Cool Awesome Hair, just like a Vampire

I have never quite known what to do with my hair. It has stayed the same for 30 years. But I found the answer that I have been seeking...hair like Edward. Edward the Sparkling Vampire. What is even stranger about this all, I saw this Hair Straightener at Best Buy. Yes, while looking for a camera, I found a Hair Straightener. Let me just say - Brodi is going to struggle to keep her hands off of me when I show off my new 'do.

Egads, Bees on the Loose

Few things scare me. Few things make me nervous. Except for Bees. For whatever reason, I see a bee come close to me and I will run away screaming like a little school girl. I was stung a lot growing up. Yes, the bee stings are relatively painful...but nowhere near painful enough to cause the reaction that I give when I see a bee come remotely close to me. I can't explain it, but a tiny little yellow bee scares me more than a zombie would if it was chasing me.

So, when I see that a semi truck hauling an estimated 25 million (yes, 25 MILLION!!!) bees overturns down near St. George, I break out in a cold sweat. Here is the terrifing article: KSL It is safe to see that I will not be traveling down south anytime soon. Seriously, 25 million bees? I bet half of them are killer bees. Not many escaped, but poor residents of St. George.

Burial, in pictures

Brodi put up a great post on her blog on my Uncle Glendon's burial. So, I thought I would include a link to her post. I love the pictures from that day: Brodi's blog

Uncle Glendon Johnson

My Uncle Glendon passed away this weekend. He was my dad's brother and he was 87 years old. He has been in fabulous shape all of his life until the past year or so when he had a stroke, which slowed him down a bit but about 3 weeks ago, he started getting really sick. But, it has been a great few weeks as we have been able to spend some time with him and talking with him. He had many visitors over the past couple of weeks (President Monson, Elder Nelson and others) and he would always become animated and excited to see more of his friends and family who he could talk to...it was great seeing him with my dad and his sister just talking and being there for him.

I thought over my life and Glendon played a large role in it. I started mowing his lawn and taking care of his house since I was a teenager He supported me on my mission. I got to drive his Porsche, Lancia, BMW and other cars over the years. Brodi and I had our wedding dinner at his house. We spent many holidays swimming at his pool. We spent every Thanksgiving down at his ranch for the past 15 years. Several Sundays every month, our boys got to go down to his house and drop off food with their cousins and say Hi. He truly lived a great life and will be loved and missed by all of those that have ever met him.

Glendon Johnson

Glendon Elwood Johnson
1924 ~ 2011
Glendon Elwood Johnson, 87, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, as well as noted attorney, businessman, rancher, and friend of all who knew him, passed away October 9, 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by his family. He was born in Cleveland, Utah, on Feb. 19, 1924, to Ivan and Hildur Johnson.

Throughout his stellar career, people always came first, and those who were fortunate to know him in business and civic service, in church callings, or on a ranch, soon felt the embrace of a man who showed them in word and deed how much he loved them. His leadership style was to choose the best people and then give them a loose rein to do what they did best. He used to tell friends that he grew up on the back of a horse and never sold his saddle-his way of saying that despite his successes, he never left his cowboy roots behind.

Glendon attended East High School where he was editor of the school newspaper and valedictorian at his graduation in 1941. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BS degree in 1948 from the University of Utah, where he was on the championship debate team and a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. In 1973, the university awarded him their Distinguished Alumnus Award.

In World War II, Glendon attended Army Officer Candidate School and taught small arms combat before being stationed in Europe. He served a church mission to New England, and upon his return, married his college sweetheart, Bobette Heppler Peterson, in the Salt Lake Temple on Aug. 15, 1949.

Glendon attended Harvard Law School on the National Prize scholardship and, following graduation in 1952, Glendon clerked for Henri Henroid of the Utah Supreme Court. In his spare time, he helped his father break horses.

In 1954, Senator Wallace Bennett asked Glendon to come to Washington, D.C. to be his Administrative Assistant. For the next four years, Glendon worked on Capitol Hill.
In 1958, Glendon moved the family back to Salt Lake City where he joined the law firm of Ray, Rollins, Jones, and Henderson. But a year later, he returned to Washington to become vice president and general counsel of the American Life Convention of Washington D.C. This began a respected and trailblazing career in the life insurance industry that included serving as President of Great Southern Life Insurance Company in Houston, Texas; President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of American National Insurance Company in Galveston, Texas; and President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of John Alden Life Insurance Company in Miami, Florida.
Glendon has also been President of the Health Insurance Association of America and the chairman of the Joint Committee on Social Responsibility for the Life Insurance Business. He served as Director of Waddell Reed Advisors Retirement Shares, Inc. since 1971 and was Chairman Emeritus of the Wellness Council of America.

Throughout his long career, Johnson received numerous awards for his leadership and public service. A member of the national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America, Johnson was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award, scouting's highest commendation for distinguished service to youth.

In his later years, Glendon continued his life-long love of the range as Chairman of Castle Valley Ranches, a working cattle ranch, and Castle Valley Outdoors, a hunting, wingshooting, and fishing operation in Emery, Utah.

Johnson was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and among his many church callings, he served as Stake President of the Houston Texas Stake and as a Regional Representative.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Bobette Johnson; son Glendon E. "Woody" Johnson, Jr.; daughter-in-law Page; grandchildren Jennifer Champoux (Mark); Erin Stewart (Kyle); Katie Critchfield (Matt); great-grandchildren Justin and Brooke Champoux, Ellie and Avery Stewart; sisters Joyce Taylor and Genevieve Knudsen Gowans; brothers Marvin Johnson and Franklin Johnson; and numerous loving nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his son, Eric "Shad" Johnson and his daughter, Tawny Bobette Johnson; his sister LaVerne Briggs, and brother Clifton Johnson.

Funeral services will be at noon, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, Monument Park 16th Ward Chapel, 1320 South Wasatch Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. Friends may visit the family at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, situated near the chapel at 2350 East 1300 South, Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. They may also visit Thursday at the chapel from 10:30 to 11:40 a.m. Interment will be Friday at the Johnson Ranch in Sevier County, Utah.

Condolences may be shared at www.larkincares.com. Donations can be made in Glendon's memory to the Boy Scouts of America at www.scouting.org.

Random Tuesday

A couple of random things: On Sundays at church, I get to help out in the nursery with all of the little kids. As a result, I get to play with the Legos. This is what I built. I wanted to take it all the way to the ceiling, but the little troublemakers busted it up. I do have to say - my Lego building skills are nearly as good as Carter's skills.

Brodi and I went out to a restaurant and this was the ridiculous scene I came upon in the restroom. Seriously? The handles on the sink were less than an inch big. I need to have hands like a 5-year old to be able to turn on the water. I get style. This wasn't it.

Fall has arrived. I guess it means that I can no longer walk shirtless around the neighborhood. It also means some cold Saturday morning soccer games. Time just seems to go too fast sometimes.