Labor Day Weekend

The Girls fishing at Lake Navajo!

Taylor caught the only fish of the day, a "Minnow" 

                                                                             Taylor decided she wanted to work on her homework while waiting for the fish to bite!  No such luck!

                          We decided last minute to head up to the Utah property and meet Richard and Lori there.  We loaded up the much bragged about Durango and decided to include a battery charger and jumper cables as my sixth sense told me that the Battery was on its way to the deep six.  As I locked up the house and joined the girls for a word of prayer before going I attempted to start up the SUV and the battery decided to  take a dump right then.  We quickly transferred all the supplies into the new car of which might get 39 MPG highway but I dreaded driving it on the dirt roads to the property and to Navajo Lake.  Never the less we headed out.  It was so nice listening to Sirius radio, no fuzzy channels or finding something to listen to.  Presto, push a button and music galore.  We made it up in time to head into Cedar city for dinner at Cafe' Rio in north Cedar.  Ah, delicious.  I ate a burrito the size of a small Buffalo and bought dinner for everyone else.  We sat outside and enjoyed the cool weather, until Richard started on the Political subjects and we decided it was time to go.  The AC was loud all night and it went on and off a lot.  So we froze for awhile and was hot for awhile.  Richard brought all nine of his dogs up in his special camper and bedded them in the Garage, one in his truck cab and the little girl that was pregnant in with us.  The night flew by, I had to get up my usual two to three times so  sleep wasn't very good.  Monday morning we headed into Cedar to IHOP where we decided to eat a burly breakfast before heading up to Navajo Lake.  With the Shooting at the Carson City IHOP yesterday no one questions why take protective measures 24/7.  We headed up to Navajo lake, a 26 mile drive.  Richard and Lori had to jam back up to the Starbucks for a quick coffee and met us there at the lake.
What a beautiful drive up to the lake. When we got there is was fuller than I have ever seen it.  People were leaving. Stupid me forgot to take even a long sleeve shirt let alone a jacket.  But Vegas was 105 degrees when we left and at 10:00 PM at night it's still 100 outside.  What was I thinking.  Even the night before we sat around a beautiful fire and looked at the stars.  It was nice, cool and soft outside.  It started to sprinkle a few times at the lake and boy was it cold.  Everyone left shortly after we arrived without even a bite or nibble.  After three hours of watching everyone come and go we too packed it in.  Not a nibble!  Dang!  But as they say, even a bad day of Fishing is better than a good day at work.  It was just nice to get away.  We drove back without stopping all weekend at Pizza Factory (Closed Sunday night).  We unpacked and were too tired to even do a Jacuzzi.   It was get ready for Work and School, make sure the battery was charged enough to go get another one (completed today) and take care of the daily business.   I finished a load of Laundry but was too tired to do anymore.  I Prefer doing it and doing it right!  We didn't have the usual long weekend that we often like to take, but we have missed church a lot with all the traveling this summer and going to Mom's ward some, so we decided to go this Sunday.  Good thing as we have the opportunity to get General Conference tickets.  Can't wait! 

Welcome to Facebook

               The place where people add you as a friend, but walk past you on the street, where marriages and relationships are perfect, Affairs are started and liars believe they are telling the truth!  Your enemys visit your profile the most, yet your relatives and family block you! Where those who loved you the most, you were the happiest with, gave you the most happiness, guided you through the hardest and toughest times in your life, gave you the most, changed your life for the better, are forgotten.  Although you write what you are really thinking someone always takes it the wrong way, and people think your status is about them... Your High school and College "Best Friends" ignor your friends requests, so you can't see what failures they have really turned out to be and ignor your "Friends" requests or Messages, and your ex-girlfriend/fiances'-boyfriends/lovers or the "Love's of your life" are never mentioned, acknowledge, or included in your photo albums lest your son's/daughters/husbands/wife's dare start asking questions, why you didn't Marry the guy/girl who is more Beautiful/Handsome than their Mom/Dad and is more successful/happier than they are, but pictures of people they had bad Marriages, got divorced to,  or had bad  relationships with are always included, but captioned carefully as to not reveal the truth of that relationship. A place where "Security" is the excuse why they don't open their "Wall" or "Info" or "Photo" pages to everyone, but to ensure their own insecuritys and failures.  Facebook is a place where all your high school ex's new boyfriends will post on the same threads 20/30/40 years later, post to you directly but never send you a "Friends" request!  A place where only the best and most interesting and carefully picked photos are placed.  A place where "Never" new "friends" are made, long time grudges settled, bad relationships mended, or old friendship/relationships gone bad, healed. 
What a social network!!!   Welcome to "Facebook"

