Sunday, December 21, 2008

Meet the Outlaws...the In laws

The Holiday season is an interesting time when it's spent with the in laws. Being part of a long lasting tradition of somebody else besides your family makes you feel even more grateful for the traditions you have but also more opened minded to the interesting traditions that your significant others family shares.

During courtship it is a wonderful time when you are not only trying to figure things out with your better half but also trying to figure it out with her mom and dad. You need to come off as tough enough to hang with the football loving brothers but sweet enough to be able to talk cooking with the mother. You will need to be charming enough to win over the sisters but serious enough so that her dad knows that you take life seriously.

Family traditions are like playing the telephone game. You know the one when everybody is seated in a giant circle and the first person in the circle makes up a message to pass on. He sends it to the person next to him and then that person sends it to the third person in line and so on. Then around the circle the message goes each person telling the message just as they heard it. But by the time it gets to the first person again he realizes how much different the new message is from the original that he had sent. Like the phone game I think of family traditions like this where somebody in the family started something and then it continued on to be something personal for everybody.

The fun really starts though when as a young married couple instead of going over to each others' parents house you decide to start your own family traditions. The melding of both sides of Christmas traditions sometimes gets tricky. Both must compromise but at the same time stand their ground so that can incorporate a piece of what they grew up with.

Traditions are fun, holidays are happiness, families are essential and enjoying them together and at the same time can sometimes be tricky. Both sides must be willing to compromise and enjoy the family time together. It only happens a few times out of the year. So lets remember in the Spirit of giving this Christmas season that giving not only refers to gifts, love and service to others but also giving time to your spAouse to be with his or her family. Sometimes that gift is just as hard to give as the $120 new spatula that she wants because it matches the silverware.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Jiminy Cricket the Motivational Speaker

If you can think back to the 50 year old Disney classic Pinocchio, you can find a true motivator. Chosen by the Blue Fairy, he came in a small package, carried a mean tune, looked great in a top hat and spats and succeeded in his role by keeping Pinocchio on the right path. Jiminy to Pinocchio was the “Lord High Keeper of the Knowledge of Right and Wrong, Counselor in Moments of Temptation, and Guide along the Straight and Narrow Path.” Jiminy played a significant role in Pinocchio life constantly motivating him to follow the correct path. Without Jiminy, Pinocchio would have lost the external motivation to continue to do what’s right. This is an example of a person that lacks intrinsic motivation and therefore the moment that the extrinsic motivation is taken away, they have nothing to fall back on. How can a motivating environment be created where the fuel is an internal source? A environment where the manager is not spending all of his time trying to keep his subordinates motivated. Or An environment where high level management isn’t spending an exuberant amount of money hiring motivational speakers to motivate everybody for a few hours until it wears off that night. Motivation, as defind in “The Essentials of Organizational Behavior” is the processes that account for an individual’s intensity, direction, and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal. By obtaining a concrete knowledge of what motivation consists of, identifying reasons people are motivated, this funnels both extrinsic and intrinsic motivators into creating a motivating environment with motivated subordinates.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

A Tiny Tid Bit About A Tiny Brother

Cole at three years old, the speech didn't improve, and he seemed to wonder through the neighborhood, unable to communicate, and without fear. I remember him standing on the edge of a building roof, looking over, and really unaware of the danger that he was in. At 3 1/2 Cole was started in an early learners speech program. He rode a special bus, and was involved with other children his age for twice a week. I kept him in a normal preschool as well, hoping that the socialization would help. I remember his Christmas Concert, standing alone, pretty oblivious to the other children around him. At 5 he started regular kindergarten, but was pulled out of the class for speech and language. He struggled with sitting still, fitting in, and getting along with the other children. By seven, and second grade, we found a wonderful teacher that helped Cole progress. It was a time for math facts, and memorization was something that Cole was good at. This year he excelled in timed math facts, addition and subtraction. He still didn't socialize much, but instead seemed to play alone a lot on the playground, usually on the monkey bars. He was really good on the monkey bars. During his eighth year, third grade, he was lucky to have a great male teacher. For the first time he identified with a male figure in his life. This man had a really structured class and Cole seemed to thrive with the structure, firm discipline associated with this room. It was becoming more evident that his physical skills were behind. He couldn't keep up with the other children on the playground with things like kick ball, baseball, and four square. Quite often he would leave the games frustrated and angry. This was about the last year for organized team sports. He had tried soccer and t-ball, but really couldn't stay up with the challenge of a fast moving game. He started running and swimming instead, where he seemed to do better.

