On Friday, November 21, while heading to work, I was involved in an auto collision. I was headed downtown past Utah State University, on cruise-control, at 40 mph, when a woman came off the USU campus, at the old library location and nailed me...or T-Boned me. She was attempting to cross the the highway to head east. A witness told the police that I did not have a chance. She reported that the driver did not stop at the stop sign...just accelerated out across the four lane highway and hit me broadside. The driver admitted that she did not look in my direction. Why not? Who knows, but you would think that she would have been extra careful, since she had a four month old baby with her. Remarkably, neither of them was hurt. But she was given a citation. Apparently that campus exit has been the site of many accidents and at least one death. USU ought to make it a right turn only exit.
When Jeff Miller, the auto-repair man, called to report on the condition of my Charger R/T...he said "You were hit really hard Tony...the impact even wrinkled the roof." The front right quadrant and right door were destroyed. He thought it was probably repairable.
I did not see the accident unfold. Most people say that such accidents happen in slow-motion...but I did not see anything until the BANG. After that I don't recall much. I was wearing my seat belt and the air bag deployed, so when I came around the car was full of smoke and two women were at my door asking if I was OK. I was not sure. I could not breathe and there was blood dripping off my fingers. Nate later suggested that the air-bag gasses probably contributed to my breathing problem. The blood looked worse than it was. The skin had been peeled back on the back of my hands...still don't know how.
I was trying to get out of the car when the police arrived...it was more difficult than I expected...things weren't responding normally. The police asked me to stay in the car until the paramedics arrived. I could hear conversation about my age and my difficulty breathing. I was telling them that I thought I was OK. They convinced me that it would be best under the circumstances if I was transported to the emergency room for observation. It was probably a good move, but it was a most uncomfortable ride. I was on a board with a neck brace, and I swear the ambulance had no shocks...and one paramedic was trying to stick an IV in my arm...which is never easy at the best of times. I was impressed that he did it.
Prior to that another police officer had talked with me. It was James Gale, a pilot and friend of Andy's. Kathie and I had been to James' home with Andy and Missy a few weeks before. He drove a six cylinder police version of the Charger. Mine was an R/T with a HEMI engine. So like boys with their toys, I said to James..."My Charger will go faster than your Charger James." He thought that was pretty funny. But last Friday, after determining that I was OK, or that I thought I was OK, James poked his head in the car and said "My Charger will go faster than your Charger Tony." Now that's funny.
The best part about the emergency room experience was the warm blanket. For some reason I was chilled. Kathie arrived, Steve and Dan came...and I was wheeled off to the x-ray room by a young tech who knew Steve. They took all sorts of chest images and at one point this young lady said "You know...you have really long lungs"...I responded..."You know... I have never had a girl tell me that before." She laughed and said...."I'm glad to see that you still have a sense of humor...It is obvious where your son gets his from."
Steve asked how I was feeling. It was hard to describe. I felt like I had had the stuffing knocked out of me. I just hurt all over. Steve suggested that it might be like the day after a really hard workout. That was appropriate. The doctor suggested it would only get worse, before it got better. He prescribed some pain pills. He was right.
Then George Knapp showed up. George is a friend from California, whom I met in Sydney in 1965. He and his wife Bonnie dropped in on us last year. George called last week to say that he would be in Logan on the following Friday and we had planned to get together. So When George arrived at the office, our receptionist Beth, informed him that I was in the Emergency Room. George stayed with us until I was released and then followed us home where we had a good chat...mainly about his experiences campaigning for Prop 8 in California.
Then I slept...and slept some more.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
JACOB
Our grandson Jacob Nathan Wegener, son of Becky and Nate, spent a few days with us while his parents, two brothers, Jordan and Grayson, and grandparents Ray and Rita Minkler, went on a Disney Cruise.
Becky brought him to us on November 12. She stayed over that night and the next day to help Jacob make the adjustment. He did well...better than Becky we guessed. He obviously wanted his Momma that first day and there were a few tears as he looked for her. But Jacob adjusted...and Grandma Kathie and Poppa Tony adjusted. We actually had a great time together...but it really was a two (old) person assignment...we were a pretty good tag team.
Jacob is a delight. He has long blond hair and big blue eyes. He is an absolute clone of his Dad at the same age. We have the baby pictures to prove it. And he was into everything...he dumped Wheaties onto the floor twice...and Kathie's grits onto the floor one day. He did not like walking on grits barefoot very much. But you play...you pay. Much of the house was off limits, but he did not go exploring...he had to have one of us in sight most of the time.
What a sleeper!...in eleven nights he only woke one time. And what a drooler...his shirts were constantly wet with drool. We concluded that Jacob drooled enough that he really did not need to pee. But he did of course and we were retrained to diaper duty.
