11:55a
Good morning Saturday,
I just completed a year long experiment I was not planning on performing. I bought 6 dozen eggs for my contribution to the 24th of July Bloomington Hills Stake Celebration. Last year I did the same plus I made an additional breakfast casserole. I have allergies so I never eat out and when we have pot-luck for Empty-Nesters FHE I eat what I take or nothing. I have taken 5 dates out to eat at Texasroadhouse in the last 2 years because there I can pork out/gluttonize salted peanuts to which I am addicted to.
I let two other brother's know that eggs were on sale at Albertsons for $1 a dozen, Varlo Davenport and James Stasinos. I probably should have sent out a BeSt BriceS announcement. I have gotten out of the habit of doing those. I don't spend as much on groceries anymore. Anyway I noticed that the date on the 3 dozen eggs I have been saving for Potato Salad were Aug 15, 2013, so they were almost a year old. I better use those ones up first! Not!
I did not want to experiment on the trusting stake members. But I did take them out of the fridge to wash them off and try to use them. They floated! And not just floated like icebergs with 90% below the waterline. These floated with about 50% or more above the waterline, sort of like canoes or Styrofoam. Well the longer they dry out the easier they are to peel when cooked. But I didn't think they would look appetizing when peeled. How come this boiled egg is only 1/3 full, might be what I would hear. So if water can evaporate out of an egg through its shell, let's put the water back in through its shell. I put all of the eggs in a big pan filled it with water and put a stack of ceramic plates, Corelleware , on top of the eggs to hold them under the water. Two weeks go by. I am as curious as could be about how they are doing and my top shelf in the fridge is not as roomy as usual. I took them out of the fridge. Filled the sink with water and they still floated. Only one sank. I suspect that the one that sank was still alive and had a working semipermeable membrane. OK should I throw them out or boil them? Well I hadn't thrown them out before why not take one more step and boil them. Hopefully that would kill any germs that may have been eating the eggs all this time. Besides that, shouldn't they stink if they were wrotten. Maybe I had freeze dried them or fridge dried them. I knew a biology teacher at Murray HS in SLC who used to freeze dry reptiles. Lots easier than taxidermy.
So I gently brought the water to a boil last night and then turned off the stove. It was still warm this morning. I began cracking them to see how they would peel. The egg was concave inside and looked like a child's ice cream cone where the child has eaten out all the ice cream his tongue can reach. I put a cookie sheet on the floor and called the dogs. The three labs are quick to come when I call from the kitchen. I would crack off the empty half of the egg and then drop it on the cookie sheet. It was a brand new experience for the dogs. They haven't had hard boiled eggs for at least a year. Each of them were very gentle and a bit hesitant on their first one. Lily especially tried to peel it. Molly and Izy did not stick around. They grabbed their treasure and went to eat in privacy. Izy out the back door and Molly to the family room. They took turns coming back and taking away their next treat. By the end they decided it wasn't worth it and just grabbed and chewed and swallowed as fast as I could drop them on the cookie sheet. Lily wasn't getting her share. She is partially blind and mostly deaf. I decided to have them take turns like I do with their daily treats around the top of the stairs. I would call the dog's name and then deliver it from the palm of my hand. I haven't been giving as many treats lately since Molly is done with her antibiotics.
So is the experiment over? Not quite. We'll have to see what comes out at the other end.12:28p
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Purslane
Last late summer I somehow discovered a weed in my gravel was edible. More vitamins and minerals than Kale or Spinach.
I ate lots of dandelions in June and July but not much lately. Then 3 weeks ago I noticed the purslane starting to grow in my gravel by the driveway again. I'm glad there is no lead in gasoline anymore. Did I water and fertilize my three little plants with Miracle Gro for tomatoes? Yep. I saw one growing down in the park and pulled it up and brought it home to soak and then cooked it up. Just like last year.
I added 2 cans of spinach to a soup I was making this week. I added lots of mustard since I had just purchased 2 and had been missing the flavor. Spinach mustard soup, how does it sound? Sad to say the mustard is not very strong after all.
Wikipedia says that black mustard is spicier than brown than white. I wonder if it is the tumeric which gives mustard its bright color?
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Smith's had 5 ripe pears for 1$ in there red discount string bags at the back of the store Friday/yesterday. I bought 2 bags. I took that sack with me into Pet Smart so I could give one to Conflicted if she were working. I didn't see her but I gave one to the aquarium helper anyway. She said she loves and survives on fruit. As I left I suggested the option if she couldn't finish all 5 she could give them away to whomever she wanted.
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I had Clay, CJ Russels dad come greet/visit with me at Sue's yesterday. I had dropped off 4 apple juices for Mark Clayton. I like to line them up on his office payment window. I made it before the door locked so I did not need to draw a treasure map like last year.
Anyway, Clay says,
.he gives CJ about $25 every two weeks because they have to buy their own extras. Envelopes/stamps.
.he saw him for a visit last week. Inmates are allowed 2 visits a week. He usually takes about 5 people with him and they all take about 5 minutes each and that leaves another visit open if I wanted to go. _____ Awe, how sweet. He invited me! Does it get any better than that. " ) tears. I had told him I had written twice and that CJ answered 9 of my questions and then said, Who is this? lol
. CJ is alergic to almost everything out there so he breaks out like crazy and it shrinks his self esteem. "You know you have a lot of time to think in a place like that." Yep.
. I got a letter back from Brandon but none from CJ this week and I made sure I sent CJ his as soon as it was returned to me. Like the previous Tuesday!
."I'll leave you free to look. Just hollar if you need me to get you something." Clay said he is 40 something and has two houses paid for. I told him he was rich. Sell the houses and go live on a cruise ship. Some old folks do it with just their SS income. His eyes got big, but he said he needs the houses. : ) What a fun exchange!
.I am a bit worried. I got a bit pointed in my last letter encouraging CJ to dialog and respond to the limericks. Perhaps, 1-I scared him off, 2- he doesn't want to have a relationship with his old science teacher anyway, 3- he feels intimidated, 4- he's not into writing, 5- he isn't bored enough to want to write.1:09p
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Worse than leprosy
12:27p
Runny sneezy nose today.
