wherein heidi decides to be MIA

Well, I've decided to cut the habit, cold-turkey.

As of this posting, I am to avoid bloggies, and facebook until my stupid paper is done. (Yes, I said stupid. I love the class, and the subject matter, but it has been pure torture to figure out how to write the blasted thing.)

So, that means at least till the 16 Dec, as it is due 15 Dec.

If anyone needs to get a hold of me, well, you can email.

I shall see you on the other side.

ha ha ha

Could it be true?

No, I sure hope not.

yes, i can

This article linked to this article.

So, if I have you for Christmas, you are forewarned. Besides, I think Books are Fabulous!

I was lucky enough to grow up with a book-loving family. As many of you know, who have visited our basement, "We had to get rid of a lot of books when we moved." It was tragic!

I remember a lot of Agatha Christie's were the first to go.

I sincerely think that books can change the world. I would be more profound and all, but I'm hungry: I didn't get up early enough to make a tasty lunch. So it's dinner/lunch time.

I'm sure most of you agree that books are vital, so that would be pointless to discuss. Instead, what are ways to help others see this? To encourage the "I HATE Reading!" readers to read? I think we're all readers, (like we're all able to sing! - but that's a topic for another day) but we haven't always found something we like. One last article. I lied... one more. The second was the post I was looking for originally.

Anyhoo, my tummy grumbles.

later....

take that mother nature!

Here's a proof for you all:

Snow = Cold
Heidi does not like Cold.
Thus, Heidi does not like Snow.

Makes sense to me.

Anyhoo, contrary to weather predictions, It Did Not Snow today.

I'm sure I'll pay for it later, but that's later.

NOOOO!!!

sniff.

recap: 8 - Kentucky to North Carolina

Kate drove all this day.

We called my landlords as we neared the Virginia/North Carolina border; She said it would probably be another few hours. It ended up being closer to 45 minutes.

We were ready to be done.

We unloaded the car, went to dinner at Panera Bread, a few essentials from WalMart, and then made up little beds on the floor, and went to sleep.

We got up soon after five, so Kate could get to the airport in time to catch her plane, so she could finish her almost cross the country twice in a week trip.












And that, my friends, was the last picture taken.

I apologize for being so vague in the last posting. I, and all my family, are fine and healthy.

In explanation, besides the normal overwhelming-ness of life that school causes, I found out of an Oboe World tragedy.

Mark Weiger, professor at U. of Iowa, committed suicide. The circumstances under which this happened are not pleasant.

My personal acquaintance with him was limited to a Master Class. But, many of my friends knew him well; some studied with him at Iowa.

Many lives have been effected*; those who I have talked to are handling things as well as can be expected. As time passes, it will be harder, but they know they are not alone.

We are never alone.


* I have a real problem with deciding between affect and effect.

yesterday

Yesterday was not a good day. Nope. Not at all.

Nothing bad happened to me, but all kinds of bad happened to many people I care about. And that makes me sad.




Today.

Even before yesterday I'd been thinking I need to be more positive.

So, I start over.

Today I went to the temple.

It was a little temple; I made an appointment and everything.

Life truly is a beautiful thing. There IS hate in this world, and behind that hate, I've found that there often is a deep deep sorrow.

We all know sorrow; we've all caused sorrow.

We are humans, yet as humans we have such infinite potentiality!

seriously?

Well, I drove the night shift on the way to our hotel in Kentucky. It was late, and though not tired, I thought it was in our best interest to get some sin juice, and the gas could use a topping off.

I pulled off the exit in Indiana with a town called Santa Claus. It was perfect. The picture below has a lot of bug splatters in the flash reflection, but I think you can see it.

As I was leaving the building with said sin juice, I was asked by a random guy if I was headed from, or to, Utah. (Silly license plates!)

From.

There were two people at the next gas pumps who started to talk to me, too. I was a little irritated, because I wanted to finish my thoughts to the other guy.

The two asked where in Utah.

"Provo."
"Really, that's where we're headed!"
"Wow. I'm actually from Mapleton, and Kate is from SLC"
"Where are you headed to?"
"Greensboro, NC"
"Seriously? That's where we're from"

I kid you not.

Two paths did cross, at a lonely gas station, near Santa Claus, Indiana.

For those that need proof, here are some fabulously awkward pictures.

recap: 7 - Nauvoo to Kentucky

We spent longer than intended at Nauvoo, but we got our souvenir bricks, were mistaken for EFY kids, and saw a former missionary Kate and I were neighbors with in Tampa. Oh, and I saw a couple of clarinetists from BYU. I even waved.

After Nauvoo, there was Carthage.

Followed by Hannibal MO. St. Louis, Indiana, with our stop in Lexington, KY.

r-e-s-p-e-c-t

A lot of posts I've read lately have been political in nature. I tried to not say much, though I did complain about the effects of living in a battleground state with all the lobbying schmuck being thrown around. I have never been more grateful to not own a tv!

I am excited for this new Presidential era. It will be a time for people to settle down and hopefully stop looking at all the things that are going wrong, but instead, focus on what is going right. And, as there will be things that do go wrong, perhaps we as a people will be more willing to do something, instead of finding someone to blame for what is going wrong.

I appreciate that my friends are not those who have sat passively by with problems, but have done something about it. Unfortunately, you all live far far away.

I have found it most interesting that 'all our problems in America are the fault of one man.'

I know there are some ideas that I don't fully support President Bush on, but I feel he has been disrespected and made to bear the blame for things that were beyond his control. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned in thinking that elected officials deserve our respect, even whilst in disagreement with them; frankly, I'm embarrassed for my country, and the way we've treated this man.

Here is an article that speaks more eloquently on the subject.

And another.

for frau

I know it's not quite the same, but I'll share!



The stickers are very important! As I was getting ready to vote, the lady who was in the booth before me asked where she could get a sticker. I don't know if I'd have been brave enough, truthfully.



I guess they were giving free coffees at Starbucks for those with stickers....

recap: 6 - Nebraska to Nauvoo

We said goodbye to Dave, and headed out, stopping first at Winter Quarters, arriving in Nauvoo around dusk.

Kate wandered around town, while I talked to mom and dad online. I was tired, not having slept well the night before. This trend continued the remainder of the trip.

For all those thinking of staying at the Nauvoo Family Inn and Suites, there is an emphasis on Family there (i.e. little children running amuck at all hours) and don't let them put you in a room near the elevator, either. They do have free wireless, though.

happy birthday, dad

Christmas 2005



Christmas 2007




Enjoying an awkward street moment at the expense of his beloved daughter. He later was sucked in by someone wanting signatures for an anti-drugs petition, who liked donations, too.




At the 'puter.







Things I've learned from my father:

Don't cut up photos.

These next two came at different times while we were driving in the car somewhere. I know it was in Mesa, well, at least Arizona.

Everyone has the bible - that's why we need prophets

Get an education

He also taught me how to braid hair, thanks to a kind My Little Pony. Posy, to be exact. (This was useful, because the I adapted that so I learned to french braid my own hair - my mom pulls tight! [I know, not as tight as granny did, but still.])

Don't play games on Sunday. :) You'll ruin it for everyone.




Thanks dad, for everything. As much as I like Tom and all, I'm glad you are my daddy.

Love you, and see you soon.