Puts Me In a Happy Place

Ashley and Jordan know how to melt my heart . . . Thanks guys! These flowers are so perrrrty!

Oh Wait! One More!

Referring to my previous post, I overlooked one more important book in my recent reading repetoire' (is that word allowed in this forum? . . . ) of the last six months, and that is, "The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton. It was oh so wonderful. I loved it. And again, we find in this book (written in 1905) the same society classes and castes and cliques and wannabes that are ever present in our world today. I find all of those era-spanning consistencies fascinating yet somewhat disheartening in that our world, in general, doesn't seem to learn or become softer and more accepting. Individuals can though. That is good. That is good.

One of My New Favorites

Geez, I've been doing a lot of quality reading lately--read no sarcasm into that. I mean it. Last night I finished "Cry, The Beloved Country" by Alan Paton. This was Sean's suggestion. The book was incredibly moving, rich and filled with gentle portrayals of compassion. While the book was written in 1948 and set in South Africa, the social ills, misteps, broken hearts, love, generosity, and tenderness depicted throughout the book are basically the same in our world today, sixty years later. I am reminded by this book that people can be very kind and selfless in this truly difficult and selfish world of ours. I am inspired.

I love to read! It opens people's hearts to other's suffering; it opens people's minds to greater things; it motivates people to reach for better; it fills people's souls with emotions or experiences they may have never had before. If I am passionate about anything in this life, reading surely rates in my top five. It is almost a miracle the way that people can convey their sincerest and heartfelt thoughts to others through the written word. (This is gooey and sappy and verbose, I know, but I call it like I see it.)

A recent study revealed that one out of every four adults in the United States has not read at least one book in the last year! Wow! I know people are busy and all, but still. Wow. wow. To each his own, I guess. I'm not here to judge, I just know that I am in heaven when I have a good book on my bedside table. I am lost if I can't read my book in bed EVERY SINGLE NIGHT OF MY LIFE!

This, then, got me thinking about the books I have read just in the last six or seven months. As near as I can remember, here is my list (hoping I'm not forgetting any):

Cry, The Beloved Country
The Road
Til They Have Faces
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Train to Perestroika
These Is My Words
Pride and Prejudice
Twilight
New Moon
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
The Great Gatsby

I'm up for some great reading suggestions! Let me hear from you! I've got to get something good on my bedside table, and zippy soon!

Like Father, Like Daughter

And so the noble tradition of becoming a BYU graduate continues! As Ashley showed Dave the "proper" way to wear his mortar board on the day he graduated with his Bachelor's Degree from BYU in April of 1986, so she now proudly wears her own tassle upon her graduation from BYU with her Bachelor's Degree in Integrative Biology. How very proud we are of Ashley! And so she continues on to obtain her Master's Degree, always the sweet, compassionate, caring, talented, and adored daughter of ours. How very lucky--no, how very blessed we are to be her parents!



Go Ashley!



















Ashley always will be my "Sweet Pea."


















The Three Musketeers!

If I wasn't already a part of this family, I would be so jealous!

























Ashley certainly has reason to jump for joy on her graduation day!


















Sweetness!

It's a Book! Three Words! First Word: "Let's"

Second word: "Play."

Third word: "Charades!"

I adore playing games, and thank goodness my family indulges me once in a while! Occasionally, they even let me win . . . just to keep me quiet, probably.

Man, She's One Hep Cat!

Mom took her turn on the throne to show us her sweet skills on the drums, demonstrating that she hasn't lost her touch of keeping the beat acquired on the timpani in her college days. Gosh! What hasn't Mom tried? Piloting an airplane? Check. Teaching college? Check. Working for Mr. Marriott when he was a no-name? Check. Starting her own business? Check. Raising six wild and crazy little rugrats? Check. The list goes on and on. This is one extremely remarkable woman, my Mom. And I'm glad she's mine.

The Latest Trend in Men's Neckwear . . .

Always on the cutting edge of fashion, those guys of mine.

Domestic Excellence!

Exactly where Ashley got this particular talent, I just couldn't say. Certainly not from me. Ashley and Jordan have made some of the most delicious, tasty, wonderful jam ever put into a Mason canning jar. Aunt Bea couldn't have done better for Andy and Opie. I have never in my life canned jam. Never. Great job you two!!! And thanks for sharing! (I'm quite sure Dave thanks you too . . . .)

And So It Ends . . .

