First Stop...Dillon, Montana...PKR Relives College Days Gone By

This past weekend, PKR and I had a weekend getaway to Sun Valley, Idaho. I had a conference there, so we took off last Thursday night, and stayed in Dillon, Montana, where PKR had attended college at Western Montana College. We met up with one of his friends who lives there, and had dinner. PKR attended WMC in the late 1970's and early 1980's. He ran track and cross country for the school.



I realized the last time I was in Dillon was in 1990, when I was pregnant with The Princess. I couldn't believe it had been that long.



We woke up Friday morning morning to snow....surprise, surprise.



After scraping off the car windows, we drove over to the college campus, which now has a new name, The University of Montana Western.



It not only has a new name, but a new way of teaching students. This college is now an Experience One, or X1 college.


Experience One is a more practical way to learn. Experience One (or X1 for short) is an innovative approach to learning in which students take only one class at a time. Working closely with their professor and classmates, they concentrate on a single subject area then move onto the next course.X1 promotes real-world, hands-on learning.



Montana Western emphasizes the student’s total participation in their education. With X1’s emphasis on learning by doing, each student has an opportunity to experience what professionals encounter working in their field. And the bottom line is that they’ll have a leg up in entering the workforce or graduate school.


Here’s how it works. During a semester, Montana Western students take one class at a time, three hours each day for 18 days. In between they enjoy a four-day break to relax and recharge. Then move on to the next class. Taking four classes or blocks during the semester, students earn the same amount of credit they’d earn under traditional multi-class systems.


That’s where the comparison ends. X1 offers a wide range of benefits: Less talk, more action. With less lecture time, students participate in authentic workforce activities including project planning, research, collaboration and presentation thus learning by doing.

Here is the dorm where PKR lived while at student at the college.

PKR wanted me to take this picture so we could prove it was May when this picture was taken.

PKR said it stirred up many memories staying there, and it was interesting to see the ways Dillon has changed, and the ways it had remained the same.

She's The Greatest Star

If you could act in the movies like anyone, who would it be and why?

That is this week's sibling assignment posed to us by Raymond Pert, who answers the questions here, and Inland Empire Girl answers the question here.

I would have to pick Barbra Streisand.

Growing up, I have always wanted to sing like Barbra. But I have always enjoyed her as an actress as well. I loved that she started out on the stage, creating the role of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl on the stage before it was made into a movie for the big screen.

I like that she is very versatile, and does more than just act in movies. She sings. She writes. She directs. She produces. She writes songs.

All the things I like to do or hope to do someday.

Of all her songs, I have probably enjoyed "I'm The Greatest Star" the most.

When I was a senior in high school, I sang it in the Miss Kellogg pageant. I got second runner up.

While a student at the University of Idaho, I sang it in the U of I talent show my junior year, and got second place. (This was also the night PKR turned to my best friend CE and told her he was going to ask me to marry him.)

I may try and work this song into this summer Kelly's Alley Revue at the Sixth Street Melodrama.

Other songs from Barbara's movies have been a part of my life. My friend TC and I sang one of the songs from her movie "A Star Is Born", called "I Want Everything" during our freshman talent show at Kellogg Junior High School.

As a sophomore, I sang another song from the same movie "Watch Closely Now" at another program at Kellogg High School.

Listening to songs from the "Yentl" soundtrack reminds me of rooming with a particular sister at the Tridelt house who played it over and over, which didn't bother me in the least.

She did comedy quite well. She did musicals. She was a serious actress. She took chances in directing, writing, producing, even when she got flack.

She is probably one of the most popular entertainers in the world.

I like her, because she can laugh at herself. I like her because one night she surprised Mike Myers, Madonna and Rosanne Barr on Saturday Night Live during "Coffee Talk with Linda Richman" and had fun and laughed at herself.

And the Barbra Streisand tradition continues with my daughter. This weekend, The Princess will be singing "Don't Rain On My Parade" for her senior voice recital.

Prom Night

Tonight was Prom Night for The Princess.

Our house was abuzz today with preparations for the "Big Night". Despite a few meltdowns, which, after talking to some other moms, apparently is rather common, she was dressed and ready to go when her date arrived.

The Princess

TW and The Princess getting some energy for the night.

Some crazy posing out in the front yard.

The Princess with her two best buddies, LC and TW.

Here is the group The Princess went to dinner with, and the prom.

They dress up pretty good, I'd say.

