I OUGHT TO LEARN YOGA

Another highlight this Christmas season.

Wow! Yoga in front of the Christmas tree! Only Rachael and Jenna could come up with this.

So what are your goals for making 2011 better than last year? I almost hate to write mine down, because someone may hold me to them, but here are a few anyway:

• Grow more zucchini and potatoes.
• Visit the Anderson family.
• Do something special for the big 45th anniversary.
• Compose more music.

Okay, so I suppose that, of the above resolutions, composing more music could be the most challenging, but then again, for guy like me, original tunes run through my head all the time. Ask Tammy and her family! They still sing, "Going, North to Olympia," and "We are the Hugging Bears." :)

Other subjects, that I have thought of, that might make good resolution material, are the following:

• Reading
• Repenting
• Forgiving
• Mending differences
• Praying
• Charity
• Testimony building
• Sharing

Alright, I have put my head on the "chopping block." You are welcome to comment, but please don't tell me that I ought to learn Yoga!!!!

SHE WAS JUST SMILING AT ME

Well, Christmas is over, Santa came and went, and I was richly blessed with the company of many grand kids. You can see why I enjoy my grand kids at Christmastime. Just look at Jenna's smiling face. You would think that she had just seen Santa, but in reality, I think she was just smiling at me.

Another highlight of the holidays for me, was the December 24th, premiere performance of Dan Palmer in Mike's living room. He was approprately wearing a Hugh sombrero, while singing "Santa, My Hat is too Big," and "Dominic, the Christmas Donkey." I must say that his Spanglish was flawless, as was his guitar playing. What a guy! He had everyone in the room rolling in laughter.

I also enjoyed the participation of all the kids during the playing of the homemade chimes led by Dan and Annie. Way to go guys. You all were awesome!

Another highlight that poor ol' Grandpa Zucc" had, was trying out Jeff's inversion machine on Christmas Day. This is a contraption that you step onto in an upright position. You fit your feet into 'holds' that kind of locks them into position, then you raise your arms, slowly, and you start to tip backwards, until you are upside down. Try to picture a teeter tauter.

Believe me, I didn't remain upside down long, as I experienced the rush of blood flowing quickly to the upper part of my body. I also felt my backbone stretching. I'm sure there is a way to get this machine to turn you right side up, but at the time, I was glad that Sherry, Grandma, and Jason were there to help.

I believe everyone that celebrated the holidays with us, really had a good time. Santa is a good guy, and so is our Savior. May we always remember His goodness.

ISN'T HE CUTE?

Sunday 19 December, Mike set up our family PC with Skype, an online call and video conferencing service. I have tried it several times now, and I am truly amazed how easy it is to talk with someone and view them at the same time. 300 years ago, when I was a kid, television had been just invented. I was just 12 years old when my parents bought their first one. It was a console, with a small 19" screen. Our front room was so small that the TV was placed in the doorway to the front bedroom, which had another doorway that connected to the kitchen.

Our telephone was the circular dial type. Our number was something like "Fernwood 325." After a few years, we got an updated push-button phone, with lighted buttons. Both of these phones were huge, black desk types, with black chords. Our system was a "party line;" meaning that we shared our connection with 6 to 8 other households in the neighborhood. In order to make a call, you had to lift the receiver and listen for a dial tone before dialing. Often you would interrupt a neighbor's conversation, and have to apologize. In case of an emergency, you would have to declare that was the case, and ask them to hang up so you could make your call.


Needless to say, you had to be really careful to not badmouth or gossip, or you could easily be found out, and perhaps have to answer to entire neighborhood.


In today's world, using Skype is marvelous, but I'm not to convinced about the privacy of it. I believe that the whole world could listen to your conversation, if the right hacker was interested in the content of your call; so using discretion is still, and always the best policy.


I tried to copy a photo from the Skyp's picture gallery, but I guess they have the program rigged so that pictures cannot be copy and pasted to this blog (I wanted everyone to see the faces the grand kids pulled at me). So I put this photo of Matthew taken in 2007. This is one cute kid, don't you agree?

