What Happens in San Francisco...

Years ago, in March 1985, I attended a Humor and Creativity in Therapy conference in San Francisco in that section known as "Japan Town." While I was there, I wandered around the little Japanese shops and found one where they carve the little soapstone stamps, known as Hanko, that Japanese artists use to sign their paintings in red. I really wanted one (they were reasonably priced), so I asked the man in charge if he would make one for me that said, "A man who heals with laughter." The rest of the conversation went something like this:

Him: "No."
Me: "Why not?"
Him: "Because it might not mean anything in Japanese."
(long silence)
Me: "You mean you can't write that phrase in Japanese?"
Him: "We could, but it might mean something bad."
Me: "But I don't even read Japanese!"
Him: "Then why do you want the stamp?"
(longer silence)

I eventually gave up, reconciled to my plight of never owning a Hanko stamp. Craig told me later that there are certain mental paths the Japanese cannot walk along. I think I found one.

As a result of that conference, I began writing a humor journal, recording the funniest things that happen to me each day. It has been a hit and miss proposition, but out of that effort came my 120+ page joke book that everyone loves.

The Last Gasp of Winter

We got 4" of heavy, wet snow last night, and it is supposed to keep snowing until Sunday. We lost power for over three hours last night, we lost power several times overnight, and the power was off when I left for work this morning. We lost several big branches off the poplar tree in the front yard. The leaves were already out, and the wet snow was just too much. We listened to cracking and crashing all night as branches fell onto the yard and into the street. What a mess! Our high today is supposed to be in the low 40's.

Danged Global Warming (again)!

Three nights ago, we slept with our windows open all night, with only a sheet over us for comfort. Our high Tuesday was 89°! Yesterday, the wind blew so hard, I thought we were all moving to Holbrook. As I write this, it is snowing hard. They are saying we could get 6"-12" tonight, and up to two feet at Sunrise. Of course, tonight is graduation for BRHS. This global warming is so unpredictable.

I am smack dab in the middle of budget season. Usually, budget preparation is like nailing Jell-O to a tree. This year, it is like nailing Jello-O to a moving tree. I calculated the total gallons of fuel we used last year, and figured $4 per gallon for my budget. Now it looks like that will be way too conservative. Crazy thing is, for every dollar the price of gas increases, my budget has to change by $28,000! I saw a cartoon yesterday of an accountant working on a difficult problem exclaiming, "Hey, I know! I'll just add another zero!" If only it were that easy.

This Sunday, Jan and I celebrate 35 years of wedded bliss together. I can honestly say that 35 years ago, I had no idea what love really was, or how deep and profound it can be. We are both the worse for wear, but more committed than ever to each other's happiness. We are planning on going the distance together. Marriage is no cakewalk - there is a lot of compromise along the way; lots of sacrifice - but it is the only way to go. I love her with all my soul. Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!

Howdy, Howdy

I guess it has been too long since I posted anything, and I am feeling serious blogguilt. I have been working on transcribing a talk I heard on BYU-TV for which no transcript was available. It is a long and tedious task, but I hope it will be worth it in the end.

On Monday, May 5 I got to go to X Diamond Ranch near South Fork (near Eagar) to play host to a bunch of Germans who were here learning about the West. The Arizona Office of Tourism asked me to come because I speak a little German, and they thought that would be useful. So I put on my best cowboy duds and went to the ranch. I had a great time talking to them (most of them spoke better English than I spoke German, but who cared?). They asked what I did for a living, and together we figured out that my title in German is Finanzminister. Boy, were they excited that someone of my lofty station in life would deign to visit with them. I guess a Finanzminister is a high and lofty station in Germany. There was a copy of a book on Lee's Ferry there at the ranch, so I showed them a picture of my great-great grandfather, Warren Marshall Johnson, and that really impressed them. I was obviously eine echte Cowboy, born and raised in the Old West. It was a lot of fun.

We have been so happy to have Grandpa and Grandma Brooksby here with us for the last couple of days. The weather has been beautiful and cool without being cold, and we have just had a blast. We introduced them to "Apples to Apples" and we watched "Amazing Grace" together last night. By the way, if anyone has not seen that film yet, you should.

More later. I promise to be more diligent in writing. Till then, Adios, pardners!