Beneath the Wraps

             Quite recently my brother became a target of what one may have considered a funny prank.   Something had landed on his head.   Something gross.   It had been delivered intentionally.   He had a nagging feeling to share with his manager what   had taken place figuring that nothing could be done.   He’d forgotten about the video cameras that surrounded the area.             Security was called and the culprit was caught.   The culprit had known he was wrong for his act of disgust.   Before he “delivered” his “gift” he had looked around to make certain that no one was watching.   Evidently he had no taken the cameras into consideration either.   Corey had the option to press charges but declined and never met his offender.   His boss had given him the option of going home to recuperate – which he did eventually.    ...

            On Sunday I was told to go into the room where the young women meet as the stake presidency wanted at least one parent for every youth to sit in.   The subject was a sensitive subject but seemed to be approached from a different angle but still with a hint of snobbery. One of the stake president's counselors was showing a slide show and had used this as an example of "Satan trying to divert your attention away from him"  referring to the "fox" as Satan. Okay, Satan can be clever, but others can be clever without deception.   Some people are better at "fitting in" than others.   But at whose expense do we fit in?             The teens were asked if they know of others who are living together without being married.   My reaction:   "My son Biff and his girlfriend Claire."   The idea of living together was compared to...

     I started my blog on New Year's 2012.   My goal was to create a new post for each day.   My goal was to keep them positive.   For the most part, I think they were.   It appears that I had been faithful about blogging each day for the first few months, and then it tapered off into at least 20 posts, but by summer it was less.   I had a great excuse though.   Jenna was home from school and I needed to spend time with her and not on the computer.         December came and I was once again going to post every day.   All of my posts would center around Christmas.   I didn't want to be so cold as to not acknowledge the shootings on the 14th at Sandy Hooks elementary in Newton Connecticut.   Innocent children . . .         I did not mention any other shootings . . . my blog had somehow turned into thoughts on dementia, assisted living, transport...

                  I believe it was 1996 when the freeway was in the process of a new makeover as Utah would be holding the winter Olympics in 2002 and the city needed to get ready for the mass transportation that would be involved.             I was working downtown and had chosen to ride the bus to my destination.   Often I would catch a bus which ran along State Street, but every once in a while I managed to catch the one that went by way of the freeway.   Either way I had my nose in a book during the ride.             I recall one day in particular I was reading the autobiography of a World War II survivor from Poland.   He was only a boy when the invasion started and described the horrific scenery – which to him was not so horrific - as he thought the dirt pit...

                   We went to a primary baptism on Saturday.   I was surprised to see Azure’s dad dressed in white. According to Hannah, her husband had been inactive for eight years.   Evidently Azure had talked him into coming back so that he could baptize him – which he did.               The baptism was a lot more reverent than the last primary baptism Jenna and I had attended.   Roland actually went with us to this one. There was still the visiting between the confirmation and the baptism though everyone seemed to be more respectful and non visiting the two times we had waited in the chapel.   I don’t know why the visitation bothers me so much, but it does.               Jenna had brought along an activity book to keep herself entertained. ...

          If I can’t get interested in a movie in the first twenty minutes or a novel within the first ten pages, I usually don’t continue.  That may not seem like I am giving a fair chance – maybe so.  But it’s something I have decided not to gamble on – usually.  `        There have been too many movies and even more books read where I have sat through its entirety and am quite upset with myself for having wasted my time.  That is why I usually don’t go beyond twenty minutes or ten pages.  But sometimes I do.           “that’s what I am” was actually kind of a slow movie – one I watched in parts because of several interruptions.  I don’t know if I would have continued otherwise – though I was somewhat intrigued by the narration by Greg Kinnear – it reminded me of Jean Shepherd’s “The Christmas Story” or “Ollie Hopnoodle’...