We always MUST have the following homemade Christmas goodies in our home:

1. Spritz cookies
2. Peppermint almond bark
3. White almond bark-dipped pretzels
4. Almond brittle

I didn't realize it until just now, but all four items have something "almond" in them, if only in name.  The spritz cookies have almond extract flavoring in them.

I made the almond brittle yesterday.  We use almonds instead of peanuts because we like it SO much more that way.  It takes a good long time to make, since you have to cook it to 375°, then add the nuts, which cools the mixture WAY down, and then you have to bring it back up to 395°.  It's worth it though.

We also make a cheese ball with a sister-in-law's recipe and eat it with Ritz crackers, and we have all sorts of chips and dips and munchies.  And then there's the list of candy and chocolate...  This time of the year is FUN!

So...  What goodies are on your MUST HAVE list?  Tell me in your comment below.

Last night was the end of an era in our household:  We went to our last Pack Meeting.

My younger son received his "Arrow of Light" last night.  He received it from a "Chief" that also presented him with an arrow made by a Native American.

This ends almost 6 years of Cub Scouts in our house.  Next month, the younger son will be an 11-year-old Boy Scout.  There's a saga that will continue for quite some time.

I'm not going to miss it...  But it's yet another sign that my days as a parent with children at home are numbered.  THAT makes me sad.

Yesterday, my house smelled a little bit like it must smell in heaven all the time.

It started when I started baking. I made fresh bread dough. I love the yeasty smell of rising bread dough. I split the dough into portions just right for making bread bowls and I baked them. They turned out perfectly! They were golden brown with a chewy crust... And the whole house smelled like freshly-baked bread dough.

Then I made clam chowder to put in the bread bowls. The heavenly smells in the house changed to include the smells of vegetables cooking in clam stock. The chowder I make is very thick and creamy.

This is why I love to cook. I love the smells, the anticipation involved, and when the end result turns out exactly like you want it... It just doesn't get any better than that.

So last night, we had creamy, thick clam chowder in homemade bread bowls as we looked out at the snow and cold outside. It was comfort food at its finest. (And we have leftovers for tonight!!)

When we came back from looking at Christmas lights, I made spritz cookies in Christmas shapes. The heavenly scent in the house changed again to smell like buttery, almond-flavored cookies. Mmmmmmm.....

The other night, we watched the lighting of the "Holiday" tree at Rockefeller Center in New York.  It's an annual tradition at our house.  We listen to the different performers give their sometimes great, sometimes not-so-great renditions of "Holiday" songs and we wait for the lighting of the tree.

This year, I felt bad for Al Roker as he had to (with a straight face, mind you) explain that it is a "green" "Holiday" tree this year.  He explained that it was an 84-foot-tall Norway spruce that was nearing the end of its life.  It was lit this year with 30,000 LEDs instead of light bulbs, that they had installed solar panels on the roof of Rockefeller Center, and that it was even cut down with a hand saw to save on carbon emissions.

Give me a break!  It's not a Holiday tree, it's a CHRISTMAS tree.  It might have been cut with a hand saw, but it was probably being held up by a 100-foot-tall diesel-powered crane at the time.  It was driven from Connecticut to Rockefeller Center on a diesel-powered truck, and was lifted into place by another exhaust-belching crane.

Pretty soon, it won't be at all acceptable to cut down a Christmas tree at all, even if it was a tree grown in a nursery for the express purpose of being harvested and placed in someone's living room to create a seasonal fire hazard.

MY tree is a Christmas tree and it, too, is green.  It was made from petroleum and steel in what I am sure was a very industrial process and it NEVER ONCE was alive to remove any carbon from the atmosphere.

Take THAT, you politically correct holiday wreckers!  And Merry Christmas!

When I woke up on Thursday morning to fly home from Washington DC, I was excited actually.  I was tired out from all of the walking and learning and singing and the many other things I had done in my few days in the DC area.  It just felt like it was time to go home.

I woke up plenty early to catch my flight, took a quick shower, packed the last few items, and checked out of my hotel room.  The hotel where I stayed has a Delta e-check-in computer at the front desk, so I decided to check in and save a step at the airport.  But for some strange reason, it wouldn't let me check in.

When I got to the airport, I decided to try to save time again by checking in at the self-check-in kiosk.  I swiped my SkyMiles card and the stupid kiosk told me that it couldn't find any flights for me.  What the??

