WmSteele

The Old Mission Home

2011-10-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

We entered the Mission Home Training Center for our two week stay prior to departing for our assignments. The mission home, made up of an old hotel near the corner of North Temple and State Street, was located across from Temple Square. My five room mates and I all shared a corner room overlooking State Street with a clear view of Apple Annie as she walked up and down the street in front of us taunting the missionaries as they came to and fro. I must admit some of us took to taunting her back and throwing apples at her from the windows on the second floor.

All six of us where departing for the same mission including Don. Don like myself was the youngest sibling in his family. We had fallen out of contact for a few years but upon both of our mission calls, discovered we were both being called to the same mission on the same day. Darn that Sister Kinnelly who predicted we would serve together.

Don was not quite as organized as the rest of us and never bothered to make his bed up. We took to helping him (sort of) by making his bed one day. We really short sheeted him, when he walked in on us and quested, “what are you guys doing?” I had the duty to inform him his bed was closest to the door and always looked bad so we, as his brethren, were helping him. After closing the day that eve and with the lights out, it took him a while to figure it out why he couldn’t quite fit in his bed and just stood there looking befuddled…. Until we all bust out laughing.

After the two weeks of training in the basement of the Old Hotel Utah, (now Joseph Smith Building) we returned to our Host family (Davidson’s of Millcreek) the evening prior to our departure for the mission field. The evening, with weather changing and while jogging along the street with Don, I stepped into an undulation, tripped and landed on my chin, splitting it open. Wow, with blood all over my clean white shirt they rushed me back to the Mission Home, in a vehicle with a snow plow attached to the front, where the Mission President (an MD as well as my girlfriend’s Uncle) stitched me up. I was destined to arrive the next evening in Vancouver with a huge bandage on my chin.

Much has changed in the 40+ years since those days. Salt Lake has continued to grow outwards. The distant suburbs are now close in and once country fields are filled with new homes. Salt Lake would host the world with the Olympics in 2002 and Downtown would grow upward with many new high rise buildings. The store on the corner and the Old Mission Home, as well as the Desert Gym up the hill are all gone, making way for the Church Conference Center. The Mission Home, now called the MTC is located in Provo. My chin healed up. Don and I returned home married and raised our families. My mission home companion, Elder McFarland passed way the next year a victim of an auto accident and I would later meet his nephew as he served in my home ward providing information and pictures to his family. Life doesn’t stand still and things change as life rolls on. Make sure you write these memories down so they can live on for generations to come.

Puyehue, Andes, Chile, Travel

2011-06-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

When I was 9 years old, I recall having a foreign exchange student join our class who was from the far off country of Chile. I recall the teacher coming into our class and telling us that he and his family had fled the country when their entire city (Valdivia) had been destroyed by an earthquake (9.5 – largest earthquake ever recorded) that caused tidal waves that reached far across the pacific to Hilo and Waipio, Hawaii. I remembered learning not only about the destruction not only from the quake but also of the seven volcano’s surrounding the area that were rumbling and erupting. When Jake Mom and I traveled to Chile at the completion of Jakes mission we had the opportunity to see Valdevia (rebuilt) the surrounding farmland turned to marshlands after sinking 10’. We also traveled inland to observe the beautiful Andes mountains consisting of many sleeping volcanoes. Yesterday, Volcan Puyehue erupted again for the first time since 1960 spreading ash and rock as far as 100 miles to the east in Argentina. Soon the winter snow of the area will cover the ash and rock and all will be washed away in the Spring melt. Note the attached picture of the peaceful looking mountain that came to life. As you walk about in your lives, take the time to look around, smell the roses, take pictures and witness history as it takes place.

As always,

Dad

Lofthill Drive

2011-05-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

Lofthill Drive 1958 1959

When I was eight years old and as the city of Los Angeles expanded outward, my family left the city for the suburbs, settling in La Mirada, California. My dad would drive the old Santa Ana Freeway through traffic to downtown drop off my mother and then off to UCLA where he worked, and then back again at the end of the day.

Prior to moving, they looked at many of the new homes in the area ranging in price from $10 to $18,000, settling on the Cape Cod model half way up a hill at the price of $15,000. Having just moved from and apartment into this brand new home, I thought it was so large yet by today’s standards it was not.

My elementary school (Eastwood) was under construction just up the hill and as young men we would walk up the hill to the school site and slide down the un-landscaped hill on sheets of cardboard or plywood. The year was 1958 and we said that we were inventing a new sport we called skurfing. Many years later as my children grew, I learned of a new winter sport called snow boarding, which encompassed the same ideas and techniques as skurfing.

My first visit to the principal’s office occurred at Eastwood when I instilled fear in the hearts of my fellow students by spreading rumors of the dreaded Mr. Takamoto being a left over Japanese spy from war time days. In actuality, Mr. Takamoto was a handicapped gentleman who suffered greatly as an internee during the war. I can recall the signs advertising the new developments, “Vets, $1 moves you in.” Our mailman was another victim of the recent war in that he only had one arm. I was amazed that he was able to sort the mail in his bag with just a stump for an arm. Being so close the end of WW II we were in the midst of a huge baby boom with children in every home on the block. All of us children had a fathers who had served. They shared their stories away from our ears late in the evenings as they passed time drinking beer and playing cards.

Just down the hill was the Orange County line and the city ended with open fields and hills from there to Buena Park 5 miles away. The view was spectacular and every evening we would sit on our porch and watch the fireworks from Disneyland a few more miles down the Santa Ana freeway to the south.

The long block was often filled with the kids on the block having fun. The most fun being, wagon training. We would pull our wagons (everyone had one) to the top of the hill, tie them all together and start a run down the hill much to the horror of our parents. As a car would back out a drive way, we would turn into the hill and tumble from our wagons making horrible yells accompanied by laughter.

Times turned hard and my dad lost his job in 1959 and forced our move from the two story house back to a small apartment in Culver City. It seemed that it was so hard on my family that we snuck away in the middle of the night and just let the bank take our house back. Recently as I attended the memorial service for my nephew Chris. After 50 years, I had the opportunity to go back to the old neighborhood. The house is still there. The hill is just a small rise, our skurfing run is now heavily landscaped and the open fields are all gone. The neighborhood has grown up and a new generation of children now inhabits the hood. I wager however that they don’t have the fun that we had, way back then.

berdugo

2010-10-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked about growing up, the youngest surviving sibling in my family and suddenly remembered something my sister had told me about being so lonely at home with out a sibling closer than the 12 years separating my sister and myself (years would pass before Bob joined the family and gave me an additional sibling closer to my age) that I invented an invisible imaginary friend. Living in Eaglerock at the time, our most common road taken to shop in Glendale was Verdugo Road. My friend was named Berdugo after the street. My mother related my comical antics to a friend with whom she worked, and viola a song was penned about me and the friend. Thank goodness it never made it to the recording studio.

I’m a little boy who’s only four but wise as I can be,
For I know that mom wont spank me for the things that she don’t see,
For in my mind, I am inclined to have a friend,
his name is Berdugo and he takes all the blame.

I wrapped the goldfish in a towel for they looked wet to me,
Toothpaste Indians on the wall with a big chief like me,
Mom tears her hair and nearly swears for what have I to say,
I said Berdugo done it and he takes all the blame.

I’m a little boy who’s only four but wise as I can be,
For I know that mom wont spank me for the things that she don’t see,
For in my mind, I am inclined to have a friend,
his name is Berdugo and he takes all the blame.

I put glue in daddy shoe so it wouldn’t stretch,
Daddy told my mommy that he’ld like to break my neck,
For this crime I had to pay, though Berdugo was to blame,
So I got the licken and Berdugo took the blame

For I’m a little boy who’s only four but wise as I can be,
I know that mom wont spank me for the things that she don’t see,
In my mind, I am inclined to have a friend,
his name is Berdugo.... and he takes all the blame.

I am sure there were more verses but at nearly 56 years later, I cant recall them.

Hope you enjoy a laugh from this.

Bon Voyage

2010-09-25T05:14:00.000-07:00

My name is schkowteechk and was given to me by Emeelia Okigawa, a Tlingit shaman, the earth mother of few. A glaaka not, though biologically incorrect. As I served my mission, it was unfortunate that my biological parents were over 1000 miles away as this occurred and unable to observe. The name referring to the overseer of a boat or the one in front leading and guiding the way.

Since this occurred, almost 40 years ago, in the small Alaskan hamlet of Petersburg, I reflect back as to how appropriate the name has become. I am, as most are aware, the most miserable follower and usually move to the forward of any pack. Co-incidentally my patriarchal blessing states that I am, to be, a most miserable follower and will always step into a leadership roll. “Thou shalt always be a leader, and let me state more, other titles of leadership wilt thou have, in thy day and age in the world.” The world,… really?

Perhaps this has been to my detriment as I am very competitive in most situations and become easily offended if unable to take the lead. This has occurred in family, church and community and can probably be well documented.

