Hot July

Hey, everyone!
Whew! The summer that was in hiding has come out and breathed hot air on us. That is, if the air is actually moving. Otherwise it is like a dead heat. As still as a bat cave. The flowers are gasping and the lawn is depressed.
Last night we went to the couples' book group, where the discussion was about the book Endurance, the account of Ernest Shackleton's expedition across the south pole. Amazing how they survived with all odds against. Everything went wrong, and when it didn't, it was even worse. But what a testimony to trust and leadership.. Must rent the documentary and the movie with Kenneth Branaugh.( sp?) We left at nine o'clock and saw Howl's Moving Castle, which is a real trip. Wonderful animation and clever story. Voiced by Christian Bale, Blythe Danner and Emily Mortimer, I think. What was she in recently? We also saw Mr. and Mrs. Smith the other night. Entertaining, tongue in cheek, a little heavy on the posturing and posing on the part of Angelina Jolie, but kind of fun, if you like violence, explosions, murdering, executions, etc. You know, the things that make a marriage work.
I play at Brad Skousen's reception tonite. It will be at Edgewood Hall, George and Mindy Daines' place. Then tomorrow we meet in our new chapel, and I will play a duet with Kathy Betz' mom, Dorisse who is a professional violinist, and is up from Tucson for Susan Betz's wedding. We learned last Sunday that Erin Betz has a brain tumor. They don't know if it is malignant, but after the wedding they will do some more tests. Pray for her. She is on an anti-convulsion medication, and they say the growth isn't growing very quickly, but is in two areas of the brain. Always a very scary prospect.
We had a very nice 4th, complete with the sing-along at the Gray cabin. Did I already write that in my last blog? I can't remember when I was on last. It took me about 20 minutes to get into my e-mail today, not counting the 10 minutes it took to close down twice. This computer is as slow as I am, and we don't understand each other at all. We saw my cousin Jim Fillmore's family at Wildwood, and talked to his son Jon, who lives up here still, and works for a computer company. We told him we would hire him when we get a new computer, for a couple of one-on=one training sessions.
News: Nickolee Zollinger is getting married the last week of July, then will immediately move to Indiana for her doctorate. Jamie Balls is expecting, and will be moving back here with her husband, since his military obligation is completed. Lexi Balls husband will deploy to Iraq in a month or so.
Hoping Matt is enjoying Italy. How about some notes from the field, Matt? We enjoyed your Ecuador communiques. And Chris, do you get online? Thanks for the phone call. We like the fact that you are in LoLo? Wyoming. Low Low? where A River Runs Through It was filmed. We know that they couldn't film it in the actual area where the story took place because the river was so polluted.
Nancy reports heat and work, and some play. She does have a cooler at the Gelb's house, so she won't perish from 105 degree heat. I believe that is close to the temperature of the oven for a slow cooking brisket or something. Maybe for drying fruit? Anyway, it is certainly not pleasant for human beings, unless you are going for the beef jerky look. Nancy, I saw Kandis twice this week and had a good visit. She says that eventually, she would like to end up in Tucson, after her son finishes elementary school.
Annie and family will be here on the 25th. How was your ward breakfast, Annie? We are excited about having you here for awhile. The kids look like they have grown since I saw them in February! Slow down, you guys! What's the rush?
Can anyone else come during that time? Annie and Greg will be away with the Waddoups from the 10th to the 14th, and they will leave for Concord on the 17th. We plan to attend a couple of the opera offerings: Annie Get Your Gun (naturally) and Kismet. It would be fun to have even a couple of days together. Think about it.
I send my love to everyone. You are everything to me. Love, Ma