I recently completed two weeks at our yearly session. I work for The Pacific Coast Banking School, where I just coined and trademarked the phrase, Teaching the Business of Banking. Doesn't it just sound prestigious? Honestly, it is. I listened for two weeks as high level bank executives from all over the country taught, laughed, worked, ate, talked and especially drank. At our yearly Economic panel, now in it's 21st year, we bring in the ABC's of Economics and have them forecast for the next year. Our 'A'cademic, is one of the most highly sought after professors of economics in the country. Our 'B'anker is the chief economist for USBank. Our 'C'onsultant is the chief economist of Weyerhauser. No one liked what they said this year, predicting that Washington Mutual would be bankrupt before the end of the year, and that inflation will rise 4.2% in the next year and that although the dollar will appear stronger, it's only because other countries are weakening. I could go on, but I won't. I will say this though.
Each economist hedged their forecast this year on the election. This was their only common thread. If Obama is elected and implements even half of what he says his economy agenda is, the country will dig a financial hole for itself so fast that within two years we'll crumble and it will take YEARS to dig ourselves out, if we can.
With the extremely recent financial problems, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Countrywide Financial, and now Washington Mutual, I hope we all take a serious look at what we can do to secure our financial futures. Robert gave a great post a few weeks ago about budgeting on his blog. Mel is reading a great book about financial security that advises to have cash reserves of 6 months. I was at a friends this weekend who really got my mind centered on food storage.
We have the benefit of not having to rely on an Economist to know what lies ahead. We have a prophet who has told us that perilous times shall come. I'm rededicating myself to being more prepared.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Adding to the Mormon Lore
We've all heard a million various Mormon lore stories about babies calling out for the Bishop to help them as they're taken out of church, or a missionary getting a mission call with only a 1-800 number straight to the prophet who will give them their top secret mission call.
This past Sunday I was sitting a few rows behind the Thompson family. They have two little boys, Collin and Liam. I was intrigued watching the parents try to keep the boys engaged and quiet during Sacrament Meeting. As we were preparing for Young Women (we work together in the Young Women)I commented on the Sacrament Books she had for her boys. They are adorable books with various pictures of Christ. She starting laughing and proceeded to tell me the greatest sacrament story EVER!
When Collin was younger - almost 3, she made these Book of Mormon books for Sacrament Meeting. They had pictures of Book of Mormon stories and her husband would tell stories to Collin during Sacrament. One Sacrament Meeting she and her husband got a little distracted during the meeting. All of the sudden Liz realized Collin's sweater and shoes were sitting on the bench, but there was no Collin. Then she heard him running down the aisle. "Dad, Dad! I'm a stripping warrior!" He yelled as he was tearing his shirt off going towards the door.
Ya gotta love little kids.
This past Sunday I was sitting a few rows behind the Thompson family. They have two little boys, Collin and Liam. I was intrigued watching the parents try to keep the boys engaged and quiet during Sacrament Meeting. As we were preparing for Young Women (we work together in the Young Women)I commented on the Sacrament Books she had for her boys. They are adorable books with various pictures of Christ. She starting laughing and proceeded to tell me the greatest sacrament story EVER!
When Collin was younger - almost 3, she made these Book of Mormon books for Sacrament Meeting. They had pictures of Book of Mormon stories and her husband would tell stories to Collin during Sacrament. One Sacrament Meeting she and her husband got a little distracted during the meeting. All of the sudden Liz realized Collin's sweater and shoes were sitting on the bench, but there was no Collin. Then she heard him running down the aisle. "Dad, Dad! I'm a stripping warrior!" He yelled as he was tearing his shirt off going towards the door.
Ya gotta love little kids.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
The Soundtrack of My Life
At one recent point in my life I owned five different stereo systems; one for the band room, one for my office, one for my bedroom, one for the living room, and one for my computer. Yes, I know, it’s pathetic, and it doesn’t even count the AWESOME system in my car. What can I say? Music is important to me.
