The past three weeks have been a blur. The lapping waters of Lake Powell are a faint memory, replaced by the near daily thunderstorms of South Texas.
It's fiscal year end at work. The Powers want the Summer certification to get turned around in 2 business days--that's IF the data is ready on schedule. So far, it's not.
We have not moved to our new office space. The secretary to my right has made it clear she's ready for us to clear out, asking in an ingratiating yet transparently self-interested way as if she ever gave a toot about whether I have sufficient desk space.
There was a shakeup in the RS presidency while I was gone. The remaining counselor moved away and I found this out via the answering machine when we got home from Powell. The RS pres got snappish when I asked if I had to wait until the new counselors were sustained to find out who they were. And she wanted their input (not mine) on filing other vacancies. We were able to iron it out, but it left me with less enthusiasm (is that possible?) for the job.
Looking forward to visiting LA, seeing family, hanging with friends, celebrating Angela's 40th, and filling up on Thai food. Oh, and getting a decent haircut from David the Hair God (although lately people have been saying the current 'do is looking good. I haven't cut it since July, hoping to give David plenty to work with).
Hoping I'll have time to finish posting on the end of the Utah trip & Sunstone while we're in Cali. I hear they're having a heat wave; not quite as hot as the wedding last year, but close. It's after midnight and I still have to pack. Argh!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
More Powell Fun & Frolic
The vacation part was like a bug drifting lazily on the breeze; coming home was like hitting a windshield. Readjusting to Real Life again ain't fun. So here's some more vacation reminiscing/euphoric recall.
Saturday August 4
Mike and I joined Kelly and Shawn on a boat ride back to the marina to get gas & groceries. Browsed in the marina gift shop. Returned in time for lunch and an afternoon excursion to a cliff diving spot. I jumped twice (from not very high) which was all I needed to prove I wasn't a complete wuss. Kelly has pics of me and Mike jumping together (which I hope she'll send, hint, hint).
Most of the kids who came with us defected to the Malibu. Me, Mike, Kelly, Nicole and Little Brad did some sightseeing and fishing. We took turns using the two fishing poles on hand. Nicole caught the first striper; LB caught a catfish, then I caught a striper (~7 lbs.) We took home 5 striper in all. Raced against falling darkness back to the houseboat. Twas our night to cook dinner; MIL Sue kindly put our lasagnas in the oven and we did garlic bread and green beans. Another rainy, electric night made the kids all sleep inside.
Sunday August 5
Got up at dawn for another fishing trip. Woke Kelly, Little Brad and Joey at 6:15 am to head out. Tiptoed around prone sleepers. Tried two spots unsuccessfully--fish were too deep. Third spot was a little round cove; we drifted in circles until Kelly dropped anchor to keep us near the fish. Little Brad caught the first fish, then Kelly, Joey, and finally me. My first striper was medium, then I caught a really big one (that Joey kept trying to pass off as his).
It was hot by the time we ran out of bait, so we all went swimming. The boys climbed some rocks and begged me to grab a lizard carcass they were too short to reach. (I did). After a leisurely swim, we piled back in the boat to head back.
We were halfway back when we met Jill & Steve in the Malibu. They'd been out looking for us because it was 1:00 pm and we'd been gone SIX HOURS. We had No Idea. It caused some uproar because the houseboat was due back at the marina to meet some more cousins/grandkids at 3:00 pm. Scrambling and quick fish filleting ensued.
We took our kids plus Little Brad & Alexis T-shirt shopping. Mike had to mediate a meltdown between Jackie & Jessica. We planned to have dinner in Page, but a torrential rain/lightening storm after we docked changed the venue to the marina restaurant (now party of 23). After dinner, we collected belongings and packed and turned in. We had a long drive ahead Monday to Idaho Falls to hang out with Uncle Matt, Aunt Cathy and the other cousins. More on that later...
Me enjoying baklava-esque rocks.
Quatro hermano/as.
Life jacketless daredevil.
Nicole's first catch.
Saturday August 4
Mike and I joined Kelly and Shawn on a boat ride back to the marina to get gas & groceries. Browsed in the marina gift shop. Returned in time for lunch and an afternoon excursion to a cliff diving spot. I jumped twice (from not very high) which was all I needed to prove I wasn't a complete wuss. Kelly has pics of me and Mike jumping together (which I hope she'll send, hint, hint).
Most of the kids who came with us defected to the Malibu. Me, Mike, Kelly, Nicole and Little Brad did some sightseeing and fishing. We took turns using the two fishing poles on hand. Nicole caught the first striper; LB caught a catfish, then I caught a striper (~7 lbs.) We took home 5 striper in all. Raced against falling darkness back to the houseboat. Twas our night to cook dinner; MIL Sue kindly put our lasagnas in the oven and we did garlic bread and green beans. Another rainy, electric night made the kids all sleep inside.
