Scary Quote of the Day

"I'm willing to forgo the cheap satisfaction of the radical pose for the deep satisfaction of radical ends." -Van Jones, Obama's Green Jobs Czar.

Jones, one of many radical Progressives surrounding Barack Obama, is a Marxist socialist. The fundamental change in America Obama is always referring to is from the kind of government the Founding Fathers had in mind to a Democratic Socialist Republic, think Russia. Oh, it will be a long time before they admit to it but you only have to look at the radicals the president has surrounded himself with to know where it's all heading.

No Apologies Necessary

"When in England, at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush. He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.' "
America is the greatest country on earth. Some people are forgetting that lately.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOE!!!!!

Ah hah! I'm learning to scan pictures so look out for future black mailings. Just kidding. Aren't these pictures cute? I love the one of Joe exerting some independent thought! Anyway, happy birthday to our wonderful first born!!!! We love you so very much and wish we didn't live so far away from each other. Hope your day is terrific. See you soon!!!!

HAPPY 30-something BIRTHDAY, EMILY

It's harder to post while not at my own computer but I didn't want to not acknowledge our only daughter's birthday which was yesterday. I don't think she wants me to say how old she is but I think we all know. Anyway, best wishes for another great year, Emily. Your many talents truly amaze us and thanks for being a terrific mom to our grandchildren and grandchickens. We love you so very much!!!

Sonic's New Friend

This is Sonic's new friend. I guess he belongs to the farm behind us somehow. This is the kind of dog that was in the movie shorts from the 30's or 40's called Our Gang. I always thought Hollywood drew on the black circle around one eye. Who knew it was an actually breed!

The Downside of Technology

The fact that you won't want to read this makes the point of the article.

Subtle changes [introduced by technology] are causing great harm to our neurological well-being. Given that adults commonly consume two, three or even more gadgets at once now -- all while carrying on conversations with people – they are beginning to lose their ability to focus and concentrate. ............a phenomenon called "continuous partial attention," a state of divided attention which leaves people unable to perform tasks that require concentration. Worse, it leaves its victims less and less able to connect with and empathize with each other, they said.
"When our minds partially attend, and do so continuously, we scan for an opportunity for any type of contact at every given moment," "(People) no longer have time to reflect, contemplate, or make thoughtful decisions. Instead, they exist in a sense of constant crisis -- on alert for a new contact or bit of exciting news or information at any moment." Under that kind of stress, the brain secretes cortisol and adrenaline, creating a temporary high followed by depression, leading to something the authors call "techno-brain burnout."


In children, the effects can be worse. When face-to-face contact is replaced by excessive digital media, a child's neural circuits can atrophy and the brain may not develop normal interactive social skills.
"Several studies in both children and adults ... tie frequent technology use to conditions such as ADD, ADHD, autism, depression, anxiety and even sociopathic behavior," they said.

I guess I should get off this computer!

Cone of Shame

Someone won't stop licking his leg. I'm not going to show you a close up of Sonic's "hot spot". It's kind of gross. Well, I guess it's just (slightly inflamed) pink skin with no hair. It's getting better but he has to wear this every night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, IAN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR GRANDSON, IAN!!! 8 years old is pretty special. We will be out to Utah for your baptism in a few weeks. We love you very much and think you are an awesome boy. We hope your birthday is a fun one.
Love,
Grandma and Grandpa Harris

Sparkly Sunrise

CHURCH IS CANCELLED!!!!!

Because of this. Poor emu!

And this. We had lots of ice and snow Friday and Friday night.

This is a great look, don't you think? Talk about mascara.

See if you can find 2 emus in this picture. Tomorrow or later, I'll post pictures of the dogs in the snow.

Someone's turning 30!!!

That goofy guy in the middle is actually turning 30 even though he delights in acting like he's 13 or is that 3?? I guess that's why we love him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SCOTTY!!!

Thanks for bringing so much joy to our family. Hope you have a terrific birthday because we think you are a terrific son. Much love from your mom and dad on your special day.

Another photo of Elder Harris and a Funny

This from Reader's Digest: "Robbie, my nine-year-old grandson, recently asked his mother about puberty. She explained that it occurs when children's bodies begin to change. 'Boys,' she said, 'grow taller and develop muscles. Their voices deepen, and they start to grow hair, like facial hair.' Do you understand?" "Yes," he replied. "I just hope it happens on a Saturday, when I'm not in school!"

