Autumn in Logan

Tuesday evening we had Surendra (a Thermo Fisher Scientific colleague of mine who works out of Bangalore, India) and his wife Vidya over for dinner. Suren (nickname) is an engineer and Vidya is a physician. We prepared a vegetarian meal. They were pleasantly surprised to learn that we drank no alcohol and did not smoke. We enjoyed learning about one another. Suren had been in the US for about 4 weeks, with Vidya joining him just this last week. They were adventuresome and had fun driving on the wrong side of the road (for them) and visiting places like Yellowstone and Jackson Hole on the weekend.
Suren and Vidya about to sample bland american vegetarian fare.

On Thursday Gayle and I ventured down to Sandy to get fully checked out as potential IntraLase or PRK candidates (two different ways of doing laser eye surgery). We have to take Gayle back because some recent contact problems she has had made it difficult to determine whether her corneas are shaped properly for either surgery to work well. I, on the other hand, could be a fine PRK candidate (astigmatism makes this a better choice than IntraLase to avoid potential cornea issues after surgery). However, due to our advanced age (baby-boomers), the chances are that we'll get cataracts down the road and need intra-ocular lenses anyway, so we need to weigh whether to bother getting laser surgery now. Also, I would need to decide whether to do mono-vision (one eye for distance, the other for reading), or get both done for distance and wear reading glasses, or just do one eye (my dominant eye- right) for distance and keep my left for reading (since it is less myopic). Basically, we have several decisions to make, and the expense is not insignificant. The clinic (several staff and a doctor) spent all afternoon with us. We were amazed at how thorough and honest they were with us. They weren't trying to push the laser surgery at all, and even brought up the cataract issue and whether we would even want lasik at this point. In the process, they discovered I have drusen (plural of druse, a German word) on my right retina. These are deposits of degenerated proteins and are a precursor of Dry Macular Degeneration, which generally leads to Wet Macular Degeneration over time, if not checked. See this site for information if you're interested:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/macular-degeneration/DS00284/DSECTION=causes

A combination of vitamins and minerals seems to stave off progression of Macular Degeneration, so we've already bought some supplements they recommended. We also have a list of foods rich in lutein and a related pigment that help. Two plants rich in these anti-oxidants are kale and collard greens.
I'm holding kale in my right hand and collards in my left. I kind of like them, but Gayle doesn't like the bitter taste, even though she's from the South.

Craig Mortensen and I sang "Secret Prayer" in Sacrament meeting today. We sang the last two verses and choruses in Spanish. Hector Mendiola, a friend of ours from Mexico, D.F., even came out hear us.

Gayle and I couldn't think of other interesting things to put on the blog this week, so we had our neighbor shoot some photos of us on a pile of leaves this evening to show that much of our time this weekend was spent doing yardwork in preparation for the anticipated long winter.

Here we are propped up on a leaf pile. It was dusk and the flash didn't quite make it to us, so it looks a bit dark.
Even though this shot was taken seconds later, since the camera was closer, the flash lights us up much better in this shot. Our friend and neighbor Jeff King did the photography.

Kelly and Trish's Wedding and Reception

Jared, Grandma, Grandpa, Gayle, and I all drove down to SLC on Saturday to get to the chapel early, before the big wedding. It was snowing a bit as we left Logan, but was not bad on the way down.
Another three generation shot. This is in the chapel as it was being prepared for the ceremony. Check out grandpa's tie. Mine is one of my Thai ties. Jared goes for the dark look.

Proud parents of the bride!
Here's Kelly getting ready for the big occasion, with Olivia, his 7-yr. old daughter.
And Susan helped with the veil, among many other things.
Another shot of Olivia, the ring-bearer.
Trish's singles ward bishop performed the ceremony.
Later, at the McCune Mansion, there was a lot of photography going on. In between professional poses and shots, we managed to take a few amateur ones. Here's one of Mom & Dad and their children (with Kelly). Back row: Nancy, Spencer, Susan, Robert. Front: Mom, Dad, Patricia, Kelly, and Stephen.
The six siblings: Nancy, Stephen, Patricia, Spencer, Susan, and Robert. Sorry for the poor lighting and quality. The professional didn't allow much time for the amateurs to get shots in and the poses weren't the best.
A group shot of relatives at the McCune Mansion. Enlarge and enjoy the un-posed facial expressions!
Cutting the cake up on the third floor of the Mansion.
First dance as Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Glenn. Congratulations from all of us!

