I KEA'd

With the muffin in tow we adventured to the big blue building now glowing in the south valley. Parking nearby, nay I say it was off to the nether lands past the river that burns! As we approached the blue, visions of wally world filled our heads.

We had waited 2 years for this event our very own source of take home furniture, ready to assemble all packaged in neat clean flat packaging, just right for the average Utahn.




Past the entry gates up the escalator following the mass of humanity , until, until.... There is was, our very own LEKSVIK just perfect for the family room

DYNGUS DAY!

Well another year and another Dynkus Day Celebration! The long winter months are behind us and the earth is yielding up the bounties of soft pussy willows and the cleansing of pure water.

My birthplace of Western New York has helped to preserve this joyous day of fun and mischief, a time to express ones love and affection, yes and also just plain fun.

These hearty souls have gathered some king size boughs and are ready to claim their victims. All in all it should be a great day for all, so Happy Dyngus Day to everyone!


Here are a couple of links to guide you to more Dyn fun!

http://www.dyngusdaybuffalo.com/

http://www.buffalonews.com/197/story/47992.html



Rember these dudes from the last post, Susan guessed "The dudes look like church dudes" Well she is correct they are none other than Brother Aaro's new Provo Bishopric!

What about these dudes?

Today was a pretty nice day, pretty yes and nice I might say! We visited Grandma, stopped at the Pie for a pie, Costco for a radio and Staples for a Brother, oh, no one can complain about that.


We also stopped at the new Quarry Bend Walmart too for a Brother but they only had a Dymo , I was said since I still have not purchased anything at the new Sandy edifice. Last week when it first opened, our whole office went to visit. With the intention of having lunch, we decided to pass when we found a over crowded McDonalds. Ty advised us to walk quickly so as not to have our feet burned on the floor. He claims that Walmart is owned and operated by none other than the devil himself, so surely they have built the store over an area of fire and brimstone!





Aaron is now mentoring me on the fine art of GTD, so we went shopping for a label maker. This fine machine will now grace my desk and will be a key element in bring order and sanity to the office and home. The Mom said "I hope you remember to throw out 50 tons of crap! So I put a 3 x 5 card in my In box to do just that, start counting dear.



GTD is an organization system which really makes a lot of sense, it forces you to recognize all your tasks and then lets you work on them as you have the time. I like it and it seems to have worked well for the other brother.



At Costco, Sister Sarah received her very own Costco card. They checked her ID carefully to make sure she is indeed 18, a young face for sure but she is 18 and a darling girl for sure. We also picked up an Ipod player for my very own Nano. Aaron reminded me that this is the third time I have purchased this item, previously I have taken it back in hopes of finding just the right device, well it turns out that it is the right one, so there!



Oh and who are these dudes, well you tell me? Any Guesses?

A gift to the world!

A Kitty and a mouse, by "The Dadoo....."

A Kitty and a Mouse
went for a stroll.
The Mouse ran to a house,
the Kitty talked to a Troll



Oh, Troll, who has more worth,
the Mouse or the Kitty?
Ahh, in the house on the fourth,
the mouse is not witty!

The truth of the matter
is only so true.
A Mouse on a platter,
for a Kitty so blue!

Bowling and discing!

This weekend Aaron, Sarah and Dadoo participated in some fun activities, first after much anticipation, including 2 weeks of practice we joined the the Response Keglers and Zions Bank at the Jr Achievement Bowl-a-thon. We had a lot fun with the Bankers and knocked down a ton of pins, even a few strikes! Many $$'s were raised to benefit Utah Jr Achievement. Our new Response Golf Shirts are so stylish, we can not wait until league play begins in another month.



Afterwards Mr. Sun was out so we stopped by the Creekside Park Disc Golf course to toss the disc. Sarah is getting much better with her throw and was spot on with several throws. Our disc's are off to Sarah. This is just the beginning of the season and there is sure to be more opportunity to try our hand. Aaro is particularly looking forward to tossing his new glow in the dark disc, oooooooo!

Maybe we can find a course in Las Vegas!

Happy Valentines Day

I do not have much to say other than much love to you all!

A kegle'n we will go

Our company is in the "throws" of starting a bowling team, so much fun. It is the talk of the office (Has there ever been an episode of "The Office" on this subject, Scranton surely has a large bowling market?) and everyone is excited to play a part. We have even ordered bowling shirts to at least make us look like bowlers.



For even more fun the Brother has accepted the challenge to join us. We will first participate in a fund raiser benefit for Jr Achievement with the bankers on February 17th and then start regular weekly bowling the following month.

To the right is an example of the style of the shirt we will wear, except ours will have a big bold blub on the back and our names stitched on the front. Wish us well!

Ehhh...

