Moo's News

Financial Freedom

2010-05-03T21:50:00.000-07:00

Recently we had a Relief Society weeknight meeting that focused on becoming financial independent. Brother Richie spoke, and he is here at BYUH on a mission in the School of Business after many church callings such as MTC president in Africa, a mission president, etc. etc. He is also one of the wealthier members of the church and personally finances, along with a few other members, the prizes for some of BYUH contests like the one Tim had in the School of Computing, where they gave students $1,000 worth of cash. These contests were held in other departments such as English also. Anyway, his remarks were very interesting and he claimed he began his knowledge of money handling by studying the little book “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George Clason. I was interested enough in his talk to purchase this book on my Kindle device and have read it now. In this blog I will pass on some of the concepts I gleaned about becoming financially free. The book is a story occurring in Babylonian times and quite interesting as well as short so I recommend it.

First principle: “A part of all I earn is mine to keep”. As soon as you earn any money, (after paying tithing) save at least 10%. Do not touch this savings for anything.

Second principle: Everything you save is a slave to work for you. The child of what it earns is also a slave to you and should likewise be put to work in a secure investment situation as well as the grandchild, etc. and so on.

Third principle: Do not go to a brick layer for advice about jewels. Go to an expert in the field of whatever you wish to invest in. Don’t assume that you yourself are an expert in the investment field either (unless of course you are).

Fourth Principle: Control expenses. Expenses always grow to equal your income unless you budget and plan. Don’t confuse needs and wants. A budget helps you realize your most cherished desires by defending against casual wishes.

Fifth principle: Make your home a profitable investment. Own your home, borrowing if necessary as it is better to regularly pay a mortgage than rent. Improve your home with gardens and flowers, etc. (not out of the 1/10 you save, but the other 8%)

Sixth principle: Guard your treasure against loss. Investments need to be secure, loans should have collateral equal to or above the amount of loan- either item, land, signature of services, etc. If there is no property, then get a co-signer to vouch for your person that the debt will be repaid. The principal should be safe, reclaimable if necessary, and where you can collect a fair rental. Gold flees from the person who tries to get impossible earnings or follows alluring tricksters or their own romantic and inexperienced desires

Seventh principle: Insure a future income for your family in case you get old or die. Regularly put a little away and invest it for reasonable growth, such as life insurance.

If you have debts then make a plan to repay. Still pay tithing, save at least 10%, then live on six percent and divide the remaining 2% between all of your creditors until slowly you have repaid all your debts. Debts are your enemies to be fought against but creditors are friends who trusted you to loan you the money, treat them well and with respect.

Remember the soul of a free man sees life as a series of problems and goes about finding solutions to them, while the soul of a slave whines “What can I do who am but a slave?”

The story of course teaches these principles by things that happen in the lives of the characters, but I was trying to boil it down a bit although mine is undoubtedly less interesting. Of course being from Babylon the story doesn’t say anything about tithing but I thought that an important addition.

The Glass Bottom Boat

2010-03-28T23:05:00.000-07:00

Several years of living in Hawaii had not found us taking advantage of the open water tour of Kaneohe Bay on the glass bottomed boat. Saturday seemed like a good time to try it. Actually, we were going to go on Friday since it was Prince Kuhio Day and therefore a state holiday, but after enjoying a sleep-in and then calling the place at 10:30 A.M., we had already missed the last tour of the day. We decided to schedule for Saturday. The tour requires a minimum of four people, but there were several already reserved for 11:15 so we joined that group.

We arrived a few miniutes early and were able to board shortly after paying our $17 a person fee. The crew was friendly and so were the other passengers, who happened to be several children and their parents and both sets of grandparents. That, of course, made us wish our grandkids had been here to tag along.

A few minutes into the bay we stopped and watched the fish and corals through the glass panels in the bottom of the boat. One of the staff came snorkeling up under the glass and startled me a bit since I was not expecting to see people on the bottom. His goal was to feed the fish so that they would gather under the boat and we could see more. The coral was pretty and we did see serveral species of fish swim by. We probably spent about ten minutes doing this.

Next we were ushered topside of the boat so that we could watch the waves and stop again to feed the fish and see the green sea turtles. We each were given a slice of bread and it was fun to watch the little fish swarm to the crumbs we scattered on the surface. We actually saw four turtles swimming in the area. The picture included in this article is one of them. The turtle is the dark area in the front of the picture.

The crew had us stay topside and told us about the 52 reefs in Kaneohe Bay. My big disappointment in this trip was that we never went to another spot or got to watch anymore fish on the bottom through the glass before we were docking and it was over. The whole thing lasted an hour but I really felt like it should have included a few more minutes of bottom watching. All in all, it was a fun trip, but a bit on the expensive side for what we actually got to see.

The Tsunami That Wasn't

2010-03-01T21:48:00.000-08:00

Of course I'm grateful that the predicted tsunami following the 8.8 earthquake in Chile did not really materialize on Oahu. But after "much ado about nothing" including evacuating for several hours it would be nice if someone explained why all the hub-bub over a 3 foot wave. Three feet is like a normal wave here, we see them everyday.

Well, someone did explain it all and I thought you might want to know too. In Hawaii's "Star Bulletin"on February 28th, Jim Borg explains that the phenomenon at work is called harmonic resonance. He says the perfect example is the Slinky, that little metal spring toy. It takes two people with coordinated effort on each end to get the slinky vibrating in rhythm. If either person is out of sync the whole thing becomes unruly without focus or energy.

In 1960 an earthquake at the same place in Chile but with a harmonic resonance of 30 minutes between waves synced up easily with Hilo on the Big Island and the resulting Tsunami killed 60 people there. This time the wave harmonics were 20 minutes and Hawaii was out of sync.

The awesome power of a Tsunami comes from the towering height of the waves as they reach close to the shore. For this reason many boat owners quickly moved their boats out about a mile on Saturday so that they were not destroyed by the onslaught of waves. You should probably know that tsunamis are not just a single wave, but a series of waves of varying heights. Even this weekend a few people took their surfboards out to try the waves but that is a deadly activity. Going toward the beach is also very dangerous. The rule is if you can see the wave it is too late to escape.

We are so thankful this one did not have our name on it, or should I say our rhythm to it. Believe me there was enough excitement waking up to sirens blaring and moving with our 72-hour kits to higher ground to make me feel like I got my money's worth.

My Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipe

2009-12-20T22:36:00.000-08:00

I made these for my Dad once when I was visiting and he said it was the first time he had liked the leftovers better than the original meal. Trust me, they are delicious. I took some as a compassionate service meal to our ward's executive secretary when his wife had a baby. He like them so well he had her get the recipe and make them once a week. So far as I know they still do.

