Anderson/Hatgidakis/Nelson/Metcalf: Newsletter

Old news: July 2002

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Teghan
7/31/2002
HI Tristen, I miss you, hope you are having fun at grandma & grandpas!! Love you.


Amanda
7/31/2002
We went out for Seans 21st last night, and had an excellent time. Got lots of pictures hope to use them as blackmail sometime. And if you see him, ask him about a Prarie Fire...


Grandma
7/31/2002
I appreciate the review Erika wrote about "A Walk to Remember." That's one I won't wast my time or money on!! Thanx Erika, you sure perked up my day !!


Grandma
7/31/2002
Happy anniversary, Karen and Brent!!!


Lindsey
7/30/2002
Happy 21st Birthday Sean!


Amanda
7/29/2002
Happy 21st Birthday Sean!


Donna
7/29/2002
Happy Birthday Sean! You're now legal in every state! Hope you have a great day!


John, Marsha, Zachary, Samantha & Anna
7/29/2002
Happy 21st Birthday, Sean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Grandma
7/29/2002
I believe Teghan is growing up too fast, a tooth already, it will be 4 in no time.


Grandma
7/29/2002
HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY !!!


Nelson's
7/29/2002
Happy 21st Birthday Sean!!!!!


Amanda
7/29/2002
Teghan got her first tooth on Saturday, the 27th. And she turned 7 months old Sunday!! Just thought I'd update...


Amanda
7/26/2002
Well, we packed some more today. Got a lot of the garage done today, which you would think wouldnt be a lot, but it was. Thanks to Ryan and his part time mechanic hobby he has... We'll keep you updated on the box count, but this isnt like one of those deals where you guess the jelly beans and you win a prize. No prizes in the Metcalf house... :) But Linz guess might be a good one...


Lindsey
7/26/2002
My guess on the boxes is 80 because of Tristen's birthday and extra stuff you've gotten and Teghan's stuff. Anyway, Tristen will get to stay at my house for a few days!!! We'll be up in a few days to help you pack. Well, we'll see you guys soon.


Amanda
7/26/2002
I went back and read July, and some of August, just remembering the check from Dubya... We are making some headway packing. About 12 boxes so far... Not too bad, last time we moved, which was just in October, we had about 60 some, I am guessing about 75 this time, with Teghans stuff, and we will have to pack a little better to fit it all into the truck. We are having a packing party tomorrow, so hopefully the whole place will be packed up then, with just the bare essentials left out. We will be in town on Tuesday for Sean's 21st birthday, and I think Tristen will be coming to Lincoln to stay for a few days, one last hoorah before we leave. We will keep you posted.


Samantha
7/25/2002
Hello everyone. I want to tell you about my job. I do paperwork, like filing, consults, mail, computer work, telephoning (I don't enjoy the telephoning.) Sometimes I clean rooms. My hours are 8:00 to 4:30, Monday through Thursday. I only have about 2 weeks left to work. I am glad I got to work at HCMC.

Sam, remember what you were doing a year ago at this time? Just todayI was reading over the newsletter from last July, when you were working at the snack-place in the park. :-) --Gary


Gary
7/25/2002
Hey, "West Wing" fans: I just heard that because of a contract dispute, Rob Lowe will not be on the show next season. He's making only $75,000 per episode, and the producers wouldn't give him a raise. (I say "only" because even though $75,000 is somewhat more than I make in a week, it seem piddling when you consider that every person on "Friends" is making a million per episode....) Anyway, too bad! He is one of the great things about that great show.


Donna
7/25/2002
Someone at work just told me that Blockbuster has a new deal--buy 4 20 oz. Coke products and get 2 movies free. The rental is for 7 days. I assume this is nationwide, but don't know for sure. They also have a deal--donate $1 to Children's Hospital and get a free movie--not a new release and this deal may be a kid's movie only.


Marsha and John
7/24/2002
We shop from home with Simon Delivers. Check it out on www.simondelivers.com. Sorry, service only available in Twin Cities.


Marsha and John
7/24/2002
Great pictures of the Metcalf house! Looks so very nice, love the back yard. Kitchen looks great too. Sean, when are you going in the furniture business? Cool looking stuff!!


