Beneath the Wraps

          "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" was released in 1986.  I remember going to the theater with my mom and brother Patrick.  I don't understand why my dad wasn't with us as he seemed to be a fan of "Star Trek"                                We were still in line when we heard that "Star Trek" had been sold out, but my mom really wanted to see something and so we continued to stand in line.             As we approached the booth, and had a better view of titles and times, Patrick suggested that mom might like "Little Shop of Horrors"  He didn't really know much about it except for it was a musical.  I really don't think he was aware of the bizarre plot involved.       ...

For the most part, I find commercials to be confusing and/or annoying.  This one truly does bring a smile to my face:

          My neighbor lost her husband a few months before we had moved in.  He enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles  together, and had left the earth with a garage-full of 1,000 piece puzzles.  Recently she has gone through his puzzles to donate to senior centers and individuals and has asked Jenna and I if we would like to take some for ourselves.           The first puzzle that we did worked up rather quickly.  Along with Roland, we worked on the puzzle for three days before it was finished. Jenna asked if we could glue it together and hang it in her room.  And so we did.           Not all of the puzzles have worked up for us as quickly.  Thus far, it is the only puzzle we have glued. One we didn't even finish.  A couple were missing pieces.  A few were missing pieces before Jenna and I had take...

Jenna asked if Roland and I would fill some plastic eggs and hide them in the backyard for her.  I look at her height and think she is too old for this.  But then I think:  We did this for the boys at the time Ooki lived  with our family.  Although I included scriptural references and thoughts to give meaning to the activity as Easter is not about eggs or bunnies but new life in His Resurrection.             To keep with the true meaning of Easter, I leave you these thoughts:   

         Mother nature has interpreted  "spring break" to be a week without sunshine - a break for the sun.          Ever since we moved here, I notice that the rain in Oregon is quite different from the rain in Salt Lake City.          Salt Lake rain is soaking wet.  You're drenched the second it hits you.  Oregon rain is moist - like having a humidifier running outdoors.  Often I don't even know it is raining by touch or by sight.  I can hear the rain dropping into pipes or puddles.          My sister posted pictures of the snow that Mother Nature sent them starting their spring.  Right below her pics, a commenter had left another photo of her tree in blossom against green grass which she had taken the day before.             I don't think ...

       Recently I had a dream that I was cleaning around the house when I noticed a plastic bag with a collage of items inside.  I was startled to see a rather large spider crawling toward the top.  Of course I freaked.  This was not any ordinary spider - it was one that would be displayed at a zoo or museum because of its enormous size - 2-3 times larger than the tarantula.  And dirty blonde.  It was creepy.        I thought by sealing up the plastic bag, I would have better control over the fate of the spider, but it managed to escape - which of course made it more scary.  Though it appeared to be larger than many rodents, it moved quickly and I didn't always know where the spider was. The spider I dreamed was more blonde (not as much brown) but the size is about the same.  Too many pictures to wade through.  I still have chills.        ...

                 It’s not that I favor Francis over Pamprin or that I feel that I know her better.  Truth is, I probably have more memories (both positive and negative) of Pamprin than I do of Frances.  It’s just that as Frances and Jenna share so many physical features and personality traits as mentioned here :                   Jenna does not share the same laugh, which I'm grateful for.  Frances had an obnoxious laugh.  It came out as a really loud cackle.  I don't remember Pamprin ever laughing although she did smile a lot.  Randy, Pamprin and Jenna (each the youngest of their birth moms) all have dimples on their faces.  Biff, Frances and Jenna (each the eldest of their birth moms)  all have brown eyes       Our visitations were suppose...

         Recently I was contacted by the American Red Cross to donate blood.  Roland gets contacted every two months - like the American Cross has preprogrammed for automatic dial.  With me, it really is a matter of desperation.  Roland's blood type is in the rare percentage that can be used on babies.  I don't know who may have ended up with my blood.  Somebody who needed it - but not in major quantity.          The last time Roland had been contacted, he learned that there would be a blood drive at the local high school.  He told me about it and had actually made appointments for both of us. Or at least that was my understanding.          So when I was contacted, I told the caller that I already had an appointment.  Two days later I was told there would no longer be a drive at the high school, but that I could donate ...

        Missionaries appreciate not only meeting the members, but having someone cook dinner for them - or at least I did.  Depending on the area,  I suppose there are some meals that can get tiresome for missionaries.  Spaghetti seems to be a huge staple.  Missionaries seem to get their fill of pizza in the ward I currently reside.  In my mission, the meal that was overdone always included fried chicken and some unidentified vegetable that had been boiled beyond recognition.          Serving chicken was so overdone that before my mission ended,  I was certain that I wouldn't care if I ever ate chicken again. And I think it was seriously a couple of years before I willingly ate it again.         Roland always likes to do something different for the missionaries - something original that they (the missionaries) don't get very often....

                        On the first week of March, many public libraries sponsor children's programs and have birthday parties in honor of Dr. Seuss.  My eldest granddaughter celebrates her birthday the date after Dr. Seuss celebrates his.             Stakes and wards from around the world will celebrate the anniversary of the Relief Society organization.  Some have birthday parties complete with food and programs, others offer workshops and uplifting instruction.              St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in honor St. Patrick, as a holy day of obligation,  and a celebration of Ireland itself.                   ...

          Yesterday morning was overly dark.  It was cold and raining.  It mirrored the emotions of my heart           I had heard a quote from a TV show that got me thinking.  The quote was something to the affect of, "sometimes things get broken and sometimes broken things just can't be fixed"                     There is a number of tangible items that have had to be discarded as they have either gone beyond repair or just don't seem worth the effort.  How blessed we are that we are God's children and are worth the effort of not being broken - though for many of us some trials have made us question our worth.           Earlier in December, my eldest daughter-in-law chose to not only defriend me on facebook, but block her ...