July 2004 Archives

It's been theater week here---John and I went to see "Bourne Supremacy" the other night and both of us enjoyed it a lot. Non-stop action throughout. Annie and I went to see "Phantom of the Opera last night (downtown Mpls). I had seen it a few years ago but this was Annie's first time. She said she didn't know it was so much opera but enjoyed it. It was a little difficult to understand the words when more than one actor singing tho'.

Good morning. We had a good night -- Gretel, Liezel, and I. Gretel is a one-year old, long-haired, black and tan, miniature dachshund. Her owner died and the son gave her to my vet. This past Wednesday, during an office visit, the vet offered her to me and I asked for some time to mull it over. By Friday the mulling was done and Katie, Jackson, and I went to the office and picked her up. I think it's going to be a success story. Liezel doesn't like her but hasn't gone on the attack and I don't think she will. Gretel is a smiling, energetic, happy little dog. I believe that in a short time they will be best friends.

I can thank Elizabeth and Kevin for helping me make that very hard decision: to get a second dog. Elizabeth was at my house Thursday and said she thought a playmate for Liezel would be a really good thing because THEN SHE WOULDN'T JUMP ON PEOPLE'S LAPS -- this said while trying to push her off without actually touching her. Kevin's comment was during a phone conversation. He told me getting Bubba, the big black lab, was the best thing they could have done for Max, the little min-pin. Bubba gave Max a reason for living -- to get Bubba to do right.

So thanks Elizabeth. Thanks Kevin.

Omar's latest obsession, advertised as "it's not a dam bean bag chair!" Omar has wanted the "Love Sac" for the last six months. Having a job has meant that he can indulge in his own compulsions without harassing mom. (Well I will have to get the couch out of his room to make room for this thing!) Amazingly it is quite comfortable and almost everyone in the house has caught a cat nap on it.

Haytham almost got swallowed up by the Love Sac

Joey had surgery yesterday for his chronic heartburn. The surgery is called fundoplication. He had five incisons that are doing just fine. He'll go next week to have the stitches removed. He's getting around pretty good today, with a little pain in his back and shoulders. The doctor said that is to be expected because of the type of surgery and what they did in there. We were at the hospital for 12 hours, which I was not expecting. Joey plans to be back at work on Friday, but we'll see. We also have a full weekend planned. He is supposed to be on a liquids only diet for three days and then gradually add food as he can tolerate it. I'll have to get some recipes from Janine since she's the liquid food expert.

That was funny. I know I watched that show in the 70's, and others like it, so it was fun watching this tongue-in-cheek replication of the show and the era it was produced in. The music, settings and costumes, and dialogue were hilarious. Typical work from Ben Stiller. And what's the other actor's name Owen Something or Something Owen? He was very good too. Just as good together as they were in "Zoolander".

We just got back from New York last night. We went there to visit Joey’s friend, Jeff, who is a U.S. Custom’s Agent in Syracuse. Jeff, his girlfriend, Joey and I drove down to NYC for the weekend. It was about a 4-hour drive there. We stayed in East Manhattan and toured pretty much all of NYC in our short stay. I’ve posted some pictures of us in Little Italy in front of “Ferrara Restaurant,” one of us in Central Park, and one in Times Square. We actually saw another Ferrara Bakery in Little Italy and took a picture by it as well. We ate at a great Italian restaurant called “Carmine’s” while we were there. Unfortunately, we were not able to see any Broadway Shows. I waited till the last minute to look into it and found most seats available were either too expensive or too much of an obstructed view. We toured Ground Zero and shopped on Fifth Avenue (just looking). We walked through SoHo and Chinatown, which smelled terrible. We saw the Statue of Liberty from afar in Battery Park and I bought a fake Prada purse in there, hot off the street. We went out to two different nightclubs on Saturday night and were not impressed with either. We were frisked down at the first one, which was a little unnerving. The second one had a $20 cover charge and both places charged $10 per drink. It was not a cheap night! Both places were a little too much for us, but we’re glad we can say we saw some of New York’s nightlife. If I had had more time we would have toured the Guggenheim or the Met. Next time! We took a buggy ride in Central Park and I bought a picture of “Literary Walk” from a street vendor and then took a picture of Joey and me in the same spot. I plan to hang them next to each other.

