Nothing New Under the Sun

Today I was getting my local news fix on HBO, and DFO shared two different stories about my state.

One was about a busload of second and third graders in Rexburg, Idaho were chanting "assassinate Obama, assassinate Obama".

Then a guy up in Bonner County got into a little hot water for making a homemade sign that suggests a "free public hanging" for President Elect Obama and several other political figures.

As I began to think about these two incidents (and these are just in Idaho. Other states may have their own stories, but we in Idaho do seem to LOVE that "redneck" press.)

It got me thinking about other presidential elections. Now, I am no political historian by any means, and even though I wasn't even born in 1960, from what I have learned from history, there was quite a bit of anti-Catholic sentiment at the time of John F. Kennedy's election.

And, of course, you can "Google" anything these days, and when I googled John F. Kennedy threats, I found about about a handbill that had been circulated a few days in Dallas, TX before Kennedy was assassinated. Some of these accusations sound rather familiar.

It reminded of the verse in Ecclesiastes 1:9, spoken by wise King Solomon:

9 What has been will be again,

what has been done will be done again;

there is nothing new under the sun.

Shout Out To Fight, Fight, BSU

As much as it goes against all the silver and gold Vandal blood flowing through my veins to do this, I have to give props to my nephew's blog.Even though I couldn't care one bit about College Football.

And I really don't care about Boise State Bronco Football.

But my nephew cares, he is very creative, and he likes to write about it on his blog, and writes very well.

(He also likes to bad mouth the Vandals every chance he gets...but the little tyke is young and impulsive, so I'll forgive him. HA! HA!)

When his dad was here last week, he told us his blog was mentioned on the digital version of the Sporting News at www.sportingnews.com.

His blog is called Fight, Fight BSU, and here is the post about being mentioned in the Sporting News here.

If you want to read Drew's perspective on one of his favorite obsessions in life, check out his blog.

Veteran's Day Assemblies ROCK!!!

Today I was very fortunate to attend both the Kellogg Middle School and Kellogg High School Veteran's Day assemblies.

Kiki Aru mentioned she was reading something at the assembly today while the band played. This was one proud moment for this mom, as she read a script about the different wars as the band played. She was loud and clear, and did such a great job. I was very proud of her.

The main speaker was a retired Navy Officer named Brian Watson. Brian and I were in high school together. He was two years older than me. He joined the Navy, and was an optician in the Navy for over 20 years. He was very proud to be in the military, and he did a very good job speaking.

Z2 played in the band, and sang in the choir at the KHS Veteran's Day assembly.
The guest speaker was Ron York, who told his story about serving in the Korean War. I've known Ron for quite a few years, and he did a wonderful job, not only sharing about his experience in Korea, but about becoming a Christian as well. He also talked about traveling to South Korea this year and having Korean soldiers come up to him and thank him for the freedom they live in today. He said it was very moving.

As he spoke, it reminded me of the beautiful and haunting Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C., with the inscription "Freedom Isn't Free".

I love being reminded of the pride our veteran's have in serving our country, and how they remind us to be proud of the sacrifices men and women are giving daily to serve this country of ours.

It reminds me this summer, at the end of our musical review, we would end with this chorus, and have all the veteran's in the audience stand up so we could honor them.

And I’m proud to be an American,

where at least I know I’m free.

And I won't forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up, next to you

and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,

God bless the USA.

What A Week

It has been quite an eventful week. It began with the election, and, depending on your view, the United States elected a man with a message of Hope, the first black President, a person who will bring change, or, as I read today, the abortion President. Whatever your take on this election of Barak Obama, it is historic. Now if he can just decide what kind of puppy to get his girls.

Locally, the Shoshone County Sheriff's race was interesting, with Mitch Alexander winning the race with his write in campaign against Gary Yergler. The CDA Press had a really great article about Mitch in the Sunday edition. I don't see it, but I'll put a link to it if I can, and you can read it.

On Thursday, two of my most favorite people came for a visit, PKR's brother Kent and his wife Robin came from Oregon. We had such a wonderful time visiting with them. Because of conferences at the schools, both PKR and I had Friday off, so we got to enjoy visiting all day long. They came to attend opening night of Godspell, then off to Sandpoint to visit Robin's uncle, then up to Canada for a few days.

Kent and Robin manage a beautful inn called Harbick's Country Inn. If you are ever in McKenzie Bridge, let them provide you some wonderful hospitality. Find out more about Harbick's Country Inn here.

As we visited with Kent and Robin, it was so wonderful to see what a special ministry they have serving God in their community, and, because they each have such wonderful servant's hearts, they are touching many lives. I thank God they are in our lives as well.

On Saturday, Kiki Aru began her girl's basketball AAU league. Almost every Saturday from now until January 10, the Silver Valley Sting will play basketball in Post Falls. We went over Saturday to watch her first game, then picked up The Princess and brought her home for the night.

This weekend was the opening for Godspell. Sunday's performance had a very special ending. One of the cast member's, Kenzie Sherman, was proposed to on the stage at the end of the show by her boyfriend Josh Lewis. Her mom, Joy Persoon, is the director. I don't think I have ever seen anyone propose to someone before. It was a beautiful end to a beautiful weekend.

