Gustav...

I thought I would post this since an Aunt and the Mommy have both called asking about me and whether I would be safe or not....

Drum roll........Gustav.......is not going to hit me. We are going to get rain probably, but no hurricane force winds, the really bad and semi bad parts of the storm are going completely west of where I live, so you don't need to worry about me. Anyways, I am completely safe and sound in Atlanta right now, I will double check the weather tomorrow morning before I head back to Alabama Monday after the grill out here at my friends house.

But yeah, New Orleans is getting a direct hit. It will be interesting to see how much flooding occurs from this one. All of you who had to evacuate are definitely in my thoughts and prayers...

Great Weekend!...and the New Firefox

I took the invitation of my friend to come and visit her and her family this weekend, and it's been great. I will have a great and grand post w/ pictures and videos at the end of this lovely and LONG 4 day weekend (I don't work Fridays, and of course Monday is LABOR DAY, woooooot!!!! No better way to celebrate the ability to work than by having the day off of work...that is the point of Labor Day, correct??? :) )

So until that post, this post will be about:

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The new Firefox...you know, I haven't minded any of the updates, but I have to say so far I haven't like this update and for one specific reason. The bar where you type in the URL for whatever website you want to go to (I know it's not called a bar, I just don't remember the correct word for it at the moment)...it pulls up I guess the most recently gone to match for whatever you have typed in so far...which is ok but I would rather it go to the most popular than the most recent, because in all likelyhood I am wanting to go to the most popular...for example:

I watch the main headlines on AOL just to see if there really is something interesting...there are anywhere between 5 and 8 different pages of headlines that switch to the next page every 10 seconds or so...one time I saw something interesting (don't remember what the article was at present), and right as I clicked it changed to the next page which had a link right where I clicked to an article concerning something about sexual health..........so for a while, when I started typing in www.aol.com, Firefox would show the first option being that article........yeah, a little more than a little bit annoying, I have to say......

AND it shows the actual title of the page (the title of the page is, well, for example, my blog title is The Amazing Adventures of a Music Theorist, but the URL is thewonderfulwizardofmusictheory...) in addition to the URL...so instead of line after line of just URL matches from your recent history log, it shows the URL and the title of the URL's page just above that option...which takes up a lot of space...AND I just do not like it at all...what is the point of that??

Otherwise, I think it's a good update. It seems to work faster than the older versions, and is a bit more compatible with certain websites...I am sad that it didnt update my word checker...I will have to search around and see if there is some sort of compatible update of that wonderful word checker out there in the newly updated Firefox land...

The New Pad

I am moved in!!! I still have quite a bit of unpacking to do, but I am well on my way to being completed...going to need a bookshelf of some sorts for the books and maybe little stand or something or other for a desk...

k, pictures:


Empty box...


Empty box on beautiful bed...


Beautiful bed sans empty box...


Beautiful bed and corner shelving that won't be useful for books but will be good for lots of pictures...and behind that white door...


...a HUMUNGOID walk in closet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...has some, not a lot, of their stuff still in it...but my word it is WONDERFUL...still hanging up stuff...all of my clothes are soooooooooo wrinkled...


Decorative table with their plant and candle with my picture of the SLC temple and my big ole scriptures in front of window w/ window treatment that matches the bed spread...


The bathroom...I put up the hook for my robe, it's one of those Command hooks that comes off completely...


The sink...the basket on the right came w/ the bathroom, but it's their stuff...I haven't asked if I should stow it somewhere...I think tomorrow I will put in under the sink to make some room...I was in the process of putting stuff away when I got the inclination to take pictures, it looks much better now...


The shower and potty room that is separate from the sink...LOVE IT!!! I also put a hook on this door to hang up my make up bag...

All of this for $100 a month...yeah baby! And there's more, but that will have to wait for another time...

The Injury

K...so I went to a YSA activity and stayed at my friends apartment in B'ham...I go to take a shower, and my right foot slipped a little bit and I hit my left shin against the side of the bathtub. Now, it hurt, you know, like stubbing your toe, and I thought "well great, now I will have a lovely bruise to show the world"...