The filling:
2 cups of turkey meat chopped into small bits. (canned chicken also works well when you have no leftovers)
1 small onion, chopped
2 sticks of celery, chopped
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 oz. cream cheese
2/3 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped
6 tablespoons of butter, melted

Mix all the ingredients of the filling together except the butter. Unroll Pillsbury refrigerator crescent rolls and put a dollop inside each one then roll, pinching the sides a bit to seal in the stuffing. Dip in the melted butter. Then roll in dry Pepperidge Farms herb stuffing mix. (Other brands work fine, you might just have to roll them into crumbs for coating first) Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes until the rolls are golden brown.

Serve with a gravy made from a can of cream of chicken soup, 1/2 cup milk, 1 cup sour cream which had been heated.

So, go ahead and eat your ham for Christmas if you must, but then get some canned chicken and try this recipe. You'll be glad you did.

So Grandpa is Santa--Who Knew!

2009-12-20T00:52:00.000-08:00

Well the truth is out kids. Your Grandfather has a secret identity and here is the proof in this picture. The children at our ward Christmas party were asked to sing "Jingle Bells" loud enough to bring Santa in and so they did. We tried to prepare Topaz and Emerald for the shocking news and Topaz managed fairly well during the activity. Emerald was traumatized when Santa picked her up and she couldn't stop crying. That must have somewhat rattled Topaz too because later in the evening when we asked Topaz how he liked having Grandpa be Santa he burst into tears and said "Never do that again!"

The Surf Is Definitely Up!

2009-12-10T16:26:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a storm at sea near the Philippines there are big waves in Hawaii. In fact, reporters say they are the biggest in a couple of decades with some reaching 40 and even 50 feet high. The beaches are taped off, meaning they are closed, but that doesn't stop the die-hard surfers. Amber and I decided we wanted to see the massive breakers. Of course,so did everyone else. We drove along the North Shore and were actually able to briefly catch some free parking at Sunset Beach to take a few pictures. By the time we were near Pipeline the traffic was total gridlock and moving slower than a snail, but in Amber's words "It was totally worth it." Parking was soon non-existent and some people that lived along the way were charging $10-$40 dollars to park in their driveways or on their grass. We didn't park again but just took pictures through the windows of the car.

A crowd of more than 20,000 people gathered the next day for the Quiksilver Competition because the waves were so spectacular. Apparently that is the biggest crowd ever for this particular event. Many people were stuck on the packed Kamehameha Highway in the traffic and did not get to see the actual event except through the crowds and cars. Lifeguards on Oahu were incredibly busy rescuing all those people who failed to heed the numerous warnings. This year's Quiksilver contest was in memory of Eddie Aikau, the first official lifeguard at Waimea Bay. Eddie had saved countless lives but he died some years ago after paddling out to save some people from a canoe that had capsized. All I can say is that people surfing in these kinds of waves are cra-a-a-a-zy!

Laus Deo

2009-11-26T22:31:00.000-08:00

Laus Deo translates to"Praise be to God" These words are inscribed on the top of the Washington Monument. They seem particularly appropriate for Thanksgiving Day. We should thank God in all things. I am especially thankful for the redemption wrought by Jesus Christ for me and for the restoration of the gospel in these latter days. I am thankful for my husband and my children and their families and my siblings. You(my family) are the reason I am a happy person and have a fulfilled life. It's nice to be alive this year as last year at this time I almost wasn't. Each day is a gift that I should try much harder not to waste.

I am richly blessed to be born in this free land and I hope and pray that we will recognize our role in keeping it free by obeying the laws of the God of the land, even Jesus Christ. I am thankful for a prophet and scriptures to help us find our way through the mists of darkness and the deceptions of the evil one. Thanksgiving the "Feast of the Harvest" is held in appreciation for daily bread. We are very blessed to not be hungry, and in fact today I feel totally stuffed. God is good to us.

Even when we have trials, He makes a way for us to bear those challenges. He protects us and guides us as long as we will listen and follow Him. I am thankful I know He loves me.

Pumpkin Log

2009-11-26T22:16:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving, for the first time, I made a pumpkin log or roll. It turned out really well so I thought I'd share the recipe. I believe I got my copy from Ben and it is called Bro. Brigham's Pumpkin roll and is the same as they use at Great Harvest Bread Company.

First you need to put wax paper on a cookie sheet and then oil that paper also before pouring on the pumpkin ingredients.

Blend together:
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup pumpkin
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup flour.

Pour onto the prepared cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees. ( I actually baked mine slightly longer until a knife test came out clean.) Remove from the oven and roll the mixture leaving the wax paper on at this time. Then allow to completely cool before unrolling and putting the filling on.

Filling mixture:
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese
4 teaspoons of soft butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

Carefully unroll the cooled pumpkin log and spread with the filling. Then re-roll the log removing the wax paper as you roll. Wrap in foil and refrigerate or freeze until ready for use. It only takes a short time to unfreeze so we set ours out while we ate Thanksgiving dinner and it was ready when we were ready for dessert.

Not Swayed By Popular Sentiment

2009-11-16T14:52:00.000-08:00

It is not a stunning reversal by the Mormon Church to support city laws that would prohibit discrimination against gays in housing and employment. Peter Spriggs of the Family Research Council, as quoted in the Star Bulletin, one of Hawaii's newspapers, last Thursday, claims that the Church's support is disappointing and a setback that reflects a reaction to the attacks the Church came under over Proposition 8 in California. He sees the Church as bending over backwards to exhibit tolerance toward homosexuals in some way.

The LDS church has never been discriminatory. They have and do still oppose gay marriage, not out of a stance of discrimination, but because it is contrary to the moral laws of God. Since a prophet leads the church and he and the other apostles have access to direct communication with God in directing the affairs of the worldwide Church, it is a great blessing to know without a shadow of doubting that the position of the church is the same as God would do Himself if He were here.

The new city ordinances that make it illegal to fire someone or evict them from their housing for being gay, bisexual, or trans-gender are not really related to the morality of a gay marriage and therefore it only makes sense that the church support these laws.

Now after my mild tirade on this subject I will add into this blog one of my "pet peeves". I, personally (nothing on an official church basis here) do not like to have the gay rights movement using the rainbow as their symbol. I feel the rainbow was given by God to help us remember something different; that He would not again destroy the whole earth by flood. To me it is a visible sign that He exists, that He still communicates with man, and that He makes and keeps promises. This rainbow symbol usage is a perfect example of calling or making good things evil or calling evil things good. Amber had a T-shirt with a rainbow on it that she was uncomfortable wearing because she thought it indicated to the world something about her moral preferences. That is so sad, I think.

