Two Days

It is that time. The kids will be home in two days.  Well, technically we are now less than two days but it is currently Sunday and their plane lands at 7:30 in the morning on Tuesday.  That is wonderful.  Between now and then I will be in a family meeting, a system check at the restaurant, driving across the desert to Southern California, hopefully hitting the beach for a bit, sleeping at a hotel (just booked and very thankful as I cannot handle sleeping in the car in the parking garage at the airport again, miserable) and then over to the airport to pick them up. At some point in there I will need to eat and whatever.  It should be a busy 30+ hours but it will be a good 30+ hours.  I am excited to have the kids come home.  I certainly didn't accomplish everything I wanted to for them here around the house but we got a pretty good jump on things.  I am sure they will be excited for some of the changes and hopefully all of them. 

Surprise Party

Today Jim came to town and he, Dave, mom and I headed up to Springville to participate in a surprise party for Jay who turns 40 tomorrow.  We enjoyed a fine meal of bbq burgers. Laura and Nigel also came down and brought their Snow cone machine and we all enjoyed snow cones. Then Jay, Jim, Nigel, Dave and I went up the canyon and played 9 holes of golf. It was a great course and I believe we should go and play it again.  Anyhow, happy birthday Jay!

Roofing

I finally got to laying asphalt shingles on my little shed thing. It was hot and I was dripping sweat but it was good to be up there. It is not easy to kneel on hot roofing felt and it was definitely hot today.  Unfortunately I under estimated the amount of shingles so I didn't get finished. I probably won't be back up there until next week. I'm sure I'll have a couple of boys that will want to be up there with me. That will be good, I'll have to put them to work.  I am certain there are some details I have missed with this little project but hopefully it will do the job just fine. 

Made a run to the temple this afternoon. I am grateful to be able to go and serve there. I want to keep going as much as possible when the kids come home. It would be good to take them with me. Need to start finding names to take.

Saw the new Bourne movie tonight. Loved it. That is one of my favorite series.

Carrot Cake

Had a gal come into the shop today and asked if we had our gluten free carrot cake. Christa let her know we did not and then she went on about how it was her daughters birthday, how she is gluten intolerant and how she loves our carrot cake. She wanted to know when we would have more and Christa turned to me. I didn't commit to anything and when she kept pressing I said we could take down her Info and call her when we had more.  She then dropped that her daughter is a former employee. I had to ask who. Kayla. Well I went and got everything I needed, put off a few other things and knocked out a batch of gluten free carrot cake. One of our employees asked what I was making and when I told her she said people say it is the best thing we make. It is good and people love it but I don't know if it is the best. It does fill the kitchen with an amazing aroma when it bakes. 

Night Ride

I took a ride tonight around the East bench trail. I think that's the name of the trail. It was a great ride. I was on my way over to the trail riding up main when I saw something slowly flying across the sky. It was a meteor shower of sorts. I continued on and hit the trail. It was excellent. I stopped riding the trail at 200 South and then turned towards home. I will do it again and carry on further down the trail. It makes for a good bike ride.

My Toes!

Working on wrapping up several projects at the moment. It was a busy day. Made a run out to the dump this morning. Apparently something I put on the trailer housed wasps because I stirred up the nest. That made tying down the load eventful.  If the neighbors were watching they enjoyed a few highlight worthy dance moves on my part as I was trying to avoid wasps. They were pretty fired up but somehow I managed.  The dump was the dump. It smelled wonderful as it always does.  I suppose I should refer to the dump by its proper name, the landfill. 

With the trailer empty I ran over to the home depot to pick up a few items I needed to finish up some things.  I have roofing to do, a shelf to cut and install, a bed board to cut, paint and install, some concrete to pour, and we still need to finish the backsplashes on the counters. There is plenty to do.  I got the shelf and bed board cut and installed. Jack's bed is done and heald me up with no problem so I think it will work great. 

It was looking as if we could get hit by a thunderstorm so I was trying to cover the bags of concrete I had purchased. While doing so I had a board slip and it dropped a couple of feet and chopped my toes.  It didn't chop them off, just came down on them in a chopping manner. Holy cow, that hurt like crazy. It gave me a healthy respect for steel toed shoes. My toes are hurting right now just thinking about it.

