Shadow, Paris, and the Elephants

Tale II in Funny Family Folktales. This is Grandma's story.

One summer our little black Pekingese, Shadow, had tangled with a skunk. No matter what I washed her with, I couldn't get the stench out. Because it was summer and the weather was nice, I just had to keep her outside.

One evening, I was watching my grandson, Paris, who was around five years old. He was very concerned about Shadow being outside and kept asking me if he could let her in. I told him no several times.

He said, "But Grandma, she is shaking. She is cold."

Sure enough, Shadow was shaking, but I knew she wasn't cold. "No, she isn't cold. She just wants in. It is warm outside," I said.

"But, Grandma, she is scared. That is why she is shaking."

"Paris, Shadow isn't scared."

"She is scared," he continued. "We need to let her in."

I, again, told him that there was nothing for Shadow to be afraid of and that she couldn't come in because she smelled too bad, but he wouldn't give up.

"Grandma, Shadow is scared of the elephants."

"What elephants? There aren't any elephants!"

"Oh, they are out there!" He said, "you just can't see them."

LDStorymakers, Bitten by the Bug

I had wanted to go to the LDStorymaker's Writers' Conference and when I went to register a couple of weeks ago, it was sold out! Then this morning I received a comment on this blog from Candace Salima and linked over to her blog. Hurray! She had a post saying that there were a couple of unexpected openings in the conference for anyone interested. Mindy and I got the last two seats!

For those of you who don't know, I've always wanted to write. First, when I was in third grade, I started writing romances. I wish I had kept them. My mother would roar with laughter when she read them. She never has been very supportive of my big dreams. Then in junior high school when my 8th grade English teacher assigned the class two page stories to write, much to her chagrin, I would turn in twenty page stories. She had me spend the time reading the book Dune to study his writing style. Looking back, I just think she didn't want to read or grade my long stories. Yet, at the end of the school year she told me to send her my first published work. (I don't think this blog counts...)
So onto Logan High School I went. I continued to love English, literature, and creative writing. Therefore, I took a journalism class my junior year. I thoroughly was taken with it, and much to my surprise the Grizzly Newspaper Adviser told me to apply to be on the staff.
I remember the conversation well. "Terry, I think you should sign up to be on the newspaper next year."
"Really?" I was flattered. "What position should I try for?"
"How about for the editor-in-chief?" he said.
I couldn't believe that he would suggest that. When they announced that I was the next year's editor-in chief, I couldn't believe it. I was so happy. It thrilled me to be a part of a team, and to write. I guess that counted as something that I could have sent to my 8th grade English teacher, but it never occurred to me until this very moment.
So fast forward 30 years, give or take a couple. I, yet again, have the urge to write. Finally, now that I have a little life experience, I may have something to share. I just need to do it. I've started with my blogs, found real writers and their blogs, and have been bitten by the bug.

Mindy went to the American Night Writer's Conference in Mesa two weeks ago, and loved it. She said that I should go to this one if I could. I didn't even think about the fact that she would be here to go with me.

So a small prayer has been answered. There are two openings with our names on them. I just hope now that the brain storms from the past will return and I'll be able to articulate them onto paper. What fun!

Make a Caption

These are my beautiful children! Don't you think they are somethin'?

OK, I want your captions for this picture. What do you think the mugger is saying?

5 Cent Ice Cream Cones

This is the first of our Funny Family Folktales. This is Grandpa's story.

One summer in 1946, when I was 17, I ran an ice cream counter in the drug store on Main Street and First North in Logan, Utah. One warm summer day, a little girl that looked to be about 5 years old came in the store. Before she came in, I saw her talking to her mother for a minute, apparently receiving some kind of directions.

The little girl came to my counter and ordered a couple of ice cream cones and handed me a dollar bill. After her order, she said, "I want some change."

"What kind of change do you want?" I teased, thinking that the question might stump her.

To my surprise, she rolled her eyes while glancing out the front window toward her mother, and said, "Well, " with her hands on her hips, "if you're stupid, you're not suppose to work here!"

Copyright© 2008

A Kitchen Knife and My Thumb...

Sequel to "A Kitchen Knife and my Finger" by Mindy Ostler on MNOP.

I'll have you know that I had lived 43.75 years without cutting myself deeply when chopping food. Something about using very sharp knives and looking away for just that one second...and off comes the top of my thumb! Luckily for me, I had asked my nurse friend what Mindy should have done differently when she cut off her fingertip.

Funny thing going into shock over only a "flesh wound". After I announced that "I just pulled a Mindy" and cut my thumb off, I calmly went into the bathroom while giving orders to the family about how to finish dinner, grabbed some gauze, taped up a pressure bandage, joked a bit about how I couldn't believe that I had done the very same thing that Mindy did only two weeks before, then promptly had to put my head between my knees to make sure I didn't pass out onto the tile. I, too, had ringing in my ears, and was suddenly nauseated.

