OK, here goes...so, you know I try to keep you apprised of even the most mundane of goings-on here at Casa de Kenworthy. Today is of course no exception. Let me give you a recap as things have unfolded thus far.
So, nigh on about Thursday we (Stacey and I) went to go see the new movie, "17 Miracles". I'll be honest with you, we were really wanting to laugh at the new movie, "Hangover 2" was aweful appetizing. But we decided on the other one, mostly because the Hangover started over an hour later, but something told me we should go see the churchy movie. I'll be honest with you, I'm sure glad we did. If you go see this movie, make sure you bring a hanky. It's a doosey. It's really very touching to see the sacrifices and challenges made by members of the Willy Martin Handcart Company as they treked West. Also a tad ironic is one of the main characters is named, "Levi" which, coincidentally or not we've seriously considered as the name for our impending arrival here in November. I try to name all my sons after Biblical dudes that have a bit of an attitude and all my daughters after hotties that wouldnt give me the time of day, so...I guess we're on par for where we should be. By the way, I really thought the names: "Giselle, Gabriella, and Raquel" would have been good options, however I'm now, at five children thinking, perhaps my next one should be named, "Vasectomy". Which has an ever-increasingly nice ring to it. I'd like to say it with a heavy smoker voice. "Vasectaahmy, please come sit by daddy. Bring me my leather-bound book and a nice glass of freshly squeezed orange juice wouldnt you?" I imagine I'm wearing a purple "Heffner" robe and hanging out in my mansion just reading in my leather office chair. Oh and an ottoman would be nice too. Oh, and a Persian rug, and a fernish plant and a big yeller dog that actually sits beside you with wise eyes and watches the fire. Whatever, I'm getting closer to that dream. I have the dog (sorta) and the rug is synthetic, but we're well on our way to freshly squeezed O.J.
I lost what we were talking about??? Oh yes, so this movie. Yeah, much better choice than the Rated R one we wanted to see. Dont get me wrong, we're well aware that Rated R shows are no-no's but you can rationalize a lot of things when you just want to cut loose and relax. But, the past few years being as challenging as they have been, we've elected instead to stand in a little more holy places. Which, actually is a nice segue into Friday.
So Friday night, we went to the Jordan River Temple. Stacey's mom, dad and sisters were there and I was asked to be a witness for the sealing of Stacey's now deceased sister Michelle. I dont think it's appropriate for me to go into in great detail, but suffice it to say, we were absolutely in the right place, doing the right thing last night. We took some photo's after, which if you're into that sort of thing, you can check Stacey's blog for within the coming week. Anyhow, what I will tell you, is that the sealer, was an older gentleman with an extremely heavy German accent whom happens to live around the corner from my in-laws. I really felt the importance of what was going on there and I'll just leave it at that. It was a beautiful way to spend an evening and has ever-lasting significance to my lovely wife, her parents, and consequently me as I am sealed to Stacey.
So, from there, we've jumped head-long into Saturday. (It's a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday...) So this morning, which was more like early afternoon, Josh and I ran on down to my dad's. No, literally, I jogged, and Josh rode his sister's scooter. Josh has some new duds by the way. He got a fifty dollar gift certificate for having a birthday and we went to Kohl's yesterday to pick out some exercise gear for him. Flash back to Friday, Josh and I went and played racquetball for his very first time, and I am happy to report I have finally "won" a game. So we'll be going back again today at two. Dont tell him, but the reason we went on a run first thing this morning, is because thus far, he's not exactly requiring me to run a whole lot around the court. Granted, he's 11, but dont rob me of my victory. It was real, and it was tangible, and it was mine. I dont shave points for anyone. Least wise a little joke-cracking whipper-snapper!
OK, well, hey, I better let you guys go. I gotta thing. Stacey's going to get her nails done and I'm late for a 44 oz dripping plastic container of Diet Luv. You guys enjoy the remainder of the weekend and just know I think the absolute world of you.
OK, we'll see you on the flip-side,
J
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Daily Rant...
OK, so here it is. I wanted to stay home today. I really did. My wife held on to me this morning (I mean, why WOULDN’T she??? I’m adorable after all.) and asked if there was any way I could stay home. I told her there wasn’t because I had to get some orders done for some kids mobilizing out this week. So, imagine my frustrations today, in trying to get into the program to cut orders, only to find that my “Java Enabler” was on a coffee break at….(checks his watch) 0715.
