Russ & Lauren

On Saturday, December 20th, 2008, Russell Banks and Lauren Beard were married for time & all eternity in the St. George, Utah Temple. A reception for family & friends was held that evening at the Social Hall in St. George. The happy couple will reside in Provo, Utah. We wish them well in their new life together!

Jubilee Of Trees

I know everyone is anxious for Christmas to get here, but it drove me crazy to hear Christmas music at the beginning of November! So even though I attended the "Jubilee Of Trees" on Monday, I wanted to wait to post this until after our Thanksgiving dinner! The Jubilee of Trees is the largest showcase of custom designed Christmas trees and wreaths between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Held every year at the Dixie Center, the Jubilee has become a tradition attracting friends and neighbors to gather and welcome the holiday season together. Volunteer driven - it is a showcase of spectacular custom designed Christmas trees, mini and table-top trees, holiday wreaths, gingerbread houses and seasonal decor. This year the Jubilee of Trees is directed toward supporting Children's Services by helping Life Flight helicopter services take flight at Dixie Regional Medical Center.


My favorite tree was titled "Christmas Perhaps Means A Little Bit More" and featured "The Grinch" carrying it away.

Happy Turkey Day!

Other than the weather (cold & rain), I had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! After watching parts of the Macy's parade, I started cooking my contributions to the dinner feast. I found a recipe for "corn pudding." It is a nice side dish - made with corn, cream of chicken soup, corn meal, and chives. I also made sweet mashed potatoes, using a modified recipe from Outback. All of the food was awesome! Some traditions should never be broken, so after dinner, I took a nap while watching football. My Eagles were playing, but the game wasn't televised. I had a nice phone conversation with my parents in Texas. They enjoyed their dinner with friends at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Chili Cook-Off

On Friday night, I participated in our ward's chili cook-off. I knew my chili wouldn't win, because it isn't that spicy. Still, it was fun to be off work on a Friday night! I use hamburger, onion, kidney beans, and an assortment of spices. I tasted all 12 entrees to the contest, and all were unique in their own way. The eventual winner, #4, was a barnburner! Submitted by the Young Men, the story is that they stole Brother Reber's recipe, then added tons of chili powder. Wow - my eyes didn't water, but it was hot enough to make my nose run! My personal favorite, #5, Randy Hale's entry, didn't even place. It was a basic all-meat chili, with an awesome flavor, in fact, I could go for a bowl right now!

Here is the trophy that I didn't win.

Even former ward members stopped by. (Somehow Isaac always shows up when food is involved!)

I simply can't write about a chili cook-off, without including my favorite circulated e-mail, about, what else, a chili cook-off!

If you can read this whole story without laughing, then there's no hope for you. I was crying by the end.This is an actual account as relayed to paramedics at a chili cook-off in Texas.

Note: Please take time to read this slowly. If you pay attention to the first two judges, the reaction of the third judge is even better. For those of you who have lived in Texas, you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the San Antonio City Park.

Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili taster named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield, IL .

Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table, asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy; and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became Judge 3."Here are the scorecard notes from the event:

CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI

Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.

Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.

Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy crap, what the heck is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are crazy.

CHILI # 2 - AUSTIN 'S AFTERBURNER CHILI

Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.

Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.

Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.

CHILI # 3 - FRED'S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI

Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick.

Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers.

Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting xxxx-faced from all of the beer.

CHILI # 4 - BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC

Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.

Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.

Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb. woman is starting to look HOT ... just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?

CHILI # 5 - LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER

Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.

Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.

Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw them.

CHILI # 6 - VERA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY

Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.

Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, garlic. Superb.

Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I crapped on myself when I farted, and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.

CHILI # 7 - SUSAN'S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI

Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.

Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge #3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.

Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing it's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.

CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI

Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.

Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor feller, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili?

Judge # 3 - No Report

YES!!!!!!!

Phillies win World Series!


After 28 years, and two days of waiting for the rain to stop so that Game 5 of the World Series could resume, the wait is over - The Phillies are the champions of the baseball world!


