Ice, Ice Baby!

We were hit by an "ice storm" in that it rained and everywhere the rain fell, it froze. A lot of trees in town lost limbs, some taking out power, cable and/or phone lines. Our neighbors lost all three. The first picture is of our neighbor's (our other neighbors) tree that has some branches hanging over our driveway. Luckily, it hasn't lost any on our cars. The kids' school also lost some power. When I dropped of Alonzo and Cyrus the hall lights weren't working and neither was the heat.

Luckily, we at least got some snow to top off the ice. Looks like all our snow will be melted by Christmas (we're supposed to get more Friday but it doesn't sound like much is expected).

The second picture is from a nearby park. The broken tree limbs lined all sides of the park (as the park is lined with trees). This was the scene throughout town.

Christmas MeMe

I wasn't tagged this time and I won't tag anyone else but I'd be happy to see some other's answers as well.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Egg nog does take priority during this time of the year. I dilute mine with some milk, however. Not only does it make it last but it makes it less fattening.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Both

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored lights on the tree that do all sorts of patterns. We have some blue swag lights for the house but I dislike them and haven't put them up.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No. Don't know why not, just don't. Haven't thought about it. Cyrus would probably be concerned.

5. When do you put your decorations up? During our Thanksgiving break. We usually get the tree the day after and decorate over the next couple of days.

6. Favorite holiday memory as a child: I'm having a hard time coming up with one. We often went to see my grandparents for Christmas. Not much memory left from my childhood days (or, at least, it is selective). A more recent favorite Christmas, however, was when my annual Christmas wish for snow came true big time. As in over a foot of snow! That is my favorite holiday memory as an adult child .

7. How and when did you learn the truth about Santa? I honestly don't remember (yes, bad memory!) I think I suspected for a while but I didn't say anything, just going along with the attempted "deception".

8. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? That was my family's tradition when I was a kid but we haven't carried it on. I guess with fewer presents to open it just takes away from Christmas morning.

9. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? With ornaments, lights, the colored balls (what are they called?) and that silvery string stuff (ugh! what are those called?)

10. Snow! Love it or dread it? See #6 above. Love it!

11. Can you ice skate? Yes, awkwardly. We went ice skating at the Galleria mall in Dallas when my wife and I got married. Not too many places to ice skate where we are, so we haven't done in quite a while!

12. Do you remember your favorite gift? Probaby my first camera with the second camera coming in second. After some additional thought I my have to update this one.

13. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? The reason for the season which in turn draws the family close. The birth of Jesus Christ is why we have Christmas so that is what everything should revolve around. The giving of gifts is fun and a supplementary feature.

14. What is your favorite holiday dessert? We make all sorts of goodies on Christmas Eve. My favorite is probably the Chocolate and Rasberry brownies but I also really like magic bars.

15. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I like singing Christmas Carols and the making and eating of goodies. The time with family is the best. We have a little visit from St. Nicholas on December 6 as they do in Belgium, where my mom is from. We also read and act out the Christmas story.

16. What tops your tree? A star with lights.

17. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Giving as I don't get so much these days. But the giving is fun.

18. What is your favorite Christmas song? Probably "O Come All Ye Faithful" But I really like most of them.

First Winter Snow of the Season

Here are some pictures of the kids enjoying the first winter snow of the season here. We got around 6" of snow and school was canceled so they got to enjoy it. Their play lasted for a little while before they got too cold (it was around 24ºF).

Update - we actually got 8.25" officially.

Halloween 2006

Okay, I'm running a little bit late but at least its not Thanksgiving yet. Here is the gang in their Halloween attire. These aren't bought costumes (except the light sabers and the Darth Vader mask). The gal hanging on the wall is a friendly apparition.

The theme was their choice. Well, Deveny wanted to be a Princess so being Princes Leia was fine with her because of the Princesspart.

Corny

I'm bad. I'm a bad blogger with not enough regular posts. It is a matter of just getting my thoughts typed out, mostly. Well, I have posted at BResponsible and I wanted to make note of it here. The post is Corny.

Radical Origins

As I was searching Google Books for information regarding some of my ancestors, a publication kept on coming up, Radical Origins: Early Mormon Converts and Their Colonial Ancestors by Val Dean Rust. Understand that I have not read this book though at some point I may (somewhat depending on any feedback I get back on it). Here is a description found at Google Books:

Val D. Rust's Radical Origins investigates whether the unconventional religious beliefs of their colonial ancestors predisposed early Mormon converts to embrace the "radical" message of Joseph Smith Jr. and his new church. Utilizing a unique set of meticulously compiled genealogical data, Rust uncovers the ancestors of early church members throughout what we understand as the radical segment of the Protestan Reformation. Coming from backgrounds in the Antinomians, Seekers, Anabaptists, Quakers, and the Family of Love, many colonial ancestors of the church's early members had been ostracized from their communities. Expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, some were whipped, mutilated, or even hanged for their beliefs. Rust shows how family lore can be passed down through the generations, and can ultimately shape the outlook of future generations.

