Preparing for the new year

It seems to me that for a long time most of our families go through a ritual to get ready for the new year. There is no sequence that is written down or specific date on which to get started but it always seems to happen in some orderly way. Generally it starts with taking the decorations off the Christmas tree. This seems to happen more quickly that putting them on the tree. You have to find the boxes used to store the decorations and then put the delicate ornaments in their containers so that they can be enjoyed the following and subsequent years. In our household not all the ornaments get back into the box where they had been previously stored but somehow a home is found for all.
There does seem to be one ornament left on the tree and not found until the tree is finally taken down.

Then of course the lights had to come off the tree, the stand drained of its water and then the tree taken for pickup outside or to a nearby site for grinding up. Any outside decorations or wreaths need to come down and be stored for the year.

Then the suddenly larger house needs to be vacuumed and cleaned and original decorations and pictures returned to their usual places of honor. Now the house and its occupants are ready for the new year. Whether this happens before the first of January or later on doesn't matter. It always happens at some point and the new year is under way. Happy new Year to each of you and may it be a happy and healthy year for all.

Detroit Institute of Art

Today we took a family field trip to Detroit to visit their recently refurbished Institute of Art. This Institute is over 100 years old and has an extensive collection. The parking garage was closed, so we parked nearby and walked through the 28 degree weather to the Institute. K & C bought a family membership, we got senior tickets, and then we all ate lunch at the cafeteria. We split up with the boys going to a play and puppet making session with mom. HW2 and I visited much of the current selections being displayed, and we all met at the gift shop before getting coats and braving the cold to walk back to the car.

We loaded everyone back into the car, and C started the engine to quickly learn that our muffler was separated from the car, and it roared. This caused much shaking of heads and some uncontrolled laughter. On the way home we stopped at Costco for groceries, and C looked more carefully under the car to learn that the muffler was not gone. Some one vandalized the car and stole the catalytic converter. We figured that this thief would sell the converter to a scrap yard for the Platinum in the converter probably making $200 in the process. We arrived home in a very noisy mode to discover that the dogs had gotten into chocolate candy truffles. We now have talked to the vet and yet may have to take the dogs to the vet for treatment.

We finally put it this way:

Fueling the car -$55,
Membership at the museum for a year - $88.
Lunch at the museum - $16
Replacement of catalytic converter - $2000
Insurance deductible - $250
Vet Bill - $500
Afternoon with the family at the Detroit Institute of Arts - Priceless

Fractures

Many of you know that about three weeks ago, HW2 and I ran our bikes into each other with disastrous results for HW2. She got an egg size lump on her forehead which turned into a black eye. She also hurt her knee and elbow and generally injured her right side and it has taken quite a time for all of these injuries to heal. Recently her wrist began to hurt more and finally was swollen some so she went to urgent care and they took an xray but we have not gotten the results yet. We think it is fractured and have put it in a splint to immobilise the wrist and let it heal. This has seemed to help. As Michelle who works in Dr. DrVall's office says: "You two need a padded room."

Inactivity is not HW2's long suit so it will be difficult to keep her wrist in the splint. She would love to hear from you but I will be doing the typing.

Have you lived up to yourself today?

What an interesting question to be asked. One can wonder what this question might mean. It could mean were you kind to someone today. It could mean did you help someone today. it could mean that you have great potential and today you lived up to that expectation. What do you think it means?

Maybe this is a way to get cought up in personal growth without which we cannot improve our selves. Perhaps this is a way to grow into the being that God forsaw at our birth.

HW2

Those of you who are regular readers of this blog know that HW2 is my much better half. She also reads my blog and corrects it, which it frequently needs. I have a habit of sprinkling capitals, commas and the like, sort of from whimsy. I think that this offends the English teacher in her, and so she goes to work without complaint and fixes the blog. Indeed this is the way HW2 works in life. She does not complain!! She dives in and gets whatever needs doing, done.

I like to make up endearments for her and so she gets called Miss....... (In the southern way - like driving MISS Daisey). She also gets called Sweetie most of all, but occasionally Missy, Sweet Cheeks, and Sweetie Girl. All of these tags bring a smile to her face.

Best of all she is my helpmate and that gets me through each day. She presents her positive outlook to all that she meets, and the saying in the family is that each new person she meets gets added to her Christmas list. All I can say is that her Christmas list is very long and full of delightful people that have been charmed by my Missy. I love you Sweetie, very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boxing Day

Many years ago, I was in England over the Christmas season and noticed that they celebrated Boxing Day. I asked what this day celebrated but have since forgotten exactly what the event was to commemorate. So I have made up my own notion of this day.

I really think a good way to celebrate this day would be to box up any gift you did not want and return it in its box to the store for a refund. Another possibility would be to just enjoy your collection of boxes. My mom saves boxes. One time we had an exchange student visiting with us over a holiday, and I got the idea to clean out the attic of all of Mom's empty boxes. We carefully threw them down the stairs and had almost all the empty boxes thus cleared out when Mom came home. She was not happy with me and mortified that I would do such a thing with a guest. So, I had to take all the empty boxes back up the stairs and put them back into the attic. Now I have wondered why she continues to keep these boxes and actually have asked her on occasion why she saves them. The typical response is, "I might need them" or, "When I move I need to repack the item so it is easier to be moved." We have laughed about this collection of empty boxes, and she has really enjoyed her hobby. So, Boxing Day could be a chance to inspect your collection and enjoy any new or recent additions.

Christmas Day

Somewhere after 5:30 this morning, two little boys got the four adults in this rollicking household going downstairs to see what Santa had brought and to empty Christmas stockings. As Christian emptied his stocking of nuts, an orange, and a bit of candy, he grinned and said, "I guess I been good." After all, there was no charcoal in his stocking. Then he said, "I always wanted one, a juicy orange." Christmas is for kids, both young and old.

Then the boys looked at the plate that they had left for Santa and his reindeer. They had a big discussion on whether Santa needed eight or nine carrots, since the results depended upon whether Rudolph was helping to guide the sleigh. I think that ten was the final result, with one extra for Santa, and there were bits of carrots left from the feeding reindeer, and, best of all, the two pieces of chocolate were left by Santa, since he had eaten too much and was going to head for the South Beach diet this week.

After a lengthy session of opening presents, the boys left to play with their sleeping bags, back packs, and, best of all, the flashlights. Most of the clothes and fancy toys were left to later exploration.

We even managed to interrupt the festivities with breakfast, including date/cherry cake, scrambled eggs, and orange juice from blood oranges, reminiscent of our visit to Sicily, when the four adults had a great time and particularly enjoyed fresh squeezed blood orange juice.

So now the excitement has waned, reindeer are back at the North Pole, and Santa has headed to Florida. Merry Christmas to all and good night.

Christmas Eve

Here it is the 24th of December, Christmas Eve. How did it get here so quickly? We made a last minute errand run at almost five o'clock, and you could see that the worker bees were anxious to get home to their families but still were cheery even to late shoppers like us. At dinner the grands were thinking about making a plate of things for Santa and his reindeer. We decided that if Rudolph came along we would need nine carrots for the reindeer and maybe one for Santa, since he would be eating too much tonight and would have to go on the South Beach Diet tomorrow. I think I need to join him. Well, maybe after New Year's.

The boys added two scones and a chocolate from their Advent calendars, and this may be it for Santa and his reindeer from this family. Christian decided that he didn't want to finish his glass of milk, and he could leave the remainder for Santa. This got turned down as a good idea and caused grins from the adults.

So, "Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there............."

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a Good Night.

Does it help if the barber is named Bob?

I thought I needed a haircut and so after helping with some errands drove over town to go to the local barber whose name is Bob. My barber in Omaha is also a Bob. Thus I began to wonder if you had to be called Bob if you are a barber. This conjecture is probably not worth pursuing. This Bob was a character of 80 years of age and 80 years of collected opinions. I did thoroughly enjoy listening. He raised and raced harness horses. He also bought a farm for $70,000 and later sold half of it for 1/2 million. He has five sons and two daughters and apparently another son 52 years old that he just met recently. Sounds like quite a family. Happy holidays

Jingle Bells - A Christmas Mystery

Tonight we were sitting at dinner, and very faintly we could hear Christmas music. Where was it coming from? Did other people hear it? I said, "Can you hear that Christmas music?" HW2 could not and did not know what I was talking about, but Kim could hear it. Finally, as it continued to be played, we got up from the table and searched for the source of the music. It was not in the living room and not in the kitchen. It seemed to be located in the dining room. There was a bear that played music, and he was sitting all alone in the living room. When played, he did a different song. The grands, Jon and Christian, thought it was coming from upstairs. Now, HW2 has a watch that plays Christmas music, and she was not wearing it, so I went upstairs to our room, but no Christmas music there.

