14 Nov 2004 #0446.html

Regional Conference

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Dear Family and Friends,

Welcome to this week's "Thoughtlet."

These words are my personal diary and a weekly review of ideas, beliefs, thoughts, or words that will hopefully be of some benefit to you: my children, my family, and my friends.

"I remember four Regional Conferences since I've lived in Texas. The first was while we lived in Dallas, about 1977. I was the Elder's Quorum President, and was invited because of that calling. We rode down to Houston in a bus. The meeting was at the Hafer Road Stake Center, across from the Peanut Butter Cannery. This Regional Conference was actually called a Solemn Assembly. All 12 of the apostles and President Spencer W. Kimball were in attendance. Once we were all seated, the General Authorities came in and took their seats on the stand. They were all dressed in pink tinted white suits, reminiscent of the red robes the Savior will wear when he comes to the earth at the Second Coming. What I remember about this meeting is that the 12 Apostles blessed and passed the sacrament, the remembrance of the Savior giving his life for our individual sins. This was a sacrament service with no dry eyes in the audience. There was no question about the Savior's presence and that this meeting was under his guidance. The instruction was a strong warning about the times and seasons and the power that would be demonstrated by Satan in the coming months and years. I can certainly bear witness that I have seen the things which we were warned about come to pass.

The second Regional Conference was when we lived in the Maplewood II Ward, sometime between 1980 and 1984. For this conference the church rented The Summit, which was where the Rockets played basketball, and which is now The Lakewood Church. We had a lot of little kids in those days, and it seems like it was very hard to pay attention while keeping up with kids, who were distracted by all of the people and all of things going on in a very large hall. However, I know the spirit of the Lord was there, and the messages were very positive and relevant.

The third Regional Conference I remember happened in 1998, a couple of years after I started writing these Thoughtlets (../9839.html). I remember Sara and Rob went with me and we sat with Larry Law and Jane Moreles. I remember we were sitting way up and that the Astrodome was packed. I remember that Rob and Sara took Blaine Taylor and me to the airport to catch a plane to Norway right after the Regional Conference. And I remember later learning that church security checked on me prior to the Regional Conference, because I was labeled as some kind of weirdo because of letters I had written to Sheri Dew (../0219.html). Oh well!

The fourth Regional Conference was Saturday and Sunday, the end of this week. Going back to the first of the week, Monday morning I was ready to leave for work about 6:00. Matt and Andrea were at seminary, and as I do every so often, when no one else is around, I pulled out my guitar, flipped open my notebook full of songs and sang the song song the book turned to. This morning the one that I turned to was written on April 30th of 1994. I've thought about singing this song several times this week. Especially on Saturday, when Andrea called from Utah, and when she told me I need to rethink how I do the Thoughtlets. She pointed out how much better it will be if I leave the baggage of the past at the front door, and simply showing you kids how much I love you by example and by how much I love life. Great advice. And like each of us, I don't change easy. So here are the words I sang to myself Monday morning, which I don't think any of you have read:

`Family Status, 30 April 1994 #73 C. I once thought I was manly Why is life not what it seems? I thought I had a family Was it only in my dreams? 1. Marti went to Corpus Christ To a gymnastics meet Stopping at Stake Relief Society She did say the key talk was neat C. I once though she needed me Why is life not what it seems? I thought we were a team Was it only in my dreams? 2. Roice is studying in Austin He wouldn't consider BYU We've talked about a mission If it doesn't interfere with school C. I once thought he listened Why is life not what it seems? I thought he glistened Was it only in my dreams? 3. Ben's going to prom tonight Then overnight at Canyon Lake We didn't have a fight But his eternal life is at stake C. I once thought he honored God Why is life not what it seems? I thought he held the iron rod Was it only in my dreams? 4. Paul's been at work all day After playing until 2 AM Building bicycles for meager pay To cover debts already spent C. I once thought we would work together Why is life not what it seems? I thought he was not a feather Was it only in my dreams? 5. Melanie's with a friend again And the phone has rung a dozen times She's turned into a social hen Creating concern for who she mimes C. I once thought she would steal my heart Why is life not what it seems? I thought she was so smart Was it only in my dreams? 6. Sara's as stubborn as I am Hard to please and hard to tease "I won't throw papers with you again" Her response to missing the property easement C. I once thought she would be so tall Why is life not what it seems? I thought she was such a doll Was it only in my dreams? 7. Robert went to Brad's today To find someplace else to play He lives in front of the tube's ray Copying loudly all they say C. I once thought our time would never end Why is life not what it seems? I thought he would be my friend Was it only in my dreams? 8. I'm just feeling sorry for myself Things didn't turn out how I thought I'm starting to doubt Santa's elves And wonder what I've bought C. I once thought I was manly Why is life not what it seems? I thought I had a family Was it only in my dreams?'


