A book for religion buffs, sports fanatics, and fans of Rudy-esque triumphs

I just read a great autobiography, Longshot: The Adventures of a Deaf Fundamentalist Mormon Kid and His Journey to the NBA.

Lance grew up in a polygamous society and tells the story of his family fleeing from the cultish crazies. He gives a fascinating insight into that lifestyle.

He's deaf, and it's surprisingly hilarious to read him talk about trying to communicate with a hearing world, and it's heartbreaking to read how others relate to him.

Lance started playing basketball late in junior high, and it tells the story of him playing for the University of Utah, then Weber State, then struggling to enter the NBA through playing in Europe. If you're at all fascinated by that journey, or your spouse is, that part is very interesting. As one critic said, you'll never look the same way at the guys sitting on the NBA benches.

The following are reasons to read the book:

• The stories about polygamy and its societal effects are fascinating. This is a world its leaders carefully conceal, but we get to catch a glimpse.
  
  
• If you've ever wanted a legitimate reason to dislike Rick Majerus, this is it.
  
  
• Lance seamlessly throws in arguments against communism, argues that if you use the F word extensively you need to expand your vocabulary, and discusses the history of Europe . . . mostly in footnotes and asides, and it's great. He's brilliant, which is especially surprising for an athlete.
  
  
• His story of persistence will motivate anyone.
  
  
• He's my cousin, so I have a personal interest in cheering for his success, on and off the court.

Life's been good to me so far

I love living in a place where you can buy a beautiful orchid plant at Costco for under $20.

And on the way to Costco, you get a view like this.

We're going to be so spoiled being here.

For the 4th we watched fireworks on the ocean, launched from this boat.

It was breathtaking.

And we didn't get sunburned this outing, because we came prepared.

(This post feels like an Emma post, and I like it.)

It's tough to be a bug

Just so you don't think our Hawaii adventure is all about the beach, I'll tell you about our first real, nasty bug experience (note to the cosmos--thank you this isn't about the rumored centipedes). This morning Todd went to the hardware store to get me a flag hanger (yea!). This is what he found on our gate, right below the latch you have to touch with your unsuspecting skin.

We did an "after" shot of the nickel to show you how big this thing is. Well, was.

I know it's not a thick desert spider of nastiness, and that it doesn't have a red hourglass, but still. Look at it! And apparently in all my worrying about ginormous stinging centipedes and flying cockroaches I forgot there might actually be abnormally large spiders here too. I was thinking maybe spiders are like how snakes aren't supposed to be on an island.

So after taking the above picture, Todd ran into the house to get (1) Raid* and (2) his combat boots. Because, seriously, who's going to step on that thing with flip flops? He sprayed it with Raid and it JUMPED and ran away, quickly. Jumped! Good thing he had boots. Then he tried to step on it and it was too fast. Eeew! Apparently it just ran about a foot away then stopped. Probably taunting him.

Luckily the second attempt at stepping on it worked. He sprayed it again, just in case, and sprayed a circle around it, which is always a good idea. Then he sprayed the gate lock. Then he woke me up. Probably so I could take a Bone Collector picture.

This is a nickel, but still! Look how big it is, even smooshed and drenched in Raid.

And here's my hero. Combat boots and all. They come in handy even on his day off.

* Yes, when I move into a new place I buy food, cleaning supplies, and a can of Raid. You must always have a can of Raid. Maybe even before you have food.