Among my Church assignments is the opportunity to host the Single Adult Dance from time to time. The dance is held at one of the larger Church buildings in the area and those invited to the dances are single adults age 31 and older who live in the greater Pocatello area. Quite often, however, singles from all over southeastern Idaho come to the dance, many just to have something to do. Last night was one of those hosting opportunities. Nina did herself quite proud. She cooked up a pot of sloppy joes, made up fresh fruit trays, and gathered together cookies, juices, vegetable tray, and all the necessary accouterments. This dance featured a live band, one that we’ve heard before and like. A good, well behaved crowd showed up.
Part of my assignment is to get things set up (chairs, tables, serving area), find an opening prayer, and sit back and enjoy. At about 11:30 pm I find someone to give a closing prayer, call last dance, put everything away, chase the remaining single adults out to the parking lot (they like to stand around in circles and talk), and lock up the building. Nina and I climbed into bed at 12:56 am this morning. She was asleep before 1 am. It took me maybe 30 seconds longer.
While it’s fun, 1 am is way too long past my bedtime. Today, the day after the dance, seems like it’s been a Very Long Day. Besides that, yesterday was supposed to be “rapture day.” Some group of people had decided the Bible pointed to May 21st as the day the “rapture” would occur. It didn’t. Now I’m reading online that perhaps they miscalculated and December 21st will be the “rapture.” I can wait. It’s not like it’s the end of the world, you know.
In the meantime, preparations are well underway to support the Pocatello50 Mountain Trail Run, a 51.8 mile jaunt through the mountains for some 300 fanatical runners. This will be the 3rd annual event which is held on the Saturday before Memorial Day. The race starts at 6 am and the first runners will be at the finish line around 3:30 pm that afternoon. Our amateur radio club provides communications for the race at six aid stations along the route. We were up in the mountains yesterday checking things out and verifying radio communications ability at various locations along the route. This year the routing is a bit different because we’ve had record amounts of snow which hasn’t all melted. The race course had to be changed so that the 3rd leg was run at a lower elevation below the major snowpack. The long range forecast looks pretty good for race day. My oldest son James (ham call sign: K9JLS) had such a good time working the race with me last year that he’s flying out for the event this year.
My work at the Idaho National Laboratory continues to be a lot of fun … and takes up a LOT of time! I leave the house about 5:50 am each morning and get back home about 6 pm that evening. I’m in a car pool which is significantly less expensive than driving myself up and back, but it does mean being on someone else’s schedule. Someday when this contract gets far enough along that writing about it won’t affect the outcome, I’ll have to write up what is going on. At the moment I’m in the middle of a procurement process and talking about it taints the process, according to the federal government watchdogs. So, all I can say is I’m having a great time. And it’s time to get ready for bed. It’s already 9:30 pm!
TTFN!