cc: file, Tony Hafen, Pauline Nelson via mail, Sara and Des Penny, Claude and Katherine Warner, Lloyd and Luana Warner, Diane Cluff, Maxine Shirts via mail.
Airplane week. As I finally got around to sending off the Thoughtlet, last Thursday, we were a half an hour late leaving for Intercontinental Airport. Matt and Rachel were anxious. Andrea was very anxious. And when we hit rush hour on the Katy Freeway, I became exceptionally anxious. The plane was 15 minutes late leaving, and we got to the gate 7 minutes before it left, so everything turned out OK, except for some possible ulcers. I had stayed up too late, and then got up at 3:30 in the morning and so I slept most of the way to Las Vegas. There was no one else on my row, until I woke up when we were crossing the Grand Canyon and Andrea came back and sat by me. I started reading the second in the novels about the city of Enoch, called `Zion - The Long Road to Sanctification.' When Andrea proofed last week's Thoughtlet, she thought I should rewrite much of it. There wasn't time, and so I sent it anyway. One of the issues was my reference to spokes relative to six aspects of our lives: Emotional, Intellectual, Mental, Physical, Social (which I misstated as Financial), and Spiritual. The point I was trying to make was that like a wagon wheel, if we have too much emphasis in one aspect of our lives, we tend to have a longer spoke, and our wagon ride is unnecessarily bumpy. I have referred to this concept numerous times before. One of my friends, Gary Crouse, talks about taking a couple of days each year, at either Thanksgiving or Christmas, to review his past year and set goals for the upcoming year. I did this last spring and stated my goals for the summer of 2000 as (see 0021.html):
I didn't keep track of when summer started, and this is my report:
So all in all, as I contemplate this last year, there have certainly been some wonderful events and activities. I am very concerned about Rob, and hope my prayers reach through the envelope he has built around himself. Mabe these concerns are necessary to recognize how wonderful most of my life is. As everyone slept while I drove from Las Vegas to Cedar City, these thoughts filled my mind. We stopped to see Mom in St. George and to make sure we were coordinated on the week's activities with Porter's Nursing Home. We got to Andrea's Mom's home about 1:30 CST.
Bridget's week. Needless to say we slept in. Des had called before I even got out of bed. This is unheard of before, in the history of the polyverse. Bridget, I think it is safe to say your Dad is excited for you. I finally got up. Andrea had left to get her hair done by Roland Willams. I walked down to Heather's place, where you were busy packing. Then I walked to Des and Sara's and ended up eating some lunch.
Change week. Brian and his friend Scott helped Des, Andrea, Heather, and myself to take three pickup loads of Heather's stuff to a storage shed on the north side of town. It is a large storage shed for $48 per month, $570 per year, or $1,710 for the next three years to store stuff worth a few hundred dollars. It would probably cost $200+ per month for an equivalent space in Houston. Durning the day I walked over to Carmen Jones' and talked to her, to her son Curtis, and her husband Wendell for an hour. Carmen, Fern Leigh (0007.html), and Ray Gardner's mom were planning to take Mom to lunch on her Birthday to the Bloomington Country Club (and they did). Later in the evening, we all went to Appleby's, where Audrey works, for dinner. Needless to say, once I drew out the basic physics of dynamic replenishment on a napkin for Des, most of the conversation was about Bridget and Justin and their big week. Heather, Matt, Andrea, and I went to the Fiddler Canyon Theater and watched `The Grinch.' I was tired and Andrea fell asleep in the movie. It is very creative, and unusual. Definitely a change from the normal movie. I enjoyed it. Matt has seen it three times now.
