Christmas Morning

Here we are Christmas morning in our warm home watching the snow swirling around outside. It is a beautiful morning. I think back to so many Christmas mornings as a child. The excitement, the magic and the love. I think of grandparents coming to visit to see what Santa brought. I am grateful for these wonderful family times when we can take time out to just be together. I am grateful for the gift of our Savior and the blessings he brings to our lives.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Family Togetherness

Jordan and I have both been coughing for weeks. Yesterday we both went to the doctor and both have really good infections. He gave us both the same antibiotic. I think we are taking this togetherness thing too far.

Last night Amanda, Scott, Jordan and I went to the Choir concert at the Conference Center. (Jane was at a work party) The concert was really good. The most touching point was when they told the story of the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". I had never heard this story about Longfellow. His wife had died in a house fire and his son had died from wounds in the Civil War. In his despair he heard a church bell ring on Christmas morning. He realized that his wife and his son were still alive because of the Savior. As the story came to an end the choir started to sing the song and bell ringers came on the stage and joined in. This song will forever have new meaning for me. I hope that this message of peace and hope will touch each heart as we celebrate this Christmas.

Tis the Season

Today is the official start of the holiday season. I love this time of year. We start today with an official day of thanks, what a great way to begin. As we take time to count our blessings we start to prepare to celebrate the coming of the Lord.
I am so grateful for all I have been blessed with and most especially grateful for everyone in my life.

Little but fun

I am entering this post from my new HP iPAQ. It is a small PDA about the same size as the old Palm Pilot . They stopped supporting the Palm devices at work and now I have this new little toy. It is a lot of fun. I love the ability to get my email wherever there is wifi and to connect to the internet. You know how I love a new gadget.

Visit from and old friend

Well it looks like I am officially in the middle of my annual visit from my favorite bug. I have the coughing, runny nose, sore throat etc. It is great. I think I will try to see someone today to see if I am sick enough to get some meds.
WooHoo, I am sick enough. I did get an antibiotic. Now I will have 10 days of the taste of metal. But, at least there is hope to start feeling better.

All four gone.

Yesterday Jordan got his wisdom teeth out. He was somewhat excited to have anesthesia for the first time. It was really fast and so far he is doing well. He has to go back to work on Saturday, so he has two more days to recover.

Nice Trip

This weekend we went down to St George to see a couple of plays at Tuacahn. Friday night we saw Big River and Saturday night we saw Les Miserables. It is always amazing to see the touches they can add that you would never see in an indoor venue. The live animals, the fireworks, gun battle down the mountain side, the flooded stage, etc. Both shows were really great.

We also got time to see the family while we were there. We all went to a park with "adult" toys. I have never seen a playground where you are asked to be at least 12 years old to use much of the equipment. We all did things we have not done in years. We started by crossing a rope bridge and going down the slide. they had several other things that were a lot of fun. I am sure that dad was the only person in their 70's going down the slide. He is still the biggest kid on the playground. After that we went shooting. I learned that Ryan and his boys are really good shots. Grant was knocking down targets left and right. When we got around to clay pigeons Ryan was amazing. It was a lot of fun.

It was a quick trip, but really fun. Thanks everyone for everything.

Boy, no more..

Yesterday was a milestone in our family. I was able to ordain Jordan an Elder. This was a amazing experience for me. I was able to understand that he was fore ordained for this day. I felt the great joy that our father in heaven has for him reaching this goal. It is a strange thing to see your "little" boy begin the process of becoming a man. This week we started the work on his mission application. The big change in his and our lives that we always knew would come, is starting to seem real and real close. I am excited for him and proud of his work and his choices. He keeps telling us that we won't know what to do when he is gone, but hey we don't do much now, so we have been in training.

Busy Month

I have not fallen off the earth, I have had a busy month and finally have enough time to write a little about it.

First I have been called as the executive secretary in the ward. This is a calling I have always hoped to avoid. I have this fear of calling people on the phone. No there is no logic to it, but hey who needs logic to be afraid. I am happy to report that calling for this bishop is much easier than calling for myself. I think that having a behind the scenes job may be just what the doctor ordered. There are now three executive secretaries in my department at work, must be something in the water.

The other big thing this month was a trip to Disneyland. Jane, Jordan, Shaunna, Brandie, Dillon and I went down for three fun filled days in the parks. We had a great time. This was Dillon's first time on an airplane. We walked till we were exhausted and rode most everything twice. It was really fun to be there while they have everything decorated for Halloween. Disney does such a great job. Thanks to Jordan and Dillon for exploring and finding things that we would have missed otherwise. They had a temporary setup where you could ride a segway scooter. It was a blast. It was my favorite ride of the trip. Now if I only had a spare few thousand laying around I would buy one. We visited the home of the future and got to play with Microsoft Surface. I love new technology and this was a whole house full. I really felt at home there. It was a great trip and I am grateful that everyone could make it.

Change is certain

On Sunday I was released from young men's after about four years working with the teacher age boys. I have had mixed feelings about this release since I was told the week before. Last night we were driving by the church and I first thought was what going on at the church? I then noticed the truck of the new scout master and it hit me. It was youth night. It was a strange feeling to realize that I will no longer be a part of those activities. There is some sense of relief but also a sense of loss. The teachers quorum is starting with a whole new group of boys and is about to change in some major ways. I have loved working with these young men and the other adult leaders.

I now have the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. I still have my stake auditor job, but would be surprised if I go very long without something else.

On pins and needles

This week Jane had a lump removed from each breast. That was Tuesday. The procedure went fine and the surgeon said that the tissue looked ok. We then waited around for the pathology to be completed for the final word. The pathology came back clean. This is getting to be a trend. These are the third and forth benign lumps she has had removed. It is amazing what runs through your mind while you are waiting for these results. I am ever grateful for the life we have had together and am looking forward to growing old together. These are the moments that remind me how blessed we have been.

I've got the fever..

I am not a guy who watches Sports Center every day and follows pro sports really close. There are sporting events that I watch from time to time. I love college football and watch golf on Sunday to help with a nap, but I am hard pressed to watch a whole NFL game.

This week has been different. I am an Olympic junkie. On cable we are getting four channels that have Olympic coverage at some time of the day. I am even watching "football". You get to sit for about two hours and watch for maybe two or three scores. I don't feel too bad when I remember that the Olympics only come around for two weeks every two years. In just two minutes it looks like the US womens "football" team will beat Canada 2 to 1. I am having a great time.

Precious little thing.

Jane got me a 32" LCD for our anniversary. We put it in our bedroom. Of course I love it. It is only 720p but with a 32" it is not noticeable. I couldn't wait to hook it up, I spent my lunch hour yesterday taking the cabinet apart and redoing everything to get in in place. I got it all done and made my 12:30 meeting. I am still playing around with all the options and seeing just what it can do. When you look up the word fun in the dictionary it should show me playing with a new gadget.

Silver is Super!!

Today we are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe that I can be old enough to have been married for all those years. As I look back, I have no regrets. When we first got married we were as poor as can be. We didn't even have a TV. (hard to believe that I survived) Those were great days. We worked together and just enjoyed being together. That is one thing that has not changed. I often wonder how the backward shy little boy that I was got to this place. Married to my best friend, two great kids, the world's best son in-law, go figure. Life is great and I enjoy everyday. I am excited for the next 25 years. Growing old together will be great too. Thanks my dear for always being here with me.

Little wedding song..

Hey little sister new lifes begun
Hey little sister Ryan, he’s the one
Hey little sister you’ve got six kids now
Hey little sister now your house is full
Hey little sister, Allred

It’s a nice day to start again
It’s a nice day for a great wedding
It’s a nice day to, start again

Picking up the pace.

