Analog Man in a Digital World

BYU scores again against Weber State

Warning!!!! If you are under the age of 40, some of the items in this post may be totally foreign to you. You may just shake your head and say, "Wow, that Forsling dude is OLD!  Anyway, I returned from yet another quick BYU football trip in the Beehive State, where my BYU Cougars defeated those Big Sky cast offs the Weber State Wildcats in a sleepy 45-13 beat down. It was a beautiful, warmish Rocky Mountain afternoon spent with my daughter, Ari, and best friend Steve Day and some of his family. It's always great when your team wins, but its all about who's with you at those games! Lavell Edwards Stadium has had a few digital upgrades installed since last season. A new giant screen scoreboard, courtesy of NuSkin, has replaced the relic of an earlier era atop the north end zone seats. New electronic message boards also grace the top edge of both the north and south end-zones. Gotta sell some advertizing and ring that cash register.
I flew home yesterday, alone, since the wife is sticking around a few more days in UT. So, while waiting for my flight I had to occupy myself with my ever present iPhone.  I picked a seat at the gate with a perfect view of the flat screen TV which had the 49er Packer game on. As I 'watched' the game, I text-ed my family, kept updated on my two Fantasy Football leagues, and found out on Facebook that there is nothing Brock Day enjoys more than watching football with his dad. I also checked my email, found out that one of my old baseball coaches had passed away at the young age of 67, after a short illness. (Walker Mortuary update) I also checked the bank balances, and followed up on a church related issue. Finally, I boarded the aircraft, got my Even More Leg Room seat, and plugged in to DirecTV. I caught the end of the Niner game (they won) and watched Peyton Manning's debut with the Broncos. Meanwhile, I kept tabs on the Dodger Giant game on ESPN (Dodgers lost) while composing this post on my iPhone. To keep things fresh, I played some Scrabble as well. After landing at Long Beach, I listened to the Bronco game on satellite radio as I drove home. Then it just kind of hit me like a tsunami: what the heck is going on in this world? Wherever we go we are constantly connected. There is no escape, but we can not resist!
In a moment of nostalgic madness, I longed for those far off days where we had to make carbon copies. But then the mimeograph machine became available. Holy cow, I just loved those brownish copies. Can you believe there was a time without telephone answering machines? If someone called and you weren't home, well, tough luck you just weren't reachable.
Morse code was still a hi-tech wireless transmission.Transistor radios? The Walkman wasn't even on the radar. The LP and the 45, then came the 8-track (it should have come with a paper clip to jam in the side so the tape would play right) and yes the cassette.(So much better!)

Then finally, that major break through the Compact Disc. Was it really 30 years ago that the CD came out?? Today, no more record albums, no more CD's, just an invisible digital download.
There was a time when we actually had to talk with one another to communicate. In 1975 while serving as a missionary in the Friendly Islands of Tonga, I spent almost 1 entire week traveling by boat and on foot to deliver a one sentence message to a fellow missionary! I spent 6 months on one remote island and received mail every six weeks or so. Remember the Aerogram? Our only contact with the outside world was the single Tongan radio station. Where was Facebook when we needed it?
When I was 10 my grandma brought home the 25" RCA ColorTrac TV from Forsey's.  Bonanza rocked!

Grandma Isabel's TV

The Cartwright's

Would you believe I paid $600 for my first VCR in 1982? ( it wasn't a Betamax it was a Mitsubishi, but had a wireless remote!) Now the VHS VCR is an antique from yesteryear replaced by the DVR where we can digitally record 4 shows at once and store up to 100's of hours of programming, most of which we never watch! Remember those days when you had to wait until the program finished recording to start watching it? How did we survive. Heck, when I was 18, I quit my job at the Duke's Lanes because I couldn't miss that night's broadcast of 'Where Eagles Dare.' If only VCR's had been invented! Yes, I was 18 and not too bright...

