Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Hey, Carron,

So sorry for the slow response to your emails. I've been checking in on the website and enjoying the pictures and updates. Congrats to you and Tony! Also, very impressive on that 157 score! You gotta love bragging rights!

It really has been a dreadful winter here. I've never seen so much snow. We usually golf here in December and January, now I just keep the shovel by the front door so I don't have to make the trip to the garage so often.

We did sneak away to Cancun in December. Ahhh, that was nice! It's all I've got right now getting me through these days!

This is where I apologize, we were in Anamosa over Thanksgiving. I know,
I'm sorry for the no phone call and no visit. It was a last minute trip and we
were gone before the mini reunion on Saturday. The weather was wonderful
and we did enjoy visiting the family. Next time.......


Hope all is well, feel free to call anytime. I also attached a recent picture of me and Argyle in his wheelchair. As you know, he recently passed but he lived to be 15 and he loved that wheelchair, it gave him mobility when he could no longer walk. So I would highly recommend them to anyone with an ailing old dog.

Take care!

Jean (Reiter)

Monday, January 29, 2007

QUESTION OF THE WEEK




VERSUS

http://www.educationminnesota.org/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=17638

You can click on this link to read information about the Minnesota Teacher of the Year awards to be held on May 6, 2007.

If you scroll a little over half-way down the second column of nominees, you will see a woman named Michele Bungum. I just about died when I saw the name. She is apparently my third cousin. Her brother, Galen, is in the book and the movie "We Are Soldiers" starring Mel Gibson. He was one of the very few who survived that massacre in Viet Nam. He is my dad's second cousin.

Wish Linda luck as she makes her way through the semi-finalist and finalist round. Hopefully, I will be in attendance on May 6th when they announce her name as the winner!

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Grandma Darcie, mommy Brittney and baby Nadia. Such a beautiful baby!






OK, so Tony and I go bowling Saturday night. If you look closely, you can see I kicked his butt, 157-138. I also won two other times, 115-114, and 135-128.
Doesn't he look rather cocky for getting beat three times by a woman?
Oh, did I fail to mention that we bowled seven games? I had to bowl between my legs just so the poor schmuck could win the other four games and not go home pouting. I was all up for bowling game eight so we could tie it up, but noooooo........... ego boy wouldn't allow it.
Baby.
Hello Carron,

It has been so long for me to write as well! Sounds as though things are going great for you. Haven't even had much chance to get on the blog myself, but it sure looks as though people are keeping you busy.

How is your Dad doing these days? Like I said I haven't had much chance to get caught up on the blog site, I plan to today though. Hope your family is in good health in this new year. I see you have a new man in your life. I am really happy for you. He obviously is in love with you. Feelings mutual? I'm guessing yes reading that you spent the most of your vacation with him and the kids. ;)

My holidays were great and I have attached a family photo for you. Santa was great to me as well and yes I feel as though I wasn't an angel all year either. LOL Brian and I hosted Christmas this year and it was a lot of fun, food and card playing. I also had the week between Christmas and New Year's off, so Brian and I took a mini trip up to Minnesota to Cabelas. Wow, what a store! We had friends up to play poker on New Year's Eve.... so no on dancing on the bar! LOL

Well have a kid (dog) pestering me to play, so I better go spoil her a little. Now you all know I have a kid...lol

Take care, Mary Jo

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Carron,

Tom's bother Dave and his girlfriend were in Florida last week visiting us. This weekend we have my 16-year old nephew down from Orlando.

It got cool here this morning...in the low 60's and its supposed to drop more. We love it but of course we only get it for a couple of days where as you have freezing weather for months.

Both Tom and I have been so busy with work that we would love to just be lazy on the weekends but we are about to start working on our house with an expansion. Would love it if we could get everything done by Hurricane Season.

I heard there's a new man in your life!!!!! Fill me in on the scoop. Should we be booking a flight to Iowa for a wedding anytime soon?

Tina (Hatcher)

It's a slow news day. It's all I could come up with.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

I had a very strange dream last night that I was in Anamosa and Main Street was like it was in high school. I was walking down the street with Mike Deutmeyer and Mark Lubbock. We went into the old Lazio's shoe store which was now a casino in my dream. Erin Burke and her brother, Tom, were in there playing the slot machines, drinking coffee.

What do you suppose this all means? Other than the fact that I'm a dipshit, of course.

:-/


Did any of you ever have a Fisher Price Doctor's Kit?

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

New e-mail address for Darcie...

