P&M Inc.

The Hit Man

2012-02-13T10:07:00.001-08:00

Melody's in Arizona playing with grand kids (Molly wants to know "why did not the other grandpa come"), so I took grandma (my Mom) with me to the stake Valentines activity for adults. It was a dinner/mystery theater thing that was really quite well attended. Over 400 people were there to eat Mexican food and watch a short, one act play during which an engagement ring disappears. The we had to make our guesses as to who took it and where it was when the play ended. Pretty Fun.

But we got there late, because on the way we were rear-ended by a hit-and-run driver. We were stopped for a red light on Hwy 99 at Franklin when "BAM" somebody slammed into the back of my Jeep! You can see the damage below. What you can't see is that the front seats are all messed up with the backs of them tilted back at a 60 deg angle, the way Rich likes to have them. Only they won't straighten up.

;;;;;;;;

The force of the impact threw us forward into the car in front of us (who turned out to be a member of the Church and former student of mine). It looked like the three vehicles involved all signaled and pulled over on Franklin, but after we got off the highway the driver who hit me wasn't there. Rats.

But as I'm on the phone with the 911 operator, a woman pulls up behind us and says: "I got his license, I got his license!" It turns our she was behind the driver who hit me, saw the accident, and followed the vehicle to get the plate number. When it became apparent that the driver knew she was following him, she broke off and returned to us. It also turns out that her husband is a lieutenant in the YC police dept., and she wasn't about to let this guy get away with anything! What luck.

Anyway, grandma and I are all right, and we have had fun at the dinner. Looks like I may be looking for a new vehicle sooner than later. I'll let you know how things develop.

Here at Last

2012-02-05T15:40:00.001-08:00

I hope I'm not stepping on anybody's toes with this, but I know Pam won't be updating her blog anytime soon, and I just couldn't wait. Below is grandchild number 10 (we're now even at 5 of each gender). A baby boy (to be named later), 6 lb 15 oz, 20" long born just before 7am AZ time.

Congratulations to Rob and Pam!

Saturday Feb. 4th

2012-02-05T15:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning I helped the priests and teachers in our ward understand orienteering (compass use and map reading), along with GPS navigation and geocaching. I did this in the river bottoms at Shanghi Bend. The day was so beautiful that I returned at about 2pm and ran 4 miles along the lower levee road (the one that runs at the foot of the levee between it and the river). I haven't run that far at one time in months! It felt great. Below is where we went geocaching, and where I started my run.

Later in the evening I watched a movie and finished the puzzle from Hades. It was a gift from the Butcharts for Christmas (so I guess I can blame Michelle for telling them I like putting together puzzles), and it was by far the most difficult puzzle I've ever completed. But now I want to do another, easier, one.

It's a beautiful scene cut - into 1000 pieces. But unlike common jigsaws, there are not well ordered rows of similar-cut pieces. Rather, there were extremely odd shaped pieces , sometimes weaving themselves into circles or waves. Many places in the picture had very similar colors so it was hard to distinguish which part of the picture they belonged to. There were also many pieces that looked like edge pieces, but were not. They just had one side that was flat because that's the way they were made. I almost gave up several times when I first started. But here it is at last. I may have it laminated - or I may just take it out in the back yard and burn it.

Groundhog Day in Yuba City

2012-02-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

So this morning I showed my students some Groundhog Day jokes (I usually start the day with a comic or funny video clip), and explained the background for the day. I even gave them a plot summary of the movie "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray and Andie McDowell.

I explained that the "moral of the story" for the movie is that if you treat people rotten and are only concerned about yourself - stepping on whomever you need to in order to get what you want, then you always have the same day: a rotten one. But if you treat people nicely, and help others get what they need, then every day is a new day. And a happy one that brings you what you want.

They're only teens and pre-teens, it remains to be seen if they get it.

Other Places Have Hills - We Have Wind

This afternoon as soon as I got home from school I jumped on my bike and made the 10.5 mile round trip to Boyd Pump boat ramp along the levee road. It was a nice, sunny day for a ride. . . or would have been except for the near 30 mph north wind. No problem on the way down, murder on the way back. Took me an hour!

;;;;;;;;

You can see my shadow in these photos of the river bottoms that I took while riding. The grass is green, but the trees are bare. And, of course, with all this sun, the local groundhogs certainly saw their shadows. We'll have 6 more weeks of winter - hopefully bringing some much needed rain along with it.

