Oh what a beautiful morning.

Just a quick post, to tell you what a great morning I have had, so far.

It may sound a lot like complaining, when I say that my life just keeps on getting busier. But I do have a very full and happy life, at this point in my life.

So when I have a morning too myself, I am going to enjoy. So far, I have read scriptures on line. Gone through and cleaned up my e-mail. Read some. And mostly just laid around. And now I have posted in my blog.
Hey, I got some pictures to work, this time. It is a good morning.

Love too all, Boyd

These thoughts may be random, but they belong to me.

First, the confession. I have not dedicated enough time to my blog, lately. Time, for me, may be at a premium, but, you make time for the things that are most important to you, in your own life.

Letting others know my thoughts and feeling, is very important to me. Specially, for my children, who I understand, will read what I have to say, on occasion. I can not go back and re-write a journal from the past, but I can reflect on the past and express, what I am feeling right now.

This morning was great. I got eight hours of sleep and lied in bed for another hour, just thinking about my life and the world around me. No meeting, this morning, so I am going to see how much I can write in an hour and a half. Get ready for some off the wall thinking (that's the phrase we used, before," thinking outside the box").

Yesterday, was family picture day. My wife and kids, put up with a lot, when it comes to getting my picture taken. I in the past, have been a fair photographer, but not very good at modeling, myself. As a kid, I just acted natural, and, if you photo shop my large ears out, very nice pictures.

If you take and line up my old school pictures, by my age, you will see a steady decrease of a smile, replaced by a dumb blank look. I know this is not who I am, but I am not sure if it is not who I was.

As a teenager and a young adult, I spent a lot of time, trying not to be like my father. Typical, for most young men, but I think that, for me, it was more than trying to break away, and become my own man. Most young men, unknowing, pick up some of the good traits of there father. I spent a lot of time, thinking about who my father was, but not much time, thinking about what he did, right.

One of the things he did very well, was have his picture taken. He had a certain, something, that I call "presence", a certain charisma, that come across, when you were taking his picture.

I think that at times, I have that, "presence". But I lose it when, I stand in front of a camera. I am just thinking out loud, but I think, that when I think, I think to much. I am trying too think less and act naturally, in front of the camera, but I have got a long way to go. Just ask my family, who had to sit through, shot after shot, while I tried to put on a natural smile.

Here is another random thought, about my father and my sister, Reva. At my fathers, funeral, I think that there were a couple of revelations, that showed how little we knew about my father. I don't think that anyone, with the exception of maybe my mother, knew that, my father not only loved opera, but knew many, and could sing them, from the heart. I learned, a couple of weeks back, that my sister, Reva, loves opera. On LDS talk.com, a forum that we both visit regularly, she links, all the time, to you tubes music video's.

Upon discussion of one opera video, she recommended, music from Paul Potts. I am ashamed to say that I down loaded, two, of Mr. pots songs (I am ashamed, because I try to limit my down loads, even if it is legal, too music that I have owned in the past). These two songs, Music of the Night, and Nella Fantasia, tell me a lot about myself and what I love and what I hate about opera music.

First, what I don't like about opera. The volume. It took just a little research, to find, that most opera purest, don't believe that microphones, belong on a opera stage. So when I hear a song like Music of the Night, with all it's little quite moments, sung like it could be heard from a block away, I scream, thats wrong. Sick and wrong. It is not bragging when I say that I think I can sing Music of the Night, better than most opera singers.

Nella Fantasia, on the other hand, draws it's energy and it's passion, from it's volume. Proving that opera done right, has and will, last many more centuries.

Just like any group of music, there are some, who think (not Reva), that you can't find any thing good, in music, that is not opera, or "your music".

So my children, and anyone else with the compassion too read this far, I would pass down this little bit of wisdom. Try to fill your life's, with the art's, styles and of things that will last through the eternities, and not here today and gone tomorrow.

I can't seem to add pictures, today, so all I have to offer is my words. Too many words.

Love you all - Boyd

Is giving thanks for Thanksgiving, redundant?

What a great Thanksgiving I had. The guilt maybe sneaking up on me now, because I had such a good time. In fact, there is only one thing that could have made it better, for me. More of the same.

