Writer's block is a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to begin or continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity.

That's all.

The kids have been mighty inquisitive lately. Question after question, seemingly with no end.  Amie talks about it in her most recent blog.   I am not complaining though, as it may sound.  Questions from the kids usually lead to some very good memories and real teaching opportunities.

My favorite of all the questions recently was from Jacob.  We were laying on the couch watching a movie together and he turned to me and said very matter of factly, " Dad, how do I repent?"  I returned his question with one of my own and asked,  "Where did you learn about repentance?"  He stated simply, "When I turn 8 years old next year I have to start repenting, and I have no idea how to do that.  Can you teach me how to repent?"  I told him that we would spend the next year learning more about repentance together, to which he replied, "Good, I want to be ready."

The innocence of youth is sometimes shocking, oftentimes enlightening, but always refreshing.  Jacob never ceases to demonstrate all three.  Kind of makes me wish I was seven turning eight again.

Jacob came home from school yesterday and told us that he had visited the principal's office.  Jacob is very respectful of rules and authority, (except when they come from me and Amie) so we were surprised by his confession.  He proceeded to relate the following story that developed during his lunch recess hour.  I will have to paraphrase it a bit for you.

"I was playing on the playground when I saw some boys bothering a group of girls. They were pushing them down and making it so they couldn't play.  I tried to stop them and then they started punching me and kicking me.  They kicked me in the chest, the privates, and down by my feet (shins)."  "It really hurts to be kicked down there," as he motions in between his legs.  "I just didn't think it was okay for them to be mean to those girls.  I promise that I didn't start it and I am sorry that I got sent to the principal's office."

Amie and I each had different reactions to Jacob's story.  Amie started crying because she couldn't believe that kids can be so mean.  Knowing how mean kids can be (pretty sure I used to be one of them), I was just impressed that Jacob had the character to stand up for the girls. 

So while I believe that bullies are very much alive, our seven year old showed us that chivalry is certainly not dead.  Way to go Jakey!

Fitness Ridge was featured tonight on an episode of The Biggest Loser. Here is the video clip of the fitness challenge where we were featured. It is a long clip but we are pretty excited about it. There is a photo in there of some hikers, and Amie and I just happen to be two of them.  Enjoy!

   

Last week I 'enjoyed' a couple days away from work.  Coincidentally, it was also spring break for the kids.  But instead of spending time with the family, I spent those couple days with my white, porcelain friend -- Mr. Pot. 

The stomach flu is a real anomaly.  In my experience it is rarely a contagious thing that you contract from those around you, but when you mention that you suffered through it, inevitably someone always says, "Oh yeah, that is going around."  Which apparently has some truth to it because my sister who lives over 600 miles away suffered through it the very same week that I did.

On a side note, my week was capped off with a scintillating story about my other sister and her ability to throw-up through her nose as well as her mouth.  I guess I shouldn't call it an ability, since she can't actually control it.  However, if I were picking salad out of my nose, I would learn to control that ability quickly.  MMmmm, salad.

Yes, it is true.  Good ol' In-N-Out Burger is constructing a glorious edifice in the state of UT.  Don't believe me?  Check out this article from The Orange County Register  or from the In-N-Out corporate site itself.

In the last few years, In-N-Out really has made some strides....They accept cards now instead of just cash, and they are building a restaurant in Utah.
It really is too bad that I am on this weight loss pilgrimage, otherwise I think that I would be over there everyday munching on a bit of "animal style".  On the bright side, I think that Amie and I might see visitors more often here in Southern Utah, even if it is just some people on a day trip for some tasty goodness.

Now Utah just needs a White Castle and the burger joint trifecta will be complete.  Peace.

This sign puzzles me.  We were swimming at a local pool a couple weeks ago and there was no lifeguard attending, so I guess the written message of this sign is correct and maybe even necessary.  But what is with that hand?

I understand that messages nowadays need to be able to communicate to everyone, especially those of us that are illiterate or do not pay attention.  However, I am at a loss as to why this sign had to include a morbid image of someone's hand as they struggle to save themselves?!  It doesn't even look like a real hand, it looks like the swamp thing from a Scooby-Doo episode.

My guess is that someone thought it was necessary and that it would in fact help people to understand that they are on their own when swimming at that location.  I haven't gotten this image out of my head for weeks, so mission accomplished.

Those of you that frequent my blog, all three of you, may have noticed a change in the colors.  I chose the previous theme to make sure that my wife was pleased with the "cute factor" of our blog.  However, in recent months many of our friends and family that are using Blogger have raised their game and decked out their blogs with ultra-cute themes, pictures and designs.  Unfortunately, I chose a blog platform that is not Blogger and does not have such customization.

Therefore, my wife of 11 years has left me and taken my children with her to Blogger.  She is actually quite the writer and her posts, pictures and designs are much higher on the cute scale than I could ever hope to be.  You can check out her blog at http://oursweetcolorfulthreads.blogspot.com

Meanwhile I have changed my colors and theme to protest her departure.  I will be experimenting in the coming weeks to find a suitable design that fits me, since I am now on my own.  If you sense any bitterness, it is simply a facade to protect me from the impending feelings of loneliness.

Please do not try to help us reconcile, Amie is gone and I am just going to have to deal with it.

This weekend we had family down to visit us in St. George, quite a few of them in fact.  As we visited Sunday morning, one of my family members pulled up a video that they had seen on You Tube.  Slowly they began to share it with other family members as they passed the computer.  Before too long, there were 10-15 adults and 5-6 children gawking and laughing at the video below.

Oh, the amazing power of a good find on You Tube...no wonder Google purchased them.