*Funky Chunk

Today I was able to see the latest fashion accessories that go along with drab grey prison suits. The model (prisoner) wore a wide, brown leather belt that buckled in the back and was attached to some silver chunky chains that in turn led to some silver chunky bracelets on the wrists. I also noticed a matching set of chunky chains and chunky ankle bracelets leading from the leather belt down to the ankles...Hey everyone..Chunky IS in and will be for the next 60+ days. After the 60 days are over, that fashion trend will end.
Signed,
Mom of the 'model'

Benjamin Franklin said........

Ben Franklin once said: "In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria".

In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

Remember: Water = Poop, Wine = Health. Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of shit.

SORRY!!

Sorry if you cannot read that last blog because of the colors. Just do what I did: Take off your glasses (if you have them) and get real close and read it.

'Careful What You Wish For'

Hey everybody. Most of you know I "lost my job" last Friday. No, I did not misplace it or get lost on my way there. I was let go (I FEEL) because of a personality conflict. In fact, my papers say nothing at all about my job performance.. and I also know that. Anyway, in my last blog I mentioned that I wanted to be home, not working. Well- as much as I wanted to get out of the place I was working, I didn't expect it to be this way. At the same time, I will not miss spending every day being sick to my stomach because of the one person that works there... who (I FEEL) got me fired. She is the most cold, rude, bitchiest person I have ever met. So, seriously, anybody 'got' that million I need?
Rich and Ann Marie, looking forward to spending some time with the kids next week, I need to take advantage of my time off.

Love everybody.

Jeanie
xooxooxoxoxoxoxoxo

Winding Down

So my summer is coming to an end. I start classes on Aug 25th, I am not looking forward to it!! I am just excited to get done with my two year degree, which is taking me three years.

My right wrist has been bothering me. So I went to the doctor about it. I have to get an MRI done on it. That is happening the Aug 28Th. They have to inject dye into my wrist for the MRI. The doctor believes I could have a tear in my wrist... not good. Considering I bowl and at work I am on the computer all the time! I go back to the doctor Sept 2ND to see what my MRI says. I feel like I am really old, old like grandpa old (sorry g-pa). I have about 6 appointments. in two or three weeks.

This weekend, Pat and I are going sailing with g-pa and Myrna. I am excited. It has been four years since I was there. I think Pat is excited too. Granted, we only get to go for Friday and Saturday and have to come home Sunday, I am sure we will still have fun and a good time sailing!


Brandi

Tyler in dress uniform

The boy, he has lost weight and is down to 220 and he also lost 7 inches from his waist.

What stresses me?

Not much - but every August I have my hands full keeping Ann from stressing too much over going back to work. She too would like to win the lottery - not so much for the money - but for the security and comfort of staying home. I heard something about a 4 day work week recently - wouldn't that be great? I do get a bit stressed about keeping Ann from stressing so then we're both stressed. The kids pretty much go about their business and can't seem to tell that we're stressed which makes me wonder??? Maybe we're not that stressed------or maybe we're more stressed than we know all the time and August is nothing new for them.

We just came home from Bayfield. We spent a day sailing and a day sightseeing - okay so it was window shopping - and of course we had ice cream as an afternoon treat - okay so it was dinner, but we were on vacation. Do you ever wonder why I'm so quiet? It's because there's a lot to listen to - no - I'm talking about more than listening to Jeanie - there is nature of course, but even more than that. I really don't have a hard time making a decision - sometimes I just be quiet and listen and the right thing comes to me. Just recently it came to me that Ali is NOT going to date that 17 year old, Adam is NOT going to get Hannah Montana tattooed on his stomach, and Ava is NOT going to start her own "MySpace" page.

Kidding--------I can be funny though.

The girls and I are leaving tomorrow for our annual Dads and Daughters trip. We've been going for 5 years to a friends cabin in Grand Rapids. This year there will be 5 dads and 11 daughters. Maybe you've never noticed or known this, but I am easily drawn to nature. I loved John Denver's music because some of it brought me to some far off place where the world was easy and happy and peaceful. I can't wait to go up north again and "listen".

