Finally

After two weeks in the Canon repair shop in Chicago, I have my digital camera back.

Which means... I'll be starting up D.C. Confidential again! Woo hoo!

Oh, and I bought a lanyard for my camera so that, going forward, I can hang it around my neck, thereby reducing, significantly, the likelihood that I will drop it again.

Plug for Canon here: if you're in the market for a camera, go with Canon. Excellent products and fabulous service in terms of repairs.

I'm happy to have my newest gadget back, but slightly bummed I didn't have it back in time for Monday's Pink Martini concert.


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential (Janet M. Kincaid, 06/07)

Donut, Anyone?

Krispy Kreme Donut Shop, Route 1, Alexandria, Virginia

Some of you may have noticed, but others perhaps not, that I've started a new venture here in Bloggerland. Over on the right, under the header "What I Do On the Side" is a link to my latest adventure: D.C. Confidential.

I started this as an excuse to use my new toy--a Canon A630. Plus, given my crappy-ass attitude about this town, I thought I'd try to at least assuage that attitude a little by getting out in the neighborhoods and places so many of us live, work, and play in and see if I could actually learn to love this place a little more. I don't know if it'll help my attitude, but I've certainly enjoyed playing with my new toy and have already found a treasure or two here and there.

The above picture is of the Krispy Kreme store in Alexandria, Virginia, on Route 1. It was the first--and for a long time, the only--Krispy Kreme north of the Carolinas, which is where Krispy Kreme was born. Don't be surprised if you see this picture again on D.C. Confidential.

Hiatus

Old Lady of the Sea, Trinidad State Beach,
Trinidad, Humboldt County, California

Back in November, I was challenged to participate in the November Blog Posting Month (NoBloPoMo) "event" wherein one posts a blog a day. I've kept that up for the last four months and am proud to say, I've blogged every day for the last 120 days. And some days, more than once. Of course, I also had a lot of time on my hands, which made it easy.

But... You saw that coming, huh? But, I've been working for the last month. I'll grant you, it's not the most stressful job in the world. And yet, at the end of the day, when I step off the train, I'm tired. By the time I get home and have some dinner, I'm pooped. The result is, I can't get the brain cells to fire enough juice to be creative, let alone command the old fingers to type.

I have several pieces drafted that are queued up and need tweaking before I post them, but they're bigger pieces like the one I recently wrote about John McPhee's Rising from the Plains. In terms of day-to-day writing, I'm trying too hard to come up with stuff and it's starting to feel forced. I want to keep writing every single day, because I've enjoyed it and it's been good exercise for me, but I'm feeling a little worn out at the moment and I think my writing might be suffering because of that. (And even if it's not, I know my brain feels like it is.)

And, let's not even talk about how my staying on top of reading everyone else's fabulous blogs has suffered. Unless I clandestinally (is that a word?!) snatch moments here and there at work, (which is technically against policy, but for which I'm forgiven because I'd otherwise be staring into space 75 percent of my time, even after I've asked my supervisor if there's something, anything, I can do) I'm missing a lot of good writing and connection with all of you.

I'm also way behind on a couple of projects I took on before the PharmaCo. job started and that I haven't completed. I have a client who's waiting for a proposal that is now two weeks overdue and an author who is waiting for me to copyedit his book so we can send it to the publisher for production. I should have had a first round read done last week and I haven't even started. Oh, and there's the non-profit in Pennsylvania I haven't heard from in a month or more that I've volunteered to help with a fund development plan. I need to follow up with them, too.

All that said, I'm going on hiatus this weekend and I may extend it into next week. When I return in a few days, it will likely be with only occasional posts. I'd like to think I'll be back up and writing daily once I settle into a routine that leaves me with more than just energy to eat dinner, run a few errands, catch up on personal emails, put on my pajamas, pop in a Netflix, read a few pages from a book, and be in bed by 10:00 (though, it's more often been 11:00 or 12:00, which doesn't help when you have to be up at 6:30.)

Thank you for reading. I've loved writing. And I hope to be back very, very soon!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2004.

26 Things + 1

I stole this idea from Ms. Understood. As I had a camera the other night, I figured I'd take advantage of it. Most of these pictures were taken on Sunday night. A few were taken at various times last year. And one was taken in 1972. Without further ado, here are pictures of 26 things. Plus, one. (To see larger images, click on each picture.)