Kim said, "What thing in my dining room is playing Christmas music that I do not know about?" We all quieted down, and finally Kim got up again and crawled around the table and under it. The music was going again. She asked HW2 if her red reindeer jacket played Christmas music. The answer was, "NO! I can't hear it anyway." Kim crept slowly toward HW2. "That music is coming from you!" HW2 responded, "Maybe it is my socks! They used to play but don't work any more." It turned out that if you rub the socks together they do work and play "Jingle Bells." Mystery solved with much laughter.

What Makes You Feel Old

We were leaving Best Buy today after deciding to use our Reward Zone points to buy some dvd's of Johnny Carson's best moments and went through the check out line. We were greeted by a young man of about 25 years old, and he helped us through the check out process. He looked at the dvd's and said, "Who is Johnny Carson?" We left and felt really OLD. That was one of those moments, and we all get them. Another is when you become eligible for AARP or Social Security. I guess if we live long enough, it happens. THINK YOUNG!!!!!!

Memories of Christmas Past

Today we were walking around downtown Ann Arbor and looked in a small store window to see a cardboard fireplace with fake lighted fire. There was a point years ago when we wanted a real fireplace, so that Santa had a way to get down the chimney into our house. First, Dad tried the old footprints on the side porch trick. There were footprints in the snow coming up to our door but not returning away from the house. We wanted to know how Santa got in the front door and why he didn't leave. Not wanting to disappoint his boys, Dad arrived home with a cardboard fireplace which he put together and then announced that now Santa could come down our chimney and leave presents for good boys. We loved that idea and for years helped put up our cardboard fireplace so that Santa could come for his annual visit.

One year we made a gingerbread house and then rather than eat it at the end of the holidays, Mom boxed it up and for several years it was placed on a cherry table in the living room. One year Dad got into outside decorations and found a Santa face that could be lit and hung it on the front porch door. The door had a red cardboard cover, and I think there were black mittens placed appropriately. This door decoration was put up for years and enjoyed. I think we even won a prize for decorating the house but am not really sure of that.

When we would go to Uncle Harold's house house or Grandma Roe's, we got to see bubble lights on the Christmas tree. They were fascinating, and we wondered how the liquid kept bubbling but did not disappear like boiling water would. For years we had several strings of lights that were single wire so that if a light went out, you had to try each light in the string with a fresh bulb until you found the one that burned out. That was a royal pain. Grandma Roe also had some fancy bulbs like Santa's or birds or other fancy things. Ours were just colored lights.

At one point we also put up lighted wreaths and/or lighted candles in each of the windows, which made for a festive scene when viewed from outside the house. Lots of the decorations on the tree were handmade. When we lived in Waterville, there was an article in a magazine on how to make 24 point stars. Mom had known how to do this when she was a child but could not remember how to do it, so she really appreciated the article, and we learned how to make the stars and then hang then on the tree. When made out of colored foil Christmas wrapping paper, they were quite reflective and looked great on the tree. We made them for years and still have a couple of stars for our own tree today.

I am sure that your memories of Christmases Past get triggered when you least expect it. The memories roll in, and you are transported to times ago when the wonder of Christmas affected you as a child. Thanks for reading about my memories, and I hope your memories come to the fore. Merry Christmas all!

Great Restaurants

One of the topics of this blog for 2008 will be great restaurants we have visited. We thought of doing this not because we have been there, but because when you are in an area, it is nice to know a place to go where another has had a good meal. Hopefully, you will get a chance too try some of these recommended restaurants. Even better, perhaps you will suggest places where you have eaten, and when we are in the area, we can try your place. Now we are not food connoisseurs, but we do like to have good service, food cooked as expected, neither over or under cooked, reasonable wait times, and prices that are not exorbitant. I think we especially enjoy a friendly atmosphere. With these criterion in place, we will attempt this new topic. Enjoy, and join us in reporting on good eating places.

The Birthday Girls Talk

Last night as we returned from dinner we decided to call mom to let her know that we had arrived safely in Ann Arbor and to give the two birthday girls a chance to visit as well. Kim got on the phone with Nana (That's what all the grands call her) and mentioned that she had enjoyed visiting Ithaca in the fall at the height of the fall leaf color season and how pretty it was. Nana agreed that Ithaca was a beautiful small city. Both wished the other happy birthday. Kim said was mom a Sagitarius birthday girl and mom replied she was not a vegetarian. Mom does not hear well at all, wears two hearing aids and makes up any part of the conversation that she misses and hopes it fits and makes sense. She never quite got this Sagitarius thing straight but was glad to talk with Kim. We bid her good by and said we would call again on her birthday, her 95th, on Thursday. We are glad that she is not a vegetarian either.

Sunrisegang

I am trying to add another link to another blogger that you might enjoy. In Kerrville we met Bobby and Vicky Love who own and run the Sunrise Antique Mall on Water Street in a building that is now over 100 years old. We met them around the year 2000-2001 and decided to open a mall booth and sell antiques and collectibles. It worked out beautifully and we became part of their extended family over these years. Both of their moms help with the mall and are just delightful as well.

When we returned to being full time on the road and again headed for Kerrville, the first stop after getting settled in was to go see the gang at the sunrise mall. It proved to be a wonderful homecoming. Of course in time we discussed blogs and they got started on their own blog. You can find out more about them by clicking on the link that I think I have added. You will not meet more caring and loving people than the gang at the sunrise mall.

We arrive in Ann Arbor

We left Omaha on Sunday afternoon since HW2 was not feeling well having caught a cold and we thought she might as well rest in the car. We bid our goodbye's to the kids and grands after having had lots of fun for a week with them all playing games, cards, listening to concerts and great meals provided by Kristy. We really hated to leave but felt that if we made the trip to Ann Arbor in two parts it would be easier on HW2's back. It was not easy to leave this greatly loved family. We do miss them very much when we are away on our travels.

It was not snowing on the trip through Iowa and we arrived in the Davenport area about 6pm when we decided to stop for the night. A king size bed provided lots of room for the sickly HW2 and she slept until I wakened her about 8:30 the next morning. After a continental breakfast at the motel we checked out after learning that we were the only ones still remaining, the other two rooms having checked out earlier. I guess not so many travel in the dead of winter. The roads continued to be dry as we motored on East and the trip around South Chicago went quickly which it does not always do. Finally we arrived in Ann Arbor about 5pm to be greeted by Chuck shoveling their latest snow, about 10". It seemed to us that was the most we had seen during the whole trip but it was a winter wonderland the whole way, just like a Christmas card. They even had a snow day here in Michigan.

We partially unpacked and greeted the boys and their mom returning from a quick trip to the store. It will be fun to spend some time with another part of our family. What a blessing it is to be able to visit each of our children and their families even when it can be only for a short visit. But, as many of you know, company is like fish, they need to go after three days. So far none of our kids has thrown us out even when we stay more than three days. Happy travels!!

Forts and Snowballs

When you were a kid ,did you ever make forts and have snowball fights? We sure did, and they were such fun. Of course, you had to have good packing snow to indulge in this winter sport. Dry snow just dosen't work well. Once you got your fort ready, you split all of the neighborhood kids into two groups, and the fun begins. Snow balls are crafted and stored, and then the raids on the other fort began. Everyone got repelled by a blizzard of snow balls. Then everyone had to retreat and then start the fun all over again. The final assault resulted in the fort being overrun and getting smashed to the ground with lots of yelling and throwing. It makes you wonder how we ever stop making wars.

For less adventure risking types there is snowman creating. The first ball for the base needs to be quite large to hold the middle and top ball to make the belly and head of your creation. If the snow was especially good or deep you could create a large snowman and then find stuff to make the face and buttons and maybe hands or an old hat to top it all off. Most kids brought up in snow country seem to innately know how to do these activities and do them well.

Finally, when you are exhausted, and your hands freezing, you go inside to warm up and if you are real lucky, maybe some hot chocolate. It is fun to think back and remember all the good times we had playing in the snow. On Saturday, Tim took all five grands and three visitors sledding. They all arrived back home tired but happy. The joys of childhood!!!!

