Apparently, we worship phones.

 That occurred to me today after our phones never activated yesterday or this morning. I knew when both mom and ben encouraged me to go to the t-mobile store to get them working. It occurred to me yesterday when I couldn’t text mom when she was sitting with Artie and patti and I was in the muss. Even tonight our texts were going out green instead of blue. I was shocked out how much that bugged mom. I’ve had a cell phone since the early 90’s. I remember getting it mostly because I thought it was cool more than for need. In those days, I rarely even spoke on the phone. And now our phones connect us in so many ways we can barely stand it when it’s gone. This is evolution in action. I can’t think of anything besides maybe medicine or medical care that we would go out for on the sabbath, but I guess our phones have reached that level of a core need.

Along with the trip to the phone store, today was a busy Sunday. We got up late ish because of the late game, we got home close to 1 this morning. Then I got up to move the ladder and gear out of the living room because grandma and grandpa were going to come over. We did other stuff around the house until it was time for Joe and I to go to presidency meeting.

Ben gave his talk today. He speaks with such energy or strength, people aren’t used to it. It was about supporting the prophet, but it came out much more committed than that. At one point mom started to get nervous because Ben had mentioned that he was considering talking about not following politicians before the prophet, I encouraged him to, but he used his better judgment. The high councilor that followed ben with a similar subject held his own with Ben’s talk, which would be no easy task. 

Joe talked me into letting him go to the phone store with me instead of going to Sunday school. If I was a good dad I wouldn’t have taken him, but I’m not, I enjoyed his company though. After that we met mom, Ben, grandma and grandpa at the Riverton church office building. Mom had made arrangements to interview grandma and grandpa and video it. They have a little room set up with lights, microphones, chairs and a camera that’s all fairly automated. Mom did a good job interviewing. I wish I had been able to do that with my mom and dad. We may have heard those stories, but they’re still interesting, especially for your kids.

We came home for dinner. Tonight it was pizza. It was good, but next time I want smaller dough balls for thinner, crispier crust, otherwise it was pretty good.

We’re just watching that boring lord of the rings tv show now.

Yesterday was a pretty busy day too. Mom and I went shopping in the morning. After, I finished caulking the trim I had put up. I hate that part of the project, but I got it done. I was hoping to start painting, but you’re supposed to wait 4 hours after caulking. Instead I went out to change the rear shock absorbers on mom’s car. I listened to the second and third quarters of the Oregon/byu game while I was working on it. That’s when Oregon was really pouring it on, so it made the chore light. We’ve decided to keep mom’s car for a while longer, so I have a bunch of maintenance to do on it. The front shock/struts are next, which will be an all day chore. I’ll need to get an alignment after that, then tires, expensive tires. Hopefully, nothing major will go wrong for a while.

I barely got done in time to hop in the shower and make it to crown burger in time to meet Artie. We got up to the game early and walked around a bit. When we were crossing the street just outside the stadium someone stepped on the back of my shoe. I was convinced it was one of your brothers because they were right behind me when the walk signal changed. So I turned around and gave the one of those fake crusty looks I give you guys when you annoy me but I’m not really mad. It was some random guy and he really apologized, a lot. So much I was embarrassed and apologized back to him. We saw him a few minutes later and he apologized again. I never realized the power of my dIrty looks. There’s a fun Cam Rising t-shirt that I almost bought. I kinda regret not buying the Britain covey flex T-shirt from last year. So maybe I’ll get it next time. The first quarter started out slowly, again. After the game whittingham said it’s taking too long for the line to get in sync, they better clear that up before too soon. For some reason, our part of the muss was frat boy central. They were all jamming in there. I realize that I’m one of the very few old people in the muss, so I just try to watch the game. These guys seem like they are trying so hard. They’re “sneakily “ drinking and vapeing. Calling each other “bro” and swearing in grammatically incorrect ways. I swear they look and act exactly the same now as they did when I was at the U. One kid kept side-eying me, so I kept side-eying him back. After a while he turned around and flashed the U sign at me. He was staring me down. I don’t like to be stared down. It condescending and being condescended to is a trigger for me. He said “flash it back’ I stared back at him through his sun glasses. He said ‘flash it back so I know you’re not a cop. I said, “what if I am a cop?” And got even more in his face. He said “if you’re a cop you have to tell me!” I said, “we’ll then I don’t have to tell you if I’m not a cop!” Then he said “c’mon man, you have to tell me !” Then I made the U sight and put it up to his and looked straight into his eyes. By that point our noses were about three inches apart. He broke eye contact first and kinda weakly sea ‘go utes” later on in the game the frat boys started pushing each other around and at one point that kid was pushed back into me. I pushed him back with a bit more force than I intended, but then I patted him on the back a little too indicate that it was cool. He didn’t look back. Later in the game, I think after the Utes intercepted the ball. I lifted my hands to cheer and knocked his hat clear off. I did apologize for that, but again he didn’t look back. Just after that he moved pretty far down his row. Luckily, by the second half, most of the frat boys had lost interest and gone somewhere else. 

The pac12 has 4 teams in the top 20, usc, Utah, Oregon, and Washington. Washington beat Michigan state yesterday, who was ranked 11th. I’m glad we don’t have to play them this year. ASU fired here edwards after loosing to some small team. Coaches there last three years, you can’t build a program in three years, that’s why they always suck. During the game they played the “Utes in the NFL” highlights. They showed a clip of a short Britain covey run back for the eagles. I told your brothers that if he breaks one for a td I may start crying. They play on Monday night, so we’re going to try to watch.

Friday night ben took me and Joey to see a documentary about David Bowie. It was both visually and sonically overwhelming. He was a highly prolific creative person. I can’t say I’d want to see it again, but I was glad to have seen it once. We went to the late show so I’m pretty tired tonight.

This week will probably be busy at work again, I have several interviews scheduled for that designer position. I need to get that wall section painted because, and this may make you really homesick, Rod is coming this weekend. Of course we have to have the party at our house, heaven forbid you mom’s siblings contribute anything to their own family.

Well, I love you kid. I think you said zone conference was this weekend. Look you mission President in the eye, be assertive and positive, express gratitude. Not of that is sucking up, all of it is professional manners.

Pops