Physics and Faith

I was watching an interesting show the other day. It was about the formation of the Universe. They had a small spot with Stephen Hawking. Hawking said something that got me thinking. I don't remember it word for word but the gist was, the better our understanding of the way our Universe came into existence the closer we can get to knowing the mind of God. 
I have always been fascinated with how the Universe works and how the stars and planets have been formed and nature in general. Another interesting thing I have thought about is the fact we are all made of the same elements, atoms, and sub-atomic particles as everything else in the Universe. The stars, our Sun, the Earth, the other planets all formed from the same building blocks as us. We are all truly children of the stars.
There are a lot of people who have written about or talked about how if you vibe on something positive good things will happen to you. I include myself in this group, you are what you focus your energy on. I think you could expand this group to include people who pray. Religion is perhaps the ultimate in focusing groups of people onto a singular thing. People flock to church and pray for the well being of friends and family members. They pray for God to help them through difficult times and help them with the concerns of their daily lives. I think you could say that is roughly the same idea as trying to send out good vibes. We send out our energy, or pray, for the people in our lives to have good health and great joy, or to get that new job, or to have our dreams fulfilled.
Now I ask are physics and faith all that different? Those who have religion often want little to do with an understanding of physics and those who study the Universe and physics often want little to do with religion. These two ideas seem at odds with each other. I wonder if they are more like 359 degrees versus 180 degrees apart. Now if you are looking out along a circle over the full 359 degrees that seems to be a long distance, but if you turn around and try to view it from the other angle it is really only one degree of separation.
Here is where I find some common ground. If we take the E=MC2 as fact, and we then take into account that we are all made of the same elements as everything in the Universe, who says that the energy we send out through prayer or vibes does not resonate through out the Universe.  Is God perhaps the manifestation of  all the collective energy people pour out from the matter they are made up of.  Is the spirit we leave behind the energy we release at the end? For me I think we can master our lives, I think we can pray and send out good vibes, and still look at things in wonder and awe. We do not need to stand at odds with understanding the world around us and having faith in something more.  Perhaps Hawking is right...

As always PARTY ON!!!!

Small Political Rant

Welcome to election season. The time of year we all get promised the world and a better future for all.  Soon to be followed by the season of broken promises.  America is in desperate need of a revolution in thought. We need to start thinking instead of letting the conservative and liberal media do our thinking for us. We need to set aside our entertainment and start watching the actions of our leaders. We live in a sad time that millions will watch and vote for a singer on American Idol, but when it comes to our leaders in Washington we turn a blind eye.  Once our entertainment ends we look around stunned and wonder what happened, then to escape our disgust we flip on the TV and wait for the new big show.
I believe that the greatest evil to have ever befallen this country, on an internal level, was our allowing the political party system to emerge. Once that was allowed to form we gave up our ability to really elect people to represent the individual and not the special interest. I guess people are really very eager to let others think for them and tell them what to think.  We had two presidents that were not political party pics though both became associated with one party. Who can answer this question, who were the two presidents I am talking about? They also warned of the dangers of a political party system, not a two party system as we have in favor of a single party system as some would have you believe (Sean Hanity), but a system with no political parties. They could see even then that this would lead to the needs or wants of the few to be put ahead of the good of the many. 
As a final thought as we decide to eat the turd sandwich or the turd sandwich with mustard this election season, why not find an alternate path? Why not support independent candidates that do not have the party baggage.  Oh I forgot that would require us to not think on our own or use common sense. How about we form a new political party with the intent of winning elections to start the dismantling the political party system? That could back fire for the same reasons that gave us the elephants and jack asses we now have.
As always give it a thought and Party On...

What is Beauty?

I have decided to cover beauty in the world as I see it. I have been very privileged to have seen many beautiful things in my life. Things in nature and things in people.

