Day 35

I woke up at 5 A.M. in a cold sweat from a hideous dream. Doug was dating one of my good friends and planning to build a beautiful new home for them to live in.

We will discuss dream analysis later.

I got up and worked on my writing assignment. I researched infant development and Asperger's Syndrome. I learned some pretty interesting stuff. Like the 'test' to know if your infant is an Aspie. According to a couple of docs in Florida, if you tilt an aspie baby at a 45 degree angle he will attempt to keep his head in alignment with his bod. Not so a nuero-typical child.

wo.

Who knew?

Some people have entirely too much time on their hands. However, it is intriguing to better understand how to diagnose these children early. Not that it would have helped us any with Douggie Junior. His mom, (ie, me), was too overwhelmed by life to pursue much more than cooking, cleaning and sleeping.

About the television deficit:
There was a Tsunami in Samoa and Tonga. I saw a shpeel on an Internet feed. I'm so sad for all the families that lost loved ones. Among them one of my good friends I fear. If I had television, I would be in the kitchen puttering right now as the news of all the devastation is blasting through the house. Depressing. It would likely wake up the boys and the day would begin earlier than it otherwise is.

Thanks to the Internet, my head is only partially buried in the sand.

I'm reading "The Little Lame Prince" to the boys. It was one of my favs. I always wanted to grow up in a tower in the middle of nowhere with a magic carpet to ride on when I needed to get out and see the world.

That would explain my tvlessness now, wouldn't it?

Day 34 of Life Without Cable

I read outloud to myself. I'm an audio learner. Maybe that is part of my tv addiction. I like verbidge. I don't know if that is a word or not. But that Tom Hanks movie where he is stranded on a desert island and there is no talking for about an hour really bugs me.

One of our teachers had us take a quiz on what kind of learners we are and then divided us up into four groups and do skits describing how we learn. We had two of the students ask directions to three of the others who told them the direction using visual or kinsthetic learning methods. Then they got to me and I used the verbal method of discribing with words only.

We were rather entertaining. I guess you had to be there.

I found a piano teacher for my boys today. Finally. They are in the basement arguing with each other. Doug Junior's voice is getting deeper all the time. Sometimes it really freaks me out. He is only 12 for heavens sake. I'm so dreading the teen years. I think Sandra is right, perhaps it was inspiration from heaven to lose the television and go to Grad school. The things I am learning will only help with parenting. It isn't that much more expensive than family therapy, psychoanalysis for me and a bunch of medication for all of us.

What is the point of being married to a doctor when he won't get me free drugs?

I know. That really isn't funny. If you know my family background, you know why. If you don't...you didn't live in Delta Utah in the seventies. My mother's perscription drug addiction was the talk of the town.

I miss her. It must have been aweful to be as intelligent as she was in a time in the history of the world and within the culture of Utah. I honestly don't blame her much. Besides, she overcame it. I'm so proud of her. Good job Mom!!!

Do you think angels read blogs? Ooo. Maybe there is a huge computer screen in the sky, (at least at Mom's house in heaven), where if one of her kids is blogging, the words shoot across the screen. I'm not worried. She isn't embarrassed. She is likely sitting down to hot chocolate with Abraham Lincoln and Vincent Van Gogh and discussing the challenges of earth life with Bi-Polar Depression.

Either that or she is teaching the discussions to Farrah, Michael and Billy Mays.

Still Living...

Okay. I confess. I watched a commercial. My cousin sent it to me via facebook. I couldn't resist. It was for a chia bust of Obama.

I also started back to grad school yesterday. It was only slightly overwhelming. I played on the web sites for the different text books. That was almost as much fun as playing computer games.

First Day Back at Grad School

But it isn't "back". I'm starting over again. Man, is it difficult being the new kid on the block. Not the mention the fact that yesterday I turned half of ninety. Wow. If I live to my 90th birthday, I'll look back on this one and think how young I was!!! Me, Brook Shields and Whatzername the Governor of Alaska. See! I'm losing my memory already!!!

Doug took the boys to Yellowstone on Saturday. It was wonderful. I had the house to myself and puttered and cleaned and napped and missed them like crazy!!

Have you noticed I use lots of exclamation points?

I read somewhere that it diminishes the message in what you are writing and you should only use an exclamation point when you have something very important to say that should be exlaimed. Hey. I can't help it if I have profound thoughts that deserve exclamation! or two!! or more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are right.
I'll stop.

I am so nervous about this. I hate being new.

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

I'm laying in bed waiting for Doug and the kids to bring me breakfast. It is a family tradition I appreciate more on my birthday than the 8 others in our family. 'Cept of course, it is fun to make it for them. Set up the breakfast-in-bed tray that we have used over the years and make it pretty with cloth napkins, rose in vase, and the food of their choice asthetically placed. I love that we make a big deal out of birthdays.

Besides that, I'm really hungry.

and...It's My Birfday!!!

I love to say that. I don't like getting older. But the alternative is death, so I'll quit complaining.

The reaction of my facebook friends to the announcement of my tvlessness has been interesting. One said she keeps the television on in the background just for the company and seemed slightly insulted that I would deem it a virtue to go without.

Another told me she hasn't watched television for years and feels a little left out when friends talk about the latest shows, but whole heartedly supported me in my pursuit of excellence.

Day 31 Professor Christian

Doug took Joey and Christian to a symposium at which he was giving a lecture. It was for the community and the boys had a great time. 8-year-old Christian wanted to get up and give a speech. I told him he would have to practice for the next opportunity. Where DOES he get his spotlight cravings?

giggle

The next thing I knew, he had taken the cushions off the couch, piled them on top of each other to make a lecturn, and set up all of his stuffed animals in a row so he could practice on them.

Of course, this was following the 2 straight hours of Brady Bunch he watched. (I bought theDVD). Hey, I know that family was completely unrealistic but it is better than Roseann for little boys. Why not teach idealism?

Day 30 without Television...

Don't worry. There is not a stimulation deficit at my house. Christian is pounding - I mean playing - the piano. He has decided to start a talent show at his new elementary school so he can demonstrate his proficiency at chopsticks.

All three boys decided to skateboard down the hill and meet me as I was returning from Costco. Believe me, this would not have happened had Sponge Bob been at their beck and call.

We only have one chapter left of The Outsiders. We all know how it ends, but we can't help but be eager for Ponyboy to begin writing and complete the circle in our under-stimulated imaginations.

Drew is playing in the basement with the electric keyboard. He has discovered Pacobel's Cannon in D. I know I didn't spell Pacobel correctly. I can't help but sound it out in my mind so it rhymes with Taco Bell.

