a few years ago. Sad.

Today, however, the missionaries sharing a meal with Bjarne and Ulla and others are the Ellises. I first met Brian Thirty-eight months and eight weeks earlier in Provo, Utah where a group of strangers met and together we learned how to preach the Gospel, speak Danish (or speak as good as ten weeks of instruction can allow...). I've kept in touch with Brian and Bonnie over the months, years, and decades. 

It's now time for the Ellises to return home...interesting. I shared my first meal in the country with the Jakobsens and my other friends shared their last meal in the country with the Jakobsens. Though things change due to time, some things remain the same. The kindness of the Jakobsens is one of those things.

I'm grateful I know the Jakobsens, the Ellises, the Richardsons, and so many others like them. I'm thankful I kept a daily journal back then (and continue today...) so that when I saw a photo taken in the twenty-first century I could look up and remember a dinner date that occurred in the twentieth. 

Also, something I'm sure hasn't changed...the food was most likely excellent.

Returning To The "Source" Of The Crime...

 Tonight I had food from a restaurant I haven't visited for almost a year and a half.

It's really not the restaurant's fault...

I blame my genetics.

We used to eat at Costa Vida all the time, maybe a couple of times a month. Even after we moved and the restaurant was no longer a mile away, we still found ourselves ordering their food regularly. That all changed when, after one autumn night we picked up dinner and brought it home, I ended up in the emergency room because a black bean was lodged in my throat.

Yes, a tiny black bean.

Unbelievable.

It's true, though. All my life I've had trouble swallowing. I didn't realize I had a physical condition until about twenty-five years ago when taking some tests, it was discovered my throat had an abnormality. I had a procedure done twice to expand my throat, and that was that.

Turns out, however, the procedure does not permanently "fix" the problem. Slowly, over the years, the condition returned until the fateful tiny black bean from Costa Vida became stuck. A trip to the E.R. later and it was no longer stuck. Crazy. A few weeks later, I returned to have my throat expanded again.

Since that time, we haven't had their food. Tonight, the family gathered for an Easter/April Birthday celebration and we catered from Costa Vida.

Like I said, the restaurant wasn't really the source of the crime...more like a contributing factor. Now that we've been back, we'll have to eat there more often. I'll be ordering the refried beans, of course.

LJ Hackmeister...Gone Too Soon

 I first met LJ at FanX, our local comic con, several years ago. I was fortunate enough to work in a vendor floor booth with her selling books. I had one title to sell, she had many many more. I met several authors that weekend and I've kept in touch with them, at least through social media. I took an interest in LJ's post, mostly because of her health situation.

I felt bad such a young, talented author was having health issues.

I was rooting for her.

She passed away two days ago. 

I followed her posts and sometimes reacted to them. What interested me was the fact she was a nurse with access to knowledge about her condition. Every time she posted about a potential fix, she'd post an update with the the good and the bad results. I remember discussing the issue with my wife several months ago that even with a person in the medical field with access to the best information available, they couldn't fix the problems. All that knowledge and still all that pain.

Last week her posts talked about a procedure she hoped and prayed would work. The next post I saw was from another author friend saying how much he was going to miss her. He's not alone.

LJ's last project was an anthology called, Instinct: An Animal Rescuers Anthology. The proceeds go to an animal rescue in Colorado. The collection has some excellent authors and if you're interested in supporting this wonderful project, click: HERE.

As I followed LJ's progress the past couple of years, she was in so much pain...it didn't make sense, nor was it particularly fair. I'm sadden by the news as are many of us. Gone too soon.

I Guess They're Shutting Down The Fun...

 We moved to a small rural community six months into the covid dilemma. One of the first unofficial things we needed to do was find the best pizza place. 

And we did.

Not only did Pizza Plus have excellent food and (at the time...) reasonable prices, it looked like the local hang out, except because of covid, no one was hanging out. They had several video games--dated--but at least they were there. They had a couple of pool tables and an air hockey table...

