Just for Keith

A while ago I posted about the couple of movies we saw over the break.  Well, my dear friend--from way back, and frankly the best friend I have left from my hometown--emailed that I missed a great movie.  "Where," he asked, "was Mission Impossible?"  I told him I hadn't seen it yet, but that it was on my list.

Well, I saw it today.  Genius Golfer and I took The Boy to see the early show while The Girl was at a swim meet in Ogden today. 

Talk about a ride!!  This was non-stop from the get-go.  Light the fuse...and buckle your seat belt.  Whoa.

When the star escapes from a Russian hospital after surviving a bombing that blows up the Kremlin right off the bat, that is the beginning of a terrific popcorn-movie ride!

Then, let Agent Ethan Hunt dangle a hundred or more floors up, on the outside of the most shi-shi-poo-poo hotel in Dubai--which, by the way, made me a bit light headed--while under an impossible deadline.

And throw in a little undercover seduction of a flamboyant Indian business man with the needed satellite codes by a Lady-agent who can kick butt, even in a gorgeous dress...

so the ultra-cool team can get the bad guys in the end....

And you have got yourself a great, cold-weather, got-the-time-cause-its-the-weekend, testosterone-filled, family-bonding, how-much-popcorn-did-I-eat?, exciting kind of movie.

So, Keith.  Thanks for the recommendation.  And here is a post full of pictures for you, since you remind me just a little of Ethan Hunt. (It might be the teeth.)  But remember, you will be disavowed if you or your team is recognized or identified.  Love ya, man.

Oh. One last thing: This message will self--destruct in 5 seconds.

Friday, At Last

This was a busy week, and I am happy it is finally Friday.  But the oddest point of the week is that my calendar is completely clear for the day today.  No that there isn't anything for me to do, mind you.  But nothing I have to do!

It takes me about a week to get back into the regular routine after a school break.  Housework is caught up, and sleeping patterns have been reestablished.  Just in time to gear up for a new week on Monday!

Road Rules

Last night I showed up to the neighboring pool where The Girl and her high school swim team practices for a Parents' meeting about the last month or so of  their (a realllllly long) season.  The regional championship meet is the end of this month.  The semester changes on the 17th.  That adds some trouble to practicing when you no longer have a class.  But I digress....

I showed up straight from another meeting--that one for Young Women--so The Girl had driven herself over.  As I parked and got out of the car, she drove past me with with her friend and teammate (Miss M) riding shotgun.

I shouldn't otherwise be upset about this, as The Girl was helping our Miss M's parents--who were running behind from another city to make it to the parents' meeting as well--and picking her up and giving her a ride is a nice, charitable thing to do.

But it was not legal!

She has only had her license since August 1st.  By the state's graduated licensing law, as I understand it, she is not allowed to drive anyone except family until she has had her license for six months.  For her then, that means, not until Feb 1st.  She is one month off.

Frankly I have rather liked that she can take The Boy around wherever he needs to go, or he can go with her when she wants to go some place.  And I think it is wise to keep a car load of friends out until she has a little more experience under her belt.  I can see the advantage of this kind of thinking.

We had a little run in with this before, just after school began when The Girl drive a carload of swim team members to the trail head for a dry-land practice hike.  We talked to her then and she promised she would be better about obeying the law.

I'd be happier if she would just obey us.

Another friend, who doesn't have her license yet--but her older sister does and has driven friends around for a while--continues to tell The Girl that the "real law" says you can drive friends if it is for school or church.  But our family law says "NO" to anyone but family for six months.  That defiance from her friend(s) bothers me as I see it as disrespect for my job as her parent.

Maybe I am just too high-strung about this.  After all, I got my license on my 16th birthday and drove friends to the movies that night.  A whole car load of friends.  On the freeway.  In a fast (but ugly) car.  We all survived. 

But I wasn't the mom in that case.   And that makes all the difference.

