January 30
Reminiscence - Shoe in the Creek
Sonics game with Austin
I found myself some frugal $10 tickets to the Sonics/Spurs game on 1/29. so I picked up a couple and took Austin to the game last night. We had a bit of time to spend before the game started since I had met LeAnn at 5:30 in Pioneer Square where she was going to a volunteer event for an upcoming "Hearts Ball", which is a fundraising event for the American Heart Association. She dropped Austin off with me and we headed up to Queen Anne hill for dinner. We splurged at Dick's, a local burger joint where the burgers are $1.15. I asked him if he was full after his Burger, fries and shake, and he said he could eat another burger. Yes, I was trying to fill him up before going to the arena where they would charge five times as much for similar items. We still had a bit of time before the game started at 7:00, so we picked up the tickets from will call and then went over the Seattle Center where Austin finished that second burger. We were hoping to drop by the nearby arcade, but after walking over to it saw that it was closed. Bummer. We ended back at Key Arena about 45 minutes before game time. It was a blast to spend this time with Austin and see his exuberance. He was basically screaming the whole game. He is quite a frenetic fan. He put everyone else in our section to shame. It was great to be able to answer his questions about the game. He was constantly asking what happened when there was a break in play. Explaining things like three seconds, technical fouls, offensive charging and so on was a great teaching experience. Some of the other highlights: He would always be dancing around trying to get on camera when they were looking for fan participation for things like "Best Dancer", "Best Air Guitar", "Best Flexing", etc. The kid was all over the place. One time he was cheering so hard that while he was jumping up and down with his fists raised in the air, he actually decked me in the jaw!-- And it hurt! He packs quite a punch. He was like, "Sorry about that, dad" Then went right back to cheering. Then we barely missed catching a t-shirt by two rows. He mentioned to me a few times, "This is so AWESOME! Thanks dad" and he would give me a big hug. It was a great night. Besides this great bonding, it turned out that the Sonics won in thrilling fashion, beating the NBA champion Spurs by three to break the Sonics worst losing streak ever of 14 games.
January 29
Tender Moments
We were very saddened by the passing of the President and Prophet of our church, Gordon B. Hinckley. Mom gave me a call at 7:15 the night he died to pass on the news. Amazing how quickly word travels, as he passed away at 7:00 that night. When we gathered the family into our room before family prayers, we passed on this news to them. Autumn and Austin looked a bit shocked, but it really hit me when five year old Jaylin began sobbing. I guess the rest of us knew it would be coming sooner rather than later, and were just happy for the full life he dedicated to serving in the church and the fact that he would be together with his wife again. So, looking over at Jaylin and seeing the tears running down her eyes was quite emotional. That one so young could be so affected by the death of someone she had never met was impressive to me. I knew then that she has been taught well to listen to the guidance of our prophet due to the fact that she was so saddened when he was gone.
January 28
What you can do and not do with babies!
This is a perfect introduction for the soon-to-be parents, Brandecca to get a tutorial in caring for and nurturing a baby:
What you can do and not do with babies!
What you can do and not do with babies!
Reminiscence - Monkey Slippers
[1993]Even before the time I knew LeAnn was "the one for me", we had had a number of group dates with her and me and Bryce Flowers and various roommates of LeAnn's. We went out to JB Big Boys and had hot cocoa a few times, and then would hang out at their dorm for a bit after. One night, we went back to LeAnn's dorm and were messing around in the front room. I was demonstrating some of my "sweet skills" -- or, showing the ladies my incredible Karate moves that I had picked up while in Japan -- along with the accompanying "kiai" ((n) scream; yell; fighting spirit;) Just picture the Karate Kid doing the flamingo move down at the beach on the post. That was me, but cooler. Aw yeah. The ladies loved it.. fawning and fainting left and right...
LeAnn, who was comfortably wearing a pair of monkey slippers and looking on in admiration, then jumped into action. She let out a tremendous "HIYA"!-- jumped off her left foot and kicked her right into the air. I saw the dreaded monkey slipper elevating toward me. The flashback I am seeing now distinctly shows a demented malice in the eyes of the monkey slipper that was heading toward me. It happened so fast, I didn't have time to move. The nasty little critter came up and it nailed me right below the equator with enough impact to bust through a brick wall. Speaking of bricks, I went down like a ton of them. The stars and birds that you see rotating around a cartoon characters head when they are knocked out visited me that night. (I cant recall if LeAnn was mortified or proud of herself after taking me down for the ten-count.) I had honestly never been hit that hard in that place in my life. (That was saying a lot after 14 years of playing soccer.) I recall getting up woozily and trying to regain my balance, all the while pretending like it hadn't hurt me that bad, and retaining my 'cool' factor.
No other woman had ever made me feel that way--It must have been from that moment on that I knew I was in love with this girl! Even today, anytime I am giving LeAnn some flack she threatens to pull out the Monkey Slippers on me!
LeAnn, who was comfortably wearing a pair of monkey slippers and looking on in admiration, then jumped into action. She let out a tremendous "HIYA"!-- jumped off her left foot and kicked her right into the air. I saw the dreaded monkey slipper elevating toward me. The flashback I am seeing now distinctly shows a demented malice in the eyes of the monkey slipper that was heading toward me. It happened so fast, I didn't have time to move. The nasty little critter came up and it nailed me right below the equator with enough impact to bust through a brick wall. Speaking of bricks, I went down like a ton of them. The stars and birds that you see rotating around a cartoon characters head when they are knocked out visited me that night. (I cant recall if LeAnn was mortified or proud of herself after taking me down for the ten-count.) I had honestly never been hit that hard in that place in my life. (That was saying a lot after 14 years of playing soccer.) I recall getting up woozily and trying to regain my balance, all the while pretending like it hadn't hurt me that bad, and retaining my 'cool' factor.
No other woman had ever made me feel that way--It must have been from that moment on that I knew I was in love with this girl! Even today, anytime I am giving LeAnn some flack she threatens to pull out the Monkey Slippers on me!
Charlie bit me!
This vid has to be one of my top ten of all time. Reminds me of the time I stuck my thumb against a red-hot car cigarette lighter-- just to see if it really hurt. (Yep, it did :)) LeAnn and I watched this over and over again last night on the DVR from the Ellen show. I was laughing so hard I was crying.
January 23
Reminiscence - Chili Pants
[1996] I am a big advocate of increasing our food storage. I have signed up to go to the cannery in Kent, WA. just about every time they have requested volunteers. Over the past few years, I have canned applesauce, salsa and chili, to name a few. One of the best (worst?) memories I have of the place is when we went down to can chili. I had been volunteered to be one of the guys that would stir the vat of chili while it cooked. They preferred some of the bigger, stronger guys to stir the pots, so I won by default. The beans, sauce and meat were all processed, then thrown into a big vat for cooking. The vat was probably about 200 gallons or so. Here is a picture of the cannery. I believe you can see the vats off to the right hand side there behind that big funnel...
