Congratulations, Jacob

Take a look at the scoreboard in the background.

Jacob's little league team won their tournament tonight in a squeeker (how do you spell that?), 8-7. It was a close game and they rallied to come from behind and win. Jacob batted in the tying run, putting the team in the position to win. One of the shy, sort of awkward kids scored the winning run! It was a cool win.

Heading for Scout Camp

Last year's scout camp with Jacob was the most relaxing week of my summer (though I ate WAY too much). I enjoyed it very, very much. In fact, it was so refreshing and restful, and I have been looking forward to this year so much, I'm afraid this year will be something of a let down. It probably will be in some ways, but hope spring eternal-- I plan to have a good time, and rest and read a bunch.

The only worry I have is that Keri will do too much while I'm gone. It's been 5 weeks since her surgery, but her doctor told her full recovery will take 8 weeks. Hopefully Joshua will be able to help her a bunch while Jake and I are in the mountains.

More pictures

I went to the temple grounds early yesterday to take some sunrise pictures. I shot A LOT! of pictures (over 200) and got a number of nice ones (I think). Richard liked a few of them and put some up in his store. One, in particular, may be popular. A lady bought one while I was standing there showing them to Richard. 

Twin Falls Temple - Open House underway

The temple open house began last Friday. It is, like all temples, an exceptionally beautiful building. There several, places, online to see pictures, but above is one I took last night as we strolled around the temple grounds with our friends Jay and Gina Sneddon.

I, for one, am looking forward to regular temple time. Boise isn't so far away, really, but the quickest you can do a session is about 6 hours (and that is pushing it). Say 7+ hours is more reasonable. Not many babysitters will take 5 kids for that long. And if they do, it runs in to big $$. Anyway, the Twin Falls temple is like 3 minutes away from our house. I can run up in the morning to do a session before work. Keri can squeeze one in on a Saturday morning. We can go together for a date night. That'll be nice.

Plugging the photo business

Hoping to drum up a little more summer business, I've temporarily suspended sitting fees for portrait work. Summer is an excellent time to get family potraits done. The evening sun is better than any studio for flattering light and pleasing colors. 

A few pictures for friends far away

The temple is pretty much done. In fact, the contractor turned it over to the church a couple of weeks ago, and stake presidents and the like have gotten to see it. They are also doing training of various kinds. The open house begins next Friday. The dedication is on my birthday (how nice of President Monson to think of me, don't you think?), Sunday, August 24.

The kids are all getting big. Rather than post a bunch of pics on the blog, I've put a few (too many, I'm sure) on a web album. View them at your leisure.

What a lame friend we have in Clark (or apologies to a Michigan poet friend who was trying to make me cool (ish) from a distance)

It's really dumb, probably, but I actually have two blogs. This one is personal (and not in any way associated professionally or by inference or any other link real or imagined with CSI). The other one is professional (where I pretend to be a professional, obviously). The dumber thing is that they have the same name... I think I'm pretty much the most unoriginal guy on the planet.

I was reading some old posts by my Michigan poet friend, Mark Brown, and I found that he had tagged me way last year. How lame am I that I missed it? Way lame, I assure you.

Anyway, here's what he tagged me for:

Four Places I’d Love to Visit:
1. Detroit. to see my friends Mark and Suzanne (not to mention their too-darn-grown-up daughters).
2. Whiterock Canyon (Uintah Mountains, Utah. Site of our annual "Draney Camp"). We go there every year, but gas prices are making me wonder if we'll get there this year.
3. The inside of a B-17. and go flying, of course.
4. Holland, with Keri. Again.

Four Things I Covet:
1. Mark Brown's sense of style. (No, seriously. Everything he does reeks of class.)
2. Automatic sprinklers.
3. That guy at the boy's ball game-- his Nikon D300 and that HUGE lens.
4. Dianna's sense of who her kids are and how to nurture them

4 Goals I Have:
1. Blog "daily" for a while
2. Pay off debt.
3. Be less critical of everyone.
4. See all my boys go on missions and marry in the temple. Catie is another matter altogether, of course.

4 Fads I Wish Would Pass:
1. Square sunglasses.
2. Lowrider pants (on either gender).
3. Reality shows (except Extreme Makeover Home Edition-- which we should be on).
4. Rice-burners with more amp power than horsepower (both of which exceed the drivers' brainpower, apparently).

4 Delights:
1. Chili Lime sunflower seeds (Spitz brand)
2. Going back to sleep after shutting off the alarm.
3. Cameron's laugh.
4. Colton's "Daddy"

4 Regrets:
That I am:
1. Too impatient
2. Too critical (see above)
3. Too slow to forgive.
4. Too critical (see above and above)

4 Things I Wish I Could Do More Often:
1. See my extended family (mostly in Utah) more often.
2. See stage productions (musicals, opera, etc.)
3. Go out to eat with JUST Keri
4. Paintball with my brothers.



4 Things That I Never Would Have Imagined Would Happen to Me:
1. Live in Idaho. (I don't have a thing against Idaho. In fact, I spent my summers in Idaho when I was growing up, and I loved it. I just thought I'd live right there "at home" in Utah. Idaho is home now, though.)
2. ?? My life is too predictable, I guess.