My Morning Walk in Paradise

This week the seminar circuit takes me to beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii. By the time we got checked into the hotel, scouted the seminar room and made last minute technical changes and arrangements, which included a 2 mile walk to the mall to buy a missing power cord for our projector, the day was pretty much shot. Dinner and in bed by 8:30 Hawaii time (12:30 MST) No wonder I was tossing and turning at 4AM this morning. I can’t tell you the last time I slept till 8AM in the morning. That’s what time my body was telling me it was. I felt kind of funny getting up in the dark to go check my email in the lobby of the hotel. I wasn’t the only one. There were other people out of their respective time zones doing the same thing. By about 5AM the sky was starting to turn that pre-sunrise purple blue color. I decided to check my laptop in at the front desk and take a walk.

Southeast on Kalakaua Avenue takes one past all the high-end shopping and eventually to the beach at Waikiki. I walked past Tiffany’s, Chanel, Dior, Burberry, Fendi, Ferragamo, and the Wyland Art Gallery. Then it was Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Rolex. Each lit up like Christmas showing their overpriced wares to the overpriced ego’s that shop there. All the stores I don’t shop in. I guess when I have the money I will probably go to Tiffany’s once a year for a trinket for Marian. I was simply hoping to find a 24 hour ABC Store so I could get a cheap pair of shorts. No such luck. My walk took me to the Royal Hawaiian. The pink palace. Queen and matron of Waikiki. Marian and I had the privilege of staying here for a week in 1999 so I have a certain attachment. The building is historical and beautiful. I walked through the open lobby into the inner courtyard. It’s like walking through a tunnel to Shangri-La. The grounds are impeccable. Each blade of grass and flower seem hand trimmed. The tremendous banyan tree was preparing to shade yet another wedding. The white tables and chairs in neat stacks were there waiting for the morning crew to begin the set up.

I walked through the courtyard garden to the modern tower of the Royal Hawaiian where Marian and I stayed. I proceeded down the steps to the pool and beyond to the sands of the beach. Off with the sandals! The cool sands of Waikiki felt like new, thickly padded carpet on my tired bare feet. There aren’t a lot of people on the beach at 5AM. Even Waikiki. A few fellow strollers and of course, the hardiest of surfers, at least a dozen or so. Certainly not the thousands of bodies that would dot the sand and surf like ants in an ant farm in a few short hours. I rolled up my Levis and with sandals in hand stepped into the easy waves lapping the sleepy shoreline. AHHHH! To truly understand how that made me feel, you need to read my previous blog, “The Ocean”. I made a commitment at that moment to begin each morning here at 5AM in the surf at Waikiki to regenerate and stimulate my thinking. Awaken and invigorate my dreams again.

Ironically there was a twinge of sadness mixed with the rush of pleasant emotion. How could that be? How could there be any sadness in paradise? Not necessarily sadness but hollowness, loneliness. I was alone. Marian wasn’t here. My family wasn’t here. It would have been so much better with them walking beside me, sharing the moment. I don’t ever want to be here alone again. As beautiful as it is. The sights of surf and sunrise. The sounds of the waves and birds. The smells of the ocean and the flowers. All of that diminished by the absence of a tender, yet strong, female voice. I wanted to punctuate the moment with easy conversation, the feel of her warm familiar hand, and the sight of her beautiful feet with freshly painted pink toenails leaving their prints in the wet sand in unison next to me. Call me a hopeless romantic. Guilty as charged. It is not complete here without her. Never again will I come here without the person I love.

Well it’s off to the store to find a cheap pair of board shorts so I can completely baptize myself tonight and again at 5AM tomorrow morning. It is time to renew! Aloha!

Holy Mitt!?

