Adam Miller and Family

Short time to solstice

December 16, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Bob and I ran errands all afternoon yesterday, and people seemed bursting with exuberance and good cheer. I wonder if we northern hemisphere people are hard wired to be aware of the winter seasons, and all the "Spirit of Christmas", festivals of light, etc, just followed logically. We had beautiful blue sky yesterday.

It's been three whole days without worker guys in my house. I feel as though there is no longer a woodpecker tapping on the side of my head.

Can't wait to hug Sadie!

Go Ducks

December 04, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

On the way back from picking up an ill Emma from school, she announced that she hoped that the Beavers would win the Civil War tomorrow. I spoke firmly to Jamie, but she didn't 'fess up.

I think all the basement sanding is done, and I'm looking forward to vacuuming and dusting up the accumulated grime.

A Nice Thanksgiving!

November 27, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Everyone local was here but Berry and Duncan, and a good time was had by all. After Jenny's wet start, she nonetheless came early to help. Destin was a prince, and made short work of several household projects. In fact, both Sam and Destin were quite helpful in the kitchen, too. We talked a bit about Sadie and Greg's engagement party. I wonder if it would be fun to have the family specialties for food - Grandma Jones' cinnamon rolls, Grandma Black's bread, Bob's grilled salmon, etc. Maybe Hanni would make kuchen or one of her baked treats and freeze it - poor Hanni, you can't get out of baking just because you're going to be a thousand miles away. I think I'll hire an event planner.

Tea and munchins

November 19, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

I had a delightful visit with Colette, Duncan and Berry on Tuesday afternoon. The children were worried that Hobbes would forget them, so came over for a bit. It was the usual madhouse, with worker guys all around, but the kids shone through. Colette and I did an impromteau (that can't be spelled right) version of Little Bunny Foo-foo; Colette makes a smashing Good Fairy!

The rest of the week has been devoted to League of Women Voters events: my Membership committee, the Board meeting, and the monthly luncheon.

The Mud Mountain has moved from the front yard to the back, and the walls in front are in. I've given up cleaning the mud from the floors. I plan to end my days in Wellingtons rather than house slippers.

Bob, bless his heart, worked all this very cold afternoon putting in faucet covers and anti-freeze.

Gettin' there

November 09, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Well, there's certainly still lots of things to do outside, but most of the stuff which requires supervision is done. I'm glad, since I managed to get a cold, and I'm sitting here in bed surrounded by little mountains of soggy tissue. I'm trying to reach you by phone, Seraph, to wish you a happy birthday. I'm not sure Jenny has had a chance to talk to anyone but Adam and Lohring, but Jordan twisted his leg, and has to stay home, in bed, for a week. He's also supposed to have an MRI. Jenny said she would keep me updated, and I'll try to be better about posting. It was so nice to see everyone on Sunday. Adam and Joanna, that was an inspired idea.

Bad Mom, bad friend

October 25, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Apologies to all. I have been so busy dealing with the landscaping stuff that I have been awful about communicating. So, Yayoe, you have been almost constantly in my thoughts. I am hoping that you are recuperating well. Hanni, we loved the wonderful tomatoes you gave us. Sadie, I promise we will spend time together even electronically. Seraph, I haven't talked to you since who knows when. Tell me a time, any time. I love you all.

Happy Birthday, Greg

October 05, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

and happy first day of work, Sadie. Many hugs.

Nice to See Everyone

October 04, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Thanks to Adam and Joanna for the lovely dinner. It was good to see everyone, tho we missed Yayoe and John, as Yayoe is trying to avoid all potential germ situations, as her hip replacement is comming up this week. Please send good thoughts her way. We had a late celebration of Colette's birthday, and an early celebration of Hanni's.

I've been a negligent grandma for the last month. I've had worker guys pretty much non-stop since Labor Day, and I'm glad that the back yard is about ready for the excavator to show up. The basement is coming along, too.

Post Luncheon Relief

September 23, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Well, the League of Womens Voter Lunch was for all intents and purposes hitchless. I have a wonderful committee, and they do all the work, while I dither.

Actually, the only hitch is that I gave my car key with the parking meter key to Bob when he went to pick up some LOL (that's Little Old Ladies) and he forgot to give it back. Fortunately, I caught up with him just as I finished the clean-up, so I wasn't really stranded.

