We are still adjusting to both of us working full-time for "real jobs." Its an adjustment, but going well so far. We did decide to purchase a vehicle which has less than 150,000 miles on it, so discovered and settled on a Ford Freestyle. For the car buffs, they only made them till 07, and now they are called the TaurusX. Big station wagon, essentially. We got a pretty simple one to keep the gas milage good and it has less than 25000 miles, so we should have a couple of good years.
Bridget came home Thursday night and we took her back on Sunday in time to take the lunch cruise on Lake Mendota. We managed to get it in during a break in the rain and although it was pretty cool and damp, the boat was enclosed somewhat and the lunch was quite deluxe. This was an Evans parent day. We then went to the Union and met Colin's new friend, Amanda, who is a sorority member where he works. She is very nice and we behaved ourselves and I think she liked us.
Back to work, working on the battery backup for the sump system just in time for our soggy weekend. One is installed and hopefully the next will be soon. We had several lakes in the yard, reminiscent of last June.
I should know by the end of the week if I will be offered the job of Manager of the Kenosha clinic. The other candidate is having their interview tomorrow and they will decide. I had a panel interview with 8 people yesterday and they told me that I made them feel very calm, which sounded promising to me. I just want to get offered the job, so whoever is praying these days, add me in.
Well, have to get some work done here, so back to the grind! Love, Susan
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Being busy in Big Bend 4/26-09
Greetings to each and ALL---
First order of business: New email address joconnell18@wi.rr.com as we now have high speed internet!
First bonus: Being able to see the Middle Fork Easter Egg Hunt without
the long loading time. Glad to see the searchers in their Easter best and the improvements which were evident in your garden SPOT! Freya you are a great egg locator!
Pleased with the phone visits we've had with Kevin, David, Michele, Matt, Susan, Mark and Maura in recent days and since our Easter Sunday meal and visit. Admit we've not sent too much email in the
busy outdoor days we've had such good weather.
Biggest chore in the last week was getting fallen branches from winter winds and a couple of days of trimming and sawing low branches around the yard to get a pile out to the street which the village workers put thru the chipper on Friday. That was preceded by a lots of raking of leaves which we carted to the village compost pile in 4 big plastic fabric
tubs which contain about 4 bushels. A record should have been kept of the trips--but was not. Regardless, it is better than burning.
Mom saw her new ophthalmologist last week and will be getting a time for her first cataract operation soon and the second one should follow within 2 or 3 weeks. She is pleased that I had a thorough audiology test at Great Lakes Hospital ENT clinic and have ordered hearing aids.
Glad to have had first hand and blog reports on the O'CLong Colorado visit from both the hosts and the guests. It surely was a good time.
Grateful for Domino's report and do hope that she has been able to keep abreast of all her obligations and opportunities. Really sorry that Mark was unable to get to her play.
We've been in touch with Ed and he is still busy with a lot of follow-up thing. Told Mom in a call this week that he has planned a trip to Minnesota to see some friends and will be in California for Erin's graduation and Julie hopes that he will be able to stay there and have his birthday celebration.
Charleen and Bob are coming up to be with us for the day on Thursday of this week. We still have some Grandma and Grandpa O'Connell
stuff that we should go over again to determine how to deal with it.
Mom hope to go to Dubuque soon to have the same kind of meeting with Pat and Ed to go over some Doll material that she still has.
Mom had her 3rd visit with Susan's friend, Dr. Barbara Murray, who is exploring whether some new medicine might be helpful for memory improvement. At this time the dosage is provided by using a patch which is changed daily. For the first month she took a daily pill. The doctor is positive and encouraging as the trial continues. The the next appointment is after a 2 month period--the earlier ones followed for shorter periods.
We will be in Elkhart Lake, WI (Sheboygan County) at a resort hotel for our 2009 Retired Educators' convention. May try to connect with the Sheboygan folks if it won't conflict with David's homework schedule!