Thursday we found out the that the Granny's heart was slowing down to around 20 beats a minute at times. The decision was made to implant a pace maker. Friday morning she went in and got it done. Everything went well. She only had to stay in the hospital one night. Now she just has to remember to keep her arm still for a few weeks. We will now see how much of her dizziness and tiredness was a result of her heart.

On Blog leads to another

In honor of Amanda's world class blog stalking.

One Blog Leads to another (think of One Thing Lead to another – the Fixx)

The web surfing that you start
One blog or two is all that you plan
You start reading, it’s soon leading
You end up places you never expect
Next your jumping from here
You moving all over over the net
Cause one click starts you a on trip
Grit your teeth
Your in for hours, don’t ya think

So I say,
follow the link, go where it goes
one blog leads to another
You say I’m on line too long,
I’m sure your not wrong, but then,
One blog leads to another

One blog, yes one blog leads to another, to another
Oh you never can see just where the blog trail can lead
You click on a link, for just a moment you think but then,
one blog leads to another
Yes it easy to see, how hours slip away from me
One blog leads to another yeah yeah
One blog, yes one blog leads to another, to another

What it is all about.

Yesterday we traveled down to Manti to witness the sealing of Troy and Linda. It was great to see them kneel across the altar and be sealed together. It reminded me of the first sealing that I was able to witness. I remember being overwhelmed by the reality of Priesthood power that was there. I have had many chances since to feel that same power over the years. Yesterday was no exception. They then had their daughters sealed to them. It was wonderful to share this with them.

24th..

Yesterday we celebrated Pioneer Day. It was great to get up and watch the parade on TV. They played a message from President Monson before the parade started. It was nice to be reminded what this day is all about. Everything we have and enjoy we can trace back to the sacrifice of those who have gone before. We then went to Grammys for a BBQ. It was a low key day, which was nice for a change.

Don't stand so close to me!

This weekend I attended the Police concert with my son and son in law. It was truly amazing. The last time I saw them in concert was 1982 during the Ghost in the Machine tour. It was in the old Salt Palace and was no where near sold out. This time is was at the USANA amphitheater and it was close to a sell out. They have not slowed down a bit. The interaction with the audience was great and the music was fantastic. It was clear to see what amazing musicians they really are. It was a night to remember.

A few things that always go with the concert experience are the interesting people. I told Scott, I can't imagine where all these weird people come from. The beer flowed like wine, and of course by the end, there was some drunk who made the evening complete, when I really had that "Please don't stand so close to me" feeling.

I Declare..

When in the course of world events, it becomes necessary for one people to wake up and realize that they no longer control their own destiny, and that they have sold their very future to market and political forces who’s interests are in direct opposition to their growth and stability, the Laws of Nature and of the Nature’s God, they should declare the causes which will lead them back to freedom.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are, electricity, mobility and the pursuit of energy. That to secure these rights they will lay a foundation on principles and organizations as they shall seem most likely to affect their ability to control their own energy. That they will no longer be held hostage by powers who loath them, and by groups who are convinced that the rights of the dung beetle are more important than the future of man.
We, therefore, the Americans who want our children to live in a country that continues to grow and where the future continues to be bright, do solemnly publish and declare, that these United States are, and of the Right ought to be Free and Independent in the matter of energy. That we will use all means at our disposable to harness the energy we need today and in the future. We will marshal the resources that are under our feet, we will use the power of the atom, we will invest in renewable technology. We will return to a nation where we can stand on our own, where our future is insured, where we are no longer controled by foreign powers.

The little squirrel that can..

There are squirrels that have been living in Grammy's yard for several years. They have had a home in the old wood pile and a supply of walnuts from the trees next door. We have enjoyed watching them over the years. This year their world was turned upside down. First the walnut trees were taken out. Second the wood pile was removed. We wondered what would become of them. Well, it seems that they are they kind of creatures that just make the best of things. We see at least one hanging around the yard as much if not more than before. It doesn't look like they are starving or really having any problems to speak of. It looks as though they simply took a look at their new world and got to work to make due. Wow, no poor me, no where is my FEMA trailer, no where is my government supplied nuts. I'm impressed.

No vacation

This morning was another example to me of the fact that you can never get away. As I walked out of the hotel in Cedar City this morning I ran into some neighbors from the street just to the north. Even in Hawaii I saw someone that I know from work. My point is, living as we know we should can't be something that we take a vacation from. No matter where we are most likely there is someone that know who we are what we claim to believe.

Last Hawaii Entry

I wanted to talk about one more place that we visited in Hawaii. It is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. More commonly know as the Punchbowl Crater. This is a cemetery inside of an extinct crater. It is solemn and sacred place. It is comprised of two main things. One is of course the cemetery. It is full of rows and rows of the standard military headstones. Then you have the Memorial, it consists of two rows of walls covered with the names of over 28,000 who's body's were never recovered. Here and there you will see a name with a star by it. This notes a Medal of Honor recipient. Then at the top of the stairs is another wall with details of each of the major battles of the pacific. It includes a small chapel. We could feel the spirit of this place. Just as with Pearl Harbor, my gratitude for the freedom that we enjoy was increased. I sometimes worry that many Americans today do not understand or appreciate the price that has been paid for them.

North Again..

We returned to the north side of the island for more activities. We stopped at the Waimea Valley to see the flora and the falls. We were surprised to learn that due to lack of rain, the falls were dry. We did make the hike up to the falls and enjoyed the view and the exotic plants. It is a beautiful place. We then took advantage of our free return ticket to the PCC. We visited some of the shows that we had not made it to the first time and also watched the IMAX movie that they have running there. This was my first IMAX experience and I loved it. The PCC is a great destination. While on the north shore I had twice driven past some stands selling shrimp, so I decided to give one a try. My wife was less than excited. She said that I should at least stop at one that was busy. We stopped at an old delivery van converted into a shrimp stand. They have three choices on the menu. Shrimp scampi, spicy shrimp or lemon butter shrimp. They are are are $12 a plate. I selected the scampi. Next to the "stand" were an odd assortment of picnic tables. The smell of the place was too much for Jane, she just sat in the car. I took my plate of shrimp and sat down at one of the tables and dug in. The shrimp was great, but is was immersed in garlic. (Next time I stop I will get the lemon butter.) When I returned to the car she said that I had to get some gum or something. So we stopped at a gas station where I bought a pack of orbit gum.

I had forgotten all about the gum when we arrived at the airport. I went through the metal detector and it went off three times. They they pulled me out of line for the "full body" scan. I had to stand with my legs apart, arms out with palms to the celling. They then proceed to wand me and pat me down. The pocket in my cargo shorts set the wand off. I then hear "sir, what do you have in this pocket?". I said I don't know and reached in and pulled out the pack of gum. They told me that the foil in the packet is a great way to set things off. All this time Jane is having her bag re-xrayed and trying gather all the little containers from my pocket contents. Some how we got all our stuff back and were on our way. Oh well, traveling is always exciting.

Under the Sea

As a boy I loved to watch nature shows. But my favorite was the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. I loved to travel around the world with him and his ship the Calypso. They would dive in their little submarines and see amazing things.

