Town Hall

Allergies are kicking my butt this morning. I did not go for my walk and I am not going to do any housework. I am going to watch TV and think about going back to bed.

I went to Senator Orrin Hatch’s town hall meeting last night. Senator Hatch is one of the most powerful men in Washington having been there for 34 years. I was able to express my belief that the founding fathers did not imagine career politicians, and that power corrupts and the D.C. in Washington stands for District of Corruption. I asked the Senator if he would support term limits for congress. That is when it got a little heated. The good senator told me that there were term limits already. My darling bride said she was sure he meant that if didn’t like the guy you could vote him or her out of office. But that is not what was said. After his comment I don’t think I needed the microphone that I was using. I explained that he had been in the senate for 34 years and he was shooting for another 6 years. When the subject of a constitution amendment limiting congressional terms be proposed the good senator in no uncertain terms that he would not waste his time writing a amendment that had no chance of passing. There were a few calls from the audience saying “just write it’ and the answer was “NO”

So it appears that we have a government out of control government in place that will not listen to us and is almost impossible to change. Things that make you go “hummm”

It is a beautiful summer day in northern Utah. The kind of day that makes you glad not to be in an office some place. Spent most of yesterday on a lake with my buddy Nate, We managed to catch our limit of trout. I managed to talk Nate into taking all the fish. It is not that I don’t like fish but I just finished smoking about 15 maybe 20 pounds of trout and salmon and I have plenty for fish. I kept 1/3 of the smoked fish and handed out the other 2/3 to Nate and Jim. The fish was from our last fishing trip to Flaming Gorge.


I slept in a little later then normal this morning and got a late start on my walk. It had warmed up enough that it affected the quality of the walk and I did struggle a little. But I figure if I keep plugging along it will only get better.

I misplaced my to do list which has really worked out for the best. I have forgotten what was on it so I don’t have to do any chores, Makes for a relaxing day.

It is raining and will be raining for the next few days. Parts of the state are flooding or have flooded. I figure it must be global warming (sarcasm that was sarcasm). All in all life is going very well. My buddy Nate just got his boat fixed and wants to go fishing. But it is raining and will be raining for the next few days. So maybe Monday would be good. Tuesday would not be good, I have a doctor’s appointment in the early afternoon and I know if the fish are biting we will not leave the water. Wednesday would also be good; looking at my schedule any day next week would be good except Tuesday.

I took my mom to the hospital today for a yearly treatment for her bones. The bone density test she had a few months ago showed she was at moderate risk for just breaking. This treatment should stop her bone loss. We got done about lunch time and she wanted a burger for lunch. We ended up at the Red Robin and they do put out a tasty burger. The bride and I went out for a little shopping and trying to figure out what to do for date night.

We figured out date night, the bride made hamburgers and French fries. We have a fire in the fireplace and we are watching TV. Maybe we will hit the garage sales in the morning.

One of my three readers has complained that I do not post much anymore. Never really sure if I posted a lot but I have slowed down. I explained that since I retired I have been too busy to spend time on the computer. He expressed some doubt in this fact. He is retiring at the end of September and he'll learn that there is not rest for the retired. I need to turn off the water in the garden so I will sign off now. Only the Lord knows how many tasks will come from just turning off water.

I have not dropped off the face of the earth, but I have been busy. I left on the 9th of May with a couple of buddies and went fishing at Flaming Gorge , left the Gorge on the 12th did laundry and the bride and I headed of Las Vegas s on the 13th. Met up with my buddy of 30 years and his wife, had a wonderful time and lost a lot of money. Came home on the 16th and I took off for Denver to visit my son on the 17th. Got home on the 20th and here I sit. The bride and I did go out with some friends to see a Beatles tribute band (1964 the Tribute) in Salt lake last night. Those guys were very good and put on a great show. Today the bride had decided to tackle the computer / throw anything in there to hide it room. We have made a very large dent in the room and thrown out a lot of stuff that should have been tossed when we hid it in the room. Not much else going on and I don’t plan any more trips until the 16th of July when I leave for Alaska to go fishing.

I had a tough night last night. The dogs woke me up about 1:30 this morning and I could not get back to sleep. I think I am going to survive. Had a great visit with an old friend from our pre retirement days, I had not seen him in a year or so and he bought breakfast. Good visit.

I had a cup of coffee with mom today and again explained to her why she was living in an assisted living center. I know my explanation did not take hold and I will have go over it again, again, and again. I know this must be hard for mom, her dementia continues to worsen. But on the bright side we did see a number of Lazuli Buntings at the bird feeder. Really pretty birds I have only seen them once in my back yard but there was at least three pair at the assisted living center, and that is only a half mile from my house.