Once everything was in there, we would stir the chili with paddles which were basically canoe oars. So, there I was cranking away, when one of the supervisors came over and told me I needed to get deeper into the vat to make sure that it was consistently cooked. I started scooping down low and pulling the chili through to the top. That was when it happened. You can see above that there is a procession of people who will then put the product into cans before they are sealed. There was a poor grandpa, who was easily in his 70's who was right in front of the vat I was stirring. He was filling the cans with chili and putting them on a conveyor to get sealed. Then in the midst of one of my deep scoops, I ended up pulling the paddle out too hard and about two cups worth of chili when arcing through the air. I can still see it now, as if in slow motion. The chili hit its apex and then started its decline right toward the back of this poor mans pants. It wouldnt have been so bad had his pants not been splayed out a few inches from his back. This created a nice receiving area for the incoming chili. He did have a layer of undergarments on, so apparently he did not feel it when the hot chili came sliding down his pants. Added to that was the fact that he had his checkbook sticking out of his right back pocket. A 1/4 cup or so hit his pocket and the wallet too. I stood there in shock waiting for him to respond. I looked at the other guy stirring the vat next to me and he was staring incredulously as well waiting for the scream of pain. After about 5 seconds, and seeing no reaction out of the grandpa, I considered for a second that maybe I could just let it slide. Nah... I went over to him, as he was continuing to work without pause. I tapped him on the shoulder and shamefully told him that I had just launched some chili into the back of his drawers. He turned around to look and seemed quite shocked. I apologized profusely as I tried to help him clean up. Sooooooooo embarrassing. He took it pretty well though. (No skin off his back.... Thankfully :)) Ahhh, 'Beans, beans, the magical fruit..."
Once everything was in there, we would stir the chili with paddles which were basically canoe oars. So, there I was cranking away, when one of the supervisors came over and told me I needed to get deeper into the vat to make sure that it was consistently cooked. I started scooping down low and pulling the chili through to the top. That was when it happened. You can see above that there is a procession of people who will then put the product into cans before they are sealed. There was a poor grandpa, who was easily in his 70's who was right in front of the vat I was stirring. He was filling the cans with chili and putting them on a conveyor to get sealed. Then in the midst of one of my deep scoops, I ended up pulling the paddle out too hard and about two cups worth of chili when arcing through the air. I can still see it now, as if in slow motion. The chili hit its apex and then started its decline right toward the back of this poor mans pants. It wouldnt have been so bad had his pants not been splayed out a few inches from his back. This created a nice receiving area for the incoming chili. He did have a layer of undergarments on, so apparently he did not feel it when the hot chili came sliding down his pants. Added to that was the fact that he had his checkbook sticking out of his right back pocket. A 1/4 cup or so hit his pocket and the wallet too. I stood there in shock waiting for him to respond. I looked at the other guy stirring the vat next to me and he was staring incredulously as well waiting for the scream of pain. After about 5 seconds, and seeing no reaction out of the grandpa, I considered for a second that maybe I could just let it slide. Nah... I went over to him, as he was continuing to work without pause. I tapped him on the shoulder and shamefully told him that I had just launched some chili into the back of his drawers. He turned around to look and seemed quite shocked. I apologized profusely as I tried to help him clean up. Sooooooooo embarrassing. He took it pretty well though. (No skin off his back.... Thankfully :)) Ahhh, 'Beans, beans, the magical fruit..."
January 22
Map of Religious Distribution in the US
This is pretty neat. Someone sent this out at work. Look around for the isolated LDS communities and try to figure out the determining factor for LDS settlement in that area.
http://img12.nnm.ru/imagez/gallery/5/8/0/9/d/5809d478222bebfd958427965c25fb4a_full.jpg
http://img12.nnm.ru/imagez/gallery/5/8/0/9/d/5809d478222bebfd958427965c25fb4a_full.jpg
alfred b child part II
It keeps getting better! Here is another page with even more descriptive history about ggg grandpa Alfred! http://www.childgenealogy.org/home/stories/alfredb/alfredb.html
Copied Text as follows:
Alfred Bosworth Child was born on 15 November 1796, in Milton, Saratoga County, New York, son of Mark Anthony Child and Hannah Benedict.
Alfred B. Child was raised in a very religious home. His father was instrumental in establishing the first Universal Church of Greenfield, Saratoga County, New York. This church believed in the Bible as printed with explanations from his grandfather, Captain Increase Child and his Uncle William Child's printing press.
Alfred's picture shows that he was a large man with a rounded face. He wore the fashionable long sideburns and beard, typical of pioneers of the day. Alfred had a good head of dark brown hair, which was well groomed with some recession, typical of his age. Alfred was a handsome man with a prominent Child nose and high cheekbones. He was robust with a jolly stomach, showing his prosperity. He was a leader and a patriarch of his family, which now numbers in the thousands.
Alfred learned to work on his father's land and learned farming. We know nothing at all of his childhood and growing into manhood. Our story is taken from 4 sources and blended from each mostly in their own words.
From Polly Child Richardson's history, we learn that 3 generations of Child's were born in this area. The Kyadeross Mountains surround this area, and it must have been very pleasant, especially in the summer time when the cooling saline breezes of the Atlantic often traversed up the Hudson River; giving a climate much like the sea coast. The deep ravines and valleys cut irregularly into the mountainsides, the marshes and swamplands at the headwaters of the Hudson River. Numerous stands of beech, maple, wire and hemlock must have contributed immensely to the pleasure and enjoyment of growing and raising a family in this area.
We are not sure whether Alfred and Polly were farmers or stock raisers. The stony, rough earth of the area would lend itself to the possibility that he was a stock raiser, since the ground is more suitable for pasture than farming.
On 5 June 1837, Polly and her parents were baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This day is important because it marks the severance of the old, fairly secure, and comfortable life, insecure arduous future they were to endure. By August 11, the entire family had turned their backs on three generations of family and begun the long, laborious trek to join the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri.
Sometime prior to June 1837, the Child's had been contacted by a missionary named Charles Blakely. Alfred evidently was sufficiently convinced of the truthfulness of the message that he was willing to sell his farm in Greenfield, pile his belongings into a wagon and suffer hardships of a 1,500 mile journey to Missouri.
Polly's statement: "My father came the entire route with one pair of horses and a wagon and ten in family."
It takes little imagination to fill in the blanks in Polly's statement.
Carrying food, clothing, bedding, cooking utensils and a few meager spare parts in the wagon; thus, most of the 1500 miles would have been traversed on foot, sleeping in tents, or under the wagon at night in this sparsely settled and often savage wasteland. One must admit that a journey of this sort required a great deal of courage and fortitude, courage and fortitude that would be tested to the breaking point within a few short months.
On the way to Kirtland a man neatly dressed, having a white beard, stopped the wagon and came over to them and laid his hands on each member of the family and blessed them. He then came back and blessed Warren G. again and then disappeared and later Alfred told the Prophet Joseph Smith about the incident. He was told that the man was one of the three Nephites.
Alfred's destination was Kirtland, Ohio about one-third of the distance to Jackson County. Here we hoped to join up with a body of moving Saints, who were moving from Kirtland to Missouri. However, events moved faster than he did, for many of the Mormons had vacated the city by the time he arrived. "The Saints had left a few days before we arrived." The city of Kirtland offered the Child family only a brief respite from the rigors of the trek. They stayed a few days, resting the animals and replenishing supplies before returning to the well-defined trail of Saints moving west. They had been traveling almost a month by the time they reached Kirtland, and would be another month and a half to two months before they reached their destination in Missouri.
It was late fall when the Child family finally reached Missouri. Here after months of back-breaking travel, they found a temporary resting place at Adam-ondi-Ahman, in Daviess County. Polly describes the place as a city of tents and wagons.
