Johanson Women

Just when I was taking such pride in the quality of Johanson Women Jill had to do something crazy and jump out of an airplane. I couldn’t believe it wasn’t a photograph put together by Photoshop because why on earth would someone be that daring at her age? I guess there’s nothing any of us can do that would compare to that for making a big impression.

We are making plans for a big Fourth of July as Cyd and family will be here and Alberta will be turning 90. Sounds like a good time unless you know that my pool is full of stagnant water as the pump is being replaced and Pool World is not hurrying for my sake.

Anna Marie started supporting these long lasting solar flashlights and I know you’ll need one. For each one you purchase an additional one will be given to less fortunate in undeveloped countries. You’ll need one for your trip. Take a look at BoGo Light.

I love your parade photos and Hank’s Picasa website. My paper work has been received at Earthwatch so now I just need boots. It's pretty difficult to keep up in this family.

Lucas' Amazing Maze

Is It Summer Yet?

This week I’ve been forgetful, mixed up and addled. I guess that’s no different than any other week or at least it seems to be so lately. The monthly Lind cookie baking went fine and I didn’t upset Barb by giving her the incorrect amount of dry ingredients. She mentioned that Howard Kisler died and that she’d seen his brother, Dennis at the funeral. Someone else mentioned that Linda Lou now has blond hair. I know you’ll want to spend some time with her if you ever get back to Warden for a visit. Linda sent me this article about an almost famous Warden baseball player. I’m missing the annual Warden reunion but Phyllis is going so I’m sure I can give you an update next month.

It was nice to hear that the Harle and Mercer visit to Chicago went as planned almost. Since you have the City Tour down they were able see all the main attractions in short time. Next time you’ll have to keep the kids there for a week so they can really get in all the details. Maybe their grandma can bring them. Oh, I almost forgot, she has two dogs at home now.

The paper work for Kenya is looming and while jumping through the hoops to take care of the details I was stopped when this physician refused to sign the health form. It was something about having three digits in the diastolic blood pressure reading. So now I can think of something else to take care of besides looking for boots. I’ll see what happens next week on a return visit.

One day Lucas and I spent a day at Riverfront Park where the most fun thing was going on the Octopus. After the first turn he asked to go again and again but that will have to wait for someone like his dad to take him. Grandma is up for Gondola riding these days.

Habitat had their annual Blitz Build for the past two weeks and my friend and I worked on our fourth yearly session by painting and cleaning up for the new owner move-in. It is so encouraging to see these owners eagerly working with the volunteers to get their new homes completed. We are thinking we need to combine our volunteer building with a trip-Habitat in Egypt.

Betty has been feeling bad about never talking to her sister so I went to my mom’s and we tried to call Betty. We got no answer so I left Betty’s number on a note near the phone. Friday Betty called and said my mom had just phoned her. I thought that was great until she said I needed to go pick my mom up at the air force base as the bus had left her there. I doubled checked with her living group and my mom was indeed in her room but thinking she had missed a bus somewhere. There must be a psychological term for anxiety due to fear of missing your bus. Maybe that’s why I avoid public transportation.

This Saturday Brett watched the boys while Anna Marie tripped to Portland for a conference. Grandma got to be on hand for the recreational activities to the park and on a hike. We saw a snake along with a hawk, lichen, cracks in rocks, and a swamp. You can tell by their enthusiasm for these things that they are city dwellers.

Today we had our regular Sunday dinner with an emphasis on Father’s day. It was suggested during the meal that my potato salad was not its usual and should be thrown away. Miles already throws all his food at meals and Lucas refused to eat all but settled for a bun without any purchased barbecued beef. The homemade lemon bars were under baked I was told but they did manage to disappear anyway. I know that next Sunday we will be going out to a restaurant to eat.

Miles and Lucas can make up for a bad meal with their antics however. Miles got my purse from the cupboard, put it over his shoulder and announced, Bye, Bye. He calls it his backpack so he’s not really fond of purses per se. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Lucas spent much of his time writing a combination of letters and asking what they spell. He’s very serious and busy but he doesn’t miss any adult conversation. I asked him today what he thought of President Bush and he said nobody seems to like him. His folks and I discuss this topic from time to time and I can see I’m going to have to work on that boy.

Hope you have a good week.

We won!

That means the kids didn't get the best of us. We definitely had a plan to act in a relaxed manner while attempting the no rules policy. When Taylor said, "I don't want to eat breakfast", we handed him a doughnut and said fine. After all we were there for only three days and we wanted him to remember us fondly. I'm sure the parents are working hard now trying to reestablish something called discipline. Colton was very sweet and easy to watch while we visited and watched daytime television.

Grandma Diana came by to visit a few times just to see how worn out we were I think.
Check out Charlie and Missy having a good time in Greece.

My mom had a checkup today and the doctor agreed that I shouldn't replace her hearing aids. She is doing well. The 12 quail eggs are not. The mom abandoned them. Are you getting ready for your company?

Why would we want to babysit?

Your sister suggested it so she will be arriving today and we’ll take over from Taylor and Colton’s grandparents after this first night transition. It’s only three days and we can mess around with the boys but we might have long days with Taylor waking at 5 a.m. and Colton going to bed at 11 p.m. We did this once before about 12 years ago with Jill’s twins and we counted the hours until the parents returned. Maybe this experience will remind us to avoid babysitting for another 12 years.

It is summer here now with perfect swimming weather. The pool is very green as I asked my neighbors, Janet and Carol to help me remove the cover and in their exuberance for the task we all managed to empty the murky contents on top of the cover into the pool. In a few days it will be fine again perhaps though the pool guys aren’t able to come by for 3 weeks. I’ll be pleased when I can phone and tell them they aren’t needed after all but I’m being optimistic regarding my pool cleaning expertise and filter set-up knowledge.

Lucas asked why we had the locked gate around the pool so I was explaining how dangerous the pool was for children who can’t swim. We built the fence in front when he was a baby and when all the grandsons can swim we’ll remove the fence. “But what about my babies?” he asked. When I asked what he was talking about he answered, “My babies when I get bigger?” Brett assured him we’d build a new fence when he has his children.

In my weeding frenzy this week I watched a quail come in and out of my Karl Foerster grass one foot from my front door. Later I discovered 12 quail eggs inside the grass. Now I have fencing circled around the nest so the mom can come and go yet the neighbor’s cats stay out. This is getting to be a big responsibility keeping the eggs protected.

Googling Judy Johanson and Oz Park got me this news about you and the community effort you’ve put forth for the past 40 years. Now that the statues are in place what is your next goal?