Not just to me though. Music is a seriously important part of my family. We made family mix tapes growing up, and knew that when mom put on the classical music in the living room, you better not run, yell, or mess anything up.
When I was in college, I was introduced to the philosophies of vegetarianism by a roommate of mine. Her desire to be a vegetarian came from her knowledge of karma, which has become quite the buzz word these days. She believed that every animal had karma, a set of values, emotions, and desires, and when you took that animal into your body you also absorbed its karma. Although not necessarily a philosophy I agree with or believe in, it made sense.
A few weeks later, I was helping a friend mourn the recent loss of some boy. Although the details seem somewhat blurred 10+ years later, there was a moment in there that I will not forget. They had broken up several weeks before, but she was having a hard time getting over it and moving on. We got in the car and put on our CD of break-up songs. “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” (Bill Withers) was her favorite, followed by, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” (the version by Barry Manilow). A funny thing happened that night. I drove around with her for awhile, and then had a realization. “This is totally stupid!” I said to her with no sensitivity. “Why are we listening to songs about regret and pain, thinking about what ‘Could’ve Been’ (Tiffany)? The guy was nothing less than a total jerk.” He had cheated on her, and treated her quite poorly. Yet, here we were, mourning the loss of a really bad relationship.
That is when I discovered that music had karma, defined by Webster as “the force generated by a person’s actions”. When we listen to music we absorb the force or emotion that the writer or performer desired and acted upon. Whether it’s joy, happiness, gratitude, security, love, anger, frustration, hate, arousal, sadness, depression, envy, rivalry, jealousy, compassion, anxiety, mourning, delight, longing, malice, or any number of others. In this case I wish I would have had "Thank You" by Sister Hazel to play. 'You were the one, who taught me what I don't need, I thank you, I thank you for that.' Much more appropriate.
I was impressed recently with an exchange I had with my sister-in-law where she said she had quit listening to some music that I enjoyed for years. It’s GREAT musically, the singer is extremely talented and the band has a way with chords and harmony. However, the entire album she was referring to, was about sex. It made me stop and think exactly what I was allowing into my conscious and subconscious.
It was then that I started my quest for new music with great karma. My first find was the song “Say” by John Mayer**. Sometimes there is just nothing better than a well-executed pop song played loudly in your car with the sun roof open. But the most important part to me is the lyrics and message of the song. ‘Say what you need to say’ is something I don’t think any of us do enough of. My favorite verse:
Walking like a one man army
Fighting with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you’d be better off instead
If you could only
Say what you need to say
Try it out….. (http://www.myspace.com/johnmayer you can listen to the whole thing for free!) I bet you’ll feel better and slightly more hopeful. That’s how I feel, every time I listen to it.
**Note: We could debate all day that karma comes from the actual intentions and actions of the composer over their lifetime, therefore HIGHLY restricting the potential musically library. I have chosen, right or wrong, to strictly limit my search of good karma to the lyrics and music of the song in question.
Not just to me though. Music is a seriously important part of my family. We made family mix tapes growing up, and knew that when mom put on the classical music in the living room, you better not run, yell, or mess anything up.
When I was in college, I was introduced to the philosophies of vegetarianism by a roommate of mine. Her desire to be a vegetarian came from her knowledge of karma, which has become quite the buzz word these days. She believed that every animal had karma, a set of values, emotions, and desires, and when you took that animal into your body you also absorbed its karma. Although not necessarily a philosophy I agree with or believe in, it made sense.
A few weeks later, I was helping a friend mourn the recent loss of some boy. Although the details seem somewhat blurred 10+ years later, there was a moment in there that I will not forget. They had broken up several weeks before, but she was having a hard time getting over it and moving on. We got in the car and put on our CD of break-up songs. “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” (Bill Withers) was her favorite, followed by, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” (the version by Barry Manilow). A funny thing happened that night. I drove around with her for awhile, and then had a realization. “This is totally stupid!” I said to her with no sensitivity. “Why are we listening to songs about regret and pain, thinking about what ‘Could’ve Been’ (Tiffany)? The guy was nothing less than a total jerk.” He had cheated on her, and treated her quite poorly. Yet, here we were, mourning the loss of a really bad relationship.