Psalms 46:10 "Be still - and know - that I Am God"

Try this sometime - I did this in Glacier National Park on a youth event years ago - Memorize that verse - go far away into nature and sit alone and repeat the verse to yourself. The first time emphasize the first word (BE)- the second time the second word (still)- and so on for seven times. Pause, though, after each reciting and really think about the word you emphasized and what it means. Pretty powerful.

By the way - Ann and I were talking around a campfire one morning - about all the passwords we're required to have at work and how we can't remember some of them sometimes. I decided that I'm going to try using biblical references like psal-46:10 - Our passwords have to have combinations of letters, numbers and special characters like the punctuation characters. I should now have an endless supply to choose from.

Rich

We Fest Pics

I have a couple pics I thought I'd share.
*brandi*





Mom working
Mom, Dino and Me
Billy Ray

Kenny

more movies

Kris and I watched "August Rush" this weekend. Really, Really good movie. Any one watched it? What do you think? I am still waiting to see Batman and HellBoy. Totally loved Sex in the City...NOT!

Dave

Well, Well, Well... hello everybody!!

Hope everybody is doing well! I soooooo cannot believe it's already August. Time sure seems to go faster the older I get. Anybody agree? Things are well here. The kids-- Brent, Sofie, Lightning, Lexi and Jackson are just great too. We have Brent here a week at a time during the summer, he is here tonight and leaving tomorrow with Bruno and Jackson to go up to his Dads house in Osakis. (12 miles Southeast of Alexandria). They are bringing the boat and planning to get up at 4am to fish on Saturday and Sunday. Well, Bruno and Jackson are anyway, Brent said that if he gets up that early he will be cranky. Bruno told him he doesn't allow cranky in his boat.. yeah whatever... I've been there. And I've been cranky. And so has he. When he misses "the big one". I've only been cranky when he won't move the boat out of view of the other boats so I can take a pee.... in the plastic coffee can. (God forbid, he miss "the big one" while I am peeing!) Myrna gave me that idea. Bruno has a "pisser" that is made for a "MAN".... you just put it in there and go. Wow. Can't even imagine the convenience. Unless I wear Depends underwear... I'm almost there.
So.........enough about me.
How is everybody else? Joda, I am excited for you to go see Ty graduate, please have Mom take a picture of you when you cry. Because you will. So, I talked to Ann Marie tonight and she is going to sign up for Tap and Jazz dance through the Darryl's School of Dance that Ava goes to. It's a beginners class and I am thinking about signing up too. She is going with her neighbor Shelley. It's for people 29 and older.. I think it would be flippen hilarious and sooo very fun!! And pretty good exercise.. once a week. And yes, Jode, I am talking about exercise that takes place in front of other people. ha ha
So anyway, life is good. Well it could be better. If I could just win the lottery and quit working. I hate it. Absolutely hate working. I love home. I love my yard. I just want to be home.
Can somebody please loan me a million??

Love you all!

Random Things

July was not the greatest month for me. First Uncle Eddie passes away at the start of July. On July 23rd a kid that I went to middle school with and was friends with in middle school was killed in a car accident on HWY 10 and County Road 8 in Becker. His friend survived that was with him. It was also a year since a friend has passed away. He was killed July '07 on his motorcycle. I knew him since 1st grade. July I think is the most depressing month!

On the bright side, It is a LOT closer to We Fest. My first vaction this year! If all goes well, Pat and I are going to go sailing with grandpa for a second trip this year. Which would be awsome again... to get away!!

Classes start up on August 25th. I am taking 14 credits. 12 credits is a full load. I am hoping to graduate in the Spring of '09.

I have seen Katie a couple times. It was nice seeing her after a year and a half... but it also kind of hurt. It is not the best way to see her. But it makes me happy that I know she is okay and safe. She tells me she wants to get a job and get her life straightened out. She said she even wants to go to college. I do not know what to think or believe about that. I told her I'd bring her to the college for a meeting with someone and she could also talk to our job placement Lady. Freddie, our job placement lady, could help Katie with ideas for jobs and where to apply. She would give her information about getting bonded with the state and all.

Things have been good and I am excited for We Fest. We leave Monday morning. I know it will be a good time!

*Brandi*