Richard Marx

I admit it, I really like Richard Marx....(I can hear Robby laughing now, why I inflict this pain on myself...... I'll never know), I don't care.

I was going through some old CD's and putting them on my iPod and I came across his two first albums. Despite the REALLY big hair, I like his music. This was the music that spelled summer for several years while Chris and I were growing up, very nostalgic, I have not broken these albums out for some time, maybe its time to listen to him more often.

'Endless Summer Nights' and 'Don't Mean Nothing' really took me back..... after all who could forget the late 80's saxophone?

I ran across one of his songs that has a great beat and I don't think I had ever really listened to the words, and in this day and age they caught me off guard.

Off his first album (self titled) about halfway through he has a song called "Have Mercy". I thought the words were interesting.

Ships are moving closer to the shoreline
And were laughing in the face of loaded guns
I saw it on the news, we ain't got no worry
But it wont be in the paper when D-day comes

Lord, have mercy
For we know not what we do
Have mercy
We've forgotten to be afraid of you

Who can solve the problems of a nation
We cure the symptoms but were killed by the disease
I feel Ive more than made my contribution
But I hope there's room in heaven for my ego and me

Lord, have mercy
For we know not what we do
Have mercy
We've forgotten to be afraid of you
Have mercy
Lend us your hand
Lord, have mercy
Give us just another chance

Too many coaches on the sideline
Too many keepers in the zoo
How will we know we've passed the deadline
Give us the strength to stand or fall
God in heaven, have mercy on us all

The ships are even closer to the shoreline
Now were playing in a mad mans house of fun
I read it in the news we ain't got no worry
But it wont be in the paper when d day comes

Lord, have mercy


It really cracked me up, for being over 20 years ago, who knew that Richard Marx could be so prophetic?

(wow....... that WAS 20 years ago...... I am old.)

Catey

30 years ago today, my sweet wife was born.

Many who frequent this blog know my thoughts on my wife, but I hope my readers will endulge me in a few words about my companion, my very best friend.

I like to think I am a simple man, however most don't understand me. There are a handful of people that I feel truly know me and therefore have my trust. My friend Chris is one of those and Catey is the other. For years, Chris was my only confidant, the single soul in whom I trusted my deepest thoughts and ideas. I have been best friends with him since I was three years old. Since we share the same brain, every thought I had was his first. Folks think and say I am funny at times, but that was because Chris was my best writer. Much more timid and reserved, he would mutter some quipy comeback during a conversation only loud enough for me to hear, then I would simply voice the same words to have everyone roar with laughter, slap me on the back and tell me how funny I am. I would not be the person I am today without his patience and understanding.

But why am I writing about Chris? To bring the reader to an understanding of my true insecurities about friends, relatives and those I consider family. I have always maintained there are relatives and then there is family.... Chris is truly family to me.

I often wondered when our paths would fork and he would go one way and I the other. I introduced him to his wife when I was in college. I missed his wedding while serving my church in Macon, Georgia. It was truly a dark day when I could not be my best man's best man.

When I came home I was alone. Chris was married and I had my own life to live. I started working and was very concerned what the future held for me.

Then I met Catey.

Chris had years and years to come to know me. We had been friends so long we don't remember meeting. Catey and I became friends so quickly it was like rediscovering someone I had always known. She knew my thoughts before I could vocalize them. She understood my fears and thoughts on the world and would agree and discuss without belittling me. She could see right through me when I would try to surprise her.

I have maintained if God himself gave me 100 years to design a wife, I would sit at the table and relentlessly pen the qualities of what I would want in a friend, a wife, my Eternal Companion until sleep would be a burden because of the task at hand. I would take the slip of paper and gingerly place it in the palm of the almighty and after a few short glances he would laugh, crumple my work, toss it over his shoulder while patting me on the back, and then saying, "You don't know what you really want. How about her?" pointing to Catey. I wouldn't have come close to asking for the wonder that she is in my life. I could not have designed her as good as she is.

She is patient, kind, forgiving and very tollerant. None of which I feel I deserve with the abundance at which she offers it.

I feel so unqualified to be her husband because most of the time I feel like I have to run to keep up with the example of faith and trust she shows in the Lord and gives our family every day.

She expects more of me than I think I am capable, but she smiles and assures me that I am a diamond in the rough, and that she is trying to help me see who I truly am.

She inspires me and loves me.

I have no words to describe accuratley how I feel about her and what she means to me.

Happy Birthday Catey.

I love you.

Jacob

Jacob is our fourth child and is currently a very excited 5 year old. He is attending Kindergarten and comes home every day with new information about the world. It is very fun to watch and listen.

We were going somewhere the other day and after we got the clan in the car and started out he announced that he had some important information. Since everyone in the car ALWAYS has something to say I asked everyone to be quiet so I could hear what Jacob was talking about. Catey turned and told Jacob that it was his turn to talk.

He said that he had learned recently that it would be a bad idea to touch a porcupine because it is sharp and could hurt you. We agreed. There was a long pause then he said "Oh yeah, and you should never sniff a skunks bum, cause it would stink."

I think that is valuable information, so I thought I would pass it along to you...... ahhhhhh my son.

Ode to Dwight

I have been watching "The Office" over the past few weeks. My Sister-in-law Kelsey is a fanatic and has all the episodes on DVD, she has been kind enough to let us borrow them.

Everybody loves Jim and Pam and hopes they get together and live happily ever after.

Everybody has a love/hate relationship with Michael Scott and his antics.

