"Andrea and I were at the airport at 5:15 on Monday morning. I have never seen such long lines. Most of the folks were skiers returning from the slopes. We parked the car at the Hertz place, the lady was very slow to check us out, and then we walked over to check-in. A lady told us to check it curbside because the lines were so long. The curbside guy actually got our boarding passes, and so I gave him a nice tip. Then we went to stand in a 45 minute security line, which ran through the maze and back to the third baggage carousel. I had the Monday morning Salt Lake Tribune to read in line. It was nice to get through the pandemonium and to the gate. The flight was uneventful. I slept and read my comic book on 'Understanding Comics.'
We got back to the house about 2:00 in the afternoon. By the time we read the papers and the mail, it was already time to go to sleep. I spent most of my spare time at home all week working on writing the Thoughtlet about our Zion Christmas (../0653.html). And as I write this I realize I forgot to mention learning about the hanging of Sadam Hussain when we arrived at our Motel late on Saturday night. There is a lot of the news which has absolutely no real effect on us, and it doesn't hurt us to miss it at all. Guess this is why I seldom turn on a television when I travel. I always can catch up on anything I've missed going through the papers, and frankly, there is more relevance to real life problems in the comics than in almost any of the articles in the papers or magazines like Time, which I do read in detail each week.
The travel-time calculation for the next pre-stack depth migration which I started before leaving for Utah was still running when I got back. It finished on Thursday, and I started the 2nd run of the actual pre-stack depth migration of every 50th line across the seismic survey the same day, Thursday the 4th of December. This process should finish on about January 19th, unless additional computer nodes become available and I'm able to break the project into smaller pieces and spread it across more computers. Seismic processing is very, very, very, very, very compute intensive. And once the job is submitted, there is nothing I can do until the first line is complete.
So I have been working on cleaning up some of my filing at the office. This seems to drive Lee Bell crazy. So he has asked me to learn some other software called CVSPICK (Constant Velocity Stack Picking). I spent the rest of the week at the office working with this software. However, the jobs from customers will not arrive until the last third of the month. So I go back to working on my filing when there is nothing else I can do. Wednesday I came across a quote I liked at http://www.brainyquote.com at Geokinetics' office, and wrote it as a possible stanza for Prime Words:
About this time I also ordered another copy of 'New Technologies in Exploration Geophysics,' and Stan Pottinger's book 'The Boss: A Novel' (../0702.html), which was originally going to be called 'Black-Eye - Holographic Seismology' (../0319.html).
While I was working on the Thoughtlets on Wednesday night, Dan Jones brought my new Primary Teacher folder over for his daughter, President Tiffany (Jones) Feil, and reminded me about the Meet the Teacher activity on Saturday morning. After he left, Andrea told me I was to bring a bag with four items which describe me to the Meet the Teacher activity. I spent the next several evenings thinking about what describes me. What I came up with was:
I did several searches through the Thoughtlets, and it appears one of the very special experiences I had proselyting Landmark Graphics has never been written up in any detail. I have referenced teaching the two courses two different times for ONGC in Dehra Dun, India (../0205.html and ../0320.html). Also, I did give a one sentence summary when Paul Sullivan came to Houston to interview with Geokinetics (../0614.html). The more complete story starts shortly after I went to China in 1983, I was invited to give my 'New Technologies in Exploration Geophysics' course to ONGC (The Oil and Natural Gas Commission, the national oil company of India) in Dehra Dun. Deepach Koosla had followed me from the Seismic Acoustics Laboratory to Landmark Graphics, after he got his Master's Degree, and when he learned I was going to India and where I was going he said, 'Here a dune, Dehra Dun, everywhere a dune.'
These two trips to India were two of the most memorable trips I have ever taken. Arriving in New Dehli at 1:00 in the morning, there was nobody outside except young boys, 8 to 12 years old, begging to carry my bags and to get a tip. It broke my heart. I caught a cab to the hotel, which was like a large fancy home in England. The next morning a car picked me up, and we drove 225 kilometers north to Dehra Dun. Lots of old trucks, people on the road almost all the way, and typical third world sights. There were big monkeys all over the roads, especially going through the mountain passes. When we got to Dehra Dun, I was taken to my hotel, which was a one story motel type of facility, and which was where the class was scheduled to be taught for the next four days. The attendees were very experienced, very senior geophysicists, and I felt somewhat intimidated by them. However, the class went well. At the end of the first day they told me there was a famous swami giving a lecture at the main ONGC conference center, and they wanted me to go to the lecture. There was no question in my mind about going, as I love learning new things and having new experiences. There was a limo waiting for me after class, which took me all the way across town, and I was escorted to the lecture hall. It reminded me of the auditorium at Cedar City High School, only a lot steeper from the back row to the stage.
