We have a large dirt and rock area behind our fence to the side of our garage. It has always been a place where things go to get forgotten about, or otherwise be put out of the way because there isn’t another place for them. It is also the place where the garbage and recycling cans reside.

This brings me to the reason for the project I just undertook. I was tired of having to figure out a way to get a heavy fully loaded garbage can through the mud and dirt, over the rocks, through the gate, then over some lawn and out to the street each week. The lawn just outside the gate was getting pretty matted from walking on it, too, and I got tired of the ugly.

I decided, on a whim, to see what it would take to smooth out the dirt a little bit, so I got a pick and hoe. After I found that process to be not too horrible, I went and bought about 30 bricks, some paver base, and some paver sand. After I got them in place, I realized that I had the time and strength to do a little more, so I got 60 more bricks.

After those were in, I found that my project still wasn’t done, so I went and got 100 more. Surely, that would be enough to get the majority of the rest completed!

Uh, no. Not so much.

All told, I purchased about 600 (maybe more) bricks, and the equivalent amount of base and sand, and really spent a ton of time getting this project done.

I still have a few stones to cut and set, and about 10 bricks that need to be set on the border. I also need to figure out how I want to cut some corner pieces for the area outside the gate.

Other than that, the project is done, just in time for me to start another semester of school.

Nice.

Within 30 minutes, I had cash in my pocket, and was more than happy.

Nicer.

1) Yelling between a man and a woman, about 70 percent her
2) Lots of breaking glass
3) More yelling, about 80 percent her
4) They took the argument out to the front yard and driveway
5) She accused him of giving her a bloody nose
6) He said she did it to herself to make him look bad
7) She said that she would tell the cops he did it, and the cops would believe her because he’s on parole

What I have learned:
1) The police response time to my neighborhood is 20 minutes

Fabulous.

UPDATE: I eventually got home after the Bees pulled out a squeaker, 17-1.

Hopefully he’s feeling all better in five weeks when scout camp begins.

After visiting the Jensens, we headed over to Jackson, Wyoming, and got to see where the rich people spend their time. We had dinner at some steakhouse that looked to be not-too-busy, and figured out why it wasn’t super busy. It was clearly the spitting image of Sizzler, just 30% pricier. The steak I had was subpar, like Sizzler, the salad was lacking, like Sizzler, and the service was unimpressive, also like Sizzler.

We visited Grand Teton National Park, then headed to West Yellowstone, Montana, via Ashton, Idaho, as the south entrance to Yellowstone was still closed. We saw a bald eagle, tons of elk, a few deer, and a ridiculous amount of bison.

On Thursday we headed to Freedom, which is on the border of Wyoming and Idaho. Melanie’s aunt lives on a 100 acre farm on the Idaho side of the street, and we got to ride four wheelers all around the farm. It was my first time riding one, and the kids got to ride on the back while Melanie and I each drove one. Melanie is definitely more comfortable at the wheel than I am.

We came home on Friday, and made sure to pass by Bear Lake on the way home. We had never been there, and I had always heard good things about it from my late friend, Ron, so I wanted to see it. We were still able to get home in time for me to make it to a 3:00 job interview!

All in all, we drove about 1200 miles in the six days of our trip. I’m still tired, but it was really fun.

One of the cutest photos I've ever seen!

Ryan and David ham it up in front of the antler arches in Jackson, Wyoming

Ryan is showing of his cuteness at Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park

Betsy is the most beautiful girl in the world.

The Tetons from US Hwy 20, just south of Targhee National Forest

The Rexburg Idaho Temple shortly before sunset

Widespread inbreeding between the Darwin and Wedgwood families was probably to blame for Charles Darwin’s ill health, and the childhood tragedies and infertility that blighted his family.

That’s the conclusion of an analysis examining links between ill health over four generations of the Darwin-Wedgwood dynasty and the degree of inbreeding between the families.