Yesterday, while Lesa went to visit Grandma, Aaro and I decided to go see a movie. And after a little negotiation Sarah consented to see Rocky Balboa. It was only later that I realized that Sarah was not aware that this is like the 6th Rocky movie. She was a good sport to go with guys to a boxing movie.

We met the Sharp's at the Commons as they were coming out of The Holiday, A chick flick for sure, but they said is was good. They commented that Rocky was supposed to be good too, whatever that means? Well I can say that it was good, the dialog was as expected in a Stallone film with plenty of ehh's, yo's and whatayadoin's. But it was pretty decent, with some blood and spit but no language or other yucky stuff.

I give it a 3 on the Dadoo scale of watch-a-bility.

24 Breaking NEWS!

To all devoted 24 faithful, there is significant news from the 24 set, it seems that Graham Bauer may not be the only Bauer brother to be revealed in episode 5.

Can you guess who this might be?

I am speaking of Kimberly Bauer's "half" brother, none other than the blond haired teenager who we are briefly introduced as Jack's nephew, Josh. Rumors are that this is Jack's son, apparently from a relationship with Graham's wife, Marilyn.



There are obvious similarities between Josh and Kim. the blond hair and facial features no doubt played a role in casting Evan Ellingson into this role. It will be an interesting season, stay tuned

24 is the bomb!

We are only 2 weeks into this years 24 and already Jack has befriended a terrorist, killed his buddy, witnessed a nuclear detonation and tortured his brother. Once again this is the longest day in good ole Jack's life!

This year is better since the brother Aaro is a huge fan, a 24 newby, and eager to join in the excitement of 24. 5 down and only 19 episodes to go.

I have one question to toss out here, wasn't Jack's brother in last year's season as one of the band of bad men who escaped on a plane to Europe? tink, tink, tink, tink........

Der Schnee

Snow in Tucson!





"Winter Storm Slams Southern Arizona

Although the heaviest snowfall in Arizona on Sunday was in the north, snow also fell in downtown Phoenix and Tucson, which received up to 11/2 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Glenn Jones, who lives on a small farm in Marana northwest of Tucson, said he was cold and wet and would be glad when it warms up again.

"I had chores to do today, animals to feed, to get ready for the week," he said. "I don't like to work in it. It's too cold. That's the reason I moved here -- to get out of it.""

Winter in Arizona, get your mittens out Emma!

Bunco busted

The stage was set for an evening of fun and games for this troupe of young dice tossing hoodlums. Bright eyed and filled with glee, as the fateful day approached. Trouble was afoot and it was not good, nothing good comes from such activity.

Just fun and games? Shall our youth falter?

Well, either you're closing your eyes
To a situation you do now wish to acknowledge

Or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated
By the presence of a evil dice in your community.
Ya got trouble, my friend, right here,
I say, trouble right here in Sandy City.



Why sure I'm a player,
Certainly mighty proud I say
I'm always mighty proud to say it.
I consider that the hours I spend
With a cue in my hand are golden.



Help you cultivate horse sense
And a cool head and a keen eye.
Never take and try to give
An iron-clad leave to yourself
From a three-roll bunco toss?

Well cool heads prevailed and the authorities ruled, no Bunco here, not in Sandy City!

What now am I bid for this old chest of drawers?

"One thousand? One thousand, do I hear two? Two thousand. Who'll make it three?

Three thousand once, three thousand twice, going and gone!" said he.

What is it worth, can a special touch bring it life once more? We will see, we will see ....

It will soon be here!

Ikea is rising from the soil of nearby Draper. We can hardly wait to stroll by the many aisles of real cool Swedish stuff. No longer will we covet the riches of fellow Californian's, Arizonan's and the like who have constant access to this treasure.

Oh boy, here is local newspaper article:

IKEA is looking for 350 good people.
The wildly popular home furnishings retailer said Tuesday it has launched an employee recruitment program for its Draper store, which is slated to open next year.
"Things are proceeding on schedule, and we are still looking forward to opening the store in spring 2007," said IKEA spokesman Joseph Roth.
Workers have laid the foundation and are in the process of raising the walls and framing the second floor of the 310,000-square-foot store, Roth said.
The store is located on 22.5 acres along Pony Express Drive at the northwest corner of I-15 and Bangerter Highway.
While construction on the store proceeds, Roth said a variety of leadership positions are available. Later, the company will begin accepting applications for positions in sales, interior decoration, customer service, safety and security, cashiers, maintenance, goods receiving and stocking, warehouse work and food service, he said.
Information is available on the company's Web site, www.IKEA-usa.com, listing the positions available and when the company will begin accepting applications. Candidates also may submit their applications via the Web site, Roth said.
IKEA provides full medical/dental insurance to employees who work 20 hours or more per week. Other benefits include vacation time, paid maternity/paternity leave, paid time off for child adoption, tuition assistance, 401(k) retirement contribution matches and discounts on IKEA merchandise.
The Draper store will be IKEA's first in the Intermountain West and its 30th in the United States.
Founded in 1934 in Sweden, IKEA has more than 240 stores in 34 countries, employing 90,000 people worldwide.