I'll miss Destin's game tonight, as it's Symphony. And I'm so sorry to hear Sam is ill.

Much love to all, Sue

A reminder

September 16, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Remember, Talk Like a Pirate Day is approaching soon. Festivities on Saturday afternoon at the library, I believe.

In the spirit of the day, Yayoe, if they mess up the surgery, ask for a peg-leg!

We will be thinking good thoughts as the time approaches!

Hard work is Boring

September 14, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

I promised myself that I could work outside once the house was tidied up and paperwork more or less under control. So last Friday the worker guys dug out one flower bed and I planted a lot of bulbs on Saturday. Today, I gave up on the temporary fixes and had them dig out the up-the-hill neighbor's old broken perf pipe running above the driveway. They lined the bottom with gravel, and will finish up installing the new perf pipe tomorrow. Hopefully there will be a nice layer of topsoil from R&S on top of the whole shebang and I can plant a row of spring flowers.

Last Thursday I went to Dez' football game. They have a great team and it was really fun to watch. Bob's birthday was Sunday, and it was perfect since the Seahawks won on Sunday and the Ducks on Saturday.

I've been doing phone calls for the Kitzhaber campaign on Monday nights.

Hi, y'all

September 07, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

It was nice to see everybody! Thank you so much, Adam and Joanna, for putting on your monthly potluck. A special thanks to the "big" cousins for entertaining the "little" cousins.

A busy week and a half

August 27, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

For some reason, the beginning of the school year always seems like the real beginning of the year. We've all been scurrying around getting school supplies and school clothes. I took Jordan shopping for shoes, and after we found a pair at Burch's with a $12.00 pair of socks, he was so pleased he announced to all and sundry, while the sales clerk cracked up and pronouced him ready for QVC, that it felt like he was walking on pillows. (He also told me at Ross' that he wasn't buying trendy clothing because the girls would be too attracted to him, and, as he noted matter of factly, he didn't like girls yet.) With Jenny's help, we went through his closet for his many outgrown clothing and it's being tidied up for Duncan. Anna left a purse and some toiletries for Emma, and oh how she enjoyed saying "toiletries" in a most mature voice.

Stuck in SF

August 17, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

At this point, the SF to Eugene leg of this flight is delayed an hour. Since Bob and I are getting up at 4:30 tomorrow morning to go up to PDX to see Anna off to Paris, it may be a long day. This trip has had a lot of delays. Love, Mom

What a nice weekend!

August 16, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Got a great last minute room at a Super 8 with a 4.2 customer rate, a rating well deserved. There were a couple of reunion events - an informal get together on Friday night and a dinner dance on Saturday. The kids in my class were really nice, and I enjoyed seeing everyone again. Got to hang out with a couple of my favorite buds.

On Sunday I went up to the Normalville Church for services, and got caught up with old friends. They have the same minister who did Dad's memorial service. I then went into Monroeville to see Margie, and had a good visit. It's a treat to get to know Margie when we're both grown-ups.

Adam and Joanna, expect us at the next family dinner. I'm pleased to hear that John was out and about.

Aaaah. The mountains of Pennsylvania

August 13, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Only twelve hours after originally scheduled, I arrived in Pittsburgh, remembering again what a beautiful area this is, probably more like Wales than Oregon. The trip across Pittsburgh runs right along the Allegheny River. My hotel is great, and after Betsy and I talked, (Bob's mom didn't die, but Bob's in the hospital, and sh'e feeling she can't make the trip) I decided to stay a couple more days here. It's funny what a visceral connection I have with this bit of geography. Here's a pix from Callie's wedding. I didn't really post much about the wedding, but it was very nice.

We also had a good time at Katie and Chad's wedding last weekend. Several of Sadie's highschool buds and their parents, who I got to know well, and who Bob has met, were there. A gorgeous location at a winery along the Siuslaw River.

Farewell, Eugene

August 12, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Going back for my class reunion. 50th high school. This means I am older than dirt.