I watched Sweeney Todd last night with PKR. A very interesting musical. I can't imagine what it is like on stage. A dark comedy musical. Or, as the Broadway version claims, a "musical thriller".

Johnny Depp was wonderful, of course. And you can't go wrong with Alan Rickman. He has to be one of my favorite actors, at least from England. He is, of course, the man who has brought Severus Snape to life in the Harry Potter movies. In fact, you'll see quite a few actors from the Harry Potter movies in Sweeney Todd. Things are quieting down a little bit around the house. My calendar was actually blank for this evening, which is a rather rare occurance. It is nice enjoying a night at home. Z2 and I have been watching the Phantom of the Opera movie. I had to take her up to the high school so she could join her dad and the cast members of the KHS play for their cast party tonight. We'll finish the movie when she returns home.

Keeping My Eyes on Kellogg

This week's Sibling Assignment was given to us by Raymond Pert. Here is his assignment:

Take a picture of something weird or of something not weird in a weird way. Try to make the subject of your picture either unrecognizable or take a picture of something really odd that your viewer won't know what it is.

Post the picture and write a post about it in whatever way you want. You might try to identify what's in the picture or you might write what the picture makes you feel or think about or whatever.

Here is Raymond Pert's post on the picture I sent him, and here is Inland Empire Girl's post on the picture RP sent her. Below is my post based on the photo IEG sent me.

These windows remind me of the garage doors down the street from our old house on McKinley Avenue in Kellogg, located behind the old Bunker Hill office building. This is what I imagine these “eyes” saw over the years as they gazed upon my hometown.

Keeping My Eyes on Kellogg

Hard hat, silver lunch pail, Thermos.
Booted feet shuffling by on the way to the dry.
Cigarette snuffed out on the pavement.
Raised hands in greeting.
Keeping my eyes on Kellogg.

Brown hills, scrubby brush, rust-colored soil.
Smoky haze lingering on top of mountain peak.
Hills aglow with fiery lava.
New formations created each night.
Keeping my eyes on Kellogg.

Lead, arsenic, cadmium.
Milky white creek runs through center of town.
No one dares explore the banks.
Full of poisons from years gone by.
Keeping my eyes on Kellogg.

Neon signs, swinging doors, music blaring.
No parking places uptown on a Friday night.
Payday and everyone’s pockets are full.
Raising glasses and swinging fists.
Keeping my eyes on Kellogg.

Here's A Little Taste of Godspell

If you have been following my blog, you know I have been spending the last six weeks or so rehearsing for the Sixth Street Theater's production of "Godspell".

We opened last night, and at Wednesday's dress rehearsal, Z2 filmed the show, and here are two of the numbers from the show.

There are still tickets available, and we would all love to have you come see the show.

Falling Leaves

The Leaves Are Green

The leaves are green, the nuts are brown,

They hang so high they won't come down.

Leave them alone till frosty weather,

Then they will all come down together.

Old Rhyme

Yesterday morning I went outside while it was still frosty out, and took some pictures. As I was snapping shots, it sounded like rain was coming down, but the sky was blue. It was because the leaves on the Tri color birch tree were falling so quickly, they sounded like rain falling. It was a beautiful sight, and a lovely sound to experience on one of the rare autumn mornings when the sky is blue and the air is crisp.

He comes, - he comes, - the Frost Spirit comes!

The Frost Spirit

by John Greenleaf Whittier

He comes, - he comes, - the Frost Spirit comes!

You may trace his footsteps now

On the naked woods and the blasted fields

And the brown hill's withered brow.

He has smitten the leaves of the gray old trees

Where their pleasant green came forth,

And the winds, which follow wherever he goes,

Have shaken them down to earth.

He comes, - he comes, - the Frost Spirit comes!

From the frozen Labrador,

From the icy bridge of the northern seas,

Which the white bear wanders o'er,

Where the fisherman's sail is stiff with ice,

And the luckless forms below

In the sunless cold of the lingering night

Into marble statues grow!

He comes, - he comes, - the Frost Spirit comes!

On the rushing Northern blast,

And the dark Norwegian pines have bowed

As his fearful breath went past.

With an unscorched wing he has hurried on,

Where the fires of Hecla glow

On the darkly beautiful sky above
And the ancient ice below.

***************************************

He comes, - he comes, - the Frost Spirit comes!

And the quiet lake shall feel

The torpid touch of his glazing breath,

And ring to the skater's heel;

And the streams which danced on the broken rocks,

Or sang to the leaning

Shall bow again to their winter chain,

And in mournful silence pass.

He comes, - he comes, - the Frost Spirit comes!

Let us meet him as we may,

And turn with the light of the parlor-fire

His evil power away;

And gather closer the circle 'round,

When the firelight dances high,

And laugh at the shriek of the baffled Fiend

As his sounding wing goes by!

Post Election Day Thoughts

Boy do I feel great.

I don't think I have ever felt this way the day after a presidential election.

