After graduating from Albany, I got married two weeks later, and we both went to summer school. My wife had to finish one more year of college, and I started a master's degree in mathematics, also at Albany.
I will always be in debt to Mr. Larry Davis, principal of Schodack Central School, which was located in a small village of Castleton-on-Hudson, across the river from Albany, NY. He took a risk and hired me to teach high school math and junior high science. I worked there for three years, and most of the time in our seven or eight period day taught six or seven classes including Geometry, Algebra I, General Math, and General Science for seventh graders. At the end of the first year, I decided that teaching, while rewarding, was really a very hard job, as a good teacher tries to enable each student to learn, and with over 200 students this was an overwhelming job. Discipline was not easy to master or managing so many classes, but I persevered and gradually improved as a teacher. At the beginning of my third year, I went to see Mr. Davis to inform him that this third year would be my last one teaching there. When asked why, replied that I was going to try to get a job in a community college teaching math, go back to graduate school, this time at Cornell University, or seek to be head of a math department in another school since that job was already filled at my school.
Imagine my surprise when all three possibilities occurred and I had to make a choice. Back to see Mr. Davis for some good advice, and he said that the best offer was to continue with my graduate studies at Cornell. This meant that I had been selected to receive a National Science Foundation Grant to study full time at Cornell for a complete calender year with all expenses paid and a living allowance to boot. It was a wonderful experience and nine of us from throughout the United States made our way to study graduate mathematics at Cornell. They gave us a study room and a tutor if we should need one, and we found wonderful ways to assist each other with our program of studies. We emerged as life long friends and keep in touch to this day. All nine of us graduated the following summer with a Masters of Arts for Teachers in mathematics. I then returned to Albany to complete my last summer of graduate work there and received a Masters of Science in Mathematics at the end of the summer. Both degrees were in math but each program had a different focus, and so there was no overlapping of course content. So then what to do? The next blog or two will go on with the story. Stay tuned.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
College Days
I finally was able to attend college in Albany and found a place where most students wanted to do well and were serious about their studies. I started out to be a history major, and when I found out that I had to study a language, I changed my major to mathematics with a double major in science. This clearly was going to keep me busy since I had only taken three years of math in high school. So every semester I had to take one or two math courses and at least two science courses as well as all the general education classes that were required for a bachelors degree. The biggest trick was finishing in four years but that had to happen since I had little financial underpinnings.
Fortunately, I received a Regent's scholarship which provided $500 per year toward expenses. I also worked in the dorm, usually in the kitchen and this paid half of my living expenses. I also helped a math professor with some testing research she was doing, which paid a bit and then located an office job in the evenings at the NY State Legislature which gave me some spending money. Summers and Christmas vacations found me at the Lake Placid Club as a bell hop. We lived on our salary of about $10 per week and banked all tips. This raised enough money for all other college expenses but kept this student very busy. Study time was hard to find and utilized to the maximum to get homework finished. It is little wonder that I seldom ever returned home for much of a vacation.
The four years went by so quickly, and yet I loved these years. I essentially was on my own to make my own mistakes and successes. We found time in school life to attend church on a regular basis, even though it meant quite a hike from the school to the church. Finally, the professional education courses occurred, and after student teaching in the Burnt Hills Public Schools, I was ready to graduate and get a real teaching job. To this day I keep up with friends made in college. Maybe if I would go to reunions, I could connect with more of these graduates. Albany provided a wonderful education and transformed this farm boy into an adult ready to take his first step into the profession of teaching.
Fortunately, I received a Regent's scholarship which provided $500 per year toward expenses. I also worked in the dorm, usually in the kitchen and this paid half of my living expenses. I also helped a math professor with some testing research she was doing, which paid a bit and then located an office job in the evenings at the NY State Legislature which gave me some spending money. Summers and Christmas vacations found me at the Lake Placid Club as a bell hop. We lived on our salary of about $10 per week and banked all tips. This raised enough money for all other college expenses but kept this student very busy. Study time was hard to find and utilized to the maximum to get homework finished. It is little wonder that I seldom ever returned home for much of a vacation.
The four years went by so quickly, and yet I loved these years. I essentially was on my own to make my own mistakes and successes. We found time in school life to attend church on a regular basis, even though it meant quite a hike from the school to the church. Finally, the professional education courses occurred, and after student teaching in the Burnt Hills Public Schools, I was ready to graduate and get a real teaching job. To this day I keep up with friends made in college. Maybe if I would go to reunions, I could connect with more of these graduates. Albany provided a wonderful education and transformed this farm boy into an adult ready to take his first step into the profession of teaching.
Another Good Movie
Our good friends the Minichs lent us a movie "The Chorus" with English subtitles on this French movie, original title, "Les Choristes". It takes place in 1949 and is about a prefect who is new to this school for troubled boys. His approach is different, and he wins the boys over to sing in his chorus. He is clearly at odds with the traditional headmaster and therein lies the story. The power of music to make changes in kids and adults as well, makes for a delightful movie experience. I recommend it to you! Enjoy!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
High School Days
High school was not a happy time for me essentially because I was typically one year younger than everyone else in my class. This happens if you start first grade when you are four and don't flunk any grades along the way. Socially, I was immature and really did not know how to handle teasing from other students. I managed the class work fairly well but had to take Latin I over as a junior since I flunked it on purpose when I was a freshman. I was glad to see the high school years draw to a close and to have the chance to go to college. I deliberately applied to a school that would be too far from home so that I would have to live there and have the chance to grow up a bit on my own and away from Newark Valley.
I did have lots of fun in high school such as playing in the band, singing in the chorus, being in two class plays and generally doing well academically. I did finally graduate third in my class of 39 students, which was not saying much. As freshman there were over 90 in the class, but so many students fell along the way side during those four years. About four of us went directly on to college and many in the graduating class were quickly married right out of high school. What was the hurry? Several of us became teachers and two of us gradually became high school principals over the working years. I have not kept in touch with many of our graduating class and wish I had done a better job. Since I never really lived again in the community and only visited occasionally, it was easy to lose touch with the members of our class.
I grew to think that the values prevalent in high school were short-lived and being popular or a cheerleader or football player did not guarantee you happiness as an adult. Now college was a totally different environment and great fun. Those four undergraduate years go so quickly and in the process most students emerge as fully functioning adults with skills that can get them a useful paying job in society. Did you enjoy high school? I hope so!!!
I did have lots of fun in high school such as playing in the band, singing in the chorus, being in two class plays and generally doing well academically. I did finally graduate third in my class of 39 students, which was not saying much. As freshman there were over 90 in the class, but so many students fell along the way side during those four years. About four of us went directly on to college and many in the graduating class were quickly married right out of high school. What was the hurry? Several of us became teachers and two of us gradually became high school principals over the working years. I have not kept in touch with many of our graduating class and wish I had done a better job. Since I never really lived again in the community and only visited occasionally, it was easy to lose touch with the members of our class.
I grew to think that the values prevalent in high school were short-lived and being popular or a cheerleader or football player did not guarantee you happiness as an adult. Now college was a totally different environment and great fun. Those four undergraduate years go so quickly and in the process most students emerge as fully functioning adults with skills that can get them a useful paying job in society. Did you enjoy high school? I hope so!!!
A Fun Movie
We just watched "Dan In Real Life" starring Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche where apparently he writes a column about real life and as a widower is trying to raise three daughters by himself. The situations about the three daughters make us think of each of our kids as they are in the process of raising their families. We could see each kid in a role in this movie and feel mightily for their parents and parental understanding.
Fortunately, Dan rediscovers love within a family get-together, and the plot thickens after that. If you have not seen the movie, I encourage you to view it and, of course, hope that you enjoy the whole thing. Happy viewing! Let me know of a good movie you have watched recently.
