Pimp my site

I am trying to figure out how to add different fonts and colors to my blog site. I cannot figure out how to do this. I have learned how to change my background. I have also found a website that offers free backgrounds, clipart, fonts, photos and templates. I would like to figure out how to add the fonts I found. The web site that I found does not give good instructions on how to add them to my web site. The web site is www.infoservemedia.com. If anyone can help me I would be grateful. There might be a jar of jam in the offering!

Fall Colors & Financial Meltdowns

So yesterday I was watching the Today Show while I ate breakfast and they were showing a color coded map of the U.S. which showed where the best fall colors are. Our little strip of mountains along the Wasatch Front appeared from the map to be the best place in the country right now to see the colors. They were sure right. We did our first annual neigborhood fall canyon ride today and had twelve people and seven bikes. Not a bad start. The temperature was perfect and, even though I took a jacket, I never put it on. Scenery along the route from Trappers Loop and up to the Snowbasin Ski Area was spectacular. The bright reds, yellows, and oranges punctuated by groups of pine trees were well worth the time spent. If you didn't go with us, you should take the car and do it with your kids. You won't regret it.

Now, onto something thats been making me lose sleep for months. The crumbling of the financial markets has been affecting the lives of our family for months, both directly and indirectly. The company that I had been at for the previous two years was owned by 12 or so investors, who were primarily physicians, and most of whom had moved large chunks of their portfolios into real estate over the past few years. As we encountered problems overseas that killed our cash, and our revenues softened, the investors were unable to help us because of the disappearing value of their real estate based investments. I eventually found it necessary to leave after falling some three months behind on pay. While they've paid me about a third of that since my departure, I'm still owed a substantial amount of money. With the job market very difficult, we made the gamble to start our own company and fly solo. Our web site is close to being done, but in the mean time we've been trying to sell automotive performance packages on the side. The first few weeks went okay, this last week was a complete disaster. No one is buying anything, even at give-away prices. For the first time in a really long time I'm feeling awfully nervous. I need capital to move forward on some projects, but the prospect of borrowing anything right now seems impossible, despite our flawless credit. No matter how strong I've been in the past seems irrelevent and I feel like I'm being washed out to sea in the wave along with the rest of the country. I'm drowning. The thing is, I know I'm not alone. I've had several private conversations with others in the neighborhood whose businesses are very vulnerable right now, and I just hope that we all find a way to weather the storm that is blowing. This one is for real.

Good Carnival Everyone!

Although most of the profits will end up replacing Easy-Ups destroyed by the wind before the thing even started, the carnival was a lot of fun again and wouldn't have happened without a lot of hard work from an army of people. The next time you see Sarah or Melissa, tell them "thank you!" So much time goes into pulling this thing off that they deserve some recognition. So . . . . thanks from us. You did a great job!

Carnival's & Bike Rides

I'm sick today, which doesn't happen to me very often. I went to the office for a few hours this morning, and finally called it quits around 9:30. I've retreated to the couch with a blanket, a poisoning amount of ibuprofen in my system and a computer. Daytime TV is unwatchable (sorry Rachel Ray, Tyra, and the communist chicks on The View) so I thought that I'd write for a minute.

Tomorrow is the school carnival and I'm doing sound again. I spent last night working on the playlist and I hope that most people like it. The truth is, most people probably don't really pay attention to whats coming out of the speakers; its just background noise. The trick is to come up with something that appeals to every age group. The first graders like hearing the "Hamster Dance," the third graders like Hanah Montana, and the sixth grade girls like the Jonas Brothers. The sixth grade boys always request skater music. Therefore, as a compromise, I think I'll just play the new Metallica disc, "Death Magnetic" in its entirety. I'm only kidding of course. I do, however, throw in a song for me about every 8-9 songs so that no adults want to commit suicide after one-to-many High School Musical songs. One of the fun things about this is that my teenage girls are music junkies like me and its fun to get their input on projects like this. Murf especially has a very wide palate when it comes to music. I don't know why I'm suprised, but she found and fell in love with bands like Queen and Kansas all on her own. Good music is timeless I guess. The teenage years are turning out to be ALOT of fun so far! I'm really, really lucky that I have such good kids, and I'm trying to enjoy it while I can. I know that its fleeting and that they'll be off to college and out of the house before I know it. Sigh . . . . . . .