Hey Corn Man

Sarah Aaron and Dadoo visited a corn maize in West Jordan, http://www.cornfieldmaze.com/ . Yes it was cold, yes it was dark and yes it was fun. Only since we last frequented a maize maze, this one seems almost, well, easy. Aaron led the way and we moved through the first part, past some munchkins, which I mistakenly identified as Hobbits. Then on to the Scary part, past the trolls, corn men, and chainsaw-toting dudes (they were out of gas or so we heard them mention) and from there to the exit. The real challenge came in the parking lot finding the Astro!

The evening came to a close with a treat of Hot Chocolate and Spicy Chicken Sandwich for the Aaro and all in tow!

LOTR

I just finished watching the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy; the last two episodes were extended editions. I had forgotten so much it was almost like wathcing it for the first time. And yes I can tell the difference from Merry/Pippen and Sam/Frodo. Althought I still have a hard time distinguishing between Merry and Pippen.

I have some questions...

Was Gollum/Smeagal a hobbit? I've had some tell me he was and others say he was a "River People"

Why is the area called Middle Earth, it seems to be set above ground?

What's the deal with the Dwarfs, we only get to see one, Gimli in the movie. Are they all dead?

What happens to Frodo, Bilbo and others when they are given a ride on the elf boat to elf heaven? Do they ever return?

Other than the Hobbit, did Tolken ever write more involving these characters?

I have more ??’s however this is a good start. And yes I will read the books, starting with the Hobbit..

Magic Mountain - Tell me it ain't so!

Word is out that the days of Magic Mountain are numbered, I was told last week that it will close in 2007, however it seems that they are selling season tickets for next year, so it's demise may be a wee premature. Sad indeed if this is true, Darien Lake near Buffalo is definitely gone. Six Flags has been losing money for the past few years and they will need to sell some properties to stay out of bankruptcy.

Here is an article describing the situation:

Good-bye Magic Mountain? Six Flags puts six parks up for sale or closure
2006-06-22

By Robert Niles: Six Flags announced plans Thursday to sell or close six of its properties, including the chain's once-flagship park, Magic Mountain, in Valencia, Calif.

In a press release issued after the U.S. stock market closed Thursday, Six Flags announced that it would sell the properties, to either a single buyer or multiple buyers, or that it might sell or redeploy the properties' attractions, to clear the land for real estate sale.

The six parks on the block are Magic Mountain, Elitch Gardens in downtown Denver, Colorado, Darien Lake near Buffalo, New York, Wild Waves and Enchanted Village outside Seattle, Washington and the waterparks Six Flags Waterworld in Concord and Six Flags Splashdown in Houston.

Long-time TPI readers are familiar with our coverage of Six Flags' financial struggles, and we predicted some of the parks would be going back in January. With Paramount Parks already selling out to Cedar Fair, one wonders what company will be able and willing to mount a bid to purchase the Six Flags parks. Real estate sales, alas, seem the most likely result for most of the parks. Magic Mountain, obviously, is the most viable park among the six, but Cedar Fair already has a Southern California park, in Buena Park's Knott's Berry Farm. The land underneath Magic Mountain would be worth many millions, even in SoCal's stalled real estate market, if no theme park company is willing to add this roller coaster haven to its portfolio.

More Pan! Tell me it's no so!

It seems that we are to punished once again. A new book titled "Peter Pan in Scarlet" is hitting the bookshelves today! Tell me it's not true, MORE PAN, oooohhhhhh nooooooo!

Here's quote from the website http://www.peterpaninscarlet.com

"We've waited a hundred years for this. On 5 October 2006 the biggest children's book publishing event of the century will take place when Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean - the official sequel to JM Barrie's much loved Peter Pan - hits bookshelves across the globe."

We've been waiting! Who in there right mind has been waiting for another PAN!

I feel ill, and think I'm going to ......

I'm Lost

Henry sees the plane crash, a Stephen King book, where are Sawyer, in a monkey cage? and Jack, can he swim?

Welcome to Zermatt

We had great time at the Zermatt Resort & Spa in beautiful Midway Utah.
With our anniversary date on the horizon I saw an article about Zermatt, we found it to be as advertised. My cold kept us from a planned kayak adventure however the indoor pool, hot tub, restaurants and gorgeous views of the fall colors provided a memorable weekend.