New Blog

While this blog will remain active, we started a new blog to track our progress in our latest project: LANDSCAPING!!!

Click on: http://bigbuild09.blogspot.com/

See you here or there!!

Beth and Terry

Re-Start

Time to blog again, Terry says. It's been too long, and we have an upcoming wedding here at the "Estate". Yes, Becky and Jason are planning a September wedding in our back yard! It's going to be a busy summer and of course, it's important to Blog it all. "Twittering" would be too much!!!

So check back here for updates occasionally. Who knows what we'll post.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Gonna Kick Yo Asthk....

Okay - HAVE to put this U-Tube video on on here, cuz a few weeks ago, this was me talking to Terry, after he drenched me at a party (yes, the girl who spends way too much time on her hair, goes to a party in which she knows about 3 people out of 60, hates getting to know new people and is trying to be nice and friendly, and her husband empties the gutter of a party tent on top of her):

Before - tasting ribs....

After...thanks to all the girls who offered a blow-dryer and curling iron!!!





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCOPNuuGeKA

Buddy Poppies

HOW TO OBSERVE

"........gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime....let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan."

General John Logan, General Order No. 11, 5 May 1868

*

Dad was big on selling Buddy Poppies ever since I can remember and I'm sure, way before that. As Sam said this week, - "Memorial Day was more important than Christmas for dad." She was right.

The first order of business to begin the Memorial Day tradition was to sell poppies. He would get the okay from the local store managers, weeks in advance, to to stand outside their businesses and sell poppies. Many people didn't, but to dad, it was important to check with the authorities first. Oh there were years that he had to let another veteran know that he had already staked out that particular joint and had already checked out and secured that high traffic spot.

He would decorate his tray with signage and poppies and load up his car about 7am, heading out to the Kohl's Food stores, Triangle Drug Store, Sentry and eventually a Pick N Saves to sell. And he was good. He'd use his charm, consisting of a bright smile and twinkle in his baby blues and step up in the most non-threatening way and say "Poppy today, sir?" (or ma'am) If they declined he smiled and wished them a good day. If they bought one, he give them a heartfelt "thank you!"

*

I recall one year in particular, when I was in grade school, that he let me sell poppies with him. I watched him. I saw the salesman in him. I saw how he treated people with respect. How a simple smile could open a door. And I learned. Soon I was mimicking his words, approaching people with a smile and offering a poppy. That weekend, I was just like him. And from that, I learned how to treat people. Smile. Respect. Gratitude. It felt good. Customer service skills were born. And to this day, I like to think I carry them with me.

*

As he got older, age and neuropathy settling in, it was difficult for him to stand outside on many cold weekends; the strength and stamina was just not there; but he pushed himself and always sold his share of the VFW Post's poppies.

*

When cleaning out all the VFW stuff in the basement this year, we happened upon his most recent Buddy Poppy tray. He had decorated it with signs asking people to remember and donate to the disabled Veterans who made them. Mom thought we should do something with that. I offered to put flowers in it and place it on his grave this year. While planting the flowers in this little Buddy Poppy tray, I realized that this was simply a plastic container that you get when you buy a flat of spring annuals or perennials at the market! Perfect. Dad always pre-planned and cut costs where he could. How did he know that it would now decorate his place of rest?

This is the first year without dad selling poppies, readying the rifles for the Memorial Day ceremony, making sure the Post Flags were in the trunk of the "gun-runner", rushing around to get the wreaths and carnations, and attending the Memorial Day Parade.

*

This year, before playing Taps, and before the rifles are fired, his name will be read along with those of the the other Lamster Newman's Post's departed comrades.

*

The ache will surface again.

*

Miss you, dad. And...well, thank you.

Cousin's Night at the Fellabar

Somebody - turn on the lights!!! Why is it so dark in here???





Kara smiles, while Karen hopes that if she closes her eyes she won't be in the picture!





Katie and Pat share a brother-sister moment.







Playing Taboo, after a rough start with Family Fued... only because the DVD player gave us problems...not because of the family part!!











Terry's still trying to make that DVD player work!!!





Happy Birthday to Pat, with Laurel and Jennie eyeing the cake....






Becky and her victorian shirt with Russ dancing to Barry White.

I Know (I'm Losing You)

Have you ever touched your father's back?

No, my fingers tell me, as they try to pull up a similar memory.

There are none.

This is a place we have never traveled to, as I try to lift his weary body.

I recall a photo of him standing in front of our house.

He is large, healthy, a stocky body in a dark blue suit.

O, bag of bones, this is all I'll know of his body,

the sharp ridge of spine,

the bedsores, the ribs rising up in place like new islands.

