Pics I Finally Took Off My Camera

Check out Fred's new hiding place. He's so clever. He likes high, cozy, remote locations near enough to the action without being directly involved. I really like my boyFred. (P.S. Dad & I built those shelves. I love them! And good memories.)






























My favorite Italian restaurant atmosphere to date (Carino's still has the best bread and dippiness, but this place has the best atmosphere by far!)--Ottavio's! The owner walks around greeting everyone, especially the return customers. The accordianist serenades you and tells you cool stories that make you cry and make you laugh. Plus, how can you beat the atmosphere of a place that has your name on their map?! Love it! I'm going there someday.



















































Dad & I went to the humanitarian center in SLC. I'd never been and had always wanted to. Interesting place, with such great things happening there. You should go if you've never been. They take you on a tour. The video was the best. I don't know how anyone could walk out without being completely excited and motivated to serve!























My summer roomie, Misa (Michaela) from the Czech Republic. Cool story how we got together. And she turned out to be such a fun roomie I didn't want her to leave! =oP (What are the odds of both our eyes being closed in that pic? We thought it was funny.)
























Have I mentioned that I have exceptionally cute nieces and nephews? It's true. Jacksamillion (aka Jacksonian), my Niece Elece, Little Aim, and Witto Weo. Jackson built that tree house, btw. He's so cool.

The old roomies+adopted roomie. This was the Garcia's farewell bbq. I miss you, my little Haircut!
















Train of thought in slow motion: At first I just thought this was very cute. And then I thought it looked very cozy. Then I realized I was ever-so-slightly jealous =o)









This is my sister RaNae who I admire so very much. What an incredible woman and mom! (And sister, and daughter, and wife!) We had fun playing and singing on the night before we left The 'Couve. RaNae looks gorgeous-er and gorgeous-er everytime we see her, the rest of us sisters have decided. I'm going to tell you that she is 50! Because this woman makes 50 look dang good.

Battle of the Lights

Conference is coming! Interestingly, I think I'm on a 6 month cycle of some sort, which I notice because when I start to feel like life is heavy, all of the sudden it's conference time and I realize how much I really need it right now and am looking forward to it. I am so grateful for General Conference.

I can't believe it's been 6 months since last conference already. I remember the sessions I went to. I remember the notes I took and some of the talks that were so inspiring to me then. I can't watch without writing. There are things too important that come to the mind while watching conference to just watch without recording.

Last week my institute choir sang at a fireside for Scott Anderson, who talked about an experience he had with note taking during the priesthood session of a recent conference. Someone had turned out all the lights and it was too dark for him to write. So he went and flipped them on (in the back). Oddly, someone turned them out again! And, endearingly (to me), he went and turned them back on. The person came over--a priesthood leader, no less--and said, "It's on the internet tomorrow, why do you have to write it down?" I love Brother Anderson's response: "How can the internet possibly record what the Holy Ghost just said to me?" The lights stayed on. =o)

Interestingly, I just had that exact experience. My sister and I went to her church for the General Relief Society broadcast on Saturday evening. We sat in the back of the cushy pews and I pulled out my journal and began setting up my page how I do for notes at conference. Then the lights went out. "Hmm," I thought. "This won't do." I got out from the middle of my pew to go find lights in the very back that would disturb non-notetakers the least, but provide me with enough light to see my page. I had just made it back to the middle of the pew when the lights went out again.

My sister, noticing my amusement (okay...non-amusement) and unwillingness to back down asked, "Can you not see?" The lights in the hall were on and shining through the doors. But at that moment someone shut them. "Why, do you want me to settle down?" I asked, smiling. She smiled and nodded. "I'm going to the back where I can sit by the light switch," I responded, and made everyone on the pew move yet again. When I got to the back, I turned on the light and sat down next to the switch.

Immediately I noticed the one man in the room quickly look over at me. He went to go whisper to a lady and indicate in my direction. I smiled as I pulled out my pen and opened my book. I almost wanted him to come and say something to me so I could use Scott Anderson's line, but he never did. However...the light stayed on. =o) And, endearingly, my sister later came to join me. I love my sister for always putting up with my non-back-down-ness (which at other times has undoubtedly been obnoxious), despite her sweet, peacemaking personality. I've always admired her for it. I, on the other hand, generally can't let things go or keep my mouth shut and have at times ruffled feathers because of it. Somehow she loves me anyway, and I know I'm very lucky to have her for my little sis. There are times I really should let things go that I think are more important than they are. This instance, however, was not one of them =o)

Tangent Turned Topic (nice alliteration, wouldn't you say?)

