The Progression of Twins

With the recent passing of my wife's mother there have been a lot of boxes and things that we are going through. I found some pictures of my wife and her twin sister. Many of them I have never seen before. They range from the beginning of their lives to just about the present time. Some of you know one or both of them and have on occasion wondered which one is which. As you can see from these pictures they are easy to tell apart. I don't have any trouble at all. I may get in trouble telling past secrets but as teenagers and in college if one had a date with some one and then somebody else asked for a date, sometimes one would get the other to "cover" for her so the poor beau would think he was out with one and he was out with the other. This didn't happen often, but it was known to happen. Sometimes in junior high and high school they would trade classes and one would take a test for the other. It is kind of fun to think of those sorts of hijinks. When I met my wife her sister was already married, had borne one child and was just weeks away from having the second. It was really easy to tell them apart then. We were married about 6 months after our first date; I remember it was December 12, 1978. Our wedding day was June 29, 1979. We are still at it. We take it one day at a time.

End of the Summer Flowers

It has been rainy and cool here the past couple of days. The peaks of the mountains had a dusting of snow this morning. The cooler weather seems to agree with these flowers in our garden. This colorful area is probably Summer's last hurrah with color. The tomatoes are going crazy, the peaches are ripe so fall is right around the corner. We get excited for the beautiful fall colors that are still about a month away or so but it is so hard to let go of the long days and late sunsets of summer.

Bear Lake in August

Here we are again up at beautiful Bear Lake. Joyce and I have been here since last Tuesday night. We have had a great time. When the sun is up and the clouds are few and far between the blue waters of Bear Lake are hard to beat. In the sunny photo you can see the vista from out of our condo.

Of course the weather can turn on you. Sunday, that was yesterday, we had a series of storms roll in and the one that hit at 4 o'clock PM looked like a hurricane. The wind was fierce, the rain was horizontal and the waves on the lake were as brutal as I have ever seen.

Of course when we are on the beach, going on the waverunners, visiting, reading and building sandcastles with the grandkids it is a lot of fun. The photo of my daughter and her husband with the grandkids and my great wife is typical of the scene on a sunny day. In a month this entire area will transform as the leaves change, the frost hits hard and it feels like winter is coming on the first day of autumn. The natives love it though, they like the quiet when the summer vacationers are gone.

What A Difference 30 Years Makes

I saw this and noticed the contrast right off the bat. If a person cannot see the difference in the message and how it relates to the most basic principles behind the formation of this country, well, maybe that person doesn't deserve to be free. And couple that with this article and you see the big elephant sitting in the corner of the room. News today indicates the economy of China just surpassed that of Japan. There are many reasons for that, demographics and all the things an aging population does to a country being at or near the top of the list.

Tell Me How This Is Good News

Kids will be kids, we know that but this post has to give parents great hope. If your child is in a "committed relationship" in high school, whatever that is at that age, it will not affect their grades as a general rule compared to high school kids who are not in a "committed relationship". Their academic achievement will not be different from those abstaining from intimate relations. Now I have had discussions on this topic with some people. One mother thought abstinence was idiotic and should not be taught or encouraged; birth control techniques were the answer. Well, whatever we do as long as we make sure they are "committed" to each other their GPA won't suffer.

Post Thought on Ground Zero

Anyone can say they have a religious belief. They can worship animate and inanimate things. I think most people in the United States would allow anyone their beliefs, as long as it didn't break the law. For instance, a man could say he worships the God of Lust and must have sex with girls under the age of 12. That just doesn't fly and no one would condone it. So there are limits to worship and freedom of religion. As I see it, the First Amendment is simple, the government will not institute a religion that is the state religion and everyone is required to believe in. That's how I see it. Government doesn't need to support religion, though I do agree with tax exempt status for Churches and their property.

No one has infringed upon members of Islam to worship, particularly in a secular sense,though most would agree that we do not support Fantatical Islam. In point of fact, it appears to me that we are backing away, bowing as we go, trying not to offend Islam. It would be easy for me to claim to be offended by things that have been said about my Church and done to some of its members. We were persecuted in Missouri. It took months to seat a senator from the state of Utah who was a member of the Church. I am a member of one of the smallest minority groups in this country. I am a white, male, Mormon. It doesn't get much smaller than that. My Church has tried to build sacred houses of worship in different parts of the country and, indeed, the world and many times has had to deal with complaints, protests and down right meanness.