I feel his fingers grip my shoulders.

He is slipping to dust.

My hands inform me.

You'd better remember this.

A Cut Finger

A CUT FINGER

A cut finger is numb before it bleeds

it bleeds before it hurts

it hurts until it begins to heal

it forms a scab and itches

until finally, the scab is gone

and a small scar is left

where once there was a wound.

Grief is the deepest wound

you ever had.

Like a cut finger

it goes through stages

and leaves a scar.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Dear Dad...

Dear Dad,

I hope you really enjoyed your week golfing and socializing in sunny Florida...

Even Kari and Beth helped shovel (they sweated!)

Oh ya, I wore your sweats (how big ARE they???) while my clothes were in the dryer!

Love,

Rusty

Fine Dining

We enjoyed a high end restaraunt type meal at Becky and Jason's tonight in their new house. The kitchen renovation was finally completed and we were awed!

Menu

Beef Wellington

Symetry Wine

Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad with Almonds

Fresh Steamed Broccoli

Braised Tomatoes

Roasted Red Potatoes

Cherry Pie with French Vanilla Ice Creme

Thanks kids - it's was wonderful!

Las Vegas is not all about gambling....

It's really just all about showing off the big equipment you have.....

The "2007 World of Concrete" convention in Las Vegas

Why did I think this was going to be a vacation ?

The equipment arrives....2 days late, but it's here!

Major crane-age needed to swing it off the semi-truck.

View of the monorail from the convention center. The palm trees give a false sense of warmth - it was only 40 degrees!!!!

Director of Marketing and Sales - getting the job done!

Pathetic Humor

....gotta find something to laugh at....

Bandit had a little neutering done last week.... how embarassing for for him to have Becky and Jason bring him to dinner while still recovering...

....Man, you hear stories about dogs with those cone things, but to see it in real life was quite a hoot!!!

Hidden Treasures

Today we brought up more boxes of dad's things from the basement for mom to sort through. Navy blankets, his Navy duffel bags, his FATHER'S duffel bag from WWI, his tackle boxes from those fishing expeditions, etc. You know - MAN stuff.

Of course dad kept every old suitcase and garment bag they ever had. Most of them were empty and we started to put them in the "Goodwill" pile until we felt something rather soft and cushy nestled in one of them. Yep - it was his skirt. His red hand-made "Watermelon Sisters" skirt. Oh dad - thanks for the smile today!

**

One Thing I Know for Sure

Christmas is about family and good friends.

*

...but a decorated tree and naughty new kittens do not mix.

(Note the angel from the top mysteriously ends up on the floor.)

Christmas in Heaven

Christmas in Heaven

by Unknown

'Tis Christmas in Heaven

What a beautiful sight!

It's my first one here;

Everything is all right.

The crib is adorned

With the brilliance of stars,

Wisemen have come

From Venus and Mars.

I've met all our dear ones

Who preceded us here;

The reunion was lovely,

An event full of cheer.

And tonight we'll all gather,

In reverence we'll kneel,

For the Babe in the cradle

Up in Heaven is Real.

I think of my family

that I left behind

And I pray that your Christmas

Is as blessed as mine.

Please shed no more tears,

For my soul is at rest,

Just love one another;

Live life to its best.

Yes, It's Christmas In Heaven,

So I've heard them say,
Yet, Christmas In Heaven

Happens every day.

*

Merry Christmas My Friend

'

Click on the arrow above - a moving tribute created by our dear friend, Fred, to all our soldiers and veterans. A must see, especially on Christmas Eve.

Flowerpots

The answer to the trivia question below - DEVO!

Thanks to Fred for looking it up and sending me the pic. He just couldn't let it go! A true trivia buff. Now let's talk about that Apollo 10 Capsule you and Mr. T. wanted to rescue when we were in London a few years ago...why is it that you both KNEW it was there?

Saturday Night Fever

When you get a bunch of 50 year olds together, with the exception of "moi" of course, we tend to start off with some nice jazzy (holiday) music during dinner and gradually move towards something more upbeat as the night goes on.

What is more upbeat than Party Music from the Disco Age?

Yes, we could name that tune, Fred could name just about every artist, and soon we were playing our own version of Disco Trivia. Did you know that the Eagles were a back up band for Linda Rondstadt? (only Fred knew that) Who sang "I Love the Night Life (I want to boogie)"? We all knew the words to "I'm Just a Love Machine (and I won't work for nobody but you)" And who was the band that used to wear flowerpots on their heads? (Never did figure that one out.) Did you know that Lionel Ritchie bought an interest in Lionel trains?

Fred, Kath(ee) and Mr. T share a holiday hug.

Oh ya, we also decided that we need a bigger TV.

