Anderson/Hatgidakis/Nelson/Metcalf: Newsletter
Old news: April 2006
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Karen
4/30/06
Gary, if you want to, send the shoes here and we will return them for you. Thanks for coming yesterday. It was fun! Made Erika's birthday much better than I could have arranged :)
Never thought of that. I could send them up there. (They're light enough that postage would be cheap!) Thanks, I'll let you know. --Gary
Amanda
4/30/06
Try to exchange them somewhere. Lots of places sell Crocs. And note to anyone buying Crocs-- if it seems too big, it's the right size. They are not supposed to fit like a normal shoe. Try to get another pair Gary, they are heavenly. Beware of knock-offs, sure they look the same, but they are NOT the same shoe, no one has been able to match the comfort of Crocs brand. (I sound like a commercial!)
I guess I could try the exchange idea... but if I find a place that will exchange a pair of shoes bought in another store, in another state, I'm also buying a lottery ticket there; and I'll take the whole family to DisneyWorld... --Gary
Amanda
4/30/06
Gary, you bought Crocs?? I never wear anything else anymore...
Yeah, I did, but as I said the ones I got don't fit. This is what it's like to be me and shopping for clothes of any kind: You walk in and see hundreds of garments on display. You ask for your size, and a clerk says, "I think I saw one...." So two clerks start rummaging around, and finally pull something ugly out from the back of the rack. "Hope you like this color, it's the only one we have." And then when you get it home it doesn't fit. Welcome to my world! --Gary
Gary
4/30/06
I meant to do a brief write-up last night, but laid down to read and fell asleep!
In spite of the rain (which was with us the whole day -- didn't let up til we were almost back to Lincoln), we had a great time. We walked into the Nelson living room just before 11, which was about 20 minutes sooner than late-sleeping Emily arrived. :-) I had halfway expected Brent to be propped up with cushions and still groggy from all the hospital meds; but he was awake and all-there and obviously glad to be out of the hospital (who wouldn't??). Applebee's was the restaurant of choice, so we dashed to the car (we had rented a brand-new Dodge Stratus with 118 miles on it--nice!) and motored there. Grandma: Asiago Chicken and mashed potatoes; Emily: Oriental Chicken Salad; Donna: Grilled Tilapia with Corn Salsa; Erika: 3-cheese Penne Pasta with Chicken; Gary: Cuban Sandwich, with a side of Onion Peels. Then we drove to the mall. Walked through Barnes & Noble and got some coffees at Starbucks. While there, Erika's phone rang: Brent wanted to get out of the house, so he and Karen were on their way to meet us! Iron Man! A few minutes later, we were all in the mall and hitting various stores. Karen and Brent left ahead of us, as we made one more stop at a card/candle type store. Erika bought a cool wristwatch there, and a few of us were attracted to their big display of Crocs; nice shoes, but mine turned out to be too small, which brings up today's sermon: Never buy shoes out of town.
For the drive from the mall back to the Nelson house, only three words: Worst. Directions. Ever! :-) Emily and Erika, in the back seat, took over the navigation chores as I had only a vague idea of where we were. "Should I go this way?" "No." "Okay, 'no' doesn't help... Should I go left?" "Right!" "Right here?" "No, LEFT!" "Left here??" "No, wait, not left here, left up there!" "Okay, I'm turning left here, is this the right way?" "...Well, it's a way..." "All right, then I'm going left." "WAIT! I lied, this isn't it!" "Stop lying to me!"
We did eventually make it back anyway, and we had Erika's chocolate-chip cookie cake and ice cream, played some "Dumb Laws" and a few games of pool in the basement, then got back in the Stratus and buzzed home. A fun day! Thanks, Nelsons, and hope you had a happy birthday, Erika!
Amanda
4/30/06
So, what did you guys do yesterday? How is Brent?
Hatgidakis Family
4/29/06
Happy Birthday Erika!!!
Livy
4/29/06
Hey everyone! Well Max is getting bigger, and I also mean heavier, but anyway, the other day after school, me and dad were outside in the back with them, and I started to go up the stairs, and he just trailed on up, so then I walked up the steps without a side to it (it isn't closed off in the front) and at first he didn't want to, but then I picked him up and set him on the first step, then I walked up to the top, and he just walked right in the house like he owned the place. "Hey, get me a shot of milk, I'm feelin' thirsty." ;) Well I have to go, talk to you all later!!!
Ryan, Amanda, Tristen & Teghan
4/29/06
We probably missed our chance to say it before the webmaster hit the road, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIKA!
Erika
4/28/06
Hi everyone I wanted to thank Hatgidakis for the birthday card they gave me. Also I was wondering what time Donna, Gary, and Grandma would be down, and what you guys would want to do when your down here.
