Anderson/Hatgidakis/Nelson/Metcalf: Newsletter

Old news: February 2007

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Gary
2/28/07

Don't know how soon you'll be hooked up and able to see this again, but Happy Moving Day, Metcalfs! Enjoy your new house!


Karen
2/27/07
Erika is doing well. She went back to school yesterday. It was a pretty easy day -- had a two hour late start and on Mondays they get out an hour early. So only 4 hours for her. She was a little tired, but doing OK. Back to school today for a full day. She didn't have to go to PE so that helped her. We go to doctor for a check up tomorrow.
Donna
2/27/07
Hey Gary, the cool site today reminded me I heard a teaser on the news this AM about someone claiming they found the tomb of Jesus. Was Gerry Rivers (Geraldo Rivera) reporting? What's the story, do you know? It reminds me of my favorite movie, 'The Body.'

I don't know much more than what you'll find on the site above; though I do know Geraldo has nothing to do with it. It's a huge story (if reliably authenticated), and it could be every bit as explosive as "The Body" (which is indeed an excellent movie). In fact, this find has deeper and broader possible repercussions than the find in the movie. I bought the book today (it just came out today, actually), but obviously haven't read it yet. This is definitely a story to keep your eye on. The Discovery Channel program on this airs this Sunday ay 8 pm. --Gary


Donna
2/27/07
Congratulations Gary and Lindz. I backed 'The Queen' all the way and she let me down. Did it win anything? Sorry but Oscar doesn't want to leave my home.

Erika, Olivia, Linz, how are you guys feeling?

Amanda, how was the walk through last night? Is the house ready to move into?

Karen, that new recipe sounds good. Is it one of your own creations?


Gary
2/27/07
Complete Oscar results for the 2007 race are now posted. Thanks for playing everybody -- it was another fun year! (And Donna, I will accept the trophy any time....)
Karen
2/27/07
Congratulations Gary and Lindsey :)

Speaking on behalf of myself, thank you. I intended to get the Oscar race summary up yesterday, but didn't -- hopefully will today. It was a fun race, and we all had a good time watching it. P.S. How's Erika? --Gary


Gary
2/26/07
In case you weren't keeping score last night, the winners were Gary (in a narrow squeaker over Samantha) and Lindsey (in her fourth consecutive -- and final! -- victory in the 17-and-under category). So congratulations to her, and especially of course to me. Check back later today for the full breakdown of the results.
Karen
2/25/07
Yipee, it's 5 and already announcing a 2 hour late start for schools tomorrow!! They NEVER announce this early. We got over 10 inches!!

Lucky you. No additional snow here. Thanks for the new recipe! --Gary


Karen
2/25/07
Snowy day for us. Must have gotten at least 6 inches since yesterday afternoon. Emily got a call this morning from her boss, said to stay home. So she was happy to get the day off. Haven't done much at all but watch it snow. Brent has been out twice to snow blow the driveway. Erika is doing great, planning to go back to school tomorrow. Livy, I liked the picture and poem about Penny :) Is everyone planning to watch the Oscars at Mom's tonight?

As far as I know, yes. Livy just called me from there, and I'm headed over there now. Hasn't snowed here since last night/early morning; we got maybe three or four inches of very dense slushy snow. --Gary


Livy
2/24/07

Hope you feel better Erika! Well nothing much really today though. But I have been pretty busy making up some quizzes though. I did Are you too much of a shopping freak?, and What kind of dog are you, and I am starting What season are you most like?. They are going really good though. I have tried them on a couple different people, and then I would give advice at the end if they don't like their answer, and want to change. I sure like them though. Me and dad just got back from being attacked! We went to the grocery store (that's when it all started to snow) and when we were getting back out of the building it was a blizzard! We ran to the car and we were grabbing bags and throwing them into the car, and I was trying to wipe off my seat from all of the snow on it, and my notebook got snow all over it, and when I closed the door my window scared me because it had snow on it, so I rolled down the window to get it off and when I was rolling it back up, a big chunk of snow flew into my face!!! Story of my life... Well that was pretty much my exciting day!

