Moving

I need to comment on the amount of help we had with our recent move. Our friends need to know how grateful we are for them and how amazing they are. We feel very fortunate to have so many people willing to help us with such an undertaking.

We closed on our old home in early April but negotiated a rent-back period so we could stay in the home until we finalized the purchase of the new house. By late April we had closed on the new house and were ready to move. We figured we would move most of the boxes piecemeal throughout the week and then enlist the help of friends and U-haul to get the big stuff on a Saturday.

As the week started several family members and ladies from the ward brought their SUVs and mini-vans and started loading up boxes and whatever they could fit to take to the new house. They made many, many trips, and there were many who didn't help with the physical move but did volunteer to watch the kids so they wouldn't be underfoot while the move was ongoing. By the time Wednesday rolled around a huge portion of the smaller things had already been taken care of.

At this point we were nervous because the weather forecast was calling for very cold temperatures and lots of rain on Saturday. So, I called up U-haul and switched the rental to that evening. I sent out an email asking friends and family if they would be able to help that evening on such short notice. Later that afternoon the trucks started arriving. I was still working and people were already loading up couches and bookshelves and whatever they could get their hands on and taking it to the new place. By the time I was ready to pitch in, it was suggested that a U-haul would not be necessary. We had enough trucks and people that we could probably handle everything in one or two more trips. It would take more time to go over and pick up the U-haul and bring it back than it was worth.

So, everyone redoubled their efforts and put their shoulders into the work and before we knew it the house was virtually empty. Everyone simply made their way over to the other house and unloaded there as well. People came after they got off work and helped move things from the garage into the new house. Other people called later in the evening anxious to come and help, and I had to tell them there was not really anything for them to do. It was absolutely amazing how much was done in such a short space of time. Over the next few days I told several people that I, personally, probably moved fewer items during this move than I had on several of the moves I had previously helped other people with. And I don't believe I was exaggerating when I said that.

We had a few more loads to make over the next several days, and we were even able to do a lot of work on that Saturday (the forecast of apocalyptic weather turned out to be greatly overblown!). In the end I did manage to do quite a bit of work on the move, but I have to offer my complete gratitude to the many, many people who came to my family's aid and helped. My sisters, my niece and so many ward members that I'm really not sure what the count of people who helped might be. I would speculate that it was probably in the thirties somewhere by the time you consider everyone who helped in the early part of the week and on the Wednesday. Simply remarkable. We love the people who are part of our lives, and we will miss mightily the ward we are leaving. Eliza's middle name is McKay for a very real reason. That ward family has taken care of us on more than one occasion. So, thanks everyone! We love you, and we are exceedingly grateful for your service and love. We're also grateful that we're only a few miles away so we can all still hang out. Now we get to make new friends and enjoy a new ward while still maintaining the ties and friendships we've been fortunate to build over the past eight years. It almost feels like we're cheating to be so lucky! Life is good.

Middle East I

Not enough energy for a long post at the moment, but wanted to share a couple of photos up to this point of my Middle East sojourn.

I had an 8 hour layover in London so I made the most of it.

Locals playing football in Bahrain.  (I was in the country for about 14 hours.)

The view outside my hotel room in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Dinner my first night in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

I've been having some incredible experiences and am really enjoying my time.  Lots of fantastic co-workers and other individuals have made this an extremely memorable trip.  In the next few days I expect to post more about the day-to-day experiences.

Maddie's Choices

This may surprise some parents, but our children often get on each others' nerves (and their parents' nerves, for that matter) while driving in the van.  The whining, complaining and pestering start, and I realize that something must be done to keep my inner beast in lockdown.  So, I turn to the time honored tool of the parent--distraction!  My favorite method of late is to give the kids choices.  The choices aren't meant to be taken seriously--they're simply meant to get the kids' attention and make them think for 1/2 second.  I'll ask questions along the lines of the following . . .

Which do you prefer:

- an apple or an orange

- Smashburger or Famous Dave's

- Mario Party or Mario Kart

- Phineas & Ferb or Suite Life

- California or Georgia

- basketball or soccer

- snow or rain

- Bolt or Kung Fu Panda

- crepes or german pancakes

- dogs or cats

- flying or being invisible

- Dumbledore or Sirius

You get the idea.  