Donna
4/28/06
Happy Birthday, Erika!!! !
Nicole, Cocoa, Mr. Debbie, TJ, and Napoleon
4/28/06
Happy Birthday Erika! Meow!
Emily
4/28/06
Happy Birthday Erika!
Paul, Lori, Lindsey, Olivia
4/28/06
Happy Birthday Erika!
Karen
4/28/06
Well Brent made it through his first night home. Had a few minor problems, but it all worked out. Had a home health care nurse come out this morning. She was able to check all his vitals and answer lots of questions we had. Mostly I think he is doing pretty well, kind of pale and tired, but feeling very little pain. Looking forward to seeing some of you tomorrow. I still don't know what Erika has decided.
Dad and Mom
4/28/06
Happy, Happy 13th Birthday Erika :)
Grandma
4/28/06
Glad that Brent is home! Good time to get rested up, if your weather is as rainy as ours. Hope recovery time is short and you feel good again.
Happy Birthday, Erika!! I hope you made lots of plans for us to do.
Karen
4/27/06
Brent is home!! Really tired, but otherwise feeling OK. Had to get LOTS of medicines and that will be tricky to keep them all straight. Also have a nurse coming to the house for a few days so that should help.
Donna
4/27/06
Good news about Brent!
I can't believe Kelly went off last night. I liked her, not as much as I did at the beginning but better than Paris and that weird looking guy.
Amanda
4/27/06
Great news about Brent. Didn't realize it had been 15 days already! Course, to you guys it probably feels like 30!
American Idol got it right last night. I was glad to see Katherine & Chris were the top two. They are my two favorites!
Yeah, it messed up my prediction [though Amanda nailed it! see 4/20 below] but I still predict Chris will be the winner. As good as Kelly may have been at her thing, that thing was all she could do. --Gary
Karen
4/26/06
After 15 days, Brent is to come home tomorrow.......
Good news! Now you can start to get back to normal. --Gary
Amanda
4/26/06
MMM... Hu Hot.... Luckyeee..... That will be a good birthday!
Erika
4/25/06
I was thinking I would like to go to Applebees or Hu Hot for my birthday when you come down. You will get to meet the cats! Emily says she is even "going to brush Mr. Debbie's beautiful fur." I think I am going to let Emily come with us.
Great, Erika. Can't wait! :-) --Gary
Paul
4/25/06
Great game Tristen, I have heard rumors the Texas Rangers are going to call up some new young talent..... You don't suppose???
Donna
4/25/06
Oh yeah, White House, that's what I meant. Which reminds me, tomorrow is the anniversary of the death of John Wilkes Booth. I just saw a story on CBS Sunday Morning showing his final days. He was trying to escape to Mexico but he kept bragging to those he'd meet that he'd killed Lincoln so it made him easier to find. He thought the southerners would welcome him into their homes and help him escape, but not so. The lousy traitor!
Amanda
4/25/06
Yes, it is still our plan to move up on the 26th or 27th. It depends on what time our closing is. If it is early enough we may leave on Friday the 26th, if it's too late we will leave Saturday the 26th.
There is a contract pending sign on our front yard sign & that got all the neighbors tongues a waggin. We got home last night at 9 & 2 neighbors stopped us to ask the details.
Last night Tristen had a softball game & played a different position. She played pitcher, but she didn't pitch. The coaches pitch, so the girl pitcher does everything else in that position. One of the more important parts of that position is that she is the end result of a play, the ball always ends up with her & she holds it up on the mound to signal no more base running. She did OK. She was much better at 3rd base. And she almost had a grand slam last night. The bases were loaded when she went up to bat & she knocked a pretty good one. She got the 3 girls off their bases & ended up at 3rd. She probably could have made it home herself, but her coach told her to stay at 3rd.
Donna your friend wanted a White House tour, right? Not capitol...
Karen
4/24/06
Amanda -- Erika did get to watch Brokeback. Normally I kind of "pre-view" those movies, but the last couple of weeks they have been on their own. Congratulations on selling your house in record time. What a huge relief that must be. Brent is doing pretty good today. They had to put another central line in his neck. They thought the old one might be infected. Cutting him down on the pain meds so that may be tricky. Trying to get used to the "bag." Has a great nurse that comes in every day to talk with him about it. Doctor isn't saying for sure, but we are hoping to get him home Wed or Thurs, but will have to wait to see.
Donna
4/24/06
Wow Amanda, I can't believe you sold your house so fast! That's amazing. So will you move down over Memorial Day weekend?
I hope that's a sign Marsha's house will sell as easily.
BTW, thanks for the letter and coupon--good excuse to go shopping. ;-)
And yes, I have heard from my friend. It sounds like they had a really nice time in DC. I didn't hear details of the Capital tour. I'm sure it was nice though.
