Tuesdays with Muerte

---III---___.___---III---___.___---III---___.___---III---___.___--- I recently ran out of my man-perfume and am in the market for a new bottle. If I recall correctly, Noelle or Stefanie or I bought it for myself as a Christmas gift the year I got home from my mission. I'm impressed that it lasted this long. Maybe its lack of use has led in some small degree to my single status. I'm open to suggestions for new fragrances.

Here are some two-bits remedies for snoring: (Be advised, some of the following may cause additional illness and even death. Consult your physician before attempting.) -Not sleeping. -Sleeping with a neck cast that forces your windpipe open. -Tonsil removal (and/or any other unnecessary matter back there that could come out.) -Adhering an athletic breath-rite strip over your nose. -Sleep on a side other than your back. -If you have to sleep on your back, place a pillow over your face to at least muffle the sound. -Or my personal favorite, the remedy taken in this commercial:

As none of you may know, I have taken up Tai Chi. My inspiration was taking those morning classes aboard the Yangtze River Cruise Ship. For the last 4 Fridays I have taken a blanket out to a grassy patch near a pond on campus and done some freestyle stuff along with some routines that I learned from library videos. I'll have to give the family a demonstration at Christmas. Since I haven't photographed myself yet, here's a TV ad that I hope will give you an idea of my meditation skill level.

After a long week of investigating and checking and driving and getting filthy grime under my nails, I finally have a BICYCLE!  I'd tell you what brand it is, but it is a "mut".  It is a composite of about 4 bikes.  What a lucky guy I am to have access to so many junky bikes from around Provo and a lot of spare time. Wednesday was pretty-much spent on my front porch vicinity, fiddling around with ratchets and gears and spokes until I got everything to work together.  The hardest part was the brakes.  I'm positive there is an order to adjust the brakes so that it all works together nicely, however, I obviously didn't play enough video games to develop the problem solving skills to figure that out.  At any rate, here she is! (No name yet; recommendations welcome.)

This is a delicious receipt that Suzanne Powell's grandma gave her.  I asked Suzanne if she would make something for a dessert tonight at Ward Prayer. When she mentioned something about her grandma's SUPER SECRET Cream Puff recipe, I couldn't resist helping her. Ingredients: -1 cup water -1/2 cup butter -1 cup flour -1/4 teaspoon salt -4 eggs Instructions: 1. Boil water 2. Add butter in boiling water 3. Mix salt and flour until it's all balled together and not separate 4. remove from heat 5. Add eggs one at a time, mix in 6. Drop on a greased cookie sheet by a Tablespoon  7. Cook at 400* till gold and fluffy (30 min)

I recently "took up Mandarin."  Many of you may ask, "How does one just 'take up' one of the most difficult written and spoken languages in the world?" The story is unexpectedly short: I went to China this Spring which endowed me with the passion I needed to put in the practice hours.  I received my inspiration from an education week teacher, John Hilton III.  He carried on a minute long conversation with one of my friends named Jenn.  I later learned that he learns from listening to tapes in his car and then eats out at Chinese twice a week to practice.  I acquired some learning tools online and have begun the long road myself this week. So far I can say, "Excuse me; may I ask you a question?  Can you speak English/Mandarin?  I can speak a little English/Mandarin." It's such a beautiful feeling to say that to random people and have them just look back at me with respect and awe.