2

Red or White?

Blue

Just a small portion of my teacup and saucer collection.
The one in the middle is from my sister,
who brought this to me as a gift from her trip to St. Petersburg.

Blur

If you can guess what this is,
I'll make a donation in your name to your favorite charity.

Charity

A statue in Fredricksburg, VA, that commemorates
the caring shown by troop Richard Kirkland (CSA-SC)
who crossed enemy lines to provide water
to wounded Union troops during the Battle of Fredricksburg.

Chocolate

This is my favorite chocolate bar, ever.
We use to take them and break them in half,
put peanut butter on half a Kaisersemmeln
and eat it like a sandwich. Yummy!

Classic

Lilies at the L.A. Flower Market in July 2006.

Cold

It's winter, which means
the water runs colder out of the tap.
This is cold water, running out of my bathroom tap.

Diversity

A variety of seashells, exoskeletons, and driftwood
in a set of nesting bowls painted and fired by my late grandmother.

Friendly

I adore Gerbera daisies.
I think they're the friendlist, happiest flowers around.
Taken at the L.A. Flower Market, July 2006.

Fruit

Obvious and unimaginative.

Geologic

Rocks on a beach in central California,
not too far from San Luis Obispo.
Taken in July 2006.

Horror

Close-up of the dust cover from
Hitler: A Study in Tyranny, Alan Bullock.
On a shelf in my library.

Hot

Again, somewhat obvious and unimaginative.

In My Bathroom

These are sitting in the window sill,
which doubles as the frame for the mirror, in the bathroom.

Innocence

The daughter of friends in L.A.
It was hot as Hades that day
and this wee one fell asleep on my shoulder.
A phenomenon her mother says
never happens with strangers.
They promptly named me "The Kid Whisperer."

Light

My Eiffel Tower lamp and my Star Wars LEGO key chains.

Morning

My hair sticks up in the morning and life is a little blurry.
Don't talk to me before 9:00 a.m., please.

Old

A 200-year old bonsai at the U.S. National Arboretum in D.C.
Taken in August 2006.

Pooped

Remember that reference above to "hot as Hades"?
Taken in L.A. in July 2006.

Red

Brazilian Cherry wood floors,
Dr. Pepper,
and
Pogeaux the Red.

Religion

A dogwood blossom,
which, legend has it,
is a symbol of Christ's crucifixion.

Remote

Moonset on Monday morning
as seen through my home office window.

Round

Old pot I inherited from my last living grandparent,
my Gram in California.

Still Life

"Maria,"
painted on porcelain and fired
by my late grandmother Martha June Harvey Bangerter.
Inherited by her daughter and my mother,
Janell Bangerter Kincaid.
Given to me by my mother in May 2006.

Summer

At a farmer's market in California.
July 2006.

Winter

On a tree in D.C.
January 2006.


And, as an extra...

Young

Taken at my aunt's wedding reception in 1972.
It was a Japanese-themed wedding.
I was four.

Photo copyrights, except for the last picture: Janet M Kincaid, 2006 and 2007.

In the Bin

This week’s In the BIN is brought to you by the National Association of Dollar Stores, which reminds you that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to drain your wallet and you don’t have to have a significant other to enjoy the fruits of that most commercialized of commercialized days.

Case in point, my good friend, Merujo, over at Church of the Big Sky, provides several excellent pointers for how to enjoy the most obnoxious, overpriced, and overrated day of the year. Here’s When the Postman Don’t Call on Valentine’s Day.

And speaking of things to do, my other good friend, Mary Ellen, over at Rio Grande Valley Girl, reviews the movie The Good Shepherd. If you haven’t seen it, but you’re thinking of seeing it, stock up on soap. Sounds like this flick may leave you feeling amoral and in need of some redemptive cleansing. Here’s The (not so) Good Shepherd. And, hearty congratulations to you, ME, on landing a gig as a columnist for The Monitor!

The other day, I had the opportunity to talk on the phone to The Gunfighter. What a lovely, lovely man. Toward the end of our conversation, I asked him about his work and what he does exactly. Turns out, gunfighting is an art and philosophy that I hadn’t appreciated. I guess my query sparked his writing juices, because he posted this entry on his blog. Here’s What I Do.