Amanda
4/24/06
We are officially in contract with our house! It was like record timing. We got a pretty good deal. We didn't get what we asked for it, but the details of the contract are exactly what we wanted, so we were willing to come down a little. If all goes well we will close on Friday May 26th!
And Erika, I can't believe you watched Brokeback! I guess I should have done a review warning others. I didn't mind the movie, but some scenes were a bit unexpected!
Amanda
4/24/06
Good Bushism: "I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein."
Gary
4/23/06
Thanks for your latest review, Erika!
Emily
4/23/06
Congrats on the offer Amanda hope everything else continues to go well for you and Marshas!
I can't believe someone ripped up your sticker Gary! Good thing you have plenty of spares. That story reminded Erika and I of a sticker we saw on someones car that said something like "I used to have a support sticker, but someone stole it" it made us laugh.
Thanks for all of the congratulations on my article! It was a surprise to see it, I had no idea I had been nominated. I'm not sure when they will vote on the winner, although last year I believe it was sometime in the summer. But, we will be sure to keep everyone posted on what comes of it. A lot of my teachers noticed it and had to congratulate me on it, my psychology teacher even had to cut it out and display it on the wall.
I love the new puppy, Max! He's so cute & its good to hear he gets along with Caesar, unlike our cats.
Karen
4/23/06
Just back from the hospital. Brent is doing pretty well. Looking much better than he has for the last couple of days. He is up and walking a little. Still no real food, but he is getting some juice, jello and broth (all of his favorites). The nurse came in just as I was leaving and did tell him that the doctor wanted to have him get a couple of units of blood. Not sure what that is about so we will have to talk with him when he comes in. Otherwise he is doing well considering what he has been through in the last two weeks.
Karen
4/23/06
Wow, an offer already that is great!
Amanda
4/22/06
And, now an offer! The people that came at 5 tonight had an offer to our realtor by 9 tonight. Woo. The realtors are calling it record time! Not sure what we will do yet, still hashing out some details so we are not "in contract" yet. Will keep you updated (whoever might be reading this!)
Amanda
4/22/06
We had another one look tonight!
Amanda
4/22/06
We had someone look at the house today! First time!! And it wasn't even ready, lovely! I had paint all over me & the backyard was tore up & the kitchen & dining room floors were dirty. Lovely! :) But, hey at least we got some lookers already!
Amanda
4/22/06
Bushism to start your weekend: "If the terriers and bariffs are torn down, this economy will grow."
Amanda
4/21/06
Marsha, I don't envy you getting your house ready. We had barely anything to do to get it ready & it is killing us! We just put it on the market anyway & plan to finish the stuff this weekend. Not enought TIME! That was such a thoughful thing Brent's coworkers did! I was just asking Grandma how they were dealing with all his time off & now I got my answer.
Marsha
4/21/06
Forget about that magnet ripper Gary, his days of Bush are numbered. I drove Anna to school last week and in front of the Bad Waitress Cafe was a beautiful blue Jag convertible with a license plate reading MPEACHW. That won't be easily ripped up. Amanda, we are still working on our house, 17 years of accumulation goes slowly sometimes. Hopefully soon it will be on the market. Good luck with yours. We saw some promising houses while we were in Lincoln. Thanks for all the updates on Brent, Karen. That was so great of his co-workers!
Livy
4/21/06
Hey everyone! I'm just at home with my friend Kylie. She finally got to see Max too. She's also spending the night. Anyway, I think I sent the pictures of my projects, but I'm not sure yet, so I'll try it again. We got 2 more toys for Max, so now he has three, and he likes to play tug-a-war too! He's so cute! Donna, you just wanted to hold him too, and I thought I heard you say that you would trade Mojo for Max.... Well I gotta go, talk to you all later!!!
Karen
4/21/06
Poor Brent had a rough night and morning. Just could not get the pain under control. He also did not like his nurse, so I had to "request" another one for him. The doctors came in this morning and I hope that they have the meds worked out a bit better. At least he was able to get some rest. He also got the ng tube taken out of his nose, which will make a LOT of difference. He is also to be moved out of ICU and to a regular room sometime today. Some people from his office just stopped by the house. They brought us a ton of groceries and lots of gift cards for restaurants. So Emily and Erika will be thrilled not to have to cook for themselves.
Gary
4/21/06
Thanks for the review, Amanda. Do read "Angels and Demons" -- I liked it even more, I think, than "Da Vinci Code." But then, I had just gotten back from Rome (where the book mostly takes place), so all the locations were familiar to me. But back to "Da Vinci," only 28 days til the movie!