In Hawaii there is a company called Atlantis Submarine. We had heard different reports regarding this experience, but decided to give it a try. We loved every part of this attraction from the boat ride out to the dive site to the view on the bottom of the ocean. You start out on a dock boarding a large boat. We went up to the top deck and enjoyed the view, the blue water and the sea spray. We reached the dive site and tied up to the sub. We were soon climbing down a ladder into the submarine. We got to sit right up front by the pilot. We could see out his big window and out our own big window. The ride was as smooth as silk and the view was great. Color starts to be filtered out as you descend and at 100 feet my red shirt looked purple. We saw a reef shark, sea turtles and of course lots of fish. On the boat ride back to the dock we were joined by some spinner dolphins. Seeing them jumping out of the water and spinning was the perfect closer to a great experience.

Finally the little boy who dreamed of traveling with Jacques got a chance to dive in a submarine. This is a day that I will remember for a long time.

Our day at Laie

Day two we headed up to Laie. First we headed to the temple to attend a session. It was great to attend such a laid back session. The workers were of course very nice and we had a wonderful time. We were both surprised at how little this temple is. The missionaries working on the temple grounds were great. We took advantage of the restrooms in the visitors center to change. We then headed over to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Of course the the first thing we did there was shop. I had no idea that they have a jewelry shop there. We found ourselves confronted by a great sales lady. Within a few minutes we were leaving with a receipt for a black Tahitian pearl ring. They have sized it and it is now on it way to us via Fed-Ex.

It took us a little while to figure out how everything works in the PCC. We started making the rounds to the villages to see the shows. We visited Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji and Hawaii that afternoon. We also caught the Canoe Pageant. We didn't get there soon enough to get a great seat but still enjoyed it. Jane found a quilt shop as we were going around, but we didn't have time to really shop there since it was time for the Luau. They put on the number one rated Luau in Hawaii and I learned two things. 1. The family in our ward that served this food for a ward dinner does a great job. 2. I now know that I just don't like luau food. (I usually like everything) But the Luau was fun. It was then time for the big night show. It was really good and I did get one of the pineapple delight deserts at intermission.

This was a really full day. We left our hotel at 8 in the morning and didn't get back till about 10:30 at night. Overall it was a great day.

Freedom isn't Free

I have not fallen off the face of the earth, I have not been posting due to the fact that my wife and I have been gone on a trip to Hawaii. For the next few days I will be taking you through our trip. (You can see our pictures on the picture link)

I wanted to start today on the 4th of July by talking about our visit to Pearl Harbor. We got to the Battleship Arizona Memorial and found a long line for tickets to get on a tour to visit the memorial. As the line moved forward we realized that it was going to be a long wait, but when we got to the ticket counter they had two tickets left for the next tour. We only had to wait about 15 minutes. The tour starts with a movie outlining the events of December 7th 1941. We then took the ferry out the the memorial. It was a solem reminder of the price that has been paid to maintain our freedom. It is truly a hallowed place.

We then took the tour of the Bowfin submarine and the Battleship Missouri. It is a great way to start on the Arizona Memorial where it all began and end on the the Missouri where it offically came to a close. This was a trip that I will always remember.

As I reflect back on how America came together to defend our freedom I am grateful for their commitment and willingness to pay the price. I wonder how America of today would respond in a situation like this. I have often heard the WWII generation called the greatest generation and that may indeed be true. I hope that we all will take time today to remember that our freedom had been bought at a great price and that we must do our part to maintain it.

Post via PS3

Just a quick note to celebrate the fact that we now have Linux running on the PS3 and I am entering this post therewith. The technical term would be WOOHOO!!!

Quick Trip

I got home yesterday from a quick trip down to Panguitch. I went down late in the day Wednesday. Yesterday morning I got up and went over to the Flying M for a short stack of pancakes. It is a great old diner with old farmers drinking their morning coffee at the counter. A few tourists coming in for breakfast before heading out on their day in the canyons. I then went over to the hospital to meet with the doctors and their staff. It was nice to have them block out time on their schedules for us to meet. They even had typed up a list of questions. It was a really good session.

We were done earlier than I expected so I decided to go home on old highway 89. I is a beautiful drive through a canyon and past the Big Rock Candy Mountain. It reminded me of those trips to Panguitch when I was young. I am sure that that road was at least twice as long back then. As I remember it took about two weeks to make that drive. It is now a pleasure to travel through this wonderful state where I live.

The System is Willing, but the Browser is weak..

Oh so close, but yet so far. Yesterday our wireless keyboard arrived for the PS3. I was so excited. The plan was that today's post would be entered via this new setup. I am afraid that the posting entry system is one of screens that doesn't get along with the Sony PS3 Browser. Overall the PS3 is great. We have been watching Planet Earth on Blu-Ray HD and of course I am in heaven. Some real fun features with the PS3 are, the ability to remember where you were on a disk. If you don't finish a movie and then you put the disk back in later, it will just start back where you left off. If you put in a music CD the PS3 will go out to the Internet and find the disk information. Also, this bundle did include the older 80 gig system including the PS2 compatibility.

Jordan and I are now thinking about Linux for the PS3. This would allow us to run a full version of Firefox and even OpenOffice. We will have to see.

Overall we are really pleased with this new toy. Of course, there is always something else that we want.

Dads Day..

Several years ago I was in a job interview and a lady on the panel asked one of those questions that she must have just gotten out of a book. It was "if you had a T-shirt with one word on it to describe you, what would it say?". I am sure that my answer was not what she had in mind. I said my one word would be DAD. Of all the roles I play in life being a husband and dad are the most important to me. I most likely will never be a CEO or a CIO, but that is fine with me. As long as I can look back and say that I did an OK job with my family I will be happy.

Last night Jordan got home from his last scout camp and I was excited to see him and hear all about it. I share that same excitement whenever Amanda and Scott come and spend time with us. This time with my family is worth the world to me.

So on this Dads Day I want to thank my wife and kids for always being there for me.

My Dad

My Dad was always there for me when I was young. He didn't travel for his work, he came home from the refinery every night with his black lunch box in hand. Often that lunch box would include half a peanut butter sandwich that he would save for me. I have no idea why a peanut butter sandwich that had been in a metal lunch box all day tasted better, but believe me it did. It was never something he talked about it was just something that he did. He knew it was something that I looked forward to, so that is what he did.

With my father, example has always been the most important thing. I have never questioned what he believed, because I could simply watch him live his life. If there was a church meeting there was never a discussion regarding going, we were going and everyone knew it. If there was a service project to be done, once again dad was there. As I watched Dad and Mom sit down together on pay day to work out the budget, I learned about partnership in a marriage. Looking back, I realize that we often didn't have a lot of money, but at the time I never knew it.

There was always time for fun. As a young boy I never thought much about the fact that my dad would join in the neighborhood pickup baseball game. There was never any talk about why my dad was there and no other dads. That was just the way it was. I remember one hot summer day when us kids were playing in the ditch full of water to keep cool, before long dad just jumped in too.

On this father's day, I want to thank my father for always being there for me. For being a Dad, not just a father. For helping me understand what is important. You remind me of one of my favorite quotes, "I can not hear what you say, when what you do rings so loudly in my ears". It is easy to misunderstand someone's words, but easy to understand how they live their life.

Richard Oliver

I wanted to start my serious father's day entries by talking about my father in law, Richard Oliver Yeates. It has been over 5 years since he passed away and the world has not been the same. He was indeed a great man. He had a hard childhood losing his parents very early. He was a constant "make the best of it" kind of guy. He told me stories about basic training in the army. He looked at what needed to be done and just got at it. He took the experience of the army to learn as much as he could.

My experience with him was one of acceptance from day one. He was always great to me. He became a friend and father, always looking out for us and ready to help in any way he could. I spent many happy hours in the den with him just talking. He was a great example of a husband and father. He always put them first and wanted the best for them. He worried about everyone to a level that at times drove him crazy. He was a true craftsman and could build almost anything.