The book, and I mean THE BOOK! has been purchased, devoured and loved by thousands already, including Christian, Ashley and Jordan. Sean is well beyond the halfway mark (alas, he had to work all day on Saturday so he had a late start). Now that Christian has finished the book, I get to dive in! From all accounts, it is wonderful, great, very satisfying, everything we Potterheads would hope the final installment might be. Can't wait!

On a side note, our wonderful and beloved community of Naperville, Illinois, apparently went crazy-looney over the midnight release of the book with about 50,000 people (yes, you read that right), showing up in the adorable downtown area near Anderson's Bookshop to have one ginormous Harry Potter party! And what a party it was. About sixty shops transformed into Harry Potter shops, i.e., Anderson's became Flourish and Blotts, the dance attire store became Yule Ball Dance Shoppe, Potter's Place (restaurant) became Harry Potter's Place, the porta-potties became Potter Potties, the YMCA hosted a quidditch match, one store had six window displays filled with live manequins portraying characters from the books, professional characters roamed the streets which, by the way, were blocked off so people could wander and enjoy the whole scene. I've gotta hand it to Naperville, they do things right!

(I also noticed on Anderson's website that they are hosting Stephenie Meyer whose two huge hits I have read! I wish we had an Anderson's . . .)

Soon, Soon, Soon!

So tomorrow the new and (sadly) final Harry Potter book is officially released. Sorry to be monotonous with the ongoing Harry Potter theme of late, but I am really stoked for that new book! Here are a few rejected titles which J.K. Rowling may or may NOT actually, for real, seriously, for sure, quite honestly have considered:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Alcatraz
Harry Potter and the Stoned Philosopher
Harry Potter and Secrets of the Bed Chamber
Harry Potter and the Record of Most Bails out of Azkaban
Harry Potter and Too Many Goblets of Firewhisky
Harry Potter Ordering Around the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the 3/4 Blood Prince

Happy reading all of you Harry Potterheads!

I'm Not Listening . . .

I have my fingers in my ears, humming to myself, making sure I don't hear any of the Harry Potter spoilers floating around out there preceding the "official" (do you hear that New York Times???!!!!!) release of the seventh and final Harry Potter book. Apparently, some big egotistical editors at the New York Times thought it would be just dandy to publish a review of the new HP book before it is released for sale, stating that they bought it "legally." Uh huh. And I bet you always buckle up for safety and come to a complete stop at every stop sign too, don'tcha. As for me, I am itching to get my hands on that book (ahem, legally), but I will be in mourning when I've completed it, that's for sure.



Congratulations to Jordan H. on getting all five trivia questions correct on the July 12 quiz. Magic bars for you Mr. Trivia!!!

Let's all go out and have some butterbeer in anticipation of Saturday's hoopla!

BUTTERBEER (non alcoholic version)
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup butterscotch chips

Place milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir and microwave again for 2 to 3 minutes or until hot, but not boiling. Remove milk from microwave. Place butterscotch chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and return to the microwave for another 30 seconds. Stir until smooth. Pour melted butterscotch into warmed milk. Blend with a hand mixer until well-combined and frothy. Pour into mugs and serve. Makes 3 servings.

Unless You Live on Mars . . .

I'm pretty sure that 99.793% of the world knows that the new Harry Potter movie has hit the big screen, and I was one among gazillions to see it on its opening day. (Thanks Marian for snaging the freebies!) I give the movie three broomsticks out of four--it was really great but ultimately the movies in this series are in a losing situation. First of all, the loyal HP followers have read each book more times than they have flossed their teeth probably, and so they know every detail, outcome, nuance, omitted parts, which leaves the viewer with not a lot of suspense as to the ending. Everyone's mental image of #4 Privet Drive, Mrs. Weasley's kitchen, Grawpy, etc., etc., will all be unique and therefore not exactly what we see in the movies. So sometimes that can disappoint. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment, and I CANNOT WAIT for the last book!!!!

Test some of your Harry Potter knowledge for fabulous prizes! As with any good trivia, these answers can be "googled." Give it a try before you cheat, er, um, research them out. I have magic bars (the fabulous prizes referred to above) for anyone who can answer all five questions correctly. Good luck fellow nerds and geeks fans! (Answers appear at the end, so don't peek until you've tried your best.)

