Anderson/Hatgidakis/Nelson/Metcalf: Newsletter
Old news: August 2003
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The Hatgidakis Family
8/31/03
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!!!
Grandma
8/31/03
Happy Birthday, Olivia!!
Emily
8/31/03
***HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA***
Lindsey
8/31/03
Wow a lot has been going on in these last few weeks that we have been computer-less. Well I finished my first week of school and my classes are...
1. PE/Health
2. English
3. American History
4. Family and Consumer Science
5. Drama
6. Algebra
7. Science
So pretty boring, but not too bad. Then my 4th and 5th period will change next semester though. But anyways, we haven't been doing a lot. I LOVE those pictures of Tristen and Teghan!
Nelson's
8/31/03
Happy Birthday Olivia!!!!!
Ryan, Amanda, Tristen & Teghan
8/30/03
GO HUSKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gary
8/30/03
Woo-hoo! Football Saturday! And a surprisingly cool morning, for the first time in a loooooong time.
Does anybody reading this want tickets to the Utah game next week? The person I sold my season tix to can't go that week, and wanted to offer them to me first. I don't remember the exact seat numbers, but they're about halfway up in either section 39 or section 40 -- here's a chart. They're pretty good seats; the people I sell them to every year love 'em. Anyway, they're yours for face value (what, $25-35 each, I think?). Let me know!
Gary
8/29/03
Hey Tristen! I forgot to mention that picture of you with your tongue sticking out makes me laugh every time I see it! You is funny!! :-)
Lindsey
8/29/03
Our computer is finally working!!!!!!!!!!!!
Emily
8/29/03
Hey everybody! Well we are done with our first week of school! We only went for the whole day once and got out at 12:30. Im liking most of my classes, except for english, we already had to write this huge stupid essay, and i really dont like the teacher. But I like all my other teachers.
I really like biology, yesterday we got to observe grasshoppers outside, and caught a bunch so we could do experiments on them on, that was really fun. My friend and I are going to put our grasshoppers in the freezer and we will check on them every 15-30 seconds, and see how long they can live. It should be fun.
Emily, maybe you should put Erika's teacher in the freezer, and check on her every 15-30 seconds til she revives! ...But seriously, that's outrageous! People are fainting and nobody has figured out it might be a wee bit too hot in that classroom?? They couldn't get me into that classroom at gunpoint! Sheesh! --Gary
Karen
8/29/03
Yipee, finally finished with the first full week of school! Preschool is going well, another small class of 9 kids and the AC has been on most of the time. Emily is doing great in High School -- Hey Amanda and Anna, Emily is taking Spanish too -- so you can talk to each other. Erika likes her new teacher. It's been grossly hot for her so far. It was 90 degrees in her class at 10 this morning. It was so hot yesterday that her teacher passed out!! The kids thought she was just "joking around" as she fell to the floor. When she didn't get up they began to realize something was wrong. She went home for the rest of the day, but was back today! Hoping for cooler weather, it was promised, but not much relief yet. Tristen do you have AC at your school? I hope so!
No plans for the week-end, just keeping cool and watching the game on Saturday....
Gary
8/29/03
I do not know which malodorous little mouth-breather invented these latest computer viruses, but I do hope that the FBI will soon break into his basement, drag him out into the sunlight by his nose-hair, and lock him into a small room with a Jehovah's Witness for the rest of his life. After more than a week of this, our system is still being slowed down with bogus email; and last night I couldn't get on the internet at all. (Some of you early risers may have noticed the front page from yesterday was still up this morning.)
Actually, I just heard on CNN that the FBI thinks this whole mess is the work of a team, and that "arrests are imminent." Yay!!
Later: Aha! Got one of 'em! Now to nab the moron(s) behind "SoBig"! (Which is the one causing all the problems on the U of N campus, among many other places.)
Amanda
8/28/03
I saw the cool site's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy on some primetime (ABC, NBC, something) channel one Friday night and LOVED it! It was great! I do not like reality shows, and am proud to say I am one of the few who doesn't watch them, but this one was good, but then again I just saw the one episode, so it may have been a fluke. Though I hear its a hit. The clothes guy scares me though, his fashions are WAAY out there.
We're all big fans down here. It was not a fluke! :-) The primetime channel you mentioned is NBC, though I'm not sure of the day or time. --Gary
Anna
8/28/03
Hey everyone! Last night I had my open house. It was okay. I got my classes here they are
1. advisory-gym
2. science
3. engilsh
4. health
5. math
6. spanish
7. civics
It should be an interesting first year since I dont know any of the teachers but Sam has had most of them. I'll keep everyone posted how it is going.