Yeah, so I called down to the “Help Desk”, I was Numero Uno in the queue. Good deal, I have a lot to do. Well the really cheery guy on the other end answered about eight minutes later and commenced to hooking me up with my morning Java. (Dad this is all computer talk. Mom, never mind, skip to the next blog entry). Anyhow, so Help Desk guy is SUPER cheery at first light so I let him ease me into this. So I let him take over my computer remotely. Which is kind of scary actually. Not that I have anything weird on here, other than pictures of me and a goat and some visqueen and a tub of orange jello, but other than that, pretty soft-core stuff really. So, Help Desk Guy, says, “Oh no problem, should update in about four minutes,” and off he drops the line. So four or five minutes transpire and of course, here we are again. It wants me to install some, “Add-on” with a really long number and “jsb” and blah blah blah. So I try to click on the program again, and I get the same error. Well about that same time, I had a conversation with my co-workers (see also, “subordinates”) as to who might be responsible for the Selena Gomez (teen idol) poster affixed to my door. It’s really nice and she looks hot and all, but she turned 18 about seventeen minutes ago, so I look like a weird old man. I mean, I’m practically old enough to be her distant friend from Utah with no familial ties or weirdness other than our modest age gap.
So I ring up the Help Desk, and of course I’m number tres in the queue now. So, fifteen minutes transpire, and I’m forced to do actual work on stuff I have been putting off to the last minute. So, about that time, someone calls with a question for the First Sergeant, and since I have his cell, and he’s required by law and honor to answer, we work through this other little issue.
Meanwhile, back at the Bat Cave, I’ve forgotten to scan and email the pay off for our second mortgage to the new first mortgage pukes. Yeah, they saved us about a point and over the next 30 years (we only had 24 left!!!) we could save upwards of 350 bucks. We could waste that on dance lessons for my son, or E-books that I’ll never have time to read, or hell, maybe even air conditioning for the truck that I drive to work in the 90 degree weather! (I’m a sacrificer. Not to mention a whiner and a showboat.) Heck, I’m such a good husband; I haven’t fixed the tie-rod ends on the truck, so that when I make a hard deceleration it pulls over into the lane immediate my left. Not exactly safe of course, but as long as momma never has a car over three years old, all is well in Zion. (I am laying it on thick here, this is hyperbole folks, and I love that dame and everything she stands for. Not to mention everything she lays down for. But that doesn’t concern you kids.)
Anyhow, so where was I??? ah yes. So the THIRD time that Cheery Help Desk guy calls me back, I am transferred over to Sergeant C____. Anyhow, he remotely looks through my files and pictures of your mom and my truck and then commences to fixing the Java deal. Well, it’s about 1030 now, and I get hungry exactly at 1100 hours. I’m like a clock that way. Anyhow, I hadn’t seen Stacey in almost 4 hours so I really thought lunch together would help her get through the rest of her day without me. Well, as it turns out, she does just fine without me, it’s more that the kids are at home and off track and she was seriously thinking about taking my son out back and thrashing him by 800 am.
So, we had some lunch at this BBQ Pit place here in town and I know she really enjoyed the view. Mostly because she was watching the door, and I was watching the bathroom door. Anyhow, so I get back and there’s a message on my machine …well, phone. So I ring it up and low and behold, the Help Desk Guys have handed me off to the, “Security Guys” for a closer look at my particular problem. So, Sergeant Z_____ calls me up and decides he wants to do a face-to-face and get down into brass tacks. Oh, it’s important also to note that I tried three machines on both scanner and fax options, but all of them had “Kerbo” errors, which means absa-smurfly NOTHING to me. So I can “Contact My Administrator” if I feel like it would do a damn bit of good on my own time. Anyhow so I brushed my teeth…yeah, I brush my teeth at work, what of it? Good oral hygiene is not just a good idea, it should be the law….anyhow, Sergeant Z starts in on my computer and just shy of 1430 (2:30 pm) he’s got her up and running! Turns out, and man are you gonna just laugh here….turns out that the Java they ‘pushed’ was for Java 24, whereas I had…*snicker* Java 23! I had the old version! Oh man, good times…gooooood times. Oh how fun they must be at parties these basement dwelling florescent light loving computer types!
