Anderson/Hatgidakis/Nelson/Metcalf: Newsletter
Old news: November 2001
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Amanda
11/30/2001
Gary~
Did you record that LOTR thing last night? We did but it recorded in mute and
Ryan really wants to watch it, with sound...
Yes, I did. It was good, especially with sound! :-) (I'll keep it for you.) Also, I understand that this was only the first of two (or three?) more specials on LOTR that will be shown over the next few weeks. --Gary
Gary
11/29/2001
Take a look at the webcams page -- because there is now a camera for Sioux City. Now you can see what the weather is like in all four of our cities in one glance. (Thanks, Karen, for finding this webcam!)
Also, if I may continue to be annoying about Lord of the Rings, :-) the reviews are really starting to come in. The movie reviewer for "Rolling Stone" calls it the best movie of the year. If you want to read these reviews, let me know and I'll show you where they are. (I didn't put links to them here because they have some "spoilers" in them which would take away some of the surprises.) And remember, tonight there's a 30-minute show on the making of LOTR, on Fox at 7 pm.
Marsha
11/28/2001
Yes, winter has come to us at last. 8 inches of really heavy,wet snow (heart attack shoveling.)Wilmer, a couple of hours away got 29.1 inches, so we feel kind of lucky. Zach put up the Christmas tree today, so we need to decorate it, lots of other decorations are up, so it is starting to come together. Can't wait to see The Lord of the Rings.
Be sure to tune into your Fox channel tomorrow night (Thursday) at 7 pm: There's a behind-the-scenes look at the movie, called "Quest for the Ring." It should be good! --Gary
Gary
11/28/2001
Me again. Three weeks from today is the opening of The Lord of the Rings, and the movie is all completed. I have just read the first reviews of the full film written by people who have been lucky enough to attend advance screenings, and the reviews are glowing. One of the things I got from the reviews (and which I wanted to pass along here) is this: Don't worry if you haven't read the books or if you don't know the story. They said the story is so well told that you'll get everything you need from the movie itself. Can't wait!! :-)
Gary
11/28/2001
Hey, what do you think the chances are for a white Christmas in Minneapolis?? I heard one Minnesotan on the news say, "If you don't know how to cuss, this weather will teach you." :-) Anyhoo, I'm just writing here to say that the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will be lit tonight, just before 8 pm (so you won't miss West Wing!). It's on NBC from 7 to 8, but trust me: the tree-lighting at the end is definitely the best part of the show, judging from last year.... Merry Christmas!
Gary
11/28/2001
Thanks to John for today's cool site!
Amanda
11/27/2001
I thought it looked vaguely familiar, it must have been a long time ago, not much I wrote makes sense...
Amanda
11/27/2001
Hey what is that on the front page anyway?
You don't remember??? :-) I was going to ask you what year it was, because you made it! --Gary
Amanda
11/27/2001
I just looked at the Minneapolis webcam, good thing you guys did your
lights a few days ago! Just cold here!
Karen
11/27/2001
Marsha -- the recipe is posted on the recipe file -- I can't believe you are "stealing" my Christmas ideas ........
Marsha
11/26/2001
Hey Erika, we are glad you are getting better! It's not so much fun to go
to the hospital, so I hope you (and Emily) are getting lots of TLC at home. It sounds beautiful at the Metcalf house....are pictures coming? Our front lights are out, but we haven't put up anything inside yet, everyone has been too busy with work and school and watching football (guess that's over now with both the Huskers and
Vikings.) Work has been a fun madhouse and people are boosting the economy here. We are pretty close to being done shopping, but there is always a list. John's mom is doing pretty well, but she wanted to spend Thanksgiving alone this year. Charlie's doctor sent a nice donation to the Veterans Memorial Fund in his memory which was really nice. Karen, could you please post the brownie recipe you sent to us last year? I want to make it and give it as a Christmas gift this year.
Gary
11/26/2001
Wow, really snowing in Minneapolis right now (3:30 pm)! Brrrr!