Gary
8/27/03
Oh, Amanda, another word about Netflix. You said you were trying it out for the free 2-week deal. Well and good. But if you decide Netflix is not for you, be advised that they will charge your credit card on the day after the trial period is up. So if you decide to cancel Netflix but don't get around to it until day 15, you might as well stay on board for another month because you've already been charged for it.
Gary
8/27/03
New photos up today. Amanda sent them out on Saturday, the 23rd, but I only just now received them thanks to our ongoing email slowdown on the campus. Every single person on the campus is receiving 5 to 20 bogus emails every hour, each of them more than half a megabyte in size. So the system is very clogged up, and backed up.
So if any of you have sent in a newsletter item or anything else recently and it hasn't shown up yet, try sending it again. Some emails get right through, others are delayed several days sometimes. Hopefully this will all be over soon...!
Amanda
8/25/03
I went back to school today. Officially a junior now, I started today with Music Appreciation and Spanish 1. Tomorrow I have two Political Science classes, Research Methods and The Presidency. I will like Tuesdays and Thursdays more I can already tell. :) And today Ryan officially became a college student. Yes, he went before, but never for himself, it was working towards the Air Force's associates degree, which the Air Force made him finish once he was stationed here, and he wanted it of course, but now he is going to school all for himself. And, I finally have one nice thing to say about the military, the business office handed him his $400 tuition and fees bill and he gave them a piece of paper from the Education Office on base and it was paid for. He is responsible for books, but he applied for grants and got a small one, enough to cover books. So, its off to school for all of us. Oh, and Tristen is pretty sure her and I are in our respective music classes at the SAME time of day. And she got a red backpack this year that looks like mine. Tomorrow we have registration for Tristen for dance class and they start after Labor Day, she wants to take gymnastics too, but we can't afford too many after school activities, especially in 1st grade. Thursday is the meeting for Brownies, and again I am suckered into Assistant Leader postion. Such is the luck. Oh, and on Wednesday we are having Terminix out to treat our house for bugs, since spiders have become a real issue at our house. We had a black widow living right out our back door under the grill, I'm still not sleeping real well since that find. Anyhow, that's what's going on here! Hope the Lincoln visitors had fun!
Gary
8/24/03
Yeah, everybody's having fun -- in spite of the heat. (When is this &*$@#! summer going to be over??) Yesterday we hit the Farmers Market early in the morning while it was still nice outside. The Sioux City contingent arrived about noon, and Grandma provided a simple little snack of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh corn, and fresh hot rolls. Games and shopping trips filled up the rest of the day. In the evening we all watched "The Lizzie McGuire Movie." How was it? Well, just imagine all the best parts of "Gone With the Wind," "Citizen Kane," and "It's a Wonderful Life" all rolled into one and you might be close. I still can't really talk about it....
Oh, and speaking of movies, we watched "Chicago" on Friday night (thanks, Netflix!), and wow...! In my review six months ago I gave it an 8; but I must have been in a bad mood then. I think now I would boost it to at least a 9. Great movie!
One more thing, while I have the floor: For the past several days the University has been suffering through a massive slowdown of email, thanks to a couple of viruses which invaded the system. Consequently anything you send me -- like newsletter items -- may not arrive for up to a day later. (Amanda's note below was sent to me yesterday, but it didn't hit my mailbox until today.) Just FYI. Should be better soon!
Amanda
8/23/03
I LOVE the picture on the front page, I wish I lived there. With central air of course. Hope everyone is having fun, this page sure is quiet!
Emily
8/21/03
Hey everybody, Well I had my first day of Highschool today, we got out at 11:40, because they had just the freshmen go in the morning, and we got our schedules and got to go to some of our classes, im taking:
1. Algebra
2. World Cultures (1st semester)
2. Intro to Dance (2nd semester)
3. English
4. Debate (1st semester)
4. P.E. (2nd semester)
5. Spanish
6. American History
7. Biology
Erika
8/21/03
Hi everybody I had my first day of school today my teacher's name is Mrs. Leopold shes really nice today we got out early we got a new principle and I hate her. its SOOOOOOOOOOO HOT
Emily told me that she couldn't find the door to get out of school
Gary
8/21/03
Quick update on the Minnesota visitation: Marsha, Sam, and Anna arrived Tuesday afternoon. Lindsey and Livy were over and we played some games that night. Wednesday, lots of shopping trips, plus that was Livy's petsitting day -- she took good care of Sunny all day. Today, more shopping and a trip to Donna's house (though Livy and I stayed home and played Gran Turismo on Lindsey's PS2). Then a fantastic salmon dinner and we unwound with some TV in the evening. Tomorrow, no plans yet other than going to Valentino's in the evening. And we're looking forward to seeing Karen, Brent, Emily, and Erika on Saturday. It was *H*O*T* the first couple of days, but today was relatively nice; and we're expecting better weather over the next several days. More later!