Birthdays

Christmas time is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Ordinary people that have birthdays at this time of the year get to bask in his reflected glory a bit. My Aunt Florence was born on the 24th, niece Faith on the 25th, daughter Kim on the 18th, son Chris on the 19th and Mom on the 20th. I do not know how they feel about having a birthday at this time of the year but hope they enjoy all the festivities and the addition of birthday excitement too. Mom turns 95 this week. That is quite a milestone to achieve. She is in good health, still lives alone, drives her own car, and takes care to eat healthy meals. She is a fine example to us all and so fortunate to be healthy and able to get about. To all I wish each a wonderful and a very happy birthday.

We Meet Max (Maxine) again

When we are in Omaha, we enjoy going to a Mexican restaurant, Matt's, on 90th Street and Fort. Today while out doing errands, lunch time arrived and we were in the neighborhood and stopped for a quick bite. HW2 ordered hot tea and chicken vegetable soup. I had the same but, in addition, a turkey sandwich. Our waitress was very helpful, and at the end of the meal we were sitting there when Max came over to see if we needed anything else. We got into conversation with her, and she told us about making ornaments with her grandmother. She mentioned how she wished her grandmother was still alive, and then she could do other things with her. I said that when she got out her ornaments that her grandmother was with her at that moment. She said she had not thought of it that way and thanked us for putting such a positive spin on her memories.

Then she hugged both of us, and we mentioned that everyone needs seven hugs every day for good health. So, HW2 went to a nearby table where there were five people and mentioned that Max needed five more hugs today, and they all agreed to do this at the end of their meal. On this happy note, we left and noticed that there were many smiling faces as we left.

Snow

Well Jim Flowers, local weather man, was correct that we would get about 3" of snow during the night. So there has been shoveling around here this morning and making plans to go sledding. Probably not HW2 or I though. We like to look at the snow, preferably in front of a fire and looking through a double pained window to keep the cold out. We do have a few errands to complete while we are here, so will venture out later on and the car will be in four wheel drive because all the streets are snow packed.

We played a card game last evening. We had been invited out for the evening to Beth and Harold's but did not feel quite well enough to venture forth. It proved to be a competitive game and enjoyed by all. Then a time of visiting and kids to bed before we all turned in as well. Stay safe and warm.

Our Suppers 8 Group Meets Again

About three years ago we decided to participate in our church's Suppers 8 program. The names of all the members who wanted to participate were put in a hat, drawn out randomly, and put in groups of eight people. Keilah, a granddaughter, thought it would be funny if her folks got put in the same group as us. We thought that was very unlikely. Suppers Eight groups met 4-5 times a year in months that had five Sundays. Each group meets in each other's homes, and this gave a time to eat, good fellowship, and a chance to get to know each other on an informal basis.

We looked forward to learning with whom we would meet, as we were new members and did not really know many people very well. Previously we had met two other couples over dinner: Beth and Harold and Rachael and Dennis. Soon the Sunday arrived and the Suppers 8 groups were announced. Our group consisted of us, our kids Kristy and Tim, and the two other couples mentioned above whom we had met earlier. How we laughed to be in a group with people we had met and known! But, we looked forward to the four meetings, good food, and good fellowship. Of course, the year went well, and we wondered what groups we might be in for the next year, as annually the groups were re-picked. We did decide to keep meeting with our original group, since we had enjoyed each other's company regardless.

Our second year came around, and we were put together with several groups of young married couples. This was again fun to get to know some others that we might not otherwise have known so well. Our original Suppers 8 group kept going also, and we let the good times roll.

Last evening our original group got together once again, and we decided on an Italian theme for the food. I am not good at the Italian names, so I won't try, but none of us left the table hungry. Rachael is one terrific cook, and she made the main courses and dessert. Salads, bread, and antipasti were provided by the rest of us.

At the shank end of the evening we were laughing so much that it was hard to hear, and we began to remedy that by playing "telephone," with several messages getting progressively more mixed up and very funny. Then came "Authors" and yelling out of their works or the reverse, which was equally funny. Dennis was in rare form, and we enjoyed his high jinks. Whenever we are able, we eight try to get together and maintain the comradery that has developed over the years. What a wonderful way to meet people and develop good lasting friends!

More College Pranks - Shaving Cream

My roommate Dick was very neat and studied very hard to maintain an A average in his college work. Frequently, he would study for a test and then complain that he was going to fail this upcoming test. Of course, when he got his test grade, he would get another A. This got a bit old after a while, and we decided he needed some attention. One night we filled his bed with shaving cream. He had the habit of picking up just a small corner of the blanket and sheet and then quickly sliding into bed. This night he almost slid out the other end of the bed, and the look on his face was priceless. We just happened to have a camera handy and managed to take a picture just as he slid into bed. I still have the picture and have entitled it in Latin in his honor since he was a Latin major. Vidi, Vicki, Veni! Dick was not happy about this. He does still speak to me though, sort of. Now there were other stories and you may have to wait for more. Dick did graduate from college, magna cum laude. (All those A's) My dad said I graduated, "Cum thank the Lordy."

More Music

Today we went to the Joslyn Museum to hear the Omaha Conservatory of Music Christmas recital. It was great fun. We got there a bit before noon so we could eat a sandwich or soup before the concert. Then the piano students of three of the teachers played their music. it varied from quite simple to complicated, and the whole thing was delightful. It was wonderful to see Keilah , James, and Lydia playing their duets. One little kid was so young that his legs didn't touch the floor when he sat on the piano bench. He was cute though and very serious about his music. Two kids did a boogie on Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer that was quite good and fun to hear.

When we got home and out of good clothes, we played cards and then HW2 played Scrabble with several while I took a nap or rested. It is cold here and stayed in the twenties today. Lots of snow around, so we are really in the mood for Christmas. Tomorrow we make candy and cookies with the grands. I don't know who has the most fun, but we love doing it and they do, too.

Music week

We knew when we headed to Omaha that the grands were doing two musical things. Last night we went to Harvest Community Church for a concert of the home school choir, Veritas. it was really a three for one concert. There was a prelude before the choir event of several groups and students playing musical instruments. Best of all for us was two piano duets of Keilah and Lydia and then Keilah and James. All played well and were much enjoyed. The main event was the Veritas Christmas concert performed by the junior and then senior choirs. Each were introduced by a handbell choir. Keilah and James helped with the handbell choir and then in the junior choir we got to watch Sarah , Lydia, and Susannah as they sang four songs. Finally the senior choir performed and we got to watch the other two, Keilah and James. The event was a delight but best of all for the kids, it was announced that there cookies afterwards and magically all the singers disappeared. We got to visit with many good friends. This event in of itself would be a highlight but today we get to hear the Omaha Conservatory of Music concert at the Joslyn Museum under the Chihuley huge glass sculpture. Again we will get to watch three of the grands perform. I will keep you posted.

We Arrive in Omaha

After three days on the road from Texas, we made it to Omaha in the middle of the day. We went from 80's to the teens in three days. Yesterday the roads were bare, and the trip uneventful. We were glad to get here as we had heard from several people that a nasty ice and snow storm was headed directly toward Omaha. The ice arrived first, and we got about half an inch and then a small amount of snow on top. Probably the combination will prove very hazardous to any outside travel. HW2 needs to get her glasses fixed. As a result of her fall off her bike, her glasses are caddy-wampus. I tried to bend them back in some fashion, but she needs to get them adjusted. So, maybe we will set out later and try to get to the store to get the glasses fixed. I can imagine the clerk asking HW2 what happened to her glasses and then getting the whole story of our bike crash.

We have been enjoying the various stories on this blog, especially about each of the grandkids, who then wanted to have me read some more. This was very, very encouraging to this want-to-be-writer. All for now. Choral concert tonight unless it is canceled due to bad weather. Keep tuned.

Come Full Circle

This morning we left Denton, TX, as the sky opened up, and it began to rain. As we drove further north, the outside temperature started dropping and soon was hovering at the freezing and below mark. The rain had covered the trees in ice, and on a sunny day it would have been beautiful. The further we went, the more ice we could see on the trees, and then by the time we got to Oklahoma City, the ice was forming on the road. From then on, it was touch and go as to whether we could keep going, or the roads would be closed, and we would stop. We got to Tulsa and decided by accident to take 44 NE to Joplin, and accidentally began to get out of the worst of the storm. Then at Joplin, we took route 71 N toward Kansas City and quickly came to Carthage, MO, where we had spent three nights on our way south to Texas. So, we had come full circle on our travels. North of Carthage the roads were dry for the most part, and we made good time pulling into Kansas City about 5pm. It was good to stop.

