Salt Lake City Tourist and other Utah Fun

Ali, Bodie, Elaine, Tommy, Caymin & Gay

Not exactly the adventure that comes to mind...but you can always have fun wherever you are with family and friends. I met Gay in Utah for Caymin's BYU soccer camp. Caymin had fabulous time, met new friends and her team, the Corn Nuts, took first place in the tournament. Before and after the camp, we fit in some fun off the field. Jeff Logan rewarded us with personal tour of his Granny B cookie factory in Orem as thanks for me helping him with family history. Yum! We even gave opinions on new flavors being considered. Friday night was new experience for some as we joined Kellyn and Glen's family for rodeo in Pleasant Grove. His brother's team took first place in Wild Cow Milking Contest. This was a new competition to me despite all my many rodeo days. The object is for your team to capture a wild cow, pin her down, and milk her hoping to get some in the bucket to show judges. Needless to say this was a challenge and provided some laughs for the audience. Gay and I also finished up on the Blalock Reunion booklet project printed by BYU bookstore.
      Highlights of our tours were downtown Salt Lake City Temple Square, Conference Center, Brigham Young house, lunch at Lion House, Church History Museum (see video at end of post), Bridal Veil Falls, Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point, etc. Elaine with grandkids Tommy, Ali and Bodie joined us for most of outings.

Tommy, Ali, Bodie, Elaine, Sue, Gay & Caymin

      Kellyn is home for summer as Deloitte intern. So nice to have her back as my exercise task master, cooking enthusiast, and mindless TV series companion. Sad to report Star passed away this past week after short battle with cancer. Fortunately, Kellyn was home and able to visit with her last few days. Star always recognized Kellyn, acknowledging her as "mother."
      Mitt Romney with wife Ann was in town fundraising for his US Presidential campaign. Your dad and I joined him for breakfast with about 50 people at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Nice to hear from him in person in intimate setting giving update, shake his hand and hear him answering direct questions. We are already max donors. He's trying to get more donations before June 30 reporting, so if you're considering supporting his campaign now is good time to donate. I was very pleased he signed my copy of his book No Apology just purchased on sale the week before at Deseret Book. No worries, I removed the deep discount sales sticker before hand. We even saw several people we know from church and Goldman, Sachs.

      Your dad, Kellyn and I had the pleasure of attending the open house for Brett Candland and new wife Victoria at the Candland home on Saturday. Again ran into many people we know around the Bay Area.
      Not all adventures involve travel. Our most recent is helping US Congresswoman Barbara Lee from Oakland with her family history. Your dad has focused on her mother's side and turned over the research for father's side to me. We've made good progress including the "Irish Connection" in her black family, at least we are pretty confidant with findings indicating Lt. Colonel Pointer, decorated Civil War veteran, fathered two daughters by his family's maid in late 1800s. One of the girls is Barbara's grandmother. Interesting to find his photo in full military uniform plus photos of both parents. This line goes back to early founding of Virginia in contrast to the non-white lines that tend to stop with 1870 census after Civil War.