Fortunately, Dan rediscovers love within a family get-together, and the plot thickens after that. If you have not seen the movie, I encourage you to view it and, of course, hope that you enjoy the whole thing. Happy viewing! Let me know of a good movie you have watched recently.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Early Tasks
What does a baby remember and if later claims are made about first things remembered, maybe it is from hearing things repeated until it seems to be your own memory. I do not remember learning to walk but think I remember crawling and finding that much easier than walking Then there were the endless buttons of childhood clothes that were hard to get fixed by stubby fingers. Finally you had to learn to tie your shoes and this task took some doing but also finally got mastered. We once asked mom how many times we had moved and she said, "eleven times in ten years." Some of these moves occurred before I was on the scene but I do remember living in Phelps and moving from there to Ithaca when I was about three.
I went to school by bus when I was four and found myself in the first grade taught by Miss Squires. My brother was two years ahead of me and not happy that his kid brother was also in his school now. That scene would be repeated for many years with him not being happy to have a kid brother around. The great thing is that we get along so well now. I quickly learned to read and that has remained a passion to this day. I enjoyed riding the see saw and the swings on the playground but the best part was learning to use the monkey bars. I loved recess and ran to be the first on the bars. Around fourth grade I went to another nearby elementary school and my brother went to Junior high school downtown in Ithaca. Imagine his delight in not having his kid brother around. We lived in the Ithaca area for six years and dad was the manager of the Ithaca GLF store which mostly provided feed for area farmers. He could pick up two 100 pound sacks of feed and carry them to where they were needed. He had to be very strong to carry that much at one time. To this day when I think of that store, I can smell the molasses used to make the feed. Dust was everywhere of course and we thought the store was our own and loved to be there and run about. He had a secretary named Betty who had to have the daily accounts balance and sometimes would look for an arithmetic error at the end of a working day while trying to make the day's totals balance. We couldn't leave for home until the books were balanced.
GLF was the Grange League Federation and started by and owned by farmers to have better control over their feed costs. This organization later became Agway and my dad worked for this company for over 40 years rising from laborer to store manager to district manager to director of sales training.
When I was seven, mom announced that she and dad were soon going to have another baby and it seemed to me that this happened the next day. Actually we were taken to stay with Aunt Florence for a couple of weeks while the baby thing got resolved. Gary was their third boy and was actually born in a hospital in Cortland, the first of us to be born in one. With baby in hand our parents picked us up from our Aunts house and we settled back into life in Ithaca. This was August, 1947.
We discovered like many families that changes were coming quickly to farm life. We were able to buy our first refrigerator, our first electric stove and our first easy spin dry washing machine. Best of all we got our first new car, a 1947 blue Plymouth. I remember two of our previous cars, a 1922 Chevy and a 1936 ford. The Chevy's roof leaked when it rained and we used to complain about that. The ford kept us going throughout the war years although it was hard to get descent tires and they frequently had to have inner tubes patched before we could continue on our brief travels.
Lots of things were rationed especially gas, sugar and other essentials needed by the war effort but we made due with what we had. Cooks learned to substitute in their cooking like honey for sugar. Since we grew most of what we ate or raised the animals we needed, we were quite self sufficient and bought few items from a grocery store. Several vendors would visit the farm on a weekly or monthly route and we enjoyed the few things that were offered. Spices came from the vendors as did brushes from the fuller brush man. When a bakery truck came by we always wanted half moon cookies that were frosted half with chocolate and half in vanilla. It was fun to have a whole cookie and to carefully eat one side or the other leaving the favorite side for last. I liked the vanilla side best so quickly ate through the chocolate side and then tried to make the rest last and last but being a kid it was too quickly gone. We did not get such treats very often.
Visitors were a novelty and usually close family friends or relatives. Seldom did anyone stay over night except maybe for a visiting grandmother or cousin coming to stay for a few days. We lived in a two family house and so there was always a family next door and there always seemed to be other kids to play with. The Walkers lived next door for quite a while and they had one child, Mary Ellen who was about our age. She had lots of golden books and large packs of gum that sometimes she would share. She also had her own two wheeled bicycle and would go on short bike trips with my brother who had his own bike. I spent any money I got as quickly as I got it so never was able to save enough money to get my own bike. I was seldom allowed to ride brother's bike and that is the way it goes for second children.
Around the time I was in fifth grade, we moved to Waterville because my dad had gotten promoted to district manager and had to look after several GLF stores up in that region of New York State. We rented a tenant house on the farm of Mr. Billy Barrett and my brother would be over helping Mr. Barrett in any way that he could and later he helped out another farmer Mr.Mannion. He could not get enough of farming and wanted to have his own farm from early days onward. I started trombone lessons while in the fifth grade since it was quite obvious that I did not want to become a farmer. In my fifth grade class we had two or three sets of twins and a set of triplets and their shenanigans in the classroom caused much merriment. I got into trouble when I told my fifth grade teacher that she was fat. She was of course but I got into trouble for telling the truth. I do not remember the punishment I received but it probably was a dandy. When I was ten I took up smoking in the ravine behind the school. I finally gave that bad habit up fifteen years later. Cigarettes only cost 25 cents a pack in those days.
When I was in the seventh grade we moved to Newark Valley because dad had a new territory to supervise that was located in the south central part of the state as well as northern Pennsylvania. Here we were able to buy our own small farm and the first house my parents ever owned. They completely remodeled the kitchen and redid much of the rest of the house as we were then able to move in at last. Here we would grow to adult hood and our family would gain one more child but that will have to wait for another installment.
I went to school by bus when I was four and found myself in the first grade taught by Miss Squires. My brother was two years ahead of me and not happy that his kid brother was also in his school now. That scene would be repeated for many years with him not being happy to have a kid brother around. The great thing is that we get along so well now. I quickly learned to read and that has remained a passion to this day. I enjoyed riding the see saw and the swings on the playground but the best part was learning to use the monkey bars. I loved recess and ran to be the first on the bars. Around fourth grade I went to another nearby elementary school and my brother went to Junior high school downtown in Ithaca. Imagine his delight in not having his kid brother around. We lived in the Ithaca area for six years and dad was the manager of the Ithaca GLF store which mostly provided feed for area farmers. He could pick up two 100 pound sacks of feed and carry them to where they were needed. He had to be very strong to carry that much at one time. To this day when I think of that store, I can smell the molasses used to make the feed. Dust was everywhere of course and we thought the store was our own and loved to be there and run about. He had a secretary named Betty who had to have the daily accounts balance and sometimes would look for an arithmetic error at the end of a working day while trying to make the day's totals balance. We couldn't leave for home until the books were balanced.
GLF was the Grange League Federation and started by and owned by farmers to have better control over their feed costs. This organization later became Agway and my dad worked for this company for over 40 years rising from laborer to store manager to district manager to director of sales training.
When I was seven, mom announced that she and dad were soon going to have another baby and it seemed to me that this happened the next day. Actually we were taken to stay with Aunt Florence for a couple of weeks while the baby thing got resolved. Gary was their third boy and was actually born in a hospital in Cortland, the first of us to be born in one. With baby in hand our parents picked us up from our Aunts house and we settled back into life in Ithaca. This was August, 1947.
We discovered like many families that changes were coming quickly to farm life. We were able to buy our first refrigerator, our first electric stove and our first easy spin dry washing machine. Best of all we got our first new car, a 1947 blue Plymouth. I remember two of our previous cars, a 1922 Chevy and a 1936 ford. The Chevy's roof leaked when it rained and we used to complain about that. The ford kept us going throughout the war years although it was hard to get descent tires and they frequently had to have inner tubes patched before we could continue on our brief travels.