We decided that a Kansas City Strip Steak would be good for dinner at the Hereford House, and they were much enjoyed! After dinner we drove from downtown to see the lights at Country Club Plaza, where all of the buildings and windows are outlined by many many Christmas lights. Ths is one of HW2's favorite shopping places, and, sadly for her, the stores were closed, but we did enjoy the lights. At dinner we talked about favorite restaurants, and this will become the subject of future blogs.

Tomorrow, hopefully, if the weather cooperates we will get to Omaha and enjoy the Holliday clan and good friends, and snow, too, we hear. Safe travels, all.

Court House Squares in Small Towns

If you have done any traveling at all, at some point you have visited a small town that is a county seat and has a court house, usually in a square. Frequently, these squares are fun to walk around and check out the shops. If you begin to see many antique stores during your walk, this is probably an indicator that downtown is suffering from a blight, and many stores will have closures probably due to a Walmart or a shopping center located away from the center of the town. Usually, the streets are one way, and you can park diagonally before you begin your walk.

One of our pipe dreams is to find a robust town square and court house, and then locate an apartment upstairs with a great view on the square. Then we could get to know all the merchants on the square and maybe even open a small shop. At one time we thought of opening an antique store and contribute to the blight, but since we have sold that business, it will have to be some other venue like a gallery or a shop that sells items needed for stained glass.

This morning we left Kerrville and are heading north for a week in Omaha. Tonight we are staying in Denton, TX, where Kim graduated from North Texas University a few years ago. Denton has a court house and the lovely type of square described above. We walked around the square and then stopped for a beer and finally left the area looking for a good restaurant. An Italian dinner later, we are fixed for the night and ready to see what tomorrow brings. Happy travels.

Political Correctness

The following is the 2007 winning entry from an annual contest at Texas A&M University calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term.
This year's term: "Political Correctness." This was sent to me by friend Gus.

"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

Your thoughts???????

Listen More and Talk Less

I keep thinking about what Terry suggested, and this time I came up with the idea of "listen more and talk less." I always tried to keep an open-door policy and then when visited by a person, I tried to follow this advice. I found that when I really listened to another person, they often provided any answer they were looking for and really just needed encouragement to follow their ideas through. They really did not want any suggestions from me for the most part. Frequently, when I mentioned an idea, it was mine and not theirs, and then not always a success. If it came to be a failure, then the failure was mine and not theirs. Lots of days I would go home exhausted, because listening seemed to take a part of me away, and then I needed time and rest to get revitalized.

Finally, you have to learn to not blab all over the place what you have been told. If you can keep to yourself what others tell you, then you earn their trust. That trust must be maintained unless the problem is life-threatening, and then you tell the person upfront that you will be sharing this with the proper agency. One time I had to go get a student who was suspected of murdering a member of his family and bring him to the office to be arrested. I still remember the look on his face when he realized that he would be taken to jail. Sadly, there was nothing else to be done. I always wondered what happened to him.

Technologically Challenged

I am technologically challenged, for sure, but I did enjoy what happened today. The cell phone rang, a 402 or Omaha number. Now I have learned how to answer the phone, a major achievement. With the answering, I got gibberish and kept saying hello, hello, and finally hanging up in frustration. HW2 was trying to take a much-needed nap but said, "try hitting 'send' twice and you will call them back." I managed to do this, too. Wow! I got a busy signal and thinking it might be Kristy, left a message. HW2 said the person was probably leaving us a message. Then the phone rang again. I jumped at the sound of the ring and managed to answer the phone again, as,really, I was doing quite well today. I answered," Hello, Kristy!" and got, "This is Laura. Hi, Chuck." Then she said she was shoveling snow, and her phone was in her pocket, and sometimes it did strange thing like play music or call someone. It must have called me. Fortunately, I knew who Laura was and was able to carry on a conversation.
We hung up and laughed and laughed.

Yesterday, Kristy did call, and I answered by hitting the end button which somehow interrupted the call, and so I quickly called her back. How she laughed at me, and then said she needed a laugh. I was glad to help her out.

Several years ago we had a different but new cell phone, and it rang as we were traveling down a highway. HW2 said, "How do I answer this phone?" I, of course, answered, "Hello." I laughed for several miles, and finally HW2 laughed, too. It is one of our favorite stories. Hope you got a laugh, too.

Team Building

When I first arrived at Valley High School, I brought one assistant with me, Peggy, who had been at Valley before she joined my at the the night school, where I was briefly principal and she the assistant. There were three other assistants: Steve, Louis, and Leah. I had worked for four years with Leah at Cleveland, where she had done an administrative internship. I thought that the most important thing that we needed to do was to form a great team and work together to make Valley a wonderful high school. Gradually, I added other members to the team, even though some did not think that this was a good idea. Over time I added the activity director, the librarian, the head of counseling, and the head of the Valley Academy, which is what we called our GE college bound program. We met formally every Monday morning and directed our attention to all the activities for the week and ensured that each activity was covered by an adinistartor. Informally, we met many afternoons after the students had gone for the day and relaxed, told stories, and concerned ourselves with the good and the care of the organization. Sometimes we had to drag ourselves away from the school and get home to enjoy our families. Frequently, some of us would return for an evening engagement, so our days were full and frequently long.

I strongly believe that all members of the team brought individual strengths to the team and knew their jobs. My job was to encourage all to do their very best and then get out of their way and let them do it. For me, failure was always a learning experience and did not need me jumping down their throats. Of course, repeated failure did need my attention, but that seldom happened, if ever. I knew that I was beginning to succeed when one day Dianne, my secretary, who had been at Valley for many years said, "You really do know what you are doing." I cherished that compliment for years and always referred to her from then on as the lovely Dianne. Dianne also attended our administrative team meetings and took notes, as well as adding her own unique point of view. Our team survived repeated personnel changes as people received advancements to other positions in the district. New additions were quickly integrated into the team and contributed in their own unique ways. Barry, when added to the team, endeared himself to the entire faculty by developing and implementing a great phone system, school wide, that could be accessed by all who worked at the school. The loyalty generated by this team to all members had endured to this day. About a year ago, many of us got together for lunch, which proved to be a high point of my life. I think I can die happy knowing how close we had all become.

My School of Management

Terry has me thinking about what might be included in my school of management. First has to be about Expectations. When you set high standards for yourself, then people around you allow you to work together with them to set other mutual high standards. Frequently, I think of President George W. Bush and his respect for the oval office and always appearing in a suit and tie. His expectation has been extended to all those who enter the office, and his respect for the office and his position have been clear to everyone. It is clear that he thought his predecessor was too casual at times, and maybe if he had Bush's high expectations, he might never have gotten into trouble with an intern named Monica.

When Valley High School received the General Electric Foundation Grant, our goal was to double the number of our graduates who attended college. This seemingly simple goal set us on a quest for ways to achieve the goal. Each school throughout the country that received a similar grant had this same goal. However, each school was unique and encouraged to be different, with failures allowed, as the varied approaches were implemented. The school personnel were encouraged to interact and share ideas that worked and explore successes as well as failures. The result of this encouraging environment was a dynamic experiment to bring about positive changes in inner city schools that set high expectations for students, provided assistance to meet those expectations, and enabled and encouraged students to escape the hidden chains of inner city life to attend and graduate from college. As early students found that they could succeed, younger students were encouraged by their examples, and the project began to snowball. Did Valley High School get to double the number of our graduates to attend college? Was it hard work? Were many people involved? Were the parents supportive? Did we have community input? The answers to each of these questions was YES! The power of high expectations was proven over and over again, student by student, teacher by teacher and parent by parent.

Blog Ideas from Terry

I received this wonderful note in our email yesterday, and I just wanted to share it, because the two people mentioned in it are two of my favorite people ever. This email is a wonderful compliment. Thanks Terry. You made my day.

"Hi Chuck and Judy,

I read Chuck's blog asking for ideas on what to write about. I've been sitting here knitting a blanket for Khian for Christmas and thinking about that. I don't know if this is the kind of thing you want, but I think you should write about "The Chuck S............. School of Management." You say you didn't know there was such a thing? Well, I've been known to tell people that I did some graduate work there.

