Jo's Home Make-over

My sister, Jolene, is one of my very best friends.

We're as different as night and day,

but isn't it true that opposites attract?

Over the past 12 years Jo has gone back to school and received

both her batchelor's and master's degrees

and has spent 8 years teaching young minds.

I love my sister!

And I love to organize.

SO...

I drove to Henderson, Nevada, with my Mom to spend 8 delightful days

working side by side with Jo

while organizing her home.

We started the job by emptying the kitchen cupboards,

tossing a few old or unused items and then putting it back together again.

Mom occupied her time by doing some light reading in the telephone book.

(There's no explaining some people's taste in literature.)

Jo retrieved one of Neal's watercolors of our Dad in the Army.

Eventually we worked our way into the closet where Jo said a fond farewell
to two garbage bags full of clothing that she's been hanging onto
for nearly two decades!
We sorted and organized several bins of fabrics,
finding all manner of treasure as we worked.

As we gathered, sorted, tossed, and organized from one room to the next
there was constant laughter and we sang a song of liberation!
Change is difficult and letting go can be painful,
but we celebrated as we watched the garbage bags become filled with unessential clutter
...some that made its way to the landfill, and much that will be
donated to the nearest charity organization.

Jo and I managed to work in time to visit the local Curves club to keep in shape.

My nephew, Neal, and his wife, Stefanie spent several days at Jo's
before taking their cute girls, Madelyn & Lydia, and heading east
for art school in New York.

On Sunday my niece, Tara, her husband, Josh, and their five children,
Kayla, Kenny, Kara, Kimber, and Kami, joined the group for a BBQ.
I loved getting to know the kids better while watching them play,
engage in a pillow fight with Grandpa, and giggle while keeping a balloon airborne.

Rendal was on the family farm most of the week, but came home for the weekend.
He tells us that his shiner came from falling off a 6-foot ladder.

We three girls,
Mom, Jo, and I,
had a wonderful week together
and felt a bit of emotion when the time came for us to head home.

As I've contemplated the purpose of our tasks this past week, I've come to realize that there are few of us who do not have excess clutter in our lives. Perhaps William Morris was on the right track when he said:

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

Or Vernon Howard's words:

You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.

I think I'll try to remember that as I begin liberating my own home, mind, & spirit.

Grandkids' Summer Retreat

This has been a wonderful weekend.

I was blessed to have ALL five of my grandchildren spend time with me.

I've looked forward to this for months and now that it's over I'm a little melancholy and have shed a few tears. We played games, told stories, danced, sang, watched movies, ate, made messes, and cleaned them up. We whispered and shouted. We giggled and teased.

I don't remember the last time I wiped as many bottoms in one weekend. The kids were happy and helpful and left me with an overflowing cup of memories.

There is nothing quiet about this group. There was a constant contest to see who would end up with which telephone. Conversations, real and pretend never ended!

Tegan & Mayci spent a hot summer evening splashing around in Grandma's new pool. It didn't last long since we discovered that it was defective and the water water wouldn't stay in. They slid and splashed, threw the basketball and tossed the rings.

Jayden wore many faces during his stay. He performed on his guitar, showed off on the basketball court, and played games on the Wii. He found an old Tetris game and taught himself to play. When he arrived he had a loose tooth which came out during a wrestling match. The Tooth Fairy left him $2 richer. He was a big help and a good example to the other kids.

During the hot hours of the day the kids joined together in all kinds of play. Avery, Gracyn, and Mayci danced their little hearts out while Jayden and Tegan played video games. We joined in looking for the hidden treasures sewn within Grandma's I Spy quilt. Babies and Barbies were a big hit with the girls. Running, jumping, and singing went on hour after hour.

When the temperatures cooled down, the kids donned their swimming suits and headed for the water. Tegan, Avery, and Gracyn enjoyed running back and forth in the cool spray of the sprinklers. During a thunderstorm they blew bubbles, then sat in puddles and had races, leaving their "butt prints" in the wake. Mayci took over the job as protector of the sidewalk chalk while the kids created their artistic masterpieces in the driveway. Tegan became a giggling blue chalk monster.

The big sleepover started out in the family room with children scattered on the floor and couches, but before the night was over the girls were tucked safely into an upstairs bedroom near Grandma and Grandpa.

As is normal for a group of children, getting a group photo with everyone smiling and looking toward the camera at the same time is a novelty. This is the best we could do after a half dozen tries.

Grandma didn't do to badly getting all the kids fed, dressed, hair combed, and to church on time. Kevin and Kristen helped out during the meeting to keep the kids calm while Grandma and Grandpa participated in the choir. They even attended Primary class with those who were timid.

I think this will become an annual event ... after I recuperate!

In the News!

Clive was featured in the Salt Lake Tribune on 18 July 2008.
The following is the article that ran in the Close-up section.

Despite Loss, He's Working for the City
Defeated council candidate heads group to fight tax increases in West Jordan
By Donald W. Meyers

http://www.sltrib.com/valleywest/ci_9911662

When Clive Killpack ran for West Jordan's City Council, he promised to create an advisory panel to examine the budget of Utah's fourth most-populous city.

Killpack narrowly lost that election last year, but that hasn't stopped him from fulfilling his campaign promise. He heads the West Jordan Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee, a grass-roots group of 40 that looks for ways this west Salt Lake County city can trim its budget and exercise fiscal fitness.

