Swiss Cheese

Kirsten has started her own blog of comics she has created. Check her out at www.funcheese.blogspot.com

Welcome to Utah

Harrison arrived yesterday for his 5 week Tour de Utah. It is great to see him. He and Zach picked up right where they left off. They caught up on each other's lives and talked about everything from religion to Yo Gabba Gabba. I don't think learning about the video games "Assassin's Creed" or "Half Life" were on the list of Jolyn's "hopes for his trip," but he and Zach did a little of that too. His first evening with us was a glimpse into what life is like for us - busily running here and there, then finally getting home to a late dinner. He was lucky to catch us on a night that we didn't have grilled cheese sandwiches or leftovers. Grandma Spencer will host him for a few days before the family reunion and then it's wide open.

Three sickles and a dung bomb

Welcome to the new home for our blog. We will soon be changing the name. Lost in Translation never really felt right. We are looking for a name that represents our essence, our values and our dreams. It should be the embodiment of everything that is good about our family. Or, it could be something random and wacky. Zach's vote is for "Three Sickles and a Dung Bomb." But that's a little too scatological for me.

With fun like this, who needs Hannah Montana?

We love Riverton City’s Town Days celebration. Every year we look forward to the parade on July 3rd. Who can’t appreciate watching all the royalties from surrounding towns waving and posing in their sleeveless gowns? We also saw a 30 member Senior Citizen’s singing group performing on a flat-bed trailer. Lizzie earned 5 bucks by going out on the parade route and dancing in the middle of one of the little girls’ dance routines. We laughed ‘til we cried. The vote is still out on the most ironic entry. Sean Thomas is running for Salt Lake County auditor. His slogan was pasted along the side of a stretch pickup truck: “I’ll make your dollars stretch.” Or, the Wal-mart float - a pirate ship. What do you think?

July 4th started with the Riverton Country Mile 10K and Fun Run (2.2 mile). Kirsten took 2nd place in the fun run behind a 13 year old boy, finishing in 16 minutes. Lizzie ran the 10K in 54 minutes with no training. Ian posted his best time in the 10K at 41:21. Paula finished in 48:45 - not bad.

After the race we headed up to the Lytle’s for the annual 4th of July breakfast. Grandma Spencer joined us and we had a great time and ate ourselves sick. At the end of the day, as always, we rounded out the holiday at the Riverton Park watching the best fireworks show in Utah.

Dwayne Chose this Color

A few years ago, Ian and I were driving through Provo and came across puce colored house with a big sign out front, “Dwayne chose this color!” This week while driving through West Valley I saw this great home. It’s fascinating, they liked this color scheme enough to paint the wall around the yard exactly the same. What do you think conversations were like on the street when saw that their neighbor had done this to their home? Maybe they should have a sign at the top of the street that says, “We don’t know what they were thinking!”

Paper or Plastic? No Thank You.

Submitted by Ian:
The economy is in bad shape. There are starving people in Africa, genocide in Darfur, the polar caps are melting and the polar bears will soon be homeless...

There is a constant deluge of bad news to deal with. I feel overwhelmed and helpless, what difference can one single person possibly make?

Hang on, there is a way I can help. I can make a difference and help solve difficult problems. I am told all I need to do is shop and spend money - Clothes at Dillard’s, Flat screen TV, Blu-ray DVD, digital camera - this is going to be easy!

“The Greatest Generation” went through the depression, beat back the Nazis and the Japanese, put men on the moon, all through hard work, sacrifice and determination. Yet all I have to do is spend my stimulus check to buy neat stuff.

It doesn’t seem to be much of a sacrifice, I feel kind of guilty...

I know what I can do! I’ll go shopping, but I’ll do it with a home made reusable shopping bag! I’ll recycle by making it with leftover material, I won’t be polluting the world with plastic bags, and I’ll look like a dork!

I might not need to fight my way to Berlin in the dead of winter, but I can buy stuff while I look like the crazy guy with 30 cats back home.

The Scream Team Retires

Zach and his two friends, Spencer and Collin, had plotted a prank for weeks. It involved a car full of unsuspecting boys an abandoned house, fake blood, a made up story, and a chain saw which they purchased at a pawn shop for $40. The prank went so well, one kid even peed his pants.

The next day at church it was all the poor freaked-out boys could talk about. Word spread quickly about the deranged guy at the creepy old house. By Monday it was all over the place. Kirsten’s friend even told her about it (with details greatly exaggerated). In an interesting study of young manhood, the frightened boys were plotting a second trip. It looked like a great future for Zach and his friends until a girl entered the picture. Isn’t it always the girl that messes things up in the movies? Collin was trying to impress this girl. He made her promise not to say anything but, of course, she immediately went and told one of the boys that was in the car. Zach, Spencer and Collin tried to contain things. They plotted to get other kids. They devised and schemed, but the magic was gone. Yesterday they called the whole thing off. So, does anyone want a chainsaw?