Lots of things were rationed especially gas, sugar and other essentials needed by the war effort but we made due with what we had. Cooks learned to substitute in their cooking like honey for sugar. Since we grew most of what we ate or raised the animals we needed, we were quite self sufficient and bought few items from a grocery store. Several vendors would visit the farm on a weekly or monthly route and we enjoyed the few things that were offered. Spices came from the vendors as did brushes from the fuller brush man. When a bakery truck came by we always wanted half moon cookies that were frosted half with chocolate and half in vanilla. It was fun to have a whole cookie and to carefully eat one side or the other leaving the favorite side for last. I liked the vanilla side best so quickly ate through the chocolate side and then tried to make the rest last and last but being a kid it was too quickly gone. We did not get such treats very often.
Visitors were a novelty and usually close family friends or relatives. Seldom did anyone stay over night except maybe for a visiting grandmother or cousin coming to stay for a few days. We lived in a two family house and so there was always a family next door and there always seemed to be other kids to play with. The Walkers lived next door for quite a while and they had one child, Mary Ellen who was about our age. She had lots of golden books and large packs of gum that sometimes she would share. She also had her own two wheeled bicycle and would go on short bike trips with my brother who had his own bike. I spent any money I got as quickly as I got it so never was able to save enough money to get my own bike. I was seldom allowed to ride brother's bike and that is the way it goes for second children.
Around the time I was in fifth grade, we moved to Waterville because my dad had gotten promoted to district manager and had to look after several GLF stores up in that region of New York State. We rented a tenant house on the farm of Mr. Billy Barrett and my brother would be over helping Mr. Barrett in any way that he could and later he helped out another farmer Mr.Mannion. He could not get enough of farming and wanted to have his own farm from early days onward. I started trombone lessons while in the fifth grade since it was quite obvious that I did not want to become a farmer. In my fifth grade class we had two or three sets of twins and a set of triplets and their shenanigans in the classroom caused much merriment. I got into trouble when I told my fifth grade teacher that she was fat. She was of course but I got into trouble for telling the truth. I do not remember the punishment I received but it probably was a dandy. When I was ten I took up smoking in the ravine behind the school. I finally gave that bad habit up fifteen years later. Cigarettes only cost 25 cents a pack in those days.
When I was in the seventh grade we moved to Newark Valley because dad had a new territory to supervise that was located in the south central part of the state as well as northern Pennsylvania. Here we were able to buy our own small farm and the first house my parents ever owned. They completely remodeled the kitchen and redid much of the rest of the house as we were then able to move in at last. Here we would grow to adult hood and our family would gain one more child but that will have to wait for another installment.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
It was a Tuesday
Early in the last year of the 1930's, February was cold that year and her time had come. The husband left their first born with his mom and after consulting with the town Doctor, drove her several miles by back roads to another house where many of the local women would give birth. This was a repeat visit for the couple since they had made their first trip there in 1936 and had been delighted with the birth of their first child, a boy. The woman looked forward to no longer carrying this child and really looked forward to a stay in bed with lots of good care for the next two weeks. In the next bed an acquaintance was giving birth to her son and the two children would later attend junior high and senior high school together.
It was her time and the hard work of labor was upon her with little time to think about rest. Finally the baby appeared and the couple had their second child, another boy. After a two week stay in the home, mother and child arrived back on the family farm rejoining their eldest son and relieving grandmotherr of the duty of caring for him. They were now a family of four.
I want to paint those days as being cold and snowy with little sunshine breaking through the overcast New York days. The new baby frequently used his lusty lungs to let all know that he was hungry and or messy and in need of a change. His older brother was even willing to give up his bit of milk so that the baby would have enough. This baby was apt to cry maybe too much and when his mother took some flash cards and sold them so that she would have film in her Kodak Camera, the boy managed to cry in every frame. Those were to be the only baby pictures ever taken and given his ability to cry, probably a good decision.
Many years later he would discover that the love of his life was also born on a Tuesday in the early 1940's in the territory of Hawaii and on a sunny day to boot. This probably accounts for her cheery disposition as well. But, that is another story.
It was her time and the hard work of labor was upon her with little time to think about rest. Finally the baby appeared and the couple had their second child, another boy. After a two week stay in the home, mother and child arrived back on the family farm rejoining their eldest son and relieving grandmotherr of the duty of caring for him. They were now a family of four.
I want to paint those days as being cold and snowy with little sunshine breaking through the overcast New York days. The new baby frequently used his lusty lungs to let all know that he was hungry and or messy and in need of a change. His older brother was even willing to give up his bit of milk so that the baby would have enough. This baby was apt to cry maybe too much and when his mother took some flash cards and sold them so that she would have film in her Kodak Camera, the boy managed to cry in every frame. Those were to be the only baby pictures ever taken and given his ability to cry, probably a good decision.
Many years later he would discover that the love of his life was also born on a Tuesday in the early 1940's in the territory of Hawaii and on a sunny day to boot. This probably accounts for her cheery disposition as well. But, that is another story.
E-Mail and Connections
When I first heard about email I vaguely wondered why anyone would want to keep in touch with others electronically. It seemed to me to be one more thing to catch your attention but not in a good way necessarily. I guess I have done a 180 degree turn since I now feel sorry for those who do not use email. It is such a neat quick way to stay connected with friends and family. Instant searches are seductive and yet when you want to know some fact like is Amy Carter married, you can quickly get the information and then be relieved that you now have the latest. HW2 and I are forever talking about who was in this or that movie and we get this information with a few strokes on the key board.
Best of all for me, has been the chance to write in my blog almost on a daily basis. I get to comment on the passing scene and maybe write about things that happened years ago. I particularly enjoy the comments I get back as I genuinely enjoy the ongoing interactions. As I read other blogs, I feel that we have had great in depth conversations on important things as well as trivia. In the process I feel that I come to know another person just a bit more but in meaningful ways.
When you add the SKYPE process then you get to talk and see the other person where ever in the world they might be. We have had fun conversations with Beth and Harold in Australia and Kristy when she was visiting China. We hope as we travel to continue to be able to visit in real time with our fellow travelers, friends, and family.
What is also great fun is that you never know who might be reading your blog and what ideas will be triggered as a result. I encourage all who read this or other blogs to start your own and enjoy the adventure.
Best of all for me, has been the chance to write in my blog almost on a daily basis. I get to comment on the passing scene and maybe write about things that happened years ago. I particularly enjoy the comments I get back as I genuinely enjoy the ongoing interactions. As I read other blogs, I feel that we have had great in depth conversations on important things as well as trivia. In the process I feel that I come to know another person just a bit more but in meaningful ways.
When you add the SKYPE process then you get to talk and see the other person where ever in the world they might be. We have had fun conversations with Beth and Harold in Australia and Kristy when she was visiting China. We hope as we travel to continue to be able to visit in real time with our fellow travelers, friends, and family.
What is also great fun is that you never know who might be reading your blog and what ideas will be triggered as a result. I encourage all who read this or other blogs to start your own and enjoy the adventure.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Wind Gods and Bedsheets
I think that the wind gods heard me saying to bring it on and so they did last night. We both woke up to a general shaking and stayed awake for awhile. I listened for the train sound of a passing tornado but tired of that past time and fell back asleep. Somewhere around here we have a special radio that alerts you to bad weather so that you can race to your cellar, which we don't have. I guess we could get in the car and race to the bath house or.... Where is that radio when you need it.
I heard Lowell Thomas laughingly tell on his radio show about a woman who tried to drive off the northern lights by flapping a bed sheet. This really tickled him because he couldn't stop his laughter and finish his broadcast. I wonder if I could find that woman to flap her sheets at our winds. Probably have the same effect maybe turn them into northern lights and at least stop the wind. It is relatively quiet here this morning and I am committed to the idea that spring is in the air. Happy spring and moderation in those winds.
