Hello From Michael at the MTC

Here's Michael's first email letter to us.  Don't know if he sent it to anyone else, so here it is if you didn't get it.  The P.S. section is pretty cool.  An easy way to write him a letter without having to mail it, and he only gets to read his emails once a week and only gets 30 min on the computer at that. Enjoy!
Amy

From: Michael Trauntvein [mailto:michael.trauntvein@myldsmail.net]
Hi everybody, it´s me!

I am doing greatñ I hope you all are doing well.  There is something wrong with my computer, so there may be a few weird characters here and there in this email.  Today is the third day of MTC. It´´s not our P'day, but the Branch President told us to email our families anyway.  I sent a letter yesterday, so it should arrive in a few days.  I´´m only supposed to tell you that I´´m alive and they´re feeding me well, so yeah.  The days are long, but the time has flown by already.  We´re all having a great time.  My letter tells you about my district and companion, etc. so I won´t waste much time on that now.  Classes are hard; all they speak is Spanish. Nevertheless, I´m picking it up very quickly and can speak it quite fluently already.  The rest of my district always comes to me for help.  I´m the junior companion in my companionship for now, but that will change in a few weeks.  Other than that, I don´t think there is much to report so far.

I do need a few more shirts to work out in.  I only brought a couple cruddy shirts, and we work out every day, so yeah.  Other than that, I think I´m good! I´m excited to hear from you guys, and I´ll try to respond as soon as I can!  Love you all!

Love,
Elder Trauntvein

P.S. I just found out today about a cool website called DearElder.com.  If you make a profile on it, you can write letters for free and email them directly to the MTC, where they get printed out and put into my mailbox the same day.  That way, the mailing process is cut down to a single day instead of a week.  A lot of the elders here are using that.  It only works until I enter the mission field, but it´s still an easy way to write while I´m still in church custody.

Is It Wrong to Correct Someone's Grammar?‏

From Kaylene Armstrong:

Is It Wrong to Correct Someone's Grammar?
by Martha Brockenbrough

You've probably never thought of the movie Speed as a masterpiece of philosophy, but it is. Oh, it is. In addition to preventing the bus from traveling slower than 50 mph, Keanu Reeves' character asks his partner repeatedly, "What would you do?"

This, my friends, is philosophy, or at least an excuse to talk about wisdom, grammar, and the twin angels of ethics and etiquette.

To paraphrase Keanu Reeves, I ask you now, "What would you do if your boss uttered something utterly ungrammatical? Or if she spelled something wrong on an official company project?"

What would you do?
Well, if you were me about ten years ago, and your boss was a scary dragon lady, you might sit quietly in your chair trying not to snicker audibly when you realized she'd written "Woodby Island" when she meant to write "Whidbey Island."

But what would other people do in this situation? Would they have set the boss straight?

To find out, I surveyed the membership of SPOGG, the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, which I founded in 2004. If anyone would correct such a bad misspelling, it would be the foot soldiers of SPOGG, I thought. But I thought wrong.

Dave Russ, who aims to be "The Soup Nazi of copy editors and proofreaders," reported in all capital letters that it is "NEVER EVER" okay to correct a boss's grammar, unless your boss has asked for it and you've been working together for at least 25 years (which sounds to me like an awfully long time to put up with someone who can't write or speak properly and still takes home a bigger paycheck).

Barry Leiba, a technical researcher at IBM and author of the delightful blog "Staring At Empty Pages," said there are "exactly four" situations where it's all right to correct someone's grammar: (1) when you're an English teacher correcting a student, (2) when you're coaching a nonnative speaker who's asked for help, (3) when someone else has asked for coaching, or (4) when someone puts the equivalent of a "kick me" sign on her back.

As he explains it, "We have, at work, an online discussion group called 'Nitpick Forum.' Anyone who posts there is implicitly giving permission to be torn to shreds." 

Remind me not to go there. Likewise, Hilary Davies should probably steer clear. She's a professional proofreader and copy editor who thinks you should not correct anyone's grammar unless you're being paid to do so. And even then, there are caveats. 

"As a student," she said, "I remember vividly struggling to write a thank-you note in Russian for a gift I'd received from my Russian tutor. To my utter mortification and indignation, he returned my carefully crafted note covered in red ink, completely missing the point of the note and focusing instead on what was wrong with the way I'd written it." 

