It's been over four moths since I guess I've found it necessary to, or, that I have had interest in "blogging". My wife made a commitment to blog once every day for a year. I am not that ambitious nor prolific. But, I have things to say, but, mostly, they are yelled at the TV.
Let's start with ends. The Brewer season ended with a flutter, being beaten in the NLCS. The Badgers, under "coach" Beilema, lost in the Rose Bowl - AGAIN. The Packers laid an egg in the Conference championship, so, no Superbowl repeat. The worst end came just after New Year when my older daughter and husband traveled to Ethiopia to meet and adopt their son, my grandson. That's not the "bad", please keep reading. All went well. He was officially adopted, according to Ethiopian law, according to that same law, was not allowed to travel home at that time. Natnael Mebrat, it was learned a week after their return, was called to his eternal home from "complications of pneumonia". While we never met him, the remainder of the family will remember him as our son/nephew/grandson/great grandson nonetheless. "God bless you, sweet boy" as his father wrote in his obituary. We will cherish the day we unite in His presence.
As for the beginnings, we have news of a second granddaughter form Ethiopia. The same daughter and husband, and, this time with their daughter in tow, as I type, are traveling from Ethiopia after having met and officially adopted Soliana according to Ethiopian law, but, as was the case with Nati, according to that same law, was not allowed to travel home at that time. Another trip is being planned in four months to retrieve Soli. God, please keep her safe and well, if it be your will, in Jesus' name, so that we can revel in your mercy and kindness as always.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Sunday, November 27, 2011
CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN
This 2011 Christmas will be my first without both of my parents. I know, I know, I'm almost fifty-seven years old, so what's the big deal? The big deal is that "this 2011 Christmas will be my first without both of my parents", especially with my mom's passing in September. By Christmas, it will have been very close to three months to the day. She liked Christmas. She especially liked the commercialization of it, the giving of gifts and the over eating. She insisted on having her Christmas on Christmas Day, even when our daughters were in school, had a large Christmas Eve religious service on that night and a family Christmas that same night, it was expected that we get to her house before mid afternoon in Christmas Day.
Mom always thought herself the "fun" grandma, the gregarious grandma, the generous grandma. She gave numerous, unusual, often meaningless gifts, but almost all of these had some sort of monetary reward in them, so one had to open the entire gift. She also gave "group gifts. All the "boys" received "like" gifts, the "girls as well and the two groups of gifts were completely different and unrelated. We had to sit in those groups and open the gifts together in the order determined by the hostess. I. of course, had to add a wrinkle by handing a gift given to me to someone else and saying that I believed I received that particular gift in error and insisted on a trade. We all, then, "traded" the gifts seeminly endlessly. That, then, had to be included in every Christmas thereafter. Tradition.
So, in wondering how Mom was going to manipulate this Christmas, she left us a pre-wrapped gift purchased five years ago in anticipation of her passing. Below is are photos I took of the gift.
Mom always thought herself the "fun" grandma, the gregarious grandma, the generous grandma. She gave numerous, unusual, often meaningless gifts, but almost all of these had some sort of monetary reward in them, so one had to open the entire gift. She also gave "group gifts. All the "boys" received "like" gifts, the "girls as well and the two groups of gifts were completely different and unrelated. We had to sit in those groups and open the gifts together in the order determined by the hostess. I. of course, had to add a wrinkle by handing a gift given to me to someone else and saying that I believed I received that particular gift in error and insisted on a trade. We all, then, "traded" the gifts seeminly endlessly. That, then, had to be included in every Christmas thereafter. Tradition.
So, in wondering how Mom was going to manipulate this Christmas, she left us a pre-wrapped gift purchased five years ago in anticipation of her passing. Below is are photos I took of the gift.
Ornament from Mom
Accompanying poem
It is a really nice gesture and I'm glad she did this for us all, but I am happier that she had the reassurance that she would be in heaven. We will speak of her frequently during the holidays. She will be with us still. Thanks, Mom.
