Things I wish I had done

1. Gone fishing more with Dad
2. Studied art formally.
3. Stayed physically fit
4. Done more fun things with my family
5. Been less selfish
6. Written more letters to friends
7. Stayed in touch with people I love
8. Made more friends
9. Been a better friend
10. Kept a better journal
11. Asked for help sooner when I had problems
12. Read more and better books
13. Gotten more education
14. Travelled to Europe, Mexico, and South America
15. Seen the pyramids in Egypt and Mexico
16. Said no when no was appropriate
17. learned to fight back
18. Learned to fix things myself
19. Taken better care of my teeth (they wouldn't be kept in a jar now.)
20. Stayed awake and alert at the wheel

Kinda Fishy

Something's kinda fishy at Kent and Betty's house! We got a manila envelope postmarked Texas. It just came with a note that says, "One fish for you."

I understand that it hasn't been too long since there was something Kinda fishy at Larry and Jeanette's house in Texas.

Retirement sure looks tempting

I had a day from hades today. I hate ending the day feeling like I'm tired and old. It was a long day and every time I started to work, one of the phones would ring. I just had two weeks of vacation and it feels like so long ago I can't remember.

I can't believe that after a day like that, I'm back at the computer blogging. I think I have an addiction to silicone!

As children bring their broken toys

As children bring their broken toys

With tears for us to mend,

I brought my broken dreams to God

Because he was my friend

But then, instead of leaving Him

In peace to work alone,

I hung around and tried to help
In ways that were my own.

At last, I snatched them back and cried,
"How can you be so slow?"

My child, he said, "What could I do?
You never did let go."

Author Unknown

Photo Session at the Garden of the Gods

Today, Andrea's family came to visit and we all wen't to the Garden of the Gods to take pictures. Afterwards, We went to the home of Betty's dad and took a few more.

We had a good time, but are going to try again tomorrow. Half way through the photo shoot, we discovered that the camera settings had been changed mid stream and some of the photos were not the best quality.

New family search

I started doing family history work when I was in high school by gathering the records from Mom, Aunt Elma Pagett, Aunt Jenny Schofield, and anybody else that was willing to share their records with me.

When Jack Dunn and Gayle Schlegel both lived in Colorado Springs, we worked together on compiling records that I had with the records from Ina Olsen, Joe Dunn, Elma Pagett. Back then, we were just typing the records on paper and submissions to Salt Lake took up to a year to complete.

After some time, we began entering the data into the PAF program using the computer. Submissions were easier and much less laborious than entering the records by mailing them and waiting for approvals to come back. I submitted our records to the ancestral file, but it was frustrating when I looked for data and there was no documentation indicating where the records had come from.

When we were in Kanab this summer, Gloria showed us the new Family search software. I was really excited to see how it worked, but I was frustrated because it wasn't available to us.

This last Sunday, we received the training for the new version of the Family Search software published by the Church. It will be rolled out in the Denver Temple district on September 16th and I can hardly wait. I have seen the family history program evolve and grow ever more efficient and easy to share. I am really looking forward to bringing my Genealogical research into the 21st century.

In response to What have you done.

So, I saw this on Larry's blog and thought it was pretty fun. The bolded ones I have done. It made me think s lot sbout what I have and haven't done in life!

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a professional sports game
17. Been to the top of the Sears Tower
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse (of the moon)
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone snorkling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Sung on a CD
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check (not my fault)
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Seen the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to see someone you love in hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play on Broadway
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn't need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo's David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted1
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone's life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to sew
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator (instantaneously)
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had chicken pox
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter's Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik's cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Gotten a professional massage
     

Cut right to the truth

When Betty was a little girl about seven years old, her mother was working. She stayed at times with Claire Harding whom she affectionately called Grandma Harding. Many times, her stays with the Hardings were overnight.

Grandma Harding's father, Van, lived with her. This tall, somewhat vain man would comb his gray hair over the top of his bald head to make himself look younger and more vibrant. Van was very impatient with children. During the days, he would work in the yard or garden. One sunny Saturday morning Van went for a walk. When he came back into the house he was tired. As there was no television to watch, he laid down on the davenport for a nap. As he laid down, his carefully crafted comb over fell from his bald head and was hanging down.

Betty thought that he would look much better without that ugly gray hair hanging down from his head. She went to Grandma Harding's desk and picked up the silver scissors with the shiny black handles. In short order, Van's unsightly fringe was lying in a heap on the floor. No sooner had Betty cropped Van's head than the gray cat caught her eye. She went up to pet it and lovingly carried it over to where the scissors were. With a quick snip, snip the cat's whiskers had been removed and dropped into the waste basket, and the scissors were returned to the desk.

Betty was soon occupied with a coloring book when she heard Van rise from his nap and go into the bathroom. The door squeaked slightly as it closed. When Van was washing his hands, he looked into the mirror and let out a howl calling for Claire. Betty knew what was coming.

Claire was amused by the situation, but she knew that this was no time for humor. She summoned Betty and asked, "Betty Ann, did you cut Van's hair off while he was sleeping?"

With all the surprise she could muster, she responded, "Oh, no, I didn't do it."

Claire noticed the scissors on the desk with remnants of gray hair in them. She picked up the scissors and showed them to Betty. "There's some hair in these scissors." She pointed out. "There is no one else in the house but you and me and Van. Now, did you cut Van's hair?"

Betty felt a terrible weight on her shoulders as she knew that he had misused the scissors and that she had lied about it. Through tears and sobs, she admitted that she was guilty. Van was not satisfied. He insisted that Betty be taught a lesson and she received a spanking.

Claire noticed that the cat was navigating with difficulty. She would bump into things and ran somewhat clumsily. Upon inspecting the cat, Grandma Harding noticed that she had no whiskers. Betty was again summoned. Claire didn't even have to ask Betty if she had done it. Her streaming tears told on her.

Scissors still are appealing to Betty. She loves preparing hand outs for her Primary class with cut paper. It's not unusual to see her take a pair of scissors to a waistline that fits to tight. At regular intervals, I can walk into the bathroom to find Betty standing in a pile of her own hair even though Brenda complains about repairing her haircuts. I will never have a comb over, nor will I trust Betty with a pair of scissors.

Labor Day Fun

Again I have an entry with no pictures. I'll try to get some pictures later this week to add to this entry.

We spent the morning today helping Betty's Dad with his yard work. His home is up a little hidden driveway in Bear Creek canon. I think it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. There are hiking trails going from Dad's home to the mountains in several directions. When he was younger, it was not uncommon for him to take twelve mile walks into the mountains west of Colorado Springs. There is a small creek at the bottom of the canon and a line of trees that follow it. Above the house is Gold Camp Road which was cut into the mountains by Japanese nationals during the Second World War.

Betty's parents purchased the home in 1964. The living room of the house is 200 years old. Each occupant of the home has done something to improve it just as Betty's parents have. They converted a small patio into a second bedroom. They added vinyl siding. They replaced an old kerosene heater with a furnace. They added a couple of terraces on the hillside behind the house. They added a gas insert into the stone fireplace. This unique little house has been a perfect home for Dad for the last forty four years.

When Dad was younger, he was not fond of yard work, but he kept everything clean and repaired. The road into the residence ascends a steep little hill that can be a real challenge during the winter months. For many years, Dad maintained an upper road that had a more gentle incline. Since his health has declined, he was unable to continue the work on the road. That road, just like Dad, has declined in health over the years. It is no longer passable in a regular vehicle.

It was fun today to spend some time with Dad in his little mountain retreat. It looked nice and clean by the time we left and I think Dad enjoyed working with us to get it in shape again.