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Painting

I went about painting the bed I have built for Jack today. I masked everything off and sanded everything and then picked up this cool oil rubbed bronze metallic paint. I thought it would give us a steam engine feel for this train inspired room.  It wasn't the easiest paint job but hopefully i44t will do the trick.  I was going to move down the mattress board and matters later only to find the board didn't fit the space i constructed for the mattress. I then realized that I had measured incorrectly and suddenly I got quite nervous that my efforts were in vain and I would have to make serious adjustments.  Luckily the mattress is a half an inch smaller than the space.  Breathe easy my friends. All is well.

Temple Walk

This evening I took a walk to the temple.  It was a late evening walk but it was a good one. I was walking down a street and looked to the right and suddenly I could see the temple. The sun had gone down and I wasn't expecting to have a great view of the temple but found it glowing there. Eventually I made it around to Cove drive and walked to the front gate.  What a magnificent structure. I was surprised to see they had put in curbs already for the driveways and parking on the grounds. They also had light poles installed on the grounds. They were not yet functioning. The glow was reflected light from a spotlight coming off the construction office.  I am grateful for this temple being built and I look forward to it's dedication in the years to come. I did have the thought that Sunday afternoon temple walks would be a good activity on the Sabbath with the kids.  I like that no matter which route we take to get there we have to walk uphill and it will take effort. So it is in life as we prepare to go to the temple. It takes effort to get there. I am grateful for temples on the earth and for being able to serve there. I am excited for this Cedar City temple and love to see the progress being made

It was Closed

Made a run down to the temple tonight. It was closed. I walked around and sat, pondered and enjoyed the grounds.

Trek Yourself

I bought Natty a sweet shirt at Christmas that has Spock on the front as says something like 'Trek Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself'.  Something like that anyway.  I liked it so much that Christmas was actually the second she got that particular shirt. Sometimes little details get lost and forgotten.  Anyway, not forgotten are the growing up years when I got to go see Star Trek II with pops as well as other star trek movies.  Pops is a big fan. Well tonight was a blast from the past and this time it was my treat.  We both enjoyed the movie.  I have quite enjoyed the series with Chris Pine as Kirk.  I definitely recommend this movie.

Glossy Tops

Last night Dan and I put on the first coat of epoxy on the concrete countertops. This morning it was time to put on the second coat.  The epoxy has quite the shine and it is super glossy. The second coat will need to cure for a few days. We are going to do the back splashes at the beginning of next week. I think it is looking pretty fantastic.

Building a Bed

Jack is going to be moving downstairs and into his own room when the kids get home. Part of our design for him moving into the basement room is to have an elevated bed that will allow him ample space beneath it for trains.  I came up with a plan for what to do and put it together.  This picture is not a completed project but it is closer. I sent a picture to the kids and Natty said Jack is excited about.  Hopefully I can pull off everything I need to before the kids get home.

Switching Schools

I believe I am going to switch schools.  I love SUU and have certainly enjoyed my time there.  I believe it is a wonderful institution. Unfortunately for the degree I want to get I am looking at a solid 4 years of schooling from right now.  That is a bit depressing.  I am actually looking at Western Governors University.  It is an online school that Dan actually just graduated from.  It appears that the way they are set up would allow me to speed up the time I would need to be in school significantly.  It is a self paced program but the semesters are 6 months long and as many classes as you can complete in that time is completely fine. I don't know how well I will do at something like that but it is worth checking out and seeing if I can't get done a couple years earlier than planned.  They offer a bachelors in Special Education which is what I want to do.  It will be combined with and Elementary Education degree.  I think it should be an adventure and I am looking forward to getting started.  I had a interview on the phone today and it looks like I can get started with them on the 1st of September.  Wow.  This might be a crazy route to take but I am hopeful.

That Was a Hug

There was another message I needed to share yesterday and so I did not relay a story about a letter the Bishop showed me before Ward Council.  As we were going into the room for the meeting the Bishop invited me to his office and handed me a letter he had received.  It was from Ralph McAffee and it was titled JACK.  My kids have been gone since the 4th of June so I might be slightly emotional as I think about them and miss having them at home.  Anyway, the Bishop asked me to look at it quickly and let him know if it was okay for him to share it with the Ward Council.  I sat in the back of the room for Ward Council and started reading this letter.  Ralph serves as the Primary Chorister and for the last year or so he has observed Jack who really struggles with sharing time as it can be a little noisy and a little, I don't want to say chaotic like it is out of control because it isn't but for a boy with autism that struggles with certain things it can be chaotic and difficult to endure.  I would like to secure a copy of this letter for myself so I can include it in this blog word for word but for now I will paraphrase. 

