I Went...But I Did Not Bet

 We live about twenty minutes from the Idaho border. I love Idaho. It's where my mom was born and my parents were raised. Growing up I spent many a summer's day enjoying Idaho. It's beautiful and full of (mostly...) friendly and interesting people. I only say "mostly" because no place is completely devoid of unfriendly and uninteresting people. It's close, though.

Idaho also has somethings Utah does not. We don't have a university football field painted blue. We don't have the words "Famous Potatoes" on our license plates (unless they're custom...), and we don't have legalized gambling.

For some, that's a shame. For me...heck, I'm glad. Then again, I'm not a gambler. I'm also very grateful I'm not.

I think I could enjoy gambling if I had a lot of money to waste, and by "a lot" I mean, a lot...like millions. I'd have to have enough money that if I lost it, it wouldn't matter. Sure, I've thrown a coin or two into a slot machine and in my life, I've probably broke even, give or take twenty bucks. I can see why people enjoy it. I can even think it could be fun--people spend more money on "fun" things all the time. It's just never been something I'm willing to risk to experience that fun. And, we all know how destructive gambling can be, also.

Also, having little with which to gamble helps make the decision not to gamble easy for me.

My son and I drove to Idaho, interestingly enough, to cash in on a lottery ticket someone bought for him. They bought other tickets as well, but my son's was the only one that hit. He won a whopping four bucks, which turned into eight at the window. Based on the distance from our house to Idaho, we just about broke even on the gas to get us there and back. 

Inside the small gas station there were two sides, half contained the normal things found in a gas station/convenience store...munchies, drinks, even liquor (another thing not found in Utah gas stations/convenience stores...). But, the other half was dedicated to gambling. They even had an employee behind the till for the gamblers, not the munchie-eaters or the liquor-buyers. It was quite an operation.

And this was just one little gas station in the entire state.

I don't know if my son will become a gambler. He might, as might any of my kids. They're free to make those decisions for themselves. But, I hope I've had an impact and they choose not to take up the habit...

Unless, they become millionaires.

Julie Frost's "Cry Havoc" Drops Today...Check It Out

 Back when there seemed to be a writing convention every other month and I was fortunate enough to attend a writing convention every other month, there was always a book being released, or several. I got to know many authors and have tried to help them out by reading their stuff, or helping promote their stuff, or both.

Today, Julie Frost's Cry Havoc is available on Amazon. From the book's website is the following information:

Nate Cassin, the alpha werewolf of Missoula, Montana, finds his little city has a big wolf problem when shredded bodies start showing up all over town. Faced with a hostile press and even more hostile hunters, he tries to protect his innocent pack of eight at the same time they try to track down two elusive killers in an area of 35 square miles with a plethora of hiding places.

He's seen this before. And the hunters always, always go overboard and decide the only good werewolf is a dead one, no matter who's actually responsible. His pack will be collateral damage unless he can find the enemy wolves—and stop their broken alpha—before they turn his hometown into a human buffet.

Part of what I love about being part of the local writing community is getting to know everyone. Writers are an interesting breed. They're as individual as what they write...no cookie-cutter personalities. The above blurb screams Julie. If you're ever lucky enough to meet and have a conversation with her, it's a moment not easily forgotten. She's a wonderful writer and person.

Since the book just came out today, I have not read it. But, I do know that Julie is so passionate about her writing...and pretty much other interests as well.

If you like the genre, or even if you don't and you'd like to give Cry Havoc a chance, click: HERE for the Amazon link. After all, I'm guessing many of you are in the mood for a good werewolf yarn right about now.

Wonder When We'll Light Up The Ol Fire Pit...

 Last winter, feet of snow covered our backyard for months. We got hit at the end of December, and then we were hit again, and again, and again. I can't remember when the snow receded to the point where we could see grass and our gardens...

And the fire pit.

Ah, the ol' fire pit. I remember digging it out. All those rocks you see in that picture came from the two feet across by a foot deep hole. Needless to say, just under our grass, we have rocks...not just small stones, but big rocks and once you've cleared those, even bigger rocks remain. 

All that work was worth it.

We don't use the pit to excess. I think my kids have lasting memories of the first season we used the pit. It snowed almost every time we lit it up. Plus, we have winds up here. Winds and snow do not add to a positive outdoor experience. We'd make s'mores and even roast hot dogs though the bad weather. I loved it. My kinds...not so much. 

This afternoon I went outside. Our big snows are all but gone thanks to our January thaw. As the dog did his business, I spotted the fire pit. It remains silent, not saying a word, waiting for the chance to be utilized again. It'll happen. When? I'm not quite sure, especially now that we're down one child and another one has begun his full-time schooling. 

Maybe one of these first nights, I'll go to the woodpile and pick out a few sticks. I'll grab the axe and make some kindling from an old 2x4, then go inside for some newspaper. Once the wood is assembled in a manner that will hopefully allow a small flame to become larger, then larger still, I'll apply heat in the form of a lighted match. Of course, if that doesn't work, I'll go into the garage and bring out the barbecue lighter fluid...you know, to sort of "kick-start" the process.

Once the flame is going, I'll return and pull up a chair, all the while knowing I'll need to wash the clothes I'm wearing afterwards due to the roaming smoke. If we have the materials, I'll dig out the wires and attach an unburned marshmallow to see if I can heat up the outside just to the point of combustion, and then remove it from the heat. Yes. It will smokey and messy and sort of a pain.

And all that work is worth it.

Give Thanks...Kind Of Like Going Home

Last week I drove to Salt Lake, took the Beck Street exit, and climbed Victory Road where I dropped into the valley with the State Capitol behind me. I parked the car, then walked the one block east until I reached the Olene S. Walker Building. I stood in front of a window to make sure my necktie was straight, then I opened the doors and walked inside.