Jacob started walking while he was with us. I know...we are inspirational grandparents. But he wanted Poppa Tony to go walking, holding his hand of course. He would tug on a finger until I moved. He would not walk alone on cue. He would be holding on to someone or something one minute and then take off by himself. Five steps was his record. We would clap. He would stop and clap also, but that usually resulted in a flop to the bot, since his balance was not coordinated with handclapping.
As fun as those days were, we were really glad to see Becky again late on Saturday, November 22. Unfortunately Jacob was not. He would not give Becky the time of day. So parents, there is an emotional price to pay for leaving your children with others. You pay when you leave...your heart breaks...you pay when you return...your heart breaks again, when you are ignored, even rejected. We just had to smile...been there...done that.
Becky brought him to us on November 12. She stayed over that night and the next day to help Jacob make the adjustment. He did well...better than Becky we guessed. He obviously wanted his Momma that first day and there were a few tears as he looked for her. But Jacob adjusted...and Grandma Kathie and Poppa Tony adjusted. We actually had a great time together...but it really was a two (old) person assignment...we were a pretty good tag team.
Jacob is a delight. He has long blond hair and big blue eyes. He is an absolute clone of his Dad at the same age. We have the baby pictures to prove it. And he was into everything...he dumped Wheaties onto the floor twice...and Kathie's grits onto the floor one day. He did not like walking on grits barefoot very much. But you play...you pay. Much of the house was off limits, but he did not go exploring...he had to have one of us in sight most of the time.
What a sleeper!...in eleven nights he only woke one time. And what a drooler...his shirts were constantly wet with drool. We concluded that Jacob drooled enough that he really did not need to pee. But he did of course and we were retrained to diaper duty.
Jacob started walking while he was with us. I know...we are inspirational grandparents. But he wanted Poppa Tony to go walking, holding his hand of course. He would tug on a finger until I moved. He would not walk alone on cue. He would be holding on to someone or something one minute and then take off by himself. Five steps was his record. We would clap. He would stop and clap also, but that usually resulted in a flop to the bot, since his balance was not coordinated with handclapping.
As fun as those days were, we were really glad to see Becky again late on Saturday, November 22. Unfortunately Jacob was not. He would not give Becky the time of day. So parents, there is an emotional price to pay for leaving your children with others. You pay when you leave...your heart breaks...you pay when you return...your heart breaks again, when you are ignored, even rejected. We just had to smile...been there...done that.
Twilight: The Movie
Angie's blog is worth reading. It is instructive. I have lived with the twilight series since Kathie started reading them earlier this year. I succumbed to reading the first two...but strange as it may seem to women...I lost interest.
I recently overheard a conversation, between two women, at the Bear River Mental Health Department. (the location is possibly significant). They were discussing Twilight and the upcoming movie. They were passionate about it of course. I thought I would get into the spirit of the conversation and asked..."So ladies...are you Edward fans, or Jacob fans?" They responded in unison as if it was a really dumb male question..."Edward fans...of course!". I had to respond defensively... "Well...my wife is a Jacob fan".
The younger of the two women asked somewhat accusingly, "Have you read any of the Twilight series?" I had to admit that I had read two. She warmed up slightly and said "You know...I think that if men would read these books, they would understand women better." I thought to myself..."You have to be kidding!"
This is how I see it: Bella, a 16 year old, self described ordinary girl, meets Edward, a pasty white, ice cold, high school student, whom she thinks is the most handsome man in the world. He is actually 70 + years old...he's a vampire...he never sleeps, moves faster than a speeding bullet, and only eats and breaths to keep up appearances. He has no worries, his family (vampires all) have an unlimited source of income, and fast cars...and they have an unlimited source of bears, cougars, etc., in the Washington wilderness, which they hunt for blood.
Edward's only problem in life, is that he can't stand close proximity to Bella...why...because she smells really good...and he really wants to suck her blood...and kill all her classmates. Bella, of course does not know this, but when she finally discovers the dreadful truth, she is deeply moved...totally unconcerned...and completely smitten. Love triumphs over blood-sucking. And she has another friend who is a handsome 6'4" Indian who is a werewolf, whose life is ruined forever, because he loves Bella. It is a true love triangle...Bella, a vampire and a werewolf.
OK...I get it...what was I thinking?...NOW I understand women!
I recently overheard a conversation, between two women, at the Bear River Mental Health Department. (the location is possibly significant). They were discussing Twilight and the upcoming movie. They were passionate about it of course. I thought I would get into the spirit of the conversation and asked..."So ladies...are you Edward fans, or Jacob fans?" They responded in unison as if it was a really dumb male question..."Edward fans...of course!". I had to respond defensively... "Well...my wife is a Jacob fan".