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
Without cell phones?
Facebook?
Email?
I must be an Analog Man, a dinosaur from a forgotten age. I don't have a Twitter account!!
(But at least I have this Blog!)

Check out this new song from the irrepressible Joe Walsh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il1Byvn_vMA

(You may need to cut and paste the link)

Wild Flowers at Sundance

The 'Perfect' Summer

The official Sandy Koufax Bobble-Head

 Today Seattle Mariner pitcher, Felix Hernandez, tossed the 23rd perfect game in Major League history defeating the Tampa Bay Rays. That is the THIRD perfect game this season. Six no-hitters have been tossed this season. What is going on? Baseball's 'perfect game' is one of the rarest sports events of all. Only 23 in 112 seasons of ball, but three this season? Go figure...It was fitting that last week it was Sandy Koufax Bobble-Head Night at Dodger Stadium. Part of the Man Cave was in attendance, nibbling on Dodger Dogs and reminiscing about the Koufax/Drysdale days in the 60's. Sandy hurled a perfect game back in 1965 and pitched one no-hitter a season in 4 consecutive seasons. (1963,1964,1965, and 1966) While Koufax's career was short, it was the most brilliant of all time. Sandy was nearly perfect......

Mike Hawkes, Mike Bayard, Mike Forsling, and Clyde Condie The Man Cave at Sandy Koufax Bobble-Head Night

Yes, this has been a pretty perfect summer, indeed. The just completed London Olympics were perfectly great. Missy Franklin, Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Allyson Felix, the US Women's Fab Five Gymnastics team, Kobe, Lebron and the boys, and the Queen and James Bond jumping out of an airplane! (Well, sort of) Now, I am suffering from Olympic Viewing Withdrawal Syndrome. The treatment is a decreased dose of Bob Costas and spending time away from the Boob Tube...

The beautiful smile of swimming gold medalist, Missy Franklin

  My beloved LA Lakers got a little closer to perfection with several major off-season moves. You can always count on the Laker organization to do whatever it takes to win a championship. With the addition of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash......look out!....Our family enjoyed two near perfect back to back vacations, one in, where else?, Utah and the other a road trip up the coast of California through Morro Bay to Monterey. The Utah trip was walk down memory lane. I received a parking ticket while shopping at the BYU Bookstore. That really made me feel like a student again! We utilized our lifetime 'back door privileges' at Glade's Drive-in, in Spanish Fork where Kar and worked while in school back in the late 70's. We had a great visit with Brent Johnston, our old boss, friend and owner. Was it really over 30 years ago we worked there?? Wow! My daughter Ari and I attended the SF Fiesta Days Mammoth Parade. It was a kick, but we probably won't be doing that again for a few decades.We rode the Ferris wheel at the carnival and enjoyed yet another rodeo at the rebuilt rodeo grounds............ A trip up the Cali coast is always a good idea. We had a nice stay at the Madonna Inn. It was great to get out of the heat for a few days.  A good time was had by all!!!!....

Just like the good ole days!

Dad and Ari at the scintillating Fiesta Days Parade

Dad and Ari on the Ferris Wheel at the Fiesta Days Carnival, just like we did for the first time together 23 years ago.

On top of the world!

Fiesta Days Rodeo at new rodeo stadium

Yes, it is the Hare Krishna at the Fiesta Days Parade

Sunset over Spanish Fork High from my sister Suzy's backyard

From the chair lift at Sundance Ski Resort

Mount Timpanogos with waterfall

Melisa and Ally at Morro Bay

Dad and Ally and Morro Rock

Our favorite shell shop in the world, Morro Bay, CA

In the shadows at the Roman Pool, Hearst Castle

In the arms of an a angle, Hearst Castle

Taking a break before he putts out, 17 mile drive, Monterey Peninsula

Special effects Jellies, Monterey By Aquarium

Heart Castle, San Simeon, CA

I'm looking at YOU!