Just like I've done thousands of times before.

Well, no exactly like it, but close.

I had a meeting in the building where I worked for more than a decade. I started in one department, moved to a second, then a third, then a fourth. I left for a few years, but returned for yet another assignment, and once that ended, I picked up my last job in that building. Two years later, that job ended and I left. 

That was almost ten years ago.

Back when I first started with my employer, the building was only a few years old. It was also not named after a past Utah Governor, Utah's first female governor. It was just called Admin North. It was the center of the company, the heart, and some might even say, the brains. I worked on the fourth floor. There were seven of us that began the same day. Of the seven, only two of us remain. Neither of us work there now, but both of us spent years, spent decades in that building.

I've been back several times. It's strange seeing a building that was once overflowing with people, so much so, they had to reduce the size of the cubicles to accommodate everyone. Now, that most of the employees work remote. The work gets done...we're no longer organized as we once were. 

The memories returned to me as I entered the space. Before, I could just use my pass to activate the elevators and go to my desk, to my assignment, to my responsibilities. Now, I had to sign in, given a Visitor pass. Just as well. I'm no longer part of that world. I'm an outsider to a place I feel I helped build.

Even though I very much felt the visitor the pass I wore claimed I was, it's still a home for me. I formed life-long friendships in that building. Some of my best working days and definitely some of my worst days of my professional career all occurred at Admin North. I'm grateful for those days, even though many were tough. I'm grateful for those friendships, for those relationships, for the work we did. I'm grateful because the days spent in those halls helped make me the worker and person I am today...another part of the fabric of a life.

It was fun to return, but it was also nice to leave, especially after having a good meeting.

Yesterday...I Was One Of "The Waiting"

I had time to kill yesterday morning...

Apparently, I was not the only one.

I became a member of what I call, "The Waiting."

If you're wondering what "The Waiting" is, I see it this way. The Waiting are any group of people waiting outside an establishment until the doors of that establishment open. There used to be many Waiting groups on Black Friday when the only real way of scoring great deals was to go to the store, joint The Waiting, then rush in and grab the good stuff before others have a chance to get theirs.

Groups of The Waiting have dwindled in recent years. I don't usually need to be at businesses before they open anymore, so I haven't seen a lot of The Waiting groups. There is one place, however, that The Waiting seems to show up everyday...

Thrift stores.

Or, a certain chain of thrift stores found in the Intermountain West. They're called Deseret Industries, or D.I. for short. They're run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and, as thrift stores go, they're pretty good. They're clean (for the most part...) and have a good selection (for the most part...). Because they're successful, they seem to get all the excellent donations. 

After all, donations are key to a successful thrift store--part of the reason, anyway. 

Because the stores are clean and well-stocked, it attracts both the collector and those a little short on cash. Yesterday I pulled up to the store about ten minutes early. A few members of The Waiting were already doing their part. As the seconds ticked down, more and more people parked and got out of their cars. I watched The Waiting grow in numbers. 

Soon, I joined them. 

Soon after that, we were The Waiting no more.

Darren...One Of The Best

 They tried reaching me this morning, but didn't know how, since I do not work Fridays. They got emy team together on a group call and delivered the news...our boss, our supervisor and friend died. Heart attack. I got the news from a friend.

I'm gutted.

There are people in your life placed there for a reason, people who you seem to draw more from them than you can ever give back. These people...they're stabilizers, a solid foundation when all around you life is unsure, crazy, and even terrifying. And as you age and the troubles from yesterday end and even bigger troubles appear on the horizon, those people...those rock-steady people always seem to be there, always willing to talk, to listen, to smile back when you answer their question of, "how are things going?"

When you find those people, they don't just leave an impression...they touch your soul. They become something more than a co-worker, a friend.

And when they're gone, everything that once seemed solid disappears like waking up from a dream and what you thought existed only moments before, may have never existed after all.

My boss and I started with the organization the same year. I'm six month younger than him. He was my boss for more than a decade. Before moving to his team, I was a supervisor, different department, but same level, and I was constantly surprised at how well he did his job. Usually, someone who excels at that level gets promoted, but he didn't seem to want to move up. He liked where he was, liked the interaction between management and the front-line workers. I always respected that, and I understood it, too. When you first start, you want to climb that ladder as fast as you can and those that do, sometimes leave broken relationships in their wake. No, he was different, and I'm not alone in thinking how lucky those on his team were because he was our boss and no matter how crappy the job, we knew he had our backs.

On Tuesday, he and I chatted for our monthly one-on-one meeting. He met with everyone on the team for an hour each month. A few years ago he and I go the idea that instead of always meeting on screens, we'd meet for lunch. Since he and I work five counties from each other, we'd meet somewhere in the middle. The last time was last fall. On our monthly zoom meetings we'd always say we needed to continue the in-person lunches. On the last call we talked about work, about college sports--he's one of the biggest (and best...) BYU fans I've ever met, and when either BYU or Utah beat the other team, both he and I were magnanimous, no matter the outcome.

The news broke hours ago. I'm still numb. We used to joke about retirement and how long we both thought we'd work. We could talk sports, comic cons, work, missions, losing parents, even adoption. And I was just one of his team...everyone had that kind of relationship with the man. He was the best boss I've ever had, and an even better person. When you lose someone like that, there's a void that can never truly be filled, a hurt that can never fully be healed. 

We lost a good one...one of the best. I'm forever blessed to know him and to call him friend. God's speed, Darren...until we can have that next in-person one-on-one.

Sometimes...You Have To Break Out The Bass

 Sometimes...

Do you have something around the house that, if you were a logically thinking person, you'd get rid of it--and not only that, you'd have gotten rid of it years ago?

