The Sublime Roundabout

Welp. Here we are again. Another year. I'm glad this one is over - it's been a roller coaster. The interesting thing about roller coasters is that no matter how rough the ride, you always seem to make it back to the place you started. Of course, that's not entirely true, either. You're not the same for having been through the journey, even if you return to where you've started. And the original location has changed, too, however minutely. Life is a progression, and we're all headed somewhere - even when going in circles, or along roller coaster tracks. I've been writing this blog since 2008. My first post was in July 2008, and this post is number 945. There have been 714 comments on various posts. The most frequently viewed post is this one, posted in December 2009: http://billcobabe.blogspot.com/2009/12/christ-by-highest-heaven-adored-christ.html with 1272 visits, followed by this post from September 2009: http://billcobabe.blogspot.com/2009/09/tr...

The canyon country does not always inspire love. To many it appears barren, hostile, repellent - a fearsome, mostly waterless land of rock and heat, sand dunes and quicksand, cactus, thornbush, scorpion, rattlesnake, and agoraphobic distances. To those who see our land in that manner, the best reply is, yes, you are right, it is a dangerous and terrible place. Enter at your own risk. Carry water. Avoid the noon-day sun. Try to ignore the vultures. Pray frequently. - Edward Abbey, The Journey Home

When I was a kid, going to the mall was an adventure. Some of my earliest memories were of getting family/kids only photos taken at JC Penney. The department store seemed like an enormous and fancy place to shop, although due to my parents' relatively indigent circumstances, no actual shopping was done there. At least, not that I can remember. There were other stores that I can remember. My mother would collect green stamps for the Sprouse-Reitz. I remember shopping at the Alpha-Beta supermarkets with my dad. But none of these really could compare with the mall. I first became aware of the mall when I was in junior high. I didn't go very often, but the size of the place - the University Mall in Orem - was enormous. And they had everything one could want - from toy stores (Kaybee was where I bought my first chess set) to the video game arcade (hours spent in the Fun-uv-it) to the movie theater. It was awesome - a great place to be. I didn't realize at the time that it ...

I thought that if I were Funny enough Or witty Engaging Clever or cute Artistic Interesting Maybe you'd talk to me. I thought that if I were Valiant enough Brave and strong Tough Reserved Silent and calm Maybe you'd want to be near me. I thought that if I were Pure enough Clean and white Sparkling Soft-hearted Tender and meek Maybe you'd find me appealing. I thought that if I were Loving enough Kind and thoughtful Sweet Good Adoring and worshipful Maybe you'd love me, too. I am human and I Need to be loved. Maybe I'd better think it out again. Maybe I can find a way to touch You Your heart could be soft Like mine Maybe I hope so. Because I love you.

...like the way I do.

People work for many reasons. For most, it's a way to get money to do things one wants or needs. This would be the utilitarian point of view. The approach may include an ever-present need to increase one's salary in an effort to be able to do more. This is not a bad thing. Adults have responsibilities and obligations that are pressing and real. Add a few children into the mix, and you get very serious commitments of time and resources, in addition to the myriad joys and blessings of raising a family. Incidentally, I've heard it said before that one of the primary reasons why family sizes are smaller of late (as compared with our agrarian roots) is that children were viewed as extra helpers out on the farm, whereas now they're typically viewed as a financial liability. I think this may be a bit cynical and too-much focused on the fiscal aspects of the relationship, but there is a rational basis to that reasoning. Also, some adults simply don't wish to shoulder those ...

just for fun ... I hope your day is merry and bright.

A fire may burn bright Flames dancing merrily Above the logs And a fire may be terrible Burning all to destruction And a fire may be slow Like a candle, low and sweet But a fire always consumes And leaves naught but Smoke and ashes What We Need Is Here Geese appear high over us, pass, and the sky closes. Abandon, as in love or sleep, holds them to their way, clear in the ancient faith: what we need is here. And we pray, not for new earth or heaven, but to be quiet in heart, and in eye, clear. What we need is here. ~Wendell Berry

Here's an early Christmas gift for you, in case you hadn't heard this. It's worth the listen/watch. Please do. Really. Wait to see the comment at the end. I don't have much to add to this. It's just lovely and inspiring.

