Saturday, March 31, 2007
I'M GOING TO NEW YORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i've just been accepted to barnard college (in NYC), and they have offered me a full ride.
i've dreamed of going to NY for school. but even after being accepted to vassar, it still seemed iffy whether or not i could go. cuz that's a LOT of money. but now, money's not really an issue. i still have to come up with about $7,000 dollars. but barnard costs $44,000 a year or so. so $7,000? not bad.
i still haven't really fully absorbed it.... i'm on cloud nine
i've dreamed of going to NY for school. but even after being accepted to vassar, it still seemed iffy whether or not i could go. cuz that's a LOT of money. but now, money's not really an issue. i still have to come up with about $7,000 dollars. but barnard costs $44,000 a year or so. so $7,000? not bad.
i still haven't really fully absorbed it.... i'm on cloud nine
catching up
Wow, is it nice to see all the new posts!
Maura, I love reading your journals! I never knew there was so much to say about the dietary habits of dogs. Our cat just eats.... cat food. Although she has been known to destroy a stick of butter if I'm ever stupid enough to leave it out uncovered for more than five minutes... grrr. She and I do not alwys get along. I'll be happy when I can open up the sunporch for the season, because she loves to live out there and watch the little bunnies hop around the yard, and then I don't have to deal with her :)
The Idaho O'C pics are adorable! But did I see Matt with a BALD UPPER LIP????? Either he shaved, or Casey's posing for portraits with another man! What's up with that??
Susan, glad to hear how well your job is going. Aren't personnel matters a joy? I have a new associate editor who is very good at the job, but verrrrry slow, so it's been a challenge to encourage her to finish laying out a story in hours rather than days... A little perfectionism is a good thing, but not to the point of never getting anything done. And the HR department told her when she started that she could work at home anytime she had family matters to attend to, but no one ever told me! We're dealing...
We are very proud of Domi's admission to Vassar, and hope and pray that there will be a lot of money coming in as a result. They send out their financial aid letters next week, so we'll be on pins and needles waiting to hear. Back when Nemo was accepted at MSOE, I thought it was such a huge deal that they offered him $10K a year in scholarship money for all four years, but that still would have left $12-$14K a year to make up! Vassar is off the scales: $50K a year! Yikes.... We are hoping that Domi gets a visit very soon from the scholarship fairy.
Everyone else is good. Nemo has had his sample of working life, and he's ready to get back into school in the fall, Cal is rocking out on his guitar night and day, Cal and Domino are getting ready for their big band/show choir trip to Branson, MO next month, Capri is rollerblading around the house on the new blades she got for her birthday, hoping for a sunny day, and I am keeping busy with my various writing projects and finishing up the basement. Tomorrow I leave for 6 days in LA, attending a big alternative fuels vehicles show in Anaheim, spending time with friends and my agent, then flying to Austin, TX for Easter weekend to work with Viviane, my producer-director, to get my script polished up and ready to submit to the Sundance Institute. I'm looking forward to my introduction to the Austin filmmaking community... there' s a lot of cool stuff happening there, and it will be fun to be operating at least on the periphery of that!
Love to all,
Mark
Maura, I love reading your journals! I never knew there was so much to say about the dietary habits of dogs. Our cat just eats.... cat food. Although she has been known to destroy a stick of butter if I'm ever stupid enough to leave it out uncovered for more than five minutes... grrr. She and I do not alwys get along. I'll be happy when I can open up the sunporch for the season, because she loves to live out there and watch the little bunnies hop around the yard, and then I don't have to deal with her :)
The Idaho O'C pics are adorable! But did I see Matt with a BALD UPPER LIP????? Either he shaved, or Casey's posing for portraits with another man! What's up with that??
Susan, glad to hear how well your job is going. Aren't personnel matters a joy? I have a new associate editor who is very good at the job, but verrrrry slow, so it's been a challenge to encourage her to finish laying out a story in hours rather than days... A little perfectionism is a good thing, but not to the point of never getting anything done. And the HR department told her when she started that she could work at home anytime she had family matters to attend to, but no one ever told me! We're dealing...
We are very proud of Domi's admission to Vassar, and hope and pray that there will be a lot of money coming in as a result. They send out their financial aid letters next week, so we'll be on pins and needles waiting to hear. Back when Nemo was accepted at MSOE, I thought it was such a huge deal that they offered him $10K a year in scholarship money for all four years, but that still would have left $12-$14K a year to make up! Vassar is off the scales: $50K a year! Yikes.... We are hoping that Domi gets a visit very soon from the scholarship fairy.
Everyone else is good. Nemo has had his sample of working life, and he's ready to get back into school in the fall, Cal is rocking out on his guitar night and day, Cal and Domino are getting ready for their big band/show choir trip to Branson, MO next month, Capri is rollerblading around the house on the new blades she got for her birthday, hoping for a sunny day, and I am keeping busy with my various writing projects and finishing up the basement. Tomorrow I leave for 6 days in LA, attending a big alternative fuels vehicles show in Anaheim, spending time with friends and my agent, then flying to Austin, TX for Easter weekend to work with Viviane, my producer-director, to get my script polished up and ready to submit to the Sundance Institute. I'm looking forward to my introduction to the Austin filmmaking community... there' s a lot of cool stuff happening there, and it will be fun to be operating at least on the periphery of that!
Love to all,
Mark
Friday, March 30, 2007
Congrats, Domi! I hope it works out for you. College is shockingly pricey. I didn't want to believe that it was as bad as it is. We are so grateful that Colin got his scholarship. That is really exciting that you got accepted.
The Boise family pictures are wonderful. You all are very cute, but Freya gets 1st prize. She loves the camera and it loves her.
Where is Alex living, Maura and Tim? And working? Colin will be home for break this week, but he does eat out a fair amount when he gets sick of his refrig and freezer and the sorority.
G and G should be home by Monday and so far, have escaped the storms. Love to all, Susan
The Boise family pictures are wonderful. You all are very cute, but Freya gets 1st prize. She loves the camera and it loves her.
Where is Alex living, Maura and Tim? And working? Colin will be home for break this week, but he does eat out a fair amount when he gets sick of his refrig and freezer and the sorority.
