HOLY CRAP

You guys are amazing! As of 11:15 p.m., we have had 91 clicks on the website and 14 clicks on ad sites with an average of .58 cents per click. Thank you so much!! This is so cool.

(OK, so 91 people clicked on the site today, but y'all didn't vote in my election poll - minus "the glove" (Mitt) - but he withdrew after I posted the poll, so I was not allowed to take him off since votes had already been cast.) It's entirely anonymous and all in fun, so please vote.

Y'ALL MUST BE CLICKING!!

Y'all must be clicking on the ad links because we raised a whopping $4.46 sense so far today! We had 74 visits to the website and 10 clicks on ads (as of 8:20 p.m.)!!! If this is all we ever make in one day, that's approximately $133.80 per month!! Also remember that this comes out to about 45 cents per click. Imagine the money we could raise for charity if we had 100 clicks per day!! Keep it up!

And, please submit ideas for where to donate the money for February! (Keep in mind that I won't get paid from Google until mid-March.)

Update: As of 10:36 p.m., we are up to 95 site visits and 12 clicks on ads!! Whoo-hoo!

Anamosa Class of 1981

Hello, everyone!

You may have noticed that I changed the layout of the Anamosa Class of 1981 blogsite just a little. As you see, I have added some GoogleAds along the right-hand side of the page. These ads are free to place on the Anamosa Class of 1981 website, but the good news is that there is a profit to be made from them.

I realize that some of the ads are irrevelent to items you may need. Some of them, however, are for Iowa Hawkeye sporting goods, sports tickets, apartments, etc. Since I am the administrator of the Anamosa Class of 1981 blogsite, I am not permitted to click on them in order to make money. (Google has my ISP address and will shut me down if I try.)

You classmates, however, CAN click on them. Depending on the Google rating of the ad, the number of page impressions on the Anamosa Class of 1981 blogsite each day (121 yesterday and 58 so far today), and the number of clicks on each ad determines the amount of money to be earned.

If each one of you who reads this blog on a daily basis would click on just one or two ads, the money would add up quickly. I would like to donate this money to charity each month that I get paid. I would gladly take suggestions for what charity to donate to each month. It's a small thing, but just one more way for the Anamosa Class of 1981 to help!

So, take a moment or two each day, click on an ad, and let's raise some money!!

Keep sending me stuff and thanks for reading the Anamosa Class of 1981 blogsite!

BRAD'S BENEFIT ON SATURDAY

Tony, Sharon, and I are heading to Geneseo tomorrow morning for Brad's benefit. We collected a good chunk of ching from the Class of 1981 and we are all proud to be able to give it to the Schoon family.

Thank you to all who donated and to those who have sent prayers and good thoughts.

I have checked my mail today and will be leaving before the post office opens in the morning, so in the event you sent some money and I haven't received it yet, just shoot me an e-mail letting me know how much. I will add it to the total.

I'll take photos and share them tomorrow evening!

Thanks again to everyone!

BRAD SCHOON BENEFIT IN TWO WEEKS

I will be going to Geneseo, IL, on October 6th to give to Brad Schoon and his family the money raised from the class of 1981. There is still time to make a donation, if you'd like. People have been making their checks out to me and then I will write out one big one.

Mike Deutmeyer told me that he has donated some stone benches and a memorial stone-type thing. Pretty cool of him to do that.

Please give if you can.

DON'T FORGET SCOTT'S WELCOME HOME PARTY!

Just a reminder about Scott Weber's Welcome Home Party to

be held on Saturday, August 25th.

The party will be held at Tyler and Downing Eatery in

downtown Anamosa with dinner beginning anytime after 5:00, if you want

to eat.

I have reserved the upstairs lounge for the evening. The lounge

is smoke-free, but there is a smoking room next door. Munchies

will be provided and there will be a cash bar for your beverage

consumption.

WELCOME HOME PARTY FOR SCOTT WEBER

Don't forget to mark Saturday, August 25th, on your calendars for Scott's Welcome Home Party!!!!!