Amanda
11/26/2001
Geez, who cooked Thanksgiving dinner for Emily and Erika?
Karen
11/26/2001
Erika got to go to the emergency room at the hospital yesterday morning! She woke up at 4:30, I got up to see what the trouble was. Poor kid was really in pain and just couldn't get comfortable. She kept saying her ribs hurt. Brent and I had no idea what was wrong, and since she was in severe pain we thought we'd better take her to the hospital. I went in Emily's room to tell her we were leaving for the hospital when I heard her voice telling me she was sick
with the flu. I quickly settled Emily in and went to the hospital with Brent and Erika. Once we got to the hospital and the dr checked her out, he ordered some x-rays and tests. Then I ran back home to check on Emily - who was now pretty sick herself. I went back to the hospital about 30 minutes later. Erika was just getting back from x-ray. The dr came in right away - told us the blood tests and x-rays looked good, but she was constipated. Embarrassing - but much better than anything else he could have said. So he gave her some medicine and sent her home. Got back about 7:30 - Emily was still ill. So we all went back to bed and slept
for most of the day. They are both home from school today - and feeling much better!! Fun end to a long week-end!
Amanda
11/26/2001
THANKS GARY! That helped a lot. Our computer is now Christmas compatible. I recommend dowloading the Christmas lights screensaver/wallpaper. Very cool!
Amanda
11/25/2001
Anyone got any cool Christmas wallpapers and screensavers? I looked for an hour tonight on the internet & got frustrated (too much stuff). I had 2 cool ones last year, but lost them when I installed MSN and had such trouble and had redo my whole set up. The screen saver was falling snow that accumulated at the bottom. Then I had some Christmas lights that went at the top of my desktop... Any ideas, let me know!
Here's a site with a whole bunch of Christmas screensavers. The "falling snow" ones (many with that theme) are on page 3 or 4. Go here for the Christmas lights screensaver -- also Elf Bowling! --Gary
Amanda
11/25/2001
Hello all. Hope everyone had a good holiday. Ours was nice, for the sheer fact that we got 4 "stay home days." We got a lot accomplished. We put Christmas lights outside Friday before the massacre in Boulder, and Ryan really did a nice job. He was on the roof, clear to the top, to those of you who might not have an idea, he guesstimated that it might be 50 feet or so high. Of course now, the whole neighborhood is following suit, though no one has outdone us yet, and Ryan isnt done yet either. We have loaned out our ladder 3 times now though since doing it. Saturday we went to the tree farm in Blair and got our tree. Our biggest one to date, but we had more room this year. She measured in at 7 foot, a nice smelling white pine. We then decorated it and the rest of the house, which pretty much took all day Saturday. Nice to get it all done though. And late last week we wrapped all of the presents so those are already under the tree. I am done shopping, though I have to ship one, if it ever comes in! I also already have my cards made out, addressed, and stamped, just waiting for my address labels. So, as long as nothing goes haywire, we are very ahead of the game and organized. Knock on wood! Friday
morning I went out to Shopko and the mall for some early savings. Saved a little, but waited in line at Shopko for an hour! I'm glad Erika reviewed the Harry Potter movie, I was wondering if anyone had gone to it yet! Hey why was Thanksgiving this
Thursday and not next? What is the official rule? I thought it was the last Thursday
of the month. And now we are down in the 20's for baby counting days, and ready as ever. Which also means in the 20's til Christmas!!! Donna, ADORABLE kitten!
I believe Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday of November, not the last one. --Gary
Erika
11/24/2001
I had the flu, and I stayed home Tue. and wed.. On Thanksgiving
I went to my ant Marcia's and uncle Lary's house and I saw 7 cats 2 dogs 1 horse and 3 little baby kittens and I played golf And I was kind of good. And the Kittens looked like Donna's cat.
Marsha
11/23/2001
Hope everyone had a fine Thanksgiving. Saw most of the game today,
ewww. Really bad. I thought we were watching the Gophers. Oh well, there's always next year. Work has been so busy, Open House on Sunday afternoon should be really wild. You have an adorable cat Donna!! Where did you get him? How was the Thanksgiving feast in Nebraska City? Sounded like a nice plan. We put our Christmas lights outside yesterday....55 and so lovely out. Rained tonight, but this fall has been wonderful.