However, one may well imagine the hardships the family must have had to experience that first winter in Adam-ondi-Ahman. They arrived too late in the fall to plant crops or prepare adequate shelter against the rapidly approaching winter. They would have to live as they traveled, in the meager shelter of the wagon, or in a tent pitched on the frozen ground. It would be spring before a house could be built, land cleared and crops planted. In the meantime they must share and share in whatever sustenance was available for the entire community.
"Some time during that year (1838), possibly in the spring, my father let his wagon go towards a piece of land." This land was located on Shole Creek, Caldwell County, Missouri.
Mother Polly wrote a letter to her relatives in New York and in it she explained that the Saints had been driven from Missouri to Illinois. She explains that their flight had taken them up to Far West where they stayed for a short time. We assume from the letter that they settled below Far West in either Caldwell or Ray County. The people here showed sympathy for the Saints in times past.
It was undoubtedly comforting to sink their roots into the soil again. I am sure that Alfred and his entire family looked forward to the security that a good crop and a new home would bring. The hope for security was not forthcoming, however, for in February 1839 they, with the remainder of the Mormons in Missouri, were driven into Illinois at gunpoint. Polly Barber Child gives us a look at what took place. "Fear, jealousy, and political ambition led an onslaught of persecution which rolled over Mormon people like a great wave tumbling and rolling them before it like so much flotsom and jetsom." Some of the fear and determination of the time is mentioned in a letter by Mrs. Child. "Alfred was called to go to Diammon. It was evening. Some of the brethren came and said the order was, that every man that was able, and family, will help what he could for the mob was gathering fast. Already at Grindstone, some five or six hundred, just a few miles away. I was getting supper. I stopped motionless, until one of them asked me if I was willing that he, Alfred, should go. All fear, all fluttering of the heart was gone from me. I was all calm as ever I was when sitting in hour house, mother. In the morning, it was Monday, he came home on Friday. It was thought to go to Diammon for safety."
From Polly Child's daughter. "The men were taken prisoners, My father and eldest brother Mark, were taken with the rest of them but they did not keep them very long. They let all the men go except the leaders of the Church, with orders for all of them to leave the state. 15 days warning. They took heads of church or most of them and put them in prison while the rest had a hard struggle to get out of the state. Mother Polly Child took our leave, a span of horses and wagon and with Myron Barber Child, a small boy, started to Far West, about 18 miles away from where we were living, for supplies. While on the way, news was received of the shooting of David Patten, in the Battle of Crooked River, and her team was taken to bring the body to Far West."
The Child family was forced to flee the State of Missouri in dead of winter, leaving behind a large farm - confiscated by the ruthless invaders - as well as their best horse without compensation. The best horse Alfred had, was stolen by the mob or taken. He traded another for a yoke of cattle with which he moved the family to Quincy, Illinois, where he rented a farm from Mr. Bartlet and cultivated it for one season.
The oldest living daughter, Polly, presents a very pathetic picture of her family and Mormons in general as a result of the forced exodus. "A few of us had teams and some had to go on foot, across the frozen prairie, destitute of food and clothing... there was a great deal of suffering by women and children before we got to the Mississippi River - the line between Missouri and Illinois. When we got to the river the Ice was running so that we could not cross. Consequently we had to camp there for the next three weeks before we could cross Into Illinois. By that time it was the middle of March. I will not attempt to describe suffering of the Saints up to that time, as you have history of Saints to read."
Can you imagine the misery that Polly was describing. Alfred homes and subjected to the rigors of winter on the prairie, not knowing where they were going or what they were going to do. How can any of us today appreciate what these people bore. What our ancestors family bore. It defies the imagination as it defies description and this was merely a foretale of what the future held.
By the end of March the river was sufficiently clear that the Child family was able to cross over into Illinois. Alfred and Polly stopped in the vicinity of Quincy, Illinois there they remained throughout the summer of 1839. Polly and Polly took in washing to help maintain the large family.
Mrs. Child again supplies details, stating that in March, the oldest living son, worked for two weeks on the railroad, didn't like it, so he hired out to Mr. Thompson, a real old fashioned Baptist man from the state of Maine for eight dollars a month, a half mile from home. Polly worked there two weeks and three days for six dollars. "They would pay her two dollars a week all summer if I could let her come, but the baby is so unwell with his ulcers and leg that it takes one of us all the while to just take care of him."
Spring Prairie was located in Ambrosia Ward, Zarahemla Stake, the fifth Stake of the Church. Church was held in different homes of the members in that area. The calling that was given Alfred and his family, by the Prophet Joseph Smith, was to stay in Iowa and help the Saints that were coming west.
In November of 1839, Alfred decided to move again. The new farm was located in the State of Iowa, just across the river from Commerce or Nauvoo, as it was called now. Polly, the daughter, called or describes it as "halfbreed land as it was purchased from Black Hawk Indians." Unfortunately, winter arrived before Alfred had the house finished. Evidently, Polly and her mother didn't go immediately and Alfred went to build a house. The description is as follows: "Just the body of the house and a few slabs on top that he had hewn out of logs for the roof. We had no floor. We built a fire on the ground, as we had no chimney." The move evidently took what little money the combined efforts of the family had accumulated during the summer. "My father had his house unfinished and him and my two oldest brothers had to go find work to get something to eat. My mother took in work and worked for 75¢ a week. We all done all we could to live until spring. The nearest neighbor in half breed track was five miles distance."
With the coming of spring, the fortune of the family seemed to be infused with a swelling, a newness of life. By the assistance of his boys, he fenced and put into cultivation quite an extensive farm on which he planted out a large peach and apple orchard. (From the journal of Warren Gould Child).
The whole family worked continuously at any and all jobs they could find. Polly taught school as several families had moved into the area by 1842. Alfred was elected Postmaster in their little settlement called Spring Prairie, Iowa.
Alfred planted flax and harvested a large crop, so large in fact, that Polly and her mother Polly spent a larger portion of 1843 spinning it and making it into clothes. "The cloth was made into clothes for the children and pants and shirts for father. We made sheets and pillow cases and we made dresses of flax." Polly captures the happiness and prosperity they were enjoying in the following lines: "Father attended to the office and with the help of my brothers, had a nice farm. We got along splendidly."
In 1839, in a letter Polly says this about the gospel and she is writing to her family. "Yes, there has never been the smallest moment or thought flit across my mind like wishing I had never had embraced the gospel and come here. No, my friends, there is peace and comfort to the true believer of the gospel. Mother says that we have caused her a great many sleepless nights and no doubt of it, for I am her child and a great way off. Mother, I am content, not because I like the country. If had never heard of a Mormon, I would rather live here than in New York for we can support our family ten fold easier. But mother, if you come to this country, I will give you old Browny as soon as you get here. She is a first rate cow. We have four cows. Butter has been two schillings a pound, but warm weather has fell it to sixteen cents , money."
"It rained this afternoon and we are both writing. He has left out our fruits in his letter to John. Wild plums grow in abundance. Our peach trees are so full that Alfred had to prop them up to keep the trees from breaking down. Peach trees bears in three years from seed. Hannah and Phoebe and Warren are in school. They learn very fast. I have saved a peach seed for you that was ripe two weeks ago."
In the spring of 1846, Alfred again disposed of his farm for a trifling sum and like many others started West. June found them there at Bluffs as there called, now Pottawattamie County, which was an uninhabited land and country except for Indians known as Pottawattamie Indians, who were very hostile, like all their race would bear watching.
