The Power of a Book - Changing the Course in One's Life

 

My first book on electrical wiring diagrams

Books can have a powerful impact on our lives and the other day, I came across this book on electrical wiring diagrams and it reminded me of how much it changed my life.  While not the book you would cozy up with on the beach, or read it to your children to share your enthusiasm, it had a pretty profound impact on my own life.  I've posted often about home improvement projects that I've done, skills I've acquired over time, including electrical, plumbing, carpentry and most recently welding.  I don't profess to be an expert at any of them, but they didn't magically come to me, nor did I work alongside any one individual to learn all of them. 

As someone who lost their father just after his tenth birthday, I was more or less thrust into doing home improvement projects over time by necessity.  My mother was not a passive participant in life and after my father's death, did a number of projects around our home including the acquisition of three neighboring homes and a basement apartment for rental income.  One of those projects was the construction of a 25' greenhouse behind one of those homes for my brother Brad.  He had done much of the construction work, including plumbing, but we needed to do some electrical work, which is where it started for me.  Our step-uncle, MC Laird, was kind enough to guide us in the process. Each significant step along the way, he not only helped us know what to do next, but more importantly, was willing to show us.  Mom at the same time, had moved a double garage onto the property and both of them, needed to be wired with newly supplied electrical service.  As I started to learn how to wire it, I couldn't always remember the wiring diagrams and we came across this book at Salmons, a home improvement store in Rose Park that has since closed.

This book contained most standard wiring diagrams, including three way or four way switches, doing a daisy chain of lights on one switch and just about any need I came across.  It enabled me to do things I hadn't done before and those skills while refined over time, enabled me to help hundreds of people with a variety of projects.  I've wired basements, done expansion projects in my own home, and a variety of projects including recently building a railings for my mother-in-law, daughter and a neighbor.

There have been similar people along that pathway, like my Uncle MC, who helped me get past confidence barriers and to venture forward with something new.  Each of those steps were profound milestones in my life that then opened up new realms of possibilities for me.  I've enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment that comes from each of those projects, and I enjoy helping others who will benefit from that service.  It unquestionably has saved tens of thousands of dollars and it has allowed me to provide service for my family in ways that I may never have learned had my father lived to a his elderly years.  I miss my father and now my mother dearly and know my life would have probably taken a different course had my father lived.  However under the circumstances, and making the best of what we might be dealt with, I am grateful for the power of a simple book.

One year later, my surgery was successful in giving me a new lease on life

Profile Pictures from 2019 on the left, 2012 on the right

and 2022 in the middle

It has been a year since I created a blog post, which talked about my decision to have Bariatric Surgery (Gastric Sleeve). That occurred one year ago today. It has made a significant change in my life and my overall health. It has not been without incident nor discomfort. I've eaten very little bread in the last year and many of the baked goods that I would eat have left my diet, along with other carbs, including pasta. One of the benefits to having been so public about it, is the opportunity to help others considering it and to be supportive of others who have had the surgery themselves. It is not an easy decision and the pathway is not always certain in how your body responds nor your ability to not return to prior habits. A stomach can grow over time and non healthy things can be reintroduced to your diet. I have even added a few things back in time that I enjoy, but I've tried to do it in much more moderation than before. I can't really do this again financially and emotionally it would be difficult as well. I will gain some weight, but I know if I am mindful, many of the habits will be long term.

My year was filled with trips, conferences, vacations and other experiences and I thought it might be good to just show the changes as I went through the year. I've had to purchase new clothes (did my best to utilize what I had as long as I could, but when the pants fall off or the polo shirt has to be buttoned all they way up to stay on you correctly, it is time to get new clothes. I went from a 6XL to a 4XLT and even 3XL fits in some cases. My pant sizes when down from 54/56 waist to a 48 waist and even my undergarments have had to be replaced. It sounds wonderful, but I've invested thousands of dollars to have suits remade to the custom sizes my height requires and to purchase replacement clothes. I'm not done yet, and it's fair to say, there is probably another couple more thousand dollars still to do.  

March was my first trip trip, a visit to Washington DC. 

It was a tough trip physically for me 

but colleagues and others helped me through the awkward moments

Almost immediately, I went off most of my diabetic medications, blood pressure medications and corresponding vitals improved. I've since been put back on a light blood pressure medication, but it is preventive in nature and my A1C has remained stable and blood glucose levels in an acceptable range.

In April, my wife Cathy and I went on a 7 day Hawaiian Cruise that was a celebration of our thirtieth wedding anniversary that happened in 2020. We added a couple extra days to also visit the Polynesian Cultural Center as well as attend the Hawaii Temple. We spent a good part of the day in Hilo, visiting my former Mission President and his wife. In a circumstance where food is plentiful and you can eat all you want, I had to figure a way to balance it. You physically can't eat that much, and since most of your diet has to be protein, you find the best way to do it. I have and continue to eat a lot of eggs; Omelets are a goto item when I eat out out for breakfast and potatoes are few and far between.

A trip with the Downtown Alliance to Cincinnati. 