I don't think that I needed anymore food. And this year, twenty minutes of football on tv, was more than fulfilling. A wise man would have skipped the "turkey bowl" football game, were I was the oldest man playing. But why be wise all the time?

The things that made this Thanksgiving special, had more to do with family, than anything else.

The food prep, started way before anyone could really open there eyes.

But everyone worked, and with a smile. How come no one took my picture, while I was vacuuming?

The clock on the wall says it's time to eat. And yet more smiling.

I'm kind of partial, but I don't think i have some great looking daughters, who also work very hard, to make it a great Thanksgiving. Everyone chipped in.

Amy came up with some new recopies, this year. All three, the pear and pecan stuffing, the chocolate caramel pie and the chocolate caramel pie were a great hit.

Michelle made a pumpkin roll, that vanished, before I had a taste. Very good, so I'm told.

Here are the two stars of our show, Grandma and Jackson.

There were more picture taken, but I don't know were they went. Like the pictures of Reva. And those of Heather and her new boyfriend, Paul. I always said, if you can make it through, the teasing that you have to endure at some one else's family gathering, you may just be a keeper. Paul did all right.

The only thing that could have made this a better Thanksgiving (for me), would have been to have my brother Steve, his wife Tara, his son Kyle, my sister Stacey, her husband Doug and all there children, there. what a great reminder of what is really important, to me. I would rather have my family together for Christmas (doesn't have to be on Christmas day) than any gift from a store (I am not really trying to hide this hint).

Some times, you feel so blessed that you can't imagine, a more happier feeling. I hope that everyone, can feel that feeling, at least once in there life.

Love too all - Boyd

Time just slips away

I missed the last couple of weeks. Here are a few halloween pics, to get me back in the habit.




I have no excuses. I have no time. So if I just show picture for now, don't hate me.

Aint it good to be alive?

I took a break from my blog, because, I started to sound a little more depressed, than I actually was..............am.

I haven't had to go to the mountains this year, to see the pretty fall leaves. It's like they came down out of the mountains, for me.

There was a wonderful sunset the other night, that was so big, there was no way to capture it all with the eye or a camera.

My grandson, Jackson, came over last night. Always a good thing.

Aint it good to be alive?

I am a blessed man, so I have the need to thank, my Father in heaven.

But I have a problem. I am a depressionato.

Depressionholic may be a more accurate description, but it doesn't have the same ring.

The things is, if you grow up with depression, just like any addiction, you have to fight it every day. Lately I have been to tired to fight. And I have been too ashamed of my missing font tooth, to do any smiling. The combo has been a little to much for me lately, so I have had to make some changes in my life.

I have left work on my desk at my first job and backed off my hours at my second job. It helps to go from sixty hours a week, to fifty five.

I went fife months without a front tooth, when my oral surgeon said it would be another four to six months. That was to much for me, so I got a partial denture ( proof again that I am getting older). It don't look to bad, but now I have to learn how to smile, all over again.

You wouldn't think that learning to smile, would be that hard. It is hard, but it is worth the effort. And a little thing like a tooth, can make a big difference, in how you look at yourself.

Here is the basic rules to beating depression, as per Boyd
1-Wake up, ready to do battle.
2-Count your many blessings.
3-Get proper rest and exercise, so you can fight the good fight.
4-Never stop. Never say "I am happy, enough".
5-Loose yourself, in helping others.
6-When your down, avoid the blues. I may love to listen to blues music, but it is not good for me when I am down.
7-When you have done all that you can, it is time to turn it over to the Lord, who suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for all your pains, including what your are suffering at this minute.

Thanks for reading - Boyd

Is once a week, enough?

Some times, I think of things to say, as I'm writing my blog. Some times I will think about it for days, before I put any thing in words. Most of the time I get the same results. Just a small portion of what I am really trying to say, will make it to the written word.

So I ask the question, is once a week enough?

Seems, in my life, there are many things that come only once a week. Church is a good example. I average seeing my grandson, Jackson, about once a week. And I write in my blog, about once a week.

Now you the reader, may think that once a week, writing in my blog is to much, put what I am trying to say, is, I don't write in a journal like I should, and if I try to make up for not writing in a journal, do I write enough?

I think my problem is, at this time in my life, I am not doing the things that interest me. Stay with me here, I am trying to pull my thoughts and ramblings into a coherent thought. Right now, my life is about going to work, and then going to work, going to the dentist and going to the oral surgeon. Not much time for any thing else.

