Thursday, February 23, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012:
Denny accepted a teaching job at Hillcrest for just a couple of classes. He went at 9:15. I went shortly thereafter to Spanish Fork with the wire cubes/baskets. Sections of the freeway get really crowded and with the construction and weaving lanes, it can get mighty nerve-racking. For the most part, though, the ride was pretty easy today. Janell had a visiting teacher with her when I arrived, but my visit cut hers short and she gathered up her two kids and bid us goodbye.
Janell put the first package of four cubes together with Asher’s help and put them on the shelf of the boys’ closet. It was a good fit and did help things feel more orderly and left a lot more space. I gave my two-cents' worth on other closets and recommended a couple of things they can do to make them more efficient. There are so many wonderful closets in that house! Rylan got home from school and Tyce woke up from his nap. I was glad to see them before time for me to go! I said I’d come next week at 1:30. That way Tyce could be awake and we can work in his closet!
There was more traffic going home, so I didn’t find Stouffer’s Outlet in Springville – I stopped at one exit but it wasn’t the right one. Maybe next week I’ll find the place! I bought a roast beef sandwich before getting home, when I saw that Denny wasn’t home. I read my book, made some oatmeal cookie dough, and after eating my fill, baked the remaining dough into cookies – a dozen with raisens for Denny, a dozen with walnuts for me.
Denny had a 7:00 basketball game at church…Mark and John met him there. Afterwards he ref’d a game or two. Ashley and I visited and read our books together. Her music class was cancelled so she didn’t have to run off to school until 8:30.
I baby-sat John Olsen’s Spanish class at Hillcrest. For fourth year students, they certainly didn’t know much. I dropped by the mall to see if someone had turned in my pedometer that I lost last week. No luck.
I dressed for the game in case they needed me. A good thing. We only had six players to start with, compared to the dozen on the other team, so I was needed in the first half. Our team played wonderfully well and Mark and John were hitting critical shots all night long. We probably shouldn’t have won, but we did...and quite handily. We only had one ref and the game got quite heated a couple of times, but we all survived.
I stayed behind when I saw that there was only one ref for the next game and it was a good thing I did. I had been assigned to the 9:00 game, so it was quite the night! I treated myself to a PBJ sandwich and hot chocolate, brushed my teeth and put myself to bed.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012:
Denny headed for Alta High School at the same time that Jeanne stopped to get me for our mall walk. We had a good time and at the end decided to skip tomorrow. I think she likes the idea of a “day off.” I’m planning to drive down to Janell’s anyway and will appreciate the reprieve.
I was expecting my new visiting teachers at noon and used the morning to prepare the house for guests. I like having such an excuse to do a worthwhile job. I vacuumed, of course, but also hung up the framed art piece of words describing Denny and moved the framed picture of Christ to another spot in the dining room. I made a batch of poppyseed dressing and cleaned up the kitchen and vacuumed the upstairs. I dressed and dashed to the library for the latest White House Chef mystery, Affairs of Steak. Noon came and went without the visit of Bette Brown and Bonnie Thornock.
Denny had expected to be teaching the full school day, but it was only for half a day. He used the free time wisely, registering for the county refereeing he has done with the basketball program. Now he’ll get paid for the games he has done. He was sleepy when he got home and took a long nap. I went at 1:30 to Angie’s to begin working on the photo project she mentioned to me yesterday. Mark was there on his lunch break. He pointed out the nine beautiful new windows they had put in on Monday. I think Mark is keeping up the house. Every area looks so nice! He escorted me to the scrapbooking room and got the radio turned on to Hannity before he returned to work.
I recognized what Angie had described for me and got to work writing the dates on the backs of the pictures and then fitting them into the box marked 2009. Even though I stayed until 4, working continuously, I didn’t get more than July, September and October!!! I was glad to see the kids and Angie when they got home from school, then I was off for home.
Denny went to work out at the gym, and I fixed our dinner of mashed potatoes, peas and grilled pork chops for his return. He and Mark took time to bring in the headboard and set it up in Ashley’s room. It looks good and will be good to keep the bed frame from scratching the wall. Next I’ll be looking for cute curtains.
