The Pelikan 800 was my Christmas gift from Cristie. Medium nib, sapphire blue body. Sure wish you could have seen it when you were here, Nate. A true writer's pen!

Merry Christmas to all.

Well it's Christmas Eve, and I have about 1,496 things to do to get ready. So what do I do? I start fishing around the Blogger site, looking at what other people have to say...

Actually, I'm here becasue I just spent 45 minutes plunging my kitchen sink. It's maddening I tell you. Plunge one side, the other side fills up. Plunge the other side and my dishwasher fills up. Liquid Plummer foam everywhere. Finally I got Sam to come over and plunge one side while I plugged the other side (and just immediately after draining the dishwasher). It seems to have worked. For now, anyway. I'm sure the extensive damage will reveal itself sometime next week. So Lois, no Bratzeli's this year. I'm too pooped.

After that fiasco, I decided to make myself a snack. Cristie's raw diet has rubbed off on me a little and I've been trying to consume more fruits and veggies. I bought a persimmon at the store. They are YUMMY, but I harldy buy them because their about the size of a tomato and can cost 1-2 $ a piece. This was acutally my second time eating one. So I sliced it, put it on a plate and took a bite. The most amazing thing happened to me! As I was chewing, My mouth filled up with cotton! The more I chewed, the more cotton I had in my mouth! The sensation was so real to me, that I ran to the mirror to see what was happening. After receiving no occular validation, I ran downstairs to google in order to find out if I've just poisened myself. (Note, I continued to consume yet another piece as I searched. I really like this fruit! And the cotton feeling was very fascinating to me.)

Here's what I now know, in case any of you should want to buy persimmon fruit. They originated in Japan (that's not the problem), and then they "migrated" to Korea, and eventually came to the US in the 1800s. There are quite a number of varieties, but can be grouped into 2 groups; the astringent group and the non-astringent group. If the fruit is of the astringent class and is eaten before it is ripe, then your mouth becomes a cotton factory. The fruit tastes okay initially, but then becomes bitter. It's kind of a cool feeling though...

ANYWAY, once I knew I wasn't going to have to spend Christmas in the ER, I started snooping through The Blogger. I found this funny site you should all check out. This Michael Paulus guy took various cartoons and drew their skeletons. It's pretty funny! Here's the link: (hopefully it will work)
http://michaelpaulus.com/gallery/character-Skeletons/Hello_Kitty_closed_site

Well, enough sitting around for me! Happy Christmas everyone!

I'm so glad you blogged today Katie! MERRY CHRISTMAS to your darling little family. That picture of your boys is precious! We are all missing you, too. Lois, and I were talking about how it's just not the same without everyone there.

Mmmmm, your dinner sounds yummy! What wonderful memories you are creating.

Have a Happy Holiday, and give those boys some Christmas hugs from their cousins! We're doing memories tonight, and I'd love to read yours on the blog if you get the chance.

Thanks for the kind reviews regarding the new format. I thought the previous one was OK but Cristie hated it, which necessitated a hasty change. Actually, I wish I hadn't changed from the original. I can't find it in the available templates anymore!

We talked to Dave on the phone briefly on Sunday. He called to set up the time for the semi-annual call on Christmas Day. He sounds great. After we told him so, he said "well, I'm happy." It's a blessing to have a missionary serving and a huge blessing to hear he's happy.

My mother arrives for Christmas tomorrow. I t will be nice to have her; I'm sure she'll love being here for the family Christmas party Thursday night. She will have many, many stories to tell (re-tell).

It's cooled off here, but of course is nothing compared to what Katie, Danny, Nate, and Dave are experiencing. I like the cold weather. Increases my gratitude for shelter and a warm bed, not to mention the warmth a nice fire carries to my soul. A time to contemplate the experiences of the last year, a time to slow down a bit in Thanksgiving and in good will to all men. If it weren't for that confounded war.....

OH, and Happy Anniversary to the Gerald and Cristie union! What has it been , 31 years or so (I'm not quite sure)? You two have been such an amazing example to me. Thanks for getting together and creating such a terrific family!

Happy Birthday Joe! I hope it's a great day for you. It's amazing to think that I knew you when I was 17....( oh the memories). Enjoy this year, it's a good one!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE! I remember being 17...what a great year that was. mom xox

Dear Children. Last night I went to Farmington to visit my dad and brought home his book, "The Israel Barlow Story." I thought you would be interested to see how you are related...

Israel Barlow married to Elizabeth Haven

Pamela Elizabeth (third child, married to David Wilken Thompson)

Mary Theresa (fifth child who married Anson Bowen Call)

Cleo Afton (fourth child who married Nathan George Clark)

Nathan George (thirteenth child who married Bonnie DeAnn Peterson)

Cristie (first child who married Gerald Blaine Carter)

YOU!

YOUR CHILDREN.

For years I have been invited to reunion gatherings but had little idea as to how I was connected. Then at the last general conference Israel Barlow was used in a story by one of the general authorities and my curiosity led me to asking my dad some questions last night.

As Israel stated to his wife Elizabeth, "our children are our hope and glory in the Lord." I am certain that he is very pleased to be related to you. Almost all phases of the Church growth, the trials and drivings and tribulations were shared by him and his family. The fruition on which is still bearing sweet fruit.

Happy Sunday! My love to you all, mom

....and thanks to Valerie for also coming over tonight. The mood has brightened a bit.

I thought it was time for a new look. Maybe it will inspire a new entry or two.

It's pretty sad around here tonight. Lizzy is still grieving for her precious little Violet. Ali and her girls visited tonight with a sweet card and brownies. And Katie, thanks for your calls last night. It means a lot to have such support.

Joe spent last night puking his guts out with the latest edition of the stomach flu to be making the rounds. I'm wondering who will next be stricken....

Dear Family: Last night for enrichment we had a woman come and recite some poetry and tell of the life of

Edna St. Vincent Millay. There was magic in the room as lyrics of beauty filled the air. Here is a piece I found

on the net today.


   Ah, could I lay me down in this long grass
   And close my eyes, and let the quiet wind
   Blow over me,-I am so tired, so tired
   Of passing pleasant places! All my life,
   Following Care along the dusty road,
   Have I looked back at loveliness and sighed;
   Yet at my hand an unrelenting hand
   Tugged ever, and I passed. All my life long
   Over my shoulder have I looked at peace;
   And now I fain would lie in this long grass
   And close my eyes.

Now, as a change of pace ...CONGRATULATIONS! to Danny. I enjoyed checking out your new place of employment and it looks like quite the opportunity. We are so happy for you.

My love to you dear ones...be safe and floss. mom xox

Dear ones,
Kelly just got me all hooked up to the Blogger again. I'm so sorry for all the ones that I have missed out on. Hope that all is well with every one and that the Halloween goblins didn't capture anyone. My Email address is lwc3527@lausd.k12.ca.us. So now you can send me some news. I need to get clothes and lunches packed ready for tomorrow. I'm worried and anxious to hear how the election has turned out. Love to all, Grandma. PS. Hope Valarie is feeling alot better.

Melissa, I admit it....I thought of you when I saw Mr. Bennett's name on the ballot.

Don't forget to cast your vote today!!!

Just a reminder-

Memory time is coming-be brainstorming on a memory to record for the new year. Love you all.

Great list. Especially for Danny, who just found out he’s getting nothing.

Okay, here's the Christmas list this year. Sorry Katie, you will be giving to Ed again (just kidding).

I double checked to make sure there are no repeats from last year. Let me know if I've made any mistakes...

Sam gives to Valerie

Melissa gives to Ali

Ali gives to Ed

Doug gives to Katie

Katie gives to Joe

Danny gives to Sam

Ed gives to Laurel

Valerie gives to Melissa

Laurel gives to Doug

David gives to Danny

Joe gives to Elizabeth

Elizabeth gives to David

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ED!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ED!

Unreal. A truly historic moment.

Go Pope!

Here I am again. I would probably not be blogging had I not found myself trapped in Boston. The Marriott in which I was staying was around thirty minutes from the airport in no traffic. With the Red Sox game that evening, I decided to leave at three to give me plenty of time to make my 5:30 flight. Go Red Sox. I found myself in a new black suburban with two other travelers on the way to the airport. One was from Florida, and the other was from the UK. Our driver was probably in her mid thirties, from Boston, and dang proud of it. Everyone seemed to really like talking, except for the Brit and me. I loosened up a bit with time and had a few laughs. We would all find out later why my British companion was so quiet.

The freeway was a parking lot, and I got a good long, slow look at the city as the time passed. Mr. Florida liked to talk about hurricanes, beer and lobsters. I asked questions, and the little British guy looked out the window. Time was moving, but our car was not. We all heard a siren and saw a fire engine trying to get through traffic. We were on a bridge, but everyone still tried to make room for the fire engine to pass on the right. Mr. Florida reached out to pull the mirror in to make room for the truck, and Mr. UK expressed his concern for Mr. Florida’s arm. Apparently, a serious accident was responsible for the delay.

