We had a wonderful Chistmas (dispite my cursi...

December 31, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We had a wonderful Chistmas (dispite my cursings) visiting with family.
Work has been quiet enough for us to catch up a bit. It's nice to remember to color of my desk! I spent this morning closing out 2003 folders and opening up new ones for 2004.
Tonight we are scheduled to go to the Opera with Mom and Hunni. Isa is staying with some friends, though she's not to keen on the idea.
Much love to all in the new year!

Icy snow on the ground this morning

December 30, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Icy snow on the ground this morning. I trudged to work, avoiding any issues with bikes or cars that may have resulted in an accident. Still, the sidewalks were quite slippery.

I've been having headaches since last night, though I seem to have them at bay at the moment. A combination of Advil and cafe mochas seem to take care of just about anything. Of course, now I'm feeling jittery and tired at the same time, never a good sign.

Work is strangely busy, even during this holiday break. Lots of things going on, big and small.

Snow covers the ground all about

December 30, 2003 by Adam in Family

Snow covers the ground all about. I made it home through the slush last night, but now it's frozen and there aren't very many snow plows in Lane County to keep the streets all clear. So, I'm getting ready to gear up and walk to work. I've been trying from home, but the network connection keeps going down and Jamie keeps handing me Emma. Time to brave the snow.

We might be getting some sort of illness. I've had headaches since last night and Sam's a bit warm. We'll see.

I swam to work this morning

December 29, 2003 by Adam in Family

I swam to work this morning. At least it felt that way, with the rain pouring down and the massive puddles on the road. At the moment, there's snowflakes out the window, though they're not sticking. I also have my shoes off and I'm drying off my socks. It may be time to switch to my car again. Sigh.

I was pretty frazzled last night. Too much holiday excitement, I think. The latest Lord of the Rings movie was great and somehow Sam survived the three and a half hours.

Today it's back to work and hopefully a little normalcy. Leaving Emma this morning was pretty tough as she was all happy smiles.

We have had a great Christmas here in Rochester

December 29, 2003 by Dorothy in Danica Miller

We have had a great Christmas here in Rochester. Everyone got lots of presents in spite of the fact that Danica had said it would be scaled down this year with everyone out of work.
Too much food as usual but very good – lots of cookies and fruitcake we had made earlier.
I seemed to have gone to more open houses this year than ever. Everyone at Wesbury has been wonderful to me and I am having an afternoon tea and snacks for some of them on Friday. Our old New Years Eve crowd will go to the Country Club for lunch! No more roaring around all night in our old age. Jed's Mom and Sam have arrived in my neighborhood. I don't know how they will like it after being so long in Arizona. We have had very warm and clear weather. Glad you got to see some snow.

Happy New Year. Love, Dorothy

Lots of fun in the snow yesterday

December 28, 2003 by Adam in Family

Lots of fun in the snow yesterday. We drove out highway 58 until the white stuff came down in sheets. The drive was a bit long, but well worth it.

We ran through snowy forest paths, had several snowball fights, built a snowman, then drank hot chocolate in the car. Great fun.

Today Sam and I hope to get to the latest Lord of the Rings movie. We're all pretty excited, of course. I'm trying to prepare Sam for a three and a half hour movie, which seems a bit grueling.

We're all back in Eugene now, the week-long C...

December 27, 2003 by Adam in Family

We're all back in Eugene now, the week-long Christmas holiday finally over. Sam got lots of good loot and Emma got endless clothes. Quite the haul for the kids. Jamie and I are trying to return things to normalcy as both kids have been a bit hyped up for the last couple days. I'm not sure we'll be able to pull it off as the weekend plans are already looking fairly exciting.

It was great picking up Sadie in Portland and seeing her again. She and Sam spent a bunch of time playing, including arm wrestling at Judy's house. I got to wish her Merry Christmas when the clocked ticked past midnight after picking her up at the airport.

I think we're going to try to go to the snow today, though my mom is holding a "family planning" event this morning. Hopefully it's not like those in the mafia. Tomorrow, if all goes well, Sam and I will see the final Lord of the Rings movie too.

We're up in Portland, getting ready for Chris...

December 24, 2003 by Adam in Family

We're up in Portland, getting ready for Christmas Eve dinner. Sam's on the floor with Carrie, playing with the tank that grandpa Ray got him as a present. At the moment, they're debating how the ammunition is shot out of the turret. We suspect it's only sound effects, not actual moving projectiles.

The drive up was fairly uneventful and mostly involved trying to help Sam putting his Lego presents together. We opened up a couple things before we came up. Jamie actually seemed to appreciate the intercom system I got her. All that pounding on the floor to call for dinner suggested that it might be desired.

It turns out Judy figured out how to fire the tank. I guess it took a woman's touch.

Well, I've got the tree up, most of the cards...

December 24, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Well, I've got the tree up, most of the cards out, and most presents bought. Thank heavens for gift bags. I've made it through the holiday season until just about an hour ago, when I started to weep in the middle of Sidney Roark's booth at Fifth Street Public Market. They fussed over me, much as women plump up and smooth a pillow, and I was okay.

I had an interesting observation from Dr. Friedrich, my shrink. I usually see him once a year, just to make sure my anti-depressants are okay, but after Dick died, I decided I should go in once a month for a while. Seraph and his secretary, both knowing my general level of ditziness, made appointments ahead. After three or four months, he and I decided I wasn't nuts enough to come in regularly, but we neglected to tell Seraph and Nancy. I ran into Nancy at Stephanie and Rich's party; she apologized that I was still on their schedule, but if she and Seraph thought I should see Dr. Friedrich, I really shouldn't be second guessing them. So I zipped in last week, and we actually had a rather nice chat about his back surgery. It was the same day the RG carried the blurb about the "ghost" at King Henry VIII showing up on the security camera photos. I asked him what paranormal experience his patients referred to most which he didn't discount as the rambling of a deranged mind. He said it had to be people talking about feeling the presence of someone after their death.

Sadie will be home tonight! Love to all, and remember that
the sun will come back again yet one more year.

Generic Heading

December 24, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Merry Christmas and many blessings to all!!!

It's been quite the whirlwind weekend, slowly...

December 23, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's been quite the whirlwind weekend, slowly trying to get ready for Christmas while taking care of two kids. I think most of our presents are under control at this point, though it took awhile.

This morning was also the time for Sam and Emma's doctor checkup. Both are big and healthy. Sam's three foot ten inches and Emma's in the 90th percentile in weight. They also both had shots and aren't feeling great. Sam was incredibly brave, getting three shots and not crying a drop. The last one was a bit tougher because he knew what was coming.

The Christmas whirlwind begins tomorrow. Hopefully we'll all survive and have a bit of fun as well.

Happy Hanukah Yayoe! And Apooh- thanks for...

December 20, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Happy Hanukah Yayoe!

And Apooh- thanks for pickin' me up.

Mmm

December 19, 2003 by Adam in Family

Mmm . . . Mocha Friday, my second favorite time of the week (the first being weekend breakfasts). I think we have Sadie's flight all figured out. We're picking her up at the airport in Portland and Jamie's parents are going with me so that I don't have terrible flashbacks of getting lost on the bus in Portland when I was five.

Sam called this morning to inform me that they'd discovered the little chocolates I had put in people's stocking. I think Jamie was in on the scheme as she made him split it with her.

Bioware sent along a little package and Chr...

December 19, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

Like Sam used to say when he was about two, "...

December 18, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Like Sam used to say when he was about two, "I'm runnning, and runnning and runnning." The house is a mess, the tree is still on the back porch, and I haven't sent cards. I'm not sure how I will get the tree up. That is a job which requires a male person down on his hands and knees, swearing. Where's Dick when I need him? Hugs and good will. om

Work this morning was overwhelming, sorting t...

December 18, 2003 by Adam in Family

Work this morning was overwhelming, sorting through all the e-mails from when I was gone. I'm feeling dazed now, though my list is somewhat manageable. Hopefully by tomorrow it won't be quite as insane.

Last night was fun, with Seraph, Robbie, and Isabell over for dinner. Isa is evidently a big Lord of the Rings fan, so she and Sam ran around in the basement with swords and helmets while the grown ups chatted.

Wacky days

December 17, 2003 by Adam in Family

Wacky days. It seems as if the Christmas mayhem is beginning. I envy the days of my youth when I was blissfully unaware of all the chaos that seems to swirl about during the holidays. Like Seraph, I'm frantically gathering up Christmas presents. We'll see if I can actually get everything organized.

Work has been weird lately. We're having off-site all-day meetings about "standards". I admit to being a tad unenthusiastic about the issues, strongly suspecting that very little will actually be accomplished. A nice thing about it is that the meetings are in the old Vet's building. I've been getting up, having breakfast with my family, then walking the five blocks over. Yesterday I even came home for lunch. Pretty neat.

I've unfortunately started resorting to waking up very early to get things done. This morning I was up a little after 4 am, drinking Chai Tea down in the basement (which now has a frige). I checked e-mail, this website, and now should probably take a shower and start thinking about turning into a real person.

Piss and Shit (as my mother says)

December 16, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Piss and Shit (as my mother says). It just dawned on me yesterday that we are a week from Christmas. I hope everyone is content getting strange bits and peices of things I find around the house! (Just kidding)
Next time any of you see Mom, pat her on the back, as she just kicked ass in a 2 year long case!
(Sorry, I realize that this is a family web site, and I used three swear words, and it's only Tuesday! Well, next time I'll just write it as Merry #%*&! Christmas!)

Apooh, The reason the fam thought you could ...

December 16, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Apooh,
The reason the fam thought you could pick me up is because you'd already be in Portland visiting Jamie's family. If that's not the case, please do what you feel comfortable with.

My real email address is sadierynmiller@hotmail.com

Much time has come and gone between my last p...

December 15, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Much time has come and gone between my last posting. I don't have anything to report in other than life keeps chugging along as Adam says. I don't ever really have time to do much of anything once school starts. Academics are grueling for Patrick and Will is just busy. Regardless of his leg and knee problems he is doing Special Olymics basketball this year. We will be seeing a specialist in January about the possibility of Botox injections in his legs. Patrick has started confirmation at church and I sometimes wonder if he'll follow in great grandparent traditions and be a minister. Lots of life to live first.
If I don't get a chance to post again in the next 10 days I hope that you all have a blessed Christmas. With much love. P.

The weekend came and went like a blur

December 15, 2003 by Adam in Family

The weekend came and went like a blur. I'm finally getting some of my Christmas things organized. We went out shopping yesterday and I picked up a few goodies. I also managed to finish up some of the things I'm making and Jamie helped wrap them up.

I took the kids to the park yesterday, which Sam thought was great and Emma looked about intently. It was raining off and on and puddles were everywhere. I mentioned that he should be careful not to get water in his boots. Within a minute, he was slogging about in water-filled footware. That was only fun for about ten minutes, then he got cold and we headed home for a shower, discussing the merits of listening to your parents' advice.

My grandfather came over last night with my mom and we had a nice dinner together. It's pretty neat seeing Sam with his great-grandfather. I remember my great-grandmother Sadie when I was a kid, even across all the years.

The next few days are going to be a bit odd. Jamie's helping out at Sam's preschool today, so I suspect she'll be a bit frazzled tonight. I've got two days of off-site meetings, fortunately just five blocks from my house. I'm not really looking forward to it, as I'd rather be at my desk getting work done.

Emma hit another milestone yesterday

December 15, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma hit another milestone yesterday. She can now sit up by herself. It's funny how focused we were on Sam when he started sitting up, giving him little "sit up" tests from day to day. With Emma, it was mostly a 30 second "yep, she's sitting up", then back to our nutty evening.

Emma's also been very Jamie-focused these days. I can carry her about if she's been recently fed or had a good nap, but as soon as she sees her mom, she starts to whine and cry. For the most part, though, she's a very good girl.

I keep waiting for a real crawl too. At the moment, she mostly pulls herself across the floor on her belly. She can get up on hands and knees quite well, though doesn't quite have the coordination down.

My computer room was moved back to the baseme...

December 14, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

My computer room was moved back to the basement last week. It feels so much nicer down here. Much more space and I don't disturb Jamie's sleeping anymore. Often times I'll have a kid or two down here with me, but that tends to just add flavor to the mix.

My dad works away on the control panel, which is my next addition. That big hole in the wall is where I'll be putting my server monitor and the power switches for the server and my main computer. The actual boxes will be in my closet on the other side of the wall, with cables running through insulated holes to keep the sound down. My server in particular is extremely loud.

It was a nutty, busy day for me yesterday

December 14, 2003 by Adam in Family

It was a nutty, busy day for me yesterday. Sam woke up at the crack of dawn and it seemed as if I was watching one kid or another until I went to bed. I took both kids to the bank and then the library in the morning, then later that night Jamie went off to a friend's for dinner while I managed both kids. In between, it was a bit easier as I was typically just watching one kid.

That seems my primary job on weekends these days. Somehow I manage to do the normal day-to-day things such as laundry and shopping, though it's often hard to do. Jamie worked on finishing up some basement tasks and I worked on my Christmas presents a bit more. Slowly making progress.

Sadie - your hotmail account (sadiemiller@hotmail

December 12, 2003 by Adam in Family

Sadie - your hotmail account (sadiemiller@hotmail.com) doesn't seem to be working.

I'm trying to get in touch with you about your travel plans. We're wondering if it's easier to put you up in a hotel for the night, then grab you in the morning on our way back home. Give us a call this weekend if you can.

Ah, Friday

December 12, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Ah, Friday. The mocha this morning was quite tasty and has managed to get me mostly through the day. Life with kids does seem to be an endless blur, though there are some bright moments of joy hidden amongst the chaos.

I finished watching the new Battlestar Galactica last night. I've decided it's pretty cool - much more "adult" than the version of my childhood. Great special effects and more dark and interesting characters. Hope it turns into a series.

The weekend approaches. We're having various family members over for dinner the next few days. I've got to get my Christmas presents together. There's also a bunch of last-minute remodel things to take care of. No rest for the weary.

All is well in sunny Noho

December 12, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

All is well in sunny Noho. The fourteen inches of snow has melted clean with yesterday's rain, and we are left only with wind chill. Anna is neck deep in finals, studying as I type, and I am just plowing through the christmas retail season.

Here is my flight information, for Adam's benefit. BTW, thanks for the ride.

Arrive in Portland on Dec 24th, 10:45 pm on Delta 441. Leave Portland at 7:00 am on December 31st.

hugs,
sadie

Back from Florida

December 11, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Back from Florida. Dad and I did some exploring this trip. We went into Sarasota to visit cousin Judy. I also got to see the site at Warm Mineral Springs where there was an archeological dig. Also, the site of the dig on Marco Island (now covered by condos and streets) of the Calusa Indians. Dad and I drove down to Everglades City, and back through the Everglades...just beautiful, rampant with birds and beasts - wild pigs, fat alligators, and an occasional complacent armadillo. Hope my kids will consider
Florida as a vacation destination with the grandkids. Dad and I got in late Tuesday night, and he seems to be feeling pretty chipper this morning.

The week chugs along

December 10, 2003 by Adam in Family

The week chugs along. The kids were up early this morning, so I entertained them before I went to work while Jamie took a shower (which is a rare and precious thing to her). I've been fighting a touch of the "crud", though it seems much better today. Yesterday my advil and coffee trick worked just great.

Last night we had Jon and Kate over. They recently moved to Eugene from the east coast and Jon is the son of my aunt's close friend. It was nice to pretend to be grownups for at least a little while. It's so rare to have anyone over to our house these days.

I'm also trying hard to finalize Christmas plans this year. It sounds like we'll be heading up to Portland for Christmas Eve, then coming back to Eugene for Christmas Day. I'm not sure what the scoop with Sadie is exactly. I think people are under the impression that we'll be picking her up, though I don't know any of the details.

We've been running around like beheaded chick...

December 09, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We've been running around like beheaded chickens at work. I'm not sure why it is that all hell breaks lose the second the boss steps on an airplane - Murphy's Law I suppose.
Robbie and I have been trying to get our house into the holiday spirit. We set up the Christmas Village and he put up lights outside yesterday.
Last week we went to the holiday open house/party at the Springfield Historical Society. Isa mostly enjoyed dancing to the band.
Tonight we are going to the Scottish Christmas concert at the Hult Center. Each year we try to do one holiday thing where it's just the two of us. The only near conflict was a new Charlie Brown Christmas special that is airing tonight. But Robbie has the VCR ready to record, so we can go ahead with our plans!

Sam and I just finished Knights of the Old ...

December 09, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

It's the end of a three day weekend, slowly c...

December 08, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's the end of a three day weekend, slowly coming to a close. Friday was pretty hectic, though I'm not quite sure what I did. Jamie went off to have a very nice massage while I watched Emma. Later, I tried to watch both kids, but once again realized how tough Jamie's job really is.

Mostly we've been hanging out at the house trying to get the last of the remodel issues taken care of. I moved my computers back downstairs, though there's still much to do. My dad now has all the parts he needs to make my cool computer panel and that'll hopefully be done. In the meantime, I've been enjoying my new office and having a good time playing with Sam in the rec room.

The remaining big item is getting the plumbing done, mostly the new sink that goes into the counter. After that, we'll move the refrigerator back and hook up the microwave. Then we'll be fully operational.

MOM!! If you have a chance to read this call...

December 05, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

MOM!! If you have a chance to read this call the office!! The number you gave me for grandpa is incorrect!!

Wacky day at work

December 04, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Wacky day at work. Typically, the holidays start quieting down, but it seems the opposite this year. At the moment, I'm waiting for another team to grant me security to do something, even though I can technically do it myself (though it would require doing things that would probably get me fired). Sigh.

I can't wait to move into the office this weekend. Hopefully my dad and I can get the computer setup started more seriously. He'll probably cart off the control panel for assembly. With luck, we can also get some holes cut in the wall. I think Jamie will be quite appreciative of having everyone out of her hair in the evenings.

Well, it's my Friday today, even though it's ...

December 04, 2003 by Adam in Family

Well, it's my Friday today, even though it's really Thursday. I'm taking tomorrow off so that I can watch Emma while she goes off to get a massage. I'm hoping that the rest of the day can be spent working on Christmas presents. I'm pretty sure I know what I want to do, it's just somewhat time consuming.

This morning it was Emma who was up early. Jamie called over the baby monitor to tell me to take her away for diaper changing and entertainment. I ate breakfast with her balanced on one knee. She kept wacking on the keyboard while I was trying to read my morning news.

Off to Florida! Be back on Tuesday

December 04, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Off to Florida! Be back on Tuesday...

Emma's getting very close to crawling

December 03, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma's getting very close to crawling. Last night we were celebrating the new carpet in the basement and I plunked her down to give it the "baby test". She promptly started doing pushups, getting her entire body on her hands and toes. She doesn't quite have the balance for her knees yet, but I can see that day is coming soon. Already she can scoot herself about and roll around the room.

Sam woke up at 4 am this morning

December 03, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam woke up at 4 am this morning. He fell out of bed and Jamie couldn't get him back to sleep. I ended up entertaining him until it was time to go to work.

He's developed some funny expressions. One of them is "to the power of Google", which represents a really huge number to him. We were talking about big numbers one day and I mentioned Google (1 with 100 zeros after it), then talked about a Googleplex, which is Google to the Google power. He's even got other kids at preschool saying it.

This morning he also told me, "Being a grown up is pretty cool. You can hold your pee for a long time and don't move around like me." Evidently the pinnacle of adulthood involves mastery over your waste disposal processes.

Another busy day at work over and done with

December 03, 2003 by Adam in Family

Another busy day at work over and done with. I'm hoping the pace slows down over the holidays, or at least I take some time off to relax a bit. The carpet, trim, and doors did indeed go in today. The carpet was a major addition, as we've been carefully walking around in shoes for the last few weeks. Jamie has been regularly awakened by my "clomp, clomp, clomp" of sandals going up the stairs.

Sam seemed to enjoy the carpet as well. He started tearing around in a big circle around the basement, through the new door that connects the office with the rec room. I'm still getting used to the idea that I can go through the new door as I'm so used to going around the other way.

It's looking like it'll be finished up by the end of the week. The electrician comes Friday, with more carpentry and plumbing before then. With luck, I'll be moving all my computer gear down ten feet within the next few days.

Robbie celebrated a happy, though quiet, 31st...

December 02, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Robbie celebrated a happy, though quiet, 31st birthday yesterday. He appears remarkably upbeat about his 32nd year of life. (The Seahawks actually managed to win their game this weekend which helped!)
We have been working away at the holidays. It feels a bit like one endless project after another! At least we are not remodeling anything this year - my sympathies to Adam and Jamie.

Hi, just sent Anita and John off to the airport

December 02, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Hi, just sent Anita and John off to the airport. I think they had a good time. We saw the northern Oregon coast, which is beautiful any time of the year, and had a lovely trip to Ashland. We were in Ashland for the tree lighting and annual arrival of Santa Claus, who came out onto a second story balcony with Ms. Claus. Apparently, the Clauses usually arrive some other way for the celebration, leading the woman next to me to say, "Why, that's not the real Santa Claus!"

The cabinets and countertops did indeed go up...

December 02, 2003 by Adam in Family

The cabinets and countertops did indeed go up yesterday, along with the vinyl floor and doors. The rumor is that we'll get carpet today too. It's pretty exciting to see it close to completion. I can't wait to move my computers and work stuff out of the craft room, along with Sam's Legos and other toys.

Yesterday was pretty busy at work, though not overwhelmingly so. I think everyone is getting back from Thanksgiving, realizing that they hadn't finished their projects yet, so they've been turning to me to get things done. Swell.

Yet more painting yesterday

December 01, 2003 by Adam in Family

Yet more painting yesterday. I wasn't quite such a maniac as previous days. I probably spent a couple hours working on trim and doors while Angie, Matthew, and Victoria came over to help us out. I also tried to keep an eye on kids as best I could, hopefully giving Jamie some breaks before I head back to work.

I've gotten used to the lazy mornings and kids running about. It'll be strange to return to the nine to five (well, seven to four) of the work week.

Supposedly I'll be returning today to major progress on the remodel. We're scheduled to get the vinyl put down in the kitchen area, cabnets going up, all the doors hung, and trim put up on the walls. We'll see how it goes, but that seems like a huge amount of work to me. After that, it's electrical, plumbing, and carpets. I can't wait to get things back to normal.

Well, I've been playing Knights of the Old Re...

November 30, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

Well, I've been playing Knights of the Old Republic, essentially just with Sam. It's very good, almost more than we deserve. It's considerable fun working our character into a Jedi, making a lightsabre, and flying around the galaxy. The graphics are great and the sound is even better. Hearing all the various aliens talking in their native tongue is classic Star Wars.

Plus there's a great story involving ancient secrets, evil Jedi, and a desparate plan to save the galaxy. It doesn't get any better than that.

Painting continued this morning

November 30, 2003 by Adam in Family

Painting continued this morning. The office is completely finished, complete with switch covers and all. The main rec room and kitchen is mostly done. I put a second coat down most places, but I still have more ceiling and a few walls to do, not to mention the stairwell. It's going to be tight, as we're running low on that particular color of paint.

Tomorrow is our informal painting party, though hopefully there's not much for people to do. We could do a bunch of trim and some doors, though we'll see how energetic everyone is after they arrive.

As for today, it was fairly low-key. Sam was pretty beat, watching all of Toy Story and half of the sequel. I did get him on a short hike in the morning, which was nice. Still, I think our kids might be a little sick as Emma's been grumpy lately.

Emma's getting increasingly active

November 30, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma's getting increasingly active. She's quite capable of pushing herself around these days, though she rarely exerts for much more than a few inches at a time. She'll scoot over to her latest favorite chew toy - a rubber chicken. She loves to nibble on the toes, occasionally getting one toe in her mouth and another up her nose. I suppose we're bad parents from letting her play with it, but she just loves the darn' thing and I don't have the heart to take it away.

Yesterday, I was a painting fiend

November 29, 2003 by Adam in Family

Yesterday, I was a painting fiend. I think I worked for around eight hours in between the Thanksgiving gatherings. I did a single coat of paint everywhere and went to bed that night completely exhausted. This morning, the plan was to start again at the crack of dawn. Unfortunately, it was evidently Sam's plan to get up at the crack of dawn as well. I did manage to paint the office with a second coat, but the rest of the basement remains.

I did have a good Thanksgiving otherwise. Jamie's family arrived bringing lots of food. Later I went over to my mom's for another big meal with the other side of the family.

Today was more subdued. Mostly we hung out, Jamie cleaning and me watching kids as much as I could. The kitchen ended up sparkling with an inner light. Now it's approaching nine and time to collapse in bed.

Thank you for all the generous well-wishes an...

November 28, 2003 by Jamie in Sam

Thank you for all the generous well-wishes and gifts for Sam. He now no longer needs anything for Christmas except buddies to play with. We'll be in touch ;-)

So, just to see if there is actually anyone w...

November 28, 2003 by Jamie in Jamie

So, just to see if there is actually anyone who reads my page, I'll acquiesce to Sadie's request and post my holiday wish list:
1) World Peace, and if that doesn't pan out
2) A really good spatula
(actually, no joke, I need a really good spatula!)

Yesterday was yet another of those that try m...

November 27, 2003 by Adam in Family

Yesterday was yet another of those that try men's souls. It began with an overflowing toilet, spending what I had hoped would be a couple leasurely hours cleaning up sewage. Immediately after that, it was off to Sam's preschool to wrangle twenty kids about. I didn't really have time to be exhausted, as the duty of parents tend to keep them endlessly busy.

Finally, Jamie and Emma picked us up around noon. Sam opened his present from me - the extended version of the Two Towers - and we watched an hour or so of it. After that, it was back to watching kids and getting ready for Sam's semi-birthday party at my mom's. It was a nice gathering and Sam got a suit of armor, which he's been wearing all morning.

Today I downed a couple cups of coffee and went to work on the basement, painting big sections of it. Jamie's currently taking her turn behind the roller, but I don't think she'll last very long. She thought she'd do anything other than watch kids, but it appears that painting is one of the exceptions.

Happy Birthday Sam! Isa had her first dental...

November 27, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Happy Birthday Sam!
Isa had her first dental appointment to day - making it through with flying colors! So far there's no sight of the Jones' family gap.

Go Sam, it's your birthday

November 26, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Go Sam, it's your birthday.

Sam's five years old today, pretty amazing. This morning I'm going to his preschool to be "Outdoor Dad", whatever that means. Later tonight, we're going over to my mom's for a semi-birthday party.

Hard to believe that it was only five years ago when we were all eating turkey in the waiting room, waiting for Sam to come into the world.

As you can tell by this picture, he's clearly far for mature now - the manly jaw, the confident face - it's quite obvious.

Sadie's crazy link (not suitable for children...

November 25, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Sadie's crazy link (not suitable for children)

Ah, mocha Tuesday

November 25, 2003 by Adam in Family

Ah, mocha Tuesday. Today's my last day of work for the week, as I've been shanghaied into helping out at the preschool tomorrow. Jamie's plan is to paint during the brief window between retexturing and getting the cabinets hung. After that, it's four days of franting painting then they put down carpet and vinyl. Can't wait.

A dreary morning indeed. Sam woke up at six in the morning bouncing with energy. We stuck him in front of Teletubbies, which mesmerized the whole family for awhile. Emma seems much better after her digestive woes. She's getting very verbal and wiggling about on the floor.

The forest creatures are taking back Eugene! ...

November 25, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

The forest creatures are taking back Eugene! Last night
John reported that he had seen two raccoons out back. (Okay, okay, so how does one spell raccoon?) Later in the evening, he made a foray to his car, and came back to report that two deer had nearly mowed him down on his way back to the house. Almost had venison for Thanksgiving!
John and Anita have been here since last Tuesday - we went on a trip up the Coast, stopping at Seaside and at Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark's expedition wintered over.
The Visitors Center was really informative. We stopped in Astoria and then drove up to Mt. St. Helens. It was a lovely
day, but we couldn't see the mountain. I remember the devastation along the Toutle River, the river flowing down from the mountain, when Dad, the kids and I drove up about three months after the mountain exploded. Everything was covered with a thick gray coat of pumice.
Seraph, Robbie, Hanni, Isa, Anita, John and I are going to Ashland this weekend. Should be fun!
Love to all - the aging mom.

Holidays: Looks like the poor beach house wi...

November 25, 2003 by Judy in Hanes

Holidays: Looks like the poor beach house will be empty much of December. Too much to do. Jim and I are going over for New Year's to read and relax. We're welcoming any family -- just know that New Year's day is football!

It's a crazy day here at work

November 24, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's a crazy day here at work. It seems as if everyone in the world decided to e-mail me their latest issues. Plus I got paged at 3 am this morning. Fortunately Jamie's a light sleeper, otherwise I would have snoozed through the loud beepings.

Poor Emma was throwing up last night. I think it was a little too much sweet potato too fast. The poor thing looked miserable, then fell fast asleep.

Jim did a super job painting over the weekend. Supposedly we get textured walls today, then a bit of painting tomorrow night and cabinets go up. By Thanksgiving, there should be tons of painting to do. Feel free to attend our painting party on Sunday.

We had a great weekend full of lots of visiti...

November 24, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We had a great weekend full of lots of visiting!
Robbie and I went out Friday night, actually staying up until mid-night listening to a band at Sam Bonds. We felt very grown-up!
The Ducks managed to win the Civil War game, but the Seahawks managed to lose their 17 point, 4th quarter advantage, to the Ravens - thereby making our sports weekend a mixed bag.
On Sunday Yayoe watched Isa so Robbie and I could go watch the Costume/Fashion Show at the VLT. It was great fun, and many thanks to Yayoe for sending us!!
We're gearing up for the holiday weekend. I think we will try to take advantage of Anita's creative skills and get her to help set up Robbie's Christmas village.
Isa has a stuffy nose, and Robbie and I are pretending we don't, so there has been fewer hours of sleep, and a little more grumpyness in our house these days. We would probably qualify for Sadie's "lump of coal" list!

Let it be known that I am accepting suggestio...

November 24, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Let it be known that I am accepting suggestions for gift ideas, also known as wish lists. Most poeple will recieve coal and hand made paper goods, but for those of you who have no actual paper good needs must resort to listing so I can figure out how to make what you want out of glue and styrofoam.

All is well and sunny, chilled but not unbearably cold here. Anna and I made tacos last night, a wonderful flashback to the days of mom, Seraph and I when we didn't have a microwave or a step father role model person. Quite tasty.

I can't wait to come home.

Saturday seemed filled with activity, though ...

November 23, 2003 by Adam in Family

Saturday seemed filled with activity, though I basically stayed at home the entire day. Sam and I played a lot of our new Star Wars game. Jamie had the luxury of sleeping in and taking a shower while we entertained Emma. Judy came to take Sam and Josh to see Elf, while we stayed at home to do laundry. Jim and the boys went to see the civil war game, then they and Jamie headed out to North Bank. Lots of juggling, it seems.

The basement is coming along nicely. Jim's done a great job of painting doors and trim. Tuesday night we have to paint an area of the room in preparation for shelves, which I guess show up Wednesday. The drywall should all be finished by Thanksgiving weekend, which is the time when everything else gets painted.

Our lives have been racing along at super-speed

November 21, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Our lives have been racing along at super-speed. I'm not quite sure I can catch my breath yet, though I'm looking forward to the short week next week.
Up-coming events for people to make a note of:
Sat. (11/22): post game gathering at Mom's house. The usual footbal gang, as well as anyone else who wants to come.
Thanksgiving: Dinner at Mom's house Thur. around 4:30ish. I assume dinner will start around then, but (I hope) no one will complain if we show up at 2 or 3.
Sam and Robbie both have birthdays coming up. Any gift ideas flooting around?

Well, the remodel is coming along quite nicely

November 21, 2003 by Adam in Family

Well, the remodel is coming along quite nicely. The sheetrock folks put up all the drywall. It still needs to be plastered a bit more and the walls textured, but it's getting closer. Jim arrived safe and sound yesterday and has already started on the doors and the trim.

Thanksgiving plans seem to be floating around these days. It sounds like Jamie and the kids will be doing something with Brant and Ray, with a guest appearance at my mom's house. I'll be doing the opposite, spending time at my mom's and putting in a guest appearance with the Mellor side of the family. Ah, holidays and the coordination that comes with it.

I'm looking forward to my Friday mocha, though it's a few hours away. I'm actually meeting a couple people for coffee around 9:30, Jonathan and Kate from back east. If I remember right, Danica mentioned they were headed to Eugene after school and didn't really have a place to stay or work to be had. They've since found an apartment and are currently looking for jobs. I suppose I'm the impromptu welcome committee. I feel I should be passing out rubber ducks and umbrellas, though I'm not really sure what constitutes symbols of our town.

Well, Knights of the Old Republic was suppose...

November 21, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

Well, Knights of the Old Republic was supposed to arrive today. It actually did arrive, then was taken away again by the dumb FedEx person. I guess it didn't matter that the last few games that came FedEx were left on our doorstep. This one had to be treated as something precious.

So, no lightsabre battles for me tonight. Sam had to be satisfied playing a little Morrowind and having his cat character go swimming out into the depths of the ocean before he had to take a bath. He's so deprived.

The only good thing I can say is that at least I'll get it on a Friday and can play it nonstop for as long as it takes. I'm sure Jamie will back me up on this one.

It snowed yesterday, right after lunch

November 20, 2003 by Adam in Family

It snowed yesterday, right after lunch. My coworkers kept looking at the window and making excited noises. Sam went out to play, but I think the cold and wet got to him after awhile. By the time I got home, it had mostly turned to slush and no one really wanted to go outside.

We got ceilings yesterday, and hopefully walls today. The main floor bathroom also got new tiles put in. Sam and I tested out the bath last night, as we hadn't used that one for quite some time. There are still a couple holes in the wall that need to be patched, but everything is finally usable.

Jim should be there by the time I get home, painting like a maniac. Sam and I are also looking forward to the arrival of a new computer game, Knights of the Old Republic. It's a Star Wars game and supposedly quite good, so we're pretty excited.

Can't wait for the weekend. I'm already feeling the urge to take some time off. Maybe around Christmas after the basement is finished.

The morning ride to work was quite exciting, ...

November 19, 2003 by Adam in Family

The morning ride to work was quite exciting, the wind blowing leaves all about the road. Very picturesque.

The remodel is moving slowly along. The carpenters were back yesterday, putting down a thin layer of wood in preparation for the vinyl flooring for the kitchen/laundry area. Supposedly the sheetrock folks are here today, so we'll soon get walls. Rumor has it that they're going to try to be finished with the walls and cabinets by Thanksgiving, but I'm not holding my breath. Jim should be here tomorrow to begin his painting fest, of which we are very grateful for.

As the HUD requirements for the Analysis of I...

November 19, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

As the HUD requirements for the Analysis of Impediments piled up, I began to look for an easy exit from the planning internship. In an exhausted overwhelmed moment I told the director of planning that I just couldn't do it all by myself. So now I have a fellow intern picking up the easily packaged parts of my projects. She will finish up the small business interviews for the assessment project while I muck through the impediments bit. I think this will really help me organize my thoughts and time and give the projects I can't do to her. Yes!

For the record, I bought my plane ticket, and Adam has graciously promised to pick me up at 10:30 on Christmas Eve. I fly out on the 31st of December- short, but hopefully very very sweet.

I heard from Jenny M.S. this evening, and having been poor and isolated for five months, she's decided to apply for grad programs in creative writing- the UofO, UVA, and UNC. Kudos for her and her brave slaying of the GREs.

I don't usually post super-huge pictures of...

November 19, 2003 by Adam in Sam

I don't usually post super-huge pictures of Sam, but this was taken at school and gives a glimpse into the reasons he might be enjoying it this year.

I've been working away at fixing the problems...

November 18, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I've been working away at fixing the problems with this site. I think the problem was with a security patch that Microsoft issued over the weekend. Like a dutiful administrator, I patched it up, only to start running into problems with this website. It turns out that it wouldn't let go of certain connections, which eventually ate up the 10 user limit and caused it to become unavailable. I rolled back to the last set of changes and it seems okay again. Here's crossing my fingers.

Problems with the web site today

November 18, 2003 by Adam in Family

Problems with the web site today. It kept reporting that too many users were connected. Unless I've suddenly become super-popular, I'm guessing it's something else. Still not sure what it might be yet, though obviously it's up again. Turning things off and back on again works wonders.

Otherwise, it was a quiet day at work. The contractors put up insulation and the sheetrockers arrive tomorrow to get the walls up and running. We might actually have some room-looking-things in a bit.

Emma's getting increasingly mobile. She's able to scoot herself along on her belly for a few inches now. The rec room should be done just in time to contain her wanderings.

The weekend is coming to a close, the kids in...

November 17, 2003 by Adam in Family

The weekend is coming to a close, the kids in bed, my lunch made, and pyjamas waiting for me. Weekends are a mix of relaxation and frantic activity these days. I had a luxurious bath while reading a new library book, something I hadn't done for months. We also had an assortment of house projects, park runs, preschool meetings, bread making, dinner guests, lots of laundry, and computer playing.

The remodel is coming along fairly well. We've got most of the electrical work done. People start hanging sheetrock next week and Jim's coming to paint towards the end of the week. Hopefully we'll have things ready for Thanksgiving weekend so we can paint endlessly.

As for the highlights of the weekend, Sam and I made really good bread together. We also went to the park and found that someone had dumped some snow in a big pile. Sadie called and we chatted while I carried Emma about. Emma's learning to slowly scoot herself short distances on her belly.

For the last couple weeks, my computer's been...

November 17, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

For the last couple weeks, my computer's been acting a little funny. After my computer was on for awhile, it would start display strange video artifacts, such as sparkles or weird geometry. Eventually it would lock up, frustrating me greatly. After fiddling with drivers and such, I finally opened up the case and saw to my surprise that the video card fan wasn't running. I broke out a case fan, screwed it into the heat sink, and it's been working just fine since then.

I had a hot shower this morning, a significan...

November 14, 2003 by Adam in Family

I had a hot shower this morning, a significant luxury after the last few days. The ride to work was also stunningly beautiful, with the sunrise matching the leaves on the trees quite nicely.

It looks like I won't be painting this weekend, as Jim's coming down from Portland to do just that. That leaves us with few remodel projects in the short run. The electrician continues to work today and tomorrow. I think we'll do a library run and perhaps go shopping for Sam's birthday.

A very windy day in Northampton, causing the ...

November 14, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

A very windy day in Northampton, causing the wind to whistle through our seventy-plus year old windows. They promise we'll get new ones in a month, but for now its sweaters indoors for us. Nevertheless, the sun is brilliant, as it tends to be on sickeningly cold days, so I'm feeling quite cheery. big hugs.

The great plumbing issue has been resolved

November 13, 2003 by Adam in Family

The great plumbing issue has been resolved. It turns out the plumber hooked up the fixture upside down, causing the hot and cold water to mix. I think we'll be passing along the bill from our hot water heater maintenance guy to the plumbers.

I had a warmer shower this morning, though st...

November 13, 2003 by Adam in Family

I had a warmer shower this morning, though still not quite as tosty as I would have liked. The plumber came back, poked at things a bit, then told us to call the people who service our natural gas-powered heater. That guy asked at once if we'd installed any new fixtures. Evidently there are issues where they can cause cold and hot to mix together at the fixture, causing our problem. I think we'll be calling the plumber again to tell them that.

In the meantime, I cranked up the hot water to 140 degrees so that we can at least get warm enough water to bath kids and take a shower. Ah, the joys of home ownership.

The electrician was over yesterday. He was looking skeptical about turning the sauna power into an outlet. I told him to bag the whole thing and I'll just run a power strip through the wall for my computers. Sigh.

The week chugs along. We signed a million papers last night for our new home loan. It's not a great new rate, but there were no closing costs, which is nice. Jamie and I are knee-deep in parenthood these days, a dazed look continually plastered across our faces.

Thank you to all for making my birthday so wo...

November 12, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Thank you to all for making my birthday so wonderful!
Hugs and Kisses to everyone!

I took a cold shower this morning, though per...

November 11, 2003 by Adam in Family

I took a cold shower this morning, though perhaps not for the reasons you expect. We had the plumbers over yesterday, replacing the bathroom pipes and fixing a toilet. Unfortunately, my guess is that they did something to turn down the temperature of the hot water, though we can't figure out how they did it. The reading on the hot water heater (which is gas powered) reads 114 as it should. So, we'll call them over today to see if they can get it back to normal.

The kids were a bit much last night. Emma was quite grumpy, crying all through dinner and much of the night. Once again, AC/DC put her right to sleep when all other recourse was taken.

Christmas wish list: 2 pair black socks S...

November 11, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Christmas wish list:

2 pair black socks
Spices with complementary recipes, or sufficient how-to
2004 day planner

I haven't done a little games update for awhile

November 10, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I haven't done a little games update for awhile. I finished Halo, which was a fun little thing. I'm holding off on Max Payne 2, which I hear is extremely short. In another week, Knights of the Old Republic is arriving and I think Sam and I will be playing a lot of that.

Sam's been getting into adventure games, so we played "Sam and Max Hit the Road" over the weekend. He liked it quite a bit and we've started in on Monkey Island. Great fun.

What a weekend

November 10, 2003 by Adam in Family

What a weekend. I lost track of all the laundry I did, probably somewhere around twelve loads. We didn't have any use of our washer and dryer for awhile, so it had been awhile since we ran it. Both days I was going up and down the stairs with laundry baskets, folding endlessly.

Overall, though, it was pretty good. Jamie and the kids all seemed in good spirits. Sam and I tried to get out of the house for at least part of it, including a cold trip to the park and a long hike on Rigeline trail. We also watched Finding Nemo, which I had never seen and enjoyed quite a bit.

Sunday we had a birthday party for Seraph, which was fun. Having all the kids arrive was a bit crazy towards the end. We walked home and Jamie's uncle Darrel arrived for a quick visit.

We'll see what remodel wonders await me on my return home. Supposedly we'll have the electrical work started in on.

Happy birthday to Seraph! Everyone except Yay...

November 10, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Happy birthday to Seraph! Everyone except Yayoe, in California for a visit with high school friends, and Sadie, far away, were over for birthday dinner. My attempt at a mash potato, roast and scratch gravy dinner was okay. I later watched the second half of Dr. Zhivago on PBS. Excellent. Earlier in the weekend I took Isa to feed the ducks at the duck pond. Very fun. I have definitely cute grandkids

Ah, the weekend

November 08, 2003 by Adam in Family

Ah, the weekend. No plan really, other than laundry and entertaining children. The tile guy is coming again today to regrout the upstairs bathroom. The downstairs shower was fixed as well yesterday. It turns out our plumbing problem was due to a leaky shower head which would have been quite easy to fix. Now we're going ahead and replacing all the pipes since we tore out the wall. Sigh.

Most of the carpentry is done in the basement. Monday the electrician starts. Hopefully I can get him to do the funky stuff to support my computer projects. It'll be nice when this is all finished.

