Ender Food for Thought

This is more for those who read Ender in Exile, and I wish Tom could get in on this conversation.
The bugger things communicated by thought. When this scientist guy was in this cave in last night's chapter, he tried communicating with thought to that larva bug that turns into a gold beetle thing. and it seemed to work...

I used to try to send thoughts out to people, yes, I know I am weird, and more strangely, one of the people I experimented with this concept with was the Elder who baptized me. We had fun with it until his mission president told him to stop playing with those kind of scary matters.

Then there are those people who say they can read minds, and I have heard our church tell us that their power comes from the dark side.
But- in the scriptures, even the leader of the dark side himself is supposedly not able to do this.
Well, we know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can hear our silent prayers and thoughts. We CAN hear the Holy Ghost's nonverbal whisperings. Is this a gift we will get later, or a power we will have in the next life? Can it be tapped into now?
That is why I love these books, O S card throws in these deep concepts that I love to ponder.

Like the time concept in that book also. Awesome!

100 Pushups - Super Bowl

So, in my effort to get back into the shape I was in prior to hurting my knee and entering the holiday season, I have started doing Wii Fit again, playing basketball again (knee is about 95%) and decided to start something else to keep me motivated. I found something called 100 pushups - and it is a program (schedule) that you follow for 6 weeks and by that time you should be able to do 100 pushups. It is pretty fun and hopefully it works. Basically you do a routine 3 days a week for the 6 weeks. I started this week and boy am I sore. I actually got to skip a week since during the 'test' I did better than most (thanks to Wii Fit) and got to skip the routine for the first week. So in 5 weeks I'll let you know if it worked. After that I plan on following their 200 situps routine, which is basically the same type of thing.

The Superbowl is this Sunday and it should be really fun. It is amazing - and fun - to have the Arizona Cardinals in the game. Who would have ever imagined. I haven't been this excited since the Rams made it to their two Superbowls a few years ago. Coincidentally, both of those years Kurt Warner was their quarterback. So we're going to see if Kurt can get another ring with his second team. Tevia's mom is having a big party at her house and I look forward to eating all the finger food. We will be up in Show Low this weekend for Jhade's blessing - and since the Superbowl is on and we wanted to stay for the party, I took Monday off so we can just drive back to Phoenix on Monday. It should be fun. Go Cards.

algebra question

I had the opportunity today to proctor a Regents algebra test at John Jay high school today. I am not allowed to read during administrating these tests, as they are 'very serious', and we have to be on the constant alert so the students can't cheat.
(These are NY statewide exams, all given at the same time all over the state at each school.)

Because of a long story, I luckily ended up with a class of only 5 students, who had other tests to take right after, so were allowed to leave when finished, (which is not usually the case). So, when I was whittled down to 2 students left, I took the opportunity to glance down at the test questions every once and awhile to see if I could do them. ( I had 3 completed tests in front of me, and on most answers, all 3 were different. :) )

I was happy to say I could do most, but I came up with one I was stumped on. I tried to ask dad when I got home tonight, but he is too involved in IBM's own math and engineering troubles to even hear mine. He plans on working all evening. (PS- a fellow IBMer named Peppy who was top level and used to work a lot with dad was layed off yesterday. Dad said he was one of the smartest guys he knew.)

so: if anyone can help me with this problem, I would love it.

There are 64 volleyball teams, and 1/2 of them get eliminated after each round.
let t = how many teams are left, and r = rounds.
find the equation. these are the 4 answers in the multiple choice question:

a- 64(r) to the .05power ( I don't know how to type that)

b- 64(-0.5) to the r ( r is the exponent)

c- 64(1.5) to the r "

d- 64(0.5) to the r "

I am going to go figure it out by just substituting in figures, but I was not sure how to do that without guessing.

Wedding Pics

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Get your own

Sorry I haven't put up these before. Here is a little taste of the pics that the photographer took.

Mrs. Not Lonely

So as you all know I have been alone for the past 2 weeks and still have a week to go because Jimmy is on another island for training. And even though I am used to Jimmy being gone, it is completely different to be married and alone than it is to be just dating! Especially when you don't have any kids or even some sort of pet! Its such a crazy feeling. I was very tempted to go out a buy a puppy several times lol. But aside from my "wanting to buy a puppy moments" (more so just to have someone to play with) I did a lot better than I thought I would which is a good thing considering this is just the calm before the storm as he leaves again in March for a month to be in California and then deploys to Afghan in May. But I honestly have been extremely happy. Not because he's gone lol but I think it's because I have invited the savior into my life so much more. Before Jimmy left, he was able to give me a blessing and he blessed that I would not feel alone and I can honestly say that I don't feel alone at all. I know that my Heavenly Father is looking out for me and I know that he is often here because like I said before, since I need him, I invite him to come in more than I have in the past. I am never scared which is odd and I am always happy. I am so grateful for this and I know that even though I am married for this next deployment that I am ready to take on this challenge and that the Lord needs me to do things just like he needs Jimmy to support our country.

