Velvy and C-bones

Michael Feinstein's American Songbook

2012-02-03T19:38:00.001-08:00

Check your local PBS listings:

Michael Feinstein's American Songbook

"Time Machines"

Soundies; historic building where jam sessions originated; Hugh Hefner's rare footage of cabaret performer Bobby Short and singer Al Bowlly.

Tom Waits on Austin City Limits

2011-12-27T21:26:00.001-08:00

Watch Tom Waits on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

The Top 10 Books Lost To Time: via HuffPost

2011-09-28T19:30:00.001-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/the-top-10-books-lost-to-_n_983991.html

Sweet Fancy Moses, Part II:

2011-09-22T08:54:00.001-07:00

Sweet Fancy Moses:

2011-09-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

Mountain Heart - #6 Barn Dance

2011-08-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdcUYQ06qjg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Oregon trip, I

2011-07-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

stumptown and lake:

Oregon Trip, part deux

2011-07-17T22:35:00.000-07:00

camp alpine, heberized:

When Sick, Keep Your Bowls Close:

2011-06-29T14:07:00.001-07:00

Clare & the Reasons

2011-06-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

A band the c-bones loves a little more than velvy:

a love ballad to Pluto.

Velvy and C-bones favorite Band

2011-06-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

The Bird and the Bee:

For the first time, we discovered a band together and fell in love with it at the same time; a sublime experience.

Huffington Post: State Legalizes Gold Coins As Currency

2011-05-23T03:56:00.001-07:00

		State Legalizes Gold Coins As Currency
	SALT LAKE CITY — Utah legislators want to see the dollar regain its former glory, back to the days when one could literally bank on...

mountain music

2011-05-15T20:58:00.001-07:00

i will sit
on the floor
of this valley
until I again hear
that sweet, sweet gong
of the yonder mountains
under spell of moonshine
and the moonshiner's
sweet and sickly
moonshining
country
song

the
spectre
of revenuers
haunt my dreams,
though i no longer scream,
nightmares of re-upping
with that old river-bend,
oak-flavored, crew,
countryside life
will never do,
the records
aren't
true

Sunday nights
are an awful fright
decompressing church,
the damage those hymns do,
the preacher isn't through,
and i am awfully blue,
thank baby Jesus,
for songs to sing,
golden fears
always do
bring
fuel

the mountain stills
must continue to be fed
no matter the ungodly hour
or a precious country dream
i promised daddy that i would
keep on that moonshine circuit
and keep the corn-mash glow
forget warm bed and home
get to places far enough
the revenuers won't
ever, ever go

Huffington Post: The Most Awesome Trailer Ever?

2011-05-15T08:24:00.001-07:00

		The Most Awesome Trailer Ever?
	The recent Festival of Ideas in NYC boasted a treasure trove of eye-catching art, installations and innovations - including this awesome lime green home recycled...

Highway to Heaven

2011-05-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Huffington Post: DAN WILBUR: Don't Want The Titles Of Your Favorite Kids' Books Ruined? Don't Read These Variations!

2011-05-06T11:44:00.001-07:00

		DAN WILBUR: Don't Want The Titles Of Your Favorite Kids' Books Ruined? Don't Read These Variations!
	To celebrate Children's Book Week, Better Book Titles would like to save you time by summing up Children's classics. Now, you can avoid any awkward conversations with your child or failure to see the moral of the story by knowing the content of these books beforehand.

LNaked Words: Our First Language Is Poetry

2011-04-12T19:44:00.001-07:00

KIM ROSEN: Naked Words: Our First Language Is Poetry

The poems I love most are those that speak of the inner life. They are my prayers. They are holy without being denominational, political without being sectarian, intimate without being bound by gender, age or culture.

Huffington Post: How A Completely Blank Book Became An Amazon Bestseller

2011-04-12T19:40:00.001-07:00

		How A Completely Blank Book Became An Amazon Bestseller
	I stared at my computer screen. There, sitting in my inbox was an email that confirmed the world around me had gone totally and utterly,...

Huffington Post: Most Frequently Challenged Books: Were Librarians Right To Fight? (PHOTOS)

2011-04-12T19:39:00.001-07:00

		Most Frequently Challenged Books: Were Librarians Right To Fight? (PHOTOS)
	It's National Library Week and The American Library Association has published its report on the State of American Libraries. Among the trends reported: Libraries are...

Huffington Post: The Most Bike-Friendly Universities

2011-04-05T22:53:00.001-07:00

		The Most Bike-Friendly Universities
	Avid cyclists, take note -- the country's dreamiest school, Stanford, is also the most bike-friendly, according to the League of American Bicyclists. This year, the...

Huffington Post: MATTHEW L. SKINNER: Apocalypse Now? Understanding The End Times

2011-03-27T20:53:00.001-07:00

evocative, symbolic

		MATTHEW L. SKINNER: Apocalypse Now? Understanding The End Times
	Of course, Christians have been proclaiming the nearness of Jesus' return ever since there have been Christians. So far, one might conclude, Jesus has been uninterested in taking the bait.