I proceeded to sit down on one of the back rows. However, about then the Swami came in with his flowing orange robes and shaved head. He looked over the sea of 400 brown faces, saw my white face, and invited me to come to a seat on the front row in the center. So I did. For the next hour and a half he lectured us about living a good life, about being chaste, about the importance of taking care of your family, and about having your body in shape. Half of the lecture was in Hindi, and half of it was in English. When he could tell I wasn't following, he would switch to English and repeat. He had folks come up from the audience, lay on the stage on their back, lift their feet up at a 30o angle, along with him, and he would continue to lecture while they struggled to keep their feet from going back to the floor. I found the lecture fascinating, and it reminded me of New Testament teachings. ONGC had brought him to Dehra Dun to teach as a way of motivating employees to do more than the bare minimum. Employees were required to attend this type of class if they wanted to keep working for ONGC. When he finished I assumed I would be taken back to my hotel to prepare for my lectures the next day. However, he motioned to me to come up to the stage, and we had a 20 minute discussion about my reactions to his lecture and his work. During the discussion he made sure I knew that this was the theoretical portion of his work, and that for the next three nights there would be practical hands on yogi instruction. He told me he wanted me to attend. What could I say?
The next night when my lectures had finished, one of the guys invited me to get on the back of his motorcycle, and he drove me through downtown and to a basketball court where the practical lessons were being taught. My swami spent a lot of time working with the 'fat American' (Oh that I weigh now what I weighed then!). He got me to twist my body in ways I did not know were possible. I was wearing levi's, which were too tight, and he told me to go buy some pajamas on the way back to the hotel for the next night. So I did. I did much better the next night. I was standing on my head, crossing my legs backwards, and saying oooooooommmmmmmmmmm! until the center of the top of my head resonated with the sound. The next night was my last night, and I wanted to give my swami a gift because I had enjoyed his instruction so much. I had nothing appropriate, and after much consternation I decided to give him my missionary Book of Mormon. Of course there was not an opportunity to explain it to him during the class with several hundred folks standing on their heads and crossing their legs in unnatural ways. So I asked if I could talk to him for a minute after class. He invited me to ride with him to where he was staying. I used the time to explain what the Book of Mormon is, and to give it to him as a gift. He was blown away. It was a special moment. When we got to where he was staying, there was a line of at least 100 folks. I asked what this was about. He explained that for the next several hours he would be counseling different folks on various aspects of their lives. Then he said he had a gift he wanted to give me. He went to his apartment and brought me back some incense sticks. Of course I had no interest in this, and I was still gracious and wished him the best on his journey.
Each morning I would go for a run. I went a little bit farther each day, and on this Friday I was running in an area I had not been to before. The sun was just coming up across a field, which back home I would call a garbage dump. However, there were little brick walls about 3 feet tall, and there was smoke coming from behind some of the walls. As I was running along, a beautiful young woman stood up from behind one of these walls, stretched, with the sunlight shinning through the folds of her silk sari. It broke my heart to see this beautiful woman living in this garbage dump. Life is not fair. I remember being glad my two daughters were safe from this kind of life in Missouri City, Texas. Of course, I did not know my other three daughters at that time, as they were probably living in California then. And, of course, the lady outside of Dehra Dun was probably safer than any of my girls, in that the moral and social garbage you have been exposed to is far more dangerous than the physical garbage outside of Dehra Dun. This Friday was my last day of lectures. After class all of the folks came together and gave me a 2 foot by 1 foot brass plate of one of the Hindu gods, a woman with very large bare breasts. This became the white elephant gift of all white elephant gifts for then next six years or so of Nottingham Country Ward High Priest Christmas Socials. The second year, we got it back. The third year Bob and Sharon Johnson too it and added brass plates to the bottom listing who had had it for each year. The last year, it was given to Bishop Daniels, who was not able to attend the High Priest Christmas Party, and he tossed it. Oh well!
