The Smallness of being in our Universe!!!

I got this from a friend at work. This is really fascinating !

Kind of dazzling to see it presented this way. This is certainly enlightening and makes one realize how small we are in comparison to the universe. It's a big, big universe. Hope you can read the small print.

All images are relative in size and to scale of actual size.


Not bad. Earth is looking pretty majestic aren't we.

But wait. This is a large solar system we are in. Look on.

Now we don't look so big anymore compared to our big brothers in our solar system.

Our sun will put them to shame!!

Jupiter is fairly puny and our earth? Hardly a dot on the picture. Are you feeling small yet?

There is more!!

Whoa!! I had no idea how small our sun really is and our magnificent planet is not even visible at this scale. How does Heavenly Father find us?

You should be feeling pretty small by now. Let me help you feel even smaller.

The size of our universe is frankly, unfathomable to our minds. I find this some of the best evidence yet that we are not alone in the huge universe we are part of. It staggers your mind.

And if you want to be even more amazed Antares is the 15th brightest star in the known universe. It is over 1,000 light years from the earth. (a light year is the distance light travels in a year....do the math)

Reminds me of the movie Contact at the opening scene when they pull back starting with Jodie Foster's eyes and keep going out and out and out. That truly was one of the better scenes you'll see in a movie, I think.

If you aren't feeling smaller than you were, you should be.

Dad

40th High School Reunion

I just got back from attending my 40th high school reunion in Tucson. I have to say, though I enj0yed much of it, the most fun I had was with Jeff and Angie and Cal. Cal is getting more and more attached to Angie and I think when I went in to wake him up and he saw me, it kind of scared him. (imagine waking up and seeing a big beast like me standing over you) He is sure cute and doing so much more than even this summer. That boy will be walking before we know it and then look out world!!

My reunion was good in a couple of ways. I met a couple of my best friends in high school that I literally had not seen in about 35 years. That was so much fun. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. I'm sure the stories we shared were a bit embellished but it was still great to share them with these guys. The best time I had was on Friday night where a bunch of us (about 20) met for dinner and general banter. I was a bit hesitant to just go in (I was 45 min late) but once I was there it was just great. Many that live in Tucson and knew about the reunion just chose not to come. Many just have no interest in reliving old times or renewing old friendships. (not even curiosity about what happened to old friends motivates them to come.) Don't understand that totally and it is kind of maddening but such is life.

I noticed that there was very little of "look at what I have accomplished in my life...what about you?" I have seen that at other reunions. People wanting everyone to know about their careers, how successful they have been...kind of an ego boost for them I guess. This time it was mostly just visiting and catching up...very little one upmanship at this one. I think we are at the point in our lives (all are 58 or 59 years old) where that kind of stuff just isn't as important to most of us. Most talk was about kids, grandkids and what they are doing in retirement. (yes there were several already retired) And then of course...the stories, the embellished stories of the stuff we did as teenagers. I couldn't remember most of it and probably didn't want to hear most of it due to the embarrasments I suffered in those days.

The next night was the big deal with dinner and all. It was a bit disappointing as many of my best friends were unable to attend. Reunions are a funny thing. Everyone comes up to you and asks your name and vice versa and in some cases you have a recollection of the person but most of the time not. You realize that this person had absolutely nothing to do with you in high school and now it is like you are old friends. Kind of weird as all I really wanted to do is visit with those people that were a big part of my life at that time and many of them were not there. Still those that were, it was a kick catching up and seeing the changes and talking about what has happened to them.

A couple of observations I had were that there were a few that had not divorced but most had been through a marriage or two or three. Most had 2 or 3 children but none had 8 and all continue to be amazed at the size of my family. I was amazed at how many still had children in their teens. That is because many had not started there families until they were in their 40's. One woman (Laura Dooley who I had a huge crush on in the 8th grade!!) had her only child when she was 48 years old!! Her child was only 8 1/2 years old. (she won a prize for having the youngest child)

As I read the bios of everyone who responded, it was amazing to me how many of my classmates were involved in efforts to help others with various causes and foundations they were involved in professionally and personally. I think part of that is the era we grew up in....the 60's and the "make love, not war" philosphy that came out of that. Amazing. While it is a wonderful thing in many ways, it also reflects the tremendous effect that the 60's, the Vietnam War and the feminist movement has had on my generation and the way life has been approached by many of us. I don't know for sure but I would bet that a good number of my classmates are quite liberal in their political leanings. I didn't ask and in fact didn't want to know as it would have only degenerated from there!!

Anyway, it was great seeing some of those I did and I'm glad I went. I thought I was in the wrong place for awhile as many of the people looked so old!!!

Love,
Dad

End of Summer

Well, it is almost over. This summer that we have all just experienced. It is pretty much a blur to me as to what happened. July came and went and it seems like I missed it.

Mom is back in school and has a 1/2 day kindergarten class. This will hurt us financially a bit, but that isn't really why she is teaching anyhow. She has 24 students and loves the work.

Megan is back in school and so far she "loves it' We admire her so much as she is getting up on her own every single morning and getting to early morning seminary by 6 a.m. She then goes directly over to school. She is also in choir and is running on the cross country team. Being on an athletic team is a new experience for her and we are so proud of her for sticking with it and trying as best she can. Just finishing the race is what her goal is. Her time will be secondary for sure. She is finding she enjoys it, especially the friendships. We have told her we hope she gets involved in as many things as she can handle. Go Megan!!

As busy as this summer was, I realize how much I enjoy having all the kids around. It is hectic and maybe even frustrating at time with all we want to do and not enough time, but looking back on it, I know there is no happier time for me than to have our children, their wives and their children around us. Mom and I are truly two lucky people. What a fine bunch of people you all are!! We are so lucky to have been blessed with such good people for children and the wives they have chosen.

