Into the 17 year old mind...

In an effort to have an uplifting post, I thought I would share this video, done by some former students. The main character (who is Digger's nephew Claud, Meg, and Beth)wanted to ask a girl to prom by singing her a song and posting it on YouTube. Unfortunately, the last guy she went to a dance with did the same thing, so our hero had to come up with something new. This is the result. I hope you find it at least slightly entertaining. Neither girls nor guys did things like this where I grew up, so the whole cultural phenomena of asking - and answering - a dance date request in an elaborate way is still entertaining, if not way too much work, to me.

Speaking this afternoon with the Cassanova, she has not yet said yes, he reported. Apparently this is due to her inability to think of a suitable way to answer in the affirmative. After he did this much work to impress a girl, she better get a move on!

Oh, and the girl's name is Kelcie.

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My response to HBO's series "Big Love"...

...and the episode which air's this Sunday showing sacred ceremonies that take place inside LDS temples.  

"I am saddened that HBO and the producers would take something so out of context as LDS temple ceremonies and air them as something to be gawked at on the show "Big Love".  Your choice to do this says a lot about your company and those who work as a part of it.  Not only have you broken a promise to the LDS church to keep them out of this show, you have also lied about not doing this for shock value...what other reason could the producers have but to be shocking, when they have also been quoted as saying that this is the first time this has been showed, proof that shock is exactly what the producers are going for.  If you had asked a current active member of the church what happens in the temple you would have found out - without the specifics that can and will so easily be taken out of context and cheapen the personal nature of the worship that takes place inside these special buildings.  If you had asked an active member of the church, you would have known how much dedication it takes to practice the LDS religion to the extent required to be worthy to enter a building as consecrated as the temple.  Instead, you will spend a few short minutes desecrating what takes a lifetime's worth of diligence and commitment to live up to. You may feel that you are being progressive.  You may feel that you are being edgy.  You may feel that you are being entertaining.  But I can't understand how the most special practices of a religion, no matter how "important" to the plot of your television show you misguidedly believe it is, is worth dragging through the media mud.  The disrespect being committed in the airing of this episode of "Big Love" will be neither progressive, edgy, or entertaining."

If you have not done so or are for the first time hearing about this, click the link below and RESPECTFULLY respond to HBO and the producers of "Big Love" to let them know how you feel about this.

http://www.hbo. com/apps/ submitinfo/ contactus/ submit.do? title=Big% 20Love&questiontype= biglove

Help Me Decide

On June 1st I leave for a 10 day guided trip to France and Spain.  Mostly for my sister - though there may be others of you out there who are interested - I have included some links to some of the destinations I will get to see.  

Paris- the places you'd expect.  Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, Louvre, Orsay Museum, the Latin Quarter (I suspect a quick walk-through)..

I really do need help though.  For those of you who care, help me decide on what to do during a free day in Paris...I could go on a day trip to the Loire Valley.

- if I go on this excursion, I miss a free day in Paris (shopping in the Latin Quarter and the Catacombs).  What do you think?  This may be the only chance I have to see a castle-like structure/other part of France besides Paris...so is it worth missing the free day to go to these two places?  What is your vote?

Chambord (really just a drive-by)

Chartres Cathedral

Chenonceau

On our way from France to Spain we'll stop here (a walled Miedeval fortress) for a quick tour:

Carcassonne

Also time will be spent in Barcelona...

Parque Guell

La Segrada Familia

Barcelona Cathedral

...pass through Zaragoza - and I HOPE we stop - on our way to...

...Madrid.

the Royal Palace

the Prado Museum

I am obsessed.  For months now I think about what I'll wear, what the weather will be like, what the cities will smell like with street vendors selling crepes and kabobs...I watch every travel show I can get my remote to click to hoping the episode will be somehow focused on the countries I'm going.  And there are only about 87 more days to go.  Let me know what you think about the free day!

Just for Claudia

You wanted to see this one enlarged, right?