finally a new post to read!

Well it has been a while since the last note that Daniel posted. It has been extremely busy here.

Sarah is sending out resumes daily. A superintendent of schools from New Mexico was in Perkins last night and Caroline talked to him. He goes up to Minnesota to hire school teachers for down there. He likes the work ethic up here so that is why he comes all this way to hire. He gave Caroline his business card. We are trying to convince Sarah to at least consider the possibility.

Mary is at camp working.

My first MPA class is keeping me busy. I am writing a 6 page report and a 15 minute PowerPoint presentation on a chapter of the book we are assigned. Then our final project is a 20 page report. all I can say thank goodness for Google. The 5 minutes of Googling my subject matter has reaped more than enough material. back when I was going through college it would have took me weeks to go through the literature cite catalogs to search for the articles and then try to find them. Boy it is amazing how quickly things change. The kids today should at least experience for one day what we had to go through so they appreciate technology.

We have a summer working who does not comprehend using a typewriter and white out.

Stephen and I are off to cub scout camp tomorrow, we will be through Sunday. It will be fun.

everybody have a good weekend

posted by Randy

Random blurbs

Hello all

I don't suffer from insanity...I ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!

here's a funny video I've known about for a while, and don't worry, in the beginning he's not swearing, it was just beeped out to protect the name of the construction company.

Brick coverage!!1!

thankfully this guy isn't real, it would suck to be him.

Dear sir:

I am writing in response to your request for additional information in block 3 of the accident report form. I put poor planning as the cause of my accident.you asked for a fuller explanation, and I trust the following details will be sufficient.

I was alone on the roof of a new six story building. when I completed my work, I found that I had some left over which, when weighed later, were found to weigh more than 500 pounds. rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them down in a barrel by using a pulley that was attached to the side of the building on the sixth floor.

I secured the rope at ground level, climbed to the roof, swung the barrel out, and loaded the bricks into it. Then I climbed back down and untied the rope, holding tightly to ensure a slow descent of the bricks.

You will notice in block 11 that I weigh 135 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I Proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building.

Somewhere in the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel, which was proceeding downward at a equally impressive speed. This explains the fractured skull and broken collar bone, as listed in section 3 of the accident form.

Slowed down slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers on my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley.

Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope-in spite of beginning to experience a great deal of pain. at approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. now devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel weighed approximately 50 pounds.

(I refer you again to my weight.)

As you can imagine I began a rapid decent down the side of the building. somewhere in the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. this accounts for the two fractured ankles, the broken tooth, and the lacerations of my legs and lower body.

Here my luck began to change slightly. the encounter with the barrel seemed to slow me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell on the pile of bricks; fortunately, only three vertebrae where cracked.

I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the pile of bricks-in pain and unable to move-I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope; I could only lay there watching as the empty barrel began its journey back down towards me. This explains the two broken legs.

I hope this answers your questions.

sincerely,

Thomas L.

Posted by Daniel.

Graduation Final

Sarah has graduated and she spent her first full day as a graduate in Music Education enjoying her freedom. We are very proud of her accomplishments and hard work.

Just a quick picture of Sarah conducting the Wartburg Band in the song "America the Beautiful" at her graduation ceremony. That was a teary eye moment watching her do that.

It was a nice ceremony and we were very happy both sets of grandparents were able to attend.

Sarah's graduation cake that Caroline brought with us had a slight problem while sitting in a warm vehicle all afternoon. The frosting did not like the heat. The cake tasted good regardless of how the icing looked.

I hope everybody had a nice Memorial Day.

Posted by Randy

May is winding down

We made it through Matthew's graduation ceremony and open house. Both sets of grandparents were able to make it up and help celebrate the day with him. It was a special day, and the weather was great. Everything turned out great, a lot of people showed up for Matthew's open house and I think he kind of enjoyed it!

Mary is working at Perkins to earn some extra cash before she starts working at Camp Tanglefoot in a couple of weeks. We are trying to convince her to look at the Missoula theatre for next summer which will help with her intern requirement for college.

Yesterday I did the annual law enforcement torch run/bike ride for Special Olympics. I biked from Des Moines to Ames which is about 40 miles. It was agonizingly fun. We had a head wind to fight the whole way. I have been doing that for over 15 years to help raise money for Special Olympics. Nationally the law enforcement torch run for Special Olympics has been the largest fund raising event for Special Olympics. In Iowa the knights of Columbus is one the largest contributors towards the Iowa Special Olympics. In fact the Knights of Columbus saved the Iowa Special Olympics from going under financially.