As I slowly began to accept the fact that I would not make my flight, the Brit began to accept that he was not going to make it to the privy. He suddenly had the driver’s attention.
“We need to pull over now.” The driver looked back in her mirror trying to gauge the seriousness of the situation.
“You mean here in the middle of the overpass?”
“Yes, it’s either going to come out in here or out there.”
Everybody started laughing, except of course, the Briton. He hopped out and quickly ran around the door and relieved himself. Unfortunately, such a spectacle does not go unnoticed. In no time, the Brit had three lanes of undivided attention. The symphony of horns began, and our party was doubled over with glee, driver included.

As you know, I missed my flight. The Sky Cap would not take my bag, and I watched the debates and the Red Sox game from the airport Hilton.

It was oddly depressing to watch Boston beat the Angels on TV when they were just a few miles a way. Nearly everyone in Boston was celebrating their team, and I was sitting alone in the muted roar of jet exhaust. I knew I should have at least tried to get there. After the debates, I drifted to sleep, knowing I would be getting up at 3:30 Utah time.

Would you believe I almost missed my flight Saturday? I gave myself two hours to get ready and get to the airport. After all, I was already staying at the airport. By the time the shuttle dropped me off at Delta’s terminal, I had around thirty-five minutes to departure. All the lines were very long, and they won’t take your bags if you’re inside thirty minutes of departure. I did something I have not done in years. I cut in line. I explained my situation to the guy in front, and he let me in. When I got to the ticketing agent, he tried to send me to the end of the line because I had cut. I plead with the second ticketing agent, and he allowed me to check my bag because there was no way I would make my flight otherwise. I was grateful, but I felt like a slime bucket for a good five hours.

I have completely lost my faith in airport security. Some of you know I have slipped through security with knives undetected, but this demonstration of incompetence is unreal. The ticketing agent gave me two boarding passes. Since this is normal, I thought nothing of it. I also don’t make a habit of reading all the information on a boarding pass. I generally need to know my gate and my seat. I don’t think I’ll ever take my name for granted again, for my boarding pass was carefully tucked behind Steve Andrews’s.

As far as TSA, Delta and Boston were concerned, I was the respectable Steve Andrews, en route to San Diego. As Steve, I made my way through security with my official Sam Carter ID. They checked me off like they do everyone else, and I was set to go. To my everlasting gratitude, I had chosen the wrong terminal, and I had to exit and go through security again. I almost made it through the second time, but I got picked for the baggage search. TSA asked for my boarding pass and ID, and they’d caught their criminal.

You have seen the movies; the dimly lit, smoke-filled rooms. The donuts on the table you’re not allowed to eat ‘till you talk. The two-way mirror that you somehow forget is two-way when you’re sitting there. This all came to mind as six TSA officials discussed this strange man with a secret identity. There were so many ways I could quickly shape my future, or perhaps even end it. One word, bomb, and I would have been tackled and killed. A mad dash for either exit or terminal would have ended only in gunfire. I could not indulge these fantasies too much. I had a flight to catch.

Needless to say, I made my flight this time. I like Boston. I like it a lot, but I have to admit that getting out of there was probably tougher than getting out of hell, or perhaps Liberty Park on the fourth of July.

There you have it. Gear up for another dry spell.

As many of you watched the debates, I watched my boss bib wine at the Outback Steakhouse in Nashville. We spent the evening discussing dog training, kid training and our respective failures in these areas. After dinner, I drove us back to our seedy little rooms at the local Comfort Inn. I thought of it as the fun house; the floors were uneven, carpet askew and the halls smelled like marijuana. I mentioned the odor to my boss the next morning. She hadn’t noticed.

Meetings on the following day went about as well as one could expect when one’s boss is present. Getting there is a lot like our appointments. I drive, she coaches. She said little about my driving this time, and I was grateful. On our trip to Buffalo in February, she made several negative comments, yet refused my repeated offers to take the wheel. Since she’s just sitting there, I suggested that she navigate. No-could-do. She can’t see out the windows while wearing her reading glasses, and she can’t read a map with them off. After our meeting in Nashville, I was to drop her off at the airport. Her flight back to Salt Lake left several hours before my flight to Boston. Needless to say, I navigated (without help) to the airport in great haste, and tore out of there to get some breathing room, sans boss.

After driving through some lovely wooded areas outside of Nashville, I filled the car’s tank with gas, and returned to the airport around the time my boss’s flight was lifting off the ground. It was going to be a long evening. I was headed to Atlanta, where I would then catch my flight to Boston. It seems that I never have a direct flight anywhere. The flight to Atlanta was uneventful. There’s not much that can happen in thirty-five minutes besides taking off and landing.

For an airport terminal, Atlanta’s E is about as good as they come. Generally, the important international flights arrive and depart from terminal E. In a way, this was the highlight of the trip. I found myself sitting somewhat close to the woman’s restroom. Within ten minutes, I noticed the sound of a broken suitcase wheel, loudly complaining as its owner pulled it along. Atlanta’s terminal E does not have much carpet, so the “clack clack clack” of the broken wheel seemed to announce its owner’s arrival. She was a well-dressed middle aged woman wearing a navy blazer and dress slacks. She was also visibly irritated by her disagreeable companion. She walked past me, and clack clacked her way right into the bathroom. I could hear her turn the corner, and I realized that her nasty little luggage was betraying nearly everything she was doing in there, even though she was well hidden from sight. Indeed, I thought I could tell when she turned left and right. I could hold it back no longer, and I began laughing uncontrollably. There was no TV in sight, nor book in hand. I must have been a sight in my own right. Distracted by my own laughter, I somehow lost the suitcase. It could no longer be heard trailing its unhappy owner in the ladies room. Just as I began training my ear towards the bathroom, the woman emerged, suitcase stuffed under her arm. She didn’t look any happier, and she surely wasn’t. The suitcase had complained without refrain or remorse, and had thus earned its free ride through the airport. As she exited, our eyes briefly met, and I looked away, ashamed. I had been a peeping Tom, or perhaps a listening Sammy. If this name were to catch on, I would be forever disgraced. Consider what I dug up out of Webster’s:

Peeping Tom, first recorded around 1796, has become a term for a voyeur, not at all a pleasant fate for this legendary fellow. As W.H. Auden has said, “Peeping Toms/are never praised, like novelists or bird watchers,/for their keenness of observation.”

I dislike overused clichés. Instead of using the all-too-familiar “squeaky wheel,” I’m going to use the “clacking wheel” in its place.
Sam: “Serves him right. You know what they say about the clacking wheel.”
Biographer: “Clacking wheel? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Sam: “Well then. I have a story for you…gets carried through the airport by its owner...keenness of whom has long been overrated

I think I’ve had enough fun for one night.

Sam

Cristie, Lizzie, Joe, and I watched the debates with varying levels of amusement, generally rising from youngest to oldest. (Lizzie's participation consisted mostly of a vacuous stare). Both the candidates tried to "shut the door on each others' faces", but I thought failed to deliver any knock out punches. While I thought Kerry was the clear winner in last week's debate, I give the edge to Cheney in last night's contest. I thought his shorter answers and "passes" mostly worked, especially the one where he passed on the opportunity to comment on the gay/lesbian issue.

Edward's inexperience was evident. His arguments also displayed a kind of empty passion somehow. Something he does with the corner of his mouth and his tongue also got on my nerves. I know I'm being petty and not focused on the issues with that observation, but hey, it got in the way.

I agree with Ed, Bush is in trouble. The momentum shifted with the debate last week and to get it back, he's going to have to come out swinging Friday night. He obviously was not prepared for the first debate. And Kerry surprised and impressed me with his articulateness, his handling of the flip flop criticisms, and his grasp of the issues.

Now, Melissa, I'm willing to consider Mr. Van Damn (heh, heh). I checked his website. Generic pablum. Where does he stand on the 2nd Amendment initiative? Gun control? Iraq? North Korea/Iran? Moving the state prison? (lol)

A writer in Newsweek compared the styles of the candidates. He says Bush is a "go with your gut" snap decision maker and Kerry might lean toward analysis paralysis. His conclusion is that the best presidents combine intuition with a deep knowledge of the issue at hand to make the best decision. Can we elect them both?

Well, I ran over a cat yesterday. I was driving Eddie to school. It just darted right out in front of me. Thump, thump went the minivan. I got out and looked under the van. Amazingly it was still alive. It hurriedly wobbled under the fence and into it's backyard.

