on Jan 20th, 201041
on Jan 19th, 2010Scott Brown
I would really like to see Scott Brown pull off a victory in Massachusetts today. However even if he doesn’t, this can’t speak well for the rest of the Democrats. If a Republican can win (or even come close) in a state that is as blue as Utah is red, November may well be a month many in the democratic party will want to forget.
on Nov 1st, 2009Primary Program
Long before I got married our office was out to lunch; we got talking about raising children. Leta and I got on a rant talking about how if we had kids we would do this and not allow them to do that. While we were in the middle of our rant, Valerie leaned over and said, Isn’t it interesting how the two people who do not have kids seems to know the most about how to raise them?
Mercedes had her first primary program today. The year she was born, Andrea and I were called to be primary teachers. We had to sit with the kids during the program and try and keep them in control. Before Mercedes was born, the primary program was the week you always wanted to be “sick” and avoid church.
Today, I spent the while time watching her. She stepped up to the microphone and said: “I love my heavenly “fahdder”. Then she and her cousin shout-sang “The Family Is Of God” and “Families Can Be Together Forever”
Primary programs are actually fun when it’s your child involved.
As a side note, I did say today something I never thought I would say in a sacrement meeting: “Why is she taking her dress off?”
on Oct 29th, 2009A Time For Choosing
*I actually wrote this two days ago, I just forgot to publish it. Oh well my blog*
One of the little known facts about me is I collect speeches. If you hit the play button in my iTunes, the speeches would continue non-stop for just under three days. I don’t care who spoke them or when, I just like to read, and if possible, hear great speeches. Such as it is, On October 27 1964, Ronald Reagan gave a speech called A Time For Choosing. Reagan was the greatest president in modern history. So, it seems appropriate my favorite speech would be given by him. I didn’t know youtube had a collection of his speeches online until yesterday. I have been listening to them while I am at the office working.
A Time for Choosing (Or also called “The Speech)
This was given in 1964. Reagan went on to give that speech many more times around the country. I have heard it said, this was the catalyst that moved him to national prominence and set him up to win in 1980. Of course, his campaign was helped by the rather incompetent incumbent presidency of Jimmy Carter. Even without Carter’s debate plans, Reagan would have won decidedly. After four hard years, I suppose there was only so much hope and change rhetoric people could take.
January 28 1986, was the day the space shuttle Challenger exploded. I was eight years old. All the kids in school were watching the space shuttle take off. Christa McAuliffe was a teacher, so it was a big thing. I remember sitting in the common area being excited to see this happen. For a couple of weeks, we had special lessons talking about astronauts and the space program. When the space shuttle took off the teachers were clapping, but all of the kids just sat on the floor and watched. When the space shuttle exploded, most of us didn’t understand what happened. All we knew was one of the teachers came running up from the back of the common area and shut off the t.v. I don’t really remember the rest of the day except for this: Later that night, the explosion really began to sink in. I told my father I never wanted to be an astronaut again. He didn’t say anything, but just as I said that, President Reagan came on and gave my second most favorite speech of all time.
The Space Shuttle “Challenger” Tragedy Address
I don’t remember the original speech very well. Truth is, I only remembered the last part of it:
We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and “slipped the surly bonds of earth” to “touch the face of God.”
That seemed to make everything all right again. He was quoting from a poem called, High Flight by John Magee jr. But the way he spoke the words was what made me remember them for years after. Ronald Reagan always seemed to be able to talk directly to you. I read once, whenever he would speak in front of an audience, or to the cameras, he would take one of his contact lenses out. Being the oldest president, he needed reading glasses to see his notes. However, if he wore them, he couldn’t see and connect with his audience. So, he would have one contact lens in to see the audience, and the other removed so he could read his notes. Now, whether or not this is true, I don’t really care. I am of the opinion to never let truth get in the way of a good story.
on Sep 8th, 2009Swiss Days and Eureka
Originally, we were going to Browne Lake for the Labor Day weekend. However, things didn’t really work out. So, we decided to have our version of a stay-cation. Friday, I took the day off from work. We took Mercedes to see the Ice Age movie. Between the large popcorn and root beer, she completely enjoyed the movie.
Saturday, we drove up to Midway for the annual Swiss Days fair. We met up with Pat and Cody. We tried to get there early enough to see the sites, and still be able to get back home.
Mercedes got a new hat that she wore all over the fair grounds.
We watched the parade.
Sunday, Andrea wanted to go for a drive, so we went to the old town of Eureka. The town is quiet, even for a Sunday. There is a caboose in the middle of town. Andrea and M toured around inside.
In many ways, it is sad to see the town mostly boarded up.
The Clock apparently has not been working for a while.
On the way back we took the road that runs on the west side of Utah Lake. In Elberta there was a gas station we used to stop for lunch at when we rode our bikes to Nephi.
Along the way, we saw this grain elevator. I just wanted to take a picture of it.