Gary
4/21/06
So, I came out to my car last night after work, and found that someone had removed the "Impeach Bush" ribbon-magnet from the back of my car, torn it into six or eight pieces, and stuck the pieces on the hood of my car. Just another Bush supporter demonstrating the respect for free speech that his Leader has. So, I pulled another magnet out of my trunk (this is why I make several at a time), but before putting it on the car I wrote a short note and taped it to the back (and I will do this for all future models). The note reads: "Go ahead and rip it up, COWARD! I've got more! :-)"
Whoever this particular Republican was, I'll say this for him: He may be an ignorant cowardly vandal (like the rest of the 32% of the country that still supports Bush), but he is physically quite strong -- those magnets are not easy to tear up!
Erika
4/21/06
Livy, I hope you have more fun in F.C.S. than I did last year. That class was horrible, and I had to have it for an entire semester, but I think that the main reason I hated it was because that teacher was evil. Even worse news, that evil teacher is now my T.A. (homeroom) teacher.
Lindsey
4/20/06
Just checked out your site Amanda and the pictures look good. Hope you get some interested buyers soon!
Livy
4/20/06
Hey everyone! Well today was my last day of MAT testing, thank goodness!! That test never started to get on my nerves, it always has been. Anyway, My day was all about testing today, it was mostly really easy. Also, I started FCS (family consumer science) today, and I like it so far, first we are going to start sewing like next week, then we are going to make wheat bread, chocolate chip cookies, and some cinamom bread desert that sounded really good. I finnished my dice the other day, so I came to FCS today. I will take a picture of them with my name board, only I didn't get to the napkin holder, but if I had 1 more day, I would've gotten it finnished. I painted my dice red and blue, odds red, and evens blue. Because that the dice is clear, because we had to buff it ya know, but it is a clear white with blue and red in the numbers that I had to drill in with the drill press. It was fun. Well I have to go to my piano lesson, talk to you all later!!!
Paul
4/20/06
Karen, glad to hear Brent is out of surgery, Hope things can get back a little more normal, Hope he feels better soon. By the way congrats to Emily, very nice article.
Karen
4/20/06
Brent is doing OK. I am at the hospital with him now, waiting to talk with the surgeon. He slept fairly well last night and took a nice long nap this morning. He also just took a lap around the ICU floor. It was hard on him, but he got it done. The kidney function is back to normal -- so that is at least one less thing to worry about.
Donna
4/20/06
I missed it last night. Who got voted off?
Karen, glad the surgery is over. How's he doing today? Keep us posted.
Last night Ace got the ax. --Gary
Amanda
4/20/06
American Idol made us happy last night, next to go Kelly Pickler... But, I doubt that will happen. She stunk up the stage this week & wasn't even in the bottom 3!
Agreed, though I don't think she'll be the next to go. My prediction: the next four weeks or whatever will be bla-bla-bla-whatever til it comes down to Kelly and Chris. Then Chris will win. Game over. --Gary
Amanda
4/20/06
Check us out, we are officially for sale! If this link doesn't work, go to www.realtor.com & use MLS #94616. We have a HUGE sign in our front yard & she is going to make our house a "talking house" meaning there is a prerecorded message about our house if you sit in front of our house & tune your radio dial to a certain channel. We are going to have an open house next Sunday, but I really hope we have a bite by then!
Marsha's what is your status?
Karen
4/19/06
Well the surgery is over. Brent is back in his room -- still ICU, in a lot of pain. The doctor thought surgery would last 1 1/2 hours. He ended up taking two hours just clearing out adhesions. He also had to take out a section of his small intestine. I think he wanted to do more but he was losing a lot of blood and thought he needed to stop. So we will be sitting tight for a few more days and waiting.
Gary
4/19/06
The Bush White House has no doubts about their own "leadership" -- they're convinced they are doing the right thing, always -- so if their approval rating is down in the low 30s, the problem must be that "we're just not getting the message out." So they change the messenger, and do a few other image enhancements. But don't touch the policies, oh no -- go right ahead with a disastrous war in Iraq, and continue planning for a nuclear war in Iran.... Did Scotty jump, or was he pushed? My money is on pushed. Because Bush, ya know, is the decider, cuz he's the leaderer, and decidin' is what leaderers do, ya see.
Donna
4/19/06
This just in from CNN....
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan announces resignation.
Woohoo!!!
I'm sure he just wants to "spend more time with his family." And now that this lying weasel is out, we just have to wait to see which lying weasel they replace him with. --Gary
Gary
4/18/06
Well, more than 50 years after it happened, and nearly a year after she died, the good ol' Alabama legislature has graciously decided to pardon Rosa Parks of her "crime" -- refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white man. Uhhhh.... thanks...???