Amanda
8/20/03
Well, we are trying the 2 week free trial of Netflix. Too bad you can't get something out of the recommendation Gary. I signed up and put movies on my queue just this morning, I'm interested to see how long it takes. Chicago was my number 1 and it said it is available. We will see. Thanks Gary for the recommendation, are you still enjoying it?
I'm still a huge fan of Netflix. In my first month, I've gotten I think 14 movies, which comes out to about a buck forty-three a movie -- which I got to keep as long as I wanted, and I returned by walking out to my mailbox instead of driving across town. Your first order will take longer to arrive -- mine did, at least; about a week, I remember. After that, the turnaround time greatly improves. I can put a movie in the mailbox on Monday morning, and I will have its replacement by Saturday night. The only glitch I've experienced so far was once I received the #2 movie on my queue, not the #1 -- they explained that if the movie I want isn't immediately available, they will sometimes send the next choice if the wait would be too long. Also, you'll find that arranging and re-arranging your queue is one of the funnest parts! I've got (gulp) 45 movies on my queue right now... :-)
Oh also, I had "Chicago" on my queue too: Netflix tells me it will be in my mailbox on Friday! --Gary
Lindsey
8/19/03
I hate computers!!! I hate computers!!! I hate computers!!!! We FINALLY got it back last night and Dad hooked it up and we found out that we couldn't hook up to the internet, so my Dad called help support and was on the phone with them for 2 HOURS and at first the guy was kind of cocky and then after the first hour he found out that yes my Dad was doing everything he was doing so then he put my Dad on hold about 4 times and came back at the end and said "Is it raining in your area?" and my Dad said "Lightly" and he goes "Well yeah that's PROBABLY it so try again in a few days" and hung up! UUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHH I hate computers! We have had the thing fixed 3 TIMES and the first place we went to couldn't fix it because when we had to take it into the other place just this last time, it was for the same place the other people "fixed." So now we have no internet on our computer! But anyways, I have been catching up reading the newsletter. Happy Belated Birthday Zach! Tristen, hope you had a fun first day of school! Who are some of your friends in your class? Geez I can't believe you went on a big rollercoaster! Way to Go! Well we're at Grandma's today, so we'll be waiting for Marsha's! It's about 12:30 so hopefully you're halfway! Ok Bye!
Gary
8/19/03
A word of warning about computer viruses: There are several making the rounds right now, posing as attachments to email. The nastier varieties can delete data from your hard drive, and/or cause your computer to not recognize your peripherals (mouse/keyboard/printer etc). Both those things happened to a friend of mine over the weekend. I received **12** emails just this morning with virus-attachments. So, update your virus software and don't open attachments!
Olivia
8/19/03
Did you hear that Izzy hoped a 6ft fence! Sean had to pick him up the day after he was gone. I bet Izzy learned his lesson, I mean after going to the pound! I haven't heard from him since he was gone but my dad said that in Texas he rode his 4 weeler in a dry lake. It was all muddy! He said it was fun.
Gary
8/19/03
Here are a couple of articles on Gallup's first day in Omaha; one from the Lincoln Journal-Star and the other from the Omaha World-Herald (with pictures!).
Tristen
8/19/03
The first day of school was cool. My teachers name was Mrs. Bryant. I sat by Christina. I didn't have PE. I got out early at 1, but not today, I go til 2:30. I saw Kennedy at recess, we aren't in the same class this year. Today I'm hot lunch. I have a Spongebob lunchbox.
Grandma
8/18/03
Hi, Tristen, you looked so happy to be going back to school. I bet you are having fun and got to see some of last year's friends again. Did you take your lunch from home? Donna, sounds like you are having a pretty exciting "first" day too. Talked to the Hatgidakis' this morning, they plan to be on the road about 7:30 a.m. tomorrow. Not so much excitment at my house.
Emily
8/18/03
Marsha Sam & Anna, have a good trip to lincoln, we should be there on saturday, so see you then!
Tristen, hope you have fun at school, tell us all about it!!
And hope the bus works out well for Donna!
