Blogsy

This is a test of a new program called Blogsy that allows me to update my blog from my iPad. If it works, it will allow me to make frequent updates while I am in Spain. Let's try this short note for starters.

Then versus Than; To, too, or two.

These are two of the errors I see made too frequently when we wish to express ourselves now and then, but pick the wrong one rather than the right one (or two).

"To" is a preposition and an infinitive marker:
I want to go to the store.
"Too" is an adverb:
This is too much fun. [Here it is used to modify "much".]
I, too, want to go to the store. [Here it means "also."]
"Two" is a cardinal number (as opposed to an ordinal number, as second, not as opposed to a Bishop or Pope):
I too want to go to two stores.

"Then" is an adverb of time:

I like to go to the store now and then, too.

"Than" is a conjunction and a proposition:

I would rather go to the store with you than by myself.

I know you are smarter than I.

Spelling and Grammar Helps

As a language teacher, I spend a lot of time (not "alot") reading and correcting student papers, theses, etc. (not "ect."). I have become overly sensitive perhaps to spelling errors and the improper selection of homonyms, you know, those words that sound alike but that mean different things.

Therefore, I thought I would throw up a post on some of the most frequent errors I see from time to time for those who might be interested.

One caveat: I am a poor typist and I am aware that many errors are simply the result of the keyboard revealing the keys I push rather than the keys I had in mind. I know that many of my own errors in text messages, FB posts, and so on, result from my entry skills and from the spell checker changing my words. I am sure that most of your errors originate in the same way.

If these posts help, then great! They are not meant in any way to demean or demoralize.

Cuenca

Some pictures from one of my favorite towns in Spain: Cuenca. Mostly famous for the hanging houses, but also has a very colorful plaza. (As always, double click on an image to see a larger version of it.)

Gran Vía and Alcalá, Madrid

Merge point of two of Madrid's most famous boulevards, Calle de Alcalá and the Gran Vía. Do you prefer color or Black & White?

Gijón, Spain: Sunrise

Gijón, Spain: Sunset

Granada, Spain

It's been quite a while since I've posted here, especially since we've all discovered Facebook; but my screensaver keeps reminding me that I need to post some more pictures from Spain.  So, here I go again. These are from the Alhambra in Granada.

On Salem Pond

Browsing through the photo album brought me to this photo I snapped last year on my way home, passing through Salem with the setting sun glowing through the trees and reflecting off the pond.  The snow on the ground, the leafless tree silhouettes and the bench in the shadows recall memories of winter camps with my sons and other boys.  In fact, today I shook hands with and hugged a very tall, very slender former scout of mine whose younger brother passed away at the age of 24 last week.  The memories of the difficult times with a much younger BJ whom I had to send home from a campout, yet who later became my Junior Assistant Scout Master and earned his Eagle, flooded back and I was reminded of the opportunities we have to offer friendship to those around us and perhaps help them along life's byways. And, perhaps, to judge less harshly those whose moccasins we've never worn.

To change the tone a bit, I'll anticipate Justin's comment relating to my last sentence with the altered version of the proverb: Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes—that way he'll be barefoot and you'll be a mile away before he realizes you've stolen his shoes.

Northern Spain

I really enjoy skies and sunsets.

Mt. Timpanogos

The view from my window today.

Michaelangelo

Michelangelo is quoted as saying "I hope that I may always desire more than I can accomplish." I remember the few times when I had nothing to do, and it was much worse than when I have had much more to do than I could handle.  One such time was after graduating from Ohio State and being unemployed.  My first job with Ph.D. in hand was to manage Unca' Bucks' car wash in San Fernando. California.  Then I was able to get a part time temporary position at BYU for $5 an hour for a few months, and when that ran out, it was back to looking for cars to detail.  I did that for a while until some friends at BYU put together a permanent administrative position for me, which I held for 3 years until a professorial slot opened up in the Spanish Department. 

It is nice to know, though, that I can always go back to cleaning cars if it were necessary; or delivering newspapers; or doing custodial work; or delivering dinner for Chicken Delight; or pumping gas for Chevron or Texaco; or washing cars for the US Postal Service; or teaching junior high; or . . . anyway, it's been good to be able to do a lot of things.  I still have a lot to do, so I'd better get busy.  I'll post a few pictures to improve the post first, though.