One time someone came into the Service Center and asked me why Toby and I are the way we are. What that person meant was that we were able to listen to them, not get rattled (usually), laugh a lot, etc. You know, the way we are at work. I don't laugh as much as Toby, however. Out of my mouth came "We went to the Chuck S............... School of Management." It surprised Toby quite a bit the 1st time I said it, but he jumped right in and explained what I meant. It included allowing people to do the best job they can and knowing they will almost always exceed your expectations.

I think that may be a theme in your life, but I don't know all the philosophy involved in the "Chuck S............. School of Management." Remember when you used to take people their paychecks? One day I asked you why you didn't just put the checks in mailboxes and you told me it was a nice way to get to see everyone twice a month and they were always glad to see you. I used to deliver Christmas cards personally after that both at Valley and the Service Center."

Neighbors

Karl came by and invited us to join him and Betty to watch Jeopardy and have a glass of wine. We took Chex mix and joined them and had a good visit. One of the jeopardy answers was Mark Twain, who had apparently said he wanted to go to heaven for the climate but hell for the company. We all thought this a very funny comment but had not heard this quote before. They showed us their Christmas decorations, and we talked about where our kids lived, and how many grandchildren we each had. It was a fun time. Karl likes to play poker and has asked me to join the weekly session, but so far I have managed to escape. I am not a very good poker player. He thinks that I need to learn how to play Texas Hold 'Em. We shall see. He and Betty also like stained glass, and they have purchased two of our crosses and now maybe a manger scene, if I can get it done before we head north.

Yesterday was a day with the temperature in the 70's, and so I decided to wash the car and finish washing the motor home. Both needed some attention, and now they look much better. HW2 wrapped packages, and we made a trip to the post office to get our Christmas mailing done. While I was washing the motor home, I got to visiting with another neighbor, Larry and his wife Judy. This is their third venture into full-timing in their fifth wheel, and they love it.

One of the nice things about this life style is that you get to meet interesting people and share life events and stories. The other day at lunch we sat by Jim ,who was recently divorced and living in his trailer on a nearby ranch, rent free, as he also helped out with carpentry jobs there. My, how he could talk! He enjoyed riding his motor cycle and was planning a several week trip on his bike with his dad, who also rides.

We are now busy packing for a trip to Omaha to see kids and grands, and then onward to Ann Arbor to celebrate Christmas with other kids and grands. We are so blessed.

Mysterious Friends

When Maurice and Anne were to celebrate their 50th anniversary, we all decided that this event was too good to pass up and that we should attend. Sister Sue decided that she would tell them she couldn't come and then show up and yell surprise. The rest of us had to help her keep the secret, of course. This meant making up stories and lies and keeping them all straight. A day or so before the event we had gone there to help with the setup and food and were having a great time with all the nieces and nephews and the happy couple, of course. At one point there was a phone call, and HW2 happened to mention Mike, which is Sue's husband's name, was there at Mom's. Anne replied, "Mike who?" Thinking very quickly, she told Anne that this Mike was the man that mowed Mom's lawn and that they had become very friendly, and Mom was getting him lunch. Anne swallowed the whole story, and we went on with getting stuff ready. The next day we all gathered for the anniversary party and Sue and Mike got to say surprise, and Anne figured out that HW2 had told her a lie. She was quite taken with how inventive HW2 had been to come up with the story, though.

When Mom had her recent nose bleed problem, she called her neighbor Marge, down the block, and Marge called another neighbor across the street, Tom. Tom is a retired music teacher, and he willingly came up to help mom. When the ambulance took her to the hospital, he followed along in his car and stayed with her till they got the bleeding stopped and answered family calls. Later when she was released, Tom took her home. What wonderful neighbors she has! None of us has ever met Tom or even heard of this good Samaritan until then. We thank him with all our hearts. However, Anne told us that Mom now has two friends that we don't know: Mike, the mysterious lawn mowing guy, and now, Tom. I think that Mom is lucky to have these great, if mysterious, friends.

Family Closeness

We got an early call this morning from Maurice to let me know that our mother had trouble with a nose bleed that she could not stop, and ended up taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. They finally cauterized her nose, and she was sent home and told me about noon that she was all right now but did feel quite tired after her medical adventure. Brother Gary came over to Maurice's home last evening, and they tried to decide whether to venture up to Syracuse to see how she was doing. A call to the hospital informed them that she was being released and would be fine. So they decided to stay put and let the rest of us know today. Today was the 27th anniversary of the death of our father, and this was on her mind when we visited on the phone today. These events happen in families, and the family rallies around and gets through the concern and then continues on as before. The notion that blood is thicker than water comes to mind especially as a family gathers to deal with a problem. There can be individual fights and disputes, but all are forgotten in a time of crisis, and all pull together. This makes me be especially thankful to have grown up in a large family and to have that united strength to call upon when in need. Somehow it also makes me sensitive to others that do not have family to rally about when needed. I guess that is where deacon training takes over as we reach out in unexpected ways to meet the needs of others.

Stairs

Now really, stairs are fascinating. When you are a baby in the crawling or beginning walking stage, you want to go up and down. Of course there is the brain damage part if you fall down them too often. Even at this early age usually the adults in the home get protective and teach you to slide down on your bottom or hold your hand until this becomes another skill in your growing arsenal. As boys, we used to see how many steps we could jump while coming down the stairs. Some houses lend themselves better to this important activity. Later we could holler: "I only took three, or I only took 5 jumps" The winner was the one with the fewest jumps. In Newark Valley on the farm there were two wide hand rails and you could make it to the bottom in "1". That was a real feat usually accompanied by: "Boys, quit jumping down the stairs."

Another thing of interest is what gets left on the stairs when you intend to take it up later. At Grandma Roe's house in Candor there frequently was a winding passage left to work your way upstairs and the items on the stairs could be there for sometime. She would not appreciate this observation from me. In Omaha we would get back from the store and put several items on the stairs with the unwritten rule that the next person going up would take them on up. This worked quite well for us and stuff never lasted very long on the stairs.

I have noticed that in houses with several floors and sets of stairs, the upper stairs are more narrow than the lower ones. This leeds me to believe that only skinny people ever went up these more narrow stairs.

In our barn we had a passage from the main floor to the lower basement area where we stored junk. These were not technically stairs but more like rungs in a ladder. I could pretend that this was a secret passage that no other person knew about and slip from one floor to the other. It came in handy when playing hide and seek.

Now winding stairs are fascinating. Cousin Georgia had this type of stairs in the foyer of her house but they were seldom used because there were back stairs off the kitchen which the family used regularly. There is a beautiful small church in Santa Fe that has a set of winding stairs so well made that there seems to be no visible support as they twist their way to the choir loft.

Older stairs show their age by their worn treads or steps and their creeks and groans as you traverse them. I was trying to quietly come up our stairs on the farm after an evening at my bachelor party and made it to the top landing only to run into a series of folding chairs which went down like dominoes and had my dad up and yelling in an instant. I was really sorry and snuck off to bed, very, very, sorry to have awakened dad. (There is more to this story - but later)

Now if you fall on the stairs at my age this can create a problem like a broken bone in a foot, so you do have to be careful when navigating stairs. I think I am coming full circle here as we help babies to go up or down the stairs and the old folks sometimes need help too. The climbing is good exercise though, so happy and safe travels on your stairs.

Auntie Mame

When I was in college, I found a book entitled Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis. I was home for a holiday, reading the book and laughing so hard that I was speechless and just rocking back and forth with tears streaming down my face. My dad came along and wanted to know if I was all right, and all I could do was nod. I think he though I had "gone round the bend." Later on a movie was made of this book starring Rosalind Russell, which proved equally funny. Then even later, they made a musical for Broadway Mame, and again into a movie, this time starring Lucille Ball. If you ever need a good laugh, buy the book and enjoy or watch one of the movies.

Another time in college, my roommate and I went to a movie, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Now we may have been very tired from studying or glad for a break, but I thought this movie was very funny and noticed a very annoyed woman sitting in front of me and wondered why she didn't like it when I realized that I was laughing so hard that I was holding onto and shaking her seat. I guess that could prove to be annoying.

HW2 had serious Auntie Mame tendencies which I like to encourage. She enjoys hats, a good laugh, dosen't suffer fools quietly, dresses well, and is a bit avant guard in her thinking, although she has never been seen naked trying to fertilize the fish. She does, however, want to take grandchildren with her to "See the World." These scenes are in Dennis's book. have I whetted your appetite? I hope so. Happy reading!