Ralph talked about being the Primary Chorister and how he has observed Jack and watched as he has had no interest in singing the songs, how he struggles to sit in the meeting and how he sometimes walks around the back of the room.  He shared that through his observations he figures that Jack was a little slow and possibly had some sort of mental disorder.  He talked about how overtime Jack had started singing the songs and participating more. When Jack turned twelve and became a Deacon he no longer attended sharing time but Ralph continued to watch and observe and nurture his relationship with Jack.  When Jack spoke in church on mothers day (that talk is included on the blog from mothers day if you would like to read it) he talked about his autism and Ralph then obviously connected the dots with his observations.  Ralph then shared an experience he had one Sunday when Jack was passing the Sacrament. 

Let me start this next part by interjecting some of my own observations with Jack passing the Sacrament that bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart.  I love to see him participate in this ordinance, it makes me proud as a father.  I always watch as the Sacrament hymn ends and the Deacons go and line up by the Sacrament table.  Jack always takes the same spot on the back row so that he can serve to the section he is assigned.  As he takes his position in line he folds his arms and then he lets out a monstrous yawn as he goes to bow his head for the prayer.  The yawn is not audible but very much noticeable and it makes me chuckle inside, every time. 

Okay, so Ralph was sharing how on this one particular Sunday he and Sister McAffee were sitting in the section Jack passes to.  He said that as Jack passed him the bread he took it and then quietly whispered "thank you".  Jack smiled. Then Ralph said that something happened that he had never before experienced during the Sacrament. When Jack returned with the water he held the tray and served it from his left hand and then he leaned in and put his right arm around Ralph and gave him a hug and quietly said "That was a hug".  It was a special little moment that touched hearts. 

As I read that letter I was filled with gratitude for the good people in my life.  Good people that make a difference in my life and in the life of my family.  I am grateful for Ralph and for the good man that he is.  I am sure it was frustrating for him to have this older boy in the primary up walking around and not singing when he was trying to do his calling but he just loved Jack anyway and Jack loved him back.  There are times when I worry about how people will react to some of the strange things Jack sometimes does but I have learned that the large majority of people who meet Jack end up loving him.

And so I don't leave anyone wondering what happened with the letter and the Ward Council.  I returned the letter to the Bishop and told him I had no problem with him sharing it.  He planned to do so but we ran out of time.  He did mention it and said he would share it in our next meeting.  I'll look forward to hearing the story again. 

Battling Pornography

A few weeks ago I was having a conversation with our computer guys about protecting my home from pornography on the internet.  We don't have an issue with that in my home and I don't want my kids accidentally exposed to things of that nature so I was working on some protective measures.  Google, Yahoo and other search engines offer protections that can be easily put in place to block adult content and lock it out from your computer.  I have taken those measures. It doesn't take long to put them into place.

In that conversation we ended up discussing a few different things and the computer guy shared with me some thoughts shared with him by his Bishop.  His Bishop no longer asks the youth in his ward if they have seen pornography but rather asks them when the last time they looked at pornography was. The Bishop said they all do it and this quickly opens the door and puts the issue on the table and the youth are more open about it.  That particular comment took me by surprise and it made me think about my own life and battling pornography.

As I pondered the subject a few weeks ago I felt like it was something I should address here but I didn't really want to.  The thought has stuck with me over the last few weeks and I've continued to put it off.  Today we had a lesson in Elder's Quorum that addressed acting on promptings and at that moment in the lesson I knew I had to act and write this post.  Sharing my own personal struggles with pornography is not something I have ever shared with anyone and is not something I do lightly. Saying that I have personal struggles with pornography may lead one to believe that I am an addict and that I am constantly looking at it.  This is not the case.  In my nearly 43 years of life I have had 6 encounters with pornography that I can remember.  The scary part is that two of these happened before I was 11 years old, one when I was 17, one when I was 27, once at the age of 31 and then one more time when I was 35.  That sounds disturbing but before you assume the worst of me let me share the encounters and how I handled things.