By the way, I have been learning French! It's really fun! I am going to take it next year too for 2 semesters. I love it a lot!!! Well actually I should have said this earlier, but I didn't get on that day. C'est la saint Valentine! It means Happy Valentines day! Oh, my name in French is a more' de schine. (You say it like a more de chin, only instead of chin, shine). I also know how to count to 60, and I know some different ways to say hello and good bye, and like good afternoon, I know how to say different classes in school, and even how to say how old are you and how old I am or she or he is. It's really fun!

Well I gotta go, I will talk to you all later!!!


Karen
2/22/07
Erika is home!! Waited most of the day for the doctor to show up -- finally came in about 3 and we got home a little after 5. She is doing pretty good. Pain isn't too bad, mostly just sore and tender. Not sure yet when she can go back to school, I will have to call the doctor tomorrow (he got a phone call and failed to give any orders). But for now she is in her own bed and just had a little toast and eggs, and happy to be home :)
Donna
2/22/07

Hi Erika, how are you feeling? Hope you're better soon! But don't hurry going back to school. Milk this for all it's worth! And whenever someone asks you to do something you don't want to do, just put your hands over the incision and say "oh the pain, it still hurts so bad..." That should work for at least a month or two.
Grandma
2/22/07

Feel better fast, Erika!
Gary
2/22/07
With the Oscars coming up this weekend, howsabout some movie news?
  • There can be only one! A "Highlander" movie (spin-off from the TV series, not a sequel to the Sean Connery film) is coming out this September. Called "Highlander: The Source" (so maybe it's a prequel...?) is in the editing stage now.
  • Klaatu barada nicto! A remake of 1951's "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is in the works, set to be released May 9, 2008. The original, about an alien who comes to earth to warn humankind to abandon war, is one of the classic science-fiction movies of all time.
  • A big political thriller titled "Lions For Lambs" will be in theaters November 9 of this year. Starring Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, and Robert Redford (who also directs it), it is three storylines dealing with the war on terror: Cruise plays a senator, Streep a journalist, and Redford a college professor.
  • HBO is doing a series of movies based on the "American Girl" dolls. The movies will be live-action, and each will be based on the story of one of the dolls. First up is the story of the Depression-era doll Kit Kittredge.
  • James Cameron, director of "Titanic," begins filming a science-fiction extravaganza in April of this year. Titled "Avatar" and starring Sigourney Weaver, it tells the story of some humans who come to an exotic planet to exploits its resources and wind up siding with the indigenous population. It will be released in the summer of 2009. Oh, and did I mention the whole thing will be in 3-D? Wow!
    Paul Lori Linz and Liv
    2/22/07

    Hope you are feeling better Erika
    Amanda
    2/22/07
    Argh, the cool sites... Reminds me of DC. I was there a year ago! My mom leaves Saturday for there & I'm already struggling with jealousy & now these sites! :) [one and two]
    Amanda
    2/22/07
    Gary & Donna, will you be here at Grandma's for the Oscars? Or at least part of them (until it goes so late we are poking our eyeballs out....)

    I will certainly be there! --Gary


    Amanda
    2/21/07
    I know we have sent out pictures throughout the building process, but someone told me that putting them together on a website would be easier/better for everyone to look at.. So, since closing is a week from today I finally got around to it! The site is the same one we have had for awhile with family photos. The family/people shots have been removed for now since the house is our life right now… I’m sure we will update the site often, so bookmark us and check back!
    Amanda
    2/21/07
    WOW! All in a days time! I hear she is out of surgery & groggy. Get better Erika!