Well, the other day we were in the van, and I started up the game and Maddie really got into the spirit of it.  So much so that she started asking her own questions.  A sample . . .

Which do you prefer:

- pink or lipstick

- maps or Princess & the Pea

- buses or doors

- playdates or stop lights

- temples or stores

- medicine or rocks

We were all cracking up!  Madison seemed a bit offended at our laughter, and questioned Brenna and me about it.  What could we say?  We simply told her it was very fun to hear her coming up with her own questions, and we were enjoying it very much.  That seemed to mollify her . . . somewhat.  

Thank goodness for Madison.  She really challenges us at times, but she has such vigor and enthusiasm that you can't help but smile.  Oh, and I would definitely take a playdate over a stop light anytime!

A Weekend for Remembering

NOTE:  This post is quite long and not terribly coherent.  I'm viewing it as a personal journal entry simply to help me remember the weekend.  So, with that warning, proceed at your own risk.

Several weeks ago I got a Facebook message from Kevin, one of my high school basketball teammates, telling me that MHS was having its alumni basketball tournament the week of March 16.  He said I should come play.  I mulled it over for a bit and realized that I could probably make it work.  The tourney is broken into two parts:  pool play followed by single elimination rounds.  Pool play would happen Mon - Wed and the top two teams from each pool would advance to the quarterfinals on Thu night.  Kevin figured our team would make it out of pool play, and I could join for the quarterfinals and beyond.  

It sounded too fun to pass up, so I checked with Brenna, and she willingly supported me.  I bought a ticket to fly out on Thu afternoon and return Sun morning.

The week of the tourney came, and I was on pins and needles each day waiting for the results of the games.  Another teammate, Ryan, provided the good news on Mon--a big win.  Tue was sobering with a narrow loss.  It all came down to the Wed game as to whether the guys would advance.  Ryan called about 11 that night to let me know they had won.  Whew!  The ticket purchase was not in vain!

So I flew out Thu afternoon and my mom and dad picked me up at the airport.  It's a fine feeling to have your parents meet you at the airport.  I can't say enough good things about my parents and how they support me in everything I do.  It's always been like that, and I am very fortunate.

That night we played the 2004 team, and it was quite a battle.  Due to their youth they had to spot us 12 points, and we needed them as we ended up winning by 5 or so.  It was a very physical game, but both sides were pretty cool about it.  They had two main guns--one was a big kid--probably about 6' 7" or so who was a good post player, and the other was the outside gunner.  We went to a box & one in the second half to slow down the gunner, and that worked out well.  I huffed and puffed and concluded that I wasn't playing church ball!  I felt fine about the way I played, but I came away impressed with two things:

1. I don't feel old, but after running up and down the court with the '04 grads, it definitely hit home that I'm getting there.  I haven't been sore after playing basketball for a long time, but I was sore on Friday.

2. I hadn't had that much fun playing ball in a long, long time.  So many memories of high school ball.  Watching Kevin pull up for a three pointer, seeing Joey do his little shimmy-shake on the wing before starting a drive to the hoop, watching Brian slash to the basket with perfect timing, seeing Ryan get feisty going after rebounds down low, and watching Eric battle for position and be a complete team player.  I played with all five of them at MHS, and it just thrilled me to be on the court with them again.  That doesn't even bring up the other guys who played with us and were just amazing in their effort.  Carl, Tyler, Nick, Jess--all of them were just a riot to play with.  Nobody seemed to care that much about who played the minutes or scored--we all just wanted to be part of a team that wins.  It was really cool!  It was also fun to see some of the people in the stands.  My friend Ben had come to cheer us on as well as others that I hadn't seen for a long time.  It's always nice to have people cheering you on.

I went home and stayed up til 11 or so talking basketball, family, church, politics and all kinds of other stuff with my parents.  I savor those opportunities.  Just me and my parents.  While growing up I never really made an effort to spend good, quality conversation time with my folks.  Now, I really enjoy it!  Just making up for missed chances, I suppose.