So it's been an interesting couple of months, energy-wise. If you've filled up in the past little bit, you've noticed a significant decrease in the amount you've had to pay. Short-term, this is probably a good thing - shucks, the extra cash helps around holiday time, anyway. Long-term, I'm not as convinced. I put 6 gallons in my wife's car the other day. It was less than $18.00. I had to do a double take - surely something was wrong... Nope. For just over $15.00, I'd put in half a tank of gas. It was a little surreal. Or a lot surreal. Of course, I remember in high school when gas was a dollar a gallon. I'd fill up at the Holiday on Center near the school and remember thinking how easy it was to fill up for a dollar a gallon. $20 would pretty much last me at least a week, if not more. So, what determines how oil is valued, anyway? In a word (or, in this case, an acronym) - OPEC. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. They don't co...

I woke this morning in the wee hours, my head throbbing in time with my pulse. It felt like someone had driven a rusty railroad spike through my left temple. I got up and took some meds, and then laid back down, feverish, while I waited for it to take hold. Sweating, I kicked the covers off and held my poor head. It was nausea-inducing pain, and the waves of it crashed over me like some kind of weird, sulfurous lava flow. And then I thought of you. Somehow, the very thought of you eased my pain. Your smile was like a cold compress, soothing and sweet and understanding. I could almost hear your sweet angel voice whispering in my ear, easing my pain, making it tolerable, and giving me rest. I could feel your care and concern for me, which was so indescribably lovely and good and right... And I was able to rest.  I am grateful. 

Once upon a time There was a man Who loved to go to the beach Not just any old beach But a perfect stretch of sand That seemed precisely suited To his every need He loved how the warmth Of the sun and the sand Eased the weariness from his soul How the sound of the surf seemed To be so peaceful and calming Even when the tempest raged He loved this stretch of beach Its varied faces and moods Always enticed and welcomed him The beach belonged not to him No beach belongs to a person But as he whiled the hours away He felt that it became a part of him And that he left a bit of his soul In the warm sand of the beach Until one day the man was told That he had to move on That the beach would no longer welcome him And that he had to move on So he set out in a kayak Alone on the vast and turbulent sea He would turn back from time to time And gaze at the beach he loved His heart breaking When he saw others enjoying what he'd known That peace and warmth That so...

This sounds familiar. Like, a lot. Okay, okay, I’m going to tell you what Hermione sees in Ron. A trio is a balancing act, right? They’re equalizers of each other. Harry’s like the action, Hermione’s the brains, Ron’s the heart. Hermione has been assassinated in these movies, and I mean that genuinely—by giving her every single positive character trait that Ron has, they have assassinated her character in the movies. She’s been harmed by being made to be less human, because everything good Ron has, she’s been given. So, for instance: “If you want to kill Harry, you’re going to have to kill me too”—RON, leg is broken, he’s in pain, gets up and stands in front of Harry and says this. Who gets that line in the movie? Hermione. “Fear of a name increases the fear of the thing itself.” Hermione doesn’t say Voldemort’s name until well into the books—that’s Dumbledore’s line. When does Hermione say it in the movies? Beginning of Movie 2. When the Devil’s Snare is curling itself around everyb...

I woke this morning to hear of a Taliban attack on a school. A school. Unbelievable. As in, it literally defies belief. And yet, it has become an all-too-common refrain. We hear all the time about attacks on innocents. I suppose the object is to terrify, to use tactics that are reprehensible in an effort to gain some sort of legitimacy. The logic fails me, but I'm not sure logic has anything to do with it. Such things are pure evil. In this Christmas season, we look for ways to share light and warmth. We look to the Savior as the Prince of Peace. We try to hear the herald angels sing of peace on earth and good will toward men. But there seems to be a distinct lack of peace, ranging from large-scale conflicts on a national scale, to the continued degradation of familial relations. We are taught that we have reason to rejoice, yet we live in a world that is so often steeped in violence and trouble... In that spirit, I offer the following: I don't know why God al...

A Christmas Carol I want to base this on Luke 2:19 - But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. I think sometimes We forget to think To pause in our lives And marvel We work and we play We struggle and grow All of which is important And all of which is right But I think sometimes We forget to think To pause in our lives And marvel Because life is miraculous And things move so fast The kaleidoscope of experience Flies on with the years And I think sometimes We forget to think To pause in our lives And marvel And I look for those moments Of peace and serenity When the curtain pulls back And I can feel the hand of the Infinite Yet I think sometimes We forget to think To pause in our lives And marvel Sweet mother, Mary Those thousands of years ago Set for us an example On the night her Child was born That we should think sometimes To not to forget to think We should pause in our lives And marvel To relish the hand of th...

