A Remarkable Journey to Mormonism, by Annmarie Worthington

http://www.meridianmagazine.com/lds-church-updates/article/6701?ac=1

The Hawaii Temple

I've been very excited about the Hawaii Temple reopening. There's been an open house, November 20 is the Laie cultural celebration, and it will be rededicated in three sessions November 21. When we visited Hawaii in May 2009 the temple had been closed some six months so we missed our chance to go inside. It has a unique history and was not bombed during the attack on Pearl Harbor even though it was targeted. I had a fond dream of being there for the festivities but couldn't find a place to stay during Thanksgiving week near the temple.

Marilyn Monroe

I was working at Tip Top Coffee Shop when my coworker came to work and told me Marilyn had died. It was a sad day for me. I've been fascinated by her in musicals and dramas. I doubt there's a movie she was in I haven't seen.

Buster Posey is Rookie of the Year

Congratulations to Buster Posey. As he hugged teammates after clinching the World Series he still had his catcher's glove on with the ball inside. I love it.

Posey became the sixth Giant and first in 35 years to win the award, which was established in 1947. He joined Willie Mays (1951), Orlando Cepeda (1958), Willie McCovey (1959), Gary Matthews (1973) and John Montefusco (1975). Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/15/SPNM1GCC6I.DTL#ixzz15SukvHOr

2010 dates to celebrate

May 29 - In his season debut, Posey has three RBI singles in four at-bats.
July 1 - In his first game as the regular catcher, Posey homers.
Sept. 21 - In a 1-0 victory, Posey catches a shutout, throws out a runner and hits an eighth-inning homer.
Oct. 3 - Posey homers and catches a shutout, and the Giants clinch the NL West on the final day of the regular season.
Nov. 1 - World champions.
Nov. 15 - Posey is named NL Rookie of the Year.

About Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award
Description from Wikipedia

In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946. The award became national in 1947; Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers' first baseman, won the inaugural award. One award was presented for both leagues in 1947 and 1948; since 1949, the honor has been given to one player each in the National and American League. Originally, the award was known as the J. Louis Comiskey Memorial Award, named after the Chicago White Sox owner of the 1930s. The award was renamed the Jackie Robinson Award in July 1987, 40 years after Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line.

Music and the Spoken Word Inducted into National Radio Hall of Fame

http://beta-newsroom.lds.org/article/music-and-the-spoken-word-inducted-into-national-radio-hall-of-fame

Congratulations to America's choir for this honor. I've seen the choir in the tabernacle and performing in an Oakland venue where Michael and I took a neighbor, MaryLou. I have record albums, cassettes, CDs and videos of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and never fail to enjoy the Sunday morning broadcast on KOIT radio from 7:30 to 8:00.

A Bald Eagle near Olympic Mountains, Bremerton, Washington

Sunrise, the Temple and a Waning Crescent Moon

This morning the eastern sky sunrise was beautiful in streaks of hot pink and as I passed the Oakland hills there was the beautiful temple with a moon sliver above it. He is the best artist.

My Family

Rick and Eve

San Francisco Giants Victory Parade

So at 7 a.m. Concord BART was packed with Giants fans. Dressed in orange and black myself I immediately got a high five from a young guy. I've never seen such fan excitement so early in the morning. Then in the casual carpool car both driver and friend and I talked about baseball and the parade and whether his car would be blocked from getting out and leaving for an appointment. It was bumper to bumper getting into the city and after the 9th Street exit the same. A coworker suggested bringing a stepping stool to the parade which I'm going to do and thankful for the suggestion. The parade starts in a half hour from the financial district and I'll be out to Civic Center ASAP. Temperature was 78*! It's now 3 p.m. I saw alot of the parade being higher on the stool and was at McAllister on Market Street watching labeled rolling cable cars with the players inside. People were in trees, on traffic signals, clinging to the sides of buildings, on balconies and roofs, and even in the windows of boarded up buildings somehow. The crowds headed to Civic Center and I actually got between the area of the last couple flagposts but when nothing could be heard or seen except cheers from the crowd I headed back to work, walking down the middle of blocked-off 8th Street. A woman taking pictures told me, "You look beautiful" and asked if she could take my picture. I was flattered. Again, smells included smoke and pot and I heard some bad language. The crowds were civil and excitement ran high. I was able to watch the Civic Center ceremonies on the news though I think the thong episode was in extreme bad taste and I could swear I saw Posey wince as I did.

Message from BART: "There is a 10-minute delay on the Daly City Line in the SFO, Daly City and East Bay directions due to crowd control for the SF Giants Ticker Tape Parade."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/11/04/MNM51G6DMS.DTL

I Got a Birthday Present Last Night

The San Francisco Giants are World Series Champions beating the Texas Rangers 3-1 in Arlington going in 3-1 Giants in Game 5. Way to go Giants, first time in 56 years and first time as San Francisco Giants.

Trunk or Treat Chili Cookoff, Denkinger 10/29/10