G and G should be home by Monday and so far, have escaped the storms. Love to all, Susan
Thursday, March 29, 2007
I GOT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just found out that i have been accepted to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY!!!!!!!
vassar is my 1st choice, and i'm really excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'd tell you more, but i have a large scholarship due tomorrow that i must finish up.... yikes. college is pricey!
vassar is my 1st choice, and i'm really excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'd tell you more, but i have a large scholarship due tomorrow that i must finish up.... yikes. college is pricey!
Monday, March 26, 2007
Family Portraits
If you'd like to take a look at our recent portrait session, click here. There are some of the three of us, and quite a few of Freya. Enjoy!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Hi-de-ho from I-de-ho!
It is an overcast, unlovely day in Boise. We've had really beautiful spring weather this past week, and we've become a little spoiled. While the sunshine has been very welcome, it has also made for a dry spring. That could be pretty bad for us in the long-run.
We've been spending the days planning our garden, and are going to try Square Foot Gardening, a principle that says you can grow more and work less by building 4' x 4' beds and dividing them into 1' squares. This is supposed to make weeding much easier, and there is a special soil blend you use that retains the water better, yadda yadda. Since it will be our first real garden, it may not be a great success. But we're hopeful! We're going to try to get a rain barrel set up today, and are planning to scrounge some wooden pallets for a compost bin as well.
Freya is doing great--she just cut her 8th tooth, which means she has all her front ones. I hear the cuspids and molars are the really difficult teeth, which astonishes me because I wouldn't exactly call these most recent ones "easy." We shall prevail. She has started making the noises for quite a few animals, including ducks, cows, horses, dogs (both woofing and panting), and we're working on kitty cats right now. She also makes a wooshing noise when airplanes fly by, and extends her arms out to each side like wings. What a genius!
Matt and I are doing well, too. We've been pretty good about getting into the gym lately, which is helping us feel well. Work is going along smoothly, and Matt's latest issue of Idaho Game Warden just printed and should be available to the public this next week. We'll try to get some copies out to you guys--I think this one turned out really, really well, despite a typo that frustrates Matt to no end. It is still a high-quality product and he works very hard on it.
Okay, that's it from Boise. Love to you all!
Casey, Matt & Freya
P.S. We still don't have a web link for Freya's latest portraits (including some with all 3 of us), but will post that to the blog as soon as it is available.
We've been spending the days planning our garden, and are going to try Square Foot Gardening, a principle that says you can grow more and work less by building 4' x 4' beds and dividing them into 1' squares. This is supposed to make weeding much easier, and there is a special soil blend you use that retains the water better, yadda yadda. Since it will be our first real garden, it may not be a great success. But we're hopeful! We're going to try to get a rain barrel set up today, and are planning to scrounge some wooden pallets for a compost bin as well.
Freya is doing great--she just cut her 8th tooth, which means she has all her front ones. I hear the cuspids and molars are the really difficult teeth, which astonishes me because I wouldn't exactly call these most recent ones "easy." We shall prevail. She has started making the noises for quite a few animals, including ducks, cows, horses, dogs (both woofing and panting), and we're working on kitty cats right now. She also makes a wooshing noise when airplanes fly by, and extends her arms out to each side like wings. What a genius!
Matt and I are doing well, too. We've been pretty good about getting into the gym lately, which is helping us feel well. Work is going along smoothly, and Matt's latest issue of Idaho Game Warden just printed and should be available to the public this next week. We'll try to get some copies out to you guys--I think this one turned out really, really well, despite a typo that frustrates Matt to no end. It is still a high-quality product and he works very hard on it.
Okay, that's it from Boise. Love to you all!
Casey, Matt & Freya
P.S. We still don't have a web link for Freya's latest portraits (including some with all 3 of us), but will post that to the blog as soon as it is available.
Its spring!
And the weeds are up. The roses look good all 'round the house, despite budding out (complete with new open leaves on one hardy rugosa, in DEcember. Some of the scilla has popped open -that incredible indigo is always a treat in the early spring. We've just walked thru our possible projects for the spring and summer but there are so many indoor to dos that we will just dream. I stopped at Jung's Randolf store last week on my way home from my first prison visit, had Steve here briefly for spring break and continued the tradition of vegetarian dogs, unexpectedly.
Some of you may remember Zeke, who loved green beans so much he would eat them off the Bethesda Ct garden plants. Didn't take too long to figure out that it was easier to uproot the whole bean plant than to patiently eat them off the in situ plant. Taught Stephen it was easier to pick them that way too. Glif and Seamus like potatos and cabbage. Cabbage leaves, off the head , one paw nailing it to the floor, the other pulling it off (slides on floor, anything that slides is t0o cool) and flipping pieces around until the leaf is worried to death. Mmmm mmm good and creats some truly interesting dog breath. And Seamus then grins atcha with cabbage stuck in his teeth. Perhaps it was because heads of cabbage roll around on the floor so nicely and are too heavy to flip whole. And they make really cool thumpity sounds. Do NOT bounce well, sadly. Neither showed any interest in the corned beef. Telling. Made me wonder.
Potatos just crunch nicely. They couldn't figure out how to get them out of the mesh bag so they weren't as much fun as the apples from last fall. Taran just went for the bread. Any bread, whereever it was, and no matter how wrapped. The boys ignore bread, but Glif shares Taran's love of butter. Yum and so beautifully messy.
We hope everyone uses DRY pet food so we don't have any illnesses from this contamination problem, Is this a training excercise for a mass human food terrorist act? And how many folks who can only afford pet food have been affected? AND How could ONE company be involved in the mfg of 95 brands?
Alex is having fun in Madison. Started work this week at LOMBARDINOS! Brings back some memories? Day 1: How to toss pizza crusts! Cool party trick, hunh? He's telling us about the high end part of the menu, I guess I never even looked beyond the affordable, and wonderful pasta. Alex says the traditional home cooking, Italian Gramma style, is still the heart of the menu. Maybe I would have liked Madison better as a student if I'd lived on Jefferson.
