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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Recycling


I don't get why anyone would throw away an item that could be donated to charity or offered free on Web sites. Why be wasteful and have it end up in a landfill?

Also, kitchen scraps like peelings can easily be composted or added to the lawn clippings recycle container to keep them out of a landfill.

Recycling is being responsible.

Good to Do--D&C 136:28, 29




Know where you're going and how to get there.

Take a book along.

Carpe diem.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

August 21, 2009, 45th Hogan/Vallejo High School Get-together and Hawaii's 50th Anniversary




So I combined the two and dressed with a Hawaiian flair at the Quality Inn, Vallejo. Conversation was enjoyable outside on the 95* balmy evening and pot luck was delicious, for five hours!


Monday, August 24, 2009

Why I Admire Oxen and Seagulls




The oxen were the stalwart animals that provided a way for early Pioneers to make the trek west to the Salt Lake Valley. The crops of the early Saints were spared when after prayer and fasting large flocks of gulls swooped in and devoured hordes of locusts. The gulls would leave and return for more locusts.




Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Celebrities I've Seen



Jack Palance, Knott's Berry Farm, 50s--we got his autograph.
The Everly Brothers, 50s--I was standing in the front row as they performed at the Solano County Fair, Vallejo.
Robert Redford, Provo, Utah, mid 60s--my friend Pooh and I followed him all over downtown Provo on foot.
Ricky Nelson, Salt Lake City, mid 60s.
Peter, Paul, and Mary, near Salt Lake City, mid 60s.
Trini Lopez, near Salt Lake City, mid 60s.

Linda Ronstadt, University of Utah. She was wearing gigantic hoop earrings.

Janis Joplin, Golden Gate Park

Country Joe McDonald and the Fish, Golden Gate Park and Todos Santos Plaza, Concord, California
Elvis Presley, Cow Palace, San Francisco, 1970--Standing in the left balcony facing the stage I was with a date but entirely lost my head like everyone else I was so excited.
Tom Jones, New Jersey, early 70s.

Beau Bridges, Ghirardelli Square at night with my sister and niece. I said, "Aren't you a movie star? Want to go out dancing?" He declined and on our walk to the car I suddenly remembered his name and screamed it. I later learned he was in the city filming a documentary about teens and whether eating dinner with the family is crucial to their well being.

Reggie Jackson, Golden Gate Park, Singles Ward outing. At least I think that's his name. I was introduced to him by a guy in the Singles Ward as I stood beside him and didn't know who he was. The three of us were just talking.
Clint Eastwood, Pacific Heights on location, San Francisco, 70s--I first saw him from the bus but didn't believe it was really him. On my way to do laundry I saw the film crew and walked in the garage. I asked him for his autograph and he patted me on the head. I was wearing pig tails at the time.
Danny Glover, Haight Street, San Francisco--I said hello and he offered me his hand. It's huge, like a baseball glove.
Bob Dylan, Warfield Theatre, Market Street, San Francisco, November 1979, with a date.
John Denver, intimate venue downtown San Francisco, 80s, with my husband Michael. We were in the front row. I may have won tickets.
McLean Stevenson, Golden Gate Park near Bandshell, 80s--he was on vacation with his family, and smoking!

Elizabeth Taylor, Passport Show, San Francisco, 1997?
Tina Turner, Passport Show, San Francisco, 1997?--she didn't perform. :(

Marie Osmond, on stage as Anna in The King and I, San Francisco, Spring 1998
Kenny G, Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco.
Gladys Knight fireside, Interstake Center, Oakland, California, early 2000s
Etta James, Masonic Auditorium, 2000, San Francisco.
Lou Rawls, Masonic Auditorium, 2000, San Francisco.
Willie Mays, San Francisco event to raise awareness for a new downtown ballpark, 90s, now AT&T.
Cher, Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, California, 2003?
Gladys Knight and SUV Choir, Interstake Center, Oakland, California, late 2000s.
Lani Misalucha, Interstake Center, Oakland, California, late 2000s.