Karen
7/24/2002
Sean, your TV stand looks really nice. I liked that you layed out all of the materials needed in the first picture, makes me feel I could make one myself. Good job!!
Ryan, Amanda, Tristen and Teghan -- nice looking house. Tristen -- where were the pictures of the most important room??? Your bedroom!!!! Happy packing :)


Donna
7/23/2002
Metcalfs, the new house looks so pretty. I like the dark kitchen cabinets and I love the fountain in the backyard. It doesn't look like you'll have much to do when you move in.
Tristen, do you like your new house? I heard you're only 2 blocks from school and I saw a swingset in your neighbors back yard, so there must be some kids there for you to play with.


Gary
7/23/2002
Amanda sent in a floorplan of their new place, and I have put it on the 3rd page of their house pictures.


Donna
7/23/2002
Sean, nice job on the TV stand. The room looks really good. Take more pictures of your new pad when you have time. I can just barely see the new carpet and paint.


Lindsey
7/23/2002
Metcalfs~ Your house looks really nice and it looks like you have a very nice backyard as well. Good Luck! My fingers are crossed!
Sean~ Sounds like your house is coming along good. Can't wait to see it!


Gary
7/23/2002
I have posted all the photos that Amanda sent in of their new house. Click here to see 'em! (I'll leave them up for a week or so.) Also, check the Projects page for Sean's latest project.


Lindsey
7/22/2002
I have been doing a lot of reviews lately because we rented a lot of movies and just FYI, I would rent John Q again, that was really good.


Amanda
7/22/2002
I sent in some pictures of our new house, look for them soon???
(Gary??)

I did get the pictures last night, but haven't had the opportunity today to get them ready for the webpage. Sorry about that! They will be up tomorrow, hopefully before noon. Also Sean sent in some pics of his latest project for the Projects page -- look for them tomorrow too. :-) --Gary


Lindsey
7/22/2002
Is that like some sort of transportation device thing on the front page? I didn't really have time to look at the cool site.

Yeah, Lindsey, the Segway (nicknamed "Ginger" and sometimes just called "it") is a new invention that is supposed to help get us away from cars and their pollution. Of course, a bicycle or an electric scooter would do the same thing, but what makes this invention so cool is that it is safer and extremely easy to drive. In fact it kind of "reads your mind" -- you just think about turning or stopping and it does. (It's actually reading subtle body language.) They will be available -- for around $3000 at first -- late this year or early next. Here's another article that talks about them. --Gary


Lindsey
7/21/2002
Congratulations to Metcalfs' on your new home and Congrats to Sean on his home improvements.


Sean
7/21/2002
To Paul: Thanks a bunch for all the help you have given me on the home improvment! So far he has helped me run new electrical wiring, put up a door, hang and finish drywall, and put up base board. And he is currently pondering the construction of new steps! Thanks again!!


Marsha
7/20/2002
Congratulations on the new house to the Metcalf family! Can't wait to see the photos. We have been ordering our groceries online through a company called Simon Delivers. Every Wednesday evening they deliver the groceries we have ordered online. Their quality is just great and it sure saves me a big, boring trip to Cub Foods. We can't get everything we need, but enough so my other shopping trips aren't too bad, it's going to be nice for the winter. We had a big rainstorm this a.m. but it got hot a steamy later -- not as bad as you have had. We got half a truck load of wood chips delivered to the driveway -- wow, what a lot of chips! Can get the van in the garage, but have many more to put out and about. Feel free to come and take some.


Lindsey
7/19/2002
Hey guys, it's been sort of quiet on the internet lately! I shouldn't be talking tho, but. . .

Also Sean, I thought you said you would be on the internet more now. Tell us about your house!

And send me your address/phone info for the contact page! :-) --Gary


Donna
7/17/2002
Sorry to hear about Rainbow.


Paul, Lori, Lindsey, Olivia, and Ceaser (and all the fish)
7/17/2002
We are sorry also for your loss of Rainbow. Even the fish. :)
Bye!


Grandma
7/17/2002
I'm really sorry to hear about Rainbow. Can barely remember when she wasn't part of the family. She sure had a good life, however, and couldn't have had a better family to call hers. I'll miss her too.


Brent*Karen*Emily*Erika*
7/17/2002
We Were So Sorry To Hear About Your Cat Rainbow.