Autumn in the Rockies

While Justin may be gloating over the Atlanta fall season, we here in Utah have seasons of incomparable beauty, too.  In fact, some days you just have to pull over to the side of the road and stare in awe at the mountains that rise suddenly from the valley's edge.  Sometimes, you are even fortunate enough to snag a few photos to share.  Here you are:

Why worry?

Marie and I had a short discussion about worry, and judging from news reports regarding the economic problems, the wars, the lack of a good candidate to vote for in the upcoming elections, the health of babies born and unborn, ad nauseum, I recalled a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson that I felt was apropos:

Some of your hurts you have cured,

And the sharpest you still survived,

But what torments of grief you endured

From the evils which never arrived.

I also remember a wall hanging that reflected the needlessness of worrying:

Why worry?

There are only two things to worry about:

You are either healthy or ill.

If you are healthy, there is nothing to worry about;

If you are ill, there are only two things to worry about:

You will either recover or you will die.

If you recover, there is nothing to worry about;

If you die, there are only two things to worry about:

You will either go to Heaven or you will go to Hell.

If you go to Heaven, there is nothing to worry about;

If you go to Hell, you will be so busy greeting all your friends,

you won't have time to worry!

And Calvin Coolidge had this to say:

"If you see ten troubles coming down the road, 

you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you."

And finally, from the tummies of Steven and Justin and FRIENDS:

"Don't worry. Be happy!"

(Remember those days!?)

More boats

This photo shows the Tormes River with the cathedral in Salamanca in the background.

Green and Blue Spain

There are many parts of Spain that are blue and green. Here are some photos of northern southern Spain.

The 502 (Discussed below)

(Click on any picture to see a larger version with details.)

Back from Berdoo

Each year about this time, the City of San Bernardino, affectionately known as Berdoo, hosts the Route 66 Rendezvous -- a unique style of classic car show wherein some 1900 cars drive and park, park and drive, drive and park, and so on, for 4 days, all the while revving their engines (with open headers) in some sort of my-engine-can -make-more-noise-than-yours competition while some 500,000 spectators walk, waddle, sit, stand, mingle, photograph, film and swap "I used to have one of those" stories and consuming literal truckloads of artery-clogging bacon-wrapped grilled-onion-covered sausages, hot dogs, tri-tip steak sandwiches, Johnsonville Brats cooked on the world's largest outdoor grill (in truth, a semi-trailer-long grill, towed by a semi-tractor), a variety of other carnival-style eats ranging from cotton-candy to ice cream to caramel corn and candied almonds, and guzzling immeasurable quantities of Pepsi (they had the beverage contract), water, energy drinks, beer (only sold and consumed within a chain-link fenced area reminiscent of the smoking cages at the airport), and inhaling enough carbon-monoxide to justify their bizarre behavior.

Unca' Buck and I made our annual trek, imposing on the hospitality of the Grogans (got to see David, Shannon and kids, too), and shot a few pictures.  We were also able to team up for a bit with Daniel and Hillary who were then subjected to my non-stop verbiage on the differences between the trim on the Tri-Five Chevys; the Bel-Airs v. the Impalas v. the 210s; the sedan v. the coupe v. the hardtop; the small-block v. the big-block Chevy V-8s; and so on.  All of this over the roar of the informal open header competition.  Hillary got a headache which saved them more of my torturous explanations.

As you've noticed, if you've been following my blog, I am the proud owner of a yet unrestored 1961 Impala 2-door hardtop (Bubbletop) with a 265-inch small block with a 4-bbl and Powerglide; therefore, I focussed my camera mostly on other '61 Impalas that I saw, unless they had been ruined by converting them to low-riders with teeny-tiny wheels and ridiculous air suspension systems that either make them sit lower in the back than in the front (very east coast, yuck) or worse, that make each corner go up and down independently like some sort of malfunctioning robot trying to step over some doggie doo doo. (They make me wanna puke.)

The red and white Impala wasn't actually in the event when I shot it but was parked in a lot adjacent to where we parked; so I took advantage and snapped a few shots.  The engine (which got posted later and is up above this post) is a big block Chevy, a 502, that was installed in a 1954 Chevy, but looked so good I had to shoot it. Now, scroll down for the photos.

The Impalas of Berdoo