The snow was falling heavy in the Wrangell Narrows as the captain negotiated the narrow crack between the two islands to bring the ship of many, safely to port with only the guiding light of continual beacons to follow and turn. The singular lighthouse beacon of uninhabited San Salvador Island marking the spot that Columbus stumbled upon what he thought was India, actually discovering the Americas. Angels gate at Los Angeles Harbor that separates the protected from the open sea and Santa Catalina only a few miles, but a different world away.

I have found that some of my most memorable experiences have occurred co-incidentally, as schkowteechk the overseer of a boat. Today as we depart, and sail down the Missippi, your mother will know where to find me as we leave New Orleans for the Yucatan and ports further south. My mind will reflect back to the insight of Emeelia Okigawa, the earth mother of few. A glaaka not, though biologically incorrect.

BonVoyage

2010-09-25T05:07:00.000-07:00

2010-04-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

K F W B, Color Radio, Channel 98. Eu E eu ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang, and oh yeah the One eyed one horned flying purple people eater… number one on the big hit parade. “Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by,” on the one band AM radio of my dads Black and gold 1957 Ford Fairlane… a HOT car with tail fins. It was the late fifties and early sixties, and I was growing up in Los Angeles. Pope Pius from Rome and Jimmy Swaggart from New Orleans were on the television preaching religion along with the Grand Ole Opry. It wasn’t Lincoln or Washington but some old guy named Ike who didn’t have hair, was the president. My aunt and uncle were democrats and they were supporting some guy running for president who was from Massachusetts and named Kennedy ( no chance of winning-Nixon the VP would win the race). Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon in, “The Seven Year Itch.” Hot stuff. Unfortunately that was adult stuff and I was just a kid.
I remember the night air on the Westside smelling sweet with the scent of night blooming jasmine, Sand dunes and salt flats on the way to the beach. It was only 6 blocks from my aunts house on Maxcella to Lincoln Blvd and the sand dunes where just across the road. (two lanes back then) cross the road and a vast playground for myself and cousins to play war and hide in the dunes and grass. When the rains came and flooded Venice and parts of Mar Vista, they just ran hoses down the streets and pump the water into the dunes and what was then wetlands.
Marina Del Rey (high priced real estate) now occupies this area now and the Pacific Coast Highway that actually ran along the beach back then became Highway 1 and was moved inland to Lincoln Blvd which was then widened. Later the Richard Nixon Freeway (SR90-Marina Freeway)would be built and link all this area to the newly built San Diego Freeway (I-405). These freeways as well as the Santa Monica (I-10) would soon be built. Dirt roads would be replaced with pavement and trees that had been planted would grow tall.

40th anniversary

2010-02-13T00:21:00.000-08:00

Other than a few trips across the Mexican border for fishing and scout trips, I had never really left the sovereign territory of the United States. My friend and companion Don Roberts whom I had grown up with, was able to catch the more direct flight even though he had mis-placed his ticket. The rest of us had to take the milk run by leaving first and arriving last. Stopping 1st in what appeared to be a frozen waist land called Boise, we flew on to Portland, Seattle, and finally about dusk we landed just off the coast at a place called Lulu Island and we were finally there (well almost finally there). The van ride was short to downtown where pictures were taken in a professional photo studio. (Lucky for me, as I had crashed and burned the night prior and had a bandage and stitches in my chin- they were able to cover it up well). Finally up the hill to Shawnessey Heights and the mission home and our long journey was over. Or should I say the journey had begun.
40 years ago today I arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia to begin my mission. Many roads would be traveled in the next two years. It is hard to explain the sheer beauty one had to endure, to labor in such magnificent surroundings. The memories etched in ones mind of wonderful people and experiences that stay with one forever.
Two years later, my last day in Vancouver at the bus station I would I observe the Canadian Olympic team as they were departing for the Sapporo, Japan Olympics. Upon arriving home in California I was able to watch some of the Olympic participants I had met just a few days prior. Today I sit before the television and observed the Opening ceremony for the Vancouver Olympics. A lot has happened over these many years, including participating in the Salt Lake Olympics. I found myself wanting to be their again as the caldron was lit and take part of the spirit of the event. Unfortunately we will have to enjoy the view from our comfortable homes.

Flight of the Commanche Flight of the Bird of Paridise

2010-01-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

My first trip on and airplane came at the age of 16, after driving across the US my adopted big brother, Ted Lyon, and I flew back from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles. I can remember listening to the stereo headphones playing the theme from the, Magnificent Seven,” as we landed for a short stop in Dallas and remembered the feeling for freedom and power to see so much in such a short time. Later that same year when my family flew north to San Jose to spend Thanksgiving with Aunt Anna I was already a seasoned flyer and always took the window seat to navigate the flight

When I was 18years old, while preparing for my mission, I flew a plane from Searchlight Nevada to Pine Mt. Utah. I worked for a construction company building The Lancaster II, III ward building and when the head electrician on the project (who lived in Salt Lake City, and commuted to and from Lancaster weekly) asked if we anyone would like to fly up with him for General Conference, I jumped at the opportunity. The next morning along with two other priests in my ward quorum (Arlo Blatter, Paul Cheney)we left in his Commanche Piper Cub four seater. An hour later we took a pit stop at Searchlight we continued north. Bro X (don’t remember his name) as the pilot, turned to me and told me he was tired and for me to fly the plane in the direction of the two mountain peaks in the distance while he caught a nap. Having never flown a plane before he gave me a few quick instructions told me it would be OK and nodded off. An hour later he awoke to find that we were directly between the two peaks and he re-established his control of the plane. Simple directions, and I few for over an hour in the small plane. We continued unscathed and enjoyed Conference that weekend. I would have the opportunity many more times that fall to fly with Bro. X and experience flying. I have since taken many an opportunity to find freedom in flying above the world and observing much the normal person can never imagine.

Recently Mom and I along with Jesse and Cammie had the opportunity to travel to Kauai and while there we visited the Kiliuea light house. A small historic facility only 80 foot tall and 31 ½ feet around with a kerosene light refractor on top that could be seen 100 miles out to sea. Historic with re: the Flight of the Bird of paradise which took off from Oakland California 6-28-1927. Charles Lindberg stated this more so that his own historic flight would be the greatest feat for aeronautics flying of the time, further than anyone, including himself, over open water to a select destination. Flying at a correct heading towards Honolulu they managed to miss Honolulu and the Hawaiian Islands by over 90 miles. Running short of fuel the co-pilot noted a flash of light to the south repeating at a regular interval. Turning south and flying 90 miles they discovered the lighthouse at Kiliuea, Kauai, and then turned east across a distance to land back at Honolulu.

Christmas

2009-12-25T21:54:00.000-08:00

A Christmas to remember
After 37 years of family Christmas’ experiences, this year was a little different with just the two of us being here at home. It was OK, and as you all have your own lives and families to consider, we heard from all of you through out the day with much to reflect on in our lives.
Rememberance from my past:
1960 Church groups collect toys, dolls, and hula hoops and then deliver them to our neighborhood (Hazelton Avenue). I guess we were considered an under-privileged community. Dinner at grandmother or Aunt Pat’s house would include the men leaving to raid the local Christmas tree Lot, (everything was free after midnight) so off they would go and bring back trees and wreaths that we would burn in the fireplace for a nice Christmas smell.
1970 – Mission, Ketchikan Alaska - What was supposed to be a White Christmas changed suddenly when it rained and melted the snow away. College students from all over, arrived home to spend the holidays with family. Being a small branch they gathered and provided memories and correspondence that still lives through today.
1971 – Mission, Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Plenty of the white stuff this year and cold -40. Drove to Kamloops on Christmas eve, eve, (Dec 23) to avoid morning travel in bad weather for district meeting. Arriving late for church late, (evening Sacrament Meeting) we snuck in the back door and grabbed the two closed available seats in the small chapel… just happened to be the Choir area however. When the choir stood, so did we, and though they covered for us well, it was probably the worst rendition I have ever heard of, “Oh Holy Night.” Spent Christmas eve with Part member family. Lots of fun tubing in the bitter cold. Next morning was Christmas and when we drove to the Indian reservation, we were the only Santa to many of the children.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas and please remember to make memories for your families.
Dad

The Airport

2009-10-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

WHEN DAVID DROVE ME TO THE AIRPORT IN DENVER MONDAY MORNING IT WAS 22 DEGREES WITH A CRYSTAL CLEAR SKY. THE AIRPORT (STAPLETON) USED TO BE CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN BUT IN THE 90’S D.I.A. WAS BUILT ABOUT 20 MILES EAST OF TOWN. IN THE CLEAR MORNING AIR YOU COULD SEE 10-15 MILES OUT ON THE PLAINS ALL THE WAY TO THE NEW AIRFIELD WITH THE ONE MAJOR HIGHWAY ARTERY LIT WITH THE RED TAIL LIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE ON THE WAY TO GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THE FLIGHT TAKING OFF ON TIME AT 7AM WAS PHENOMINAL. EVEREYONE SHOULD IN THEIR LIVES WATCH THE SUN COME UP OVER THE ROCKIES. THE GRAND CANYON WAS TRULY GRAND AS WE RACED THE SUN TO CALIFORNIA. SOMEWHERE SOUTH OF LAS VEGAS WE STARTED OUR APPROACH TO LAX AND SOON WE WERE ON THE GROUND. AS WE LANDED I NOTED THE SPANISH STYLE BUILDING TO THE RIGHT THAT ONCE STOOD AS THE WELCOME MAT FOR ALL ARRIVING PASSENGERS TO LOS ANGELES. YES THE OLD TERMINAL STILL STANDS AT THE END OF AIRPORT BLVD NEAR WESTCHESTER. HOWEVER NOW IT IS A TERMINAL FOR PACKAGES LEAVING TO TRAVEL THE WORLD. THE TERMINAL BUILDING LOOKS A LOT LIKE OTHER TERMINALS STILL BEING USED AT BURBANK AND LONG BEACH TODAY,….ONLY SMALLER.