Gary
7/17/2002
Today's cool site is dedicated to Bill Porter, the subject of the movie "Door To Door." Apparently the movie was very popular as the website has been jammed with visitors and is now down (at 8:30 am Wednesday). Try it again later and you should get through eventually. I also heard this morning that "Bill Porter" is the #1 item being searched for on Google....


Paul
7/17/2002
Sorry to hear about your cat Rainbow. 17 years is long time. Emily, so glad to hear about your allergy pills, I am sure they will do a world of difference. I had allergy shots for 3 years and can't say enough about the results, good luck.


Marsha
7/16/2002
What thrilling Dog News! Glad they didn't stray too far. It's good that Livi came home when she did. Glad you get to keep your cats Emily -- Erika would never have forgiven you if you were allergic to cats. Allergies are such a bother! We lost our wonderful cat Rainbow yesterday. She died peacefully after a being sick for a while, Anna was holding her paw when she died. She was exactly 17 years and 3 months old. We buried her in the back yard under the lilac bush. She was a great cat, in her youth she caught many mice.


Grandma
7/16/2002
Episode 2 of the Convict Dog was very interesting!! One wonders if she will continue her life of crime and escape even getting an accomplice to be with her OR is she only feeling the need to protect her family and wants to find them at no cost to her.
Emily, I am glad it is only the dust mites out to get you and your kitties are safe. You must have lots of small holes in your back!!!
Anna, you need to tell everyone about your adventures of the summer. You are really living on the edge (especially at the top of the pole).
Sam, you are a hard worker and I am so glad it pays well.
I have tree people making an awful racket next door, so I better check it out. Been an unusually noisy neighborhood lately. Hope the Metcalf's are having good luck with the house hunting and cooler days.


Donna
7/16/2002
Karen, I just read your review of Door to Door. I watched it too and really liked it. It's on again tomorrow (Wednesday) night at (I think) 7:00.

Emily, glad to hear you finally have something that will treat your allergies. I think your volunteer job sounds fun. When do you go back?

Lindsey, really good article on the front page. My favorite part was your interview with the dogs.


***EMILY***
7/15/2002
Hi Everybody! I had to go to the allergy doctor today, they gave me 48 shots on my back and 4 on my arm! (ouch!) But they said I am only allergic to 2 kinds of dust mites (We don't have to get rid of the kittys!!! yay!) but we have to go buy these kinds of zipper bags to put over my matress and pillows, and I have to put away all of my stuffed aminals. I also have to take these really big pills twice a day and some nose spray. Well I gotta Go Bye 8)


Karen
7/15/2002
We have a new email address: nel_bk@msn.com. Not sure what happened to the system, but we weren't able to receive any emails. Brent called Tech support and they said the only way to fix it was to get a address.......

This has been fixed on the contact page. Emily's and Erika's email addresses are the same as before. --Gary


Gary
7/14/2002
In case you missed the note on the front page yesterday (or Friday?), there are some new photos on the recent photos page. Thanks to Amanda!


Lindsey
7/13/2002
Well, Sasha is here and so far, no break-outs!
Tomorrow (Sunday) I run a 1 mile run for Cornhusker State Games at Pioneer Park by the Buffalo Statue (if anyone knows where that is). Olivia is also running the one mile run with her friend. Then the following Sunday, I run a 3k at Lincoln High through the Cornhusker State Games. So I will be running a lot!
We'll miss you Amanda, Ryan, Tristen, and Teghan!


Olivia
7/12/2002
About Nacher camp!
Nature camp was awesome. We had a big hideout. We were by Dingo's group. Ours also had a trap in it! There was a dirt slide too. By the dirt slide we saw dead mammle and a racoon's arm. It had no fur on it. I got durty a copule times beacause I was sliding down it on my bottom! It was fun. We saw alot of dead stuff there. Also at the dirt slide we saw a fox den and it has a babby fox there, I saw it. It was so cute! I coulding keep my eyes off it! I went to the creek too. The creek was awsome! Willow face painted everyone it was cool man! And I also made a beed amimal. It's a mose/Deer. And my teacher's name was Chrisallis. Her real name is Kristena.


