Update

Uncle M "playing" with sparky

Well, I suppose I need to update you on just what has been going on lately. Since we last saw our intrepid explorers they (us) have been on many adventures. Last week was Wife's family's reunion (too many apostrophes?). It was Wife's turn to ramrod the shindig and decided to hold it at "Magma". It was a fun time and six of the eight were able to be there along with the 2 lazy 2 grands. Friday afternoon the bunch went tubing down the stream (merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream) and then came back to our campsite (yes, we camped yet again) and had a nice dinner (thanks again M). That night we all sat around and annoyed our fellow campers with good ol' times of songs and stories. In the morning we went to the big community pool and went swimming. 'Leenie wasn't too sure about all this water stuff at first but since there are three other cousins about her same age there and big floaty things to play with she soon got to liking it quite well. Two things I learned there are this: (1) Apparently many people have a higher body image then they should have and (2) many people seem to enjoy the "art form" of tattooing. a time was had by all and we departed to our destinations having had for the most part and if voted upon, a fine time. On Sunday we had the true privilege of going to Wife's sister's baby blessing (again too many apostrophes?), she (the baby) is real cute and was named after a Wyoming town (not the Capitol) and and aunt. A feed ensued and a time was once again had.

As for an update on the "Oggie Project", Oggie is running now and is waiting for some rubber that should be in tomorrow (Friday) once he has regained his feet a short and somewhat illegal jont up and down the quiet street is in order to determine his abilities to go and perhaps more importantly to stop. Once this is accomplished I suppose the next step is license and insurance (not in that order). Linc's prime concern seems to be the radio and is looking at upgrading the sound system.We have just gotten back from another camping trip this time with me and all my girls to the same lake South of here that we camped at a few weeks ago. This time it was in Wife's capacity as a YW leader with six YW girls (including our own YW). If you look the picture is of our first camp out (note Bearbait in the foreground) but I wanted to post a camping picture. They went canoeing (spellcheck doesn't recognize this word) on the lake Wednesday evening and again this morning and once again a time was had. We slept in one of the wards tents and had an air mattress along with a portable crib for 'Leenie (which she promptly didn't sleep in) and the set up was rather sweet, to coin a phrase. I managed to drive the canoe trailer down the dirt road and past the county construction crew that was starting to make it a paved road and on into town without incident.

I have learned a few things this month: (1) for the most part babies don't like camping. (2) mothers don't sleep while camping. (3) We have a too small tent. (4) Wife is extremely dedicated to her family and her God.

Oggie lives!

IT'S ALIVE!

Wheels

As we say good by to one set of wheels we say hello to an old friend. We have recently bid adieu to our "Gray Ghost". Our trusty van has gone the way of all cars that have the misfortune of falling into our hands. We have a person here in our environs that will come and take your non-functioning car free of charge. I suspect that I may be able to have gotten some money for it but it was worth it to me to be rid of the overgrown paperweight. With a great deal of encouragement from Linc, I have gotten "Oggie" out of the corner of our garage and an attempting to get it started. I took the battery from the van before it went on it's Oddesy of recycling and put it in our VW thing (Oggie). I needed to charge the battery and after some time I managed to get the engine to turn over. This is a great sign, this means that it is not a seized up engine. I have an airplane mechanic friend that told me it is likely a minor electrical problem. I hope that that is the case. I will have one happy fifteen year old when "Oggie" hits the road.

I just thought I would throw in this picture of Sterling S. L. Clawsen because I like the composition of it. G-man took the picture.

Oops!

Well it looks like they have changed what you can vote on so I guess the voting is over. It looks like "Braves field" has won even without you voting. Thanks for trying anyway.

Latest cause

The local high school is getting a new wizz-bang-golly-gee-neato "sports complex" and the local paper is having people vote for the name of this latest gee-aren't-we-something project. It is a new track (we need) and a new artificial turf football/soccer field. you can go to www.starvalleyindependant.com and vote. I like "braves field", in fact that is the name I thought of when I heard about the "need" for a name for our latest foo-fah. My town just got a pro golfer designed golf course and a "civic center" and are making plans to expand our "medical center" (the one that operates at maybe 10% now) along with all the other "we derive it" stuff. I just have to wonder about the old fashioned Idea of working with what you got and being careful with your or more accurately other peoples money. Anyway, why don't you go to the website and vote for "braves field" so at least the name will be no nonsense.

1st "annual"? Alfsboy and Wife family reunion

Linc self portrait
Chief fire poker
The only place 'Leenie could be set down. Note the bear bait to the left.

This was not the bag 'Leenie slept in.
Me, 'Leenie and bear bait
Sparky caught in a sneak
Must stay clean
Said Lake

We (my family) decided (Wife and kids decided) to go camping by a local lake Friday and Saturday. So after I got home from work we took off South after first hitting the local sporting goods store (owned by our neighbour across the street) and dropped over a Franklin for: 2 new reels (for Holl and G-man), a pole and reel (for Sparkey), a 2 day fishing licence (for me), an annual "student" fishing licence (for Linc), and various and sundry other items related to said trip. Our first choice camp spot was taken (the place was reconned earlier in the week by the family) we moved to second choice then settled on third choice. Once we got settled in we went fishing or should I say I went untangling. I went from one tangled up reel to the next for about one hour or so until it was almost dark. We watched fish jump over our line and all around our bate but nary a nibble on our line except for Linc. We retired for the night and Wife insisted that Angus be chained in between the two tents (the boys in one, the girls and me in the other) "for protection" she insisted. I guess Angus was staked out as a kind of organic alarm system and bear appetizer. I think she figured we could get away while a bear was busy with the dog or some other such thinking. He only barked three times during the night: 1:34, 4:43 and 6:03 AM. It was more of a "Hey, what'cha doin' there?" than a "You'd better get out of here."... Yes, I speak dog. In the morning we "broke camp" then went fishing some more. Have I ever mentioned that I am perhaps the worse fisherman on the planet and perhaps the entire solar system (you know they have found water on Mars). Well, anyway we had a good time and I don't like fish anyway, they have too many little bones. Everyone claims they can fillet them so there are no bones but I don't believe them for an instant. This was 'Leenies first camp trip and she had her own sleeping bag. It was two pillow cases with a blanket in between. Perhaps not the safest way to put a baby to sleep but she spent most of the night with Wife anyway. We did have the luxury of a sturdy air mattress that worked real well.

A humorus newspaper item

The caption reads:

Miscreants are absconding with our funds!!

Miscreants are abscond-

Woof! Woof!! Woof! Woof!!

Your warning was so much better than mine, Louie.

Well Raymond, it's just that with 'woof woof' they don't have to run to a dictionary first, you know?

I just thought the choice of names for the dogs was interesting.

... and what do you do?

A few weeks ago some people from AP (Associated Press) came by and took some pictures and interview some of the people at the plant and I think this is the result. www.deseretnews.com/article/content/mobile/1,5620,700239756,00.html I don't have a quote but perhaps I should think up a good one for the next time someone comes by.