Christmas in July?

Okay so I'm trying to be more like Emily, and actually plan ahead for Christmas this year. Last year I was sad that it was Mom and Dad's first Christmas home and we didn't get to spend it with them. So this year I am determined to spend my Christmas with my mom and dad. Hopefully they want to spend it with me! Anyway I was thinking it would be nice to go to Utah and maybe rent a place like the one in Heber, only this time there might be snow, and fun snowy stuff to do. Would anyone else be interested? I thought I'd put out some feelers and see if anyone else felt the same way. Becky was worried about having to take Christmas somewhere else and the complications of that, so if that is a big worry, then maybe we could go a day or two after Christmas (I still want to spend the actual holiday with mom and dad myself though). So who's interested? Let me know so we can get cracking!

The Gold

One day when we were at a show, we were taking a break -- well, everybody was -- and Isaac wanted to buy something. And Mom said, "Do you have any money?" And Isaac said, "Well, I have my gold." And he pulled some fake treasure out of his pocket and surprised us. And it was a little cute!

From Aaron

Celebrity "Go" sighting

I just got back from my first business trip to LA. I met and signed on with a major sales rep. They do all the big shows. LA, Atlanta, SF, NY. I am really excited about this relationship. Hopefully now I won't have to deal with sales and can focus on my brand and new products. They have the best show room. They are the perfect fit. They have a very clean, modern, studio. I was drawn to them when I heard they carry blabla. They have been with them since the begining and have gotten them where they are today. Like Barney's NY, Neiman Marcus, Giggle, and just about every kids boutique in the US. And, while I was meeting with them they got a call from Pottery Barn, one of their accounts. Not that I think Pottery Barn will carry the sling, but Becky and I were talking about PB and how they don't make all their products. Well, turns out they get some of their products through my sales rep.

I stayed with Liz Rutter. She has a beautiful home in Riverside and was a gracious host. The menu while I was there for you inquiring Craig minds: A large bowl of berries with granola and yogurt for breakfast. Fresh guacamole and pita chips as a snack. And these very good chicken and vegie kaboba. She marinated the chicken in "Jamaica Mistake" (you can find it at your local G. store) It was all very fabulous. Thanks Liz!

I also met up with Brian Petersen. We now have our first official celebrity wearing the sling. Of course Brian just happened to have a prop of some kid. He was kind enough to show us what not to do while wearing the sling. We also went to brunch at a very southern place: "Rosco's Chicken and Waffles" And that 's exactly what we both got. A battered and fried chkn breast and a most delicious waffle. Very good and very fun. I think my favorite was the sunrise drink which was fresh lemonade with fresh orange juice. There is just no substitue for real juice. This drink was amazing. You citrus tree owners must try this with your fresh juice.

Now that I have the sales rep, my job is going to be to inform the magazines and blogs about PUJ. If you have a magazine you think I need to write let me know.

Nancy, I'm sure you'll have a good list for me.

Progress and the Pursuit of Things Bright and Shiny

I bought a solar oven. Several months ago Richard told me that his parents regularly used one. I was impressed. It sounded so new world to me. So I did some research and I came across the Global Sun Oven, "Rated as the top solar appliance in the world." It looked like just the thing; but it was pricey. Of coarse part of that price goes to help provide the same product to the underprivileged chefs of underdeveloped countries. But still, we do have a budget.

Luckily, the firm settled a mega million dollar case, and I got a little bonus. I'm a careful spender, so I thought and thought about what to dispose my discretionary cash on. I bought Emily a dress, and there was still some money left over. I went back to the Sun Oven website and read that, "Purchasing a SUN OVEN® may well prove to be one the best investments you ever make." It rang true to me. I went to ebay and found a brand new one for about $50 below normal retail. I thought some more, and then I committed to the transaction.

We had our second meal out of it today. I wish I hadn't waited so long. Just picture it -- the rays of that hot Arizona sun, concentrated into the black box, off of the shiny reflectors, ramping the chamber up to as high as 350 degrees -- causing steam to wisp up from my pork roast, brown rice, peppers, and quinoa. The kitchen stays nice and cool. Don't have to pay for the energy. Cooks while we're at church, ad no danger of burning the house down.

It just makes me feel happy. It just makes me feel confident in human progress and the pursuit of things bright and shiny.

As it turns out, solar cooking isn't new world at all. One of those websites in my research stated unequivocally that people have used the sun to cook for thousands of years.

Thanks for the tip, Rich.

To Pam and Laurie

Happy anniversary
Happy anniversary
Happy anniversary
Hap-py anniversary!

(That was a song!)

Here's to 35 more!

Go

Let's "Go" people!

(Hope you're ready for a rocket ride!)

I am sure I am not doing this right. It took me a half hour on the phone to figure out how to get the pictures on here and now I don't have anyplace to write. I guess that is the next lesson Nancy. Anyway, here are some pictures from our long weekend. The purpose of the trip was to go to the wedding reception for Hermana sellers and her husband, Shane Larsen of Rexburg. She is from California where they got married and he is from Rexburg. One of the other Sisters that we served with had come to her wedding but she had gone back to D.C. However, her parents were there and it was fun to meet and visit with them. None of the bride's family came to the reception - a cousin getting married this weekend and Hermana Seller's sister is getting married the following weekend. It was an outside reception at the Church with cake and green punch with ice cream in it. Afterwards we went out to dinner, but found no restaurants in Rexburg (a big business opportunity for any of you who want to be in the restaurant business). The only place we could find to sit down and eat dinner was J.B.'s but after an hour of waiting no food so we got up and left (after I explained to them fairly nicely that their service, or lack their of was abysmal. They blamed it on lack of grill space because they were so busy but there were less than a dozen people in the restaurant designed to hold 100 at least. If this is your competition, a good restaurant should do well there. I must have calmed down in my old age - I wasn't nearly as vocal as that time in Chili's that I am sure you remember, but I was pretty disgusted with them. One picture is from the barbecue at Angela and Brian's to celebrate Mom's becoming a U.S. citizen. The other pictures were taken in Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks which are right next door to each other. Unfortunately I did not bring my elk gun with me so no elk meat for those of you who acquired a taste for that delicacy when Stephen took the big one. Last night on the history channel they were showing the same smoking caldera in Yellowstone and saying that it is the largest in the world. There was another about this same size that went some many thousands of years ago and nearly wiped out all living things from the face of the earth. Fortunately, it did not go off while we were there. The new temple is in Rexburg - It sits on the top of a large hill right next to the BYU Idsaho campus and is going to be very impressive. It looks like they are about done with the exterior anyway - even Moroni is in place. The drive through the area was very pleasant - beautiful scenery the whole way. Lots of fields of wheat and potatoes, lots of rivers and streams, and just beautiful mountain scenery. We went looking for a nice cabin that we could buy and rent out when not in use. I figured a couple of million but the ones we liked were in the 10 million dollar range. I am not sure what the weekly rental would be but I am sure I could not afford too many payments on the 10 million loan if we failed to rent it out, so maybe I'll have to do a restaurant in Rexburg instead. It was a fun trip and we decided we needed to do more of those kinds of things. Love to all, Dad and Mom