Alfred took up another farm on or near the banks of the Missouri River, near where Bluff City now stands. The land was very fertile and productive especially for corn and vegetables, but not so good for wheat and other small grains. The country abound with wild game such as deer, turkeys, and raccoons. Wild bear also abounded to a considerable extent. A few weeks in the way of a hunting tour was usually indulged in the fall of the year which added to our winter supply of eatables.
During the wintertime, he with the boys used to go into frontier settlements of Missouri and work to procure such necessities as were needed in the family. Our remuneration for a days work would be about 50¢ or 50¢ per hundred for cutting the timber and splitting rails. In this way we procured a scanty fit-out for the great journey to Salt Lake Valley.
On July 1, of 1852 we started on the trail made by the pioneers in the Sixteenth Company of the season under Captain Uriah Curtis as captain. Our teams were two of cattle and one yoke of cows to each wagon and two wagons.
We arrived in Salt Lake Valley on the first day of October, 1852 and settled in Ogden where we commenced making preparations for winter quarters.
In November, Father, Alfred Bosworth was confined to his bed from a severe cold which settled in his lungs and brought on a long fever which terminated in his death on the 22nd day of December, 1852, at the age of 56 years, 1 month and 7 days.
In a letter in 1853, by Polly Barber Child, "I am tired, let us all go into the garden and get some currants and cherries. I have plenty of them this year and you may have as many as you like to dry. I will tell you how to dry them. I don't like to fix in bags, so I take a milk pan and fill it with fruits of any kind I wish to dry. I like raspberries best. Put a lb. of sugar in and set them over the fire and let them stew for 10 or 15 minutes, then pour them in a pan or platter and set them in the hot sun to dry. Stir them once or twice a day and they will dry in about 3 good days. Then when you wish to use them, put them in cold water and then let them boil 20 or 30 minutes and they are ready for use, with or without sugar, just as you like. A few currants with dried apple pies and raspberries for mince pies are a great improvement to taste. I make no preserves now, only in this way. You can have a few at a time and have them fresh. If it is cloudy weather you can set them around the fire, but they aren't as good as when they are dried in the sun."
Also read: Funeral Sermon of Sister Polly Barber Child Journal History, L.D.S. Church 183 Feb. pages 5 and 6 From Warren Gould Child Record or history. The family narrative was recorded in May, 1854.
Pieced together by Sherman A. Child, Nov. and Dec. 1979
alfredbchild
Copied Text as follows:
Alfred Bosworth Child was born on 15 November 1796, in Milton, Saratoga County, New York, son of Mark Anthony Child and Hannah Benedict.
Alfred B. Child was raised in a very religious home. His father was instrumental in establishing the first Universal Church of Greenfield, Saratoga County, New York. This church believed in the Bible as printed with explanations from his grandfather, Captain Increase Child and his Uncle William Child's printing press.
Alfred's picture shows that he was a large man with a rounded face. He wore the fashionable long sideburns and beard, typical of pioneers of the day. Alfred had a good head of dark brown hair, which was well groomed with some recession, typical of his age. Alfred was a handsome man with a prominent Child nose and high cheekbones. He was robust with a jolly stomach, showing his prosperity. He was a leader and a patriarch of his family, which now numbers in the thousands.
Alfred learned to work on his father's land and learned farming. We know nothing at all of his childhood and growing into manhood. Our story is taken from 4 sources and blended from each mostly in their own words.
- A short history of Alfred.
- His wife, Polly Barber.
- His daughter, Polly Child Richardson.
- His son, Warren Gould Child.
From Polly Child Richardson's history, we learn that 3 generations of Child's were born in this area. The Kyadeross Mountains surround this area, and it must have been very pleasant, especially in the summer time when the cooling saline breezes of the Atlantic often traversed up the Hudson River; giving a climate much like the sea coast. The deep ravines and valleys cut irregularly into the mountainsides, the marshes and swamplands at the headwaters of the Hudson River. Numerous stands of beech, maple, wire and hemlock must have contributed immensely to the pleasure and enjoyment of growing and raising a family in this area.
We are not sure whether Alfred and Polly were farmers or stock raisers. The stony, rough earth of the area would lend itself to the possibility that he was a stock raiser, since the ground is more suitable for pasture than farming.
On 5 June 1837, Polly and her parents were baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This day is important because it marks the severance of the old, fairly secure, and comfortable life, insecure arduous future they were to endure. By August 11, the entire family had turned their backs on three generations of family and begun the long, laborious trek to join the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri.
Sometime prior to June 1837, the Child's had been contacted by a missionary named Charles Blakely. Alfred evidently was sufficiently convinced of the truthfulness of the message that he was willing to sell his farm in Greenfield, pile his belongings into a wagon and suffer hardships of a 1,500 mile journey to Missouri.
Polly's statement: "My father came the entire route with one pair of horses and a wagon and ten in family."
It takes little imagination to fill in the blanks in Polly's statement.
Carrying food, clothing, bedding, cooking utensils and a few meager spare parts in the wagon; thus, most of the 1500 miles would have been traversed on foot, sleeping in tents, or under the wagon at night in this sparsely settled and often savage wasteland. One must admit that a journey of this sort required a great deal of courage and fortitude, courage and fortitude that would be tested to the breaking point within a few short months.
On the way to Kirtland a man neatly dressed, having a white beard, stopped the wagon and came over to them and laid his hands on each member of the family and blessed them. He then came back and blessed Warren G. again and then disappeared and later Alfred told the Prophet Joseph Smith about the incident. He was told that the man was one of the three Nephites.
Alfred's destination was Kirtland, Ohio about one-third of the distance to Jackson County. Here we hoped to join up with a body of moving Saints, who were moving from Kirtland to Missouri. However, events moved faster than he did, for many of the Mormons had vacated the city by the time he arrived. "The Saints had left a few days before we arrived." The city of Kirtland offered the Child family only a brief respite from the rigors of the trek. They stayed a few days, resting the animals and replenishing supplies before returning to the well-defined trail of Saints moving west. They had been traveling almost a month by the time they reached Kirtland, and would be another month and a half to two months before they reached their destination in Missouri.
It was late fall when the Child family finally reached Missouri. Here after months of back-breaking travel, they found a temporary resting place at Adam-ondi-Ahman, in Daviess County. Polly describes the place as a city of tents and wagons.
However, one may well imagine the hardships the family must have had to experience that first winter in Adam-ondi-Ahman. They arrived too late in the fall to plant crops or prepare adequate shelter against the rapidly approaching winter. They would have to live as they traveled, in the meager shelter of the wagon, or in a tent pitched on the frozen ground. It would be spring before a house could be built, land cleared and crops planted. In the meantime they must share and share in whatever sustenance was available for the entire community.
"Some time during that year (1838), possibly in the spring, my father let his wagon go towards a piece of land." This land was located on Shole Creek, Caldwell County, Missouri.
Mother Polly wrote a letter to her relatives in New York and in it she explained that the Saints had been driven from Missouri to Illinois. She explains that their flight had taken them up to Far West where they stayed for a short time. We assume from the letter that they settled below Far West in either Caldwell or Ray County. The people here showed sympathy for the Saints in times past.
