We went to Newark N.J. To see Michelle Graduate from Steton Hall. We got too see much more.
Well here we are in New York City. A I think this is Time Sq. any way it has a ton of big buildings and lots of stinky smells and some good one's. There are more people than you can ever believe would live in one place at the same time and cause me to wonder why???? The wall to wall buildings resemble canyons. I call them concrete canyons, the buildings rise up out of the concrete and asphalts like molten rock in the desert. They resembled the rock too with out all the different billboards adding color. In fact if it weren't for the signs and lights on the buildings it would be rather drab and lack luster with out the least bit of any form of nature. After returning home I realized how important the mountains of the west are to my feeling of well being and safety. I know it is kink of a false since of security especially since I know of all the dangers that really present if one were left with out the tools needed to survive in the rugged ranges. Any way we Mom, Michelle and I went to see a Broadway play and a Yankee Game. Both were great. There was much to see in a City this size and so we took in as much as we could with a bus tour. I think the thing that amazed me most was how they could stand so many buildings side by side with no connecting walls and each one standing alone with no support of the other. I found out that New York is built on bed rock. I have been in construction all my life and have studied soils and the effect that they have on the out come of construction. Bed rock is the foundation that is most desirable of all to build on. It will support the weight of such large structures with out the aid of artificial support such as Helical peers or massive pilings.(just a side note)

We enjoyed the Statue of Liberty (at a little distance) and the size of Yankee Stadium is massive. Time Square is quit a place in its self. In regard to the people I couldn't help but think

of what an overwhelming task is at hand to share the message of Christ to so many. There are some pretty good people there that much I came to know. I must say I found out what it felt like to be a minority. Newark N.J. is a community of diverse people, Latin and Black Americans seem the most predominate. Michelle wrote about the homeless, they are everywhere, not in great mass but prevalent enough. I couldn't help feel a little pang of sorrow for them in there plight. They seem so disconnected to the surroundings of life. I would suppose they insulate themselves so as to be able to deal with life such as it is.

On Memorial Day we did something different. (I have been attending Memorial service at the Cemetery in SF for a number of years) We rented a car and drove to Palmyra New York. I really liked what we found and saw. The Joseph Smith home and the Sacred Grove, the Palmyra Temple and the Hill Cumorah and the Printing press where the first 3000 Book of Mormons where printed (it took 8 months to do so) and the Peter Whitmer farm. These places reminded me of what a great sacrifice was made and how important the Restoration is. I was also reminded of what humble beginnings I have had. Perhaps some time I will share those times with you all. I was particularly moved by the events of the formal organization of the Church. The Whitmer farm is a very unusual place and has a certain spirit that resides there.

We went on up to Niagara Falls and that was an really rare to see so much water coming from one source in such a magnificent display. I really didn't expect it to be so wild and so wide.

As I marvel at the work of the Hand of God I was reminded then as I am now of how this place we live on created by Him includes Us all of Us. All the souls of all men were first created spiritually and then mortally just as each live thing on earth was first created in a spiritual sphere.What a wonderful knowledge and blessing to have. We are very fortunate to have some one who cares for us so much as to entrust us with such a creation. I think over all even given the mistakes we (mortals) make this earth is really resilient and has and dose and will continue to recover and provide for man kind.

Mom and I returned from Texas Sunday Jan. 31. We drove down in the Toyota. It cast less??? I think than flying. I always hate those rental cars and we are on a very tight budget. So all that aside I did all the driving and mom well I have a GPS and it kind of will take you where ever you are going but not always the shortest rout. So going down we drove an hour out of our way but we still got there. Zeb kinda set us straight when we went down town to his office. The GPS has a voice that instructs you as to when to prepare for turns etc. she can become very annoying especially when she starts recalculating your destination and wants you to do a U turn and you ignor her request. So at that point I just put her on Mute. Wouldn't that be a great tool to have with some people.

