...I swear in the days still left we'll walk in the fields of gold....

...So she took her love
For to gaze awhile
Upon the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold

Will you stay with me, will you be my love
Among the fields of barley
We’ll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in the fields of gold

See the west wind move like a lover so
Upon the fields of barley
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth
Among the fields of gold
I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I’ve broken
But I swear in the days still left
We’ll walk in the fields of gold
We’ll walk in the fields of gold...


Sting
Ten Summoners Tales
A&M Records 1993

Lake Mead 1984

I have had this picture on my desk for a long time. Lake Mead houseboat trip 1984. Great time! Great company! Great sunglasses Marian! Great hair Rick! I like this picture because of the attitude. The tiger-by-the-tail time of our life before the rains came. Lot of water under the bridge since this picture was taken. But this is who we are. Who I am! We can't recapture the moment but we can recapture the feeling. I love shaggy long hair, tan dry skin and rough edges. I love the feel of a well worn Gordon & Smith t-shirt. Bare feet, ski-boats and beautiful women in bathing suits. Water balloon launchers, barbecues and sleeping in a sleeping bag on the top deck. Laughing so hard with your friends you puke! Getting up before the sun rises to catch the smooth water and hitting the glass once again just before sunset. This is who I am. Time and life have occasionally made me forget that. That's why I keep this picture on my desk - to remind me. I am fun. I am laughter. I fix the boat when it breaks down and enjoy it. I am the first one up in the morning and the last one to bed at night. I'm the one that starts the fire in the morning that allows others to wake up to the smell of bacon frying. I'm the one at the end of a long day and night that secures everything, turns out the lights and then finds a quiet place to read or just look out on the water for an hour or two meditating. Why have I forgotten this? Why have I lost touch with this guy in the picture? He's funny as hell and if you want to have a really good time on your vacation you make sure he and his beautiful wife come with you. Plus...He owns the boat and he's buying!

Excuse me while I go outside and stand on the fence post, flap my wings and crow like a rooster. COCKADOOODLEDOOOO!!!

Now I have to go back to work.... (but I am starting the long journey back by growing my hair out)

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.