Livy
4/18/06
Hey everyone! Well FYI Donna, our computer had a stupid virus thingy-ma-bob, ya know, and I couldn't get on for a while. FYI also, it was NOT user error!!! Have you all seen the pictures of Max???!!! I love him a lot! I think he is so cute!!! When he chases a stick, he hops like a bunny, but I kind of guess he would because we got him a day before Easter! ;) Also, he will dig in the gravel, and has his favorite spot in the pit, and well, that was his first hole. Well, I guess I will talk to you all later!!! :)
P.S. I'm going to put on a couple of projects on there, from shop, or whatcha-muh call it, I.T. (industrial tech). Now, talk to you all later!!!
Karen
4/18/06
The surgery is scheduled for "mid-morning." Brent is the doctors 5th surgery of the day -- so I guess it just depends on how quickly the first ones go. The surgeon thought the operation should last about 1 1/2 hours. Amanda -- I will be graphic -- so turn away if you want. Brent has already had his large intestine removed and it empties in what is called a J-pouch. The j-pouch is internal and no longer functioning. The doctor is hoping to save most of the small bowel and by-pass the j-pouch (remove as much of that as is needed). Then he will make a small hole in the side of his stomach. That is where his waste will deposit -- into a small bag that he will have to empty a couple of times a day. The doctor said he thought if all goes well he could be home in 7-10 days. He will have a lot to overcome after surgery so I hope that he will be home that soon.
Amanda
4/18/06
If it's not too inappropriate or graphic, can you tell us what the surgery entails?
Donna
4/18/06
Karen, what time is surgery and about how long will it take? Any idea now how long he will be in the hospital after surgery?
Karen
4/18/06
I'll let you in on the latest info on Brent. He is doing a little better. The kidneys are almost where they need to be. So he is having his surgery tomorrow morning. It's the big surgery that we have been dreading for years, but it has to come.
Donna
4/18/06
Max is so cute! Olivia, I can't believe you haven't written in yet to tell us what you think of your new dog. I suppose you're spending all your free time with Max and no time left for writing.
The Hatgidakis family
4/17/06
Great article Emily! Congratulations! Glad to hear that Brent is doing better. Thanks to everyone for their hospitality while we were in Lincoln, we had a great time. Little Max is adorable.
Amanda
4/17/06
What a great front page! Tristen LOVES it! They had a game tonight, they smoked the other team. Tristen played 3rd base tonight, she did great. She got the ball twice & threw it straight to 1st base. She liked 3rd better than outfield (who doesn't?). Math TAKS tomorrow, so she has a LONG stressful day ahead of her. Then a 2 hour dance class tomorrow night as she prepares for the recital. And OMG the puppy is SO cute!!!
Lindsey
4/17/06
Well here's the newest addition to our family, Maximus (Max). We got him Saturday and that was his 8 week birthday so he was born February 18th. He's a very active puppy but also likes his naps, especially with Ceaser. Ceaser is really great with him and we're surprised how fast they've bonded. Ceaser is very protective of him and acts like a Dad towards him which helps with the puppy coming into a new home because he has another dog like him. He's a handful but we love him!
Donna
4/17/06
Emily, what a great article and I heard you had no idea. What a nice surprise that must have been. What did all your friends and teachers say about it at school?
Great pictures of Tristen's birthday and of Easter in Texas. Tristen, it looked like you had a FUN birthday.
Grandma
4/17/06
Great article, Emily! Congratulations!! You make me proud!
Am glad that Brent is getting some relief, but I will be happier when he is through with surgery and back home. Been a long haul already.
Hope you all had a good Easter, I did! I hear Erika fixed tacos for her and Emily! Way to go Erika!
Karen
4/17/06
That is a nice article on Emily :) Brent is doing a little better. Mostly just waiting for his kidney function to improve before he goes in for surgery. Kidney specialist was in this morning and said it is improving a lot, but still has a way to go. He thought maybe 2-3 more days. He is having some more pain last night and this morning and some tests came back that showed some kind of an infection. So mostly we are just waiting until surgery.
Amanda
4/17/06
Nice job Emily! Any new updates on Brent?
Amanda
4/16/06
Good Bushism: "I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today... He married a Texas girl, I want you to know Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me."
Ha! Love that one! --Gary
Hatgidakis Family
4/16/06
Happy Easter!
Nelsons
4/16/06
Happy Easter everyone!!
Gary
4/15/06
Thanks for the review, Erika. I do want to see that one.