Emma continues to grow like a bean sprout

November 08, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma continues to grow like a bean sprout. She finished up her first box of rice cereal and started in on the oatmeal. So far, so good. She gets a frantic face and starts opening her mouth every time the spoon appears.

She also made Jamie's day yesterday. Emma was practicing different sounds and she ended up saying "mama". She also did "baba" and a weird spitting noise.

When life gets busy, it's the simple things l...

November 07, 2003 by Adam in Family

When life gets busy, it's the simple things like a warm cafe mocha on a cold morning that make life good.

The construction project continues on. We have walls now, or at least the frame where walls will be. It helps give a sense of space, providing a better feel for how big things will really be. There's also those last minute descisions and details that need to be decided upon. I think we'll leave the bottom of the stairs alone, for example, instead of having them go straight down they'll keep their curve.

The main plan for the weekend is to do a bunch of laundry. The water is hooked up, so we should have some opportunities to get some cleaning done. They've been piling up for quite awhile now.

Thursday already

November 06, 2003 by Adam in Family

Thursday already. It wasn't nearly as dreary this morning when riding my bike to work. The last couple days have been cold and wet indeed.

The construction in our basement continues. We now have floors you can walk on and the walls are mostly framed. The electrician is supposedly coming in tomorrow or Monday to do his part. We also started finally fixing the plumbing on the main floor bathroom. Tiles were removed by the tile guy, we're getting someone else to open up the wall this morning, and later today the plumber comes to fix the pipes. It's quite the hassle to organize all the different people and Jamie has done a great job.

I had the kids all by myself last night while Jamie went off to a preschool meeting. Though I dreaded the worst, it actually went fairly well. By the time Jamie returned, both kids were snoozing away.

It's after 8:00 pm and I'm still at the office

November 05, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

It's after 8:00 pm and I'm still at the office. I've been trying hard to get caught up with the personal paperwork which slid to the back burner. I haven't really kept up with getting stuff into Quicken, and doing taxes is about ten times easier if I do.
Sadie and I had a good long talk last night. She is talking about a red-eye on Christmas Eve. She had been doing a satisfaction survey in her internship of the reaction of some older home owners who received grant money to have home repairs done. She sounded as though it had been fun.
Many hugs, om

The remodel is well underway

November 05, 2003 by Adam in Family

The remodel is well underway. Yesterday they measured and framed out the floor. Today we have an insulated floor as well as the plumbling for the sink and washer and dryer. Plus, the tile person came to take off the tiles in the upstairs bedroom (which has the leak). Jamie's been amazing, organizing all these people and companies.

I started getting sick yesterday and find myself quite sniffly. Work was pretty hectic too, as I had to make up for taking off Monday. Despite it all, the kids seem relatively happy and healthy, though Jamie and I are clearly pretty beat.

Oh, and if anyone is browsing magazines at the supermarket, take a look at Computer Gaming World and turn to page 108. I'm mentioned there for my Neverwinter Nights projects. Pretty neat.

Sam and I discovered a new game this evening ...

November 03, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam and I discovered a new game this evening - the Time Travel game. In it, Sam goes into the future or back to the past to visit various people and places. Tonight, he went back to talk to me when I was a kid and back to visit Jamie as a baby. He said some hysterical things when I was trying to explain video games of the 70's to him. I was going into Pong and lines and bouncing dots when he replied, "in the future, video games make sense."

He also traveled to the future and it turns out the dinosaurs were around and had stomped the cities to dirt. I asked how they got there and he told me that they had just been hiding in caves. For some reason, that made me laugh out loud.

Anna played the Spring solo of Vivaldi's Four...

November 03, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Anna played the Spring solo of Vivaldi's Four Seasons this evening at a local church. It was inspiring to have her practice in the apartment this week- my cleaning muse. Work is tiring and promises an early holiday rush, but I have a sturdy back for it. Feeling a combination of overextended and locked into a futureless limbo, which is odd, as I'm still in good spirits. Could be all that halloween candy...

It's been a relatively quiet day, though the ...

November 02, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's been a relatively quiet day, though the kids appear to have caught the cold. Emma's been hit the worst, having a hard time sleeping with all the sniffling and sneezing. Sam has a touch of it too, though it's not too bad.

Jamie went off to visit with Angie this morning, leaving me to fend for myself. Fortunately both kids were pretty good. After her return, we've puttered around. Sam wanted to be an orc, so he applied his own makeup for the situation. When we decided to make bread this afternoon, he agreed to help as long as I called the ingredients things like "powdered elf toes" and the like.

Generic Heading

November 02, 2003 by Jamie in Jamie

Yea, well, 20 percent of nothin' is NOTHIN'!

I've resorted to playing loud music to put Em...

November 02, 2003 by Adam in Emma

I've resorted to playing loud music to put Emma to sleep tonight. She has a cold and the runny nose is bothering her. Fortunately, a little AC/DC put her right to sleep. As a bonus, Sam thought it was such a nice little ditty that he asked me to play it again. Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap.

Well, Jamie never posts here, so I'm taking m...

November 01, 2003 by Adam in Jamie

Well, Jamie never posts here, so I'm taking matters into my own hand and doing it for her.

Jamie's been pulling extra-mom duty these days, taking care of both kids and all the remodel projects going on these days. I keep wanting to offer her a raise, but she so far has refused.

Sam continues to grow in leaps and bounds

November 01, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam continues to grow in leaps and bounds. He's currently sitting on the floor next to me, practicing his drumming. A bit before that, he was spelling things with Tinkertoys. I think me managed to spell "Tail Hi Air".

I periodically forget he's still only four as we can carry on an adult conversation fairly easily. He also has a good memory and comes up with clever things quite often. I'm very proud of him.

Halloween went well

November 01, 2003 by Adam in Family

Halloween went well. Sam donned his skeleton outfit and we went out into the neighborhood to seek our candy glory. It was freezing cold and so we only made it to a few houses before we turned back again. After dinner, we drove over to my mom's house to show off the outfit. Then it was back home to greet trick or treaters.

Sam was our official candy giver. For a long time, there wasn't really any people showing up, but then we started getting big groups around 7 pm. Sam and I watched various Halloween specials while we listened for the telltale chatter of kids seeking candy. Finally around 8 pm we closed up shop and all went to bed.

We're going to try and clean out the garage today, moving things under the porch area. I think my dad's coming over to help, which would be very handy.

I think I'm turning into a Hardcore cyclist

October 31, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I think I'm turning into a Hardcore cyclist. I put on my layers of clothes, coats, and rain gear this morning, donned my gloves and helmet, and rode off to work. It was icy cold but my morning mocha made up for it all.

I know we've arrived at another holiday seaso...

October 31, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

I know we've arrived at another holiday season when I've eaten nothing but chocolate and sweets this week! Arg...so much for dieting!
Isa is all ready to be a fairy tonight, though we've added a turtle neck and thick tights to the ensamble.
We've got trick-or-treating at 5th Street Market and then to hit the various neighborhoods to stock pile candy for the next year.
We've been carefully bringing in our pumpkins each night because last year we got hit by pumkin smashers. They've lasted so far!
Hugs and Haunts to all!

The week is nearly over, with Halloween comin...

October 31, 2003 by Adam in Family

The week is nearly over, with Halloween coming up tomorrow. How that happened, I'm not quite sure. Work has been pretty busy, with an Internet upgrade that went relatively well Tuesday. Home has been equally packed. Yesterday Dave and Brant came over and we did some last minute things to the basement. Taking care of the kids has kept us endlessly busy.

Hopefully this weekend we'll have some time to relax a bit, though it may just be wishful thinking. I'm taking Monday off, though it's because the contractors arrive and Jamie's getting a massage. Hopefully I'll survive the experience.

In reality, though, we're all doing relatively well. Emma's been eating more and more solids, sucking down a big bowl of rice cereal tonight. Sam and I carved a pumpkin tonight in preparation for tomorrow. For some reason he's especially excited, though it may be the costume he has for the occasion.

The long and very grueling month of October i...

October 29, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

The long and very grueling month of October is winding down to my all time favorite holiday, Halloween!!!!!! Will informed me today that although he is going to his first teenage dance tommorrow he wants to go dressed as a rooster.??? The kids don't have school on Friday, a teacher comp day, so we are going trick or treating tommorrow night in Thornville which is my kind of town because they have a huge Halloween party! They close the streets in town and turn the town over to trick or treating. Every business has a stand with food, popcorn and games, the firehall is open and they have games and candy, the bowling alley has open bowling with blacklights and decorations, and a good time is had by all ghosts and goblins. The adults have a blast, last year a guy dressed up as a ghoul and walked around town dragging chains behind him, when the kids would tease him he would whip out a small chainsaw(without the chain) and fire it up and scare the pee out of them.
Patrick has decided that he is wearing white shirt and blue jeans and the shirt says "This is my costume, deal with it!"
Tommorrow I jump into another year of my life, and after losing 40 lbs this summer, I am ready for it! The kids and I went to Normalville this weekend and worked our butts off. Everyone at Kemps/See-Mor Grill asked about the whole family. The elementary school is being added on to with a huge 2 story addition, and things are just normal.
Hugs to all, Bets

Life seems to be settling down, at least a bit

October 29, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Life seems to be settling down, at least a bit. My jury duty was dismissed, the initial demolition project went smoothly, and I just rolled out our company's new Internet site today. Now it's just a couple months of remodeling to go . . .

Emma's growing, as is usually the case

October 29, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma's growing, as is usually the case. She's been eating rice cereal for a few weeks now and seems to be getting the hang of it. I suspect she might start crawling soon, as she's getting the hang of pushing herself around her crib a bit. Finally, the dreaded separation anxiety has begun. Whenever she's away from Jamie, the fussiness starts until she's back with mom again.

Sam's been very responsible lately

October 29, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam's been very responsible lately. He helped everyone out during the great demolition project and has been aiding me as well in various projects around the house.

He also started gymnastics today. Jamie reported that he did an excellent job at following directions, could do all the moves, and had a good time.

Sam continues to adore his cousin Josh. When I came home today, they were making Lego cars together. Evidently the goal was to crash them together until their person flew out of it.

This Saturday was my first full day off since...

October 29, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

This Saturday was my first full day off since early September, and what a perfect day it was! Anna and I went to an honest diner in Florence, a very small town abutting Noho, then puttered around on foot, snooping though an antique warehouse and buying up books at a great little place. The rest of the week has been very good. Sophia (a wonderful co-worker) and I played tricks during the slow bouts of a rainy Sunday, putting little notes on people's car windows like: I left someone in your trunk. I'll pick him up next week if that's OK. Moments like these make me glad I have the flexibility of a small store and low-key management. The internship is picking up and I'm actually getting to use my brain these days, attempting to put together a task force for the analysis of impediments to fair housing project.

Big hugs!

It was a wacky day yesterday

October 27, 2003 by Adam in Family

It was a wacky day yesterday. Sam and I decided to hike Spencer's Butte after breakfast. Once we got there, Sam checked out the map as always and decided we should try out the "difficult" path up to the top. I'd never done it, but we agreed that we'd turn back if it got to hard. It turned out to be quite the challenge, steep and very rocky at the end. Still, we made it to the top in good spirits and celebrated our success. Going down, however, was much more of a challenge as both Sam and I were pretty tired. I ended up carrying him most of the way down as his legs were all rubbery when he walked. We made it back home and ate a huge meal, then tried to take it easy for the rest of the day.

We watched some movies, including all but the last ten minutes of Bend it Like Beckam (thanks for the recommendation Sadie). We had one of the neighbor kids come over and babysit Sam, which was highly entertaining for him. Poor Emma wasn't feeling well, so we kept having to pause to try to settle her down.

I had a headache off and on and Emma was very fussy, spitting up a bunch. I decided later that we were both sick. When 7:00 pm rolled around and I put Sam to bed, I collapsed in Jamie's bed and didn't wake up until 10:30 pm. I got up, had a bowl of cereal, then slept until 4:30 am.

I'm feeling a bit better this morning. I snuck out for a mocha which always gets the blood pumping. It was nice riding my bike in the sunlight, though it was still a bit nippy.

This is mostly to post a couple pictures of t...

October 26, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

This is mostly to post a couple pictures of the great basement remodel project. Here's one of what was once my closet. It now looks into the future rec room. There's going to be some pocket doors, which should either open it up or give some privacy:


Here's one of Josh wacking at the wall, proof that behind that brainy exterior lies the heart of a common thug:

Well, we did the deed

October 25, 2003 by Adam in Family

Well, we did the deed. Walls were knocked down. Carpets were torn out. Beer was drunk. Chips were eaten.

It was amazing how quickly everything went. Most everyone arrived a bit after 10 am and started right into things. My dad showed up too, working on a hole in the wall to support the future computer panel. By 3:00 pm, it was basically done. We piled out all the garbage in the driveway in hopes that our contractors would haul it away as promised. Nothing so far.

Actual construction doesn't start for a week, giving us time to do any last minute things that we end up having to do. At the moment, Jamie's family is watching the game and Sam and Josh are trying to find ways to entertain themselves.

As much as I was looking forward to dispensin...

October 24, 2003 by Adam in Family

As much as I was looking forward to dispensing my own brand of harsh justice in our legal system, it appears they don't want me. I called in last night and there were no jury cases starting today. I'm off the hook for at least a couple years.

For some reason, that seemed to lift my spirits up last night. With my two-days of team meetings, work projects mostly under control, and no jury duty to worry about, all that's left is tomorrow's demolition festivities. Swinging slege hammers about seems like great fun in comparison to the rest of my week.

Jamie called to fess up and explain that she'...

October 23, 2003 by Adam in Family

Jamie called to fess up and explain that she'd bumped the power cord to the computer. It's now stuck on a shelf with the craft supplies and Sam's friend Tuesday is over for a play date.

The week has gone relatively well. I survived two days of "team bonding" here at work, complete with all day meetings and bowling to boot. I'd rather have been working, but I suppose it's good for that elusive team spirit.

Tomorrow I may start jury duty, which I view with some trepidation. It may actually delay some things here at work, such as the go-live of our new Internet site. Very annoying.

Also, Saturday at 10 am appears to be the beginning of the great demolition project. Should you arrive to assist, you will be plyed with beer and pizza until it's finished. Everyone is welcome.

Sam's been having some interesting issues aro...

October 23, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam's been having some interesting issues around making friends at school this year. He's evidently quite popular and many kids want to play with him. Unfortunately, his friend Jake really tries to monopolize his time. Sam likes Jake and enjoys getting wacky with him, but does want to have other friends too.

So, he reported yesterday that he "turned Tuesday to the dark side." His friend Tuesday is a girl, with the uniquely Eugenian name of Tuesday. She's evidently a bit "wild" compared to the more demure girls. Yesterday he and Tuesday ran around hiding from Jake. Today they've got a play date together. Ah, youth.

Just a quick note to say what I delightful ti...

October 22, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Just a quick note to say what I delightful time I have had with my amazing grandkids recently. I babysat for Jordan on Saturday night; Jenny's friend Angela was in town. Jenny took her big chance to howl to stay out until all of 10:00 p.m.. Then Sunday night she had me over for dinner and to talk about trying to put together a week vacation in Florida in early December. I can't figure out how my kids turned into such good cooks.
Last night I helped Jamie with the kids while Adam did one of those workplace "bonding/retreat" things which are all the rage. Sam and I walked down to Baskin-Robbins for a float. We agreed that every house in America should be within walking distance of an ice cream store. Take note, you city planners to be!

Just checking in

October 21, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Just checking in. Big hugs and muscles for the construction project.

What a weekend

October 20, 2003 by Adam in Family

What a weekend. After breakfast, I moved all my computer equipment into the craft room, somehow managing to cram it all together and make it work. I was crawling under the wobbily card table and sorting through cables when I remarked, "It's spaghetti down here." "Want some sauce?" Jamie remarked dryly. Needless to say, I finally got it all working.

Afterwards, we got out of the house and went up to Hendrick's park. Sam had a great time finding new crazy paths and tromping through the wet grass. After a couple hours we returned home for snacks, playing games, and finally a park run. Sam played with another boy for awhile, trying to sort out the social rules of interacting with someone that you've never met. They had a good time and they both remarked on how fun it was. It's nice to see him growing up. We returned muddy but happy, then settled down for dinner.

Jamie and I juggled laundry, children, bedtime rituals, and collapsed ourselves around 8:00 pm. We've swapped beds too, so Jamie's upstairs with Emma and Sam while I'm down in the guest bed. Sleeping arrangements often seem like musical chairs with children.

I got Sam a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book ...

October 20, 2003 by Adam in Sam

I got Sam a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book from Smith Family bookstore a few days ago. He loved it, and we picked up even more at the library. He's been entranced by the concept ever since and was giving me a version of the book while playing Legos today. He was holding a Lego character that represented me, then gave me choices of what to do. It was quite creative and Jamie wandered in to remark on how amazing he was.

We've had a great time this weekend together, with lots of park time and he even watched me finish up my game of Halo. He's been amazingly polite and surprisingly funny. What a great kid.

Emma's started sitting up, another baby milestone

October 19, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma's started sitting up, another baby milestone. She's not great at it, and certainly can't get to the sitting position herself. It also has a tendency to cause her to spitup vigorously. Still, it's cool to prop her up in a sitting position and watch her look about for a bit before the inevitable swaying begins.

She otherwise seems like a happy, healthy baby. She's quite into laughing and playing games, which is nice. I remember Sam as being more particular at this stage, while Emma's fairly easy going and playful. Hopefully that bodes well for the years ahead.

I've been playing through Halo

October 19, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I've been playing through Halo. It's still pretty fun, with some big surprises from time to time. There is some repitition in certain areas, though, slogging through enemies as they swarm towards you. That part's a bit dull.

The vehicles are the shining point, in my opinion. Being able to jump in the jeep and tear around the island is great fun. Getting the tank was a highlight as well, with your buddies perched on the edge picking off bad guys.

These days I'm trying to balance my Neverwinter Nights project with actually using my computer for fun. It seems to go back and forth, though both are still progressing.

I spent a fair amount of time mucking with co...

October 19, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

I spent a fair amount of time mucking with computers yesterday. I bought a wireless access point, which is geared towards sharing an Internet connection between multiple computers. Because I have an internal DSL modem, though, I really needed it to act like a dumb hub. I finally got it working, with wireless encryption no less, but it took awhile. The problem is that once I get it configured the way I want, I can no longer talk to the modem (I have to turn off NAT and DHCP). So, I have to do a hard reset on the modem to return it to factory settings if I want to change anything. Frustrating, but it works.

The coolest part is that Jamie's computer is now free of network cables, able to roam about the house wherever she wants to plug it in.

Strangely, it also detected a nearby wireless access point, unencrypted. I neither have the time or inclination to hak into other's networks, but it was a bit freaky knowing that anyone could just plug into it. I could steal the neighbor's Internet access and no one would be the wiser.

It's Sunday morning, still in the dark hours ...

October 19, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's Sunday morning, still in the dark hours before the family wakes up. We had one of those rare good days where most everything went well. It wasn't perfect, of course. Jamie and I were a bit snappy with each other as we tried to coordinate children and getting the stuff moved up from the basement. Still, we quickly got in the groove and efficiently migrated my office to the craft room. It's going to be a bit cramped, but I think it'll work out okay.

The only thing down here at the moment are the computers, as Jamie wanted one last day with the old routine before she and Emma moved to the upstairs bedroom. Those head up this morning as well, in what's hopefully a quick move.

As for the rest of the day, I'd like to take Sam for a hike. We hiked down to the library yesterday, which was fun, though Sam was in the stroller for much of it. We'll see how it goes.

Mocha Friday and the day is winding down

October 17, 2003 by Adam in Family

Mocha Friday and the day is winding down. We're moving things upstairs this weekend, so it might be busy. With the nice Fall weather, I'd like to take Sam on a hiking trip. We'll see, though. Jamie reported that the kids were being tired today, so maybe it's movies instead.

I can't find my workout shoes, so I instead went to Smith Family bookstore to poke around. I picked up some books for Sam that he might like. A Star Wars picture book and a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book that I loved when I was a kid.

Heading home soon. I miss those little critters.

Sam made up a joke the other day

October 16, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam made up a joke the other day. He was playing with Legos downstairs when he ran up to tell Jamie that he lived in "E-ville".

Also, Jamie just called as she discovered a new way to get both kids entertained while she gets dressed. She plunked Sam and Emma in the crib together where they happily entertained each other. Sam specifically told her to call me about the news. Sounded like a plan born of desperation to me.

This somewhat grayish day was brightened cons...

October 16, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

This somewhat grayish day was brightened considerably by a phone call from Sadie, trying to find Dick's recipe for pumpkin or squash soup. Actually, we got a tasty squash soup recipe in Zimbabwe from Cousin Brian's wife Irene - had it in South Africa, too. I think it had ginger in it.
I am very much enjoying having a partner in the office. We spent quite a bit of time before she started sort of feeling each other out on styles of communication; we both agreed we didn't like shouters. She's very pleasant and competent, and the office transition has been amazingly smooth. I stayed late to try to get my personal checking account onto Quicken - I got a bit sideways with the whole tidybowl approach to life in general this year. Snuggles and warm toes to all.

Here is a picture of my living room, which ...

October 15, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Here is a picture of my living room, which Adam so graciously posted. The living room is actually wonderfully light, but this photo is a little backlit. The other photo is me and Anna Monas, a friend who is currently studying at Wesleyan. The pictures behind are finger paints by Sam and watercolors by Yayoe! Thanks, Apoo!

I made a wonderful tuber cassarole last night and am considering making pumpkin milkshakes and acorn squash this evening. I love a whole month of bumping into people on the street, looking up at the trees or down at the fallen leaves.

My friends and I are keeping in contact with much greater frequency these days, because a) grown-up life in new cities is scary b) the trauma of losing Skye and Lucas is still fresh with all of us and c) everyone has free night and weekend minutes on their cell phones. To condense, Katie is doing biology research in L.A., Sara is working at Banana Republic in S.F., Megan Wells-Jamieson is working as a tellar at Wells-Fargo and at Banana Republic in Carmel, and Morgan is still loving the metal industry in Chicago. And everyone is excited about the World Series. It's a crazy world out there.

I'm mentally preparing for a rough couple mon...

October 14, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I'm mentally preparing for a rough couple months ahead of us. Next week the remodel begins in ernest, tearing out carpets and walls. Plus I've got work things one night and possible jury duty, which doesn't excite me much at all. Then there's the run of the mill stressors such as having a four-year-old, a baby, and a tired wife in the house. Finally, we'll be moved about in weird places and I'll have to troop through a construction area to get dressed and take a shower each morning.

Whew.

I picked up Halo for the PC last Friday

October 14, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I picked up Halo for the PC last Friday. I've been having a pretty good time with it, driving around with the Warthog (the jeep) and generally having a good time. It's been a long while since I've played a decent shooter, so it's a refreshing break from my usual Neverwinter Nights fiddling.

Sam played a bit the other day. I think he had the most fun throwing grenades at his jeep and trying to see how he could flip it all around the screen. Great fun.

We're back home now, settled in from our fun ...

October 14, 2003 by Adam in Family

We're back home now, settled in from our fun Portland trip. The zoo was probably the highlight of the adventure, as Sam hasn't been for quite awhile.

Now we're gearing up for a far too exciting month ahead. This weekend we're moving things around in preparation for the remodel. Next week I've got lots of work stuff (team building activities which involve bowling), and potentially jury duty. Next weekend we start the demolition and all are welcome.

Emma's been grumpy and Jamie's been tired. Sam gets a bit bored and wacky when he's ignored. These are definitely the hard times, though when the dust settles we'll have a beautiful basement and rec room.

We had a nice - though wet - weekend

October 13, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We had a nice - though wet - weekend.
One Saturday Robbie and I went up to Portland to celebrate our anniversery with Raven and Cheikh. We went to a Moroccan restaurant and ate delicious food with our fingers! We then stayed up to the wee hours of the morning watching a movie.
We headed home Sunday, with a quick (2 hour) stop by Powell's. After picking up Isa we headed over to Dad and Yayoe's for a nice dinner with the family. It's always frun to see everyone and to hear what's going on. We all used up Jenny's free weekend minutes by calling Sadie. I think we passed her around a few dozen times until she must have began to feel like the "hot potato!"
The car goes into the shop today. Isa was mourning the idea of a week without "her car." After hearing what the repair bill would be I'm certianly glad for insurance!

Our Portland trip goes well

October 12, 2003 by Adam in Family

Our Portland trip goes well. The grandparents have been entertaining the kids, giving Jamie and I some time to relax. We took Sam to the zoo yesterday, which was lots of fun. It threatened to rain all day, but never did, so few people were there. Jamie liked the bats the best, while Sam and I had fun watching the naked mole rats. Good stuff.

We'll head home relatively soon, though we're not in a giant rush. It's a rainy day, just waiting to be frittered away.

Well, we're off to Portland in a few minutes

October 11, 2003 by Adam in Family

Well, we're off to Portland in a few minutes. We're taking Sam to the zoo, which should be a fun experience. It's been a long while since he went, so it should all be new. Jamie and I played 20 Questions this morning to guess my favorite zoo animal. Though it took awhile, she got it right - a naked mole rat.

I don't think any longer that being sad is th...

October 09, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

I don't think any longer that being sad is the same as being depressed. I can't put in words how sad I am to lose Dick, but I could not be happier with my kids, grandkids, the beauty of nature and my existence. I wish I could remember where to find the Bible verse, "This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Much love, o.m.

Thought it's technically Thursday, it feels l...

October 09, 2003 by Adam in Family

Thought it's technically Thursday, it feels like Friday. I'm taking tomorrow off to help move Sam along to Portland and spend some semi-quiet time with Jamie. Hopefully she can get some sleep, which has been lacking as of late. I got a less than happy call from her at 7:30 this morning to let me know that I woke everyone up with my banging about. The door under the porch was stuck and I couldn't close it after I got my bike out. Oopsie.

My boss has yet to arrive today. I think he must have taken the day off or went immediately to a long meeting. It's been awfully quiet here at work, which is actually nice for a change.

Well, today is my long day

October 09, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Well, today is my long day. Cooperation with several commissions, councils, and departments within the city limits is challenging. I’m trying to formulate questions to assess various federally funded projects, with the help of far too many people who don’t realize they want to help me yet. Sometimes throwing the net out so far brings back a whole lotta nuthin, and while I must be patient and learn the nuances of these things, it is currently frustrating to try to understand what is needed from this project.

However, I painted the whole bathroom on my two half-days, and it is now sparking white and lavender, a radical change from dark colonial blue. It is seemingly twice the size it once was, and a little too bright, compared to the rest of the antique white apartment. But at least it is my own. Lindsey likes it too- she thinks it looks like a Victorian powder room. The woman who used to live in the apartment with Lindsey, Eva, thinks it looks like a beach house. I think it needs a little lime to jazz it up.

A shout out to Jaqui Shine, who loves the website and I think would secretly like her own page. She keeps my days at Essentials interesting by dropping in and being sweet to me.

Amen, mom.

Well, the final plumbing bill probably won't ...

October 08, 2003 by Adam in Family

Well, the final plumbing bill probably won't break our bank account. Nice to know. In comparison to the remodel, everything else seems like a pittance.

Another day full of children yesterday. Poor Jamie gets a bit haggard looking at the end of the day with no rest in sight. At least we had someone clean the house today and Sam went to school. This weekend will be nice too, as we plan on sending Sam up to Portland with Jim for a day before we join him a bit later.

The remodel project is getting even closer. We've got nearly all the stuff out of the washing room area, the ironing board mysteriously appearing in my bathroom. We're hoping that an army of helpers arrives to rip things up, lured by our promises of beer and pizza.

A very belated posting

October 07, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

A very belated posting. Lots of exciting changes at my office; I have a partner coming on board who will take over the domestic relations work, leaving me to do wills and probate work. My hope is to cut down to a couple of days a week. Ah, joy, ah joy!

No word yet on how expensive the plumbing fix...

October 07, 2003 by Adam in Family

No word yet on how expensive the plumbing fix will be. Hopefully I'll have all my arms and legs after we get it taken care of. In the meantime, we've got plenty of other baths and showers we can use.

Josh spent the night last night as his dad was out of town. Sam though it quite cool and I think Josh had a pretty good time despite it all. I put him to work testing my Neverwinter Nights game and he managed to break it in several interesting ways.

Emma has another fungal infection, this time buried in her armpit. Poor girl. Fortunately we have the stuff left over from her last infection and it usually clears up in a couple days.

Yesterday was clearly Monday in our lives

October 07, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Yesterday was clearly Monday in our lives. Isa is fighting a cold and it looks like Robbie is getting it too. I stay afloat with coffee and hand sanitizer.
Robbie got into a "fender bender" denting up the hood of the car prety badly. Forget cell pohones and eating, I think kids in the car may be the worst distraction while driving!
Anyway it has finally started raining. I'm glad I got all of my roses cut back on Sunday! Now, at least, I won't have to water the plants for awhile.

Monday

October 06, 2003 by Adam in Family

Monday. I can tell it's Monday too. Last night, Jamie was taking a shower and Emma and I were taking my lunch downstairs to put in the refrigerator there. I heard what sounded like rain, but it turns out it was inside, pouring down from the pipes. Jamie called the plumber and it looks like they'll have to tear out a wall in order to get to the problem. The plumbing is all original too, and quite rusty, so they recommended replacing it all. Ah, the joys of an old house.

Sunday went pretty well, though nothing too exciting happened. Angie came over to visit with Jamie for awhile and Sam and I played with Legos. I got a lock put on the door under the porch, which is where I'm storing my bike now. I also replaced my leaky bike tire.

It's Sunday morning, my favorite time of the week

October 05, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's Sunday morning, my favorite time of the week. Ray's coming over for breakfast, as he's stuck all alone watching the boys' house. Jamie's making waffles, which I'm eagerly awaiting, along with that big pot of coffee.

Yesterday morning my mom came by to watch the kids and lend us the truck. We loaded up for a trip to Goodwill, then later piled in junk that my mom generously volunteered to take the the dump. I think Jamie felt much better once things were feeling cleaned out.

The rest of the day was spent puttering about. Jamie made bananna bread, I picked up some movies for Sam, we did a park run where Sam showed off his Cheese climbing skills, and later Sam and Jamie played Yahtsee together. Great fun.

Emma's been doing very good lately

October 05, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma's been doing very good lately. We started her on rice cereal Friday night, which was quite the experience. Sam gave the first spoonful and then Emma's eyes got big and she grabbed for more. As expected, an awful lot was pushed out by her tongue, but she seemed to really like it. Every time we'd stop, she's make horrible noises until we fed her again.

She's been a little less cranky. Hopefully it was just the shots. Before bedtime is usually the worst, and the mornings are usually the best. The other day I had her giggling up a storm, playing silly "where's the baby" games with her.

While the warmth of summer is gone now, the l...

October 05, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

While the warmth of summer is gone now, the leaves are turning and the sky is no longer heavy with the exess of someone else's hurricane. This is the New England I love.

I've decided to go home with Anna and her brother Noah for Thanksgiving, because I have tuesdays and wednesdays off, and if I take the monday before Thanksgiving off, will be able to drive to Detroit and back again quite comfortably. We'll have Thanksgiving on Wednesday because the day after Thanksgiving is very busy and I'll need to help facilitate the selling process at Essentials.

Anna is making a video for continuum mechanics on the physics of spinning, and is sitting next to me in the library checking out tornado and diving movies. All the ice skating movies are at home and hopefully the break dancing flick will be back in circulation soon so she can scoop it up. Modern engineering education sure is funny.

Ah, Friday

October 03, 2003 by Adam in Family

Ah, Friday. I've downed my mocha and eagerly await the end of the day so I can head home to play with my family. We don't have any particularly exciting plans, though I think we'll end up prepping for the remodel a bit. Jamie wants to haul things to Goodwill and I'd like to get things moved out of the basement to the upper floors. We'll see how far we get.

Emma's been a bit fussy as of late. We're thinking it's the aftermath of the shots, though it's always hard to tell. Poor Jamie hasn't been getting much sleep, but she still stayed up late to watch Will and Grace, which was hysterical as always.

Jamie's mom was down yesterday, which was nice. She entertained Sam for hours last night, taking a bit of the burden off of us for a few hours. Next weekend Sam's headed to Portland with just grandma, which he's very excited about. We'll meet him a bit later and go to the zoo together. Good times.

An enigma, that's what life is

October 02, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

An enigma, that's what life is. I am sitting here with a dog on my lap, a cat on the desk, a dog behind my chair and a kitten tipping over the trash can. Yet we have a no pets policy. The cats are strays, one from the basement of a house formerly occupied by Venezulan alcoholic scholars, another from the farm. Of course my constant companion is Red Dog, Patrick's minature Dachound, rescued from some kids who were about to pitch it off a bridge. Life is an enigma.
I have survived another turnover, intact but very tired. Will and Patrick are wonderful people who are very loving and supportive. If we all could have people like them in our lives, the world would live in peace. Hugs to all.

Time is something so rare and precious these days

October 01, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Time is something so rare and precious these days. I sometimes want to trick my body and stay up late. Last night I watched Star Trek until 10 pm, but I woke up at 6:15 to make up for it. I had to rush in the morning and I was still late to work.

It's amazing how the small things simply don't get done around our house anymore. I have a slow leak for my tire and should probably replace it. Not sure when.

Still, life with kids is pretty amazing. Weekend breakfasts bring it all together for me. I love looking around the table and seeing all my family together. Makes it worthwhile.

It's been awhile since my last "new computer"...

October 01, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

It's been awhile since my last "new computer" update. I've got things completely installed at this point, though I have a couple annoying problems that seem to be following me still.

Neverwinter Nights doesn't play at all, simply crashing to the desktop. It's very annoying as that's probably what I spend most of my time doing these days.

I'm also seeing graphical glitches when starting up the computer, funny colored lines across the screen. It goes away after a few minutes, but is highly annoying. I think it's power related, so I bought a new power supply. Hopefully it'll arrive soon.

Other than that, it's quite speedy. Benchmarks and Jedi Academy play quite nicely on it. I might pick up Halo or the new Max Payne game and give my new computer a real workout.

October already! This year has seemed like s...

October 01, 2003 by Adam in Family

October already! This year has seemed like such a blur.

Jamie and I walked over to a pizza place last night while my mom watched Sam and Emma. Sam had a great time having her pick out different clothing and light saber colors for his Jedi Academy game. Jamie and I just enjoyed being out and about by ourselves for awhile.

We also got a new crib for Emma that we moved and assembled upstairs. The thought is that Jamie and I would actually share a room for awhile, something that we haven't really done since Emma was born. Jamie's worried that she'll keep waking me up, but I think she doesn't understand my supernatural ability to sleep through anything.

I took Emma around 9 pm last night and rocked her while watching Star Trek. She quietly watched it with me for a bit, then fell asleep when it was halfway done.

The joys of half-day tuesday! I finished at t...

September 30, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

The joys of half-day tuesday! I finished at the city planning office, had eggplant for lunch, then had enough time to open a checking account at a local bank. I should probably transfer everything from my old bank now that I'm living and working in the area, but I'm just so gosh darn attached to UlaneO. I mean Oregon Community Credit Union. Maybe the name change is a sign.

I'm off to a city planning and development conference on thursday morning at Hotel Northampton- very fancy, very exciting.

Saw Finding Nemo, at last, this evening. Clever and fun for a whole family of college kids.

We took Emma in for her four-month checkup ye...

September 30, 2003 by Adam in Emma

We took Emma in for her four-month checkup yesterday. She's 15 lbs, 6 oz, quite the big girl. She also got three shots, much to her displeasure. Like before, she was pretty good about the whole thing, crying for only a few minutes before settling down and smiling again.

I think we might start her on solid foods fairly soon, if only as a little experiment. The doctor gave her the green light for rice cereal so we'll see how it goes.

Today Sam and I took off hiking this morning ...

September 29, 2003 by Adam in Family

Saturday started with a wonderful breakfast prepared by Jamie. I had stayed up late getting my computer semi-working, and continued again early that morning. It was nice to hear the birds outside our kitchen as we had eggs and sausages.

Sam and I headed out for Jake's birthday party, one of his good friends at preschool. It was wacky fun, taking place at an "adventure golf" course. It was essentially minature golf near streams and rocks, but Sam thought it was quite cool. Then it was way too much candy and running around with all his friends.

Today Sam and I took off hiking this morning and had a great time. I'd been continuing to stress over my new computer, which is having weird problems (I'm running memory tests on it as I type on my "old" computer). It was a beautiful day and Sam and I ran about Hendrick's Park, exploring some new trails that were recently made.

The rest of the day was pretty quiet, with a trip to Circuit City to get more fans (my new computer ran too hot), then I did a solo library trip while Sam watched a movie. Now we're winding down for bed and trying to get the kids settled down. Soon it will be time for my nightly cereal then bed.

I'm typing this from my new computer as it's ...

September 27, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

I'm typing this from my new computer as it's busy installing software. Installing the operating system was a bit exciting, as I needed to have hard drive drivers installed. Unfortunately, you had to have a floppy drive to do it, so I had to mess around for over an hour getting it all arranged. There was a moment of terror when things started to crash and boot up with garbage on the screen. It turns out I had blocked the CPU fan with a cable and it overheated. Slowly getting there.

I think Emma's cold is finally over

September 26, 2003 by Adam in Emma

I think Emma's cold is finally over. She's been sniffly for the last week or so, trying hard to be cheerful but failing when her noggin is full of goo.

It's amazing how quickly she's been growing up. She's lately discovered the joys of her exersaucer, playing with all the different toys attached to it. There's a funny little dog that she keeps trying to stuff in her mouth. It probably looks enough like a breast that she gets overly excited, then later upset when it doesn't produce any milk.

She can sit up if you let her hold your fingers, and stand with some assisted balancing. She's definately a strong girl.

She also gets pretty excited about vocalizing, though her talent tends towards belting out noises rather than exploring different types of sounds. Mostly they all sound like "AAHHHH!" with very slight variations.

The last of the components arrived at my hous...

September 26, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

The last of the components arrived at my house yesterday. Somehow I managed to watch the kids and start putting components together. It's slow work, especially the elaborate heat sink for the CPU. It should do a great job, however, and really help out when I start overclocking.

Before I went to bed last night, I turned it on only to hear a series of loud beeps. It turns out I had forgotten to plug in the additional power supply for the video card and it was gently reminding me. After that was done, it booted up fine and detected all the drives.

Tonight I hope to actually install an operating system, as all it does is fire up. Then it'll take a while to patch up the OS and get all the software I want installed on it. I want to try some overclocking too and test it out with some serious gaming tests. Yippie!

It's always a bad sign when it's 6 p

September 26, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

It's always a bad sign when it's 6 p.m. and I'm still at work. We have a trial tomorrow and ten other things that have to be taken care of "right now," but will rarely hear of an appreciated lawyer!
Anyway, Mom has decided to make it up to Robbie by taking him to the game this weekend (not sure that make's it up to me though, as I will be the one home babysitting Isa). He had a lot of fun at the Michigan game last weekend, and unless any of you speak up will happily hord away as many of the remaining tickets as possible.
What I really want to know is if Adam took up the hospital on any of those free donuts! (If not, send them our way - we'll be quite content with the free calories, um I mean goodies)

They were handing out doughnut holes, coffee,...

September 25, 2003 by Adam in Family

They were handing out doughnut holes, coffee, tea, and water for the people who rode their bike to work this morning. I looked at the coffee and doughnuts and thought that it was the complete antithesis of the healthy bike-riding attitude. Irony.

Our family seems to keep chugging along. Sam seems to enjoy school more than ever, actually wanting to go and see his friends. It's a very good sign after years of feet-dragging and crying when left. Our boy is growing up.

Emma was a bit cranky last night. We did a Chinese fire drill with beds last night, with Sam ending up in Jamie's bed, me in Sam's, and Jamie in mine. Around 5 am this morning, I spent some time playing with Emma before she got hungry again and it was time for me to get ready for work.

My computer parts are nearly all here, minus the important CPU cooler. I'd like to assemble it this weekend, but I'm not sure what I'm up to yet. We haven't heard from Rainbow Valley as to when the remodel starts and I haven't heard from my dad about the great computer project. We'll see how it goes.

This is me in my beautiful kitchen! The door ...

September 24, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

This is me in my beautiful kitchen! The door behind me goes to Lindsey's room, with our pantry in between. When it's warm we eat on the back porch, and there's a built-in ironing board just behind me in this photo. I get to iron my sheets and cook fall stews at the same time!

Today is Mountain Day at that big womyn's castle on the hill, so Anna and I have a country (campus) picnic schedualed after my internship this afternoon. After very heavy rains on tuesday, it's crisp and chilly- the absence of humidity the first sign of fall. However, I am at City Hall all morning, cringing as the self-important lady yells at poor Wayne Fiden, director of planning and development. She knows I want to run her out of the office with my icy (yet depressing and resigned) stares, but I don't think I have the authority. Everyone else, including the odd but cheery James, owner of the dogs, seems not to notice the tongue lashings she gives to Wayne. I can't imagine why he communtes to work for this. Nevertheless, knowing the aching joints resulting from retail, I appreciate the three hours of prescribed sitting every day.

That pirate eye patch has certainly made the ...

September 23, 2003 by Adam in Family

That pirate eye patch has certainly made the rounds. Sam turned it into his "Lost Puppy" costume to good effect. He's also started making me wear it when playing cards together, in order to get my character just right.

Sunday was nice, with the kids both being pleasant for breakfast. I continued moving things out of my office and preparing for the remodel. Monday was fairly low-key as well, with Sam still enjoying his school. Emma's got a cold that keeps her up, though it doesn't seem to affect her cheerful demenor all that much. I think I have a touch of the cold as well, taking care of the headache with a mocha run this morning.

Oh, and happy first day of Fall!

What a weekend! We all gathered to watch the ...

September 23, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

What a weekend! We all gathered to watch the Eugene Celebration parade, and a good time was had by all. I decided not to walk with the League of Women Voters, fearing I might poop out in the middle of the route.
Then Robbie and I went to the Michigan-Oregon game. Games like that need to have a calorie usage rating. It was a cliff hanger but the Ducks won. We were all so grateful.
I had Isa over night, and we went down to Baskin-Robbins for an ice cream cone. Sunday morning we picked up Sam and drove out to the farm, armed with carrots for the horses.
They got to watch Jerry lasso the baby, who is definitely getting bigger. Then Sam, Isa and I walked up the path, where Isa discovered the delights of blackberries, to the tune of Mumbo Jumbo, God of the Congo, and Sam fought off the man eating trees blocking the path. There were deer all over - it's dry, so they come to the pond to drink. I need to get something done to my heart; I hate it that I can't carry Isa, especially when there are monsters around. The weather was gorgeous - 80 and clear. Love to all...om
PS memorial service for Irene next Monday evening - the synagogue in NW Portland. I have the address.

