Star Struck

I don't follow celebrities and couldn't tell one from another most of the time, but today I put in my 2 cents worth about what I am hearing about a couple of them. 

    Angelina Jolie recently made a personal decision to have a double mastectomy  based on her own and her family history, her genetics, and her concern for her children.  She shared the decision publicly so that other women would be more aware, learn more and consider their own options.  She did not tell anyone else how to run their lives.  Now some people are criticizing her and calling her decision not brave but fear-based.  I think they should butt out.   I respect her right to choose for herself and I respect her decision.  Even more I appreciate her willingness to talk about a private matter openly so she can help other women make their own choices.

    Paula Deen admitted that she used a racially insulting term DECADES ago.  I have heard a lot about her admitting it and apologizing.  I have not heard what the circumstances were, whether it was habitual or a one time thing - although I get the impression it was not the way she usually talked.   More recently she said something about it being hard to see a dark skinned person against a dark background very well.  Oh, the outrage!  I do not think that we are really supposed to be color BLIND and pretend that we do not see a person's skin color at all.  We are what we are. and that's fine.  We are not supposed to judge people by their color or treat them with any less (or more)  respect.   I am pretty sure if everyone was fired who had EVER said a thoughtless,  insensitive thing about another person, not very many people would have jobs.  Admittedly my sensibilities are probably different because I am not, nor ever have been black, but it seems to me that there is a lot of over-reacting going on.  How does she treat and talk about people NOW? 

   I am astounded at the evil and cruelty that seems to be accepted by society and then the things that people pounce on to attack. 

  

The Things She Never Told Me!

   In the what? 7 ? years I have had her, I oft lamented that Goldie, unlike her predecessor Jade, never mentioned that you (that is to say I) had left the key in the ignition or the lights on when exiting the driver's side.  This resulted in more than a few AAA roadside calls -  especially in the early years and the first bit of shorter daylight hours more than one year.  
    Last week after a spell of unexplained battery failures, Jimmy at Cozz's discovered a faulty switch in the door. 
    Now, amazing thing, when the driver's door opens, Goldie signals if there is a key in the ignition or if the lights are on and the radio turns off.  I never knew that Goldie was not entirely herself all this time. 
    I wonder what else I am clueless about.  (Don't be mean)

I am going to pump you up.

    For the longest time I have lamented my difficulties pumping up my bike tires.  Especially with the floor pump.  I don't expect as much for the on-the-road hand pump. (although it does pretty well)  A little bit of trouble attaching pump to valve stem.  More trouble getting it off.  The feeling that pumping up the bike tires is more exercise than riding the bike to work.  And the frequency of getting a flat the day I do a maintenance pump up.  
     Then it got worse.  There was a terrible sound of escaping air every time I tried to pump up - and it wasn't the valve connection.  And pump as I might, hardly any increase of tire pressure.  Something was wrong, you think?  I never even thought about the PUMP having a leak.  Until it was quite obvious.  I have no idea how old the bike pump was.  My ex bought it back in the days of his bicycle commuting which he gave up (after a couple of bike vs vehicle encounters) years before we split.  The pump was old.  Way too old.
     So, I finally bought a new bike pump.  WOW.   The old pump had a gauge with a moveable marker so you could set your goal pressure and see when you achieved it.  The new pump does not, but the gauge is at the top of  the pump instead of the bottom so it is easier to see.  I don't know why the difference, but the new pump is easier to connect/disconnect.  I have done several pump ups and so far (knock on wood) not destroyed my valve stem.  Of course, also now I try to PUSH the pump off the valve instead of pulling it.  And it is amazing how much easier it is to pump up the tire when all the air actually goes into the tire.
     Sometimes in life we overlook the simplest and best answers.

What? It's Wednesday?

Usually I go to the temple on Wednesdays.  I feel it gives balance to my week in many ways.  I don't ride my bike to work on temple days. 

Today I did not go to the temple because Andrew and I were sitting on an Eagle Board of Review this evening.  So I rode my bike to work.