Out of the Blue

Today was one of those days you don't see coming.  Well, the morning at least.  It isn't quite one o'clock yet but the day has filled in really well already.

I got up this morning and felt like I should go to the temple.  Normally I go once a week with a friend and I hadn't even asked her what her schedule was like yet for a planned trip together to the temple.  But feeling like I should go, I just got ready, got the kids off to school, and went.  And I'm glad I did.

I didn't go with a pressing concern or worry.  I didn't even have a special blessing I was seeking.  I just felt that I should go, and I did.  Occasionally you do get immediate bonus points for being obedient to those kind of promptings.  Today was filled with bonus points.

"Tender mercies", as Nephi the Book of Mormon prophet explains them, sort of encapsulate what I felt today.  Just reaffirmations that I am loved, that I matter, that the Lord is aware of me and is watching out for me, and that things will all turn out OK.

With Genius Golfer's plan to work for himself, I have felt an increasing anxiety about finances lately.  Some of it is the new year and the resolutions that typify the season.  But some of it is my own need for security.  One of the things I felt strongly is that financially things will work out fine, so long as I get out of GG's way and let him do his work.  That was a very welcome prompting.

Another came with the idea that I am doing what God wants me to be doing.  Sometimes I get caught up in the day to day goings on with both PTA and my Young Women calling, and today I felt that both of those, along with my work at home--for my own family--was fine.  I am doing what I need to be doing.

I wish I was more perfectly in spiritual tune often enough to feel that more regularly, but I am very grateful to feel that once in a while, at least.  Sort of like a spiritual progress report.  I need to recognize that more often to keep my head in the game, so to speak.

So, today I am especially thankful to feel the Spirit in my life, to recognize God's love and to feel some sense of approval from my Heavenly Father.  All of that, given to me out of the blue this morning.

ED: Just got this quote (Thanks, Al Fox!) and it completely fits why I write thing like this post. 
"Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually sensitive information should be kept in a sacred place the communicates to the Lord how you treasure it. That practice enhances the likelihood of your receiving further light."--Richard G. Scott

Politics As Usual?

Today I have been listening to the news coverage from Iowa, because that is what is on the morning radio.  For the past several months I have avoided watching the GOP presidential debates.  And I can honestly tell you I am more than a little bummed that we have to hear about this kind of stinky mess for another ten months before the country actually gets to vote for president.

While I don't want to slam anyone specifically here--as that is something that turns my nose in years like this--I will say how disappointed I am in so many of the GOP candidates.  And here is why:

How can you ten or twelve folks tear each other to shreds in debates, attack ads, and news interviews and in less than six months jockey for positions to share a ticket with the party's nominee like nothing has happened?  How can you--for example this morning--Mr. former Speaker of the House call the former Massachusetts governor a liar and immediately turn around and tell the interviewer that you would support him if he becomes your party's candidate?!  Really?!  Is that how you do things?  You'd probably want your name on the ticket with his if he is selected to run.  Right?

If someone called me a liar, I'd be pretty put out and not likely to choose to hang out with someone like that.  Maybe if you're a career politician words like "liar" mean something else to you.  It doesn't seem logical to me that based on the outcomes of the new few months' worth of primaries and caucuses a nominee will emerge and all that schmack talk will be forgotten.

And why would I (were I ever to the party's nominee) select a running mate that has thrown those kind of attacked at me throughout the duration of the campaign?  I don't get it.  I suppose this is another point to prove I will never be an elected official.  Ever.  Anywhere.  Not a chance. Thankyouverymuch.

I'm off to see that I have a stash of Tylenol to last until November.  Good luck, America.  We're going to need it.

Let's Roll!

Today is the last day of our Christmas break from school.  Frankly I am ready.

I am ready to get back on schedule...getting up on time, going to bed, eating dinner together, etc.  Vacations give me no schedule and, while it is fun for a while, my life works better with a plan.

So, welcome to 2012.  Let's get going!

Video Sunday--Happy New Year!