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.

MY BUDDY, BUDDY

Tuesday, June 08, 2010 Yesterday Stacey worked so I was at their house around 9:30 to be with Jayden. Bailey stayed overnight at Niki’s along with Molly. Later I met Niki at the Cyprus Credit Union at Bangerter and Redwood Road. Bailey got in with me and we went back to their house. When she got in, it was obvious she had been around Alexa and Gavin, she was talking baby talk bad. When we drove past Wal-Mart she threw a fit when we didn’t go in and buy her a toy. Later in the afternoon, Buddy and I were in the backyard when Douglas (dew glas), their friend from across the street came over to play. One of the kids opened the back door just a little, but that was enough for Buddy to bolt, charge through the door and attack Douglas. I don’t know if he bit him on the back or if he gouged him with a front paw, but on Douglas’ back there was some broken skin and a nice bruise. It was weeping a little but not much blood. When Douglas’ mother and I looked at it, we were both hoping it would bleed to wash out any possible infection. I called Corey; he called Stacey and told her. When Corey got home he said that Stacey thinks they should/wants to get rid of Buddy. The kids were understandably upset and crying. I wasn’t too happy myself as Buddy and I are such good friends. But, I can see her point. Corey did say that he could be trained but that the cost for the classes is $109.00. Maybe we should offer to pay for the training!

NEW COMPUT

Saturday, June 05, 2010 Judy had 120+- point she had to use within the next couple of days at Best Buy so she bought me an ASUS Eee pc for our use when we are traveling. It is a pretty burgundy red color. The keys are a little smaller than the ones on my other computer and some are arranged differently. With that and everything else there is a lot to learn and a lot to get used to. It has the 2007 version of Word as opposed to my 2003. Wish me luck!

SUSHI AGAIN...TWICE...Eee GADS!

Friday, June 04, 2010 Stacey worked today at Fedex Office…she opened so had to be there early. Corey dropped Jayden and Bailey off at our house on his way to work. As they walked in the door, both of them announced that they were going to stay home and “not spend any of your money!” Apparently Corey read the blog entry about them getting me to buy them something when we are out. Jayden opted to stay in the house and play his PSP and video games on my computer. Bailey and I went to the pool from about 11:00 ‘til a little before 1:00. Bailey of course made some friends and played with them. As for me, I did the Jepson for well over an hour; (walking and jogging in the pool) I am tired but it was well worth the effort. Finally I told Bailey we had to get out. We needed something to eat and we needed to go to their house and let Buddy out to do his business. She hated to leave her new friends but was nice about obeying me. I thought that as long as we had to get in the car anyway we should eat out. Bailey got some chicken rings (not wings) at Arctic Circle. She stayed in the car and ate them while Jayden and I ate two California rolls each at Won Won Wok. Jayden had to stuff the last two pieces down, but he proved he could do it. After Won Won Wok, we went back through the drive thru at Arctic Circle and got Bailey a chocolate shake with Oreo Cookie bits in it. Yum! When we got to their house, we let Buddy out into the back yard and Jayden felt a rumbly in his tumbly and ran to the bathroom. It proved to be mostly gas, but after the second burp, or probably along with it, he hucked up a bit of the sushi. He proudly gave me an “I told you so!” whatever that meant. Bailey didn’t want to be left out and she went into the bathroom and tried her hardest to throw up but she just couldn’t pull it off. Poor baby! Stacey got home a little before 5:00 and I drove home. As I was walking in the door, Judy called and asked if I wanted to go to dinner and a movie. I said sure. She said she was at 90th and the freeway and for me to meet her at Jordan Commons. When I got there she was seated at a Teppanyaki table in The Last Samari and sitting next to my place setting was the sushi menu. As much to prove something and also to be “silly” I ordered two smoked salmon rolls or rather the ones where a slab of fish sits on top of a lump of rice. It was a very generous portion and very tasty. Now remember, I had all you can eat sushi last night with the boys, sushi with Jayden today for lunch and now this…but it was goooood! The movie was Letters to Juliet a chick flick filmed mostly in Verona, Italy and the surrounding area and showed much of it. It was a fun show.