Now, I was doing research on ancestors of some of my Mormon ancestors so I guess their mention in this book shows the Mr. Rust may have a point. Or does he? What kind of people were coming to the New England area during early colonial times? Many were seeking to worship God as they chose. Many were being persecuted in their native country for their religious beliefs. Would not a majority of those who came be considered "radical" in their beliefs? Many of these ancestors of mine are not only ancestors of my Mormon families by also ancestors of many prominent leaders of this country as well as many present day non-Mormons.

I found the premise of the book interesting when I first read it. First, I think the religious atmosphere of Joseph Smith's time definitely was a contributing factor to and conducive to the restoration. Joseph Smith's "radical" religious background probably was what provided an atmosphere of religious exploration that encouraged Joseph Smith's actions. Others who would become followers of the Church would also come from backgrounds of religious exploration, with an openness to check out a "new" religion. However, there was a lot of religious exploration going on at the time with a majority not joining up with Joseph Smith's church.

As I explore the description of this book, the less I think Mr. Rust has a point. I don't know Mr. Rust's intent as I haven't read the book but just reading the premise I wonder if he is trying to show a defect in the ancestors of early Mormons that predisposed them to believe Joseph Smith. I can't go along with that considering those same ancestors belong to others that would not become followers of the Mormon faith or what may be considered a "radical" faith. Even if Mr. Rust is not disparaging the reasoning behind the choice of early Mormons to believe and follow Joseph Smith, it is faulty for the same reason - lack of uniqueness in ancestors of early Mormons compared to your "average" non-radical early American.

If anyone has read this book, please comment on what you thought of it. Like I said, I haven't had the chance to read it having just discovered its existence. Perhaps it would be worth the read. Perhaps not.

Halloween MeMe

I've been tagged for a MeMe by KetchupQueen - something I've never heard of before but here I go (I hope I'm not too dull)!

1. What's the scariest movie you've ever seen?

I haven't seen too many scary movies. The most recent I have seen was The Grudge which was creepy. I prefer creepy over bloody. Another one that is fairly decent is Dark Water but I definitely did not like the end of that one.

2. What was your favorite Halloween Costume from childhood, and adulthood?

I honestly don't have any memorable costumes from my childhood and don't dress up these days (mostly a time issue). My wife does some excellent costumes for the kids (usually super heros these days). My daughter was a flower in a pot one year (her first halloween) - she was so cute! My oldest was a good Harry Potter that year while his brother was a dragon.

3. If you had an unlimited budget, what would your Fantasy Costume be for this Halloween?

For some reason I've always wanted to wear an authentic costume from the mid-1800s. I won't do it unless it is authentic. I also like medievel costumes as long as they don't involve tights.

4. When was the last time you went Trick Or Treating?

My fondest memories Trick or Treating was from when I was a kid in Idaho. We got so much candy (especially when I would go with a friend in addition to going with family). I don't recall going Trick or Treating after that here in Texas.

We don't take the kids Trick or Treating but take them to some various carnivals and such put on by organizations and churches (including our own Church Ward's "Fall Festival").

5. What's your favorite Halloween Candy?

I would have to say any of the miniature candy bars with Milky Way and Snickers being my favorite. Actually, anything chocolate is good.

6. Tell us about a scary nightmare you had.

I don't have too many scary nightmares anymore. The worse is anything to do with my kids - like not being able to find them. As a kid my recurring nightmare was running away from a tiger and jumping off a cliff. I never got to the bottom but in a version I would have a rope tied around my waste and the nightmare would end with me dangling from a rope and a tiger falling toward me, teeth and claws bared.

7. What is your Supernatural Fear?

Can't think of one.

8. What is your Creepy-Crawlie Fear?

Being attacked by an ant colony.

9. Tell us about a time when you saw a ghost, or heard something go Bump in the night.

I'll have to decline for the same reason KQ did on this one. I haven't seen or felt any friendly spirits, so the only other kind left are ones I don't want to dwell on.

10. Would you ever stay in a real Haunted House overnight?

It is pretty easy to say yes to this one as I don't reckon it will ever happen. I would want a big huge flashlight (preferably a 10 million candle power spotlight).

