I thought I would share a story from Dad that I heard for the first time yesterday. We were visiting with some friends, one of whom has spent a lot of time in the South Pacific. We started talking about diving and so I asked Dadif he ever did any scuba diving in Guam. To my surprise he said he had made a hard hat dive! It sounds like it was fairly primitive, the only equipment he had was the helmet, connected to the surface with an air line, with air being pumped to it. Now there wasnt any seal around it, it was kinda like having a bowl over your head and it trapping a big air bubble to breathe in. The dive took place at the end of a loading dock. What was it like? What did you see? I asked thinking maybe there was exotic fish and such. He said all he saw was barbed wire, no fish! I guess we need to remember that the SeeBees went on shore right after the marines " took " the island and the barbed wire was part of the defenses. Anyway, when asked about what he was diving for, thinking that it was maybe to scope out the bottom for planned construction or something technical like that, I was told " We wanted to see if maybe any cases of beer had fallen off the supply ship into the water"! Ahh, now we understand the importance and motivation for the mission!
On a nice summer day Braddock was playing in front of our place with some other kids. Deena was watching him and felt he was starting to play a little too rough for one of the younger kids. So we pick up on their conversation:
Deena: Braddock you need to calm down a little; you are being a little too loud and wild and you are scaring that little boy.
Braddock: Ahhhhhhahahahahach, ( this is my attempt to spell a really long disgusting sigh)
Gramma, when I make the that sound, it means I am tired of hearing that. And I am just tired and I have a Geadache ( spelling is correct).
Deena: Well I think you need to calm down a little, maybe you should come over here and take a rest
Braddock: Ahhhhhhahahahahahach
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Day 3
Finish More, Start Less
If I was in the advice giving mode, which I guess maybe I am, (Deena just reminded me while I was proofreading this to her that I am ALWAYS in the advice giving mode) Finish More, Start Less would be a top contender for the best advice with the fewest words. It applies to all aspects of your life. I was going to expound on this quite a bit but I now think it is best left for you to ponder.
Groud Hogs day this week!! I think we will introduce Dad to the movie this week while he is recouperating from surgery. They say that humor helps healing. Have a great peaceful Sabbath day!
If I was in the advice giving mode, which I guess maybe I am, (Deena just reminded me while I was proofreading this to her that I am ALWAYS in the advice giving mode) Finish More, Start Less would be a top contender for the best advice with the fewest words. It applies to all aspects of your life. I was going to expound on this quite a bit but I now think it is best left for you to ponder.
Groud Hogs day this week!! I think we will introduce Dad to the movie this week while he is recouperating from surgery. They say that humor helps healing. Have a great peaceful Sabbath day!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Day 2
3 cheers for Maria and Deena!! Both read and have committed to doing! Yesterday brought more drama in our lives. I was cleaning out the back porch area, feelin good, my root canal doesnt hurt anymore and my eyeball is still healing. The only physical thing I could complain about ( because I like complaining) is some pain behind my right knee. It was enough to keep me from running, but walking was bearable. So, I was at the dumpster, wanting to get the lid open so I cold put some large items in, the lid is big, but light. It takes a pretty good jump combined with an upward push on the lid to get it to open. First try, didnt quite make it, try harder, co-ordinated push and jump - OUCH ! something gave way in that right knee. I knew I had messed up bad as soon as it happened. I couldn't believe I had just disregarded my delicate knee in my efforts to get the trash out! Ice and elevation and today I can put weight on my leg as long as I keep it straight. Looking into going to Pocatello to see an orthopedic Dr. that Lynn says is the best this side of the Continental Divide. I will keep you updated.
Did I tell you about the dinner I had the night of my big root canal? Deena had made Turkey, Brocolli, Squash and... something else. I couldnr chew anything solid, so, into the Super Duper Blend-Tec Blender!! It came out as an interesting colored paste, and it was actually quite yummy! The only draw back I see to having every meal that way is every bite tastes the same. In fact if I had more teeth problems I could just tell the dentist to rip them out! He would just need to leave a few that I could open my beer bottles with.
