Pardon my French, but...

What the hell has happened to popular music these days? Screamo? Music? Huh? Sounds like a bunch of angry kids without an ounce of talent screaming at the top of their lungs with nothing but bitterness, hostility, and angst in the supposed lyrics. Where is the entertainment in it?

I know, somewhere deep inside myself, I'm reminded that my parents probably said the same things about the music I listen to. But then I grew up on 80's music. And we all know that 80's music is forever! Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go! ring any bells?

Does anyone know what a La-Z-Boy recliner (low-end) costs nowadays?

I've made some changes!

Maybe you've noticed. I rather like it. And I have my sister-in-law to thank for it (which I did).

OK. Went running today. 6.7 miles. It was chilly and windy! 25°-26° with a 15 mph wind. The city/county had plowed the trail. Good job whoever did that!

Went running Monday too--in a snow storm. 4.5 miles. 28° with 24 mph winds. Nice!

I love running! I don't exactly know why, but I do!

One more thing of note tonight before I call it good. I think I might go on a cruise next year. Yes, all by my lonesome maybe. Doesn't that sound like fun?!

Oh, and this house has more holes in it that a sieve!

It's been quite a winter!

I can't remember the last winter where snow has been such a consistent issue. It's been awesome! It's piled up good and deep in the mountains and even in the valley the snow has consistently blanketed the ground. I like it.

Come June though, as I run through the high country above Provo and Springville, I hope it's not much of an issue. I hope, I hope, I hope.

From Glenn Beck

Gordon B. Hinckley: June 23, 1910 - January 27, 2008

(KSL News) Officials with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced this evening that Church President Gordon B. Hinckley has passed away.

He passed away at his home about 7 o'clock this evening with his family at his side. President Hinckley was 97 years old. He was the 15th president of the Church.

Born in Salt Lake City on June 23, 1910; he graduated from the University of Utah and served a mission to Great Britain. After he returned, he embarked on a lifetime of service for the Church.

He was employed as the executive secretary of the Church Radio, Publicity, and Literature committee, before he was called to be an Apostle in 1961.

He was later called to serve as a counselor to President Kimball, President Benson and President Hunter.

Since becoming Church President on Mar. 12, 1995, he has directed the most intense temple building program in the history of the Church in an effort to extend temple blessings to more members.

He has exhibited vitality and energy as he has traveled about the world meeting and speaking to members of the Church.

Through television interviews and national press publications, he has increased media attention and improved the public image of the Church. He has counseled Church members to fellowship new converts, befriend members of other faiths, live exemplary lives, and avoid the evils of the world.


Statement from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

SALT LAKE CITY — President Gordon B. Hinckley, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through nearly 13 years of global expansion, has died at the age of 97.

President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since 12 March 1995.

The Church president died this evening at 7 p.m. of causes incident to age at home surrounded by his family. A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church's Council of Twelve Apostles until after President Hinckley's funeral within the next few days.

President Hinckley was known, even at the age of 97, as a tireless leader who always put in a full day at the office and traveled extensively around the world to mix with Church members, now numbering more than 13 million in 160 nations.

His quick wit and humor combined with an eloquent style at the pulpit made him one of the most loved of modern Church leaders. A profoundly spiritual man, he had a great fondness for history and often peppered his sermons with stories from the Church's pioneer past.

He was a popular interview subject with journalists, appearing on "60 Minutes" with Mike Wallace and on CNN's "Larry King Live," as well as in hundreds of newspapers and magazines over the years. During the Salt Lake Olympics of 2002, his request that the Church refrain from proselytizing visitors was credited by media with generating much of the goodwill that flowed to the Church from the international event.

In recent years, a number of major developments in the Church reflected President Hinckley's personal drive and direction. In calling for 100 temples to be in operation before the end of the year 2000, the president committed the Church to a massive temple building program.

In 1999 - 169 years after the Church was organized by its founder, Joseph Smith - the Church had 56 operating temples. Three years later that number had doubled, largely because of a smaller, highly practical temple architectural plan that delivered these sacred buildings to Church members in far-flung parts of the world. Many more Church members can now experience the sacred ceremonies that occur only in temples, including marriages for eternity and the sealing of families in eternal units.