A sense of hope. And a sense of relief.

Maybe it is because change is in the air.

This was an historic election in many respects. Not only did we elect the first African American President, but voter turnout was at an all time high, and people across the country, no matter how they voted, seemed to really care this year.

Another exciting aspect yesterday was going the the polls with The Princess. She just turned 18 and this was her first time voting.

She came home Monday night from college so she could vote on Tuesday. At first I had encouraged her to get an absentee ballot, but now I am glad she came home and that we could to to the polls together.

We drove over to the Steelworkers Hall in Kellogg, where they consolidated all four Kellogg polling places this year, and found our table. LD, a family friend, really made a big deal of the fact this was The Princesses first time voting, and explained to her how the ballot worked.

Then Mrs. Jacobs asked her to state her name and address. She laughed and told her she looked too young to vote. Then The Princess signed in, received her ballot, and went to the booth. It was fun to hear our names announced at the end, after we had both cast our votes.

She was a bit surprised that it didn't take that long to vote.

I drove her back to Coeur d'Alene, and we talked a bit about the ballot. We chuckled a bit over the man who changed his name to "Pro Life". We thought that was a bit odd.

We went to Starbucks, and I got my free cup of coffee for voting. (She ordered an Espresso Truffle, which sounded really good, and I may have to get one tomorrow when I take Z2 to CDA for an appointment.)

I am one of those statistics the political reporters talk about. I have voted in every presidential election since 1984, and I believe I voted Republican each time.

But this year I switched. And I didn't just switch, I donated financially to Obama's campaign, and really was excited about him as a candidate.

Part of it was the candidate. I liked what he had to say on the majority of the issues, and believed in his plan to bring about change.

But part of it was a rejection of the past 8 years. I was disappointed in the Republican party, and their tactics, and how divided the country seemed.

And part of my problem was with the Christian right's tactics. Granted, both sides can be negative as they spin their message. But I don't think it is right to throw out fear tactics and misinformation in the name of Jesus Christ. To me there is a higher standard if you are claiming to be "speaking" for God. You had better be 100 percent sure the information you are sharing is 100 percent accurate.

I felt like my brothers and sisters in Christ, as they proclaimed they were brothers and sisters in Christ, weren't playing the "What Would Jesus Do?" game very well. I felt threatened and lied to at during this campaign. I was disappointed.

One blogger, E.A. Hanks, in her post titled "G.O.P. R.I.P.?" hit the nail on the head when she wrote,

"By going for Rove's GOP big guns, McCain wasted his last election by desperately reaching out to the most hardcore of the base: anti-gay rights, anti-environmental legislation, anti-black people vote. The campaign became about being against things and in a time that's so depressing it's hard enough to get out of bed as it is, people were turned off. Just like their heat and water! "

I know I was turned off.

That is why I was one of 64,974,540 people who voted for Barack Obama yesterday.

And, I think we need some change, and he is the President to move our country in the right direction.

Proverbs 21:1 always gives me great comfort,

The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He wishes.

because, regardless of what is going on, my faith believes that God is, and always will be, in control.

SVG Guest Blogs on A Family Runs Through It

Head on over to Family Phil's blog and check out my "Guest Blogger" entry.



You can find it here.



Family Phil writes about his life as a stay-at-home dad, parenting, home-schooling and living in North Idaho.



It has been fun to find out some connections we both share.

We both are on the blogroll at Huckleberries Online.



We are both U of I grads.



We both worked at KUOI 89.3 FM while at college. Me in the early 80's, he in the later 80's.



We both lived in the Boise area for awhile, but escaped before we were overtaken by the current population explosion down there, to our current lives in North Idaho.



We both are devoted to being a wonderful spouse and parent, and love spending time with our family.



If you haven't been a reader of A Family Runs Through It, I encourage you to check out this blog. It always has a way of brightening my day!!

Congrats to Wallace Boys--Win Godspell Tickets!!

My two blogging buddies who hail from Wallace, Idaho, took time to come up with a slogan for our Godspell production, and they are the winners of the tickets.

They will each receive two complimentary tickets ($24 value) to the show of their choice.

Congrats to Cedar Street Kid and Go Figure.

I'll be contacting them about how to make reservations.

I hope they can make it to the production.

Where Have I Seen That Actor Before?

If you are like me, you ask yourself this question a lot while watching a t.v. show or movie, when you see a face that looks familiar, and you know you have seen the actor in another show. That happened to me last night.

We don't have t.v. at our house, but my mom is nice enought to tape a few of the shows we like so we can watch them later in the week. These include Boston Legal, NCIS and Criminal Minds.

Last night I put the Criminal Minds tape in to watch this week's episode. About halfway through the show, a character was introduced who was the half brother to this week's serial killer. I knew I had seen this guy in something, and I couldn't quite put my finger on what show I had seen him in before this one.

Then all of a sudden it hit me....I hadn't seen him in a show...I had met this guy in person!!

Last summer, when I attended my Gear Up National Conference in Washington D.C., one of the sessions I attended was on using Improvisational Acting to make connections with your students. This is the guy who presented this session.

