Idaho trip

In the spring some time it was apparent that Mary was going to attend a Con in Idaho at the end of the summer, and as the weeks progressed this became a "family" vacation, meaning that John and the kids would come along and also visit a bird center near where the Con was. So after having been invited, I decided to go with. As this had turned out to be a family thing I only had to pay for the attendance ticket to the con myself, so I decided why not....

Oh my poor neglected little blog.... so much has happened in so little time, and I guess I should have learned by now there's no way of catching up..... [sigh] there's the terror attach in Norway (though I touched briefly on that before), there's the con in Idaho, the bird babies updates, we've had floods in the basement (again), daily life with all that follows living with Aspies, a day at the cabin of one of my favorite living poets; Emma Lou Thayne.., books I've read, riots in the UK, Torchwood being back on TV..... and that's just what rolls off the top of my head at the moment... I'm sure there's a lot more as well.... 


Now, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to catch up on every little thing, but I'll be doing my darnedest to try.

My only comment about the happenings in Norway is that I'm proud of how the Norwegian people handled the grief and the sorrow. It has been a hard time following the US news through this, as their incompetence and ignorance has shown even more through it all. It's been hard and very shocking as the details were released, but again, I have to say I'm very proud of how Norwegians stood together through it all!

Bob Walters of  Utah Division of Wildlife at the orientation

On to happier notes, the falcon babies we have been following this spring/summer have been hanging around downtown on Temple Square and we've enjoyed getting updates about them on this blog, though we miss being able to watch them on the box cam. It's amazing to learn about these amazing hunters, they're quite the aerial killing machines, but also so graceful and beautiful. This year the kids got named after famous human Aviators, so we have Amelia, Charlie, Sally and Bobbie.  

Falcon box on JSMB downtown SLC

When we went to Idaho for the Con, we stopped at a Preserve for birds outside of Boise, (more on that later though) and I was thinking maybe some of "our" kids will end up with one of "their" kids next year... They also have falcons in Downtown Boise you see. 


Well, this will be it for now, I have to get ready for the day and put on dinner, but I'll be back with more later... ;)

All four babies looking down at us

Amelia, the oldest, looking out

closeup of Amelia as she peeks over the edge..

"God saw she was getting tired,

and a cure was not to be.

So he put his arms around her,

and whispered: Come with me.

With tear-filled eyes we watched her

suffer and fade away

although we loved her deeply

we could not make her stay.

A golden heart stopped beating

hard working hands put to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove us,

he only takes the best"

In memory of the oldest living relative on my mothers side who passed away last night. Tante Klara was married to my grandmothers brother, and lived a long and wonderful life. Rest peacefully dearest!

Terrorism in Norway...

As I sit here watching the Norwegian News, I can't help being grateful for Social Media and online News. It's been a great tool as I've been following the horrible acts of terrorism in my native Norway.


Heidi woke me up this morning, telling me a friend had called after having seen on the news a bomb had gone off in the middle of Oslo (capitol of Norway). It's not where I grew up, and it's not where I have any close family. But I have friends there, and as it is where the government is situated, it's still shocking and frightening. Then an hour or so later there were news of a shooter at a Labour-Party Youth/Teen Camp....


This post is likely very random, as I try to put words to my thoughts. it's been a crazy morning to say the least.. 

bad habit

Just recently realized as I was reflecting on past conversation with friends, I've developed a nasty bad habit... I'm not proud of it, and I will attempt my best to change it. Knowing it is REALLY REALLY annoying..

So here it is: cutting people off when they talk, to insert my own thoughts, ideas, inputs, etc. and it's gotten really really bad... And I hereby apologize heartily and pledge to do better!!! I am but a product of my surroundings, but I will apply myself and do better from now on!!! 

Service

Heidi's old boyfriend (or one of them..lol..) moved back to Salt Lake a few months ago, to help take care of his aging parents. This past weekend his father passed away (on Sat. as I was at the funeral... yeah it was the weekend of emotions at our house). Needless to say his life was turned a little upside down, and he called us this morning at the end of his wits. Heidl, being the nice friend she is offered our support, and so we raced up to his apartment to help out.


Now Dave is a great guy, but a tinsy bit ocd and a bit of a clean freak, so Heidi and I spent about two hours helping out by dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, doing dishes and so forth.... It's quite AMAZING how much funner it is cleaning someone else's house than one's own...


Hopefully we left Dave with a lighter heart, we definitely came away cheered up.


Serving is amazing! The "magic" it does in one's life is awesome. :)




"Love is never wasted, for its value does not rest upon reciprocity." Neal A. Maxwell

Onward

We are moving on, to happier notes... 

I am excited and happy to be able to go watch the last Harry Potter movie this coming weekend. Thanks to my friend Alicia in NYC, for the ticket. I have been a fan of HP and JK since I first discovered the books over ten years ago, the movies I've always found a little lacking, but have still watched. This weekend it all comes to a close with the last movie in the franchise opening. And unless one has been living under a rock for some years, we know the hype is pretty big.

So, I am going to go enjoy myself with Harry and the gang for the last time. Thanks JK for inviting us all into this wonderful and magical world!!!