But no people.

It was depressing, then again, depressing places were all over the place back then.

We've returned to Pizza Plus several times over the past months and years. I can count on one hand the times I've seen anyone actually taking advantage of the gaming entertainment inside, and when I did, they were playing pool.

Last month I went inside and saw "Out-Of-Order" signs on every game, every pool table/air hockey table, every claw game, even the change machine was "out-of-order." I asked the kid who processed my debit card why the change. He said the new owners had made an executive decision. They were shutting down the fun, at least the fun that once was.

It made me sad. I never got to see the place in its heyday. I can imagine if I had grown up in the town, me and my friends would have frequented the joint, enjoyed the pizza and camaraderie, and had good times. Who knows, maybe I would have asked out the cute girl after having a few caffeinated drinks. No, I missed the glory days of the ol' hangout. I'll bet it was great.

Everyone seems to be scrambling in the days of covid and post-covid. I hope the change works out of the Pizza Place. We'll most likely not enjoy the changes...we always get take out, but I wish them luck, even without all the "fun."

Time To Use The Stand-Up Desk More...

 A year or so before work sent me home (before everyone was sent home to work...), my employer got me a standing desk. I had tweaked my back and standing helped me to recover. I lifted and lowered the desk every time I worked...I tried standing at least a couple of hours each shift.

Then, I began to work from home.

And I stopped lifting and lowering the desk.

Such is life.

I don't know why I stopped. Maybe my back got better. Maybe I was able to be more mobile at home...I'm not sure, but I just didn't need to use the standing desk. That is, until today. Today I thought I need to get back on my feet, so I gave it a try for a few hours.

It's funny. When I think about being more mobile, or less sedentary, I have these grand plans. I used to walk around the neighborhood several times a week. This spring, the weather's put a damper on those plans. I thought about getting a little under-the-desk stair stepper or a little under-the-desk stationary bike. I keep thinking if I were active while taking calls and pushing digital papers, I'm sure it would be helpful for me in many ways.

In a few weeks, I'll need to don a nice suit and walk my daughter down the aisle. I'd like to fit into that suit...

Of course, I could just cut back on all the ice cream ;)

People...TAKE DOWN Your Signs!

 It was wishful thinking, really. I should have known it's not yet Yard Sale Season, especially since we're getting major winter storms blow through the valley. Still, I thought I'd drive by the Yard Sale Sign monument in town to see if anyone was brave enough to try and unload their unwantables.

I pulled up to the power box, located in the northern section of the Kent's Grocery Store/Zions Bank parking lot. The locals (us included...) know that power box is where people put up signs letting the world know where, and hopefully when, the yard sales are taking place. It's our "public square."

The weathered sign should have told me the sign had been there a while.

Nope...I decided to take a chance and see if the indoor yard sale was on. I drove the five or so miles to the address and there was no indoor yard sale or outdoor yard sale or no sale of any kind. The drive wasn't a total loss, however...

On my way, I passed a building, an old house long forgotten by time. I thought it might make a good picture so when the yard sale was a bust, I turned around and stopped by the house. It's a little hard to see, but the front room and porch are filled with wood. The former home is now just a place to store lumber. I took a few shots and I'd like to take more another time. I must say, the gray sky matched the desolate scene wonderfully.

People...take down your yard sale signs when the sale is over! Then again, if they had, I'd have missed out on a great photo.

Writers Cantina Presenter Spotlight: J.C. Chambers III...A Writer Of Fun Stories

 I've heard said that the hardest thing to pull off, is comedy. In theater, film, if you can nail the comedy, you've accomplished a lot. If an actor is successful in comedic roles, they can almost always succeed in dramatic roles. Robin Williams, Melissa McCarthy, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Jim Carrey are but a few of highly successful dramatic actors who were once only known for their comedy.

The same can be said for authors.

Comedy is tough.