Little Child

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHZ79InLGRY&feature=related

First Day of Jr. High School

Taylor started Jr. High School this year! Wow, where does the time go? She will be taking a full load and the school is only a short distance from our home. An accomplished Pianist, Taylor is thinking about taking Trumpet in School Band. I dug out my old Old's Trumpet that was manufactured in 1959, before they rubber stamped them in a factory. I showed her how to blow the horn with the mouthpiece and then played a few old favorite "Herb Alpert and the TJ Brass songs, Reveille, and Taps. Puppy sang along and Jo Jo looked confused. Even Sandi was impressed and that's hard to do! Sandi didn't play in Band but was an All State girls Basketball player in California... We are going to let her try a flute and clarinet before we purchase an instrument. She is completely new at the school as she has been going to a Variance school in Elementary where she was a consistent "A" student.

It won't take long for her to make friends as she has that same Kinetic personality that her mother has. It's cool watching her take interest in so many things. We just don't want her to grow up too fast. It's particularly hard for me as everyday is precious to me now.

Can't wait to see her perform in concert!

I remember how much I enjoyed Jr. High and High school. We hope the same for her!

NFL Cardinal's Game/ Arizona Trip

Bighorn Sheep park.

One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and four to go!

Taylor at the Bighorn Sheep park, clowning!

Endzone View of the Touchdown at the Cardinal's game!

Beautiful Rainbow on the way where we encountered a huge thunder and lighting storm for two hours.

"Big Surf"

Well we went to Phoenix last weekend to see the Cardinal's game, unfortunately we had already bought the tickets weeks earlier and then found out my QB cousin, Max Hall was put on the injured reserve waivers two days before the game. It was an exciting trip, the first time I have actually driven over the new Hoover Dam By-pass. It was uneventful as we were literally over it before we realized we were. It's only a few football fields across and at 65 or 70 MPH shazaam, your over it! We will stop down sometime soon and actually walk across, if possible, and gets some good pictures. On the way we got a great shot of a rainbow, The Arizonan's must have pissed off oBummer big time, the roads were horrible. It was nice finally taking a longer trip in our already one year old new car next month. It drove like a Mercedes and used less than a tank of gas down and back. Richard and Lori met us at the Cardinal's game, it was exciting to see the new stadium. I've become more of a Dallas Cowboys fan ( Sandi's favorite team) but still deep down inside follow the Oakland Raider's. We went to the "Big Surf" park in Tempe and at best calculations I hadn't been there since right after Desert Storm in 1992. It was weird, it was like going into Disneyland and the only thing you recognize is the Matterhorn. After about an hour in the wave pool I asked a few people that had been there for awhile if it was the same. They all told me that except for the wave pool itself, the entire park, was redesigned. (I took the straight jacket back to the car! Whew!) Never the less, we enjoyed the park all day, ate and snacked. Climbing up the rides wore me out in the first few hours. Do to my recent bane, I'm only at about 85% at any given time. I enjoyed the wave pool a lot. The Girl's just ran all over the park. Taylor and Sandi both are endless energy. Afterwards we went back to Sandi's mom's before the game and ate a delicious BBQ dinner. Sunday morning we followed Sandi and her mom over to Sandi's sisters house, where they had recently moved from Pioria. After about 20 miles I had T-Bug text her mom to see if we were still in Arizona. There new home was nice, small but nice and out there with the Coyote's and wild pigs and spiders et.al; but nice just the same. The ride back was nice, the girls listened to the Sirius channel that does the open reading. They read the Book "The Help" of which both have read and seen the movie. (not me) I don't do TV. I'm on the PC Most of the time, Plus I just bought a new Killer Laptop. I'm having to get new software and hardware, extra Data sticks, etc., I have been in undated with "Friends" requests on Facebook but have had to be picky. Sandi is on too but not often. I do most of the Social Networking. Lot's of fun. We stopped at the Big Horn Sheep park on the way home in Boulder City, hoping the sheep would be there (and a restroom) and they were both there! We got home and ate dinner, unloaded and did a Jacuzzi before retiring for the weekend. I took a few pic's but not many. I'm seemingly always conserving my energy. The 110 degree heat is kicking my behind. Well I had a few moments to write about this quick trip I'll catch up with everything else this weekend. Hopefully Richard and Lori will meet us up at the Property in New Harmony this weekend. Were going to hit the St. George Temple and a few other places like Sandi's favorite "Pizza Factory" on Main st. May or may not go fishing. Looking forward to a long weekend. Since they got a lot of rain I'll have to take the Durango. I wanted to pick up a new SUV but Sandi loves her Durango (even though she never drives it anymore, spoiled!!!)

