Week 12

Best names
Roth
Shaynee
Garnet
Latoya
Myrna
Rachelia
Kiva
Kamitra
Wiltonette
Teashae

Best places
Summerville SC
Romeoville IL
Big Clifty KY
Coeur d'Alene ID
Provo UT woot

Best foreign matter
fingernail
elastic

Best alternate names for a colon
decimal
point point
2-dot thingy

Best (worst?) prank
prankster: What should I do if I run out of bean dip?
me: Get more.
prankster: OMG you're so amazing.

Most obsessive caller
has called twelve times in the last 2 years. Wow she was interesting.

Best reasons to call
-to tell me about the monsoons in Arizona that are making your chips stale
-to ask WHY your chips are SO salty. Was someone getting FIRED that day or something?
-to tell me there are about 20 peanuts in your 7oz bag of Cracker Jack...is that not enough?
-to ask why your store doesn't carry Sunkist cherry limeade, then argue with me when I tell you it's not a FL product

Best thing overheard from my neighbor Karen
"Am I black or white? Does it matter?"

Letters
Dear Fritolay,
My name is Mercy and my best friend's daughter simply love the cheddar ranch flavor twist in the ranch mix munchies bag. In fact we plumb fight over it!! We are just a little town in Florida but have a big appetite for those little corn flavored twist!! We write to you because we would like a bag full of them!! I am sure that we are not the only females to like this treat. We work hard at a pharmacy where it is hard to eat. Those twist are not only easy to reach and eat but are extremely satisfying. Please let us know if this is possible or must we still fight for that wonderful twist.

Being a fan of your Cracker Jack product all my life...(I'm 72)...I was very disappointed recently...when I found your product unsatisfactory. I use them weekly in gift boxes & for all occasions, and was embarassed when a friend informed me that 2 of your boxes were inedible, were all stuck together in one flat sticky slab and that the 3rd box, was only 1/5th full. After that I checked my supply and there were others at well that did not "rattle" when I shook them. (I have an air conditioned home)

Miss Vickie's,
I feel like somebody made chips just for me. One problem--you spelled my name wrong it's Miss Vicki's. My name on the music circuit in my neighborhood since 1966. I was 21 then. I have always kept that name due to being married so many times. I play drums and sing. Now that I have retired from the "work field." I'm gonna start playing again. I don't have much money so I'd hope that you'd send me a couple of coupons. They are a little too salty but great flavor. I'm sold forever.
Thanks
Thanks Again
Miss Vicki
Don't care for hot.

I am writing this letter because it was the only way I thought I could get my thoughts to you. I have called your 1-800 number for two days and called your main office but was sent to the voice mail of one of your employees. NO SERVICE
My wife had a simple complaint about your baked cheetos with white cheddar. There was none on them..she has bought that peculiar verity since you started it's production. This bag had no cheese flavor on it.
I tried to take it back to Wal-Mart where it was purchased but they would not do a thing about it but through it in the trash.
If this is the way customer satisfaction is done at your company, then we can buy the infearior product where satisfaction is guaranteed.
Irritatedly yours,

Day 3: Grandma

We went to church with Grandma at Jamestown on Sunday and then spent the afternoon looking at her old pictures and chatting. It was good to see her...still the same funny Grandma! She had to introduce us all to anyone who came in the room. The pictures were great too--can't wait to get 'em scanned.
We also saw the Happy Hands Club perform! (Mom, Logan and me.) That's right--Preston, Idaho's very own Happy Hands came and signed "The Rose" as seen in Napoleon Dynamite, and some other things. Quite a few other things. They're actually really good. It makes me want to learn more ASL. Regrettably, I didn't have my camera, or I would've posted real HH vs Napoleon HH to compare.
After Grandma's we went back to Erdmanns' for dinner and dessert, when we met Danny's girlfriend. And Julie & Tanner came over. Their baby Caleb sure is a sweetie. Sorry, no pictures. We'll have to bug them to start a blog. My last hurrah was watching the three Work & the Glory movies in quick succession (Aunt Jean's recommendation) before snagging an hour of sleep and getting up to leave at 3:30. It was a very fun but tiring weekend.

