Fat Man's Pass

On Veterans Day we went for a hike on South  Mountain.  Scott met us there.  We started on the Mormon Trail and then made a little loop on the National Trail which took us back to the Mormon Trail.  It was an easy hike.  We had a beautiful day!  The main excitement, however, was on the loop while going through Hidden Valley and  Fat Man's Pass.

When we got to that point Scott was in the lead and he almost missed the opportunity to squeeze through.  But we called him back and squeeze we did.  It is so cool!  The rocks that thousands of people have squeezed between are polished and smooth now.  Anyway, all 3 of us made it through so I guess that means we are not Fat Men. 

Hand Out

I already posted about my RS McInterviews for the Visiting Teachers.  I neglected to put on a picture of the handout I made for it.  It follows:

Ironing Day

Yesterday Doug was gone all day at Scout Training.  I decided it would be an Ironing Day for me.  Yippee!  A day of ironing!  So to make my day more bearable I also delared it to be a Movie Day.  Doug and I went to Blockbuster and rented 8 movies.  I planned on watching movies all day long while also ironing. 

We watched Transporter 3 together Friday night - that was Doug's choice.  It was OK.  But the real fun started Saturday morning.  I ate breakfast and brought the iron and ironing board and all the ironing out to the family room.  Then I carefully selected the order I was going to watch the movies.  As soon as that was done - I turned on the iron and hit the play button.  I will outline how my Ironing Day proceeded.

My ironing - several piles of it.  HERE WE GO!

 

 

First movie - 7:00 am: Dolphin Tale - as you can see it was a 3 kleenex movie.  I liked it.  And I got some laundry folded and 5 1/2 long-sleeved shirts ironed.

 

Second movie - 9:00 am:  Taken.  Enjoyed that one. I kept ironing and got  7 1/2 long-sleeved shirts done.  I also loaded the folded laundry into the basket and collected one more pile of laundry to fold.  This movie took a lot more of my attention so I could follow the story line and details.  For that reason my output was definitely lower than expected. While putting some ironing away I discovered more shirts to iron.  AARRGGHH!!

newly discovered shirts to be ironed

 

Third movie - 11:00 am:  Mirror Mirror.  Cute movie - I liked it.  I folded the next pile of laundry and while ironing I finished 7 long-sleeved shirts.  Only 1 more long-sleeved shirt is left to iron. Yay!   I also ate lunch.  This movie totally glitched on me several times.  So it took longer to watch it than a straight showing. 

 

Fourth movie - 1:00 pm:  Disturbia.  Another action flick that needed some concentration.  However, I was able to iron 1 long-sleeved shirt  and 13 short-sleeved shirts.  I may also have given my legs a rest during part of the movie. 

 

Fifth movie - 3:00 pm:  People Like Us.  I liked this movie too.  I finished my ironing - Doug's last 4 short-sleeved shirts and my 3 shirts and 2 pairs of my pants.  Then I turned off the iron and sat down for the rest of my movie fest. 

In the meantime - Isaac got home from work early.  He sort of lost interest and headed to his room to sleep.  Doug also got home from his Scout Training and he quickly got ready for his 4pm Stake Conference Priesthood Leadership Meeting.  I was under pressure to finish the movies by 6:30 or so in order to attend the 7 pm Adult Session of Stake Conference. 

Sixth movie - 5:30 - The Hunger Games.  I called Isaac out because he wanted to see this movie.  I started the movie.  No ironing left!  At a few points during the movie I paused it so I could get ready to go to my meeting.  But at 1:28:29 in the movie I had to leave.  Bummer.  But as soon as we got home from the meeting I started it up right at that part and finished watching the movie.  Doug stayed busy at this computer because he didn't want to spoil the movie.  He will have to watch it another time.  I liked the movie. 

By 10:15 Doug was off to return the movies to the store with only one movie unwatched - 2001.  We had all seen that one before but for whatever reason Doug also rented that with our other 7 movies. 

I'll have to say watching all those movies made my work much more enjoyable.  But now I am worried - with good cause, I mean a total of 41 shirts and 2 pants AND nearly 10 hours of ironing  gives me good reason, that I am probably developing a massive "ironing arm" like Grandma Russell used to tell us about and demonstrate to us.  And that doesn't mean strong and lean.  It meant hanging and swinging.  You get the picture. 

The End

Drive-Through Interviews

We just completed our 3rd annual Drive-Through Interviews for Visiting Teaching. 

Our first one was a "Drive-Through Service Station".  The sisters would drive up and we would take a stool, some window cleaner, and some paper towels to their car.  Then we would wash their windshield while we discussed their assignment as a Visiting Teacher.  It was lovely.  We gave them a car freshener as they left.  It was a success.

Last year the Drive-Through Interview theme was "Popcorn and a Movie".  We had a big popcorn machine set up outside the kitchen at the church - like the ones they use in theatres.  We had a short Pixar movie we showed called Boundin'.  We got in their cars and gave them a bag of popcorn and watched the short movie.  We related it to knowing and serving our sisters.  We gave them a cute handout with a quote and 2 hand-stitched puffy white pieces of popcorn on it.  It was tucked inside a red and white striped paper bag.  It was super cute and the sisters loved it. 

This year we did Drive-Through McInterviews.  We wore red shirts with a familiar golden arch taped on.  I made some McInterview signs.  Plus a bonus - I got a McDonalds Monopoly poster and had that displayed too.  Turns out the timing was perfect to have that - Scott was on the poster and we asked to have one.  So I just kept it to use and then I'll give it to Scott.  Anyway, during the McInterview we served McParfaits.  They were yummy.  So we had another successful year of Drive-Through Interviews. 

See Scott on the poster?



Note parfait in hand?

Wouldn't you agree with me that 3 years is a long enough time to be a Relief Society President?  But if I'm still in next fall we will need another idea for Drive-Through Interviews.  I do have one more possible idea lurking in my head.  We shall see if I need to work that idea up or not. 

Security

We finally did it.  We got a security door.  We have been wanting one - but they are quite expensive.  But with the good weather approaching we decided now was the time.  So we plunked down a big pile of money and got one ordered. 

What was cool was that Doug and I were leaving for a mini vacation on Thursday afternoon, October 25th.  I was picking up Doug from work and we were continuing northbound from there.  So I arranged the installation of the security door for that Thursday morning without telling Doug. 

The installation went smoothly and I loved the door.  But I didn't say a word to Doug.  It would be left up to him as to when he noticed it.  I even thought we would be getting into town late Saturday night and with it being dark Doug might not notice the security door until Sunday morning.  But that was part of the fun. 

Turns out we returned somewhat early Saturday afternoon - in full light.  But Doug didn't notice the door.  We were unloading through the garage - but still you could see the door, if you looked.  I was almost exploding because he just didn't notice.  But in the evening I think I asked Doug to go water the plants and as he headed out - the front door - he noticed the security door.  I mean how could he miss it? 

We are now getting used to having another door to lock as we go in and out.  This door needs a key to lock and unlock from both sides - so right now it seems to be a hassle.  But it will be worth it if anyone ever tries to break in the front security door.  I don't think that is going to happen. 

Here is how it looks:



Inside the house

 






Outside the house



Outside the house at night