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The perfect Christmas, except that Hanni was ...
December 27, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
The perfect Christmas, except that Hanni was ill and
couldn't make it for Christmas dinner. Sadie and I started dinner in the morning, and Seraph joined us about 9:30. Sadie did the last couple of hours of cooking while Bob, Anna and I went to see
Aunt Thea and Ron in the afternoon. Then home to lots of presents and good food. God bless us all, everyone, and stand up for peace and fairness.
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Hi, from mom, with some highly flexible sched...
December 13, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi, from mom, with some highly flexible scheduling
Thursday at 4:30, Bob and I will babysit Sam and Emma
for a couple hours, if he's in town. He is taking Anna and Arik to Seattle to visit his sister for a few days, and that's not yet scheduled.
Thursday at 10 pm, I'll pick up Sadie in Eugene.
Friday, Sadie can call - sleep catch up, breakfast at New Day, whatever suits her
Friday night - the Public Defender's party.
Saturday - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I think
this is Seraph's last day of work.
Sunday - Kids Day at my house, Gingerbread houses to decorate, and I hope for help putting up my tree and lights.
Everyone is welcome, kid or not
Sometime during vacation I'd like to take Dez and Sam (if he'd like to give it a go) to an Oregon basketball game, and
take kids to the Science Factory or maybe roller skating.
12/25 Christmas at my house. We'll open presents around 4 and eat around 5. Let me know what you would like to make,
or if the times are terrible.
As you know, all the times and plans are totally negotiable.
Many hugs, the mom
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The pile of files on my desk is finally dwind...
December 07, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
The pile of files on my desk is finally dwindling slightly,
and I hope the things left will be minimal when Sadie arrives. I'm just about ready to go to my babysitting gig at
Adam and Jamie's. The weekend was fun; I watched Dez march in the Springfield Christmas parade (and a CHRISTMAS parade it was. Nary a "Happy Holiday" to be seen or heard, except for a large Happy Holiday sign on the gun turret of a military vehicle. It's the new diversity!) Adam and Jamie fed us dinner Sunday night, and we went to see Good Night and Good Luck at the movies.
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Hi, here I am back in Eugene after a very qui...
November 30, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi, here I am back in Eugene after a very quick Monday-after
noon-to-Bend, Wednesday-morning-return with Bob. An old buddy of his called and asked if he were interested in working for the same home builder, in Redmond, his friend worked for, so we drove over to talk with him. His interview was three and a half hours long, and the job does have components that Bob would enjoy. It would also be fun for me to go over and spend a few days at a time, but I wouldn't move there, especially when I finally am getting time to play with mi nietos y nietas.
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hi,wcweyonw, i'm hwew R SWB;S, WAITING TO GET...
November 25, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
hi,wcweyonw, i'm hwew R SWB;S, WAITING TO GET SOME GREAT PIE. AND I DON'T HAVE MY READING GLASSES ON. HAPPY THANKSGIVING~Friday Post-script This should have said, "I'm here at Deb's". After Thanksgiving at Lohring's and Yayoe's, we went over to have pie(s)-pumpkin and apple, at Bob's former wife's house, with her boyfriend Jeff and their friend, Ming, and of course, the kids. Everyone was in good spirits, and a good time was had by all. Love to all, and a thousand hugs to Massachusetts.
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One more thing, not much of a holiday traditi...
November 23, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
 One more thing, not much of a holiday tradition, and never
to be repeated..I'm bringing the software from my office and
asking you guys and Adam to sort it through. At some point Seraph, there was something you wanted. I think I have lots of Dick's, too. A thousand hugs, and Yayoe, I'll bring extra wine to make up for this.
And a Thanksgiving wish for those folks out in radioland -
for at least a moment over this holiday, find peace and love
with your family and friends. And try to ignore those $!**!!#% ninnies running our country these days. (Ohhh, whoops. Peace and love...peace and love...say it with me, People of Love.)
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Hi, I had a nice phone chat with Emma this mo...
November 22, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi, I had a nice phone chat with Emma this morning, describing to
her why Mischa is a bad kitty these days. I switched him from dry cat food to canned food, which he now likes way too much...so much that he comes up in the middle of the night and rubs those ticklish little whiskers across my nose and mouth so I'll get up and feed him. Or maybe he just wants me to stop snoring...
How about a Christmas tree trip to the farm on Friday morning? Also, I'm going to make up wreaths in advance, and thought a wreath decorating soiree on Saturday morning for an hour might be fun, around tenish. Tenish, anyone? All and sundry are welcome. Yayoe and Hanni, this definitely includes you.
Sadie, thank you for your sweet message, glad the greens arrived. Have a good Thanksgiving with the Levitts, and hugs for Anna.
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Nice going, Seraph, now all Adam's gamers kno...
November 18, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Nice going, Seraph, now all Adam's gamers know he has a mother who can't add, subtract, or keep track of her kids!
Looking forward to seeing Robbie and Isa this weekend; we
are going to the Hult for Dora the Explorer with Jenny and the boys, and possibly Hanni.