After class that day I was driven to Mussorie, which is in the Himalaya mountains 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the north of Dehra Dun. In case any of you are interested, Dehra Dun is at an elevation of 2200 feet (670 meters), while Mussorie is at 6,932 feet (2,112 meters). The British set up Dehra Dun as the headquarters for their army when they were running India as part of their colonial rule. This allowed the officers to spend the summers in Mussorie where it was cool, and the winters in Dehra Dun where it was warm. It is an interesting town. The road to Mussorie is very steep, and the houses are built along the edge of steep drop offs. Beautiful views, although the vegetation is mostly scub oak type of vegetation, and there are not many interesting outcrops. I told my Indian guides it was like going home to Missouri City to find the city has been moved to the top of a mountain in northern Utah. I visited Mussorie both times I taught the course in Dehra Dun.
My second trip was to teach the same school again. I do not remember which of these trips I purchased the India musical instruments, the books about India's religions, nor which ones I went to visit some of the marvels of India. I do remember going to the Taj Mahal, which was built by Emperor Shah Jahan at Agra, India, from 1630 to 1653. I remember seeing pictures of the Taj Mahal in Richard Halliburton's 'Complete Book of Marvels,' which I had as a child, and which is on the bookcases upstairs by the pool table. It is impressive. And The Red Fort, which is also in Agra. The detailed work in marble was absolutely stunning. In fact, the first international trip I wan to take with Grandchildren is probably to Agra, India. It will change their lives forever on multiple levels. For instance, I remember forgetting and drinking some orange juice on the way to Agra, and getting a bad case of diarrhea. Of course, I do not want this to happen to my Grandchildren, and I would like them to experience the wonder of The Red Fort and the Taj Mahal. Anyway, enough of a diversion from this Thoughtlet.
Friday night right after I got home we went to see the movie 'Freedom Writers.' Pretty gritty. I cried a lot during this film. It hurt to see how these kids struggled. It hurt to see how the teacher struggled. As we left the theater, I was amazed at the demographics, all High School kids. Obviously the show resonated with them and the word was out. We got home in time to watch a new episode of Numb3rs. It was about a polygamist cult leader, who it seemed was selected to look like Brigham Young. He had 72 wives (Brigham had 27), and he was a really bad dude, shooting policemen, raping young girls, and the whole twelve-yards. They used names of people like Kirtland. It is sad how some writer could become this angry about the church. They must have had a fanatic father like me they are getting even with?
Saturday morning I read the paper, wrapped Ben's present, printed out a Thoughtlet for Matt, got ready, and it was time for the Primary Meet the Teacher activity. I went to the Post Office on Baker Road about 9:30, and was stuck there, behind a lady with 100 packages, until 10:10. I do not like to be late, and it was 10:25 by the time I got to the Relief Society Room. Oh Well! I arrived, with my sack of 4 subject areas just before the opening prayer. The first thing they had us do after the prayer was to take our class to our classroom, so the kids and teachers know where the classrooms are, and play a game with the kids. The game was "Would You Rather . . . . ." and consisted of giving the kids a choice and having them stand on the left side of the room if they would rather eat ice cream or on the right side of the room if they would rather eat cake. I think this is a great get to know everybody activity, which some of you will be able to use in Young Womens or when you are courting or someplace else, and so I'm going to type out the two pages of options:
The kids and my assistant teacher, Thor Larson, really got into the activity. Then we went back to the Relief Society room where there was a breakfast of muffins, fruit, and juice. After this the Primary Presidency each showed their bag of four things. Then each table, or each class, was to have the teachers show their bag of four things. Brother Don Keller from the Bishopric was standing close to our table, and he said, 'I want to go over to Brother Nelson's table, because I know it will be very interesting.' I got the most surprise when I showed the photo of our family and said we have 10 kids. There was a lot of interest in the fossil and in the magnetic rocks. Charolette Wardon is in my new class, and she told everyone she had been to my house, had stood on big rocks, had seen all of my other rocks, and with a little prompting told how everyone who visits my house gets a rock to take home. It was fun.