Just read this article: http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20141210-danger-saint-malo-and-the-highest-tides-in-europe I spent the afternoon in this lovely northern French town. There are a couple of things that I need to clarify from the article. According to our guide, the people of St. Malo are citizens of St. Malo first, then of Brittany, and finally of France. While they are geographically in Brittany, they like to consider themselves apart from the rest of the mainland. This independent streak continues through the present day, stemming from a legacy of piracy and living in a walled-off island fortress. It is a gorgeous place, if a bit too new. It wants to feel old, but the buildings were largely bombed out during WWII. So you have this interesting juxtaposition of very old elements transposed against new. The stained glass in St. Vincent's, for example, was too new. It created the right color inside, but there was no artistry or craft to the experience - it felt ve...

Your feet touched my thoughts today Like footprints in the air Somewhere you walk along Seemingly unaware Your feet step lightly As you tread through my mind They trail steps of glory Like only Angels find And wherever they venture Your lovely, glorious feet They leave a peace, eternal They leave a calm so sweet I wish your feet forever more Would beside me tread That I may gaze upon them And not just in my head

I wonder why there are no shadows in dreams...

Amusing. Very amusing. The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes , The Colbert Report on Facebook , Video Archive

Pain blazed in Lews Therin, and he screamed, a scream that came from his depths, a scream he could not stop. Fire seared his marrow; acid rushed along his veins. He toppled backwards, crashing to the marble floor; his head struck the stone and rebounded. His heart pounded, trying to beat its way out of his chest, and every pulse gushed new flame through him. Helplessly he convulsed, thrashing, his skull a sphere of purest agony on the point of bursting. His hoarse screams reverberated through the palace. Slowly, ever so slowly, the pain receded. The outflowing seemed to take a thousand years and left him twitching weakly, sucking breath through a raw throat. Another thousand years seemed to pass before he could manage to heave himself over, muscles like jellyfish, and shakily push himself up on hands and knees. Robert Jordan - “The Eye of the World.” There is a worse pain. One that lingers through each day, persistent and ever-present, hollow and cold and empty. Extreme pain like ...

I finally watched Maleficent last weekend. I'd missed it when it was in theaters, and we were looking for something to watch this weekend. Redbox comes through again... I wept. Now, I know I'm a huge baby. My emotions are never far from the almost immediate surface. I'm not sure why that is - I've discussed it before. Watching this, though, somehow touched me. Firstly, Jolie's performance was incredible. INCREDIBLE. I'm not that familiar with her stuff, other than her face, which I'd seen on the news and things. She is very beautiful, to be sure. I don't know if the rest of her acting is like this, but I thought she really just nailed the part. I also didn't have any clue what the film would be about, other than that it was loosely based on the classic tale - Sleeping Beauty - which of course I'd seen/heard many times. So the twists and surprises in this film were very fun and entertaining. And moving. What spoke to me most of all, ho...

A formidable opponent, the woman who wore part of his soul in her hair. Robert Jordan - “New Spring.”

Back when I was young and attractive...

There are some things I just don't understand. Some things, although I know they exist, simply defy all attempts at logic or explanation. This is one of them. The Daily Show Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes , The Daily Show on Facebook , Daily Show Video Archive I know that there are folks in the world who think they are superior to another because of their skin color. But it makes no sense to me. I also know that there are people who were brought up in a home where race was an issue. I'm fortunate enough to have been brought up in a home where it wasn't. Acknowledging someone's skin color for me is like noticing their eye color, hair color, or body shape/size. It's a physical characteristic, but it's not who that person is. So, I don't understand. I also acknowledge that we don't understand all of the different aspects to the various and way-too-plentiful cases where race plays a part in these kinds of things. We don't know the back...

No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. - John Donne Make his fight on the hill in the early day Constant chill deep inside Shouting gun, on they run through the endless grey On they fight, for the right, yes but who's to say? For a hill men would kill why? They do not know Stiffened wounds test their pride Men of five, still alive through the raging glow Gone insane from this pain that they surely know  For whom the bell tolls Time marches on For whom the bell tolls Take a look to the sky just before you die It is the last time you will Blackened roar massive roar fills the crumbling sky Shattered goal fills hi...

I'm not sure how he comes up with this stuff, but I find it highly amusing: http://gingahninjah.tumblr.com/post/104162483644 Genius. Pure. Genius. 