The owner of Squeeky doesn't know what to do ...

September 21, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

The owner of Squeeky doesn't know what to do with Squueky's new affinity for me. Three years without a bum scratch must be hard for a dog, I suppose. I learned from the best, of course, if anyone remembers Sobaka's love for the ass rub.

In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, we dresse...

September 20, 2003 by Adam in Family

In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, we dressed up Emma for the occasion. Arr, matey!

It's been quite the whirlwind last couple days. Jamie signed the contract yesterday, so we're definately going to do this remodel thing. It felt good to have Victoria's boyfriend, who's a contractor, look at the plans and say that the cost was reasonable. Remodels are just spendy, I suppose.

Last night Jamie had both Victoria and Angie come over, giving gifts and goodwill. I had the kids for as much as I could, so I was a bit tired going to bed. Unfortunately, bedtime didn't go very smoothly. Jamie woke me up after I had slept for an hour, letting me know that Emma was still not sleeping. I rocked her in a daze for a long while, finally getting her to sleep, but having her wake up when I put her in her crib. Jamie dismissed me and I feel back asleep again. Later Sam woke up, but wanted Jamie and not me. I think Jamie ended up sleeping in the tiny twin bed with both kids. Fortunately she got a little nap this afternoon.

In the morning, we had my mom over for breakfast which was nice. Later, Sam and I raced down the hill in the stroller to see the parade and meet up with most of my family. My dad came back to the house afterwards and we discussed great plans for turning the sauna into a computer room, as well as cutting holes in the wall for a control panel. Should be cool.

Since then, we've mostly been taking it easy. Jamie's holding Emma and watching Sam roll down the hill repeatedly. Good times.

The memorial services were hard

September 20, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

The memorial services were hard. Everyone at Skye's was desperately trying to focus on his life time rather than how it ended. I completely lost it, seeing all the parents and all the kids Sadie ran around with at school. What an amazing bunch of young people. I told someone or another that I wouldn't be surprised if they could levitate. It was sad at Lucas' too - but I think it's too hard for parents and family members to speak at these services. The brunch was great. The girls called Jenny, but by the time everyone got here, Sadie had gone to work. Seraph is going to Chicago for Baba's panahida service (this is a service about 40 days after someone dies - it is supposed to mark the time their soul leaves earth.)

Well, I'm off to Chicago tomorrow morning

September 19, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Well, I'm off to Chicago tomorrow morning. I'll be staying with Anita and John until Monday when I head home.
Robbie and Isa have a full schedule this weekend with the Celebration parade and the Duck football game. Mom's taking Isa Sat. night and to the farm on Sunday, so Robbie should have a little quiet time. His story is taking on a life of its own and he's hoping to reach page 200 by Oct. 1st!
As summer is nearing an end I'm starting to realize all the house projects that I didn't get to. Maybe a lack of work next spring will be a great time to catch up on all the lose ends flooting around.

It's done

September 19, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

It's done.

I just made the last of my orders, bringing together all the components of my new computer:
AMD 2500+ Barton (hopefully overclockable to 3200+)
Alpha PAL heatsink
DVD writer (Panasonic LF D521)
SEAGATE 160GB SATA hard drive
ASUS A7N8X DLX motherboard
Radeon 9800 Pro
2x Crucial 512 MB memory
AOpen case and power supply

The hope is that I'll be able to overclock the processor right away, as the particular stepping I purchased can supposedly make it into the 3200+ range without problems. It should be an easy overclock too, though these things are rarely certain.

I'm also meeting with my dad to start work on the infamous control panel. Should be fun.

Jedi Academy showed up yesterday

September 19, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

Jedi Academy showed up yesterday. So far, it seems a lot like Jedi Outcast in terms of how it plays. You get to create your own character, giving them a certain appearance and light saber color. Sam must have spent twenty minutes going through the different races and fiddling with their look.

We got a little stuck yesterday trying to finish the first mission. I was stuck with Emma, so Josh was helping Sam play. Unfortunately, they got to an unopenable door and couldn't figure out what to do next.

The game also came with a keychain lightsaber that has tiny LEDs that light up a glass rod. It looks quite cool, flashing red, green, and blue in quick succession.

Ar, matey! It's Talk Like a Pirate Day tod...

September 19, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Ar, matey!

It's Talk Like a Pirate Day today, the same as Jamie's birthday. Concidence? I think not.

I think Jamie and I are slowly getting over the sticker shock of the remodel. As a theraputic activity, we get to demolish large portions of our basement. Yippie!

As for other exciting Adam news, I'm in the process of buying new computer parts. It's amazing how much power you can get for so little these days. I also got Jedi Academy in the mail yesterday, though I'll talk more about that in the gaming section.

Huge news from the homefront! I'm excited to ...

September 19, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Huge news from the homefront! I'm excited to hear about mom's new situation, Yayoe's new paint job, and Adam and Jamie's bourgeoise upkeep. Happy birthday, Jamie- I hope you find something wild to do. I'm in the middle of another 12 hour work day, but at least the internship is at my own pace. The rain might keep consumers away from Essentials this weekend, but one can't really tell. Maybe we'll sell all of our thirty dollar illuminated umbrellas. Yayoe- I sent Dorothy several thank you cards, but if she's not checking her P.O. Box, her not getting them is her own choice. The smooth haired chihuahua at work, Squeeky, is finally warming up to me. If I scratch her bum at regular intervals, she remains civil.

It's Jamie's birthday today, though we've adm...

September 19, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's Jamie's birthday today, though we've admittedly been slowly celebrating over the last week or two. Last night, Dave and Kirsten came by to get Josh and stayed for dinner, plying Jamie with gifts and lemon chiffon cake. It was all quite tasty.

It's Friday, and there's a mocha waiting for me when I get to work. Hopefully it'll be a little less crazy than yesterday, as things were a bit intense for awhile. I think I've got some reboots and installs waiting for me when I show up.

I think we're slowly getting to the Acceptance stage of the huge remodel estimate. It also turns out that it'll take longer than they originally thought. They person who first did a rough estimate a month ago came in with a price half the final estimate and a timeline that was a third as long. Poor estimating skills.

No exciting plans this weekend, though perhaps we'll get started on ripping things out. I'm not sure how long we'll have to live with things in a demolished state, so it may not be wise to start just yet. There's always the Eugene Celebration, parades, and a visit to my dad to plan my next computer project.

Hi There, So here it is September already! I...

September 18, 2003 by Lohring in Lohring

Hi There,
So here it is September already! I can't believe we last posted in May. Scheesh. So much has happened since then.So many losses of loved ones, etc. When I wake up in the morning I say a little prayer of thanks to the universe for still being here and of course I also ask that I will find just the right piece of junk at Good Will for 99 cents or less!

We're heading east (October 15-22nd) to help Dorothy move into her new house. It close to being done and she's very excited about it. Her new address is 893 Annesley Circle, Meadville 16335. Phone is 814-332-9096. She doesn't use her P.O. box so please address all correspondence to the new address. Danica is back at work! She's doing arts administration and managing a large dance company in Rochester! Andy is looking for work and Ben is back in school doing his music.

Lohring's work schedule has changed again. He will be working a Monday/Tuesday schedule with some Wednesdays thrown in as needed. He seems content with this for now. The racing season is almost over but does that mean he will be home more? Not sure? Stay tuned!

In November I'm off to California to celebrate another reunion of my junior high school friends who are now 60! We're planning 4 days of fun, hiking, shopping and sight seeing along the Santa Cruz/Monterey coast. It's really weird saying that I met these friends 50+ years ago. None of us feel 60 but then again it's hard to know what 60 feels like. By the way, none of these gals like to go junking (they don't even wear used clothing!) so I guess I have to forego looking for a second hand junk store in Carmel. Sigh. I'll live through my disappointment.

My fall project is having the kitchen painted! Hold on to your hats because I'm choosing a pallet of sage green colors. We also squeezed out our last water bed and went to a conventional bed after a major leak occured about a month ago. It's sure weird not sloshing around at night.

Good newz: I heard from Josh. His inlaws have been helping to finish the house which should go on the market in the spring. The house has 4 bedrooms, heat, real bathrooms and all the ammenities! He and Jody are off to Hawaii in October to see if they want to settle there. Sayer is back in school and he's studying to be an accountant! He likes numbers! Sasha is working as an oncology nurse at OSHU! They're doing very well! So enough for now....

It has felt like a small lifetime pushed into...

September 18, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

It has felt like a small lifetime pushed into the last week.
We went to Skye and Lucas' funerals this weekend. They were both really sad, but reminded me for the millionth time how glad I am that we never had guns around when we were growing up.
It was nice to see all of Sadie's old friends and their parents, even though the circumstances were not great. I even ran into several of my old teachers from Edison, Roosevelt and South.
Monday we evacuated work because of the hydrogen leak. It made me miss Dick that we couldn't just call up and ask questions about the weight of hydrogen gas, etc.
Most of this week at work has been organizing Chris, Mom's new associate. She doesn't officially start until Oct. 1st, but we're trying to transition smoothly. It will mean the loss of my job the first of next year, but I'm happy that Mom is slowing things down.
I don't know yet if I am going to Chicago this weekend. As the week progresses it looks like I'm not, but who knows these days! If not, we'll probably hit the Eugene Celebration.
I'm hoping that Sadie doesn't feel to much of Hurricane Isabell in MA, but it will probably feel a little like winter in the Northwest with the additional rain!

As suspected, the final estimate for the base...

September 18, 2003 by Adam in Family

As suspected, the final estimate for the basement remodel required a stiff drink before reading. It was indeed a huge amount of money. So big, in fact, that we said we couldn't do it and we started to go down the list and make compromises. We ended up committing to doing some of the work ourselves (the demolition and painting), as well as changing some of the plans (e.g. less cabinets and more shelves). We managed to get it down to something reasonable, and should have a contract to sign today.

Other than that, life's been pretty typical. I had Emma from the time I came home until bedtime. Jamie left for Yoga and Emma woke up a few minutes after she left, basically crying until Jamie came home again. I think she was either hungry or gassy, as almost nothing I did make a difference. Being outside helped some, as well as giving her a bath. It's just strange to have her so grumpy.

Sam's really been enjoying school this year

September 18, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam's really been enjoying school this year. He's been getting ready quite happily, then going off to play with friends. One friend, Jake, was a bit wild last year but seems to have settled down and things have smoothed out a bit.

Sam's also gotten used to having Emma around, slowly working her into the routine.

Well, the computer parts are slowly coming in

September 17, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

Well, the computer parts are slowly coming in. The LCD panel arrived yesterday and the DVD burner the day before. I ordered the CoolerMaster Musketeer today (the weird control panel pictured below). It'll probably get disassembled along with the LCD in order to make the ultimate wall-mounted computer control panel. I'll probably have to buy my dad some extra chocolate and coffee so that I can coerce him to do my bidding. I think he has some fancy patterning that he's thinking of for the aluminum surface. Should be cool.

Fall is coming

September 17, 2003 by Adam in Family

Fall is coming.

The morning ride to work was beautiful, the sun peeking over the hills and the faint smell of smoke filling the valley. I had to stop a moment and let the crisp air work its magic on me as I looked down from College hill.

Yesterday evening was Xtreme parent time. I was either rocking a baby or entertaining Sam until nearly bedtime. Then Jamie and I sat on the couch for a half hour watching E! Online thing about MTV's Real World. Such wacky times.

My first day off! No more for me though- I st...

September 17, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

My first day off! No more for me though- I still have the internship in the mornings on tuesdays and wednesdays. Anna and I saw a great lecture by a latino cartoonist and I convinced her to check out the Pirates of Penzance from the music library and watch it with me. Ahh, the good life.

I have some cute pictures of Emma and the dee...

September 16, 2003 by Adam in Family

I have some cute pictures of Emma and the deer that decided to camp out in our back yard, but I'm at work and won't be able to post anything.

The weekend came and went. We all went to have a picinic on Sunday at the park and watch the city league baseball game. Nothing too exciting, though Emma seemed to like being outside quite a bit. Sam yet again showed off his Cheese-climbing proficiencies.

Jamie's birthday is sneaking up this Friday. She couldn't wait to open up her present from me, so she ceremoniously opened it up with much ooohing and aaahing. Nothing too exciting - some pyjama bottoms and foot lotion.

Tomorrow Jamie meets with the contractors for a final bid on the great remodel project. I have a funny feeling I should have a stiff drink before we get the numbers.

Do government employees ever arrive at work o...

September 15, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Do government employees ever arrive at work on time? Perhaps Northampton is just very low-key. Mom worried that I'd have to wear stockings, but it looks like the director is the only one in a tie- no jacket, for sure. the rest in jeans.

I've been looking around for cool things to a...

September 14, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

I've been looking around for cool things to add to my little control panel. I came across this thing called a CoolerMaster Musketeer, which has a fan control, temperature monitor, and sound levels. It's admittedly mostly for looks, and the style is essentially what I'm looking for (30's analog electronics). I'm hoping my LCD comes soon, then I can sit down with my dad and come up with options.

Yesterday Sam went to the park a boy and came...

September 14, 2003 by Adam in Family

Yesterday Sam went to the park a boy and came back a man.

The nearby park is informally called "Cheese Park", due to a large yellow concrete structure that vaguely looks like a big cheese. Since we moved into our current house, Sam's been having me pick him up to sit on the top and slide down the side. Last night, he figured out how to get up to the top, using a series of complex maneuvers and sheer grit. He then proceeded to go up and down over and over, just to prove it wasn't a fluke. Great fun.

Yesterday was relatively low-key. I had hoped to get my mom over for breakfast, but she's really busy with the funerals for Skye and Lucas. The big event for us was a family walk to the library, where Sam picked up some I Spy books. They're his current favorite and have kept him and the whole family entertained for the last week at bedtime.

Jamie's dad and uncle came by yesterday afternoon to watch the Nebraska game. We had to spend $15 to activate all the ESPN channels for the day, but evidently ours was the few places that could actually get it. Jamie picked up fried chicken and cole slaw, giving the whole occasion a very American feel (I stuck to my usual vegitarian fare).

I'm slowly preparing the stage for a new computer

September 12, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

I'm slowly preparing the stage for a new computer. It's been a couple years since my last one and I'm going to try some different things. One of the joys of being a home owner is that I can cut holes in walls and not really have to answer to anyone. The current plan is to put as much hardware in my closet as possible and string all the cables and such into the office.

I already purchased an LCD panel for the server, which I'm hoping my dad can turn into a piece of art. I'm thinking it would look nice embedded in the wall with a shiny aluminum engine-turned finish, complete with nifty buttons. I also want to make a "control panel" with a similar look, with 1930's controls for the various computers within the closet. Where possible, I'll be using wireless (for the keyboards and mice), though I'll have to string cables through the wall for the monitor and such.

I'm also making a fairly major change in video card vendors. It looks like I'll be going for an ATI card instead of my usual NVidia. The benchmarks for Half-life 2 are coming out and NVidia's latest offerings don't look so good.

I also ordered a DVD writer, with hopes of transferring my home movies to DVD. I think it's an easier to manage Christmas present that my past CD-based videos.

Isabel has been upgraded to a Catagory 5 - th...

September 12, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Isabel has been upgraded to a Catagory 5 - the Storm not our child! But life does feel a bit like a hurricane these days.
I took a walk at Alton Baker at lunch today. Just needed a little time to recollect my thoughts and remember that there are things in this world that do not involve dying or tragedy. I fact the ducks were doing what they always do, which felt nice to see.
Love, joy and peace on earth and of the mind to all.

First Dick, Baba, Skye, Lucas, and Irene

September 12, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

First Dick, Baba, Skye, Lucas, and Irene. And now Johnny Cash. What a fabulous six months. I feel too pressured to come home, if that makes any sense... a little burnt out on grieving.

It's my first day of work. I also started a big new project at the internship- life here has finally started to accelerate. I might work two instead of three and a half hours a day at the internship, as one full+ one part time job will get tiring very quickly.

My work schedual:
internship: 8:30-12 mon-fri
essentials: thursday, friday, saturday 1-9, sunday 12-5, monday 11-7

Finally Friday

September 12, 2003 by Adam in Family

Finally Friday. My schedule for the last couple weeks has been weird, with last Friday taken off due to illness and yesterday off so that Jamie could get her massage. I'm hoping work isn't too frantic today, but odds are it will be. At least it's a Mocha day.

Jamie and I went to Ring of Fire last night and had some tasty curry. We were so tire that we had a hard time getting the energy to have a conversation. I think the most animated we both got was discussing Apollo 13, for some odd reason.

We're hoping my mom can come to breakfast on Saturday and give us a few moments of quiet, though it looks like the weekend is already filling up for her. It is sad that Irene passed away - I fondly remember endless Thanksgivings with her and her son.

You all remember Thanksgivings with Irene

September 12, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

You all remember Thanksgivings with Irene. Cousin Marty called and said she died yesterday. I think I need to watch
"Avalon" and have a good cry.
Seraph and I are doing a brunch on Sunday morning at 11:30 for friends of Skye and Lucas. Morgan is home and organizing the guest list. I forgot to tell her that parents are welcome. Love to all, om

I've been at home all day today, mostly to gi...

September 11, 2003 by Adam in Family

I've been at home all day today, mostly to give Jamie time to head off for a massage. She said it was wonderful, so I suppose it was all worth it. In the morning, Sam and I got new tires, then headed to the mall to get Jamie a birthday present. I also picked up some rain pants so I should be ready for weather most foul. Emma didn't sleep much, so after our return I was doing a lot of jiggling with the girl.

I suppose I should make some comment about September 11th, but my view on this is most muddled. Mostly I feel bad for all the dead and injured from the events that cascaded from those few hours two years ago.

yes, lead air and lead cookies

September 11, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

yes, lead air and lead cookies. but i'm staying and praying here for the weekend. second interview at essentials today. the two hairless dogs at work are giving me the sniffles. one can't even touch them without being growled at, as if they weren't already perfectly shaped for a drop-kick. with the new black hair i feel like a real bad-ass, joan jett meets lydia from beatlejuice. it makes it a little easier to meet the day when one feels like biting it.

Hi, Sade, I'm having a little e-mail trouble

September 11, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Hi, Sade, I'm having a little e-mail trouble. Are you sadierynmiller@hotmail or sadiemiller@. I talked with Katie's mom tonight. Incidentally, I just got the $255 the government sends toward funeral expenses yesterday. I'm glad to pony that up toward a ticket if you want to come home; I can't think of anything Dick would rather have it spent on. Services for Skye are noon on Saturday at St. Jude's, and for Lucas at 3:00 on Sunday at Gerlinger. It's been a week when it feels like we've been breathing lead air and eating lead cookies.

while i toyed with the idea, i don't think i'...

September 10, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

while i toyed with the idea, i don't think i'll be able to come home for the weekend. i simply can't budget a short-notice ticket in right now. but thank you for your kindness and calls this week.

hangin in there

September 09, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

hangin in there.

Today may be my last bike ride to work

September 09, 2003 by Adam in Family

Today may be my last bike ride to work. I was extremely soggy upon my arrival, looking like a half-drowned dog. I'd need quite a bit of rain gear to make it through the next few months, I think. Sam and I taped a square of plastic to the inside of my "rainpants". There was a dry square shaped spot on my pants, while all the rest was pretty damp.

Sam came in to my bed this morning, wanting me to escort him to Jamie. Jamie ended up sleeping next to Sam while I lay next to Emma. It was a rare switcharoo.

The news is indeed tragic

September 08, 2003 by Adam in Family

The news is indeed tragic. I feel for Sadie and the family of her friends who died a few days ago. I think I met Skye once or twice, though it was a long time ago. I don't really have any words of wisdom for this one. Life seems so fragile.

Sam went to school today and a quick report from Jamie suggested that he had a good time. She called from Oakway mall not really knowing what to do with herself. It's been three months of having two kids to deal with. Now that it's just Emma, who sleeps a lot in the mornings, she suddenly has a bunch of free time. Jamie might bring Emma to work while she uses the gym for a half hour. I'll watch her in my cubicle or walk her around if she's up. We'll see how it goes.

Work has been busy. Lots of things to catch up with since I was out Friday.

I want to send all of my heart out to both Sk...

September 08, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

I want to send all of my heart out to both Skye and Lucas' families. I remember discussing the fine art of cooking with Lucas and Latin dancing with Skye. One of my favorite memories of Skye was a night before a cross-country race he came over and Sadie drew an eagles wing spand on his back.
Life and death have become a blured mystery to me in the last few years. I'm not sure I'll ever understand.

Tragic news

September 08, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Tragic news. In the RG this morning was a report of a shooting, with two young men killed on Saturday night. The article was sketchy and they weren't named because their families hadn't been notified.Later this morning, while I was talking with Sadie, Katie Freund's mom, Joann called. She told me that one of the young men was Skye Balkwell, who was in the same group of friends as Sadie, and the other was Lucas Gibbons,who ran around with the same bunch of kids. Lucas had lived for some time with a young woman named Kim, but after they broke up, Lucas introduced her to Skye, and Kim and Skye began to date. Lucas told one of the kids this summer that he had expected that he wouldn't mind them dating, but that he wasn't doing well with it. I talked with Skye's stepdad for a few minutes tonight, offering extra beds and Seraph as a secretary. He said Lucas went to Kim's apartment and shot her several times (although she is apparently recovering), shot Skye once, and then himself. A small calibre hand gun. Remind me again what constitutional rights I'm going to lose if we all can't carry handguns. These were smart, funny kids.

I downloaded this little bridge builder game ...

September 08, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I downloaded this little bridge builder game yesterday and somehow can't get enough of it. Basically you can build a bridge then run a train across it to see if it collapses. It turns out there's an entire site about the genre. It's such a simple concept, yet addictively fun.

The weekend comes to a close

September 08, 2003 by Adam in Family

The weekend comes to a close. I'm feeling mostly better, though I was a little slower than usual today. Still, we managed to do quite a bit. I watched Sam water the slugs in the front yard, despite the fact that it was raining. I managed to put up a new light fixture in the bathroom, much to Jamie's happiness. We ended up going to the grocery store as well. Finally, we had Victoria and her boyfriend over for a lovely dinner that Jamie prepared.

Tomorrow is the first day of school for Sam. He'll be going three mornings a week, which will be hopefully fun for him. School has always been a bit of a challenge, though he's gotten better interacting with other kids over time.

I should be careful what I wish for

September 06, 2003 by Adam in Family

I should be careful what I wish for. Sure enough, the flu hit me today, though I didn't get it quite as bad as Jamie. Still, I wasn't good for much and generally moped about the house.

Jamie called in reinforcements, with Brant and Josh coming by in the morning, and Margo coming this afternoon (she's the neighbor who occasionally babysits). I held the baby once or twice, but generally lurked about moaning.

I'm feeling a touch better. If I'm still, I don't really notice the nausea. I think I'm really hungry, but I'm having a hard time figuring out what sounds good. Ginger ale and saltine crackers have been my friend today.

A quick "hi"

September 06, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

A quick "hi". Jenny and I are going to the football game today. It should be fun! She and Jeannie were going to be watching the game on TV in the bar at that apartment complex across the street and so she will run over at halftime. I'm going to get Lohring to help me with figuring out how best to advertise Dick's computer for sale. I would love to sell it and my laptop and get a really light laptop.
We (Sadie and I) decided that her plan would be to get a Masters at someplace so prestigious that if she came back to Eugene that they would have to hire her. Eugene is pretentious when it comes to education. loveom

I can tell that video game season is soon app...

September 06, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I can tell that video game season is soon approaching. Fall tends to be the big time, perhaps because no one wants to release a game during the Summer as well as getting the word of mouth out before the Christmas rush. Who knows.

In the meantime, I've downloaded a bunch of demos, including Homeworld 2, Chrome, and the latest Jedi Knight game. Homeworld 2 is beautiful and relatively interesting, though there's not much new gameplay there. Chrome reminds me of Unreal 2, though driving vehicles is a novelty. Jedi Knight also seems like the last one, with slightly better looks and far cooler lightsaber moves.

I'm sensing a theme of "more of the same, but prettier". I think that's why I'm so interested in the more novel games, such as Half-Life 2 and Knights of the Old Republic. Sure, there are other games similar to those as well, but I hear great things about them and they seem to be pushing the envelope a bit more. Rare are the games that try to be completely novel, as the development costs for games these days runs into the multi millions.

These are the days that try men's souls

September 06, 2003 by Adam in Family

These are the days that try men's souls.

Well, actually it's not men, it's just me. And it's not "days" in general, it's just today. The day began at 6:00 with Jamie coming into my room to announce that she's been throwing up. I scampered downstairs to get Emma, who was fussy, and head to Safeway to get Pepto Bismol and diapers. Everyone is really nice at Safeway at 6:00 in the morning.

I returned to find Sam in Jamie's bed, so we medicated mom and plopped Sam in front of the television. I made scones, believe it or not, while Emma slept. After that, it's a blur of taking care of both kids and periodically checking in on Jamie as she alternately threw up and moaned throughout the day.

Somehow I managed to water the plants, trim the roses, do laundry, check on my sister's computer, and go to the movie rental place over the next eight hours.

It's now pushing 9 pm, both kids are in bed, Jamie's feeling a bit better, and I'm exhausted and a little nauseous. Perhaps tomorrow will be my day to rest. Constantly throwing up seems such a small price to pay.

Well, I just returned from a successful meeti...

September 05, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Well, I just returned from a successful meeting with Wayne Fieden, the director of city planning in Northampton, who took me in and told me that because I am unpaid, I get more exciting work than work-study students. Classist, but to my benefit. However, I think his idea of 'exciting work' is internet research on sewage systems instead of filing.

This afternoon is an interview with Essentials, the stationary and fancy home stuffs store. I'm wearing my glasses to look extra funky sophisticated. I doubt I can compete without ANY retail experience, but at least I'm arty.

The apartment is coming along, although the former roomate just took our one counter in the kithen, and without it (the wonderful wooden cutting block on wheels she took) we must butter our bread in the pantry.

This will all make sense once my friend returns to Northampton from Weslyan with her digital camera and I can take a few pictures of the apartment for you.

I had friends over last night and we watched Wonder Boys. Felt a little grown up to have friends over at my place. It's a good thing.

Jamie's off at a preschool meeting while I wa...

September 05, 2003 by Adam in Family

Jamie's off at a preschool meeting while I watch Sam. It was a fairly good day, with my headache mostly gone. Emma seems a bit cranky these days. Perhaps she had a headache too. Jamie and the kids did a store run and that's about it.

Josh is back, much to Sam's happiness. They played and played today.

Tomorrow's Friday, mocha day, with a quiet weekend ahead.

Sam called me today to let me know that he'd ...

September 05, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam called me today to let me know that he'd received a number of tattoos from Jamie. It turns out that Sam had given one to her as well, though he didn't say what it was and it was on the back of her neck so she couldn't see it. I reported that it was the letter S in a heart, which Jamie thought was very sweet.

Having children is like belonging to a 24-hou...

September 04, 2003 by Adam in Family

Having children is like belonging to a 24-hour comedy club that's edgy and funny, though a bit loud.

Last night at dinner, Jamie was relating her "f-ing" day. There was a pause and them Sam asked what "f-ing" meant. I laughed out loud, wondering how she was going to weasel her way out of that one.

Jamie: "It was a slip of the tongue."
Sam: "What does that mean?"
Adam: "It means her tongue is slippery, like it was covered in soap."
Jamie: "Yeah. I suppose I should wash my mouth out with soap now."

It sounds like Isa enjoyed her first day of s...

September 04, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

It sounds like Isa enjoyed her first day of school. Robbie said she cried briefly when he left, but was happily painting when he picked her up. I guess they were working on colors and numbers, so Isa spent the evening telling us what color everything was and counting to ten again and again!

A quick hi - it's nearly 7, and I'm still at ...

September 04, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

A quick hi - it's nearly 7, and I'm still at the office. What a crappy idea! I am back in trial tomorrow. Many hugs to all.

Well, Isa went off for her first day of Pre-s...

September 03, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Well, Isa went off for her first day of Pre-school this morning. I haven't yet checked in with Robbie to find out how that went. Sigh...they just keep growing up.

Wednesday already! I had a splitting headach...

September 03, 2003 by Adam in Family

Wednesday already! I had a splitting headache last night and was up for a couple hours. This morning I'm cruising on Advil and a mocha. Painless and bouncy.

There's not a lot of high adventure at our house. Jamie left to return carpet samples and get shrimp last night, leaving me with both children for an hour. Sam was bored out of his mind and Emma was happy in her front pack. I ended up telling an elaborate story where Sam was a prince and I was a lowly sheepherder. Emma was either a sheep or a baby lost in the woods, depending on what the story required.

Jamie fortunately returned home and we eventually got all the kids to sleep before collapsing to bed ourselves.

I'm slowly doing my part to prepare for the b...

September 02, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

I'm slowly doing my part to prepare for the big remodel coming up in a month or two. One of the changes will be that my closet will be annexed for the rec room. Because of this, I turned the sauna into a walk-in closet, putting up shelves and a bar to hang clothes from. It works quite well, though it isn't especially fancy.

The next thing I'd like to do is to move my computers in there, having just the necessary cables move back and forth between the wall. I'm hoping it cuts down on noise and clutter quite a bit.

Everyone made it back home, safe and sound

September 02, 2003 by Adam in Family

Everyone made it back home, safe and sound. Emma seems even more wiggly and vocal than before.

Sam and I played with Legos a bit, then went off to Jenny's house to go through Grandma Dorothy's things she shipped over. I returned home with the glasses Jamie requested and a couple knick-knacks. Ironically, Jamie also was given things from her grandmother this weekend. We ended up picking almost identical glasses. Mine were slightly green tinted, but definately in the same style.

Another work week begins today. Fortunately it's only four days long.

Campus turnover has begun, no more laughter, ...

September 02, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Campus turnover has begun, no more laughter, no more fun!!! Well its my busy time of the year. I had 213 apartments go vacant on Saturday in the midst of the first home football game of the season. What joy, what a mess!!!
Words cannot describe the effects of having 20,000 people get up and play musical apartments on top of 50,000 drunks.

I am sitting in Anna's new half-unpacked room...

September 01, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I am sitting in Anna's new half-unpacked room, feeling like... nothing. I cannot say that being in Morris house is uncomfortable (yet) nor that I feel settled into my new apartment (yet). It is total and complete limbo, hopfully until I start the internship and find a rut. I have miraculously found a bed, and all of my sweaters in the Morris house trunk room are safe and unmoldy, so all in all things are lining up. Will keep you posted.

It's the first day of September

September 01, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's the first day of September. My, how time flies. Sam and I had another fun-filled day yesterday. We went to breakfast with my mom, then played with Legos until close to noon. I stopped by the gas station to get air for my tires (which hasn't been driven seriously in 6 months or so), then a quick shopping trip. Finally, we headed off to see Spy Kids 3D in the early afternoon.

It was okay, with cool special effects in some scenes, but not much of a story. Sam seemed to like it even though he reported that the glasses were uncomfortable. Later that night, he seemed to have a lasting mark across the bridge of his nose.

Towards the evening, we went over to Dave and Brant's house to have a Bar-B-Que with them and say hello to Josh, freshly returned from California. They all seem well.

I'm going to try to take it easier today. Jamie's coming back sometime and there's a shindig at Jenny's house. Hopefully I can calm the boy down a bit . . .

What a day

August 31, 2003 by Adam in Family

What a day. Sam's currently on the floor next to me, building Legos and whispering over and over the phrase "duck doger dot com". Advertising works.

We got Jamie and Emma off safe and sound. They evidently had a good trip up to Portland and the grandparents are fussing over them both. I think Jamie's really enjoying some quiet time, which is rare for her these days.

Sam and I started our bachelor weekend by climbing Spencer's butte in record time. My legs are still sore from the effort. We returned dusty and exhausted, but a quick shower and lunch helped a bit. After that, it was washing my car, inside and out, then heading off to Costco for huge quantities of cereal.

My mom stopped by to pick up some wedding vows I printed up for her. Evidently she's officiating a wedding tonight. Next Sam and I went to my dad and Yayoe's house for dinner and entertainment. Now it's time to get ready for bed. Whew.

My worker guy was up today to work on the dri...

August 30, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

My worker guy was up today to work on the driveway at the "Seraph's Way" house; he rented a jackhammer and has been fixing the concrete.
I'm doing a wedding for Gus, Stephanie and Rich's son, and Rhonda, his truly sweet girlfriend, tomorrow evening, and we had a rehersal this afternoon. Sadie and I went to the rehersal dinner this evening. She is nearly packed, but isn't feeling really great this evening.

Jamie came down this morning to announce that...

August 29, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Jamie came down this morning to announce that Emma has slept for nine hours last night. That's not typical, but it's pretty great when it happens. I think that having a pretty big baby helps, as she's got lots of room in there to stock up on food for the night.

Jamie and Emma head to Portland this weekend. Should be quiet around our house.

Last night I went over to visit with Adam, Ja...

August 29, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Last night I went over to visit with Adam, Jamie, Sam and Emma and take Sadie's laptop over so she and Adam could put his Neverwinter Nights game on it. She is saying her last good byes. She helped Sam take a bath- a good reminder that
the perfect toy is a bathtub full of water, while I played with Emma. I think one of the most satisfying things I ever do is rock a baby to sleep.
After work today Jenny and the boys, Seraph, Robbie and Isa, and Sadie and I met for pizza. Jenny had great pictures from last weekend's camping trip in central Oregon, back at the cabin on the Williamson River. It was a wonderful but bittersweet trip; Dick and I used to go over once or twice a year, and it was
sad to be there without him. The stars were glorious, as was Mars.
Sadie and I rented Moonlight Mile a couple of weeks ago. We cried so much I thought the living room would fill up with tears.
Sadie painted my front door red. Is this the beginning of the family eccentricity strain?

Sadie came over last night, which was wonderful

August 28, 2003 by Adam in Family

Sadie came over last night, which was wonderful. The more people to entertain Sam or rock Emma, the better. Plus it was nice to see her one last time before she left. After I found out she was coming home for Christmas, it didn't seem like such a big goodbye.

Jamie's off with contractors today, picking out carpets, counter tops, and linoleum. Though she invited me along, I trust her judgement. One of the nice things about marrying Jamie is that we have pretty similar tastes in decorating.

Only a couple more days until Sam and I have a boys-only weekend. Hopefully I can fill the time in a way that's fun for Sam but doesn't drive me nuts.

The week moves along

August 27, 2003 by Adam in Family

The week moves along. It's sad to have Sadie leaving so soon and strange to think that she's no longer just moving away for school. No trips back for school vacations, but rather when she can get away like a normal person.

Emma's been very vocal lately. I was singing to her last night and she joined right in. It was lots of fun watching her smile and make "Aaah-Ooooh" noises. I see her every day and she still seems to be growing at a rapid pace. Sam and I were making fun of her massive head last night, pretending she could boss us all around with her mind control.

Sam's his normal self. The other day he told Jamie, "I think I'm getting the hang of Emma." After a couple months of adjusting to a new person in the house, we're starting to get more comfortable with the new routine.

Jamie's been doing really well, I think. She has more energy and has been taking yoga with a friend, as well as going for more walks. Though she's still up once or twice each night, it's not as bad as it was a few months ago.

Mom and I had lunch with Ann Leong, whose hus...

August 27, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Mom and I had lunch with Ann Leong, whose husband also died of pancreatic cancer a year ago. She gave us wonderful advice on sewing quilts out of clothes and recommended Something to Crow About in Springfield. It was nice to be listened to by someone who had felt what mom and I are feeling, and then grew to understand why, which I think I am still at a loss about. She said that we are born and trained to problem solve, and this is one unsolvable problem that we are stuck with. A paradoxical slap in the face, if you ask me.

The grieving process has not dampened a love for Gregory Peck, however, and I rented Spellbound by Hitchock last night- wonderful! Way better than The Ring. Next pick: Notorious.

My new email address is sadiemiller@hotmail.com. Snail mail address is 55 South St. Apt. 2 Noho MA 01060.

We had a wonderful, yet tireing weekend campi...

August 25, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We had a wonderful, yet tireing weekend camping in central Oregon with Mom, Sadie, Jenny, Destin and Jordan. I think 2 two year olds may have left us all a little frazzled!

I think Dick would have been proud of us. We actually managed several Dutch Oven meals and the coffee was ready both days by 7:30 a.m.

After two nights listening to cows and cyotes Isa and Robbie went to the library today to pick up books on these wild and woolly animals!

I have a few days left until I fly back to No...

August 25, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I have a few days left until I fly back to Northampton, so today was a day of shipping off extra stuff. I have an eye appoointment and an appointment with Morgan Munro to say goodbye to Eugene on foot. I imagine we'll stumble around downtown reminicing about high school, then go to a movie. Hopefully I'll have time to play with everyone one more time before the east coast has me for good.

and the smith email account doesn't work anymore, so i'll keep you posted as to what email i decide to use.

The weekend is over and I'm back at work

August 25, 2003 by Adam in Family

The weekend is over and I'm back at work. Sigh.

Though we didn't do much, it seemed like a pretty fun weekend. Jamie took Sam to the ballgame last night, though I think Sam's favorite part is the cracker jacks. I did some landscaping Sunday morning and layed down some bark-o-mulch to make it all look pretty.

Sam was very good at the store and we allowed him to choose one toy. After staring at some Lego-like robot for awhile, he instead chose squirt guns. That of course led to endless fighting in the back yard. I have on video tape Jamie and Sam dueling it out. At one point, Sam had to go get the red washable pen to put "blood" all over himself. There was much showering required.

I had nearly 200 unread e-mails at work this ...

August 25, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I had nearly 200 unread e-mails at work this morning, 90% being return receipts from virus e-mails I didn't send. This latest worm sends e-mail forged from someone else, so it appears my name has been making the rounds. Yippie.

Emma is getting really strong

August 25, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma is getting really strong. Last night when Jamie and Sam went to the baseball game, she rolled herself over in her play gym. Moments later she spit up everywhere.

Later on when I got her to bed in her crib, I went to get a bowl of cereal. Five minutes later I heard funny noises from her room. When I went to investigate, there she was on her belly, looking around the room.

Emma's also gotten quite picky about wanting to be held these days. Both Jamie and I have sore legs from carrying her around, rocking her back and forth. It's a good thing I work out.

We spotted a deer in our backyard last night,...

August 23, 2003 by Adam in Family

We spotted a deer in our backyard last night, looking very cute. I'm not sure that counteracted the pile of deer poop and eaten tomatoes, however. Time to fix the hole in the fence.

It's finally the weekend and I'm puttering around while the rest of the family sleeps away. I'm hoping my headache is gone for good, as I feel pretty refreshed this morning. I'm still not sure what the weekend holds. I've got to return some overdue books to the library today. I also want to pick up some new ones for Sam's bedtime reading.

Cloudy skies today, for the first time in weeks. It looks like fall is slowly creeping up on us.

Last night, Emma amazed my mom by making a no...

August 22, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Last night, Emma amazed my mom by making a noise vaguely like "Hi" every time I said "Hi" to her. If I can train her up on a few more tricks, I figure we can hit the road and travel with a circus.

Jamie just called to report that she stuck Emma in front of the mirror and she began giggling hysterically. Emma, that is. Not Jamie.

The week has slogged along

August 21, 2003 by Adam in Family

The week has slogged along. My head is much better today after a somewhat achey day yesterday.

Sam was in a very grumpy mood last night. We finally got outside and ended up having a water fight with hoses and impromptu splashing instruments. There was so much laughing and giggling that he completely forgot his bad mood. Of course, we both had to change into dry clothes afterwards, but it was a small price to pay.

We hiked over to see Sadie and my mom last night, as well as check out their library for kid books. I still think I want to get Sam to the real library at some point and try to find all the great kid books from my past.

Tonight I'm dropping off both kids at my mom's house for an hour or two. A little quiet time with Jamie sounds very nice.

The garbage cans: ALWAYS put the cans in the...

August 21, 2003 by Judy in Hanes

The garbage cans: ALWAYS put the cans in the little shed by the house. The garbage service PROMISES to empty the can and put it back every week. I know this has been an issue

Massive headache today

August 20, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Massive headache today. My "Cafe Madvil" trick isn't working (that's a mocha and Advil). It's probably time to up the Advil dosage.

I'm slaving away at some JavaScript issues at work, banging my head repeatedly against the monitor. I can get things to work separately, but not all together. Sigh.

I finally finished up Splinter Cell while at ...

August 19, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I finally finished up Splinter Cell while at the coast this weekend. It was relatively good fun, though the end was a bit repetative.

Strangely, the other game I played quite a bit of was Icewind Dale 2. While it struck me again as being mostly a dungeon crawl, there's something satisifying about controlling a large party and strategically planning battles. The combat is quite tough, even for a veteran of D&D games such as I. Towards the end, though, I became bored and put it away once again.

I'm still trying to work on my Neverwinter Nights campaign. Very slow going with all the other things keeping me busy.

We've returned both weary and rested from our...

August 18, 2003 by Adam in Family

We've returned both weary and rested from our beach trip. The drive over went pretty well, with Emma sleeping and Sam in a good mood. The in-car movie system was just okay, as Sam didn't seem too interested in watching movies for the full two hours.

The weather was just great, with blue skies nearly every day. Sam and I spent many hours on the beach, building sand castles and watching the tide wash them away. He also had a great time running about and leaping over little pools of water.

Judy and Jim were delayed, as Barbara (Jim's daughter in law) had some excitement with her baby. All seems well, though she may be stuck in the hospital for the next month or two.

Dave and Kirsten hung out with us as well, travelling to the Hecita Head lighthouse with Sam and I. There were also many games, dinners, and beach walls. All good.

The drive back was a bit much, with cranky kids all around. Still, we survived and are slowly widing down, preparing for a normal day tomorrow.

Anna arrived in the Metro Detroit airport wit...

August 18, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Anna arrived in the Metro Detroit airport with its power was off, so it took a few days to get her luggage. However, although the treadmill still does not work properly after the power was turned on, her family, on a whole, seemed to live through it. Perhaps a few more days and they'd have taken Seraph's/a few Iraqi's advice on taking to the streets. Sounds good to me, the corporate American deregulating neoliberal bastards.

As the power outage shuts down the North East...