We drove back to Syracuse and then toured the Adirondack Park the next day. We went on a nice hiking trail that brought us up to some beautiful views. We also took a short canoe trip that was very pretty. The lilies that were in the water were gorgeous!

The next day, Joey and I drove to Niagara Falls- about a 3-hour trip from Syracuse. We did the Maid of the Mist boat tour that took you right up to the mist at the bottom of the falls. The falls were beautiful, but we were done with that after a couple of hours. You can only watch water fall for so long. We drove home that same day.

Our last day there was spent at Alexandria Bay, which is right on the Canadian border. It was a very beautiful summer home area that is named “1000 islands” because of all of the small islands there. Each island had a million dollar house on it. We took a boat tour of some of the islands.

We’re looking forward to our Destin trip in September. We were there for the Fourth of July and had a great time. I love the beach. The water and beach there are beautiful! After that trip we will be home until next summer. Boo hoo.

Well, the summer medical saga at our house continues! Only this time it's the canine version. Last week Wishbone's left eye became droopy and somewhat oozy. I figured something was stuck in it, so I took him to the vet. The vet looked but couldn't find anything stuck in his eye, so he sent me home with some antibiotic ointment and one to help it stop blinking and irritating the eye. I was to bring him in Tuesday (yesterday) for a check up unless things got worse. So off to Lake Superior we went. Saturday morning I woke to find blood near his eye and on the floor (sorry for the extra graphic description). So Dan took him to a vet in WI. That vet said that something had puntured his eye and couldn't tell if it was the original injury or from scratching. So she gave him some more antibiotics (pill form) and fashioned him with a cone. She also told Dan to take him to the University Vet hospital on Monday for an opthamologist to look at it. Well, Monday Dan took Wishbone to the "U" and it was determined that it was indeed punctured (not from scratching)and that he was blind and the eye couldn't be saved. So yesterday he had to have surgery to remove the eye and the eye socket was sewn shut. Very sad to look at! But, he seems to be doing pretty well today. He is sleeping mostly. He did bark when Ashley was dropped off from tennis and his tail (which is very wicked with shorts on!) seems to work just fine. He will have to have the cone on for 14 days and then the stitches can come out. So that's the excitement of the last week. I'd say we've had enough here for a good long while! My recovery is going slow but things seem to be getting a little more "normal". Well, that's all for now. Carol

Hi, long time no talk... well it feels that way! I had a great time at the reunion and wished that we could have had more time for talking and stuff!
I am having mega problems with my foot again and it doesn't help when you have to stand all day. Listen to me complain I sound like an old lady (no comment Laura).
I have big plans for redoing my apartment all I need is the energy to do it. You know stuff like painting, waxing, putting up wallpaper borders. All the fun stuff.
Will talk to you all later :O)

I have been house sitting for my sister and Joey, as well as pet sitting. Or at least I should be! I haven't been home very much this weekend. My best friend Gina and I have been ratting the streets. We saw I, Robot Friday night, went shopping, to lunch, and to see Anchorman yesterday and went to lunch and across the lake today. I have been feeding the dog but not doing much else with her. But hey, I at least will keep the house lived in while they're gone. And by lived in, I mean dirty dishes, towels, bed slept in, and that sort of thing! That's all they expected, right?! I think that's only fair considering they're on their third vacation this summer and still have one left to go! They are in New York this time. Must be nice!!

I, Robot was good. Will Smith is as usual, funny. I heard on the radio that he insisted on a nude shower scene be added to the script when he found out that Brad Pitt was doing a nude scene for Troy. I didn't believe it when I heard it but when I saw his naked body I was apalled (sp?). There was absolutely no reason for the scene whatsoever, except to show off his well-toned, very nice body!

