Snake and Fish. How are they connected?

The snake river produces some very nice fish! That's how. I enjoyed the first half of the day Saturday fishing below the dam in American Falls (1 hour from Burley). We drifted it in a boat. I did see some fishing the banks but I believe that fishing it like we did was more productive and even more fun!

I have never gone fishing that I didn't enjoy it. I have heard so many other poeple tell me they hate to fish and I just don't get it. I enjoy the water and have always found it magical. I love to think through where the fish might be and how to present the bait or lure to entice a possible strike! Although yesterday was a slow day on the snake we did catch more than other boats we saw. One by one everyone we asked said the same thing... "nope, no hits". I guess we should feel fortunate to have seen some success.

I even made it back home by 2:00 pm to attend Maddie Belle's ballet performance. I am glad too. She was wonderful.

Shawn, we have to go one of these days. I think you would really like this area.

Just for my dear little sister KJAE...

Let me give you hand... I spared you the split nail middle finger from when mom ironed it when I was a little boy just because I know you can only handle so much at one time. But, beware what the future might hold!!!

What is wrong with your toe?

Ok. I have received harrassment over and over as the years have passed about my big toe! I guess I have always seen it the way it is and have never known different so it never stands out to me. However, I now believe that it must be unique because of my experience last week.

I went in to have a physical and check up. While I was sitting there the doctor was looking down at his writing pad and making notes. I sat in quiet contemplation feeling anxiety like a prisoner awaiting to walk the long corridor to the electric chair. After a few awkward moments passed he looked up from his pad and focused in on my foot. He immediately said, "what's wrong with your toe?"

My reply, "Nothing, it is just abnormally large... see, the one on the other foot is just like it!" I think he wanted to ask if my parents were 1st cousins or something according to the look on his face.

I am sure my sisters are both loving this due to their consistant harrassment about my guiness book record big toes. I guess I am glad it isn't my nose that grew too large. At least my toe is primarily hidden by my sock!

Boosie on the loose...

Congrats Boosie! Yesterday, Savanna Lyn Landrum joined the ranks of her 2009 graduating class and received her diploma.

I would like to thank Grandpa and Grandma Anderson, Grandpa and Grandma Kuetterer and especially Uncle John for coming and supporting her. John, Wendy sure appreciates that out of all her siblings and mine you are 100% in supporting our girls so far for this momentous occasion. We both know it isn't easy to modify hectic schedules to do so.

Savanna, I hope you get to sleep in today after your "senior" bash. We love you and are proud of you! Watch out world, here comes Boosie!

(For those who don't know, Boosie is just one of her nick names. This one courtesy of Grandma Bonnie. Sanna Banna Bo Banna Be Bop ... Boosie. And, after 16 years it stuck!)

Augghhhh... little blood sucker!

Ok, I remember from when I was a boy that you should burn the end of the tick to make him "back out". I had also heard you could cover him with gel or vicks and he couldn't breath and would "back out".

But, after discovering one embedded in my leg the day after my camping trip I decided to research it on the internet before performing surgery. Glad I did. Both of the methods I knew are BAD. I guess if you burn him he simply throws up into your blood stream which is not what you want. He might end up backing out but he leaves a nasty little gift.

The proper way is to get blunt forceps (tweezers) and gently pull until he realeases. So, I did. Hopefully, I was able to get his head and mouth out. Just to be sure I performed minor surgery at the opening until I was confident his little parts were extracted with my layers of flesh. I would rather an open wound on my leg than a tick head floating around inside me. Yuck.

Happy to report I am now tick free and pretty confident tick part free. By the way, this time of year is optimal wood tick season. If you go to the mountains check yourself over really well afterward. I had a total of 7 that I found inside my shirt and on my neck. Only the one went undiscovered and later became embedded.

Just a swingin...

