Mr. Fab and his Amazing.....stuff?

2010-02-15T23:01:00.001-07:00

I wish I knew how to paste something from word into this blog...... I guess it is gonna be at least tomorrow before I post my story.

A New Idea

2010-02-15T22:23:00.003-07:00

Several years ago, before my house fire, I used to collect short stories and poems. I recently had to give a talk in church and started looking for some stories to share, and I realized that I missed having my stories at hand. I decided that I need to find them or start collecting them again and when I have found them, post them here for you to see, but also for a permanent collection. So, I will try to add them as they are collected, but I will only add 1 or 2 a day, that way no one will have too much to read, and I can post regularly as well. So my next post will be one of my favorite stories that I have. I hope you enjoy.

The World As I See It

2010-01-18T21:21:00.000-07:00

The World As I See It:
Through Television From My Childhood
by Scott Lofgreen
　
　
I. Sesame Street
II. Gilligans Island
III. The Brady Bunch
IV. The Cosby Show
V. Scooby Doo

I. The Sesame Street taught me that people or whatever they were, were all different shapes and sizes, colors, and it didn't matter. It didn't matter to anyone. Tall, short, black, white, brown, deaf, blind, male, female, thin or fat, we are all people and no one was better than another.
II. Gilligans Island taught me that people were different. Not everyone was a movie star, nor was everyone smart. Not everyone was rich and not everyone could be the leader. Some people were humble and some people were goofy, but it didn't matter, because people everywhere were decent, nice people. They all did different things in life and sometimes they didn't hang out together because their interests were diffferent, but in the end everyone had a place. It was ok, to be different and not conform just to fit in.
III. The Brady's were a large family and they stuck with each other no matter what. Were the Bradys rich? I don't know. Were they well to do, sure. The house was big, they had a house keeper and the kids had braces so they had some money. Also they were able to take vacations, but did they have money? That we will never know and that is the way people should live. What I mean to say is some people have money and they want the world to see it and to know it. Other people have money and no one knows it by the way they live. I am not against people having money and having nice things, I just think if a person has to flaunt it, they are very insecure and usually not very nice. Something is wrong with rich mean people.
IV. The Cosby's were another large family and they were another picture of a happy family that I can relate to. Again the question is were they rich? I believe that they were because of a few things. One of those things is that both parents worked and had good jobs, jobs which most people associate with making money. Another of those things is an episode where the kids asked if they were rich and Mr. Cosby said we (meaning mom and dad) are rich, you (meaning the kids) aren't. This is a funny but true way I think life is, or should be. Kids shouldn't be handed the world on a platter just because mom and dad worked hard. It is fine if parents want to give their kids things or make their lives better, but kids need to work and earn too.
V. Scooby Doo also had a group of people trying to get along, everyone with their own strengths and weaknesses, but they were accepted for who and what they were, and never made to conform or become like someone else because that other persons way was better. It is also ok to be good at what you do and do it well, no matter what your age.

Today we hear all kinds of things about being politically correct and make sure that we never say or do anything to offend someone, but then someone else due to some other rule or exception is allowed to break this made up rule. I get sick trying to figure it all out and keep it straight. What I have learned is simple: Treat other people wether they are tall or short, fat or skinny, black or white, male or female, the same way that I want to be treated, with respect and honesty. When I see a person, I am not stupid. I can see what color their skin is, just the same way I can see what car they drive, what clothes they wear, how they style and color their hair. I can accept that they are different from me and be ok with that. I can see that some people like to smoke, some like to drink, some like to read books, and some like to be the center of attention. Some people would rather sit alone in a corner and some in front of a computer or television. Some people would love to live in the open outdoors and some hate being away from the hustle of the city. We can all have different likes and still be friends and be respectful to each other and allow for our differences. I have learned that family is important. Some people have large families and some have small. Some people may have surrogate families including neighbors, friends or workers, but we all are looking for a family to accept us and be loyal to us. A family is a place where we can be ourselves without worry, we can let our guard down. People seem to be the most comfortable and the happiest at this time. I have also learned to work hard and if I have or have not, it doesn't matter nor will it dictate the way I behave or treat others. Sure I want to be able to provide for my needs as well as my family, but I don't need to have a billion dollars and 15 houses with 3 cars in each garage to be happy. Simple needs make for less stress and less stress makes for a happier home.
I don't know why I wrote this. Just listening to some people complain about our country and how it kind of sucks and racisism and all the talk about illegal aliens and a "black president." It amazed me to hear so much about equality and how we are all people and find that so many people still dont get it or understand it. It seems so logical to me. I am a person. You are a person. Nice to meet you.

