Wendy's Witterings

Shadow Puppets

2009-08-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Just saw an impressive shadow puppet video on the DB Website. Here's the link:

MST3000

2009-06-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

We recently Netflixed a spectacularly bad episode of Mystery Science Theater 300, "Hercules Against the Moon Men." I had almost forgotten how funny Joel, Crow and Tom Servo were as they rattled their way through space and miserable movies. Here is a picture of the Moon Man costume, an amazingly dopey get-up something like a tin foil oil with kevlar oven mitts for hands. Also on tap: perhaps the longest sand storm on film; cameos by Telly Savalas and Paul Sorvino (not); worst ever special effects; and the least realistic torture devices imaginable. So bad, we watched it three times!

Tulip Time

2009-06-09T13:29:00.001-07:00

When I visit Jana in the spring, we like to take pictures at Temple Square. We found this year having two kids to cajole was even harder than one. When Lynlee smiled, Alex didn't. When Alex smiled, Lynlee didn't. But the tulips were always posing perfectly, and we got a few good shots off. Here are some of the favorites from my visit in April.

Paddy O'Platt

2009-03-24T11:33:00.000-07:00

When they announced a St. Patrick's Day party in our ward, there were more than a few of us who lifted our eyebrows and wondered how a suburban Mormon ward would pull that off. Clearly, green beer was out. What would we have to look forward to? The answer soon came in the form of a request from the activities committee chair, who begged Roger to emcee the party... dressed as a leprechaun. Much angst followed. But as her home teacher, there was a certain amount of pressure to comply. And thus was born "Paddy O'Platt" - pictured below. Roger, of course, did a great job, even under duress. When I came up with an idea for a costume that was not too embarrassing, that seemed to help. There was Irish stew, green cookies and cupcakes, an Irish story from our resident storyteller, lovely Irish fiddle playing, a St. Patrick's Day quiz, and a very cute group of step dancers (also pictured below) from a local dancing school. It turned out to be a great party, and no one even once stated the obvious - that we are not Catholic and don't actually honor Patrick as a Saint (although our ward mission leader's given name is Patrick, and he is a real saint!).
The best part of the whole thing was when I sent the pictures below to Jana. She said Lynlee laughed and laughed to see Pa dressed up. Her comment: "I didn't know Pa was a leprechaun!" Priceless.

Time Marches On

2009-03-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

March already, and the blog has been badly neglected. Not the only blog neglected, to be sure. In fact, all my posts are infrequent for no good reason except that life goes on. To get back in the swing of things, here is a photo taken on a "birthday lunch" with my friend Tina. Our outing was a few weeks late of my birthday, but what we lacked in accuracy we made up for in panache. We decided to cruise on down to OB for a burger at Hodad's on Newport. Probably the best burgers and fries in town - and it's a big town! I'm talking best in San Diego, not just OB. Maybe the best cheeseburgers ever created. There was a short line at the door, not bad for a Friday lunch. Fate - or timing - was on our side, as the guy at the door (can't really call him a host; maybe "dude" is better) asked if we'd like to eat in the bus. Yay! One of the outstanding architectural features of Hodad's is half an old VW bus stuck to one wall. Diners so lucky as to be invited to eat in the bus have a wooden plank (with much beloved initial carving) to eat off, where the dashboard once was. Here we are, happy as clams, waiting for our perfect burger plates. And yes, they were perfect! You can take the old hippie out of OB, but you can't really ever take OB out of the old hippie.

Busy

2008-10-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Busy and happy. Jana and family are here, so there has been no time for blogging or much of anything else. This morning, Alex is back to sleep and doesn't seem to mind my typing next to him. So I will include a few photos and log off. Lynlee at the beach and with Shelley and Brandon in Yuma. Details to follow. Yay for grandkids!

Refrigerator Art

2008-09-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are acquainted with my fridge, this may come as a shock. It is more tidy. Before you faint, it is not the INSIDE that is tidy. And of course I didn't actually say TIDY, just MORE TIDY. We bought a big plastic package of magnetic clips at Costco on Saturday, and I came right home and threw away all the extraneous garbage on the fridge doors. So the magnetic roach is gone, along with the yellowing cartoons and the magnetic business cards from people I can't remember and don't want to call. Rubios and Chili's made the cut - gotta have their numbers handy. And the dentist remains, although I'd love to pitch him. What is mostly left is a grandmotherly shrine to the cutest kids ever. I feel it is my duty to share their glory with anyone and everyone at the least hint of interest - and of course they must be prominently displayed on the freezer door. Now the darlings are all lined up, as though by magic, held to the door with new magnetic clips - that match! Yowza! Who's fridge is that anyway?! In honor of the grandkid shrine, I will be sharing some fridge photos in my next few blogs, starting with the latest Alex picture. See above. I know you are interested.