Lindsey
11/23/2001
Well, it's 2nd quarter and man do we look terrible! It's 35-3 and we are so
lousy. Crouch can't let go of the ball unless he fumbles it. oh wow! look at the score now it's 35-10! I can't believe it, we actually scored. Is that possible for us in this game? Didn't really look like it in the first quarter, we better come back or we're done for and it's the end! Finish! Over! Outa the game!
Lindsey
11/23/2001
Donna, your cat is very very cute but I still need to see him in person.
Maybe Baxter??
Gary
11/23/2001
A few new pictures on the photos page....
Samantha
11/22/2001
Hi everyone!! Happy Thanksgiving!!! Donna, you could name your cat
Salem?? TTYL bye!!!
Lindsey
11/21/2001
Happy Thanksgiving to all! Donna, I would love to come see your kitten
but I hope he likes kids because I know Dusty wasn't too fond of them. TTYL, Cya L8er
Grandma
11/21/2001
Donna
11/21/2001
Wow, some really good ideas for a name. Amanda where did you get those names? I'd like to look at the website or book. I was thinking about Max. But I don't know. Duncan is good. He kinda looks like a bat to me. But I can't think of a name that's associated with bats. And of course I still haven't ruled out Cindy. Lindsey, I want you to see him, too. Maybe you, Olivia, and Tristen can spend the night sometime this weekend or next and take a look at him. Let me know if that would work for you guys. Happy Thanksgiving everybody. Now I'm hungry for corn pudding. Dang.
How about 2000 more cat names? --Gary
Gary
11/21/2001
Hey, the Rockefeller Center webcam is finally working again -- just in time!
Lindsey
11/20/2001
I'll have to see the cat first to figure out a name!
Amanda
11/20/2001
I have a few cat name ideas, along with their orgin and meaning... Just a
different idea.
Dasan- American Indian- Ruler
Jacy- American Indian- The moon
Duncan- Celtic- Dark-skinned warrior
Mayon- Hindi- The black god
Carden- Celtic- From the black fortress
Sidra- Latin- Like a star
Or I guess George would be a good one, or Sean always likes Chuck.
Amanda
11/20/2001
Charlie reminds me of Work a While.
Amanda
11/20/2001
Anyone ever made Gary's corn pudding the night before and put it in
the oven right before serving? Would it work? Ryan is taking some to a
Thanksgiving lunch tomorrow at work and doesn't have time before the thing to make it, but doesnt want it to turn out funny tasting if he prepares it the night before and refrigerates it.. Any thoughts would be appreciated..
It's fine reheated, in my opinion. It gets a little denser (not quite so fluffy) after it's been refrigerated, but it's still tasty. This won't work for an office lunch, but I also like to slice the cold corn pudding into inch-thick slices, then saute them in butter until the outsides are crispy-brown. Yum! --Gary
Amanda
11/20/2001
Thanks Donna for the review of our house! We try....
Karen
11/20/2001
I like the name Charlie for your kitty.
Emily
11/19/2001
Donna - I think you should name your kitty Buddy or maybe Spot. P.S.
Thanks for the card I just got it today.
Bye 8)
Amanda
11/19/2001
Donna, what is wrong with Cindy???
Olivia Nicole Anderson!
11/19/2001
Daer Donna,
I know some names for your kitten.
Nipoleon or Franses or Aboner or Oliver.
or Boomer or Goldey-lox. or Tonny. or Shrek or Donkey.
Amanda
11/19/2001
Anyone donate to Harry Potter's $93.5 million opening this weekend? Not us, though we will be going this week...
Donna
11/19/2001
Hi, I think Erika is right, I do need some help finding a name for my new
kitty. So, how about a contest? Send in all suggestions here to the newsletter. And I need to get a name fast, so start thinking. He's half Himalayan, all black with a white spot on his neck. He actually looks more like mink-dark brown/red with black legs and tail. Erika I like your ideas already, but send more too, okay? I will try to get a picture of him soon.