128 Entries since August 1

I have enjoyed blogging, and I looked back this morning at my posts to see when I actually got started. Kristy and Rachael encouraged us both to do this, and it really has been fun to write about what we see, the people we meet, and the things we remember. I have been keeping a log since the day I retired back in 1996. These logs have proved helpful at times when we have wondered when something happened or someplace we had been. Someday maybe some person will read them or more likely throw them out, and that will be the end of that.

I do think that it is very helpful to keep a journal that you do not necessarily share with anyone and where you can write about personal concerns and work through problems that come your way or comment on joys. I have kept journals at times in my life but these turned out to be sporadic. They certainly did complete their function, though. Sometimes I look back at some entries and marvel at the feelings being expressed.

Blogs, though, since they are intended to be public, serve a different purpose from a journal, although one could keep a journal in blog form. I know that I keep aware of the sensibilities of the potential readers and edit what I write.

I am looking for input on potential topics and hope that you, the reader, will comment and make suggestions for the next 128 entries. I would like particularly to write about funny things or happy times and maybe you remember things that could become part of this blog.

Regardless, I appreciate all who read along with me on a regular basis. Your comments have been an inspiration to continue.

I was a tourist teacher

When I started teaching in 1960, I did not know that I would become a tourist teacher. I thought that you got a job and kept it till you retired. My first job was in Castleton-on-Hudson for the Schodack Central Schools teaching junior high science and high school mathematics. I could see that there was little room for advancement in this small school system, and so I worked on my master's degree in mathematics at Albany State in the summers and applied for some other jobs such as community college teacher in the Adirondack area, a (NSF) National Science Foundation Fellowship to study mathematics at Cornell University, and chairman of a mathematics department in a different school system. I ended up being selected for all three positions and had to make a choice, so I decided to attend Cornell University for a second master's degree in mathematics. After all, NSF paid for the whole thing, including living expenses. The Cornell experience was hard work but great fun, and I ended the year there with two masters degrees, one from Cornell and one from Albany State. So then what.

We decided that teaching in Hawaii would be different, and so I applied for jobs in that new state and was accepted to teach math and physics at the Iolani School (an Episcopal school for boys). After three years there, I thought more graduate work would be a good idea and was accepted to attend the University of Arizona in Tucson to do further graduate work. In the nine years living in Tucson, I finished my PhD and taught or did administrative work at the Green Fields School, Pima Community College, and six years at the University of Arizona.

A position opened at the University of New Mexico, and we moved and taught there for four years. Then I moved to San Diego State for one year, and then back to New Mexico to be an administrator of the Pine Hills School on the Navajo Indian Reservation. This one year stint was followed by a job in the Albuquerque Public Schools as an administrator. I finally decided that all this moving around, or tourist teaching, had to stop if I ever wanted to retire before I was 80 years old, so I stayed with the APS schools for the next 14 years.

I guess it is not so surprising that when we retired, we started to get itchy feet again and have found ourselves full-timers in our motor home and back on the road as tourists this time, if not teaching.

Ebay

Have you ever purchased or bid on something listed on Ebay? HW2 really like to do this. First of all, it is completely in sync with her Scottish soul. She loves to shop and purchases lots of gifts for family and friends. She has a closet full of gifts ready for any occasion, although currently it is more of a drawer due to lack of closet space. Daughter Kim gave her a list of possible Christmas ideas for the boys and suggested that maybe she could find some of them on Ebay. This appealed to HW'2 sense of frugality, and she has been having a ball. Now this is not just shopping. It is also the hunt to find just exactly the correct item and, of course, the bargain price. Then comes the bidding over several days or hours. Finally the end result is either, "I got it!" or "Somebody out bid me at the last moment."

One time HW2 was looking and bidding on Chico clothes, and grandson James came in the door and saw what his grammy was doing and said, "Grammy just bid $100, and you will get it for sure." This gave us all a laugh. $100!!! Not very likely from this frugal shopper.

I have observed that when HW2 returns from a shopping trip with her prizes, I get an edited version starting with, "You have to see the bargain I got. It was only $15.80 after the store discount and after applying my coupon, and since it was senior shopping day, I got another 15% off. What a bargain." Now, in her defense, it was a bargain, I will admit. Several other things might not have been so cheap, and she had to have them too, but she might neglect to tell me the price. Later on, I just look at the bill from the store and pay it. I know that she loves to shop, and who would want to rain on the parade of a dedicated shopper who loves to buy things for family and friends. Not me! I do prefer to stay home while she shops and think this is a good thing, because then she can take as long as she likes.

Losing a parent

Our good friend Rachael has lost her father. He died on Sunday, and even though it was anticipated, it is hard to accept. He has been ill for several years, and probably for him and his family it will come as a welcome release for him. I firmly believe that when you lose a parent for the first time, you truly become an adult. The finality of their generation becomes reality when you lose the other parent, too. Rachael still has her mom, and, hopefully, this reality will be a long time off.

Two of our children's spouses have neither parent, and frequently we feel that we have become in some ways the surrogate parent for these wonderful additions to our family. We could not love either of them more than if they had been our own children. We are just pleased that our kids had the good sense to marry them in the first place.

HW2 lost her mom when she was only 60 years old. When HW2 got to her 60th year, it was a hard one. My dad and his dad both died when they were 70, and when my oldest brother turned 70 last year, he experienced the same thing. He was very glad to celebrate his 71st birthday. The whole question of mortality is brought home when you start to lose members of your parents or your own generation. This is when your religious beliefs strongly take hold and help you face your own inevitable end. I get comfort from the passage, "for everything there is a season," a time to be born and a time to grow, a time to live and a time to die. I know that I paraphrased this passage, but hopefully you get its meaning. Rachael, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I know you have strongly held beliefs that will carry you through this time.

Chestnut Trees

When I think of chestnut trees, I get several images. One is walking in London at Christmas and smelling chestnuts roasting and being hawked by the vendors and sold in little bags and then the eating of the delicious nut. Then of course come the words of the song, "Chestnuts roasting on the open fire..." or the poem, "Under the spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy stands..." These are such wonderful images. Most chestnut trees were gone when I was a child because of a blight. All that was left was Horse Chestnut trees which did produce those shiny brown nuts, but they were not eaten by humans, and only maybe, horses. They were fun to collect and throw, of course. Yesterday I read in the paper that in a year or so they may be reintroducing an enhanced chestnut tree that has genes that are resistant to the blight. I think this is wonderful and amazing.

We have had many trees fall victim to pests or blight like the elm tree, victim of the Dutch Elm disease as an example. Then on the evening news, I learned that a woman in Africa has set a goal of 4 billion trees planted this next year(s). What a wonderful way for individuals to try to help stop global warming as trees take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.

Then I think about living in Nebraska and learning about the Morton family. One of the sons founded the Morton Salt Company. His father founded and sponsored Arbor Day. Now annually, millions of trees are planted on this day throughout the world. When we had moved to Newark Valley, Dad got the idea or reforesting our side hill, and he got young pine trees, and we worked our way up the hill planting them. Today, maybe 40-50 years later, the side hill is re-forested. A lovely memorial to his wisdom.

Cookies

I woke up thinking of cookies, and grandkids helping to make them. My mom is a self taught, by the cookbook, good cook, and she taught me to make cookies. Now she measures everything the way you are supposed to do it, and her cookies turn out perfectly almost every time. Somewhere along the way, I rebelled and began making cookies by inspiration or something. I have had some spectacular failures but gradually got the feel of what they should look like before putting the dough into the oven and generally get edible ones, at least. For the last dozen years or so, I have been occasionally teaching various grandkids my method of making cookies. I must say that when I ask, "Who wants to help make cookies?" I get lots of volunteers. Realism intrudes and suggests that they want to help because they want to eat the end results, but, then, so do I.

My favorite cookie is a takeoff on Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies, usually due to laziness, made in a pan rather than dropped onto a cookie sheet. My plan is to put as much stuff as possible in the cookies. It all comes down to what might be in the cupboard or pantry. I like to add nutmeats, craisins, white chocolate chips, other dried fruit, candied fruit, raisins, and oatmeal or granola, to name a few things to add. The grandkids come up with their own suggestions and, of course, help along the whole mixing process. The whole thing gets dumped into a greased pan and baked for 30 min at 375 degrees and then comes the tasting after a bit of cooling. We are all really good at this part and, of course, have to talk a bit about what else we could have put in to make them even better.

