EAGLE MOUNTAIN

MONDAY, 16 MAY, 2011
I received a phone call at 10:30 this morning from my granddaughter Bailey. She asked if I would pick her up  from school; that she was sick. She said that she was throwing up yesterday at Wal-Mart.
Mine was the only phone number she could remember besides I was the one who would get her eventually anyway since both her parents were working.
I got her and immediately she felt better (wonder of wonders). when we got to her house she grabbed her mitt and baseball and asked me to play catch with her in the back yard. I thought better about it but said yes. I'm leaving the parenting to the parents.
I did not realizing just how out of shape I am, huffing and puffing and all I did was catch and throw and SLOWLY chase down the ones I missed which was 3/4th of the time. But, I didn't even try to run.
I feel old.
Finally she asked, "Grandpa, do you need to go in and sit down?
I was able to wheeze out a feeble "Yes!!!!!!!!"
We sat on the outdoor furniture on the back deck and Bailey went through 30-40 matches trying to light two candles and two torches...TWICE. She finally lit them all once then blew them out and started over.
At least I wasn't throwing and catching baseballs.

Being Monday, school got out at 2:40 so I excused myself and drove down to the school and picked up Jayden.
We called Corey and he said he was leaving work early and for us to pick up Bailey and meet him at the TREK bike shop by the Best Buy in American Fork. They had taken Jayden's bike in because it had two tires that wouldn't hold air . We found out that he had run over two (?) thorns.
They put in two inner tubes with some kind of "slime" in them that fills in any new punctures he might get.
From the bike shop we drove across the street and ate a Dicky's Barbecue. It was pretty good.
When we were leaving the school Jayden said "Oh, there's Alysa (I don't know the correct spelling. Jayden says it is spelled "Alasa" but he pronounces it the way I have it spelled above.
Alysa was walking through the parking lot with her mother and two sisters.
Jayden said, "She is the hottest girl in school!" He sits by her in at least one of his classes.
Mikel (sp) got his heart broken by her. He had a friend ask her if she would "go" with him and she said, "No, he's not my type!"
It made Mikel cry.
Jayden thinks she is in love with another kid (we're talking 5th grade here) Connor(?) it started with a "C" but all he thinks about is sports.
Jayden thinks that his athleticism is what she is attracted to.
Jayden finally got the nerve to ask her who she does like and she said, "No body."
He is disappointed but keeping up a good face.
I think he is going to keep talking to her.
School is over in a couple of weeks.
He said that last year with Izzy it was easy. She asked him out.

After the bike shop and Dicky's I took Jayden home so he could ride his bike while Corey took Bailey to buy some longer pants. The ones she wore to school today where too short for the standards so they let her wear some loaners.

Jayden rode his bike around the block once at about 100 mph, screeched into the garage, parked his bike, grabbed his mitt and baseball and asked me to play catch with him in the back yard.
Of course I said yes and he is older than Bailey and a better throw and catcher so I didn't have to work quite so hard but pretty soon Jayden said, "Grandpa, are you OK? You know you don't have to play if you don't want to."
It wasn't long after that, that I quit and parked my wide body.

Later this evening, Judy, Jim and I ate pizza at Pier 49 in AF (American Fork) then saw the movie "Thor."
I enjoyed it.

NOTHING to SAY but SAYING IT ANYWAY

Sunday, May 08, 2011
Jim and Corey are smoking a brisket in our garage. It is too windy and raining outside.
The brisket is taking forever.
Chris had Niki and Greg buy a big nice bouquet of flowers for Judy.
There was also a big box and with the box there was a Mothers Day card signed from Sierra and Chris and the three Chazen Kids.
Three Chazen kids?
It went right over my head but Judy immediately asked, "Three Chazen Kids; are you pregnant?"
Niki is due the end of December but she says she is always three weeks early.
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2011
Between all the different pills I am on I mostly feel dumbed up. No energy, no particular happiness, just want to lie around. I haven't the energy to get up and do anything. Albeit it has been rainy the last couple of days and sunshine makes all the difference in the world.
As I may have noted before, I always feel better at sea level though perhaps part of that at least may be the excitement of being on vacation.
If only I could spend an extended length of time in Barcelona to test out the theory.

Thursday, May 05, 2011

                I went in to see Shelly (my Doc) at 8:40 this morning. I was feeling tense and edgy as I often do. We decided to up my dose of PAXIL to 40 mgs a day and see how that goes. She talked about going as high as 50 mgs. She told me to be more liberal in taking my panic pills which I haven’t taken any of yet out of fear of never waking up. I guess I miss understood her when she prescribed it to me.

                     A month from now I need to call Shelly and get refills or if I think I need to, make another appointment to talk about where else to go.

                Shelly said that my false alarm heart attack and my continuing pains in my chest are anxiety or panic whichever you want to call it. She used the word panic.

                I realize now that what I have always thought was normal is moderate (more than mild) depression and Shelly seemed very optimistic that I can spend the rest of my life finally being truly happy.

                Judy, Corey, Stacey, Jim and I met at Sum Dum Luc (Joy Luck) for Mothers Day lunch.

                Later this evening I drove to the Townecentre Mall in Provo with the intent of treating myself to a new shirt. (So many of mine shrunk [yea right])

                I ended up getting me two of them both containing the color blue. I dislike blue but I have discovered that blue makes my complexion look good.

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

I had a bad day today aches and shooting pains and depressed so I decided I should at least go for a drive. That didn't take too much physically.