His name is Pepe Serna, and he was lots of fun teaching us exercises in improv. Later that day, he saw me in the hallway, and he approached me, and asked how I had like the session. I told him I really enjoyed his session, and that I was involved in our local community theater. He said he thought I had some theater experience. He was very nice.

When I looked him up on imdb.com, he has been in over 100 films, including Scarface, Postcards from the Edge, and Buckaroo Bonzai. Does he look familiar to you?

Pepe Serna

Z2 Has Personal Best at State Meet

I just flew in from Boise, and boy are my arms tired. (Rim Shot).

I flew down to Boise this morning to watch Z2 run in the Idaho State Cross Country Championships at Eagle Island State Park. She is the first freshman girl from Kellogg High School to qualify to go to state, at least since Coach Castro has been there.

Here she is, lined up ready to go. She competed against 71 other runners. I was timing her on my phone, and my time was 23:13, but her official time was 23:25. (I think her official time is off, but I won't go into that right now.) She came in 46th.

Last week, if you recall, she ran 24:12, and today she ran almost one minute faster. She looked good and ran a great race.

Here is her "unofficial" time on my phone.

Her coach, Ben Castro, couldn't stop smiling today!!

We have lots of family down in the Boise area, and Z2 was so excited that her cousin KR was there to cheer her on. Here Uncle KR and Grandpa BR were also at the meet cheering, and taking pictures.

It was a great day, and we look toward the future for more exciting running moments from Z2!!

This year her very first race she ran over 33 minutes, so she improved 10 minutes over the year. I know it won't always be that much improvement in one season, but it was fun watching her figure out how to run this season!!

Olly, Olly Oxen Free!!!

Our latest Sibling Assignment was given to us by Inland Empire Girl, who tries here darndest to get her two slackard siblings to post their assignments in a timely manner. Well, I'm only about 4 days late this week.

This week's assignment was this: " Many hours of our childhood were spent playing games. Share a memory that involved playing a game(es)." IEG's wonderful post about playing Yahztee is here, and RP's post will be here someday.

Growing up on the Sunnyside area of Kellogg, we had a great group of neighborhood kids who would gather together during the summer to play "hide and seek". There were the Rinaldi boys and the Poutto's from over on Mission Ave., the Absec boy who lived over by the park, and the Freers, Higbees and Cralls on Riverside Ave., where the game originated. And then there was myself and sometimes the Cumming's boys who would come over to join the fun from Cameron Ave.

As we gathered for the game, boundaries were set so we knew how far we could go to hide. Hiding places were found up in trees, inside bushes, and anywhere else we couldn't be found on a dark summer night in Kellogg.

"Okay, I'm going to hide my eyes and count to 50, and everyone go and hide," one of us would say."

Then there was the "base", of course, where you could run to, and, if you made it there without getting tagged, then you were doing pretty good. But, eventually, if people still couldn't be found, you were here ringing through our neighborhood, "Olly, olly oxen free." That meant you could come in for free, and not get tagged.

Sometimes we would do a variation, and play "Kick the Can".

Our neighborhood was full of games. I remember watching L. Poutto's old Italian grandpa play bocce ball back behind her house. I remember a pit of some sotrt, that was enclosed by wood, and the men would toss the balls into the pit. As they enjoyed the game, they were probably drinking some Dago red wine as well.

Touch football games were also played afterschool in yards throughout the neighborhood. I'm not sure the girls ever got to play, though. I think we just had to play "cheerleader".

We had a great neighborhood to grow up in, and I'm glad I spent summers playing games with all the kids.

Win A Couple of Free Tickets to Godspell!!

Today I created some promotional items for the Godspell production I'm rehearsing for in Wallace, and used this photo in some emails and posters.

The cast of Godspell at the Sixth Street Theater in Wallace.

I sent an email out to all the staff of the Kellogg School District, and one of the teachers, after seeing the picture, joked to PKR and said, "That is the oldest cast for Godspell I have ever seen."

I shared this at rehearsal tonight, and we started coming up with bogus slogans for our production, based on this "aging" idea.

Here are some of the suggestions below. If you have any others, I'd welcome more ideas. In fact, I'm going to have a little promotional contest. Whoever comes up with the most clever slogan will win two tickets to Godspell to the performance of their choice (see the sidebar for performance details). The contest will go through Sunday, November 2nd, and I'll announce the winner on Monday, November 3rd. Just leave a comment and your email address so I can contact you if you win. Good Luck!!!

Godspell: The Geritol Years

Godspell: We Walked With Jesus (Literally)

Come See Our Godspell: Where the Deaf Will Hear, The Blind See, and the Lame Walk (And That's Just the Cast!!)

Godspell: Where We Just Try and See More Clearly Day By Day

Z2 "Runs Like The Wind" Today

Before Z2 left for her District Cross Country Meet in Bonners Ferry today, her dad gave her one piece of advice.

"Run Like The Wind"

And she did just that, by qualifying for the State Cross Country Meet at Eagle Island State Park in the Boise area next weekend.

