JBJ

My mother called me this morning and informed that she wished she could have attended the Bon Jovi concert in Salt Lake on Wednesday night.  She then backed up and said, "I wouldn't want to buy the tickets, but I know I would've enjoyed the concert."  I knew about my mom's love for JBJ but still a tiny bit surprised whenever Bon Jovi comes up.  She then asked me about that one song, "you give love...you give love...."  I completed the title and her voice picked up just a little after she repeated the title of the song. I have to think "You give love a bad name," is now in mother's head right now and she's enjoying it.

James Bond? Really?

As you probably know, Brigham Young University has a honor code.  Well, the sign below has been used by the University to enforce the honor code...Except, I'm not sure if whoever made up these signs really thought the idea of using Mr. Bond as a role model for the honor code.  The original sign is on the left.

Quote of the Day

From an Interview with Margaret Blair Young on "A Motley Vision":

"I believe in dealing with hard issues.  If we don’t learn to deal with them, we will almost certainly lack empathy when others are hitting them.  We need to train our minds and magnify our faith as our children grow in this internet age.  They will come to us with questions to bridge what they learn in Sunday school and what they read online.  Our answers will need to reflect our knowledge and the example of who we are in this age and place of Mormonism; what we cling to as our essential and inviolate morality.  This is a dynamic religion.  We may still stand in holy places, even while acknowledging that many in the past became detached from their “better angels.”"

http://www.motleyvision.org/2013/questions-for-margaret-blair-young/

Margaret Blair Young has been someone I've looked up to for the past couple of years.  She's a published author, BYU Professor, President at AML, very involved with the African (and American) Mormon Community.  

Upstairs, Downton

A few days ago my mom asked me whether or not I had seen the season finale of Downton Abbey.  I hadn't and so the next sentence out of her mouth....wasn't words.  I take that back. There might have been an "oh my" somewhere in that sentence of oh...............wow................oh.............my..........ah...oh..

So yesterday I caught up with Downton Abbey.  I was two episodes shy from the end of the show.  I don't consider Downton much more than a historical soap, but the show is fun and it's amazing to see how it's become a pop cultural icon here in the US, so I watch the show.  That and avoiding conversations like the one above with my mother.

Anyway, my thoughts about Downton Abbey without giving any plot spoilers away can pretty much be summarized by the cartoon below that's been circulating on the internet the past couple of weeks:

Catch-up

Ah, so where have I been?  Pretty much just trying to breathe.  I had sinus surgery on January 7th.Turns out I have a deviated septum and a couple of other problems.  I also have no right upper sinus cavity (congenital birth defect) and my lower sinus cavities were formed upside down (mine look like triangles, they should look funnels)  The two birth defects can't be fixed, but the surgeon went in and fixed the septum and took care of the stuff that could be fixed which already has made a bit of a difference.

Luckily my dad came out for a week to help out.  He did and we (of course) watched a lot of World War II era movies and mini-series.  We both agree that Ali McGraw is maybe the worst actress ever (Winds of War) and that Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle is pretty great.  We also spent some time in DC on his last day here touring the Smithsonian Museums. We tagged along on a tour of the "star" section of the air and space museum which we both enjoyed.
Anyway back to me.  I've been healing alright but it took a couple of weeks to settle my stomach and I got another sinus infection and bronchitis.  I'm now just trying to heal naturally from the bronchitis and sinus infection because both the ENT, pulmonologist and me agrees that I should try to heal naturally from the infections first before I go back on antibiotics. I've also been told the sinus surgery is healing just nicely, which is great.  

So next week I'm going back to the Yucatan for a week long vacation.  I'm going with Kelli and Abby.  Kelli is healing from a herniated disc and is literally learning how to walk again in PT.  That has been fun for her.  Abby was feeling horrible that she fractured her heel last week.  However, she fits right in with the two of us. Anyway, the trip should still be pretty great.  

Hope Springs: A Mini Review

Last week I sat down to watch Hope Springs with Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep.  I went into the film knowing I wasn't the target demographic for the movie, except for my life-long love of both actors.  The film is about an older couple whose relationship isn't doing well and they go see a therapist (played by Steve Carell).  Well, the script of the film was mediocre, the title of the film lazy, the cinematography was okay, Tommy Lee was solid, and Steve Carell played the part he always plays when he isn't in Anchorman.  But Meryl?  Meryl was amazing as always.  She's in-arguably (really, I think Daniel Day Lewis would agree) the best actor alive and she elevated the role of the frustrated housewife.  But as far as watching it?  If you are a Meryl Streep fan, then yes, go watch this film.

Hope Springs

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