Kelly, Creed, Andy, Kevin, Stanley, Meredith, Jan, Angela, Oscar, Phyllis, Toby, Holly, everyone laughs at the antics of all of them.

But the one that stands out in my mind is Dwight. At first I can't stand the guy, annoying suck-up, know-it-all but I saw an episode the other night that changed all that.

When Pam's boyfriend Roy found out that Pam and Jim had kissed he decided he was going to take out his frustration on Jim. The next day in the office he was waiting outside for Jim. Roy got tired of waiting and goes into the office after him. He walks in, yells Jim's name and goes after him and Dwight saves the day with his pepper spray. Later Jim tries to repay him and he won't accept it because he felt he was simply doing his duty.

I think more of us need to have qualities like Dwight. Yes...he is bizarre but he has integrity, honesty, loyalty and honor and everyone mocks him for it. He tries hard because he believes in working hard. I think he is the funniest part of the show. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I could be friends with him because he would drive me crazy, but I am glad that there are people in the world like Dwight.

So Dwight, here's to you. May your beets live long and prosper.

A Bigger Man than I

So, many of you know about the struggles my Dad has had recently. He is officially single now. His wife took everything in the divorce and then some. She tried to get him in trouble with the Church by claiming that he was abusive. She took all the assets of the marriage and over $7,000 a month for her support and the support of her only child left at home. With no house payment, no car payment and no other liabilities she took my father for everything and smiled while doing it.

The only reason the above paragraph is in this post is to set the stage for an understanding of what kind of man my father is. My father has his faults, but I have seen more character and love from him in these times of trial than I expected. He has never said a mean or vicious word about her, just that he is sorry it happened and that he wished he could make it better and be a family again.

He wanted to do some service, so he wrote a letter to the Mission President of the Temple Square / LDS Church Library and Family History centers to be a volunteer missionary and was accepted. He has pledged his life to the building up of the Kingdom of God instead of moping around and feeling bad for himself.

He has forgiven her completely and has decided to move on with his life and try to make it better. He has tried to forget what has been done to him, and is trying to help others and put others in front of him.

We didn't get along much when I was growing up, I think it was a difference of opinion and personality conflicts. When other kids went fishing or camping with their Dad's, my dad was working. Our relationship really started about 4 years ago when my Dad came over to my house. He was dropping off his daughter to play with us for the day when he and his wife were headed out somewhere and when he pulled up, I came out of the house with all my kids in tow. I don't remember the date, but I remember the look on his face when he saw me. Suddenly in his eyes I was not 14 and irresponsible but I was a 30 something with a house and kids. He looked shocked and just kept staring at me. From that day on he has treated me differently, like an equal.

I love my Dad. I have watched him suffer through this trial and I am overcome with gratitude for his attitude. In some small way I picture what it must have been like for the Savior, who offered everything, took nothing and was stripped, whipped, beaten then nailed and crucified. Even in the very act of his torture, his thoughts were directed to his Father in Heaven for the benefit of those who were perpetrating such a crime.

Such is my Dad..... truly a greater man than I.

Sick as a......

I hav been thick for a few weeks nowd and finally called my bosth at work and told him I wasth not coming in today. I won't be going in tomorrow either. I have bronchitis and a sinus infecthion. I can't stopth coughing and my head is all thuffed up. I finally got thome medithin that should help me get better, if I could just thleep a little, but with all thesth kids in the house...... thleep is not going to happen.

But seriously folks, who wants to hear about me being sick. Of course not you. So let me think of something else to talk about.

I have not gone on about Catey in a while and I think it is about time I should. Catey and I have been thinking for some time now that we need to get some extra cash in the bank lately, just for emergency purposes and she took a job helping out with the shoe parties. I have not been very supportive and I need to let her know that I really appreciate what she is doing. She is gone for several hours a couple times a week and I keep trying to bribe her to stay home.

Last week I offered her $100 to stay home and be with me (I was not feeling well that day either) but she didn't take it, she left me. I think my attempt to bribe her made her feel bad because she felt horrible to leave me today. I didn't want her to feel horrible, I was trying to bribe her to let her know what she means to me and it would have been worth the $100 just to have her home.

She works harder, longer hours than I do and for a worse, relentless boss...... the kids. They are the cruelest bosses I have ever seen the way they order her around. My kids would last about 10 min in the corporate world and OSHA, HR and the Better Business Bureau would be all over them.

I am glad she is in my life, I would be lost without her...... now if she would only come rub my feet so I could feel better.


=)

Where is Matt?

I know this is a cop-out but I liked this video. I just thought I would share.

-Aaron




Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Animusic

Here are a couple things I like to watch from time to time with my kids. The music is great and the animation outstanding with the music.

These are just for fun. The first is my favorite and so on.

These are great:










Enjoy

Church Program

I have been thinking of the best way to celebrate my 100th post for days. I really wanted to do something special, something funny, maybe sincere or reflective...... not sure what to do.

I'll come back to that.

Since I have joined Facebook, I have been able to reconnect with so many friends. The most recent connection is with a friend I have not seen in over 18 years.... Aaron Case. Most folks who read my blog are LDS or know enough LDS folks to understand that the local branches of the church are organized into "Wards". When subdivisions in the community expand, these Ward boundaries can change. Ours changed when I was 13 or 14 years old moving his family into our Ward boundaries and his dad was made the Scout Master. I have often wondered what happened to many of those kids I knew growing up. He is living in Va and attending a local Ward there.