Here is the group in front of their white stretch limo that took them to Coeur d'Alene, where they were going to have dinner at Bonsai Bistro. One of the kid's parents was very generous and rented the limo for them to travel to Coeur d'Alene for dinner.

Here is The Princess and TW in the limo.

I can't wait until she gets home to hear how everything went.

Kellogg High School grad composes piece based on Sunshine Mine Disaster

The following story was published in the Shoshone News-Press this morning, and originally was published in the Coeur d'Alene Press last Friday, here. Nick was a good friend of Inland Empire Girl, and they graduated from Kellogg High School the same year. Also, "The Deep Dark" is a great book written by Gregg Olsen retelling the story of the Sunshine Mine Distaster that happened here in the Silver Valley on May 2, 1972. I met Olsen when he came to interview my mom for the book "The Deep Dark", and ended up working with him on some other things. He is a wonderful writer, and a wonderful person as well.



Tomorrow at 11 a.m. there will be a memorial service at the Miner's Memorial statue at the Big Creek exit off I-90. It is always a very moving service that remembers the 91 men who died in this tragic event.

JEROME A. POLLOS/Press

Nick Thorpe composed an original piece inspired by the Silver Valley mining disaster in the 1970s.





Composer enters the 'Deep Dark'



By TYLER WILSON

Staff writer



It took 30 years for composer Nick Thorpe to find his way back to North Idaho. Born in Wallace, Thorpe followed his music career to New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. He began as a trumpet player but evolved to write full compositions for Disney, Carnival Cruises and several Vegas shows.


His 8-year-old daughter prompted him to finally leave Los Angeles."It was one of those things where I just couldn't let her grow up there," Thorpe said.



Now living in Coeur d'Alene with his wife and daughter, Thorpe is using his talents to reconnect with the past. Inspired by the book, "The Deep Dark," by Gregg Olsen, Thorpe crafted a 12-minute composition about the Silver Valley mine disaster of 1972. After reading the book, Thorpe couldn't get Olsen's words out of his head.



"He did in-depth interviews with so many of the people involved," Thorpe said. "The Silver Valley is just a unique place and he captured it so perfectly.On May 2, 1972, a fire trapped workers inside the Sunshine Silver Mine. Ninety-one men died of carbon monoxide poisoning, and only two of the trapped workers survived.



"I was a junior at Kellogg High School," Thorpe said. "It was a tight knit community and it was pretty devastating. For two or three weeks I was out of school playing 'Taps.'"



Thorpe created three separate movements for "The Deep Dark." For the first movement, titled "Silver Valley Morning," Thorpe wanted to capture the happy, serene times in the area. The second movement, "Into the Depths," blends the heroic elements of the event with the tragic outcome.



"It's definitely nasty," he said. "You've got this element that depicts the carbon monoxide gas and the frantic efforts to get these guys out."

The third movement, "Aftermath," is a tribute to the people who didn't survive."It's very choral and hymn-like, and then it transitions into this idea of re-growth, about how the community has pulled itself up by its bootstraps," he said.



Photos of the event provided by the U.S. Bureau of Mines will be shown during the performance. Thorpe made a point to contact Olsen and ask permission to use the "Deep Dark" title.



"I felt like there wasn't a more appropriate name," Thorpe said.



The composition premieres May 3 at the Coeur d'Alene Symphony season finale concert.Technology has enabled Thorpe to continue his career in North Idaho, working in a full-scale recording studio from his home. His biggest client remains Carnival Cruise Lines, and recent work has included original music in Disney projects like "Lilo & Stitch" and the television series, "The Emperor's New School."



"It gives me some credibility with my daughter," he said.



Thorpe also worked as orchestrator on the album, "Full Circle" by rapper/actor Xzibit. He was initially surprised and even reluctant to tackle the genre."The preconceived ideas I had about rap were totally changed," Thorpe said.



"It was very professional and I was impressed by what we came up with."



Thorpe hopes the freedom of being back in North Idaho will allow him to take on more projects like "The Deep Dark."



"Musicians are asked what comes first, the music or the lyrics. Really, the answer is the check, but I love doing this. I'm never adverse to doing things if time permits," he said.



The season finale of the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra also includes performances of Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" and Mendelssohn's "Concerto for Two Pianos," featuring the talents of pianists Jay and Sandy Mauchley.



The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center at NIC.Tickets are $15 adults, $12 seniors and $8 students. Call 769-7780 for advance tickets. Visit the symphony Web site at http://www.cdasymphony.org/.

