Earlier this year I told my friend I wanted to go to the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. I was living in California at the time, so this was a big resolution. Then I decided that in order for my desire to become a reality, I needed to be more assertive.
"I'm going to the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival!" I asserted. And that was that.
In early August I moved to Utah, and I still have no job (which usually lines up with having no money, too, an unfortunate consideration when trying to do extracurricular or social activities, such as attending storytelling festivals), and I had pretty much given up on the idea--I wasn't even really aware of when it was any more--when another friend called me to let me know she'd be playing in one of the music groups at the festival.
"I'm not sure if I can go," I said over the phone.
I can't remember if I mentioned I had no money or if she knew that already, but she suggested, "Have you looked into volunteering?"
Why no, no I hadn't. So I did. This is was Monday. The festival started yesterday (Thursday). They only had a few shifts left for volunteer work, so I chose the van driving on Thursday night. Four and a half hours in a van? I can do that. Heck, I'm used to driving a van! In return, I was given two adult tickets to the full event. Not a bad tradeoff for only 4.5 hours of work.
As Carmen Deedy said today in one of her stories, "Sometimes the universe just puts it in your hand."
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Reading List
I like my little list of books I'm reading (see the right side of the screen). Someday I plan to connect that list to my books on Librarything, but as that does not seem to be likely anytime soon, I'll leave it how it is. I do wonder, however, at what point do you decide you are no longer reading a book? Or at what point do you take a book off the "currently reading" list? Some examples:
1. Middlemarch. I attempted to read this book. It was my second attempt. I got past page 30 this time, all the way to somewhere in the 100s. Unfortunately, it was still just as ungripping as the first time I tried to read it. Maybe it was because it was my toothbrush book* and I wasn't spending enough time with it. Maybe I needed to watch the movie or read a synopsis first so I knew what was going on. Whatever the reason, I gave up, and a few weeks later--when I realized I'd given up--I took it off the list.
2. Feeling Good. I start. I stop. I start. I stop. Luckily it's a self-help book, so the plot isn't all that complicated. I've read part of it in the past week, so it's on the list. For now.
3. The Wonder Spot. When I found myself halfway through the book and was still waiting for the plot to start I decided to read the last five pages and call it good. And I'm glad I did--I was still waiting for something to happen those last five pages. I think since I read over half of it, beginning and ending included, I'm going to list it as read.
The end.
*I have an electric toothbrush and find it an incredible waste of time to do nothing for 2.5 minutes at least twice each day. Thus I keep a book by my toothbrush so I can be productive during that time. Books with short sections are the best, while more involved novels, like Middlemarch... well, let's just say I don't get as excited to brush my teeth.
Incidentally, I keep books in the kitchen for the same reason--eating takes too much time. I just need to get some books on my iPod for washing dishes and doing laundry and I'll be set.
1. Middlemarch. I attempted to read this book. It was my second attempt. I got past page 30 this time, all the way to somewhere in the 100s. Unfortunately, it was still just as ungripping as the first time I tried to read it. Maybe it was because it was my toothbrush book* and I wasn't spending enough time with it. Maybe I needed to watch the movie or read a synopsis first so I knew what was going on. Whatever the reason, I gave up, and a few weeks later--when I realized I'd given up--I took it off the list.
2. Feeling Good. I start. I stop. I start. I stop. Luckily it's a self-help book, so the plot isn't all that complicated. I've read part of it in the past week, so it's on the list. For now.
3. The Wonder Spot. When I found myself halfway through the book and was still waiting for the plot to start I decided to read the last five pages and call it good. And I'm glad I did--I was still waiting for something to happen those last five pages. I think since I read over half of it, beginning and ending included, I'm going to list it as read.
The end.
*I have an electric toothbrush and find it an incredible waste of time to do nothing for 2.5 minutes at least twice each day. Thus I keep a book by my toothbrush so I can be productive during that time. Books with short sections are the best, while more involved novels, like Middlemarch... well, let's just say I don't get as excited to brush my teeth.