More pics and entrys on the way soon! Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Relaxing Saturday!

Taylor is warning me to not get too close or else, splash!, I'm going in too, camera and all!

Chillin' on the raft!

Taylor and Daphine playing in the pool!

Sandi Multi-tasking!

Friday night, we went out with Cecile, Rob and Mihrena and her little sister to see, the Rise of the Planet of the apes. Saturday, Taylor's Friend Daphine came over for the whole day and played and swam, enjoyed Pizza and enjoyed each others company. Daphanie and Mihrena will be going to Middle schools this next year, Taylor will be attending Jr. High School so they keep in touch with each other on their cell phones, calling, texting and sharing photo's. It was a fun relaxing day. I finally figured out how to keep the pool clean from algae this summer. Finally!

4th of July 2011

This year we went to Steve's house. It was a quiet night. We didn't buy any firecrackers this year. Steve had purchased a bunch and we enjoyed the evening. It just didn't seem the same without Lauren there. We were leaving for Vail in a week so we enjoyed BBQ, fireworks and family!

Preparing for the Summer's play!

Once again, Taylor was chosen to play multiple roles and play a piano solo in this years Care Bears Open House. She has been making costumes and practicing diligently for the August play and performance. Here she is styling one of the many costumes she will be performing in. As always, I will record the entire show and make CD's to purchase as the proceeds will go to future shows and charities!

Vail 2011

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"Dear Caylee"

Caylee, don't worry, "I got this ...."

Love Always.... God !

"O.J." The Sequel

Was anyone surprised? This woman is a guilty as the day is long! The most important part of this is to see the Moral compass of the Country. This is where the citizens of the U.S. are and sinking further into the Abyss of Moral depravity. These twelve, clueless, ignorant, classless individual pieces of Human defication represent those that would let a Cold Blooded murderer off and vote for the low life living in gov't housing refered to as the White house!

Sad, Sad day for America, and little Casey! This truly was t he O.J. Sequel!

"Irony"

North Las Vegas, Henderson and other cities, towns and municipalities are having to cut back on Law Enforcement agency's due to budget cuts. The Police themselves are purchasing signs and using them to scare the public into allowing them to keep their jobs touting lack of security and law enforcement on criminals. My question is why should they be able to keep their jobs and yet the private job sector is getting axed left and right.


Here is the Irony!

We pay the Policemen with our tax dollars. They run around and write frivolous traffic tickets that usually are bull*@%t We go to court or pay our ridiculous fines which in turns generates revenue that in turn pays for the police that are harassing drivers and writing bull*@%t tickets in order to sustain and keep their jobs! Is it me or is there something really wrong with this picture???

