NO NEW NEWS

Not much to write about lately.  People have loaned me shelves of books and DVD's, and I've been kind of a slug.  That's how I get through August.  The shows I'm watching are from a BBC series, "Foyle's War."  I had never seen any before this.  I've now watched all but one of season 1...just 5 more seasons to go.  They're enjoyable, and I'm crocheting lap robes for your Vets, Jan, while I watch them.  I brought ATLAS SHRUGGED to read, thinking it would last the whole mission, but finished it long ago.  Can't say I enjoyed it much.  I had forgotten how Ayn Rand beats her readers over the head with her philosophy.

And speaking of politics, they are heating up around here.  I'm surprised at the intensity of rightwingers here.  It's true that I hang around with a pretty conservative group on a daily basis; even so, random people I meet are very forthcoming about their politics...and they're not what I expected to find in California.  I saw the documentary "2016" last week, and the theater erupted in applause at the conclusion.  I have chosen not to have TV in my apartment (and I haven't missed it), but I'm invited to a friend's house this week to view the Republican Convention.  (This news is probably pretty painful for Nancy to read; also, Linda.)

As for the mission.  An elder was sent home last week, the result of an injury suffered from a bicycle accident.  He and his companion were both involved.  His companion had his helmet buckled on; the other elder's helmet was on but not buckled.  He suffered at least a concussion, maybe worse, and wasn't getting any better, so his mission has probably ended because of failure to follow rules.  Sister Loli, from Australia, passed the test and received her driver's license last week.  President Lewis informed two of the Islander sisters that he could arrange things now so that they didn't have to ride bikes, but be reassigned to cars.  They begged him to leave them on bikes.  They talk to more people that way, and the people are more interested in them and what they're doing (riding bikes in the heat...)

I spent yesterday at my friend, Brooke's house, having a lesson in painting with water colors.  I've designed a book cover for my mission scrapbook.  I have to say, my first attempt was better than I expected.  But even at that, the end result is that Brooke will paint it for me.  She's the one whose home is filled with her original art, which really speaks to me.  You'd like it, too, Clara.  In fact, I'll include some now.  She has a low wall under a large picture window.  Most people, me included, would leave it blank.  She decided to paint a series of pictures of legs and feet.  The photos won't do it justice.