For the Love of Garlic

This weekend is the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival. What began in 1979 as a way to celebrate my hometown's stinky crop as well as raise money for the local high school and recreation teams, has turned into a world renown excuse to eat, drink and be merry.



Gourmet alley is where the heat is...as they cook up calamari, pepper steak, and pasta con pesto (my personal favorite). But the beer booths are where the action is. Or so I have been told.

Once upon a time the swim team collected garbage, the student council worked the ticket booth and the football team supplied the cooks at gourmet alley. I don't think it is quite that charming and local any more.

But it certainly does make me want to make some pasta con pesto today. I think I will for the Cul-De-Sac of fire tonight. Come on over and I'll treat you to my official Gilroy Garlic Festival fav as we light up the sky for Utah's Pioneer Day.

Now THAT is an odd combination.

It's a First

Today is the legal holiday for Pioneer Day, the state holiday in Utah that rivals Independance Day in it's scope and explosivity. It is traditionally celebrated with a parade, fireworks, bar-be-que, and lots of family stuff.

For the first time since we have been married--and perhaps before that--Genius Golfer has the day off. (Which is why I am writing this at 6:35 PM.) He has never worked for a company that takes the day off before. Even now, this current "magic JUS" company is an international company, but reserved the right to take the Pioneer Day holiday off.

Nice.

As we speak, GG is texturing and painting the bathroom wall where the old mirror used to be, and just finished putting in the new baseboards. The sink/vanity top is scheduled to be in tomorrow and that will all but finish the project. We even picked up new towels and a rug at Costco tonight.

I guess I never really appreciated the holidays GG got before--because it was usually Christmas, and the 4th of July. Everything else, and sometimes even those, he was still "on-call" if emergencies came up. But today he even left his phone at home while we ran (again) to Home Depot.

I think I could get used to this.

Private Morality vs. Public Virtue

I'm not a very fast reader, as I never really give myself time to just sit and read. Too much guilt for doing that. But I am always reading something.

Currently I am finishing up Seven Miracles that Saved America. This morning I caught a paragraph that really struck me. I wanted to share it.

"In 1978, Clare Boothe Luce, one of America's most perceptive thinkers, writers, and leaders of the twentieth century, made this observation:

"'The question is a crucial one for the future of our country. All history bears witness to the fact that there cannot be public virtue without private morality. There cannot be good government except in a good society. And there cannot be a good society unless the majority of individuals in it are at least trying to be good people. This is especially true in a democracy, where leaders and representatives are chosen for the people, by the people. The character of a democratic government will never be better than the character of the people that it governs. A nation that is traveling the low road is a nation that is self-destructing. It is doom, sooner or later, to collapse from within, or to be destroyed from without. And not all its wealth, science and technology will be able to save it.'"

I think this is what my worries for our country boil down to: Are there enough people privately exhibiting morality--honesty, integrity, courage--to support a public virtue?

If not, then I agree with Ms. Luce's assessment. Lately it seems like a lot of attention on outlandish behavior from our national and local political leaders. Yet, in the system we have currently, how many "good people" want to throw their own hats in the ring when they will be crucified in the press, ruthlessly interrogated by the media, and hounded when their verbalized intentions didn't quite come out like they meant to say them? I certainly understand the deterring elements.

Statesmen are no longer running for office. Politicians are. And politicians seem to be more interested in their side "winning" than in doing the people's business. It is depressing.

This book have given me many points to ponder. The seven miracles related in it are just some evidences to me that our country was destined to be great. And I know it was the ready hand of Providence that guided America to what we know today. But so much of the goodness of America demands the greatness of her people. And I am not always sure that we are making the cut.

Update on Tammy's Family

As many of you have followed along the heartbreaking two year journey with me as my Dear Friend Tammy struggled with and ultimately lost her battle with ALS, I thought I would give you an update on her good husband, Mr. Rick.

Today is Mr. Rick's birthday.

He is back to his full-time work. He has an office gig but can also work from home. His employer is the same and his job description is the same as it was while he cared for Tammy. He does travel a bit but not for days or weeks at a time.

While he knows he'll never have his "normal" life again, he is working with a NEW normal. And things seem to be settling into place.

Mr. Rick's girls are 19, 15, and 12. 19 year old Sarah goes to the local university and works in their town. She has also become a valuable resource for Mr. Rick as she is pretty flexible with her time so as to help with picking up sisters from school, soccer practice, basketball games, or from friend's houses. I think Sarah is a big help to Mr. Rick.

15 year old Rachelle is finding her old self again. She is playing soccer for her highs chool team. She is going to do things with friends away from the house. She is learning to drive. She has been a strength for Mr. Rick as everyone learns how to get along with their mom.

12 year old Emily is probably the most out of sorts. But can you blame her? She will be a seventh grader, I believe, this year so she is starting a new school with a new situation.

Genius Golfer meets Mr. Rick for lunch once a month and he does what he can to help his friend and the girls. He is male, and as such doesn't say a lot of what his feelings are or express his needs or inner hurts. But he did tell GG that although the carpet is gross throughout the house, his girls still don't pick up after themselves or clean up messes enough to warrant new carpet. He's going to do that when they all move out.

Yep, a New Normal is coming. Slowly, but surely.

Zumba!

I tried something yesterday that was totally new to me. I go every morning to the pool (while the kids are in swim team practice) and I do an hour class of water aerobics. I love being in the water and in the water aerobics class I work differently than when I just swim. But yesterday's class was a new thing entirely! We did Water Zumba.

Zumba is the trendy exercise fad right now. It is taught in city rec centers all over and there is even a new studio downtown that is advertizing they are "Zumba certified". It is basically an aerobics class with music and movements inspired by Latin and African music and dance. It targets a lot of your core muscles so there are a lot of chrunching feelings as you do this.

But this was the first time I had heard of it being possible in the water.

I know from the reactions for the swim team kids, the pool maintenance staff and the lifeguards working that morning that we looked ridiculous. It felt pretty silly at first too, but then I relaxed and had a pretty great time. And today I am still feeling the effects of the work out.

We go again tomorrow. I think I will bring along my inner-Latina and be ready for the fun. Come join us. It is Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 AM and 7 PM. All your jiggly bits will thank you.

PS--Wednesday morning a videographer form the local paper came and taped the class. Here is the link: http://heraldextra.com/vmix_431f8eec-94d9-11df-a895-001cc4c002e0.html

All I can say is "Holy Bazooms, Batman!"

Anticipation

I got a call to come help the junior high school stuff, fold and address their summer mailers--the ones with the kids' schedules in them.

I ran over about 8:30 this morning. The secretaries who were working with the PTA moms mentioned that they have about 1400 kids to get these out to this year. Yikes!

The Boy and The Girl came over after they were both dressed and fed following swim practice this morning and they helped a lot too. We were there until 12:30. I can't imagine those poor secretaries in the office doing this all on their own.

But seeing the schedule has brought The Boy around to asking about back to school things--clothes, first day, binders, lockers, etc. The Girl, meanwhile asked: "Mom, don't you know anyone at the high school who will give me MY schedule?!"

Video Sunday

These two LDS girls are from Idaho Falls but auditioned in Portland. Their message is as good as their singing. I love their parents' reactions backstage too.