Hand-me-down Technology

My son Chris just became the owner of a new IPhone 4. As a result I am now the proud owner of an IPhone 3GS. And Sam, well he has an IPhone 3G that used to be mine that used to be Chris's. We are all very happy that Chris always has to have the hottest and newest technology around.

Another "Bernie" Story

Mrs. J. just reminded me of another Bernie story. . .Bernie goes to the trash can and pulls out a piece of paper. Written on the paper were these words. . ."Walter (one of Bernie's friends) has no friends." "Oh no!" he exclaims "Who could have written such a thing?" Being the excellent detectives that we are, Mrs. J and I started our investigation. Upon further examination of the paper, we find "Bernie's" name written on the other side with some school work he had done. Upon confronting the suspect, he said, "How did you know it was me?" "Silly boy, your name is on the paper." Needless to say, we all had a good laugh. There's never a dull moment in 1st grade.

The Rest of the Story

To see the beginning of this story, you need to read my brother Rich's blog. He is the Hairy Curmudgeon listed on my blog.

So. . .my mom arrived in Arizona to help with the newest member of the family, Stephen Gary. Boy, was I glad she was there. Stephen had to go back to the hospital because he was jaundiced. I was pretty much an emotional wreck. This experience did come in handy in September when Lily was born. April and Sam had to leave her overnight for the same malady Stephen had. I was able to assure her that it wasn't the end of the world and Lily wouldn't remember a thing or be scarred for life. At the same time I was reassuring her though, I could remember exactly how I felt when it happened to me (3 times). Anyway, I digress, Mom was there to help me through all that. In addition, we had to move while I was in the hospital and she unpacked most of my apartment.

I also have a "dad waiting in the car" story. When I was in high school, a big seminary bash was held at the University of Utah. Dad drove my friends and I there. I always wondered how he got the same parking place when he returned because I thought he would leave and come back after it was over. No, he just stayed in the car the whole time waiting for us. I didn't know he stayed in the car the whole time until much later. What a dad!

Sometimes, I wish more than anything that I could see my parents. I would love to go to Heber and run up the stairs and see them there. However, I know that because of temple ordinances I will see them again and we will be all together.

I'm grateful that I am my parents' child and I'm grateful for my own children who are all fine people. I'm grateful to Heavenly Father for families!!

School Musings

Confidence Man Strikes 1st grade--Holy Bernie Madoff

Conversation that took place a couple of Fridays ago. . .

E.--Mrs. J can I go to the bathroom?

Mrs. J. We just went, you'll have to pay me a grabber (the money of 1st grade).

E.--I don't have any.

Mrs. J. What happened to the five you get on Monday?

E.--I gave them all to "Bernie". He said he would buy me something from the 50 grabber box.

About 4 other kids exclaimed (none of them girls, I'm not sure what that means)--I gave my grabbers to "Bernie" also. He said he would get me something from the 50 grabber box.

Mrs. J.-- "Bernie" what's going on?

"Bernie"--I really was going to get them something.

Skeptical look from Mrs. J--No you weren't.

She questions the other kids as to how many grabbers they gave "Bernie." Turns out he made off with about 80 grabbers.

Mrs. J.--"Bernie" give them all back.

I'm sitting in the back of the room and mention, "Wow, you would go to jail if you were an adult."

"Bernie"--(in dismay) Why??

Mrs. J.--Well when you take people's money and tell them you are going to get them something for it and then don't do it, you go to jail.

WOW!

Too Cool to say Hello

When kids are in 1st, 2nd and even 3rd grade, they love you. You get hello's on campus and some hugs as well. Sometime after that things change. In 4th grade, they may grudgingly say hello to you as you pass them on campus. In 6th grade--well let me explain what happened the other day. I was walking through the library. Some 6th graders were there for their media center time. I said hello to a few of them. What did I get? Blank stares that's what! Apparently when you get to the 6th grade, saying hello isn't cool anymore.