I'm glad they are playing music instead of listening to it. I've had it with Michael Jackson and even the Beatles. Why can't they be more like their sisters and have a sincere appreciation for Scripture scouts and all things Janice Kapp Perry?

I will never understand little boys. I guess that is a good thing. It would likely be more traumatic for our archaically traditional family to have boys that actually liked hearts, flowers and froo-froo primary music.

They LOVE the irreverent versions.

We need to work on their Duty to God awards.

I bought four new books on CD today. I will let you know how they are. I start classes on Monday.

Oh stop. I'll still blog.

Oh c'mon.

Like it will be a lot of work or something. It is only graduate school. I can handle it. I may have to give up a chick flick or two. Or three.

Remind me I said that.

No pressure.

Ghosts of children gone to college
haunt the halls in my abode
Eager lasses seeking knowledge
slow to kiss the waiting toad
Ghosts of grandkids yet to happen
flutter past on angel wings
In my beds they could be nappin'
in my kitching baking things
But my home is bare and lonely
only walls of photos stay
and they mock me for they're only
images of yesterday
I refuse to be submitted
to the hauntings of the past
to the present I'm committed
and my now is fading fast
I will go to graduate school
and so become who I will be
will fluttering wings think me a fool
to leave behind the youngest three?
Angels know their grandma's heart
they are wiser than I am
I must learn the balance art
twixt school and Spencer, Drew and Sam
So I'll juggle and I'll grow
prioritizing as I do
As I study I will know
parenting as scholars do
There will not be homemade breadand
I may have to hire out
But the boys will all be fed
and each will be an eagle scout
When my nest is really empty
I will have a role to fill
cruel self pity will not tempt me
and I'll be a mother still
Is my quest for education
part of an eternal plan?
Is the scope of my creation
filled by doing what I can
to serve and comfort those in need
who haven't been as blessed as me?
Fellow men who I must feed
and doing so bless my family

Understanding Whoopee Cushions and Building Rainbows

I filled my latest hand-written journal yesterday. It was hard to say good-bye to those pages. Within them was the program from Ben's funeral. Finishing the journal made my time with him that much further away. Lori said every day is one day closer to being with him again. I don't have that kind of faith. I'm very stuck in earthly thought.

Like applying to grad school. Here is my personal statement...http://www.wallawalla.edu/form/view/7adcf8d2879f94f36efa48ff3b476df0

Like whoopee cushions. Why are little boys so obsessed with their own bodily functions? I know the answer to that question. I read it once in a psych text book. Or heard it at a parenting conference. It has to do with their fear of inability to control themselves. Kind of the "if you can't beat 'em, join em" mentality.

Okay.

Saturday I took six boys to pizza, laser tag and race cars. We were celebrating Joey's birthday. nine and ten-year-old boys are not quite 58 inches high. How do I know? Well, I'll tell you: At the party, we realized a few of the boys were too short to ride on the go carts. I pulled out my trusty travel sized hair spray, (yes I was raised in Utah...home of froofy hair) and brushed their hair, (which is rather long - as is the style nowadays), and sprayed it so it stood straight up!

They still weren't tall enough. But they looked adorable.

I'm very behind in knowing what is going on in the world. Today at Geyser Park there was a TV on the CNN channel. It had no volume but two rows of stories written on the screen. I sat there and read the news and got depressed.

I'm learning things about myself as I go without television. One of the reasons I knew going without it would be good for me and that the loss of information and the current culture was worth being missed was that I was never much of a news watcher anyhoo. More than that, I knew that my boys have much less control over themselves and the television choices they make than Doug and I do. But I admit, for every BYU TV talk or serious news piece I watched was a sit com. I loved the Biography channel. I will have it again. When my boys are older.

I do NOT miss the countless hours of advertising.

Doug took the boys to a film festival last night. He came home eager to share with me one of the shows which was a parody on the cycle of consumerism perpetuated by television. I just realized that I have a two year break between having kids in seminary. What a perfect time to go to a two year graduate program!!!!! I can do it!

The intellectual spirit is so willing - but my dang weak flesh. I need to talk myself into victory!

Go me!

You can do it!

What a perfect time, too!

No calling in church yet - why not prepare to serve? No need to stress about the time it will take from kids. They are all in school! Classes are only one day a week. What if I thought of earning an MSW as a calling? Not a self - serving thing - but a way to prepare to serve more and better. If I think of doing it for others, rather than myself, I will feel better about it.

There are things I must give up. I will have to spend my reading time listening to books on CD while I clean. I cannot NOT clean. I want to stay married for heaven's sake...literally!

My reading will have to be textbooks - not novels. I will NOT allow myself to let go of reading to my boys. I love that time we spend together. As we were driving to Joey's party, it hit me that my sweet brown-eyed boy is 10, the age of the boy in the song I'll Build You a Rainbow. I hope, if I were to die tomorrow he would be able to say I've spent more time with him in 10 years than most moms spend with their boys in a lifetime.

Scarlett verses Mel

Germs are not my friends. They are against me and my ambitions. They don't even want me to clean my house. But I am stronger than the germs. I will not give in to the temptation of sitting around and reading Gone With the Wind (man, is it a great book!). I've discovered something about myself though. It is just a wee bit embarrassing. Have you ever thought about the word "em - bare-ass-ing"? I know. That wasn't very molly mo of me. Sorry those who thought my mind was squeaky clean. Surprise! It's NOT!!!!

Back to my book.

I'm much more of a Scarlett O'Hara than a Melanie Hamilton. I know. Shocker. I guess it depends on how you look at it. Scarlett was able to look ahead. Fight. I want to be like that. Melanie was blissfully unaware of her own amazing goodness. Yet weak.

I see myself as strong as Mel in the weak ways and as weak as Scarlett in the strong ways.

hmm

Think I'll go play on facebook now.

I'm a little behind...but I don't have one!!!

Okay so I'm breaking my own rules to this game. I know, you are all devastated. Hey...I don't have television! I have found so many incredible ways to spend my time I am literally SWAMPED!!!!!!!

I promise to ketchup.

If you get stinky about it, I'll musturd!!!!!!!!

he he he

I'm writing daily, just the old fashioned kind. I'll get in here and repent and fill you in on the days I'm missing. Don't worry.

If I tell you the biggest project I'm working on, will you forgive me?

okay.

I'm applying to grad school.

Now get up off the floor and quit laughing. I could actually finish something meaningful in this life! Besides seven kids.