I heard Lowell Thomas laughingly tell on his radio show about a woman who tried to drive off the northern lights by flapping a bed sheet. This really tickled him because he couldn't stop his laughter and finish his broadcast. I wonder if I could find that woman to flap her sheets at our winds. Probably have the same effect maybe turn them into northern lights and at least stop the wind. It is relatively quiet here this morning and I am committed to the idea that spring is in the air. Happy spring and moderation in those winds.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Snow and Wind
On Friday we suddenly found ourselves in a snow storm with great big fluffy snow flakes covering everything. Almost as soon as it began, it stopped. Then on Sunday, leaving church, there was snow in the air. We were happy to be invited to share Easter with Kristy and Tim and they had also invited the Minichs. Food and fellowship were wonderful as Kristy and Tim had created an excellent brunch. The kids had created rolled sugar cookies, delightfully decorated to boot. As if that was not enough, there was also lemon cake with strawberries and heaps of whipped cream. Tim made the quiche, and Rachael the rolls. We had brought wine and candy on Saturday, and then HW2 made three pans of cinnamon rolls and brought two for Monday's breakfast.
Kristy and James shared their pictures of their China trip and and a running commentary as well. It was such a great trip and enjoyed by all. The pictures were wonderful, and we felt as if we had been taken along on their trip. They bought trinkets for those left at home, and these were much enjoyed as well.
In Nebraska, if the snow is not enough, then you also get treated to the wind. It has been quite blustery here for days, and occasionally it really shakes the motor home and makes you think you might be sailing to Kansas or some other place, unintentionally, of course. We had emptied our 30 gallon propane tank trying to keep warm, and so today we unhooked and slowly moved through this park to their large propane tank for a much needed infusion of propane. He put in 29.5 gallons, so we were nearly out. Now hooked back in our spot, we are ready for more snow or wind. Bring it on, but not too blustery or cold, please.
Kristy and James shared their pictures of their China trip and and a running commentary as well. It was such a great trip and enjoyed by all. The pictures were wonderful, and we felt as if we had been taken along on their trip. They bought trinkets for those left at home, and these were much enjoyed as well.
In Nebraska, if the snow is not enough, then you also get treated to the wind. It has been quite blustery here for days, and occasionally it really shakes the motor home and makes you think you might be sailing to Kansas or some other place, unintentionally, of course. We had emptied our 30 gallon propane tank trying to keep warm, and so today we unhooked and slowly moved through this park to their large propane tank for a much needed infusion of propane. He put in 29.5 gallons, so we were nearly out. Now hooked back in our spot, we are ready for more snow or wind. Bring it on, but not too blustery or cold, please.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Moderation in All Things
I guess my comments about asparagus hit some nerves here and there, especially among those who love this vegetable. I began to wonder what other vegetables or fruit cause such a reaction and came up with peas and bananas. My dad hated peas but ate them in front of us kids so that we would grow up to like them, and this tactic worked for the most part since I have not heard that any of us hate them. I do not particularly like canned peas unless they are in a salad like you frequently see in the buffet restaurants.
Bananas are to be enjoyed in certain ways. When freshly picked off the hand of bananas, then bananas are good, unless the hand is still very green. Banana bread is tasty, too. I draw the line at broiled bananas. I got treated to this type of dessert some years ago, and the boys and I rebelled and refused to eat any, much less the 'one trial bite'. To this day I think that Bananas Foster must be disgusting, although I have never tried it and don't plan to, either.
Although neither a vegetable or fruit, snails are disgusting with their trail of slime. How anyone could eat such a creature is beyond me, but I did try ONE once and thought it tasted like pencil erasers. YUCK! Although the pencil erasers aren't bad if you need a little something to hold yourself over till lunch.
I do believe in moderation in all things and try foods at least once, and in the case of the mighty asparagus lobby, will eat it. I just don't like it. Happy moderation and may your salads be small.
Bananas are to be enjoyed in certain ways. When freshly picked off the hand of bananas, then bananas are good, unless the hand is still very green. Banana bread is tasty, too. I draw the line at broiled bananas. I got treated to this type of dessert some years ago, and the boys and I rebelled and refused to eat any, much less the 'one trial bite'. To this day I think that Bananas Foster must be disgusting, although I have never tried it and don't plan to, either.
Although neither a vegetable or fruit, snails are disgusting with their trail of slime. How anyone could eat such a creature is beyond me, but I did try ONE once and thought it tasted like pencil erasers. YUCK! Although the pencil erasers aren't bad if you need a little something to hold yourself over till lunch.
I do believe in moderation in all things and try foods at least once, and in the case of the mighty asparagus lobby, will eat it. I just don't like it. Happy moderation and may your salads be small.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Easter Eggs
Mom used to get one or two packets of dyes that we could then use to color eggs. We used to experiment with mixing some of the dye near the end and see what colors we could get. I think we had to add vinegar to the hot water, probably to make the dye set. Of course, once you had finished getting everything in reach colored, then you had to listen to a reprimand for getting the dye on stuff other than the eggs. Besides, it was fun to get dye all over yourself as it took days to wear off.
Finally, you had to gather up younger brothers and sisters, and you got to hide the eggs, and they got to find them. This usually resulted in finding less of the eggs than were hidden and sometimes when the missing were found, a certain odor of sulphur was present. "The devil you say." "No, the devil made me do it." Oh well, it was just the sulphur smell that got me started on the devil.
If is was a better year financially there might be baskets filled with green plastic grass (which got all over), a chocolate rabbit (usually hollow) and some jelly beans. The dyed eggs could be added later, of course, to make the basket complete.
I always wondered what baby chickens and rabbits had to do with Easter, and also I always wondered why it was called Good Friday. It did not seem to me to be a good day for Jesus.
We continued these lovely traditions with our kids, and most continue with the grandchildren. I did want to learn how to decorate eggs like the Ukranians do. But my hands were only able to produce one colored egg at a time, and fancy decorations were beyond me.
After afew days went by, we were all sick of jelly beans, and the chocolate rabbits had long disappeared. Then we had to throw out the colored eggs since they had not been kept cold and had been handled too much in our egg hunts. The innocent days of childhood! The simple pleasures of the day are much to be treasured and preserved for tomorrow's children. Happy Easter!
Finally, you had to gather up younger brothers and sisters, and you got to hide the eggs, and they got to find them. This usually resulted in finding less of the eggs than were hidden and sometimes when the missing were found, a certain odor of sulphur was present. "The devil you say." "No, the devil made me do it." Oh well, it was just the sulphur smell that got me started on the devil.
If is was a better year financially there might be baskets filled with green plastic grass (which got all over), a chocolate rabbit (usually hollow) and some jelly beans. The dyed eggs could be added later, of course, to make the basket complete.
I always wondered what baby chickens and rabbits had to do with Easter, and also I always wondered why it was called Good Friday. It did not seem to me to be a good day for Jesus.
We continued these lovely traditions with our kids, and most continue with the grandchildren. I did want to learn how to decorate eggs like the Ukranians do. But my hands were only able to produce one colored egg at a time, and fancy decorations were beyond me.
After afew days went by, we were all sick of jelly beans, and the chocolate rabbits had long disappeared. Then we had to throw out the colored eggs since they had not been kept cold and had been handled too much in our egg hunts. The innocent days of childhood! The simple pleasures of the day are much to be treasured and preserved for tomorrow's children. Happy Easter!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Easter Dinner
I seem to think about food lately and so decided to write about the perfect Easter dinner. First you must have as much of your family and friends to help you with the dinner, especially the eating part. The whole family troops to church in their Sunday best, perhaps a new frock or hat in the case of HW2. Certain hymns have to be sung and enjoyed. Perhaps the minister or pastor will give a briefer than usual sermon. Everyone who is a regular attendee can comment on the people they have not seen since Christmas, and then home for a great dinner.
You have to have ham, but you could have turkey or lamb (baaad for you and the lamb), as your main course. Then you need several types of potatoes both sweet and white. Vegetables I will leave to your favorites. Accompanying this must be deviled eggs and pickles and other additions. Bread or home made rolls would be good and finally a wonderful dessert like coconut cream cake to top it all off.
