Our family went to the Draper Temple dedication at our Stake Center. It was nice. Lots of good talks and so forth. The time went really quickly. I should go to the temple more often.
I went to the YW Meeting for General Conference on Saturday. Our Stake got tickets to go downtown. It’s crazy going downtown during a big event like that, especially with all the construction. I went with Cindy and Mary Ann who are in the Stake YW Presidency. I found out on Sunday that I was the only one from my ward who went downtown. Everyone else watched it on TV. Meagan probably would have gone downtown with me, but she had to work. The talks were good and the weather was still pretty nice.
On Sunday, we went to Mom and Dad’s for a long overdue Family Home Evening. We never did have FHE in January ’cuz I got sick. David and I were supposed to be in charge. We didn't have it in February because we decided we should wait until Holly had her surgery and recovered. Jarom and Amber didn’t get to go on Sunday because they had colds. I hope we’re all over being sick for a long time.
I’m so glad I have Tuesdays and Thursdays off. Yesterday at work was long and semi-crazy. Not as crazy as Friday, though. I don’t like having to deal with the schedule and everyone wanting to change their times. People just don’t seem to get the idea of a “house call.” You can’t be too particular about the time because the therapist is traveling, not the patient. Maybe that’s why doctors stopped doing house calls???
Right now I am listening to the crazy cd that Becky burned for me. It is hard to think about what to type when I’m listening to the silly D&D boys. This is the second time I’ve listened to it today. Thanks for the cd, Becky!
That’s about it. I’m about to go to the Training Meeting downtown at the Conference Center with Cindy. I guess I should go get ready.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Webcrawler
Sheri gave me a pdf file of a book that I want to print out. Lo and behold, it requires adobe reader to open the file. Does the adobe reader on my computer work? No. So I am attempting to download it. So far it has downloaded 6% of the program and it says it is going to take another 2 hours and 11 minutes to download the rest. It seem like I have done this before only to have my computer crash when the program was 95% downloaded. And then it was an older version. I can’t even find adobe 4.0 or 5.0 anywhere on the internet to download. Only 9.0 or later. Sometimes I hate computers.
I am blogging while I am waiting for adobe to download.
Yesterday I came home from work, curled up on the loveseat with the cat and fell asleep. I got up once to switch to the couch so I could stretch out more and didn’t wake up again until 6:00 am when my alarm went off. It felt like I had only been asleep an hour or two.
David – and I went to Dr. Poku’s this morning. The doctor said that David’s stress test looked ok and he was not going to order an angiogram because it would probably be clear just like it was 5 years ago. David says he never wants to do a stress test again. So, David gets to take another drug that is supposed to strengthen his heart. We’ll see. At least his blood pressure seems okay without medication. After that we went to the DMV, Costco and Chinese Gourmet. We picked up Meagan and Cameron from school and David came home and passed out on the bed. He’s still asleep.
Meagan – switched out of her Auto Shop class for 4th term and is going to be a TA in Humanities for Mrs. Christensen. She had the class last semester and liked the teacher, so that will be good, I guess. At least we don’t have to worry about her needing to take the car in to do something to it when we need it.
Cameron – just finished reading “Lord of the Flies.” I hate that book. I had to read it in school and it is one of my least favorite books. It’s up there with “The Old Man and the Sea.” Cameron didn’t like it either. He wrote a good paper about it, though. He also read “Congo” by Michael Crichton and got to write a paper and draw a picture about that.
Jarom – is doing a colored pencil drawing of a sunset. He’s not very far on it, but he likes the rocks in one corner of the drawing the best so far. This morning I told Thor to wake up Jarom. I finally got him to jump up on the bed, but then he just curled up next to Jarom and started purring. “This is not what I am paying you for!” I told Thor. He didn’t care.
Amber – got to go to JA Biz Town yesterday. JA stands for Junior Achievement. The 5th graders got to go and pretend they were grownups. They filled out a job application and got assigned a job in the “city.” Amber got to be a Savings Officer at the bank. Ick! Being a Loan Officer was one of my least favorite jobs ever. I guess she had fun. She said she would have rather been a Teller, CEO or CFO. They got to use computers, the Savings Officers only got to use a stamp. Her friend Kyleen was the CEO of the Restaurant and Charity was a Reporter for the TV Station. Amber did get a pb&j, carrots, an apple, doritos, a rice crispy treat and chocolate milk for lunch, though. So it wasn't a total loss.
Well, now adobe is 30% downloaded and I only have 2 hours and 3 minutes to go...awesome...
I am blogging while I am waiting for adobe to download.
Yesterday I came home from work, curled up on the loveseat with the cat and fell asleep. I got up once to switch to the couch so I could stretch out more and didn’t wake up again until 6:00 am when my alarm went off. It felt like I had only been asleep an hour or two.
David – and I went to Dr. Poku’s this morning. The doctor said that David’s stress test looked ok and he was not going to order an angiogram because it would probably be clear just like it was 5 years ago. David says he never wants to do a stress test again. So, David gets to take another drug that is supposed to strengthen his heart. We’ll see. At least his blood pressure seems okay without medication. After that we went to the DMV, Costco and Chinese Gourmet. We picked up Meagan and Cameron from school and David came home and passed out on the bed. He’s still asleep.