Pedro Feliz singled in pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett with the tie-breaking run in the seventh inning, and Brad Lidge finished up a perfect year out of the bullpen by closing in the ninth to lift the Phillies to a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays last night at Citizens Bank Park.The Phillies won all three games at the Bank to clinch the best-of-seven series, four games to one, and win their first World Series title since 1980. The fourth victory was the most difficult since the game had been suspended Monday night due to a cold wind-blown rain after 51/2 innings with the score tied 2-2.After a 48-hour wait, the game resumed last night with a bang - pinch-hitter Geoff Jenkins' ringing double to right-center leading off the Phillies sixth. Jenkins came around to score on a bloop single by Jayson Werth.But this wasn't going to be easy. Tampa Bay tied the game in the seventh on Rocco Baldelli's solo home run and threatened to take the lead before Chase Utley threw out Jason Bartlett at home when Bartlett tried to score from second on an infield single by Akinori Iwamura.Pat Burrell picked up his first hit of the series, a double to left-center, to lead off the seventh. Bruntlett, who went in to run for him, reached third on a groundout by Shane Victorino and scored on Feliz's single up the middle.J.C. Romero worked 11/3 innings to pick up the win. Lidge gave up a broken-bat single in the ninth to Dioner Navarro but struck out pinch-hitter Eric Hinske on three pitches amid a barrage of camera flashes to pick up the save, his 48th in 48 opportunities this season.Lidge fell to his knees after the final out, and he was mobbed a split second later by his teammates.

World Series, Here We Come!

For the first time in 15 years, the Philadelphia Phillies are going to the World Series! YES! 

This team of mine who have lost more games than any other team in Major League history - by far, are in the Fall Classic for only the 6th time in their 100+ year history. They beat the Dodgers 5-1 tonight, to win the National League Championship Series 4 games to 1. Their only World Championship, of course, was 28 years ago in 1980 - back when I looked like this:

Pine Valley Party

The annual Red Cliffs 5th Ward Family Party was a huge success! It was held Saturday, September 6th at the Lions Lodge in Pine Valley - a beautiful setting, and a good 10 degrees cooler than in St. George.

No one went away hungry, thanks to the dutch oven cooking talents of Mike Reber and Richard Williams, and many ward members who brought more varieties of pies than I can find names for. Bishop Reid and his family provided their usual musical entertainment, and then Kevin Pfunder, of 5th Ward "Newlywed Game" fame, led us in "Eternal Family Feud". Brother Pfunder is an elementary school art teacher, but I believe he missed his calling in life - as he is a perfect game show MC! He and his wife actually surveyed 100 righteous Mormons (not from our ward) to get the answers to the questions -

Things like - What is your favorite family home evening treat? What is your favorite Primary song? What is the most exciting book in the Book Of Mormon? What is the first thing you do when you get home from church? (almost 70% said change clothes) What is the scariest place to be called as a missionary?

What is the most coveted church starting time? How many chapters can you read in the scriptures before falling asleep? What is the best day of the week to have your home teachers visit? Name the most popular misconception about Mormons... It was fun!

After the game, Sister Reid led us in a dance called the "Virginia Reel," a pioneer favorite. Having read "Gone With The Wind" earlier this year, I wanted to do some research on this dance, and found the following:

In the days before television, Internet and even radio, the way people entertained themselves was often by holding a community dance. This event brought the towns together with each other, and was usually a great social event. Most people knew the most popular dances, such as the waltz, and particularly in the Southeastern United States, the Virginia reel was one of the most popular group dances.The Virginia reel has its origins in Scottish country dance, and was introduced to the U.S. in the late 1600s. It had been popularized in England by Sir Roger de Coverly. Some variations were introduced, and before long, the Virginia reel was known all over the Southeast.The Virginia reel is a contra dance, which means it is danced in a line, partners facing each other. In the Virginia reel, about six couples form a line, men in one line, ladies in the other, about six feet apart. The Virginia reel often has a caller, as with a square dance. When the caller indicates, the couples step forward about three steps, and bow to their partners. Partners then do elbow swings, returning to their original places, a do-si-do and the head couple (the couple nearest the band) joins hands and sashays (chasees) down the line and back. The head couple then “reels down” by joining elbows and doing a full turn with each person down their line (men with ladies and vice versa) and then the head couple joins hands and sashays back to their original position. The head couple then leads their respective lines in the “cast off,” taking themselves to the foot of the line, and raising their joined hands to form an arch. The second couple then leads their lines back under the arch to the front, and they become the head couple. The Virginia reel is a lively dance and should be accompanied by lively music. Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the Wind,” opined that “Dixie” was the best of all reel tunes, and this gives a good idea of how spirited the dance is. In the movie Gone with the Wind, an abbreviated version of the Virginia reel is included in the scenes at the bazaar. It is worth watching to see a little of how the dance was performed. Country dancing associations still perform the Virginia reel and usually to live music. They are welcoming to newcomers and are always willing to share the traditions of country dancing.