An Olympic Performance by Gayle and Spencer

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Gayle has worked at the Sports Academy gym for 11 years and I have been going for many years and/or working out elsewhere, so we decided to put all that conditioning to good use and competed in the Beijing Olympics.

Okay. So we didn't really compete at Beijing. Alicia thought we needed something humorous on the blog so she created this. The clips on her blog and the Maxson's are pretty funny too. Check them out from the links on our blog.

General Conference Get-Together

Last night I took grandpa to watch the Priesthood Session of General Conference at his Logan East Stake Center. Today we had him and grandma over to watch the morning session and had lunch right after.
Here's the group getting comfortable and warm just prior to the start of the session.

We had a wonderful spread (as seen in the photo) for lunch. It rained much of yesterday and today, and was nice to stay warm inside and watch conference. Between sessions we watched a moving report about the Panama temple. We also saw the program about President Monson.

Here's a shot of our HD screen showing conference. It makes it easy to pick out people we know in the Choir!

Alayna's Farewell

Alayna, a co-worker for many years at our physical therapy office, is moving to Moses Lake, Washington. We'll miss her a lot.
BFFs - Tara, Leslonia, and Alania.

Flaming peaches! Yum.

Alayna and Gayle, ready to devour a sinfully delicious dessert.

Just what she always wanted! (A Roma food strainer.)

Second half of CA Trip

Monday, the 22nd, we drove to Anaheim for my IBC BioProcess International tradeshow, held at the Disneyland Hotel (although we stayed at the DoubleTree on Harbor Blvd.). Gayle stayed till Wednesday and then returned to help Alicia and Jesse. I pulled booth duty for three days. We did enjoy a bit of time together in Anaheim. She returned on Thursday while I was tearing down the exhibit. Friday we stayed at the hotel while I worked remotely. At noon we left for Adrian and Arleen's.



Here's Brit shooting hoops at her after school program. It's great, with lots of activities, recreation, and help with homework. Her middle school is only a few blocks from where they live and right across the street from Azusa high school (go Aztecs!).

Grandma and Brittney sitting on the bench near Adrian's apartment. Grandma brought the new outfit for Brit from Utah.

Here's the Azusa Parkinson clan, waiting to go to the musical called "Wicked," which tells the "rest of the story" about the Wizard of Oz.

After the musical, standing next to the light boxes out front of the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, CA.

On Saturday afternoon we went with Ray and Rachel (Arleen's dad and one of her sisters), along with Adrian and family, up to Oak Glen. This is a beautiful area about a mile in elevation up in the San Bernardino mountains. It is famous for its apple orchards and other fruits, etc. Here we are in front of the Parrish Ranch sign.

While in Oak Glen we visited a park area and Adrian's family posed on a wagon. Saturday night we drove to Vegas and Sunday we wrapped up the trip by getting to Logan in the late afternoon.

Initial Stage of So CA Trip

It's Sunday afternoon. We went to church today with Kevin and Nancee. We've come down to So CA for a meeting I have this coming week in Anaheim. We drove down two cars so we could lend one to Alicia and Jesse because the engine in Jesse's car blew up. Later we'll be spending time with Adrian, Arleen, and Brittney, after my trade show. Alicia and Jesse will be joining us to see the Musical "Wicked" about the witches from Oz. Here are some shots of our trip so far...

The Maxsons are excellent chefs, and enjoy feeding their friends. Here is the spread from our spaghetti meal Thursday evening after we arrived in Saugus. Bryan, Jesse's dad, flew in earlier that day and was with us till today, when he flew back out of Burbank to return to Logan. Alicia isn't in this shot because she was upstairs preparing her material for the investment class she teaches twice a week at College of the Canyons. She struggles to find things to eat because of her "morning sickness" which really lasts all the time.
Here are Kevin and Nancee. After dinner that night we played a fun game somewhat similar to Concentration, but I can't remember its name (I didn't concentrate).
The next day (Friday) Bryan, Jesse, Alicia, Gayle, and I took empty Coke cans with coupons to Universal Studios for discounted admission prices.
One of the statues at the front of the park turned out to be alive. Here Alicia and Gayle pose with him.
I don't particularly care for this shot, but Gayle thought I looked cute with a Woody Woodpecker hat on.
No comment needed here. We went to most areas of the park, but the rides warned against using them if one was an expectant mother, so Alicia chose not to go on those.
Gayle taking a rest.