Donna
8/18/03
Today was Gallup's official first day in Omaha and my first day on the bus. There was a reporter on my bus from the Journal Star. He was taking pictures, Gallup's photographer was there taking pictures. When we got to Gallup there was a huge crowd there to welcome us. All the Gallup big wigs flew in to be here and shake our hands. They had music playing, balloons, cameras flashing and two video cameras--one was Gallup's, but I don't know who the other one belonged to. It was really embarrassing and I was wishing there was a way I could sneak past unnoticed. There was a TV reporter taping his clip in the playground of the daycare at noon. Our move was on the front page of the Omaha World Herald today. We're having a champagne toast this afternoon and I'm back on the bus at 4:30. I don't think it took any longer for the bus to get us there than it did for me to drive my car.
Donna
8/18/03
Tristen, you look so excited to be back at school. I love your desk. Is your teacher nice? Please write us all about it, okay?
Donna
8/18/03
Happy Birthday, Zach!!!
Gary
8/18/03
New photos!
Ryan, Amanda, Tristen & Teghan
8/18/03
Happy Birthday Zach!
Marsha
8/17/03
Hi Livy, Sunny will bring his own food, treats and bowls. He is looking forward to your doggy daycare!! See you soon
Nelson's
8/17/03
Tristen, have a great 1st day of 1st grade!!! Can't wait to hear all about it :)
Nelson's
8/17/03
Happy Birthday Zachary!!
Grandma
8/17/03
Happy Birthday, Zach!!
Olivia
8/17/03
Yesturday I was at Norma's house having a garage sale! I was selling frosted oatmeal, chocolate chip oatmeal, and sugar cookies. I was also selling Raspberry lemonade, Cramberry sun tea, plain sun tea, and peach sun tea! I made $45.00 in all but my mom and dad put money in there and they got it back. So I actully made $33.90. So now I have over $100.00! It was fun!
Olivia
8/17/03
Yes Marsha, I can dogsit Sunny for one day at Grandma's house! Do you want me to bring a dog bowl? But you have to bring dog treats because we ran out at home! When ever I open the cuberd door to get hampster food, Ceaser comes running up at me and begs for dog treats, Because we always put them there! Do I have to bring my own doggie brush? See you later!
Karen
8/14/03
Gary -- thanks for checking on the Scotch Guard -- nice that they stopped making it three years ago, but still selling it!!!! I know I won't be using any more of it.
Emily
8/14/03
We had someone from the gas come out, and he tested for carbon monoxide all over, but there wasn't any, so guess it was just the scotch Guard...
I did an internet search, but couldn't find anything specifically about Scotch Guard and headaches, or any other symptoms. But I did find the interesting news (news to me, anyway) that 3M voluntarily stopped making Scotch Guard back in 2000, after a recommendation by the EPA who said that trace elements of some of the compounds in Scotch Guard remain in the bloodstream for a long time. They didn't say it was a significant health hazard, but 3M stopped making it anyway and said whatever was on the store shelves at that time would be the end of it. So no more Scotch Guard.
Anyway, hope all the heads in Sioux City stop aching soon! --Gary
Karen
8/14/03
I really think it was just the strong fumes from using the scotch guard. But just to be on the safe side I did call the gas company and they will be out to check on it. However, the lady I spoke to was a bit annoyed by the fact that I had opened the windows and turned on the fans (Gee isn't that what they always tell us to do?), because now it will be harder to tell if it's still in the air. So now we wait to see.....
Grandma
8/14/03
Karen, I hope you have found the reason why your detector is beeping by now. Have scotch guarded a chair and nothing happened, but I also don't have a carbon monoxide detector. Let us know what the answer is. Do you think poison control may have a clue?
Karen
8/14/03
Hey anybody out there have any experience with using Scotch Guard? I sprayed our new couch this morning. Soon after that we heard what we thought was the smoke detector going off. I thought it needed new batteries. After I had changed all of those it was still beeping. Then I realized it was our carbon monoxide detector. Kept beeping for almost an hour. We opened the windows and turned on all the fans. Now we have headaches -- is it just the Scotch Guard or do we need to call the fire department???
Amanda
8/14/03
Six Flags was a lot of fun. However, it rained towards the end of the day, so a lot of rides were closed, including the new, much talked about Superman Tower of Power. Tristen rode a real rollercoaster called Judge Roy Scream. I didn't go on it, so she is a pro now. We spent too much money on food. Teghan got to ride a few rides, but not a lot for her age, typical. After Six Flags we went to this cool restaurant here that is also much talked about lately, Joe's Crab Shack. It was clear in Dallas, so don't get too excited about your next trip here being able to eat there because its another 2 hours from here, but it was SOOO good. I have never liked crab and I lived it there. I got shrimp and it was excellent. And the hottest item are their shirts. It was a very cool place. Singing on the tables and making fools out of people on their birthdays, that kind of thing.