It's New To Us

2009-11-08T22:42:00.000-08:00

After six faithful years of service our 1998 Honda Odyssey bit the dust. The problems, we were told, would cost about $4,000 to repair and because of age and other issues the car wasn't worth that much anymore.

So we traded it in on a 2007 Hyundai Entourage. The business department of the car dealership had listed this car at a good price to draw in customers and figured they would want a different color and they would give them the regular price for that change. That worked for them for a few people but we thought the red color was O.K. and didn't warrant the $8,000 difference in price.

Some of the interesting features include 4 captains chairs and the third row seats divide so that one- third can be laid down while two-thirds stay up or vice-a- vers. The car has temperature control so that you can pick an exact temperature, like 72 degrees, for each of the driver and passenger front seat separately, as well as for the back area separately. The doors are electronic and open for you at the push of a button.

A little compass reads out the direction of the car; and miles per gallon of gas is instantly and continuously computed and averaged. The dashboard shows a car picture that each tire can light up on if the tire pressure in that one is low. There is a conversation mirror in addition to the regular mirror so that front row people can see those in the back. There is a sunglasses holder built it on the top of the driver side. There is a CD player and radio with extra controls for the volume on the steering wheel.

The gear shift looks like a standard although it is automatic. The 1,2,3 drives are shifted to the side, while regular ones are straight up and down. There are 11 cup holders in the car with four in a fold down tray between the two front seats. All three rows of windows can be opened and controled by the driver. The computer display of the miles per gallon can also show miles per trip and outside temperature.

The car has a V-6 engine while our Honda was a 4 cylinder. There are at least three twelve volt power outlets (cigarette lighters) for plugging things like little DVD players into. The car has less than 30,000 miles on it. The lights in the car operate automatically so that they are on when it is dark and go off by themselves. I'm sure there are a number of gadgets that we have not discovered yet.

Your Daddy says it is so beautiful. I think he really likes it. I hope it lasts many years as cars are expensive these days.

Halloween Pumpkins

2009-11-01T21:50:00.000-08:00

Amber and Topaz created the pumpkin with the lite brite cat face. It is lit by a
flashing light inside that causes the lite brites to glow. I carved the little monster pumpkin, but since I am no artist, I used a pattern. They were cute enough that people came and took pictures of themselves by our pumpkins.

Just the Girls and Topaz

2009-10-27T23:02:00.000-07:00

While Tim was in Virginia for a week, Amber and I and Emerald and Topaz played. The Dole plantation has a train called the Pineapple Express that tours the pineapple fields. We thought the kids would enjoy that and had planned to do it while we were at the maze on another day. The weather was much more pleasant, even slightly sprinkling while we were riding the train. One of the things you learn on the train is that pineapples never get riper after they are cut, so it is best to refrigerate them if they are not being eaten immediately. Pineapple also acts as a meat tenderizer and aids in digestion so it is good to add to meat dishes.

On Saturday we were planning to go to the Swap Meet in Honolulu, so Amber and I drove down. When we got there, the Stadium was closed for a University of Hawaii football game. So, since we were already in Honolulu, we wound around until we came to the Bishop's Museum. There is a new traveling exhibit there on dinosaurs. The dinosaurs are huge and robotic so they move and roar. They are both in the building and outside on the grounds of the museum and they looked a little too real to Topaz. He totally freaked out and had to be carried past them. He pulled his hat over his eyes because as long as he couldn't see them, they must not be able to see him. On the other hand he totally enjoyed the normal volcano exhibit. It seemed that as far as Topaz was concerned we couldn't get out of there fast enough. Imagine my surprise when we pulled out of the parking area and suddenly he began to cry in the most heart-broken fashion. This continued all the way with him begging "More dinosaurs pleeeese!" Finally in desperation we stopped at a Walgreens in Kaneohe and bought the child a small stuffed dinosaur to remember the occasion and the tears stopped. Children- no matter what you do it is tough to get it right!

Because I have given this story the title of the girls and Topaz, there is another experience this week that fits. There is a playground at the mall in Kaneohe where both Topaz and Emerald enjoying playing. This time Topaz was running around as usual and he came to the top of the green hill holding the hand of some little girl. Together they ran down the hill and when they came back up he had two girls by the hand. Once again he ran down and once again he came back this time with three little girls. It seems boys this age have no shyness around little girls.

The Pineapple Maze

2009-10-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

After a long summer and early fall hiatus, I've decided I need and want to get blogging again. There were so many things I wanted to write about our summer in the Mainland but I didn't and now it seems like old news, so I will just begin again.

Yesterday, Amber and I took her kids to the world's largest maze. It is at the Dole pineapple plantation. The center of the maze is shaped like a pineapple and all the winding paths are tall hedges of hibiscus trees mostly. Topaz really likes to do mazes on the computer and on paper, so we thought he might like to see what a real one is like.

When we went in, I was a little concerned thinking we had to complete the whole thing correctly on one path before we could ever get out again. If you know me very well, you know I am easily lost and always end up needing a bathroom right when none is available.

In this maze we were often lost, but you enter and follow a straight line to the center pineapple. Eight entrances go off from the center and you wind around in them. Back in the bushes they overlap so that you might go in one gate and come out another. In each of the eight areas you can eventually find a machine where you can mark your little passport with a picture that indicates you found that one. We let Topaz tell us which way to turn most of the time so sometimes we repeated the rows. When you walk directly to each sign post you cover a total of 2.4 miles, so I'm sure we did a little more than that. It is not too stressful because you can always wind you way back to the center and sit down and think about it or rest and drink water, if you take water, which we did and I would recommend.

We were doing quite well and still had two sign posts to find. Topaz was having a great time. Emerald was happy in her stroller, but I had a bit of a struggle pushing her as the paths were rocks. Anyway we were going along very well despite the repeats and periods of being completely lost when Topaz exclaimed "Look only two more places to find!" He seemed totally excited to continue on when about three feet later he said "I'm done Mommy let's go". We all were pretty well baked in the 89 degree weather and my shirt was completely wet from sweat so we really didn't argue. We went back to the center pineapple and straight out to the gift shop and bought Topaz a Pineapple Maze finisher T-shirt to celebrate the accomplishment. Our punchout clock said it had taken us one hour and twenty minutes.

The Dole Pineapple Maze is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in both 1998 and 2001 as the world's largest maze. They still advertise it as the world's largest so I presume it still is.

Ward Camp

2009-07-11T01:55:00.000-07:00

In a Mormon ward in Hawaii the yearly activity is a week at camp on the beach. Usually we miss this because we are in the mainland visiting our children when it occurs, but this year we were in town.

