The Path to Self-Discovery...

is long and winding! I've made some recent changes in my life that will hopefully continue to keep me in happiness and a zen-like state. :) I quit my job two weeks ago and have been unemployed, but have an encouraging prospect for a path that may lead me down that proverbial yellow-brick road. Know that since the decision, I have been happier and definitely less-stressed! See the picture below, taken by my amazing photographer friend Suzzanne Dockendorf. Part of my transformation...more to come!

Jumping on the Bandwagon

For anyone who knows me rather well, you know that I don't like jumping on bandwagons. I have yet to read any of the "Harry Potter" books or heaven-forbid the "Twilight" series. I like to do things in my own time, on my own schedule without societal pressures. However, on this one topic I fear I will have to make an exception and jump on the bandwagon. Since President Packer's remarks in General Conference nearly three weeks ago, the press and online blogs have been a feeding frenzy, with protests, petitions and public outcries. So, to add to all the pennies thrown, here is my two-cents.

As a leader of a worldwide faith that I am most honored to be a part of, President Packer's words (I believe) were truly inspired. Apparently, there were some things that needed to be said during that conference. I do believe that marriage should be between a man and woman. I do think that homosexuality is an unnatural tendency. However, I've always been taught by awesome parents that we "love the sinner, hate the sin." I have several family members (cousins and the like) and friends who are gay. I love them. I don't condone or excuse their lifestyle, nor am I going to disregard their own free agency. However, just don't throw it in my face. One particular thing that did get my riled up was the picture below.


This picture was taken at a homecoming parade here in town. Yes, I understand that you are taking a stand for the LGBT community in Southern Utah and at Dixie State College. However, that does not give you credence to desecrate the American flag with your stupidity. Just saying...

Why can't we all just get along?

The Irony of It All

Yes, it's been over a year since my last post. And you may be asking yourself, "What would prompt Susi to post after a nearly 13 month sabbatical?" The answer: the owner of the Segway machines passed away. A brief moment of silence before I tell you how....
He died on a Segway. Now a brief moment for laughter. :)

Yes, the owner of Segway, Jimi Heselden, ironically died on a Segway after he apparently drove it off a cliff and into a river. The very thing he loved was also literally, his downfall. What's even more ironic is that he died just days prior to the company releasing information on safety measures and procedures regarding riding the Segway.


Yes, this "one hit wonder," I fear has seen it's last day. With high profile people having mishaps (including former U.S. President George W. Bush not being able to get on it, and America's Got Talent judge and soon-to-be CNN host Piers Morgan falling off), I'm surprised they are still around. I will give it to Segway owner Jimi Heselden though...as one of Britain's richest people who just purchased the company, he was also one of the most generous. As ironic, funny and untimely as his death was, he led a fascinating life...growing up poor in Leeds, England, leaving school at 15 to work in the mines and then staying in his hometown to build up his company. In 1990, he founded Hesco Bastion, which if we have ever had any friends or family in the warzones in Iraq and Afghanistan, we should be so lucky that Jimi was alive to see this company into prosperity. Hesco is a company that makes concertina barriers that are filled with dirt and junk used to protect military bases and secure areas. Essentially, they are everywhere in warzones. Maybe he needed one of these barriers by the cliff.

Yes, overall, Jimi's death is quite tragic--on all accounts.

Segway--Still Moving?

Remember the revolutionary machine "The Segway"? Oh, what a delight and tragedy that piece of technology was. I saw one today for the first time in years; hence, prompting my blog. I was in a professional office in St. George and sitting there by the door was none other than a segway. Who knew these things were still around? I must admit, they are phenomenal! I had the opportunity to take a Segway tour around Lake Las Vegas several years ago and after some rocky moments gaining my equilibrium, I found that cruising around at 20 miles per hour was rather fun! According to wikipedia (which is by no way an absolute credible source), the Segway was launched in December 2001 and was expected to sell nearly 100,000 units in the first 13 months. Segway inventor Dean Kamen predicted that "the Segway "will be to the car what the car was to the horse and buggy." If only he wasn't so optimistic! Those words are coming back to haunt him! Between the years 2001 and 2007, only 30,000 Segways were sold. Sad day! I am taking the liberty and marking the Segway as a "one hit wonder." Yes, yes, that often implies a musical performer who is best known for a single work. For instance, the Weather Girls and "It's Raining Men" or Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Relax." Great hits of the 80s and often used for reminiscing in a romantic comedy, but no backbone. Even though the Segway somewhat made a comeback (police training) with the 2008 Summer Olympics and the movie "Paul Blart: Mall Cop", Kamen's Segway should just "Ride Like The Wind."