I want to share a really cool poem that was written by Sadie Tiller Crawley:
He stood at the crossroads all alone,
The sunlight in his face;
He had no thought for an evil course,
He was set for a manly race.
But the road stretched east and the road stretched west,
And he did not know which road was the best;
So he took the wrong road and it lead him down,
And he lost the race and the victor's crown.
He was caught at last in an angry snare
Because no one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better road.
Another day at the self-same place
A boy with high hopes stood;
He, too, was set for a manly race
He was seeking the things that were good.
And one was there who the roads did know,
And that one showed him the way to go;
So he turned away from the road leading down,
And he won the race and the victor's crown;
He walks today on the highways fair
Because one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better road.
Isn't that good? I want to be that person at the crossroads, that helps show the better way. We all can, with our families, our co-workers, friends, the opportunities present themselves from all areas of our lives. We just need to be courageous, and speak up when we feel the prompting. We also need to be humble enough to listen to others that appear at the crossroads in our lives and give their counsel careful consideration.
Did I tell you about the dinner I had the night of my big root canal? Deena had made Turkey, Brocolli, Squash and... something else. I couldnr chew anything solid, so, into the Super Duper Blend-Tec Blender!! It came out as an interesting colored paste, and it was actually quite yummy! The only draw back I see to having every meal that way is every bite tastes the same. In fact if I had more teeth problems I could just tell the dentist to rip them out! He would just need to leave a few that I could open my beer bottles with.
I want to share a really cool poem that was written by Sadie Tiller Crawley:
He stood at the crossroads all alone,
The sunlight in his face;
He had no thought for an evil course,
He was set for a manly race.
But the road stretched east and the road stretched west,
And he did not know which road was the best;
So he took the wrong road and it lead him down,
And he lost the race and the victor's crown.
He was caught at last in an angry snare
Because no one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better road.
Another day at the self-same place
A boy with high hopes stood;
He, too, was set for a manly race
He was seeking the things that were good.
And one was there who the roads did know,
And that one showed him the way to go;
So he turned away from the road leading down,
And he won the race and the victor's crown;
He walks today on the highways fair
Because one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better road.
Isn't that good? I want to be that person at the crossroads, that helps show the better way. We all can, with our families, our co-workers, friends, the opportunities present themselves from all areas of our lives. We just need to be courageous, and speak up when we feel the prompting. We also need to be humble enough to listen to others that appear at the crossroads in our lives and give their counsel careful consideration.
Friday, January 28, 2011
The first day
Is 31 days days a long time? Well, I guess it depends on the circumstances, if you are waiting to see the kids and grandkids, it’s a long time. If you are training for a half marathon, ( I’m not) then its not much . If you are committing to write in a blog for each of those days, it looks like forever!
I was planning on starting on the 27th, Jake (and Mozarts) birthday, but a late night at the ER and a Dr. Appointment the next day distracted me. I still want to share some of the family history surrounding Jakes birth:
December in Salmon, ID is a beautiful time of year, cold temps, lots of snow, the beautiful Bitterroot mountains. Deena, ( 8 months pregnant) Jessica and I were enjoying the season, although there isn’t much work that time of year so we were pretty short on cash. Deena’s folks invited us up to their place in Rathdrum, ID for Christmas, and we didn’t have to think twice. We loaded up 10 month old Jessica and headed out in our Toyota for the 320 mile drive. The drive up was a bit of a challenge, I remember having to chain up, maybe a couple times to get over the three passes. And I was soaked and chilled! But, we made it and had a great Christmas . Shortly after Christmas Deena had a few episodes of having contractions, so we went in to get checked to make sure all was well. As it turns out the Doc we saw was the same one that delivered Jessica - ! His recommendation – I don’t want to think of you driving over those three mountain passes at this stage in the game, stay here and deliver , then go home. Again, work was slow, so it was OK by me. So we stayed and waited, and waited…. Finally on Jan 27 we went to deliver. It must have been baby time in Idaho because there was no room in the inn, uh, hospital, so Deena went through most of her labor in the hallway. Shortly before delivering, they freed up a delivery room and we were set. Jake arrived at a whopping 8 lbs 3 oz! He was chubby and healthy and we only stayed about another week before we headed back to our cozy home in Salmon.
