Memories Of A Friend...

Today I recalled a memory, or a couple of memories and they were all hatched by Facebook (ah, Facebook...).

In many ways, life in Jr. high school was simpler, but, of course, life is never simple in Jr. high. Back then I played in the school band and I played the coronet--it's like a stubby trumpet. I honestly didn't practice enough to be good, good enough for first chair, that is...

But Clif was. Clif was not only good, he was great--even in Jr. high. He was always first chair. And Clif had a trumpet, no stubby coronets for him. I say this in jest. Clif was not only a good musician, but a better person.

Clif continued developing his talent. I quit band before I got to high school. Years later I found myself singing with the Mormon Youth Chorus and Clif was in the Mormon Youth Symphony (both entities are no longer in existence--the fault of their downfalls cannot be attributed to neither Clif nor I...). I remember a trip the groups took. We traveled by bus and we frequently performed together. I think we were going to Provo, but that's not important to the story.

I do remember Clif being interested in a girl who was on that bus. We were talking and then we weren't. And if I'm not mistaken, Clif ended up marrying that girl and they have a beautiful family (of course, if I'm mistaken, I apologize...).

What does this have to do with Facebook? While killing some time this afternoon, I checked out Facebook and I noticed that today is Clif's birthday. I wished him the best on his special day and he was kind enough to respond. Clif still is a great musician, and now, an even better person. Happy birthday.

Photos taken from the Davis High School yearbook, Volume 70 (they got nice color photos of him. Me? Mine were black & white...must be that talent thing)

End Of Day 20 July, 2011

Last night I was unable to see what the dusk sky looked like as evening turned to night. Tonight's sunset was nice, but two nights ago, it looked like this:

When I was in high school and I had my little Olympus OM-10, I always wanted to get some lens filters to manipulate the colors. The point-&-shoot doesn't offer that option. Of course, today's technology offers choices unheard of for an average shutterbug, i.e. Photoshop and the like. My camera doesn't offer me a lot of creative options, but sometimes, just nature herself provides enough magic where no changes are needed.

The days are getting shorter. Little by little the light will lessen until the time of the dark will eclipse the time it is light. In a few months the temperatures will lower as well and the windows of the house will be open at night to allow a light, cool breeze to flow throughout the house greeting us (on those rare mornings where sleeping in is not only allowed but encouraged...) to a morning kiss of air the crackles. I can't wait.

The Tale of Lawrence Stokes, Chapter 3

The Tale of Lawrence Stokes, Chapter 3

Chapter 1: Here

Chapter 2: Here

The old man stopped rocking and a silence engulfed the group, a silence finally broken by the old man's raspy voice. "Lawrence found something."

The kids looked at the man, then at themselves, as if this latest revelation should have cleared up all the questions they had. Each child looked as confused as the next as they locked eyes on each other. No one knew what the man was talking about.

"Lawrence found what he called his secret weapon, but he never did tell anyone what that was. All I know..." the man stopped, an internal thought causing him to pause his story. "All I know is he was never the same."

"The secret weapon," the old man said after no one uttered a single word. "That weapon was for real, let me tell you. After he took that secret weapon, he was even stronger and faster than before--and I didn't think that was possible. I asked him one time what it was that gave him his extra strength. He wouldn't say," the old man shook his head as he recalled his ancient memory. "So, I did what any best friend would do--I kept asking until he was sick of me asking."

The children wondered if they would ever know what happened to Lawrence, or how he came to change. They waited patiently for the man to continue.

"No, Lawrence never did tell me everything, only that one day while he was tending to his father's milk cows, a drifter came by and gave him some sort of elixir..." The man stopped when he looked at the children's faces. "Elixir, you know, like medicine." Expressions from the children told the man they now understood. "Lawrence said the drifter told him the elix...the medicine would give him the strength of a whole team of oxen--said Lawrence would be the fastest man alive, so fast, he could swear he could fly. Lawrence asked the man how much it would cost. Nothing, the drifter said. I would be...a gift."

The old man got quiet, reverent. "Lawrence took the bottle and downed the elixir in one gulp--said it tasted like mule piss," the old man said laughing (the reverent moment gone) as he remembered the long-lost conversation between friends that occurred more than 60 years before.

The Happiest Place On Earth...The Apple Store!

Some people think Disneyland or Disneyworld (or any other Disney destination...) is considered the Happiest Place On Earth. And to all of those people who believe this, I'm sure that's true. Of course, there are other happy places and for me one of those happy places is the Apple Store.

We are fortunate to live about 15 miles away from one of these stores and today we loaded up the van and made the pilgrimage to our digital mecca, the Apple Store at the Gateway...