Finally, we are doing a neighborhood motorcycle ride through the canyons a week from this Saturday to see the fall colors. Our route will take us up Trappers Loop to the Snow Basin Ski Area, down the back-side to the lake, and around the lake to Eden where we'll grab something to eat. Then we'll go around the east side of the lake through Huntsville and back up Trappers Loop. Roundtrip mileage is right around 80. If you want to go, but don't have a bike, feel free to follow us in a car. Or if your spouse wants to be on the bike, but you don't, let us know and we'll hook you up with a ride. We'll probably leave around 1:00 p.m., and I will be getting flyers out to the neighborhood this weekend. Cheers! Steve

Got My Raspberries

Hey, ladies! Got my raspberries.  I'm makin' JAM!  Any of you who didn't get a sample at my demonstration can come see me to get some.  I might have some extra raspberries. If I do, put in your bids!!  If you want to learn on a one-on-one basis how to make jam, I really like to teach and have a friend around to chat with.  

Gaining Friends

Hey everyone, thanks for all of your kind replies to Steve's leprosy. We really do like to get together with people, and hopefully we will get around to all of the ward and neighbors with our scone nights. Please don't be shy about asking to come to those. That helps motivate us to have them more often. ;-> Steve is a very social person and really enjoys getting to know and also hanging out with people. I have had to go out of my own comfort zone over the years (20!) to keep up with him. But I am glad I have because I have more friends. My problem is talking about myself too much (for shame!). I'm sure I can do better there. All in all, we have found some good friends over the years, and we hope to continue to procure them. Have a friendly day!!! (And some nice autumnal ones to come - yay!)

I love politics!

I just love spoofs during politics. This one made me laugh out loud. (Caution: some explicit material) If you click on the title of this post, you should be taken to the site. If not, then I didn't understand how to link.

My Leprosy

At least I think thats what I have, albeit a strain that is rare and difficult to detect. I didn't realize that I had been infected until I moved into my current home a few years ago. Very few people are able to spot the symptoms, and those few that can keep a healthy distance. I've always been very social and always had a lot of friends, even from my earliest years. When I was young, I was always one of the tallest and fastest kids, and was usually one of the kids who ended up picking the teams on the playground, instead of "being picked." However, I also remember being fairly sensitive, even at that age, to the kids who weren't very big or fast, or who were shy and didn't have any friends. I tried to do then what I always encourage my kids to do now, which is to look for people who don't have anyone to play with and get them on board. Or in the case of my teenage girls, keep an eye out for the girls eating lunch by themselves or who maybe aren't very "popular", and include them in their circle. I'm lucky because they've taken that to heart.

Jen and I have always been successful making friends in every place we've ever lived and have always really felt a part of those neighborhoods & wards. This place has been a little more difficult to fit into. Okay, a lot more difficult. For the first time in our married lives, we find ourselves on the far right side of the median age point in the community. Which isn't a bad thing, and maybe I'm looking for excuses why we don't seem to fit. None of this is to say that we don't have friends (we do) and that most people aren't polite (they are). Thank goodness that a few of our south-side neighbors, Adam & Kim, John & Kristen, and Spence & Cassie have been kind enough to include us in their lives on a regular basis. If that had not happened, I would have been tempted to pull the eject handle a year ago. Outside of the above mentioned group, I can count the number of times on less than one hand that we've been invited to someones home to hang out, and on two fingers the number of couples that we have had dinner with in nearly three years of living here. Maybe its just me, and maybe I just need to try harder, who knows. We try to do "scone" nights at least once a month (which doesn't always happen) where we invite a family thats newer to the neighborhood along with a few families that have been around for awhile. Its good for the new family, and its good for us, because we get to meet new people and make new friends. It might take us five years, but we'll eventually make it through the entire neighborhood. Not everyone says yes, but at least they've had an invitation, which is sometimes just as important.

So the leprosy bit comes in because I'm convinced that a few folks in the neigborhood actually believe that I'm afflicted with the disease, and that if they make the mistake of talking to me or even making eye contact with me, they'll be infected. Anymore, I just roll my eyes and laugh about it when it happens. There are a few people that actually refuse to make eye contact with me as we pass even if no one else is around. Same thing if I'm out walking the dogs and they drive by. Most people I see when I'm out smile and wave, but a few stare straight ahead and refuse to make any acknowledgement. Its funny, but sad. Sometimes if Jen is with me when it happens, we'll look at each other, do the involuntary eye roll, and chuckle. Then we wonder what we ever did to elicit the avoidance-measures in those people.