Different week. We slept in again on Sunday. It was different going to Grandma Shirts' church. It was fun for me to watch as people came up and hugged Heather, Matt, and Andrea. The joy was like the joy the movie `Man's Search for Happiness' as the Grandpa goes beyond the veil and sees waiting friends and family. The talks were good, and Sunday School was good. Maybe a change is what is good. In Priesthood opening exercises, I was asked by Bishop (Will) Bishop `What's new in Texas?' I said `It's pretty much the same,' and he repeated my words. Needless to say, this was the wrong answer, because Texas is so much better now that Andrea has moved here. Matt was also introduced, and the Bishop committed him to report to him when he completes his eagle. After Priesthood Meeting Elder Cox, the High Priest Group Leader, came up to get a report on how Andrea and the kids are doing (see 0001.html). We had a nice dinner (it was Audrey's early birthday dinner), and then spent the evening reading and talking. It was the beginning of a change week, and yet it was not a change.
Exciting week. Monday morning Andrea and I went for a run down to the University track, and then walked around it until I got dizzy. Not really. There were piles of snow 10 feet high in places. The weather was cold, and the sky was clear. It had snowed two feet the Saturday before we arrived. After shaving and showering, I went and visited with Ray Gardner and his partners. Here I learned I forgot to bring the charger for the digital camera. Oh well! I couldn't find one at Inkley's nor Radio Shack in Cedar, but there was one at Color Country Photography in St. George. I stopped to see Scott Truman, and he was not in. I also was recruited to take 7 violins to St. George for Vincent, Brian's mentor. It was particularly exciting for Aunt Sara that I left 4 of the violins with a house painter at the first place.
Fun week. Mom was ready and had her hair all nicely done. She wanted to go to a new Mexican Restaurant, but the van was not available. So we walked over to Hunan and I had Seasame Shrimp. It is fun to spend time with Mom. One never knows what will come up in the conversation. We had three fortunes: `Your fortune is as sweet as a cookie,' `Express your talents in art and music,' and `Executive ability is prominent in your makeup.' We went back to Porter's by way of Roland Lee's Art Store. She wanted to buy one of his Irish pictures as a wedding present for Justin and Bridget Lee. They don't have handicap access and so we didn't go in. There were a lot of pretty yellow leaves on the street.
Good week. After I left Mom, I went out and visited with Uncle Lloyd and Aunt Luana for a few minutes. They told me there were 26 descendents coming to spend Thanksgiving with them. Everyone but Forest, Mike, and Renee. I promised to come back and see all my cousins on Thursday.
Happy week. I stopped back at Porter's to say good bye to Mom and to see if there was anything she needed. Then I went to Larsons Frost Top and got a small strawberry malt. Happiness is a thick malt (../9836.html, ../9936.html, 0027.html, 0036.html, and 0037.html). Then I went out and visited briefly with Uncle Tony and Buhela. The are almost recovered from the Korean Veterans Reunion Tony organized. I brought home a tape he made to watch, and those interested can watch it with me at Christmas. I also stopped and spent a half hour with Ward and Fern Abbott. Ward wants to go on a mission to temple square. Happiness.
Interesting week. I got home at 7:20 PM, and Andrea and I went to the 7:30 movie: Charlie's Angels. What a spoof. They sure do know how to do fancy marshall arts. The opening scene where the camera is flying through the sky and an airplane comes into view and it goes right through the window and follows a passenger to the restroom and back, showing a drug trade in 1st class seating, and then two passengers opening the front exit and jumping out of the plane, bringing out parachutes, and landing in a motor boat as a continuous scene was interesting. Nice splice jobs. We got up at 5:00 on Tuesday and left just before 6:00 for Salt Lake. I spent from 10:00 until 3:30 working with Bob Ehrlich (../9722.html, 0042.html, and 0045.html) and his colleague Mike Dropkin. We had an extended lunch with Parker Gay (../9947.html, 0001.html, and 0004.html). The connection between the two groups was phenomenal, and I am certain it will lead to a lot of hydrocarbon overrides for Dynamic Oil & Gas Corporation. If we can just pay the bills in the meantime. Andrea picked me up about 3:30 and we went to the `The Testament - One Fold and One Shepherd' at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building Legacy Theater. It is good, and everyone who lives in Utah or has any contact with members of the church should see it. When we came out of the theater, I was thunderstruck as Andrea stood next to an original portrait of her Great-Great-Great Grandfather Hyrum Smith. Then we left to find our way to Justin and Bridget Lee's pre-wedding reception in Farmington. In my mind interesting does not start to summarize my life.