    On another note, Tristen went to the Orthodontist today. He wants her to have 4 baby teeth pulled now & then watch the progression of permanent teeth growing in. Pulling the baby teeth now will give the new permanents more room to come in straight. But, when it comes time for braces he is sure she will have to have permanant teeth pulled as well like I did. She seems OK with it all. She just wanted to make sure she would be numb for the teeth pulling! She is having some issues with teeth hitting other teeth, so I think she will be relieved to have some space in there.
    Karen
    2/21/07
    Boy oh boy, what a day!! Erika has been complaining of a stomach ache since about Sunday night, but nothing major. Seemed OK on Monday, Tuesday I really wanted her to stay home, but she went to school. This morning about 5 she was up and not feeling well. I quickly decided to take the day off and get her to the doctor. Had a small feeling it could be appendicitis. Got an appointment with the doctor at 11:30. She asked Erika about three questions, then asked me what our surgeons name was. She called him and he said to get to ER. So I called Brent and he met us at the hospital, the doctor was there within 15 minutes. Checked her out and said she could go to surgery immediately. So by 2:00 she was in surgery. The surgery went great (even gave us pictures and a video). She was wheeled in the the room about 4. So a fast moving day for her. She was pretty alert and feeling fairly good. Hoping to get her home tomorrow afternoon.

    Send us the video, Erika, so we can watch it Saturday night! :-) --Gary


    Grandma
    2/21/07
    I just talked to Karen a little while ago, and they are at the hospital again, Erika is in surgery, Appendicitis, has had a few bad days, took her to the doctor this morning and directly to the hospital. Should be a couple hours before she is out. Hopefully, she will come home tomorrow if all goes well. Poor little guy!
    Emily
    2/21/07
    Update on Erika: She has appendicitis! Should be going into surgery soon.
    Karen
    2/21/07
    Sean, cool web site -- I'm sure that will bring in a lot of new customers. I'll certainly check with you next time I need a snake cage :) I am home today -- poor Erika hasn't been feeling well since Sunday -- seems a lot worse today. So I called in and took the day off and will get her in to the doctor as soon as I can. Beautiful day yesterday. Melted lots of snow (but still a long way to go) and another great day to come today - up to 50!


    Feel better, Erika! --Gary


    Sean
    2/20/07
    I purchased a domain name from GoDaddy.com the other day. So far all I'm doing is hosting my picture trail account with it. I did this because it's a lot easier to tell someone to check my stuff out at www.AndersonMetalDesign.com rather than www.picturetrail/user%Anderson_design/whatever,ect...ect465%77*dhn3oiu2hECT.com. Not only that, but when someone does an internet search such as google there is a chance it will pick up my site; whereas before it never would have.

    So, if you have a second, check it out, it's as easy as typing www.AndersonMetalDesign.com into your web browser address bar; or I'm sure Gary might just put up a new link to it HERE, which in theory should be the same hyperlink address as before but; well that's computer talk, ENJOY!


    Gary
    2/20/07
    Another new review -- thanks, Lindsey!
    Gary
    2/20/07
    Today's cool site is an interesting article from a 40-year-old Time Magazine. Back in 1966 Time asked a bunch of experts to predict what the world would be like in the far-off year 2000. They got a few things right: They thought that a lot of people might be able to work from home, via computers. And they also predicted a kind of shopping online -- the word "online" didn't exist back then (there was no internet), but they imagined a kind of TV-phone where you could call up individual stores and see their merchandise.

    Mostly, though, they got things wrong... Like this:

