50 Art Squares

Recently my daughter was commissioned to paint 50 squares for a neighbor whose daughter was having a birthday. It took my daughter about a month to paint them all, each one with a different theme. (Click on the first one, then toggle through using the arrow keys.)

The Absolute Brilliance of D.I. (Deseret Industries)

The concept and philosophy of the thrift store chain Deseret Industries is absolutely brilliant. The concept is that people in a community donate unused clothes and items to the D.I., a practice very similar to that of a Savers, Salvation Army, Calvary Thrift, etc.

But the brilliance of D.I. comes in the other things it does. Many if not most of the employees are in a situation where they have hit hard times yet need work experience. Whether one is a recovering addict, a person with a mental disability, or a newly arrived immigrant, the D.I. gives them just such an opportunity for a new or better life. 

From their website: "We partner with community colleges, applied technology centers, and other institutions that offer training courses in accounting, information technology, health care, and other areas."

And: "Items not sold in our stores are sent off for humanitarian relief, where the items will do a lot of good."

I have personally taken a tour of one of their facilities and seen the thousand-pound bundles of clothes that are regularly sent off to needy countries. Every scrap -- if at all usable -- goes to a good cause.

Also from their website:

2017 DI by the Numbers --

Associates served: 16,088
Volunteers giving of their time: 42,005
Languages spoken within DI: 52
Clothing and shoes given in humanitarian aid: 6,149,440 pounds

Finally, it is regularly a rush to visit one of their stores, not knowing what one-of-a-kind items awaits, and coming out having spent only a few dollars on some newfound treasures.

Viva Deseret Industries! 🙂 

The Joy of Vinyl

I love vinyl records for many reasons:

• They remind me of my childhood. 
• They are usually filled with great, less electronically manipulated music. 
• They are still cheap. 
• They force the listener to listen to an album (or at least half of it) from start to finish. There is no "shuffle." This is great for conceptual albums.
• They sound great. 
• They are often obscure or out of print, and I have a record player that can hook up to a computer and digitize them if I so desire.
• They often have great artwork and interesting anecdotal information.

More puns

When I heard about the new seat belt laws I could scarcely restrain myself.

I love to control the itinerary whenever I vacation in the capital of Taiwan. I guess that makes me a Taipei personality. // On the other hand, my bossy Canadian typing teacher in high school also had a "type, eh" personality.

Cowboys who are not allowed to roam the open prairie must feel de-ranged.

If my diabetic friend refused injections, would he be insulin-t?

If I forced my friends at BYU to take off several days of work, would it lead to a Provo-cation?

I like Indian food. And if you are Indian, I am not telling you this to curry your favor.


I want somebody to be available 24-7 to prevent cancer, perhaps an on-call-ogist. 

For those who wonder if I can play stringed music on my stomach muscles, I say abs-ó-lute...ly.

We were going to see how cranberries were grown but got bogged down in our plans.

Supercilious mocking between you and me creates a sar-chasm.

If you need a really short haircut, give me a buzz.

I got really deflated when I couldn't remember what you call those contraptions that inflate tires. I could use a pneumonic device.

Bronze Medals of the LDS Prophets

I bought these 12 bronze medals of the LDS prophets yesterday at a thrift store. They were issued in 1975 by the Certified Mint of Phoenix, Arizona. They end with then current prophet, Spencer W. Kimball.

(click on photo to enlarge)

Homies Can Be Together Forever

Focus on the desired result

Instead of focusing on solving the problem, focus on the desired result.

Puns o' Mine

I was listening to some birds chatter about something up in the rafters. I looked up, then it hit me -- eavesdropping.
 
I lament how difficult it is to wake up early. I guess you could say I'm in mo(u)rning.

The option of buying citrus drinks on line has been e-lemonade-d.

I would like to do a promotional campaign for counselors on the brims of golf hats. I would call them ad-visors.

I wouldn't pay money to meet a six-legged bug that formerly rode in a spaceship around Earth, because I heard it costs an ex-orbit-ant amount.

I passed a mile marker that said I was almost to my destination. That's a good sign.

I have categorized all of the evils of the world, but I don’t want to give you the sorted details.

Forgetful Hawaiian bees have Pollen-esia.