The Other Blog

2008-08-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

It isn't that I haven't been blogging - it's just that I've been blogging on the Other Blog: the bug blog, which keeps me busy each day. If you haven't checked it out yet, take a look at today's quiz. I decided if Ken Jennings can do Tuesday Trivia, I can do a bug quiz each Tuesday. Ants are the topic today - so find out how much you really know about them by clicking here. The really good news is that tomorrow I'll blog the answers to today's quiz, so I won't have to come up with another bug to discuss. Not that there is a shortage of bugs. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Or shoot me a message if there is a favorite bug you'd like to see featured. And if Ken happens on my blog, I hope the questions challenge him just a little.

Bug Blog

2008-07-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

We've just put up a new blog for the pest control business with information on bugs and links to bug sites on the internet. Check it out on my list of blogs to the right - and let me know what kinds of things people might like to see on a blog like this. It is linked to our website, where more information is available on pest-related topics. I started the blog after listening to a lecture on blogs and wiki's at READ San Diego last month. The topic was geared toward libraries and literary sites, but I thought it would apply just as well to the pest control business. Websites with blogs and links seem to garner a higher spot on the Google list when people are trying to find businesses in their area. Eventually, I'd like to get some photos and videos from the field. Just waiting for a good Verminator-type job to record.

Independence Day Pix

2008-07-07T15:26:00.001-07:00

It's fun to see the little cousins (second cousins?) got together for the Fourth. Here they are in their best patriotic poses.

Alex Pix

2008-07-02T12:16:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of recent pictures of Alex. I guess any picture of Alex is recent, as he just turned two months old! As you can see, he is a happy, mellow little guy. Pretty chill for a white guy. It was so fun seeing him last weekend. He slept through most of the train ride on the Heber Creeper, enjoying the time with family. I'll admit to hogging him - gotta claim all the time I can when I am there!

Richard Henry Dana Jr. High

2008-06-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

Ellary promoted recently from Dana Middle School, aka Richard Henry Dana Jr. High. This is the school we went to as kids, so returning for the promotion exercises once again caught me in a nostalgic mood. The ceremony was set up on the field, on a very hot morning. As I looked for a seat with a good camera angle, I noticed the school band playing "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees. Now, if you had told me when I was in Jr. High that 40 years in the future the school band would be playing a Monkee song as a prelude to commencement I would have thought you were crazy! Monkee muzak! The whole thing took me back to the terrors and high jinx of Jr. High, so I stopped off after the exercises to peek into Mrs. Erber's old room. The grand dame is long gone, but I thought I heard her ghost clicking her teeth in disgust at the decline of civilization as verified by the outrageous selections of the school band.

Photo Safari

2008-06-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

The Photo Safari through Africa (at the Wild Animal Park) was a blast! Jana and Mike bought us the package for Mother's Day, and we took the safari last week. It is the best way to really get to see and interact with the animals. They put 8-10 people in the back of an open bed truck and cruise through the exhibit, stopping for photo ops and to feed the giraffes that come around. Here are a few of the pictures we took. I especially like the close-up of a very friendly (hungry?) giraffe.

Pirates and Princesses

2008-06-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a small sampling from the birthday pictures - juxtaposed to emphasize the difference between the Princess party and the Pirate party. Both had lots of fun. Hard to believe they are three!

Capt'n Gavin

2008-06-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

Gavin and Lynlee turned three this weekend. While Lynlee was entertaining princesses in West Jordan, Gavin had a swashbuckling time in Ramona. Pictures have yet to arrive from the princess party (ahem) but we have the pirates covered. Capt'n Gavin hauled in sufficient booty to last him another year. Yo ho! More pictures to follow - but here is the good captain himself - courtesy of Photoshop, of course.

Alligators All Around

2008-05-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

I don't have any new pictures of Alex, but just realized I hadn't posted any pictures of the nursery. The room is Jana's design, based on the Maurice Sendak children's book, "Alligators All Around" and the Carole King song inspired by the book. Good thing I was in Utah longer than I planned - this was a project! The alligators were quite saucy, demanding all kinds of perks, like hammocks and unicycles. Glad we didn't paint them with teeth!

Cinco de Mayo

2008-05-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

On May 5th we took Lynlee to temple square for a photo shoot. The flowers were spectacular, reminding me of my visit there four years ago when Shannon and Clark were married. Here are a couple of pictures from Cinco de Mayo '08. This is fast becoming a gramma blog. Oh well! PS: If you are worried that we let Lynlee pick that daffodil, I should explain. There were volunteers taking out "spent" flowers, so we asked for one of the discards for the photo. Better in Lynlee's hand than in the trash!

Back to Mac

2008-05-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

I know it sounds wimpy to all the PC people, and there are a definite majority of you, but it is great to get home to my Mac! For one thing, I have been dying to post photos of Alex but have not been able to manage it at Jana's house. Oh, I could have asked for her to walk me through it - but there were other fun things to do. So finally, I can post my own pictures on my own blog with my own computer. I miss Jana, Mike, Lynlee and Alex tremendously - but I love coming home to my Mac! Here are a couple of my favorite shots. More will undoubtedly follow.