As a child I spent my summers in the mountains of Utah at two cabins owned by each set of grandparents. They were spent fishing, hiking, riding four wheelers, and being with my family. The mountains have always made me feel safe and centered. I spent a lot of time in the Uinta Mountains which were a short drive from either cabin. As I got older and was able to drive I went on my own or with my friends. Many beautiful memories.

The Uinta Mountains are, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The rocky peaks above the timberline, the cool rivers, streams, lakes, and the pine trees. The sounds of the birds singing and the smell of the forest can make your troubles seem a million miles away.

I have stood in the Canadian Rockies. The mountains look carpeted by pine trees as far as the eye can see. The water in the lakes is some of the most beautiful blues and greens you can imagine. The rivers look like flowing glass, so clear they almost look dry. The people are very friendly and helpful. This is a land that makes you stand in awe of what nature can do.

I have to say one of the most beautiful places I have traveled is Scotland, a land of history and natural beauty. This is a land with dark water lochs, green rocky hills, and heather covered glens. The country of Scotland has a deep and rich history. The cities and towns have many ancient and wonderful buildings. They leave you thinking of the lives and people, who lived, loved, sang, danced, fought, and died in and around their ancient structures. I have stood on the battlefield of Culloden which is actually very pretty, until you realize the horror that happened on the ground you stand upon. The clans that supported Bonnie Prince Charlie are buried in mass graves on the battlefield. The heather refuses to grow over the graves, almost as if respect for the dead. It is like the landscape wants you to see the sacrifice the clans made for their hope of freedom. Scotland is a place of beauty that can haunt you to the very core of your soul; you cannot go to the glens, mountains, lochs, and ancient cities and not be changed in a very emotional way.

Another beautiful site I have seen is my wife in her wedding dress for the first time. There we were, in the beautiful Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City. The flowers in full bloom, there was a light breeze, and the sound of bagpipes in the wind, and then there she was, looking amazing in her dress, the train dragging through the fallen petals of the wisteria. She looked so beautiful, as always but especially so in that moment. I could see in that moment all the times we had together, and all the times we would have, I knew in that moment I was marrying my best friend and the one who held the rest of me. We are given so few of those moments perhaps to make us really appreciate the gravity of the beauty each of those moments hold.

Life gives us chances to learn beautiful lessons even when they are painful to learn. With the passing of my Grandpa Moore I have seen how two people after so many years and so many trials say goodbye. The last few years of his life he lost his mobility and fell into the horrible disease of dementia. I watched as he declined and my Grandmother continued, without complaint, to take care of him until he became too far gone for her to physically manage it. When he was moved to a nursing home and she had to let others take over his care she still spent as many days as she could with him. When others said she should slow down and not go every day she refused to stop. It was quite an amazing thing to see her tenderness and love for her husband. I watched as she drew more and more strength from somewhere deep inside. She is an incredible woman who takes her vows and faith to the most amazing level.

This world and this life have some amazing beauty in them. We need to try to see the beautiful lessons we are given the chance to learn, even if they can be painful to see. We should really take time each day to think about the beauty in our lives. We all too often rush from place to place and never learn to look around. We all too often play the victim to the things that happen instead of seeing what we could be learning from all of it. Viewing ourselves as victims of circumstances will never allow us to learn, grow, and see the beauty in all things.

As always find the beauty in your life, live it, and PARTY ON!!!.

My Grandfather, Howard Caine Moore

I have many fond memories of my Grandfather. Even early on we had a very special bond. I remember him playing the piano and organ, and how he made such a big deal over us grandkids and eventually great- grandkids. I will remember how he told the same stories to us grandkids. I know his favorite to tell was how he met grandma after he returned home from the service. Then he could go on to tell you about when each of his kids was born, then when each grandkid was born. He used to tell me about the night I was born and how he worried watching his grandson be worked on by doctors and seeing the tubes in my chest.  You could see the emotion on his face, then he would smile and say, “But then I look at you now and I don’t know why I worried”.