An evening photo with Salt Lake City's Mayor, 

Erin Mendenhall and her husband 

and my former colleague, Kyle LaMalfa.

It was a pretty amazing experience when I could pull out the tray table on an airplane and lay it down flat in front me. It had been decades since being able to do it and frankly when I looked down, I can now see my belt. It usually disappeared shortly after putting it on and while I could feel it, it was hidden for the remainder of the day!

My family and I helped with my Rotary Club 

service project to repaint picnic tables

in City Creek at the Rotary Picnic area at the top of the canyon

Working on projects became easier. It has been easier to get up and down when I needed to get on the ground. Bending over to pick something up became much easier and my stamina improved. This last year, I've done a number of large projects, participated in youth camps and also enjoyed some fun. Clearly easier to do and I'm grateful to be able to do these kinds of things.

I continue in my role as Stake President and 

shared my testimony one Sunday with the children 

in our Spanish Ward, Mt Ensign 2nd

In Church as well as my work, when you speak and participate in a large public way, it has not been uncommon for someone to make comment about how much better I look. It's almost embarrassing in many ways, but I know the comment is genuine and generally geared toward their interest in my overall health. It has probably put some strain on me, in not wanting to return to old habits. I've made this a pretty public journey and as such, the effort is a pretty public one. I know now that it will not be perfect, but I will do my best.  

I don't know how long I will have the blessing of being here on this earth. I've already lost a brother and have two other siblings with poor health. My father died from Cancer at age 49 and at 57, have been gifted more years than he. My plan is to live to a good old age, I've been purchasing wood working tools for my workshop so I can putter long into my life, but if Heavenly Father took me tomorrow, I have few regrets. I have been blessed with an incredible wife and two lovely, sweet and faithful daughters. I will have spent 25 years in public service and later this year, it will have been 30 years since I was first called as a Bishop. The last nine years as Stake President have been an incredible experience filled with blessings from Church leaders that have helped me immensely. Interactions with the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russel M. Nelson has reminded me that we do in fact have a living Prophet of God upon this earth. The work left to do, far exceeds my daytime responsibilities at the Utah Transit Authority, but I am grateful for the privilege of being there and working with wonderful people who have been supportive and helped me get through this last year. I truly have been blessed this last year with a new lease on life.

My family and I had the privilege of serving at the 

Giving Machine at City Creek Center 

where hundreds came to donate to charities 

both locally and internationally that help those in need.

Bariatric Surgery - a decision for my health

Employee Day at Front Runner Warm Springs Facility 
in 2019

My life has been a very full and fulfilling life.  If it ended tomorrow for some unknown reason, I feel good about most of it and have learned from the rest.  However, I want to live longer and be with my family here on earth for as long as I can and so I decided a year ago to pursue having bariatric surgery to help me with my weight.  I have not always been overweight, in fact in my earlier years, participated in competitive basketball.  My freshman year in college, I worked out pre-season with the BYU Basketball team but decided to quit out of a lack of desire prior to season tryouts.  Later, when I returned from my mission, I was introduced to the University of Utah basketball coach by a family friend and worked out with them part of a summer, but then decided not to play.  It was really not until my late 20's that I started to put on more weight than I should.  I was called and served as a Bishop at age 27 in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and my life got much busier and my physical activity less so.  Then I ran for and got elected to the Salt Lake City Council in 1997 where at age 31 served for another 16 years, longer than any elected official there in the prior 100 years.  I did a lot of sitting and was in a lot of meetings, and didn't take the time to really care for myself.  None of it was overnight, but progressively it got worse and more importantly, my health and the complications of weight, got progressively worse.

In 2012, at a particularly difficult time in my health and subsequent self-esteem, I decided to involve myself with other local elected and public officials in Intermountain Healthcare's My Heart Challenge.  I wrote quite a bit about that experience in the following blog posts:

Sometimes success is measured in not regressing!

Daisy is Losing It Too!

My Heart Challenge Results Announced - I Win Most Improved!

There is nothing more motivating than having TV and newspaper photographers documenting your weight loss and having it discussed on the morning news.  I lost 41 lbs. during that challenge and truly felt better and a number of health measurements improved.  I did better at understanding my health and what factors would have the greatest impact.  I felt more liberated physically and it like most things, became a joint effort between me and my wife Cathy.

With Pro-Golfer Tony Finau on a Thanksgiving
Dinner giveaway for the Rose Park area

However bit by bit, the weight returned and while I had moments where I dropped 30 lbs. they seemed to find their way back.  In the normal course of life, I burn through a lot of calories, more than most and actually can lose weight at 3,900 calories a day.  My weight didn't fluctuate a lot, but it also didn't stay in an improved state either.  Far be it from me, to judge others in their challenges with weight.  I think a number of factors in addition to eating flow into it.  Genetics certainly plays a role.  Underlying health challenges without a doubt factor in and of course exercise and staying active.  While I've worked on exercise, I wouldn't get any gold stars on my forehead with that accomplishment.  