It was a good trip a except one thing. I realized that we didn't get any pictures our self. Josh up loaded some for us and other than that I just blew it. So sorry to YOU all.

Josh told you about our trip to the JFK site. When Kennedy was shot I was 13 years old. I was on the west side of our school yard playing ball with some school mates. The noon break was cut short and we were all called in to the gym and told we were going home because there had been a national tragedy. I thought the Russians had attracted and we were going

to war. There is a lot of history to this and I won't go into it all. It is enough to say that thing in the world were very tense. I hope Josh realizes that it was not Booth who shot Kennedy but rather Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald according to the Warren report acted alone.

Two shots were fired and as near as I can tell the tapes bear this

out. I seen the news clip at home of the shooting. They were very interesting. Like the falling of the Twin towers in New York the film was played over and over all evening and into the next day. Oswald shot from the sixth floor of this building in the upper right hand corner. There was even footage on the news that showed a shadowy figure in that window. There are things that people like to con jeer up about this whole thing but there is

only one thing that remains un-solved. Who put Oswald up to this. There are many things that were tossed around when I was a kid. Most common was that the Russians had him killed over the Bay of Pigs incident in Cuba. I think that one has the most merit. How ever Oswald could have been a disgruntled citizen just as many are today and have over acted on his feelings. I say that not because I ever remember it being said but because at the time Kennedy took office un-employment in this country was at 17% I think that this is as strong a case as the Russian theory. The one thing that imposed the most difficulty about it is that Jack D. Ruby Shot and killed Oswald at point blank range when he was being escorted by armed police. Ruby's claim was that of a Patriot. I point out all these thing because as you know from Josh's blog that we met some rather shady characters at the site. I really did enjoy the line of thought that our TOUR guide was on until he started into the number of snipers involved with this whole thing. So at this point I ask him just how many shots were fired. He told me 12 and I told him BULLSHIT. At this point he was somewhat dumbfounded. I realized also that I had him off guard and that he was vulnerable so I attracted his theory beginning with the Bullet that had cut a groove in the concrete at my feet. I explained to the poor dumbfounded fellow that I do a great deal of shooting that in fact I load my own ammo and shoot rifles weekly. That a I also test bullets to see how the react to impact in different materials such as Phone books wood and such. I flat told him no bullet off the shelf at that time 1963 would do so much as leave burn mark on the concrete and that his story was full of air. Any way it was interesting to here your theory. Thanks and Walked away. I that point I thought we were done but he followed me across the street and as for a donation. Which I borrowed from Carol and gave him. Sorry Carol. I Guess he got what he wanted after all.

The later half of our trip we went to Great Gray Wolf lodge with Zeb and Leia I was fun to watch and play with the kids. As Josh has eluded to boys never do quit grow up. I just try real hard not to hurt the little kids. It kinda looks like your a bully when it happens even though I sometimes think the little ones have planed it out make you look that way so they can get all the sympathy from there adult Mom. (is that a bit harsh?) The Night at the lodge was interesting mostly cause how do you get 4 adults and 4 children to sleep in one room. We didn't sleep much and thats okay it was only one night and the girls seem thrilled with the whole event. The air temp at the water park (indoors) was about 80 % so not bad but when you get wet that seams a little cool and it showed up in the color of the kids lips BLUE. I looked at them and ask if they were cold and of course they were but not wanting to stop wouldn't admit to it. It was fun except for the drive home. We stayed with Chad and Tara on the way down and on the way back. We attended church with Chad and the Kids on Sunday and it was great. Naomi cried when we left. She always dose. She has such a soft heart. We will have to go back down and spend some time with them. We do miss all of you.

We look forward to more visits and time together.