 Yeah, I've got a couple of those things around the house. They seem to accumulate the older I get. More years...more stuff. It's the way of things. There's one thing...a big wood and plastic and metal and electronic insides...that I don't think I'll ever get rid of. My Gibson RD Artist Bass.

It's beautiful.

Apparently, this opinion was not widely shared at the time this particular guitar was produced. It's a 1978 model and RD Artist line went from 1977 to 1979. Bass players did not appreciate the synthesizer/guitar Frankenstein-ian bass. However, as the years passed these guitars have become sought-after items. I could unload it at anytime, but I don't think I will.

The other day I opened the case and released the bass from its deep blue plush surroundings and played it a bit. It was fun. I was never really good, but it was fun to just play. Sometimes you have to break out the bass.

No, I'll most likely never be in another rock band, or take place in another recording session, or wrap the bass in plaid and lip sync Saturday Night from the Bay City Rollers at the Union Building on the University of Utah campus and come in 2nd in the Lip Sync contest--only coming in second because we tied with a group that actually rehearsed their act, but we tied because one judge gave us an 11 of 10 points and therefore, we came in 2nd. No, sadly, those days are most likely gone forever.

Then again, who knows...?

Difficult To Get Any Writing Done...After The Haircut

 On a usual evening, I will pull out my laptop and crank out a blog post in no time, even quicker when that itch needs scratching and I need to get the words on the page fast. Tonight, I sat down almost two hours ago and I'm just now getting to the keyboard.

It's the dog.

He just got a haircut.

We have a poodle. All you poodle owners--and owners of dogs that need to be groomed--understand what it's like when you bring your dog home from the groomer. Now, having never been a dog, I can't imagine having all the hair on your body shaved like that. Our dog does a lot of zooming and scratching and basically freaking out.

Can't really blame him. 

To make matters worse, it's winter here and yesterday, the dog had a thick and warm coat surrounding him, protecting him, warming him. That's changed now,

Our dog is an affectionate dog, but only just. He will, for example snuggle up to you when you're sitting on the couch, but it doesn't seem to be his natural inclination. Today, however, he's come right up to me and sat down to get as warm as possible. Our dog also isn't one to like having blankets over him. He does now. We've covered him up and he hasn't moved from my side since.

It's human nature--the good side of human nature--to want those you love to be comfortable, to be safe, to be loved. I don't mind him sitting next to me tonight, and there's a good chance we'll end up together tomorrow. I'm fine with that, too...

It's just the writing that is...delayed.

It's That Time Of Year Again...

 We live in a small town. We have two small grocery stores. It's funny how even in small town the mass marketing reaches us all.

Case in point, the good old pre-Super Bowl advertising.

I shouldn't have been, but I was a little surprised to see it in our little store.

Of course, the display was not massive, like I've seen in the big grocery stores where wall-size monster ads that built. They are, in all reality, works of art. They're impressive, they're eye-catching, and I'm assuming they're effective.

If they weren't they'd stop doing them, right...?

But, as my wife and I meandered through our smaller grocery store, I happened upon a display. As you can see, it's 3-D, and it's creative. I'm not necessarily a fan of the product--Coke Zero--but I'll look at the display to see how I feel about it. Like going to a museum and checking out paintings and photographs, I'm interested in how things look.

The big game is coming up. I have no idea who's going to be playing. This year I've been watching games again so there's a good chance I may watch the big game this year, something we've ignored for years. Perhaps my renewed interest in the game is why I took so much notice in the display in our store. It's possible. One thing I do know, the display won't make me pick up a case or two of Coke for the big game.

Maybe the displays aren't so effective after all.

Technology Lacking In A 1960s VW Beetle...

 Last week I drove my son to school. He's got his license, but getting a foot of snow overnight is not something he's experienced yet, so we hopped in Donk, the trusty Subaru Forester, and we headed out.

As those who have driven in snow know, when there's snow on the road, it ends up on your windshield, both from falling from the sky and from being thrown up from the road. Thankfully, my car--built in the twenty-first century--has a mechanism to clear the windshield...an ingenious little system that pushes windshield wiper fluid onto the windshield where the windshield wipers come along and push the schmutz away allowing the driver and everyone else inside a clear view ahead.

A very important safety feature.

Unfortunately, my first car lacked this safety feature. Well...that's not entirely true. The brilliant Germans did install a windshield cleaning solution in the 1960s Volkswagen Beetles. You see, they used the pressure in the car's spare tire to give pressure to the fluid. I guess it worked in theory, but in actually, not so much. If there was any leak in the tubing, the spare tire would lose its air, and the same thing happened if it worked and you cleaned off your windshield too much.

Mine never worked, so the only way to get a clean windshield was to drive close to a bigger vehicle (basically, every car on the road...) and have it throw schmutz onto your windshield, then you quickly turned on the wipers. You had to do this over and over to keep the windshield clean.

Last week, I kept having to clean the windshield and as I stopped behind a semi at a traffic light, all those memories of trying to safely drive the '65 bug returned.

I snapped a photo and posted it on social media with the caption, "Reminds me of my '65 VW Beetle days...If you know, You know." I received some comments on the picture. Apparently, my photo conjured other memories for some, namely, drafting behind a semi and using the huge truck to help pull my little car down the road because the 36 horsepower engine lacked any strength whatsoever. I forgot about drafting. I used semis to do that, too.

A powerful engine...yet more technology lacking in my first car.

Give Thanks...To Meet The Next Generation

 Today, the family gathered together and broke bread. Ever since our family has grown, it's one of the favorite things that my wife and I do. We are truly blessed.

Today, our grandson was entertaining us all and it reminded me of some photos we took almost thirty years ago when our first son was a baby. In the picture below, he's older than our grandson, but they do share at least one common trait...