At times there has been a need to reconsider and move the location of a Mormon Temple. I don't see how this is really terribly different than the Ground Zero Mosque. Go ahead and build it, but you do not need to build it there. You could build it 5 miles, or 10 miles from there and you could still do the same things you would be doing if it was built at Ground Zero. The only difference in using a different site is the Muslims would not be able to use the mosque as monument of Triumph over the evils of the United States. I don't for a minute think that the reason they want to build it where they want to build it is anything other than a monument of Triumph of the United States and the Western Civilizations.

The funny part is I know President Obama gets that and that is why he supports it. Every day I watch this man it solidifies and confirms in my mind even more that he is not culturally an American. Real Americans need to and will come alive from their sleep. Last night I watched on YouTube some old videos of Ezra Taft Benson. He was taken to the wood shed many times by some of his Brethren over his remarks about the United States, the Constitution and Communism. I think he would see Islam for what it is. It is a political ideology and if that ideology pushes for Sharia law, then it is incompatible with our Constitution and with a democratic republic.

UPDATE: I found this post by the fascinating Victor Davis Hanson to be an example of the disparate opinions on this issue. A Jew is defending the Mosque and a Gentile is against it.

President Obama and Ground Zero

The President stated his position on the Ground Zero Mosque. I don't need to say much but one can get my point of view reading this post.

SMALL UPDATE: I know this is America, the United States of America and I know all about freedom of religion and will defend it forever. I wonder what the difference is between the arguments against the Ground Zero Mosque and some people being opposed to an LDS Temple being built in their neighborhood. There are times the LDS Church has decided to move a Temple Site from one location to another. The latest I can think of is in Tegucigalpa, Honduras but Denver CO comes to mind as well as other.

I Wrote My Mother In Law's Obituary

JOYCE FORNOFF WESTON
Saturday evening, August 7, 2010, Joyce Fornoff Weston finished her wonderful journey in beautiful Cache Valley where she lived her entire life. She was born on July 8, 1927 in Ogden, UT to Harold Leonard Fornoff and Ruth Pingree Fornoff. Living her youth in Logan she fell in love with Todd G. Weston. They married October 16, 1946. Their marriage was solemnized in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. Their love and devotion brought to Earth five wonderful children. Grandma Joyce’s life could be described as a life with a fierce loyalty and deep and everlasting love for her husband. She supported him in his business ventures and his political endeavors locally and statewide. She took care of him as he took care of her. Joyce and Todd loved their children and were pleased with their accomplishments and deeply and emotionally involved in the trials that came from time to time. Joyce is known throughout Cache Valley for her love of music and her incredible talent playing the piano—she mastered it. She taught hundreds of students including students from Utah State University while she was associated there with the Music Department. Many times she expressed her desire to play for anyone at any time. Joyce served faithfully in all she was called to do, serving in particular for many years in the Relief Society including a time as President. She accompanied the ward choir for what seemed like decades.

Joyce Weston is one of those people who make you feel like your life is better just by knowing her. Her smile and laughter were contagious. When one thinks back on her life she can truthfully be described with these words; loving, without guile, innocent, desirous to do good, unwilling to do wrong, giving but also appreciative to receive, thrifty and as she would say sometimes Scotch. She could not stand to throw away anything especially wrapping paper on her presents. Grandma was always happy to see us. Gathering her family at Christmas seemed to be her favorite time during the year and she could make it seem to last until Valentine’s Day. When you went to Grandma’s house you could never eat enough. She always wanted to give more. This was symbolic of her life as she served and lifted many people for many years. Her tired and worn body finally gave up, but her tremendous Spirit and incredible love will never fatigue in the hearts and minds of her family and all those who knew her.

Grandma Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Todd G. Weston, her parents and her little baby sister Carol who was born on Christmas Eve and died at the age of four. She leaves her children and their spouses, Bart and Judy Weston, Randy and Debi Weston, Joyce and Greg Oman, Julie and Jim Ridd and Sam and Judy Weston. Joyce and Todd enjoyed 18 grandchildren from these unions. These grandchildren have given Joyce 24 great -grandchildren with at least 4 more coming in the near future. Joyce is survived by her brother Louis Fornoff and his wife Shirley. The family is grateful for all those who have cared for Grandma Joyce these past 3 years, especially the staff at Legacy House in Logan. We will remember Joyce with a Viewing Tuesday August 10, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center in Logan, UT. Funeral Services are planned for Noon on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at the River Heights Stake Center, 800 South 600 East, River Heights, UT with a viewing prior to the funeral from 10:00 to 11:30. Interment will be in the Providence Cemetery.