I was 9 years old and was across the street with a neighbor friend and one other friend of mine. We were up in my friends room and he pulled out a magazine.  I didn't know what it was but as soon as I started looking at pictures of naked women I found it very difficult to turn away.  The fact that I was 9 is not lost on me as I think about my son Andy who is 9 right now.  I would never think that he would be exposed to pornography and yet it happens and that is scary.  I didn't know how to deal with it, I didn't want to tell my parents what had happened and I did not. That was probably not the best decision but I was afraid. In my mind there were certain things happening, it was pleasurable but disturbing at the same time.

A year later we had some new neighbors move in across the street and next door to my friend.  I had not seen any additional pornography since that first encounter until one day I was playing with this new friend across the street.  We went down to his basement and there next to a chair was a stack with what seemed like hundreds of pornographic magazines.  There were more stacked in another pile.  This new friend told me I could look at it as much as I would like.  Unfortunately I was not very strong as a 10 year old boy and I looked.  There is a powerful draw in pornography that makes it hard to turn away from and I was not equipped to turn away at the time.

I look back at that time and think how sad it was that twice before the age of 11 I was exposed to pornography. It is real, it is powerful and it is destructive.  Fortunately that was the end of that struggle for the next 7 years.  In 1990 we moved from Hawaii to Carson City, Nevada and lived in a home on Overland Drive. This home was set on a large lot with a big open lot next to the house.  It was covered in Sagebrush and dirt.  I was out exploring there when I happened across a Playboy magazine just sitting there.  I would like to say that I had built up serious defenses in the 7 years since my last encounter but I had not.  The worst part in this encounter was that the magazine was now in my possession and I could look at it when I wanted to. I had a little hiding place for it and would sometimes go and look at it.  This was self destructive behavior and I am certainly not proud to report that I engaged in it.  Somehow, someway that magazine disappeared. It wasn't kept in the house and I don't know who found it or what happened but I am forever grateful that it was gone.

At some point in the next year or so my mother gave a lesson in our weekly Family Home Evening that changed my life.  She shared a talk by one of my favorite youth speakers Jack R. Christianson that he titled Spiritual Winners.  For me this talk was pure gold.  He shares the story of Joseph who was sold into Egypt and his encounters with Potiphar's wife.  When she came to Joseph and wanted him to lay with her he fled and got him out.  The message that Jack shared was that spiritual winners run from anything that will destroy them.  I wanted to win spiritually and I would run from anything that would destroy me, especially pornography.  I had a desire and in that desire I found great strength.

When I was 27 and a new father for the first time I worked for my dad in an office in Las Vegas.  It was usually just me in this office.  The internet was now around, it wasn't a thing during my first three encounters with pornography.  We were living in a one bedroom apartment at the time and started thinking about buying a home.  There was a program on TV that showcased several homes in the valley and talked about how they had many listings available to look at on their website.  I thought I had copied the web address down correctly but when I typed it in to my computer at work it took me directly to a pornographic website.  I was shocked and couldn't believe what had happened.  My reaction was quick and decisive and I reached for the main power button on this power platform that the computer plugged into and I flipped the switch. It was the fastest way I could figure to run and get me out.  I wasn't going to have pornography control me and I fled. I have often reflected on this moment.  I was there in my office by myself.  No one would be coming in to see me, no one would have ever known if I just engaged in looking at the content of that website. It would have been so easy but this time I was stronger and I knew what I was going to do when confronted by pornography and that made the battle easy.

In 2005 I moved my family to Florida and began working as a General Manager over a couple of air conditioning stores.  I was given a desk and a computer that belonged to the previous manager.  All was well until I turned on that computer.  With no warning pornographic images would pop up on the screen.  Apparently the previous manager had a problem with pornography and had no qualms about using the work computer to feed his addiction.  I had made a decision that pornography would not be part of my life.  I shut down that computer more than once.  I contacted the company computer guy and he had me load software that was supposed to clean up the computer. It didn't work and I was frustrated with it.  How could the company expect me to work on a computer that was loaded with pornography?  I wasn't having it so I went out and bought myself a computer out of my own pocket.  It was a laptop and it ran me $1300.  They were a bit more expensive back in those days.  I didn't regret that purchase for a second and I used that computer for at least a year before the company decided they could buy me a new computer.  I had made a decision and I was not going to compromise my standards.

