Logical Lyrics????

I don't DISlike country music. In fact, I actually enjoy most of it, which is a stretch for me since when I was a teenager, country music was really "twangy" and red-neckish, but in recent years there has been quite a change, and I find that I enjoy a lot of it - no screamo stuff, and the lyrics and messages are often interesting and inspiring, but sometimes they are not logical.

Case in point, Tim McGraw's song "Live Like You Were Dying" (Listen to and read the lyrics here.) tells the story of a man who finds out he only has a short time to live and he decides, among other things, to focus on those things that really matter ("love deeper," "(speak) sweeter," and "(give) forgiveness"). This is a great message and very inspiring....But....he also decides to go "sky-diving" and "rocky-mountain climbing" and even bull riding! Now my question is, if this man is sick enough to be close to death, how does he have the energy and strength to participate in these strenuous activities, and even if, by some miracle, he has the strength, don't these seem like rather dangerous activities for a dying man? Does he really want to risk cutting the time he has left even shorter?! Ok, I hope I haven't ruined this song for any of you fans, but come on. I don't think anyone would REALLY do those things if he were terminally ill.

One more case in point: The song "You Lie" by The Band Perry (Listen to and read the lyrics here.) tells the story of a girl who realizes her man is a liar. I actually really like this song. I like the beat and the pace. It is good music to run to. I even like almost ALL the lyrics.* The use of simile and the play on words is clever ("You lie like a priceless Persian rug on a rich man's floor. You lie like a penny in the parking lot of the grocery store...." etc.) What I don't like is the ending where she drives to the "big old muddy river" (I can relate-the "big old muddy river" is right behind our house.) and then, after a few last tears, takes off her ring and "gives it a big old fling" to it's final resting place where it will "lie" "until the Lord comes back around." So why, you may ask,  don't I like this ending? It does symbolically state how OVER the relationship truly is, and it cleverly ties back in the second meaning of the word "lie." .....But .....every time I hear this song, when it gets to this part, I think, "NO! Don't do it!  Do you know how much money you could hock that thing for?! Sell it and buy yourself something awesome, or take a vacation, but for heaven's sake, don't THROW IT IN THE RIVER!"

 

Now I know that neither song would have the "romantic appeal" that they do if these lyrics were changed, but I can't help but think, that they would be a whole lot more logical.

 

    *They even use the word "dang" instead of an alternate version of this word which would make the lyrics less family-friendly.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Today is my Grandma Monson's birthday.  She was born October 18, 1905.  She died in 1992.  She would have been 107 today.  In honor of her, and because I still miss her, here are some of my Grandma Monson memories.  (I always called her "Grandma Elese" and everyone else-who wasn't her child or grandchild- called her "Tweet.")

• Cookies.  Chocolate chip, sugar cookies, sour cream with cream cheese frosting.  Her cookies were delish and always came with her from Salt Lake to Logandale when she came to visit our family.  They traveled in a cookie "tin." (When she died, I wanted her cookie tin-it is displayed in my kitchen.  In addition, every time I make cookies, I think about Grandma.)
• Stories.  Grandma read us stories. I loved to sit on her big long brown couch and listen to her read in her soft quiet voice.
• Roses.  See this post.
• Sewing.  Grandma was a great seamstress.  She could make anything with a sewing machine.  She often made me outfits to match hers with scraps she had left after sewing something for herself.  I still have a Raggedy Ann Doll she made for me complete with a hand-embroidered face and heart on her chest.
• FishLake.  Grandma was always with us at FishLake.  She vacationed there every year as a child, and when she was married with children of her own, she took her family there each summer.  When I was a child, we went to FishLake each summer.(Grandma and Grandpa Monson always met us there.) And now I take my children there each summer.
• Silly songs and lullabies.  Most the silly songs and lullabies I sing to my kids originated with Grandma Monson. 
• Gum and lifesavers.  Grandma always had both in her purse, and when she sent our family letters (It was too expensive to call long-distance from Salt Lake very often.), she always enclosed a stick of gum for each of us kids. 
• Thoughts, stories, and letters written in verse.  My Grandma could rhyme anything, and she taught my mom to do the same.  
• St. Patrick's Day.  Grandma Monson was Irish, and St. Patrick's Day was (and still is-her children adorn her grave with green carnations each St. Patrick's Day) a big deal:  Irish music, green decor and clothing, and of course green carnations for all.
• Education.  Grandma Monson had a 4-year university batchelor's degree.  This was highly unusual for a woman in the 1920's.  Her framed diploma and graduation picture hang on the wall in my mom's office and are an inspiration to me. 

There are many more things that I could add, but this list will have to suffice for now.  Happy, happy birthday Grandma!

Matching with Grandma 1973

(P.S. This is a little weird, but it is true.  Prior to Grandma dying, I was always little afraid of dying myself (isn't everybody?) but part of my fear stemmed from the fact that I felt like I didn't really "know" anyone on "the other side."  But once Grandma died, I felt a little less afraid of this aspect of death knowing that she would be there.  However, I would prefer to still have her here.)

I'm Pathetic

I'm Pathetic


Spent most of my day yesterday (as I do every Saturday) watching football. In addition, I was on the side-lines with my nice camera taking pictures. So check out the action I captured of Luke's awesome interception for a TD and his tackle where he literally "ran the guy down."





Luke's interception-TD.   Luke is SOMEWHERE in the middle of this group of players who ran over to congratulate him.  Yep, no action shot of the catch, the run, or even the "chest bumps;" just this-Pathetic!

Luke's awesome tackle where he ran the guy down. But where, you may ask, is Luke?  See that little bit of blue in the lower right of the pic.  That is Luke.  He has a hold of #1's legs and #1 is going down! 

Obviously I need help in the picture-taking category.  Pathetic- I don't think Sports Illustrated will be calling any time soon.

 

Football x 3

Football X 3

• Lynae is MVHS Varsity cheer co-captain and cheers at all the Varsity Pirate football games.
• Trent is playing on the 8th grade football team, and Kent is his coach (practices 3-4 nights per week for 2+hours, and games every Saturday - often in St. George.)
• Luke is playing on the 5th grade accelerated football team (practices 3-4 nights per week for 2+ hours, and games every Saturday - often in St. George.  Any guesses as to how I spend my ENTIRE weekend each and every weekend?)

 Yep, We are doing lots of football around here.

Lynae cheering MVHS football game



More of Lynae-sorry for the blur-I have a hard time with "nighttime" pics.  Help?  Kaylee?

This is pathetic, but it is the ONLY pic I got of Trent's awesome touchdown.  You can tell he is IN the endzone and that the other players didn't catch him, but you'll just have to trust me that his catch and run were awesome and that he IS holding the football-it's just under his right arm-which of course you can't see in this picture.



The coaches "consult" (Kent on the far right-He told me he was going to get rid of the beard after scout camp, but when he was asked to coach football he decided to keep it for "intimidation" purposes.  Men and football are weird.)



Coach Kent and Waterboy Luke (If Luke is the waterboy for Kent's team, why is Kash carrying the water?!)        
P.S.  Maybe this post should be entitled, "Football x 4" since Kent is coaching.

Luke-the player closest to the ball.  (I'm not sure what actually happened on this play, but the pic had BOTH Luke AND the football in it, so I decided to post it.)

Luke blocking