- A DAY OF GOODBYES

This afternoon, after church, Kurt and I drove to Fair Oaks for a memorial service for his co-worker, Anthony Torres. He passed away while on vacation with his family in Arizona last week. Everyone in attendance wore Hawaiian attire in his memory and the service was standing room only. A military honor guard from Travis Air Force Base presented Anthony's wife with a flag while another played taps on the bugle. It was a sad day for his family and friends.

Anthony G. Torres
ANTHONY GREGORY TORRES October 19, 1976 - July 14, 2008 Passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 31 on July 14, 2008. Anthony was born on October 19, 1976 in Woomera, Australia. Upon graduating from Radford High School in 1994 he entered into the United States Air Force. After four years of service he was honorably discharged. He is survived by his wife Carmel, children, Trevis, Kealani, Sene', Amaya, and their unborn child due on January 1. He is also survived by his parents Frank and Penny, sisters Percephanie and Lisa, his grandparents William and Diane, several brother and sister in-laws, and many other extended family members. He is loved by everyone, including many friends and co-workers. Anthony worked as an Air Traffic Controller at Northern California Tracon. He enjoyed playing poker, basketball, Xbox, and spending time with his family. He loved traveling and hanging out with friends. A Celebration of His Life will be held at Russ Monroe's Funeral Home on 7960 Winding Way, on Sunday, July 20, at 1:00 p.m. * * * * * * * * Tonight Kurt and I attended an open house at the LaLonde's for Pat Hamp who is moving to Southern California to live with her daughter. She has been diagnosed with lung cancer. She has been such an example to me of enduring to the end. I really love this lady and will miss her a lot.

- 72 HOUR EMERGENCY KITS

I finally got around to updating our 72 hour emergency kits today. This little chore has been on my to-do list for months. It's been a few years since we did this so all of the food and most of the medical supplies in our packs had expired. I went to Walmart and picked up what we needed and put everything in the new backpacks we bought when our ward did a bulk order of supplies. We warmed up some ravioli on the little tri-wing stoves we have to make sure the compressed fuel bars still work (they're over 15 years old). They did. I'm really glad to have this done!!

Each of our backpacks include the following:
FOOD
2 servings Tang
2 packets instant oatmeal
2 granola bars
2 packets hot cocoa mix
1 can ravioli (pop top lid)
1 can beanie weenies (pop top lid)
2 envelopes Lipton Noodles
3 fruit roll-ups
1 pkg. raisins
1 4-oz. pkg. beef jerky
1 pkg. gum (10 sticks)
9 Jolly Ranchers
3 (2-liter) bottles of water

BEDDING AND CLOTHING
Change of clothing/undergarments
Poncho
Emergency heat blankets
Hand warmers
Tube tent
Blanket (shared with Kurt)
Plastic groundcover (shared with Kurt)

FUEL AND LIGHT
Flashlight
Extra Batteries
Flares
Candles
Lighter
Water-Proof Matches

EQUIPMENT
4 plastic spoons
1 wing stove
3 pkgs. fuel pellets
Folding shovel (shared with Kurt)
Radio w/batteries (shared with Kurt)
Pen and paper
Pocket knife (shared with Kurt)
Rope

PERSONAL SUPPLIES AND MEDICATION
First aid kit
Toiletries (roll of toilet paper, comb, toothbrush/paste, soap, razor, shampoo)

MISCELLANEOUS
Cash
Keep at least 1/2 tank gas in car at all times!!!

- MAMMA MIA

I've been waiting for this movie for quite sometime. Kurt and Tyler reluctantly agreed to see it with me this afternoon. They tolerated it and I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it!!!! I laughed, I cried, and then I bought the soundtrack. The critics hated it (which usually means I'll like it). They seemed to think Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan ruined it with their singing (as did Tyler and Kurt). I thought they were charming. Very sweet, romantic movie! I'll be buying this as soon as it comes out on DVD! LOVED IT!!!

- FULL BUCK MOON

Okay, so the moon isn't technically full until tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. but I love the moon at night so here's my full moon photo for July (such as it is). I really need to learn how to photograph the moon better. I have a "starry sky" setting on my new camera but can't really tell much difference when I use it, even with a tri-pod. July's full moon is the "Full Buck Moon." July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, because thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month's Moon was the Full Hay Moon.

Quiet night at my house tonight. Kurt's working the mid-shift so I'm sitting out on the back deck doing some moon watching. I could sit here all night.

- NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH

Tonight I spent the evening with Tyler, shopping for Angie's birthday and treating ourselves to an ice cream cone at Rite Aid. As soon as I reached for my camera, Tyler smeared ice cream all over his face. He never has liked cooperating with my photo of the day ;) He truly is the funniest person I know.

- GOOD NEWS!

Good news! Jack went to the doctor yesterday and had gained weight. He weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. He's almost back up to his birth weight. We were getting a little worried. Angie said he's quite the eater now. Here he is looking very satisfied after one of his feedings! What a cutie!!! Eighteen days until we see him again....but who's counting?

- TIJUANA TAQUERIA

Tonight I took Alyssa and Tyler and their friends Sahtara and Alax to dinner at Tijuana Taqueria, one of our favorite Mexican restaurants here in Placerville. Sahtara is on leave from the Air Force for a few weeks. She's been in Okinawa, Japan. Alax just got home from his mission in Colorado 3 weeks ago. Everyone came back to the house and played air hockey, table tennis and foosball. My kids have the nicest friends!