Monday morning on the way to work I wrote a couple of possible stanzas for Prime Words, based on Dr. John Lienhard's radio program The Engines of our Ingenuity, program # 1686:

`Theromdynamics is Theory and practice Finally making peace With each other' `Nature, including heat flow and a tomato Can be a confusing teacher Maybe one making students sort data Is the best kind of teacher'


The rest of the day was mostly spent finishing up my talk for the SWLGS (Southwestern Louisiana Geophysical Society, pronounced swiggles, and meant to represent the wiggles in a seismic trace). There was also stuff having to do with China and Mexico and Tile-02 in West Cameron. It was about 5:00 when I shut down the computer and left for Vidor. I arrived about 7:00, and Melanie and I played with the kids until Jared got home at 7:30 with dinner from Wrights Bar-B-Que. Melanie said this was the first time Jared had brought home dinner from work. It was smoked pork chops, and fixings. Very good. This was my first time to stay with Melanie and Jared, and the first time to stay in their new house. The fence around the back yard is finished. They have a very large back yard. Great place to raise kids. I am looking forward to designing and building a geodesic fort for their back yard. They had me give a Family Home Evening lesson. I read `My Turn On Earth,' which was a little too old for Colby. However, he actually did very good at paying attention. We had vanilla ice cream with peanut M & M's for a treat. Really good.

Then Melanie pulled out a strobe light, and they had their traditional family dancing. It has been a long time since I've seen a strobe light like this. The first one I remember seeing was at a dance the summer after my Junior year of High school in Las Cruces, New Mexico at the JESSI (Junior Engineers & Scientists Summer Institute) summer program I went to. When I came home from this, I wanted to build a strobe light for The Keynotes. I didn't understand the electronics, and so I invented my own. I cut a 12" circle of wood, built a vertical pivot in a box where the wood would circle at the front, powered the rotation of the wood circle with my erector set motor, and put the big light bulb that is still in my closet in the box to shine out on the audience. The wood moved too much air, and so it did not rotate fast enough to create the same effect as a strobe light. So we hired an electrician to build a control box that turned on and off a bank of 8 colored patio lights. This light panel became the standard for Keynote dances. I think that Alan Grimshaw and his group got hold of the lights from the High School stage once, and took it to Panquich for a dance they played for. Anyway, as I watched Colby and Melanie dancing in the strobe light, there were a lot of good memories that came flooding back into my mind.

After the kids went to bed, I continued working on my talk. I ended up working until about 12:30 AM, then I got up at 7:00 and worked until about 8:30 before I was finished putting it together. After a shower and one of the biggest breakfasts I've eaten in years I took off for Lafayette.

I had it timed so I would get there about a half-hour early. However, I missed the turn-off, and drove right past Lafayette. About 10 minutes before I was suppose to be there I found myself entering the no exit freeway over the Henderson Swamp, and I started to panic. It was 90 mph until I finally got to an exit where I could turn around, then 90 mph back to where I could turn into Lafayette, then I got lost and they had to guide me in by cell phone. Oh well! I made it about 10 minutes after they started eating, and I was so nervous about being late, I ended up finishing eating before everyone else at my table.