You would not believe the luxury camping that Hawaiian do. First of all they set their tents all up under "easy corners". These are sturdy pole and tarps arrangements that protect the tent and living area from rain, wind, etc. Being mainlanders ourselves we do not have easy corners so we just set our tent up. The first year we did this, about five years ago, our tent blew down a couple of times. This year we selected a spot a little more sheltered by trees for some shade and wind protection and did not have a problem. Some people hook up large double sinks to the available faucets. Our first time someone even brought a real china cabinet to camp to live just like at home. Unbelievable!

Hawaiian wards take huge generators to camp to power everything from lights and cooking stoves to TVs, etc. A staging area is used for group activities. This year the first one was a huge memorial dance for Michael Jackson with a performance of "Thriller" and pulsating lights. Other group activities included a Primary activity for the children one day, a Musical fireside on Sunday, nightly movies, and of course every ward camp ends with a huge luau including the kalua pork (pig cooked underground).

Topaz and Emerald went camping with us the first night. They loved scampering around in the tent and swimming on the beach. On the other hand, they did not love sleeping at night so it was a rather long night for me. It didn't help that the Michael Jackson Memorial dance loudly went until 11 P.M. and then some neighbors from another group played the radio nearly as loud until 4 A.M.

Since the beach camp was less than a mile from our house we luxuriously went home for showers and even slept at home a couple of the nights. We're not the campers we were when we were younger but all in all it was quite fun. Many of the locals make this their only vacation from work, but of course we mainlanders will go to the mainland to visit our families still too.

The Hawaii Tourist Hits Bishop's Museum

2009-04-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

On Monday Tim had a doctor's appointment in Honolulu. Then he decided we would stay in town until supper and go to my favorite Red Lobster. With a few hours to kill he decided that he had not yet seen Bishop's Museum. This was my third time but it is always fun to go again.

We spent some time in the science museum where a gigantic globe acts as a screen with a show af various planets. The globe can look like Jupiter, Mars, or any of them and you can see the 360 degree appearance. Then the globe can show you earth and change the time so that you can see the splitting of the continents from one land mass. Also it can show the clouds and weather patterns currently existing on the whole planet. It is updated every 15 minutes and so it is really quite interesting. Of course they also show what is happening on earth with the global warming and what is expected to happen in the future. All very fascinating.

Next we went to the temporary exhibit of Animation. Here you can make cartoons yourself, put sound effects into ones already created, and every other conceivable variation that falls under this heading. Children would love all the buttons to push and nobs to turn here and the ability to see their own creations on T.V.

Back to the science building, next we went to the Planetarium for a presentation based on the Hawaiian skies as seen from Mauna Kea on the Big Island. Mauna Kea is actually the highest mountain on earth if measured from it's base under the ocean. It rises into a starry sky where not man-made lights disturb the viewing. We stuldied the starryo night in a land where you can see the Southern Cross.

With only a limited amount of time left we toured the volcano exhibit. Here a gigantic volcano erupts every twenty minutes and you can see it from three levels. At the top lava bubbles and steam blows, in the middle you can touch various kinds of volcanic rocks and learn what happens to make them different, and on the bottom you travel through a cave with florescent drawing by early Hawaiians on the walls to see under the vast volcano.

We were unable to spend time in the historic and s;endid Hawaiian traditions and artifacts hall and many of the other things but the Bishop's Museum is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

These links Should Work Now-Two YouTube Videos Not to Miss

2009-04-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

Here are links to a couple of You Tube Videos that are well worth watching.

One is singer Susan Boyle on American Idol that is a surprise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

The other is a tour of Minatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany that is quite cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_oDdGmKyA&feature

Shingles

2009-03-11T22:49:00.000-07:00

Tim has been diagnosed with Shingles. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox and can occur in adulthood in those that had chicken pox as children. It is the second eruption of the virus and it may have lain dormant in the nervous system for years after having the disease. It usually occurs in senior citizens after age 5o when there is a weakening of the immune system. There is a vaccination for shingles but you have to be 60 to get it. Sometimes younger people get shingles but that usually happens after some health crisis that seriously weakens their immune system or stresses their nervous system such as in auto-immune diseases like HIV or something.

Shingles occurs on only one side of the body and starts in the nervous system. It often occurs as a band around the middle from stomach to back, which is like Tim's which is one spot front and one spot back. It can occur on other parts of the body and can leave scars. This root beginning often means there is a great deal of pain and the area of breakout can be extremely sensitive to touch or even slight breezes or clothing for months or even years after the break out is healed. So far Tim has not been experiencing any pain.

Shingles is only contagious to people that have not had chicken pox, such as babies and young children, and then they get chicken pox, not shingles. The doctor prescribed some anti-viral pills for Tim. Just a few pills cost $140.00. Fortunately our insurance through BYU-H plus Champus Tri-care through the military covered the cost. It is amazing how expensive medications are these days.

No More Beach Baptisms

2009-02-17T23:06:00.000-08:00

According to Elder Whiting our Area Authority there will no longer be baptisms performed on the beaches of Hawaii. This truly Hawaiian tradition has had a few problems. The priesthood brethren that act as witnesses don't really like to get their feet wet so they often don't walk out into the waves far enough to really see if the ordinance is completely accurate in its' performance.

Another problem has been that even though baptisms are held at very early hours there is still often a cute bikini clad young woman or swim suited macho guy running or swimming in the area affecting the sacred nature of the baptism.

As much as I have loved the beauty and uniqueness of the baptism in the sea, there is also the problem of hearing the little talks given or the words said in the actual ordinance due to the wind that is often blowing in my ears. It has been an awesome moment to look up the street from Temple Beach directly to the Laie, Hawaii Temple and that site will now not accompany baptisms. The only baptismal font in our Stake happens to be in Amber's ward building in Kahuku 1st ward. It remains to be seen whether baptismal fonts will now be added to the existing building in the area.

I am quite sure the person receiving baptism will still receive a lei from family and friends in token of congratulations on taking this important step in their spiritual development. After all this is Hawaii.

Hawaii's Slippery Slope

2009-02-08T23:51:00.000-08:00

The Hawaii State House panel has already approved House Bill #444 claiming it does not redefine marriage but certifies "civil unions". Back in 2007 this bill failed to win support, but now we are told that it has gained diverse support especially from churches. The representatives say people are more tolerant here and this is not a defining issue for them. Many people seem to feel that if gays can't marry in California and other Mainland states they will want a place to come where they will be openly accepted and allowed to flaunt their alternate lifestyles. Civil union bill supporters claim that a blatant injustice currently separates same sex couples from enjoying all the benefits of married heterosexual couples. They want the same benefits and they want to file joint taxes and adopt children.

I believe this bill tries to circumvent the will of the people as expressed in their "defense of marriage" amendment passed in 1998. This amendment reserved marriage for opposite sex couples. I think "civil unions" are an attempt to legitimize gay marriage by using another title. This word play makes it appear that government has sanctioned gay marriage.