Not doing my job here.....

2008-09-19T19:58:00.002-07:00

My wife says I don't blog enough!! I know, I know, I don't. I can admit it. Sometimes it just seems so overwhelming to me to have to sit down and think of something to say, and then find the time to devote to writing it. Then, I don't write for a while and then there is too much to say, and I have to figure out what I want to omit in my update....... It is a vicious cycle. I will try to update. You all need to remember that in real life, I tend to be a storyteller and include ALL the details, so this is really hard for me. lol (feel sorry for me here) I am writing this the same way I would tell it to you if you were standing in front of me usually. The only difference is every once in a while I will delete paragraphs. (be thankful because I am shortening the story) LOL.

Once upon a time, there was this guy.......
The END

How about that? Short and sweet. J/K

Things I can update about.....my job, my family, my church calling. I will leave the family updates to my wife, cause she does such a good job at it. If you don't know it, she is listed as one of the blogs I check. I bet you can pick which one it is!! She is much better at blogging than I am and she is also a good story teller. She make me laugh reading the updates so I am sure you would enjoy them also. So that leaves me with my work and my church calling.

Lets start with the job. I have worked at Sun Devil Auto now for almost 3 months. It is still a good job. Last month, the man that hired me came out to my store and told the manager that he was taking me out to lunch. I was all like....ok. Sure. (Am I getting fired? Am I being promoted? What did I do? Maybe I really screwed something up....what was it?) Long story short, (no I didn't delete anything here) he said, "I want you to know that we have to let some people in the company go, but that isn't you. I don't want you to worry about your job." He then went on to tell me that he thought I was doing a good job and he had only heard good things about me. He did tell me that I was going to have to start sharing my time between stores. I would work M,W,F at one store and T,TH at another store. Neither store was making enough money to have a full time employee there but they were making enough to need more than what they have. So basically for the last month I have be giving someone a day off at each store, but I also have been learning a lot. Each store is run differently, and I get the opportunity to see these different ways and can form my own opinions on how I want to run my store when I get it. This last week I was asked to help give days off at yet another store and again see more differences. I like this ability to see and learn the different approaches but I miss the stability of knowing where my "home" store is and building relationships with my regular customers. I now have regular customers at 3 different stores! I really like being able to help people and I think the customers can see that I truly like helping them and I think that makes a difference. A couple of weeks ago, the man who hired my (who btw is named Dan) showed up at the store I was working at just because and while he was there told me to thank my dad for sending me to apply to work for them. What a neat complement! He then said twords the end of the month we would get together and talk about my permenant salary. (That hasn't happened yet, but I suspect it may happen on Tuesday.)
Today at work, I swear I had multiple "crazy" customers. People on the phone just asking random questions and other people needing me to be "his homie" (I think that is how to spell it.) Today was busy and then with everything else that went on, I just get overwhelmed trying to think how to tell you without going overboard. Suffice it to say, I think I was phone shopped by the company ( to make sure I am doing my job the way they want me to ) at least 3 different times in 1 hour. It was funny. Trust me, and I will just leave it at that.

