Beneath the Wraps

                       I have been irritated by the ignorance of those portrayed in so many cowboy pictures that my husband watches – only it isn’t just that time period.   It has been with us through the beginning of time.   I am so ashamed of what is taking place currently. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/pettiest-protests- president-donald-trump-united-kingdom-visit         The entire population of the American population did not vote for Trump.   I’d dare say less than half – but Trump cheats.   I would dare say in all three elections.   I find it hard to believe that ALL seven swing states voted Republican.   He cheats.   He’s a bigger criminal than those he is trying to deport.          Just because Trump is an ass does not mean that all Americans are.    

            Jaime was making this face over something else but thought it fitting for the Big Lots closures.   It looks like eight remain open (at least for now) and all located in Washington State (or that is what I have led myself to believe)          Jaime and I spent many hours walking to Big Lots and visiting Big Lots in Kearns.   Many times we would drive out of our way to visit the one in Roseburg.   What a sad sight.

  This is a photo I took of Carlin Prison. I was unable to get photo of the warning sign, but you can find it at this site Jim Goldstien I had also missed my opportunity of getting a good photo of what my husband refered to as the "Joshua tree" although I couldn't find it listed under that name. I found the pic below on this site. also a better picture of the Salt Flat rest stop (last post) found here I found it interesting that the Elko Temple was built quite near a Wingers Casino and found two pics (with comments)  here and here .  Apparently I was wrong about the location of the California Trail.  We had passed an exit indicating Hunter, no services and there was the center.   May have been worth the stop but I don't even know if they were opened when we passed.  Here is the site for that location.  So that wraps up our journey.  Sometimes I think I need to leave the state and return to appreciate the moist breathable air.

 I drink a lot of water.  Always have.  As I increase in age my bladder does not seem to hold what it used to and so for the most part our road trips come with many potty stops. This is the second stop with outhouse and not flushable or heat - or sometimes  even light.  Walking from the car to the outhouse in the snow was a challenge. This was the first rest stop crossing the Utah border.   I was awed by all the matching green roofs - including  a residential house where I assume the caretaker resides. They even have a small dog park and electric car chargers   This is Bonneville Salt Flat rest stop which we passed without   stopping; it looked more like an observation deck to me.    

I took so many pictures but knew that most would not turn out as I was taking them from the car.   These are the ones that looked decent after cropping En  Route to Utah by way of Klamath Falls between Winnemuca, NV and Salt Lake City, UT I was floored by these work places that had to be driven a great distance Beautiful Sunset on the way home  

                 Our middle son had sent out a text before Christmas to inform us that one of our granddaughters was scheduled to be baptized on the 28 th and to please come.  I don’t know how may pleas he sent to indicate that our presence would be really awesome – but we didn’t have the funds.  I had asked my sister and brother-in-law if they would represent us.           Meanwhile two days before Christmas I received notice about a bank deposit that would be made into our account – but not until this month.   Jaime kept on telling us if we could find a way we ought to go.   And so we left the house the day after Christmas to make the drive to Utah and surprise the family.           We had stopped at a rest stop and I opened the back door to retrieve something – though not the 8 CDs that fell to the wet ground.   A man at ...

             I have not set any new years resolutions – nor do I feel the need to wait until New Year’s Day to do so.   I have been sick (off and on –though mostly on) for going on six weeks now.   I suppose I could have COVID – I never think about possibly having it until weeks after the fact.   Richard and I took a quick trip out of town.   I noticed miracles along the way and have written them down. I haven’t had much of a voice for the last eight days or so – possibly more (I’ve also been disoriented through this whole ordeal; grateful I don’t have a sinus infection) but am getting closer to being heard – though I sound like a cross between a chipmunk and one who may have swallowed razor blades. So I do have thoughts in the fire.   Hopefully they don’t all get consumed and go up in smoke.   I need more motivation.

                   I don’t know why I don’t just pour the honey from the plastic bear shaped container into a jar to start with – or why the honey companies don’t do it.    Why bear shaped plastic?    Oh, it’s cute – but very impractical.    Perhaps it’s less costly than glass jars – perhaps more practical when shipping.      But why the bear?    Honey crystallizes.    Boiling helps.    But so much easier to boil a glass jar than a plastic bear.   And trying to scrape out what gets stuck in the nose or ears - I feel like I'm being cheated at getting all my honey.  Just saying.

                I love our new bishop.  LOVE Him.  No, it is not my husband – but they are the same age.  Mike is a mechanic who used to have a business downtown, but retired.  He is the nicest man.  He’s the father of eight.  Four were at the ward today.  Three are inactive.  It was great to see the support.                I thought that the Elders Quorum would be released and announced, but that was not the case.   Our former bishop was advanced to a high counsel position.   Hmm.   My husband is now ward clerk – the only position I ever remember my dad having served.   Guess we will be taking two cars to church from now on.

          Our ward has seemed to dwindle in attendance since we first moved in.  Some have left our ward due to moving out of the area or moving on to the other side.  We’ve had some move in – but where is the activity?  It has always been an older ward; the daytime activities seem more well attended than night time.              The activities committee had set up and decorated Thursday morning to afternoon.   It was beautiful.   A lot of work went into it.   They had set up an overflow room.   But as it was not all the tables filled up.   I don’t know why.   Last year we seemed to have had people coming out of the woodwork.   I felt smooshed as though there was no elbow room.                This year they had planned for 125 people.   I think there may have been sixty people.   Maybe.   Lot of food.   An announcem...

                 And so the traditions continue . . . .          I feel the same as I did just two years ago – when we postponed Thanksgiving because all of us were sick – except Jaime.  But this year it ’ s only me – unless Jaime has a sinus infection.  She says her jaw hurts and Roland threw out his back.  We did have Thanksgiving.  There were seven of us.           I had invited my friend Carolyn when I thought it was just us.  But Richard wanted to invite Biff and his two. He also invited a member from our ward who will be going through a divorce and is having a hard time with it.          I did not play games with them but opted to do dishes instead.  Found homes for all the leftover food.  My head is throbbing currently.  That is new.  This morning it was ...

                 Our ward had an activity on Saturday.  I was asked to give a spiritual thought in relation to said activity – which was on family history.  I thought I would just give a quick and short thought about why we have family history and sought inspiration.  I listened to a conference talk given by Elder Nelson (now president) had given in 1994 which mentioned “ genealogy ” being replaced with “ family history ” which for me opened a whole new floodgate of questions.    Curiosity got the better of me and I researched dates and information related specifically to downtown Salt Lake. By the time I had finished my research I had enough information for a talk though unless specifically assigned the family history topic it is not a talk that I ’ ll ever give from the pulpit.   So my thought was: “ Genealogical Society of Utah started exactly 130 years and 3 days ago.  So what is the differ...