Certainly I don't want same sex couples to have the right to adopt children, whom I believe God wants to have both a father and a mother. Children can become confused and led astray when we allow unnatural and immoral behavior to become an accepted part of society. Hawaii is standing on a slippery slope in moral issues according to recent choices. I believe we can only have hope to solve our state and our national challenges if we remain worthy of the divine assistance of Almighty God. The Lord our God is one God. He is no respecter of persons but He also does not look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.

Will There Be Gambling in Paradise?

2009-01-26T22:02:00.000-08:00

Did you know that only Hawaii and Utah of all the fifty states have no legalized gambling in any form. That may soon change. It seems that Hawaii, like all the other states, has a financial deficit, this one to the tune of 1.8 billion dollars. So Gov. Linda Lingle, long time opponent of the gaming industry, has decided to consider legalizing gambling to make up the deficit. She said there were two choices. The money could come from the transit authority, meaning I presume that the money raised for the rail system could be used, or gambling could be legalized. I voted for the rail system to be built, but I'd rather see that money save the state than that they bring gambling here.

Gambling and lotteries are touted as a means to relieve the financial burdens of the state, but in reality they do just the opposite by preying on the poor and the elderly especially. The inducement of a chance to win big causes people to waste their limited resources with little real chance of receiving any value.

Since forty eight states now practice some form of gaming you would think that if it worked those states would be in financially stable situations. They are not as can plainly be seen by their current economic distress. I believe if gambling comes to Hawaii it will be detrimental to the moral fabric of Paradise.

Forever Is Not Long At All. . .

2009-01-20T21:56:00.000-08:00

when I'm with you. On Saturday, the 24th, we will have been married 39 years. That might seem, and sometimes does, like a long time. As I look back over those years, I realize they have flown by "on wings of lightning".

I marvel in the gift of the spouse God has given me. I know I must have done something good, or that God had seen some potential there, because I have married someone far better than myself.

Although he sleeps through Church, Tim seems to be much more connected with real spirituality than I have yet learned to be. He honors his priesthood by persuasion and never compulsion, while on the other hand, I am often stubborn, unbending, and contentious. Still he manages to endure all my faults and continues to love me.

Tim is a great protector, provider, and example for me, for our children, and for everyone who knows him. His leadership is subtle but his loving care keeps me from falling off the path. If I am weak and would sleep in rather than study scriptures, he is there to turn on the light and begin.

He gently pushes me to learn new things by saying "come here let me show you this. . .", or by buying me gifts such as the new GPS for our car. He shares his talents by inviting students or friends to come over and play Wii or Rock Band with him, then loaning them some of his toys so they can use them at home too.

Yes, forever is not very long when there's someone you can do everything with or nothing with and there are no awkward silences. Our loves grows stronger because he nurtures it so well. Happy Anniversary Hubby! I love you forever and ever!!

Reprograming the Electronics

2009-01-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

Since I'm sure everyone is highly interested in what life is like with a pacemaker, here's the next installment. This week I had an appointment to get the little electronic piece of equipment reprogrammed. This is necessary to optimized the battery life and therefore my life.

It turns out that even though I am 100% dependent on this thing to cause my heart to beat, it doesn't take a very big kick to get it to move. Therefore the power behind the kick could be turned very low and still do the job, which will probably add a couple of years to my battery life. The other interesting thing is that the pacemaker is capable of adjusting heart rate based on body movement and hormones emitted, but it seems that my heart does not need that function at present so it is not turned on.

Previously I told you that I could call the doctor and hold the phone up to my pacemaker and the doctor could read the battery life, etc. right over the phone. That was based on what the nurse had told me rather than directly from the doctor. Yes, it is true for many pacemakers where the reason for them is too fast a heart beat. In my case it was too slow and that particular feature has not yet been implemented in this style although it is due out this year sometime.

My pacemaker stores information about my heart rate. so when I was seeing the doctor he looked at the readout and said "I see your heart was beating a little fast on Dec. 2 (your dad though he said Dec. 22, oh well whichever) but that was the only time since you've gotten this. Your numbers are perfect" It seems nothing is hidden anymore. No, I don't know what I was doing on that date.

So far I am feeling fine so don't spend even a moment worrying about how I am doing.

Blackout

2008-12-29T22:12:00.000-08:00

The end of 2008 has been a trying time for people in Laie. We barely had the flood waters under control and people were ripping out carpeting and removing water wrecked furniture and other belongings when the lights went out. The day after Christmas there was a little lightning and it hit a couple of power poles and unbalanced the whole power transmission grid. The entire island of Oahu was suddenly powerless for about 24 hours.

There were a couple of interesting things during that blackout time. Our Stake had planned an after Christmas dance (actually two, one for adults one for youth) to replace the New Year's Eve dance activity this year. The food had been prepared and the decorating done when the power went down. We went over just to see what was going on instead. The adult activity looked like a soup kitchen with people sitting around eating the refreshments of clam chowder, homemade rolls, chocolate fountain (no power made it a dipping experience instead) and other good stuff. Lots of talk but no music. Battery powered boom boxes were not loud enough in the gym. It was a really fun camp-like get together.

The other interesting things was that Friday and Saturday when the power was down were the last two days that the temple was going to be open for the next 18 months because of renovation. A lot of couples had planned to have their weddings on Saturday. The temple generator worked a while on Friday to complete the in-progress session but then it too went down. Twenty-one weddings were conducted on Saturday by flashlight. Now that would be a memorable wedding, I suppose.

Even when the power came back there were a few remaining issues. Tim's office only came half back on. The side of the room with his refrigerator did not come back and we didn't know that until he lost his Lean Cuisines and other frozen lunches. Fortunately, Amber and Sandi gave him about 10 Indonesian homemade meals for lunches for a Christmas gift and they were in our home freezer. The other problem was that the blackout had burned out the Internet routing switch to our building and several others in the townhouses so we couldn't get online for a few extra days.

Lucky for us, the Hawaiian style of "no worries living on the beach" helped everybody get through these natural disasters coupled with the holidays. A little aloha helped us all get along.

'Twas the Birthday of the King

2008-12-26T19:02:00.001-08:00

A couple of years ago as I sat pondering the children's Christmas song "'Twas The Birthday of A King" I was struck by how amazing it is that as we celebrate the King's birthday, He would be so generous as to let us remember Him by exchanging gifts with each other. Any earthly King would certainly expect lavish and expensive gifts and only to himself. People would work all year just to have gifts that were presentable to the King. They would travel from the far corners of the kingdom just to be present to bow before the king and give their gift. Now our Heavenly King wants us to commemorate His day by remembering and caring for each other. Of course He wants us to live righteously and keep His commandments, but that is not for some self aggrandizement, but rather for our own happiness. We can trust Him to always have our best interests at the focus of everything He does for us.

