Day family newsletter - December 2010

Dec. 31, 2010
NEWS FROM THE DAYS:
Sarah, Stephanie’s 4 year old, stayed overnight one night with her sister Taylor. Sarah read Grandma a book by holding up her hands like a book, and turning the pages as she told her own story. As she turned each page, she would make a “swish” sound so Grandma knew she was turning the page. Cute! She calls me Popee – don’t know exactly why, but Taylor calls be papa, Kaylee (Deb’s 5 year old) calls me Papa too. The other grandkids call me Grandpa. Linda has several different names for me, depending on what I’ve done.
Our cat, Pumpkin, is about 3 ½ months old, and is a vampire. I say this as he loves to bite me with his eye teeth and draw blood. I am a mass of scars on my hands and arms, but so far he has left my jugular alone. But his eyes! He definitely has vampire in him. We took him to the Vet for his first shots, and the Vet confirmed he is vampire/tabby mix. He suggested we keep him locked in the basement during his waking hours when the sun goes down. That’s helped, but it scares us when we discover werewolf tracts in the snow out back by the basement windows.
Brian David Mitchell, the man who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart, was found guilty and will go to jail finally, eight years after the crime. He’s been a mental hospital all this time. I’m disappointed, as he was going to battle the anti-Christ and save mankind, but with him being in 24 hour lockdown, it could hamper the possibility of that battle. Perhaps they could do it right in his cell and put in on cage fighting on PPV?
We all spent an evening at Debbie’s in Herriman celebrating her birthday. Another night we met at Gateway to have a birthday dinner for Taylor’s 3rd. One Saturday, we attended Jessica’s baptism and confirmation. The couple who had been teaching Jessica in her home knew Derek Farnes when he walked in – they had been in New Mexico 6 years ago on a mission when Derek was there on his mission. Linda and I enjoyed White Christmas, the play, at the U of U one night. We went to a nice Christmas dinner one night with people at Linda’s work. We dined at Ruth Chris Steak House – what a nice Christmas present!!! And we enjoyed watching the football bowl games, even though the outcome wasn’t the most desirable for the Utes.
At Halloween time, Linda had bought a plastic pumpkin about the size of a basketball. I decided it would look good in our backyard sitting on the bird feeder. An unexpected bonus – when it rained or snowed, the pumpkin floated and turned around when the wind blew. I got our grandkids almost convinced the pumpkin was alive when they saw it turning. Now I’ve replaced it with a Santa Claus, mostly cotton, about the size of a soccer ball. I’ve been in a battle with a squirrel that comes around and knocks it off the bird feeder and steals cotton from it. I found a counter attack – we had a spool of very fine wire, and I’ve wired it all together thru the body, head and hat, and it is secured by its hat to the trellis above the bird feeder. I think I’ve won this battle. My defense is better that the Utes.
Finished a very hard read for me – the Idiot. I’ve enjoyed another book Debbie gave me called the 7 miracles that saved America. Mostly history -the little turning points that decided which way major events turned out. A very good read. I expect the authors will have to come out with a reprint in two years entitled “The 8 miracles that saved America”, Obama being the 8th miracle. I guess because I was precinct chair for our local democratic district last year, I’m on the mailing list now for Obama’s Christmas card. It was a nice surprise to get a card from the White House and signed by the Obama’s, their two children and the dog. Linda finished her True Blood book series – eight of them in all.
It was nice to have Danny up for Christmas this year. Santa broke down and bought him a new HD flat screen TV (26”) that fits in his entertainment center. I got in all installed in his apartment and Danny is going to use his old TV in his exercise room to watch while on the treadmill. Linda got a present that absolutely delighted her – we had the diamonds from her old wedding ring, her mom’s dinner ring and an old anniversary ring I had given her combined into a new setting. WOW, how it sparkles. We took Danny with us to the Zito’s annual X-Mas Eve gathering and buffet, to Bruce Baird’s house for drinks after, and then home to get in our Pj’s and open one gift. The kids all came over Christmas afternoon for a ham/turkey sandwich buffet and gift exchange. Debbie downloaded Skype’s on Linda’s lap top and Christopher (currently stationed in North Carolina) was with us as we played a sort of charades game. Debbie would type in the word for Christopher when it was his turn, and he took turns along with everyone else playing the game. Debbie just held him on her lap at the end of the circle (well, him “in” the laptop). Amazing technology – the first time we’ve actually used it. Danny helped me cook quiche Christmas morning, and I took him home Sunday. He got more than one large stuffed dogs for his apartment. This in addition to the large stuffed dog he’d bought just the day before I picked him up for the Christmas trip to our home.
I wrote an op-ed article and submitted it to the Tribune, and they decided to publish it. You can view it at sltrib.com on Dec. 26th, 2010. It’s entitled “U.S. needs immigration workers”. The next day, I mentioned it to Debbie, and she informed me that people make comments on-line on these op-ed pieces. After logging onto my article one day after it appeared, there were 44 hate comments blaming me for everything from the bad economy, to traitor, commie pinko, low life and much more. Overall, I was blamed for more ills than Obama. Perhaps I’ll think twice before I make my views known in a public forum. Believe it or not, I got, and have started to read, George W. Bush’s book, Decision Points.
We’ve had a LOT of snow this month – over 100” for snowpack at the ski resorts – and I’ve snow blowed the walks more than the last two years combined. We’re going out for a nice New Years Eve dinner with friends, and are looking forward to a great 2011. Love,

