Monday, March 30, 2009

1, 422 miles



Good news over the weekend; Missouri lost. Ha! How do they get Mizzou out of Missouri? And why are they called tigers when the closest tigers are 8,220 miles away (zoos do not count)?

Typical Mizzouzeans likely don’t know..

Speaking of distance, I see my grandbabies are 100 miles closer tonight, thank you; only 1,422 miles away. But when all is said and done, the distance will be 2, 179 miles, or one day 7 hours by car (or 28 days, 11 hours on foot).

Ok here we are, one day after our last snowfall. We had 3 inches on the ground at 7:00 AM on Sunday morning. Zero inches by noon. 63 degrees today with rain expected three days this week.

We want out to the 54th St Bar & Grill on Saturday night with our normal group. Played cards of course afterwards. I need to learn some new games. Keep an eye out for some, ok?

Well, we went floor shopping. Again. Brought home a couple of samples. Again. I told your mom “THIS IS IT. NO MORE SAMPLES. WE DO IT NOW!! “ Drew a bit of a crowd at Lowes. I measured the area that we will do. Looks like about 530 sq ft. x $$$$$
Not counting my labor (where are my sons when I need them?) (Your mom just said to say, “come home”.)

Busy, busy at my job. We have hired several new people including a real nice woman who just moved here from Massachusetts. Bad for her that she got stuck with a real bummer of a route. The previous driver pretty much allowed the bus to become a zoo; I have to ride it in the morning. It has taken me about three weeks in the past, to fix a bad bus. Why can’t the parents do this?

The area of the floor to be done is everything that is not carpeted. Your mom wants to put a pedestal sink in the half bath, removing the existing cabinet. We no longer need to store a toilet ring, so we can sacrifice space.

Lee just called. He says to tell you he misses seeing your once in a while. He is on face book but not that active.

I would like to see the route you are taking from AZ. You see many Illinois plates out there?

That’s about it from HOME ALONE.

Love,
Dad and Mom


Across

2. how fish walk
4. cactus land
9. small creek
10. not pants
13. grandma
14. reclusive cat
16. home sweet home
17. good dog
18. daddy
20. sunrise
21. beautiful red head
23. walking
24. favorite color
25. movie thing

Down

1. little girl
2. rhymes with mom
3. another uncle
5. not becky
6. favorite food
7. home teacher
8. favorite channel
9. drummer
11. uncle
12. kids area
15. school
19. imaginary fighter
22. Moms mom


Sunday, March 22, 2009

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS

Springfield Illinois

We went to St Henry’s Catholic Church on W. Main in Belleville for fish and beer on Friday night.

Art and Margaret were there along with the whole Sorgea tribe. We got to see, and hold Nate and Jack, Cindy and Brian’s 7 month old twin boys. That was a treat.

The hall was packed, the food was excellent, and it was a good time. Afterwards we went to the Sorgeas for cards and talk. Your mom and Jeannie planned to go to an estate sale the next morning.

Estate sales are always interesting. The opportunity to prowl through a house, touching all types of items and observing how the former, now likely deceased, owners lived out their existence. It is at once repellent yet fascinating; like coming up on a car wreck. One hates to see it but still slows down to look.

We traveled up to Springfield yesterday afternoon. We planned on your mom staying at the hospital with Dawn while I attended Dan and Denise’s delayed wedding reception at the Springfield Boathouse. While we were en-route, Bill called to say that Dawn was going to be discharged along about 6:00 PM; that would be during the reception. Naturally Bill was torn between the reception and bringing Dawn home. Dawn, knowing she would not be at the reception, had written a toast to Denise and Dan, which Bill was to deliver. Bill commented that some people are willing to be hospitalized just to avoid public speaking.

I was going to attend the reception but had to stay so we could take Dawn home. She was in pain but she is a real trooper with a great attitude. We were on the way home to Auburn and planned on stopping at the Walgreen’s in Chatham to get Dawn’s prescriptions filled. Unfortunately, the pharmacy closed 20 minutes before we got there. So we had to back haul into Springfield to get the prescriptions filled.

Bill and Brooke got home about 20 minutes after we got there. Brook had on a royal blue dress that was very pretty on her. I took a picture but won’t post it. That’s up to her and her parents to do.

When we drove to the hospital, we went up 6th street. It has been a year since I drove that way. The presidential library draws throngs of visitors (over a million the first year), so Springfield has responded with many new restaurants and shops down town. Plus the fact that our senator is now our President spiked interest in Springfield.

As we drove north on 6th street, I could see a building in the distance seemingly in the middle of the road. I couldn’t figure it out until we got closer. The Springfield Clinic has expanded to the west while building 5 stories up and crossing over and above 6th street. . Very impressive.

It still is cool here with temps in the forties. But Spring has sprung so it is looking promising. I got out and started cleaning the yard. The moles and voles continue doing their dirty work. I hate moles and voles.