He often told me of his time in the Army during World War 2. I remember him telling of how home sick he was and missing his family. He would talk about the bitter cold in the winter of ’44-’45.  He also told me of serving in a small German village after the war had ended.  He would often end an Army story with I just hope none of my kids or grandkids ever have to go through something like that.

After I graduated high school, in a somewhat less than traditional manner, he told me how proud he was of me, and he and grandma took me to a jewelry store downtown and had his old black onyx ring resized for me. The ring is part of a cufflink worn by John Thomas Caine who served as a representative for the territory of Utah. I remember seeing and being fascinated by this ring from a young age and now this cherished family heirloom was passed to my care.

Grandpa often said the two best decisions he made were marrying Grandma and working for the Deseret News. He loved photography and working as a photographer, he documented a lot of Utah History in his 40+ year career.  He took many award winning photos.  He also served on the city council for South Salt Lake City for many years.  He was over the Police and Fire departments for a time and also over the water department for the city.

The Saturday before he passed away my wife and I were up at the VA for a visit. As bad as he felt he still smiled and said to us “See that little blonde gal (he thought Grandma’s white hair was blonde) that’s my little sweetheart” His last word to me were about the love of his life, and that says a lot and will stick with me forever.

Try It?

I have been giving some thought tonight about forgiveness. Not just the kind you should give others or you will be given if you are a Christian. I am talking about you forgiving yourself. There is a song performed by A Perfect Circle titled "Thomas". Here are the lyrics.

Humble and helpless
Learning to pray
Praying for visions
to Show me the way
Show me the way to forgive you
Allow me to let it go
Allow me to be forgiven
Show me the way to let go
Show me the way to forgive you
Allow me to let it go
Allow me to be forgiven
Show me the way to let go

Illuminate me,
Illuminate me,
Illuminate me,
I'm just praying for you to show me
Where I'm to begin

Hoping to
Hoping to reconnect to you..

Now for me this song is a conversation we should have with ourselves. I know there are things I have done that I am less than proud of. I would challenge everyone to close yourself in a room with a mirror and say this to yourself. Can you do it?  I guess I have just realized how important our time here is, and you know we are not getting more of it. So why carry this this burden of all the dumb stuff you have done. Try to love yourself and quit being the victim of one more self imposed limit. I know it is always easier said than done and it will be a long road ahead, but you have to let yourself off the hook.
For me I need to let go of all the time I wasted being pissed off or the fact I did not apply myself in school to reach my full potential. I know I screwed the pooch with these things and it is still hard to admit I wasted so many years filled with hate.  So my light is all the good I have in my life despite my short comings, my wife seems to think I am pretty good even after 8 years of marriage.
I guess my point is try everyday to do right and when you screw up learn from it and forgive yourself.
As Always Party On and Find Joy In Your Life.

Baby Skye and Self Correction

Over the last few months I have been working on self correction. It has been a four month journey, so far, with yet more to work to go. I will admit I have had some stumbles and times with less enthusiasm for the process, but nothing was ever accomplished in a day.  I have had some times when I can feel the negative feelings come over me, but I remind myself to focus on the good and positive things in life.

I have been overwhelmed by my feelings of gratitude today, so I thought I would put them out there now while they are still fresh in my mind. I am grateful that I get to wake up each morning next to my beautiful, loving wife. I am grateful I have a home that keeps me sheltered and warm. I am grateful that even in tough economic times my wife and I have held jobs, and we can keep the heat, power, and water on. I am grateful for my health. I am grateful I can put food on the table. I am grateful for having loving friends and family.  Over all I can say I am very blessed. Do I need tons of money in the bank? no. Do I need all the most expensive everything? no. I do not need these things to bring joy to my life. I have plenty of the things that really matter. I feel immense joy at all I have and all the good in my life. I am grateful for all the good and bad experiences I have had. Even with the loss of so much of my family I feel blessed to have had them in my life for the time I was given with them. I know this is not the only life I will see them. Yes life is as happy as you make it.