Huffington Post: Elite Marathon Runner Dies At 27

2011-03-10T07:44:00.001-08:00

		Elite Marathon Runner Dies At 27
	Champion marathon runner Sally Meyerhoff died suddenly Tuesday at 27 years old in a bicycle accident. According to The Arizona Republic, Meyerhoff's bike collided with...

To Err

2011-02-27T07:06:00.000-08:00

is human,
to be overweight, divine.

McSweeney's Internet Tendency: Straight Answers to Some Popular Rhetorical Riddles.

2011-02-25T01:03:00.001-08:00

for english language lovers everywhere:
McSweeney's Internet Tendency: Straight Answers to Some Popular Rhetorical Riddles.

The Pedicure (Illustrated)

2011-02-19T10:55:00.001-08:00

The Pedicure

My wife has enriched my life,
by encouraging me
to smooth the too rough,
but all the sudden:
she was a Kardashian,
and I was Bruce Jenner,
trying to keep up.

But I could see the check out lines,
from where the ineffable took place,
black men turned to white men,
in a racist turn of face.

My wife and my daughter,
held my hands,
while my bleeding feet were bandaged,
the Walmart world watched my disgrace,
and the videorecorders took advantage.

Just around the corner,
a global crisis had occured,
people frantically withdrawing money,
Jimmy Stewart standing plaintively by,
whispering, "please don't leave me, honey."

Velvy wanted to stop at three, but I insisted on a fourth

2011-02-16T22:24:00.001-08:00

-------------

#1,

vintage '80s, Trek 830, 15 speed

purchased: sum of janeldo bucks in 2002 or 2003.

current worth: priceless sentimental value

location: hanging from garage ceiling, frame separate from wheels

operational status: unknown

fun facts: my Dad put 10's of thousands of miles on it. came with matching ladies step-through unit (location: unknown).

approximate appearance:

------------------

#2,

early 20th century, motiv dual suspension (orange), 24 speed

purchased: a couple hundred american dollars at costco, early 20th century.

current worth: a few tens of american dollars, no sentimental value

location: bike rack near screw-driven garage door

operational status: good-to-excellent

fun facts: officialy Velvy's, she rides it when we go for family rides, but I ride it when nothing else of mine is running. post and seat stolen, replaced with a camo seat and a nut and bolt in lieu of quick release.

approximate appearance:

------------------------

#3,

ultra-motor a2b electric pedal hybrid, 8 speed

purchased: enough to buy a running junker automobile, early 20th century, strategically the week before Velvy left for a few weeks vacation in Oregon.

current worth: unknown, a little bit of green cred (charged on coal power)

location: near the garage fridge

operational status: after a couple of salty, slushy, icy winters: flickering

fun fact: in warmer days, used to traverse the polluted yet oddly natural jordan river trail.

approximate appearance:

(I pretty much look like this d00d when riding it, too)

#4,

Schwinn (Hongling) Gateway, 28", 7 speed

purchased: 75% off at Target, a couple of weeks ago (had my eye on it at full price, couldn't resist)

current worth: a few happy meals, sore legs

location: bike rack near screw-driven garage door

operational status: good, drivetrain clunks under strain

fun fact: Velvet wanted me to get operational and Sophie's choice #1 or #3 above first, but couldn't deny that 75% off was irresistable. Freewheel gave out after a few dozen miles, replacement cost an additional 50% of the 75% discounted purchase price

approximate appearance:

A Spotted-Owl Cake

2011-02-16T22:10:00.001-08:00

Velvet made this cake for a friend's baby shower but was too shy to hoot her own horn about it:

May the baby grow up in wisdom, fueled by green #7.

2011-01-13T13:41:00.000-08:00

You guys already seen this?

Huffington Post: Blackbird Deaths Blamed On 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Repeal

2011-01-12T07:19:00.001-08:00

Here is the money quote:
Boing Boing reports that in her new book, Jacobs warns that "From Pokemon cards and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to Marilyn Manson and psychic hotlines, this nation is under siege." So, basically, America is being attacked by stuff from the 1990s.

		Blackbird Deaths Blamed On 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Repeal
	If you're like most Americans, you've probably recently been worried about the mass bird die-offs that made the news this year, fretted about signs and...

Please add a caption for this photograph in the comments:

2011-01-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

The Brannock Device

2011-01-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

I was standing on the edge of my toilet hanging a clock, the porcelain was wet, I slipped, hit my head on the edge of the sink, and when I came to I had a revelation, a vision, a picture in my head, a picture of this!