On father's day I hope that all of us that have been blessed by his life will take time to think about all he did for us. I am sure that he is watching his family from above and wanting the best for us as he always did.

Music to my ears..

Music has been a big part of my life. (not that I ever took music lessons seriously enough to actually play an instrument) But, from the day I bought my first album to the last mp3 download, listening to music has brought me many hours of enjoyment.

In this spirit, I wanted to honor one more father of invention. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the phonograph. He came up with the concept of a machine that could record and play back sound in 1877. He thought of many applications for it including uses for the blind. Edison was a great example of the "please try again" philosoply. Many of his inventions that were simply "cool" in his day, we can't imagine living without today. So, thanks Thomas Edison, you brought music to the world.

Father of Middle Earth

Today I want to talk about another father that has made a huge difference in my life. I would refer to him as the father of middle earth. His name is J.R.R. Tolkien. His books have taken me to a world where adventure, heroism and magic still exist. These characters and these places have become as real to me as almost anyplace on this earth.

The concept that good people working together can overcome almost anything is something that I really love. These stories show that right is worth fighting for and that hope should be a part of everything we do. In his stories the smallest of people make the biggest difference. As I have traveled with these characters over the misty mountains to the fields of Gondor, I have seen them become more than they thought they could ever be.

When the Lord of the Rings was being made into a movie I was worried that they would not be able to do the story justice. I now realize that Peter Jackson must have the same love for these stories that I do.

I have read many other fantasy / adventure stories over time, but would have to say that almost all ride on the back of Tolkien's work. I am thankful for the adventure and wonder that he has brought into my life.

I can't help it, it's so beautiful

They say that necessity is the mother of invention and I am sure that is true. This mother has given us many helpful things, the washing machine, the dishwasher and unnumbered others. But once in a while the father of invention gives us something just because it is cool. With fathers day coming up I wanted to honor a true father of invention. His name is Philo T. Farnsworth the father of the television. His innovation has brought me many wonderful hours through the years.

As many of those who know me can attest, the TV has been a big part of my life. The real problem for me growing up was that my father did not share my excitement. We went years at a time with out one in our home. My parents tell the story of having to buy a TV since they were tired of my visiting the neighbors just to watch. I will never forget the day when I was a teenager and dad decided to buy a new one. We went to the store and there on a beautiful color set was the Incredible Hulk all in green. My brother and I were amazed, we had never seen this show in color. I didn't even know that Gilligan's Island went to color starting in season two until I bought it on DVD. Of course the color TVs were still just too expensive and we brought home another black and white model.

There is no question that the television was not a necessity, there were radios in every home and information was available to everyone. But having said that, my life is richer and certainly "cooler" because of this father of invention.

The Amazing Souffle

Jordan got the idea that he wanted to try making a souffle. He spent a lot of time on the Internet searching for recipes and even reading reviews of the recipes. He settled on a chocolate souffle. Yesterday he and I got together and gave it a try. We had a great time whipping this, mixing that and folding it all together. We put it in the oven and waited impatiently to see what the result would be. It was amazing, of course neither of us have ever had a chocolate souffle before so we don't have anything to compare it to. As the recipe stated, you need to eat it right out of the oven. It did start to deflate really fast. Jane on the other hand only had one bite. She has never been a dark chocolate fan and this was hard core dark chocolate. Jordan is now looking at maybe trying a cheese souffle next. We had a great time trying something new. I am glad to see that he enjoys cooking as much as I do.

No more pencils, no more books..

Today we attended Jordan's high school graduation. It is the end of the "having kids in school" era in our house. It is hard to believe that these years have come and gone so fast. It seems like such a short time ago we were sending Amanda off for her first day of school. The program was nice, just two student speakers and both pretty short. They seemed to remember the three S's of speaking, Stand up, Speak up and Shut up. Since Jordan was in the choir he got to sit on the front row, which got him across the stage soon and helped us know where to look for him. There were 601 students in his graduating class. After the graduation we met Jake and his family outside to get some pictures with the cousins together. We then went to dinner and now Jordan is off with friends. So here Jane and I sit, she is on the couch with one lap top and I am in my chair with another. (pretty danged exciting) I'm afraid that our future may look like this more and more often. We may have to get out there and get a life.

Not an Instant Winner - Please try again

Everyone around our house knows that if there is a bottle cap, a game token, or anything where there is a chance to win something, don't let me open it. If I do, you can be assured that the words that will some day adorn my head stone will appear. "NOT AN INSTANT WINNER" Often these are followed by something like "sorry, please try again".

These words have come to have special meaning to me. Some would say "you mean your a loser?". I would say not at all. These words apply to most everything in my life. So seldom do I (or most people for that matter) get just what I want "instantly". The invitation to "try again" is one of the most important concepts we can learn. I would tell you that my "NOT AN INSTANT WINNER" tag is a badge of honor. It notes the struggle that has been a part of almost everything that is of value in my life.

This concept of trying again has paid off many times. A great example is with my wife. When we first were setup on a blind date she was less than overwhelmed with me. After calling her back a few times I got the hint that a second date was not in the offing. I would leave her alone for a month or so, and then would "try again". After a few months she was able to see the error of her ways and the rest is history. I have used this same model many times and through patience and perseverance it is amazing what can happen. So I strongly recommend whenever you are "Not an instant winner", "Please try again"..

I Love it..Not sure why..

I often find myself in front of the television watching a show called the Deadliest Catch. I am sure that at times Jane thinks that I have subscribed to the all crab fishing channel. She often says that she can't understand why I watch it. She says that it is always the same thing and in many ways she's right. It is often very much the same.

I have been trying to figure out what it is that draws me to this show. I have come up with a few ideas. These guys are out doing extreme things because that is who they are, not just what they do. They are not athletes or rock stars nor are they making millions of dollars. They are modern day cowboys and vikings all rolled up into one. They are in the end of the earth challenging the sea. I think most guys at one time or another, have dreamed of doing something that is really out there, so watching people that live that life is a draw for us. Of course being away from home for up to 8 months a year for what they make doesn't make any real sense to me.

I think back to a conversation my son and I had years ago. We were talking about the choices that make up our lives. I told him that having the freedom to be home with the family every night was worth a lot more than money. I may enjoy watching others live an extreme life, but I'm more than happy to live my normal boring life.

A Theme..

What I got for Christmas.

This year for Christmas I got a USB turntable. I think everyone should have a USB turntable. (if they have old records) For those who hear the word record and say "what?", records are big black round things that have music on both sides.

Back to the "theme". This USB turntable is allowing me to convert all my old vinyl music to mp3 files. It is taking a long time, but I am having a great time doing it. I am getting the chance to go through my old record collection. I have found albums that I forgot I had and hearing great songs that I have not heard in years. It is amazing how a song can bring back memories of things and times you have not thought of for years. I remember very clearly the high school assembly where they played Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas and the Song and Yell where they played I'm Sailing Away by Styx. Great memories, great songs. Of course the added benefit is that a cheap guy like me doesn't have to re-buy this music to get it on my Ipod. The day will come when I will have completed this process. Scott's dad is already waiting to get his chance to use this great gadget. Of course I am always on the look out for the next electronic toy. I'll keep you posted regarding what Santa should put in his sack for next year.

Another Monday

Here were are again. Like it or not, Monday morning is here again. Not only is it a new week, but also a new month. Man, where does the time go. It is the last week of school and our last week of of having a child in school. (Not that being 18 is still a child) Of course for parents they are always your children.