I wish I could write read like the Micro-Machine Man speaks.

Do you remember the Micro-Machine Man? I just realized that kids today don't even know the Micro-Machine Man. We can't let these things die. Pass them on to your children! These things are important. Fat Albert. Different Strokes. Punky Brewster. The Love Boat. Magnum P.I.. Remington Steele. Scarecrow & Mrs. King. Rainbow Brite. Fraggle Rock. Condorman. Xanadu. Ferris Beuller's Day Off. Better Off Dead. Gilligan's Island. Growing Pains. Fresh Prince. Saved By the Bell. Family Ties. Mr. Belvedere. Now that I think about it, maybe things would be going better for me this week if Charles were in Charge of my days and my nights.






Man, don't you miss good shows like that?
And songs like this and this before shows like that?
For you, Niquey =o) Ahh, memories...

Sidenote on my tangent...In high school I took two yellow rubber gloves from under the kitchen sink, cut off the fingers and stored them in my glove compartment for the perfect occasion...very much Lane-Meyer-like (John Cusack..."what an awesome spectacle"). I pulled up at a stop light next to my wonderful friend and future roomie, Christine, and was inspired to pull them out and snap them, revving my engine with a glare much like the one in the picture. (Miss you, Toots! 'Bout due for a girls' night, eh?) My mom was not amused when she was looking for her gloves and I told her what I had done with them. I went out that night to buy replacements for her with the fingers in tact. (I thought it was funny.)

What was I saying? Oh, yeah. I wish I could read super fast. Too many books, so little time, I always say... =o)

What else do you remember?!
Found a fabulous clip if you have more time. It will leave you wanting mo, fo sho! =o) Brad Pitt on Growing Pains. Nique, I need the season.

Slacker...or Planned Last Minute Efficiency?

Why is that when you (I) put the littlest amount of time into something (presentations) multiple people say, "You put a lot of time into that. Good job!" And I think...why do people put time into those kinds of things. You spend way too much time "preparing" when you start way ahead. You (I) don't use my time anywhere near as efficiently as I do the night before something is due. I don't get 1/2 as much done if I have a month to prepare as when I have a night to prepare. And if it yields good results...you see the thinking. I'm a last-minute-efficiently-hard-worker. I'm okay with that. (I think the guy in my group was mildly concerned about that, however, until tonight.)

(Disclaimer: I do treasure things up in my heart, though, throughout the month. I just do all the organizing and work the night before.)

(Now, in case someone feels like leaving me a parable about some virgins and oil...the analogy has to end somewhere. I'm talking presentations, here, people. =o) )

One of Those...Weeks

So, it's a slight exaggeration {ever-so-slight). It's funny--I don't care who y'are =o)*

*Monday night was awesome. I need pics to blog.

ESL Class: Reflection 2

E.D. Hirsch and I don’t agree on what is necessary for an American to know. Based on the portion of his writings with which I am familiar, I would concede only to the extent that the things he suggests as ‘essential’ are more realistically things people need to know in order to be accepted into particular groups existing within the culture and society. People choose the groups they are drawn to being accepted into, and therefore set for themselves a path of knowledge based upon that which they respect and desire, working towards their own concepts of America as portrayed by those whom they revere and look to as role models in some way.

I particularly have never been one to feel the need to be accepted into groups in which pop-culture is important knowledge in order to be accepted. I cannot relate to the comments made in class, for instance, that my awareness of The Simpsons and The Family Guy and their distinctions are essential to my being an American. It is extremely insignificant to me and to my life—and what I feel to be the driving factors of the functionality and success of my life and as an American—and, candidly, seems rather shallow that considerations along those lines are even discussed with any tone of seriousness.

These are the things I consider to be of greatest importance for an American to know, in no particular order: 1) work skills to add value to the marketplace as well as to earn money, 2) how and where to locate food, 3) process of health care, 4) progression of education and its processes, including enrollment, 5) social conceptions of personal space and belongings, 6) transportation modes and accessibility, 7) our culture’s concept of time and it’s measurement (clocks/calendars), 8) communication of ideas, 9) lines of authority and leadership, 10) knowledge of laws and codes of conduct.

Question

What is the purpose of an education?
What is the purpose of school?

I'd like to hear your thoughts.