Now that those awesome songs are in your head, here's VH1's top 100 "One Hit Wonders."

1 Dexys Midnight Runners: “Come on Eileen”

2 Flock of Seagulls: “I Ran (So Far Away)”

3 A-Ha: “Take On Me”

4 Tommy Tutone: “867-5309 / Jenny”

5 Soft Cell: “Tainted Love”

6 Toni Basil: “Mickey”

7 Modern English: “I Melt With You”

8 Bow Wow Wow: “I Want Candy”

9 Kajagoogoo: “Too Shy”

10 Frankie Goes to Hollywood: “Relax”

11 Gary Numan: “Cars”

12 Animotion: “Obsesssion”

13 Thomas Dolby: “She Blinded Me With Science”

14 Big Country: “In A Big Country”

15 Devo: “Whip It”

16 Nena: “99 Luft Balloons”

17 Men Without Hats: “The Safety Dance”

18 Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock: “It Takes Two”

19 Dead or Alive: “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”

20 Rockwell: “Somebody’s Watching Me”

21 Twisted Sister: “We’re Not Gonna Take It”

22 Michael Sembello: “Maniac”

23 Eddy Grant: “Electric Avenue”

24 Edie Brickell & New Bohemians: “What I Am”

25 Musical Youth: “Pass the Dutchie”

26 Cutting Crew: “I Just Died In Your Arms”

27 Stacey Q: “Two of Hearts”

28 John Parr: “St. Elmos Fire (Man In Motion)”

29 Madness: “Our House”

30 The Vapors: “Turning Japanese”

31 Bobby McFerrin: “Don’t Worry Be Happy”

32 Quarterflash: “Harden My Heart”

33 John Waite: “Missing You”

34 The Waitresses: “I Know What Boys Like”

35 Tom Tom Club: “Genius of Love”

36 Weather Girls: “It’s Raining Men”

37 Lipps, Inc.: “Funkytown”

38 Bruce Willis: “Respect Yourself”

39 Matthew Wilder: “Break My Stride”

40 The Buggles: “Video Killed the Radio Star”

41 Billy Vera “At This Moment”

42 Timbuk 3 “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades”

43 Shannon “Let the Music Play”

44 Wall of Voodoo “Mexican Radio”

45 Robbie Nevil “C’est La Vie”

46 Georgia Satellites “Keep Your Hands To Yourself”

47 Pretty Poison “Catch Me I’m Falling”

48 Yello “Oh Yeah”

49 Philip Bailey (w/ Phil Collins) “Easy Lover”

50 Neneh Cherry “Buffalo Stance”

51 After the Fire “Der Kommissar”

52 Mary Jane Girls “In My House”

53 Taco “Puttin’ On the Ritz”

54 Chris DeBurgh “Lady in Red”

55 Johnny Kemp “Just Got Paid”

56 Til Tuesday “Voices Carry”

57 Jermaine Stewart “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off”

58 Don Johnson “Heartbeat”

59 The Outfield “Your Love”

60 Nu Shooz “I Can’t Wait”

61 E.U.: “Da Butt”

62 XTC: “Dear God”

63 Oran “Juice” Jones: “The Rain”

64 Robbie Dupree: “Steal Away”

65 Boomtown Rats: “I Don’t Like Mondays”

66 The Jeff Healy Band: “Angel Eyes”

67 Martika: “Toy Soldiers”

68 Peter Schilling: “Major Tom”

69 T’Pau: “Heart And Soul”

70 Harold Faltermeyer: “Axel F”

71 Jack Wagner: “All I Need”

72 Swing Out Sister: “Breakout”

73 Paul Hardcastle: “19″

74 Information Society: “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)”

75 Bertie Higgins: “Key Largo”

76 J.J. Fad: “Supersonic”

77 General Public: “Tenderness”

78 Aldo Nova: “Fantasy”

79 Alannah Myles: “Black Velvet”

80 Eddie Murphy: “Party All The Time”

81 Josie Cotton: “Johnny Are You Queer?”

82 Red Rider: “Lunatic Fringe”

83 Paul Lekakis: “Boom Boom Boom Let’s Go Back to My Room”

84 The Church: “Under The Milky Way”

85 Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makers: “Tomorrow People”