...a minute later I look down, and there is a blue spot and a rather significant swelling...

...five minutes later I have this (and no, that isn't my knee, that is my shin...):




It's the size of my palm...

...and it grew bigger the next day...and I was still at the YSA thing...and I only brought capris...yeah, wasn't too happy about that...

So, when you get a goose egg on your forehead, you get a black eye because the blood from the broken blood vessels that caused the huge swelling seeps down due to the fact that gravity works...well, this is what happens when you get a goose egg on your shin...


Not the mosquito bites by the way, the black/red/blue/purple stuff is what I am trying to show off...

So yeah, my leg is pretty much all swollen and stiff and sore...it feels REALLY good in the morning but by the end of the day I just can't wait until I don't have to put any more weight on it...

I work at a doctors office, and 5 of the 7 doctors have seen it. Granted, they are pulmonologists, but they are MD's. One asked if I have a blood disorder because he said that was a LOT of seepage...another doctor asked about the same thing, and I told him I haven't been diagnosed with one (yes now I am officially freaking out about the possibility of that and yes I will be asking my regular doctor next time I see him about that), but he said I probably broke some pretty significant blood vessels and that it will just heal...ice and advil...ice and advil...ice and advil...



This is what the egg looks like now:


It's still an egg, but it is MUCH smaller than it was...

The Concert

One of the doctors at the office I will be working at for the next year knows I am a musician and has invited me to Indian classical music concerts before...and so right when I got to Alabama he invited me to another one up in Birmingham...and it was amazing!!!


The concert was the 'coming out' performance for this 13 year old boy who played the drum for the performance...and I have to say, he was amazing. His guru (who you see retuning the drum...the drum was the only instrument that needed constant tuning between each song...the violinist only re-tuned his instrument once...) decided that his apprentice was ready to perform publicly...they invited some pretty incredible musicians from all over the world to perform with this young man...


The beginning of the performance had a ceremony to this God...and I didn't catch the name of it...but it was very interesting to watch, the priest started chanting, and gave offerings to the God, and then the parents of the young man made an offering, then the priest blessed the parents, and the young man, and the young mans drum...very interesting...


Here is a short video...

And a longer one...

One of the nice things about the concert was that they fed everyone who attended the concert afterwards...an authentic Indian meal...it was AMAZING...every single bit of it...the concert ran a little long (3 hours without a break) but the music was great, and as you can see, I got fed VERY well afterwards...

The Trip

This is a story...of a lovely lady...(this little guy travels with me where ever I go...Emily, remember who gave him to me?? :) hint, it wasn't you...)


...who decided that she needed to move...(I attempted getting a shot of everyone)


...and so she went...(and was successful...)


...across the country...(until Oklahoma...so I took a picture of the welcome center!)


...to the land where the Crimson Tide-ers rove...(it was dark when I got into Arkansas...and I did take a picture but it was black except for a light in the background...but this picture was taken in Arkansas...)


...ah the move...(and then I missed both Tennesse AND Mississippi...so this is the bridge going over the Mississippi...the River...so that counts for both...TN because I was crossing into TN from AR, and Mississippi because that's the name of the river, duh!! :) )


...ah the move...(and thar she is!)


...yes, to the land where the Crimson Tide-ers rove!!!!

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Some interesting and/or pretty pictures...

Awww...that's my pretty Arizony...


There's another shot...


Pretty good picture for driving and taking a shot...


Up in the pines in AZ...


And back to the desert...


If you are ever on I-40, just East of Holbrook you will see such interesting things as the above...dinosaurs on the side of the road...and conveniently placed petrified logs...and a school bus with things that I think are supposed to look like people...and other such interesting things...


Maybe it's just me, but I just thought this was funny and so I took a picture...(the difference between the two cars is what I thought was funny...k maybe it really is just me...)


One thing NM has going for it...rather 'enchanting' sunsets and skies...