Global Warming Comic

2011-01-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

Ken's World suggested my nieces and nephews try this site, but I didn't want to be left out of the fun:

4 Utahns compete on 'The Biggest Loser;' 25 percent of state is obese | Deseret News

2011-01-05T08:09:00.001-08:00

4 Utahns compete on 'The Biggest Loser;' 25 percent of state is obese | Deseret News

New edition removes Mark Twain's 'offensive' words | Deseret News

2011-01-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

New edition removes Mark Twain's 'offensive' words | Deseret News

Zip-Tie Snow Tires

2010-12-29T16:33:00.000-08:00

Zip Tie Snow Tires: The Cheapest Way To Blizzard-Proof Your Bike

God's little rabbits: Religious people out-reproduce secular ones by a landslide

2010-12-29T16:30:00.000-08:00

an article by Jesse Bering

Are you watching Glee?

2010-11-16T18:53:00.001-08:00

Huffington Post: DEEPAK CHOPRA: Obama's Even-Handedness Works Against Him

2010-11-16T18:48:00.001-08:00

		DEEPAK CHOPRA: Obama's Even-Handedness Works Against Him
	Obama is clearly an adult, and he has resisted the temptation to portray his enemies in black and white. But as much as I admire his adult behavior, it would be understandable if he stood up to the bullies on the right.

two thieves and an introspector

2010-10-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

2010-10-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

Fungu Amongu

2010-10-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

2010-10-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

Palin wants to be Refudiated

2010-07-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

Story Here:

Sarah Palin 'Refudiate' Twitter Remark Causes FLOOD Of #ShakesPalin Tweets

My favorites pictured.

Glen Beck Haik U contest

2010-07-21T17:24:00.001-07:00

Flunking Sainthood tipped me off to a Glen Beck Haik U contest inspired by his comments on social justice.

Here's my entry:

he that hath two eyes,
let him see justice quickly:
the smiter smitten

Chamomile Tea Party Posters

2010-07-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

The Words of Christians in the Mouth of Christ

2010-07-21T16:38:00.000-07:00

Here's an image from a pretty sweet blog called
Tea Party Jesus:

Many more at: http://teapartyjesus.tumblr.com/

What does it mean?

2010-07-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

Tell us if this doesn't brighten your day.

all you tea-partiers head down south to swim in the ocean

2010-06-29T20:23:00.001-07:00

It ought to be a crime

2010-06-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

West Valley cops chase down, use Taser on nude woman

to have a headline like that without publishing any photos.

Peter's Prayer

2010-06-29T18:32:00.002-07:00

Peter's Prayer:

Our Father in Heaven, we thank Thee that in a world where millions suffer from hunger and malnutrition, we in America are blessed with a conspicuous abundance of food and drink. We thank Thee that in a world where millions suffer from a lack of adequate clothing and shelter, we in America are blessed with fine clothes and beautiful homes. We pray that Thou wilt fill us with love for our less fortunate brothers and sisters. We pray that Thou wilt help us to use our great riches with humility and responsibility; that Thou wilt teach us how to distinguish the eternal values from the honorific emblems of vanity and pride. Help us, O God. Help us to remember the words of Thy Son when he said, 'Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.' In Veblen's name we ask it. Amen.

from: "The Flight of Peter Fromm" by Martin Gardner

Perfection

2010-06-29T18:32:00.001-07:00

Evidently somebody got tired of trying to reach it.

Sad K.

2010-06-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

You decry
your decision
to participate
in man's terrible decision
to forgo circumcision.

You played at
being the one
but after the setting
of the digital sun,

you reeled, realizing,
the one had already come.

Sought after,
for the message,

the bread and fish,
your only wish,
and your heart is a flutter,

to avoid the Christ,
at any price,
and find some
peanut butter.

Snow

2009-12-08T18:27:00.000-08:00

Waiting for the Bus

traffic going my direction
is slow enough
for snow to stick on tires
cold enough
for snow to stick on road

road and tires
meet and squeak
like farting ducks

I must turn
like a weather-vane
to keep the smell
out of my face

some have windows cracked
and when the wind is right
I smell a whiff of heat
carrying coffee or smoke
or morning news
of warmer places

I am late
or the bus was early
as my tracks fill in

traffic going my direction
is fast enough
and the roofs of cars
cold enough
for the snow to wisp off
like a second exhaust
and when the wind is right
the whiffs mix in

and I must turn
like a weather-vane
to keep from
good and choking

the road is packed
and cold enough
if I shoulder checked
to send a sub-compact
into a tail-spin

the wind and snow
put on a show
I can see gusts
approaching

so that I can turn
just ahead of time
like a weather-vane
with mind enough

the road is packed
but where cars don't go
it is cold enough
for a fluffy snow
for my tracks to fill in
and fill in again

and I must turn
like a weather-vane
hope to forget
where I am going

A Role 'Model'

2009-10-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

I was walking with Mom and Dad down the back wall of the new Church History Library and they had the covers of a bunch of Church magazines framed on the wall. Mom said, "Hey, your dad is in that one". It was the July 1960 Improvement Era (forerunner to The Ensign). We found it in an article about sharing the Gospel in the Armed Services:

Dad said he was there weekends for the Army Reserves at Fort Douglas. The photographer was in Dad's ward and had an assignment for the Church Magazines. This was before Dad's mission. I hoped the Improvement Era had kept their photos. I did a little digging and found a bunch more in the Archives collection (the photos weren't listed as associated with the magazines, just something like 'unidentified servicemen, 1930-1970'):

Above, cropped from one below. A similar but different shot than the one used for the magazine. Intriguing research, as at least one shot is absent from the set I found.