Clark is Right

2008-04-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

Now you know what it takes to get me blogging again! Glad there is still someone there who cares to look, after all this time.
Jana and Alex are doing great, coming home tomorrow. Aren't babies fun?! I will be here until May 7, taking hundreds of pictures and trying to be helpful.
Give a great big Aunt Wendy kiss to little Julia. I can hardly wait to see her!

It's a Boy!

2008-04-28T14:36:00.001-07:00

Alexander Patrick Tvedtnes, 7 lbs. 5 oz., born this morning just after 10:30. Jana and Mike are doing great, and Lynlee welcomed her new brother - cautiously. If I were home, there would be pictures. Lots were taken, and a sampling will be posted when I get home - before if possible. For now, you'll just have to take the totally unbiased word of the gramma that he is adorable, gorgeous and absolutely perfect!

Dark Chocolate

2008-01-23T16:53:00.000-08:00

Since my last blog was before Christmas, it is probably time to put something out there again. Really, I should be better at this - no excuses, but I have been playing with Lynlee and loving it. Dark Chocolate seems like a good thing to blog about. Today after volleyball all the players were invited to take a taste test of 6 different brands of plain dark chocolate bars. We had water to cleanse our palates between bites. I was surprised at how difficult it was to remove all traces of the last bar in order to fairly judge the next. In the end, the texture and taste of one bar rose to the top. We were surprised to learn that the one most of us liked best was a bar from Trader Joe's. The taste testing was for a TV spot by Consumer Bob, the husband of one of our V-ball women. Last time he showed up, we all ate frozen chicken dinners. We like Bob. And the chocolate tasting made us like him even more. The spot will be on the local news a week from Saturday. So it's been a good day all the way around. Volleyball and then dark chocolate and then Lynlee. Doesn't get much better than that!

Ho ho ho!

2007-12-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

Our ward Christmas party was last Saturday night. For many years Roger and his friend (our recently released bishop) have concluded the festivities as Elf and Santa, respectively. This year, Dad decided to go see Santa when the kids were done making their requests and receiving their treats. A couple of ward members caught photos of the event, in which Dad enjoyed some spirited conversation with the man in the red suit. It was a great party, and a moment to remember.

I only have eyes for you

2007-12-06T09:19:00.001-08:00

I warned Patrick I would open his eyes in Photoshop by pasting Kim's eyes on him. He thought that was a nice idea. So here it is: Patrickim. We don't want him to go through life with his eyes closed, do we?

The Closer

2007-12-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

I learned something about Kim's husband, Patrick, at their wedding last weekend. Patrick is a closer. He closes his eyes instinctively the instant the camera clicks. He is less likely to blink outdoors during daylight, when no flash is employed - but I have enough shut-eye photos of Patrick to do an entire slideshow of Patrick smiling with his eyes closed. To be fair, Patrick warned me about this. He knows he is a closer. In fact, he seems to have inherited the trait from his dad. I have highlighted one of the many shots of Patrick from the rehearsal dinner. I'm certain the professional photographer will have had better success. Some of my favorites of the happy couple can be found on my flickr.

Fire Storm

2007-10-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

I never really understood the term "fire storm" until this week. We had the "perfect" fire storm here in San Diego. The weather, high winds, and draught conditions combined against us in an apolcalyptic way. Sunday afternoon the sun turned orange and the east wind brought all-too-familiar ash - signaling wildfires in the area. Listening to the news, we learned fires were raging in the Ramona area. We were concerned for Katie and George, who live in Ramona. They evacuated that night, moving in with George's brother in La Mesa. We went to bed Sunday night to howling winds, but with a sense that the fire was far from us.
Monday morning we found ourselves under mandatory evacuation. Ironically, I had spent the previous Saturday manning a booth at the local town council's Emergency Preparedness Fair. I went home with new resolve to prepare more thoroughly for this kind of event - having spent several hours telling others how to do it. But of course I put it off. We were fortunate to have time to pack all the cars and leave - and to have somewhere to go. We spent Monday and Monday night at Roger's folks' house in Pt. Loma and returned to our house Tuesday morning even though the evacuation orders had not yet been lifted. The fires swept by a few miles north of us. Watching the blaze on local news, I saw live footage of the fire literally raining down on neighborhoods nearby. We feel grateful to be home, thankful for the four walls around us with only a bit of grit to clean up. Thanks for all your prayers in our behalf.

Lynlee Bo Peep

2007-10-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

It has been forever since I blogged - caught in the melee of summer trips and visitors. Things have quieted down some, but the real motivation for adding to the blog is that I finally discovered how to include photos! I can think of no better way to intiate the new-found techno-knowledge than to publish a photo of Lynlee in her Halloween costume. The Bo Peep idea is all Jana's - and Lynlee will be accompanied by her sheep surrogate, Fritzi II, on the big night. We made the costume at my house, so Baxter is standing in for Fritz in this picture. Pretty cute, huh? I posted a few more pictures of Bo Peep on myflickr. Now that I know how to include photos in my posts, there is no stopping me! bwahaha!