Last week we went to an afternoon showing of "Slumdog Millionaire" at an Oak Creek miniplex. No review here.
Susan came to show us their new Ford Free mini-SUV and Grandma really likes it especially the green color! A very impressive set of wheels!
Have had a very rainy weekend. I worked outside on getting soil ready for an exchange in the raised beds yesterday morning, but the rain came just before noon. There was 2.5" in the gauge when we set out for mass this morning. It has continued to rain most of the day--over an inch when I checked late this afternoon. I did get some weed&feed spred yesterday morning before breakfast, so hope it wasn't spoiled by the rain--but things really looked very green by today's last overcast light.
Best wishes to all you scholars as the end of your school year nears!
Good luck to all the job seekers, too!!
Love and prayers, Grandma and Grandpa
First order of business: New email address joconnell18@wi.rr.com as we now have high speed internet!
First bonus: Being able to see the Middle Fork Easter Egg Hunt without
the long loading time. Glad to see the searchers in their Easter best and the improvements which were evident in your garden SPOT! Freya you are a great egg locator!
Pleased with the phone visits we've had with Kevin, David, Michele, Matt, Susan, Mark and Maura in recent days and since our Easter Sunday meal and visit. Admit we've not sent too much email in the
busy outdoor days we've had such good weather.
Biggest chore in the last week was getting fallen branches from winter winds and a couple of days of trimming and sawing low branches around the yard to get a pile out to the street which the village workers put thru the chipper on Friday. That was preceded by a lots of raking of leaves which we carted to the village compost pile in 4 big plastic fabric
tubs which contain about 4 bushels. A record should have been kept of the trips--but was not. Regardless, it is better than burning.
Mom saw her new ophthalmologist last week and will be getting a time for her first cataract operation soon and the second one should follow within 2 or 3 weeks. She is pleased that I had a thorough audiology test at Great Lakes Hospital ENT clinic and have ordered hearing aids.
Glad to have had first hand and blog reports on the O'CLong Colorado visit from both the hosts and the guests. It surely was a good time.
Grateful for Domino's report and do hope that she has been able to keep abreast of all her obligations and opportunities. Really sorry that Mark was unable to get to her play.
We've been in touch with Ed and he is still busy with a lot of follow-up thing. Told Mom in a call this week that he has planned a trip to Minnesota to see some friends and will be in California for Erin's graduation and Julie hopes that he will be able to stay there and have his birthday celebration.
Charleen and Bob are coming up to be with us for the day on Thursday of this week. We still have some Grandma and Grandpa O'Connell
stuff that we should go over again to determine how to deal with it.
Mom hope to go to Dubuque soon to have the same kind of meeting with Pat and Ed to go over some Doll material that she still has.
Mom had her 3rd visit with Susan's friend, Dr. Barbara Murray, who is exploring whether some new medicine might be helpful for memory improvement. At this time the dosage is provided by using a patch which is changed daily. For the first month she took a daily pill. The doctor is positive and encouraging as the trial continues. The the next appointment is after a 2 month period--the earlier ones followed for shorter periods.
We will be in Elkhart Lake, WI (Sheboygan County) at a resort hotel for our 2009 Retired Educators' convention. May try to connect with the Sheboygan folks if it won't conflict with David's homework schedule!
Last week we went to an afternoon showing of "Slumdog Millionaire" at an Oak Creek miniplex. No review here.
Susan came to show us their new Ford Free mini-SUV and Grandma really likes it especially the green color! A very impressive set of wheels!
Have had a very rainy weekend. I worked outside on getting soil ready for an exchange in the raised beds yesterday morning, but the rain came just before noon. There was 2.5" in the gauge when we set out for mass this morning. It has continued to rain most of the day--over an inch when I checked late this afternoon. I did get some weed&feed spred yesterday morning before breakfast, so hope it wasn't spoiled by the rain--but things really looked very green by today's last overcast light.