Those are just some of the folks in my links. Culling material from elsewhere, I give you these gems. The theme is photography. Here are some of the better photography and photojournalism blogs out there. At least, I think so, anyway.

From San Francisco, of course, Fog Bay. I love this entire site, but probably for really obvious reasons. Be sure to check out the photo of the RMS Queen Mary 2 sailing into San Francisco Bay. It’s picture #475.

From New York City, Native Eye. He captures life around the Big Apple. Some of his photos are better than others and you have a dig a bit.

From Chicago, A Thousand Words. Be sure to check out his photos of a recent house fire (December 14, 2006.)

From Philadelphia, Dark Water Chronicles. This blog also includes links to several other Philly photogs.

From Rural Missouri, Farm Girl Fare. This blog features a new photo every day from the farm of “Cultured California Chick to Manure Mucking Missouri Farmgirl.” Also, if you want a heart tugger, read the story about Baby Cary, the orphaned lamb that grows up to be a sheep with a human soul.

That’s probably enough for this issue of In the BIN.

Join us next week when we bring you… blogs I’ve noted as a result of clicking “Next Blog” in the Blogger header. Until then, “good night and good luck.”

P.S. I tried to find a D.C. photographer to note, but all I could find were lots of wedding and event photographers. Boooooooring. If you know a D.C.-area photographer who captures life in and around D.C. in ways that are better than average, please let me know about him/her/them. I’ll have a look and then choose one to post in a future In the BIN. (There's Keith Stanley, but I'm not 100% certain he's D.C.-based. If he is, here's a shout out to him.)

P.P.S. Keith Stanley aside, I'm looking for a D.C. photog who captures more than just monuments and politics. I'm looking for someone who photographers the colors and textures of this city and its neighborhoods outside of the area surrounding the National Mall, Capitol Hill, the White House, etc. I'm sure you "get the picture"??)

Poetry Tag

I love poetry. One of my favorite childhood memories is of my dad reading poetry to us when we were kids, especially Ogden Nash's "The Tale of Custard the Dragon."

This is my favorite poem of all time.

Here for your reading pleasure is "The Tale of Custard the Dragon."

Belinda lived in a little white house,
With a little black kitten and a little gray mouse,
And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon,
And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon.

Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink,
And the little gray mouse, she called him Blink,
And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.

Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth,
And spikes on top of him and scales underneath,
Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose,
And realio, trulio daggers on his toes.

Belinda was as brave as a barrel-full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,
Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

Belinda tickled him, she ticked him unmerciful,
Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival,
They all sat laughing in the little red wagon
At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.

Belinda giggled till she shook the house,
And Blink said Weeek!, which is giggling for a mouse,
Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age,
When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound,
And Mustard growled, and they all looked around.
Meowch! cried Ink, and Ooh! cried Belinda,
For there was a pirate, climbing in the winda.

Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right,
And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright;
His beard was black, one leg was wood.
It was clear that the pirate meant no good.

Belinda paled, and she cried Help! Help!
But Mustard fled with a terrified yelp,
Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.

But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm.

The pirate gaped at Belinda's dragon,
And gulped some grog from his pocket flagon,
He fired two bullets, but they didn't hit,
And Custard gobbled him, every bit.

Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him;
No one mourned for his pirate victim.
Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate
Around the dragon who ate the pyrate.

Belinda still lives in her little white house,
With her little black kitten and her little gray mouse,
And her little yellow dog and her little red wagon,
And her realio, trulio, little pet dragon.

Belinda is as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chase lions down the stairs,
Mustard is as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard keeps crying for a nice safe cage.

- Ogden Nash

I tag everyone whose blog is listed over on the right, as well as those who aren't! That means you, too!


P.S. I grew up reading this poem out of Louis Untermeyer's The Golden Books Family Treasury of Poetry with illustrations by Joan Walsh Anglund. It's an excellent book to have if you want a collection of good, old, classic, simple poems. There's a new printing of Nash's poem out now with illustrations by Lynn Musinger. You can get the Untermeyer compilation here and the Musinger book here.

I Heart My MacBook

This is my new friend:



My new friend has software called Photo Booth. Photo Booth lets me do this:


See Janet's hair get big. Big hair, Janet, big hair.