Pictures of Elder Harris!!!

Demonstrating the Keystone of our Religion.

No, the elders didn't crash this prom photo session. The promites insisted the elders get in on the action. Pretty dresses.

With a recent convert. The boy's mother was also baptized at the same time.

Kyle with a young man who is now serving a mission in Colorado. The elders helped him get excited about going on a mission.

This is an older picture of Elder Harris and Joe (his brother). They managed to have lunch together when Joe was up in Idaho Falls visiting his in-laws. Elder Harris comes home May 6th!!!

Utah Scenes over the Christmas Holidays

I start with wintry scenes of Kaylee, Joe, Jim and me on Temple Square in freezing temperatures.

Joe in front of his favorite Temple Square tree. I think he likes it even without red lights.

We had a great dinner with the extended fam and then a terrific sing-a-long!

I finish with pictures of the grandkids (I guess I didn't get a picture of Justin in this bunch) in their bathing suits!!! We always take advantage of the pool at the Hampton.

Christmas in Utah

Here's a couple pictures from our trip to SLC over the Christmas break. Joe and Sadie with some Christmas morning detritus. That red spot on Joe's arm was where it intersected with a hot frying pan. For the love of bacon! Isn't Sadie a cutie?!

Just before we were dropped off at the airport we stopped in for some IHOP. Yum! More pics of this trip and Houston to come.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMBER!

It's hard to find pictures of you, Amber. I think you are behind the camera too much. But I thought this was sweet. I forgot how old you are. 29 or something, I think. Hope you have a great birthday!

NYC and Washington Crossing the Delaware

This picture above is where Washington crossed the Delaware. Now there is this very narrow bridge on which 2 cars are supposed to be able to pass. With our mirrors pulled in we succeeded. The river is wider than I thought it would be.

Liz said no one who knew NYC would believe that NEITHER of our cab drivers were Middle Eastern. Both were very nice and drove like they didn't want to kill us.

The Chrysler Bldg! Check out those gargoyles. Interesting architecture on the bldg in front of it, too.

Liz and I at the Manhattan Temple. The weight of those doors behind us gave some clue as to how it can be so quiet inside. It's right across the street from the Lincoln Center and Juliard. I recommend that everyone try to go. Nathan Botts works there and I think Susie Roberts used to. Many of the interior style elements seemed to be a nod to the Salt Lake temple.

Princeton

Here's some lovely shots of picturesque Princeton University taken with a camera whose lens had a nice fingerprint on it. I like to do that occasionally for a special effect! Do I look academic? No?? Liz and I were on campus for an organ concert at the university chapel, one of the largest in the country. They (cathedrals) are ridiculous Gothic monstrosities where the Spirit is noticeably absent but I can still admire them from an architectural standpoint. I just felt that as Bach was rumbling from the pipes a film crew might jump out at any moment from the sides and start making a mild horror movie.

Park Avenue!

I just got back from my week in Pennsylvania with Liz. She is doing pretty well and we managed to have a lot of fun and laughed often as the wall plaque says. I will write about going to the temple in Manhattan, seeing Grand Central Station, and other fun stuff which were all firsts for me. But you will have to wait until after Thanksgiving since I'm scrambling to get ready for that holiday. We'll be at Emily's. Hope you all have a terrific holiday, too!!!!! Sure wish this country wasn't so big so we could all be together much more often. Well, maybe in the next life.

Incredible Sadness

This morning I was awakened to learn that the husband of one of my best friends died last night in a motorcycle accident. Mark Forsyth was on his way home from a church meeting probably in conjunction with his calling as Branch President of the singles ward in their Pennsylvania Stake. He was a great father and a terrific husband. It is hard to believe that this was his time to go (their youngest, Ian, is only 16) but I have faith, as I'm sure Liz does, that it is all in the Lord's hands. Things will always work out when we live by faith. Our hearts go out to Liz and all her family at this very sad time. Thankfully they were married in the temple (not positive it was Oakland) and their family is sealed together for all eternity. Liz is very close to the Spirit and I know that she will feel the Savior's arms around her, giving her strength during the trying times ahead.