from the dadsterT

Hey there, Madel Padel;

Here's hoping everything is hunky-dory with you guys. I don't seem to hear about anyone in the family lately, probably because I don't get to see Sarah every week when she brings Ohen over for piano lessons at Pam's house.

I've got a big pile of dirty dishes in the sink, which I meant to get to right after Church today -- but then I thought, no -- let's write to Madel first (and maybe the dishes will do themselves).

I'm now in the North Park Second Ward -- it's about four blocks from my place, so an easy walk. It's not a very welcoming ward, so far.I guess maybe it's the demographics -- lots of people moving in and out.  It's full to bursting with either newly wed BYU students or old fossils from the several Senior apartment buildings in the neighborhood. They had to open up the cultural hall just to seat everyone for Sacrament Meeting, and they ran out of the Sacrament water and had to bless several more trays. I'm thinking this is a ward that will soon be split.
The ward has its share of oddballs, to say the least. There were 2 old geezers sitting right behind me who kept their cell phones on during Sacrament meeting, and kept getting calls, which they couldn't figure out how to answer. The same thing happened in High Priests group -- in fact, just as we finished the lesson (which was all about being sensitive to the needs of others) and the closing prayer was being said one of the old dodos' phones rang again and he just talked right through the prayer. I wanted to say something to the guy, but figured I'd let the authorities take care of the problem.
There seem to be several 'street people' in the ward -- they certainly dress the part; dirty sweat pants and hoodies. They were pretty disruptive during the Gospel Doctrine class -- wanting to make long, rambling comments about nothing in particular. One of them wears 2 pairs of glasses at the same time and still can't see very well. He kept coming up to me between meetings to shake my hand and breath on me.
But I guess I'm just being hypercritical, aren't I?
My apartment neighbors are interesting, too. The one on my left has a vicious little Chihuahua, even though there are big signs posted throughout the building that read NO PETS ALLOWED IN BUILDING. Her foot is in a cast, so I asked her what happened; she said she fell out of a second story window. I didn't pursue the subject with her. On the other side is a shriveled up old lady with loose dentures -- they clack like castanets every time  she speaks.
But I must say I've got a great view of the mountains from my ground floor patio. I can watch the sun rise and set over Y Mountain.
Sarah got me a great set of sheets for my bed -- they're so silky, I've never had anything like them. And Virginia got me a nice soft and downy quilt for the bed. I haven't enjoyed sleeping so much in years. In fact, this morning I slept in until 8! I haven't done that since I was in my 30's. (Church doesn't start until 12:30).
I've reserved the Community Room tomorrow evening for a big thank you dinner for everyone in my old ward who helped me out so much during the past 3 years. I'm making all Thai food -- a green papaya salad, a ramen noodles salad, red and green curry, and baked chicken in peanut sauce with plums. I don't know how many will show up -- probably about ten people.
Since the Provo Rec Center is now so close I go over every morning right after waking up; there's always an aquatics class -- aerobic or Zumba. Then I soak in the hot tub and then go over to the Library to dink around for a while until lunchtime, which I eat at the Senior Center, which is part of the Rec Center, and then I go home and read or write. I've just discovered the DiscWorld series by Terry Pratchett. They're great, and there's 21 of 'em, so I've got a lot of good reading ahead of me.