My church calling is still as Sunday School President. I got things straightened out shortly after I took over, got every class organized as it was supposed to be, got them all teachers, and it was good.....for about 2 weeks. Then one of the teachers that I had inhereted was no longer going to be a teacher because she had a new calling and it was going to be to difficult for her to do them both, so I told her not to worry, I would cover it for her. I got another teacher for her and again things were good for a couple of months. If you are not familiar with the Mormon church, the church is run by volunteers. No one is paid to do this and we are given callings to do certain things, like be teachers or run the Sunday School. Well, from time to time, someone in a different area will need help and call someone to their area and usually that means the give up the first calling to accept the second. Well that happened about 1 month ago again, so I need to find a new teacher. One of the teachers that I already have, informs me that she only has 2 boys in her class and they would really rather be in another class because they feel uncomfortable being all alone. So I combine the 2 classes together and move the one teacher over to teach the other class. (I am so smart, I think.) Problem solved. Last week I am told "oh and by the way, we are taking 2 more people from you." So now I am back to looking for help again. It is a never ending process sometimes. I think I know what I am going to do, but I have to run it by the bishop first and get approval. We shall see.

So anyways, I think that is enough for now. If you made it this far, wow. I am impressed, you must really want to know, and I thank you for your interest. Feel free to give me heck if you want to, but I really will try to post more so they can be shorter posts!! (I don't have any idea what happened to the camera, but if it turns up and I can find the cable to download the pics to the pc, I will get somemore on here, one way or the other. Hey, I have 6 kids remember?!? lol )

Better late than never...update

2008-08-04T21:15:00.003-07:00

It has been a while since I updated and so I thought I would take a minute to do so. The last week of June, I decided that I was gonna start really trying to get my automotive job. I don't know exactly why I was limiting myself to Dealerships, (actually I do.....it is my teachers fault) but I figured since they weren't calling, it was time to give up on them. I mentioned to a few people that I was going to go start hitting the other places and got a few suggestions. I had chosen a few that I was going to start with and mentioned to my parents that I was going to try Sun Devil Auto, where dad takes all the cars for the mission. I asked who I should talk to etc. and advise, but then my dad happened to go in to the building before I got there and mentioned to them that I was looking for work. It just so happened that they were looking for someone, so Randy the manager told my dad to have me stop in that day to fill out an app. I left after I got the message and went to the store. This was a Tuesday. On Wednesday, I got a call from the man in the corporate office that does the hiring, and we met for an interview. I was offered the job and asked to start the next day. Thursday, the 26th of June, I started my new job. It has turned out to be the job. It was what I wanted. It wasn't too big, or too small. It wasn't all the stuff I worried it would be (different than in Minnesota) and it really was about the perfect fit for me, exactly what I wanted. Here it is, over a month later and I still feel this way about the job. I really can settle here and lay down some roots. I am able to use most of the skills that I learned in Minnesota at this job, so it seems as if I was training for it.
We, my family and I, are getting back on our feet again, and it wont be long before we can pay down some debt and wont have to live off of the maxed out credit cards. We really are grateful for the blessings we have been given with the support of our loved ones around us. I am very grateful for my wife, for the infinite amount of patience she has shown me and for the unwavering support she has given and will always give. I truly am blessed in many ways and I do have a great family both immediate and extended. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes to all. Take care.

important video to watch

2008-06-02T11:54:00.001-07:00

This Video is just over 11 1/2 min long. Take time to watch it, when you wont be botherd and can watch it all at once. It is fine to watch with children, just don't get distracted by them.