I REMEMBER WHEN MY FAMILY, IN 1954, WENT OUT ACROSS THE OPEN FIELDS TO THE LITTLE AIRPORT, MEETING MY ARRIVING GRAND PARENTS. WE SEARCHED FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE HOURS UNTIL WE FINALLY FOUND THEM NEAR THE ONLY BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA WHICH WAS OUT DOORS. THE ONE MILE SQUARE AIRPORT, BORDERED BY CENTURY, SEPULVEDA, IMPERIAL, AND AVIATION BLVDS. TWO RUNWAYS WERE ALLTHAT SERVED THE LANDING AIRCRAFT.

NO FREEWAYS EXISTED AT THAT TIME OUTSIDE OF THE CENTRAL CITY. CENTURY BLVD. WAS THE MAIN ARTERY TO GET TO THE AIRPORT FROM THE HARBOR FREEWAY WHICH STRETCHED 8 MILES SOUTH OF DOWN TOWN (THAT’S THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TEHACHAPI HOUSE AND TOWN). NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT, CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON WHAT WOULD BE THE SEPULVEDA TUNNEL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE AIRPORT TO SPREAD AND STRETCH THE 3 & 1/2 MILES FURTHER WEST TO THE BEACH. ADDITIONAL INDUSTRIAL AREA NORTH OF CENTURY EXPANDED THE AIRPORT TO THE RUNWAYS WHERE TODAY PLANES LAND OVERHEAD OF WHAT IS NOW IN-N-OUT. HALF OF THE COMMUNITY OF WESTCHESTER AND ALL OF VISTA PLAYA DEL REY WERE WIPED OFF THE MAP TO MAKE WAY FOR THE EXPANSION.

AS CHILDREN WE WOULD RIDE OUR BIKES FROM CULVER CITY UP THE SEPULVEDA HILL PAST THE LOYOLA THEATER TO THE NEW AIRPORT. WE RODE OUR BIKES ON THE ROADS, IN THE PARKING LOTS AND INTO AND AROUND THE TERMINALS AND RUNWAYS. NO FENCES WERE REQUIRED BECAUSE ONLY SOME CRAZY PERSON WOULD THINK OF GETTING IN THE WAY OF THE PLANES THAT WOULD BE TAKING OFF AND LANDING. ON THE WAY BACK FROM OUR ADVENTURES WE WOULD STOP OFF AT WHAT WOULD BE DESCRIBED TODAY AS AN OPEN AIR SWAP MEET. AIRPORT VILLAGE SERVED ETHNIC FOOD OF ALL NATIONALITIES BUT SOON EVEN THE VILLAGE WOULD BE GONE, GOBBLED UP IN THE PATH OF THE SAN DIEGO FREEWAY.

SOON AFTER THE OPENING OF THE NEW AIRPORT, THE LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN, (MYSELF INCLUDED) WERE INVITED TO TOUR THE FACILITY. WE ALL WALKED THE TUNNELS THAT RAN UNDER THE RUNWAYS BETWEEN THE STREETS AND TERMINALS. THE PRICE TAG WE WERE TOLD WAS A WOPPING 16 MILLION DOLLARS (NO LOCAL TAX MONEY) TO BUILD THE PLACE. ALL THIS MONEY CAME FROM THE $1 CHARGED EACH PASSENGER’S TICKET TO USE THE PLACE.

THE OPEN FIELDS FROM DOWNTOWN TO THE AIRPORT WERE ALL SOON FILLED WITH HOMES AND FREEWAYS LINKED EVERYONE CLOSER TOGETHER. PERHAPS THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH ALL THE OPEN PLAINS BETWEEN DENVER AND D.I.A.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS HISTORY.

DAD

The Drive Inn

2009-10-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

WHEN I WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLD, I CAN REMEMBER RIDING IN MY SOON TO BE BROTHER-IN-LAW’S CAR IN A RUMBLE SEAT WHERE THE TRUNK WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. IN ONE OF HIS OTHER CARS I WOULD RIDE UP ON THE REAR WINDOW LEDGE, BACKWHEN THEY USED TO HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM IN THE FONT AND BACK OF MOST CARS. AND THEY WERE ALL MADE IN THE UNITED STATES. NO ONE WANTED ANY OF THOSE IMPORTS…. TOO CHEAP AND THEY WOULD FALL APART.

I CAN REMEMBER DRAG RACING ON SAN FERNANDO ROAD WITH MY SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW AND PULLING IN FOR A MALT AT THE VAN DE KAMP DRIVE IN. MOST PEOPLE REMEMBER MEL’S DRIVE IN IN HOLLYWOOD, BUT I CAN STILL REMEMBER A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER EATERIES THAT FEATURED DRIVE-INS WITH CAR HOPS ON ROLLER SKATES. ONE OF MY CLOSE ASSOCIATES AND PATIENTS AT WORK, DID A MOVIE ROLL IN AMERICAN GRAFFITI AS WELL AS A STINT ON HAPPY DAYS WHERE SHE WAS A CAR HOP ON SKATES. THAT’S THE WAY IT REALLY WAS, TURN YOUR HEADLIGHT ON WHILE PARKED AND YOU’LD GET SERICE RIGHT TO YOUR CAR. A&W ROOT BEER STANDS, BOB’S BIG BOY WITH THREE LOCATIONS IN PASADENA , GLENDALE AND BURBANK, VERY POPULAR WITH THE YOUNGER SET. DOLORE’S DRIVE IN ON WILSHIRE IN BEVERLY HILLS AND SCOTTS DRIVE INN, IN PICO ROBERSON WHERE STILL THERE BY THE TIME I MADE IT TO HIGH SCHOOL.

DRIVE IN MOVIES… DON’T EVEN ASK ABOUT MY GETTING ARRESTED FOR SNEAKING IN THE BACK GATE OF THE STUDIO DRIVE IN CULVER CITY. SOMETHING HAS NOW HAPPENED TO THEM AND THEY HAVE ALL GONE AWAY. THEY SEEM TO HAVE GONE THE WAY OF THE PUSH BUTTON TRANSMISSION ON MY FATHERS OLD PACKARD (WHICH I DROVE WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE) AND THE HELMS BAKERY TRUCKS TOOTING ALONG THEIR DAILY ROUTES. (ASK MOM ABOUT THE DONUT TRAY)

NOTHING COULD BE FINER THAT A COLD ROOT BEER IN A FROSTY MUG ON A HOT SUMMER NIGHT. THE $.05 COST FOR SUCH A MUG WAS SO RESTRICTIVE. BEFORE AIR CONDITIONING THAT THE ONLY THING WE COULD DO TO COMBAT THE SUMMR HUMIDITY.

AHH YES, I MORN THE LOSS OF THE GOOD OLE DAYS IN LOS ANGELES.

D

THE GREAT AVOCADO WAR

2009-10-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

AFTER LUNCHING ON A GREAT AVOCADO SALAD IN SACRAMENTO THIS PAST WEEK WITH MY WORKERS COMP ASSOCIATES, THEY URGED ME TO TELLTHE STORY OF THE GREAT AVOCADO WAR.

