Aaaah--The Lazy Days of Summer

Happy Father's Day to all of my favorite men!

This past week has felt like the first true week of summer vacation for us--well, at least for the kids and I. That always means new work charts, new schedules, trips to the library, study and reading and personal goals, yard work and actually some room to breathe--I LOVE it! Wednesday we went to our tiny little Middleton library, spent an hour browsing, checked out a pile of summer fare to explore and walked to the little city park to let summer just soak in.Our tiny Middleton library is in the process of expanding and is set to open the new addition this summer. We are all hoping that will include a more expansive selection of good books; it is so limited now. Our librarian has tried so hard to be accommodating and has worked something out with the other libraries outside of our jurisdiction where she will let us request books from them and she will travel there and check them out in her name and lend them to us. We can only request two at a time and sometimes there is a bit of a wait, but it has been a kind service that has helped fill a gap. For the first time I watched Mikayla leave the YA section and wander over to the the classic literature section. I followed her and saw her looking through some Charles Dickens selections. She asked for my suggestion and I pointed out "Great Expectations". Has she really grown up that much in these last few months? I will be interested to see what happens when she opens those pages; it's a bit of a leap from Jerry Spinelli. I took a little genre leap of my own last month and read my first Louis L'Amour book. I was desperate and asked for suggestions. I wanted to be able to make a fair judgement, and because there was nothing offensive in the book, I finished it, but I can definitely say that I will not be classified among his numerous fans. I don't think I've ever read another book with more apathy. I have a dear friend who named one of her children after a character in a Louis L'Amour book, and maybe reading one book isn't a true test, but isn't it interesting how different we all are and how such diverse things can move us or disaffect us. Fred is still slowly reading Song of Years and I can see that it has it's claws in him (Mikayla and I are both silently waiting for his reaction to the pivotal scene), but some of my favorite people have shut that book after the first few chapters and never gone back. A kindred reading spirit is hard to find; but it's an intimate mental connection when it happens.

Fred continues to hold his breath or at least personify yoga-like techniques while internally hyperventilating--maybe it is the Respiratory Therapist inside. He flies to Florida mid-July to meet with CoARC, which is the accrediting body, to see if the Boise Campus will be able to finally receive approval to move forward with the R.T. college. Fred had to "attend" a teleconference with the owner and heads of the other two campuses in Salt Lake and San Diego. He called in, expecting to just listen in while doing his work, until the owner started talking about the importance of having a unified objective to overcome the hostility that CoARC has for Stevens-Henager. A bit surprised by the "hostel" news and concerned about flying into enemy territory, Fred asked for clarification. I guess both of the other campuses have had some major issues, where both R.T. heads have either been fired or been forced to step down and one of the programs has actually been put on probation by the accrediting committee. The owner assured Fred he had nothing to worry about because CoARC was very pleased with him. Fred tried to explain that he hadn't done anything different, in fact he had based his program on what he could glean of the example of the other two campuses and then asked if there was anything he could do to help put the other campuses in a positive light and Mr. Barney commented, "no, you distance yourselves as far apart from them as you can. You just go down and take with you your kind, innocent Idaho farm boy image and you'll be just fine." This man is originally from England and now resides in California and is an intense business man. Fred wasn't exactly sure what he meant by that comment and I have never met the man, so I can't presume to know, but I have noticed that the term "Idaho farm boy" has become a popular term in my lifetime and has seemed to connote hard work and honesty and humility and though it may also have other connotations associated with antonyms of intellectualism and refinement, I think Fred was being paid a great compliment. There are all kinds of leaders--Fred is the quiet steady that remains inconspicuously standing during the storm.

Mikayla took a culinary arts class her last semester this year and has become very interested in nutrition and cooking. She has set some personal progress goals in the same area for the summer and has become my constant helper in the kitchen. It is amazing how much more enjoyable it is to cook with helpful companionship. It is fun to work with a rookie "chef" and realize how much knowledge you glean over the years and take for granted. She has also taught me a few things with her different approach and insight. I am looking forward to that camaraderie for the next two months.

We are flying Jordan down for the 4th of July weekend. He wanted us to go up there and spend it with him, but with the price of hotels, it was just more economical to bring him home. We are all so excited to see him. Sophie tells me EVERY day, a few times a day, how much she misses him -- we all do. Fred made him seem a little closer this week when his "dumb little boy" side surfaced on Friday night. We had a little leftover piece of dry ice and Fred decided that it would be "cool" to make a carbonated drink with it. As he put it in a pop bottle with the Kool-aid and began to screw on the lid, I tried every persuasive argument, to get him to come to his senses but little boys" never listen to logic, especially when surrounded by an encouraging crowd, and as I finished saying, "if that thing explodes I am not cleaning it off of the ceiling!" it did, in his hands, with a deafening boom. Had Jordan been here, he would have been Fred's right hand man and they would probably both have had black and blue thumbs. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Even so, I love my darling, juvenile men! We will be having our annual 4th of July Potluck Picnic Party at our home and viewing the City Fireworks down the block at the school grounds and all of you in town are invited! I'll send an e-mail invite soon, but we'd love for you to put it on your calendars if you don't already have other plans.