Teflon Chef

I totally forgot to mention one of our most favorite FHE's in a long time. Pete & Kristin love the show "Iron Chef" on the food channel. The idea is that two very good chefs go head to head and in a measured amount of time they cook a gourmet meal using a secret ingredient that is not announced until the beginning of the show. We altered the rules slightly, but did the idea. Juli D. was the head of one team, and PJ & K were the other team. The secret ingredient was: ZUCCINI! Pete went into Grandpa's and raided his garden, and then both teams took a short trip to the store. In one hour we had some of the best food ever! It was delicious, fun and really creative.

Two very intent and busy buddies.

Summer Life in Limbo

Wally took off Monday with Tom McCoy and 5 14-15 year old boys to backpack for a few days in the Uinta Mountains. He will return Wednesday, and then he has to face some "music." We are still deciding what to do next. Wally is not quite ready to actively seek out a solution, he's still got things bubbling and stewing inside. I think he is taking this time to talk to Tom, one of his very good friends, and use him for a sounding board.

After Moon Lake, we still had company for a few days, one of them being Sophie. It was a nice peaceful few days and we got close. Kristin and Pete hung out for about a week, too, and we kept the party going until they finally had to leave and go back to work. Wally and I spent the weekend downtown with our volunteer jobs, Wally driving the Osmonds to the airport, hotel, stage, etc. and back again. By Sunday i bailed and took a ride to Idaho Falls to hear my nephew Jarom speak in church and a moving piano solo by Clint. We had good food after, then headed back home. Brenda drove me, we left at 4:30 am to get there and we were home by 8:00 pm.

Now it's time for me to head out, but I thought I should post, after all, July is nearly over.

One Sunday from now

One week from today I will be sitting on the porch of a rustic cabin, chatting with family, or perhaps strolling down the sandy beach of Moon Lake with Wally, or singing around a campfire. The point is, one more week! On Friday, some of our people start flying in. Tonite Wally and I wrote a list of things left to do to get ready. He is so emotionally available to me now, I am like a kid in a candy store. On Thursday when Kelton was here, he was playing a game of catch with him and something happened that made them both burst out laughing. I was in my office, and it hit me how unusual it was, and i said, "Kelton, did you hear that sound? That's Grandpa laughing." Wally has been so cheerful and upbeat. I know that 2 years with SliceX has been an incredible drain on him, and he's feeling some real relief, even though we are not sure what is next. Well, actually we do know what's next--vacation!! So the rest remains to be seen. Right now, we both feel very peaceful, and that's what counts.
Clark and his family have spent the last few days here with their family reunion. Some family stayed here, and so this was kind of the hub. Clark and Susie put their trailer in the driveway, and that was a draw, having the parents close. I gave myself a new nickname, Aunt Grandma. The cute and sweet children of my nieces and nephews were so cute, and I had a little time with them on Friday which was fun. Lucy was baptized on the 4th, and she was so darling. We had more extended family here in town for that event, and later in the day we went swimming at Brenda's pool. Kelton was fabulous and had us all amazed at his abilities in the water. He is such a smiler, his happiness is contagious.

Imaginary Lovers

That's the name of the tune I am listening to right now, via speakerphone, played by some saxaphone soloist with a kind of a jazzband backup. Actually it's the first recognizable tune so far in the last 14 minutes. I am on hold with the Medicaid office, and waiting, . . .waiting while all representatives are assisting other customers. My patience is appreciated. When I first got on, there were 25 customers in front of me, with an estimated wait time of 47 minutes. That's worse than two days ago when I called, and today, well, let's just say that there is an added urgency to get Laura all signed up with medical benefits. Unless she will stop needed meds in the next 28 days that is, because that is only how much longer we can get her benefits. Actually, that's only how much longer Wally and I have benefits as well, at least until he figures out what his new place of employment is.