Be careful out there

In 2018, Steve Carell (The Office) starred in a movie called “Welcome to Marwen.”  It looked quirky and I like to think that I like quirky so I thought I’d watch it.  But it wasn’t a must see rather a “eh, maybe I’ll watch that sometime.”  The time came when it came to me via tv and there was absolutely nothing on.  It turns out, the movie is way past quirky.  In fact, it waves at quirky as it heads into surreal.  The thing that takes it up a notch is it is, in fact, based on a true story.  A story that may make you watch the movie with squinted eyes and the question “is this for real” playing in a loop in your mind.   At least, that’s how I watched it. Part of it is not real, not real at all.  Part of it is a lesson on being deceived. Continue reading →

General Conference thoughts: Deceive Me Not

I have a personal theory. You can place someone in a room with a million people and each of those million people tell that one person a good quality about him or her that one person may feel pretty good about themselves for a short time but will give in to self-doubt and a negative self-image within a few days. In other words, that person will not see the positivity in herself that others do. Confidence must come within. Continue reading →

Adventures with China Post

A couple weeks before Thanksgiving I decided I had better get into Christmas present buying mode.  Family was coming to town for the holiday and being the fiscally retentive (aka cheap) person that I am, I wanted to send them home with Christmas presents.  I’d finish Christmas early and forgo having to pay postage to send gifts (it costs 55 cents just to mail a regular letter!).  I successfully ordered all my presents and waited for them to come in.  I even splurged a little and ordered some Christmas presents from me to me because I sure have good taste.  I’d say it was just like Christmas with all the packages but it was, in fact, Christmas.   Also about this time I overheard my co-workers complaining about Amazon packages they had ordered that came via China Post.  Their orders were delayed because of the riots in China.  I heeded my eavesdropped knowledge and tried to avoid the same pitfall. Continue reading →

General Conference thoughts: The Savior’s Touch

Years ago, in an institute class, the teacher made a comparison I still remember to this day. In the 1982 movie, The Man From Snowy River, there is a dramatic scene of a cowboy riding his horse down the side of a mountain. Even for someone unfamiliar with horse back riding I can tell it is quite the feat. The teacher pointed out the reason the cowboy could do this ludicrous act is because the horse had been broken. The horse trusted the rider even when the rider spurred him to do something impossible. Continue reading →