If the women cooked this fantastic meal then the men should do the cleanup to share this task. Finally good fellowship, lots of stories and laughter are for the shank end of the day. You will certainly not need an evening meal unless there is a bit of ham still calling your name.
I can think of lots of other possible additions or subtractions to this wonderful meal but leave that to you and your family traditions. Joetta, "You do not have to have Asparagus!" Happy gathering and eating. Have a blessed Easter.
You have to have ham, but you could have turkey or lamb (baaad for you and the lamb), as your main course. Then you need several types of potatoes both sweet and white. Vegetables I will leave to your favorites. Accompanying this must be deviled eggs and pickles and other additions. Bread or home made rolls would be good and finally a wonderful dessert like coconut cream cake to top it all off.
If the women cooked this fantastic meal then the men should do the cleanup to share this task. Finally good fellowship, lots of stories and laughter are for the shank end of the day. You will certainly not need an evening meal unless there is a bit of ham still calling your name.
I can think of lots of other possible additions or subtractions to this wonderful meal but leave that to you and your family traditions. Joetta, "You do not have to have Asparagus!" Happy gathering and eating. Have a blessed Easter.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Harbingers of Spring
I was thinking of what made me think of spring and then watched two fat robins searching for worms. So it is robins and lots of early flowers such as crocus, tulips, daffodils, hyacinth (although this one makes me think of the BBC series 'Are You Being Served')and flowering forsythia bushes.
In the beginnings of spring the wind feels softer without the hard edge of winter. Rain is welcomed and soon followed by new green shoots as we begin this cycle of rebirth. Soon the trees are dressed in new leaves that are yellow - green in color rather than the dark greens of summer. All is as new, and we rejoice in another spring.
As winter is about to leave the stage, maple trees get tapped for their rising sap, which is then boiled down in large flat steel pans and then skimmed and strained to make wonderful maple syrup. I had some the other morning on my toaster waffles. YUM!
Rhubarb again springs from the ground and soon will get made into rhubarb sauce or even better, rhubarb strawberry pie. If you add the winter parsnips and new greens, you have indeed welcomed spring and tasted its bounty.
What makes you think of spring? I bet I will agree with you and want to add your suggestions to my list. Yeah! Spring is here!
In the beginnings of spring the wind feels softer without the hard edge of winter. Rain is welcomed and soon followed by new green shoots as we begin this cycle of rebirth. Soon the trees are dressed in new leaves that are yellow - green in color rather than the dark greens of summer. All is as new, and we rejoice in another spring.
As winter is about to leave the stage, maple trees get tapped for their rising sap, which is then boiled down in large flat steel pans and then skimmed and strained to make wonderful maple syrup. I had some the other morning on my toaster waffles. YUM!
Rhubarb again springs from the ground and soon will get made into rhubarb sauce or even better, rhubarb strawberry pie. If you add the winter parsnips and new greens, you have indeed welcomed spring and tasted its bounty.
What makes you think of spring? I bet I will agree with you and want to add your suggestions to my list. Yeah! Spring is here!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Asparagus
President Bush Sr. was well known for not liking broccoli although it is supposed to be very good for you, being green and all. I will eat but am not fond of asparagus. In Ithaca we had an asparagus bed in the back of our house, and it produced and produced and produced. In those days before freezers, you could can your vegetables, and they had to last you all winter, so by spring you really wanted fresh vegetables. Dandelion greens were one of the first spring vegetables. You had to get them before the greens started blossoming because after they blossomed they got too tart to eat. Some root vegetables would winter over in the garden like parsnips. Parsnips when peeled and pan fried in butter are wonderful. Asparagus was another early vegetable, and we ate it often, usually with warm milk in a small dish. I thought the dishes could be smaller.
When we finally bought our first small farm in Newark Valley, someone planted an asparagus bed on the north side of the house. I swear it was 100 feet long and produced and produced and..... One of my jobs was to weed the darn aspargus bed. That is a great deal of weeding, I might add. It had to be weeded and then straw applied so that the tender asparagus sprouts would be protected until they decided to show up. Tender, my eye!!! They showed up by the millions and millions and...
As you who eat asparagus know, but probably don't talk about, when you have eaten the stuff, approximately ten seconds later, if you have to go to the bathroom, you are well aware from the unusual smell that you have eaten asparagus. Now, what's that all about? I always thought that if asparagus did that to you, then what else was it doing in your body, and how soon would you die of eating the stuff?
Now if you think that is bad, try eating mushy canned asparagus or the uncommonly white kind that is grown in the absence of sunlight and has to push up through its covering of manure and straw. Tasty huh??
I have tried to like the stuff and do eat it when I must. HW2 is a frugal shopper and will not buy bunches of asparagus especially when they cost about $3.00 a pound. My charge to all asparagus growers is, "Grow less and charge high prices." Maybe the Asian Asparagus Blight will sweep the globe and put the plant out of its misery and save the day. Read your newspapers for more news of this blight. I am sure it is coming and soon. Happy eating!
When we finally bought our first small farm in Newark Valley, someone planted an asparagus bed on the north side of the house. I swear it was 100 feet long and produced and produced and..... One of my jobs was to weed the darn aspargus bed. That is a great deal of weeding, I might add. It had to be weeded and then straw applied so that the tender asparagus sprouts would be protected until they decided to show up. Tender, my eye!!! They showed up by the millions and millions and...
As you who eat asparagus know, but probably don't talk about, when you have eaten the stuff, approximately ten seconds later, if you have to go to the bathroom, you are well aware from the unusual smell that you have eaten asparagus. Now, what's that all about? I always thought that if asparagus did that to you, then what else was it doing in your body, and how soon would you die of eating the stuff?
Now if you think that is bad, try eating mushy canned asparagus or the uncommonly white kind that is grown in the absence of sunlight and has to push up through its covering of manure and straw. Tasty huh??
I have tried to like the stuff and do eat it when I must. HW2 is a frugal shopper and will not buy bunches of asparagus especially when they cost about $3.00 a pound. My charge to all asparagus growers is, "Grow less and charge high prices." Maybe the Asian Asparagus Blight will sweep the globe and put the plant out of its misery and save the day. Read your newspapers for more news of this blight. I am sure it is coming and soon. Happy eating!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Bessie and Henry Reed
We moved to Ithaca when I was about 3 or 4 years old and settled on a farm outside of the city in an area called Ellis Hollow. The neighboring farm was on a nearby hill and owned and farmed by Henry and his wife Bessie. He had a herd of purebred Gurnsey cows that had to be milked twice a day. When I got older, one of my jobs was to walk up the hill and bring back a can of milk for our use.
In my early days I would visit Bessie in her kitchen, and while she worked would make believe that I was a puppy or a kitten and run around barking or mewing. I suspect that my antics were a bit much but seemed to cause laughter from any adult. Bessie's house was cool upstairs since some of the rooms had foreshortened doors and these low doors were fascinating to a kid like me. We got invited to many of their activities, which included daughter Helen getting married in their living room and the funeral of Bessie's father with an open casket and funeral lamps at either end. I was quite taken with the unusual lamps and the open casket. I can hear me loudly asking, "Why is that man laying there in that box?" or "Why do they have lamps at either end of the box? Do they help him see?" "No honey, he is dead. Now shush." I kept them entertained anyway.
Henry had a built-in watering trough in his milk house and brought his horses or bulls to water there. The bulls had huge rings in their nose, and Henry and a hired man would hook sturdy wooden rods and direct the bull to the trough to get water. This was quite exciting to see and much enjoyed by me. The bulls were dangerous but necessary for his breeding stock if he was to keep his herd a purebred one.