Now on to Baby Skye.

This cute little demon is Skye. She is actually really a wonderful puppy, but she has her moments. This little addition has taught me a lot about myself. Lesson one: I am way too set in my ways.  Lesson two: I need patience and lots of it. She has been great for me to learn how to cope with both lessons. I am grateful for her and how she has been a bomb in what was once my quite well organized life. Now it is potty training, going in the kennel on command, and working on manners. Boy she is really helping me on the self correction path. She is really a great addition to this family.

As always Party On!!! and find joy in your life.

WTF

This is a case of WTF. First a little background. As everyone knows that reads this thing my Grandpa Moore has been in a care center for demensia for over a year. During this time my family has been in the application process for his VA benefits for long term care. This has been an absolute epic joke. They hired a so called professional, FAIL, they have supplied all requested forms and documentation, FAIL, finally a letter to Senator Hatch's office at least solved the problem that they had his case and another veterans case mixed up.
My grandfather was born in 1925 the first of two boys born to loving parents. From a young age he enjoyed fishing and camping with his family and the boy scouts. He attended South High School and quit his senior year to answer the call of his country during World War II. He served as a courier and member of the Signal Corps. His unit was disolved and he volunteered for para-trooper training and was assigned to the 82nd Airbourne as a sub-machine gunner.  He made several combat jumps in Europe. He was wounded and sent to a hospital in Frankfurt, Germany for the remainder of the war. Once released from the hospital he was assigned to occupation duty in Hunsfeld, Germany. He was one of several men assigned to run a club for servicemen. He finished out his enlistment, recieved orders to return home and was honorably discharged from service. When he returned home to his family, he saw the woman who would become his wife in church one Sunday. After an introduction and as he put it "much persuation" she eventully went out with him. They were married in 1947. At this time he used the only VA benefit he ever applyed for ,before now,  to go to photography school. With this education he went to work for the Deseret News, where he took many noteworthy photos documenting several things in Utah history. One photo was of the man later known to be "Deep Throat".  He worked his entire career for one place and often says it was his second best decision, the first being to marry Grandma. Over the years they raised their kids and he made all efforts to provide for them, he also served his church and his community. He was elected to city council for South Salt Lake City and also served as police and fire commisioner. After he retired his greatest joy came from being with his family either at parties or at their cabin in Wanship. 
Now for the WTF. Here is a man who served his country, community, church, and family. A man who now needs help from his nation, that is supposed to be greatful for his service, to pay for his care which has used up most of the nest egg he worked so hard for.  His wife and childeren have been fighting on his behaf to get that which he is supposed to be entitled to. 
Now you have welfare recipients who are freely handed money without so much as a drug test.
Enough Said. WTF!!!

Waiting For Spring

Here it is February.  This month always seems to be hard for me to get through.  The days are getting a little longer but there is still a bit of a chill in the air. There is the occasional warm day that teases about Spring only to snow.  This winter although not overly cold and with out much snow has still been rough. I miss the warm Spring days and the songs of birds in the air.  I have Spring Fever in a bad way and I must admit, it has me a little down. Lucky for me I have a secret weapon, my wife, she has reminded me to just keep Partying On and Spring will be here soon.
Now I can't say February is all bad, some very important people to me have birthday's this month: My brother on the 22nd, his son Clayton on the 23rd, damn I can't believe he is 13, his other son Ethan also on the 22nd, Joni's mom Angie on the 21st, the twins on the 6th, and Joni's grandpa on the 18th.
Last night we went to dinner with my family for the birthdays and also to my brother's house. After spending some time with them I can say my nephews are amazing kids. They are all so smart and fun to be around. It was a great time laughing with my family it feels like it has been awhile. I feel truly blessed with all I have and I resolved to really focus on the good things in my life, number one is my family. 
As always, whatever happens remember to PARTY ON!!!!