WHEN MY MOTHER MOVED FROM THE EAST COAST TO CALIFORNIA IN 1950 (SHORTLY BEFORE MY BIRTH) SHE ENCOUNTERED A GREAT MANY THINGS AS WELL AS FOODS SHE HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. OF COURSE THERE WERE ALWAYS ORANGES, WHICH WERE A REAL DELECACY FOR SOME ONE OUT EAST BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING NEW THT SHE HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED CALLED AN A V A C A D O! WOW. AFTER HEARING ALL ABOUT THEM FROM THE GIRLS AT THE OFFICE, SHE WENT TO THE MARKET AFTER WORK AND PICKED OUT THE BIGGEST AND GREENEST ONE SHE COULD FIND. UPON ARRIVING HOME SHE WONDERED HOW ONE WOULD EAT ONE…. SHE POUNDED ON IT AND IT WAS A HARD AS A ROCK SO SHE FIGURED IF SHE COOKED IT LIKE A POTATO OR CARROT IT WOULD SOFTEN IT UP, THUS INTO THE POT IT WENT. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO OF BOILING AND TESTING IT, IT WAS A LITTLE SOFTER SO SHE CUT IT OPEN. THOUGH A LITTLE ON THE TOUGH SIDE IT WAS OK AS LONG AS YOU HAD A KNIFE AND FORK TO EAT IT. INTERESTING TASTE. THE NEXT DAY SHE TOLD THE GIRLS AT THE OFFICE AND AFTER THE LAUGHTER DIED DOWN, SHE LEARNED THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE RIPE ONES THAT GIVE JUST A LITTLE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. EVER SINCE THAT DAY WE HAVE ENJOYED AVACODOS IN OUR DIET.

SOME 10 YEARS LATER AS THE FAMILY NOW RESIDED ON HAZELTON AVENUE IN CULVER CITY, UP AGAINST THE BALDWIN HILLS, MYSELF ALONG WITH A FEW FRIENDS DECEIDED ON A WARM SUMMER DAY THAT WE WOULD CLIMB THE HILLS TO SEE WHAT WAS UP THERE. LOOKING MUCH LIKE HUCK FINN AND TOM SAWYER WE TOOK OUT TO FOLLOW A WELL ESTABLISHED TRAIL THOUGH A NUMBER OF BACK YARDS. A HOUR OR SO LATER WE REACH THE TOP AND ENJOYED THE BEST VIEW IN THE CITY. YOU COULD SEE ALL THE WAY TO THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN, UN OBSTRUCTED BY ANY HIGH RISE BUILDINGS OR BAD AIR. JUST PAST THE CREST STOOD A HUGE CONVENT RETREAT, WHERE-IN THE NUNS HAD PLANTED AN AVACADO ORCHARD. INTERESTINGLY THEY NEVER PICKED ANY OF THE FRUIT. THE ORCHARD WAS THERE FOR WATERSHED AND SOIL CONSERVATION.

BEING THE INDUSTRIOUS YOUNG MEN THAT WE WERE AT THAT RIPE AGE, WE DISCOVERED THAT, 1. THEY WOULD MAKE GREAT WEAPONS. (NOTHING LIKE BEING HIT BY A RIPE AVACADO) BUT EVEN BETTER 2. THE HARD ONES HURT WHEN THEY HIT YOU. BEING THAT MORMON BISHOP REDD, LIVED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL WITH HIS EIGHT DAUGHTERS, AND DOCTOR GARRETT LIVED AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, WITH HIS FIVE DAUGHTERS A WELL WORN TRAIL EXHISTED BETWEEN THE TWO HOMES. A WAR PLAN WAS HATCHED IN OUR HEADS TO WAIT IN THE TREES AND PUMMEL THE GIRLS AS THEY WALKED BETWEEN THE TWO RESIDENCES. AS CONTRIVED, THE PLAN WORKED WELL AS THE GIRLS SCATTERED AND RAN IN ALL DIRECTIONS SCREEMING. BOY WERE WE MEAN. FOR A LONG TIME AFTER THIS WAR ENDED, WHEN OUR MOTHERS DISCOVERED HOW WE WAISTED THIS FRUIT, THE GIRLS TOOK A CAUTIOUS RUN TO AVOID ANY INCOMING BOMBS ON THE TRAIL. IMMAGE THE REDD GIRLS HORROR WHEN THEY SAW ME IN CHURCH A FEW YEARS LATER. MY GUESS WAS THEY UTTER SHOCK. COULD ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF HAZELTON AVENUE?

HOPE YOU ENJOYED.

DAD

MEMORY LANE

2009-09-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

THIS PAST WEEKEND I TOOK A SIDE TRIP ON THE WAY TO GRANDMA’S HOUSE BY WAY OF MONTECITO HEIGHTS IN EAST LOS ANGELES. I STOPPED BY A PLACE CALLED MOMS TAMALES ON PASADENA STREET THAT I SAW WHILE WATCHING DINERS DIVES AND DRIVE IN ON THE FOOD NETWORK. THAT MAKES AT LEAST FOUR PLACES I HAVE FOLLOWED GUY IN HIS SEARCH FOR GREAT FOOD AND MY FOOD WAS JUST THAT, GREAT. I ORDERED A HALF DOZEN TAMALES TO GO AND TWO FOR MY SELF THAT I SAT AND ATE ON THEIR OPEN AIR PATIO. AS I OBSERVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD I STARTED TO FEEL LIKE, “ I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.”

AFTER LUNCH I DROVE UP PASADENA TOWARDS FIGUEROA AND THEN I FIGURED OUT WHY IT LOOKED FAMILIAR. OFF TO THE LEFT WAS A NEW METRO TRAIN STATION WITH THE TRACKS ON THE OTHER SIDE. ACROSS THE TRACKS WERE SEVERAL OLD HOMES AND VIOLA! I REMEMBERED TERESA STREET LOCATED THERE.

WHEN I WAS TWO YEARS OLD WE LIVED ON TERESA STREET AN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A HUGE STREET WAS JUST A SHORT ONE BLOCK LITTLE ALLEY. I REMEMBER WALKING WITH MY SISTER UP TO FIGUEROA ALL THE TIME AND WE WOULD TAKE THE TROLLEY CARS DOWNTOWN TO WHERE MOM WORKED. THE TROLLY CARS WENT EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY AND THEY WERE SO FUN TO TAKE. I BELIVE THE CAR FARE WAS ABOUT TEN CENTS, AND OF CORSE I WAS FREE. TROLLEYS RAN ALL OVER THE CITY AND WENT EVERYWHERE FROM THE BEACH TO THE MOUNTAINS. MOST ROUTES TRAVELED DOWN THE MIDDLE OF VERY BUSY THROUGHFARES TO KEEP THE TROLLYS AWAY FROM THE CARS THAT WERE TAKING OVER THE CITY. ON VENICE BLVD. A HUGE OVER CROSSING BRIDGE COVERED THE INTERSECTION AT LA CIENEGA WITH A TRAIN STATION BUILT ON TOP. MANY YEARS LATER AS A TEEN AGER I LIVED WITHIN A HALF BLOCK OF WHAT USED TO BE THE TRAIN STATION. DOWNTOWN TUNNELS MADE THEIR WAY UNDER BUNKER HILL WHERE HUGE VICTORIAN MANSIONS DOTTED THE VIEW. THE ANGELES FLIGHT RAIROAD RAN UP AND DOWN BUNKER HILL TO TAKE THE RESIDENTS TO THEIR HOMES. THE FAIR WAS AGAIN TEN CENTS. BUNKER HILL IS NOW LONG GONE. IT WAS RAZED TO MAKE WAY FOR SOMETHING CALLE URBAN RENEWAL.

AS I APPROACHED THE AGE OF EIGHT OR NINE YEARS OLD, I REMEMBER THEM PULLING UP THE TROLLY TRACKS FOR A NEW AND IMPROVED TRANSIT SYSTEM WHERE THEY USED GASOLINE AND DIESEL DRIVEN TROLLEYS CALLED BUSES. I THINK MANY PEOPLE REALIZED THAT THE END OF AN ERA WAS CLOSE. SOON ALL THE TROLLEYS AND RED CAR TRAINS WERE GONE AND ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS BROWN SCARED DIRT AND WEED STREWN MEDIANS THROUGH OUT THE CITY. SOON EVEN THEY WERE GONE REPLACED BY ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC LANES FOR CARS AND BUSES. I SADLY REMEMBER THE OVERCROSSING AT VENICE BEING TORN DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR A FUTURE FREEWAY OVER PASS (BTW THE SAME OVERPASS THAT FELL DOWN IN THE 1994 NORTHRIDGE QUAKE).

TERESA STREET SEEMED LIKE THE LARGEST STREET IN THE WORLD TO THIS TWO YEAR OLD. THE PENTICOSTAL CHURCH LOCATED DOWN THE STREET WERE WE WOULD SNEEK AT NIGHT TO LISTEN TO THE HOLY ROLLERS AS THEY WERE REFERRED TOO YELL AND RANT IN THE NAME OF RELIGION, WOULD GIVE WAY TO THE NEW TRANSIT STATION OF TODAY. THE BIG STEAM LOCOMOTIVES THAT CHUGGED DOWN THROUGH THE CANYON AND ACROSS FIGUEROA WOULD BE REPLACED BY THE DIESEL SANTA FE SUPER CHIEF PASSENGER TRAINS AND LATER BY THE LIGHT RAIL THAT NOW RUNS TO PASADENA.

MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE 57YEARS SINCE, BUT THERE AGAIN, HAVE THEY? THE ORANGE LINE LIGHT RAIL FOLLOWS THE LINE OF THE TROLLEYS THAT WE USED TO RIDE AND PERHAPS SOME DAY, THE LIGHT RAIL WILL TAKE PASSENGERS TO ALL THE PLACES I TRAVELED AS A YOUNG BOY.