Instead of looking forward to the rest of the week or the rest of the month I think I will just get on with today. There are meetings to go to and work to do. How lucky am I?

Seminary Graduation

Last night we attended Jordan's Seminary Graduation. It was a great event, three good talks by fellow students and over in about an hour. It was a bitter sweet experience. We are proud of his work and a little sad at this coming to an end. He has really enjoyed Seminary and has done really well. No longer having a student in Seminary will be an odd thing for our family. The lessons taught there and then shared in our home have truly been a blessing. We are so grateful that the church continues to provide this opportunity for our children.

Four Letter Words

I want to start with a word of warning today. I will be talking about dirty four letter words. (Parents, watch your children).

I was raised with a grandfather who was a master at the colorful metaphor. These words rolled off his tongue with no effort or thought. A four letter word by it's self is bad enough, but when you give it a companion, well you know the rest.

Today I am talking about a pair of vial words put together to make up something horrible. These words are "YARD WORK". We have reached that time of year that no matter how much you try to avoid them, every time you step out the door they are in your face. To make matters worse there are those sick and twisted people that seem to enjoy it. We have a house in our neighborhood that just about makes me sick. I do not know these people, but I call their home Duloc and him Lord Farquad. It is indeed the perfect place. I wonder if people like this really enjoy the work, or if they just enjoy making the rest of us feel bad as we pass by.

I have been putting things off as long as I could, so this morning I was out getting the flower beds ready for planting. We should get the flowers planted tonight. We have also added another tree to the back yard and are looking for another. Like most "work" "yard work" is an opposite of fun. Of course like most "work" there is a sense of accomplishment when the job is done. Hey who knows, maybe I can help someone else feel a little guilty that their flowers aren't in yet.

Summer is here

The Memorial Day weekend officially kicks off summer in my world. Even though it was cool and raining most of the weekend, I still feel that summer mood coming on. Next week is the last week of school, Jordan will be at scout camp the week after that. "GAME ON"

Kenny returned yesterday from a year in Iraq. It was great to see him for a few minutes. He is the same great guy that he always has been. He said that the 90 degrees of Texas was a little cool after what he has been used to. Also, he had lost 50 pounds of body armor and gear. He spirit was high (almost as high as his parents). We are so grateful for his safe return and his positive attitude.

Memorial Day

Today I am remembering what Memorial Day was like when I was a boy. We would take glass jars that had been saved for a few months and cover them with tin foil. They made really shiny vases. We would then go into the yard and cut iris from the flower garden. We would pack them up and head to Grandma Crosby's house to cut some snow balls from the snow ball bush. Then we were off to decorate the graves. We would go to Wasatch Memorial Lawn where my Grandma Bracken and my Great Grandma Lefevere are buried. My brother and I would always take a walk in the area just to the north of Grandma Bracken's grave to look for the head stone of the man who drove the race car. It was a reverent day, but also a happy day. We were together and we were honoring those who had gone before us.

Now days I have so many other graves to visit. So many more of my family and Jane's family that have passed on. As we visited Cemetery Hill yesterday we were able to honor Jane's father by doing what he would have done if he were here. We placed flowers on the family graves that he so lovingly cared for. We also passed by the graves of Mike's parents to remember them and be sure that things were ok. I will visit Valley View Cemetery today to remember so many that are buried there. I get a feeling of love and gratitude when I remember these great people that have been a part of my life. I hope to live in a way that will bring honor to their memories.

A year older

Today is my birthday. It's not one of the "BIG" years and I want to remind everyone that I am still closer to mid-forty than to fifty. I have been using the occasion to party all I can. Friday we went to see the new Indy movie and to dinner. Seeing Indy being affected by the years made me feel better. I am now able to understand what my Grandma Crosby meant when she said that you don't feel any different, you just look in the mirror and wonder who that old person is. It does seem odd that little John Boyd is a middle aged guy who has been married almost 25 years, with a daughter that is married and a son about to complete high school. I often wonder how it happened. As a shy boy I could never imagine how I would ever get to this point. I am so grateful for the wonderful people in my life. I enjoy every day with my family.

My birthday present is concert tickets to see the Police. I saw them in concert last time they were here. I took my sister Bonnie for her birthday (I think it was her 15th). Now she is about to have her oldest son married. That may make us seem old, but Sting is still older. I must have done something right when my son wants go to the concert almost as much as I do.

If I had the chance to go back to any point and restart, I think I would pass. I am happy with where I am. I may have even learned a thing or two over the years. I didn't even feel like an adult till I hit forty (I still have no plan to act like one). I have no idea how I will feel about hitting fifty, but that is "years" away. I will enjoy today.

Life is a Highway

In the normal course of my work I travel around visiting offices. It is not unusual for me to spend two to four hours a day in my truck driving. When I run into a meeting I will often get sympathy from others in the office. They are glad that they don't have to be running around. I will play into this sympathy when ever possible. I am happy to have them think that they have things so much better than I do. I don't share my secret. I feel sorry for them, being stuck at a desk looking out the same window all day. I get to drive around, see the beauty of the mountains, the progress on construction projects and have time to listen to the radio. I am grateful for the beautiful place where I live and love the journey that each day brings.

Life is indeed a journey and if we are going to be happy we need to enjoy it. Anytime we look outside of ourselves for happiness we will be disappointed. I have often heard people say things like "when I do this, that will make me happy" or "when I get that, then I will be happy". We all have the power to choose to be happy right here, right now. Life is a highway so enjoy the ride.

Doctor Pearce's Opus

Last evening we attended a choir performance at the high school. It was a presentation of Karl Jenkins' Requiem. In was a combined performance by the Concert Choir, Orchestra and Dance Company. It was incredible. At a time or two a found myself questioning if this music could really be coming from these high school kids. They sang from memory Latin and Japanese for almost an hour.

Mark Pearce is the choir teacher at the school. Both my daughter and son have been in his choir classes. I am grateful that they took the opportunity to be a part of this. These experiences will stay with them forever.

This has reminded me of when I was in the high school choir with Mark's father as my choir director. Mark has the same commitment and passion that his father shared with me. I am grateful that there are people willing to commit their lives to enrich the lives of our children. My life has been blessed by both the father and his son.

Whats that hissing sound?

Yesterday, Jane got out of her car in the garage at lunch time and heard a loud hissing sound. As she walked around the vehicle she could see that a rear tire was going flat. I was already on my way home for lunch. We traded cars and I changed the tire. I then dropped the flat off to get fixed on my way back to work. This is the second time that she has had a flat since we got this vehicle. Both times it went flat in our own garage. As I was changing the tire I was so grateful that I wasn't on the side of the road somewhere.

Like most things in life, when I took a moment to look for it, there was indeed a reason to be grateful. I remember a day in my old truck when the clutch was going out. I was praying so hard that I could get to the mechanic without dying on the road. My prayer was answered. It was really cold day (about 20 degrees). I learned an important lesson about prayerer that day. Pray for what you really need. On this day I just didn't think about the whole trip. I prayed that I could get the truck to the shop, but forgot to say anything about getting to work afterwards. As I walked the two miles to the office in the brisk morning air, I could be nothing but grateful that my prayer was answered. I decided my prayers would be more specific in the future.

IW (Instant World)

It is amazing to watch kids and technology. Text messaging, instant messaging, online gaming etc. I really felt a world apart when I watched Jordan participating in seven conversations at once. He was a part of three online forums, had two IM sessions going and was texting a couple of other people all at the same time. It was amazing to watch him flow between them without even a second thought. When I first started texting I found it very frustrating. Amanda would send me a long message and I would fumble through creating a response. I would then send it on, with pride in my accomplishment. A second or two later she would be sending me an even longer message. It this point I would start to feel a little frustrated. I am getting better as time goes on. We now use texting as a major means of communication in our family.