Best wishes to all you scholars as the end of your school year nears!
Good luck to all the job seekers, too!!
Love and prayers, Grandma and Grandpa
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thanks for the great video, Casey. We can never get enough. Freya keeps looking more and more grown up. We had a very nice Easter gathering. The cousins who came got a chance to catch up with each other, as did the siblings. Everyone seems to be doing OK, despite some significant adversity. Having been poor in the past is certainly helping with our current situations!
Jay took the kids back and I got a night off. Jay is going to have a late start, late evening on Mondays, which started this week, so he got to drive to Madison. Bridget and I had spent Saturday applying for summer jobs for her and actually had fun. Hopefully, something will pan out. Colin will be staying in Madison if he gets his wish. He's ready for some freedom!
We're hoping for some 60 degree weather this week, which would be wonderful. The cool weather has lasted long enough. That Boise green grass looked awfully good, and the new flower beds look great. Have a great week everyone!
Jay took the kids back and I got a night off. Jay is going to have a late start, late evening on Mondays, which started this week, so he got to drive to Madison. Bridget and I had spent Saturday applying for summer jobs for her and actually had fun. Hopefully, something will pan out. Colin will be staying in Madison if he gets his wish. He's ready for some freedom!
We're hoping for some 60 degree weather this week, which would be wonderful. The cool weather has lasted long enough. That Boise green grass looked awfully good, and the new flower beds look great. Have a great week everyone!
It's Been a While!
We hope everyone had a great Easter. We're sorry to have missed the get-together many of you had! We had one of my good friends and her husband and two year-old daughter over for lunch and the little girls got to have an egg hunt in the back yard. It was extremely fun! Here's some video--you'll notice I have made a new (small) flower bed with asters and goldenrod, as well as a Chinese seven son flowering shrub. They're very small, but hopefully the summer will be good to them.
Love to all!
Love to all!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Your Prose Are Immortal, But My Love for You Is Even More Immortaler!
Oh boy, so much has happened in my life I hardly know where to begin. I’ll leave out classes since they’re less exciting and I’ve been much more focused on other things recently.
Well, Quidditch hasn’t quite started again because we’ve run into a bit of a road block about where to store our hoops once we make them. And the weather’s been pretty crappy. We’re hoping to have mini games with area kids this weekend, though, and I think it will be really fun! Also, the Middlebury Quidditch website has been updated, and it looks great. This is our part of the page if you wanna check it out: http://collegequidditch.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138&Itemid=138
Fencing is over. I finished the season fencing B strip, which was a bit of a joke. I tried, but I was fencing girls who’ve been fencing since high school or earlier, so I was just happy if I got one touch. Nevertheless, I’m excited for next year, fencing A strip is going to be hilarious. Good thing we only have one or two tournaments first semester.
Voice lessons are going well. Tomorrow I get to sing for Kelli O’Hara! She’s currently starring in the Broadway revival of South Pacific, and she’s been nominated for three Tonys. She’s coming to Vassar to give a master class and recital which I auditioned to sing in and I was one of about a dozen student selected. I can’t wait! I hear she’s incredible!
Lastly, my play, Metamorphoses, just ended. We had a great run! By the end the set, which is basically a huge pool, was no longer leaking, the water was warm, almost no one slipped on the slick steps/deck/pool, and the set/lighting design was gorgeous. We were lucky enough to have 5 pretty much sold-out performances, and some great audiences. Jason Alexander (George Constanza from Seinfeld and that one courier dude from the Brandi Cinderella) even came to see it one night! And he gave us a standing ovation! We were ecstatic. Unfortunately, now it’s over. I already miss it. The cast was just an incredible group of people and I love them all. Our cast party was last night and it culminated in a huge cuddle-lump on the couch that was almost impossible to extricate oneself from. I think that’s a pretty accurate metaphor for the cast, actually.