I started my talk with, `I'm glad to be here. And I will just leave it at that!' Everyone laughed. My stomach was still churning. Oh well! The talk went over very well. In fact, there were a lot of questions, and I was still talking to people 45 minutes after it was suppose to be over. One of the Professors from ULL (University of Louisiana at Lafayette, formerly Southwestern Louisiana University) whom I had worked with back in the Seismic Acoustics Lab days was there and we had a long conversation. He still wants to follow-up on the Continuum Sound Patent Ideas. Also, they are building a 6-wall CAVE, and want to have me involved in this. Melanie and Jared, maybe I will be coming to stay with you regularly on my way to Lafayette.

After the lunch, Mike Bennett, one of the GDC salesmen, and I went to Stone Energy, where we talked to a group of professionals for almost 2 hours. It was after 4:00 when I finally left Lafayette. I met Melanie at Wrights Bar-B-Que, where I had another great dinner. Colby and Taylor were cute, and we had a good time. I let Colby sit in my lap as I drove the car around the lot before leaving for Houston. It was about 10:00 PM when I got home.

Wednesday morning Bjorn Wygrala came in and installed the IES software on my system. In conversations with Lee Bell and Bjorn, I realized that I could use this software to build a hydrological model of Red Cove and Cedar Valley. Interesting. The rest of the day was spent catching up on all of the stuff that had not been done because of the talk and from being gone for two days. In the evening I worked until about 6:30 and then went over to the Bering Stake Center and joined Matt and Andrea for a CES (Church Educational System) fireside about Church Schools. They did a very good job. Lots of videos and lots of audience interaction. There was a particularly funny video about a seminary teacher doing fancy stunts on a bicycle. Then there was one short video by the late Neil A. Maxwell, one of the 12 apostles. I wrote the following possible stanza for Prime Words based on his comments (a):

`Recognize the difference Between celestial sense And secular nonsense (a) And act accordingly'


Thursday morning started with my annual visit to Ron Crabtree, my dentist. I had some gaps in an old cavity, and he replaced it. Second cavity I have had since 1990. Then I went to work, checked out some data for Tile-02, ate lunch downstairs since I forgot to bring a lunch, had a nice discussion with Richard Randall, which could result in some joint work on the Landmark with the GDC processors, and worked on catching up on e-mail. I left at 2:30 for my first physical exam in a couple of years. I enjoy Dr. Solis. There are some follow-up tests I need to do, but I'm pretty healthy. Andrea had Relief Society in the evening. We watched ER at 9:00, which is pretty typical for a Thursday evening, but the program was quite different. It was about an x-inmate who died from liver problems, and it went on several trips in his mind with him. Quite interesting.

Friday morning I found myself ready to leave for work at 6:00, and decided to open up my book and sing a song. I sang two, numbers 99 and 100:

`Scriptures, 01 Nov 1992, #99 (Based on President Steward's Stake Conference Talk) 1. The words of life float freely across his sight In the book he reads each and every night Stories explaining how the earth was made Describing the garden where our first parents stayed 2. Words summarizing the lineage of mankind Why we're here and what we all can find A list of rules to help when times are tough Examples of others who have really had it rough 3. Centered on the life of The Word Who came from God because His heart was stirred With a desire to help us all return To the home for which we all yearn 4. Words hinting at the mysteries of God The circle and the square and when to applaud How to pass the angels at the gate And what happens if our heart fills with hate 5. The words of life promise us that we will live If we use our time to truly give Following the light that lived so long ago Recognizing the power of the seeds we sow End. The words of life float freely across his sight In the book he reads each and every night' `Zion, 03 Mar 1990, #100 C. Zion on my mind Filling up my brain with right Zion in my heart Flowing through my veins with might 1. Never loosing sight of the ultimate goal Earth exists for us to share with other living souls Zion is a place of safety, without any strife Built upon the principles of Celestial Life C. Zion on my mind Filling up my brain with right Zion in my heart Flowing through my veins with might 2. Zion is a real city that is built in many places A modern Garden of Eden filling the in between spaces A place of gathering, a land to publish peace A place of refuge, where all poverty has ceased C. Zion on my mind Filling up my brain with right Zion in my heart Flowing through my veins with might 3. Where the lion lies down next to the little lamb The city of holiness, the New Jerusalem Where the pure in heart find beauty and discover lasting joys Preparing for the Lord to come are lovely girls and boys C. Zion on my mind Filling up my brain with right Zion in my heart Flowing through my veins with might'