I was invited to offer the opening
prayer for the Utah State Senate a few years ago

I've never been ashamed if you will of my weight, although when I looked at pictures of myself, it was a little painful to see how big I was compared to others.  It's been difficult in recent years to get myself off the ground or do some of the things I like to work on in my home improvement projects or simply picking things up.  It's been embarrassing at times when I've dropped something and others watching me bend over to pick it up, stepped in because they could see it would help. While my doctor had been encouraging me for years to consider bariatric surgery it wasn't covered under the health plan I was on with a prior employer.  The cost was just too much for me and so while I considered it, decided I had other financial commitments to keep. Until recently, I was ok with just keeping the status quo.    However in 2021, with the increasing problems of diabetes and other health consequence, realized if I didn't take better control of things, I would not likely have a long or the healthy life as I desired.  I also discovered that my current employer's health plan would cover one bariatric surgery in a lifetime, making it much more obtainable.  

My family on our summer vacation in Sun Valley, ID

The process of qualifying for bariatric surgery is not simple, as it should be.  The outcomes are not reversible and the decision should also come with commitments to maintain your new weight and do much better.  I started about a year ago, going through a number of pre-qualification processes and then hit the challenges of postponement for elective surgeries due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.  Initial recovery time is roughly 1 to two weeks, so finding and maintaining a window where it could happen as Chair of the Board for the Utah Transit Authority, was also not a simple task.  I owe a great deal of gratitude to our staff who helped me once a date was set, particularly my assistant, so I could focus on my health and frankly me.  On January 5, 2022, I had the surgery performed by one of the best surgeons in this area. Dr. McKinley performed the Gastric Sleeve procedure, which took away most of my stomach, including a portion that contains the gland that causes you to be hungry.  So far, things have gone well and I've been grateful for the support I've received by many.

I know the road ahead will have many bumps and challenges.  I was nervous right up before the surgery and still questioning whether I should move forward.  I have a devout belief in my faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and as a member of his Church.  On the day prior, I received a special blessing from one of it's leaders and in the course of that blessing it reassured me that I was making the right decision and all would be well.  It was a tender moment for both me and my wife Cathy, who joined me for this blessing.  I have been blessed since the surgery to eliminate three of the four diabetic medications I had been taking and more recently, eliminating my blood pressure medication.  While I had lost 30 lbs. on my own prior to the surgery, I have lost another 35 lbs. since my surgery about 10 days ago. The doctor is hopeful that I might lose 100 to 150 lbs. in the coming year.  

While this was my visit to Medford, MA Harbor Freight
I got one of my exercise efforts by spending portion of the 
morning in my local Harbor Freight store!

There are emotionally difficult times ahead as well.  My diet right now is roughly 4 to 5 ounces a meal of mostly liquid or very light food of no sugar yogurt or cottage cheese.  It was hard watching my family eat a yummy Sunday meal yesterday while I had my Cream of Chicken Soup.  I will need to take vitamins the rest of my life to help maintain my health.  It will be a number of months before my diet, albeit at much smaller portions returns to anything in a normal category.  However I have no regrets and look forward to returning to my normal daily activity in this coming week.  While I have some up and down days still to come, I look forward to some new found freedom that this decision will bring me and look forward to torturing my children as long as I can!

Miracles often come through the kind acts of others - blessing both!

Our living room acted as an assemblage area for
our Sub for Santa project.

2020 hasn't been the year I would have foreseen.  While we all wish for changes in life's circumstances, there have been many miracles to go with these challenges. These miracles have come through blessings in my life that came from the kind act of others.  While I certainly was able to render assistance to others, I just wanted to take a few minutes and share how different acts of others, were direct answers to my prayers.  A testament to the fact that our Heavenly Father often blesses our lives by the acts of others, ultimately blessing both.

Replacing our driveway from 
rutted asphalt to concrete

For many years, 90 feet of our back driveway, which was put in by my mother in the late 70's became rutted and challenged.  I had tried some spot repairs with asphalt cold patch, which helped for a while, but eventually it was beyond repair. While I had tried to get bids to repair it, I actually couldn't get anyone to come look at it and it seemed like there was no great path.  My brother-in-law Bill Nielsen offered to help us pour a new section with concrete.  My neighbor Brandon, who also wanted to do a driveway extension as well, offered to rent a skidster and help remove the old asphalt. Brandon also helped us pour our concrete.  It also just happened that the Federal Government decided to do stimulus checks, providing me the needed gap money to pay for the concrete.  What seemed insurmountable, found a solution through the kind acts of others.  