Meagan – switched out of her Auto Shop class for 4th term and is going to be a TA in Humanities for Mrs. Christensen. She had the class last semester and liked the teacher, so that will be good, I guess. At least we don’t have to worry about her needing to take the car in to do something to it when we need it.
Cameron – just finished reading “Lord of the Flies.” I hate that book. I had to read it in school and it is one of my least favorite books. It’s up there with “The Old Man and the Sea.” Cameron didn’t like it either. He wrote a good paper about it, though. He also read “Congo” by Michael Crichton and got to write a paper and draw a picture about that.
Jarom – is doing a colored pencil drawing of a sunset. He’s not very far on it, but he likes the rocks in one corner of the drawing the best so far. This morning I told Thor to wake up Jarom. I finally got him to jump up on the bed, but then he just curled up next to Jarom and started purring. “This is not what I am paying you for!” I told Thor. He didn’t care.
Amber – got to go to JA Biz Town yesterday. JA stands for Junior Achievement. The 5th graders got to go and pretend they were grownups. They filled out a job application and got assigned a job in the “city.” Amber got to be a Savings Officer at the bank. Ick! Being a Loan Officer was one of my least favorite jobs ever. I guess she had fun. She said she would have rather been a Teller, CEO or CFO. They got to use computers, the Savings Officers only got to use a stamp. Her friend Kyleen was the CEO of the Restaurant and Charity was a Reporter for the TV Station. Amber did get a pb&j, carrots, an apple, doritos, a rice crispy treat and chocolate milk for lunch, though. So it wasn't a total loss.
Well, now adobe is 30% downloaded and I only have 2 hours and 3 minutes to go...awesome...
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Dog and Kitty Show
Okay, here's the update:
David - as far as I know he hasn't heard back from the doctor on his stress test, so I guess that means he's not in any imminent danger. I hope. I guess he got the results of the sleep study. He gets to have his c-pap adjusted up 2 notches.
What else? He's been playing the same video game for about the past month. I'm not sure what the name of it is, but he plays a character that looks like Link in an orange poncho. He can also turn into a girl genie, a cat-girl and a caveman. Mostly the game consists of running around, opening treasure chests and going fishing. I don't like games that take forever to win, so I'm pretty sure I'm not ever gonna be playing that game. Whatever it is.
Meagan - and I went to a meeting during Parent-Teacher conference. We found out she doesn't have to do an externship to pass her dental class and graduate from High School. She probably DOES have to complete it in order to get her Certificate so she can work as a Dental Assistant. The good thing is she can do her externship during the summer which will be much easier for all of us. I think she's going to extern at Dr. Ferre's. She should like that; he and his staff are nice.
Cameron - participated in a History Fair last week. I didn't even know there was such a thing. A large share of Cameron's history grade depends on this project. Cameron and 3 of his friends (Michael, Nephi and Braden) made a video about William Wallace and why he was important to the history of Scotland. David and I took Cameron to the History Fair and hung around because we wanted to see the video. Michael says he wants to put it on youtube, so maybe you can find it there. I haven't looked.
Cameron got to be William Wallace because he was the biggest of the group. It was kind of like Monty Python in that most of the actors had to play more than one part - and it was kind of silly. Michael got to be the King of England, the entire English army and the judge that sentenced Wallace to death. He also played the soundtrack on the electric piano. Nephi got to be William Wallace's army and the guard that watched over Wallace while he was awaiting his execution. Braden was the narrator, cinematographer and video editor. Cameron wrote and typed up the process paper.
My favorite part of the video was when Michael chased Cameron across the park with a wooden sword. Cameron turned around at the last second and waved his hands in the air like he was scared, but not really. Cameron hid his face in his coat collar when the camera closed in on him after the sentencing. Cameron said he had to because he was laughing. Fortunately you couldn't really tell.
Cameron's friend Nick did his project on William Wallace, too. He did a display board like most of the students there. He knew more info about Wallace than Cameron and his group did - probably because this is the 3rd report he's done on Wallace. At least he was giving Cameron pointers on what to answer questions the judges might ask. I saw the second judge trying not to laugh as he left Cameron's group. I guess at least he found their film entertaining.
Nick and Cameron kept wrestling each other in the school cafeteria, where the History Fair was held. They were doing it for fun, but finally I had to tell them to stop. Boys are silly.
Jarom - has dishes this week as his chore. He is not happy about it. Whoever has dishes always makes a big deal about it. Other than that, Jarom's spent a lot of time sleeping on the couch. Maybe school's been rough. David thinks it's because Jarom is growing so fast. I swear he's grown 6 inches in the last year. Maybe more. Personally, I think it's because Thor has rubbed off on Jarom. Once Thor gets in the house about all he does is sleep on the couch.