Anchorman was good too. I think it's going to be one of those cult favorites that people watch over and over and derive catch phrases from. I don't particularly like Will Farrell but he was funny in this. I looove Vince Vaughn baby. The music in the movie was great, straight from the 70's. I promptly went out and bought the soundtrack but it's disappointing because Will Farrell is in character before each song, saying a little something about each song. It's funny at first, but then it gets old. The best part of the movie is the end when the credits are rolling and they show outtakes. The outtakes are hilarious.

Tomorrow Mom and I are going to Bangkok, one of her favorite restaurants for lunch and then will go see Before Sunset. Neither one of us saw Before Sunrise but since Before Sunset got such a good review in our paper we're going to give it a try.

I have four days of school left and then my life as a student will be over forever. I am saying it now, don't let me go for my Master's. If I ever say I might want to go for my Master's since I already have more than a few graduate courses under my belt, remind me of how miserable I've been. But really, how bad could it be? See, there I go again, getting crazy ideas. It's like what they say about giving birth, you don't remember the pain and that's why you can go through it more than once. I want to remember so that I NEVER sign myself up for another class again!!!

Made me laugh. I give it a thumbs up. I like romantic comedy with a twist. There were some "as ifs" in this, but overall it was easy to get into the story. Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler have good chemistry.

An update of note. Or not.

Patsy and I watched Mystic River last night. Did anyone else who saw it notice that Clint Eastwood wrote the music? There is something about this film that bothers me a little. More about that later in the entry. Tim Robbin’s performance was worthy of the Academy Award. No ifs, ands, or buts. Sean Penn also put in a good performance but I still think Johnny Depp was better in Pirates of the Carribean and should have gotten the best actor award. Spoiler alert: If you haven’t seen the movie but intend to, do not click on the link below.

My brother-in-law, Joe, is an avid movie and television watcher. He had a collection of movies that I got to see:
1. "Stuck on You" with Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear. It was good. One has to be able to suspend belief. This had an AS IF factor of 10, but it was still amusing and entertaining.
2. "Signs" with Mel-baby Gibson. I liked it okay.
3. I can't recall what the third one is, it was that good. It will come to me later.

Meanwhile, I rented "50 First Dates" and haven't gotten around to seeing it yet. Friendly Video put a "recommended movie" sign by it, so I hope it's good. It will probably have a high AS IF factor, but that doesn't bother me if the story line is good. It doesn't have to be credible.

My family just returned from our Colorado vacation. It was wonderful. I think everyone will agree that it was truly a successful trip. Most of us got back on Sunday, with the exception of the PJ Tompkins family, who arrived home Monday night. They stayed an extra day to play in Winter Park, CO.

I hope some of my siblings will post pictures from all the events we took part in. I think Tim wins for best photos so far, with pictures ranging from moose and elk lying in fields in the Rocky Mountain National Forest, to a fox walking behind Daniel on the golf course. He also has some spectacular photos of their hot air balloon ride and Katie has a photo of our white water rafting "adventure".
It's a great town (Grand Lake, CO) for anyone looking for a vacation. We stayed at the Grand Lake Lodge, but I would recommend the Gateway Inn or other places in town. The Lodge was fine for our large group, but it had it's moments, especially on our first night. Long story, I won't go in to details.

Just wanted to say thanks to Laura and Carol again for their great job on the reunion. And thanks to the Ferrara's for traveling for the event. We had a great time.

Happy Birthday to my dear sister Nancy!! Have a wonderful day!! Love, Carol
(wasn't that nice, I didn't even mention your age :))

Here is a chipmunk that Nicole caught in the live trap 'cause it was sneakin' too much bird food. Carol

These photos arrived in the mail today from cousin Beth. It looks like they were all taken the same year. It looks to me like it must have been 1972 when these were taken. That was the last year I went up to Minneapolis as a kid.

I’m playing a hockey board game in the photo above. I guess this game belonged to Mike? The game was a lot of fun. So much so that Santa brought Dave and I one of our very own. It might still be in the attic on Moisant. Dave and I got pretty good at it.