Is silence unethical?
Maybe it's not such a surprise that members of SPOGG recommended silence; that's exactly the route I took. Alas. I have since learned this makes me a bad person--at least when it comes to ethics.

As business guru Alan Weiss, Ph.D., explained, when we let people get away with grammar goofs, we don't have their long-term interests in mind. Weiss, an organization development consultant who's written 25 books, says it's like failing to let someone know he has lettuce stuck between his teeth.

"When people have not done that for me, my reaction is, 'why the hell didn't they tell me?'" he said. (Uh-oh, I'm guilty on that one, too.)

This doesn't mean I should have sprung out of my chair and corrected my boss, who had long, red--and, I suspected--inhumanly sharp fingernails. But, afterward, I could probably have brought it up with her privately and gently (and from a safe distance).

This is called operating in the other person's self-interest, Weiss said. It's not an easy thing to do when you're correcting the grammar of someone who can fire you. But, as Weiss put it, "ethics are not situational."

"It's like being partially illegal or partially pregnant," he said. "There isn't any such thing as partially ethical."

Bad grammar: Destroyer of civilization?
Ethical people live their lives by saying, "What's the right thing to do here?" he explained. One way of answering that question is following something called the Kantean categorical imperative, after the German philosopher Immanuel Kant.

That imperative asks, "What if everyone did it?" (It poses the hypothetical in fancier language, though: "Act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will a general natural law.")

What if everyone did let everyone else get away with sloppy grammar? Weiss, who is not (yet) a member of SPOGG, believes it would be a terrible thing--the end of the world as we know it, more or less.

"As standards decline, civilization declines," he said. American society is the most successful in history, he said, but complacency could cause all that to crumble. "You fight that by upholding standards," he said. 

But it's not just about the standards; it's about being able to communicate clearly. You can't do that without correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. As Jeff Rubin, the founder of National Punctuation Day has noted, "Let's eat, mommy" does not mean the same thing as "Let's eat mommy."

And if you point out a language error in the right way, no one has to get hurt, humiliated, fired or devoured.

Weiss has seen that personally.

Recently, the chairman of a board meeting he attended kept trying to give a compliment by saying, "KuhDOZZ," Weiss said, when what he really meant was kudos (hear it pronounced). Weiss kept quiet, but afterward, praised the chairman for a good meeting, and as an aside said, "that word is pronounced kudos. I just wanted to tell you this in the event you use it again."

"He thanked me," Weiss said. 

It's likely that part of the board chairman's gratitude was because Weiss didn't call out the error in public.

Part II: But What about etiquette?
And this brings us to the etiquette portion of our discussion. If a code of ethics is a guide to what is right and what is wrong, then etiquette is all about doing the right thing the right way.

If one wants to correct "correctly," then one must do it in private, according to the etiquette experts I consulted: Laurie McIntosh of Business Training Works, and Joy Weaver, author of Just Ask Joy. . . How to be Socially Savvy in All Situations. 

Neither agreed with Weiss, though, on the necessity of upholding grammatical standards all of the time. And while I'd pay good money to see an Ethics and Etiquette Smackdown on Pay-Per-View (napkins would take a beating!), I'm not all that surprised by the disagreement.

After all, both etiquette rules and ethical standards have changed over time.

Let's consider just ethics. What has been called "good" has varied over the years. A Hedonist*, for example, would view pleasure as the highest good. Unless correcting someone’s grammar gave you an enduring or intense pleasure, it wouldn't be the highest good you could pursue according to this ethical system.

So if ethical standards have changed over the years, why should ethicists and etiquette experts--who look at different types of "right"--agree on everything today?

Let's assume, though, we're going to be Alan Weiss-ethical and correct the grammar of others. There’s one really good rule to start with, offered up by Laurie McIntosh, the business trainer: Make sure you're right. 

When to correct grammar mistakes
Some of those rules pounded into our heads by well-meaning English teachers aren't right. For example, it's fine to end sentences in prepositions, just like it's fine to split infinitives. Incomplete sentences? Fine and dandy (even if they're not recommended for business correspondence).

Between you and "I," though? That's as wrong as orange juice and toothpaste--and may that always be the case.