Amber - is watching "O Brother Where Art Thou." It's one of our family's favorite movies. I like the music. The kids like the part where they're in the movie theater and Pete whispers, "Do not seek the treasure!" Delmar whispers back, "We thought you was a toad!" and Pete looks at him like he's crazy. Sometimes the kids will wander around the house saying, "We thought you was a toad!" in a loud whisper. They also like where the guy running for guvna keeps yelling, "Is you is or is you ain't my constitchency?"
Amber spent half of yesterday at Katelyn's doing who knows what. Probably playing the wii. And harassing the cats. I'm glad she and Katelyn have fun together. Amber thinks Katelyn is awesome.
Jetta - still freaks out over Thor sometimes.
I think Thor hates me now. He doesn't like me picking him up or holding him. As soon as I do he tries to wriggle out of my arms. I swear he spent most of last night glaring at me. He doesn't love us, he loves our couch. Oh, and the fact that we feed him.
Thor does seem to like the kids better than he likes me. Okay, maybe he only dislikes me, which is sad, because he used to be such a cute, friendly cat. Cameron says he's surprised Thor likes him since he hit him in the head with an apple not too long ago. He added quickly, "I didn't mean to!" This is good (sort of) because even if Thor is being obnoxious, he still doesn’t deserve to be hit in the head.
I started calling Thor "Mr. Snootypants" last night because he was so aloof. Jarom didn't know what snooty meant, but he thought the name was funny. I explained it to him. "Oooh, now it makes sense," he said.
I appreciate Jetta even more than I did before because she's always happy to see me and follows me around the house and loves me - unlike Mr. Snootypants. I told Jetta, "Now I know how you feel when everyone pays attention to the cat and not you." That got me thinking, maybe Jetta told Thor that he'd better not like me any more, or else...
If she did, it's working.
David - as far as I know he hasn't heard back from the doctor on his stress test, so I guess that means he's not in any imminent danger. I hope. I guess he got the results of the sleep study. He gets to have his c-pap adjusted up 2 notches.
What else? He's been playing the same video game for about the past month. I'm not sure what the name of it is, but he plays a character that looks like Link in an orange poncho. He can also turn into a girl genie, a cat-girl and a caveman. Mostly the game consists of running around, opening treasure chests and going fishing. I don't like games that take forever to win, so I'm pretty sure I'm not ever gonna be playing that game. Whatever it is.
Meagan - and I went to a meeting during Parent-Teacher conference. We found out she doesn't have to do an externship to pass her dental class and graduate from High School. She probably DOES have to complete it in order to get her Certificate so she can work as a Dental Assistant. The good thing is she can do her externship during the summer which will be much easier for all of us. I think she's going to extern at Dr. Ferre's. She should like that; he and his staff are nice.
Cameron - participated in a History Fair last week. I didn't even know there was such a thing. A large share of Cameron's history grade depends on this project. Cameron and 3 of his friends (Michael, Nephi and Braden) made a video about William Wallace and why he was important to the history of Scotland. David and I took Cameron to the History Fair and hung around because we wanted to see the video. Michael says he wants to put it on youtube, so maybe you can find it there. I haven't looked.
Cameron got to be William Wallace because he was the biggest of the group. It was kind of like Monty Python in that most of the actors had to play more than one part - and it was kind of silly. Michael got to be the King of England, the entire English army and the judge that sentenced Wallace to death. He also played the soundtrack on the electric piano. Nephi got to be William Wallace's army and the guard that watched over Wallace while he was awaiting his execution. Braden was the narrator, cinematographer and video editor. Cameron wrote and typed up the process paper.
My favorite part of the video was when Michael chased Cameron across the park with a wooden sword. Cameron turned around at the last second and waved his hands in the air like he was scared, but not really. Cameron hid his face in his coat collar when the camera closed in on him after the sentencing. Cameron said he had to because he was laughing. Fortunately you couldn't really tell.
Cameron's friend Nick did his project on William Wallace, too. He did a display board like most of the students there. He knew more info about Wallace than Cameron and his group did - probably because this is the 3rd report he's done on Wallace. At least he was giving Cameron pointers on what to answer questions the judges might ask. I saw the second judge trying not to laugh as he left Cameron's group. I guess at least he found their film entertaining.
Nick and Cameron kept wrestling each other in the school cafeteria, where the History Fair was held. They were doing it for fun, but finally I had to tell them to stop. Boys are silly.
Jarom - has dishes this week as his chore. He is not happy about it. Whoever has dishes always makes a big deal about it. Other than that, Jarom's spent a lot of time sleeping on the couch. Maybe school's been rough. David thinks it's because Jarom is growing so fast. I swear he's grown 6 inches in the last year. Maybe more. Personally, I think it's because Thor has rubbed off on Jarom. Once Thor gets in the house about all he does is sleep on the couch.
Amber - is watching "O Brother Where Art Thou." It's one of our family's favorite movies. I like the music. The kids like the part where they're in the movie theater and Pete whispers, "Do not seek the treasure!" Delmar whispers back, "We thought you was a toad!" and Pete looks at him like he's crazy. Sometimes the kids will wander around the house saying, "We thought you was a toad!" in a loud whisper. They also like where the guy running for guvna keeps yelling, "Is you is or is you ain't my constitchency?"