I have also found it interesting to see how little time Jordan spends watching tv. For him a tv is simply another screen where you can surf the internet, play a game or even instant message. Reading news online rather than watching it. Watching videos on Youtube rather than watching a show. Doing instant research on any subject where you may have a question. The expectation of instant feedback continues to grow.

While the ability to adapt to new ever changing technology is a good thing, I worry that many young people seldom have the chance to learn patience. I hope that as parents we have given our kids the chance to wait for things. To have to work and earn something that is important. I worry that as the world continues to expect instant information and resolution to problems, that patience will become a lost skill. I hope not.

Simple Pleasures

This weekend was much like any other. Friday night we spent the evening at Jane's moms. Saturday we did our usual house work and shopping. We did get to a garden center to purchase a few flowers for Jane's mom and a tree for us. We then planted the flowers in one flower bed at moms house. The rest of the evening was spent with Analey and Jane working on Analey's quilt. Jordan on the other hand was attending his last dance of high school. They rode in a Hummer Limo to dinner and to the dance. They played laser tag and just had a great time. This is the end if the school dance era for our family. I am glad that he went and had a great time. Sunday like most was spent in church and having dinner with the family.

Ours is a simple life in many ways. The average family going about the normal things that we do. When I take time to sit back and reflect, I see that the joy in life is made up of these simple things.

Great Project

Yesterday we were able to attend the open house for the home that Jordan has been working on all year in his home building class. It was fantastic to see the finished product. All year we have enjoyed hearing about his experiences with this project. He has learned so much. He never wants to do sheet rock again if possible. He knows what it takes to make things level. He notices the little things that make a big difference. There is nothing like the sense of accomplishment seeing a project like this completed. I am so glad he made the choice to take this class. As he showed us around we noticed the craftsmanship and the attention to detail. The finished product is a step above most homes built by your standard builder. Being a part of your children's growing up is an amazing process. You see them becoming the person that they will be. This is one of those parent pay days.

Get at it...

There is no question that spring is here. I see more birds every morning as I am out and about. I am noticing a few things as I watch them. First I hear their singing. I don't claim to speak bird very well, but their songs sound pretty joyful to me. I also see them going about doing what they do. The thing that strikes me as I watch them is the energy with which they go about it. They don't waste time or move slow, they just get at it.

It seems there are lessons here for us. We should take joy in the daily tasks that are there before us. We should get at it, and get our work done. We should also have faith that if we do our part things will work out. Spending time thinking about what might have been, or wishing for what may be in the future gets us no where. We should follow this example, get at it and be happy today.

Do ya a lot a good

For the last three weeks I have been walking in the mornings again. I spend about thirty minutes out in the morning air. I enjoy the time to just be by myself and think. It is amazing how it changes the entire day. I have more energy and am more alert. That is not to say that I no longer drop off to sleep at times.

I have been walking most days for some time, but this winter I didn't just fall off the wagon, I jumped off and ran away. Like everything else in life, a good habit is hard to start and easy to stop. While bad habits just show up on their own and never want to go. They remind me of weeds, they keep sprouting and you keep fighting.

Walking has had a large influence on my blogging. In between solving the worlds problems, I have these random thoughts run through my head that end up here. As a wise old man once said about walking "all that fresh air and exercise will do ya a lot a good".

My Precious

I can hear the deep sigh and see the eye roll as my wife sees this post. She pointed out to me that I was talking about this subject every day. Since then, I have been really trying to give her a break here and there.

Those of you who know me well know that I am a technology buff (or nut). So I am sure that it comes as no surprise that HDTV is my new love. To have a bright clear 40 inch screen is my version of "mechanized joy". I can hook my computer to it and have a giant monitor. I can watch movies in 1080i. I can surf the Internet via the Wii. I have been encouraging Jordan to ask for a PS3 for graduation so I can start buying Blu-Ray. I think I will then ask for a PS3 keyboard for fathers day so I can start blogging on the "precious". I have written a little song to truly express my feelings. (I think you can catch the tune).

*

*

I was shopping for a new screen

Which one's me

A power eating plasma or an LCD

So glad my wife buys things by their looks

The great looking Bravia is what we took

*

ten-eighty-HDTV

I know you will love it, take a look and see

You'll moan when the broadcast is just seven-twenty-P

I hope you enjoy it as much as me

It brings new life to plan TV

ten-eighty is "it" you'll see

*

My Mother-in-law

This is my final mothers day entry, (I promise). This series would not be complete without a few words about my mother-in-law. I am so lucky to not have any idea what people are talking about when they complain about in-laws. Grammy "as my kids call her" has always been great to me. She took me in and treated my as one of the family from the start. She was so helpful when we were first married. For a full year we would do all our laundry at her home. She never said a word. In fact, she rewarded us with a meal whenever we were there. Her home has always been a place of refuge and welcome for her family. She set the example of what a wife and mother should be for my wife. My children and I have enjoyed the benefits of that teaching.

Ours lives are much richer due to her service and example. Now she has reached the time of life when we have the chance to return some of that caring and service. We are honored to be able to be there for her.

Mothers Day is Here

Today I wanted to continue my mothers day theme by talking about the mother of my children. Jane has been a mother now for almost 22 years. I have learned so much from watching her be a mom. There is nothing that she can't or won't do for her children. She has always made them her top priority. Even though she never knew my grandma Isabell Bracken, she takes after her when it comes to defending her children. I will never forget the day when there was program to award achievement day certificates in our ward. When we arrived at the program we found out that Amanda was the only one not receiving an award for her accomplishments when she had indeed done the work. Jane was so angry she couldn't even speak. You can mess with us, but don't mess with her kids. I doubt Amanda even remembers that night, but I am sure Jane will ever forget it. We have been planning to take a trip this summer without the kids. We have never done this before and she has been feeling guilty about it. Jordan is insisting that we go ahead and go. As always she is wanting to put them first.

Watching her as a mother over these years has been great. I have seen her capacity to love go beyond anything I have known. As we are approaching the empty nest faze of our lives, I know that this love will continue to grow as our family grows. We have been so blessed to have gone from a family of 4 to a family of 5 with Amanda getting married.

Having such a great mom as my wife is something that I am so grateful for. I am a better man because of her. I have found this subject hard to put into words, so many of these feelings are so personal. I do want the world to know that I love her beyond what words can express.

My Mom

Today I want to write about my mom Dorothy Crosby Bracken. As I think about my mom, my first thought is that she was always there. There is a feeling of comfort and safety knowing that your mom would be there when ever you needed anything. I remember one day on the fourth grade that I had wished for a little "less mom being there". For several days she had told me to make my bed and I had paid no attention. Finally she said that if I went to school without having made my bed, she would come to school to get me so I could do it. I thought this was an idle threat, so I went off to school. I will never forget that sinking feeling of seeing mom at the door of the classroom. She simply said that she needed me to come home for a few minutes. She didn't embarrass me by saying why (for which I was very grateful). The lesson was learned and I knew that when she said something I needed to pay attention.

Mom understood me. This helped me get over one of my biggest challenges. As a young boy I had an overwhelming feeling of self-consciousness that was almost crippling at times. Knowing that I looked at things in a logical manner (at times), she patiently explained to me that other people had too many other things to worry about to be watching me all the time. This made sense to me and made a huge difference in the way I faced the world. She gave me the most important things that any child can have. She taught me how to take care of myself, to iron, do laundry etc. She taught me the importance of family, the importance of faith and the importance of service. These were taught by example.