Now he has speech therapy, pulled out for writing skills and comprehension, as well as meets as a group for social skills. They play games, role play, and work on getting along. He is involved with the neighborhood scout group - with wonderful leaders that understand him. They have lowered their expectations on requirements for merit badges for him, but instead concentrate on his social skills with the other boys. We have gone to physical therapy, trying to stimulate those deep nerves and muscles, hoping to help his high sensitivity to certain textures, tastes, and sounds. He has recently been graded at about a 6 year old level for gross motor skills. This explains his propensity to trip, stumble, and even struggle riding a bike.

Since a small age he has loved to be wrapped up tightly in a blanket - like a burrito - we called it. He seems to like the feeling of all his body parts bound together as one. He can lay like this for a long time, which at first surprised us, being such an active boy. But, in later reading, we learned that this was pretty typical for autistic kids, and further studies have even proved this theory. (something about putting kids in large hammocks, that were used for milking cows.)

Cole has always been very sensitive. He feels sad easily, and is very sensitive to sad siblings, sad movies, often crying. He is extremely kind hearted. Never means to be mean or hurtful. Sometimes he doesn't realize that his actions might misinterrupted.

He covers his ears with loud sounds, or too many sounds. He gags at the feel of the inside of his pumpkin. He smells most foods before he eats them, and if he doesn't think it smells good he won't even try it. He was slow potty training, almost the age of 8 by the time he wouldn't have an accident during the day. He still struggles getting dressed alone, can't handle hard buttons or snaps, and just recently learned to tie his shoes.

He memorizes well, often long scripts for the school plays. He memorizes cartoon and movie dialogs.
He loves his dog, and most animals. He learned to snow ski at about age 8.

Takes everything literally. Everything is black and white. Very focused on time, and scheduled. Not sandals, shoes. Not bare feet, my feet. Run to the store - he was putting on his tennis shoes. Something promised is never forgotten, even if 5 days later. Not almost 5:00, it is 4:58. That is the best way to communicate with him also. Very concrete, precise words. He also needs time to listen, and process, so waiting for an answer is sometimes a long wait. But, people are learning, and giving him a chance to answer. He knows his school schedule, every minute, every recess, every special class. A change in the schedule is hard, especially with a substitute teacher.

That's all I can think of for now.

Monday, November 24, 2008

The First Annual Twister FHE

Ladies and Gentleman, Hobos and Tramps, Cross-eyed Mosquitoes and Bowl-legged Ants

Welcome to the first annual FHE Twister Competition, the game that made getting tied in knots cool again. If the purpose of this meeting is to get you all to multiply and replenish the earth then lets just get a head start on it and get everybody in weird positions really close to each other.

The game began with some hesitant players but by the end of first game people were sweaty, angry but a little excited I would say. There was quite a bit of inter gender contact which as a FHE dad that's as good as your kid getting on the honor roll.

The second game began with a newly found desire to win for those that lost but we also implemented the "any contact" goes rule. This made the game a little more spicy and a whole lot more fun.

Right hand on blue, left foot on green, right foot and purple,left hand on yellow...and so the game continued. But as they started to drop like flies I noticed that I could use my stork like legs to my advantage. While on my way to victory I spotted a stockier fellow moving my way move by move. As he approached me and came within a few dots I pretended like I didn't see him coming. Like a Venus fly trap I continued to play until I saw the opportune moment that I could snap. Then with my upper torso I gave him a good shove, knocked him down and assured myself a victory.