Incidentally, I keep books in the kitchen for the same reason--eating takes too much time. I just need to get some books on my iPod for washing dishes and doing laundry and I'll be set.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Things I Can See From My Bedroom Window
-Trees
-Cars
-A cat that runs away from me and meows threateningly if I get too close
-The Trolley Square tower at night when it's lit up (I have no idea where it is during the day)
-Tree-Hugger's garden
-Sky
-A tiny bit of downtown (I'd be able to see more if it weren't for the trees, but I'd rather see trees than downtown)
I just realized I can't really see any mountains out my window. I love the view anyway.
-Cars
-A cat that runs away from me and meows threateningly if I get too close
-The Trolley Square tower at night when it's lit up (I have no idea where it is during the day)
-Tree-Hugger's garden
-Sky
-A tiny bit of downtown (I'd be able to see more if it weren't for the trees, but I'd rather see trees than downtown)
I just realized I can't really see any mountains out my window. I love the view anyway.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Elegyrl's Tally
1 smashed penny
2 letters
3 cards (one musical card)
6 postcards
Who has the coolest friends ever? That'd be me.
2 letters
3 cards (one musical card)
6 postcards
Who has the coolest friends ever? That'd be me.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Blinkers
Using a blinker is just like asking, "Excuse me, may I please come over?"
To which the car in the applicable lane says, "Why yes, come right over."
Unless, of course, the car in the applicable lane never learned to share or have good manners when it was just a Matchbox-sized toddler, in which case the car in the applicable lane speeds up and says, "No! My lane!"
On a separate but related note: Don't you think if you were driving a motorcycle, which is already more dangerous than driving a car, you would adhere to such common-sense traffic laws as red lights? All I can say is that I'm glad I didn't start going right when my light turned green, because I was already in the intersection when he zoomed in front of me.
Conclusion: I am not going to make any comments about region-specific driving (because I don't think that's very fair or very true), but I will say that I am more accustomed to the unspoken rules of driving in California. I am more able to anticipate the actions of other drivers and the potential dangers of the areas. Someday I will have driven more in Utah than in California, and the balance will probably tip the other way. But until then, I'd best be alert.
To which the car in the applicable lane says, "Why yes, come right over."
Unless, of course, the car in the applicable lane never learned to share or have good manners when it was just a Matchbox-sized toddler, in which case the car in the applicable lane speeds up and says, "No! My lane!"
On a separate but related note: Don't you think if you were driving a motorcycle, which is already more dangerous than driving a car, you would adhere to such common-sense traffic laws as red lights? All I can say is that I'm glad I didn't start going right when my light turned green, because I was already in the intersection when he zoomed in front of me.
Conclusion: I am not going to make any comments about region-specific driving (because I don't think that's very fair or very true), but I will say that I am more accustomed to the unspoken rules of driving in California. I am more able to anticipate the actions of other drivers and the potential dangers of the areas. Someday I will have driven more in Utah than in California, and the balance will probably tip the other way. But until then, I'd best be alert.
Monday, August 11, 2008
My Family Is Hyperpolyglotistic
Languages spoken on missions served by the members of Betty's family:
Father: German
Brother: French
Brother: Portuguese
Brother: Cantonese
Betty: Spanish
Why do I love this fact so much? I don't know. But I do.
Father: German
Brother: French
Brother: Portuguese
Brother: Cantonese
Betty: Spanish
Why do I love this fact so much? I don't know. But I do.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Hello, Utah!
It's very difficult to write and post blogs when your computer has given up on connecting to the internet. I guess it's still recovering from the move.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Hands-free Headset
As of July 1, 2008 it is illegal in California to drive while talking on a cell phone without the use of a hands-free headset or hands-free speaker phone (texting, ironically, is not illegal, but that is a topic for another day).
A few weeks ago I was headed somewhere in the car and was late. Ordinarily I would just pick up the phone and call, even though I wasn't very far away, since I didn't want the person to worry. But I couldn't do that; I needed to use my hands-free set.
Some people have spiffy wireless devices that they wear in the car to speak on their cell phones. I don't. I have the old wired earpiece that came with my phone.
I fished through my purse as I drove, trying to find the "hands-free" cord. Searching through my purse is a two-handed affair. I waited until I was at a stoplight. When I found the cord and pulled it out it was tangled up on itself.
I should really get a rubber band for this, I thought.
No, another voice said, You should really get a wireless headset.
No money, the first voice thought.