In our faith, there is no paid ministry so everything is done by the members..... everything. From cleaning the building to the printed programs every Sunday. Printing the programs happens to be his job. I can think of no better way to celebrate my 100th post than listing what he sent me.

In his own words:

As some of you know, as part of my calling, I make the programs for my ward sacrament meeting each week.

This week I made a colossal blunder. When I needed a filler image to take up space I quickly typed "Jesus Picture" in Google and just grabbed the first one that looked good.

I printed them all out and handed them out at church today just like normal.

What I DID NOT NOTICE until halfway through church is that Jesus is holding a WINCHESTER RIFLE!!!!!!!

oops!
Location: Leesburg, Virginia

Here is his program:



Here is a close up.




That is funny.

I blew it

I was going to post every day this month and yesterday I forgot.....or rather, remembered but it was after midnight so it didn't count.

Poo.

Here are a few thoughts that express how I feel about it.

-Aaron

Part Time Photographer #2 - Arches

Back when I was working with the youth, we took the 5 boys we had on a trip to Arches National Park. I blogged about this at the time, so I won't bore you with the details of the trip. If you want to read the story you can click here and it will take you to the original post and you can read about the crazy trip and the wacko with the cedar berries..... 

Today's post is just for visual enjoyment of one of my favorite places on Earth.

-Aaron

Poo in the shoe

When I decided to write 31 posts in 31 days, I had no idea how often I would stare at this blank blogger page and say...."what am I going to write about today?" I can't believe I have come up with something at least semi-interesting every day.

So today, I am talking with Chris and asked him what I should write about.....he was no help. He is writing about his obituary. He sends in letters to the editor to the Deseret News quite often and gets published more often than not. The 'D' news decided to honor him as "letter of the month". (click here to see his blog or here to see his 'D'news obituary). The people in his office were so proud, they cut it out and posted it in the hall so everyone could see..... but instead of people actually READING the words of the article, they thought it was his obituary. Nice. Since he is very much not dead, he decided to blog about it..... my grandpa read the obituaries every day. He said he wanted to make sure he was not in there. It was kinda sad, he missed it by one day.

I called Justin and asked him for some help on what to blog about and he said I should blog about the economy or the Presidential debate.....blah blah blah. I don't write too much about that stuff because I value my readers (all 10 of you) and figure you come here to get away from that crap...... or 'poo' as I like to call it.

So here I am walking around the house trying to come up with something to write about, making dinner, trying to keep Charli happy and out walks Lincoln. This startled me a bit since I was SURE he was outside playing with Malia and Dallin. He looks at me and says 'Help'..... well actually it came out 'heeieeiiip'.  He showed me his hands and they were covered in chocolate.

Before I finish the story, I should tell you, I married a sweet tooth. I have never seen someone stay so thin and have so much (and I mean about 25-30 lbs) of candy stashed around our room. I am guessing there is more than normal because of Halloween, however, there is junk all over. The kids know this, which is why there is a lock and childproof handle on the door.

Anyhow..... Lincoln saw that the door was open and took full advantage. Since I thought He was outside, and I was cooking dinner, I didn't think twice about 20 min of a quiet house. I asked him to take me to the sweets and when I went into the closet, there it was......the big mess of candy he had been eating.

 

Granted, it isn't actually 'poo in the shoe' but it sure looks like it. I think it is actually part of a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.

So I guess I should have known, that if I didn't have anything to blog about, I could just wait 5 minutes and end up with something funny to write.

I guess in a round-about way, I did blog about the economy and the Presidential debate, all in one.

Something about a Hero

I was going to do several days in a row of posts of my pictures, however, some research today has impressed me to do something else.....post something about a hero. A relatively unknown person, who, in my mind, shows greater strength than that of which I could ever hope.


On 12 May 2008, Irena Sendlerowa (commonly known as Irena Sendler) passed away of pneumonia at the age of 98 in Warsaw, Poland.
A Los Angeles Times obituary for Irena described how Irena, a social worker, passed herself off as a nurse to sneak supplies and aid into (and children out of) the Warsaw Ghetto during the German occupation of WWII, and the punishment she endured when she was finally caught by the Nazis.

- She studied at Warsaw University and was a social worker in Warsaw when the German occupation of Poland began in 1939. In 1940, after the Nazis herded Jews into the ghetto and built a wall separating it from the rest of the city, disease, especially typhoid, ran rampant. Social workers were not allowed inside the ghetto, but Sendler, imagining "the horror of life behind the walls," obtained fake identification and passed herself off as a nurse, allowed to bring in food, clothes and medicine.

- By 1942, when the deadly intentions of the Nazis had become clear, Sendler joined a Polish underground organization, Zegota. She recruited 10 close friends — a group that would eventually grow to 25, all but one of them women — and began rescuing Jewish children.

- She and her friends smuggled the children out in boxes, suitcases, sacks and coffins, sedating babies to quiet their cries. Some were spirited away through a network of basements and secret passages. Operations were timed to the second. One of Sendler's children told of waiting by a gate in darkness as a German soldier patrolled nearby. When the soldier passed, the boy counted to 30, then made a mad dash to the middle of the street, where a manhole cover opened and he was taken down into the sewers and eventually to safety.

- Most of the children who left with Sendler's group were taken into Roman Catholic convents, orphanages and homes and given non-Jewish aliases. Sendler recorded their true names on thin rolls of paper in the hope that she could reunite them with their families later. She preserved the precious scraps in jars and buried them in a friend's garden.