11. Are you a traditionalist (just a face) Jack O'Lantern Carver, or do you get really creative with your pumpkins?

I like to be creative. Sometimes a scene (ghosts in a cemetery one year) but usually a unique face of some kind.

12. How much do you decorate your home for Halloween?

My wife does the decorating. We have more stuff each year (a couple items bought on clearance right after halloween). My wife tries to pass off the real spider webs as decorations but they were there way before halloween.

13. What do you want on your Tombstone?

Just the stats!

I am going to tag Mary (Tyro) for this MeMe and someone else if I come up with them (I'll let you know).

A Family History Overhaul

Some exciting things are underway for FamilySearch.org. This Deseret News article mentions some of things that are coming to FamilySearch. I'm not incredibly excited by the online tree features after seeing so many errors on for-profit endeavors such as OneGreatFamily and Ancestry's OneWorldTree. Some who do genealogical research aren't too concerned about accuracy. Actually, they don't seem to be too concerned about, well . . . actual research.

I do look forward to the digitizing of records and the availability of indexes for those records. This will be a great benefit to actual research and provider greater access to records that would otherwise have to be ordered on microfilm or microfiche and accessed through a Family History Library (FHC) or a local library. I just haven't had much time for that type of effort (though I have in the past early in my research). I greatly enjoy Ancestry.com but it is expensive to access the records I really want.

It sounds like a lot of effort has gone into the changes for FamilySearch. I hope it creates and maintains excitement in doing family history research. The more working at it (doing actual research) will make for more information shared!

Isolation

Sometimes the thought of living in the middle of no where seems quite appealing. The world often gets quite annoying and not having to deal with it would be nice. Maybe I'm listening to too much talk/news radio. Too much politics. Too much bad news.

The logistics of living in the middle of no where may be difficult. I would want to be self-sufficient. Power generated from solar energy and possibly wind if no where is in the right place for that. I would want a greenhouse of some kind to help with growing a sufficient garden. There would be chickens for meat and eggs. As much as the family and I enjoy milk we would have to have a dairy cow. It would be nice to hunt for game to supply us with some meat but these days it is getting more difficult for the "common man" to find a place to hunt.

I would find it hard to depart with the internet as there is so much information to be found. It is also nice for sharing information. Somehow I would want to stay connected.

I believe I would be deceiving myself to think it would be as simple as it sounds. It would probably be difficult to find a piece of property for a decent price located in the middle of no where unless it was in the middle of nothing which is not what I want. I need some trees and would like to be close to mountains.

I will admit it is nice to whip around a corner or two for convenient shopping for convenient foods. I'm sure all the conveniences of living in or close to town would be missed after a short bit. Escaping the world would not be easy and maybe not the best way to deal with it? I pose that as question because I'm still working on a complete answer to that. At least I know it would be nice to have a cabin in the mountains for occasional escapes. When I'm well off. That so much sounds like never.

Donuts for Dads

This morning was "Donuts for Dads" at my two sons' school. They do it every year and there is a good turn-out. I think it should be "Donuts with Dad" or, actually, "Donut with Dad" as everyone gets one donut (but the latter doesn't sound very good). I enjoyed sitting with my two sons eating a donut - to watch them and talk with them. Its hard to believe Cyrus will be going to Middle School next year and how much Alonzo is growing. Cyrus is a good kid when he isn't complaining about only getting one donut (and other things ;) ). Alonzo can be a good kid but succeeds less often than Cyrus but it is quite special when he is.

I would prefer muffins, especially chocolate ones, but the moms get that later in the school year (Muffins for Moms).

2006 Tri-State Fair

My wife has out-done herself, again. Out of 20 entries this year she got 14 first place ribbons, 3 seconds and 2 thirds. Some ask how she has time to do it all. She just sews for our daughter (and occasionally for herself) and submits those items (there are other items as well, but most of the items are what my wife has sewn for our daughter). She started smocking a year or so ago and has been doing a lot of that in addition to her regular sewing, embroidery (of different kinds) and crafts (this year she made some dinosaur "hats" for our son's birthday party from paper mache (for some dinosaur relays) - of course, I couldn't enter my dinosaur pinata because...well, you know).

We're looking into ways she might be able to sell some of her work. It is hard to get a fair price for the work involved but the end product should be worth it to those looking for quality and detail.