Bob and I went to the symphony last night; just lovely. Did you all read that the Baltimore Symphony was poopy to Maron
Alsop? Sexist pigs. I introduced Sam to theexplodingwhale.com. Men with dynamite! Ya' gotta love them.
Sadie, I sent the holly a couple of days ago, and I sent the wreath this morning. Much love from the old folks at home.
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Happy birthday, dear Seraph, happy birthday t...
November 11, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Happy birthday, dear Seraph, happy birthday to you. 29! I can't believe it! Do you remember celebrating your 21st birthday in Rome? What a fine young woman you turned into!
All the way home Sunday evening, I thought about how much
I'd like to have a coat like your design. How about doing a line specifically becoming to older women - not fat clothes necessarily, but for the 63 year old, had a buncha kids kind of figure. Where is it written that my size 12 figure is the same shape as some young miss's size 12 figure? Well, it may be the same weight, but mine is rearranged, and lower.
Tell Isa I almost sat on her baby pig, because it had crawled down to the bottom of my bed, but fortunately it oinked in time.
I was sitting on the edge of the desk watching Sam and Emma
draw. She's not supposed to use the smaller magic markers if she pokes with their end because it ruins the points. I scolded her a couple times. Finally she looked up at me and said, with her best Bambi eyes, in an endearing voice, "Go
away." I couldn't help laughing, and asked her if she wanted
me to go away so she could do something naughty. Without skipping a beat, she looked up at me with a look of sheer scampiness, and nodded her head.
Love to everyone from someone who shredded the curtains because my mom made me take a nap! Glad my DNA hasn't disappeared completely from the gene pool. Heh, heh.
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Friday morning, and a great weekend coming up
November 04, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Friday morning, and a great weekend coming up. I'm having lunch with Hanni and Isa, and then Isa and I are adventuring. We are going to AdamandJamie's for afterschool work with Sam on the spy play, and for dinner. Tomorrow Isa will play with Jordan and Dez during the game, and Sunday afternoon is the great Wallace and Grommit movie adventure. I will take Isa up to Portland Sunday evening; it just occurred to me that I should trade vehicles with Bob and take up the shelves. Love to all, om
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Happy belated birthday, Betsy! I finally got ...
November 02, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Happy belated birthday, Betsy! I finally got a birthday card into the mail. Inspired by the Egyptian sections of the
British Museum, I made a couple of quick stops last night as Queen of the Night, one to see Emma and Adam. Emma was a little leery of me in a fright wig, black make up, and that long cape your dad made for me during the 60's, which has seen duty as a hallowe'en costume about as often as his old tuxedo. I went up to Bob's - his street is flat, and he gets quite a lot of Trick or Treaters. To our amazement and delight, Judy, Caleb and his wife, their little boy, and Jacob all stopped in. Judy and Lon knew Bob and his wife
from when the latter lived on Riverview. Good to see Judy,
and of course, to see the kids.
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Hi, the shelves are spoken for! Lohring, bewa...
October 27, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi, the shelves are spoken for! Lohring, beware; like the rest of the family, I will be trying to foist off anything I can't get rid of into your storage shed. You don't really think any of us are ever going to move anything out of there, do you?
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Hi, sweeties, as promised, I am taking steps ...
October 26, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi, sweeties, as promised, I am taking steps toward retirement. I will need to get rid of two metal shelves, 3
shelves high, about 4 and a half feet tall, and 3 feet long.
Also, Seraph, you asked about bookshelves. I can immediately part with two of the individual units, which are in pretty good shape. many hugs, the ever retiring mom
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Hi, it's the old mom, settled in home, with m...
October 19, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi, it's the old mom, settled in home, with my natural gas turned back on, the cat mollified, glad to be able to drink tap water, and very glad to see and talk to all the kids.
I returned very determined to support the separation of church and state. I nearly always wear the orthodox cross Anita gave me, particularly when I travel. In Croatia, looking at the bullet ridden Orthodox church and
homes of Orthodox people, I felt a real fear wearing it.
Nearly everyone in other countries is polite to individual US citizens, and treat Bush like a joke, but behind that jocularity there is a clear feeling of disgust with the unprovoked invasion of Iraq.
Some bright news in the Register-Guard...with the exception of the US, Russia, and the two colonial powers, war has dropped off considerably. I guess we're just slow learners here.
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It's October tenth, one day from Seraph and R...
October 10, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
It's October tenth, one day from Seraph and Robbie's anniversary. Congratulations, and many years! I'm sitting in an Internet across from Victoria Station, having come back in to town after a nice visit on the Isle of Wight. I met all the people Mary sends on my Trashyjokes list, including the organist at the Methodist Church. It was a lovely smallish church, with a dynamic, funny woman minister. Mary may come to Oregon next fall on her way to Perth, Australia. I am missing you all! Love, mom
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Hi, sweeties, all
October 06, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi, sweeties, all. I'm in London, where John has gone off on power sightseeing and I have had a wonderful day puttering around, buying pastries and checking out Oxfam.