Thank You For Being A Friend

I am blessed with wonderful friends, and have a wide variety of people I consider my friends.

But this hasn't always been the case.

When I was in grade school, I had a best friend. We did everything together. We were inseperable.

One year, she replaced me with a different best friend. Oh, we were still friends, but I wasn't here favorite any more. Ouch!!

It took me years to get over that rejection. It made me wierd when I did have other close friends. I felt possessive. I felt fear.

It took me years and years to finally trust others with their friendship. I am amazed at how deep that one incident of rejection in grade school made a lasting impression on my life.

But now I have come through to the other side, and have women friends that I love with all my heart, and I know they love me for who I am, warts and all. I have friends all across the country, young friends, old friends, and I love them all.

It is a good place to be.

Thank you, ladies, for being my friend.

White Out At Dawn

Do you remember the scene in the movie "Dante's Peak", (filmed in the Silver Valley, in case you didn't know) where the kids are in the humvee, and the ash is coming down so hard they can hardly see anything around them.

That was what it was like this morning on the Fourth of July pass at 4:30 a.m. while I was driving to the Spokane Airport to catch my 6:30 a.m. flight to Boise.

I was disappointed, but not surprised as I pulled out the of garage this morning, and saw the fresh blanket of white snow on the lawns. But it really wasn't snowing much at that point.

As I approached Cataldo, it was snowing a little harder, but still not bad. A snow plow was heading east in the other lane.

Then I drove past the Rose Lake exit, and all of a sudden, I was in a white out. Blizzard conditions. Severe weather advisory weather. The flakes were huge. I couldn't see anything in front of me.

I slowed down to 25 mph. I put it into 4WD Lo. (Thanks again, Lord, for this wonderful vehicle.)

I watched the jersey barriers on the left side of the road to make sure I stayed on the road.

I passed semi's stopped, with their drivers getting out to chain up.

Thank goodness it was so early, and there wasn't much traffic.

Thank goodness I had left early enough, so I knew I had time to make my flight.

Once I made it to Wolf Lodge, the snow subsided a bit, and I was able to see. The road cleared, just a bit wet.

I made it through Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Spokane Valley, and Spokane, and made it to the airport at about 5:50 a.m.

As I approached the gate, the nice steward tells me to line up for boarding.

On the plane I was, safe and sound.

Thank you, Lord!!!

Silver Valley's Girls Version of Poem Where I'm From

IEG gave us Sibling Assignment #61 this week:

In honor of National Poetry Week use the poem Where I'm From by George Ella Lyon and compose a piece about where you're from. You can find the poem and background at http://www.georgeellalyon.com/where.html.

IEG's poem is here, and RP's will be here.

I am from string mops,
From Spic ‘n Span, and S.O.S. pads.
I am from green moss in the flower bed.
(Green, and soft
Like nature’s own lush carpet.)
I am from lilac bushes and
The backyard maple tree
That had many trunks growing out
From the roots.

I am from oatmeal cookies and plastic rain bonnets
Folded into a matchbook-size pouch.
I am from flea tickets
And cooties,
From the lunch recess call at Sunnyside School
Saying “third graders on the other side.”

I’m from Rose Lake and Cedar Island,
Creamed peas and new potatoes.
From my grandma with her hunchback,
To the splinter that blinded my dad in one eye.

In my bedroom was a cedar chest
Full of mom and dad’s love letters,
Mom’s wedding veil that I take out and I try on,
and other family treasures.
It helps connect me to my parent’s past.

I’m also from green short shag carpet,
Cast iron skillets, Revereware that never
Wears out,
And a clear Pyrex percolator brewing MJB coffee.

I’m from All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show,
The Carol Burnett Show and M*A*S*H*,
Hee Haw, The Lawrence Welk Show
And Marcus Welby M.D.

I’m from yearly summer trips to Orofino to watch
Dworshak Dam rise from the riverbed,
Trips to Spokane visit to Grandma, and shopping at Northtown
and University City.
Journeys that forever helped defined who I was, and what I would be.

Three Local Women’s Hearts Pull Them To Africa

Silver Valley Worship Center members Beth Bartlett, Yvonne Davis and Shirley Dockter look at pictures Mama Bernice Balmes brought to show them of the children living in the Jewels for Jesus orphanage in Bungoma, Kenya, Africa. These three women are planning a mission’s trip to work with children living in the orphanage, and also help the people who live in Bungoma. There will be a breakfast to raise funds for their trip on Saturday, April 26 at the Osburn VFW Hall from 7 – 11 a.m.