I knocked on the door. A woman answered, and I told her "I hit your cat". asked me for my number so that she could send me the vet bill. I was incredulous and said so. "How am I responsible? I wasn't speeding, I wasn't doing anything wrong". "What, I am supposed to teach my cat manners" she exclaimed? Again, I was incredulous. "Lady, I'm not responible for YOUR cat!" She rebutted, "that is what your insurance is for... that is what my insurance is for too, but you can't expect me to pay for this". Then I dared her. "Okay, fine Lady(I really think I called her Lady). That's my house down there. Call the police, send me the bill. No one is going to buy it, because it's absolutely ridiculous! If I'm supposed to be responsible for all the animals on this street, whether I know they exist or not, then I get to say whether they can be outside or not". Of course she heard very little of this because she shut the door on my face saying that we shouldn't be arguing in front of her daughter. That was the start of my day....

Did anyone watch the VP debates last night? I'd be interested in hearing what y'all think. It seemed that they spent a lot of the time calling eachother a liar (in politically correct jargon, of course).

According what I heard on NPR this morning, they both were liars. Okay, maybe not straight out liars. But they muddled the facts, (or were confused about the facts) or gave misleading information most of the time.

Cheney seemed a little too comfortable sitting there. He passed up quite a few opportunities for rebuttle, which may have worked for him, I don't know. And Edwards, in my opinion, was less than impressive. It's a good idea to back up and fully support your presidential nominee, but come on. At least pretend that some of these opinions are built on your own convictions. One of these guys could become acting president in case the worst should happen..

OH, and for all you Utahns out there, consdier voting for Paul Van Dam for Senate!!! (Sam is groaning right now). Bob Bennett has a huge campaign budget (2.1 million spent on cutesy billboards), but no campaign or agenda. Don't let him win just because you see his name out there. Check out his website (and Van Dam's). He literally has NO PLANS. He thinks it's a free ride. This is a guy that votes for stuff in Washington. Vote for someone who acts like they care what you think, and would take their job and vote a little more seriously.

Just my humble opinion. (And you know I always have one).
Okay, I'm finally done now.

I've been looking forward to the debates all week. Although, I don't know if I've ever been more entertained by a political debate, than by the Gore/Bush debates. Maybe they just get funnier every election year.

What's with this 32 page "rule book" anyway? It will be interesting to see how well they do having taken all the fun out of the debate. No spontaneity? No questions from the audience? No moving from the podium? Aren't we having a difficult time as it is gaining interest from the American people? I say we should reduce the number of debate sessions down to one session. One that goes as long as they can remain standing. Then in place of the other debates, a special Fear Factor between the Bushs and the Kellys. And to finish it off: a good ol' fist fight. I'd bet we'd get more watchers and voters that way.

Speaking of betting, maybe a poker tourney in the oval office...

This from an editorial by John Hughes, Chief Editor of the Deseret News in today's paper:

'Kerry has been a practiced debater since prep school but comes across as wordy and pedantic. The London "Economist" calls him "damnably boring." The "Wall Street Journal" says his "meandering verbosity" is an "unclear, indirect style that sometimes makes it hard for (him) to connect with audiences and leaves his words open to parsing and ridicule." Bush has his own mangled confrontations with the English language. He cannot get his tongue properly around the word "nuclear." He's talked about "Grecians" instead of Greeks, and of "cocoa" production in Columbia instead of coca, and of "inebriating" when he meant exhilarating. But he pokes fun in an engaging way about his own "Bushisms," and he brought the house down at a Gridiron Club dinner in Washington when, after joking about his stumbles, he thanked reporters for their "horspitality." Bush is also no novice in debating, having out-pointed rivals when running for office in Texas, and been rated by audiences as more likable in his presidential debates with the sighing, eye-rolling Al Gore.'

After the Nixon/Kennedy debates in 1960, there were no presidential debates again until 1976. Don't miss the first of the three matches tomorrow night. It promises to be very entertaining.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALISON!

Neither have I become desensitized. I often listen to talk radio at night on and off because I don't sleep so well. Last night in a hotel room, I listened as the talk show host played the audio of a recent beheading of an American. I was sickened by what I heard and have been upset by it all day.

I think being sickened and saddened by the barbarity and wickedness of some of our brothers in Iraq is better than being angry, for anger is the emotion they are most trying to elicit. I agree with Kate; it is nigh to impossible for us to go after them. Our situation is similar to that faced by the Nephites and Lamanites with the Gadianton robbers. In one instance, it was the Lamanites who hunted them and preached the word of God to them until they were utterly destroyed from among them (Helaman 6: 37). It was only by persuasion, love and the word of God, or righteous living that neutralized wickedness. It is no different today. We must defend in righteousness, as Captain Moroni and his armies did. I often wonder how righteous our defense (and offense) is today.

On a lighter note, a friend forwarded this to me recently. I suspect it is an internet legend circulating in cyberspace, but it was a fun read anyway:

'As some of you may know, one of my sons serves in the military. He is still stateside, here in California. He called me yesterday to let me know how warm and welcoming people were to him, and his troops, everywhere he goes, telling me how people shake their hands, and thank them for being willing to serve, and fight, for not only our own freedoms but so that others may have them also. But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped at yesterday on his way home from the base. He said that ahead of several people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha. He said when she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the US flag lapel pin the cashier wore on her smock. The cashier reached up and touched the pin, and said proudly, "yes, I always wear it and I probably always will." The woman in the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi. A gentleman standing behind my son stepped forward, putting his arm around my son's shoulders, and nodding towards my son, said in a calm and gentle voice to the Iraqi woman: "Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like this young man have fought and died so that YOU could stand here, in MY country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing YOUR countrymen. It is my belief that had you been t his outspoken in YOUR own country, we wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey, if you have now learned how to speak out so loudly and clearly, I'll gladly buy you a ticket and pay your way back to Iraq so you can straighten out the mess in YOUR country that you are obviously here in MY country to avoid." Everyone within hearing distance cheered.'

There is nothing like home sweet home. Doug and I are very grateful to be home after escaping being held hostage by hurricane Frances. We had a wonderful vacation in Orlando with the girls. They were delightful to spend time with and had a great time at the theme parks. We really played hard the whole time. We knew the hurricane was coming, but we were scheduled to fly out on Fiday the 3rd, and the storm wouldn't be there until late Saturday. When we found out Thursday night that the Airports were closing on Friday, feelings of panic, frustration, anger and discouragement welled up within me. Why would the airports close when the weather was perfectly fine?? We had called earlier in the week to get an earlier flight home, but nothing was available then. We decided to kneel and say family prayer before Doug took off for the airport Thursday night to see what he could work out. When he returned, we had little hope of coming home any sooner than Tuesday of this next week. Nothing. So, we prepared to hunker down and witness our first hurricane. We reserved a hotel room for several more nights, and went to the grocery store for supplies and food. Everything in Orlando was closed down, all the malls, most restraunts and grocery stores were closing early on Friday, so we needed to be prepared. We were trying to think of anyway we could to get home. We thought of driving out of there on Thursday, but the roads out of town were gridlock, and little gas was to be found, so that didn't seem like a possibility. We played it cool on Friday, hung out at the pool, relaxed and tried not to be too discouraged - the girls were pretty much unaffected by the whole thing, they were having fun. I was missing my little boys like crazy, and hated having to arrange extra help when I was dying to be there with them. Firday evening as we were driving back from dinner ( we found a place open) we were listening to the radio, and heard that the roads were all clear, but there was little gas to be found. We started entertaining the idea of getting out of there. When we got back to the hotel room, we checked with the rental car company to see if we could drive to Atlanta- that worked out. We called Atlanta to see if there were any flights to Salt Lake Sat. morning- there were several so we booked one. We hit the road Friday night around 8:30 to make the 8-10 hour trek to Atlanta. We made it in about 8 hours, 4:30 a.m.- so we checked into a hotel and got a couple hours of sleep so we could make the 8:20 a.m. flight to Salt Lake. When we got to Atlanta, they told us that we were smart to drive out of there because they were already cancelling flights up until Thursday of next week, because it is such a slow moving storm. So, who knows when we would have made it home - especially after all the flooding and damages of the storm. When we boarded the plane headed for Salt Lake it felt too good to be true. It was another testimony to me of how our prayers are answered, but usually not in the way we expect them to be. It was a sweet reunion to see my two boys again. A huge thanks to Ed, Val, and Lizzy for stepping in. The house was beautiful, and my little ones were well taken care of. I have the greatest family in the world. My sweet sisters in law were such a big help as well, and Kathy had a cute sign and balloons to welcome us home. There is a touch of fall in the air, and it smells like back to school. I love home. I don't think I could ever get used to living in a steamy hot place like Orlando. It was fun to visit, we had a blast, but there's no place like home. I love you all. Alison

p.s. When we went to church in Orlando, the bishop greeted us and looked so familiar to me. Turns out to be Wayne Hales. I asked him how there family is doing. Jennifer lives there in the ward. I forgot to ask about Amy. Stacy lives in Idaho and just had her 3rd miscarriage, she has one little girl. Jada was visiting her, so I didn't get to see her. Merrilee is living in Mesa and has 3 children. It's a small world. It was fun to see him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOIS!

to the very best mother-in-law a girl could ever have...we all love you so much.