Anyhow, so then I get into my “program” to start cutting orders. FINALLY at 1535 in the afternoon we are a, “go” and ready to just tear IT UP with this stuff. Yeah, no can do, they are in the wrong unit. Seems in the SIBX program the UIC that they were in hadn’t effected the transfers to the hoooji-whatsit and so-and-so isn’t in today so tomorrow would be a better option all the way around.
So, I actually accomplished about zip.point.shiz today and spent all day a doin’ it. I can’t win. But I did end up with a sweet autographed Selena Gomez poster and made one colonel happy. (Get your mind out of the gutter!) I also had BBQ Brisket, AND hush puppies (put your mind BACK in the gutter!) and…well I just feel darn good about trying it on anyhow. Well, in about 24 minutes, (who’s counting) I’m going to walk out into the heat of the afternoon and drive Big Green home and try not to kill a bus-load of nuns. Safety is my main concern. I know, it’s a habit of mine…(waaaaait for it…waaaaaaaaiiiit for it….) habit? Habit of mine…*ahem* anyhow, I just want to get home and see what destruction has taken place at Casa de Kenworthy. I imagine by now Olivia is taped to the ceiling fan and oscillating at an unhealthy rate. I imagine the cat has walked its way over the top of the plumb colored 2011 Honda Pilot, and I could almost guarantee that I’ll be asked to get Lexi off of Netflix because Selena Gomez and her crew are driving my wife insane with their ridiculous pre-teen humor.
I wonder if Suite Life of Zach and Cody is on later??? Anyhow, I gotta run. You kids try and find me on the Bangerter Highway. I’ll be the one drifting into the left inner-most lane each time the light changes. I can’t wait for the (W)Rec(k) Center today. I got some frustrations to get out. I sincerely hope, “Twenty Treadmills to Choose from but I Choose the Squeaky One Guy” is there. Friggin’ idiot. I should snap his little neck and put him in the small package for being so oblivious to his surroundings. Either that or I’ll hand him over to, “The Medicine Ball and Basketball Confusion Twins”. They too are oblivious to their annoyance and perhaps the three of them could get together and talk Mona Vie or Amway options.
I gotta go. Dont wait up.
Jon OUT.
Yeah, so I called down to the “Help Desk”, I was Numero Uno in the queue. Good deal, I have a lot to do. Well the really cheery guy on the other end answered about eight minutes later and commenced to hooking me up with my morning Java. (Dad this is all computer talk. Mom, never mind, skip to the next blog entry). Anyhow, so Help Desk guy is SUPER cheery at first light so I let him ease me into this. So I let him take over my computer remotely. Which is kind of scary actually. Not that I have anything weird on here, other than pictures of me and a goat and some visqueen and a tub of orange jello, but other than that, pretty soft-core stuff really. So, Help Desk Guy, says, “Oh no problem, should update in about four minutes,” and off he drops the line. So four or five minutes transpire and of course, here we are again. It wants me to install some, “Add-on” with a really long number and “jsb” and blah blah blah. So I try to click on the program again, and I get the same error. Well about that same time, I had a conversation with my co-workers (see also, “subordinates”) as to who might be responsible for the Selena Gomez (teen idol) poster affixed to my door. It’s really nice and she looks hot and all, but she turned 18 about seventeen minutes ago, so I look like a weird old man. I mean, I’m practically old enough to be her distant friend from Utah with no familial ties or weirdness other than our modest age gap.
So I ring up the Help Desk, and of course I’m number tres in the queue now. So, fifteen minutes transpire, and I’m forced to do actual work on stuff I have been putting off to the last minute. So, about that time, someone calls with a question for the First Sergeant, and since I have his cell, and he’s required by law and honor to answer, we work through this other little issue.
Meanwhile, back at the Bat Cave, I’ve forgotten to scan and email the pay off for our second mortgage to the new first mortgage pukes. Yeah, they saved us about a point and over the next 30 years (we only had 24 left!!!) we could save upwards of 350 bucks. We could waste that on dance lessons for my son, or E-books that I’ll never have time to read, or hell, maybe even air conditioning for the truck that I drive to work in the 90 degree weather! (I’m a sacrificer. Not to mention a whiner and a showboat.) Heck, I’m such a good husband; I haven’t fixed the tie-rod ends on the truck, so that when I make a hard deceleration it pulls over into the lane immediate my left. Not exactly safe of course, but as long as momma never has a car over three years old, all is well in Zion. (I am laying it on thick here, this is hyperbole folks, and I love that dame and everything she stands for. Not to mention everything she lays down for. But that doesn’t concern you kids.)