The younger of the two women asked somewhat accusingly, "Have you read any of the Twilight series?" I had to admit that I had read two. She warmed up slightly and said "You know...I think that if men would read these books, they would understand women better." I thought to myself..."You have to be kidding!"
This is how I see it: Bella, a 16 year old, self described ordinary girl, meets Edward, a pasty white, ice cold, high school student, whom she thinks is the most handsome man in the world. He is actually 70 + years old...he's a vampire...he never sleeps, moves faster than a speeding bullet, and only eats and breaths to keep up appearances. He has no worries, his family (vampires all) have an unlimited source of income, and fast cars...and they have an unlimited source of bears, cougars, etc., in the Washington wilderness, which they hunt for blood.
Edward's only problem in life, is that he can't stand close proximity to Bella...why...because she smells really good...and he really wants to suck her blood...and kill all her classmates. Bella, of course does not know this, but when she finally discovers the dreadful truth, she is deeply moved...totally unconcerned...and completely smitten. Love triumphs over blood-sucking. And she has another friend who is a handsome 6'4" Indian who is a werewolf, whose life is ruined forever, because he loves Bella. It is a true love triangle...Bella, a vampire and a werewolf.
OK...I get it...what was I thinking?...NOW I understand women!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Weird Weather - 2008
2008 has been an unusual weather year, in Utah, yet we have seen little or no press concering this unusual pattern. But I'm a old gardener...I notice this stuff. I've grown a garden every year for about 40 years. I've seen it all...but this year was definitely different. Spring was the first sign that something was different. My peonies have always bloomed before Memorial Day. Peonies were once the flower of choice, with which to decorate graves. This year they did not bloom in time...they were at least two weeks late...maybe more. It was strange. It was different.
Did anyone else notice? Well, someone did. There was a brief reference on the news about this being a late spring...actually, the latest Spring on record, in Utah. I thought that was a big deal. Where was the press? The reality of this unique weather pattern was also made obvious in our apple orchard. We traditionally harvest at least 200 bushels. This year we picked three bushels..that's right...three. That is the lowest output ever. Some apple trees take a rest every few years, and sometimes a late frost damages blossoms...but this was different. It was weird.
Then I began to hear complaints from other gardeners about their tomato plants...they were not thriving. I had about 80 tomato plants, of all varieties...they seemed to be OK. Slowly it dawned on me that the larger varieties were not ripening. Each year I look forward to giving away literally buckets of tomatoes to neighbors. This year we did not give away a single tomato. To compound the problem, there was an early frost and I lost the entire crop. I tilled in a ton of green tomatoes. No big deal, but where's the press? Where is Global Warming when we need it? Bring it on!
Then there was early snow in Utah this Fall. How early? It was interesting to learn that the earliest recorded snowfall in Utah occurred in September, 1965...the month that I arrived in Utah from Australia. 2008 challenged that record. The Salt Lake Ski Areas had their earliest opening in years. Good for them, but where's the press...the same press which has predicted the demise of the Utah ski industry, due to Global Warming? This is a weird weather year. It certainly calls into question the concept of Global Warming.
People have been religiously preaching the dire effects of Global Warming since before 1980. If their wild predictions had come true, I think we would have noticed a few cities being underwater. You would think they might give old gardeners a little credit for a few intelligent observations. Like...since 1965...there has been no significant climate change in Utah...cycles maybe...but no evidence of gradual warming. This year may be different, but it is not warmer....Spring was not earlier...Fall was not later. It was pretty close to 1965 conditions. We hear repeated warnings from experts, that even 1 degree C increase in global temperature will have devastating global consequences... the poles will melt...oceans will rise...polar bears will drown...growing seasons will change. Of course, old gardeners might suggest that longer growing seasons might actually bless a lot of people?
The evidence is clear, that the climate has not changed here in Logan, Utah in 40 years. And I was in Australia last year, where weather data has been manipulated to "prove" that the average temperature has risen alarmingly by 1.5 degree C, in the past 100 years. Yet I was born there 68 years ago...and need I point out the obvious?..nothing has changed...not the rainfall...not the spring wild-flowers...not the ocean level...not the weather pattern. So who is fooling whom? When will the press begin to acknowledge the obvious truth? We've all been had! We continue to be had by enviromentalists and politicians, who apparently grow neither apples nor tomatoes.
Postscript: "Great Salt Lake shrinking looks to be at an end."
12 November 2008: Herald Journal
Why is the shrinking coming to an end? If Global Warming is an indisputable fact, surely the Great Salt Lake should have shrunk to its lowest level in modern history. The press blames "warm summer temperatures" for the shrinking and "cooler fall temperatures" for the correction. Brilliant observations!