President Hinckley was the most traveled president in the Church's history. His duties have taken him around the world many times to meet with Latter-day Saints in more than 60 countries. He is the first Church president to travel to Spain, where in 1996 he broke ground for a temple in Madrid; and to the African nations of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Cape Verde, where he met with thousands of Latter-day Saints in 1998.

At a general conference of Church members in April 2001, President Hinckley initiated the Perpetual Education Fund — an ambitious program to help young members of the Church (mainly returning missionaries from developing countries) receive higher education and work-related training in nations where they would otherwise likely never receive it.

Closer to his Salt Lake City home, President Hinckley announced the construction of a new Conference Center in 1996, and dedicated it four years later. Seating 21,000 people, it is believed to be the largest religious and theater auditorium in the world, and has become the hub for the Church's messages to the world, broadcast in 54 languages.

Even before his term as president, President Hinckley's extensive Church service included 14 years as a counselor in the First Presidency, the highest presiding body in the government of the Church, and for 20 years before that, as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

President Hinckley was born 23 June 1910, in Salt Lake City, a son of Bryant Stringham and Ada Bitner Hinckley. One of his forebears, Stephen Hopkins, came to America on the Mayflower. Another, Thomas Hinckley, served as governor of the Plymouth Colony from 1680 to 1692.

President Hinckley's first job was as a newspaper carrier for the Deseret News, a Salt Lake City daily. After attending public schools in Salt Lake City, he earned a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Utah and then served two years as a full-time missionary for the Church in Great Britain. He served with distinction and ultimately was appointed as an assistant to the Church apostle who presided over all the European missions.

Upon successfully completing his missionary service in the mid-1930s, he was asked by then Church President Heber J. Grant to organize what has become the Church's Public Affairs Department.

President Hinckley began serving as a member of the Sunday School general board in 1937, two years after returning home from missionary service in Great Britain. For 20 years he directed all Church public communications. In 1951 he was named executive secretary of the General Missionary Committee, managing the entire missionary program of the Church, and served in this capacity for seven years.

On 6 April 1958, while serving as president of the East Millcreek Stake in Salt Lake City (a stake is similar to a diocese), President Hinckley was appointed as a general authority, or senior full-time leader of the Church. In this capacity he served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles before being appointed to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 5 October 1961.

President Hinckley has received a number of educational honors including the Distinguished Citizen Award from Southern Utah University; Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Utah; and honorary doctorates from Westminster College, Utah State University, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Southern Utah University, Utah Valley State College and Salt Lake Community College. The Gordon B. Hinckley Endowment for British Studies, a program focused on the arts, literature and history of the United Kingdom, was established at the University of Utah.

President Hinckley was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award by the Boy Scouts of America; was honored by the National Conference of Community and Justice (formerly the National Conference of Christians and Jews) for his contributions to tolerance and understanding in the world; and received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

In March 2000 President Hinckley addressed the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. He also has addressed the Religion Newswriters Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and twice has addressed the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

President Hinckley has written and edited several books and numerous manuals, pamphlets and scripts, including a best-selling book, Standing for Something, aimed at a general audience. In it he champions the virtues of love, honesty, morality, civility, learning, forgiveness, mercy, thrift and industry, gratitude, optimism and faith. He also testifies of what he calls the "guardians of virtue," namely traditional marriage and family.

President Hinckley married Majorie Pay in the Salt Lake Temple in 1937. They are the parents of five children. Sister Hinckley passed away April 6, 2004.

I now know how to braid hair!!

Sometime around 10:00 last night, Addi sat on the futon struggling to braid her own hair.

"Dad?" she asked. "Will you braid my hair?"

"Uh... I don't know how," I replied.

"It's easy!" came her quick response and she quickly guided me through the "loose" braid procedure. Who knew it would be so easy? I was amazed that I managed it. She thought I was an idiot for being so amazed at myself.

I love my Addi.

I miss her.

...and Corbin...

...and Haley...

...and Chan.

Peace out!

Maynard's Painter's

This weekend I made what was my 5th trip down to St. George to run the Painter's Half Marathon. Yippee.

Actually, I had a pretty good time. Three of the kids went down with me and I think we had some fun. It was nice just to get away. Unfortunately, some of the crap in my life just tends to follow me wherever I go. You'd think I'd be used to it by now. Oh well.

