29 October 2008

BizzNet

I am feeling quite anxious tonight and felt the need to blog about it. I figured it would help ease my anxiousness, if nothing else....I hope! Many of you are aware of the struggles we have had this year. Now, I am working with a former client and friend from my networking days, which were among the best of my businesses. We have teamed up with another friend we made via the old BizzNet group and are restarting BizzNet! BizzNet is a leads group. We meet for lunch once a week and learn about each other and each others' businesses, then we help support and grow each others businesses. We are very excited at the opportunity this affords us and our businesses. We look forward to the many friends we have yet to meet and keep. Our first meeting is today (technically, if you look at the time, it is officially Wednesday...yes, I'm a nerd and I know it!) and I am very excited but also nervous. This meeting alone could make or break this venture being a success, in a way. I have no doubts the great help and importance networking plays in the bottom line of small business. I have done all I can, at this point, to make this first meeting a success. I just hope it is enough. The end results rely on others, who I know are very capable of doing their jobs, but the nerves are there anyway. Given all that has happened this year, one of the lessons I have learned is that sometimes we can work our behinds off and it still comes down to what others choose to do or not do that can make all the difference between success and failure OR positive and negative results. Anyway, I could ramble on all night about this, but suppose it is time to get some rest before the big day officially starts! Send all your good thoughts, prayers, karma, etc, etc my way, k?! I know you will....have a great day, I will too!

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERRILYN!!!

27 October 2008

Fahrenheit 451 BY Ray Bradbury

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I guess I can now officially say I have read this book. I have heard a lot of hype about this book for years and finally decided to give a try. I am glad that I read it, but don't necessarily see what all the hype has been about. The title, for one thing, always confused me, but now in just the introduction I understand that this is the temperature at which book paper burns. Ok, I guess that makes sense for this title to a book where the main topic is books.

The futuristic world that Ray Bradbury has created is one where books are bad and, in fact, if caught with books your house is burned to nothingness. The firefighters start these fired instead of putting fires out. I guess in the end we all have to decide if we are like Montag, Beatty, Clarisse, Faber, Mildred or even the Hound, how do books fit into our life and the lives of those around us?! I think everyone should read this book, once, unless you really really like, then be my guest to read it over and over. My challenge, in any case, is to keep books alive in whatever way we can. That, in my opinion, should be everyone's desire!

Now for the quotes, with a few thoughts, too:
pg 90: "If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none." hmmm....sound like something that COULD be applied today?! Yes, I'm glad it isn't, but it COULD be!

pg 158: "You'd better head for the river if you can, follow along it, and if you can hit the old railroad lines going out into the country, follow them." Sounds like good advice to me, on so many levels!

pg 180: "Don't judge a book by its cover," someone said. And they all laughed quietly, moving downstream." This could make sense to all of us, but in the context of this book, it is an amusing statement.

pg 181: "...when he died, I suddenly realized I wasn't crying for him at all, but for all the things he did. I cried because he would never do them again...He was part of us and when he died, all the actions stopped dead and there was no one to do them just the way he did. He was individual. He was an important man. I've never gotten over his death." see below

pg 182: "Everyone must leave something behind when he dies...It doesn't matter what you do...so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away." see below

I had a really hard time getting into this book, but as I said before I am glad that I read it. Not only does it challenge me to continue my love for reading and soaking up all the information I can, it left me thinking about what kind of legacy I hope to leave behind. Not just in the monetary or famous way, if even that, but in the basic personal one on one connections in my life. Yes, it reminds of the whole message of my all time favorite movie, It's A Wonderful Life, we do touch the lives of others, hopefully for good, even if we can't see it now. At least, that is my hope!

24 October 2008

The Heir Series BY Cinda Williams Chima

I have read a lot of books this year, good ones even, but this series is the best I have read all year. Yes, it was even better than the new Sisterchicks book and you all KNOW how I love them! After I read all three of these heir books, I had the absolute pleasure to meet Cinda herself. I look forward to her future works! Here are my reviews for all to enjoy, i hope...

THE WARRIOR HEIR
I absolutely loved this book! Upon reading the description, I thought here we go with another Harry Potter type story. You know what I mean, young boy finds out he has abilities and there is a whole other world out there that needs him to use those abilities, etc. I started reading this and was immediately hooked. Of course, the genealogical direction it took had everything to do with my fascination. I did find the book a little bit predictable. I think every teenager would love to have an Aunt Linda in their lives! I loved how even the genealogical aspect was brought full circle. My favorite quotes: pg 60: "Weird is good, strange is bad," Fitch always said. Jack felt better. pg 254: "Just remember who you are, Jack, the old man said. "The world will try to change you into someone else. Don't let them. That's the best advice anyone can give you." pg 420: "More and more, there were no revelations, but simply the uncovering truths long known but dimly remembered. Everything had been written long ago. There was nothing truly new in the world, but only the slow, circular march of time that revealed the old things once again."