Our Field Trip to the Science Center

A couple of weeks ago the first grade went to the Science center in Phoenix. First of all, it was under construction so some things had been taken off exhibit. Secondly, there were about a million other kids there. Thirdly, some parents should not be chaperons.

Some things were missing, however, the most favorite exhibit of all, the weather platform, was still there. What is a weather platform you ask? By standing on it with a bunch of other people, one gets to experience all kinds of weather--from hurricanes to earth quakes. This is all done by the magic of hot lights, blowing air, water, and a rumbling floor. As you can imagine, the kids love it and want to do it over and over and over again.

We saw buses from Show Low, Deer Valley, the Creighton School district and other Mesa School district buses. By the time our buses finally had their turn to pull up at the end of the day, we were about 20 minutes late. I'm also glad we didn't lose anyone (well, expect for one child, but his teacher found him) It was wall to wall kids.

You know, when a parent is sitting there and her child and one other child are at the top of a tree; I really have to wonder. . .

The Dreaded Dibbles Testing

Next week, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders will be tested. One of the most important parts of this test is how fast a child can read. Now I know that part of being a fluent reader is to be a fast reader along with accuracy and expression. I'm rather tired of listening to kids read the same thing over and over. Besides, some kids just talk slowly so they read slowly and getting them to read faster would require (I'm not exactly sure what that would be.) Anyway, I'll be glad when next week is over.

My K-Mart Shoes

All this rain and something a third grader said today brought back the memory of my K-mart shoes. The third grader said her mom wouldn't let her wear her new shoes because it was raining.

Flash back to 5th grade. We always used to stop at the K-mart on Parley's way in Salt Lake City on the way home from Salt Lake. Mom used to do her grocery shopping there and the rest of us would hang out next door at the regular K-mart. I found some beautiful shoes that I just couldn't do without. I begged my mom and she finally relented. They were a great deal--only about $5.

The first day I wore them to school it rained. Those K-mart shoes totally fell apart. I don't mean things came loose. They fell apart. I think they must have been made out of cardboard or something. We never bought shoes at K-mart again.

Babies and Awful Movies

Last night four adults were gathered around one baby for about 15 minutes just watching. We were thoroughly entertained and she wasn't doing anything extraordinary--just kicking her feet, waving her arms and making baby noises. We love Lily!





Saturday night, while looking for something to watch on TV, we came across this movie--THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. It was worse than terrible. It was so bad, we had a great time making fun of it.

1. There was great overacting by a child actor.

2. Kathy Bates, as the secretary of defense, was running around in her power pantsuit and professional hairdo yelling, "We have everything under control." Because, of course, when aliens land the powers that be always have everything under control.

3. The president and vice president were hidden in secret bunkers, leaving Kathy Bates in control. What president does that?

4. A huge storage unit just the right size magically shows up to contain the auto matron that is threatening the world. The U.S. military is prepared for everything these days.

5. Kenau Reeves hatches from some placenta like material to become a human.

6. Someone shoots the evil alien as he comes out of his sphere even though everyone was ordered to hold their fire.

7. An evil government official orders the door locked on a man doing experiments on the auto matron even though it means the man's death. A few seconds later the evil government official wants out because his life is in danger and he hears the words, "This door automatically locks during an emergency." Ha, ha evil government official.

8. The alien (Kenau Reeves) visits a Nobel Prize winner and helps him solve the ultimate math problem. He also gets advice on why he should not destroy all the people on the earth.

9. The people on the earth need to be destroyed because that is the only way to save the earth.

10. The alien (Reeves) decides the people can be saved because he sees the love a mother has for her child.

So yes, it was quite amusing. A good time was had by all.

Another Great Read!

Black people were expected to know their place in Jackson Mississippi in the early 1960's. Black maids cooked food, cleaned houses and cared for white people's children, yet they had to use a bathroom outside the house.

What happens when two black maids and a young white woman come together to write a book?

Read THE HELP.