Amber spent half of yesterday at Katelyn's doing who knows what. Probably playing the wii. And harassing the cats. I'm glad she and Katelyn have fun together. Amber thinks Katelyn is awesome.
Jetta - still freaks out over Thor sometimes.
I think Thor hates me now. He doesn't like me picking him up or holding him. As soon as I do he tries to wriggle out of my arms. I swear he spent most of last night glaring at me. He doesn't love us, he loves our couch. Oh, and the fact that we feed him.
Thor does seem to like the kids better than he likes me. Okay, maybe he only dislikes me, which is sad, because he used to be such a cute, friendly cat. Cameron says he's surprised Thor likes him since he hit him in the head with an apple not too long ago. He added quickly, "I didn't mean to!" This is good (sort of) because even if Thor is being obnoxious, he still doesn’t deserve to be hit in the head.
I started calling Thor "Mr. Snootypants" last night because he was so aloof. Jarom didn't know what snooty meant, but he thought the name was funny. I explained it to him. "Oooh, now it makes sense," he said.
I appreciate Jetta even more than I did before because she's always happy to see me and follows me around the house and loves me - unlike Mr. Snootypants. I told Jetta, "Now I know how you feel when everyone pays attention to the cat and not you." That got me thinking, maybe Jetta told Thor that he'd better not like me any more, or else...
If she did, it's working.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Cameron's Bridge
I just have to tell you how much weight Cameron's shakey looking bridge held: 906 pounds. Amazing! I think the first one I built only held 650 or something and the second one held about 550 before it slid out of the machine. Maybe Cameron SHOULD be an Engineer...
Quint's Funeral
Since mom wants to know and Georgia couldn't stay, I thought I would re-cap Quint's funeral. Quint liked to dress colorfully. Some of my favorites were his penguin tie and his all-white shirt with one red pocket. When I talked to his family, I found out that all of Quint's sons and grandsons had raided his closet and were wearing his loud ties, shirts and jackets. One son even had on a pink sports coat. I found out why Quint dressed so colorfully and why he wore penguin ties. His family said he didn't want to go to church in a dark suit and tie and a white shirt and look like all the other penguins. Quint must have gotten a kick out of his family raiding his closet in his honor.
The first speaker was Gordon - Quint's brother. He gave the life sketch. Gordon said that he was the oldest, then Quint, then Patricia, then Russell. They lived in Salt Lake City until they lost their house due to the Great Depression. Their family moved to Idaho and lived on their uncle's farm for a while. Their mother was a nurse and she got a job before their dad did - in Walla Walla, Washington. They lived there 3-4 years until their dad was able to get a job, then they moved back to Salt Lake City. They were able to buy back the very house they had lost years earlier.
Gordon said that Quint was always the favorite and he could prove it. When Gordon got engaged, he brought his girlfriend home to announce his engagement. When Russell heard the news, he looked at Gordon's girlfriend and said, "You're going to marry him? You could wait a few years and marry Quint. Quint's a lot better." Sad. I can't believe Gordon would tell that story. In spite of it all, Quint and Gordon got along. Gordon said, "Quint was everything you could want in a brother."
Three of Quintin's grandchildren and his one and only daughter spoke. They all told funny stories about Quint. They told about how Quint loved to cook and would make his family dinner and "brekkie" when they would come to visit him. One grandson said that Quint would set the table days in advance when he invited people over for dinner. It wasn't normal table setting, it was more like you were going to the circus. Instead of glasses, he would have glass jars or pitchers. Instead of silverware, he would have salad tongs or wooden forks. When his grandkids would try to re-set the table with normal silverware, he wouldn't let them. He made them eat with the weird utensils on the table.
Another grandson said Quint added something unexpected to almost everything he cooked. Once when he was cooking a pot roast, he looked through the fridge for something to add to it. He found a jar of jelly and started putting big spoonfuls of jelly over the pot roast. "Grandpa, what are you doing?!" his grandson asked. "Shut up and eat it!" Quint said. So they did. And it was good.
Quint's daughter, Kris, said he would call her up and ask her what "soss" would go with the meat he was cooking. Apparently there were some words in the English language he liked to massacre. Kris was never his "daughter" she was his "dawhta."
His grandkids said he had a playhouse out in his backyard. When they came over, he would go out and play house or dolls or whatever the grandkids wanted to play. He would even let them put his hair up in little pigtails all over his head and paint his toenails.
Quint loved to go dirt-biking. His family was relieved when they finally converted him over to riding a quad, but he still drove crazy. He'd go up all the steep hills and tip his quad and do things his full-grown sons were scared to do. Quint told his family he wanted to die on a quad with a big smile on his face. They were relieved that didn't happen.
The last person to talk was Quint's Stake President. Eighteen years ago, the Stake President was Quint's Bishop and Quint was the first counselor. The Bishop/Stake President was long-winded and their meetings would go on for hours. Quint always told him to "keep it short." Apparently that didn't work. Once Quint got to the Bishop's office first before a meeting. He had a big tray with a two pound salami and some really strong cheese on it. By the end of the meeting, they'd eaten all the cheese and salami, but the room stunk for the next two weeks.