Ashley got home from work then, too, and it was fun listening to her talk about the people she works with at Prosperity. She is the only LDS employee, including the business owners. A new bonus incentive (“spiff”) was introduced today, a point system, which will give the winner a new Guess handbag and wallet. Ashley is already envisioning herself the winner! She is a valued worker! At 6, Stephanie came to get her to help stage tomorrow’s dance & music performance being held at Cottonwood HS auditorium. She needed Ashley to move from here to there on stage so Steph could choreograph the lighting, etc. They returned at 7 and Ashley dashed off to meet Jesse for some basketball practice!
Stephanie drove Denny and me down to Dupaixs' for a large gathering of family and friends for the reading of their mission call!!!!! We all signed in with our guesses. Steph wrote “tropics,” I wrote “Islands” and Denny wrote “New York Inner City.” I don’t think anyone guessed the correct destination – Philippines, Quezon, Public Relations. They will enter the MTC July 9. They are apprehensive and excited. The Public Relations aspect of the mission sounds particularly interesting to us. Their children living away from home were on phones throughout the room to hear the announcement. Cute! We’re excited for them!!!
After our time at the Dupaixs', Denny went to a practice at Browns with Max Dickson, Steve Morrison and Dad Collinson. The quartet is singing High On the Mountain Top for Doug Brown’s SS class this week. After that, he and Doug went across the street to give young Bruce a blessing—he has "walking" pneumonia.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012:
Denny was going to teach at Sunset Ridge Middle School in far, far West Jordan to teach English. He requested a salad instead of a sandwich for his lunch this time. We left the house at about the same time. I picked up Jeanne for our laps around the mall. Time just flies when we tell long stories…we each had long stories and the walk was great!
I phoned Jan to see if she felt like going to lunch today with Cheryl and me, but she relayed the message through Rick that she wasn’t up to it. I called Edie and told her that Cheryl and I are meeting monthly for lunch and wondered if she’d be able to arrange to join us, knowing that she babysits Debbie’s baby each day. She said that Jeannie would babysit when there is something Edie really wants to do, and she really wants to join us for a monthly lunch date. However, today Steven had a fever and she was going to need to take him to see the doctor. Hopefully, both she and Jan will be able to be with us.
At 12:30, Cheryl and I met at Kneader’s on 10600 South. The place was packed as, too, the drive-through line of cars!!! We sat at a table to talk until the order line went down to a manageable length, then we gave our orders – we both got a turkey/bacon/avocado sandwich and drink. They were huge and delicious!!! Cheryl brought the “book” that she and Rick had put together for their girls and the grandchildren at Christmas – it is really marvelous in it’s simplicity -- a profound exposure of who they are as people, with their written stories and testimonies and pictures of the two of them through their childhood and adult years. They have plenty of room to add more in-depth stories. We had a wonderful two hours together. It’s a good place to visit because no one seems to notice who has stayed a long time!
On my way home I stopped at Bed, Bath and Beyond to look for the wire storage cubes and asked a young employee who knew what I was describing and led me to them!!!!! I had given up hope of finding them and was thrilled to my toes and bought two packages, equaling 8 altogether! These even have moveable shelves.
Back in the warmth and comfort of home, I visited with Ashley and read my book, Buffalo West Wing. It was very exciting and I read until I finished it. I wonder if there are more…I will go to the library tomorrow.
After school, Denny stopped to shop at Ross in The District, looking for knee-length shorts. Andy had told him where to look! He came with two pair. Good goin’. Luke was brought over to the house so Grandpa could help him with drawings of soldiers of the Revolution for a report that Luke needs for tomorrow. While Denny drew, Luke colored. Denny had to rush because at 7:00 he was being picked up by Mark Johnson for hospital rounds.
Angie came with Lauren and Levi to get Luke just as Pres. Johnson and Elder Doyle were leaving! Levi mentioned that the family is addicted to a song, “Somebody I Used to Know.” They had read Ashley’s Facebook message to Andy, recommending that he listen to it, so Angie was curious and listened also. Then she shared it with the kids and they all loved it and know it and sing it together – Lauren pulled it up on her phone for me to hear AND see – 4 guys and a girl are performing it, playing a single guitar between them. It is a catchy, pretty song.
Angie said that she has a project for me to consider: she needs her photos transferred from envelopes to labeled boxes. OK, I’ll see how I do.