The Runnin' Utes

July and August were a blur. Computer problems have not helped. We had been using our main computer (Bessie), then left it for a while. We came back and wondered who shut it off. We turned on the power button, nothing. We bypassed the UPS, nothing. We changed the power cord, nothing. I replaced the power supply (and case since Kimberly wanted one that had more USB plugins and it was only a little bit more), so I moved all of the components across--still nothing. Then it was time to start into the CPU and mother board. And here I sat, as though I were Lightning McQueen chained to old bessie, tyring to repair the damaged road. I know, some of you are probably saying "Oh, man, you get to work with Bessie! I'd give my left two lug nuts for somethin' like 'at". But I saw it otherwise.

So, now, although there is no visble difference in our newsletter contribution from prior months (the font is the same, etc.), and although I cannot type any faster, please note that these words were run through a new mother board and through a faster processor, using new memory, was stored on a new hard drive (we had outgrown the 40 gigger on the other computer anyway), and even though it was viewed on the same monitor it was run through a new video card. [In case you are wondering, I did stick with the AMD family of processors.] Maybe I should use a snazzy font, so it looks different. When I was reloading all of the software, for a bit I was wondering if it would be better to look and see if anyone was selling a typewriter and an old mimeograph machine on EBAY. But, my computer is now like Mater described himself, a "precisional instrument of speed and aeromatics". Unfortunately it does not rev when you turn it on, and then ask if it scared you. By the way, anyone want to go cowputer tipping tomorrow night. Keep quiet about it though, I would hate the police or a prosecuting attorney to find out about it before we actually figure out how to sneak up and tip the beasts while they are sleeping.
Besides computers, camping would probably describe well our family activities for the past month. Brigitta went to the new Church Girl's Camp at Heber, while the rest of us went to Family Camp near Preston. Then Dane and I went back to the same scout camp (near Preston) for another week. That was long enough to rememorize twenty-odd scout songs. Of course, don't let that horrid dread keep you away from the Labor Day camp. This year Sorina likes the songs "The Princess Pat" and "Yogi Bear" and "The Moose" (see below). I think all of the boys also like The Moose song. I also think Kimberly misses being out camping, she told me the other day that I smelled worse than when I was camping (after Dane had used too much garlic salt for the garlic bread, and not just a little too much, lets just say I did not have to season the cucumber slices I ate after the garlic bread and they were delicious). By the way, I do not know what she means, I did take showers while camping. We all had fun during our excursions, and this year our vehicle actually made it further than a block from home (unlike our track and field qualified Ford Van with the "Javelin" engine--that is my name for the engine since it has a thrown rod, although the shot-put would be its second best event since it also went kaaaa-put.) I know some of you joke that Ford stands for Fix or Repair Daily, but if the acronym were accurate it should be called a Forward Van "Fix Or Repair When All Revenue Declines". Talk to you all soon, and we are looking forward to your news.

PRINCESS PAT
The Princess Pat
Lived in a tree
and She sailed across
The seven seas
She sailed across
The channel too
And took with her
A Rig-of-bamboo

A Rig-of-bamboo
Now, what is that?
It's something made
By the Princess Pat
It's red and gold
And purple too
That's why it's called
A Rig-of-bamboo

Now Captain Jack
Had a very fine crew
They sailed across
The channel too
Their ship did sink
And so will you
If you don't take
A Rig-of-bamboo

A Rig-of-bamboo
Now, what is that?
It's something made
By the Princess Pat
It's red and gold
And purple too
That's why it's called
A Rig-of-bamboo

THE MOOSE SONG
The moose
The moose
Swimming in the water
Eating his breakfast
Where does he go?
He goes to sleep.
He goes..to..sleep

2nd verse! quieter than the first
The moose
The moose
Swimming in the water
Eating his breakfast
Where does he go?
He goes to sleep.
He goes..to..sleep

[yell] Wake up moose!
3rd verse! louder than the first
The moose
The moose
Swimming in the water
Eating his breakfast
Where does he go?
He goes to sleep.
He goes..to..sleep

4th Verse, sadder that the verse. Do in a weaping voice.
Dead moose
dead moose
Floating in the water
Not eating breakfast
Where does he go?
He decompose
He de..com..pose

Yogi Bear Song (sung to Camptown Races tune)
I have a friend that you all know,
Yogi, Yogi,
I have a friend that you all know
Yogi, Yogi Bear,
Yogi, Yogi Bear, Yogi, Yogi Bear,
I have a friend that you all know
Yogi, Yogi Bear,

He has a friend that you all know,
Boo-boo, Boo-boo,
He has a friend that you all know,
Boo-boo, Boo-boo Bear,
Boo-boo, Boo-boo Bear, Boo-boo, Boo-boo Bear,
He has a friend that you all know,
Boo-boo, Boo-boo Bear,

He has a girlfriend you all know,
Cindy, Cindy,
He has a girlfriend you all know,
Cindy, Cindy Bear
Cindy, Cindy Bear, Cindy, Cindy Bear,
He has a girlfriend you all know,
Cindy, Cindy Bear,

They all have an enemy,
Ranger Smith,
They all have an enemy,
Ranger, Ranger Smith,
Ranger, Ranger Smith, Ranger, Ranger Smith,
They all have an enemy,
Ranger, Ranger Smith,

They all live in Jellystone,
Jelly, Jelly,
They all live in Jellystone,
Jelly, Jellystone,
Jelly, Jellystone, Jelly, Jellystone,
They all live in Jellystone,
Jelly, Jellystone,