- In 1943, she was captured by the Nazis and tortured but refused to tell her captors who her co-conspirators were or where the bottles were buried. She also resisted in other ways. According to Felt, when Sendler worked in the prison laundry, she and her co-workers made holes in the German soldiers' underwear. When the officers discovered what they had done, they lined up all the women and shot every other one. It was just one of many close calls for Sendler.

- During one particularly brutal torture session, her captors broke her feet and legs, and she passed out. When she awoke, a Gestapo officer told her he had accepted a bribe from her comrades in the resistance to help her escape. The officer added her name to a list of executed prisoners. Sendler went into hiding but continued her rescue efforts.

- She had begun her rescue operation before she joined the organized resistance and helped a number of adults escape, including the man she later married. She saved about 500 people before she formally joined the Zegota operation, which would mean that Sendler ultimately helped rescue about 3,000 Polish Jews from genocide.

- When the war ended, Sendler unearthed the jars she saved and began trying to return the children to their families. For the vast majority, there was no family left. Many of the children were adopted by Polish families; others were sent to Israel.

Woo, Elaine. "Irena Sendler, 98; Member of Resistance Saved Lives of 2,500 Polish Jews."
Los Angeles Times. 12 May 2008.


Irena Sendler was reportedly a candidate to receive the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, but that honor was not awarded to her. It's difficult to state categorically that she was "nominated" for the award, since information about Nobel Prize nominations, investigations, and opinions is kept secret for fifty years.

The Nobel peace prize went to someone else.

(To Find out who click here.)


I quote a modern prophet:
"And what of the meek? In a world too preoccupied with winning through intimidation and seeking to be number one, no large crowd of folk is standing in line to buy books that call for mere meekness. But the meek shall inherit the earth, a pretty impressive corporate takeover—and done without intimidation! Sooner or later, and we pray sooner than later, everyone will acknowledge that Christ’s way is not only the right way, but ultimately the only way to hope and joy. Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that gentleness is better than brutality, that kindness is greater than coercion, that the soft voice turneth away wrath. In the end, and sooner than that whenever possible, we must be more like him."

Howard W. Hunter, “‘Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee’,” Ensign, May 1993, 63

In some ways, I am glad she lost and ‘someone’ else won. May the glories of men never penetrate the heart of the righteous. Perhaps I will close my remarks with the words of the Savior:

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

KJV Bible St Matthew 6: 1-6

May God bless such a hero.....

Part time photographer #1 - Washington

So I like to believe that I am a part-time, real life, honest to goodness photographer. I like to shoot things rather than people because things don't go nuts when you point a camera in their direction, people tend to do that.

I thought I would post a few pics of my trip to Washington DC a couple years ago. Tell me what you think.

I wanted to write something about DC when I posted this last night, but I was too tired.

I love this country, but I don't love the ruin it is becoming. There is still a great amount of good here, but that good is becoming less and less prevalent. I love these pictures because they represent what we have done, where we have been, what we are made of and what we should be like going forward, but I fear the images are becoming iconic symbols of a past life this Nation will soon forget. We need to have a renaissance of ideals, of morals and values that will bring this Nation back together......

Lincoln said it best - United we stand, divided we fall.

- One Nation under God - In God We Trust -

- God Bless America -

Ten Random Things

#1 - Bears, beets, Battle star Gallactica.

#2 - Somebody blows their nose and you want to keep it?

#3 - I sped, I followed too closely, I ran a stop sign, I almost hit a Chevy, I sped some more, I failed to yield at a crosswalk, I changed lanes at the intersection, I changed lanes without signaling while running a red light and speeeeeeding!

#4 - Snorkel......... Albuquerque.

#5 - It's NOT a graduation, he's moving from the 4th grade to the 5th grade, they keep coming up with new ways to celebrate mediocrity. 

#6 - Maybe you should put some pants on, if you want to fight crime today.

#7 - No soup for you.

#8 - Did you guys ever WATCH the show?

#9 - You brought your own bacon?........Nah, I'm holding it for a friend.

#10 - I snatched you right out of the air.

There.

Figure that out.

All About Malia

10 years ago today, our little Malia was born. I was working at the car dealership (yes, I used to sell cars, I have repented) and Catey called me shortly after I got there and told me to come back home because she was sure he water had broken. I took off like a shot and made it back home. Catey was not in a panic (as usual) and, really, neither was I but I was so EXCITED!!! We took Catey to the hospital and got her all set up and ready to bring our first little one into the world. It was a really long haul all day and into the night. 

There was one point (around 9:00) that Catey fell asleep and they told me it would be quite some time before the baby came. I thought I would take off and go run some errands. I ended up at the condo and thought I would lay down and take a nap for an hour or so then head back to the hospital, but then thought to myself, "yah, I could just see you falling asleep and missing the whole thing....better not. Just go back to the hospital".

By the time I got back to the hospital all the lights were on in her room, Dr's and Nurses buzzing in and out of Catey's room, Catey was up and really uncomfortable and had a look on her face like "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?!?" It was not long after that our first came into the world. She was born and was put on Catey. Catey cried a little and held her then passed her to me. Malia was so little, and was cooing and grumbling a little. As I was holding her she opened her eyes and saw me for the first time............ she started screaming.

Not much has changed since then, she has gotten a little bigger, a little sassier, and is turning into a beautiful young woman. She is another little mother in the family, always concerned with what EVERYONE else is doing, sometimes that is good..... sometimes that is bad.