Farewell, Eugene

August 12, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

for a few days, while I go to my 50th high school class reunion. What that means is that I'm older than dirt. I'm still waiting to hear from Betsy; when I made contact with her a couple of weeks ago, she said we could get together in Normalville, but when we last spoke, she said they were expecting Bob's mother to die that night or the next day, so she didn't know what she would be up to.

It's been a busy, happy week here, with Sadie's and Greg's news, and having Anna in Eugene for a couple weeks before she leaves for Paris again; she, like Sadie, has a lovely family who have taken her under their wings.

Be back Monday night. Right now, my 8:23 pm flight is scheduled to leave at 11:00 pm, (bad weather in San Francisco) heaven knows when I'll get into Pittsburgh. But I have pastries from Hideaway Bakery, so I'll survive.

Cute pix

August 03, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Hi, we got all five grandkids together yesterday afternoon for a swimfest at Jenny's. Thought this was a nice picture.

Boston Town

July 01, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

A lovely smiling Sadie picked us up from the airport after a trip which came off without a hitch. Bob took us to the airport at about 4:30, miraculously finding an open donut shop on the way.

He was a wonderful trip companion on our tour with Isa. He manages to be both playful and gentle in his directiveness with Isa, and she in turn was just a lovely travel companion. She and Sadie are going off on a walk before we all go to see Eclipse. Oh, and Seraph, we stopped for an ice cream at the Biggest Small Cone Place" I've ever seen. Next time I'm getting the "Tot" size.

This little town is a wonderful small New England town, and the house Sadie and Greg have their apartment in is a beautiful old old house. In fact, the room I'm sitting in has the old wide boards as flooring.

Home Again, Jiggidy Jig

June 29, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Then off to Boston, to buy a fat pig...leaving Eugene tomorrow morning at 6:00 am.

Isa slept in a bit yesterday morning, and has been soaking up cousin time since. She's at Jordan's for a sleepover right now; Lohring will fix breakfast, and I'll go pick her up later this morning for some more Emma time. Are these not the nicest kids?

Hanni and Yayoe, I'll have her at least call today; hopefully I'll be able to break into the fun, fun, fun...

On Our Way Home

June 27, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Isa says to say that she's having fun, she's swimming in the hotel swimming pool (we're in Susanville, Ca.) and she can't wait to get to Eugene. She is so excited to see her cousins. Last night she told me that she wanted to fly up to Eugene to celebrate her birthday.

We went to Death Valley National Park yesterday, and are contemplating driving through Lassen to connect with I-5.

We're dirty but cheerful!

Good Morning from the Grand Canyon

June 25, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

I'm so glad we got a hotel in the park. We drove to a viewpoint just a few minutes after sunset as the colors of the canyon muted into dusk. The moon is nearly full and the temperature ideal! Lowell Observatory was interesting; we saw Saturn and Isa reminded us she wanted to be an astronomer. The Petrified Forest was 99 degrees; we nearly petrified. Isa is the best little kid. Hope we can plan lots of cousin time; I think that not many kids is the only downside of Sipapu.

She and Shiloh have the run of about a jillion acres of river and woods.

Fun in New Mexico

June 22, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

We had a very speedy trip down, given that we didn't leave Thursday until three in the afternoon. Bob drove until 11 pm, and we reached Vale. That route is a perfect reminder of the variety of Oregon, and its incredible beauty. The next day was also pedal to the metal, and we arrived in Green River, Utah about ten.

The last day was a lovely drive through the mountains. The section from Durango

south past old silver mines at Silverton and Ouray was amazing, high up into the Rockies.

It has been so much fun to spend time with Seraph, Robbie and Isa. On Father's Day, we drove down to Chimayo, which has the old church where the annual Easter pilgrimage Robbie walks ends. We had brunch outside at an old ranch-now-restaurant (the restaurant had burned down about a year ago and had been rebuilt, and just reopened). It was really lovely! Then we went to the church, where there were lots of families with the elderly parents. The dirt in the floor of one room is supposed to have healing powers, and we also saw lots of people carrying back the dirt, and one man was rubbing it on his gnarled hands.

Sunday late afternoon Bob, Isa and I walked down to the river to play. Isa's situation reminds me of my own growing up - no TV, a huge area to run around in, and lots of books.