After realizing that I was in shock, I lay down, and propped my feet up. Then I thought I should probably have a professional make sure that I had bandaged it properly. I called my friend, Amy over who said, "Did you wash it out well?"
Nope, I didn't. So she washed it for me, made it bleed thoroughly to clean it out, and re-bandaged it. By then, I wasn't in shock anymore, so I visited with her and then ate my dinner.

That was two weeks ago. It still hasn't healed. I thought that the flap of skin was attached in one small spot, but I was mistaken. It was all the way off, but I put so much pressure on it that it adhered to the wound. I have tried to take pictures of it to put on my blog, but my new camera really doesn't take good pictures.
Oh, well. It is only the size of a thumbtack. I'm sure it will fall off and heal sometime before I'm 60, if I'll quit bumping it and making it bleed more. Maybe I should go have it cauterized...NOT!

Lost in Blogland II

Today I had Ross clean the house for me. He owes me some money, so I had him dust and vacuum everything. While he was doing that, I read, and read, and read.
I have a confession to make, the last couple of weeks I've been reading a questioning blog. I know, you are all shocked and horrified, but one of my favorite writers on there is Bruce Nielson, who according to his own comments is an "Orthodox Mormon". He is articulate, thoughtful, and respectful of other's differing views. I have really appreciated his insight and answers to the "let's read The Book of Mormon as an inspired, fictitious, 19th century document" group.
There are others on the blog in question that comment who are believing members of the church. There are links to other blogs and websites that are inspired, 21st century work. I have been linking over to those blogs, and drifting away from the first one. It has made me a happier reader.
Tonight I have read some wonderful, thoughtful literature on Segullah. It made me want to write. I mean really write. Express my thoughts, my stories, in a way that touches people like those stories touched me. They were poignant, honest, heart-wrenching, hopeful and true.
But I am afraid. How do I do it and keep the private things private? There are those stories that are true, but need to be told in a way to protect the individuals in them. Do I tell them in fiction? Do I write under a fake name where strangers can read them, but not those who may recognize the players?
I should ask the authors how they do it. I think I shall. Being lost in Blogland today was a wonderful journey into other's experiences and I came away inspired.

Snow, Snow, and more...

 

This is a picture of our patio. It has looked like this since Christmas Eve. It has really been beautiful though.

The Cutting Edge

 

I saw this today at school. I sent it to my manager at work. I think he is feeling a bit like these three guys on the cutting edge. He has been working on our online Bridgerland Phonebook since September. It should be working any day now!

Personality Test

Your Aura is Violet

Idealistic and thoughtful, you have the mind and ideas to change the world. And you have the charisma of a great leader, even if you don't always use it! The purpose of your life: saying truths that other people dare not say Famous purples include: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony Careers for you to try: Political Activist, Inventor, Life Coach

What Color Is Your Aura?

The Verb "to text"

For some reason when people use the verb to text in the past tense as "texted" it really rubs me like fingernails on a chalkboard. So I told the family I was going to find the correct usage figuring that it should be said "tex'd" as in one syllable. Well, I guess we are all correct..., but I still prefer the single syllable pronunciation to the double syllable one.

According to the online version of the Oxford English Dictionary
(available through some libraries), there has been a verb "text" since
the 1500s, with a past tense of "texted" or "tex'd."  The current
meaning of "to send a text message" was accepted by the OED in its
draft additions of June 2004, and include the example of "texted."

Here is the link and referrence I found. http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=567531

Watch this video and help raise money for Autism.

The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating $0.40 to Autism Speaks for each time this video is viewed. The funding goes toward research studies to help find a cure. When you have a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video and pass it along to your friends and family. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal

http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214

Oh, Deer!

These deer have been feeding in the field by our house for the last two weeks. One Sunday we counted about 30 in the herd. This picture is taken from April's bedroom window. They are only 35 feet away.
This picture is taken from the front window.

Dan opened the front door and they started away.

Before and After...only 2 months older

This is our puppy, Grizzly. He was named that because he has the paws of a bear for such a little guy. This picture was taken right around Thanksgiving, when we first brought him home.







Now look at him! I don't know what he has been eating, but we have almost been able to watch him grow!

Got a new haircut, feel like the old me

I found the perfect degree for me!

Public Health Education
I'm really excited to look into it further. Only 2 more math classes, 3 more chemistry...and 15 others...

Back to School

I did it! I signed up for the computer class that I had been procrastinating for the last 2 years. In the first week I have found 3 errors in the teacher's key, been told that students like me are a pain in the butt, and helped 2 other students. I love school!! I just have to study for my first test on Monday and see if my brain will work again. I sure hope it will!
I found out that my nursing prerequisites aren't too old to apply for the LPN program here. I'm not planning on applying for a while, but I need to finish 2 classes before I can. I just want to finish them so that the option is open if I need to, or choose to later.
I am also working out at the gym with my friend, Pam. I've been taking piano lessons from Becky and I need to start practicing again. I have a lot to fit in especially with work starting for me again in the middle of February. Being busy is a happy thing for me, but keeping things in balance is a trick sometimes.