In case you forgot, it is being held at Tyler and Downing's Eatery in Anamosa. (Where the old T & D Grocery Store used to be.) The food is awesome, if you want to dine first, and they have a smoke-free lounge upstairs that we plan to use for the party!

I am thinking the fiesta will begin around 5:00 or 6:00. I will confirm and let you know. So run, don't walk, and jot it down on your social calendars!! Right now!!

By the way, Scott is home for his two weeks of R & R until Memorial Day. E-mail or call him with good wishes and thoughts while he is here!!! I don't feel comfortable giving out his cell phone number, but his home phone number is in the class reunion book, therefore, it is public information!! :-)

YOU DECIDE

I changed the layout of the blog. Am I confusing you all? I will use a different template each day for a few days. You tell me which one you like the most. Or, if you really don't care at all, that's groovy, too.

This one is somewhat festive and summery, no?

Discuss. Leave comments. Swear at me. Whatever.

(I also added a little "Announcements and Events" section to the right. Let me know if you have any events you want to announce. Birthdays. Weddings. Divorces. Someone made a complete ass of themselves. Anything.)

OVERWHELMED...

Sorry, everyone.

I have been out of touch for well over a week. Life seems to be overwhelming me lately. Kids, work, the usual - we all go through it this time of year.

Also, my mom fell and broke her hip over a month ago. The ornery woman walked around for a week before the pain got so bad she thought it might be a good idea to get it checked out. She was in surgery three hours later. They inserted some titanium iron rod into her balljoint thingamajig. Sounds like an expensive golf club to me.

Then, my dad has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. His surgery is on May 15th.

Don't we love being a part of this "sandwich generation" where we get to take care of our kids AND our parents?

I'm looking forward to life returning to normal anyday now and y'all will be seeing goofy-ass pictures again soon. No cows or trees, I promise.

Send stuff.

CB

ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY INFO FROM SCOTT AND DIANE:

New carpet syndrome, yeah – sort of. Actually more like new house syndrome.

This will be simple. No Main Course. Bring your own drinks and also bring heavy hors de oeuvres to share with everyone. .

("Heavy Hors de oeuvres" are the kind that you serve at a cocktail party when you don't plan to serve a meal.)

Email me (Scott P.) at fairlane1967@mchsi.com and I will give you detailed directions to the house.

The party starts at 5:30 PM on Saturday, March 17, 2007.

To keep this straight I will work with Carron and Tony to post information when needed.

PARTY AT SCOTT PETERSEN'S

(Do they allow parties on San Quentin's death row? Oh, sorry, wrong guy.)

OK, Tony just got off the phone with Scott Petersen. He said we are all welcome to invade his house next Saturday night (St. Patrick's Day) for a little informal class party!

I am leaving it up to Scott to add a comment giving everyone directions, times, and what to bring. We want to make sure we all fit into his Rule of 21 kitchen and that we make it most ambianceish by providing the right food and beverage.

Or, if all else fails, call me (319-210-2400) and I will get ahold of the goofy bastard and get all the details.

Sounds we can have a fun time chez Mr. O'Petersen! Think of the donation to the local economy we could make that night!!! :-)

CHANGE IN BLOG...

Hello, y'all!

As you can see, I have changed the layout of the blog again. I get bored easily when I have to look at the same thing all the time. Let me know if you like it/don't like it/don't give a crap. :-)

Also, was thinking about opening the blogsite up to anyone who wants to post something. Maybe more people would get involved if they didn't have to go through me first. Although, I will post anything you want me to if you don't want to do it yourself. Allowing anyone to post also gets me off the hook because I am sometimes unsure whether or not you want me to post what you send me. I don't like making judgement calls because I don't always use the best judgement. Of course, the number of Coronas oftentimes has an effect on said judgement.

Keep in mind, however, that if I open this up to anyone, and you don't like what they post, I don't want any hate mail or anyone going psycho-bitch on me. That's what the comment section is for.

