A Gathering of Grizzlies

Cody is crawling with culture. Last weekend, the public library presented A Gathering of Grizzlies for which local artists decorated 25 fiberglass models of grizzlies for display and for auction as a fund-raiser. This is not a new concept to Steven and me.

Several years ago, while visiting Leah, Steven and I saw San Luis Obispo's Trout About Town, which we loved. The differences between the two events are 1) these are bears not trout, 2) our bears were sculpted by a member of Cody 3rd Ward (this is a big deal because trout and other such objects are generic and are used all over the country, where our grizz is unique to Cody, which of course is morally superior), and 3) our bears were not as imaginative as the trout in SLO. To see the trout, go to: http://www.pbase.com/neovolatile/slo_trout

Nevertheless, they are ours and we love them. Come to Cody and see them for yourselves.

The Sod and the Stone

For those of you who have not been paying attention, we now have sod! And we also have stones--or more accurately, Steven had one in his kidney. After a three-week ordeal, which prohibited us from attending our nephew's wedding in Salt Lake and visiting Micah's family, Steven is now doing much better. (IMPORTANT TIP FOR WIVES: If your husband refuses to lay down and get better, just steal his pants and he'll stay home.)

We are thinking that the stone thing is just water under the bridge now, but the lawn is a joy forever. Note the before, during (yes, that IS Steve laying sod during his invalid period, ergo pants theft), and after shots. You got to love him.

The Dansie Horses

This entry is for the grandkids.

Bessie-Mae, please hold Hazy up to the screen andspeak in a clear, calm tone of voice, "Look, Hazy! Horsies! See the pretty horsies? Horsies go 'Whinny, whinny, whinny!' Horsies, Hazy, horsies! Horsies are so fun! Can you say horsie? Grandma has horsies by her house."

Repeat as necessary.

Henri and Harriett can make up their own scripts.

The Dansies live about about a mile from us. These horses are world (repeat world) champion fox trotters. Grandpa is the Dansies' home teacher. We are going to care for their horses while the Dansies are at a horse show in Missouri.

I love Cody!

2008 Cody Migration

I got home Friday evening at about 10:00. My day had been understandably hectic, what with closing up the house, a worrisome trip to Fresno and plane travel to Cody. Special note to anyone who may be fuzzy on the proper use of the oil gage: If it does ANYTHING FUNNY, ANYTHING AT ALL, PULL OVER AND DEAL WITH IT. As a post script to the oil episode, it's entirely possible that my jeep will be summering at Blackstone Tire.

Kristi Lawrence shuttled me to the airport in time for me to wait an extra 30 minutes as the plane was inspected for bird-collision-damage. That was unfortunate because I only had a 30 min. layover between flights. The people at the Fresno airport wanted me to reschedule for the next day and spend the night in Fresno, just in case. (Oh yeah, like I'm going to do that.)

When we were finally airborne, a few of the people seated near me had heard that I needed to hurry if I was going to make my next flight. The guy in front of me offered to block the rest of the passengers while I jogged for the door. (It worked.) As I rushed off, one man said, "Go right, then right again." That was all I needed to find the terminal at which my next flight was boarding. An airport employee said, "Gate 73," to my question as I sprinted past. I flashed the gate attendant my ticket and, as I rushed onto the tarmac, he yelled after me which plane was going to Cody.

I made it. I was happy. And, as I put my carry-on in the overhead, I spotted our Cody friend, Steve Danforth. We spent a very nice hour and three quarters visiting as we flew to Cody. Being a professional pilot himself, he explained to me why our landing was a little more bumpy than necessary. It had to do with something in the tail asslembly, with which he was personally familiar.

BAUER GUYS TAKE NOTE: When I got home, your father had my favorite night gown ready for me and served me a bowl of ice cream with my favorite topping. He had also cleaned the house top to bottom, the jacuzzi was ready for me and all my favorite foods were stocked so I could cook to both of our hearts' delight.

Wow! Way to treat a wife! Sometimes I think he treats me better than I treat him. Of course now, four days later, things are back to normal.