Justin's week. The reception was simple, elegant, and very nice. A harpist played all evening, and she was very good. There was a three wall picture curtin with 8"x10" photos of Justin and Bridget. The bridesmaids were very practical, and wore the dresses they had worn to Elaine Braithwaite's reception. The line was busy all night. The refreshments were wonderful. I only ate one piece of cake, and it was all I could do to keep from going back again and again and again and again and again. Randy, Katheryn, and Erica drove up from Provo. As did Paul and Kate. My cousin Debra Woods, who lives in Farmington, came. Scott Truman's wife from Cedar City was there. Most of the folks were Justin's friends, and it was Justin's week.
Keeper week. Paul, Kate, Andrea, and I went to a Dairy Queen to eat afterwards. Glad I had my emergency $20 bill with me. It was a fun conversation. We got back to Bob and Sarah Ehrlich's house, up by Hogle Zoo, about midnight. I got up at 5:30, read the first two chapters of `Of Heaven and Earth,' a book Ward recommended and Andrea bought me on Tuesday. Then Bob and I spent a couple of hours reviewing how we are going to work together. It is really exciting, and definitely is keeper concepts. As we were leaving his apartment I knocked Andrea flat on her back in the driveway. She was OK, and I think she forgave me. We got to the temple a few minutes after we were suppose to, and it was still in plenty of time. Paul took notes on the advice the sealer gave Justin and Bridget before he sealed them. Temple marriages are so simple, so special, and so sacred. It was my first time to be at a marriage in the Salt Lake Temple. When we got out, I followed the photographer around and took digital photos of all of the nice places he set up. By the end of the day I had some 220 photos and movies on the CD. This included several pictures of Andrea next to paintings and sculptures of Hyrum Smith. Andrea and I visited with Boyd Ware, regional manager of Deseret Book, about Ken Turner's paintings and HGOL. We were just a little bit late for the wedding luncheon in Bountiful. Des gave a wonderful and touching speech. Justin, Bridget, and Justin's Dad also talked. The bridesmaids gave them a beautiful quilt they made. Paul and Brian dressed up their car, including spam on the rear view mirror, battery powered christmas tree lights on the car, and of course a slinkey and cans from the back bumper. The meal was wonderful. The bubbles as they left were neat. It was a fun afternoon. After Andrea and I left, we stopped and talked to Parker Gay, who wanted to talk about the APEX mine outside of St. George, which Uncle Tony had told me all about. By the time we left Parker's it was 5:00, and we had Houston style rush hour traffic all the way to the other side of Provo. We finally got back to Cedar about 9:00. Despite the traffic, it was one of those special days, making a keeper week.
Lazy week. Andrea and I went for a walk up over Leigh Hill on Ridge Road Thursday morning. I stopped to see Sara and Des and to pick up some magazines for Mom later in the morning. Sara was wiped out. I brought over the CD of photos from Justin and Bridget Lee's pre- reception and wedding luncheon. Des and I brought one up on his portable PC, and by the time we were back from Thanksgiving lunch Sara had edited and named all of the photos. She said it was a lazy day, and she didn't have a shower until 5:00. However, she spent 4 hours editing photos, which Des will ftp to me, and I will place at http://www.walden3d.com/photos/Family/11_JustinBridget. Brian rode down to St. George with Audrey, Rachel, and Matt. Andrea, Mrs. Shirts, and I rode in the rental car. We stopped and visited with Russel Shirts and his family. Then Brian, Andrea, and I took Mom out for Thanksgiving lunch at Tony Roma's. Brian and I got in trouble with Mom and Andrea for throwing little airplanes across the table. It was a nice lunch and Brian wasn't hungry. He only ate 29 ribs, or 6 half racks. Paul and Kate met us when we dropped Mom off, and visited for a while. Rachel stayed in St. George with Kim, and Audrey took Matt, Brian, and Grandma back to Cedar. Andrea and I went out to Uncle Lloyd's and Aunt Luana's and visited with Claude and Katherine, Ivan and Chell, Eric and Diane, and Dean and Nichole. Then we stopped and visited with Ward and Fern Abbott for a little while. We got home about 8:30, and went over to visit with Sara and Des. When we got back to Mom's place, I read and Andrea helped start cooking. As I write it, it seems like a lot, yet the day was pretty relaxed and lazy.