THE WIZARD HEIR:
I felt the first in the series ended in a way that didn't leave a ton open for a sequel. As I started this one, I did find that is continued from the first one beautifully. There was not as much focus on genealogy, and no research really involved. This one focused on "weirbooks" which is ones Weir genealogy, so it was still interesting in that way. I loved the storyline following private schools. I think the author did a wonderful job of capturing the teenage struggles and views. Especially given the added stress of being 'orphaned'! It kept me very intrigued the entire time. Also, I love the nickname of "Seph" as I had not heard that one before. I did find one funny quote given a recent popular series....pg. 395: "What were you thinking...taking up with a vampire who sucks magic from innocent wizards?" You will have to read the book to find out what that comment is all about!

THE DRAGON HEIR:
The Wizard Heir left huge openings for this sequel, and (for now) final installment of The Heir Series! Again, no genealogical research and not even a big focus on weirbooks and such. BUT this one did focus on relationships as they are, now and in the past! With multiple generations playing their part in trying to save the Weir World, EVERYONE had something to do. Most of the responsibility fell upon the youngest generation to fight this great battle. You will have to read it to find out how it all ends and exactly who survives on ALL sides of the battle! I think the author did a wonderful job of letting the reader know and remember that although there is this whole Weir World with all of its powers, the characters are just human with all that entails. I do feel that the book ended well with slight openings and possibilities for future additions to this great series! For more information on this author and her works, visit her website: www.cindachima.com! A couple of quotes that caught my attention: pg 297: "Bats fluttered like black handkerchiefs among the trees at the edge of the clearing." AND pg 444:"There he hung silently like a bat in a cave..." It should be obvious why I like these quotes, but if you must, you can ask me.

17 October 2008

The Camel Bookmobile BY Masha Hamilton



I really enjoyed this book; it combined my love of libraries with a culture that honors its ancestry. Fiona Sweeney is a librarian in New York City who desires more than her world. She applies for and is accepted to be a consultant in a new venture in Africa, the camel bookmobile. I really liked that this book didn't linger too long on the African culture itself as some books I have read in the past. It did discuss it, but in just the right amount to not lose the readers attention. As Fiona continues on, the village of Mididima embeds itself on her heart. Specifically three people, Taban, Kanika and Matani are deeply affected by the Camel Bookmobile. This story carries with it the good, bad and possibly considered ugly effects of having change brought to peoples lives. Most people on this planet are happy in their own world, some would say ignorantly happy because they don't know anything different. Some don't want change in their lives because of this happiness and some just fear the unknown. And, in the end, sometimes we try to go back for what we once had only to find it is no longer there OR it is never the same. I would challenge each of us to look back on our lives at the changes we have experienced, the ones we have chosen and the ones placed upon us by others whose intention is only to improve our lives. Then take it a step further and look back at the lives of your parents, grandparents and beyond, what differences do you see, are they all for the better? Most specifically to the storyline of this book, what books have changed your life?




Quotes:


Pg 10: “Books are their future. A link to the modern world.”


Pg 61: “May you never forget what is worth remembering…and never remember what is best forgotten.”


Pg 62: “she felt embraced by those tall, narrow stacks; she felt nurtured in the library and supplied with information”





Besides the link in the title, you can also find more information at the following website: http://www.africanlibraryproject.org/




In looking at information on the internet about the above, I found that there is a similar system in Venezuela using Mules, see picture below:

15 October 2008

Festival of Trees


Tonuah is my sister and has given me permission to post the following to spread the word even farther:


We are donating a Christmas tree to the Festival of Trees benefiting the Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. We have chosen an NFL theme for our tree this year. We are asking for donations large or small. We need items such as NFL themed Christmas ornaments and other NFL themed decorations, items to place under the tree (i.e. footballs, blankets etc.) or money is always needed to help purchase any remaining items. Anything would be greatly appreciated.


If you choose to contribute please send your donations by the 15 November. You can mail any donations to:


Tonuah Proudfoot

c/o Festival of Trees

8527 S Cascade Springs Ln #711

West Jordan, UT84088


Any monetary donations please make checks payable to Tonuah Proudfoot and mail to the address above.


Every penny (100%) raised at Festival of Trees goes to provide medical care for children in need at Primary Children's Medical Center.


Thank you for supporting the Festival of Trees, a "Gift of Love" to children at Primary Children's Medical Center.


If you have any questions or concerns please call 801-884-2313 or email us at nflchristmas@q.com


Sincerely,Shaulynda Gines and Tonuah Proudfoot

05 October 2008

Angel's going on and on....