Above, the chaplain appears to be getting worked up as he is motion blurry. Dad is just above the preacher's bible.

This reminds me of the engravings of religious revival times, the chaplain is essaying to convict them of their sins.

The one above ended up in the visitor's center on Temple Square. Dad is sharing a religious pamphlet. The guy on the right, Ron Hammer, ended up being in Mom's mission.

My theory is that Dad is contemplating sharing the religious tract. There is another I didn't include where Hammer is contemplating the tract Dad shared (I believe it is "The Plan of Salvation" by Elder John Morgan).

After-Dinner Walk

2009-10-02T17:55:00.001-07:00

2009-09-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

So I feel so bad. I am just now posting about
Laura's birthday but better late than never! Laura's
birthday kind of stretched out the whole week.
Aunt Brenda and cousins were visiting that week.
We made a trip to Classic Skating one day. We love it
there; skating, bounce toys, a huge jungle gym
type thing, a lot of fun. They also have water slides
which we had never done before. It was so much
fun, everyone had a blast!

On the actual day of Laura's birthday we went
swimming at our local recreation center. There
are slides, and a huge bucket that fills with water
and dumps onto you. Afterwards we had pizza
and cupcakes. Then on to the fun of opening gifts.
Laura loved everything she opened be it clothes
or toys!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA, 5 YEARS OLD!

The first days of school!

2009-09-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

So here is Grace on her first day of school. First grade already, gone all day, I can't believe it! She is going to a new school to be able to participate in a French immersion program. She was very brave to start a new school and after 2 weeks so far she is loving it! I miss having the two of them home all day but it is fun spending time with Kate!

Here is Grace and Laura getting picked up after
Laura's first day of school. Sorry the rest of these
will be mixed up. It goes from coming home from school to Laura leaving for her first day.

Here they are getting in the car!

Here is Laura waiting to go into her class. She is so excited to be a Kindergartner. She has homework every day and needs to do some story/reading time each night. She has already made a few good friends.
Here we are heading to school. Laura started a week after Grace and we heard about it all week! "When will it be my turn to go to school"? etc!

Some Funny Vidyas

2009-08-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

Google Opt Out Feature Lets Users Protect Privacy By Moving To Remote Village

Sita Sings the Blues

2009-08-10T21:10:00.000-07:00

Another movie:

Sita is a goddess separated from her beloved Lord and husband Rama. Nina is an animator whose husband moves to India, then dumps her by email. Three hilarious shadow puppets narrate both ancient tragedy and modern comedy in this beautifully animated interpretation of the Indian epic Ramayana. Set to the 1920's jazz vocals of Annette Hanshaw, Sita Sings the Blues earns its tagline as "the Greatest Break-Up Story Ever Told."

Watch it Here

a reprint of some stories from the ramayana

Two Consenting Adults and a web-cam (SFW)

2009-08-10T20:02:00.001-07:00

Haiku

2009-08-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

I've been reading about meditation and some of the Tao must have seeped into my blood:

Artificial Mountains

I've seen you before:

you stretch from the basement

to the thirteenth floor

While Velvy was still in Oregon

2009-07-30T17:57:00.001-07:00

I watched "Dancer in the Dark". It was a musical tragedy featuring Bjork as the lead. I wanted to write a review but all I could come up with was review titles:

The Proletariat's Plight in 1960's Industrial America

Tragedy and the Common Woman

The Sound of the Goat-Song

The Catharsis of Clattering Confusion

The Twin Relics of Barbarism: Inheritance and Materialism

Czech Quixotesse

"Mr. von Trier, I despise you"

The Next to Last Song of the Birch Girl

All Movies are Great if the Plot doesn't Fall

If you are not into the watching the movie I also highligh recommend the soundtrack, an album by Bjork called 'Selmasongs' with Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

In closing: "You emerge from tragedy equipped against lies. After the musical, you're anybody's fool." -Howard Barker

After watching 'Dancer in the Dark', I am probably everybody's fool.

Peace,

c-bones

Three Weeks in Oregon

2009-07-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

We started our trip to Oregon visiting Carl's family. They have a family reunion every year at a place called Camp Alpine. It is a really neat place. We sleep in tents but there is a big enclosed hall with a giant kitchen, a lake for swimming, water fall, etc. This post is going to be pictures from our whole trip!