SMELTERVILLE—The faces and plights of the children in some parts of Africa are often shown on the television.
For some it is information. For other it draws compassion. Still others are drawn into action.
This is the case of three local women who are raising funds and planning a trip to Africa.
Yvonne Davis, Shirley Dockter and Beth Bartlett are all members of the Silver Valley Worship Center in Smelterville. All three have felt a special calling to go visit the people in Africa, and help in whatever way they can.
“I have always had a love for children,” said Davis. “I see the pictures on TV of the hungry children in Africa and it always touched my heart.”
This feeling became even stronger about four years ago when a former SVWC Pastor took a group of people from his church to Africa and they returned and shared about their experience. “
“I was really listening and in my heart. I wanted to go so bad,” said Davis. “It was at this time that I started saving my nickels and dimes.”
Beth Bartlett is 17 years old, and a student at Kootenai High School. For several years she has had a strong desire to go on a mission’s trip to Africa to help the people.
“I have always had a heart for Africa since I was in middle school, and my youth group leader at the time took us to California where we processed peaches, and the plan was to then follow the peaches and deliver them to Africa,” said Bartlett. “This plan never worked out, but I have always wanted to go since the trip to California.”
Pastor Corey Berti knew Bartlett wanted to go to Africa, and began to put it into action.
Pastor Corey Berti called Davis to see if she would like to go. “That was my confirmation,” said Davis
Shirley Dockter said her heart has always been drawn to the children of Africa.
“I feel a desire and a yearning to go,” said Dockter. “Last time Mama Bernice was here and talked about the kids in the orphanage, I just looked at the kids and knew there was a need.”
Recently, Bernice Balmes, or Mama Bernice, as she is more commonly known, came to the Silver Valley to help prepare these women for their trip, and give a presentation at SVWC. The women learned about the clothes to buy, the health products to have, and the opportunities available to them to minister to the African people.
Mama Bernice started her mission’s work in 1969, while living in British Columbia. She works with Bishop Frances Bushebi and his son Pastor Dalmus Bushebi of Gospel Believers Fellowship. Bishop Bushebi has been a visitor to the Silver Valley. They all help administer the “Jewels for Jesus” orphanage in Bungoma, Kenya, Africa. She told the women there are many opportunities to help while they are in Africa for their three week stay.
“There are opportunities to feed the street children, do an all day event with the children, or visit the women in their homes,” said Balmes. “Pray about what you want to do, and what it is God is calling you to do.”
Some of the ways financially the African people can be helped is by building a well for $3,000, buying sheep at $30 a piece, then raising and selling the sheep and earning enough money to buy a cow, or raising a larger amount of money to help build another orphanage building.
Mama Bernice was very adamant about using the church for sending money straight to help the African people. She said often the money given by the United States government isn’t used for the way it is intended.
“Our countries give money to these countries for development, but all that money goes into the politician’s pockets,” said Balmes. “If you give money through the church, 100 percent of the money goes to help the people.”
As the women plan for their upcoming January 2009 trip, they are giving community members the opportunity to help in this mission’s venture.
On Saturday, April 26, there will be a pancake and sausage breakfast at the Osburn VFW Hall from 7 – 11 a.m. to help raise funds for their trip. Tickets can be purchased at both Stein’s Family Foods grocery stores in Osburn and Kellogg, or at the door. The cost is $5 a person, with children four and under free.
People wanting to make donations to help the people in this African community can contact the Silver Valley Worship Center, P.O. Box 196, Smelterville, Idaho 83868.
“God has a plan and purpose for everyone’s life,” said Davis. “It is our desire to step out and allow God to use us in whatever manner He chooses, not only in Africa but in our own community.”

Sibling Post #60: Things I Want To Do By The Time I'm 60

I posed this sibling assignment to IEG and RP. IEG's is here, and RP's will be here soon.



I realize some of us are closer than others, but, never the less, what are 10 things you would like to accomplish by the time you celebrate your 60th birthday?