Blessing Day

2012-01-23T19:51:00.000-08:00

It was Chelsea's big day Sunday. We went down to be with them for the blessing and eat their food. Peter came from Rexburg and Saramarie came from Boise, with Adele. Below is the girl of honor.

She was a good baby, didn't fuss or cry I think the whole time we were there.

Here are the standard pictures of the family: Sabrina, Vuna, James and Chelsea;
then Sabrina, James and DonAnne and Dave Remund. Happy, happy people.

;;;;;;;;

These were two of my favorite photos. Sara, Grandma and Adele, and Melody and I with Chelsea.

;;;;;;;;

And here we have what I think is the best photo taken the whole day. Chelsea and Adele together on the easy chair. This was by far the hardest picture of all to get right. There were three or four cameras going and each one of us took maybe 7 or 8 pictures. Very few turned out as well as this one did.

Okay, I couldn't resist putting this one in. It just seems to fit.

Run Red Rabbit Run

2012-01-19T16:10:00.001-08:00

Last night I was looking through my photos of our trip up to Washington and Victoria and saw the one below. This is from the Sacramento Airport, which has gone through major renovations and added a larger, nicer terminal. It looks just like a big city airport now. There's even an electric shuttle that runs you out from the check-in counters and baggage claim to the security area and gates.

This big rabbit hangs in the baggage claim area, and was actually the last photo taken by me on the trip. It's a HUGE rabbit, nearly 3 stories tall. Out past security in the food court area they also have a big metal horn (looks a little like an overgrown sousaphone) that actually has sounds emanating from it. Not really music, just tones of various pitches and in various intervals. Interesting.

Well, this is what you get when I'm as busy as I have been, and there's nothing exciting happening. . . Big Red Rabbits.

Nothing Here

2012-01-16T13:27:00.000-08:00

Mostly, the "Nothing Here" means there has been no rain in the mid-valley since last October. The weather has been sunny and clear nearly every day. It does get really cold at night, and some days never get warm, but most days are very comfortable in the afternoons.

As for Mom and I, we are both well and back into the swing of things at work ans around the house. For our kids information (nobody else would care a lick) we finally got around to replacing our old wall thermostat in the kitchen. It's always interesting to see the technology changes from 56 years ago to today. The new thermostat has places for 6 wires, the old wires coming out of the wall only number two.

We started Ward Conferences yesterday with the Yuba City and Sutter Buttes wards. I'm taking a low profile this year, only speaking in sacrament meeting and adding a few concluding remarks in Relief Society. Yesterday's conferences were very good.

We're look forward to visiting with James and Sabrina when they bless their daughter Chelsea this Sunday. It should be a good day.

Just for fun, below is one of my favorite optical illusions. I just like looking at it.

Winner of the Best T-Shirt Award

2012-01-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

We saw a lot of fun stuff on our trip, including tons of shops selling clothing items with logos and pictures with sayings on them. Most were just typical tourist stuff, but the one below almost tempted me to buy it. I don't know why, but it just speaks to me:

CONFIDENCE is the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation.

One more...

2012-01-04T12:22:00.000-08:00

After looking through the rest of our photos, there wasn't much new to offer, so one parting shot will do. Actually, this really is our parting shot. We got up (relatively) early and walked down the block to the Parliament building for a picture of both of us in front of it.

We were truly blessed this Christmas season with being able to visit Michelle and her family, getting away to Victoria, and by receiving such wonderful gifts from our children and grandchildren. Thanks for being such wonderful kids, and making us so happy.

Victoria BC - 25 Years Later

2011-12-30T21:43:00.001-08:00

Here are some shots that you may (or may not) find interesting from our short trip to Victoria. Below is the bridge and forward compartment of the Kingston Ferry (which is just exactly like the COHO Ferry to Victoria, and all of the other ferries in those waters for that matter), then the view coming into the Victoria Harbor

;;;;;;;;

Mom wanted a picture of a sign or something the said "Victoria Harbor", but there wasn't anything like that, so I took this picture of the "Welcome to Victoria" hedges down by the harbor. It was early morning and the light wasn't very good yet.

Mom always does a great job or booking our hotels when we go places, and this was no exception. We expected to have a view of other hotels around us, but were pleasantly surprised with a view of the harbor. (One photo during the day and one at night.) Mom was thrilled!

;;;;;;;;

Here you see Mom on the ferry as we're leaving (with the hotel in the background). The rooms included free breakfast (here's Mom enjoying the second day's repast). It was pretty good food - but awful slow service. I think they attend to the paying customers first...

