The Sublime Roundabout

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...

Went to the BYU game on Saturday. They managed to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory. Ah, well. It was fun being with the fam. :) And luckily it wasn't too cold (which I can't stand). Here's a pic or two. Happy Monday, y'all!

God Values Men and Women Equally There is nothing in the revelations which suggests that to be a man rather than to be a woman is preferred in the sight of God, or that He places a higher value on sons than on daughters. All virtues listed in the scriptures--love, joy, peace, faith, godliness, charity--are shared by both men and women, and the highest priesthood ordinance in mortality is given only to man and woman together. -- Elder Boyd K Packer

This was written by the boy. He's really got a great way with words. There's a place in this world Where people go to sleep  And the dreams get sent in mail There's a post office box  And it's full of dreams And covered in locks  The story goes that The dreams are too powerful  For any normal human  They're about fantasy  And beauty and love And joy and being happy  No one has ever seen the dreams And lived to tell the tale  Only rumors seeping through the seams Only two people have the key To open the box of dreams You and me  Let's open it together  So I can see the look on your face  As you stare into a mirror - Ammon Cobabe

My thoughts turn to thee On a frosty, chilly morning The ice sparkles on the Blades of grass Sparkling like diamonds In the morning sun And like the sun Thou dost provide the light And the warmth That fills my world With life And I love you so

http://hannahhurtful.tumblr.com/post/100088452252/superhappy-cognitivedissonance-after-threats There is much that I do not understand. Not because I am stupid, although I am decidedly naive, and perhaps ignorant of many things. This just blows me away, though. I don't understand guns in public places, and I really don't understand pistols for general public consumption. The only possible justification I can logically think of for a civilian owning a pistol is if one is going hiking out in bear country. Mainly because bears are unarmed. Pistols, like guns of any kind, are not weapons of defense. Defense is things like shields, bullet-proof vests, kevlar helmets, and hiding inside a tank. That's defense. Whenever you have a projectile moving towards someone else, you've gone on the offensive. Now, some people may claim that the idea of a pistol-toting populace is a deterrent against crime. Studies on this are ambiguous, but having more guns around doesn't necessar...

So, I just read a work of fiction where a terrorist group used weaponized Ebola virus to initiate a biological attack on the United States. Interesting read, that, because it talked about how horrible a death is involved with Ebola. Apparently, Ebola attacks one's internal organs, causing bleeding internally until one literally bleeds to death. It sounds like a particularly horrid, evil way to die. However, it's not that particularly robust of a bug. It is deadly - around 80% mortality - so you definitely don't want it. But there is no evidence that the virus can be transferred through casual, incidental contact, and it is very unlikely that it can be transferred via aerosol (sneezes, breathing, etc). Our skins provide a very excellent defense against most viruses, and Ebola is no exception. The Ebola virus is transferred through contact with body fluids of an infected person. If basic precautions are taken, including washing one's hands frequently, there's no rea...

The Great Library stood On the shores of the sea Where all could come And enjoy the tomes The scrolls of papyrus Heavy clay tablets Sheaves of vellum All with countless scholar's marks This one, a discourse on love Another, the plan of a battle That one, maritime shipping records All dedicated to the Muses For time untold these records Informed, enlightened Provided a repository for knowledge And the author's hopes, dreams, and desires Until the fire of Caesar The Great Imperial Eagle Burned, burned, burned Until cold ash was all that remained The Library, packed tight with understanding Passions, learning, culture unknown Now unknowable, lost Because of the pride of one Lost forever. Never to be shared or known Ever again.

I've posted this one before, but I love it... So happy Wednesday, y'all! Enjoy. The more I think the less I see When I'm able to walk I'm queen of my world I let it rain on my skin I don't let myself down, I don't let myself down Just wanna be one with you, I wanna be one with you The more I think the less I do When I'm able to talk I'm queen of my world I let it rain on my skin I don't ask myself why, I don't ask myself why I wanna be one with you, I wanna be one with you All I want is to rock your soul All I want is to rock your soul All I want is to rock your soul And all I want is to rock your soul All I want is to rock your soul All I want is to rock your soul I feel closer to the clouds I'm touching all the highest leaves On top of the trees my desire's release So we let it rain… On our skin you're holding my hand I'm holding your life ‘N feel like I'm one with you, I...

I really loved this article this morning on the Beeb: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20141014-gaudi-unfinished-business I've studied the Sagrada Familia for years. My first impression may have been similar to yours - one of wonder and revulsion. Gaudi was not known for his adherence to convention in a day when convention was going strong. He was working in the late 1800s, when the world was still firmly entrenched in the neoclassical period. There was a huge lean toward ancient Greek and Roman forms, seeking to imbue a sense or rationality, proportion, and stateliness to the world. This is the period where most of the state capitol buildings were designed/built throughout the United States. Gaudi, whose work was infinitely more organic, pushed the boundaries of what was. So firmly entrenched in the structure of religion and society, his ideas were revolutionary and inspirational. Which, really, is what you want in a building that is to celebrate the greatness of the Almig...

have you ever had something said about you something that was a lie something that everyone, including the speaker, knows to be false but something that just left you shredded something absolutely beyond the pale not said to your face but behind your back I've never known such hurt and while I should know better than to let things like that hurt me they do I just don't understand how someone can be so vile mean, base, and cruel it's ridiculous pitiful The only defense is to live my life so as to be beyond reproach So that those who really know me Would never believe such stupidity anyway.