"All summer and into the fall, warm temperatures kept evaporation humming, drawing down the lake to near near-record lows and exposing more shore than normal...the current lake level is 4,194 feet...the lake hasn't been this low since the 1970s. Some speculate it might slip past the record low of 4,191.35 set in 1963. But cooler temperatures this fall are finally bringing the shrinking to a stop...the lake has a reputation for having cyclical fluctuations, rising and falling at the whims of temperature, rainfall and other factors."
No kidding! But where is the indisputable evidence of Global Warming? Apparently the Utah climate in the 1960s, was almost the same as it was in 2008... late spring...early snows...low lake level. One does not need to be a Rocket Scientist to know that Global Warming is a myth! One only needs to be an old gardener.
Did anyone else notice? Well, someone did. There was a brief reference on the news about this being a late spring...actually, the latest Spring on record, in Utah. I thought that was a big deal. Where was the press? The reality of this unique weather pattern was also made obvious in our apple orchard. We traditionally harvest at least 200 bushels. This year we picked three bushels..that's right...three. That is the lowest output ever. Some apple trees take a rest every few years, and sometimes a late frost damages blossoms...but this was different. It was weird.
Then I began to hear complaints from other gardeners about their tomato plants...they were not thriving. I had about 80 tomato plants, of all varieties...they seemed to be OK. Slowly it dawned on me that the larger varieties were not ripening. Each year I look forward to giving away literally buckets of tomatoes to neighbors. This year we did not give away a single tomato. To compound the problem, there was an early frost and I lost the entire crop. I tilled in a ton of green tomatoes. No big deal, but where's the press? Where is Global Warming when we need it? Bring it on!
Then there was early snow in Utah this Fall. How early? It was interesting to learn that the earliest recorded snowfall in Utah occurred in September, 1965...the month that I arrived in Utah from Australia. 2008 challenged that record. The Salt Lake Ski Areas had their earliest opening in years. Good for them, but where's the press...the same press which has predicted the demise of the Utah ski industry, due to Global Warming? This is a weird weather year. It certainly calls into question the concept of Global Warming.
People have been religiously preaching the dire effects of Global Warming since before 1980. If their wild predictions had come true, I think we would have noticed a few cities being underwater. You would think they might give old gardeners a little credit for a few intelligent observations. Like...since 1965...there has been no significant climate change in Utah...cycles maybe...but no evidence of gradual warming. This year may be different, but it is not warmer....Spring was not earlier...Fall was not later. It was pretty close to 1965 conditions. We hear repeated warnings from experts, that even 1 degree C increase in global temperature will have devastating global consequences... the poles will melt...oceans will rise...polar bears will drown...growing seasons will change. Of course, old gardeners might suggest that longer growing seasons might actually bless a lot of people?
The evidence is clear, that the climate has not changed here in Logan, Utah in 40 years. And I was in Australia last year, where weather data has been manipulated to "prove" that the average temperature has risen alarmingly by 1.5 degree C, in the past 100 years. Yet I was born there 68 years ago...and need I point out the obvious?..nothing has changed...not the rainfall...not the spring wild-flowers...not the ocean level...not the weather pattern. So who is fooling whom? When will the press begin to acknowledge the obvious truth? We've all been had! We continue to be had by enviromentalists and politicians, who apparently grow neither apples nor tomatoes.
Postscript: "Great Salt Lake shrinking looks to be at an end."
12 November 2008: Herald Journal
Why is the shrinking coming to an end? If Global Warming is an indisputable fact, surely the Great Salt Lake should have shrunk to its lowest level in modern history. The press blames "warm summer temperatures" for the shrinking and "cooler fall temperatures" for the correction. Brilliant observations!
"All summer and into the fall, warm temperatures kept evaporation humming, drawing down the lake to near near-record lows and exposing more shore than normal...the current lake level is 4,194 feet...the lake hasn't been this low since the 1970s. Some speculate it might slip past the record low of 4,191.35 set in 1963. But cooler temperatures this fall are finally bringing the shrinking to a stop...the lake has a reputation for having cyclical fluctuations, rising and falling at the whims of temperature, rainfall and other factors."
No kidding! But where is the indisputable evidence of Global Warming? Apparently the Utah climate in the 1960s, was almost the same as it was in 2008... late spring...early snows...low lake level. One does not need to be a Rocket Scientist to know that Global Warming is a myth! One only needs to be an old gardener.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Be Still, My Soul
The words to one of my all-time favorite hymns, were written by Katharina von Schlegel in 1697 and translated by Jane Borthwick who lived 1813-1897. I offer them here for your comfort during troubled times:
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my sould: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Always remember...the Lord is on your side.
"Be still, and know that I am God" D&C 101:16
The words to one of my all-time favorite hymns, were written by Katharina von Schlegel in 1697 and translated by Jane Borthwick who lived 1813-1897. I offer them here for your comfort during troubled times:
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my sould: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Always remember...the Lord is on your side.
"Be still, and know that I am God" D&C 101:16
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