Fun weekend!

Current mood: happy

Getting ready to leave Friday morning!

I had a great weekend getting away for a few days and finally meeting my soon-to-be sister-in-law Heather. Let me just say I already love her! She's so much fun to be around. I only wish we had had more time to spend down there, but alas, we all have schedules and since they're not married yet, she's still in Baltimore while my brother is in their new apartment in Laurel, MD, in between Baltimore and DC (closer to DC though).

Heather and Andy...what a couple!

This is just a funny picture. Seriously!

My Mom, sister Becky, and I left Friday morning and got back Sunday night. While I did enjoy a visit to RFK Stadium with Becky to see the Cleveland Indians play the Washington Nationals on Friday, visiting the DC LDS temple and the International Spy Museum on Saturday, the real highlight was Saturday night as Becky, Andy, and I stayed up until like 5:45 AM talking about virtually everything. It was so much fun. It's such a rare occurrance that we're all together with that much time, so none of us wanted to go to bed! The only thing that could've made that better was if my sister Katie had been there. THAT would've been PERFECT!

At RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, supporting our Cleveland Indians with about 10,000 other Cleveland fans who made the trip!

But anyway, I had a great time and it seems everyone else did too. We found out on Wednesday that my sister Becky lost her baby (she was about 2 months in), so it was good to get our minds on other stuff and have some fun. We should see Andy and Heather again in July when they come here for a weekend, and the wedding is September 8th. About the only thing I didn't enjoy about the trip was driving along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Not only was there construction project after construction project, but traffic jams galore (especially on the drive home) for no apparent reasons and total toll cost eastbound is $11 while westbound was $8. RIP OFF!! I can tolerate a few construction projects and slow-downs here and there, but the PA Turnpike was ridiculous!

Becky, Me, and Mom in front of the Washington, DC temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kensington, Maryland. It is a STUNNING building along the Capital Beltway (I-495)!!

Be sure to check out the pics I posted from this weekend in my pictures section, under "My Photos" album. Other than this, the play is still coming along, though Becky and I both enjoyed our little break from rehearsal. The show opens July 5!! I'm also still unemployed and have virtually lost all hope of finding any kind of job for the summer. I hope I'm wrong, but it doesn't look good. Oh yeah, I have a cold too. ICK.

Comments

Nari; June 27, 2007

First of all, I am so very sorry for Becky. What a difficult time this must have been for her.

On a lighter note, congratulations to your brother! I didn't know he was getting married, and so soon! Also a cool wedding date 09-08-07
Your soon to be SIL is very pretty and she and Andy look happy together.

End of an era

Current mood: contemplative

An era came to an end for our family this past Sunday morning as our cat, Topaz, died around 12:50 AM. It marked the end of almost 15 years of having pets in our house as Topaz was the last. For the first time since December 1992 we have no pets here, so it's kind of weird and the house definitely has an empty feeling to it. Topaz had been very sick the last few days to the point where she was hardly eating or drinking at all. The last day, Saturday, June 16, she was to the point where she could hardly move or even stand up. We ended up doing something we haven't done in awhile: taking her with us to run errands, mainly to see my grandpas here in Kent to deliver our Father's Day presents. Topaz (and cats in general) never liked riding in cars, but you couldn't tell that on Saturday since she was so out of it. She died on my bed with both Mom and I sitting on either side of her. It was sad to see her gasp for her last breaths and know there was nothing I could do but pray that she be taken quickly, which I did. Seeing that has been on my mind the last few days. Before that I don't remember ever seeing something die right in front of me like that. Ironically, the place she died was virtually the same place our dog Kipp died at in November as I moved my bed over the spot in my room where he died.

We got Topaz in May of 1993 when she was about 6 weeks old. By then we had had Kipp for a few months. Those two had quite an interesting relationship and it seemed the cat never let an opportunity pass to harrass the dog or jump out from behind a box and attack. Every once and awhile you'd see her little arm swinging out to get something from under a door or something. Sometimes she'd sneak into the lower cupboards and we wouldn't see her until we heard things crashing and moving around in there, opened the doors and she's walk out. Of course too there were the times we'd open the back door and she'd walk in having escaped without our knowing. Topaz also didn't care too much for visitors. At the first sign that someone was coming in the house, she'd hide until she either knew who it was (like if it was one of us) or stayed hidden until any visitor left.