Quint's favorite calling was being a Primary Teacher. A few years ago the Stake President called Quint into his office and called him to be a High Councilor. Quint told him, "No." The Stake President almost fainted from shock, because that was not like Quint. "It's really not that bad," the Stake President told him. Quint looked at him and said, "I want to stay a Primary Teacher for the rest of my life. I've been on a mission to Finland and a mission to Austrailia and I feel like I didn't convert anyone, but I feel like I'm converting these kids. I'm making a difference." With that explanation, the Stake President told him he could be a Primary Teacher the rest of his life. "Don't release me," Quint said. And they didn't - even after he died.
Quint loved the Primary kids and they loved him. The Primary sang a song at his funeral. There must have been 30 or 40 kids up on the stand singing for Quint. I imagine he loved that.
This is an aside by me: Sometimes at work I would hear Quint whistling songs - usually they were Primary Songs or Hymns. I wonder if he even realized he was doing that. Once he asked me if I had a dog. I looked at him weird and said, "Yes, why?" "Because you talk to yourself a lot," he said. Later that week I caught him talking to himself and pointed it out to him. "Of course I talk to myself," he said. "When I talk to myself I know I'm going to get an intelligent answer." I had to agree with him.
At the very end of the funeral, when the pallbearers were taking the casket out, the organist was playing "Quentin's Theme." Apparently Quint heard it years ago on a tv or radio show - I think it had something to do a with a superhero? I can't remember what they said the name of the show was. When Quint heard the name of the song, he said, "That's the song they have to play at the end of my funeral." So they did. It was much more somber of a song than I thought it would be. Fitting for funeral, I guess. I would have forgot that's the song they were playing, but Steve leaned over to me and whispered, "Quentin's Theme," and I remembered.
After the funeral, I had to tell Steve the story about Georgia taking Quint to the hospital several times when he was sick. Georgia went to pick up Quint and the nurse (or someone) asked, "Oh, are you related to Quintin? Are you his granddaughter?" Georgia started to answer when Quint piped up and said, "She's my mistress." (If I told that wrong, you can correct me, Georgia.) I told his sons about it later and they just nodded and said that their dad having a mistress was a long running joke. They'd tell him that's why he went on so many business trips to Montana.
After the funeral, I made David drive past the cemetary so I would know where to find Quint's grave. Quint's grave is just across the walkway from David's parents' graves. That's convenient. David laughed when I told him I wanted to see Quintin's grave. I said why are you laughing? Because his last name is "Graves"? Yes. Silly David.
So, there you have it. Quintin's wonderful funeral. Oh, and there were so many people there to talk to Quint's family that the funeral started at 11:20, not 11:00 like it was scheduled to. There were lots of people there. The entire chapel was full and half of the gym. One grandson summed up Quint the best: "Quint lived in his own little world and everyone was invited. The thing is, once you went in to his world, you never wanted to leave."
The first speaker was Gordon - Quint's brother. He gave the life sketch. Gordon said that he was the oldest, then Quint, then Patricia, then Russell. They lived in Salt Lake City until they lost their house due to the Great Depression. Their family moved to Idaho and lived on their uncle's farm for a while. Their mother was a nurse and she got a job before their dad did - in Walla Walla, Washington. They lived there 3-4 years until their dad was able to get a job, then they moved back to Salt Lake City. They were able to buy back the very house they had lost years earlier.
Gordon said that Quint was always the favorite and he could prove it. When Gordon got engaged, he brought his girlfriend home to announce his engagement. When Russell heard the news, he looked at Gordon's girlfriend and said, "You're going to marry him? You could wait a few years and marry Quint. Quint's a lot better." Sad. I can't believe Gordon would tell that story. In spite of it all, Quint and Gordon got along. Gordon said, "Quint was everything you could want in a brother."
Three of Quintin's grandchildren and his one and only daughter spoke. They all told funny stories about Quint. They told about how Quint loved to cook and would make his family dinner and "brekkie" when they would come to visit him. One grandson said that Quint would set the table days in advance when he invited people over for dinner. It wasn't normal table setting, it was more like you were going to the circus. Instead of glasses, he would have glass jars or pitchers. Instead of silverware, he would have salad tongs or wooden forks. When his grandkids would try to re-set the table with normal silverware, he wouldn't let them. He made them eat with the weird utensils on the table.
Another grandson said Quint added something unexpected to almost everything he cooked. Once when he was cooking a pot roast, he looked through the fridge for something to add to it. He found a jar of jelly and started putting big spoonfuls of jelly over the pot roast. "Grandpa, what are you doing?!" his grandson asked. "Shut up and eat it!" Quint said. So they did. And it was good.
Quint's daughter, Kris, said he would call her up and ask her what "soss" would go with the meat he was cooking. Apparently there were some words in the English language he liked to massacre. Kris was never his "daughter" she was his "dawhta."
His grandkids said he had a playhouse out in his backyard. When they came over, he would go out and play house or dolls or whatever the grandkids wanted to play. He would even let them put his hair up in little pigtails all over his head and paint his toenails.