Christmas Letter

This year has been a busy one. For those of you who don’t know, we moved from Mesa in August of 06. Our big move last year ended with us moving into a new home with an unfinished basement. We quickly realized that there wasn’t quite enough room for 4 kids, 2 dogs, and Terry and me in 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, so we finished the basement between Christmas and Spring-break.

Terry has kept very busy this year between managing the basement project, keeping the rest of the house (and family) in order, and working for the Bridgerland Phonebook. She has also started writing again. You can see her labors at http://terryall5.blogspot.com/ .

Dan still loves his job as a Product Engineer at Inovar, Inc. and being back in Cache Valley. He didn’t get out into the mountains as much as he would have liked, but still thinks they are really nice to look at. He also loves the four seasons.

Ryan had a busy year, also: between school, working construction, and keeping a long distance relationship going. Then it was apartment hunting and planning a wedding in a month which took place in August. He and his new bride, Becky, are doing very well.

Mindy, Nathan, and Emma are still in Mesa, but we have been fortunate enough to see them close to every other month this past year. They are great!

Tessa made it onto the cast of the Logan High presentation of “Damn Yankees” this year, and really enjoyed it. She got the cast award for the cheesiest grin! Currently she is singing with Logan High’s top choir, Crimson Colony. She is moving back to Mesa in a week to finish High School with her beloved Mesa people.

April decided to tryout for the Sky View Color Guard this year. She gave up her Saturdays, and spent many long hours practicing all summer for the program. She enjoyed marching with a great band. She now loves singing in the Cache Children’s Choir. She is in high school and will be getting her driving permit this spring. We can’t believe it!

Ross is having a blast with all of his new friends in the neighborhood. We have 6 boys his age surrounding us within a couple of houses in every direction, a big change from Mesa! He loves school, and soccer.

We hope this letter finds you well this Christmas season. We are thankful to call you our loved ones.

Blogfest

I'm sitting next to April, again reading in Blogland while she asks me how to start a blog. I explain it to her. She is off and writing! While I read ANWA's Blog, Anne Bradshaw's Blog, Martha's other blogs, Jessica's blog...April posts two...yes, two stories to her new blog.

Yes, the competition is fierce! I have my list of potential blog posts sitting on our computer desk while she steals one of my best stories right out of my head! All I can say is there is the quick and the unpublished.

Anne Bradshaw's Christmas Give Away

CHRISTMAS GIVE AWAY! Win a Compact DVD Player

Anyone want to win a brand new, still-in-box, RjTECH UNO-02DVD compact slim DVD player? And since it's the Christmas season when it's nice to give more, SHIPPING by Priority Mail is FREE in Continental USA.

Closing date--DECEMBER 18th 2007.

• Full DVD function
• DVD format compatibility: DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW/VCD/SVCD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/JPEG
• Audio Outputs: 2.1 CH RCA/Coaxial
• Video Outputs: Video/S-Video/YCbCr
• Multi-TV System NTSC/PAL
• Dimensions: 10 x 9 x 1.5 inches ; 4 pounds

Two simple rules:

1) Post information about the contest on your blog with a link back to mine.

2) Leave ONE comment at http://annebradshaw.blogspot.com/2007/11/christmas-give-away-win-compact-dvd.html#links telling Anne you've completed #1.

Winner will be chosen by random number generator on Tuesday December 18th, and announced the same day.

Spread the word about this nifty give-away.

And a Merry Christmas to one and all!

Lost in Blogland

The last 2 weeks I've had the best of intentions of updating my blogs, but to no avail. First, every time I get on to do it, I get lost in blogland. It has been a real distraction. Not that I think anyone is even reading my blogs. I don't blame you if you're not because I haven't put anything new on them. I don't know how the people who blog regularly do it! They probably don't get lost in blogland!
But, having said that, tonight, I found a couple of really neat blogs. One is anwafounder.blogspot.com, which is American Night Writer's Association. I'm so excited. It is a group of LDS women writers who support each other in their writing aspirations. Some are published, some are beginners. The founder is from Mesa. They have meetings, a newsletter, and social groups to help. The reason I found them was because I was wondering if anyone could google my name and tender mercies to find my blog. On the third page of the search results was a link to ANWA with a tender mercy story anwafounder.blogspot.com/2007/02/brother-cheevers-valentine.html . I liked the story and the link. But better than that, I am going to join ANWA and see if I can work on some of my stories I have floating around in my head.
The second link I really enjoyed was that of Anne Bradshaw's Not Entirely British blog. She has some great stuff on her blog. My favorite was the Mom Song from Youtube. It is great. I do need to memorize this because then I can sing it to my children first thing in the morning and not have to speak to them the rest of the day.