But, if you can make people laugh, you've reached them in a way that few others can. J.C. Chambers III is a writer who admits he, "decided to write fun stories. And much to the exasperation of literally everyone around him, he never stopped trying to write fun stories."

Take, for example, his Cocoon Chronicles series. As Book One (Begrenesh Initiate) on the book's Amazon page has been described as, "The Cocoon Chronicles are a high-flying, action-packed, and comedic romp through a completely new fantasy world filled with fantastic locations, original creatures, and secrets just waiting to be discovered." You can access the Amazon page by clicking: HERE.

In only 96 days from today, you can attend the Writers Cantina writers conference and hear from J.C. himself. Find out why comedy is so important and get tips on creating more humor in your own writing. Or just attend to hear some great stories. You can access the conference website by clicking: HERE, or learn more about J.C. by clicking his presenter page: HERE.

Register today.

Give Thanks...Conference Weekend

It's Sunday night. Conference weekend is almost over. For those members of the LDS religion, conference weekend occurs twice a year, in April and October. 

Going to get a little religious here...something I don't do very often.

It was the 193rd Annual General Conference of the church. I've been listening/watching/participating in conference weekends for as long as I can remember. As a child, it was the weekend we didn't go to church, but watched it on TV. Except for the two years I lived in Denmark, it was always something I could watch live. During the weekend, leaders of the church gather and give talks, instruction to the members, but not just to the members, to basically the whole world.

As I've gotten older, I seem to need conference weekend. Maybe it's because I'm a husband and father (soon to be grandfather...) that the messages given over the pulpit hold deeper meanings, have more weight, just mean more than they did when I was younger. I was especially looking forward to this particular conference because the world seems to be spinning out of control.

And because of this, I wondered what would be said in those speeches. Would the leaders call on the members to leave their homes and gather in a new place? Would they speak of the politics and culture wars happening today?

No, of course they didn't. 

With a calmness surrounding them, they gave their messages, offered insight and suggestions, and proclaimed their beliefs in such a way that showed me that if the are worried about the future, we only need to follow their instructions to obtain peace. I think it's how Christ himself would act, how he would speak if he were standing at the pulpit.

I'm grateful for conference weekend. I'm glad I could listen and watch. I'm glad for the leaders's example. They make me want to be better, to act better, to do more for others. One thing I'm particularly proud of is that I stayed awake for almost all the sessions. That hasn't happened in a long time.

The weekend's over. In six months we'll gather in churches, in homes, basically any place where we can hear the words of council. It's crazy what's happened to the world in the past six months. I expect the next six months to be the same.

 

Happy Birthday Son...To The Soon-To-Be Father

Almost three decades. You weren't supposed to be born on April Fools Day--we went into the hospital on March 30th to prevent that from happening--but you began your life on your own terms (that, and a big head...) and decided to arrived during the Final Four semi's two days later. 

All parents say their children are adorable, but we have photographic proof. You were happy and entertaining and you never NEVER wanted to go to sleep...just so much to see, to hear, to feel, to eat, and you wanted to do it all. I believe that's why it was too tough getting you to take a nap.

Now, you're an adult with a wonderful wife, responsibilities, and a baby on the way.

Everyone who has had children say the same thing, "Having a child changes your life." They say that because fewer things in life are as true as that statement. Before the child arrives, you're a couple, two people thinking you know what's going to happen--everyone's told you how it's going to be. You've prepped the house with a crib and the car with a carseat, baby clothes and toys, both bought and donated, await the new life.

You'll be a year younger than I was when you came along. I thought being in my upper twenties I'd be prepared, but you're never really ready. And that's a good thing, I believe. There are things you can learn no other way. It's the way it's supposed to be.

Today signals the beginning of not just another year, but the start of challenges and blessings and experiences that will mold you as a person, as a couple, as a family. I hope you have a wonderful birthday and an even better year that lies ahead.

Happy birthday, son, who will soon be a father.