Friday was filled with work and family.  I had taken my laptop so I hooked into my parents broadband and worked away.  With all my work files on a jump drive and the ability to access my email wherever I have an internet connection, I can pretty much work anywhere I like.  So that was fun.  Mom and dad got to see a little of what I do as I prepared a presentation to provide training to folks in various countries around the world.  Cool stuff!  

I also helped my dad better navigate the internet and gain some familiarity with Facebook, and worked with my mom on her desktop wallpaper and screensaver.  Little fun things like that did take place throughout the day.  Linda came over for lunch, so we sat around and did what we do best--amuse ourselves and laugh.  Thanks, Lin, for being such a great sis!  

That night we went to Sizzler for dinner.  What a great place to people watch on an early Friday evening.  We sat around for 15 minutes or so just kind of finishing up our meal, but mostly watching the people around us.  What a diverse place the world is!

Saturday was the piece de resistance of the weekend.  A few weeks ago I found out the Taeoaliis were moving to a new house on Saturday.  I realized that it was likely I would be able to help.  So I walked over to their house around 10 Sat morning.  I took the route I used to take as a kid--cutting through the Grant Elementary school grounds.  I hadn't walked through those grounds in probably 20 - 25 years.  Talk about a flood of memories:  Prisoner's Ball, Soccer, Mr Laney, Miss Glenn, Wall Ball, 6th grade presentation on Ecuador, Joe Nelson getting hit in the head with a baseball bat, giant snowballs at recess, Mrs Taylor, Mr Gray, 2 against 15 football games, and all of my dear, dear friends.  What a great time I had in elementary school.

Soon I was at the Taeoaliis' house.  The people there brought back more memories--Daela, Fred, Jer, Semi, etc., etc.  Of course I had to think about riding around on the hood of Shirley's car through the neighborhood and so many sleepovers at Jer's house.  

At any rate, we got the big items loaded in short order and the crew headed to their new house.  They told me to come because there would be BBQ!  I went home to borrow mom and dad's car, and took the opportunity to do a video chat with Brenna and the munchkins.  Eliza still doesn't know quite what to think of the video chat.  So strange to see Dad's face on a computer screen.

At length I headed to the new house, but by the time I got there all the unloading was done, so what could I do but help them eat the food.  I excelled in that area!  Jer cooks up some mean BBQ chicken--almost like a satay flavor.  Really good!  Fotu also showed up while I was there.  More memories--9th grade football and lots of pickup basketball.  

I helped Jer with the BBQ and even got to hold his baby girl and watch her fall asleep in my arms.  It made me feel like I was at home!  Way too fun for words.  Thanks, Jer, for all the memories created over a lifetime.  You are the best.  

I drove back to mom and dad's, and we made our way to MHS for the tournament semis.  Several more people in the stands, including Jed and his son Jacob.  I really enjoyed taking a few minutes to talk to Jacob and to let him know that his dad used to run around and play ball with us (now all his athletic time is devoted simply to running--or biking).  Jacob made me laugh when he indicated that he could probably take his dad in a game of basketball.  Jed didn't protest very strongly, so I'm only left to think that it may be true!

Our game in the semis was against 2002.  They had to spot us 10 points (5 in each half), so that was very helpful.  The game was fairly intense, but not as physical as the quarterfinals.  For the most part we took the lead and held onto it, with them making a run or two here and there.  Each of our team members made tremendous contributions with timely three pointers, rebounds and steals to seal the victory.  We ended up winning by right around 10 points.  I think I enjoyed this game the most of all of them because we again beat a much younger team who didn't know anything about us.  There's just some satisfaction in that.  Plus, I actually sank my two free throws and a three pointer!  What's not to like?

We then had a 1 1/2 hour break while we watched the other semifinal in which 1997 defeated another (very good) team from the 2000s.  In fact, it was the team that had defeated us in pool play.  So, we weren't disappointed to see them go down.  And, we got the added benefit of playing against a team of guys that we knew pretty well.  Several younger brothers of our classmates were on the 97 team, so it made for a friendly atmosphere in the championship.  In addition, they were gassed big time from their hard fought semi win, and with only one sub they simply didn't have the stamina to put up the fight they wanted.  There wasn't too much drama in the championship as we led be a good amount most of the way and ended up winning by 15 or so.  Ryan, Brian, Kevin and Joey all played great games--again with some timely outside shooting and good inside post play.  We were disappointed that Jess didn't shoot a three-pointer at the end, but I'm sure he will next year!