They're both cute as the dickens.

I don't really know how cute "the dickens" is, but it must be awfully cute.

It made me think...not everyone is lucky enough to meet the next generation. 

I live in a culture where getting married and having kids used to be the goal. I know it was for me. My parents wanted kids so badly they adopted three, me being the middle child. It makes me sad that my father was unable to meet his grandkids. He passed away when the oldest of us was only ten years old. My mom met all of her grandchildren, but none of the great-grand children. Oh, my mom would have loved spending time with the amazing little personalities.

We never know how much time we have, which is one of the things that makes life both fascinating and at times, terrifying. I've been blessed to have seen all our children grow to adulthood and now watching them get married and have children of their own. I'm eternally thankful for that.

Hopefully, we'll gather soon for another weekend meal. We'll break bread, share stories, take pictures of the incredibly cute (the dickens-level cute...) grandson, and experience yet again the blessing of being able to meet the next generation.

Apparently...Speaking Danish Is More Difficult Than Making It

 A few weeks ago, while shopping with my wife, I came across a box of Junket Danish Dessert. It caught my eye immediately. Anything "Danish" does, except when danish is spelled with a lower case "d," which only describes food. I picked up the box and read the hook that would made an average consumer want to buy it.

I think it's the first time I ever read the word "Rødgrød" on an American product.

That word, rødgrød, well...it can conjure nightmares.

Nightmares may be a little strong. Maybe emotional scarring would is more apt.

As a teenager learning to speak Danish, saying the Danish word for red porridge correctly is like a rite of passage, a test to see if you can contort your mouth and tongue and produce sounds that a Dane might recognize. Since this is a blog--a visual method of communication--and not a recording--an audio method of communication, you won't hear the word being pronounced here. Let's just say, the sound of rødgrød being spoken sounds like the speaker is literally swallowing the words.

It sounds that way because that's where the sounds come from, deep deep in the throat. 

My Danish (when at its best...) was okay. I didn't "wow" anyone. The Danes love when people put in the effort to learn their language and they are quite forgiving. I know this because they put up with a bunch of young Americans spouting Danish words with an American accent. The Danes have a little test for those trying to learn the language. They say, "How do you say, 'rødgrød med fløde på?'" (red porridge with cream on top...).

And how those words exit your mouth is a barometer of how good you speak Danish.

I practiced saying those words over and over. I think I got pretty good. I think I'm still pretty good even thirty-plus years later.

The rest of the words...that's a different story.

I loved seeing "rødgrød" on that little box. The instructions gave me the impression that making rødgrød is much easier than actually saying the word.

Because you can make food without saying a word...

It doesn't work the other way around.

Didn't Think This Had Anything To Do With The Super Bowl...

 When I first saw the baked good, I had no idea what was going on, and in a sane world...

I shouldn't have to even ask.

You see, in the arena of professional football, there should be no talk of girlfriends.

Now, this is only my opinion, for what it's worth. I'm sure many would disagree that side stories about football player's more famous girlfriends shouldn't be a focus of the game. But, and I think I'm on solid ground here, more football purists are kind of tired of the sideshow.

For the past couple of years, I stopped watching NFL games. That was when we had cable and I could watch other sporting events, but with now limited choices, I found myself watching the NFL games that were broadcast on local TV.

I missed the game.

I watched a lot of college football before we cut cable. I love college football, but the pros...well, they're not called professional for nothing. They're so good. I used to take all that athleticism and talent for granted. I'm watching men do things on that field that seldom happens in the college game.

I've put up with the famous girlfriend thing, mostly because that particular team hasn't been aired that many times, at least, not so many that I'm sick of them. Also, it's now the playoffs and there's a good chance the reigning champions may not be playing after this weekend.

Then, the football star/girlfriend soap opera would be over...

Until next year, anyway.

Thought I Could Finally Take A Good iPhone Moon Picture...Nope

 Nope...still didn't work.

I did a little internet surfing yesterday and I came across a video on how to get a good photograph of the moon using your iPhone. I was so excited. It's something I've literally tried to do it for years.

Of course, I didn't try too hard. I don't think I ever researched how to improve my phone photography skills. Had I done so, I might have found a way to unlock the secret...that elusive secret years ago.

Still, no.

The video demonstrated how to get a good moon photograph. The trick is to not use the "Photo" mode. What you do is go to "Video" mode. Then zoom in and push the screen up. That's where you can adjust the exposure, the amount of light allowed in.

Never new about that.

I was so excited to put my newfound information to the test. Thankfully, we have a cloudless sky tonight. I waited until it was dark, then went outside to capture the beautiful moon almost directly above our house. I followed the instructions to the letter, and...

Still didn't work.

I think it didn't work because I do not have the most advanced iPhone. Mine's not the best camera out there. Perhaps, if I had the latest model, things would look different. It would be nice to have an updated phone, but I'm not going to fork out hundreds of dollars just to get a better moon photo.

However...

If I do one day upgrade, you can bet the first thing I'm going to do is see if I can get a good shot of the moon. I'll let you know how it all works out.

Just Saw "Bank Of Dave"...And I Think You Should Too

 My wife and I came across a delightful little film the other day. It's called Bank of Dave, and it was wonderful. 

There was a time, many years ago, when I used to keep up with films and which ones were being released, which ones were worth seeing, and which ones to avoid. Of course, back then in "The Dark Ages," there were far fewer films in existence, at least, the ones we heard about. It was easier back then.

Bank of Dave is a story loosely (and I stress, loosely...) based on a true story. The main character is a man named Dave Fishwick who had the idea of starting a financial institution in England. Pretty much everything else in the film is, shall we say, embellishments.

But I don't care.

It's a great little film.

