#8152

Guess what? I just signed up for NABLOPOMO. Last year I participated, but this year I have oficially joined the campaign. I am #8152!

Willie and I visited the "bone" doctor on Monday, and his thumb is good to go. The doctor reported that the break/fracture has healed nicely and he can play basketball and any other sport without fear of hurting it.

Today was orthodontist day. The teeth are doing pretty well. This month's colors are orange and red.

I participated on a site visit to a school in Lincolnshire, Il., last week. It was a pretty powerful experience. Adlai E. Stevenson High School is nationally recognized as a school to watch for many reasons, but the school's focus on student learning is pretty amazing. (I know I mentioned this before, but check the site and see for yourself.)

Random Thoughts

So, I am with a school district team at Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois (an hour and twenty minute train ride north of Chicago). It is a pretty amazing school -- 4500 students, 300 teachers, 16 counselors, 6 social workers, a security guard in every hallway, facilities to dream about, pretty successful students. We are here with schools from all over the country to see how they engage students and monitor their learning progress in ways we have not yet determined. I do have a criticism -- there is no guidance program in place. No organized meetings with students or developmental activities to help students PLAN for the future. Oops!

So, I advanced a year on the longevity chart.

So, I have 22 years in the Utah Retirement System. (I really have 31 years in education but part time and years I took out don't count.)

So, I have great kids. I have quite the age span among them -- 30, 28, and 13.10.

So, I have been married 32 years.

So, my nephew, Parker, turns 12 this week. He will be a deacon and passing the sacrament -- he will need to be serious.

So, I have a grandson -- he is such a quick learner.

So, I love my family, my work in the Church and at schools, and hot fudge sundaes with whipped cream and maraschino cherries.

No School Today

It's fall recess for students and staff in Granite School District. Yippee! Willie and I have had a great day. Elliott and Annie arrived about 8:15 a.m. Annie had a meeting and we got to have Elliott with us. We had dentist appointments -- but that was fine because Elliott is very good and he made friends with Dr. Boulton and Liz. Dr. Boulton gave him a tooth brush and a little toy car. Then we headed to see Grandma Petersen -- Highland Care is just down the street from the dentist. She was really excited to see Elliott. He charmed one of the nurses into putting a smiley face on the bottom of a pill cup. Then we headed to meet Annie for lunch -- Haley had a lunch appointment with her Tooele teacher friends. Elliott slept through lunch -- we wore him out. Then we all headed home -- Willie to football practice and Annie to cub scouts and me, I'm just home.

Family Ties

No matter the circumstances and situations, my family is very supportive of events and activities -- it's a priority. Sometimes I take their support for granted. My immediate family -- Karl, the kids, their spouses, and Elliott are there with 100% -- always. My extended family is just about 100% -- my parents, sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews, in-laws and out-laws. Karl's extended family is close to 100%, as well. Birthdays, weddings, and other special events bring out the support. It is just the best thing in the entire universe to have a great family! I (we) love them all!

Fall Colors

The reds and oranges of the maples and oak brush were probably pounded down by the rain on Saturday. However, the Aspens' yellows are as vibrant as ever -- at least from the top of PC Main Street.

Pumpkins for Sale

We went for a nice ride yesterday afternoon and saw this colorful pumpkin display. We included the new Legacy Parkway as part of our itinerary. It's a very comfortable road -- if roads can be comfortable. No, the pumpkin display was not part of the scenery on the new parkway. They were displayed out front of the Albertson's store in Park City.

Someplace I hadn't been . . .

Until today I had never been to the University of Utah Guest House. It is a hotel/conference center on campus. It is situated between Fort Douglas and the medical/health sciences colleges on Fort Douglas Blvd. I attend a legislative outreach meeting there. It's very nice, and the meeting was good. I scanned this image off a napkin.