THANKS FOR WALKING WITH ME DOWN MEMORY LANE. (AKA TERESA STREET). AS ALWAYS,

DAD

I AM WHO I AM AND YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE

2009-09-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

I am today who I am because of the acts of many. I was raised by a single mother and three fathers who were a part of my life only for short periods. None of you can relate as you were raised by a mother and father. Though times were tough and many times moneys were not available for frivolous activities. You are today who you are because of the way we raised you. For the most part, you have all become decent, honorable citizens that participate in the lives of your own families and they will benefit from your efforts. Hopefully you have been a good example.

My birth father knew of my birth but didn’t bother to see me until I was about a year and half old. According to records on his death certificate he was married to another woman other than my mother. He led a double life with and had an additional family on the east coast. I can assume that he moved our small family to California shortly before my birth to hide us from his other family. I was born at home, two months ahead of the due date in Hollywood (121 ½ Rampart Blvd.- ½ block away from the 1st Tommy’s Burger stand) otherwise I would have been born in Dam Neck, Virginia. I can only remember meeting him once in my life. He died of a broken neck after diving into shallow water when I was 2 years old, with another woman signing his death certificate as his wife.

My second father came into our lives when I was five. A postal worker he envisioned himself as a movie star. He had appeared in the our gang comedies as the character Jacky (the boy with the crooked hat) as a child. His father, a camera man for MGM Studios when they had hand crank cameras, placed him in movies when he noted a vacancy that needed to be filled. Living only two blocks from the studios, he was a good close resource. His parents were English he was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada while his father was on location filming a movie. Divorce ended the marriage after 8 years when he could not accept their new found religion and alcohol took over his life.

My third father (Pop) was the savior of my mothers life and sanity. They married late in life and finally found the true love of which both sought for a long time. Each had baggage from prior marriages but both gained the companionship for which they needed. They were not the perfect couple but for better or worse, they are now, together, paving the way for the rest of us in the hear-after.

Recently I learned that perhaps, I was not the best father because I failed to be one who could listen, or one, whom my children could confide in. I caught the blame for that one child’s experimentations in life. I guess I thought by keeping a close tab on my children, being a tough authoritarian, and not letting you have a lot of freedoms that others may have had, didn’t work to make you into model citizens. I guess I failed because you all turned out so bad.

Well, so much for the trip down memory lane. Until next week.

Dad

another memory lane

2009-09-14T23:09:00.000-07:00

When I was five years old and living on Armadale Avenue in Eagle Rock my mother left for a few days and came home with a step father. His name was Gilbert Hugh Porter and he worked for the post office at UCLA. We moved soon there after all the way to West Los Angles. My mother gave birth to a younger brother about a year later however he died soon after birth leaving me the youngest surviving of my siblings. The area was largely rural or a least in the stage of being built up. Lots of open fields and farms stretched towards the Pacific only four miles west. My step father didn’t like to be tied down to staying home in our apartment so most weekends and available holidays were spent at the beach, fishing. Our week end travels took us up and down the coast of California, where I had the experience of seeing much of California prior to the growth that would populate every corner of the Golden State.

This weekend I had the opportunity of re-tracing some of my earlier steps as a young adolescent. Prior to Freeways being built that take us everywhere, two lane country roads ran from one end of the state to the other. Needless to say it took forever to get anywhere without expressways. Several wrong turns or detours off the freeway this weekend brought back the memories of the long drives of long ago. The city, if you could call it that, stopped at Santa Ana and the highway ran along the railroad tracks to San Diego. San Juan Capistrano was a small town across the tracks. 25 miles down the road. San Clemente had a few homes around the historic train station. One gasoline station and that was it. In San Diego I thought the Ocean ended because it all turned to mud. Actually I was looking at the southern end of San Diego Bay. The area south became Mexico but as far as I was concerned Mexico was on another planet.

Mom and I walked across the border this time and walked along the roadway shopping where most of the Americans waited in their cars to get back into the USA. We rode the trolleys to the border as well as ride to Old Town San Diego. This is the spot where the Mormon Battalion laid claim for the United States to the territory of California. Some of the buildings though modernized were built then and have lasted till now. A morning journey to the A gold rush town of Julian was special and on the drive back we ended up taking the PCH to slow the journey down. It was nice to travel what was a two lane road from San Clemente to Long Beach. What is now built up most of the way now, was just a few small towns separated by long distances. Near Seal Beach, which is still somewhat open space on the military base, I can recall mountains of larger round metal objects with spikes coming out of them. They were all stacked very carefully in a very orderly manner. I asked what they were back then and my parents said their were mines. I couldn’t quite grasp what they had to do with mines (?Gold Mines) until as I grew older I realized they were explosive mines left over from World War II just 10 years prior. There were literally millions of these mines stored for years afterwards in this area.

Well enough of a trip down memory lane. Hope you enjoyed the trip.

Dad

Peach Festival: Hurricane, Utah

2009-09-06T22:31:00.000-07:00

Had a thrill this weekend. After a long and hard week at work, full of stress and emotion, I left the office early on Friday headed to the Long Beach Airport and more stress. 150 of 150 seats sold on the JetBlue flight to Las Vegas. Though at the time I was number one on the standby list (it later changed to #2) I knew I was not going to make the flight. I even had an ace up my sleeve with an additional seat booked out of Burbank… But…. Holiday traffic was going to make it impossible to make the later flight on time. Then as if a miracle… 14 people who had checked in, didn’t get on the flight so I made it. In Las Vegas, a shuttle was waiting to St. George… I needed a weekend of fun and no stress and well on its way.

Got to ride on the Fire truck at the Peach Festival, with Adam driving and Daken, Ashlynne, and Paityn riding with as well. It was nice and just the break I needed. All of my worries and cares were gone. As I reflect back in my life, very few days can compare as to being as memorable. I recall being full of woe with a heavy heart about work problems and relaxing at big meadow for a few days stress break back about 1990. As I reflect on early married life with a small family I recall times stress and blowing off steam by putting a hole in the wall of the house we lived in on Avenue L-4 in Quartz Hill. As a child growing up I recall family stress happening but I don’t remember why. I do recall that as small as my family was (Divorced mother, married sister with a family of her own and a brother who lived his own life a coast away and hadn’t bothered to contact his mother or family for almost 20 years). Even as dysfunctional as we were, we coped and handled it together, and the stress passed.

I loved my mother and what she did to make sure, I/we made it. I am today what I am because of her dedication. I was afraid to do anything really bad because of how disappointed she would have been in me. Thank you family, for giving me a great weekend. Now at home for a day before returning to work, I am happy and ready to face the world for another week. Sad to see summer coming to an end, happily looking forward to autumn and the peace that comes from watching the seasons change.
As Always, Dad

Sayings of the the week,
“Life is hard… but its even harder if your stupid!” John Wayne
“What we obtain too easy, we fail to respect.” Unknown

again this week

2009-08-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

As I drove down hwy 14 this afternoon I was afraid of traffic and congestion that would be caused by the fire that has been burning in thea area. It was really interesting to see all the copters and planes dumping the pink stuff. At one point I witnessed a copter with a long cable and flares attached dangling from the bottom headed up the hill. I guess he was going to start a back fire with the flare to keep the fire away from Acton. To listen to the news, one would think that the fire was burning into the community....not so... just bad reporting. The fire was actually at the top of the ridge about 10 miles to the south. When I got to Grandmas, The fire had actually burned all the way around the north end of the valley from La Canada all the way to Sylmar.

This reminded me of when I was 6 years old. Our family had a small cabin in the Malibu hills that we would weekend at. I remember sitting in the car near the junction of the Ventura Hwy (Now the 101 Freeway)and Las Virgines Canyon road. We had been evacuated from the cabin and with the the fire at our tails we fled to the roadhouse (owned by Spade Cooley-another story). The fire came over the hill and burned towards were we waited and then suddently stopped. We all pulled into Melody's parking lot (resturant down the road) and had dinner. While there the owners came by to check on the customers. I met their daughter Melody (much older than me - she was 15). Her mom was real nice as well and after meeting her dad, we learned that he was a Mormon and a bishop to boot. They lived in Rudolf Valentinos house in the Hollywood hills and the Mrs. talked church with my mom. She told he to call the church and see if they would pick me up and take me to the Mormon sunday school. Wow, this was my first contact with the church and all because of the surrounding disaster. Eventually (six years later) the family was contacted by two stake missionaries (Elder Roberts -best friend don's dad, and Elder O'Rullian) and eventually baptised into the church.

Wow it is amazing how the memories come flooding back with just a little reminder.