So, we emerged as the Alumni Tournament champions and got some slick t-shirts as a reward for our efforts.  I can't think of a better prize.  Lots of family members of my teammates were there.  So good to see the parents of these guys.  I had spent a lot of time in each of their houses during my high school years, so it was a real treat to see the Johnsens, Wells, Carlstons and Prices and remember the amazing support they always gave us over the years.  I also was able to meet the wives of several of my teammates and Jed came back for the championship and brought Brooke with him.  I only wish I'd been able to spend a bit more time with them this trip.  So many dear friends, so little time.

After the game a group of us went to Eric's house (gorgeous by the way--well done Eric and Jenn) and enjoyed some pizza benders from IV and just sat around and talked and laughed.  As usual, Joey had us all laughing at stories of his various misadventures--his life and death experience in Costa Rica was particularly memorable.  I just basked in the fun of being with them all again.  Memories galore!  And very fine people, too.  Thanks guys, for letting me come ball and hang out.  I'm already looking forward to next year! 

Here's a picture of the tourney champs.  Go 92!

Final Thoughts on Atlas Shrugged

Last week I read the final page of Atlas Shrugged.  I confess it was something of a relief to be done with the book.  I enjoyed it very much, but Ms. Rand has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer and after nearly 1200 pages of being beaten about the head and shoulders with her ideas I was ready to be done and move on.  In fairness, my complaints about the book and its redundancy pale in comparison to the compliments I would pay the book.  As mentioned before, this book made me stop and think on many occasions.  It provided a challenge--I am not able to take the philosophies espoused by Rand with a grain of salt.  She had serious things to say, and I felt it worth my time to give them serious consideration.  Though I do not subscribe to all the tenets of Rand's Objectivist philosophy, I must say that I believe much of what she says is right on the money.  So, what did I like and what left me empty?  Below are a few thoughts on each.

I took notes throughout the book and finally decided to record the most intriguing aspects of the book in a sort of index at the front.  My index reads as follows:

- Consecration / paradigm shift: page 82

- Importance of Need: page 143

- Developments -> Job losses -> New Opportunities (similar to Friedman's TWIF education concept): page 290

[I covered that topic in a previous post]

- Francisco's Money speech: pages 410-415

- Purpose of Government: pages 576-577; 1062-1063

- Impacts of Socialism (consecration): pages 660-670

- John Galt story: pages 671-672

- Scorn for faith, hope and charity: page 742

[I also covered this topic in a previous post]

- Definition of happiness: page 1014

- Refutation of Original Sin: page 1026

- The reality of self loathing: page 1046

I don't have the inclination to discuss all of the above at length, but I will take the time to explore a couple of those items in more detail.  First, I though the definition of happiness on page 1014 was fantastic.  The definition was provided toward the beginning of John Galt's 60-page speech outlining Ms. Rand's premise for the novel.  He states, "Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values."  I believe that is true.  If you live by the values you hold dear and are true to those values then you will have happiness.  If you live contrary to those values you will have misery.  Obviously, there is much action and work that goes behind those words, but the principle is sound.  The trick is to truly understand what you value most.  I think sometimes we confuse surface feelings and ephemeral dalliances for true values.  I certainly have at times.  I believe the world today would encourage us to sit down and think, no meditate, on our values and record them in a mission statement (thanks, Mr. Covey) so they can provide a guide for our lives.  If we spend the time, mental effort and, dare I say, spiritual resources we can arrive at our deep-seated values.  Such can them be our compass to happiness.  Achieving those values and resulting happiness is another question altogether.

At any rate, I appreciated the happiness definition because it made me ponder values and happiness and where I sit in relation to both.  Something that can cause such introspection is something to be appreciated.

Next, you will note that I mention the word consecration twice in my little index.  This is a topic of some import to active LDS such as myself.  I'm sure plenty of others consider it frequently, but I come to it with an LDS lens, and I won't try to represent my thoughts any other way.  This subject pervades Atlas Shrugged, and overtly, not in a good way.  Rand hammers home time and again the reasons we should never feel obliged to live for someone else or to provide anything to someone else without receiving value in return.  Pure evil is how she describes efforts to establish some type of society based on the principle of consecration.  In politico-speak we would simply say socialism or perhaps even communism, though that is viewed as a dirty word by many these days.  Rand certainly viewed communism as the most loathsome of evils and seeks to imbue her readers with a feeling of the same.

