Daily Prompt: Life After Blogs

The folks over at WordPress have a Daily Prompt, and this one really caught my interest. What would life be like without computers? While I'm not old enough to remember life before computers were invented (the first machine that could be considered a computer was invented in 1822), I am old enough to remember life before computers became common place in every home. and restaurant and shopping mall and...

First, a little of my history with computers:

When I started college, the university had only what would now be thought of as very, very old Apple computers on campus, so I'm very comfortable with Apple and Macs.

My parents bought their the first computer when I was in high school. I think it was a Texas Instruments machine, and I taught myself some very basic coding in Basic on it.

The first computer I purchased myself was a Hewlett Packard desktop with a screen that was heavier than the tower housing the guts. At the time, my brother was working for HP, so it made a lot of sense to support a company that was making it possible for him support his family. Since then, I've purchased many computers and laptops, the latest is an iMac with a bigger screen than the T.V. I grew up watching. How crazy is that?

I think we would all adapt quickly to a life without computers. Humans are interesting creatures. We are one of the few species on this planet that bend our environment to fit what we think we need instead of adapting to our environment, though not all of us. Looking at native communities in third-world countries, we see that life without computers is completely possible (and was for most of the history of this little, blue ball winging through the cosmos). The U.S. Post Office would probably cheer the loudest as people would need their services for more than junk mail again. I don't know that life would become simpler or slower. We would find other ways of doing the things that computers do for us. Handwriting would suddenly re-emerge as a vital skill taught in schools again. Learning to compute (ha!) complex equations in our heads and on paper would catch on again. And you would probably long for your old analog T.V. and phonograph again. Information and news would come more from your neighbors, friends, and family than from your phone. You might actually get to know your neighbors. A strange concept these days.

I don't think it would be the end of the world. In fact, it might be kind of nice...

Let the wedding planning begin!!!

We are so excited to announce that Drama Queen has found the man of her dreams, Mr. Director. He has proposed, and she has accepted said proposal. Wedding bells will begin ringing late summer/early fall. They are so fabulous together, and we couldn't be more excited.

Welcome to the craziness, Mr. Director!

The End of Era

Last week, we traveled to Cedar City to see Drama Queen in her final production as a student at Southern Utah University. She played the title role in Hamlet. Yes, that Hamlet, the famous one by the Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon. The director looked at the talent in the program and decided to do a gender-swap version, so she wasn't Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, but Hamlet, Princess of Denmark. Claudius was also a woman, as were Horatio and Laertes. Ophelia and Gertrude were men. The only roles sticking strictly to the traditional genders were Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Polonius. Although you may call me biased, I think she did an amazing job. She owned the role and the stage every time she was present, even when not speaking.

We're not the only ones who think so. Here's a link to a review of the closing night in USA Today.

It's been an amazing journey, and we are so glad that she has found something she is so passionate about. She will graduate in December and, if she's in Utah, walk in April.

We were told that photography wasn't allowed, so we didn't take the good camera to the performance. During the opening announcements, they said that only flash photography wasn't allowed, so I snagged a couple of pictures with my cell phone. Next time, we'll just take the big camera and then use or not use it, depending on what's allowed.

Visit my photo galleries at smugmug.com

So, I'm trying out a new website for hosting and sharing photos. It's called smugmug.com. If it works out like I hope it will, I'll have photos for sale on the site as well. Check it out using the orange button below and let me know what you think.

Galleries

And just because it's fun, here's a photo from a recent wedding I had the privilege of shooting:

Thanks!

Introducing Realize Structural Engineering, Inc.

It's been a crazy summer. Multiple family weddings, including two in different states. Drama Queen performing at the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Planning and saving for our next big adventure across the pond to Europe. And now this.

It's finally here. It's finally happened. After years of dreaming and months of planning, we have started our own structural engineering consulting firm, Realize Structural Engineering, Inc. It's a little surreal, but today is Mr. Perfect's last day working for someone else. We appreciate everything that's happened at the firm he's leaving, but it's time for him to be his own boss. To take control of the future in a way you can't when you work for someone else. To be fully vested in this. It's all so exciting and scary, but mostly exciting.

We just launched the website, so if you feel inclined, please visit it by clicking the link above. It will help us get some traction with search engines in Google and Bing, and it will make us feel special.

Drama Queen and the Utah Shakespearean Festival!