Yesterday, Isa and I walked straight up a mountain to play in some wooden tipies

up on top, while Bob and Robbie played tennis. Later, we all drove into Taos and had dinner at a neat Middle Eastern restaurant, and returned to an amazing dessert. Seraph made a Red Velvet cake with beautiful chartruse frosting, home made ice cream, and home made hot fudge.

This morning Robbie went into Santa Fe for a job interview, and we're hanging out keeping Seraph company. We head over to Las Vegas, New Mexico this afternoon to stay in the big restored hotel, where they filmed some of No Country for Old Men, then on to Flagstaff tomorrow. We'll try to post pics!

Much love, Mom

Leaving on a fast...

June 17, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Well, the old Town Car is oiled and aligned, its two new tires gleaming. We're aiming to get into Vadito late Saturday, but Seraph and Robbie, we will keep you posted. I won't mind leaving the Pollen Belt for awhile; my nose is so big we really need a travel trailer. Hugs to all, Mom

PS The place will be locked up pretty tight - Adam and Aric will have a key.

Hittin' the Road

June 15, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Trying to take care of the last 3,284 details before we head for New Mexico. We leave on Thursday. Hugs to all, Mom

Building the Arc

June 04, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

If I were to add a few words, it would probably be glub, glub, glub. We've had as much rain in the first four days of June as we usually have in the entire month.

We had the area where the patio will go excavated in anticipation of having a patio poured later in the summer, and it's a giant mud pit. I'm thinking of skipping the patio and just putting in rice paddies.

More Family!

May 28, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Yesterday morning Richard brought a baby squirrel which he found on the ground outside their apartment complex. Unfortunately there didn't seem to be much chance of leaving it in the high traffic kitty path for the mom to rescue, so we warmed it up (it's been cold and rainy) and got some puppy milk substitute from the pet store. He was pretty subdued yesterday, but this evening started wolfing down his food. I think he's about a month old. I'll check with the animal rescue center; it would be nice if he could just move into the Doug Fir with the other two squirrels when he's older.

I do exist!

May 21, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Woould you believe that organization is moving right along! Other, of course, than forgetting my League of Women Voters board meeting. I went to see the first film in the Archeology Film Festival on Tuesday night, The Secrets of the Nile, ancient Nubia. Here's what I don't get. I knew as soon as the graduate student published the article in Nature in 1984 that the Out of Africa theory was the only thing which made sense. But if that small band of people and their descendants wandered down the Nile over 100,000 years, why aren't there more artifacts from that time period along the Nile, even with the annual flooding. Now they're putting in major dams on the Nile, and all these things will be underwater and covered by silt.

Bob, Aric and Anna had a nice trip to Canada, but for the fact that the basketball coach at Simon Fraser suddenly quit his job after 15 years, and after making an appointment to meet with Aric, didn't call Aric, and completely blew him off. Aric enjoyed meeting the coach at University of Victoria, but they can only take one more US player, so we can only hope. They could only offer a tuition only scholarship but we're hoping for something.

Sadie and Seraph, I'm hoping to Skype with you while you're together. We need to talk telephones.

I had a nice lunch with Dad, and got caught up on his news.

Gary and Lynda's Hostel

May 10, 2010 by Dick in Wielesek

Hi, guys, I'm going to curl up in my jammies as soon as possible and listen to the NPR show about Oakridge. Don't forget as people come and go during the summer that their hostel is available. It's "oakridgehostel.com"

The radio show is wwwlprx.org/30960-state-of-the-re-union.

Happy Mothers' Day, Jeannie

May 09, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

The dog party was pretty darn fun. Lucy was on her best behavior, and the other three dogs in attendance were cute, including a yorkie in a sun dress. I

know that Yorkies have to have really little brains, but when the owner does that little topknot thingy with the ribbon, they look smart and perky. Jenny gave me a lovely red cyclamen, and I will take a picture of it sitting by the lamp in the dining room.

The appraisal woman will be here on Wednesday to do an appraisal of the furniture, the plumber should start soon on the basement work, and I'm close to the point of planting flowers, etc.

Many hugs to all.

Busy week!

May 08, 2010 by Dick in Wielesek

The people who are buying the Reardons' house are doing some major remodeling, and had a person come in with a backhoe to do some terracing in the backyard. At the end of his project there, he came over and did a little work for me. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. We have the new window installed in the basement, and the floor dug up for the new plumbing. Haven't found any bodies, in spite of the murder here in the late 40's. Guess she shot her husband and called it quits thereafter.

