March 13

I am going to attempt to make my post titles more generic.  So far so good.  So far this month I have read 2 books on mneumonics and am currently reading Maphead by Ken Jennings. It is ok.  I loved the memory books and am trying to put them into practice.  It has become more depressing to think about how much I don't know.  I watch Jeopardy! every day and there are times where the contestants seem to have studied the most obscure subjects immaginable.  I will have to use it for motivation.  This past Sunday I memorized the 12 tribes of Israel along with their moms and in order of youngest to oldest, as far as the OT is concerned.  Next I am going to try and construct some system to memorize the tallest two mountains on each continent.  This equals 14 or 15 mountains, but the names are just weird enough to make it somewhat difficult for me at this point.  Foer mentioned in MWE that memory is less about having a "photographic" memory and more about being creative. I am still struggling with that though I remain convinced that I will get better at it with practice. I also hope to begin eliminating the "good enough" plateaus. I think that is what he called them.  

Jeopardy!

Jeopardy! is the only show on television that remains interesting to me.  I am not aware of another show I care much about.  The Office is holding on by a thread or two.  If Sarah decided to stop watching, I would be fine with it,  Nevertheless, the point is I have finally found an interest of mine.  I like trivia.  I have decided that I am going to try and go on Jeopardy! in the next 10 years or so. I have begun memorizing the presidents of the US.  I am reading a book about a former winner who was also a big loser, but I am only a chapter or two in and I don't know what he ended up winning or otherwise.  I will try to read Ken Jennings book as well.  I have been saying for years that I don't know what my interests are.  I now have something to put into the "hobbies" box on surveys and such.  I also hope that my experience will transfer into something I can write about on a more regular basis.  I thought it would be goal setting and things I wanted to accomplish, but that has proven to make me feel about as motivated as a lion who has just eaten a full grown zebra.  I also want to learn how to write better metaphors.
   

Scrabble

I wanted to play Scrabble for some reason today so I am, right now.  I texted Dave and he gave me the address to the site he uses, and so far so good.  I lost the first game pretty badly after having been ahead at the beginning and now I am dead even with a guy that is likely going to lose due to a lack of time. I keep checking to see if he is done, and he never is. Not in the sense that Jonny's roommate Jesse will never get a card game, which is the actual never, he just takes a long, long time.  His slow response is putting a damper on our game, but at least it gave me time to write in my blog. If he doesn't take the spot I am thinking about playing, which he will, I will be able to play a seven letter word which at this point in the game is pretty good for me.  He is probably off doing something else or using a scrabble dictionary or something that is making him take forever. I still need to write down some goals and to dos.  For some reason, I never follow up on the things I want to do. I wish I practiced an instrument every day. I wish I practiced Italian every day.  I wish I worked out every day. I want to memorize things and strengthen my brain.  I suppose that is a lot I want to do and for some reason, when the day is young, I don't make the time to do any of it.  Again, if I had someone who would hold me accountable...in addition to myself.  Well, he is about to lose or something depending on what the time does.

Incognito

I think I am doing this mostly for me.  I don't anticipate anyone reading it, except Sarah, who probably hasn't read it for a while since she might think I don't use it anymore.  I wanted to write about Erica.  She is constantly asking Sarah and I to "hold me."  I almost always stop what I am doing and hold her close for a few moments.  She usually wants it to last longer than I feel I can as I am trying to balance breakfast and Pamela and wanting to read the paper, but I always cuddle her for a minute or two.  The other day we were at home and she looked up at the picture of Jesus and said that she loved Jesus, and that Jesus loved her.  Then she said that she wanted Jesus to hold her.  I understand how she feels.  It was quite cute and made me realize how pure and clean and close to God our kids are.  On a totally unrelated note, I just checked the Eve6 site for some reason and I want to go to one of their concerts again.  I am sure I will be disappointed, but I think I will check back and try to do it, with Sarah, if at all possible.

Habits

I have this fear that someday they will look back on these posts and someone is going to think that I have a focus disorder.  I had an idea today that I thought would give me something to write about more often while also improving some things.  Habits.  I am going to do a personal experiment with habits.  I am sure I will lose interest in this too, but I am going to try.  I am going to try to start one good habit or end one bad habit each month.  Tom was saying how he never would keep a log with regards to writing down miles because it was always a pain.  I don't think it is that difficult, but I have been doing it for 2 years now and it is such a habit, that I don't ever think twice and it never seems hard.  I suppose everything is like that.  Once we have done something for while and it is habit, it comes easy.  Whether it is good or bad.  I have decided to track a few things this month which includes July.  My weight after breakfast.  My resting heart rate in the afternoon and my body fat percentage before bed after I have gone potty.  Once I am in the habit of doing this for a whole month, maybe I will learn more about my health just as I have my car by keeping track of the miles.  I am also going to track time spent working out.  That might be the most difficult, but once I am in the habit...I will try to think of a bad habit I want to break for the month of July as well.  The first one that popped in my head was pulling out my neck hairs.  Who knows why I do that and if I can stop, but I am sure Sarah would love if I stopped.  Here goes.  Two habits.  One to start and one to break.  Going forward, just so I don't lose my focus, I will just try one or the other.  Ce La Faccio!!

Teaching

I had the opportunity to teach preisthood this week.  Wayne came to ask who the instructor was and when I mentioned that he was conducting this month and responsible for the lessons, he then said, "well, you're the group leader and you haven't called anyone."  That was an obnoxious comment.  Nevertheless, I stood up to teach the lesson with President Thomas there and it actually went pretty well.  We have a great quorum for that with regards to participation and I enjoyed discussing talents with them.  Which leads me to my point, I wish I had developed more talents at a younger age.  I don't want to be one of those parents, but I am going to encourage my children to develop their talents as much as I can without becoming one of those parents.  I guess I better figure out who is teaching this week.  Pamela will be 4 weeks this month.  She is a pretty good baby.  She is not sleeping well and gets pretty grumpy at night, but I really like her. 

Week 2

We are 11 days into Pamela's life.  It is a bit of an adjustment having three kids.  About 5 days into her life, I looked at Sarah and felt like we hadn't spoken in days.  We are so wrapped up in her diapers and feedings, Michael and Erica's needs that we hadn't had much of a conversation.  My back has been hurting now for a few days, and I attribute that to her also.  She is a cute little girl though.  I will have to get back in the habit of writing again because Michael and Erica have been saying some cute things lately and now I can't remember them.  I am going back to work, and not a moment too late as we are running low on money.  I have not really done much since Pamela was born.  Sarah just reminded me of an observation that Erica makes when she sees Sarah nursing, "Pamela eats you."  That is sort of funny.  I also start soccer again this summer this coming Saturday.  I told Tyler that I have never really scored in a game and he said it will be his goal to get me a goal. I hope at least that day I remember to write and record it so I can remember it.  Short and sweet tonight with out much of a purpose.