Disneyland 2012 Day One

Tuesday we met Stephen and Ann in St. George for supper and then traveled as far as Henderson, NV for the night. Wednesday everyone met in Burbank at the Disney Studios for a tour led by nephew, Brigham, who is a senior vice president there. It was my first outing in a wheelchair -- I can still walk, but if I overdo, my knee speaks to me. Prior to the tour, we met Katy and Daniel for lunch at a great little Mexican restaurant in Burbank. The studio tour was extremely interesting and Brigham was very kind to let us come.

After the tour, we headed south down the Santa Ana Freeway to the Hampton Inn for check in and swimming. We all had supper together at Buca di Beppo next to the hotel.

 Henderson from our Comfort Inn window

 Lunch at Poquito Mas in Burbank

 Disney Studio from Google Maps

 Waiting for the tour in the Legends Plaza

at Disney Studios

 Maria Magdalena and Katy Kathryn

 The wheel-chair brigade forms up

 Admiring one of Walt's Oscars in the archives

 A working set in one of the studios

  Iconic water tower

 A theater from the early years

 One of the screening rooms where we saw some

impressive previews of Brigham's projects

 Our host at the original Animation Building

 Taylor-style "shade bathing"

 Ready, steady, go!

 Beckham Gavin Young looks fine

 Philly launching Ollie

A great Italian supper

Today it will be on to the Parks in unseasonably hot weather: they predict 18 degrees above normal: ouch!

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Labor Day 2012

In celebration of Labor Day, Hank and Colette invited the family to their cabin for a pot-luck lunch. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time eating and visiting. Hank pulled out a Stetson hat that had belonged to Grandpa Taylor and had been part of the distribution of his stuff after Aunt Ethelyn died

 HTD, Jr. and SKT

 Visiting while the fire burns down for roasting

Emily regales the troops while Max enjoys the chips and salsa

 HDT, Steve, Katy Kathleen, Zoe, and Tiffany

 Katy Kathryn and Meagan

 Daniel at the grill

 An obligatory "brothers" shot

 Pippy with the fine Stetson

Millie, Bea, Zoe, and Brandon

This adventure made a nice change from our usual uneventful Labor Days. It was so pleasant and relaxing in the canyon, and it is always nice to be with family.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

First-Day-of-Retirement Fête

Today, September 1, was the official first day of retirement for Rod and me. The official day is always the first day of the month following your final semester or term. Tonight we got together with Rod and Vic and went for a burger at Firehouse Burgers in Springville. After supper, Rod took us for a drive up Hobble Creek Canyon in their new Highlander. The canyon was full of campers -- there for the Labor Day weekend -- and the air smelled beautiful: fresh and crisp because of recent rain, but tinged with campfire smoke.

 KBT, DAT, RBB, and VJGB

 The buns are from Provo Bakery or a reasonable facsimile 

 The top of Hobble Creek Canyon

The burgers were great, the company was splendid, and the fresh air and scenery were heavenly. We look forward to many more outings like this: we're retired after all and are free to roam.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

The NY Gibbs

Over the weekend we had a delightful visit from Mike and Linda Gibbs. They were accompanied by Cathy Gibbs and Graham. The occasion was Chelsea's graduation from BYU. We had some great visits and they were kind enough to invite us to join them for a special celebratory dinner at La Caille in SLC. It has been years since we've eaten there and we were pleased with the food and the experience. On Sunday evening we played several rounds of Beyond Balderdash. Linda had flown to California on Sunday morning and Monday morning early, the rest of them headed to Colorado.

 La Caille

 Dickie, Mike, and Cathy

Chelsea and Graham

 Linda and Kris

 Kris's pork ribs

 My Coquilles Saint-Jacques

 The Gibbs and Kris

 Beyond Balderdash: beyond fun

Colorado-bound

We always love to have the Gibbs visit and it was go great to be with Cathy, whom we have not seen for a long time.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Dinner at the Colvers

We have a nice tradition where we exchange dinners with the kids who live nearby. We cook one week and they cook the next. Maren and Gavin started the exchange when we lived across the breezeway from them at Sparks Apartments during our house remodel.