Anna arrived mid-week, looking cheerful and as though she were looking forward to her job in Portland this summer. She'll be working at Sur La Tab, where she worked before, a fancy cookware place. Bob, she and Aric will be doing a road trip to Seattle next weekend, so Anna can see her friend Liz, about to mitose,

and Aric can look at colleges.

Adam is having all us moms for Mothers Day dinner, which should be nice. And of course, I'm going to the birthday party Jeannie is throwing for her dog at Jenny's

tomorrow.

Don't laugh

April 28, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

but how do you tell girl squirrels from boy squirrels. Both the squirrels sit on the back steps and look in the window until I bring food. One will eat out of my hand and the other is a little shyer. I think one is pregnant, but Bob just says they are just really fat.

Damn Digital Age

April 26, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Adam, I goofed. I went to the Sadie Google list and put down my X. But in doing so, I managed to delete one line. I didn't read it carefully, but I think it said John Ritter or Josh Ritter poster. I've never heard of Josh Ritter, but I can't imagine

Sadie wanting a John Ritter poster. Can you fix my error?

Is Emma feeling better?

New phone, same number

April 26, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Hi, I got a replacement cell phone. Same number.

Quick update

April 20, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

For those of you thinking about Isa, she will spend the weekend of July 10th and 11th with John and Yayoe. Adam, Josh said he and David were planning to have him live with his dad and Kirsten next school year, so I can stop nattering about figuring out how to save the apartment for him. Ah, things resolving themselves right and left.

Easter Photos

April 15, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Damn Digital Age

April 15, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Ok, so I don't really get uploading photos.

Easter Redux

April 15, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Easter has come and gone, much like the Country Fair, leaving behind the flotsom and jetsam of an Event - leftover chocolate cake, wine bottles, a thin layer of Easter basket grass everywhere, enough blinys, caviar and pirogies for some very tasty snacks, and lots of good memories. Bob just polished off a couple of shish kabobs and a big hunk of cake. There are some lingering mysteries - who ate the ears off Sam's chocolate rabbit, and why is there a large branch in my car? It was wonderful to see Seraph, Robbie and Isa. Isa, Jordan and Emma had mucho funno together. Seraph figured we had 33 people here this year, but along with Seraph's amazing cooking, we had lots of help - the shish kabob team, the amazing clean-up team of Yayoe and Anna, the duct tape brigade of Sam and Josh. And of course, the unsung hero, the princely Bob, patiently putting up with my entire fam, loading and unloading groceries, hauling around tables and chairs, and generally being cheerful. And of course the real mystery - I'll never know what Lohring promised his lovely second ex-wife and his sweet Lady Friend to prompt them both to show up at his first wife's house to do the dishes once a year, but their help is most appreciated!

I'm still here

March 31, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Hi, all. I'm fine, getting ready for the League of Women Voters soiree on April 10th and Easter Celebration on the 11th. Can't wait to see Seraph, Robbie and Isa. Love to all, om

Miscellaneous

March 11, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Had a delightful dinner with Adam, Josh and the kids. Bob and I are doing a shopping trip to Jerry's manana. Yayoe and I had a nice breakfast with Joanna's mom, Colette at The Original Pancake house this morning. And we're going to do Easter on April 11th this year. Lohring, I know it's tough for Anna to take time off, but we're expecting her. Love from Mom

Verizon

March 08, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

If I count noses correctly, we have ten or 12 people using Verizon, and possibly Greg's family. Robbie, we need to move Ron off your account, because I think you pay for him, and he's actually using Anna's line and phone. I'l l call you.

Hugs, the mom who's getting organized. Also, I appealed my property tax evaluation and they knocked $83,000 off the appraised value. It doesn't change the property tax, which I didn't care about, but it will make estate tax issues much simpler, which I did care about. Amazing, back when I was a Beatnik drinking bad wine and writing worse poetry, little did I think I'd worry about taxes.

Busted Cellphone

March 03, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

My cell phone will receive calls, but I burned out (or rather drowned out) the screen. So you can call me, and if I don't answer, call our home phone and leave a message. I can't see to tell that you called, and I can't go to voice mail, either.