Buddy Nate and I attempted fishing at Willard bay and again we were forced to retreat to the sanctuary of the marina. We did manage to last about 10 minutes in the main part of the bay this time. But having waves come over the bow of the boat is not my idea of a really good fishing trip. I figure we should have a good fishing trip starting this Sunday. Nate, Jim and my self head for three days at Flaming gorge. We always have a good time and manage to catch a fish or two along the way. As soon as we get back the bride and I will head to Las Vegas to see my buddy Craig and his wife for the weekend. Life is good and God is great.

It's snowing, and snowing hard. I had some work I was going to do outside but it will have to wait until another day

The bride and I went and saw mom at the assisted living center yesterday. We checked he out and went for a ice cream cone and a nice ride. She seems to be doing just fine and is getting use to the place.

I built a picnic table for my granddaughter. It turned out better then I had hoped. Can't wait to give it to her.

Spent most of the day cleaning up the yard. mainly working on the fire wood pile. I still have some to split and some to stack. I will spend a good deal of the spring and summer getting some more wood and getting ready for winter. We all know in Utah winter is just around the corner

I am in Colorado this week spending some time with my son. I always have a great time while I am out here, both he and his wife are wonderful and we spend most of the time laughing. The boy and I will be working on put a tile backsplash in his kitchen. That means the first thing we do this morning is go tool shopping. Life is good, and God is great.

Springtime in Utah, this is my backyard this morning. I think it is a little too early to plant tomatoes.








This is the bear chair I made for my youngest granddaughter. It was a fun project and she does seem to enjoy it. My next project is a child size picnic table. I have the plans and look forward to the construction phase.

I am moving mom into an assisted living center this weekend. I am not happy about it but feel this is for the best. I don't feel I give mom the care that she needs, but I do try. My bride and freinds have noticed a downward turn in my attitude and in my health. The stress of being a full time caregiver can be overwhelming. I just hope that I am doing the right thing. I ask you please to keep me in your thoughts and prayers

It's been busy around here. My sister was out for a visit. We had a wonderful time laughed most of the week.

Mom has not been doing so good, I believe she had a small stroke a week ago Saturday. At one point she did not know who I was. She seems to be doing better but there is a difference in her mannerisms. Plus she has had an infection of some kind. The Dr. prescribed some antibiotics and she is doing somewhat better.

The weather was beautiful today and I got some yard work accomplished. I have a full day of yard work planned for tomorrow.

I was chastised in my own backyard this afternoon. I was setting on a bench in the backyard and it seems that two dark eyed junco’s have set up housekeeping in one of my birdhouses. I have to assume that I disturbing their move in. I didn’t think that they would be using the houses this early, but it made me smile. I had two additional birdhouses I had just built and they went up today.

Tomorrow my friend Nate and I are headed to the desert and exercise our Second amendment right. It will be good to get out and burn some powder. Nate, Jim, and I have put in for the muzzle loader deer hunt this year. So I will be taking my muzzle loader out and see if I can remember how to make it go boom.

Some people's kids. Some bonehead went to the airport was in the process of declaring their gun and the weapon discharged injuring a skycap. For Pete's sake why would you not triple check the weapon before you leave the house? Anybody that handles firearms should know what condition the weapon is in at all times. This will give the anti gunners something too chatter about

Things are going well in my little corner of the world. The bride and I are headed down to Salt Lake City to watch a performance of Swan Lake and then to dinner at Benihana’s.

We spent last weekend in Salt Lake City just for a small get away. Had a very dear friend stay with mom, and just had a great time. We ended up buying the droid phone and monthly data package which allows internet access from the phone and so many cool buttons and whistles. It is the very latest in high tech time wasting.

I have spent a lot of time this week out in the shop puttering around. “Puttering “is just such a cool word. It covers so many aspects of life. You can putter in the garden, in the shop, the garage, and even in the house and you don’t have to accomplish anything. I mean how cool is that? The bride has called me from her work to ask what I am doing and I say “puttering” and I am covered. Life just doesn’t get much better then that.

I believe I will get one more cup of coffee and go putter some where. Have a blessed day and take care.