I will be forever grateful for the childhood that I had. When I left home to go on my mission, I had the basic skills, confidence and faith that I needed. I then started to appreciate all that mom had taught and given me.

Mom, I hope that you know the great influence you have had on my life. In many ways I am who I am because of you.

Grandma Crosby

My grandmother on my mothers side is Nellie Crosby. She was one of the most joyful people I have ever known. I can't say if she was this way with everyone, but around her family she was. She could remember every detail of the lives of everyone. You didn't need to talk to aunts, uncles or cousins, you simply needed to talk to grandma. She would share with you all the "wonderful and fantastic" things that everyone was doing. No one else in the world had a family as incredible as hers. Through it all I knew that secretly I was the favorite. (I know that everyone else thought they were, but it was really me). I always enjoyed spending time with grandma and grandpa. The job I had after high school was near to their home and I would go and have lunch with them most days. This visits reminded me that I really was her favorite.

Each Christmas day there would be a special hand made gift waiting for you. The only thing that was required was to come to her home to collect it. These personal gifts were the product of a years worth of work on her part. As soon as Christmas was over she would begin work on next years gifts. She had the ability to look at things and see what they could become. The wise men she made from beer bottles are falling apart but we still treasure them. My favorite gift is a small man she made for me. He is made from yarn and has a cape and a big sombrero. This is made around a mini bottle. Once again she looked past what something was and saw what it could be. I wonder if that is the way she saw us.

Life with grandma around was truly sweet. I hope that I can pass on that feeling of love and confidence that I felt when she was around. This is the way I hope to honor her. It reminds me that none of us truly walk alone, but we are lifted by those who helped us become who we are.

Grandma Flora

After Grandma Bracken died, grandpa remarried. We were are sure glad that he picked so well. Grandma Flora was as much a grandmother to me as anyone could ever be. She was a good companion to grandpa, and treated us just like we were her own. I still have several pairs of the hand made slippers she made and gave each Christmas. The hand made quilt she gave us for our wedding is something that we treasure. She was very thoughtful and paid close attention to things that meant something to people. She had labels on many items in her home to insure that they went to the person she wanted to have them.

She was so good to Jane and my children also. She made things for them and continued to be a fantastic grandmother to all of them. She was such a blessing in our lives. At her funeral the moment that really made me sad was when my cousin Jeff spoke and said that he now realized what he had missed out on by now allowing her to be grandmother to him. He was right.

I feel that grandma Isabell had great love for grandma Flora because she loved and cared for those whom she loved. My life has been blessed to have had a third grandma.

Mother's Day is Coming

As I think of Mother's Day this Sunday I think of the mothers that have had such a big impact in my life. I will be writing for the next few days about them.

I want to start with my Grandma Isabell Bracken. She died when I was only 9 years old, so my memories are few. My most vivid memory is of her teeth in a glass on the kitchen sink. To a small boy this was pretty amazing. I remember Sunday evenings watching Gun Smoke, Wonderful World of Disney and Lawrence Welk. If I recall correctly, we watched the first Superbowl there when the Colts won. The other thing that was amazing to me was the aluminum Christmas tree with the color wheel. It was so cool, in fact I would love to have one now. I clearly remember her funeral. I saw my father cry for the first time in my life. At the funeral home the smell of flowers was very strong. This smell still reminds me of that day. This was the first time I remember the whole funeral process, the viewing, the funeral and then going to the cemetery.

Most of the things that come to mind when I think of her are the stories my dad had told me. The one theme that I get from these stories is that you would be better off in a cage with a lion, than between Isabell Bracken and her family. I am proud to have this example to follow.

Memories of Milo

My grandfather on my fathers side is named Milo Bracken. He was born in Star Valley Wyoming. He was a quiet man, in fact I can not remember even one quote from him. I do remember his smile, his work ethic and his patience. almost every week we would spend Sunday evening at grandpa's house. I remember him sitting in his chair smiling and laughing as everyone visited. I don't think I ever heard a cross word from him. I simply remember his great patience with me in every circumstance.

One year grandpa, dad, my brother Steve and I went deer hunting west of Nephi. We were in grandpa's old green Chevy truck that he had painted by hand. We hiked up and down the hills and were ready to leave. Upon Steve's pleading that we just go around this one more hill we saw what looked like a deer on the side of the mountain. They sent Steve and I to investigate. I was armed with my trusty BB gun (great for deer hunting). As we got closer we could see that it was indeed a deer. It jumped up and ran down the hill into a field. It stopped to look back at us and dad shot it. Grandpa drove the truck out in the field next to the deer and dad talked him into cleaning it. They then simply tossed it into the back of the truck and we were on our way home.

The greatest example of grandpa's patience was when they took Bonnie and me with them to Green River. I got sick and grandpa wanted to give me some "white lightning" cough syrup. Being the "medical expert" that I was at 12 or so, I refused. I was told him in no uncertain terms that I needed an "expectorant" and would take nothing else. He didn't say a word, but returned shortly for the local drug store with some over the counter cough syrup clearly labeled "expectorant". Between my being sick and Bonnie being home sick, I am sure that this was a miserable time for him, but not a word of complaint or impatience with us.

His example makes me proud to carry the name Bracken.

Remembering Silas

My grandfather on my mother’s side is Silas Crosby. He was a rough around the edges old cowboy turned construction worker. He was born in Panguitch Utah the oldest of eight boys. To me he was simply grandpa. I have great memories of fishing with him. The first fish I ever caught was on Smith and Morehouse reservoir with grandpa. I remember a trip to Strawberry with grandpa and his old pal Dennis. We were in grandpa's old blue boat. The girls didn't get to go fishing with grandpa. He said that it had nothing to do with gender, just aim. Once you were on the lake, you did not come back to shore. If you could pee in a can you could go on the boat. Even thought he was a tough old guy, he always kept a close eye on me on these trips. I always felt safe and knew that he was watching out for me.

Grandpa was a construction boss for a company that built churches. He and grandma would move around to where the job site was. This gave us the chance to travel and visit them. The first trip that I remember was to visit them in Flagstaff Arizona. They lived in a really cool apartment. We went to the Grand Canyon, to some Indian ruins and we rode on a ski lift. These were all great, but the ski lift was the most memorable. The two things that stand out in my memory were the coats that the ski lodge let us use and my mom screaming in terror on the ride. To a little boy who was having a great time, seeing your mom so scared was pretty funny.

The trip I remember the most was when I went by my self to LaGrande Oregon with grandpa and grandma. Grandpa has come up with an idea of some work that I could do on the job site for him. The drive there was great. We stopped at the Red Barron cafe in Brigham City Utah for breakfast. I had the best pancakes in the world Then in LaGrande, we went to the "hog joint". This was a small buffet restaurant. I have no idea what it was really called, but grandpa called it the "hog joint" because everyone made a pig of themselves. My job was to crawl through the access tunnels that run under the church and sweep up all the dust and debris that had fallen down there. For a boy it was like going on your own journey to the center of the earth. I loved it. Grandpa and grandma couldn't leave the job site to bring me back so I got a real adventure coming home. Some friends of theirs were heading back to Utah, but were only going as far as Tremonton. There they put me on a greyhound bus. To a small boy this was scary and exciting. I had never traveled alone before. Of course mom and dad were waiting in Salt Lake at the bus station when I arrived.

I remember standing with grandpa next to grandma's casket in the funeral home and seeing him cry for the first time in my life. He was wondering if she would be able to forgive him for the way he had taken care of her in her declining years. Of course there was nothing to forgive. He loved her so much and was there by her side everyday.