But I got my amaryllis to bloom.

Love from mom

Lost

March 02, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Watching Lost DVD's. I haven't posted for a couple of weeks, because we've been as busy as the proverbial paper hangers with fleas. It's been a couple of weeks of doing paperwork, trying to tidy up the last indoor remodeling jobs, and buying things like a beading needle so I can restring a freshwater pearl necklace.

Single Spacing

February 15, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

okay, let's see if this works. on facebook, i joined a group about innuendoes. But the name of the group includes a word which should be just plural, rather than possessive. this leads me to the question of whether I should belong to a group using bad grammar unknowingly, rather than stylistically. Adam, the shift/enter thingy works. Love you, Sarah Palin, for the zest you're adding to the English language! But I've always been ahead of the curve on this one, finding that the word "thingy" is a great substitute for knowing what I'm talking about. Sarah, maybe ....

Help me, Adam, with my spacing.

February 15, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Adam, my postings have weird spacing, skipping a space every few lines. What should I push to change it to single space throughout?

Well, darnit

February 15, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

I pushed the wrong button and lost my posting about my amaryllis, reblooming from last year. Two nice big coral blooms, just in time for Valentines Day. My squirrel is fine, and in spite of Bob naming it Fatty, he will eat out of my hand.

Not Bob's, though. And Mama Deer and the twins stopped by this week for dinner. They're very tame now. They probably stop here and next door because we're the only houses on the street with neither fences nor dogs.

We Skyped with Anna last weekend. She's been accepted into graduate school in Paris, and just sent a message yesterday that she got a 9,000 euro scholarship, bringing her tuition for the two year program down to about 21,000 euros, about 33,000 USD, still a lot of money.

I had a wonderful Skype with Sadie mid-week. She read me her first two articles for the Grafton paper. Like the rest of you kids, she's a good writer.

Bob has been working hard on planning for the last stages of the basement remodel. We're going to have Olin, Angie's brother, do all the work which needs to be done under permit, and Richard can do the framing and wallboard in the main room.

Speaking of contractors, I've had really unpleasant interactions with Darren. It's now the law that you have to fill out a 1099 for any independent contractor you pay more than $600 in a year. He wanted to go over my figures, and I took my folder to his house to go over the figures. That conversation was fine, but I don't think he realized at the time that, because you have to send a copy to both Federal and State, he was going to actually have to report, and pay taxes on, about $30,000 I paid him. In the next conversation, on the telephone, he started to berate me, accusing me of reporting the income only because he'd filed a motion to have his child support. I had to go over last night because I was going to take Destin to Dark Side of the Moon, a ballet based on the Pink Floyd album.

He really went off on me, in front of Destin. How awful it was. I came home and drank three glasses of wine.

Fortunately, I had been able to exchange tickets for this afternoon's performance, and Bob went with me. It was quite spectacular. Great choreography, good dancing, live band (The Floydian Slips!) and amazing lighting.

We took Josh, Sam and Emma to breakfast this morning, which was fun. Also, I joined a book club. We're reading Tran-sister Radio. I think I mentioned that at my last interaction with a transgender person, I was able, without blushing or acting weird, to ask her if she were trans and tell her that she really looked nice.

She reacted with pleasure and I was glad I was confident enough to say something. Thanks,Sadie. It must be insecurity provoking to change your gender and wonder how the world is reacting. Have a good week, everyone!

Happy Valentines!

February 15, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Puppy Puzzle

February 06, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

Happy Birthday, Dez

February 03, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

I stopped by yesterday evening to drop off a 1099 for Darren, and Dez reminded me that it was his birthday. I hadn't seen him since Christmas, and he seemed so much like a man, I just had to say....well, you guys all know the song.

Yesterday

February 01, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

I think I'm getting older. Yesterday seemed like an intense day - not bad, just intense. In the morning, Emma and Bob had this hilarious comedy routine going, starting with a discussion about the alternate uses of bacon (Bob was cooking breakfast), including using a slice of raw bacon under each arm as deodorant. After breakfast, Emma wanted to play doctor, so Bob "helped" her diagnose my illness - he kept insisting on chiggers, while she held out for "Dionysis". As Jamie picked up the kids, a painless hand off, it occurred to me that it was the first of years of shuffling kids back and forth.