Tom & Linda

Day family newsletter - November 2010

December 1, 2010

NEWS FROM THE DAYS:

Jessica turned 8 years old this past month, and agreed to let me celebrate my birthday with her. We went to Fat Cats where you bowl and eat pizza – a lot of fun. Earlier that day, Linda and I accompanied Stephanie in hosting Jessica’s friends at a birthday party at the local recreation center. Wall climbing was the activity, and after watching Jessica go to the top of a 40’ wall with ease, I strapped on the gear and tried it. After getting up about a third of the way, grandpa decided that was enough and repelled down. Still fun. Linda got me a new computer with a gazillion megabits for my birthday and it sure is nice.
We got to have little Jack (Katie and Bill’s) over for two nights this month while mom and dad went to a cabin with friends to celebrate Bill’s birthday. This was Jack’s first overnight trip to our house, and we thoroughly enjoyed having him over. He’s a riot! And smart! And cute! He loved the cars grandma got him, enjoyed watching the birds eat peanuts off our windowsill out back, liked running and jumping in the leaves in the backyard that grandpa raked up, and enjoyed playing with our new baby kitten.

Yes, we got a cat – originally an overnight stay when Stephanie asked us to help out with a stray found at their condos. But we fell in love with this (about 8 wk old) tabby, named him Pumpkin, and even paid the owner a small fee when he replied to Stephanie’s lost kitten notice posted at her condos.

I spend two Fridays with Danny trying to find additional employment or volunteer opportunities. He’s applied at 4 or 5 grocery stores, the DI, and at the Lindon Bishop’s Storehouse. The Storehouse Mgr. agreed to have Danny come down as many mornings as he likes from 8 AM to 10 AM to help sort and portion bags of various produce for their customers. Danny started going to the Bishop’s Storehouse on Nov. 30th, and will volunteer twice per week (Mon. and Wed.). Shelley took time off work to accompany Danny the first day to make sure he got all his paperwork done correctly. And para-transit agreed to get him there and back. I also got Danny signed up at the Orem Senior Center and he’s been over once for lunch (just a $2 donation) and is going on a ½ day trip on a bus to the Festival of Trees on Dec. 1st with them.

I thought nothing could top the spanking the democrats took in the elections until Utah played TCU and got spanked even worse. Then losing to Notre Dame! But truth prevailed when they came back and beat both San Diego and that school south of the border (Utah County border, that is).

The morning after Jack and I played in and raked up the leaves in the back yard, we awoke to the first major snow of the year – one foot deep on our back yard patio table. Winter has arrived. And it’s basically never stopped snowing ever since.

It’s been interesting listening to the daily news accounts in the trial of the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case. Mighty weird goings on there, but hey, this is Utah after all…. I got another letter to the editor published – another ranting about balance of politics here in Utah. Linda, Stephanie and Katie went out at 5 AM on Black Friday for their annual shopping spree. Stephanie sold her car and got a van with three rows of seats. She finally has the room she needs for the 3 kids. Katie and bill traded in their Audi for a Subaru SUV that likewise has more room with their Sophie just 3 months from being born. Debbie reports that the big fire in Herriman didn’t get near her home, but there was tons of smoke in their neighborhood. And she enjoyed having Christopher home for Thanksgiving week. He’s stationed at Ft. Bragg in No. Carolina and recently was assigned funeral duty where he goes to funerals certain months of the year and plays the bugle (although there is a recording in the bugle that actually plays – he just has to pretend to play it). This is just a part time assignment in addition to his normal duties.

We had a great Thanksgiving, hosting all the kids/grandkids for a total this year of 19! Linda cooked her normal great Thanksgiving dinner, the kids all pitched in and brought something to help out, and little Jessica said the prayer for us. She’s getting baptized on Dec. 4th, and was glad to say the blessing. We also celebrated little Taylor’s 3rd birthday party at Thanksgiving as well as Bill’s 40th while we were all together. Christopher had flown in from his army station at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina for the week, and it was special to have him here. Two of Wiggin’s children, Blair and Page also joined us. And our little great grand daughter, Emry was here with Cole and Jessica as well.

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