Brisket Fries If You Can Believe It

Oh hi kid,

Well, we woke up to our first snow on the year. It dusted over night, and summer is definitely over. The snow didn’t last, and it was sunny but cold most of the day.

I think as far as highlights for the week you joined us for the main one. The Leonid and Friends concert was really fun, at least for me. It was an event from the start. I had planned on parking in this structure on campus. It was full with a lot of grumpy boomers not finding a spot, so you can imagine the tension. At one point this random grumpy 75 year old told me to pull over for absolutely no logical reason. Then we had to figure out how to turn around. Then every other car we passed had to condescendingly inform us that the place was full. So the clock was ticking and it was slow going on the way out. As we were headed down a car up ahead was pulling out. I didn’t think we’d get it but for sure the car in front would. Well, it seems drivers don’t like to look backwards. So the car leaving sat there for a long time. They finally got the courage to pull out and for some reason the car in front of us hesitated and didn’t take the spot. Once they got the courage up a little Kia pulled up and stole the spot. It was so obvious that he knew he was stealing it that I was sure he cut the corner too tight and was going to scrape his door. He didn’t but it was funny. Luckily, with all of the delays another car right in front if us pulled up and we grabbed the spot.

Well, we got out in on time and enjoyed the show. Leonid and friends is a cover band, but they are fabulous musicians. I had fun, I hope you’re mother and brothers did too.

Tuesday night I finally got over to grandmas to replace her toilet seat. She was leaving for her ward trunk or treat so I went to Home Depot to grab the seat and had it done and her trash taken to the curb before she got home. I’m not saying what I did for here is all that big of a deal, but I do feel happy when I can do even the littlest things for her. Soon it will be time to clean her leaves. 

This was the least Halloween Halloween that I’ve had since at least before I met your mother if not ever. Mom got home and we went to do an endowment at the new Taylorsville temple. Traffic was terrible and I didn’t think we’d make it. We had a six o’clock appointment and we pulled up at 5:47. We got in at changed and my butt barely hit the pew before we were called up, phew, made it in the nick of time. That temple is nice, as they all are. Mom kept commenting on how small it felt. But honestly, all of the new ones feel about the same to me.

Afterwords, as you know, we met Ben at JCWs, Jake went to a Jazz game with his mission buddy. I still don’t like JCW fries, but the burger was decent.

It feels like I’ve been eating a lot as it’s cooled down outside and I worry about gaining my weight back. But I had a doctors appointment Friday morning and he said all of my labs looked really good. That made me feel good enough to get a sausage egg McMuffin on the way home. Yum.

Before my appointment though, mom and I made our seasonal trip to Walmart to get our 50% off candy, and this time, we probably went overboard. When you see the picture, you’ll say we definitely went overboard. More than likely a bag or two will end up in your Christmas care package.

Saturday was the first normal stay at home Saturday we’ve had in a while. I got up and met some of my old guy Jeep buddies for breakfast. We met at this diner in Salt Lake that seemed tailored for old guys, there were only old guys eating breakfast there. You know two of my buddies, Doug and uncle Aaron who’s not actually old, and another friend that I’ve known since 1990, Alan. We talked about several trips we’d like to take next year including finally doing that Death Valley trip we had planned when Covid hit. I really appreciate good, kind, hardworking people. I’m really grateful for friends like that.

Mom had gone with aunt Patti to the big Costco. After we both got home and put the groceries away, we went to help aunt Stella sign into her accounts. She’s not comfortable signing into this new accounts she had set up. I was able to get her into one but not the other. One of the things I love about going to her house is her little dog Sammy. He is so sweet and affectionate. I tell him how grateful I am that he gives my aunt and uncle so much affection and happiness. After she invited us to lunch at the Olive Garden. It was pretty good. I got the steak and Alfredo. Uncle Temy can be pretty ornery with aunt Stella, but yesterday they were both pretty sweet to us.

When we got home we did some chores. I mowed the lawn which was funny to think about when I woke up to the snow on the grass this morning. I also did a little work on our room. I put some trim around the high window and yesterday I got the nail holes filled and sanded and the trim primed, ready for paint. Yes, I’m moving slowly on it, but it is moving. 

I think school is stressing out Ben and he’s been acting his off ish Ben self, I think you’ve experienced that. Jacob doesn’t understand that and tends to take it personally. Then he gets frustrated and mom and I have to calm him down. Jacob and I are so much alike. I remember feeling like that towards my brother and when Jacob says mean things I have to tell him not to, not for Ben’s sake as much as for his sake. Saying mean things to someone else hurts both people, for a long time. To help Jacob cool down we went to Walmart to get a frame for the ELO poster they got at that concert. It’s a cool one.

Today was church, fast and testimony meeting. I didn’t get up, neither the Holy Ghost nor your mother compelled me. After, we had our Gospel Essentials class. I gave the lesson. It was lesson three on Jesus Christ. My favorite part I think was about the war in heaven. It’s hard for me to imagine God, Jesus, and the two thirds that followed them waging war violently. But the in Revelations 12:11 it says “overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony”. My gosh, that really hit me. You, me, and all of us are still at the front of that war that is still waging. You are like the special forces as a full time missionary. And every time you testify it’s like the navy seals taking down Osoma Bin Laden. Keep going elder, keep that battle against satan going. He doesn’t stand a chance if you keep testifying.

Ben smoked a brisket and mom made all these fixins for brisket fries. It was a suggestion from Artie and we had my side of the family over. Mom made this sauce with homemade tomato soup, cheese, and who knows what other magical ingredients. I was a little predisposed to not like it because it looked a little like that horrible canned nacho sauce sauce that I detest. But oh my, it was pure ambrosia on top of those brisket fries. Wow. We need to sell that stuff and I can retire. It was fun to be together with my sisters and their families. It feels like we should always be together.

Right now Jake and I are listening to records. We started with Abby Road and now we’re listening to Ram by Paul McCartney. Wow, that is a solid album. I haven’t enjoyed my record player this much since we moved it out of that little room that’s now Jacob’s room. We do this more than we watch movies these days.

This is a big week coming up. The election is on Tuesday and the rivalry game is Saturday. Polls are pointing to a Harris win, i sure hope so if not for any other reason than I am sick to death of hear Trumps ignorant, bigoted, mean mouth going off an being amplified across our country all day every day. But I also think he’s already been the worst president in history and he doesn’t deserve a chance to another, even worse, second term.

As for the rivalry game, i sure hope that Utah can turn things around and beat those guys, I just wish I was more confident. I will send you updates, but be warned, it’s another late game. I’m not sure if we’re going or not, but your brothers are for sure.

Well, love you my warrior. Keep swinging. 

Pops