By the Time I Get to Phoenix...

On Thursday I get to go to Arizona for a grand total of about 12 hours. I fly out arrive at the Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix at 8:15am and depart at 9:20pm. It's gonna be a very long day.

If only this was a social visit, but such is not the case. My boss is sending me there to set up some scanning equipment in the Mesa Regional Family History Center. I'm hoping that everything goes smoothly and there are no problems with the computers or scanners.

I've never been to Phoenix, but don't think I'd mind a visit...what with warmth in the winter, the Phoenix Suns, Baseball Spring training and cacti...who wouldn't want to go to Arizona? Maybe if I'm lucky I'll get to see the Christmas lights on the Temple grounds before I head to the airport...what time does it get dark in Arizona anyway...?

Look at the Moon!

Those who have seen Disney's The Kid will appreciate this post. Those who haven't should watch the movie because it is hilarious.

The movie is about this guy Russ (played by Bruce Willis) who is a colossal jerk. There's this one scene where Russ' friend Amy tries to get him to look a the moon. She is all excited and bubbly about it and tries to point out the Man inside to Russ. At this point he completely mocks her for her childish-ness--after all she's almost 30. This is about 5 minutes into the movie and there is no longer any doubt how jerky this guy can be.

A couple of weeks ago I found myself being the jerk (in my head). My co-worker, who is a sweet 20-something, fresh from BYU, graduate was showing me the plant she had just picked out for her cubicle. She was all excited about the fact that the underside of the leaves were purple. She was so excited...and at that moment I became Russ in my head and berated her for being so ridiculous about the plant.

Fast-forward to this morning. I'm standing at the bus stop, in the pitch dark that is 6:30am and can't help but notice the moon--it was ENORMOUS! Full and smiling -- one of those times when you know the Man inside is smiling.

It was so cool. It was the Harvest Moon, by the way. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I stood there wishing that there was someone to share it with--besides the random bus guy that was more concerned about deciding if he had enough time to run across the street to look at the giant pumpkin a shoe in for the part of the Great Pumpkin in this year's retelling of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

I watched it the moon out the bus window the best I could all the way to work--it was that amazing to me.

Perhaps there's a lesson in all of this...whether it's to look up once in a while or to appreciate the wonder that is around us, I don't know. Take it for what it's worth -- and don't be a jerk.

Guys on Bikes

Like many I am an observer of the world around me. I like to look at the people while I'm riding (or driving) in my car. For instance, the past couple of days I've noticed this older guy riding a motorcycle--now whether he's coming or going I'm not sure--but he's unique in his own little way.

For one, he wears a helmet (please note: there are a lot of guys on motorcycles that don't do this). But his helmet is cool. It's one of those half helmets that looks like a military helmet, only his is black with silver flames on it...it's a pretty sweet helmet. Secondly, he's wearing cowboy boots...not biker boots...plain old cowboy boots. And to top it all off he's dressed in slacks and a button-down.

It makes me happy to see this guy with his unique style living his life. You kinda have to wonder if he knows he's making people happy just by being himself.