Even though her loss isn't quite the drastic change that losing Kipp was, it is still a change that will take some getting used to. Cats are so much more independent than dogs, but I was still attached to her and was used to her routines and habits. I do miss her and honestly still miss Kipp too and he's been gone now for almost 8 months. I know I'll see them again someday, but it's still hard not having them here anymore.

Bye Topaz...love you and see ya later!

Topaz: April 20?, 1993-June 17, 2007

Comments

Nari; June 19, 2007
Jon, I am so sorry for the loss of your kitty. It's just awful losing a pet as you know they become a part of your family. Although it was tragic watching her take her last breath, I imagine there's something peaceful about watching her go to a better place. Topaz is at the Rainbow Bridge now.

LDS Drama Queen (Becky); June 19, 2007

Remember when she jumped into the fridge while Mom was cleaning it? Hahaha...we had to be careful not to shut her in there.

Thanks for writing that, it was nice to read....I'll miss the weasel, too, in my own special way.

:-)

Maybe next year...

Current mood: disappointed

Maybe next year...the motto of all Cleveland sports teams since 1964!!

Well the Cavs have just been swept. It was quite a painful thing to watch really. Yes, the Spurs were DEFINTELY the better and more experienced team here, though even they would admit they didn't really play their best this series. But really, did they ever have to? The Cavs played SO BAD this series and not all of it was solely because the Spurs were playing such good defense or stuff like that. It really felt like watching the boring Cavs teams of the 1990's that were decent but incredibly boring because they wouldn't (or couldn't) score very much. Especially tonight's game...yikes. They couldn't hit a three-pointer to save their life or get a freaking rebound! Oh and let's not forget the careless unforced turnovers! GEEEEEZ!! Even with all that, outside of game 2, each game was pretty close and by no means a blowout. Had the Cavs played as well as they did in the fourth quarter of game 2 for that whole game, they could've won that one too! Really, they had a good chance to win all four games, but especially games 3 and 4, but their inexperience showed and the Spurs got the job done when they needed to and showed why they have been so successful the last eight years.

I'd like to also point out to all those who keep bringing up the Cavs "easier" road to the Finals. I agree for the most part; the West definitely has the greater teams like San Antonio, Dallas, and Phoenix. But don't forget that Dallas, who won the division that San Antonio is also in and beat the Spurs 3-of-4 this season, was upset in the first round by Golden State, so San Antonio was matched up with Utah in the Western Conference Finals, a team they match up way better with than the Mavericks. So, it is fair to say that while the Spurs did have a "tougher" road, it wasn't nearly as tough as it could've been.

I did enjoy listening to part of the game and the halftime show on WTAM 1100 AM on my way back to Kent from Kirtland. They interviewed a writer from Sports Illustrated who correctly pointed out that the Spurs went through a period as their current dynasty was being built where they couldn't get over the hump (aka the Los Angeles Lakers) and that it wasn't an overnight event that they became the great team they are now. He also said the Cavs are just at the beginning of a long run here and I believe that too. As my friend Daniel (who is by no means a Cavs fan) has said several times, "you better enjoy beating LeBron while you can." Oh well, it was an exciting run, though it would've been nice to get even one lousy win in the series. True, no one even expected the Cavs to make it this far. Sports Illustrated picked them to lose to New Jersey in six games and no one thought they could beat Detroit, especially they way they did! I am proud to be a Cavs fan though and it was nice to see the region finally have something to cheer about and be excited for. See you in the Finals next year! Cavs WILL be back!! At least the Indians won tonight!

GO CAVS!!!

Current mood: ecstatic

WOW...that's all I can say. WOW. I am SO thrilled about what the Cleveland Cavaliers have done so far!! Because all of the games were on TNT and we don't have cable, I either listened to them on the radio (WTAM) or followed them online (www.cavs.com). But for game 6, I made sure I was near a TV so I could witness history, so I watched with my sister at my Ridinger grandparent's house here in Kent. WHAT A GAME!! It was exciting to watch and a little nerve-wracking, but I had faith. In all honesty, I always thought the Cavs would win the series, even after the first two games. I thought the Cavs really would lose the first two on the road and then win the next four. Why I thought that I have no idea, but I thought it nonetheless. I figured it would be a great series after the first two games, and a great series it was. The real kicker was game 5 in Detroit. Once the Cavs (well, LeBron) won that game, I knew they'd win game 6 in Cleveland. It was great seeing how excited everyone was and still is everywhere here. Keep in mind, Cleveland pro sports teams haven't won any overall titles since the 1964 Browns won the NFL title. The last World Series title for the Tribe was 1948, though they were oh so close to winning it in 1997. This will be the Cavs first appearance in the NBA Finals EVER, and they've been around since 1970.