Rose Park & Riverside Stakes efforts to provide
firewood for the Navajo Nation

Last September, on the day after Labor Day, our community experienced hurricane force winds, causing many of our canopy trees to come down.  As I looked at piles of trees on both sides of the streets in my community, it seemed like no easy solution would be available to us in the short term, however neighbor after neighbor helped each other remove trees that seemed formidable and with the help of crews from the Utah Department of Transportation, our community was cleaned up in a matter of a few weeks.  Near the conclusion of this effort, word came to us to provide firewood for the Navajo Nation which had been hurt severely by the COVID pandemic.  Each Stake in our area had been asked to provide a semi load of wood, but much of our wood had been picked up.  However the call went out, we collected the equivalent of two semi loads together with the Rose Park and Riverside Stakes but when it came time to have the wood loaded, we had been unable to secure a front-end loader to load the wood.  We had exhausted all our sources, when I knelt down and prayed, asking my Heavenly Father for help.  When I arose, I decided to call a rancher down the street from our church recreation property and he graciously provided us a front end loader free of charge.  We loaded both semi trucks in an evening.

Presents loaded in the car to take to our 
Sub for Santa family

A few weeks ago in my Rotary club, they asked for volunteers to help families attending a very modest neighborhood school on the west side of Salt Lake City.  I had decided it would be a good experience for my family, so I volunteered.  I didn't think much about it, until a few weeks ago, when a day after my furnace was declared dead requiring us to not only replace it, but a second furnace in my basement as well, I received an email outlining a family of four children, who had some very basic needs for Christmas.  We decided we could use our credit card and meet the commitment, but then felt like I should ask family and friends if they wanted to help.  Over the next five days, contributions in cash and items came generously to the cause.  A dear friend and her husband who works for a local retailer offered to purchase items on his employee day, saving us substantial money.  A local neighborhood business owner, brought over a gift card to a local grocery store, others brought stockings, toys and my own family contributed time and efforts.  When we delivered the items last night, we discovered that neither the father or the mother had been able to work, the father was recovering from a recent surgery and as the children carried the wrapped presents in, the joy on their face were unmatched.  What personally hit me hard, was to see the joy on the father and mother's faces that they were able to provide Christmas for their children.  And finally to watch the children be excited as they rolled their new bicycles into their homes.   It was a sweet sight to see.  All in all, nearly 15 people helped us in different ways to help someone else.  It was a miracle and in the end, our own cash outlay, was very modest, and the joy we shared with others, was a tender mercy this Christmas season.  

New bicycles strapped down on the trailer to
deliver to each of the four children.  Provided by
the generosity of others and through the discount of a friend

 

Lois Greaves Nielsen - My Other Mom

"Mom" looking on after the Wedding 
Ceremony of Carlton & Cathy Christensen

I first met Lois Nielsen when I arrived at her home to pick up her daughter Cathleen in what was a "blind date" on February 10, 1990 at their home in Layton, Utah.  When I came into their home, I noticed nearly an entire wall filled with pictures.  I was amazed at the quantity, and replied, "Do all these people belong to you, or did you just keep the inserts that came with the frames?"  I think we hit it off from there.  What I didn't realize that evening, is what a profound impact she would have on my life and my family.  I often amazed at the joy she garners from the simplicities in life and the satisfaction of some of the more basic elements in her life.  Early on in our marriage, Lois and her husband Frank Nielsen allowed me to call them "Mom and Dad" respectively.  Sixteen years after the passing of my last parent, she remains the only living grandparent to our children and I am grateful for the continued influence she has upon our family.

Mom was born to William Lloyd and Olive Hill Greaves.  Born in the middle of her family, her father worked for much of his career at the printing presses of the Deseret News and her mother, later for Bennet Paint.  They raised their family in a modest home located on West Temple in what is now known as South Salt Lake.  They were faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in a variety of ways in the Church, helping family and helping neighbors.

Lois is on the far right, middle row

Mom married Franklin Harvey Nielsen at the age of 19.  Their married life started up near Dad's family farm located in Marion, Summit County, Utah.  There were many challenging days as they raised their family.  They moved often to find good employment and their entertainment of the family often came from within the family and their conversations.  Even today, once the Nielsen Family gets going, unless it is a topic you want to engage with, you should have a project you can go and do.  There is no stopping them!  Their frequent relocation, often living in cities where they didn't own their home, certainly could have created instability, but they both did an amazing job in keeping their family together and making the best of what life provided.

Frank and Lois on their wedding day

When Frank & Lois finally secured a home on Camelot Drive in Layton, it became in part, their castle where they did the best to provide for their family.  Music was an integral part of raising their family and each child grew up singing together and sharing their talents.  While spouses have joined their musical groups from time to time, my participation is still pending.  Apparently singing on-key, is a requirement!  Dad in his later years became disabled.  A crippling disease that took its toll on his large frame, left him bent over and unable to get around without canes and a mobility cart.  It left Mom as the primary provider as she returned back to work and ultimately left her as a widow at a much earlier age than I am sure she anticipated.

Like any of us, their marriage while not perfect, was perfect in love.  As they progressed in life, they like the rest of us found forgiveness and kindness.  Honesty was always a staple of their life and they accepted the consequence of any mistakes.  They moved forward the best they could and just wanted happiness and love for their family.  I have seen Mom sacrifice much to have her children succeed.  She is not one for having a lot of physical possessions.  I imagine one day at her passing, you could really go through her personal belongings in less than a couple of hours.  Where her wealth lies, is in the conversations, the quilts, the bears and the baby blankets she makes for others. As one who has great faith with a focus on family, you frequently find her praying for her children and grandchildren. 

