September 2023

This will be backdated to September 2023

Behind on blogging ... it's actually March 2024 (shhhh, don't tell, glad I can backdate here). What were the Blackham Happenings in September 2023?

• San Diego: Gray planned a "birthday" trip (the August boys) to sunny California for a weekend. Unfortunately, there had been some storms that almost made him postpone, but they went, and the weather was fine.  For the flight there, Coop and Keaton had first class seats, but Gray didn't (not sure how that happened). They went on a jet boat ride, checked out the USS Midway - the aircraft carrier museum, got a caricature done (K&C said they guy sounded so much like THIS DUDE, who they love to watch, an imitate ... this type of talk happens a lot in the Blackham household) went to Sea World. Lots of eating out, The Fig Tree, Liberty Station, Coop said Del Frisco was yummy, he loved the rolls. Coop and Keaton binged Avatar during the trip, and they had to take time out for the Fantasy Football draft (very important to Cooper!) Coop also pulled out his PokemonGo while he was out and about (he hasn't been playing much, if at all, at home). 
• Jen EEG: I'd had an EEG after the first fall (now knowing it was a seizure) with no real feedback. After a second seizure, the Neurologist wanted a "continuous EEG" where I got to be hooked up, electrodes all over, a connected monitor/recorder attached (fanny pack) and constant video recording (a separate camera I'd have to set up and move around as I did). This was to go on for four days, Tuesday - Friday, mid-month. I also had to check in at the hospital (IHC in Murray) daily. While it wasn't painful, it was inconvenient and definitely curtailed what little activity I have daily. I didn't leave the house except for the daily hospital check-in. Still got some walks on the treadmill, but no Zumba or pickleball ... which was probably good, as I was also not allowed to shower. Again, no real info from the test (probably nothing conclusive unless another seizure happened while wearing it). Nothing more in store on the medical front, just "wait and see" what happens ...
• Covid: Our immediate family (the WJ crew) had done a decent job of avoiding Covid in 2020, 2021 and 2022. But it caught me back in February, and Gray tested positive this month (traced the contagion to a guy's night poker game. One fellow tested positive the next morning, let the others know, and several came down with it). Coop ended up getting it too. We are happy that his new job was understanding about it. 
• Job Changes: Back in January, Keaton had decided to leave CamsenElectric/Residential and try his hand at more commercial construction (K2). After several months working there, he decided that he preferred the residential, and Camsen (and Cal!) was happy to have him back. It hasn't taken Keaton long to get back up to crew lead, with a van. Cal has moved into more of a supervisory position, and the company traded his work van for a nice truck. 
• Birthdays: Landon's birthday was here in September, we had the usual cake w/candles (cheesecake for Landon). We did a birthday dinner at Bucca De Beppo too (to celebrate the three boys, Keaton and Coop who had just had their birthdays the last week in August). Landon got himself some cowboy boots (fairly mainstream at LKL where he works). 
• Hiking & Biking: Gray and Landon have stayed uber active! See More Hikes: August/September for details ... Flag Rock, Donut Falls, Bountiful Canyon, Lake Mary. Landon hit Olympus on his own. Grayson has added a rucksak for weighted hiking. Gray did some biking too (Bike Boy)... a lot on Legacy. 
• Basketball: Colton stayed busy (as always) with training with Coach Scott, some pre-season games with the WJ Jags, and the Top50 league. Cal had his Men's League on Wednesday nights. Keaton even joined in for one of the games,, and had a little league on the side (that he wouldn't give me details on, he didn't want me coming to watch and video). 
• Homecoming: Colton wasn't really planning on attending the school Homecoming dance, but then he was nominated for prom king, and made it into the top vote. So he snagged a date and went through all the "kingly" activities ... he had to do a little dance off, be presented at the Homecoming football game. Ultimately, he didn't get the crown, but he'll always be king of the court!

We got in our usual weekly pickleball, and I (re)introduced racquetball to Landon when the guys in were SanDiego (and we wouldn't have enough to pickle). Landon and Coop did a little r-ball too. Gray got in more golf. There was a Blackham pizza night with extended family in Riverton. 

Here's a live look ... 1 second style.

 

https://youtu.be/L7jMMpHBHqI

On to October ...

More Hikes!

The EMI/Symphony Hiking Challenge started in April and ran through the end of September. Here's a look at Hub's Hikes for August and September.  The first one was a doozy! Climbing Timpanogos in the dark, and waiting to watch the sunrise from the summit.  Landon went along with this hike too. 

With the work challenge, Grayson's been good at taking pictures and doing write-ups, which I've really appreciated! Here's the collage he created and his write-up below ...

Date - August 4th and 5th
Location - Timpooneke Trailhead to Mount Timpanogos Summit

First entry - 11:56 pm -
What the heck are we thinking?

