Murder Of Crows...

Crows...Too Many For Counting

It began like an other morning walk, a couple of co-workers and I left the building of our cubicle bondage and inhaled fresh air for the first time since entering our collective tomb. I should have known from the first instant I heard the sound; it would not be a normal walk. A single crow stood atop our building and called to us. It cackled and cawed. It said in its crow voice, "I am a crow. Hear me!" I pointed the bird out to my walk-mates and said it was an unusual sight.

 

I thought nothing more of the bird until we rounded a corner and saw another bird, then another, then another. Soon they surrounded us and they began their evil movements on buildings, on snowdrifts, in trees. Then the shrills began, the taunts, the screams. The sounds encompassed us as if the crows knew something, something us earth-bound bipeds could never understand.

 

"Thinking about Poe?" asked one co-worker at my obvious interest in the black bird's behavior. "No," I said. "It's just I've never seen the birds act like this before," was all I could think of to say. I quickly drew my camera and took pictures of the beasts--pictures that unfortunately, do not do the event proper justice.

We continued walking and the birds kept up their unearthly calls. Eventually we left the ally and the dark shapes behind. I have no idea if the birds will return tomorrow or not, but on this beautiful morning it was a murder of crows that held me spellbound.

One-Car Garage...

Our One-Car Garage

Drive around, especially in the newer neighborhoods and you'll see many homes, built in many different ways. One thing that you probably won't see too many of is a home with a one-car garage. That's what you'll see if you drive by our house.

When it came time for us to design a house, like everyone, we had limited funds. We built the biggest house we could afford and stuck it on the lot. Because of the funky shape of our building lot some sacrifices were made and one of the sacrifices was a two-car garage. At the time (and even now...) I thought, no big deal. We've got two cars, but only one really needs protection from the elements. 

One of the biggest drawbacks to a two-car, or three-car garage I've seen is that rarely have I seen a multi-car garage that allows access to the number of cars the garage should accommodate. More often than not, the garage cannot house the car, but it is storage space for all the other stuff we humans accumulate over time. 

Even our little space has items lining the walls. Sure we could clean it out, but then we'd need to rent a storage locker, then if we failed to pay the locker fee, some hairy guy in a tank top would outbid some retired guy for a chance to win items including a tile saw that we borrowed and never returned. Sure...I'll take a one-car garage. It's not that bad.

Computers At Church...What's Next...Electric Guitars?

Computers At Church...

Last year our congregation decided to have a class dedicated to family history research. We procured us a modem and voila--WiFi at church! Maybe to many of you who have those new-fangled "Smart Phones" this is no big deal. To us iPod Touch users, WiFi access away from home is a very good thing.

There are a few of us of the younger generation in the family history class and a few of the greatest generation. We're all excited about learning how to use modern technology to reach our genealogical goals. It's amazing how far the technology in this area has come in just the past few years. We're trying to take full advantage of it all.

Now I admit there are times while in class I am, shall we say, not "fully invested" in searching for my dearly departed ancestors. Back when it was football season, I checked out a score or twelve. I did not consider my actions sinful...at least, not too much. Had the games been available for streaming and I indulged, that's another story.

A few of us bring our laptops for our class, but really, almost everyone in the flock has brought computers to church for a while now. Is having all this technology with us at church a good thing? I quote Kip, "But, I still love technology." Now, if we could only get WiFi for the entire three hours, that would be something...

A Tale Of Two Conferences...LTUE

LTUE

For the past two days I've spent several hours in Orem, Utah attending the Life, the Universe, & Everything Science Fiction and Fantasy conference. Those who attended hopefully enjoyed the conference as much as I (I don't want to speak for too many of them...). I can, however, speak for myself. I had a great time.

On or around October 6, 2011 I attended another writer's conference at the same university. My experience with that conference was different...much different. I left that conference feeling anything but inspired. I was bummed. The difference in my attitude had nothing to do with the conferences, per se, but the way I chose to accept the situation. Hopefully I've learned and matured in the past four months. I hope that's the case.