Once you are certain you're correct, you could follow Joy Weaver's five rules for pointing out grammatical peccadilloes:

1. Do it if you're being paid to do it.
2. Do it if someone has asked you to do it.
3. Do it privately.
4. Do it to spare a friend who is about to appear in the spotlight for some reason.
5. Make sure you don't talk down to someone while you're correcting their grammar.

McIntosh has other suggestions, as well. "Know your audience," she says. Parents, for example, should correct their kids' grammar. 

"To do less is a disservice to the child and the rest of mankind," she said.

Students are fair game because they're "in learning mode," she said, though if they're older students, they deserve private instruction on the finer points of language. And finally, she said, "Humor is usually a great tool for getting the point across without making the other person feel like a clod."

On that, I couldn't agree more.

Now, when my boss makes a grammatical error in public, which is a cause for great embarrassment considering her line of work, I just look at her and laugh, and say, "Next time, don't load up on coffee and write."

"You should talk," she invariably replies, a wee bit grumpily. "Also, you have lettuce in your teeth."

And then I look around to see if anyone has overheard me talking to myself.

I am, after all, one of those self-employed writers who operate out of a spare bedroom and therefore have no good reason to shower regularly. As my own boss, I am forced to correct my errors on a daily basis. It's mortifying, of course, but I always take care to do it in private--if only so no one thinks I'm losing my marbles.

Kirsten's Eating Plan

Hey,

I told you that I'd send you the plan my dietician came up with for me. Now this was designed for me based on current weight and BMI, desired lean muscle mass, exercise output per week, resting heart rate, blood pressure, etc. So every persons would be a bit different. But it made me notice how carb-heavy I usually eat (and I do try to eat whole grains). I actually needed more protein to satiate my appetite, but still eating a good carb with every meal. Mom, yours would look a bit different, because you'll have to watch what kind of vegetables to intake as well based on their glycemic index. Anyway, the more important column to pay attention to in this spreadsheet is the number of exchanges. So on the American Diabetes Association website, you can find a list of exchange foods, i.e. 2 starches/breads could look like a baked potatoe, two slices of low-carb bread (or anything with 30 grams of carb), rice, corn, etc. There are books of exchanges and most foods have an "exchange" listed on the side of the box where the nutrition label is.

I'd like to say I'm great at this. But there are times I want some more carbs, so I have them. But when I do follow, I do have more energy, less hungry, and lose weight. This is also a weight loss mode, not maintenance mode (you'd need to add more calories to maintain). The other two points she made sure I followed were required 8 hours of sleep per night (or at least 7), less than that and your body messes up its function and desires more carb. The second part was working out as hard as you can for only 30 minutes a day, no more than 60. More doesn't always mean better.

Hope this helps.

love,
Kirsten

My Class is Next Week

Thanks to all of you for your help. My class starts next week. I have to call and confirm. I chose an apple for my treat today when I was with Dad rather than a sugar-free drink. As you always say: "Chew your calories; don't drink them." I felt devastated at first. Dr. Jones did two tests and compared my old tests. I should have fought the weight better than I have. That means, in my case, walking a lot. I already drink a lot of water because I am trying to keep the bladder infections at bay. I still had one of those as well and so I am taking an antibiotic. He did say that the higher sugar content in urine could be a cause of those. I just don't know what I can eat. I bought a glycemic index book on the way home today. Obviously, simple sugars are out. I know that eating Mexican food is not that great. That is where Michael wanted to eat today. I tried to be careful but there is a lot of stuff there that is not that great for me. My stomach not only doesn't like me but I also feel tired and weary. The doctor said the weary feeling was a sign I should pay attention to.

NAMI Thanks

Mrs. Trauntvein, Thank you so much for the wonderful article in The Times-News! Your help is greatly appreciated! With your help we'll be able to serve many people in our community. Sincerely, The Motes' Myrna wrote: Thank you! There was a time in my life when I certainly could have used the group (NAMI). I know what a wonderful resource you are offering. Keep up the good work. Let me know if there is more that I can do.