In 2008 we moved into an older home in Lakeland. We were going about fixing some things up and one of the things I was doing was clearing out some attic space over the garage.  The previous owners had left a lot of stuff up there and when I began moving things around I found multiple boxes filled with pornographic magazines.  It was pretty disturbing and difficult to understand why someone would save years and years of these magazines.  Regardless, we removed the boxes from the attic and took them directly out to the trash.  I don't know if anyone drove by at night and sifted through the garbage only to find these magazines.  I hope they simply went directly to the dump.  I'm pretty sure we taped up the boxes when we pulled them down.  In any case, I had found myself alone in the attic with boxes of pornography in front of me.  I was not tempted at all to look at these magazines and only wanted them out of my life as quickly as possible.  Why? For me it is simple, I want to be a spiritual winner, I want to live my life so that I am worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost and I am prepared and determined to run from anything that will destroy me.

Pornography is a powerful tool.  I see it often referred to as the new drug.  I have never done drugs so I don't know what it is like to be addicted to certain chemicals but I have felt what it is like to crave pornography. I have felt its addictive nature in my life.  I don't know exactly how I was spared from falling further into that vice but I was and I am forever grateful.  I certainly wish that I had been stronger and braver as a 9 year old but I cannot change what happened to me.  I can say however that we have the power to stop looking at pornography. We can battle those cravings and that appetite and we can win.

I attended a special adult fireside in the Lakeland Stake years ago and listened to a man from LDS Social Services speak about pornography. I have shared impressions from this talk previously but will discuss it briefly now as it relates to this topic.  Alma teaches his son Corianton a powerful lesson about repentance and forsaking sin and in Alma 39:9 he invites Corianton to cross himself. Here is the verse:

Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of our eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.  Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things.  

This brother went on to teach us about crossing yourself in relation to addiction and pornography.  On a chalkboard he drew a circle in the middle and labelled it the violation.  This could be anything that we do wrong - pornography, drugs, sexual sin - pretty much any violation of God's laws can be applied.  Around this violation he began making dashes that surrounded it.  Then he added dashes that surround the first dashes and so on until he had built out several layers of dashes.  The dashes he labeled crossings and taught us about this verse in Alma 39.  The crossings are actually steps that lead up to the violation with the innermost crossings being what was done right before the violation.  The set of dashes beyond the innermost represented what was done right before the next set of crossings.  Each layer of crossings represent the thing done prior to the crossings inside of them.  The idea here is that you begin to recognize patterns and to understand what it is you do that leads you towards a violation.  As you know what to look for you can take measures to stop yourself from progressing towards the violation.  You have to look, you have to reflect, you have to understand and you have to have a plan and then be willing to act.  I believe this is a powerful tool in crossing yourself and battling pornography or anything else you may be struggling with.

Pornography is real and it is invasive and it does not care who you are, how old you are or how innocent you might have been.  The adversary is seeking to destroy us and is very subtle and very crafty.  We have to prepare ourselves to be strong, to be battle ready and to know what to do when we encounter pornography.  I have shared some things with my children relative to avoiding pornography but I need to do a better job at helping to equip them with the strength to run from anything that will destroy them.  I know it can be done and I know that the Lord will strengthen us in our righteous desires.  I am ever grateful for the strength He has given me.         

Relaxing

No longer relaxing... now I am titling this swearing.  Sometimes I swear.  Hell and damn are my two favorites because they are not considered swears in South Africa and since I served a mission in the RSA I consider hell and damn as my mission language.  Anyhow, I had just written a great piece on my relaxing day and temple trip only to hit the wrong button and have all content lost.  That kind of a thing can induce swearing and it did.  I very nearly did the same damn thing which would have been a much more audible swear word rather than a whisper.  Anyhow, my relaxing day was pretty damn fantastic. Hell, that pretty much sums it up.

The Shoes

I reached my limits with this car painting thing. I wet sanded again this morning and got everything cleaned and ready for paint.  I have been wrestling with which way to go and decided to make it happen with rattle cans.  It actually worked out pretty well and I think the car is going to look good.  Unfortunately I didn't take proper precautions when it came to my favorite blue shoes. Hopefully I can clean them up.