That is when I discovered that music had karma, defined by Webster as “the force generated by a person’s actions”. When we listen to music we absorb the force or emotion that the writer or performer desired and acted upon. Whether it’s joy, happiness, gratitude, security, love, anger, frustration, hate, arousal, sadness, depression, envy, rivalry, jealousy, compassion, anxiety, mourning, delight, longing, malice, or any number of others. In this case I wish I would have had "Thank You" by Sister Hazel to play. 'You were the one, who taught me what I don't need, I thank you, I thank you for that.' Much more appropriate.
I was impressed recently with an exchange I had with my sister-in-law where she said she had quit listening to some music that I enjoyed for years. It’s GREAT musically, the singer is extremely talented and the band has a way with chords and harmony. However, the entire album she was referring to, was about sex. It made me stop and think exactly what I was allowing into my conscious and subconscious.
It was then that I started my quest for new music with great karma. My first find was the song “Say” by John Mayer**. Sometimes there is just nothing better than a well-executed pop song played loudly in your car with the sun roof open. But the most important part to me is the lyrics and message of the song. ‘Say what you need to say’ is something I don’t think any of us do enough of. My favorite verse:
Walking like a one man army
Fighting with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you’d be better off instead
If you could only
Say what you need to say
Try it out….. (http://www.myspace.com/johnmayer you can listen to the whole thing for free!) I bet you’ll feel better and slightly more hopeful. That’s how I feel, every time I listen to it.
**Note: We could debate all day that karma comes from the actual intentions and actions of the composer over their lifetime, therefore HIGHLY restricting the potential musically library. I have chosen, right or wrong, to strictly limit my search of good karma to the lyrics and music of the song in question.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
I've been tagged by Katie
Katie - my sister in law tagged me so here it goes:
Joys:
1. cool weather to start school with (not 100+)
2. all the clouds in the sky
3. friends that send their husbands to the rescue (Thanks Holly)
Fears:
1. My flight landing at SLC International but not quite making it and crashing into the smelly Great Salt Lake
2. Heights with just a see through railing (even if it's solid glass) - solid wall -no big deal.
3. I hate mice
Current Obessions/ collections:
1. Watching all of the episodes of Emergency on Netflix
2. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
3. Seeing how many books I can order from Paperback Swap
Surprising Facts:
1.It may not come as a surprise to some but I'm a NASCAR fan.
2. I'm scared of the water
3. I like Dad's llamas even if I don't like to touch them
I tag:
1. Amy
2. Holly
3. Anne
Joys:
1. cool weather to start school with (not 100+)
2. all the clouds in the sky
3. friends that send their husbands to the rescue (Thanks Holly)
Fears:
1. My flight landing at SLC International but not quite making it and crashing into the smelly Great Salt Lake
2. Heights with just a see through railing (even if it's solid glass) - solid wall -no big deal.
3. I hate mice
Current Obessions/ collections:
1. Watching all of the episodes of Emergency on Netflix
2. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
3. Seeing how many books I can order from Paperback Swap
Surprising Facts:
1.It may not come as a surprise to some but I'm a NASCAR fan.
2. I'm scared of the water
3. I like Dad's llamas even if I don't like to touch them
I tag:
1. Amy
2. Holly
3. Anne
A Reveal
So we spent some time this weekend organizing and trying to get some areas of the house finished or at least a list of what has to be finished. Here's a sneak prevew of some parts of our house. (We're not finished yet)
Our shelves in our dining area:
My Christmas present (6 months early) from Holly divides our living and dining area on the wall:
A glimpse in our Living room:
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