Sal Valentino, Todos Santos Plaza, Concord, California, August 20, 2009, and spoke with him August 27, 2009. "Are you Sal Valentino (as we crossed Willow Pass Road together when the light changed)? You sang for us last week. Thank you." He's the legendary lead singer of the Beau Brummels.

Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, July 1, 2010, Jessie Square, Mission Street, San Francisco, for the second time there and other times in Union Square and Golden Gate Park.

Maria Muldaur, Todos Santos Plaza, July 6, 2010.

Tony Bennett, feted at City Hall, San Francisco, February 14, 2012. He didn't sing.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

My Favorite Scripture


“Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.” (Mosiah 4: 9)

Monday, August 17, 2009

My Testimony


I was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints March 25, 1961, with my mother and younger sister and consider my membership in the Church a blessing. I know the Church is true. I know Jesus is the Christ and Savior of the world. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and restored the gospel to the earth. I know The Book of Mormon is true and the word of God. I know President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet and leads the Church today. No one forced me to believe or be baptized. I prayed and received a witness from the Holy Ghost. I look forward to my golden jubilee baptismal anniversary in 2011.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Latter-day Prophets







I have been in the same room with three latter-day prophets. I saw President David O. McKay in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle in the 60s. I burned that image into my mind and still have it. He was 9th President of the Church. When I lived in Salt Lake City I was in the North 18th Ward and Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., was pointed out to me as President of the Quorum of the Twelve. He became the 10th President of the Church. When I was in the San Francisco Singles Ward in the 70s we met in the Bay Ward building and after a traumatic incident Apostle Thomas S. Monson came and spoke to us in the Relief Society room. The Spirit was felt so strongly in his presence I wished more than anything never to have to leave that room that day. President Monson leads the Church at this time.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

The Olympics


Somewhere along the way I became fascinated with the Olympics. I don't watch any other sports on TV but when it comes to the Olympics I'm a daily viewer. I've visited Squaw Valley and Rome seeing where the events were held. I remember Adam was an infant during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. We were in Victoria, B.C. last year and they're flying the Olympics flag in anticipation of hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Shooting Stars


Is there anyone alive who doesn't thrill to see an unexpected shooting star? When I was a little girl at the drive-in movies in Vallejo there was a huge one to the left of the screen I've never forgotten. Last week I saw a fat shooting star to the right of the outdoor Clayton movie! Last night I left home at 10:30 on a warm summer night in hopes of finding a dark, safe place to view the meteor showers. In an hour I saw 22 beautiful stars. I looked behind me and there was a low, orange half moon! I tried to fall asleep once I got home but was still awake at 1 a.m. and ventured out in our front yard darkened from the street lights and saw seven more stars that hour. It is so wonderful and I loved each and every one.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Traveling in European Nations--my list

This was for 13 months in 1968 and 1969, hitchhiking, taking the train, and working the winter of 1968 in Zermatt, Switzerland, for two hotel/restaurants in succession as chambermaid and dishwasher. A passenger on the flight over suggested I go to the north countries first before winter, so I did. I stayed in youth hostels, pensiones, and with friends. I knew one person, a former roommate, in Europe before I left for Luxembourg and she lived and worked in Rome and had learned Italian. I'm still friends with an American named Kaarlyn I met in Monaco. I have a niece Jade Kaarlyn who was born in Rome.


Iceland Airport
Luxembourg
Holland
Greece
Germany
Belgium
Denmark
Ireland
Switzerland
England
Scotland
Spain
Italy
France
Sweden
Austria
Norway

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Swimming


I can swim all the strokes, freestyle, breast, back, and butterfly. It helps to have a community pool just down the street. I've also invented some strokes of my own I enjoy that you'll never see in the Olympics. One is a freestyle stroke under water with a side frog kick that's very relaxing. Another is on the back with a regular foot kick and skulling motions. The last is like a snow angel in the water. Sometimes I do the side stroke in remembrance of Mother. That's the only stroke I ever saw her swim.