As always, Me

this the week that was

2009-08-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

JESSIE AND CAMMI CAME DOWN TO SPEND PART OF THE WEEK WITH NANA. THEY SEEMED TO HAVE FUN EVEN WHEN WORKING THE SNOW WEDDING RECEPTION. SUZI CAME IN WITH KAYLEE LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND LEFT THE NEXT MORN WITH ALL THE GIRLS. THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE OQUIRRH MOUNTAIN TEMPLE DEDICATION TO ROUND OUT THE WEEK.... HOPEFULLY THEY HAD FUN HERE IN CALIFORNIA. JAKE CALLED TO SAY ITS GETTING HARDER TO STAY CONSENTRATED ON HIS WORK WITH ONLY 5-6 DAYS LEFT PRIOR TO RETURNING HOME TO ST. GEORGE. I BET RAQUEL (R2) WILL BE GLAD TO HAVE HER MAN BACK FOR THE TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE BIRTH OF THE TWINS.

SHAWN MCINESS SPOKE IN CHURCH TODAY AND ENCOURAGED US WRITE OUR JOURNALS SO THAT THOSE WHO FOLLOW WILL BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT US IN OUR DAY AND AGE. SHE READ FROM DAN'S FAMILY JOURNALS FROM THE CIVIL WAR. HERE WE ARE PRESENTLY LIVING THE HISTORY THAT OUR GRAND CHILDREN WILL BE READING ABOUT IN HISTORY BOOKS.

FLASHBACK JOURNAL ENTRY (DELAYED FROM 1963)
I WAS BAPTISED INTO THE CHURCH 29 NOVEMBER 1963 AT THE SANTA MONICA STAKE CENTER. SEVEN DAYS AFTER PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS ASSASINATED. MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR LITTLE LA CIENEGA WARD WERE MORTFIED AT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IT WAS ALSO SIX DAYS AFTER MY 13TH BIRTHDAY. ON NOVEMBER 22, 1963 AT FIVE MINUTES TO ELEVEN WHILE IN ART CLASS AT PALMS JR.HIGH SCHOOL, JUST PRIOR TO LUNCH, THE PRINCIPAL CAME OVER THE P.A. SYSTEM AND ANNOUNCED THAT PRESIDENT HAD BEEN SHOT WHILE RIDING IN A MOTORCADE IN DALLAS TEXAS. TWENTY MINUTES LATER THE P.A. CAME ON AGAIN AND ANNOUNCED THE PRESIDENT HAD DIED. I DIDNT KNOW HOW TO FEEL ABOUT THIS... I WAS NOT A KENNEDY PERSON AND HAD SUPPORTED NIXON IN THE ELECTION, HOWEVER LIKE MOST OF AMERICA, WE FOLLOWED THE KENNEDY PRESIDENCY LIKE WE WERE OBSERVING CAMALOT IN REAL LIFE. MOST OF THE GIRLS AT LUNCH WERE CRYING AND I LIKE MANY OTHERS I FELT THE LOSS. HIS STRONG LEADERSHIP HAD TAKEN US THROUGH ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT SITUATIONS IN AMERICAN HISTORY,(THE CUBAN MISSLE CRISIS) WHEN THIS COUNTRY CAME CLOSE TO A NUCLEAR HOLOCOST. HIS LEADERSHIP AND FACE TO FACE WITH THE COMMUNIST LEADER NIKITA KRUSCHEV CAUSED THE ENTIRE WORLD TO STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF LEVEL HEADS DIDNT PREVAIL. THE CRISIS ENDED AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS OF STRESS. NOW OUR LEADER WAS GONE AND WE WONDERED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT. PRESIDENT JOHNSON WAS NOW THE PRESIDENT. AS A YOUNG JUNIOR HIGH STUDENT I WOULD READ AS MUCH AS I COULD FIND OF THE ASSISINATION AND FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED.

2009-02-24T21:35:00.000-08:00

Mom says its about time I re-posted to the blog... but I really dont have much to say.... so.... here's a good joke I just heard.

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House in D.C.; one from Kentucky, another from Tennessee and the third, from Georgia. They go with a White House official to examine the fence. The Georgia contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. Well, he says, I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me. The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, and then says I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me. The Kentucky contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, "$2,700". The official, incredulous, whispers back, "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?" The Kentucky contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence." "Done", replies the official. And that, my friends, is how our government works!

Always... Dad

Politics in our life

2009-02-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

“We should all become involved in the process of Political activities, otherwise we will Abdicate power to those who’s desires are entirely selfish.” Gordon B Hinckley 1996, BYU devotional

The day after the presidential election I was asked if I was depressed at the outcome, since I had so obviously not been a supporter of the winner, and voted for the candidate that only mustered 47% of the vote. My answer, confusing to some, “No, I am not depressed, I participated in the process.” Why would I be depressed just because my candidate didn’t win. I wish the new president no ill will and hope that he is able to be successful and accomplish many great things. I pray that God will help him in his endeavors.” I will stand for my beliefs and help others to achieve better understanding and in the long run we will all be better people.

I am extremely surprised by many who voted as I, who are far too negative at the outcome. who’s thoughts, exhibit no hope or confidence in the future. It is as if all is lost and there is not hope. To these people I leave the following thought, When confronting life’s problems, have a positive attitude and vow to observe the following , Be Brave, be Faithful, and be True to your personal beliefs. A be supportive and through that support you will find comfort as with the entire world.

As Always,

Dad

2009 Travel and Vacations

2009-01-25T21:32:00.001-08:00

Well it has been a while since I have written anything to this blog, so I guess it is long over due.

To begin, Mom and I have our travel calendar prepared for the year.

Feb 1 Cedar City
19 Alpha Mtg – Newport Beach
21 Stake Conf
Mar ? St George – Anderson Wedding
? Possible Seattle Weekend
April early Utah – Visit Family
25 Alaska Cruise
May ? San Antonio, Texas
June ? Hawaii
July ? Hawaii if not June
Aug ? Synthias Wedding
Sep ? Seattle
Oct ? Possible NorthEaster Fall color tour
Dec 25 Possible Maui

Any changes or additions can be added by just letting me know what and where you want added.

As you may well see, we have booked the first big trip. April 25 we depart Los Angeles on the Norwegian Star for a seven day cruise to Alaska. Since it is a re-position cruise where the Mexican Riviera cruises are over and the Alaskan season starts, we are able to leave directly from Los Angeles instead of flying to Seattle to begin. Most of our cruise is at sea with our 1st port of call being Juneau, Alaska. We then sail inland passage to Ketchikan, Alaska and down to Vancouver, B.C. Ending there. Needless to say we are looking forward to the trip and it should be very relaxing. Oh yeah, the best part, the cost is only $63 per day per person…. Nice huh?

This does leave a few other options open for all of you, if you so wish. I still have two open weeks with Interval international that can be used this year, as well, one week timeshare in Honolulu, and an additional week in Las Vegas at the Tahiti Village Resort. The latter can be traded through Interval to anywhere else as well…. Please let me know if any of you need or want to use any of these weeks.

Well take care everyone… see most of you next week,

Dad

two words make good sense. read enjoy and feel proud

2008-12-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

Declaring "no mob veto," a full-page ad in the New York Times on Friday denounced the "violence and intimidation" directed at members of the LDS Church who supported California's ban on gay marriage. "When thugs ... terrorize any place of worship, especially those of a religious minority, responsible voices need to speak clearly: Religious wars are wrong; they are also dangerous," reads the advertisement paid for by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, based in Washington, D.C.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has come under fire from gay rights activists across the country since coming out in support of California's Proposition 8, an amendment to the state's constitution that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. In a statement Friday, church officials expressed gratitude to the dozen civil rights and religious leaders, ranging from Catholic to evangelical Christian to Orthodox Jew, who attached their names to the advertisement. "This was a thoughtful and generous gesture at a time when the right of free expression of people of faith has come under attack," said Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve, in a statement. "We join with those of all religious faiths and political persuasions who have called for reasoned and civil discourse on matters that affect our nation."
"We're about religious liberty," he said. "When houses of worship are being attacked, we're concerned. We're against violence against anyone. The fact that they are willing to step forward and, in such a prominent way, be so supportive is something that we haven't really seen before,"

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning

Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Prop 8 demonstration response

2008-11-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

Antonio Villaragosa – Mayor – City of Los Angeles
William Bratton – Chief – Los Angeles Police Department

Honorable Gentlemen,

A funny thing happened to me this week on the way to my working at the Mormon Temple. I was blocked from my assignment and threatened for my support of a political proposition. The temple had been closed by un hallowed hands by the foes to the passage of proposition 8. Though they exercised their right to demonstrate the outcome of the election, in the process, they decided to violate the rights of others. All this was accomplished in full view of the LAPD, challenged with the task of maintaining the peace. Some of the demonstrators exercised civil dis-obedience and in such committed hate crimes. By far the demonstration was peaceful, however a few of the leaders, by their speeches whipped the crowd into a frenzy and let their peaceful demonstration get out of hand. Though not the result of the organizers and participants of the events, they are all now guilty of serious hate crimes.