With construction taking place just north of Gateway's shopping center, parking is at a premium (especially for us frugal/cheap--types...). I found a spot and after several forward/reverse engagements of the van's transmission, I successfully parallel parked. When I got out of the van and saw the lack of space between the ahead and behind cars, I just had to snap a picture.

Many of my friends dislike Macintosh products and I can understand that. They're expensive. They put off a bit of a snobby air. A stereotype of a Mac User exists in many people's mind. I concede them all. But ever since I got a job as a Apple computer sound technician in 1989, I was hooked.

Today, like almost every time we go, the place was packed. We got the parts necessary to fix my wife's computer, coveted a bit, contemplated a bit, then left to a cloudy sky. Getting out of the parking place was easier than getting in. We drove away certain one day to return and for a brief shinning moment, it was the happiest place on earth.

The Last Show...

Two actors sat on the ground behind a semi-transparent wall of foliage, the bright lights from just beyond the stage filter through the leaves as they wait for the show's finale, their rays illuminate the ever-present mosquitos and the specks of dust brought from other actors walking backstage in anticipation of their final scene. The actors sit alone in their thoughts, each knowing this is the last show, the last time they will have this chance.

We gathered together, a team of people to prepare for our last night focused on a singular goal, to put on the best show for our biggest audience yet. The run only lasted a week--sometimes the week felt long, and sometimes short, but as the days clicked off the calendar, our show began, remained, and has now closed.

We stood on the stage after the final bows and acknowledged those without whom the show would not have come to pass in our little community. We put away props for the last time, gave and received hugs and told everyone goodnight at the same time telling everyone we'd meet tomorrow for a cast dinner and party.

I'm home now, tired and grateful I asked for (and received...) permission to take tomorrow off of work. I need to clean the make-up off my face and try to somehow clear the remnants of medical tape from the back of my neck. The decision to join the little band of performers proved a good one. I was given an opportunity for a lead role, something I have not had before--something that doesn't come around as an actor (or actress...) ages. It was a fun show with fun people, and after tomorrow night's cast party, our evenings will again be ours and we'll return to our "normal" lives. Goodnight everyone...

Sunday Thoughts...

Wake up, late schedule, sleep in...

Breakfast, internet, are the kids getting ready?

I go over my lesson (talents...money or attributes or both?), web search for talent quotes, can I have a fruit snack?

Lunch, some kids dressed in church clothes, what time does the game actually start?

Time to go, the DVR's set, everyone ready?

We're later than normal, our bench will will be gone, our bench was gone...

Good meeting, only fell asleep once, I didn't sing in the choir today (should have)...

We sat on the first row, I think the bishop can actually see what app is open on my iPod Touch, I put the iPod away...

One meeting down, kids in nursery do pretty good, now I've got to teach a lesson...

Lesson went well, I had everyone participate, no one slept...

Got home, hit the DVR'd game, opened my computer and Yahoo Headlines ruined the need to watch the entire 90 minutes of the game plus extra time plus penalty kicks so I didn't have to watch the entire contest after all...

Congrats to Japan, some things are bigger than sports, bittersweet...

Cleared shows on DVR, chose my Pic Of The Day and caption to accompany the before mentioned pic, enjoyed the afternoon/evening with the family...

Tomorrow is back to work, can't believe the weekend's already gone, bye.

Shopping At Costco On Saturday

Few things strike fear in the heart of a shopper than to imagine these words: I need to go to Costco and it's Saturday. But why? That's what we found ourselves doing today, and (as usual when we go there on a Saturday...) the experience wasn't that bad. The detour from the freeway turned out the be the most unpleasant part of our trip.

What is it about Costco? The place is amazing...kind of like a mini-Disneyland (and like Disneyland, you have to pay to get inside even if you don't buy anything...). I wonder what most of the world would think if they ever set foot in a Costco store. I mean, the shear size overwhelms, but since we're used to the massive space, it's no longer impressive.

The place has everything, everything you want and need, and everything you want and don't need. And just to complete the circle of shopping, it has stuff you don't want and need and don't want and don't need. Where else can you buy--under one roof--a cell phone and plan, get patio furniture, a bicycle and/or skateboard, the latest NY Times bestseller, and food staples sold in such quantities so as to cause hernias when trying to lift said food staples? (I guess, Sam's Club is a logical answer of where else a person can find these things under one roof, but that's pretty much the same thing...).

We usually park at the same place in the huge parking lot--in the side lot to the north. There's usually a good spot, but on those very busy Saturdays, we sometimes have to park behind the building on the west side--it's still a shorter walk than parking on the east side.

Today wasn't bad. It's incredible how efficient they really are when the crowds gather and the credit cards fly. It's also incredible to calculate just how much $$ goes through that place on an average Saturday. Way to go, Costco!