You just knew I wouldn’t be able to remain silent. I have finally organized my thoughts sufficiently on this subject into an opinion I can put on paper. Previously they were random with no connecting thread. I found the connecting thread. It was an address given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve on February 29th, 1992 to the Brigham Young University Management Society, Washington D.C. Whether you believe Dallin H. Oaks wears the mantel of a modern day Apostle is irrelevant. His office and calling do not detract one iota from the clarity and truthfulness of this message.
In fact, understanding where the root of this message is derived only gives it a deeper ring of truth.

I am offended by media pundits or other less enlightened citizens that bring into question the religion of a presidential candidate. Not the fact that they bring it into question but the ignorance and maliciousness in which it is done. Today it was suggested by one writer that Mitt Romney is the one that brings up the subject and the fact that he is persecuted so if he isn’t elected he has the excuse that it was the people that persecuted his religion that caused him to lose. How absurd!

This election is all about integrity, leadership, and who can get the job done. Who can manage the “business” of government. Who can draw from a pool of talented people with different philosophies to create business solutions that work for the American people. As opposed to someone who knows how to work the political system and create an ugly duckling solution that is not good for anyone. Who has less of an axe to grind? Personal agenda to push? If anyone really understood the “Mormons” they would understand how low on the priority list the following achievements are; Rising to the top of the heap and holding the most powerful office in the world. Having your portrait engraved on a coin or printed on a dollar bill. A statue, memorial. A street or school named after you.

A true Mormon’s legacy is not found in a library in his home town at the end of his term. A true Mormon’s legacy is written in his home, his family. The selfless service given to others along the way. The giving and sharing of love and charity. Helping feed the poor, housing the homeless and caring for the afflicted and persecuted. Those are the core beliefs true Mormons subscribe to. What’s wrong with a President with those attributes?

According to the politically intelligent if those attributes stem from religious belief and conviction they are not worthy of the public platform. Let me quote from Dallin Oaks address.

“Many differences of opinion over the role of religion in public life simply mirror a difference of opinion over whether there are moral absolutes.”

… “Some moral absolutes or convictions must be at the foundation of any system of law. This does not mean that all laws are so based. Many laws and administrative actions are simply a matter of wisdom or expediency. But many laws and administrative actions are based upon the moral standards of our society. If most of us believe that it is wrong to kill or steal or lie, our laws will include punishment for those acts. If most of us believe that it is right to care for the poor and needy, our laws will accomplish or facilitate those activities. Society continually legislates morality. The only question is whose morality and what legislation.”

I could never have written words more inspired and clear. The only question indeed is, “whose morality and what legislation.” What if voters took that thought into the voting booth and judged each candidate based on that point alone. The poles may show a different leader. It appears that historically, with the aiding and abetting of the press, the misinformed public seek out and rally behind a candidate that is ambivalent about moral absolutes. Leaving room for the popular interpretation of the day. Not necessarily the correct interpretation.

The concern with Mitt Romney is the fear that he would push the LDS definition of the moral absolute on our country. Tongue in cheek I say, what’s wrong with that picture? Absolutely nothing! Dallin Oaks continues in his address on this perceived dilemma.

“I have a hard time believing that the teachings of religions or churches deprive their adherents of any more autonomy in exerting the rights of citizenship than the teachings and practices of labor unions, civil rights groups, environmental organizations, political parties, or any other membership group in our society.”

As citizens of this country we have been victimized by lobbyists pushing private agendas and private definitions of moral absolutes. We seem to be OK with the thievery, dishonesty, self-serving political motives driving these lobbyists. But we are willing to assume that a citizen running for president who was raised drinking from a cup of honesty and integrity and sound moral absolutes would be detrimental to the rights and privileges our constitution guarantees. Once again I say, what’s wrong with that picture?

I don’t care who you vote for. But do you want more of the same? Do we need moral leadership? Or do we just need leadership? After all, Hitler was a great leader. Does the business of government need to be repaired? Why don’t we try a successful businessman this time instead of a successful politician? Why don’t we try someone who is more concerned with how he will be remembered by his family and a right and just God rather than how he will be portrayed by the political spin doctors in media.

