Goin' to Calvary

We went to Calvary Baptist Church yesterday (11th South between State and Main). Kermut was there. There was a lot of singing, praising and general thankfulness for the blessings the Lord has showered upon us. Rev. France Davis has an amazing gift for telling it like it is. You feel spiritually uplifted when you leave his house.

The folks at Calvary Baptist also know how to dress. Sometimes when I go to church elsewhere people are so casualed out (is that a word?) they look as if they are going to Walmart (you've seen the blogs - it ain't pretty). At Calvary Baptist I feel like I have to wear a suit, not out of obligation but out of respect. You can see all sorts of suits and dresses and hats that you don't normally see. Most people don't dress like that anymore.

Did I forget to mention the choir? They are the soul and backbone of all that goes on at Calvary Baptist. This Sunday they had only 20 or so people, their full choir wasn't there, nor was their children's choir. Throughout the service the music is central to the worship. Everyone is clapping, praising and jumping with the Lord. You can't help but leave with a smile.

A lot of people gave their testimony and thanked Calvary Baptist for being their church home. I am thankful that Calvary Baptist is a beacon for our community and they boldly proclaim the Word as Gospel. They are working to overcome the cultural, religous and racial barriers that have often separated us in this community. They are a force for good and we all benefit from their work. Thank you Rev. Davis for your leadership and tireless work in the name of the Lord. May God continue to bless you.

DVD Recommendations

I went to the dollar movies (it cost $2.00) and saw Julie and Julia. This is the story of Julia Childs and a young Queens wife who sets out to make each of Julia's 524 recipies in her cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" while blogging about it. Not an emotionally significant movie but it was fun.

That got me thinking about what movies I would put in the same category. Those movies that have a message but aren't what you call an epic, ones you can watch over and over because they have substance but not crass or even intense. These movies have quoteable lines and are void of objectionable subject matter that you wouldn't mind showing your grand parents or grand kids.

Here are some of my favorite movies, one for each of the 12 days of Christmas:

1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - Jimmy Stewart at his best in this story about Christmas and a man who thinks he doesn't have friends. Its a classic (B&W) .

2. Family Man (2000) - Nicholas Cage and Tia Leone. An updated version of It's a Wonderful Life.

3. Bruce Almighty (2003) - Jim Carrey surrounded by Bible lessons. Oh yea, Jennifer Aniston is also in it.

4. Princess Bride (1987) - Billy Crystal has a cameo.

5. 50 First Dates (2004) - Adam Sandler is not that goofy and Drew Barrymore is.

6. Elf (2003) - Will Ferrell is pure joy to watch.

7. Toy Story (1995) - Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are so good you forget you are watching an animated movie.

8. Ground Hog Day (1993) - Bill Murray is really funny without being gross.

9. Back to the Future (1985) - It has a flying Delorean and Christopher Lloyd.

10. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - If you don't believe in Christmas you need to watch it. Besides it has a positive protrayal of a lawyer, even if it was more than 60 years ago.

11. The Russians Are Coming (1966) - Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint and Alan Arkin. This is just funny. It also is a wonderful depiction of life in a simpler time. You can also see Martha's Vinyeard before it was taken over by the uber rich.

12. Oceans 11 (1960) - This is the coolest movie I know of. I'm not talking about the 2001 remake with George Clooney. I'm talking about the original with the Rat Pack - Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, Cesar Romero, Joey Bishop and many other big names in the 60's. This is a great portrait of the original cool guys in a very different Las Vegas.

Enjoy and let me know what you think or if you have favorites that I didn't include. By the way for that person who has my name for the book exchange, I don't have a copy of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking".

I Made It!

I guess all those hours of blogging paid off, or maybe it was the senate investigation, the call to the DA's office or the threat of a civil rights lawsuit. In any event I have made it to the top of the Srossi Blog Roll. I want to thank my brother and daughter-in-law for their help in educatin' me in the ways of the internet and blogging.

This doesn't mean I am hanging up my posts. I am now energized to continue expressing my views and observations daily. I pledge to try my best to make a daily entry on my blog. I owe it to all of you.

And not to disappoint you I have been saving these words of wisdom for a special occasion. I want to pass on the Tao of Navin.

If you are of the same generation as I am you will remember a treasured bit of celluloid starring Steve Martin as Navin R. Johnson who was adopted at birth by a poor black family in the south who leaves home at 18 to seek his fame and fortune. The name of the movie is "The Jerk" and was released in 1979.

Before Navin leaves on his adventure, his dad gives him three bits of wisdom. 1. Lord loves a workin' man, 2. Don't trust whitey and 3. If you got it, go to the doctor and get rid of it. If you've seen the movie you will know that these were meant to be nonsensical and silly. I think they have merit.