Oh, and we have had a strange turn of events for weather. As soon as we get visitors it cools down, nice for them, but they think we are lying when we say how hot it is. :) I just checked the weather, we are at 73, cooler than the other 3 locations on our weather page. But highs in the mid 80's lower 90's, MUCH better than 110. My mom left today, Shelby is still here, and Cathy & Tracie are on their way here tonight. Oy, a busy busy week and a half. Its been nice though! Also, we had Tristen's orientation today, only 3 days left of summer for her! She is excited to go back.
Gary
8/14/03
Heads up, Simpsons fans! There's a new Simpsons game (PC, PS2, Gamebox, etc) on the horizon, and it looks very cool. It's called "The Simpsons Hit & Run," and it's sort of a Springfield version of the controversial "Grand Theft Auto" game. I just saw a demo of "Hit & Run" in the game store today, and now I'm itching to play it. In the game, all of Springfield has been created in beautiful 3-D and it's yours to explore -- either on foot (allowing you to go inside the Simpson house, the Kwik-E-Mart, and other Simpson landmarks) or in vehicles (allowing you do some wild and crazy driving, with all kinds of stunts and big jumps). You can read a couple of short previews of it here and here, and see a bunch of screenshots here. The screenshots don't do it justice, though -- it looks amazing when it is in motion. Look for it sometime next month. I will be!
Marsha
8/13/03
Sam's tattoo is really cool, John has had a tattoo for over 25 years and Sam will be 18 soon, so it wasn't a big deal to say yes. Hey Gary, thank you for putting up the new business info. As a matter of fact, we are bringing our GOOD (not mean) dog to Lincoln and I was hoping to procure a quality dog sitter for him. Olivia, do you think you could watch Sunny for 1 day? He isn't any trouble, eats dog food and dog treats and water (milk makes him sick, we are such a lactose intolerant family). He will give you lots of dog licks. Let me know if you could watch him for a day at Grandma's house.
Donna
8/13/03
Okay, finally here's an update on my move to Omaha. I started commuting Monday, but by car as the buses won't start until next Monday. The first day went really smoothly especially considering we had to hook up our computers, printer and fax connections and learn our new phone system, etc. The building is huge and there's still a lot of work that needs to be done. My view is of the Gallup daycare playground and the Omaha skyline. Pretty nice. We had no running water in the kitchen on our floor, no ice and no coffee maker. We now have all of them today so that's nice. One of the construction workers accidently poured cement down the drain in the cafeteria so it won't open on Monday as scheduled. But it will be really nice. Fountain pop, cappucino machine, can't wait to see it all done. The eating area looks out onto the river and there will be seating outside too. Today there was a river boat going down river. Most of the building is still off limits as there is still so much left to be done. But when it is I will get someone here to take some pictures of it for the website. The Atrium will be beautiful. And there will be a gift store selling not just Gallup goods but cards, candy, balloons etc. Should be nice.
Donna
8/13/03
Hey Olivia, I don't have any plans yet to be gone, but if I do, I will have you watch Mojo. I'm betting you'll be charging me more for Mojo because he isn't always pleasant to strangers. And he eats a little bit of ham--not baloney every morning. He only drinks water. Did you know that milk isn't good for cats? Really, it's true. So don't give Mojo any milk when you watch him okay?
Lindsey
8/13/03
Sorry, Livy just came up and hit Send without ASKING me so I only sent in half a thing, but anyways Tristen I can't believe your already starting school! Will you be in High School now or going onto college? :) 6 Flags sounds fun! Wish I was there!
Lindsey
8/13/03
Samm I think your tattoo sounds neat and your not a bad influence.....
Geez Tristen I can't believe you are already going back to school! Now will
Lindsey
8/13/03
OK Livy whatever.........
Olivia
8/13/03
Lindsey you know Lia put some gas in your room you even said she did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Becaues I thought she just needed a bath but you said "No Lia just probly had some gas!"
Olivia
8/13/03
Hey Donna, can I pet sit Mojo for you while your gone? Because you would just have to give me your number and show me where the kitty litter is so I can clean it out if needs to be cleaned, and show me where the um hold on let me think, um was it baloney for Mojo? Then I would feed him and give him water everyday you were gone. Please!!!! I could also train him if you want me too! Just tell me what you want me to train him to do, like to like other people or something. Oh and don't forget to look at the other stories I sent out.
Olivia
8/13/03
I'll cat sit a cat if you send it down to Lincoln and I'll put it in the basment and lock Ceaser upstaires or outside then I'll pet sit him or her whatever. All I need is cat litter and food. But does the cat drink water or milk?
