Mormons, Mormons, Mormons!

We made it to the aughts! Just 9 days 'til Christmas. Garfield says that the greatest thing about Christmas is "the insomnia and anxiety kids get from having to wait." I feel ya buddy. It looks like the snow is going to melt all away before Christmas-we just need it to snow again to have a white Christmas.

To make this Christmas a little more special for my readers of the Latter-day Saint faith I've included this link. Watch the Mormon "tap"ranacle choir perform Max Weinberg's holiday song he wrote especially for Mormons.

Here I Go Again

Another quarter of school started for me today. I had last week off and spent my time getting ready for Christmas and sleeping in. That was really nice, but I'm back to the grind now. So far I've learned that (much to my surprise) statistics is not gobbledy gook, and health disparities exist not because of individual choices, but because of the Man. While I am supposed to have the support of an online community in my studies, I feel "like a drifter I was born to walk alone." But it's okay because I have David Coverdale to keep me company, and as you can see from the above clip that's all it takes to make one happy. Merry Christmas to all.

Christmas

About 8 months ago my now 3 year old nephew, with a serious look on his face, started wispering to his mom "let's talk about Christmas." That boy is a big fan of unwraping presents and everything else we associate with Christmas. Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it is finally time to talk about Christmas. I just finshed getting my tree and decorations up today. Last night my roommate got home and I was wrapping presents in a decorated apartment, wearing my new santa hat, while Christmas music played on the radio. The only thing missing was the smell of cookies baking.

The Who's epic rock opera Tommy isn't usually discussed for its ties to Christmas. However, on one of Tommy's childhood Christmas mornings, Townshend poses the query; being deaf, dumb, and blind, (and thus not knowing who Jesus was or what praying is) "how can he [Tommy] be saved?" (Note of explanation: This is footage from the movie Tommy dubbed over with the original version from The Who.)

While we're giving to charities and developing the Christmas spirit of post-visitation Scrooge, let's remember the reason for the season and spend time looking at the creche and thinking about why Tommy without a knowledge of Jesus can indeed be saved from the eternal grave.

Road to Nowhere

This morning, after breakfast, I took a walk with my parents and my grandparents, and I'm pretty sure we walked down the road to nowhere. It was a kind of dirt path/horse trail/atv trail. I'm with family in southern Nevada and it's pretty desolate here. They like to pretend this community is a picturesque look into the idyllic, agrarian past dreamed of by Jefferson, but the truth is they are getting pretty advanced. My grandparents have dish and wireless Internet which is why I can grace you with this post even though I am kind of in the middle of nowhere.

Interestingly, in his anthem, Ozzy discusses a theme that I've thought a lot about. He says, "The wreckage of my past keeps haunting me...I guess I'd do it all again." I think we all need to live with no regrets, we need to live so that when death comes we can say that we would do it all again. If it's too late, then live that way from today forward. Even if your past is like a wreck, and you wouldn't do it all again, make the rest of your life a pleasant drive down the interstate (with no construction). It is possible to wipe the slate clean, and that makes it infinitely easier to look back with pleasure on your past.

Holiday

I love holidays and I am always looking for a new holiday to celebrate. Every Tuesday is kind of a holiday with 2 for Tuesday celebrations everywhere. Everyday at 10pm (if I'm driving) I celebrate with "Get the Led Out," but I was looking for something more concrete. I thought Billy Joe had given me a new holiday, but saddly he was just whining about how our morals or ethical reasoning are now "on holiday," (it's a British term for vacation). I thought I would need to change my religion, my ethnicity, or my gender, or get married or have a kid to find a new holiday. Turns out all I had to do is listen to the U.S. Surgeon General, who once again lags at least 100 years behind the Mormons. The Surgeon General has declared November "Family History Month," and the 4Th Thursday as "Family History Day." (I think I've heard about the importance of family history somewhere before.) Basically, the Surgeon General is asking all Americans to find out about their family health history so people can be more aware of what unhealthy conditions they may be especially susceptible to due to genetics and commonly held beliefs, traditions, and other health-related activities. So celebrate this month any way you desire. Just remember, it's apparently not a party without a little family history.

Footloose

Few things define the 1980's quite like Kevin Bacon fighting for his rights and quoting scripture in Elmore City and dancing into our hearts to the tune of Kenny Loggins. Today I was blessed to relive those wondrous days. I got to watch a 30 minute short produced by Standford University about how to create effective Public Service Announcements for my health communication class. The catch is the short was made in 1986, so all of the good and bad examples were from the 80's and everyone was sportin' great 80's fashion. As I am a magnanimous soul I will share with you an example of an ineffective PSA. Who knew Star Wars could be so awesomely awful? Everyone who has watched the Star Wars Christmas Special that's who.

Beverly Hills

I feel like I'm livin' in Beverly Hills. I got some great stuff for my Birthday that makes me very like one of the red carpet personalities livin' it up in SoCal. I am sipping high class hot cocoa from my niece and nephew which was heated in a microwave (not over the stove or in the oven as it has been for the last few months) which I got from my parents, and I'm seated at my first kitchen table-procured with funds from my Grandparents and the U.S. government. The plant (which is usually not on the table) adds the color and homey feel that only a sister-in-law with a degree in Horticulture can give you. Thank you all, I am really living the high life now; the real one, not the alcohol induced high life promised by the Miller Brewing company. On that subject, for all you college students looking for an internship, Miller gives free happy hour EVERYDAY and 3 free cases of beer every pay period to all interns over 21, the only drawback is you have to work and live in Wisconsin.