For Dinner I'll be having Crow

I guess this is the right time for me to eat crow. Some of you know more about my aversion to this topic than others, but I've been forced recently to buy a product I've tried to avoid for years. Not a toupee, not a walker, no this is much worse - bought a cell phone.

I can already hear a few of you snicker, since I've argued against them for years. However, I have to admit that once I bought a phone I've become a bit obsessive. I've read the owner's manual for hours, pouring over every feature. Speed dial, special ring tones, picture ID for callers, everything is new to me and I like it. I still don't know if I'll turn the phone on (that's been the biggest complaint about any work cell phones I've had in the past - they're always off!), but I guess I'm becoming part of the digital age. Not bad since I'm a technology trainer. Anyway, if you need to reach me - just call.

Survivor Thursday

I know, I know - you're thinking I want to talk more about reality TV and the new season of Survivor in Panama. Wrong. This time, I'm the survivor. I survived BYU!!

Earlier today I went down to Provo to teach a class in Happy Valley. Everything reminded me why I went to the U instead of the ZOO. I drove around the entire campus trying to find a parking spot. Can you have a lot with more than 12 spaces?! Every lot I went in looked like it had been full for hours. After finally parking in Outer Darkness (good metaphor for BYU, hey!), I rushed across campus to find the education building. The only clue I had was that it was named after a prophet. I passed the Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Joseph Fielding Smith, and Harold B. Lee buildings - all to no avail. Everyone I passed looked at me like I was a refugee. Maybe I was. All I know is 2 people referred me to the Standards Office. I politely declined their invite, but appreciated their concern. Finally, I found the David O. McKay Building. I taught my class and left Provo as quick as I could. I had made it. Suddenly life looked a lot better as I saw Utah County in the rear view mirror. I'm a SURVIVOR!!!

Just for Heather

I was recently downloading pictures from my camera and came across some pics from Char's 50th birthday party. For months my nephew's wife Heather has been bugging me about why she hasn't appeared in the blog (since she is one of our five readers!), so now is her 15 minutes of blog fame. For those of you who don't know my niece-in-law, I give you Heather Bringhurst.

Progressive Dinner?

Last night we were part of a progressive dinner. For us the progressive part was that we got to eat all we wanted and hosted part of the event without having to prepare a single thing! That's what I call progressive! It was a fun evening that gave a lot of the younger adults (both single and married) a chance to socialize outside of church. The highlight of the evening was a get to know you activity where we shared little known facts about ourselves. My favorite fact was:
I have a hole in my head. by Ted Orgill. The best part of this was it was literal. Many of us already thought Ted was a bit off, now we know why!

Other little known facts:

I have a crush on Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) - who doesn't!!

I sawed though my parents' antique table to help build a fort.

I toured Europe when I was twelve and, while curling my hair, set my bangs on fire since I didn't realize the diffence in voltage!

I recently got stuck in a clothes hamper.

The things you find out about your neighbors!

So Long Ross

I know that most of you never knew my next door neighbor, Ross Carter, but he passed away this week and I'd feel terrible if I didn't take a moment to remember him. Ross and his wife Jean, have been my next door neighbors for most of my life. My family moved into our home in 1978 and barring my mission and the first few years of marriage, they've been a constant neighbor. As a kid, I never really made an effort to get to know Ross since he was an grownup and I knew we wouldn't have anything in common. However, my return to the neighborhood a few years ago made all of that change.

Ross was always a welcome sight, either sitting on his front or back porch. Whenever I was out mowing the lawn I could usually find Ross outside enjoying time in the sun. We would stop and talk and Ross was always aware of the things going on in my life. Tara and I really have loved being next door neighbors to such wonderful people. The past couple of months have been very difficult on ol' Ross, as he was in and out of the hospital with complications due to diabetes and other ailments. His passing was met with relief, as well as grief, to all who knew of his struggles. Ross was a good man and I know we'll miss him. So long Ross.

To read more about Ross click here.