Palerock the sequal

(stock photo)

Wife and I went to Yellow Stone Friday as part of our anniversary celebration (18th). We left Friday after work and had dinner in the hole then drove on up to old reliable where we stayed over night in one of their cabins (one with a bathroom). We had breakfast and did some mandatory souvenir shopping then walked around some. We went out the West entrance and I've got to say we missed the crowds by about half an hour. We went on down to IF and went to the temple with some of our ward members then it was home for us. Linc tended the three youngest while Holl was in Kaspar(sp) for state track (she tied for 11th). As of Saturday night we were all united once more. Monday we got our garden in and visited our dads as well as Wife's grandparents and her aunt and my friend Tracy B. I talked with my friends mother and she said that his son was doing OK and that his wife has remarried but that her parents had taken their own lives last November. I can't passably imagine how tough that had to be on her!

Handy update

Having been requested to provide more info on the appendage, here you go. I had my stitches taken out today and have been to two sessions of therapy. I am getting some strength back in my thumb and my ring finger isn't "clawed" like before. My pinkie is still bent but in a very rakish manor. I may or may not remain that way I am told. I would add some character to my hand anyway. When people ask me what happened I tell them that I had an accident while branding Jackalopes. You will note that the picture is of a true Jackalope and not of a Jackadeer. Most pictures and head mounts are of Jackadeer. It is an easy mistake to make and many don't know the difference. Take a close look at the horns (not antlers) and you will understand the difference. It's subtle but many true Wyomingites can tell them apart from some distance away.

Regionals

The two oldest went to regional track today. Linc competed in the discus while Holl competed in the 100 M hurtles and the high jump. Wife and 'Leenie went down to Evan's town to watch them. Linc is new to the discus having started it this year as well as shot put because of a leg injury he was not able to high jump, long jump, triple jump or 110 M hurtle. He placed 12th over all in the discus. Holl was 17th in the 100 M hurtles with a fair time but she qualified for state track by placing 4th in the high jump with a leap of 4'11" which was 3" more than her previous best! There is much to be said about mental barriers. They can be just as real as any other kind of barrier. *note* the top eight in each event go to state track.

Update

'Leenie is ready to strike out on her own!

Frankenhand

Eleven stiches, three inch long cut, feels like a bad sunburn!

State of the hand

Well, it is done... I think. The hand was operated on and all seemed to go well. As you can see I'm all bandaged up. I need to have this thing on until at least Sunday. It hurts a bit but not real bad, about a 3. They gave me come stuff for the pain and wanted to give me stuff for dizziness and nausea but when I asked why the dizzy pills they couldn't say why. I took some of the pain pills and quickly learned why they recommended the dizzy pills. My pain wasn't bad enough to need the pills so I say skip it! This comes at a bad time for me at work (is there a good time?). We are developing a new gun and I had three months of regular work ahead of this new project and was just starting on the new stuff when this started. I think I can go to work Monday but I will need to keep my hand away from the oil and other chemicals that is my normal daily beauty treatment. I suppose I can program as well as direct others on our ongoing projects.

This has been added for it's cuteness factor.

Alf's boy needs a hand

For about three weeks now I have been having trouble with my left hand. It has lost much of it's strength and was hurting in the wrist area. I went to the Dr. yesterday and he thanked me for bringing him such an interesting case. I thought I would go in tomorrow and have a test done on my Ulnar nerve but Wife called at noon and told me that they recommended surgery tomorrow. So it's the knife for me tomorrow. I was wondering just what I was going to do with $4,000. Oh well, it's just my left hand, I mean it could be worse it could be my dominant hand.

leaping 5000 years

top picture: standing, second from left

bottom picture: standing far right

I'm reading Bro. Skousen's book "The 5000 Year Leap" and thought I would write for you the 28 principles he talks about in the book. I'm on #9

1. The only reliable basis for sound government and just human relations is natural law.
2. A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.
3. The most promising method of securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders.
4. Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained.
5. All things were created by God, therefore upon Him all mankind are equally dependent, and to him they are equally responsible.
6. All men are created equal.
7. The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.
8. Men are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights.
9. To protect man's rights, God has revealed certain principles of divine law.
10. The God-given right to govern is vested in the sovereign authority of the whole people.
11. The majority of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical.
12. The United States of America shall be a republic.
13. A constitution should be structured to permanently protect the people from the human frailties of the rulers.
14. Life and liberty are secure only so long as the right to property is secure.
15. The highest level of prosperity occurs when there is a free-market economy and a minimum of government regulations.
16. The government should be separated into three branches- legislative, executive, an judicial.
17. A system of checks and balances should be adopted to prevent the abuse of power.
18. The unalienable rights of the people are most likely to be preserved if the principles of government are set forth in a written constitution.
19. Only limited and carefully defined powers should be delegated to government, all others being retained in the people.
20. Efficiency and dispatch require government to operate according to the will of the majority, but constitutional provisions must be made to protect the rights of the minority.
21. Strong local self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom.
22. A free people should be governed by law and not by the whims of men.
23. A free society cannot survive as a republic without a broad program of general education.
24. A free people will not survive unless they stay strong.
25. Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations- entangling alliances with none.
26. The core unit which determines the strength of any society is the family; therefore, the government should foster and protect its integrity.
27. The burden of debt is as destructive to freedom as subjugation by conquest.
28. The United States has a manifest destiny to be an example and a blessing to the entire human race.

Obviously there are things going on today that go directly against these principles.

History, music and meetings

Wednesday this week was interesting. At 7:00 PM we needed to be in three places at once. Holl had a band concert at the high school. G-man had a history fair at the elementary and Wife had a YM meeting at the tabernacle. G-man had the assignment at school to report on a person in history he chose his grandfather who served in WW 2. So on the appointed night Wife went to her church meeting and 'Leenie, Sparky, G-man and I went to the elementary to see the exhibit. Holl was taken to the high school by Linc who went on to the middle school to help a friend with his fathers eagle project. We (the history fair attenders) walked around and noted the many persons of history. There were many presentations on Walt Disney, candy makers, black people, mountain men and sports figures. There was two exhibits on family members one was our G-man's grandpa. The exhibit was between two sports "heros". We buzzed on over to the high school and watched Holl's concert. While there Wife managed to show up in time to see Holl's bit and Linc was outside the hall keeping guard. All ended well and the last number was "crazy train" by Black Sabbath. Ozzie was spinning in his... what ever he was in at the time.