Grandpa Olsen had a lot of crafts available
and the grandkids took advantage of that!
They built and painted models, did puzzles,
made boondoggles (sp), etc.

There was a game of ultimate frisbee that Carl enjoyed playing with his relatives!

Here is the waterfall I mentioned earlier.
The kids had a blast playing in it!

After Camp Alpine we headed to my Aunt's house for a 4th of July BBQ. The cousins had fun playing and had a huge water fight. By the end Cousin Mike was the main target and soaking wet, as were all the kids!

Then we had to get a picture of the cousins!

That night we headed to Carl's sister Brenda's house for fireworks! The girls had fun playing with sparklers and watching fireworks!

We made a visit to the Portland Zoo with Brenda's family, my Dad and step-mom, and step-sister Angie's family.

We stopped to watch the Bird of Prey show! Some of those birds are so big, it is amazing they can fly. The American Eagle was huge.

The girls took a quick break in a boat. That is a big zoo and we did a lot of walking, I think we pretty much saw everything there was to see!

We said good bye to Carl as he had to head back to Utah to work and my Dad took the rest of us to The Enchanted Forest. I used to go here when I was a kid and while some things had been modernized a lot of it was still the same. We rode roller coasters and the girls panned for treasures which they each found a few and were very excited!

Can you imagine how surprised we were to see President Abraham Lincoln there? It was a good thing the girls had worn there old fashioned clothes that day!

We were then on to Mercer Lake. My family has gone there every year since my Dad was a child. We swim, fish, tube, kayak, sand dune buggy, etc. We didn't do all of those things this year but the girls did try tubing for their first time and really gave fishing a try. Grace and Laura both caught a trout and a few perch each. Towards the end of the week we had a fish fry and let me tell you, the fish were delish and they made quite a dish.

Kate loves to pose for the camera!

On our way home we stopped for a potty break along the side of the road and the girls wanted to take a picture on the log. This was just outside of Sisters.

The grand finale of the picture parade is a short clip of Kate riding down the zip line with me. She was a good sport and went down a few times! The girls loved it and they were brave enough to ride down on their own.

amazing shark girl!

2009-07-27T13:38:00.001-07:00

So Grace had permanent teeth growing behind the babies and they weren't coming loose on their own so the Monday we got back from our Oregon vacation she had them pulled. She did such a great job. They numbed her, gave her four shots and then pulled them out. They cleaned them off and put them in a little sterile bag all ready for her to leave under her pillow for the tooth fairy. She was very excited the next morning to find $2 under her pillow. Hopefully the others will loosen on their own so she can have the "fun" of pulling them herself!

Three More Quotes

2009-06-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star

History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints By Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Henry Roberts, Joseph Smith

The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star

Carl's Birthday Party

2009-06-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

For those of you who came to the party and brought presents: thanks and sorry I was a jackass.

For those of you who came to the party and didn't bring presents (Yes, Harold, Puffo, Capote, and the fish, I'm talking to you): try harder next year and sorry I was a jackass.

For those of you who sent presents and couldn't make it to the party: Thanks, and consider yourself lucky in comparison to the first two groups.

For those of you who couldn't make it to the party or send presents: Thanks, I probably didn't deserve your presence or your presents and you we're fulfilling Karma's will.

For those of you that sent presents but don't have access to the internet, I pray that you'll pray that I remember to send you a paper thank you.

For those of you that didn't send presents and don't have access to the internet, let's just pretend none of this happened.

Love and Thanks,

c-bones

Grace's Kindergarten Program in 6 minutes

2009-05-29T19:48:00.000-07:00

Laura's Pre-School Graduation in 1 minute

2009-05-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

For your viewing pleasure,

Laura's portions of her pre-school graduation

Grace Can Ride A Two-Wheeler

2009-05-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

So after my many failed attempts to teach Grace to ride her two-wheeler she taught herself one day. That is how it goes right? Why can't I learn that everything will happen in it's own due time! She thinks she is the coolest thing and loves to show everyone how she can ride. She is getting more and more brave with how fast she goes and how tight a corner she turns. She is also still working on using her brakes. She has had a few spills but she picks herself up and lives to ride another day!

May Fun

2009-05-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

May started off with Carl's birthday. We had
Aunt Gail, Velvet's Mom and Step-Dad, Velvet's
Sister and Bro-Inlaw, and friends Brian and
Angie over to help us celebrate number 31!
He got some great gifts and we ate some yummy
Brats, mashed potatoes and saure kraut (sp)
thanks to Carl's birthday dinner wishes!

Then a couple of days later we participated
in the Race for a Cure 5k. Our friend Kallie is a breast cancer survivor. We did the race with them last year and it brings back memories of Grace's heart surgery because the walk was just a few days after she got home from the hospital. We had a good time though. It was wonderful weather and it is interesting to see all of the different people participating on behalf of lost friends and loved ones, and celebrating those who have lived through it. It is a wonderful cause and we are so grateful to be healthy enough to do it.

