Eat More Beef

I was raised on a ranch. I even have photographic evidence, (I'm the one in the little red/white jacket standing while my sisters demonstrate their flanking skills). Growing up we always had a freezer full of beef. Sometimes, in my young and foolish days, I would ask my Mom for something different like hot dogs or chicken, "It's to expensive, eat your steak.". (OK, maybe she didn't phrase it like that) Anyway, now that I'm older and realize that I don't like to eat chicken (you know women are supposed to love the grilled chicken breast) I have finally learned to embrace my red meat eating self.

My recent study has proven a direct link between the decrease in red meat consumption in the US and the rise in politically correct, wussie, namby pamby, wimpy, whiney, pathetic inability of Americans to freaking take a stand!!! I was once told that one of the first things that the Romans did when conquering a country was to eliminate red meat from the conquered people's diet. This made them more docile and easier to rule. Interesting, considering the rise of popularity in our country for fish, chicken and pork. Having to deal with extreme anemia for the last year or so, and learning how I felt during that time, I am now inclined to see how a lack of red meat (iron) can make you feel pretty puny.

So my solution for this country and anyone who truly loves it, is to eat more beef. Perhaps if we all got a little more in our systems we would start to grow a set, and take on the lilly livered, peace at all costs, can't we all just get along, over aged hippies that seem to run the show now. Then we could pray at our city councils, not have a mosque at ground zero, we could have winners and losers, and stop apologizing for having an opinion.

I know, some of you are now thinking maybe I've been eating a little to much red meat! Well, suck it up cupcake, and go get a steak!

2010 EM Whiting Reunion

So once every 2 years, my extended family makes a pilgrimage to the White Mountains of Arizona. My Great Grandfather homesteaded here around the turn of the century and now thanks to the foresight of some other relatives this place has been saved for future generations. When I was growing up we always went down to the reunion, I remember my parents driving all night and then Daddy playing in the horseshoe tournament. One time our friends Jinx & Fern Everett drove all night too, bringing down a pickup bed full of roasts for a big BBQ. We all played on the rope swing and listened to my Great Aunt Elda's truly made up pioneer stories.

Over the years, we started going less and less. As the great Aunts and Uncles passed away, my Dad wasn't as interested in going back, he said he didn't need to go to the homestead to remember his family, memories are something you carried with you in your heart. Scott and I went to the reunion in 1998 (the 50th Anniversary of the first reunion). Then last year my cousin organized our smaller RE Whiting reunion to take place at the homestead. As mentioned in a previous post our little melodrama caught the ear of the big reunion chairwoman who asked for a repeat performance. So the majority of the Don Whiting Family headed down for an encore performance. Unfortunately I didn't have any pictures of the play, since we were in it, but hopefully there will be a few posted on the whitinghomestead.com website in a few weeks.


Here we are in a last minute cram session, trying to get through. Notice all the scripts? Yeah, we had a few on stage too. It rained like I never knew it could rain in Arizona, and since it was the big reunion we had to perform on the outdoor stage. The reunion outgrew the rec hall many years ago, and now there is a large outdoor stage in the meadow. This change prompted Scott and Allison, the younger, to redesign the set and create a backdrop. Scott managed to build and fit a bunch of modular sections in our little utility trailer. Once we got there on Friday morning he went to work, and with a bunch of help from everyone we managed to get everything up just before a torrential downpour. Everyone was worried about getting rained out, but I knew it would be alright. You see I talked to all my relatives on the other side, called in all my chips and knew that they would do everything they could to stay the weather. Well, they came through in a big way, and we had clear weather. I would like to say the play went off without a hitch, but that wouldn't be very truthful. We all forgot lines, Scott and Casey had to kneel in a puddle on the stage, Ma Jitter's kids decided to tag along, and Nancy's wig caught on the bar and started to fall off! But I think it was a hit, because the next day when I was coming out of the port a potty, I heard a little boy take in a quick breath and say, "It's Wildcat!". I'm just vain enough to let that make the whole thing worthwhile.
On Saturday it was time to take down the set (in between storm cells) and enjoy all the events of the Whiting Village that included candle making, branding, bull whips, sawmill demonstrations, and a whole lot more. It ended with the infamous candy canon that was a huge hit with all the kids.
This is what Allison got to do all over the very rough terrain for three days, she got a workout!

It got cold enough on Saturday night that we could see our breath, and it felt a whole lot more like October rather than August. Then the clouds came rolling in and it was pretty surreal.

Can Janna and Donna say humidity? We definitely could tell who had the natural curls!

We had a good time, mixed with some emotional ups and downs. What else can you expect when traveling, camping, and performing with your family? Overall, we had a pretty good time and while I can't say I won't perform that play ever again (I said that last year and look how that worked out). I do think we will go back for another big reunion. After all where can you go to a little cash store and get Aunt Mynn's fudge, Whiting histories, Fat Sister's Cookbook (a set of cousins), attend an auction and battle with your relatives for out of print books about your ancestors? I'm not sure whether I go for the memories or the shopping, but I think my kids like it and it's pretty good to learn all about those roots.

Wedding Dress?