I REST MY CASE

Santa's place in the Fashion Place Mall.

Santa's place in South Towne Mall.

Santa has a kid sitting on his lap, and there are actually people in line.

In an earlier post, I came down pretty hard on Fashion Place for not having a lot of decorations this Christmas. Don't get me wrong, as I do think it is a great mall, and I still love to walk it. It's just that South Towne is more conducive this year to the Holiday shopping spirit. I rest my case.

SNUG AS A BUG

Erin settling in to watch TV at grandpa's house.

Funny how one can become so comfortable. "Snug as a bug in a rug," is one descriptive phrase passed down to me by my parents. "As cute as a bugs ear," is another phrase

When someone is giving you a hard time, have you ever said, "Don't bug me?" I wonder if bugs say, "Don't people me," when someone bothers them?

I just happen to know of some people who are afraid of insects, especially spiders. This is very curious behavior since people must look shockingly huge to the little creatures. The poor things must actually tremble with fear when they not only see us coming , but also feel the frightening vibrations of our footsteps.

Hey, put yourself in their place. How would you feel if a creature of some type, as big as the Church Office Building came along ready to crush you, knowingly or not?

Anyway, Erin is such a loving, gentle, and caring person. I guess you could say that she "wouldn't hurt a flea."

YOU TOO CAN BE CONSIDERED AN EXPERT

Reading the newspaper can be interesting, at times. An article in today's paper stated that a new study suggests there are a mind-blowing 300 sextillion stars. Frankly, I had never heard of the word, sextillion. For us earthlings, the calculation is 3 trillion times 100 billion.

Wow! Actually, I am impressed with glory of the night skies. My expertise consists of stepping out onto my back deck, and trying to locate the Big Dipper. I can find several of the constellations, and some of the planets. Actually, I can find Draco the Dragon curling up and around the Little Dipper. You can find it too, as soon as your eyes become adjusted to looking at dimmer stars.

For people like me, Grandpa Zucc, one of the best astronomy guides is the Astronomy Merit Badge book published by the Boy Scouts of America. It deals with all the really cool basics. I found that as I point out heavenly objects, both grandchildren and adults think I am really knowledgeable on the subject. Ha ha.

Believe me, if you can locate just a few of the basic objects in the heavens at night, you too can be considered an "expert."

A DELIGHTFUL PERFORMANCE

In December of 2001, Bev and John pose in front of tabernacle organ pipes.

Sunday evening, we attended a delightful performance of Handel's Messiah. The musicians were of different faiths, but this particular performance was held in the LDS Holladay Stake Center. Three of the soloists (currently members of the Tabernacle Choir), Eliott Clark, Scott Miller, and Trish Swanson, sang with exceptional ability and beauty. The orchestra was excellent also.

This group, for the last 20 years or so, had been performing it's annual concert at Highland High School, but last year they were forced to find a new venue. It seems that some non-christian lady had an issue with separation of church and state, and threatened litigation if the concert were held again in the school. Well, the school board backed down, rather than face a law suit. Both the LDS Church and the Church of Christ stepped forward and offered their facilities.

As I sat and listened to the glorious strains of the "Messiah," my thoughts went back to past times when my wife and I participated in this wonderful oratorio, as singers in the Tab Choir.

Mike Wilson I tried making a comment onyour Grandpa Zucc blog site but the site wanted me to have some sort of account thus preventing me from posting there. I just wanted to say I'll remember my years in Yellowstone where we performed Handel's Messiah around Aug 25 - Christmas in Yellowstone back then when I worked there.

I WISH IT WERE SUMMER

Nothing but snow and cold here, and I (Grandpa Zucc) am being a little nostalgic. I yearn for just a little touch of last summer, when I was with my grand kids from Washington. Memories do cheer one up on a winter day such as this.