I didn't even finish that. I meant to have 12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 22 From the Outside to Grad school

I'm going to miss Patrick Swayze, not for his roles in Dirty Dancing and the other one about the dead guy with Whoopi Goldberg, but for his role as Darry in The Outsiders. His portrayal of the tuff big brother to Ponyboy and Sodapop was incredibly close to the guy who my imagination and S.E. Hinton's conjured up.

We are on chapter 8. What a great read!!!

Okay. I know there has to be someone out there following me...if not now, perhaps in the future. Well dear bleader, you have to know what I am attempting to do. Me and my bored little television deprived brain have decided to attempt grad school again.

Please pray.

Day 21 By Patrick, hello people I actually know

Sept 16
I missed the death of Patrick Swayse. I had to hear about it from a live person! Can you imagine? I've been thinking about the things I'm missing out on not having a television. Someone cussing out the president, the health care fiasco, death of movie stars...

The thing is, I'm listening to versions of it elsewhere. If another 9/11 happened I would have to go to Uncle Simon's house to watch it and get depressed. Instead, I get to control what I take in. Sometimes I get depressed anyhoo.

I definitely spend more time actually talking to people!

Day 20 From Beatles to Mini Mouse

The boys and I had a ball last night. Being the TVless fam that we currently are, meal times are different than they were in our previously cabled home. Rather than timing dinner between Sponge Bob and Fresh Prince and having three little boys gulp down their food before returning to their brain-rotting posts, they actually hung out in the kitchen with me while I cooked.

Okay. Cooking is using the world rather liberally. I sliced, microwaved and created aesthetically pleasing little piles on our new-from-Target square red plates.

Drew slipped his new CD into the Bose so we could rock on while cooking. Sierra gave him a Beatles CD for his birthday. It has to be said, I'm not sure my boys would know of my excellent talent in dance if we still had cable TV. I had them roaring with laughter at my hilarious rendition of don't-know-why-you-say-goodbye-I-say-hello. I waved and shrugged my shoulders at the don't-know-why part and got seriously jiggy-withit!

Or something.

Then the yellow submarine song came on. I got an excellent work-out and realized many of the moves from my Rebelette days Oh-Micky-You're-So-Fine dance fit right in with Yellow Submarine. Can you picture little high school girls dressed as Minnie Mouse, being incredibly cute, doing the dance I choreographed while slicing apples and heating soy dogs? I can. Maybe with all this extra time I have without television I'll coach a drill team.

Or just hang with my own.

Tomorrow I'm going to teach the boys how to moonwalk.

Days 18 and 19 of a year of living Cableless

September 13, 2009

Day 18

I’m reading, (listening to on CD), The Scarlett Letter. Wow. It is seriously an amazing book. I think Jane Beckwith made me read it in high school but thank goodness, I’ve evolved. Is adultery the ultimate sin? Next to murder, I mean. If Nathaniel Hawthorne had ulterior motives, besides just creating a good read, I took the bait hook, line and sinker. Judging someone else for their shortcomings and applauding others for their strengths is pointless. We all have a sin "written" on our hearts. What is the point in labeling those whose sins are obvious and praising those whose don't show.

I really love that book. Now why do ya think there was never a sit-com about it?

I also have the stomach flu. Ug

September 14. 2009

Day 19

Surviving. It is difficult work. In my ADDness I realized yesterday that my eight-year-old has yet to attend a scout meeting. Why are people with ADD allowed to procreate? We should all be sterilized at birth!

Christian was reading, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He announced that he wanted to be a scout. I told him he automatically was one when he turned 8. Then I realized I have yet to get him to a meeting!

Slacker me.

When James was a baby, Doug insisted he couldn't sleep with us. He did anyway. By the time Christian was born, it was Doug who brought the baby into bed.
I was talking to Doug on the phone this morning. He is in Montana with Dougie Junior and Joey, and Christian is here with me taking care of Pearl in Provo. Actually, Christian is at Aunt Liz's, I'm sure he is having a ball, frolicking freely with his cousins. I'm at Anne's letting Pearl sleep in.
Doug told me he didn't sleep really well last night. He said all four boys slept in our bed. I asked him, "Did you adopt a couple while I was gone?"
He said, "No, we were just having so much fun last night and Dougie Junior thought it would be a good idea if we all slept in our bed. I heard a little voice tell me, 'no, that would NOT be a good idea', but I ignored it and all four boys, Doug, Dougie Junior, Joey and Brinkley slept together."
I said, "You let BRINKLEY sleep in our bed?"
He said, "Well we were all having fun and it started out so comfy."
I'm picturing Joey's feet in Doug's face, Junior's elbow in his side, and Brinkley licking everybody awake at 4 A.M.
I told him, "Doug, you are a big marshmallow. In fact, you are a toasted marshmallow. You are a little crispy on the outside but on the inside you are all warm and gooey."
He assured me that he is indeed, not a marshmallow. Brinkley was barking happily in the background.
Now how am I going to train him to sleep in his kennel again when I get home?
I mean Brink, not Doug.

Day 16

September 12, 2009

Here I am in Provo, taking care of my baby girl. I can't help but wonder if all of the angst I had about Brianne leaving was partly premonition about Pearl's accident.

Silly little Pearl. Majoring in neuroscience. Spent the summer studying brains that got shook up in accidents and did NOT wear a bike helmet.

Ah, the cluelessness of youth.

But she will be okay.

Alternative activity to television has been reading The Scarlett Letter. I wonder if my mother was named after the Pearl who was Hester Prynne's daughter. An interesting notion. The personalities fit Nathaniel Hawthorne's description of what a "Pearl" should be. Precious, priceless and beautiful because of that imperfection that is coated over with beauty.

I wonder how much thought Nathaniel Hawthorne gave to the naming of his characters. Did he even think about the analogy of the origins of a pearl and who the daughter became?

Interesting notion.

Day 15

September 11, 2009

Yet another ominous date. Yesterday was seriously crazy. Joseph turned 10. That was enough excitement. But we didn't stop things with cupcakes for 25 4rth graders. Oh no. Being the amazing super mom that I am I made sure his college aged sibilings called and talked to him. I call them and handed the phone to Joseph. I didn't have to worry about Pearl forgetting. She called me earlier in the day, when Joseph was in school, and I knew she would call back.

When Doug and I were at dinner with the boys the phone rang. Pearl's name came up. So I handed the phone to Joseph. He said "hello" and handed the phone back to me. It was an EMT asking for permission to take Pearl to the emergency room in an ambulance. She wiped out on her bike. We called everyone we could think of and had trouble getting getting ahold of anyone. I finally got my sister to go to the ER. Pearl was disoriented and couldn't remember very basic things about her life. I started driving at 10 p.m.

