Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Travels - Going to Anne's
Here are pictures from the trip - Ferney, NV to Yreka, CA
Margaret and Melanie at the Gap Creek overlook - with Mt. Shasta in the background.
Larry at Burney Falls in the Cascades.
Burney Falls - 129 Feet
Mt Shasta
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Reading List
February 17, 2014
Tolkien in Pawneeland
by Roger Echo-Hawk
Here's the story. Charles, our neighbor across the back fence, was talking to me one evening. He is an avid Tolkienite - a member of The Grey Haven group. Also a member is Roger Echo-Hawk. Charles knows I like the major books by Tolkien and so he asked if I would like to read this book - Tolkien in Pawneeland. I said yes, so he gave me a copy for Christmas (well - he said it was a Christmas present - but he really just gave it to me.) So I read it.
The premise - While Tolkien was at Oxford there was a book in their library about the traditions of the Pawnee Indians in America in the Oxford library. This book presents evidence that Tolkien probably read those traditions and used concepts in his legendarium. Interesting though, especially since Tolkien said he was writing a European/English mythology and didn't want to use other non-European primitive traditions. The book makes some interesting arguments to establish the basis that Pawnee legends might have influenced some of Tolkien's work. Some arguments are stronger than others. Does he make a good case. Perhaps he does.
The best case he makes is that in many of the stories where Tolkien might have used Pawnee traditions, Tolkien actually says he can not say where that part came from - or is it he will not say.
We must keep an open mind. But this premise can never be proved - or disproved.
Not an easy book to read - but for an open minded Tolkienite, it is interesting to ponder.
Tolkien in Pawneeland
by Roger Echo-Hawk
Here's the story. Charles, our neighbor across the back fence, was talking to me one evening. He is an avid Tolkienite - a member of The Grey Haven group. Also a member is Roger Echo-Hawk. Charles knows I like the major books by Tolkien and so he asked if I would like to read this book - Tolkien in Pawneeland. I said yes, so he gave me a copy for Christmas (well - he said it was a Christmas present - but he really just gave it to me.) So I read it.
The premise - While Tolkien was at Oxford there was a book in their library about the traditions of the Pawnee Indians in America in the Oxford library. This book presents evidence that Tolkien probably read those traditions and used concepts in his legendarium. Interesting though, especially since Tolkien said he was writing a European/English mythology and didn't want to use other non-European primitive traditions. The book makes some interesting arguments to establish the basis that Pawnee legends might have influenced some of Tolkien's work. Some arguments are stronger than others. Does he make a good case. Perhaps he does.
The best case he makes is that in many of the stories where Tolkien might have used Pawnee traditions, Tolkien actually says he can not say where that part came from - or is it he will not say.
We must keep an open mind. But this premise can never be proved - or disproved.
Not an easy book to read - but for an open minded Tolkienite, it is interesting to ponder.
Reading List
February 7, 2014
5 Minute Mysteries
by Ken Weber
Okay - not great - just barely okay.
It was a book on my bookshelf. I took it on a trip just to have something in case I finished the other book I was reading. It is the kind of book that you can put down because it is a collection of short mysteries - problems with the answers in the back. I didn't try hard to figure them out before I went to the answer pages, yet some of them I did get solved.
It is not great literature. But . . . how do I say this - it captured me enough so that I finished it.
But no one HAAS to read this book. Maybe it would be good in a bathroom. Each story is only five pages at the most.
5 Minute Mysteries
by Ken Weber
Okay - not great - just barely okay.
It was a book on my bookshelf. I took it on a trip just to have something in case I finished the other book I was reading. It is the kind of book that you can put down because it is a collection of short mysteries - problems with the answers in the back. I didn't try hard to figure them out before I went to the answer pages, yet some of them I did get solved.
It is not great literature. But . . . how do I say this - it captured me enough so that I finished it.
But no one HAAS to read this book. Maybe it would be good in a bathroom. Each story is only five pages at the most.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Where in the world is . . .