This reminded me of someone: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/wedding-dress-1775-2014/ Wedding dresses have always fascinated me. Ever since I can remember, my mother made wedding dresses for women - usually friends or daughters of friends, and usually for not as much as she could have made. I remember streams of very beautiful and very excited ladies coming to our home for fittings. I also remember my mother speaking about how fussy these ladies were... It occurs to me that a wedding is one of the few lasting formal occasions we have in our culture. A wedding dress, be it elaborate or simple, is a symbol of a person's purity, of the dignity of the occasion, and of the respect and importance one ascribes to the act of marrying another. Everyone has a dream about their wedding day, and everyone wants to look and feel important on this most important of days. So when a person crafts a dress for a bride, this person is becoming a part of the history of, well, history. ...

"You are protected, in short, by your ability to love!" said Dumbledore loudly. "The only protection that can possibly work against the lure of power like Voldemort's! In spite of all the temptation you have endured, all the suffering, you remain pure of heart, just as pure as you were at the age of eleven, when you stared into a mirror that reflected your heart's desire, and it showed you only the way to thwart Lord Voldemort, and not immortality or riches. Harry, have you any idea how few wizards could have seen what you saw in that mirror? Voldemort should have known then what he was dealing with, but he did not! But he knows it now. You have flitted into Lord Voldemort's mind without damage to yourself, but he cannot possess you with-out enduring mortal agony, as he discovered in the Ministry. I do not think he understands why, Harry, but then, he was in such a hurry to mutilate his own soul, he never paused to understand the incomparable power of a soul ...

My soul sails not On the sea, like a boat On turbulent waves so dark But on your love Which bears me up In placid, clear waters My heart flies not In the air, like a kite Buffeted and fickle with the breeze But on your love Which lifts me to Ever greater heights My feet stand not On ground of sand or stone Cold and hard and unfeeling But on your love Which is constant Strong and firm My eyes are lit not By the golden sun above Burning, distant, and oft o'ershadowed But by your love Which shines into the deepest part of me Warm and bright and pure 'twas ever thus, and thus it shall be For this is life, and gives life unto thee

Saw this this morning: Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.

We used to have Such glorious conversations You and I Sending forth glowing thoughts Out into the world Often flowing in great Glowing rivers That built bridges and arches Pushing back boundaries Stretching limits Growing understanding And there were violent eruptions Pushing ejecta out into space Great releases of ideas and thoughts and You Your innermost being Blazing through the skies Fiery and hot and glorious And not a little Terrifying Oh, we had great conversations You and I We used to have

"Atticus–” said Jem bleakly. He turned in the doorway. “What, son?” “How could they do it, how could they?” “I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it — seems that only children weep."  To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Just for a smile... Happy Monday, y'all.

This morning, I read this: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-30105541 This is amusing on several levels, not the least of which is that it's just clever and witty. What I like about this, however, is that it shows the power of social media to help address issues of concern. These images from Russia are cleverly subtitled in a witty way that highlights both the problems extant in Russia as well as excesses seen in other western cultures. I've seen this kind of thing done before, but it's usually done just to be silly or to prove how witty one is. Here's an example from a buddy of mine: http://lanep.org/potw3/archive.cgi They're old, but they illustrate the point. Social media is powerful in many ways. It helps people keep in touch. It helps folks share information - pictures, stories, videos, etc. - in ways that were impossible even to consider as little as 10-15 years ago. But it also can help foment social change. Because of the "instant"...

Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.... So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle gently entwist; the female ivy so enrings the barky fingers of the elm. O, how I love thee! How I dote on thee! – Titania,  A Midsummer Night's Dream , Act 4, Scene 1

I sometimes find myself envying those who can be apathetic. Stoic. Without passions, desires, and feelings. That seem so anchored and solid and logical. I am not those things. I am subject to meteoric rises and falls, and sometimes I just want to get off this ride. Just maybe stand on terra firma and watch the kids on the Wicked ride. Alas! I am a man, and not a robot at all.

I really like my job. And I'm not just saying that because I have today off. :) We work four tens at the County, which means I have every Friday off. It's very nice. Working for the government is at once an incredibly humbling and gratifying thing. I am a servant of the public, so in a very real sense everyone is my boss. Everyone. I feel that when I watch people come in to my office or even just walk by at the Courthouse. I feel it when I deal with property owners who have hopes and dreams for their future. I feel it when I get my paycheck, because even though it is small, it is still a portion of what people have sacrificed for me and my skills, talents, and experience. And they have done this in the interest of keeping our County going strong and efficiently. It is a sacred trust, one that I do not take lightly. I also love the chance to help affect the positive direction of our County. Morgan is a very lovely place and I am honored to have the chance to help keep it t...