I enjoyed the article Jerry. Very interesting. I read it with great interest because your first born seems to be having issues with his stomach these days. I also enjoyed reading about your walks. That sounds lovely. Before the twins, I walked along there with Eddie (in a stroller) a couple of times. Those are some pretty steep hills. Good for you!

I've noticed hints of fall as well. Last Saturday Sam and I went for a bike ride. It was a single track on a pioneer trail near Little Dell resevoir. The air was cool, the flowers were beautiful, it was a blast! We've since wondered why we usually pick going to the movies over this. So we are going to try to make it a standing appointment, to do something outside once a week.

I was determined to keep this vow and suggested we go "hike" to Donut Falls for family night.
We put on our jackets (it was lightly raining) and set out. Ada wasn't feeling too well.

Earlier that day Jackie got to the kid vitamins and learned how to press down and twist. I was downstairs at the time. Sometime afterwards he came down stairs as chipper as can be. He walked past me with a smile on his face. I noticed that he smelled like grape. "What are you eating?" I asked. "Bite-amins!" He replied with great pride, and opened his mouth revealing the gritty remains. Of course I panicked, which I'm sure is quite rewarding to observe as a child. "Oh no no no no, that's bad for you Jackie!" And I bolted up the stairs.

Looking frantically this way and that for the bottle, I see Ada. She's plopped down in front of the TV watching something on PBS. She's got the giant bottle nestled in her lap. Without taking her eyes of the television and without stopping to swallow her last pill, she pops another vitamin into her mouth like it's popcorn. I snatched the bottle and began to explain why she shouldn't eat these like candy. I'm sure it all sounded like high pitched rambling to her. If you've heard my bird do it, you know what I'm talking about.

So fast forward to family night. We're at the trailhead. It's lightly drizzling and so everything smells wonderful. Ada is slower than everyone anyway and is really struggling over the rocks. That doesn't surprise me so much and usually she's pretty patient with herself. Not on this hike however. She complained EVERY step of the way. Step, moan. Step "Hold Me". Step grumble. Step, whine. A couple of times I carried her so that I could catch up to the boys and she complained when I carried her. I decided that I would not have a child who didn't enjoy this sort of thing. Not only would she have to walk the rest of the way, but I decided I would bring her back later in the week and every week until she toughened up a bit. About 2/3 of the way there, I looked back and noticed that she was doubled over, clutching here tummy. "Owwww, my stomach!" she said.

And then I remembered the vitamins. She looked pale and sick. I realized why she was complaining so much and then the guilt sank in. I carried her and trying to show more compassion (the complaining was hard to bear). We made it to the falls just in time to turn around and head home. Ada claimed to have fun in spite of it all. The boys had a blast. Jack probably traveled twice the distance because he liked to rush ahead of the group. Then he had to run back and check on Ada often to make sure she was okay and still with us. It's sweet how often they think of eachother.

That's how the week started. It's been ladled with doctor's appointments, dentist appointments and other errands. All in all, it's a good life. Each day as I kiss them while they sleep, I realize that my children are my joy and sunshine.

It's fun to have Katie here. She's so fun to hang out with, I miss her often.

Click on the link below to read this highly entertaining article about peptic ulcers. As I read, it brought back from my childhood the infamous Sippy diet, chalky peppermint antacids, even licorice bark chewed for healing. My mother used to threaten that I would be subject to the dreaded surgery if I didn't follow Sippy and had another bleeding episode. I'd like to claim affinity with personality #3, but I think I was closer to the far less flattering #1.

Enjoy.

http://www.newcriterion.com/archive/22/sum04/daniels.htm

In the last couple of weeks I've taken to walking the Bonneville Shoreline Trail from Parley's Canyon to Foothill. It takes me about an hour with a couple of good hills, which seems reasonable. The last few days here, we've had cool days (60's and low 70's) and cooler nights (high 40's already). While walking today I noticed a few scrub oaks on Mount Olympus are already beginning to don their brief fall brilliance. It's August! Reminds me more of my days in Western Canada.

Today I also noticed a taggers spray painted attempt at offense on a concrete wall: "Mormans suck." Worth a chuckle.

8/6/04

Dear Family:

Mom, thank you so much for the packages you keep sending me. I love getting those surprises! Those grapefruit candies are especially delicious!

I'm skipping gym right now so I can write. Would you please tell Melissa for me that I am thankful for the letters she writes. I feel bad that I can't write her back, but I really do not have the time.

I really like my black suit; it's holding up just fine. There are three words that accurately describe the quality and condition of my green suit! PIECE OF CRAP!! Both pairs of pants are ripped! Already!! It's ridiculous! So, I took 'em into the place to get sewed.

I can't believe I'm outta here on Wednesday. Oh, I'll be calling from Chicago at...around 1:30 p.m. If you talk to Kate, tell her I'll be there. I write her, but I don't know if she got it.

Joe sounds like he's having a fun summer. Did he take my paintball gun?? He better not have. If you could Mom, please keep him outta that box. Now that I don't have music, I realized how much I love it. So I want it to be there when I get home. OK?

Thank you for sending the pictures. It was funny, when I opened my package,(he names a bunch of Elders) their eyes caught hold of Alison, and Elder Stucky said, "Dang! who is that?" in all seriousness. He really wanted to know!

"That's my sister," I said blandly.

"How old is she?" He said. By this time he and Elder Roberts are transfixed with the picture. Really, I'm not exaggerating.

"She's about twenty-five I think, and her family of four happens to be in the picture."

No more questions after that! Ali should be complimented. I think it's saying something when a bunch of 19 year old kids are curiously asking questions and saying the word, "Dang!"

Mindy's cinnamon rolls weren't so good. But don't tell her that! I told her I loved im'. I enjoyed the nice little letter she wrote a lot more. We'll put it that way. Talk about a surprise! I wouldn't have expected a letter from her in a million years! Anyway.

It's weird. I wanna cut my hair for the first time ever in my whole life. I want a hair cut! I never thought that would happen.

I guess you could say I'm a little burned out in the classrom. I know, I know, it's the first two weeks of a two year deal, but the only break I get from the classroom is to eat. So it's getting old. I'm excited to be heading out.

(He goes on to name guys in a photo he sent and say where they are from.)

I'll tell you what, I think I am guaranteed to end up with Romeo as my comp after a year out there. It's destiny, I know it. I'm really gonna have to bite my tongue to keep from arguing with that goof. I'll send a pic of him too. Really, he's more opinionated than I am, so we're bound to argue constantly. He's from Texas. It was funny, they say that the spirit world after death is here on earth, and we were disscussing it in class one day, and someone said, " I wonder where spirit prison is," and I said the first thing that came to mind. Texas. They all loved it, but Romeo. We are constantly arguing about states. I could write all day about it, so I'll just have to stop now.

Well, I love you all and hope all is well.

David

New Address:

Elder David Clark Carter
Canada Toronto West Mission
197 County Court Blvd. #203
Brampton, Ontario L6W 4P6

postage may be extra

Dear Family: 8-4-04

Dad, I just got your letter. I really enjoyed what you had to say. I'm outta here on the 11th, and I'm getting laid over in Chicago at O'Hare, so maybe I could rendevous with Katie. That would be fun.

Boy, what would I give to be playing poker!! That practically killed me when I read that! I forgot all about poker! No better feeling than taking one on a bluff. And I'd forgot all about it. So thanks dad! Dad, I doubt you"ll get called to the Quorum of the Twelve, but the 70 is a real possibility! How would that be! I read Alma 26 today after I got your letter. That's an awesome chapter. I love before it, when Ammon converts king Lamoni. Ammons willingness to serve really sticks out to me in that one. There is much to be learned from that.

So what's happening in the outside world? Iraq? Bush? Politics? Forest Fires? It was all smokey down here one morning; I didn't hear a thing. Terrorists could invade Salt Lake, and they wouldn't tell us about it.

The bathrooms here continue to disgust me. I decided to shower tonight to avoid all the disgusting people you see in the morning (for I lilke to start my day on a positive note, as you probably know) so I turned on the water, and to my surprise, thousands of tiny little mites, flies, fleas, bugs, whatever you call em, come pouring out of the drain! No joke, thousands! And we all know what kind of stuff goes into those drains. It's a shower for petes-sake! So that thoroughly grossed me out!