This northern A3 District could qualify 8 girls, and Z2 came in 8th. She ran a time of 24:12, doing over one minute faster than she ran at last week's meet in Potlatch.

It was so exciting watching her gain momentum throughout the 3.1 mile course. She started out in about 12th place, then kept gaining on the girls ahead of her, until she finally passed two of the Bonners Ferry girls, (or maybe it was Timberlake. I'm not sure, because they both wear blue).

She finished good and strong with great form, and was very surprised she qualified.

But once she realized she made it, you couldn't get that beaming smile off her face.

A Bit Disappointed with "Phantom"

This afternoon the family attended the matinee performance of "Phantom of the Opera" in Spokane.

In anticipation of this musical, I never wanted to watch the movie, or know too much about the production, because I had heard how spectacular it was and I wanted to be surprised.

Maybe my sights were set a bit too high, because I wasn't that impressed. Oh, the production was wonderful, and set designs, the costumes.

But what I like most about musicals is how they affect my emotions. I like to laugh hard, cry, make a connection to the characters.

I made no connection today. I felt the same the whole way through the production.

It is not that the actors weren't talented. They were fine singers and actors. I just didn't make a connection with the story or the characters. I felt no empathy for the Phantom. He didn't seem like a "tortured" character to me. I never felt much romantic connection between Christine and Roaul either.

And there were parts of the production I was a bit lost in what was going on.

But, I'm not going to discount it, and tell people never to go see it. I'm going to give it another try sometime in the future. And maybe I'll read the book, and listen to the soundtrack and become more famliar with the overall story, then maybe the connection will come.

We all kind of had the same reaction in our family. It was okay, but not the spectacular production we expected. The Princess and Z2 both like the movie version much better.

Would I Be Remembered at U of I?

My brother sent in a "Hat Tip" to DFO at Huckleberries Online about an article in the LA Times that talks about Sarah Palin, and her obscurity as a student at the University of Idaho.

When I was a senior in the School of Communications, Palin was just arriving. If a reporter had investigated my tenure at the university, there would be some tangible evidence I existed.

But I'm not sure anyone would really remember working with me. I'm not sure classmates would remember me either.

And I think of my professors. I really don't think I made a lasting impression on any of them. If my name was brought up, I seriously doubt they could recall much about me. And the School of Communications wasn't a very tight knit group at the time. You had journalism majors, public relations majors, advertising majors, and radio and tv production. But, if I recall, not a whole lot of cohesiveness in the department.

Yes, I realize I'm not running for political office, but, if by some weird turn of fate I was all of a sudden running for some high profile office, and a reporter started looking into my career at the U of I, they might find this:

1) She was known by members of her Tri Delta sorority, but if questioned by members of other Greek houses, only the ones who were from her hometown even remembered her.

2) Yes, she did work at the Argonaut as a reporter, and she sold advertising, and was an announcer the radio station. Perhaps the name may be familiar, but not sure if I can place the face.

3) She was in the marching band and sang in Jazz Choir but, again, unless she went to high school, or lived with them in the same house, students can't really place her.

4) Was involved in a campus ministry group called Campus Crusade for Christ. The leader at the time remembers her, and maybe a few students involved, even though she was in leadership positions in the group for more than two years.

5) She also got second place her junior year in the U of I talent show. But no one seems to recall who she was, or what talent she performed.

So I was a fairly active college student, but I still think unless you lived with me in the same house, or we went to high school together, I probably didn't make that great of impression on anyone.

Partly because I was very unsure of myself. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I pretty much stayed under the radar. I think it was my choice not to be out there too much.

I remember going to a few UI Alumni functions, and always feeling uncomfortable, because I always felt no one really knew who I was.

And Palin was only there maybe 2 years. And probably a bit unsure of herself, as well.

But now that I am 45, I too have a much stronger personality. I know a bit more who I am, what I want, and have much more confidence than that unsure college student. And I think a big part of it came from moving back home 8 years ago. I'd say a majority of the people here in the Silver Valley know who I am, because I'm out there more. And I'm more outgoing, and friendlier, and am not afraid to take risks and state my opinion.

So, what it all boils down to is it doesn't surprise me that Sarah Palin emerged as a dynamic personality in her home state of Alaska, where she probably gained her confidence in her hometown of Wasilla. And, like me, she was probably helped by having a loving relationship with her husband, family, and her church family.

Pappy's Pizza: My Most Embarrassing Moment

This week I asked my siblings to write about the following:

"Pick a business in Kellogg where you used to "hang out" in junior high or high school and tell a story about an incident that happened at this location that was really memorable."

The reason I chose this topic was because I knew I could share about my most embarrassing moment.

It was the summer of 1976. I had just finished my seventh year of school, and getting reading to begin 8th grade. My friend RS, who had a boyfriend who was going to be a sophomore, called me up to see if I wanted to go on a double date to the movies with her and her boyfriend, and another guy, DS. I asked my parents to see if I could, they said yes, so I said okay.

(As I look back on this incident, I ask myself, "What in the world were my parents thinking?? I was only just barely 13 years old, and they were letting me go on a "car date" with a guy two years older than me.)

