Journal for May of 2003

01 May 2003...............Thursday I started of this day/month, at work at Calence. I just tested the modems that I am assigned. GREAT action today, by Our GREAT President, George Bush. As the Aircraft Carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, is approaching the United States, returning from the War in Iraq, President Bush flew a Navy S-3B Viking Aircraft, renamed "Navy1", from San Diego, out to the Carrier and landed it on the Deck. Then from there he gave a speech to the World about the winding down of the Iraqi War AND about the unending war on Terrorist, whereever they are.

02 May 2003...................Friday David and I went the Arizona City Ward "Father and Son's Outing at Peppersauce Campground. We found a shortcut between I10 and the Pinal Pioneer Parkway, that save us about an hour of driving time. As I was talking to David Johnson, at the F&S Outing, we got to talking about the great big gopher snake that we had seen the day before. David said, that a day or two before that, he saw the same snake and it had big knot behind it's head. I said, That was our Puppy..............We had been missing a puppy and I now realize that the snake got it. In the evening we had fun watching those that tried to eat the most hot peppers, Bro. Ethington won at 12 peppers, and those that tried to put the most pretzel sticks in their mouth, Bro. Grover won at 150 pretzel sticks. Look at the photos, it was ugly. David slept in the cab of the Z71 and I slept in the bed, on a big piece of foam that I brouht from home.

03 May 2003 .................. Saturday David and I ate the breakfast, prepared for us at the Father and Son's Outing, at Peppersauce Campground, the we went home. At home we loaded up the Z71 with clothes and Marilee and Melissa and then we drove to San Diego, California for our vist with Shari, Butch, Rachel, Rebecca, Sariah, Hannah, Seth. This was our fist time to ever see Hamilton Seth Dorian, our 28th Grandchild. We stayed in Motel6, right at the junction of I8 and I5. For Supper, we went to Butch and Shari's, and visited and ate Spanish food that they brought. All was good, very good. Then we went back to Motel6 for the night. As we would drive back and forth, between Shari's and Motel6, we did so on I5 and would drive right by the San Diego Temple, each time. It is Beautiful.

04 May 2003 .................. Sunday We attened Church with Butch, Shari and family. I got to stand in the circle, when Butch Blessed Seth. A lot of us got up and bore our testimonies, in Sacrament Meeting and it was a really good experience. After church, and on the way back to Dorian's, we drove down the Pacific Coast a little bit, to get a view of the Pacific Ocean. We also watch where a lot of Hang Gliders launch and fly, at Torre Pines. It was nice cool windy day and a very pleasant experience. Quite a site I must say. Shari made Lasagne and we all enjoyed it. Then we drove for 6 hours, returning to Paradise in Eloy, AZ.

09 May 2003 ............. Friday In the evening Marilee and Melissa and I go to the Ward "Taco" Party. We had a great time there. Where was David? Playing

10 May 2003 ................. Saturday Marilee is gone to work, Melissa and I are working here in paradise and David is doing about the only thing here EVER does, Paying.

12 May 2003............Monday Puppies are 3 weeks old, today Levi helps me irrigate today. I get 4 hours of water at 2cfs and it is a little too much, getting Johnsons and Pearsons a little bit wet. Marilee and Bridgette and Levi do a LOT of work inside the house today. Dave rebuilds the frame work for the cabinet around the Freezer.

13 May 2003.............Tuesday I start off this day at Calence. When I get off at 8:30amMST I drive to Earnhardt Dodge where I try to convince them that the broken timing belt on our 2001 Hyundai should be covered under Warranty. They will call me later. I visit with Ray Metcalf, when I see him at Home Depot, on Chandler Blvd, in Chandler, as I am getting some paint for Bridgette and Levi to use as they are working on Our house today. I feel so badly today that I just sleep all day. I had purchase a blood pressure taker, at Walgreen, on the way home. My blood pressure is 150/90 before my nap and 180/110 after my nap.

14 May 2003...........Wednesday I start off this day at Calence, and I have to call 2nd Level, Dave Eckles, because of a Skymall outage. When I got off work, at Calence, at 8:30amMST, I drove to Casa Grande where I had My Blood Pressure, 185/95 taken at Dr. Ligouri's office, got some needed set screws at NAPA. At home I fed the horses and slept most of the day. Levi and Bridgette were there working on the interior of the house. Later I worked on the Horse Trailer lights. Marilee took Levi to Tucson and I took David to Mutual.

17 May 2003..............Saturday.......Levi Graduates from Law School!! This is a big day for Levi and for all of us....Levi graduates from the Law School at University of Arizona. Attending Levi's Graduation are: Levi, Rob, Bridgette, David, Melissa, Marilee, Wendell, Brent, Grandmother, Kevin, Ginny, Angela, Erick & Family, Nick Goodman & Family. We meet at Levi's place in Tucson, then drive to UofA Centennial Hall. After the Ceremony, at which Governor Napalatano was the featured speaker, the school furnished some really good refreshments outside on the lawn. Then it was back to Levi's for Subs and Drinks and visiting. It was a really good experience all the way around.

