Busy, busy, busy!

The last few weeks have been crazy busy!  I will attempt to fill you in, but forgive me if I miss something...  Oh, never mind as you won't know!

Hiking Cable Mountain - Zion National Park
Having Zion in your back yard is one of the best things about living in St. George.  We decided to try a hike that we had not previously done, Cable Mountain.  It is a 16 mile hike round trip, made slightly longer by missing a turn in the trail.  It is climbing the majority of the way to the top with small sections of level hiking and even a slight decline of a mile to the wooden structure used to transport finished lumber and shingles from the top of the mountain where the trees were harvested and milled to the valley floor below for transport.  The cable system was originally installed in 1901, burned down by lightning and rebuilt in 1911 and 1920, finally ceasing operation in 1930.  If you are looking for a strenuous hike far from the crowds, this is a good one.

"That is where we are going."

If you look at the very tip of this picture you may be able to make out the wooden structure.  You cannot walk up the mountain directly so you take a route that brings you in on the backside.

View from Top of Cable Mountain

Clint Black Concert - Tuacahn Amphitheater 

Ok, I'm not a big country western fan, but Cookie and Pete LOVE Clint Black so what the heck, we went along.  I have to confess, I really enjoyed it. He is an excellent entertainer and musician.  We told jokes in between songs and did not drone on like some singers (sorry Colbie Caillat).  At one point the winds picked up and they had to take time to lower the canopy above the stage.  That was entertaining in and of itself.  Our favorite part of the concert was watching the guy in front of us head bob to the beat of the music, every once in a while shaking his shoulder like we was "dancing" in his seat.  Thanks, Pete!

Clint Black at Tuacahn

Pete digging the music.  Shake it Pete!

Julie and Cookie enjoying the concert and wind.

California Trip with the folks

We made a quick trip to California for our wine pickup.  Pete and Cookie went along to visit the grandchildren.  We picked them up at 3 AM the morning after the concert.  That is a reasonable time isn't it?  You can only imagine the chatter with these two kids in the car. "When do we get there?"  "I have to pee!"  "What do we have to eat?"  Finally I asked Julie to slip a little something into their juice boxes...

Finally some peace and quite!

It is amazing how fast a Dramamine and Benadryl combination will work!  Pete only slept a few hours, but Cookie was out for all but about 30 minute of the drive.  For her it was like time travel.  Get in the car in Utah, wake up in California!  And she still complained about the drive!!!  Oh, and having to "get up" at 2:45 am, only to go right to sleep again for 10 hours!

Julie and I went with our friend Kathy to a Cabernet Cook Off at the Hall Winery.  They had local chefs competing to benefit local charities.  Being the giving people that we are, we paid for our admission, ate the delicacies, drank the daylights out the cabernet and had a great time.  Can't wait to go again next year.  It is after all for charity...is that tax deductible?  Just asking...

Kathy and Julie at the Cabernet Cook Off,  Please note the empty glasses.  That happened a lot but was quickly remedied.

That's more like it!

Almost wore my polka dot outfit, so glad it was at the cleaners!

Evidence we actually ate and did not just drink.  Ok, that could be staged.  All kidding aside the food was amazing!

Later we went with the family to the Sacramento Zoo.  The zoo was just ok, but the kids were adorable!  

Tyler and Uncle Dave

Colbie and Pete.  Wait a minute!  That's not Pete!  Sorry...

The trip home was uneventful.  As a matter of fact, Cookie has no recollection of how she got home!

Wanted, Gloves...Right Hand Only

Pete quote...  "I ain't do nut'n in there but sleep" when referring to his bedroom.
One more...  "She's like china in a bull shop".  I think he is referring to the tableware, not the country.  In Pete's defense, he says this correctly most of the time.

On a recent hike, Pete was in front of me and as I watched his hands swinging back and forth, I could not help but notice that he had on two different gloves.
"Paul, why do you have two different gloves?"
"I just wear them to keep off the sun".
"But Paul, they are different".  (Jokingly) "Do you have another pair just like them at home?"
"Yes."
"You have to be kidding me!  Why didn't you wear matching gloves?"
"Oh, I don't have gloves that match these"
"So where did you get two unmatched gloves?"
"I found them.  I only ever find left gloves"  At that point he showed me that the glove on his right hand not only did not match the glove on the left hand.  It was flipped over!  (Imagine how you would put a left hand glove on your right hand, not that you ever would do that.)

If anyone has right gloves, please send them to Pete.  No pairs please!  That would be too normal.

I believe I mentioned that Cookie got an Amazon Echo Dot.  For those of you unfamiliar, it is a voice activated link to the internet that can answer questions, keep a grocery list or play songs for you.  All you have to do is read a bunch of sentences during the set up to familiarize "Alexa" with your voice.

For example...  "Alexa, what is the temperature today?"
                          "Today's high is 84 degrees.  The current temperature is 72"

Very easy right?  Well, first you have to speak clearly and English should be your primary language, at least for the one we have.  Well, you can imagine how much trouble Alexa is having at Pete and Cookie's house...

Some examples of questions asked...but not answered...

• Alexa, where are my glasses?  I had them before we went out, now they are missing again!  
• Alexa, does this mole look like it might be cancer?
• Alexa, how long can you store minced garlic in a hot closet after the jar has been opened?  (Ok, it would have actually made sense had they asked that instead of keeping it  and tasting it after 28 years!)
• Alexa, where is Cookie hiding money? (Only funny if you've read the previous blogs)
• Alexa, do these pants make my butt look big?

Okay, I may have taken some liberties on the list of questions, but you get the idea.  In fact, if poor Alexa can even understand the questions it would be a miracle.  For example...

• "where" is pronounced "were"
• "dog" is pronounced "dawg"
• "ten" is pronounced "tin"
• "birthday" is pronounced "birfday"

Cookie is trying to start a shopping list on Alexa.  While this is very handy, it could be problematic.  First of all, Cookie does not do the shopping, Pete does.  To further complicate this attempt, his phone does not receive data making it impossible.  Oh well, that won't stop them.

I will keep you posted on how Alexa is doing.  Please pray for "her"....

Epilogue:
Feeling bad for Pete that he was wearing mismatched gloves, i bought him a pair of NEW gloves at the local auto parts store.  They are the same gloves worn by pit crews the world over.  At least that's what is said on the tag.  Well, he wore them that morning on a hike, promptly leaving them in the outhouse at the trail head.  When we went back later to see if they were still there, they were gone.  ONE HOUR was the length of time he managed to hang on to them!!!  I also gave him a pair of sunglasses which Julie did not think looked good on me.  The day after giving him the glasses I asked where they were given the recent experience with the gloves...  "I think I put them on my work bench"...   Well, Julie and I checked the work bench and they were no where to be found.  As we were leaving the garage we noticed something under the work bench up against the wall.  Laying on my stomach I was barely able to reach the sunglasses that had been dropped and kicked under the work bench.  On second thought, don't bother sending gloves...