I bet you're gonna have to beat up a hobo!

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve written and I figure it’s time for an update.

Yesterday was my birthday, and it was wonderful! I went to NYC with some friends to participate in Improv Everywhere’s MP3 Experiment. Check out the pictures here: http://improveverywhere.com/2008/09/27/mp3-nyc-thanks/ I’m not sure if I’m in any of them, but there’ll be a video later, and I think I’ll be in that. It was a very unique, hilarious way to spend the day. And I got to visit a good friend who transferred to Barnard, which was lovely. It was a great day to turn 19.

Everything about school right now is great, actually. I LOVE all of my classes. I’m taking Earth, Environment and Humanity (really interesting and we get to play with things like silly putty and slinkys and identify rocks), Fundamentals of Music (easy and useful!), Cartography (hard but really cool, and great for Arrested Development references!), and, my favorite, Movement for Actors (lots of yoga, lots of experimental stuff, fantastic professor, and no homework. What else could you ask for?).

Plus all my extracurriculars are going wonderfully. I’m taking voice lessons again, which are just amazing. I auditioned for, and got into, the Drama Department plays. I’m in The Skriker by Carol Churchill. It’s a pretty weird, crazy play, but the cast is great (my roommate and best friend here, Andi, is in it, too, and one of my other best friends is stage managing), and I think it’s gonna be a blast! I’m still working at the Infant Toddler Center, and after the sad realization that none of my old kids are still there, I’ve slowly grown to be trusted by the new kids, and I’m really growing to love them. They’re a great group, and a little better-behaved than the last one, which is nice. Fencing is great, as always. We just started last week and are doing a lot of conditioning, which makes me wish I’d stuck with the running over the summer, but I’m not too sore anymore, and I think I’ll survive. Hopefully. It’s looking like I’m only gonna be fencing sabre this year, which is a bit of a relief. As much as I enjoyed the absurdity of trying to fence everything, I feel like now I’ll have more time to learn to fence sabre relatively well. Maybe I’ll actually be able to beat people more often! That’d be nice. And, lastly, Quidditch is going PHENOMENALLY!!!!!!!! I’m a co-captain this year, with two friends, and our big goal for the year was to get Quidditch certified as an official organization so we could get $$ and reserve campus spaces, etc. Anyway, we got certified last week! We’re really excited! Plus, we recruited a huge group of wonderful, talented, dedicated, motivated freshman who are gonna help us put up a really good showing against Middlebury at the World Cup in October. It’s gonna be intense!

Happy almost October!

Hi All- I believe that is the same cave that Bridget's teacher lives just down the road from and that many of our group explored on both our spring trips out there. Outside of Richland Center about 8-10 miles on Hy 14 I think? After attempting to sleep in the larger cave, we decided that wasn't for us so we skipped Pop's Cave. More power to you guys! I was surprised at how wet and muddy they are. Great pics, though, Mark. Had a nice visit with Michele on my way home from Madison on Sunday night-headphones of course. My only regret is that I passed the Shell station in Fort which had gas at 3.79 only to need it in East Troy where it was 4.29. Hopefully, it will drop back! She is good. David was coming to Peoria this week for a class so she will be doing projects around the house.

Well, time for bed. Hope to see some of you this weekend! Susan

Caving in Wisconsin

Here are some pics of Cal's and my caving adventure this weekend. These pics were taken in and out of "Pop's Cave." If you think we look look dirty here, you should have seen us after the 2nd cave... mud from head to toe!

Good Morning-All is very quiet in East Troy, other than the sound of Jay and I busily catching up on all sorts of things. Its amazing how much time we have. We both have a long to do list that we are chipping away at. I am sure alot of it won't get done, but we are trying. We made a trip to Madison on Sunday afternoon to deliver a bike to replace the old Diamondback that was handed down from Michele that got stolen. This one is a Huffy so may not look as appealing.

Colin is working hard as the maintenance guy for the building. He is working nearly every night at his meal job, so is getting alot of food free. Bridget is working two nights and eating as often as she can. She is finding her classes somewhat challenging, but so far she has less work than some of her roommates. Colin is still pretty overwhelmed with all his engineering classes. He has an elective about the modern Middle East which he is pretty excited about since it is so different. They may come home this weekend.