weekly update

2008-01-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, this week, I started working at Discover card. It is a pretty decent place to work so far. It really seems like it could be a good job, not to difficult tho and eventually it might put a person to sleep. I will have to see tho. I have had my share of no brain required jobs and can do another one for a while. I just might have to transfer to different departments as soon as I feel no brain is required. They keep telling me that the hardest part to the job is getting used to the jobs computer program and all the screens we have to know. I did find out that this training that I am taking is worth 7 college credits, so if I ever decide to continue my schooling, I will get some additional credits out of the way.
Because of the proximity of the Discover card office to my house, I have decided to try and save as much money as possible and ride my bike to work everyday. I may drive on rainy days tho. Not only does that help with the pollution problem suffered by too many drivers in Phoenix, but I get daily excercize and Discover enters their employees in monthly drawings if they take alternative transportation to work. So it is possible I can win a plasma screen tv (I would have to take the car to work that day!!) or a $20 gift card. It all helps tho. Even if I don't win anything, the better shape I will be in and the money saved from driving will eventually add up.

At church, I am the sunday school president. I am in charge of making sure every class has a teacher and each teacher knows what they are supposed to be teaching. I also have to make sure we have someone in the library and all the kids make it to class. As of now, we have no librarian called, so I and one of my councelers have been taking care of those duties. One of my teachers decided that she didn't want to teach anymore this year and because of a real lack of communication on my part, she didn't plan to teach anymore this year. That means, no teacher for some class. Long story short, I ended up teaching today. I was under the impression that the classes were divided up as 12-13 yr olds, 14-15 yr olds, 16-17 yr olds. Once 18 the kids are supposed to start going to class with the adults. So I am supposed to teach the 14-15 yr olds. I get to class and find out that the classes are broken down like this, 12 yr olds, 13-14 yr olds, 16-17-18yr olds. Notice, no teacher at all for the 15 yr olds!! I am like, WHAT IS GOING ON!! I am going to have to totally re-organize the sunday school. I have to get like 3 new teachers. I can always teach, but I am not supposed to do that, I am supposed to find someone else to teach. We shall see what happens.
Well that is about all for me this week. I hope this finds you all well and I will post more later.

P.S. I don't really have any pictures to add, Kayelee is supposed to be this budding photographer, but I can't get her to take any pictures that I want to use. I will get some this week, one way or another!

another job update

2008-01-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

I start working at Discover tomorrow. I have contacted the Mercedes dealer and the service department is not open yet. They are going to start soon but already have a couple of guys hired to start. Soon they will be hiring more. The service manager has said he will keep me posted as to when that happens. Maybe about the time I am done training at Discover, I will be contacted by him to talk about working there. I hope.

Job search update

2008-01-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

Ok. Here is the latest info for those that care.
I applied to work at Discover Card about 2 weeks ago. The interview went well, but I was honest with the interviewer and told them that this was going to be a second job if a 1st job ever came around, that was why I wanted night shift. Everything was ok, but they weren't sure about my commentment to them should a good job come along. I promised that I would stay there at least 1 year if they would hire me and they said they would get back to me. Well this last Thursday, they offered me a job. I will start on the 18th of January in the Marketing Services Department. Basically, when a person gets a card and has to call the number to activate their card, they will be calling me. At that time, it is my job to verify they are who they are supposed to be and I am supposed to offer them additional services like insurance against job loss, or identity theft, etc. I will be eligible for insurance benefits right away and will be making over $10 an hour. Those are nice things. So for sure I have a job now.
Heather and I drove around Bell road from Hayden (Bell is Frank Lloyd Wright at that intersection--in Scottsdale) and headed to 93rd Ave. (which is the Arrowhead area of Peoria) and wrote down every automobile dealership along the way. I am going to be trying to get a job at any of these 1st before I start driving to south Phoenix looking for work. We say a Mercedes-Benz dealership in the Arrowhead area that is brand new and advertising out front that they were now open. I went back with a shirt and tie and left a resume. The lady I spoke with really seemed like she wanted to help me get a job there and asked me to call back on Friday to speak with the Service Manager. Right now, the service department isn't even open yet. They have 2 service writers hired right now, but will eventually want 6. It will open on the 28th of January. It seems like this could be a good opportunity for me to get my foot in the door. I could see myself working here forever and setting up roots, and I have always loved Mercedes and this would be an awesome opportunity for me and my family. I tried to talk with the Service Manager on Friday, but in the morning he was busy helping some customers and I was told I should call back later, but that didn't work out as he was still busy. Because of the fact that this is a new store, he is actually working at another store also and had to go there too, so I tried to contact him over there later in the day, but only got his voice mail. I will try to call him back on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc., until I get to talk to him. Hopefully, he will see fit to give me a chance to work for him. I love the look of the place, the location isn't too far from home and I just really want this. So for those of you who feel like praying for me and my family, please pray for this. If it happens or doesn't happen, I will let you know the details when I know something. Thanks for reading and keeping up with all of this.
It seems like maybe things will be starting to turn around after the fire after all. We have heard that the house in Minnesota has finally been finished, and we can officially sell it now. We haven't heard anything from the adjuster since August 23rd and are out of money even though they still owe us. Now that I have some job prospects, maybe we can start to move forward again. Our fingers are crossed.