We were so excited when Drama Queen told us that she was picked to participate in an internship with the Utah Shakespearean Festival this season. We love USF, and we love Drama Queen. It's a perfect combination. We can't take pictures of her in her costumes for Amadeus or South Pacific, but here are a couple of her working the crowd as part of the Greenshow.

So everyone head on down to the Cedar City and catch our girl in one of these fabulous performances!

Most Happy Girl stats (for today)

**Stolen from Dizzy Dandelion's blog**

Just for fun:

WHAT'S YOURS?
Age: 48 (almost 49)
Relationship status: married
Biggest fear: bad things happening to my family
Dream job: wife (nailed it)
Dream car: Something with heated leather seats
Dream house: 7-10 acres with lots of trees and a house that's not too big to clean easily

FAVORITE*:
Artist: Drama Queen
Movie: It's a Wonderful Life followed closely by Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Song: You mean like picking a favorite child?
TV series: Chuck
Animal: Penguin
Book: The Door in the Hedge by Robin McKinley
Color: Green

THIS OR THAT?
Twitter or Facebook: Facebook
Snapchat or Instagram: Instagram
Pandor or YouTube: YouTube
Coke or Pepsi: Don't really like either
Tea or Coffee: neither
Tacos or Pizza: Tacos, no piz-arrrgggghhh!!!
Winter or summer: winter

WOULD YOU EVER?
Get married: Uh...see relationship status
Have kids: Yes
Swim with sharks: Yes
Daredevil stunts: Not really my thing
Jump out of a helicopter: If it's only about three feet off the ground and I have something soft to land on

How about you?

*Some of the answers in the FAVORITE section change depending on the day and my mood

Lawyer-in-the-Works graduates to Lawyer-in-the-Family

We just came back from a lovely trip to Spokane, Washington to visit Lawyer-in-the-Works for her law school graduation. It was truly memorable. Her class ranking was 25th, and she graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude). It was also wonderful to meet her new man, Seahawk's #1 Fan, and get to know him and his family. Here's a quick picture I grabbed of them after the ceremony.

The Joy of Singing

In August, Mr. Perfect joined the Utah Symphony Chorus. This fall, he had the opportunity to sing Mahler's Symphony #2 (The Resurrection Symphony), Beethoven's Symphony #9 (The Chorus Symphony) and Handel's Messiah. He had a blast! And it was so much fun attending the symphony to listen to him perform.

This month (January 2015), the chorus had auditions for more singers, so Most Happy Girl took the plunge and joined the fun. The music is challenging, the amount of music is frantic, and the rehearsals are filled with non-stop singing for 1-1/2 to 3 hours (depending on what we are working on).

In early February, the women only will be singing Mahler's Symphony #3, so it will be Mr. Perfect's turn to bring the Mamas and enjoy the performance from the audience as Most Happy Girl sings her heart out (in German).

Papa P.

My father passed away the Sunday before Thanksgiving. He had been declining for a while. During that time, I wrote the following post, but was asked by some family members to remove it for privacy during Dad's illness. To the end, he maintained his sense of humor, his love of Mom P. and his love for his family. I miss him every day, but I rejoice in the life he lived, the legacy he gave to all of his posterity, and the knowledge that he is whole and happy and waiting for us to join him.

(Originally written in August 2013)

For the past two weeks, I've been working through how I wanted to write this post. In January, we lost Dad M. after a serious brain injury. Now Papa P. is experiencing his own form of brain injury, only his will be very drawn out and lingering. For the past several months, we've all notice a dramatic decline in Papa P.'s memory, his desire for physical activity, and walking. He has had difficulty remembering some names and relationships, and he started shuffling instead of walking with full strides, like Tim Conway's Old Man character.

After a series of tests with several doctors over the past five months, we now have an official diagnosis: dementia and some Alzheimer's. He has had many infarcts (mini strokes) that are affecting his motor skills. His thyroid is also slowly dying, which has drastically affected his desire and ability to stay active. He is already showing improvement from the thyroid medication, and Mom P. does what she can to gently encourage him to be active, help around the house where he can, and get out to activities or just walking around the mall.

