Good rereads

In the mid 70’s I came across a writer by the name of Michael Moorcock. I quickly bought all that I could and read it. Elric, Corum, the eternal champion, wow. Many years and 100 of books later I still remember the first time I read these. I have bought and given away many books, but I still have these. I started to read the sword books and relate more to the hero since he loses his left hand and I could not move mine to even turn a page.
Good books never go out of style or fashion. Some I have not read for a lot of years, but I know I still have them when I want to.
Other writers are the same and I will mention them later

Update

If you have read my grateful blog you can skip the next section.

Ok so here I sit typing with one hand. Let me explain...we had a large group of wasps who decided to start to build a nest right outside our side door and next to the rain gutter. I got some spray...the foaming kind that should kill instantly and encases the nest.I went out to spray, the foam look so good as it covered the nest. Then I saw a wasp come flying out of the foam and I thought "Oh crap, it doesn't work" and I started to back petal and tripped falling backward. I hit the cement on my butt and then my wrist.The good news...I don't think I broke it, but it sure started to and swell up.So I ran to the hose on the lawn to get cool water on it.(ok I waddled cuz my butt hurts like crazy) I then came in and pulled out the first aid kit and wrapped it up then iced it and rigged a sling.Tomorrow is Stake Conference so I get to sit on the stand wrapped up. fun oh fun but I am grateful that I did not break it or worse...crack my butt.

So I guess my wrist is worse than I first thought. I will be going in Tues to have a metal plate put in my wrist. I asked the specialist how many breaks I had to which he smiled and said that a better answer would be to tell people I shattered my wrist.But even with the pain and the trouble I am having I am still grateful.-I am happy it is my left hand and not the right-That it is my wrist and not my leg or worse-I have an extremely supportive wife who I adore-I guess have a very high tolerance to pain since the dr says I should be screamingThe biggest pain is not being able to help take care of the baby like I would like too.But I am learning how to type one handed pretty well now


So I go into surgey Tues for them to put a plate in and cast it.

More later...

Back Pack or Bag?

I seem to be in touch with my feminine side at times. I switched from my laptop backpack that I have been using for the past 3 months, back to my shoulder bag. I go back and forth between the two. I have a nice backpack and I love it especially when I travel, but …we will see how long before I get tired of it. It kind of reminds me of Natalie and how she switches between purses. Not that it is a bad thing…

Quick update on my 15 minutes a day of writing...I have not hit it every day but I am definitely writing more than before. It is mainly outline and character items but that is need as well as the story

FInding time to write-A new approach

Today I start a new experiment. I have been very lazy in my approach (or lack of one) to writing. I read a few articles on it and have thought a lot about it, so Today I start to do something about it. I have decided that I will write at least 15 minutes a day. I have thought of ways to find the time and have come up with quite a few places I can squeeze in a few lines. Of course some places will not work (see insert).
I figure if I write every day for a few weeks to a year I will have something to show for it.

Dark Knight at Midnight

Ok so last night my boys and be braved the dark and saw the new Batman movie. If you have read this blog or know me then you know I am a geek. (If you know my son Randall you know he is the biggest comic geek ever). Well, last night I was amazed at what I saw. The writing and the portrayal of the characters was exactly as I envision them. Heath Ledger as the Joker finally brought the Joker to life. He is supposed to be the most terrifying of all the villains.My wife asked if I was going to have nightmares once I got home and to tell you the truth I wasn't sure. The image of Joker and Harvey Dent/Two Face was perfect. Congrats on the writing. I look hard at it in movies of this type and it was perfect.
Well I must get back to work, I also want to figure out if I get done early how I can sneak away and go to the movie again....

4 Things

Ok so Laurie Jo tagged me...

4 Places I visit over and over

1. the library

2. Best Buy

3. Wal Mart

4. the bathroom (I think it has to do with my age)

4 People who call me

1. Cody

2. Randall

3. Laurie Jo

4. Natalie

4 Favorite Foods

1. Chinese

2. Cupcakes

3. Garpe Nuts

4. Peanut Butter

4 Places I'd rather be.

1. Disneyland

2. Disneyworld

3. Anywhere with Nat and family

4. Disneyland

4 Movies I watch over and over

1. King Arthur

2. 300

3. Braveheart

4. Disney movies

4 Bands/artists I listen too

1. Broadway shows (Les Mis, Wicked, Rent, Scarlett Pimpernal)

2. EFY cd's (All years)

3. Kenneth Cope

4. Chicago

Old man thoughts while driving

Yesterday on the drive home from work I got thinking on Jo's post about the review of her life so far. While I am not going to do the same it got me thinking on what I have learned so far.
Quick Review:

Raised in Bountiful Utah.
Band geek in High school
Active in LDS Church
Served 2 year mission in Australia
Married 12 years
3 kids
3 miscarriages
Divorced
Married again a few years later (almost 11 years now)
Dealt with infertility the whole time
Worked/waited 3 years for adoption
Placed with Maggie 5 months ago