Monday, January 22, 2007



Brett's little snow day in Dallas-Ft. Worth!
Making snow angels in the front yard.
Carron,

Hey, thanks for taking the time to write. Things have been busy around here, since we got back from our visit over Thanksgiving. The neighborhood I live in has an annual light display, so we were a little behind in getting with it this year. The holidays were very good to all of us and busy as usual.

I was glad to hear that you & Tony are together. From talking to him when I was home, I could tell that he really cares for you. Good luck.

Besides working a ton, I have started a new job search; not that I really know what I want to do, but that it definitely has to be something besides what I am doing now.

Take care and thanks again for the time you spend on the blog.... it is nice being able to see what everyone is up to.

-steph

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Hi, Carron

Great to hear from you. We did have a good holiday season. We were with the George side for 4 days. We spent Christmas at home then joined up with Mom & Dad first in Anamosa, then Omaha during the week. With a brother in Boulder (with a spouse and twin 5 year old boys), Omaha was a 1/2 way point. We stayed in a hotel with a big indoor pool and let the kids play while the adults talked and ate. I think I gained 5 lbs. on Mom's sweets!

I'm attaching our Christmas letter. Best to you this year. Next time we are in Anamosa, I'll give you a shout. See ya.

P.S. I'm writing this from a Marriott hotel on the beach in Fort Lauderdale. Our company has about 450 people down here this week for kickoff meetings. We got to play a bit today. There were 6 of us that chartered a boat for deep sea fishing. While we only caught 1 fish, it was a big one - an 8', 300+ lb hammerhead shark. The guy that caught it is having it mounted...at a $3000 taxidermy bill!


Dave (George)

Carron,

Please help me support Big Brothers Big Sisters by donating to Bowl For Kids' Sake. I'm raising money to help provide caring adult mentors for at-risk children. My personal fundraising goal is $200.

Please visit my website to donate online with a credit card (see link below), or contact me directly to be billed or to give a cash/check donation. This is my fourth year as a BFKS participant and I am the Company Coordinator for Intermec.

I feel strongly about the BBBS mission, and have taken an active role at Polk Elementary as a Math Mentor with one of the students for three years now. I know how much it means to my Buddy to have me visit him each week, and have seen many more students that could use this kind of personal relationship with a caring adult. With your help, many more of the Polk students will realize their dreams and receive the much needed one-on-one time with a BBBS volunteer such as myself.

Thank you so much for your generosity. Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support BBBS of Cedar Rapids.

John (Starr)

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Carron,

Okay, you got me. I haven't purposely not written. It just seems I always get wrapped up in other things or it slips my mind. I have immensely enjoyed the blog with everyone's photos and happenings in their lives. I greatly miss being back in my home town, though the last time I was there it looked but a shell from the good ole days.

Well, I live in a small western PA town. I moved here after I retired with 20 years in the US Army Special Forces (AKA Green Beret) I loved the military, my fellow Band of Brothers, the travel and all, but it got too much being away from my family. My wife and I have been married 21 years now and we have two boys. Keith, 18 a freshman at Temple University in Philadelphia, and Lucas, 16 a Junior in High School.

I spent 8-9 months on the average every year away from them. After retiring from the military, I dabbled in a few things like construction but it was a dead end. I needed something more cerebral. I did enough physically demanding stuff in the military. So my wife and I decided I should use my VA benefits and go to school. Fortunately, there is a small University nearby so I went to it (Clarion University of PA) I received my BSED in Social Studies (let your Dad know). I was fortunate that while I attended school I landed a pat time job as the Clarion County Veterans Affairs Director. A great job if it would've only paid more.

Anyway, I now teach History in a small rural school that graduates about 40 a year, yeah I said 40. I really love it. As soon as I get some recent photos scanned I'll send them out for the world to see.

I'm sure you and the rest will say you kind of recognize me except that I use to have more hair, at least I think that's what it's called. Oh well, I like myself so it doesn't matter. Some in the photos I saw I recognized rather easy, others, well, it took me a while.

Please feel free to pass this along, and I promise to write often.

Best Wishes,

Ernie (Hartwig)
ephartwig@alltel.net
Hi Carron:

So nice of you to think of me!

The holidays were good, although I never got into the Christmas spirit. I think it had to do with no snow, and some undue stress at work. But I got to see all my family members, so Christmas was really special. I have a nephew in Iraq and he even got to come home for a visit.

Glad you also had a nice Holiday season. I read about you and Tony on the blog site. Congratulations on that relationship. Tony seems like a very nice guy to "hook up with".