I would love to exit this world as he did. The day he died we had a big family party at my parent’s home. I sat in a chair next to him joking as always till ten in the evening. Two hours later my parents called to say that he had simply slumped over and was gone. A few months earlier he was told that he had congestive heart failure. He was staying with my uncle in Kanab and we wanted to visit him. When we walked in he said "if you are here for a wake, you'll be disappointed. I'm not going anywhere." He had a great time showing my kids his latest toys. He had a robot bank that ate money and a little mechanical dog that would do flips.

There was never a question in my mind that I was special to him. I hope that I will be able to pass this same feeling on to my grand kids when the day comes.

Eagle Powers

This weekend we held a court of honor to award my son his Eagle Scout Award. This is the crowning achievement of ten years of scouting. We are very proud that he went the distance and completed the task. Only two percent of boys that join the Boy Scouts of America go on to earn their Eagle. As with many boys he was about ninety percent complete by the time he was fourteen. Then like many he had other things in his life that caught his attention. When ever we would ask him about it he would always say not to worry he would get it done. Good to his word, as his time was running out he got to work and completed it.

As we gathered pictures of his scouting years to display it was great to review all the fun times. The progression from a little boy in a cub scout uniform to the young man standing at the end of a long hike is amazing. I went with him as often as could through the years. Starting with the day camps as a cup scout, to the week long camps as a varsity. I was there as he learned to ride a horse, learned to cook out doors, pitch a tent and so on. We had some really cold nights and some really wet nights. These are days that will be precious to me for my whole life. I would not trade one of these experiences for anything.

A big payday for me came a few weeks ago. He said that one of the reasons that he went on to complete his eagle was thinking about what I said, "That you are an Eagle for life, or your not an Eagle for life". Anytime you have evidence as a parent that you were heard and it made a difference is a good day.

Got to have a Truck

Driving down the road I often see a small car with a whole lot of lumber either tied to the roof or hanging out the window. It makes me feel sorry for these poor truck deprived people. As a average guy I have never had the money to have the nice 4 x 4 that I would like but, my dad and my father in-law both had old trucks when I was first married. Also my mini van could hold 8 foot lengths of lumber if you put them between the seats. Between borrowing a truck and the mini van I didn't have to hang lumber out the window of my little car.

The first truck of my own came when a family members neighbor was selling a 12 year old truck for $1500. It was a 1984 GMC S15, two wheel drive 4 speed manual trans. It was a long bed which enhanced the nerdyness factor. My wife couldn't stand to even ride in it. It did have that great dusty vinyl smell that reminded me of my VW. It was really fun to drive on a snowy day. One morning I was dropping my son off at the elementary school and got stuck. I could see that my only option would be to back down the student drop off lane. The problem was that there was a never ending stream of cars dropping kids off. I finally just turned the truck off and waited. After about 30 minutes the traffic cleared and I was able to back down and get out. The real problem with the truck was the starter motor. No shop was able to get the right one, so we had to use one that would fit but had to be shimmed. This would result in the bolts to the starter breaking off in the block about once a year. Once the repair bill to pass inspection was more than the value of the "blue beast" we parted ways.

After a year without a truck (but still able to borrow my dads) it was time. We started looking again. I found a Chevy S10 with a long bed at a used car lot and brought it home for my wife to take a look at. She said that this was even more nerdy than the "blue beast" and vetoed it. We deiced to look at new trucks. We stopped at a Toyota dealer and browsed a line of lovely trucks. There were several 4 door 4 x 4s and some extended cab 4 x 4s. Then on the end of the row was a silver two door two wheel drive. The sticker price was almost exactly half of the 4 door 4 x 4 that I really wanted. In fact, it was only a little bit more than the nerdy used Chevy. We made the deal and drove it home. I loved my old blue truck, but this one is even better. I have real air conditioning and a CD player. It doesn't smell and my wife will even ride in it. What more could I ask for? Someday I may have that 4 door 4 x 4 but, today I still drive by the guy with lumber hanging out the window and feel a mixture of empathy for him and pride that I have my truck.

Carefree Days

I grew up in a area that is now just another suburb, but when I was young it was much more like a small rural town. We were surrounded by hay fields, cows and horses. This provided for endless days of exploring and adventure. There was a corner of a field that became our own fields of dreams. We all learned to hit, catch and throw during these day long baseball games. The only real problem was that this was a cow pasture, so ground balls would take bounces that were hard to predict. More than once a bad bounce hit someone in the nose. Looking back I am amazed at the patience of the farmer. He never said a word about us using his field. He just seemed to leave this corner to us. Football in the street was also a common occurrence. We had a couple of mail boxes that noted the goal lines. Traffic was light on our dead end street, so the call of "car" didn't have to be made often.

Our bicycles provided a sense of freedom and speed that is hard to even describe. I remember "time trials" when we would see how fast we could ride our bikes around the block. What we called going around the block was a round trip of about 2 miles. We created bike jumps with any scrap lumber we could find. Most of the scars on my body came from meeting the road after a sweet jump.

The biggest day in our little town was the fourth of July. The parade always started at noon. A carnival at the park all day, with fireworks at dusk. I remember one year we were watching the fireworks when a thunderstorm came through. The lighting stole the show, it got more ooohs and ahhhs than the fireworks.

Even though we live only a short distance from where I grew up, my kids did not have the same freedom that I had. I often felt sorry that they did not have the same experience. I hoped that we still gave them the carefree days of childhood that all children should have.

Sweet Beetle

As far back as I can remember I have had a love for the automobile. Getting my hands on a glossy marketing pamphlet from a car dealership was (and still is) heaven. The best one I ever got a hold of was from Porsche. It covered the newly released 924, 928 and of course the holy grail of cars, the 911 turbo. I can not tell you how many hours I spent pouring over that pamphlet. The idea of driving a 911, sitting in that small car with that powerful rear engine was my dream. Of course average guys don't have the scratch to ever drive a 911.


The first car I did get to drive was a 1966 VW Beetle. My parents bought it used when my older sisters were reaching driving age. I can still remember the sweet smell of old decaying vinyl and dust. This car was a great second car for our family. There were times in a pinch that even all eight of us would pile in. We had the system down. First my brother and I would climb back into the cubby behind the back seat. Then, three of my sisters would get in the back seat. My dad would drive and my mom would hold my youngest sister on her lap. (This was before the days of seat belt laws.) There were a lot of great things about this car. By the time I was able to drive there was not a fender left without a dent. I didn't have to worry about fender benders, no one would even notice. I could take this car anywhere. There were many skipped ensembles during my high school days when we would all load up in the bug. As long as I had a crew it didn't matter if we got stuck. We would just jump out and lift the car out of what ever.

I took a summer job as a delivery boy for the local baseball team. Telemarketers would sell the tickets and I was on my way to deliver the tickets and pick up the checks. The bug and I had a great summer together. I could at least say that I was driving a small car with the engine in the back.

I am happy to report that my son has some of these same warm feelings for the old family mini-van that he has had the great honor to drive to high school.

Why man, why?

The goal of this blog is to share things that make up the sweet life of an average guy. At my age I have a great appreciation for the quote "Life is the thing that happens while you are busy making other plans" But through all that, I have found life to be really good. There a moments that make everything worth while.

One of my bosses (middle managers have many) told me that I am "full of great lines" ( I think he wanted to say I was full of something else). So in his honor, I will be passing them on to you in my WORDS TO LIVE BY section. In hopes of making the world a better place.