At Christmas time we gather up any nearby grandkids and make candy and cookies all day and later make up plates of cookies to spread among friends and especially the neighbors. Mom helped us on two different years and loved the whole thing. Best of all, we got to bring a smile to a neighbor or friend who hopefully enjoyed our small treat. Maybe we can do this again when we are in Ann Arbor and can get two boys into making cookies, too. It is fun to make cookies with grandkids and even better, to make memories.

All Who Wander are not Lost

On the day after Thanksgiving it was misty/rainy here, and we decided to drive the 25 miles north to Fredericksburg and shop or eat or both. You will be relieved to know that we managed both. We found lots of "Hi, we are here and came to visit presents" and lots of nostalgia type candy that HW2 liked as a kid, and me, too. Best of all, we found the sign which had the message, "All who wander are not lost." Well, we certainly had to have that, and now the sign graces our front window to amuse all the other walkers who come by our motor home. We found a restaurant that served superb German food (Fredericksburg was settled by German immigrants), and settled in for a good lunch of schnitzel and cabbage and hot mashed German potatoes. A slice of white chocolate cake finished us off, as we watched our waitress hurry too quickly around our corner, causing a dish of red cabbage to go flying onto the people next to us. It was a mess, but they seemed to take it in stride, although her tip might have been lowered. We staggered back to the car and drove home.

On Saturday we drove to San Antonio to visit their botanical gardens, as they had advertised in the paper that they had set up five working garden train exhibits (you know I like garden trains) and a poinsettia display. We had a bit of a time finding the gardens but persisted. The buildings that contained the train displays were very modernistic and reminded us of I. M. Pei's (glass pyramids) work in Paris. The trains were primarily just ovals and had engines and cars running around. It was fun although a bit rainy, and so we did not visit other portions of the gardens. We will save that for a later visit. Then lunch was followed by Christmas shopping, and we headed through the rain back to Kerrville. We had been promised rain and possible sleet or snow for the night but only got rain, which the hill country really needs. This area was very dry until this rain, which should lower the fire danger threat. It seems that we are now ahead of the curve on Christmas shopping although there is still more to do. The crowds had been crazy on Friday but were back to normal on Saturday, thank goodness. Our local wanderings produced two good lunches and lots of shopping, which made HW2 happy.

The Day After

The park owners of Guadalupe RV Resort sponsor an annual Thanksgiving Dinner for all who wish to attend from the park. We signed up to help serve and brought dishes to pass . Don (the park owner) provided turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, dishes, silverware, and things to drink. Residents brought dishes to pass. We had opening ceremonies (which included a quartet singing "Come Ye Thankful People" and all of us singing "God Bless America), a welcome from Don and a salute to our troops, a blessing, and then we began the serving process. Everyone was so polite, thanking each of us for serving, calling us "ma'am" and "sir," and very quickly, nearly 200 people were enjoying the feast. Once all were served, we went through the line and sat down to our dinner. Even though we had dessert, neither overate. What a fine tradition this is, and we have enjoyed it several times when we were staying here at this time of the year.

We also thoroughly enjoyed talking with our children and grands, and the final call was from Mom, who had just returned to her home after dinner at granddaughter Joan's house. She had made mincemeat pie from a recipe that uses green tomatoes and a bit of rum. Not keeping such a thing in her house, she had to go to the liquor store earlier and purchase a bottle. She asked the girl waiting on her about getting the cork out of the bottle, and the girl laughed and assured her that the screw-top was easy to get off. Nothing in the recipe told her how much rum to add, so she put in a quarter cup and then added some more. Now this is Maurice's favorite pie, so later at their dinner they tasted the mince pie, but neither could find any trace of the rum. Mom, maybe you need to add some more! Anyway, while talking to us she wondered out loud about what to do with the remaining rum. Maurice's wife Anne had suggested a nip or two each night might be a good idea. Mom didn't think so. She instead put bottle under the bathroom sink and wondered if someone would think she was a closet drinker if they found the bottle after she was gone. I just laughed and laughed and suggested she make rum cake or rum ball cookies. No one that I know in the family will ever think she is a closet drinker. We hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner with family and friends.

Scotties and Westies

We got our first Westie when we were still living in Albuquerque. The Holliday family was visiting and agreed to accompany us on a field trip to Bosque Farms about 30 miles south of the city to visit a farm where they had Westie puppies. One of the male puppies was very friendly and enjoyed visiting each of the grandchildren, so of course he was selected and accompanied us home. Robbie (short for Robert Burns or Robert Louis Stevenson) proved to be quite a good dog and needed a companion so we looked about for a Scottie. We finally found a one year old female living in Wyoming and had her flown to Albuquerque to join our family (Bonnie). Now you might wonder why we didn't get a second Westie instead of looking for a Scottie. Westies are actually West Highland Scottish Terriers but are now considered a separate breed from Scotties. However, the reason is less subtle. I like to drink Scotch on occasion, and probably my favorite is Black and White Scotch, which, of course, has a Westie and Scottie on the label. Now you know the rest of the story. When we decided to sell our Albuquerque house and go on the road full time for the first four-year adventure, we decided that it was not fair to the dogs to be cooped up in crates while we traveled and not to have backyard privileges. So we reluctantly found them new homes and began our adventures without any dogs.
After about three years into the adventure and having worked at Duffy House in the San Juan Islands for six months, we had returned to Texas and saw an advertisement in the San Antonio Paper for a one year old male Westie. Thinking it was time to try dogs again, we visited him and of course he came home with us, and Duffy (short for Mac Duff) was introduced into the family. At a later point we decided to trade in our car and our motor home and get new vehicles. While this was happening, we took a side trip to Corpus Christi with Duffy in tow. We found a hotel on the beach that allowed dogs and stepped into the elevator to take us up to the forth floor where our room was located. Duffy turned around and faced the door, as all do when entering an elevator. Now where did he learn elevator behavior? Every time when entering, he would turn around, face the door, and wait for the proper floor and the door to open. We decided that he was quite smart. He also got to visit his name sake Duffy House when we went to visit Arthur for a long weekend. Duffy did seem to enjoy our travels, but when we settled down in Omaha, he liked chasing the squirrels in the back yard even better.

Once settled in Omaha we felt it was time to get Duffy a buddy and settled on another Scotty, of course. MacGregor joined our family as a pup and stole HW2's heart.

Christmas Memories

Thinking about Thanksgivings past made me also think about Christmases past, too. Now we were poor but never knew that we were poor. Mom had made a star for the top of the tree out of cardboard and covered it with tin foil rescued from gum wrappers. We had that star for many many years. The earliest Christmas that I remember was when I was probably about 3 years old, and we lived in Ellis Hollow outside of Ithaca, NY, on the Sally Dunn Farm. We would get up all excited on Christmas morning to receive our little pile of presents put neatly by the ends of the couch. There was no wrapping paper. Later in the day we would drive to Grandmother Roe's house for dinner and later presents. Now she had wrapping paper that was saved each year and pressed neatly and reused the next. She also saved the ribbons and gift cards so that they could be reused.

We always had stockings and had to see what Santa had left, and usually they contained an orange, a few uncracked nuts, very thin ribbon candy, and maybe a candy cane. When asked about the wrapping paper, the answer was that maybe next year we could afford some. That year finally came, but we could not tear into the paper as each piece had to be neatly saved for the next year.

One year Maurice and I waited in bed to hear Dad slowly climbing the stairs after getting presents ready for the next morning. Of course, we were too excited to sleep. So a bit later, we quietly crept down stairs to see what Santa had left and were having a wonderful time when Dad yelled from upstairs, "What are you boys doing? Get back to bed right now!" Being afraid of a spanking, we hurried back to bed, and I guess slept awhile before getting up for Christmas morning. We did get some grumbling but received no spanking that time.

One year I asked Santa to bring me a rabbit, as I was fascinated by the Uncle Wiggly character and was happy to get him for Christmas and dragged him around, usually by the ears for many years. He was called Pea, probably short for Peter, but I am not sure of that. Later I found out that other kids got bears and always wanted one, but it was not to be.

I still find the joy of spending Christmas with family to be a high point of the year and especially enjoy the looks on grandchildren's faces as they look forward to unwrapping presents. All of our children have worked to make their kids understand that this is really a celebration of the birth of Jesus and not just about giving and receiving presents. We are pleased to see this focus for this celebrated birthday.

