Utah Basketball . . . . arrggggggggg!!!!!

The Utes just blew another game! The U of U vs. New Mexico game went into overtime tonight, and the Utes got their buts kicked in the end (literally). That's 3 games in a row in the loss column. The Utes seem to get nice leads and then they slip away. The laws of probability imply that "you will succeed proportionately to the number of times you fail". I am counting on this law and others (and the Utes' sweet skills) to turn their games around. I've been watching Utah basketball games, seriously, for 40 years. I attended the first game ever in the Special Events Center (now the Huntsman Center) as a 9th grade student. I feel the Utes have a good team in the works this year -- the shots are just not falling for them, but they will.

They will succeed, yes they will indeed!

Brrrrrr . . . . it's cold!

I think today and the next two or three days will be the coldest days of the 07-08 winter. It's about 7:35 p.m. and the temperature is a very ch . . . ch . . . chilliy 7 degrees.

Not much a-happenin', baby . . .

I need to keep up the blogging habit, but there is not much to report. Life is good. Willie is doing well in school. Elliott is growing and approaching his 1st birthday. The newlyweds are good; Annie and Ross are good; Karl is good; and, I am just my usual self. The grandparents (all 3) seem to be doing pretty well.

We keep busy with homework, scouts, b-ball (Jr. JAZZ and U of U), family, church callings, keeping up the house/wash/etc., and of course the stuff we spend our time on during the day (work/school).

We have our ups and downs and bumps in the road, but all in all life is good.

Year at a glance . . .

January -- Priesthood ordination for Willie (deacon), birth of Elliott (first grandson)
February -- Marriage of Melanie and Justin (niece and nephew)
March -- Marriage of Haley and James (daughter and son-in-law), birth of Conner (great-nephew), great JR JAZZ basketball season ends with tournament championship, Annie begins new job phase (part-time from home)
April -- Dad (Ed) celebrates 78th birthday, birth of Luke (nephew)
May -- Blessing of Elliott, misson service for Preston (nephew), Marriage of Gordon and Jessica (nephew and niece), retirement of dear friend Cindy (trip ot St. George), death of Uncle Glen
June -- School's out, blessing of nephew Luke, basketball camps for Willie (SLCC and U of U), Haley and James buy a home, ASCA conference in Denver (Dad and Willie tag along), drive through Rocky Mountain National Park
July -- Long, hot, month, blessing of great-nephew Conner (trip to Overton, NV), first ever scout camp for Willie (East Fork of the Bear)
August -- Marriage of Alex and Tara (nephew and niece), junior high for Willie, youth football begins, Dad (Ed) in the hospital with hypothyroidism,
September -- 31 years of marriage for Karl and Judy, family trip to Jellystone Park, death of Uncle Bevan, Judy released from RSP church service (after 4 years, 8 months, seven days), Judy called to serve in stake RS presidency
October -- death of LaVerne (one of Judy's "over eighties club" ladies), Ardith one year anniversary with no hospital/care center experience
November -- Youth football ends in the "toilet bowl" (literally), Utah basketball begins (new coach, new look), Karl recruits for new JR JAZZ season
December -- JR JAZZ basketball begins, death of Moria Crawford (Mom's (Jerry) family friend), Dad (Ed) cancer surgery on his nose, Judy to ACTE (Las Vegas), Merry Chirstmas

Happy New Year!

Alaphabet for Life
Accept differences
Be kind
Count your blessings
Dream
Express thanks
Forgive
Give freely
Harm no one
Imagine more
Jettison anger
Keep confidences
Love truly
Master something
Nurture hope
Open your mind
Pack lightly
Quell rumors
Reciprocate
Seek wisdom
Touch hearts
Understand
Value truth
Win graciously
Xeriscape
Yearn for peace
Zealously support a worthy cause
by Renee Stewart

Happy Birthday Willie!

At 12:07 p.m. this afternoon, my boy evolved into a teenager. He's a good boy most of the time but I have sensed the teenagerhood stage coming on. No matter what question I ask him, his first response is always, "Whaaat . . ????" (in a deeper somewhat strained and stretched voice). Then when I barely get the repeat question out of my mouth he answers the question. Hmmm . . . , does teenagerhood last six or seven years.

Christmas makes me tired . . . .

I woke up this morning with some energy (but not that much)! Yippee! For every reason out there in rationalization-ville, I am exhausted the day after Christmas and sometimes for a few days more. It's the preparation, the anticipation, the dedication, the contemplation, the prioritization, and the realization that once a year -- this blessed day occurs. And, for that I am indeed grateful!

My favorite Christmas duet . . .

Enjoy!

Christmas Eve --

It's early Christmas Eve, and I am sitting at my computer thinking of everything I haven't done. My Christmas cards are still sitting, unaddressed; I have neighbor gifts to deliver; there are still presents to wrap; I need a few things at the store; and, the list goes on. But, not being ready Christmas in a few areas is okay -- I'll get things done, they may just be later than usual, and that's okay.

I am excited for Christmas -- there's a certain 7th grader who lives with me, a beautiful little grandson, two wonderful daughters and their husbands, and of course Karl who make this year the best ever.

Merry Christmas ---

There's no place like home!

I got home from Las Vegas late Saturday night. It is always so nice to get home after a few days away. I think my boys missed me (at least the one who meows like a cat and calls me "mamacita").

A very creative "welcome home" sign hung in the doorway, and on the stove were some freshly made snicker doodle cookies (TLC recipe book). What a nice surprise!

The meetings I attended were good -- but being away for four days is a huge price to pay when you love being home more than anything in the whole universe.

My son is a STAR scout!!