Elisha had a servant that couldn't believe that after the captain from Persia/Syria was healed by dipping himself in the dirty Jordan river 7 times, that none of the riches would remain. Elijah required no payment for the Lord's gift. He chased after the healed captain and only asked for 5 talents of silver and 2 changes of garments for Elisha's returning son. Elisha faced him upon his return and asked what he had done. The servant then received the leprosy.(Gehazi)
At the bottom of the page it said that the servant had a worse disease than leprosy. No kidding? I abhor leprosy. I have used Head and Shoulders for years to keep the dandruff away. A peeling rotting skin disease sounds about as unendurable and tortuous as anything I can think of. No thank you!
"Ghazi had a far worse disease than leprosy. Elder MJ Ashton taught: 'It is a sin to lie. It is a tragedy to be the victim of lies. Being trapped in the snares of dishonesty and misrepresentation does not happen instantaneously. One little lie or dishonest act leads to another until the perpetrator is caught in the web of deceit. ' "p 346 The Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families
This has been bugging me for a couple of days. And I am in disagreement. One can repent of lies. One can't repent of leprosy. Now I can set it to rest I hope. Perhaps the editors wanted little children to be taught that lesson. But I still disagree. You tell the truth when you are with people you trust. You don't speak when you are with people you don't trust. If you must speak to people intent on doing you harm you hedge or lie because the consequences are unfair. I remember being yelled at and smacked in the side of the head while standing on a chair at the counter with my brother Brent'57. Dad knew he could beat the truth out of us. I had committed the offense. I imagine we were ~7 and 5. I never confessed. Neither did Brent. Dad eventually pinned it on Brent and he got the beating. Why didn't I tell the truth? The answer is obvious. It wasn't safe. How much could I trust my parents. It varied. Did lightning and thunder fall from heaven unexpectedly? Over and over. We were seldom safe with Mom or Dad. But Mom was weaker and had a harder time beating us. Coercion lost its potency with her earlier than dad.
So do children tell kidnappers where they live? Do we give people we don't know our SS number? How about our bank accounts? As you can tell this has been an issue with me for decades. Personally I like the vlog brothers scientific take on lying found on Youtube. Hank explains. I felt relief seeing this. [youtube.com/watch?v=MX3Hu8loXTE]
1:04p
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Here's the letter I just wrote my new home teachee as of last month.
Vern
Runny sneezy nose today.
Elisha had a servant that couldn't believe that after the captain from Persia/Syria was healed by dipping himself in the dirty Jordan river 7 times, that none of the riches would remain. Elijah required no payment for the Lord's gift. He chased after the healed captain and only asked for 5 talents of silver and 2 changes of garments for Elisha's returning son. Elisha faced him upon his return and asked what he had done. The servant then received the leprosy.(Gehazi)
At the bottom of the page it said that the servant had a worse disease than leprosy. No kidding? I abhor leprosy. I have used Head and Shoulders for years to keep the dandruff away. A peeling rotting skin disease sounds about as unendurable and tortuous as anything I can think of. No thank you!
"Ghazi had a far worse disease than leprosy. Elder MJ Ashton taught: 'It is a sin to lie. It is a tragedy to be the victim of lies. Being trapped in the snares of dishonesty and misrepresentation does not happen instantaneously. One little lie or dishonest act leads to another until the perpetrator is caught in the web of deceit. ' "p 346 The Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families
This has been bugging me for a couple of days. And I am in disagreement. One can repent of lies. One can't repent of leprosy. Now I can set it to rest I hope. Perhaps the editors wanted little children to be taught that lesson. But I still disagree. You tell the truth when you are with people you trust. You don't speak when you are with people you don't trust. If you must speak to people intent on doing you harm you hedge or lie because the consequences are unfair. I remember being yelled at and smacked in the side of the head while standing on a chair at the counter with my brother Brent'57. Dad knew he could beat the truth out of us. I had committed the offense. I imagine we were ~7 and 5. I never confessed. Neither did Brent. Dad eventually pinned it on Brent and he got the beating. Why didn't I tell the truth? The answer is obvious. It wasn't safe. How much could I trust my parents. It varied. Did lightning and thunder fall from heaven unexpectedly? Over and over. We were seldom safe with Mom or Dad. But Mom was weaker and had a harder time beating us. Coercion lost its potency with her earlier than dad.
So do children tell kidnappers where they live? Do we give people we don't know our SS number? How about our bank accounts? As you can tell this has been an issue with me for decades. Personally I like the vlog brothers scientific take on lying found on Youtube. Hank explains. I felt relief seeing this. [youtube.com/watch?v=MX3Hu8loXTE]
1:04p
Gratitude
"In writing of repentance, President Boyd K. Packer said: “In the universal battle for human souls, the adversary takes enormous numbers of prisoners. Many, knowing of no way to escape, are pressed into his service. Every soul confined in a concentration camp of sin and guilt has a key to the gate. The key is labeled Repentance. The adversary cannot hold them, if they know how to use it. The twin principles of repentance and forgiveness exceed in strength the awesome power of the tempter” ( The Things of the Soul [1996], 114)."
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Here's the letter I just wrote my new home teachee as of last month.
big screen
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2:06 PM (1 minute ago)
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Friday afternoon.
Hello Bruce,
Thanks for telling me you enjoyed the marinated beans (I have more) and the awesome/strange book Visions of Glory. Like I mentioned Jerry Buys believed it and loved it up to page 69 and affirmed it was like his experiences. Carl Hardman loves 2nd coming stuff so he liked the whole thing. Jerry thought the author John Pontius got way too literary adventurous at that point. My therapist, Mark Clayton to whom I gave a copy said it was great as a fantasy novel. But he got a bit indignant when the author tried to convince him that it was for real.
Anyway, you pointed to your big screen when we visited you and seemed to complain it sucked up too much of your time. But if you are like me, sometimes you don't feel very good or your are not motivated to do anything. That is when this magical suggestion will make you productive and uplifted even when you are sick!