Dave is one of the good guys. He lives in a small Northern England town and when you're a good guy in a small town, you help out others. Dave went above and beyond, to the point where the idea of him opening a bank seemed the next logical step.

To an naive (or ignorant...) American, you'd think if someone wanted to open up a bank, you do it. Apparently, that's not how things work in England. No, you have to submit a formal request and based on history from the past one-hundred and fifty years, their answer will be..."No."

There's not been a new bank approved in England for a century and a half. That alone is prime material for a story. And a story they made.

If you're interested, you can find Bank of Dave on Netflix. It's not flashy, there's no car chases or bomb threats or gratuitous scenes of the flesh...just a basic little story you ought to check out. I'm glad we did.

God Save The King...Or Konge

Something happened over the weekend that if you weren't paying attention, you probably missed it. There was a peaceful transfer of power in a small European country, where one leader, a queen who ruled for ver fifty years stepped down and gave the crown to her eldest son.

Not quite the attention another royal transfer received only a few months ago.

But, from the little experience I've had living in that small European country, I'm sure the people of Denmark never wanted all that attention anyway. I mean, when's the last time you heard of the latest Danish Royal Family scandal?

My guess...never.

Something the people of people of Denmark appreciate.

From an ignorant America's point of view, the Danish Royal Family is everything the British Royal Family wishes they had--no slight to Great Britain, mind you. It's possible if all the world's scrutiny and attention were paid to the Danes that were paid to the Brits, maybe all those skeletons would show themselves, too.

Queen Margrethe II broke with a millennium of tradition and abdicated the crown. On Sunday her son, Frederik became King Frederik X. I picked the photo from LiveCities website--there's thousands more, if you care to look. When I lived in Denmark, Frederik became the crown prince when he turned eighteen-years old. They even minted a 10 Krone coin to celebrate the occasion. I picked up one of those coins when I was there...it's in my collection somewhere. I thought it was cool that the crown prince and I were about the same age, both placed in new situations...that's where any similarities end.

I've seen some posts on social media from friends, both still in Denmark and those who live here. It's a big deal. It's not everyday they get a new leader, a new figure upon which to look, a new person who is the face of their country. It would have been amazing to be in Copenhagen on Sunday, to be a part of history.

No, you probably didn't hear about the newest European king and queen. It's too bad. They deserved more press...

Even though they wouldn't have wanted it anyway.

God save the king.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day...

 Like millions of other Americans, I stayed home from work today. Since I work at home, even if I had gone to work, I would not have left the house. Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day we honor the fallen leader of the civil rights movement from the 1960s. 

Because I'm old, both Dr. King Jr. and I lived at the same time, however, when he was killed in 1968, I was concerned about other things...things like where's my favorite toy, or complaining about having to take a nap (probably...). I was only two-years old at the time.

Much has been written about the man, both good and bad, since he became a leader of a movement. I have not done much research either way, but I do know he stood and spoke and was killed.

Born: 1/15/1929, Atlanta, Georgia

Died: 4/4/1968, Memphis, Tennessee

In between January, 1929 and April, 1968 the man grew, studied, married, faced obstacles and trials, experienced victories and accomplishments. In 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Prize. While alive and after his death, Dr. King Jr. has inspired millions of people across the world, and today, many paused their normal weekday activities and were given a day of rest.

I borrowed the photo and other facts of Dr. King Jr.'s life from the Britannica.com website: HERE. 

It's been over fifty years since Dr. King Jr. spoke and inspired others. The fact that we celebrate his life over a half century later is a testament to just what impact one man can have.

Give Thanks...For Living In A Winter Wonderland

 The snow caused problems, canceled church (for us...), and took a lot of man hours to clear.

It's also beautiful.

That's undeniable.

Last year in our area we had a record-breaking winter. I don't know what specific records were broken, but I do know that I shoveled/moved more snow last winter than I have in any other winter my entire life. It was tough on us, but we survived. This year, instead of being responsible for eighteen driveways, sidewalks, and approaches, we've only ours.

So thankful.

This year brought me a new perspective. In December our family took a vacation to Southern California. We had a great time. On one of our last days, we drove up to Solvang, a little town north of Ventura that's known for having a little slice of Denmark within its borders. We walked around, talked to some of the locals. At one store, they asked where we were from and the saleslady said we must be enjoying the warm California weather.

It got me thinking. Was I? Was I glad I was in California where it was 80˚ on the beach the day before, or in Utah where it was close to freezing? I seriously hadn't thought about it. I wonder if I would like living in a world without seasons. Because of that trip, I've considered this question a lot this winter.

This morning I spent an hour clearing the eight to ten inches of snow from our driveway and not eighteen. I'm thankful it was only one. Tonight I stepped outside and took a few pictures of the neighborhood. It was quiet, the only stillness that exists after a snowstorm. Lights from homes and cars reflected off the cloud cover above. I'm thankful for the snow, and I hope that never changes. I'm thankful for the home that keeps the snow outside. I'm thankful to be able to see and enjoy the beauty that only exists in winter, with snow on the ground. I'm thankful we live in a winter wonderland.

When Someone Gets Busted On Social Media...Delicious!

 Several months ago I frequented the Facebook Classifieds often. I can't remember what we were looking for...maybe for yard sales in the area or something related to the wedding.  I'm not sure. But, no matter what I begin searching for, I always end up looking up classic VWs that I can neither afford (the good ones...) or repair. (the crap ones...). Still, it's fun to look at what's out there.

I'm more of a casual shopper. There are very few things we've actually bought from Facebook Classifieds. I know some people can made some good money, or at least, get rid of stuff other people may use and enjoy using the classified. And with every opportunity for others to better their lives, there're opportunities for some to rip off the rest of us. Today, I saw a scammer get busted.