She is a delight and strength in our home as she is so helpful and willing. She is extremely smart and good at "finding a way". She reminds me of a cross between Violet Baudelaire (Lemony Snicket) and Violet Parr (Incredibles). Funny, until I just wrote that I had never realized they are both named Violet..... strange.

Anyhow Malia, we love you very much. Despite my inability to show you, you are truly one of the most wonderful children I have ever known..... and not just because you are mine..... others say so as well.

We love you.

Letter from Mom and Dad

I have been doing some research for a talk I have to give in church a week from Sunday and (being me), I always open the pages of life to see if I can find something, with which we can all identify. Movies are my favorite. We all love movies. I am sure if the Apostles and Prophets of old had movies, they would quote them to teach gospel principles. So I found a couple unusual resources that I saw in a different light. One of which I would like to share.

(I might share the others later)


This first one I found comes from the Movie "Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events". If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it. This movie is based on a book about three children who become orphaned when their house burns down and kills their parents. They are left with a lot of money that their distant uncle (Count Olaf) is trying to rob them of....chaos ensues. These three kids (two girls, Violet age 14 and Sunny age 18 months and one boy Klaus about 12) loved their parents deeply and having them die and leave them alone was very painful. The Uncle makes their life so bad that the son (Klaus) becomes angry that his parents didn't have a better plan for them than to be left with Olaf.

His older sister (Violet) suggests maybe they did have a plan, but the plan was frustrated. Then she asks him to remember a time when their parents were gone for a long, long time and never sent a letter. The children were deeply hurt and angry, however, when the parents got home they had indeed sent a letter, it must have been lost in the mail. Klaus and Violet then decide to make a small sanctuary (a simple tent in their disgusting room) where they could shut out the cruel, cold world, and remember what it was like when they were loved and a family.

The rest of the movie is the attempt of the kids to escape Count Olaf and be a happy family again. Through their adventures, they learn if they stick together and work hard, there is always something they can do to make things better and there is nothing they can't accomplish.

At the end of the movie, they are on their way out of town. Their guardian suggests they stop one last time so they could say goodbye to what they knew to be their home. As Voilet, Klaus and Sunny walk through the doors of their home, they see the home as they remember it, beautiful, warm, loving, always waiting to receive them and as they look around, the facade in their minds fall and they are left with the burned out vision of the ruin their lives have become.

Just as they are about to turn and leave, the postman delivers a letter....the letter that never came.

Violet reads the letter to the other two. As she reads this letter, I was impressed that if our Heavenly parents would write a letter to us, it would not sound much different.

It reads:

Dearest children -
Since we've been abroad we have missed you all so much. Certain events have compelled us to extend our travels. One day, when you're older, you will learn all about the people we have befriended and the dangers we have faced. At times the world can seem an unfriendly and sinister place, but believe us when we say that there is much more good in it than bad. All you have to do is look hard enough. And what might seem to be a series of unfortunate events may, in fact, be the first steps of a journey. We hope to have you back in our arms soon, darlings, but in case this letter arrives before our return, know that we love you. It fills us with pride to know that no matter what happens in this life, that you three will take care of each other, with kindness and bravery and selflessness, as you always have. And remember one thing, my darlings, and never forget it: that no matter where we are, know that as long as you have each other, you have your family. And you are home.'
-Your loving parents.

I have always gotten a bit teary eyed at that part, watching these three children long for the love of their parents again, but I outright lost my composure when I saw it last night. With everything that has been happening lately, it just seemed like my Father in Heaven put his hand on my shoulder as I watched and listened to that letter.

Lemony Snicket continues his narration:

Dear reader -
There are people in the world who know no misery and woe. And they take comfort in cheerful films about twittering birds and giggling elves. There are people who know that there's always a mystery to be solved. And they take comfort in researching and writing down any important evidence. But this story is not about such people. This story is about the Baudelaires. And they are the sort of people who know that there's always something. Something to invent, something to read, something to bite, and something to do, to make a sanctuary, no matter how small. And for this reason, I am happy to say, the Baudelaires were very fortunate indeed.


I too add my feelings that we are very fortunate, if we choose to be. We can be grateful, if we choose to be. We can be family, if we choose to be.

Our eternal home awaits, we just need to be patient, hopeful, full of love and prepared.

Calvin and Hobbes

I love Calvin and Hobbes.

I couldn't find my all-time favorites online, but here are a few that I really like. Calvin is me growing up, everything that kid did, reminds me of what was going on in my head growing up. Hobbes would be Chris (I am sure he thinks the reverse is true) and that is how we spent our growing up years.

My favorite Calvin & Hobbes is one of the shorter ones. Calvin is seen hammering nails into their coffee table. His mother walks in and freaks out and screams "CALVIN! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!?!!?" Calvin looks at her and calmly says "What does it look like mom?, I'm hammering nails into the coffee table.".....Mom just has her hand on her face, not believing what just happened. This happened in my house, which is why it is probably my favorite.

My other favorites are the many different kinds of snowmen he would make. The car-wreck one is the best with all the bystanders.

Sorry I don't have better ones......... enjoy!


These first two are me every day:

NYC trip - Empire State Building

November 1996, My dad calls and asks:

Dad: Hey Aaron, what are you doing for the weekend?

Aaron: Uh...hanging out with Catey.

Dad: Why don't you get a red-eye flight on Thursday and come to New York and hang out with me?