It’s your choice. Vote your conscience, but remember, that’s a moral absolute too!

Here is the link so you can read the entire address of Elder Oaks. It will enlighten you.

http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=4bd89209df38b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

The Most Recent MVHS Graduate

Did I tell you how much I love my 4 girls?! Especially Cecily, she's my favorite! (But I tell each of them that) She graduated from high school a couple of weeks ago. She's a 4.0 student but that's not what her report card said. But I will tell you this, she had more fun than any high school kid should be allowed. She did it right. Smart, pretty, athletic, a great sense of humor, all the boys like her .... what else could you ask for. She is a joy to have around. There isn't a time that we sit down as a family or partial family that she doesn't make us laugh with her faces and voices. She is a living, breathing, walking Saturday Night Live gig. She lights up a room.

Each one of my girls has a special place in my heart. They all are so different yet have so many things in common. And they love each other so very much. Fortunately they got their grace and beauty from their mother. I can claim some of their intelligence and athleticism, but then again, they got that from their mother too. Their activism and social conscience, from mom again. OK - their sense of humor and contagious laughter, mom again. Their strength, drive and goodness. Concern for their fellow-man. Friendliness, outgoing personality. Loyalty, work ethic. I guess I will concede...mom again on all points. Ability to be on time to meetings...YES! Two of them got that from me!

Did I tell you how much I love my 5 girls?!

A Different Kind of June 6th

Wherever you are sitting today when you read this I'd like you to look out the window. Consider your troubles, consider your future, consider your opportunities. Then consider the enormous price that was paid to allow you to have the freedom to look out the window and ponder these things; most importantly the right and freedom to change your stars.

JUNE 6TH, 1944 was a very different kind of June 6th than the one you see out your window today. Especially if you found yourself on the beaches at Normandy, France on D-Day.

To all of you who were there - Thank You! Thank you for allowing me the peace to look out my window and ponder my freedom and opportunities.

Another Agonizing SHOOTOUT!

Reprinted from Utah Rangers Website May 24th 2007

'93 Rangers Beat Unbeatable #1 State Cup Seed To Advance To Semi Finals

It took the Rangers '93 team ten minutes in the opening half to calm down after the referee's whistle opened the match. In a game considered the "match of death" by the the other six quarter finalist U14 teams gathered to watch the overtime match at Lakeside Park on Wednesday, the grim reaper tapped out the Rangers '93 Premier team to face the #1 seeded Sparta Premier team. On paper Sparta appeared unbeatable. On the field the Rangers proved otherwise.

A 2-1 pool-play loss to Wasatch Shock forced the Rangers into a quarter final match against a formidable Sparta team, the defending state cup champions. It wasn't until David Hardman beat the Sparta right wing defender at the 15 minute mark that the Rangers organized enough attacking play that resulted in two dangerous shots on goal and a second half push with two one-v-one's by Winston Sorhaitz and David Hardman only to be turned back Sparta's talented keeper to preserve the tie and force the overtime and shootout.

Ranger Shooter #1, Ryan Wilson, placed the ball into the lower right corner and Keegan Black followed with a save of Sparta's first shooter. Ranger forward Winstons Sorhaitz and Defender Parker Lopp gave Sparta a one goal advantage when they knocked both their shots over the crossbar forcing a decision on Sparta's fifth shooter. Luck prevailed when Sparta shot wide, sending the decision into extra shots. Josue Cisneros was good for the Ranger's sixth shot but Sparta answered with an equalizing goal. In rare dramatic fashion, Ranger midfielder Lincoln Salmon's seventh shot was saved, but the referee whistled the goalkeeper was off his line early and Salmon knotted his second try while Sparta lost the match when their seventh shooter went wide.

Well done Rangers '93. Now its on to a Semi Final win on Friday.