Quint loved to go dirt-biking. His family was relieved when they finally converted him over to riding a quad, but he still drove crazy. He'd go up all the steep hills and tip his quad and do things his full-grown sons were scared to do. Quint told his family he wanted to die on a quad with a big smile on his face. They were relieved that didn't happen.
The last person to talk was Quint's Stake President. Eighteen years ago, the Stake President was Quint's Bishop and Quint was the first counselor. The Bishop/Stake President was long-winded and their meetings would go on for hours. Quint always told him to "keep it short." Apparently that didn't work. Once Quint got to the Bishop's office first before a meeting. He had a big tray with a two pound salami and some really strong cheese on it. By the end of the meeting, they'd eaten all the cheese and salami, but the room stunk for the next two weeks.
Quint's favorite calling was being a Primary Teacher. A few years ago the Stake President called Quint into his office and called him to be a High Councilor. Quint told him, "No." The Stake President almost fainted from shock, because that was not like Quint. "It's really not that bad," the Stake President told him. Quint looked at him and said, "I want to stay a Primary Teacher for the rest of my life. I've been on a mission to Finland and a mission to Austrailia and I feel like I didn't convert anyone, but I feel like I'm converting these kids. I'm making a difference." With that explanation, the Stake President told him he could be a Primary Teacher the rest of his life. "Don't release me," Quint said. And they didn't - even after he died.
Quint loved the Primary kids and they loved him. The Primary sang a song at his funeral. There must have been 30 or 40 kids up on the stand singing for Quint. I imagine he loved that.
This is an aside by me: Sometimes at work I would hear Quint whistling songs - usually they were Primary Songs or Hymns. I wonder if he even realized he was doing that. Once he asked me if I had a dog. I looked at him weird and said, "Yes, why?" "Because you talk to yourself a lot," he said. Later that week I caught him talking to himself and pointed it out to him. "Of course I talk to myself," he said. "When I talk to myself I know I'm going to get an intelligent answer." I had to agree with him.
At the very end of the funeral, when the pallbearers were taking the casket out, the organist was playing "Quentin's Theme." Apparently Quint heard it years ago on a tv or radio show - I think it had something to do a with a superhero? I can't remember what they said the name of the show was. When Quint heard the name of the song, he said, "That's the song they have to play at the end of my funeral." So they did. It was much more somber of a song than I thought it would be. Fitting for funeral, I guess. I would have forgot that's the song they were playing, but Steve leaned over to me and whispered, "Quentin's Theme," and I remembered.
After the funeral, I had to tell Steve the story about Georgia taking Quint to the hospital several times when he was sick. Georgia went to pick up Quint and the nurse (or someone) asked, "Oh, are you related to Quintin? Are you his granddaughter?" Georgia started to answer when Quint piped up and said, "She's my mistress." (If I told that wrong, you can correct me, Georgia.) I told his sons about it later and they just nodded and said that their dad having a mistress was a long running joke. They'd tell him that's why he went on so many business trips to Montana.
After the funeral, I made David drive past the cemetary so I would know where to find Quint's grave. Quint's grave is just across the walkway from David's parents' graves. That's convenient. David laughed when I told him I wanted to see Quintin's grave. I said why are you laughing? Because his last name is "Graves"? Yes. Silly David.
So, there you have it. Quintin's wonderful funeral. Oh, and there were so many people there to talk to Quint's family that the funeral started at 11:20, not 11:00 like it was scheduled to. There were lots of people there. The entire chapel was full and half of the gym. One grandson summed up Quint the best: "Quint lived in his own little world and everyone was invited. The thing is, once you went in to his world, you never wanted to leave."
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Remembering Quintin
My friend Quintin from my last job died on Tuesday. I was surprised to hear it. I thought he would live to be 100. I knew he had heart problems, but he seemed to get through them ok the 3 years I was working there. From what I heard from Lisa, Quint had a heart attack on Monday night when he was out with his family. They took him to the hospital and he was put into a drug-induced coma. By Tuesday they decided he wasn't going to get any better, so they took him off life-support.
Quintin had more life in him than I do. He was always talking to people and travelling the world and riding his 4-wheeler - at the age of 78! He acted more like a 50 year old. Or maybe even younger. If it wasn't for his snow-white hair you would have thought he was alot younger than 78.
Quintin was what Georgia and I called "semi-retired." He came to work when he wanted to, which was usually from about 10 or 11 am until 1 or 2 pm. Or somedays not at all. Sometimes he would be gone for weeks travelling to Montana, California, Hawaii, China, Singapore, Greece, Turkey... We didn't care, we figured if we were his age we probably wouldn't go to work at all. Well, that, and he was his own boss.
The funny thing is, once I told Quintin that I wished I were working because I wanted to be there, not because I needed the money. He looked at me like I was crazy. "Nobody goes to work because they want to," he told me, "they go to work because they have to." I don't think that was true of Quint. I think he went to work because he wanted to. Of course, Quint could make almost anything fun.