Richmond, MO

2007-07-11T16:33:00.000-07:00

There is a little pioneer cemetery in Richmond, where grave markers have been salvaged and set in cement (see my flickr). A flood destroyed the cemetery years ago, so the church has taken over the maintenance of the grounds and restored headstones as much as possible. Peter Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery were buried here, although it is impossible to tell where. Heber J. Grant dedicated a monument to the three witnesses at this little cemetery in 1911. Our tour guide told us the three measures of meal in the parable of Matthew 13:33 represent the three witnesses of the restoration. Where does he get this stuff? He also told us Parley P. Pratt was made the missionary companion to Matthias (see Acts 1:15-26) in the spirit world, and that Cain killed Able at Far West, Missouri. As far as I can tell, there is no marker for Able either.

Midwest Headstones

2007-07-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

While traveling between church history spots in the midwest, our bus stopped at a few cemeteries. On the road to Richmond we found Sunny Slope Cemetery, where David Whitmer is buried. The headstones in these fine places are an education in themselves. My flickr photos show examples of some interesting trends. Several of the grave markers we saw were sculpted to look like tree trunks. And on MANY headstones, great and small, there was a relief of a hand, the index finger pointing toward heaven. Other headstones bore the likeness of two hands shaking. Although the sign for Sunny Slope indicates it was established in 1911, many of the markers are from a previous time - a time when tree trunks and pointing fingers were in style. Modern cemeteries would have none of that. It causes one to wonder if the dearly departed were given directions so that when they emerged from the grave they would know which way to go. Straight up!

Liberty Jail

2007-07-09T14:15:00.000-07:00

Always sounded like an oxymoron to me: Liberty Jail. In fact, when in use it was an inescapable dungeon, located in Liberty, MO. The weather was muggy and warm as our bus pulled up to the visitor's center at the site of the old Liberty Jail where Joseph Smith and others were incarcerated during some of the darkest days of the Church. The jail has been described as a Prison Temple, and indeed it became a sacred place in spite of the vile circumstances of the incarceration. Sections 121-123 of the Doctrine and Covenants were received at Liberty Jail.
The first of two photos up on my flickr shows the rebuilt jail, in a cutaway that gives an idea of the construction of the walls and the dimensions of the basement cell. The other photo shows the exterior of the visitors center, which is lovely. The visitor's center is built around the jail site, with sister missionaries on hand to explain the history. Our tour guide talked about Lyman Wight, also known as the Wild Ram of the Mountains. He was one of those who shared the cell at Liberty with Joseph. Apparently Brother Lyman once told Moses Wilson he was only alive because Joseph wouldn't let Lyman kill him. He seems to have lived up to his Wild Ram epithet.

More Independence

2007-07-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

The latest photos up on my flickr show a few more of the sights in Independence, MO. The Historic Courthouse there is a bit of a tribute to Harry Truman, a native son. There was a Truman Museum/ Library in Independence also, but it was not on our tour. The current courthouse has a nice statue of Stonewall Jackson riding a horse on one side and a statue of Harry Truman on the other. Across the street from the courthouse is a reconstruction of the old Gilbert and Whitney Store, looking quite new compared to the rest of downtown Independence. Also up on my flickr is a picture of a stained glass window taken from the inside of the Old Stone Church, and an interior shot from the Community of Christ Temple. It was very interesting to see the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, crosses and seashells all together in the Community of Christ setting. They were lovely to show us around their buildings. Of particular interest was the museum inside the temple, which had oil paintings of Joseph and Emma as well as printers copies of the original Book of Mormon. Wish we had had more time in the museum!

Hedrickites

2007-07-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

According to our tour guide, Calvin Stephens, there were around one hundred different sects of Mormonism as of 1964. The official name of one of these groups, the Hedrickites, is "The Church of Christ (Temple Lot)." We were privileged to hear from one of their apostles on our visit to Independence, MO. He was sharp and feisty, eager to share his beliefs and doctrines. Like the Community of Christ, the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) believes in the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, and recognizes Joseph Smith as a prophet - up to a point. They believe the office of President of the Church is unscriptural, so they have a council of 12 apostles but no first presidency. They also believe they have been chosen to hold the temple lot identified by Joseph Smith as the site for a temple to be built in Independence, and will some day be called upon to build that temple. If you visit my flickr, you will see photos of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) building, located just next to the original temple lot. Also, there are pictures of the temple site marker and some stones they excavated from the lot. It was interesting to see the Hedrickite building, with its legal claim to the temple lot (they in fact purchased the property in the late 19th century), towered over by the Community of Christ Temple just across the way, a neighbor to our own LDS Visitor's Center. The air in Independence was heavy and hot, the humidity seeming to match the doctine-filled air of dispute.