February 2 - 8, 2014
Greenville, Texas
This is a smaller community a little bit east of the greater Dallas metropolitan area. I didn't get to see much of it because of the lousy weather - cold, rain, wind and snow - yes, snow in Texas. There is at least one major industry in Greenville - L3 Communications which is a military contractor. That is where I came to teach for a week. The employ about 3000 in the Greenville area. And they have high security. I couldn't take in any portable media or my cell phone because it has a camera. I had to be escorted everywhere.
This was a custom class - actually three custom classes. It went quite well. The people were very nice and accommodating.
Most of the days were really pretty boring after work. It was just too miserable outside to do anything. However on Tuesday I drove back into Dallas and went to the temple. It was worth the hour drive.
Motel - Holiday In Express
Car - Chevy Impala with Neverlost - Gray
Flights went well.
Greenville, Texas
This is a smaller community a little bit east of the greater Dallas metropolitan area. I didn't get to see much of it because of the lousy weather - cold, rain, wind and snow - yes, snow in Texas. There is at least one major industry in Greenville - L3 Communications which is a military contractor. That is where I came to teach for a week. The employ about 3000 in the Greenville area. And they have high security. I couldn't take in any portable media or my cell phone because it has a camera. I had to be escorted everywhere.
This was a custom class - actually three custom classes. It went quite well. The people were very nice and accommodating.
Most of the days were really pretty boring after work. It was just too miserable outside to do anything. However on Tuesday I drove back into Dallas and went to the temple. It was worth the hour drive.
Car - Chevy Impala with Neverlost - Gray
Flights went well.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Reading List
February 2, 2014
Life Styles of the Large and Spacious
John Bytheway
I have to confess, I gave this book to myself for Christmas. The title intrigued me. But I am proud to say that I did not read it first - or people's gifts came first.
This is just good John Bytheway writing. Even though he is now married and a bishop, he still writes in a way that is simple and inspiring. He explores the concepts of Lehi's Dream in The Book of Mormon, and then explains how it all applies to us. For me at least, there was not a lot of new information, but he expresses things so well. I love to read his work.
It is easy to read. I read it on one airline rip from Denver to Dallas. It would be worth your while.
Life Styles of the Large and Spacious
John Bytheway
I have to confess, I gave this book to myself for Christmas. The title intrigued me. But I am proud to say that I did not read it first - or people's gifts came first.
This is just good John Bytheway writing. Even though he is now married and a bishop, he still writes in a way that is simple and inspiring. He explores the concepts of Lehi's Dream in The Book of Mormon, and then explains how it all applies to us. For me at least, there was not a lot of new information, but he expresses things so well. I love to read his work.
It is easy to read. I read it on one airline rip from Denver to Dallas. It would be worth your while.
Reading List
February 1, 2014
Sacred Places of the Bible
The American Bible Society
I liked this. It simply talked about some of the important places in Christian history and included some of the things that happened at those places. It wasn't totally in sync with my own beliefs. In fact the biblical quotes were from a modern translation of the Bible, which does make it lose much of its charm. The Pictures were great and it is nice to see how the places fit the stories.
You don't need to rush right out an buy this book. But if you drop buy, I will let you read it.
Sacred Places of the Bible
The American Bible Society
I liked this. It simply talked about some of the important places in Christian history and included some of the things that happened at those places. It wasn't totally in sync with my own beliefs. In fact the biblical quotes were from a modern translation of the Bible, which does make it lose much of its charm. The Pictures were great and it is nice to see how the places fit the stories.
You don't need to rush right out an buy this book. But if you drop buy, I will let you read it.
Reading List
January 23, 2014
Forgotten Tales of Colorado
Stephanie Waters
This is a short little book that has some good tales about Colorado history. It stories like "Alferd Packer" and "Mike the Headless Chicken", plus a few others that were interesting and unknown to me. But - and I hate to complain, she was not a great writer. It was hard to follow because she would change from one story to the next in the middle of a paragraph. I had to re-read things just to see where the flow changed.
And yet I can't say I didn't enjoy it.