Are you ready?
On lds.org we can listen or watch every conference talk since 1971 for free!
I have had a most distressing life. But I trust the apostles.
I started buying cassette tapes of conferences to listen to in the car or when I painted houses in the summer. Wouldn't it be nice to have someone read to you while you worked? That's what I thought! So by listening over and over again I learned more and more. When cassette tapes went out of style they switched to CDs. Now I don't have to buy a thing. Free access to 43 years of General Conference talks.
Last year upon retirement/firement I was depressed. How could I use my time to help build the kingdom of God on the earth? I discovered these General Conferences and began listening. After a couple of months I remembered the scripture, First seek to obtain my word. . . and I thought, look at me, I am obtaining his word.
Then in the future if I am ever needed to preach his word I will be ready.
But I don't listen just to pass the time. I listen to be spiritually uplifted. Sometimes I listen 2 or 3 or more times because it is still delicious to me. Sometimes I am tired and I fall asleep so I get to listen again. Some voices grate on my nerves so I turn down the volume. Sometimes I working and moving around and I want to be able to hear it so I carry a speaker to that room, or the bathtub. You get the idea. I have been working on this challenge to listen to all of them for over a year and I still have 2 years left to go.
Conference started being a thrill for me when I was living the gospel well enough that I didn't feel guilty. But rather if they give a talk on something I already know and do I just sit back and enjoy it as praise and I learn even more deeply why it is good to be obedient to that commandment.
So, like I said, I have trust issues. Who can I trust? Not very many. In fact these are the only men in the world I trust with my heart and soul.
My next door neighbor, Bill Young, a descendant of Brigham Young, drinks and smokes and believes the leaders of our church are doing it for the money. He thinks that it is good business!
Over and Over I hear things where I think, Oh, I wish I could share this with him.
My youngest son Michael is working in SLC at the downtown Walmart and will turn 22 next month. He has always been extremely shy. I keep hoping HF is preparing him to serve a mission but he stopped attending church 19 months ago. To start with he was putting his tithing in a separate account but since he stopped attending I am not sure what he is doing. He is bright and tall and handsome and hairy. He was a wonderful son growing up. Walmart was his first job in Provo and then he transferred to Salt Lake to room with a friend, Jesse Schaum who has since begun smoking. They are not roomates anymore and Michael did not pick up smoking like his friend, thank heavens, but how can you progress when you don't attend church? I have been so worried about him for the last year.
As I listen to conferences I hear things that I hope he will remember and accept. Starting January I started giving him monthly home work assignments to listen to two talks a month that I chose. I am hoping that listening to the ones I choose will motivate him to listen to whatever ones he chooses.
So far, no results. Just praying and hoping and sharing.
I told him a year ago I could afford to pay for his mission so he didn't need to fret about its finances. But the adversary already had him hooked working Sundays.
Wow, I wrote a lot. I got carried away didn't I? Well all that was to introduce you to the idea of listening to GC talks.
In my next email I will send you the steps for listening or watching.
Caring about you,
Friday, July 25, 2014
Shelley Bakker Rampton
9:54pm
I skimmed through a movie called "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind". It was wasted. I was trying to watch one that looked good called "One Fine Day" with Michelle Pfiefer and George Clooney in it.
I wrote Terry Foote tonight and since I was on Facebook I found Lake Foote pictures on his 4 year girlfriend's page. He was honkin' huge. So musclebound! and she models swimming suits. Quite a couple.
There were 4 people with birthdays this next week so I had to say HBDay to all of them and then I went the extra mile on Shelley's. I just felt like it. I didn't accomplish much today but I can count that creative effort as worthwhile. I have been amazed at how many people think they are not creative. I gave Grayelinn a long set of vmails about maybe it is a gift afterall. I love words and rhymes and so this year of making limericks for family birthdays has been perfect for me. 1) They don't come all at once and so I have a fresh mind by the time the next one comes around, 2) I found a RhymeZone website that also allows me to check out definitions, so strange rhyming words I have been able to post a meaning for, 3) I am good at knowing histories and facts and feelings and so can tap into all that background for creating, 4) I can post it for all to see on their timeline on Facebook. I already got back a like from the one I just posted for Shelley. So here is hers without any definitions:
I skimmed through a movie called "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind". It was wasted. I was trying to watch one that looked good called "One Fine Day" with Michelle Pfiefer and George Clooney in it.
I wrote Terry Foote tonight and since I was on Facebook I found Lake Foote pictures on his 4 year girlfriend's page. He was honkin' huge. So musclebound! and she models swimming suits. Quite a couple.
There were 4 people with birthdays this next week so I had to say HBDay to all of them and then I went the extra mile on Shelley's. I just felt like it. I didn't accomplish much today but I can count that creative effort as worthwhile. I have been amazed at how many people think they are not creative. I gave Grayelinn a long set of vmails about maybe it is a gift afterall. I love words and rhymes and so this year of making limericks for family birthdays has been perfect for me. 1) They don't come all at once and so I have a fresh mind by the time the next one comes around, 2) I found a RhymeZone website that also allows me to check out definitions, so strange rhyming words I have been able to post a meaning for, 3) I am good at knowing histories and facts and feelings and so can tap into all that background for creating, 4) I can post it for all to see on their timeline on Facebook. I already got back a like from the one I just posted for Shelley. So here is hers without any definitions:
Vern Jensenposted to Shelley Bakker Rampton
There once was a girl named Bakker,
Who immediately turned into a gawker.
When her name mispronounced
By an old teacher who flounced,
Shelley almost wanted to sock her/him!
Now there is a woman named Shelley,
A last name then middle machiavelli.
She's not,
But oh so hot!
No wrinkles here, go try the deli.
She often loves and cares for one Bria,
Who socializes and might well be Gaea.
The way she is loved,
And catered and hugged,
Are they growing her on mia pia?
Jasper is the big one who stretches,
And growls and barks and retches.
All black even his feet,
But trust and loyal defeat,
Shelley's efforts to control, and he fetches.
Working cookies in summer brings home,
A productive woman with money and tome,
But High Schoolers are few,
Unlike seasons in lieu,
When her degree is active and known!