Willie got his STAR scout rank at the Court of Honor tonight. Karl, Haley, and James were there to cheer him on. Yeah Willie!

Star Scout Requirements:

• Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 4 months as a First Class Scout.


• Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.


• Earn 6 merit badges, including 4 from the required list for Eagle.*______________________(required for Eagle)*__________________________ (required for Eagle)*__________________________ (required for Eagle)*__________________________ (required for Eagle)*__________________________ *____________________


• While a First Class Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.


• While a First Class Scout, serve actively 4 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop). Boy Scout troop: Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, or
  instructor.


• Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.


• Complete your board of review.
  

Meetings at Christmas Time . . . ?????!!!!?????

For the past 12 years, I have served on the ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education) Guidance Division Policy Committee in some capacity. I did a three-year term as an elected member of the ACTE Board (2000-2003), too. This is all volunteer service that greatly helps the counseling and guidance profession and my personal role in that arena. The one and only drawback of my involvement is that our annual meetings (in person) are held in December -- can you believe it?

Willie and Karl accompanied me last year when the meetings were held in Atlanta. This year's spot was not quite as attractive -- Las Vegas -- no NBA team, no acquarium, no significant museum, etc. So, they opted to stay home. I miss them!

Keeping up on the BLOG . . .

I drug Willie and Karl downtown with me last night. We went to the Training Table for a burger and chicken fingers and then drove by Temple Square to see the lights. It was just starting to snow and it was such a beautiful sight. There's nothing like driving in downtown Salt Lake during the Christmas Season and seeing the lights and decorations through snowflakes. There is just such a quiet hush that accompanies a snowstorm.

My Grandma Huber (Ethel) told me that when she was young she loved to see the downtown Christmas lights and decorations in the snow, too. I remember her telling me that Christmas music was piped out on the streets (Main and State) that made the adventure even more exciting.

When I was a little girl, both Main and State Streets were decked in lights that hung across each street from one side to the other, from North Temple to 4th South. At each intersection, long strands of lights were strung upward to a center point, higher than all the others along the street, to form a triangle or pyramid of lights with a star securred at the tip top. Each intersection was different and Main Street and State Street were unique as well. Both sets of my grandparents lived in Slat Lake and after each December Sunday evening visit, Dad would treat us to a look at the lights on our way home to Magna. My sisters and I would banter back and forth about our favorite colors of lights and which intersections were the prettiest. (This was long before any lights on Temple Square.)

Siblings . . .

I have been doing some de-junking. (In a previous blog posting I mentioned how I feel overcome with junk!) In the process, I have found some interesting stuff. This "Peanuts" cartoon was in Haley's room. It's a classic, and I love it!

James and Haley . . .

James and Haley attended their National Guard Christmas party this afternoon. It's a formal affair and James wears his full dress uniform (he looks so handsome in it). Haley wore a soft chiffon and satin black skirt and a black sweater with a satin trim on the collar. They stopped by afterwards and I decided to take a picture. Like all my kids, they are great!

SNOW!

What a surprise -- we woke up to inches of pristine snow -- and it looks so beautiful! There's nothing like a snow storm on a Saturday morning when most don't have to hurry off to school and work. It's so peaceful, calm, white, soft, fresh, . . .

SNOW!

Lines Written After a Snow-storm

by C. C. Moore

Come children dear, and look around;
Behold how soft and light

The silent snow had glad the ground

In robes of purest white.

The trees seem deck'd by fairy hand,

Nor need their native green;

And every breeze appears to stand,

All hush'd, to view the scene.

You wonder how the snows were made

That dance upon the air,

As if from purer worlds they stray'd,

So lightly and so fair.

Perhaps they are the summer flowers

In northern stars that bloom,

Wafted away from icy bowers

To cheer our winter's gloom.

Perhaps they're feathers of a race

Of birds that live away,
In some cold dreary wintry place,

Far from the sun's warm ray.

And clouds, perhaps, are downy beds
On which the winds repose;

Who, when they rouse their slumb'ring heads,

Shake down the feath'ry snows.

But see, my darlings, while we stay

And gaze with fond delight,

The fairy scene soon fades away,

And mocks our raptur'd sight.

And let this fleeting vision teach

A truth you soon must know --

That all the joys we here can reach

Are transient as the snow.

(C.C. Moore is "the poet of Christmas Eve" -- 'Twas the Night Before Christams)

I missed the last chance . . .

I can't believe I missed my last chance to "post" during nablopomo (rats!). I intended to do it all Friday evening -- but never made it to the computer.

I have had a lot of fun posting and reading every other BLOG. I am going to try to keep up the daily (or every other day) updates as best I can. I have learned so much about all of my fellow bloggers and that's been awesome.

Teen Idol . . .

Ricky Nelson was one of the cutest guys on television when I was so much younger. I ran across this video on YouTube last week. Watch it and your heart will definitely go "pitter pat".

YouTube - Ricky Nelson - hallo Mary Lou

Home Alone --

My poor sweet baby boy was left stranded last night, home alone . . .

Karl had a junior JAZZ b-ball meeting at 6:30 p.m. (a one hour meeting), and I had an RS meeting at 7:00 p.m. (they go until the late hours of the evening). Haley was at our house doing her piano lesson thing until 8:00 p.m. Then, a guy in the ward needed a home teaching companion -- he stopped by around 7:30 p.m. to get Karl to go with him. In the meantime, Haley left -- and neither Karl nor I got home until around 10:00 p.m. The boy had showered and was ready for bed, but he was definitely not happy about being home alone all evening. So sorry, Willie -- we will make sure it doesn't happen again!

November 26, 2007

People do read my blog -- I actually had 4 comments after my sob story! Awesome!