Aaron: I have never been to New York...this should be fun, what are we doing?

Dad: It's a surprise. Just meet me in LaGuardia on Friday morning and bring a jacket.

Aaron: OK, I will see you there.

I picked up the Red-eye here at Salt Lake and flew overnight to Chicago, changed planes and then into LaGuardia, NY. I met my dad at the airport and we grabbed a cab into the city. Since I had never been to New York I didn't know what to expect, but it was BIG, REALLY BIG. We went downtown somewhere to one of the Radio stations that my Dad's firm owns, met with the station manager then headed off with the station manager into another cab and down to the Empire State building. It was great!

We walked right past security and then took the elevator to the 88th floor (observation deck) where I had about 30 min to look around. I was in total awe of the city, and I was so high up! My dad and I walked around and took a bunch of pictures of the city. I asked if that was why he wanted me to come to NY and he said "Not quite". I was wondering what else would be sprung upon me when the station managers girlfriend showed up to meet us.

Now that she was here, the Station manager made a call on his cell and a guy in a gray jumpsuit showed up and walked us over to another set of elevators. These are the oldest set of working elevators in New York, they were the old kind with the pull down gates. We hopped in and took the elevators up to the 104 floor (the old observation deck) where we where instantly met by security. They checked us out on the list as 'approved people' then we walked into the observation area. I thought the other deck was cool, this one was awesome!

The only thing above us was the spire. The technician asked if I wanted to see something cool, of course I replied "Yes!" so he walked us around to another door into a room with lots of wires and a ladder up to the top of the dome from the inside. He said, "Go ahead and open the door up there and look out"..of course I did and when I popped the door open and climbed out I felt like I was on top of the world.

Only the iron cage held me, I was on the very tip top of the Empire State Building. I looked right, then left, I could see all of NY with the turn of the head. The other members of our party were yelling something from the inside of the dome, I stuck my head in and the technician said "Don't stop now....we are going to the top!"

Oh boy, now I was a little nervous, he wanted me to CLIMB the iron cage to the top of the tower. I had to suppress my excitement coupled with trepidation as I climbed. I climbed over and over and over up the spire until the sides of the cage came so close it rubbed my shoulders, then it was out a door, scaling up the side and on top of a platform that has no railing. There was about 15 feet left of the spire. I was met by my Dad, the Station manager, his girlfriend and the technician.



We took a few pictures and I put my foot at the end of the platform and took a picture. You can see the observation deck below the cage on which we stood. I started screaming because of the bottled excitement and the people on the observation deck started looking up. I was truly on top of the world.

You might ask how we were able to do that and my dad made it possible. He is VP of a Major player in the broadcasting industry and the radio / TV stations that they owned, needed service on their repeater on the tower. Since the technician was going up anyhow, my Dad thought he would ask me to tag along, I had no idea what we were in for. The technician said it was truly a rare day because there was no wind. So, to show us how it feels in the wind, he climbed the top of the tower and started to sway back and forth until the entire spire started to move. It was a scary feeling
being that far up and having the supports move beneath you.

I climbed up as far as I could and put my hand on the little flashing red light at the very tip top. After about 10-15 min up there it was time to leave. Climbing down was anti-climatic to what we just experienced, but it was one of those moments in my life that is clearly frozen in my memory.

We went to dinner at some no-name place (had ribs, they were good) then caught a commuter flight to DC and stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City. I worked for the Hotel chain so we stayed really cheap. The next morning we got up, toured the DC Mall's major sites and then flew home in the afternoon.

Truly a life experience.

It's 9:54 and I am tired

I always save this stuff for the very last part of the day.... and I am so tired.

Tonight's blog is just a funny tribute to Dwight Shrute.... cause I love the office.

Here is another link, I couldn't imbed it but you can copy and paste it and run it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLeI-V9h6EY

Ipod Party

This is simple, I will randomly hit play and tell you what the next twenty songs on my ipod are.

#1 - City Love - John Meyer

I love this song. Currently, this is one I turn to when I want to remember how we were before Catey and I got married. We dated for over a year, and this song makes me think of the way we were for that whole year.....I miss it sometimes.

#2 - I Need Thee Every Hour - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Weird, if I turned on the iPod every day for a couple weeks, I would probably not hit the Mo-Tab, but I did. I like this hymn, the first time I remember this song, it was sung at President Kimball's funeral, I think it was anyhow, maybe not, but that is my first memory of it.

#3 - Everything I Do (I Do It For You) - Bryan Adams

This is one of my all-time favorites. I have not heard it for a very long time. This is the extended version, which is the only version to play. The only problem with this song, is that it is about the most overplayed song ever....this and that Celine Dion Titanic song.....but I still love them both.

#4 - If Everyone Cared - Nickleback

These guys are a current guilty pleasure of mine, raspy voice, bad-boy drums and guitar. They are kind of a throw-back to the hard rock of the 90's.

#5 - Return to Innocence - Enigma

Truly great song. Funny thing about this song was that it came out when I was going through a really hard time in my life, I was trying to overcome some very difficult choices I had made, going through a repentance process and this song seemed to capture how I WANTED to feel. It represents a time of change for me, when all seemed like it would never get better....and looking back, I had nothing to convince me otherwise, but I kept pressing on......to return to innocence.

#6 - In A Child's Eyes - John Tesh

This song reminds me of my mission. Our Mission President said we could listen to nothing except what we could hear in sacrament meeting. Since I had a very broad view of what I would listen to in Sacrament meeting, John Tesh followed me throughout my mission. 

