AR #3

Well, this week's episode was quite a geography lesson, wasn't it? Raise your hands--how many of you had ever heard of Burkina Faso? It looks like a fun place. Just saying the names of the two places we visited is fun; Ouagadougou and Bingo. A few other random thoughts:

1. I feel a little bad for being so hard on Ron last week. He has repented and, despite a painful hernia problem, was quite a trooper tonight. His singing gets a little old, though.

2. Is there anything funnier than watching a grown woman fall to the ground in hysterics because she can't properly milk a camel?

3. Grandpa is a perv. Between stripping down to his speedo underwear last week and making suggestive comments about the Cuban sisters this week, I'm nominating him for the "dirty old man" award.

4. The hippies may lack some of the whimsy and joi de vive of the original AR hippies, but they are growing on me.

WARNING--MY NEXT COMMENT MAY BE PERCEIVED AS A LITTLE POLITICALLY INCORRECT. IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE TO SUCH THINGS, SKIP #5.

5. Why, whenever an African-American team finds themselves in some fly-infested, dusty African hell hole do they ALWAYS say, "I feel like I've come home?" They are American engineers, for goodness sake! And darn smart, as they proved again tonight. They have about as much in common with tribal camel herders as I do.

Well, it was good-bye to the Cuban sisters tonight. I can't work up too many tears--I don't feel like we really got to know them. Next week's episode (with the American Idol remark) looks pretty funny. Until then, leave your comments on this week's episode.

4 panel earth

Clare is getting ready to launch her new web site. So far she has the home page done and the "about the artist" link. She has been busily scanning in her portfolio to get all of the other links up and running. I told her I could get her some publicity for her site through my blog. (I didn't tell her I only have 2-3 readers.) You will find her web address on my list of favorite links. Until the site is finished, I thought you would enjoy this painting from her home page. It is entitled "4 panel earth" and, as the name states, is four large separate panels. It is hanging in the lobby of an office building here in town.

AR Episode #2

Like Emily mentioned in her comment, I am already growing weary of Ron, the Asian father, I thought I was going to like him, but he is SO critical and SO annoying that I wanted to smack him tonight. A few random thoughts:

Most Disturbing Moment--when Grandpa stripped down to his bikini skivvies to attempt to pole vault the canal.

Worst Decision of the Night--when the brother/sister (what the heck are their names????) chose to do the bike thing instead of the furniture hoisting thing. They went from first place to fifth. Never, never, never choose the task that involves looking for something amongst a whole lot of other somethings. Did they not watch the episode with the Mormon sisters who spent 14 hours searching haystacks?

Funniest line of the night--when Kynt admitted that he's a "prissy kind of boy." Are we really sure he's any kind of boy?

So it was farewell to the married lesbian ministers. They were very cheerful and kind to each other and if I had to choose between eating a meal with them or with Ron, they would win hands down.

Let's discuss--leave your comments and your nominations for the above (or any other) awards.

It's a REALLY Amazing Race!

I'm so happy. Last night we finally watched the first episode of Amazing Race 12 which I recorded when Bill was in Sonoma last week. The first sighting of Phil was like seeing Grandma standing on her front porch, waving us into her wonderful, cookie-scented home. I couldn't stop myself from sighing contentedly, "Ahhhh... Phil. How've you been? We've missed you."

Don't get me wrong--I enjoy my CSIs and my Law and Orders, but AR makes me happy. Case in point:

We loved it when the blond and her cheatin' boyfriend (it's too early to match up names to faces) struggled up the hillside to the little stone church in Ireland. She sobbed that this was "The hardest thing I've ever done in my whole life!" All I could think was, "Honey, wait until you're tossing your cookies in some stinky marketplace in India and your unfaithful boyfriend is screaming at you to swallow those water buffalo ears!" Her triumph at climbing to the top of the little hill was dimmed a short time later when we see her and the boyfriend trying to coax their donkey down the path. The beast refused to move--just brayed at them, it's feet super-glued to the mud-- while every other donkey team trotted merrily past. The really catty and unkind part of me laughed myself silly watching these two hip twenty-somethings reduced to hysteria, screaming futile epithets at their stubborn friend. Priceless.

In the end, karma and an inability to read maps brought an end to the race for the taxi-thieves, Ari and what's-her-name. Phil looked genuinely sad when he gave them the news. He always does.

Feel free to participate in my unofficial AR fan club. Leave a comment and share your favorite quotes and moments. Let's watch the race together!

Adios, amigos!

Life as we have known it changed today. After four years, we have been released from our assignment in the La Rosa Spanish-speaking branch. It was unequivocally the most difficult four years of my life. As the only non-Spanish-speaking member of the branch I felt lonely and isolated most of the time. I missed having friends. I missed having the opportunity to give talks, bear testimony, say prayers, even visit teach. At the same time, it has kept us very busy, sometimes making trips back and forth to Wasco several times a week. Frustration and discouragement has alternated regularly with hope and inspiration as we have watched people change their lives for the better through living the gospel. Our talents have grown and we have been tremendously blessed. Today was a day of very mixed emotions. I surprised myself at how sad I felt. I will miss the branch members. I will miss worrying about them and trying to figure out how to help them. There were a lot of tears shed at church today. Before I close this chapter, I would like to share a few random thoughts:

1. There are enormous cultural differences between people that go way beyond language. We do others a disservice when we judge them according to our own standards and expectations. Only the Lord's yardstick matters.

2. When we willingly accept opportunities to serve, the Lord will make up our deficits.

3. People need to hear the gospel taught in their own language.

4. The programs of the church are meant to serve families and individuals, not the other way around.

5. Most restaurants that claim to serve "authentic Mexican food" are lying.

Our home ward, Stockdale Ward, has been divided twice since we have been gone. I am afraid it will be like moving into a brand new ward. As someone who fears change, this is going to be hard for me. Next week is stake conference, and the following week we will make our big debut at Stockdale. I hope I haven't forgotten how to act in the real world.

Christmas Gift Ideas

As a public service, Dad has agreed to compile a list of Christmas gift ideas for him. This is in response to being told that he is difficult to buy for. (No, really????!!!) So far, he has come up with three ideas.

1. A new tie tack. His current one broke--he doesn't want people to think that he's starting a big tie tack collection. There are tie tack rules. (Of course.) It can be round, oval or square, but no bigger than the end of a pencil eraser. He doesn't want anything shiny or decorative. He would prefer black.


2. A new sudoku magazine. He is almost finished with his current one.

3. A Buster Brown shoe horn. He had one about 50 years ago and it was his all-time favorite shoe horn. (Do you have a favorite shoe horn?) It was metal and had Buster Brown and his dog engraved on the handle. It would probably be considered an antique if you did find one.

Dad hates to be thought of as difficult or hard to please, so he hopes that these ideas are helpful.

Crisis Averted (Part 2)

In the spirit of Emily's photo-a-day project, I am letting this photo speak for itself. All I will say by way of explanation is that this is an unposed photo which I took one night after Dad (Bill) emptied his pockets. For further explanation see my post of October 19.

Congratulations, Whites!

It's raining babies in the extended Reed family! Little Eleanor Jane (Ellie) White was born yesterday, November 2. She weighs 7lbs. 11oz. and is 21 inches long. Both Mother and baby are doing great and Daddy, Abby and Livvy are tickled "pink!" She is a petite, perfectly proportioned princess. We can't wait to meet her when we go to San Antonio for her blessing on December 2.





Here are our two latest blessings; on the left is Alvie Taylor, and below is Ellie White, almost twin cousins, born exactly a week apart.

Who do you think they look like?