"Delightfully Tacky - Yet Unrefined"

I saw a guy in a Hooters shirt the back of which stated, "Delightfully Tacky - Yet Unrefined". That about sums it up. I looked on the Hooters website to see if that was a trademark statement or just simply a fact. I learned that there is a Hooters Lifestyle Section, what could that be? I didn't bother to look. There is a Gallery and the Hooters Girl-of-the-Month and a shop-online section for all the great orange Hooters gear from calendars, coffee mugs to golf bags. You can even get you own personalized Hooters Visa Card. You've got to be kidding me! Despite how I have started off here this is not an article about Hooters. It could be. Hooters is just symptomatic of another issue.

I grew up in California. Not that everything in California is cool but since moving to Utah a whole new side of what I would call "Americana" has been revealed to me. It's not unique to Utah (although Utah has some Americana uniqueness itself) Maybe it's because a lot of Utah is "country". Outside of Salt Lake there isn't a lot of urban sprawl. Most of urban Utah is touched by and borders the "country" and everything that comes with it. I apologize to you people that might consider yourselves country folk. You can write your own blog about those of us who grew up in urban sprawl on the California coast if you want. If not, just sit down, read and laugh with me here a minute.

I was never one to sport designer clothes too much. I never relished the thought of being a walking billboard for the likes of Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Dior, Armani or Nordstrom for that matter. OK, I did buy a pair of Gucci slip-ons once in New York when I was a stock trader. Frankly I liked the look of the little gold trademark Gucci buckle across the front of the shoe. And I own an Armani tie my wife got me at the thrift store for a quarter. I don't think that qualifies me as a fashion icon.

But I have to say this, clothing by Cabela's, Browning or Big-5 doesn't qualify either. Yet these logos are worn with the same pride an 80's yuppie wears the Polo horse on his/her chest. OK, maybe that's not extreme enough to explain what I am trying to say here. Let me try and hit a little closer to the target. What's with the decal on the back window of trucks with the little kid peeing on everything from a Ford logo to the words "my ex-wife"? And I love the chrome nude lady on the mud-flaps. It just doesn't get much more unrefined than that.

I can take or leave tattoos, mostly leave; but when I see someone with a tattoo creeping up out of their shirt and up the side of their neck like the mystery plague I have to say, the words "delightfully tacky" do come to mind. It always makes me wonder what it's growing out of....eeeeewwwww!

I like hats , but when I see a man who looks like he's a quart low all the time because from his nose up he is butt-white because he never takes his hat off, it makes me wonder. We go from Yankees and Dodgers to CAT and John Deere - I know those are two of my favorite teams! How about "Sexy Senior Citizen". There's nothing sexy about a senior citizen. There's nothing even funny about using those words in the same sentence, let alone having them emblazoned on the front of your hat. What about the 60 year-old lady with the glitter shirt that says, " I hit the Jackpot in Wendover!" Darn, I'm sorry I missed that trip. I'll bet that was fun. I would hate to admit I got my tennis elbow from a slot machine.

Where do some of these people get name books when they have children? Not at the Barnes and Noble I shop at! I guess if your name is Dale and you have a daughter it's OK to change the spelling to Dael and call it good. Or Darryl becomes Darelle... whatever works. Shontay, or is it Shontae! Laverle, Gaylene, Heavenly-Treasure, Lawanda, Shandalyn, Chewbacca.....gad zooks! Give your poor child a break. Life is tough enough without living with names you have to explain.

Willya borrow me a pencil? Lets go upta Salt Lake. Let's go downta St.George. We played a good game but they wunnus. Won us? And my personal favorite, my daughter goes to the BYU. "The" BYU? Is that the same thing as going to the Harvard or the Stanford?


Jeff Foxworthy does a much better job at this. But I just had to give it my two cents. "Delightfully Tacky - Yet Unrefined" is alive and well in the Utah.

Who is Hank Hill voting for?

Politics is not the first thing you would think Hank, Dale, Boomhauer and Bill are talking about in the alley while having a cold one. But like every other blue-blooded American it is not far from their lips. In fact one of Hanks favorite sayings is, "Nobody likes a knowitall who sits around talking about their genitalia." Do you think Hank was discussing politics when he made that statement? It caused me to pause and think, "Who would Hank Hill vote for".