Let me know if you want your name added to the list of people who can make postings. It only takes a second to add you.

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Carron

WELCOME HOME PARTY FOR SCOTT WEBER

Hey, everyone!

I made a reservation at Tyler and Downing Eatery in Anamosa for Saturday, August 25th. We are having ourselves a "welcome home" party for Scott Weber.

Not sure of the time or details yet, but mark it on your calendars!!!

It is going to be a "buy your own meals/drinks" kind of ordeal. They will need a ballpark figure for attendance, but we can get those numbers later.

I hope we can have a darn near mini-reunion. It would be most fun!!!

GET TOGETHER SOON?

I spoke with both Jim Ahrendsen a while back and with Mike Deutmeyer today. They are both alive and well. Was great to hear from both of them!!

I would love it if we could all get together in the next month or so... I know Mike is flying away to wherever the nice weather takes him, but it would be so nice if we could hook up one more time.

Keep the 2nd or 3rd weekend of August open.....We are having a "Welcome Home Party" for Scott Weber. I know Brett will be home and we need to make time for it. It is MOST important.

Let me know what you are all thinking. Privately or on the blog...

The holidays are long over and the winter is getting dreary. I say we're in dire need of another little class get-together. What do y'all think?

Bowling and beer? Dinner and dancing? Pool and pizza? Scott's and spirits (in his ambianceish "rule of 21" kitchen)?

Any ideas?

I received correspondence from two more classmates today saying they are making donations to the "Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund" in Scott and Carol's names to add to our class donations.

How fabulous is that??

I never cease to be amazed by the generosity of the classmates from the Class of 1981.

God bless you all.

Carron

Hey, everyone!

I have heard from so many of you who have mentioned getting together over the Christmas holidays. Why don't you all leave a comment or send me an e-mail telling me what day would work best for you. And, give me ideas what you want to do. We don't have to go to a bar again. Let's have a change of scenery.

I am tired of making decisions. I am leaving it all up to you guys. You tell me this time. :-)

Hope you're all doing well and I look forward to hearing from you.

Carron

Hey, everyone!

I hope you all had a good weekend. They always seem to go too fast.

I also want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I have much for which to be thankful and you - my wonderful classmates and friends - are right up there at the top of my list.

Please remember next Saturday, November 25th for our little class gathering. Maybe after a couple days with relatives, we will all be ready to get together for a little fun and relaxation. Tucker's - 6:30-7:00ish?

I got the most wonderful letter from Jeff Guilford last week. It would be so nice if someone coming from Monticello could pick him up and bring him Saturday night. Would anyone be available to do this? Let me know and I can give him a call. Otherwise, I can do it, too.

I heard from tons and tons of people this past week and it has been fabulous. Thank you all so much for staying in touch. Hope to see a lot of you Saturday night.

Take care and much love,

Carron

Hi, classmates!

I hope you are all having a good weekend.

Just a reminder to put Saturday, November 25th on your calendar. It appears we are going to have ourselves another good group. Lisa Harms, Steph Seehusen, and Marilyn Russell have all said they are going to be home for Thanksgiving. It will be wonderful to see them again. Please spread the word and let's see if we can have an even bigger group than in October.

I heard from tons of people this week either via e-mails, comments, or phone calls. Kathy A., Darcie, Tony, Diane, Brett A., Mike H., Scott W., Brenda H., Jean Reiter, Brian Z., Steve D., Marilyn, Al N., Mike D., Jim A., and some I am sure I am forgetting. We think about all our classmates and would love to hear from all of you. Even just a "hi" would be great!!

Take care and please stay in touch.

Carron

Hey, everyone!

I changed the layout of the blogsite, as you can see.

I thought this template looked a little more sophisticated and we ARE a group of sophisticated bastards, you know!

Hope you enjoy it. I am still in the process of updating a few things, so please bear with me.

I'm off to Anamosa. Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Carron