Erika
11/19/2001
Hey Donna I think you should name your cat rascal, poo, triger and
blacky! Good Luck You are going to need it.
Erika
Grandma
11/16/2001
Happy Birthday, Emily-- 13 times over!! Hope you are having a fun day
today and your thirteenth year is the best one yet. G'ma
Erika
11/15/2001
Hey
when can we have another who am i!? :> <: :) (:
Good idea, Erika -- but I don't have any new questions ready. Can you think of some? (Or anybody else?) --Gary
Grandma
11/14/2001
My sympathy to the Hatgidakis's upon the loss of Charlie, John's stepdad. I hope you got back from Colorado without any mishaps.
Congratulations to Amanda on conquering Algebra so well.
Christmas shopping? Thinking about it.
I think Harry Potter will sell more tickets, probably because I am more familiar with
him. I really enjoyed the books and the previews look fine!!
Not much decorating will happen here.
Gary the Thanksgiving menu looks REALLY good.
The menu Grandma mentioned is from theArbor Day Farm(Lied Convention Center) in Nebraska City, where we plan to have Thanksgiving dinner. And here it is:
Turkey
Prime Rib
Baked Salmon
Maple-glazed Ham
Wild Rice Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Mushroom Gravy
Citrus Brussel Sprouts
Green Bean Cassoulet
plus Appetizer Bar, Salad Bar, and Dessert Bar
-- Gary
Amanda
11/13/2001
Hey, since when do Karen & my dad share a birthday? According to the countdown they do!
Ooops. Now fixed. --Gary
Amanda
11/13/2001
I had my 3rd Algebra test last week and got the results yesterday. Bear in mind, I HATE MATH! Despise it... I got a 99% on my test! Holy cow is right! I have gotten 90's on all 3 so far, and have 2 left, then I'm done.
Karen
11/13/2001
I agree, it has been pretty quiet on the web page lately.
I predict that Harry Potter will have a bigger opening.
Christmas shopping is about half done -- in fact I just wrapped a few things. I
think we should use our artificial tree again this year -- Emily and Brent would
rather get a "real" one.
Amanda
11/13/2001
1) Harry Potter, but Lord of Rings will be close...
2) Almost done with the shopping, just easy people, and waiting on stuff to come
in the mail (yikes!)
3) Ryan has not started, and he only shops for Tristen & I, easy!
4) Emeril's Thanksgiving recipes this year look GREAT! Especially the sweet potato
recipe, I may try it if I can get ahold of the recipe.
5) Real tree, OF COURSE. When is the real question. With Thanksgiving earlier this
year we hate to get it that weekend like we usually do, and risk it drying out to
soon, but we want to decorate our new house SO bad!
Donna
11/13/2001
Okay, I will guess that Harry Potter will have the bigger opening weekend. Only because I have heard that something like $500,000 in ticket sales already sold in England and it hasn't even opened yet.
I have started my Xmas shopping but not finished.
I will have an artifical tree same as every year. I plan to have three up this
year--my large tree next to the fireplace, a small one in the dining room and a
small one in the living room. Actually the one in the living room is already up,
but I keep the blinds closed so no one will see it. And I plan to make 5 wreaths
this year and put them up inside in each of the dining room and living room
windows.
Gary
11/13/2001
Awfully quite in here lately.... so here are some conversation starters:
1) Which movie will have a bigger opening weekend, Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings?
2) Who is done with their Christmas shopping?
3) Who hasn't started yet?
4) Do you have a new recipe you want to try on Thanksgiving?
5) Real Christmas tree, or artificial?
Discuss!
Gary
11/10/2001
Thanks to John for today's cool site!
Amanda
11/9/2001
I saw this morning on the news the tree for Rockefeller Center. How exciting. That helped to really get me into the mood! They are putting it up today and decorating over the next 2 weeks, and then lighting on the 28th I think. All a little early due to Thanksgiving's timing this year, and in light of the recent events. I take it the webcams in New York City haven't been and aren't working?
