He’s Coming Back!

 O hi Joe!

So it’s Sunday afternoon, we’re watching the end of the Lord of the Rings. This is a common thing in our family, I wonder how many Sunday evenings we’ve done that. If you were here you might be bored of it. When you get home it may be a familiar comfort. It just occurs to me that you’re really not missing much.

Today was a little different for a Sunday otherwise. It rained all night and most of the day. Mom and I drove to church. Not just for the rain but because we were going to leave early to take grandma to her radiation treatment. It was no loss as it was the Primary Program. I love you kids, and I already love your kids. But dog gone it kids in general just ain’t my thing.

Grandma is doing well. Here treatment was quick and the workers are so nice. There’s a feeling of hope in the people that are there getting treated, but I know there must be uncertainty and unseen fear. That’s courage and faith in action. 

We came home and your brothers were watching football. I’m not paying much attention to my fantasy team, and I was tired from not sleeping well this week. So I took a wee nap before dinner. Ben made my stile of well cooked pork chops. He also made, from scratch, penne pasta with a pink sauce. Everything was good.

I got to work on my models after dinner. The boys were watching the Utes men’s basketball game against St. John’s. They weren’t doing so well so the mood was a little heated so I came downstairs. I had been building an F-104 star fighter. It was coming together well but apparently the metallic paints I was using were not compatible with each other and began to peel so I cut my losses. About 1 in 5 of my models don’t turn out. I wouldn’t say I give up on them or it’s a waste if I learn something, and I learned quite a bit on this one, until the peeling the metallic finish was looking great. Luckily, this was a cheap model from hobby lobby, so I’m out about $15 bucks plus whatever supplies I used. Along with the paint knowledge, I learned that the older, cheaper kits are not really a value because the take longer and are much more difficult to do a good job on. I may go through and cull my collection of those older kits. It also gives me an excuse to get one of the newer, Chinese versions of the Starfighter. The recent models made in china are becoming super high quality. I did start on a 1/32 scale Fokker Dr1, the Red Baron’s plane from WW1. Now that is a nice, modern kit. I’m working on the cockpit now, and it’s a pleasure versus the Starfighter.

Mom just came down with these pig in the blanket snacks, kinda like rolled grilled cheese with a hotdog. Yum. 

Yesterday I tried to keep as productive as possible. I got up and mom made us breakfast. Then I hooked up the trailer to go get some cardboard to make sets for the ward party. It came in big 4 x 8 sheets so I took the trailer. I bought five sheets but I should have bought at least one more. I’ll start them over the thanksgiving holiday. I came home and helped mom till the game started. Mom made chili dogs with leftovers from last week. It was good that she didn’t go all out because nobody came over. They must’ve known somehow how bad the game would be. In addition to all the guys already out. Whittingham announced that four more starters were out including Bishop, and Ellis’s who has a season ending injury. Colorado is doing worse than us, so hopefully the Utes can rally and finish with a win. According to Jake, the Utes are projected to go to the Sun bowl against possibly Miami. Maybe some of the players can recover and put up a good fight. On the positive side, byu did lose to Oklahoma, but it was closer than I would have preferred. 

As I told you in my note, mom invited me to the movies for the second half. It was her choice, a prequel to the Hunger Games movies that she likes. I’m not going to say that I loved it, but it was much better than I anticipated. Plus I was invited the by a gorgeous girl, so why wouldn’t I like it?

We got home and I got back to work on the projector cabinet. I got the pieces all cut out and got started on assembling the base. I’m not doing high end joinery or anything, but I was getting a little frustrated trying to align things. I’m using either pocket screws or biscuit joints to assemble it. I never get perfect alignment with either, but I’m glad I’m starting with the part that will be least seen and painted a dark color. Hopefully by the time I get to the upper part of the cabinet I’ll have figured out my setup. Plus I ordered some corner clamps to aid in alignment. 

Ben made these cheese steak sandwiches for dinner with ground beef, they were delicious I must say. Last night we watched the end of the Two Towers and the beginning of the Return of the King. Legolas and Gimlee counted their kills, I wonder what Aragorn’s kill count could have been?

Friday was a little quieter at work than usual. But there were a few things we were waiting for and I was reviewing and approving things this weekend. Mom had taken grandma to her treatment and found out that Mark never hung her tv. So your brothers and I met them at her house and got it mounted. Mom got the remote sort of working, but they are going to send grandma a new one. I also fixed her hallway light. We need to go back and replace her bathroom fan and the light fixture in her hallway bathroom. I hate leaving projects undone over there, I know it stresses her out. She bought us fried chicken from smith’s, and of course we thought of you.

Friday night mom was slow cooking onions overnight for soup. I love onions but the smell got so strong it kept waking me up and I woke up with a gigantic headache. I may be off of cooked onions for a bit.

Thursday was a long freaking day. After work Jacob and I went to help mom at her school for culture night. Then I had a leadership meeting at church, then we went to the clean the temple, all of us. It was actually pretty fun, all of it. In the training they were giving guidance on how important it was for sacrament meeting, including testimonies on fast Sunday, to focus on Christ. I agree and felt inspired.

This week is thanksgiving, my favorite holiday of all. I’m taking Wednesday off, Thursday everyone is coming over. Well, not everyone, just uncle Steven’s family, Rod and Beverly, and the Bergs, that I know of. I think Jacob and Jordan are planning a turkey bowl. Friday, if the weather is good I’m going shooting with my buddies. Saturday is the Colorado game, which will be much more challenging than I anticipated earlier in the season. I’m assuming Artie will offer us tickets, which is so kind of him. I’m not sure how enthusiastic your mom will be to go, especially if it’s cold. Speaking of the Utes, Cam Rising announced today that he’s coming back, it will be a good way to start in the new conference. 

Well my kid, seems like that’s it. I sure love you and everything reminds me of you. Do your best and always remember that you are greater than you will ever dare think you are.

Pops 

P.S. the elders just stopped by. There’s a new trainee in the area. I’ll bet he’s been out roughly the same amount of time as you. He’s from Pennsylvania. Only three more weeks ish for you!