Another site for Type 2

http://www.mendosa.com/ My doctor suggested the above site for all those wondering how they could be empowered in the fight against Type 2 diabetes. If you are interested, take a look. If not, ignore it. Some of you seem to think you have to check out everything I send but, YOU DON'T! I will still love you anyway. Now I have two grandsons in the MTC. Amy shed a few of the mommy tears--pride mixed with knowing you will miss them--but she was really, really good. I am glad the MTC in-take workers are so efficient now. There is no more of the terrible co-meeting, after which, one goes one way and the others go the other. There are just two missionaries at the curb and they grab the luggage and wait while you hug. Then off it is to the EMT excitement. Grandma Lorna and I got to drive in with Amy. They no longer let you take photos at the wall by the EMT. Yesterday, they decided to make the Provo City Police Department happy. So you have to take your photos across the street from the MTC and then the parents get in the car and drop off the missionary. The Gordon grandparents were having quite a day. They dropped off one grandson at the MTC and another at BYU. He is a Gordon, son of their son. I am eating a dish of cooked Coaches' Oats for supper. It sounded good to me. Dad is having peaches and milk. I like peaches but would never dare eat them this late in the day. I still have GERD.

Fruits for Diabetics

AnnMarie wrote: Fruits also have sugar, so they are not a "free food" like lettuce or zucchini, but they are still a good choice. Fortunately, the sugars are bound up in the fibers so it takes them longer to absorb. If you eat a lot of fruit, eat some almonds with them and it will slow everything down. The real trick is to do anything to slow down the sugar hitting your blood stream. If it goes in slowly, your body can keep up. So whole foods digest slower because the body has to break them out into proteins, carbs, or fats before it starts absorbing them. Almonds have both protein and fats so they slow things down. Fat foods aren't a problem for your blood sugar, they are bad for your heart and your arteries - so the Mexican food wasn't bad for your blood sugar. Really it is carbs that are bad for you - white bread, sugars and sweets, potatoes, pancakes, etc. You can have old fashioned rolled oats with some nuts sprinkled on top and a few berries and be fine. Your blood sugar isn't that high yet. I'm sure they are wanting to help you help your body by not overburdening it now so it does't steadily decrease in ability to handle blood sugars. Some of those glycemic books are deceiving, they have Snickers as a low glycemic food because it has proteins and such, but it is really bad for you. So beware. The problem with sugar is that it doesn't take any steps for the body to convert it to sugar before it hits your blood stream. It is immediate. You want to introduce as many steps as possible between consumption and absorption to help your body be ready for the sugar. Myrna wrote: I should skip the class and just talk to you and Kirsten. (I know, you said to take the class so I will.) Thanks for all of your help. I love you, Mom

Gymnastic Award

First overall today!  Yay!

From Kimberly About Diabetes

Kimberly: They want you under 6 with your a1c. This means your average blood sugars over a 3 month period are running 120 to 150. Normal is under 120, and even lower for some doctors. Myrna wrote: My blood sugar was 134 but that was a fasting blood sugar. I suppose it could have been that had I just eaten. I hope the classes teach me what I can eat. The problem was the A1C. I am at 6.5. Thank you, Kimberly. You are most likely the one who really understands all of this since you live with it also.

Diabetic

AnnMarie wrote: That is a borderline number, you could even be considered pre diabetic with that number. You should be able to manage this without any problems. Listen to everything the dietitian tells you, I learned a lot. Some doctors will tell you to avoid sugar free drinks because they trick your blood into thinking sugar is coming its way, so I use those in moderation. Eat protein (like almonds) if you are going to have white carbs or sugar. But try to not eat white carbs or sugar. Also, I just heard about a new study regarding eggs and how they are responsible for thickening of the arteries much like smoking. I would check that one out. Drink lots of water. I think they will tell you 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise will burn off quite a bit of blood sugar. Muscle burns it better, so increase weight bearing activities. Myrna wrote: Thank you! My class starts next week. I have to call and confirm. I chose an apple for my treat today when I was with Dad rather than a sugar-free drink. As you always say: "Chew your calories; don't drink them." I felt devastated at first. Dr. Jones did two tests and compared my old tests. I should have fought the weight better than I have. That means, in my case, walking a lot. I already drink a lot of water because I am trying to keep the bladder infections at bay. I still had one of those as well and so I am taking an antibiotic. He did say that the higher sugar content in urine could be a cause of those. I just don't know what I can eat. I bought a glycemic index book on the way home today. Obviously, simple sugars are out. I know that eating Mexican food is not that great. That is where Michael wanted to eat today. I tried to be careful but there is a lot of stuff there that is not that great for me. My stomach not only doesn't like me but I also feel tired and weary. The doctor said the weary feeling was a sign I should pay attention to.