Descendant Drawings

I got the nicest care package last week. It contained a stuffed moose and three drawings. It was from Micah's children so I called Bess to get more information on the art work. The first one is by Hazle. I entitled it Alphabet because Hazel says a letter and then makes a mark.

The next one is by Henri. Bess told me that it is a claw with a maze so I entitled it Claw with Maze.

The third drawing, by Harriett, is super delux because it also has a letter attached. I named it Shoe Shoe, Me and You because those are the words she wrote on the picture.

The moose I named Baby Moose because it's smaller than the larger moose I have in the guest bedroom. Baby Moose and Big Moose are already friends.

Jared and Miya came to visit over Memorial Day. I asked Jared to draw me a picture too so that Harriett, Henri, and Hazle, not to mention Maggie, could see what a creative heritage they have. I have named it Horsetronaut with MoonShrews because those elements were crucial to his composition when Jared explained the picture to me.

I will be putting all the art in my journal for posterity and I have made a new file in my computer called "Descendant Drawings."

Horse Update

It's about time I updated everyone about how Chou-chou is doing. She's doing fine. As a matter of fact, when I die I want to come back as a Dansie horse.She has to be "handled" every day to get used to people being around and messing with her. So she gets a deep massage each morning. Then she grazes all day in a very nice pasture with her friends Twister, Princess, and Jasmine. (This is Chou-chou getting her forelock brushed.)Then she grazes all day in a very nice pasture with her friends, Twister, Princess, and Jasmine. (This is Chou-chou pawing the wall while being groomed. She's not supposed to paw anything. She's supposed to just stand there and be a good girl.)At 4:00 she gets a yummy treat/vitamin supplement called Omoline and more handling. Finally, she gets groomed each evening. Life is good to my horse. (This is Chou-chou doing what she's supposed to do.)

She is no longer a baby. She is the horse equivalent of a middle-aged child. Bro. Dansie tells me that she is going through a growth spurt right now and will look very ungainly for the next while. He says that you can tell because her back end is higher than her front end. Her legs and head are going to grow faster than the rest of her body and next summer she will be a teenager. (This is Chou-chou smiling for the camera.)

I can't wait for my grandkids to visit and help pet her. She needs all sorts of handling. Actually, everyday I can't want to see my grandkids no matter what I'm doing.

Teacher of the year

Here is is: The Teacher of the Year Award. May I never win another. I guess I'm in a glass-half-empty mood right now. This is easily explained. First of all, I was the first honoree (60 sec. of fame) and the ceremony lasted over 2 hours. Secondly, the awards ceremony was held at the OT Cookhouse, the "nicest" restaurant in Taft. (This is nothing to brag about.) The "free" meal, was disappointing. I mean, the traditional cold, dry chicken was served with a sauce that for all the world resembled Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup but with only half the water added to the can.

I can't complain. I have eaten worse. I've even made worse than that and tried to feed it to my family. But when I dragged my jacket sleeve through the sleezy sauce, it did not make my day. The meal will eventually cost me $12.00 for dry cleaning.

I think the next time someone wants to honor me, I'm going to say, "Nice try, but I'm not up for any more awards. Who's next in line? Make him take it."

Spring Fling 2010

Here are three great shots of two of the Psych Club's activities during Spring Fling.

The first is of Dr. Chris Chung-Wee getting taped to a tree by students with issues. Chris adamantly refused to participate in our Kiss-a-Baby-Farm-Animal event, so he volunteered to be taped to a tree. We made about $30 off of tape sales. We used pink tape because that is his favorite color.

The second is of Sharyn Eveland puckering up after the spectators decided that she should definitely kiss the varmint-of-the-year.

The last picture is of the Psych Club members that were present at the event.

Just a note: I got to kiss the llama for free.

The Pedestal

Yes, after asserting that pedestals are prisons without bars for thirty years, I finally made one for me. Not to stand on, but to display the Japanese doll Steven special ordered and presented to me when we lived in Utah about 25 years ago.

This shot is of Gene Conner, my Shop teacher, and me discussing the terrible mess I had made of the original lumber. Here is the story (it's an old, sweet song):

I asked Gene when he knew he had "the glory," meaning when was it that he knew he had a talent for wood working. He said that after his first year in Shop Class (or was it after his first semester?), he no longer had to ask questions. I personally think his memory is a little skewed.

Nevertheless I, of course, being remarkably smart and clever, and (of course) having a Masters degree, I began my misguided extrapolations. Aha!, I thought, If he can make something out of nothing, then I can too. After all, he is a high school teacher and I am a magnificent college professor.

When the sawdust cleared my vanity was revealed, I took a break, regrouped, and begged Gene's forgiveness. He's a very good sport and was kind enough to assure me that my sins against Poplar could be forgiven. It was a definate learning experience.

So here is a picture of the pedestal after I got humble enough to ask for help.


I still need to sand, paint and finish it. That probably won't occur until next summer. If I ask you a question, will you answer me honestly? Does it look like something a priest would put a basin of water on to sprinkle a baby?

Evolution of a Graphic Design

Several years ago one of my students, Danielle Hutchison, designed a logo for the Taft College Psych Club. I sent it to Micah for polishing, resulting in this:

Note: Micah never once suggested the font. It was all the idea of the designer.

Finally, after years of hemming and hawing around, the Psych Club decided to have some T-shirts made "to increase our visibility." I don't have a picture of the entire T-shirt, but here is what I could get on my scanner. To the untrained eye, the difference may not be apparent. However I am confident that all my descendants can clearly discern the differences.

Micah,

Hold Maggie Jane up to the screen and ask her to point out the differences.

New Callings

FYI: I have been called as a Ward Missionary in Taft. This is a lifetime aspiration. I have always wanted to be a missionary. All this is very new to me so I hope I am a profitable servant in this capacity. And, as one might expect, I am way jazzed about it.

I was also called to teach Relief Society lessons in Taft Ward. I've been substituting in this capacity for a while so I'm up for it. I'm certain that my skills in teaching in RS will improve now that I have been set apart.