No, she's not getting married, plus she will be really mad when she sees this picture on the web! The other day the local hospice thrift store had 100 new wedding dresses donated to their store. They had an awesome sale and this normally $700 dress was on sale for $50. There was no way I could pass up that deal, even if I didn't need the dress. It's a beautiful dress with lots of bead work and even Emily finally admitted that it was one she would have picked out. So now it will go in the closet, so if you know anyone that needs a size 10 wedding dress...

You Never Know

When I married Scott, he had the cutest backside. Sadly that has disappeared over the years, now when he is out working on a project in the garage and his pants start to slip down, he grabs whatever is handy. I have found twist ties, electrical tape and yes even this zip tie. Poor guy! I really have worked his butt off over the years!

To Much Time on Their Hands

I went to pick up my daughter last night from Young Womens, and needed to talk to a lady in our ward , so I wandered into the Relief Society Room. She was busy so I sat down by the door to wait when another woman from our ward came in to "talk to me". She told me that I might want to look at my daughters shirt, and not let her wear it again, because she was "practically falling out of it". I said, "huh", she went on to inform me that it would be better if she was at least wearing a bra. I assured her that Emily hadn't left the house without that, "Oh I don't think she has one on" she quickly told me. (Now bear in mind that this is the same woman that wore pants to Sacrament meeting on Scout Sunday, she's also only about 31) I informed her that Emily wouldn't leave the house without proper support, and didn't give her very much encouragement. She then told me that she had stood behind Emily while she was sitting down, and could "see everything". At this point I am more concerned with her same sex tendencies.

A few minutes later my daughter came in, wearing her t-shirt that barely came down to her collar bone, let alone showing anything else. Emily and I had a good laugh on the way home, seriously there are some people with to much time on their hands. I chalked it up to strangeness, but when I told my sister she was livid. So, now I have to keep Nancy from taking care of her, apparently there once was a couple who were concerned about my niece Jackie...

Bittersweet

OK, a few weeks ago there was a job announcement at Scott's work for a new position. It sounded pretty good, but did have shift work associated with it. Scott and I discussed it and he applied, stating that he would only accept the day shift. You see, for most of our married life Scott has either worked shifts or been TDY when he was in the military. So, now that he has a job with the same hours as I do, we have gotten really used to our evenings and weekends.

Well, about three weeks ago, the job offer came. He got offered the only day shift and things were great. We were so excited because of the opportunity. He was scheduled to start on August 2nd, and yesterday he called his new supervisor to clarify a couple of things. The supervisor said, "Oh no, the schedule is Tuesday through Saturday." That wasn't what the job offer stated. Now, Scott is the guy that can find all the hidden clauses in your mortgage agreement, so he had full documentation on the announcement and job offer. Well, after a bunch of meetings where the leads and HR all determined that they needed to amend his offer, he decided to decline.

We were so excited, and he scored so high on the application process only to decide that our 11 and soon to be 15 year old really need their Dad on Saturdays. So it has been a rough week, but we are glad that his choices were between a job he currently really likes and a job that might have been great too, in this economic climate we really can't complain to much.

Dance Fest 2010

WARNING: LONG POST

Last January we heard a small announcement about dance practice for a dance festival in July. I was so excited, "Emily, come on it will be fun." I said. "I don't dance" she said. I pulled rank and drug her to practices for six months. I even took her once when she had a concussion. It turned out they were doing the Charleston. Emily had a partner that dropped out about March, "Don't worry we will find you a partner." OK, it took until about two weeks ago, but her second cousin, Bradley Whiting, ended up coming up for the summer and was awesome for stepping up.

Then we needed a flapper dress, so with confidence I ordered one from ebay. It was awful, so we headed to get a pattern, fabric, and fringe. On the way home Emily and I had the following conversation:

Me: Emily, the pattern says it's an easy one hour project. Do you think I can do it in an hour?

Emily: No

Me: Do you think I could do it in four hours?

Emily: No

Me: Do you think I should call Sister Everett?

Emily: Yes

So, I called Sister Everett and she said yes, she came and took measurements I didn't even know existed. Then she worked and worked and produced an amazing dress, we can't thank her enough.

Finally the day of the 5 stake multi dance festival started. It was all day Friday with practices and a sock hop that ended at 10 pm. So by the time we got home and got her hair into rag rollers it was late...and she had to be back in at 6:50 am. She had some more workshops (it was a youth conference, so there were a bunch of classes on dating!), dress rehearsals and finally the show started at 5 then again at 7. Each stake had a different era, Grand Junction - 20's, Montrose - 40's, Meeker - 50's, Moab - 60s, Grand Junction West - 70's, with a big finale of around 700 kids dancing to We are Family!

Emily has allowed me to curl her hair exactly twice in her life, once when she was 4 and a flower girl for a wedding, and for this. I'll take what I can get, but she did get asked several times "Is that your real hair?" And Erik said Emily's hair, "Freaked him out".

Anyway, it was an awesome festival. The dancing was amazing, the place was packed and it was so much fun. After we got home I said, "Emily, this is the point where you say, "Mom that was awesome, I had so much fun. You were right, THANK YOU'" She replied, "I had fun, thank you for making me go to dance." OK that was close enough.