She is okay. I'm floored by it all. Loving children is seriously the hardest job in the universe.

Oh ya. Um... This blog is supposed to be about not watching TV. How did I ever have time to veg? The hilariousness of it all is this...I'm sitting in a motel room with my sick little girl watching a pay per view movie. She has a concussion. She isn't supposed to use much of her brain. The doc said to keep the conversational activity to a minimum.

More of Day 12
Sept 8, 2009

I spent part of the day in bed or wandering around this big, lonely house. To recover from the tragedy of Brianne leaving, I took myself out to a movie. I’ve never actually gone to a movie alone before, but I did it. It was great. I finally saw Julie and Julia. I really liked the part about a blog being a completely narcissistic activity. Lollie is a Narssy!!!!!
The book was better.

Day 13
September 9, 2009

Ominous Date. 09/09/09. Cool.
You have to wonder if sending kids off to college for us earthly folk is a bit like what it was like for Heavenly Father to send us to earth. Did we start to get restless because we had learned all we could? Did we drive Heavenly Mother nuts making messes in the kitchen? Does He worry that we won’t be able to handle it but knows we have to do some things on our own? Does he wait for the phone to ring and when it does, all we do is ask for stuff? Did He ache for me like I ache for my baby girl?
How am I supposed to handle this? No one tells you how difficult it is to have children.
…and they REALLY keep you in the dark when it comes to the trauma level of letting them go!
Empty nest? Right. Try…BROKEN HEART!!!
An empty nest sounds more like a few twigs scattered. Try shards of broken glass gouging at you from the inside. The pain of wondering if you taught her everything she will need to know. From experience I know that she in fact, doesn’t. Her older sister used fabric softener in place of detergent to do her laundry her first year of college. The agony of knowing I lost my temper with her during those too-much-estrogen-having-chemical-reactions-in-the-kitchen and actually said things my mother said to me that I swore I would never repeat to my kids. Heck, I said things my mom never even said!!!
It is physically painful.
I sit on the bed in her room and look around at photo albums lying on dust covered shelves with scents of her still wafting through the room urged on by the breeze that billows through the sheer panels she picked for the window and empty hangers, posters, books she loved, shoes, lamp, quilts and doodads.
I know she didn’t die, but BYUI is SSSOOOOOOOOOOOO far away.
These were actually the thought process I had going yesterday. Today I actually am doing swell. I re-decorated her bathroom and spent time doing things I couldn’t when I was helping her with all of her stuff and staying out of her way so she could do her teenaged thing.
Again, TV would have helped me through this. Instead, I have stretched myself to grow and it is good.
Today my alternate activities consisted of many many things,too numerous to mention. But I will mention one. I talked to a real live person about grad school!!!
How’s that for an alternate activity.
I’m going in for an interview tomorrow. Not sure I would be doing this if I wasn’t completely bored by lack of entertainment. The only dvd my portable tv would play for me today was Sense and Sensibility. I hate to admit it but I’m actually getting sick of Jane Austen. It mildly bothers me that the authority on romance never actually wed.
Of course, being married doesn’t necessarily mean you have a clue about romance.

Day 14

September 10

Today is Joseph’s b-day. He is ten.

Living Cableless Day 8 through 12

Day 8
Sept 4, 2009

I got everyone out of the house this morning and settled into some serious puttering. I found it incredibly frustrating not to have TV to flip on. I longed for the mindless babble of commercials and the informative voices letting me know what was going on out there in the real world. Then I realized the television world is actually less real than the one in which I live. And there are other voices. I flipped on the radio...

yes, you read right...RADIO!!! Who knew???

First I went to an A.M. channel and was informed of basic Montana importance, like the fact that we can gamble on live horse racing. Wahoo. I listened to a couple of beer commercials and flipped around the stations. I found out we finally had Michael Jackson's Funeral. Um. Didn't he die a LONG time ago??? Is that really news?? I don't have to wonder to much about what his reception in heaven was like. I think people like Michael and Farrah get a very different reception than the Ben Lymans. Now THAT must be an amazing celebration. Maybe they had to put off Michael's funeral because all the angels are too busy welcoming Ben Home.

I kept station surfing.

Every form of Country music ever written is available on Montana radio. Not that THAT is a bad thing. I've been known to teach aerobics to Randy Travis. I got some crazy looks from the gals in my class in East Cleveland but there is not another song that works out your thighs as well as..."I got some, ocean front property in Ar-i-zo-na..."

But I was in need of distraction. Something to occupy my brain while I did brainless activity like wipe off counters, sweep floors, load dishwasher, etc.

I found a brainful on F.M...National Public Radio. The answer to braindead activity everywhere. I learned about Post Tramatic Stress Disorder and how baby rats can let go of bad memories better than adult ones can and so there is this new therapy that costs too much because it isn't as well known as bandaids yet.

I got lots of work done.

(later…same day)
When I was done cleaning I went out wandering around Billings. (when I say, “wander”, I mean in my car.) I got lost and attempted to find myself. Have you ever noticed how you can’t find yourself somewhere you are not? Luckily, I was where I looked. Eventually I found myself driving past the district school building, so I went in and picked up an application for substitute teaching. I had been chatting with Liz and Mo while I drove. Liz motivated me to get back into teaching. I drove past a few highschools and saw those precious youth milling around and just got hungry to connect with them and help the next generation.

It is fascinating to me how many new activities little boys are finding to busy themselves with without Spongebob at their beck and call…er…fingertips. Christian came home from school today and decided to try out ways to get Brinkley to smile. He got three plastic cups out of the cupboard and knelt down on the kitchen floor and put a BrinkTreat under one of the cups. Then he started moving them around, challenging Brinkley to pick which cup the treat was under.
Brinkley didn’t get it.
Christian was not deterred. He filled one of the cups with water, dropped the treat in it and challenged Brinkley to “bob for treats”. All we got out of that was a flood and some frantic wiping up of water.
Tonight the plan is to barbeque salmon burgers, make homemade ice cream, and watch the deer hanging out in our back yard…assuming the deer cooperate.
(later)
I did it. I had a dinner party for visiting friends and family. I served salmon, fuit salad, squash, taters, and watermelon smoothies. Later on we all watched an old Bob Hope and Bing Crosby movie and I made a HUGE mess making popcorn and homemade ice cream. I had a wonderful talk with my cousin who found the movie as lame as I did. The only redeeming quality was watching Doug crack up and you could hear his laughter well into the kitchen. Julie and I chatted while I cleaned up my huge mess. Everybody loved the lowfat ice cream I made with our new blender - and I only blew out the motor twice. Doug growled at me and I growled back half-heartedly.

