Day Family Newsletter - March 2014

DAY FAMILY NEWSLETTER FOR MARCH 2014

We spent time babysitting throughout the month. Linda watched Katie’s kids (Jack & Sofie) one day and Stephanie’s Taylor another. Kaylee spent three nights sleeping over during her off track time at school (and Debbie started at a new position at American Express and needed help that week). It was fun having Kaylee over to do things everyday with Linda, both of us at night, and entertaining us. Then we babysat Jackie/Wiggin’s two dogs for 4 or 5 days while they went to Vegas for a Nascar race. We just had to go over once a day, let them out for their business, and feed/water them, pick up the mail/newspaper.

I interviewed for a new position with the Tax Commission, and start in the Taxpayer Services division next week. I’ll be answering questions from people or business owners about their taxes due. What I can’t believe is they actually hired a 68 yr. old man. I gave them a 5 year commitment, and consider it another calling in life. Or, as I tell some of my coworkers, it’s like going to work on hospice. Went to a co-worker’s wedding reception – they are headed to London for his work. They were married in the temple, and their names are Mark & Kathy Bailey. So if they by chance end up in your area Joseph/Alisyn, make sure to say hi for me. Kathy & I used to trade poems at work.

Debbie & Stuart celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary. Linda attended grandparent’s day lunch at Jessica/Sarah/Taylor’s elementary school in Syracuse. Linda and I went golfing one day at a local par three course. We attended Jack’s birthday party at a jump-around place for his 5th birthday. Katie/Bill had about 50 kids/parents there. Linda attended a “going green cleaning” party one night at Jackie’s house. We’ll be getting some “green” cleaning products.

I’ve been having some dental work done. Linda and I continue to read digitally. Linda’s been reading some novels suggested by Brent Wilkes (who lives in the Atlanta area), and I’m currently reading Moby Dick. We went to see Noah (the movie) – interesting, that’s all I’ll say. Linda enjoyed it. We also joined some of my co-workers at the DMV on a bus trip to Wendover last Saturday. It’s a day trip, very reasonable, and we had fun. Linda continues to recover from her knee – it just never seems to completely get better – it’s been almost a year now. Stephanie had us up for a great St. Patrick’s Day dinner complete with corn beef and cabbage – very, very yummy. Steph and the kids went on a camping trip this past weekend to Goblin Valley with her next door neighbors.

It snowed about 4 inches yesterday after being spring like weather for some time. Linda keeps busy with projects around home. She’s enjoying retirement (one year this month!).
And that’s the news for us for March 2014. Love - Tom & Linda

Day Newsletter for February 2014

February 28, 2014

NEWS FROM THE DAYS:

I just remembered some discussion about what we would call the newsletter – can’t remember a final decision, so I’m going with News From The Days. February started off with a haircut and Cal Wardrup’s funeral. Not that they go together, but there they were on the calendar for the 1st.

Next came a Super Bowl party at Stephs. Lots of great food and treats – not so close of a game. We babysat Jack and Sofie again overnight while Katie/Bill enjoyed a late night out. They have been taking him to skiing lessons at Brighton the last month or so, and he does pretty good. They picked them up that Sunday morning, and Bill dressed Jack all up in skiing garb from head to toe. Katie has had some back problems during her pregnancy, but somehow manages to get by. She’s due May 1st I believe, and it’s going to be another girl.

Linda and I left mid month for a week vacation at our St. George condo, and stopped by Orem on the way down to sign another year’s lease for Danny (with no increase in rent). We thoroughly enjoyed our time away in sunny St. George – the weather at times was 73 and 74 degrees. Warm enough for golf and even swimming! We also learned how to post pictures on facebook from a guy at the AT&T phone store. We were not naked in the hot tub – it just looked like it. I wouldn’t have minded being naked in the hot tub, but there were other people enjoying the swimming area as well. In fact, I had to ask a lady walking by to show me how to take a “selfie” on my iphone, as I didn’t know how. We enjoyed the relaxing time away in our condo, eating out, seeing a couple of movies, and just relaxing. We then drove to Wendover for another 3 nights before returning home. We got some “free” things to entice us there – one free night, two free tickets to see Leann Rimes in concert & free food coupons. We receive these offers because we frequent Wendover a few times per year, and I’m sure donate more money than they return in “free” offers.
We saw “Much Ado About Nothing” the last week of the month at the U of U Pioneer Theatre – Linda had to explain some of the plot to me, as I sometimes miss important plot developments?????