Then we come to the play Laura was in. It is through the rec center and the group is called Up With Kids. The play was Enchanted and Laura was Alex the Lion from Madagascar. We got a dvd so we will bring it to Oregon with us so those grand parents that weren't able to see it in person can see Laura's acting skills. She really enjoys it and seems to have a nack for remembering things. She did a great job of memorizing different things for preschool through out the year as well. She is looking forward to a summer of swim lessons and then starting up with the acting again in the fall and the play they will be doing, Wicked and the Wizard of Oz. It should be interesting! She also received an Oscar at the end along with the other kids. We are very proud of her!

Quote on Ecumenism

2009-05-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star

To Poems for Velvet on Mothers' Day

2009-05-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

Spanish in her Sleep,
or,
My Dulcinea

She doesn't know any Spanish
but she speaks it in her sleep,
she slips it in her speech,
and I can only hope:
She is dreaming of Andalusia
and me.

The Forest Green, Yellow and su Corazon

It was a fire sale,
she was spinning and spinning,
as her heart was in that forest.

And if the forest spins,
it is once a year or less
depending on the bounds of time,
that man, not God has set.

Whatever was spinning,
it wasn't in her heart,
so she vomited and wept.
it was tearing her apart.

She vowed then:
a return to the forest,
following Maimonides charts.

Laura's Talk

2009-05-04T08:57:00.001-07:00

Laura was asked to give a talk in primary on how Jesus made it possible for us to live with Heavenly Father again. Here it is:

(click on talk to see a larger version) Velvet wrote it for her and helped her read it. A member of the Primary Presidency asked for a copy of the talk afterwards. We're not sure if it is because it was too orthodox or too heretical. What do you think?

How to make a Cape!

2009-04-24T19:59:00.001-07:00

So I told a few of you I would tell you how to make an awesome cape. My friend told me how and I am using the one's I made as examples for our Terrific Tuesday night. Instead of a Super Saturday we are having Terrific Tuesdays for the month of May. We will have speakers some nights and crafts others. We will also be making tutu's and pies in a jar which are single serving pies in canning jars. I will tell you how to make those once I attend those nights and find out how! In the mean time here is the cape.
What you will need is a yard of fleece, square of felt and two velcro patches.
You start with the yard of fleece. Fold it in half and cut in the shape of the picture above.
You then open it so that it is flat and you take a large cup or small bowl and cut a hole out of the top. You then cut a bit out as seen in the picture above.
Then sew on velcro patches. It is best to use two so it will stay on tight while they are running around.
Then you take the felt square and cut it into any shape your kid wants and then cut their initial out of the middle of that shape and sew it on to the back.
And here is the finished product...very fashionable super hero's! The girls love theirs. They really like wearing them with undies only!

Catch Up!

2009-04-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been over a month since I last blogged. Carl moved our picture stuff over to the laptop which I don't use very often but I guess I am going to start! So off we go.

We made our way to the Children's Museum finally. The girls loved it. It is like Omsi for you Oregon folk where the kids get to play and experiment with everything. Kate loved playing with these (not sure what they are called) she would get mad when I would say we needed to do other things. They loved dressing up and putting on a few plays for us and with it being Dr.Suess week they had Thing 1 there to read a few Suess books and they gave everyone a book. The girls loved picking a book but Kate did not love Thing 1!

This is an Olsen sandwich. Carl and Laura are the bread, I am the peanut butter, Grace is the jam and Kate is the chips on the side!

Kate didn't really need a haircut yet but after the two sis's had their hair cut Kate sat right in the chair thinking it was her turn. So I went ahead and let my Mom give a small trim. First haircut, yay for Kate!
Then in mid March some of Carl's family came to Utah and we made a trip to Moab to watch Neil participate in a race. It was kind of like a triathalon that entailed bicycling, climbing, a little hiking, and kayaking. We had never been to Moab and had a great time. It was beautiful there and the weather was great. Not too hot or cold, perfect for hiking on trails. In the first picture you can see carvings in the rock above our heads. The next shows us with the famous Arch. The girls had a blast and were almost blown off the side! Just kidding, but it was windy. The last picture is just a cute one of Grace.

That's it for March. I promise to be better now that I am getting a little more adept with Carl's computer!

Make-up

2009-03-19T17:23:00.001-07:00

The girls wanted to do my make-up the other day so I said what the heck. Look at the "great" job they did! Grace took a great picture though don't you think?

Tears

2009-03-18T19:20:00.001-07:00

You may say that I don't shed tears--
it's just that you're not there when I do,
or that if I need to when you're around,
I swallow and they come out in my poo.

When the wind blows or someone yawns
they come rushing out in streams
and when I need to shed them most
they come tearing out in screams.