And this:


No! Janet, no!

If my face was absolutely symmetrical, this is what I would look like:


Time to go to the gym, Janet! Run, Janet, run!

But, this is what I really look like. On a good day, anyway.

Mr. Harrison, et. al.

Recently, I offered to help a fellow blogger with her autobiographical statement as part of her application to seminary. In her essay she was asked to write about those things or people that/who had influenced her in life. Said blogger wrote warmly of the impact her 7th grade music teacher had in her life and personal development not only as a singer but also as a Christian.

At one point in our email exchanges, she queried how I became such a good writer (her opinion, not mine. I often think my writing sucks. But that's just me being my own worst critic, I suppose.) I replied that, like her singing, I started young, practiced a lot, and had folks who encouraged me in my abilities.

Later, I thought about this more. I realized I had some pretty amazing mentors along the road of writing.

It started with my dad, who read aloud to us every night when we were kids and who encouraged us to read. My mom had a hand in this, too, by making sure we did our homework, particularly if it involved reading. I think the fact that we didn't have t.v. or Atari growing up also contributed to our voracious reading appetites.

It then progressed to my mom who, with her small town Wyoming education, as she likes to say, was the one who taught me how to write an outline, compile note cards, and put it all together into sentences and paragraphs. In high school, when I took Honors English (a class I hated at the time), she hooked me up with her aunt who was a high school English teacher. Aunt Loa taught me how to write a thesis statement and then argue the points of the thesis.

In the midst of this--and prior to high school--there was my 4th grade teacher, Mr. Harrison; except that it was when I was in 6th grade that he made his greatest impact on me. Mr. Harrison was the faculty advisor for Maeser Elementary School's Advanced Talented Program; basically the gifted students program. I was in his program as a sixth grader. Among the requirements were several short papers and one long research paper coupled with an exhibit hall where each student had to design, build, and staff a display that captured their paper.

I chose micrographics and its processes and uses in library and archiving systems. I distinctly remember the papers and exhibits for two of my peers: Glenn Newman, who wrote about Tutankhamen; and Jon Harrison, who put together a claymation movie. I felt certain Jon or Glenn would take first prize, but was stunned to learn that Mr. Harrison had chosen my paper and exhibit for the top prize that year! (I think it was the fact that my dad had filmed and microfiched all 500+ pages of the Book of Mormon onto one fiche card that fascinated him most. P.S. I went to school in Utah, which made using the BOM as an exhibit piece acceptable and especially impressive, I suppose.)

Winning first place for the ATP group was a high point and a boost to my confidence as a writer and researcher. I don't remember doing a lot of writing in junior high, but I certainly remember doing plenty in high school. I also remember my English teachers in those years: Mrs. Oldroyd, who taught us to love Shakespeare; Mrs. Mendenhall, who was dotty, but made us write several research papers and taught us how to write in several different essay styles; Miss March, who made us read the classics and write thesis statements and comparison/contrast essays.

I also had excellent mentors in college. Dr. Lauve Steenhuisen, who now teaches at Georgetown, was one such mentor while I was an undergrad at George Mason U. Dr. Don Compier, who is now dean of the Community of Christ Church seminary in Independence, Missouri, was a wonderful encouragement when I was at the Graduate Theological Union, as was the Rev. Dr. Jane Menton who pushed me and pushed me and pushed me.

Bottom line, though: writing takes practice, which is what I think I enjoy most about blogging. It gives me the opportunity to write. Maybe not about anything important or interesting or even groundbreaking. But it keeps my hand (and head) in the process. Those of you who read my blog keep me motivated, too.

And so, in all humility, I thank you--my fellow bloggers, friends, and family--for reading and continuing the tradition of encouragement that has underscored my life as a writer and lover of words. This one's for you!

Illustration copyright: The Writer at Work.

Day 25: Merry Christmas Meme

This meme came to me by way of my friend, Holly. The picture is a snapshot of my favorite Christmas ornament on my Christmas tree.

What greeting of the season do you use?
It all depends on who I’m greeting. Usually Merry Christmas prior to Dec. 25, then Happy New Year after Dec. 25. But I’m also known to tailor my greeting based on individuals and their holiday of choice.