The SPD funding made it through the legislature so we are billing, billing, billing, but the State office is lagging way behind on cutting checks so we are far from predictable. I miss paychecks. I really miss paychecks. But, I love the ability to say NO to icky cases, and I realyy like going weeks between sitings of Pat Barrett or Sue Mueller. And it is so cool to keep getting kids into treatment slots, another one this week, with the help of a PO agent who had given up on the kid. SPD kind of evened me out this week tho-finally got a coulple of genuinely unpleasant people. Whiney, narcisistic.
Stepehen took me to the outlet mall for the second time, and I've only gone once on my own-didn't spend a penny- and that Coldwater store is just unbelievable. Ladies, we need a shopping day there. Weekday before or after summer vaca- I won't go near the Dells in summer. And when I get back to a normal cash flow, I'll need sizes and wish lists- you know- If this item ever shows up in my size, grab it for me? Banana Republic, Hollisters, Sketchers, lots of stuff.
We have been watching lots of basketball and Washington shennanigans (sp?). Will Bush's Brain ever be punished and run out of town, out of the nation, out of the universe- but not until we all get to form up a gauntlett? Just when ya think you cannot hear anything worse, it gets worse! Barbara Boxer was fabulous during the Al Gore presentation. wasn't she? What self control, to NOT bring that gavel down on Imhoff's knuckles! Or better yet, head. Sorry, pacificism/non-violent conflict is futile with the congenitally arrogant.
One nice news moment this week:
We watch Keith Olberman on MSNBC daily and he added a heartwarming moment to Elizabeth Edward's cancer recurrance story. She and their Wade, their son who died at 16 in a car crash, used to watch Olberman when he was on ESPN. It was just something she and the kid liked to watch together, both thought Olberman was funny and they made time together to see it. After he began doing news, she telephoned Olberman, who was seeking to do an interview with her, and she told him what happy memories he gives her of Wade. Class act. Maybe she should run.
Time to start the ham, Alex is arriving soon for more stuff, the race is on and I've got files to prep for this week. Got to see one of my kidlets, post intensive residential treatrment and family therapy to deal with pop and step -mom's attitudes that THEY aren't disfunctional- its just the kids and its all druggy mother's fault, talking nicely to each other- and gee, kid's been "bad" in THEIR superior parenting care, worse than he was with mom , and throwing a 16 yr old out of your house in winter is NOT effective parenting for a kid with oppositional defiant disorder, GEE, and the kid is pleasant and likable when you are nice to him, and downright sweet when ya tell him you LOVE him. This time, Dad and step mom hugged him goodbye, last time, it was just me. SW says dad and step mom have genuinely changed attitude and are actually nice to the kids. Sometimes I only have one of these breakthru moments a week, but it sure works for me. Another kidlet I've had for nearly a year was smiling when I saw him this week. 13. First time I've seen a smile. His SW and alternative school are experimenting with sending him out on the road with his long haul trucker dad, sending the school packet along. Kid is getting the school packet for the week done in a hour, and spent pre-court telling me how cool it is to read the map and navigate dad through unfamiliar areas. Kid is left-handed and artistic, can visualise with a map really well and dad piles on the praise. Not bad for a kid who has been performing way below grade level. Now maybe if mother smiles...
Tim's on his computer looking for a Vespa like scooter- there are scooter TRIKEs out there, really cool, his version of spring fever.
I've got to make sure he's just screen (window) shopping.
Love to all,
Maura
Some of you may remember Zeke, who loved green beans so much he would eat them off the Bethesda Ct garden plants. Didn't take too long to figure out that it was easier to uproot the whole bean plant than to patiently eat them off the in situ plant. Taught Stephen it was easier to pick them that way too. Glif and Seamus like potatos and cabbage. Cabbage leaves, off the head , one paw nailing it to the floor, the other pulling it off (slides on floor, anything that slides is t0o cool) and flipping pieces around until the leaf is worried to death. Mmmm mmm good and creats some truly interesting dog breath. And Seamus then grins atcha with cabbage stuck in his teeth. Perhaps it was because heads of cabbage roll around on the floor so nicely and are too heavy to flip whole. And they make really cool thumpity sounds. Do NOT bounce well, sadly. Neither showed any interest in the corned beef. Telling. Made me wonder.
Potatos just crunch nicely. They couldn't figure out how to get them out of the mesh bag so they weren't as much fun as the apples from last fall. Taran just went for the bread. Any bread, whereever it was, and no matter how wrapped. The boys ignore bread, but Glif shares Taran's love of butter. Yum and so beautifully messy.
We hope everyone uses DRY pet food so we don't have any illnesses from this contamination problem, Is this a training excercise for a mass human food terrorist act? And how many folks who can only afford pet food have been affected? AND How could ONE company be involved in the mfg of 95 brands?
Alex is having fun in Madison. Started work this week at LOMBARDINOS! Brings back some memories? Day 1: How to toss pizza crusts! Cool party trick, hunh? He's telling us about the high end part of the menu, I guess I never even looked beyond the affordable, and wonderful pasta. Alex says the traditional home cooking, Italian Gramma style, is still the heart of the menu. Maybe I would have liked Madison better as a student if I'd lived on Jefferson.
The SPD funding made it through the legislature so we are billing, billing, billing, but the State office is lagging way behind on cutting checks so we are far from predictable. I miss paychecks. I really miss paychecks. But, I love the ability to say NO to icky cases, and I realyy like going weeks between sitings of Pat Barrett or Sue Mueller. And it is so cool to keep getting kids into treatment slots, another one this week, with the help of a PO agent who had given up on the kid. SPD kind of evened me out this week tho-finally got a coulple of genuinely unpleasant people. Whiney, narcisistic.
Stepehen took me to the outlet mall for the second time, and I've only gone once on my own-didn't spend a penny- and that Coldwater store is just unbelievable. Ladies, we need a shopping day there. Weekday before or after summer vaca- I won't go near the Dells in summer. And when I get back to a normal cash flow, I'll need sizes and wish lists- you know- If this item ever shows up in my size, grab it for me? Banana Republic, Hollisters, Sketchers, lots of stuff.