Mountain week. Friday morning I slept in and Andrea went on her walk/run without me. So when I got up I went up Sage Road and climbed the mountain known as Leigh Hill. There is a sign on the road which says there are 17 1/2 acres available for sale. I walked around the property and looked at it from all sides. Ray tells me the property in Shrits' Canyon is selling fast. One of the thoughts running through my mind is that it doesn't matter where the experimental city is built, just that it is built. It would be nice to be able to buy this land on the side of Leigh Hill, excavate back into the hill, and build an 8 story city for about 1,000 people (57 people per acre density, or about half or a quarter the density Ray and I have talked about for the experimental city). I can imagine black windows, shaped to look like volcanic flows to those who drive past on the freeway, with double pained glass to muffle freeway noise and for temperature control. By the time I got back to Grandma's house my mind was whirling about the mountains and all of the possibilities.
New week. I got back to the house in time to shave, shower, put light bulbs in several fixtures, and help carve the Turkey. Randy and Kathryn, Russell and Marilyn, Steve and Jill, and most of their kids were there. It seemed just fine to have a family thanksgiving dinner on Friday. Kind of a new way to do things.
Opulent week. As I thought over the week, I recalled the pile of presents at Justin and Bridget's reception. Opulent is an apt description. This also describes flying to Las Vegas, renting a car for a week, and all of the things we have done this week.
Pretty week. Then I thought about how beautiful Bridget was in her wedding dress. How handsome Justin was. How at the reception I said to him, `Take care of her, she is very special to me!' and Justin's reply, `She's special to me too!'
Quick week. It is amazing how fast this week has gone by. I guess that is what happens when you are enjoying life, friends, and family.
Righteous week. It was wonderful to see Justin and Bridget's choices. As Aunt Sara said, `If I was going to have a rebellious child, there are a lot worse things than choosing a temple marriage.' Righteousness will bring blessings to all of us.
Sad week. Sara called just before lunch to say that Porter's called and said Mom had got sick, and they had to put her on oxygen. Mom, it was sad sad you couldn't be with us in all of the activities this week. Oh well! At least you got out three times this week.
Thanksgiving week. The turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, corn, jello, yams, bisquits, root beer, and pie on Friday, were a perfect end to Thanksgiving week.
Ultimate week. On reflection, it seems like the year leads up to these moments with family and friends, ultimate experiences of life.
Virtuous week. I was concerned someone would get upset and it would not be a good week. I guess, mostly concerned I would say something wrong and create a problem. However, it was a virtuous week.
Wild week. There was certainly a lot which went on this week. And from someone on the outside looking on, I'm sure it appeared to be a wild week.
Xanadu week. The dictionary defines Xanadu as an idyllic, exotic, or luxurious place. Southern Utah, and my daydreams of cities in the clouds, certianly meet this definition.
Yahoo week. The dictionary defines yahoo as a boorish, crass, or stupid person. Paul and Brian, I don't like to point a finger, because there are four pointing back at me, and yet I wonder if this doesn't define your desire to get Justin and Bridget's car.
Zenith week. There is no question, but that this week was a zenith in the lives of Justin and Bridget Lee. It was also the highest point in the recent months of many of us who watched and participated, even if it was from a distance.
Hope your days, weeks, months, years, and decades encompass all of the concepts brought to mind with the marriage of Justin and Bridget Lee."