Nothing really new here. I wish I had some ritalin. I can't focus for the life of me. So I'm having minor struggles with picking up some of the stuff. And I'm not sleeping well either. I know this ain't nothing to what lies ahead.

I had to pay for a seventy-five dollar shot today! What a rip! And it wasn't from Merck. It was from Smith Klien or whatever. I was telling the lady that you were a Merck dude and I wouldn't support the other guy. She thought it was funny, But dad, if you could get them to buy your drug (it was for Hep) you would make bank. She said they give 10,000 shots down here a month or something. BANK! So look into that.

I tell you, the other day I was thinking how long two years is. It's forever! I got a letter from Brad. It made me good and homesick for awhile. It'll get worse too. So I'm, scared for the future.

Tell me how everything is going down there. What's Joe up to, what's going on? How is Lar Lar? I wanna hear. I love you guys so much. More than I ever knew.

Love, Dave

This is a letter that David sent last week.

Hey Family-

How are things going at home. Dad, I got your letter; thank you for all the encouragement. I appreciate it, and keep your chin up, for it's just two years.

Joe, you better get used to showerig naked, and in front of people, or else you'll hate the MTC. There are no secrets here! The other night some fat, really fat, hairy, really hairy guy used my towel after his shower! He dried himself off with it very thoroughly, if you know what I mean. Boy, I was mad!

But I love it here. My district is so awesome! All the dudes are the kind of dudes that I would have hung out with at school. They are hilarious, and they love hearing "Eldrito" (me) stories. So I'm having a blast. Really, the only time I'm not enjoying myself is when I'm sleeping, which hasn't been going well lately. I wasn't planning on coming down here and seeing my testimony grow as it has.

I had the coolest experience the other day....There is a place here called the "Refferal Center," and it's basically the place where nonmembers call to get a free book of Mormon, or what not. Either they call here, or we call follow-ups to make sure that they got their order, and if they did, to see if they read it, and if they read it, than we chat.

So I called this one girl named, well actually I called for a guy, and I forgot his name, but his wife Teresea answered the phone. They are from Tempe Arizona. I got to talking to this girl about religion, and it went like this, "So did you get your book of Mormon," I asked after introducing myself. "Yeah, I got it," she said, kids screaming in the background. I got excited. "Did you read it?" "No," she said laughing, "I haven't had the time." She went on to tell me the problems she had with our church. I talked with her for awhile, and I got on her good side. I got her to laugh. In the meantime, my whole district is huddled around my booth listening to the conversation. So I said, after bearing my testimony of the truthfulness of the book, "Could you go get your book of Mormon, I'd just like to share something with you before I go?" She said yes, and I waited for a few minutes, my district still spectating. "Ok," said I, when she got back on the phone, "turn to page 529. That is where Moroni's promise is. "Ok, could you read for me, from chapter 10, verses 3 through 5?" So she read em' and when she was done I went on to explain the verses, and the Spirit of Christ, and how it all works, and she says, "Oh, I know about the spirit." "You do!!" I said, wondering what she thought it was. By this time, I knew she was a pretty religious person, but I was still surprised to hear she knew what it was. "Yea, I've felt the spirit before," she paused, and I just listened, and she struggled for a minute. "But I've never felt it as strong as I am now."

Now, as you can imagine, I was absolutely stunned. I said, "There's a lot more where that came from in the Book of Mormon, and if you read it looking for God, I promise you'll find him."

So anyway, I got her to commit to me that she's read the book, and it was really cool. When the conversation was over, my legs were trembling!! It was awesome. The spirit was so strong, all my buddies from my district said they could all feel it. They were all hugging me and stuff, it was a choice experience. So remember Teresea, from Tempe AZ in your prayers, cause with a little luck she'll be our newest member.

So as you can see, I love it here, and have already had the opportunity to spread the word. That made me so excited to head to Canada!

The discussions are comig fine. Piglet told me the first two days he wanted to shoot himself. It hasn't been like that at all. Part of me wishes I could stay here, but not really.

Dad, for mutual, take the boys down to the referral center, for anyone can do it. You don't have to be a missionary. Seriously, it's a testimony building experience.

Well, I hope everything is going good. Again, Thanks for the letters, and keep em' coming. Mom, right now I'm listening to your favorite song, the one that says, "take my heart..." the Mo-Tab song. But I love you and miss your sweet affection. Joe, take advantage of it while you still can!!!

Love, Dave

7/30/04

Dear Mom and Fam--

Hey! Sounds like life just goes on around there, and that's good to hear. Mom, thank you for that package! You surprised me with it. You don't seem like the package type. The fudge is delicious. My district is loving it, though some refuse to try it.

There are quite a few people in my district. (then he goes on to name 12 guys) and last but not least our roommates, who are really starting to get on my nerves. My two roommates are the only two that would be a struggle for me to get along with. Both are lacking in personality.

There is this one named Elder Wiseman, and I can honestly say I've never met a more unique person. The kid, on the first day, said that he writes Shakespearean sonnets, and that he wins money and competitions all the tiime, and actually went further and compared himself to Shakespeare, calling himself better!! He's nuts. He's one of those drama types, I'm sure you are familiar with em', for dad is one! Just kidding, this kid is incredible.

When we are in class, and he gets asked to read a passage of scripture, he reads it like he's in Hamlet or something. We call him Romeo. He told me that he has ten girls from home writing him. They love him because he's sensitive, and can talk to em'. I'm starting to wonder about this kid, I truly am. He's from Texas.

Yes, I am taking pictures. They are getting developed right now, actually, so I'll send you a few when they are done.

Yea, my friends are writing me. Annie sent me cookies yesterday, so I'm getting plenty of friend support. I love getting mail. It's like a birthday every day.

Thanks for the pictures. It was fun to show my buddies a picture of me with curly hair. They were amazed. They hadn't seen my passport pic, and it's longer in that one. I miss that hair. I am also thankful for the picture of Mindy! That girl is one fine creation!

Well, I have the first two discussions down, and the second came really fast for some reason. We taught it last night, and did really well, so we moved on to the third, while the rest of my district is working on the second. For some reason, I can teach the principles in that one better. The main principle is faith, and my talk was on faith, so I was well prepared.

I'm halfway done with my MTC experience. I"m happy to be heading out, but very nervous also. Oh well, you got to do what ya got to do, right?

Tell Loo Loo not to junk my room, and tell her that I love her.

Since when could sisser draw so well?? That baby picture is amazing! Keep em' coming sisser.

I'm skipping gym to write this letter. I am so freaking busy. I'm not sleeping so hot, either. Last night I had a dream that my mission was over and I came home. I was like, "That was the fastest two years of my life!" Then I woke up to reality, and stepped into a cold shower, sandwiched in between two naked, ugly dudes. That's my life at the moment. It's so much better than my old life though, although I do miss the good ol' days. I miss a lot, but realize that I must progress.

Melissa wrote me a very nice letter, and Katie and Danny did too. They are all so great. I am so thankful for my family.

Well, I better wrap this novel up. I love you guys. Keep the prayers coming.

Love, Dave

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNE MARIE!

HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY DAVID!

Dear Ones,

Glad that you all had a nice time and that the lake didn't claim any of you. Thanks for the pictures, Gerald. It is so great to see them. My little Jack surely is the picture of his brother Eddie. I still think they should have named it bare lake. The surroundings seem so bare.

This is for Katie. Why don't you come to Japan with me? By now we would be on the waiting list, but we don't have to have all the money in until July 31st. If you decide that you want to, send me the pertinant information---name, address, b/date, phone# etc. and I'll send in the deposit with mine. You'll need to apply for a passport also. I have to also as mine as expired. That would be so much fun to have you go with me. The dates again are Sept.30th returning Oct 6th. Let me know soon, OK? Love to all, Grama

Congratulations to you Mary. We're all very proud of you.

A Big hello to you all!
Im in under grams idenity, I've lost mine.....literally. My purse and everything in it got left behind on my bus ride into work Monday...nice way to start the week off huh? Brings me back to just about 2 years ago when I was busy going here and there(mostly everywhere) regaining my idenity. Well, I'm at it again! But what I was mostly wanting to go on record here is that tonight was my last drunk class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be heading off next week to DMV and to the court clerk with my completion papers....It was quite a long haul but I made it through. And better yet, if I keep doing what I did today(minus the drunk class) on July 3rd I'll be celebrating 2 years clean and sober. Man-oh-man am I grateful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm happier (and fatter) than I've ever EVER been and I do want to thank you all for your love and support. There's nothing like family. I sure love mine. Thanks for the latest fishing pics boys I loved 'em! looked you you caught some nice ones! hope you're all enjoying your vacation at Bear Lake, wish I could be there. I'm looking so forward to my trip to Wyomming and Montana in late july.
There is nothing I love more than the pines. It is definately my heaven on earth. Love you guys, Mary

Dear Ones,

To solve the mystery of where the word dobbie originated, it began with the Olsons. I don't know if Jerry is responsible for the term or if it was some sort of baby talk from Richard or Christena. As for the definition, I won't define it in this epistle. Love to all, Grandma

Dear Ones,

To solve the mystery of where the word dobbie originated, it began with the Olsons. I don't know if Jerry is responsible for the term or if it was some sort of baby talk from Richard or Christena. As for the definition, I won't define it in this epistle. Love to all, Grandma

I thought the exact same thing when I saw the movie. Couldn't get past it. I always pictured it spelled as "dobbie" for no good reason. Maybe it seemed a little less offensive spelled that way. And I remember it used in the singular form (as in "Laurel just deposited a dobbie in the pool").