We have been watching lots of basketball and Washington shennanigans (sp?). Will Bush's Brain ever be punished and run out of town, out of the nation, out of the universe- but not until we all get to form up a gauntlett? Just when ya think you cannot hear anything worse, it gets worse! Barbara Boxer was fabulous during the Al Gore presentation. wasn't she? What self control, to NOT bring that gavel down on Imhoff's knuckles! Or better yet, head. Sorry, pacificism/non-violent conflict is futile with the congenitally arrogant.
One nice news moment this week:
We watch Keith Olberman on MSNBC daily and he added a heartwarming moment to Elizabeth Edward's cancer recurrance story. She and their Wade, their son who died at 16 in a car crash, used to watch Olberman when he was on ESPN. It was just something she and the kid liked to watch together, both thought Olberman was funny and they made time together to see it. After he began doing news, she telephoned Olberman, who was seeking to do an interview with her, and she told him what happy memories he gives her of Wade. Class act. Maybe she should run.
Time to start the ham, Alex is arriving soon for more stuff, the race is on and I've got files to prep for this week. Got to see one of my kidlets, post intensive residential treatrment and family therapy to deal with pop and step -mom's attitudes that THEY aren't disfunctional- its just the kids and its all druggy mother's fault, talking nicely to each other- and gee, kid's been "bad" in THEIR superior parenting care, worse than he was with mom , and throwing a 16 yr old out of your house in winter is NOT effective parenting for a kid with oppositional defiant disorder, GEE, and the kid is pleasant and likable when you are nice to him, and downright sweet when ya tell him you LOVE him. This time, Dad and step mom hugged him goodbye, last time, it was just me. SW says dad and step mom have genuinely changed attitude and are actually nice to the kids. Sometimes I only have one of these breakthru moments a week, but it sure works for me. Another kidlet I've had for nearly a year was smiling when I saw him this week. 13. First time I've seen a smile. His SW and alternative school are experimenting with sending him out on the road with his long haul trucker dad, sending the school packet along. Kid is getting the school packet for the week done in a hour, and spent pre-court telling me how cool it is to read the map and navigate dad through unfamiliar areas. Kid is left-handed and artistic, can visualise with a map really well and dad piles on the praise. Not bad for a kid who has been performing way below grade level. Now maybe if mother smiles...
Tim's on his computer looking for a Vespa like scooter- there are scooter TRIKEs out there, really cool, his version of spring fever.
I've got to make sure he's just screen (window) shopping.
Love to all,
Maura
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Good morning! Sadly, its Saturday AM and my internal alarm clock went off at 5:30 so here I am. We will be attending Bridget's first soccer game today. She is on the JV team, much to her dismay earlier this week, but gets the primary position and will be playing the entire game due to the smallness of the team. That should be interesting. We will be in Kenosha, right down from one of my offices. It is supposed to be a rainy day so I can only imagine what she will look and feel like after the game.
She is busy working on Prom and getting ready for soccer games. Colin will be home next week after he gets his test scores and hopes he can play golf. I found three municipal courses near Michele's house in Arvada, and a couple of the nearer mountains allow skiing until later in the spring, so we should be set for our week out there. If we ever get off their new patio that is! That sounds pretty cool.
Glad to see that you have figured this out, Dad and have added to it. There haven't been many, maybe any, emails amongst the kids. I did call Matt and visited with both he and Casey this week. They are doing well, and we can expect a family portrait soon. Freya is helping them cope with their loss with her wonderful presence.
Work has been getting more challenging for me-not bad, but as I have spent six months there, I have started to challenge the lady that works for me more and more. She has a hard time accepting any direction, and she has some significant deficits in her supervisory and communication skills, so she isn't too happy with me at the moment. I am taking advantage of all the training and mentoring opportunities I can, and they are numerous. Aurora is very committed to helping their employees perform well, so I could be in classes for hours a week if I wanted to. I continue to get alot of support from the higher ups and I just keep taking on more tasks. I still have kept my hours under control and will work to continue to do that. I have been pretty tired the last couple of weeks, but I hope that its due to the time change.
The lake is open now and those dried out perennials are calling to me. Time for major yard cleanup before we go. If its still rainy, even though a few of the golf courses are open, it will be hard to get out.
I should try to get a few things done before we head out to Kenosha, so I hope everyone has a great week. Where is Alex living? I had thought he might be with Nemo. Happy Birthday to Capri and Magda! It was weird celebrating without Colin here. He enjoyed his cards and the notes! Love to everyone-Susan
She is busy working on Prom and getting ready for soccer games. Colin will be home next week after he gets his test scores and hopes he can play golf. I found three municipal courses near Michele's house in Arvada, and a couple of the nearer mountains allow skiing until later in the spring, so we should be set for our week out there. If we ever get off their new patio that is! That sounds pretty cool.
Glad to see that you have figured this out, Dad and have added to it. There haven't been many, maybe any, emails amongst the kids. I did call Matt and visited with both he and Casey this week. They are doing well, and we can expect a family portrait soon. Freya is helping them cope with their loss with her wonderful presence.
Work has been getting more challenging for me-not bad, but as I have spent six months there, I have started to challenge the lady that works for me more and more. She has a hard time accepting any direction, and she has some significant deficits in her supervisory and communication skills, so she isn't too happy with me at the moment. I am taking advantage of all the training and mentoring opportunities I can, and they are numerous. Aurora is very committed to helping their employees perform well, so I could be in classes for hours a week if I wanted to. I continue to get alot of support from the higher ups and I just keep taking on more tasks. I still have kept my hours under control and will work to continue to do that. I have been pretty tired the last couple of weeks, but I hope that its due to the time change.
The lake is open now and those dried out perennials are calling to me. Time for major yard cleanup before we go. If its still rainy, even though a few of the golf courses are open, it will be hard to get out.
I should try to get a few things done before we head out to Kenosha, so I hope everyone has a great week. Where is Alex living? I had thought he might be with Nemo. Happy Birthday to Capri and Magda! It was weird celebrating without Colin here. He enjoyed his cards and the notes! Love to everyone-Susan
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
From Fort Huacucha, Sierra Vista, AZ.
Today is our second day here and we have cooler weather, clouds, brisk winds after about 12 days with temps over 85 and no clouds!