It was undoubtedly comforting to sink their roots into the soil again. I am sure that Alfred and his entire family looked forward to the security that a good crop and a new home would bring. The hope for security was not forthcoming, however, for in February 1839 they, with the remainder of the Mormons in Missouri, were driven into Illinois at gunpoint. Polly Barber Child gives us a look at what took place. "Fear, jealousy, and political ambition led an onslaught of persecution which rolled over Mormon people like a great wave tumbling and rolling them before it like so much flotsom and jetsom." Some of the fear and determination of the time is mentioned in a letter by Mrs. Child. "Alfred was called to go to Diammon. It was evening. Some of the brethren came and said the order was, that every man that was able, and family, will help what he could for the mob was gathering fast. Already at Grindstone, some five or six hundred, just a few miles away. I was getting supper. I stopped motionless, until one of them asked me if I was willing that he, Alfred, should go. All fear, all fluttering of the heart was gone from me. I was all calm as ever I was when sitting in hour house, mother. In the morning, it was Monday, he came home on Friday. It was thought to go to Diammon for safety."
From Polly Child's daughter. "The men were taken prisoners, My father and eldest brother Mark, were taken with the rest of them but they did not keep them very long. They let all the men go except the leaders of the Church, with orders for all of them to leave the state. 15 days warning. They took heads of church or most of them and put them in prison while the rest had a hard struggle to get out of the state. Mother Polly Child took our leave, a span of horses and wagon and with Myron Barber Child, a small boy, started to Far West, about 18 miles away from where we were living, for supplies. While on the way, news was received of the shooting of David Patten, in the Battle of Crooked River, and her team was taken to bring the body to Far West."
The Child family was forced to flee the State of Missouri in dead of winter, leaving behind a large farm - confiscated by the ruthless invaders - as well as their best horse without compensation. The best horse Alfred had, was stolen by the mob or taken. He traded another for a yoke of cattle with which he moved the family to Quincy, Illinois, where he rented a farm from Mr. Bartlet and cultivated it for one season.
The oldest living daughter, Polly, presents a very pathetic picture of her family and Mormons in general as a result of the forced exodus. "A few of us had teams and some had to go on foot, across the frozen prairie, destitute of food and clothing... there was a great deal of suffering by women and children before we got to the Mississippi River - the line between Missouri and Illinois. When we got to the river the Ice was running so that we could not cross. Consequently we had to camp there for the next three weeks before we could cross Into Illinois. By that time it was the middle of March. I will not attempt to describe suffering of the Saints up to that time, as you have history of Saints to read."
Can you imagine the misery that Polly was describing. Alfred homes and subjected to the rigors of winter on the prairie, not knowing where they were going or what they were going to do. How can any of us today appreciate what these people bore. What our ancestors family bore. It defies the imagination as it defies description and this was merely a foretale of what the future held.
By the end of March the river was sufficiently clear that the Child family was able to cross over into Illinois. Alfred and Polly stopped in the vicinity of Quincy, Illinois there they remained throughout the summer of 1839. Polly and Polly took in washing to help maintain the large family.
Mrs. Child again supplies details, stating that in March, the oldest living son, worked for two weeks on the railroad, didn't like it, so he hired out to Mr. Thompson, a real old fashioned Baptist man from the state of Maine for eight dollars a month, a half mile from home. Polly worked there two weeks and three days for six dollars. "They would pay her two dollars a week all summer if I could let her come, but the baby is so unwell with his ulcers and leg that it takes one of us all the while to just take care of him."
Spring Prairie was located in Ambrosia Ward, Zarahemla Stake, the fifth Stake of the Church. Church was held in different homes of the members in that area. The calling that was given Alfred and his family, by the Prophet Joseph Smith, was to stay in Iowa and help the Saints that were coming west.
In November of 1839, Alfred decided to move again. The new farm was located in the State of Iowa, just across the river from Commerce or Nauvoo, as it was called now. Polly, the daughter, called or describes it as "halfbreed land as it was purchased from Black Hawk Indians." Unfortunately, winter arrived before Alfred had the house finished. Evidently, Polly and her mother didn't go immediately and Alfred went to build a house. The description is as follows: "Just the body of the house and a few slabs on top that he had hewn out of logs for the roof. We had no floor. We built a fire on the ground, as we had no chimney." The move evidently took what little money the combined efforts of the family had accumulated during the summer. "My father had his house unfinished and him and my two oldest brothers had to go find work to get something to eat. My mother took in work and worked for 75¢ a week. We all done all we could to live until spring. The nearest neighbor in half breed track was five miles distance."
With the coming of spring, the fortune of the family seemed to be infused with a swelling, a newness of life. By the assistance of his boys, he fenced and put into cultivation quite an extensive farm on which he planted out a large peach and apple orchard. (From the journal of Warren Gould Child).
The whole family worked continuously at any and all jobs they could find. Polly taught school as several families had moved into the area by 1842. Alfred was elected Postmaster in their little settlement called Spring Prairie, Iowa.
Alfred planted flax and harvested a large crop, so large in fact, that Polly and her mother Polly spent a larger portion of 1843 spinning it and making it into clothes. "The cloth was made into clothes for the children and pants and shirts for father. We made sheets and pillow cases and we made dresses of flax." Polly captures the happiness and prosperity they were enjoying in the following lines: "Father attended to the office and with the help of my brothers, had a nice farm. We got along splendidly."
In 1839, in a letter Polly says this about the gospel and she is writing to her family. "Yes, there has never been the smallest moment or thought flit across my mind like wishing I had never had embraced the gospel and come here. No, my friends, there is peace and comfort to the true believer of the gospel. Mother says that we have caused her a great many sleepless nights and no doubt of it, for I am her child and a great way off. Mother, I am content, not because I like the country. If had never heard of a Mormon, I would rather live here than in New York for we can support our family ten fold easier. But mother, if you come to this country, I will give you old Browny as soon as you get here. She is a first rate cow. We have four cows. Butter has been two schillings a pound, but warm weather has fell it to sixteen cents , money."
"It rained this afternoon and we are both writing. He has left out our fruits in his letter to John. Wild plums grow in abundance. Our peach trees are so full that Alfred had to prop them up to keep the trees from breaking down. Peach trees bears in three years from seed. Hannah and Phoebe and Warren are in school. They learn very fast. I have saved a peach seed for you that was ripe two weeks ago."
In the spring of 1846, Alfred again disposed of his farm for a trifling sum and like many others started West. June found them there at Bluffs as there called, now Pottawattamie County, which was an uninhabited land and country except for Indians known as Pottawattamie Indians, who were very hostile, like all their race would bear watching.
Alfred took up another farm on or near the banks of the Missouri River, near where Bluff City now stands. The land was very fertile and productive especially for corn and vegetables, but not so good for wheat and other small grains. The country abound with wild game such as deer, turkeys, and raccoons. Wild bear also abounded to a considerable extent. A few weeks in the way of a hunting tour was usually indulged in the fall of the year which added to our winter supply of eatables.
During the wintertime, he with the boys used to go into frontier settlements of Missouri and work to procure such necessities as were needed in the family. Our remuneration for a days work would be about 50¢ or 50¢ per hundred for cutting the timber and splitting rails. In this way we procured a scanty fit-out for the great journey to Salt Lake Valley.
On July 1, of 1852 we started on the trail made by the pioneers in the Sixteenth Company of the season under Captain Uriah Curtis as captain. Our teams were two of cattle and one yoke of cows to each wagon and two wagons.