The sweet taste of victory engulfed my taste buds. I was a winner and it felt good.

After everybody was a little tired of the twister game we decided to continue the festivities on the twister board but by doing leg wrestles, Joe Smith "stick pull" and arm wrestling contests. I competed in the leg wrestle contest against the heavyweight division and my stork legs didn't do so hot and got thrown over. I'm not sure why girls arm wrestling each other is so entertaining but it was. And to cap the night off my fellow FHE dad decided to wrestle another girl in the group. After some good laughs and him almost getting beat, we wrapped up the evening with a treat and some good chit chat.

The first annual fhe twister competition was a success and it was the best $16 dollars the ward has spent in a long time. Amen

Sunday, November 16, 2008

How did you fall in love?

On a sunny day at the hospital, work had the same feeling as always. I finished my normal day to day morning work and then headed to the hospital cafe. As I walked towards the cafe I spotted a cute girl dressed in pink scrubs heading my way. I went through my complete game plan in only a matter of seconds. Give her the head nod with a smile, somehow try and stop her, exchange names, ask her on a date, kiss her on the first date and be married within the year. With my complete game plan set up we passed each other and made strong eye contact. I got nervous, my game plan broke down and time seemed to slow down as she passed me. She passed my quickly and I thought to myself,crap I should have talked to her. Another opportunity passed me to find my eternal mate, but I kept hope that I would see her again soon.

Later that night my cousin called me on the phone and asked me if I wanted to go on a double blind date. I had nothing else going on that night so I agreed. We went and picked up his date first and she wasn't anything amazing and not very cool. We then went to her friends house and waited for her in the car outside her apartment. As this very pretty girl walked down the stairs she looked strangely familiar. As she opened the car door, and sat down, I introduced myself to her. That good old fashion feeling I had felt earlier that day when time seemed to stop, I felt again. The beautiful pink scrubbed girl had a name, and she was sitting right next to me. My prayers were answered.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Letter Headed to Argentina

Hey Boo Boo!

Another busy week has passed and about to begin another tomorrow which im not too stoked about but I have no other choice. I went and talked to my counsler this week and I have three semesters and an internship left till graduation. So it looks like Ill be doing next semester, do an internship this summer hopefully in san francisco with a guy that rich cook knows, then do 2 semesters after that and walk in april 2010! Its nice to be close to being done and start looking at the future. If you didnt know Cam Im not pre dental anymore but in the advertising and marketing department, lots of fun creative stuff. I left the fun dental stuff to you my mine because I felt that you would be much better than me and somebody needs to carry on the tradition, and fix my three cavities a year for the rest of my life and eventually do my dentures.

I went to a rock gym with some friends this weekend and that may be newest most favorite thing. Its a workout and its really fun, but I tore my hands up so i need to wait a little till i return. So we all bought passes at the canyons this year and we have already had a snow storm so hopefully were riding by thanksgiving this year. I talked to josh and were going to do grizzly gultch this year like you guys did. I met one of your old lady friends whose name is jen? and she is from idaho. She is a super cute girl and if she's single when you get home I think you need to date her.

Anywho...hope all is well in los labores misionales. I having been reading in the d and c and am going to include a little note from my scripture journal, hope it helps you in some way. Love you big guy and hope that everything continues to go well. Cuidate and nos vemos pronto.

aqui esta algunos pensamientos de mi diario misional:

D&C 121

V.34 “Many are called, but few are chosen”- This scripture applies really well to both missionary work and my day to day life. It tells us that those that are called but not chosen, have set their hearts much upon the things of the world, and aspire to the honors of men. As far as missionary work it applies because those investigators will usually and one point or another feel the Spirit but enjoy their addictions too much to gain a greater portion of the Spirit. And because they care more about what other people like their family might say to them then what God is telling them.