Karen
4/15/06
Boy, big changes since I wrote last. About 4:00 the x-rays were done, dr said no surgery for now. So I left him the hospital and hoped he would get some sleep. Emily, Erika and I went out to run a few errands, maybe gone an hour. When we got back there were 5 calls from the hospital. I immediately called them back and they told me Brent had to be taken to ICU. So I went right there. Apparently his heart rate was three times faster than normal and blood pressure was very low. Seems he was dehydrated -- which is really, really irritating since we had been saying that to the nurses and doctors for two days. They had to put in a second IV for all the new meds and two more specialists came to check on him. The heart and blood pressure were quickly returning to normal levels. The one kidney was shut down, but seemed to coming back about a few hours later. I stayed with him until about 11 and he was beginning to get a little relief. So I don't have a clue as to what will happen today. Probably just let him rest which is what he needs. On the plus side he is getting excellent care in ICU.
Karen
4/14/06
Well our holiday week-end is off to a lousy start! For those who don't know, Brent is very sick and back in the hospital. Stayed home on Wednesday, not feeling well. When I got home after school, he was gone. He soon called and said he was in the emergency room. The doctor thought he had a blockage (again). They have been doing a bunch of tests to find the problem. Today he was in x-ray from 8 until 3. They came and took him down every hour to take another picture. It wore him out!! He had to get an ng tube down his throat to help drain his stomach. So it was a miserable day. Yesterday the surgeon said that he would probably be needing "Big" surgery on Saturday. So we set our minds to that and began to accept it. (In fact Brent was begging to get it done today.) After all the results of the x-rays came in the doctor decided he needed to do a few more tests and let him rest and then make a decision on surgery. So for now the plan is to have his colon rest for 2 days, then another x-ray test, then see what happens. So he will be in the hospital for awhile. Today he was miserable, hopefully with some rest and changes in his medicine tomorrow will be better.
Tristen (typed by Amanda)
4/14/06
This morning we ate breakfast--we had pancakes, eggs, & of course bacon! Then I got some flowers from my Mom & Dad & Teghan. I got daisys, and other purple flowers with purple balloons. We are going to go to the mall, and then we are going to see The Wild. Then out to dinner tonight. Love you, bye.
Nelsons
4/14/06
Happy Birthday Tristen!
Gary
4/14/06
Who's hungry? For a limited time (through next Monday), if you happen to be near Selfridges in London, stop in for the world's most expensive sandwich. For a mere 100 pounds (approximately $175), your sandwich features beef, foie gras, brie, and black truffle mayonnaise on sourdough. Price includes a side of tortilla chips and a mini bottle of champagne. And I thought the airport food courts were expensive! :-)
Dad, Mom & Teghan
4/14/06
Happy Birthday Tristen!
Donna
4/14/06
Happy Birthday to the fastest runner in Texas! Have a great birthday, Tristen! Can't wait to hear what you're doing today.
Hatgidakis Family
4/13/06
Happy Birthday Tristen!!!!
Grandpa Paul, Grandma Lori, Lindsey, and Livy
4/13/06
Happy Birthday Tristen a.k.a Speedy Gonzalez!
Grandma
4/13/06
Great report card, Erika, Congratulations!
Happy Birthday, Tristen!
Congratulations on being such a speedy runner too!
Had a great Birthday, many Thanks to you all.
Got a beautiful bouquet this morning, Thank you Metcalfs!
And I am glad you liked my spinach, Sean, but I don't know if I rank
up there with Boston Market!
Donna
4/13/06
Great looking grades, Erika!
So what is the latest with Brent? How is he doing?
Paul, Lori, Lindsey, Olivia
4/12/06
Happy Birthday Mom/Grandma!
Erika
4/12/06
Hi everybody I just got my report card and I made B average honor roll so here are my grades:
Band: C
P.E.: B
Reading: A
Geography: B
Math: B-
English: A
Life Science: B+
Choir: B+
Computer tec.: A-
Excellent grades, Erika! --Gary
Nelsons
4/12/06
Happy Birthday Grandma!
Ryan, Amanda, Tristen & Teghan
4/12/06
Happy Birthday Grandma!
Amanda
4/10/06
Bushism, "If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." 2002.
Sean
4/8/06
Grandma, I stopped by Bosten Market tonight and decided I had better try their spinach, since your's was so good! You had them beat! Your's is much better, I need to try making that soon. I just had to let you know.
Livy
4/8/06
Hey everyone! Today I saw something that I thought I would never see before, but there you have it. It was as weird as a cheeseburger doing yoga, or a smoothie hula dancing. It was a squirrel doing acrobatics on the end of a very very very skinny and did I say very tiny branch! It was just hanging there eating a leaf!!! He couldn't get in the bird feeder, so I guess that would be the next stop, I wouldn't really choose that, but I guess he liked to gloat. I mean sure I can't hang from a branch and eat at the same time, but he didn't have to rub it in! I mean really. Well I gotta go, talk to you all later!