We arrived in Salt Lake Valley on the first day of October, 1852 and settled in Ogden where we commenced making preparations for winter quarters.
In November, Father, Alfred Bosworth was confined to his bed from a severe cold which settled in his lungs and brought on a long fever which terminated in his death on the 22nd day of December, 1852, at the age of 56 years, 1 month and 7 days.
In a letter in 1853, by Polly Barber Child, "I am tired, let us all go into the garden and get some currants and cherries. I have plenty of them this year and you may have as many as you like to dry. I will tell you how to dry them. I don't like to fix in bags, so I take a milk pan and fill it with fruits of any kind I wish to dry. I like raspberries best. Put a lb. of sugar in and set them over the fire and let them stew for 10 or 15 minutes, then pour them in a pan or platter and set them in the hot sun to dry. Stir them once or twice a day and they will dry in about 3 good days. Then when you wish to use them, put them in cold water and then let them boil 20 or 30 minutes and they are ready for use, with or without sugar, just as you like. A few currants with dried apple pies and raspberries for mince pies are a great improvement to taste. I make no preserves now, only in this way. You can have a few at a time and have them fresh. If it is cloudy weather you can set them around the fire, but they aren't as good as when they are dried in the sun."
Also read: Funeral Sermon of Sister Polly Barber Child Journal History, L.D.S. Church 183 Feb. pages 5 and 6 From Warren Gould Child Record or history. The family narrative was recorded in May, 1854.
Pieced together by Sherman A. Child, Nov. and Dec. 1979
alfredbchild
Alfred Bosworth Child
More Family History!!!
I have copied the text from the link below into the body of this post which shows a fascinating history of another one of the Miller family ancestors, Alfred Bosworth Child, a great, great grandfather of Grandpa Hellewell. (I guess that makes him 3 greats from the Miller kids.)
This is a version of http://www.ida.net/users/elaine/Alfred%20Bosworth%20Child%201796.pdf
15 November 1796 - 22 December 1852
© Elaine Johnson. Descendants may make copies of this document for themselves and their families. No other use is authorized. Alfred Bosworth Child 15 November 1796 - 22 December 1852 by Elaine Johnson Alfred's grandfather, Increase Child, was a captain in the American Revolution and was impressed by the country of upper New York state when he passed through it with General Gates army. Afterward, he settled in Saratoga county. Alfred was born in Greenfield to Mark Anthony and Hannah Benedict Child. His mother was born in Woodstock, Connecticut, where the Childs had resided before the war. Saratoga county is on the western side of the Hudson River. Alfred grew up as the oldest of eleven children. There were twins, a boy and a girl, born before him, but they died at birth. On 19 March 1817 Alfred married Polly Barber of Greenfield and they moved north to Morristown on the St. Lawrence River. The following year he received news of his mother's death. The Alfred B. Child family was living in Boonville, Oneida, New York in 1820. A child was born to Alfred and Polly in Ballston, Saratoga county, in 1821. But the next child was born in Morristown in 1825. About 1828 he moved his family up river to Hammond where he also farmed. During the 1830 census Alfred's family resided in Gouverneur almost fifteen miles southeast of Hammond. In 1837 another child was born in Ogdenburg, up river from Morristown. They seem to have lived in almost every corner of St. Lawrence county except Stockholm township where the prophet Joseph Smith Jr.'s grandfather lived until his death in 1831. Alfred and his wife were baptized 5 June 1838. He sold his farm and moved his family to Kirtland, Ohio, but the main body of the church had moved on to Missouri. After a few months they continued to Caldwell county, Missouri, where he bought a farm. A public meeting was held in Far West. A committee was assigned to devise the best way to aid the poor in fleeing from Governor Boggs' death threat and how many poor were worthy of help. They were to draft a resolution of the plan for the next meeting. The resolution was signed by many including "Alfrod B. Childs." Alfred took his family to Lee county, Iowa, and in 1840 bought a farm in Half Breed Reservation. The Child family were members of the Iowa Territory Branch of the church. It was located in the town of Zarahemla. Erastus Snow, George A. Smith, Wilford Woodruff, and Ezra T. Benson and their families were also members of the branch. He was Endowed at the Nauvoo Temple 7 February 1846 in the last session conducted there and sealed to his wife the same day. When the Saints were forced out of Nauvoo, Alfred again sold his farm and moved west to Council Bluffs in 1847. The High Priests Record recorded in Pottowattamie county gives his residence on the north branch of the Pigion river. He bought another farm and made improvements before selling to move westward as part Uriah Curtis' ox-team company. After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Alfred took his family to the more northern settlement of Ogden, Weber county. Alfred started a sawmill in Ogden, but had been weakened
1 The original marker has been replaced with a new one. 2 "Genealogy of the Child, Childs and Childe families . . ." , by Elias Child, page 95 © Elaine Johnson. Descendants may make copies of this document for themselves and their families. No other use is authorized. by the long journey to find safety for his family and the hardships of starting over so often. His grave in the Ogden City Cemetery is one of the oldest and reads only Alfred B. Child.1 The somewhat eventful history of Mr. Alfred Bosworth Child, which we here annex, is furnished by one of his sons, Warren Gould Child, who passed through many of the experiences of the father, and has much of his zeal for the Mormon faith: Alfred Bosworth Child, my father, was married to Polly, daughter of Ichabod and Anne Deake Barber. He soon after his marriage moved to the town of Morristown, St. Lawrence county, New York, where he purchased a small farm, of which he cleared and cultivated some thirty acres, and through economy and industry acquired a limited amount of property. It was here, in the year 1837, that the principles of Mormonism were sounded in his ears, and after a careful investigation of the same he embraced Mormonism, sold his farm and moved west to Kirtland, Ohio. Staying there but a few months, he then left with his family for Caldwell county, Missouri, where he arrived in the fall of the same year having made the entire journey with only one team consisting of two horses. The family had been settled upon a farm purchased by them, when the persecutions commenced upon the Mormons. We were compelled to leave the following spring. The farm and one horse were taken and confiscated by the mob. He settled in Lee county, Iowa, in the year 1840, taking up and improving a farm on what was known as the half breed track, remaining there about seven years. In 1841, he accepted the position of postmaster at what is known as Spring Prairie post office, which position he held as long as he remained in the county, which he left through the persecutions of the Mormon people, in 1847. He then started further West, travelling through that portion of the state which at that time was inhabited by the Pottowattamie Indians. He settled again at or near where Council Bluffs City, Iowa, now stands, taking up and improving another farm on which he lived about five years. Salt Lake Valley having been selected as a last resort for the more peaceful settlement of the Mormon people, he again, now the fourth time, left all he had. On the 8th day of July, 1852, he started for Salt Lake Valley, where he arrived on the first day of the following October, having travelled in wagons drawn by oxen and cows over one thousand miles across uninhabited desert and mountainous country. On the 22nd day of the next December he died of disease of the lungs, brought on through exposure and the hardships of his journeyings. His age was 56 years, 1 mo. and 7 days. He left a wife with four sons and three daughters.2
Contact: Elaine Johnson PO Box 755 Rexburg ID 83440-0755 elaine@ida.net www.ida.net/users/elaine/
I have copied the text from the link below into the body of this post which shows a fascinating history of another one of the Miller family ancestors, Alfred Bosworth Child, a great, great grandfather of Grandpa Hellewell. (I guess that makes him 3 greats from the Miller kids.)