Anyhow, so where was I??? ah yes. So the THIRD time that Cheery Help Desk guy calls me back, I am transferred over to Sergeant C____. Anyhow, he remotely looks through my files and pictures of your mom and my truck and then commences to fixing the Java deal. Well, it’s about 1030 now, and I get hungry exactly at 1100 hours. I’m like a clock that way. Anyhow, I hadn’t seen Stacey in almost 4 hours so I really thought lunch together would help her get through the rest of her day without me. Well, as it turns out, she does just fine without me, it’s more that the kids are at home and off track and she was seriously thinking about taking my son out back and thrashing him by 800 am.
So, we had some lunch at this BBQ Pit place here in town and I know she really enjoyed the view. Mostly because she was watching the door, and I was watching the bathroom door. Anyhow, so I get back and there’s a message on my machine …well, phone. So I ring it up and low and behold, the Help Desk Guys have handed me off to the, “Security Guys” for a closer look at my particular problem. So, Sergeant Z_____ calls me up and decides he wants to do a face-to-face and get down into brass tacks. Oh, it’s important also to note that I tried three machines on both scanner and fax options, but all of them had “Kerbo” errors, which means absa-smurfly NOTHING to me. So I can “Contact My Administrator” if I feel like it would do a damn bit of good on my own time. Anyhow so I brushed my teeth…yeah, I brush my teeth at work, what of it? Good oral hygiene is not just a good idea, it should be the law….anyhow, Sergeant Z starts in on my computer and just shy of 1430 (2:30 pm) he’s got her up and running! Turns out, and man are you gonna just laugh here….turns out that the Java they ‘pushed’ was for Java 24, whereas I had…*snicker* Java 23! I had the old version! Oh man, good times…gooooood times. Oh how fun they must be at parties these basement dwelling florescent light loving computer types!
Anyhow, so then I get into my “program” to start cutting orders. FINALLY at 1535 in the afternoon we are a, “go” and ready to just tear IT UP with this stuff. Yeah, no can do, they are in the wrong unit. Seems in the SIBX program the UIC that they were in hadn’t effected the transfers to the hoooji-whatsit and so-and-so isn’t in today so tomorrow would be a better option all the way around.
So, I actually accomplished about zip.point.shiz today and spent all day a doin’ it. I can’t win. But I did end up with a sweet autographed Selena Gomez poster and made one colonel happy. (Get your mind out of the gutter!) I also had BBQ Brisket, AND hush puppies (put your mind BACK in the gutter!) and…well I just feel darn good about trying it on anyhow. Well, in about 24 minutes, (who’s counting) I’m going to walk out into the heat of the afternoon and drive Big Green home and try not to kill a bus-load of nuns. Safety is my main concern. I know, it’s a habit of mine…(waaaaait for it…waaaaaaaaiiiit for it….) habit? Habit of mine…*ahem* anyhow, I just want to get home and see what destruction has taken place at Casa de Kenworthy. I imagine by now Olivia is taped to the ceiling fan and oscillating at an unhealthy rate. I imagine the cat has walked its way over the top of the plumb colored 2011 Honda Pilot, and I could almost guarantee that I’ll be asked to get Lexi off of Netflix because Selena Gomez and her crew are driving my wife insane with their ridiculous pre-teen humor.
I wonder if Suite Life of Zach and Cody is on later??? Anyhow, I gotta run. You kids try and find me on the Bangerter Highway. I’ll be the one drifting into the left inner-most lane each time the light changes. I can’t wait for the (W)Rec(k) Center today. I got some frustrations to get out. I sincerely hope, “Twenty Treadmills to Choose from but I Choose the Squeaky One Guy” is there. Friggin’ idiot. I should snap his little neck and put him in the small package for being so oblivious to his surroundings. Either that or I’ll hand him over to, “The Medicine Ball and Basketball Confusion Twins”. They too are oblivious to their annoyance and perhaps the three of them could get together and talk Mona Vie or Amway options.
I gotta go. Dont wait up.
