Keepin' Up with the Benges

How are you supposed to keep up with the Jones' when you can't even keep up with your very own blog?

I have some notes and photos out there, if you are interested. But, I don't have our anniversary trip, or anything on our son's weddings.

I can already hear you ask, "How can you take time to blog about a whiteboard drawing or misspelled words on the back of a van, but ignore important things you should put on your blog?"

It's elementary, my dear Watson (or Watdaughter, or Watever): simple things are much easier to put together than important things. Sorry about that.

September 6th: Beautiful Morning Warning

Photos can rarely capture nature's beauty. Especially camera phones. But on September 6th I tried. It was a red sky in the morning, where I believe sailors should take warning. It was red to the East, and red with a double rainbow to the West. I thought it was spectacular.

(Sailor's warning: some pictures are very blurry, and I don't think any of them convey the beauty I saw.)

Of Good Report and Praiseworthy

I get accustomed to my children being pretty awesome. I think I often miss things that are of good report and praiseworthy. Here are some recent ones.

The Wise Fool

In a previous post, I shared the school picture from my 1985-1986 Dixie College yearbook. My sophomore photo is much better, I think:

I will spare you other photos from the yearbook. Besides, I didn't try out for Mr. Dixie when I got back, so there isn't too much to show how dorky I was. I still was dorky. I fear I still am dorky.

Just this one row of photos brings back great memories. 

The Frosh

As I started typing up a blog entry about Peter Johnson, I wanted to look at my Dixie College yearbook. I had forgotten the names of many of the people I studied with and served with and loved, and wanted to see what memories I could refresh. I needed more than a refresher of names! If interested, read on. But, be warned: because of my proximity to some pretty neat people, I may look cooler than I really am. Everything that makes me look dorky is accurate.

Conference Close to Home

We really enjoyed General conference. There are many more changes to figure outRarely do I know the speakers in General Conference, or know anybody they talk about in their stories. I know F. Michael Watson and Brook Hales because they became seventies after I worked with them as secretaries to the First Presidency, so I enjoyed listening to them as I knew them and loved them. 

This last conference, though, brought things a little closer to home. Both occurred in the last session. 

Perspective

A friend of mine posted this a few months ago. I've never thought about this from the lemons' perspective:

My Deck Goes Down, My Deck Goes Up

April 28, 2019: I must have forgotten to take pictures of our crumbling deck underneath. I did take some pictures of Psycho Robin this spring, after he came back to smash his face into the basement window near my desk. Strangest bird ever. Sing with me!

♫♫ 

Psycho robin (tweet-tweet-tweet),

Psyche-psyche-psycho robin (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)

Go psycho robin 'cause you're drivin' me nuts tonight (tweet-tweedilly-tweet) ...

"A" Minus for Spelling

The sliding door seems to get the name of the company right, but the name on the back doors is what I noticed first. Gross:

Deer of the Dead

On October 9th, I arrived early for our annual multi-department tech conference at the institute building at the University of Utah. Right across the street from the football stadium is a cemetery, and I decided to take a few minutes to check it out.

It was beautiful. But, I was surprised to meet a half dozen deer:

Brakes and Rotors

I went to Jiffy Lube to have the front brakes done on the big van, and they informed me that my rotors were worn, which I suspected: things were wobbling a bit, and I noticed that the rotors were pitted.

So, I called a local shop and they quoted me about $1000 to get it done. Yikes. So, I figured I would try it myself and save about $750. I think it was worth it, but it was a pain.

More Mis

I realized I had less Mis (ha ha! get it?) pictures than I thought, because I haven't added any of Miriam and Andrew in their most recent show of Les Miserables. So, let's add more Mis! By the way, they both did an amazing job. 

Otter Pops

The Otter Pops is the self proclaimed nom de guerre of Joshua's flag football team this year. They only won a single football game, but were very close in several games. And, best of all, they seemed to have fun.

Back row, L to R: David, Owen, Joshua, Jackson. Front row: Coach Flinders, Brock,Corbin,Dallin,Gus. Not pictured: Caleb, McKean.