Henry also kept beer in his milk house, and of course when you needed a cold one, it was quite handy. Now we were teetotalers since my mom didn't approve of drinking, and I had gotten the message that beer was bad. So when no one was looking, I put one of Henry's beer bottles down his milk house drain. Apparently this caused a lot of problems getting it out of the concrete floor drain. Was I punished? Probably! I have since learned that a cold beer is to be drunk not put down a drain, since on a hot day it cools your warm throat. I always denied putting the beer bottle down the drain; it must have rolled in.
Dad went hunting with Henry in the fall for deer and sometimes was successful. One year to improve their shooting they put up a wood target, and that year he did better and got his deer. The target got shot a lot by other hunters, too. Henry also liked to fish at night for smelt in the creeks feeding into Cayuga Lake. They caught the smelt with long-handled nets. There is nothing better that fried smelt. I would love to have some right now.
Henry and Bessie also loved to play cards, and many pinocle games were played in their kitchen after dinner. Henry always wanted to know the cards the other players held and would get up from the table supposedly for a drink of water and check out the hands as he went by. Mom always said that Henry couldn't help rubbernecking to check out everyone's cards.
In my early days I would visit Bessie in her kitchen, and while she worked would make believe that I was a puppy or a kitten and run around barking or mewing. I suspect that my antics were a bit much but seemed to cause laughter from any adult. Bessie's house was cool upstairs since some of the rooms had foreshortened doors and these low doors were fascinating to a kid like me. We got invited to many of their activities, which included daughter Helen getting married in their living room and the funeral of Bessie's father with an open casket and funeral lamps at either end. I was quite taken with the unusual lamps and the open casket. I can hear me loudly asking, "Why is that man laying there in that box?" or "Why do they have lamps at either end of the box? Do they help him see?" "No honey, he is dead. Now shush." I kept them entertained anyway.
Henry had a built-in watering trough in his milk house and brought his horses or bulls to water there. The bulls had huge rings in their nose, and Henry and a hired man would hook sturdy wooden rods and direct the bull to the trough to get water. This was quite exciting to see and much enjoyed by me. The bulls were dangerous but necessary for his breeding stock if he was to keep his herd a purebred one.
Henry also kept beer in his milk house, and of course when you needed a cold one, it was quite handy. Now we were teetotalers since my mom didn't approve of drinking, and I had gotten the message that beer was bad. So when no one was looking, I put one of Henry's beer bottles down his milk house drain. Apparently this caused a lot of problems getting it out of the concrete floor drain. Was I punished? Probably! I have since learned that a cold beer is to be drunk not put down a drain, since on a hot day it cools your warm throat. I always denied putting the beer bottle down the drain; it must have rolled in.
Dad went hunting with Henry in the fall for deer and sometimes was successful. One year to improve their shooting they put up a wood target, and that year he did better and got his deer. The target got shot a lot by other hunters, too. Henry also liked to fish at night for smelt in the creeks feeding into Cayuga Lake. They caught the smelt with long-handled nets. There is nothing better that fried smelt. I would love to have some right now.
Henry and Bessie also loved to play cards, and many pinocle games were played in their kitchen after dinner. Henry always wanted to know the cards the other players held and would get up from the table supposedly for a drink of water and check out the hands as he went by. Mom always said that Henry couldn't help rubbernecking to check out everyone's cards.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Aunt Mildred
In our family if you were a close family friend, you frequently got tagged Aunt or Uncle because it was considered in poor taste for children to address their elders by their first names, and Mr. or Mrs. didn't work either. As I wrote previously, Mildred was almost family to us since she was my dad's brother's wife's aunt. Anyway, Mildred was a bit excentric and definitely an old maid. She, however, was a sweetie to all the nieces and nephews, including hangers-on like us. We always loved to have Mildred drop in because usually she was selling something interesting that we might need, like white socks.
Mildred was very hard of hearing and wore hearing aids that really didn't work very well, and so you had to shout to make yourself understood. The fact that she was the town librarian must have been interesting due to all the shouting necessary to make her understand what book you wanted to check out. So much for quiet in the library.
One Christmas we passed Mildred in her car which was smoking and making a terrible racket as we both were on our way to Aunt Maud's house for the family Christmas. Dad stopped and yelled at Mildred, "Are you and your car OK?" "We are fine and will see you there," he got back. So as we went on, Dad observed, "Mildred's car has thrown a rod." Fortunately, Aunt Maud did not live too far away, and Mildred came with billowing smoke about 20 minutes after we arrived. Dad and his brother Harry(who had his own garage for car repairs) went out and determined that Mildred's car had indeed thrown a rod and might never go again.
When Mildred was a young woman she contacted breast cancer and had a double mastectomy many years before this was a common medical practice. She survived, which was a miracle in those days, and indeed lived to be quite an old lady. When relatives went in to her house to clean it out, they found it piled high with newspapers and magazines that she had saved for years. After all, a good librarian NEVER throws anything away. She was a character but much loved by her extended family. My brother looks after her family plot in Brown Cemetary to this day.
Mildred was very hard of hearing and wore hearing aids that really didn't work very well, and so you had to shout to make yourself understood. The fact that she was the town librarian must have been interesting due to all the shouting necessary to make her understand what book you wanted to check out. So much for quiet in the library.
One Christmas we passed Mildred in her car which was smoking and making a terrible racket as we both were on our way to Aunt Maud's house for the family Christmas. Dad stopped and yelled at Mildred, "Are you and your car OK?" "We are fine and will see you there," he got back. So as we went on, Dad observed, "Mildred's car has thrown a rod." Fortunately, Aunt Maud did not live too far away, and Mildred came with billowing smoke about 20 minutes after we arrived. Dad and his brother Harry(who had his own garage for car repairs) went out and determined that Mildred's car had indeed thrown a rod and might never go again.
When Mildred was a young woman she contacted breast cancer and had a double mastectomy many years before this was a common medical practice. She survived, which was a miracle in those days, and indeed lived to be quite an old lady. When relatives went in to her house to clean it out, they found it piled high with newspapers and magazines that she had saved for years. After all, a good librarian NEVER throws anything away. She was a character but much loved by her extended family. My brother looks after her family plot in Brown Cemetary to this day.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
White Socks
I was pulling on my socks this morning to keep my feet warm, and since I had just gotten up, I sort of sat there and stared at the white socks that I had just put on. Now my excuse for this spacey behavior is that I am trying to get over the flu and or cold and am full of drugs that are supposed to help with the recovery. Back to the socks. Aunt Mildred (not really my aunt) was the town librarian and sold hosiery on the side, and she used to pop in and get my folks to buy some of her stuff. She had some really nice white socks that I coveted. Now if you are poor, you did not wear white socks, because you had to wear your socks for several days and making them last a week was the goal. So you got brown or black socks that supposedly did not show that they had been worn more than once in a row. White socks got dirty too soon, and you had to wear more pairs, so this was a luxury we could not afford. Finally, I talked the folks into getting several pairs of white socks. I proudly wore these socks to church or school but not to work on our farm. To this day, for me, white socks are a symbol of not being poor.
By the way, Aunt Mildred was an aunt of dad's brother's wife Mary and always treated as a member of the family, which indeed she was. Besides, she got me my first white socks.
By the way, Aunt Mildred was an aunt of dad's brother's wife Mary and always treated as a member of the family, which indeed she was. Besides, she got me my first white socks.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The Weary Travelers are Home
About 12:30 this morning, Tim went to the airport to get his much traveled family. We greeted them as they came in the door and shortly after went out the door to return to our motor home in Gretna. We were so glad to have them back safe and know that they will have many wonderful stories to tell in the days ahead. Since we got to our home about two this morning, we are taking it easy today and HW2 is sleeping in. We both have the cold so may lay low for a few days to recover.
We had a wonderful time with Susannah, Lydia and Sarah. They missed their mom but managed not to have a melt down and we enjoyed lunches out, trips to the glass store, grocery store and finally a movie in the middle of the day. On the way home we also managed to stop for a Dairy Queen treat. It is such fun to spoil any and all grands. Have a gread day!!!!!