More Work by Christophe Carlier

Here is some more paintings by my cousin in Belgium, Christophe Carlier:

Le voyage à Caer Sidi ou La chute

The Voyage of Caer Sidi or The Fall is the translation I get. From what little I understand Caer Sidi is associated with Welsh legend and Camelot. I'll welcome any additional information or input on Caer Sidi as the internet sources mention it but don't explain it well.

Trilythe

Again, I believe this is associated with Welsh legend from what I gather from this article by Colette Bertot regarding these pieces and the overall gallery showing of Christophe's works (The Call of the Forest: Myths and Mysteries) in Brussells.

Christophe is teaching at Académie Constantin Meunier d'Etterbeek (the Constantin Meunier Academy in Etterbeek)

Obadiah Parker - Hey Yeah (Outkast Cover)

Here's a unique play of Outkast's "Hey Ya" by Mat Weddle of Obadiah Parker [obadiahparker.com] performed at a Studio Open Mic at Xtreme Bean in Tempe, Arizona. I was surprised about the lyrics, which you can actually understand in this version. Half the song is actually pretty good but the last part degenerates (for the most part) as far as the lyrics go. Mat Weddle has got an excellent voice and you can hear more from Obadiah Parker at MySpace. Hint for those with slower internet connections: Click on the link the Google Video which will take you to the video there. Instead of playing while the video loads, hit the pause button and wait until the video complete loads before playing it.

Gosselies, Belgium

I just read an account of an American GI during World War II (Tiger Joe; A Photographic Diary of a World War II Aerial Reconnaisance Pilot by Joe Thompson and Tom Delvaux). For a time he was in Gosselies, Belgium. During that time, the locals mentioned how several residents of the village had disappeared during the German occupation. They requested to dig up a spot where they suspected they would make a grissly discovery and, sure enough, they exhumed 190 bodies, many of which were of married couples with children then orphaned. What a sad discovery and another example of Nazi atrocities.

I mention this because I have family in Charleroi that is just south of Gosselies. My mother was born in the area as well and her mother was living in the area during the war. I can imagine the fear that existed during World War II of what the Nazis might do.

Careography

Here is a 80's commercial for the Isuzu Gemini. These days it would be done with CGI but this was not.

Working Out

I have determined to get myself healthier. My biggest problem has been the lack of excercise and the biggest reason for that lack is when to fit it in. I was thinking about joining a health club but there are none conveniently close to our house and I would hate to have to get up at 5:00am to get my excercise done before getting ready for the day and taking my son to school. Of course, the biggest problem with 5:00am is actually succeeding at getting up that early!

When I was working out on my mission while serving in the mission office, we would go to the Deseret Gymn in Ogden every morning. It was helpful to have the group support to get out of bed early enough to go. I would alternate the stair climber with some circuit training. By the time I returned home I was the fittest I had ever been up to that point. At Ricks with all the biking I did back and forth to campus, I became even more fit. Ah...those were the days.

Well, I bought a elliptical machine. I have only been using it a week but it sure feels good to get in some excercise in the morning. I think it was well worth the expense and is definitely less expensive than a health club. I got an elliptical machine because it is more like a stair climber, which I favor. I have never liked running or jogging due to the impact it has on my knees and ankles and thus a treadmill was never attractive but an elliptical machine really has a low impact.

Now, I have to be patient in order to see the benefits of working out again. It takes a little while to get the metabolism going again and reap those benefits.

Still Here

I really should post more often. We had a great holiday season but it lacked snow! Now it is a new year and time seems to be going too fast. It seems like the kids have a grown a couple inches each time I look at them. There's so much to accomplish and so little headway.

It is hard to keep upbeat. My job hunt continues and the desire to move increases. At the same time I dread moving after being in a place for over seven years. By seven years, I mean in our house. I've been here in this town for over 20 years. I'm comfortable but yearn for change.

It seems you can't get a job in another state without being transferred by a current employer or by having some good connections. I feel there is something out there for me that I just haven't run into but I am growing impatient. I don't want to take much longer if we are going to relocate because I don't want to bounce around my kids too much and would like to avoid doing it in the teenage years. I do like to settle and get comfortable.

My move from Idaho to Texas took me a good while to get over. The culture was different and I didn't merge "into traffic" until midway through Junior High though we moved here when I was in 4th grade. My son is now the age I was when my family moved to Texas. He is a lot like me and I don't want to put him through too much of what I went through.

So, here we are. While it feels like a rut, I know we are blessed to have what we have and even to be where we are. I do want more but I want it for my kids. I want to provide them with a great youth and point them in the right direction for a great future. I'll be thrilled just to give them more than I had. I think I'm succeeding to an extent namely in providing them with love and support.