End of School Ritual Hyrum Utah

 Tony is a graduating senior this year.  They had a community wide murder game with water guns.  Tony is a senior and was really disappointed when he got out in Chilis.  We thought you couldn't play inside businesses,  but we were wrong.

Water was a part of the end of school ritual in Hyrum where I grew up.  The last day was a big water fight throughout town as people made their way home, usually walking.  A water pistol was effective, but the best weapon was a surgical hose.  Those things could throw water a long ways.  I got hit by one once.

The othre normal riitual was Hyrum Dam for swimming or cliff jumping.  One year the water wasn't as high as usual and resulted in a couple back injuries.

My Biggest Regret:

Not purchasing the cradle board I had asked Sophie Allison to make for me.  Sophie and Irene were Native American women on the Duckwater Shoshone Reservation.  They were also faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I wasn't sure I had actually asked her to make one for me.  However I later got word that she had.  Sheri and I had moved to Roosevelt and I always hoped to get ahead enough to afford it; but we never did.  It wasn't until we had lived in California for a time that we finally started to catch up and have some breathing room financially.  I always had a sense that I had let her down.  I could have gotten it for $150 then.  They are worth much more than that now.  

Book Review: Jack Malotte

Jack Malotte by David B Walker, CEO, Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, Nevada, 2019. 

I was exploring something and came across something that said the artist Jack Malotte is from Duckwater, Nevada.  After that I just had to see some of his work.  Sheri and I lived in Duckwater from 1983-1985.  Duckwater is a very small community with less than 200 residents.  The Art of Jack Malotte was on display at the Nevada Museum of Art from June 6-October 20 2019.  The museum put together a book of the display which included many works.  The book also includes a biography of Jack Malotte, and a chronology.  Common themes for Malotte are, a Native American man, whirlwinds, and activism.  He often has pictures of mountains, with feathers, birds, or jets flying above.  

He was active with the Dann sisters, Mary and Carrie.  They struggled the the BLM claiming that according to treaty the land still belonged to the Western Shoshone.  However the BLM claimed jurisdiction over the land and wanted to charge grazing fees.  The courts have granted millions of dollars for the land, which the Shoshone have not taken saying the land is not for sale.  It is gathering interest someplace.  The Dann sisters have since passed away but Malotte lent his supoort with artwork for their organization.

Other activist movements have included stop MX, stop nuclear testing on Shoshone land and protection of the environment.

In his history Malotte has lived many places, and his art.  There are many pictures of desert and mountain, in Nevada and Arizona.  One special painting I like is of Big Spring in Duckwater.  Many of the paintings remind my of the desert and mountains where I live now in Kingman.  

He formed a relationship with Virginia Sanchez of Duckwater which motivated him to move there in 1999.  I worked with Virginia Sanchez when I was in Duckwater.  During that time she and Kathy Graham Blackeye traveled to Europe to testify before the United Nations.  Virginia and Jack Malotte both have that activist spirit.

This art is incredible.  I would share it but I am sure it is copyrighted.  I did find a couple paintings on line, including the book cover and my favorite form the book.  This art is very intriguing and makes you think.  The book mentioned a mural at Duckwater school and I wanted to see this but couldn't find it

Charity Portraying Louisa May Alcott, CIvil War Nurse

 When Charity was in eighth grade At Hyde Middle School I helped her with a class project.  It was on the Civil War and Charity decided to do a reenactment of Louisa May Alcott.  I found her story in some Civil War Books I had and wrote a script for her.  I never saw her actually perform, because this was in her school class.  However I saw her rehears several times and she looked beautiful and was doing a great job, pretending to help the wounded soldiers.  I understand she did so well the teacher kept a video copy so he could show subsequent years how to do a good job on the assignment.

Paintings from Kolb Studio: Grand Canyon National Park

 While Sheri, Mirianda and Tony were on the Bright Angel Trail, I doubled back and visited Kolb studio, which was having an art show downstairs.  Some of the paintings really moveed me with the light, colors and feeling so real.

Vocal Music and Swimming Lessons at Sky View

 When I was younger, after second and third grades, I took swimming at music lessons.   We would bus from Hyrum to Sky View High School in Smithfield. That is where the school district had a pool.  This was likely around 1965.  In addition to swimming we would also have music lessons together as a big choir.  Stratford Loosle, the Sky View choir director would conduct the music lessons.  We learned songs like "Up with People."  I remember he encouraged everyone to use their diaphragm.  He singled out Lori Yeates (a year older than I.  She lived in Hyrum by the church, 2nd ward.) for doing it correctly as her arms would bounce in front of her as she sang.