I didn't get to see Quint my last day of work. On my last day of work Lisa, Kenny, Stratton and I went out to lunch for my "going away" party. Quint came into the office while we were gone and left before we came back. He left me a really nice note about how much he liked me and how he would miss me. It made me cry. I wrote him a note and put it in his box. That was the last contact I had with him.
Last weekend I was thinking about going and buying some vitamins from him this week. I was even thinking about him the day he passed away. Ironically enough, when David and I were at the cardiogist's on Tuesday there was a treadmill that said "Quinton" on it. Wrong spelling, but same name basically. I said, "I know a Quintin." I had no idea he was in the hospital in a coma at that moment. At least I get to go to his funeral. I'm glad Lisa called and told me because I never read the obituaries.
Quint was funny, he told me stories about what a horrible musician and dancer he was. He went to Arthur Murray Studios to take dance lessons when he was young. He said the instructor told him not to bother coming back because there was no hope for him learning to dance. He said, "You think they would have wanted my money." He told me about inheriting a violin when he was young. His mother found him a violin teacher close to home. After the first lesson, the teacher told him to find a hobby that had nothing to do with music. Quint may not have been musically talented, but he had so many other talents it didn't matter.
Quint even told me stories about sluffing school and that he and his friends would sneak off to a swimming hole. He grew up in the East Millcreek area and knew just about everything about it.
I'll miss Quint and his stories and his smile. He was a very kind person who was fun to talk to. He was one of my favorite people. It is sad to know I will not be able to talk to him again in this lifetime. I am glad that I had the chance to know him and work with him. I suppose he's up in heaven telling his stories to the people he loves that passed on before he did. I'm sure he's happy because I never saw him any other way!
Quintin had more life in him than I do. He was always talking to people and travelling the world and riding his 4-wheeler - at the age of 78! He acted more like a 50 year old. Or maybe even younger. If it wasn't for his snow-white hair you would have thought he was alot younger than 78.
Quintin was what Georgia and I called "semi-retired." He came to work when he wanted to, which was usually from about 10 or 11 am until 1 or 2 pm. Or somedays not at all. Sometimes he would be gone for weeks travelling to Montana, California, Hawaii, China, Singapore, Greece, Turkey... We didn't care, we figured if we were his age we probably wouldn't go to work at all. Well, that, and he was his own boss.
The funny thing is, once I told Quintin that I wished I were working because I wanted to be there, not because I needed the money. He looked at me like I was crazy. "Nobody goes to work because they want to," he told me, "they go to work because they have to." I don't think that was true of Quint. I think he went to work because he wanted to. Of course, Quint could make almost anything fun.
I didn't get to see Quint my last day of work. On my last day of work Lisa, Kenny, Stratton and I went out to lunch for my "going away" party. Quint came into the office while we were gone and left before we came back. He left me a really nice note about how much he liked me and how he would miss me. It made me cry. I wrote him a note and put it in his box. That was the last contact I had with him.
Last weekend I was thinking about going and buying some vitamins from him this week. I was even thinking about him the day he passed away. Ironically enough, when David and I were at the cardiogist's on Tuesday there was a treadmill that said "Quinton" on it. Wrong spelling, but same name basically. I said, "I know a Quintin." I had no idea he was in the hospital in a coma at that moment. At least I get to go to his funeral. I'm glad Lisa called and told me because I never read the obituaries.
Quint was funny, he told me stories about what a horrible musician and dancer he was. He went to Arthur Murray Studios to take dance lessons when he was young. He said the instructor told him not to bother coming back because there was no hope for him learning to dance. He said, "You think they would have wanted my money." He told me about inheriting a violin when he was young. His mother found him a violin teacher close to home. After the first lesson, the teacher told him to find a hobby that had nothing to do with music. Quint may not have been musically talented, but he had so many other talents it didn't matter.
Quint even told me stories about sluffing school and that he and his friends would sneak off to a swimming hole. He grew up in the East Millcreek area and knew just about everything about it.
I'll miss Quint and his stories and his smile. He was a very kind person who was fun to talk to. He was one of my favorite people. It is sad to know I will not be able to talk to him again in this lifetime. I am glad that I had the chance to know him and work with him. I suppose he's up in heaven telling his stories to the people he loves that passed on before he did. I'm sure he's happy because I never saw him any other way!
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Elvis is Everywhere...
...except not commenting on my blog. And neither is anyone else it looks like. Sometimes I wonder if anyone reads this.
Anyway...
David - went and took his stress test this morning. It was the drug-induced type, so he didn't have to jog on a treadmill. It still made him breathe hard and have a sore chest. After he got done he told me I should try it, just for the experience. I said, "No thanks!" They had to put radioactive dye in him. That does not sound at all good to me. He should find out the results in a few days.
David checked out “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” episodes 7-9 at the library for me. It has the Blancmange episode. It was even funnier than I had remembered. David and I were shocked when we heard the name of the first person to be zapped by the aliens and turned into a Scotsman: “Harold Potter.” Hmmm…David is sure that’s where JK got the name from. I’m not so sure, but it was funny. The really shocking thing is that David watched Monty Python of his own free will. He even put it in the DVD player. Amazing!