August 15, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

As the power outage shuts down the North East I thought this news bit from the internet might be worth posting. These were suggestions the Iraqi's had in resonse to the power outage:

Here is a top 10 list compiled on the streets of Baghdad:
—10: SLEEP ON THE ROOF. Without power — and hence without air conditioning — Iraqis have taken to climbing up stairs in the hot nights. Some install metal bed frames on rooftops, while others simply stretch out on thin mattresses. “We sleep on the roof,” said Hadia Zeydan Khalaf, 38, wearing a black head-to-toe abaya in the hot sun. “It’s cooler there.”
—9: SIT IN THE SHADE. Many Iraqis go outside when the power’s off. “We sit in the shade,” said George Ruweid, 27, playing cards with friends on the sidewalk. Of the U.S. blackout, he said: “I hope it lasts for 20 years. Let them feel our suffering.”
—8: HEAD FOR THE WATER. “We go to the river, just like in the old days,” said Saleh Moayet, 53. Several people said they had seen American beaches on television, and suggested they might be a good place to sit out the blackout. “They have so many beautiful beaches,” said Hamid Khelil, 44. “They should go where it isn’t so hot.”
—7: SHOWER FREQUENTLY. “I take showers all day,” said Raed Ali, 33. “Before I go up to the roof to sleep, I take a shower and I’m cooler.”
—6: BUY BLOCKS OF ICE. When refrigerators shut down, there’s no better way to keep food cool. Mohammed Abdul Zahara, 24, sells about 20 a day from a roadside table. “When it’s hot people buy a lot of ice,” he said.
—5: CHECK FOR BITTER-ENDERS. “They should go to the power stations and see what the problem is,” suggested Ahmed Abdul Hussein, 21. “Maybe there are followers of Saddam Hussein who are sabotaging their power stations. That’s what happens here.”
—4: GET A GENERATOR. Abbas Abdul al-Amir, 53, has one of a long row of shops selling generators in Baghdad’s Karadah shopping street. When the power goes out, sales go up. “I sell about 30 generators a day,” he said. “When the shutdown lasts I can sell even more.”
—3: CALL IN THE IRAQIS. Some suggested the Americans ask the Iraqis how to get the power going again. “Let them take experts from Iraq,” said Alaa Hussein, 32, waiting in a long line for gas because there was no electricity for the pumps. “Our experts have a lot of experience in these matters.”
—2: USE FOUL LANGUAGE. “When the power goes out, I curse everybody,” said Emad Helawi, a 63-year-old accountant. “I curse God. I curse Saddam Hussein. And I curse the Americans.”
—And the No. 1 suggestion among Iraqis for Americans suffering without power: TAKE TO THE STREETS. Some said demonstrations can be effective in persuading authorities to turn on the switch. “We held protests. After that we had fewer blackouts,” Ahmed Abdul Hussein said without even a hint of sarcasm. “I’d suggest Americans go out and demonstrate.”
Robbie and I have yet to fully understand the American thought process, in that people were going right back to work this morning in New York. Wouldn't the outage have been the perfect excuse to not call in to work(as the phones and answering machines were probably down) and take the kids to the beach?! I guess they can all die happy knowing that they at least made it to the office one more day of this year.

We're packed and ready to go

August 15, 2003 by Adam in Family

We're packed and ready to go. The coast awaits us and I'm very much looking forward to it. We picked up a power inverter and should be able to watch DVDs in the car to entertain Sam. Hopefully Emma will sleep and the two hours will go by quickly. I've brought my ancient Pentium 90 laptop so that I can type things.

We all have a cold, though we're pulling through. Hopefully the fresh sea air will do us good.

I got a call from my coworker Dave. He was travelling with his family and was stuck in the Detroit airport when the power went out. Anna was also travelling yesterday, though Sadie's not sure where she ended up.

I've been reading The Lion, The Witch, and th...

August 14, 2003 by Adam in Sam

I've been reading The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe to Sam at night. Afterwards, I'll lay next to him while he tries to get to sleep. This is a new thing since Emma was born, as he suddenly developed a fear of being alone.

Last night as I was reading, I heard a funny noise and looked up. Sam was giving himself hickies up and down each arm. I told him to stop and he asked me why. We got into a long conversation about how even though it doesn't hurt, it's still not a good idea to do it. This morning it looks like someone has beat him about the arms.

He also has a pretty bad cold, just like the rest of us. That, coupled with the Beach Boys blaring from the fairgrounds, probably kept him up so late last night.

I had a dream last night that Emma was huge

August 14, 2003 by Adam in Emma

I had a dream last night that Emma was huge. I was trying to carry her around and it took immense effort to lug around her massive body.

While Emma is getting bigger, it's not quite that bad yet. I think she and everyone else has had a cold for the last week. She's been a bit more cranky than usual. We have to work hard to earn a smile from her.

Hope this finds everyone safe and sound and i...

August 14, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Hope this finds everyone safe and sound and in the places they need to be. Meg called yesterday from Peterborough, Ontario to say they were doing well and having a good time. I leave with Will on Friday morning to pick up Patrick at Torch Lake, Michigan. It will be so good to see him.

So sorry to hear of BaBa's passing. She was a truly unique woman. Brave to start a life in the "New World".

All my love, Bets

The last few days have been pretty crazy work...

August 13, 2003 by Adam in Family

The last few days have been pretty crazy work-wise. The virus that's going around has been causing problems with e-mail, our Internet connection, and more. Yippie.

The last couple days have been pretty quiet at home. Last night, Sam wanted to make sock puppets. I dutifully sewed on some button eyes and we played for a bit. Emma was pretty fussy last night for some reason. Tummy troubles, maybe. I continued to read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe to Sam. We're about a third of the way through and Sam seems to enjoy it. It's quite a change from the smaller books.

I'm very much looking forward to our beach trip. Calgon take me away . . .

Well, the Blaster worm brought down our netwo...

August 12, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Well, the Blaster worm brought down our network today. Only minutes ago did our Internet connection get restored. Our desktop folks have been patching like maniacs all day.

It's been an odd day - a mix of twiddling my thumbs and rushing about trying to fix things.

We had a wonderful visit with Alex and Caroly...

August 12, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We had a wonderful visit with Alex and Carolyn last week. I know Isa is already missing them like crazy!

On Sunday we went to the Scandinanvian Festival with Hanni. The most impressive part were the folk dancers we watched. There was some great dancing reminicent of Fiddler on the Roof and The Nutcracker.

I just had a lovely lunch with Dad and Yayoe at the Oakway Mall. It was fun to catch up, but it made me realize how little we get out these days to see everyone.

We love you!!

Interesting work day

August 11, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Interesting work day. There's a new worm making the rounds and we've been seeing it sneak onto our network this afternoon. Ah, the strange new world of the Internet.

Sam and I had a bit of a miscommunication last night, leading to great frustration. Evidently Jamie had "cut a deal" with Sam involving flossing only half his teeth at one setting. Sam seems to think that Jamie and I think as a single entity and are always in perfect agreement. Sigh.

I'm in chilly San Fracisco, wishing very much...

August 11, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I'm in chilly San Fracisco, wishing very much that I was in Eugene. Not that Morgan and Luke haven't been wonderful, but they are good to me knowing that they stand in for the perennial good company of family. Seraph and I agree, losing two people in three months is bad for the spirits, but I keep reassuring myself that the process of grieving is an enriching one. I'm still waiting, though. Many hugs.

Sunday afternoon

August 10, 2003 by Adam in Family

Sunday afternoon. It's been quite the weekend so far, a whirlwind of entertaining children and family. Darrel and Ray have been down to chat and help with the remodeling preparation. We tore down some of the cabinets from the laundry room and put one of them up in the garage.

Sam went on a couple expeditions, one of which took us to the duck pond. I have memories of going there tons when I was a kid, so it was fun to take Sam there. We puttered around through all the college buildings, visiting the Urban Farm and climbing on some sculptures. Great fun.

Hello from Chicago

August 10, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Hello from Chicago. Thunderstormsin the Ft.Worth area resulted in missing my second flight,but picked up the next one.John and his dad,who is one of my favorite people were waiting for me. Krysta, Kenny and Derek were all at the house, as were Debbie, Johnny and Mike; Donna went to cousin's wedding. It sounded as though Baba'slast few days were peaceful. Much love to all, and more later. Love from old mom

After weeks of feeling swamped, I'm actually ...

August 08, 2003 by Adam in Adam

After weeks of feeling swamped, I'm actually starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I haven't taken any days off for a couple weeks now, which probably helps. Plus I hunkered down for a couple days earlier this week and tore through a bunch of projects.

Free time in general is still a rare thing for me these days, especially at home. My longest stretch of free time is weekend mornings, where I sometimes get two whole hours to myself. The only catch is that I can't make much noise, as waking up sleeping babies or moms is frowned upon.

Last night, I was watching both kids while Ja...

August 08, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Last night, I was watching both kids while Jamie cooked dinner. Sam really likes it when I use my exciting voice, particularly my "crazy old man" voice. That's the one where I speak in gravelly tones using medieval language and saying things like "the orcs covered the hillside, like a black plague, their sharp blades glinting wickedly in the moonlight."

I decided to talk in my cutsy Emma voice to Sam, who glanced up at me and acknowledged my silliness. To be fair, I then used my crazy old man voice on Emma.

She started grinning right away, then broke out in giggles, especially when I started talking about orcs. Sam decided she must be a half-orc baby. Jamie lamented the fact that she lost another kid to "exciting dad".

All my thoughts and prayers are with the fami...

August 08, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

All my thoughts and prayers are with the family right now. Mom, please tell the Milosovic's how much I am thinking of them and wishing them peace.

As Grandma Sadie used to say, I feel a little low

August 07, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

As Grandma Sadie used to say, I feel a little low. Baba, for all her foibles, was a smart, hardworking person. Amazing that she had only a third grade education and one kid who was a Fulbright scholar and another who was Runner-Up to teacher of the year in Illinois. Baba could reel off the life stories of about 100 people, including when they were married. I'm going to fly back on Saturday and back on Tuesday. Seraph is going to take me up to Portland, I think, to catch the plane.
I got a call from Morgan's mom, and an e-mail from Sadie. They arrived safe and sound in SanFran. Love to all

Sam went to the dentist yesterday

August 07, 2003 by Adam in Family

Sam went to the dentist yesterday. Jamie reported that he was on his best behavior, polite and articulate. Plus his teeth are in good shape. He was excited when I got home and showed off his Stage 3 Snow White toothbrush. Pretty cool.

We went swimming last night, which was just great. The Easter Seal pool is so less crowded than the Amazon one, and only costs 50 cents more. For about twenty minutes, we were the only people in the pool.

Lots of excitement ahead for the next few days. Jamie's off with a friend tonight, we're having my mom for dinner Friday, then Jamie's dad is visiting Saturday afternoon. Next weekend we're planning on a beach trip. All great fun.

Sad news about Baba

August 06, 2003 by Adam in Family

Sad news about Baba. I still remember when Jamie and I drove across the country and stayed at her house. In the middle of the night, there was a huge thunder storm. Baba, being fairly traditional, had put us in separate rooms. We met in the hallway to thunder and lightning. Very romantic.

I've still been feeling a bit under the weather. Headaches and a bit of an upset stomach. Nothing that coffee and advil can't fix.

Hopefully Sam and I can get some swimming in tonight. That boy has too much energy.

A bad news, good news day

August 06, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

A bad news, good news day. As Seraph said in her posting, Baba was not doing well, and died peacefully at 5:00 this morning. She and the rest of Dick's family all made me so welcome. Final plans for services are still up in the air, but if I can reschedule one trial, I think I can go back.

The good news came from Meg, who called to say that Dad was released from the hospital and is doing much better. I guess the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

A little update on family

August 05, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

A little update on family.
Grandpa Steane has been in the hospital with Pneumonia. The doctor's think he's doing well and should be home soon.

I just got a call from Debbie Milosovic that Baba is not doing well. She is in hospice care and they don't think she will make it to much longer. I'll let everyone know when I hear anything.

Alex and Carolyn are in town and Isa, Robbie and I are enjoying the visit. I'll try to get Adam some cute pictures to post on the site!

There was a massive thunder storm that rolled...

August 05, 2003 by Adam in Family

There was a massive thunder storm that rolled through town this morning, killing my Internet connection for a couple hours and interrupting power for a little. Poor Jamie was trying to sleep through it all, but she just couldn't make it.

I've also been trying to beat this nasty headache and sniffle I picked up yesterday. I've been doing the Advil and coffee trick, which is working reasonably well. I yearn for the days when I could take the day off and lounge about the house in peace.

I felt like I got dumped by professor Donna R...

August 05, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I felt like I got dumped by professor Donna Riley last week. She stopped returning my emails. I called her office today, and, as I anticipated, it was not malice but mediochre communication skills that prevented her from contacting me. She isn't particularly used to having someone work for her, causing much confusion and frustration between us. Anyway, I'm pretty much done with the position as it stands. I wish I had known that it would turn out this way so I could have organized my summer differently. Not that I haven't enjoyed babysitting and cleaning, but perhaps volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul's housing dept. or poking around Eugene's planning office... oh well. The free time was theraputic.

I'm leaving for San Francisco with Morgan and Luke on Wednesday morning and returning on Tuesday or Wednesday. We're taking the weekend in L.A. and playing with various friends. Should be fun and relaxing.

It's been an exciting weekend so far, though ...

August 03, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's been an exciting weekend so far, though we're taking it a little easy this Sunday. Yesterday, Sam and I headed to Spencer's Butte, climbing to the top in a burst of energy. Sam was quite the trooper, though he was as exhausted as I was at the end.

Later that day, we headed to see the latest Terminator movie. It was a bit exciting, though probably no worse than Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. Lots of car chases and action scenes. Sam, of course, had a great time.

Then it was trying to get our various children to bed. Sam's been doing this thing lately where he wants to have someone next to him as he goes to sleep. I think it's that he's feeling our lack of attention due to Emma. A little adjustment is required, I suppose.

Today we worked more on the basement, tearing out some built-in tables in preparation for the big day. I have a funny feeling it's going to be an expensive undertaking, though we've yet to get the final estimate.

Not to be a big whiner, but work continues to...

August 01, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Not to be a big whiner, but work continues to be crazy busy. The pace of work used to be fairly relaxed, and I'd have the ability to turn around requests fairly quickly. Now I'm warning customers that it could be weeks or months until I get to things, which I end up feeling bad about.

It's been interesting having another critter in the household. It used to be that I'd have more leisurely evenings, getting some time to myself as Sam played with Jamie. Now it's nonstop kid responsibilities, which I don't think is going to end any time soon. They had some studies recently about the work of genius petering out after they have kids. Duh.

My hobbies have been narrowly focused to just the Neverwinter Nights games. Not much time for anything else. I'm trying hard to get our house refinanced while rates are so low. We'll see if I can get that all organized. Too many things going on.

Mocha Friday, and the end of a very busy week...

August 01, 2003 by Adam in Family

Mocha Friday, and the end of a very busy week at work. August is here already, with the hope of cooler weather ahead. I finally got the bed to myself last night, with Sam in his own bed. He was having problems getting to sleep, being afraid of some monster he saw on a typically benign t.v. show he watched that day. It's probably related to the new baby and the lack of attention we've been giving him, though we both did feel bad for him.

I'm hoping that this weekend is another quiet one. I'm looking forwards to a couple hours early in the morning to myself, followed by a hearty breakfast and playing with Sam. I still haven't seen Terminator 3 yet. Maybe I can drag him to that with me. Pirates of the Carribbean was a big success. Of course, I'll probably have to pretend I'm a robot for a few days after we go.

Jamie called to report that Sam was a genius

July 31, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Jamie called to report that Sam was a genius. She was talking about "web of life" things, such as the spiders eating the bugs and the bugs eating tomatoes. When they got to "What do tomatoes eat," they were a bit stumped. "Water and light," Jamie said, "but what eats light?"

Sam thought hard about this one, "Space!" There was then a long discussion of the sun and space and all that.

"But what eats water?" Jamie then asked. "Electricity!" said Sam, "because when you put electricity through water, it creates oxygen and hydrogen."

After that, Jamie had to call.

Nothing to exciting in our lives these days

July 31, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Nothing to exciting in our lives these days. We've mostly been trying to beat the heat by sleeping on the back deck and going swimming after work.
Robbie's dad is talking about coming to visit at the begining og August, so my frantic house cleaning begins. Actually this time I've suckered Sadie into doing it for us. Thanks to George Bush, Robbie and I have extra money that we don't plan on funneling back into the main stream economy. Instead we thought we'd give spending money to my liberal feminist sister and the Latino Market. Sounded good to us!

Emma had her two month checkup yesterday

July 31, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma had her two month checkup yesterday. She's in the 90th percentile for height and weight, so she's pretty big for her age. She does various tricks such as rolling from her back to her front and holding her head up very well. What proud parents we are.

She had her shots yesterday and she was quite the little trooper. Two in one leg and one in the other. She did her "I'm in pain" cry each time, but quickly quieted down. Jamie and Sam went out into the waiting room for this whole part, as Jamie hates watching her kids get poked.

A couple days ago, I arrived at home, sweaty ...

July 30, 2003 by Adam in Sam

A couple days ago, I arrived at home, sweaty from my bike ride. Sam announced that the upstairs had been trapped and I had to come at once. He had layed out various pipe cleaners and foam animals that were some sort of traps, but he'd also strung across the kitchen some plastic-coated wire that he announced was his tripwire.

Within about 10 minutes, he came zipping around the corner into the kitchen, completely forgetting about the tripwire he had previously set up. He landed with a loud smack, looking vaguely confused and embarrassed. We decided that trapping your own house wasn't such a good idea.

It was also so hot last night that he and I shared the upstairs bed next to the air conditioning. That boy seems to rotate throughout the night, with his feet ending up kicking my ribs half the time. I was up every hour or two to rotate him back.

Hi, y'all, Lynn Shepard invited Sadie and me ...

July 30, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Hi, y'all, Lynn Shepard invited Sadie and me for dinner last week - Sadie house sat and baby sat for her, and she and I are going to see Whale Rider this evening. Sadie said she loved the movie but cried non-stop. I guess i'll take Kleenex just to be on the safe side.
Adam CD'd (that's not going to make it as a verb) 24, both the first and second season, and Sade and i have been watching it.
For some reason, my office has been frantically busy the last few weeks. I think it's because everyone is so poor and I'm so cheap.

Nothing too exciting yesterday, though we sti...

July 29, 2003 by Adam in Family

Nothing too exciting yesterday, though we still managed to tire ourselves out at the end of the day. Emma was a bit fussy, requiring some jiggling and funny noise making to get her to settle down. Sam was running around like a maniac before we set him in front of a movie we had rented for such an emergency.

Emma's fungal infection has basically cleared up, though we're continuing the medicine just in case. The tricky part is keeping all her various fatty folds dry in this heat.

I'm looking forward to August. It looks like we have a possible trip to the beach planned, as well as Emma and Jamie visiting her mom, leaving us boys alone in the house for the weekend. No dates yet.

The weekend was quiet, as quiet as it gets th...

July 28, 2003 by Adam in Family

The weekend was quiet, as quiet as it gets these days anyway. We deliberately tried not to do anything exciting, as the last few weekends were a bit too frantic.

Emma's fungal infection is much improved. She's smiling and laughing more often these days. It's clear she's trying really hard to communicate with us. She'll stare when we talk to her and she'll put so much effort into making the same noises as us. A few times, she's managed a passable "Hi" as well as making a noise vaguely like "B" (accompanied by general bubbling and foaming).

On Saturday, Sam and I mostly hung out and watched movies and ran around outside. Yesterday we went to the mall looking for a frivilous toy to spend my money on. Sam and I settled on a "spy" motion detector, coming up with various sneaking games where we tried to avoid crossing the invisible beam. Great fun.

Emma picked up a fungal infection, probably d...

July 27, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma picked up a fungal infection, probably due to the heat and her massive fat rolls. Jamie was delving deep into the folds around her neck when she came across a red and sticky part buried in there. We went to the doctor who prescribed anti-fungal powder. Since then, we've been trying to keep the area clean, dry, and medicated. It's been 24 hours and looks far better. Emma's been a little fussy the last few days, but it may also just be normal baby fussiness.

Ah - mocha Friday

July 25, 2003 by Adam in Family

Ah - mocha Friday. Not sure what I'd do without them. I woke up this morning with a bad headache, which the Advil and coffee seem to be working on. Yesterday was fairly typical - chasing after children and collapsing to sleep late at night. When Emma cries for a long time, she gets all sweaty. I spent a lot of time walking around and jiggling her into unconsciousness.

We made a slight change to our exciting rec room plans. Jamie came up with the idea of a sliding door between the current bedroom and the rec room. That way we could open it all up to make it into a huge downstairs area. Also, I can easily watch Sam from the room. Plus, if things will be thrown about, we can close the door to protect everything in the bedroom.

I don't think we're trying for anything too exciting this weekend. I'd really like to take it easy and perhaps even have some quiet time to myself. The thought of having an hour or so to read a book sounds blissful.

7/17/03 From Luke One day I find myself t...

July 24, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

7/17/03
From Luke

One day I find myself talking with refugees in Al Wihedat camp near Amman, Jordan, about the loss of life and land, about struggle, about hope and hopelessness, and the next day I find myself safe at home in my San Francisco apartment. Though I rest myself in relative physical safety, there is no safety in my thoughts. I now carry with me the many stories of pain and loss that were entrusted to me throughout my travels, stories which I will never forget.

“It’s difficult to think about Palestine when you have to struggle just to feed your family…but as a refugee, it’s impossible to forget Palestine.”

Al Wihedat camp is notorious for its extreme poverty, as I was told by a camp resident named Ahmed, “some people in the camp are deadly poor.” In addition to facing discrimination as Palestinian refugees, many face compounded discrimination for being residents of Al Wihedat, “it’s hard to get a job if you say you’re from Al Wihedat, and it’s impossible to get a job with the government if you’re from Al Wihedat.” According to UNRWA statistics, literacy in Al Wihedat is extremely high, yet few students are admitted to universities, and even fewer can afford to pay tuition.

A new monolithic 5-story high castle-like police station erected at the entrance to Al Wihedat is symbolic of the relationship between the Jordanian government and the residents of the camp. Such an expensive project seems obscene in the face of such poverty, taking up a space in the camp that would likely house several hundred people. More telling however, are the many scars and graves that are the legacy of the September War of 1970 when King Hussein of Jordan launched an attack against Palestinian refugees in response to several airplane hijackings carried out by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). I had the privilege of talking to Um Mohamad who still bears the scars of the September War. Um Mohamad is the mother of six, though the bomb that came through her house and changed her face forever, also took the lives of her two daughters, leaving her with four sons to raise in the rubble. The family is from Jaffa, and Um Mohamad’s father was forced to flee Jaffa in 1948. According to her son Samir, “growing up in the camps, you have two things in mind, first that you are a refugee, second that you must struggle for your right to return home to Palestine. Though we are citizens of Jordan, we are always treated as refugees.”

Anjad is a new resident of Al Wihedat, whose presence challenges the definitions of "refugee” or “displaced person” as established by the UN Relief Works Agencies (UNRWA). According to the UNRWA refugees are, “persons whose normal place of residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948, who lost both their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. UNRWA's definition of a refugee also covers the descendants of persons who became refugees in 1948.” The category of “Displaced Persons” was created to account for those made refugees in the war of 1967. There is no category to account for people like Anjad, and the steady diaspora of Palestinians resulting from continuing Israeli military violence and the socio-economic attrition of Palestine. In 2002 Anjad, father of two, was wounded in an Israeli attack on the West-Bank city of Bethlehem and was forced to flee to Jordan for medical attention. In that attack, eight other people were wounded and two were killed. He showed me where the bullet entered his belly, traversed through his abdomen, and exited through his back. Anjad was shot by an automatic rifle mounted on a tank made and paid for by the United States. He narrowly escaped being run over by that tank, though his friend did not, his friend was shot, crushed by the tank, and left bleeding and immobilized. While there were many in the area who were seriously wounded, the Israeli soldiers obstructed the arrival of an ambulance fo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! A belated Happy Birt...

July 24, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! A belated Happy Birthday to Sister Sue. Never older than 29?? I decided a couple of years ago that the aging process had to stop because mentally I didn't feel old, just physically.

Some new concerns have arisen over Will's legs (specifically his knees) and I ask for everyone prayers and good thoughts and love.

It was quite the whirlwind day

July 23, 2003 by Adam in Family

It was quite the whirlwind day. I took the day "off", which means I worked keeping the kids in line rather than typing code. It was pretty fun, however, and quite full.

The day began with a hearty breakfast and a treasure map for Sam. I was trying to get him out hiking, which has been a challenge to do lately. He keeps complaining that his feet don't feel right in his shoes, so we ended up with sandals. Sadie came along with us, which was lots of fun too. She was even willing to have a few sword fights with him, which made Sam's day.

Later on, we ended up seeing Pirates of the Carribbean, which was lots of fun. It had all the elements that make a pirate movie great, with an intelligent story and fun action. The only down side was that Jamie waited an hour in the car to pick us up, as I had grossly underestimated the length of the show.

Hopefully we can get everyone settled down, as the day was a bit exciting for all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! Isa, Robbie and I met at...

July 23, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!
Isa, Robbie and I met at the Oakway center for dinner last night and then went shopping for a birthday card for the above mentioned birthday girl. Isa had a great time at the card store coloring (they had a table set up for kids) while I actually got to putter around.
We slept out on our deck last night. Retreating from the hot house after several nights of miserable sleep. We dragged our matress out and hung a tent of mosquito netting over us. Isa loved the tent feel and watching the stars. Robbie and I dropped off to sleep quickly, but I woke up a short while later because Isa still talking quietly about all of the stars. It sure did make me wish I wasn't so darn blind!

When I was raising kids, I thought there shou...

July 22, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

When I was raising kids, I thought there should be real books with real advice and information, like, "Your newborn baby is not near death just because his or her poop looks like mustard with cottage cheese in it." Knowing that would have saved me a certain amount of terror.
When my brother Dick died, people tried really hard to say helpful things, but the only truth was that in a long time I didn't feel so bad. With my Dick, I didn't expect that I
would have a sense of unreality for so long. It's like the reference in T S Eliot's The Wasteland to "the third who walks always with us" - a reference by one of the early Artic explorers to the sensation that someone unseen was always travelling with them.
I think if I know ahead of time I am going to die, I'm going to write "airplane letters" and give them to people, like Jenny Minniti-Shippey used to do, so that people would have a letter from her to read while they were leaving on the airplane. Or you would be alloted an afternoon with the ghost of someone who died at the end of the first month, so
you could talk everything over with them and ask for advice
and where they left the recipe for split pea soup.

The work week meanders along

July 22, 2003 by Adam in Family

The work week meanders along. Sunday was a bit hectic, with me running on reduced sleep from the night before. I tried hard to keep the kids mellow all day, though there were occasional breakdowns. We watched some movies and tried to beat the heat.

I had both kids for an hour in the evening, somehow managing to keep them both from exploding. Jamie went off to Yoga with her friend Victoria, returning refreshed to tuck the kids in bed.

It was nice just hanging out with her for an hour or so as the sun set. It's a rare thing for us these days, making those moments even sweeter.

The new phase of my life isn't working out so...

July 21, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

The new phase of my life isn't working out so well. Someone else has my new email address, so it's back to the old one until it's figured out. I spent the afternoon with Emma, Sam, and Margo, the real babysitter. As Margo and Sam ran around in the nerd cave, i strapped on Emma and made almond scones. Since Adam's party, baking is my new thing. I'm working up a repertoire for cooking by myself in the fall.

Sam and I sometimes do the oddest things

July 20, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam and I sometimes do the oddest things. I try really hard to engage him when I'm able. These days, it's hard for me to find the time to play with him as much as I used to. This weekend, I actually had an hour or two when Jamie was watching Emma and I could dedicate some moments completely for Sam.

We had tried a bunch of various games and he was starting to get bored. Jamie found some pictures of the children who had lived here previously, lost at the bottom of the closet. She showed them to us and threw them out, but I realized the opportunity.

I fished them out of the garbage and turned them into "orcs" and "warriors", giving them each tiny paper weapons. Sam and I battled it out on the kitchen table, constructing towers and such to compliment the little characters. I think it was worth nearly an hour of entertainment. Hopefully the previous owners don't think me too uncaring.

I had the best birthday ever yesterday

July 20, 2003 by Adam in Family

I had the best birthday ever yesterday. I can't put my finger on what exactly made is so good. For breakfast, Jamie made me just want I wanted and Sam brought me a present he had wrapped himself. Both kids were being sweet and cute, for the most part.

Later on, we went over to my mom's house where Seraph and Sadie had prepared this elaborate tea party. Cool decorations were everywhere - multicolored hanging paper circles, some saying "Hapy Birthday". Seraph made my favorite cake, potato chocolate cake (trust me). Each person got their own and I managed to smuggle a couple home afterwards. Plus there was excellent tea, cold coffee, scones, and french bread from Metropol.

Sam got pretty tuckered out near the end, having some minor wackiness. For dinner, one of Jamie's friends made dolmas and spanikopita, which were fabulous. Sadie and my mom came over to help us eat it, as there was way too much. Plus brownies to die for.

The coffee I had at my party blew sleep completely away, so I was up until 11:30 working on my Neverwinter Nights game, having fun with my fun little card game within the game. Of course, I'm pretty groggy this morning, but it was all worth it.

It was a wacky evening yesterday

July 19, 2003 by Adam in Emma

It was a wacky evening yesterday. Sam was in a good, yet mischevious mood. He had been polite and helpful all day, and I think the strain caused him to go over the edge a bit later that night.

I decided to do some watering and Sam was into the chalk. He discovered that if the chalk gets wet, it makes an impromptu form of paint. While I watered the tomatoes and blueberries, he was busy putting strange marks all over every surface. Eventually, he decided that the brown chalk was "blood" and soon our entire backyard was covered with the stuff.

Jamie and Emma came out on the patio, with Emma bare naked to escape the heat. Sam, always wanting to engage Emma in play, decided to include her in his latest endevor. She was quickly covered from head to toe in terrible "wounds", all the while with Jamie watching on.

After my watering, I came upon this horrible scene. I took a few photos of the carnage, then we threw everyone into the bath tub for some cleanup.

I had Sam a couple weekends ago and we were t...

July 18, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

I had Sam a couple weekends ago and we were trying to figure out what to do. We ended up making a variety of clay creatures out of Sculpey, sticking a nail in them so they'd go into the ground, and baking them in the oven. The end result was a variety of goblins, worms, and snails to throw into our garden.

I like this guy the best myself.

I'm starting to seriously think about my next computer project. It's linked to our remodel and the fact that my closet is going away. My plan is to put the computers in the sauna, then cut holes in the wall to allow cables and such to go through. I'd like to create a custom panel for CD-Rom drives, switches, and the like. We'll see how it turns out.

Ah, Friday

July 18, 2003 by Adam in Family

Ah, Friday. After a shower and a quick bike ride to work, that mocha will be mine.

The week has been fairly uneventful. Jamie was looking into having people wash our windows and it turns out it would cost hundreds of dollars (mostly to unstick painted windows and remove storm windows). I think we're going to deal with slightly dirty windows for awhile.

Sam didn't want me holding Emma last night when I came home. He likes to play with just me. Fortunately, I incorporated her into our game, turning her into a baby troll who was after the "puny human", namely Sam.

We managed to cram everyone but me into the bath last night. No one lasted very long, but I think they had a good time splashing about.

Sadie has been doing a wonderful job of keepi...

July 17, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Sadie has been doing a wonderful job of keeping me busy and focused. Last week we took a lot of Dick's chemistry books up to Powell's Technical Bookstore, and were able to sell quite a few. Sadie continues to make chemistry book sales on e-bay.
I have been trying to have good times, too. A real treat was a visit from my cousin Linda and her sister in law Connie in late June. We had a lovely day at the coast, and they drove over to Bend before heading to San Francisco to visit a friend. Gary and Susan Carl took me along last weekend up to the "Lost Wagon Train" Pageant in Oakridge, which reminded me a lot of the Stallsmith family reunion. We've gone to Bridgett and Jason's wedding, and Kai's wedding. I was an Honorary Matron at Kai's wedding. I think that's probably an honor bestowed on the elderly. (But I did get a corsage).

The week chugs along

July 16, 2003 by Adam in Family

The week chugs along. Margeaux came over yesterday and played with Sam, which he reported as being a fun experience. We had Sadie over for dinner last night, after having a lovely lunch with her earlier in the day. My birthday quickly approaches and fortunately Sadie has taken on responsibility for coordinating things. I think we're shooting for Saturday afternoon.

Other than that, I haven't been up to much. Working away and entertaining children upon my return home.

We went to Kai and Chris' wedding on Sat

July 15, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We went to Kai and Chris' wedding on Sat. It was a really beautiful service and reception. I haven't been to Kai's mom's house (where the reception was) for years, and they have transformed it into a miniture paradise!
On Sunday we went to the Latino Market and poked around.
Robbie, Isa nad Hanni are off to Bend today. It should be a nice trip. We're experimenting on Isa's allergies, by not giving her her med's this morning and seeing if they only act up in the valley. Nothing like using our kid as a guinea pig!

We're back from a nice little romantic getawa...

July 14, 2003 by Adam in Family

We're back from a nice little romantic getaway, at least as romantic as it gets these days. Jamie booked us a room at the Pheonix Inn, where we took Emma and hung out. Sam, Josh, and a bunch of other people came over to swim in the pool with us. Kirsten and Dave watched Emma while we went out and got great Phad Thai and curry. Then it was a relaxing evening of t.v. watching and going to bed early.

Today I woke up and spent the first hour or so at Starbucks, drinking coffee and writing for my Neverwinter Nights game. Then we headed home and Judy went back to Portland. For the rest of the day, we've just been hanging out. Jamie went to the dentist for a bit. Sam and I went to the park and launched air rockets to an audience of little kids. Good times.

I finally got some photographic proof that Em...

July 13, 2003 by Adam in Emma

I finally got some photographic proof that Emma's been smiling a lot lately. It's an elusive thing, quickly gone by the time I get my camera. It's for real, though, and no longer seem to be tied to digestive issues.

She's really interested in people's faces these days, recognizing Jamie and I quite well. Emma also likes sharp contrasts in light and will stare out the window for ages. She's also getting quite big, surprising me each time I pick her up.

It seemed like a really busy day yesterday, t...

July 13, 2003 by Adam in Family

It seemed like a really busy day yesterday, though we didn't actually do much. Jim and Judy arrived yesterday and helped watch the kids, though mostly it was Judy on Sam duty and I watched Emma. Jamie caught up on a little sleep.

Later on, we went over to David and Brant's house for Josh's birthday. He's headed to California until right before school, so we bid him a fond farewell too.

I think I'm being swept away to an unknown location today. I don't have all the details yet, though Jim and Judy are watching Sam. I keep obliquely asking things like, "so, what kind of clothes should I pack?"

Another work day comes to a close

July 11, 2003 by Adam in Family

Another work day comes to a close. This one has been pretty quiet, as I'm the only person on my team in today. I also got a little mocha this morning, which perked me right up.

I don't think we have any particularly exciting plans for the weekend - that I know about anyway. Supposedly there's a continuation of our anniversary, though Jamie's been quite secretive. I know her mom is showing up tomorrow morning, so perhaps that has something to do with it. Hmm . . .

Emma cracked me up last night

July 11, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma cracked me up last night. I was carrying her in her front pack when all of a sudden, she started laughing hysterically. What possibly could be that funny to a little baby?

In general, Emma's been a very easy baby. She continues to eat well, is fairly easily calmed, and is willing to just sit and look around when she's content.

Adam and Jamie's anniversary is a reminder th...

July 10, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Adam and Jamie's anniversary is a reminder that eight years ago today Sadie and I set off on our wild cross country road trip! We covered 30 states in 2 months, ate dust, drank rain and learned to swear like truckers.

Sam and Emma get along reasonably well

July 10, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam and Emma get along reasonably well. Basically, Sam wants to fiddle with her until she makes funny faces and then cries. Usually he's pretty gentle with her, but sometimes she's just in a sensitive mood.

I also try to incorporate them both into the games we play. Sam's latest favorite is that Emma has "toe guns" and she tries to shoot at him while he dodges about. When we did laundry the other day, the baskets became our "pods" and we flew about.

I'm taking today off from work, helping out a...

July 10, 2003 by Adam in Family

I'm taking today off from work, helping out around the house and giving Jamie a bit of a break. Sam woke up this morning with a stomach ache, though it doesn't seem to be slowing down his play time at all.

Margeaux, one of the neighborhood teenagers, came by this morning to take the tour and plan some babysitting. Basically, Sam needs someone to play with while Jamie's taking care of Emma. By the end of the day, both she and Sam are pretty cranky.

Emma continues to grow, getting far more interactive with the world around her. She'll do a funny open-mouth smile when she first sees you. It's pretty cute.

We had a nice anniversary dinner last night, ...

July 09, 2003 by Adam in Family

We had a nice anniversary dinner last night, going out to Adam's Place for fancy food and conversation. Sadie and my mom watched the kids and were probably far more entertaining that we normally are. Supposedly there are more activities planned for the weekend, though they're shrouded in mystery.

I'm taking tomorrow off to help out Jamie. I have no idea how she does it. Each time I spend a day watching the kids, my respect for her grows.

Calgon, TAKE ME AWAY!!!! Need parenting proc...

July 08, 2003 by Jamie in Jamie

Calgon, TAKE ME AWAY!!!! Need parenting procedure when four year old and newborn both having temper tantrums in line at the store with critical toilet paper purchase. reply immediately!

Eight years ago to the day, Jamie and I were ...

July 08, 2003 by Adam in Family

Eight years ago to the day, Jamie and I were married. This morning she called me up over the baby monitor to wish me a happy anniversary, as well as burping the baby. How times change.

I'm hoping that a newfound sense of purpose, though induced by coffee, will help me tackle the ever growing list of things to do at work. It's getting far too busy.

We continue to prepare for our great rec room in the basement. Last weekend, I cleaned things out and organized things in our garage area. Jamie went out yesterday looking for inspiration in paint chips and countertop samples.

Is living together better than marriage? An i...

July 08, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Is living together better than marriage? An important question my friends are now pondering as they consider shacking up. So many have pets together... ack.

Man is work busy

July 07, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Man is work busy. It's so unbelievably busy that it's almost overwhelming. I had a moment of insanity last Thursday when it turns out that every color we've used for our Internet redesign project was "wrong". Fortunately I ignored the voices in my head, urging me to indulge in unspeakable acts.

I've been trying to spend more time with family and do a little reading when I can. Finding moments of peace is a rare thing these days.

I've finally changed my email address from sm...

July 07, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I've finally changed my email address from smiller@smith.edu to srmiller@smith.alumnae.net. A new phase of my life, defined by an email address.

It was a full fourth of July yesterday

July 05, 2003 by Adam in Family

It was a full fourth of July yesterday. Sam and I did a bunch of yardwork yesterday, then played about most of the afternoon.

Danica, Andy, and Ben, along with my dad and Yayoe, came by for dinner last night. I haven't seen my cousin Ben since he was a kid, so it was nice to see what a neat person he's turned into. Thankfully, they entertained Sam quite well, giving Jamie and I a little break.

As for the fireworks themselves, we were all exhausted and headed to bed early. I slept through the fireworks just fine, but the neighbors blaring "Born in the USA" extremely loud, twice, prevented me from drifting into peaceful slumber. I was tempted to hobble over and shake my cane at them, yelling "knock it off you kids!"

I Was an Atomic Mutant is indeed quite a bit ...

July 03, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I Was an Atomic Mutant is indeed quite a bit of fun. It's a simple game, worth the $8 I paid for it. There's something satisfying about smashing buildings when you're a floating brain or huge lizard. Good times.

As for my second game, I've only played a bit. It looks like one of those "deep" RPGs, but I sadly don't have a lot of time to get into them. Most of my time, as always, is dedicated to Neverwinter Nights.

I want to say that Emma gave me her first rea...

July 03, 2003 by Adam in Emma

I want to say that Emma gave me her first real smile today. I came up early in the morning after she'd been fed and picked her up to visit. She looked right at me and wigged her face around through different contortions. I think one of them was a real smile, though it's hard to be sure.

She's doing well, getting bigger by the day. I'm learning all sorts of tricks to calm her down when she's fussy. Last night it was more dancing around the basement while listening to music.

Colin came by to visit yesterday

July 02, 2003 by Adam in Family

Colin came by to visit yesterday. He's headed back to Germany today, so it was nice to see him one last time before he flew away. He mostly played with Sam while he was over here, making the evening go by pretty quickly. Jamie was off to yoga, so I had both kids (whew).

I've been sick the last couple days, headache and nauseous. I'm not sure what it is, as no one else seems to have it, but I'm taking it a little easy.

It has been 10 years from yesterday,since Gra...

July 01, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

It has been 10 years from yesterday,since Granma Eddies passing and I still think of her everyday. That she is still with us in spirit as an attribute to her life. lots of love. P.

Basically all my free gaming time is spent wo...

June 29, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

Basically all my free gaming time is spent working on my Neverwinter Nights modules. It's incredibly time consuming, but hopefully worth it in the long run. I still get e-mails from people all over the world, which is a nice touch.

I did order a couple of cheap games over the Internet. One is Divine Divinity, which I've wanted to play (though I doubt I'll have time to finish). The other is I Was An Atomic Mutant, which had a really fun demo. That one's sort of for Sam, who loves these sorts of things.

We started off a bit rough yesterday morning

June 29, 2003 by Adam in Family

We started off a bit rough yesterday morning. I hadn't gotten much sleep after watching Emma until midnight. Sam had a breakdown at breakfast, crying and yelling. Fortunately, it was all short lived and the day shaped up quite nicely.

I went over to my mom's house to help go through Dick's stuff as well as get the truck for a St. Vincent de Paul run. We're cleaning out the garage and I managed to load up my stair stepper and a set of tables and chairs. Hopefully that's one more step on the way to getting things ready for the remodel.

Sam got a bunch of Legos (see his page for details), which kept him busy most of the night. I'm hoping things start cooling off soon, as the weather has been far too hot. We have to be very diligent about watering so that our poor tomatoes don't wilt away.

No big plans for the day. I'd like to do a Costco run to get the huge amount of cereal my body requires. I think half my daily calories come from some sort of cereal product.

Sam is the luckiest boy ever

June 29, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam is the luckiest boy ever. Yesterday, Jamie went to visit Angie and it turns out that a coworker was getting rid of all his Star Wars Legos. Angie found out and an arrangement was made. Sam came home to find a huge number of Legos awaiting him. He played with them most of last night and is fiddling around with them this morning.

We've realized just how big and mature Sam is now that Emma's around. He's basically self-sufficient at this point, dressing himself in the morning and getting snacks when appropriate. We're very lucky.

The days keep moving along

June 28, 2003 by Adam in Family

The days keep moving along. I was up until midnight last night, keeping watch over cranky Emma while Jamie got some sleep. Of course, Sam woke up around 6:30 in the morning, so it appears our kids aren't quite on the same time table yet. Gotta work on that before we both go crazy.

Sam and I went to the Amazon Pool yesterday, the first time I've been there since I was a kid. The first thing I recognized were the lockers, which I think haven't changed since my swimming lessons back in grade school. Mostly Sam wanted to ride the water slide, so we spent an an hour and twenty minutes waiting in line and ten minutes riding the thing (if that).

Jamie's getting exciting for our remodel, starting to plan such details as the countertop, paint colors, and the like. It's still months away, but should hopefully keep the dreary winter days more interesting.