Linda attended Jack & Sofie’s Grandparents day lunch at the U of U Jewish Center where they have daycare. Jack and Sofie aren’t Jewish, but like hummus and crackers for snacks. And they have probably the best day care program in the city.

We missed Sarah’s 8th birthday party while we were in St. George, but are attending her baptism tomorrow morning. We also took her out to dinner with the family when we got back from St. George as a late birthday celebration. And that’s the news.

Love, Tom & Linda

Day Family News for January 2014

Feb. 2, 2014

Day Newsletter for January 2014

A friend, Phil Hansen, turned 70, and his children hosted a big birthday bash for him. I took my keyboard and led the party goers in song, substituting the lyrics I wrote for him. Two musically inclined family members volunteered to help lead the singing, as it is hard for me to play the keyboards and sing at the same time. We enjoyed the party, despite the fact that we’re all getting close to 70 ourselves.

Linda and I saw a great movie about Disney, “Saving Mr. Banks”. We also attended a great play at the U of U, “A Few Good Men”. We had two extra tickets and Wiggins and Jackie joined us for a bite before, and then a very good play.

One weekend, Bill & Katie’s Jack and Sofie spent an overnighter with us while mom and dad went to Wendover with friends. It’s always a treat to have grandchildren sleep over. Later in the month, Stephanie asked us to do a sleepover at her house for three nights while she went to St. George for a work related conference. So we packed out bags, and enjoyed staying in Syracuse and watching Jessica (age 11), Sarah (age 7) and Taylor (age 5). With Linda being retired, it makes it possible to help out in situations like this. I just commuted to work from Syracuse, and Linda was available to take the kids to school and pick them up.

Jackie celebrated another birthday and invited everyone over to their home for dinner. They make great fixins for everyone, and we all enjoyed a great time.
Linda’s knee has been much better, although she has had a two week episode of vertigo off and on. She enjoyed doing the Macy thing during the holidays, but turned down their offer to continue working part time after.

Attended Cal Wardrop’s funeral yesterday – a nice tribute from his kids and family. It was held at the Wasatch Lawn, the same place we had Dad’s funeral at. There’s a cemetery by our home I go walking thru, and I’ve thought about purchasing lots in advance for the inevitable by this nice little stream area. Kind of like what D & A did – advance arrangements. It’s the money, though. And do you do side by side, or the double stack thing? Body whole, or ashes? Decisions, decisions.

Linda’s been doing crocheting, and making quilts. She’s found the old sewing machine doesn’t work as good as it should, it may need a tune-up. Our Tobi steamer quit working, and after I finally threw it in the garbage canisters outside, Linda suggested I google a replacement part. She is wise, as I found one on e-bay for $20, retrieved the good parts from the garbage, and the new part arrived - we have a new steamer for $20 instead of a couple of hundred on a new steamer.

Linda gave me her old Reader, an e-reader device, as she uses her Kindle now. After much agony and finally been saved by Stephanie, we learned how to load e-books on it, and I have entered the digital age in reading. As I finished all the books I received for my birthday a few months ago, I needed some new ones to read. I just finished e-reading The Invisible Man, a John Grisham novel (The Confession), and am now on “20 Thousand Leagues Under The Sea”. I am still having a tough time learning to hold the Reader comfortably, as it’s just not the same as a paperback or hardback book, but I’m learning and trying to adjust. Perhaps the hardest part is not using my Obama bookmark (I throw this in to irritate Karin) on a regular book, and punching a “button” for a bookmark digitally instead. A hint Karin gave me(about reading books) is writing a quick note about the characters as they come up in a book so you remember the context of who’s who the next time you pick up the book. I don’t find a place for digital notes on my e-reader, although I’m willing to bet more recent advances (perhaps Kindle) have such a feature. Perhaps Obama could sign an executive order to have the people who designed the ObamaCare website to work on this.