Kar and Mike Hearst Castle

Main Entrance, Hearst Castle

Roman Pool Reflected, Hearst Castle

Sardines in Motion, Monterey Bay Aquarium

"Stupid is as stupid does." Outside Bubba Gump, Monterey, CA

Marble Mermaids Neptune Pool, Hearst Castle

Awesome tiles, Hearst Castle

Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl

Yes, it has been a 'perfect summer.' Through it all, we managed sneak in a few great movies (Batman and Bourne) and a concert (Coldplay). We have a trip to The Magic Kingdom planned next week! Now as the better part of summer has disappeared in the rear view mirror, it is time to look ahead to the upcoming Fantasy Football season. Draft times are set...What could be more perfect than that??!!!

A Midsummer's Night Dream

Cave Night at Dodger Stadium: M2, M1, M3, and The Hare

Summer is here! Yes, it's hard to believe, but it's about half over. How do we know? Because MLB's midsummer All-Star game is only 2 days away. The Boys of Summer will be displaying their talents in Kansas City this year and summer will quickly disappear in the rear view mirror of some interstate shortly thereafter. But, not yet! That's why I love summer. There is so much going on and so much to look forward to for the rest of the year! For an eternal optimist, things just can't get any better. Here's my Top 15 list of lofty midsummer dreams, expectations and realities:

1. Sitting in the ball park of my favorite team, gobbling down Dodger Dogs, hoping they will make it to the World Series; if not there is always next year. But, do you know what? It really doesn't matter in the eternal scheme of things, because there is nothing better than hanging out at Chavez Ravine with family and best friends in the summertime!

Above Dodger Stadium

Dodger All-Star Matt Kemp

2. I am already starting to think about my upcoming NFL Fantasy Football draft. Maybe Fred Carpenter won’t win again this year. Adrian Peterson got arrested last night so, will you still draft him? Does Peyton have anything left?

What in the crap was I thinking?

3. Summertime means NBA free agent time! The Lakers have landed free agent point guard  extraordinaire Steve Nash from Phoenix. Yes, the Lakers will be on top with Nash, even without Dwight Howard. (I don't want to hear about Le Bron or the Thunder)

Wow!

4. The BYU Cougars are going to go undefeated and win the National Championship in football!

5. Last month's Olympic Trials were a mere delicious pre-dinner appetizer for the upcoming 2012 London games. Dang it, I just love the Olympics!!! Go Team USA!

6. Summer movie block busters. Hoping for another joyful sleeper like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter or another deep, thoughtful thriller like Prometheus. Bring on the Batman!

7. You gotta love those midsummer cable shows: The Closer, Longmire, and Breaking Bad.

Pinkman and Walter

8. You rock because you probably either witnessed Coldplay, Three Dog Night or Barry Manilow live, under the stars! (Barry Manilow or a mechanical wax figure, only his plastic surgeon knows for sure)

Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl

Circa 1980

2012...How did he get younger?

9. You love driving to work in the morning because there is no traffic, but in the back your mind you dread the coming of August because with it returns the gridlock.

10. You are reinvigorated either because you just got back from a great summer vacation with the fam, or the anticipation of your upcoming trip cannot be contained!

11. You are looking good with that deep tan from spending time at the beach, on the mountain, on the lake, at the theme park, or at the ball park! (Tanned fat is more attractive than albino fat!)

12. Life is good because dieting can wait till fall. Hot dogs, double meat double cheeses, fries, deep fried Twinkies, cherry chocolate chip shakes, cotton candy, snow cones, frozen bananas, apple pie and watermelon are your only food groups. OK prime rib’s on the list!

Only in America!

Summer!

My mouth's watering!

13. The summer heat has made me crazy because I have tickets for the Fiesta Days Rodeo in a few weeks after vowing last year to never attend again. What is wrong with me?

14. You are asking yourself: “Do I want Obama-care? If not, maybe Mitt is the guy..

15. Weather girl Jackie Johnson's on vacation, but it's OK because Evelyn's her backup

JJ

ET      Who would you put in the starting line-up?

 

 HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!