I got my clothing laundered. They don't really have laundromats in any number in central europe, but I don't know why. We said good-bye to the group, regretfully, yesterday - lots of funny smart people. I had a wonderful time in the Hungarian Museum. Also, Slovenia is a gorgeous country. I am missing everyone very much.I don't think I'll ever be able to winter someplace warm and sunny unless you all come along. Love, Mom
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Hi, with many hugs to all
October 03, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi, with many hugs to all. Were close to the end of the tour, and Im tired and homesick. Ill be beaten and shamed if I dont get to the tour bus on time, so I hope an I love you all will do for now. om
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We arrived in Budapest yesterday late morning...
September 29, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
We arrived in Budapest yesterday late morning, and it has definitely been a quick trip. Yesterdays walking tour was so fast, and our local guide, a university professor, was so ironic, that I was completely unclear about what was going on and where we were. However, we spent this morning
at a grand and lovely public bath, followed by coffee and dessert. I then came to the National Museum, with rooms and rooms of artifacts from about 400000 bc to Roman times. I was in hog heaven. I am now aware of the amazing number of foods, words, and customs maintained by the Stallsmith-Jones
clan for which I can see the source in these countries.
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Im in an internet cafe in a building which is...
September 27, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Im in an internet cafe in a building which is probably about four or five hundred years old. Hungary is a lovelyy country, butlike all the Central European Countries, steeped in the sadness of conquest. We visited a Soviet Gulag today, fortunately followed by wine tasting. Our guide explained that in Hungary, when things were good, people sang, danced, and drank, and when things were bad,
people sang, danced and drank. Wise people, they. I am missing you all so much. At least a hundred love, Mom
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Hi, sweeties
September 23, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi, sweeties. We're now in Kracow, staying in a really fancy hotel with bathtubs about seven feet long. It is easy to see why Dick enjoyed Poland so much.
The tour spent yesterday in Auschwitz with the predictable
physical reaction, tears, on the part of many members in the group. The only place I had to fight back nausea was in the room with human hair and the material made from the hair. I had brought two stones from Oregon on the trip. I left one in the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, and one at Birkenau. It's easy to say Never Again, but we have to remember subsequent atrocities such as Rawanda.
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I§m still having a terrible time with Czech k...
September 21, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
I§m still having a terrible time with Czech keyboards, and haven§t been able to open mz e=mail because I can§t tzpe in a dash. We have left Prague and hacve come to the mountains. I have never walked so far so frequentlz. I have lots to share. Jamie, I did pick up something in Paris for your birthday. Many years, and many hugs. PS Rick Steves sucks.
Love, Mom
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Travel is so broadening
September 17, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Travel is so broadening. But Adam, computer keyboards need to be internationalized. This internet cafe has its local
keyboard section and its English section. And as you can tell from yesterday's contribution, the A and W are reversed on French keyboards, and God only knows that the M has floated off. The format of typewriter keyboards was originally to make typing hard. Muy dummo idea. How about a phoenetic keyboard, like a court reporter's machine.
Anyhow, I'm now a Paris fan. The city must have, like London, taken a huge leap in population at about the same time that builders figured out how to make non-wood apartment buildings several stories high and there was a particularly graceful building style in vogue. I took the
train from Paris to Frankfort, just south of the area where
the Stallsmith family stomping grounds were. Great farm land! At Frankfort, I switched to a night train, envisioning a romantic Greta Garbo experience; the romance
must come with first class reservations, because I shared a
sleeping car with five college kids, including two American boys who played cards until 1:00 am. The Japanese
girl in the bunk above them dropped (literally) a note explaining that she and her two buddies were really tired
and asking the boys to stop playing cards. A good lesson about ethical tourism.
Prague is lovely, but cold, and I'm glad I brought my coat.
I love you all, and miss you.
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Generic Heading
September 16, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
In paris and alls well
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sitting hre
in dallas-fort orth
September 14, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
sitting hre
in dallas-fort orth. The flight ws unremarkable exceptfor a thunderstorm. eeing the cluds lit from undernath by the lightening was amazing.Only we and the gods have seen this sight.
Seraaph, I forgoy yhr gray skirt, stupidly, but thank you, thank you. Love to all, mom
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Bob is driving me to the airport, and I am re...
September 14, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Bob is driving me to the airport, and I am relatively organized, thanks to a kindly staff of secretaries, helpful teenagers, sweet kids, etc.
So, as the poem goes,
Here I am, off to Europe,
Home of the "Du" and the "Oui"
I am ready for Europe,
But is Europe ready for me?
Love to all, Mom
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I got to go along to take Sam to his first da...
September 08, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
I got to go along to take Sam to his first day of school.
Emma sat right down and started chatting with the other first graders at her table. I called Dez, who said that he
liked his teacher but he and his friends are in different rooms .
I leave next Tuesday - thanks to everyone for help, advice, etc.
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Random thoughts for this week
September 02, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Random thoughts for this week...when I came home, the cat food Aric and Anna left for Mischa was gone, the water in the cat bowl was filthy,and my kitchen floor was really dirty. I couldn't figure out why. I was sitting on the deck patting Mischa, with the kitchen door open. I heard a funny noise in the kitchen, and discovered a momma raccoon and three fat little babies scarfing down Mischa's food. She looked at me disdainfully, until I finally jumped up and down and hollered.