1. Place to visit in United States: New York City



2. Country to visit outside of United States: England and France



3. Career accomplishment: Finish and submit book for publishing.



4. Physical accomplishment: Compete in another half marathon



5. Mental accomplishment: Learn how to converse in French.



6. Spiritual accomplishment: Read the Bible cover to cover. (I'm on my way!!)



7. Creativity accomplishment: Create a creativity workshop that allows women to blossom in their creativity.



8. Financial accomplishment: Help three daughters attain a college education by helping them financially.



9. Personal accomplishment (or perhaps more a desire) : Have enough financial stability to hire a housekeeper.



10. Helping others accomplishment: Go on a short term mission's trip to a third world country to help in whatever way I can.

Home for a while, then on the road again

These few weeks are crazy in our household. Z2, Kiki Aru and I arrived home from Caldwell on Saturday. The picture above shows Kiki Aru and her two friends doing their performance on the conflict of the Salem Witch Trials. They did a great job.

I'll post the documentary Z2 made with her friends on the Conflict and Compromise of the Coeur d'Alene Indian's Tribe soon.

PKR and The Princess hop on a bus tomorrow morning and head to State Speech competition in Rupert, Idaho. They'll return early Sunday morning.

Today, Kiki Aru is in Coeur d'Alene at Triple Play for a band field trip.

Z2 takes off to the Great White North on Sunday morning to a trip to Inverness, British Columbia on a band trip. She'll return on Tuesday.

Then there is my schedule. I go away for the weekend to the beautiful town of Cataldo for a Women's Encounter weekend with some ladies from our church. I get home Sunday afternoon, then I take a few deep breaths and prepare for my trip to Boise the next morning for my spring Gear Up conference. I'll be back on Wednesday afternoon.

If reading this schedule tires you out, just think how I am feeling!!

But I'll get to spend some time with some friends in Boise, so that will be good. I look forward to that.

So if you don't hear much from me in the next week, you'll know why.

Elton John is a Class Act

From the beginning to the end of the concert last Saturday in Pullman, Sir Elton John was amazing. From the first notes he played on the piano, to his last wave goodbye, it was such a wonderful musical experience.

One of the most impressive things to me was the band's interaction with the crowd. A group of people got to go up to the stage, and band members gave them picks and drum sticks. Then Elton John came down and signed autographs for a few minutes. Now that is classy.

PKR's favorite was the drummer, Nigel Olsson. He has been with Elton from the beginning. PKR was enthralled.

From the light show, to the amazing piano playing by Elton John, the whole evening was a treat.

My favorite that night was "Crocodile Rock", but every song was great.

I did notice he couldn't hit the high notes any more, like on "Benny and the Jets". But that was the only thing I noticed. The rest of his talents more than made up for a few missed high notes.

I wonder if, after a while, playing in a smaller venue like the Beasley Coliseum is rather refershing for these guys. A bit more intimate, perhaps.

I can attribute my love and knowledge of Elton John music to my sister IEG. She was a big fan, and had an album or two that was played at our home growing up. I think I could sing along (I'm not sure if I was singing the correct lyrics or not) to all but one or two of the songs. I kept thinking he had played all of them I knew, and then he would sing another I knew.

Last Saturday I attended one of the greatest classic rock concerts of my life, and it is a night I'll never forget.

Sunshine On My Shoulder Makes Me Happy

College of Idaho

What a welcome sight. We arrived in Caldwell, Idaho this afternoon, and there is blue sky and SUN!!!





We have traveled down here for Idaho State History Day.






Z2, Kiki Aru and I got on a bus at Kellogg Middle School at 6 a.m. this morning (and this is one of those Alpha Omega charter buses...not a yellow school bus) and we traveled down through Washington and Oregon to arrive here this afternoon, to pleasant weather.





We did run into some snow on the Blues, and ran into problems a few times when the normal rest areas that we usually stop at were closed because of the snow. But we survived.





It was amazing to go to dinner, and see green grass and sprinkler systems running. There were fruit trees in bloom.





Okay, it has been a very long winter in the Silver Valley.





I look forward to being at College of Idaho tomorrow. It is a beautiful campus, and we can again enjoy some more of the beautiful flowers and grass.





I'll give an update tomorrow night on how the girls do in their respective categories. Z2 is doing a Junior Division Group Documentary on "The Conflict and Compromise of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe's Culture". Kiki Aru is doing a Junior Group Performance on "The Conflict of the Salem Witch Trials".





Goodnight.

Sibling Assignment--A Poem For Today

April is National Poetry Month, so Raymond Pert focused this week's sibling assignment on poetry. His assignment was to post an entry focused on one poem that is currently important to us. IEG's poem about afternoon naps is here, and RP's poem will be here.