 

On a family vacation to Nauvoo, IL, mom agreed
to go horseback riding with Carlton's family.

Mom, a diligent student of the gospel of Jesus Christ, always wanted to visit Nauvoo, Illinois, an early settlement location for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  In 2004, Mom joined our young family and we visited it and other locations in Missouri.  It just so happened that my eldest brother Elliott was also there with his family, affording us some joint opportunities to be together.  One afternoon, they suggested we join them for a 2 hour horseback ride around the adjoining countryside.  It had been a few years since Mom had been on a horse, but in her usual, let's give it a try attitude and the help of a set of stairs, went for a ride.  We have loved her interactions with our family and it doesn't take much for me when projects need to be done around her home, to engage my daughters Jessica and Sarah.  They will do anything for Grandma.

In her acts of service, Mom makes stuffed bears for children.  She was looking for a home for them and I suggested the Police Department for the Utah Transit Authority  might could use them.  It's fair to say they are heavily subscribed to and officers use them to share with little children they encounter in the course of their service.  Mom has never been one to seek attention or need acknowledgement, but this year, after the need for isolation, we decided she needed a few people to wish her Happy Birthday.  Last May, when she turned 82, the UTA police were kind enough to pay her a visit.  I kept it a surprise and it definitely made her day.  

I am often getting in trouble with Mom, when I do projects around her house.  She thinks I spend too much, but I think I don't do enough.  I have such gratitude for the goodness of this wonderful woman who has allowed me to be part of her life.  I am grateful for the impact she has had in her family and upon mine.  I am the direct benefactor of her youngest daughter Cathy, our children Jessica and Sarah and most importantly her testimony of faith and fortitude.  I am grateful to have two moms in my life.

 

Happy Birthday Clayton - My life was blessed the day you were born!

I have had this picture on my cell phone lock screen since the day my brother Clayton passed away.  I cropped it out of a picture with my brothers from a trip we took in 2016.  We spent a week going up the coast of Maine and a day out on a sailing yacht in Camden Bay.  I keep thinking it is time to change it, but decided that day might be today, April 6, 2020.  This would have been my Brother Clayton's 68th Birthday.  It has been a crazy few months since he passed away.  We had two other deaths in the family, in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and locally, in Salt Lake, we also had an earthquake.  One bright spot would be the fact that Clayton would appreciate how the United States has had to become dependent on online learning both in K-12 and in Higher Education.  Clayton often took grief through the years from other academic scholars that there must be some level of satisfaction to see the world dependent on it in order to continue student education.

Saturday's mention of Clayton by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was also a reminder of how much Clayton loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and his most favorite work, sharing the gospel with others.  It also demonstrates how his testimony continues to bless the Church in numerous ways.

While our parents had us at opposite ends of the family, I was always grateful how Clayton looked out for me and was desirous to have me succeed.  Clayton's sacrifices on my behalf were many and I can honestly point to numerous times, when Clayton's example of love and kindness has helped me to succeed.  Early on, I just wanted to follow Clayton's pathway, but it became apparent that it would be nearly impossible to follow.  I was OK with modest outcomes but I was always touched when Clayton called me after a visit to Utah and indicated how someone had introduced him as Carlton's brother.  While those were few and far between, it was always kind of him to call.

Clayton's marriage to Christine Quinn had a profound impact on our family.  They were an amazing partnership of kindness and courtesy that were the consummate example for my wife and me to follow.  There were never modest dinners in their home and Christine continues to be an important part of our family.  This last January on the week after New Years, when my brother Spencer and I spent a week in Boston caring for my brother, I was reminded of how dedicated Christine was to his physical ability to function.  Christine worked long and hard in hopes of Clayton living and skirting past death one more time.  I can't imagine anything she could have done differently and in many ways, couldn't think of his living during this current pandemic with a compromised immune system.

Clayton's ease of comfort, weather it be with national or international leaders, or the person down the street, he always made them feel the same.  Everyone felt valued by him and some of the most touching things following his death are the numerous times individuals have conveyed their interactions with him and how important he made them feel.  Some might be expected, but most were not.

Clayton was always instrumental in the gathering of our family.  Whether it was General Conference times where we gathered for Priesthood Meeting or family vacations, including a week on an Alaskan Cruise.  It was Clayton and Christine's kindness that enabled those gatherings to happen and they continue to be wonderful memories for all of us.

My family was one of modest means.  We learned much from both our parents and learned how to have fun through some very simple activities.  That notion of getting hands dirty and just doing what it takes to get the job done, working with our children and not being afraid to try something new.  That value or understanding that each experience is a privilege and not a right and we should never stop trying to understand how something might be done better.

Today, I may change my lock screen and wallpaper from pictures those with Clayton, but I don't think I will every delete his contact.  My hope is that Clayton might still call one day, tell me what he is doing and which really cool people he met.  Happy Birthday dearest brother, and thanks for being such a great example.