This messed me up.  It also reminded me of one of the reasons I go to the temple and do not ride my bike on Wednesdays.  Wednesday is garbage day on much of T street.  Dodging garbage cans is not the best part of bike riding. 

Since I rode my bike to work, it didn't feel like Wednesday.  Also, because I need to bring some taco-ground beef to work for a potluck on Thursday, I kept thinking about Thursday.  So, pretty soon, it started to feel like Thursday. 

Which is disappointing because tomorrow is not Friday.

But, Andrew and I had the privilege of participating in an Eagle board and seeing how a fine boy is becoming a fine man.  And tomorrow we are having a taco bar at work.

Party Girl?

There is a fairy tale about a king who had several daughters who were always tired and whose new shoes were always worn out in the morning.  He eventually learned that they were sneaking out and dancing all night.

My Goldie, my car, has been showing up with a dead battery even though the AAA road guy said the battery and the alternator are good.  Two Saturdays in a row we have gotten in the car to do errands only to be non-starters.  Then we plugged in our little charger and were good to go in time for church.

This morning Sylvia, my bike, hopped on the back of Goldie and we dropped Goldie off at the shop.  The battery IS good.  The alternator IS good.  What is funky is a switch in the door that is supposed to turn the radio off when the door opens.  huh?  that has never happened as long as I have had this little car.  Eventually, after about 15 minutes the car computer turns the radio off.

Well, Jimmy at the car shop says that it is quite possible that the whack-a-ding door switch has been turning the radio off and on when the car was parked.  While I have been sleeping, or off at work slaving away to pay for gas and oil, Goldie may have been having private parties. 

Jimmy is going to replace the door switch and (nearly blinded drivers of Goldie will be glad to know) the inefficient wiper blades.   Should be less than $150.

The party is over, little girl!

How long will ye halt between two opinions?

     I believe in God, our Creator and Father of our spirits. I believe that He knows us, loves us, and that it is His work and His glory to bring to pass to the immortality and eternal life of man.  That He wants our eternal happiness.  I believe that Father knows best.
     I believe that we have a living prophet on the earth today who communicates with our Heavenly Father and who receives and passes on direction from God for us.  Under the direction of Jesus Christ, the prophet leads The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and speaks to both members of the church and the world.
      D&C 1:38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

     I believe in personal revelation.  That each of us has the right and the responsibility to seek confirmation of teachings and counsel. 

     Moroni 10: 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

     James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth; and it shall be given him.

     6 But let him ask in faith, nothing  wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

  I have received a personal witness of these truths.

  Sometimes we are given counsel and commandments that I do not  like or understand.  Things that left alone to my own reason, I would have thought, felt, and/or acted differently.  Often things that are not popular in the world and sometimes within the circle of people who mean the most to me.  Now what?  
   Do I follow the voice of the world and of reason or do I follow an all-wise, all-loving God and His chosen servants?  A God that I believe knows more than I do and more than anyone on earth.

    Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

    9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

      Regrettably, there have been times when I have wavered and halted between two opinions.   This is not the path to heaven and happiness.    
      I must be true to my beliefs and covenants.  I must stand for truth and righteousness. I pray for strength, guidance, and greater wisdom than is naturally mine.

After referencing a commercial for a popular sit-com in which they say that in the Thai culture the last morsel of food is given to the most honored and respected guest, Joseph offered me the last Thin Mint in his package. 

made for walkin'