"We have people who deal with budgets all the time in the public and private sectors," said Killpack, an information-technology support supervisor with the Utah Office of Higher Education. "We have people who look at the revenue projections and ask what they support."

Mayor David Newton said he welcomes the additional scrutiny - even though there may be some areas with which city officials may disagree.

"If we had more people involved like this group, it would be a blessing," Newton said. "I want to see them involved next year."

Killpack organized the committee April 9, the day after the city introduced its $95 million budget. The spending package requires a $3 million property-tax bump - about $70 more a year on a $247,000 home - to bring it into balance. That's not counting a 3.5 percent telecommunications tax and a half-percentage point jump in the city's energy tax.

With the pending Jordan School District split, Killpack said something needs to be done to give taxpayers a break.

"When [the split] happens, we're going to see property taxes go higher," Killpack said. "We're asking too much for the citizens to foot the bill."

He warned it will be especially hard for senior citizens.

While there is little he can do about the school taxes, Killpack believes he and his committee can soften the blow by keeping city taxes in check.

Howard Stephenson, president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, said he hadn't heard of the committee before, but commended its willingness to be fiscal watchdogs. But Stephenson, who also is a Republican state senator from Draper, said anti-tax groups need to be careful when making their case.

"One thing we caution is to use facts, not emotion," Stephenson said. As long as the arguments are fact-based, he said government officials are more willing to listen than if the protesters gripe about taxes without doing their homework.

Killpack said his group already is digging for the facts. Committee members get budget documents from the city and pore over them, looking for places where spending can be trimmed or accounting procedures tightened.

The committee has recommended cutting $2 million from the city's fleet-fund reserves and delaying the purchase of new nonemergency vehicles. The panel also has suggested clearly linking revenue sources to the programs they fund, instead of lumping them all into the general fund. He said that makes it hard to see if a program is siphoning money from other departments.

The committee also is circulating a petition asking city leaders to shoot down the property-tax boost. The goal, he said, is to show that most residents, not just the committee, oppose the proposed increase.

While anti-tax groups often are viewed by officials as adversaries, Killpack said his committee has seen city staffers and council members attend its meetings to discuss finances.

Newton, the mayor, said the committee's work has been good for West Jordan in that officials can better explain what they do and why things have to be done a particular way.

"We won't always agree," Newton said. "None of us do, not even elected officials."

Councilwoman Kathy Hilton, who supports the tax increase, disagrees with some of the group's recommendations, but she said she would not state any of them while the budget discussions continue.

"I would like to go through the budget process," Hilton said. dmeyers@sltrib.com

West Jordan Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee: http://www.westjordancitizens.com/.

Memory Game

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

MS 150 Bike Tour

For the third consecutive year, Mars participated in the MS 150 Bike Tour.

Clive and I have made it a tradition to be in Logan to see him cross the finish line.

This year we made it with just five minutes to spare,

but we did cheer him as he finished his century ride.

He made it a goal this year to collect $500 in donations to the MS Society.

By the day of the ride he had received $750 due to the goodness of friends & family

and THEIR friends.

He initially started doing the ride because he loves biking

and wanted to ride in memory of my brother, Kim, who suffered from the debilitating disease

and passed away in 1996.

Thanks to Mars and others like him, those who suffer may live to see a cure.

Marisa & Jonathan's Housewarming

After boxing, packing, loading, unloading, unpacking, and cleaning,

Jonathan and Marisa finally got settled in their newly rented home.

To thank their family and friends,

and as a housewarming,

they hosted a BBQ.

At least 30 guests enjoyed a wonderful summer evening.

These are a few family shots:

Darren & Sheryl - married nearly 10 years!

Spencer & Kirsti - a new love interest?

Jonathan - grill chef

Sheryl, Kevin, & Kristen - havin' a good time



Kevin & Kristen - soon to be married
Jonathan & some strange, spastic woman
Marisa & Jonathan - newlyweds & our hosts
Wendy & Clive - happy to be with their children

Tuacahn Trip

Clive and I love music and stage productions.

When you put them together and have a musical, we love it even more.

Clive's parents invited us to go to Tuacahn with them this year to see

The Sound of Music

&

Les Miserables.

Of course, we said, "Yes!"

We traveled to St. George in 100 degree temperatures

where we met some of Edith and Ralph's friends.

We stayed in lovely accommodations at WorldMark

where we enjoyed air conditioning, comfy beds, visited, and played Wizard.

(I was a beginner and didn't even come in last!)

We loved the beauty of The Sound of Music with its wonderful story and memorable music.

BUT ...

it was the power of Les Miserables that brought us to tears.

This production was superior to the traveling Broadway show that we saw at the

Capitol Theatre several years ago.

The actors grabbed hold of us from the very beginning and kept us under their spell

until the very end.

Clive and I enjoy time together at the beautiful Tuacahn ampitheater.

Lunch at Chuck-a-Rama with Ralph & Edith Osborne,

Sharon & Phil Wheeler, Don & Margaret Childs, & Clive.

Our hosts and my extraordinary parents-in-law, Ralph & Edith.

Our excellent 3rd & 4th row seats as we await the opening of the show.

Phil, Sharon, Edith, Ralph, Wendy, Clive, Margaret & Don.

Posing with rivals Jean Val Jean & Javert.

Clive & I have a few moments to chat with the outrageous Thenardier's.

(And we got away with our wallets and jewelry intact!).