THE LAST AIR BENDER

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2010 Yesterday we saw the preview of The Last Air Bender, the movie based on the TV cartoon series. Corey, Stacey, Jayden, Bailey and I had our faces painted. I was the Avatar, and the others were Air, Fire, Water and Earth. It was a 3D movie and a lot of fun. I had seen many of the episodes with Jayden and Bailey on the days I watched the kids while Stacey worked. The movie didn’t tell the whole story so I am sure there will be a sequel. Corey and his family, Jim and Austin and Judy and I ate at Fuddruckers before the movie. Greg and his brother Eric met us at the theater. It was at Jordan Commons. Corey got us free tickets and we didn’t have to wait in line since they were assigned seats.

JEALOUS

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2010 I am still reading Driven, the autobiography of Larry Miller. One thing I am jealous of him over is that he had a wife that liked to take long drives with him.

GOSPEL DOCTRINE TEACHER

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2010 As I have probably noted above, Judy was released from her beloved ward choir director position after ten years and made one of four gospel doctrine teachers. Her week to teach is the third Sunday of each month. This month they switched weeks because we were out of town last week. This year we are studying the Old Testament. She had never read the Old Testament nor have I in its entirety I usually get bogged down in Leviticus. Judy went to the church distribution center (I assume) and got the Old Testament on CD and lesson manuals and other learning and teaching aids. She put the CD’s in her car stereo and listened to them to and from work for weeks, and understood and got a lot out of them. At work she is the one who puts projects together for presentations. She is the best and indispensible. Others in her office either can’t do it at all or do a so, so job at doing it. Hers are professional. National headquarters got wind of one of them and is adapting it on a national or is it global scale. Judy put the same effort and abilities into today’s lesson. She went suddenly from a “why me?’ to a “Wow that was good,” (from others) in one fell swoop. I had gone home after sacrament meeting. And when I came back after the three hour block, I approached the back door as someone was walking out. They told me what a wonderful job Judy had done. About two seconds later, Ethelyn Higbee passed me and said the same thing in pretty much the same words. Later Terry Wolsey, the High Priest group leader called to congratulate her on an excellent lesson. Judy later told me that someone came up to her and said, “We recently moved into this ward. I listened to a different teacher each of the last three weeks and yours was by far the best lesson.” Now, we have a very talented and educated ward with wonderful teachers so that is really a complement. Just now Ethelyn Higbee, another super brain came over to talk to Judy and get her help on something, I think it a presentation for the Empty Nesters tomorrow night. If Ethelyn needs Judy’s help that is something!

LARRY MILLER

THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2010 Yesterday I bought the book “Driven”, the biography of Larry Miller, owner of the Utah Jazz etc etc. At the end of each chapter there is a postscript, often by his wife. Following is the postscript from chapter 10. “’The one thing Larry always did was live by the Spirit,’ says Gail. ‘He’d get out of bed and bet on his knees and have long silent prayers. He would tell me about them. The burden he was carrying was so heavy that he felt he couldn’t do it alone. And he felt a great responsibility about his role in the community and toward all those people who worked for him and their families. He prayed for guidance as to what he should do and what decisions he should make.” In a notebook in which he kept his favorite sayings, he included a short list of favorite quotes he liked to consider relating to his faith: Are we mortal beings having a spiritual experience, or are we spiritual beings having a mortal experience? When the student is prepared, the teacher will appear. Children are the messengers we send to a time we’ll never see. When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power. If we were charged with being followers of Jesus Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict us? Thursday, June 24, 2010 I don’t know if I noted it elsewhere but at my last doctor appointment many months ago I was diagnosed with early signs of dementia and put on a prescription of Exelon patches, a transdermal medicine that is supposed to slow down the progression of it. I have not been good at using them. I think I need to, like the neighbor across the driveway, get on the pill form so I will take it along with my diabetes and blood pressure medicines every day. A couple of days ago as I was driving around in the area, familiar area, twice I looked at my surroundings and for a brief moment I felt lost and confused.