  • Traffic would be reduced thanks to "automated, and possibly underground, highways"
  • One even said "the wheel and the highway will be obsolete, giving way to hovercraft that ride on air"
  • "a permanent lunar base will have been established long before A.D. 2000"
  • "artificial organs--hearts, lungs, stomachs--will be commonly available"
  • "Bacterial and viral diseases will have been virtually wiped out. Probably arteriosclerotic heart disease will also have been eliminated."
  • "The kitchen, of course, will be automated. An A.D. 2000 housewife may well make out her menu for the week, put the necessary food into the proper storage spaces, and feed her program to a small computer" with "mechanical arms getting out the preselected food, cooking and serving it."
  • "household robots would wash dishes, dispose of the garbage (onto a conveyer belt moving under the street), vacuum rugs, wash windows, cut the grass"
  • Thanks to machines, "only 10% of the population will be working, and the rest will, in effect, have to be paid to be idle. ... There just won't be enough work to go around."
  • "By 2000, the machines will be producing so much that everyone in the U.S. will, in effect, be independently wealthy. With Government benefits, even nonworking families will have, by one estimate, an annual income of $30,000-$40,000 (in 1966 dollars)." That's $185,000 - $250,000 in 2006 dollars.

    Predicting the future is hard...!


    Gary
    2/19/07
    New review!
    Marsha
    2/19/07
    Im believing there has been some tampering with me ballot!
    Gary
    2/19/07
    Need a laugh? Check out this short film by a Scandinavian comedy group on what "tech support" might have been like a thousand years ago. (It's in Swedish or something, but there are English subtitles at the top.) Enjoy!


    Donna
    2/19/07
    Emily, congratulations on Volunteer of the Year!!! That is so cool.
    Donna
    2/19/07
    Oh really Ryan? That hurts right here (pointing to my heart).

    But you could be right. Teghan was sitting on my lap working the mouse while I was making my guesses and she would say 'this one, you want this one, oh, how about this one...'

    And Marsh "im want to win." That is pathetic, unless English is your second language...


    Gary
    2/19/07
    Okay, Oscar ballots are in! The prestigious accounting firm of Price Waterhouse (mmmmmm, rice and porterhouse, droool) has finished the tabulations, and scoresheets will be mailed to everyone. Meanwhile, if you want to see the results right now, please do!

    There were several comments on this year's ballots, ranging from the candid admissions of Amanda ("Wow, total guesses!") and Lindsey ("Pictures helped my guesses!"), to Ryan's defiant "Donna is going down this year!!!!!!!!!!!", to Marsha's pathetic "im want to win."

    Good luck, everybody!


    Livy
    2/18/07
    Hey everybody! I just sent in my oscars. Today, me and dad also started a dog house for Ceaser and Max. We still have to put carpet in, and a pointed roof, and we are going to finnish that tomorrow after school. I like it so far. We also went to Petco for Max's 1st birthday! We got a box of bones, a harness, because he doesn't like his collar very much, a clicker, and some minty fresh mouthwash to go in their water. You add the water, and the cap full of the mouthwash, and then they drink it. It's supposed to be good for their gums. I made some popcorn (it's made for dogs. Bacon flavor!!!) for them and then put up decorations for them too!!! It was really fun today! Well I gotta go, so I'll talk to you all later!!!

    P.S. I will send in some pictures of the dog house when it's done.


    Amanda
    2/18/07
    It was Tristen's.

    Ah. Thank you. And thank you, Tristen! Good luck! --Gary


    Gary
    2/18/07
    Attention Oscar voters: A ballot arrived at 1:45 this afternoon (Sunday) all complete, but unsigned. I assume it was Anna, Donna, Lori, Olivia, Ryan, Sean, Tristen, or Zachary -- but which one? Help me out...?
    Gary
    2/18/07
    Received ballots yesterday from Amanda, Brent, and Teghan -- thanks, y'all! I have to make up the score sheets tomorrow and get 'em in the mail -- so today (Sunday) is the last day for Anna, Donna, Lori, Olivia, Ryan, Sean, Tristen, and Zachary to start clicking! Ring ring! It's Oscar calling -- will you pick up?
    Emily
    2/17/07
    I came across another news article that explains whats been going on at my school a little better than the first, if anyones interested. Be sure to check out the video clip :)
    We got some more snow last night, just a few inches I think. But, I guess it is keeping some people in today. We were dead at the Vill all morning and they ended up sending me home a few hours early, which is both irritating and nice.
    Has anyone else sent in Oscar votes yet?? I am looking forward to them!