Did you leave out milk and cookies for Santa?
Absolutely! Home made cookies, a glass of milk, an orange, and a couple of tiny candy canes. Santa always nibbled the cookies, drank most of the milk, and ate all of the orange. This year, Santa got homemade banana bread and egg nog.

What's one Christmas Eve tradition your family had?
When I was a kid, we’d get a new pair of pajamas that my Mom made. One year, I wanted a jogging suit, so she made me mint green terry cloth PJs with a pink stripe down the side. Another year, she made all of us nightgowns and stocking caps a la The Night Before Christmas. We also choose names out of a hat and give that person a gift that they open that evening. I have my sister this year and she’s getting this.

What's your favorite Christmas song?
My absolute favorite Christmas song is Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht in its original language: German. I also like Liese Reiselt der Schnee. O Holy Night and Do You Hear What I Hear? (the version sung by Johnny Mathis) both come in a close second. I enjoy some of the more contemporary pieces, too, like John Lennon's Happy X-mas (War Is Over) and Amy Grant’s Breath of Heaven. And I get a kick out of the absurdity of Elmo & Patsy's Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer and Brad Paisley's new one this year, Penguin, James Penguin.

What's your least favorite Christmas song?
That would be a dead heat tie between The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, and anything rendered by The Chipmunks. Horrible little beasts. They do unconscionable things to Christmas songs. They should be shipped off to Guantanamo Bay.

What's your favorite Christmas movie?
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas with Boris Karloff. The Jim Carey/Ron Howard version is dismal and was just one big piece of stock footage for Visa to use in their ads that year.

What about A Christmas Story?
I still don’t understand why this is such a cult “classic.” It’s a stupid movie and I don't care for it. I think the first--and only--time I ever watched it, I didn't finish it.

What's your favorite Christmas tv special?
I think it’s all those Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer ones. They use to freak me out as a kid, but they’re kind of nostalgic now. Besides, what's not to love about Burl Ives?

What's the best present you ever received?
The best present I ever got? The best present I ever got… Hm. Can I pick more than one?
Age 5: Hand made kitchen cabinet and stove/oven play set my Dad built for me. I’d give anything for a picture of that right now, or for the piece itself. I wonder if my parents still have it? It was yellow with blue accents and had lots of cupboard and counter space.
Age 12: A hi-fi, Technics turntable.
Age 14: A CD player.
Age 15: A really cool red ski sweater. (And I don't ski.)
Age 16: My very first Opus the Penguin. I still have him. And several others.
Age 27: A Panasonic microwave for my apartment.
Age 33: A Kitchen Aid.
Age 37: A set of nice Henckel gourmet knives.

What's the worst present you ever received?
Is there such a thing as a bad present? Isn’t that why gift receipts were invented? Actually, I know I’ve had a few over the years that I didn’t much care for, but I can’t remember what they were (I’m sure my siblings will be able to name a few for me with total recall.)

What's the best present you ever gave?
I think it’s going to be this year’s gift to my mom. My siblings and I put together a montage of photos and music about my grandparents and my mom and her sisters on DVD. (See yesterday's blog, "Homemade" for all the details.)

What's the worst present you ever gave?
I don’t give bad presents. All my presents are good.

What do you want for Christmas this year?
Peace on earth. A job. Freedom from want.

Is Christmas still a religiously significant holiday for you--in other words, do you celebrate it as the birth of the savior of humanity?
Yes.

Day 13 (Part 2): More Pictures

Per Lisa's request, here are pictures of the holiday cheer at 720 Tewkes. I used an artificial tree this year because I couldn't justify the cost of a cut tree. Still, it turned out okay. I just need to get a tree skirt for it.

Christmas Opii! I love Opus and year's ago, my parents gave me an 18" Opus as a Christmas gift. I then added a Dandylion Break Opus, a Shower Cap Opus, two Valentine's Opii, and these three Christmas Opii. I've drawn the line there, so if you see any of this adorable little guy, please DO Not think of me and send them.



My favorite ornament. Over the years, Hallmark has done a series of ornaments featuring Snoopy. I have quite a few, but this one is my favorite.



Holiday lighthouses. These are a bit too heavy to hang on the tree, so I always put them on the sofa table with some garland and lights underneath. The lights in the lighthouses flash, too. They're very cool!