Karen
8/13/03
Hey Olivia, will you come to Sioux City to kitty sit? Or are you just in Lincoln?
Olivia
8/13/03
Hey everybody, I got a pet sitting job! I'm pet sitting pets for their owners like for a couple of days, a few hours, or maby just pet sit them for a whole day. Or a part day. But I don't have anyone yet. Donna is telling people about my pet sitting job at her work that have pets besides reptiles. For pet sitting a mean pet $6.50 per day. But if the owner wanted me to train their bad pet into a good pet, $9.50 + tax. But if it's a good pet, $4.00 + tax but if they wanted me to train them like not bark so much or bite or something, $6.00. I can't wait until I get some costomers!!!!
Note that the prices have been revised since the time she sent in her original advertising copy. The above prices are the most current. --Gary
Gary
8/13/03
Since its inception, it has been the policy of this webpage not to accept advertising. Yet once in a great while, we are made aware of a product or service of such high integrity, and of such outstanding value, that we would be remiss indeed if we excluded it from this site. That being said, it gives me great pride to introduce to you this new enterprise, to which we wish much success!
Karen
8/12/03
Yeah, he got one about 10 years ago. It's a heart.
Amanda
8/12/03
I didn't know Brent had a tattoo. Of what?
Karen
8/12/03
Sam and Amanda -- OK maybe you're not a "bad influence" on the cousins. Emily just really, really thinks she wants to get a tattoo when she is 18, and I am trying to convince her otherwise. But hard to say no when her Dad has one too :)
I am curious about Donna's day too? How is it going? Busy I'm sure.
Amanda
8/12/03
I got my lip pierced 7 years ago and a tattoo 3 years ago, the same day Sean got his eyebrow pierced and we weren't a bad influence on any cousins. Well, maybe Samantha... :) Tomorrow Ryan, Tristen, Teghan, my mom & Shelby and I are going to Dallas to go to Six Flags. We are all excited!! Sean left Monday, it was a nice (err) long weekend with him. He can write in about all his experiences... We have orientation with Tristen's new teacher Mrs. Bryant on Thursday. It's heeerrrree! DONNA! HOW IS OMAHA????? AND THE BUSES???? AND THE LAST DAY IN LINCOLN? Thought we would hear by now.
Gary
8/12/03
Anyone who's in Lincoln a week from Friday (the 22nd) can get a head start on the football season. The Cornhusker Marching Band will be performing in Memorial Stadium, and its free! Starts at 7 pm, gates open at 6:30. (Use Gates 3 and 11 on the west side.)
Hey Sam, here's something to think about:
Temporary tattoos -- removed with baby oil.
Permanent tattoos -- removed with LASER SURGERY (if you're lucky)!
Karen
8/12/03
Samantha -- a TATTOO???? Where and what is it? I can't believe your parents let you get one! I'm afraid you may be a bad influence on some of your cousins......
Samantha
8/12/03
One week from today we will be in Lincoln. On Friday night, for my birthday present, I got a tattoo!!!!! Most of you will see it next week. ttfn
Lindsey
8/12/03
Livy, your stories are always different! And that last part wasn't true. You just made that up!!!!!! :) Anyways....I HATE OUR COMPUTER!!! My Dad had to take it into the shop AGAIN today. We had bought more RAM to put in it and my Dad was putting in it and he spent ALL night practically trying to fix it and he got fed up and just said that he was going to take it to somebody to fix, but then he said if they can't get it fixed this time, it's going in the trash! Then we need to get a new printer I think because the one we have isn't working and we asked people about it and they said if it's between 3-5 years old then it's getting close and ours is like 3 or 4 but we thought it would last longer than that but whatever I guess we need BOTH a printer and computer! IT MAKES ME SOO MAD!!!!
Olivia
8/12/03
When we took Lia to our house while Sean and Lauran were gone, Lia climbed in her kennel for 5 sec. But Izzy didn't care if we took him. He just wagged his tail and said: "Here, take me, over here, the black and white dog!" So my dad carried her out to the elcomino on the floor, 5min later she put her two front legs on my lap. 2min later she puts both her 2 hind legs on my lap and looks out the back window and saying: "Hey all you people out there look at me!" and startes liking my face. 4 days later I walked out the door and here comes Lia running up the staires and here comes Ceaser streaching out of under the table. Lia runs in front of Ceaser and starts jumping up and down up and down up and down then she she jumps on me and makes a big red scratch on my leg. But she jumping because she was happy to see me. Then every day on I come out and push her back down gently. Then she startes liking my scratch. Then I would play fetch with her. It was fun But one night Lia let out some gas in Lindsey's room.
