I'm a Cheater

I'm reading Middlemarch by George Eliot. Middlemarch is supposed to be one of the greatest books of English Literature, and the prototype example of the Victorian novel. However, it is extremely long (over 800 pages) and very slow moving. This is a self-inflicted act of martyrdom that has its root going back over 20 years when I was an exchange student at Coffs Harbour (Jetty) High School in Australia, and decided that it was time for me to become a culturally literate person. I made myself a list of novels, authors, and poets, that I felt I needed to read in order to become an intellectual and embarked on a life quest of reading classic literature. I finished my initial reading list within a matter of months, but have continued the practice throughout my lifetime.

This quest led me to major in English in college, and has brought me to the likes of Milton, Dante, Austen, Hugo, etc. Through it all there have always been classics that I didn't enjoy, like Beowolf, and the crazy bizarre French lit (Bartes, Zola, etc.) in my theory classes. On the other hand, my quest has also led me to many that I have loved again and again such as Austen, Hugo, Dumas, Frost, Cather, and more. Middlemarch is going to land I think on the leave-it side of take-it-or-leave-it, yet I am compelled by the terms of my quest to finish it.

Here's the thing-- I am completely swamped in Middlemarch. I started reading it months ago, and I am only about 200 pages from the end, but I can't bring myself to pick it up. So I have been sneaking around reading other stuff like magazine articles, holiday catalogs, and of course the Internet. I cruise around Barnes and Noble fantasizing about what I will read next. Or at least I was doing that until it happened--I started another book (a big one)-- The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett. I've been keeping it in my purse. That way I force myself to only read it on my lunch break or if I get stuck waiting somewhere. This keeps me honest about reading Middlemarch at home right?

Then, I bought another book that captured my eye, Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks. I love books about sensory perception and the brain and Sacks always has lots of fascinating cases in his books. I dutifully left the book on my pile, and kept slogging through Middlemarch, until I said to myself, "Oh, I can read one chapter, and then get back to Middlemarch, and it won't really be like I started another book, because it's just one chapter!" Haven't touched Middlemarch in about a week since I opened that book (except to move it to vacuum the floor in my bedroom).

So I'm a book cheater. I'm having an affair on my novel, with another novel and a sort-of-medical book. If I don't get back to Middlemarch soon, I will have to re-read to get caught up with where I am in the book. I think I may need serious help.

The Truth About Football

This post is in honor of the big Utah vs. BYU game on Saturday. This game is the source of much anxiety and holding of breath in my household right now. A couple of years ago Marty bought season tickets for him and Joe, and this season, took the opportunity to buy a third spot for Caroline. They are planning to tailgate with friends before the game and will be watching from the 35 yard line (Northeast bleachers, third row). Joseph told me that there is nothing that will keep him from going to that game.

Most people probably think of football players and think of their many more noticeable qualities such as size, strength, and toughness.




However, being married to a former grid-iron guy, and now being a football mom, I have found that there are other characteristics of football players (and the game they play) worthy of recognition. So enjoy this little photo essay uncovering the real truth about football, the players, and their coaches.

Sometimes the players need a little help with their equipment...


...and there is usually someone around to help them out.







Sometimes the team gets a little worked up before the game.

...but they have to listen very carefully to the coach.

Occasionally someone important will come scout warmups to check out the talent...

Players can develop close friendships that sometimes result in hanging out off the field (aka playdates).

Photo credit: Julie Shipman

Some football players play with babies on the sidelines of their little brothers' games.

Sometimes games can get very intense, you can see it on the coach's face...

...And the players can get pretty serious about the game.

But a good team knows how to break the tension at halftime...

Sometimes they take a moment at halftime to catch up with their admiring fans.

Football players helmets get banged up during the season, but the players view each scrape as a mark of honor.

Occasionally the game takes on an epic feel.

When the team wins, everyone celebrates the team's victory.

Photo credit: Julie Shipman

In the end, the coach directs the grid-iron giants off the field...

Photo credit: Julie Shipman

...where the real purpose of football is revealed...

Photo credit: Julie Shipman

The team treats (at least until cheerleaders enter the picture).

After the game everyone is tuckered...

And so the footballers and fans alike rejuvenate with a long nap...

I hope you made it all the way through my first photojournalism attempt (photojournalist is my secret dream job). And in honor of the football guys in my life GO UTES!!!

A Brand New Year

A Celebration for Youth

Last night I attended the taping of a DVD called "A Brand New Year" which was specifically for the Young Men and Young Women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a fun evening, and we enjoyed ourselves. The message was really great and focused on the great things that the youth throughout the Church have done throughout 2008. It is going to be showed throughout the Church as a New Year's event (possibly on New Year's Eve). The program asks youth to make personal commitments during 2009 to make a specific effort to keep the standards listed in For the Strength of Youth. 

Young Women's President Elaine Dalton and Young Men's President Charles Dahlquist challenge the youth to do three things in 2009:

-Pray day and night
-Read the Book of Mormon at least 5 minutes each day
-Smile and be happy

I was amazed at the production quality of the event, and the talented people who are involved. The youth performed both in singing and dancing as well as playing in the orchestra. It was kind of like experiencing, "High School Seminary Musical." The songs were really great, and even the prelude music had a little bit of a swing to it. 

If you are working with youth, or have children in the YM/YW program, I would encourage you to have them attend an event where this DVD is shown, or to plan to show it at home on New Year's Eve.  I am thinking of showing it to my kids as well, even though they are only 7 and 10, because this would be very aspirational for them as they are into watching shows that feature teens (which we limit).   We'll be traveling on New Year's Eve but I think we can maybe work this in.  I think it will be interesting to see how the DVD turns out in comparison to our experience attending the event.  If you want to learn more about the DVD, go to www.lds.org.

I was sitting there thinking that we had nothing like that when I was at that age. When we had firesides, they were basically just like a mini general conference meeting for youth in the Tabernacle.  We were lucky to sing a stirring version of an old standby hymn (which I love don't get me wrong).  We had the corny Seminary filmstrips (Remember, "I'm free to choose, to win or lose, no matter who, comes and tries to turn my head around----"), and there were a few LDS musical artists, but I got the feeling that the Church really didn't want us listening to those (mostly they were really cheesy anyway). But the music industry has really come a long way in working with LDS Artists in the past 20 years, and there is really some good and fun music out there now. 

Do you have any favorite LDS Musicians? Here are a few that I really like:

Mindy Gledhill

Jenny Oaks Baker

Michael Dowdle

Dean Kaelin  

(Incidentally, Bro. Kaelin was actually a seminary teacher at East when I was there, and he is amazingly talented as a musician. He was not MY seminary teacher, but I used to attend his class from time to time with friends.   I will always remember his musical devotionals when he would play blindfolded, with mittens on, backwards, with his back turned to the piano, even with his feet I believe. He is probably best known as a voice coach to American Idol star David Archuleta.  I would not be suprised to learn that Bro. Kaelin was involved in the production of this DVD.)

Happy Friday dear readers.  And by the way GO UTES!!!!