I’ve got three huge papers looming, but I’m not going to worry about those right now. I’d rather think about spending next Sunday with the Tosa Gehreds in Central Park, and the Sunday after that seeing August: Osage County on Broadway, and the Metamorphoses cast and crew reunion dinner, and the Miyazaki movie marathon, etc. I’m feeling very contented, if a little melancholy. I love you all.
Well, Quidditch hasn’t quite started again because we’ve run into a bit of a road block about where to store our hoops once we make them. And the weather’s been pretty crappy. We’re hoping to have mini games with area kids this weekend, though, and I think it will be really fun! Also, the Middlebury Quidditch website has been updated, and it looks great. This is our part of the page if you wanna check it out: http://collegequidditch.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138&Itemid=138
Fencing is over. I finished the season fencing B strip, which was a bit of a joke. I tried, but I was fencing girls who’ve been fencing since high school or earlier, so I was just happy if I got one touch. Nevertheless, I’m excited for next year, fencing A strip is going to be hilarious. Good thing we only have one or two tournaments first semester.
Voice lessons are going well. Tomorrow I get to sing for Kelli O’Hara! She’s currently starring in the Broadway revival of South Pacific, and she’s been nominated for three Tonys. She’s coming to Vassar to give a master class and recital which I auditioned to sing in and I was one of about a dozen student selected. I can’t wait! I hear she’s incredible!
Lastly, my play, Metamorphoses, just ended. We had a great run! By the end the set, which is basically a huge pool, was no longer leaking, the water was warm, almost no one slipped on the slick steps/deck/pool, and the set/lighting design was gorgeous. We were lucky enough to have 5 pretty much sold-out performances, and some great audiences. Jason Alexander (George Constanza from Seinfeld and that one courier dude from the Brandi Cinderella) even came to see it one night! And he gave us a standing ovation! We were ecstatic. Unfortunately, now it’s over. I already miss it. The cast was just an incredible group of people and I love them all. Our cast party was last night and it culminated in a huge cuddle-lump on the couch that was almost impossible to extricate oneself from. I think that’s a pretty accurate metaphor for the cast, actually.
I’ve got three huge papers looming, but I’m not going to worry about those right now. I’d rather think about spending next Sunday with the Tosa Gehreds in Central Park, and the Sunday after that seeing August: Osage County on Broadway, and the Metamorphoses cast and crew reunion dinner, and the Miyazaki movie marathon, etc. I’m feeling very contented, if a little melancholy. I love you all.
Friday, March 27, 2009
snow day
i'm feeling quite behind the times, now that i have actually seen facebook--courtesy of colin, and i just read an article about it in real simple--by a woman who participates at arms length. blogging is pretty 21st century for me!
susan did a great job of chronicalling our week. it was very fun, very relaxing, and we laughed a lot. ruby and link loved having someone else around to get petted by, fun to finally have shelly and chris meet another sister, and great fun to talk about college and walk around the CU campus with some college kids who i know. lots of good food, just a little crap for colin on his birthday, and lots of discussion about susan and my fears of exposure and not using the ski lift guard in front of us.
i did have 2 root canals on monday, after a week of pain. so i had took M and tuesday off this week. then worked on wednesday, and it blizzarded on thursday. it started very early thursday, and i did go into work, but left by 11 am. they closed our office at noon, which was far too late--cuz the roads were horrible, and the wind made for white out driving. it took me an hour to get home--which is usually at 12 minute drive. so today we had a full snow day--got about 18" in our yard. lots of snorkeling by the dogs, and the snowblower got yet another workout. so i've had 2 short weeks at work. i have a briefcase full of work, but i didn't do too much today. it was far nicer to read magazines, and watch all my children, and do a bootcamp work out!
this weekend should be quiet--a lot of snow has melted so far. we are about to build a raised vegetable garden bed--i wanted to do it last year--before ms. obama--but we never got around to it last summer.
we're going to go see bruce springstein at the pepsi center on april 10, with a friend of mine from work. we'll be in the nosebloeed section, but i've finally convinced david that this could be our last chance to be rockers with the e street band.