I firmly believe that Christmas is not about what you have, receive, or give, but rather a celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Thanksgiving Memories

As long back as I can remember, we would go to Grandmother's place for Thanksgiving. Actually it was Great Grandmother and Great Grandfather's place. During the war years we would get in our 1936 blue Ford and drive the back roads to their hillside farm. I don't think we crossed any rivers, maybe a creek here and there, so don't start singing, "Over the river and through the woods......." Did you start singing? If you did, will it play over and over in your head all day? It frequently does for me. Anyway back to my travels. If we were lucky, Dad would put in our sleds, and we could slide down Grampa's hill while the big folks talked and got dinner ready.

Grandma Warner cooked on a wood stove and managed to get a huge dinner ready for her family and cousins. We were a lively group of all ages and thoroughly enjoyed our get togethers. There would be turkey, basted by hand with a spoon, stuffing and all the fixings this family could manage. Home-made breads and rolls from Aunt Helen, pickles of several kinds - home made, pickled fruit, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping, stuffing, mashed potatoes and the list went on and on. The kids sat at one table and the adults at another. Aunt Florence would eat with the kids and always had our table laughing throughout the meal. Grampa Warner would say grace, and then we would all dig in and OVER EAT. Finally came the homemade pies: pumpkin, apple, and mince, for sure, and, of course, some tart white cheddar cheese. What a feast! The living, thoroughly stuffed survivors, dragged themselves to the parlor and sat liked beached whales, thinking about a second go at the pies or more turkey and stuffing. It is amazing that we all didn't die on the spot.

After many years at the great grandparent Warner's house, the whole occasion was moved to Aunt Florence's house and continued with our fall sport of over- eating. One year in her new house on the Owego Road so many of us were there, that the adults were on the main floor and the young adults were in the basement when it came time for the feast. By this time I was classified as a young adult and so got to eat there, too. After dinner many of us pulled out our cigarettes, we were so sophisticated, and lit up but quickly put our cigarettes under the table if any older adult came by to see what the ruckus was all about. It must have been a funny scene to see the smoke rising from under the table as we all tried to look innocent.

Aunt Florence continued to host the Thanksgiving Dinner for many years but marriages and new additions to the family finally resulted in her hiring a hall in which to hold the dinner. Gradually, we drifted away to more nuclear family settings and the get togethers stopped. I miss those dinners and the fun we all had. I wonder if others of my generation remember and miss Thanksgiving dinner at Great Grandmother's house. Happy memories!!!!

Dogs

HW2's fun drawing resulted in "Droopy" which you can see to the right of this entry. Looking at Droopy this morning made me think of all the dogs that have come into my life along the way. When we were kids, Dad had hunting dogs, English Setters, used to flush birds and retrieve other critters that had been shot during a hunt. His favorite was called Lady, and we grew up with one of her pups, Ricky. Ricky never became much of anything because he preferred to chase cars. Fences did not stop him from this favorite activity nor did a board tied to his collar that bumped his legs as he ran. Finally it was Cars - 1 and Ricky - 0, and Dad buried him in the garden. After that, the folks had a succession of Cocker Spaniels and finally several Shelties.

In my first home, the boys needed a dog, as did I, so we went to the pound and got a mutt that looked like a border collie and named him Sir. Sir was an escape artist and the neighborhood stud, although we did not learn about this for some time. We had a four-foot fence in the back yard that Sir climbed with ease and then walked the tops of the fences seeking out female companionship. One time a very mad neighbor drove down the alley looking for the dog that had just nailed his female. Luckily for Sir, he did not get discovered. Then another neighbor arrived to inform us that Sir had done the deed with his female, and we would have to take one of the puppies. So it went, and as the years went by, Sir never changed his roving habits. He died in old age with a smile on his face.

Thinking that mutts were too smart, I decided to try Cockers. Chris went to the pound and informed me that there was a one-eyed Cocker there that needed a home. Now, really! If you are getting Cockers, you get them because of their sad eyes, and you really need both eyes for the full effect. So I told him to try again, and he found us one and named him Opus after the comic strip Opus, since we had met the artist, and he drew Chris his very own Opus which we had framed and hanging on the wall. Opus was quite scared about his new home and got up on my down comforter and promptly peed a whole lot. Have you ever tried getting dog pee out of a down comforter? It was a good thing he had those sad eyes, as both of them were needed to live thorough this incident. He lived and became my faithful companion never leaving my side when I had a heart attack. I loved that dog and cried and cried when he had to be put to sleep at the end of his life.

Opus needed a friend, so we got Terry, another Cocker, as a puppy, and when she net Opus, she snuggled up and tried to nurse using his male parts. Opus was quite indignant about this attack on his body and would not have anything to do with Terry for quite awhile. They finally grew to be inseparable and enjoyed many years together. Terry had one other endearing trait. She would turn her head away and not look at you when she was doing her business so that you could not see her, of course.

We moved on from Cockers to Scotties and Westies, but that is another story, and you'll have to wait for that one.

Fog

Yesterday we woke up to a thick fog, and as we drove to breakfast we were very careful since deer are prevalent here and we do not want to have a car-deer collision. Our local deer herd is at least 17 in count. Today, it is another foggy morning but not so thick.

When I was growing up in Newark Valley, which is located in the Southern Tier of central New York State, fog was a common occurrence both early in the morning and sometimes at night. One night we got a call from cousin Georgia Curkendall, who was taking her oldest son Jerry back to Cornell after a weekend visit, and she wondered if I would go along to keep her company, as it was very foggy. Now, Cornell University is not very far from Newark Valley, maybe twenty to thirty miles at most, so the trip is usually very short. I agreed to accompany them and to keep Georgia company on the return trip, as well. The fog was awful. In fact, at times you could not see more than two to three of the center stripes in the road, so we drove very slowly and carefully. After dropping Jerry off, Georgia and I returned in the same manner, as the fog had not lifted or lessened. It took several hours for the entire trip, and we were very glad to get back home.

Another time my dad, who was a regional manager for GLF farm stores, was returning back down our valley in a dense fog when he heard the whistle of the evening train. He stopped the car and opened the door to discover the car was stopped on the railroad track. Again hearing the whistle of the train, he hurriedly restarted the car and just as he pulled off the track, the train went by leaving a black mark on his rear bumper. After a small distance, he again stopped, got control of his shaking, and drove on home. That was a near thing for sure.

If in your travels you encounter fog, please remember these stories and Drive Carefully.

Miss Potter

We finally watched Miss Potter, which is a delightful story of Beatrix Potter's life and how she came to write and illustrate Peter Rabbit and ultimately buy her first farm in the Lake Country of England. It was a wonderful story, very well told, and a movie to be enjoyed by all age groups. We had intended for some time to watch this movie and can only encourage you to find the time to view this classic. Rene Zellweiger is tremendous in this character of Miss Potter. It certainly puts to shame Deck the Halls, which was previously reviewed. I give Miss Potter four thumbs up, and the toes are wiggling happily, too. Happy viewing.

Movie Weekends

When HW2 and/or I have an operation or illness and we need recuperation time, we frequently rent a bunch of movies and have a movie marathon. Since we have been recovering from our colds, we decided yesterday to drive into town to visit Blockbuster and rent some movies to watch as we rest and recuperate. We checked the walls of recent releases and picked out Ocean's Thirteen, having enjoyed Eleven and Twelve. We also found Miss Potter that HW2 had been wanting to view and finally also picked Deck The Halls.

Arriving home with our selections, we decided to play the ones that had to be returned in two days and started with Ocean's Thirteen, which proved to be good entertainment in the same way the earlier two releases had been fun to watch. After dinner we watched part of a repeat of 'Chuck', and then opted out for Deck The Halls. We had picked this movie because it had Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick, and the two Kristins, Chenoweth and Davis, in the cast and we know that these actors do good presentations. Well, let me tell you in the best of Roger Ebert style: This movie rates more than two thumbs. It rates all ten fingers/thumbs down and curled toes to boot. It was awful! I really wonder how these fine actors could have done such a poor movie. It had almost nothing to do with Christmas, feel good movies, and even less to do with comedy. So save your money, and rent something else. We saved Miss Potter for today and look foward to Renee Zellweger's version of Beatrix Potter. I'll keep you posted.