My memory of this first time playing this game is that Uncle Mark tore us up.

Above, Janine and an old car in the background, probably ours. I think anyone could have picked Janine out at the reunion from this photograph.

And, finally, that's Elizabeth above on a picnic table in front of some old cars and trucks. She appears to be wearing a very similar outfit to Janine’s. She looks a little like Mary Catherine. Mary Catherine has the same twinkle in the eyes.

Thanks Beth,

Rob

Hello everyone, we're having the most wonderful vacation. This is my first time in front of a computer in over 2 wks, so at the risk of being redundant, let me just say what a wonderful time I had at the reunion! It was so great to see everyone! I wish we had more time to visit with you all!

Mille Lacs lake was great. It was so good to see our old friends. Mount Rushmore was beautiful. We went at night so we could see it lit up. I didn't find it nearly as moving as Stone Mountain's laser show. But that's just me. We saw Crazy Horse from the HWY. The face is done. That will be an awesome monument when it's finished! I wonder if that will be in my lifetime. On to the Lewis and Clark Caverns near Bozeman MT, Kev's niece and family live there. I attempted to tour the caverns but alas my claustrophobic tendencies reared it's ugly head and I had to abort the mission. Kevin and the kids (who didn't inherit my claustraphobia, thank goodness!) enjoyed the tour tremendously! Next stop Yellowstone, where the deer and the antelope and : bald eagles, bison, elk, cranes, wolves, moose, mountain lions, coyotes, and the bears roam! We saw all except wolves, moose, and mountain lions, not for lack of trying! What a great place! I would definately visit again!

Yesterday my nephew got married. It was a lovely wedding. Today we spent the day relaxing with family. Janine, your corn salsa was a big hit with Kevin's sisters! Tomorrow, Kevin and Lars are going over to Oregan on a Salmon/crabbing fishing trip until Friday. Amy and I are going to visit with family. Kevin has been playing his cards close to his vest, so I have no idea which direction we'll be going on our way home. It has been a grand adventure so far!

This lake is somewhere off of Penn. I was waiting for the stores to open at the shopping centers nearby and decided to ride around. There were signs at the launch area telling you what you could do and couldn’t do in this lake but I didn’t see a name anywhere. No boats over a certain size, no motors over a certain size, etc, etc. Lovely little lake in a quiet neighborhood in Minneapolis. There is nothing like this in New Orleans.

Hi. Wow, can't believe how fast this week has gone. We were able to go up to Lake Superior for the 4th of July. Ashley had a friend up and they were able to explore the "sea caves" and a few lighthouses. Rain Sunday forced them into a neat little museum on one of the main islands (Madeline Island). It has the history of the island, the fur traders and the indians of the day. We were docked close to the site of the fireworks and the girls sat out on the bow of the boat watching while Dan and I stayed inside and dry. It was really nice to get away and just watch the scenery! I'm still in recovery mode. Moving faster each day. I can drive although it tires me out more than I would've thought and now I don't have to nap each day or at least not as long each time. The Dr. says things are moving slow, but ok....these things just take time. I'm more impatient than I ever thought I was. Thanks to Dan and the girls working overtime around here things are going smoothly. I did hire a cleaning service to clean every other week and today I tried a grocery delivery service for the first time. It was a little more pricey, but very slick to order and very convenient to have delivered right to the door! I attempted to post some pictures of the weekend, hope they came through. The one of the funky lights was caused by rain drops I think but I thought it was cool. Well, that's all from here for now. Carol

Julia had a mishap with a boulder in Lake Mille Lacs that required three stitches to a gash in her calf, and the use of crutches for the duration (1 week) of our vacation because of a swollen and tender ankle. The two x-rays done at the e.r. didn't show a fracture, but we all know how that is. It could have been a sprain or some tendon/muscle problem. As a result, I had to piggyback ride her all over Traverse City. She started off on the crutches, but that is no way to get around for hours. It wore her out. I told anyone who asked that is how we carry our young down south. I am very tired of freak accidents involving my children.