Blog Fodder

2007-07-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

The church history tour Shelley and I took last week has given me enough blog fodder to last a good long time. We drove to SLC on the 21st and flew to Kansas City, MO Monday morning. From there we took a tour bus to historic sites in the midwest. Neither of us had ever been to Missouri (Mah-zuh-rah) so it was an enlightening experience on many levels. The first thing we noticed was that there were no privacy fences between houses, and often no sidewalks. The fence situation seemed to be universal in the midwestern states we drove through. Sidewalks were occasional, but not often handy.
Upon arrival in Independence, MO, the bus drove to a Hometown Buffet which had been alerted that 56 people would be stopping by for lunch. I thought later how appropriate Hometown Buffet was, since there seemed to be a veritable smorgasbord of churches in downtown Independence. On our brief drive through the district we saw churches representing every Protestant denomination imaginable. But the real fun began as we toured the blocks surrounding the temple site. We were greeted by lovely representatives of the Community of Christ, formerly known as RLDS. A 92-year-old pastor showed us around their old stone church, bearing testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Another guide took us through their auditorium, which seemed to be built much like a tabernacle, seating 6,000. The next day we were able to visit their temple, architecturally inspired by the chambered nautilus sea shell. Photos of these three sites are on my flickr - still can't seem to make the photos appear on the blog. The visit to Independence was great - but warm and muggy. I had no idea there were approx. 100 LDS splinter churches! These are good and sincere people who are doing their best to spread the doctrine they hold dear. It is interesting to note similarities and differences. Tomorrow I will post photos from the Hedrickite (Church of Christ - temple lot) sites.

Westview 'Bye

2007-06-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

I just noticed that I haven't written here in over a month. No excuses, but it has been a busy month. With luck, Rob will graduate next week from Westview High. Yay! What this means is that we have been cramming pretty solid for the last several weeks. He has to pass every class to have enough credits to graduate, and this is probably his toughest semester ever. In a great leap of faith I ordered his cap and gown in January. With fingers crossed he is sending out announcements today. We should know by Friday if all finals and final projects add up to enough points to walk.
In his defense, this is a tough school. On the other hand, he has not been in really tough classes. Had they offered Video Games 101 or Advanced Guitar Hero he would be valedictorian. He aced choir. At least we know he has his priorities in order.
Wednesday (June 20) is graduation, and whether or not he graduates, he is going to grad night (ticket purchased well ahead) and Shelley and I are heading east. We'll drive to Jana's house on Thursday, spend a few days with Lynlee and then leave early Monday morning for a Church History Tour. It is my graduation present to myself. Rob gets a video game.
If you want to check out Rob's senior photo, go to my flickr. If he earns the cap and gown, I'll post that picture next week.

Weird News

2007-05-02T13:08:00.000-07:00

Now and then I come across a fantastic news story. Is the news getting more weird or am I just noticing it more? Here are a few samples from the weird news file:
1. Ms. Pan Alying, a schoolteacher in China's Shandong province, had her purse snatched (containing her mobile phone, bank cards and cash) and decided to try pleading with the thief by sending text messages to her stolen phone. According to Xinhau new agency, she patiently sent 21 sympathetic notes to the man, with no answer. The day after the last one, she found a package at her door containing her purse and all its contents intact, with a note, "I'm sorry. ... I'll correct my ways and be an upright person."
2. Surgeons at London's Great Ormond Street Children's Hopsital, recognizing the similarities between a hospital operation and a car race, asked a team of mechanics from Ferrari's Formula 1 racing group to critique their procedures for moving patients from the operating room to intensive-care units. The Ferrari team took notes and devised a protocol that smoothes the process and minimizes chances that a piece of needed equipment or a vital message is overlooked. Doctors say the new protocol, which includes changes like banning nonessential chatter and disconnecting wires in a specific order, has already reduced hospital errors.
3. Jyrki Kasvi, an incumbent parliamentary candidate in Finland, has launched a new version of his campaign website, written entirely in the Star-Trek language Klingon.
My question: Is the website in Klingon as we heard it on the original Star Trek show, or has it first been translated to a Finnish dialect of Klingon? And how do we know Mr. Kasvi is actually from Finland and not Klingon?

Sanjaya Libre

2007-04-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

I still cannot post photos on the blogspot, but would like to direct attention to my most recent masterpiece on my Flickr, a Photoshop creation I sent to Sherman this morning in celebration of the less-than-timely release of Sanjaya. Sherman has been one of the spoilers voting for Sanjaya, no doubt to irritate and annoy any and all who watch American Idol. I don't know which I will miss less, hearing Sanjaya sing or receiving Sherman's gloating phone call after the Wednesday results show. Life is good.