I took the photo, which makes me Otter Pop Paparazzi. Which would be a great name for a rock band.

So THAT's Why I Was Late This Morning

Traffic was really, really slow this morning. Eventually, I saw emergency vehicles, a wrecked car on a hill and a stopped FrontRunner train. But I couldn't tell what had happened.

Well, this happened: https://twitter.com/UTHighwayPatrol/status/1184492566307229697?s=20

Amazing. Apparently, the driver of the car passed out for some reason and was still out as Trooper Correa pulled him from the car.

God bless Trooper Correa.

The Perfect Logo

I have so many photos and stories I think I should share, but every time I sit down at my computer I think "I have been this all day. Instead, I think I will ___________." ... and I fill in the blank with alternatives that I find preferrable ("randomly yell at everybody", "run with scissors", "see how many bruises I get skipping through the house with a blindfold on", "bury myself up to the neck near an ant hill and pour honey on my head", etc.

I promise that, one day, I will repent and share things that ought to be shared.

But, in the meantime, I cracked myself up at work and just had to share it.

Valley Guy Paul, the Apostle, and More

I am way, way behind in things I have wanted to send. Lately, in the evening, the last thing I want to do is turn my computer back on. 

First, to Regan and Sam: Ladies, I am now including you in my super-duper important (feel free to roll your eyes here) family news emails. If you don't want to be included in my email updates, just let me know. Much of what I send I include on my blog.

1. At the dinner table, Enoch asked Susie if it was true that she had a "baby die in her tummy". I think Susie miscarried four times during our marriage, and one was relatively late-term. So, yes she did, and Susie replied to Enoch in the affirmative.

Enoch then asked another question, "Was it Lucy?" 

The Greatest Singer in the World

Years ago, Isaac and I were privileged to attend a Christmas concert with the Tabernacle Choir. We found out the guest soloist was Sissel. We had never heard of her. And after we left I believed that she was the best vocal musician in the world. (She and the choir were nominated for a Grammy for that performance.)

Some of you may know this, but she is back for a Pioneer Day concert with the Tabernacle Choir tomorrow. Tickets are gone, and I don't think I will try to wait around to get stand-by tickets, but it bet it is worth watching and, especially, listening to. The link indicates that it will be available from tabchoir.org/pioneerday, YouTube and Facebook, but not BYUTV, which is kind of pain. But I bet it is worth it!

This is about her, and it is interesting, too.

Love ya!

Something on My Mind

I still have oodles of photos and things I want to share with you, but I friend shared this with me (from Linked In) and I thought I would share it with you, along with some brief thoughts from me.  Ray Dalio:

Worth Admiration

This is something you have probably already seen, but I saw it today and thought I'd share it (since I never seem to get around to sharing photos and updates at home):

I don't know about you, but I sometimes feel like I don't "have it together" like some of the general authorities of the Church or other famous people. In some ways, I don't.

But, I know that I admire those who have successfully made it through trials, not those with the absence of them.

I thought the video was a timely reminder. Love y'all!

Latter-day Saints Saints

A while ago I sent out some football factoids "For BYU Fans Only". This next little tidbit might be for New Orleans Saints fans only. It is not important, and probably not even fascinating to anyone but me.

I am now a New Orleans Saints fan. I like the way they play. I like Drew Brees as a quarterback, and was especially impressed as I listened to him talk about his family and how he teaches his sons to be good people. And, of course, I loved watching Taysom Hill play last year.

This year, the Saints picked up free-agent Corbin Kaufusi from BYU and returned-missionary Chase Hansen out of Utah. I hope both can find a spot with the team. They also signed a contract with Porter Gustin out of Salem Hills High School. I don't know if he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ or not, but it is cool that he is from Utah. (In college he played for USC.)

I didn't realize that Taysom's older brother, Josh, has played Tight End for the Saints since 2013, so this will be his 7th season with the team. He played his college ball at Idaho State. Very cool.