I went to the nice lady at the check-in counter and gave her my SkyMiles card.  She swiped it, and SHE couldn't check me in.  WHAT THE??

It took her about 2 minutes of trying to figure things out before she looked at the travel date on my itinerary.  It wasn't until Thursday, 6 DECEMBER.  WHAT THE????

That's when I realized that I had probably clicked the wrong thing in the online booking tool when I originally made my reservations.  I had clicked one month too low in the drop-down list box and then had simply selected the first Thursday of the month for my return flight.  I wasn't scheduled to fly home for almost a month!  BIG oops!

The extremely nice lady at the check-in counter then went to work to find a way for me to get home.  The next flight to Atlanta was full, but the flight after that would still get me home before 4:00 that afternoon.  I would have to HURRY back from the airport to teach my class at UVSC that evening, but I would still make it.  The lady was even nice enough to save me some money.  She could switch my ticket directly to the flight I wanted to be on for a change fee of over $350, since there were no "cheap" seats left on that flight.  Instead, she switched me to a later flight that still had cheap seats for a change fee of $75 and then she switched me to the earlier flight for a change fee of $50 since I had a same-day confirmed flight.  My stupidity had cost my company $125, but that's a heckuvalot cheaper than staying in hotels and paying for meals for A MONTH.

During my layover in Atlanta, they changed the gate (and concourse, might I add) of my departing flight, but I made it back to Salt Lake, and the plane even landed early!

I picked up my baggage (some of the FIRST off the plane!) and ran right out and got on a bus to the FIRST stop in long-term parking.  I breezed out of the parking lot and headed south to Utah Valley...

...

...not knowing that there was a BYU football game starting in a couple of hours at Lavell Edwards Stadium.

I ended up being a half hour late for my class because of that stoopid traffic.  I was able to call someone in the UVSC math lab who said they would tell my class that I was on my way.  Apparently, they never did, because when I showed up, there were only three students left.  Thanks a lot, Math Lab Guy.

After class, I was finally able to go HOME.  I was VERY thankful just to be home again.

I'm in the middle of a problem with T-Mobile. Sometimes, I receive text messages (or phone calls) from wrong numbers. Sometimes, I've given my cellular phone number to friends or acquaintances or students or cast members that text me instead of calling me and I have to tell them that I don't have text messaging on my calling plan and that each text message costs me 15 cents. They don't text me any more, but it's still an annoyance that I was charged 15 cents for something that I didn't request and that I have absolutely no control over.

I called T-Mobile Customer Care last week and argued with a person I couldn't understand (he needed to speak more slowly and enunciate) and this person's supervisor. The bottom line was that it's "not currently possible" for T-Mobile to block text messages from my account. I sent an email to T-Mobile's customer care explaining how this was not acceptable to me and received the following response:

Dear DeShawn Smith,

Hi DeShawn, my name is ***** and thank you for contacting T-Mobile and giving me the chance to help you today. I see you emailed online customer care about blocking text messages. I know how frustrating it is to receive unwanted messages, I am sorry that you are considering cancelling your service because of this safety feature.

Regrettably, DeShawn we cannot block text messages as this is our primary way of providing you with updates, passwords and reminders; you will not be charged for any text messages sent from T-Mobile. This is done for your security to ensure that you are notified of any account changes to help protect against unauthorized changes. I am sure you would be unhappy if someone made changes to your plan without your permission and we never notified you.

It is not possible to adjust any text messaging charges DeShawn, I am sorry you were not aware of this before. Please alert the police if you are being harassed for that would be a legal matter.

DeShawn if you cancel before your contract end date there would be a $200.00 Early Termination Fee for a $400 total. If you still want to terminate your service your request must be done over the phone as we are not able to do so via email. I regret I am unable to fulfill your request today. We value your business and our customer care team is on hand seven days a week to discuss your service.

If you have any new questions DeShawn, please reply referencing case # #######. You can call business care toll free at 1-800-375-1126 or 611 then SEND from your phone and we will be happy to help you. Thank you DeShawn, for being a valued T-Mobile customer since September of 2006.

