YCC Success

After many many long months of practice. The YCC (Youth Cultural Celebration) was a HUGE success. Many of the leaders, parents and youth were wondering if all of these hours and hours of practice would be worth it. Scouting programs were put on hold, youth activities were put on hold and many schedules were re-arranged just to make this happen. Many families gave up a lot to be involved in this event. After all is said and done, everyone that I have talked to has said it was totally wort it.

The Celebration was Awesome. Many times during the performance I was litterally brought to tears knowing how much work was put into the production and to see it blossom like it did was just amazing.

If you were to ask anyone in the stake if they would do it all again, I am almost certain that they would all say YES, it was completely and totally worth it.

Here are some snap shots that someone else took of the celebration. You really had to be there to completely appreciate how well this performance was presented.

Back To School Too

Ok, everyone else is posting "back to school" pics so I guess I had better join the herd and post my own.

Here is the Carter's first day of school pictures.

School Starts

Every year we head over to our elementary school for their annual open house. This is a time when the parents and the kids get to see their new class rooms and meet their new teacher. Each year we do this, I make sure that our kids dress up in nice clothes (not church clothes) but nice clothes, to meet their new teacher. Every year the kids complain about having to look nice to go to school for the first time. My requirements are, no flip flops, not tee shirts, no shorts. They are to wear a collared shirt, long pants without holes and shoes. Girls should wear a skirt. All I get is griping, gowning, and complaining. HOWEVER, when we arrive at the school, they are all looking nice and presentable. I follow the same rules and wear a collared shirt, nice pants and a suit jacket.

My Sister Rachael taught me this important lesson one year while picking her brain about life. She mentioned that every time she went to the school to meet with a teacher or an administrator, she always dressed up in her nicest outfit and if she could, she would wear a suit. She found that the administrator and the teachers would treat her much different just based on how she dressed. I totally believe it so now, when I go to the school, I always try to dress up.

So, to round out this blog post, I was shocked at how many of the parents and kids were dressed when attending the "open house" at our elementary school. Parents were wearing flip flops, tee shirts, grungy shorts, tank tops. It was amazing. The kids were dressed the same, sloppy, and slouchy.

First impressions do matter. I'm going to hold to my standard of always dressing up to go to school.

DMZ

I have stared to listen to Dennis Miller on the radio in the mornings as I am headed to work and while I am skateboarding around town trying to solve computer problems for people. I find his musings very entertaining and very insightful. I really like his show because he is always using vocabulary that I am unfamiliar with and he uses analogies that really make you stop and think. Once you stop and think about his analogy and how it fits into his line of thinking, you have just missed the next 10 seconds of his rant. So, you really have to be on your toes to be able to keep up with his discussion.



Dennis Miller

Here is Dennis's website. http://dennismillerradio.com/site If you want to listen live, just click on "Listen Live Free" in the middle section. You could also go to this website link, http://dennismillerradio.com/programhighlights and click on "Download a segment here". Or, click this link to download and listen to his "Pitch" right here.

Once I was listening to Dennis and a caller called in and made the following comment, "I love your show Dennis but I must admit, I only "get" about 1/3 of that you are saying.". Dennis replied, "That's ok because I am making up about 2/3's of what I say."

Anyway, check out the Dennis Miller Show the next time you are in the car and are sick of the all of the other radio personalities out there. I liken this radio show to the concentration and depth of knowledge you need to watch "West Wing".

Outdoor article

So, we have been encouraging Coby to write as much as possible so I decided one day to contact my friend that works at the local newspaper to see if there was something that Coby could type up that might make it into the newspaper. He informed me that sometimes they will have small articles published in the Outdoor section. This was great news because Coby was just about ready to head up to Scout Camp. Before Coby left, we gave him an assignment to write something about an event that happened while being outdoors at Scout Camp. Well, I am sorry to say that I was very skeptical that this assignment would remain in his longterm memory. To my surprise he marched home from camp and typed up a nice little article. I went in to the local paper and asked if he could submit it as an Outdoor article and they gave me their email address. I rushed home to make sure Coby shined up the short story so it could be emailed to the editor.

Well, as of yet, we haven't see his work published. I'm not sure that they ever will so I am going to publish it in my blog. The editor did think writing was good but, he just wasn't sure he would have enough room to fit it in. If it does make the paper, you will be the first (or second) to know.

Here is the link to the paper he wrote. Coby's Hawk Story

Hypochondriac or West Nile

Definition of Hypochondriac

Hypochondriac: A person who has hypochondriasis, a disorder characterized by a preoccupation with body functions and the interpretation of normal body sensations (such as sweating) or minor abnormalities (such as minor aches and pains) as portending problems of major medical moment. Reassurance by physicians and others only serves to increase the hypochondriac's persistent anxiety about their health.

Ok, we all know that a hypochondriac is continually worried about dying of a horrible disease. I would like to submit supportive evidence that I have this problem.

When I was younger, I was told that if my left arm ached and started to tingle that I was going to have a heart attack. Well, there have been several times throughout my life that I am pretty sure I had a heart attack because I have had these exact symptoms, however, it always seems to re-occur right after I am reminded of these symptoms.

A month or two ago I was told that my second cousin had a brain tumor. My Dad told me that the symptoms where uncontrolled twitching of your fingers and hands. I put this in the back of my mind after hearing of these symptoms and low and behold, just a few days later, my fingers felt like they were twitching. As I thought over what I had done over the last few days I tried to figure out what may have caused it because I really didn't want to have a brain tumor. I then realized that maybe it was just my hand reacting to pitching curve balls to my son the two night previous. Either that or I was a gonner.

Just this week I wasn't feeling very well. My stomach was turning and bubbling and I wasn't sure what was causing it. I thought back to what I had eaten over the last few days to try and pin it on something. Maybe I had food poisoning. Then, I read in the paper that the first case of West Nile Virus had been discovered. The symptoms are akin to having the flu. Well, that did it for me, I am sure I have West Nile Virus.

So, for future reference, if you know of a new frightening disease, please do not tell me about it nor tell me about the symptoms. I am very likely to come down with that very disease the very next day.

Social Networking

I have now entered the world of social networking. I'm not quite sure how it works but I'm willing to give it a try. I have signed up for http://www.linkedin.com and I have added a few people to my "network". We will see what happens. I should have a half a million dollar job land in my lap in just a few days. :-)

If you don't know what social networking sites are, you can watch this little video that will teach you what it is all about.