February 26, 2010
(This just came on my e-mail. I generally don't send things on, but this is one I wanted to keep, so what better place to keep it than here.)
BURNED BISCUITS.............
When I was a kid, my mom made breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"
You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.
What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!
We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!" Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."
God Bless You..... Now, and Always....
So Please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine.!.!.!.!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Snow
February 21, 2010
This will not come as a big surprise to most of the readers of my blog - it is a snowy winter. We have had more snow in February than normal. And it just isn't melting. Well, that is not true. In the back yard, facing south, it melts just fine with the sun exposure. But our house is facing north and it just isn't going away. It has not only been snowier than normal, it has been colder. All of this adds up to a weekly wonderland. The stuff that starts looking dirty, gets covered on a very regular basis, and things just look winter pretty again.
The roads are not too bad. For us, the sun comes out and melts them off, even when it doesn't get above freezing. We have learned over 20 winters that we need to keep our gutters clear so they don't turn into solid blocks of ice. It is easy to dress for this kind of weather, so this is not a complaint. However, I do hear more and more in the stores and on the streets - "I am so done with all of this." I say, relax, by June it will all be gone - then we can start worrying about the Summer heat.
This will not come as a big surprise to most of the readers of my blog - it is a snowy winter. We have had more snow in February than normal. And it just isn't melting. Well, that is not true. In the back yard, facing south, it melts just fine with the sun exposure. But our house is facing north and it just isn't going away. It has not only been snowier than normal, it has been colder. All of this adds up to a weekly wonderland. The stuff that starts looking dirty, gets covered on a very regular basis, and things just look winter pretty again.
The roads are not too bad. For us, the sun comes out and melts them off, even when it doesn't get above freezing. We have learned over 20 winters that we need to keep our gutters clear so they don't turn into solid blocks of ice. It is easy to dress for this kind of weather, so this is not a complaint. However, I do hear more and more in the stores and on the streets - "I am so done with all of this." I say, relax, by June it will all be gone - then we can start worrying about the Summer heat.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Reading List
February 20, 2010
Big Stones Gap by Adriana Trigiani
First - why did I read this? It is a selection for March for Mar's Book Club. Mar wasn't ready to start it, so I took it with me on a trip. Book Club generally does suggest pretty good reading.They didn't do too bad this time. I feel that a really good novel requires more than just action. To be really good, a character needs to really discover and change - to illustrate something that will also move the reader. Well - maybe this wasn't a really good book - but it was good. The main character, a spinster pharmacist in the small town of Big Stone Gap (if you can call a 30 something woman a spinster), discovers some very important things about herself - and effectively changes herself for a better and happier life. It is pretty well written, even if it is a little predictable. Yes, I liked the book, but I read it while I was in a funk. The light hearted parts lifted me from the funk - a little - but the self inspection it cased put me right back in.
I won't say you have to read it, but I won't try to dissuade you either.
WARNING: For all of you he-men, this could definitely be considered a chick-flick book, so beware.
Travels with Lar
Warren, New Jersey
February 15 - 19, 2010
Just in case anyone is keeping track - this is the fourth trip to New Jersey since late November.
Just in case anyone is keeping track - so far this year I have done four trips - 3 of them have been to New Jersey (the other was to Santa Ana, California - and I am going back there next week.)
Breanne mentioned after my last blog entry about Warren - that it must not be too exciting. She was very correct. But this was a better trip because it was only 5 days (4 nights) where they others have been 7 days.
The class went well - a very enjoyable bunch of people. The weather sort of cooperated - I was there between whooping big storms. And I got a free 4 lb bag of peanuts from one of those steakhouse restaurants that give you peanuts to eat while you're waiting.
So goes the trip.
I may not be back to Warren for some time. Maybe never. But with 4 pounds of peanuts, I'll remember it fondly - for at least a while.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Reading List
February 15, 2010
Fine Old High Priests by Donald S. Smurthwaite
Melanie sent me this book. It is really a delightfully written book. It is easy to read, especially if you don’t think about it too much. Most of the time, I think I would have enjoyed it. It is well written and has some very endearing scenes.
For me I, well it depressed me, probably because of my age and my state in life.
Not book club. Not 501.
Reading List
February 13, 2010
The Secrets of Masonic Washington by James Wasserman
After I read The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, my co-worker Grant brought me this book. He is a Mason and a friend had presented this book to him with the instruction that he had to read it before he read The Lost Symbol. So Grant gave it to me to help enlighten me on some of the locations in Dan Brown’s book.
It starts out giving a basic understanding of the history and principals that are practiced by the masons. It discusses how they are intertwined with the early history of our country. I then turns into a tour guide book of building an art around downtown Washington DC and the Capitol Mall. It was informative and pleasant to read.