    We are still waiting for Oscar fever to bite Amanda, Anna, Brent, Donna, Lori, Olivia, Ryan, Sean, Teghan, Tristen, and Zachary. Today and tomorrow.... then it's too late! P.S., Thanks for the new reviews, Emily! --Gary


    Emily
    2/16/07
    I enjoyed the front page yesterday too, the last one made me laugh.
    I had a pretty good Valentine's Day too, although didn't do much either. Erika and I got delicious caramel apples from the Humane Society again!
    I was sick yesterday and didn't go to school, or my Siouxland Cares recognition. But, I did get my certificate at school today, and I was named volunteer of the year! I had a good time in Des Moines last week. We got to talk with several of the representives, all of which were very positive and are thinking the ordinance should be passed this session. But, I am also glad to be completely done with Mayor's Youth Commission now.
    There has been lots of drama going on around my school this past week, which has been interesting. We have been in the news almost everyday this week, unfortunately not for the good things we have been doing. Here are 2 of the articles printed: [first] [second]
    So, it has been interesting seeing how all of this will pan out. They seem to think high tech identification badges with all of our "privileges" listed will fix all of the problems. So, I got to get my mug shot taken for that today.
    I hope everyone else gets their Oscar ballots in soon, it is always more fun when everyone participates!
    And, Gary I like your Gore-Obama prediction. I will finally get to vote in this one!

    Hopefully with your vote, Emily, we can start to undo some of the damage that the Bush party has done -- like mug shots and electronic ID badges for students...! Congratulations on your award (which we can all see here). --Gary


    Gary
    2/16/07
    Glad you all liked the page yesterday. :-) Marsha, Boston Legal is one of my guilty pleasures, too.

    Hey, how easy is it to win the Oscar? Very easy! All it takes is 27 clicks and typing your name. I clocked it: the whole thing takes only 49 seconds. Surely Amanda, Anna, Brent, Donna, Lori, Olivia, Ryan, Sean, Teghan, Tristen, and Zachary can spare 49 seconds sometime tonight, Saturday, or Sunday....?


    Karen
    2/15/07
    Gary I liked the front page today. Reminded me of Anna a few years ago when she was so mad that they didn't a snow day :)
    Marsha
    2/15/07
    Thank You Gary for the great home page today, we have seen most of these in various forms, and I always enjoy them! Today was a balmy 4 below when I went to work this morning, it has been 40 days since we have had temps above freezing but we should be in the twenties Saturday. I bought a beautiful orchid today, seems only right to have a little tropical something inside. It was nice to see Grandma and little T's valentine message since they are so close :). We enjoyed a nice Valentine's Day, I made some crab cakes and we watched Boston Legal (one of my favorites). Work was crazy (especially for Sam) but it is a big $ for Bachman's.
    Lindsey
    2/15/07
    How was everyone's Valentine's Day? Mine was pretty good. Restaurants were crazy! We waited for 50 minutes. Then went and rented a movie, Saw III, and it's really gross! Not a typical Valentine's day movie.
    I finally sent in my Oscar ballot. The pictures helped me a little bit, I don't know why though, all my choices were guesses.

    Next year I'm going to try to have film clips for everything, too. Should help even more! Also, thanks for the new review, Lindsey! --Gary


    Gary
    2/15/07
    If Amanda, Anna, Brent, Donna, Lindsey, Lori, Olivia, Paul, Ryan, Samantha, Sean, Teghan, Tristen, and Zachary are wondering, "Hmmm, how much time do I have left for that Oscar dealie?" the answer is: 4 days!
    Grandma and Teghan
    2/14/07

    Happy Valentine's Day to Everybody!!
    Gary
    2/14/07
    Right now Lindsey owns it (or is it Donna?) -- but on February 25 it will belong to Emily, Erika, Gary, Grandma, Karen, John or Marsha. They are the only ones who have sent in Oscar ballots so far. If you want a shot at the trophy, you've only got 5 days (til Monday, the 19th) to get your ballot in!
    Ryan, Amanda, Tristen & Teghan
    2/14/07

    Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
    Amanda
    2/13/07
    A little late side note, Omaha was closed today... Only Lincoln open....
    Gary
    2/13/07
    Okay, I'm going to talk politics. And I'm going to make a prediction.