Thoughts to Ponder

2008-01-09T18:15:00.000-07:00

My niece shared these and I thought they were worth repeating.

When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.
Successful people are positive people.
If you think you have no faults, that makes one more.
A good place to find a helping hand is at the end of your arm.
When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.
If you can do something with your eyes closed, it's time to find something new.
The game of life is a lot like football; you have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score points when you get the opportunity.
The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter.
You can't get much done by starting tomorrow.
If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?
No rule for success will work if you don't.
You can't change the past, but you can ruin a perfectly good present by worrying about the future.

weekly recap

2008-01-06T23:19:00.001-07:00

Well it is Sunday night and I thought I might try to give a little recap on the week. (At least the things I want to talk about again.) I applied to work at Lund Cadillac and also at Discover Card. I interviewed at Discover and haven't heard from Lund yet. I called as instructed on Friday and Lund told me to call back m-f 8-3 for more info next week. Tomorrow morning I plan on calling early and every day until I am told not to call or they give me an interview. When I went to apply there, I thought it interesting to note that the uniform is a white long sleeve shirt and tie. I don't think I will have to break the bank to buy new clothes to fit it if hired there! The interview at Discover went well, the post they are hiring for will not start for a couple of weeks yet, but they weren't sure if they wanted to hire me due to the expense of training and such, seeing as I appear to be looking for employment at car dealerships. I explained I wouldn't mind working a night shift opposite my full time job, but they weren't sure. Other than that, they liked me and would want to hire me. It is in someone else's hand now. I think I may just talk to Sherri, mom and dad's friend, and see if I can get a job with her for a little while.
Tobias had strep this past week and has been cranky, whiny and stinky! He has been on his meds for 9 days now, and still his lymph nodes are swollen. This by the way is an infection that he caught while taking antibiotics for his ear infections. We are not convinced that he is well yet, and I think we may end up going back to the doctor again. It would seem that we were careful enough that no one else in the family got strep. A few of the family have mild symptoms of some kind of cold at most. I woke up this morning extremely nauseous and i have a killer headache still. I got a little relief when I took some pepto, but it is still a lingering feeling.
Well that is really all the updates for now. I will post something again in a couple of days, and try to add some pictures. TTFN

no new job yet

2008-01-01T23:29:00.000-07:00

Well, since I am out of money, my cards are all maxed out and I haven't gotten my good job yet, I am going out of town again, still working for the concrete company. I talked to the owner briefly on Sunday and told him that I didn't know when his office was open because every time I had gone by to check the schedule or pick up my checks the door was always locked. He told me someone is supposed to be there at 8 but is often late and they leave at 3. They really wanted me to go to Yuma with them but they thought I had quit since I hadn't talked to anyone lately. He told me they were going out of town on Wednesday and I said I would go. I still am hoping for a better job, but I am feeling really stressed about things and I feel like I have no choice to keep working here until something better happens, no matter how much this job stinks. They have changed the way the hours and money made appears on the paychecks again so it is hard to figure out what is what, but if I work from 6 to 6 Wednesday to Friday, I will expect to take home about $250. That is better than nothing I guess. Well it is way past my bedtime since I have to get up in about 5 hours, I better go. I will keep in touch as my schedule allows.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