While they were engaged, Katy and Daniel mostly ate with us. Once they were married they joined the rotation. Two weeks ago they cooked, but at our house. Tonight was the maiden voyage at their house. It was delightful and delicious.

 Uncle Tony's painting of the Notting Hill Gate

fish market is a focal point in the dining area

 They made some delicious chicken tacos in the slow cooker

 It was a beautiful and tasty meal

 Two satisfied customers

Mike, Linda, Graham, and Grandma Gibbs arrive tomorrow for a few days. We are excited to have them here.

That, however, is all for now.

OXO

D. 

Auntie Em's Birthday and More

Since Emily was at camp on her birthday, we celebrated last night instead, taking advantage of the pool while we can. I am confident that all had a good time: food+folks=fun.

 Ollie, Max, Lucy, Millie, Holdie, Bea, Lizzie, Meg

... and Scoutie

 Embly and Maria Magdalena

 Phillip, Meags, Colton, and Em

 Ollie and Max in mortal combat for the ball

 Dinner time: Emily, Katy, and Daniel ready to tuck in

 Binkers on the "beach"

39 and counting

Yesterday I gave my last final and this morning early I finished cleaning out my office. I have already submitted grades and cleaned up all the loose academic ends. I have locked the door and turned in the keys! I brought home very little because everything I need to know is now on the internet, and we have no more room for books. The files all got dumped in recycling and the place is empty. It feels good.

 A bit bare

 Everything I hauled home fit on the cart in the hallway

After dropping my stuff off at home, I drove to Emily's where I picked up her and Lucy Jane for a trip to the airport for Lucy's flight back to Reno this morning. Lucy doesn't say much without prying it out of her, but we think she had a great time at camp with Emily and a fun week in Utah.

Lu Jane headed for the "Greater-Tahoe Area"

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

A Painful Dry Spell

I haven't posted anything for ages because we haven't done anything. I have been close to home with a "chronic internal derangement of the medial compartment of the right knee with advanced arthrosis," whatever the h*ll that is.  After a month or so of hobbling about, icing and heating, massive doses of Ibuprofen, and a fair dose of depression (would I have to do Disneyland in a wheelchair, sit at Matt's home in England in the fall?), I finally broke down and went to see an orthopedic specialist, who turned out to be a mission buddy. I dragged along my X-rays from when Debby and Rob sent me to the emergency room with a swollen leg, and the PA asked if they had done a standing view because that is how you use the leg (duh!). The image they took showed the malady named above, which means the upper bone is coming to rest on the lower bone behind the knee cap -- the sucker's all out of alignment! I was headed for knee replacement at some point. For now injections of cortisone would mange the pain. Well guess what? Cortisone didn't do a darned thing. 

Elder Kirt Kimball on right

Sensing my discouragement, Stephen said, "When you are ready to stop hurting go see Dr. Pain." Dr. Pain" is a Brazilian therapist who releases muscles in a manipulation process that generates excruciating pain, hence Stephen's nickname for him. When the muscles are doing their job, the bones should realign.  I have had two sessions with him and am experiencing some improvement, but am not yet fully healed. I am, however, hopeful because the pain is greatly reduced. I have one more scheduled session in about 10 days. I hope all goes well.

This is how my knee felt!

Just a couple of things on the home front: we inherited Father and Ethelyn's painting of Timpanogos by Floyd Breinholt. I really like the painting: it feels like it was painted for our room. The frame feels a bit much and may get replaced at some point. It nicely fills the space where Tommy's painting hung on loan until he reclaimed it.

Timpanogos hanging where Kershisnik's Angels hung

The Strawberry-Reservoir-to-SLC water line has reached our neighborhood and our road is closed at the south end. It has been an incredibly disruptive project with bits and pieces (reaches as they call them) going on all over the county from the Ironton Hill, to University Avenue. You can't get anywhere without a major detour.

Don't even think about getting through

I wish I had better adventures to report, but I just don't. I have, however, been consuming Sue-Grafton novels like crazy. I'll soon be caught up with the latest in the series.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.