JAYDEN and BAILEY

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010 Still fighting this head cold—and now bronchial infection. Today was my day to be with Jayden and Bailey while Stacey worked. I hesitate to say “sit them” as they could technically take care of themselves, though I think everyone feels better that they have an adult with them, especially on an “all dayer” like this. Corey dropped them off at 8:30 with instructions to let me rest. They did with the exception of when something important came up and something important came up about once every five minutes. Corey also told them not to ask me to take them out to eat…so…they were (as I said) all over me most of the morning and then at noon talked me into taking them to Won Won Wok for lunch. They got the usual. Jayden had two California rolls and Bailey had the sesame chicken. I had some California roll and salmon roll. Funny, on the way to Won Won Wok, Jayden told me about a song, I think from TV or whatever. He sang it to me…several times since either Bailey or I would make a little noise or comment and he would have to tell us to be quiet and let him sing the whole song uninterrupted.

THE WEEKEND IN REVIEW

Sunday, June 13, 2010 I stayed home from church today. Between the coughing and blowing and the knockout medicine to stop it, I have been out of it the last couple of days. I didn’t even go out for pizza with Judy, Corey and his family last night or the movie afterwards. They ate pizza at Sweet Home Chicago Pizzeria then saw The Karate Kid at The District. On another note, Corey’s ward is still in the process of dividing and reorganizing. Today Stacey was called as the Ward Humanitarian Specialist. They still don’t have counselors in the bishopric yet. Stacey will be filling out Bishop’s Storehouse request forms or whatever they are called and will be putting together packets to take around to people’s homes and that sort of stuff. It seems that every time she gets feeling comfortable doing what she is doing, something new comes along to make her grow. I am of the belief that she has a great capacity and that the Lord is bringing her around as quickly as possible. This goes for work as well as church assignments. She is also great about dealing with others wherever she goes. I expect great things out of her as well as Corey. Sierra just finished a two day training course at The O C in Orange County, California. Chris flew her down and stayed with her. I understand it was a great experience for her and she improved on her already fabulous dance abilities.

CHOKE AND PUKE

Tuesday, June 08, 2010 This afternoon at three I had a dentist appointment, actually a “cleaning” appointment. Our dentist is Jeremy Mathews and I always ask for and have my cleaning done with Lateesha. Lateesha is young pretty, tall and comes close to keeping up with me in humor. Today I had an edge on her in the humor department. I WAS ON ONE! Poor girl she couldn’t keep up and several times was so flustered she was covering her face with both hands and shuttering; a little in laughter, a little in bewilderment. To top it off, with Jeremy came in at the end he teamed up with me and the poor girl didn’t stand a chance. On another note, Katrina Kropushek is now working there. She ushered me back to my cubical and took my X-rays. If you recall, Katrina is the young lady in our ward/neighborhood who ran for Miss Saratoga Springs and made first attendant. (See my previous blog.) I think she had just the right mix of friendliness and professionalism. I warned them all in advance that this morning I woke up with a bad sore throat but one by one, first Katrina, then ‘teesha then Dr. Mathews said, “No problem, I’m wearing a mask!” Oh well. Dr. Mathews said jokingly, “I wish I could say you have cavities since you don’t brush your teeth, but I can’t. You haven’t any.” Today is our granddaughter Sierra’s sixteenth birthday she is getting a surprise birthday party for her and her friends, at Noah’s given by her father, Chris, and the rest of the adults in the family. I am sure it will be chronicled by her Mother, Jenn and by Niki on there blogs. I will refrain from putting this on my blog until later when I’m sure she won’t go online and see it pre-party time. Sierra will be getting her new/used car; the car Chris has been driving the last few years in Houston. Since he spends little time actually in Houston and little of that time driving, the 04 Hyundai Elantra has very low mileage. Corey and I drove it to Salt Lake a month or so ago. It has been hiding out at Greg and Niki’s this whole time. Thur, 10 June, 2010 I woke up the morning before last with a killer sore throat and head cold and except for a dentist/cleaning appointment I have done nothing but lie around. I am thinking I might force myself to go out at noon and get me a sandwich or something. Wish me luck.