So with some conjecture and analysis and a lot of tongue-in-cheek I will attempt to put a ballot in their hands and get them to speak out. It should prove to be interesting and potentially thought provoking. Hank and the boys have become American Icons. They are real, everyday people we all know. They are so believable to us that we think that we could drive down to Arlen and find them standing in the alley on a warm Texas evening. As for myself, I would love to stand there shoulder to shoulder holding my own cold one (in my case a Mountain Dew, although Hank besides beer probably only has Dr Pepper in the fridge) and join in the banter, challenge their political beliefs and get them to speak up and tell us what they think. My apologies in advance to creator Mike Judge.

Dale is the owner of "Dales Dead Bug" extermination service. Dale is a chain smoker and loves golf. He is a conspiracy theorist and believes government is out to get us. "Guns don't kill people. The Government does." Dale is paranoid. Dale is a card carrying member of the NRA. Golf and guns would make him a Republican but Dale trusts no one... "You really believe they landed on the moon?" Dale is a veteran. Dale supports the troops but most likely thinks we should drop the bomb because they eventually find the weapons of mass destruction. He voted for Bush but that not being an option he is leaning toward McCain the hawk. But POW's are pussies who couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag so he is torn. Dale doesn't believe anyone is qualified to lead the country. He would vote for Oliver Stone if he could, because Oliver "gets it". He really wishes Cheney was running "cuz that ol' boy can shoot!

Boomhauer has an IQ of a hockey score. He talks like mumbles on Dick Tracy. I think Boomhauer did too many drugs. He loves NASCAR and naked chicks on the internet. He voted for Clinton and was pissed he got caught with Monica. "Dang ol' Bill man that's Bills business". He wishes Ricky Bobby was running cuz Ricky's a winner. And dang we need a winner in the White House! Boomhauer won't get around to voting because he'll be busy working on his car

Bill is like a deer caught in the headlights and will vote for pretty much anyone Hank tells him to vote for. Bill is a Barber for the Armed Forces of America. He also supports the troops and has a yellow ribbon and a flag on the tree in his front yard but can't remember why they are there. Bill voted for Ross Perot in 1992 because he thought Perot made sense... "If you see a snake, just kill it - don't appoint a committee on snakes." That made perfect sense to Bill and made him laugh. Bill won't vote for Mitt Romney because, "I like beer. Don't you like beer? I mean, I love beer." Romney's a Mormon and they don't drink beer.

The burning question still remains. Who will Hank Hill vote for? Hank's a conservative. He's a Republican. He sells propane -clean fuel. He most likely agrees with Al Gore on global warming but won't get on the bandwagon until he sees icebergs floating in Galveston Bay. Hank is pissed we haven't won the war in Iraq and thinks we made a mistake. Hank is for Gay Rights, "They have the right to leave and go to France!" He worries gays will have an negative influence on his son Bobby. The Immigration issue can be solved with a wall like the Chinese did to the Mongols. Peggy, Hanks wife is a big influence on Hank. Peggy is outspoken and an activist. She's the moral compass of moral compasses. Peg is a Democrat. "That Barack is smooth but I just don't know about him," she will say. Peg would counsel Hank to vote for Hillary Clinton. Hank will acquiesce to her request, much to Peg's delight but once in the booth Hank will vote for Rudy Giuliani "Because voting is a private issue and you don't have to tell anyone who you voted for, even Peg." That means Bill will vote for Rudy too but wonder why he's voting for an Italian.

Hank would tell all of us to vote our conscience. He wouldn't argue with your choice, he would be happy that you exercised your right as an American citizen to vote. He would hope you would vote for people that would allow him to stand shoulder to shoulder with his best friends in the back alley, have a beer and have the freedom of speech to talk or complain about anything. I agree.