Day 9
September 5, 2009
Dr. Seuss said, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
I find it interesting that the school sent home a list of authors they want the 3rd and 4th graders to read. Among them was Stephen King but Dr. Seuss was not included.
I want to Develop a better relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Turning off the world helps.
Here are the tips I gave myself:
Developing Your Relationship with Your Savior…

· Have 20/20 vision. Take 20 minutes a day to work your bod physically and 20 minutes to workout yourself spiritually.
· Remember you aren’t developing a relationship with yiour Savior, you are remembering it. He has always known you. You are the one who has forgotten.
· Get to know yourself – who you really are Get to know the you the Savior knows. She is magnificent!!!
· Let go of fear. When you do, you can let go of other secondary emotions:
o Anger
o Frustration
o Self Pity
o Pride
· Remember that Satan knows you. See hymn number 266 "The Time is Far Spent", verse 4 – be fixed in your purpose.

Alternative Entertainment Due to Lack of Television:
Books
Plain Truth by Jody Picoult
Family History Book
Newsweek
The Outsiders
Book of Mormon Stories

Videos
Lost in Austen (PBS)
John Adams (HBO Special)

Movies
The Time Traveler’s Wife



Today I went to the waterpark with Brianne and the boys. Doug and his buddy Lee worked on the driveway and went on yet another male bonding hike. We all got together for dinner at Brianne’s choice of restaurants. It was really a wonderful Saturday. Today was likely one of the last warm days of the year where one can lie in the sun reading an incredibly yummy Jodi Piccoult novel. It is hideous to think I could have spent the day watching television.

Day 10
September 6, 2009
Brianne is leaving today. I’m taking her to BYU Idaho after linger-longer after church. I only collapsed into a sniveling mass of estrogen twice this morning. Doug dutifully held me through the worst of the two. I’m resolved to be strong and tearless but my baby girl is leaving me…which is a really self-centered way to look at it. I need to change my perspective. My daughter is verturing out on her own and learning and growing and becoming who she is meant to be.
She has never been much of a television watcher.
There are so many other places to get information from. Like Hymn books. We have such an explosion of information in our lives. Each individual sort of creates her own culture by what artistic endeavors are allowed in her life.
Like hymns.
Poetry and Music put together is the epitome of artistic work to me. However – I so admire the efforts made by those who create books and movies. But I’m learning how well you can learn from something simple like a hymn. It seems simple but the truths taught in the words and the music are the deepest of messages. Truth is simple Lies are complex.
I know I may seem like a simple, maybe even shallow person to turn from the popular movies, books and media explostion that most peiplke in our day participate in. I’ve chided myself for burying my head in the sand when It comes to politics I’ve been chastised by those whose opinion I seriously care about for not getting more involved with pol,itics. I read books about the holocaust and wonder at the idiocisty and nievite of Jewish people who lived in Hitler’s German and didn’t leave when the cooud was comping. I’ve noticed that whenever I judge others, eventually, the thing I was being judgemental about happens to me. I have read the scriptures. I know what the prophecies are. There really isn’t anywhere to go. How could one weak woman do much to make a difference.
Today I learned from the Hymn, “lord, I would Follow Thee.” Bern loved this hymn and requested that it be sung at his funeral for both the opening and closing songs. We sant it in Sacrament meeting today and I thought about the words and remembered my brother and how to me personally he did NOT live up to it really well. Then I shook myself and applied it to myself. I’m the one who needs to love her brother. Don’t I?
My thoughts went back to a lesson Dad taught me when I was about 13 years old. I had (what I thought of as) a wicked stepsister, Tina and I fought like cats and dogs. Dad was always saying “throw contenseion out the window.” It was his lame catch phrase that I’m sure he thought was incredibly clever, (as if his cleverness could solve the problems of a new mother and new chiloren in our home).
I don’t remember the talk or who the general authority was who gave it, but I remember the message. It was about trying harder in our relationships. It was about kindness to others. I sat there listening to conference and thought , “Ya!!!! Tina needs to hear this message and apply it to her life.” I must have said something outloud because Dad shook his head and said something to the effect of , “You don’t get it Lollie, what about you? Don’t you need that message too?’
Wow
That hit me like a ton of bricks. The disappointment in my Dad’s face was clear as well and cut me to the core. I realized in a 13 year old way that the only person I am responsible for is myself.

(oh look a chicken)

Have you noticed how incredibly cute baby’s toes are? They are like little rows of jelly beans. Almost edible.

(sorry, I was having and A.D.D. moment. Now back to the previous message:)

A man I had hated I found to be
A child of God like you like me
All of my enmity, God overthrew
The day that he whispered, “I love you”

This line from my Mom’s song really spoke to me today. I let go of false pride when I remember who I really am. When I remind myself that I am loved by God – I don’t need to be envious of others.

I remember being in Ben’s hospital room. John was taking care of Brinkley and the boys along with all of his kids. Ben organized us all into a concert. We sang to him and played music for him. Music seemed to be a great comfort.
I dealt with it all the best I could. I realized what a spiritual weenie I am. I was in the painful throws of grief. I couldn’t believe my brother was dying. He was so young.
He wasn’t supposed to be alive. He out-lived all medical expectations. He was so happy that we were all there. Lori said the way she got through it was: “…keep a sound mind, don’t give totally into fear and don’t give totally into hope.”

Ben couldn’t lie still. He was in so much pain. One of the hardest things I have ever done was to sit and watch my brother be in pain. To not be able to help was pure torture.
My little sister Mary and I were sitting there in Ben’s hospice room. He asked us if we could tell him if he was living or dying. He said he could see the spirit world off in the distance. He said it was about the size of a postage stamp.

Mary had her adorable baby there with her. He was so precious. It is a comfort to know that life goes on.
I wanted to take my brother’s pain.
That wasn’t my job. It was Jesus’. He did it. Thanks Jesus.

Day 11
September 7, 2009

Took my baby girl to college. Left her there. Why do they call it “empty nest”? Try more like BROKEN HEART!!!
Today was one of the most difficult days of my life. Brianne is so tangled up in the nest of my heart. Luckily, she is mine for eternity. Her big sis reminded me of that.

Day 12
September 8, 2009

I really could have used the mindless drivel of television to escape from the reality of my baby girl being gone this morning.