So RS kind of orchestrated the whole evening, and it kind of started off on a bad note. Well first, her boyfriend ended up not coming, so it was just her and DS and myself.

DS was suppose to pick me up at my house, but they had car trouble or a flat tire or something, so I was told to start walking toward the Rena Theater, where we would be watching a movie, and they would pick me up.

So I only got about a block down the road when DS and RS pulled up in DS's dad's powder blue Cadillac (I kid you not).

So I piled in and we went to the movie. I was very nervous. I had never done this before, and wasn't quite sure how to act. He did kiss me at the end of the movie, which was rather weird.

Then we headed to the local hangout in Kellogg at the time, Pappy's Pizza. We joined a group of people, and sat a visited. I remember one moment of humiliation when my friend AV's older sister CV came in and came over and asked me if I was on a date. It was very embarrassing.

Well, I guess DS was bored at Pappy's Pizza, so he asked if I wanted to go for a ride. I said sure and we headed off toward the Powder Blue Cadillac in the parking lot. RS was staying behind.

Here comes the rather embarrassing part. As he opened his driver's side door to let me in, he opened it up just as a car next to the Powder Blue Cadillac was pulling out. The fender of that car hooked on the open car door, and proceeded to pull the car door back, and do quite a bit of damage.

As this was happening, I sat inside the Powder Blue Cadillac listening to the comments made about the incident by people who witnessed it. One comment that sticks out in my memory was, "I'd make her pay for it,".

At some point, I escaped my Powder Blue Cadillac prison, and ran inside to tell RS what had happened. She came outside. Eventually, DS closed the door enough on the driver's side so he could at least drive it home.

It was a really long ride home that evening.

DS took RS home to Pinehurst, and then drove me home back to Kellogg, It was a very long ride home. And I never spoke to home about it again.

But for a young girl, just barely 13, it was a very embarrassing experience.

Cross Country, Cheap Gas and Homecoming Dance

Saturday was a fun day, filled with Z2 running cross country, buying inexpensive gas, and watching Z2 and her friends prepare to attend the Homecoming Dance at KHS.
Here is Z2 heading toward the finish line at the Cross Country meet in Potlatch. Her coach wanted them all to run the hard, hilly 3.1 mile course below 26 minutes, and I believe she did it!! What a beautiful drive to Potlatch along 95. The fall colors were everywhere, with lots of reds, oranges and yellows to enjoy.Then I stopped at the Coeur d'Alene Casino and gassed up for $2.60 a gallon. It was like hitting the jackpot without playing the machines.
Here is Z2 before she headed to the Homecoming Dance. She said it was fun, and she had a good time.

I Hate It When Cats Don't Come Home

This is the first time we haven't had a cat come home. Our cat Milo has been gone for three weeks now. PKR let him out one Sunday morning, and we haven't seen him since.

We only live a block away from the river, and Milo used to like to go over there, hunting little critters like mice I suppose.

When I started letting people know Milo was missing, I heard about coyotes being spotted in our subdivision, and that could have been his fate.

The trouble is the not knowing. Did he get hurt by the river? Did coyotes take him away?

What did happen to Milo? He wasn't sick, so he didn't go off to die because of that, like some cats are known to do.

He liked to prowl, but would always come back, usually because he was hungry.

In fact, he always came to the patio sliding glass and jumped up and down until we would let him in the door.

I still get up every morning, hoping to see him jumping up and down.

But I don't think he is coming back.

I don't like losing a pet in this manner.

Goodbye, Milo. You've been a wonderful cat for many years. We all sure miss you.

Hail to the Wildcats, Hats Off to You!!

Kellogg High School

This was Homecoming Week at Kellogg High School, and the week culminated tonight with the Wildcats beating the Bonners Ferry Badgers at football at Teeter's Field 15 to 6.



PKR and I are the advisers for the Freshman Class, so we had to make sure the Freshmen were doing everything they were suppose to do. Z2 and some of her classmates spent last Sunday afternoon decorating the Annex Hall for the Freshmen.



All week, the students dressed up in different ways, and also had competitions at lunchtime.



Wednesday night was the bonfire, followed by a Volleyball Fun Night. Z2 played in the pep band at the bonfire, and PKR played volleyball.



Today, the students participated in a Homecoming Parade that started at KHS, and went down Cameron Ave., then left on Hill Street to Teeter's Field, where all the students joined together to get excited at the Pep Assembly.



Tonight at the game, the half-time festivities are always a highlight for a "die-hard" football fan like myself.



Z2 was a member of the KHS Pep Band and marched in the Marching Band during half-time. They did a great job!! The ROTC Color Guard then raised their swords, and the homecoming candidates were introduced.



Tonight, Travis Seltenreich and Hannah Rivera were crowned king and queen. Hannah is a good friend of The Princess, and just a sweetheart. And I loved her mother's reaction when we congratulated her as we were going home...



"It is just wonderful she got one of The Lord's little blessings."



Yes it was.