Jon OUT.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Independence Day
So, you can imagine it's been a heckuva weekend kids. We left the big city for higher altitudes on Thursday of last week and just arrived home today, Monday the 4th day of July, 2011. So, I gotta tell ya, it's been an awesome weekend. I didnt have cell service and it was everything I dreamed it could be. No Crackberry, no email, no work calls, no texts, no spam, nada! Oh man, and when I got down into cell range there were only about 39 emails waiting. WHO emails work stuff on the 4th of JULY anyhow???!
Anyhow, you're probably thinking I am going to write about our trip to Currant Creek. Well, yes and no. Let me sum it up this way, veni, vidi, vici. There? Questions? Comments? Concerns. Yeah, we swam, we fished, we ATV'duh, we ate, we slept, (we loved. *wink wink*), a good time was had by all. I let Josh drive the boat. Not just with me sittin' there either. I let him drive it around at the boat dock waiting for me to get the truck and trailer. His mom about had a conniption fit (is, "conniption" an actual word? It looks funny staring back at me). Anyhow, the kids rode the ATV, at more popsicles than humanly possible, downed cobbler, s'mores, played badmitten, Geezer Golf, just plain wore us out.
Worst part about the trip is I hadn't had time to recharge the airconditioner in Big Green, so we had to use the 2-60 Air conditioner most everywhere we went. But when you're only traveling at 20 mph, it just leaves you desiring more. Anyhow the dog got a haircut from me with scissors and she just looks horrendous. I ain't gonna lie to you. But it was hot and craft scissors or not, it was time. I even have a missing section of skin on my middle finger from cutting her hair with sub-par scissors.
So, now the best part of the weekend. No, not the "Gold" touch-car wash that I splurged on to wash the Creek off of Big Green, it was the fireworks tonight. See they're actually still going on. They are all around us. I guess the State of Utah lifted the moratorium on air-burst fireworks and people's patriotism has just plain grown exponentially as a result. We watched out our back window about seven major undertakings of private fireworks which would rival most small city productions. There are fireworks going off all around us. In the circles and burrows that are at the cardinal points of interest. These are nothing to shake a stick at either. These things really make a wallup and really send your heart to thumping.
So it started out with us doing our el Cheap-o fireworks ($20) in the front yard here. Yeah, the boring poppers and little whispy baby-girl ones. They're so sweet and delicate these little fireworks. But thankfully we didnt end up with snakes. Gosh I hate snakes. They're the dumbest fireworks ever. You pretty much end up stacking them into different shapes and lighting them just to get rid of them and try and make a four headed multi-color dragon snake thing. Anyhow, so then we did sparklers, which I hate even more than snakes. Mostly because it takes about seventeen matches to start the first one, then you're using the one to light the other, and six kids (did we somehow gain two???) are pawing at you for their now half-gone sparkler so they can write their names in the air before burning themselves on the leg.
So it was about this time when the big-boys and non-cheapo's started in. Also the firefighters began responding all around us. The sirens have pretty much gone non-stop. You know, that's what I actually wanted to write about, firemen. See, my dad was a volunteer firemen. He actually joined the fire department after ironically starting the ditch on fire in his back yard and it got a little out of hand. It took them so long to respond, that when he complained about it, (after having put it out mostly already with the hose) he felt compelled to just join the ranks. Well, my dad actually made it up to the Assistant Chief of Riverton City. Which, pretty much comprised all of my formative years between about 1979 and 1989. Well he was also a paramedic since they pulled double duty. He used to carry around this red pager about the size of four of my CrackBerries stacked up and all it would do would make this two-toned pitch. "Eeeeeeee ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......" And then you would hear a loudspeaker that would come on. At least I think there was a loudspeaker. Perhaps his pager in later years actually talked. But I distinctly remember. "Riverton respond, grass fire....12231 South 2240 West...." And off he'd go.
See he had this old white Chevy Scottsdale, yeah, you thought it should have skipped a generation...but it didnt. Anyhow, "Betsy" had a fireman sticker on the bumper which somehow allowed you to speed to the scene of the fire/incident. More often than not, he'd go right to the scene. If it was a fire, he'd have to go to the firestation and get his hurry-ups and coat and stuff. But usually the truck would already be on the road to wherever so he would end up at the house-fire in Ol' Bets'. Anyhow, I think he made five bucks a call. He'd probably waste that 25 dollar a month check on silly stuff like...puffed rice cereal, or a couple tanks of gas to take us deer hunting. I aint gonna lie to you, I think we were probably worse off than I thought growing up. I dont ever remember my dad wanting anything more than a sliding rear window for his truck. That's about the extent of his selfishness to be honest with you.