Holy Trinity, Blythburgh

2007-03-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

My dad has been looking for a particular photo album in his room, which has lead to the discovery of several albums which were not what he was looking for but which turned out to be of some interest. They appear to contain photos and postcards put together by my grandmother, Edith Snowling Allen. The problem is that there are pages and pages of photos with no names, dates, or any other notations. There are also several pages of postcards. Apparently 100 years ago, when one sent a postcard, it was normal not to write anything but the recipient's address on the back. Nor did the publisher of the postcard feel inclined to give a description on the back of where the picture was taken. Some of the cards, however, are marked - and come from places as varied as "Beaverhead County High School, Dillon, Montana," "St. John's Bridge, Portland, Oregon," and "Market Place and High Street, Southwold." Some dates can still be made out from the cancellation stamps. But the one that really got me excited was a postcard sent to my grandmother in 1905. The picture on the front is of the inside of a church. The writing across the top of the picture says (helpfully) "This is the interior. Write soon. Hannah." At the bottom of the picture the same hand wrote, "Best wishes and Much love from HS." Aunt Hannah was my grandmother's younger sister, who was probably around 2-3 years old when my grandmother left England in the 1890's. The card is addressed to Mrs. Allen, 830 First Street, Salt Lake City, Utah: U.S.A. and posted with a One Penny stamp from Southwold. I looked more closely at the photo and felt I had seen the church before. So I got out the album of pictures I had taken on my trip to England 3 years ago - and there it was! The very first church at which we stopped after our arrival in England was Holy Trinity, Blythburgh. There was no particular reason to stop at this church, except that it has a really lovely Norman tower and the flowers in the churchyard were just beginning to bloom. Imagine my surprise when I realized a photo of the same church had been sent to my grandmother 100 years prior to my random stop there on my way to Lowestoft! I will post some of my photos on my flicker, but if anyone is interested I recommend the website www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/Blythburgh.htm. Makes me want to go back!

Eiffel Moon

2007-03-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

Check out the Astronomy Picture of the Day by clicking the link in my "Favorite Websites" box below. Today's picture is a beautiful shot of the moon in phases of the total lunar eclipse earlier this month, with the Eiffel Tower in the foreground. Spectacular! If you miss it today you can find it in their archives.

Game On

2007-03-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

We have been looking forward to the completion of a new meetinghouse in our stake since the groundbreaking nearly two years ago. Here in CA there are all kinds of hoops to jump through before you can even move a shovel of dirt. We had to wait for environmental impact reports and endangered birds to fly away. The latest drama came last week when the finished building didn't pass fire inspection. The inspector noted that the chapel and cultural hall should be treated as one big room instead of two because the partition that separates them does not close automatically in the event of fire. Therefore, the ceiling sprinklers had to be rewired and some conduit installed in the attic (AKA: Mezzanine!). Why do I care? I am the media specialist on the stake public affairs counsel, so I was concerned that my stories to the local papers last month would be in error if the open house was postponed. Also, I made the invitation cards that have been passed out like handbills by members all over the stake. I'd rather not redo them and there is no way to contact all the people who have been invited. So today, there is great rejoicing in the land as we have received the green light from the inspectors and can proceed with the open house next weekend. The bad news? I need to put together a slideshow, contact the Chinese Branch for translation notes, nag at one of the papers that didn't print my article, look into the tri-fold brochure that should have gone to the printer last week, and begin writing more media releases for post-production. The good news is we will have a new meetinghouse with a bit more elbow room, and we have not displaced a single Least Tern.

Useless Information

2007-03-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

As taken from "Sizesaurus" by Stephen Strauss (1995): It would take 27,800,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Big Macs to equal the weight of the earth. From the same source, it would take 140,000,000,000 Big Mac patties to cover one square mile. The problem with the first number is that I don't know how to say it, so there is no chance of dropping it into polite conversation. My problem with the second stat is the trick it plays on my mind, trying to imagine all those round patties covering a square mile. I guess this is just another good reason to celebrate pi day every day.

To infinity and beyond!

2007-03-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I beat Clark to the punch on wishing everyone a happy pi day. I was considering waiting until 1:59PM, but thought that might be taking the thing a bit too far. Nevertheless, I am considering what kind of pie to make for dessert tonight and wondering if pizza is in order. Soon Hallmark will be making warm meaningful commercials about Pi Day so we will all feel obliged to exchange Pi cards and perhaps dress for the occasion. But until then, I am a little surprised Marie Callender has not hopped on board. Maybe they need me in marketing. I do hope your day is infinitely lovely, not terribly random, and if at all possible, ala mode.