Sunday August 5
Got up at dawn for another fishing trip. Woke Kelly, Little Brad and Joey at 6:15 am to head out. Tiptoed around prone sleepers. Tried two spots unsuccessfully--fish were too deep. Third spot was a little round cove; we drifted in circles until Kelly dropped anchor to keep us near the fish. Little Brad caught the first fish, then Kelly, Joey, and finally me. My first striper was medium, then I caught a really big one (that Joey kept trying to pass off as his).
It was hot by the time we ran out of bait, so we all went swimming. The boys climbed some rocks and begged me to grab a lizard carcass they were too short to reach. (I did). After a leisurely swim, we piled back in the boat to head back.
We were halfway back when we met Jill & Steve in the Malibu. They'd been out looking for us because it was 1:00 pm and we'd been gone SIX HOURS. We had No Idea. It caused some uproar because the houseboat was due back at the marina to meet some more cousins/grandkids at 3:00 pm. Scrambling and quick fish filleting ensued.
We took our kids plus Little Brad & Alexis T-shirt shopping. Mike had to mediate a meltdown between Jackie & Jessica. We planned to have dinner in Page, but a torrential rain/lightening storm after we docked changed the venue to the marina restaurant (now party of 23). After dinner, we collected belongings and packed and turned in. We had a long drive ahead Monday to Idaho Falls to hang out with Uncle Matt, Aunt Cathy and the other cousins. More on that later...
Me enjoying baklava-esque rocks.
Quatro hermano/as.
Life jacketless daredevil.
Nicole's first catch.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Now for the words and a few more pictures
Tuesday July 31
Departure from McAllen. Met Brad & Nicole in Dallas. Flew to SLC together. Piled into rented minivan that barely contained all our luggage. Star sighting at Crown Burger. Checked into hotel. Kids all fell asleep; Mike and I went to DI, REI, Sundance outlet, and Mel's to see her new house and new Scottie, Dash. Reconvened at hotel w/kids and recently arrived Aunt Cathy and numbersome cousins. Chatted, ate pizza and had a sock fight with Parker & little Brad. Readied for bed, slept.
Wednesday August 1
Big Brad's sore throat worse. Mike takes him to urgent care. We rouse girls and pack up. MIL Sue and cousin Tyler meet us at hotel. Cathy heads back to ID with two cousins; two cousins (little Brad and Alexis) come with us. We pick up Big Brad up--no strep, but he's miserable--and the 10 of us caravan to brunch. Finally get on the road to Powell. Torrential rain through Parowan. Running late to meet SIL Jill, BIL Steve & family (party of 19). Spend 3 hours at Fiesta Mexican in Page, AZ (2 hours waiting, 1 hour eating). Decamped to the Super Evil Store (W-M) for groceries. We blew $400 on food/water for 6 people for FOUR days. Drove to marina, unloaded vehicles/loaded golf carts and headed for the house boat. Orientation: Learned which faucets dispense potable water or gray water, toilet etiquette, keeping doors CLOSED and where to store our groceries. Mike and I get a bunk, kids sleep up top.
Thursday August 2
The Caspian sets sail! We gas up and start our 15 mph chug onto the lake. Power boat and SIL Kelly/BIL Shawn's boat run ahead to scope out a houseboat parking spot. I feel seasick through the channels, but am OK. Boat is parked/anchored. Some kids go out on powerboat (the Malibu); other kids get left behind. :( Mike and I jet ski and swim off by ourselves and came back for spaghetti dinner, watching movie "New York Doll," and playing rousing cards games before everyone konked out. Major lightning storm and some fireworks.
Friday August 3
Leisurely wake up and breakfast. Fishing over side of houseboat. Campaign to get the left-behinds on the Malibu (successfully); forgot how much encouragement some teens need to participate in things. Mike & I take out Kelly's boat (the same boat the Stevens clan grew up taking to Powell every summer since it opened) and Mike teaches Jessica and little Brad to water ski. Nicole & Jackie try, too. After some vehicle swapping between boats and jet skis, Alexis, Jackie & I try wake boarding--but the rope is too long for any of us to get up. :( Back to houseboat for dinner and a movie. While we're watching "The Other Side of Heaven," a BAT flies into the houseboat. We laugh our asses off while realizing Someone Left a Door Open (gasp) and trying to chase the poor creature outdoors. More lightning and rain.
To be continued... but a few last pictures.
Little Brad & Tyler on the jet ski.
Take the picture; I'm holding a sharp fish!
Brad wake surfing.
Jeff showing us how an Aussie does it.
Departure from McAllen. Met Brad & Nicole in Dallas. Flew to SLC together. Piled into rented minivan that barely contained all our luggage. Star sighting at Crown Burger. Checked into hotel. Kids all fell asleep; Mike and I went to DI, REI, Sundance outlet, and Mel's to see her new house and new Scottie, Dash. Reconvened at hotel w/kids and recently arrived Aunt Cathy and numbersome cousins. Chatted, ate pizza and had a sock fight with Parker & little Brad. Readied for bed, slept.