Paul
7/12/2002
Hi all, haven't been on for a while, how is everyone doing? Hope the 4th went well for everyone. I am glad Emily is doing volunteer work, maybe after Brent's court date you and Dad can work some community work together, huh?
Sam, congrats on the the paycheck, See ya soon.
I hear Anna has been doing some really cool projects, nice work kiddo.


Amanda
7/12/2002
We are getting ready to go to Texas... Should be leaving in about 14 hours or so. Long drive, argh... We don't even live there yet and I'm dreading the drive. I will let everyone know as soon as we find out anything down there. We will be there no longer than 10 days. BYE!

BTW, don't miss the new Tristen/Teghan pics on the photo page. --Gary


***EMILY***
7/11/2002
Hi Everybody! I volunteered at the art center again today, I will go tomorrow too it is a 3 day class that started on Wednesday but the person that was supposed to help didn't show up so they called me. There were about 25 kids and I think I probly had to take each one to the bathroom about twice, but I guess it was pretty fun. Gotta Go Bye 8)


Karen
7/11/2002
We have a very nice day today. It's raining and cool. It's only 65 degrees at noon and a steady rain -- so nice!!! Erika and I picked up Brent for a cup of coffee and Erika had a cocoa and a scone. It was very good. Emily is volunteering at the Art Center this morning. She is helping with a class of 4 and 5 year olds.


Grandma
7/10/2002
Enjoyed the past few days with the Nelson's here, and I am so jealous of your rain, it looked so promising this a.m. but has moved on with only a hint of what rain looked like. Nice that Amanda and her girls were able to join us for a day too.
Putting a new driveway in across the street and they are really noisy. I am vegging today. I guess I need to decide whether I want to sit on the swing or the couch again.
Gary, I really like the snow pictures.
Happy payday, Sam!! Don't spend it all in one place.
Linz I think I liked "i am sam" as much as you, it should have a 12.


Karen
7/10/2002
We had a great time in Lincoln! We got home about 3:30 yesterday. We were all pretty tired and didn't do much last night. Woke up this morning about 5 to a big thunderstorm. It was lightning almost constantly and pouring rain. We had over 2 inches of rain in less than an hour.


Gary
7/10/2002
Grandma continues to stay on the cutting edge of technology with her acquisition yesterday of a DVD player. Lindsey and I both took a whack at setting it up, but it baffled both of us; so I called their tech support and was told that a little switch in the back has to be not in the up position (which we had tried), and not in the down position (which we had tried), but kind of in the middle.... Did that and it worked fine! So how do DVDs look on a big-screen TV? Sweet! I can't wait to watch Lord of the Rings there. :-) What was Grandma's first DVD, you ask? Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!

Had lots of fun when the Nelsons (minus one, who apparently couldn't post bail) were in town. Played lots of games, ate lots of food, did lots of shopping. Come back soon!


Samantha
7/9/2002
Hello everyone. When is Brent going to court? Will he be on TV with Judge Judy? This is my fourth week of work and I get paid this Friday. So Lindsey, how are you recovering from the bottle rocket incident? Last night, I went to Best Buy and bought a Minolta camera. It is a very cool camera. Good bye.


Lindsey
7/6/2002
Happy Belated 4th everyone!
We went to some friends house for the 4th of July and then we all walked over to Holmes Lake for the fireworks show and then walked back. We were shooting off pop bottle rockets (which are not legal) with the people next door to them. We were sort of shooting them at each other for fun and I got hit! Just in the side and it didn't explode but I got burned a little but I'm OK, it just hit and I moved so its ok.
Have fun with your TV, Grandma! Is it big enough for you? :)
Bye!


Karen
7/5/2002
Well, we got busted last night! The police had been warning everyone for about 2 weeks that there would be a zero tolerance. Brent held off buying anything until yesterday morning, and he did "cut back." We didn't shoot anything off until later than usual. Brent and the girls had been lighting a lot of smoke balls (which were legal) and then they did a strobe. Suddenly the police was in front of our house. Brent talked fast and assured the policeman that he was only shooting the smoke balls. I don't think he believed him, but he did move on. We headed to the back yard to shoot off more. Erika was very concerned and went into the house to watch from her window. Well we continued to break the law and shoot off more for about 30 minutes. Then we felt pretty lucky and went in the front yard to do a few more. Brent lit a couple of sparklers in the ground and again the police came to the house while it was still burning. Brent told him it was just a sparkler! I think he had them almost convinced, then his partner flashed his light on all of the "empties" from earlier in the evening and said "these sure aren't sparklers." So Brent was given a ticket and a date to appear in court. The only satisifation was that as the one officer was writing out our ticket our neighbor, two doors down, shot off a very loud, very bright firework. The other officer went running into their backyard and soon came back with him and his supply. He also received a ticket and they confiscated all of his fireworks. So we entertained the neighbors last night, but not with our firework display. Brent will have to go to court and pay a fine determined by the judge.