Anyways, Painter's. I ran 1:46:43 on a course that is decidedly short by a quarter of a mile (give or take) but still is not an easy course. The first of the fam that ran was Russ with a 1:37:13. Jerry came next with a 1:38:50. Then it was me, followed lastly by Brett in 1:48:12.

Following the race we all went to The Pizza Factory for a get-together with some forum running buddies.

Ended up staying Saturday night as well--an unexpected but very welcome extension to our trip.

My next race is the Moab/Canyonlands Half Marathon in March. I'm looking forward to this one with great anticipation although I'll be sleeping in a tent at the local KOA.

My house is freezing and so are my piggies. I'm going to throw in a movie and hit the sack.

Peace Out!

Parenting Education/Licensure

Interesting discussion tonight in class. What do you think of requiring ALL prospective parents to be licensed and/or educated in parenting?

I wonder how it flies in the public mind. Obviously it hasn't (or won't) anywhere like a state capitol or even the nation's capital. I can think of a hundred good reasons why it would be a good thing, and an equal number of reasons why it wouldn't.

Fact is, I'm pretty sure anyways, that most parents get involved in the whole parenting thing largely unprepared. It's one of those learn-as-you-go things. And that's good, but the price for failure in many cases is enormous! Not only financially; but socially, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.

Would having a more educated, better prepared group of people getting involved in parenthood alleviate (so some degree) many of the social ills we deal with?

But how do we bring this kind of thing about? Who pays for it? How is it enforced? It's not like you need a key or a certificate of licensure that allows you to go out there and procreate. That's not an ability you earn. For the most part, it's an inherent part of being a living, breathing person on this planet. How do you tell someone they can't?

I don't know. At first blush, I'm basically opposed to it. All we need is more intervention into our personal lives. But when you consider the power and influence a better prepared population of parents could have on society as a whole...

Interesting discussion.

Myths vs. Reality

When presented with the following video, my uncle really took the church to task. To each his own I guess. The church has, for as long as I can remember, been a fairly divisive subject. Embedding it here may possibly result in some negative and antagonistic comments, but oh well. I don't post it to create controversy, but to provide insight.

The video was originally produced when the Olympics was held in Salt Lake City back in 2002. With Mitt Romney's candidacy in the 2008 elections becoming a big deal, it's been brought back and updated, not as an endorsement, but "to help counter persistent myths about the Church."

With dial-up connections, it's gonna be really slow loading--it's a 10 minute video I think--sorry. Deal with it.

Here's a direct link to it: Myths vs. Reality

Sunday Morning

I woke up with Addi's elbow in my face at about 6:30. Got up, let the dog out to do his business while I took care of business of my own. There was an inch of fresh snow on the ground. I let the dog back in and I crawled back under the covers. Mmmm. Nice and warm under those covers.

After taking Addi home, I had a few options available to me:

1. Crawl back under the covers
2. Hop on the computer
3. Eat
4. Read the chapters that will be discussed in class on Monday and Tuesday

I opted for options 2 and 3.

Breakfast was bacon and eggs. Half a pound of bacon and 3 eggs fried in bacon grease. I can almost feel the blood in my veins congeal. I guess it's a good thing I ran 8 miles yesterday afternoon. Maybe I'll have to fold down the treadmill and run a few more later today. Treadmill running is extremely boring!

My treadmill is a NordicTrack C2100. I have run relatively few miles on it, but it sure has been nice to be able to fall back on it. My problem has been that when I need to fall back on it, I tend to rationalize my way out of using it. Treadmill running is extremely boring.

My desk is a mess. Time to clean if off again. It amazes me at how quickly I'll pile stuff up on it after cleaning everything off. And most of it's garbage. And I actually have a garbage can right here that I could use should I choose to do so.

Church starts in an hour and a half. I need to go finish my laundry so I'll have something to wear.

Losing control

Here it is, 10:40 p.m. on Saturday night, just me and Addi. Addi needs to get to bed, but she needs to take a shower first. Are we close to either? NO.

She's out in the front room singing and dancing to her High School Musical 2 CD. Each time I remind her, "Let me finish this song!" is what I hear, and I think we're working on the 5th, supposedly, last song.