So yes, I have faith the Cavaliers will win the series. I know it flies in the face of reason, but everything just feels different now. GO CAVS!! BEAT THE SPURS!!!

By the way, congratulations to Lebron James (hometown hero!) for an INCREDIBLE series (especially game 5...WOW) and to Daniel Gibson for an excellent series, especially game 6. STUNNING!!

And hey, let's not forget about the Cleveland Indians. Even though they lost the last 2 games of their series with Detroit (these two cities have been seeing a LOT of each other the last 2 weeks!), they still split the series and lead the AL Central. GO TRIBE!!!

Game 5 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Can you count how many Pistons are watching LeBron FLY?!? I know, it is FREAKIN AMAZING! (from the Detroit Free Press www.freep.com)

Game 6...Cleveland fans rejoice behind LeBron in the Q. (from www.cleveland.com)

Outside the Q (Quicken Loans Arena) in between it and Jacobs Field, fans watched on a big screen and celebrated at the end. The Indians-Tigers game had let out about an hour earlier with an attendance of over 38,000. It is estimated between 80,000-100,000 people were downtown for all this. (from www.cleveland.com)

All in good fun...

Current mood: jubilant

To all my liberal and Democrat friends, I'm sorry, but I just think this is HILLARIOUS!!

Comments

Nari; June 4, 2007

Whatev.

LDS Drama Queen (Becky); June 5, 2007

Copycats...can't they come up with anything original?? Stupid democrats...:-)

UPDATE!!!!

Current mood: excited

OK, so first to update on my letter to the editor, it was published in the Record-Courier today. Yesterday I got an e-mail from Roger Di Paulo basically thanking me for the support and explaining why he writes historical columns. Here is the text of that e-mail for those interested:

Mr. Ridinger:

Your letter, with the correction you noted, will appear in
Thursday's R-C.

Thanks for your support. I walked a very fine line when
writing this column (especially given the fact that
descendants of some of the members of the lynch mob are
very much alive and among my readership) and did my best to
put the incident into an historical perspective. I have no
problem when my work is criticized, but I thought the
letter writer's remark casting asperions on Joseph Smith's
revelations was especially offensive.

I learn something every time I write a history piece, and
in this case, I think what I most appreciated is that many
people are not fully aware of the importance of Portage
County, and especially the Johnson Farm site, to the
history of this worldwide religion. I hope that I helped to
"educate" people a bit with what I wrote.

Again, thanks for writing.

Roger Di Paolo

It was cool to get that note. I also heard from my sister Becky that a co-worker of hers told her that she (the co-worker) thought my response was very professional. ANYWAY, today I also took my last final EVER at BYU-Idaho and then just completed my last assignment for one of my classes that I'd been putting off. SO, my semester is OVER!!! For now I'm packing up my room and am planning on leaving tomorrow morning for Utah before beginning my trip home Saturday morning. I am SO EXCITED to be coming home and to be FREE of the semester and DONE with Rexburg. YEAH!!! And in case you're wondering, all of my finals went GREAT! I even surprised myself!

Here's what my letter looked like in the paper...it was the only letter published today.

Letter to the editor

Current mood: productive

Well, I did finally write a letter to the editor of the Record-Courier, but it ended up being about something else instead of the recent acts of vandalism and cries of racism at Roosevelt High School. In fact, it was about my religion. On Saturday, March 25, the Record-Courier ran a great article by Roger DiPaolo in his "Portage Pathways" section about the tarring and feathering (and near lynching) of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in Hiram, Ohio in 1832. The article was very objective and I felt it was very accurate. Most people don't even know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) was headquartered in Ohio for seven years (1831-1838) and a few of those years were headquartered in Portage County at the John Johnson farm in Hiram. Anyway, some lady named Dianne Centa sent a letter to the editor that was published in today's (April 3) paper which was very negative about the Church and basically seemed to justify what this mob did back in 1832. Well, I have about three things I could write the newspaper about, but my own religion always takes precedence, especially at home. Well, I just sent my letter in, so it probably won't be published for a few days, but here's what I wrote. My mom helped with some editing too =). Here is her letter and below it is my response.