But I wouldn't recommend it. Unless you were into such things like I am.
By the way - this is a "Christmas Book" - one I got as a gift, so of course I read it. Thanks for it.
Forgotten Tales of Colorado
Stephanie Waters
This is a short little book that has some good tales about Colorado history. It stories like "Alferd Packer" and "Mike the Headless Chicken", plus a few others that were interesting and unknown to me. But - and I hate to complain, she was not a great writer. It was hard to follow because she would change from one story to the next in the middle of a paragraph. I had to re-read things just to see where the flow changed.
And yet I can't say I didn't enjoy it.
But I wouldn't recommend it. Unless you were into such things like I am.
By the way - this is a "Christmas Book" - one I got as a gift, so of course I read it. Thanks for it.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Reading List
January 20, 2014
Weird History 101
John Richard Stephens
Mar knows I am somewhat of a trivia junkie - and a history junkie. I'm not compulsive. I just like facts. She found this book at a used book store and had to get it for me. She gave it to me for Christmas. I have made a goal that I will read any book that I get for Christmas. I have five on my reading list for this year.
Well this is what I thought of Weird History. There were some really good stories in it. I enjoyed it. But Mr. Stephens was not an impartial reported. He had some extreme and obvious biases and sometimes he was not giving history, he was preaching opinion. And his biases had a tendency to rub me the wrong way because they were anti-American and anti religion.
Still, I likes the book, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a must read for anybody.
Weird History 101
John Richard Stephens
Well this is what I thought of Weird History. There were some really good stories in it. I enjoyed it. But Mr. Stephens was not an impartial reported. He had some extreme and obvious biases and sometimes he was not giving history, he was preaching opinion. And his biases had a tendency to rub me the wrong way because they were anti-American and anti religion.
Still, I likes the book, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a must read for anybody.
Where in the world is . . .
January 20-24, 2014
Minneapolis (Edina), MN
Travel for a class - only a two day class. Two days is long enough in Minneapolis in January. Don't get me wrong, I like Edina. But this has been a particularly hard winter for them. Not because of so much snow, but because it has been so cold. But before I talk about that, I should get to the fair metropolis.
My flight to Minneapolis left Denver almost 3 hours late. It was not because of weather in Denver. It was not because of weather in Minneapolis. Our plane was delayed coming in from Madison, Wisconsin. Such a delay meant I finally got to my motel at 1:00 AM. And yes, now we can start talking about the cold - it was -5 when I reached the motel.
The first day of class was - interesting. Renee Brown, the administrator in the Edina office had the laptops that were shipped in all set up. All I had to do was set up the software on the ten systems. This was not a problem - except for one system that simply would not boot. The solution was to ship another system in from Wilsonville that got there the next morning. It didn't help for the first day of class, but one student said he didn't care to do the first day's labs anyway. Otherwise the class went very well.
The first day, the temperature got up to 1 degree and about 5:00 it started to snow a little bit.
Day two started really slow for the class. The snow , which amounted to a little more than a very slippery inch, really messed up the highways. All the class members finally made it safely to class by 10:00. One of the interesting things about this class was that they loved my stories - 14ers, Frozen Dead Guy Days, Mike the Headless Chicken, the Henderson Glory Hole. One guy said, "I came for the knowledge, I stayed for the stories." We finished about 4:30.
High temperature for the day was 5 degrees.
One of the nice things about Edina is that the motel where I stay has an indoor running track so I was able to get some good exercise.
Now for the flight home. I got to the airport and the temperature was -15, with a brisk wind. Minneapolis is a good airport for walking so I went for an airport walk. While Walking I saw John Burke, another Mentor employee from Longmont. He said he was there with John Parks, also from Longmont. We were all flying home on the same plane. And we all got upgraded to First Class, and that was very fortunate. We got on the plane right on time. We pulled back from the gate right on time. Then we pulled back into the gate. Seems a generator light lit up and it needed to be fixed. That took an hour - a clod hour because they had to turn off the heat in the plane to fix it. Then, just before we were to push back from the gate, they noticed something dripping. So we sat for another hour while they fixed that. It was not a big deal for me becasue I was comfortable in First Class, but others were a little bit less happy. And almost everyone on that flight was making connections in Denver, and with a two hour delay, they all missed their connections.