Maybe I should let her finish off a 2-liter bottle of Pepsi and we'll just make an all-nighter of things...

Introduce yourself!

Drop a comment in somewhere and say Hi! I know there are at least a few people out there perusing my seemingly aimless and generally pointless blog...

It's all good.

The grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup: good.

The financial aid: good.

I've been on a grilled cheese sandwich kick the last little while and tonight I added some tomato soup to the mix. I haven't had tomato soup in more than 4 years! Good stuff.

Tonight was the first night of my second class. The first night of my first class was last night. Both are psychology classes. But the financial aid came through, thankfully, and I'm good to go. Now, if I could just somehow come by $225 to pay for the books I need... That's another subject altogether! And could I go on and on about that!

Anyways, the classes themselves...

Last night's class was Applied Parenting. It came highly recommended and I opted to take it. The teacher lives in St. George and has the class broadcast from Dixie College up to, I think, 4 facilities here in Utah County. The teacher also just happens to be one of the co-founders of BACA. He's got long hair in a pony tail down the back and a huge beard. He appears to be fairly good sized and has a big tattoo on his right forearm. I mention that only because he's got MSW, LCSW, and CPT-S that officially follow his name. I wouldn't see him on the street and think to myself. "there's a Licenced Clinical Social Worker if I've ever seen one!" Cool guy. I think that class will be loads of fun. And who knows, maybe I'll become a better parent to my 19-year-old...

Tonight's class was Abnormal Psychology. I know, I know. I thought the same thing. Isn't everything about psychology abnormal? Well, yes. And no. Everybody exhibits abnormal behavior at some point in their lives; whether it's anxiety or depression, or whatever. Those things are generally viewed as "abnormal", but it's fairly normal to experience them at varying points in life. Abnormal psychology deals with behaviors that are Deviant, Dangerous, Dysfunctional, and Distressing. Some of the things we'll be discussing in this class are: Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Suicide, Eating Disorders; Substance, Sexual, and Gender Identity Disorders; as well as Schizophrenia. Sounds like fun to me!!!

Tomorrow, I guess, I'll head over to the book store and surrender an arm and/or a leg (or my credit card) and pick up 3 books. Did I mention that those three books are gonna cost me upwards of $225?

Why is there always something?!

I was asked the other day to fill in for a co-worker who will be off on medical leave for about 7 weeks. The main job I'll be filling in for requires maybe one to two days worth of work, but there's no way I'm going to "learn" it all given the three days I will have had to train for it.

And then there's college. I could not go were it not for financial aid; but each year, inevitably, there seems to be problem after problem after problem. This time around, because of changes I was advised to make, I was declined any aid. That's nice to find out 4 days before classes start! Seems that in discussing child support issues with a financial aid lady back in August, she determined that I didn't provide enough so I could claim none. Well, the guy I talked to today says I can--claim 3 kids. So, I made the changes, but will they process in time for me to get any benefit or will my classes be dropped for non-payment. I wish I had loads of cash stashed somewheres...

Someday, this will all be over and I'll be free from all of my cares.

Maybe.

Maybe?

HOLY CRAP!

Keep in mind that the numbers I'm about to give may not be a big deal to you. But it's all relative. And, relative to where I'm sitting, this is HUGE!

July 2007 electric bill: $14

December 2007 electric bill: $82

I may have to take out a loan!

Two things of note on this, the First of January 2008

Stopping the hate in 2008 is going to be extremely difficult. If today is any indication, I'm doomed to failure.

E-SPhoto, a local sports photo business that has done the participant photography for a number of events I've participated in over the years appears to have gone under. And it's about time! Good riddance! My collection of photos from my various races is lacking by 2. Any guesses as to who might have been the photographer at these two events?

New Years and Dumb A$$es

Or, as my brother stated: New Years and Numb A$$es. We ought to make t-shirts and charge people to join us!

Two brothers and I ran 10 miles down American Fork Canyon just after midnight this morning to ring in the new year. It was a frigid 0° at the Dell and maybe 15° or so down in the valley.

Chafing was my biggest problem, and it still is 17 hours later. Thank goodness for A&D ointment!

I can't seem to pull up the stats on the run for some reason.