24 January 2009
David, the Athlete, like Pheidippides, Only Not Dead
20 January 2009
So Much to Be Proud Of
I Have a Dream that someday my four little children will not be judged by the
color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
17 January 2009
Oh the Things You Hear at the Gym...
I enjoy working out. Usually sweaty, guy-dominated, crowded buildings with fearful fetor are not really my scene, but I love the feeling of a good workout and knowing that I actually deserve the ice cream sundae that always follows a gym excursion, piled so high with candy and imitation fruit that even my personal trainer thinks it looks good. But there's an entirely different aspect to the workout experience that is only available in the gym: eavesdropping. This week I heard two comments that were especially meaningful to me. The first one, that rang in my ears like a fire alarm pulled by a young whippersnapper, was, "Wallace... I love you!" Wallace is the glue that holds David to Bennett in my life, but not many people in the contiguous United States refer to me that way. So when I heard it, and then those three words that followed, I was really curious to know whose mouth it sprung from. Turns out, there must be another Wallace on campus because Cupid's arrow was not aimed at me.
The second incidence of over hearing-ness was from two girls stretching on the gymnastics mats. One of them turned to the other, hugging her knee close to her heart like she was trying to revitalize herself via genuflection, and said, "You know, I think I have pretty bad strech marks on my butt." I winced as I thought what might come next; "Hmm, let me see, I will compare them with mine" or "You only have to start worrying about those when you're pregnant." (I don't know what stretch marks have to do with pregnancy, but I always hear women using those two words together...) And finally, one last quotable quote. Pardon my French, but this is a true story. While at the BYU bookstore, purchasing my books that were exorbitantly priced, I waited in line for the next available checkout lady. While waiting I witnessed the register ring up the total for the young man in front of me. And then a funny thing happened. He received his receipt, and said out loud, teeming with disbelief and in need of a good ice cream sundae, "S@#$" as his eyes lit up like two lampposts. It was really funny, but only because it happened at BYU. People say the darndest things. If I could go back and hear more about any of those conversations, it wouldn't be the one at the bookstore (I already know how that freshman felt), it wouldn't be the woman who knows a Wallace and loves him, it would definitely have to be the lady with stretch marks? I mean seriously, how is she going to deal with that? What about when she's pregnant?
11 January 2009
Reuben, the Alpine Wonder
- Dome lights won't turn off. (We have been putting the switch in a neutral position, half way towards on and halfway towards off).
- Blinkers won't turn on, and consequently neither will the Flashers.
- Rear light failure.
- Rear window failure.
- Emergency brake failure.
- Driver's-side-door-seal failure.
Any assistance you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your constant care and consideration, we love you. Seriously, we do. Love, the Bennett Family
So yeah, please remember to keep him in your prayers this week! I have a feeling that at 193,625 miles, Reuben has a few more to go before we need to pull the plug forever.
03 January 2009
My Christmas Break
Well, my two week Christmas break was wonderful. I had time to post on my blog, have quality family time, sleep (I averaged nine hours a night), shop, celebrate some fantastic holidays, eat, read, and catch up on some Boston sports. I also watched a boat-load of movies. Below I have listed the movies I remember watching, one sentence about them, and a rating out of five Stars.
- Into the Blue "Great underwater camera shots and a twisting plot make the movie quite
enjoyable- and it has Jessica Alba" Star Star Star Star - License to Wed "It had its moments, but generally was a cake short of a complete wedding" Star Star
- Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Man's Chest "It's called Dean Man's Chest because you wish you were a dead man in a chest when you watch it; Master and Commander meets Star Strek" St
- The Good Year "A fantastic movie with gorgeous scenery, although I didn't understand half of what was said regarding the sommeliers" Star Star Star Star
- The Rookie "A movie as dry as the Texas barrenland, saved by an oasis of baseball scenes and an affecionate ending sure to bring tears to anyone." Star Star St
- Mammia Mia! "The Grecian Setting and Abba music saved this movie from a collapse." Star Star
- Eagle-Eye "Do not watch this movie if you have a weak heart or respond poorly to stimuli; once it gets going, it doesn't stop." Star Star Star
- Ghost Town "Very British humour, and Tea Leoni was a gem; I laughed continuously." Star Star Star St
- Traitor "A dissapointment of a flick due to its excessive violence; it was pretty much a 'How to be a Terrorist' instructional movie." Star
- The Interpreter "Astonishingly good movie with smashing acting, an appropriate score, and an intricate, current events plot that was ablaze with action and excitment." Star Star Star Star Star
- Red-Eye "A fairly typical thriller, although there was some good action; it was an all around entertaining experience-and it has Rachel McAdams" Star Star Star
- Batman II: The Dark Knight "Of course it's good, even the third time around." Star Star Star Star
- The Big Bounce "You'd think a movie set in Hawaii, with Morgan Freeman, Owen Wilson, and Charlie Sheen would be breathtaking, but, although it was good, there was room for improvement" Star Star
- Win a Date With Tad Hamilton "Um, yea, a total chick flick to the utmost degree, but I still found it to be very funny, and (I didn't cry, I swear) very sweet." Star Star Star St
- The Holiday "Another chick-flick, but one with Jack Black and one with a unique plot that made it worthwhile." Star Star Star
I did do many productive things this break, such as read F. Scott Fitzgerald, attend a Harvard women's hockey game, play my trumpet, get well rested, spend family time, and write emails. Vacations, in my book, are Star Star Star Star Star!
01 January 2009
Welcome, 2009!
My resolutions for 2009 are not few in number. When you have as many peccadillos as me, setting goals for improvement is not difficult. For example:
- Literacy: Get through at least one Berentstein Bears Book (by myself)
- Hygeine: Remember to put on deodorant four times a week
- Physical: Grow a tail
- Mental: Memorize my 1's multiplication tables (at least 1x1 through 1x9)
Sure they won't be easy, but then again, neither will deciding on Daylight Savings Time or Just Saying No to incandescent lightbulbs.