Well, Wendy and the older girls are going with me to Grouse Creek Utah tonight [45 minutes past Oakley (which is 30 minutes south of Burley {which is 2 hours east of Boise})]. Our stake is holding a barn dance and to make it as authentic as possible they found the most remote location possible. Anyone heard of Yost? It is even more remote than that.

So, we will be swing dancin tonight! Should be fun. And just to ensure my fun o meter is maxed out I get to stay overnight with my scouts. Should be great times.

What are you doing (for those of you who frequently blog) or what did you do for the big weekend (for you part timers)?

12 year old mastermind...

I am thrilled to be the 2nd counselor in the YM and to get to work with the great group of boys that are in my ward! We have a camp out this weekend. So, the Scout Master (never before in scouts as a boy or adult) and I will be braving our first overnighter with these boys this weekend. I have a hunch that it might be very interesting!

Last night we met at the bowery at our church and gutted the scout trailer and threw away a lot of stuff! We then organized the salvageable items and organized it. Then, we made a huge fire in the bowery fireplace and roasted hot dogs. One boy brought cans of pepsi for everyone. The other boys let him have it for bringing "caffeine". This boy is one of those that knows just how to push your button(s) yet has a real talent for laughing just right and being just goofy enough to prevent you from killing him and even to start laughing yourself. My little brother Roy was expert at that.

Well, to give you a glimpse at what I am in for with this calling I will describe the events that unflolded after eating. I was summoned from the trailer to "check" on the fire. As I approached it I should have clued in by noticing the boys backing up, but didn't. I hadn't stood there 30 seconds when there was an explosion. To be honest, it made me jump back. But, not before the boiling pepsi soda sprayed me with syrup and ash. By now the boys were laughing and running for their lives. So, I gathered my wits and then marched straight toward the boys while acting as upset as I could. I was really laughing inside but didn't want them to know it. So, just before reaching the boy that planted the cola bomb I started to laugh myself. But, that didn't stop me from throwing him over my shoulder and carrying him to the grass so I could hold him down while the other boys thumped him for me. It was a great bonding moment.

Now, here is the scary aspect of it all for me. I was totally set up. They did it all so they could capture it on their cell phone camcorder. As it unfolded the mastermind little demon was actually filming it. It was somewhat like watching a documentary of a hunter stocking it's prey... speaking in whispers so as to not startle, etc.

So, if you end up seeing a clip on YouTube don't be too suprised. I won't!

Cough please...

Ok, having insurance for the first time in many years is a huge blessing and I feel very fortunate. There is a great sense of security in having it. So as to not waste it, especially where I haven't been feeling well, I decided it was time for me to check under the hood for frayed belts, split hoses, faulty spark plugs or low fluid levels.

So, I did it! I went in for a "full" check-up. A very nice doctor and thankfully extremely professional. However, no level of professionalism could make THAT experience a comfortable and enjoyable one.

I am sorry but hospital gowns flat out are not modest or comfortable! No matter how you try to tie that danged thing it leaves HUGE voids in coverage. And what is up with having you sit down on the table with such voids? That partial strip of paper does not cover the entire table cushion! So, what do they do to properly clean and sanitize that portion of vinyl that is still exposed to... well... enough said. Personally, I don't think pulling 6 more feet of paper out and discarding the old is quite enough!

Anyway, I remember being absolutely terrified when I was a young man about that part of the process when the doc stood to the side of you while applying pressure in a particularly uncomfortable location while asking you to turn your head and cough. Then, onto the other side and in 10 seconds the unpleasant experience was over. The doc would then ask you about something manly like the sport you were going to play in that prompted the physical or hunting and killing something. Handled properly both the doctor and patient could move past the awkward moment and act as if it had never happened.

Well, times have changed! And I was not included in the voting. For that matter, I think it was all women who voted! The first 10 minutes went great except for my blood pressure test (143). I even got a steroid shot for my allergies that should help tremendously. But, then my every nightmare came roaring to life in full color. My doc sits down and instructs me to stand in front of and face him. He then lifted my gown. I watched for evidence that he was holding back from laughing and thankfully didn't find any. I had many thoughts surge through my mind. But, one of them wasn't that it was MY responsibility to hold the gown in a suspended position. So, I had to be instructed making me feel really dumb in addition to feeling totally stripped of all "coolness". I obeyed and might I add did a superb job. NOT A COOL MOMENT! I missed the good old days without a doubt. But, the good news is I did not have a hernia.