Quiet Man is a movie she adores,
John Wayne not a cowboy once mores,
A fiery will to contain,
A wild young dame,
With a brain and a great apgar score.
And where in all this is her God?
Is he hiding or guiding this broad?
Implicit her trust,
In His cosmic dust,
She temples and churches and is awed.
And grit does it ever appear?
That poor knee say good bye, thank you dear.
Your purpose served well,
Now please don't you swell,
As horses and skiers bombardier.
Happy Birthday Week Shelley Rampton
I had to really hunt for some of those words. Don't be afraid to use a dictionary. One of the benefits of being born this time of the year is we are younger than all the rest of our 59 year old classmates.
By the way, there is an edit button and you can change this stuff if you want.
I honor you! Vern Jensen
Who immediately turned into a gawker.
When her name mispronounced
By an old teacher who flounced,
Shelley almost wanted to sock her/him!
Now there is a woman named Shelley,
A last name then middle machiavelli.
She's not,
But oh so hot!
No wrinkles here, go try the deli.
She often loves and cares for one Bria,
Who socializes and might well be Gaea.
The way she is loved,
And catered and hugged,
Are they growing her on mia pia?
Jasper is the big one who stretches,
And growls and barks and retches.
All black even his feet,
But trust and loyal defeat,
Shelley's efforts to control, and he fetches.
Working cookies in summer brings home,
A productive woman with money and tome,
But High Schoolers are few,
Unlike seasons in lieu,
When her degree is active and known!
Quiet Man is a movie she adores,
John Wayne not a cowboy once mores,
A fiery will to contain,
A wild young dame,
With a brain and a great apgar score.
And where in all this is her God?
Is he hiding or guiding this broad?
Implicit her trust,
In His cosmic dust,
She temples and churches and is awed.
And grit does it ever appear?
That poor knee say good bye, thank you dear.
Your purpose served well,
Now please don't you swell,
As horses and skiers bombardier.
Happy Birthday Week Shelley Rampton
I had to really hunt for some of those words. Don't be afraid to use a dictionary. One of the benefits of being born this time of the year is we are younger than all the rest of our 59 year old classmates.
By the way, there is an edit button and you can change this stuff if you want.
I honor you! Vern Jensen
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Here is my letter to Terry Foote:
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Abe Savant
12:07p
Teg
Personal
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12:05 PM (2 minutes ago)
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Hello Abe,
I am emailing instead of texting so I can use a whole keyboard.
I have not heard from Uncle Teg in a couple of years although I have emailed him monthly. Have you heard anything?
Aunt Nose has been welcoming on Facebook.
Because I have been trying to index for Family Search the Church made a deal with 3 other genealogy companies to give members free access. So I signed up Sunday.
With our tainted parents I haven't ever wanted to do any genealogy! But when I had the whole pedigree before me I couldn't help but be curious and look up some stuff. It said Ranghild was born in Fernsmaker, Norway. I tried to look it up on google map. No luck. I checked out some of the other locations and they existed.
You probably know # 9 granddaughter was born on my 59th birthday. Mouis and Lonnie now have their second child named Brace. I got to hold her for about 10-15 minutes last Saturday night. Both are healthy and well. Her three year old brother, Lin is the one with the tracheotomy.
Spruce Randall, that short, slow thinking, trucker/driver, that told me he met you 3 years ago has been out of it. But he lives in my ward and I was assigned as his home teacher this month. It is so nice to not have to break the ice with someone brand new. He has not been active lately. I had asked a brother for a copy of his amazing talk in sacrament meeting last month and I dropped it off at Bruce's house on Sunday. He wasn't answering his text messages. He read the talk and loved it and called me. We talked for a pleasant hour. I say pleasant because I got to do most of the talking.
I asked SpotJ to interact with me a little last week. He said he can't yet. Too sick and 15 months without a job.
Marrissa'84, told me she was going to blog this year back in December/January. New Years resolution. I decided I would try it. I blogged once a month and then here in July I have blogged about 6 times.
I have been worried about losing my typed journal entries on by hard drive. Things always break down. WE used google drive a little at Tonaquint Intermediate School and it had invited me to do the same at home. So last month I backed up all my journal entries from the last year, that were typed, onto it. I have 15 free Megs in the "cloud". So, so strange!
People often ask me how I occupy my time. I used to say hobbying with my fish and dogs and reading and flirting on lds.com. Recently I have shortened it to reading and writing! that is my current answer.
My retired neighbor friend Merril Calmer70+ years old wrote me about some science teaching openings in backwoods Utah. It got me thinking about teaching again. But I have been having a heck of a time getting my teaching license cleared. I committed a Federal Offense! I added six missing resource students names to the list of 15 already on there and sent it to be copied by a student and it wasn't in a brown envelope to protect their names/identity. Like no one knows who they are! Duh.
I got my case all together for sentencing in February. Of course the State Board had an agenda too full for a couple of months so more delays!
Now my contact for help is sick and I'm twiddling my thumbs again. . . waiting. Don't let any of this upset you. I am just updating and venting.
Good news. I have not overspent and have survived on my retirement income of 1500$ a month with a 900$ mortgage. Pretty good huh!
Pandra'85 our new family Master's of Accounting tax helper/daughter, and new mother of Drew'13, Sept 24, was worried I might have to pay a 10% penalty on early withdrawal of retirement funds before 59.5 years old. It is a lifelong payment so it was exempt! Thank heavens.
I accepted an assignment to make a breakfast caserole for the stake 24th celebration this Thursday. Eggs were on sale at Albertsons for .99$ a dozen and I told two other assigned elders as well. I ought to go get some more today. 6 dozen might not be enough. : ) JKidding
I have ordered the big family copies of the New Testament and Old with all the teaching aids at the bottom of each page. I just finished Deuteronomy last night and it is not just a commitment I am keeping to read these unintelligible verses this time. I am understanding it better than ever before. Michael'92 and I read the New T together but got bogged down in the Old. This will be my second time through in my life. Quite an accomplishment for me.