With apologies to Ms. Austen... This morning I read this article: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141118-how-many-senses-do-you-have This is something that is very interesting to me. We (as human beings) like to reduce things to quantifiable experiences. It helps us provide order and clarity to an otherwise difficult-to-understand world. This is particularly true of human senses. The "five senses" include taste, touch, smell, sight, and hearing. The article points out that this is a very limited way of thinking. The article goes on to explain that each "sense" is linked to other senses. We are influenced in what we taste by what we see, for example. And there has long been an understood connection between what we smell and what we taste. So, while we don't taste everything we smell, we almost always smell everything we taste. There's also the connection between a past experience and the flavor or smell of a food. We can get transported back to an...

Check this: http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20141119-the-tev-project-a-true-electric-avenue I love this idea. I've had it rolling around my own head for several years, but I haven't had the horsepower this guy has. I think that this idea is a little far fetched - it would require too much in the way of infrastructure changes. What I can see as a little more feasible is an overhead electric cable system, similar to the ones used by trams in urban areas. A little unsightly, perhaps, but you can use stealth poles... And hey, at least you'd still be able to breathe. Plus, electric motors are quieter and faster, and you wouldn't have to change out all the roads in the world. And while we're dreaming, perhaps we could couple this technology with maglev systems to reduce drag and friction. Then we'd really be efficient... Someday... Someday... :)

I'm tired, y'all. I'm tired of being told that my emotions are a "handicap." They're not. I'm tired of being asked if I feel lonely and tragically misunderstood. I do feel that way at times, but not always. I'm tired of being asked if I will commit suicide. I won't. Ever. It's just not something I would do or even entertain. I'm tired of being asked if I am depressed. I'm not. My life is very good and fulfilling. I'm tired of being treated like there's something wrong with me. There isn't. I'm tired of being shackled to someone who cannot understand me. I'm tired of that same person being unwilling even to try. I'm tired of having my emotions discounted because I'm overreacting or overly emotional. But most of all, I'm tired of wanting to share these feelings and emotions, only to have them rebuffed. Even - especially (!) - when these emotions are glorious, spiritual inklings that fill...

Here's a very interesting article on women and the Priesthood. It's from the BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29513427 This is, of course, about the Anglican Church Priesthood, and not the LDS Church. The Anglican Church is definitely more progressive than the LDS Church, but then, with its history and adherents, perhaps it can afford to be. It's interesting to consider questions of "doctrine" and "culture". In the case of the Anglican Church, where they believe in a closed canon, the authority stems from the ability to trace a direct line of ordinations back to Peter (the Henry VIII thing can be best described as a minor correction that resulted in a schism). Authority also seems to stem from an interpretation of the scriptures that is at once closed (God has spoken, and His word is definitive and exhaustive) and inflexible. Or is it? Seeking to find solutions to modern problems through ancient texts can be difficult at best. Further, due...

Once upon a time, there was a boy. This boy had a red, rubber bouncy ball. You know the kind - cheap, rubber things. But it was his own, and he treasured it. Everywhere he went, the boy would bounce the ball off things. There was no greater joy for this lad than to see the ball leave his fingers, to hear it bounce off whatever surface he'd aimed at, and then come bounding joyfully back. He learned to control the way the ball bounced, even putting a spin on the ball to change things up a bit. The texture of the ball added to this control, making the joy of bouncing it that much more fun. Other people had different colors, and they were fun, too. But this boy enjoyed his ball. He always harbored one secret desire - to find someone to whom he could bounce his ball. He wanted to share the sheer joy of feeling this ball in his fingers. But every one he tried to bounce the ball to grew either annoyed or would humor him for a while and then get bored. Some people even took the ...

This weekend I drove some friends to Bryce Canyon and Zion national park. It was incredibly lovely. One of my favorite things about living in Utah is taking folks to see the natural beauty that exists in such abundance here. It's delightful to hear their gasps and exclamations of awe and wonder. I read in the news this morning that ISIL or ISIS executed another American. This may seem a bit of an abrupt topic change, but bear with me. The true strength of our country lies not in our military might, but in our ability to use our political will to lead others in amazing ways. The national parks idea is one of those ways - Yellowstone being the first land in the world set aside for preservation and perpetual enjoyment. We care very much about such things, and have an extensive and expensive series of such parks across our country. It's awesome and inspiring. So when I hear about this execution by folks who for whatever reason have a grievance with America, it makes me feel...

