Well, I've given up sports, again. This time for good. Raylene asked me the other night if I'd rather go to the symphony or a Jazz game. I'd much rather go to the symphony. The Utah Symphony is undefeated, they've never lost a concert they should have won, they've never been ranked last in the conference, they've never blown it in the ninth, fumbled on third and one and never given up a fall-away jump shot in the fourth with the clock running down. The trombonist never breaks you heart by striking out with the bases loaded. He never makes the Monday headlines for using steroids and never advertises beer. If he takes more money to play for the Los Angeles orchestra it never makes the news and no one really knows if he's playing hurt.
So from now on, I don't care who won or lost, I'm not glued to ESPN and my symphony can play in the same league with yours. I'm feeling better!
I wonder what the score is...

Since so far I'm only attracting family to read my blog anyway--but I guess that's okay. If you've read books about John Adams, Thomas Jefferson or Benjamin Franklin you just have to be amazed at how many letters they wrote. Since we don't write letters anymore, the blog must be the modern equivalent.
I know we've said it before, but it sure is fun to have you all together. My mind is quickly slipping into senility I know, but I don't believe you were this much fun growing up! What happened? You actually have ideas, dreams, opinions. It amazes me in a really great way. The saddest thoughts I have are the ones that remind me that like it or not, there's an end ahead, and I already lament what I've missed and what I'll miss in the future. Isn't the thougth of eternal family comforting!
For the girls I thought I'd summarize the Priesthood session of conference, at least what I thought were the highlights.
President Uchdorft (sp!) compared church service to moving a piano...stand close together and lift where you stand. He said people often fall into two camps, those who don't like their callings because they feel it's beneath them and those who just don't want the responsibility. His counsel: cease to aspire and cease to retire.
Pres. Eyring talked about feeling overwhelmed. He said Pres. Faust counselled him: "I can't help you, but He can!"
And Pres. Monson said we should learn what we need to learn, do what we need to do and be what we need to be.
I know you can read these yourself, but I thought I'd note them before I forget them for my own benefit.
Ryan, Bethany & Audrey: have fun on the boat! All the rest of you...just have fun!

Passing of a Legend

Two of my all-time favorite movies are Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid and The Sting, both co-starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, so I was naturally sad when I heard Newman had passed away. It seemed like he was a good guy. And he didn't seem to be all carried away with himself. He gave a lot to charity, a lot that he could have kept for himself. And he provided "Hole in the Wall" camps for kids with cancer. He was married twice, but he made the second one stick. And I don't think he sold out in the movie roles he took. They weren't all commercially successful, but he didn't stoop to filth or crude movies just to get money. It was said that he worked hard at being a good actor. I'll still enjoy his movies and I'm sorry he's gone. Sometimes I feel like the people who die are the kind of people we can't replace. I hope for every decent person who dies, a decent person is born. Or even 1 1/2 or 2 decent ones for every one we lose would be great. That's the optimist view. And it's the way I'm praying!

FINE ART

Who says I'm not cultured?

Last week I got to attend the Monet to Picasso art exhibit at the Utah Museum of Fine Art. It was awesome. Some Monet, Picasso, Dali, Degas, Van Gogh and others. To0 think that someone many years ago painted, sculpted, created this world of art...it's just mind-expanding. I was there for three hours and it was well worth it. It was more meaningful than I expected it to be, although I'm not reporting the why very well. It was just very, very cool. I should expose myself to such quality of life more often. The painting shown is a Van Gogh (not hard to tell) and has just vast quantities of paint on it. There's almost a feeling that he had the picture in his head and had to hurry to get it out. I don't always know great art from bad art, but the peiceds in this exhibit were all wonderful. I just barely got in before the show left Salt Lake, and I'm so glad I did! I'm now debating going to the BodyWorlds show at the SL Library. Should I?

Yankee Stadium, 2009 -

Sunday night I happened to watch the end of the Yankees-Orioles baseball game, and I just had to comment.

