Health news and views!

Pam has torn cartilage in her right knee. It's torn on both sides of the knee so she really can't compensate for one side or the other. She has decided to put off any cartilage removal until Chadrey is on his mission. Incidentally, I've had torn cartilage in my right knee for over 30 years. It still locks on my once in a while. For those of you without knowledge of my football prowess, my knee was torn up in the first home game of PVC against the ASU JV team which was comprised of Bob Breunig and Mike ????. Geez, I can't remember his name, he is an all-pro cornerback who played in the Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders and New Enland Patriots. Maybe I have torn cartilage in my brain. Anyway, I was the starting slot receiver against Mike Haynes and on the first play from scrimmage I went to block him and my knee blew. Subsequently, I decided a mission was less dangerous. So, I gave up my PVC scholarship (which by the way, I am the only college scholarshipped athlete in the family) and took up Australian rules football in the land down under.

Oh, and I'm supposed to get my sleeping machine soon. I will be assimilated shortly.

Tales from Christmas 2006...

Some notes and oddservations on Christmas this year. Cameron joined us for Sunday and Monday. We enjoyed him immensely. It's interesting how priorities change. While Chad was excited getting new snow board boots and bindings, Cameron was like a kid in a candy store when he got new underwear and socks. He was genuinely thrilled and even more so when he found the receipts for them. These were greatly appreciated by him and later by us as we saw his happiness. My main gift received for Christmas was a "cold". Cameron spent some time at Cliff's on Christmas day.

I caught the same one I got rid of two weeks ago. At the Epperson family Christmas eve program each of us told about our most memorable Christmas. Much to Pam's consternation, I told of the following:

When I was 27 years old, I was single, alone and living in Heber City, Utah. This was pre-Jordanelle, pre-growth and expansion. Anyway, I was alone for Christmas as I had to get the Wasatch Wave out on Christmas day.

I remember thinking how bad off I was. I was feeling sorry for myself because I wasn't married, had no prospects, had no Christmas, had no food, had no money, had no...okay it wasn't that bad, but when you are feeling sorry for yourself anything counts. (Incidentally, I think people who have no feelings like feeling sorry for themself because it is at least, a feeling).

So, back to the story. After putting the paper to "bed", I went to bed myself. Soon, in my slumber, I literally had visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. I suddenly awoke realizing that there were bright lights coming from out my window. I got up and saw that the house across the street was completely engulfed in flames.

Being the newspaper editor that I was, and sadly not necessarily the good samaritan, I went out to assess and report on the damage. Fire engines were coming, it was way below freezing with 3 feet of snow on the ground and there to the side of the house was a father, mother and two chidren about 3 and 6 years old. Their entire Christmas was detroyed along with their home.

Somehow, I didn't feel as sorry for myself.

Anyway, back to this year's Christmas story. After dropping off Cameron in south Phoenix and picking up Lex at the airport, we drove Lex to her car in a very posh area on Camelback. While driving there, Pam said she wished so much she had the "wherewithall"(is that a word or a saying?), to help strangers.

No so coincindentally, at the parking lot of Lex's salon a young lady approached us to see if we could help an older lady put gas in her car. It didn't matter that she was wearing Prada and driving a BMW and slightly full of Christmas cheer, Chad, Lex, Pam and I got to fulfill Pam's Cristmas wish.

After, borrowing a knife from the corner coffee shop, (I'll be waiting for the comments) we succeeded in helping a stranger. There you have it, a Christmas wish come true.

Howardisms illustrated by Ryan...

Okay, Lance and Ryan have started something. I hereby stake claim to the official Howardism blog. Here and now. I need all your Howard quotes. Ryan as so graciously offered to illustrate them. I want either a quote or an episode (short). I will compile them and distribute them to you all. Here are a couple of my quotes from Howard....When asked how do you ride a horse, he said just keep you cheeks over the middle of the saddle. And, when asked how are you doing...he said just barely. Of course this was pre-parkinsons. Okay, it's your turn. Someone needs to come up with the most famous ones. We all know them, but they need to be contributed. But, not by me. If you have any personal ones they need to be shared for posterity. Start now.

So after attending a family group meeting for Cameron at the Salvation Army on Wednesday, I went to the sleep center for my big "slumber party". I had to show up at 9 pm for induction. After filling out the paperwork, they proceeded to hook my up to about 100 wires all over my body. The lady told me that she'd let me sleep for two hours, and if I showed signs of not breathing while snoring, she'd come in and hook me up to the "borg machine".

They let me watch TV to get sleepy, but there was no ESPN. What a disapointment. Anyway, lights out at 10:30 and then my typical tossing, turning, thinking and 15 minutes of sleep.

Two hours later she came in and hooked me up. What a machine! When you open your mouth air comes pouring out. Anyway, I'll be getting mine this week. The lady also told me that I scream in my sleep. It appears I yelled, "It's none of your business", and "get out of here".

Pam says I've yelled worse. Much worse. I just know that when Chad has to take care of me and I'm senile, I'm gonna cuss like a sailor. That's my worst fear about senility. So, just to prepare you all.....oh, damn.

Which reminds me of the time back in Blythe when I had a sand buggy. Candy came home from Provo and I gave her a ride. I turned off the road and did some dicing and my, oh my, guess what came out of CS's mouth. Hint..."it" happens.

On a more serious note, I'll be going to a meeting for Cameron again tonight. I've never really experienced anything like these meetings before. I talked to Kathleen and HB about it and for anyone who reads this who has been affected by our loved ones addictions, I never really understood what you have endured. To Larry and family, HB and family and Cliff and family, I can only say I'm so sorry for your heartache and pain. And, to those who suffer the addiction, my prayers are that you can overcome them.

Lex gone, Chad coming home, I'm not sleeping

News update: Lex has moved into her new home. We loaded her brand new Ikea bed into my truck and put it in her beautiful blue bedroom. Derek put it together for her. She's got him wrapped around her little finger. Her house is really better than expected... a nicer neigborhood than I thought and nicer house too. She still has no idea who are her roommates, though. They could be serial killers.

I did have to use the bathroom and broke it in for Arnett use. I used up all their toilet paper. Hope they don't mind. I also noticed they have huge spa in the backyard. Makes you wonder, huh. Okay maybe not.

So Lex is gone, now Chad is coming home this weekend to attend winter formal at Highland High School with some girl who asked him and paid for his ticket home. Guess who that could be?

Also, tomorrow, I will be spending the night at the Banner Health Sleep Center to determine why I don't sleep at night. They think I stop breathing while I snore. I know Howard used to do that, maybe it's hereditary. Come to think of it maybe that's why Candy can't sleep either.

Lex got a new haircut! She's moving out!! So sad!!!

Here's kind of what Lexi's hair looks like...both the style and coloring. This will have to do until I get something different.

Lex got a new haircut! She