Traffic started moving and I tried to get the hands-free cord plugged into my phone. It's not like the charger, where you can just aim in the general direction of the hole and it'll go in. No. The hands-free headset cord must be precisely positioned. I don't know how I did that without crashing, but I did. I'm a talented person.
The next step in making a call from my hands-free headset (which is much safer than holding the phone while you drive, by the way) was to put the earpiece in my ear. I dislike headphones that go in my ears because they don't like to stay there, but I had no choice in the matter. I gouged the soft fuzzy foam into my ear and somehow made it stay.
Then came the clip. I've never really figured out where the clip is supposed to go. If I want the microphone to be near my mouth, ideally the clip would clip onto my nose or my glasses or something. Hey, that might actually be a good idea. Hmm... Anyway, I usually clip it onto my shirt or dress or whatever, opposite the ear in which the earpiece sits (or opposite the ear from which the earpiece falls).
The earpiece was in. The clip was attached. The hands-free headset was ready to go. All I had to do was dial. But in the amount of time it had taken me to put it all together, I'd arrived at my destination.
Now, I agree that driving while talking on the cell phone is dangerous. I also agree, however, that driving while shaving, reading the newspaper, listening to the radio, talking to friends, eating, or transporting children is equally dangerous. In fact, I would argue that the most distracted I have ever been as a driver is when I was trying to deal with two small boys in the back seat. That was far more distracting than any phone call I've taken while driving, but I doubt they'll be banning children from the car anytime soon.
The issue at hand is not actually talking on the cell phone, it's keeping driving as the main focus. If it's not a good time to take a call, don't answer the phone. If you need to stop talking for a minute to pay closer attention to driving, stop talking. But I understand that not everybody has the willpower to do this.
So what is the point of this blog? It is to say that I now plug in my phone before starting to drive. It's safer that way.
A few weeks ago I was headed somewhere in the car and was late. Ordinarily I would just pick up the phone and call, even though I wasn't very far away, since I didn't want the person to worry. But I couldn't do that; I needed to use my hands-free set.
Some people have spiffy wireless devices that they wear in the car to speak on their cell phones. I don't. I have the old wired earpiece that came with my phone.
I fished through my purse as I drove, trying to find the "hands-free" cord. Searching through my purse is a two-handed affair. I waited until I was at a stoplight. When I found the cord and pulled it out it was tangled up on itself.
I should really get a rubber band for this, I thought.
No, another voice said, You should really get a wireless headset.
No money, the first voice thought.
Traffic started moving and I tried to get the hands-free cord plugged into my phone. It's not like the charger, where you can just aim in the general direction of the hole and it'll go in. No. The hands-free headset cord must be precisely positioned. I don't know how I did that without crashing, but I did. I'm a talented person.
The next step in making a call from my hands-free headset (which is much safer than holding the phone while you drive, by the way) was to put the earpiece in my ear. I dislike headphones that go in my ears because they don't like to stay there, but I had no choice in the matter. I gouged the soft fuzzy foam into my ear and somehow made it stay.
Then came the clip. I've never really figured out where the clip is supposed to go. If I want the microphone to be near my mouth, ideally the clip would clip onto my nose or my glasses or something. Hey, that might actually be a good idea. Hmm... Anyway, I usually clip it onto my shirt or dress or whatever, opposite the ear in which the earpiece sits (or opposite the ear from which the earpiece falls).
The earpiece was in. The clip was attached. The hands-free headset was ready to go. All I had to do was dial. But in the amount of time it had taken me to put it all together, I'd arrived at my destination.
Now, I agree that driving while talking on the cell phone is dangerous. I also agree, however, that driving while shaving, reading the newspaper, listening to the radio, talking to friends, eating, or transporting children is equally dangerous. In fact, I would argue that the most distracted I have ever been as a driver is when I was trying to deal with two small boys in the back seat. That was far more distracting than any phone call I've taken while driving, but I doubt they'll be banning children from the car anytime soon.
The issue at hand is not actually talking on the cell phone, it's keeping driving as the main focus. If it's not a good time to take a call, don't answer the phone. If you need to stop talking for a minute to pay closer attention to driving, stop talking. But I understand that not everybody has the willpower to do this.
So what is the point of this blog? It is to say that I now plug in my phone before starting to drive. It's safer that way.
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