we did watch W last weekend, which was pretty interesting. chalk up his political career to "i'll show mom and dad". wow.
well, time for pizza tonight. take care everyone--
love--michele, david, link and ruby
susan did a great job of chronicalling our week. it was very fun, very relaxing, and we laughed a lot. ruby and link loved having someone else around to get petted by, fun to finally have shelly and chris meet another sister, and great fun to talk about college and walk around the CU campus with some college kids who i know. lots of good food, just a little crap for colin on his birthday, and lots of discussion about susan and my fears of exposure and not using the ski lift guard in front of us.
i did have 2 root canals on monday, after a week of pain. so i had took M and tuesday off this week. then worked on wednesday, and it blizzarded on thursday. it started very early thursday, and i did go into work, but left by 11 am. they closed our office at noon, which was far too late--cuz the roads were horrible, and the wind made for white out driving. it took me an hour to get home--which is usually at 12 minute drive. so today we had a full snow day--got about 18" in our yard. lots of snorkeling by the dogs, and the snowblower got yet another workout. so i've had 2 short weeks at work. i have a briefcase full of work, but i didn't do too much today. it was far nicer to read magazines, and watch all my children, and do a bootcamp work out!
this weekend should be quiet--a lot of snow has melted so far. we are about to build a raised vegetable garden bed--i wanted to do it last year--before ms. obama--but we never got around to it last summer.
we're going to go see bruce springstein at the pepsi center on april 10, with a friend of mine from work. we'll be in the nosebloeed section, but i've finally convinced david that this could be our last chance to be rockers with the e street band.
we did watch W last weekend, which was pretty interesting. chalk up his political career to "i'll show mom and dad". wow.
well, time for pizza tonight. take care everyone--
love--michele, david, link and ruby
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Rating the Hotel Sornell
Hi Everyone-
I am finally sort of relaxing after our wonderful week in CO. We started out at 3:45AM on Saturday the 14th and left at 7:15, arriving in Denver promptly at 9:30AM. We were picked up by a beautiful black Silverado 4X4 which has a big cargo area for our five bags, 2 snowboard bags and 3 carryons. Saturday was pretty quiet. Sunday Michele took Bridget and I to her neighborhood exercise class that she told us later was really a boot camp type class taught by her personal trainer neighbor who does triathlons. That was followed by a walk with the dogs and a late lunch with Shelley and Chris. Monday we headed up to Boulder for some sightseeing and shopping. Tuesday, Jay, Colin and David spent the day fly fishing while the girls golfed and prepared a corned beef, cabbage and Smithwicks Ale dinner. Michele and David worked Wednesday, so we went to the golf course. We had a wonderful grilled steak dinner for Colin's birthday followed by an ice cream cake.
Thursday, we got up early again and headed to Denver to catch the ski train to Winterpark. The ride was beautiful and we got there about 9:30. The kids rented helmets and hit the slopes on their snowboards. Michele, Jay and I took the shuttle into town and then came back to the mountain where we faced our fears and took the ski lift up to the beautiful restaurant at 10,000 feet. High anxiety, but great views. We had a nice meal and came back down the mountain to meet up with a very tired Bridget and Colin to catch the train back to Denver.
Friday we lounged around for much of the morning, then all of us played another round of golf and went to the brew pub for dinner. Colin was happy to get carded and the waitress brought him a birthday treat.
Saturday we re-boarded the Silverado and headed to DIA for an easy flight home. The kids went back to Madison to catch up on "homework", they said. I think a week with the old folks was just about enough. It was so nice in ET that we did some yard work and put the pier in. Our boat lift guy comes early to Potters Lake so we knew we had that job to do as soon as the ice went out. We woke up to the pier being in this AM, so it worked out.
