Irritated

Growing up in a conservative, Mormon household I was raised thinking the Kennedy's were on the right hand side of Satan. So it was with no small irritation that when I arrived at work today that I saw the flag at half staff. In the last few years my political persuasions have moved to a more libertarian view. That being said when Ted Kennedy expired this week, I reviewed my attitude towards the Kennedy family, and after researching a little, thinking about what I knew, and speaking with a co-worker from Boston, I have come to the conclusion, my parents were right! I know I have some relatives that will object to my aspersions, or think my political views shouldn't be shared on my blog...to them I say, to bad. If Joe Kennedy had been my father, I would still be in hiding, and after the GQ article on Kennedy in 1990, the fact that Massachusetts re-elected him is down right criminal. So I will have to look at flags at half staff today, and think how much I appreciate freedom and real heroes. Fortunately in this age of 24 hour news cycles, my pain will be over by Sunday!

Happy Birthday Emma Lou

Happy Birthday Emily! Yes, she turned 14 yesterday, and contrary to what her aunts may have told her, no, she can't group date!! But she can go to stake dances and she finally got an ipod. It was a rough 9 months with her 10 year old brother having one and not her (of course what 10 year old brother would rub that in?). So Happy Birthday Emily!!

My Dudley

Well, here he is, my Dudley, my doodles, my grumpy old man, my faithful doggy companion. No, I don't have any idea what his pedigree might be, he doesn't do any tricks, and he really isn't house trained. However, that being said, what he is...is my most devoted dog. Oh Tina likes me, but Dudley would lay down his life for me in a minute. He is the most devoted dog in the world, if I'm on the ranch and not in my house, you can know exactly where I am by looking for Dudley. Lots of time he will be laying right on the doorstep of where ever I am.

That's not to say he doesn't have his faults, he is a res dog. But at least he has the presence of mind to look a little ashamed after a morning of chicken killing, but I'm not naive enough to know he won't do it again. He doesn't like little kids, and chases cars on the street.

He tolerates Erik, likes Scott and Emily, but I think if the house were on fire and he could only save one of us, I'm the one he would drag out. I think it's because I saved him. I went to the shelter 8 years ago looking for a beagle they had advertised, and found him. He was sitting alone in a corner and had been there for 9 months. They told me he had come from Shiprock, NM and that was all the information I needed (because if you have ever been through Shiprock you know exactly what I am talking about).

He is getting older now, and his hips bother him, but he is still the alpha male of the pack and regularly puts Frank in his place. Some days he frolics with Tina and Daisy acting like a puppy, but since I don't know his true age and he seems to be slowing down a little, I wonder how much longer he will be my security detail. This morning I saw him lead the pack out to chase a couple does in the alfalfa field behind the house and that alone made for a good morning. So for now, I will just love him and try to be the person he thinks I am.

Watermelon Wizard

My sister's children and daughter-in-law threw a surprise (until about 2:00) luau for her 50th birthday. Yup, she is that old!!!! My assignment: make Aunt Lois' super secret recipe slushie drink and get my artistic husband to carve up a few watermelons. I was thinking a whale and a basket, but true to Scott standards he went above and beyond!!!!

It was a great party, everyone really enjoyed it... well except for the 180# pig that got roasted in a pit in the backyard!!

I Don't Want to Go Back to School

Alright, it isn't even my kids whining, it is me! We started back to school on Wednesday, and whether it was Emily starting high school or the fact that Erik did not have a great year last year, I have been seriously stressed about school starting. I think I just don't want summer to end, I love the relaxed, don't care about bed times, don't care if you do stay in your PJ's all day, think we can go to the movie on a Tuesday summer time fun. This summer has gone by way to fast and the way it's going, Christmas will be here next week. I want more time to just hang out with my kids, go to the rodeo, drive-in, or just watch Hannah Montanna some more.

This school business stinks!! But Emily and Erik were all geared up, couldn't wait to get there, is it time to go yet, anxious. Seriously, what happened to kids who groaned and had to be dragged to school? This anxious to learn stuff is concerning enough to consider therapy (not for the kids, but for me!). So I guess there is nothing I can do, but give them lunch money, a backpack full of supplies (of which they will use exactly half and bring the rest home in May to join previous years supplies), and send them out the door. They at least could act like they wanted to not go....at least for the sake of their mother.

Regatta Race

We have taken about 6 weeks off from scouts, but with the summer winding down, and school starting up, it is time to get back into the swing of things. We started with a scout activity this Saturday at our house. The boys came over and made the little balsa wood boat kits (designed for the smooth water of a rain gutter). We painted and glued, then headed down to the creek for a little race. Unfortunately these boats had a little trouble staying upright, keeping their sails, and remembering to float downstream! The cubmaster was a good sport though and followed them down, we only had three that didn't make it and after walking back up stream we found them hiding in the brush. I think a pretty good time was had by all.



Cub Master Lance "fishing" out the boats

An Unexpected Phone Call

Well, as I have previously blogged, the R.E. Whiting Reunion has sucked up a ton of my energy and planning this summer. As of Tuesday morning, I assured my husband of three things, 1) I would never again ask him to drive to Arizona for a family reunion 2) he never had to be "Dude Rascal" again, and finally 3) I would not volunteer to do anything for a reunion for a very long time.

We had both taken last week off, which was good, we needed it to recover from our trip to AZ. So we cleaned the garage, went to the Farmer's Market and generally relaxed around the house. On Saturday night, I was busy working on a baby blanket for a co-worker (hurrying to get it done before Sunday, so I wouldn't have to pick out the stitches with my nose for sewing on the Sabbath) when the phone rings, and Scott says, "It's for you."

It turns out the caller was a second cousin of mine, Christene Sowby. OK, that is a little weird, then she informs me she lives in the valley of the sun. Interesting, but still not dawning on me why she is calling. Then she informs me she is in charge of the "big" EM Whiting Reunion in 2010. At this point, alarm bells are starting to go off. (I had already told Scott I had no interest in attending and camping with a thousand of my closest relatives, so this is not great news.) She goes on to tell me how she had heard about my families performance at the homestead last weekend and asked if we would be interested in performing for the Friday night program, August 6th, 2010 (nothing like planning in advance). By the way, she wouldn't admit who had ratted us out.

So I told her I had a lot of people I had to check with, three sisters, a brother-in-law, a couple nephews, a couple of nieces and more importantly my husband. So after that I looked at Scott and he said, "I guess..." I go to my sister's (thinking at least one out of the three would say no) oh, they were all jazzed, and my brother-in-law had just been saying how he would like to go down to one of the big reunions. Grand!!! My hair was falling out just dealing with the "little" reunion, by the time next August comes I will probably be bald!! Scott is already talking about how he will have to make set adjustments for the outdoor stage (literally over 1000 people come to this reunion, and they can't fit everyone into the rec hall). Well, I have to go, I think I hear a Xanax calling me...