Grayelinn has a son name Rate who was in a Boys home in Wyoming last year. He got out in January. I have only heard from him twice since then but it opened up the world of possible communication with prisoners for me. Verse 6 of a hymn I sing to put myself to sleep each night says:
In pris’n I saw him next, condemned
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”
Since that has been in my mind all these years I have wondered if I would ever be called on to do something like that.
Gravid Hughes a postal worker and ear jewel wearer, like you, goes to visit his accused murderer brother-in-law each Sunday with his wife and has since 2010 when Srandon Smith was incarcerated. Every 4-6 months they do the next step of his trial and Gravid says it is so drawn out!
Since I have got time to kill, (although forcing myself to do something like wash the dishes or vacuum the floor is difficult because I don't want to), I decided to try to make contact. That has been another adventure! If you are interested I will share. (1) the (1) means I would like you to respond to that, my first wondering about you today.
Cille said you called her last month and updated on your family. I imagine I could probably ask her what you said and you would be OK with her sharing. (2)
I will tell you one more story.
The oldest man in our ward is about 5'2" and thin. He jogs daily and he wrote his life history when he retired. He lived in a box car from a train growing up and was converted while in the service. It took about 5 years after he moved into the ward and I heard he had written his personal history for me to convince him I was trustworthy enough to share it with. I borrowed a copy and read it and got to know him so much better.
Last year when I retired I thought I could help people write their personal histories and do my own. I wanted an example so I dropped by his house and asked if I could buy a copy from him for $50, thinking I was being way over-generous. As it turned out I only had three 20$'s so I ended up paying him 60$. He did not offer it to me for free!!! He said they cost 50$ each to print so I was just covering the actual cost. Boy was I surprised.
Since then the plastic binding has broken and it would cost $10+ to rebind at Steamroller's so I looked up binding to find out how to do it yourself. I ended up just tying string through the 10 holes and putting on some card stock for a front cover.
But Elmer and I are best buddies now. He teased me in opening exercises for priesthood yesterday, if we were going to sing the 4th verse of Lead Kindly Light. We had done one verse each of the 3 previous weeks and there is no 4th verse. I invited him to write one and he said he could barely sing and surely could never create a verse! So funny.
Enough for today. I know you. I love you. I respect you. I admire you. And,
I love you again.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Daughter - in - law: Amity
7:49p
I have had an itchy runny nose all day. Feel draggy with cold symptoms. I hiked up Webb Hill at noon with Lily, without a hat, with a black t-shirt, hoping to help burn it out. Poor, good sport, Lily. On the way down she kept hunting for shade. When we got to the park she quit. I grabbed a gallon of cold vinegar water and went out front to wait for her. Molly joined me shortly. The second time I threw the tennis ball for Molly I threw it towards Lily who was just rounding the corner of Judy's house 5-10 minutes late. She went straight into the fish pond! I ended up with a little bit of a headache. Probably dehydration but it is gone now.
As you probably know by now, I love fun and excitement. I got the biggest kick out of Amazon.coming Srandon P Smith 2 gifts to arrive tomorrow, Tuesday: Visions of glory, 64 crayola crayons one of which is called raw sienna. Visions of Glory was back down to 11$ like when Mouis bought it last year. They jacked it up when the interest was intense: $17
I called DarloD and told his answering machine that eggs are on sale for 1$ a dozen for our breakfast caseroles on Thursday the 24th. I texted Thames Stasinos the same last night at 11p and got a response!
Last Sunday, 8 days ago, Rod gave 2 lessons and a prayer. I gave one prayer in SS. Yesterday I got to pray in SS and accepted a request to call all the 24th volunteers for Quinn Carter through Pres. Rave Black. I love being known and depended on. That 5th Sunday when Leon Lee explained how Rave was gone, Terek was gone, would I pray to close the conjoint meeting is a perfect example of Rave knowing I am always there and always willing.
We had the most awesome EQ discussion/lesson yesterday. Thames shared following the counsel of Elder Worthin and giving his family blessings. Wife, Marinda, McKenzie. McKenzie has been called a giant by her mean classmates. Thames wept as he blessed her and felt what the Lord wanted her to know. Jim Adams shared the recent blessing of moving here last year and uprooting his family. Something he dealt with as a child and never wanted for his kids. Style is on a mission in Peru now but had many more friends here than in Eagle Mountain where they have lived the last 10 years. Cars and girlfriend have occupied their corner. Austin16 says Dad this place is 100 times better than there. Quinn Carter who reminded us he can't read, read about the tongue of angels in 2 Nephi and it was quite long and in his careful speaking I was able to feel the message of the verses. Tim shared how he has learned about his children as he blesses them because the Lord tells them things he had no clue about. Besides, tears we had gallant laughter time after time with Tim conducting. I wondered what the nice reverent RS thinks of us through the curtain! That is the hazard of having our EQ there! I shared my listening to conference '94 and hearing about the tongues of angels and asking in my journal: HF, have I ever spoken by the tongue of angels (HG)? if so when? and what did I say? That was part of the messages I left with Barter's while HT last Sunday. I keep wondering, what influence have I had on the ward? Is my openness and humor an expanding force in the ward? We keep hearing we have the best ward in the stake. 10 wards, 300k names indexing goal, 900k the stake goal. If part of it is because of our size, too bad, they are the ones who put Belford Place back in our ward 5 years ago. William Blaggard said good job Vern in the hall as we were last to EQ. I slowed and responded, Will, one thing about me is I like fun. He said, that's not a problem, it helps make the feeling lighter. I had just written the first letters of the words to the second line of: The World Has Need of Willing Men as suggested by Dustin Salmon. When we sang that line, I bounced on the letters with my finger to show which word we were on. Just a little fun. Rulon Sagley was grumpy and resistant about choosing a hymn. He ended up saying he repented and told me number 343, a blank page which I turned to and showed him.
