20 Mar 2005 #0512.html

Compost

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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.

"It was kind of a quiet week, which is shown by my title for the week: compost. The dictionary defines compost as:

`a fertilizing material consisting largely of decayed organic matter.'


Over the decades as I have pursued the ideas behind Walden 3-D, I have collected information about composting as a way to recycle material from the integrated city. Back in about 1988 I built a compost pile in back of the greenhouse next to the brick wall and the air conditioning fans. And so lawn cuttings, leaves, and other organic byproducts have been dumped in the compost pile for some 17+/- years. Yesterday I got in the compost bin for one of the first times since setting it up and used a shovel to turn it all over. Parts of the pile are very good soil with giant earthworms. And parts of it are layered leaves that are dry and moldy. And by turning it all over, I expect that it will decompose more evenly, and will be usable over the next few years as fertilizer for the greenhouse, the roses, and the flower beds. In fact, a large part of it is useful for this now.

One of the basic principles of my life is to spend minimum time doing things which can't be used later or again. This is one of the reasons I have never been interested in spectator sports. The exercise from participating in sports is good. I also enjoyed watching Roice swim, Ben play soccer, Paul in band, Melanie cheerleading, Sara in gymnastics, Rob in baseball, Rachel in soccer, and Matt in soccer. These are spectator sports, but spectator sports with a vested interest; the growth and development of loved ones. Most of the projects important to me are things I work on for years. I might spend some time focused on finding patterns in the Book of Mormon, and then not work on it for six months. Then I pick it up again, and eventually there are some very interesting results to report.

Certainly my work in geophysics has been like that. At Mobil I built on what I learned at Amoco, the University of Utah, and Pan American. At the Seismic Acoustics Lab I built on what I new before. At Landmark I built on all of this and the results were heralded as revolutionary. At HyperMedia we built on this technical foundation, as we did at Continuum Resources and Dynamic Resources and as I am now doing at Geophysical Development Corporation. One could consider all of this as intellectual compost. And the enhancements accomplished at the various stages of my career are simply turning the compost pile to create new fertilizer to be used in a different way in the new company or opportunity.

As far as my week went, it was a good week on most fronts. It was Rachel's Spring Break, and I was not in China with her and Heather or someone else. This was probably my biggest disappointment. Oh well! On Monday afternoon I had an appointment with Dr. Janecki, a Polish immigrant with a strong accent, who is going to do a colonoscopy on me tomorrow morning. He does the procedure either at Christus, which is in walking distance, or at Katy Memorial, which `tends to be less expensive.' I choose the less expensive option, even though Andrea will have to drive me out there and pick me up. Monday night we watched our new addiction, `24.' The nuclear reactor simultaneous meltdowns were far fetched, and much of what is happening now seems very realistic. It is scary how powerful of an influence terrorism has become our modern society.

Tuesday at 10:00 we had a review of some modeling of one of the wells done by Fred Hilterman's Chinese student. Excellent work. Then we had a review of the well log modeling work Peg Guthrie had done. It was also very good. The rest of the day was spent reviewing the work Pan had done on processing the seismic test lines. The whole day was a high, and I came away from the meetings strongly believing that GDC has unique technology to offer the Chinese. It was a good day. I left the office at 4:15 and was out to the house by 5:00. Dan Jones joined us, and the four of us went up to help at the Bishop's storehouse. Matt was not sure he wanted to go, and I think he really enjoyed providing service. He has now completed his 40 hours of community service, and so he went up with us just to prove he can just do service for the sake of service, THE important compost of life.

Wednesday I was very busy getting several different things done. First thing in the morning I meet with Lynn Turner, President of Quantum Geophysical, about their web pages. He wants to stress their permitting division and their field processing QC work. As well as their work in the transition zone, and the fact they have worked on tough environments all over the United States. He is preparing a spreadsheet for me which will allow me to map out where Quantum has collected seismic data as Infinite GridSM cells. Another part of Wednesday's work was following up on things from the China data meetings on Tuesday. In the evening, Tony Traweek came for the first time in a couple of weeks. His wife, Shauna Traweek, has breast cancer. They will be operating on Good Friday. He is a good man, and based on him, I'm sure she is also special. I would appreciate if each of you would include Shauna Traweek in your prayers. I know these prayers can have a significant impact on healing processes. Tony helped me get seismic offset data from one of the large Chinese Oilfields loaded into Landmark.

I spent Thursday and Friday interpreting the seismic offset data. I could go into detail, and I won't because very few reading this would be interested. The results are fascinating, and could have some pretty significant impact on gas exploration in China. One never knows the impact of the professional compost we build up over the years. Maybe this is a better interpretation to Aunt Marie Krueger's experience at the St. George Temple (referenced in ../0414.html, but not quoted, and I can not find the paper she wrote out for me describing this experience. Oh well! Hopefully it will turn up someday.). Thursday evening I worked late on the China project.