I drove down Pioneer Crossing to I-15. I decided to go north. I hadn’t gotten too far when the thought came to me that I should go to Niki’s and play with Gavin and Alexa.

I was taking a chance. I didn’t know if they would be home and I didn’t call first.

It worked out well. They were home and they had three friends over. Avery next door was playing with Alexa and her brother and another little, little kid were playing with Gavin. I asked the little one, who was wearing a blue cape what his name was. He said it was Superman.

Looking down on Avery from upstairs I thought she was Alexa. They look a lot alike.

We played and wrestled for a while then it was time for Alexa and Avery to get dressed for soccer practice. Avery’s mother came over to retrieve her. She was carrying a little one in her arm.

Superman’s older brother came and got him when I hadn’t been there long.

It's amazing what some quality time spent with grandchildren can do. Why didn't I think of it earlier?

I wish they didn't live so far away.

THANK YOU ANDY ROONEY

Good philosophy on life from Andy Rooney "I've learned that being kind is more important than being right."

WEEK in REVIEW pretty much

Not much to write about so I copied from my Journals (yes plural)

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

My niece Janette and her family (except Eric who is at CAL POLY) are in town visiting and staying with her brother Michael who lives in Riverton.

Those of us who could, met there for dinner and a visit tonight.

Most all of us brought steak and Michael and Janette’s husband John barbequed them on the back deck.

Janette and I commiserated a lot and I think we are good for each other.

Those there were Michael and his two boys Ryan and Matt; Janette, John, Nina, Adam and Kate, Christina and her two girls Kiera (sp) and (oops I forgot the little one’s name). Brent and Linda and Judy and me. Also Janette’s mother’s sister. (Kathleen?)

I think having the connection with her mother’s sister(s) helps give her a connection. Janette’s mother is dead and she has no relationship with her father.

I think I am a substitute for her father and am proud to be so.

Friday, April 22, 2011

About mid afternoon, I started having pains in my chest. It was not the first time I have had this, but I decided they were bad enough and long lasting enough that I went into the emergency room as a precaution. I was there for around two hours until around 11:30 p.m. (I think). The electrocardiogram was near normal and the blood work was excellent but because of my age (67) and my sex (male) and the fact I am diabetic and have high blood pressure they want me to have a stress test.

My blood pressure was quite elevated; so much so that went “Ryan” stuck the IV in my arm, blood squirted out all over the place. He spent several minutes cleaning it up.

(Two days later I am still forgetting to call and make an appointment for the stress test.)

Earlier in the day, Rocky White (mostly) and I took the bed frame over to his house and he did a two step lacquer job on it. It looks wonderful. Rocky and half the neighborhood commented on how good it looks and how good a job Corey and Rocky did on it.

I think Corey and Rocky have developed a good relationship.

Rocky is a painter by trade and our high priest group leader. He only lives a few doors away around the corner.

Saturday, April, 23, 2011

Today was our Easter because half the family are going over to their in-laws tomorrow.

Most of us went over to the pool for a dip after eating . The walk over there about did me in but I was fine in the pool even chasing and being chased by grandchildren.

After we were finished, Greg drove his truck around and he and Corey put the bed pieces in the back and drove to Corey and Stacey’s, hauled it up stairs and around several corners; into their bedroom and put it together.

Thank you Greg (and thank you Niki for giving up your husband for several hours.)

Sunday, April 24, 2011

I made it through all three hours of church though I was a little bummed out before it was over. I was tempted to go home after Sacrament Meeting as I often do; Judy even asked me if I wanted to, but I stuck it out.

Pretty much a lazy day.

THE CAT is OUT of THE BAG

Sunday, April 17, 2011 Yesterday Corey called and asked if I had the van. (Jim and I are forever switching cars.) I said I did and he asked if I would meet them (Corey, Jayden and Bailey) at Home Depot. He said he was going to make a new bed frame for Stacey for their anniversary which is coming up this Friday. Corey looked up the plans for the bed on the Internet. He made a paper list but also looked it up on the Internet on my new fancy phone. We bought everything he needed to start the project and came to our house and started cutting and sanding etc in our garage. Jayden took over the job of sanding and did a really good job of it and went on for hours without complaint. He helped with the drilling and screwing with the power drill too. We worked pretty late last night without eating and by the time we quite I was quite shaky. Corey made the kids vow not to tell Stacey anything. Jayden and Corey came over again early this afternoon and worked on it again. Stacey kept calling wondering where they were and what they were doing. The last I heard, it sounded like they felt they might have to tell her that they were doing something for their anniversary but not say what it is. Monday, 18 April, 2011 At around noon, Stacey sent me a text message asking me to "take a picture of the bed Corey is working on in your garage and send it to Corey's or my phone." I assumed at that point Corey or one of the kids gave in and told her. I texted her back and said, (not lying) "I can't, I haven't figured out how to do it on my new phone yet." She immediately texted me back saying, "That's OK. You just confirmed my suspicions." She and Corey were at lunch together before she started her shift. I can't remember if it was Sunday night or what, but, Stacey was lying in bed and Jayden and Bailey were lying with her. Corey was downstairs working on the computer when suddenly it hit her. (He had shown her the bed on the Internet a couple of weeks before.) She bolted up into a sitting position and half shouted, "He's making me a bed isn't he?" The kids panicked. Stacey started to get out of bed to confront Corey. Bailey whispered to Jayden in a voice loud enough that Stacey could hear, "The bird is out of the cage!" (?) Jayden jumped on top of Stacey so she couldn't get out of bed and Bailey ran downstairs to tell Corey the news.