Various take-aways from Mount Timpanogos -

1. I think one-and-done is just fine for this trail.
2. Sometimes bucket list items are for masochists.
3. Microspikes are the bomb-diggity for crossing ice fields.
4. "Sketchy" becomes a very common word.
5. As usual Zac's hiking outfit is on point. Very chic indeed.
6. Headlamps only last about 2-3 hours which is fine if your hike is 2-3 hours.
7. The last mile from saddle to summit is worse by far than the 6 or 7 that preceded it.
8. How in the living heck did people do this without GPS???
9. Shack graffiti includes some familiar first names. You were with us in spirit and Sharpie.
10. Space blankets save the day as body temps plummet waiting for the sunrise. We consider emergency hypothermia treatment.
11. Teens and 20-somethings arrive at the summit after a seemingly leisurely stroll to the top....sheesh...show-offs.
12. On the way down I count 321 hikers on their way up......Ha! suckerzzz....

And scene! Fade to black. Time to nap.

Grayson was in London/Paris for a couple weeks in August. He and Zach had debated an out-of-country hike, but had plenty of other sites to see. September started with SanDiego (which is where Gray and Landon did one of the first hikes back in April, this time with Coop and Keaton -no hike), then some final hikes to wrap up the challenge.

Monday, September 7, 2023 - Flag Rock

Grayson's write-up is below

My Symphony peeps, if you look yonder, directly east of our office, you see Deuel Creek Canyon. On the south side of the canyon is a flowy, beautiful hike that is ultra-popular - yes, I know you already know ;)  On the north side there is another hiking trail (or two or three). This trail is short, steep, cantankerous, inexplicably cruel and forsaken...kind of like a middle child (sorry if this is triggering). However, at the end of this trail, some dedicated soul or souls have hoisted a flag pole and of course an American Flag. No small effort here. My hats off to those who made this happen.

Now.... What if, just maybe, possibly a Symphony flag could accompany Old Glory, if only for a minute. Thanks to the ever-resourceful Caroline working with Zac to orchestrate (see what I did there) just one such flag. The pictures tell the tale....with one exception. The wind, which would normally accompany any morning in any canyon in the state, was completely silent. Like no wind. Our hope for flags unfurled and waving in the morning breeze was not to be. Alas.... Perhaps we return. Perhaps we don't. Either way, this one's in the books.

Thursday, September 14, 2023

No official write up of this hike, but Gray included a link to info about it. Click the link for a brief read - one of the cathartic benefits of the hike. 

Saturday, September 16

This new trail system is out by us, near Kennecott (err Rio Tinto).

I went and checked it out this last weekend. They've done a good job with it.

Saturday, September 16 was a big hiking day for Landon too. He hit Mount Olympus again, this time on his own - he didn't take pictures. These are a few photos from the first/June trip (Hikes~June/July) that I didn't have when I made the collage about that hike ... so I'm going to put them here anyway! 

Saturday - September 23 - Donut Falls

Wednesday, September 27 

When recapping his morning to me in an email the next day  Gray wrote "I'm dealing with some real residual fatigue from my hike. It wasn't particularly strenuous though Mueller is a bit longer than some of the usuals - 7 miles in total. It was a gorgeous day and the colors were well worth the jaunt." I love the shadow selfie ;) 

Friday, September 29

Lake Mary, Lake Martha, Lake Catherine ... Gray got off work a little early and Zach and Landon joined for a Friday afternoon hike.  The official Symphony Hiking challenge has ended ... much to the relief of Janet in the office, who had to handle the photos and write ups. It's a little hard to see in the photos, but Gray and Zach got matching "King of the Hill" sweatshirts for all their outdoor activities!

In the original post about the Symphony Hiking Challenge, there was a picture showing the progress. This timeline ended up taking over the room! A simple photo couldn't capture everything by the end (and Gray didn't even include several of his hikes). You can see it HERE. There were a few BIKE (not HIKE) alternate activities too!

Bike Boy

 

Grayson has been doing a LOT of hiking ... but he pulled out his wheels and added in a little bit of biking recently too. He bought a new e-bike and scooter, but stuck with the standard (no power except from his pedals) for these outdoor activities. 

My brother Scott invited Gray out biking (Scott has an e-bike) - they hit Corner Canyon and had a good ride on Wednesday, August 30 ...

Gray and Zach hit up Legacy for a ride on Wednesday, September 6th ...

... and again on Friday, September 15.

Gray did a little writeup of that ride.

Perhaps you've heard of LOTOJA....truth be told when I first heard speak of this I thought it was a brand of sunglasses....heh heh. I know now.

But I bet you've never heard of CENTONOR!!! A grueling ride of epic elevation gain and treacherous terrain and boardwalks through duck-infested wetlands, extending all the way from Centerville, Utah to North Salt Lake, also Utah! Can you feel the adrenaline? It was touch and go at times but our camaraderie, spandex and fabulous headgear helped us through!