Another message from Luke, now in Jordan

June 26, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Another message from Luke, now in Jordan.

Written 6/21/2003

Passports stamped ENTRY DENIED, the Israeli border police found it a
crime
to visit Lebanon. Even more noteworthy, they find it a crime to convey
the
truth about the occupation, supporting the basic human rights of
Palestinian people; "your kind are not welcome in Israel, not now not
ever."

Now stranded with the wonderful people of Jordan, myself and another
member
of our delegation spent part of the last week visiting Palestinian
refugee
camps in Lebanon, and the southern part of the country that was
liberated
in May of 2000 after 20 years of Israeli occupation.

Several women working for the empowerment of Palestinian women refugees
articulated why they find the living conditions of refugee camps in
Lebanon
to be the worst of the entire Palestinian refugee population.
"We are denied rights of citizenship, Lebanese law prevents us from
working
in 73 professions (those where unions are allowed), after 55 years, we
still
don't have rights to water, electricity, to buy or inherit property."
In the Shatila refugee camp there are over 17,000 people living on 1
square
kilometer. Hot makeshift cinder block buildings rise up six and seven
stories. Many families live in small rooms with no windows to the
outside,
over one-hundred sharing one bathroom and kitchen.

Um Khaled, age 87, displaced in 1948 and living in the Shatila camp
said,
"They told me I would be able to return to my home in Haifa in four
days.
That was many years ago and now I fear I will die here, because I am
not so
well."

While the state of Israel is responsible for creating and upholding
this
refugee crisis for over 55-years, the refugees in Lebanon have been
repressed and attacked from all sides; political factions from the
Lebanese
civil war, the Lebanese military, the Israeli military, and UN-RWA who
continues to reduce their services to the refugees.

Some of the worst atrocities brought upon Palestinian refugees are the
massacres of Sabra and Shatila, where in September of 1982 under the
supervision of Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, the camps were
surrounded with Israeli tanks while the Israeli-allied Philangist
militia
raped and killed up to 11,000 Palestinian refugees. We were taken to
visit the mass grave of those who were killed in the massacres,
thousands
of bodies lay there, no memorial, no names...

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are forced to struggle daily both for
their
civil and human rights within the State of Lebanon, and for their
fundamental right of return. Time and time again we are reminded that
the
rights of 6-million Palestinian refugees can't be ignored forever, "we
will
return to our homes."

In the spirit of justice,
LUKE NEWTON

Emma seems to keep growing, day by day

June 26, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma seems to keep growing, day by day. It actually takes a bit of effort to pick her up and move her about. She's been cranky in the evenings lately, probably digestive issues. The best solution seems to be playing music and dancing about the room.

Robbie is off on vacation this afternoon

June 26, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Robbie is off on vacation this afternoon. For Father's Day we got him 5 days at the coast by himself. His job may not include medical and retirement, but we thought it should include vacation time! After all, we don't want him to burn out.
Isa and I are planning a pretty quiet time. Hanni and Sadie are sharing the babysitting while I'm at work, and I've promised Isa she can help me clean the gutters this weekend!

As Edna would say, If it ain't the heat, it's...

June 26, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

As Edna would say, If it ain't the heat, it's the humidity. Summer has finally arrived in central Ohio. After a cool wet spring the 90 degree days have settled upon us with a vengance. Patrick is at Boy Scout camp this week. Mike went up for the beginning; Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and I will go up Friday and bring him back on Saturday. Mike cheerfully said that Patrick has a tent to himself and I could camp out with him there and I kindly replied that a nice air conditioned motel room in the next town would do just fine. Getting soft in my old age.
Will started a reading program on Monday with a one on one tutor. He spends the afternoon with Bob's daughter Kris and her 4 year old, usually at the pool and farm. She helps him with his homework and he seems to be enjoying the down time.
I am plugging along, two months til campus turnover!!!!

We made it back from the coast, which was mos...

June 24, 2003 by Adam in Family

We made it back from the coast, which was mostly relaxing and occasionally stressful. The car trip there was wonderful and quiet. The car trip back was less pleasant, with much yelling and crying from the back seat (where I was crammed to keep the peace).

We did have some really fun moments. I think my favorite is when Sam and I headed down to the beach with a couple shovels. It was decided to construct a massive fortress against the incoming tide, hoping to keep the thousands of jellyfish out of a central pool. Towards the end, Sam was barking out orders, referring to me as a "fellow sergeant", and shoveling sand as fast as his little body could manage. All was lost in the end, though, as we learned the futility of fighting the sea.

It was nice having grandparents around to watch kids and Jamie and I snuck in a quiet walk on the beach while Emma slept strapped to my chest. On the way back, we visited a light house that had a ghost story attached to it. Sam was full of questions about the ghost, though he assured me that they're not real.

And so the work week comes to a close

June 20, 2003 by Adam in Family

And so the work week comes to a close. We're off to the coast tomorrow, which should be a welcome distraction away from the work at the house. Hopefully Jamie and I can sneak in a quiet walk on the beach.

The last week has been up and down for Jamie. At times, they're both angels. Other days, it's a bit of a mad house. My respect for her grows daily. This morning, she changed seven diapers between midnight and three am. Poor woman.

Well, life is moving along

June 19, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Well, life is moving along. We haven't been up to anything really exciting lately.
Robbie and Isa went with Hanni and several other of their friends to a child/teen model search. According to Robbie several of the people were eyeing Isa as a good prospect. I'm not sure if that was parental pride or not, but who knows.
Now, I'm off to take mom to pick up the truck, and then to a yummy dinner at Hanni's!

Sadie is off to the airport this morning for ...

June 18, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Sadie is off to the airport this morning for her trip to Colorado. Her professor is flying out from Massachusetts and they will meet this evening and tomorrow with the Engineers Without Borders. She will be back late tomorrow evening. Morgan came over last evening to give her "appropriate technology appropriate attire" advice. I thought she looked most professional.

Emma's perched on my chest like a little monk...

June 18, 2003 by Adam in Family

Emma's perched on my chest like a little monkey as I type this. It's a bit before work and Jamie handed her off to me so she could get a little sleep. It's been better the last few nights and Emma's been snoozing fairly well.

Last night was a bit crazy. The kitchen sink is plugged up, so I tried all my tricks and ended up spending hours trying to run a snake down to where the clog was. I never quite got it and so I gave up and asked Jamie to call a trained professional. Sigh.

It's also been crazy hot lately. Sleeping is hard. The only good thing about it is that I can ride my bike to work in short sleeves quite comfortably.

Well, I warned Adam not to go around bragging...

June 16, 2003 by Jamie in Jamie

Well, I warned Adam not to go around bragging that we have such a good baby...now look what he has done. Emma has decided that just lounging on the couch in her boppy is not going to cut it, and she will cry vehemently to be carried around in the front pack. I tell Adam that I am just not going to be able to do that all day, but he spoils her with snugli naps when he is at home. We have discovered that it is hard to get Emma to stay asleep in the morning, and impossible to wake her up in the late afternoon. Guess she is going to be a morning person like her dad. Sam, on the other hand is still sleeping at 9:30 after playing in his room for at least an hour after bedtime.
OK, this page was supposed to be just about ME, right? Well, I'm tired and would really like to go outside. Sam and Emma both seem to be affected by all this pollen, and even I have had itchy eyes and headaches (course, that may be lack of sleep, too) To all my friends out there, be patient. I'm sure I'll be able to talk to you again one day ;)
AND, I finally jumped the first big hurdle (for me)and have set up some appointments with contractors about our rec room remodel. My plan is to have it done by Christmas...a little gift to me and Adam...maybe we will be able to have a conversation once in a while?

It was a quiet Father's Day in the Miller hou...

June 16, 2003 by Adam in Family

It was a quiet Father's Day in the Miller household. I fixed breakfast for everyone on our nice china, scurrying around to get it done while keeping track of the kids. After we all sat down, Jamie made an embarrassed look and said, "Happy Father's Day". I hadn't realized it either.

We tried hard to stay indoors and away from the pollen, though by the end of the day we were all getting a little stir crazy. Sam and I went to the mall to walk around and check out all the antinque cars. He was in a pretty good mood - maybe the allergy medicine is finally paying off.

Poor Jamie isn't getting much sleep. She handed Emma over to me early this morning and I slept with her on my chest for a couple hours. That seems the best way to get her to sleep, though I'm always nervous she'll roll off with a loud thunk.

The weekend is almost over, it has seemingly ...

June 15, 2003 by Adam in Family

The weekend is almost over, it has seemingly gone by quickly, even though I had Friday off. Yesterday was pretty interesting, with my longtime friend Devon and his friend Lisa coming down for the day. In many ways, he was just like he was when I last saw him a decade ago. All those mannerisms stick with us for life, I guess. He and Lisa did a great job of entertaining Sam while we took care of Emma or threw together dinner. Lisa entertained us with stories about her time in Africa and the peace corps. Fascincating stuff.

Poor Sam's allergies continue to be pretty bad, and mine as well. Yesterday we walked over to my mom's house, but the allergies made his eyes hurt so badly that they teared up. We stayed for a couple minutes then headed back to the relative safety of our house. I think June will be an inside month for our family.

Emma continues to grow and become more alert. She does get fussy sometimes, though the front pack and dancing around my room with music blaring usually puts her to sleep. I think Sam and I are eager to have her start smiling at us in a more obvious way. Reinforcement of our good behavior would be nice.

I stayed home from work today, but it still e...

June 14, 2003 by Adam in Family

I stayed home from work today, but it still ended up being quite busy. Sam and I played together for most of the day, with the occasional Emma watching between feeding times. He still has allergies pretty badly, so our trip to the park was full of eye scratching. Hopefully the Claritin will kick in soon.

We had our first contractor visit today. The plan is to put in a rec room later this year. My office is currently getting pretty packed with Sam's toys.

I had fun babysitting for an hour or so while...

June 13, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

I had fun babysitting for an hour or so while Adam and Jamie went to West Bros. for dinner. Emma squeaked occasionally, and cheerfully played her role as the Pod Baby while Sam and I fought off evil beasts. One of them bit him on both knees. We healed him up with the great medicine we got from the old prospector on our mining mission on Mars. He told me I was as good as Geedu, which I thought was pretty high praise. Seraph, Isa and Robbie came over for dinner last night. We all laughed and danced in the living room with Isa, and I missed Dick. We have his ashes sitting on the hearth in a coal miner's bucket. I bought it when he and I took Baba to the coal mining town in southern Illinois where her father worked in the mines.

The last few days have been pretty busy

June 12, 2003 by Adam in Family

The last few days have been pretty busy. Work has been pretty crazy, just trying to keep up, especially with all the time I'm taking off. I was at home yesterday, basically entertaining Sam the entire day. I think all the excitement was a bit much for him as he ended up somewhat cranky at the end of the day.

Emma has also gotten a bit fussy lately. She'll cry for a bit before she goes to sleep in the evening. Poor Jamie was looking exhausted when I left this morning.

Tonight Jamie and I are going out to dinner while my mom and Sadie watch the kids. Hopefully Jamie won't fall face-first into her meal from sheer exhaustion.

Emma's a bit less mellow than the first week ...

June 12, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma's a bit less mellow than the first week or so. For an hour or two this afternoon and then for a bit tonight, she got somewhat cranky. What's funny is that I think I've discovered something that tends to calm her down. If I hold her and dance around the room while blaring Scooby Snacks by the Fun Lovin' Criminals, she konks right out. I hope it's not a sign of things to come.

We had a lovely birthday soiree for Sadie yes...

June 10, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

We had a lovely birthday soiree for Sadie yesterday evening, with Mimosas, a great invention growing from the need to get rid of cheap champagne, Sadie's locust bombe (it appears about every seven years), chocolate and fruit, culminating in a group effort to start the old Subaru. It occurs to me that we are reasonably functional as a family except for dogs (remember Sam? Dusty? and the fabled Sobaka)
and sometimes, cars. Remember the ancient Volvo Adam sold to a lady for cash. About a week later, with nary a word, or
request for a refund, she brought it back and parked it in front of the house, resulting in the Jeff Kent, Federal Prosecutor of all things evil, comment to Adam, "Just like a lawyer's kid, hiding behind legal technicalities". Well, the Subaru is determined to extract the last pound of aggravation from us before it gets donated to St. Vinny's.

One of Adam's gaming friends who lives in Isr...

June 10, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

One of Adam's gaming friends who lives in Israel sent an email with his condolences for our loss. Robert emailed a month or so ago, and mom and I haven't gotten around to emailing him, so we thought he might like us to post our deepest gratitude for his email. We are sitting in our safe basement, typing away with full awareness of the uncertainties that he and his wife live with. We have friends who have chosen to work on kibbutzes, and other friends who are, at this moment, bearing witness in solidarity to the hardships of life in Palestine. We wish you peace and pray for you in our own little ways. Your thoughts are the greatest gift you could give us.

Sunday was pretty low-key

June 09, 2003 by Adam in Family

Sunday was pretty low-key. Sam and I went hiking for an hour in the morning. As usual, he wanted to take all the "crazy paths" and wander through the brambles. A few times I had to firmly say no, as I suspect he would have cheerfully walked into a crocodile infested bog.

Emma was pleasant as always, with maybe a half hour of fussiness before bedtime. A stroll through the house with her dad prattling on finally got her to sleep.

Judy, Jim, Dave, and Josh all came over for dinner and croquet. Sam was immensely pleased with all the new people to play with. I'm afraid we became quite boring after we no longer wanted to play characters with him.

I did discover that he really likes my 80's "surfer dude" voice. I started reading books to him, translating the story and interjecting with phrases like "totally awesome". He liked it so much that he wants me to talk that way all the time.

Today is my last day of solid paternity leave...

June 08, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Today is my last day of solid paternity leave and tomorrow I return back to work. For some reason, I thought I'd be eager to return, becoming tired of sleepless nights and changing diapers. Stragely, it's the opposite and I've found that these last couple weeks have been like a very long weekend.

At times, playing with Sam gets tiring. I can only use my exciting voice for so long, or think up new games to play. Still, it's also been fun to spend a lot of time with him. Yesterday, I found some old shark teeth fossils and we played archiologist and dug them up out of his sand box. Good times.

Emma got her first bath yesterday, which went...

June 08, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma got her first bath yesterday, which went fairly well. Her skin continues to peel off in big flakes, though the bath didn't seem to help with that much. Otherwise, she's doing just fine. Mostly she eats and sleeps, which makes taking care of her quite easy.

The weekend arrives, with hot days and allerg...

June 07, 2003 by Adam in Family

The weekend arrives, with hot days and allergies in full bloom. It's also the last weekend of my paternity leave, though I'll be taking the occasional day off in the weeks ahead. Emma is looking more and more like a little baby instead of strange misshapen creature.

Jamie's doing really well for having just been through labor. All the aches and pains are slowly subsiding and she's far more mobile than a couple weeks ago. This morning we all went for a walk around the neighborhood which was quite nice.

I think Jamie's mom is coming down Sunday for a visit, otherwise we're just puttering around. I think there's a library trip in our future, then the plan is to just entertain our assorted children.

Emma lost her umbilical cord yesterday, thoug...

June 07, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma lost her umbilical cord yesterday, though it's still too early to tell if she's an "innie" or an "outie". Either way, she's pretty darn' cute. Her skin is still peeling off like she had a bad sunburn, one of those newborn things I suppose, though I don't remember it as much with Sam.

She seems even more alert these days. Yesterday I showed her a sunset and the moon for the first time. I'm sure she appreciated it greatly.

A message from Luke: Hello dear friends- ...

June 06, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

A message from Luke:

Hello dear friends-
I write to you on the 36th anneversery of the war that began on June 5th 1967, in which the state of Israel occupied the remaining Palestinian territories of Gazza and the West Bank, along with other lands in Egypt,Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

I have attempted each night to record the numerous stories and observations that I have taken in during the early days of my journey, yet after only four days the stories seem to collect at the tip of my pen faster than I can write, coagulating there while many slip from my mind before I get
the chance to commit them to paper. As you read the experiences that I relay to you, please keep in mind that what I write in my reports is but a small selection, a fraction of the stories that are shared with me each day.

All members of our small delegation have arrived safely in Jerusalem, each with varying degrees of interrogation by Israeli security, from 1 to 5 hours. Interrogation at the point of entry is a tactic used to exclude human rights, peace, and liberation advocates from the country. I made my journey from Amman to Jerusalem on the morning of July 1st. On the way to the boarder, I shared a taxi with a former Palestinian professor from Berzeit University near Ramallah. As we drove through the dusty hills, she recounted the way in which she was forced, by the conditions of the occupation, to quit her job as Professor. Prior to the reoccupation of the West Bank her home was but a 15 minute drive from the university, however after the rapid multiplication of checkpoints and settler-only roads, it became physically impossible for her to drive to class. She was forced to allow a 2-hour commute, walking through several checkpoints, down and up steep enbankments transferring to four different taxis, simply to go to
teach each morning. Some days she would be arbitrarily held at checkpoints, missing her classes entirely, other days half of her students would not be able to make it, and not infrequently she and her students would make the entire journey only to be met by soldiers at the university gate,
militarily forcing the closure of the University, denying its students an education in clear violation of international law. ³No one should be expected to live under such conditions. Those like you who have lived
all of their lives with at least the freedom of movement would certainly not do well with such treatment.² I could accompany this story about the inhumanity of checkpoints with at least a dozen others that I have heard in
my first days here. Most notably, in the afternoon of June 2nd on there way home to their families, several hundred Palestinians were forced to sleep on the street when the military closed the Calandia checkpoint near East Jerusalem. Checkpoints are one of the many forceful restrictions on Palestinian freedom that fills people¹s daily conversations.

Descending from the plateau in Jordan down into the valley of the Jordan River we passed a destroyed village, scattered bunkers, and row upon row of razor wire, ominous reminders of the war in 1967 where the eastern shores
of the Jordan River were not able to retain the tide of the Israeli military. Reaching the boarder, our bus was greeted by far more M-16 rifles than smiles. Dawning my tourist hat, I was able to cross the border with relatively little interrogation. With my first step into the occupied West
Bank of Palestine, I waited for a taxi with several Palestinian women with children who had been interrogated and held for over 6 hours. With my first breath of Palestinian air, it became clear that as a white male
and US citizen, I am awarded more rights and better treatment by the Israeli government than Palestinian people who have lived here for countless generations.

I have spent much time walking through the narrow cobbled streets of the Muslim quarter in the old city of Jerusalem; the heart of Palestinian society for several thousand y

We chopped off Isa's hair this morning

June 05, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We chopped off Isa's hair this morning. It's now shortly bobbed for the summer. I told her we'd do it tonight, but she kept insisting on "NOW."
She's really in to telling people about how she saw the eclipse a few weeks back. She was staying the night at Hanni's and they watched it together. Hanni explained to her that it was the earth shadow going across the moon.
She confused it a bit, later telling me that the Earth was going across the moon. I told her that it was the earth's shadow, and that we lived on the earth. She looked rather excited and said "I'm walking on the earth!" She then went over and put her hands on the patio, making a shadow, and said "I'm making an eclipse!" Wow!

Sam adores Emma

June 05, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam adores Emma. "I didn't think that Emma would be so cool," he told me the other day. Sam will often go up to her, pat her head, talk to her, or sing her little songs. It's a bit of a surprise to Jamie and I, but a pleasant one at that. Having Sam's help with things is quite nice.

We haven't really had to warn him much about Emma's fragility. He's already very gentle with her. Sam tells Emma he loves her all the time.

Emma and I just got up from a little nap

June 04, 2003 by Adam in Family

Emma and I just got up from a little nap. She didn't sleep very well last night and was up quite a bit. Though Jamie bore the brunt of her sleeplessness, I didn't get enough sleep either.

Both Sam and I have been feeling the increased pollen in the air, so we've been a bit grumpy. Jamie too Sam off for a haircut while Emma and I lay down for a nap.

No big excitement today. The week slowly rolls along.

I wanted the family to know that Luke Newton ...

June 03, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I wanted the family to know that Luke Newton arrived in Jerusalem yesterday on a solidarity mission to occupied Palestine. To all those who pray, this seems like a good time to start.

Anna made it out safe and sound this morning.

Last night went really well

June 03, 2003 by Adam in Family

Last night went really well. Emma ate like a little piggy all day, then only got up once last night. We're both quite well rested and hoping this trend continues. Sam's off to school this morning and Jamie's running errands while I watch Emma. We're shooing for another fairly quiet day.

Sam and I both had runny noses yesterday when playing outside. I'm afraid we both have allergies. Jamie picked up some medicine for Sam, which seems to help some. We'll see if it continues.

The folks from Sam's preschool keep bringing over loads of food. It's pretty cool to have dinner delivered every other night. Our refrigerator is becoming quite well stocked. We'll be happy and plump parents by the end of next week.

Anna left for Africa today, so she came by for a final visit with Emma.

I finally signed up for an e-mail address! I...

June 02, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

I finally signed up for an e-mail address! It's seraphcortez@yahoo.com
We're working on getting internet access at home, but we're not there yet. Feel free to stick us on all the trashy e-mail lists!

Baby tired! I remember those days

June 02, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Baby tired! I remember those days. After Will was born he didn't come home from the hospital for almost a month, so other than his monitor going off in the night he was actually a fairly good sleeper. Patrick on the other hand was awful and sick the entire first year of his life. I spent most of the year sleeping on the living room floor with him.

Sounds like Emma is a gem. Wonderful parents, wonderful baby.

Worked so hard on the farm this weekend I feel like a pin cushion doll with so many aches and pains. Nothing like haying to put you in agony. Hugs to all!

Emma's slowly figuring out how the world works

June 02, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma's slowly figuring out how the world works. She hasn't been quiet as quiet as the first few days and kept Jamie up until 2 am or so last night. She goes through these bursts of feeding where she won't rest until her belly is full.

Her skin in particular seems to be growing really fast. It's peeling off in sheets. Perhaps she's part snake, which would explain a lot. Jamie and I are debating which side of the family it comes from.

Sam continues to think that Emma is pretty neat, wanting to kiss her and touch her. It's hopefully a good sign that he'll want to play with her as she gets older.

June is here and we're slowly getting into th...

June 01, 2003 by Adam in Family

June is here and we're slowly getting into the routine with Emma. Yesterday was pretty quiet, mostly hanging out at the house. Josh and Ray came by for a bit and we sent them to Costco for a purchasing mission. Emma's been a little fussier than the first few days, but not by much. We've all been getting a reasonable amount of sleep, though Jamie probably needs a nap today.

Emma's great, basically a tiny creature whose sole purpose is to grow as fast as possible. She's either eating or sleeping, and occasionally glancing out at the world for a bit. Sam seems so big compared to her.

Sam and I went for a hike this morning, making it to the top of Skinner's Butte. I'm very impressed by that boy's stamina. I think it also helped that a fellow hiker played along with Sam's game, pretending she was a troll trying to chase after us. Great fun.

We're slowly figuring out the new routine in ...

May 31, 2003 by Adam in Family

We're slowly figuring out the new routine in the Miller-Mellor household. I had minimal Emma duty this morning, who was again pretty good last night. That girl just wants to eat and sleep and that's about it.

We went to see the pediatrician this morning. Other than a touch of jaundice, she's doing great. Judy left this afternoon as well, so we're on our own again. I have another week off of work, so Jamie won't have to deal with both kids for awhile.

In general, though, we tried to keep today fairly quiet. Sadie and Anna came by to visit, which was nice. We kept trying to get Emma to open her eyes, but she was content to sleep away. Tonight is Jenny's belated birthday, which I'm heading over to shortly.

Sadie and Anna rolled in at about 7, having s...

May 30, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Sadie and Anna rolled in at about 7, having started in Montana yesterday. The plan is for a belated birthday soiree for Jenny tonight. We'll get Jenny to make her World Famous Tossed Salad and the girls will make lasagna. I always feel better when I know that all my kids are safe and sound.
We want more baby pictures.

Emma showed up so quickly after I got back fr...

May 30, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Emma showed up so quickly after I got back from Chicago that I didn't have time to say what a nice panahida service there was. However, the trip started out with really bad news. Baba has been living in a efficient, very pleasant apartment complex which has a section specifically for seniors; not assisted living, but with a lot of amenities useful to seniors. However, she fell on Friday and broke her hip. They couldn't do surgery on Saturday because of her heart problems, but did on Sunday, very sucessfully.
What this means, though, is that she can't live by herself any more. She was moved to a Rehab home late last week.

Anna and Sadie picked me up at O'Hare, and with nary a hitch got me to the motel. Betsy and the boys got in Friday night and Meg, Dick and Dad flew in early Saturday morning. St. Michael's really looked lovely; their iconastasis is particularly nice, and Anita had got flowers which brought out the background colors of the icons. She and John had a buffet at the house after the service, and it was so good to see family members and their friends.
The girls left on Sunday morning, and Betsy, the boys, and I went to the Field Museum on Sunday. I stayed on until Monday. The whole weekend was cheering, and I really appreciated the effort Anita and John made.

Hey Betsy! Tell Will he really does have a f...

May 30, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Hey Betsy! Tell Will he really does have a find in that pick! Matchbox20 is a great band, and I know Robbie will be drooling with envy!

Congratulations on the new baby!! Life is wo...

May 30, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Congratulations on the new baby!! Life is wonderful. We got back from Chicago safe and sound around 3 a.m. on Monday. The kids and I just took it easy and napped and cleaned up on Monday.

A funny thing happened on the way home. We were about 50 miles shy of the farm and although I had enough gas, Will had awakened and wanted to get some cocoa. We stopped at a Travel America and filled up and went in for coffee and cocoa. We were standing in line at 2 a.m. and a fella taps Will on the shoulder and asks if he likes music. Will enthusiastically responded that he loved rock and roll and the guy said, "Well heres my guitar pick, I played a gig in Columbus tonight, I'm with the group Matchbox 20." Will thought that was great and later I told him he had met a real live rock star! Ships in the night.

Warm blankets of hugs to all. Bets and the boys

Fish is the answer

May 29, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Fish is the answer. Adam, didn't you see the article in the RG saying that in studies new moms who ate fish had fewer problems with depression?
Expecting Sadie and Anna tonight, I think.

Emma's crashed out in her front carrier, happ...

May 29, 2003 by Adam in Family

Emma's crashed out in her front carrier, happy to be squished and held close. For most of the day she's been eating and sleeping, which is pretty typical of babies so young. This morning, though, Sam and I played with Emma for a good while, amused by her antics.

Of course, last night she was up quite a bit. Judy took most of the brunt of it, getting Emma to sleep again. Other than that, we couldn't have wished for a more content kid.

Sam went off to the farm as part of a preschool field trip. Jamie's been missing him in a funny way, mourning the loss of Sam's "baby in the family" status. He's still doing pretty well with Emma, reasonably gentle and trying to find out the new lay of the land.

Jamie's doing well, physically and emotionally. She's much more mobile this time around, one of the advantages of a quick birth. She also seems amazingly happy, probably because the birth went so well. She also likes having helpful people around, such as her mom and I. It almost makes this a pleasant vacation for her.

We've brought Emma home, who is happily sleep...

May 28, 2003 by Adam in Family

We've brought Emma home, who is happily sleeping away. Jamie and I are starting to think that she might be one of those mythical "good babies" that we've heard about but never seen. She does cry, but only when there's a reason for it. She's been eating really well, sleeps nicely, and seems to have a good demeanor.

Jamie's doing quite well, happy with her newfound mobility. Though she's a bit sore, it's not nearly as bad as with Sam. The plan is to take it easy and start figuring out the new routine for our household. I'll probably take Sam hiking this afternoon and give Judy a rest break.

Sam is surprisingly excited to have Emma around. He's been sitting and playing with her since she arrived. It's a good sign of things to come.

I had the great joy of watching Emma be born ...

May 28, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

I had the great joy of watching Emma be born yesterday! Jamie and Adam looked like old pros, and Sam was the perfect big brother.
I had a call from Sadie this morning. She and Anna were about 2 hours east of Billings, MT. They expect to be home Thursday night.
Thinking about trying to put together a late birthday party for Jenny this weekend. Let me know what everyone's up to.

Emma was born today

May 28, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma was born today. It was a surprisingly easy labor, just a few pushes and she was out into the wide world. Jamie was pleasantly surprised at how easy it seemed. Emma has been fairly calm throughout the experience, crying a bit, but settling down quickly. She seems bigger and stronger than I expected, with a good grasp on my fingers. She's also seemed very aware of the world around her.

Sam was mesmerized by Emma as soon as he saw her. I was holding her and he zipped over to take a look. "She wasn't what I expected," he told me. He spent a long while just touching her skin and really liked holding her. All good signs. On the way back home, he told Judy, "I really like that baby."

Jamie's spending the night in the hospital, taking it easy with Emma. I went home to get some sleep and give Judy a Sam watching break. Sam was wound up, but settled down fairly quickly. We'll head over in the morning once everyone gets up. I have a suspicion that Jamie will want to go home tomorrow as she seems to be doing so well.

Oooo, this baby is cute! Seraph and I went to...

May 27, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Oooo, this baby is cute! Seraph and I went to the hospital about 11 am with our waiting around reading material. Emma had a far different time schedule in mind. At about 11:45 the doc arrived, poked at Jamie a time or two, and announced that it was time for Jamie to have the baby. About three or four hearty pushes later, and Emma emerged into the world. She is definitely a mellow kid. Judy and Sam arrived about a half an hour later, and Sam sat around
holding Emma, totally entranced. Lohring and Yayoe came in
a little later, and general cheer reigned. Sweet baby!

Emma was born this morning at 11:55 am, 8 pou...

May 27, 2003 by Adam in Family

Emma was born this morning at 11:55 am, 8 pounds, 1 ounce. It was over very fast and mom and daughter are doing great.

Last night was a little rough, as Sam has a cold and eye infection. We were both up early, getting our things together and heading in around 6:30 this morning. Pitosin was started and we settled down for a couple boring hours of occasional contractions. Towards the end they started being very painful, so we got the anesthesiologist in for some pain relief. That hit the spot and very quickly after that Jamie began to push.

It took only three major pushes and Emma emerged into the world. It was so short compared to Sam's birth that I think we were all amazed. Jamie is much less exhausted and Emma seems to be doing really well. She's been quite hungry, happily sucking away.

I'm probably going to take it easy for the rest of the day, keeping an eye on her. Sam is still with grandma Judy. I think that everyone will soon arrive to see the new addition to the family. We're all so happy.

The word from the hospital is an ETA of noon

May 27, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

The word from the hospital is an ETA of noon. Adam just called from the hospital. I stopped at the hospital for a few minutes on my way to work and they were looking cheerful. Sadie just checked in from Bismark, North Dakota -
all's well with them. Breathe, everyone.

We are about to enter a new phase of our family

May 27, 2003 by Jamie in Jamie

We are about to enter a new phase of our family. I am mourning the loss of the old and am anxious to experience the new. Sleep was difficult last night, not only because Sam was up again with pain in his eyes, but also Emma kicking and contractions as usual. Ironically enough, I'm considering this morning at the hospital with no kids as an actual "date" with my husband. We'll have plenty of time to talk that's for sure! Thanks to my mom for coming down to take care of Sam and cook our "final meal" last night. Hope for a quick and easy delivery.

Today is our last day pre-baby

May 26, 2003 by Adam in Family

Today is our last day pre-baby. Jamie's mom is coming down this afternoon and I'm hoping to see the new Matrix movie with my dad. Poor Sam has a pretty bad cold and eye infection, so he was up quite a bit last night. Jamie was too, though in part because of Emma getting painfully active until early in the morning. I'm hoping we don't all end up with colds right as the baby is born, but we'll take it as it comes.

We tried hard to not be too exciting yesterday since Sam was feeling lousy. Jamie went to Victoria's birthday party while Sam and I went to the park. I think it was good to get out of the house, as Sam seemed much energized after climbing around on the "Cheese" structure for awhile. Jamie too had a good time talking to other adults, though admittedly they mostly wanted to talk about babies.

Sam's spelling and reading has been improving...

May 25, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam's spelling and reading has been improving over the last month or so. The other day he asked me what H-I-S-A-M spells. I said "HIS-AM". He looked at me funny and said, "No, it spells HI SAM". Silly me.

It's been an amazingly long time since I wrot...

May 25, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Projects

It's been an amazingly long time since I wrote anything on this area of the site. Taking care of a four-year-old and pregnant wife seems to take over most of my time. These days, my projects are done by other people, which feels a bit sad.

I have been doing a little gardening now that spring has arrived. There's nothing quite like digging in dirt and ripping out weeds. Our roses in particular have gone crazy, blooming all over the place. It makes the front area very fragrant.

Our next major house project is putting in a rec room in the basement. Having a big play area for Sam and Emma for the dreary winter months sounds like an excellent idea. Typically Sam and I play in the laundry area, which is basically a wide hallway. Having something a bit bigger sounds like a good plan.

It's been a pretty quiet Saturday, with no ba...

May 24, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's been a pretty quiet Saturday, with no baby in sight. I woke up early as usual, puttered around in the basement, and waited for Jamie and Sam to wake up. After a hearty breakfast, I mowed the lawns, did some weeding, and played with Sam all morning.

Around lunch we headed off to Turtles, a local restaraunt, to visit with Brant and Wendy. I hadn't seen her since Christmas, so it was nice to visit again. It's cool to see her finally reach her dream of becoming a vet.

We're mostly just waiting for time to pass until that baby arrives. Sam's mom is coming down Monday afternoon, so Sam care is covered when Jamie is induced on Tuesday. All is good.

Looks like we will see everyone in Chicago th...

May 23, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Looks like we will see everyone in Chicago this weekend. After great debate the kids and I decided to drive up on Friday afternoon with the usual crazy loose ends but we'll be there. It dawned on me that this will be the first time we've been together since Mom died. Yikes! no more funerals, lets get together and party! Everyone should choose a long weekend and fly into Columbus and come to the farm. There is really nothing to do there are far as sights and excitement, but it might be nice to sit on the porch and stare at the stars at night!
See you all soon. P.

Yikes

May 22, 2003 by Yayoe in Yayoe

Yikes...we last posted almost 5 months ago. Where has the time gone? Since my last update WE turned 60!Amazing huh! Despite our identical age, I always say that Lohring is 5 years older. It makes his ears itch when I announce that and I get a lot of cruel mileage from it!! To celebrate our new decade we went wild and ordered the Senior Breakfast special at Friendly's restaurant in Northamptom. It felt wicked and refreshing to know that may have saved 89 cents on the bill. We seniors are grateful for every little discount and courtesy that we can garner! So be nice to us and remind us who is giving senior discounts so we can embarass you when we go out together.

We had a wonderful trip east...We first visited Dorothy and saw the beginnings of her new home at Westbury. She hopes to move into her 3 bedroom house in October. We'll fly back then and help her move. She looks wonderful and is keeping very busy working with the contractors and fitting her her busy social life.. She and her sister Caroline are looking forward to their next trip to Ireland on June 25th. Dorothy had a wonderful catered soiree for us while we were visiting. Her old friends (some she has known for over 60 years) were all there. They are such impressive role models for aging. Amara, Jed and Sachi were also there. Sachi is such a neat kid and he is reading!They looked wonderful too.

We then flew into Northampton and spent the weekend with Sadie, Anna, Sue and Searph, and Sadie's other friends and mentors. We attended several concerts and watched Anna play the violin. She's really good! The graduation was ceremony was impressive with Madeline Albright (former secretary of State) giving the Key note speech. It was the usual (yawn) "you go girl" kind of political speech that got heckled by picketers who were not sure she was the right speaker for Smith. Sadie was radiant and so lovely with her cap and gown. Megan made us a delicious pasta dinner and they also helped celebrate my 60th birthday complete with delicious fruit tarts. It was a wonderful weekend and a grand experience. I can see why Sadie was so happy being at Smith (except for the snow days!)

More good newz: Danica, Andy and Ben are coming here for a visit. They will be here about June 25th. So let's try to find a time where they can visit your homes and see all the new grandchildren! More details to follow.

Work is winding down, which has been reasonab...

May 22, 2003 by Adam in Family

Work is winding down, which has been reasonably quiet. Jamie stole me away while Sam was at school, taking me to the library to sip coffee and speak like normal adults. Sam's been a bit blabbery lately, going on about all sorts of things. Evidently he had an elaborate dream last night that involved creatures, big castles, his friend Vanessa, and Dick. I'm not even going to attempt to analyze the whole thing as I heard it in bits and pieces over the day (some when he called this morning and some from Jamie).

The weekend is right around the corner and the plan is to play it again by ear. No signs that labor is imminent, so we'll just continue on until Tuesday morning. If Monday rolls around, we'll start seriously planning for Tuesday, but it's always hard to tell how it goes. Going in at 6:30 AM on Tuesday sounds like good timing sleep-wise. Plus I think everyone will be in town, finished with boat races, and ready to have a baby.

We've been basking away in the beautiful weather

May 22, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We've been basking away in the beautiful weather. I'mm now waking up at 5:30 a.m. with no alam clock! I love the summer!
Our first minor remodel project for the summer will be starting soon. We are down-sizing to a European size refrigerator, and will be adding extra shelves and such to our kitchen. If I get really carried away I might even repaint. We'll see.
We're all on the edge of our seats every time the phone rings, waiting for Emma to arrive.

I picked up Grand Theft Auto: Vice City the o...

May 22, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I picked up Grand Theft Auto: Vice City the other day, which is fairly entertaining. The graphics are a bit dated, but it's fun enough to break out every once in awhile.

My true passion continues to be Neverwinter Nights. My current campaign is wrapping up, with a small army of testers trying to break it. I had hoped to finish it before Emma was born and I may just get my wish. Of course, I'm already planning my next module in my free time. I'm hoping to take my time with it, though.

Work has quited down immensely, mostly becaus...

May 22, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Work has quited down immensely, mostly because I'm afraid to start anything when I could be called away at the drop of a hat. Poor Jamie is looking immensely pregnant these days, which I feel quite bad for. It makes the trade-off of a reduced lifespan in men not look so bad. I've been in a holding pattern waiting for Emma to arrive. Soon life will get exciting.

Here's the plan for the weekend

May 22, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Here's the plan for the weekend. I fly to Chicago on Friday, where Sadie and Anna will pick me up. My dad, and Meg and Dick fly from Philly to Chicago early on Saturday, and fly back on Sunday. Sadie and Anna will continue on to the west coast and I'll fly back on Monday. Love, om

Still no baby yet

May 21, 2003 by Adam in Family

Still no baby yet. We had a moment of excitement yesterday when Jamie announced that she was having somewhat painful contractions. I quickly leaped into "freakout husband mode", asking all sorts of questions and checking the Internet for frequencies and what it all means. By dinner time, however, things had quieted down. So, we're all in a holding pattern again.

Our lives have been kept deliberately low-key lately. Very little of excitement has been happening these last few days. I'll keep everyone posted, I'm sure.

I pulled in about 1 last night

May 21, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

I pulled in about 1 last night. Talked to Sadie this morning. All's well with her, and to my delight, they are thinking about those mundane things like an oil change for the car. Who are the people reading this website? Seraph and I think there is an underground Baby Arrival Date pool.
Jamie, you can wait until Tuesday, when we are back from the Panahida for Dick. You can - you can. Either that or today or tomorrow.

writing to you safe and sound from dearborn h...

May 21, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

writing to you safe and sound from dearborn heights, mi, better known as anna's house. i'm about to have double fudge chocolate ice cream, so this must be short...

thank you. i love you. ah, this weekend was a little like heaven- funny and well worth the wait.

and emma- as the beastie boys would say, let it flow, let yourself go. slow and low, that is the tempo.

It's Tuesday already, a very special day mark...

May 20, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's Tuesday already, a very special day marking the series finale of Buffy tonight. I hope Jamie can hold out until at least 9 pm.

In all seriousness, nothing is imminent. We had our OB visit today and things are moving along nicely but it's really up to Emma at this point. We'll establish early if she's a stubborn little girl. Worse case scenario, we have an induction appointment for early Tuesday.

It feels good to have family back in town again. I'm sure you all had a wonderful time dilly-dallying out on the East coast, but now we've got a baby to birth so no more messing around. (BTW - happy graduation Sadie!)

I made it home last night at midnight with th...

May 20, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

I made it home last night at midnight with the help of Dad and Yayoe who drove me back from the airport (Thank You!!).
We had a wonderful time in Northampton with gobs of people (from deans to houskeepers) lavishing praise on Sadie. We smiled a lot - as we already knew how amazing she is.
Mom summed up all of the events we rased through, but I also want to send huge hugs to Anna L. (we love you!), Anna M., Megan, Jennifer Walters and all of Sadie's other friends who happily entertained us for the weekend.
Isa and Robbie had a good weekend hanging out with Hanni and changing around furniture.
I'm not sure how Isabell learned to talk even better while I was gone, but this morning she clearly stated "I got this at the Barn." (her shirt -- at the Peterson Barn Baby Sale)
The real "Shock and Awe" - children.

Monday morning, and I'm in the middle of dorm...

May 19, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Monday morning, and I'm in the middle of dorm move out chaos
here in Anna's room. There's a 12 noon deadline, and I can tell we aren't going to make it by then. But I digress...
I got in safe and sound on Thursday night, or actually Friday morning after a very uneventful trip. The only eventful part was that I was completely unable to get out of the office on time and I got to the airport at 2 for a 2:30 flight.
Friday was fun - Sadie went off to rehersal early in the morning and I slept until 11. Then she gathered up Megan and a friend and we went for lunch and then food shopping.
Megan rooms in a Co-op with a good kitchen, and she and her friend Erin cooked a wonderful Friday night meal for us- Lohring and Yayoe arrived at about 5:30 and Seraph shortly afterward.
Saturday was chock full of activities - Anna was part of two musical performances, so we got to hear her truly lovely
playing. There was a program in the morning, in sub zero weather, which handed out awards. Sadie got to be named to
an honorary psychology organization. The day ended with the "Illumination" event, with hundreds of lanterns with candles strung along the pathways.
Sunday, Commencement day, dawned warm and sunny. After a tasty brunch, we headed to commencement. Although there were
protests of Madeline Albright's speech, it was a lacklustre
speech and a pretty tame protest, at least by Eugene standards (ie. no dynamited vehicles, tree sitting protestors, etc).
So now it's Monday morning, and we got to go over and see the apartment Sadie will be sharing off campus - really charming, and met her room mate Lindsey, equally charming.
Because of my own stupid fault, I won't be leaving until tomorrow afternoon. See you soon..om

Sunday afternoon has rolled around and still ...

May 18, 2003 by Adam in Family

Sunday afternoon has rolled around and still no baby on the horizon. Doing the math, it looks like we have eight days left at the most. We're just all getting anxious for things to start moving along.

Saturday was pretty quiet. Josh came over and the three of us played, watched a long movie, and generally hung out through the rainstorms.