86 Patrice Rushen: “Forget Me Nots”

87 Vixen: “Edge Of A Broken Heart”

88 Nik Kershaw: “Wouldn’t it Be Good”

89 Rodney Dangerfield: “Rappin’ Rodney”

90 Haircut 100: “Love Plus One”

91 Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson: “Friends And Lovers”

92 Frank Stallone: “Far From Over”

93 L.A. Guns: “The Ballad of Jayne”

94 Club Nouveau: “Lean On Me”

95 Midnight Oil: “Beds are Burning”

96 The Fabulous Thunderbirds: “Tuff Enuff”

97 Will To Power: “Baby I Love Your Way / Freebird”

98 Buckner & Garcia: “Pac-Man Fever”

99 Michael Damian: “Rock On”

100 Clarence Clemons (and Jackson Browne): “You’re A Friend Of Mine”

Bad Signs Part 2

Anyone who knows me well knows that I can't stand misspelled or punctuated signs. It simply amazes me that people don't get a friend, buddy, coworker, spouse, or a 6th grader to proofread something! The following are more signs I've come across in recent months that show man's lackadaisical attitude.

Taken at Bear Lake's best place for food, snacks, rednecks, and apparently mattress's!

A banner from one of my food vendors from the Business Expo. How do you have an apostrophe down below? Isn't that then called a comma? I don't know how famous those sandwiches were, but Karyn said it was amazing!

Sign found in Bloomington. Oh, City of St. George.

Enough said...

100 Best Books

I've been listening to a lot of NPR (National Public Radio) in the mornings as I go to work and when I go home. It's not a new concept for me; I actually quite enjoy it. The past week, I've learned heaps. Did you know that the big influenza epidemic of 1918 was actually called the Spanish Flu? And this flu pandemic spread to nearly every part of the world? Crazy huh? I was so enthralled by the information, that I did a quick wikipedia search (I know, I know--not the most credible source of information) and found that anywhere from 70 to 100 million people were killed worldwide, the most devastated communities hit included the Pacific Islands where Western Samoa a crippling 90% of the population was infected.

This morning I also learned about the Pullman Porters. This was a group of young African American men who were hired by George Pullman, inventor of the sleeping car, to take care of any whim that the customer had. They were paid next to nothing who saved to put their children and grandchildren through college.

I wanted to learn more about about the Pullman Porters, so I went to NPR . I found all sorts of fun stuff! The best thing was someone's list of top 100 books. Now, I like to think for my 20+ years that I'm well read, but I apparently have quite a bit more to read! Here's how my list would start out (in no particular order):

1. To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
2. I Can't Accept Not Trying, Michael Jordan
3. Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Lynne Truss
4. Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway
5. Shane, Jack Shaffer
6. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
7. Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare
8. Alexander and the
9. Fire In the Bones, S. Michael Wilcox
10. The Blue Castle, L.M. Montgomery
11. How To Be Happy, Dammit: A Cynic's Guide to Spiritual Happiness, Karen Salmansohn
12. Walden, Henry David Thoreau
13. Dubliners, James Joyce
14. The Crying of Lot 49, Thomas Pynchon
15. The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison

What would be your top books?

Apostrophe War

I am a fanatic about punctuation. What? Are you sure? Did no one listen when their sixth grade language arts teacher was teaching about punctuation? Comma. Period. Exclamation point. Question mark. Semicolon. Colon. Apostrophe. They all have their own little place in this crazy mixed up world. They all have a specific function that is designed to allow the reader to evoke feeling, to pause and reflect, create a tone or mood. Yes, bad punctuation is one of my biggest pet peeves (see my Bad Signs post). Earlier this year, I purchased an "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" daily desk calendar based on the bestselling book. If you've never read the book, read it! It will change your whole view of punctuation and grammar. The following is the author's (Lynne Truss) take on apostrophe:

"Here are the weapons required in the apostrophe war: correction fluid; big pens; stickers cut in a variety of sizes; both plain (for sticking over unwanted apostrophes) and coloured (for inserting where apostrophes are needed); tin of paint with big brush; guerrilla-style clothing; strong medication for personality disorder; loudhailer; gun."

I believe this war will never end. I recently saw an ad for a local video production business that read "Love Story Video's. Short video's to share with family and friends." This made me sad, especially since I know the owner. :(