Gingerbread Extraordinaire

2008-12-20T16:22:00.000-08:00

Gingerbread houses are one of the signs of Christmas. Those edible little buildings, that most people have such a hard time getting to stand upright and hold their load of candy, were the subject of our visit to Honolulu yesterday. At the Sheraton's Princess Kauilani Hotel in Waikiki, Chef Ralf Bauer has created a wonderland in gingerbread. He used 60 pounds of dark chocolate, 20 pounds of white chocolate, 30 sheets of gingerbread, and 120 gallons of icing to build a village that covers one side of the hotel's lobby with magic. It took him 250 hours to put this masterpiece together, but it certainly puts all my humble efforts with this art form to shame. Included in the village are a couple of small working trains, a carousel, and a sky ride with little electric lights and plenty of snowy landscaping all around. Topaz, our grandson, was totally fascinated watching the creation in operation. So was I. By the way, that's Chef Bauer with me in the picture.

GCB is Ruined

2008-12-17T23:08:00.000-08:00

Oahu has been inundated with rain lately. Mayor Mufi Hanneman estimates the damage as at least 2.7 million dollars. Since Amber's blog published pictures of the flooding right here in Laie, I thought I would update you on the damage in one particular place. The GCB, general classroom building, is the headquarters for the School of Computing and Mathematics at BYUH. It also now houses offices for the school of Business. Your Dad's office is in this building. The entire building is a mess and all the carpeting is a total loss. Your Dad spent a number of hours after the rain cleaning the carpet in his office and one lab in order to do a final exam at 7:00 A.M. After all that, the Dean came in and said that he felt the area was too dangerous to have students come in. Your Dad finally told students that he would trust them to take their finals wherever they could find a computer to do it on, dorms, library, etc. and they were on their honor not to cheat. As all the carpeting was ripped up throughout the building, the custodial staff unplugged your Dad's little office refrigerator and left it unplugged overnight. Fortunately he went in early enough to discover that mistake before his Lean Cuisines all thawed out and he lost his lunches. Books and papers that were stored anywhere on the floor were lost, but most of the computers were on little shelves under the desks in the labs and so were undamaged. Special troughs that had recently been put in to hold the wiring however were filled with mud and water. It will take a few weeks to get this building so it can be functional again. The first two pictures are your Dad's office specifically and the third and fourth are labs. Of course there was other damage on campus but this is the closest to home for us. Rain has continued, although it is slowing. Streets in Laie are piled high with ruined belongings from residents in the area. Everyone is awaiting insurance adjusters before these things can be hauled off. Our ward, Laie 6th, was the most devastated in the Stake and so as you can imagine everyone has been doing laundry, taking in meals, and general cleanup for their neighbors.

I am the Bunny

2008-12-05T23:35:00.000-08:00

While you may wish you were the Bunny, I am the Bunny- the energizer bunny , and I will keep going and going and going.

My recovery from surgery is progressing rapidly and later this week they'll let me drive again. I'm adjusting to life with a pacemaker and have learned some things, or at least I hope I have.
1. I can't control everything and I should quit trying, relax, let God help, and enjoy the journey.
2. People really do care. Put a sling on your arm for a few days and suddenly people offer to carry things, open doors, etc. Meals were brought in and phone calls were received. Love, concern, and support abounded all around.
3. I really only have one body and I ought to try a little harder to take care of it. Medical advancements are amazing, but natural good health should not be squandered.
4. I already knew God loved me, but once again He has confirmed it. I am awed by Him.

(note: Sorry-that whole "wish you were the bunny" reference is an inside family joke)

I'm Battery Operated

2008-11-29T14:00:00.000-08:00

I've been in the hospital. I now have a pacemaker inserted in my heart. For about three days before Thanksgiving every time I stood up I would get really light headed. Even so I managed to help distribute the turkey dinners for the needy in the ward, wrap my kids gifts, and fix dinner for Thanksgiving. Tim did offer to bring me a stool to do all the work while sitting, but I said I would rather have help, so he peeled 4 potatoes. Amber helped whip them and made the stuffing and set the table, etc.

After dinner I could hardly walk to the bathroom without holding onto the wall. I felt like this lifestyle was just not going to work out for me so asked Tim to take me to Kahuku Hospital to see what the trouble was.

My pulse was 34 although blood pressure and everything else was OK they transferred me by ambulance to Castle. (They told your dad he couldn't drive me because the top and bottom halves of my heart were firing irregularly. It was a complete electrical blockage (not a heart attack or stroke. They told daddy if they both happened to fire at the same time it would be very bad)

At Castle it didn't take long to determine that I needed a Pacemaker put in my heart. They put in a temporary one very soon. A wire was threaded through the vein in my neck down to my heart and electrical pulses were applied with plans to put in a permanent one on Saturday. Unfortunately the temporary one wasn't so good so it often stopped catching and by Saturday after it had stopped about 6 times and so my diaphragm had started trying top create a pulse making me look like a serious hiccup case they zipped me into surgery for the internal pacemaker.

A small incision mas made in my left upper chest and the pacemaker inserted. Only local anesthesia is used. I will wear a sling for two or three days so that I don't move my left arm too soon and dislodge the thing and die on the spot. "Yes, I am 99% dependent on this little pacemaker in order to stay alive."If I need to talk to a doctor I can just call in, hold the receiver to my chest at the equipment site and it will transmit directly to him the battery life and status of my pacemaker and situation.

I should be able to go home tomorrow and as long as I keep my energizer bunny current I can just keep going, and going, and going, through the millennium I suppose.

l

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

2008-11-16T23:43:00.000-08:00

I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in the admonition of the Lord. I am grateful. I love all four from the depths of my very being. They have all married wonderful chosen spouses whom they love and whom I love too, and my grandchildren are a delight in my "old" age.

I am grateful that like Nephi I was born of goodly parents, reared in the church, and taught the ways of the Lord and loved by a mother and father and sisters. I miss my parents but their example and teachings guides my footsteps today. I am thankful for sisters and a stepmom who give me a family to belong to and love to share throughout my life.

A wonderful and loving husband shares my journey onward through whatever joys and challenges we may face. I know he loves me and he leads and blesses me by priesthood power. His kindness and patience sustain and fortify our marriage for eternity.

Many times I have rued the day computers came into my life because they seem so complicated, but today I am grateful that they have made genealogical research so much easier. In the last week I was able to have 48 baptisms and confirmations done and 15 sealings for my ancestors because of the greater ease in finding what needs to be done through the church's new Family Search program. Though much work remains, I am grateful to be trusted with this awesome responsibility.

