More snow on the way!

No, we are not speaking of Ma's penchant for...*ahem*.....exaggeration. The original 1-2 inch forecast has been upgraded to 2-4. Seems the weather is heading further south, giving us a better chance at snow. AND, come Saturday/Sunday, another system, with capacity for "significant" precipitation is in the offing. We shall see. Depending on the wind, we may not be able to see.

In other news, Melinda went in for her 6-month asthma check-up this afternoon. We could not get our usual beloved family doctor, since he is moving to another state :-( In fact, he was packing up his books and things, so we got a chance to say goodbye. There will never be another doc like Doctor R. He even enjoys mowing the lawn! I mean, what's not to love?

But getting back to Melinda, the nurse practitioner whom we saw suggested a pulmonary function test, which amazingly enough, a doctor never ordered before prescribing her steroidal medicine. (a-nother doc, I really couldn't say if he mows his own lawn, or not....)

And, upon observing drainage in her throat (isn't this fun? are you eating, perchance?) the NP prescribed a histamine. So, armed with samples of Zyrtec, Melinda and I proceeded to the grocery store where we picked up the stuff I'd forgotten on the last shopping trip, as well as thumbed our noses at the store's over-priced trees.

Which reminds me, Loren brought home a LOVELY Balsam fir from Menard's, yesterday, for almost half the cost of the designer ones from the cheapo grocery store.

You done good! O Hubby of Wonder :-) (he also replaced my crippled mouse, so maybe I'll wait awhile to report that my sound isn't working....)
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Welp....that's all the exciting news for today. Tune in tomorrow, when I hope to have a picture posted of really lazy pigeons. Until then, I leave you with this ancient Irish blessing:

May the doc rise to meet you,
May your phlegm be always on the wain,
And may the wheeze, be never in your back.

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And as I looked outside......

....my annoyance at being awoken early by little ones just melted away

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Overheard conversations.....should I be worried?

Nolan (from living room) : "Trevor! Come here and shoot me!"

Trevor (deeply engrossed in a computer game) : "No!"

"Come on...it'll be fun!"
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Nolan (rushing up to me with "MNO" encyclopedia in hand) : "Mommy! I just read the whole page about machine guns!"

"Oh...mmm...you did?"

"Yes...See? Melinda showed me where to look it up...."
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*makes mental note to remove Melinda from will*

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The Ma Side

Working tirelessly in her neverending quest to obtain the coveted prize of "Homemaker of the Year," Ma Hoyt strove day after day, hour after hour.....sometimes whole minutes to provide home-baked goodness for her family.

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The Ma Side

Half a world away and unknown to many, stand the real inspiration for Chekhov's play, "The Three Sisters."

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The is not the one.....

....for this year's Christmas card
_____________________

"Twas a month before Christmas and Ma went to town,
To drop off a picture of family renown.
She had to make copies and send far and wide,
Despite certain features MOST undignified.

For Ethan was grinning from ear unto ear,
Stopping just short of a scandalous leer.
Trevor had looks that were ever so sneaky,
Rousing suspicions his diaper was leaky.

Quizzical wonderment, Derek's face read,
Neatly obscuring poor Carolyn's head.
Fingers up nose...must be Nolan, I guess.
(Ma rolls her eyes with a look of distress)

Dreamy and sweet is the look Kendra's lost in,
Prob'ly from reading too much of Jane Austen.
"Open your eyes!--Melinda, next time...and
Try not to look....so all-fired sublime."

Then there is Ma, in lipstick too dark;
Three double chins, so wobbly they bark.
Most of the rest look amazingly normal,
Still, this picture is quite far from formal.

*sigh*

That's about it, except for the fact that I
DIDN't get a tree, no, I couldn't bring it back.
The price was out-RAGEOUS...a cool thirty-five (!)
I'm not payin' those bucks, and that ain't no jive.

Give me the simple life, humble and meek,
Chocolate, my blog, barely more do I seek.
And as to the picture of family so dear?
Keep hope uh-lahve....there is always next year.

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The Ma Side

"After years of fruitless search, ruminologists were stunned, today, when in an obscure Iowa farm field, they happened upon that mythological creature of yore, the Cowskunk."

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What I am thankful for....