Dayle's first visit to a Barber
Belana in the garden
Brenden stamping a design in leather

Julie adorning the front porch of a pioneer house

CHRISTMAS ELVES DECORATE TREE

Grandma and I pose proudly beside our lovely tree. We really like the angel on the top.






Grandma enjoyed supervising the Christmas elves. The tree would have looked a lot different if she would have let them work on their own.

Christmas Elves, Erin and Jenna, help us decorate the tree this year. Erin especially loved the little wicker baskets, and Jenna loved the little red apples. I just loved having the company of a couple of the grand kids.

MY GRANDPARENTS

My grandfather John & his wife Hattie, had some property in Fair Oaks, California. He lived in a large Victorian type house, and on the property he grew apricots, and a variety of produce. My cousin Thelma, grew up in that grand old house, and graduated from the local high school. She told me that grandpa sold his vegetables at a local market, and used the proceeds to pay his taxes.

Today I noticed that at Walmart, retail zucchini was selling for $1.89 a pound. Let me see, at that price I would have to raise over 750 pounds to pay just my property taxes.

By the way, do you think I look like my grandparents? Usually, some traits are passed on to succeeding generations. I noticed the other day, Jenna's hands have the same features as my wife's hands.

ERIN RECEIVES AWARD

I am so proud of Erin's Reflection award for Musical Composition from her elementary school. She was so proud and happy.

NOW, THAT WAS A SNOWSTORM!

I woke up this morning to 2 1/2" of snow on my deck, and just a dusting on the sidewalks - not much accumulation after yesterday's news media hype. It is cold outside though, and the weather people got that prediction right.

I remember the snowstorm of 1967 in southern Utah. Bev and I were newlyweds, and I was the music teacher in the Monticello school system. I woke up, got ready to leave for work, opened the front door and a wall of snow greeted me. I turned on the radio and got the news that school had been cancelled.

The storm laid down enough snow to cover my VW Beetle completely, and only the antenna gave any indication where the car was. My next door neighbor was a Geologist. He drove a large Ford 4 x 4 pickup, and he couldn't get it to move. After a day or so a snowplow with a huge blade came down the street. I approached the driver and we attached a large chain from the snow plow to the back axle of the VW, and pulled it up and over the snow onto the road.

The wind blew so hard that the snow piled up to 12' along the sides of the roads leading into town, and it piled up to the roof on the backside of our house. NOW, THAT WAS A SNOWSTORM!

RED DEVILS WIN

In overtime, the Springville sophomore basket ball team won 60 to 58 in overtime. When that last 3 point shot went in with no time on the clock, us Devil fans went crazy. The whole team was jumping up and down and giving the high fives. American Fork played well, but our guys really deserved to win. "GO, RED DEVILS."

FASHION PLACE VS. SOUTH TOWNE

Welcome Annie to this blog, and anyone else who wants to share a comment.

On my mind this day is the lack of Christmas decorations in the Fashion Place Mall. They have done so much remodeling this year and have improved the mall's physical appearance, but somehow the holiday decorations are few and far between, as is the Christmas spirit.

Hanging from the center skylight in front of Macy's are 4 columns of lights, and a big wreath. Santa's sitting stool in front of Dillards, is sort of unimpressive. Decorations in the storefront windows are few. The only "Merry Christmas" signs I saw were in the window of "The Tie Shop," and in a children's shop on a couple of hanging stockings.

I started my mall walking about 9:30 am. In the halls were a sparse number of old people, obviously hoping that, by a little bit of exercise, they could extend their life expectancy somewhat. The thought went through my mind that I was among the youngest, and most healthy of these creatures, and this thought actually made me feel like quickening my pace, which I did. Ha ha.

A red suited Santa Clause was not making his way down the hall to met anxious followers, for there were none.

Of interest, about halfway through my walk, a blond fellow in his mid-twenties, wearing sun glasses, entered the mall. He was dressed totally in white, except for a red belt and black shoes. He moved fast, waving his arms periodically, talking out loud to himself, and making jerky head gestures, as if he were supercharged on meth. He stopped and talked to a couple of kiosk vendors, a couple of Hispanic cleaning ladies, and a mall cop. This whole scene was quite a contrast to all the old people, walking slowly and deliberately - by the way one of them actually smiled at me.