I enjoy being, not only a staff member at KHS now, but an alumni who can actually sing all the words to the KHS Fight Song, "Hail to the Wildcats", and stands at the end of the game, and raises my hand singing the "Alma Mater":



"Hail To The Wildcats, Hats Off To You,

Ever They'll Find You, Loyal and True,

Firm and Undaunted, Always You'll Be

Hail To the School We Love,

Here's a Toast To Thee."

A Prayer For Tough Times

Come, follow, follow, follow

Hey, remember this song from your childhood? Well, sing along to my new version. I'll explain the meaning after the song.

If you have a couple of friends with you, you can make it into a round.

If I had a bouncing ball, I'd put one in...but, sorry, my html skills aren't that advanced.

Are you ready???...a one a and a two a...

Come, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow me.


Part II:
Whither shall I follow, follow, follow,
Whither shall I follow, follow thee.


Part III:
To my sidebar, to my sidebar,
to the Followers sidebar.


If you check out my sidebar at the top you will see the word Followers.

What is Following?

Do you have a favorite blog and want to let the author and readers know that you are a fan? Well now you can do that and more with the Blogger Following feature! You can even keep track of the blogs you follow via your Reading List on the Blogger dashboard.

How do I become a Follower of a blog?

There are several ways to become a follower of a blog. One of the easiest ways is to visit a blog that has added the Following widget and click on the "Follow this Blog" link under the "Followers" widget:


You'll then see a popup window with the options to either follow publicly or anonymously.

So, I invite you one and all, to follow, follow, follow!!!

How Musicals Affect the Spirit

This week's sibling assignment was given to us by Raymond Pert. Here it is:

In honor of the upcoming production by the Sixth Street Theater of the musical "Godspell" write a post explaining what your spiritual experience has been with "Godspell" and, if possible, how that experience is similar and/or different from your spiritual experience with "Jesus Christ Superstar".

You will soon find RP's here and IEG's vague response is here.

To start out, I think musicals in general are a spiritual experience for me. I have always enjoyed this genre and the music from these shows touch a very special part of me.

I saw "Godspell" on stage in Spokane with RP's first wife Eileen. I must have been in junior high. I don't remember a whole lot about the production itself, but I do know I really liked the music, and purchased the album from the original Broadway production, and also have the book of sheet music. These songs have been a part of my life since I saw this musical on stage.

I used the song "All Good Gift" as the theme when I was installed as Worthy Advisor into Rainbow my junior year in high school. (Interestingly enough, Joy Persoon, who is directing the production of "Godspell" I am currently rehearsing for, sang and played this song during my installation.)

I remember singing "Prepare Ye The Way" as part of a Easter sunrise service in high school at the United Church of Kellogg.

After a learned how to play the guitar, I played "By My Side" and sang it with one of my sorority sisters while in college.

I can't pinpoint how exactly that production of "Godspell" touched my spirit, but it has been a lasting touch that will culminate next month as I perform in this musical. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to perform in this production and sing these songs.

A few years ago, I was reunited with "Jesus Christ Superstar" when my friend CM performed in it at the Lake City Playhouse. That night she reminded me the first time we saw it was when Raymond Pert took us to see the movie at the Rena Theater in Kellogg.Raymond Pert also received the soundtrack of the musical, well, actually it is the whole score of the movie on a record album, because it is a rock opera, as a present for graduation from Kellogg High School. I remember it also came with a booklet that had all the lyrics written in it so you could follow along. Again, I remember spending time playing that album, and listening to the words.

CM and I saw the production again, while we were in high school. It was a production at the Opera House in Spokane, and they didn't have a set. Instead they used lasers against the back wall. It was a really good production.

For me, listening to and singing songs that portray the stories from the Bible in a different way is a spiritual experience in itself. I like how they have stayed in my heart and spirit all these years. I like how people who may not ever enter a church can listen to these beautiful songs and words, and have their spirit affected.

The seeds of both of these musicals were planted almost 30 years ago, and have stayed within my spirit, and they continue to affect me today.

Wildcats Are #2!!

Kiki Aru and her friend AA hold the trophy they won today at the 7th grade tournament at St. Maries. They earned second place today. Kiki Aru had a great day, and did some great serving. This is her first year playing, and she is really enjoying learning to play, and I'm enjoying watching her.

We also enjoyed traveling to Spokane today to watch Z2 run in a Cross Country meet at Finch Arboretum. She ran in the 2 mile freshman race. She ran a great race, with a time of 14:50. And what a beautiful day it was today.

I had good intentions of having some pics of Z2 at the meet today, but my battery died in my camera. I'll try and get some pics next week.

Things I Like About This Election

I got a new Norah Jones not too late CD, (which is awesome by the way) and she has a song on it called "My Dear Country". It is a very good song, and it made me start thinking about this election. I don't think the election brings fear to me, as this song suggests. And, with less than 30 days to go before the election, lots of fear it being communicated. Well, I'm going to break the mold.

I think this election brought many positive things.