We had a wonderful time with Susannah, Lydia and Sarah. They missed their mom but managed not to have a melt down and we enjoyed lunches out, trips to the glass store, grocery store and finally a movie in the middle of the day. On the way home we also managed to stop for a Dairy Queen treat. It is such fun to spoil any and all grands. Have a gread day!!!!!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Back in Omaha
We we made it back to Omaha. It had been quite cold in Wichita and our two plants froze, poor babies, and our water lines were frozen as well. We stayed overnight there and went to a sports bar for dinner. The next day we got a good start and headed north on I 135 heading toward York, NE then on to Omaha. There is only one RV park here that is open in the winter which is about 20 miles west of Omaha in the small town of Gretna. We unhitched the car and hooked up the motor home to discover the water lines had unfrozen. So there is a silver lining in the motor home repair business.
We managed to SKYPE with Kristy from China and Kim and Chuck from Ann Arbor. The China connection was excellent and Kristy had a good time talking with Tim and the three girls here. The connection with K & C was spotty at best and may require more work on their end to work well. It is amazing to us to be able to communicate with someone as far away as China or Australia. Modern technology is mind boggling.
We managed to SKYPE with Kristy from China and Kim and Chuck from Ann Arbor. The China connection was excellent and Kristy had a good time talking with Tim and the three girls here. The connection with K & C was spotty at best and may require more work on their end to work well. It is amazing to us to be able to communicate with someone as far away as China or Australia. Modern technology is mind boggling.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Wichita Again
Fairly early this morning we packed up the car with our stuff and headed first west to York and then south to Wichita to pick up the motor home. We decided to fill it back up with propane so that our furnace would work and stay in the area. The bedroom slides do not work AGAIN. We went to a sports bar for a beer and some dinner and then back to nurse HW2 and to read. Hw2 picked up a cold somewhere and is feeling the effect and is muzzy-headed today. Maybe a good night's sleep will her her to get back on the road to health.
We are trying to cope with our many motor home problems, and someday hope it will work as well as it is supposed to. So far we have managed to take these setbacks in stride and to march forward. Did I tell you that the water lines were frozen, and our two plants frozen also?? I guess we are now out of plants for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, if we keep the motor home warm, we will gradually unfreeze the water lines. Leaks, anyone?????? So it goes. Hope you are all well, and happy travels.
We are trying to cope with our many motor home problems, and someday hope it will work as well as it is supposed to. So far we have managed to take these setbacks in stride and to march forward. Did I tell you that the water lines were frozen, and our two plants frozen also?? I guess we are now out of plants for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, if we keep the motor home warm, we will gradually unfreeze the water lines. Leaks, anyone?????? So it goes. Hope you are all well, and happy travels.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Shots, Cell Phones, and Snow
While at the doctor's we also got shots for tetanus booster, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B, which seem to be required for our planned trip to Turkey and Greece in mid-May. Otherwise, all went as usual, prescriptions were faxed off to our supplie,r and we are good to go for another year.
On our way to the drs. we tried to locate our cell phone by calling it. We could not find it in the house and so checked the car, where we could hear it ring, but we both were unable to locate it and had to get to the drs. for the annual physicals. The girls had spent the night at a friend's house in Bellevue, so we went there to pick them up and had that lady ring our phone and nothing. I said, "Maybe it fell out of the car at the house," and so we were glad to see it when we all returned home. It was in the ditch but unharmed. We were glad to get it back, as it is our only phone these days.
Last night in the night, it snowed just enough to have us realize that winter had not lost its grip. This morning the thermometer read minus 1. We may warm up into the teens today. Also, the twins entertained their father by throwing up about midnight for one and five this morning for the other. We are going to take it easy today and make two little girls as comfortable as possible. Stay warm!
On our way to the drs. we tried to locate our cell phone by calling it. We could not find it in the house and so checked the car, where we could hear it ring, but we both were unable to locate it and had to get to the drs. for the annual physicals. The girls had spent the night at a friend's house in Bellevue, so we went there to pick them up and had that lady ring our phone and nothing. I said, "Maybe it fell out of the car at the house," and so we were glad to see it when we all returned home. It was in the ditch but unharmed. We were glad to get it back, as it is our only phone these days.
Last night in the night, it snowed just enough to have us realize that winter had not lost its grip. This morning the thermometer read minus 1. We may warm up into the teens today. Also, the twins entertained their father by throwing up about midnight for one and five this morning for the other. We are going to take it easy today and make two little girls as comfortable as possible. Stay warm!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Annual Doctors Visits
Today, hopefully, we complete our annual doctors visits. Yesterday I visited the dermatologist and his trainee, and he found some more spots to freeze off and said to return in a year. This did not take too long and seemed like a good visit to me. HW2 had been to see one of her doctors on Monday and with a bit of followup on Tuesday got the same remark, "Return in a year!" At this point in our lives, we like to hear that remark, rather than, "Come back in two days and have this or that procedure done." So today it is our annual physicals, and this should finish the poking and prodding. This doctor takes us both in together, and that's a first, but, then why not. If it goes as usual, he gives the same prescriptions, which we send to our pill provider, and we are good for another year barring accidents of course.
We like these men and the way that they take care of us, and that is the reason we return to Omaha each year for more poking and prodding. Health care here is good, and you do not have to wait months to see your doctor.
We like these men and the way that they take care of us, and that is the reason we return to Omaha each year for more poking and prodding. Health care here is good, and you do not have to wait months to see your doctor.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Politics at the Moment
I have found this current race for the nomination to be the party standard bearer in the fall election for President to be very interesting. No matter what I personally think of the process, ultimately each party will have a candidate, a vice president will be selected, and then we can go to the voting booth in November and make our selections. For the Republicans, apparently the candidate will be John McCain, and thus it becomes interesting whom he will select to be his running mate and how soon he will do this. He still has to be annointed by the party convention this summer to make his candidacy official.
On the Democrat side it is still a horse race with bragging rights changing back and forth but parity in the delegate count. This contest will go on probably up to the time of their convention, and then super delegates will have a deciding role. This make their whole contest interesting.
I remember in 1951 having a large sheet of paper and listening to the Republican convention as numbers were shouted out for Eisenhower and other candidates. It got quite exciting as Eisenhower got close to the number he needed to be the candidate. I kept a tally throughout and have enjoyed the elections ever since.
I do not like all the commercials that give endless sound bites of why one candidate is better than some other. I do think the process is way too long and the cost of getting elected is enormous and beyond my comprehension. If we restricted the whole process to six weeks, think of all the money that could be saved and all of the commercials we would not have to listen to.
If I have any suggestion, it is to get involved in the process and to certainly exercise your right to vote in November.
On the Democrat side it is still a horse race with bragging rights changing back and forth but parity in the delegate count. This contest will go on probably up to the time of their convention, and then super delegates will have a deciding role. This make their whole contest interesting.
I remember in 1951 having a large sheet of paper and listening to the Republican convention as numbers were shouted out for Eisenhower and other candidates. It got quite exciting as Eisenhower got close to the number he needed to be the candidate. I kept a tally throughout and have enjoyed the elections ever since.
I do not like all the commercials that give endless sound bites of why one candidate is better than some other. I do think the process is way too long and the cost of getting elected is enormous and beyond my comprehension. If we restricted the whole process to six weeks, think of all the money that could be saved and all of the commercials we would not have to listen to.
If I have any suggestion, it is to get involved in the process and to certainly exercise your right to vote in November.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
AGE ....OLD
I think I got my come-uppance the other day when a young man said, "You are OLD!" I have been thinking about age and old ever since. When you are very young, even into elementary school, students in high school or young adults seem old, and certainly your parents are OLD. If you are lucky enough to have grandparents, for sure they are OLD. As you get older, this whole thing seems to shift as you age. When you become a young adult or a parent, then the older generation still seems old but maybe not as starkly as before.