So that was my first trip of the year. May I say I do hate traveling in the winter.
Minneapolis (Edina), MN
Travel for a class - only a two day class. Two days is long enough in Minneapolis in January. Don't get me wrong, I like Edina. But this has been a particularly hard winter for them. Not because of so much snow, but because it has been so cold. But before I talk about that, I should get to the fair metropolis.
My flight to Minneapolis left Denver almost 3 hours late. It was not because of weather in Denver. It was not because of weather in Minneapolis. Our plane was delayed coming in from Madison, Wisconsin. Such a delay meant I finally got to my motel at 1:00 AM. And yes, now we can start talking about the cold - it was -5 when I reached the motel.
The first day of class was - interesting. Renee Brown, the administrator in the Edina office had the laptops that were shipped in all set up. All I had to do was set up the software on the ten systems. This was not a problem - except for one system that simply would not boot. The solution was to ship another system in from Wilsonville that got there the next morning. It didn't help for the first day of class, but one student said he didn't care to do the first day's labs anyway. Otherwise the class went very well.
The first day, the temperature got up to 1 degree and about 5:00 it started to snow a little bit.
Day two started really slow for the class. The snow , which amounted to a little more than a very slippery inch, really messed up the highways. All the class members finally made it safely to class by 10:00. One of the interesting things about this class was that they loved my stories - 14ers, Frozen Dead Guy Days, Mike the Headless Chicken, the Henderson Glory Hole. One guy said, "I came for the knowledge, I stayed for the stories." We finished about 4:30.
High temperature for the day was 5 degrees.
One of the nice things about Edina is that the motel where I stay has an indoor running track so I was able to get some good exercise.
Now for the flight home. I got to the airport and the temperature was -15, with a brisk wind. Minneapolis is a good airport for walking so I went for an airport walk. While Walking I saw John Burke, another Mentor employee from Longmont. He said he was there with John Parks, also from Longmont. We were all flying home on the same plane. And we all got upgraded to First Class, and that was very fortunate. We got on the plane right on time. We pulled back from the gate right on time. Then we pulled back into the gate. Seems a generator light lit up and it needed to be fixed. That took an hour - a clod hour because they had to turn off the heat in the plane to fix it. Then, just before we were to push back from the gate, they noticed something dripping. So we sat for another hour while they fixed that. It was not a big deal for me becasue I was comfortable in First Class, but others were a little bit less happy. And almost everyone on that flight was making connections in Denver, and with a two hour delay, they all missed their connections.
So that was my first trip of the year. May I say I do hate traveling in the winter.
Movie Night
January 16, 2014
Ephraim's Rescue
A made for LDS movie - by the same people who made "17 Miracles". It is the story of Ephraim Hunt, who was instrumental, even pivotal, in the rescue of the Martin Handcart Company. It also chronicles his reputation as a healer through the Priesthood.
I gave it a 2.9 (on a scale of 1-5). I thought is was well acted and well made. And the rescue was not just of the pioneer. It also follows the rescue of Ephraim himself.
Recommended? Yes.
Ephraim's Rescue
A made for LDS movie - by the same people who made "17 Miracles". It is the story of Ephraim Hunt, who was instrumental, even pivotal, in the rescue of the Martin Handcart Company. It also chronicles his reputation as a healer through the Priesthood.
I gave it a 2.9 (on a scale of 1-5). I thought is was well acted and well made. And the rescue was not just of the pioneer. It also follows the rescue of Ephraim himself.
Recommended? Yes.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Temple Trip
January 17, 2014
Denver Temple
Margaret and I went to the Denver Temple for our Ward Temple Night. The session was at 5:00 and it was full. One thing of note - it was a new film we had never seen before - newer than last year's new film. I like new presentations because when something is new, we first of all you pay closer attention, but also you hear different things.