Catching up now. Everything above the white box below is new stuff. Thanks for your patience, everyone. Also, there are new pictures too, from Karen and Amanda -- watch for them soon! --Gary
Gary
4/12/06
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Just got back, at 10:30 am Wednesday morning. Not 9:30 last night, as scheduled. Rain was pouring in San Francisco yesterday, and delayed all the flights. So, since noon yesterday until just now (22 hours!), I've been sitting in terminals or on planes. No sleep. Bleah! But except for that I had a great time. As soon as I have a shower and a nap I will bring this page up to date. I tried to call Grandma's house on four different occasions over the past five days, to check on the activities there and report on my own, but I got a busy signal every time. Kids these days and their internets and what-have-you...! So I'll make my report here soon. Good to be back!
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Gary
4/7/06
Okay, as of now this webpage is on hiatus. I'm off to the airport, and will be back late Tuesday night. If you need a newsletter fix, how about reading some past newsletters? Just pick one above at random. They're always interesting!
Big news yesterday, which I just heard this morning. Scooter squeals on Bush! This is big. :-)
Remember, you can continue to send in newsletter items and reviews (please do!), but they won't show up here until Wednesday sometime when I start clearing my email.
Emily
4/6/06
Donna, I would have just gotten another egg and passed it off as Zoey, but they all have a special sticker that identifies them and a name written on them with a black light marker... so It proably wouldn't have worked out...
It is really nice here today in the 80s and sunny! It has been so nice out my Comp. class decided to have a pizza party outside today to take a break from our research papers. It was a nice break, and no school tomorrow! Although, I don't think it is supposed to be quite as nice tomorrow and rainy...
Gary
4/6/06
Thanks for the review, Erika!
Amanda
4/6/06
While I was in Lincoln, two good Bushism's popped up.
"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
"It's going to require numerous IRA agents." Referring to Gore's tax plan, 2000.
Ha! Keem 'em coming. As you all know, I try to support Our President and not be critical of his Bold Leadership (unlike the Liberal Media!!); but these quotes are making me think he might be... well, Stupid.
P.S. Amanda: Get some sleep! --Gary
Amanda
4/6/06
Yes, I was in Lincoln, and now today already I am back home. I got home WAY late last night (4 AM & Im up to take T to school at 6:45). The interview went fine. Hope to hear something soon!
Donna
4/5/06
I wouldn't mind another trip to San Francisco--Lombard Street, Japanese Tea Garden, Palace of Fine Arts, Muir Woods, Greyhound Rock, 17 mile drive, wine tasting (was that in Monterrey?)... Remember that Dim Sum restaurant we went to in China Town and had to walk through the kitchen to get to the dining room? Remember the cattle car to hell? Yeah, that was a great trip.
That Chinese place was Sam Wo's...correction, just "Sam Wo." I always thought it was somebody's name, but I just learned today that "Sam Wo" is Chinese for "threefold blessing." But yeah, what a place. The food isn't great, but what atmosphere! Almost a hundred years old, and so small you have to walk right through the kitchen to the stairs in the back which take you to one of three upstairs "dining rooms" -- also very small. I'll be there on Saturday! And we did go to Monterrey, but the wine-tasting was in the Napa Valley, the heart of the California wine country. --Gary
Karen
4/5/06
Amanda -- you are in Lincoln now?? That trip must have come up quickly -- good luck on the interview. A BEAUTIFUL day here, already 78 -- it was actually enjoyable to be out with the kids today. I saw in the paper today that it is official that Katie Couric will be doing the evening CBS news. I'm not sure that is good move for her -- hard to take her too seriously. Emily are Erika are about to start a long week-end. Erika actually started today, she woke up with a really sore eye. Just wouldn't stop hurting so I went out and got some eye drops which seemed to be helping. Not sure what happened, but she did get the day off of school. Then she also gets tomorrow and Friday off. Emily has to go tomorrow, but gets Friday off. She will probably spend most of the day studying.
Gary -- have a great time in San Francisco. It must be 20+ years since Donna and I went there. I think I'm ready to go again. I remember the Cliff House -- I think that was where we saw the seals. I would love to go back to Chinatown. Have fun!!
Thanks, I will. Yeah, right outside the Cliff House windows stand Seal Rocks -- where the seals used to be. Now, after who knows how many centuries, they suddenly decided to move -- over to Fisherman's Wharf. Nobody knows why. (I blame George Bush.) I wish you could all come along; San Francisco is a great town to have fun in.
Feel better, Erika! --Gary
Amanda
4/5/06
Well, Im just here at Grandma's awaiting the interview time... I go at 4. I am interviewing for the Nebraska Attorney General's Office for the position of Constituent Services Director. Hope it goes well, I really don't want the drive up here & back to be a waste. Except I did get to see Grandma & Sean so far. Lindsey & Olivia a bit later... My plan is to go home tonight though.
