Beneath the Wraps

I am a visual person I like parables, analogies, crashcourse videos, mnenomics and pictures The fluff and flowers help me remember. Whatever I'm trying to learn will make more sense if I can compare or have an image in my mind. Roland seems to do better without the fluff and flowers; he can read a wordy textbook or listen to a person ramble on and on during a lecture - the more boring or over my head the more he understands and vice-versa. He has the talent to read the wordy textbook and dummy it down to my level.   I don't have the talent of taking all the fluff and turn it into 68 words instead of just five so that he will understand. We're two different people.

        I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by!   Winter Break will take place during the two classes I am currently taking.   It doesn't seem like it's been too long since the last winter break.   I know a few months have gone by, but not 12!   Not even 10.   Only one month left of 2017. What the heck?   How can the year have gone by so quickly when there were so many spurts of activity that almost seemed/felt endless ( here and here for example) Jenna painting ornaments         Last year I had participated in a posting class offered during winter break - students shared Christmas memories and recipes.   I remember one recipe for salt dough ornaments, and made up some batch for family home evening, but waited until yesterday morning to cut out the dough as the recipe suggested a four hour baking time, and I knew I wouldn't want   to be checking the oven after 8:0...

            Yesterday I started two new classes in addition to a grant class I'm taking for the library.   The two classes I'm taking currently delve into personality.   I have a feeling my head will fill faster than my fingers will be able to keep up. I've taken intelligence quizzes before - even before I started taking classes online.   I see the growth in my answers.   The instructor made the suggestion to look at where we were ten years ago and where we are now emotionally.   This is what I've written - but feel that it's too long for the discussion.   Even if I reference myself, I don't have anything to put in APA form as a reference.   So I'm posting it here - although you may have read it all before.             Ten years ago I walked with my three year old daughter to the school.   We took many walks around not only our neighborhood but my mom'...

cookies created on Wednesday Nov 22                  Jenna had invited two of her friends over to hang yesterday. Roland had made cookie dough the night before so that her friends could roll dough, cut into shapes and decorate when they came over.   Jenna was very excited.   She and Roland went to the store to pick out cookie decore and Jenna was quite selective making certain that none of the candy or frostings contained any nuts or nut oils as one of her friends is allergic.          But both had given excuses not to come and so at 7:30 this morning, Roland rolled out dough while Jenna and I cut out the cookies.   After they were baked, we started our decorating.   About 2/3 were complete before Jenna and I got bored and decided to play games for a while.   We also watched "The Muppet Movie" and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" As we watched "Charlie Brown" I reminised over a few dif...

                I guess I could have gone into more detail about Danny's class.   As I mentioned, there were fourteen children in the Valiant class alone - four of them boys.   I have never seen more than two Valiant boys in class since I started attending the ward in Myrtle Creek.   After the opening prayer, Danny passed out scriptures to each child - part of a scripture anyway.   Seven children had the names of a book found in the scriptures.   Seven had a chapter (or section) and a verse.   Danny asked why none of the children had looked up the scriptures she had handed out, what may have been the problem - when it was decided that each of the children had only part of scripture, Danny asked that they check the paper and find a partner that had the other half.             I was impressed how each of them actuall...

                 I came home with a headache yesterday.   I still don't know for sure what caused it, though I have a better idea.   Our youngest beehive attends primary before Young Women's starts.   She had been picked to introduce and conclude the primary program.   I noticed she had been wearing make-up; perhaps she was wearing perfume as well.   That is one plus about being in primary - usually my allergies don't react as the children don't tend to wear it for the most part. I can't say for sure as I have lost the majority of my sense of smell.   I'm guessing a sweet perfume.   Those fragrances I think smell best are the ones that irritate my sinuses the most.             The stake primary president was visiting as well.   Perhaps one of those sisters had been wearing a perfume - though they were all on the other side of the sli...

          Primary programs seem necessary, but I loathe practicing for them.   I always have. As a child, my primary day was on Thursday right after school.   I was then a part of the Midvale East 4th ward.   I can remember on days when it would snow, an announcement would go over the intercom: there will be no primary for such and such a ward.   Never did they announce Midvale East 4th would be cancelled - not even once!   And some days we were faced with more severe snow!   I did not appreciate nor understand it at the time.   I have since thanked my former primary president for her love and devotion.           However, practicing for the primary program, for me, was worse than crossing the street in the snow.   Though I do enjoy singing, I did not enjoy practicing them or keeping still or staying reverent while others took their turns. I would actually play hooky from pr...

          Our swim instructor retired from teaching in public education but has agreed to substitute on occasion.   She happened to be subbing for one of Jenna's teachers and had mentioned to me how Jenna is well liked by so many of her peers.   She is admired because she is herself.   She hangs on to the things she likes and disregards things she doesn't like and refuses to play games of "following the leader" unless she's the leader.           There are several times that I've called Jenna "crazy" or "weird" referring to her personality differences and not necessarily with Jenna herself.   There have been a few concerned about "labeling" - but my family understands what I am saying and in many cases will agree with me.           Take today for instance: Jenna has an opportunity, along with several other honor students, to go to the cinema in ...

            The RS presidency was in charge of the activity.   The theme was on gratitude.   I didn't raise my hand when our president asked for volunteers.   I was helping another sister sort toiletries that we had collected to put in bags to send to the women's shelter.   I don't know how many volunteers she ended up with, but her demonstration didn't actually go as well as she had hoped.             To each sister (and the two Elder missionaries who happened to be there) she gave each a small rock and a candy kiss.   She told each to put the rock in her (or his) shoe and walk around, but to please enjoy the candy.   The idea was "to enjoy the candy so much that you didn't think about the rock in your shoe."   I'm afraid I would have focused on the rock more than the candy.         ...

        I'm certain I must have mentioned in at least one post that in addition to learning a trade, the online school I attend expects their students to be human or humane rather.   I've taken classes in philosopy and economics and have actually shared various assignments because regardless of whether I am to find employment or not is beside the point.   Some of these classes, I feel, have made me a better human being.           The video below is one that I have had for at least three different classes now.   I hope it is one that all business majors will take to heart and keep the statitics in mind that we might not have to live another recession - or depression (found here )

So many times Jenna and I have gone to Millsite, I feel like I am seeing it for the first time.  The elements change and often causes a new feel.  But there has been reconstruction.  A new fence was added.  Trees were removed and new ones planted.  This is Millsite last year, this year in October and on Veteran's Day Dec 22, 2016 Dec 22, 2016 Perhaps you will recognize some of these pictures from this site     October 10, 2017 When we returned to the park on Veteran's Day, I took even more pictures

(Pineapple Members, 2016)             Some people are blessed with learning from others' examples.   Unfortunately it seems there are more who just don't get it and have to figure out things for themselves.   Still there are some who go through trials and still appear to be clueless.   Allow me to share an example.             When I was a youth, I remember seeing ads in the classified section inviting youth to earn money picking pineapples in Hawaii.   The ad itself was marketed in such a clever way that youth believed not only would they be earning money, but would have an opportunity to tour Hawaii as well.   I remember a bunch of Patrick's friends decided to fill out applications and asked him to join them as well.   My brother, Patrick, has always been logical and decided he would wait a year.   If things worked out among his friends, surely they'd want to return. ...