Thankful for this year's success!

On Thanksgiving Day, I'm thankful for a lot of things, not the least of which is my family.  They're the best, stood by me through tough and happy times.  Don't know what I would do without them and pray that never happens.  I'm so proud of Cathy, Jessica and Sarah and the fact they are willing to call me partner (spouse) and Dad, that I can hardly stand it.  Excited to spend the day with them. 


Trax Trains now testing and running on North Temple

Likewise in public service, there are projects that you work on for a long time, and somehow never think they actually will come to fruition.  Trax on North Temple is one of those that I've been working on since coming to office.  It was with some excitement the other day, driving eastbound on North Temple, that I watched a new Trax train, testing the track and crossing Redwood Road.  While not the whole solution for improving the west side of Salt Lake City, it's a huge step and I believe a catalyst in how others perceive it.  So much so, that one worry I hold is that in another decade, the area becomes too popular and prices push out many of those who have called it home and some of the traditional residents are not able to afford living here.  Good problem to have, I guess, and you can't control that outcome, but a change from today.

Looking west toward the City & County Building
out of the new Public Safety Building

Another project that has been exciting to see come out of the ground, is the new Public Safety Building.  I walked through it the other day, amazed at all the new and improved opportunities it will provide not only to the public, but the men and women who work to protect our community.   A net-zero building designed to use energy resources efficiently, it will provide some great opportunities and be a significant resource to us in good times and bad. 



Sarah George, Director of the Museum of Natural History of Utah



The final for me this year, is the anniversary of the opening of the new Museum of Natural History where I currently serve as President of the Advisory Board.  They just celebrated having in excess of 300,000 visitors, doubling the first year projection and receiving numerous award not only for the building but the talent that works in the building every day.  It's been an honor to not only have an association with such a fine institution but more importantly to have such a great resource not only for our community but the State and Intermountain Region. 

 

2012 has been a great year, of which I'm can truly say, I'm grateful!

I love these gloves- Their real job is not for fishing!

Sometimes known as fillet gloves, these
are my favorite work gloves

A few years ago, I came across these gloves at Harbor Freight, not in the work glove area, but over in the sporting goods section.  I was intrigued by them for a couple of reasons, first they had an XL size, which is hard for me to come by, and then they were only a few dollars a pair.  What I later found out is that they are the perfect work glove for me. 

First of all, they fit my large hands, but the rubber exterior is also great for picking up things, particularly stuff that is slippery.  They were thick enough that most poky things didn't penetrate, yet they breath, which make them able to breath well during the summer months. They also, because of their cost, didn't make you feel too bad if you ruined them on a project or got something on them.  It was easier to just throw them away.  Because of their inexpensive cost, I always kept a few pairs on hand, if I needed to give one to someone else.  I split wood, dug dirt, picked up branches, these gloves did it all.

Imagine my shock one day, in going into Harbor Freight to find out they no longer carried them.  I always thought they marketed them wrong by having them in the sporting goods area.  After all, the job to be done for these gloves were for inexpensive, comfortable covering of hands which was much broader than filleting fish!  I tried to find them online, at other sporting good stores, and even hardware stores, but no one, absolutely no one, could furnish the same kind of gloves at the same kind of price.

Falling into despair one day, I remembered that my good friend Dennis Martinson, was a wholesale distributor of all kinds of gloves.  He once lived in Rose Park, later moving to Cache Valley area, but we've stayed in touch.  The company he sells for, Golden Stag Gloves or www.goldenstaggloves.com actually had my gloves.  I can't tell you how psyched I was at the prospect.  Now granted, I don't get out much and it is hard to compare many of life's excitements to wearing a work glove, but when you have hands as large as mine and most gloves don't fit, you feel like a second-class citizen.  The other day, Dennis and I attended a Rose Park neighbor's funeral together and afterwards, he gave me the opportunity of buying all he had on his truck.  I once again have my favorite gloves to wear but now with more caution about making every minute with them count!