Yes, I know, you all expected a blog with my observations of this weekends General Conference....I will get there, but it will probably be a few days.

Right now, we are watching the CALIFORNIA ANGELS (yes, I know they changed their name, but I think it is dumb, so, there you go!) fighting to continue their 2008 season! They had a pretty amazing year, with 100 wins for the season, a first for this ball club! Only to end the season losing and continuing to choke in the first round of the playoffs! So, here Steve and I sit, game 3 vs Boston Red Sox in Boston, in extra innings. Yes, there is a little holding of the breath, on my part, when they let Boston get bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, but luckily managed to get out of it fighting! While I am nervously awaiting the ANGELS to kick it up a notch and play THEIR game, I will tell you how I came to be an ANGELS fan...

I was always a baseball fan, don't know exactly how or why that came to be, but when I was a kid, I liked the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1982, we went to Anaheim for a family vacation, I'm sure you can see where this story is headed, but it is my blog, so I will tell the story how it goes anyway...We went to my Uncle Arvids house, who happens to live near Disneyland, and he had the Dodgers game on TV. The family all went out back to the patio to visit and such. I leaned on his little stairs next to the TV and was watching the game. My uncle came in for something and invited me to go out with them and even offered to change the channel on the TV, after all, I was just 11 years old (on to the 12th inning tonight, whew!) and a girl at that! My mom says Uncle Arvid went out to the patio with his jaw dropped and when asked why he said, "A GIRL that likes baseball?!!!" (yay, the ANGELS score, now to keep the Red Sox scoreless in the bottom half!!!) Needless to say, the next evening they all surprised me and took me to my first Major League Baseball game at Anaheim Stadium! I was hooked and have been a CALIFORNIA ANGELS fan ever since!

Ok, so back to reality, we are 2 outs away from winning this game 3 and continuing the season....1 out away.....AND NOW THEY HAVE DONE IT!!!! WHEW!!! YAY ANGELS!!!

04 October 2008

Bunco, Bunko, Bonco, or Bonko

Whatever you call it or however you spell it....

Thursday night was my first ever at Bunko! I had a blast! This was a very last minute event for my mom and I. Early that afternoon, my sister called me and invited us to be subs that night for her group. My mom has played as a sub a few times before and enjoyed it everytime. As said before, this was my first time. I have had several people try to explain how to play this with not much luck, but it was so very simple once I was there. I ended up with the prize for the last bunko of the night. With everything going on this year and this week, I really needed this night out and am very glad I took the time to spend with my mom, sister and her friends!

This group was all women and did dessert during the halftime break. I understand some groups are couples. Also, that some groups do dinner before and dessert at the half OR just dessert at the end. No matter how it is done, I am competitve and had a great time! This group of women were loads of fun, as usual, there was all types of people there from the overly exuberant to the overly inverted and everything in between! This group had 12, I understand some groups to have 16.

Needless to say, now that I've experienced this night of fun, if anyone ever needs a sub, I'll do what I can to be available...OR better yet, let's get our own little group going!

01 October 2008

Into the Fire BY Jeffrey S Savage

rating: 4 of 5 stars

KNOW YOUR ENEMY AND PROTECT THAT WHICH YOU DEEM MOST VALUABLE! what do you deem most valuable?

I have been meaning to read this book since May. I finally got to it this week. The timing was quite interesting as it leaves me with intense mixed emotions. This is a moving fictional story about a man who is left to be tested by Satan himself. This is a modern day story of Job. We are having some major struggles in our household right now and this book left me mixed on feeling like I am being similarly tested yet knowing that our situation really could be so much worse! I have had many dreams over the time that we've been having our major struggles this entire year, but they seemed to intensify while reading this book. Power of suggestion, maybe?! Overall things are gradually getting worse for us, I (as of right now) am still holding strong to my faith! It is one that can't easily be messed with! I will let the following quotes and thoughts from the book speak for themselves:

pg 112: "Fish aren't the only ones with scales. The world can place scales on a child's eyes sometimes, blinding them from seeing what's important in life. And it's not just children that can be blinded either. Nope, no one's immune to scales."

pg 185: "On this earth. You are here to experience, to learn. Somehow your generation has come up with this crazy notion that God is supposed to keep you from experiencing pain. You think that adversity is a punishment, instead of realizing that it is an opportunity. You are so busy trying not to get hurt that you miss the chance to grow ---"

pg 205: "...maybe the real message of the story is...we can't control what happens to us, be we CAN control what we do about it---what we learn from it."

This book openly leaves one to wonder at the reality of just how much those that have gone before come back to help us. Also, if we believe that is possible, do we open ourselves up for that help?! Things that make you go, HMMM....