By the was, the author is not a Mason. And there are not a lot of "secrets" to reveal.
No – it is not a book club selection. No it is not on the 501 list. And no I would not necessarily recommend it to someone that they have to read it – even if you do read The Lost Symbol.
The Secrets of Masonic Washington by James Wasserman
After I read The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, my co-worker Grant brought me this book. He is a Mason and a friend had presented this book to him with the instruction that he had to read it before he read The Lost Symbol. So Grant gave it to me to help enlighten me on some of the locations in Dan Brown’s book.It starts out giving a basic understanding of the history and principals that are practiced by the masons. It discusses how they are intertwined with the early history of our country. I then turns into a tour guide book of building an art around downtown Washington DC and the Capitol Mall. It was informative and pleasant to read.
By the was, the author is not a Mason. And there are not a lot of "secrets" to reveal.
No – it is not a book club selection. No it is not on the 501 list. And no I would not necessarily recommend it to someone that they have to read it – even if you do read The Lost Symbol.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Travels with Lar
February 7-13, 2010
Santa Ana, California
This was a business trip. I flew out on Sunday evening. It had been trying to snow all day, but the roads were clear and the trip to the airport was pretty easy. In fact, the trip to Santa Ana was pretty easy, too. We did have to stop and get de-iced in Denver, but otherwise it was totally uneventful. I stayed at a Holiday Inn just 1.2 miles from the site. It was a nice motel. And I got a GOOD car. It was a 2010 Mustang with less than 2000 miles. Can you say sweet.
(This is the right car, but not the right color - mine was golden-gray.)This class was at a customer site – Powerwave. It was not far from the Orange County airport. 
The class went okay – after it got started. I got there and they had setup one way but then didn’t tell anyone, so it appeared to all of us in the class that there was no software, so I loaded it on 10 systems while I lectured. It was not a pretty start to the class, but after that if went better. The class was a custom DxDesigner schematic capture class and a CES constraint entry class.
On Tuesday night I went to the temple in Newport Beach. This is the first time I have been to this temple. It is beautiful on both the outside and the inside. It is a smaller temple, but as always, the Church got an outstanding site and built a wonderful edifice on it. I enjoyed the evening very much.
Spencer Art
And then, of course there was the flight home. Uneventful - do the laundry and get ready to go again - so there are more travels to follow.
Reading List
February 10, 2010
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
Alas, Breanne, another book about war.
This one is about the Battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War. 180,000 men killed and countless more wounded. It was the turning point of the war. Up until that point, the Confederacy was definitely winning. After their major loss at Gettysburg, they were really fighting a losing battle.
But that is not the story of this book. This is the sequel to Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara, Michael’s son. It tells the stories from the commander’s sides so there is a good deal of discussion about the philosophies of the war, about how it is fought and more importantly, why it was fought. Most of the Northerners thought they were fighting for the freedom of the slaves. The Southerners were fighting for their life style, feeling that the federal government was suppressing them. It tells the story of Generals and colonels who are very good friends, but on the opposite sides of the field. It tells the story of real people. Mostly it is told from the point of view of the Confederate offices, but sometimes you are in the camp of the Republic.
I think about what it would be like, first of all, to be one of the soldiers who were asked to just march into the face of the fire of an entire army that was on top of a ridge behind a stone wall. But it makes you think more so of he thoughts and feelings of the men who commanded them to go.
One of the brief stories is of a Colonel who lost a leg in a previous battle, and so had a hard time walking on his new “peg-leg”. When the call came to charge, all of the officers were command to walk and not ride because a man on a horse was instantly targeted as an officer and so was really targeted by everyone. This colonel refused to be relieved, and so he still rode his horse. And another colonel, a friend, also rode his horse so the man would not be alone in the peril. Of course they were both killed. I do not do the story justice. The book does it justice.
It is not a book about blood and gore, although there are of necessity small scenes of that. It is a book about humanity in an inhuman situation.
Yes I enjoyed it very much. I read the whole thing in 4 days. I just couldn’t put it down.
Reading List
February 9, 2010
The Book of Mormon
I finished reading it again. I always see a little bit more each time I read it – so I started again today also.
The Book of Mormon
I finished reading it again. I always see a little bit more each time I read it – so I started again today also.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Reading List
January 30, 2010
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
When I looked for this book at the library, it was in the teenage section. It really is a book that is focused on a youthful look.
At first I thought – it is just another teenager – Germany – WWII – Jewish story. I guess you might say it is. But there are some interesting differences.
First of all is the point of view of the narrator. I won’t say much about that except for the last line - “I am haunted by humans.”
Second, there is suspense, but it is different. You are told very early what is going to happen. You are told who is going to die long before they do. One of the tactics of the story is that you read it just to see if what you learn early is wrong – because what he tells you is going to happen you definitely do not want to happen.