This morning, we piled in a car with Angie to go to Mt. Pisgah. There was a wildflower sale that the womenfolk went to, while Sam and I ran down the path by the river and watched the nutria play in the pond.

Once we got home, Sam and Jamie washed the car, while I mowed the lawn. We'll probably start up a movie soon. Unless that baby decides to arrive, it looks like another uneventful day.

It's mocha Friday and still no baby yet

May 16, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's mocha Friday and still no baby yet. I think that most of my family has left town for Sadie's graduation. If Jamie goes into labor, it'll make life a little interesting. I suppose we can always give Sam a few Legos to play with and stick him in the corner.

It's strangely quiet here at work. People are trying to make last minute changes to things and I'm warning them that I could disppear at any minute. Always fun.

E3 is going on at the moment, the biggest com...

May 15, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

E3 is going on at the moment, the biggest computer game expo around. They've started to show movies from games that will be released this year and I'm simply blown away. The graphics are slowly approaching realistic, from facial expressions to real-life physics. It's got me all excited, wanted to build a new computer system for this Fall. I already have it planned out, hoping to put the computer in the sauna (which we never use) and route all the cables for video, keyboard, and so on through the wall. That should keep things mighty quiet.

I'm also slowly finishing up the final module in my Neverwinter Nights campaign. It's huge and sprawling, with lots of work put into it over these last few months. Hopefully people get a kick out of it.

Hi, I leave tomorrow at 2:30 p

May 15, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Hi, I leave tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. for the east coast. Talked to Sadie tonight. She is sounding good, said her grades were in her "target range" of 3.7, but then sniffed and reminded me that grade inflation helped her reach her goal.
Lots of sweet cards from friends. Very helpful...Love, om

It's been a quiet week so far

May 14, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's been a quiet week so far. Jim and Judy have been down off and on, playing with Sam and watching Josh while Dave's away on a trip. Other than that, there hasn't been much excitement. Sam had a good time at the coast and returned quite bouncy.

Still no baby yet. Jamie's looking cute in her maternity clothes and her belly sticking way out.

A lovely Mothers Day surrounded by kids and g...

May 13, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

A lovely Mothers Day surrounded by kids and grandkids. Anita and John got us a "double 15 dominos" (Whoops, cursed by Dan Quale and potatoes) and we all played a version cobbled together from our childhood recollections. They went to Salem for the day to have lunch with a high school friend of Anita's.
Jamie had us over for tea yesterday, and Seraph and Robbie for dinner. Anita and John taught us how to play "Mexican Train", which should be a great game to play with Dez,and I
bet Sam will get it too. Isa just turned the dominoes into skateboard, and skated around the living room.
Think Baby Emma!

Yet another OB visit for Jamie today, which c...

May 12, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Yet another OB visit for Jamie today, which could be her last. For some reason, I got mixed up and thought that Sam was born two weeks before his due date, but it turns out it was only one. I suppose that puts a revised due date for Emma around the 21st. Of course, who knows how these things really turn it. It could be any day.

Emma is squirming and kicking quite a bit these days. You can feel hands and feet trying to work their way out through Jamie's insides. Poor woman.

I cringe when I realize how rarily I post the...

May 12, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

I cringe when I realize how rarily I post these days. Dick's memorial service was nice, although our devil child screamed through most of it. It was nice to see all the friends from years past.

We are now trying to get ready for Sadie's graduation and the arrival of baby Emma. I'm not sure how mid-May got here so fast!

I turned in my last paper this morning, so am...

May 12, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I turned in my last paper this morning, so am actually done with all undergraduate work ever. Ah. I had a wonderful slumber party with Megan the night before last, watched X-2, which she liked so much that we saw the first one in the morning while eating breakfast in Hopkins in our pjs... my fourth viewing this week. Lovely.

Dick's service yesterday was very nice as the...

May 11, 2003 by Adam in Family

Dick's service yesterday was very nice as these sort of things go. I liked the small table with items from Dick's life: his glasses and belt, a beat up set of camping cooking pots, and of course his Leatherman. I was amazed at the turnout, saying hello to people I haven't talk to in years. Seraph and I both read small pieces, including one I had said at my grandmother's service nearly a decade ago.

The rest of the evening was wonderfully quiet, just Jamie and I reconnecting before the long baby days ahead. We watched a baudy French farce, ate pizza, and later watched the sun set swinging on the patio. It was a great moment.

Sam returns today, which is for the best, as we miss him terribly. I think we can only handle a certain amount of time in a peaceful household. Too much and we might go mad.

Just a quiet but heartfelt thank you to the f...

May 11, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Just a quiet but heartfelt thank you to the fam, and to all the friends who came today. I can't tell you how many people told me how wonderful you kids are, and what a great family I have. So Happy Birthday to Yayoe, and Happy Mothers
Day to all. Love, Sue/om

It was a strangely quiet morning, with Sam aw...

May 10, 2003 by Adam in Family

It was a strangely quiet morning, with Sam away and only Jamie and I in the house. We had a wonderful evening last night, going out to dinner for Greek food and conversation. I snuck in a bath and some reading, as well as visiting with Jamie for a long while. This is probably our last weekend together before the baby, so we're trying to make the most of it.

This morning we had a burst of energy (mine was coffee induced, Jamie's was due to her "nesting urge"). Jamie power washed the patio while I weeded in the front yard. It's been many months since we did serious gardening, and I had a great time (though I'm now exhausted).

We're also getting ready for Dick's service at 3 pm today. This is Jamie's first funeral service, so I'm not sure she knows what to expect. I assured her that it would be a Miller family affair, so there'd be much chaos, conversation, and food, as seems typical of our gatherings.

Mocha Friday for me today, trying to wrap up ...

May 09, 2003 by Adam in Family

Mocha Friday for me today, trying to wrap up things at work before the baby comes. It could be this weekend, it could be in a couple weeks. If Emma follows the same two-week-early pattern as Sam, it should be this Sunday.

Jamie's mom is wisking away Sam and Josh to the coast for a few days, leaving Jamie and I alone in the house for the first time in ages. We'll either have a baby, or have a last quiet time together, not sure which. I'd like to rent a few movies and hang out at home, as Jamie's not particularly mobile these days.

Memorial Service at 3:00 pm tomorrow (Saturda...

May 09, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Memorial Service at 3:00 pm tomorrow (Saturday) at Musgroves, 1152 Olive Street.
No flowers! In these hard times, make a donantion to the charity of your choice.

Megan has cordially invited the family to Hop...

May 09, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Megan has cordially invited the family to Hopkins house for dinner next Friday, and I do hope you say yes.

I too saw X2, having not seen the first one, but I liked the second it so much that I rented and watched the first. Three times.

I am almost finished with everything- I have an extension on one paper until monday, but everything else is turned in. Just feeling a bit incapacitated and irrational with everything I used to feel competent and efficient about. One foot in front of the other for now.

I just found out that Dear Raed is up and pub...

May 08, 2003 by Adam in Family

I just found out that Dear Raed is up and publishing again. He's the guy from Bagdad that went off the air once the invasion started up in full force. It turns out he wrote things down over the last couple months and managed to get it all published in one big block. Very interesting perspective.

Sam and I saw X2 over the weekend. He was so good, having to wait 40 minutes as the first show was sold out. He thought it was pretty cool. Last night during dinner, he decided to put on an "X-Men" play. I got to be Wolverine with forks for claws. Sam was Cyclops, wearing his sunglasses to prevent his laser-eyes from frying our house.

He'd keep peeking out from behind them and I'd pretend that my hair was set on fire. Sam would then get upset at me, but keep doing it anyway. Anything to get his dad to run around the house yelling must be fun.

Memorial service is set for Saturday at 3:00 pm

May 08, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Memorial service is set for Saturday at 3:00 pm. As you all know, Dick didn't want any fuss, so we'll keep it short and simple. Musgrove's, between 11th and 12th on Olive. There will be coffee, crackers, cheese and fruit at Musgrove's, and Anita and John will have food at the house afterward for anyone who wants to stop by and help drink up all that vodka left over from Easter. Then we are going to stop feeling sad about Dick and start feeling excited about Baby Emma.

Anita and John arrived safe and sound, and we...

May 07, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Anita and John arrived safe and sound, and we scurried around doing the things people do so they are too busy to feel sad. Lots of kind words from lots of kind people.
Marsha is coming down tomorrow afternoon. Hooray!

This has nothing to do with the beach house, ...

May 07, 2003 by Judy in Hanes

This has nothing to do with the beach house, although we are excited to take the Eugene boys over this weekend. I hope it does NOT rain, but there's always the aquarium.

This actually is about babies:
Emma Lynn is due any day, and we got word last night that there is a "Jackson Rockow Hanes" due Oct. 22nd. Barbara had an ultrasound yesterday and the pictures showed a boy pretty plainly I guess. What fun this Christmas!

The week goes on

May 06, 2003 by Adam in Family

The week goes on. Seraph is organizing things at an amazing rate, getting such details such as the printed program taken care of. I've been quite proud of all of my siblings.

Jamie had an OB visit today. Evidently all the things that are supposed to progress are progressing nicely. I'm leaning towards somewhere between a week and two weeks at this point, though no bets will be accepted.

One of the warning signs is that Jamie was doing the "nesting" thing last night, quizzing me on the placement and use of items in the baby room. I swear that woman wants me to be able to field strip the baby blindfolded in 30 seconds or less. Still, it was embarrassing when Sam could answer more questions right than me.

More things to do during graduation: Chill i...

May 06, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

More things to do during graduation:
Chill in new artist-created bathrooms in newly opened art gallery
Read virginia Woolfe's writings in rare book room
Poke through Northampton's back alleys

Jennie swooped down, loaded Seraph and me int...

May 06, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Jennie swooped down, loaded Seraph and me into her wonderful SUV with the heated bottom warmers and drove us to the coast for the afternoon. We went to Mo's (where else) for clam chowder, and then to the South Jetty. We each wrote a message to Dick and put them into one of his
chemical bottles, glued in the stopper with crazy glue, and threw it so far that it would float to the horizon, where, as Jennie pointed out, the ocean turns into heaven. A good way to say good-bye.
We've arranged for a short memorial service at Musgrove's
at three on Saturday. Dick would be really upset if it keeps anyone from watching the NBA playoffs, but the funeral home guy just wasn't up on those things, so I'm hoping for the best.
Thank you all, for calling and thinking of us. om/sue

Mom- you are such a poet

May 05, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Mom- you are such a poet. make me (and anna) cry every time.

It is a blessing to have love in the woodwork, coming to my room and emailing me with grace. We are still the luckiest people in this little wobbly world.

The nice nurses from the floor Dick was on ca...

May 05, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

The nice nurses from the floor Dick was on called just as soon as I logged off last night, telling me he was restless and asking for me, and could I come sit with him. He was failing rapidly from the tumors bleeding, and at about 1:30, died in my arms. The nurses let me stay on with him, and I had a quiet time with him. I think I'm pretty rational, not given to superstition or wishful thinking, but
I believe more strongly than ever in life after death, or perhaps that there is not really a boundry between the two in the way we think of them as different states. He certainly was with me then, and has been throughout this day.
It was a day of being grateful, for family and friends, and for the happy coincedences that meant that Raven and Cheikh
and Marsha and Mollie all happened to be in town and could stop by. I was grateful that I can take Yayoe and Hanni for granted, and that they would come armed with food against
grief. For Jamie, who must be so tired that a day of lumbering after Sam is the supreme sacrifice so Adam could be here. For Robbie, who must once have been the Playboy of the Western World, and now herds Isa deftly so I can load
Seraph with responsibilities. For Jennie, who remembers that
the world sometimes wobbles on its axis, and Sadie, who can say what I feel better than I can. For Anna, who dreamed that Dick came and kissed Sadie on the forehead.
For Reta, who I can cry in front of. For the kids' friends, and especially For Anita and John, who will give time and effort to make sure I'm okay. And a strange thank you - last night as I was posting, I realized that five people-
people I don't know, who sit in rooms I will never see - had
logged on to our page during the time I was typing. Who ever you may be, thank you. I am indeed protected by the silent love around me, and for that, I am most grateful. Love, om/sue

I just got back from my mom's house

May 05, 2003 by Adam in Family

I just got back from my mom's house. The sun is setting and the walk back over the hill smelled of fresh rain and cherry blossoms. I was the first to get there in the morning and the last to leave this night. I felt like a marine.

The day was filled with food and endless people. My mom was surprised by the calls and visits not just from their friends, but from the friends of my sisters and I. All the kids she fed and housed over the years came by to pay their respects.

It looks like next weekend will be the memorial service, Saturday I think. Seraph and my mom are going over to the funeral home tomorrow to arrange things. Anita and John are coming Tuesday and staying for a week or so. In a couple weeks, people are heading out for Sadie's graduation. Later she and Anna are driving back to my mom's house. Somewhere in there Emma will be born as well.

It's been a rollercoaster day for me. Many ups and downs. Sam wanted to play a bunch with me, as he usually does on the weekend. Jamie, though tired, put in lots of time watching him. She was very good about giving me time to spend with my mom, or just sit quietly for a time.

I can't stop thinking about how the world keeps moving forward. In a handful of days, I'll be holding my daughter. Life seems to be an endless string of hellos and goodbyes.

Dick passed away early Sunday morning

May 04, 2003 by Adam in Family

Dick passed away early Sunday morning. My mom called and I headed over the hill to sit by her side. It is a strange thing, knowing that something would happen and then finally being there as it comes to pass. Mostly we sat on the couch drinking coffee, answering phone calls and quietly talking.

I left late morning, after Seraph, Isabell, and Yayoe had arrived. After watching Sam and giving Jamie a break, I'll probably head over again this afternoon. I don't think there's anything more my mom needs or wants. Having family around seems the most reassuring thing at the moment.

Anita and John are arriving in a day or two and staying until Sadie's graduation. Details such as the memorial service and such have yet to be sorted out.

I'll try to write more later. Sam's getting increasingly insistent that I play with him.

Dirge Without Music Edna St

May 04, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Dirge Without Music
Edna St. Vincent Millay

I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.

Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,
A formula, a phrase remains,—but the best is lost.

The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the
love,—
They are gone. They are gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not
approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the
world.

Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver You do not have...

May 04, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles thorough the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

About eight this evening Dick and I were watc...

May 04, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

About eight this evening Dick and I were watching a movie
when he suddenly became chilled and started to have trouble breathing. We called Seraph and Robbie to meet us at the ER
and Dick was barely able to make it to the truck. Fortunately, the hospital is only about five minutes away. They did some tests and determined that he had blood clots in both lungs. We agreed that they should start him on blood thinners, even though a possible side effect is that
the tumors in his esophagus may begin bleeding. He will stay in the hospital overnight and come home tomorrow.
Fortunately, we met with the Hospice person on Friday afternoon. Seraph, Robbie, and Isa were their usual amazing selves. Isa is a wonderful loving child; they let Seraph bring her in while they were working on Dick, and she waved and blew kisses. Dick sends his love. And I do too.

I am thinking of everyone and their graduatio...

May 03, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

I am thinking of everyone and their graduation preparations and hope for the best for the future. I had hoped I could maybe fly out to Meg's for the day but am having some problems at work and really can't get away. I also don't really have anyone who can keep track of the cows and kids.

Patrick goes on a school sponsored environmental education camp next week and I haven't even packed for him yet. They will be gone for 3 days and be camping and hiking. I did pick up a fresh bottle of Deep Woods Off as the ticks are terrible this year.

I had a pain in the butt tenant come in yesterday and inform me that he hadn't been in the basement of his house for several weeks and when he went down there was a cat and kittens living there. (This is the same guy who left his living room window open an inch all winter and complained about his gas bill. He thought it was O.K. because he had closed the registers in the room, guess he didn't think about the thermostat being in that room.) So I went over and retrieved 6 kittens and found that they had disconnected the dryer vent and closed Momma out until I can get a trap in there for her. Property manangement- never a dull moment.

Ah, sweet weekend

May 03, 2003 by Adam in Family

Ah, sweet weekend. I'm groovin' to Nikka Costa in the remaining minutes before Sam arrives after waking up. It looks to be a drizzly day, but perhaps Sam and I shall check out the opening of X2.

Poor Sam fell out of bed last night. I must be mentally preparing for the baby, as I lept out of bed with my heart pumping. It took me forever to get back to sleep.

Jamie picked up some flowers and vegitable plants at Johnson Brother's yesterday with Sam. I had a good time digging up dirt, pulling weeds, and doing some little gardening projects. Great fun.

It's slowly dawning on me that we're going to have a baby pretty darn' soon. It's like those forest fire warnings. The arrow is slowly moving towards the red "Extreme Baby Warning" zone.

My final presentations are finally over, and ...

May 02, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

My final presentations are finally over, and my last class at Smith college is in the morning. I'm chillin' in the computer lab, polishing up a sociology of the arts paper and thinking of all of you.

Sam just called me at work to ask if I secret...

May 01, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam just called me at work to ask if I secretly worked at a gum company. After some confusion on my part, he informed me that his gum had the name Adam on it. Ah, the joys of having your children learn how to read.

Congratulations to Anna, and where in Africa ...

May 01, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Congratulations to Anna, and where in Africa is Benin? And what is the temperature in the summer time?

It's sunny and bright today, and I'll be heading home for the afternoon. I've been trying to see clients in the morning and go home in the afternoons.

Last day of April

April 30, 2003 by Adam in Family

Last day of April. That means that baby time is approaching quickly, changing our lives forever. I'm stuck in all day training sessions at work. Basically everyone gets together to talk about what they do and how great they are. There have been a few highlights and interesting pieces of information. Still, I feel bad knowing that work is piling up - I was checking e-mail at 5:30 this morning. Fortunately most of the people that give me work are at this meeting too.

Jamie had an OB visit yesterday, the first wi...

April 30, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Jamie had an OB visit yesterday, the first without me (I have this two-day work training thing). Emma's head is pointed in the right direction and Jamie's dialated to 1 1/2 cm. Jamie tells me that means that her body is getting ready for the big day, but that nothing's imminent. I'll miss watching Jamie's tummy writhe around in strange shapes, though I think she doesn't feel quite the same about it.

Anna was just given a great internship in Ben...

April 29, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Anna was just given a great internship in Benin with an appropriate technology organization (http://www.enterpriseworks.org/) through USAID. She'd be going for two months, which is very very exciting.

All is well here.

Much love!

A quick note - Easter was fun, with the usual...

April 29, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

A quick note - Easter was fun, with the usual suspects, plus Dave Muchmore, who hadn't been at Easter for a year or so. Seraph had things amazingly under control, and we actually were ready in time to have a cocktail hour. The kids were cute as usual. I think Dick is feeling a little better; he's eaten more today than in quite awhile. Much love to all.

And she fixed it

April 28, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

And she fixed it.

My Landscape Studies power point presentation...

April 28, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

My Landscape Studies power point presentation is stuck on a zip disk and I was so salty that Anna is sitting here trying to fix it. Ah, these tech wiz kids. But I just reserved a lecture hall to show Bend it Like Beckham for my house, so things aren't totally out of control.

I got into bed last night and told Robbie tha...

April 28, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

I got into bed last night and told Robbie that my feet were numb. As much as I love Easter I remember why we only do this once a year!

It was great fun to see everyone, to talk and drink to much. Thanks to Adam, Jenny and Robbie for corraling the kids and trying to keep them entertained. I, on the other hand cannot get the smell of onion off of my hands!

I'm beat

April 28, 2003 by Adam in Family

I'm beat. It's the end of a long weekend of hiking and family events. Jamie's in the process of tucking Sam to bed and I may just sneak down for a nap myself.

This Sunday seemed long, but nothing particularly exciting happened. We had our usual hearty breakfast, played a bit, then headed to my mom's to assemble an impromptu tent for the Easter celebration later that night. The afternoon was spent trying to entertain Sam in various ways. Around 4:30, we packed up, headed to a packed Easter celebration, then came home to collapse. Work tomorrow seems almost relaxing.

The water filter improves turbidity (a

April 28, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

The water filter improves turbidity (a.k.a. makes more turbid)and pH! It leaks too!

We had a great Saturday, though somewhat exha...

April 27, 2003 by Adam in Family

We had a great Saturday, though somewhat exhausting. It was sunny for the first time in days, so Sam and I decided to hike Mount Pisgah. It was quite the experience, with blustering winds and steep trails, but we managed to make it to the top. Sam made me use my "crazy old man" voice, where I had to make our trip sound like an exciting adventure out of the Lord of the Rings.

When we got home, I collapsed while Sam seemed to be going strong. Jamie took him to Red Robin to meet with Grandpa Ray and Uncle Darrel. Sam got a Nike running outfit from the experience, which he put on, wore to bed, and continues to wear this morning.

Today is the big Easter dinner at my mom and Dick's house. We're heading over early to set up a gazebo and say hello. Jamie wanted to walk over the hill with us, in a burst of energy atypical of her usual very pregnant self.

The week is slowly ending

April 24, 2003 by Adam in Family

The week is slowly ending. It has been long and dreary, with lots of things at work keeping me busy. Jamie arrived at work today with a bagel and flower for me, as work has been fairly stressful as of late. Fortunately, the major issues with the weekend upgrade are over and I've taken care of my most pressing projects.

Life at home has been fairly uneventful. We're just counting the days until Emma arrives. It looks like there will be a big Russian Orthodox Easter gathering at my mom's house this weekend. Also, it seems as if Jamie's mom will be taking Sam and Josh over a weekend in mid-May. The theory is that Jamie would have the baby then, but I'm thinking that Emma may be on her own schedule.

I tweaked the web server a bit, in hopes of minimizing the issues with not being able to connect. We'll see how it goes.

Well we are back to spring! We had a frost l...

April 24, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Well we are back to spring! We had a frost last night, after being in the 80's two weeks ago. Fickle Mid West weather.

We had a nice Easter. Will and I attended Sunrise services while Patrick slept off his cold. Will did a great job as an usher. Greeting people at the door, handing out the bulletin, he was a little shaky with the collection plate and kept crossing back and forth between the aisles, but he didn't fall going up the steps to the altar with the collection plate in his hands!! It was a nice day so even though I had a migraine the kids amused themselves and enjoyed the day.

Well I am at work so I had better get back to it. Hugs to all, Much love, P and the boys

I'm preparing my sociology of the arts presen...

April 24, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I'm preparing my sociology of the arts presentation on 'patronage systems in Russian art' for this afternoon. I just thought up that title.

The water filter, far from filtering our dirty soapy greasy smelly water, is leaking all over the machine shop floor as I type. I'll fix it this afternoon.

So life is humming away and pulling me along.
Love to you.

Work is still crazy busy

April 24, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Work is still crazy busy. I'm getting most of the upgrade-related issues taken care of, but unfortunately no one got the memo that I was busy, and work keeps pouring in. I'm hoping that I'll at least get caught up today. I have a mini-emergency downtime this morning to fix a search problem.

Sam asked me at dinner what problems I was having and I replied in a long sentence using complicated words. He paused for a little and started saying, "But what does . . ." Jamie cut in and replied, "Dad fixed broken computers today."

A friend of mine lent me Unreal 2, which Sam ...

April 24, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

A friend of mine lent me Unreal 2, which Sam and I have been playing after work. It's a very pretty game, though the gameplay is fairly mundane - walk through the linear level and kill the bad guy at the end. There are some fun scripted events (e.g. a cool elevator scene). It's also supposed to be very short (I'd guess I'm halfway through at the moment).

I'm still doing my Neverwinter Nights project, which takes huge amounts of time. I got an offer from a Japanese player to translate it. I'm still amazed at how international the e-mail I receive has become.

Dick's illness has been an object lesson in a...

April 24, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Dick's illness has been an object lesson in appreciating each day as it comes. Life is its own drama, with as many subplots as any Russian novel. Dr. Tran, Dick's treating physician, is a young man about the same age as Adam, and since I think Tran is Vietnamese, I can't help but be taken back to the Vienam War, when I sat, nursing Adam and watching scenes from the War on the tv. I know that he has a wife and three kids, and I can't help but wonder at his life's story, or perhaps more correctly, his parents' story.

As Seraph said in her posting, they got the tube safely into Dick, which gives us hope of a few more weeks. We came home to find a gift of Angie and Matt's good soup on the front stoop, with a sweet note. We could not be more lucky. Some people throw their bread on the water and get it back. We've thrown out a few crumbs, and get back the whole darn Williams bakery! Today I had lunch with Jamie and Sam, and a funny phone call from Jenny telling me I could always come over and have a glass of wine and a good snivel, as well as dinner with Robbie and Seraph on Linda Honn's pesto lasagna. Love to all, and thanks for the bread.
Love, om/Sue

Well, I just got off the phone with Mom, and ...

April 23, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Well, I just got off the phone with Mom, and Dick's procedure went great. His doctor said everything is still functioning well, and he'll keep kicking for a while yet!
They should be heading home shortly.

It has been far to long since we last posted

April 23, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

It has been far to long since we last posted. As I plan on printing out this entire life history for Isabell when she turns 18 I needed to keep things updated!
We had a wonderful Easter weekend. Isa had a lot of fun with her ocusins at Dad and Yayoe's Multi-national-holiday party, and Sunday was filled with more candy and festivities. We had three different Easter Egg hunts, one at home, one a church and one a Hanni's house. Needless to say, Isa had added this to her list of really great holidays for presents and candy!
Dick and I drove Sadie to Portland yesterday. Although we got back into town around 2:00 p.m. I was so exhausted I just couldn't bring myself to go back to work. It did occure to me that I had this great oppertunity as people at work assumed I was still out of town, and Robbie and Isa didn't know I had returned, and I could have gone and done something extravagant like enjoy a quiet luch or get my hair cut. Instead I went home and by 3:00 convinced Isa to take a nap, and I promptly followed suit. I didn't wake up until 5:30 p.m. when Isa came to snuggle. I don't think I've napped like that in ages! Does the body well I guess.
We're no gearing up for Russian Easter next weekend. It sounds like Mom is inviting quite a crowd.

Work is sadly piling up these days

April 23, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Work is sadly piling up these days. After my weekend server upgrade, my coworkers demanded that I take a break. I mostly stayed away, only going in for a couple hours. I just have a hard time sitting idly by when there is work to do and things breaking.

It was nice puttering around at home and getting to visit with Jamie a bit. I came home from work around two and played with him until nearly his bedtime. Lots of time playing pretend, fiddling on the computer, and running about in the park. Now I'm beat. I need a vacation for my vacation.

Woe is us - Dick and Seraph took Sadie to the...

April 22, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Woe is us - Dick and Seraph took Sadie to the Portland Airport this morning, while I stayed behind and tried hard to get caught up with office stuff. I have a worker guy over here at the office pulling weeds and planting daffodils
along the fence. It's cool and overcast, but no rain.
John and Anita are coming out in about two weeks; it will be nice to have the company. Maybe John can help Dick get the "Coffee Table in a State of Becoming" project glued together.
We had a wonderful last week with family - our Spring Fling at Lohring's and Yayoe's on Saturday was very nice, and we went to Adam and Jamie's for high tea on Sunday. Just had a phone call from Cousin Mary Steane asking after Dick.

It's been quite the busy weekend so far, as s...

April 20, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's been quite the busy weekend so far, as suspected. Yesterday morning began with our typical hearty breakfast, then I was up on the roof sprinkling moss killer. Jamie and Sam dutifully watched from safety, ready to call 911 or laugh at my antics, whichever seemed appropriate. Next was Easter eggs, which we got very creative with. I think I'll demand that Jamie prepare more next time around, as the measly three that we each get just seems too little. I suppose she's trying to minimize the number we'll have to eat later, but it's the spirit of the thing.

After a short snack and a trip to the park with Sam, we headed over to my dad and Yayoe's house for a big family gathering. The food was excellent and everyone seemed to have a good time chatting it up. By the time we made it home, exhaustion had struck and I retreated to a bath and read Discover magazine. The evening was fairly low-key, playing with Sam a little, finishing the laundry, and getting ready for the server upgrade.

Today should be a bit quieter, hopefully. The server upgrade seems to be working just fine so far. We're hosting a tea party this afternoon, in part to get rid of all the eggs. I expect mass quantities of egg salad sandwiches.

Sadie's home! Sadie's home! She arrived safe ...

April 19, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Sadie's home! Sadie's home! She arrived safe and sound on Tuesday evening, and unfortunately the week has flown by. It
has been a wonderful time of catch-up. She made broccolli
(sorry, too many of one letter, not enough of another) soup, nourishing our souls and our stomachs, last night, and
Robbie, Seraph and Isa came for dinner. They stayed and we watched Maid in Manhattan, a perfect bit of after dinner froth. Dick is tired, but cheerful. Sadie, Dick and I played Hearts and Gin this afternoon. We're trying to get him to impart his poker secrets, far more important than figuring out whether I use the gas or the gas/oil mix in the chainsaw. Marsha stopped by to visit, and promised Steve would come down this week. We float on a sea of love.
om

It's a Mocha Friday here at work

April 18, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's a Mocha Friday here at work. I'm hoping it's not too nutty today, as the weekend promises to be quite busy. Saturday is the combined Easter/Christmas/Hanukah gathering at my dad and Yayoe's house. Later that night I start the server upgrade and finish up Sunday morning. With luck, it will go smoothly and only require a couple hours of hands-on work altogether.

Sadie came over last night, which was wonderful. I do miss that girl. It's amazing that she's about to graduate from college, as I still remember her as a kid, wandering down to my bedroom to wish me goodnight.

Jamie is exceedingly pregnant these days. I spent a long while last night just feeling all the kicks and bumps that Emma makes throughout the day. Poor Jamie has a hard time sleeping with all the rumblings and tumblings in her belly.

Sam called me at work yesterday afternoon, te...

April 17, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam called me at work yesterday afternoon, telling me to come home at once.
"Where's mom?" I asked.
"Upstairs sleeping."
"And you've just been playing by yourself?"
"No. I've been going in and waking up mom. That's entertaining."

Needless to say, I came home. Jamie was no longer asleep, but she promptly went back to bed when I arrived.

Spring has finally come to Columbus, Ohio!!! ...

April 16, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Spring has finally come to Columbus, Ohio!!! Of course it has to come as summer then go to Spring. I haven't posted lately because there really hasn't been much great to say. I still go back and forth with the farm. I have a 1300 lb, brood cow down and probably it will not make it, but at the same time the Hereford had her calf and it is just as cute as can be. Win some, lose some. At least I don't have to pay taxes, can't pay anything if you don't make anything. I used to think that some day I would see a profit. Now I just figure you farm because you enjoy the torture.

The boys are wonderful. Patrick has so much to do for homework it boggles the mind. He recently completed a 38 page poetry book that had 15 original poems he had written and illustrated. In addition he had to choose 12 poems by other authors, type them up and illustrate and explain them. He chose some good ones; Tiger, Tiger, Stopping at a woods on a snowy night, Fog, etc...

Will is slugging his way through his confirmation events. Last weekend they toured a synagouge and had class. This week he is an usher at sunrise services and then the kids serve a breakfast afterwards and then regular church. Next week he is to serve and clean up after the community dinner (which is part of our outreach mission). There is usually a good crowd. Mostly older people, pretty poor folks from down in the hills and sometimes people who are travelling on the freeway. I think he'll enjoy it but he is limited to certain things physically. I told him I was going to pull a chair up to the sink and make him do dishes!

All is well otherwise. Stay happy, Love. P and the boys.

The week has slowly meandered along

April 15, 2003 by Adam in Family

The week has slowly meandered along. Work has quieted down a bit. Hopefully it's not the calm before the storm, as I have a server upgrade and many family events this weekend.

Emma's room is looking fairly finished. Jamie and Sam packed a hospital bag. I've still got to gather up all my various cameras and such as my role of official documenter. Jamie also assured me that she would be spending as much time in the hospital as they'd let her, while Sam and I went home. I think last time I wanted to go home early, as the hospital noise kept me up all night. Still, I figure I should bring along a toothbrush just in case.

I was just wandering around the art building ...

April 15, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I was just wandering around the art building looking at senior art exhibits. They're terrible. Firstly, no one can be that grumpy all the time. Secondly, art is not soley for the alienated and shouldn't soley be for alientating audiences. And thirdly, although I understand and respect depressing art, being depressed while making art doesn't make it good. Thank heavens I'm going home this afternoon and will not have to see bloody sculptures and dresses made of latex gloves for a whole week.

Another beautiful spring day - alternately gr...

April 15, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Another beautiful spring day - alternately gray and sunny.
Yayoe is working to put together a dinner next weekend - our usual Jewish-Methodist-Unitarian-Russian Orthodox-Atheist religious get together. Maybe we've reached a critical mass, and could just start our own. I vote for the first commandment to be "There are no good wars" and the second one to be, "Before any argument, people all need to cook dinner and eat together."

Love to all, om/sue PS - I want a vanity plate which says, "Sue M". Ah, lawyers, and a bad lot we are.

Sam's started to get into reading and writing...

April 14, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam's started to get into reading and writing these last few weeks. He spelled out "CAT" on the chalkboard the other day. Also, when playing Neverwinter Nights together, he had his character say "HLO" to me. While not spelled out perfectly, I was amazed that he could: 1) figure out how to send a message in the game, 2) figure out how to spell HELLO reasonably well, and 3) find all the keys on the keyboard. It's pretty neat watching him grow up.

This morning I was sitting in engineering whi...

April 14, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

This morning I was sitting in engineering while professor Riley promoted the dept. to two prospective students. She was talking about trying to hire someone to redevelop the curriculum of the course and link it to a real community, raising her eyebrows and encouraging the class to take up her offer. Of course, these are engineers, off to Ford for summer internships and not interested in silly little appropriate technology. So I said, "I'd love to do this work". And she said (in the middle of class), "I'd love for you to do this work, and you could stay at home and fly to colorado with me to meet the engineers without borders people." And I said, "Super." And she did a happy dance. And so I am now gainfully employed for the summer. Isn't that exciting.

Dick's breathing has been slighly more "labor...

April 13, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Dick's breathing has been slighly more "labored" for two or three weeks. Add to that a cold he caught, and the result has been uneasy sleep. He got up in the middle of the night and came down to watch TV. Sadie is coming home Tuesday night.
We did have a nice visit with the fam, or most of them, yesterday morning. Seraph and Jenny wanted to know how to make Dick's Better Spaghetti Sauce and Seraph, who long ago developed a Relationship with Dick's split pea soup, wanted that recipe as well. We did have fun. Anita and John sent presents back with Dick - books and puzzles - and the kids were enthralled.
One funny thing happened to remind me how much I admire the kids' concern for one another. I had a worried call from Jamie, saying she'd tried to reach both Seraph and Jenny, couldn't get them on the phone, and called to make sure we were okay. About ten minutes later, I had a worried call from Jenny, just back from the store, worried about why Adam
and Jamie's phone number were on her caller ID, and was the baby coming early.
I think I will ask Yayoe to go over the options for care. By the end of thmis week at work, I will have most of my current trials taken care of.

Jamie pulled me away from the latest Harry Po...

April 13, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Jamie pulled me away from the latest Harry Potter movie to assign new tasks for Emma's room. I put up a shelf, some coat hooks at kid level, and a Beatrix Potter measuring scale. Sam had to try it out, of course, and we found he's grown immensely since we last had it out - 4 inches shy of 4 feet. Jamie says he's a head taller than the other kids in his class.

Jamie's pretty done with the pregnancy thing. She slept on the couch for part of last night, as the bed was becoming uncomfortable. I keep telling her she has a few more weeks yet, as her belly button hasn't quite popped out to show she's done.

A wonderful weekend began this morning

April 13, 2003 by Adam in Family

A wonderful weekend began this morning. I wandered upstairs to crawl into bed with Sam and Jamie. Poor Sam's had a sniffly nose today, though it hasn't dampened his spirits much. Jamie made a hearty breakfast while Sam and I constructed lightsabres and had exciting battles in the living room until it was time to eat.

Later on, Sam and I went over to mom and Dick's while Jamie did some shopping. Seraph, Robbie, and Jenny arrived with kids in tow, so it was quite the meeting of cousins. Other than a little refereeing, they all got along fairly well. Mom and Dick seemed in good spirits and I got to be useful by fixing a printer. After loading us up with cookies and cranberry bread, we treked across the hill to return home.

Jamie had picked up the latest Harry Potter DVD as I requested, so we watched the whole thing, Sam glued to the television. Next was a lengthy game of tag outdoors during a break in the rain, dinner, and now we find ourselves towards the end of the day. Sam's being good and playing Legos by himself as I type.

We are all going to see Bend it Like Beckham ...

April 12, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

We are all going to see Bend it Like Beckham at the Bijou when I get home, no matter how stiff the chairs are, no matter that every seat in the house is a bad seat.

http://www.bijou-cinemas.com/schedule.html

I absolutely can't wait to come home.

It's rainbow season in the Willamette Valley

April 11, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

It's rainbow season in the Willamette Valley. For some reason the weather patterns this time in the spring result in the production of rainbows and spectacular sun/rain shows. This evening, the sky was gray but the setting sun broke through and illuminated the hills across the valley; they glowed. This is a season when every tree and shrub is lush - like the rain forest around Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

I had my last real trial for quite awhile. I'm looking forward to keeping the office quiet and spending time with Dick. And gardening - Grandma Jones used to come in from a day of gardening and tell me that gardening was good for everyone, because it seemed as though our troubles just went right down into the dirt. Smart lady.

I've been listening to a song at work, Bohemi...

April 10, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I've been listening to a song at work, Bohemian Like You. For some reason, it brings back nostalgic feelings from my college years, though I wasn't quite as carefree as the singer in that song. Jamie and I ran into a woman at a toystore over the weekend. She had been one of the regulars in a little group that would get together to play Hearts and listen to Marc Allen. Now we both have kids and have moved on.

The past is a funny thing when looked at across the distance of years. I sometimes miss the freedom to basically do anything and go anywhere. Yet it's easy to forget that I really didn't have any place to go or things to do that were terribly important.

Having Sam and soon Emma is bringing up memories of those times, thinking of how they'll face the same challenges as I did and hoping I can help ease the passage through the decades.

For the beginning of a work week, things have...

April 09, 2003 by Adam in Family

For the beginning of a work week, things have actually gone along quite well. Sam and Jamie both seem to be in a good mood, perhaps because the weather has been nice and they've been playing outside more. Jamie got a new pajama top that Sam adores, and has forced her to wear for the last three days. He's also become enamored with the way she looks with a ponytail, so he'll wake up and get a rubber band for her. Last night, he wanted to make sure I put on cool looking shorts. I think we have the makings of a fashion designer.

Last night Jamie made a lovely dinner and I actually had the energy to play Sam's pretend games. We threw up his play tent (the best $10 I've ever spent) and had various catastrophes strike while we went camping. Then there was a battle and I got a robot hand, which somehow had a life of its own. In Dr. Strangelove fashion, it would try to wrestle or tickle Sam while the rest of my body frantically tried to stop it. Ah, the joys of four-year-old games.

Took this afternoon off work to finish up hou...

April 09, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Took this afternoon off work to finish up housework; got help from a worker guy from Centro Latino - good guy who mowed the grass and did some moving stuff around. The weather was beautiful - probably 65 or so and sunny.

I picked Dick up at 7:00 - good trip back, and he had obviously had a good time. He's worried that his mom couldn't hear him well enough, even with her hearing aids,
to really understand.

The war news is terrible. They showed a clip of a 12 year old boy whose house was bombed by American planes, killing his pregnant mother, his father and his brother. We liberated both his arms, as well.

I tried reading The Agonist on Adam's site, but I'm going to have to ask Adam how Blogs work. I think Bush is like anyone who doesn't have much depth of vision, and can focus only on what they already know about, which in his case is oil. If there is a world wide boycott of American products, our economy is even more toasted.

I had massive amounts of things to do at work...

April 08, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I had massive amounts of things to do at work today, so I snuck in a mid-week Mocha. I've been slowly getting things done, writing endless code. I no longer have to really think much as I program - I just think of what I need to do and my fingers type the words I need. Odd.

The weather is slowly coming around to Spring, which I greatly appreciate. While walking to work this morning, I stopped for a moment, listening to the birds and watching the clouds go by. It's a rare thing for me to simply appreciate the world around me. To many projects and responsibilities.

Sam recently watched Jumanji and expressed an...

April 08, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam recently watched Jumanji and expressed an interest in Kirsten Dunst, who played the girl in the movie. He evidently said that he "likes" her and that he had a dream about her later. I think he prefers the girl version, as she's in Spiderman, though she's not as interesting to him there.

Sam's been pretty fun to be around these days. He's started playing by himself more, often with various figures that he has (knights, pirates, or Legos). We also have been trying out Emma's new carseat, putting Sam's doll (also called Emma) in it to try it out.

Sam had his knights out, but the game evidently wasn't interesting enough. He began to unbuckle Emma, calling out "the monster awakens." There was then a huge battle between his doll and the knights, until they appeased the beast with a giant bottle.

It was a crazy but fun filled weekend

April 08, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

It was a crazy but fun filled weekend. We went up to Portland on Sat. night to a comedy club with Raven, Cheikh and aome of their friends. We drove back at 6am Sun. to make it to church and get Isa.
This week is looking like a busy one. I'm at the office at 7:30 a.m. and still can't get out from under the pile of things to do! According to our schedule things should slow down in May -- I hope!

The weather was wonderful Sunday and Jim and ...

April 07, 2003 by Adam in Family

The weather was wonderful Sunday and Jim and Judy came down from Portland to wisk Sam away for a fun-filled day. He rode his bike, played with Josh and Dave, then ended up going to see Spirited Away, returning quite late.

Jamie and I tried to have a day on the town together. We had lunch at 5th Street Market, lounged about the library, and went to the ballet. It was actually better than I thought - very elegant choreography. Unfortunately Jamie started to get very uncomfortable sitting still, so we left at the intermission.

It was strange being alone in the house without the boy. I read a bit and puttered around, not quite sure what to do with myself. When he returned, our home descended into the typical chaos as Sam chatted and whirled about.

Ah the joys of real estate and agriculture! ...

April 06, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Ah the joys of real estate and agriculture! Patrick is playing with a friend this afternoon, Will is at a confirmation class and I am trying to avoid pulling the last of the tax stuff together. I am usually so organized but we moved our office in December and everything that I had sorted into neat little piles got dumped into boxes and piled in the corner of my new office. So the search continues with daily surprises.

After 78 degrees on Thursday, we had snow at the farm last night. It was Mike's weekend with the boys but since he had them for a week and really wanted to watch the final four basketball tournament in peace with his girlfriend, they came back after work on Saturday. We headed home to the farm and after bedding down, feeding and putting a tarp over the new vet pen (where the Hereford VW Bus- she hasn't had that calf yet!!) is residing as her maternity ward. After that it was late and dark and we decided to throw caution to the wind and drive into town to Red Lobster (the only thing that resembles seafood in the country) and get oysters for Patrick, shrimp for Will and lobster tail for me. We picked up milk, headed home and topped it off with a soft serve ice cream from the beer/wine drive thru. I'm sure the people from church probably look askance at me when they see me come out of there but it is good ice cream and it's worth it to hear Will say, "Ice Cream, Umm, Umm in the Tum!" Love to all- P.