I dreamed of you last night Your face, just as I remember Like the sun Beautiful and radiant and glorious And terrible It shattered my soul And scattered the pieces Across the universe You looked on me You must have felt my gaze My heart exploded with joy And the fragments melted down Into my shoes, somewhere You smiled A sad smile Full of pity and sorrow But still a smile And then you spoke Your voice Like the voices of ten thousand angels Sweet and clear and lovely As the very heraldic trumpets of creation That made the stars tremble And the heavens shake I wanted to kneel before you And worship you And you stretched forth Your glorious hand Marvelous and perfect Like the lost arms of Venus And took the hand of another And I durst not even despair

Just read this: http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/05/dads-who-do-dishes-raise-ambitious-daughters.html?mid=yahooparenting I love the last line - "Even feminist fathers who fail to lift a finger around the house might be unconsciously telling their daughters that housework equals women's work, this study suggests. So, dads: Do the damn dishes already." I love doing dishes, btw. And the laundry and vacuuming. I even enjoy cleaning bathrooms. So there.

The cold November wind Blew incessantly last night People huddled in their beds As the windows rattled in the cold I woke in the dark Shivering As my feet hit the cold floor And I wandered into the bathroom Even the hot warm shower Scarcely cut the chill And dressing warm for the day Only seemed to emphasize the cold Yet there is something bright and warm That no dark or chill can touch And that is the sweet memory Of your face And I long to see it again Like the earth misses the sunshine On a dark and cold November day Somehow... Somewhere... Someday... http://io9.com/a-map-showing-when-its-likely-to-be-coldest-where-you-l-1655963791

I just ironed my dress white jumper. My daughter is wearing it for the Veterans Day concert later. It made me think of all the times I've worn it and my Dixie cup... Life is interesting. Of all the people you know who are unlikely to have served in the military, I would probably be fairly high on the list. I joined when I was 17, about the age that my son is now. My parents had to sign a waiver, and I left two weeks after I graduated. My mother was so sad she couldn't go to the airport. I didn't realize how much I had affected her until I had my own kids. She wasn't mad or disappointed. Quite the contrary. But having her son leave was a hard thing. I am proud of my service. After a few months in San Diego and then in Port Hueneme, I served in Salt Lake at the reserve center and later in Michigan after my mission. I had many wonderful experiences and met some very interesting people, experiences and people I'd never have known were it not for my time. And, of c...

I just had a look at this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertypicturegalleries/9478023/The-worlds-10-worst-cities-to-live-in.html?frame=2311093 This kind of thing is fascinating to me. Who gets to decide? What measures did they use to determine the various qualities? Did they even ask people who live there? Here's a telling comment from the article: how the hell did 9. Tehran, Iran (45.8) appear here.. this city is beautiful, and their standard of life is much better than most countries... they are strict in some cases but overall, its a great place to live. Good people, good food and great architecture, not to mention beautiful views of mountains. Seems the USA must have had some influence on this one... they're trying to turn everyone against Iran, the nation who is doing better than they are... god forbid!! Good points, really. And how did they come up with the 45.8... Really? They figured it down to the tenth of a point? Like that gives some sort of credibi...

“Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean we all have.”  ― Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix We were given an assignment in Sunday school earlier today to keep a journal of emotions. Men, it was reasoned, need to learn to feel and express their emotions better. Awareness of what one is feeling and finding ways to appropriately express one's emotions is a good thing. This has never been a problem for me. My issue often seems to be that I have a surfeit of emotions and that sharing them wears out those who are close enough to share. People I know are put off by the intimacy. I haven't yet found anyone who was willing to just listen, one who will be patient and abide. Everyone I've come across either cannot share or don't really want to, or they are too caught up with their own concerns to be overly concerned with mine, and they go away. I think that's a large part of why I write this blog. It acts as my...

If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign... to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin. - Albus Dumbledore

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. - Albus Dumbledore

When I was in architecture school, one of my classes focused on the real or perceived difference between a "space" and a "place". In this context, "space" was used to connote somewhere you could be. Generic and without meaning or significance. Contrasting that, "places" are spaces which have taken on meaning - either through collective experience or just personal history. A "place" for one may not have the same meaning for another. There are a few universally accepted "places" in the world. What makes a "space" into a "place" is important, if often intangible and ethereal.  This morning I sat in the Salt Lake Temple pondering this phenomenon. I love the Salt Lake Temple. It has been the focus of my faith for many generations, and you can almost feel the 120+ years of patrons' experiences in the building. It is sacred because it has been dedicated as a house of worship, but it is also sacred because t...