"Father's Day"

Taylor and I took a Daddy's Day picture right after church! Hummm! Is that yet another cupcake in my pocket?

Steve explains to his oldest son Criss the Dynamics of cooking hamburgers. Sandi, Taylor and I brought over a ton of Ribs for everyone slathered with BBQ sauce so we missed out on the Hockey pucks.

OH WELL! Maybe next time!

Criss gave up the cooking and stuck to looking up Youtube sites.

Criss, Taylor and Criss's new girlfriend Heather frolic in the pool. I didn't go in even though the pool water was nice. (Heather is LDS and I hope she is a good influence on Criss.)

Sandi had her usual stellar game. How about a 40 foot putt! Wow! I didn't do too bad myself, just need to work on my short game!

Taylor and I went to the Craft stores Friday night to find a hat and mask. She was asked to take a lead part in a play and to do a dance at the end. This is for the dance. She has been practicing day and night as well as her Piano practice. Nice look for a young lady!

How about that new Father's day Golf shirt. Didn't help my game much... Need to go out 14 times a week or more!

Some highlights from Father's day weekend! Started on Friday. Taylor and Sandi spoiled me with gifts cards. Got a ton of calls, swam, BBQ'd, golfed, was Sick for a short while,( didn't eat breakfast Sunday morning and scarfed down three delicious cupcakes in HP quorum, sugar overdose I guess), had dinner with Mom and sister and family, started another page on Facebook, and even had time to make comments on a few posts on the MD DB, other forums and a ton of Blogs I read. Spent some quality time and relaxed!

Taylor's Elementary Graduation!

Taylor graduated from Elementary School last week. We were both able to attend. Taylor had received an invitation to the Graduation, meaning that she was to receive awards. It was interesting to see the parents that didn't attend because their children were not receiving awards. We bought Taylor a new outfit and Mom curled her hair. We were excited as Taylor stayed on the Honor rolls for K through 5th grades. She was always standing out in her academics, Student Council, G.A.T.E. and all her other activities. We are so proud of her. It was hard for me as it was the one year anniversary of my phone call from my Doctor with the shocking diagnosis. Never the less, after waiting for a her class (the last one of course) to get awards, I cautiously moved to an area where I could get pictures. Sandi and I were both shocked to see her name not called and not be able to go up and receive any awards, though we knew she was to receive them.

This is one of those times when even "Superman" Dad can't do anything. Unfortunately there are no "Do Overs" in school graduations. I felt a little confused and silly moving closer to get pictures, all for not. The office told us after Sandi called that it was an over sight. It was difficult for me to sit and watch her anxiously awaiting her name to be called only to not have it called. Sandi said she was crying after school and on the way home. She went straight to her room in tears as if she had disappointed us. It was one of those times that I had to give the old 'Daughter/Father' talk. All was good once I explained that she had nothing and no one to prove anything to but herself. We went out and had a great evening celebration.
She was definitely an over achiever all these years. We were so blessed to get the variance to the school. It is important for students to go to the same schools throughout, I was fortunate that way, even though Sandi was an Airforce Brat, she excelled in school and college as well.
We listed all her certificates and a few we left out as to not brag!

Tayor, you go into Jr. High School next year! Upwards and onwards, I say. We love you and are so proud of you. God Bless you!

"The Pool Light"

"Little Geek"

Sandra Chillin'

                                                                The "*#@* Pool light!