Gary
4/5/06
It should be fun in San Francisco. I arrive there on Friday around noon, and all I have to do is put in a few hours on Sunday and a few more on Monday at the Convention Center. Other than that, I'm free. So I'll be looking up lots of old spots. I'm staying at the Parc 55 and I've requested the highest-up room they've got, so I'll have a great view. I'll be going to a party at a favorite restaurant of mine, John's Grill, which is full of Sam Spade/Maltese Falcon memorabilia. (Dashiell Hammett, who wrote "The Maltese Falcon," used to eat there often in the 1920s and set one of the scenes in the book there.) I'm going to spend a long afternoon in Chinatown and North Beach with some friends; going to go to Ocean Beach and the Cliff House at sunset; and also ride the cablecar late at night, which is one of my favorite things -- the crowds are gone, the fog has rolled in, and you really get a feel for the old San Francisco.
Anyway, I'll be here through tomorrow if you have newsletter items, but after that this page will be quiet until Wednesday.
Donna
4/5/06
Emily, that was a horrible accident! Why didn't you just get another egg out of the fridge and pass it off as Zoey? Good luck on the ACT's!
Olivia, I read a story about a dog that got lost and found his way home five years later! And I also read a story about a dog that was taking care of some baby kitties!
Gary, have a great time in San Francisco. It will be quiet on the webpage for a few days.
Emily
4/4/06
No, sadly the egg baby death incident was not an April fools day joke... Erika did NOT explain it very accurately. I did not shove them into my purse so I wouldn't have to be seen with them. I wanted to put them into a more secure holder than the basket that I take them to school. So I very carefully wrapped them in their blankets and secured them into a butter tub and placed it securely in my purse. Then on our way home they fell onto the floor of the car and Hugo crushed Zoey. Then the next day in Psychology, I had to get up in front of the class and explain what happened. But, luckily the class agreed that it was just a horrible accident, and thought I was still a good egg baby parent, and didn't petition against me to take Hugo away. So, it was a sad day and we all miss Zoey very much, but Hugo is still doing well and the experiment will be over tomorrow. Thanks for you sympathies Gary & Grandma... they meant a lot to Hugo and I :(
I am taking my ACTs on Saturday, so I will have to be up at Briar Cliff for 5 hours Saturday morning, which will be no fun... But, hopefully they should go well!
Good luck on the ACTs! Remember that where I work we have a library that has copies of every test ever made in the last hundred years (plus answers), so if there's any way I can help.... --Gary
Donna
4/4/06
Okay, I guess it's not official. The talk on the radio this morning was that it was a done deal but I just checked CNN and they're saying it's very likely but not official yet.
This much smoke, there's got to be fire. I assume it will happen. --Gary
Donna
4/4/06
So Katie Couric moves to CBS Evening News. I think that's a bad move. I like her, but she's too perky for evening news. And what's sad is Aaron Brown is still unemployed. He would have been an excellent choice. It reminds me of the movie Broadcast News. Anyone hear yet how much she's getting?
Wow, I hadn't heard this was official. Yeah, I agree, a bad move -- the news department which was once the home of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite is now headed by a perky Republican cheerleader. It used to be about investigating and reporting news, and now it's about reading press releases and keeping the management happy. --Gary
Paul
4/3/06
The tile looks really nice. A good way to go. Has to be cheaper than the enclosure you guys were thinking about.
Way to go "Speedy Gonzalas," on a great softball game !!
Amanda
4/3/06
Bushism, "I'm also not very analytical. You know, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things."
Gary
4/2/06
It's been awhile, but there is new activity on the projects page!
Grandma
4/2/06
Congratulations, Tristen! I hear you made 2 homeruns in your softball game. WOW! Wish I could have seen that!!
Grandma
4/2/06
Poor Zoey! I was looking forward to twin great grandchikdren. I hope Hugo has a better fate.
Erika
4/2/06
Gary that wasn't an april fools day joke, and don't feel sorry for Emily it was her own fault.
Gary
4/1/06
Erika, was that an April Fools?? If it was, you totally got me. I was telling the story over at Grandma's (she hadn't seen it yet) when I thought to myself "...Cocoa...??" If the story is true, my sympathies, Emily. :-)
Don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour, everybody. No foolin'!
Erika
4/1/06
Something very bad happened yesterday. We were shopping and Emily had Hugo and Zoey (her twin egg babies). She was being a very bad mother and shoved them into her purse so she wouldn't have to be seen with them. Then when we got home Emily took them out; There was Zoey her shell was cracked and her yoke was falling out! She still hasn't learned her lesson she decided that Cocoa will be Hugo's baby-siter! I hope she never has children!