The Business Man's Couplet

2009-02-06T20:51:00.000-08:00

When you've shed yourself of any shred of moral or ethical wiles,
you can hold your head high bearing legal yet unlawful smiles.

The Transition to Digital Television

2009-02-06T20:45:00.000-08:00

If I could write a poem about everywhere I go,

I'd have something to read about when all the world is snow.

Knick Knackers of the World Unite

2009-02-06T20:42:00.000-08:00

Plains above and trees below:

'cause when you've dug and dug in deep,
there's no telling which way things will go.

It appears the world's a scary place,
and been that way for a while.

So if this tosser's going down,
then it appears it's going down in style.

Sméagol's Ferment / Gollum's Lament

2009-02-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

They says they comes

to hear yous stories.

sos yous starts 'n stitches

with grinses 'n glories

'come ons and tells us more'

Sos yous goes 'n tells them all

Alls grimses and gories

and theys gets up off the floor

'Please sir, we's had enoughses'

Me guess we's, yup all we's

ain't so much for toughses

The Djinn Made Me Do It

2009-02-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

They say the world at dawn and dusk

is easier to percieve.

Nay, 'tis then that Shatans begin

their awful decievery.

If 'tis true that life lived best

is at the edge of seat,

'tis also true belief's not best

only belief's receipt.

Shatans see the world in black and white,

and want us to see it that way too.

'Cause when we've given up the sight,

Shatans play straight through.

Either you are happy to see me or...

2009-02-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

...15 Million Books in Your Pocket

Praying in Your Sleep

2009-02-05T08:47:00.000-08:00

Your Jesus needs to talk to you

but you don't have to be awake.

Your prayer is more a stirring

than anything you say.

Walking to Work

2009-02-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

They say blogging is self-indulgent.

I'd say my blogging has been mostly self-indulgent thievery.

But these photos are original, both myself and my photographer can vouch for their authenticity.

Who was taking the pictures?

I'll tell you about that later...

...okay, it was me.

Walking self-portraits is one thing.

Walking breakfast is another.

Walking poetry is yet another

But Walking Breakfast Self-Portraits with Poetry?!?

Who is this guy?

...okay, it is me.

I stole this from somewhere:

2009-02-05T07:45:00.000-08:00

The 3 Musketeers And Their Self Portraits!

2009-02-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

Carl has been hogging all of the blog posts so I decided I better do one again. As you can see in the first picture (going from the bottom up...writing these still throws me off) the girls love (really love) nutella and bread! The next three are there self portraits. Grace and Laura had a primary activity at church a few weeks ago and did these. When they got home Kate wanted one too and Laura was nice enough to share the back of hers!

the_blue_danube thought you would be interested in this station

2009-02-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

I've shifted my listening habits from RadioParadise.com to Pandora.com. The button below ought to take you to my "quick mix" where I've built a station by telling it which artists I like (I only knew which artists I liked from listening to RadioParadise, so I owe them a great debt). So you tell Pandora what songs and/or artists and/or genres you like and it will deliver music based on what you told it. There is some magical secret-sauce algorythm involved that I superficially understand to be based on the 'musical dna' of what you like with various weights and measures involved (I believe a functional understanding of how it works would be difficult to acquire, as the magic is their bread and butter). However it is that it works, it is awesome. I don't know if this link will just work for the first person that tries it, or for anybody, or not at all. But you can go and build your own if you are interested at pandora.com. It will work in a web-browser but you can download a stand-alone client that seems to be less ad-heavy. Peace and Love, c-bones out.

Second Episode in our Groundbreaking Series on goggles

2009-02-04T05:31:00.000-08:00

This is right before jumping it the pool at the local rec. center. I know I am biased, but they're so cute I can't stand it.

Violence to Pastry Bear

2009-02-04T05:27:00.000-08:00

Three muffins and a bunch of bears.

I ate this dude for dinner. Delicous!

Channeling J. Golden (not G. Carlin)

2009-02-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

Walking home from the bus stop today I saw these two little dudes on
go-karts. And I said to myself, "Llittle dudes on go-karts! What the
Hell is going on here? Where the Hell is my go-kart?". And then I said
to myself, "Even without the go-kart, God has damned me with a pretty
good life anyway".

Update: I wrote this walking home yesterday, e-mailed direct to blog (it didn't actually e-mail until it was in range of the wireless access point at my house). My brother man sees the next day and it hits the top result on Google. The interwebs are watching me...

Book Trivia from MASH

2009-02-02T20:40:00.001-08:00

A good friend of mine with an encyclopedic knowledge of M*A*S*H* taught me some book trivia from the show and the novel. The nickname, "Hawkeye", is given to Pierce by his father, from the book "The Last of the Mohicans" (read facsimile first editions online: vols. 1, 2, and 3, or in print: vol. 1, 2, and 3). Hawkeye claims the "The Last of the Mohicans" was "the only book my old man ever read". Which seems highly unlikely, as he claims his old man was a doctor, and as far as I understand it, doctorhood requires having read more than one book.