Speaking of politics, I was pleased that Utah is leading the way to have the gay rights marriage issue pushed to the Supreme Court so that it can be declared legal across the land. I was helping a customer who happened to be a federal judge from California at work last week, and when I asked him about this issue, his response was that “The minute people start marching publically over an issue, the debate is settled. It’s just a matter of time at that point”. The times, they are a changing, as the song goes.

And that’s the news from the Days for another month. Tom & Linda

Day Family Newsletter - Decmeber 2013

January 1, 2014

NEWS FROM THE DAYS:

I looked through the calendar on our wall where I keep notes about goings on in our lives and the source of material for most of my newsletters each month. And as usual, there’s enough material noted on the calendar to fill at least one page. But instead, I decided to go back thru all twelve months of the calendar and come up with the top events that impacted our lives in 2013 (in no particular order):

Linda retires – 4/15

Stephanie and kids move out of Grandma and Grandpa’s house into their own house – 4/6

Debbie and Stuart get married – 3/15

Katie/Bill announce baby girl coming May 2014

We enjoy 3 different weeks’ vacation in St. George

Tom’s Op-ed piece on the Circus Legislative session published in SL Tribune – 2/10

Linda’s total knee operation – 5/13

Danny’s 70th birthday bash – 12/14

Redondo Reunion – 6/8

Vacation at Myrtle Beach – 9/18

One note about Christmas – we had everyone over for our annual Christmas afternoon turkey sandwich and fixins lunch/gift exchange, and the total count was 26! Our 11 yr. old granddaughter, Jessica, begged me to be Santa and she would dress up as an Elf. After saying no numerous times, I finally relented, rented a suit, and we surprised everyone at the end of the gift exchange with our grand entrance into the family room. Jack, 4 yrs. old, immediately said to his dad “Silly Grandpa is dressed up like Santa Claus”. Sarah, 7 yrs old, likewise kept insisting I was Grandpa, but she still sat on my lap along with Kaylee, 8 yrs old. None of the other grand kids would come near me. Jessica and I finally exited with Ho Ho Ho’s and Merry Christmas! When we got to my bedroom and closed the door, Jessica said “Well, that was a bust”. And I agreed, until later when Linda explained how the entire room lit up on our arrival, and the adults loved it and the children too, even though most were too shy or scared to sit on my lap. Jessica and I felt vindicated and happy we did it.
Happy New Year to everyone. Tom & Linda

Day Family News for November 2013

December 1, 2013

NEWS FROM THE DAYS:

First of all, how could it possibly be December? But since we just celebrated Thanksgiving, it makes sense. Stephanie invited everyone to her house in Syracuse for turkey this year. She has wanted to host Thanksgiving forever, and finally had the home and room to do so this year. Wiggins girls love to make pies, and they ended up bring 6 or 7 pies – this in addition to our apple pie. We had twelve around the table, with Katie/Bill and Debbie /Stuart with their spouse’s family this year. Stephanie did a superb job and we all left full, happy and thankful.

Last week, Linda’s knee got very sore and swollen. The doctor said it was infected, and she is on the tail end of a week’s supply of antibiotics. It’s feeling somewhat better, but Linda had to forgo her part time work at Macys for a week, and still doesn’t know if she will be OK until she returns to the Doc next week.

We haven’t had snow to speak of yet, and I spent a few hours hanging Christmas wreaths around our outside front lights, and placing our reindeer that light up for the holidays. I’ve also been attempting to mouse proof the house, as our cat has presented us with a few mice these past few months, and we have heard one running across the false ceiling in our family room. Upon close examination outside, I found two different openings where the air conditioning tubes enter our home, as well as the main power line. I’ve closed these up, assuming mice could get into our ceiling downstairs from these small outside openings.

Linda and I decided to get new flooring in our upstairs kitchen and downstairs laundry room/kitchen for Christmas. We spent one afternoon painting the downstairs kitchen after the flooring had been laid. There have been seams coming up on the linoleum in this room for years and years, and it’s nice to have new paint and seamless flooring. Next week, they will replace our upstairs tile (with all its cracks) with new tile. We’re in 7th heaven.