I took my son with me to the LTUE conference (he was free, after all...). He's a budding writer and he was able to meet some very successful authors and even gathered a signature or three. We returned after spending 13 hours of instruction in two days tired, very tired. It's amazing how much energy is spend just listening to fascinating speakers.

We're planning on attending next year's conference, and next year I'll be sure to park in the designated parking area to avoid my providing Utah Valley University another involuntary donation to their parking department. And, hopefully, the school will not schedule a ballroom dance competition with what appeared to be thousands of participants on the same day as the conference. I guess we all have things to learn from LTUE.

Authors, Egos, And The Lack Thereof...

I've never met Brandon Sanderson and I'm admitting here that I've never read anything he's written (I just haven't had the time--hopefully that will change, and--come one--the guy writes 400,000 word books...). Today my son and I attended the Life, the Universe, & Everything writing conference at Utah Valley University, and it was the first time I saw the author Brandon Sanderson in person (he's at the far right in the above picture...). 

To the attendees at the conference the writers who produce the Writing Excuses podcast are like rock stars, except I doubt they have ever trashed a hotel room...okay, maybe Mr. Tayler has in the past. When my son and I checked the day's schedule we noticed that the conference set time aside at 7 p.m. this evening for book signings by the authors in attendance. My son brought a copy of a Brandon Sanderson book in hopes of getting it signed. Unfortunately, we had to leave before the signing time. During a break between podcast recordings the authors remained in their seats and fielded questions from brave fans, but mostly they signed books. They didn't need to, but they did. My son got his book signed by the author. That's a first for him and the simple gesture impressed me. Mr. Sanderson didn't have to sign the book. He could have said just wait until tonight, but he didn't. Thank you Mr. Sanderson for making my son's day. He even got to ask the last question of the day to the panel--he was flying!

Egos. I can't say if these authors have huge egos. I mean, I've only spent a few hours in the same room with them, but if they do, their egos did not interfere with our experiences. We had a good time and when someone takes time out of their life to do something special for someone else, especially since they don't have to, that's a class act. That's what I saw today.

The American Legion, Post 27

 

Post 27 Met Tonight...

Last Veteran's Day I attended a ceremony to open a Veteran's Memorial Grand Opening in my home town. I blogged about it (Link: Veteran's Day, 2011). The local chapter of the American Legion performed a flag ceremony. I've seen a lot of flag ceremonies in my day, but they're usually performed by boy scouts. These were veterans.

My neighbor is in the local chapter and after the ceremony I spoke with him. He informed me that because I am a veteran's son I'm eligible to become a member (as a son...) of the American Legion. Tonight I attended my first meeting.

 

Surrounding me were men (and one woman...) that served our county as soldiers and servicemen. The meeting lasted two hours and without having dinner first (my mistake) it seemed a little long. 

But, the experiences seen by those people in that room was amazing. I sat next to a man, my friend's uncle, who was a prisoner of war in the Hanoi Hilton, for example. And I'm sure the others have important tales to tell. But more importantly they dedicated their time to for the love of God, family, and country, and I was impressed. I think I'll be going back...

When Was The Last Time You Watched...?

The Dick Van Dyke Show

Back in the last century when my wife and I were first married we both worked graveyard shifts. I worked out of the house and my wife worked at home. Because of my wife's job, she could watch TV while she worked. She watched Nick at Night. Back then, they had some great shows on and one of those shows was the Dick Van Dyke show.

Jump forward a couple of decades (almost...) and a new generation is in need of entertainment. Thanks to the miracle that is modern technology almost every episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show can be streamed and watched whenever you want. A few months ago my wife suggested to our kids that they might like like the show, and, as parents, we knew we didn't have to worry. Television was so different in the 1960's...

Our kids gave the show a chance and from the first day, from the first episode they LOVED it! They've seen every episode of every season numerous times (and we don't allow them to watch TV all day). Personally I love the fact that the show is available for my kids to enjoy. I wonder if, in 20 or so years my kids will suggest to their kids that they ought to watch a show from 70 years earlier. I'll bet if they do, their kids will love it too...