As for the swim lessons there were lots of small groups.  They showed we could float by asking us to touch our toes, which would cause you to float.  I was always a capable swimmer.  We also did lots of kicks holding onto the edge of the pool.  

Almost a Fight with Randy Wood

 Randy Wood lived up the canyon at Hardware Ranch.  This was a place where they fed the elk during the winter.  As such he would drive down from the ranch to Hyrum, and catch the bus at the intersection where Canyon Corner use to be.  That is where he would get off in the evening as well.  This was in the days when we went to high school in Smithfield at Sky View.  It was almost a half hour ride each way from Hyrum, going through Logan.

Sometimes the bus was pretty crowded.  Lots of people were hitting my chair or the back of my head as they went up or down the isle.  I interpreted this as they were teasing me on purpose.  Finally I caught Randy as a culprit and told him I was going to get off at his stop and beat him up.  However Randy got off a stop early, by Anderson Drive.  People told me he was getting away.  I didn't pay them no mind because I really wasn't interested in a fight.  My challenge was a quick impulse which I quickly regretted.  And so that is how I had an almost fight with Randy Wood.  

Hyrum Second/Fourth Ward Friends Growing Up

I grew up in Hyrum, Utah.  I lived in the second ward, which was later divided to the second and fourth wards.  I lived there from second to fourth grades, and then 7th grade until I left on my mission.  I would hang with a group of friends from our ward.  Our relationships were closer in Junior High School.  we would sit on the heater on cold days by the back door, we would sit on a stairwell by the library and tell jokes, read Charlie Brown comics and make finger elephants.  We would also stay after in the seminary room as David's dad was a teacher.  We would play ping pong or tennis.  David's dad would sometimes give us a ride.  Other times we would walk home together.  One of those times we came upon an elderly woman who had fallen and broken her hip.  We were able to contact an ambulance and stayed with her until it showed up.  (This was before cell phones.)

David Keeley married Joyce Ballard and became a seminary teacher.  During high school he had a job at a diary and as a result was the only one with his own car, an old mustang.  David and Joyce are currently on a mission, showing church history sites including Palmyra.

James Salvesen had many brothers.  Then lived at the mouth of Black Smith Fork Canyon.  They had a cement pad where we played basketball for a couple activities.  James had younger brothers Ronald and Doug who were also in young mens with us.  James married Carma Nelsen but later divorced.

Mike Albrechtsen lived on main street, not far from Canyon Corner.

Randy Allen also lived on main street, and about 600 east.  He used to play the piano and could play fur elise.  He also played trombone in the band.  Randy wrote this back to me, "We have been living in West Jordan for over 40 years and like it here very much. I retired last April and Diane and I are having a great time traveling as much as possible."

Neil Frank is very good at art.  He mostly drew animals.

Terril Morgan lives in the Ogden area.  He sent me a wedding announcement saying he was marrying Kim Marie Sears.  He also was very good at art.

Vance Douglas has passed away.  He was hit by a car.

Mark Applegarth ran hurdles at the high school.  Mark married the daughter of Gary and Dixie Clawson.

Brad Thomas last I heard is a physical therapist in Logan.  He played on the basketball team in high school.

Kent Nate I am not sure where he lives but his son was in our ward for a time in Manteca California.  He and Brad were a year younger than me.  Kent played football in high school.

Randy Wood lived at Hardware Ranch.

Russel Egbert, a grade younger than me but we both did our missionary farewell together.  I am not sure where he went.

Singing in Church: "As I have Loved You"

 When we were living in Ballard, Sheri and I were asked to speak in church.  We were going to sing "As I Have Loved You" between our talks as a family.  Jeremy was the baby; but we had worked very hard with Mark and Natalia to sing with us, and do the sign which is in the primary book.  We practiced and practiced, and the kids were so cute.  Jeremy was in the car seat so about six months, Mark would have been two and Natalia three.  It was going to be so good.  However by the time Sheri go done with her talk, Natalia and Mark were sleeping soundly on the floor.  Sheri and I could only stand, with babies between our feet, and sing it without them, hoping not to step on them.  It would have been so sweet.  As I have loved you (the kids hugging themselves) Love one another (their thumbs circling each other). I can see it in my mind.