I have a book called Pilgrim Souls that I purchased about 10 or more years ago. It is a collection of spiritual autobiographies. One of these autobiographies is about Denise Levertov, a poet. The collection that is in this book show some of Levertov's poetry that emphasizes on the poet as poet, her vocation and destiny, her discovery and re-creation of the order behind the seeming chaos of life. They also trace what Levertov called her slow movement from agnosticism to Christian faith.

The poem that I can relate to most today is a struggle I deal with each and every day.

Primary Wonder

Days pass when I forget the mystery.

Problems insoluble and problems offering

their own ignored solutions

jostle for my attention, they crowd its antechamber

along with a host of diversions, my courtiers, wearing

their colored clothes; cap and bells.

And then

once more the quiet mystery

is present to me, the throng's clamor

recedes: the mystery

that there is anything, anything at all,

let alone cosmos, joy, memory, everything,

rather than void: and that, O Lord,

Creator, Hallowed One, You still,

hour by hour sustain it.

My mind is filled with so many problems, ideas, things to do, projects and other distractions, that it can divert my thoughts to everything but spending that quiet time with my Lord and Saviour. But then God's grace helps me find that time and that place to quiet my mind, and focus on His presence, and His mystery.

Winter...I Mean Spring Break Winding Down

As I enjoy the last precious hours of spring break, I am thankful for a nice, relaxing week.

On Friday, PKR and I got to spend the day together. We actually had a date all day. We went to Spokane, then to Coeur d'Alene. We ate at the Olive Garden. We checked out the movies, but nothing looked very interesting.

We drove out by Hayden Lake, and enjoyed the scenery. It doesn't look like Avondale or Hayden Lake Country Clubs will have many golfers anytime soon.

We wandered around Borders for a while.

It was just nice to have a day of uninterrupted time with each other.

Saturday was rather interesting. A writer had read some entries on my blog, and had contacted me to interview me about an article he was writing on how different things are now with the current mining and tourism boom, as compared to when I grew up here. He talked to PKR for a while, and then called me and talked to me as well. I also gave him a couple of names of some local mining guys to interview. When the article comes out, I'll put the information on how to read it here on my blog.

Earlier that morning, I was the journalist doing my own article. A friend of mine is preparing to go on a mission's trip to Africa with two other women, and Mama Bernice, who works as a missionary in Africa was here this weekend to talk to the women to help them prepare for their trip, which will be next January.

It was fascinating to listen to here talk about the children they work with in the "Jewels for Jesus" orphanage. She also shared alot about the culture of the African people. Mama Bernice is from Canada, and originally started traveling to Africa and working with there in 1967. She has a genuine love for these wonderful people, and she is doing a wonderful job.

I was asked by my friend Yvonne to write an article for the local paper about their trip so if people want to support them in this mission's venture, they can. Once I write the article, I will share it here as well.

Today was church, then we had a really good church leadership meeting after church at our pastor's house. We have a women's encounter retreat and a men's encounter retreat coming up at the end of the month that we are preparing for, and I am really looking forward to seeing how God will change the lives of the women and men attending these retreats.

The only problem with being so lazy and relaxed this weekend was I now have a pain in the neck...literally. My neck and shoulder is tight and I have a really big knot in my shoulder. It is not very pleasant.

Maybe once I get off the couch and start doing something, it will go away.

Back to work tomorrow, but the day beings with a quick trip to Coeur d'Alene to take Z2 to the orthodontist. Then on Thursday I take a short trip with Z2 and Kiki Aru to Caldwell for State History Day. Then Elton John on Saturday night!!

That about wraps it up for now.

Visiting With April in April

I have three special people in my life named April. One lives in western Washington. One lives in southern Idaho. And ones lives with me here in the Silver Valley.



I could find no better way to celebrate the fourth month of the year than to have breakfast with one of my friends named April. Since she lives the closest, April from Kellogg had breakfast with me this morning.



She has a habit of going to coffee at a certain restaurant in Kellogg every morning, so I knew, if she was in town, she would be available for breakfast.



I called her last night, and found her at home. She said I must have been reading her mind, because she had been at coffee that morning, and saw three ladies having breakfast together, and thought how fun it would be to have breakfast with some lady friends. Plus, she had been thinking about me, and realized we hadn't seen each other in a while, so, as she put it, my call and invitation was very serendipitous.


