Nothing to say

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Is the Church True in New Jersey?

I always take for granted that when I travel I can just use "meetinghouse locater" to find the church wherever I am. I used it today. There were however a couple of inconsistencies.

Evidence for:
1. I was five minutes late for church and pulled into the parking lot with 6 other cars. (The meeting had not started yet and sure enough the clock on the wall was slow so they could feel better about the starting time.)
2. Today was the primary program and when the Sunbeams were lined up next to the podium they couldn't care less about the program and were very focused on getting the attention of their parents by waving frantically and even on occasion calling out to them.
3. You could hear the voices of these same Sunbeams over the entire primary during the chorus of "Scripture Power" (though maybe not as loud as they would have been on the chorus of "Follow the Prophet.")
4. There was no available hymn book near my folding chair at the back.
5. The New Jersians welcomed me warmly (the first time someone in New Jersey has been nice and helpful to me!)

Evidence Against:
1. Church started at 9:30 instead of the true time--9:00.
2. Instead of the church issue hymn poster (the thing at the front of the chapel that announces the hymn numbers) with the cardboard numbers they had a fancy one with numbers that looked like the ones people use to put their address on the outside of the houses mounted on shiny copper squares.
3. And (this is what really has me leaning in this direction) the Relief Society Room was warm!

Friday, November 03, 2006

Which way should I look?

I have spent the past three days in San Antonio, Texas—as far as I am concerned one of the greatest cities in the US. At street level it looks pretty much like any other big city but the magic happens when you descend one of the many staircases to the Riverwalk. San Antonio’s Riverwalk is a few miles total of stone pathways running along the river on both sides. During the day it is beautiful because of the greenery, at night it is lighted and very romantic (at least it could be if you have the right someone with you!) The restaurants spill out of the buildings and you can eat outside right next to the river. This is not really important to the blog but I thought that you would like to know in case you need a very restful vacation—I can recommend San Antonio.

Our hotel did not have a free breakfast so on the first morning there I walked the two blocks to Walgreen’s and purchased a box of cereal. Each day I was there I purchased a pint of milk and enjoyed my inexpensive breakfast. The Walgreens had the Ziploc bowls and that was very handy because I could fill it each morning with cereal, put the lid on and head to the Riverwalk to eat in the beautiful surroundings. I had done this one morning and sat down under one of the bridges that had a nice bench (the weather was beautiful while I was there.) Just as I was opening up the milk a passerby pointed overhead and said “You should know that you have company.” Sure enough, right over my cereal dish was poised a pigeon ready to perform its’ best Jaunny imitation. I moved. But I began to contemplate whether one should go around with eyes focused upward to catch all the possible attacks from the sky or if one should keep their eyes focused on the road ahead to beware of possible uneven pavement that could cause a problem. Maybe the problem is focusing too much in any one area. What do you think?