This principle can also be applied to people that are already members of the church. Sometimes we lose sight of should be most important to us like family, the gospel for things like money, sports, the media…or can even be something that’s potentially good like exercising. When we make enough time in our week to exercise three times a week but cant find time to read the scriptures three times a week then I feel that we have set our heart upon the things of the world. I am a huge culprit of this error and have told myself that I will not do the things that I enjoy like exercising, playing sports, going out, etc. until I have fulfilled my spiritual responsibilities first.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

What will you do with an extra hour?

My mom has always told me that the Spirit goes to sleep at midnight. Unfortunately with this

midnight bedtime I have I am unable to do anything fun because everything fun happes after

midnight. SO what I will be doing with this extra hour of time on Sunday night at midnight to

one in the morning is: watching nick at night re runs, having people of the opposite sex over,

not shaving, eating ice cream out of the carton, growing my hair out, listening to bob dylan's

"the times are a changin", drinking green tea, watching R rated movies from clean flicks and

smoking bubble gum cigarettes.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

What Dreams Are Made Of

So I am not sure if you were aware, but the 1974 Winnebago Bravo was voted the most reliable motor home by J.D. Power and associates in 2000 and 3.  I own one!  You know the one.  It looks like Evil Knievel's spaceship, if he had one of course.  The Bravo is always the one you see around town that have the protruding  nose under the front window and the prominent lines that pop out further than the window.  It really looks like a hill-billy  from Iowa built the thing in his back yard with whatever parts he could find with his left over parts from cars of the fifties.  

I have one true passion that runs deep within me.  To one day take my Bravo to the oceans front in Ensanada Mexico and open a taco man stand.  I will live near the sea and find myself a senorita and we will make tacos together forever.  Flutes will play by day and we shall dance by night!  Our children will sings songs of freedom while we dance to commemorate us finding each other as a couple.  Dreams are the seeds of legends.  And legends are made by those that dare.  I Brady Clifford dare! 

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Not Much to Blog About

Since I have completely ran out of this weeks creative herb, I have decided to just blog about this last weeks happenings. Thursday was the Mrs. birthday and her family decided to take everybody to the Naked Fish. Unfortunately it coincided with my favorite class with my favorite professor, but luckily he let me leave class early. Nice guy, huh. The Naked Fish turned out to be really good food and the conversation was even better.

Friday I decided to do Sammi's (the Mrs.) personal birthday celebration. In times past I have done the conventional gifts; clothes, jewelry, candy, etc. However, this time because of the way the economy is and a lack of time. I thought that making dinner and a few "meaningful" gifts would be a good idea. Cooking turned out to be more time consuming than I thought so I decided that I would just buy dinner at Carrabas and then pretend that I made it. So I set up a candle light dinner, bought her favorite movie "The Wedding Planner", blew up her favorite picture of us and warmed dinner up for the big evening. By the end of the night, she couldnt stop talking about how cute it was. I dont think I have made a better decision to buy instead of cooking.

I also took a Statistics test which I absolutely hate and I got a 73%. Not bad for a kid who doesnt think with the left side of his brain. Besides these great activities that was the extent of my weekend. Life couldnt be better and I couldnt be happier to be alive.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

They Both Must Have One Leg Longer Than the Other

Last night was the third and final presidential debate. I chose to watch the first presidential debate and also the after debate thoughts on CNN and FOX because I think its very important to be involved in the choosing of a leader. I watched the second debate however not nearly as much and chose to read the after debate analysis in the Wall Street Journal cause I felt like the news is a bunch of crap when it comes to anything political. So I a little obligated to watch this third and final presidential debate, hoping that something different would happen than what was debated in the first two.

After only fifteen minutes into the debate I was so sick of hearing the same solutions to the same problems such as health care, taxes, immigration, abortion and the current economy. Yes I know that they are the most important topics and have an incredible impact upon what happens in our country but cant we do something that will stimulate our desire to be involved. It just seemed as if both McCain and Obama were walking in circles.