We discovered each other when we were both working on a project as board members of the Staff House Museum here in Kellogg. April and I worked on creating a pamphlet to hand out to school children who came on field trips to the museum. April is the artist. I am the writer. Our talents complimented one another, and, through this project, we formed a bond.


One of the things I love about April is she is about 15-20 years older than me, and it is so fun having such a good friend with a different perspective on life. She is such a joy to be around, and she always inspires me to do more creative things.

It was fun to hear about her playing the bass fiddle in a bluegrass band last summer. And she has now moved onto another band.

April likes to journal with pictures in a sketch book. I love it when she shares with me her newest creations. She owns chickens, and frequently chickens are the subject of her drawings.

I'm glad I got to spend one of the first days of the month of April with my wonderful friend April!!

Watching The Ocean Go By

Danny Ocean, that is.

PKR and I have watched Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen over the past few days.

They are three fun movies about a group of thieves who pull off three different big jobs.

Ocean's Eleven is a remake of a 1960 version starring original "Rat Pack" members Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop.

The first movie has the 11 thieves planning to heist three big casinos in Las Vegas. Their leader is Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney.

In Ocean's Twelve the group head to Europe to pull off three different heists, so they can repay the money to the casino owner they stole from in the first movie.

Ocean's Thirteen finds the group back in Las Vegas, when one of their group is double-crossed by a casion owner, and the group wants revenge.

I enjoy the twists and turns of these movies, and the way they are able to pull off their plans. They also throw in some funny moments that are just goofy, and make you laugh. That is one thing I enjoy about George Clooney as an actor. He never seems to take himself too seriously.

They are rated PG-13, but the language is actually fairly mild throughout (especially since it is set in Vegas), and really not a whole lot of blatant sex scenes or violence. (Personally, I think those scenes can get a bit old after a while.)

Just a few good escapist movies to watch that are pretty entertaining.

Spring Break in Spokane...or maybe we are on Winter Break

This past weekend we traveled to Spokane and stayed in Liberty Lake, and shopped, watched AAU basketball, and watched really bad TV.
The main reason for the trip to Spokane was to watch Kiki Aru play in the North Spokane Classic AAU Basketball Tournament in Chattaroy. The Silver Valley Sting played their first game Friday night, and they lost. It was not a fun game to watch. There were lots of fouls, and lots of girls getting hurt, and our girls were not looking good.

Saturday was much better. Our team was much better than their two opponents on Saturday, and they played better, too.

On Sunday, they lost their first game, but played well. Their final game was to win either third or fourth place. They won the game and got third in the tournament. Kiki Aru had the best game of her life, and was ON FIRE!!

PKR's brother KDR was also in town because his daughter was playing in a volleyball tournament, too. KDR's wife and his daughter KNR was also there, and we stayed in the same hotel. Z2 and KNR are best buds, and Z2 traveled back to Nampa to spend a few days with her, and will come back Wednesday.

The Princess and I had a wonderful time Saturday morning shopping for prom dresses. She found a beautiful dress. It was fun watching her come out in all the different colors and styles, and finding the one she like the best. Her prom is May 3rd, and I can't wait to share pictures from the big event.

We made a decision when we moved back to Kellogg to not pay for cable television, so we don't have tv at our home. We watch a lot of DVD's and we have my mom tape some shows we like. So when we do stay in a hotel that has cable tv, it is TORTURE. Yes, there are a few things on tv worth watching, but overall, there is a lot of really bad stuff. And there is so much reality tv that is so bad. Why do I want to watch a 40 year old woman who dresses bad go spend $5,000 on a new wardrobe. And is there anyone who really thinks Final Destination 2 was a scary movie? I think I lost a good share of brain cells over the weekend.

Despite the snowy roads, and bad television, we had a wonderful time. Today we had nothing planned, and spent most of the day just laying around doing nothing. We haven't done that in a long time. Besides, it was snowing so hard all day, there wasn't much to do outside. So it was better to just stay in and be lazy bums for the day.

Not a whole lot planned for the week. We are having lunch with friends tomorrow, and dinner with other friends. PKR and I are looking forward to spending time with friends and some time with each other this week.

Bon Soir, mon amies!!

Another Sibling Assigment Makeup--The Little Blue Store

The last sibling assignment I received was from Inland Empire Girl. Here was her assignment for us:

"Pick a local business in the Silver Valley during our growing up years. Share a story that happened to you while being at that business."