Response to Column
"I'd like to make a few comments about the Portage Pathways column of March 25, in which Mr. DiPaolo writes about the attack on Mormon leaders in Hiram in 1832. He mentions "theological differences" as the basis of the dispute between Smith and Rigdon and the local community. However, the cause of the mob action was more specific than that. Joseph Smith had (in the words of his biographer Fawn Brodie) begun to find monogamy "an intolerably circumscribed way of
life." He was frequently attracted to women other than his wife Emma. While staying with the Johnson family in Hiram Township, Joseph had purportedly "bedded" their 15-year-old daughter Marinda. This is why the mob had been set on castrating — not just tarring and feathering — Smith. The column also says the Johnson home is a shrine because "(Smith) received 16 revelations there." Let us be clear: what should have been said is that Smith claimed to have received revelations there. He no more actually received revelations than did any of the other so-called prophets scattered through our history."

Dianne Centa
Kent

"In response to the letter by Dianne Centa ("Response to Column," 3 April 2007), the basis for Roger DiPaolo's well-written and objective article was to point out the significance of an historical event in our county's history and to show where intolerance and hatred can lead. It was not to make a Mormon doctrinal statement or support Latter-day Saint theology in any way. Further, there are many biographies written on the life of Joseph Smith. Fawn Brodie's should not in any way be considered authoritive. Her book is noted for its antagonism towards Smith and the history of the LDS Church and her scholarship is questionable. I advise anyone trying to learn about someone or something not to rely solely on a source that is biased against the subject, but to research a variety of sources with a mind to fairness and balance.

Ms. Centa's letter seems to suggest that the mobs were justified in their near lynching of Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigdon. I agree with Mr. DiPaolo when he said this was a dark period of our county's history. Mob rule makes it too easy for emotions to rule and for fairness, truth, and justice to be completely ignored. It is, in essence, lawlessness. There is no justification for Portage County residents taking the law into their own hands, either then or now.

As for the John Johnson farm in Hiram being considered a "shrine," Mr. DiPaolo simply stated a fact: the house is considered an important and significant religious site for some 13 million members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, roughly 12 thousand of whom reside right here in Northeast Ohio. Hundreds of thousands of people visit the site each year. Your personal feelings on Joseph Smith and whether or not he received revelations are irrelevant to that fact."

JON RIDINGER
Franklin Township

In other news, I got my placement for student teaching today. I'll be student teaching at Bennion Junior High School in Taylorsville, Utah this fall. I'm very relieved to know where I'm teaching, but I still need to resolve my housing. The University is almost insisting that I live in their "approved" housing in Draper, Utah despite the fact that it's $1500 for just over three months with a shared bedroom (by comparison, I paid about $1900 total for two semesters in my current apartment and I have my own bedroom). I have to fill out this "request" to not live in "approved" housing and hope it gets approved. I'm sorry, I just have a problem with the fact that as a 25 year old I have to have permission from my university to live in housing I choose myself. Worse, if I were married, this wouldn't even be an issue (married students aren't required to live in approved housing even here at school; only single students are regardless of age). Talking with the one guy in charge of distant placement student teaching was pretty worthless. It was basically, "well, you can apply, but we don't usually approve requests." ARG...I CAN'T WAIT TO BE DONE WITH THIS SCHOOL FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comments

LDS Drama Queen (Becky); April 4, 2007

The only thing that isn't right is her name. You spelled it correctly when copying her letter but wrong in your own...it is Dianne, with two "n"s. ANYWAY, other than that, GREAT letter, it is exactly what I would have said!! You should be proud, it was NICE.

As far as student teaching goes, hang in there...BYU-I is dumb but hey, you only have to deal for a little while longer. Trust me, I'm at Kent State. Don't you think I've got a countdown of hours???

HAHAHAHA...seriously, great article. See you soon!

Dorese; April 4, 2007

Great article! And congratulations on getting your placement for student teaching! And if your request gets denied, just know that Draper is a ritzy area and 1500 for 3 months doesn't really sound too bad. And remember, it's only 3 months, so even if things get on your nerves, it will all be over fast! Good luck with everything, Jon, and keep your chin up! Again, great job on the article. It was very well written!