Dreams Come True

This is a repentance post.  You know, the ones where you have to eat your words because they were wrong.

Some of you may remember a while back when I opined that one of my dreams was to write something that would be published.  It was at this blog entry.

I had some unfavorable words for the folks at Deseret Media because they seemed impervious to my pleadings and longings.






Since then, I have wormed my way back into their system and just last Saturday, March 26, 2011 they printed this book review I did in the Deseret News.  No big deal EXCEPT it is the first thing I have ever written that has been published.


The hope is that it won't be the last.  I'll let you know.


Look for me in the funny papers------- or book reviews.

Doctors---Bleh

I have been a little under the weather today so I only went to work for half the day. 

Teresa made a Dr. appointment and I, dutifully, went and fulfilled my patient responsibilities. 

What a WASTE OF TIME. 

Don't get me wrong, I like my doctor and appreciate the times he is able to help but today  he had no clue why I was miserable. This mortal tabernacle is so complex that, unless there is something major happening or the problem is completely obvious, it is nigh unto miraculous to identify an ailment therein. 

Coming home with a big question mark stamped on my forehead did nothing toward alleviating my wife's concerns.  And I am out $20 for a co-pay that could have been used some other way.

Resurrection seems to be the only cure I can count on for having a better body.  And I'm not really ready for that just yet.  Maybe a few more days like this and I will wish a little harder---but not yet.

Hope your day is better.

 

Another Point of View

Just a quick post to offer another perspective on the BYU Honor Code enforcement.  If you don't know already, the BYU basketball team suspended one of their best players for an honor code violation.  This came just as the team had reached a #3 ranking and were being considered one of the possible favorites for the National Championship.  The infraction was of a nature that most other universities would not care one little bit but for BYU it is a major problem.  Since the decision to suspend the player the team has dropped to #10 and are considered a longshot for any major run in the tournament.

A writer for the Salt Lake Tribune has offered his perspective on the purpose of Universities, citing the Honor Code of BYU as a foundation.  It seems that most people are surprised that a school would be so 'dogmatic' in the application of an 'honor code' when it would cost the school huge amounts of money.  The message this fellow offers is refreshing and makes me proud of my school and their adherence to standards.

Mormon’s for President

There was an interesting article in the Washington Post that examined the differences and similarities between Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman Jr.  I am not great political whiz but I try to follow the trends and keep my eyes open so I can make informed decisions.  It was interesting to see how people outside my own circle view these two “Mormons” and their political aspirations.  Being of the same persuasion—Mormon— my tendency is to look at each candidate through the filter of my religious beliefs.  Not saying this is particularly fair to the candidates but it is what I use to set a groundwork for the decision process.

My impression is that Mitt is a little more conservative and Jon has more progressive leanings.  Part of that is factored from personal experience as a citizen of the State of Utah and having Huntsman as governor for five and one-half years.  Some of the bills he proposed and passed were in opposition to my personal leanings so I was never enamored with his ‘reign.’  On the other hand, Mitt had such great success with the Winter Olympics and left our state in much better circumstances so there is the emotional connection derived from that source.  Still, am I really ready to vote for the man who created RomneyCare in the State of Massachusetts?

There is one thing that has made a huge difference in my thinking about these two very capable men: their own commitment to the religion they purport to follow.  Romney is well known as a faithful, involved Latter-day Saint who is not afraid to confess his religious preferences.  Huntsman, on the other hand, seems to be wiggling around, trying to avoid any formal attachment to the religion of his fathers.  Though his own father is very involved, Jon Jr. gives the impression that he can take or leave the Church.  (And where would he be if he hadn’t served a mission in China—No ambassador to China!!!).

Romney has been accused of flip-flop tactics but he has had the strength to uphold the principles of his own faith.  I’m not sure Huntsman will do the same in his efforts to hold office.  As things progress, I hope the truth unfolds more clearly.