Speaking of grumpy. . . Amity was a bit pointed and disagreeable last night. I asked Rod if he would share his password with me for Ancestor.com so I could see his ancestors and she was a bit questioning and resistant. I was short and to the point so I did not ease her feelings at all. Her tension or brittleness began to become apparent to me and I wondered why. We were on a walk around the park and I invited them to share something hard or bad from this last week. Rod had already shared he got a B- on his English final test/paper. Anxiety wiped him out. Oh I felt for him. I compared it to training with a difficult rifle and having the target in the site but not being able to pull the trigger. I suggested there are probably much better analogies remembering Amity's aversion to guns. I invited them to tell me the word I was hunting for to describe it. Rod said, My life. And I agreed. I heard Amity making thinking noises but she was responding quite quickly to anything that was said, as was I as usual. What? Me uptight too?
Then the treasure: Rod shared how upset it made him feel to have Amity labeled as lazy when she declined to cut the watermelon and her grandmother got it stuck in her craw and wouldn't let it go. Rod ended up responding, you guys are lucky she has lasted as long as she has with you this week. Grandma said, are we really that hard to get along with? As we talked we agreed that GM is martyring when she prepares food and she spins off all kinds of mud as her wheels slip in the kitchen.
Rod wanted to find a solution. Amity declared that her GM is just super critical. I suggested him saying, You guys, you may be used to speaking this way after all these years but we aren't. He concluded he could say, I am not OK with you speaking like this. I reminded them they can always time out, which they are pretty good at in most cases. I shared Cille's experience of Touris explaining to a boyfriend how certain talk made her feel uncomfortable, especially blaming talk. And that his response was, well don't feel that way. Her kids are not prepared for the harsh world when they have been living and practicing Sark Clayton's language of feelings, acceptance and validation and conflict resolution in their home these years. I disagree. They can't help but be used to it. They have gone to school how many years. But her point is well made. And I shared it with RnA.
So and hour later I am walking the dogs at the golf course and Izy finds RnA walking towards us! The only people I saw at the golf course last night. So unexpected. Rod said they had already walked 4 miles at Sun River golf course to vent anxiety earlier than the walk with me. Stressful week. I had been thinking about Amity and was happy to see them again. I reassured her that this last week probably did lots of damage to her little Amity and it might take some special treatment and time to heal her and get her back up to strength. I gave her a hug after asking permission. Sure I accept hugs she responded. She also admitted when she got home that she wondered where all her irritation was coming from. She was angry and hurt inside. Makes total sense!
As we left to walk they invited me to bring my drop off stuff for Marita Rates and Spruce Randall. I spent 58 minutes on the phone after my nap, with Spruce Randall. He had called twice and left me messages about the letter and talk I had taped to his door after ringing it twice. He loved Rent Parker's talk. He said it was exactly up his ally. Hurray!! I was brilliant dropping it off at his house!
Earlier this week I had texted him twice and hadn't heard anything back so I wasn't sure his phone was accepting texts. I told him Terry Foote's didn't. He asked me about my magic jack messages and I reassured him that I got them both but was napping and didn't pick up.
I dropped him off 4 books. Two copies of Visions of Glory (one with all my personal writing in it. He says he has been reading like crazy but I encouraged him to start writing too.), And This Nation Shall Endure, A Consecrated Life. He shared with me on the phone and out of body experience he had when working for the tent and sleeping back factory we had here in town in the 70's.
Hello Spruce,
I am not a forget-you-home teacher! I remember you every week. I just dropped off a talk at you house. It is from a ward member. I wrote to you in red. Vern n RicY 12:53p
I sent a copy to RicY so he would know I was remembering him as well. My new companion.
So, kudos!!! for the wonderful success with Bruce Randall yesterday. He explained he had used a roll and a half of TP with his stomach flu he thinks came from some bottom of the freezer burritos he bought. : ( Man can I relate to the stomach flu/food poisoning!
So thank you HF for the opportunity to nap plus use my Sabbath so well yesterday.
PS. Katy Rusty and Kelly Spasey were our High Council speakers yesterday. I told Katy after her talk: I knew 10 reasons why she was asked to accompany him. I thanked Kelly for not cutting his talk off. He had wonderful things to share. So absorbing and personal and about the HG versus pride. He has gotten so confident and open in his willingness to apply the gospel to his own personal experiences. Wow, what a king! A king speaker. He said thank you for not running he and Randy and someone over the other night on my bike when I rode to the library and the Post Office. I asked him if he heard my surprise at seeing their dark silhouettes in front of me on river road as I headed for the sidewalk?
Mason Chappell told me I could have all the women that become available for dating. They always get too mad at him! So cute. To be pursued at a later date.
I have had an itchy runny nose all day. Feel draggy with cold symptoms. I hiked up Webb Hill at noon with Lily, without a hat, with a black t-shirt, hoping to help burn it out. Poor, good sport, Lily. On the way down she kept hunting for shade. When we got to the park she quit. I grabbed a gallon of cold vinegar water and went out front to wait for her. Molly joined me shortly. The second time I threw the tennis ball for Molly I threw it towards Lily who was just rounding the corner of Judy's house 5-10 minutes late. She went straight into the fish pond! I ended up with a little bit of a headache. Probably dehydration but it is gone now.
As you probably know by now, I love fun and excitement. I got the biggest kick out of Amazon.coming Srandon P Smith 2 gifts to arrive tomorrow, Tuesday: Visions of glory, 64 crayola crayons one of which is called raw sienna. Visions of Glory was back down to 11$ like when Mouis bought it last year. They jacked it up when the interest was intense: $17
I called DarloD and told his answering machine that eggs are on sale for 1$ a dozen for our breakfast caseroles on Thursday the 24th. I texted Thames Stasinos the same last night at 11p and got a response!
Last Sunday, 8 days ago, Rod gave 2 lessons and a prayer. I gave one prayer in SS. Yesterday I got to pray in SS and accepted a request to call all the 24th volunteers for Quinn Carter through Pres. Rave Black. I love being known and depended on. That 5th Sunday when Leon Lee explained how Rave was gone, Terek was gone, would I pray to close the conjoint meeting is a perfect example of Rave knowing I am always there and always willing.