Rubber Shrimp

I found some old shrimp in the freezer at the shop. This is a raw jumbo shrimp that was purchased at Costco and is not a style that we have ever served our customers. We do serve a coconut crusted shrimp that is quite good, these were not those. I looked on the bag and the best if you used by date was December 5th, 2014.  These shrimp have been down in that freezer for some time, probably because we do not serve this item.  I thought since they were frozen they would be fine so I defrosted and grilled some.  I managed to get a good flavor as I grilled them in the garlic butter we use to top steaks. The only problem, I  could have bounced them off the floor.  Rubbery shrimp is not my favorite. I don't know if I cooked them to long or if they were really just that old.  I tried cooking more but did so with lemon pepper seasoning. Um, that is not a good combination with shrimp.  At one point in my life I enjoyed lemon pepper, I am no longer at that point in my life. It was difficult getting past the lemon pepper. I struck out again and decided to quit on the old shrimp.  Is there really something to best if used by dates or is it hogwash for items like certain canned or frozen foods?  I didn't psyche myself out about the date, some employees thought it was gross but I wasn't bothered. Well, bouncing it off the floor and catching it in my mouth on the rebound was a bit much.  Well, wonderful day.  Time to sleep. 

Topped

The countertops have been installed and are looking good. There are still backsplashes that need to be poured and installed. This has been a fun little I project.  Dan and Sam did a nice job on these counters. Epoxy comes in on Monday and once that is done the countertops will have a nice dark shine. It is going to be sharp when it is done. 

I am trying to get the car ready for paint. I wet sanded and cleaned it the best I could. I've got to decide what to do for paint.  It is close.  I've got to get through a few more projects. I may have too much going on right now. 

Counters

We are changing out the counters in the kitchen. Dan and Sam are making concrete countertops. They are about ready to install. That is going to happen tomorrow. Today I tore out old countertops and was going to repair some drawers only to find it impossible to use the new hardware I purchased unless I built new drawers.  I decided to just go buy a new one and then installed it. There are a few challenges matching up the cabinets but it is going to have to do. Hopefully it is going to all work out and look sweet

Hank

I went on a date tonight with the ever lovely Missy M.  We went to the Neil Simon festival and enjoyed Hank Williams.  I was unawares of his story. It was a good performance and certainly worthy. 

Do I Believe?

The talks in sacrament meeting today were on the conference talk by Sister Oscarson from the last conference titled Do I Believe.  Riley and Autumn Brown spoke and did a wonderful job, it was a powerful meeting and I felt well fed spiritually.  I reflected on some things during the meeting related to the messages shared.  Sometimes in life we find ourselves in trying times.  Our world's my be crumbling around us or we experience loss or something else that tries our souls.  How do we press forward with faith in the most difficult times? I don't know how we make it through these times other than we press forward and do the very best that we can.  Grateful for a loving Father in heaven who knows our needs.

Morning in Ashdown

This morning I went out hiking in Ashdown Gorge with my friend Karry and her trusty dog Toby. It was a great hike and is one of my favorites in this area.  I have included a picture of a car that at some point in the past went off the highway and crashed into the river. There was a second car 20 feet away.  Anyway, we got back to the arch and then back further to a horseshoe bend in the canyon. Holy cow, I am so tired.  I need to call it a day.  Must rest.

