November 26, 2000 Farmington, Utah

It seems like I just wrote my letter a few days ago but since I like to keep on a schedule I will write again today - my usual day. This has been a funny day - Margaret called me early this morning and asked me to ride to Park City with her after our Sacrament meeting. She had been in Park City last week, coming home last night, and she couldn't find her cell phone and thought maybe she had left it there. We both hurried home from our meetings and changed clothes and as she was putting things in her car she found her phone - it had fallen between the door and the front seat. ANYWAY - we both decided to go another day when we could shop at the outlet stores so I changed my clothes and just decided to finish up my Christmas decorating and read the paper. Jeannie - thank you so much for your dinner invitation but I'm sure you will understand. When I found out I was going to Park City I called and left a message with Mary Ann to tell them I wouldn't come for dinner.

I have been a little concerned about the Bob Mellors - I have absolutely LOVED their letters from Costa Rica but my word I can't believe how dangerous their trip has been with all the huge bugs and poisonous snakes. Bob - I'll bet you will never forget the Spanish word for snake again. I'm anxious to hear all about their trip and see their pictures - I'm sure they are very tired so I'll wait until they get rested up again before calling them (I left word on their answering machine that I was going to Park City).

I HAD AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS THANKSGIVING!!! I thought the plans worked perfectly for everyone concerned. The Woolley and Weinert families (the younger ones and Ron and Rick) all went skiing at Solitude ALL day and it was so much fun to see them come home "beet red" and completely exhausted. Annie had done all the work for the dinner so by the time I got to her home we could just visit and relax. John had prepared his special salmon and that took a lot of work and preparation. He ordered it from a special fish place in Salt Lake and his friend Laura picked it up on Wednesday. I really would like to learn how to do that - he puts some kind of dressing inside (I know it had pinion nuts in it) and then wraps it in foil and cooks it on the grill. It was just heavenly!!! Jessie had made delicious sweet potatoes and Susanna had made the pumpkin pies. Annie had cooked a HUGE turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, bread dressing, fruit salad, fresh asparagus, rolls, cranberry sauce, etc., etc. - it was WONDERFUL!!! Jeannie brought spinach balls, cranberry sauce and her famous truffles. I took a genuine gourmet mushroom casserole and a very ordinary Indian corn dish - Ha!!!

We all went to the movie the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas" after dinner and it was GREAT. I kept dozing but that is normal for me. Grandpa Russ and Mimi were there and that was special - they had driven from Jerome, Idaho on Wednesday. It was fun to have Laura's 11 year old son with us too - he is such a well mannered and adorable young man. We missed the Roy and Bob Mellor families (especially Michael) and also Boyd and Barji. Steve and Susanna were there and I have worried about Susanna who had forgotten to take her sunscreen lotion and she looked very sunburned to me. They said the skiing was "picture perfect". They all talked about how good Jessie is on the slopes.

The latest news about John: His friend, Laura, has a truck so she went to John's home on Friday morning and loaded up and John loaded up his truck and they came to my condo in the afternoon. I'm sure you all remember my beloved couch and chair that has been stored in my garage. My neighbor, Margaret, asked if she could buy it for one of her relatives who had seen it in my garage and wanted it. I offered it to the Weinerts before offering it to Margaret and they decided they wanted it so they came and took it to their home. I couldn't believe how much room it was taking in the garage. John was able to put his boxes in that spot and there is still A LOT of room for more if he has any more to bring. It was amazing for me to see how hard Laura could work - she is SO thin I didn't think she was very strong but my word she jumped into the back of the trucks and carried those boxes into the garage like they were nothing. They didn't stay very long because they wanted to avoid the traffic of the U. of U. and BYU game in Salt Lake but it was fun to have them.

John is in Atlanta for the next 10 days and then he goes to Israel for two weeks - that trip's date was changed. Having John have to "clear out" his home has made me a much better shopper - I will NEVER buy or save anything I don't really need. It is just ridiculous to have so much "STUFF" to go through. I am proud of the way he has done things.

I was at the temple for eight hours on Saturday morning. It was a very busy day with LOTS of people attending and they had to delay the 10:30 session for about 20 minutes which meant I was there that much longer. I won't have that long schedule again for awhile - I usually am finished about 11:30 a.m. and Saturday it was from 5 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

I was in a little panel discussion in our Relief Society this morning - there were three of us: Margaret, Lara Cahoon and me. I had to give a little presentation about the role of Bishops in our church as "Shepherds of the Flock". My visiting teaching companion was in charge of it and she asked us to participate - she's a sweet woman with a little tiny, tiny voice. She and her husband just returned from a mission in Clinton, Arkansas.

I am watching the television coverage of the election. Florida's Secretary of State has just announced that she has certified the "re-counted" vote returns and has declared George W. Bush winner of Florida's electoral votes. They have also announced that Vice-President Gore will challenge that so I guess it isn't over yet. I can't believe all that has happened in this year's Presidential election. The comedians have had a "heyday"!!!