I'm bidding farewell to our elm tree in the back yard today. It, along with many in the metro area has been plagued with Dutch Elm Disease. I can live without the tree in my yard, it will make the raking in the fall much easier. I can live without the empty squirrel's nest in direct view that has not been lived in for a few years. I can live without the shade the tree provides. I understand that my shade-loving plants will probably not make it through the summer. I do have issues with the cost of tree removal and the varying amounts received on estimates! Estimate #1 was $1,535.00. Estimate #2 was $1,850.00. We're going with the third estimate of $850.00. Once the city tags your tree, you have 20 days to get it out of there. The tree service that we have used before for trimming was not even able to get over to our house to give us an estimate. They're that backed up, working 7 days per week, 12 hour days.

So tonight I'll have my leaf blower out cleaning up whatever is left behind. At least the temps are supposed to be nice today. Ya think they'll take the mosquitoes with them when they haul the tree away? Wishful thinking.

After lunch last Wednesday (June 30) at Molly Quinn’s Irish Pub, Mom and I drove around Lake Calhoun. This was taken from the south (???) shore, I think. Finding a place to park for this picture wasn’t too bad but finding a place to park near an ice cream vendor proved to be impossible. I had seen some walkers with ice cream and Mom said the ice cream there was very good. I think those walkers had gotten theirs from a mobile vendor but we’ll never know. We didn’t get any. Yet another thing I need to do next time I’m there.

Janine holding court below. Steve (?) behind her couldn't be removed easily but I don't think he will mind. There are quite a few other people in the original of this photo.

Mom & Ann below.

I think we all just have to agree that our large family is the BEST. Wasn't our reunion a great success? We owe a lot to Laura Cunningham and Carol Groenke and of course anyone else who folded a napkin or cooked a biscuit, and I think we can count on Laura to lead the next one. Don't you? I wouldn't mind another reunion in that same park; I thought it was spectacular even in the rain and even though I didn't venture out of the shelter.

Robbie had a detour on his trip home and so did I. My plane was delayed in takeoff more than an hour on account of an air conditioning problem. Finally it came to life and we took off. We didn't get too far and the pilot came on the p.a. and said we were still malfunctioning and we would set down in Birmingham, Alabama. In ten minutes! When we landed and taxied up to the terminal, I noticed three fire engines, three ambulances, five tow trucks, ten police cars, and a few other vehicles, all with red or blue lights flashing. Gives one pause.

We took our place in the dead terminal -- the last flight had departed an hour before -- and waited to hear what would be done. They brought in pizzas about 11:00 and told us there was a plane on its way from Baltimore and we'd be on our way as soon as it arrived. I had to take a cab home because by this time it was 2:30 in the morning, and the cab driver was bummed out because he had been waiting four hours for this flight and he was hoping for a customer who lived across the river or in Eastern New Orleans or anywhere but a mile away in Kenner, and he didn't mind talking about it all the way home!! I gave him the biggest tip he had ever seen I'm sure, and he was all sugar and sweetness after that, shook my hand and gave me his business card. Think I'll report him and his attitude.

I had a wonderful week up there and I'm glad to be home.

Love y'all -- Aunt Ginnie

OK, these are a tad obnoxious and more than a tad expensive ($5.95 for a bag of about 20) but they were also quite delicious. We ate them in under 5 minutes. Doubt it's a record, though.

Robbie said I was to put up more pictures - so here they are. This is our camping trip to Wild River State Park. We had a beautiful camp site but the park didn't provide much for the kids to do. No swimming beach and no real fishing pier. The highlight of our trip - Asiyah and I scared up a BEAR on our way back from the bathroom

Our campsite - thank God for the screen over the picnic table, the bugs were horrible.

The guys trying there hands at fishing. It was a disaster really!!! Hamzah was so disappointed 'cause he couldn't catch the "sturgeon big enough to pull him in the river"!

What could be more fun than hotdogs and s'mores over the fire!