Ten Things I Have Enjoyed About This Election:

1. I have been more interested in finding out how the candidates stand on issues than ever before.
2. I have enjoyed watching the country finally break some barriers in the nomination process.
3. I have seen young people become more interested in voting in this election.
4. My oldest daughter gets to vote in her first election this year.
5. I enjoyed the Vice Presidential debate. (And I enjoyed the SNL parody of it as well. I'm glad we've enjoyed some good humor moments through this election process as well.)

6. I like close elections. It is much more interesting when you know it isn't going to be a landslide. I like that at this point, it could go either way.

7. I like that, after thoughtful consideration, I have looked a both candidates and their views, and decided to support the Obama-Biden ticket. A big determining factor was their education plan. I like their's better.

8. I enjoy reading about the candidates from various points of view. I receive both conservative, liberal and moderate information about the candidate, and, depending on what you read, sometimes it seems like there are three different Obamas and three different McCain's running for office. It just depends on your persepective.

9. I like the fact that domestic and foriegn policy issues may finally wake some people up and they make take the time to vote on November 4th.

10. And, just as Norah Jones ends her song with these words, I love the things that you've given me, And most of all that I am free, To have a song that I can sing, On election day, I'm glad I live in the United States, where I am free and can "sing my song" or cast my votes on election day. And I hope you exercise that right as well.


You can listen to Norah Jones song below.

Tag I'm It!!--Lists of Seven All About Silver Valley Girl

Nita Jo at Little Grey Gardens tagged me, and here are my answers:

7 Things I Plan To Do Before I Die

1. Travel to Europe
2. Visit New York City
3. Publish a Novel
4. Visit every state
5. Learn to play the Electric Guitar
6. Go on a Mission Trip
7. Visit Washington D.C. with my husband


7 Things I Do Now

1. Read the Bible
2. Perform and Entertain others
3. Attend church every Sunday
4. Write
5. Pray for others
6. Enjoy being a wife and mother
7. Dream of travel destinations


7 Things That Attract Me To The Opposite Sex

1. Smile
2. Humor
3. Intelligence
4. Kindness
5. Eyes
6. Hair
7. Humility

7 Things That I Say Most Often

1. I love you.
2. Thank you, Father or Thank you, Jesus
3. You goofball!
4. Hey handsome, give me a kiss!!
5. I need a hug.
6. I don't know
7. Yes, I do like to laugh alot.


7 Celebrities That I Admire

1. James Taylor
2. Barbra Streisand
3. Paul Gross
4. Martha Burns
5. Tom Hanks
6. Kristen Chenoweth
7. Aaron Sorkin

7 Favorite Foods

1. Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies
2. Fresh caught steamed crab dipped in butter
3. Fresh clams
4. Fresh Oysters
5. Cheese
6. Fresh greens out of the garden
7. Garden fresh tomatoes


7 People Who Need To Do This

Oh, anyone who thinks it would be fun. If you don't have a blog, email it to me. I'd love to see your lists.

The Way We Were

Inland Empire Girl continues to keep us on track with Sibling Assignments. Her current assignment is this:

"Think of a movie theme song that stayed with you long after you saw the film. Share an experience about that movie or the theme." Here is Inland Empire's story, and Raymond Pert's is here.

Well, I think I am going about this a bit backward. I think I actually knew the theme song to the movie "The Way We Were" long before I actually saw the movie. Being a huge Barbra Streisand fan, I purchased many of her albums at a young age, and listened to this song quite a bit.

One memory this song conjures up is being in college at the University of Idaho with PKR. When I started as a freshman in college, PKR was attending college at Western Montana College in Dillon. The following summer we met, (officially, that is, but that is a whole other story), and at the end of the summer, I returned to Moscow to college, and he returned to Dillon. The next fall, he was enrolled at the University of Idaho.

My senior year, two of Paul's siblings, DR and LR were also enrolled as students at the University of Idaho. PKR, LR and I enrolled in a class together together called "Professional Presentation Techniques". We were a team most of the semester, and our assignment was to take a company and make three different types of presentations based on this company. We chose Hewlitt Packard, because my sister's best friend from college had worked there and had some connections.

I don't remember what our first product we presented was about, but I do remember we started out with PKR singing, "The Way We Were". Our next product we presented were HP defibrillators, and, believe it or not, back in 1984, HP was just coming out with the first laptop computer. And that was our final product we presented.





HP-110: HP’s first laptop computer, 1984
An industry breakthrough, the HP-110 weighed only 8.5 pounds and had a 16-bit IBM PC-compatible processor. With 384K ROM and 272K RAM, it had the largest amount of memory available in a portable computer at the time. Unlike previous machines, the computer was aimed at a less technical audience.

I remember we ended our presentation with LR having a briefcase, and opening it up, as if she was going to unveil this production, and she exclaimed, "Oh, it is so light, I must have forgotten it at home!" or something like that.

We were a great team, and got an A in that class.

So "The Way We Were" doesn't bring to mind Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand trying to make their relationship work in this film. Instead, it takes me back to those days at the University of Idaho when PKR and I were falling in love.

Fortunately, we have a much better relationship than Katie and Hubbell could ever manage to have in the movie.