Denver Temple
Margaret and I went to the Denver Temple for our Ward Temple Night. The session was at 5:00 and it was full. One thing of note - it was a new film we had never seen before - newer than last year's new film. I like new presentations because when something is new, we first of all you pay closer attention, but also you hear different things.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Tender Mercies
October 20, 2013
The Signature of God in Our Lives
I believe it was President Eyring who counseled us to spend some time - he said every evening - to reflect on our day and recognize the workings of God and the Spirit in our lives so we can be more aware of how blessed we really are.
Yesterday (Saturday) Mar went to the store. She just needed some French bread for our dinner. She saw a bag of French bread rolls. It was more than we needed, but she got them anyway. She saw some smoked turkey at half price. Now we didn't need that at all, and her thought said, no, we don't need that at all. But still she thought we might need it some day, and bought it. She also bought one tomato - just one. It was an interesting shopping trip. She bought things we did not need or really ever use.
Then today the Elder's called and asked if they could come to lunch. We just happened to have those things available for them to have a good meal on little notice.
Coincidence? I think not. I think the Lord was watching out for the Elders -- yes I do.
The Signature of God in Our Lives
I believe it was President Eyring who counseled us to spend some time - he said every evening - to reflect on our day and recognize the workings of God and the Spirit in our lives so we can be more aware of how blessed we really are.
Yesterday (Saturday) Mar went to the store. She just needed some French bread for our dinner. She saw a bag of French bread rolls. It was more than we needed, but she got them anyway. She saw some smoked turkey at half price. Now we didn't need that at all, and her thought said, no, we don't need that at all. But still she thought we might need it some day, and bought it. She also bought one tomato - just one. It was an interesting shopping trip. She bought things we did not need or really ever use.
Then today the Elder's called and asked if they could come to lunch. We just happened to have those things available for them to have a good meal on little notice.
Coincidence? I think not. I think the Lord was watching out for the Elders -- yes I do.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Movie Night
October 12, 2013
Oblivion
Just an average movie. I enjoyed it, but that was all.
Sorry Mr. Cruise.
Oblivion
Just an average movie. I enjoyed it, but that was all.
Sorry Mr. Cruise.
Symphony
October 5, 2013
Longmont Symphony
Margaret and I were invited by a couple to go to the season opening concert of the Longmont Symphony. It was very enjoyable. It is surprising that a "little" community like Longmont can seat such an accomplished orchestra.
Longmont Symphony
Margaret and I were invited by a couple to go to the season opening concert of the Longmont Symphony. It was very enjoyable. It is surprising that a "little" community like Longmont can seat such an accomplished orchestra.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Temple Trip
September 24, 2013
Traveling in Tempe means I am close to the Mesa, Arizona Temple - so I went to a session this evening.
Traveling in Tempe means I am close to the Mesa, Arizona Temple - so I went to a session this evening.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Where in the World Is . . .
September 22-27, 2013
Tempe, Arizona
This week I am again in Tempe Arizona.
It has cooled a little since the last trip - we are only in the high 90s each day - and it is cooling down nicely in the evenings.
Again I am teaching for Intel, this time with seven students.
For this trip I actually have plans for some of the nights.
Tempe, Arizona
This week I am again in Tempe Arizona.
It has cooled a little since the last trip - we are only in the high 90s each day - and it is cooling down nicely in the evenings.
Again I am teaching for Intel, this time with seven students.
For this trip I actually have plans for some of the nights.
- Monday - Football - Denver vs. Oakland
- Tuesday - Temple Trip
- Thursday - visit with Ed and Sandy
- Friday - Fly home
Boulder County Floods - Our Relief Efforts
Saturday, September 21, 2013
During the week, Mar and I have been involved in different
ways with flood relief.
We house an evacuated family for three days. It was a sacrifice we were willing to make for the blessing of being spared real hurt or damage. And it was a pleasant sacrifice to give refuge.