Gary
8/11/03
Today we're only 19 days away from the first Husker game (against Oklahoma State). Over the weekend, Amanda sent in this link to an article from ESPN about Nebraska football. (For some reason, it only showed up in my mailbox this morning--sorry for the delay, Amanda.) It's interesting, and a quick read. Give it a look!
Lindsey
8/9/03
Hey all you "Friends" fans, as you know Matt LeBlanc is coming up with his own show after friends, airing next year, called "Joey," now rumor is Lisa Kudrow and a girl that starred on Friends for a while may be coming out with a new show after that called "Girlfriends" but they said it was still "top secret" but just filling you in although neither of them will be as good as "Friends." I am sure going to miss that show...
Grandma
8/8/03
So far August has been tolerable, very nice on a couple days, no rain but I'll take it a bit cooler anyway. Congratulations, Amanda, great grades and aren't you happy you went to summer school? Especially now?? Bet you are enjoying your company today. Have fun this weekend. Karen, your couch looks so pretty, I like the nailheads on the arms. Did the accessories come with it or did you have to get them seperately? Just kidding Emily & Erika. Marsha, Sam and Anna, see you soon. Am so happy you are coming!!
Gary
8/8/03
Well, it's been nearly a month since I've said anything inflammatory about King George II; so today I would like to direct your attention to a speech Al Gore delivered yesterday. (It was covered live on CNN and MSNBC, so maybe some of you got to see it.) He says some good things! It was sponsored by a group called MoveOn.org, which is a very active grassroots organization started back in 1998 when the Republican Party attempted to overthrow the government by impeaching Clinton. MoveOn.org has gotten larger and more active since 2000, when the Republican Party succeeded in overthrowing the government by rigging the election. I normally don't like signing up for email newsletters (right now I'm averaging 80-100 junk emails a day), but the MoveOn Bulletin isn't junk. It arrives every two weeks and keeps you aware of important votes in Congress, news items that our cowardly national media won't mention, etc. It's free, and you can sign up for it at the bottom of the MoveOn.org main page. Dump Bush 2004!
Karen
8/7/03
Amanda -- the couch is a micro-fabric. We were sold when the salesman said it was good for people with pets. So far the cats haven't been brave enough to check it out. It is very comfortable -- especially after being used to our old worn out one.....
Hey, congratulations on the final and being a JUNIOR!!!!
Amanda
8/7/03
I LOVE the couch Karen! What fabric is it? It looks SOOOO comfortable. I love new furniture, it's fun.
Amanda
8/7/03
I took my final today and got an A out of the class. I got the highest score on the final out of the whole class! Woohoo! I'm done with math and officially a JUNIOR!! I saw the best Texas license plate today, it read: GO NEBR. How cool?? Oh, and yesterday apparently got to 109! YUCK! Tristen is done at the Youth Center and home with me until she starts school on the 18th. This will be our condensed summer break!
Karen
8/7/03
Yeah, the first week of August is a bad time for us for some reason. We also had the water heater spray water all over the basement last August 3 or 4. But this year is much better -- we got our couch today!!
Gary
8/7/03
The recent posts here have got me reading old newsletter pages. If anyone needs a little pick-me-up, read about Olivia's adventure on 8/25/2001.... :-)
Gary
8/7/03
And two years ago, Karen, you were recovering from the "downburst." Early August is a weird time for y'all, so everybody watch what you're doing for the next few days, ok??
BTW, I just noticed that today is the third anniversary of this newsletter page. Congratulations, everybody! Seems like it's been going longer than that, though, eh?
Hey Amanda, here's one I just heard (from a former Texan):
--In Texas, what do you call it when the temperature reaches ninety-five?
--Spring.
Karen
8/7/03
It's not terribly hot here -- mid 80's -- but humid. So better than Texas. Gee, year ago today we were heading to the hospital with Brent.....
Amanda
8/6/03
Its 108 here today, and as I was looking I noticed that Lincoln is at 80. My mom and Sean and Shelby are coming here tomorrow, so I called my mom to tell them to prepare for a 30 DEGREE DIFFERENCE. Lord. We are dying. Its 85 in the house! This sucks! One year ago today, we left Omaha for this place. One year ago tomorrow (7th) we will have owned our house for a year. Time flies!
Ryan, Amanda, Tristen & Teghan
8/6/03
Happy Anniversary John & Marsha!
Marsha
8/5/03
Amanda and Ryan, thank you for the letter and adorable picture of Teghan! Emily, we are planning to be in Lincoln from August 19 to 26. We hope to see you guys, why does school have to start so early??? Our school starts on Sept. 2 (Samantha's birthday).
