Travis and Lacey

Travis and Lacey were married this morning in Manti. They looked lovely and a little like a Ken and Barbie set--don't tell them that, though. The day has been and will be filled with family luncheons, receptions, and all the fun that goes with it. We wish them luck as they begin their life together and tell them "We love you" for doing it the right way and thanks for setting a good example for your cousins.

More details after this crazy day is over. Aunt Lori is also surviving to this point. Will keep you posted!

You've GOT to be kidding!

Back in April, just after spring break, I got a letter from the Great State of Utah that I was in the Jury Duty pool for the months of May through August this year. That means that they can call me in, for any case, to the federal building in Salt Lake City to be interviewed by attorneys to determine if I am best qualified to sit on a trial jury.

I realize that this system is one of the reasons America is the best place to live in all the free world, but what a pain! I'm on hold all summer--meaning if they called me up while I am on a vacation that I had planned even six months ago, I was hosed. Not that I have any vacations like that scheduled, but it COULD happen.

I got notification to appear in June. The instructions tell you to call the last business day before you are scheduled to appear and see if the case may have settled out of court, etc. before you end up driving to SLC (for which you will NOT be reimbursed, they remind you several times) and sitting around only to be told that they really don't need you after all.

I was scheduled to show up for interviews on a Monday. I called the Friday before and, sure enough, the case was cancelled--or settled, they don't tell you any details--and I didn't have to go after all. I figured, I was safe. There were a LOT of people in this pool, surely. I thought I was safe, until I got the mail today.

Again, another notice to appear. Remember that my "tour of jury duty" only lasts until August ends. Guess when I an scheduled to appear?! Yes, August 25th. The very last Monday of the four months I am on call. Dang it.

I'm supposed to plan on being there at 7:40 AM in SLC to start the processing. That means I have to impose on my neighbors to get kids to school, etc. And it could last all day, which means I couldn't meet other friends for lunch to celebrate all the kindergartners and preschoolers being back in school. And I might not even make it back for when school gets out, so then I have to impose more on the neioghbors I already imposed on in the morning. And what if this thing is a MAJOR trial, a la O.J., and I'm sequestered???!!! (Deep cleansing breath now...I'm jumping to conclusions.) Either way: Drat, and Double Drat.

I am almost afraid to hold my breath to see if they might settle this before I have to go, and the call on Friday, the 22nd will be a relief telling me I am off the hook. In the meantime I am ON the hook until at least the 22nd. Drat and Dang it all.

A "trial by a jury of your peers" might be more than it is cracked up to be if I am the jury and you are my peer. I'll keep you posted on the outcome of my Law & Order life.

She Shoots...She Scores!

Last night The Girl and her soccer team played an American Fork team. They were well matched and the girls had to work for their shots.

The last game, the 15 year old ref called what looked like--from his hand signal--a direct kick after some foul. The Girl took the kick and made a goal, but then it was recalled because it should have really been an indirect kick (I still don't really get the difference) so it didn't count.

This game last night, she got the kick again, for a direct kick this time--one of the dads who knows even verified with the little ref. Just a minute before the halftime whistle, The Girl took the kick and after a bit of pinball bouncing the ball hit the post and with the spin it had rolled back into the net! GGGGOOOAAAALLLLL!

That was her first ever goal in all the years of rec league soccer. She prefers to play center midfield and that usually means she helps move the ball around to the forwards so they can score. But last night she got her chance. And she did great.

One, nothing at the half. The other team scored not long into the second half, and then one of our taller girls--I'm still learning their names--dribbled the ball in from the right hand side and shot and scored!

Then to seal the deal, The Girl was moving the ball around toward the forwards and whether she was tired or just fed up with the lack of scoring, she took a shot that may just have been a very accurately placed pass to the front and it went in! GGGGOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!

Two goals in one game! Awesome! She may be little, and be a midfielder, but don't underestimate the power of a very determined and powerful foot. Her coach had told her last game that she has "the boot" to shoot from the outside, so she should--as the other teams will not be expecting it! He was right. They didn't see that one coming.

Our Girl has a fire in her belly to win, (not quite as ferocious as our dear friend Melanie--she's a monster competitor) but The Girl likes to win more than losing, duh. She has the skill. The Girl's got game!

That makes me a Service Snob?!

I got a call last night from a lady in our congregation that I haven't met, but she got my number from one of our Relief Society presidency members. She called to ask if I could take her and her baby to the doctor today. She has apparently hurt her back and can't lift the baby.

I told her that I would do that, and we made a plan for today.

Normally, I welcome the opportunity to serve, especially my neighbors. But I find myself being very protective when I get calls like this too. See, we live backed up to a set of about 4 buildings of four-plexes which, at times, rotate residents faster than I change our family's sheets. Sometimes we get backyard neighbors that we wish would buy a house in our cul-de-sac and stay forever with us. Others, we can't wait to see the moving van arrive.