Home Repairs

Home Repairs

I wanted to install a testimony in my kid
And so I worked for 18 years and this is what I did
I studied hard and read the books the experts said I should
I read the scriptures to him and I told him to be good
I told him he should say his prayers and talk to God each day
I taught him not to judge another by what he may say
If there was something to drill in his head then I did drill
You can’t install a testimony you only can instill.

List of Things I need more of in my life:

There are lots of things I need more of. Here is a list:

Holiness
Strivings within
Patience in suffering
Sorrow for sin
Faith in Savior
Sense of His care
Joy in His service
purpose in prayer
Gratitude Give me
Trust in the lord
Pride in His gory
Hope in his word
Tears for his sorrows
Pain @ his grief
Meekness in trial
Praise for relief
Purity
Trust in the Lord
Pride in His glory
Hope in His word
Fit for the Kingdom
Used, blessed and holy
More Like Jesus Christ

More of Day 7

September 3

It is fascinating to me how many new activities little boys are finding to busy themselves with without Spongebob at their beck and call…er…fingertips. Christian came home from school today and decided to try out ways to get Brinkley to smile. He got three plastic cups out of the cupboard and knelt down on the kitchen floor and put a Brink treat under one of the cups. Then he started moving them around, challenging Brinkley to pick which cup the treat was under.Brinkley didn’t get it.Christian was not deterred. He filled one of the cups with water, dropped the treat in it and challenged Brinkley to “bob for treats”. All we got out of that was a flood and some frantic wiping up of water. Tonight the plan is to barbeque salmon burgers, make homemade icecream, and watch the deer hanging out in our back yard…assuming the deer cooperate.

Dr. Seuss said, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter dcon’t mind.”I find it interesting that the school sent home a list of authors they want the 3rd and 4th graders to read. Among them was Stephen King but Dr. Seuss was not included.
There are lots of things I need more of. More holiness give meStrivings withinPatience in sufferingSorrow for sinFaith in SaviorSense of His careJoy in his service purpose in prayerMore Gratitude Give meTrust in the lordPride in His goryHope in his wordTears for his sorrowsPain @ his griefMeekness in trialPraise for reliefMore Purity Give MeTrust in the LordPride in His gloryHope in His wordFit for the KingdomUsed would I be blessed and holyMore, Savior like thee.
Home RepairsI wanted to enstall a testimony in my kidAnd so I worked for 18 years and this is what I didI studied hard and read the books the experts said I shouldI read the scriptures to him and I told him to be goodI told him he should say his prayers and talk to God each dayI taught him not to judge another by what he may sayIf there was something to drill in his head then I did drillYou can’t install a testimony you only can instill.


Developing Your Relationship with Your Savior…
• Have 20/20 vision. Take 20 minutes a day to work your bod physically and 20 mionutes to workout yourself spiritually.• Remember you aren’t developing a relationship with yiour Savior, you are remembering it. He has always known you. You are the one who has forgotten.• Get to know yourself – who you really are Get to know the you the Savior knows. She is magnificent!!!• Let go of fear. When you do, you can let go of other secondary emotions:o Angero Frustrationo Self Pityo Pride• Remember that Satan knows you. In Hymn number 266 The Time is Far Spent verse 4 – Be fixed in your purpose.
Alternative Entertainment Due to Lack of Television:BooksPlain Truth by Jody PicoultFamily History BookNewsweekThe OutsidersBook of Mormon Stories
VideosLost in Austen (PBS)John Adams (HBO Special)
MoviesThe Time Traveler’s Wife
Activities

September 3, 2009Today I hung out with my neighbor (Brady’s Mom) and had a great chat about the challenges of marriage. Mostly I l,istened to her frustrations. Everybody I know who is married is struggling. I don’t know who isn’t.Then I went to the open house at the shool and spoke to all three of the boys’ teachers. I’m thrilled for the opportunity of education they have here. The school seems great on the surface. More so without the threats of television coming into our home. The discouraging thing to me is that no matter what I do to protect my boys, they still go to school with other children who may not be as sheltered as mine

September 4,. 2009Today I cleaned house and then went out wandering around billings. (when I say, “wander”, I mean in my car.) I got lost and attempted to find myself. Have you ever noticed how you can’t find yourself somewhere you are not? Luckily, I was where I looked. Eventually I found myself driving past the district school building so I went in and picked up an application for substitute teaching. I had been chatting with Liz and Mo while I drove. Liz motivated me to get back into teaching. I drove past a few highschools and saw those precious youth milling around and just got hungry to connect with them and help the next generation.Tonight I had a dinner party for visiting friends and family. I served salmon, fuit salad, squash, taters and watermelon smoothies. Later on we all watched an old Bob Hope and Bing Crosby movie and I made a HUGE mess making popcorn and homemade icecream. I had a wonderful talk with my cousin who found the movie as lame as I did. The only redeeming quality was watching Doug crack up and you could hear his laughter well into the kitchen. Julie and I chatted while I cleaned up my huge mess. Everybody loved the lowfat icecream I made with our new blender and I only blew out the motor twice. Doug growled at me and I growled back half-heartedly.

September 5, 2009Today I went to the waterpark with Brianne and the boys. Doug and his buddy Lee worked on the driveway and went on yet another male bonding hike. We all got together for dinner at Brianne’s choice of restaurants. It was really a wonderful Saturday. Likely one of the last warm days of the year where one can lie in the sun reading an incredibly yummy Jodi Piccoult novel. It is hideous to think I could have spent the day watching television.