One poignant moment occured as Emma and I looked through photos on my laptop and found a nice picture from the Firefly party of Adam and Jamie standing together. She said she would like to have it because she wanted to see them both at the same time. Of course I'm happy to see Adam and Jamie mated up with people who are perhaps better suited to them, but I can't help but, like Emma, feel sad.

Moving Day

January 31, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

I thought yesterday was very difficult, and Seraph, Sadie and Jenny, your brother behaved like a champ. Just remember Aunt Barney's saying, "Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be nice if it kills you." Though there were a few times I thought it was a near-death experience for him! There were moving people who made it really better than it could have been - Sam's bud Sophia was there, who is a hoot, her big brother Matthew, the two little kids Matt babysits, and Sophia and Matt's dad and a friend of his, the dad of the two little kids, Angie, who I dearly love, Kirsten and Dave, and Victoria, who I don't know very well but who seems really nice, and of course, our stalwart Yayoe (I want to see major storm window help from you kids for Yayoe when she's old ). On the other hand, it seemed a bit thoughtless for Jamie to have both Pat - though he did bring a pickup - and Michaelann -though she kept a low profile -as part of the moving crew.

I know that Adam is supposed to be modern, but I want you kids to remember that while we all get along now, I don't think Lohring and Dick were in the same room from 1985 to 1999, so give Adam a little time. And curse you, Aunt Barney.

It was much easier over at Jamie's new house, where Jamie and Michaelann could relax a bit. There was good food and it was fun to catch up with Angie's news. I want more pictures of Winnie! Emma and I headed back around two, fat and full.

A wonderful week

January 28, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

What a great vacation we had! We were able to fly in and out of Santa Fe, only an hour from Sipapu, the ski resort. Our last trip was so quick that we didn't really have time to appreciate how spectacular northern New Mexico is; snow covered mountains and rolling foothills. The ski resort is also very picturesque;

and Seraph and Robbie's house is as well, with thick adobe walls and a huge stone fireplace. The resort staff makes up a cozy family, with the only disadvantage being that there aren't kids close by for Isa to play with. We had lots of snow, so much that Isa's school was closed on Friday and her birthday sleepover postponed for a week.

We went into Taos for a Robert Burns celebration/art opening on Saturday night.

Those guys are more pretentious than we in Eugene can ever hope to be! There was Scottish dancing, and Isa headed off to take part, totally composed, surrounded by wealthy sophisticates in careful Scottish attire. What amazing grandkids I have!

On Sunday, we drove to Las Vegas, a small city where No Country for Old Men was partly filmed. It was a stop on the Santa Fe trail, and has been renovated almost completely. Nine hundred buildings in the town are on the Historic Register.

I gotta go, Aric has come by and we're heading off to Chapala.

Isolation

January 24, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

No wonder we never hear from Seraph. They have no cell phone reception at the resort, and no internet except in the bar at the lodge. They have had 25 inches of snow since we got here. And Seraph works about ten hours a day. Other than that, it is beautiful here! Back tomorrow night! Love, Mom

Fun Day!

January 17, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

What a fun day yesterday! I went to Brails with Adam, Emma and Sam, then to Brushfire with Emma. Then for a quick lunch with Jenny. On Friday, Richard and I went to Jerry's. He was in hog heaven buying building supplies, while I was in hog heaven helping Jerry's dump their Christmas stuff for 10 cents an item, including a $399 black artificial tree for Dez, two $99 tree storage bags, two "glittered deer" at $129 each, and numerous lights, etc. About $1,000 retail for $10.00. Then on Saturday, a Hiron's run and a Ben Franklin crafts run. Nirvana!

Farewell, Sadie and Greg

January 12, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

After a delay, they arrived in SF, and were able to rebook a flight arriving in Mass. about two hours later than planned.

I can't believe it's January 12th and I have the heat turned off and all the windows open.

Goin' Hog Nuts

January 11, 2010 by Sue in Wielesek

I know everyone will soon get tired of my glee with being able to post pictures, but I have some catching up to do. This is from our trip to NM last spring. That's Isa's pup Shiloh.