;;;;;;;;

There were lots of fun sights (and sites) to see. On the left is the Parliament building all lit up, and on the right is the Empress Hotel, where you can have "high tea" for a mere $80 per person. The funny story here is that 30 years ago when I first took the YCHS Band to Victoria for the Queen's Birthday Parade, Mom and I went into the Empress just to see what it looked like inside. When we got in, we found ourselves in the main dining room. I think everyone in the room turned and stared at us. Funny now - not so much then.

;;;;;;;;

One of the big events of the day was visiting the BC Museum. On the left is the Woolley Mammoth (which made sounds and everything), on the right is Mom and me in the museum gift shop.

;;;;;;;;

Did I tell you it rained nearly the whole time we were there? Well, we got soaked walking around seeing things like the harbor and auspicious looking buildings, but we had lots of fun. We walked across the drawbridge, "up street and down alley" (and if you know what musical that last reference came from, you have my respect because it's probably my favorite one).

;;;;;;;;

So we were walking past this place called the Market Square, and I saw this incredible yellow bicycle. I mean it was YELLOW! Turns out it was an advertisement for a little hole-in-the-wall eatery called "wannawaffle." We had already eaten, so we didn't stop - but that bike, man!

More photos to come. Maybe next week.

We had a blast.

Shadows of Christmas Past (not long past)

2011-12-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Day started in the Butchart's living room with the beautifully lighted tree (and the gate around it to keep the twins out). The snow flakes on the windows were actually made years ago by Trevor's sister, then preserved in contact paper for future enjoyment.

This was the one and only attempt at a family photo. It lasted about 3 seconds.

Jane and Elizabeth playing with the makings of their shopping carts (which had

"some assembly required") and getting into the spirit of playing with their gifts.

;;;;;;;;

Atticus' FAVORITE present was the garbage truck (he's in to all things trash) and playing with his Pez dispenser.

;;;;;;;;

Jane and Lizzie playing with stuffed toys. Eliza has Elmo, who sings and talks louder depending on how hard you squeeze his tummy (talk about irritating), and a baby that says "I love you" when you put it's hand to it's mouth (slightly less irritating than Elmo).

;;;;;;;;

Mom getting excited about her gift from Michelle - hand knitted Norwegian style mittens.

This was the clear winner of all presents. The cardboard castle! Rick Butchart and I put it together in about 30 sec. It's white so that the kids can color on it (which they have taken great joy in doing). Two windows, two doors, and four turrets (does that qualify for a syndrome?)

;;;;;;;;

;;;;;;;;

This is my favorite photo from Christmas morning. Lizzie found a candy cane (this is actually a special "War Heads" extra-sour flavored candy cane. She just couldn't get enough of it and kept wiggling it up and down to show her joy. Ah, the simple pleasures!

And finally, all my attempts to get a good picture of the twins (who were so cute in their Christmas dresses) were mostly futile. Here are the best of several really bad ones: Jane and Elizabeth.

;;;;;;;;

The Marsipan Pig

2011-12-24T19:27:00.000-08:00

Another Scandinavian tradition is marsipan! Marsipan is almond paste mixed with sugar, and formed into animals or fruit or whatever. On Christmas eve all the kiddies get a small bowl of rice pudding - and hidden in one of the bowls is an almond. The child who gets the almond wins the pig made out of marsipan.

So last week when Mom and I went to IKEA we bought a bar of marsipan, and today I formed it into a pig, painted it pink with food coloring, and brushed on an extra coat of sugar to make him sparkle. Oink! Oink!

Christmas in Seattle p. 2

2011-12-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

Today to get the kids (and ourselves) out of the house for a while, we took them up the street to a wooded park with a half-mile path. It was cold and damp, but we had fun. Elizabeth walked the whole way - Jane didn't walk at all, and Atticus was all over the place.

;;;;;;;;

To be fair, Jane doesn't walk well yet (she's talks much better than Liz) and today was a rough day for her from the very beginning. But we made the best of it. It was nice to get out.

Christmas in Seattle pt. 1

2011-12-23T19:06:00.001-08:00

This is the quaint little Bed & Breakfast place we stayed in while in Port Ludlow. The string of lights around the eaves, the warm light glowing through the bay window, the Christmas tree, the veranda that wraps around nearly the whole house - it's really a nice home.