Was able to get a local access phone # for NATIONWIDE, formerly ticon and went thru all 620 e-mails last night at the campground office. Found not one any of you had copied to us since we left, so I was unable to "reply to all"! This posting will have to suffice for the time being, as I was not able to transfer our edress list to the laptop before we departed.
Glad to have had the opportunity to read all the Blog postings this afternoon and feel we are pretty well caught up, but we are not going
to comment in response.
Writng this afternoon from the Fort libray we stopped to check out some reading material and this is much faster than the dial up at the Fam Camp office.
Had some worthwhile activities with Ann and Ed over the last week and may see them one more time tomorrow. Mom and Ann's cousin Devira and her husband from California has decided to come to see the V's so we will drive back part way to Green Valley (Tucson) where V's are staying to have lunch with them tomorrow.
It is our intent to start east from here on Monday. We should get to El Paso that night and then plan to do about 500 miles on I-10 the next day which should get us near enough to Kerrville to have a visit there with the Hokansons. If the friends we have who spend the winter in the
south Texas Rio Grande valley have not left we will try to spend a day or two there with them and get started north during the weekend.
Love and prayers(for you and a safe trip for us!)
Grandma and Grandpa 3/21/07 4 PM M Standard T
Today is our second day here and we have cooler weather, clouds, brisk winds after about 12 days with temps over 85 and no clouds!
Was able to get a local access phone # for NATIONWIDE, formerly ticon and went thru all 620 e-mails last night at the campground office. Found not one any of you had copied to us since we left, so I was unable to "reply to all"! This posting will have to suffice for the time being, as I was not able to transfer our edress list to the laptop before we departed.
Glad to have had the opportunity to read all the Blog postings this afternoon and feel we are pretty well caught up, but we are not going
to comment in response.
Writng this afternoon from the Fort libray we stopped to check out some reading material and this is much faster than the dial up at the Fam Camp office.
Had some worthwhile activities with Ann and Ed over the last week and may see them one more time tomorrow. Mom and Ann's cousin Devira and her husband from California has decided to come to see the V's so we will drive back part way to Green Valley (Tucson) where V's are staying to have lunch with them tomorrow.
It is our intent to start east from here on Monday. We should get to El Paso that night and then plan to do about 500 miles on I-10 the next day which should get us near enough to Kerrville to have a visit there with the Hokansons. If the friends we have who spend the winter in the
south Texas Rio Grande valley have not left we will try to spend a day or two there with them and get started north during the weekend.
Love and prayers(for you and a safe trip for us!)
Grandma and Grandpa 3/21/07 4 PM M Standard T
Sunday, March 18, 2007
enjoying reading, even if I haven't been posting!
Matt, really sorry to hear about Cody... I will always remember that incredible photo that appeared in the paper, where Cody was on the roof of your truck waiting for you :) Wasn't he howling for you to come back?
It's been especially great to read the posts from Magdalena and Domino lately, although I'm sometimes surprised that Domi has time to write :) Magda, I hope your dental situation clears up quickly... that has got to be an ordeal! I know Domi is happy to be out of her cast.
We had a nice little weekend here. Nemo came home for Capri's birthday, and it's always great to have #1 son around. Capri went easy on me and asked to order out calzones from Salamone's (I know you all remember Salamone's!), so birthday dinner was a cinch. But somehow my "hot milk" cake came out as more of a very sweet wafer. Maybe that's why Capri didn't want me making dinner? Anyway, today we got "Old Nellie," the tandem bike, up and running, and Nemo, Calvin and Capri took it out in rotation for its first road test of the season, so spring must be here!
It was nice to find out that Alex is a frequent guest at Nemo's apartment lately. Sounds like Nemo and his roommates are happy to have a great cook in the neighborhood. Alex, want come hang around here sometime?
Traveling to Louisville, LA and Austin in the next 3 weeks... hope to see everyone in Wisconsin soon!
It's been especially great to read the posts from Magdalena and Domino lately, although I'm sometimes surprised that Domi has time to write :) Magda, I hope your dental situation clears up quickly... that has got to be an ordeal! I know Domi is happy to be out of her cast.
We had a nice little weekend here. Nemo came home for Capri's birthday, and it's always great to have #1 son around. Capri went easy on me and asked to order out calzones from Salamone's (I know you all remember Salamone's!), so birthday dinner was a cinch. But somehow my "hot milk" cake came out as more of a very sweet wafer. Maybe that's why Capri didn't want me making dinner? Anyway, today we got "Old Nellie," the tandem bike, up and running, and Nemo, Calvin and Capri took it out in rotation for its first road test of the season, so spring must be here!
It was nice to find out that Alex is a frequent guest at Nemo's apartment lately. Sounds like Nemo and his roommates are happy to have a great cook in the neighborhood. Alex, want come hang around here sometime?
Traveling to Louisville, LA and Austin in the next 3 weeks... hope to see everyone in Wisconsin soon!
Monday, March 12, 2007
life...
Sorry to hear about Cody, Uncle Matt...he will be missed. I am glad that Freya is keeping your spirits up with her smiling face!
I am big on the smiles now that my mouth has fully recovered. I was treated for a partial dry socket with oil of clove--really tasty, not--and that seemed to do the trick. I am able to eat harder foods without them giving me to much pain, although there is still a little sensitivity on the left side.
Anyways, as far as the teeth go, it was perfect timing for the tech week I had for my dance performance. Saturday was the final night and I would have to say it was one of the best. I felt so good to be on the stage again with the nerves on edge in front of an audience. I love it! My parents were heading home yesterday morning, and I wound up joining them for the day. One of my close friends from home, who also goes to school in the area, lost his father to brain cancer this past week. I went home for a total of about 2 hours and drove back to MA for a study session for a class where my professor was anything BUT sympathetic. The drive was worth it, even if it was to see him for an hour and give him many hugs. Now, I am back at school, working on getting some midterm stuff out of the way--US Hist. of Econ, fun! and how the history of origami and math are related--should be a fun week. Then, it's off to FL on Thursday night. : )
I will be rowing for the first time since the beginning of the fall semester tomorrow morning, and I can't wait. Wish me luck! I am hoping that I can stick this one out and my wrist will be cooperative...I can only hope! My finger is looking good and is looking more an more normal, but I am not quite there yet.