A VERY rare photo of mother and daughter - both with our eyes open and nice smiles!!!!

Well that's it for now. I got four days notice that my in-laws will be arriving today for a month long stay! I'm off to the farmers market for some flowers and then finish up the cleaning. My house hasn't been this clean for years!!!!!

Happy Fourth of July to all.
This is a lily that opened up a couple of days ago. We got some rain yesterday so I'm hoping my garden will be jumping with color in the next few days.

The image below was taken at sunset on the day of the reunion. Most of you know where it was taken but let’s keep that to ourselves.

The first six CD’s were mailed out yesterday to Laura, Beth, Nancy, Carol, Janice, and Sue. Ladies first, I suppose. Laura and Nancy are getting theirs via priority mail. Patsy and I had gotten our wires crossed while filling out addresses and had duplicated two addresses. The only labels she could find to cover them up were the priority mail labels. Well, those girls are special anyway. The CD’s contain all of the pictures I took while in Minnesota and one I took when I got home. Many of them are similar, some are blurry, some I can’t figure out what I was looking at, and some are accidental. Typical amateur photographer stuff. A lot of them are very good, though, and reduced internet-friendly sizes leave a lot to be desired. Since all of the CD’s will be the same, you can ask “who is this on Image 482?" if you are stumped and you can expect me to do the same.

I have more made. I just need addresses if anyone wants one. Those in Louisiana will get theirs when I see them.

OK, I’m back. I have some sleep under my belt. I had a great trip. Thanks, everyone. The flight home wasn’t so good because we had to be diverted to Gulfport due to the thunderstorms in and around the airport in New Orleans. We refueled there and were about 90 minutes late arriving in New Orleans. I hope I didn’t put Angela out too much. She came and got me.

There were some things I never got to do while in Minneapolis. I never got to Hyder’s shop to see his business and I never got to the Lock and Dam to see what John does. Hopefully, I’ll see them next time. I did make it to the Mall of America on my way out of town. I only saw parts of Level One, however. I “survived” it according to my new T-shirt.

Naturally, I picked the shop that was opening late that morning.

After further review, I have mostly very good pictures but some disappointing ones. I’ll have to work on my techniques. I must have jerked the camera a few times when pressing the shudder because a handful of the images are blurry. The two Angela took of me are blurry, too, so I hope others got pictures of me to prove I was there. I might need them with the City of New Orleans in case they want to cite me for something else I had nothing to do with.

Casey, who likes to sleep up against me at night because Patsy tosses and turns a lot, says I’m not leaving without her next time. She’s packed and ready to go. I had taken a break from unpacking and she just hopped right in. Crispin had squeezed himself into my other much smaller new bag but I was not quick enough to the camera for that one. Casey’s picture is the last one I took before I downloaded the images to the computer.

I have quite a few more pictures of places and things to bore you guys with. Most of the people pictures are very good but are not going to be posted here. I heard quite a few “No blogging” chants at the reunion. Little did they know that I wasn’t going to post them anyway. Many of them were taken pretty much without much notice. Be looking for a CD in the next week or so. The images are very large and quite detailed so if you do decide to post one of yourself (And others with their permission), please be sure to reduce it.

Went to the Twins game with Laura, Beth, Joan, and Ed Tuesday night. Laura and I met at Kieran’s Irish Pub in downtown Minneapolis before the game. Joan and Ed joined us a bit later and then we met Beth at the Metrodome. Bridget and Aunt Pat were going to come but couldn’t make it. There was a quiz show before the game by some local disk jockey. The question was "How do you spell Mientkiewicz?". The four contestants all got it wrong despite overwhelming help from cousin Laura, who happened to be wearing a Mientkiewicz jersey and was turning around for them to see the quite prominent name embroidered on the back.

Laura and Joan got us some great seats but you might notice by the picture below that we were slightly to the left behind home plate. Let’s try to do better next time girls. :)

The “Big Hurt”, Frank Thomas, below scored a run but he wasn’t much of a factor as the Twins lost, 6-2. No matter, I had a great time.