Mark and Natalia

Weight Wars #4

 My previous weight post was during the middle of Covid, April 2021.  At that time I weighed 240, obese. Now I am hovering around 220.  My eventual goal is to be under190 overweight instead of obese.  My wife blames the weight loss on continued use of Victoza.  I feel this helps but it is more.  I don't eat quite as much.  I could exercise more.  I developed sciatica in 2022 which really limited my exercise.  But to be honest it has resolved enough I could be exercising more.

Weight Wars #3.   4/19/2021

 I have posted twice before, but not for the past two years.  I saw my weight go from 298 in 2003 to 248 in 2019 and 245 in 2019.  My weight has not dropped much more.  Now I weigh about 240.  I am no longer grossly obese but just obese.  However I have been stagnant in any further weight loss.  I was able to take pills to help with weight loss, and then Victoza shot.  Victoza helped me lose about ten pounds but then no more.  However it is going to take something more to get me below the 240 line and continue my trek to 190 which is my ultimate goal.   I was doing better before Covid made everything be work from home.  Then I did not walk near as much as I no longer took the train to work.  I have not gotten into a pattern of exercise since having retired.  I keep thinking something will change.  I guess that something will need to be myself.  I need to lose that last 50 lbs to be as healthy as I can be.  

So I commit to a half hour walk or activity everyday.  I commit to doing exercises to help my frozen shoulder.  I commit to watch my food intake.  I commit to no food after 8 p.m.  

Weight Wars #2. 4/11/2019

I published a previous post about my weight and being half way to not being obese, down from 298 to 248.  I can now say I am down another 5 lbs but still only half way.  The difference is an adjustment in my height.  I guess I am shrinking, which means I have another 10 pounds to lose before escaping the obesity line.  So down 55 pounds with a goal of 55 pounds more.  I hope this sharing will motivate me, as my life is at stake.

Weight Wars. 9/29/2018

I came across something really scary: a record of my weight from 2001 through 2003.  I started at 292 in December of 2001.  However I was down to 285 by mid January; only to blossom back up by the end of the year.  My last recorded weight in 2002, early December, was 292.  Then I became my heaviest.  I started 2003 at 298.  That is just gross.  That is the most I have weighed my entire life.  That is 100 pounds above the obese line.  I recorded that by the end of 2003 I was back to 285.  I have continued a mostly downward spiral, with significance periods of getting stuck.  I am half of the way to the obese line--in other words I am 50 pounds lighter than my heaviest with another 50 to go.
What have been the consequences.  I have diabetes and tinnitus, and sleep apnea and high blood pressure.  Weight is a contributing factor in all these areas.  I hope when I am no longer obese--some of these health issues will be resolved.  I would be grateful if just one or two  would improve and I not have to take so many medications.

Crossroads In Kansas; or Halfway from San Francisco to New York

 This is a place a remember growing up.  It is suppose to be halfway from the west to the east sides of the country, New York to San Francisco.  I remember we stopped her and took a break while driving from Utah to Illinois.  we likely had a bit of lunch while we were there.  We did climb on the train.  I don't remember the museum however.  Kinsley, Kansas.  I have passed it a few times traveling from Kingman to Omaha, having gone through Albuquerque.  It is off highway 50 where it intersects with highway 56.

Working graveyards at Sinclair in SLC

 After graduating from USU in 1981, I was accepted to graduate school in social work at the University of Utah.  During that summer I moved in with my father in Salt lake City, and worked two jobs; Sinclair and Utah Boys Ranch.  I worked graveyards at the Sinclair gas station on the corner of West Temple and Sixth South.  It was right off the freeway in two directions--so a prime location.  This was before they had electronic credit cards, so you had to check every credit car with a book.  One time I got a bonus for discovering a credit card that had been cancelled.  

One night after working at the Boys Ranch all day, going to Dad's and falling asleep, and then going to Sinclair, I was very tired.  An officer pulled me over as I arrived at Sinclair thinking I was drunk; I wasn't.

I met my first prostitute here.  The gas station was next to a hotel so one time some guy left his number so I passed it on to her.

One morning a police officer came and visited me about a robbery that took place across the street.  He asked if I had seen anything.  I hadn't.  But that was motivation for me to quit; so I did.