I think today is our anniversary, right Mr. T?

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Let it snow!

We were smarter this year - we got the "deck" tree up last week while the temps were mild. Today we got 12 inches of snow. Maybe we should have put the lights on last week too.....Nah! Where's the challenge in that???

Dancing in the Dark

While visiting us at Thanksgiving, Bill decided that he could dance to his favorite song titled "I'm Too Sexy". Gotta love the entertainment value he provides!

Click on the link below:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1498203160

The "Righting Reflex"

I wish I would have read this article before we had dinner with our dear friends, Diane and Dave this weekend. (Quite possibly before I picked up Bandit a few months ago also) Sorry dogs. I didn't realize you don't have the "Righting Reflex", like cats do. I'm still learning.

*

The Righting Reflex

The uniqueness of the cat's skeleton is one of the reasons cats land on their feet and can right themselves so quickly. Cats do not have a collarbone, and the bones in their backbone have more mobility than in many other animals. For these reasons, cats have free movement of their front legs and they can easily bend and rotate their bodies. This allows them to land feet first. Another component is the vestibular apparatus, which is responsible for their great balance. This tiny fluid-filled organ is located deep in a cat's inner ear and is composed of small chambers and canals lined with millions of sensitive hairs and filled with fluid and tiny floating crystals. As a cat falls, or even moves, the vestibular apparatus becomes active, giving readings on the body's position and helping to register which way is up. Their feet and legs can cushion the impact. This righting reflex begins to appear at 3-4 weeks of age, and is perfected at 7 weeks.

*

*

Poor "Buddy" will never be the same.

*

Wet and Wild

While we enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, the dogs were relegated to the outdoors.

Jason had to hose down Mable and Bandit before letting them in. Apparently they think rolling around in another dog's waste is great payback for not getting any turkey.

Bandit doesn't like having his picture taken right after he steps out of the shower.

Cats can protect, too...

Today ( finally) I pull out dad's Old Navy sweatshirt and decide it's time to wear it. I bought it for him years ago, cuz he was in the Navy, of course. It must have been pretty many years ago though, as I remember hearing the story about the day he went to Pius H.S. to take balloons to Luvee for her birthday. All her friends thought that he was so cool, cuz he had on something from "Old Navy"! It had also been a staple in his wardrobe since then.

So I reach for the sweatshirt and find Sammy with a protective arm on it. It was almost like she was asking me if I was really ready to wear "dad's sweatshirt" today. But I was. And it felt good.

Playing the banjo

Some men will try anything to impress a girl in a bar!

Shouldn't have worn the Packer shirts this weekend.

Is that salmon spread I smell....? Everyone is served snacks during the game!

"List Your Accomplishments" and other difficult questions...

This morning, while filling out an online job application, I came across a question that I just didn't know how to answer:

Q: Please list your accomplishments in this position:

I couldn't think of one single thing! Seriously! So I gave them the only answer I knew for a fact:
A: I got out of bed every day.

Here are a few more questions I wasn't sure I answered correctly:

Q: What is your work objective:
A: To leave the house at the same time every day so my neighbors don't think I'm a slacker.

Q: What was your reason for leaving?
A: Not enough drawer space for my lipstick and carmex.

Q: In which state do you reside?
A: Dual residency in Anxiety and Depression, with occasional trips to Incredible Sadness

Q: What type of position do you feel would be a best fit for you?
A: Circus Freak Show

I don't think I'll get the job. Gotta work on those application questions.

Dear Dad,

I missed you a lot today.

Love,

Betty Bop

It's time to write about my favorite tree. When dad was first diagnosed and we learned it was terminal, I used to sit out on the deck and allow myself to be sad. I would just stare into the woods not really seeing anything. And then I would look at my favorite tree and allow the tears to flow. It's a tall cottonwood tree that shimmers and glimmers when the sun is setting, especially in late summer and early fall. I had always thought to myself - when I die I want to be looking at that tree. The leaves always fluttered so gently with the wind.

One night as I sat on the deck thinking about dad, there was this heavy, angry wind that started to blow. A storm was coming. I watched the limbs and leaves on the trees in the woods start to sway back and forth with a vengance, as they do with an approaching summer storm. When I looked up at my favorite tree though, the leaves just fluttered peacefully. It was August 16th. I knew it wasn't dad's time yet. Not tonight. So it was okay.

The morning that dad died, there was a thick fog blanketing the city. It was very quiet. As the fog lifted it only revealed clouds and drizzle. When I got home that night, Terry said, "honey, come look at your tree." The sun had come out. Just a little. Just enough to shine on that tree. And the leaves shimmered and glimmered.

And today, that's all I know.