One thing that I have never had in my life, is faith. I think that this is the way that our father in Heaven is teaching me faith. Faith that if I go to work and I have work done on my mouth, and do all the other things that I need to do in my live, I will be rewarded.

Well, I think, once again, I have not been able to get what I am really trying to say out. Instead, I have been able to make everyone think that I am the worlds most talented whiner. Blame it on the med's I am taking. Once a week is enough, if all I'm going to do is complain.

Here is a picture of Jackson, your reward for enduring so far.


See, it is good to have faith, and endure to the end.
Love, Boyd

Keeping Promises

I know, I know, there are times that I think if I don't come up with better topics, even my family will stop reading my blogs. But it is not what you think. This blog is about keeping a promise that I made to my self.

Flip back to my post, "what I learned at the car show", and you will see that I said that, there were four or five post that I came up with, from that blog. Call it an epiphany, or a life learning moment, but I had forgotten, what a special time it was, to live with my Aunt Laura and Uncle Ted, in Tremonton, Utah.

Too this day, I can't figure out why I was sent away. And too this day, I can't figure out, why, my Aunt and Uncle, who at the time, had enough boys/men to take care of the farm chores, would let what from all appearances, looked like a problem child, into there lives. But they did, and I am a better man for it.

My Uncle Ted's father, my Grandfather Elmer, was always sick, when he was growing up. That can leave a man, short, when it comes to the ways that a man shows love to his children. My Uncle, didn't show that love like most fathers, but that love was more than implied. The hugs may not have come easy, but they came from the heart.

Both my Aunt and Uncle have much to be proud of. And though, I may not, be very good at putting my thoughts and feelings, into words, every time I think about time spent in that home, I am amazed by how wonderful they were too me.

Aunt Laura, Uncle Ted, if you ever read this, thank you for putting up with me and showing me, your great love and compassion.

Love Boyd


P.S. I need to work on getting better pictures, of family, instead of dumb flowers, when I don't have anything better.

Oded, to my Dentist.

I won't be long, before I can smile
in my pictures, again.

I know that it is had for anyone to imagine, being able to say nice things, about a dentist, but I'm going to try, anyway.

My newest dentist is a cousin of mine. Before I started going to my cousin, Dr Jonathon Elmer, I fired my last dentist, who I will not name. Not because this dentist was painful. Not because he didn't know how to fix my teeth. But because the staff, that my old dentist had, were less than honest.

My cousin, on the other hand, has chosen, his staff, wisely. In fact, the only thing that is not great, about going to see Dr Jon (they call him that around the office), is the fact that I would rather sit and talk about family, than have my teeth drilled.

Some thing that you may or may not know, is that when I was fifteen, I lived with my uncle Ted and his family, including Jonathon, who was just a baby at the time. So we still have a lot to talk about, and no time to talk. Truth is, I know that he comes from good stock.

Anyway, he is a great dentist and he has a great staff, so if you are looking for a new dentist, in the Bountiful, Utah area, give Dr Jon's office a call (801) 295-5115.

Now if an endorsement like that ain't good for 2 bucks off my bill, I don't know what is.

I look forward to smiling again, love Boyd

A day at the Zoo

Last Monday was a fun day. We decided to go to the Zoo, and so did the rest of Utah. Still it was a great time, especially when compared to our trip to the Sandiago Zoo. All you Zoogoers out there prepare to get the dagger looks out. It is time to play the comparison game between Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake and the Sand Diago Zoo.

Lets break it down. Parking lot Sand Diego one' Hogle zero. Although there are many places to put parking in the Hogle Zoo area, the city of salt lake chooses green over pavement. To me that doesn't make sense to put green yards away from a beautiful canyon. Now I'm not totally against enviromental issues, but sometimes when we try to do good in one spot we do bad in another. Not only did cars have to go up and down the street to find a place to park, but many were force to park in the bike lane.

Cost comparison time.....Sandiago Zoo $28.00 per person(with discount tickets) .Hogle Zoo clearly the winner @ $8.00 per person. And we are at a tie ladies and gentlemen, with Hogle Zoo one Sand Diego one. With great entertainment value like that it's no surprise that Utah, flocked to Zoo.

