Day family newsletter - October 2012

Nov. 1, 2012 Linda and I just returned from our favorite restaurant, Market Street Grill, celebrating my 67th birthday. I feel so lucky to be healthy, and to have a wonderful family around me. We got together last night with Debbie/Stewarts families to celebrate Halloween. Their street really does this holiday up big time out in Herriman, and all the grandkids love trick or treating there, and going thru the spook alley at one house, and having a good time. We also celebrated my birthday at the same time with an ice cream cake for desert. Last Saturday, Wiggins and Jackie hosted a Halloween party at their house for family. The kids all dressed up and loved carving pumpkins out in their garage. The eats were great too! Jackie has decorated their new home with lots of neat old furniture, some of it that she refurnished herself. The pictures you see on face book, if you are friends with her, include three colorful refurbished wood chairs that Jackie said reminded her of Grandpa Day. She quit her part time job at Penny’s that she’s worked at for 7 years, and wants to refurbish furniture on a part time basis to sell to others. Two of Wiggins kids are moving in with them next week, and Jackie wanted to be home when they got out of school. She still works full time at the West Jordan police department. Linda went in for an MRI of her shoulder that’s been bothering her for several years. The doctor, after trying shots, physical therapy, decided to go one step further to find out what’s in there for sure. Because of Linda’s claustrophobia, it took two trips for the MRI. The first one, even with relaxing pills, was unsuccessful as Linda just couldn’t go inside that machine for a full 30 minutes. The Doc then sent her to a place that does open imaging, a machine where you are not enclosed, and with the relaxing pills, and Jessica’s sleeping mask so she couldn’t see, she got thru it. Results next week. Since Stephanie and the kids have moved back in, it’s interesting to watch the kids compete over the “hole spoon”. Does anyone else have something like this? Our silverware, a collection over the years of several different styles/pieces, includes just one spoon that has a hole, more of an oval shaped hole, located in the end that you hold. It has become, over the years, a “special spoon”, and one we have had to finally rotate amongst the kids so they all get their fair share in using it. Linda and I enjoyed a great play at the U last week, Of Mice & Men. I teared up at the end when Lenny was shot. This play brought home a lot of feelings about special needs people. Well, the election is just days away, and it will be all over. Best of luck to whoever wins. Linda and I voted by mail about two weeks ago – sure makes it easy and convenient. Stephanie accepted an offer on her condo last night, and if all goes well, will close in one month. She can then start looking for a nice small home somewhere in the valley for a new beginning for her great kids where they can have a yard and their own bedrooms. She’ll stay with us for as long as necessary to find the right place and save up more money for a down payment. Jack and Sofie came over one evening while Mom and Dad went out – they enjoyed the other kid’s company, and staying with us for a while. All the kids looked so cute at the Halloween party, and Cole and Jessica (Cole’s Jackie’s son) are getting excited about having their second child around Christmas time. They haven’t named him yet. You should see their little 3 yr. old Emry do summersaults – it is awfully close to a cartwheel except straight ahead. I love listening to Garrison Keeler on Prairie Home Companion on Saturday or Sunday, as the music and humor is great. Lately, I’ve discovered another music TV station in addition to Song of the Mountains and Woodsongs (both on a local educational channel– both blue grass artists in addition to blues, country, etc). This new station I’ve discovered is southern gospel, but is actually the Jimmy Swaggart ministry. But 80% of the time is spent on gospel music, as they feel that is how they are to get their Christian message out to the world – thru music. Anyway, this Jimmy Swaggart is Jerry Lee Lewis’s cousin, and Jimmy also plays the piano, but in a slow gospel bluesy style that just fascinates me. The best of this program is when he plays along with the gospel singers, but sings the lead. He’s on Dish, channel 257 here in Salt Lake if interested. He’ll rock your socks, bluesy Christian style, from Baton Rouge Louisiana. And that’s the religious news for the month. Christopher, Debbie’s son, has gotten into music the last several years, and is currently playing bass guitar in a local group that plays new age along with a variety of other music styles. He told me the name of his group, but I can’t recall it at the moment. Jessica brought home some music from her violin recital and its Christmas music for violin and piano. So we’re going into rehearsal so we can perform a few numbers this Christmas season when family or friends come over. Looking forward to Thanksgiving – Danny is coming to our home this year. We’re glad dinner is going to be at Jackie and Wiggins new home – plenty of room. Danny and I will be babysitting the kids the morning after so the girls can do their black Friday shopping thing at 5 AM or so. And that’s the news, the whole news, and the only true news, from the Days. Love, Tom & Linda