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A short p
August 25, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
 A short p.s. to the gun story: Bob came over for dinner, and
entertained me no end with his four minute trick of removing the padlocks (they were combination locks, and I couldn't hang around at the TSA center long enough to get the combinations) from the guncase. Guess the airport isn't safe from the invasion of the Civil War re-enactment hordes after all. It was fun to take a closer look at the gun; it has a date of 1835 engraved on the metal part of the stock.
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Had a delightful time visiting friends and th...
August 24, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
 Had a delightful time visiting friends and then going on to Ohio to visit Betsy and her gang. The house at Normalville looked a little forlorn all boarded up, but the crickets
lulled me to sleep and the stars were bright and clear. Bob and Betsy's farm is lovely, with almost all the remodeling work finished in the house. I was fortunate to be there the evening of Patrick's birthday party, so I got to meet Bob's
daughter, grandaughter, and youngest son, as well as get good Ohio tomatoes and corn!
God forbid that I make any criticism of the way the government operates in a part of the country where American flags proliferate, and red,white,and blue bunting adorns many homes and all used car lots, but.... The only hang-up on the trip was missing a flight as a result of the TSA (that has to stand for Transportation Security Administration)men deciding that the 150 year old muzzle loader I was bringing home for Adam, and which can't be fired because its parts are too corroded to move, presented a terrorist threat. (I suspect it will take many hours to clean it and put it into firing condition, and even then, the terrorists will have to deal with buying black powder and firing caps, and even then, they will have to load it on one knee by putting in the black powder and fixing the firing cap correctly, then stomping down the powder with this long rod.) Well, the four different
TSA officials who fussed around with this perhaps could have used their time and my tax dollars more effectively, but at least we can rest easier knowing that the Pittsburgh International Airport is safe from Civil War re-enactment buffs.
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Hi guys, I leave from PDX at noon tomorrow, a...
August 17, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi guys, I leave from PDX at noon tomorrow, and return on
Tuesday afternoon. I am expecting Normalville to be hot, muggy, and lush. Ginny Hochmuth, old friend, will pick me up
tomorrow evening at the airport. What a sweetheart! I really liked the people I went to high school with, and am
looking forward to seeing everyone. However, I will miss you all.
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Poor Betsy! I'm going back for my high school...
August 12, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Poor Betsy! I'm going back for my high school class reunion,
leaving on the 18th and returning on the 23rd. I called her to ask if I could stay at the house in Normalville. She said yes, but that I would have to unscrew the boards from the front door. Apparently, someone vandalized the house, breaking all the windows, all the mirrors in the house, and
generally wrecking havoc, and Bets had to board the place up. While I'm in Pa., I'm going to make a quick trip to the Farm, in Ohio, which I haven't ever been to, to visit her and the boys, and pick up Grandpa Jones' muzzle loader mom gave to Adam long ago. I'm going to check with Delta first.
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Fun days -Friday morning Adam, Jenny, Hanni, ...
August 08, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Fun days -Friday morning Adam, Jenny, Hanni, all five grandchildren and I went to see "Alexander's Horrible,
Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" at the University's Ugly Duckling theater (the kids' outdoor summer theater)Very fun for everyone, except Emma, who kept expecting a dragon, apparently a fearsome character in a play she had seen in the past, to appear, and chose to watch from the safety
of the hedge. On Friday night I picked up Chinese food for Anna, Bob and me, but unfortunately, I couldn't visualize what I was ordering on the phone, and wound up getting almost $60 worth of take out, a huge shopping bag full, to the awe and amazement of Bob and Anna, both of whom obviously thought I knew what I was doing. On Saturday, Bob and I ran errands -he picked up clothing for Aric to go to school, and some fruit at Costco, where I got the car gassed. Finally we picked up Isa at Hanni's and headed to see Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. All went well, except that during a lull in the sound track, Isa announced that she was going to the bathroom, that she didn't want me to come with her, and if she saw a stranger she would hit him. I don't know what I'm going to do when she wants to drive next year.
Love to the gang, momo
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Wow, everyone read Anna's blog about building...
August 04, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Wow, everyone read Anna's blog about building the school in
Uganda. I can't help but be really proud of Anna - she sounds like such a thoughtful young woman. Sadie, the check is in the mail, and do they need more? How about, if I actually close up shop at the end of 2K5, sending left over paper, paper clips, etc.? Otherwise, I will still have these damn office supplies when I die, and you will have to bury them with me, like grave goods. Love from the elderly!
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Life is full and fun, and the best thing is t...
August 01, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Life is full and fun, and the best thing is that my case load has dwindled to 24 clients, thanks to my tough staff,
who are so much better at saying no. I'm down to a half time secretary, Stephanie, but Bob's daughter, Anna, has been coming in to do some office closing data entry work, and Reta tries to help out. About half my domestic relations cases are Legal Aid pro bono cases, and have been pretty time consuming.
Bob and I went to Steve's service on Saturday afternoon; both he and Ron gave brief but very nice eulogies. After the three of us had dinner with the family, we went to Bob's and the guys played their guitars and told stories until 2.
