1st or 2nd Biggest Holiday?

On a quick morning break, I wonder if Halloween is the 1st or 2nd biggest U.S. holiday of the year.  Some of our fun-loving young neighbors apparently think it is #1, judging by graveyards, zombies, and other decorations set up in front yards.  I love to see it, but fortunately my wife and I are past that stage, so we can sit back and enjoy the work of others.

Google home page has a cute video of huge pumpkins being carved & lighted by the G team with costumes at headquarters, I suppose.  Then it automatically searched Halloween; (that’s spooky, like it somehow knew! (j.k.))  Here’s what it found (I’m sure everyone wants to know:)

"Halloween (or Hallowe'en), a contraction of All-Hallows-Eve (as in the day before 'All Hallows' or 'All Souls' Day), is an annual festival observed on October 31. ..."  -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

The stock market was spooked at the open this morning, with all major indices or averages down –scary! (except for my put-options trick, which just now covered our holiday cost.)

My favorite fast food today?  Halloween candy I expect would be left over when trick-or-treating is done tonight.  (With the huge growth of our young neighborhood since last October, I could be in trouble!)

Have fun and be safe!  Watch out for the little ones flying around!

Who Are You? See TV

Last night in the first conference of our new LDS stake, President Daren Stevenson gave us a simple challenge: “Do family history work.”  It’s easy to say, but sometimes overwhelming just to think about doing.

“WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? How would you answer that question? ...  What is my heritage? Who are my ancestors, and what stories of their life experiences are etched in my blood? What legacy have they left me and what legacy am I leaving to my posterity? These are the questions that are the beginnings of a life-changing adventure.”

“It is perhaps this curiosity that has spawned a loyal audience for a new type [of] “reality TV” — family history television. Shows like Faces of America, Who Do You Think You Are?, and The Generations Project are becoming more popular … These shows provide a wide variety of inspiring examples of how people just like you begin their search to discover their past … and learn more about themselves in the process.”  --- familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Television_Shows_and_Family_History

[For example:]  “2010 – The Generations Project -- explores the family histories of everyday people to uncover extraordinary stories.  --- byutv.org/thegenerationsproject

The more I get into family history, the more intrigued and excited I become about the hunt, and the sacred work that follows.

Happy Anniversary, LFF!

One year ago today, I wrote my first post:

“Sensing that many other readers are pressed for time, or may not be intensely interested in my shared journal [I found that to be true], I decided to blog with ‘language fast food’.”  And what an adventure it has been!

My second-year focus will be on (language of) personal history & family history from an LDS perspective.  I will include some related basic beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and make it a fast read.  Some posts will clean up leftover ideas from the first year (maybe improved with age, like fine wine and cheese), including occasional side orders of global economics, current events, English language exploration, etc.

And as I expressed a year ago, "Thank you for your interest.

Wishing you success and happiness,

and a little healthy fast food."

Happy first anniversary, Language Fast Food!

Battlegrounds

 

War against terror world-wide

Afghanistan

Battleground states

Presidential race: GOP vs. GOP, Dems vs. GOP;

--any battle fatigue yet?

Social networking: Google+ vs. Facebook

Tablets: Amazon Kindle Fire vs. Apple iPad2

Movie streaming: Netflix vs. Amazon, Hulu, MSFT Xbox 360

Bulls vs. bears

European financial crisis

Boeing vs. NLRB over the right to survive financially

War on poverty

Fight for jobs --the jobs front

What's happening on the illiteracy front?

Intra-family fights and inter-family feuds

Families united against evil

“Battle of the bulge”

Drug wars, street gangs, and gun-running gone amok

OWS (new initialism for Occupy Wall Street) vs. whatever!?

Muslim Brotherhood vs. Coptic Christians in Egypt

Born-again Christians vs. other Christians

God vs. Satan

High Noon (analogy)

The Language of 9/11

Remembering September 11^th

Ten years later

Memorials

Terrorist attacks

Twin Towers

World Trade Center, Lower Manhattan, New York City

The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Shanksville, Pennsylvania

“Let's roll.” --the last known words

Singular event, tragedy

Patriotism

American flags

Red, white & blue

United States of America

Heroes and victims

Survivors and people missing

NYPD police

FDNY firefighters

Port Authority of NY & NJ

US Department of Defense

Response justified

Anger, resolve, trying to cope

Moment of silence

Mourning the dead

Ground Zero (workers called it "the pile")

Covered in ash

Like a war zone

Search & rescue/recovery

Hoping to save

Family and friends

I was watching CNBC when it happened.

Ten years ago.

August Rush

The end of summer doesn’t come soon enough for me.  As another month ends, I recall the rush of yard work, fighting mosquitoes and brutal heat, stock market volatility, short secondary vacations, and preparation for a new school year.  Borrowing the title of a 2007 drama film that entertained me in spite of Robin Williams’ disturbing character, the words “August Rush” characterize the month in my mind. 

Some think there’s a lot to get done before September, as if things can’t wait for a pause to enjoy the simple life.  As profoundly stated by young Mr. Bueller on his day off, “Life moves pretty fast --if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”  (1986 film --imdb.com) 

Welcome, September!

Good-by, July

The 4^th – Independence Day

The annual big family ranch reunion was short and sweet; Brother Russ did a fantastic job!  Fireworks in the city seemed twice as big as 2010 -- no passing fad; our expense: $0.

“The Crossing” (I gave 4.4 stars) was inspiring, as we recalled our visit to Valley Forge last month.  “1776” (I gave 2.0 stars) had too much satire/comedy/frivolity for a sobering declaration of independence.

The 24^th – Pioneer Day
Our family summer "camp" on the 22^nd and 23^rd, including a game marathon and work party, was a success.  We finished cleaning up after the family was gone, then actually relaxed and watched the sunset from the deck.  After the
4-day weekend, we loved the movie “17 Miracles”, and highly recommend it.

Three grandchildren marked their one-year birthday (all born the same day) and celebrated together with us yesterday in Canyon Rim, SLC; plus two other birthdays.  Then we drove to Holladay for a 50^th-wedding backyard BBQ for my sister-in-law and her husband.  He sang the love song he wrote for her and performed on their wedding day.  And we won’t forget going down the scary old slide that Lon salvaged from Grandpa's farm!

So-long, hottest month with the toughest yard work!  After widespread damage by pests elsewhere, I thank the Lord for this tender mercy:  a nearly perfect, bountiful harvest of the best apricots I have ever eaten.