But it's not a B&B, it's Rick & D-Ann Butchart's home. The inside is just as nice as the outside - mostly because it's full of grandkids. Trevor and Michelle are quite at home with them in this place. It's been very nice staying with them. Their hospitality knows no bounds, and keeping company with them is very pleasant.

POULSBO

;;;;;;;;

Yesterday we took the grand kids into Poulsbo, which originally had a large Norwegian population. The old section of downtown has a lot of Scandinavian shops, mostly the kind you can't take little kids into. But up the street were a couple of photo-opp's that worked out well. I parked Jane and Elizabeth in front of a mural with a Norwegian miss, and Atticus is on the same corner with Michelle next to a red phone booth - which are common in Scandinavia also.

The Beach

One morning we took the kids to the beach near the Butcharts. Not much of a beach really, mostly just the place where the water meets the land. Atticus and I walked a ways down the beach and found this little fort made out of driftwood. It's built up against the side of a hill, and Atticus kept referring to the incline as "stairs." it was some of the best weather of the trip that day.

Christmas Scenes

2011-12-18T19:11:00.000-08:00

Mom and I both had a REALLY busy week. Yesterday alone there was a baptism, a funeral at which I spoke, a trip to the hospital to bless and visit a friend, and two receptions. Today with meetings and other Church work seemed like a day off.

So to lighten the mood I took some pictures of our home traditionally and festively decked out for Christmas. For those who grew up here - you'll recognize the placement of the tree, Mom's mini creche exhibit (which grows yearly), the stocking hung over the archway with care, the Christmas bells (yes!), and the piano with a variety of Christmas time trinkets and gifts from others over the years, our favorite being the pig that oinks Jingle Bells, with a well placed squeal at the end.

Notice the CHRISTMAS hanging from Pam - Mom's favorite gift so far.

;;;;;;;;

The singing chipmunks, the nutcracker, the sax playing reindeer, the
colored lights snowman, the Christmas house, the candle in a cupcake,
the incense smoker - these are a few of my favorite things.

Deck HALLS and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
;
;
;
;

Stake Conference

2011-12-11T20:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday and today we had one of the best stake conferences I've ever been a part of. Each session was absolutely tremendous. Saturday evening and Sunday we heard outstanding remarks from three outstanding women in the stake. My counselors did a wonderful job, as always.

My 2nd counselor (Courtney McAlister, probably a distant relative) is an attorney and gave a masterful discourse on why others should feel comfortable calling us Christians. One of the great moments is quoted below. I really love this guy.

"Misguided attempts to label our view of the Godhead as non-Christian remind me of a joke that actually originated in a self-deprecating way in Trinitarian churches. In a slight revision to a well known scriptural exchange between Jesus and His Apostles, Jesus asked, “Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Logos, existing in the Father as His rationality and then, by an act of His will, being generated, in consideration of the various functions by which God is related to his creation, but only on the fact that Scripture speaks of a Father, and a Son, and a Holy Spirit, each member of the Trinity being coequal with every other member, and each acting inseparably with and interpenetrating every other member, with only a subordination within God, but causing no division which would make the substance no longer simple.”

And Jesus answered and said, "Huh?"

Fun Photos from Last Year

2011-12-11T20:39:00.001-08:00

At the Saturday Evening session of our stake conference one of our stake YW leaders gave each member of the stake presidency a photo album of them from our pioneer trek last year. I include mine here for you to have a laugh at.

My favorites are the ones of me fixing the handcarts, and me with my mouth open (as usual). It really was a fun trip.

A Day at the Cannery

2011-12-03T20:17:00.000-08:00

Mom had an assignment to work at the cannery doing Marion Berry Jam. I went down to see if I could help without getting in the way. They let me dump the 60lb bags of corn sweetener (3 each batch) and 25lb bags of sugar (7 bags) combined with 8 five gallon buckets of berries. I used a paddle to help it mix in, then I sat around until the next batch started.

Mom spent some of her time making sure all of the jars were full enough, but not too full. Spoon it in or spoon it out - they were all made perfect. Later she sat and tightened lids. We both looked cute in our hairnets and flimsy plastic aprons.

When the 3 hour shift was over they let me work one of the high pressure hot water (180 deg) hoses to clean everything off. Then they coated everything (even the electrical panels) with disinfectant and I hosed it all down again. Then I got to mop the front lobby. I actually kind of like mopping floors. It's easy to do and makes an obvious difference.

Afterward we drove over to IKEA and ate Swedish meatballs. That was a good way to end the day.