Day 2: Blessing

We reconvened to Erdmanns' for lunch (Subway sandwiches and Frito-Lay chips--does it get any better than that?) and the baby blessing.
Olivia looked so sweet in Jenna's old dress. Feel her soft head.
I call it "American Logan."
This is what happens when Little Robby gets a hold of the camera...
and plays with the shutter speed.
Jenna got drenched running through the sprinklers.
Logan and I spent the night with R&S at Doris & Tommy's, where the boys took me down to Chinatown in Mario Kart.

Day 2: Temple Square

Saturday Logan and I played on Temple Square during the sealing.
It was so pretty with everything in bloom and not too hot.
Another Kaci-inspired shot.
Quail, anyone?
The Assembly Hall is one of my favorite buildings because it's like a mini-Gothic cathedral.
In front of the Conf Center.
At the North Visitors Center we saw a great presentation called God's Plan For Us. Logan fell in love with the Australian sister who showed us through.
I got a little self-portrait happy. Or maybe I should say Logan-and-me-portrait happy. I think it's getting to him in this one.

We took a mini-mini-tour of the CC--peeked into the auditorium and the room with the BoM paintings.

After a glance inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, it was time for more glamour shots. I'd like to thank the very nice girl who took this.
Studly, Logan.

And waiting under some beautiful trees for everyone to come out of the temple.
That's Logan's Asian/I'm being tickled face.
R & S and their family looked great but I didn't get any pictures of them on my camera so you'll have to keep checking their blog.

Day 1: Garland

On to Garland, where the gooseberries were ripe!

And the swing was calling our names!

It was great to see the little house again after two years. Aunt Jan's displays from her art show the week before were still up and they looked beautiful.
The bedrooms had quilt displays. There was also some other sewing, some of Grandpa's poems, family history stuff (like his Australia book), and some of Uncle Ron's gun collection. Aunt Jan has also redecorated the walls (like the one just inside the kitchen door seen above), put some pictures of G&G King on pillows, and ripped out the old carpet.


And Aunt Karla put in this rock path.
Logan gets credit for this one.
We had a great turnout for our potluck dinner...at least there were more people than I thought there would be. Here's Jessica's Hallie and Stephanie's Wyatt, Whitney & Courtney, the rodeo queens. Those four were chasing after each other the whole time.
Mom talking with cousin Elizabeth, Aunt May's daughter, who lived in the old house for several years.
Kent Church's dog Brody, who was very well-behaved. Not like some dogs we know.
Jessica's baby Garrison.
Uncle Yale and Dad shootin' the breeze.
Wyatt running away from me. I wish I had gotten cuter pictures of the children. They are really cute.
Raelyn's daughter Addilyn (sp?)
Marci's baby Garrett
Stephanie's baby Oakley
I don't remember his name, but this little guy (Raelyn's younger one) was being a shameless flirt. So funny. Complete rundown on attendance, as far as I recall: Ron & Sharon, Bruce & Roxana, Yale, Sharol & Ray, Karla, cousin Elizabeth, Jessica & Gary and Hallie, little brother & Garrison; Stephanie and Whitney, Courtney, Wyatt & Oakley; Marci and Zachary, Wyatt, Lacey & Garrett; Raelyn & Matt and Addilyn & little bro; Kolony and her children; Kristen and her children; Kent Church; Holly and her youngest Joel; Robyn & Trapper and Dax & Avery. And the four of us. Names are escaping me here.
Oh yeah, Logan and I got to drive the four-wheeler. :)

Day 1: Eden

We're back from our weekend trip to Utah and it was a huge success! Acknowledgements to Mom & Dad for letting Logan and me tag along, to Mom & Dad for getting me urgent medical care when I needed it (not quite as urgent as it should've been, but that's ok, I'm still here), to Robby & Sharon for providing us a good excuse to go, and to the Erdmanns, Howes, and Tommy & Doris for their hospitality.
I was really excited to be on a plane with someone else for a change--three someone elses, actually. The last time that happened was three years ago when I flew to Utah with Kristin and her fam for a BYU camp. Before that I think it was when Kaci and I flew to Utah for spring break when I was about 11.
After getting a late start on Friday (my fault) we drove up to Eden and stopped by Mom's cousin Jan and her husband Richard's place. Sooo pretty. Logan got a little camera-happy...he took most of these.




My face was still a little puffy (although Logan said he thought I looked good in this picture...thanks for the thought dude).
I take full credit for this one. Kaci, you inspired me.
And this one.
And this one.
On one of the steps going down to the little nook seen above: Sept 29, 1949.