Christmas Traditions - A time for transitions

Christensen Family Christmas Tree

In 1990, the first Christmas for Cathy and me as a newlywed couple, was a memorable and fun time together.  Ironically, we lived in the basement apartment of the house we now call home. We ordered our first set of ornaments from the JC Penny catalog.  The ornaments were an assortment of wood objects from trains, toy soldiers to sleighs.  It was a wonderful year and we realized that we were starting some new traditions together as we brought together traditions from our respective families.  We decided early on, that we wanted a more traditional Christmas tree look and that we wanted more of a variety of ornaments, as opposed to a "particular look". 

In 1991 when Jessica was a newborn baby, we decided to start acquiring an ornament with each year of her life as part of the Hallmark series.  Our initial thought was that as she grew up and moved away, she could take her ornaments with her to start her own tree, starting her own memories.  It became a fun part of our tradition each year to take her and let her pick out what mattered to her that year.  As Sarah came along in 1999, we started with her as well and our tree started becoming full with both of their ornaments.  Along the way friends and family also added to our collection, all with good memories. 

We realized a few years ago, that one day our children would in fact grow up and move away and suddenly there would not only be a void in our tradition, but on the tree as well!  Our original wood ornaments were also starting to fall apart and glue gun repairs weren't always worth it.  We decided to add to our collection, items from experiences that we had or places we've seen.  In our collection there is an ornament commemorating the restoration of the Utah State Capitol, the Nauvoo Temple, Boston, the four corners of Utah, or our recent family cruise to Alaska among many.  As we hang each ornament, we create for ourselves a found trip down memory lane for our family.

However Christmas also becomes a time for transitions.  This year, Jessica was at Utah State when we put up our tree.  It just didn't seem right to hang her ornaments without her, so we just set them aside until this evening when she could join us. While the tree seemed full, our hearts knew something was missing.  We're not sure we like this transition, but I guess it's coming nevertheless.

Jessica's ornaments wait patiently for her return

In addition, as we unpacked our Christmas stockings, we noticed our sock for our dog Daisy, who passed away earlier this year.  While we never hung her stocking with our Christmas Socks, Santa always filled it with some goodies and a new chew bone.  We're not quite sure what to do with it this year, but we can't seem to bring ourselves to just get rid of it.

Daisy's stocking (our nine year old Lab who passed away)

Our own stockings are fun to hang up each year.  When Cathy and I first were married, we found these extra large socks, and it was fun to have Santa fill them with a few extra items.  It left lots of options for those tools, or hair attachments we needed.  However it was clear as the kids came along, that it wasn't a practical alternative for Santa to fill that much, and we went with a smaller option for the kids.  My sister Nancy was kind enough to use her talent on helping create some fun options for us and we enjoy hanging them on the fireplace during December.

Sock artwork created by Carlton's sister, Nancy

Then there is the "original sock".  This sock was the sock that I came home from the Hospital on Christmas Day.  Born on December 23rd, my mother was released to come home with her 10 lb 14 oz child who was 24" tall.  As my mom passed away in 2004 and we went through her Christmas stuff, it was a sock that we couldn't throw away either and reminds me of the Christmas gift my mom always talked about getting that year.

Sock Carlton came home in from LDS Hospital in 1965

Christmas has generally great memories for me, but it has far too often been a time for transitions.  I guess it's only appropriate that Jessica's ornament she purchased this year for her collection has the phrase, "All roads lead home at Christmas".

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!

Happy Halloween - Yes I do wear costumes

I got in this visicous cycle ever since my first year in office, of wearing a Halloween costume to work and subsequently sneaking (or should I say trying to sneak in) to city hall to deliver a Halloween treat to staff.  The problem with it, is that there becomes a growing expectation that you'll continue to do it every year!

It all started when I dressed up as Kangaroo

From my childhood years, I had been looking through the World Book Encyclepedia trying to figure out what I wanted to be, and came across a Kangaroo.   Well to start, there aren't really a lot of Kangaroo costumes on the rack and certainly not for someone who is 6'10" tall.  It pretty much started with my dear sister Nancy, talented seamstress who took pity on her baby brother's desire and created a kangaroo costume for me.  In that initial year, I carried Jessica as a baby in my pouch, later it would be my stuff dog, Woof Woof.  Someone kindly pointed out to me that I was a female kangaroo, since I had the pouch and was carrying the baby.  This would be a pattern that I followed all too often!