Interviewer: "Is there anything from home that you brought over with you to set up for yourself? Creature comforts?"

Hawkeye: "I brought a book over."
Interviewer: "What book?"
Hawkeye: "The dictionary. I figure it's got all the other books in it. I like to read the dictionary."

They mention Fred Allen on M*A*S*H*, who said: "I can't understand why a person will take a year to write a novel when he can easily buy one for a few dollars."

The Mormon Testimony Meeting

2009-02-01T14:58:00.000-08:00

On the first Sunday of every month some Mormons go without food and water for two meals. Then at their worship services they set aside about 45 minutes to talk about the ways that Jesus has impacted their lives. Then they donate what they would have spent on those two meals they didn't eat to comfort the afflicted. A famous Mormon Church defender and Mormon Church critic, Hugh Nibley, adapted the saying about newspapers to the church that its purpose should be to: "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable". I think this fasting and testimony is supposed to operate along those lines at multiple levels: going without food and water, donating some money, and then sitting through the meeting on an empty stomach. At least I think that is the way it is supposed to work. Velvy and I usually forget to not eat. I get the impression most people donate the equivalent of two meals of rice and water for the afflicted. And then, despite the best efforts of the Church, people talk about their latest vacation, or their latest surgery, or some other crazy off-topic subject. But it is an awfully democratic meeting. Anybody can get up and talk about whatever they want, like a religious open mic. And if the crazies didn't get up, would we recognize the sane? Those professing true and honest faith and authentic religious feelings? So while we groan about Sister So and So gets up to talk about her gallstones, I think we'd miss her if she didn't do it next month.

What if you couldn't smell?

2009-02-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

What if you couldn't smell?
And it was only by sense of aroma
That you could distinguish
Heaven and Hell.

Then the doors of perception swing
By and wide.
But you can only get in there
With someone else's sniffer
By your side.

Bath TIme

2009-01-28T21:30:00.000-08:00

The girls got goggles for swimming at the rec center and they wanted to wear them for bath time.

Velvet being Funny

2009-01-21T20:20:00.001-08:00

Random December

2009-01-14T08:52:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I last blogged myself or read any. So here is a new blog post and my goal is to catch up on everyone else's in the next day or two!
These are in no certain order but all happened in the month of December...enjoy!
This is a picture Grace submitted at school for the Reflections program. The topic was WOW and the students could draw, take pictures, make models, record dances, write songs or music, etc to that topic. Grace drew a picture of me upside down and it said "My Mom is Wow upside down"! Didn't win but she did receive a lovely ribbon for participating that she loved!
Of course the cold weather calls for tea now and then to warm a lady up. And when I say lady I mean lady as they all wanted to put on make up and then hold a proper tea party. They did it them selves if you couldn't tell!
Then some of our favorite cousins came back to Utah for Christmas. They are currently living in Texas while Grant works towards his PhD. His Mom is so proud! Anyways, we had a fun Sunday dinner at Aunt Gail's and it was just like old times. We really miss you Grant and Ruth!

We went to the Aquarium with our friends the Smiths and Brenda was nice enough so email me a few pics as I forgot to bring our camera. The girls love playing with the boys and we always have a fun time hanging out be it the Aquarium, the zoo, or Chick Fillet!

And last but not least we had a wonderful Christmas! The girls had a nice mix of gifts and loved it all. We celebrated with my Mom and Step Dad and in loo of a big Christmas meal we snacked all day long! Our New Years was nice too. My Mom came to spend the night and celebrate. We were all tired so around 9 we celebrated New Years watching a You Tube clip from 1997 of the ball dropping. I am going to be a little sad once the girls can tell time! No harm was done though, they were excited to stay up until "midnight" and we were excited not to! We hope you all had happy holidays and are getting back into the swing of things for the New Year.

Simulated Annealing

2008-12-31T14:41:00.000-08:00

Here is my family represented as a collection of overlapping polygons of various colors and transparencies (see http://alteredqualia.com/visualization/evolve/).

2008-12-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

It has been two years but we finally had a new family picture taken. It actually turned out pretty well. Carl is actually smiling a real one and not being goofy. Kate is smiling and so are the other two girls, hooray! It has been busy lately but not with much to report on. Working a lot, driving here and there a lot, braving the snow...which I hear you are getting in Oregon too! Hopefully it will be here for Christmas, there is nothing like a white Christmas! Well I hope everyone is safe and happy and has a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Elf

2008-12-15T18:47:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

		KIM ROSEN: Naked Words: Our First Language Is Poetry
	The poems I love most are those that speak of the inner life. They are my prayers. They are holy without being denominational, political without being sectarian, intimate without being bound by gender, age or culture.