I feel guilty for not always needing the Lord like I do now and hope that even when Jimmy comes back that won't change. Anyways, I am also so happy because of school! Lol which is ironic because this is by far the hardest semester that I have ever had. Since I am a junior now and in my education program I am taking all of my hardcore EDU classes and they are a handful! There is so much more to teaching than I realized and I have never learned more in my life. It is so exciting to be able to be learning things that I will actually need to be a teacher and I can not wait until that day comes! I was so close to quitting school a while ago and I am SO glad that I didn't. It is keeping me extremely busy too which is also helping me to keep my mind off how my husband is off practicing how to go to war. It's been nice to have such an awesome family to help me get through this too. Thanks for the calls and emails.

Well one more week left! oh and Jake and Cari, because my husband will be gone for the majority of the year, I am keeping Daisy. The only way I will yield is if you trade me Hazel for Daisy. So let me know lol

Hazel Pics

Here are some more recent pictures of Hazel. As soon as I get the camcorder editing software figured out, I'll try to get some videos up also. Enjoy!

Mr. President

I know most of the people that read this blog did not vote for Obama (including myself). And I know most people reading this blog don't particularly like Obama, but I thought I would comment on the inauguration. At my workplace they allowed employees to stream the event on their computers (though I just went to the break room to watch on TV). As I watched the speech and looked at those around me, I must say I was amazed at the emotion and hope that I could see. Never in all of my life can I remember a new president being such a big deal. Certainly I never saw tears before like I did this week. And listening to his speech, I could once again see how he connects with so many of my (and the younger) generation.

If his words are to be trusted, and I am one to give him the benefit of the doubt, then he truly cares about how we are seen on a global scale. He truly wants us to be seen as the leaders and hegemon. He wants people to work harder and stop being so selfish and childish. I could see - and feel - how his words resonate with so many. There is no way any of the last few presidents could deliver such a speech in such a way. And I think this is what gives him such charisma. Yes, certainly his underdog story and the fact that he is the first non-white president make him a huge phenomenon, but I think it is the fact that people actually respect him and (perhaps ironically) don't see him as a politician that make him such a power. I think many of you might say that this is what makes him so dangerous. But I say let's see what fruits are borne by his presidency.

Can he truly reach across the aisle and embrace the republicans? Will he really try to or be able to change our culture to return to the great culture of selflessness and ingenuity that brought our country to where it is? When I watched the people watching him I could see the hope in their eyes. I could feel it inside myself. I sincerely hope that Obama can bring about the change our country needs in order to return to its roots of tolerance, creativity and hard work. In the end, if Obama himself can not do it I think this election has spurred more people to think more about the people we put into office and perhaps stir more involvement and less apathy.

As someone who has become disgusted by the acts and rhetoric of most politicians I hope for a brighter day when we can truly elect people who aren't greedy or immoral or closed-minded. Let's elect people who can truly think for themselves and shun greed and immorality. I'm tired of seeing elected officials who have secret affairs with young girls or scary men in bathrooms. I know it isn't easy. Fame and power bring great temptation. But that is not to say that we should tolerate such behavior. There are great men and women out there who can avoid the temptation and focus on what is important. We must find them - or become them.

Tom's bed

Okay, so, one of my goals this month is to paint the inside of Tom and Jake's closet, as it is still yellow since when we first moved in here. The walls have been 2 colors since then. Then I am rearranging the shelves, and deciding what to do with the shelves that are burned and marred with chemicals. (Thanks, Jacob)
So I have been slowly taking everything out of the closet so as not to hurt my back and knees. (lots of bending and lifting) Finally, yesterday, dad agreed to help me take all the clothes out, and shelves. It is empty. It is also all on Tom's bed, or around it. Did that bother Daisy? Oh no, see for yourself. She seemed to think it made it all the more cozy...