Sunday evening Bob and I went to Jo Federico's to hear Mark Allen, Adam and Jamie's old favorite.
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A short Sunday night entry
July 18, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
A short Sunday night entry...I stayed overnight on Thursday at the nursing home; the staff was wonderful, and helped me push the extra bed in the room over so I could reach Steve's
hand.His mom Pat is having hip surgery in three weeks, so she couldn't really stay, even though she would have liked to. By Friday morning his breathing was very labored, and he died shortly after I got up.
Bob took off work at noon, and he and Ron, Bob's cousin,(and the third musketeer of the group), took Pat to the funeral home. The boys apparently complained loudly and at some length about the shortcomings of the funeral home (to the funeral home lady, who I had dealt with earlier, and who did in fact seemed quite put out - nay, more like Pissed Off - that so many people had the nerve to die at the same time).However, Pat got through the business part in fine shape, and I think the guys performed their support group roles with great panache.
And joy of joys, Seraph and Robbie came down for the weekend - Seraph to make curtains for me, and Robbie to take his former Sunday School class to Barnes and Nobel for the Potter party, then back to the church to camp out. They were the perfect support group for me. So love to all, and happy almost birthday to Adam.
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This last two weeks have been strange, moving...
July 14, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
This last two weeks have been strange, moving from the land of the living to the nursing home, a shadow land of the dying and those people who have ceased to exist because they have no memory. It also seems beyond the Oregon Statutes - when Steve was first there, he wanted marijuana for pain, rather than medicine. We asked the staff, who
told us to close his door and open the windows. It surely seems to me that docs should be able to prescribe marijuana in end-of-life situations, rather than having us elderly
leading a life of crime. Steve is in the stage when all I do
is hold his hand - although I sang Blanket Bay to him this morning,with its amazingly effective calming effect. Glad everyone is well, and prayers for any readers who aren't.
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Hi, love to all, and you should know that Sad...
July 06, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hi, love to all, and you should know that Sadie has been
"referenced". Remember when she worked on a book that one of
the professors(call her Pollywog, as I can't remember her name) at Smith was writing? Anyhow, the book was
published, and Sadie was named as one of the authors. An article on the same subject was published recently. It referred to "the work of Pollywog and Miller". Ah, what amazing people you all are.
On a sad note, Bob and I have been spending a lot of time at a nursing home, where his old budd Steve has been dying of brain cancer.
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Did everyone know our Anna got a job with an ...
June 29, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Did everyone know our Anna got a job with an engineering firm about 35 minutes drive from Williamstown? She will have time to go to Uganda first. I'm going to send her a small check to use to help the local people in Uganda as she
sees the need.
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June had so much good stuff in it! It was so ...
June 29, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
June had so much good stuff in it! It was so much fun to have Sadie and Anna, and to spend time with everyone who was spending time with them. The family Potluck was good, and I especially appreciate Yayoe's organizational skill and Hanni's fried chicken. Sara and Alina's wedding last Saturday was also very fun. Alina's family is Indian, and the women wore lovely sara (okay, if that were Latin, sarum would be the singular noun and sara the plural, but I'm way over my head with correct grammar here). At first, people were a little awkward about a wedding of two women, but a wedding always makes people happy, and a good time was had by all. Bob's daughter Anna told me that he looked like the
two too cool guys on SNL when he danced, but it wasn't that
bad at all. We also learned the rudiments of tango at Dagua's wedding. Sadie left a message last night saying they got in safe and sound.
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From Typhoid Mary - I have a terrible cough, ...
June 17, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
From Typhoid Mary - I have a terrible cough, and I hope I
haven't infected anyone. We're going to Dagua's wedding on
Saturday in Yachats, and staying at the beach house. Bob has an old friend who is in the hospice stage of cancer, so
we may come back early on Sunday. On the other hand, we both
caught the same cold/whooping cough/who knows? so if the weather is sunny we might bundle up in big blankets and try to get some Vitamin D. I'll have my cell phone. It would help if I could learn to use it.
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Very quick note
June 15, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Very quick note. It's beautiful weather, and nothing fell over in the earthquake. I had a long telephone visit with Sadie. She and Anna are sounding very content, a reassurance to any mom. Much love, Sue
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Happy birthday, Sweet Sadie! Let's add a coup...
June 09, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Happy birthday, Sweet Sadie! Let's add a couple more celebrations to our belated Father's Day, namely Sadie's birthday and Anna's graduation. I am feeling fortunate today to be associated with such wonderful kids. It was Aric's track and field awards banquet last night. He got a bunch of awards for "winning" but I was most proud because he was one of only a handful of students who had a 3.5 grade average, and because the other members of the team and the coaches voted him "most inspirational" male member of the team. I think about you all and what fine people and good parents you all are; none of you can really understand until you yourselves are old how satisfying that is to a parent. I know you are a little bored by this speech, but it is heartfelt. I also have complete faith that the wall between life and death is pretty transparent, and Dick is always aware of each of you and is travelling quietly along on with you on the paths of your lives. Love, om
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Betsy, would you send me your phone numbers? ...