I decided to take at least one more year of piano since my teacher again decided not to retire, so I am getting some time to practice.

Lots happening at work-many people are moving around to different positions, so I may have some opportunities which I will be checking out. After two years, I am starting to be accepted by most of the staff, so life is a bit more tolerable.

Well, time to get ready for the day. Hope everyone is doing well. We keep hoping that Sarah Palin will be allowed to speak soon and that her true colors will emerge and the lemmings will change course again based on something besides how cute her glasses are. If those two get elected, I guess the American people get what they deserve. Anyway, have a good week and hope to see some of you next weekend! Love, Susan

Where has August gone?

Greetings to each of you!

The amount of communication since the big birthday weekend has been limited because we have all been so busy. We were grateful for all the assurances that everyonee got back home safely.

We were especially pleased with Domino's complete account of her final days inn Italy and her safe return to Vassar, along with her birthday greetings for Grandma. We hope that there might be an English translation of her St. Catherine essay/speech.

All of the schollars beginning a new school year and/or experience have been in our thoughts and prayers. David gave Mom abrief sketch of Susan and Cooper's getting settled in Phoenix. The OC-Longs had a busy time gettingColin adn Bridget to UW; we haven't had a blow by blow recoounting, but do know it was a moving experience. Thanks to the entries from Michele, Matt/Casey, and Mark which provided some points we haven't heard in phone visits. While it takes some waiting here to get the video of the front steps Morning Train, we are able to catch some of the verse and a lots of coaching/laughing. The Smoky Mountains pictures were worthwhile, as well. Especially the snake and the Kdome prospects.

Our outdoor work projects contiunue, but the many warm dry days have us working in the shady areas only. All the window frames have freah brown paint and now we're working on the yellow window trim. The many 9"x12" glass frames require a little more attention with the brush strokes. As part of this work effort we were able to get a new rear yard light installed above the upstairs hall window to replace the mecury vapor onne which a very noisy ballast hum which could be heard all over the upstairss and outside. Appreciate the quiet now!

The tomato crop has been great, but we have had to water frequently as August has been a record for dryness.

We'll be seeing a number of our former Whitnall friends on this Friday when we drive to the Sutherland home in the Antigo area where many of them play golf and have dinner at a country club. A long day of driving, but a nice diversion.

The following weekend we will be in Dubuque for Mom's 62 year high school graduation reunnion. We'll be staying with the Vandermillens and plan to see the O'Connells, too.

Peggy has sent the official O'Connell reunion notice. This will be Sunday, 9/12, in Naperville. If any of you WI folk want to thinnk about car pooling for that day, we should be planning that promptly. The day before, 9/20, we will be meeting Charleen, Bob and some other Clarke Class of '50 members in Mundelein, IL
for a reunion lunch. C & B will be goping on to Naperville that night and we'll be returning home.

We thought we might hear from Mark today about the Obama rally in Milwaukee. It would have been fun to accept his invitation to join him, but the probability of a long walk, the mob scene at night aft er a long hot day would have been tough. We saw a little of it on TV news, but the complete event was not covered, we believe.

Have to admit that I have watched a lot of Brewer's baseball as they chase the Cubs. Had it on this evening and have switched to radio while I write. It has gone into extra innings as I write and as I am near the end I've switched it off and learn the results in the morning. Doen't lokk like we'll get to the Miller Park to see a game this year, as most September dates are sell outs.

Have a great fall everyone! Can Cooper get the Blog? Would someone in Sheboygan pass along his address or edress, please? Hope we will be able to get some news from all of you college level scholars from Baraboo and all points west, south and east!!

Love and prayers, Grandma and Grandpa

PS. Wednesday, 9/3 6:54 AM. Lost all of the trying to get it posted last night. Was able to get it on a EDIT screen but found no way to get it posted so printed it all and have retyped it this morning. Mom called "What are you doing up so early?" Hope we do better this morning !