Motto of the day: Life's a garden, Dig it!

A lot of you probably don't remember me as a high school custodian.

Enjoy!

Pope Hope

I found these awesome clothes out thrift shopping.

Pope Hope kinda has a nice ring to it.

The Rain has finally stopped

It looks like Summer has finally begun in central Idaho!

"Yes!"

Uh...I have no response to that

The film takes a bizarre twist about 1:15 in.

Seriously...What the heck??

Formal Apology Letter

(Click to Enlarge: Then Print for your own use)

If you are like me, (a clod) then you must have the remarkable ability to offend on a somewhat frequent basis (accidently, of course!). After years of schooling I've discovered that unless you are in a business management program you never really get to learn how to write a formal apology to someone. Instead, you are left with looks of scorn through low brow countenances. Been there? Have you had the same problem??

Relax.

Today, on The Daily Item I have embedded into my little blog a document so useful that you will never want to be without it.

• Offend someone at work?
• Road rage make you do something stupid?
• Eat the rest of the Fruity Pebbles and put the empty box BACK in the cupboard?
• Come home late?
• Leave the toilet seat up?

This form apology letter is perfect for any offense, even when you have a gassy stomach!

Seaboo Jumps at Hidden Lake

A neat little secret is the hidden lake in Twin Falls chuck full of cliffs to jump off. Here is a short phone video of Sarah jumping last Saturday.

Boshi quits smoking

Another clay animation sensation by Jake and his sisters Jessica, Sarah and Penny.. also featuring a cameo from Travis my son in-law.  Enjoy!

Another Jacob Hope Film

Jacob made this film today and this time he enlisted the help from his Sisters.
Using clay, Jacob sculpted everything in this movie.

For Travis: My son-in-law, whom I love

So Travis could have, "The Best Day Ever" I have posted a cartoon in his favorite color.

Random Madness: Ground Control To: Major Tom

You know what you did...

Idaho from Bald Mountain

Hidden Elk (click to enlarge)

I took this picture today while driving up to the Cox mountain facility.

Inside Clay Animation: Literally

Jake's first "Clay Animation movie: 

Titled: Silent Clay 3.mov

Rated: PG:13 

All images in film are made with clay, by Jacob.

Jacob my 13 year old son has a ton of Lego stop-action movie that he has produced, 20 to be exact.  The movies are fun and interesting to watch.  The film above is Jake's first "clay" animation movies.  While it is exceedingly graphic, it is interesting to see Jake using newer techniques.  

Beware and I hope you can sleep tonight after watching this film.

Thomas and Tampon: (See earlier Post)

Exactly why the Internet was invented

Hello Trusty Bloggers. I happened across this video and it struck a chord within me.

Yes -sniff- something about this film has resonated deeply into my soul.

The reason?

This film is exactly why the internet was invented. (Thanks Al Gore).

Without the internet such non-fiction short films would have no venue in which to be played. Furthermore, "art" like the film you are about to watch was meant to inspire and raise the bar of the human spirit.

While this film may be 3 minutes long, it is imperative that you sit through the whole film.

Enjoy!

The Executive Branch of Multi-Level Marketing

OK, I'm not bitter against multi-level marketing. I just marvel when my multi-level marketing friends can't read my non-verbal cues of irritation and loathing of their "company."

In the end, I have to tell them this:

"It's not you. It's me. I'd inadvertently ruin your company."

-or-

"Nope. Funny thing, I couldn't use some extra cash in just a few hours a day!"

Thomas Hatch: The perfect Icebreaker

A couple of Thomas Hatch stories:

I love to teach and I have the good fortune of teaching the gospel doctrine class in our ward. I prepare my lesson during the week and then get really nervous sometime during Saturday afternoon in anticipation of teaching on Sunday. This nervousness lasts all Sunday morning through the first 5 or so minutes of the lesson during Sunday school when magically the ice is broken and it is then that I finally start to settle down and work to get across the message that I've prepared to give. My results vary.

Last week during the first few moments of my lesson (still very nervous) The nursery leader walked into class holding my grandson Thomas (pictured below). The nursery leader couldn't see Thomas's father (my son in-law) sitting in the front row so I stopped the lesson and gave the nursery leader full access to the room. Within a few steps of entering the class the eyes of Thomas and his father met. I smiled and was quiet as Thomas ran down the isle and into the waiting arms of his father, who was sitting on the front row. A collective, yet reverent "ahhhhh" was heard from the class as father and son hugged. After the warm embrace, Thomas looked into his father's eyes at point blank range and said in his loud voice, "I have to go poop!"

Immediate collective laughter.

The ice had been broken. I could now teach my lesson.

__________________________

Kids have varied names for their grandparents. You've heard them. Some grandpa's are called "poppa" or "ohmpa." I was never one of those types. I called my grandparents, "Grandpa and Grandma" and they seemed to like it. As a grandfather myself now I prefer to be called plain old, "Grandpa." Ruth prefers to be called plain old, "Grandma."

For three months now Thomas has been calling his grandmother, "Gamma." Delightful and cute, Ruth's eyes twinkle as Thomas calls her name. She loves to be called "Gamma."

My name isn't quite that easy. Thomas fully intends to call me "Grandpa" and I suspect when he calls my name he thinks he's saying "Grandpa." But he's not.

Instead he says, "Tampon."

Not as in "Tamma" and "Tampon." No...more exactly like, "Gamma" and "Tampon."

What is that????

It's really tough taking a kid seriously that looks deep into my eyes and says, "I luv you, Tampon."

Whatever. I blame his mother.

Little man upset

Thomas on a tree stump at Redfish Lake

That's not Christian Bale, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney or even Adam West. It's Thomas Hatch!!

Reflective picture of Thomas reminiscing on his earlier years.

Thomas letting the ladies know, "I'm two, but I'm available."

Thomas saying, "Hands over your head. March back into the kitchen and get me a cookie, Tampon."

The Stellar Blue-Jay at Redfish Lake

Our family went to Redfish lake today for the first time EVER. Wow, what a delightful place. In fact it could be the most beautiful place on this planet. You'll have to judge for yourself (and your results may vary) but for me it was spectacular. I was able to capture a digital image of my favorite bird while there. Here we have a Stellar Jay that was nice enough to fly down to our picnic table and pose for it's picture.