I realize this is not a very descriptive post. However, it’s late. And, I just wanted something to do while I waited for 12:00am to get here so I could go to bed. Since it is now midnight. I am finished.
on Aug 30th, 2009The Cobbler’s Son has no Shoes (Or Daughter in my Case)
Similar to the Cobbler, I find myself marveling at the irony in which I can write a brand new article every week for someone else’s website, but can’t seem to update mine more then once or twice a year. Irony seems to be a heartless devil.
Yesterday was Mercedes’ Birthday. She turned four. I have a hard time imagining actually having a four year old daughter. Making it even more odd, Mercedes didn’t ask for anything I can relate to. All she wanted for her birthday was My Little Ponies. Oh well.
Even Mercedes cake was a pony cake.
Of course it would be bad not to include Andrea. August 29 is a special day for her as well. Thankfully, she likes something easy.
on Aug 17th, 2009My Summer
Besides a couple of youtube videos, I really haven’t done anything with this blog for a long time. Personally, I blame facebook. That being said, I’m sure the two people who read this blog wonder what else I have been up to.
In April, my laptop broke. For most people who know me this is like chopping off my arms. Yes, I could function day to day, but life just wasn’t as good without my silver friend. My logic board died. I had to take it to Expercom. They in turn sent it to Texas where it was repaired and returned to me a week later.
In May, I got my ham radio license. (KF7CMQ) There is a previous post about this. What that post fails to mention was how far I got into it. I was tricked into going to a UDXA meeting in Lehi. I knew if I went they would try and get me into DX-ing. (Long range communication) And, sure enough they did. In the previous post, I asked if it was possible to get any more nerdy. Just so you know, yes.
In June, we went to Browne Lake. It rained the whole time we were there. The rain wouldn’t have been so bad, except for the fact it was cold. On the plus side, I did manage to read two books about ham radios.
These pictures were shot with my Holga. It’s a toy camera.
After we got back from Browne Lake, we went to Skyline drive drive just above Fairview Utah. There we met with the other members of the UDXA to participate in the annual field day competition. Basically ham radio operators from around the world try to make as many unique contacts as possible in a 24 hour period.
It rained there too.
We still haven’t gotten the results back, but I was told we probably took 1st place in the country for our devision (4a).
In July we went to Smith Morehouse. I was busy Friday writing a talk for church on Sunday. I got it finished by Saturday morning, so I was free to enjoy the rest of the trip. Grandma and Grandpa Jacobsen came which made Mercedes happy. I have never been to Smith Morehouse. Saying that, I would like to go back. It’s really pretty, and it’s not too far away.
In August, I managed to get my hands on a Yashica 124g mat TLR.
I found it at a pawn shop for $90. I checked on ebay, most of these are going for $140-160. It’s in great condition. The only problem was it used 1.3v mercury batteries. So, I had to get an adapter. I had some 120mm film in the fridge left over from Browne, so, I threw it in.
Then, I found a guy in southern Utah who was selling a Canon Canonet for $30.
After arriving in the mail, I threw in some Ilford 400 and got this:
Then my laptop broke again. It was two weeks out of the 90 day warranty with Apple. However, when I called, I ended up talking to two different people. One said I was out of luck, but the other said they would fix it. Yay for me. So, currently, I’m writing this on Andrea’s laptop. This is also the reason there is so few pictures. All of Browne Lake is sitting on my laptop in Texas.
So there you have it, my summer.
on Aug 1st, 2009Coolest Wedding Video Ever
This is in my opinion the best wedding video ever. And, if you disagree, you suck, so there…
They have a website setup because it got 12 million hits in the first 10 days.
on May 13th, 2009Ham Radio
I submit for your viewing pleasure two videos. Pay special attention to the incredibly nerdy qualities involved.
So, what do those two videos have to do with anything? To most people, probably nothing. After all, you are reading the musings that come from my head. Admittedly, that can be a scary thought. However, to me its a rather accurate description of Ham Radio people. And how would I know this you may ask?
That’s my ham radio callsign. Yep, I have joined the ranks of the desperate and nerdy. I say “joined”, but you will all say, “you were already there” However, the difference between me and most of those other ‘hams’ is I am actually married. HA HA!
The real reason I got the license was our Stake president asked for three members of each ward to get their license. I already have an FM antenna in our yard, and I really do have an interest in it. So, I took the class, and then took the test to get my technician, and also my general license. Fortunately, it’s a rather easy test to study for and take. They give you a list of all the questions and answers. From that they select 35 questions and that’s what your test is. So, basically as long as you can memorize all the answers, you can get your license.
Personally, I want the license just for the emergency prepardness situations. Thats what the ward needed. They just want to be able to communicate back to the stake any needs, (in the event of an actual emergency)
After having said all that, I can promise you I’m not going to get any more nerdy then I already am…Actually is that possible?