I think my mother invented the word, but you'll have to check with her as to it's etymology. As to the meaning, it's better left unpublished on this here blog.

I'm sitting here watching Harry Potter 2 with Eddie. There's this skinny little freak named Dobby. Sure isn't the first time I've heard the word, though I almost always heard it in it's plural form.

Where in the world did it come from?

This alone is the most disturbing thing about the movie.

S

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA!

Dear Ones,
I just finished looking at the pictures from Mother's Day and the Green River. I love getting these pictures to catch up on all of you. It looks like the River trip was fun and that you caught a few beauties. Sam is looking too grown up. How the years fly by, and little Eddie looks so much like him. I didn't see a picture of Jack on the pictures. Aida appears to be quite the beauty.

We had Stake Conference today. Pres. Huckvale used the Jonah story in his talk. I can tell it much better than he did....Ha! Of course I have embellished it a bit. The choir sang beautifully. I sat by Corine Carter. She's looking like an old lady. I keep forgetting that I'm an old lady too, but of course I don't look like they all do. Just kidding.
I received another wonderful gift from the QVC Shop. I beautiful blouse. I love it. The print is gorgeous. My bracelet and ring are on my body every day.
Cristie, I think I'm going to Japan in September. Benihanas are offering a trip to celebrate 40 years of business. It's for one week and costs $999. That encludes air from L.A. and hotel for five nights and one big banquet with the head of Bennies. Why don't you come along with me? We'd have fun, but you'd have to take a little bit smaller steps. I'm still a good walker' but the legs are a bit too short to keep up with your stride. I love everybodies posts. Got quite a kick out of Sam and the poor wall. I think there must be a few of Jake Mani's genes floating around in his body.

Much love to all of you, Grandma
P.S. Mary just saw on the new that a women that she knew of was murdered and cut up by a man that she knew who had given her several rides. She's a bit shaken up. LOve aagain, Me

Dear Ones,
I just finished looking at the pictures from Mother's Day and the Green River. I love getting these pictures to catch up on all of you. It looks like the River trip was fun and that you caught a few beauties. Sam is looking too grown up. How the years fly by, and little Eddie looks so much like him. I didn't see a picture of Jack on the pictures. Aida appears to be quite the beauty.

We had Stake Conference today. Pres. Huckvale used the Jonah story in his talk. I can tell it much better than he did....Ha! Of course I have embellished it a bit. The choir sang beautifully. I sat by Corine Carter. She's looking like an old lady. I keep forgetting that I'm an old lady too, but of course I don't look like they all do. Just kidding.
I received another wonderful gift from the QVC Shop. I beautiful blouse. I love it. The print is gorgeous. My bracelet and ring are on my body every day.
Cristie, I think I'm going to Japan in September. Benihanas are offering a trip to celebrate 40 years of business. It's for one week and costs $999. That encludes air from L.A. and hotel for five nights and one big banquet with the head of Bennies. Why don't you come along with me? We'd have fun, but you'd have to take a little bit smaller steps. I'm still a good walker' but the legs are a bit too short to keep up with your stride. I love everybodies posts. Got quite a kick out of Sam and the poor wall. I think there must be a few of Jake Mani's genes floating around in his body.

Much love to all of you, Grandma
P.S. Mary just saw on the new that a women that she knew of was murdered and cut up by a man that she knew who had given her several rides. She's a bit shaken up. LOve aagain, Me

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY!

Sam, I loved your entry. I could picture it perfectly. I hadn't heard that story before. I do keep up with the blogs, I just don't post any very often. I just don't feel like I have anything anyone wants to hear about. Next time something noteworthy takes place I will make sure to blog. I love you all. Ali

It's a good thing my tank is full! Questions: If everybody in the country avoided filling their tanks for one day, wouldn't they just have to fill them up the day after? How would that hurt the oil companies?

Here here!

How about walking into an open cupboard door face first in the middle of the night on the way to the commode? No violence, just a defeated return to my bed to stare at the ceiling with a throbbing nose, wondering how I could have left it open.

I’m jotting this down for Danny, Katie, Grandma and perhaps Teton Tom. Everyone else either witnessed, or heard me talk about kicking a hole through the wall. I didn’t think I was the type. I’ve never kicked or punched through a wall before, so I was as shocked as anyone when I did it. Fortunately, this happened in the old place that is about to fall to the ground anyway.

I don’t recall why I was opening the freezer, but the moment I did, the ice cream tub lurched out at me, and raced to the floor to smash my toe before I would have a chance to move it. The tub met its objective, and I bent over angry (and in pain) to shove it back in the freezer. I was looking forward to jamming the ice cream back in the freezer in a manner that would demonstrate my authority over unruly foodstuffs. As I rose with conviction and a sense of impending justice, I cracked my head on the freezer door I had left open.

I lost it.

Wild-eyed, I looked around the kitchen for something to destroy. There were no destroyables anywhere in sight, so I kicked the wall in frustration. In all honesty, I thought I kicked the wall about how Alison used to kick a soccer ball. I didn’t want to kick through it, but I did.

Talk about being the loser of the day. The freezer and ice cream had both ganged up on me, and had bested me outright. What do I do, I wheel around and kick the innocent wall. I should have taken that delinquent tub of peaches and fat and beat it flat on the front lawn with a hammer. You can bet I’ll do it right next time.

It was my own folly to stand proudly above wall punchers and bike throwers. I now stand proudly with them.

Somebody accepted my invitation to join our blog yesterday, and since I can't remember inviting anybody recently but my brother, I think Teton Tom is now amongst us.

Went fishing yesterday with the neighborhood fishermen. We fished on Church owned Deseret Ranch, with a "host" (as opposed to a guide)in some man made ponds stocked with big rainbows. I'm really not a float in a lake with a wooly bugger kind of guy, and I had to get up at 4:15 AM, but I had a good time with my friends and I caught a couple of huge fish. I'm guessing in the 4 to 5 pound range, and that's no fish story! The host caught a 7 pounder! We suffered through gale force winds in the afternoon.

Joe, Sam and I are looking forward to meeting up with Tom on our annual trip to the Green River next week. Dave backed out due to a date to the senior prom. Danny, we wish you were going with us.

Dear Ones,

I hope Eli had a wonderful day. Many think the twos are terrible, but I always thought it was a darling age. Katie thanks for your phone call. Your voice sounds so sweet on the phone. I wasn't home much the last few days. The doctor and I felt quite sure that Gerald was using up his last days. He is much better....eating again and seems in much less pain. He's getting very little morphine now. We never have figured out what was really wrong with him. He told me that he was in a "bad way". It still seems as if sometimes he is not really seeing me and then other times he is quite normal. It looks like he is going to be around awhile longer. I'm glad tomorrow is Friday. Wally, Gerald's brother, came to see him twice....Also Chris. Wally looks worse than Gerald. He had to cry when he saw Gerald. Gerald recognized him though. He kept telling Chris that he looked just like Chris and that he laughed just like Chris. Chris assured him that he was Chris, but I don't know if it every really registered. It's late and I'm going to hit the sack. Anne is visiting Jeff in Chicago. Congratulations on your home Mellissa and SAm. It will nice for the children to have the yard to play in. Love to all, Grandma

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELI!

Joe and David are off playing softball. Three girls just got through decorating David's room in response to being asked to Senior Prom. Liz is getting ready for bed. It's Jenny's birthday today as well. Laurel is out on the streets again. Jerry is off on a business trip for one day tomorrow. I have been busy and this spring weather is helping me see a lot of clutter in my house that has got to go.

My love to you dear hearts!

Well, we did it! We closed on our first home yesterday, Sam and I. It was a very stressful ordeal, and I have just realized that the stress is not going to end---ever. It is a cute little home, but there is SO much work to do! But I am so grateful to finally have a home to work on. I used to dream of the day when I would have to turn down a Saturday lunch "because I have yard work to do"... My kids have loved having a yard to play in, and now they are napping again which I love. We are in the process of moving and hope to be fully moved in by the end of the week. Then I get to clean this apartment (yuk), which I am not looking forward to.