                  As a young man my father always taught me that if an Intelligent man could design and build something, an Intelligent man could fix them as well.  Apparently my father never changed a pool light before.  Now you have to remember I have usually just made a phone call and presto, he comes, fixes whatever and here is my Credit card number.  I decided three weeks ago to venture into the Pool cleaning and fixing up season.  Both the pool and hot tub lights were out.  The spa was a no brainer.  Simply empty the spa ( a neat little trick I learned by mistake a few years ago).  Since the service call to just come out, not including parts and labor was $98.00 I decided, this was something I could fix, a lesson learned two months ago when I paid nearly $200.00 for a repairman to come out and replace a fuse in our dryer.  OUCH!  I also allowed the pool to evaporate as much as a foot so that I wouldn't have to go into the cold water to take out the big light.  The hot tub bulb went from regular to Halogen, no worries.  Easy money.  Finally after an hour and a half I finagled the big light but was unable to replace it into it's hole and secure it due to it's new buoyancy.   So I found myself in 64 degree water screwing in the light.  I went to a concert that night and thought I would reward myself afterwards by flipping on my new pool lights when I got home after dark.
After the concert I flipped the switch and "nothing".  The circuit popped as usual.  I had had a problem screwing in the light bulb on the pool light, It ended up at an angle.  Being no pool expert I didn't know if that was normal as to reflect off the bottom of the pool.  The next weekend I fought the cold water and removed the pool light and re secured it after removing and re screwing in the bulb.  I learned quickly that this was a two man job and I had no business trying it myself.  The key was vice grips.  That seemed to help.  With the task complete, I flipped the switch and to my dismay the breaker popped again.  What now?  I decided that I would check the no brainer light in the hot tub just for fun and took it back out.  Sadly there was not only water in the canister but the new $8 halogen light had not only blown but was full of water as well.  Reluctantly I stopped by the pool store the next day after meetings and picked up a new seal for that light as well.  After replacing everything as per instructions I cautiously flipped the breaker and Eureka, the lights went on.  My excitement only lasted two days, as to my horror, the pool light appeared to have a small leak that looked like water slowly creeping up the inside of the canister.  But how could that be?  I'm not an electrician, but shouldn't the breaker pop when in contact with water?  So today, I dedicated myself  to "Pool" day.  I shut off the breakers again, pulled the pool light, and took it apart allowing it to dry out.  I then cleaned out all the filters and replaced them, then vacuumed the pool.  Sandi was wonderful enough to come and help me make a hard one man job simple.  The light went together like it was sent from the factory.  It came on bright, the pool was clean the water warm so we sent in "Little Geek" to work his magic while we went to a restaurant Sandi had wanted to go to that we hadn't been to in a few years.  The wind was blowing all day and after being gone for one and a half hours, there were pine needles and dirt in the pool again.  So, I dispatched Little Geek again and he cleaned the bottom in short order.  I had been reluctant to by a pool bottom cleaner for six years now, but since I got sick last year my energy level isn't what it used to be.  So vacuuming the pool three times a week didn't work for me anymore.  It's amazing what a $420.00 investment can do for ya!  After an 85 degree swim, I sat and picked off a few pigeons while Taylor and Sandi sat in the loungers and read.  I had had enough sun for one day and felt now like I had been in a three round MMA bout.  Never the less, the pool is back in top shape.  Now I just need to figure out how to stop this incessant wind.  It's getting worse and worse every year!

"Memorial Day"

        Sandi, Taylor and I took my Mom to all the cemetery's where we placed flowers on all of the family graves. We ran into her sister Shirley, (my Aunt) what are the odds?   We took some pictures, here they are.  Mom has lost most of her memory and at 87 she still does well.  I got the sense that this might be her final trip this year as her health is continuing to get worse and worse every month.  It will seem very different going with out her every year as I have enjoyed doing so for the past 26 years since Dad passed.  We took Mom out to dinner and then to my house for awhile then home.  It was a good day.  We were all tired.  God Bless you Mom... We Love you!

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"Celebrity Apprentice"

Early on I was a big fan favorite of John Rich, former bass player and vocalist for one of my favorite Country Bands, "Lone Star" to win this years Celebrity Apprentice! A maticulous, sharp, attention to detail guy, John kept his cool throughout the entire series taking on every task with Class and his Journeyman like demeanor. The clincher was when Def Leapord didn't show and he went out and Vamped. The nicest compliment was that my wife said he reminded her of me. It was tough staying up and watching but well worth it. I never watch TV as a rule, news mostly, computer a lot. This was worth the wait. Congrat's John. Your a great Artist, Man and Leader!