We had the most awesome EQ discussion/lesson yesterday. Thames shared following the counsel of Elder Worthin and giving his family blessings. Wife, Marinda, McKenzie. McKenzie has been called a giant by her mean classmates. Thames wept as he blessed her and felt what the Lord wanted her to know. Jim Adams shared the recent blessing of moving here last year and uprooting his family. Something he dealt with as a child and never wanted for his kids. Style is on a mission in Peru now but had many more friends here than in Eagle Mountain where they have lived the last 10 years. Cars and girlfriend have occupied their corner. Austin16 says Dad this place is 100 times better than there. Quinn Carter who reminded us he can't read, read about the tongue of angels in 2 Nephi and it was quite long and in his careful speaking I was able to feel the message of the verses. Tim shared how he has learned about his children as he blesses them because the Lord tells them things he had no clue about. Besides, tears we had gallant laughter time after time with Tim conducting. I wondered what the nice reverent RS thinks of us through the curtain! That is the hazard of having our EQ there! I shared my listening to conference '94 and hearing about the tongues of angels and asking in my journal: HF, have I ever spoken by the tongue of angels (HG)? if so when? and what did I say? That was part of the messages I left with Barter's while HT last Sunday. I keep wondering, what influence have I had on the ward? Is my openness and humor an expanding force in the ward? We keep hearing we have the best ward in the stake. 10 wards, 300k names indexing goal, 900k the stake goal. If part of it is because of our size, too bad, they are the ones who put Belford Place back in our ward 5 years ago. William Blaggard said good job Vern in the hall as we were last to EQ. I slowed and responded, Will, one thing about me is I like fun. He said, that's not a problem, it helps make the feeling lighter. I had just written the first letters of the words to the second line of: The World Has Need of Willing Men as suggested by Dustin Salmon. When we sang that line, I bounced on the letters with my finger to show which word we were on. Just a little fun. Rulon Sagley was grumpy and resistant about choosing a hymn. He ended up saying he repented and told me number 343, a blank page which I turned to and showed him.
Speaking of grumpy. . . Amity was a bit pointed and disagreeable last night. I asked Rod if he would share his password with me for Ancestor.com so I could see his ancestors and she was a bit questioning and resistant. I was short and to the point so I did not ease her feelings at all. Her tension or brittleness began to become apparent to me and I wondered why. We were on a walk around the park and I invited them to share something hard or bad from this last week. Rod had already shared he got a B- on his English final test/paper. Anxiety wiped him out. Oh I felt for him. I compared it to training with a difficult rifle and having the target in the site but not being able to pull the trigger. I suggested there are probably much better analogies remembering Amity's aversion to guns. I invited them to tell me the word I was hunting for to describe it. Rod said, My life. And I agreed. I heard Amity making thinking noises but she was responding quite quickly to anything that was said, as was I as usual. What? Me uptight too?
Then the treasure: Rod shared how upset it made him feel to have Amity labeled as lazy when she declined to cut the watermelon and her grandmother got it stuck in her craw and wouldn't let it go. Rod ended up responding, you guys are lucky she has lasted as long as she has with you this week. Grandma said, are we really that hard to get along with? As we talked we agreed that GM is martyring when she prepares food and she spins off all kinds of mud as her wheels slip in the kitchen.
Rod wanted to find a solution. Amity declared that her GM is just super critical. I suggested him saying, You guys, you may be used to speaking this way after all these years but we aren't. He concluded he could say, I am not OK with you speaking like this. I reminded them they can always time out, which they are pretty good at in most cases. I shared Cille's experience of Touris explaining to a boyfriend how certain talk made her feel uncomfortable, especially blaming talk. And that his response was, well don't feel that way. Her kids are not prepared for the harsh world when they have been living and practicing Sark Clayton's language of feelings, acceptance and validation and conflict resolution in their home these years. I disagree. They can't help but be used to it. They have gone to school how many years. But her point is well made. And I shared it with RnA.
So and hour later I am walking the dogs at the golf course and Izy finds RnA walking towards us! The only people I saw at the golf course last night. So unexpected. Rod said they had already walked 4 miles at Sun River golf course to vent anxiety earlier than the walk with me. Stressful week. I had been thinking about Amity and was happy to see them again. I reassured her that this last week probably did lots of damage to her little Amity and it might take some special treatment and time to heal her and get her back up to strength. I gave her a hug after asking permission. Sure I accept hugs she responded. She also admitted when she got home that she wondered where all her irritation was coming from. She was angry and hurt inside. Makes total sense!
As we left to walk they invited me to bring my drop off stuff for Marita Rates and Spruce Randall. I spent 58 minutes on the phone after my nap, with Spruce Randall. He had called twice and left me messages about the letter and talk I had taped to his door after ringing it twice. He loved Rent Parker's talk. He said it was exactly up his ally. Hurray!! I was brilliant dropping it off at his house!
Earlier this week I had texted him twice and hadn't heard anything back so I wasn't sure his phone was accepting texts. I told him Terry Foote's didn't. He asked me about my magic jack messages and I reassured him that I got them both but was napping and didn't pick up.
I dropped him off 4 books. Two copies of Visions of Glory (one with all my personal writing in it. He says he has been reading like crazy but I encouraged him to start writing too.), And This Nation Shall Endure, A Consecrated Life. He shared with me on the phone and out of body experience he had when working for the tent and sleeping back factory we had here in town in the 70's.
Hello Spruce,
I am not a forget-you-home teacher! I remember you every week. I just dropped off a talk at you house. It is from a ward member. I wrote to you in red. Vern n RicY 12:53p
I sent a copy to RicY so he would know I was remembering him as well. My new companion.
So, kudos!!! for the wonderful success with Bruce Randall yesterday. He explained he had used a roll and a half of TP with his stomach flu he thinks came from some bottom of the freezer burritos he bought. : ( Man can I relate to the stomach flu/food poisoning!
So thank you HF for the opportunity to nap plus use my Sabbath so well yesterday.