So far, I love my new job. It's been a little slow, so I haven't gotten all the hours I wanted, but I'm not complaining too much on that front yet. I'll have to see where it goes. As long as it doesn't cut into the wallet too much, I can deal with some home time. St. Luke's is always busy, so if I get desperate, I can always pick up hours there. Unfortunately, they pay way less than my new job; so I'd rather be there. I might also have an opportunity to pick up another job, if this one continues to be slow. We'll see about that, I'd rather not go that route; but the money there would also be good. Not that it's all about money, but with more money; I've been able to have Friday's off, and that's what I'm really striving for.

We'll have to work on that as our New Years Resolution. I'm trying to get together with Carla "Etten" and she mentioned trying to get Beth "Henderson" to go out with us too, and maybe Brenda "Hanken"; some of the old group I used to hang with. Just seems like everyone is always so busy. I'm hoping that with my new job, I have a bit more freedom besides just the weekends. The husband likes to have my time then, and vice versa.

I hope things work out well with you and Tony! And thanks again for the note. It's always nice to get a 'real' e-mail.

Karla (Bonifazi) Simmen
Hi Carron,

Things are about the same here. I work, I get paid. Then I work some more.

I am not good about writing emails, but I do on occasion.

If I were REALLY drunk I may dance on the bar, otherwise, I am too conservative. I did go out with a friend on Friday and I had about six margaritas. On Saturday, I proceeded to donate about three of them to the porcelain god during my occasional worship. Yuk!

The holidays were nice for a few days off. I am not used to that though, so I worked at home so I did not lose touch.

Scott (Petersen)
Carron,
It was nice to get your e-mail. I can understand how busy you are, we
are also that way.
Kenneth is a senior at Monticello High School and in
his last semester of high school. It is starting to get a little scary
and sad. We have been busy with paper work for scholarships, housing, and
financial aid. He is going to Kirkwood for the first two years and then
transfer to Iowa State. He wants to do something in the Agricultural
field.
Kristin is in her freshman year here and loves it. She played on
the freshman volleyball team this fall and is now on a USA Volleyball
team, so our weekends will be filling up with tournaments. She likes to
swim, so in the summer she is on the town swim team. She will be taking
driver's ed. this summer so we will have another one driving. Kenneth
takes her to school this year, but she will be getting her school permit
once driver's ed. is over. She won't be 16 till March of 2008.
We don't
have the internet at home for our computer since Milt and I both have
access at our schools. I can go over and use my dad's computer and have
the kids help me and see if we can get some pictures on the blog.
We had
a good Christmas. The kids get money so they can get what they want, and
after being married for almost 23 years I was in dire need of new pots and
pans, so that was what I got.
Milt keeps busy with his teaching and FFA
Chapter at Cascade and my job keeps me pretty busy. I teach at the Middle
School here in Monticello. I have the 5th & 6th grade Resource students.
I have 19 students on my roster. I keep busy with writing all those
IEP's. I never thought I would like the older students, but it isn't so
bad. I like the staff here and we have a good time.
With the new year,
we are on a big wellness kick. We are having a competition between the
school buildings. So, I have been exercising and trying to eat healthy.
I wish I would have done this a lot sooner, it wouldn't be so hard now.
Well, I better get something accomplished today. Thanks again for the
note.
Kelly
Carron,

Things for the most part are going well except for this miserable cold I have caught.I have gone through this entire deployment without so much as a sniffle until now. This stinks.

Last week was rough. I am sure you heard about the plane crash north of Baghdad. That was about a mile outside our east gate. It was about three miles from where I was at and I never heard a thing. I think there were 32 killed in all, mostly contractors from Turkey.

The neighbors spent about an hour celebrating a funeral with small arms fire last week as well. They closed the road outside our building just in case a bullet strayed. No one was hurt. I am sure that's how the poor fellow was killed in the first place.

We are actually quite removed from the war. If it wasn't for the aircraft taking off at all hours and the occasional gunfire, you wouldn't even know we were in Iraq. I don't leave the base so it is kind of like being at a large prison camp. There is wire and guard towers. I guess that is a good thing. I am too old for the infantry killer stuff and working supply seems to suit me for now.


Other than that, pretty quiet. We are staying very busy and the days go by fast, but the weeks seem to crawl. It seems like I have been gone forever.

I love the picture that Carol sent back with a friend. It was taken in the winter of 1984 or early 1985. It is just the hair was a bit out of control. At least the earring was not showing. I caught a lot of flack from the gang here. That picture was taken before some of the young ones here were even born.