Eddie, I'm glad school is going well for you so far. I bet the construction makes the commute even more difficult!

Hope everyone is well, Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Dear Gerald, I loved the pictures. It looks fun and like it was a cold day. I froze iin S.F. every time that I went up there except once when I was in nursing school in San Jose. I can't seem to pull up the Quiz so I'll get Anne to help me. I'll get her to pull up Danny's pictures too. Tom has a computor and would like to be invited to Blogger. I had new brakes put on the car today. $149.00. That's the first money that I've spent on it rather than oil changes. Tom's Email address is tetontom@wyoming.com. I didnt think it would go through, but it did. Love to all, Grandma

Dear Katie & Danny, Anne told me that you had called today and that you would like to go to DelMar in September. Yes the Condo is mine in September and yes you can go. Just tell me the
dates, I don't think that Danny has ever been there so that would be nice for you. The weather is usually lovely in September

I enjoyed Danny's blogg re: Ohio. I'd like to read it in its entirety. Hope all is well & that Danny is enjoying law school.

Much love, Grandma

Way to go Val!!

I just loved picturing Ed run around frantic. That was well planned and fun to hear\read about. I was laughing out loud. Love you guys. Alison

Great Gag Valerie!

Somehow the only one that looked a little shocked when Jerry announced after scriptures this morning that I was expecting another little one was Joe. After a lapse of 5 seconds or so Liz said, "yea, right." Dave said, "nice try, April Fool's." So, I guess we've used up all our mean little tricks, but I never get tired of thinking of a big fat lie/joke...all in the name of a holiday. Yes, this is one of my favorite days of the year and always has been.

My love to you dear ones. I am looking forward to conference and family time. I will miss the Nydeggers. mom

Dear all,

Lisa Zimmerman had a baby boy today. As far as I know all is well. Hope all is well with you.
Alan arrived at the big 21 today. Love to all, grandma

Dear Katie & Danny,
Kelly and I really enjoyed seeing the pictures from San Francisco. The boys have really grown alot. In one of the pictures Isaac looked so much like your brother, Eddie. Glad that you had a nice time and returned home safe. I hope you have many more birthdays to celebrate, Danny. Kelly says Hi. Well, I'm off to bed to study my R.S. lesson for tomorrow. Mary Anne and Bob are in DelMar landscaping the back patio. Mary enjoys hard physical labor. I wish you could see my back yard right now. She has it looking beautiful---Many flowes in bloom. Kiss the boys.
Much love, Gramdma

Happy birthday Danny. You're Mr. Holiday! St. Patricks, and now this! Is there no end to the excitement?!?

Happy Birthday Danny! I hope it's the best one yet.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANNY! We love you and appreciate so much the sweetnesss that you bring to our family. All day long we will be thinking of you and your little family...wishing for an extra special day.

Dear Laurel,

I hope you had a wonderful 22nd birthday. I've been thinking about you all day. I have your present, just slow in getting it mailed. I started with a viscious migraine Thurday nite and didn't feel better until Sunday night. So I will get it mailed.

Tell your Mom that the condo is mine in July and September. So if your family wants to come and stay awhile I would be happy for you all to enjoy it. Mary and her boyfriend are going down to fix up the patios this coming week end. Anne and Alan were down there last week end weeding. There were even weeds growing out of the drains that the water drains out of the roof in.

I hope that you have many more happy birthdays and that we can get together this summer. I love you.....Always, Grandma

Dear Sam,

I did have that Radette. Dan Hirschi was visiting with a girl friend, yes, she was nice and pretty cute too. Ruth has one of those irons. That cheese was $l5. a pound. They cooked the cheese plain and then with a special kind of bacon. It was very good, but not good enough for me to buy that special iron. We had the potatoes too. Dan must have had that in Switzerland. Jim found the irons searching onf the computor. He and Johanna each bought one. Cost them $250. each. I really appreciate your research. The ones that I have found only make two at a time, but I think they are larger. The picture of the bratzalies looks the same as ours do.

Katie, those pearls were a personal wedding gift to you. I gave Alison and Laurel a piece of jewelery also. Sara and Lisa are both expecting this month. Lisa is having a boy and I can't remember what Sara is expecting. Sara has been feeling louzy most of her pregnancy. Strep throat, ear ache etc.

Sam you have a real gift for writing. Maybe you should take it up seriously. Your Dad does also and so does Cristie. When Mary was at Dixie her English teacher told her that she had potential also

Your Grandfather is really slipping. He complains of shortness of breath and chest pain. He responds very slowly. I don't know if he's overmedicated or if he' s slowly fading away.

I hope Jenny is making a good recovery and not in alot of pain. Got to get to bed. Love to all
Grandma

Here is a link where imported irons may be purchased:

http://www.shopswiss.com/bratzeli.html

For a real treat, buy one of these:

http://www.shopswiss.com/raclette.html

I only ate bratzelis once on my whole mission, and I spent plenty of time looking for them. It seems to be a Swiss tradition that is dying out. In antique shops I used to see old irons that were heated by coals. I didn't see any new irons, and the only Swiss company (Jura) that used to make the irons no longer makes them. Mom and dad have a Jura iron.

Raclette (second link) is a truly wonderful thing. Though none of you will likely run out and buy an iron, it would be a fun thing to try. Raclette is both the name of a cheese, and the name of a dish. When prepared on the streets, a wheel of raclette is sliced in half. The cut side of the wheel is melted next to a red-hot iron until the exposed surface begins to crisp and the layer below is melted. The street merchant selling the raclette will then scrape the melted layer of cheese on a plate of boiled red potatoes, ham, carrots, and other meats and vegetables. The plate is not complete until paprika is sprinkled atop the cheese, and two sweet pickles added to the side. With the home version, raclette is melted in little dishes, and the meat is grilled on top of the iron. If you want to try raclette in Switzerland, make sure to visit in the fall. The leaves begin blowing through cobblestone alleys, carrying the scent of roasted chestnuts and the coming winter. The Swiss call it the Foehn, and some of the older ones with glassy eyes will tell you how strange things happen when the Foehn begins to blow. There is nothing like this in the new world. Even at twenty-one, I knew this as I dreamt beneath a 730 year old roof.

S

Dear Sam, I loved your post, but don't shoot that dog. I am not aware of any previous problems with the heeler. Do they have a leash law in Salt Lake? If so jut call and complain and they will do something about it. Our neighbors were frequently called into court for Spot's escapes. He could climb over their 6 foot fence and impregnated many of the neighbor dog. There is still evidence of his genes in the neighborhood. As for your new calling you'll be able to do a great job. Some of the callings that we think we would like the least turn out to be a great experience. Heavenly Father always gives us what we need to do a good job. Unfortunately it isn't always comfortable to stretch to the occasion.

Mary Anne is still happy with her dental jobs and lucky that they are both close by. She's quite in love. I don't completely approve of him, but when did she or anyone else ever care about that?Anne is doing well at her job. It is really telemarketing. It's right up her alley. She can charm the spots off a snake.

Gerald is fading. He's been terribly confused, but still in the same place of confusion day after day. Yesterday he was completely straight. He had to sob when he thought about Wally Ord being dead. Maxine is dying also. It will only be days. Katie did I ever get you a bratzalie Iron? If not do you want one? Yes, Eddie I'm still working on yours. I Love reading the blogs from your all. Hope all is well with every one. Tell Laurel I love her. Love, Grandma

I have been too busy to blog much, or even think about things to write. Unfortunately, there is really not a whole lot of news to report. There is a relatively minor update in the saga with the heeler next door. He has come over to our place looking for trouble a total of three times. You know about the first time. The second time, I threatened to kill him. The third time (two days ago), he threatened to kill Henry. I started to research dog-killing laws, and discovered that it’s impossible to murder a dog. One message board I read said the following: “You can shoot dogs all day because they’re legally considered property… You can’t murder property.” I read a few other cases where unruly dogs were either the recipients of bullets or nasty shocks, and Utah’s dog statute gives any citizen the right to dispatch an aggressive dog.

So, I went to the gun store.
Gun store guy (Chuck): “Can I help you sir?”
Sam: “What load would you recommend for killing dogs?”
Chuck: “Has it really come to this?”
Sam: “I’m afraid so. What should I get?”
Chuck: “Well, that depends. Do you want to kill him on the first shot, or do you want to kill him with seven or eight shots?”
Sam: “Doesn’t matter. I want him dead.”
Chuck: “Well, I’d get the Glock model 22 in .40 S&W with hydroshock bullets. You’ll stop the dog in one shot (Chuck makes popping noise), and you’ll have extra rounds for the owner if he gets a little too upset, if you know what I mean.”
Sam: “Hmmm. But the dog’ll be gone, right.”
Chuck: Points finger like gun and makes popping noise again.