Sincerely,
******* *. Rep ID ########
Customer Care Specialist
T-Mobile USA

Yes, that email was completely useless. It didn't give me any information that I didn't already have. I was relieved that he didn't cancel my contract (I hadn't requested that my contract be canceled, just that I wasn't going to continue after my contract lapsed), but I wasn't given a satisfactory reason for the lack of ability to block text messages. So this morning, I sent this response back to customer care:

Case # #######

Thank you, *****.

What you are telling me makes absolutely no sense from a logical standpoint. My previous cellular phone service blocked all text messages, yet still sent me text messages about updates, passwords, and reminders and did not charge me for the text messages. Another previous cellular phone service did not charge me for the first dozen (or so?) text messages I received each month, realizing that I was probably receiving text messages meant for another number or that sometimes, inconsiderate people would send me text messages even though I had specifically asked them NOT to do so. If the first option is not available, why would the second option not be available? It's really not a difficult thing.

I never requested that my contract be canceled before the contract end date, so I'm certainly glad you were unable to fulfill what was incorrectly perceived to be a request.

As a software engineer and Certified Information Systems Security Practitioner, (https://www.isc2.org/cgi-bin/content.cgi?category=97) I am constantly concerned with the security of software. I am always looking for the latest exploits and attacks and how they could be used to compromise the security of the software that I write. I know how easy it would be for a hacker to write a simple script that could send a flood of hundreds, or even thousands of text messages to a phone number (via a service such as Yahoo! Instant Messenger) that would each appear to come from a different number, therefore making the "feature" of blocking single numbers useless against such an "attack." Someone would need only my cellular phone number to write such a script and cause hundreds of dollars worth of charges to appear on my account without my consent. From a security perspective, not allowing a customer to block text messages not originating from T-Mobile is a potential nightmare.*

I know that you are a customer care specialist and that your job is to handle jerks like me who call/email and complain about things that you have absolutely no control over. Is there someone else that I could contact in a product management or marketing type role (i.e. NOT customer care) that would be able to discuss this situation with me?

I'm happy to have been a valued T-Mobile customer since September, 2006. I can assure you that I will continue to be a valued T-Mobile customer until September, 2008 when my current contract expires. Unless something is done to make me a HAPPY T-Mobile customer before September, 2008, I will opt against renewing my contract.

Thank you,

DeShawn Smith

*Please do not misconstrue this hypothetical situation as a threat of any kind. As a Certified Information Systems Security Practitioner, I am bound by a code of ethics that would preclude me from any such illegal or unethical behavior.

We'll see what they have to say. I doubt they'll ever give me the contact information for anyone who can actually make any kind of decision. If anyone reading this has T-Mobile and wants to invite me to send them 10,000 text messages within a 24-hour period as a proof of concept, it would be a fun exercise to try. If you invited me to write a script that would send you 10,000 text messages, it would be neither illegal nor unethical behavior to do so. Of course, don't do such a thing unless you have unlimited text messaging as part of your rate plan.

1. I've never been on a cruise and I probably never will go. My wife doesn't like the idea of going on a cruise at all, and it would be total dullsville to go one without her, so cruising is not in my future vacation plans.

2. I teach clarinet lessons. I only have one student, but she is making marked improvement. Maybe I'll try to take on another student or two.

3. My parents spelled my name with an apostrophe when I was younger (and often still do): De'Shawn. When I realized that the apostrophe wasn't on my birth certificate, I dropped it since I never really liked it.

4. When I started college, I was planning on medical school. I even certified as an EMT and rode ambulance for a while. But two things got in my way: Chemistry and Empathetic Emesis. The second was a bigger problem than the first. With some stick-to-it-ive-ness, I could have done much better in chemistry, but nothing (including such wacky attempts as hypnosis and aversion therapy) cured me of the second.

5. I'm pretty good at needle work. I used to cross stitch a lot and I continue to work off and on (more off than on) on a plastic canvas Christmas village where each building in the village has a wind-up music box that plays a different Christmas song. I'm currently making a plastic canvas train that does a Christmas countdown. It won't be done in time for counting down this year.

6. The taste of cantaloupe makes my tongue want to crawl out of my mouth and run away. I've WANTED to like it. It just isn't likable for me. I don't know how many times people have told me "but this is a really GOOOOOOOOD cantaloupe." So I try it, and it still tastes... like cantaloupe. *shudder*

7. Although I'm a very social person, I have relatively few real friends, but those friendships are deep and real, not fluffy and superficial.