Luckily, my girls seem to have avoided the disease, and for the most part have been able to fit in and make friends. Unfortunately, Phillip seems to have been stricken like me. For whatever reasons that I don't understand, there isn't a kid his age on our street that will play with him. I didn't really notice until several months ago when Jen pointed it out. If other kids are out riding their bikes, and Phillip shows up, they'll stop what they're doing and ride off in different directions. I've watched it happen a half dozen times this summer. Its heartbreaking as a parent, but I'm unsure what to do about it. Kids are kids, I guess, and there is nothing that you really can do to change it. Every kid naturally wants to be included, but you can't force other kids to like your kid or want to play with them. And maybe your kid does things that makes other kids not want to play with them, who knows. It is difficult to know how to respond when they say that the other kids "hate" them and won't play with them at school. I guess you just love them and do things with them on your own, which is what I do.

One of the toughest things for me is to not be judgemental from the standpoint that I automatically think I'm being snubbed when people seem to ignore me or keep their distance. I try to tell myself that maybe they're not aloof, just naturally shy instead, and that I shouldn't make unfounded assumptions. Maybe I give up too easily on people that come off that way to me. Its a personal battle that I'll continue to fight. Nevertheless, I will keep up my happy exterior, smile and wave, and maybe . . . . just maybe have a few more friends to show for it a few years down the line. Stay tuned! Steve

More From Me plus New Music Reviews

Hi everyone! Its amazing that its this late and I'm still in front of a computer, after working on our website ALL DAY today! Even more amazing that I'm in a reasonably good mood. Jen and I have been vigorously working on our website all day with the hope that we can go live by the end of the month. For non-technical people like us, building an e-commerce site, particularly on such a tight schedule, is a daunting task. Starting over at age 41 is even a more daunting task, but what else do you do? When life deals you lemons, you package them in boxes and distribute them across the country . . . . . right? So, with any luck, our new baby lemonade stand http://www.team1performance.com/ will be born and breathing normally by October 1.

Well, onto the fun part of the blog (even though not many people will read this, or even make the effort to find this music). Its time for my weekly music picks. The idea here is that you're supposed to make a small effort to find some of this music online, give it a listen, and send me your feedback. I've only got two picks this week, but they're worth the effort:

Alt Rock: FLYLEAF- This weeks pick is a little band from Temple, Tx whose lead singer weighs about 90 lbs soaking wet, but who can roar. These guys have a very unique sound and the guitar work is really really great. My favorite tracks on their debut album are "I'm So Sick" and "All Around Me." Besides, I have a complete money back guaranty if you don't like what you hear, so you have nothing to lose.

Alt Country: JACK INGRAM - Okay, for those of you who don't really understand the term "Alt Country" let me try and explain. Its an abbreviation for: sorta-country-but not really-more rock and blues-not alot of fiddles or steel guitar-but a little twangy nonetheless. Most of these cats are a little different and seem like they should be medicated, but they put out some really interesting tunes. Jack Ingram has been doing this for a long time, but its only been in the past few years that he's developed a name due to a couple of hits on the radio. Like a lot of artists, their best work isn't always the song that makes it big on the radio. His biggest hit, although recorded several years ago is a song called "Wherever You Are". Its still on country radio frequently. His newest disc, "This Is It," is collection of somewhat raucus, fun, party tunes. My favorite is a song is called "Love You." He played it live when I saw him a couple of months ago and I laughed through the whole song.

As always, give me your feedback. Well, David Letterman is interviewing Barrackorama so I think its time for me to turn it off and call it a night. Lotsolove, Steve

BUSY!

Wow! Who knew that starting a business would be so time consuming! I quit teaching music at the school so that I could help Steve start our own business online. I am also trying to help out in my kids classrooms. I can't believe how much time it is all taking up! I am mostly inputting information onto the computer at home. Steve is doing most of the work. He is setting up the website and configuring all of the settings on the website. I am learning a lot about automotive "things". Hopefully my brain can work well enough to absorb and remember it all. Thank you everyone who comes to our website. I know it isn't up-to-date most of the time, but that's okay, at least you get more than if I had never started this.

GO COUGARS

I love quotes!