I know it is a little late to be saying this, but I still feel like it is the Christmas season. I know the stores already have Valentines stuff out for sale, and New Years eve is tomorrow, but it still feels like Christmas. In years past, I have not looked forward to Christmas very much. I was always unhappy at that time of year, due to unspoken but felt demands and pressures etc. I also didn't like what society was and is doing to Christmas, making it into a season only to sustain the health of the economy, and at the same time refusing to allow us to celebrate the birth of Christ. I don't know what it was exactly this year, but I think I have had a change of heart. I am going to celebrate Christmas for what it is, and not for what someone else tells me it is. I can't really explain it, but for this: This is a time to celebrate Christ's birth. He was sent here for me and you and it was a great gift from my Heavenly Father. I will give gifts to others to show them my love and not because Walmart needs me to help them pay their employees. I will give to the bell ringers, because I know others in my neighborhood may have needs that would otherwise remain unmet, and because that is the way I can show Jesus and my Heavenly Father that I love them. I will continue to hand out dollar bills to the needy or the homeless, even if they are scamming me, because I would hate to pass one by, one that might go hungry because I couldn't be bothered to help, because I judged him or her to be unfit to receive my charity or help. I would hate to be ignored in my time of need, because someone thought I was undeserving. Christmas time is more than a date on a calender. It is more than a day when a stranger named Santa Clause brings gifts and leaves them under the tree. Christmas is the ultimate celebration of the life of Christ. It is an attitude as well as a date. I realized this truth this year and have decided to try and celebrate instead of dread. In making this decision, I have also decided to try and keep Christmas in my heart all year long. Will I be whistling Christmas songs in June? Hopefully.

On a slightly different but also similar note, I want to say, that Santa is real. Santa is a person that knows us and loves us and gives us presents to show love and spread happiness. I am here to say that I always have had presents from Santa. Now Santa may not come down the chimney, or wear red clothes and be over sized...... but I always have someone who has given something to me or my family that was a show of love and kindness, and something to spread happiness. My family this year has had more than one Santa. A new young couple in our ward, moved here in August I think, donated gift cards and helped my wife and I purchase things for our children. Other people in our ward donated food and money to help those who might have needs for Christmas and the donations were so great, that many people were richly blessed. I happen to know that my family was not one of those listed that may need help. The mere fact that we received 2 full boxes of food and an envelope full of money for Christmas just overwhelms me to the point that I know the other families would have been taken care of FIRST and there was this much left over. Santa, and Christ through these other people have truly blessed me and my family.

Today I am feeling truly blessed. I still am struggling with trying to find a good permanent job, that will allow me to pay the bills and save some money, but I have so much to be thankful for. With that said, I just want to wish you all again a Merry Christmas, and hope your lives are as full of blessings as mine is. If you find yourself lacking, I would advise you to do something nice for someone else and you will receive blessings or be shown a different view of your life and you will find the blessings you have missed.

May our loving Heavenly Father bless you this next year and always. May we always have Christmas in our lives, and a song in our hearts.

some misc pics

2007-12-23T21:11:00.001-07:00

William, hamming it up for the camera.

Tyler, too cool for school!

Anders GQ cover shot!!

Tobias being spiderman, cool man rocker!

Brett and Kayelee playing games on the pc!

My new location

2007-12-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

They say it all is a matter of location......

It seems that some of my family that blogs, all use this arena to do so, and I have noticed that some use quite a few pictures in their blog. I have an interest in photos and a digital camera, so I decided to try this location out and see if I can learn something.

I will try to maintain my older blog too, but we shall see what happens.

TTFN