June 07, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Betsy, would you send me your phone numbers? I have gotten
completely messed up on which number I have (if any) is work, cell, and home.
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The last month or so has been full of fun and...
June 07, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
The last month or so has been full of fun and kid stuff.
Last night was a baby shower for Kai and Baby Olivia, who is now two months old. Lots of old friends - Seraph, Amber was down from Seattle, and sent her best to you.
I got to babysit for Jordan and Dez on Saturday, and Sunday was a really nice bar-b-que, courtesy of Jenny, for her birthday. How could this be her 35th birthday when she
was only ten last year? Got to see Sam's year end kindergarten program in his role as the Eggman, and also his last soccer game. In Bob's family, his sweet daughter Anna is ploughing through finals at the U of O. His son Aric did well in the district track meet, and took second in State, losing to a guy who now has the second fastest time in that event in the United States.
Erin and Margie should be around for the belated Father's Day party; Margie and Duffy want to buy a house here for Erin as an investment. Thanks to Yayoe for her
organizational skill, and Sadie and Anna, we are so glad you are coming.
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Ooooh, fun times with grandkids
May 28, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Ooooh, fun times with grandkids. I watched Isa for a few days, and got to go see Sam as the Eggman at his school program yesterday evening. Can't wait to see everyone at
Emma's birthday. I am planning to wear a princess dress.
Miguel and I worked at the office, cleaning gutters, etc
this afternoon. My house is a fright... it is very warm - right now the most attractive thing about Bob is his AC.
Love you all, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
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For some reason, it took me about 12,000 year...
May 12, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
For some reason, it took me about 12,000 years to clean up after Easter. I have finally got the floor mopped, everything put away, returned Robbie and Seraph's computer
cord, but not yet ironed the tablecloths. Everyone was sweet to me on Mothers Day. I got to see or talk to all the kids. Alma's daughter Erica called to wish me happy mothers day, as did my wonderful worker guy Miguel. Boyfriend Bob is
fine, and all the high schools are doing District track and
field. We went to the Preliminaries yesterday, and it was so
cold that Debbie (Bob's ex-wife) and I huddled under a car blanket, trying hard not to move much. Hmmm, we need a contest to find a good name for the relation I have with Yayoe and Deb. Co-consorts? That sounds quite regal. Love to all, mom
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The Soggy Saturday Invitational
April 25, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
The Soggy Saturday Invitational..but the stands were covered, the earnest young athletes polite, and good will aboundeth. Aric won the 400 meters handily; I think I heard that he has the fastest time in Oregon. It's fun to be able to stretch out the "kid time" of my life just a little longer. We drove over to Seraph and Robbie's, so I got some
grandma hugs. The "grandma time" of my life isn't bad either. Talked to Sadie, she and Anna decided to go with Plan A, which was Sadie staying at Williams, and Anna trying to get a job in the area.
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A Friday hello - Beautiful weather, Miguel my...
April 22, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
A Friday hello - Beautiful weather, Miguel my truly wonderful worker guy is weedeating my lawn, even though I
have a little ethical twitch about it. I can tell that now the grass is so high that the deer come and hide during the day, and they won't be able to do thatwhen it's cut.
I'm getting excited to see everyone at Easter. Seraph and Robbie, bless their hearts, are coming down on Friday, hopefully with Raven and Cheike (nuts, Seraph, help me with
spelling his name)in tow. I will bring Boyfriend Bob; Yayoe
wants to see a resume for him and attorney Mary Wagner offered to do a criminal check...
He and I are going to son Aric's track meet someplace in Ptland on Saturday. Seraph, I'll call you if we have extra time. I miss Isa! Love from Mom
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It must be your incredible intellect that has...
April 17, 2005 by Jamie in Wielesek
It must be your incredible intellect that has carried you this far.
One love.
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A little bit of crappy medical news
April 16, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
A little bit of crappy medical news. Dr. Arbow says I have
cataracts and have to have surgery next fall. I'm going to reread the Book of Job and continue wondering how, given the
terrible genetic make-up I must have, my genes have survived this long. Must be the silent love around me, as the fortune cookie said. Thanks, silent loves.
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What is with all this sunburn talk when we li...
April 13, 2005 by Jamie in Wielesek
What is with all this sunburn talk when we live in the age of ultra-block and shunning?
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eeek! My sunburn is peeling off in giant flakes
April 13, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
eeek! My sunburn is peeling off in giant flakes. The floor
around my chair looks as though a really big person with
really bad dandruff sits there.
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I have now told all the kids that I've been d...
April 11, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
I have now told all the kids that I've been dating someone for a couple of months. They have been supportive - to a point. When I told Adam and Jamie that we weren't "doin' the dirty" as Sadie says, and weren't even kissing on the lips, Jamie sniffed and said she didn't know why I was bothering to tell them.
Anyhow, quick stats. His name is Bob Wright, he's 59, was
divorced in 1990, and has two great kids, Anna, who is a junior at the U of O,just turned 21, and Aric, who is a senior at South. He has a good relationship with his ex-wife, Debbie, who knows Jesse, mother of Caleb, Seraph's old bud. - and in fact, she remembers meeting me. Also, they were patients of Lohring's. He is an architect, having
spent most of his career working on housing for the poor and/or elderly.(as you can imagine, this won points with Sadie.) I met his extended family when his mom died- very nice people. Please wish us well.