Study Guides

2007-03-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

Since I teach an adult institute class in our stake, I decided to create a blogspot to facilitate access to study guides. I email these to class members each week as a way of helping them get more out of the class, but sometimes even though I send my original (mac) version and a translated (windows) version they are hard for people to open or print out. Perhaps this will help the class access past study guides and print their own. I end up copying 12-15 per week on the church's copying machine for those who need hard copies. You could say the new blog is my attempt to save the stake money on copying costs - but really I just thought it would be cool to tell the class they can find the study guides at my blogspot. They seem resistant to looking for them on the stake website, so it may or may not work.
The new site is http://bomstudyguides.blogspot.com. So far I have posted the study guides for 1 Nephi 2 through 2 Nephi 19. If it catches on, perhaps we could have a "virtual" class for people who can't attend for some reason. Cutting edge? Or an invitation to trouble? Time will tell.

Video Games and Earthworms

2007-02-28T12:22:00.000-08:00

I ran across a couple of interesting items on the science page of our local paper. One article claimed there would be a minimum of 10,000 PlayStation 3s whose spare processing power will be used next year for biological research. Further, it was reported that the interconnected game systems will be five times faster than the world's most powerful supercomputer. The first question that came to mind was, "Are there biologist standing in line at Target Stores all over the world to collect 10,000 PlayStation 3s?" The next question: "What do they mean by 'spare processing power'?" Is that whatever is left over after the so-called researchers are done playing Zelda? Surely Sony won't make the biologists stand in line when their game system is getting such good press as a research tool. Heck, they probably donated 10,000 and wrote them off! Next question: "Why didn't I think of this before Christmas?"
The other article explains that Charles Darwin was an authority on earthworms. Apparently, he even went so far as to calculate the number of worms in his garden ("53, 767 pre acre, on average". What? 53,767 is an average? Does this mean some days there were 53, 766 and other days there were 53,768?). Mr. Darwin also subjected his earthworms to many experiments, including several to test their hearing. He placed them near a piano and then in the mouth of a bassoon. Given their lack of response, he concluded they were deaf. Or at least unappreciative of the music. Kind of calls all his other scientific theories into question, doesn't it?

Valentines

2007-02-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

Check out the Valentine pictures of Lynlee and Gavin at my flickr! I am still trying to figure out how to use the flickr site. I opened the account because I don't seem to be able to upload photos to Blogspot. It may be a Mac thing. Whatever the reason, the blog will not publish my photos. And I can't figure out how to reorder the photos on flickr. It is sounding more and more like a user problem. Nevertheless, the grandkids are adorable and hilarious. Jana is here with Lynlee and Sherman asked us to watch Gavin last week, so we dressed the two up and gave them a box of chocolates - then took a boatload of photos, only five of which I have posted so as not to appear overly doting. Even if I am.

Haiku

2007-01-30T08:18:00.000-08:00

Morning

Dawn melts maroon skies
Filling anew God's pallet
Painting life with light

Two in one day

2007-01-25T17:07:00.000-08:00

Two posts in one day. Amazing. Just wanted to mention the new sites in my favorites list and note that I have fixed the link to Attack of the Sprouts - which I had somehow managed to goof up when I set up my list. Of the new additions, one is to Rob's band's MySpace, where the actual band can be seen and heard. Rob is the one with the big hair. Another new site is one I have loved for a long time, American Science and Surplus. It is a retail site, but very fun to read. Plus it carries items you can't find anywhere else which you suddenly and desperately need. The last new site on my list is a link to Richard Thompson's blog. Thompson is a musician who lives in the bay area. I think he is originally from Scotland??? His blogs are creative and hilarious - they can be found under Catch of the Day. The other reason I like Richard Thompson is that he writes even less frequently than I do. Check it out.

Another possibility

2007-01-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

Shannon and Clark have covered almost all the possibilities as to why I have not kept up with posting on this site. Almost. Here are another few possibilities. First, blame the Chargers. I was going to post something the day after the first playoff game, but there had to be a proper period of mourning. Every time I thought I might be able to talk (blog?) through it, the whole thing fell down around my ears like an over-heavy helmet of disappointment. Overdramatic? Did you see the game? Healing began when the Patriots lost last Sunday, but it is still a sore subject. I am currently trying to work up a fondness for the Colts. You see my dilemma?
Another possibility: I have had a cold. Pretty weak. In and of itself, this would not hinder my typing.
Another possibility: Rob has been in the throes of finals. He is a senior in high school and was not taking any challenging classes, so finals should have been a breeze - except he failed to realize that even in Design and Mixed Media he had to actually turn in projects in order to pass. We have been in high production mode. We are talking Andy Warhol recreated in food sculpture. Which brings me to:
Another possibility: Jana and Lynlee are here for a few weeks. It is too cold in Utah, so they are basking in our 76 degrees today, happy to be out of the snow. With the joys of the toddler come the extra responsibilities. Lucky for me, I get to play with Lynlee while Jana works on Design and Mixed Media, as well as Photography 3-4. In fact, we have all worked hard with the exception of Lynlee, who prefers to line up her plastic "dinassey's" (dinasaurs) and watch Mickey Mouseclub.
But you should know that as I visited my long lost blogspot today in order to put a couple of favorite websites on the list I noticed I had LOTS more comments - and that is what ultimately drove me out of the Charger funk and pushed me to write again.
Is the block over? Maybe. But Jana and Lynlee are here until President's weekend - and the beach is calling. Thanks, Shannon and Clark, for your clever and uplifting posts. I appreciate the connection! And it is helping to read about basketball.