What Should I Have Done?

I have always said that if you hang around long enough you will see about everything. One of my favorite pastimes is watching people. The assumption is granted that there are people watching me from time to time. Today I was eating lunch at a sandwich emporium and a couple came in; a rather attractive young lady and a young man. They wore matching shirts that declared their occupation--a lawn service. After a while the young woman retired to the rest room. Coming out what did I observe but a small length of toilet tissue dangling down her back. What should I do in this case ladies? Should I have pointed it out? I had just a second or two to make the decision. I demurred. Fortunately she moved her shirt around a little bit and it almost covered the tissue totally, thereby eliminating the possibility of tissue embarrassment. I could have reach out and grabbed it off of her quite easily and she may not have noticed, but what if there was something still on it? It was a conundrum, something my slowing mind could not solve.

UPDATE: After thinking about it for a while, I should have gently called her over to ask about her yard service and then quietly pointed out her situation.

A Granddaughter Is On the Way

We received word yesterday that our daughter is expecting a daughter--that is if the ultrasound is correct. Sometimes the stem on the apple gets bent and you can't see it. Nevertheless, we are expecting a girl. My daughter is happy, her husband is happy (about 17 years from now that may change), grandma is happy and I'm happy. Now this is the funny part, it was not less than 2 hours after hearing the news and my sweet wife just had to stop at Nordstrom Rack. How do I know this? Well, she said to me, "Do you want to see something cute?" Taking the bait I said, "Sure." She brought out some outfits she picked up, some shoes, socks; I think you get the picture. I told her if she starts buying this stuff now our daughter will not have any room for it in her house. The baby is due in about 20 weeks but I know this due date stuff is not an exact science, it just gets you in the ball park. I assume at least 20 more visits to different emporiums in order to get this young lass on the way to an adequate wardrobe for the typical female inhabitant of Gaia. They are cute though with frills, ruffles and bows.

Bad Boy Friend

I got a call from a lady who was referred to my office from a women's shelter that we do some pro bono dentistry for from time to time. She showed up with this tooth. She said her boyfriend hit her in the mouth about 10 PM the night before. She called EMS and they showed up with the police. He is in jail. Well, this tooth is history. We extracted it and we'll get a tooth in there in a few days when all the gum tissue heals up. I asked her if the guy was worth it and she said she didn't think so now. I remember in elementary school we learned that boys don't hit girls. I guess some guys never learned that lesson. The book The War Against Boys should be required reading for those who are trying to figure out why the boys are not growing up to be men anymore.

Bear Lake

For years we have been going to Bear Lake a few times each Summer. This past weekend we were there with friends and had a great time. The weather was great. The water was great. We enjoyed a wonderful evening at the Pickleville Playhouse. Andrea the proprietor grew up in my wife's neighborhood. Some of the cast members were children of friends. It was hilarious. After the comic melodrama, we had to eat at LeBeau's in Garden City. Getting back to the condo at Ideal Beach we watched a show that was so bad it was good. The Villain with Kirk Douglas, Ann-Margret and Arnold the Governator. It was a spoof on western movies and I was surprised how funny it was. It may not be your cup of tea, but I thought it was worth one look see.

Swimming with Grand kids

This is the sort of thing that makes life worth while. Two grandsons ganging up on Grandpa in the swimming pool. They are a lot of fun. The little guy with the green vest is Elijah--he has no fear of the water. Weston is more subdued and careful. Ah, Summer!

Book of the Week

Have you ever thought of what it would be like to sit down and talk to someone about what is going on out there? This person would have to be fairly sharp, even tempered and lay out his case point by point in a non emotional way. This is what you are going to get with this book. Andrew McCarthy does a yeoman's work here; he really makes it easy to see what is going on in the US and the rest of the world. I started my odyssey in trying to figure what the geopolitical climate is with America Alone by Mark Steyn. That was about 4 years ago this fall. This one here is worth your time and is a vital piece in the puzzle. Read it.