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Hello, dearies, a short vacation review - int...
April 06, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Hello, dearies, a short vacation review - into Tampa at 10:30 am on Easter, followed by an hour and a half wait for our rental car. We couldn't have planned the vacation any other time anyhow, but I had forgotten that every one in the northeast has spring vacation the week after Easter. By some quirk of fate we still got a motel in Orlando.
Monday we went to NASA and then Jenny and Dez went to Sea
World, and Tuesday was Disney World - for 13 hours. Jenny and Dez power rode everything possible, while Isa, Seraph and I moved at a more leisurely pace.Wednesday meant we extracated ourselves from Orlando traffic, no mean feat, and
went to Venice. We found Dad chipper, and to my delight, Cousin Judy came down for a day visit. We all went out to one of those funky "old Florida" fishing camps, and watched
an alligator swim by. Friday, our last day, we spent at the
beach, leaving only footsteps and taking sharks' teeth,sun burns, and sand. Saturday morning, we visited a Stallsmith cousin (about twenty times removed) in Tampa, which was just delightful. Then our evening flight home to the soggy
Northwest. I slept until 1 the next afternoon. The week was practice for my Rick Steves Death March tour next fall.
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Hi, here's my schedule
March 24, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
 Hi, here's my schedule. I have to be at a memorial service at three, so I'll be driving up to Portland on Saturday evening. We fly out at midnight and arrive in Tampa on Easter. We fly back on the next Saturday. I'll make sure that everyone has Dad's phone number. Be well, all. Much love, Mom
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Good thoughts to Ray, and an offer to stay at...
March 23, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Good thoughts to Ray, and an offer to stay at my house while
he recuperates. He'd be close to Jamie, but have a quiet place if he'd like. Besides, he and I could have our boring Healthy Heart meals together, and I'd be happy as a pig in mud to have someone else in the house. Please let me know if there's anything useful we can do.
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It's not that I don't like penguins
March 17, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
It's not that I don't like penguins. Some of my best friends are penguins. It's just that I believe we should have a realistic picture of the true moral values of our little feathered friends (or are they little furry friends?) Besides, Seraph, I have great respect for the cultural differences and lifelong mating habits of penguins, and I would never consent to Sadie's marriage to a grieving penguin.
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My mom sent this along so that she might have...
March 14, 2005 by Adam in Wielesek
My mom sent this along so that she might have the last word in the penguin saga.
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One bit of wonderful news; the cardiologist s...
March 09, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
One bit of wonderful news; the cardiologist says I have reacted well to the heart medication, the condition appears to have stabilized, and I don't have to go back for an echocardiogram for a year. He said that with the exception of weight training, and probably running,I could do any thing I want. Plus, I've lost five pounds since I was in
last! Plus my tulips are out. Love to all the pluses in my life, yer old mom
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Oh, what a beautiful morning
March 09, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Oh, what a beautiful morning... and it was a beautiful morning, driving out to the farm to check on a clunk in my car and drop off extra smoke detectors. Nice visit with
Nate, one of the tenants, who seems like a bright competent
young man. And it was gorgeous, as always. The guy next door with the fancy house and horse barn, the yuppie from California who couldn't pronouce "swale", is not endearing himself to anyone out there. Mucho loveo, mom
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Friday afternoon at work
March 04, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Friday afternoon at work. It's getting quieter and quieter
as Reta and Alex have ganged up on me and now tell callers that we aren't taking new clients. I'm finished up with my antibiotics and am feeling much better. I got a really nifty lavendar jacket, which I'll wear to Dad's birthday.
I miss everyone and it will be fun to see you all.
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So Seraph, does this mean you're already plan...
February 25, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
So Seraph, does this mean you're already planning for the
attire of the wedding party when Sadie marries the penguin?
I thought penguins came in tuxedos.
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Forgot to mention that I went in to see Scott...
February 24, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Forgot to mention that I went in to see Scott on Monday, and
he put me back on antibiotics for a "low grade infection"...
And Sadie, are you still fussing about those penquins? You need to know that if you grow up and marry a penguin, you're outta the will. Love to all my chicks and penguins, om
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After working late at the office Friday night...
February 22, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
After working late at the office Friday night, I headed to the law school on Saturday morning to serve as a judge at the student client counseling regionals - the students are supposed to be attorneys interviewing a client for the first
time. Things have changed since I went to law school; for one thing, architecture schools are starting to graduate women who obviously have done a little research on how much longer it takes women to pee than men, and are designing public buildings accordingly. In the afternoon, I ran long overdue errands, then went to Dez'Cub Scout banquet/potluck,
where I hope I fooled them with my faux home fried chicken.
The Scouts make baked goods, which are auctioned off as a fund raiser. I bought a $35 carrot cake , and Yayoe and I looked on with amazement and disgust as your father bid on, bought, and inhaled a huge plate of peanut butter cookies in some sort of new land speed record.
