Darkness in the afternoon

 Oh hi Bakey,

I just have one small rant this week, I FREAKING HATE DAYLIGHT STANDARD TIME! It’s not even 6 yet and it’s been dark for a while. I think it may have been useful during world war 2 when they were keeping the lights off in case of air raids, but sheesh. In Canada it was dark by 4:30, I hated tracting through those long freezing cold nights. Every time you tell me you struggle, I understand because I go back to trying to motivate myself on those nights. I wasn’t always successful, but I didn’t give up either.

This week was pretty average. It was fun chatting with you a little later than normal on Monday. I guess we’ll be back to normal tomorrow. After the call we went to sonic for 50¢ corn dogs. Your brothers are kinda light weights, Joey only had 5, Ben had 4, and I had 3. You need to show us how it’s done. Then we came home and watched a scary movie. Your brothers wanted to watch the shining, that was a big N-O from your mother. I wanted to watch Alien, rejected again. So we watched poltergeist, I don’t think I’ve seen that since the 80s. It held up. It was fun to see Joey get caught up in the jump scares. 

I worked Tuesday, then picked Ben up. Those days get long, we don’t get home till almost 7. By then I’m not super motivated to do a whole lot. Mom had class, Joey was working, so it was just Ben and I and leftovers. Sometimes I like to work on my hobbies but my compressor went out this week. I got a replacement yesterday, so maybe now I’ll be back at it.

Wednesday night was young men. Nobody came, communication was messed up. Talk about needing motivation.

I ended up going to the office in the afternoon. Wow this letter is boring, sorry Jacob. That night I did some work on Artie’s logo before Joe got home. I have a couple of decent options, I’d like to get at least one more together for him. We watched Andor after Joey got home and had dinner. It’s a really good series, I still like the Mandolorian better though. There’s a new series of shorts, called Tales of the Jedi. It’s animated. Each episode is about a different Jedi and their origins. It’s pretty cool.

Friday was more car stuff. I took the Jeep to put on those tires I bought last week. I’m pretty sick of spending money on cars. Today when I was dragging the compressor around I thought of how material things have a cost beyond the price it takes to but them. As soon as you acquire something, you are bound to it, you need to house it, maintain it, service it, and eventually dispose of it or replace it. When that is out of balance, things become burdens. They say that joy doesn’t come from material positions, but I think you can derive amusement or even happiness from things. The key is to keep a balance on things. I guess the reason I’m writing about this is because I have a lot of crap. Collections, tools, RCs, models, 3D printers, cars, the trailer, house stuff, cameras. It’s almost a little embarrassing how much I’ve accumulated. I do think I’m materially oriented, but I think I need to pair it down a little.

Saturday was the shower for Heidi at our house. Your brothers and I helped mom clean up the house in the morning. When people started coming the three of us went to breakfast and errands. When we came home the house was full of women. All very nice, but a little much for me, so I went downstairs to get some work done on Artie’s project. 

When it was time to go to the game I got all dressed up in my layers. Mom burst out laughing when she saw me in my thermal bottoms pulled up way over my belly. Ben and Joey were appalled by how warm I was dressing. But I’ve learned over the course of a lifetime of going to games that it’s much more pleasant to be warm and dry than not. In fact, that’s kinda why I lost interest in going in the first place. We met Artie and his buddies as per usual at crown burger. Parking was a lot easier than usual because of the weather. Something funny happens to me when we get to the games. From parking by my old church building, to walking past my old house, to the sounds and smells on the walk to the stadium, and especially when the pregame hype video starts, I get so filled with emotion and nostalgia my eyes fill up. It’s like the time and place where my pre married life and family cross over with you guys. Sometimes I wish so badly that we could all go to a Utes game together, my dad, my brother, uncle Patrick before he got lost, and you guys. Have I told you this before? Anyway, I wonder if they have football in heaven.

Today has been quite, mom and I got called to the ward Christmas party committee. We have a meeting at the nobles at 8. Mom has already warned me not to vocalize my views on not mixing church and Santa. Another reason I will never be bishop. 

Well kid, that’s all I have for this week. Looking forward to tomorrow as always.

Love, 

Pops.