Friday, November 25, 2011
2011 BEST FALL EVER UPDATE
Well, it's after Thanksgiving (more on that later) and some things have changed. The Brewers never made it to the World Series. The Badgers fell from grace after two straight Big Ten losses, one to MSU, the other to OSU, both in the last second. They deserved to lose the OSU game as they gave up a lead. Tomorrow is the last regular season game vs Penn State. If the Badgers are triumphant, they get a whack at the Big Ten Championship, if they fail, it's to some crappy non-News-Years-Day bowl game. The Packers, on the other hand, have remained solid and lossless at 11-0, seventeen straight including last season. It must be my special underpants. I still worry, but not quite so much.
Thanksgiving has come and gone for this year and, as usual, it was filled with family and food and good humor. We actually celebrated twice. Once in Oshkosh with daughter 1 and her family and daughter 2 and mate last weekend. While daughter 1 tended to her craft booth at a local event, we got to tend the meal, turkey and all the fixin's. The second was here and the same people, but different food and conversation Wednesday night and yesterday. Today was our traditional outside decorating day. We bought new lights for the gutters. We had to give up our swags for icicles . Icicles are packed in a box all scrunched up and tied in three bunches. the do not hang all nice and straight. They are very ugly when first hung. We'll see how they look after a few days of hanging.
Also while in Oshkosh last weekend, my wife suggested that I spend some of the gifted money from my Dad earlier this fall, before my Mom passed away. She remembered that we had an SLR camera when we were first married and the girls were small, but we had to sell it as it needed repair. Since then, technology has made everyday photography very easy and reproduction even easier. So, at her suggestion, I purchased a decent digital SLR, a Canon, Rebel EOS Ti2 with image stabilizing lenses. It was a great idea. I already like it. The photos are on my laptop and I currently do not have access to them, so samples of my work will have to wait.
Here is an update to this update. First, UW will play in the first Big Ten Football Championship game (vs MSU). Second, I have added two photos taken with my new camera. Niether was with the built-in flash.
The outside decor is a combination effort of both of us. Sherri did all the indoor herself. I carry the tree up from the basement entombment and assemble it. Sherri decorates it. She does much better than I do. I lose interest very quickly and my frustation level is high.
So, Merry Christmas to all and to all, a good night!
Thanksgiving has come and gone for this year and, as usual, it was filled with family and food and good humor. We actually celebrated twice. Once in Oshkosh with daughter 1 and her family and daughter 2 and mate last weekend. While daughter 1 tended to her craft booth at a local event, we got to tend the meal, turkey and all the fixin's. The second was here and the same people, but different food and conversation Wednesday night and yesterday. Today was our traditional outside decorating day. We bought new lights for the gutters. We had to give up our swags for icicles . Icicles are packed in a box all scrunched up and tied in three bunches. the do not hang all nice and straight. They are very ugly when first hung. We'll see how they look after a few days of hanging.
Also while in Oshkosh last weekend, my wife suggested that I spend some of the gifted money from my Dad earlier this fall, before my Mom passed away. She remembered that we had an SLR camera when we were first married and the girls were small, but we had to sell it as it needed repair. Since then, technology has made everyday photography very easy and reproduction even easier. So, at her suggestion, I purchased a decent digital SLR, a Canon, Rebel EOS Ti2 with image stabilizing lenses. It was a great idea. I already like it. The photos are on my laptop and I currently do not have access to them, so samples of my work will have to wait.
Here is an update to this update. First, UW will play in the first Big Ten Football Championship game (vs MSU). Second, I have added two photos taken with my new camera. Niether was with the built-in flash.
Outside Decorations - 2011
The outside decor is a combination effort of both of us. Sherri did all the indoor herself. I carry the tree up from the basement entombment and assemble it. Sherri decorates it. She does much better than I do. I lose interest very quickly and my frustation level is high.
