An End and a Beginning

Our business closed today, beginning a four-year hiatus (a lapse in continuity.)  Why only four years?  I am clearly optimistic about business-friendly changes coming in 2017.  The break will simplify capital preservation and provide time for patient preparation.  Better times lie years ahead; I feel positive.

This year was especially profitable, and rewarding in so many ways -- doing what we love, and getting paid for our service.  Everybody’s happy, we hope (about most things.)

The next part will be boring to some, and too familiar to others, so skip to the end (beginning.)  Our state charges a low annual fee for registration renewal.  Our fair city exacts a high annual fee for being honest and above board in doing business here, while it prohibits employees, signage/displays, and selling at our home office; we agreed and paid three times.  Our vibrant, growing county requires an annual report listing all business equipment, and payment of a tax if a low-$ threshold is crossed; this helped our short-term cash flow as it discouraged economy-boosting capital expenditure.  A fine website service put our business out there, never skipping a beat, but increased the low monthly fee by 45%; (what happened to low inflation?)  Kudos to Kinko’s (now FedEx Office) for inexpensive business cards which may return to action some day; (our company name is so unique and odd, it will be available in four, eight, or twelve years.) 

The list goes on, but not for Fast Food.  Treats (and Kay) are calling me, while sparkling cider waits for the Square ball to drop.

As we end the wonderful old year of 2012, let us begin a simpler, new year, with a focus on family.  Make it happy!

Christmas Choirs

This one’s for music lovers.  As Christmas music has blessed my life this season, an early-morning pause before choir practice brought to mind some great choirs I’ve enjoyed in the past, and a heavenly choir I’ve read about, which blessed the scene of our Savior’s birth.  On the first day of this special week, I decided to share a few, including some results of a survey I took among several friends at church. 

My question: What are two favorite choirs you sang in or listened to at Christmas time?

I first tested this on my wife Kay, the Primary song leader, as I interrupted her preparation of children’s songs.  Without hesitation, she agreed with my suggestion: East High School A Cappella Choir, which reminded me of Christmas performances I loved with my EHS choir directed by the legendary Lorraine Bowman.  With further thought, Kay would have mentioned the local high school choir our daughters sang in; recently we enjoyed their concert (with orchestra) which ended with a thrilling rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah (1742) by Handel (1685-1759).  The annual concert always brings joy to us ... and to the performers, I am certain.

One young brother at choir practice named the Weber State University LDS Institute Choir he was in years ago, which reminded me of my U of U Institute choir.  (We toured the Northwest while I was dating my future wife, Kay.)  Having recently returned from military duty in the Middle East, he recalled his men’s choir at church in Afghanistan, which also performed at a Christmas party.  A very young brother who leads the choir in our ward (congregation), named the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as his favorite (also one of mine, since Mother was a member of it when I was little.)  He also wrote for me (as the bishop was starting the meeting): “singing in ward choirs.”  Sweet!

The jacket of an LP (with a 50-cent DI price tag) found in our basement “archive” lists the members of the Brigham Young University A Cappella Choir 1980, including Brenda Boyer, Cherie Crosby (any relation to Kay’s Crosbys?) and Loralyn Tenney (must be related to my great grandmother Eliza.)  And in the men’s section: Dale Bowman (related to Lorraine?) and Clark Searle (reminds me of my sister’s jazz piano teacher.)  Among other sacred songs, they recorded “Come, O Thou King of Kings” (appropriate at Christmas time) with trumpets and organ.  I’d like to listen to the album this week for the first time!

One album I am sure must exist (not searched yet) is one to go along with Kay’s CD, "Angel Voices -- Libera in Concert" recorded May 30 & 31, 2007 in a Netherlands cathedral; (pronounced with accent like liberate.)  I haven't heard their Christmas music, but it’s on my wish list.  The boys’ choir provides a heavenly listening experience that would lift anyone’s spirit this season.