Anna
8/5/03
Happy Anniversary mom and dad!
Paul, Lori, Lindsey, and Olivia
8/5/03
Happy Anniversary, John and Marsha!
Nelson's
8/5/03
Happy Anniversary, John and Marsha.
Donna
8/5/03
Happy Anniversary Marsha and John!
Emily
8/5/03
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY JOHN & MARSHA!
Grandma
8/5/03
Happy Anniversary, John and Marsha!!
Samantha
8/5/03
***Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad!!!***
Lindsey
8/4/03
Amanda--yeah Livy loved the movie too but I just thought the story was kind of weird, but it wasn't too bad.
Marsha--we don't start school until the 25th so we will be able to see you guys for the week.
Gary--I didn't mean you had to write one, I just thought that you would be the first one to put one up!
I did mean to write one soon after seeing it, but like I said--I was just lazy! :-) --Gary
Amanda
8/4/03
It is 108 here right now!!! The hottest we have seen it, and its only the beginning of August. Oh, and our water source lake, Middle Lake, is EMPTY! Dried up, gone. And the Parks & Rec lake in town, the eye candy of Iowa Park, Oscar Lake, is close to dried up. Its BAAD.
Emily
8/4/03
Hey everybody! We went out to eat this afternoon at Ihop I got Eggs Bennidict, but the eggs were really runny and gross so, we sent it back and then i got a Chicken Quesadilla, it was much better! I have my last museum class for this summer, on Wednesday, and on Thursday our new couch is going to be delivered, and then mom has her confrence on Friday.
Amanda - That picture of the bee is gross!!! Ive never seen one that big!!!
Marsha - When are you guys going to leave Lincoln? We want to come down while you're there, but we start school on the 21st so we're not sure if we will be able to make it...
Amanda
8/4/03
Linz~ Tristen rented Kangaroo Jack awhile back and loved it. She talks about Jackie Legs all the time.
Lindsey
8/3/03
Hey Gary where's your Seabiscut review? I thought you would be the first one to put one up....
Just lazy I guess! But here you go! --Gary
Gary
8/2/03
New photo: Scary!
Lindsey
8/2/03
Hey everybody! Marsha--I can't wait until you guys come down. What day are you leaving then because I start school on the 25th so luckily you won't be coming then. But this morning we went to the farmers market and (Donna) I got my peach kolatchi (however you spell it) and spinach pie. I love going down there. Then we went to the county fair and looked at all the animals and then went through the other building. But then Olivia has a birthday party tonight and I don't know what else we will be doing. Last night we started watching Gangs of New York but then didn't get to finish it because it had to go back but I'll do a review of it when I finish watching it. OK well I better go, talk to you all later.
Marsha
8/2/03
Cool picture of the BEE today Gary. I love bees and just read a wonderful book called The Secret Life of Bees (watch for a review of that and Seabiscuit, the movie, soon). Weather hasn't been as terrible as Tex. or Neb., actually pretty nice, but too hot to garden much. I want a test run on Donna's Gallup bus...sounds so great! We are going for a riverboat/paddleboat ride on the St. Croix river tomorrow. Brunch and beverages and a lovely ride from Stillwater--what a cool town, Jessica Lang lives there, but I doubt we'll see her. Hey Amanda, our check came last week. The postal service is lousy, I think most everyone agrees with you on that. Has anyone listened to The Thorns, Matthew Sweet's new group? They are compared to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Teenage Fan Group. We are planning to do the Omaha Zoo when we come in Aug, probably on Thurs. the 21st if anyone is interested. Newspaper today had the Cornhuskers rated as 30th. Geez, that's at least higher than the Gophers..... And, speaking of taxes, we never have to pay taxes on clothes Amanda, which I think is the way it should be everywhere! The rest of our taxes are among the top 2 or 3 highest in the nation, but I do love no taxes on all clothes.
Amanda
8/1/03
Well, the USPS finally found our MIA check. We got it today. And just at 7 days, woohoo, I'm impressed! Nice timing though, this is tax free weekend on clothing at the mall. Back to school stuff. We don't need much, but we will go take a look. Any chance to get out of the heat is good for us! However, Ryan has been working for 2 days replacing the top canopy thing to our patio. He just now finished, we just have to paint it and wait for the tarp top to be done (we had to have some tarp and awning place make it for us). Tristen only has 2 weeks left of summer as she starts school on the 18th.
Amanda
8/1/03
Linz~ Maybe tell Livy to stop leaning on the side of it! :) :)
Ryan, Amanda, Tristen & Teghan
8/1/03
Happy Anniversary Brent & Karen!