Jake has done a great job of being the only boy in the family, I guess his dad and his dads dad were the only boys also! I always heard how I needed to get married to carry on the family name, and it irked me at times , especially when very young and I had decided that the only one I would marry was our cat, Toby! I imagine Jake heard a little of that also, and I wonder if it is time to start talking to Ben….
OK, you decided to see what lame ramblings someone like me would have, but now, now, you have stepped into my trap! This is not just a whimsical browsing of the internet for you anymore, because now you will have to commit to something, even if you say you wont, it will eat on you and you will eventually be compelled to act! This is the deal – If I can write everyday for 31 days then you can do something for 31 days also. Something positive, I hope, like floss, or don’t kick the dog, or wear clean underwear, or ………?? It’s up to you, but if I can do it, surely you can. You know of something that you can do, you are thinking of it right now aren’t you? OK, I also challenge you to make it public, by writing about it on this blog. There you have it, we are on our way now! Remember:
Today is the first day of the rest of this blog…
I was planning on starting on the 27th, Jake (and Mozarts) birthday, but a late night at the ER and a Dr. Appointment the next day distracted me. I still want to share some of the family history surrounding Jakes birth:
December in Salmon, ID is a beautiful time of year, cold temps, lots of snow, the beautiful Bitterroot mountains. Deena, ( 8 months pregnant) Jessica and I were enjoying the season, although there isn’t much work that time of year so we were pretty short on cash. Deena’s folks invited us up to their place in Rathdrum, ID for Christmas, and we didn’t have to think twice. We loaded up 10 month old Jessica and headed out in our Toyota for the 320 mile drive. The drive up was a bit of a challenge, I remember having to chain up, maybe a couple times to get over the three passes. And I was soaked and chilled! But, we made it and had a great Christmas . Shortly after Christmas Deena had a few episodes of having contractions, so we went in to get checked to make sure all was well. As it turns out the Doc we saw was the same one that delivered Jessica - ! His recommendation – I don’t want to think of you driving over those three mountain passes at this stage in the game, stay here and deliver , then go home. Again, work was slow, so it was OK by me. So we stayed and waited, and waited…. Finally on Jan 27 we went to deliver. It must have been baby time in Idaho because there was no room in the inn, uh, hospital, so Deena went through most of her labor in the hallway. Shortly before delivering, they freed up a delivery room and we were set. Jake arrived at a whopping 8 lbs 3 oz! He was chubby and healthy and we only stayed about another week before we headed back to our cozy home in Salmon.
Jake has done a great job of being the only boy in the family, I guess his dad and his dads dad were the only boys also! I always heard how I needed to get married to carry on the family name, and it irked me at times , especially when very young and I had decided that the only one I would marry was our cat, Toby! I imagine Jake heard a little of that also, and I wonder if it is time to start talking to Ben….
OK, you decided to see what lame ramblings someone like me would have, but now, now, you have stepped into my trap! This is not just a whimsical browsing of the internet for you anymore, because now you will have to commit to something, even if you say you wont, it will eat on you and you will eventually be compelled to act! This is the deal – If I can write everyday for 31 days then you can do something for 31 days also. Something positive, I hope, like floss, or don’t kick the dog, or wear clean underwear, or ………?? It’s up to you, but if I can do it, surely you can. You know of something that you can do, you are thinking of it right now aren’t you? OK, I also challenge you to make it public, by writing about it on this blog. There you have it, we are on our way now! Remember:
Today is the first day of the rest of this blog…
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