Are parking spots a normal subject of photography? No. But I kind of like this one. Here is a quote.
“To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” -Elliot Erwitt
With that being said, Here are some pictures of my apartment complex:
There has started to be a pretty common theme in my blogs. It is one of optimism and hope. Its about seeing the best in people and in your circumstances. I hope this post can do some justice to what I want to say.
If there was ever a definition of a man that could open his heart to anyone, I would have to say it was him. He was always the first to admit on Fast and Testimony Sundays that he was going to need a box of tissue. Today, however, he unfortunately passed away in an unexpected accident. Don’t you dare think that you deserve more time than him.
Scott asked me some interesting questions a few days ago. Here is a brief recap of the conversation:
Scott: If you were knew you were going to die in a few months, would you live differently?
Dale: Absolutely! I would backpack Europe, see the pyramids, do a walk-about in the outback, the whole nine yards!
Scott:Why? and Why don't you live that way now?
Dale:Well because it’s not the most productive way to live. If i was dying, I wouldn't need to be productive. Doing whatever I fancied would be the most productive thing to do at that point.
Scott: What about love? Would you date differently? Be more open with people?
Dale:Yeah I suppose I would.
Scott: Well why don’t you do THAT now?
Dale: I dunno.
I took him up on the challenge. You see, I have been harboring some feeling for quite some time now. Maybe it was typical guy stuff. Not wanting to face the truth and trying to avoid it. Whatever the cause was though, it was tearing me up. I think they call it Love.
Now, I’m pretty new to this ‘love’ topic. Ok, lets get real, when It comes to ‘love’ I'm more lost than the needle in the haystack is. But I did learn something recently. Are you ready for the secret? Here it is:
“Say what you need to say”
For some reason I’ve been afraid to say it. But can you imagine the relationships that could develop if you were only more open with friends and family? Bishop Westbrook did. When he looked at me, I could see that he didn't care what I had done or where I had been. He had the ability to see the good in anyone.
Maybe ‘living life like your dying’ IS, at least in part, backpacking Europe, seeing the Egyptian temples, and skydiving. However, I have no problem saying that Henry Westbrook lived life to the fullest. He loved deeper, spoke sweeter, and gave forgiveness without denying. Besides, we have our own temples.;)
God Bless Bishop Henry Westbrook.
The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men - from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes
I’m going to hope that no one gets offended at what I’m about to say (and if you do, frankly, you can go climb a tree) but, I have “THE WORLDS BEST MOM.” Period. The roles that she plays in my life are endless and I hope with what I am about to say, I can at least do them some justice.
Tomorrow is her birthday. And what kind of stripling warrior son would I be if i didn’t wish my mom a happy birthday? So here goes;)
My mother is one of my best friends. I probably call her too much. I can hear it in her voice when she picks up the phone, that “What Dale? What? This is the 3rd time you have called today! But I’m going to pretend to be interested in idle chat with you because I love you” tone. (and lets get real, sometimes I call just to bug her;) She is patient, forgiving, and selfless. At times she gives me counsel, and, whether I want to listen or not, I am appreciative because I know that there is some in this world that loves me enough to tell me what I need to hear and not always what I want to hear.
In my last post, I mentioned one of the lessons that she taught me. Here are just a few of the others that she has taught.
I guess this is the most important role. Mom, I know you told me not to tell Dad but, I don't think he will care. Every time I get back on a plane to leave home, Mom gives me one last hug, shakes my hand, slips a $20 into it, and whispers, “Don't tell your dad!” Ha ha. I think that characterizes how she is. Helping me to the point of her own detriment.
Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
I don’t think that she has anything to worry about.
Happy Birthday Mom -
Love Dale.
P.S. – Hey Jodi and Chris, Beat that for brownie points;)…….j/k
I’m dong a Tuesday post. So get ready as I unleash a furry of jaw-dropping, action-packed, potentially lethal amount of humor and whit about the day “Tuesday.” Yes, it really is that amazing of a day. 
Here is the deal. My Tuesday is kind of of like everyone else’s Monday, and my Thursday is like everyone else’s Friday. Rough life right? But this Tuesday is different from all the rest. Because as of 21:00 hours, I am free for the summer.
Here is the downer. It is being 22 years old. Out of school means into work. Of course I rather like the work I am doing right now and I can’t complain too much. However, there is no way it compares to summer as a kid.
was the best. Last day of school was full of parties, candies, and funny ‘graduating to 3rd grade’ ceremonies. If we behaved, we would get an extra cookie and we wouldn’t have to worry about anything being written on the dread “Permanent Record.” Usually, we were out early that day as well. Of course mom was ready to have us home, or at least she thought she was. Pure, innocent, laziness would set in for the next 2 weeks. I remember having to try my hardest to force my self to sleep in until 10 o’clock. I think I mainly did that because of Roxanne Robison. That girl could sleep! I could never figure out how, but she apparently didn't budge until at LEAST 2 PM.