I have been advised by my aunt and my daughter - each of whom are gifting me with amazing I-never-would-have-dared-dreamed-of trips this year both of which involve a LOT of time on your feet - of the importance of good comfortable footwear. 
   I generally get my clothes from thrift stores, but this can take time, talent, and luck and either an excellent fashion flare or a certain disregard for fashion.  (no need to guess which one I have)  I have not found footwear worthy of the challenge. Frankly, I don't have a lot of hunting time.  I wandered into actual shoe stores and looked around. More $$$ than useful inspiration.  I did a little on-line reading.  I took the plunge and ordered Keens from Amazon - the Newport Sandal.  A good bit pricey to someone like me who thinks twice about anything that approaches $20 let alone over 3 times that. 
    I think they will do nicely. 
    Until now, I have been wearing my hiking boots for biking.  Although old, they are comfortable and give good support, but my feet do get warm.  Once at work I would switch out to Mary Jane type Crocs which are  "pretty comfortable" and kind of cute.  I notice that towards the end of the day as my feet swell a little they are less comfortable and they really are not walk all day shoes. Lately I started wearing my Keens to work and, fashionista that I am, I stay in them all day.  Used to be that when I got home from work, I could hardly wait to take off the boots I had been wearing about an hour.  Not so with the Keens which by then I have been wearing 12 hours.
   They should do very nicely indeed.  Along with my Croc clogs (a thrift store find that inspired the purchase of the other Crocs - ok I actually found green Croc clogs at Deseret Industries which were so comfortable that I bought black ones new on-line and later the Mary Janes - fortunately Crocs can be relatively inexpensive) to switch off for a rest if I want.  The Crocs are very comfy, but not as sturdy and long wearing, I think (although not bad,) and they often squeak - not on the floor but they themselves squeak.  In some venues, this is not a problem, but in others...Well, I tried wearing them at work, but when you hear someone a couple cubes away say "here comes Barbara"  not so good. So you can imagine a museum, library or church.  The Mary Janes don't squeak, but like I said, they are not on-your-feet-all-day shoes.  Easy to kick off in the privacy of your cube, though, which the Keens are not.
   My advice is to invest as best you can in comfortable shoes especially if you are getting older like me or spend a lot of time on your feet.  As far as fashion, I think a happy smiling expression is worth more than "cute" shoes.  If you can manage really cute, really comfortable shoes, huzzah! and do tell.
   

Does your spirit sometimes flag?

     If it weren't for Teresa and Andrew I would seldom go to Relief Society activity night - whatever they call it now.  It used to be called Home Making Meeting, I believe, but I don't think it is any more.  Teresa not only reminded me at least once that it was tonight, she also paid for my craft.   Andrew, as usual, like David, volunteered to help.  This time, they didn't do child care - first time in a long time - but only did take down.
     I came home from work not feeling very ambitious - per usual.  Was trying to 1) figure out dinner and 2) talk myself into pulling weeds.   Andrew mentioned that he would be going to help at Relief Society.  Oh, yeah.  Relief Society.  sigh.  I guess should go.
     Not that I don't like Relief Society or any of the sisters or the activities.  Just tiredness - or laziness. 
     Andrew opted to ride his bike over later rather than drive in with me and wait around for his chance to serve. For one thing, he was doing a little research into Farrell's which will be opening up a new ice cream parlour not far from here soon and are beginning to hire.  Working there would be a great job for him.  He would be great for them.  I wonder if he would get an employee discount?  Zoo, anyone?
      oh, yeah, Relief Society. There was a class on Slow Yeast which I did not attend so I still don't know what slow yeast is.  A quilt set up to work on.  And the craft.  There was a useful lesson, too, but I arrived late and have no idea what I should have learned.  Our craft was a cute flag block.  Well, most of them were cute.  Mine is among the least of those.  Most of the sisters made multiple thin stripes.  I made 3 fat ones.  I don't know if there is any great meaning to it except that I just didn't feel like doing lots of lines.
        Sister Adair is amazing at coming up with cute or useful or fun - or multiples of the preceding - crafts that cost practically nothing.  The flag blocks were $1. 
      I had a pleasant time visiting with the other sisters at my work table.  Nothing earth shaking, just a nice chance to chat.
      When he arrived, Andrew asked me if I was glad I came.  My answer was not highly enthusiastic, but yes, I am.  It is good to connect a little with the other women.  Commiserate, laugh, relax together.   Sometimes that is enough.