Anyhow, back to fireworks. So, I remember as a kid, for years and years riding the big red truck in the Riverton City parade. Oh it was great. Sitting up there on that hose bed, just watching people, the siren going, throwing taffy out to other kids. It was pretty much the life. But, once in a while, there would be a need to respond, and they'd toss all us kids off onto another truck and away they'd go.
So, Riverton used to have the volunteers put on the 4th of July fireworks show too. I still remember the first time they put it to music. Not exactly choreographed perfectly, but what do you want... Stadium of Fire? They had like a ten thousand dollar a year budget and that mostly went to selfish things like...well masks and oxygen tanks and stuff for the firefighters. I remember never sitting with my dad during the fireworks shows. Not until we were much older. Mostly because they'd be setting up and shooting off the fireworks, and there would be a call out. Half the guys would take off to the fire, and half would try and keep the show going. Once I remember the whole shootin' match was postponed an hour so they could go put out some house.
Dont get me wrong, I think that the fact that my dad was involved in civic responsibilities made me more appreciative and cognizant of my own. I will remember till the day I die the day he met us at the, "La Fonda's Restaurant" A little place on Redwood Road next to Sharon's TV and Appliance. Now a Jim's Family Restaurant is there. Anyhow, Sharon's had a backroom with naughty movies and I'd sneek a look in there as we went past the door trying to catch a glimpse...where were we??? Oh, anyhow so my dad met us at the restaurant. We were having the, "Nachos Grande" mostly because it was five bucks and my mom would get it and one large soda for all of us to share. Probably a, "Tab" to date this. Anyhow my dad came in. He'd been on a call. Seems two boys found a gun. It belonged to their dad. One boy, the younger one shot his older brother in the leg playing with it. The boy died and I remember my dad somberly saying, "I actually feel worse for the brother, it was an accident, and he'll have to live the rest of his life thinking about how he killed his brother." It really set in for me then. I remember him telling me how they'd responded to a call where a family excavation business had an accident. A trench caved in and the father cut his son's head off with the backhoe trying to dig him out to save him. Real rough stuff. Stuff I probably should have heard about. But it set in real well for me. These firefighters and paramedics really deserve a lot of credit. They do day in and day out what you wish you had the heart for every day.
I'm not gonna lie to you. I really thought I was going to be a firefighter when I graduated school. I took the written exam and scored a 94% and wasn't even in the top 200 applicants (of the 2000 that took it that year). So I didnt even get to take the physical exam. But, I was 18 and had my sights set on joining the Navy anyhow. That just sealed the deal. But anyhow, I think while I was sitting there tonight, watching the going's on I was thinking about a couple of things. Number one of course, God Bless America. No, I really mean that. I've been to 27 different countries and there ain't a one that comes remotely close. No matter how backward we're getting at times. Number two, was the pride when I hear those sirens. I know that some other kids' dads aren't going to be there to watch them do sparklers. They'll be full-time with the County Fire now of course, but those guys work hard so they can respond within minutes to your miss dialed 911 call when you're toddler finds you're phone unattended. Better yet, they'll be there when you're wife smells gasoline coming from the garage while you're on a long one hour run. It's a lot of fun by the way watching the fire truck pull out of the neighborhood and jogging in to find your wife in the circle on the phone.
Anyhow, I just wanted to take a moment and just get some of this out. I was so proud of my dad's service. I remember at the Riverton Town Days how the various teams of firemen would come to the parks throughout the valley and have competitions of skill. Like a relay race but with fire gear. They even had a keg suspended on a wire than they played reverse tug of war with. Shooting it with the two-inch hose. Four men on each side pushing a keg towards the opposing side. Silly, but oddly fun at the same time.
Anyhow, I gotta go now. It's good to be back in town. I'm so thankful for the freedoms we enjoy. I know it's trite, it's been said a thousand times, but I do believe it. I love this nation. I love the way that American's are and think. I love how their selfishness melts away when their neighbors are in need. I had a great weekend. I have a great life. I love this community which I am a part of. I love that I have neighbors that are willing to do their part and ensure the safety and security of my family here while I may do so for them abroad.