Christmas Tree - 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
WISCONSIN'S GREAT FALL OF 2011
(Note: See update at end of post)
As in my last post, I want to say how good a run of sports we here in Wisconsin, USA - for my international reader(s) - thus far this fall. The Badgers rolled over Nebraska, a powerhouse in their own right, in their Big Ten (+2) opener. The Packers have a ten game winning streak all the way back to last season and they still have lots of work to do to get as good as they were last year. Then there are the Brewers. Just last week they looked unstoppable as they were up two games to none in their divisional playoff. Then they had to travel to Phoenix.
Before they left Milwaukee, I stated that all the Brewers had to do was win one lousy game. Well, instead they lost two. A train wreak ensued where their fortunes reversed and the series was tied. I figured their season, though very successful and exciting, was over. Their mettle was tested and was lacking. They choked. Still, all they needed was to win one lousy game today; just one lousy game. They've already won over ninety, what's one more. Well, it was a good ride while it lasted and we will, as all real fans do, "wait until next season".
Long story short, yaddah, yaddah, yadda, wonder of wonders, the Brewers WON their fifth in the series in the tenth! On to the League Championship Series against....well we don't know yet. the other series, also taken to five games, was played after the Brewers-Diamondback series.
Still, a great time to be a sports fan in Wisconsin this fall of 2011.
Update: This just in: The St. Louis Cardinals defeated "the best team in baseball", The Philadelphia Phillies, 1-0. This means the Brewers get home field advantage through the NLCS vs the Cards beginning Sunday. Go, Brewers!
As in my last post, I want to say how good a run of sports we here in Wisconsin, USA - for my international reader(s) - thus far this fall. The Badgers rolled over Nebraska, a powerhouse in their own right, in their Big Ten (+2) opener. The Packers have a ten game winning streak all the way back to last season and they still have lots of work to do to get as good as they were last year. Then there are the Brewers. Just last week they looked unstoppable as they were up two games to none in their divisional playoff. Then they had to travel to Phoenix.
Before they left Milwaukee, I stated that all the Brewers had to do was win one lousy game. Well, instead they lost two. A train wreak ensued where their fortunes reversed and the series was tied. I figured their season, though very successful and exciting, was over. Their mettle was tested and was lacking. They choked. Still, all they needed was to win one lousy game today; just one lousy game. They've already won over ninety, what's one more. Well, it was a good ride while it lasted and we will, as all real fans do, "wait until next season".
Long story short, yaddah, yaddah, yadda, wonder of wonders, the Brewers WON their fifth in the series in the tenth! On to the League Championship Series against....well we don't know yet. the other series, also taken to five games, was played after the Brewers-Diamondback series.
Still, a great time to be a sports fan in Wisconsin this fall of 2011.
Update: This just in: The St. Louis Cardinals defeated "the best team in baseball", The Philadelphia Phillies, 1-0. This means the Brewers get home field advantage through the NLCS vs the Cards beginning Sunday. Go, Brewers!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A BLOG UPDATE
A lot has occurred since my last entry.
I've learned of a future grandson to be in our arms by Easter (hopefully). Tiz cannot wait to be a big sister. A boy will be a new adventure for me (us) as all other offspring of our generation have been female - my two girls, my brother's three and my brother-in-law with one. Even my son-in-law as three nieces.
Then, we've reconnected with two separate old friend couples. One, Sherri and Jeff, form college whose wedding we attended and Sherri wore my wife's dress of the year before. The other, Patti and Tom who shared our apartment building with us in our first as a married couple on our own away from familiarity.
I've also been reminded of the circle of life. Just as I learned of the joy of hearing of a grandson, I learned of the fate of my mother as cancer biopsies were undertaken. She failed the tests. That is, she was given six to nine months remaining with chemotherapy helping relieve her discomfort. Then as the first chemo was given, more tests, of course, and the prognosis not only changed, it worsened. The original was revised to two weeks and heavy pain relievers and the ceasing of chemo. Even more tests, with revised prognosis to maybe the weekend. As my mother was being transferred form the hospital of the testing to the hospice, the weekend prognosis proved incorrect as well. She barely made it to the next morning. On our way to our reunion with Patti and Tom mentioned above, we received the call from my sister, the P.O.A. and first contact, that Mom had passed. My wife and I stopped by to console my sister and discuss the next step(s). It was decided that nothing would be done over the weekend and postponing our trip would not prove anything.