This is a version of http://www.ida.net/users/elaine/Alfred%20Bosworth%20Child%201796.pdf
15 November 1796 - 22 December 1852
© Elaine Johnson. Descendants may make copies of this document for themselves and their families. No other use is authorized. Alfred Bosworth Child 15 November 1796 - 22 December 1852 by Elaine Johnson Alfred's grandfather, Increase Child, was a captain in the American Revolution and was impressed by the country of upper New York state when he passed through it with General Gates army. Afterward, he settled in Saratoga county. Alfred was born in Greenfield to Mark Anthony and Hannah Benedict Child. His mother was born in Woodstock, Connecticut, where the Childs had resided before the war. Saratoga county is on the western side of the Hudson River. Alfred grew up as the oldest of eleven children. There were twins, a boy and a girl, born before him, but they died at birth. On 19 March 1817 Alfred married Polly Barber of Greenfield and they moved north to Morristown on the St. Lawrence River. The following year he received news of his mother's death. The Alfred B. Child family was living in Boonville, Oneida, New York in 1820. A child was born to Alfred and Polly in Ballston, Saratoga county, in 1821. But the next child was born in Morristown in 1825. About 1828 he moved his family up river to Hammond where he also farmed. During the 1830 census Alfred's family resided in Gouverneur almost fifteen miles southeast of Hammond. In 1837 another child was born in Ogdenburg, up river from Morristown. They seem to have lived in almost every corner of St. Lawrence county except Stockholm township where the prophet Joseph Smith Jr.'s grandfather lived until his death in 1831. Alfred and his wife were baptized 5 June 1838. He sold his farm and moved his family to Kirtland, Ohio, but the main body of the church had moved on to Missouri. After a few months they continued to Caldwell county, Missouri, where he bought a farm. A public meeting was held in Far West. A committee was assigned to devise the best way to aid the poor in fleeing from Governor Boggs' death threat and how many poor were worthy of help. They were to draft a resolution of the plan for the next meeting. The resolution was signed by many including "Alfrod B. Childs." Alfred took his family to Lee county, Iowa, and in 1840 bought a farm in Half Breed Reservation. The Child family were members of the Iowa Territory Branch of the church. It was located in the town of Zarahemla. Erastus Snow, George A. Smith, Wilford Woodruff, and Ezra T. Benson and their families were also members of the branch. He was Endowed at the Nauvoo Temple 7 February 1846 in the last session conducted there and sealed to his wife the same day. When the Saints were forced out of Nauvoo, Alfred again sold his farm and moved west to Council Bluffs in 1847. The High Priests Record recorded in Pottowattamie county gives his residence on the north branch of the Pigion river. He bought another farm and made improvements before selling to move westward as part Uriah Curtis' ox-team company. After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Alfred took his family to the more northern settlement of Ogden, Weber county. Alfred started a sawmill in Ogden, but had been weakened
1 The original marker has been replaced with a new one. 2 "Genealogy of the Child, Childs and Childe families . . ." , by Elias Child, page 95 © Elaine Johnson. Descendants may make copies of this document for themselves and their families. No other use is authorized. by the long journey to find safety for his family and the hardships of starting over so often. His grave in the Ogden City Cemetery is one of the oldest and reads only Alfred B. Child.1 The somewhat eventful history of Mr. Alfred Bosworth Child, which we here annex, is furnished by one of his sons, Warren Gould Child, who passed through many of the experiences of the father, and has much of his zeal for the Mormon faith: Alfred Bosworth Child, my father, was married to Polly, daughter of Ichabod and Anne Deake Barber. He soon after his marriage moved to the town of Morristown, St. Lawrence county, New York, where he purchased a small farm, of which he cleared and cultivated some thirty acres, and through economy and industry acquired a limited amount of property. It was here, in the year 1837, that the principles of Mormonism were sounded in his ears, and after a careful investigation of the same he embraced Mormonism, sold his farm and moved west to Kirtland, Ohio. Staying there but a few months, he then left with his family for Caldwell county, Missouri, where he arrived in the fall of the same year having made the entire journey with only one team consisting of two horses. The family had been settled upon a farm purchased by them, when the persecutions commenced upon the Mormons. We were compelled to leave the following spring. The farm and one horse were taken and confiscated by the mob. He settled in Lee county, Iowa, in the year 1840, taking up and improving a farm on what was known as the half breed track, remaining there about seven years. In 1841, he accepted the position of postmaster at what is known as Spring Prairie post office, which position he held as long as he remained in the county, which he left through the persecutions of the Mormon people, in 1847. He then started further West, travelling through that portion of the state which at that time was inhabited by the Pottowattamie Indians. He settled again at or near where Council Bluffs City, Iowa, now stands, taking up and improving another farm on which he lived about five years. Salt Lake Valley having been selected as a last resort for the more peaceful settlement of the Mormon people, he again, now the fourth time, left all he had. On the 8th day of July, 1852, he started for Salt Lake Valley, where he arrived on the first day of the following October, having travelled in wagons drawn by oxen and cows over one thousand miles across uninhabited desert and mountainous country. On the 22nd day of the next December he died of disease of the lungs, brought on through exposure and the hardships of his journeyings. His age was 56 years, 1 mo. and 7 days. He left a wife with four sons and three daughters.2
Contact: Elaine Johnson PO Box 755 Rexburg ID 83440-0755 elaine@ida.net www.ida.net/users/elaine/
Ebenezer Clawson Richardson Family
I was just looking through some of our family pedigree on www.familysearch.org and saw the listing for Ebenezer Clawson Richardson, who is Grandpa Hellewell's great grandfather on his mothers side. I then ran a 'live' search (Yes, that's right, I use Live, not Google... :)) on his name and found a page with the link below. There is even a picture of him and his wife, Phoebe Wooster Child from whom we descend. It is pretty cool to be able to see some pictures of ancestors from over 100 years ago. Hit the jump below for a little more history.
Ebenezer Clawson Richardson Family
Further searching brought me to this link, which tells a little bit about the Richardson family settling near Brigham City in a town called Yost.
Ebenezer Clawson Richardson Family
Further searching brought me to this link, which tells a little bit about the Richardson family settling near Brigham City in a town called Yost.
January 21
Reminiscence - Snowball Crash
Abbedale Lane- The scene of the crime
**[Editors Note] Cross-posting Brian's comment (my partner in crime) He refreshed my memory and noted that we did go to court, not the police station as I noted above**
B Fresh
Ummm, yes, my brother, we did make it back up to our bedroom over the garage and secretly looked out as all the police reporting happened. I remember hiding up there with my tail between my legs. I dont remember the police station but I do remember our day in court. They said we would have that on our record for months or years (dont remember). Luckily we didnt have to pay anything, yikes! I do remember the vendign machine at the courthouse and we would press the buttons and candy would come out without even putting money in.....imagine that, taking advantage of the courts vending machine. Luckily we didnt get reported on that one. Kids....they do the most stupid things. Brian (guilty as charged......I dont think my snowball hit that one either...I think it was Jeremy Curtis' snowball).