OK, seriously, I have to shower now. I'll try and write again when the mood strikes. All the best to you and your's. Enjoy your night and hug your little ones. We'll see you sooner than later.
Always,
J
Anyhow, you're probably thinking I am going to write about our trip to Currant Creek. Well, yes and no. Let me sum it up this way, veni, vidi, vici. There? Questions? Comments? Concerns. Yeah, we swam, we fished, we ATV'duh, we ate, we slept, (we loved. *wink wink*), a good time was had by all. I let Josh drive the boat. Not just with me sittin' there either. I let him drive it around at the boat dock waiting for me to get the truck and trailer. His mom about had a conniption fit (is, "conniption" an actual word? It looks funny staring back at me). Anyhow, the kids rode the ATV, at more popsicles than humanly possible, downed cobbler, s'mores, played badmitten, Geezer Golf, just plain wore us out.
Worst part about the trip is I hadn't had time to recharge the airconditioner in Big Green, so we had to use the 2-60 Air conditioner most everywhere we went. But when you're only traveling at 20 mph, it just leaves you desiring more. Anyhow the dog got a haircut from me with scissors and she just looks horrendous. I ain't gonna lie to you. But it was hot and craft scissors or not, it was time. I even have a missing section of skin on my middle finger from cutting her hair with sub-par scissors.
So, now the best part of the weekend. No, not the "Gold" touch-car wash that I splurged on to wash the Creek off of Big Green, it was the fireworks tonight. See they're actually still going on. They are all around us. I guess the State of Utah lifted the moratorium on air-burst fireworks and people's patriotism has just plain grown exponentially as a result. We watched out our back window about seven major undertakings of private fireworks which would rival most small city productions. There are fireworks going off all around us. In the circles and burrows that are at the cardinal points of interest. These are nothing to shake a stick at either. These things really make a wallup and really send your heart to thumping.
So it started out with us doing our el Cheap-o fireworks ($20) in the front yard here. Yeah, the boring poppers and little whispy baby-girl ones. They're so sweet and delicate these little fireworks. But thankfully we didnt end up with snakes. Gosh I hate snakes. They're the dumbest fireworks ever. You pretty much end up stacking them into different shapes and lighting them just to get rid of them and try and make a four headed multi-color dragon snake thing. Anyhow, so then we did sparklers, which I hate even more than snakes. Mostly because it takes about seventeen matches to start the first one, then you're using the one to light the other, and six kids (did we somehow gain two???) are pawing at you for their now half-gone sparkler so they can write their names in the air before burning themselves on the leg.
So it was about this time when the big-boys and non-cheapo's started in. Also the firefighters began responding all around us. The sirens have pretty much gone non-stop. You know, that's what I actually wanted to write about, firemen. See, my dad was a volunteer firemen. He actually joined the fire department after ironically starting the ditch on fire in his back yard and it got a little out of hand. It took them so long to respond, that when he complained about it, (after having put it out mostly already with the hose) he felt compelled to just join the ranks. Well, my dad actually made it up to the Assistant Chief of Riverton City. Which, pretty much comprised all of my formative years between about 1979 and 1989. Well he was also a paramedic since they pulled double duty. He used to carry around this red pager about the size of four of my CrackBerries stacked up and all it would do would make this two-toned pitch. "Eeeeeeee ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......" And then you would hear a loudspeaker that would come on. At least I think there was a loudspeaker. Perhaps his pager in later years actually talked. But I distinctly remember. "Riverton respond, grass fire....12231 South 2240 West...." And off he'd go.
See he had this old white Chevy Scottsdale, yeah, you thought it should have skipped a generation...but it didnt. Anyhow, "Betsy" had a fireman sticker on the bumper which somehow allowed you to speed to the scene of the fire/incident. More often than not, he'd go right to the scene. If it was a fire, he'd have to go to the firestation and get his hurry-ups and coat and stuff. But usually the truck would already be on the road to wherever so he would end up at the house-fire in Ol' Bets'. Anyhow, I think he made five bucks a call. He'd probably waste that 25 dollar a month check on silly stuff like...puffed rice cereal, or a couple tanks of gas to take us deer hunting. I aint gonna lie to you, I think we were probably worse off than I thought growing up. I dont ever remember my dad wanting anything more than a sliding rear window for his truck. That's about the extent of his selfishness to be honest with you.
