Working Man

Michael went on his first business trip this week. He headed for Elko with his boss and three co-workers to inspect a drill site for Boart Longyear, his employer. Michael spends most of his time doing spreadsheets in Salt Lake City as a financial analyst, but this was his chance to see how the company really makes its money. He also got to wear a hard hat. The special perks--a night at the Elko Red Lion Hotel and dinner at The Star, a Basque restaurant.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I took a tray of my Viennese chocolate walnut squares to Robin Kimball's house.

I am a member of Robin's "team" which puts on wedding showers for ward members. Tonight was the shower for Zane Miller and his fiance, Erin Summers. It was the fourth shower of the summer, with one more to go, and I have provided food for three showers so far. As I walked into Robin's kitchen and saw Pam Johnson arranging pink roses on the tables...

Robin spreading out her team's feast on the counter, and the ladies, some expecting babies and and some carrying oxygen tanks, beginning to fill their plates with food...

I thought, "I really love these people and this place and this party." So many of my favorite people were there--Robin Kimball, Tracy Cannon...

Pam Johnson, Robyn Petty, Julie Monson...

Janet Hunter...

Marilyn McSweeney, and so many more. We laughed and talked and gestured (and even checked Blackberries) around the table...

and then gathered to watch Robin Kimball play the role everyone relished--interviewer of the bride and groom.

"When did you know you loved her?" Robin asked Zane. "Tell us about your first kiss." "Where are you going on your honeymoon?" "What is it about Zane that makes you want to live with him forever?" We laughed, they laughed, they told us some things and didn't tell us others, and we all shared in the wonder and delight of young hopes and romance.

And then Zane and Erin opened the huge plastic bags that contained the "group gift"--a Kitchenaid mixer and a set of pots and pans. As the party ended, we hugged each other, shared cookies and salads to take home to husbands and children, and left, filled with a great desire to do it all over again for Tyler McSweeney on August 19. "Robin," I called out, as I walked towards my home next door, "I'll be on your team any time."

Emilie!

"She wants to go to Chuckarama and the cabin," Camille suggested, as we planned our part in the Great Adventure of our granddaughter, Emilie Ebert. Emilie turned twelve this March and Camille and Steve sent her, by plane, from Boston to Salt Lake City to spend two weeks at Brighton camp and visiting her friends and grandparents.

Emilie arrived in Salt Lake City on Father's Day. We took her to Temple Square for sightseeing and then home for a slice of raspberry shortcake.

Emilie gathered flowers from the garden for a bouquet for her Grandma Ebert, with whom she stayed most nights.

We finally did eat at Chuckarama. We could just picture Grandma Rose hobbling in with her walker, surrounded by a horde of great-grandchildren. Chuckarama was where Grandma Rose entertained the "kids." Emilie explained the ins and outs of the war between the vampires and the werewolves as we watched "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse."

On July 4 and 5, Emilie joined us for Independence Day partying. First, she did a few good deeds. She went with her grandpa to clean off the tombstones of Grandpa Cliff and Grandma Rose, who died last year. Then, she took a holiday bouquet to Vicky Wilson, one of her grandpa's home teachees who is in the hospital.

For Sunday dinner, on July 4, we joined Darrell and Nancy Moench for the specialty of their son-in-law, Josh Kennedy--homemade tamales.

Josh and Nancy Moench made all the "sides"--Mexican rice, refried beans, salsa--and I made flan with mangos for dessert.

Michael and Emilie spent the night with us at our Pine Mountain cabin. We watched "Nanny McPhee," a movie Emilie suggested.

On Monday morning we gathered, with a bunch of other partyers, for the Oakley parade.

I couldn't take my eyes off this cute little guy.

The rodeo had it all--horses and flags...

motorcycle riders...

marching bands...

queens...

and rodeo princesses from around the state.

There were politicians and their people...

floats and decorated vehicles...

neat-looking people on floats...

clowns...

and even the pooper scooper, following along after the horses.

After the parade, we drove into the Uintahs, stopping at the Provo River Falls...

and hiking around Mirror Lake.

Emilie took rock-skipping lessons from her grandpa.

We made nominations for the "dog of the day."

After filling up on Grandpa's hamburgers at the cabin, we strolled Park City's Main Street, enjoying the shops and galleries.

Emilie met Mark Fatali, the photographer from whom we bought many photos for our St. George house.

The highlight of Emilie's weekend was the Oakley Rodeo.

The people-watching and clothes-watching was nearly as good as the bronc-riding and barrel-racing.

And when it was all over, we enjoyed the fireworks as we walked to our car.

We hope Emilie enjoyed her Salt Lake adventure as much as we enjoyed her.