At the end of the run and bike ride we have a picnic hosted by Hickory Park Restaurant, it is good food. at 7:00 PM we go over to Hilton coliseum and form a tunnel to welcome and cheer all the Special Olympians as they enter the stadium. At the end of the speeches and activities they turn off all the lights and the law enforcement officers run the lit torch around the top of the coliseum and then the torch is handed off to the special Olympian who will light the flame to open the games. The Olympian goes down the stairs to the main floor and runs through the tunnel that the 4th degree knights have formed and then goes up a platform to light the flame. It is a long day but always fun.

When I was welcoming the special Olympians this year I could not help but think in another 6 or 8 years I could be cheering on my nephew as he comes through. I thought that would really be special. I would probably get emotional if that happened, I know I was getting a little teary eyed just thinking about it yesterday.

I moved most of the big items from Sarah's place back home today. Sarah will play here last concert tomorrow, and she graduates on Sunday! YEA!!! We are going to take her out to eat after the ceremony, she chose Red Lobster. Both sets of grandparents are coming up, I am not sure about anybody else.

Sarah received her first flush letter the other day. It was from Mid Prairie schools, they told her they hired somebody else. Funny they did not even interview her.

Philomena is doing really well in her clarinet lessons with her tutor. He wants her to buy these specific reeds and this kind of reed holder. She has good tone and he wants to build on that.

I hope everybody has a relaxing Memorial Day

posted by Randy

Random thoughts of the week

Just a few random thoughts before the final push to clean the house for Matthew's graduation open house.

Last Wednesday was John and Arlene's birthday, Happy belated birthday to the both of them.

I moved Mary back home yesterday. It is totally amazing how much stuff can fit inside a small room! Good thing I had a trailer, and we hauled one load of stuff home earlier at tulip time!

Sarah is coming home tonight and Rachel D. is coming with her, we are looking forward to that.

I tried several times on Mother's day to call my mom and nobody answered the phone. I was unable to leave a message so I did not get that task accomplished. Sorry Mom. Hopefully someone at sometime can convince mom to get a cell phone, and the positive advantages of having one.

the utility company hired to put in the fiber optics has placed all the underground tubing this week to our house, the kids enjoyed watching that operation and the machine they used.

Sarah applied for a teaching position at Highland High School, which is my old high school where I graduated from. Not sure if they called her for an interview. That would be neat if she got that position. I think I am safe all the teachers that were there when I went to school have to be retired by now!

I just found out on Monday that a college friend I knew died last Sunday from colon cancer. He was 46 years old. He came to our wedding, along with some other college friends. He was a good man, and it was sad to hear of his death. He was married with one child they adopted.

For those of you over 40 there is no reason not to go in every year for an annual physical, and make sure everything is going fine. It makes a nice gift you can give to your family. No time for excuses, just do it.

that is about it

Posted by Randy

Am I a space cadet? or what?

Boy! Sometimes I just do not know what is happening to me.

I just looked at the calendar and I just now realized I posted Robert's birthday wishes a week early. So Robert a pre-happy birthday again for Monday. I am probably safe, I heard no comments about the mess-up, so nobody caught the error.

somehow last Thursday May 7, 2009 was not even on my radar screen.

Happy belated Birthday wishes to Grace Annie! If you have any cake left over you can throw it in my face for being so late with the birthday wishes. Since I am not there to receive it, your dad can be my proxy. I hope you had a fun birthday party, and please send pictures, particularly the one of your dad with cake in his face on my behalf!

Claire! Happy birthday today! I hope today is special for you and you bask in the singing and merriment! I heard your dad was going to buy you a car! Or was that Andrew? Or do I have the right family? At least I thought someone said car?

The birthdays just keep rolling in. Happy Birthday!

I picked some Asparagus yesterday from our back yard garden (which consists of rhubarb and Asparagus), I cooked it up in garlic and butter, Philomena and I ate it all. It was good,..... it was very good.

Caroline took Stephen and Philomena down to Pella to the Tulip festival today, to attend Mary's concert this evening. Caroline is bring a load of Mary's stuff back tonight also

Sarah is visiting friends and Luke at Bethel this weekend.

Posted by Randy

May is Manic Madness Month

We are entering into a frantic time of the month up here.

Tulip festival is Saturday May 9, 2009 in Pella, Mary plays the steel drums

Matthew has Baccalaureate on Sunday May 10, 2009

I will be out of town overnight May 12, 2009

Mary has to be out of the dorms by noon on May 15

Matthew's open house is Saturday May 16, 2009

Matthew graduates on May 17, 2009

I will be out of town overnight May 18, 2009

Sarah graduates from College Sunday May 24, 2009

Moving her out (?)

and to think the year is not even half over!

has the house been cleaned yet? NO

posted by Randy