I had fun with Isa on Sunday; her favorite activity is going through the car wash, the Tunnel of Doom. She and I picked up Jordan and went to Burger King. I looked across the table at those two cute little faces and recounted my blessings. Jenny was painting her kitchen and living room,
which left me in awe - painting with two kids, and a spare,
as Isa and Dez wanted to play longer. An amazing woman!
Then home, where I had an architect stop by to talk with me
about adding an additional house on the property. He was pretty discouraging in terms of space per construction dollar, which was actually a helpful point of view. I unloaded the carrot cake on him; he has a teenage kid, who probably will shed the calories in a day, while they would linger on, eventually part of my lifestyle.
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Friday night, and about ready to head home
February 12, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Friday night, and about ready to head home. It's clear and sunny, so it will probably be cold again tonight. My daffodils have started to bloom, sort of huddled together
muttering under their breaths about the unexpected chilly
nights. I'm hoping to take Sam and Josh to the reopened Museum of Natural History on campus this weekend. I chatted briefly with Sadie about selling her Miss Bunny the Honda Car and getting a pickup with factory air and comfortable back seats. But how could I ever bring myself to buy an automatic transmission? Good weekend, all. Love, om
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A fun dinner with Adam and Jamie
February 05, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
A fun dinner with Adam and Jamie. Sam and I are finishing up our space saga, with dialog which consists mostly of "Pow, pow!" and "Watch out for the Beastmaster!" and starting a spy drama, broadening our acting range.
End of the week, and a good weekend coming up. Dez' birthday party, and Isa for a sleepover. Oh, and I nearly forgot - Superbowl Sunday afternoon at a girlfriend's house.
I do have some big news; I'm going on a Rick Steves trip to
Eastern Europe at the end of September. John Cass is going, so I will have company. He wants to spend some time in London at the end of the trip, where I hope we can visit the cousins. A great incentive to lose ten pounds! Good weekend to all, and many snowy hugs to Sadie. Love, mom
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I think Seraph failed to tell us her grades l...
February 02, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
I think Seraph failed to tell us her grades last term. Why, I'm not sure; they were even better than first term's 3 A s and 2 A minuses. Seraph, a rousing chorus of "We're proud of you" from Mr. Rogers, the fam, and me.
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A quick note - I hate to mention it, given th...
January 31, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
A quick note - I hate to mention it, given that Sadie's weather has been in the teens, but my worker guy came over to spade up my flower garden, and he and I worked all yes-terday afternoon in shirt sleeves. On Saturday, a girlfriend and her beau took me to the second of the two
Tsychoviski (rats, why no spell check when I need one) con-certs. It was stunning. I popped in to play with Emma and Sam - our Space Saga is going on longer than the old radio soap opera. (Am I the only one old enough to emember "Young Widder Brown" and "One Man's Family"?) We were trying to create a drink which would alter the behavior of the invading aliens. A nice cuppa tea will work wonders, my grandma always said.
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Oooh, Adam, so sorry, so sorry
January 28, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Oooh, Adam, so sorry, so sorry. I wonder if you and Dez have had the same thing. I think it was the 16th that Dez came home so sick that I went over, and Lohring and Yayoe
came, and we took him to the ER at McKenzie Willamette. I stayed over at Jenny's, and when he got up the next morning, he was subdued but no longer ill.
Get well, and much love from your elderly but well preserved om.
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A "good weekend" to all
January 22, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
A "good weekend" to all. It has been a clear sunny day, and either every Democrat who observed Not a Damn Dime Day was out today shopping, lunching, and running the car through the car wash, or the law of averages has gone awry.
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Well, I got tickets for the Florida trip
January 19, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Well, I got tickets for the Florida trip. Jenny, Dez, Seraph, Isa and I will leave at midnight March 26th and return the next Saturday night. I tried to use my American Airlines miles, but as nearly as I can determine, the only flight in the world you can use aa miles on are Saturday night flights between Nome and Juneau. Many hugs,om
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Oooo, I can't believe I voluntarily returned ...
January 11, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
Oooo, I can't believe I voluntarily returned from Florida
and that sunshine. There wasn't much hurricane damage where Dad was, but tufts of mobile home insulation were strewn randomly over the rest of the state.
One of my tasks there was to gather information about alternate living arrangements - pretty stressful for Dad, and not a flat out barrel of monkeys for me either.
He had had a couple of fender-bender accidents - scraped a guard rail and bumped into somebody's rear bumper and trailer hitch.While I was there, the starter went out in that ancient Mercury, and I got him a 1986 Chevrolet with 19,000 miles for $500(honest mileage; I went through the last twenty years of repair records!)
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A very quick posting; I got in from Florida a...
January 10, 2005 by Sue in Wielesek
A very quick posting; I got in from Florida at 2:00 am Sunday morning, and hustled on to Seraph's and Robbie's where I flopped into bed.
I found Dad as bright as ever, but more frail and shorter winded than last year. I hope you have time to send him a card for his 90th, at Bill Steane, 762 North Green Circle, Venice, Fla, 34285.
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