For a dreary Saturday, it wasn't too bad

April 06, 2003 by Adam in Family

For a dreary Saturday, it wasn't too bad. After three cups of coffee, I got a tremendous amount of things done in the morning, packaging up the taxes and putting in new shelves for Jamie. Sam and I played Star Wars yet again, then I tried to get him outside for a hike. For some reason, he seemed tired and whiny, so we ended up renting movies instead. Jamie seemed to enjoy her day "off", resting up and reading a bit.

It's technically 8 am, though our sleepy brains are still saying it's the pre-daylight savings 7 am. We tried to get Sam to bed early last night, but only managed to shift it about a half hour.

I don't think we have a good plan for the day. I really want to get the boy outside and work out some of his pent up energy. We'll see how it goes.

Adam and Jamie fed me a good dinner last nigh...

April 06, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Adam and Jamie fed me a good dinner last night - Jamie's ought-to-be-world-famous corn chowder. Sam was entertaining, as always, and I tried in turn to entertain him with tales of what little terrors his Dad and Auntie Jenny were when they were two and three. I did the Six Bars of Soap in the Toilet story and the Tang in the Bathwater tale. I think I'll work up gradually to the Great American Poop Story.
I did my stint at Legal Aid Senior Services this morning.
I'm planning to have a cleaning person come in once a week, at least for awhile, so of course I spent the rest of the day cleaning house. Seraph and Robbie brought Isa over about four, with a car seat, along with a pizza. After dinner, she and I rented a movie - people with kids should all have pickups, cause kids can view the world in great style. We saw Erin, who stopped for a hug and a quick visit. Talked to Dick; they had a good birthday with Derek. Love to all, om

Last night I had a lovely dinner with Jennife...

April 05, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Last night I had a lovely dinner with Jennifer Walters, who is my shrink and spiritual mentor, if people with ambiguous feelings toward the Lord can have such things. Then Anna, megs, and more drove to Greenfield and danced to bluegrass 'till our pits sweat and our feet swelled. It was most exactily what I needed. Noah, Anna's brother is here now, and keeps potentially stressful weekends much lighter out of necessity to keep him entertained. Hope all is well with all ya'll, and that there is not too much smoking and drinking (mochas) without me.

I've been playing a little Splinter Cell

April 05, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I've been playing a little Splinter Cell. Not much, as my Neverwinter Nights obsession continues strong. Sam and I were playing this morning and we ran across this office basketball hoop, complete with little foam basketballs. Well, we couldn't resist and we spent many a happy moment with our tough secret agent shooting baskets.

Mostly, though, I keep working on my Neverwinter Nights projects. It's pretty time consuming, but the results are quite nice. I still get daily e-mails about how much people appreciate the games. Plus it's still fun to make them. Of course, with the baby on the way, who knows if I'll be able to keep up the pace.

It's a mocha Friday and all seems good somehow

April 04, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's a mocha Friday and all seems good somehow. Dinner with Jamie was pleasant - an entire hour of adult conversation without interruptions. I'm hoping to get boring things done this weekend. The taxes need to be mailed out, moss removal should be spread on the roof, and so on. I'm looking forward to dinner with my mom tonight. Jamie's mom and Jim are coming down Sunday to play with Sam and let us go to the ballet. So classy.

Bad dogs, and the women who love them

April 04, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Bad dogs, and the women who love them. I drew the short straw, and at the end of the day, heaved the dog into the front seat of the pickup, while Reta and Seraph giggled hysterically. Just as I was leaving the parking lot, I saw a man walking a dog and asked him if he recognized the pup. He ran over to a telephone pole and returned with a flyer for a lost dog - named Sadie. I called on the cell, and by the time I got home, the owner had called.

Talked to Anita and Dick; they are having a good visit. I talked with Sadie, too (not the dog). And I promise, no more whining - poor Adam and Jamie invited me to dinner tomorrow night because I sounded so pathetic.

I decided it was time for a bit of backbone starch. Additionally, I reminded myself of one of my favorite sections in John Brown's Body, about an old lady named Lucinda Matlock. I think I remember that she says, at the end of her life, "Oh, ye degenerate sons and daughters. It takes life to love life." It would be hard to think how our lives could have been better. Hugs to all, and thanks for caring. om

We currently have a dog hanging out with us

April 03, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We currently have a dog hanging out with us. The office took in a black lab (aprox 6 mo. old) that was running aroung in the street by the office. We put up some signs, called and left information with the human society and walked around the neighborhood asking -- no luck.
She's actually a very sweet pup and has been completely content lounging by our desks getting scratches and eating crackers.

It's balmy and 70 degrees today

April 03, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

It's balmy and 70 degrees today. Got a lovely note from Meg last night with pics of Callie and Mikayla. Could I get graduation dates, just in case I could get away for 24 hours?

Sounds like everyone is perking along there. She said they drove down to Fla. for their vacation. She was a bit shocked by the conservative South.

I was up every hour on the hour last night checking on a brood cow ready to give birth. Still no sign this morning, so the vet is going to stop by and check on her mid-day. I expect she'll decide to get on with it about midnight tonight! This will be her first and she is the size of a Volkswagon bug, so I imagine its going to be a tough one. Pulled one out a week ago with chains and come alongs!

Dick arrived in Chicago safe and sound late t...

April 03, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Dick arrived in Chicago safe and sound late this afternoon. I hope he has a good visit.

I practiced being a sole femme this evening - three cigarettes and two glasses of wine before Wendy's take-out salad, then house cleaning like crazy. Maybe I'll get the hang of it a little better tomorrow evening.

My dreams have been intense enough to remember, unusual for me - most reflecting my worries and ambiguous feelings. My first dreams were complex, and usually about having to solve some leadership problem. One was clearly about whether
I should take my anti-depressants each day, and presumably function better, or whether I should be able to feel sad (in the dream I couldn't find a clean glass or clean water to take my pill). Ah, La Vida Es Suena.

Peaceful dreams, and many thanks.

It's been fairly quiet the last few days

April 02, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's been fairly quiet the last few days. Jamie arranged for a babysitter for Sam tonight, so we'll actually get to go out on a date. It seems as if it's been a long time since Jamie and I had some quiet moments to ourself. Should be nice.

We had another OB visit yesterday. Emma's doing fine. Our doctor thought she was currently breach, but then she followed it up by saying that there was a study that showed that doctors were wrong about it a third of the time. It's not really a big deal unless she decides not to turn around for the actual birth part.

Josh is back in town, which makes Sam immensely happy. When I arrived from work, Jamie was taking a bath and he and Sam were pretending to be spies. It's a good thing Josh is so patient.

The garage door is fixed

April 02, 2003 by Judy in Hanes

The garage door is fixed. Last weekend was WONDERFUL. We should have gone ahead with the "Cousins' Weekend" but I was fearful of rain and bad weather. This would have probably been one of the best weekends of the season.

Also got the new white wooden blinds up in the living room and kitchen. Makes a big difference in the ambience.
Our friends and work mate of Jim's Danny & Sherry and their 2 children are using the "cabin" over Palm Sunday in April

We had a nice weekend

April 01, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

We had a nice weekend. Hanni watched Isa on Sat. night, leaving Robbie and I the fun task of yard work. We started to make a dent.
We happily went to bed at 8:30 p.m. and slept until 7:30 a.m.
Raven and Cheikh have invited us up to a comedy club in Portland next weekend. It would be really fun, but I'm not sure we could aquire babysitting again. It would also be strang to be out among our childless couple friends. We always have to remind ourselves not to spend the whole time talking about our kid!

We were having dinner the other day, talking ...

April 01, 2003 by Adam in Sam

We were having dinner the other day, talking along as we ususally do and Sam said, "Dad, are you being sarcastic?" Cracked me up.

Last night, we were playing an older game of mine called Rune, which involves much fighting. Sam asked, "Is this game for children?" I responded that it wasn't and he said, "But I'm a children." I then acted surprised and announced that we should stop playing immediately. He then backtracked and told me that he was really big enough. Funny kid.

Ha, so much for plumbing

April 01, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Ha, so much for plumbing. I did learn how to change a washer
(who says lawyers can't find honest work), but it still leaks slightly under the sink. Dick appears unperturbed, and says we just need to retighten it. I did try to find some lowrider pants to fit my new career.

Dick will leave for Chicago on Wednesday morning from Eugene, and return on Tuesday the 8th. We have had sweet messages from his old grad school friends, in spite of Dick's determination not to bother anyone.

I still don't quite get what "hits" means, but I think it means other people are reading the site. If so, please send us good thoughts, and as Meggie my Quaker sister says, "Hold us in the light."

Love to all, old mom.

Back into the groove at my household

March 31, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Back into the groove at my household. The boys and I had a great homecoming get together. We went to church on Sunday and everyone was glad to see them back. I told Patrick that I was lost without he and Will's love last week and he reminded me that our churh family always was there with love for all. He is so wise sometimes.

We picked up a DVD and as it was bitter cold Sunday afternoon we watched it, The Tuxedo, a silly Jackie Chan movie. We had Spanish Mackerel, caught by Patrick in the Gulf, for dinner and woke to a blinding snowstorm this morning. Got to love Ohio, if you don't like the weather, wait a couple of hours it will change! Love to all.

A very pleasant weekend has come and gone

March 31, 2003 by Adam in Family

A very pleasant weekend has come and gone. Sunday was beautiful, with Sam and I going for a hike at Hendrick's Park. The flowers were in bloom and we ran along the paths like maniacs. Later on, Jamie, Sam, Josh, and I all went to see the Two Towers in the theater. Amazingly, Sam watched the entire thing without any breaks. That's tough even for me at times. Of course he thought it was a great movie and even Jamie seemed to like it.

I'm not sure what the week ahead holds. Hopefully I can package up the taxes and get them out the door. We have a doctor's appointment Wednesday. I'm starting to feel that we're going to be having a baby sooner than we think.

We got a lot done yesterday

March 30, 2003 by Adam in Family

We got a lot done yesterday. I woke up, had a short time to myself, then Sam came down at the crack of dawn. We played about until Jamie made us breakfast and I expressed my frustration and the long list of things I had to do. Somehow we managed to wash our cars, do all the laundry, finish our taxes, power wash the driveway, clean my bathroom, mow the lawns, go food shopping, and have Dave, Kirsten, and Josh over for dinner. Whew!

Sam really loved having Josh over again, especially as he'd been gone for a week. Josh is slowly moving into the "I'm too old to play with a four-year-old" phase, but Sam still thinks he's the best cousin ever. Today we're all headed for the Two Towers in the theaters if the weather is marginal as promised. Even Jamie is going, as long as I get her popcorn. Personally I think that she's there for Aragorn.

i fully approve of the lessons- i'm hoping fo...

March 30, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

i fully approve of the lessons- i'm hoping for some direction on how to make soup in five hours. i figure if i know how to make soup, i'll survive grad school. best to all,
sadie

Not much news - just that we're being tenderl...

March 30, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Not much news - just that we're being tenderly cared for by the fam. Adam, Jamie and Sam walked over for dinner yesterday. Poor Jamie, there is no place left on her body where she can get more pregnant. Seraph and I had been counting the days for her, but when I mentioned the idea last night, Jamie told me that if it weren't tomorrow, she didn't want to know. We had breakfast with Seraph, Robbie and Isa at New Day this morning; Isa is such a scamp - but really a kindly kid, too.

Dick and I have agreed that he will try to give me a practical education very quickly, and Seraph, Robbie and I decided this morning that we needed to have him do a little How to Install a Windshield Wiper workshop. He went through the basics of operating a VCR for me last week; just don't ask me to tape anything. The house cooperated by springing a leak under the bathroom sink, so tomorrow morning, it's Plumbing 101.

Adam said he had heard from the woman who was ill with leukemia; she has a ten year old daughter. That would be really hard. Dick and I can feel sad about him not seeing grandkids and Mike and Johnny's kids grow up, but we don't have to worry that they only have one parent.

Well, we're expecting Yayoe tomorrow with some Love Soup, and Hanni just came over with Weinerschnitzel(I just got on a roll with that word, and it was hard to stop!) and mashed potatoes, a cucumber salad and melon balls. Aaah, I'm going to get fat. Thank you all.

I am sitting at the office, impatiently waiti...

March 29, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

I am sitting at the office, impatiently waiting for the boys. They were to return yesterday afternoon but there was some confusion on their flight and they missed it. So they got on a later flight that got them into Columbus around midnight last night. Mike took them home with him and now I'm waiting for them. I'm jittering around like a new bride!
I didn't get as much done as I wanted while they were gone but I got everything clean and started the primer coat on the woodwork that has been stripped. What fun!

It's Saturday morning in the Miller household...

March 29, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's Saturday morning in the Miller household, quiet and peaceful before Jamie and Sam awake. We went over to have dinner with mom and Dick yesterday, who were both looking quite tan from their trip to Belize. They brought back all sorts of goodies, including a t-shirt with a skeletal pirate for me. Sam insisted that I put it on immediately, as well as wear it the next day.

No exciting plans for the weekend. Jamie offered up "washing her car" as a fun-filled family activity, but that seems a bit of a stretch. Perhaps I can get to some of the projects that have been waiting around.

It's a Mocha Friday here at work

March 28, 2003 by Adam in Adam

It's a Mocha Friday here at work. For some reason, work has gotten awfully busy - it seems to happen around springtime for some strange reason. Perhaps it's the winter lethargy that's faded and people are trying to get things done in the final months before the next fiscal year. Gotta spend all that money if you want the same amount next year.

No exciting plans for the weekend, though I'm hoping to get outside if this nice weather holds. Jamie can't really move around much, so I was hoping to go see Spirited Away in the theaters. Unfortunately it's not showing in Eugene anymore, so I'm stuck waiting for the DVD which comes out next month.

Here's the plan

March 27, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Here's the plan. We're going to try to go to Chicago, at least for a few days, fairly soon, so Dick can talk to his mom and visit with his family. Then, on April 18th, his doc will stick a tube down his esogauphus (I have yet to spell that the same way twice!) so he'll be able to keep eating food in the normal way. And then we're going to relax and enjoy all the rest of you. Many hugs..om

Jamie passed out this morning while on the ph...

March 26, 2003 by Adam in Family

Jamie passed out this morning while on the phone with Seraph. She started to feel dizzy while sitting at the table and calmly announced that she was going to pass out. The next thing she knew the phone was somewhere under her chair, still connected to a freaked out Seraph. When she relayed the story, I made her promise to call her doctor. It's not that surprising - she has low blood pressure and similar issues when she was pregnant with Sam and earlier with this pregnancy. Still, this is the first time she's lost consciousness, which is not something encouraging.

Dick visited the doctor this morning, getting somewhat good news. He's more comfortable than he was, so hopefully those two days on his back at the hospital have helped. Also, the progression of the cancer isn't as rapid as feared, so it looks like he'll have time to go back to Chicago.

It's been mostly rainy the last couple days, so there's been lots of staying at home and watching movies. Yesterday Jamie called, bored and immobile on a rainy day with a four-year-old. I asked around work for advice and the best answer I got was "rub her feet." So, I went home early and washed her feet and rubbed them. It helped some.

Thank you, all

March 26, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Thank you, all. We were met by a smiling Seraph at the Portland airport, and whisked down the valley, on which spring had descended while we were gone. Home to find the tulips blooming and the house spick and span, thanks to Jamie, who had come over and cleaned and cleaned, and Aaron (I know, Aaron Honn - he's up to my shoulder!) who had gathered the mail and fed the cat. Only Mischa was cranky; he's always really peeved when we leave for a day or two. I began to unpack and wash, but made the mistake of starting to listen to phone messages. I got as far as Megan's (Sadie's bud - she spent the summer after their first or second year with us), and just got too weepy.

Seraph took us straight to the lab for Dick to have blood drawn. He has an appointment tomorrow at ten with the gastroenterologist. (Imagine that doc's poor mom - she would probably like to brag about him but can't pronounce what he does.)

I am so sad about this war. I like the kids who are my kids age so much - where ever they are in the world, driving cab in Belize, working in a bookstore in Herare, or writing computer games. I don't want them to kill each other.

Thank you all, for your love and good thoughts. Sue/om

It feels like a few life times have past sinc...

March 25, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

It feels like a few life times have past since we last posted. We are all back safe and sound, slowly adjusting to normalcy. Unfortuately we have all come down with different bugs. I think this is purely from all the running around the last two weeks.

We did have a wonderful trip and are nicely tanned. I think it has been difficult for Isabell to wear clothes again.

I head off to Portland this morning to get Mom and Dick. They fly in at 1:00 p.m.

Mom and Dick return home today, if all is well

March 25, 2003 by Adam in Family

Mom and Dick return home today, if all is well. I've been hearing from Seraph and Sadie, who are also back in their respective abodes.

Jamie's extremely pregnant and still sick, but doing better as each day passes. She discovered Afrin, which is evidently safe for women over 12 weeks pregnant. I think it's the only way she's been able to sleep the last few nights. It was sadly funny trying to watch her eat dinner last night. Her lungs are squished up, so she's not able to breathe well, plus her nose is plugged up. So, she'll take a few deep breaths, eat a small bite, then catch her breath again. Poor woman. I think she's very much looking forward to giving birth and getting her body back.

Sam's the one who's been exceptionally friendly and pleasant the last few days, even with two sick parents. His sense of humor is also top-notch. He was watching Raiders of the Lost Ark and I was trying to explain that one of the characters was an evil archeologist and Sam replied, "I guess that makes him an arche-evil-ologist." Not bad for a four-year-old.

i'm back from belize, without any flight comp...

March 24, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

i'm back from belize, without any flight complications, and even an early flight from chicago to providence that allowed an early arrival in northampton. smith is humming away- i have an engineering meeting in 45 minutes and a 20 pger to write by thursday- back to normal. i'm in a goodish mood, probably from the vitamin d and a little family face time under my belt. feels good to sleep in my own bed while dreaming of sunny beaches.

It will be hard to leave this beautiful spot ...

March 24, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

It will be hard to leave this beautiful spot - hibiscus, palm trees, and hummingbirds. I would definitely suggest this as a vacation spot. People here are gracious and accomodating, and all speak English. We will fly back to mainland Belize later this afternoon and then on to Houston this evening. Then into Portland tomorrow. See you soon!

Another weekend draws to a close

March 24, 2003 by Adam in Family

Another weekend draws to a close. I'm off to work in a few minutes, my stuffy nose not enough to keep me away.

I haven't been able to keep away from news of the war. On a positive note, Salam seems to be posting again, after a two day absence. He's in Bagdad, so that's about as eyewitness as it gets. I've also been reading the agonist daily, and sometimes even opening up a window on my computer with tv and have that going in the background. Crazy times.

Seraph and Robbie are back in the states, with mom and Dick returning Tuesday. I think Sadie's gone back to school, then coming back again. I'm not sure how that's all going to work.

On the homefront, things have been fairly quiet. We did a little gardening yesterday, pulling weeds and generally cleaning up. Jamie and I were still pretty sick, so poor Sam was stuck with boring parents. He's a great kid, though, and kept a stiff upper lip. Last night, I let him read Dr. Seuss's Fox in Socks book, which he was really excited about. We slowly made it through the first few pages, carefully sounding out words. He was so excited, but it was late and the book got increasingly more difficult. Time to get new reading books for Sam.

I'm stuffed up and tired, typing a short litt...

March 23, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I'm stuffed up and tired, typing a short little thing this morning. Devon e-mailed me the other day, trying to get in touch in person. Life's a little crazy at the moment, but it would be nice to see him. I might try to see if I can get him to come down some weekend and see the family, though that may be awhile.

After Sam went to bed, I spent the time unable to pry my eyes away from war coverage. It's like watching a train wreck - I'd cringe inside but I can't look away. In fact, I was just watching now and they had Oliver North reporting from Iraq. There's got to be some bizarre irony in there some where.

Everyone's feeling a bit better today

March 22, 2003 by Adam in Family

Everyone's feeling a bit better today. I think all the headaches are under control and now we're merely stuffed up and tired. Sam and I played a bunch this morning, including some Neverwinter Nights. After lunch, we we hiking out in the woods.

It's been raining off and on the last few days, so everything is really muddy. Sam's latest favorite thing is going off the trails and hiking through the undergrowth. It's a bit crazy, sliding through the mud and climbing over logs and such. Still, he had a good time, though I did make him strip down and put on clean clothes one we got home.

The boys left for Florida with Mike, Alice, a...

March 22, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

The boys left for Florida with Mike, Alice, and Mikes' girlfriend Missy yesterday. They are staying in Appalachacola at a cabin they have rented. Patrick called and said he missed me and did I pack the bug repellant and Will said he was happy because the screened in porch had two chairs and an ashtray for his Grandma. Guess I know where they will be hanging out.

I took advantage of the situation and worked late last night and then stopped at the exit before ours and got a Frosty and a salad from Wendy's. I took the back road to the farm and the peepers were singing away in the remaining sections of the old canal. Guess Spring is actually here.

Patricks' dog has been moping around the past day and has been frantically searching the house for him. He is also confused because I'm taking advantage of the kids being gone to tear apart their room and clean and work on stipping the last of the woodwork. I have all sorts of jobs lined up for while they are gone, I wonder how many I'll actually get done??

Sounds like Belize is beautiful, and the perfect place to be right now. Thank you for taking to time to post Sue, my love and thoughts are with you guys.

Adam and Jamie get well. Patrick had that horrible cold/flu thing with a high fever, cough and some congestion. It really tore him down and although it lasted about a week, he still was dragging when he left for FLorida. (Maybe part of that was staying up late and trying to catch up on missed homework.)
It's funny, Will was so excited about going to Florida that he kept packing his toothbrush everynight for about a week beforehand. Finally Patrick got ticked off retrieving his packed with Will's and told Will "the damn toothbrush has travelled more miles back and forth from the bathroom to the bedroom, than it will going to Florida!"
Much Love- P.

A quick hello

March 22, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

A quick hello. We've moved to the Caribe Island Resort. Dad flew out yesterday, and Seraph, Robbie and Isa leave this afternoon and get in tomorrow. We are pretending there isn't a war. Love to all, om

What a crazy day

March 22, 2003 by Adam in Family

What a crazy day. I'm sick. Really sick. I went to the doctor this morning and remembered the time wrong, so I showed up an hour early, getting increasingly frustrated as the minutes ticked by. After that got straightened out, it wasn't so bad. They gave me a chest x-ray, which I felt was a bit much, but they get a little worried about a recurring cough. Personally, I just think it's a new one. The joys of living with a disease vector named Sam.

I've been spending a lot of time looking at www.agonist.com, which is updated incredibly frequently. The guy takes very short breaks for eating and sleeping, but that's about it.

Jamie's really sick too, sporting a fever at the moment. She went to her baby checkup and all was good, but the doctor said she'd probably be sick for a week like everyone else.

Sam has somehow escaped it all. I picked up three movies at Flicks and Picks, hoping to entertain him for the weekend and Jamie and I blah about. Ah well, now he's calling me, wanting to reinact scenes from the movie. Best wishes to all.

Here's another link for you: an Israeli's mo...

March 21, 2003 by Adam in Family

Here's another link for you:
an Israeli's mother's blog

I'm fascinated by Salam from Dear Raed below. This site seems to be getting linked to from all sorts of places, some questioning whether or not he's real. He updated again this morning - worried about the reports of B52 bombers flying towards Iraq.

The general news seems to be a bit one-sided and just plain odd at times. The informal Blogs seem far more interesting to me, though some are way too militaristic for me. I prefer the personal approaches, people reporting what they experience without too much commentary as to right and wrong.

For those of you who were interested in war n...

March 20, 2003 by Adam in Family

For those of you who were interested in war news, I thought I'd collect some sources that you might not run across otherwise:
dear_raed.blogspot.com, a Bagdad resident's blog
BBC reporters' blog. Interesting stuff.
www.agonist.org, a blog that summarizes news. Updates regularly.
Washington Post

On the home front, I had tea with Jamie this morning. She's got the pregnant woman glow, though getting around is a bit exciting. My cough has returned. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.

Here we in our favorite little cafe - interne...

March 20, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Here we in our favorite little cafe - internet cafe, that is. The weather is gorgeous, and Dad, Seraph and Sadie have rented a catamaran and are out snorkling. Dick and I have driven our little golf cart - no rental cars on the island,
so everyonegets into golf carts and drives like crazy - into San Pedro, where we are supposed to be looking for fresh fish. Also, I'm being stalked by this dog who discovered I'm carrying plantain chips.

We are trying hard not to think about war. It's easier to do that here. Much love to all.

War started last night

March 20, 2003 by Adam in Adam

War started last night. It seems very surreal and inevitable. I think the whole thing makes me feel sad, though I've heard so many arguments, viewpoints, and opinions that it's hard for me to say whether or not any good will come out of this. Strange times we live in.

I'm fretting about Dick and my mom these days, hoping their trip is going well and that Dick is comfortable enough.

In strange contrast, life at home has been great. Jamie's very pregnant and cute, waddling about the house as best she can. Her world has narrowed to a thin band at counter level, as she can no longer reach up or bend over particularly well. Sam has gotten quite good at fetching things for her. It's been great playing with Sam these days. We seem to find more and more things in common. Lately we've been playing Neverwinter Nights together, to our mutual pleasure.

Wednesday morning at a small internet cafe in...

March 19, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Wednesday morning at a small internet cafe in San Pedro, the only real town on Ambergris Caye, the island we're staying on. An update on Dick - He is eating better and is not so yellow, so I can only assume that the stent is working. On the other hand, he is losing weight and moving as little as possible. Yesterday, Seraph, Robbie, Isa and I went to see the Mayan ruins leaving Sadie with Dad and Dick. Dad found some lady professor hanging around to walk down the beach and have a drink with, while Sadie and Dick visited. He seems weaker to me, but also determined to get to Chicago. He has a doctor's appointment a couple of days after we get back, which will help him to know a clearer prognosis. He is very willing to see an oncologist, but I don't think either of us want him to spend a miserable time doing chemo unless there is some reasonable chance of improvement. It has been wonderful to have this time together, and I appreciate all the people who helped us get here. We love you all, and are soaking up sunshine to bring you.

I misses St

March 18, 2003 by Adam in Family

I misses St. Patrick's day somewhere along the way, completley forgetting to wear green. I had to explain to Sam that my lack of color wasn't an excuse for him to pinch tiny bruises across my body. Work was a bit easier. I explained to a coworker that while I could pinch him for not wearing green, I'd probably be sued for sexual harrassment.

No exciting news other than that. Sam was all smiles and giggles last night for some reason. He was being sweet and funny, which is always nice.

The weekend is coming to a close

March 17, 2003 by Adam in Family

The weekend is coming to a close. I'm not quite sure where it all went, though we did accomplish a few things along the way.

Saturday was project day, including replacing the wax rings in two of the upstairs toilets. Any day where I can claim to have siphoned out toilet water is a memorable day for me! Jamie got Sam's new car seat in place and put up a magnetic knife rack. We also climbed over the hill to take care of some things at mom and Dick's house. Later that night, I went to Jason's 30th birthday party.

I brought Sam along, his first surprise party. It was BYOB, which translates in this case to Bring Your Own Baby. Rachel and Gabe were there with their two girls and Caleb and his wife were there with their new baby. All but one of Jason's friends had their offspring in tow. Must be that time in one's life.

Sam and I also played lots of Neverwinter Nights on Saturday, as I was completely sick of Star Wars. He had a great time, fighting off evil goblins with his massive Fighter as I meekly followed around occasionally healing him. I haven't had that much fun playing a computer game in awhile and Sam did surprisingly well.

Today was more low key, trying to get things done as well as keeping Sam entertained. Sam and I did a really long hike at Hendrick's park while Jamie visited with Angie. We took a few crazy paths through the forest, at one point rappelling down a short cliff using a small tree as an impromptu rope. Sam thought it was the coolest thing ever. At one point, it began to pour down rain and Sam began to sing, "It's raining, it's pouring!" Great fun.

So, at the close of this Sunday, Jamie and I are pretty wiped out. The tax software is twitchy and I'm not sure I did my federal taxes right. Sam's winding down for bedtime. Another work week begins tomorrow. Such are the joys and hardships of life.

And so another week comes to a close

March 14, 2003 by Adam in Family

And so another week comes to a close. I just noticed that my mom posted from Belize. Gotta love this Internet thingie. Glad they're all doing well.

I'm not sure if we have any big plans for the weekend. I'm hoping to unwind a bit, as the last week has been extraordinarily stressful. I have a birthday party Saturday night which should be fun. Other than that, there are assorted house projects that I'd like to start in on. New wax rings for the toilets. Yippie.

Hello, fam and friends! We are here in beauti...

March 14, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Hello, fam and friends! We are here in beautiful Belize, having met up with Dad in Houston just as though we were organized trip planners. We spent last night in a hotel at Belize City, had dinner under the stars, surrounded by those tropical plants which look like my house plants but really really Biggie Sized. Dick is doing okay - our trip yesterday was actually without hitches. When Seraph, Robbie, Isa and Sadie get in this afternoon, we will take a puddle jumper to Ambergris Caye.
Jamie, would you take the wet clothes from the washer and put them in the dryer. Dick's stent insertion hole leaked on the sheets, but seems to have sealed up fine. I can't think of anything else I forgot at home. Thanks to all for love and good thoughts, and giant hugs to Dez, Sam and Jordan. Love from the old mom

There was a storm last night, blowing the tre...

March 13, 2003 by Adam in Adam

There was a storm last night, blowing the trees all about and covering the ground with broken branches. I lay in bed at five in the morning, watching the lightning flash against gray clouds and listening to the gate slowly creak open and shut.

My throat is much better, and occasional cough that surprises me. Antibiotics really are wonder drugs for these sorts of things. If I was in medieval times, it probably would have killed me or hobbled me for life. Weird.

I think about Dick often, hoping this last vacation is a pleasant one for him. The sunny beaches of Belize sound peaceful, so perhaps it is the best place for him to be. He will continue to be in my thoughts, for the next few weeks and beyond.

Sounds like things are progressing on the Wes...

March 13, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Sounds like things are progressing on the West coast toward a vacation retreat. Here's hoping for warm sun and sand and beautiful tropical Breezes.

Patrick is on day two of a hideous flu. Although as I sit here in his room and post this, he is sleeping fitfully and his fever seems to have gone down some. It was 101 degrees earlier today. I have banned Will to Mike's, for fear of him getting it. He is a terrible patient whereas Patrick is just so sad as a patient.

Patrick has a minature dauschound that is his constant companion. He is the red short haired variety and Patrick calls him Red Dog. He is so protective of Patrick that as soon as I go over to check on Patrick he runs up and sits on his head to shelter him. Finally this afternoon he was relagated to his kennel. Another sad patient!

I will depart with much love to all, Bets

Just a quick update

March 12, 2003 by Adam in Family

Just a quick update. I visited with Dick this morning and they released him from the hospital around 9 o'clock. He was looking better and seemed fairly comfortable, so it looks like the procedure was a success from that standpoint. They had a doctor's appointment afterwards, so I let him change and shower and my mom picked him up.

A few minutes ago, I got a call from my mom. They're at the doctor's office and he thinks they'll be able to go on their Belize trip. Seraph is taking extraordinary measures to get passports figured out. Mom said they were in Seattle trying to get hers renewed and get a new one for Isabell. Hopefully it call all be straightened out and they can have a good trip.

Sam has said some really sad and really funny...

March 12, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam has said some really sad and really funny things as of late. I thought I'd collect them here so that I wouldn't forget.

I told Sam that Dick was dying last Saturday. He understands at some level, though he's still trying to figure out what it really means. We were visiting Dick later that day and he said to him, "You don't look as yellow anymore. Does that mean you're not going to die?" I had to explain that no, he was going to die, but not today. He accepted that and moved on.

A couple days later we were talking about Dick and how the procedure in the hospital should help. "But he's still going to die, right?" said Sam. "Yes, he's still going to die," I replied. Telling Sam has been one of the hardest things for me, as he and Dick are very close.

On a completely different note, Jamie was taking Sam somewhere in the car and he was entertaining himself with some variations of the song "Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah." The first one went, "Someone's in the kitchen with dina - mite." And the next followed, "Someone's in the kitchen with a sniper rifle." Needless to say, Jamie lectured me on the evils of video games while admitting that she had a hard time stopping herself from laughing.

As Peter O'Toole said, "Death is easy. Comedy is hard."

For all the things going on, it was actually ...

March 12, 2003 by Adam in Family

For all the things going on, it was actually a fairly quiet day for me yesterday. I ran back and forth to the hospital visiting with Dick and trying to stay on top of work. In many ways, he seemed his normal self. I stopped by a final time before I headed home and he had finished up with his last procedure. Supposedly he gets to go home this morning and I may try to stop by before he's released.

Not much news beyond that. I have a birthday party for a friend that I'm going to on Saturday. Jamie's going to let me be a big person and go without Sam. Jamie is feeling quite pregnant as usual. I was feeling Emma kick up a storm last night.

Just a short update

March 12, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Just a short update. The drainpipe was sucessfully installed in Dick, and the doc has given us a green light
for Belize. We intend to sit in the sun and wax nostalgic.

We have had wonderful help from Kathy Carpenter, Gary's wife. Sadie, Dick and I are staying a couple of additional nights after Dad heads back to Florida, and Kathy found us
two nights at another resort on Ambergris Caye. What opulence!

Thank you all for the visits and messages. I wish I were going to wake up and find this was a cosmic joke and Dick just used too much Man Tan. But we will get by with a little help from our friends - and relatives- just like Rabbit, in Winnie the Pooh.

The garage door is broken

March 12, 2003 by Judy in Hanes

The garage door is broken. Don't open it -- under penalty of ????
Jim wants me to enter fake names into the monthly schedule, but I cannot see anyone falling for it. If he wants to have Elvis et al at the beach cabin, he can enter it himself! We're going to the basketball tournament games this week/weekend. Won't be down to the beach til the end of the month.

You know, that fortune cookie stuff is true

March 11, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

You know, that fortune cookie stuff is true. We spent the day at the hospital, with Adam and Marsha there to keep up our spirits, and Gary, master of the condo in Belize, arriving just in time for us to tell him that the doc got the drainpipe into Dick and systems look like All Go for the Belize trip. Then home to have Seraph and Isa stop by with my trial prep for tomorrow, and good conversations with Ilona and Yayoe.

Here's what I don't get. Adam said he was actually getting condolence e-mails from people about Dick, and I've been haunted by the letter to Adam from the young couple who have to have a safe room in their mid-east apartment. If there is so much love in the world, why are we having wars. Maybe it would be a far better idea to play computer games and win points, and spend our money trying to keep people alive, rather than be killing some other mom and dad's children in Irag.

Or maybe I'm just cheering on the ad in the Eugene Weekly from Sweet Potato Pie, a local clothing store, which said, rather simply, "F..k War". I could get on that train.

Good night, all, and much thanks from your lovin' old mom

Poor Dick spent most of the day flat on his b...

March 11, 2003 by Adam in Family

Poor Dick spent most of the day flat on his back in the hospital, waiting for them to begin their procedure. He and my mom came in at 7:30 to get ready, but they didn't actually start until around four in the afternoon. Seraph, Marsha, and I all wandered in and out of his room, telling old stories and generally making a nusance of ourselves. People at work have been quite understanding and so I spent quite a bit of time running back and forth across the alleyway to see everyone.

The good news is that the procedure seemed to go well and his jaundice should improve. There's a second one tomorrow, so he's staying in the hospital tonight. So far, things seem to be going well. My mom is thinking they can still go to Belize, and head through Chicago to see Dick's family on the way back. They're taking it day by day, though, so we'll see how it goes.

Sadie has arranged to be here for this next term and still graduate in May. Evidently she can use her IB credit and do some project classes to get it all worked out. I think the current thought is to visit Belize with everyone, spend another week or so at school, then return to Eugene.

So, thing seem to be going as best they can. I'll try to keep everyone updated.

Another fairly full day

March 10, 2003 by Adam in Family

Another fairly full day. After a morning of playing with Sam and hooking up a new exterior light, I headed over to brunch at my mom and Dick's house. The whole crew was there and it was a bit of a madhouse. Sam and Jamie steered clear, going to her brother's so that Sam and Josh could play together. It was nice to get the whole family together. It seemed like we spent huge amounts of time cleaning, cooking, eating, and chasing kids around. All-in-all, a fairly typical Wielesek gathering.

By the time I left, friends were coming in. Steve came to visit and by the time Jamie, Sam and I returned for dinner, he was still there, a number of beer bottles lined up against the wall. We brought over Thai food that was far too good, as well as more of Jamie's crumb cake that I made her promise not to make again. It was another of Jamie's creations that was extremely delicious. By the time we left, Ilona was coming in.

I asked my mom if we were tiring them out, but she assured me that having everyone around helped. Sam especially likes to play with Dick, but I do worry that he exhausts everyone. Heck, Sam exhausts me and I'm supposedly used to him.

Dick's going in for a procedure tomorrow morning that should hopefully make the jaundice better. It's a two-parter, so he may go back later that day or perhaps Tuesday. I'll be going to work as normal, then my mom's supposed to call. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Please see this posting as the written backup...

March 09, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Please see this posting as the written backup of the incredible burst of love energy sent out to everyone from a little peice of God's earth in the middle of Ohio. Much love to all.

I know I've told my kids the Fortune Cookie s...

March 09, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

I know I've told my kids the Fortune Cookie story a dozen times. Once when I was going through some hard times, I got a fortune which said "You are protected by the silent love around you." I have had reason from time to time to remember that and appreciate the love around us. Thank you all.

Jamie was off at the play today, and is going...

March 09, 2003 by Adam in Family

Jamie was off at the play today, and is going to a concert with friends tonight. That means that I got to watch Sam for most of the day. This morning we ended up playing quite a bit, with Legos, toys, as well as dancing about for awhile. After lunch we headed over to my mom's house.

Sam spent a huge amount of time entertaining and being entertained by my mom and Dick. Dick was performing chemistry experiments for Sam, doing pH tests of various substances around the house. There was also a lengthy chess game as well as checkers. Sam was having such a good time that he preferred to play with them rather than go to the play.

I talked more with mom about everyone's plans. Dick goes in on Monday for a procedure that should take care of the jaundice. Hopefully that'll make him more comfortable. If it goes well, they're thinking about continuing on their trip to Belize, which leaves Wednesday. If not, they'll stay in Eugene.

We're all hoping for the best, wishing that things go as well as can be.

Things are very serious with Dick

March 08, 2003 by Adam in Family

Things are very serious with Dick. It turns out that he has a form of cancer that is inoperable and he has only a few weeks to live. It seems so unreal typing those words. He may go back in to the hospital again to have a different procedure done to deal with his jaundice. The trip to Belize is up in the air, and depends in part on when the procedure can be scheduled.

Sam and I are heading over to their house. We've been trying to reach Sadie, but haven't been able to yet. I'll try to update everyone later.

Okay, I lied about my cough

March 07, 2003 by Adam in Family

Okay, I lied about my cough. It's still annoying me. This morning I coughed up a little blood, so I think I get to go to the doctor today. My guess is that I have a bacterial infection, just like Sam had. I'll probably be popping antibiotics by the end of the day. Yippie.

Yesterday was fairly busy at work, but quiet at home. Sam and I did our usual puttering around. He decided that he wasn't taking a bath, but instead was going "swimming." He put on his swimming suit and made me be the lifeguard.

Sam's also getting quite helpful around the house. He actually got out the vaccuum cleaner from the closet, pushed it into the kitchen, and helped clean up the crumbs from his messy eating. There's hope for that boy yet.

My cough is slowly getting better, though I'm...

March 06, 2003 by Adam in Family

My cough is slowly getting better, though I'm probably still driving my co-workers nuts with my hacking. Jamie's doing fairly well, though she's still tired most of the time. When I came home from work yesterday, she was crashed out on the couch while Sam and Josh played downstairs.

Sam and I hiked over the hill to visit mom and Dick last night. The adventure over was uneventful, except when Sam's pants fell down while running downhill. Tying drawstrings isn't a skill he has mastered quite yet. Mom and Dick seemed in fairly good spirits, though worried of course. On our way out the door, my mom handed us the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, which we read to Sam that night.

I managed to make it through a night without ...

March 05, 2003 by Adam in Family

I managed to make it through a night without cough syrup. I still woke up coughing, but made it back to sleep okay. It's been nice having Sam and Jamie back home again. Jamie seemed really wiped out last night, probably due to being six months pregnant.

I got a call yesterday at work from Sam announcing that his bathroom had flooded. I tried to get more details out of him. When I asked him if it were a "big emergency" or a "little emergency", he picked the little one so I didn't worry too much. He called later to let me know it was okay. Jamie informed me later that he was being overzealous with toilet paper use.

We're all fretting about Dick, hoping he's doing okay.

I'm back at work, still coughing but hanging ...

March 03, 2003 by Adam in Family

I'm back at work, still coughing but hanging in there. Jamie called this morning to say hello. It looks like they'll head back home today and the house won't be quite so quiet.

I got a fair amount of work done on Sunday, doing laundry, taxes, and mowing the lawn. I'm not sure I really did my taxes right - it looks like I'll be getting a big return, but I'm not sure I believe it.

I also headed over to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday. It was quite the turnout and I ended up chatting with everyone until late this afternoon. I can't believe how long it's been since I checked in with everyone. Seraph is slowly looking for a new job. Destin is doing very well in school. Jordan's scars are healing up nicely. Isabell has become quite chatty. Ah, the joys of a big family.

Still no results from Dick's blood tests

March 03, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Still no results from Dick's blood tests. Hope we hear something today.

Happy March

March 02, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Happy March. I keep thinking that it will get warmer some day but when I walked out of the house today it was snowing. It turned to rain and then slushy sleet tonight.

I am working Saturdays now so that doesn't leave much time for anything. I do cleaning and organizing at all hours and laundry is the night time task. Timm (my office worker) is burnt out and is making a lot of mistakes and being generally rude and unhappy. So I've taken the office hours on the weekends and extra time during the week.

The kids finally got over their colds and gave it to me. Bless their little hearts! They are going to Florida in a couple of weeks with Mike and his newer (1 year) girlfriend. We'll see if they make the entire week. She's nice but doesn't have a lot of common sense. Hope the kids can stay in one peice.

Belize sounds exciting, wish I could take a vacation someday. Only lost one cow in the past two weeks, although I'm not sure that I didn't lose others in the snow drifts. I had 8 foot drifts at the end of the drive.

Has anyone heard from Meg and clan? They got a lot of snow also.

Have fun, eat well adn don't forget the Jones creed, "Eating well is the best revenge." Hope your O.K. Dick.

Jamie and Sam made it safe and sound to the c...