Well, I hope everyone is well, and that Spring is heading your way...It was around 50 here today--beautiful! I am excited for blooming flowers, green and skirts!
Love, love and more love!
I am big on the smiles now that my mouth has fully recovered. I was treated for a partial dry socket with oil of clove--really tasty, not--and that seemed to do the trick. I am able to eat harder foods without them giving me to much pain, although there is still a little sensitivity on the left side.
Anyways, as far as the teeth go, it was perfect timing for the tech week I had for my dance performance. Saturday was the final night and I would have to say it was one of the best. I felt so good to be on the stage again with the nerves on edge in front of an audience. I love it! My parents were heading home yesterday morning, and I wound up joining them for the day. One of my close friends from home, who also goes to school in the area, lost his father to brain cancer this past week. I went home for a total of about 2 hours and drove back to MA for a study session for a class where my professor was anything BUT sympathetic. The drive was worth it, even if it was to see him for an hour and give him many hugs. Now, I am back at school, working on getting some midterm stuff out of the way--US Hist. of Econ, fun! and how the history of origami and math are related--should be a fun week. Then, it's off to FL on Thursday night. : )
I will be rowing for the first time since the beginning of the fall semester tomorrow morning, and I can't wait. Wish me luck! I am hoping that I can stick this one out and my wrist will be cooperative...I can only hope! My finger is looking good and is looking more an more normal, but I am not quite there yet.
Well, I hope everyone is well, and that Spring is heading your way...It was around 50 here today--beautiful! I am excited for blooming flowers, green and skirts!
Love, love and more love!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
I somehow managed not to post this mornings musings, no loss. Off in the ether somewhere. We're missing Cody too. And dealt with Alex as chipmonk this fall. And then, scrolling down, thru tears, there's the little Happy Wanderer, working on her parks Life List. Have u started her National Park tee shirt collection yet?
Alex moved to Madison this week. He has been planning, and talking about it "soon" but it was sooner than I expected. I am not ready for the empty nest. Everybody, get a chance to peek into Nemo's house: four boys, innumerable computer screens and cables ev erywhere. This big old house and they are all crammed like puppies into one room with enuf electronics to open a store. CDs don't replace the background guitar and sweet singing voice wafting down the stairs. Way too quiet. Way too quiet. But, they are practically next door to Trader Joes! Try the Simmer Sauces. MMMMMM!
Our guys are oblivious to Alex going because there was SNOW this week. Big deep snow with wonderful smells way down under it, deep enuf to swim thru and lots of fresh powder to eat. Naughty toys bury themselves and require digging out, snowbanks crash underweight and boy, this was the best skidding round the corners at full tilt ice yet. Spring is going to be so boring. My big silly black puppies are getting extra hugs. I hope they have lives as full and happy as Cody's. Sounds much like Taran's sudden collapse. There is no option when the time comes and it is so hard to do. Good old dog. What a legacy. Think of all he got to do, all the swims hes had, all the territory he's covered, all the critters he's chased. And he mastered huckleberries! And all the people he got to know.
I have to go coach a basketball game and then call a race, while I bill. Money thru March 12. Woohooo!
I dreamt Thursday nite we got this message about Lucy or Liz (I've never been able to remeber who is who- made for a very blurry subconscious REM play) and it was Cody instead. Good life, Matt. Dignified death. Great memories.
Love to you all,
Maura
Alex moved to Madison this week. He has been planning, and talking about it "soon" but it was sooner than I expected. I am not ready for the empty nest. Everybody, get a chance to peek into Nemo's house: four boys, innumerable computer screens and cables ev erywhere. This big old house and they are all crammed like puppies into one room with enuf electronics to open a store. CDs don't replace the background guitar and sweet singing voice wafting down the stairs. Way too quiet. Way too quiet. But, they are practically next door to Trader Joes! Try the Simmer Sauces. MMMMMM!
Our guys are oblivious to Alex going because there was SNOW this week. Big deep snow with wonderful smells way down under it, deep enuf to swim thru and lots of fresh powder to eat. Naughty toys bury themselves and require digging out, snowbanks crash underweight and boy, this was the best skidding round the corners at full tilt ice yet. Spring is going to be so boring. My big silly black puppies are getting extra hugs. I hope they have lives as full and happy as Cody's. Sounds much like Taran's sudden collapse. There is no option when the time comes and it is so hard to do. Good old dog. What a legacy. Think of all he got to do, all the swims hes had, all the territory he's covered, all the critters he's chased. And he mastered huckleberries! And all the people he got to know.
I have to go coach a basketball game and then call a race, while I bill. Money thru March 12. Woohooo!
I dreamt Thursday nite we got this message about Lucy or Liz (I've never been able to remeber who is who- made for a very blurry subconscious REM play) and it was Cody instead. Good life, Matt. Dignified death. Great memories.
Love to you all,
Maura
Goodbye to Cody
This past Friday, Casey and I had to do the very tough task of taking Cody in to the veterinarian to be put to sleep. The poor old guy was mostly blind and was struggling to use his hind legs to good effect. We think that he may have had a stroke while we were on vacation. At any rate, it was quick and hopefully painless for him, and I was able to hold him between my legs until he died. Casey stood by and helped me to cope, which was not the easiest task. The hardest part was the last few hours leading up to the appointment, when I could not help but thinking this is Cody's last walk, pee, etc. Once we walked out of the vet's office, I felt better and knew that we had made the right decision at the right time. Cody's daily routine was revolving around sleep, and his little stump of a tail just didn't wag much in his last few days. He will be cremated and his ashes will be sprinkled in the mountains on property owned by one of our veterinarians. I think Code would have liked that!
He had a great life, having travelled to Wisconsin several times, going on several work related airplane rides and backpacking trips and chasing and being chased by several wildlife species in Idaho. We will miss him, and Grover will miss him especially. Grover seems to be taking it in stride, although he will likely be a bit nervous the nest time we load him into his box in the truck!