Anyhow, back to fireworks. So, I remember as a kid, for years and years riding the big red truck in the Riverton City parade. Oh it was great. Sitting up there on that hose bed, just watching people, the siren going, throwing taffy out to other kids. It was pretty much the life. But, once in a while, there would be a need to respond, and they'd toss all us kids off onto another truck and away they'd go.
So, Riverton used to have the volunteers put on the 4th of July fireworks show too. I still remember the first time they put it to music. Not exactly choreographed perfectly, but what do you want... Stadium of Fire? They had like a ten thousand dollar a year budget and that mostly went to selfish things like...well masks and oxygen tanks and stuff for the firefighters. I remember never sitting with my dad during the fireworks shows. Not until we were much older. Mostly because they'd be setting up and shooting off the fireworks, and there would be a call out. Half the guys would take off to the fire, and half would try and keep the show going. Once I remember the whole shootin' match was postponed an hour so they could go put out some house.
Dont get me wrong, I think that the fact that my dad was involved in civic responsibilities made me more appreciative and cognizant of my own. I will remember till the day I die the day he met us at the, "La Fonda's Restaurant" A little place on Redwood Road next to Sharon's TV and Appliance. Now a Jim's Family Restaurant is there. Anyhow, Sharon's had a backroom with naughty movies and I'd sneek a look in there as we went past the door trying to catch a glimpse...where were we??? Oh, anyhow so my dad met us at the restaurant. We were having the, "Nachos Grande" mostly because it was five bucks and my mom would get it and one large soda for all of us to share. Probably a, "Tab" to date this. Anyhow my dad came in. He'd been on a call. Seems two boys found a gun. It belonged to their dad. One boy, the younger one shot his older brother in the leg playing with it. The boy died and I remember my dad somberly saying, "I actually feel worse for the brother, it was an accident, and he'll have to live the rest of his life thinking about how he killed his brother." It really set in for me then. I remember him telling me how they'd responded to a call where a family excavation business had an accident. A trench caved in and the father cut his son's head off with the backhoe trying to dig him out to save him. Real rough stuff. Stuff I probably should have heard about. But it set in real well for me. These firefighters and paramedics really deserve a lot of credit. They do day in and day out what you wish you had the heart for every day.
I'm not gonna lie to you. I really thought I was going to be a firefighter when I graduated school. I took the written exam and scored a 94% and wasn't even in the top 200 applicants (of the 2000 that took it that year). So I didnt even get to take the physical exam. But, I was 18 and had my sights set on joining the Navy anyhow. That just sealed the deal. But anyhow, I think while I was sitting there tonight, watching the going's on I was thinking about a couple of things. Number one of course, God Bless America. No, I really mean that. I've been to 27 different countries and there ain't a one that comes remotely close. No matter how backward we're getting at times. Number two, was the pride when I hear those sirens. I know that some other kids' dads aren't going to be there to watch them do sparklers. They'll be full-time with the County Fire now of course, but those guys work hard so they can respond within minutes to your miss dialed 911 call when you're toddler finds you're phone unattended. Better yet, they'll be there when you're wife smells gasoline coming from the garage while you're on a long one hour run. It's a lot of fun by the way watching the fire truck pull out of the neighborhood and jogging in to find your wife in the circle on the phone.
Anyhow, I just wanted to take a moment and just get some of this out. I was so proud of my dad's service. I remember at the Riverton Town Days how the various teams of firemen would come to the parks throughout the valley and have competitions of skill. Like a relay race but with fire gear. They even had a keg suspended on a wire than they played reverse tug of war with. Shooting it with the two-inch hose. Four men on each side pushing a keg towards the opposing side. Silly, but oddly fun at the same time.
Anyhow, I gotta go now. It's good to be back in town. I'm so thankful for the freedoms we enjoy. I know it's trite, it's been said a thousand times, but I do believe it. I love this nation. I love the way that American's are and think. I love how their selfishness melts away when their neighbors are in need. I had a great weekend. I have a great life. I love this community which I am a part of. I love that I have neighbors that are willing to do their part and ensure the safety and security of my family here while I may do so for them abroad.
OK, seriously, I have to shower now. I'll try and write again when the mood strikes. All the best to you and your's. Enjoy your night and hug your little ones. We'll see you sooner than later.
Always,
J
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