I grew up a Yankees fan, for as far back as I can remember. Certainly by the time I started Little League at 8 or 9. I know we had a blue baseball helmet which some of us marked with the intertwined "N" "Y" which is the Yankee logo. There isn't necessarily a rational reason for why I've always liked them, and there have been a few times in my life I've tried very hard not to, but my heart seems to always take me back to the pin stripes.

I know some of you hate the Yankees, and I don't blame you. I understand. They're really the exception in my life. Most of the sports teams I back are always the loveable losers (i.e. Aggies, Jazz, etc.). So it's okay if you hate the Yankees. We can still get along.

But I was moved by the last game at Yankee Stadium. It really brings back a lot of memories from the past. I started following the Yankees when Mantle and Maris played the outfield and Yogi was the catcher. When Casey managed and long before Billy Martin, Reggie and George Stenbrenner. I always dreamed of going to the stadium (yes, maybe even playing there). Roaming centerfield, shortstop, hitting a home run over the porch in right and into moument park before they hid it behind the centerfield fence. When we got to go there this summer, I was almost too excited to take it all in. I wish now I'd enjoyed it more, walked around more, saw the entire park, maybe even checked out the bleecher creatures. I can't imagine what it'll be like next year in the new park. It'll take some time to have the new park feel "right".

I thought the last night at the park was cool because the players really looked like they were enjoying themselves. All the big salaries didn't seem so important as they were "mugging" for the cameras, scooping up dirt on the pitcher's mound, walking around the warning track waving to the fans. It seemed a lot more like how baseball's supposed to be--you know, "fun"!

Anyway, I thought most of it was pretty cool. And wait'll next year! (Boy, I hate the sound of that.

Raylene is at a Real Estate Conference for a couple of days and I thought I'd add a note. If you check out Kaleena's blog you'll see pictures of Chloe's birthday party. Real fun! It's always great when the family gets together. I love you all so much!It's hard to believe summer's over. If winter didn't fall autumn I'm sure I'd like it more. I was noticing tonight that the trees in Mueller Park Canyon are turning red & gold, etc. It's a beautiful world. Too bad we've screwed it up so bad. Those of you younger than I am (and I know you're all younger than I am!), be grateful for the earth and do all you can to make it better. When we were your age, we were sure we were going to make the world a better place. Love the earth, cherish the peace, turn our backs on "stuff". But, we kind of sold out. Left things even worse for you. The wise man says "it's better to be humble than to be humbled!" It might mean do things a little differently, but make the changes now while there's still time and by all means slow down and enjoy life. Take the time to make lots of memories even if it means you don't make lots of money. You'll find life passes way to quickly and like old Neil Diamond said "And each one there, had one thing to share. They had sweat beneath the same sun, looked up in wonder at the same moon, and wept when it was all done, for being done too soon!Gee that sounds like a funeral. Sorry. I'll try to do better next time. And I hope to have something more interesting to say! But, probably not.
Labels: Fall's falling

Coming to an Arena Near You

Now preparing for its first world tour, not the garage band but the family room band, Nick on drums, Emily the lead vocalist, yours truly on bass and Sara "down and funky" on lead guitar!

Well, here goes. Taking the first plunge. Joining the hip generation. Getting in the groove. Getting with it. Living life to its fullest. Ascending to the peak. Life on the edge. Past the point of no return. I blog, therefore I am! gag! choke! cough!
Forgive me if I test the waters a little at first. I'm a sensitive person. I'm afraid I'll be publicly ridiculed. But I will do my best to be semi-coherent. At least the for the time being.
First, let me say that I've been jealous of you all and your blogginess. You've put me to shame, and I felt I needed to get on the band wagon or lose touch with everyone else in the world. You're all so clever and I'm all so not. But, be that as it may be, I can hope to improve. So fasten the seat belt and hold on tight. It will be (I can only hope) a bumpy ride!