The vacuum chronicles

My new vacuum sucks...and I couldn't be happier! Finally a vacuum that sucks for all the right reasons. Now my carpets are finally clean...for real this time.

Seriously?

Yesterday in the spirit of getting things done I wanted to get as much of my house clean between the time the kids left for school and the time I go for a walk with friends. This is about an hour and 20 minutes; if spent well, quite a lot can be accomplished. So I set off, cleaning up breakfast, sweeping and mopping the kitchen, dusting, general cleaning up and finally vacuuming. I finished just in time to get ready to go for my walk. I had just a few minutes left and decided to vacuum the stairs so I had one less thing to do when I got home. So I pull out the attachment to do the stairs and instinctively check the suction with my hand...NO Suction. I had just spent the morning vacuuming with a vacuum that sucks, but in all the wrong ways! Ugh, sometimes I wonder why I even bother.

My blood runs purple

I have a cute Joseph story I have to share. Last night we were at the store and decided to get Ben and the kids some BYU hats. While we were checking out the checker asked Joseph if he was a BYU fan, he paused and then said "Well my blood is kind of purple, I cheer for BYU and Utah." If you don't get that you probably don't live in Utah; blue (BYU) and red (Utah) makes purple. I thought it was pretty clever that he made that up himself...such a funny kid. And Lillie, whose hat is actually pink with a big white Y on it, just wanted to show papa her new hat so she could tease him. Papa is a Utah alum, and thus the red component of Joseph's purple blood. Kids are so cute!

My Testimony

In my last post I went on and on about a band I love. Later I wondered do people know I have a testimony and that I love the Gospel. I never go on and on about things of the spirit. So although I do tend to rant about nothing and everything on my blog I am not without perspective. So here is my testimony, it is not meant to be preachy and I hope that this does not offend anyone. I just feel like it is something I should share.

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the true church. I know that Joseph Smith saw God and his son, Jesus Christ and restored the church to the earth. I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet as is Pres. Thomas S. Monson. I know that my Savior lives and that he atoned for my sins as well as the sins of everyone else. I know that I am a child of God and that he loves me and knows me personally. I know that the work that is done in the Temple is important and that the covenants made there are sacred. The Gospel is true and it is meant to be a joy and a blessing to each of us. I have been blessed beyond measure by my Heavenly Father and for this I am truly grateful. I hope that I can live my life in such a way so that others know that I love my Savior and am trying to live the teachings of the Gospel.

And since I fell for that spell I am living it as well

What is it about British rock stars? Why are they so amazing at what they do? And why am I so drawn to their music?

Obviously those are all rhetorical and that is not why we are all here today. We are here because I can't stand it any longer I have to give my opinion and review of the new Coldplay album. I have been resisting the urge to scream it's praises since I first heard it in it's entirety. I can hold it in no longer. Their new album Viva la Vida or Death and all his friends is, well, ingenious. Strong wordage I know but I am nothing if not honest. So what is my reasoning for such intense feelings. I could go on and on but I will give you just a few.

1. First of all it is, I think, a big departure from their previous albums. It is still immediately recognizable as Coldplay, but the music is different. To be able to produce songs so different than anything you have ever done and still keep your signature sound, ingenious!

2. Second is about the album it's self. There are probably not many of you who have listened to the album from first song to last and started it again right away (I know I am obsessed), but if you had you would have noticed that it comes full circle. What I mean by that is that the end of the last song leads directly into the beginning of the first song. AMAZING! Whoever thought of that...my guess is Chris Martin (lead singer and song writer), is for lack of a better word a genius. Seriously think of what a good song writer you have to be to pull that off and make both songs work on their own!

3. Lyrics, Lyrics, Lyrics. As a want to be writer let me just say lyrics matter. Chris Martin's passionate lyrics are poetry. The songs are deep, beautiful and powerful without being in your face.

4. Last (well last of this short list) the instrumentals in this album shine. The first song is all instrumental. And it holds it own. I thought that was a very gutsy move. The decision to put an instrumental piece as the first track even though many will be judging the album based on the first track and some might lose interest quickly when faced with an instrumental track, risky. This song is SO good anyone losing interest would have to be...I better not finish that sentence just in case there is some out there that I might offend. There are other amazing instrumentals throughout the album. Instrumentals of this caliber are a throw back to the seventies. Classic rock songs, especially from the seventies are famous for long instrumental intros and bridges. Think Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, Iron Butterfly's In the Garden of Eden and Pink Floyd's Wish you were here (By the way if you have never heard these songs please find them and listen to them they are a piece of Americana).

So if you haven't heard the album you should. If you have and you thought that it was just ok, revisit it, and if you love it as much as I do, then let me know why you love it!

Ok so I was also going to talk about the new Death Cab for Cutie album, but I will have to do that another time.

FYI the title is one of my favorite lines in the 4th track 42.