Freya and her beautiful little face and funny personality have made the grieving process go much more smoothly. It is hard to be sad with that little girl climbing all over everything and just being excited about being alive. Well, that's all for now. Give your dogs a pat and let them know you love them. Love, Matt
Saturday, March 10, 2007
a quick update
today seems like a good day to write about my life recently. aka: i am avoiding homework.
i just got my splint off yesterday. FINALLY! it felt like i was going to be stuck in that beast forever. my hand looks better, minus the dry skin and some bruising, still, a vast improvement from the last time i saw it--which was two days after my knuckle broke. i'm really glad to have ten fingers again. i can't really move my pinky fully yet. bending and straightening fully is painful. and it's very odd, and kind of painful, to move my wrist again. but i'm supposed to have regained full strength and flexibility by the 23rd or so. hopefully it's sooner than that. it is typical that i get the splint off the day after i go to the Kalahari (an indoor water park) for the senior trip, and, as the splint wasn;t supposed to get wet, i had to garbage bag it and then duct tape it. which was a source of great amusement to my frineds.
i had solo and ensemble today. i sang two solos, and they both went really well. i'll be performing them again in the state competition, which is cool. cal also performed in a trombone quartet, and he did really well. he didn;t care enough to stick around to see his results tho, so i don't know how he placed. he'll probably find out sometime later this week.
as far as college plans go for me, i've been excepted to madison but still haven;t heard back from anywhere else. it's kinda frustrating, especially since i;ve had to fill out endless financial aid forms for places i may or may not even make it into. hopefully the hours spent on forms aren't all wasted.
other than that, my life has been pretty normal. lots of homework. the show choir season has pretty much wrapped up now, but the spring play is picking up. all in all, it hasn't been a bad senior year.
i just got my splint off yesterday. FINALLY! it felt like i was going to be stuck in that beast forever. my hand looks better, minus the dry skin and some bruising, still, a vast improvement from the last time i saw it--which was two days after my knuckle broke. i'm really glad to have ten fingers again. i can't really move my pinky fully yet. bending and straightening fully is painful. and it's very odd, and kind of painful, to move my wrist again. but i'm supposed to have regained full strength and flexibility by the 23rd or so. hopefully it's sooner than that. it is typical that i get the splint off the day after i go to the Kalahari (an indoor water park) for the senior trip, and, as the splint wasn;t supposed to get wet, i had to garbage bag it and then duct tape it. which was a source of great amusement to my frineds.
i had solo and ensemble today. i sang two solos, and they both went really well. i'll be performing them again in the state competition, which is cool. cal also performed in a trombone quartet, and he did really well. he didn;t care enough to stick around to see his results tho, so i don't know how he placed. he'll probably find out sometime later this week.
as far as college plans go for me, i've been excepted to madison but still haven;t heard back from anywhere else. it's kinda frustrating, especially since i;ve had to fill out endless financial aid forms for places i may or may not even make it into. hopefully the hours spent on forms aren't all wasted.
other than that, my life has been pretty normal. lots of homework. the show choir season has pretty much wrapped up now, but the spring play is picking up. all in all, it hasn't been a bad senior year.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
March of Dimes Walk
Freya and I will be participating in a March of Dimes WalkAmerica charity event in late April (the 28th--I don't remember off-hand if that's during the time G&J are here, or not). March of Dimes is a great organization that helps in funding the prevention of premature births, getting out healthy pregnancy information to women, and provides a great deal of assistance to families of premature babies.
March of Dimes touched my life while I was pregnant with Freya, because a woman I know who was due at the same time as I was found out that her daughter was affected with a serious genetic disorder. March of Dimes was a huge resource and support to her and her husband as they fought for their little girl's life, and then helped them deal with their grief after her loss.
If you are interested in sponsoring us in the walk, please click here to visit my WalkAmerica home page. Thanks!
Casey
March of Dimes touched my life while I was pregnant with Freya, because a woman I know who was due at the same time as I was found out that her daughter was affected with a serious genetic disorder. March of Dimes was a huge resource and support to her and her husband as they fought for their little girl's life, and then helped them deal with their grief after her loss.
If you are interested in sponsoring us in the walk, please click here to visit my WalkAmerica home page. Thanks!
Casey
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Going back in time...
During my relaxing visit home last weekend (which I thought would be the only one of the semester, because of Crew) I was suffering a great deal from pressure in my ear which quickly turned into pain through my left jaw. I couldn't even close my mouth! We went for Ethiopian food on Saturday night and realized that it was probably my wisdom teeth causing all of the pain. Sure enough, we called my Dentist the next day and he returned our call with a message that I had a severely impacted lower left wisdom tooth. That x-ray wasn't very recent but he said that I should get it out as soon as possible. I chose to wait until this weekend to have the tooth extracted. It turned out I had a cyst on the lower left tooth, which was causing an infection--bad news! Also, the 3 other teeth would soon do the same thing...we decided to go for all four teeth in one visit. I was out before I realized what was going on and woke up thinking I was still being prepped, only to discover that I couldn't talk...due to a large amount of gauze in my mouth. So, I am starting to eat more solid things...that are still along the lines of soft, but was stuck with pudding, yogurt, applesauce, etc. I felt like i had gone back in time about 19 years...I am feeling much better today, Sunday, but I decided it was better to drive up tomorrow. Today I will do some reading, and probably watch some movies...yesterday there were too many movies! I haven't felt so lazy in ages...
These pictures are a fairly good representation of what I looked like starting Friday evening through the day yesterday. I woke up to a very swollen left side...kinda like a squirrel hoarding nuts...but almost no swelling on my right side. I think it had to do with the cyst. Today my face is much less swollen, but still not back to normal. I am missing a tech rehearsal for a show I am in next weekend. It is the Five College Dance Concert, and I am in a piece that was choreographed by a guest choreographer to represent Mount Holyoke. It is a modern fusion that incorporates a great deal of ballet technique based improv work. It should be a lot of fun to put on, and hopefully as much to watch. My parents and Declan are coming up to see the show on Saturday. So, that is what has been going on here...no snow in NJ. It rained pretty hard on Friday and washed away almost all of the snow. MA still has snow, but it is warming up--I am ready for Spring! Spring break is coming up...FL and then VA, which should be fun!