18 May 2003.................Sunday..............Ward Conference Today David and Melissa were not here this morning, because they had spent the night with Levi, in Tucson. I went Home Teaching to Lara's and to Sonja. Levi brought David and Melissa home in time to go to church with us at 2pm. Marilee taught the Sunday School Lesson and she did a wonderful job of it. I did not have to teach in Priesthood Meeting because the Stake Presidency took up the time. I stayed after Church to to the Donations, then it was time for Seminary Graduation, which David had a part in but he will not graduate until next year. When driving to the bank to put the Donations Bag in the Deposit Box, I forgot about the FlagPole on the back on my pickup, I drove through the drive through and broke off My FlagPole.

Puppies are 4 weeks old today, Monday - 19 May 2003 We are now down to six(6) puppies. There were eight(8) to begin with but one got eaten by a Gopher Snake and one drowned in the watering trough.

21 May 2003 ........... Wednesday When I got off work at Calence, I went home an irrigated. Today I had 3 hours of water at 2.2cfs. It was about right for the West side of the ditch. I slept for a bit then went to Casa Grande to get Melissa from school.

22 May 2003 ........... BLACK Thursday At 8am this morning I had a meeting with My Boss, Kevin Meeks. It was bad and I did not go to work tonight.........................

23 May 2003.........Friday I had a meeting with Mary at SSA, and found that I can retire anytime I want. Levi, Ann, Rob, Bridgette, Andrew came up for a visit and it was a nice one. Andrew bathed our brown pup. Rob like it so well he named her "Daisy Bear" and took her home with him.

24 may 2003 ................. Saturday We got a call from Wendy, telling us that Josh is getting married and that He and his Fiance will be in our area so we can meet them, tomorrow.

25 May 2003.............Sunday We attended the Arizona City Ward meetings at 2pm. Marilee taught the Gospel Doctrine Class and I taught the High Priest's Group. After the meeting we drove to Darren's where we had a nice visit with Dad, Twila, Pat, Josh, Laura [his fiance], Darren, Julie, Jared, Matthew, Brandon, Courtney, Lauren, Kelli, Hank, Michelle, Emily, Jessice, Lindsay, Luke, Marilee, David, Melissa. This was our first time to meet Laura. Josh and Laura are to be married on 26 July 2003, our First Grandchild to get married.

26 May 2003 ................. Monday I did not go to work again today.......................... In the moring, I drove David and Melissa to Tucson. They are going to visit with Brent, Levi, Bridgette this week. I got to visit with Levi and Bridgette for just a few minutes, then I had to go back to Paradise. Josh was going to come visit me today, but he called and said that he could not make it. In the Evening, Marilee and I went out to eat at Flying J. It was a good visit. Then we worked on gathering the needed docs to refinance our property with Chicago First Mortgage, Melissa Vasilev.

27 May 2003 .................... Tuesday I drove to Chicago First Mortgage at 6232 N. 7th St. #100, in Phoenix, AZ, where I met with Melissa Vasilev. I gave her all the paper work we have gotten together and also check number 3884 for $60.00 so she can get started with a new loan on our property.

28 may 2003 ................ Wednesday This morning I learned that ADOR has Garnisheed my wages to pay the 2001 tax bill of $2000.00 On the way home I got a Haircut, from Sandy because Lydia was not there today. I then paid the Well Payment for May.,br> When I arrived home I found that Orion [crazy horse] was loose because he had completely knocked his pen down. I stood the pen back up and I just let Orion run loose all day, because I knew he would not go anyplace. Then in the evening I put him into his pen and pulled both pens off from the Pasture because I have irrigation coming at 9am tomorrow. Marilee and I got to visit for a few minutes before I left for work at Calence at 10:30pmMST.

29 May 2003 ............ Thursday Before I left work at Calence, I attended a training session on the changeover of our 401K program from Principal to American Funds. It looks like it will be a better deal, but at least I got a little better understanding of how this stuff works. When I got home I verified that indeed the irrigation water had been turned on at 9am and so it will reach us at 11am. I feed the animals and Myself. I get my clothes changed and boots on and the water begins to run onto our pasture. CAIDD was supposed to turn off the water at 12 noon, but they did not. I called Maurice and he said they will get it cut off, right away. I finally get to bed about 1 or 2. About 5pm I am awaken by Marilee, telling me there is no water "drinking" and the Amanda is all worked about it. After I finally get myself up and dressed and start driving my pickup down to the well, I am met by David Johnson, telling me "It is the Pump". He and David Pearson have diagnosed it and that is the problem. When I get to the Well, there is noone there, so I perform my own diagnosis and find it is NOT the Pump. There is no power getting through the controller to the pump and that is why the pump is not running. David Pearson comes back out and we talk about it and check some things and then we discover, on the BOTTOM side of the controller box, so that you almost have to lay on the ground, on your back, and look up, then you can see these two(2) buttons. Those are circuit breakers and when we push in/up the Northernmost one, the pump comes on and the pressure gauge starts going up..........

Last Edited: 04 June 2003