We are going through withdrawal pains with the 4 grandkids. It was so nice having Joy and Grant so near us in Greeley and seeing them all so much this summer. We want to get up to see Mark and Liz real soon or they will be in high school before we know it!!!!

Having Drew home for these few weeks has also been good for us to kind of re-acclaimate to having the Goose around. He has inspired me for sure and has helped me with the Priest's Quorum big time. Now he is off again to BYU and life will get back to somewhat normal at
7336 S. Pierson.

Darn, I was just getting used to the craziness of having him around. Kristen and he have both beat me down in ping-pong and so whatever small amount of self esteem I had left has been destroyed by those two. We have loved having them both around so much since Goose has been home.

Anyway, I'm going to try and keep up with my Blog from now on. I hope we can all do better as it is a great way to stay in touch.

Love you all,
Dad

Doctor's manners

I was in the doctor's office the other day to get a physical. I think about doctors differently now that I have two sons that are going to be doctors with a possible third one in the form of Addie.As the doctor came in and sat down and started asking me questions I had a epiphony pertaining to docs. He was on the computer and looked up my file from when I was in a year ago (I hadn't seen him since) He was confiming a bunch of stuff like the meds I'm on (Norvasc and TriCor), my latest blood test, did I have a colonoscopy and the like. It just struck me that this man doesn't know me from Adam (no pun intended Addie) I'm just a body to him. No relationship with me as a person. It was obvious that he hadn't even looked at my file before he came in.I have nothing against this Doc nor do I think he was in anyway a bad doctor. When I only see him once a year, I can't expect him to know me from the hundreds of others he is seeing. It is just the thought occurred to me that I want a relationship with my doctor that is beyond just a body he is seeing. It just gives me a funny feeling that he really doesn't know me, has little interest in me as a person and is just treating me as a kind a generic patient. In a large practice it can be no other way, I suppose, but it just hit me that I hope Mark and Jeff and Addie really have the opportunity in their medical lives to get to know their patients and really be a part of improving their lives in a personal and professional way.I also suggest that when you see a patient after the first time, that before you go into the patient you review the records briefly, try jogging your memory as to why and when you saw him the last time so that when you open that door you are approaching him or her like you are personally interested and informed about their issues. It makes the patient feel more than just a body. Don't know how you do that, but I sure think it would help. My doctor takes a picture the first time you see him so he can kind of remember what you look like and that may jog his memory. Seems like notes in the file to help you the next time would be a good idea as well as names the patient goes my. You should take a few moments to review that before you open that door. I'm sure that in the rush sometimes that happens and other times maybe not. The first thing he said to me was "Hi Michael." I knew right away he didn't have a clue about anything we had talked about before and didn't remember me at all. How hard would it be to make a note in the file to say this patient goes by "Mickey." A little thing and perhaps a bit artificial but it sure gives the patient the impression you know who he is.Dad

Elder Foster's Phone Call Schedule

Well, no one has responded so let me tell you all. We are calling Drew at about 1 P.M. Denver time or 7 P.M. Accra tim on Saturday, May 13th. Note this is Sat, not Sunday. We will chit chat for awhile and then try and tie each one of you in, one at a time. The Schedule will be something like this.Mark and Liz - about 1:10 P.M.Addie - about 1:30 P.M.Matt and Wendie - (at Matt's place)about 1:50 P.M.Ty and Dana - about 2:10 Seattle timeJeff and Angie - about 2:30 Arizona timeKristen - after all of you.We plan on talking no more than a couple of hours with him. It is going to be fun so be there or be square.Dad
2:26 PM
Tankfos said...
Very well organized. You are a mastermind.
5:32 PM
Tyler said...
Great, I just have one comment.I think you meant the following:Ty and Dana - 2:10 PM Denver time (1:10 PM Seattle time)Jeff and Angie - 2:30 PM Denver time (1:30 Phoenix time)We'll be ready...Ty
8:49 PM

Elder Foster's phone call on Mother's Day

Just a thought for the week. I am going to try and call Drew this week to see when would be a good time to talk to him. For the first time in a long time, none of you will be here for the phone call. It seems like in the past at least some of you were here. Obviously, little Max might decide to come on the very day we talk to Elder Foster so if that happens, all bets are off. However, barring that wonderful event, I would like to see if we could tie you each in for a bit of the conversation. How about 10 minutes for each couple? I assume this will happen sometime around noon on May 14th but we will see what Elder Foster says. Please let me know if you all can be near a phone sometime on Sunday and we will make this work.

Love you all,
Dad

Thought for the Day - May 6, 2006

I am feeling kind of foolish as I try and figure out this blogging stuff. It is not that I'm stupid or ignornant of the power of the internet or how to use computers, but it is that it that I really have no strong desire to devote the time to figure it all out. This site appears to make this pretty easy, but it is not intuitive and they could have made it a lot easier by giving you tabs to add links and the like. Instead you have to go through this routine and I just have no desire to remember it. I don't mind making entries and all, but I'm just not into sitting down and figuring it all out.

Call me old fashioned, call me old school, call me a foolish old man, but them thar are the facts.

However, I will try and start some different strings on my blog that might prove to open some dialogue for those who know me best and know that I am not only interested in knowing your thoughts but am totally devoted to converting you fools to my way of thinking on every possible subject on the earth. There, I have finally said it. My goal is to convince every one of you that you are wrong and I am right on every conceivable subject that I wish to pontificate on.

Are you ready for that?

Dad