Pioneering Women

Up at some weird hour, unable to sleep, I just re-read a short story I used to teach in A.P. English: The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She was a prominent poet, writer, lecturer and social reformer during the early 1900's -- known for her pioneering writing about postpartum depression and female mental health. (No, I'm not related to her.)

http://www.womenwriters.net/domesticgoddess/gilman1.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Perkins_Gilman

I know how much we are still learning about the female psyche and, in a day when Hollywood stars like Brooke Shields get so much press for their "work" in this field, I just thought I'd try giving a little credit to those women who risked severe social criticism and alienation to speak out when it just wan't acceptable to do so. If you've already read it, then pass it along to your sister, mother or girlfriend. It's an eye-opening, first-hand account of what women used to suffer -- alone.

The Yellow Wall-paper (short story text):
http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=GilYell.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=1&division=div1
Gilman, on why she wrote the story:
http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/whyyw.html

Scholarly commentary:

http://itech.fgcu.edu/faculty/wohlpart/alra/gilman.htm

Old School Research

Having worked on two Masters Degrees (one before the globalization of the internet, and one after), I couldn't help but salivate as I browsed through this powerful digitized library that doesn't require matriculation for access. How nice of BYU to share so much with so many, free of charge. I can't believe all the manuscripts, photographs, publications, and full-text documents avaliable to the public. You should take a peek:

http://www.lib.byu.edu/online.html

My dear friend Breena (the youngest Ph.D candidate I know) gets the credit for the find, and I can't help but wonder where in the world was this digital library during my curriculum development Masters and teaching A.P. English in the late 90's? When I think about the hours I spent visiting multiple libraries, hunting down archived private collections of pre-civil war slave narratives, and Victorian women's postpartum journals... sheesh!

Question: Why couldn't Mr. Al Gore have "invented" the internet before my time as a zoobie? But then again, one can not truly appreciate the power of the information superhighway until one has experienced the research-writing fun of spending hours and hours searching old card catalogues, LAN databases, and microfiche film. Does anyone else remember carrying around about $10 in nickels for the photocopier/microfiche, and a floppy for saving your hours of work?

Michael Jackson meets Fantasy Island's "Tatoo"

This is just so wierd it's laughable.
AWESOME!

The Greatest Generation v. Gen X,Y, and Z

Last night I attended a very memorable combined Young Women/ Young Men activity. I'm ashamed to say I've been in the Folsom 3rd ward for a year now, and didn't know about the great contributions Brother Lewis had made to our country.

In fact, there is a section in Saints and Soldiers all about Doran C. Lewis, master seargent and tailgunner, who completed 33 successful combat missions over Japan in the B-29 (the biggest bomber that the US had during the last year of WWII). His brother Oren was also a gunner in the same plane. They are now the only two surviving from that crew. Brother Lewis had all of us captivated last night -- sharing stories of amazing courage and service. Throughout their time fighting in the Pacific, they worked hard to share the Gospel and set up a tiny branch in Saipan -- baptizing many.

It was obvious to me, as the youth listened to several couples speak, that they very quickly realized the immediate need to contribute to their communities and countries just as their great-grandparents had. I thought of my own grandfathers and, as I drove home, I cried. How I miss them; their courage and their larger-than-life examples of industry, integrity, and purposeful living.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXtFbtY9xs8

Then today, I found myself wondering what, exactly, has my generation done to give back? If Gen X only counts the internet and the hybrid car once, then we, along with Al Gore, are in some SERIOUS trouble!

This great little clip summarizes my thoughts on the matter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCNIBV87wV4

We are, indeed, quickly becoming an inarticulate, convictionless, directionless, solutionless and yet complaining bunch. Time to roll up the sleeves and catch up with our grandparents and great-grandparents!

The Japanese don't need Saki...they've got Human Tetris!

EXCELLENT! My favorite: the group of four that don't even come close to making it! Next they should have elimination rounds where they speed up the platform shapes...

Leslie & Alex's Wedding -- Monterrey, Mexico

Les and Alex decided to have a destination wedding. Well, at least a destination for all of us. (They will be making Monterrey Mexico their new home.) And so we came. That was some party, Latin-style. As you can see Leslie was a beautiful bride and the wedding was just perfect. The girls gathered and... as you can see, some are married, some not. Some are pregnant, some not. With all our different, busy lives, it was nice to get together and celebrate this happy occasion with Alex and Leslie Esparza! Felicitaciones! :)

My Adorable Family

The end of July -- a hot month in Utah. The month my family picks to gather round and have a little reunion. So hot, in fact, that my niece Anna can't decide which will help her stay more cool -- playing pearl diver, dancer, or dolphin trainer. (Just look at her face! That kid is always cracking me up!)

She's got to stay on her toes in order to survive with these 2 crazies as her older brothers. This shot was taken right after Nick (black t-shirt) gave Corbin (blue shirt) a noogie. The girls can usually get away from the boys if they put on a "dance concert" to some music that their brothers (and grandpa) really hate, i.e. Barbara Streisand. Imagine these 3 little cuties dancing around the living room in their ballerina outfits to Babs. Yeah... all the boys left. :)
We had hours of fun at the waterpark (baking) all day Saturday, with over 50 cousins from the Perkins side. It was life-guarding duty all the time for Aunt Kristie. But, how could you not want to jump in with the kiddies when they are so dang cute!?

On Sunday, we got to see Conner James, the oldest grandchild, (who was just ordained a deacon) pass the sacrament! I can't believe my little sister Lori has a 12 yr. old!!! He did such a great job, and he takes his responsibility very seriously. Conner is a great kid, a help to his mother, and great example to all the rest of our family. His younger brothers and sisters all look up to him and even his baby cousin, Alaina, lets him hold her. It's official. I love my family. :)