Thriving Economy

I knew economy was looking up when we recently go the quarterly report from our retirement account. Joe and I have been contributing for the last 3 years. How much interest have we amassed from the stock market with our money?

A whopping $2.75

Should we celebrate?

California Adventures

Our summer was a grand adventure in many ways. During the week we abode in a rather barren home.

Like how we got a bed after our airmattress sprung 6 different leaks? If you look close you can see me on the top. Somehow even though the mattress looks tiny on the van it still couldn't fit inside.

Like our dining room furniture?


But, on the weekends, we partied hard. We were able to take several trips. Here is the Redlands Temple. It is a small temple that only has a few sessions at a time. Guess who forgot to make an appointment and got to kill 4 hours before the next session?



Joe had a friend get married in San Diego. It really is a beautiful temple. We also visited the Mesa Arizona temple for my little brother's wedding, and the Manhattan New York temple when Becca went through, but we weren't able to get pictures. It is amazing that the temples' architecture can be so different, and so beautiful time.


Joe standing in line at 6 Flags. I forgot how much fun the rides can be and how not fun the waiting in line can be. Prime opportunity for people watching. . .


This is the rollercoaster that was my downfall. They have you hanging out over the sides and spinning vertically. I thought I was going to die. The next day I had no voice at all.


Joe had a friend get married in San Diego. It really is a beautiful temple.

Joe and I went on a grand adventure this summer. We moved to California (inland). Now after surviving a week with 100+ degree weather, we are wishing our adventure was over. Even I, who grew up in Arizona didn't fare all that well some times.

Thanks be to an air-conditioning unit we installed in one of our windows. We really feel it has saved our lives.

To begin with, we would like you to meet our neighbors:

Meet "Bob." Well, his name isn't really Bob, and this isn't really him. But it is as close as we could get. He is actually a very nice man who just happens to spend his days worshiping Apollo in his backyard and taking his best friend "Scooby" for walks around town. However, he is an older gentleman with a very, VERY tanned physique and whose favorite apparel are similar to those found above. Just add black mid calf socks and white shoes.
Actually, yesterday there was a sighting of "Bob" with some pants on as he ran his weed-eater in his yard. You know something is wrong when you do a double take because an old man has pants on.

Meet one of the pets that we have collected:



This is TP. We found him in the bathroom. We named him after his favorite mode of transportation as we dispatched him to heaven through the aid of St. John. We thought he would be better off there rather than in our house.



We have another friend we have affectionately nick-named Grinder. We have not actually sighted this little guy. But, he has ways of letting us know that he is around and making sure we don't miss him. First, he shredded the filter that goes to my wheat grinder, guess I shouldn't have left the flour in there. Not only was the filter shredded, the wheat grinder bore unmistakable signs of rodent curiosity (little yellow spots, etc, etc.). His main calling card has been "little presents." He has hit my pajama pants, my sock drawer, and my least favorite, the dish-drying rack. We, in turn, have left a few house warming presents for him. He disappeared, hope we weren't too hard on him.

In case our friends weren't aware, Joe got to move out to CA before I did. I still had a month left at the elementary school that I work in, when Joe's internship started. It was interesting being apart. Especially when one of you has a day like this.

It was going to be a good day.
Joe had finally found a place! He could move in!

Well, actually, you have to wait until Saturday.

Hurray, it's Saturday, I can have a place to call my own.
Great, did we mention that you won't have power until Monday?

Well, our kind neighbors have lent me an extension cord. A running fridge!
Oh, sorry about the fridge. We don't think the nasty pink mold has been there for long.

My mission has cured me of many fears. Off to the grocery store!
That will be $100.00 sir, Oh, I'm sorry, we only take cash

ATM fees, oh well. Small price to pay for being able to fix my own meal. Carl's Jr. and I'm done.
Good luck eating that meal in the dark!
Maglight, my friend, MacGuyver would be proud.

Sorry, my friend, MacGuyver would have had extra batteries!

So, I guess I can eat by the light inside my car. Dinner and then bed. Wait! what is that hissing sound?
That, my friend, is the sound of your airmattress finding the one nail poking out of the wall. 11:00 at night, a whithering airmattress, no lights. Can you say "good"night?

In the dreary cold months, one can only dream of warmth and sun. Well . . . . we have gotten our wish. Now, instead of spending the summer months in the moderate temperatures of Utah, we are off to California!

Beaches, breezes, and waves you say? Well, not exactly. Welcome to Edwards Air Force Base.

While in might be cool to work with the Navigation and Guidance teams working on planes like this . . .

Check out the beautiful surroundings

and this



For someone who grew up in this (and yes, parts of Arizona can look like this)

But just up the road from this . . .


It should be okay.

But for someone who grew up in this . . .

A desert summer could be daunting. I just hope that Joe doesn't dry up like a little Jamaican raisin and blow away.


But then there is this . . .


The Joshua Tree National Park. And so, there must be a road trip because after all, it is a National Park and U2 is well U2. California here we come.