A mummy was giving me a hard time.
After Universal Studios, we did the Universal City Walk. Gayle decided to get in the mood for the football game we were going to see the next night. This is her game face.
Saturday we did the obligatory beach thing. It's not really obligatory because we all like the beach. Bryan hadn't been to a So CA beach so we did the Santa Monica/Venice "tour." Here are Gayle, Alicia, Jesse, and Bryan at Santa Monica pier. Later we enjoyed talking to a lady at the end of the pier who was from Valencia also, but Valencia, España.
We rested and watched waves from the sand.
I checked out the surf, but we didn't have time for me to go in, and the waves weren't exceptional anyway.
Jesse, Bryan, and me just relaxing.
We watched some wave-catching for awhile, of course. However, this was from the Venice pier, midway through our bike ride. We even saw a guy "shoot the pier" (ride the wave from one side of the pier to the other).
We rented bikes in Santa Monica and had a blast cruising on down to Venice. We stopped along the way to watch some street tumbling, etc. After returning to Santa Monica, we walked over to the 3rd Street Promenade. Here we watched many of the usual performers, including a great 11 yr. old girl singer, the two Argentine flamenco guitarists, and others. This shot shows a Roman gladiator statue that would do humorous poses with passersby. That night in Saugus the Maxsons again treated us. This time it was delicious hamburgers, fresh fruits (including huge, scrumptious mangos), etc. Then we had just enough time to make it over to the COC Cougar football game against the L.A. Valley Monarchs. COC creamed them and it was fun to watch.

First week in new bishopric, etc.

No photos this week! Just a quick update -- I met with Gustavo Flores for a transfer of keys (literally) and information on Labor Day (a rainy day). We did get to see "Errand of Angels," a sister missionary movie that was pretty realistic, with the folks (sometime in the last week or so, I no longer remember when!). Mid-week the new bishopric met and started getting organized. Saturday morning I helped with sister Hagood's move, along with several other brethren and her daughter, Karma Paterno. Then it was yard work much of the day, while Gayle cleaned the office (our normal weeks comprise fairly quotidian experiences). Next we biked for exercise (as if we hadn't had enough). Jared has had his friend here from Oxnard, Kristen Danielle Wright. She left today for home (Monday). Sunday was quite the busy day. It was Fast Sunday (a day we "fast" - no food or drink since Saturday). There was Bishopric meeting, Single Adults Meeting (I conducted and gave the spiritual thought), Fast and Testimony meeting (I conducted), Sunday School, Priesthood (I conducted and played piano for the hymn), and then temple recommend interviews. Later, we had a bishop's youth fireside at the Firths' home and each member of the bishopric spoke briefly before we went to the hospital to see Letisha Richards, who is recovering from an illness. All in all, it is great to be alive and busy!

New Bishopric/Steve and Susan's Mission Report

This week we got a new "commode" in my bathroom. We had a plumber (expensive) come over to work on several drains, and to replace a toilet. At least everything's flowing quite well now. The multiple leaks in the canal behind our house are flowing a little too well also. I helped train some Indian representatives (Mumbai) of a sister company to ours this week. I took them out for Thai food on Thursday and we enjoyed red and green curries and satay with peanut sauce, among other things. Alicia and Jesse are still living with the Maxsons. They had been helping care for Lavelle, Sandy's mom. Lavelle passed away and the funeral was held up in Deweyville, UT. Gayle and I drove over Saturday for the viewing and funeral.

Sandy Maxson, Larry Behrmann, and Cheryl Cook, the three children of Hazel Lavelle Behrmann, who died at age 90.

Yesterday I was set apart as the new first counselor to Bishop Mark Firth. The second counselor is Bart Griffiths. We look forward to serving together. Several of our family members were able to attend the sacrament meeting where the changes occurred, since they had come for Stephen and Susan's mission report later that day.

After Church we went back to the grandparents' home for a nice meal. Here's Joni with her son Drake.
Jared likes kids too. He later brought over his friend, Kristen, who is visiting from CA.
Trish was up with Kelly, and here they are while doing domestic duty.
Stephen and Susan as they are being introduced prior to their talks at grandpa and grandma's study group meeting. We all thoroughly enjoyed the mission experiences and testimonies.