Election Time!

No, we're not talking McCain/Obama, that's for another day. This is a much more important issue.

On Saturday Mike and I went to the RSL vs Chivas game. It was great. The week before we went to the BYU vs UCLA game. Also great. This got me thinking, if I had to choose a favorite between Football and Futbol, which would I pick?

I worked out some possible arguments for both sides.
(F = Football, S = Soccer)

1. Game Day
F: With the pregame show, the tailgate party, 4 hours for the game itself and then the post game analysis, the excitement lasts literally all day long.
S: You go, you cheer, you have fun, you get on with the rest of your life.

2. The Game
F: Complicated rules with even more complicated plays displays a sense of intelligence just to understand the action. Yet it's still just big guys crashing into each other at full speed while playing keep away.
S: Simple rules (ball in net, no hands), simple plays. A lot of aggression but an element of finesse to make it happen.

3. The Players and their drama
F: Talking tough, playing rough, and showing their need for attention in end zone celebrations and sideline fights. But the real drama is their off the field lifestyles.
S: Real fouls that are never seen (unless they draw blood) and then the fake flops and falls to remind everyone that they are still there. Who knows what they do off the field. Who cares.

4. The "Big Game"
F: The Super Bowl brings in more money and attention than anything else on tv. But is it the game or the commercials?
S: The World Cup is a world wide event. But you have to wait 4 years until the next one. Still, that's 4 years of bragging rights (Italia 2006!).

5. Cultural Impact
F: Arguably America's most popular sport right now. Knowing a few things about the teams and the players can get you small talk with just about anyone and earn you respect with the guys at the office and your father-in-law. You just can't avoid the in-state college rivalry.
S: The world's most popular sport. In the States, popular among kids, and the fastest growing in popularity among adults. But locally, only the die-hard fans will know who's playing and what's happening. Not a general conversation topic yet.

So, time to vote! Which would you pick and why?

Spittin' Image

(Monday morning)

Coworker: Shaina, I have to tell you what happened this weekend.
Shaina: Oh really, what?
Coworker: Well my stake got reorganized, and since I'm a branch president in the stake I got to go to a special meeting with the General Authorities who were doing the reorganizing.
Shaina: Wow, that's great.
Coworker: So I walk into the room and it's Elder Nelson of the 12 and Elder LeGrand Curtis of the 70. They both stand up to shake my hand and smile as I meet them. Well, the instant Elder Curtis smiled at me, the first thing I thought was "wow, he reminds me so much of Mike Burgoyne." Wierd huh?



You're telling me. Should I be worried that a an old man reminds him of my husband? Or complimented that he thinks my husband has a GA smile?



Elder LeGrand Curtis, Jr. of the 5th Quorum of the Seventy

My Book Buffet

This summer I worked my way through a 4 course meal of literature. Some courses I liked better than others, but overall it was very satisfying. Here is what I read:

Journey to the Center of the Earth (Jules Verne): Supposed to be one of the great forerunners to Science Fiction. I liked the idea, but couldn't get through all the scientific jargon to make it even to the half way point. It was like eating bran cereal; too much fiber and not enough taste to make it worth my time.

The Twilight Series (Stephanie Meyers): Yep, I gave in to peer pressure and read all 4 of them. It was a great way to pass the 30+ hours I spent in the car during 2 road trips. They weren't brilliant works of literature, but I was entertained. It was like eating grocery store birthday cake - good for the moment, no real nutritional value, and sometimes you can't take in too much in one sitting without getting sick, but you know that if it's around you're going to want a piece. And it's much better when it's shared with others.

Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens): Unfortunately, I approached this one with a bias, I already love Dickens. This was good, but not great. Really good characters, intriguing moral themes and brilliant social satire, but way wordy and a little far fetched. It's like how the casseroles I cook turn out: I worry so much about getting it right that I over do it and it ends up just tasting weird.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Vol 2 (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle): This was by far my favorite. It was well written, entertaining, explored different aspects of human nature, and I felt smarter after reading it (especially when I could start putting the solution together before Holmes!) And each story was short but fulfilling so I could either nibble a little or chow down as I wanted. It was perfectly flavored and in perfect proportions. It won't be long before I go back for a second helping.