PS. Katy Rusty and Kelly Spasey were our High Council speakers yesterday. I told Katy after her talk: I knew 10 reasons why she was asked to accompany him. I thanked Kelly for not cutting his talk off. He had wonderful things to share. So absorbing and personal and about the HG versus pride. He has gotten so confident and open in his willingness to apply the gospel to his own personal experiences. Wow, what a king! A king speaker. He said thank you for not running he and Randy and someone over the other night on my bike when I rode to the library and the Post Office. I asked him if he heard my surprise at seeing their dark silhouettes in front of me on river road as I headed for the sidewalk?
Mason Chappell told me I could have all the women that become available for dating. They always get too mad at him! So cute. To be pursued at a later date.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
flip off
I was surprised at how little anyone remembered. Perhaps because I was abused and a Jr High teacher for so many years I had a chance to remember, plus an extension in adulthood. Louis said he really didn't remember and he and Bonnie gave me a $50 gift card to Walmart so they were totally covered.
I was so pleased and surprised to have Carol contribute. I wrote her a limerick for her birthday.
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Jun 6
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If any of you would like to wish me a happy father's day this is my request. Tell me how you feel personally about people who flip their middle finger, when did you find out what it meant, the process you have gone through deciding to use it or not.
I rode my bike to Walmart this afternoon and I thought this would make a most interesting little book.
==============================
My story, composed on the spot. The Bird
We had a semi-active catholic family that lived across the street when I lived on Sunflower Lane in Sandy. (Ages 4-18) They had 4 boys and Bobby Peterson was my age and a real bruiser. He had more broken hands than anyone I ever knew from getting into fights or getting angry and punching. In Jr. High school he always had a gathering around him and was proud of his courage to take on anyone and fight. He also flipped people off out the bus window to and from school. He would show us the middle finger and describe the anatomical parts each bump represented. When you are young oftentimes the only things you have to keep you entertained are your fingers. I remember how obsessed I was in Jr High with what it meant and only trying it a few times in private. But whenever there was time to kill and signs to make with one's hands it would creep into my mind and I would try to oust it.
I had a cousin a year older than I was named Victor Tapp. He was my idol. He even played guard on Hillcrest High Schools basketball team and he might have even been the play maker. How I idolized him. But he dared to flip the peace sign and I figured if it was bad to flip the bird we shouldn't flip the peace sign either. So I never dared to use it.
I did psychotherapy from 2000-04. One of the things I had to learn was to candidly look inside and try to figure out what I was feeling. It was so hard.
When I taught my first 2 years at Niwot High School in Colorado I was nicknamed, Mr. Rogers. I had a button up gray sweater from Guatemala that I used as a missionary. I also had a hard time figuring out what to say next as a teacher. I wondered if it was my Spanish tripping up my tongue and brain. That was when I was trained to shrink inside when I heard, Mr. Rogers.
After teaching at Dixie Middle School for my next two years I got a new nick name: Bobby Devo. It was the name of a new alternative rock group and so the shrinking I had learned in Colorado was kept alive in Saint George. At least DJHS students did not know about Mr. Rogers!
Jr High kids love to experiment with words. Homo and gay were popular for much of my teaching career. In Guatemala I learned the word for gay from the few wealthy teens that could drive when they yelled at us as they drove by in Quezaltenango, my first area for 4 months.
One day as I was walking home from Desert Hills Intermediate school in about 2001, after my first year of therapy, I heard some boys, elementary age, jumping on a tramp in their back yard and yelling, "Hey, you're gay!" over and over again. I thought, that is sad. And I wondered who they were yelling at. As I got closer I saw their heads bobbing above the fence and them yelling it at me. I was surprised and displeased. I looked inside, noticed what I was feeling and decided I would vent it. I flipped them off as I walked by and since I was on the golf course and alone I held it there as I passed. The yelling ended. Then I heard a little voice say, "Hey, why are you flipping us off?" I did not explain. I did confess this to my therapist the next week and awaited the verdict. I always expected a verdict but that is not what therapists do. He simply said, you weren't going to be taken advantage of where you. I felt relief. That was exactly why I had flipped them off. (I won't detail the rest of that visit.)
Optional paragraph:
Walt Jones and his wife have taught in WCSD for 25 years. He in Jr. High shop and she in kindergarten. I told them a story about a secretary turned Jr. High teacher, turned back to secretary again. They were waiting for a stake temple recommend interview and I had just finished mine. Walt just ate the story up and he was with me all the way. I asked Mrs. Jones if it was that way for her and if she could relate. She said no. In fact when Walt went in to substitute for her one day and all the little kids came up and hugged his legs, he asked them, Is this allowed in school? They just said they loved Mrs. Jones and they also loved Mr. Jones. So Mrs. Jones said, I don't relate because I don't teach the kids that you guys do. And then she leaned forward and covered the side of her mouth and whispered, "the criminals". Yep that's what shop teachers have to deal with. : ) [And the rest of us that teach that age too.]vj
==============================
OK
feeling creative
or courageous yet?
Can you remember that far back?
If so share, I would love to hear.
Your strange request maker,
Vern
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Jun 11
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I learned about it in elementary school. I was neither shocked or upset, as most kids I knew did it as a tease and I didn’t actually know the full meaning of it. So for the most I just laughed as I thought it was meant to be funny. It was in junior high when the seriousness of it was realized. However my good friends and I continued to tease each other when doing it and my really good friends still share that laugh with me. So for the most part I find it to be funny as it has to do with intention. If it is intended to be mean then it definitely doesn’t bode well, and the truth be known it is being used as a vulgar sign to encourage anger and possibly rage. So I think intention is the key factor in how I view it as I so often laugh when my friends send me the naughty gesture.
Here is what I’ve heard about the origin of the “Finger”… It is a result of the Hundred Years War between England and France from 1337-1453 (yes the Hundred Years War lasted 116 years). The English longbow was so feared by the French that anytime they captured an English bowman they would cut his middle finger off so they would be unable to use a bow ever again. After a battle the English would hold up their middle finger to show the French they would be able to continue fighting which was a sort of medieval F you..
To me I can find it to be funny and make me laugh and also it can be rude and make me feel bad/sad/mad, just depends on the delivery of the sender.
-coy
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