So, I've written several times about the way race continues to be a concern in our society. We live in a world where discussions of race frequently tend to be uncomfortable, particularly for people who don't seem to want to acknowledge that there are differences in our post-modern society based on race. Surely, they think, questions regarding race are all in the past, and we should disregard any/all concerns that are tied to race because it's just bringing up something that has already been resolved. But has it? As a white man, I am very aware of the privilege that is associated with my status. It's fascinating. It spills over into things like height - because I'm taller than the average, there is advantage there, too. It's not something I actively seek and take advantage of, and yet it is undeniably there. I was recently involved with a job interview where one of the other applicants was a short, balding man. And you know? I wasn't as concerned about ...

... can't trust that day... I've always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Mondays. This, I understand, may be a bit unusual - most people I know HATE Mondays, plain and simple. But I've never really understood this. I understand that Monday represents the end of what may have been a very fun weekend. That Monday represents the beginning of a long work week, and work is not always fun. But Mondays are also full of promise - a new week lies ahead, and who knows what will come? It's like a new adventure, every week. So, rather than hate Mondays, I like to think along those lines - that yes, it's the end of a weekend, but it's also the beginning of something new. So happy Monday, y'all! And I hope your week is awesome.

I know it's been proven that certain smells are linked strongly with memory. I am not sure why this is the case - maybe biologically we are hard wired to associate smells with certain kinds of dangers or events so that we can recognize them in the future. Whatever the case, I'm having a pleasant memory at the moment: I'm doing laundry. I've stayed home from church in the hopes of not infecting others with whatever weird ailment I've got. I could hardly sleep last night because every time I rolled overs would get extremely dizzy. Weird, that. Being woken up because you're dizzy is extremely disconcerting. But, as I'm at home, I decidedto take care of the laundry. I am not sure how the specific combination of dryer sheets and laundry detergent is working just right this morning, but I'm taken back to when I was growing up. We were expected to do our own laundry, which meant that out laundry room was always a bit of a mess. My sweet mother, for all of h...

I woke up this morning in my tent and the whole thing kept spinning. It's interesting - I don't feel nauseous, just dizzy and weak. I don't know what I've got - a virus of some sort - but I hope it's over with me as quickly as it came on. I don't like being sick.  I also think it's interesting that when I am healthy, I forget what it was like to be sick. I don't know what to think about that. Maybe it's a defense mechanism or something. All I really know is that I feel pretty crummy at the mo. 

a campfire is truly one of the most lovely things on earth.

once, just once, I'd like to be able to sleep in until my body isn't tired any more. Ain't happenin' this fine morning. Sigh. Welp. Here's for it. Happy Friday y'all.

close adjective \ˈklōs\ : near in space : not far away or distant : near in time : very similar : almost the same She held his heart In her own two hands They were soft, gentle And his heart formed To the ridges and valleys Of her warm palms And fingers Her hands acting On his heart Imparting warmth Joy, peace, comfort And eventually The heart and the hands Melded together Until it was impossible To know Where one began And the other ended His heart forever changed By the touch of Her sweet, wonderful hands

:D Three posts in one morning? Are you kidding me?!? Check it. http://mic.com/articles/100676/aziz-ansari-just-came-out-as-a-feminist-with-one-perfectly-simple-analogy?utm_source=policymicTBLR&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=social Awesome. Just Awesome.

I love stuff like this: https://jawbone.com/blog/circadian-rhythm/ It's fascinating to see how information graphically-presented can help identify patterns. I am one who likes to stay up late, but who also unfortunately has no capacity to function unless I get 7-8 hours of sleep. And since my job gets me up and at work by 7 AM, my days of being a night-owl are pretty much over. I do enjoy being up early, but my preference is to stay up late and hang out until the wee hours. I was interested to note that Morgan County is one of the places that gets the least amount of sleep, and is also one of the places where people stay up the latest. I'm not sure why that's the case (statistical anomaly? something connected with the rural lifestyle? some other random reason?) but we seem to lead the state in both categories. I heard recently that sleep has been discovered to be the brain-cleaning time. That, even though it requires a long time for animals to be in a vulnerable s...

... as in the BBC. This is where I usually turn to get my morning news fix. I generally like their international approach to the news, and some of their side features are really interesting as well. This morning was no exception as I came across this: http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20141006-talk-shock-youre-doing-it-wrong?ocid=global_bbccom_email_08102014_capital Several countries/regions are highlighted, and insights are given to help the unintended and unwitting mistakes from happening. How much of this, I wonder, is a stereotype, and how much is genuine. Either way, I suppose it doesn't hurt to be cognizant of the potential to damage another's feelings. Especially unintentionally. I find it fascinating how people - we're all essentially the same, on a basic biological level - are shaped by cultural norms. One's upbringing and culture obviously has a huge impact on the way we interact with the world and with each other. Even things as basic as how we want to...