Open Shed

I took down an old play house in the back yard beginning at the end of May and into June.  It was old and worn down.  My kids no longer played on it and it was really becoming a major splinter waiting to happen.  Jay built this thing and he built it well using some great screws.  I determined that I would use as much of the wood as I could and reuse the screws that were still good to build a shed of sorts on the side of the house.  It has been a bit of a process with a lot of dirt removal, building forms and pouring concrete footings, installing support posts and then framing up this thing.  I didn't sit down and draw out plans I just had in my head what I was going to do.  Things have come together quite well and I am nearly done.  I bought the sheeting for the roof today and had hoped to get them on but have to sure up some of the roof supports first.  Some of what I had in my head has created a few challenges but I have successfully worked through everything and it is coming together nicely.  I have tried to keep expenses to a minimum and have been able to use play house wood for the most part.  There are some boards that I had to use new plus the roofing sheets are all new.  I had to buy some hardware for the project as well.  It is coming together.  Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get the sheeting up on the roof.  I will still need to lay paper and shingle it.  This project is far from perfect.  I opted to use a tall support beam in a key area that was part of the playhouse.  This was a 4 by 6 beam and it was severely twisted and warped.  I figured I could make it work and I did but it has thrown my square out of whack.  It is okay and it will be fine when I get the roof on.  It created more work and would have been better to buy a new beam but this one is working and will be fine so long as I don't sit and study it too long and let some OCD kick in.  Now I will need to replace the gate that comes into to that side of the yard.  It is in bad shape and just needs an upgrade and I will want it to be a bit more secure since I will be storing some equipment in this open air shed.  Is there such a thing as an open air shed?  There is at my house.  I've learned a lot in this project and have some working knowledge now on how to build a patio cover when I remove the pine tree in the back yard.  The shade that thing provides is fantastic but the pine needles, pine cones and sap are just a mess not to mention the potential for it to get taken out in a wind storm which would be devastating for what ever house it would end up hitting.  Well, fun times, fun projects, fun learning experiences. 

They Should Pay

Tonight there are police officers being shot in an ambush in Dallas at a Black Lives Matters protest.  The protest was peaceful and in reaction to two killings this week of black men by police.  I think they were black men, I only heard these stories on the radio today and don't know much about them.  One was in Minnesota and the other in Louisiana.  Both appear to be unjustified force by police.  Also in the last couple of days we learned from the FBI that Hillary Clinton is basically guilty of everything she has been investigated for but they are not going to prosecute.  So, my opinion doesn't count for all that much in this world and I don't usually weigh in on these kinds of issues but my simple take is this, if someone is breaking a law they should suffer the consequence.  No one person is above the law be that Hillary Clinton or any other politician of government official, be it Donald Trump or any other business man, be it a police officer in Minnesota or Louisiana shooting and killing someone or snipers on a roof in Dallas shooting police officers.  It doesn't matter who you are or what your stature is if you break the law you should be punished accordingly.  Sad for so many people here.  Sad for the families of the officers killed, the families of the two black men killed this week, sad for the American people who have been force fed a criminal for a presidential candidate that has been found above the law.  I think there is a big divide in this country on which lives matter more, black lives or police lives or all lives.  I tend to believe that all lives matter and if someone is trespassed against unlawfully the offender should make reconciliation, they should pay. 

Poppins

I went to the Utah Shakespeare Festival production of Mary Poppins today and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I didn't know what to expect and wondered if it would basically be the movie. There were definitely a lot of similarities and there were also some unique features in this play. They did a great job.  I would highly recommend it.

Wiped Out

That early day yesterday wiped me out today.  I got up and went to work outside finishing the trampoline assembly and then continued moving earth where the trampoline will be going.  I think I am nearly there as far as being level. Still have to build the retaining wall and move a lot of dirt.  I ran in to the shop for awhile and then later tonight went to Shakespeare and watched Henry V.  It was actually very good.  I would recommend it for sure.  I tried to secure a date for that but was unsuccessful.  Anyway, I've got a bit of a headache tonight.  Hopefully some rest will provide relief.

Early Independence

From the title I suppose I could write of the early days of our nations independence but I am actually writing about rolling out of bed at 4:45 this morning and heading off to help set up and cook breakfast for the 8th ward.  Oh my goodness that was an early start to my 4th of July.  I was asked a couple weeks ago to serve on the committee for this breakfast.  It was good.  This was our first year doing the breakfast since our ward was formed 5 years ago.  We ended up having a great turnout and the food was good.  We served pancakes, breakfast burritos filled with dutch oven mountain man, and fruit.  It was well received.  I was running off of less than 4 hours of sleep and managed to make it through the day just fine on that little of sleep until I took a little nap in the early evening.  That was nice.  I probably could have slept through the night but it is independence day and there were fireworks to be seen and I had dishes from the breakfast that needed to be done. I spent a bit of time at the Brick House getting things cleaned up and put away. Other festivities of the day included having the fam over here for lunch.  I didn't have to cook that so that was nice.  I didn't dare sit down figuring I would easily fall asleep.  We had a good time and I was able to give Donovan Jack the bike and karate outfit that Andy passed down to him.  He was happy with it and so am I.  Grateful for this day of independence and grateful for the many blessings that this provides. 