One of the interesting things to see while driving through TX on I-40...the world's tallest cross...


This is in Sweet Home Alabama...(above) and (below)...I mean, below is a video of...well, watch it...classic Elizabeth voice, wouldn't you agree? :)

...I probably was taking my life in my hands taking that video...

Ta Da!!!

The Olympics

Now THIS is cool:

I have been watching the Olympics when I can. I am very excited for Michael Phelps, what an amazing finish!

The ONE Campaign

Some good things come from my old relationships, and an introduction to this campaign is one of them. I am a member of ONE, which is a campaign to fight AIDS and poverty all over the world, including here in the USA. I will admit, I shy away from being a part of unions, lobby's, and even getting involved in politics because I don't agree with them 100%. I have been a member of ONE.org for 1 1/2 years and I have been able to say I agree with them (so far) 100%.

I think they have done a tremendous job of getting people and countries to help improve the lives of people all over the world. ONE.org is pretty much all encompassing, from improving drinking water accessibility to education to getting out malaria shots...anyways, here is a link to their website:

http://www.one.org

I am copying the following from their website:

"ONE is American of all beliefs and every walk of life - united as ONE - to help make poverty history. We are a campaign of over 2.4 million people and growing from all 50 states and over 100 of America's most well-known and respected non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. As ONE, we are raising public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease and efforts to fight such problems in the world's poorest countries. As ONE, we are asking our leaders to do more to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. ONE believes that allocating more of the U.S. budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the world's poorest countries. 

"ONE is nonpartisan; there's only one side in the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty. Working on the ground in communities, colleges and churches across the United States, ONE members both educate and ask America's leaders to increase efforts to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty, from the U.S. budget and presidential elections to specific legislation on debt cancellation, increasing effective international assistance, making trade fair, and fighting corruption. Everyone can join the fight. The goal of ending poverty may seem lofty, but it is within our reach if we take action together as one. You can start now by joining ONE and pledging your voice to the fight against extreme poverty and global AIDS."

So, yeah, I like the campaign and what I have seen so far. They have made a huge effort during the presidential elections to get the nominees to commit to fight global AIDS and poverty. I think it's a great campaign and thought that I would share this with you. You can be passively involved by adding your name to push certain pieces of legislature via emails sent to you or you can actually join local ONE members in talking with the community and such. I like it, and I think it's worth taking a look at, at least.

Eaten Alive and the Heat

I think the official count is fifteen mosquito or something or other bites on my legs...I have sweet blood, so they just love me I guess...I HATE THIS! I tell you what, benadryl is my friend right now, my legs would totally swell up without it...

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So a lot of people here have been complaining about the heat, and then they turn to me and ask me about what I think of the heat here. Being from Arizona, I am a professional on heat, right? :) I walk outside here, and I do notice the humidity, mostly due to my asthma, but I don't notice the heat. I usually think it feels really good here...maybe the humidity distracts me from the heat, but really, 100 degrees feels wonderful after being in 114 degree weather every single day. I saw a headline recently showing "Dallas experiences 10th day straight of 100 degree weather" or something like that, and I totally laughed. Man, AZ is on what, day 60 of 110 degree weather? But it's a dry heat, right? Ha! I tell you what, it is hot hot hot in AZ. You notice it. And you get used to it eventually. 

My most memorable experience with heat was a summer when my old piece of junk car was overheating and I didn't have the time to take it in to get it fixed. I was delivering pizza that summer for Pizza Hut. So there I was, with anywhere from one to twenty pizzas in the car, driving with the heater on high to cool off my engine, windows rolled down, and it's 118 outside...I lost about 4 pounds I think due to driving around in the heat so much. I would drink a gallon of water just in the hours I was delivering...

First Presidency Message for August and Testimony Meeting

I love President Monson, and I am grateful for the testimony that I have gained that he is a Prophet of God. The First Presidency message for the month is titled "May We So Live," which he, President Monson, wrote. In it, he talks about life and how it is quite fragile and that death comes whether we like it or not...how depressing it would be to think that those we love and care for were just gone when they died, never to enjoy their personality nor their presence again. 