10

2007-01-12T06:35:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I had the interesting opportunity to host Carol Lynn Pearson for an evening and then drive her from San Diego to Los Angeles. She is a fascinating character, warm and full of energy and ideas. She spoke enthusiastically about "synchronisities" in our lives - she defines them as "meaningful coincidences." Have you every heard the same new word three times in the same day, or randomly picked up on a concept from three or more remote references over a short period of time? That is what she meant, and she tracks them religiously. Get her book on butterflies if you think I am kidding.
Of course, she was happy to admit that the more we become aware of synchronisities the more we see. Well, I had a great one yesterday. First, I found this fantastic site where there is a short video attempting to explain the ten dimensions. I won't pretend I get it all, but it was quite a trip. Mind bending. Later the same day I was doing some research for my institute class and came across an article by John Welch called "Counting to Ten." He gives a very thorough explanation of the significance of the number ten in the scriptures. So now I am seeing tens everywhere. It's a good thing.

Science and Scent

2006-12-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

Scientific American recently ran an item about the fragrance industry in its humor column. They reported a new men's cologne called "Driven," which has New York Yankee baseball star Derek Jeter as its inspiration (it's the scent that says "I'm not stopping at second base"). The article goes on to speculate about what kinds of colognes scientists would inspire:

Isaac Newton's "Gravitas"
Ingredients: Fresh-cut grass, royal mint and, of course, apple spice.
Slogan: For the man who likes his heavenly bodies as far away as possible.

Alessandro Volta's "Charge"
Ingredients: Cat hair, amber, balloons.
Slogan: Make sparks fly.

Socrates' "Philosophy"
Ingredients: Olive oil, feta cheese, traces of hemlock.
Slogan: You fill me with... questions.

Albert Einstein's "Continuum" (undoubtedly to be renamed "Relativity" after disappointing early sales)
Ingredients: Thyme
Slogan: The faster you go, the shorter you get

Stephen Hawking's "Universe"
Ingredients: Everything
Slogan: You don't have to understand it.

Isaiah

2006-12-15T06:23:00.000-08:00

Our scripture study group looked at Isaiah 48-49 last night. We talked about east and west, symbols and likening. We tried to help each other get the prophet's thoughts straight. Wouldn't you know I woke up with two versions of the same poem in my head this morning. The Isaiah curse. Below are the two versions - the first came seamless before dawn. The second is the haiku, an eastern spin on the same thought. There is something satisfying about haiku: the numbered syllables, counted and tamed thoughts. Still, I like the first raw poem best. Why?

Isaiah

rushing waters wash
asymmetric
around
blue boulders
fluid fingers rolling
sharp facets
smooth
peace like a river

righteous waves
wake day
dancing
cradled
deep
embracing my ark
in emerald arms
pitched
against full tide

Haiku Isaiah

Rushing waters wash
Asymmetrical around
Selfish blue boulders.

Fluid fingers roll
Sharp facets smooth to round rock
Peace like a river.

Righteous waves wake day
Embracing my ark in arms
pitched against full tide.

What do you think? Which do you like best?

First Witter

2006-12-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

Inspired by my nieces' blogs, I thought I might join the age of blog and put my witterings on the web. There will be the occasional poem or photo, but mostly just witterings of an old woman. As I become more skilled at navigating the site perhaps I will add links to other blogs of interest.
Although Wittering is officially the name of a place in Cambridgeshire, I take the name in its more colloqial usage, meaning odd rants of useless information, common nattering, or, according to one dictionary, "to talk at length about nothing." In short, "wittering" seems a much more appropriate name than "blog."
With that in mind, here are a few random stats to ponder:
1. It takes approximately one minute of cocoa picking to make a treat-sized Hershey cocolate bar.
Treat-sized? How many man hours does my chocolate consumption generate per year? And that is just the picking of the beans - how long does it take to process? Perhaps if I worked as hard as those who produce the chocolate I could afford the calories. While we are on the subject of exercise:
2. The Alaska Zoo paid $150,000 to build a treadmill for its 8,000-pound elephant last year.
So far, the elephant has not used the treadmill. Does this mean the zoo needs to shell out more money for a personal trainer? Who will make the elephant run? And is this a good thing? I'm just saying....
3. It is estimated that tourism will add $26,000,000 to Rwanda's economy net year.
This is a remarkable number, but I wonder how it compares with other tourist destinations. Surely the tourism profits from popular U.S. sites are tremendous. Who exactly vacations in Rwanda? Is it a more popular destination since the filming of the movie, "Hotel Rwanda"? Or less popular?