Big Red - the yellow wagon

Father's Day 2014 - Jessica and Sarah take Dad for a ride

Many of you know that my brother Brad runs a nursery, Deseret Nursery and as part of it, has a lot of garden carts for customers use while they purchase plants.  One particular time, Brad purchased a very large cart, yellow in color, but named it Big Red.  While he decided early that it was too big, some of his customers were drawn to the name because if you know my brother, the fact that a yellow cart was named Big Red, is not an unusual thing for him to do!  Well Cathy and I decided to purchase the cart from him and keep it at our home.

In our initial year of use, I was drawn to the size of it, and having been decades since being pulled in a wagon, asked my girls to take me for a ride around the neighborhood for Father's Day.   It was a lovely experience.  Later, for our Stake Youth Conference, we used it to haul food and other items, since the distance to the parking lot at the camp site was a little longer than most would want to carry.

In the years that would follow, we used it to haul wood around the yard, leaf bags for recycling and other uses as they came along.  It worked well, with one exception in that it seemed like one of the tires was always going flat on me.  I did purchase replacement tires from the original seller, Growers Supply.  They were $30 a pop, and would work fine until another would go flat on me.  I tried the green slime, even tried to pull the tube out once but always a pain and a tire would be flat when I really needed it.  This year after a service project at my Church's recreation property, it picked up some goat-heads and alas one of the tires went flat on me again.  I was about to order a new tire, when the thought of going with a flat free tire resonated.  I knew I would most likely have to replace at least a pair at a time, and looked everywhere for them, including from the original seller.  

Then a few weeks ago, I came across a web site, ZORO.com. After many measurements, thought I had the nearly perfect match, they were 2" smaller in diameter, but same width. This created the need to replace all four wheels, but in the end a good investment.  They came very timely, looked great and when I went to put them on, realized the axial width I measured was for the width of wheel, leaving no room at the end for a cotter pin to secure the wheel.

I called the company to explore options and was set to call back the next day to talk with their product reps, when an idea came that since the axial was fixed, could I weld something on the end to hold the wheel on.  Since they were flat free, I didn't really need to take them off again.  I'm not a welder, but in exploring the option with friends, even briefly thinking of purchasing a welder, I went to "the top of the mountain" to ask the genius of our neighborhood, Martin Baker.  Martin knows everything, has fixed items I could never imagine being repaired and has tools that even I don't own.  I was going to an evening community meeting and he agreed to solve my dilemma. Martin drilled a hole in the center of the axial, tapped it for threads and then put in a bolt with washers.  It worked perfectly!  By the end of my community meeting, Martin had all four wheels connected.  He even fixed a cotter pin issue in the handle for me.  No finer man exists, I'm always indebted to Martin Baker!

I brought Big Red home last night and the yellow wagon is ready for the next job around Christensen Acres.  I sometimes demonstrate my pride in my projects at completion by assimilating myself to Sparticus, but alas, even Sparticus has limits and everyone needs a Martin Baker in their life.

Making sure you're following the right Measurements in your life!

Christensen Acres Weather Station

A few years ago, while going through Costco, I came across a weather station and decided to purchase it and then gave it to my family to give to me for Christmas!  I later linked it to the internet, and if you Google "Christensen Acres" you can get live weather data straight from my backyard!  It was a fun novelty to me and occasionally added entertainment during a boring meeting.  As a year or so progressed, we added our Solar System and it helped to link the weather station to it.  I initially attached it to the roof of our backyard playhouse, but found it was too close to the shingles in a heavy snow storm and in the summer, picked up the heat from the asphalt shingles giving me artificially high temperatures during the summer.  I placed it up higher to get away from the shingles, and it helped, but finally decided to attach it to the north end of a bench swing we had, that would move it away from the high heat, looked better in the placement and put it up high enough to get better wind readings as well.

Last May, we decided to update our 65 year old Sprinkler system with automated valves.  I purchased a Rachio 3 Smart controller and it had an option to link it weather stations, including just mine, which I was really excited about.  The Rachio controller worked great.  It monitors the temperature, adjusts watering schedules accordingly, if it's windy, skips that night, etc.  I just had one problem that I didn't fully appreciate until I received my first water bill, anticipating doing better than last year.  It was much higher than historical levels.  I wondered if I had done something wrong, then realized that I had noticed my weather station reading much higher temperatures than surrounding systems.  I first brushed it off, thinking that only I really used that data, but suddenly realized that it's accuracy had a direct impact on other things in my life!  The weather station had a problem with keeping ambient air temperatures controlled and those high temperatures were giving false readings to other systems. I decided to replace my weather station with a more robust system that had two solar panels, giving it more flexibility in controlling ambient temperatures and more accurate readings.  I compare it periodically to other friends stations in the area to make sure that I'm in line with theirs as well.

Christensen Acres weather Station (in the circle) compared
to surrounding stations

Obviously geography (proximity to the Jordan River) and placement affect variations in readings, but usually I'm in the same ballpark now.  My hope obviously is that this summer's watering accuracy will be much better than last year!