Sounds like everyone is ready for spring, and that things are going well. Glad to hear the Southwest was fun Matt, Casey and Freya. The pictures were great!!
Love to all,
Magda
Good Morning!
Hi Everyone-Mark captured the ambience of Friday! Apparently there were too many accidents in Walworth Co. to count. Jay had gone to Madison early in the day to pick up Colin and did OK, but the weather deteriorated from there. Colin actually cancelled his evening plans! We all went to the golf show at State Fair Park on Sat. and it was packed. Got lots of fun ideas and two for one offers. We ran into Bernadette O'Connell and her significant other and had a great visit. Aunt Mary is having her other hip replaced soon, but otherwise, everyone is fine.
We are looking forward to helping initiate the hot tub in Denver at Easter. Hopefully, they will have their furniture so we can have the best accomodations!
Sounds like your trip to the Southwest was great, Matt, Casey and Freya. Those are great pictures. I ususally had a permanent set of sweaty palms when we were hiking near deep crevasses with the kids. Sitting in a hot spring that was surrounded by a river with a raging current was also a great thrill. Jay was always taking them places that scared the begeebers out of me. The good thing was that they were beyond the toddler stage, but it was still scary. They still talk about that stuff with great pleasure.
All is well here. I am starting to have some problems with the lovely lady that reports to me. I have treaded very lightly for six months, and handled things gently, but some of her behavior has gotten impossible not to deal with, so she is not reacting well to being "coached". I went to HR last Friday to make sure I was on the right track and the staff said they had expected me to be paying them a visit earlier because she is known to be a problem and my boss had been advised not to re-hire her. My boss has been very supportive of my efforts to get her under control, but dealing with her is like trying to capture an eel. She's never wrong, never needs advice on anything, and she never meant her behavior to be interpreted the way most people interpret it, like exaggerations and lies. My guess is that things will be stressful for some time.
We hope the weather starts to get better soon here. We are all sick of the white stuff and the driving! Have a great week, everyone. Susan
We are looking forward to helping initiate the hot tub in Denver at Easter. Hopefully, they will have their furniture so we can have the best accomodations!
Sounds like your trip to the Southwest was great, Matt, Casey and Freya. Those are great pictures. I ususally had a permanent set of sweaty palms when we were hiking near deep crevasses with the kids. Sitting in a hot spring that was surrounded by a river with a raging current was also a great thrill. Jay was always taking them places that scared the begeebers out of me. The good thing was that they were beyond the toddler stage, but it was still scary. They still talk about that stuff with great pleasure.
All is well here. I am starting to have some problems with the lovely lady that reports to me. I have treaded very lightly for six months, and handled things gently, but some of her behavior has gotten impossible not to deal with, so she is not reacting well to being "coached". I went to HR last Friday to make sure I was on the right track and the staff said they had expected me to be paying them a visit earlier because she is known to be a problem and my boss had been advised not to re-hire her. My boss has been very supportive of my efforts to get her under control, but dealing with her is like trying to capture an eel. She's never wrong, never needs advice on anything, and she never meant her behavior to be interpreted the way most people interpret it, like exaggerations and lies. My guess is that things will be stressful for some time.
We hope the weather starts to get better soon here. We are all sick of the white stuff and the driving! Have a great week, everyone. Susan
Friday, March 2, 2007
Whiteout!!!!
No, I'm not talking about correcting fluid... I don't know what it's like for everyone else in Wisconsin, but the snow here is crazy!! And the wind!!!! The WIND!!!! God's Holy Trousers, it's white out there. I've been wanting a white snowy winter for so long, and now that we've got one I'm not sure what I was thinking...
Because we're at the top of the park hill with no windbreak, we are getting some ferocious drifting across the driveway and yard. This morning I got the Kia stuck in the driveway and needed to call a tow truck to get it out! Tonight I'm parking on the street, because I don't even know where the driveway is anymore... I have a rough idea, but I can't be sure. If the mailman makes it here with the mail today I'll be amazed.
Great pics and recap of your trip, Casey & Matt! Next vacation you might want to consider a harness and leash for Freya. I hear they work quite well.
Stay warm and dry, everyone!
Because we're at the top of the park hill with no windbreak, we are getting some ferocious drifting across the driveway and yard. This morning I got the Kia stuck in the driveway and needed to call a tow truck to get it out! Tonight I'm parking on the street, because I don't even know where the driveway is anymore... I have a rough idea, but I can't be sure. If the mailman makes it here with the mail today I'll be amazed.
Great pics and recap of your trip, Casey & Matt! Next vacation you might want to consider a harness and leash for Freya. I hear they work quite well.
Stay warm and dry, everyone!
The Big Trip
Greetings, all! Wow, you guys have caught on to this blogging thing like teenagers!
We returned safely from our tour of the Southwest and other parts last Sunday. We ended up driving 3200 miles, round trip. Freya was a real trooper, though she was getting pretty sick of the car seat by the time it was all said and done.
The picture of Matt & Freya was taken at Montezuma Castle National Monument, which is a cliff dwelling about an hour north of Phoenix. As the mother of a toddler, I was giving these places an eye toward toddler safety, and decided this place was a good option, as it had big walls. (Unlike Walnut Canyon National Monument, a cliff dwelling with a 75' open drop down to a creek bottom.) On the other hand, access to Montezuma Castle involved climbs up several stories on hand-made ladders, not something I'd care to venture with a wiggly toddler on my back.
Freya is exhibiting typical toddler behavior: bouts of extreme independence alternating with bouts of extreme clinginess. The other picture shows the first version, where she demanded to be able to walk on the roughest possible terrain. That one was taken at Petroglyph National Monument just outside Albuquerque.
We had a great, though abbreviated, visit with Michele and David. The weather cut our Denver party short, which probably cost the Denver retailers untold amounts of cash by getting Matt, Michele and I out of retail mode. But we wanted to do the safe and prudent thing and get ahead of the big storm, so we left early. Fought some weather across southern Wyoming and Idaho, but here we are, safe and sound.
Looking forward to Mom & Dad's visit in April--I think we may put them to work helping us put a vegetable garden in. Bring your gardening gloves!
Much love,
Casey, Matt & Freya
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