I never formally thanked everyone for all that you have done. I wish I could write everyone individually, and I hope to someday, but for now I just want to say thanks again to all for your generosity.

Take care and stay warm. Keep us all up to date with the latest with you and Tony. Wow, the things you can pick up on a blog!

CW3 Scott Weber
1034th CSSB
302-242-9545
To Serve The Warrior

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Hey, everyone!
Big news....
Darcie became a grandma again on Friday, January 12, 2007.
This makes grandchild #3.
Tony and I went out celebrating with her Saturday night and damn, did she celebrate!
I will take and post photos when I go to see baby Nadia on Thursday night!
Congratulations, Darc!!!

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

From Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes.... And, we're all over 40, so let's celebrate!!!!!

As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal.

For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress.

Monday, January 8, 2007



Hi There!
Gosh, it's sure been a long time since I've had any time just to "catch-up" with you! How's everything going? In reading the blog, it sounds like you are very busy having lots of fun!!! That's GREAT!!
Did any classmates get together at all over Christmas? I sure thought about calling you on New Year's Eve!!!
I've been learning alot about all of the resources available for child care providers. There is alot of stuff out there!! You did that for, what, 10 years was it?
With the focus being on early childhood, there are big bucks out there for providers who attend workshops/trainings on improving quality childcare!! Through Jones County Empowerment and ISU Extension grant on quality child care, a provider might earn a stipend of $300 for attending one series of trainings! Another series is worth $200, ...I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but, WOW!!! That is super for those providers who take the hour here and the hour there to attend some of this stuff!!
I can't believe it's so mild this January, temperature-wise!!!
Nick was born 16 years ago. Back then, it was blizzard-like conditions, driving was treacherous, creeping at a speed of 35 mph at the most......(this is starting to sound like the beginning of one of those: when I was a kid we had to...... doesn't it! hahahaha).
Switching subjects now, I'm sending you a copy of the article I wrote as it appeared in the Monticello Express.
I know you've already read it before, but, I guess, I just wanted to share it again, because it really made me feel like I do still have at least one brain cell functioning in my head yet! Thanks for being there for me to send it to!

You're a good friend, Carron, we will have to get our calendars out and see when we can get together again.


Take Care Girlfriend!!

br

Friday, January 5, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY TWO BEST FRIENDS - EVER!
Diane Norton - December 30..... #44
Mark Lubbock - January 10.....#44
(You're both older-than-me bastards.)
Carron

Thursday, January 4, 2007

Carron,

I want this week over NOW!!!!!

If one more person brings in leftover Christmas treats I am going to SCREAM!!!!!!!

Don't these people know I have absolutely no willpower and they are forcing me to work out EXTRA hard???? Not to mention that every Tom, Dick, and Harry who made New Year's resolutions to lose weight are crowding the gym where I work out!!!

Happy Friggin New Year!!!!!! HA!!!!

Diane
HI, I JUST RECEIVED THIS ONE AND ABOUT DIED LAUGHING!!! YOU HAVE TO READ
IT, AND SEE HOW MANY YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU GET TO THE VERY BOTTOM, TO
DETERMINE IF YOU'RE AS OLD AS DIRT! I BET YOU ARE!!!

I WAS!
BRENDA

Older 'n Dirt!!

"Hey Dad," one of my kids asked the other day,

"What was your favorite fast food when you
were growing up?"

"We didn't have fast food when I was growing up,"

I informed him. "All the food was slow."

"C'mon, seriously. Where did you eat?"
"It was a place called 'at home,'" I explained.

"Grandma cooked every day and when Grandpa
got home from work, we sat down together at
the dining room table, and if I didn't like what
she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there
until I did like it."

By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was
afraid he was going to suffer serious internal
damage, so I didn't tell him the part about how
I had to have permission to leave the table. But
here are some other things I would have told
him about my childhood if I figured his system
could have handled it:

Some parents NEVER owned their own house,
wore Levi's, set foot on a golf course, traveled
out of the country or had a credit card.

In their later years they had something called a revolving
charge card. The card was good only at Sears
Roebuck. Or maybe it was Sears AND Roebuck.
Either way, there is no Roebuck anymore. Maybe
he died.

My parents never drove me to soccer practice.
This was mostly because we never had heard of
soccer.

I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50
pounds, and only had one speed, (slow).