I knew that my dad was old when he died at age 70. Now that I am 69, I am not quite so sure of that statement ,and he seems young to have died at that age. My mom who is 95 knows what old is and says what do you think it feels like to have kids in their 70's or almost there.
The whole thing of age and old is a relative concept and always will be that way. One of my aunts taught school well into her 60's or 70's and said that teaching youngsters made her not feel so old. I do know that the age you have for yourself in your head usually does not match reality. Somehow I feel like a much younger person rather than what the calendar tells me.
As to my come-uppance, all I can say is that the young man will probably not remember his comment, but as he ages, is in for a surprise. I only hope someday that another young man does not announce to him, "You are OLD!"
I knew that my dad was old when he died at age 70. Now that I am 69, I am not quite so sure of that statement ,and he seems young to have died at that age. My mom who is 95 knows what old is and says what do you think it feels like to have kids in their 70's or almost there.
The whole thing of age and old is a relative concept and always will be that way. One of my aunts taught school well into her 60's or 70's and said that teaching youngsters made her not feel so old. I do know that the age you have for yourself in your head usually does not match reality. Somehow I feel like a much younger person rather than what the calendar tells me.
As to my come-uppance, all I can say is that the young man will probably not remember his comment, but as he ages, is in for a surprise. I only hope someday that another young man does not announce to him, "You are OLD!"
Monday, March 3, 2008
Wonderful Sunday
On Sunday Tim got his three girls ready for church and a play day later at Great Wolf Lodge down in Kansas City. The girls were all packed and so excited to be doing something with their dad. We all went to church and got to see the renewed parlor floor and our many friends. After the service we talked with many friends, and another half-hour quickly slipped away as we caught up on their busy lives. Then home to change and then off to Rachel and Dennis's house for Sunday dinner.
Rachael had mad a wonderful dinner of roast beef, carrots, green beans, mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, of course. We feasted and had a lively discussion with their son Will about the current political scene. Then we played pinochle for the afternoon. In the middle of the game they got a Skype call from our mutual friends Beth and Harold, who are traveling for three months in Australia. What fun to be able to see and talk with them and learn how their trip is going! Apparently, the exchange rate is making the trip more expensive than planned, but they are coping and having a wonderful time. They go to Tasmania next to see an aunt, and I kept thinking, "Maybe a Tasmanian Devil, too." I do wonder whether people often see such critters but kept that stray thought to myself until now.
Back to the card game, which was such fun. We never seem to care how it goes or who wins, but just enjoy the chance to be together and continue our good fellowship.
It started to rain and then turned to snow and sleet so when the game was finished, we headed back up to Tim's house to care for the dogs and quietly ended this fun day by watching a movie, 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', about the Greeks in WWII. Then early to bed to read and off to sleep. I do recommend the movie to you; it stars Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz.
Rachael had mad a wonderful dinner of roast beef, carrots, green beans, mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, of course. We feasted and had a lively discussion with their son Will about the current political scene. Then we played pinochle for the afternoon. In the middle of the game they got a Skype call from our mutual friends Beth and Harold, who are traveling for three months in Australia. What fun to be able to see and talk with them and learn how their trip is going! Apparently, the exchange rate is making the trip more expensive than planned, but they are coping and having a wonderful time. They go to Tasmania next to see an aunt, and I kept thinking, "Maybe a Tasmanian Devil, too." I do wonder whether people often see such critters but kept that stray thought to myself until now.
Back to the card game, which was such fun. We never seem to care how it goes or who wins, but just enjoy the chance to be together and continue our good fellowship.
It started to rain and then turned to snow and sleet so when the game was finished, we headed back up to Tim's house to care for the dogs and quietly ended this fun day by watching a movie, 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', about the Greeks in WWII. Then early to bed to read and off to sleep. I do recommend the movie to you; it stars Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Cards and Stuff
Today Kristy, Keilah, and James fly from Los Angeles to China, a fourteen hour trip. Wow! I bet they will be glad to get out of that plane. The rest of us are going to church, and then Tim takes Susannah, Lydia, and Sarah to Kansas City for a play day at Great Wolf Lodge. They are looking forward to that and have packed for their trip. After church we go to Rachel and Dennis's house for Sunday dinner and a chance to play cards. We all love to play pinochle and have been looking forward to our play day for some time.
It is in the mid-forties here today and forty again tomorrow. HW2 thinks that this is too hot since we only brought clothes for our week stay as if we were in a blizzard. I think we will survive, if a bit hot. Actually this is lovely weather for folks that have endured a long winter. Have a great day.
It is in the mid-forties here today and forty again tomorrow. HW2 thinks that this is too hot since we only brought clothes for our week stay as if we were in a blizzard. I think we will survive, if a bit hot. Actually this is lovely weather for folks that have endured a long winter. Have a great day.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Have You Tried SKYPE Today?
Today we talked with friends Beth and Harold by using SKYPE. Since they are in Australia, and we did not have to pay for the call, we enjoyed it thoroughly. HW2 downloaded a SKYPE program, which is free on the Internet, and installed it on the computer, and this is what we used. You do have to have a web cam andor microphone on your computer or buy these attachments. Then when you call the person, you get to hear them talking and to see their faces as they are visiting, and they get the same from you. This is very high tech as far as I am concerned. What a delight to try out this technology and also visit with our good friends! We are hoping to be able to talk with Kristy and kids when they are in China on their visit. Now that will be a delight as well!
If you get SKYPE installed, try and call us and we can visit. Enjoy!!!!!
If you get SKYPE installed, try and call us and we can visit. Enjoy!!!!!
On the Road Without the Motor Home
Yesterday we learned that there were more problems with the motor home: parts had to be ordered, and it would take time to get it fixed. Rather than sitting in a motel room, we decided to get some clothes and necessary supplies, just take the car, and drive to Omaha. Since Kristy, Keilah, and James were to leave on their trip to China today, we wanted to be there to bid them "Bon Voyage" and so, the change in plans. Once the motor home gets its current fix, we will drive back to Wichita, and drive it back to Omaha where we plan to stay for a couple of months.
It is about 350 miles from Wichita to Omaha, and we made the trip in record time. We unloaded some things into our storage unit and then caught up with Kristy's family at a basketball game, where James plays on the team. His team was quite competitive and nearly won this game. It was great to see how much his team has improved this year. After the game we all went out for pizza, and then they went home to finish packing, while we drove to Dennis and Rachael's to stay the night. Aren't good friends wonderful? They put us up on a moment's notice, and then best of all ,we got a great chance to catch up on all their doings.
This morning Rachael fed us good coffee and waffles made from scratch, and we are set for the day. Later today we go back to Kristy's to help Tim with the three younger girls for this week while the rest are having their trip to China. Imagine being able to see the Great Wall of China!
So we are in the arms of family and good friends, and the motor home is being fixed. How much better could it be? Happy travels.
It is about 350 miles from Wichita to Omaha, and we made the trip in record time. We unloaded some things into our storage unit and then caught up with Kristy's family at a basketball game, where James plays on the team. His team was quite competitive and nearly won this game. It was great to see how much his team has improved this year. After the game we all went out for pizza, and then they went home to finish packing, while we drove to Dennis and Rachael's to stay the night. Aren't good friends wonderful? They put us up on a moment's notice, and then best of all ,we got a great chance to catch up on all their doings.
This morning Rachael fed us good coffee and waffles made from scratch, and we are set for the day. Later today we go back to Kristy's to help Tim with the three younger girls for this week while the rest are having their trip to China. Imagine being able to see the Great Wall of China!
So we are in the arms of family and good friends, and the motor home is being fixed. How much better could it be? Happy travels.
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