There was the year, I dressed up as an Orange Flag.  Mayor Anderson had initiated them throughout the city, and I was just trying to be patriotic to the cause!  Cathy was Martha Stewart that year, although we really needed an orange jump suit, which fit her attire in her temporary home in the Federal Prison system.

One year, I can't seem to find it, I dressed up as a Fairy Princess.  I was wearing my sandles that year, and my constituent liasion, Marge Harvey pointed out that my toe nails needed to be painted.  For some reason, I let her do it, and boy did they freak me out every time I showered.  I kept thinking it would wear off, and it wasn't until a week later that she pointed out to me that I could use fingernail polish remover.  Hey guys don't learn that kind of stuff, usually!

 

Then there was the West High Cheerleader year.  And no, cheerleaders at West don't look like this!  Although Chris Burbank, our Chief of Police, who played basketball about the same time I did, at East, tried to convince me that was the case.  I thought the little ribbon in my hair, really added to the look!

 



There was the year I ran for the State Senate in 2008.  I was nervous about that one, but decided to capitalize on the occasion, and pretend I was a "Roman Senator" and decorated one of my campaign signs.  You know that year, I actually had the endorsement of Mitt Romney, but it was clearly a Democratic year, and well, I'm still a city councilman.....

In 20120, I dressed as a caveman.  I'm on the Advisory Board for the Museum of Natural History and we had a bond measure before the voters.  Carrying my pet dino, I made a shameless plug for people voting for the bond.  You can now see the outcome of it in one of the most beautiful buildings in the State and one of the top tourist draws in the valley, approaching 300,000 visitors since it opened, nearly a year ago.  Proud to now be the President of that Advisory Board.

Last year, running out of ideas, started going to the Hale Center Theater Costume Shop!  This is me, dressed as Dumbledore from Harry Potter.  I guess because of the beard, everyone thought I was Hagrid.  Oh well, they still liked it.  It did remind me of why I don't want a beard!

Well that brings us to this year.   Yes I have a costume, and yes I plan to show up at City Hall and a few other places, but you'll just have to wait and see....

Yes, Cathy was a Gypsy and I'm a Pirate!

 

Tempos, one of life's greatest treasures!

Can't ever have enough Tempos

My dear mother, Verda Mae Christensen, found great joy in the last 10 years of her life shopping at NPS Market Square on Industrial Road in Salt Lake City, looking for bargain after bargain.  On more than one occasion, she would come home with something that I thought was totally crazy, even making a comment about it, and then finding myself a week or two later asking if I could borrow it.  For example, she once purchased an audio visual cart and primarily used it to move her groceries from the car to the house.  After she passed away in 2004, I inherited it and use it all the time for my computer projector and other audio visual stuff.  OK, so I didn't give my Mom enough credit, and I'm now eating some humble pie and getting some just reward from my own kids.

Mom always thought that if one item was a good bargain, than 10 was even a better deal.  One such acquisition by her, was a tissue called Tempos.  They came with these handy visor holders and to the naked eye, they were just another tissue.  But Tempos, actually are a four ply tissue.  Soft enough to use on your nose, but tough enough to wipe a spill in the car, or to wipe down something without falling apart like a normal tissue.  We quickly fell in love with the things and in the nature of my brother Clayton's research about "A job to be done", the job here was not really as a tissue but wiping up life's challenges within your car.  When Mom passed away in 2004, her assets were divided and disbursed by her Trust, it was the Tempos that were evenly divided amongst the kids.  I will have to admit, in taking home a case of them, I didn't really ever anticipate running out.  

Four or so years later, panic went through my own household with the realization that we were on our last package of Tempos.  We went to the Internet, and found a supplier through Amazon when we couldn't find any in the stores, and purchased another case.  As you can imagine, my other siblings were also running out, and in the spirit of generosity, we did share some of those Tempo Tissues with them.  Fast forward to 2012. On the edge of running out again, I went back to the Internet to find out that Tempos were discontinued in their manufacturing.  As I read customer reviews I quickly found out that others shared my panic and love for the things.  I also found out a secondary market for the stuff had developed on eBay.  However I came across a new options, albeit 3-ply product, called Halsa.  Halsa, it just isn't the familiar tone of Tempo and it just wasn't quite the same.  However I was grateful to not have to reform my life, and purchased a mere 40- three package replacements of the stuff.  This time with the intent, to really stick it to family members who want them, and using them for bartering items for family activities.  Like gold for some, I now have a nearly extinct product on my hand!