Now, the mall cop was an interesting character also. He must have been 6'8". He was wearing his full cop uniform, including a brown wide rim hat, the kind that "Smoky the Bear" wears. He had a very friendly but docile face, and his walking movements, although slow, were very dignified. His demeanor, to me suggested disappointment, that maybe he had been expecting excited children in the mall, waiting to sit in Santa's lap.

In contrast to my Fashion Place Mall experience, is my experience in walking in the South Towne Mall. This is the place to go this season if you want a delightful Christmas experience. As I walked South Towne, last Thursday, I noticed the abundent decorations throughtout the mall and it's accompaning stores, Penneys in particular.

Santa was being escourted to his seat by two security people, and at least 100 kids were in line waiting to place their requests with him. The upcoming noon concerts were well advertized, and the performing stage was set up, as were the chairs.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to all of you, and I hope your celebrations are at least as appropiate and happy as mine.

BIG STORM A'COMING!

Thanks to Tam and Katie for making comments on my last posting.

Mike and I went to watch the last football game in Provo. It was kind of cold, but the wind was blowing quite hard, which made it feel a lot colder. Mike and I were prepared, with heavy winter coats, ear muffs and lap blankets. We even had heavy duty ponchos just in case it rained. Greg, by the way, ended up with one of them. Wow! he must really be some kind of a stud, to come with only a hoodie. I was impressed. Maybe, next year I will sneak a bottle of Mexico soda into Cougar Stadium just for him. That would keep him warm, for sure.

On the way home, the storm front hit us at about the Point of the Mountain, and the storm raged throughout the night. In the morning, there was 13 inches of snow on my deck. The weatherman said that Sunday night another storm was going to hit the Wasatch Front, but it didn't materialise.

Tomorrow evening another big storm is a'coming, so the man says, sub freezing temperatures and all.

I like to tease everyone, even Greg, just a little, once in awhile, but seriously if anyone knows the best place to buy cheap Mexican soda, I, Grandpa Zucc, would really like to be informed.

A ONE-WAY TICKET TO MARS

Grandpa Zucc, in all his practical wisdom, has made a decision It is now being suggested by some reputipal scientests that a "one-way ticket to Mars" would be more cost effective than a round-trip fare. After all, the Pilgrams left England to settle in America, and they came one-way.

Well,hot diggity dog. That is exactly what I think. I bet I know who Ed Smart would like to send to Mars. I bet I know who Max Hall would send, and I bet Jerry Sloan would like to send the L.A. Lakers.

As for me, I think I would like to send those strawberry eating birds.

Who or what would you send?

ZUCCHINI

Well, I guess why I call this blog "Grandpa Zucc," is because Zucchini is the only vege I can really grow successfully. Actually, I grew one heck of a potato crop this year. Actually, my tomatoes usually turn out good also.

I tried strawberries this year, but I have since found out that the birds love them as much and maybe more than humans. I tried several things to drive them away. I even built a scarecrow with aluminum pie tins hanging from the arms, but after a couple of hours the birds used the poor stick-man's arms to rest upon.

I went to Lowe's home improvement store and bought a bird net and carefully covered the strawberry patch, using the provided pegs to securely attach the netting to the ground. The next day, I approached the patch and, to my surprise,I actually caught a bird happily feeding himself under the net. I think he was probably more surprised to see me than visa-versa. He squawked as loud as he could and finally wiggled himself free from under the net, but did he fly away forever? No he just went about 10 feet to the fence, and just mockingly looked at me, jumping up and down, waving my arms.

It must have been quite a sight, and I hope none of the neighbors saw this spectacle. Ha-ha. Next spring, I will try to grow something else in their place. I'm thinking of peppers.

JUST STARTING

I am just starting this blog. This is really a big experiment for me, so I hope that those who visit have both interesting and nice things to say.