In the past, maybe because I get to be home during the day and not work (that is, not for a paycheck signed by some faceless corprorate entity--but I digress), I get quite a few calls for help from these neighbors in the apartments. More often than not, they tend to take advantage and even use the system the church has set up to help one another. That is the part that has made me a bit on edge when calls come, and they always do.

If I were really a "GOOD" person, I would just open my arms to help anyone who needed it. In fact, I should be out looking for ways to help. But I don't. I'll probably sit the eternities in hell because I have had such a bad attitude about these apartment neighbors. Perhaps, you good friends could just make a plan now to bring me a diet coke with ice every now an then as I am sure Heaven will have ice and diet coke, and anyone in Heaven will WANT to share with me.

I will take this lady and her baby to the doctor today, but I will have my self-preservation mind set on and when I try to exercise more charity, but I may not like it immediately. Good thing I get to keep trying to get it right. This is one I really struggle with and don't seem to be learning to overcome very quickly.

Just a Little Teamwork

Last night, between swimming and diving competitions on the Olympics, NBC broadcasted some of the Men's Gymnastics team finals.

The men's teams have 6 guys on them and in this portion of their Olympic competition, the team does rotations on all 6 apparatus: high bar, parallel bars, still rings, floor, vault, and pommel horse. Only three guys can compete on each apparatus and every score counts. None of that 'knock out the top and bottom score and then average all the other guys' work'. No, no. Each score counts and only three guys can do each apparatus.

The USA Men had lower expectation this time around as their two past Olympians, twins Paul and Morgan Hamm, both pulled from the Olympics due to injuries. They had to bring up two of their three allowed alternates--and none of the 6 guys on the team had ever been to an Olympics before.

Last night, not a single one of these guys did a "perfect" routine, but they each did their best. Through 5 rotations, they were just behind the world leaders, Team China, by a little bit.

Then came the pommel horse. Genius Golfer doesn't see why this is in the Olympic competition, but I digress. The first guy on the horse made a pretty ugly mistake, and the second guy made a smaller but still ugly mistake. The last guy, on the last piece of equipment, came in and simply nailed his routine. It was astounding. Fast and furious, to be sure.

That is what I love about the Olympics. Just a little teamwork goes so far. These un-Olympics-experienced guys from the US came together and did their best and the result? The Bronze Medal! When nothing was even really expected from them, that is awesome.

How would it be if every team we were on had that kind of determination? How much more would be accomplished? Wouldn't we all appreciate each other more, if we knew each member of that team was doing their best? Couldn't we cut them some slack when things weren't going so well and maybe even step up our game to help carry the team?

I am a firm believer that the Olympics can inspire and teach. I'm learning and inspired this morning already. And it is only Day 5 from Beijing.

Ta-Dah!

Just a quick note tonight...too much to do.

We helped Aunt Lori bead a wedding dress that was supposed to be ready for bridal photos tonight. (That was rescheduled for Thursday.) The wedding is Saturday, so we all hope Aunt Lori makes it!

The Boy had football practice tonight, then came home just long enough for some dinner and off to the Swim Team Awards night. The Boy had a great year and came away with a Silver Meet County Finals plaque! Congrats, Boy!

Meanwhile, The Girl had helped bead the monster wedding dress, had soccer practice tonight from 6-7 tonight and then home to change and off to the Awards Night as well. She loves swimming and it shows! In addition to her Gold Meet County Finals plaque, she was awarded Most Dedicated Swimmer in her age group this year. Way to go, Girl!

Now, Genius Golfer is off to his Man Cave for some swing practice before his tournament begins on Wednesday and I am headed off to up put my feet up and enjoy another evening of prime time Olympic coverage. My favorite event begins--the men's 200 meter butterfly!

GO SWIMMERS!

Schmack Talk, Smack Down

The French men's 4x100 meter freestyle relay team said some no nice things about the American team this weekend in the papers. Perhaps the French are just used to saying not nice things, and they figured the Olympics were no different.

Why do teams do that? That Olympics tend to bring out people's best efforts, sometimes even better than they think themselves capable of doing. The American men's relay team certainly had the potential of doing well, even setting a world record. The American men's relay teams have in the past dominated this event. In the last couple of Olympics, not so much.

Having not only their own pressure to do well, but the redemption factor to earn the title back for the American, why would the French mention anything?!

Well, luckily the Americans took the high road and their response to the French remarks (i.e., "We are going to smash the Americans. That is what we came here for...") was the statement they made in the pool. the top five teams beat the previous world record. Five sub-record speed teams! How cool is that?!

You've got to love Jason Lezak, who was coaching himself to the Olympic trials, and as a three time Olympian, held the anchor leg on the relay team. He came from behind and caught the mouthy Frenchman, just out-touching him at the wall for the Americans to win the relay. Not only that, but they shattered the world record, taking 4 seconds off the previous time. In swimming time, that is beyond huge. Four seconds?! You could run a top-fuel drag race in that space. (But not in the pool, of course...)

So, Frenchies, the next time you think about talking schmack, think again. Our world class American teams will show you how to get it done, and you'll be listening to that good 'ole Star Spangled Banner while you stand by on the medals podium. Again.