When I heard that hardly any snow fell, I was flurrious.

 

Please don't bitterly criticize me for buying a record player. I don't need your vitriol-a.

As styles have changed, so has my supply of pants with creases on the front de-pleated significantly.

Installing mufflers all day sounds exhausting.

Bill Clinton's vice president couldn't dance well because he didn't have algorithm.

Why would I want to buy stuff from a guy standing under an open-air tent? That would be so bazaar.

My cop friend wants a sweater for his birthday. I think I'll get him a pull-over.

Would you like to discuss Mexican food, or is there something else you'd like to taco bout?

I am glad that people of the Islamic influence do not sew cotton fabric apparatuses of plain weave to prevent dogs' mouths from biting, because that would be Muslim muzzlin' muslin.

If my last name were Name, I would not name my son Nicholas, because... what would we call him for short?

I am incensed by the amount of people who use fragrant smoke in their home.

If I sculpted a large brain made out of stone, would that be monu-mental?

I was going to study about the moon but I totally spaced it.

If my last name were Oxyribonucleicacid, I would not name one of my children Dee.

I wouldn't phone broccoli, but I would cauliflower.

Did you get a chance to see the trailer for the new Winnebago movie?

If my last name were Frapples, I would never name one of my sons Bob.

If you accidentally sit on your ice cream, is that a "dairy err"?

If you ironed your underwear in front of news reporters, I would call it a press briefing.

If the yeti were a gourd, I would call him Sa-squash.

The controversial issue of hitting the cable when a tightrope walker is on it really struck a cord with me.

I can't stand comma splices, how do you feel about them?

I heard that I can become a tightrope walker through an on-line course.

Currently I'm learning about electrical flow.

I asked the cashier a question, but I don't think it registered.

I made a clock out of goose feathers, because I needed some down time.

If all the male sheep died, what would be the ramifications? Will ewe tell me?

If the Grim Reaper fell and hit his head, what would be the reapercussion?

I think the North and the South should be Civil with each other, General Lee speaking.

If my last name were Vation, I would never name my daughter Ella.

If I had relatives whose last name was Munch, I would not call them Munch kin.

If my last name were Forth, I would never name my daughter Sally.

If my father had an endearing sister named Histamine, I would refuse to call her Auntie Histamine.

If my last name were Rowave, I would never name one of my sons Mike.

If my last name were Molive, I would never name my son Paul.

I only have a cursory understanding of swearing.

After all I've learned about Chinese restaurants I'm still not sure what the takeaway is.

If my last name were Droid I would never name one of my daughters Anne.

Labyrinths are amazing.

The grumpy sailor lacks training in mooring his ship. I think he needs anchor management.

When your car wheels wear down, is it time for retirement?

You'll find the documentary on how they make Levi's jeans absolutely riveting.

I'd like to give a big shout-out to all those who are hard of hearing.

I have been bombarded with news stories about fireworks in Utah. Some people think it's lit, but I am ready to explode.

I can't stand the idea of not having toes. I guess that makes me lack-toes intolerant.

This whole medical marijuana issue is going to pot. Weed be better off to let the courts decide.

I want to eliminate wrinkles from my clothes. How iron-ic.

Try to say "orthodontia" with your mouth wide open.

What do people on ranches wear? Ranch dressing?

If I ever go back in time and I'm a teenager in our LDS ward and our family moves to Omaha, I'm going to attend the Mutual of Omaha.

I hate it when I get a hole in my sock, darn it.

Guess what Beijing used to be called (no Peking).

I just want to say hats off to the people who don't wear hats.

I just want to give kudos to the people who invented Kudos.

I love this quote about the atonement

By humbling ourselves, exercising faith on His name, repenting, and keeping His commandments, we can receive the blessings of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice.

Creighton Merrell Wright (1996-2017)

Monday, January 1, 2018 - the viewing
Here are some pictures of a preface to and a letter composed by some of Creighton's relatives, as if it were Creighton himself speaking (click on each image to enlarge):

Tuesday, January 2, 2018 - the funeral
Here is the funeral program, including obituary:

And here are pictures from the interment in West Jordan. In order to remember Creighton's appreciation for crazy socks, each of the pallbearers wore crazy socks.