    Who is going to be the Democratic candidate for President in 2008? There is one ideal candidate out there, one that all the Democrats could easily get behind. And it's not Hillary. Not Obama. Not any of the other declared candidates. It is Al Gore.

    Both of the Democratic frontrunners -- Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama -- are already having problems. Hillary is not only likely to scare away any left-leaning Republicans, but is also having trouble lining up Democrats on her side -- she's too conservative for the liberals, and too liberal for the conservatives. Obama is seen, by both sides, as too inexperienced for the office. (Though that's hardly fair: he's got nearly as much experience on the national level as Abraham Lincoln had when he ran in 1860, and has more than Bush Jr. had when he stole the office in 2000.)

    But look at Gore: He is clearly ahead of Hillary and Obama on the experience contest, with years in the Senate and White House. Unlike Hillary and every other declared Democrat, he's on the right side of the Iraq issue. In 2002, when Hillary, Edwards, Biden, and most other Democrats voted to authorize Bush's invasion of Iraq, Gore was strongly opposing it and correctly predicted this: "The chaos in the aftermath of a military victory in Iraq could easily pose a far greater danger to the United States than we presently face from Saddam." (The best Obama can say is, I would have voted against it if I had been in the Senate way back then....)

    And best of all, Gore actually beat Bush in 2000! All he has to do is stand up in front of a crowd and let them reflect on what might have been if the corrupt Supreme Court hadn't handed the office to Bush six years ago. What would the world look like today if he could have taken possession of the office he rightfully won?

    More: Six years ago he was "stiff" and "wooden" and humorless -- now he's cool, a much more connected and vibrant speaker, and nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and an Oscar...!

    Bottom line: Even though Gore keeps saying he's not running, I think he's waiting for his moment. Let Hillary and Obama fight it out between themselves and burn out, then step in at the right moment and pick up all the marbles. Meanwhile his movie keeps him in the public eye. So how about a Gore-Obama ticket in 2008? Or even, Gore-Clinton? :-)


    Gary
    2/13/07
    It wasn't me! I already have one (an exact replica, that is). But I did see this one, when I was in San Francisco last spring. John's Grill is one of my favorite restaurants.
    Donna
    2/13/07
    I'm working from home today. It doesn't look like we got much -- 4 inches or so but it's drifting. And there's ice underneath so I'm surprised Lincoln and Omaha schools are open. And freezing cold here for the next few days. But it's supposed to get into the upper 30's and stay there for awhile. The weatherman said this morning that this storm should be one of our last big storms of the season. Hallelujah!

    Amanda, looks like stupid Wal-Mart will be building a store in your neighborhood after all.


    Karen
    2/13/07
    Yipee, we get a two hour late start today. Actually announced it last night -- which they rarely ever do. So it was nice to sleep in a little this morning. I guess we have about 5 inches. Brent is out shoveling it now -- the blower wouldn't start! So I will have another cup of coffee and have a nice relaxing morning. Did you guys get much snow? That quiz was hard! The most disturbing answer is the camel hair -- I will never get any brushes like that, yuck!

    About four inches on the ground here, and either still snowing or just blowing around right now. But, other than a lot of rural and private schools, nothing is closed: Omaha, Lincoln, and UN-L still open. Grrrr. Lucky you! --Gary


    Gary
    2/12/07
    Heads up, everybody -- snow on the menu for today. Supposed to start this afternoon, and tomorrow could be (cross your fingers) a snow-day. We'll see....

