House O' Sullivans

Each year, under the light of July's full moon, several hundreds of crazies line up to ride around Antelope Island in the dark. I've done this ride several times with my sister Mary and various friends and family members and it always promises a good time. This is one occasion that Phil lets out his old Ford pick-up truck--the annual hauling of the bikes out to the island. Mary, Anni, and I had the high honor of driving in the pick-up truck. We drove out on the causeway just as the sun was setting. All of that lovely valley pollution makes for amazing sunsets. A massive pre-ride influx of sugar from an emergency  Maverick stop fueled the excitement. I have always loved the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island. No matter how many times I visit, I am always struck by the many faces of this place. Each trip is unique. Surreal environs. The team consisted of Mary and her three oldest (Gretha, Anni. and Piet), Kim Goebel, and Don and Carlynn Pay...

That sounds BAD, doesn't it?  My friend Sarah is in town from Wisconsin, and as usually happens, a group of friends gather to feast.  As part of the lunch plan--homemade Cafe Rio salads--I made rice and beans yesterday morning.  In order to thin out the herd and as a benevolent gesture to Casey, I decided to take Hallee along for lunch with the ladies.  The beans were barely done cooking in the pressure cooker, but being time to go I brought them out and loaded them into the van along with Hallee.  We both laughed every time we went over a bump because the weight covering the pressure outlet on top would shift and a blast of steam would escape, making strange and exotic noises.  One bump proved too big and the weight tipped completely to the side, allowing a full pressure release from the pot.  Quickly the van filled with billowing clouds of hot steam and Hal yelled, "Mom, it's burning my eyes."  (She was sitting right in front of the pot.)  ...

We THOUGHT we were (going to Oz that is)!  The winds blew mightily last week and during the big windstorm, we lost part of our roof.  Our shingles were scattered all around our house, all around our neighbor Stan's house, and even up on HIS roof.  The roof needed replacing, but we were hoping to wait until next spring to do the big job.  (Haven't we put ENOUGH time into this house lately?)  Alas, the large patch of exposed plywood on our roof speaks otherwise.  We decided that NOW was the time to tear off the old and put down the new.  Any brothers or brother-in-laws (or anyone else) that need something to do Friday afternoon  are invited to our house for the pull-down party.  We have some friends (professional roofing types) that are coming Saturday to put the new shingles down, but we're looking for some Friday laborers starting around noon.  Who's in?