However, the fact of the matter is that consecration is at the heart of LDS theology.  It's not currently practiced, but it was attempted in the early days of the church and failed miserably.  Ultimately, we believe it will be the social structure that carries the day.  I, for one, have a hard time with the concept of consecration/communism.  I believe that I should be the one to choose how the rewards of my labors are disseminated.  I don't relish the thought of some governmental big brother looking over my shoulder and dictating to me what I will receive as a result of my efforts.  The fear, obviously, is that someone less deserving will be rewarded with the fruits of my labors, and I will be caught in a downward spiral of having no incentive to work hard because there is no reward for such as the rewards go to others.  When all diligent workers start to feel the same pain then overall productivity plummets and society becomes depressed, in every sense of the word.  This is what happens in Atlas Shrugged.

But, we must consider the premise on which the AS communism is constructed.  As I've said before, AS is Animal Farm on steroids.  Fraudulent and deceiving men head the government and ultimately seek not their own happiness, but the misery of others.  They disguise their motives by professing to only be interested in the good of the whole.  Rand disagrees with that philosophy on the face of it.  The only good to be considered is the individual good.  No one else matters--each should be expected to be concerned for his own good.  And, if each is so engaged then the ultimate result will be a prosperous society.  

Fine. I expect that is true, but the fact is that not all will be so engaged and, in fact, some are not capable of being so engaged.  Do we simply leave them behind?  From everything I have been taught the answer is no.  But at the same time, we should not trust their care into the hands of men represented by the AS government.  (Brief aside: thanks to my sister, Linda, for hitting me with Helaman 7:4-5.  Check those verses and you will see the type of men who ran the AS government).  

The result of all this is that I am left in a quandary.  I want to be rewarded for my work and have dispensation over how those rewards are allocated.  Generally speaking, I do not trust government to wisely allocate the rewards I have earned.  However, I do not want people to be left behind without any reward and recognize that I do not have the resources of thought or time to understand all the best ways to allocate my rewards for the best benefit of myself, my family and society.  In addition, I believe that consecration is a societal construct whose time will come.

Ultimately, I end up with two thoughts that I believe will cohabit to make consecration a reality.  One comes from my religious teachings and the other comes from Ms. Rand herself.

First, as I see it, the reason communism has failed is because the individuals at the top have been weak.  They were unable to truly implement the system and inspire the people.  Instead, they governed with fear and hatred.  No system will work in the long term with such an underlying philosophy.  Consequently, any true system of consecration must be led by someone who can truly be trusted and loved by all--not just for a week or month or year, but for eternity.  Someone who will not fall into the foibles of human nature or succumb to the temptation of power, but someone who will be true to the philosophies espoused by consecration and who can inspire others to be true to the same.  Only when such a person arrives can consecration be successfully implemented.

Second, in the end Rand believed that the Thinkers (those with the ability to save society in the AS world), would all work to their utmost abilities to derive personal rewards.  She expected those rewards to be in terms of money.  In fact, the $ would be the symbol of her society and gold would be the currency.  Strangely, I don't think she is too far off.  For consecration to work, individuals will need to work just as she envisioned--each to the best of her ability.  But, a paradigm shift will also have to take place in that money would not be the ultimate reward for such efforts.  It may be a vehicle for obtaining the reward, but it would not be the reward itself.  Instead, all would have to be willing to work to full capacity while seeking the reward that would benefit all.  In an interesting way, that is exactly what the Thinkers in AS would set out to do.  They were interdependent.  None would last long without the others.  They were a symbiotic society, and each knew that by putting forth his best efforts he would be able to enjoy the best efforts of all those around him.  

It's a paradigm shift if you will, but ultimately I don't see Rand's philosophy as opposed to the form of consecration that I expect will be successful.  The right leadership and implicit and complete trust in those around us will one day provide the society Rand envisioned . . . with consecration as its framework.