We got some more yard work in Sunday before I left to pick Bridget up and head to Dubuque. We stayed with Bob and Charleen and had a great visit with them, Cathy, Chris and Keri. The funeral was sad, but very nice and we had good visits with the Vandermillens, Barb and Dennis, Peter and Aunt Pat and some of Mom's old friends. We were glad we went. I drove Bridget back to Madison, helped her get some groceries and headed home.
I had heard from Susan Kneser Kearney before we left saying she would be in town so we met for dinner last night. We spent a couple of hours catching up and really enjoyed ourselves. So, I did alot of picking up around the house tonight and getting my paperwork in order. Jay starts his new job next Monday, so he is scurrying around getting stuff done for that.
We highly recommend the accomodations in Denver and the hosts can't be beat! They are fun, funny, upbeat even with tooth pain-Michele got 2 root canals the day after we left after being mis-diagnosed by her dentist and given pain meds. And the bed and hot tub are great.
Hope everyone else is doing well. It was good seeing the Wisconsinites that came to DBQ. Have a great week.
I am finally sort of relaxing after our wonderful week in CO. We started out at 3:45AM on Saturday the 14th and left at 7:15, arriving in Denver promptly at 9:30AM. We were picked up by a beautiful black Silverado 4X4 which has a big cargo area for our five bags, 2 snowboard bags and 3 carryons. Saturday was pretty quiet. Sunday Michele took Bridget and I to her neighborhood exercise class that she told us later was really a boot camp type class taught by her personal trainer neighbor who does triathlons. That was followed by a walk with the dogs and a late lunch with Shelley and Chris. Monday we headed up to Boulder for some sightseeing and shopping. Tuesday, Jay, Colin and David spent the day fly fishing while the girls golfed and prepared a corned beef, cabbage and Smithwicks Ale dinner. Michele and David worked Wednesday, so we went to the golf course. We had a wonderful grilled steak dinner for Colin's birthday followed by an ice cream cake.
Thursday, we got up early again and headed to Denver to catch the ski train to Winterpark. The ride was beautiful and we got there about 9:30. The kids rented helmets and hit the slopes on their snowboards. Michele, Jay and I took the shuttle into town and then came back to the mountain where we faced our fears and took the ski lift up to the beautiful restaurant at 10,000 feet. High anxiety, but great views. We had a nice meal and came back down the mountain to meet up with a very tired Bridget and Colin to catch the train back to Denver.
Friday we lounged around for much of the morning, then all of us played another round of golf and went to the brew pub for dinner. Colin was happy to get carded and the waitress brought him a birthday treat.
Saturday we re-boarded the Silverado and headed to DIA for an easy flight home. The kids went back to Madison to catch up on "homework", they said. I think a week with the old folks was just about enough. It was so nice in ET that we did some yard work and put the pier in. Our boat lift guy comes early to Potters Lake so we knew we had that job to do as soon as the ice went out. We woke up to the pier being in this AM, so it worked out.
We got some more yard work in Sunday before I left to pick Bridget up and head to Dubuque. We stayed with Bob and Charleen and had a great visit with them, Cathy, Chris and Keri. The funeral was sad, but very nice and we had good visits with the Vandermillens, Barb and Dennis, Peter and Aunt Pat and some of Mom's old friends. We were glad we went. I drove Bridget back to Madison, helped her get some groceries and headed home.
I had heard from Susan Kneser Kearney before we left saying she would be in town so we met for dinner last night. We spent a couple of hours catching up and really enjoyed ourselves. So, I did alot of picking up around the house tonight and getting my paperwork in order. Jay starts his new job next Monday, so he is scurrying around getting stuff done for that.
We highly recommend the accomodations in Denver and the hosts can't be beat! They are fun, funny, upbeat even with tooth pain-Michele got 2 root canals the day after we left after being mis-diagnosed by her dentist and given pain meds. And the bed and hot tub are great.
Hope everyone else is doing well. It was good seeing the Wisconsinites that came to DBQ. Have a great week.
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