This has caused me to think a lot about how so often we find ourselves in places or circumstances where we shouldn't be.  Are there aspects of our lives and the measurements we follow simply leading us in a direction we might later regret?  Is it a wonder we are where we are, if the measurements we use aren't the correct ones, much like my old weather station?  My brother Clayton, wrote a great book a number of years ago, "How Will You Measure Your Life" that was on the NY Times best sellers list that has some great thoughts on the subject.  More importantly however, will be an opportunity on the first weekend in April and then later on the first weekend in October, when we will hear from prophets of God.  These are the times for the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.    You will hear loving teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Receive instructions that will give one guidance as they contemplate and get through the challenges of this life.  They are not messages of fear, but of hope. They are not messages that constrain, but rather free me to know where I will truly find happiness.  How grateful I am that my Heavenly Father didn't leave me to figure it out entirely on my own.  While he gave me choices, he also has given me guidance to help me know for myself the direction he wants me to go.  I hope you will join me in listening or watching through multiple options.  It's the right weather station for this life!

Power of the 90 Gallon Garbage Can - Taking the frustration and making it a success

Salt Lake City changed its neighborhood cleanup this last
summer and some didn't get the message.  Looked at this for
months - Note the overflowing small can

I served on the Salt Lake City Council for 16 years, and each of those years, discussed the garbage fees charged to residents in the city.  A number of years ago, the city added smaller garbage cans to allow homeowners the opportunity to not have the full size 90 gallon can.  For many, the logistics were easier, since they didn't really fill the larger can.  Staff made the arguments that if people had the smaller can, they would recycle more.  In fact pricing favored the smaller cans as an incentive for people to switch, which in their theory would cause them to recycle more.

I believe in recycling, often that can is full and I take advantage of neighbors cans to make sure all my cardboard gets out.  However year after year, I made the argument that in the pricing, there is a fixed cost to collection, regardless of the size of the can and the weight potential should be the variable pricing.  However for many of those years, the 90 gallon can took the bulk of the pricing as an incentive to shift.  I often made the argument that if you shifted the bulk of people over, then the  cost would have to be made up in the smaller cans and that would be a big shift for many of those users after they had been shifted to the smaller cans.  I always lost out in the discussion, and in the scope of life, if you have to take a loss, that's one I can handle.

Salt Lake City Garbage Can Fee Schedule

More often than not, I see users of small cans with overflowing garbage, which in reality isn't much less than what I typically put in my 90 gallon can, yet I pay more.  Then came last summer.  Salt Lake City changed its neighborhood cleanup methods.  It's fair to say, the new method got off to a poor start, leaving many garbage piles through the neighborhood for much of the summer.  I tried myself to schedule a time, but it was out months, and on top if that, my truck wasn't running and I didn't have an easy way to haul things off to the dump.  I decided to exercise the power of the 90 gallon garbage can!

I had renovated my back yard, installing new new pathways with pavers.  I had trimmed back trees, including removing an apple tree for a neighbor and discovered that if I cut things up in smaller pieces and placed them in my brown or green waste cans or systematically placed discarded items in the 90 gallon can, they went away!  In fact, I had a quest last summer to see if I could avoid personally going to the dump and take full advantage of my 90 gallon can.  Just last week, I threw away a chair and a small cupboard that was introduced to my mallet.  I am always careful to not make it too heavy, but if it fit in my 90 gallon can, it was as good as gone.  I ended up last year, not ever using the neighborhood cleanup or making a trip to the dump for personal needs, yet it's fair to say, I threw a number of things away.

While I am not sure the pricing is still equitable, I've learned to live with the disparity and with my new found success of disposal simply say, "Power to the 90 gallon can!"

Playhouse has new siding and the girls have grown up!

Years ago, with the help of my brother-in-law Bill Nielsen, we built
this playhouse for our girls.  We recently put on vinyl siding to
improve the looks and help preserve it

We have been working super hard this last month doing improvements to our backyard that we've wanted to do for a while, motivated by our hosting a dinner gathering for some friends and their recent finalization of their adoption of a wonderful little boy.  It was one of those things, where one project led to another and then to another and a few thousand dollars into it, we have added some wonderful features to our backyard.  One of those improvements was the siding of our girls playhouse, which was originally built out of wafer board, and painted.  The years had taken it's toll on both the paint and the wood, but we not only wanted to keep it, but also have a place that one day our grandchildren could come and play.  We originally built it, so that at 6'10" I come come to "dinner" or visit my girls without having to bend my head.  It proved to be a wonderful gathering place for multiple girls, giving each of them their space to play.  Our oldest now teaches elementary school and is looking for her first home, our youngest is a semester or so away from her associates degree at a local college.  Memories we seem to be able to hold in the context of their time, but everything else tends to grow, which is a good thing.

Today, which is Father's day, is also the 7th anniversary of the beginning of my blog.    My first blog was about my feelings as a father and while I didn't know if anyone would read my blog, I have been pleasantly surprised at the results.  That first blog, continues to find its way into my top 10 blogs from time time, reminding me that there are other dads who may a feel the same inadequacy as a father as we struggle to do our best.

