Someone's Out To Get Us / Judy

I don't know if everyone is having the same problem we are about going to the reunion, but in this house, it's like "someone's out to get us." Grandpa has a cold which includes a bad headache and just doesn't feel well at all. Michael threw up and is hoping it's nothing that lasts. Lloyd also has a terrible cold, so bad that he didn't go to work  yesterday or today and sounds like a frog. Also, his arthritis is flaring up. Sadly, Ben can't come at all (they gave him a big one day off--Wednesday only--so it wasn't possible for him to even fly back and forth). 

So far, I'm ok but I hate to think I may have to drive our big RV all the way there by myself. But if I have to put everyone to bed in the back of the thing and soldier on alone, I will because we're coming no matter what. So there!

Memorial Day / Judy

We had a good day today. I put out our flag yesterday morning and I'm so glad we have one! It looks so cool as we drive into the culdesac. Actually, two other neighbors have theirs out too so our neighborhood looks especially nice.

This morning I hosted my writing group here, which is always kind of fun. I am editing Grandpa's book so it seemed appropriate to be reading some of his war stories for the group.

This afternoon Lloyd and I went to lunch, then saw the movie, "Night at the Museum 2." We liked it quite a bit, even better than the first one maybe. It wasn't really funny, but it was a fun adventure movie.

When we came home, Grandpa was soon up and Michael came from Santa Barbara so the four of us went out to the cemetery and put flowers on my mother's grave. This is something we were never able to do before because we always lived too far from anyone's grave. But since we've been here we go every year with Grandpa and it feels like a very nice thing to do. I meant to bring my camera but I'm afraid I forgot it so you'll just have to imagine how the place looked. There were little American flags on all the veterans' graves and they looked like they covered most of that cemetery. Michael was saying that during World War II there were 27 million people in uniform, most everybody that was able-bodied, and now these veterans are dying at the rate of 1,000 per day. 

I think it's important to think of their sacrifice at least once a year and be grateful and appreciative.

PCPA Graduation / Judy

Yesterday afternoon Ben graduated from PCPA after a very intense two years. It was a wonderful ceremony, low-key but meaningful. Afterwards everyone was emotional--boys and girls and parents. The students are all especially close because they are like survivors of a disaster after what they've been through during this time. The first two pictures are of Ben with some of his teachers. If you've been to any of the PCPA productions, you might recognize them. 

Afterwards we all came home and the Kleinmans and the Andersons came down for dinner to help celebrate and a good time was had by all.

Now Ben has to choose whether to go to Berkeley or UC Irvine. He has this week off and will go to both places to help him decide because he has to write his "Statement to Register" by June 1.

And, a great big CONGRATULATIONS to Jason who also graduated yesterday. We are so proud of you both because these are big accomplishments!

Yay Mothers! / Judy

I just finished a book by Nevada Barr called "Borderline" about her main protagonist, Anna Pidgin, who's a ranger in a national part.  All the books are about her solving mysteries in different national parks. Anna is a loner and a staunch feminist. In this book she's rafting down the Rio Grande when she rescues a newborn baby girl whose mother dies. For the whole book Anna is trying to escape a rising river, climb out of the canyons and running away from the bad guys who want to kill the baby for their own nefarious reasons. It's a real shock to Anna how protective she feels towards this baby and how caring for it changes her life. 

Towards the end she says:

"Anna mentally apologized to the mothers of the world for any stray thoughts she'd had over the years that they weren't brave enough, or smart enough, or productive enough. Doing anything, ANYTHING, with an infant in arms was a near impossibility: thinking, fighting, moving, working, eating. Helplessness was how she'd seen it, but it wasn't that the women couldn't do for themselves. It was that they could not do for themselves unless they sacrificed their child. That women often chose to have more than one child was mind-boggling; it must require the courage of several prides of lions. Courage that Anna had always lacked."

Hats off to all the courageous mothers I know!

Day at the Temple / Judy

Yesterday Lloyd took the day off work and we both took the Stake bus down to the L.A. temple. What a great way to do it! We left at 6:00 am and also picked up people in Pismo and Santa Maria and we were there at 9:45. We did a session that had 70 people in it which must be pretty good for a Tuesday, then ate lunch in the cafeteria. Then we went through the 1:30 session as the witness couple (there were only about half the number of people as in the morning). We left at 4:00 and were home by 7:30 pm. It was wonderful.

When we were  milling around at the church in the morning before we left, there was one short elderly lady in a prim blouse and skirt, sensible shoes and her white hair in a bun. I assumed she was from another ward, but it turns out she was the bus driver! Lloyd asked her how long she'd been driving these huge busses and she said 25 years. She did a good job too, muscleing that behemoth around Los Angeles. 

All the way down in the morning we mostly slept (Lloyd slept almost the whole way) and then read or did other fun stuff like crosswords puzzles. So it was a fun day and we really enjoyed it both because we didn't have to drive ourselves and because it's been months since we were able to go to the temple.

Star Trek Forever! / Judy

We just saw "StarTrek" and my life is complete. I loved, loved, loved it! The reason we didn't see it until today is because I wanted to see it with Lloyd and this is his day off. When the big title came up I grabbed his hand in excitement. And when the Enterprise suddenly appeared with all guns blazing, I laughed out loud. Then with the old theme music at the end my joy was full.

So everybody go see it, even if it's the only movie you see this year, and you might begin to understand my undying love for it. Besides, the more people who see it, the more they'll plan others, maybe even another TV series. Right now I feel like anything is possible.

When the last TV series was canceled four years ago, I said, "If anyone thinks there is still money it in, it will be back." With the large fan base (which I know about personally because I've been to the conventions) of course there is still money in it. And now there is a whole nother world they can explore so hold onto your hats. In fact, I heard the next movie is already green-lit and they plan to make at least a trilogy. Hallelujiah!

Kentucky Derby 2009 / Judy

I have to talk about this amazing Kentucky Derby. Like I said in my last post, I didn't know anything about the horses going into it but it was still a fun race to watch. The winner won by over 6 lengths--WAY out ahead of everybody else.

Then we learned more about what happened. It seems the favorite came in next to last because he was clipped coming out of the gate and his leg was bleeding. There were three horses all bunched up for a photo finish second place, including the second favorite.

But the winner was a 50-1 longshot that nobody ever heard of from New Mexico. His trainer pulled his horse trailer with his own pickup and the trip took 21 hours. His foot was in a cast because of a motorcycle accident and he was on crutches (and wearing a black cowboy hat) at the Derby. Also he used to be a rodeo rider. So here's this horse from New Mexico, of all places, handily beating the Eastern elite establishment and all the Hall of Fame trainers. 

Everybody looked stunned. It was priceless!

Lifelong Friends: Judy

This is me and my friend, Sandy, that I've known for 55 years. We met in the 5th grade, were best friends all through high school, even roommates at BYU for a year. We drifted apart when our family lived all over the place, but now that I'm back home we get together for lunch every once in a while. She's like a family member in that whenever we see each other, it's like we spend lots of time together and just talk and talk. Yesterday we were celebrating her birthday at Novo's downtown (I love their creekside patio dining), and a friendly waiter took our picture. 

Random change of subject: today is the Kentucky Derby so I hope everybody watches. I can't tell you anything about the horses because there hasn't been anything in the paper about it. Even today's article said, "we don't really know anything about this field." I suppose we'll know more after the race.