Mat and Andrew and Mylie came down from Evergreen on Monday
and helped an older couple clean out water damage from her basement. It was Mat’s day off and I so admire him for
sacrificing and bringing his kids to show them how important service is. They came away totally grimed and slimed by
the experience, but they were happy.
Breanne and a friend came over one day and dropped Elizabeth
ad her friends son, Tye, and Mar babysat while the mothers went to a
neighborhood to help clean out basements.
Mar went to a friend’s house one day and helped clean up
water and mud damage in real hands on mode, dirty, grimy work.
Mar has been asked to keep track of relief work hours in our church's ward area. And she has been a contact for LDS Church needs and offers of help.
I had to work. I didn't get to do too much - except cheer on others.
On Saturday, Mar and I did two things.
·
The first may seem rather trivial. Brea and Ben organized a cleanup group with
three other couples to go work in a flooded neighborhood. All of those couples had wee ones, so Mar and
I spent Monday morning running an ad hoc nursery. We survived and so did all of the kids.
·
At 11:00 we went to work at the Longmont Flood
Relief Center. This is where people can
go to get information about what help is available for cleanup and other vital
services. Mar and I worked as ushers
with the FEMA workers. Our job was to keep
people waiting for FEMA registration organized and then take them to a FEMA
worker as they became available. It
doesn’t sound very strenuous. It wasn’t. But it helped people feel that they were
being dealt with in an organized and efficient manner. We got to talk to people and see how it was
run. The LDS Church was asked to run the
volunteer program at the center, so that is why and how we knew about it and
were able to sign up. It wasn’t back
breaking lifting like others had been doing, but it was still vital work that
needed to be done. (Mar volunteered at
the center for another six hours on Monday.)
It is strange that in most of the city, life is normal, but
in the river areas there is so very much that needs to be done and cleaned up
and rebuilt. All little efforts help.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Movie List
September 18,2013
Star Trek: Into Darkness
I like Star Trek. I like twists and turns. I like SciFi and visual magic.
This movie was okay - but maybe a little bit too much. Too much happened in too little time over vast amounts of time and space. My head just swam (maybe I am getting too old,)
I liked it. Would I buy it - no.
(Editor's note: I am disturbed at the number of the body count that seemed to be there just for effect. I think movies and TV and other media harden us to what it really means when someone dies. There are people who morn. There are people whose lives are changed forever. But to media it is just a storyline. In the context of this movie - on the Enterprise, if a person wears a red shirt - it means that person has a good chance that he will die - just to move the story along. And no one will care.)
( Another Editor's note: Not that I think the previous note is a new issue - Indians and Germans and Japanese from earlier times have been replaced with robots and aliens and zombies - well maybe a zombie's mother wont cry if her dead son is dead again. The point is we have nameless and faceless victims who just represent body count and special effect.)
Star Trek: Into Darkness
I like Star Trek. I like twists and turns. I like SciFi and visual magic.
This movie was okay - but maybe a little bit too much. Too much happened in too little time over vast amounts of time and space. My head just swam (maybe I am getting too old,)
I liked it. Would I buy it - no.
(Editor's note: I am disturbed at the number of the body count that seemed to be there just for effect. I think movies and TV and other media harden us to what it really means when someone dies. There are people who morn. There are people whose lives are changed forever. But to media it is just a storyline. In the context of this movie - on the Enterprise, if a person wears a red shirt - it means that person has a good chance that he will die - just to move the story along. And no one will care.)
( Another Editor's note: Not that I think the previous note is a new issue - Indians and Germans and Japanese from earlier times have been replaced with robots and aliens and zombies - well maybe a zombie's mother wont cry if her dead son is dead again. The point is we have nameless and faceless victims who just represent body count and special effect.)
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Audio Books
Monday, September 16,2013
Rumpole and the Primrose Path
by John Mortimer
Fun - as the Rumpole books generally are. Sassy old curmudgeon that he is, he appeals to me.
Rumpole and the Primrose Path
by John Mortimer
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