And, the reason for the camera (you thought I was going to say season, didn't you): Der Tannenbaum. This year's tree features a selection of green and red glass balls, accented by strings of red beads. The ornaments are by Hallmark, the tree is by Target.



There you have it! Christmas cheer a la Janet.

Day 13: Pictures

My brother lent me his camera the other day as mine is on the fritz and I took what I think is a decent picture of yesterday evening's sunset.


I also took pictures of my Christmas decorating, which was the whole point of the camera loaner. Regardless, I'm a sucker for a good sunset and this was one of those moments.

Photo Booths

In response to "Church of the Big Sky," here are my self-made "photo booth" pictures created with software provided by Apple called, well, what else? "Photo Booth."

Pictures from Utah & Wyoming

Here are some pics from the Utah-Wyoming trip. To see larger images, just click on each picture.

Approach to Green River from I-80 Eastbound. In the far distance in the dead center of the picture is Castle Rock. My grandparents home for 60 years was right below that, just a half block south and west.

My grandparents' home for 60 years--741 North 5th West. Sixty years ago, my grandfather paid the unheard-of-price of $13,000 for this home, which was three times what it cost for homes at that time.

The Webb Family (left to right: Johnny, Grandma Thelma, Bobby, Eddie, Deann, and Joe.) Although we aren't directly related to them, the Webbs and the Bangerters are family to each other. My mother and her sisters consider the Webbs their brothers and sister and they feel the same about the Bangerter girls. They're good, salt-of-the-earth people. Eddie was the one who presented the colors from my grandfather's casket to my grandparents' oldest daughter, ElDee.

The Disabled Veterans of America provided the military honors for Grandpa's funeral. One of the guys was wearing an oxygen mask. We worried that some of these guys would keel over, but they stood strong and performed all the honors, including a 21-gun salute and flag folding. My aunt Hazel and her son, John, played echoing Taps after the gun salute. The little guy with the oxygen delivered a little PSA-like speech to my aunt ElDee. We kept expecting him to give her a phone number to call if we had any questions about the ceremony!

Grandpa's funeral was on a Friday. On Saturday, we all got together at Gardner Village in south Salt Lake for a family reunion. My cousin's John and Arlene put the event together and did a great job. We watched old family videos and heard brief reports on each family and their doings. The rest of these photos are of family.

The James+ and ElDee (Bangerter) Norton Clan, Germany. My aunt ElDee has six children: Elizabeth (NJ), Daniel (PA), Janell (AZ), Alan (AZ), William (AZ), and Caroline (Germany) and 13 grandchildren. [Not pictured: Janell and her daughter, Jessica.]

The Dennis and Suezan (Bangerter) Rimmasch Family, Laramie, Wyoming. My aunts Suzie and Hazel married brothers. The Laramie Rimmasch's have five children--Peter (AZ), Karl (WA), Katherine (UT), Marianne (WY), and Gretchen (UT.) [Not pictured: Uncle Dennis, Kathy, and Gretchen.] Peter's wife: Mrs. Marianne and their daughter, Kellie. Karl's wife: Nicki and their kids, Rieken, Kelten, and Kippriana.

The Ross and Janell (Bangerter) Kincaid Family, Fairfax, VA. I forgot to get separate pictures of my famn damily! But, here's a pic of us with my cousin, Peter Rimmasch and his wife, Marianne and their daughter, Kellie. From left to right: my mother, Janell (Bangerter) Kincaid, Mrs. Marianne, me (DC), Kellie, Peter, my sister, Janeen (VA) and my brother, Phillip (VA.) (My siblings and I wore customized shirts that said "George Mason University, 2006 NCAA Final Four." We all graduated from GMU and are quite proud of the fact that our alma mater made it to the Final Four this year!) [Not pictured: my dad, Ross Kincaid.]

The Dwight & Hazel (Bangerter) Rimmasch Family, Murray, Utah. Their son, John Rimmasch (WY) and his wife, BeckyLyn and their sons, Ryland and Wesley. Their daughter, Arlene (Rimmasch) Cook (UT) and her husband, DeVon Cook and their daughters Abby Jane and Katie Ann.

That's all of Grandpa Bang's mugwumps. We had a great time seeing everyone and catching up.