Actor Bruce Boxleitner on blogtalkradio talks about Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove, Vancouver, Babylon 5, Lantern City, and more. 

Every morning I wake up and peruse the headlines on various websites I follow and was agape when I read a PTA president in our tiny rural county had arrested for child rape. I clicked on the article, and you could have knocked me over with a feather when I read the name. I even read it a couple times to verify I had not misread. One of the most normal, down-to-earth, friendly men, who not only was the elementary school's vice president of the PTA, but a school volunteer, and band booster member. We weren't exactly close to him, but had seen him at numerous band events and he always seemed friendly and just so well. . . normal. The first time I met him was when I dropped my son off at his son's birthday party a couple years ago. I'm glad now that the party had been at a very public place. 

However, I just feel numb. I feel sick for the elementary school. I feel sick for our small community (things like this do not happen here), I feel sick for the poor girl and her family whom this monster committed a very heinous crime, I feel sick for the district who heard about the arrest from the local news and now they are saving face. I am sure the administers are second guessing themselves, wondering what they had missed, although the FBI insisted they aren't at fault. The accused passed the Washington State Patrol background check. And I weep for his family - especially his very talented musician son, who is in the same class with my son and they are good friends. I hope the community does not punish him for his father's transgressions. 

Tipping Point is a new SMK fan fiction story by Resourceful. She is posting in chapters and her story consists of a total of 15 chapters. It is a very suspenseful and well crafted story, set in today's time period and deals with the real dangers of internet and social media and the controversial technique of  hydraulic "fracking". I am grateful to be working with such talented and gifted writer being one of her beta readers. If you have a chance to read, please take a moment to leave a review. 

Life is still rather busy and hectic at the Riener household. This is the final week of scout camp and looking forward to having Steffen home with us, although it will be short lived, as he starts band camp next week. At least band camp is at the high school and he will be home in the evenings. Unfortunately, things do not calm down after school starts, as Steffen will be participating in marching band, pep band, Seminary, and driver's ed. Next Monday, I will drive my niece, Sarah, to the airport. Although, we didn't get much of a visit in, since she was at camp most of the time she was here, it was still good seeing her. She's a lovely young lady. 

On Monday, Ed and I had to drive back up to scout camp. Steffen had run out of some toiletries. I told him to just buy them at the Trading Post and he informed me they didn't sell deodorant. For reals?  I would think toothpaste and deodorant and travel size bottles of shampoo would be stocked in a scout shop, especially one so far away from town. We finally heard from Michael. He had been in a communication blackout for ten days while he left the MTC and headed to his first assignment in Salt Lake City. There was a bit of a mix-up, as he thought he would get to call home, but I guess it was only for missionaries boarding airplanes. He's doing okay, although he says he's in a neighborhood where "pretty immoral" things go on. (His words). I guess the apartment the missionaries live in is next to a "No Tell Motel." However, he says he likes his companion, who is from Sweden and is very funny. Michael also said most of the time he feels very spoiled by all the things the members do for the missionaries. He also said "it's very hot" in Utah. 

On Tuesday, Joey started swimming lessons. I feel swimming is a very important skill, especially here in the Pacific Northwest and because we live on a lake. He's never been a strong swimmer, so we started him in one of the lower level classes. If he appears ready to move on, we will move him up level, but right now, I feel he is where he needs to be. I'm glad the local military base offers swimming lessons, since the high schools in the area all seem to do their yearly maintenance in August. Another bonus, lessons are cheaper on base. Yay, for living in a military town!

Last night, we had a plumber come out to the house to find a water leak. We have been struggling locating this leak for over a year. And probably paid out close to $1000 to find said leak, with no success. Leak Finders West appears to have finally found the leak, running along our driveway. Now, we need to find someone to dig a hole and replace the broken line. Our water bill has steadily over the months jumped from $60-75 dollars, to upwards of $200 a month. We have the highest water bill on the whole lake. As a matter of fact, one of the water meter readers, jokingly said, "Is it your year to fill up the lake?" Hopefully, this is the only problem in the line and resolves our dreadful water bill. 

In addition, we got the lab results back on my dad. He has gallstones and bad enough stones they are extending his gallbladder. This is his last week of scout camp, and hoping next week, he seriously starts looking for a surgeon to remove his gallbladder, before he is in awful pain or damages other organs. 

Good news, I finally got my laptop back, and it was a fairly cheap fix. Both the battery and power cord had to be replaced. My laptop appears to be working fine now. Thank you, Eric. Even better news is the furloughs have been reduced from 11 days to 6 days. Ed has to take a four-day weekend this week, but then it's over. Praise the Lord! However, still frustrated the other Washington cannot get their act together and there are rumors of furloughs again next year, layoffs, or the real possibility of bases closing.