Proposition 8, in no way was about HATE….. simply stated, Marriage is only recognized as a union between one man and one woman…. Leaders of the, “No on 8’” were wrong to assert such hate in their post election and statements and threats…. Through their process to alert the public to their side of the issue, they promoted and committed the hate crimes. The association of a few rowdy members of their group, who knew no better than to throw a temper tantrum because they did not get their way, is deplorable.

To deface ones house of worship, be they Black, White, Yellow, Red, Jew, Catholic, Baptist or Mormon is a hate crime and for one to commit such an un-holy act should not go on un-prosecuted. To threaten members of any such organization such as the Mormon Church for their support of a noble cause with all manner of un-called for remarks is deplorable. To act unlawfully and seek re-dress because of the way a person voted, or at the least supported is just not the American way of Democracy.

The task to keep a demonstration peaceful falls not only upon the heads of organizers but also to LAPD who stood by and let what happened occur un-checked. This is not acceptable by a law abiding society. I was called a Bigot, only because I stood up for Marriage and the Family, as has been the cause of decent people everywhere since the very inception of not only California, but our Great United States. What about the others, including the 51% of the voters of Los Angeles County who voted and passed proposition 8. What about the 70% of the Black population of California who voted in favor of proposition 8. What about the vast majority of church going, voting members of the state, who also voted in favor of proposition 8. Should this have occurred with any other group of the populace, the action would not have been tolerated and immediate action would have transpired.

I love my country and state, but I do not love what I see happening by the failure of others to observe and defend the laws of our society. I am saddened by such leaders and peace officers, as well as yourselves, in the obvious failure to be fair and provide the appropriate and proper protection as deserved. In other words, I call on you to do your jobs and see that appropriate action transpire.

Sincerely

William J.B. Steele
Brentwood Village, CA

Happy with election results

2008-11-04T22:49:00.000-08:00

Well sorta happy. I would have loved a different outcome of the presidential election, however I can accept the out come. I am worried for Saturday Night Live. Their ratings will now drop because they dont have Palin to kick around any more. I am happy right now for prop 8 here in California as it looks like it passed. the attached article was just boosted from the Sacramento Bee and is pretty good with some comments following. Read and enjoy

Six months after the California Supreme Court sanctioned same-sex marriage in the state, voters Tuesday were repealing the landmark decision with 12 percent of precincts reporting. Proposition 8, the most passionately debated and costliest measure on the ballot, was ahead 56 percent to 44 percent.
The vote on the constitutional amendment came eight years after voters approved a referendum with the same 14 words: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California." In May, the state Supreme Court ruled that it violated the state constitution's equal protection clause. Since then, an estimated 17,000 same-sex couples have been married in California.
The campaign generated more than $60 million in contributions from every American state and more than 20 foreign countries. The Yes on 8 campaign - chief contributors were members of the Mormon and Catholic churches – who raised more than $28 million.
After trailing by wide margins in early polls, the Yes on 8 campaign narrowed the gap with TV ads featuring San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who in 2004 gained national attention when he issued a directive to city officials to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, became the face of the marriage ban campaign in mocking ads when he publicly stated, “The doors open now, whether you like it or not, its coming anyway.”
The next statement is in response to the above article is and is by my observation correct;
The reason why Prop. 8 will pass and Obama will win California is because of the African-American vote. Most blacks are huge supporters of traditional marriage and they believe the Bible. Obama helped to get the black vote out, which in turn was a big boost to Prop. 8. The Hispanic vote, to a lesser extent, also swayed Democratic for the presidency, but would be more for Prop. 8. Same with the Jews. Combine them with Catholics and Mormons from all colors of the spectrum, and you've got groups who have been persecuted and killed for their skin color and religion, all voting for Prop. 8 with the "No" side is claiming we're the haters. Sheesh! The true haters were the "No on 8'ers." Thank goodness, it looks like the good guys will win this time.

Additional comment from a gay couple; No! No! No! This is not about rights. The idiot that compares this against the old testimate is way off base. Bless his heart! This is talking about a behavior. It has no place in our judicial system. If you have strong feelings for someone of the same sex then protect yourself with the existing laws. Once you start getting laws passed specifically for you, then you are asking for preferential treatment and that is just another form of descrimination. My partner and I do not believe we need any more attention and descrimination. Get real! If we start passing laws for every feeling we may want we wont be free very long. Too much big brother already. wake up people! be careful what you ask for. You just might get it.

Hope you all enjoy.

Dad

this week

2008-10-19T21:50:00.001-07:00

This is the week that was…(I just showed my age… that was the name of a television news program back in 1963)…. Old right?

the week started with a fire burning up Lopez Canyon above Grand Ma's house in Pacoima.... It actually jumped the 210 freeway but stopped short of burning into the city. The smoke was so thick that it looked like brown fog as far away as Malibu and Santa Monica.

Other than that, the week was a great one… Kaylee wore out mom after staying for the week with both flying to Salt Lake on Wednesday… Now mom is watching Jon’s three chillins till they return from the Carribean. Mom attended church up there and Tyler found a friend from school so he ended up staying for the entire meeting block… this was un solicited, he actually asked his G-Ma to take him. I hope that Jon and Shannon aren’t too upset. I understand that Jon is also interviewing when he returns for a position in Eugene, Oregon. All this has been quite the task for an old lady…. Even though she can still beat Tyler in air hockey.

As for me, Adam and Rachel came home for his 10 year high school reunion… (Are we really that old).... Nice football game however. Adam reported that the final score was the same at half time as the final of 41-0. Young Peiton decided that she didn’t want to go to the game and spent the evening with me… of all people. It was a nice bounding moment…. Evidently she has developed a trust of her papa, strange as it sounds, she actually enjoyed her one on one with me.

Saturday we left early for a nice day trip to Avila and Pismo. I can remember taking a lot of these trips when you were all younger, however with gas being so high these days it gets harder and harder to take such trips. The Avila Barn was crowed with many pumpkin hunters but it was still very nice. Daken mastered the the Hay Maze by running through it four times… once was enough for me. They had put a tarp over the top for weather protection so it was kinda muggy inside and without being able to see the sky it was also kinda claustrophobic. Kinda… it was and then to top it off it set off my hay fever just breathing in the hay fumes. Now that will really make you feel old… the pumpkin ice cream was a good antidote however.

Splash Café made for a great lunch just prior to a romp in the Pacific…. I took pictures of Adam attempting to keep his family dry…. Very unsuccessfully… but I ended up leaving the pictures on the house computer. I will try to attach some of them later on.

Work was work as usual. A producer came in and asked for someone to come on set and put a cast on a patient in and emergency room scene for a popular TV show (Greys Anatomy) So one of the Docs suggested we send one of our cute girls to do the job…. What’s up with that? Any case she went off on Friday to film the scene… I would have loved to gone and just advised her what to do… since I am the most experienced tech in the office… Oh well just sour grapes I guess.

Well that’s it folks… that was the week that was,

TTFN

Dad

This week

2008-10-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

This week was short for work but a busy one to boot. Mom came down and spent the better part of the week a grand ma’s house, and I worked through Wednesday, and then went down to San Diego for the ACHD Medical conference. I had the unique opportunity to meet with Willie Brown who was supposed to speak on healthcare, but it was anything but. Mostly he pontificated on how the voters of California were wrong to have voted in term limits and in the process the speaker of the house assembly is unable to build the consensus to pass a budget… thus this year the July 1 budget for the state didn’t pass till the end of September. Oh well other than that it was good to get away. The weather was very hot towards the end of the week but cooled for the weekend and even rained all day Saturday. After I met up with mom and grandmas house we drove home after dinner at Applebee’s. Saturday I had the opportunity to work the Hospital Health Fair and ended up taking blood pressure and handing out emergency medical information cards for Emergency Responders.

Sad news… David was laid off from his accounting position due to the down turn in the economy and people not needing to utilize the services of the local accounting firm. He has placed a number of resumes out and even has one interview tomorrow with the Brian Head Ski Resort. Though it is only seasonal it will give him the opportunity to look elsewhere should he get the job. I also set him up with the Tehachapi Hospital who needs a good numbers person for their business office. I hope it all works out for them... Heaven only knows how much stress this will cause the family. I know they didn't need it and I hope you all will help out where you can.

Conference was really great this weekend if you missed any of the sessions you missed out on a lot of excellent messages. Five new temples were mentioned, Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Rome, Italy/Cordoba, Argentina, & “the Kansas City areas.” I found the last one to be the most interesting, most people didn’t realize that the Kansas City area is actually Jackson County Missouri. (very interesting… do you think that it could be at the temple block in Independence? As prophesized.)

Mom is at grandmas again and will drive down to Long Beach to pick up Kaylee this week. She will spend the week with Mom (mom is still trying to figure out what she will do to keep her busy for the whole week) and mom in turn will fly back with her next week to take care of Jon’s family while they vacation in Cancun….(take me with you) So all of you in the Salt Lake area, be prepared to see mom for a week or so prior to Halloween.