And it was great.

I subscribe to several of the local small-town classified Facebook groups. They're great at finding things we need without having to travel to the "big city." One popped up today, the listing looked innocent enough...a sectional couch. They listed the dimensions, the conditions in the house from which it came, and of course, the price.

Whenever I see something for sale that we might even remotely be interested in, I check the comments. The comments will tell me if the item is gone because if ten people comment, "Is it still available?" or "I've DM'd you," it means the item's popular. This one, comment, however...

Was classic.

Apparently, someone saw the same couch for sale on Craigslist in Cleveland, Ohio.

The person posted the photo of the Craigslist listing and asked if it was the same couch. It was obvious the photos showed the same item. How the person found that Craigslist couch, I have no idea.

I know there's a lot of scams out there...it was fun to see one get busted.

New Year...New Conventions - Time To Prepare For Writers Cantina Symposium

 We had such a great time last year, we decided to go it again.

It's a time to look forward, to events and gatherings the upcoming twelve months. In our pre-covid life, there seemed to be so many writing conferences, writing conventions, writing symposiums. Every other month, we could attend an event where authors and artists met and exchanged ideas, jokes (both good, and terrible...), and most of all, good times. 

We were definitely spoiled.

But, to quote the incomparable Ian Malcom, "Life...finds a way." Slowly, steadily, the cons are returning, starting small, but having passion, the passion needed to start something wonderful and important and fun.

Get ready for The Writers Cantina writing event, returning to Utah June 28 - 29, 2024. Yes, we've doubled the days, doubled the fun.

We're in the beginning stages, dusting off the "How to Run an Extremely Successful Writing Symposium" pamphlet to organize another high-quality experience for both the attendees and the presenters. 

If you're interested, check the Writers Cantina website by clicking: HERE. There will be more information about this year's event as time goes on. Of course, the best time to prepare is now. Spread the word, save the date, don't let your kids (or you...) get married on that particular weekend because there's a kick-butt writing conference you should consider.

See you there.

Oh, The Sad Puppy...

 Oh yes, we have ourselves a sad puppy on our hands. A few weeks ago while playing fetch, he came up limping. We took him to the vet and he might have some arthritis affecting him. He's not an old dog, but--like all of us--he's getting older with each passing year.

The remedy is basically bed rest for a dog...not jumping, no getting up on couches (hence the cardboard boxes on the couch...), avoiding stairs (more than necessary...), and no playing fetch. Right now, the snow would make that even more difficult than normal...just one more thing puppy can't do.

What makes matters worse is our puppy is a poodle and poodles are high-energy. almost every day after work, I would take the dog out for fetch. Our dog is smart. He knows when it's getting close to log-off time so I'll hear him coming down the hall to wait for my work day to end. He knows, after that, it's fetch time.

The dog loves to run. 

We were so happy to finally get a fenced yard so Bec, the dog, could run and run. Since Bec's been on bed rest, he still wants to run. He'll pick up a ball and bring it over to us letting us know what he wants. It brings up the question, do dogs know they're sick?

I'm sure dogs know when they don't feel well. But, does a dog who loves to run realize he may re-injure a leg? We're not letting him run around yet, but I'll bet he'd love to play fetch right now if we'd let him.

I've owned three dogs in my life, two little dogs--a shih tzu, a shih tzu mix, and the poodle. Both little dogs were spared the problems that come with the larger breeds. I don't have a lot of experience with bigger dogs. I'm hoping the medicine and the bed rest will help. I'd hate to see a dog that loves to be physical restricted from those activities. 

As with almost all things, time will tell.

It Was A Funny Thought...One I Almost Considered

 My son and I spent an hour or so the week before Christmas driving around the neighborhood delivering plates of Christmas treats. If they were home, we'd hand them over. If they were not, we'd leave the plates on front porches.

Christmas this year was different for our family. Two weeks before the big holiday, we spent a week visiting family out of state. It threw a lot of our patterns off. That was something I didn't think would happen. When it came time to assemble the plate of treats, Let's just say, our presentation wasn't as plentiful as it has been in years past.

Still, I was okay with it. We were trying to spread a little (emphasis on "little"...) Christmas cheer for some neighbors.

Perhaps it was because of the night we chose or that we were a little late in the process, but we found more people not home than were. At one of the last stops, I went to the front door, rang the doorbell, no one came, so I put our plate on the bench beside the door. That's when I saw another plate of yummy treats. Only this one was larger and had more goodies and ours did. It made ours look sort of skimpy by comparison.

That's when a thought came to my mind. I actually grinned because I thought it was funny. What if I took our Christmas card from under our plate and swapped it with the card already under the bigger plate? You can see why I smiled. 

Great idea.

Of course, I didn't do it. I have no idea who left the other plate. Maybe it was listed on the card, "Merry Christmas from The Holbrooks" or something like that. Most likely I wouldn't find out who would end up getting credit for the small plate had I made the switch.

I snapped a quick picture then used that picture as my Pic Of The Day with a snarky little comment. 

As I'm writing this post, a thought has come to me. If I'm not mistaken, our neighbor has one of those video doorbells. If that's true, then I'll bet I was videotaped putting down the plate, and if that's the case, it would have caught me making the switch. Then my little "joke" would have backfired big time. 

Good thing I didn't really consider doing it. Boy, I'd have egg (or Christmas treats...) on my face for sure.

Ever Watch "Zoom"...? Me, Not So Much

 This popped up on my X feed today. It took me back, but not too far back. Yes, the show Zoom aired when I was a child--I was their target audience, but I didn't watch it very often. That's why I don't remember it like I remember Sesame Street and The Electric Company.

Why those two and not the other one?

Because my dad built our TV.