This is a true story only the names will be changed to protect the naïve. The battery in my watch died about a week ago. The bride told me I should go to J.C. Penny’s and get it replaced. So I went to Penny’s and ask the young lady (we will call her Thor the Norse god of thunder and lighting) at the jewelry department of they replaced watch batteries. Thor said it is $9.99 and she would be glad to help me. I handed her my watch which is about 6 years old. And off she went around the corner of the jewelry counter. In just a matter of minutes Thor was back saying that she did not have the correct size battery and recommended a store that might have it. I could see her struggle getting the back of my watch reinstalled. She pushed and pushed to no avail. Again she headed around the corner of the jewelry counter, this time I followed. Penny’s has a little watch press used to install the back plate of watches. I stood by having a conversation with young lady and seeing she was having just rough time of it. I jokingly commented “I would take a hammer to the sucker.” In a matter of seconds I heard a “whump, whump” and I saw Thor smacking my watch with a hammer. I yelled “ I was kidding” and she looked at me with horror in her eyes and stammering “ don’t say that, please don’t say that” By this time I am doubled over laughing as Thor goes on explaining that she does not know what she was thinking and she would have never done this on her own. All this time I am laughing uncontrollable. Thor brings me my watch and the little watch press and together we try and reassemble my watch. I am looking at the tattered inner workings and I realize the old watch has ticked its last tock. I am still laughing when Thor asks if I want a new watch. I tell her sure why not, but I told her I did not want her too get into trouble. . I was asked what I paid for the watch which was $50.00 along time ago. Thor says I can have $47.00 credit and I pick out a $60.00 watch. Her little fingers are flying all over the cash register and she tells me I will owe $3.99. I get the receipt and Thor has given me a bunch of discounts. So I went to the store too buy a $10.00 battery and I walked out with a $4.00 watch.

I changed the fuel filter in my truck yesterday, I deeded it was not too cold. I also did the air filter.

I can tell we are coming out of winter even though they are predicting snow for this weekend. It will be late March or early April until can even think about putting anything in the ground. It will probably be that long until the snow is gone from my yard. Sometimes I wished I lived someplace warm. Anymore I get this way around Febuary. I don’t do the cold like I use too. I could spend hours sitting on a frozen lake trying to pull fish up through a small hole in the ice and not be bothered at all. Or I would take off for the desert and tramp all over Gods frozen land looking for rabbits. Now I get upset if I have forgotten to turn on the heated seats in the bride’s car. Yes it is sad I have become soft and I whine about things, but I do it well.

Tomorrow is a day filled with errands with the bride (she has the day off) , and a surprise birthday party in the evening. Saturday is a gun show here in town. A few friends and I plan to attend. I really don’t need anything but it is fun to hang with some buddies and look at guns and ammo. Who knows I may find something I can not live with out that I just don’t know about yet. Time will tell, take care

Took my truck in to have my transmission, and transfer case serviced along with an oil change, it set me back a little but you do what you have to do. As soon as I determine that it is not to cold I will change the fuel filter.

The owner of the transmission shop showed me the pan off my tranny and pointed out there were more metal shaving then they would have expected. Told me to watch out for slipping or hard shifting, the old tranny seems to run out real strong but I will pay more attention to it. A rebuild on it will run about $2600, which is a lot cheaper then a new truck. The bride and I will put a category in the budget to save for the repair if needed. It is our endeavor to never use credit again. If we don’t have the cash we don’t need it.

Things are going pretty well in the household. The bride is counting the days until she can retire. As it stands right now it is just under three years, but rumors abound about an early out. I think we can swing it if she pulls the plug. We only have one bill left (it’s a big one) and we are on track to have it paid in two years time. It will be glorious to have no debt at all. I have just been informed that I need to fix the light in my mom’s bathroom. See-ya

My daughter informed us that we will be grandparents again. I am a happy camper

Been awhile since I had anything to say, life has been somewhat emotional lately. It looked like I was going to have to put mom is an assisted living facility. Tension in the house was off the scale. We took mom to a new doctor that specializes in the elderly and she put mom on an additionally medication that has done wonders so far.

I have a lawyer working on making me mom’s guardian, and conservator. This is a necessary step. I have talked with my sister and she thinks this is for the best. Sometimes life is not fun.

I blogged about my son’s in laws losing their son just before Christmas, his daughter, their granddaughter fell off the kitchen counter last night and they had to use life flight to transport her to primary children’s hospital today. She has a concussion, cracked skull, and had internal bleeding in the brain. The last report I had was the child was doing well and the bleeding had stopped. Please keep her in your prayers and thoughts.

Happy New Year.!!! I woke up this morning to find one of the dogs had pooped in the house. Not really the way I wanted to start my year. I am hoping that it only gets better from here.

The bride and I stayed up to see the New Year in last night and now I remember why we don’t stay up any more. It was no big deal and we ate way too many snacks waiting for the stroke of midnight.

I did something I am proud of. I came across a bag of firecrackers laying around the house, and knowing that they are illegal in the Great State of Utah I knew I had to get rid of them. The bride and I love to watch law enforcement type shows. On many of these shows I watch the contraband gathered by the many law enforcement agencies get destroyed by fire, and that is what I did. At midnight last night I put a match to the firecrackers. In less then a minute they were gone and I felt so much better knowing that I had dome the right thing.

The bride has just wandered downstairs and I think I should go spend some time with her, besides my coffee cup is empty. Again Happy New Years to all