Meagan - is still looking for a dental externship. She has called at least 20 dentists. A couple look like possibilities, but with the hours dentists are open and the hours Meagan is in school, she's wondering how she's ever going to get 90 hours in by the end of the school year. Maybe she'll get 40 if she starts next week. Most of the dentists she called already have 2 or 3 or even 5 externs already.
Meagan and I finally got her financial aid form submitted. I guess we'll hear back sometime this week or next on that. I'm glad that's over with and so is Meagan.
Cameron - got to build a bridge for his Physics class. He finished it late Sunday night and had to turn it in on Monday. They are testing them tomorrow to see how much weight they hold. I remember building bridges for Physics and Calculus. I never could understand why they have students build them when it’s really cold outside. I got high on the glue even though I had the window open. I think I had to wear gloves. Ugh. I don’t think Cameron liked building a bridge much, either. At least he did it – and all by himself.
Jarom - signed up for 9th Grade this morning. He is taking French 2 to get his foreign language out of the way before he goes to Hunter High. He found out this morning that they have an Intro to Engineering Class at Kennedy. He wanted to take that, but the prerequisite is an Intro to Technology Class. He didn’t have enough room for both, so he’s taking Intro to Technology.
Amber - Is reading the fifth Harry Potter book so she can take the AR test for it and get enough points for the whole quarter. Harry Potter books are pretty long. She owns the 7th one and has Kailien’s copy of the 6th one on her shelf. I guess we should return that one. Amber told me the other day that she thinks she wants to be an Artist when she grows up. If she does, I hope she does better at it than I did. I guess it’s possible. Of course, she still has plenty of time to change her mind. We’ll see.
Jetta - gets freaked out every time we let Thor in the house. Last week Cameron and Jetta bumped heads. Thor was in the house and Jetta started licking Thor's head and wouldn't stop. I told Cameron he had given Jetta brain damage. Cameron said, "I didn't bump her head, she bumped mine!"
Me - I went to lunch with Georgia last week. It was nice to see her and find out what's going on with her. I hadn't seen her since last summer. Other than that, I haven't been up to much other than the usual - except that I got another cold in less than a month. It's kind of strange because I've been getting a lot fewer colds the past two years until just now.
Anyway...
David - went and took his stress test this morning. It was the drug-induced type, so he didn't have to jog on a treadmill. It still made him breathe hard and have a sore chest. After he got done he told me I should try it, just for the experience. I said, "No thanks!" They had to put radioactive dye in him. That does not sound at all good to me. He should find out the results in a few days.
David checked out “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” episodes 7-9 at the library for me. It has the Blancmange episode. It was even funnier than I had remembered. David and I were shocked when we heard the name of the first person to be zapped by the aliens and turned into a Scotsman: “Harold Potter.” Hmmm…David is sure that’s where JK got the name from. I’m not so sure, but it was funny. The really shocking thing is that David watched Monty Python of his own free will. He even put it in the DVD player. Amazing!
Meagan - is still looking for a dental externship. She has called at least 20 dentists. A couple look like possibilities, but with the hours dentists are open and the hours Meagan is in school, she's wondering how she's ever going to get 90 hours in by the end of the school year. Maybe she'll get 40 if she starts next week. Most of the dentists she called already have 2 or 3 or even 5 externs already.
Meagan and I finally got her financial aid form submitted. I guess we'll hear back sometime this week or next on that. I'm glad that's over with and so is Meagan.
Cameron - got to build a bridge for his Physics class. He finished it late Sunday night and had to turn it in on Monday. They are testing them tomorrow to see how much weight they hold. I remember building bridges for Physics and Calculus. I never could understand why they have students build them when it’s really cold outside. I got high on the glue even though I had the window open. I think I had to wear gloves. Ugh. I don’t think Cameron liked building a bridge much, either. At least he did it – and all by himself.
Jarom - signed up for 9th Grade this morning. He is taking French 2 to get his foreign language out of the way before he goes to Hunter High. He found out this morning that they have an Intro to Engineering Class at Kennedy. He wanted to take that, but the prerequisite is an Intro to Technology Class. He didn’t have enough room for both, so he’s taking Intro to Technology.
Amber - Is reading the fifth Harry Potter book so she can take the AR test for it and get enough points for the whole quarter. Harry Potter books are pretty long. She owns the 7th one and has Kailien’s copy of the 6th one on her shelf. I guess we should return that one. Amber told me the other day that she thinks she wants to be an Artist when she grows up. If she does, I hope she does better at it than I did. I guess it’s possible. Of course, she still has plenty of time to change her mind. We’ll see.
Jetta - gets freaked out every time we let Thor in the house. Last week Cameron and Jetta bumped heads. Thor was in the house and Jetta started licking Thor's head and wouldn't stop. I told Cameron he had given Jetta brain damage. Cameron said, "I didn't bump her head, she bumped mine!"
Me - I went to lunch with Georgia last week. It was nice to see her and find out what's going on with her. I hadn't seen her since last summer. Other than that, I haven't been up to much other than the usual - except that I got another cold in less than a month. It's kind of strange because I've been getting a lot fewer colds the past two years until just now.
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