2009 - A great start

2009 has been pretty good so far. I think by focusing on some goals, having some great weather, and starting fresh has been nice. I feel happier and looking forward to a great year. What has changed? First, I discovered that you can get mp3s from lds.org for the Book of Mormon in Portuguese. This has been a great discovery which has been good for some spiritual uplifting while on the way to work in my mp3 player - while at the same time keeping up on that beautiful language of Brazil. Second, by making a career goal for the year (instead of flopping all over the place last year) I am more focused and am more content. Our new system that I have worked on launched this week. And though it has had a few issues (what new system implementation does not?), it has been fun being a go-to guy and meeting new people and trying to fix problems. I am pretty good at fixing problems and love to work with people, so it has been a good change (usually I'm in front of a computer testing or configuring) which brings me home in a better mood and makes me feel like I have contributed more. Those two things alone have had a large impact. Add to it that my knee is now finally healed (cross my fingers) and I am playing basketball again, and life seems to be looking pretty rosey in 2009.

We have many great trips planned this year, and I can't wait to see family and friends throughout the year. The warmer weather has also buoyed my spirits quite a bit - as well as working on our budget, which honestly has been pretty fun so far. I hope things continue on this path as we continue. In reality, 1/24th of the year has already passed, so we are well on our way.

Miracle on the Hudson

A few things:
Dad and I were watching it live, as he had gotten home early after taking the car in for an oil change. It was scary to think about being in those frigid waters. It did seem like a miracle after watching it transpire and to learn that only a few people were in the water, and that it had such an incredible ending. I am sure that most of those people on that plane thought they were done on this earth. Some have even said that they thought that.

A funny thing- Fox news was joking this morning that not only will a movie be made, and it will probably even be titled the Miracle on the Hudson, but that Tom Cruise would play the pilot. ( I guess you'd have to hear it live to get the joke. Everyone is saying that that Valkerie movie would have been so much better without a movie star like Cruise playing an old German guy.)

I was relieved to see it end so well. It was a wonderful thing to see happen in NY!

Lessons learned from BYU 2008

Though I didn't attend BYU in 2008, I felt more attached to the school than I have for a long time. This is most likely due to the fact that the football team had such high expectations - both at BYU and in the media. Before the season started there were numerous people saying they could go undefeated and be in a BCS bowl. They had a great chance of doing it and it was exciting. Coach Mendenhall even came up with a new theme to the season: The Quest for Perfection.

Each year Coach Mendenhall has come up with slogans for his team. The prior year it was Band of Brothers. With this year's slogan he immediately received negative feedback from the media - and fans. Perfection? Surely he wasn't cocky enough to have a goal of a perfect season (even though most people DID expect them to go undefeated). Opposition said the goal was too lofty. It was unatainable. It was too much pressure on the team. Mendenhall was quick to point out (cover up?) that the Quest was not just referring to football. Indeed, the BYU coach has a list of priorities for his team, of which football falls 5th. But he was still mocked and challenged.

When BYU finally did lose to TCU, the comments came pouring in. There goes the Quest! And when they lost to Utah a few weeks later (who ironically went on to go undefeated and take BYU's expected spot as a BCS team) the mockery continued. Even true blue fans began to doubt Mendenhall's goal and slogan. Truly, it appeared his team had become too cocky - they felt entitled. They thought it would just fall into place and therefore did not work as hard as in years past. Even I thought how foolish. The coach (and team) set themselves up for failure. They set themselves up for disappointment.

But as I contemplated this over the last couple of weeks (and as I continually wished things had turned out so different) I realized that this was a great life lesson - for the team and for me. Like BYU's football team, we as believing members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a lofty goal. We are told to be perfect. Indeed, it is the same quest that the BYU team had. And like the team, many people outside of the church mock its members at this goal. Even members themselves think, 'how can we possibly be perfect?" But it is still our quest. It is our goal. Indeed, to return to live with God requires it to happen - at some point. And to make a goal of 'attaining the terrestrial kingdom' seems quite silly. So even though BYU did not reach their goal, should that not be their goal every year? To win every game? And should not our goal be to become like God? Will we reach our goal? Perhaps not this year, perhaps not the year to come, but indeed it IS possible (only through the atonement of Jesus Christ!).

So if our goal is to return to live with God, can we truly have any other goal? I am a big supporter of President Hinckley's philosophy of getting better each year. So yes, we can have smaller goals. This year I will do THIS better. But each small goal is an eventual path to the ultimate goal.

