Our day in court

So last June 3rd as Garn and I were waiting at the light after getting gas at Costco and heading onto State Street a truck hit a van in the intersection right in front of us. Both vehicles almost hit us after the collision. It's 4 months ago so we forgot about it. Last month we get a supoena to appear as witnesses because the guy that got the ticket is contesting it. We get to the court about 1 pm for the 1:30 time. After waiting for a 1/2 hr. they begin with some other cases and then finally get to ours. Garn and I had to testify on the witness stand! It was cool but then it dragged down with the prosocuting attorney cross-examining over and over. Seems she didn't understand the traffic light patterns. She'd never make it on Law and Order! We got compensated for our two hours, a whole $18 each! We each had a headache when we got through and it was a simple red light citation! :( That's our court system in action!
By the way, Marin, Marcus was wondering why you and JR weren't at the corn maze with us!

The crazy corn maze

We had such a great time! The weather was perfect and it was only the second day so it was in perfect condition. My only problem was that I can't read a map to save my life! If I hadn't been with Dan and Misty and Garn I would still be there! McKy, Austin and McKy's friend Brad went off together and Devan and Mason went off together and that left Merrick and Marcus with the adults. We finally made it out and Devan and Mason had been out for some time. McKy and the other two were still in and after waiting a half hour Dan went in after them. They had decided to follow the other half of the maze reserved for the haunted part and got lost and cut through to another field altogether; at least that's the story they told. I think they just liked wandering around cutting through the stalks! Then the 11 of us went to Carl's JR for burgers, fries, onion rings, and shakes and had a great time! Our only regret was that we didn't have Mandy's family and Marin and JR with us. We kept saying how much they would have loved it and that it would have been easy to take Ali and the stroller through on smooth, dry ground. We miss you guys!!!

Umpiring

So, quite a few years ago I came out of retirement from umpiring fast pitch softball to umpire and help train the 8 and under girls. One reason was because I don't have to wear the chest protector, shin guards and face mask anymore. Most of the time I can catch or dodge the balls missed by the catcher because it is coach pitch and not so hard. This week the same batter kept throwing the bat after she hit. I warned her Tue. night and again last night (Thurs.) When she came up to bat again I moved the catcher back because she was so small and I thought she might get hit. I stood in front so as to protect the catcher and sure enough the batter flung the bat again and nailed me right below the knee. That was why I stopped umping before. I called her out but my leg still hurts today and has a nice lump (take the "l" out of the word "lump" and what do you get?) After the game I had a racquetball match so it was some time before I got home to ice it. (Luckily I won the 2 games of r-ball). Tonight we are going through the crazy corn maze with Austin, Devan, and Misty and her 4 boys. Should be fun ; I'll let ya'll know...Welcome home Sadie! (she went to a three day camp with her school class in Texas-Sky Ranch) I expect a report! Later....

September's Post

What happened to the summer? We had a BBQ for Labor Day and then I started back tutoring at the JR. High. I'm picking up a Chinese teacher from Bennion JR High each day and bringing her back to our JR High to teach. It kind of cuts into my day and I have to work longer at the end of my 3 hrs a day to make up for the missed time. Garn completed a Triathalon Sat. at Yuba Lake. He doesn't know how he did because the power went out and the stats couldn't be posted. I played in a Racquetball Tournament Sat in the women's B and was lucky enough to not lose a game and take first. Since I had slacked off over the summer I was a little sore, but most of the women I played said the same thing so we were all in the same boat. I've started back to my religion class on Tue. afternoons with Joseph Fielding Mc Conkie, son of Bruce R. We're studying the Book of Mormon. Last year we studied the D&C. He is so knowledgeable and interesting. I love his classes. I also started my early morning spanish classes this week every morn at 7:30. I miss Sadie and Haylie coming. It's sad not to be able to touch base with them almost on a daily basis. Misty and I went to a Modbe blow-out sale Fri. at Thanksgiving Point. This year it started at 12 noon to 5pm instead of 7am to 12 like last year. About 200 more women were there this year with tons of kids and strollers! You couldn't move. Misty got a couple of swimsuits and skirts and I got some skirts and a pair of cool jeans. I even saw a girl that had grown up in our ward and is now married with 3 girls and 1 boy, Melissa Cutler(can't remember her married name). Last night Misty and her 4 boys and Mike and Marcie and their twin boys and her sister Micheale went to the State Fair. It was crowded since kids 12 and under got in free and adults were the price of kids: $6. That got all of Misty's boys in free. Garn and Mike and 3 of Misty's boys went into the "all you can eat ice cream" tent for $3 adults and $2 kids. Misty and I went to watch cattle rustling on the rodeo grounds and Austin, Devan,(Mike's twin 14 1/2 yr. olds), and Mcky(Misty's 12 1/2 yr. old) went off to look around as did Marcie and her sister. We saw the butter sculpture and it is always amazing. A lady here in Murray does it every year and it's life size with lots of detail. We went in all the animal buildings except I couldn't take the pig smell and said I'd wait for the kids on the other side. Man those pigs stink! I felt like we walked miles! Misty drove since Dan was out of town. I think the kids really enjoyed it, especially Merrick, Misty's 4 yr old. He really loves to see the animals! Tomorrow I am interpreting at an elementary school here in Murray. I went to the Dr for a check-up yesterday and the dentist today for a cleaning and Thurs. we have all the carpet in the house cleaned so all that Fall stuff will be done! Til the next time.....Pat

Happy Labor Day!

Our latest company is gone

Garn's brother, Larry and his wife Pam brought their daughter Cassandra up from Manteca, Calif. to BYU for school this year and stayed with us for a week. They actually left Fri. morning at 8am to go home and we started packing for our trip in the motorhome to go trilobite hunting. It's been a busy summer so I guess going back to school for me will be like a break but I'm not looking forward to getting up early again. Larry is a diabetic who is legally blind and suffering kidney failure so he had to go to dialysis here twice. He actually said the dialysis unit here is much better than in Simi Valley, Calif. where he goes 3 days a week. He can't walk very well so negotiating our split entry was a bit of a challenge but he usually stayed either up or downstairs once he came in. We got Cassandra moved into a really nice condo across the street from the campus. She has 3 roommates who are all seniors and really nice. Since C is a freshman they are giving her all kinds of tips on how to handle her first year. She'll do great. I loved my time at the Y. Well, gotta get to bed, (ah, no dust or flies....see previous blog)