Yes, I had to open the box and individually verify the inventory!

I realize that my mother wouldn't approve of my high leverage attitude, after all ,she hadn't charged me anything for the original stuff.  She would have given the "shirt off her back" to not only us, but anyone who needed it.  I would do a disservice to her for holding this stuff hostage.  I'm sure at the first family gathering when someone laments, that they're out of "Tempos", I will probably be offering up my new Halsa collection.  If Mom only knew.....

Dorky but Safe!



Carlton showing off his new (used) iPod and his head lamp

 There are times in my life, where I hesitate to ever show a picture such as this to my older sister Nancy.  She is very artistically oriented and well, let's just say she has put me in very interesting scenes and scenarios.  I'm not entirely sure I plan to show her this one, and with her aging years, I'm optimistic she'll just pass right over it!

I've come to a point in my life, where I've pretty much blown off dignity and most of my vanity for the sake of safety.  Especially after crashing twice on my bike this month, the last while trying to start an app on my phone while riding with one hand.  The pain that was inflicted, simply hasn't made whatever I had hoped to gain from using that app, worth it.  It's with that spirit, that I wanted to show off my headlamp flashlight that I've started using while I walk in the early mornings.  At first I contemplated the visual experience for others, but the lure of seeing where I was walking (the bumps in the sidewalks), having my hands free to adjust my iPod, or take an oximeter reading of my finger or just being seen by cars as I cross our neighborhood streets.  This $4 headlight has been well worth it and I know that secretly, every neighbor out walking, wishes they had their own.  Watch me trip next week and smash it on my forehead leaving me at a diminished state for the rest of my life, but in the interim, you know I'm safer!

I'm also demonstrating my "new" used iPod.  Sarah helped me pick it out on Amazon and while I've had an iPad, it just didn't fit in my pocket very well when I exercised.  I had an iTunes account, and Sarah, taking advantage of it, has added some to it.  However I'm always open to some suggestions.  I need good exercise songs, so if you want to share with me your playlist, publicly or privately, I'll see if I like your stuff and if I do, will probably buy the songs. If I don't, I'll probably write a blog about your playlist and why it isn't any good....

Next time you see that beacon of light coming down your street, know that it's either an alien, me, or both!

Postscript:  I now add a second one on the back of my head, with a red light on, tail light!  Now there is a sight!

Odie and the Pig

Odie, our new calf comes in the pen
for dinner

While one might think that it was an old Elton John song, Odie and the Pig, are the newest acquisitions in the Christensen Family is much more than music.  You see, aside from the advantage of the quality in raising your own meat, we are hedging against price increases for next year, when the effects of this year's hot weather and drought in parts of the U.S. catches up with the market place.  Plus, it's just kind of fun to see how our food, really does get to our tables.

Those of you who are neighbors to us in Rose Park, may be wondering where these new additions are hiding in our backyard, but you're not going to be able to turn me in on this one!  Thanks to Cathy's brother Bill and his wife Shari, our new additions are being raised at their place, west of Ogden in Taylor, UT.  Bill and Shari, who have raised animals themselves for a number of years, took pity on us and agreed to help us acquire both a calf and a pig.  The calf came named by the family who sold it to Bill, and we liked the name Odie.  It seemed to fit and besides you don't want anything too sentimental, knowing that this year it's in the pasture and next year in your freezer!

The Pig (one of the three) is male and enjoying some
rotten tomatoes we brought with us to share with them.
They love tomatoes!

The Pig has a shorter outlook on the horizon, probably in February, but is a cute little thing and enjoys non-meat table scraps and leftover produce along with grain.  It's interesting to realize they do better with a little competition in gaining weight, when there is more than one.  Reminded me a little of myself and older brothers...maybe that's how I got so tall!

Cathy's brother Bill, convinces Odie
that it's time for dinner!

We were reminded the hard way, that raising animals has it's risk.  Bill and Shari, who also got a calf at the same time to raise along with Odie, lost it suddenly without any advance notice, and subsequently the investment that went along with it.  I'm reminded again, the risk farmers go through every day, in bringing stuff to our tables and we definitely take it for granted.  Our thanks to Bill, Shari and family for their willingness to help us out (and hold our hands through the process).  We look forward to the "circle of life"!