There’s more I could add here, but this will do for a fast one.  Suffice it to say, “I’m crazy about choirs!”  So … Merry Christmas, and have a happy choir experience!

The Kneeling Knight

In the front common area of a public high school out here in the West, there is a noble statue of a knight, with sword and shield, kneeling in prayer (in my view.)  For many years it has commonly (pardon the pun) been called "the kneeling knight."  Some people at the school think he doesn't look strong that way; I say there is strength in prayer to the Almighty! 

Such an inspiring reminder to those who know the power of prayer should not offend free thinkers who respectfully favor uplifting freedom of thought.  Others, unaware, can view it as a tired knight resting after a victorious battle, or pondering his next attack.  And to the dedicated agnostics, the statue has nothing to do with prayer or religion.  To the not-so-dedicated ones, well, ... I pity them for sitting too long on the fence (painful!)

I recall the painting of General George Washington, one of the strongest leaders of our country, kneeling in prayer.  “The Prayer at Valley Forge by Arnold Friberg is one of the best known paintings of the American Revolution. It depicts George Washington at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in prayer on his knees beside his horse Nelson at the Continental Army's encampment, during the terrible winter of 1777-1778.”

-- revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/prayer-at-valley-forge.html

The result is history which must never be altered to satisfy doubters.  The depiction inspires me -- and millions of others worldwide.  With the horrible shootings in recent years, the world is painfully aware that our schools are no longer a safe refuge as previously assumed.  Let us welcome a reminder to pray for protection, guidance and strength in difficult times.  From personal experience throughout my life, I know without any doubt that it works!

 

A Week of Thanksgiving

The past seven days have been abundant – full of blessings -- in more ways than I can describe.  So I name just a few.  My sweetheart Kay and I thoroughly enjoyed :

1) a piano recital feast in the Kaysville Tabernacle, by a world-famous concert pianist

2) Thanksgiving dinner with most (27) of the family in our cozy frontier home; (the antithesis of fast food, although Kay rushed me through third helpings, to join the family program); note: Kay is absolutely the best cook, and did most of the work – she is so amazing!!

3) freedom from Black-Friday (and Thursday-night) madness, as retailer discounts didn’t  budge us one bit, or two bits (= 25 cents)

4) sleeping late Saturday morning, fortunately missing the 6 a.m. second tsunami of sales

5) the annual Kaysville Nativity Celebration at the Kaysville Tabernacle and cultural hall, full of artistic international displays of nativity scenes and music

6) a senior-siblings get-together at Kay’s sister Susan’s gorgeous home in the land of Bountiful, with an abundance of pies, nuts, and story-telling by older folks like us

7) a 360-degree, surround sunrise this morning, starting another week of counting blessings; (actually, Kay enjoyed sleeping while I took photos for her to see later)

8) making cherished memories we hope to keep alive for years to come.

I thank Heavenly Father for His goodness and mercy, and for a loving, forever family.

The Morning After

Surprisingly, I woke up early, smiling with relief that Election Day is over, life goes on, and the sun will come up for another gorgeous day here on our frontier.  I feel refreshed by assurance that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings real hope and change, and we can find true happiness by applying it on a local level, namely the family. 

I am reminded that I can control personal spending, do my best to balance my budget, reduce debt, and be self-reliant.  I am grateful that our grandson survived four hours of surgery yesterday in a great world-class hospital, and we, the people, survived four years of political campaigns in the greatest nation on earth.

The morning after, do we remember how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America?  Let’s forget how political rhetoric temporarily divided our country at a time when we desperately need to solve problems together.  (In my advancing age, I find it gets easier to forget some things.  Being a senior citizen has its advantages.) 

During this month of Thanksgiving, what are you grateful for?  Now that I think of it, focusing on a specific plan, the morning-after is a good time to restart my gratitude journal -- and enjoy some healthy fast food.