This Thanksgiving is the 85th birthday of my mother-in-law. I would like to say I am thankful for her and the patience and loves she gives to me. She is a great example of all the good things I hope I can learn to be. She must have been a great mother as she raised 10 children who all remain true and faithful. Her son, my husband is so like his mother in many aspects and they both continue to bless my life with a better vision and greater understanding of how to become Christlike. I love you Mom!

Polynesian Cultural Center Still #1

2008-11-02T20:27:00.000-08:00

Friday and Saturday we went to the Polynesian Culture Center with a couple that is being interviewed for a job at BYUH. Tim is the head of the hiring committee for this particular position so we were kind of responsible for showing them around a bit. Anyway, we hadn't been for awhile and were anxious to see the new shows and updated features. You'll be happy to know that the Poynesian Culture Center is still the number one tourist attraction in Hawaii, although the down turn in tourism is certainly obvious during these economically stressed times.

A couple of changes to the place include an updated night show and a new section about the Iosepa,the boat built as a replica of the early sailing vessels of how the Polynesians first came to Hawaii. "Iosepa" is the Hawaiian word for Joseph. Several million dollars were spent on the A-frame shelter that the boat is stored in let alone the cost of building the boat itself. When in the ocean they often anchor the Iosepa by Hukilau beach area and have classes on board. The new presentation at the PCC tells in Hawaiian chant and dance the story of the coming of the early peoples to Hawaii. It is very well done and interesting.

Another change is that the island of Marquesas no longer has a show, which used to be a "pig hunt" because all the students from Marquesas have graduated and there are no new ones here right now. This village is now just an exhibit, which is a loss, I think.

One of my favorite villages has always been the Samoan one where they climb the palm tree, make fire by rubbing sticks, and crack the coconut with one blow and make coconut milk by shredding the meat and gathering it into coconut fibers and squeezing it. The leader of this village is an excellent comedian so the whole show is great fun. The new addition is a side show of this village where students and younger children explain the weapons used in early Samoa and show the fire dances that they are learning to some day be prepared for the big performance at the night show. It was a good close up of the practice and so interesting to watch. I shall attempt to include some videos with this blog of that practice.

An Author in the Book Club

2008-10-21T00:04:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite "small groups" in our ward Relief Society is the Book Club. We get together monthly and take turns suggesting books to read and leading the discussions on the ones we have all read together. This broadens my horizons considerably as everyone has different tastes. I have enjoyed most all the books chosen.

In our ward is a relatively new author (front and center in the photo), whom we invited to lead the group on her second book. It is "Stoney Creek, Alabama" by Jennifer Youngblood and her mother Sandra Poole. We all liked the book so much that we asked her to do her first book at our next meeting. That one is "Livin' In High Cotton"

"Livin' In High Cotton" is based on the true story of her grandmother (or was that great-grandmother, I don't remember), but it is a very compelling story of the South during the years of the Depression and Prohibition. The fact that it is based on the truth drew me in even more that the equally well written Stoney Creek, Alabama. Stoney Creek is based on a story that takes place in a saw mill. A young girl returns to unravel the mystery of her father's murder.

For our book club I made refreshments of a Mississippi Mud Cake and Buttermilk Pie, both Southern specialities from the story. I had never tasted nor made Buttermilk Pie before so that was scary to try out, but Jennifer, who is a true Southerner said it was one of the best she had ever had. Wow!

Both books are available at Amazon.com and local bookstores. I recommend them. Jennifer's third one is due out shortly and will be called something like "Trailers, Pines, and Power Lines".

Improved Temple Readiness

2008-10-01T00:18:00.000-07:00

During Sunday School I have started taking the Family History Class. This last Sunday we met in the Family History library adjacent to the Laie Temple. We saw a video about the new Church genealogy program FamilySearch. It is being introduced throughout the world with Utah being the last place so that it doesn't get too overwhelmed all at once and some of the bugs can be worked out before it get bogged down. Anyway, this new program will make genealogy so much easier. Get on the internet but do not go to www anything. Instead go to new.familysearch.org In order to sign in you need to know your confirmation date and your membership ID number which is found on your temple recommend or you can ask your ward clerk.

With this program you can look up your own name and get a pedigree chart then click on family names to see additional information on that person. Living family members will not show up other than the pedigree in order to protect their privacy. But if you want to do ordinances for any of your dead relatives you can just click on the person and the ordinance and print out your own sheet with the bar code necessary to take it to the temple and get the card necessary to perform the ordinances. The program will inform you of any duplications in materials. When you print the Temple ordinance page with the bar code the computer will mark that ordinance as "in progress" so that someone else can't get the same one. When you go to the temple the bar code will be read and the work you do recorded then the same day the computer program will read "completed" The program will also show you time lines of important events in the life of the person you have clicked on. It is really quite interesting and I have a lot to learn about it.
To my surprise I found a couple of uncompleted ordinances that I could print the materials for right away. One was having my deceased father sealed to his parents which I thought he had done. It feels like a really wonderful thing to do to get this paperwork straightened out and the whole program will be such a blessing to the Church.

On a sadder note however, the Laie Temple will be closing for one and a half years (18 months) on December 29th for remodeling. I've heard the interior remodel will make the building so different we won't even recognize it when it is done. I guess that will give me lots of time to work on records, but obviously to get work done I had better not procrastinate.

Pinto Bean Fudge

2008-09-07T01:07:00.001-07:00

Our Relief Society Enrichment meeting is finally accomplished. It was a series of mini demonstration- discussions on preparedness. I gave the lesson at the beginning and as part of it thought it would be fun to get people interested in using their food storage in creative ways. I made a batch of pinto bean fudge that was a real hit. Everyone liked it so I thought you might want to try it too. Here's the recipe:

Mash together:
1 c. soft cooked pinto beans and milk to consistency of mashed potatoes
1 T. vanilla

Melt in double boiler:
6 oz. unsweetened chocolate
6 T. butter

Pour the hot chocolate mixture into the beans and stir until slightly thickened. Work in 2 lbs. of powdered sugar. Knead with hands. Spread into slightly buttered pan. Refrigerate. Nuts and raisins can be added. It will keep well under refrigeration.

So I was tagged

2008-08-29T23:49:00.000-07:00

RULES: Answer the questions using only one word. Then tag four other people. Maybe you'll learn something new and with one word answers it will be short.