This past Sunday, more people watched the football team of their state then watched the second presidential election. This means that people care more about their football team on just a normal regular season game, than they care about who the next president of the United States is. This is testimony to me that one the debate is not entertaining enough and two, there is a lack of interest in either of the candidates.

A proposed solution to both problems:

What attracts people to football? Pride for their state, competiveness, a desire to win…

This attributes must be present in a good presidential debate. Something that needs to be done is install a 15 minutes free session where Obama can diss the heck out of McCain and McCain will then will get his 15 to open up a can on Obama. This would make it exciting, show more of their true colors, instead of just going back and forth like “normal” human beings. People don’t talk that way in real life, they raise their voice a little, make fun of the other and prove the other wrong by making the other feel less of man. This may not be a feasible solution but it’s a start; something needs to change to spark some interest in the election process, or a coma will get the baby boomers before they can even be the deciding vote.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Food For My Ears

The world we live in is a busy place, borderline chaotic with whats happening right now. It is easy to get frustrated with the media, depressed by the economy or annoyed with the Presidential election. There is so much information we consume on a daily basis that makes it hard for us to ever escape and get away from it all.

Music for me is the antidote for me to release myself from the world. Whether it be Bob Dylan's raspy lyrics, Pink Floyd's 15 minute jam out sessions, The Beatles up beat sound or Andrew Bird's whistling; there is always a different sound for every situation or mood. That is the beauty of music as a way to escape. Whatever feeling you may have or strive to obtain, it can be achieved by listening to your favorite song or dancing to your tune of choice.

The experience that one has with their favorite music is a very personal experience. There is many times more meaning than just what lies in the lyrics and in the sound. Music has the ability to lift me up, calm me down, get me focused or loosen me up. I am just thankful for musicians and their passion to contribute to the good of society. Like a doctor, teacher or police man; I consider a musician to be a contributor to society. Music has the ability to heal, they have the capacity to teach and a way to inspire. I commend them for their dedication and the joy they have brought into my life and the lives of many others.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Its that time again

It is always nice to have a refresher course every six months, even though the messages are so similar every time. The same topics are touched on, the same people speak but every time you take something different from it.

That's why General Conference is such a fascinating experience because each time a message is given, they take a different angle at the topic. The speakers have such a diverse demographic to appeal to. From the poorest of poorest in countries like Mexico, Africa, etc.. to the most wealth off people. They must make sure their message is interesting to a primary age child to somebody that has a been a member for over 80 years like my grand parents. To complicate things even more, the message is given in English must be translated into many different languages throughout the world.

General Conference is a fascinating broadcast and is probably the largest religious broadcast of its kind. The message that is given must be carefully planned and given to appeal to all demographics. Many communication lessons can be learned from General Conference because it is an assortment of messages that are written, given orally and written again in a mass produced magazine that is distributed around the world.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

My First Hair Cut of 2008

As I sit here with my clean cut, BYU approved haircut and I feel powerless. Even though I may feel like Samson, Delilah didn't cut my hair; it was the local hair school girl. How could something so ridiculous like the length of your hair, have some kind of great significance to me?

I think back to the Bible and Book of Mormon when everybody had a mop of hair on their heads. Did it signify something spiritual or religious, or was it just because there wasn't a Paul Mitchell close by? I think of the hippie movement when long hair promoted peace and was a sign of being one with nature.

On the contrary, why does BYU have an honor code against the length of persons hair? Is there something about long hair that promotes uncleanliness? Would it be possible to achieve the accomplishments that BYU has if everyone was walking around with the Peter Brady du? Does it take away from the individuality and creativity of the students?

I wish I had the answer to this question. What I do know is that I got more compliments from people about my hair than I did complaints. If BYU was to come out and say, ok the length of your hair no longer is part of the honor code. What would be next? Would it have a domino type of effect with all the other rules? or would people even choose to copy the hair style or their favorite Beatle?