Then, I was instructed to lay down on the table. I grew intensely uncomfortable as I was given further instruction. "Please turn onto your left side and pull your knees up into your chest. This would not be comfortable to do fully clothed! I will skip the details of the next 30 seconds except to say that I would rather walk across broken glass... check that... I would rather crawl on all fours across a football field of broken glass while chewing a mouthful. The good news is I have a very healthy prostate! Those billboards didn't say anything about having to do that more than once if you are older than 40 just that you should do it! I consider my duty fulfilled for life.

So, in the next few weeks I have to fulfill his instructions. I will have my throat stretched to correct my narrowing which causes my choking. I will take medication for my extreme heartburn and reflux. I will also do a treadmill test, EKG and blood work. For all of this it will only be around $4,000 so I am thankful for a reasonable co-pay and deductible.

Here's to good health. And to all of my male relatives and friends... if I can do it so can you! And let me give you a little advice for when you do... do not, absolutely, do not ask your wife for sympathy and understanding! She sees your pathetic inferior experience very insignificant compared to what she has endured!

Where in the world are Mike & Wendy...

DISNEY "WORLD" - ORLANDO, FLORIDA!








Wendy and I left Tuesday really early in the morning to catch our flight "direct" to Orlando. We got to the airport 1 hour early which has always been enough time (to spare). But, not yesterday! We stood in line as the personality challenged Delta employees assisted highly anxious passengers. We were actually 3rd in line behind an older couple doing all they could to either avoid the swine flue or stimulate the medical mask industry and 2 serious marines that you could have bounced a quarter off from (including their clinched facial muscles).

There were at least 12 stations of which 3 had employees manning them. One older lady kept walking the entire length of the 12 stations fiddling with this and fiddling with that. I kept watching her as the other 3 employees "s l o w l y" tried to prI pocess the 3 "groups" of international passengers. To the best of my ability to determine ethnicity I believe one group was going to Korea, another to Italy and the last to somewhere in the middle east. I have only seen that much luggage in 1 place before - the baggage claim merry-go-round. To process all the baggage would have been time consuming enough but then each group had to have each and every person in it ask questions in their tortured english. For being an international airport I found it curious that the only Delta employee that appeared international was the lady from Mexico that ended up finally helping me. Check that... there were the 2 Somolian baggage employees that sat on the edge of the conveyor speaking Somalian and laughing for the entire hour I was in line. At least they aren't pirates. Maybe that is what they were talking about.

So, we finally get our turn. They lady doesn't even attempt to use cordiality. She went straight to "I am in charge and nothing you do or say will change my mind and becoming aggitated will only slow me down so choose wisely..."

I chose. Not what I wanted but what I decided would best help our situation. I was nice. And hey, it paid off. Instead of paying the normal $100 per person addition for re-booking we ended up getting one heck of a deal... half off. And to further reward my kindness she booked us on an emergency row. With my long legs that is a bigger perk than you might think! So, we found our lost selves once again found. After only a 2 hour delay we caught our flight which instead of going directly to Florida gave us the added bonus of landing in Atlanta (Hi Em and Shawn) for a 1 hour lay-0ver. I spent 45 minutes of that time standing in line to "correct" the mess that my mexican aid had created. I guess her generousity of discounting my price caused a computer glitch that rejected my tickets. Oh, and by the way, a new thing with Delta is that NO bags are included in the flight you have to pay $15 for each.