Wednesday August 1
Big Brad's sore throat worse. Mike takes him to urgent care. We rouse girls and pack up. MIL Sue and cousin Tyler meet us at hotel. Cathy heads back to ID with two cousins; two cousins (little Brad and Alexis) come with us. We pick up Big Brad up--no strep, but he's miserable--and the 10 of us caravan to brunch. Finally get on the road to Powell. Torrential rain through Parowan. Running late to meet SIL Jill, BIL Steve & family (party of 19). Spend 3 hours at Fiesta Mexican in Page, AZ (2 hours waiting, 1 hour eating). Decamped to the Super Evil Store (W-M) for groceries. We blew $400 on food/water for 6 people for FOUR days. Drove to marina, unloaded vehicles/loaded golf carts and headed for the house boat. Orientation: Learned which faucets dispense potable water or gray water, toilet etiquette, keeping doors CLOSED and where to store our groceries. Mike and I get a bunk, kids sleep up top.
Thursday August 2
The Caspian sets sail! We gas up and start our 15 mph chug onto the lake. Power boat and SIL Kelly/BIL Shawn's boat run ahead to scope out a houseboat parking spot. I feel seasick through the channels, but am OK. Boat is parked/anchored. Some kids go out on powerboat (the Malibu); other kids get left behind. :( Mike and I jet ski and swim off by ourselves and came back for spaghetti dinner, watching movie "New York Doll," and playing rousing cards games before everyone konked out. Major lightning storm and some fireworks.
Friday August 3
Leisurely wake up and breakfast. Fishing over side of houseboat. Campaign to get the left-behinds on the Malibu (successfully); forgot how much encouragement some teens need to participate in things. Mike & I take out Kelly's boat (the same boat the Stevens clan grew up taking to Powell every summer since it opened) and Mike teaches Jessica and little Brad to water ski. Nicole & Jackie try, too. After some vehicle swapping between boats and jet skis, Alexis, Jackie & I try wake boarding--but the rope is too long for any of us to get up. :( Back to houseboat for dinner and a movie. While we're watching "The Other Side of Heaven," a BAT flies into the houseboat. We laugh our asses off while realizing Someone Left a Door Open (gasp) and trying to chase the poor creature outdoors. More lightning and rain.
To be continued... but a few last pictures.
Little Brad & Tyler on the jet ski.
Take the picture; I'm holding a sharp fish!
Brad wake surfing.
Jeff showing us how an Aussie does it.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
It's a Matriarchy
Hmmm. We're not as photogenic at the lake. Is it the not showering?
MIL/Grandma Sue.
SILs Jill and Kelly.
Nicole and Jessica getting their squint on.
Jackie with similar expression.
MIL/Grandma Sue.
SILs Jill and Kelly.
Nicole and Jessica getting their squint on.
Jackie with similar expression.
Pictures tonight, words tomorrow
In order below:
Mike and me with one of the four striper I caught.
Crazy cliff diving kids.
Mike trying to do a shore start from the back of the houseboat (unsuccessfully).
Obligatory Lake Powell scenery.
Mike and me with one of the four striper I caught.
Crazy cliff diving kids.
Mike trying to do a shore start from the back of the houseboat (unsuccessfully).
Obligatory Lake Powell scenery.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Going with the flow
I'm still getting used to the logistics of belonging to a big family. Thinking in terms of six people when me, Mike and the kids are all together. And thinking in terms of two dozen +/- when the whole clan of sibs, their kids and grandma Sue are together. It's always a little crazy. Like when we were trying to figure out which of the three hotel rooms Mike and I would be sleeping in and with which roommates last night.
So I'm trying to go with the flow--something that I'm not very good at. I'm a planner. That doesn't always work well, whether it's the large group of people or the things that come up unexpectedly--something seems to gum up the plans one way or another.
So I'm practicing this flow thing. The flow currently has Mike taking Brad to an urgent care clinic to get his raging sore throat looked at, me having to roust the girls out of bed and have them ready by checkout time, and hoping that Mike and Brad get back before noon with the car so we have a place to put our 13 bags and the waterski. Oh, and figure out what we're doing for breakfast, now that the hotel's complimentary breakfast is shut down and there's only one place within walking distance.
Yup, the fun starts as soon as I'm out of the shower.
So I'm trying to go with the flow--something that I'm not very good at. I'm a planner. That doesn't always work well, whether it's the large group of people or the things that come up unexpectedly--something seems to gum up the plans one way or another.
So I'm practicing this flow thing. The flow currently has Mike taking Brad to an urgent care clinic to get his raging sore throat looked at, me having to roust the girls out of bed and have them ready by checkout time, and hoping that Mike and Brad get back before noon with the car so we have a place to put our 13 bags and the waterski. Oh, and figure out what we're doing for breakfast, now that the hotel's complimentary breakfast is shut down and there's only one place within walking distance.
Yup, the fun starts as soon as I'm out of the shower.
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