Return to Start Page


The Thunder River hike is on the verge of becoming a family tradition, though one that requires a bit of preparation. Nathen is talking about hiking rim to rim next year. I don't know if he can rally sufficient support for the added distance.


Dave and Dave, and BettyAnn joined us on the hike. Dave actually set the "availability time" for their mission back far enough to insure that they could attend.


There were plans to also bring another generation of their family, but those did not come to fruition. Ameilia's kids also expressed an interest, but were deterred by her "death march" training regimen.


Mylinda brought a cot to make sleeping less of an ordeal, but forgot that cots lack insulation and require a pad.


I went to sit on the rim and dangle my feet over (I have also inherited the worrying gene from my mother and spent some time basking in its expression). I suspect the inconvenient truth is that the clock has expired on my hiking days.


AJ and Brittney also hiked. It is no secret that Brittney was the motive force behind their attendance.


Brittney dinged her knee, "little Dave" added a few miles to his hike and encountered some unexpected problems, and most of the group ended up with sore feet but, as I learned from my time as a scout leader, any trip without a fatality was a good one. The younger set faired the best, fatigue being their main complaint.


The family reunion was the weekend following the Grand Canyon hike. Being that close created some inconveniences, but I think most of those who desired to do so, were able to attend.


This reunion is supposed to include the decedents of Sessal Allen and Charlotte Ballard, and so it did.


There is some intermingling, but for the most part, the various family seem to hang out mostly with their family group.


Or..., maybe I'm just talking about myself. Next year (assuming, of course, that no catastrophic event intervenes) I plan to be a bit more cosmopolitan.


There were many attendee that I didn't know. That may be OK for children under 18, but this wasn't my first rodeo (in fact I'm probably one of the five oldest people there [How in the world did that happen?]), and I ought to be able to recognize the adults.


The auction is quite popular, particularly with the younger set, but it seemed to take an inordinate amount of time. Prehaps if they did the drawing prior to gathering people together, then called them up one at a time and presented all their winnings, the event could be shortened.


Apparently there are some serious foundation problems with both Grandpa's old house and his new one. Water drainage from around the foundation has been compromised, and sandstone doesn't endure well in wet environments. To this point, there is no clear solution. In fact, there may not be a solution and the whole thing may come tumbling down...


I enjoyed watching AJ chase after his mud-puddle loving child and explain to him, with multiple iterations, the nuances of acceptable behavior. The world really does have some symmetry to it.


It was also fun interacting with grandchildren, although I didn't capture many images of them.


A couple of weeks ago, I got in my car and as I started to back out, there was a loud noise, reminiscent of a gun shot. Wondering what I had run over, I got out and looked for and explanation, but found none. Three days later, I started to use the pickup, and noted this slight problem. The tire had exploded while just sitting. I pulled out the spare, only to find it was in the same condition. Not wanting to put a lot of money into a vehicle that rarely sees pavement, I went shopping for used tires. I found, much to my consternation, that 14 inch truck tires are now considered antiques. One used tire dealer even recommended a junkyard where I could purchase a set of 15 inch rims. In the end, perseverance prevailed and I found useable, though pre-owned, merchandise in shop number 1 and shop number 10.


Barbara recently had some trouble with Compton. She took him for a walk only to discover that he thought it should be a run. Barbara ended up doing a face plant in the driveway that resulted in a nosebleed, which in turn morphed into a bruise across the bridge of her nose. It took a little more than two weeks to heal.


I have never had an animal that was as strong, and as headstrong, as this one. He just passed his fourth birthday in May, and has lost much of his puppy exuberance, but he can still be a handful if you are not paying attention.

I don't think I have ever met a friendlier dog, but unfortunately, his idea of friendly is to leap up, put a paw on each of your shoulders, and jam his nose into yours. Assuming that you are still standing, he then licks your face. It is difficult to tell who has the bigger nose, he or I.


In years past, I maintained the AC systems in my vehicles, adding freon yearly. Somewhere between here and there, I internalized the false fact that that job had become the purview of certified technicians, access to freon being limited to that fifedom. Recently Barbara came home with a can of freon, and a device to attach it to the vehicle AC system. After watching Wyatt, I attempted it and (two cans of freon later) Barbara can again drive her car in the summertime.


Return to Start Page