I have also been interested to see that the most widely read blogs are about family, mine in particular.  I didn't really start it out that way, but I have on occasion written about the people who mean the most to me.  Of particular note, is the fact that one of the pieces I wrote about my wife on Mother's Day has become the most popular. 

While most of my audience is from the United States, it has reminded me that the questions or thoughts I have, may have interest elsewhere. In the end, I mostly write for myself.  I am grateful that others are interested.  It has given me an outlet to share thoughts and impressions and even on occasion pass along my review of a local business or something I thought was interesting or helpful.  Carlton's Corner always has a place for my girls to come back to, whether or not it's in the playhouse!  I am very fortunate to be their father and the wonderful blessing they have been in my life.  Thank you to those who take the time to read on occasion and whether I know you or will get to know you, you have also blessed and made my life better.

Big Guys with Ties - Keeping it together

Solution not even imagined by the manufacturer!

Ok, I've written about some pretty strange things, but none quite so personal and challenging as my ties! When your are tall like me (6'10") and a pretty long torso, it's hard to keep my front and back part of my ties together.  I wear a suit at least five days a week.  On top of that I speak to different congregations weekly as Stake President of the Salt Lake Rose Park Stake in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or speak in my role as Regional Development Director for Salt Lake County and its always embarrassing to look down and find my tie going two different directions. I think after 40 years of wearing a tie, I finally found a solution that I don't think was in the minds of the manufacture, 3M when they marketed the product.

The problem you have at my height, is that the back part of the tie, doesn't go long enough to match up with anything that can hold it.  I've tried tape, both regular and double stick - doesn't hold.  I've had well meaning friends give me tie clips, but if you placed them where you would need them they would be two inches below the tie knot.  I had some ties custom made abroad, but very expensive and frankly didn't hold up well.  Those ties they sell in Men's clothing stores that say "extra long", well maybe if you're 5'8", but not for real tall men.  Silly as it sounds, those "extra long ties" are the ones that are just leaving me 3" to 4" on the backside when tied.

A few months ago, my wife Cathy purchased for me four different kinds of Velcro tabs or dots.  Some were super heavy duty and while they stayed on the tie permanently, they were also nearly impossible to line up afterwards and usually took three or four times to tie them to come close.  Made it very difficult to untie the tie because you had to work around the Velcro surfaces.  And if you pulled them off, left a very sticky mess.  But they did hold the tie together.

Demonstration on how the Velcro dots hold the
tie together

Then I tried the Scotch Create Fastener Dots.  They are fairly inexpensive, and do hold to the clothing.  However the beauty is they come off fairly easily if I just peel them off the tie with little or no residue.  I realized for the small cost and constant frustration of trying to line up the more robust Velcro dots, that I could just place these dots on for the day, it held my tie together and at the end of the day, I just peeled them off and threw them away and untied my tie like I normally do.  My days are often 14 hour days and they stay together most of the time without any extra effort on my part.  At age 52, can I tell you how liberating this was to me!  How normal it made me feel and most importantly how I didn't have to cover up for my tie becoming like an upside down V when talking to a crowd or just a co-worker.  I'm sure they are available in craft stores, if they were smart, a big and tall store, but save yourself the time and get them on Amazon.com and have it shipped to you in two days.  Now it doesn't solve the myriad of problems in the rest of my life but for now, my ties are keeping it together!

#LightTheWorld with Luminaries tonight in Rose Park

This evening will conclude the Rose Park Stake's efforts in the #LightTheWorld effort as we follow the examples of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  After much preparation, dedication and sharing of personal testimonies, this evening, we do an outward example of that effort by placing luminaries in front of our homes and also sharing it with neighbors.  It is a small gesture that represents a much larger commitment as we share our testimonies with others.  I've written about it earlier in this blog, but invite any who are interested to join us.

Thursday evening, we invited members and neighbors alike to come to a wonderful event held in our parking lot of our Church Building that included music, propane fire pits for warmth as well as food. We not only were able to interact with each other but to also pick up a kit for the creation of 10 luminaries to place in front of our homes.  We likewise encouraged those taking them to also take one to share with a neighbor.  This was an idea, that came from our Stake's Cultural Arts specialist last year, Joni Astorga.  When she presented the idea, I questioned it somewhat, but then realized it was exactly the right way to end a month long effort.  She was receptive to the spirit and the Lord knew I was too set in my ways!  We learned a lot on the production side of things since last year, and while we were challenged with rain on Christmas Eve (when does that ever happen in Utah!), I was very touched by the faith of the members of the Rose Park Stake.

If you happen to live nearby and would like to participate, feel free to stop by my home or give me a call.  Or better yet, ask your neighbor, who is a member, if you can have one too.  We have some extras and would love to have them used.  The weather looks more encouraging and most of all, with our without luminaries, our light shines as an example of that commitment to follow his path.  Merry Christmas to you, Carlton.