    I know that everyone is anxiously waiting for the answers to the quiz (calm down, people...really!), so here you go:

    How many years did the Hundred Years War last? 112
    Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador
    In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November
    Which animal provides the hair for camel-hair brushes? Squirrel
    The Canary Islands are named after which creature? Dog (from the Latin canis from which we get canine)
    What was King George VI's first name? Albert
    What color is a purple finch? crimson
    Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand ("Chinese goosberries" are more commonly known as kiwi fruit)
    Do this in your head: Start with 1000, then add 40, then add 1000, then add 30, then add 1000, then add 20, then add 1000, and finally add 10. What's the total? 4100 (try it on paper or with a calculator)
    Mary's father has five daughters: Chacha, Cheche, Chichi, Chocho, and ------? What is the name of the fifth daughter? Mary (answer is in the question!)


    Amanda
    2/9/07
    Im reading, just not writing... House has the first coat of paint, looks nice. Interesting with a pink bedroom, purple bedroom & red kitchen though! Can't say we are afraid of color! We have been sick around here & now we got Grandma sick. We all feel so bad. Tonight we stayed out of the house to give her some space & picked up the things she requested from the store (kleenex).
    I got two right. #3 & #10. I suck.
    Karen
    2/9/07
    The last one.

    Ahh. I missed that one -- and #9 too. The others are all "ya know 'em or ya don't" type questions. I'll post all the correct answers on Monday. --Gary


    Gary
    2/9/07
    It has been quite a dry spell here on the old newsletter page. Ah, well -- it ebbs and flows....

    Wow, Emily is a celebrity! :-)

    And speaking of celebrities, the countdown begins today: You have only 10 days to get your Oscar ballots in! Erika, Emily, Karen, Grandma, John and Marsha have already answered the call. Can you (i.e., Amanda, Anna, Brent, Donna, Gary, Lindsey, Lori, Olivia, Paul, Ryan, Samantha, Sean, Teghan, Tristen, and Zachary) do any less?

    Oh yeah, Karen -- which one did you get right??


    Karen
    2/9/07
    Hello.... am I the only one reading this now??? Gary -- I had fun with the game -- only got one question right :) Emily had a good day yesterday -- went to Des Moines. She was interviewed by a couple of news stations. On the news last night and quoted in the paper this morning. Got about another two inches of snow last night and still cold, cold, cold.
    Karen
    2/4/07
    Just sent in my Oscar guesses (votes). Haven't seen too many of the movies, but I did like the ballot -- helped me a lot :) Another cold day, beginning to get use to them. Olivia I really like your room. The circles are cool -- your bed looks a lot like ours. Are you sleeping better now? Amanda -- the house is really coming along, shouldn't be much longer before you are all moved in. John -- how are you feeling? Hope you're getting along OK.
    Gary
    2/4/07
    New pictures!
    Gary
    2/2/07
    "How cold do you think it is?"
    "One."


    Literally true this morning as I got into my car. Brrrr! But, there's breaking news from Gobbler's Knob in Punxatawney, PA: The groundhog predicts an early spring! Happy Groundhog Day, everybody.
    Lindsey
    2/1/07
    I got my first semester report card and I have a 4.0 with all A's!! Woohoo!

    Wow! Well done, Lindsey! --Gary


    Gary
    2/1/07
    New photo on the photo page. Congrats again, Emily!
    Emily
    2/1/07
    I love the new Oscar ballot, Gary! I may have to re-vote, espcially after hearing the songs.
    I didn't get my W-2s until the last minute either, Amanda. But, we did start them last night.
    Gary
    2/1/07
    I jazzed up the Oscar ballot a little, and hopefully it will help you make your choices. Be patient -- lots of pictures to load... You can even hear the nominated songs! :-) Erika and Emily -- you are the only ones who have sent in your choices so far, but feel free to make new choices and send them in again if you want.

    Only 25 days til the Oscars -- and only 18 days to vote!