The weekend proved cathartic and very therapeutic as both Patti and Tom have lost. parents as well as my wife.
Also, within this time frame, the Milwaukee Brewers clinched their division title and home field advantage in round one, the Wisconsin Badger football team beat Nebraska, an annual powerhouse, handily after four straight weeks of inferior opponents and my beloved Green Bay Packers have dominated their first four (this season) to begin 4-0, and extended their winning streak to ten, including last season and the Superbowl.
All-in-all, it is a great time to be alive in Wisconsin right now, though, I know that my heavenly home is to be far more glorious and joy-filled.
I've learned of a future grandson to be in our arms by Easter (hopefully). Tiz cannot wait to be a big sister. A boy will be a new adventure for me (us) as all other offspring of our generation have been female - my two girls, my brother's three and my brother-in-law with one. Even my son-in-law as three nieces.
Then, we've reconnected with two separate old friend couples. One, Sherri and Jeff, form college whose wedding we attended and Sherri wore my wife's dress of the year before. The other, Patti and Tom who shared our apartment building with us in our first as a married couple on our own away from familiarity.
I've also been reminded of the circle of life. Just as I learned of the joy of hearing of a grandson, I learned of the fate of my mother as cancer biopsies were undertaken. She failed the tests. That is, she was given six to nine months remaining with chemotherapy helping relieve her discomfort. Then as the first chemo was given, more tests, of course, and the prognosis not only changed, it worsened. The original was revised to two weeks and heavy pain relievers and the ceasing of chemo. Even more tests, with revised prognosis to maybe the weekend. As my mother was being transferred form the hospital of the testing to the hospice, the weekend prognosis proved incorrect as well. She barely made it to the next morning. On our way to our reunion with Patti and Tom mentioned above, we received the call from my sister, the P.O.A. and first contact, that Mom had passed. My wife and I stopped by to console my sister and discuss the next step(s). It was decided that nothing would be done over the weekend and postponing our trip would not prove anything.
The weekend proved cathartic and very therapeutic as both Patti and Tom have lost. parents as well as my wife.
Also, within this time frame, the Milwaukee Brewers clinched their division title and home field advantage in round one, the Wisconsin Badger football team beat Nebraska, an annual powerhouse, handily after four straight weeks of inferior opponents and my beloved Green Bay Packers have dominated their first four (this season) to begin 4-0, and extended their winning streak to ten, including last season and the Superbowl.
All-in-all, it is a great time to be alive in Wisconsin right now, though, I know that my heavenly home is to be far more glorious and joy-filled.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
I'M REALLY TIRED OF THE WHINER-IN-CHIEF
The last month or so in Washington, D.C. has been an awakening experience. We've seen partisanism at its worst, lack of real leadership anywhere, a press that no longer has a clue as to how to report the news and, mostly, a President who cannot and will not lead to cause a consensus, especially when it was pushed on us last voting session that he was the only person who could make this happen. Instead of bringing the sides together, he has placed an insurmountable void between them to the point where the sides had to finally exclude the President from negotiations all together. What a Statesman!
Since he began his presidential campaign in 2006 (or so), he has blamed his predecessor, George W. Bush, for everything from a bad economy to puppy hangnails. And, even though Mr. Bush has ceased being president in January 20, 2009, the current office holder has continued to blame the former. So, let's give the current President credit for inheriting a $400billion+ deficit and 7.5% unemployment, not to mention a constant 9% year-long unemployment rate. This President said he could and would "make it all better (I paraphrase)". Since he became President "The One" has overseen a government that added some 200,000 new employees, a $1.5trillion deficit and the worst public opinion ratings for him and the Congress in history. His own closest advisers are out of options, except, of course, to double-down on the same mistakes because the last ones were not "bold enough".