1. Was there really a Nicolas Flamel?

2. Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl, is named after a what?
a)Aviator
b)Norse owl god
c)Saint
d)Author of magical books

3. The caretaker of Hogwarts is named Argus Filch. Why is this name appropriate?
a)Argus was a cleaning man
b)Argus liked to spy on others
c)Argus had a nasty temper
d)Argus had many eyes

4. The grindylow, a water demon, is a part of Yorkshire folklore, like many of the creatures in the Potter series. In the Yorkshire tales, what was the grindylow known for?
a)Poisoning water supplies
b)Drowning livestock
c)Eating children
d)Making an awful noise

5. One potion ingredient is the bezoar, supposedly found in the stomach of a goat. Is this a real item?

ANSWERS:
1. Yes, and just as in the books, Nicolas Flamel was an alchemist. He lived from 1330-1418, was quite successful in business, and gave generous endowments to public works. There is a street named after him in Paris.

2. A saint. St. Hedwig was female. She lived from 1174-1243 in Germany (then Silesia.) She received sainthood for aiding and comforting victims of every kind of tragedy

3. Argus was a Greek giant with one hundred eyes.

4. Eating children. It would lurk near shore, grabbing any children that came to the water's edge.

5. Yes. There is even one wild goat, a species of ibex, known as the "bezoar goat."

ROCK THE AMP!

Christian always draws a crowd


The venue rocked!

The crowd went crazy over

His Boy Elroy!

Sean is interviewed by Fox 13 News

And the band played on . . .

Sean and his friend Jordan organized a benefit concert for a guy at their school who sustained a spinal cord injury in an accident a few years ago, and who is in need of specialized medical treatment outside of the U.S. The concert was held at a really cool ampitheater in American Fork and featured six or seven bands, including the best band ever: His Boy Elroy with Sean on bass guitar and Christian on drums, Adrew on lead guitar and Chuck on rhythm! Fox 13 News Television ran a story about the effort, and a few newspapers published articles with many details about the concert, quoting Sean and Jordan. Read one of the articles here. Way to go Sean and Christian, et al., for using your considerable talents to make a difference in this world! (Double click on each picture to get a much better view.)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Family friend LaRita (71 or 72-ish), to Mom (89 and going strong), "I sure hope I don't live to be your age!" Mom to LaRita, "Oh yeah? And what are you going to do about it if you do?" Great comeback, Mom!

Working Class Hero

Christian, you are my hero! Working for what you want out of life and making things happen for yourself. You are going places, young man. Really going places, and making a difference in this world of ours. Your personal footprint left behind will be huge. Oh, and um, in the meantime could I have fries with that?

Legal, But Forever My Little Seanie-Boy

June 29 brought the coming-of-age passage for Sean as he embarks on adulthood and is now of legal tender (no, wait, he's not a dollar bill), . . . and is now of legal age to do that which we Americans hold so dear and defend the right to do with our very lives--going out and buying a cold one. Dry ice, that is, "Mr. Jump-to-Conclusions." You were thinking that I meant something with malt or barley in it, weren't you. Never anything with barley in it. Not that. But, you know what I mean--going out and VOTING (sheesh) for that man/woman who may or may not lead our country down the path of utter destruction to the point where we want to poke our eyes out with a hot andiron, and run screaming down the street scaring little neighborhood children who have hunkered behind their mamas so attractively attired in their calico housedresses. Yeah. That. Oh, and he can get a credit card too, and cause me to do all of the above with just one visit to Guitar Center.

Happy 18th birthday, my handsome, handsome boy!

Cousin It Has Nothing On These Chicks

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, you've got MAJOR competition! Click here. May I add my own personal commentary? Ugh.

The Road

Wow. I'm still digesting it. Give me a bit to think it over.

Last night I finished reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. The story tells of a man and his young boy making their way through a post-apocolyptic world left with nothing but bleak ash and death all around. Not too rosy. But the love of the father for his son is radiant. I'm conflicted about whether to love the book or be depressed by it. Perhaps both. One thing is for sure, it left me with one of those flashes of gratefulness for my beautiful, colorful world and everyone in it.

I'm inclined to think that the book is probably quite brilliant.

Aaaahhh, Another Sweet Summer Day in June . . .

Take a peek at the view from my front porch on a balmy June 6 afternoon. June 6! Good grief, Mother Nature has a wickedly cruel streak flowing through her green veins, I must say.

Lovely.

(Thank you for planting my peony plants for me, Dave.)