Next lets take a look at how many animals you actually get to see. Here again Hogle Zoo wins by a land slide. The new tally, Hogle Zoo two, San Diego, one. We went to San Diego, to see the Panda bears. We stood in line, we sweated. we listened to the lecture of how man and the environment, don't belong on the same planet. And after about an hour, we stood in front of an out door chapel that paid homage to what Zoo keepers and many other's, consider, the most holy animal on earth. After two minutes, we were told to "get out".

The rest of the time at SDZ, we spent looking for animals. Some thing that you think that they would have at a Zoo. I think that they must have moved most of the animals to wild country park, so they can get another $45.00 each, out of us.

Next, environmental preaching. I think we have to take away points from both Zoo's. The new tally- San Diego, minus one, Hogle Zoo, one and a half.

At SDZ every were you went, there was a message about how we need to conserve, or the animals will all go away. There was even a message in the restroom, about how the mostly not flush toilets, could save water and thus save the planet. The big problem, as I see it, is that it stunk in those restrooms and it was full of flies.

There was not near as much at HZ, but I deducted half a point, for a plaque that they had in the "rain forest room" that stated "we loose an amount of the rain forest equal to the state of Utah every year". That plague has been there a long time, so is there any rain forest left? Or is that just a little gilt trip that they want to send every one on?

And now, for the bonus round, how much fun did we have? There San Diego came out the big loser, again. At one time, I'm sure that SDZ was a fun place to go. I'm not sure if it is because they take themselves too serious, or because they just stopped trying, or because they have been the leading Zoo, in the world, for so long that they just figured no matter what they do, people will come and they will like it.

So world, if you want to enjoy a good Zoo, I would recommend a trip too Hogle Zoo, in Salt lake. If you want to walk up and down hills and lectured on how evil you are, for being alive. I think you know what Zoo to visit.

Once again, thanks for reading, Boyd




P.S. My wife likes this picture, because it show how close to an ape, I really am.

What I learned, at a car show.

It might be better to say, what I remembered at a car show.

After the baptism on Saturday, I went to a car show, all by myself. It reminded me of a lesson I learned in high school, over thirty years ago. When you are O K with being by yourself, you are better with the people around you.

When I moved from Tremonton, Utah, too Layton, Utah, I had a little problem making friends, at Layton High. A couple of years earlier, I had moved from California, too Tremonton, too live with my Uncle, Ted. I didn't know it at the time, but that move was made allot easier, just having cousins around to ease you into the friend making process. For the first couple of weeks, in Layton,I tried real hard to make friends, but it seemed the harder I tried, or the more needy I acted, the more others would make fun of me.

It was rough, but I could at least come home too my brother Steve, my sister Stacey and my Mom. We were not a perfect family, but we did OK with what we had. And thanks to there efforts, we are still getting better and better, all the time, as a family.

Back to my story that is the point of this blog. After all these years, I can still remember, how in my sixth period math class, we students were forced into study groups. There was four of us and one of the guys, road me like a rented mule at the Grand Canyon. I have to thank this kid, that I can't even remember his name, because with out him, I wouldn't have learned this great lesson. You don't need a large number of friends to be happy. All I needed then and all I need now is my family. Every friend that I have beyond my family, is a blessing, true, but your happiness always starts at home.

So what about the car show? Well it reminded me that you can be alone, for a short time, and still be alright. Your family may not always be by your side, but they can always be your point of strength.

Even in my own family, there is no one who enjoys the things that I do. So what if I went to the car show by myself. I had a good time and I took over two hundred pictures.

And it doesn't take common interest, for some one to be your friend. A good friend, that I have know for years, Frank Barnes, was at the baptism earlier that day, and ask me what I was doing this weekend. When I told him that I was going to a car show, he had never heard of one and thought I was going to look to buy a new car. The thought of cars as art, escapes most people.

This blog is not about the cars, but about what you can learn from doing the things you love. Everyone who has a passion, can share with the world, what they learn from there own life.

Thank you once again for reading my ramblings. Enjoy the pictures - Boyd
P.S. I wrote four blogs today, so you may want to keep reading.

Also, This blog has, given me ideas for at least another four blogs. Look for blogs about my life in Tremonton, my best friend in high school, what you can get from watching TV and an ode to my dentist, all coming in the future.