One of the best parts of my day (maybe THE best part) is that Elise can come by the Courthouse on the way home from school and hang out. And she does. She brightens my day, and I like that she likes to hang out. :) It's the little things, y'all.

This morning I came across this website: http://www.portraitsalon.co.uk/ It features several years' worth of images of people. Portraits, mainly. But not of the great and the good, but of the salt and the savor. And maybe these are the great and the good, after all. I love this kind of thing. I love people. I love that people are real - even fake people (?). We are all part of the rich tapestry of humanity, and we all add to the incredible beauty that is our world. Each of us. Take a minute to be inspired by these images of our fellow travelers. My morning has been blessed by doing so.

Sometimes you just need to smile. Unless you're Mitch McConnell. Then...

This is what we're wearing to walk to work these days: I love this scarf - warm, colorful, and delightfully wide (covers my whole neck at once). A dear friend made it for me several years ago, and it's still keeping me warm! :) Happy winter, y'all! Stay bright and warm!

I was reminded recently how much I love this music. The precision and craft are simply breathtaking. This is no music for the masses - this is a composition of absolute precision. It is to music what a BMW is to cars. What lasers are to light waves. What Swiss watches are to timekeeping. What enjoyment! What sheer joy! Ah, it's awesome!

It is easier to criticize than construct. It is easier to belittle and berate than benefit. It is easier to tear down than to build up. It is easier to mock than to make. It is easier to find fault than to find praise. It is easier to hate than to love. But, really... Is it?

Full points if you know what the number refers to. :) Extra points if you can guess the cultural reference behind the title. Today is election day. Every two years in our beloved country, every (!) member of the House of Representatives and 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection - or just plain old election, if they're not an incumbent. It's our chance to change things in our country, and if we don't like the way it's going, we can vote the bums out. It's imperfect. It is too expensive. And it is often more a popularity contest than a substantive vote on issues of concern. Besides which, any one Representative may not have a huge amount of strength in the Field of 435. Regardless, it's our chance to participate in democracy and the democratic process. We live in the greatest country on earth, with the oldest continuous constitutional democracy. And yet, we live in a dynamic time, one where our representatives - the ones we ostensibly pick - are not general...

Today in church a brother played "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" on the piano. It was a halting, imperfect rendition, full of stops and starts and discordance. And I wept like a child. Something about it touches my heart every time. Today, the line that grabbed me is the one that goes - Here I raise my Ebenezer Hither by thy help I come And I hope by thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home Ebenezer is translated into English to mean "stone of help" and has reference to Samuel raising a stone in the midst of Israel to help remember what good the Lord had done to them, what great good He had done for them. Truly, mercy is not getting what one deserves, and grace is getting what one does not deserve. I have been blessed beyond measure and I hope I am always worthy.

the worst part is that you read these lines and don't even realize that they aren't about you at all

It comes sometimes like a burning fire Full of energy and excitement Washing over my body in waves Heat and light and power It also comes as a correcting voice Sometimes harsh But still full of love and concern The voice of the Father My Father Sometimes it comes like a great wave Washing over me Inside my soul Powerful and all-encompassing And I float along in its embrace But the feeling I crave the most Is the fullness that stems from within That fills my soul Warm, light, full And causes my eyes to leak I feel His love His unfathomable love For me My soul resonating In tune With the Infinite

Your age is just the number of times you've traveled around the sun. Which means, as of yesterday, I've traveled 23,360,000,000 miles around the sun in its elliptical orbit. That's a lot. But that's just the beginning. I've also traveled around the earth's axis 14,600 times, which adds an additional 365,000,000.  Further, the sun is hurtling around the galaxy with earth in tow at 43,000 miles an hour, which means I've traveled 376,680,000 in the general direction of Vega. That's a total of more than 24 billion (!) miles. It makes the actual miles I've traveled across the earth's surface seem like a rounding error. It's an interesting thought - humbling and expansive at once. The universe can be a very lonely place. It's a good idea to find a fellow traveler to share the journey with. 

