Last month, I was invited to go fourwheeling. I had only done it once before and that was a few years ago. It took me some time to get used to how to operate the one I was using. I started out pretty well. We were on a paved forest road. We wanted to turn around. I put my foot down on the little foot break to put it in reverse, but the break didn’t hold. When I went to change the gear, my thumb hit the little accelerator and I took off over an embankment and the machine hit a small tree... Read Full Story

So, we’re down in California for the birth of our latest grandchild. While our daughter and grandchild were still in the hospital, our son-in-law asked us to go to the grocery store a pick up a few things. We were happy to help It’s very hot down here by our standards. Barbara has these things that if you get them wet with cold water and tie them around your neck, they’re supposed to keep you cool. She put the one in the picture on and we went into the store. At the checkout... Read Full Story

Yesterday in Portland, the weed pollen count was very high. I was out in the community teaching a client how to get around town in the Portland transit system known as Tri-Met. By the end of the day, my sinuses were plugged up badly, my eyes were itching like crazy, and my ears were full. Around 9:00 PM, I needed to stop and get some allergy medicine and a couple of other items for the house. I also needed the restroom at the store, but it was occupied for about fifteen minutes. I was not fee... Read Full Story

After my online revelation in Tired of Making It Look Easy, I went to church. I am the music director, meaning that I stand up front during hyms, wave a baton, and try to keep the congregation singing together. People generally look up now and then to watch me, but often I feel like I’m up there alone. I joked with someone that if people watched me during the hymns, I’d know that a lot of people read my blog. I didn’t really notice any difference today, so I can’t real... Read Full Story

Weird Lips I get a lot of comments about my very strange picture on top of my blog. It shows me with a very wild look and screwed up mouth. I think it almost looks like someone from “The Simpsons“. I thought maybe I would explain it for those who don’t like it or think it doesn’t represent me well. I’m a real sucker for sappy, tear-jerking movies. Back in the seventies, The Other Side of the Mountain was released.  It was the true story of Olympic-hopeful sk... Read Full Story

A few days ago, I saw a few bags of groceries on the table that my wife had bought and hadn’t put away. In one bag, I found two large jars of chunky peanut butter. I couldn’t believe it. In my cupboard were six large jars of extra chunky peanut butter, all with a few spoonfuls missing. I couldn’t understand why we needed more. More than that, I couldn’t understand why we didn’t have any regular peanut butter. Later, when I saw Barbara, I asked about it. She said,... Read Full Story

I’ve never posted about it on this blog, but it is fairly common knowledge among people who know me well and have read my other blogs that I deal with same-sex attraction. Some people called it “gay”. Others call it “homosexual”. I guess I call it all of the above depending on the context. If you are reading this, then I have decided to post it. I am writing this with a great deal of anxiety. It’s not that I am unaccustomed to talking about it. It’s t... Read Full Story

Yesterday, I was with some friends in Hood River, Oregon. I needed to get to Oregon City. I wanted to show him sights that were new to him rather than going back via the freeway. I knew a back way that went over some pretty rugged roads very close to Mt. Hood. As we went along, I got hit with a bad case of nostalgia. This road has some pretty awesome memories associated with it. Around twenty years ago, I was in much better shape than I am now, although at the time it seemed to me I was way o... Read Full Story

Well, here it is. It’s Father’s Day in the United States, a day where the nation recognizes the importance of fathers. Whether your father was a good one or not so good, you’ll probably think about him today.I think we should maybe rename Father’s Day, Mother’s Day Two. This is the day when I get reminded over the pulpit, in Sunday School, and in Priesthood that I might be important, but my wife is far more important. If I hear one more time that I’m the h... Read Full Story

Back in October, my favorite cookie company filed for bankruptcy. The great cookies disappeared from the shelf. Most notably missed are the Gauchos. They are a peanut butter sandwich cookie that, in my ever so humble opinion, are ten times better than Nutter Butter. Then in December, Kellogg’s announced that they were buying the brand and some of the recipes.  Last week, I started seeing them on the shelves. I spent twenty minutes looking for the Gauchos. They weren’t there. IR... Read Full Story