So even though I feel for the BYU team and feel bad that they did not reach their goal, I now believe it was not a bad goal. It was an attainable and realistic goal. And they had the ability to do it. So why set a smaller goal? And we as humans have that same potential and ability, so why sell ourselves short? Thank goodness our goal in this life, at least for most of us, is longer than one football season. But I am glad Coach Mendenhall gave such a lofty goal to his team. Next year he may not have such a high goal (and to be honest, with the team he will have and schedule it might not be attainable), but this year they had the talent and ability. They fell short, like many of us will. Perhaps they fell due to their pride (as many of US will). But we can learn from it. We must expect more out of ourselves and then NOT slit our wrists when we fail to attain those goals. We must continue to work hard - and congratulate those we love (and hate) around us for achieving that which we could not.

Thank goodness getting into heaven isn't based on a BCS system, though!

x-files

full of blood, torture, pediphiles, hard to understand for a non-x file watcher, not worth my 2 hours, and now I have awful visions in my head. dad may have a different viewpoint. Kathy, I wouldn't watch it if I were you. I suppose my comments will make Bret and Jacob want to watch it more.....
:)

Ender in Exile

I just finished this book - and for some reason it had a real effect on me. I loved it. Ender's Game (and the sequel Speaker for the Dead) are two of my favorite books. Mr. Card wrote several other sequels (and in fact a whole other sequel series focused on Bean) that were good, but this book seemed to bring back the feeling I felt when I first read those first two books.

Here are a few reasons I loved this book.

1 - Ender's mother teaches a valuable lesson to Valentine (her daughter) when Valentine wants to travel with Ender and help him. After asking for advice, Valentine's mother tells her it is not her place as a sister to 'teach' Ender anything - or try to get him to do what is best for Ender. That is a parent's job. And only parent's can do it. I never had thought of it like that before. Indeed, that is a parent's job. And it is a very hard job. And none of us can replace parents.

2 - Ender reaches out to his parents after years of not 'talking' and finally gives in and tells them he loves them, though he doesn't understand the way they had treated him (by their lack of communication and apparently putting all of their energies in their oldest son, Peter). In the end of his letter he realizes that he really just wants two things from his parents. He wants his mother to say she has watched him in his life and "kept all these sayings in her heart" (a quote from the New Testament about Mary and her watching over Jesus). And from his father he just wants to hear "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Of course, this is another biblical quote. And isn't this what we all want? So simple. Ender is also quick to point out that he is not likening himself to Christ!

3 - In a letter from Ender, he discusses his brother (Peter) whom Ender had seen as a terrible brother in his early life. Peter eventually became the leader of the world (Hegemon) and was seen as a great person. Ender realized that Peter had learned an important part of human nature. When you pretend something for a long time, you eventually become that person. So in Peter's case, he had pretended to be nice and lovable and in the end truly was. The same is true in reverse, if we pretend to be someone we are not, we eventually become that someone we truly aren't. It is a deep concept and reminds me of Alma's discourse on faith: how we must test what we want to know.

It was a great book to finish the year off (and the beginning of 2009) with. Back to the library it goes. I'll do another post later on how this helped me make some changes in my life (or at least have the desire to). Resolutions...

Proud, Proud

As I sat in testimony meeting this morning, I was filled with the righteous kind of joy that you kids bring me. We knew at the start of 2008 that is was going to be a busy year. It brought us a new granddaughter, Jacob graduated, Kathy got married, and Tom went on a mission. All 4 of you now, and your spouses, have gone through the temple. None of you are starving, asking us for money, or having a hard time. All of you have turned out to be kind, thoughtful, virtuous people.
Thank you all for keeping the commandments, and staying on the path that brings you, your families, and your parents joy.
Not that I had much to do with all of your wonderful spirits, but, my work is done, and I could leave tomorrow and feel very fulfilled. Being a mother was my most important role in life, and I loved it. I loved baking cookies, rocking you, walking you, watching you sleep, buying you gifts, playing with you, shopping with you; I even loved cleaning the house. It went by so quickly, and I am sure it was harder than it sounds now.
Jacob said to me the other day that I was on permanent vacation. It sure feels like it. I am so lucky!
My goals this year are about the same as every year, and they keep me quite busy: genealogy, sew more, see my grandkids, exercise more, more temple work, write my life story, etc. I will try to work 2 days a week, to help save for fun vacations.
I feel guilty just ever telling people how awesome my life is. Even now, I feel like I am bragging. Sorry if I sound so. I just think you kids should know that I love my life!