Third, the narrative is broken into smaller bites. There are no long chapters or long paragraphs or even long sentences. It is easy to read and easy to get into.
I did like the fact that it was easy to get into. You like the characters. You root for them. But it isn’t just a stream of good things happening. Bad things happen and the characters seem to respond accordingly.
As you can probably detect, I did enjoy the book. I would recommend it. You will love the characters. It was a book Mar had on the Book Club list. It is not one of the 501 must reads.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
When I looked for this book at the library, it was in the teenage section. It really is a book that is focused on a youthful look.
At first I thought – it is just another teenager – Germany – WWII – Jewish story. I guess you might say it is. But there are some interesting differences.
First of all is the point of view of the narrator. I won’t say much about that except for the last line - “I am haunted by humans.”
Second, there is suspense, but it is different. You are told very early what is going to happen. You are told who is going to die long before they do. One of the tactics of the story is that you read it just to see if what you learn early is wrong – because what he tells you is going to happen you definitely do not want to happen.
Third, the narrative is broken into smaller bites. There are no long chapters or long paragraphs or even long sentences. It is easy to read and easy to get into.
I did like the fact that it was easy to get into. You like the characters. You root for them. But it isn’t just a stream of good things happening. Bad things happen and the characters seem to respond accordingly.
As you can probably detect, I did enjoy the book. I would recommend it. You will love the characters. It was a book Mar had on the Book Club list. It is not one of the 501 must reads.
Travels with Lar
Warren, NJ
January 24-30, 2010
It seems I have been here a lot lately – and I will be coming back.
Training has a contract with a large company – Alcatel – and I have been working on that contract. In fact, I was supposed to be spending next week in Warren also, but other pressing schedule matters took me back home.
The classes ( I taught two this week) went well.
As in other trips to Warren, I did very little except teach.
I exercised every day – with a 1oK on the treadmill on Friday.
Both the trip out and the trip back were uneventful.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Events
Missionary – Coincidence – or Not
February 1, 2010
Elder Carpenter, one of the elders who is living with us, lives in Prescott, AR with his father and step-mother. That is “coincidence” number 1 – because we used to live there – and “coincidence” number 2 because some of our best friends, the Webbs, moved there. Elder Carpenter was looking at some pictures in our house and said, “Hey, that looks like my high school’s band uniform. Hey, that is my high school’s band uniform.” It was a picture of one of the Webb’s sons.
Elder Carpenter’s mother lives in Southern California. She is not a member of the church. We sent her a Christmas card to tell her how wonderful we thought her son was. We got the wrong address and it came back. Michael looked at the address and said, “Hey, I know this street.” Now here is “coincidence” number 3 – the big one. Michael looked at Elder Carpenter and said, “Wait, this is your mother? She lives in a house across from a pavilion at a park. The door is down the side of the house.” Elder Carpenter looked at him and said, “Wait, I thought I knew you.” It turns out that just before Michael went on his mission, he taught Elder Carpenter’s mother and one time Elder Carpenter was there. Michael told them all about the Denver North mission and how much he was going to love it there. And then Elder Carpenter ended up in our ward, living in our house when Michael came home.
Is it all just coincidence – I don’t think so. I don’t know how it all fits into the eternal plan – but there was some guidance there. Yes, it is a small world – but for that to just be coincidence – it would have to be a micro-world.
February 1, 2010
Elder Carpenter, one of the elders who is living with us, lives in Prescott, AR with his father and step-mother. That is “coincidence” number 1 – because we used to live there – and “coincidence” number 2 because some of our best friends, the Webbs, moved there. Elder Carpenter was looking at some pictures in our house and said, “Hey, that looks like my high school’s band uniform. Hey, that is my high school’s band uniform.” It was a picture of one of the Webb’s sons.
Elder Carpenter’s mother lives in Southern California. She is not a member of the church. We sent her a Christmas card to tell her how wonderful we thought her son was. We got the wrong address and it came back. Michael looked at the address and said, “Hey, I know this street.” Now here is “coincidence” number 3 – the big one. Michael looked at Elder Carpenter and said, “Wait, this is your mother? She lives in a house across from a pavilion at a park. The door is down the side of the house.” Elder Carpenter looked at him and said, “Wait, I thought I knew you.” It turns out that just before Michael went on his mission, he taught Elder Carpenter’s mother and one time Elder Carpenter was there. Michael told them all about the Denver North mission and how much he was going to love it there. And then Elder Carpenter ended up in our ward, living in our house when Michael came home.
Is it all just coincidence – I don’t think so. I don’t know how it all fits into the eternal plan – but there was some guidance there. Yes, it is a small world – but for that to just be coincidence – it would have to be a micro-world.