Today my coworker said something very nice and sincere about me. I was (am) truly touched. It didn't cost her anything to tell me what she thought, but I was impressed and flattered. She's been a real breath of fresh air here in the office, and I'm grateful for having her around. I wonder why we don't say such things more often to each other. I think of the great Louis Armstrong singing about friends shaking hands, saying "How do you do?" / They're really saying "I love you." I love that thought. I honestly think that there is sufficient love in the world. I just think we need to get better at expressing that to each other. I love you. I really do.

So, this process has been very interesting to watch. I'm referring to the ruling (?) (non-ruling?) from the Supremes today regarding gay marriage in Utah and in a few other states. The whole thing has been very interesting to me, and involves some personal journeying of my own. What finally changed me forever, though, was someone I love very much saying - what difference does it make to your marriage, to your life, what other people do? If someone else marries another person of the same sex, what difference (really!) does it make to you? The short answer - none. It makes absolutely no difference to me. Except, now people I know very well and admire are able to be together with their chosen life partners in all of the legal and appropriate ways. And I think that's marvelous. So, in reality, it does affect me - it makes me very happy. And you know what else? Life goes on. Life is beautiful, and it's even more beautiful when you can share it with someone you love. Everyo...

This past weekend was General Conference for us LDS types. I love it - we get hours of lovely, inspirational messages from our leadership. It's a whirlwind of spirituality, advice, exhortation, calls to repentance, and also the random odd comment. It's almost as much fun to see which talk includes the most random thoughts... Not that I'm disparaging these folks. Shucks, just peruse through my blog to see if I can put together two coherent, related thoughts... ;) (the answer is no. I can't do it). My son and I went down to Salt Lake for the Priesthood Session. This was the same session that, several months ago, women were refused entrance to. I didn't notice any women asking for attendance at this session - my son and I did not get tickets, so we went to the Tabernacle, which I think I might have preferred because the hard oak benches kept me awake.... I've come to understand that some women were admitted (or at least attended) the session in various places. ...

Him (tears in his eyes, heartbroken): I want you to know that I love you, that I'm sorry for my weakness and frailties, and that I will try and do better. I think I am doing better than I was before, and I just want to please you and make you happy. I am very grateful for your continued patience as I try to be the kind of man I want to be. Her: You need a haircut. It's getting a little long.

I find many things in the world very fascinating. For example, I learned that the word "gazelle" in English comes from the Arabic word "gazal" meaning of course gazelle. What was interesting is that the word seems related to the word "ghazal", which is a type of Arabic love poetry. They point to the grace and beauty extant in gazelles and note that the poetry would try to emulate these characteristics.  It may be a bit of a stretch, but I find even the possibility of something like that very fascinating. I used to be a big fan of nature films. The Thompson's gazelle was one of my favorites, watching the herds move and play and things was lovely. And those things can run! So I say "used to" because it seemed like the scenes that were most frequently portrayed were things like this: http://youtu.be/dZFP8Wwrl9o What bothers me about this is not the killing per se. What I find heart rending is that there is invariably a point in such vide...

Three Dog Night got it wrong.  One is not the loneliest number. They were more accurate when they said Two can be as bad as one.  I really wonder how people can survive Without being fully engaged. How they live through each day Without the intimacy I so very much crave... Maybe I am unusual in my desire  To have this intimacy, To want to feel that soul So close to my own Sharing light and warmth, Sharing love and passion, Sharing life. Alas! Alas! Alas! For when I do seek to share It is often only to be rebuffed Denied Or used up, Sucked dry, And left an empty husk.  I want SO MUCH to share And all I have is the cold, digital world Of typing out a blog.

So my son noted that Skrillex is coming to town. He's putting on a show and Ammon initially said he'd be interested in going. If you're not familiar with Skrillex, here's a sample of his work: If you're not familiar with this genre of music (known as dubstep), it's basically all computer generated, washed, and manipulated to the point that these sounds have very little in common with things that we would traditionally consider music. There is a definite beat, and one could probably determine some sort of theory or theoretical basis behind the music. But it's definitely pushing the envelope. And you know, I kind of like it. Technology has enabled Skrillex to find expression in ways that our ancestors could never have imagined. What if Mozart had had access to this kind of technology? An interesting mental exercise. The arts are constantly evolving, seeking new ways of expression and using new technologies. Musical instruments have evolved over time,...

There's a certain kind of calm that permeates the world in the morning. It reaches into my soul and spreads from somewhere near my heart. It's not the bright, warm light of noon, nor is it the blazing, rosy light of evening. It is fresh, new, and lovely. And it reminds me of you, as do all things lovely, beautiful, and sweet.