Earthy

We had a little family dinner tonight at the folks with Jim and Fam, Laura and fam, Dave and fam, Amy and fam, the folks and myself.  It was a Hawaiian meal which is always a favorite.  I was assigned rice and think I pretty well nailed it.  Anyway, it was a good time. 

Part of the evening festivities included an ice cream making contest.  There were four entries.  Laura made two of them that included a mint chocolate chip/oreo cookie thing and also a vanilla entry.  Jim entered a chunky monkey banana ice cream thing.  I entered a pistachio ice cream.  I have never made a pistachio ice cream so I found and followed a recipe I found on line. It turned out okay in a very earthy kind of way.  It was think, it was chunky and it wasn't super sweet.  I guess it has potential but it would definitely need some adjusting before I try that again. 

Anyhow, we had some fun tonight.  It was good to be hanging out with family. 

 

Trips

Started the day off with a drive down to St. George so I could get a temple trip in.  I did some initiatory work and was thrilled to see my friend Guy Gilespe when I first walked inside.  Then I saw Dale Orton in the Initiatory room, he was the coordinator.  On my way out I saw his wife Neta Orton and I saw my dear friend Doug Maxwell.  The work itself was wonderful and I enjoyed the spirit of the ordinance.  I focused on those I was proxy for and felt to rejoice for them in the work that was being done on their behalf.  I did not have some overwhelming spiritual experience but just felt joy in the work.  It was good. 

Family is in town for the 4th of July weekend.  Jim and Clo are up with Kathryn, Clayton is already here and they also brought a friend of Kathryn's - I think her name is Sabrina.  Anyhow, they are staying with me.  Laura and Nigel and the kids are up and Donny saw a picture of Dan holding a fish and determined that he wanted to go fishing.  This afternoon we went on a little fishing trip up at the Lake on the Hill.  I never catch anything in that lake but I also learned that my outfit was a bit screwy.  There were things that I combined which simply don't make sense.  They made perfect sense to me in that I could cast them out a ways and then reel them in.  Well, I had my line break on my original reel.  That line is well over 10 years old and is pretty tired.  I will need to add new line to that reel and also have the other reel I won that could have line added.  Fun stuff.  None of us managed to catch anything.  I did drop my hook in the mouth of a large dead fish sitting on the rocks.  It was heavy but it was good for a quick pic and Donny got to hold the rod and feel a big dead fish on the line.

We had an adult dinner trip at the Chili's. It was my first time at the Cedar City Chili's.  I enjoyed the company I was with and I enjoyed the chips and salsa.  I purchased a chicken burrito and it was not my favorite.  I only got through half of it.  Clayton actually just finished the rest of it.  I was happy to share it. 

Finally, I made a trip to the store to purchase some goodies for an Ice Cream making challenge that has come about for tomorrow.  That is exciting. I am going to make a Pistachio Ice Cream which is one of my favorite kinds.  If I was truly crafty I would make spumoni but I am not that crafty.  I can eat ice cream like a champ but making it is another story.  We will see how this turns out.

It was a fine day. 

Behind All Day

I somehow spent too much time out working the yard over.  I am trying to get the old playhouse corner converted into trampoline corner but there are some things I want to do that are making it take more time.  No need to rush it though I was hoping to have it done and operational by the fourth.  That is going to be difficult.  I can likely get the trampoline set up and temporarily put in the corner but there is a lot more to do in that corner before it is ready to more permanently house the trampoline.  If I can pull off what I envision then it should look pretty sweet.  Anyway, when I came in from my morning project I found that it was afternoon, in fact it was one.  My goal today was to get some deposit work done and then head to to Saint George to first go to the temple and then go over to a Mystery Room establishment for a little birthday party for Stephanie Leko.  It was a pretty cool place.  We got locked in a room and had to figure out clues in order to get out.  Our room was a Leonardo DaVinci  themed room and puzzle.  The goal was to get out of the room which meant we had to find codes and clues that would lead us towards more clues and towards success.  It was a good time.  We just barely missed the cut off time.  Well, fun day.  I am beat and ready to go to bed.  Grateful for friends and celebrations of birthdays.