I tag Laylabean, Russ, and Julie.

One opportunity I just couldn't pass up while in the Washington DC area was the chance to sing with the Alexandria Harmonizers.

My first big Barbershop event was the 1998 International convention in Atlanta, Georgia.  I was singing with the Saltaires Show Chorus, the Wasatch Front chapter of what was then called the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, Inc.  (S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A), now the Barbershop Harmony Society.  The Alexandria Harmonizers won the chorus competition that year.   My chorus came in 9th.

I became quite active in Barbershop singing.  I sang with the Saltaires for almost 3 years, I tried many times to get my own quartet together (with varying levels of success), and at one point, I even directed the Utah Valley Skyline Chorus, the Utah Valley Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

When I found out that my hotel was only a couple of metro stops away from where the Alexandria Harmonizers rehearse, I decided to stop in for a Tuesday evening rehearsal.

It was a lot of fun.  I had almost forgotten what it was like to sing with a large group.  I had almost forgotten how much I love and appreciate good harmony.

They were very welcoming.  They even gave me a "I Sang With the Alexandria Harmonizers" button and sent a postcard to me to thank me for coming and singing with them.  A very class act!

I received the following (unedited for your enjoyment) email a few minutes ago:

We are at search and selection of both experienced, highly qualified employees, and young, creative and perspective specialists in marketing. We clearly realize that the success of our company  are our employees, and therefore creation for them of maximally favorable conditions to maintain and improve their professional level is in our opinion not less important task.
We appreciate such merits of employees as initiative, leadership, ability to work with people, striving for self-improvement. Employees with such merits have an excellent opportunity to make successful career at us.
If you wish to work in our team, if you are ready to active and dynamic work, we invite you to acquaint yourself with vacancy.
The preference is given to employees with knowledge of foreign languages.
To apply for this job, please send the following information to <email address redacted>

1 Full name
2 Address of residing
3 Contact Phone numbers
4 Languages
5 Part time job/Full time

Thank you and we are looking forward to cooperate in long term base with you all.

Wow.  Too bad I'm happily employed.  This one is almost too good to pass up.

Almost.

I visited two very large church buildings while in the Washington DC Area. Both were amazing in their own way.

I first visited the Washington DC LDS temple. It's a strikingly beautiful building. I heard people talk about what it looks like from the beltway at night, but until you see it, it's really beyond description. A few years ago, while heading to Legoland with my family, I drove around a bend in the freeway and saw the San Diego temple with its white stone and shining spires, and it was certainly an awe-inspiring sight, but it pales in comparison to the sight of Washington DC temple as seen from the beltway. It really seems to be hovering in the air over the road. It's truly amazing.

Inside, it's a beautiful temple as well. It's a bit dated in its colors and fabrics, but it's beautiful nonetheless. The cut glass windows extending from bottom to top along both sides of the temple are amazing. It's a little different from other LDS temples in that it doesn't have a chapel where you go to wait for the start of a temple session. Instead, people meet outside the dressing rooms, and then proceed directly upstairs where a brass sign with lights shows you which room to go to for the next endowment session. Most temples have seats on either side of a central aisle, but the Washington DC Temple has uninterrupted rows of seats.

Despite its differences, the spirit I felt there is the same as that I've felt in other temples. The same spirit of calm and peace prevails. I'm truly glad I took time out of my busy sightseeing schedule to attend the temple in the DC area.

Adjacent to the temple is a visitors center. They had an exhibit about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was fun to see some things and learn about the choir. It was also neat to remember some of the roots of my own testimony of the restored Gospel--roots tied in part to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The other "large church" that I visited was the National Cathedral. It was amazing in its own way. I love stained glass, and because of that, the National Cathedral was a treat for me. I took lots and lots of pictures of stained glass. My favorite window turned out to have a piece of moon rock in it.

An additional treat was provided by a small choir that was rehearsing before the afternoon mass. The choir was made up of about 10 children and a dozen adults. Together, they filled the cathedral with heavenly sound. It was amazing to look into the children's faces as they sang. One of the children--the only girl--mesmerized me as I could see how much she was enjoying and feeling the music she was singing.

After leaving, I circled the cathedral looking for the "Darth Vader" gargoyle on the outside, but not knowing where it was, I never did find it...which was sad, since I was wearing a Darth Vader tie that day.