Coninued New Philosiphy

Now the holidays are over we are in a new year and things are looking better as a whole. Joni's birthday (the last official holiday of the holiday season of this household) was a huge success. Everyone who could come seemed to have a good time. The living room turned out nice and it felt like there was a new energy in the house.  This brings me to my new post. I have observed, over the almost 10 years living in this house, that it has a feel all its own. I have also noticed when ever we have put forward an effort and money into the house it seems like something good happens.  Over the years we have put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into our home, each time we have, something good has happened. Example, we finish the bedroom Joni gets a new job. It seems like a solid pattern of house work= positive life change. So here comes the upstairs bathroom, the final frontier. After noticing this and how I feel with my new attitude I decided to elaborate on the three new statements I live by.

First one is I AM...  After you say these magic words it becomes your reality. You say I am and whatever comes next has been accepted by you. Make it a positive statement and you will feel better, even if you do not feel it at first. Give yourself encouragement and repeat positive I am statements and dump the negative. I have noticed with people I encounter that are negative or like to stir up drama, that God, the universe, the world, Karma, or whatever you believe is quick to give you more than you can handle.  If you send bad out to other people it will bite you in the ass. So be good to yourself, help those you love, and build a better tribe that is based on love, caring, giving, and happiness. It will help you to send good vibes to your tribe (family by blood or not either way) and help them when you can. Good always comes from good. Remember positive I am statements.

The second one is PARTY ON.  As I have covered this in other posts I can only add no matter what happens or how bad it seems you can only control your attitude. Your job sucks...PARTY ON, your car broke down...PARTY ON, you feel like puking...PARTY ON. Be good to yourself, and accept bad things will happen but you can better cope by saying it will be okay and I will keep PARTING ON!!!

The third is RATIONAL INSANITY. The combination of rational thinking with the energy of insanity ( thanks again Cody Lundin). Take a look at the problems in your life, analyze them in a rational manner. Think up solutions and don't focus on the problem but the solution. Visualize a maze and instead of racking your brain to get to the end, find the end and work back to where you are. If you focus on the problem and not the solution you can set yourself up for some sleepless nights and a whole other list of issues. By thinking of the solution, and working from an idea that might work, you can go backwards with a rational plan and see how you can implement it into your life. Don't beat yourself up over the problem and how it got there, but think instead of how you can solve it and improve your life. Once you have used the rational part of yourself, worked out a plan, and found a solution, it is time to focus and unleash the power and energy of insanity. Find it deep with in and use all you can to work your plan. This does not say it will work but some knots need several plans before they do. I think we would all be surprised with what we can accomplish if we just thought it out a little at a time.
Until next time PARTY ON!!!

2012

Welcome to 2012,
The start of a new year. Putting the past year in the rear view mirror and setting my sites to the future. The past year had some peaks and some valleys.  After some sadness and a new attitude, I think 2012 will be a good year.  If pain really is weakness leaving the body, I should be a lot stronger for the next year.  Already we have completed the long over do living room refit, put a new roof on the garage, and improved the sink fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen. It amazes me how much can be done when you keep moving.  A few more minor projects and the house will be in good order again.
With the new year I look to strengthen my pre-birthday resolution to become a better person. I will sort through the bull shit life will continue to throw at me and care about the real things. I am going to live my life and love my wife and family with all I can. My hope for this year is to spend more time with the ones I love doing the things I enjoy. I like to think I am my real self when I am out shooting or up in the mountains on a warm day. I hope I can get as many of the important people in my life to join me in living and being happy for all of our blessings. I want to see all my family with me in the Uinita Mountains or out on the shooting range with me this year. I want all of them to get to know me as I am out there. I hope if and when people talk about me they do it with a smile, a story, and a warmth in their heart. I know some are thinking of Senior Frogs.  
We will soon see what 2012 has in store.  I am going to face the future with a smile and faith, handle the present with strength and resolve, and remember but move on from the past.  Most importantly whatever happens... PARTY ON!!!