So, he takes to the air waves with a national address to whine how hard it is to do his job, that not everybody likes him and that he can't get his way, so, we, the people, but not you Tea Partiers, you're a bunch of terrorists, are supposed to tell our representatives to give into him. "Mommy, they won't play with me!"
I envision a conversation taking place in the Oval Office sounding something like this:
Since he began his presidential campaign in 2006 (or so), he has blamed his predecessor, George W. Bush, for everything from a bad economy to puppy hangnails. And, even though Mr. Bush has ceased being president in January 20, 2009, the current office holder has continued to blame the former. So, let's give the current President credit for inheriting a $400billion+ deficit and 7.5% unemployment, not to mention a constant 9% year-long unemployment rate. This President said he could and would "make it all better (I paraphrase)". Since he became President "The One" has overseen a government that added some 200,000 new employees, a $1.5trillion deficit and the worst public opinion ratings for him and the Congress in history. His own closest advisers are out of options, except, of course, to double-down on the same mistakes because the last ones were not "bold enough".
So, he takes to the air waves with a national address to whine how hard it is to do his job, that not everybody likes him and that he can't get his way, so, we, the people, but not you Tea Partiers, you're a bunch of terrorists, are supposed to tell our representatives to give into him. "Mommy, they won't play with me!"
I envision a conversation taking place in the Oval Office sounding something like this:
- P(resident: "So, now that I have my new debt ceiling what can we do to reach and exceed it?"
- C(abinet member): "Well, we could buy an brand new bus for you, one for some of us and ten or so for the fawning press and tour the Midwest to celebrate the budget victory you brokered and make the tax payers pay for it all"
- P: "Well. I like the travel and press part, but I'm not crazy about the bus part. And why on earth do I need to visit the Midwest?"
- C: "We thought of all that, but, the accolades in the Midwest crave your presence. And the bus worked for Palin."
- P: "I though I told you never to mention the 'P-word' in my presence again!"
- C: "I, apologize, Mr. President, but you needed to hear that."
- P: "OK, I'll do the bus thing, but for only three days. I don't want to miss my golf game".
- C: "Yes, sir."
Saturday, July 30, 2011
GLOBAL WARMING
Today I am again reminded that I despise hot weather. Sure, it's fine while on vacation in my favorite spot on earth, St. George Island, Florida, where I am either in air conditioning, a pool, the northern Gulf of Mexico, or next to a cool adult beverage or three, but having to deal with it daily is a drag.
My lovely wife and I rode a fifteen-mile in-town bike route in the late morning/early afternoon today as the temperature began rising from the low 80's to the high 80's (eventually, I fear, it will reach the mid 90's). As the saying goes, it isn't the heat, it's the humidity. Well. I say it's the heat too!
Since many politicians, all eco-nuts and many sheeples believe in "Global Warming", that is, man's ability to have modified the earth's actual temperature by his use of devices that produce flouro-carbons, or, as some have stated, merely by exhaling, why can't they convince us to influence the climates at will. I am actually able to accomplish this feat of environmental influence. I have a thermostat connected to my furnace and air conditioner. And I use it! I just wish the eco-nuts, etc, would cease and desist their useless taxing and spending on climate change policies so my environmental influences don't cost so much!
My lovely wife and I rode a fifteen-mile in-town bike route in the late morning/early afternoon today as the temperature began rising from the low 80's to the high 80's (eventually, I fear, it will reach the mid 90's). As the saying goes, it isn't the heat, it's the humidity. Well. I say it's the heat too!
Since many politicians, all eco-nuts and many sheeples believe in "Global Warming", that is, man's ability to have modified the earth's actual temperature by his use of devices that produce flouro-carbons, or, as some have stated, merely by exhaling, why can't they convince us to influence the climates at will. I am actually able to accomplish this feat of environmental influence. I have a thermostat connected to my furnace and air conditioner. And I use it! I just wish the eco-nuts, etc, would cease and desist their useless taxing and spending on climate change policies so my environmental influences don't cost so much!
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