It's strange thinking about it. A television is not something someone can built like a bookshelf or a roast beef sandwich. Yes, we can build a computer nowadays. Just order all the parts and put it together. My son did it. Millions of people have done it. Back in the 1960s, my father did the same thing, but with a TV.

Back then, they sold Heathkit TVs. You assemble the parts and put them together. You plug it in, turn it on, and you can watch the four networks available at that time. Four networks...that was it. No cable, no satellites, no internet. For me, I didn't know there were four channels. Our TV only had three. It wasn't until I went to Kindergarten that I realized the forth channel existed. That's when they wheeled in a TV and played and episode of Sesame Street. Never knew it existed. All my Kindergarten classmates cheered when they began the show. For me, it was all new.

I don't know why our TV didn't get PBS...maybe one of the vacuum tubes didn't work. That's what powered the TV...vacuum tubes. After my father died, we tried keeping the old TV running for a few years. I remember a repairman coming to our house and after replacing a few tubes, it worked again. Decades later when our friends who bought my mom's house after she died ripped up the bushes in the front yard, we found several old vacuum tubes buried beneath the bushes. They brought back memories.

I don't remember much about Zoom. I don't think they thought it would play well in class. I wonder whatever happened to the Zoom kids. Did they grow up to be productive members of society? Did they turn to a life of crime once the bright lights of the Zoom stage turned off forever? Probably a little of both.

Zoom...just part of the world in which we lived.

In Search For The (Almost...) Perfect Danish

 I've been on a Danish kick lately, and I'm not talking about the pastry. Last week I met up with some of my Danish missionaries. Christmastime takes me back to the country as well. And when I see fireworks on New Year Eve at midnight, I remember watching a bunch of drunk Danes almost blow off various body parts on New Years Eve in Copenhagen as they lit incredibly dangerous fireworks off as they rang in the new year.

But, this post is about food, specifically Danish pastry..sometimes called danish.

It's funny. After we returned from living in Denmark, you never look at pastry the same. Yes, there's some excellent desserts in America, but it's sort of like thinking about good American cars and comparing them to what they make in Germany. Except it's Denmark not Germany and pastry not cars.

When we used to get together in the years after our time in Denmark, we'd talk about how much we missed the food. Sometimes someone would chime in about a bakery somewhere that had good Danish pastry. The follow up response was always, "it's good, but not ægte." We were good at spotting non-genuine attempts.

My friend and fellow Danish missionary posted on social media today about a place in Salt Lake that is trying to create delicious food for all of us. There's a Denmark connection as well. The owner was married to another former Danish missionary, a friend who passed away during covid. It's called Deliciously Flaked...great name. You can find out more about the company by clicking on their website: HERE. I've recommended products and books I haven't tried before. I feel good doing it for this business because it will help out a friend's family.

I know many of us had our own pastry favorites, but one that eludes bakeries here is something called a Trekant. It's basically a big triangle pastry covered with chocolate and filled with cream. You almost never see them over here. Deliciously Flaked sells them. Next time I'm down south, I'm going to give it a try.

Always in search for the (almost...) perfect Danish.

Give Thanks...A Reunion Almost Forty Years In The Making

 Almost forty years...

I think it's been almost forty years since the five of us were together in the same place at the same time. We were only missing one and it would have been wonderful if she had been able to attend.

I got the text the night before...Jazz tickets if I could make it. The answer was a resounding, "yes." I didn't know then that all five of us would be going. The five being the five missionaries that were in the same Missionary Training Center district, all of us going to serve in the Denmark Copenhagen Mission. We first met January, 1985.

There were five elder missionaries and one sister missionary. There was a companionship of two elders, and a companionship of three. I was in the three. For ten weeks we all lived together (the sister missionary lived with the sister missionaries...), we ate together, studied together, tried to learn/understand a language we never heard before, learned about a place we'd spend the next two years talking to people, biking/walking in rain/snow/sun, and getting to absolutely love the people of Denmark.

When I was told we'd all be there (except one...),  tried remembering the last time we were all together. I think it was in April, 1985 when after arriving in the country, we were all given different assignments in different areas of the country. Since then, I've spent time them all, but at different times. 

There were five of us there, five lifetimes, five stories that involve marriages, children, grandchildren (for most of us...), successes, failures, joys, pains. We've all buried parents and welcomed new friends and experiences. 

The "Before" picture shows us all, thinner (except for our hair...), wide-eyed, full of potential. We were sons and a daughter sent by families to live a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm so thankful I was included in this small group, so thankful I made the decision to go. It's changed my life over and over again. I'm also thankful I count these remarkable humans as dear friends, even decades later.

Will we have another mini-reunion soon? I hope so. Maybe even have our last remaining member fly in for the occasion. It would make an almost perfect night even better.

And if you're wondering, the Utah Jazz won in overtime...just icing on the cake. 

As always, thanks, Jeff for the tickets.

The Traitors, UK...We Got Sucked In

 We got sucked in. I admit it. We didn't think we would, or maybe we did, but we didn't think we'd get that involved. It's a show called The Traitors, a show we didn't know existed three days ago. Since then, we watched the entire first season.

Reality TV shows, and reality TV competitions are not new. They've been around for decades. We used to watch shows like Survivor, The Amazing Race, but they wore thin, especially when you realize that what you see is what the show wants you to see. They edit the show in a way to maximize the emotional impact. And boy, did this show have emotional impact.

If you're unfamiliar with the show, it's like the game Mafia or Werewolf, or Murder. A group of people gather. Some are chosen as the killers and the rests are victims. The killers then go about establishing trust with the victims all the while scheming their demise. The participants engage in activities in order to build up the nest egg that the winners will split. Throw in some twists and turns and you've got a show.