1. Where is your cell phone? recharging
2. Your significant other?married
3. Your hair? thinning
4. Your mother? heaven
5. Your father? heaven
6. Your favorite thing?postcards
7. Your dream last night? spacious house
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream/goal?skinny
10. The room you’re in? computer
11. Your hobby? crocheting
12. Your fear? Dark
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Mission (maybe sooner)
14. What you’re not? charitable-(but still trying to achieve that)
15. Muffins? chocolate
16. One of your wish list items? travel
17. Where you grew up? Iowa
18. The last thing you did? email
19. What are you wearing? sweats
20. Favorite gadget? Sonicare
21. Your pets? geckos
22. Your computer? Occupied
23. Your mood? tired
24. Missing someone? Mainland kids
25. Your car? Outside (because Amber's stuff fills the garage)
26. Something you’re not wearing?hat
27. Favorite store? Walmart (sorry Ben)
28. Like someone? everybody
29. Your favorite color? aqua-marine
30. When is the last time you laughed? reading
31. Last time you cried? movies

So, I tag my sisters: Vicky, Harmony, Melody, Angie

WOW, what a summer!

2008-08-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

Gosh, it's been too long. I've forgotten how to do this blogging stuff. Anyway, we are back in Hawaii after a fabulous month and a half in the Mainland. We saw all of our children and their families and our siblings and folks. Our travels included Utah, Idaho, and California. I celebrated a great birthday although so many candles nearly burned down the house (see picture). Timothy and Amber created these "cows in the pasture" birthday cake by standing loaf angel food cakes on their sides in a platter of coconut colored green for grass. The coloring on the cows was melted chocolate chips, mixed with peanut butter. The eyes were blueberries with horizontally sliced strawberries for the mooing lips.

We saw so many fireworks this year at Timothy's neighborhood and those at Disneyland just went on and on. My favorite, new for me, ride at Disneyland was the Indiana Jones one that I had never ridden before. Of course "Pirates of the Caribbean" and and the Haunted House are old favorites. Ben's lawyer-magician friend got us into the Magic Castle in Hollywood for a fun evening of astonishing magic. Other highlights included a family reunion in Idaho and at Bear Lake with my sisters. Greatly missed was Harmony who did not come up from Texas this year. We had lots of fun activities with Timothy and Kristin in Utah and Peter and Eileen went with us to California to see Ben and Rebekah. Sandi and Amber celebrated their anniversary while we were in Utah and were able to attend a session at the Salt Lake Temple while I strolled around with their two children in the Visitor Centers.

Back at home now in Hawaii, the vacation memories will hopefully not fade. The complications are piling up at home. Sandi and Amber, Topaz and Emerald are living with us in our small two bedroom town house. Sandi was unable to get an early renewal to his green card so that he could ship out with the Army on Aug 20, so after much hassle, the Army has changed his ship out date to Jan. 14. Meanwhile that leaves him unemployed and them homeless. They have found an apartment (brand new) in Hau'ula that they hope to rent but with what for money. When it rains it pours so they say, thus not only are they unemployed and homeless but Hawaii Quest insurance canceled their coverage in July because they said they couldn't find their correct address. Obviously the caseworker was a little behind on her updates, but now they have to get that straightened out too. We shall see how it all works out in the next couple of weeks. Let this be a lesson to everyone to make sure the tithing check is paid before the vacation, not after, as those windows of heaven can stay tightly shut.

Getaway to Zurmatt's in Midway, Utah

2008-07-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

My sister Melody won a two night stay at Zurmatt's Spa and Resort for four people to share. She, Vicky, I and our step mother Judy spent the time on the 25th and 26th of July. It was such a luxurious place all done in the Swiss style of the whole community. We swam in the pool with a waterfall into the hot jucuzzi, rode the carousel (twice), had gelattos at the bakery and played golf on the putting greens, and had sumptious meals at both Matty's Bistro and Schneitter's Sunday Breakfast Brunch. A very expensive place but worth every penny. Relaxing in the health and meditation rooms, sweating in the steam room ,and working out in the gym were all fun and rejuvenating. We stayed up past midnight and the coupon included pizza to eat while we played games. We also enjoyed two other activities while staying there. On Friday we rode the Heber Creeper Hay Train. That included the train ride with a barbeque dinner on board. Then we stopped at a small makeshift ranch where two Amish horses were used to pull the hay wagon around the area. Here we also had peach and blueberry cobbler for dessert and listened to Cowboy poetry. Back on the train, we returned to the train station. On Saturday my sisters and I toured three open houses in Midway looking at the architecture and furnishing of the homes ranging from 450,000 to 1.3 million dollars. After such a perfect relaxation you would think we had everything under control, but coming home we took the wrong highway and drove 50 miles in the wrong direction. No crossroads were available to fix the situation so we had to drive all the way back to Heber and get on 189 to get to Orem/Provo where we stopped by Mom and Dad's grave before touring Timothy and Krisitin's house where me parted ways until the family reunion at the end of this week. Such a fun vacation deserves a repeat next year if we can find a place we can afford without having to win it.

The birthday girl

2008-07-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a party today has been. Today I turn 59. Timothy and Kristin and Amber and Sandi paid for lunch at Tucanos Brazilian restaurant where we had so many things to eat I'm stuffed. The waiters played their Brazilian drums and made me stand up while they sang. I was supposed to dance while they sang , but afterall I was holding Topaz and it was a little embarrassing in the crowded room. Then we polayed arcade games at Trafalga and right now Timothy and Amber are upstairs creating some birthday cake masterpiece surprise (while Sandi copped out of the festivities and went to see Batman's Dark Knight movie by himself at Scera theater)
The presents have been phenomenal too, including a new phone, books, candy, charm bracelets, foil scraper art, and lots of fun stuff. Thanks everybody, it has been a great day, even if I am getting old.

A Diabetic on Vacation

2008-07-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

Here we are in Orem, Utah staying with mom-in-law and visiting Timothy and Kristin. So far it has been non stop partying with Krisitin's birthday on Saturday and Joseph's on Sunday. Still celebrating today we went to the India Palace for a sumptious lunch. My favorite was the Korman chicken over rice. Is my life punctuated with food? Most definitely. That's how I became diabetic in the first place.
Just a week before leaving for this trip I had to start on insulin. I use those fancy pen-like needles with the insulin already in them and dial in the amount to shoot in. It couldn't be made easier but who wants to do that anyway? My problem is that sugary foods call to me, especially when I am celebrating but also when I'm too tired to care.
Will I ever get this run away blood sugar under control or will I stay in denial and end up blind with kidney failure, or as an amputee. Of course I know the risks on an intellectual level, but my behavior is still delinquent.

Name's Origin

2008-07-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

I intend Moo's News to help keep my family and other interested friends up to date on my family, so you will find links helpful and stories interesting (I hope). Many years ago my son, then in kindergarten was trying to write the word mom on his paper at school and misspelled it as Moo. He thought it was hilarious and began calling me Moo henceforth and forever. I didn't appreciate it at first but after about four years decided if you can't change the habit you might as well join it. I began to collect cows and have gone by Moo or Mooer ever since.