In a society with so many individuals, the minority has become the conservative. Individuality is important, but not the kind of individuality that is present in the world today. We have lost the togetherness of being different. BYU has achieved a level of success because they have students that care more about what they do in the world and in school than how they look doing it. They may not dress cool changing the world, but at least their making a contribution.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Hey Thanks Bro

Saturday as I was walking to the BYU football game I decided that I was going to buy a drink at the Chevron on the corner and save myself $5 rather than buying it in the stadium. I walked in the store, look around a little bit and picked what I wanted. As I was checking out, two guys I had met this summer playing sand volleyball walked in and picked up their drinks. As i was talking to them and checking out I remembered! Oh ya, my "buy a stranger a coke" assignment. So I said to them, "hey guys, throw your drinks up here this ones on me?" Really hesitant and insisting that they could buy them I had to convince that they were on me. Finally I put them on the counter and paid for them as they awkwardly stood behind me silent as could be. As we walked out of the store and to the stadium, they both said a few times "Hey thanks bro" and seemed anxious to talk to me about whatever.

These guys weren't complete strangers but I had only met them a few times so it was still semi awkward for them. I learned that people seem to open up and are overly grateful when you do something for somebody without them asking, especially when it pertains to money. It surprised me to see how involved they were in my life after the incident when in the past they had never really cared. I thought this assignment was fun and I would like to do it again but this time with a complete stranger and maybe something a little bigger like a meal or movie ticket. I learned that people are naturally a little closed or shy; but once they feel comfortable around somebody and are able to break the ice, they open up and are very willing to get to know each other.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Wow! Its taken you long enough

In a era when the newest technology seems to change as much as the gas prices, how come we are so hesitant to move along with it? At least four new editions of the Ipod have come out so why I'm a still listening to what looks like a brick attached by a cord to my ears. We've had cell phones with Internet capabilities for a couple years now, so how come I'm so content with just a phone that calls and texts? For the first time last week I made myself a facebook page, facebook has been the biggest thing since slice bread for over three years now. What took me so long?. Best of all, my grandma may be the only living person in the United States that doesn't own a cell phone. What took her so long? This is the first time I have ever blogged; my twelve year old cousin has a blog. What took me so long?

We live in a technology driven world when its almost impossible to keep up with The Jones'. Technology has made our lives so much easier; the ability to do many things online instead of in person(the old fashion way).

So why do we continue lag behind when technology can make our lives so much easier and efficient?

I think the main reason we choose to stick in the back of the pack is because its so dang expensive to try and keep up. Every year when the newest Ipod, computer, cell phone, etc... comes out, you have to take out a loan if you want to be a trend setter. Most of us don't have this kind of money so would rather wait a couple of years and buy the one that was the next big thing like two years ago. That's why I would consider the majority of American citizens to be trend followers, not setters. In comparison to the majority of the rest of the world, were probably more than 10 years ahead in many things.

Another reason I think many of us are hesitant to wait in line at midnight the day before the new big gadget comes out is because we enjoy our comfort zones. There is a reason that a comfort zone is called a comfort zone. Naturally anything that may make us uncomfortable or require us to do something outside of our daily routine, we shift away from. Many times when we get something new it requires a change in lifestyle. This change in lifestyle, even though we may know it could make our life easier and for effective, we shy away from change because we enjoy our daily routine. I think many times unless we take a leap of faith into some new technology, we will never know what kind of effect it can have upon us. We can only experience so much through the third party opinions and that is why I think taking the leap of faith, even though I don't do it, can be beneficial.

Technology is something that we love to learn about and see, but don't like to experience it first hand until it has been proven to the point that there is no fear when we experience it ourselves. I think like many things in life they must be experienced on our own. However, with technology I feel that the average person needs to have several testimonies to have the courage to follow or trend. Even more courage is required to be a trend setter. That kind of courage I just don't have.