Yeah, the webcams I had for New York (including the one overlooking Rockefeller Center) are still down. But I saw the tree on tv this morning too, and it also got me a little more ready for Christmas! So I did some searching and found a new Rockefeller Center webcam, and this one has an even better view of the tree (though the skating rink is not as visible from this angle). This new webcam is now up and running on our webcams page. Have a look!
Lindsey
11/8/2001
Hey everybody, been home sick for the second day with the flu. Yuck! I hate this season when the colds start coming. When I see the homework I'm gonna have that's gonna make me even sicker, well, I'm gonna go take a nap! Bye :)
Marsha
11/7/2001
Hey, Olivia! Your new outfit sounds way cool. How was your trip to
Kansas? Do you have a picture of yourself in your new clothes for the webpage?
Sean will probably be used as the new poster boy for dental hygiene. Our dentist used to have a big picture of Jerry Seinfield flossing, but I think he's about to be replaced! Way to go Sean!!
Gary
11/6/2001
Thanks to Lindsey for today's cool site!
Amanda
11/3/2001
Nice try Sean, but Ryan expects cavities EVERY time he goes to the
dentist. He always has at least one, usually more. He hates the dentist, yet does nothing to prevent it. Good for you though! I'm proud, and as always cavity free......
Olivia
11/3/2001
I meant pants not pantes
Olivia
11/3/2001
I'm going to Kanses today.
My Mom's Friend her son is getting
married
My Mom
got me some close
I got a Black
short and pantes.
they looket cool.
Sean
11/3/2001
Well today was kinda a painful day. I had a checkup at the dentist 6
months and a week ago. He said I have a few cavities forming. So, the last checkup a week ago, he said I need to fill the cavities. They had been forming for about 2 years now. I felt terrible that I actually had cavities. I brush regularly, but could be better about flossing. He said the number one cause of my cavities is Mt. Dew. For the past 3 months I have really slowed down on my Mt. Dew intake, but for a little over a
week now I have not even had a drop of the dreadful stuff. It has an oil in it that sticks to your teeth and only flossing can remove it from in between your teeth. So from me, a once heavy Mt. Dew drinker, to you, stay away from the stuff. Once I found out I had cavities, I was done... And will be. I won't even socially drink it, or to fit in, or with a group of friends who all are drinking it, or to have a good time. I just
say "No thanks, I'll have a glass of water."
Ryan?
Sean
11/3/2001
Hey I just wanted to let everyone know I got a house phone hooked up.
Yea, a little late, but better than never. The number is 465-5536. I got a new phone-answering machine, but it'll be a few days before that is working. I still have to figure it out! Like always my cell is still good! 770-4028.
Hey Sean, send me your address info and I'll put it on the Contact page. --Gary
Gary
11/2/2001
Lindsey! I just learned (and I gathered from Amanda's note below) that you're reading Lord of the Rings. That is so great! And don't worry about rushing to finish it before the movie -- because the movie is only the first book (The Fellowship of the Ring). You've got another year to finish the second one, and two years to finish the third! :-) Anyway, I'm really glad you're reading it! Next time I see you I'll show you a new Lord of the Rings book that I just ordered (it will be out on Monday or Tuesday). It's a book of photographs from the movie, showing all the people and places in the story. It's supposed to be a pretty cool book. So, do you want to skip school on December 19 and go to the first showing of the movie with me????? Let me know! :-)
Amanda
11/2/2001
Hey Linz~ Did you see Lord of the Rings is in 47 days? Just checking.... :) :)
Gary
11/2/2001
Don't miss The Complete "Who Am I?" profiles! (I'm posting this so that in the weeks to come, you will always be able to get back to that page through this newsletter item.)
Gary
11/1/2001
What time is it?? Why, it's time to look at the Projects page to see the clock Emily made in woodshop. Also, the Photos page has some Halloween photos you haven't seen yet.