#7 - Poison - Bell Biv DeVoe

Ok, I have to admit.....this is Catey's. I didn't know this song very well when it was big, but the thought that comes to mind is Greg Miller. At our annual Halloween Costume party, Greg sat there and watched the rest of us dance and make fools of ourselves for a good half an hour until this song started playing. He jumped up with his hands in the air and yelled "BELL BIV DEVOE!!!!! I LOVE POISON!!!!!" I will never forget it. 

#8 - Heat on the Street - Phil Collins

I love Phil. He is probably one of the most underrated musicians ever to live, he does it all. Catey says all his stuff sounds the same, I think she needs to clean out her ears. I always wanted to go to a Phil Collins concert and the ONE time he came to Utah, he came a couple weeks after I left for my mission to Georgia.....he never came back, I never made it to a concert of his. I will get over it.

#9 - Nostalgia - Yanni

Yes, I like Yanni. For years and years, that is all I would listen to. I still break it out every so often because it also was music that represents a time in my life when I was learning about life and trying to figure out who I was. Still, one of the best concerts I have ever been to was Yanni, that guy put on a show. He had the Utah Symphony with him and his normal crew....incredible show.

#10 - The Power! - Snap

Like the crack of a whip I snap attack front to back in this thing called rap! (It's gettin kinda heavy) Ok, ok, ok this one is mine. There was a movie (The Fisher King) that had this song in it. I have only seen the movie once, but it was very metaphorical and I liked it.

#11 - First Steps - Jim Brickman

Chris introduced me to Jim on my mission. He sent me a tape I could listen to that would be 'Sunday' approved. Of course being Chris, he also sent me a copy of Van Halens new album when it came out too....so......yeah.

#12 - Please Forgive Me - David Gray

This is one of two songs by him I really like. This reminds me of Catey and I with 4 kids, living in Sugarhouse. We didn't want to be there, we hated the house (mice, cold, shower-closet) and we never thought we would have a home of our own. While there, I hated it, but looking back, it was a good time, we learned a lot about each other and our little family.

#13 - La Elima - Israel Kamakawiwole (Big Iz)

Hawaiian music. Catey and I bought this on our 5 year anniversary in Maui. One of two trips to the islands for us. This trip was just for 3 days, it was terrible. Catey and I had no money, the only way we could afford it was to tag along with my Mom, Brother and sister with free standby flights and hotel benefits. We had $100 in our bank account and when we got to the hotel, they required a credit card deposit. Since we didn't have credit cards, I gave them the only card we had....my bankcard. They put a hold on the bankcard for $99. When we found this CD I attempted to buy it and my card was rejected. I called and the bank said it was because of a hold the hotel put on my card. I told the hotel to take it off and they said it would take 7-10 days to come off......we were stuck. I hate being broke.

#14 - Aegean Wave - Suzanne Ciani

I discovered Ms. Ciani shortly after Chris left on his mission. This stuff reminds me of a time in my life where Chris was not right there every day. I was sad and lonely, this music was an audible comfort to me while going through that time in my life.

#15 - Barbara Ann - Beach Boys

Who does not love the Beach Boys?....Communists. If you don't like the Beach Boys you need to get on a bike, ride as hard as you can into a brick wall. Maybe that will knock some sense into you. This is classic, I can't comment, it might ruin the truly awesomeness of the song.

#16 - Sk8ter Boi - Avril Lavigne

I don't know why I like this...... it is another guilty pleasure, she has some really good songs on the first album, this is ok, but others are better.

#17 - I'm too Sexy - Right Said Fred

Do I need to explain this one?......I didn't think so.

#18 - People Asking Why - Seal

This is not one of his best songs, but I like Seal. This is also 'Catey meets Aaron' music. We listened to his stuff all the time when we started dating.

#19 - Over the Rainbow / What a wonderful world - Israel Kamakawiwole (Big Iz)

This song is hauntingly beautiful and sad at the same time. This is the song that made me want the album that I couldn't buy earlier because the stupid hotel froze my card. I remember first hearing it on 'ER' when Dr. Green was in Hawaii, dying of cancer. They did a video collage of his time on the show up to that point, it was so sad. The show really went downhill after that, I really liked Dr. Green, it made me sad. When times are hard this song makes me think that better times are ahead. I would never had put those two songs together and I love that he did....it truly is a wonderful world, someday we will all meet over the rainbow where skies are blue.

#20 - Sacred Ground - John Schmidt

This is a perfect song on which to end. The world is quieting, children are asleep, the stars are making their sweep across the sky. My wife is in my arms and I can hear her breathe, eternity is near and the heavens seem to beckon us home. It is as if we have slipped away from the world, for our home is sacred ground.

....And there you have it. I was going to do 31 songs for the 31 days in OCT, but I am tired and need to go to bed.  

Until tomorrow.....

I have been tagged

I hate this stuff, it's like bad emails telling you that your uncles third cousin will die if you don't send this out to 200 people in the next 30 seconds.....ugh.

Here is the culprit that brought me into this......Chris.

This one isn't so bad, so I thought I would cave.

Ok, so here goes my 7 random or weird facts

1 - My pinky toenail on my right foot is split in two, it always has been. Catey calls it my retarted toe, most of my kids have it too. If that is the one physical trait (besides an overbearingly loud voice) that I leave my kids, so be it.

2 - I like green popsicles best. I don't know what the flavor is supposed to be, but I like it.  I like brown (rootbeer) least.