IEG wrote about "Stein's IGA" here, and Raymond Pert shared about "The Furniture Exchange" here.

As I pondered on this assignment, I decided to write about a store that is virtually lost in our convience store society. That would be the neighborhood grocery store.

I think once Circle K and Seven Eleven stores started sprouting up, it hurt the small, neighborhood grocery stores.

The Sunnyside area of Kellogg had such a grocery store when I was growing up.

Some people called it "The Little Blue Store".

Other people called it "Swanson's".

To my friend AV and her family, it was "Mina's".

This small grocery store was located on Mission Ave. Ray and Mina Swanson ran the store. As you have probably figured out by now, it was painted blue on the outside.

When you entered the front door, you turned to your right and the small area by the cash register was filled with all kinds of candy. This had good points and bad points. It was good, because you could see all the candy very easily. But, unfortunately, I knew kids who it was TOO convenient for, because they stole the candy without paying for it.

If you went to the left, the store had a small bar where neighbors would come in and have a cold beer with Ray Swanson. They also had a cooler filled with beer and soft drinks, and probably had some other common staples, such as dry goods, eggs, milk, butter, etc.

But my memory was the candy choices.

Here are a few things I remember buying at Swanson's store.

Maybe it will help you think of some of your favorite or not so favorite candy from your youth.

Candy cigarettes. They really didn't taste that great, but they sure seemed fun as a little kid. Then I remember when the bubblegum candy cigarettes were introduced. These were bubblegum wrapped in white paper that looked like cigarettes. They were covered in powdered sugar, so you could blow on them and the puffs of sugar looked like smoke.

Necco wafers were another favorite of mine. The black ones are my favorite.


When the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" came out, it started a whole new product line of candy treats. I think this was the beginning of movie product placement. Not only did we have bottle caps, but there was also the Willy Wonka Chocolate Bar, and the Gobstoppers.


Pop Rocks caused quite a sensation when they arrived on the candy shelf. It was so fun to fill your mouth with these little bits of candy that popped and crackled in your mouth, and made a loud sound.

Wax lips were more fun to wear than they were to eat. The taste was actually pretty gross.
And I never was too fond of the wax bottles filled with different liquid flavors.

Red licorice ropes were another favorite.

Sunflower seeds were a cheap treat. For a long time, you could get a small bag for 5 cents. Then they went up to 10 cents, which was still a bargain.

What one of your favorite candies when you were a kid?

Did you have a favorite store you purchased that candy from?

Sibling Assignment: A Letter To Dad

I'm a little behind on my sibling assignments, so I am playing catch up.

A few weeks ago, I gave this assignment to my siblings:

Listen to this piece of music, Vivaldi’s Concerto for Violin, and write what you hear.

This video shows what I heard through this piece of music.

A Little Family News To Share

I haven't given an update on recent family events, and I know there are a few of you out there who will be intersted in some of the following tidbits.

**Both Z2 and Kiki Aru qualified to attend State History Day at Albertson's College in Caldwell next month. Z2's group did a documentary titled "The Conflice and Compromise of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe's Culture". Kiki Aru's group did a performance titled "The Conflict of the Salem Witch Trials". I will be traveling with them to Caldwell the second weekend in April.

**Yesterday PKR, The Princess and I (along with about 12 other KHS students) spend the day at Timberlake High School at the District Speech Festival. I went along to help judge the events. For the second year in a row, The Princess qualified for state competition in Retold Story. In this category, you are given 3 different children's books which you read through, then you choose one and retell the story. Two other KHS students also qualified, one in Impromptu Speaking, and one in Oratorical Analysis. PKR will travel to Rupert, Idaho with these students toward the end of April.

**I was talking to my friend SB tonight on the phone, and it looks like they have two extra tickets to the Elton John concert in Pullman in April, and asked us if we would like to go with them. We will both be coming back from the State History Day competition that day, so we have to work out the details, but I think it might work. How COOL is that!!! A once in a lifetime experience, if you ask me.

**This weekend Kiki Aru has a AAU bball tourney in North Spokane. My niece TR is coming up to Spokane this weekend play volleyball, so we'll have lots to do with PKR's brother's family in Spokane as well.

**Then we'll have a week home for Spring Break, with nothing major planned, and just some time to relax and take it easy before the onslaught of other activities take over our lives between now and the end of school in June. Such is the life when you have three active girls.

Happy Easter everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful day.

He is Risen!!

He is Risen, Indeed!!