September 6, 2009Lila is leaving today. I’m taking her to BYU Idaho after linger-longer after church. I only collapsed into a sniveling mass of estrogen twice this morning. Doug dutifully held me through the worst of the two. I’m resolved to be strong and tearless but my baby girl is leaving me…which is a really self-centered way to look at it. I need to change my perspective. My daughter is verturing out on her own and learning and growing and becoming who she is meant to be.We will be
There are so many other places to get information from. Like Hymn books. We have such an explotion of information in our lives. Each individual sort of creat her own culture by whaqt artistic endea vors aree allowed in her life. Like hymns. Poetry and Music put together is the epitome of artistic work to me. However – I so admire the efforts made by tghose who create books and movies. But I’m learning how well you can learn from something simple like a hymn. It seems simple but the truths taught in the words and the music are the deepest of messages. Truth is simple Lies are complex.I know I may seem like a simple, maybe even shallow person to turn from the popular movies, books and media explostion that most peiplke in our day participate in. I’ve chided myself for burying my head in the sand when It comes to politics I’ve been chastised by those whose opinion I seriously care about for not getting more involved with pol,itics. I read books about the holocaust and wonder at the idiocisty and nievite of Jewish people who lived in Hitler’s German and didn’t leave when the cooud was comping. I’ve noticed that whenever I judge others, eventually, the thing I was being judgemental about happens to me. I have read the scriptures. I know what the prophecies are. There really isn’t anywhere to go. How could one weak woman do much to make a difference.Today I learned from the Hymn, “lord, I would Follow Thee.” Bern loved this hymn and requested that it be sung at his funeral for both the opening and closing songs. We sant it in Sacrament meeting today and I thought about the words and remembered my brother and how to me personally he did NOT live up to it really well. Then I shook myself and applied it to myself. I’m the one who needs to love her brother. Don’t I. My thoughts went back to a lesson Dad taught me when I was about 13 years old. I had (what I thought of as) a wicket stepsister, Tina and I fought like cats andDad was always saying “throw contenseion out the window.” It was his lame catch prase that I’m sure he thought was incredibly clever, (as if his cleverness could solve the problems of a new mother and new chiloren in our home). I don’t remember the talk or who the general authority was who gave it, but I remember the message. It was about trying harder in our relationships. It was about kindness to others. I sat there listening to conference and thought , “Ya!!!! Tina needs to hgear this message and apply it to her life.” I must have said something outloud because Dad shook his head and said something to the effect of , “You don’t get it Lollie, what about you? Don’t you need that message too?’WowThat hit me like a ton of bricks. The disappointment in my Dad’s face was clear as well and cut me to the core. I realized in a 13 year old way that the only person I am responsible for is myself.Have you noticed how incredibly cute baby’s toes are? They are like little rows of jelly beans. Almost edible.A man I had hated I found to beA child of God like you like meAll of my enmity, God overthroughThe day that he whispered, “I love you”This line from my Mom’s song really spoke to me today. I let go of false pride when I remember who I really am. When I remind myself that I am loved by God – I don’t need to be envious of others.
I remember being in Ben’s hospital room. John was taking care of Brinkley and the boys along with all of his kids. Ben organized us all into a concert. We sang to him and played music for him. Music seemed to be a great comfort. I dealt with it all the best I could. I realized what a spiritual weenie I am. I was in the painful throws of grief. I couldn’t believe my brother was dying. He was so young.He wasn’t supposed to be alive. He out-lived all medical expectations. He was so happy that we were all there. Lori said the way she got through it was: “…keep a sound mind, don’t give totally into fear and don’t give totally into hope.”
Ben couldn’t lie still. He was in so much pain. One of the hardest things I have ever done was to sit and watch my brother be in pain. To not be able to help was pure torture. My little sister Mary and I were sitting there in Ben’s hospice room. He asked us if we could tell him if he was living or dying. He said he could see the spirit world off in the distance. He said it was about the size of a postage stamp. Mary had her adorable baby there with her. He was so precious. It is a comfort to know that life goes on.I wanted to take my brother’s pain.

A Year of Living Cableless Day 7 and 8

Day 5
Sept 3, 2009
I'm doing everything in my power to inspire them to become readers. Not having cable tv has done wonders for their motivation to be entertained in other ways. I look forward to reading to them every night. We are six chapters into Book of Mormon Stories. We read one chapter of that and one of The Outsiders every night after toothbrushing, prayers and jammies. Christian fancies himself Ponyboy...thoughtful and blond when he would rather not be. Joseph has no problem being tuff Sodapop while Douglas fills the football playing, hard working, tough as nails, big brother Darry type. It is amazing to be reading these two books and contrast the difference in the relationships between brothers who love each other and treat each other with respect and kindness. The irony is that the Book of Mormon Stories is where we read about the bad boy brothers and the contemporary fiction novel is where we read about brothers who stick together no matter what. Yet it is in the pages of the Book of Mormon that the subtle AND obvious lessons are taught and the messages are given through the launguage of scripture. It is interesting to me how much the boys look forward to reading The Outsiders. I think perhaps part of being on the Autism Spectrum makes stories that explain culture fascinating to them.

Day 6
Sept 4, 2009
I got everyone out of the house this morning and settled into some serious puttering. I found it incredibly frustrating not to have TV to flip on. I longed for the mindless babble of commercials and the informative voices letting me know what was going on out there in the real world. Then I realized the television world is actually less real than the one in which I live. And there are other voices. I flipped on the radio...
yes, you read right...RADIO!!! Who knew???
First I went to an A.M. channel and was informed of basic Montana importance, like the fact that we can gamble on live horse racing. Wahoo. I listened to a couple of beer commercials and flipped around the stations. I found out we finally had Michael Jackson's Funeral. Um. Didn't he die a LONG time ago??? Is that really news?? I don't have to wonder to much about what his reception in heaven was like. I think people like Michael and Farrah get a very different reception than the Ben Lymans. Now THAT must be an amazing celebration. Maybe they had to put off Michael's funeral because all the angels are too busy welcoming Ben Home.
I kept station surfing.
Every form of Country music ever written is available on Montana radio. Not that THAT is a bad thing. I've been known to teach aerobics to Randy Travis. I got some crazy looks from the gals in my class in East Cleveland but there is not another song that works out your thighs as well as...I got some, ocean front property in Ar-i-zo-na...
But I was in need of distraction. Something to occupy my brain while I did brainless activity like wipe off counters, sweep floors, load dishwasher, etc.
I found a brainful on F.M...National Public Radio. The answer to braindead activity everywhere. I learned about Post Tramatic Stress Disorder and how baby rats can let go of bad memories better than adult ones can and so there is this new therapy that costs too much because it isn't as well known as bandaids yet.
I got lots of work done.

A Year of Living Cableless Day 5 and 6

Day 5
Sept 3, 2009
I'm doing everything in my power to inspire them to become readers. Not having cable tv has done wonders for their motivation to be entertained in other ways. I look forward to reading to them every night. We are six chapters into Book of Mormon Stories. We read one chapter of that and one of The Outsiders every night after toothbrushing, prayers and jammies. Christian fancies himself Ponyboy...thoughtful and blond when he would rather not be. Joseph has no problem being tuff Sodapop while Douglas fills the football playing, hard working, tough as nails, big brother Darry type. It is amazing to be reading these two books and contrast the difference in the relationships between brothers who love each other and treat each other with respect and kindness. The irony is that the Book of Mormon Stories is where we read about the bad boy brothers and the contemporary fiction novel is where we read about brothers who stick together no matter what. Yet it is in the pages of the Book of Mormon that the subtle AND obvious lessons are taught and the messages are given through the launguage of scripture. It is interesting to me how much the boys look forward to reading The Outsiders. I think perhaps part of being on the Autism Spectrum makes stories that explain culture fascinating to them.