Words: Fiscal & Monetary

Yesterday I took a picture of a sign on a coin machine at Walmart, which advertised: "Turn Your Change into Cash".  I didn't expect to use the photo, but realized today it's proof that I'm a penny pincher living in the past, because I still count coins as cash, even when facing over $16 trillion in debt.  Now, after a fast-food lunch break (grape juice, piece of bread, and a mini Hershey’s bar stolen from the trick-or-treat bucket), it motivates me to post my idea from July 19: [In the USA and other countries, is it a] “Monetary or Fiscal Problem?”

Over twenty years ago I became a volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement in elementary, junior high, and high school for four years.  The basic concepts we learned are basically the same today, including fiscal and monetary policy, which we hear/see often in the news media.

“Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.  [As opposed to bad-mouthing success,] Junior Achievement programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.  JA’s unique approach allows volunteers from the community to deliver our curriculum while sharing their experiences with students.”   -- www.ja.org/about/

[One of many JA classroom-based programs I taught:]

“JA Economics® examines the fundamental concepts of micro-, macro-, and international economics. 

Concepts: Advantage, Demand, Economics system, Exchange rates, Fiscal policy, Government, Gross domestic product, Income distribution, Inflation, Investment, Labor, Markets, Opportunity cost, Productivity, Scarcity, Supply, Trade.

Skills: Applying information, Classifying, Critical thinking, Decision making, Giving reports, Graphing, Interpreting data, Math computation, Reading, Research, Taking notes, Writing.”   -- www.ja.org/docload/programs/scopeandsequence/2012...

(I didn’t find "monetary policy" on the JA site, but I’m sure it was and is taught.)  Thanks to Wikipedia, we can take fast gulps of the two words:

“In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government revenue collection (taxation) and expenditure (spending) to influence the economy.  The two main instruments of fiscal policy are government taxation and expenditure.  ... “  -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscal_policy

“Monetary policy is the process by which the monetary authority of a country controls the supply of money, often targeting a rate of interest for the purpose of promoting economic growth and stability.  The official goals usually include relatively stable prices and low unemployment.  ...”   -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monetary_policy

(Not too fast to better understand what’s going on, I hope.  By the way, this one about two words reminds me of my first post two years ago (Oct. 20), titled “Words”.)

 

Missing My Favorite Andy

Dateline Provo [Utah] -- "Singer Andy Williams [84], whose golden tones made their mark in the 1960s and '70s, died Tuesday [9/25/2012] of cancer ... at his Branson Mo. home after a yearlong battle ..."  Outlasting many of his “fellow crooners”, he was still performing into his 80s.  [Kay and I were privileged to see his show in Branson not many years ago, and loved his singing, as always.]  Williams was a lifelong friend of the Osmonds, who made their TV debut in 1962,  [young boys] on “The Andy Williams Show.  ...”   – Deseret News 9/27/2012

Flipping through our vast collection, it was easy to find a Columbia stereo LP of Andy Williams: “The Academy Award Winning ‘Call Me Irresponsible’ and Other Hit Songs from the Movies”, including “Charade” and “More”.  The back of the jacket (still in original shrink wrap with a 50-cent D.I. sticker on it) is interesting: “Andy Williams’ voice reaches out through an easy smile with the warmth of a handshake – husky, easy, intimate.  He has an unmistakable way with a song and a way of lighting up the world around him in the glow of it.  Old favorites appear fresh and gleaming as newly minted pennies; current hits take on the warmth of old favorites. …”  -- Columbia (no date)

To this day I still soar with the memory of my favorite Andy Williams song, one of several that include the words “In her eyes, I see …”  But I have a problem, because I don’t remember the title, and Google has failed to find the song.  Help!  This drives me crazy!  Am I a hopeless romantic, or what?!  No matter what crowd I’m in, I’d never hesitate to unabashedly profess a love for Andy’s songs.  Three words really say it: “They move me!”

For five decades, it's been an unforgettable ride for me.  Thank you, Andy Williams, for developing and sharing your great talent.  May the family feel comfort and the love of Andy’s admiring fans and associates in the music industry, and be assured that he will continue making heavenly music up there.