I have been fired from jobs and had to fire people.
I have had 2 companies close their doors. (Both with my wife and I working there)
Spent 7 months unemployed
Know what it is like to be passed over for promotions due to friends or family needing jobs.
I have been a janitor as well as the big boss.
Spent time as phone rep as well as a collector.
Have sat and worried where money is going to come from to pay bills.
Have looked at a budget to only find rent and child support being paid (no money for food, car, gas power etc)
I have seen my grand parents pass away as well as great grand parents
Had a friend die from cancer
Neighbor form suicide
Served in Church as a teacher, clerk, young men's, Bishopric and High Council
I remember black and white TV with only 4 channels
Remember when Sesame Street started
Remember when the Monkees were the biggest thing around.

Through all this I have come to realize that there are certain truths that have stayed with me:
1. Life is never so bad that you should not find something to smile about.
2. There is nothing more beautiful than the sound of a baby’s laugh
3. There is beauty in every sunset and magic in every rainbow
4. No other success is more important than what happens with your family
5. There is no job or title more important than “Dad” and “Husband”
6. True happiness and joy come form your family and your God
7. Only you know if you are truly honest.

Years ago 1993 to be exact, I wrote the following mission statement for a class with the Covey group. I said then that it needs to be on my funeral program. I still think it applies.

It is in a previous post dated Jan 2, 2008 on this blog

Just a few thoughts from someone who has been around awhile…

Gardening and Procrastination do not mix

Several weeks ago I planted the garden. It looked great! At that time I thought that I should take the time and stamp down the “Path areas” and add in plastic to help avoid the growth of weeds. I also made the mental note to get some snail bait to fight the snails that I knew would be showing up once the beans started to sprout. Well…true to my inner self I did not do that. So due to my procrastination (or as my wife would say my laziness) I have been spending the past couple of nights weeding and working and swearing at myself.
I used to admire my grandmas garden. It also looked great and perfect…now as I think back on it I remember her always in it or my grandpa working in it. “If you hoe a little every day it will grow ok”
Well I may not change. (I would hate to give such a shock to Nat if I did) but I will at least think about not procrastinate as much.

Maggie Update

Boy is she getting big and mobile. She hasn't started to crawl yet but she sure rolls and wriggles.

The other morning she was awake and I was not so we sat in the family room with her rolling around me and watching Higgly Town Heros. I have no idea why she would stop and watch scenes but she did.

I will update more a bit later but she is a very happy, social baby.

She is wonderful. Of course she follows Natalie in being happy and making me smile.

We went swimming and she loved it. Also I am proud to say she has started to blow rasberrys. It is a proud moment for a dad when his child learns how to spit properly.

Angry Green Gamma at midnight

Last night Randall, Cody and I sat at midnight to see the new Hulk movie. While I think I was the oldest person in the entire theater. (Midnight premiers are for the young). I really enjoyed the movie and the time I spent with my boys! Cody and I joked that we feel sorry for Randall’s wife (once he finds one) since he was so excited and into the movie. We also had one of Randall’s mission buddies there. As we were waiting for the credits to scroll through Randy was talking in detail to this guy about the history of the Hulk etc. Poor Hunsaker just sat there with a glazed look. Cody and I cracked up.
Don’t wait for the credits…nothing happens.
Anyway, the story was good and the action was defiantly a 10 on the geek scale.
So now we wait till Batman. (Even Nat will go to that one at midnight)

Picture Books

So lately I have been looking for kids picture books on adoption. I have found some that are good, most are so so (at least to me) but none hit the way I want them to. Being LDS and having adoption be the way our forever family was added to is hard to convey but I have not given up. I guess I will just have to write it myself.
I have started some ideas and I must admit that picture books are not easy to write. In fact they are hard, but I am up for the challenge.

Writing

I sit here in Newark NJ in a hotel and wish I were home. I flew in today for a 2 hour meeting with my client in the morning then flying back home tomorrow afternoon.
As I turned on the TV and browsed the channels I came upon the start of the movie "300".
I had almost watched it on the plane on my iPod but decided on Superman the Animated series instead.
I do like this movie. It is one of those that I can watch over and over again. I think I am drawn to the heroes in it. The sense of right makes might. This is the same reason I love the TV series Highlander and Sharpe. This sense of old time chivalry really touched me. I know if I had been born in the time of knights and all that I would probably have been a very poor farmer, but I would have taught my children that Might is not right and that the only reason to have power is to protect ohers...come to think of it I am doing that. My garden skills stink and my kids know the stories and the true purpose for the knights.
Wow, that could be really deep....but I am tired and the neat battle scenes are just starting.