3 - My feet dry out when I wear sandals so I put an attachment on my drill to sand them down. It makes Catey nervous because my feet start to smoke when I get going too fast.

4 - When I eat fast food it must be done in order. The fries have to be eaten first because cold fries are disgusting, then the sandwich/burger then drink. It must be done in that order, this is very important.

5 - I bite my fingernails. I hate long fingernails. The only people who should have long fingernails is beautiful women and vampires....and sometimes they are one in the same.

6 - I hate Thanksgiving. That is my least favorite holiday. Catey and I got up last year at 6:00 am and cooked for 6 hours......for a 30 min meal. Dumb. Never liked it.

7 - I have stood on top of the Empire State Building in New York City, NY. Not the observation deck but the very tip top of the spire.....its a long story, but I have had my hands on the little flashing red light at the top of the spire. Maybe I will find some pictures of the event and make that another post this month.

There, I have been tagged.

Here are my 7 tags

1 - Brandon

2 - Dawn

3 - Ashley

4 - Randy

5 - Justin

6 - James

7 - Heidi

Good Luck

Happy Birthday

I have two birthdays to recognize today, my son Lincoln (actually born yesterday the 3rd, he turned two) and my friend Chris born today.

Lincoln -

Your mother likes to write on her blog about the day you were born, I prefer to write about yesterday. Yesterday was a perfect example of who you are and the boy you are becoming. I had to work late yesterday and didn't get home until 6:30 pm and by that time your mother was already gone working her shoe party. I picked you up (and the rest of the bunch) at a neighbors house and when I walked up to the door, you were the first who spotted me and came running screaming DADDY!!!

You ran and hugged my leg (as you always do when I come home) gave me the three pats on my thigh then put your arms up so I could pick you up. I picked you up and you gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. As soon as I set you down, your duty to your father for the day was done, out the door you ran to head home.

We got home and you ran to the oven and pointed to the cold pizza and said "SOME!!" I handed out pizza to everyone for dinner. We sang 'Happy Birthday' to you and the kids wanted me to put candles on your cold pizza.....I didn't because there is too much 'parent' in me and I know how that ends up. When we sang to you, you looked confused but had a big grin on your face. Almost like you were happy you did something, but didn't know what it was.

We ate a couple cupcakes then gave you a shower, your only present. I left you in there for 30 min because you love the shower so much, and I am lame and didn't get you anything to open. When I came to get you, you had a huge smile on your face, happy and grateful that you got to shower long enough to prune your fingers. I pulled you out, put on a diaper and your full-footed PJ's and sent you out with the other kids.

The rest of the kids wanted to watch a movie, so I turned one on. You don't like the TV much and didn't spend much time there. Since we don't have TV, your Dad missed the Vice Presidential debate and pulled it up on the web. You came into the office, crawled up on your daddy's lap and fell asleep. I let you lay on me for a while, because as a Dad in this family, quiet time with the kids, does not happen very often. I don't remember what the opponents were talking about because I sat and stared at you for a good 20 min, just rubbing your back. I could tell that my chest wasn't comfortable and (just like your daddy) you were putting off TONS of heat when you sleep. So I carried you down to bed and laid you down. You were not awake so you didn't pull up to you knees, binky in mouth, arms folded ready to hear me say personal prayers with you. It made me sad a little, but I rolled you over to your stomach, pulled the covers over you and left you for the night....my first night with a new two-year-old.

I love you Lincoln.

You are named after one of the greatest men that has ever lived. Hopefully you will live up to it. I expect great things from you. I don't expect you to change the world, but I do expect you to live like your Father in Heaven expects, and doing that, in this troubled world, will be truly 'great things'.

___________________________________________________________

Chris -

Trying to sum up the last 32 years in a paragraph or two is very difficult if not impossible. Other than my wife, You know me better than anyone else. We have been through everything and keep on plugging along. In some ways I still feel like we are a couple of teenagers, just doing our thing. I am surprised that I don't get a call every-so-often asking if I can "come play".

I thought I would pick one experience and tell you something I remember. The first one I wanted to start with was on your 7th birthday (I think). You were having a birthday party at your house on a Saturday and I had a soccer game. My parents would not let me go to your party because of my "commitment to the team". I appreciate that lesson now, and I even understood what they meant and what they were trying to teach me, but it didn't make it any easier.

They let me come down to your house a little early and wish you happy birthday and give you a present, but then when everyone else got there, I had to leave. You quickly got caught up in the party and forgot about me. It hurt my feelings that you didn't seem to care that I couldn't be there, and why wouldn't you at 7, people to see, games to play, gifts to open.... I remember my parents coming to get me and me walking out head hung down. Your mom pulled me aside and gave me a piece of cake to take with me and a little bag of party stuff and told me she was sorry I couldn't stay. She gave me a hug and out to the AMC Pacer and off to my game.

I don't remember if I cried or not, but I do remember feeling the lump in my throat. I felt like I had done you some great dis-service by missing your party. I don't remember, but I am sure after the game was over, I ended up at your place or vice-versa and we were back at it.

I feel sorry for other people who don't have that kind of real friend during their growing up years. They have missed out on so much, it is no wonder why people don't understand us.....I don't even think our parents did (and still don't). Even our wives shake their head and let out a big sigh.

There is no explaining it, we just look at each other and smile, like it is some inside joke that only we understand.

Happy Birthday Backwards Cap......now THERE is a story......