After standing in line waiting for my turn with the 1 Delta employee working in Atlanta I was finally getting close to my turn with only a very nice older gentleman from Japan in front of me when a surfer dude about 5'2" with moppy hair came up and stood next to the Japanese man as if the "empty" station next to the guy helping everyone else had someone standing at it. I watched as the nice older Japanese gentleman progressively overcame his reserved nature to finally tap the kid on the shoulder, turn and point at the 20 people in line and say "Line" in a very heavy oriental accent. It did the trick. I smiled at the Japanese man that appeared embarrased at what he had done and glared "down" at the surfer dude as he passed because he hadn't made an error - his lame attempt at cutting in was foiled by Japanese superiority.

We finally boarded the plane. We had the emergency seats due to my successful "be nice" approach with the latest Delta employee. And better yet, the ones that are between 1st class and 2nd class so we not only had leg room we got to sit directly in front of the Delta employee as they sat in their seat facing the 2nd class passengers. I have a question. Why is it that as a passenger I get a seat strap that was outdated even in my parents 1972 Buick stationwagon and the Delta employee gets an Indy Car style strap system? If I didn't know better his jumper seat might have had an eject buttom and built in parachute. I didn't hold it against him and thankfully. He was quite the enjoyable individual. As he sat down we smiled at him and he said, "you didn't know you were going to be entertained on this flight did you?" He then said, "I am the singing steward" (joking). Well, the ice was broke and we proceeded to have a great conversation the rest of the trip. His name is Sam. He was adopted in Taiwan by an American soldier during the war when he was 8. He has a girlfriend from the Philippines and goes there every month. There was our angle. "Have you heard of Mormons?" Our daughter is a missionary in the Philippines. We then discussed many things about mormons and missionaries and the benefits the service will have on their lives and others. I witnessed to him about "true happiness" being found in recognizing the importance of our relationship with Christ and the importance of family. He told me that he let 2 young men into his home years ago and they were very nice. We had a wonderful visit and I believe he came away with a positive opinion and outlook as to Mormons and missionaries. I hope the next time he lets the missionaries into his home he listens a little closer and catches the message of true happiness.

So, after all is said and done I thank my Mexican Delta employee's short and direct help in arranging our new flight.

Wendy and I landed safely in Orlando and checked into a beautiful hotel with a room that has a patio setting just feet from the bay. We are going to have a wonderful time here and feel very blessed in a world of chaos to be able to enjoy such serenity and beauty. I thank my employers for sending me to this convention. My last boss would never have been so generous!

A life saved

My sister Julie and her husband adopted Adam after years of trying to have a biological child. He is a unique and great kid. He is almost 8 years old and will be baptized in a few months. They then decided to adopt a little brother for Adam. After almost 2 years of waiting they finally were able to fly down and pick up Noah. Noah was born in Haiti and the prospect of a quality or long life was not likely in his future until they did! Yesterday, Noah was sealed to them in the Salt Lake Temple. His mortal life was enhanced greatly a year ago when they picked him up. His eternal life was blessed greatly yesterday when he was sealed to his loving father and mother.

We love you Noah and are glad you are part of our family!

Some interesting facts about Haiti that might let you realize just how significant the adoption of Noah is.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty.

Population: 9,035,536

Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth for males: 59 years

Religion: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3%

note: roughly half of the population practices voodoo

Only 52.9% of the adult population can read and write

More than 2/3 of the adult population are unemployed

Americans are warned not to travel to Haiti and if they do to be extremely cautious.

(Thank you for the photo KJae)

Enough voting...

Well, at least now I know why nobody was posting. I personally believe that it was safe. Google Blog can't risk not providing security and dependability for the site or it would destroy them. But, everyone will feel much more confident once it is the Church website Scott told us about so we will wait for that. Thanks Scott.

Until then, please send your information to my email (mike@kloepfer.com). I will make a hard copy and laminate it for each person and will have them available at the reunion. I will be auctioning them off so we can afford to come so bring your change :)

We will be there for sure at least Friday and Saturday.

Email by the end of May please:

Full names
Birthdays
Anniversary
Address
Phone numbers
Email addresses