In all honesty, I took a few liberties with the conversation above, but it’s not all a lie. I’m going to leave it at that, and I’m not going to mention the heeler next door again. No, he’s not already dead.

On a note of eternal importance, they made me the Young Men President in our ward. This was a real shocker for everyone, especially me. I know our bishop pretty well, and I thought I had said and done enough to be considered a loose cannon. Everyone should know how much fun a loose cannon is. I made one once and nearly killed Brad Pack. We laughed for days. Anyhow, people are calling me now wondering what to do about this, and wondering if I can get the Young Men to do that, and I don’t ever have the answer. Last Sunday, I told someone to check with the Bishop, as he was the “real” president anyway. I have a lot of growing to do. Responsibility and growing are a lot alike. It’s stimulating to talk about, but it’s not that enjoyable, and it usually hurts.

Well, I’m off to scout camp tonight. Laugh it up.

S

*** This blog is dedicated to Grandma Lois ***

Dear Ones,

Great news Danny. I feel so proud of you. We've had some wonderful rain this week and I've really enjoyed it. Wally Ord died a week ago tonight. I was able to be wiith him some of his last hours and was grateful to say that the hospice nurses allowed him to die comfortably. His daughter Cheryl was with him. What a dear girl. His funeral was as nice as Jean Driggs'. Maxine propably won't last much longer. That cancer has been eating at her for years. She stayed alive to care for Wally. They are going to sell her house and move her to Pleasant Grove with Cheryl. We've got termites swarming in the house. I guess the rain drove them in. I'll have to do something about that!

Anne got a job this week. Not from the internet, Gerald, but from the newspaper. It's close and on my way to work. They raised her $2.00 an hour already since she started. Something in the food business. That ought to be right up her alley.

I'm trying to get Ruth & Dick & Dean to go on an Alaskan cruise with me this August. They all would like to go so I think that I may be successful. I haven't cashed in that CD yet.

Alan is going to be 21 next month and he is pretty excited about it. Jaimie's folks are giving them a trip to Hawaii. Her 21st birthday is today

I pray Laurel is safe , that you have all escaped the flu bug, and that all is well. No Blogs from Sam lately. I really enjoy his correspondence. Love to all, Grandma

Congratulations Danny! I love to get great news...especially on this snowy Utah day.
Katie I can really identify with your winter blues. I used to think if I could just make it through January and February all would be well with the world once more. Chin up dear girl and know you are loved.

Dear Ones,
Katie, Sara Zimmerman feels exactly the same way as you do about Michigan. She can't imagine who ever settled it why they ever did. We've had another lovely day here today--in the low 70's. The kids at school were pretty excited about Valentines Day. Anne & Kelly made some pretty heart cookies for me and fixed up cute Valentine bags for me to take to them and my teachers.

One of the teachers that has a complete class full of very disturbed children and many aids to assist him every day celebrates the holidays with a pot luck lunch. He is Hispanic and good looking and sounds exactly like Anthony Banderos. He made a big crock pot of chicken and veggies, and there were wonderful fresh green beans, a large green salad with every kind of veggie, Mexican food, delicious cheese cake, cupcakes, cookies and cold drinks. I think it's quite special of him to do this. None of the other teachers do anything like it. I get invited so Anne made that spagetti caserole that I made at the beach 2 years ago. They really liked it.

Anne has gone to the All Star game at the Staples Center, and Mary is off with Bob and
Jim and family are headed up to visit Johanna and kids. I liked living alone and didn't mind being alone, but now when everyone is off having fun I feel sorry for myself sometimes. It's dumb because I'm too tired to go anywhere anyhow.

It was great seeing you, Son. I truly love your quick visits. Sorry if I thrilled you too much with my driving. Everyday I pray that I won't hurt someone or myself.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, AND I HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS THE GREATEST, LIZZIE,

Love always, Mom

I just received a letter from my grandmother. She usually writes one to the family each month. For those of you who don't know, my grandparents have been serving in the Missionary Training Center for the past year or so, and loving it.

My grandmother wrote of a story she heard at an MTC devotional the other night. I liked it and so I thought I'd share it:

"Elder Stone told about a talk President Hinckley had given to the general Authorities in the Temple. He said they had recently found a box of letters which included a letter he had written to his father when he was a returned missionary and working for the church. Elder Stone said he was probably at that time the one-man Missionary Department and the one-man Temple Department and Public Relations and Media or something else. Anyway, he had his acceptance letter to go to UCLA for his PhD and was excited to go. He went in to tell Elder Stephen L. Richards that he would be leaving his employment and Elder Richards said, 'Gordon, we just need you too much, please don't go.' [President Hinckley] was telling his father about his decision in a letter, and that his heart was pretty heavy about it, but that he had chosen to stay. He wrote to his dad, 'I wonder if I'll ever amount to anything.' Then president Hinckley said to the authorities, with his wonderful humor, 'I never got my PhD, but I've received 9 honorary doctorates from different universities, I've been all over the world, we have a wonderful family and a nice home, I even have a chauffeur to drive my car.' His message was 'Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.' Our decision will be different ones, and our outcomes different, but the promise is the same for all of us."

...from my journal today.

Got up earlier this morning than I needed to because I wanted to make sure I got here on time. My little routine when I come to the Bay Area is to stay at a downtown San Francisco hotel where I can enjoy the city the night before my meeting, and then take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) from downtown in the morning to my meeting in Berkeley with the state. I like public transport. I'm less insulated from the city, feel more a part of it. And...I like to study the interesting characters.

I'm now in the McDonalds in downtown Berkeley. My meeting this morning is earlier than usual so I allowed myself extra time and got here too early.

Speaking of characters...downtown Berkeley must be headquarters. This McDonalds is always loaded with a bevy of freaks. One even works here, cleaning the tables and mopping the floors. I've seen her before and she's here this morning, using her spray bottle filled with cleaning liquid very liberally, eager to have any kind of conversation with the sane or insane customers, and if nobody is communicative, she has loud, colorful conversations with herself. I've seen other, mostly deranged customers yell at her for spraying them along with the table. I'll tell you, that can develop quickly into very spirited dialogue!

This morning I'm listening to a woman who looks like she's in her late fifties to early sixties tell a fellow seated behind me of an encounter she had with the cops last night. She peppers her description of the event with coarse profanity. I think she must be homeless because she refers to another guy who got beat up last night and then says "Wouldn't it be terrible to be educated and homeless?"

I wonder if, long after Cristie and I are gone, this is how Laurel might end up. From reading her journals, she is certainly capable of carrying on such diatribes as the one I've just listened to. And she seems to seek out friends similar to many who surround me here this morning.

But, I'd better go. The cleaning lady is working her way to my table and I'm not in the mood to be misted.

Nice to see you back on the blog, mother. Annie must have hooked you back up again!

I'll send you the pic of Cristie, Anna Lee and Bonnie when I get home. I'm in Scottsdale...have been here for three long days of meetings (and evening dinners). The weather has been nice. Cool and rainy. It's been nice to see a little sun after living in the inversion in Utah.

How is Kathryn feeling?

Hi
I did go to DelMar this weekend. It was wonderful and every time I finally get down there I wonder why I don't do it more often. The weather was wonderful and I could hear the waves at night before I took out my hearing aides. We went to TJ...Not many people buying & I saw very few carryinng packages. Down in Gomez's arcade about fifty per cent of the stores were closed..permanately it appeared. It was really quite sad. Cristie I found that store where you bought many of the dresses last time. He said he had only been able to get 9 of the dresses and he was asking $50. now. He said his wholesale pricce had gone up. We ate at a great Mexican restaurant in Old Town. I'm anxious to take you there. You can watch the ladies making the corn and flour tortillas there. Prices weren't bad and we really enjoyed it. Mary and I had been there the last time I was at DelMar.

Debbie's mom and a woman I work with were there with me. I said that I was going to church and I'd be gone about an hour and a half. They both wanted to come with me. We got there at 8 and it was stake conference. This was an earlier meeting for investigators and the newly baptized. I thought it was a great meeting for them. I hope that it planted some seeds. Bernice (the woman that I work with must have narcolepsy. She fell asleep instantly in the car, church, moviesl and at home watching TV. We saw the Movie The Big Fish, and she slept through so much of it she never did understand what went on. I enjoyed the movie very much. I think Albert Finney is a great actor, and his son reminded me of Jimmy Zimmerman (Eddie's Jim). I had to cry in the end partly from the story and because Albert Finney reminded me of Bob Stone. Well I've bored you long enough and I have to take me to bed. Gerald I never did get the EMail of Cristie and Anna Lee. Love your all, Mom