Well, take care for now and have a great week. It was good speaking with most of you today on the phone…. Well at least half of you.

Dad

P.S. Political snipe of the week attached, “Vatican Attacks Democrats as ‘a Party of Death’” An outspoken Vatican authority has issued a sharp rebuke of Democrats in the U.S., and party leaders Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, over the abortion issue. Former St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, who was named prefect of the Vatican’s Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signature in June, told the Italian newspaper Avvenire that the Democratic Party risked “transforming itself definitively into a party of death for its decisions on bioethical issues.” He said House Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Biden “while presenting themselves as good Catholics have presented Church doctrine on abortion in a false and tendentious way.” Pelosi was criticized by Catholic leaders last month for saying the Church itself had long debated when human life begins. (In whose bible and in who’s church was this ever considered? The Catholic church has always stated that life begins at inception and has never debated this fact). Senator Biden also supports abortion rights. Burke said pro-life Democrats in power are “rare” and complained that the party that helped “our immigrant parents and grandparents” prosper in the U.S. had changed so much over the years, Archbishop Burke also created a stir during the 2004 presidential campaign when he said Democratic nominee John Kerry, a Catholic, should be denied Communion because of his views on abortion.

It’s about time someone noticed the hypocrisy of these politicians and held them accountable for their actions. They say what that can to get elected or get ahead in their parties and forget where and when they came from.

quick trip

2008-09-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

Flew in on earlier flight to Las Vegas and just missed shuttle. Had to wait an additional hour and half and then had a slow shuttle driver on the way to St. George. Made it to Marshae's #1 Birthday party at 7PM... Was quite surprised to see that I was not the last to arrive. Enjoyed the party as well as the in n out afterwards. I actually went out to Adam's office and delivered a few to his crew as well. Saturday drove up to Cedar and went to Discovery park to enjoy the #5 birthday party this time for Joshua. It was great and then just kicked back and relaxed. Left with Mom and drove back to L.A. my car, and then grandma's for dinner. BTW it was also Jon's Birthday and we were not able to get together with him for a party.

I understand that we missed the thunder storm that was building up for a few days. Got back to the valley and it was 101 degrees hot. Got to Brentwood and it was foggy.

This week I have a meeting in San Diego to attend so it will be a short week at work. I was a little distressed because my replacement is actually our secretary and highly un-qualified. I pointed this out to our supervisor and her response was, we will have someone close to step in if she needs help. Yeah like that will work. I took a look at the patient load schedule and it is one of the worst I have seen in over four years (she's the one who scheduled it all). Lots of injections to prep, lots of pre-ops (she doesn't know how to do bp and take a pulse), and lots of other work. I guess they will get what they pay for. Makes me kinda want to look to move on to another place. If it wasn't for working for a great doctor that one can actually learn from I would leave in a minute. I guess I do need a few days off.

Well take care all. Keep up dating those blogs.

As Always... Dad

Busy couple weeks

2008-09-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

By now most of you are aware that mom made the monthly pilgrimage to Utah and is spending the week in St. George prior to my arrival this Friday. We had a fairly busy week in that mom drove down with me to Grandma’s house on Sunday. Drove back home in the van on Monday. Drove back down with me on Wednesday after the hospital board mtg. and stayed until I picked her up for date night (Soup Planation) and a stay at the temple apartments. Saturday morning we attended the Stake day at the temple and off to Missy’s shower and then finally back home. Kevin Grotts sealed the house while we were gone and it really looks pretty good with the new roof, new floors and new coat. All this and Mom left for St. George on Sunday. Whew!

By the way, I was re-elected to the hospital board with-out any one running against me,…… again. Quite the honor considering the community voted two years ago to support three additional M.D.’s on the board, thus making me the only non physician on the board. I threatened to not run this time but a few of the old timers told me that I was the only independent vote on the board and they wanted me to run again, if not, they would run me out of town on a rail…. Perhaps I should have taken them up on their offer.

Well this week is Jon, Marshae, & Josh’s Birthday. Last week Shannon and David had theirs…. And in two weeks Tyler has his 9th birthday.

Well I had best sign off for now… my next political letter will be separate.

Always,

Dad

Political Post

2008-09-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

Well, since my earlier political post seemed just a little too political, I have decided to continue with similar, with a little more positive note…. For each negative, I will now try to post at least two positives.

On Thursday, Susan Sarandon commented on national TV with re: Sarah Palin, “Jesus was a community organizer, and Pontias Pilate was a Governor." Did she really just compare Barak to Jesus and Palin to the person who murdered the Savior? Talk about calling the kettle black… oops I cant say that any more. Needless to say, it was not original, she stole the comment from a Memphis congressman who BTW is Jewish.

John Binkley, the former Republican state senator, who ran against her in the 2006 GOP gubernatorial race, made the mistake of under-estimating Palin's appeal, when he reminded voters that she was a little-known, small-town mayor and unaware of the serious issues facing the state. "I watched as she got into the campaign, worked and studied the issues. She really came into her own as the campaign progressed and she won not only the nomination but the Governorship. Needless to say, I am now a Palin supporter."

Former Sen. Mike Gravel is a liberal and sought the Democratic presidential nomination this year, he is staunchly defending fellow Alaskan, Sarah Palin, as the Republican vice presidential nominee. He noted that Palin, who became governor in December 2006 after serving as the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, “has more executive experience than Obama, McCain and Biden combined. Obviously she holds some ideological views that I disagree with, but McCain, in my mind, made a very good choice… “She has the courage to put integrity above party.”

James Carville (Democrat strategist) “The strategy the Democratic Party is using, too much reassurance, and not enough passion. Something that Palin does not lack.” –

With re: for Sarah, the negative comment from Matt Damon seemed to exhibit quite a bit of arrogance in his put down comment, that Sarah Palin is, “….like a… Disney movie…” What’s the matter with a Disney Movie? I can’t think of a more positive thing to say about a person… I don’t think he realizes it though.

I spoke with a Catholic Priest in the office the other day, who is supporting Barak. He told me that Sarah Palin is speaking in code with her speeches, speaking to her fellow Christians and Pentecostals, she communicates that she is one of us by saying she is, “Our servant and ready to serve.” To me, that just sounds warped. We all should think about being better servants and ready to serve our community and country in a truly humble way.

Hope y'all look at this lightly and can have a good laugh.

Just Dad

sacramento trip

2008-09-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

Meeting in Sacramento this week. Thank you Suzi for making the travel arrangements. It all went off without a hitch and I even got back to Long Beach and to the car in a timely manner. Mom wanted to go to the coast after arrival back but I am glad I didn’t get back early and get on the train to go over to the coast…. The train crashed head on into a freight train. I learned of this by watching CNN on the jet blue flight (At this time there are 18 fatalities). I had lots of kill time after the meeting so I went out on a drive. I didn’t exactly know where I was headed but ended up at the Sacramento Temple. I will try to attach a picture but not sure it will work. Any case, I was sorta impressed. The temple sits on a hill overlooking US Hwy 50 in Folsom. High on a hill with a nice park like setting, with a grove of trees close to the parking area and stake center on the same property. It is difficult to find if you miss the proper road, you will end up and a 10 mile round the block trip. Anyone interested in finding it can go east on Hwy 50 and get off at Hazel. Turn South to Folsom Blvd and then left to Alabama. Turn right and follow signs and road up the hill. Road turns into California Circle. (Do not go straight and into the Aerojet plant on Alabama). All and all it was great day.

Took y'all long enough

2008-09-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

It only took a week for most of you to notice that I had mis-spelled grandfather... That was done purposely. The following people have made me angry today.... # 1 Barak.9/9/08.. no matter how much you may deny it or say it was taken out of context... you called Sarah Palin a Pig and you know it. #2 Matt Damon 9/10/08 for saying if McCain is elected with Sarah Palin as VP it will a disaster. #3 Brad Sherman 9/10/08 for the comment, "Sarah Palin, White trash in the White House." He should know. #4 Joy Bahar 9/10/08 for her constant put down of Sarah Palin. I will not watch, go to, or participate in, or have any thing to do with any of them.

Surprisingly most of the people I have spoken to here in Santa Monica feel that Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air.

Latest survey shows prop 8 here in California loosing 51 /49 in defense Marriage here in California. We are all afraid that if it fails, all churches that will not preform same sex marriages will be sued and have property confiscated to cover damages.

Sorry this is so political today but thats what happening. I will repeat one more statement I heard today re: the election. Barak Obama... prey who the pig and who the pit bull? Share this with whom ever you like, and if you are offended... too bad.

TTFN

Dad

P.S. I am making a list of all the negative star power statements against McCain and Palin. I will not hesitate to use and publish it later on as one persons observation

family reunion

2008-09-06T22:22:00.000-07:00

It was great to see you all this past weekend. As well I am amazed we managed to get all six of you... spouses, and all thirteen munchikins. Has a great time and mom wants to make the Raging waters an annual event. We need to post the picture of the grand kids on the rafts if any of you have it.

Dad