I love this. I know Jeremy's brother Chad, who really helped us out in Oregon. Fantastic guy, amazing family. I love hearing about people who can put things into the right perspective. http://www.ksl.com/?sid=32150881&nid=294&title=royals-starter-credits-lds-mission-in-path-to-world-series&s_cid=queue-6 Be sure to see the video link in the inset. Powerful.

https://www.yahoo.com/style/a-reporter-recently-wrote-an-article-titled-hey-101203121963.html I am not even sure what to say to this. I knew it happened, I guess, but this is stunning. And embarrassing.

I came across this article: http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/pascal-leboucq-lucas-de-man-eye-installation?utm_source=Urbanful+Master+List&utm_campaign=43b7b0c9d8-October_28_Daily_Subscribers%28b%29&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fdf64fbc84-43b7b0c9d8-197325893 I really am intrigued by this. Ever since I first got a smart phone and watched the little blue dot move along the satellite imagery as I drove (I was a passenger in the car at the time) down I-10 near Baytown, Texas, I've been fascinated with the idea of who is watching me. My phone, which I carry around in my pocket, tells people where I've been, which shops I've entered, how long I spent there... It tells people how fast I traveled from A to B (which is kind of a scary thought!)... I know that the microphone on my phone can be accessed at any time - well, any time there's still power in the battery. The military uses this function to keep track of people on their pay roll - it's an i...

Last night I dreamt That somebody loved me No hope - but no harm Just another false alarm Last night I felt Real arms around me No hope - no harm Just another false alarm So, tell me how long Before the last one? And tell me how long Before the right one? This story is old - I KNOW But it goes on This story is old - I KNOW But it goes on http://youtu.be/tk0BOK0EDFE

When I was very young, I went camping with my dad. I was excited because it was one of the first chances I'd had to go with my dad camping, and it was always fun to be with dad. That night, we had a big campfire, and the next morning the coals were still hot. There was another kid about my age who figured out that if you put weeds on the coals they would smolder and smoke. I thought that was a pretty cool idea, so I started doing that, too. But, I noticed that the smoke around the edge where I was seemed a little unsatisfactory. So I wanted to put the weeds out towards the middle, and walked out there to get closer. I was not wearing any shoes. My dad said it was the loudest screams he'd ever heard. The entire bottoms of both of my feet were one solid blister, and I couldn't walk for a couple of days. Since then, I have learned not to walk out on hot coals without something protecting my feet. You'd think I could learn this same lesson with every aspect of my li...

The golden tendril Of his heart's fondest dream Found only cold rocks

I see you Standing there Your hair shining In the sun Your face Your eyes Beautiful Radiant Resplendent My soul expands Just seeing you there Knowing that you Are mine And I Am yours And we Are one As two people always dream But never really know You are my soul You are my light You are my love and my joy and my All You Are me And I am You And the expanse of eternities Both within and without Between and beyond Full Such fullness Inexpressible joy I cannot speak I can only look Humbled by the pleasure of the sight Of you Awestruck And I love...

The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that's what you've given me. That's what I'd hoped to give you forever. -- Nicholas Sparks

Yep...

Dear middle-aged man several rows in front of me in this land use conference, Your wispy haired comb over isn't fooling anyone. It's time to give it up. Love, me.

You have won rooms of your own in the house hitherto exclusively owned by men. This…is only a beginning; the room is your own, but it is still bare. It has to be furnished; it has to be decorated; it has to be shared. How are you going to furnish it, how are you going to decorate it? With whom are you going to share it, and upon what terms?

The sun glimmers bright In the morning sky's light A fall of rain Brings no pain Enhancing the glorious sight In just the same way So the wise ones all say The fall of a tear Is nothing to fear It speaks of great powers at play Your face, my dear heart Tho at times the tears start Is ne'er o'ershadowed Rather, 'tis hallowed By the glory your tears impart And my love is renewed By this glory imbued I touch your face We share an embrace And I know that our feeling is true So the rain may fall Casting a brief pall Across the sky Causing a sigh But the sun shines bright above all

...if it weren't so devastating... http://hannahhurtful.tumblr.com/post/100359317047/kat-blaque-josephrosalie-hermionejg Come on, guys... Really?!? These same, tired old arguments. Being a feminist doesn't diminish my masculinity. It enhances it.

I am a Mormon. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This impacts my life in ways that are great and small. One of the many things that appeals to me about my faith can be found in the following verses from Moroni 7: 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.  48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. This was taken from a sermon delivered by Mormon, author of the eponymous Book of Mormon. Sometime around 400 years after the birth of Christ and His visit to the Americas, this prophet and historian g...