One thing I liked was the murder reveal. They waited until the beginning of the next show to let us know who got the axe...brilliant. In addition to the person being chosen by the killers--or in this case, the traitors--everyone meets each night in order to eliminate who they collectively believe is a traitor. Let's just say the victims--or in this case, the faithfuls--did not have the best track record against the traitors to begin with.

We were about halfway through with the series this morning. We watched one episode, then another, then another. We finally finished the series and found out how it ended.

Turns out, the Americans and the Australians have their own The Traitor series. We'll be checking those out as well, but I doubt they'll be as good. The Brits do a good job at telling a story. Americans seem to over-sensationalize everything.

The series is on the Peacock network. Also, be advised, the Brits do enjoy their swear words. Yes, we got sucked in. They manipulated us almost as the players manipulated each other.

My Winning Hand...The Luck Of The Draw

 Playing card games...for us, it's sort of a family tradition over the Christmas break. This year did not disappoint. We brought up the chips and the cards and had a great time. We also brought up a guide that tells us which hands are best, and which are crap. Later that night...

I had a great hand.

Growing up, we played card games, but not a lot of poker. It wasn't so much that we were against it, although, there is a running theme within our culture about the evils of face cards. That didn't make a lot of sense to me because other card games, PIT, Uno, and others have number cards, many of which have the same number of cards, 1-13, as face cards, 2-10/Jack/Queen/King/Ace. I suppose there's the stigma that they used face cards to gamble.

Gambling...not really my thing.

Thankfully.

We live in a non-gambling state. On the edge of our state, just past the state lines, there are gambling casinos. I've visited these establishments, even spent some money on the games...mostly the slots. I played slots because I don't really understand the bigger games. And I don't have a lot of money (either have or to lose...), to learn the table games.

But, our family does like playing a game of poker now and then. We tried experimenting with the different styles of the game, Texas Hold 'Em, and such. Didn't really take. Regular straight poker seems to be our jam.

When we played the other night, I got a good hand...one of the best. I play so infrequently that I had to check the paper to see just how good. Funny, whenever I played growing up, it seemed I always got better hands, and not just me, but everyone seemed to get better hands. I remember getting full house hands all the time. Nowadays, I get a pair about 90% of the time, and the other 10% is where I go for a straight or a flush and I get nothing. Occasionally, I'll get something better. I'm probably remembering things when I used to play differently.

Because we don't play that often, it may be a long time until I get such a good hand again.

But, who knows...? It may happen the next hand I'm dealt. Such is the luck of the draw.

Green Thumbs And Lemons...

 Green thumbs and lemons.

We have family that live in Southern California. We visited them last month and it blows my mind that they can grow citrus trees in their backyard. And if that isn't enough, they can grow them also in their front yard, too. For someone who has only lived in areas north of the 38th Parallel, I've never been able to grow a citrus tree in our yard.

The alternative?

Grow the trees inside.

We tried once. Several years ago we bought a lemon tree and stuck it in the front room of our A-frame house. I thought the literal wall of windows would allow enough light to come in and provide our little lemon tree enough light to thrive. And it did, for a while anyway. Then, slowly at first, the tree began to fail until ultimately we had to throw it out.

Fast forward a decade or more. We didn't get a lemon tree, but my mother-in-law did and if there's anyone that can keep a plant alive, it's her. She had not just one green thumb, but another as well.

It's relatively new in her lemon tree adventure. She did harvest her first crop just before Christmas and brought us the proof. We also sampled the proof and it was delicious.

We're all hoping her tree does better than ours did. 

Time will tell.

New Years Resolutions--Yes, Or No...?

I stole the meme from somewhere to send to my friend, another volley in our continual meme war. It's a good one. Funny, yet it brings up a topic some find serious, some don't think about at all.

New Years resolutions.

Yea, Or Nea.

I'd like to think I'm in the Yea camp. It's good to set goals and make decisions to improve your life. It's good to be progressing. Successful people set goals for themselves and they usually achieving them.

On the other hand, yes, it's good to set goals, but it can be bad if you beat yourself up for not reaching them. It's funny...as soon as the awful fragrance ads disappear from TV the moment the holidays end, in roll the gym and diet ads. They're almost as bad (I don't think anything's as bad as the fragrance ads, though...). The gyms and diet programs are hoping to capitalize on those of us who are deciding to improve ourselves.

I know I should do it, and I sort of do. I sort of make goals that I want to accomplish in the next year. I resolve to do better. I don't go to the extremes as some, and therefore, my results don't go to the extremes, either.

Yes, or no...?

It's a good question.

This Season's Bowl Season...Missed Almost All Of Them

 This year's college bowl season--from what I understand--was less than stellar. At least, that's what I've heard. You see, I didn't get to see hardly any of it. That's what happens when you cut cable. You find out what what you don't get to watch only after the cut's been made.

I've blogged about this several times. We made the decision a few months ago. For me, the biggest adjustment has been sports. I knew I'd be missing many games and programs, but I figured watching less sports is probably a good thing, and it has been. I've been able to do more productive things, like start another writing project.

There were some bowl games I just assumed would be on broadcast television. For example, the college football playoff games. There's no way they'd put them only on cable.

Boy, was I wrong.

And to put salt in the wound, the two games played last night were great...once again, from what others who watched the game have said. I did keep track of the scores as they progressed. Each game came down to the last minute, a mistake from either team could doom them. And since I didn't watch the games, there may have been mistakes on each side or both. All I know is they sounded like good games to watch.

Unlike the Utah/Northwestern bowl game...

Let's not focus on that disaster.

Now that arguably two of the best bowl games of the season have ended, we're all in for a treat. The two best teams have proven their metal and will face off next week. And guess what?

It's on cable.

I won't be watching.

Maybe I'll start another project ;)