I mailed the last package of mail, mostly junk ( to me) using parcel post. It went out last Thursday. Two more letters went out yesterday. That will be the last for Arizona. I will not send to Washington until you have taken up residence.

That’s all from HOME ALONE.

Love, Dad

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Assumption




















































It is Sunday morning here at Home Alone; I’ve awakened earlier than I wanted to so decided to catch up on the blog.

We have been anxious to see Dawn and see how she is recovering, Her birthday was just last week, and we also wanted to celebrate that with her.

Brandon and Brooke have a busy social calendar so we see them on the fly.

Brandon’s high school band was marching in the Springfield St Patrick’s day parade so we did not see a lot of him. Then, later on and after we had returned from Assumption, we had cake. Brandon’s girl friend came over for a few minutes then they left for her home. She is a plump blonde, very nice, senior girl.

Your mom and I were at their house at 10:00 and immediately left to take Brooke to meet her school bus which was loading the 7th grade volleyball team for their trip to the ISEA volleyball finals in Assumption, IL, over past Taylorville.

Brooke did not play (the world is full of coaches who play only a few and let the rest sit) but we still enjoyed the games. Brooke’s team, the Trojans, won their first match two games to none. But unfortunately in the second round they lost in two games to an undefeated team from Chillicothe.

Weather was cool, but clear. The area over by Assumption is wide open with level farm fields visible to the horizon. That is one of the nice things about Central Illinois; no mountains to block the view.

Bill is working in Bloomington for at least the next three months. He gets hotel, car, and per-diem with this job. It takes him about 1-½ hours to get home. Brookes team returns to Assumption for the third place game on Tuesday. I don’t know if Bill will make that game. Dawn shouldn’t be driving yet, so she may let Brandon drive over with her in the front seat. But that can be a challenging drive for a novice since the roads are county roads for about thirty miles with limited shoulders and few lane markings.

Dad














Sunday, March 8, 2009

One more picture

Daylight Savings Time






































Your mom was cleaning out her chest of drawers and came across some old photos. I scanned them in and thought I would share them with the Millers.

Today we had planned on going to see Dawn and family but your mom was still fighting off that touch of stomach distress; and the predicted bad storm was scheduled for about twelve o’clock CDT. All we got, thankfully, was a hard shower followed by a steady strong wind until sunset. Never the less, we cancelled the Auburn trip.

We went over to St Louis yesterday. The Missouri Valley tournament was in full swing as was the annual Home & Garden show at the Dome. I remembered dragging Traci to the show the first year we were here and before the house was built. I don’t remember her enjoying the show. This year’s show was a good show with large crowds. Weather was mild so I did a lot of walking. Dumped your mom at the casino where she won $125.

Well it is now daylight savings time again. The only reason for the change is that someone probably complained about something so Congress, with little or no study or thought, whipped it ahead one month and shoved it back in the fall by one month. Might as well make it year around. What difference would it make? It starts on March 8 and ends on November 1, eight months of CDST; kind of leaves CST as a weak sister.

I see by the Methodist Church in Shiloh web site that Pastor David is on Formational and Spiritual Growth leave. That is so sad. Then today some nut from Troy walked into the Baptist Church in Maryville and shot the pastor dead during the service.

I was hoping that you would be leaving the proximity of drug war violence behind you when you go to Washington. But from what I am hearing on the news, Vancouver B.C. is struggling with drug gang violence as bad as along the Mexico border. Drug users, who buy the stuff, should share in the responsibility for this situation.

I just received a Facebook message fro Ricquel over in Northern Missouri. She is very anxious to keep the family relationships alive. And so am I.

Well that is about it from Home Alone.
Love you all this much (……………………………………….. :)

Monday, March 2, 2009

"I Am An Arab"

The kids on my bus range from kindergartners to 5th graders. I love them all,but I do have to scold them once in while. But even after that, they soon forget and become chatty again.

One boy, a boy with coal black hair and olive skin complexion moved up behind me and was talking. The noise on a school bus, can be impressive and Imust have said something that triggered the boy to announce that "I am an Arab". "That's nice", I said, "what country are you from; Egypt, Pakistan, Arabia?" He replied, "no I'm from this country." "OK". I said, "then your family is from one of those countries?" The boy said, "no, but they were married in Quatar." The girl next to him then asked, "I thought you said they were married in Troy?"

Well, I thought it was funny.

Lee called a little while ago to invite me to coffee. We went to Denny's for coffe and some apple pie. The waitress was a pleasnt young woman with a lot of travel under her belt. From S. Dakota via Alaska and Germany. Very easy conversationalist.

I am reading a book I bought at a furniture store in West County (Valley Park). The store rambles through four buildings and on two levels. All the furniture displays were arranged with dozens of books of various vintage and condition, all for one dollar. I noticed a hardbound book, The Caine Mutiny, and bought it. I always liked the movie starring Humphrey Bogart, snd having nothing to read at home, I bought it and am appreciating how closedly the movie followed the book.

Well that is about it from Home Alone,

Love to all, Dad