Church

Well, today was a good Sunday. The regular Sunday School teacher was going to be out of town so he asked me to sub in. I love teaching Gospel Doctrine. I was closet to the spirit when I was teaching each week. I guess that because I also spent the most time on that calling. Even more than Bishopric or High Council. But I only have myself to blame for not staying close. It revoles around daily study and thinking or pondering.
After Church I got a call from someone saying a sprinkler had broken at the chapel. Then a few hours later I got a call saying the other chapel had the sewer backing up in the floor drains and into the bathrooms. Since I am over the physical stuff as my assignment for High council I get these calls.
All in all a good sunday.

Maggies 1st laugh

I got Maggie to laugh for the first time yesterday. It cracked me up and just almost made me cry. I know others will not think it that big of a deal, but I DON”T CARE! Maggie’s smile and her laugh make my day. (I still get a kick out of my older kids laugh as well. The only problem is they are usually laughing at me Just kidding)
They grow up so fast. So these times are extra special.

"Changed For Good."

In the musical "Wicked" (One musical I have not seen but really want to)probably the best song is "For Good". (I love the Cast album. In fact I will listen to that song everyday, I just love the mix of voices.) The line goes something like..."People come into our lives, for a reason, bringing something we must learn." Then later it says...I know I am who I am today because I knew you" How true is that statement! I have heard people say that every boy will remember his Scout master. (Mine was my dad so....) Others say that you never forget your football coach (I didn't play. I do remember my Jr High and my High School Band teachers). I am different for knowing certain people. Bishops, bosses and others have influnced me greatly. I even have an old boss that years ago influenced me more than any other person. He was a jerk and I so hated his style of management and how he treated people that I refused to be similar to him even one tiny bit.The people we have come in contact with during our journey to adoption have been some of the greatest people around. Faithful, willing and humble. The men I serve on the High Council with are very humbling to me. Most are recently past Bishops and I just love being in their midst.So if you know me...thank you for being part of what makes me...me>

Family time

Life keeps on going. Not much to report to any and all that might read this. Work keeps on going as do church callings and family life. Through it all it is the family time that makes it all worth while. Last night Nat had to go visiting Teaching and I had one on one time with Maggie. There is only one word to describe the feeling…Cool!
In fact spending any time with Nat and Maggie is the best thing I could ask for.
Guess you might say I am blessed!

Blessing of Tithing.

Ok I really truly believe we are blessed because we pay a full tithe. It isn't that we are spared problems, they are just placed at the best time for us. I was going to go to Juarez this morning but as I went to book it last month the best flight was set for tomorrow so I picked that one. Well every time I plan a trip out of town it seems that a disaster will happen right before. Before one of my week long ones to Monterrey Mexico several years ago the flex pipe going from the wall to the toilet sprung a leak. The swamp cooler has leaked twice. Nat's jeep acted up...well it died while I was in Barcelona Spain and her and my dad had to handle it. If you read my grateful blog you will see this trip tomorrow is no exception. If this crap had hit while I was out of town I know Nat would have handled it but I would have felt so bad. So this is the blessing of tithing we get in that the trouble hits when we can handle it, the car problems hit when we have extra money, other items requiring money being put out just seem to happen when a bonus hits or some extra picture money comes in.

Now I just need to get ready for another wonderful trip to Juarez Mexico. Good thing I am not driving this trip

Music have to haves

So music is very important to me, I know it is the same for others. So here is the question. What group or person do you have ALL their cd’s for?

I started out years ago having all of the following:
Monkees
Carpenters,
Led Zeppelin

Now I have the following:

Donny Osmond
Kenneth Cope
Afterglow
Michael McLean
Garth Brooks
Shania Twain
Alabama
Michael Webb
EFY
Jeff Goodrich
Trans-Siberian Orchestra



What about you?

Favorite Church Calling

Ok so in my long Church Life I have had the following callings (I know I am missing some.)

Through High School I was Priesthood chorister.
Full time Missionary (Australia)
Activities Committee and Chair.
Librarian
Sunday School teacher 14-15 yr olds and 16 – 18 yr olds
Finance Clerk
Membership Clerk
Deacons advisor
YM President
Gospel Doctrine Teacher
2nd Counselor Bishopric
1st counselor Bishopric
High Council

My favorite has to be Gospel Doctrine teacher. I loved that calling.
What are some of your favorite callings?

Second Pass (Refining)

Ok the second time I go through one of my poems I see if I still get the chills when I frist wrote the words, if not then i dump the whole thing or the part I think prudent. Then I get rid of needless words. At last I will read it aloud to see the flow and plan for the next pass. Here is the second pass on 4am feeding

4am Feeding
You grasp my finger
In your small hand
(Which is not like mineYet it fits.)
Hungrily you latch
lips on tight,
(Lips, unlike your
mothers,
Yet, we make
them smile.)
You gruggle, grunt
your special noises,
(which I encourage)
Stopping mid glup to
Open your eyes
(That do not match
mine yet reach
Into my soul.)
My mind hears
one small word
not in my voice
but yours,
Dad.