I finally finished reading Robinson Crusoe, and then quickly read two books I received for my birthday last month. First, “Killing Jesus”, by the same authors that wrote “Killing Lincoln” and “Killing Kennedy”. A good and insightful read. I’ve loaned it to the former Catholic Priest I trained at my work in hopes of getting his expert opinion on the book. I just finished reading “My Story”, by Elizabeth Smart. A riveting and well written book about her ordeal being kidnapped by a religious fanatic for 9 months. A must read if you ask me. Now I’m onto a book written about Johnny Carson by his former attorney – a little lighter read I hope, although so far it’s not all laughs. Linda just finished reading “Catching Fire”, part two of the Hunger Games saga. I still read by the page, while Linda has gone digital with her Kindle.

Katie announced that she is due May 1st, and it will be a girl. We look forward to welcoming our 9th and in all likelihood our last, grandchild. There are always more great grandchildren to look forward to. We celebrated Bill’s birthday this past week, and both of our great grandchildren came, and little Jax is walking like a pro, while Emry is growing up and looks a lot like the child actress Judy Garland of long ago.

Linda has enjoyed working the few shifts she was able to work before her knee went on the blink. I got in one last round of golf earlier in the month before the colder weather started making appearances. Linda noticed an interesting event one Sunday in the newspaper and we decided to attend. It was held at the Calvary Chapel in the Murray area, and the visiting evangelist was Shiela Raye Charles, daughter of Ray Charles. An outstanding and interesting evening. Shiela was a 20 year drug addict, had 3 crack babies by 3 different men (not her husband), was sexually abused (not by Ray Charles) in her childhood, had an alcoholic mother, and was in her 3rd federal prison sentence when she found Jesus and was called to preach to anyone and everyone who would hear her story, and specializes in visiting prisons. She sang some of Ray Charles songs, but intermixed her sermon with gospel and popular (although she used religious lyrics instead) music. I didn’t find Jesus, but did read the Jesus book I mentioned earlier.

I had to succumb to the dreaded 10 yr. colonoscopy exam this past month, and am now free for another 5 years. Linda and I had dinner with some friends – Brent & Karen Wilkes, who were in town because of ill health of Karen’s brother. We also attended Kaylee’s (Debbie’s 8 yr. old) baptism in Herriman, and a nice lunch afterword.

I’m off to pick up Danny at the airport, as he’s returning from Maryland where he spent Thanksgiving with the Farnes. He’ll spend Christmas with us this year, so send his gifts here. I know it’s early, but have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Tom & Linda

Day Family New - October 2013

November 2, 2013

NEWS FROM THE DAYS – OCT. 2013

We’ve somewhat entered the technology world. My new Subaru has blue tooth, and the new I phones we got this past month now are blue toothed to my car. I can now talk to my car, and my car hooks me up via telephone hands free! I know this is probably old news to many of you, but I’ve figured out that my phone is really my computer without a printer, and portable, and a camera, and takes videos, and talks to me and tells me how to drive somewhere, and does my banking, face booking, texting, emailing, etc.

Linda and I took the frontrunner (Salt Lake’s mass transit train) from Murray to Clearfield (next to Syracuse where Stephanie lives). We hadn’t been on a train forever, and enjoyed the ride. During lunch with Steph and the kids while there at a restaurant, I was telling a story about how I hadn’t been on a train since a kid, and how exciting it was to ride a train, yada, yada, yada……when Sarah (Steph’s 7 yr. old), came out with “And blah..blah blah…blah blah”. It was an absolute riot.

A friend of ours, Marie Hansen, passed away from complications from arthritis and donated her body to medical research. Her husband is Phil, the one who hosts our annual Cabin Classic golf getaway every year at their cabin above Oakley. The service was at Red Butte in a beautiful garden type room. One of the speakers was a lifelong friend, Gayle (I believe) Hinckley, the wife of Joseph’s old boss in charge of the church missionary programs. When I told her I was Alisyn’s little brother, she said to make sure I said hi to Alisyn and Joseph for her. Also at this celebration of life for Marie, I ran into Ralph Wakley and said hi – he also said to say hello to Alisyn and Karin for him. Some other familiar names I talked to included Dick Paul, one of the McMaster brothers.