Day 6
Sept 4, 2009
I got everyone out of the house this morning and settled into some serious puttering. I found it incredibly frustrating not to have TV to flip on. I longed for the mindless babble of commercials and the informative voices letting me know what was going on out there in the real world. Then I realized the television world is actually less real than the one in which I live. And there are other voices. I flipped on the radio...
yes, you read right...RADIO!!! Who knew???
First I went to an A.M. channel and was informed of basic Montana importance, like the fact that we can gamble on live horse racing. Wahoo. I listened to a couple of beer commercials and flipped around the stations. I found out we finally had Michael Jackson's Funeral. Um. Didn't he die a LONG time ago??? Is that really news?? I don't have to wonder to much about what his reception in heaven was like. I think people like Michael and Farrah get a very different reception than the Ben Lymans. Now THAT must be an amazing celebration. Maybe they had to put off Michael's funeral because all the angels are too busy welcoming Ben Home.
I kept station surfing.
Every form of Country music ever written is available on Montana radio. Not that THAT is a bad thing. I've been known to teach aerobics to Randy Travis. I got some crazy looks from the gals in my class in East Cleveland but there is not another song that works out your thighs as well as...I got some, ocean front property in Ar-i-zo-na...
But I was in need of distraction. Something to occupy my brain while I did brainless activity like wipe off counters, sweep floors, load dishwasher, etc.
I found a brainful on F.M...National Public Radio. The answer to braindead activity everywhere. I learned about Post Tramatic Stress Disorder and how baby rats can let go of bad memories better than adult ones can and so there is this new therapy that costs too much because it isn't as well known as bandaids yet.
I got lots of work done.

A Year of Living Cableless

Day 3
August 30, 2009
I really wrote this on the above date. I wrote it the old fashion way. There is this thing called a pen and this stuff called paper. It is way cool stuff.
My cell phone went off in the middle of Sacrament Meeting today,. Ya. Awkward. Tamera said she wasn’t sure whose phone it was until she saw my face. I am a Delta Rabbit through and through. I even glow school colors when I get embarrassed.
There is a reason I need less technology in my life. I’m amazed at the variety of technology use and lack thereof in my circle of friends and family. One friend has never had cable tv, and another couldn’t begin to imagine life without it or why I would want to try it.
I’ve had friends tell me that I am throwing out the baby with the bath by giving up television. It just doesn’t seem like there is much baby left in the murky bathwater these days. I do miss the home improvement programs and the before and after how to clean your house. This morning – instead of flipping on the tube, (typically, in our previous cabled state, I would have BYU Television’s voices of wisdom wafting through the place on Sunday mornings), I flipped open a book. It was The Freedom Writers. I read more than half of it before I heard the call of the wild. (Three frantically hungry little boys).
These young people living in the warzone of LA’s ghettos spoke of the emptiness of their lives. The abuse and neglect, racism and hopelessness was disheartening to say the least. Education, particularly English literature – is what opens their eyes to their own power. They identify with Anne Frank’s struggle. They see themselves within the pages of The Color Purple. Because of the strength in the stories, the youth of a classroom of rejects are empowered.
I saw a teenaged couple in the store yesterday. The boy was jokingly cuffing the girl. She was giggling at his “play”. It made me angry.
It also made me want to do more to serve the youth. I wanted to tell that girl not to put up with that kind of treatment. I wanted to tell the boy that his greatness is not proved by his show of power over someone with less physical strength than he.
I wonder if anyone ever told either of them that they are God’s children.
My adorable neighbor came over again this morning. Her name is Brady. That isn’t her real name but of course I must protect the incredible adorability of neighborly five-year-olds. She frolicked on the trampoline with the boys and joined in their animated book of Mormon video.
She is so adorable.
Would I think that is she interrupted a television program I was engrossed in?

Day 4
August 31, 2009

Things that kept me from blogging yesterday and today:
· Hosting visiting friends and family.
· Brianne took my keys with her to work at Famous Footwear across town
· After I got home from drivin across town to get my car keys, (took my visiting cousin’s car), I realized Brianne had my laptop in her car.
· I took Christian to the ER because he whacked off the top of his thumb in his third grade classroom today…with a pair of SAFETY SCISSORS no less!!
· Unable to get to the coffee shop
· Internet down at the coffee shop once I finally made it there through the demands of husband, children, construction and traffic.
I’ve made a new rule for myself in connection with my self-imposed blog. I will NOT get caught up in a pattern of self-loathing if I am unable to blog daily. As long as I actually write something about doing without cable, I’m still filling my quota of blogginess.


Day 5
September 1, 2009

This morning Christian said his favorite breakfast was pancakes and weapons. (What can I say? We have interesting breakfasts at our house.) I told him if he was Typhoid Mary pancakes WERE weapons. Doug piped in that Typhoid Mary made pancakes for “Lutenel” and I think he was warming up to sing a rousing rendition of Bloody Mary is the Girl I Love. I found myself explaining the difference between “Bloody” and “Typhoid” Maries.
· Typhoid M was a woman at the turn of the last century who worked as a cook and spread disease inadvertently. When told she had to quit working as a cook she ignored the authorities because of her lack of education and understanding and eventually was imprisoned.
· Bloody M was a character in South Pacific who wanted the white Lieutenant to be seduced by her Polynesian daughter.
Then I realized I knew who Typhoid Mary was because of the history channel. Chalk one up for throwing out the baby with the bath!
I guess my quest is to figure out how to get the most out of media without putting up with the garbage.
(later)
Since my cousin is in town I had a partner in crime and movie viewing. We went and saw The Time Traveler’s Wife. I have to wonder if the idea for the book, (which I read years ago), came from a doctor’s wife. He disappears at the drop of a hat too and isn’t there for big events occasionally. I can’t complain too much though. At least Doug has a specialty that is easy on families.
I know. Movie viewing is just another form of brain dead entertainment that you pay for a movie at a time instead of monthly like cable television. The point of my experiment in cablelessness is not to avoid ALL braindead activity but to enhance my life with the good stuff.
It was a good movie. Made me appreciate my hunny.


Day 6
September 2, 2009

Sunday morning I listened to a Truman Madsen tape about the life of Joseph Smith. Truman said that in 15 years of marriage Emma moved 12 times. Lucky Em. Moving would be easier if I retained the same bad habits of the past. Like television.
Doing hard things builds integrity. Man is it hard to move.