One of the things that our family doctor told us is that the shuffling isn't his fault. It is actually one of the most common side affects, and therefore signs, of dementia. It's part of the loss of motor skills Papa P. is experiencing. We also need to be careful about taking as good of care as Mom P. as we do Papa P. We do not want her to wear herself out and get sick. Her health is paramount in helping Papa P. manage his illness and live a happy and fulfilling life.

I know it will not always be easy, but I also know that this life is not the end. Even though Papa P. may not remember the music he used to play so effortlessly and he may eventually have to be reminded of my name when I talk to him, one day all that he is and all that should be his will be restored to him. I'm grateful for that knowledge.

I love you, Papa.

Random Scotland picture

I know I've been neglecting this blog. So many things have happened this year, that I haven't had time to post. Just to keep things interesting, here is a random picture from our Scotland trip that Mr. Perfect took. Hope you enjoy it!

Happy Halloween, and, oh look! a Scotland picture

With the trip earlier this month, we haven't done much in the way of preparing for Halloween. We didn't buy any pumpkins, let alone carve them. But that just means that we have really cool pictures from Scotland to share, like this one of Glengarry Castle,

Sorry, it looks like I might end up feeding ya'll Scotland pictures in ones and twos slowly over the next few months. Too much other stuff going on. Hopefully not, though. We'll have to see.

But any way, everyone have a fun and safe All Hallow's Eve!

Engagement announcement cover

A few weeks ago, I took engagement photos for our niece and her fiance. It was a lot of fun, and when we came back from our huge trip to the U.K. (hopefully a topic for an upcoming post) and found the invite in our mailbox, I was touched and excited to see that they used so many of the pictures from the photo shoot in the invitation. Here is the one they used as the cover for the announcement:

They have it centered, and the tree splits down the middle to open the invite. Love it! Thanks, guys! Now to finish up processing the bridals. Whew!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Why, Thank You!

What’s the best (or rather, worst) backhanded compliment you’ve ever received? If you can’t think of any — when’s the last time someone paid you a compliment you didn’t actually deserve?

This is the Daily Post's Daily Prompt for today, and it really caught my fancy. I can’t think of any backhanded compliments I have personally received, though I know I’ve had my share. I’ve also given out my share, so maybe that’s why I’m not sensitive to them. But this topic made me think about what constitutes a backhanded compliment. In order for it to be backhanded, the person saying it has to have an ulterior motive to hurt the person it’s aimed at. Maybe that’s another reason I don’t notice them so much. I think everyone loves me (just kidding). As the Young Women’s president in our LDS ward (congregation), I deal with teenage girls all the time. I’m not sure what it is about the ages of 12-18 that make kids (espcially girls) turn into mean, vicious, emotionally-destructive-to-others, insensitive twerps, but it does. Don’t get me wrong, they can also be the most loyal, loving, giving individuals you will meet. As long as you don’t come across them in a pack. I think I’ve heard the kindest and meanest things to ever penetrate my eardrums since I stated this calling.

A friend told me that when her oldest turned 13, she sat him down and had the following conversation:

“Son, you know I love you, right?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“And I want you to know that I will always love you. Do you believe that?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Tomorrow, you’re going to turn 13, and there’s a really big chance that after tomorrow I might not always like you most of the time. But I will still always love you, because I’m your mom. Do you believe that?”

"Eh...sure, I guess.”

“Good. And we can be friends again as soon as you turn 21.”

“Okay, Mom.”

So, in honor of backhanded compliment day, here are some that I can think of (probably because I’ve heard them coming my way or out of my mouth at various and sundry times):

“Not everyone can carry off that color, but it looks fine on you.”

“You almost made that look graceful.”

“You look like someone who knows how to enjoy a good meal.”

Anything sentence ending with“...bless your heart.”

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

It's so much fun when extended family comes to visit

That is not a sarcastic statement. I really do love it when extended family comes to visit us. We recently had a niece, her husband, and three wonderful children stay with us for a few nights before and after a big family get together up in Park City for my sister-in-law's kids and grandkids. I was also fortunate enough to take family pictures for them in Park City at the end of their reunion. I will be posting some of them soon on my other blog.

Any whoo, getting back to the topic of my blog post here. Having family around gives me a great excuse to pull out the camera and start taking pictures of everyone, especially the kids. Here are some of the candid photos I grabbed while they were at our place, and also some from another family gathering with other nieces and nephews and their families in town (or moving back to town YAY!!!) for a Sunday FHE.