January 16
Out of retirement
I signed up for the "old mens" ward basketball team. After 4 years and 8 months of solid retirement, I found out I am just a shell of my old, aggressive self on the basketball court. The extra 25 pounds I have gained since I was forced out by injury those many years ago is quite a hindrance. My knee has been feeling OK, but nothing near solid. I have my bionic knee brace that I use that gives me some sense of stability when hobbling up and down the court. I did play at our ward a couple of weeks ago and it held up pretty good. With that experience, I figured I could get out once a week or so and see how things hold up. We had our first game against Dash Point ward last night. We had 6 guys there. I was the second oldest, but definitely the most handicapped. :) We had Neil Dial, Steve Jarvis, Todd Dole, Mike Monson and Jim Miller. We did pretty well, although it was quite sloppy. The first half I made a couple of layups, one I even did a spin toward the baseline and put it in. I bricked all of my outside shots though. I need to get out a few more times before my touch will come back. The hardest thing is not being able to go for steals, get up much for rebounds, or hustle down for a fast break. We ended up being tied at the end of the game and went into overtime. In overtime, I was able to block a shot by their center, who had a couple of inches on me, so that was pretty exciting. I felt that I was able to contribute fairly well and things will definitely progress in future games as it starts coming back to me. We ended up winning by 4 in OT. We were up by 2 with 30 seconds and the ball, so I yelled out for everyone to use up the clock. 8 seconds later, Jim took it in to the key and put it up. D'OH! He missed, but luckily was able to get a steal as the other team started coming back up the court. Im a bit sore, but it feels good to get some physical activity going again. Im sure I sweat off a couple of pounds, so that was a good sign.
January 11
Reminiscence - Grab his shorts!!
[1988] I was playing soccer for 'Inter' our team which was composed of guys from the high school team. We were in a summer tournament and playing out at Cottonwood Heights. (Map below)
The team we were playing was from New Mexico, and they had some really fast guys on their team. I could usually keep up with and catch most of the forwards I guarded as a fullback. On this particular day, I had a rough go of it. The guy I was guarding was probably the fastest guy I had ever gone up against in my 13 years of playing soccer up until that time. He was one of the few Caucasian guys on that team, with the rest being Latino. I spent most of the game making sure he didnt get behind me. This was a trick too as he had pretty good footwork. Then they chipped one ball over my head and this guy streaked toward it. I chased him with all I had and was making incremental progress at closing the gap between us for about 15 yards, but he had a pretty good breakaway. Then from the sideline I heard one of the assistant coaches (who had just graduated the year before) yelling at me. "GRAB HIS SHORTS!" he screamed. Without thinking much of it and realizing I was running out of options as he got closer to a shootout with the goalie, I stretched out and made a diving grab for the back of his shorts. Luckily the guy had tied his drawstring pretty tight or there would have been an exhibition. ;) I ended up dragging him down just outside the penalty box. Yep, it was a dirty play, but quite effective. However, after I got up and the other player gave me a dirty look, the rest of his team ran over and started pushing me and yelling at me in Spanish. Then my team came to the rescue and an all out brawl was avoided. They got a free kick (I dont remember if they scored or not), and I got a red card. I hadnt thought about the possibility of getting a red card when I pulled him down, or I might not have done it. It is a bit rough when your team only has 10 players for the rest of the game. I sheepishly went off the field to the sideline. Connie (our coach from Italy) just kind of looked at me and rolled his eyes. The assistant who yelled at me to grab his shorts gave me a pat and told me what a great play it was. The moral of the story is: Always tie the drawstring on your shorts!
January 10
Reminiscence - Boa Constrictor
[1987] My poor mom. She put up with a lot by me bringing home a plethora of new animals from the time I was working at the pet store. I cant remember if I warned her that this one was coming home or not. If you saw my previous post about the Boas at Fins Feathers 'n Fur, you know that I used to hate snakes *like Indiana Jones*. However, I got to the point where I started to enjoy them. Then we got some in the store that were $99. They were baby ones and were about two feet long. I think we got about a 25% employee discount off of live goods, so it cost me about $75 dollars to bring home my new 'friend'. I had a 10 gallon tank set up with a 'hotrock' to keep him nice and toasty warm. I recall that mom was not to enthused about this idea when I brought it home. Up to that point, most of my pets had been pretty tame. I had experimented with an Iguana for a while, but it was not too exciting. It was kind of fun having a boa, though. I even took it to school once-- for show and tell to my friends. I put it inside this shirt I had that had a zipper pocket along the front. I showed the snake to a bunch of the guys at lunch and they were pretty impressed. Then I started freaking out the girls my telling them how my stomach was 'grumbling'. They would look at my shirt where I was pointing and see something moving around in there. They would ask if something was in there. A few of the braver ones I even showed it to. There was a lot of screaming going on that day. :) I made it through most of the day without the teachers finding out, but around 6th period, the word got out pretty good. In my American History class, one of the girls complained to the teacher that I had a snake in my shirt. He looked over at me suspiciously. He told me that if I had something alive in my shirt, that I was free to leave the class. It was like a 'get out of jail free' card! I took it and left. :) I dont recall any other repercussions after that either, so it worked out pretty well.
I do remember one problem that we had with it though. I had bought 4 mice to feed it one time. I would usually just feed it once a week.
So I was keeping the remaining 3 mice in a 5 gallon bucket in my room. I noticed after a few days that their eyes were getting squinty. I knew from my work at the pet store that this meant they needed some water. So I put a small, two inch high dish in the bottom of the bucket with some water in it. Later that night I heard a bunch of squeaking that was not coming from the general direction of the bucket. I go and turn on the light and all three of the mice are GONE! Yikes. (Sorry about that, mom) I look around my room, but cannot find any of them. (I figured they must have climbed up the dish and then given each other boosts over the top. Then the second to last one must have dangled his tail down for the last one to grab onto...) The weird thing was, that after a couple of weeks we still hadnt found or caught them. There was even one time where I saw one run across my room-- but it was grey in color-- and all of the other ones I had bought were white! I guess they had invited some friends to the party in Todd's room. :)
I dont recall exactly how long I kept the snake after that. I think the novelty wore off after a few months.
Speaking of Charlemagne
This ties into our family history-- (being ancestry of Charlemagne)
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history. Spades - King David, Clubs - Alexander the Great, Hearts - Charlemagne, and Diamonds - Julius Caesar.
See the resemblance? ;)
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history. Spades - King David, Clubs - Alexander the Great, Hearts - Charlemagne, and Diamonds - Julius Caesar.
See the resemblance? ;)
Easy Multiplication
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
Tata
$2,500 car coming out of India...
I'll take two!! :)
I'll take two!! :)
January 09
Lesson learned
Yesterday, I went out on a limb and tried something new. I was planning on riding the bus to work and decided to try the Federal Way park and ride as opposed to the Kent Station park and ride. The Federal Way one is about 2 miles south of our house, where the Kent one is about 4 miles NE (which is headed toward my work). It is closer for me to go south, and I figured I would just get a better seat on the bus and add maybe 10 minutes or so to the commute since it is the same bus number. I left home at 6:45 and got to the PnR at about 6:52. The bus showed up at about 7:09. (So I had to wait a bit) Then, when it got on the freeway, it started heading south! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I was worried for a bit until it got on Highway 18 and headed toward Auburn (Yet another 2 miles south on I-5). Then it stopped at the park and ride at the Auburn Station. By the time it got to the station where I usually get on, it had taken an extra 40 minutes. (So much for my addition by subtraction theory) I didnt end up getting to work until 8:45 that morning. What usually would take me an hour and 15 minutes if I had gone through Kent, took 2 hours to go by way of Federal Way. Never again!