March 02, 2003 by Adam in Family

Jamie and Sam made it safe and sound to the coast today. I'm still coughing and trying to take it easy, though I'm not necessarily succeeding. While the two of them were driving west, I did my Costco and food shopping, managing to spend over two hundred dollars. At least we have enough apple sauce and refried beans to last through next winter.

Sam and I spent most of the morning together while Jamie was helping out at the play. It was pretty tough as my throat hurt. I had to periodically go through a self-imposed ten minutes of silence, communicating with Sam through hand gestures and silly expressions. Around eleven we walked down to the preschool and watched the play. I'd rate it as unpretentious though lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. Well, back to folding clothes for me.

Splinter Cell finally arrived

February 28, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

Splinter Cell finally arrived. It's pretty good - the shadow effects are pretty amazing. It's a fairly traditional sneaker-style game, hiding in the shadows is a big part of the game.

I'm also approaching the release of my latest Neverwinter Nights module. The testing has gone really well, with some good suggestions voiced by people. There's a few more things I'd like to fiddle with, but I think it's to the point where I could release it soon.

The whole family went to visit the doctor tod...

February 28, 2003 by Adam in Emma

The whole family went to visit the doctor today for Jamie's regular checkup. Sam was fascinated by the nurse drawing blood from Jamie's arm. Emma seems fine - normal heartbeat and a good size. Doctor Babcock was thinking the due date may be a week early, putting it in mid-May. We'll see.

Jamie has also miraculously avoided this terrible cough that Sam and I have. We're blaming it on the baby too. I figure it makes up for the cavities earlier.

Another Friday winding down

February 28, 2003 by Adam in Family

Another Friday winding down. My cough is pretty bad today. My cubicle neighbors are commenting on it. They haven't threatened to take me out back and shoot me, but it's close. I got very little sleep last night and the cough syrup makes me loopy. Sigh.

Tomorrow Jamie's working at the preschool play while I take care of Sam. I was hoping I could coordinate with everyone on a time to go. I was thinking 11 am, but we'll see how tomorrow goes. Saturday after the last show they head out to the coast, leaving me with dirty laundry and taxes. Yippie.

Sam seems to be doing better

February 27, 2003 by Adam in Family

Sam seems to be doing better. He's been well medicated, which apparently has done the trick. He has been very tired, however, going to bed at seven last night.

It turns out Kate Sturdavant is working for PeaceHealth these days. She's living in Portland with her husband and dog, telecommuting and driving down to Eugene on occasion. It was very strange to have her instantly appear in my cubicle.

I also ran across this website that lists people who went to my high school. One of my old friends that I lost touch with is there. I think I'll drop him an e-mail.

Update: He e-mailed back and Devon is indeed alive and well. It turns out he's working as a programmer in Bellingham, which is also one of the places where PeaceHealth has a hospital. I may end up visiting him one of these days. He also a a tiny website that you can see here.

Sick today, yet again

February 27, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Sick today, yet again. My throat is sore and I sound like I should be a sultry blues singer.

Nothing too exciting has been happening the last few days. Jamie's heading off to the coast late Saturday, taking Sam along. If I get up the energy, I'll work on taxes Sunday.

My sister and I just returned from a lovely t...

February 26, 2003 by Dorothy in Danica Miller

My sister and I just returned from a lovely trip to Barbados.We had an efficiency where we could have breakfast and lunch if we chose. Great view of two of three pools and the ocean from our balcony. It was 85 degrees - really too hot for Caroline who is used to the Northwest. Had several trips around the island, lovely flower gardens, good food, some interesting dancers, etc.
I'm now getting ready to go to Florida to visit my friends there. I get blamed for the terrible winter here as it is the first in l8 years that I have spent in PA.

Poor Sam woke up last night crying

February 25, 2003 by Adam in Family

Poor Sam woke up last night crying. It took awhile before we could settle him down and have him tell us that his ear hurt. We pumped him full of Tylenol and Jamie took him to the doctor's in the morning. Evidently he has an ear infection and an upper respiratory tract infection. So, we're loaded up with medicine for him to take over the next few days.

I'm feeling a bit under the weather as well, with a sort throat and cough. I may end up heading home early just to take it easy.

I decided to make a virtual tour of Smith and...

February 25, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I decided to make a virtual tour of Smith and Northampton, so those who are coming to graduation can have a taste of what is in store for them.

We begin on Green Street at Shelburne Coffee Roasters, where everyone you ever wanted to know squeezes into an 8x12 shop to get some local brew and a scone. From there, we may wander up to center campus, where for literature fans, is an excellent and very accessible rare book room. There is also an interesting collection of alum published books in the beautiful alum house on lower elm. After the frollick in center campus, we might meander up toward the chapel via the road by the botanical gardens and green house, stopping to smell the orchid collection along the way. We may even decide to go kyaking with the boats available in the boathouse on Paradise pond. After a long day of refinement, we may have a hearty meal at bottle of Bread in Shelburne Falls, watch a movie at the Acadamy of Music or Pleasant St. Theatres (both in downtown Northampton), or rent a hottub at East Heaven on Green Street. And then to bed with thoughts of commencement and illumination night dancing in our heads!

(note: Adam cleaned up the hyperlinks. :)

I lost whateverI wrote on the 25th

February 25, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

I lost whateverI wrote on the 25th. This is now the 27th, and we still don't have the results from Dick's blood tests or ultrasound. He is a brilliant yellow; I could stand him in a corner and he could light up a room. Hoping this isn't anything serious; I can't remember when he has stayed on the couch most of the day.

The weekend seemed to go so quickly, yet it's...

February 24, 2003 by Adam in Family

The weekend seemed to go so quickly, yet it's hard to think about exactly what all happened. We ran into Seraph, Robbie, and Isabell at the library Saturday morning. We all listened to music time and got some new library books. Later on, we ran around in the park, but in general it was a pretty quiet day. Sam and I have been sniffly, so we've been taking it really easy.

Today was Dave's birthday, so we went over to his semi-surprise party. Josh was there, so he and Sam had a good time. This afternoon I broke out the new power washer and cleaned up the patio. Gobs of fun.

A quick hello

February 24, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

A quick hello. We have had a very quiet week and weekend, with Dick not moving from the couch.
Provided Dick lives that long, we'll be in Belize for about ten days, from 3/13 to 3/25. The web site is ambergriscaye.com/villadelsol. We fly in to Houston, where we meet Dad. We then fly on different airlines to Belize but arrive about the same time.

Anna and I are sitting here in the engineerin...

February 23, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Anna and I are sitting here in the engineering building, working on a grey water sand filter for Botswana. Our group has worked last night and all today, and I can't imagine when it's going to end. However, being that it is our first anniversary, we are planning to go our for dinner (yeah!) and potentially a movie (hoorah!) and then the local zen hottubs (ahhhh...). So it isn't so bad. And I get to feel like a science nerd for a whole semester!

I love you all.

Sam's been really sick lately

February 22, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam's been really sick lately. Today I came home and he was fast asleep in Jamie's lap. I haven't seen that since he was a little kid.

I think he and Jamie are getting a little stir crazy stuck at home all the time. Yesterday he wanted Jamie to fight dragons with him so he went into the craft room and assembled a mace all by himself. Jamie was amazed he could get out the tape, take it off the roll, roll up some paper, and tape it all together.

Jamie and Sam showed up at work yesterday, co...

February 20, 2003 by Adam in Family

Jamie and Sam showed up at work yesterday, completely surprising me. Evidently Jamie was at the end of her ropes, so I went home with them and watched Sam for the rest of the day. He's been pretty sick this last week, though being cooped up is no fun at all.

We also watched half of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which is wonderful. I'm glad my family isn't quite that crazy, though I'm sure there were elements in it that were familiar to all of us.

I had another piece of fan mail today that go...

February 20, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I had another piece of fan mail today that got to me. It was from a woman who had contracted leukemia and my impression is that things had not been going well. She played through my modules with her husband and loved the way he laughed out loud during the funny parts of the game. Evidently those moments were rare in her life, and she wanted to let me know she appreciated my role in making it happen.

I'm still working hard on the campaign. It's amazing how much work these things take. I think I'm approaching the final stages of the game, getting to all the details I leave until the last minute.

Bets, I can't figure out how to get Dick's ad...

February 20, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Bets, I can't figure out how to get Dick's address book on the home computer, given my limited computer skills so I can't send an e-mail. Can you give Dad a call, he asked after you two phone calls ago, and I promised I'd get a message to you.

I wonder if he could manage a computer?

Are you snowed in?

Sam's been having funny dreams lately

February 19, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam's been having funny dreams lately. Last night, he was telling me his dream and it went something like this:

"I was in the Star Wars world, and stormtroopers were coming after me. But instead of blasters they had vaccuum cleaners and they sucked me up. But I broke out and took the vaccuum away and sucked them up."

That one had me laughing hard for awhile, just visualizing the whole thing.

Monday night we were driving home from Mom an...

February 19, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Monday night we were driving home from Mom and Dick's and a conversation came up about baby Emma.
Earlier we had been looking at new car seats for Isa and she became fasinated with the baby swings. We explained that she was too big for them, so she suggested one for Jordan. We explained that Jordan was too big (trying to be delicate about the fact that her "baby cousin" is actually bigger than her). We asked her who could swing in them and she decided that "little babies" could.
This idea of "little babies" went on for quite awhile, and on the way home that night I mentioned that baby Emma could swing in them. "Baby Eminem (M&M)?" she said. After much laughter from Robbie and I (not yet sure if our new neice will be a rap star or candy), we clearified the name Emma. I tried to explain that Baby Emma was still growing indide of Aunt Jamie. She liked that idea and repeated it several times. She then declared that "Baby Emma is working hard - growing!"
I don't think I'll ever stop being amazed at the connections kids can make!

The work week has started once again

February 18, 2003 by Adam in Family

The work week has started once again. Sunday was fairly quiet, with the exception of a small birthday dinner for Dick. Sam has a cold, so we mostly hung out at the house. Monday night had Jamie and Angie going hot tubbing, with the water temperature turned down the day before to accomodate Jamie's "delicate state". Sam and I did our usual playing with Legos and bathtime fun.

Have we dropped off the face of the earth? N...

February 17, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Have we dropped off the face of the earth? No, but really struggling to survive a very long winter. Both boys have been sick with bad head colds and coughs, of course one week after another so I haven't gotten much sleep or work done. Mike won't keep them and I won't let them go to Alice Kohr's for fear of her getting sick. She was 81 this month. Her last remaining sibling, Helen "DA" Lewis, passed away last week. You may all remember her as the maiden Aunt who smoked Camel unfilters. She died of emphezema.

We have had an incredible storm this weekend. First with 6-8 inches of snow on Friday and it is now late Sunday night and we've picked up another 10 or so inches and are expected to get 6 or more by morning. The drifts at the end of our lane are over 5 feet high. Thankfully the kids don't have school tommorrow, Presidents Day.

Stay well, be happy and live good lives.

Just a quick Emma status update

February 16, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Just a quick Emma status update. She's big. Jamie's noticing it.

We aren't quite to the point where I haul the Lazy-Boy chair up next to the bed for Jamie to sleep in, but I can tell that day is coming soon.

Sam went off with my mom and Dick yesterday m...

February 16, 2003 by Adam in Family

Sam went off with my mom and Dick yesterday morning, taking Sam to the fairgrounds where people were having historical reinactments of clothing, weapons, tools, and such. He seemed to really enjoy it and it gave Jamie and I a chance to visit.

We also exchanged Valentine's Day presents, finding ourselves with the reverse of traditional roles. I got the bubble bath and mints, while Jamie got the power washer. Strangely, we both really liked our presents, so it probably speaks volumes of us.

No plans for today. Perhaps a library trip or picking up baby things from Jenny. We'll see how it goes.

I've been getting a lot of fan mail about my ...

February 16, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I've been getting a lot of fan mail about my game - usually three or four each day. This one was particularly touching, from a young couple in Israel, so I thought I'd reprint it:

This is just a short note to let you know how much we both appreciate all of the hard work and craftsmanship you have clearly put into your Neverwinter modules. We played as much of the Dreamcatcher series as is currently available and were so impressed that we went back and are currently playing the Shadowlords series. We have found not only the 'action' elements, but also the plotlines and characters to be topnotch, in many cases better than that in the original game itself. It comes as no surprise to us that Bioware offered you a job based on the quality of the modules we have played.

Unlike the majority of players and designers out there (which we can assume by the fact that there are so many "Nude Aribeth" hacks), we are a thirty-something married couple who enjoy playing NWN together as a way to relax after finally getting our 3 1/2 year old son to sleep. When we started playing the Dreamcatcher series, we found that we were spending a great deal of time arguing about whose turn it was at the keyboard, which tells you how avidly we both followed the plot. The romantic elements especially were handled so maturely and smoothly that they perfectly complemented the main adventure plot. Since we are both writers, we know how difficult that can be in any medium, let alone a role-playing module.

As our small corner of the world becomes tenser and tenser, your modules have provided us with a welcome distraction and a great deal of pleasure over the last few weeks. Since our PC is going to be in our sealed security room with us, your modules may have the dubious distinction of being played with gasmasks on. If the current situation comes to that (hopefully not, god willing) I am sure they will help pass even such trying times.

Thank you again for your work, and best wishes to you and your family.

Oh, forgot to add that I'm doing a wedding at...

February 14, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Oh, forgot to add that I'm doing a wedding at 2 on Saturday in the rose garden. Poor folks, hope it's sunny.

Does visitors mean the number of different pe...

February 14, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Does visitors mean the number of different people who pull up this site, or does it count the number of times anyone has looked at the site? I always feel a little unclear on the concept when it comes to computers.

We are happily finalizing our plans for Belize. Sadie is buried under snow and ice, so she's pretty enthusiastic about sunshine. Dad is coming over as well, so we should have a merry time, as they say. Still no final word from Mary Steane, but we're hoping she will make it too!

It's been 25 years ago today that I opened my...

February 14, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

It's been 25 years ago today that I opened my office. Lots of water over the dam since then. Lawyering is such a strange business - I am sometimes reminded that I am the modern equivalent of a hired killer or mercenary, but limited to using words, not weapons. Perhaps they are less deadly, but I occasionally have cause to remember the Robert Frost poem, Fire and Ice. "Some say the world will end in fire... From what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire... but ice...will suffice."

Happy Valentine's day to all

February 14, 2003 by Adam in Family

Happy Valentine's day to all. I left a little note for Jamie and Sam, and have a special present for later. No hints here, as Jamie might read this site before tonight.

The week has been fairly quiet, with a couple days of all-day meetings for me. I had one late night with my coworkers, and barely got back in time to tuck in Sam. Jamie seems in good spirits, going swimming with Victoria yesterday morning. The weekend approaches soon. Mom and Dick are watching Sam for a couple hours tomorrow, so Jamie and I will probably have a belated Valentine's Day.

Our week has been caotic, but I was able to c...

February 14, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Our week has been caotic, but I was able to clean up part of my office space and get rid of an extra table. Clearing out clutter always calms my nerves.
We're hoping to have a fun filled weekend making our rounds among the family. I have Monday off, and I'm not quite sure what to do with myself.
Isa and Robbie continue to be out and about town, finding all sorts of trouble! It's fun that Isa's vocab is getting large enough to tell me about her day!

It promises to be an interesting day at work ...

February 12, 2003 by Adam in Adam

It promises to be an interesting day at work today. Glen just called, apparently having thrown his back out. Since I'm the only one here, I'm trying to get everything organized. In a few minutes, my coworkers will be arriving, including the Bellingham contingent. Then we're supposed to meet all day, including a hike and dinner. I guess we'll just play it by ear.

Sam and I got into Legos quite a bit over the...

February 12, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam and I got into Legos quite a bit over the weekend, constructing a huge castle while Jamie was away.

Sam's playing next to me, flailing about on the floor. I asked him if he had any message for his future self and he replied:

"That I got punched out of a train, okay?"

We're going down for Valentine's weekend, but...

February 11, 2003 by Judy in Hanes

We're going down for Valentine's weekend, but only to paint and scrapbook. If anybody else wants to join in, they are certainly welcome.

Judy has a new cell phone, and thus a new cell phone number. Please record: 503-804-2452

Back to work

February 10, 2003 by Adam in Family

Back to work. Jamie made it home safe and sound yesterday, feeling revitalized from her little trip away. Sam is still sniffly but appears in good spirits. I even see a touch of blue outside my window today.

I heard through the grapevine that Jordan burned himself by pulling down a cup of coffee. Jenny rushed him to the ER, but it looks like he'll be okay. Life sometimes gets far more exciting than we want it to be.

Sam and I had a full day yesterday

February 09, 2003 by Adam in Family

Sam and I had a full day yesterday. We started with a launch in the park of Sam's vinegar and baking soda powered rocket. Next it was off to the library for books, music time, and an unexpected run-in with Seraph, Robbie, and Isabell. We swung by the movie store then returned home for lunch, a movie, then a shopping trip for Valentine's Day. Whew!

Unfortunately, Sam seems to have a bit of a cold. He woke up this morning coughing and sniffling. So, we're hanging out today, watching Watership Down at the moment. Jamie's coming home at some point, though I'm not sure exactly when. We'll probably just take it easy today.

I do love the ethereal pix of Sam on Adam's g...

February 07, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

I do love the ethereal pix of Sam on Adam's game site.
How about including Jamie too. Admittedly, she may not be feeling ethereal right now, but I love that shot of her on
her site...

It's another mocha Friday

February 07, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's another mocha Friday. Got a third job offer from my work with Neverwinter Nights that you can read about on my gaming page. I turned it down, but it is flattering.

Sam and I are bachelors this weekend. Jamie takes off tonight for the coast. We'll probably watch some movies, hike about, and play a little on the computer. I don't really have a gameplan, so we'll see how it goes.

I got my third and best job offer today

February 07, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I got my third and best job offer today. This time from Bioware, the people that made the Neverwinter Nights game. Fortunately my will is strong and I turned them down. Though quitting my high-paying corporate job and moving to the cold reaches of Canada to do the work I love makes a good plot for a movie, I decided it wouldn't suit reality all that much.

I also got an e-mail from GameStar, a German gaming magazine, wanting to include two of my modules on their cover CD. I'm currently working on sending them my approval. Ah, the joys of fame.

My advice: avoid gifelte fish at all costs! S...

February 07, 2003 by Jamie in Wielesek

My advice: avoid gifelte fish at all costs! Stick with the meatballs...

I finally went to the Neverwinter site, findi...

February 07, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

I finally went to the Neverwinter site, finding someone I knew, and Sam, too. I decided to print the site, because I can only believe that a site on a computer is not real and won't last. So I printed it for Adam to look at when he is 60. Who can imagine the world then?

Hope it's better than the world fifty years ago, and a curse on the Republican senator from North Carolina who said recently that Japanese people were put in internment camps during the war only for their own safety.

I have a lot of faith in you kids to make things better. om

It's sunny but cold, and I'll bet that there ...

February 06, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

It's sunny but cold, and I'll bet that there have been lots of slipping and sliding on the Centennial Blvd curves - because of the alternating woodlots and commercial lots, there are alternating clear dry stretches and shaded, icy spots. I bet my daffodils are whining and complaining right now. The ones at the office are ready to bloom.
Talked to Sadie last night. She sounded cheerful, and said that she and Anna were trying to put together summer internships in Sweden. How do you spell gefeltefish correctly, and how do you say it with a straight face.

I was happy last night

February 06, 2003 by Adam in Family

I was happy last night. For no particular reason, everyone seemed in good spirits and our home was full of laughter. There were high points - Sam pretending his hands were motorcycles, racing around the bed buck naked and trying to pronounce "turbo". The whole evening was like that, endless little funny things one after the other.

Jamie's going to the beach with Victoria this weekend. That means Sam and I get a "guys weekend" to ourselves. Sam had a great suggestion of something nice to do for Jamie as a surprise. It was a pretty cool idea, whispered in my ear at dinner. I won't spoil it in case she reads this.

I got another job offer based on my work on N...

February 05, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I got another job offer based on my work on Neverwinter Nights. These were some ex-Blizzard employees in Seattle. I politely declined.

It is flattering to know that I'm probably good enough to work "with the pros". Maybe after I retire I'll make games in a more dedicated fashion. Right now it's nice to have it be a part-time hobby. I can walk away any time, ignore bug reports, or ship something that isn't quite finished. Well, maybe I'm describing half the computer game companies out there, but I certainly don't want to have that be my life.

My modules are coming along nicely. Dreamcatcher 2 is currently the highest rated module out there, sporting a perfect 10 rating. The second highest module is Dreamcatcher 1. It's fun to put something together that people appreciate.

A little excitement yesterday morning

February 04, 2003 by Adam in Family

A little excitement yesterday morning. Jamie called here at work feeling lightheaded and sick to her stomach. I rushed home to make sure she was okay and all was well. Fortunately, it all was. She had a similar thing happen during the last pregnancy and laying down for a few minutes helped out considerably. I took Sam to get movies for them to watch that day, and some Ben & Jerry's ice cream for Jamie.

Last night, I took Sam on a "park in the dark" run. He went straight for a big mud puddle, made by people driving around the grass and digging up big troughs. He splashed around, getting extremely wet, dirty, and cold. I think he had fun until the cold set in, then we walked home talking about frostbite and gangrine. Sam piped in that he hoped he didn't get "tangerine."

Bad headache here at work today. I'm letting my third Advil try to do its thing. If not, I may head home early.

Another weekend over

February 03, 2003 by Adam in Family

Another weekend over. I'm trying to remember exactly what happened over those 48 hours, but nothing's coming to mind. My mom watched Sam for a couple hours on Saturday. Sam and I hung out a lot, going to Destin's birthday party with the rest of the world. On Sunday, we walked to the library and picked up some new books.

No important projects were completed this weekend. We didn't take any trips. Just generally quiet and pleasant.

Jamie's going off next weekend to the coast with a friend of hers. I'll have to think of something interesting to do with Sam while she's away.

Work on my game continues

February 01, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

Work on my game continues. I'm having a good time making new items for my latest module. So far I have an assortment of traps, a raven, a ghost, a magical hand, and assorted new creatures. It's still looking like I'll get this whole thing done by the time Emma is born.

Unreal 2 comes out next week, though I've heard mixed reviews. Sam and I will probably have a good time playing it while Jamie's at the coast. Also, Splinter Cell should come out a week or two after that. Great fun.

Sam's been really funny lately

February 01, 2003 by Adam in Sam

Sam's been really funny lately. Tonight, for no reason at all, he began to demand wedgies from everyone around. Not wanting to disappoint the child, Dave and I complied much to the amusement of Jamie, Kirsten, and Josh. We first explained that he couldn't get wedgies unless he had underwear on, so he specifically went upstairs to put some on. We also couldn't figure out where he picked up the term "wedgie". Currently, we're blaming it on Jamie's brothers.

A few days ago, Sam stayed up with Jamie to watch Friends. It was the episode where Joey was doing quotation marks with his fingers to denote sarcasm. Unfortunately, he kept doing it wrong which Sam thought was really funny. So, he's been doing it for the last few days as well.

Poor Sam was pretty exhausted tonight. He got up early this morning for starters. Right before bed we danced around the basement to loud music, then he collapsed right before bed.

It has been a week where everyday felt like i...

January 31, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

It has been a week where everyday felt like it should be Friday. Last night Isabell and I danced wildly around the living room to the Lion King soundtrack. She loves it when I get out my old tap shoes and we just go crazy! I think Robbie and I will be digging around for a pair that will fit her.
This weekend is filling up fast with fun events! Tonight we are heading over to Jim and Deb Chapman's house for dinner, and tomorrow we are going over to Jenny's for Destin's birthday. Jenny called and let me know that there will be about 30 family members there... the usual small family function! If I survive, I maight start looking forward to Mondays!

I suddenly took a turn for the better yesterday

January 31, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I suddenly took a turn for the better yesterday. Though I'm a tad sniffly, I'm feeling much better.

I had breakfast with my mom this morning. I must be getting older, as I wasn't able to finish my meal. Plus all the heavy foods are a bit much for me - I'm snacking on carrots now.

It promises to be a pleasant Friday today. Things seem fairly low-key and I've sent off most of my work to customers to comment on. Hopefully a good weekend will follow.

I'm sick, sick, sick

January 30, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I'm sick, sick, sick. Fortunately my runny nose has been quenched through the power of medication. Now I'm just a little tired as I work away this morning. Jamie and Sam seem unaffected, which is a very good thing.

Hello all

January 30, 2003 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Hello all. I have just finished a wonderful book called "The death and life of great American cities" for landscape studies. After some rearranging, I am taking a landscape studies colloquiam on urban social spaces, a landscape studies survey lecture series, urban sociology, the sociology of the arts, and engineering, policy and development. Anna and I are taking the engineering class together, incidently, but as our strengths are complimentary, I don't anticipate any competative dynamics forcing me to whip her ass at her own discipline. But that is neither here nor there. All is well, and I am fully in the groove. Northampton had a small but lively protest for peace this afternoon, which I was lucky enough to join. Much love.

Well, I just had the "Mucho Gusto" pleasure o...

January 29, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

Well, I just had the "Mucho Gusto" pleasure of having lunch with Sam and Jam and Emma, who made her presence known at least in spirit. Sam and I had a delightful trip back to the office imagining all the things which might surprise Josh if they happened. I made Sam stop imagining falls into hot lava and being run over by a pickup truck. Sorry, Josh!

If pervious posting true- sorry about the bra...

January 28, 2003 by Jamie in Emma

If pervious posting true- sorry about the brains part, Emma! I'm blaming the TWO cavities I had filled this week to the human leech in utero ;-)

The week continues, fairly uneventful

January 28, 2003 by Adam in Family

The week continues, fairly uneventful. The big excitement of yesterday was the arrival of our new dishwasher. Sam was evidently entranced with the experience, asking the installation guy lots of questions about what he was doing.

I'm still a little sick, mostly sniffles at this point. There's a beautiful sunrise out my work window and all is quiet before everyone fills their cubicles.

What fun it was to see everyone at Isa's party

January 27, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

What fun it was to see everyone at Isa's party. This has to be the cutest bunch of kids ever. Everyone was there but Alex, Caroline, and Sadie, whom we put on a plane early Saturday morning. We had the pleasure of having Seraph, Robbie, Jenny and their kids over Friday night for a farewell dinner of roast and mashed potatoes on Friday night. Hugs to all.

Oh the weather outside is frightful! The met...

January 27, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

Oh the weather outside is frightful! The meterologists perdicted 2-3inches of snow today with a low of 2 degrees tonight, well we had 5 inches by 3 p.m. and the thermometer is reading 1 below.

Mike brought the boys home and spun out on the way, hitting the guardrail and going in the ditch. they were able to get out without any problems and other than some aches and pains are O.K. God was looking after them.

It was great to hear from the family the other night. Thank you so much for calling. It really made my day and warmed up my evening.

In love and peace.

Well, I only got four hours of sleep for some...

January 27, 2003 by Adam in Family

Well, I only got four hours of sleep for some bizarre reason. Probably related to my mild week-long illness. The sniffles started this afternoon.

The only thing of any great importance was heading over to Seraph and Robbie's for Isabell's birthday party. It was nice to see everyone as it seems as if we've been more reclusive than normal these last few weeks. Sam had a good time playing with Isabell's train, and we also brought back our old changing table for Emma.

Emma is apparently getting pretty active. You can start to see the kicking. Jamie was taking a bath and you could see the tiny ripples in the water whenever she kicked.

I think I got about four hours of sleep last ...

January 26, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I think I got about four hours of sleep last night. Around two in the morning, something woke me up and my brain immediately started thinking. Thinking bad. I got up, went back to bed, then got up again. I ended up fiddling on my computer for a long time, making new things for Neverwinter Nights. In the game, you normally can't jump, so I added a "jump" animation for PC's. It's fairly entertaining leaping over crevases. Yippie!

For some reason, I'm exhausted tonight

January 26, 2003 by Adam in Family

For some reason, I'm exhausted tonight. Perhaps it was the two-hour hike with Sam up Spencer's Butte. Maybe it was an afternoon of playing with a four-year-old. Or the assorted housework and cooking. This must be what it's like to be a mom.

Jamie went off to visit friends this morning while I took Sam about. I got some time to work on my game a bit this morning, having fun making traps and such. Tonight I hope to finish up more laundry and exercise while watching Cowboy Bebop, my latest favorite show.

Well, Isabell turned 2 on Wednesday, and poor...

January 24, 2003 by Seraph in Cortez

Well, Isabell turned 2 on Wednesday, and poor Robbie had his hands full. He invited over seven of their play group friends (each kid with a parent), and he later said that he had now idea how quickly 7 felt like 70!
That night we snuggled into bed and watched video of Isabell when she was a baby. She thought it was pretty cool, and kept playing "peek-a-boo" with baby Isabell on TV.
I think Robbie has invited everyone over for cake this Sunday at noon. Please let me know if you need any other information. I will be attempting to make a cake that looks like Winnie the Pooh. I just hope that two year olds have low expectations!
Although yesterday was uncommonly sunny and warm, the rain continues today. I just hope it will water my flower bulbs for me. One thing I love about this area is that I just got my spring bulbs planted in January, and they will probably come out just fine!
We have started to get out our Christmas thank you cards. Late as always, so we will send out our universal apology. I'm trying to include cute holiday photos with them.

After a two hour drive home tonight I just lo...

January 24, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

After a two hour drive home tonight I just logged on to the local T.V. website and there is no school tommorrow. Three days off this week!! It's in the 0 to 5 degree range and the wind is blowing and snowing. The kids are excited to have a "snow" day and it should be interesting.

Hope everyone is safe and well in warmer climes.

I've been sick off and on the last few days, ...

January 23, 2003 by Adam in Family

I've been sick off and on the last few days, sleeping poorly and with a pained stomach. Fortunately both Jamie and Sam seem to be fine. Sam just called me at work and they're off to ride bikes on the river path while the weather is good.

I haven't thought as far as the weekend. I keep wanting to head up and play in the snow, but it may still be too warm.

Server upgrade last night

January 22, 2003 by Adam in Adam

Server upgrade last night. It started at 7:30 pm and was scheduled to go until 9 am if necessary. The good news is that we finished up by 10 pm, though it took me an hour to wind down and get to bed. I still woke up at 6 am this morning, my biological alarm clock ringing away.

I was interviewed for my Neverwinter Nights modules. Evidently people really like the latest one. Speaking of which, I'm going to go work on my fire breathing dragon a bit more . . .

I had Christmas in Rochester with Danica and ...

January 21, 2003 by Dorothy in Danica Miller

I had Christmas in Rochester with Danica and family. It was fun. Haven't heard whether you all liked the things I sent - maybe not. We are having alot of cold and snow - I knew this would happen when I'm here most of the winter. I had a fall in my garage last week - spent time in X-ray and Dr. No fracture, but a hematoma. Also am in process of getting two teeth crowned. I hope that is the end of my disintigrating! Getting ready to go to Barbados in Feb for 10 days - with my sister.

This week is off to a better start I hope! T...

January 21, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

This week is off to a better start I hope! The kids have today and tommorrow off school. The holiday off course today and tommorrow is a teacher comp day. The boys and I did a late start after chores and went into town to go to the Franklin Park Conservatory. It reminds me of the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh were we used to go on school trips and I think with Mom too. It was warm and tropic and moist. Just what was missing from a cold Ohio January day.

I told the office no calls and went in for only a half hour at the end of the day to mop up the worst of the tragedies.

I haven't decided what to do tommorrow. The Art Museum, the Center of Science and Industry or to go to the indoor water park in Sandusky. The waterpark is a definite draw although a 2-3 hour drive. I'll just take everyone's temperature in the morning.

Patrick has a ton of work to do for school so I'll probably let prudence (that old nag!) be my guide.

I hope everyone is safe and warm.

It was a fairly pleasant weekend at the Mille...

January 20, 2003 by Adam in Family

It was a fairly pleasant weekend at the Miller house. We sent Sam of to play with Dick in the morning, and he wanted to stay there all day and keep playing. Jamie and I had a great morning, watching The Importance of Being Earnest and lounging about. We went our separate ways, then came back for a taco dinner that I put together. And now it's back to work . . .

I've been making all sorts of odd and interes...

January 19, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I've been making all sorts of odd and interesting things for my Neverwinter Nights game. I have players riding dragons and breathing fire down on pirate ships in the ocean below. It's pretty darn' cool looking.

My first module is still #1 at the Neverwinter Vault, with tons of people downloading it. Unfortunately, they're also finding bugs so I've been spending lots of time doing bug fixes. Life as a game designer can be somewhat grueling.

Whew! Quite the exhausting day - up early, t...

January 19, 2003 by Adam in Family

Whew! Quite the exhausting day - up early, then off hiking with Sam at Ridgeline trail. I hit the new library which is still cool, though a bit of a madhouse. I haven't really had much time to rest. In fact, I just realized that I need to make dinner pronto!

Sam's playing with his new Lego computer games, though he's having some problems with it.

Well, off for now . . .

My Neverwinter Nights module is becoming a bi...

January 17, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

My Neverwinter Nights module is becoming a big hit. It's currently the #1 rated module on the main fan site. Lots of positive reviews and people raving about it. A little less than a thousand downloads after just a week on the site.

I'm hoping to finish up the second one in the series within a couple weeks. I suspect I'll be bug testing this weekend, making sure it all works. Hopefully Sam and maybe Josh will help me out with multiplayer testing, which is equally important.

It's Friday, the end of the work day, and I'm...

January 17, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's Friday, the end of the work day, and I'm beat. Even my morning mocha seems unable to sustain me fully for the rest of the day. Work has recently gotten busy again, with back to back meetings for much of the day. But now it's the weekend.

I don't think we have any big plans, though it would be nice to go into the hills and play in the snow. Sam had a great time last year and I wouldn't want to disappoint. Jamie's looking seriously at a new dishwasher, which is the equivalent of a new computer for me. I gotta give her some payback for bearing my child.

A very quick note

January 16, 2003 by Sue in Wielesek

A very quick note. What information do Biology majors get from DNA photos?

We got a Christmas box from Betsy yesterday with a beautiful wreath and lots of sweets and grandkid goodies. Dad and I had a chance to talk with Betsy last week. She sounded fine - we assume that the cows were well and cooperative at that moment.

We got Dad safely on the plane, and I talked to him on
his birthday. Thanks again to all of you for your hospitality.

Sadie and I are going to San Francisco this weekend, flying down on Saturday and back on Monday. She will be talking with a fellow Lohring and I knew 40 years ago. Wow, where did that half century go?

What a disappointing day! This was our first...

January 16, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

What a disappointing day! This was our first day of rental for the fall and as we usually have 50 people lined up outside to start the day there were 4 today. We usually get about 80-100 applications and we got about 20 today. Further signs of the downturn in the economy.

I found out that one of my owners is thinking of gifting his investment to the Columbus Foundation, a local charitible organization, and I may not have the management then.

I dealt with my usual varieties of nutcases: the Columbus Police called about a possible suicide from a tenant, a guy in a heat paid building who isn't happy with 68 degrees, and a guy in a building that Mike and I own who got a dog and is allowing it to use the vacant commercial space upstairs for a bathroom. Ah! the life of a property manager is always interesting.

I got home to find cows dropping like flies, and while I was getting one up and full of Pennicillin a bunch went through the gate and are now happily munching corn out of the crib. Hopefully they will get their fill and head back over to the gate and I can get them back in late tonight. Ah! the life of a farmer is always interesting.

Got to get kids to bed, love to all, stay warm tonight.

Emma's Karyotype came in the mail today

January 16, 2003 by Adam in Emma

Emma's Karyotype came in the mail today. For those of you who don't have master's degree in biology, it's basically a picture of her chromosomes (which hold the DNA). They ran the test when we were worried about Jamie's hormone levels, and fortunately everything came out fine.

It's quite fascinating to me. Essentially it's a picture of both Jamie and I's DNA, as well as the instructions that will make up Emma as she grows. Can't you tell she's going to get Jamie's good looks and my brains?

Click the picture for a bigger view.

Jamie got me a Spiderman toothbrush with a ro...

January 15, 2003 by Adam in Family

Jamie got me a Spiderman toothbrush with a rotating head. She's so cool.

It was a low key day yesterday. Sam and I chatted and played his new Lego computer game. Then a quick bath and downstairs to watch the Crocodile Hunter. It was the episode where he got knee surgery at Sacred Heart hospital, so it was neat watching him go through halls that I know so well. That was probably the highlight of my day. Well, that and the toothbrush.

I woke up around 2 am with a headache

January 14, 2003 by Adam in Adam

I woke up around 2 am with a headache. No fun. I did have a dream that I was holding Emma and kissing her toes, her giggle bringing a wide smile to my face. It's things like that that make it all worthwhile.

I'm doing my mocha and Advil routine again, which seems to help. At least I feel exceptionally perky and can type really fast. Not sure if that makes up for the massive typos I make while typing. At least I hit the Backspace button quickly too.

Work chugs along, with gray dreary weather out my window. Everyone seems to be hibernating most nights, with our family cuddled together in the livingroom around the t.v., a fire going nearby. Can't wait for spring.

It's the end of a somewhat long Monday and so...

January 13, 2003 by Adam in Family

It's the end of a somewhat long Monday and soon I will be returning home. Our weekend was fairly good, though the poor weather was getting on everyone's nerves. Sam was pretty grumpy and it turned out to be contagious.

Sadie came over for awhile on Saturday, and we ate really good spaghetti (with vegiarian meatballs) and watched Men In Black II. Sam liked it, and he announced next morning that he had no scary dreams, which seemed a good sign.

Jamie's dad also arrived, bringing Christmas presents. We sadly never made it to his house over the holidays, so it was a bit belated. I got some solar lights for the garden, which are pretty cool. Sam got a tricycle, though he strangely just wanted to repeatedly stab the box with a playdough knife. I hope that's not one of the seven deadly warning signs of problem behavior.

The last week or so, Jamie's been putting my ...

January 13, 2003 by Adam in Emma

The last week or so, Jamie's been putting my hand on her stomach, trying to get me to feel Emma kick about. Last night, I finally felt an unmistakable wobble that I couldn't attribute to breathing or typical tummy motion. It is a pretty special moment and helps me feel like there really is a little critter in there. I can't wait to see little hands and feet trying to poke out, though I suspect Jamie may not be so thrilled.

My weekends without the kids, they were with ...

January 13, 2003 by Betsy in Betsy

My weekends without the kids, they were with Mike this weekend, are an endless haul of housework, farm work and trying to finish the house work. After 5 years with a confused kitchen it is all finally coming together. I got kitchen cabinets a year ago on my birthday, no countertop though. My stove was an old electric that had come out of a rehab (no natural gas in the country)and it sat in the middle of the room. In May of last year I got a Kitchenaid 36" drop in smooth top stove top, but still couldn't use it because I wouldn't have an oven. Finally I got a 2 oven built in stainless steel Kitchenaid convection oven and they deliverd it this weekend. After much adjusting and umph it is installed and I am cooking Chicken Terrazini and Beef roast in it right now. Had to sell a lot of cows for that one. But it is finally coming all together. Now I just need a countertop, sink and new dishwasher. Maybe by next year.

Other than that I was a beautiful but bitter cold weekend. The wind blows so hard here that I have considered a wind generator. I had to go into Columbus on work on Saturday and discoevered that there was no wind in town. You have fasten everything down here or your Christmas decorations end up in the gulley!

How'z by you? Looks like I last posted in Oct...

January 11, 2003 by Yayoe in Yayoe

How'z by you? Looks like I last posted in October 2002. So much has happened since then like 2003! Lohring will be gone for the entire next week. He works at Grants Pass and leaves for FLorida (another boat race) on the 15th and returns on the 20th. On February 15th he's going to Fremont, California for another race. Shortly after he returns I'll be leaving for Palm Springs from the 19-23rd. Compliments of United Airlines! My free ticket was the result of giving up my seat on the return flight from Florida last fall!I'm hoping to continue my airplaine mercenary job on the way to Palm Springs. Wish me luck. We've done it 4 times in the past several years!

Despite our pronounced slouch toward age 60 (ouch) we are busy, running in circles, having a good time and working. Lohring is thinking about working another day in Grants Pass but I asked him not to do it..We can apply for food stamps and I can work at McDonalds...We'll see what happens. My work referrals are slowly trickling in. I've seen 18 clients already and hope to have more this year. Remember to refer your Peacehealth friends who have parent/elder care questions/concerns to me!The services are free to any Peacehealth employees and their families!

Nothing else new to report. Oh yea,after reading about Jamie's new haircut and color highlight I'm thinking I'd like to be tall, blond and rich. Can you recommend anyone salon where I can go to achieve this goal? P.S. If anyone needs small plastic planter pots I have them! Don't buy them. Come to my basement store and help yourself!

Golly, when you look at our website you start...

January 11, 2003 by Jamie in Jamie

Golly, when you look at our website you start to think that Adam has this exciting life and all I do is sit at home and rest. I guess I need to provide some balance to this reporting, since this log will become part of posterity and all, probably will be studied by college classes in the future, etc. I got my hair highlighted and cut yesterday, which is like a trip to the spa with a scalp massage. I'm feeling better physically, though I still get tired around 2 pm...I'm used to it at this point, and so is Sam, which makes resting easier. Emma is doing a lot of tumbling in utero. Josh saves my life every day at 3:30 when he comes home and commences the lighsaber duel with Sam yet again. I'm selling tickets to the children's theater again this year (Jack and the Beanstalk) if anyone is interested, or knows families who would like to purchase some of the $3 tickets, let me know!

I had Sam for a couple hours on Friday

January 11, 2003 by Adam in Family

I had Sam for a couple hours on Friday. We had a pretty good time, going for a long walk through campus to the Natural History museum. Sadly, it was closed, but we turned our heads and found ourselves looking at a house being demolished. We quickly ran over, I put Sam up on my shoulders, and we watched this massive machine tear through the house. Sam's highlight was when the driver waved to Sam using the huge bucket at the end of the frontloader's arm.

I started getting a headache towards the end of the day, and ended up feeling somewhat blah throughout the night. I still feel it a bit this morning, though I suspect my morning coffee will take care of it. Only another hour or so until my favorite time of the week - family breakfast on the weekends.

I've been working hard to get my new Neverwin...

January 10, 2003 by Adam in Adam's Games

I've been working hard to get my new Neverwinter Nights module, Dreamcatcher1 - Skyfall, out the door. The problem was that I needed to test the multiplayer aspects and make sure it worked. Fortunately, I convinced Sam to help me out. He was actually quite helpful, following me around without too much trouble. When we started having a terrible battle, he'd help out and following my yelps without too much complaining. I don't think he died once, though there was a close call when he stood in a Wall of Fire a bit too long.

Sam still loves his Star Wars game, though we've got some new ones coming out in a few weeks. I'm ready for a change, as there's only so many times you can run around dueling with lightsabers and firing blasters about. I'm still playing Icewind Dale 2, though very slowly. I find I'd rather work on my modules that play IWD2.