Events
Missionary Housing
February 1, 2010
We had the Elders – the Missionaries – live at our house. Here is the history:
It started with the bishop asking us personally if we could take them to live in our basement for a month to a month and a half. That was back at the beginning of October. We were really well qualified – at least we were at the time. It was just Mar and I and a whole empty house. We said okay, but we knew that things would be changing about Thanksgiving, so that would be the time limit.
They moved in on a Monday because that was when a transfer happened. I said high, and then flew to Chicago for a class. Mar was in Portland at the time. Our poor Elders thought they were abandoned – and they must have thought we really weren’t all that interested in having them there. After a week, I came home and was there for a week but I didn’t see them much. Mar was till away – in Northern California. The next week I went back to Chicago. Mar was still away, in Logan.
It wasn’t until the next week that we really got to see them and talk to them and get to know them. The first Elders were Gillstrap (from California) and Carpenter from Prescott, AZ (one of our old homes). They were zone leaders and they earned that calling. They were very good missionaries. We got to know them better and finally got to really enjoy them in our home. However, the time for their moving was fast approaching – Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving came and went and we still had the missionaries and were becoming more and more fond of them. When Mar’s mom came to stay with us for the holidays, there was still not a place for the Elders to live in the ward, so we said, “If it is okay for them to share a bathroom with a grandma, then they can stay until Christmas.” Problem solved until Christmas.
Mar’s mom did come and that worked okay. Then Michael came home from his mission in Southern California. It was such a blessing to have them in our home at that time. They helped him do some transitioning into non-mission life. They asked him to study with them. They took him to appointments. It was such a blessing for Michael.
And then Elder Gillstrap got transferred to Torrington, WY. He was so glad to get to meet Michael, but he was really ready to move on. Our new missionary was Elder Johnson from Wisconsin. We still had Elder Carpenter. It was interesting to see the different dynamics in the companionships. Of course we grew very fond of Elder Johnson also.
Christmas came. We had the Elders for dinner on Christmas Eve. That was easy because the ward was not able to find new housing for them over Christmas. This time we just said – “Oh, whenever." They were like our sons by then. Having Elder Gillstrap transfer away was actually hard.
So this is because they have now moved on. They have gone to live with the Patriarch for a month. We miss them a lot. They do come by to see us and to take Michael on visits and to enjoy our home. We had them for four months and were truly blessed during that time. The moral is, don’t house the missionaries unless you are okay with letting them go.
February 1, 2010
We had the Elders – the Missionaries – live at our house. Here is the history:
It started with the bishop asking us personally if we could take them to live in our basement for a month to a month and a half. That was back at the beginning of October. We were really well qualified – at least we were at the time. It was just Mar and I and a whole empty house. We said okay, but we knew that things would be changing about Thanksgiving, so that would be the time limit.
They moved in on a Monday because that was when a transfer happened. I said high, and then flew to Chicago for a class. Mar was in Portland at the time. Our poor Elders thought they were abandoned – and they must have thought we really weren’t all that interested in having them there. After a week, I came home and was there for a week but I didn’t see them much. Mar was till away – in Northern California. The next week I went back to Chicago. Mar was still away, in Logan.
It wasn’t until the next week that we really got to see them and talk to them and get to know them. The first Elders were Gillstrap (from California) and Carpenter from Prescott, AZ (one of our old homes). They were zone leaders and they earned that calling. They were very good missionaries. We got to know them better and finally got to really enjoy them in our home. However, the time for their moving was fast approaching – Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving came and went and we still had the missionaries and were becoming more and more fond of them. When Mar’s mom came to stay with us for the holidays, there was still not a place for the Elders to live in the ward, so we said, “If it is okay for them to share a bathroom with a grandma, then they can stay until Christmas.” Problem solved until Christmas.
Mar’s mom did come and that worked okay. Then Michael came home from his mission in Southern California. It was such a blessing to have them in our home at that time. They helped him do some transitioning into non-mission life. They asked him to study with them. They took him to appointments. It was such a blessing for Michael.
And then Elder Gillstrap got transferred to Torrington, WY. He was so glad to get to meet Michael, but he was really ready to move on. Our new missionary was Elder Johnson from Wisconsin. We still had Elder Carpenter. It was interesting to see the different dynamics in the companionships. Of course we grew very fond of Elder Johnson also.
Christmas came. We had the Elders for dinner on Christmas Eve. That was easy because the ward was not able to find new housing for them over Christmas. This time we just said – “Oh, whenever." They were like our sons by then. Having Elder Gillstrap transfer away was actually hard.
So this is because they have now moved on. They have gone to live with the Patriarch for a month. We miss them a lot. They do come by to see us and to take Michael on visits and to enjoy our home. We had them for four months and were truly blessed during that time. The moral is, don’t house the missionaries unless you are okay with letting them go.
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