We didn't have a television in our house until I was 11, but
my grandparents had one before that. It was, of
course, black and white, but they bought a piece
of colored plastic to cover the screen. The top
third was blue, like the sky, and the bottom third
was green, like grass. The middle third was red.
It was perfect for programs that had scenes of
fire trucks riding across someone's lawn on a
sunny day. Some people had a lens taped to the
front of the TV to make the picture look larger.

I was 13 before I tasted my first pizza, it was
called "pizza pie." When I bit into it, I burned
the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off,
swung down, plastered itself against my chin
and burned that, too. It's still the best pizza
I ever had.

We didn't have a car until I was 15. Before that,
the only car in our family was my grandfather's
Ford. He called it a "machine."

I never had a telephone in my room. The only
phone in the house was in the living room and it
was on a party line. Before you could dial, you
had to listen and make sure some people you
didn't know weren't already using the line.

Pizzas were not delivered to our home. But
milk was.

All newspapers were delivered by boys and
all boys delivered newspapers. I delivered a
newspaper, six days a week. It cost 7 cents
a paper, of which I got to keep 2 cents. I had
to get up at 4 AM every morning. On Saturday,
I had to collect the 42 cents from my customers.
My favorite customers were the ones who gave
me 50 cents and told me to keep the change.
My least favorite customers were the ones who
seemed to never be home on collection day.

Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At
least, they did in the movies. Touching someone
else's tongue with yours was called French
kissing and they didn't do that in movies. I don't
know what they did in French movies. French
movies were dirty and we weren't allowed to
see them.

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Hi, Carron,

Here is what the letter looks like, but all you have to do is fill out your name and address and e-mail.

It is a great way to provide support to the underage drinking reduction project that has taken on a nationwide urgency!

ps. my article was in the Monticello Express today!!!! It was very exciting to see it!!!

Take care,

bren

Dear Mr. Ulrich,

I am appalled to learn that Target is selling games that encourage binge drinking, such as "Drinko" and other shot games based on darts, roulette and putting. It doesn't matter that Target only sells these drinking games online, or that they're labeled for "adults over 21." The object of these games is to get drunk fast -- "the last man standing wins" reads the instructions for Drinko -- and that's unsafe for persons of any age. Plus, these games do appeal to college students and other youth, and any underage person with a credit card can order the games at Target.com.

Alcohol poisoning, falls off balconies, car crashes, assaults and other deadly consequences from binge drinking are no joke. Your drinking games promoting hazardous drinking are tasteless and irresponsible gift items, unfit for a family retailer. This week, Kohl's department store removed these drinking games from its website and stores in response to public outcry. I respectfully ask that Target do the same and remove the drinking games from its website and store shelves.

Please let me know your intentions regarding my request. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Brenda Hanken
291 Pine St.
Monticello, IA 52310

Hi!

Click on the website below and sign the campaign to tell Target to stop selling the drinking game "Binge Drinking".

I've done several of these in the past and the result has been:
Kohl's pulling drinking games off the shelves, as well as pulling shirts with beer logos out during the "back to school" sales.

A couple of other stores have pulled items like these too, in response to people signing the campaign! It's well worth it, when you think of how aggressively youth today are drinking (fast and hard liquor, and seeing who can drink the most before passing out or vomiting). Alcohol poisoning is no joke.

Thanks!!

Brenda

Dear Brenda Hanken,

Thank you for telling Target that binge drinking is no game. With Kohl's recent agreement to pull these drinking games from its stores in response to public outcry, momentum is clearly on our side. But for our campaign to succeed, we must generate as many letters as possible from concerned health professionals, parents, and other citizens. Please click here to tell your friends and colleagues about this important action.

http://members.jointogether.org/campaign/target/forward/8nuein62zt6n36w





Here are some pictures of our blizzard last week...the one we
missed out on while basking in the balmy Iowa sunshine...HA!
Deb

Tuesday, January 2, 2007


After serious & cautious consideration.....your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2007! It was a very hard decision to make. So try not to screw it up!!!

My Wish for You in 2007:

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words¦

May 2007 be the best year of your life!!!
Brett













Monday, January 1, 2007

Carron,

I had 2 near beers and they had a karaoke machine set up. No one drunk and they expect you to sing. I never could sing, and it takes a lot of booze to get me to the point where I think I can. It was an ok time.

I was in bed by 10:00pm. From the clock on our wall it is almost 11 pm back home. We are 9 hours ahead so I am at work. Yeah!!

Another great Army day ahead of me. This is the year I come home so I am excited to finally get to this mark on the wall.

Have a great New Year and I hope to see you and a great number of classmates in 2007!

CW3 Scott Weber
1034th CSSB
302-242-9545