I've collected quotes for most of my life. Perhaps I'm not that creative with my own choice of words, so I hang on to those that inspire me when spoken by others. This past weekend, I watched a favorite movie that I haven't seen in a few years "A River Runs Through It." Near the end of the movie, the Reverend Mclean, while preaching his final sermon, and in reference to the loss of his youngest son, which he never overcame, says the following:

"Each one of us here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question: We are willing to help, Lord, but what, if anything, is needed? For it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it is with those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding. "

My 20th Anniversay Adventure

Steve and I talked about doing something (more) for our anniversary this year because it is our 20th. I suggested to Steve that maybe we could spend the weekend in Park City. Our money tree in the backyard was a little low and we couldn't get to Hawaii. So we sent our kids with Steve's family to the cabin. They were nice enough to let my kids come up. Regan and Meredith were very great with the kids and very helpful, according to the "women". So when Steve came home for lunch on Friday he brought flowers. (And not just boring carnations, but a beautiful mix of colorful flowers.) The flowers came with a note telling me to get my bags packed for the weekend, and make sure that I was at a specific address just before three o' clock. As it turns out, the address was a spa and I got a massage and a pedicure. YAY! When that was finished I went out to my car and there was another note on the seat of my car. The note told me to go to the mall for my next part of the adventure. I was to go to store 2080 and pick up my "secret" gift from the manager. I'm sure that you might have guessed as I did that it was Victoria's Secret. I won't say anything else about that other than to say that my gift contained another note telling me to get on I-15 and meet him at another address in Salt Lake. The address was the Radisson Hotel downtown right by the Gateway. We stayed overnight there. As Steve notes, we went to dinner, and walked around the Gateway and went to a late movie. One funny thing that happened is that as we were walking around the Gateway after dark, we strolled by a kiosk that sells skirts that can be turned into several different styles. It was funny how these girls (from Europe) ply their wares by trying things on you and draping them different ways to sell you on the skirt. They caught me and I had fun seeing how many different ways the skirt fit. They must have a mirror that makes everyone look good. Steve has explained the rest of the trip so I won't go into detail. He was right. I did have a weekend that made me feel pretty!

Notes From Steve

Happy September everyone! Its labor day, and I'm home sick on the couch. Bored enough to blog for a few minutes while I continue my burnout on CNN hurricane coverage. It was a good weekend, right up until I started feeling sick this morning. Jen and I celebrated our 20 year anniversiary this weekend, while we sent our kids to the cabin with my family. I say "celebrated" because I typically forget about it until the day before and end up scrambling to get a card and dinner date put together. This year I started working on it much earlier, and so it was much more successful. Friday afternoon, Jen went on a "I Feel Pretty" goose chase to several locations, that I'll let her blog about later. We ended up meeting at a downtown SLC hotel Friday evening, had dinner, shopped at the Gateway and saw a late movie. Saturday after breakfast we made our way up to Midway for the Swiss Days Festival (not great this year) and ended up back at the Gateway for another movie. Sunday, we got up and drove to Paris, ID to meet up with our kids. So there you have it.

Now a jump to a totally unrelated topic: I am a confessed music junkie. I have a broad taste and can find stuff I like in almost every genre (accept for hip hop and opera). I also use music to enhance whatever I'm feeling throughout the day. Thats why my days often start with Jazz and end with Metal. ;-) So where am I going with this? I'm going to start blogging occassionally about what I'm listening to currently and my recommendations for things that I think you might like. If you are able to find some of this stuff and can download and listen to it, give me your feedback and tell me what you think. Here we go, my first installment:

Adult Alt: John Mayer - "Where the Light Is - John Mayer Live in Los Angeles" My take: I love live music, especially when its even better than the studio recordings. If you're a guitar geek like me, this is fascinating listening! Mayer fans will love this if you haven't heard it yet.

Jazz: Herbie Hancock - "River - The Joni Letters" My take: if you like Jazz piano, this is almost as good as it gets! HH covers a number of Joni Mitchell songs and uses a diverse group of vocalists including Norah Jones, Corrine Bailey Rae, and Tina Turner. The arrangements are unique and you'll understand why this album was nominated and won so many grammys.

Blues: Albert Cummings "True to Yourself" My take: blues is an aquired taste for most people. It either moves your soul or it has no effect on you at all. This album is for the former. If Stevie Ray Vaughn and Buddy Guy had a love child, it would be Albert Cummings. This white guy from the Northeast straight-up shreds and is one of the best blues guitar players in a generation - in my humble opinion.

Country: Nothing that I'm crazy about currently. I'll find my "Eeeehaw" vibe again soon and will report then. When in doubt, just listen to Brad Paisley.

Metal: Disturbed "Indestructible" My take: Good stuff! Especially the track "Inside the Fire". Sometimes banging your head is good for your spirit, and these guys make me feel better when I need to release the rage. (kind of kidding, I'm not that rage filled).

Thats all for now kids. Catch you next time.

Lotsolove, Steve