Then President Monson quotes this beautiful scripture:

"I am the resurrection, and the life," spoke the Master. "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

What a beautiful reassurance.

To go with the title of the message, President Monson then talks about how we should live our lives, asking ourselves the question "have I done any good in the world today?". We should strive to always do good, and to live the best we can so that we can honestly say that we have no regrets for how we used our time here on the Earth. 

My Grandma Raisor made a cross stitch that for years hung over my bed when I lived in Arizona, and it read something to the effect of "Count that day lost whose low descending sun sees from thy hand no worth action done". I don't know where the quote comes from, but it made me pause and think at the end of every single day to make sure that I really had done something 'worthy'. 

Now, I like being lazy, I will admit it. I like to curl up with a bowl of chocolate ice cream, a bag of the most buttery popcorn imaginable, a comfy blanket and a good movie...I could live that all the waking hours of the day. BUT I have a sense of responsibility that is within me, and so I go to work, I clean the dishes, I make food, pay the bills...and I try to build the family relationships and the friendships that I have. AND I try to fulfill all my church responsibilities. And I do many other things that are fulfilling and 'worthy' things to do. I am not perfect at any of these things, but I do try most of the time to do my very best...I am a very slow learner with some things...

So, everyone, go out and make a cross stitch for yourself and make sure at the beginning of each day to do something so that you don't come up with a lot of empty yesterdays...:) 

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Testimony meetings are always very interesting things to me. I am a firm believer in actually bearing your testimony when you get up there at least at some point, thus 'testimony meeting'.I admit, I do get irritated when not one real testimony is given over the pulpit. I love the testimonies that are truly a testament of a persons faith in Christ. 

I really appreciated a few of the ones shared today. Something that stuck out to me was Patriarch Dyer, who is 90-something; he said something to the effect of "I appreciate that the Lord is patient with me..." It made me think a bit, because he is much closer to the end of the road than I am here on this earth, and if he is still working on being better and repenting and such, man have I got a long way to go! 

Incidentally, he proposed again to me...:) For those of my avid readers who don't know Patriarch Dyer, he is a wonderful man, I believe he is still the stake patriarch out here, and he loves to take any young woman aside and say "you know, I am looking for a second wife!" Of course it's just in play. His dear sweet wife has been very sick, and for the first time in their marriage I guess they have been separated because she is stuck in a nursing home.  This must be terribly hard for Patriarch, but he just keeps plucking away! Today he asked me when the last time was that someone popped the question, and I told him it was 1 1/2 years since the last time I got that question..last week he grabbed my left hand and was so excited to see that my ring finger was bare, it was really cute.

Anyways, back on topic. 

Just wanted to share a short testimony with all of you. I know that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. He suffered in the garden and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins so that we may return to live with our Father in Heaven. I know that the family is central to the plan of happiness and that the family as a fundamental unit of society needs to be protected. I have a testimony that Joseph Smith was and is the Prophet of this the dispensation of the fullness of times, and that President Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet here on the Earth today. I know the Book of Mormon is truly another testament of Jesus Christ.

Happy Sabbath, my family and friends. :)

Learning to dive...

I have an announcement: for the first time in history, Elizabeth actually dived off of the diving board. No, no pictures, no videos for evidence, but I did it!!!! It's great! No water shooting up my nose...

Before this, it was cannonballs and just jumping straight in.

What got me to do it? Well, it was me and a bunch of kids...when every single one of those kids can do a simple dive and I can't??? Yeah, I decided to actually give it a shot again...

Bad thing: took a bunch of bellyflops to do it...I broke a couple of veins under the skin, so I am a little purple in a couple of places. MAY have a sunburn as well, my skin is weird and it takes a couple of hours to show up. YES I put on sunscreen, but that is no guarantee with my skin...

At least I tried! And succeeded. I got a 7 out of 10 on one dive, so hopefully with time I will be closer to a 10! :)