Andrea left at 2:00 for Utah and to meet Audrey's intended fiancee, Joshua. In the morning we had the presentation by Velocity Databank which had been working to get set up. Lee, Mike, Dave, Richard Verm, and Scott Burns were all in the room. I thought Tom Pilitary and Bill Gray did a great job. Joe Roberts was also there. In the afternoon, I finally received the data from Carlos, and so I expected I would be working late to finish up the maps for Tile-02 in West Cameron. However, I was able to finish up by 5:00 and after stopping to pick up a bucket of Kentucky Fried, was home by 6:30. I watched Enterprise, for the first time this season (no football games), and a new JAG. I enjoy these two shows. I worked on my Book of Mormon patterns while watching these shows.

Saturday morning I went to Target and got two new tires for my bike and got it fixed. I also got my application for my State Geoscientist License renewal notarized at the bank. Then I took some roses down to Joe and Linda Roberts, in remembrance of the second month anniversary of Jeffifer's death (0438.html). Andrea had suggested I do this, instead of get her roses this week. Joe had already left for his bike ride, and Andrea called as I was driving back to the house. I talked to Andrea until I got home, got on the bike, ride down to Kingsland, and was back in the Barker Reservoir George Bush Park as suggested by Joe Roberts. In fact, I passed Joe and one of his friends while I was still talking to Andrea. It is pretty back in the park, and it is a very nice bike ride. One trail goes all the way over to where Baker Road backs up against the shooting range. The other trail goes to the soccer fields. The ride made me want to work on my Barker Reservoir city all the more. Oh well! Time will tell. Back at home I fixed the ladder into the attic which had broke last Christmas. I also checked out the two furnaces. In the evening, at Andrea's suggestion, Matt and I went to see The Incredibles. Definitely a good movie for kids. We will have to get a copy for when Grand kids come to visit.

And today was the fourth Regional Conference I remember since moving to Texas. The main building was at Hafer Road, where I went to the Solemn Assembly, and was broadcast to 47 other buildings. It was translated into five languages. There are 13 stakes in the Region, 109 Wards, 29 branches, and over 48,000 members. Stanley G. Ellis, an Area 70 conducted. His wife and Sister Hales bore their testimonies. Apostles Robert D. Hales and Thomas S. Monson were the main speakers. Great talks. I was particularly touched by President Monson's talk. He focused on how the Lord talked a lot about house building, not building on sand, building on the rocks, that he was a carpenter, and how he compared our bodies to temples. And then he went into detail about establishing a house of prayer, of fasting, of faith, of learning, or order, a house of God. I took five pages of notes, and I won't replicate all of them here. I couldn't help but think about my plans for Barker Reservoir and for Red Cove as I listened to the keynote talk at this Regional Conference."

Since the 38th week of 1996 I have written a weekly "Thoughtlet" (little statements of big thoughts which mean a lot to me). Until the 43rd week of 2004 I sent these out as an e-mail. They were intended to be big thoughts which mean a lot to me. Over time the process evolved into a personal diary. These notes were shared with my family because I know how important the written word can be. Concerned about how easy it is to drift and forget our roots and our potential among all of distractions of daily life, I thought this was a good way to reach those I love. It no longer feels right to send out an e-mail and "force" my kids and my family to be aware of my life and struggles. Everyone has their own life to lead, and their own struggles to work through. I will continue this effort, and will continue to make my notes publicly accessible (unless I learn of misuse by someone who finds out about them, and then will aggressively pursue a legal remedy to copyright infringement and I will put the Thoughtlets behind a password). The index to download any of these Thoughtlets is at http://www.walden3d.com/thoughtlets, or you can e-mail me with questions or requests at rnelson@walden3d.com (note if you are not on my e-mail "whitelist" you must send 2 e-mails within 24 hours of each other in order for your e-mail to not be trashed).

With all my love,
Dad
(H. Roice Nelson, Jr.)

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Copyright © 2004 H. Roice Nelson, Jr.