Jack and Sofie (Bill & Katie’s) slept over one night, and we enjoyed having them over. Linda and I saw a couple of good movies – Gravity & Captain Phillips. Danny decided to quit Bishops Storehouse until the weather turns warm again next spring. We attended Jessica’s school orchestra performance at a Jr. High (Jessica – 5th grade, along with 7 or 8 other 5th or 6th graders – are taught by the Jr. High orchestra teacher, and they got to be included with the Jr. High symphony orchestra program). They played three numbers in the beginning orchestra group, and were followed by the advanced orchestra group.

Linda and I saw a good play on Halloween night at the U of U Pioneer Theatre called Other Cities in the Desert. Jessica (turning 11 on Nov. 6th) celebrated her family birthday with me at Jason’s Deli last night. Thanks for the birthday cards and e cards. Besides receiving three good books to read and an emergency kit and gift card, Linda got me a Build-A-Bear dressed up like a doctor with a Dr. Perm nametag, and permed hair. I mentioned I wanted it while at Kaylee’s 8th birthday party in Sept. at Build-A-Bear.

We harvested the last of our garden, received a couple dustings of snow, and yesterday Linda accepted a part time position at Macy’s at South Town Mall in the children’s clothing department thru the holidays. We played a little bingo at the local Catholic Church to support Bill’s mother who sings in their choir and was helping raise money for their recent building expansion at St. Thomas Moore.

And that’s the news from the Days for October. Tom & Linda

Day Family Newsletter - Sept. 2013

October 1, 2013

NEWS FROM THE DAYS - SEPT. 2013

Debbie/Stuart/Christopher and Kaylee met us all at Build-A-Bear for Kaylee’s 8th birthday and the kids had fun building and dressing a bear. I told Stephanie that I found a bear I liked that had medical scrubs on. Put some permed hair on top, and have a custom name tag “Dr. Perm” made, and it would be a perfect Christmas gift for me. Kaylee has braces on her teeth, and is growing in leaps and bounds.

Evanston, Wyoming used to host horse races (para mutual betting) for years until about 4 years ago when the track went bust. It came back this year, and we enjoyed a day at the races one Sunday. We are looking forward to again going to the races once in a while.

Linda continues to rehab her knee at home, and is doing pretty good. She’s kept busy in retirement this past month with crocheting , reading, projects around the house that she never had time for before, lunches out with the kids, and vacations we’ve taken this past month.

I think I talked about the week we took in St. George at the end of August and into September. A few weeks later, we joined some friends, the Baird’s (well, Bruce and his lady friend Kathie) and the Tsuyuki’s for a 12 day Myrtle Beach, South Carolina trip. We stayed at Marriot where the Tsuyuki’s have time shares, and we thoroughly enjoyed being right on the beach with lots of amenities. The weather was great, & the golf was even greater (the guys played 5 great courses of the over 100 courses in the area). The women went shopping and site seeing or just relaxing and swimming when the guys were golfing, and then we all toured the area, shopped, ate at great restaurants, and went to a couple of shows, one outing on a small ship that was a casino (actually it was a fairly large boat). After coming home, I had another religious change of heart, and decided that there was a heaven after all, as we had just spent 12 days in heaven.

Because I have decided I am going to work a few years longer, I went out and traded in my little pickup truck and bought a new Subaru Forester. Once again, I’m in 7th heaven. But I’m leaving the Buddha in the back yard. Speaking of Buddha, I gave the Catholic priest who I trained at work a Buddha for his wedding gift. He loved it.

Stephanie’s neighbors got her sprinkler system hooked up to electricity in her shed for her, and it’s totally installed now. She is waiting until next year to plant grass in her back yard. Her garden has been spectacular this past summer, as has Katie’s and Jackie’s. They have all gotten into gardening like Dad. Wiggins is becoming a detective at West Jordan Police and leaving the motorcycle duty.

Jackie keeps busy building and refurbishing old furniture. They have done the cutest things for their home and back yard already. Katie and Bill went to Las Vegas for a quick trip with Bill’s parents who also have a Marriot time share. Jessica is in 5th grade orchestra doing the violin thing. Most joined Stephanie for her 38th (29th) birthday last night at a local restaurant.

And that’s the news from the Days. Tom & Linda