After this the Primary Presidency (Sister Tiffany Feil, Sister Kay Harlan, and Sister Tana Holmes) had us go into the gymnasium, to play a relay game. They divided the kids into 5 groups of 6. Each group had a pot, a bag of rocks, a bag of dirt, seeds, a watering bucket, and a flashlight (representing sunlight). Each child on each team got one of these, and when they said go, the first one ran and put the pot on the opposite side of the gym, came back and tagged the second one, and so on, until everyone had gone. I'm a good coach. Our team won both relays. After this there was a closing prayer, and I was about to leave when President Feil asked me to help move the round tables into the Primary Room. I ended up helping move the tables, vacuuming, setting up the chairs for Sunday School, and setting up my room. As I was about to leave, Hope Miner walked by and said, 'When I grow up I want to be like you, and work as a scientist.' I told her it is a good goal, there is a need for good scientists, it pays well, there are a lot more men than women, and if she worked hard it could be a very rewarding career. She followed me into the Relief Society room to pick up my sack, and I let her play with the singing magnets. It felt good.
Shortly after I got home, Andrea and I went to the Houston Museum of Natural History to see the 'Benjamin Franklin' exhibit. Lots of people. Interesting demographics. Mostly older people, though not as old as me. All walks of life, and they appeared to be well read. Very polite. Patient standing in long lines. Friendly. I think Ben Franklin would have enjoyed them. I made a couple of notes. For instance, Franklin's virtues were:
Benjamin Franklin wrote his epitaph when he was 22 years old, in 1728. It said:
We went to the exhibit on Saturday, January 6, 2006 - or in other words, on Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday. And it has been 30 years this month, a tithing, since Benjamin Bengt Nelson was named, with Benjamin coming from two of my heroes, Benjamin Franklin and King Benjamin in The Book of Mormon. I wonder what the world will day about my Ben in another 270 years?
We drove home, stopped and picked up the mail, and I worked on Thoughtlets for a while. Then we went to a 7:25 showing of 'The Holiday.' Cute show. Too much emphasis on sex. Happy ending. Not high on my list of shows I ever want to see again. This demographic was totally different than the others I noticed this week. This movie was attended by middle age couples and single women. Chick flick!
I got up at regular time, 4:45 AM, because I needed to finish my lesson. When we got home from the movie Saturday night I started writing a song for my new Primary Class. We have sharing time in a couple of weeks, and what better way to spend it than singing a new song to the Junior Primary. The words I came up with are:
I also plan on the kids helping me sing the theme song from the England East Mission singing group, going back to between 1970 and 1972:
I figure this will be a pretty good sharing time. I also needed to finish preparing the lesson, read the paper, and get ready for church, which started at 8:00 AM. We got to the church early, I got my room set up, realized I forgot the name tags, drove home (past the cop on Highland Park), and got back as the opening song for Sacrament Meeting was starting. It was Fast & Testimony Meeting, President Pickerd had meetings and wasn't with us, and so I bore my testimony. I talked about Dave Johnson coming in my office this week, although I did not use his name. One morning he came in and I gave him a pamphlet I had picked up on Temple Square about the Welfare Services of the church. He asked me, "If I believed Moslem's worshiped the one-true-God?," and his second question was "What is the difference between Mormons and Moslems?' I asked him, "How many Christian's worshiped the one true God?" This led to a discussion of adding to the scriptures. I quoted from Deuteronomy, about not adding to this book, and asked if that meant there was to be no scriptures after Deuteronomy? Then I pointed out that these are the same words that are written in Revelations, got up, pulled Ben's seminary Bible off the shelf, and said, 'Yea, none of those other books written after Revelations should be accepted as scripture. You know, those books like Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.' This kind of just fell out of my mouth, and I recognized it was a spiritually driven comment, when Dave responded, 'The scripture in Revelations refers to adding to the Book of Revelations.' I pointed out to the Fast & Testimony Meeting congregation how this was one of those moments when the spirit bore witness to my spirit that the restoration is true. Then I thanked my Primary kids for putting up with me, and told my new class how much I looked forward to getting to know them.
We have sharing time first now. However, I still think it is a good idea if I set up my class for the other class to use, then it will still be set up like I like it to be when we go to class. There were 9 kids in class, one who I did not know about (Brandon) and whom I had to write a couplet for in sharing time. I think the first class, and our practice went well, and now all of those kids, everyone in my new class but Andrew Sprueill, has had a chance to meet the teacher."