That okay though. It didn't stop me. I said earlier that we were lazy for about 2 weeks. The reason being is this,
“Christ found his followers when they were working, the Devil finds his when their idle."
It held true for us to. About 2 weeks was all it took before mom would make the “new” rule that she created every year. The rule was this : “Get up, get breakfast, get out, you can come back in at dark. And if your going to carry a machete, at least don’t run with it.” Can I just say, ‘best rule ever!?’. The happiest times of my life are when I’ve been living by this rule.
When we got hungry, we would usually get a picnic lunch and bring out to whatever we were working on. Sunshine beating down on us, covered in mosquitoes, and minor injuries were no way to keep us from turning some rope, leaves, and tarp into a castle. We would make fire pits, talk of building second stories, and even connecting them with bridges. That was the life.
When It was finally time for a break, there was only one answer; “Chocolate malts at Grandma’s.” We knew where she kept all the ingredients (including the raw eggs that we used for ‘protein’) and Grandma always kept a running supply of vanilla ice cream in the deep-freeze out back.
was what made it worth it though. When I moved out to California was the first time that I realized how much I missed the stars. I had grown up staring at them. A favorite memory is dad driving his truck out into the pasture and us laying there while he attempted to explain the constellation. Big task. And then, a nice soft bed to lay down a very tired, worn-out little boy.
Dale out.
at this would probably leave you wondering what in the world I am about to talk about. The title “Time” 
I don't know if everyone knows what Hulu is but in one word, its “AGreatReasonToCancelCable”. Check it out at www.hulu.com. Not only does it host all the latest TV episodes (i.e. “LOST”) but it also has a ‘movies section” The movies are usually older but some of the goldies are in included.
ago, I saw “Star Trek – Generation” and thought it was worth a shot while i was falling asleep. Let me say now, ‘Engage!” I did in fact become a fan, even with William Shatner trying to play a serious role. Here is the quote that inspired the post though:
Picard: Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived. After all Number One, we're only mortal.
Riker: Speak for yourself sir, I plan to live forever.
today. It is entitled “Last Lecture” by: Randy Pausch. Here is the intro:
A lot of professors give talks titled ‘The Last Lecture.’ Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while thy speak, audiences cant help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?
When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegi Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave - ‘Really achieving Your Childhood Dreams’ – wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because ‘time is all you have…and you may find one day that you have less than you think’). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.
If you want to know how valuable time is, talk to one of these guys. Apparently they know.
I give you a challenge.
some more Star Trek Quotes:
Lursa: Ugh! Human females are so repulsive.
[Wiping blood off her mouth after Soran strikes her]
B'Etor: I hope, for your sake, that you were initiating a mating ritual.Dr. Soran: [to Geordi] Normal is what everyone else is and you are not.
Kirk: Did we make a difference?
Picard: Oh, yes. We made a difference.Kirk: You left spacedock without a tractor beam?
Harriman: It doesn't arrive until Tuesday.Dr. Soran: They say time is the fire in which we burn. Right now, Captain, my time is running out. We leave so many things unfinished in our lives.
[softly]
Dr. Soran: I know you understand.Dr. Soran: Now, if you'll have to excuse me, Captain. I have an appointment with eternity and I don't want to be late.
Kirk: Risk is part of the game if you want to sit in that chair.
Picard: If there is one thing I have learned, Number One, is never underestimate a Klingon.
Dale Out.
Sometimes, i get bored with things. I often rearrange a room for no other reason than I’m tired of looking at it the same way. Same thing happens with the blog i guess. Here is a quick list
Well, for now, its bed-time.
Dale Out
Sad to see him in a chair, but his testimony of the plan is as strong and ever. I could sense urgency in his voice as he bears his witness as an apostle of the power of the priesthood.
What an incredibly power testimony to the women of the church.
An amazingly powerful story of forgiveness to begin with. Our duty to each other is the our duty to the Father, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
I think the first sentence summed it up best. Hope does not depend on circumstance, but upon faith in the Atonement of Christ.
Even thought the church can assist and sustain us, our families are the most important
thing we have and are not meant for time, but for all eternity. An amazing message not just for mothers and daughters but for entire families with specific counsel of how to overcome the buffetings of Satan.
President Eyring is “da bomb” (if that phrase can be used to speak of General Authority.) The best that one can do for the youth is instill in them the love of God. If they wonder, they will return because the will have drank of the living waters and know that Jesus is the Christ.
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%5B5%5D.jpg "Elder L. Tom Perry")
Very hear felt testimony of the importance of teaching in the home. We can use our lesson to improve our home and family.
Solid. Powerful testimony of the importance of scriptures. I realized last night at the mission conference that no one ever game me permission to stop studying the scriptures like I did when i was a missionary! What's my deal!?!?
Smack Down… ‘nuff said.
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