1. Lord loves a workin' man - If you work hard you will be rewarded. That is a universal sentiment. You can create your own success by working hard. That makes sense.

2. Don't trust whitey - This sounds racist but if you interpret it outside of the racial context it makes more sense. Look at whitey as "the man". We are often told not to trust the establishment. Question what those in power are saying, think for yourself, trust yourself. A good rule to live by.

3. If you got it, go to the doctor and get rid of it. This is meant as a reference to pre-aids sexual contact with less than honorable women but I maintain it also has a broader application. When faced with a decision you can make a choice or you can stew about it. If you let it fester it won't get better. To make a good decision today is often better than making a perfect decision later. If you don't deal with something the problem won't go away. Going to the doctor is a good euphism for making a decision.

There it is, the Tao according to Navin. Enjoy.

Still Shut Out and What Was That Thing Over Gibraltar

My post for Thursday didn't come up yet. I'm feeling discriminated against. I'm going to call the NAAIDWP (The National Association for the Advancement of Internet-Disadvantaged White People).

At T-Giving yesterday I got schooled by my Daughter-in-law and brother. Both are much more internet savy than I am. Apparently unless you change the date of posting, if you start a post one day and finish it the next, it will appear as if it were written on the first day. So much for my complaint that one of my posts was not posted on the correct day. It also appears that the alert box in called a Blog Roll and that I can keep track of who is blogging and who is visiting my blog. Who knew.

As side note my son and D-in-law schooled me on the proper terms for In-N-Out Burgers - it appears it isn't monster style, its animal style. Also there is a secret menu, but they wouldn't tell me anything else.

I was reading the paper yesterday and it appears a Swiss adventurer has been watching Toy Story one too many times. The paper reported that Yves Rossy (that's Rosseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, not Rossi). ditched in the Atlantic while trying to fly from Morocco to Spain. The thing is he was using jet powered wings, about 4 feet in width, sort of sounds like Buzz Lightyear? It also appears he wasn't flying as much as falling with style because half way through the flight he hit turbulence and clouds so thick he had to ditch in the water. Maybe next time he could go to weather.com before he takes off.

Happy Thanksgiving

I was going to just put up a cheerful message of thanksgiving but since this is my blog I will vent first.

Now someone is messing with me. My Wednesday blog congratulating the Utah legislators, posted Wednesday morning about 10 am, is now listed as being posted on Tuesday, even though I checked it just after I posted it yesterday (Wednesday). This wouldn't normally irk me but I am on the quest for the top. I want recompense. I want whoever is in charge of this blog posting order to show him or herself and take my verbal onslaught as they so rightfully deserve. The senate investigation is still going forward and I am meeting with the local district attorney to file criminal charges as well as a civil suit. I will be avenged!!!!!!!

With that out of the way, it is Thanksgiving. I want to say I am thankful for my wife, my kids, my grandkids and my family. I have a wonderful life. I want to thank all of you for giving me the chance to be part of your lives and your work to reconcile when we fall out. I love you all no matter what.

I am also thankful for my ancestors. This morning as I was thinking about all the things I was thankful for my thoughts gravitated toward my grandparents. All of them are gone, the most recent about 15 years ago. It was a wonderful time when I was little and was loved so much by them. They are the ones that gave me the heritage to be in this country, live the life I live, and have the family I have. I wish I knew their grandparents so I could see where they came from.

I am truly blessed and very thankful for all the blessings I have. Have a happy thanksgiving.

Way to Go Utah Legislators

Seriously, what does it take to make this blogging thing work fairly? My Monday and Tuesday posts have not been recognized (they have been registered in the blog, but they don't appear in the alert box) and others with earlier posts are moving ahead. I feel as if my civil rights are being voilated. I am going to call Ron Yangich.

Spking of civil rights, I have a double edged comment. On the one hand I do applaud the Utah Legislators, headed by former Utah Governer "Grandma" Olene Walker, who are pushing ethics intiatives to bring integrity to the governmental process.

On the other hand there are those who make the rest look bad. Some Utah legislators are opposing the ethics initatives because they infringe on their civil rights. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. What it infringes on is their ability to make money at the tax payer's expense.

Jello Haiku

OK, This blog alert thing is beginning to bug me. My post from yesterday (Monday) still isn't recognized and the Gearheads pulled ahead of me by posting on Sunday. I wish no ill will toward the Gearheads, but there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the posting sequence. I'm going to call Senator Bennett and launch a full investigation.

I saw an article in the Tribune for Jello Haiku. There is a competition held in SLC each year and several dozen people bring their Haiku molded in Jello. What is next Lasagna prayer readings?