I have been reviewing some of the blog up dates and find it interesting that some have also gotten into face book as well. Just when we get with one new system every one is moving on to some other form of communication. Well just to put thing in some prospective away back in the dinosaurs ages of civilization we just picked up the phone and the opperater would ask what number we wanted to be connected to. Ah for the lack of voice contact in todays world...... what a pittttty with all the emotions and all its no wonder that we elected to e-mail and blog or face book. Now don't get it all wrong cause I enjoy reading a good story there is something to be said about being able to tell it all in word on paper aaa electronic paper???? well it has the same effect any way. You can absorb it over again if you like and you can as some do critic and edit it and what every you enjoy doing to some one else's work. I enjoy them all but most of all we like to see you here at our home.

So the news here is not long or suffering. We just continue to do what we always do. Mom loves to bake and can food. I am glad however it seem that I have put on some weight this fall season.

I go to work as much as we have and I have been blessed to have work. I realized after our Saturday Priesthood meeting I will most likely have to work all the days of my life. Some days when I come home dirty from work I think how would it be to be in an office? Then I realize it would suck. I have spent most of my life outside. As Pres. Uchtreorf spoke I began to internalize the things He said. In my life has been full with challenges and change. My youth was anything but normal. Having gone to a dozen or so grade schools and some 5 high school only begins to tell the story. So enjoy the ride.

The passing days.
Mom and I just returned from Texas. We visited Zeb and Lea as well as Josh and Carol. We seen Zeb graduate. OOH-Ra for Zeb. The trip down was un-eventful. We did sleep in the back of the truck and it was cold but very peaceful as there was now blowing fans from heaters or traffic from a busy hi-way. Mom complained a little about the cold night it got down to 37 in the desert country. That was however outside the camper shell. I don't think it was much below 50% in the shell. So you may be asking Y did we sleep in the truck. Real simple MONEY. On an other note though when my parents came west from Ohio I came with my dad some 90 days infrount of mom and some of the other kids. We sleep on the side of the rode in sleeping bags. It was in 1956 and it was just a two lane rode with little pickice areas here and there all along our route. Breakfast was cooked over and open fire in a big cast iron skilet. So onward with out journey. We got to see Emit he is Josh and Carol's newest addion to the fishing hole. It seemed we got little time with the family in Texas but alass we need to come home.
Mom had a apointment with a erbalist. (not really but she didn't know this) so she had to see the Dr. who told here she must have a blood test to see if the diet was compatable with her.(not true eather.) I had aranged with him in advance to get this done cause she hasn't seen a doctor sence Josh was born. So this was on Thursday Feb. 12, 2009. Just twenty eight years had past sence her last visit with Dr. Ludlow.

Hi to all both big and small. Travis has harvested his first deer and it is a really big tale.

After missing a 30 inch 4x4 buck the second day of our hunt he had a chance to redeem himself on Monday but too no avail as he missed two very nice 4x4 bucks but then at last light on Wednesday 1706 hr he let fly with 5 shots and at last a nice buck he had. It was a cold day even for Arizona at 8600 feet we were a mere 34 deg. for the high temp.

You might like to see these pic from early in Oct. when mom and I went down for a camp out.

From last winter. Troy, Travis and myself went to Arizona and hunted Javelina . We went on tour of some of my old stomping ground. Travis and Troy both harvested their first javelina . We camped out one night on the desert. It was January so it was cold at night as the desert is, and we were not down on the low desert country of Phoenix but rather up above Globe.

You all know I love to hunt. I assume you also know I have a thing for weapons. Guns Knives and of course Bow and Arrow. One of the thing I like to be is very accurate in my ability to use these. I must admit it has been many years sense I have through en a knife and I have never used one to do in any thing.  Any way Saturday I shot an Antelope at 507 yards. I know this distance cause I ranged it with my range finder before I made the shot. That is well over a quarter of a mile. I have shot at that distance at a telephone book and been confident in my skill level. I actually need to work on my ability to judge distance. I took a shot at what I felt was a 1000 yard shot and was directly in line but over the mark by a foot. My range finder goes out to 800 to 850 yard. Any one that wants to buy me a better one is welcome too, but mind you will need a nice hunk of change to do it(2800) or more. So will all this non-sense  here is the Photos.