Thursday I received the following e-mail from John Benard, which I think is appropriate to pass on for review by those who read these Thoughtlets:

`> Subject: SOC. SEC. > > IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT! > > KEEP IT GOING!!!! > > 2008 Election Issue!! > > GET A BILL STARTED TO PLACE ALL POLITICIANS ON SOC. SEC. > > This must be an issue in "2005". Please! Keep it going. > > ---------------------------------- > > SOCIAL SECURITY: > (This is worth reading. It is short and to the point.) > Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years! > > Our Senators and Representatives in Congress do not pay into > Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it. > > You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons > of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have > a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in > their own benefit plan. > > In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to > change it. After all, it is a great plan. > > For all practical purposes their plan works like this: > > When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until > they die. > > Except it may increase from time to time for cost of > living adjustments... > > For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and > their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven > Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives > drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives. > > This is calculated on an average life span for each of those > two Dignitaries. > > Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive > much more during the rest of their lives. > > Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. NADA....ZILCH.... > > This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. > You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this > fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds; > > "OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK"! > > From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay > (or have paid) into,-every payday until we retire (which > amount is matched by our employer)-we can expect to get an > average of $1,000 per month after retirement. > > Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of > $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to > equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits! > > Social Security could be very good if only one small change > were made. > > That change would be to: > > Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators > and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with > the rest of us . > > then sit back..... > > and watch how fast they would fix it. > > If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will > be planted and maybe good changes will evolve. > > How many people can YOU send this to? > > Better yet..... > > How many people WILL you send this to?? > > Keep this going clear up thru the 2008 election!! We need to > be heard'


Friday evening there was a ward party at Peckham Park in Katy in conjunction with a cub scout pack meeting, campout, and fishing experience. I was asked to play the guitar for some campfire type singing. So I typed out the words and the guitar chords to the following songs:

  1. Come, Come, Ye Saints
  2. Michael
  3. He's Got the Whole World In His Hands
  4. Small World
  5. Clementine
  6. Do Your Ears Hang Low?
  7. Leaving on a Jet Plane
  8. When the Saints Go Marching In
  9. Blowin' In The Wind
  10. Edelweiss
  11. This Land is Your Land
  12. Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
  13. The Eighth Psalm
  14. The First Prayer
  15. We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet
  16. The Spirit of God

There was about 20 people there, and we sang all of them except 4, 13, & 14. I had fun. Pat Heaney, who is Pat Gray on Talk Radio in Houston, is in our ward. On the radio he makes fun of the German language, playing some nice soft music and talking about German as the language of love, then making all of these guttural sounds, which sound German, and which do not sound like love. He was sitting right by me, and when we turned to Edelweiss, I turned to him and said, `I was hoping you would be here so you could talk to us about the language of love.' He laughed. And then when we sang the song, he sang out, and really has a nice voice. I ate two chocolate bars, which was two more than I should have. Brother Beckstrom talked to me again about how much he liked the message behind my talk last week (0511.html). We went home and watched Star Trek Enterprise, which I had recorded while we were gone. It was a nice evening. After the show I noticed an e-mail from Jialin, and called him and we talked for over an hour. There is a lot happening in China. I will be going back on the 15th, and so will miss Paul's graduation. Oh well! I will write much more about this over the coming weeks, as the trip unfolds.

There was a nice letter from Melanie with two very cute photographs in it, and a sheet of paper that reads:

`Hi Everyone! Sorry this isn't very personal, but my mom is really lazy (& busy). I just took a picture and wanted to send it to my favorite Aunts, Uncles, and cousins! I miss you all way too much! I am doing really good - I am a BIG KID now because I wear big kid underwear! Hope you are all wonderful! Love Colby'


Yesterday we slept in. Matt did not want to go help with the scout fishing activity. He did some yard work. I worked in the yard from 10-12:00, and Andrea worked from 9-1:00. This was when I turned over the compost pile and when I cut down branches from the tree back there that were almost hitting the house. Matt was having a feel sorry for himself party, and he missed the choir party and ended up staying home and playing lego all day. Andrea and I went to the rodeo with Frank Hamtak and his wife Cindy Overton. They had $30 tickets in the East VIP Section. It was nice. It was the finals, and so we got to see the best of each of the different events: bareback bronco riding, calf roping, bull riding, barrel racing, etc. Reminded me of my youth. The new stadium is very noisy, and it was still a very nice evening. We stayed for most of Clint Black's performance. Then we went back to Frank and Cindy's and ate a venison casserole which Frank had prepared. We do not do this type of thing often enough. I had a text message from Jialin while we were there, and tried to call him back. When we got home, I was able to get through. Communication can prove to be a real challenge too often.

Today was a nice Sunday. Because of the late night phone call to China, or maybe because of the long hours all week, I slept in until 10:00. We have the 11-2:00 services this year. I guess I've grown to figure that writing 4 possible stanzas for Prime Words, makes it a nice Sunday. They are:

`Satan absolutely knows The influence of A righteous woman Lasts for generations' (a) (a) Beckie Schultz, quoting Sheri Dew, Nottingham Country Ward Sacrament Meeting, 20 March 2005 `It is too easy to feel We don't belong to the world It is important to know Women belong in Relief Society' (b) (b) Beckie Schultz, Nottingham Country Ward Sacrament Meeting, 20 March 2004 `It will be so sad on the other side To meet those we didn't teach Waiting to borrow someone's body So they can become baptized' (c) (c) Carmen Kennerson, Nottingham Country Ward Gospel Doctrine Class, regarding Henry Eyring's writings about someone he knew in Carmel, CA, 20 March 2005 `We should be thankful For the missionaries Who knocked on President McKay's parent's door.' (d) (d) Greg Branning, Nottingham Country Ward High Priest Quorum Meeting, referring to page 49 of The Teachings of President McKay, 20 March 2005.


Both Gospel Doctrine and Priesthood were about missionary work. In the High Priest Quorum lesson, David Chandler started off by asking how many had been converted while adults, and then if anyone remembered their missionaries. Hand after hand went up, and missionary names were shared. Then Collins Steward said, `Y'all need to remember that somewhere in the church someone is sharing your name the same way today because of the missionary work you performed for them.' It was a nice way to end church, and is a nice way to end a Thoughtlet about the lasting fertilizer of life, i.e. about compost."

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 © 2005 H. Roice Nelson, Jr.