Gary
7/4/2002
That's OK, Emily -- ya gotta start somewhere! I'm sure both your mom and dad were expert drivers the first time they got behind the wheel.... :-)


Karen
7/4/2002
Emily had her first driving lesson today! Brent thought she could drive the truck from the street into the driveway. She backed it up pretty well, and turned into the driveway OK. Then she "forgot" which pedal was the brake and didn't find it until she was slowed down by the bushes. No major damage to the truck, but I do think it will be awhile before she gets another lesson :)


Anna
7/4/2002
Happy 4th of July everyone!!!


Sean
7/4/2002
Hey grandma, congrats on you new t.v.!


Brent, Karen, & Erika
7/3/2002
Happy 4th of July everyone!


***EMILY***
7/3/2002
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Donna
7/3/2002
Happy 4th of July, everybody!!!


***EMILY***
7/2/2002
Hi Everybody, I volunteered at the musuem again today. It was a 4th of July class. We talked about why we celebrate 4th of July, then we made hats and fireworks (they wern't real ones, the kids just kinda waved them around.) Then we had the kids make ice cream, but it didn't really work so the kids just kinda made a really big mess. Gotta Go Bye 8)


Marsha, John, Zach, Sam and Anna
7/1/2002
Sorry to hear about your Grandpa Ray, Amanda and Sean. It has been hot here too, but not as bad as Nebraska and Iowa. We have had plenty of rain, but now it's steamy. We have been so busy with work for us "adults" and Teen Hero projects for Anna. We are looking forward to our Chicago trip and just a little down time. Keep us posted on your move to Texas, all you Metcalf's, although you'll probably be too busy to write much. Glad your play was a success Linz! Emily's volunteer work sounds really cool. Thanks for updating us on everything. I'm doing lots of gardening, but the heat has slowed me down a bit. I think we are going to Taste of Minnesota on Wed. for food and fireworks since we have to go to work on Friday. We'll just hang around our place for a cookout on the 4th. Jesse Ventura has said we can have fireworks in the state now. Oh, the things he has done for Minnesota!


Nelsons
7/1/2002
Amanda, sorry to hear about your "grandpa Ray."


Amanda
7/1/2002
They did that Blockbuster deal with Shrek and with Harry Potter as well... Not too many plans for the 4th yet, thinking we might go to Metcalfs, they are out in the country, you get away with a lot more there. Tonight we are going to Lincoln because the viewing is tonight and the funeral is tomorrow for my grandpa. Ryan worked last night, but then is off for the rest of the week. We are leaving on the 13th to go to Texas for 10 days to look for a place to live, and it looks like we might be moving on the 6th of August (nice time to move huh? August in Nebraska and Texas heat). That is about all we know here, be talking to everyone.


Gary
7/1/2002
Sorry about the fish, Emily and Erika... And to Edward I say, "Live long and prosper," and make sure your life insurance is paid up! :-) Anybody got plans for the 4th, other than sit in front of the open refrigerator and pour down cold drinks?? My plans are more or less along those lines...

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned a deal at Blockbuster that sounded pretty good, and I learned over the weekend that it's even better than that -- so here it is again. (Disclaimer: I do not work for Blockbuster, Inc., and in no way will benefit from the following announcement.) For twenty-five bucks, you can buy a card that gets you one free rental per week for ten weeks. The rentals include both old AND NEW titles -- and as rentals usually cost four bucks, that's already a savings of fifteen dollars. And the bonus is, you get a free copy of "Lord of the Rings" (DVD or VHS, letterbox or "fullscreen") when it comes out. (Though this is the regular theatrical release, not the one with the extra footage which will be released in November.) A good deal, in my humble opinion.

Happy 4th, everybody, and stay cool!