....that Sharon likes deboning turkeys :-D

Notice all the techno effects? You have here, your basic "warmifying," (whatever THAT is...) "contrast"...um...and a bunch of other stuff which I don't remember. I couldn't duplicate this again if you paid me, since I was just clicking away at different effects in wild abandon. (though, I'm willing to make a valiant effort if enough monetary reward is offered) Mostly I was just trying to get rid of a shadow on the right side, which occurred when trying to take the picture rather sneakily from another room. But it's ok...Sharon said she didn't mind if I posted it. Isn't she a good sport?

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Home again

Taking two vehicles to church, we split up as Loren took the kids home and I drove Sharon to Waterloo to catch her ride back to college. There was just enough time to stop at Arby's :-D The world has become so very civilized, now that fast food eateries take debit cards.

Wasted an hour in Goodwill. No, I take that back. I did discover several things that did not fit. Only several thousand items left to check. Their bathroom reeks, and they do NOT take a debit card for items under $5.00. I only hope the chosen sweater will not miss me. Too much. Other than that, the price is right:-)

FYI.....Super Wal-Marts have the SLOWEST CHECKOUT LINES IN THE WORLD. But, they do have Dove's Dark Chocolate.....so.....all is forgiven. (for the most part)

And anyway, my "Highland Christmas" CD hath charms to take away the shopping woes, the misty/foggy homeward drive, and the close encounter with a deer.
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Sharon and Tammy (her ride) should be halfway there by now, arriving at elevenses. Please pray they will arrive safely, with no car trouble.

Tuesday she has her 20 page thesis paper due, as well as two other three pagers...if not that same day, soon after. Lotsa lotsa pressure.

Feel free to pray for that, too, if the Spirit leads.

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(I'm sorry, but in addition to chocolate, I seem to be addicted to beautiful sunsets....)

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They told us the sun was round.....

Well, until we get this whole sun/shape dilemma figured out, I would just like to announce that I finished all of my Christmas shopping this past week.

In front of the computer.

No bruises, abrasions, or contusions.

*wins*

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The Ma Side

Clearing out his dishwasher one morning, Professor Snozzle observed an uncanny likeness to the human femur.....and.....suddenly....he knew he had chanced upon incontrovertible proof that mankind had evolved from plastic spoons....

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Tire Time

We had another gorgeous sunset this evening, but I didn't want people to think Iowa was all beauty and fluffy flakes. This more accurately depicts the local weather.

Loren decided that since "everyone" and "everyone's vehicles" would be at our house over Thanksgiving, Friday would be a good time to change over to snow tires. As in....five--different--vehicles.

I'm tellin' ya, folks....it just doesn't get any better than this. The family that freezes together.......chills. Seeing that the 1-2 inches of snow had headed for the extreme eastern part of the state, Loren cracked the whip and got the three oldest outside.

It was cold, windy, and miserable. Oh, and did I mention it was freezing? The windchill was 10 above, but it felt more like 5 below. I know this from personal experience when I literally took my life in my hands and stepped out on the porch for about 1 minute to take pictures.

Naturally, Ardith had to be involved, since her little green beauty was being fit out for winter. That is her in the back, left, living dangerously without a hat. (oh well, if that's the worst that happens after leaving home, I won't obsess too much) Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of her using the electric impact wrench, but she tells me she practically changed all of her tires by herself.

Sharon, is the one in back on the right. You know, the one wearing a SENSIBLE HAT, who incidentally, is still in the will. She had to come in several times to warm freezy fingers, but I'm sure it had nothing to do, WHATSOEVER, with the fact that she was the only female with sense enough to wear a hat...

Huddling over a wheel in the Cowboys coat is Jason. I can't remember where we got the coat, but I'm fairly certain it was free. ANYWAY, Jason nearly dislocated his shoulder (the same one with which he suffered an untimely accident at age seven) during an altercation with the jack underneath one of the vehicles. Thankfully, the trick shoulder does not hinder really important work, such as typing on his computer keyboard.

Though the atmosphere was shivery, it was probably safer than shopping or watching parades.

Loren is in the front, decked out in a warm jump suit that just might glow in the dark. There was almost time to test that theory, despite starting at 11:00 a.m. A few glitches occurred. (you're all familiar with the phrase, "This shouldn't take long....") I think Loren was the only person that WASN'T freezing. Seems as though getting a new heart has worked well for him in that regard. He always used to be cold, no matter what.

After all of the car-bonding-with-father-activity, it was time to take pictures. CHRISTMAS pictures for the CHRISTMAS letter. I got to test out my camera with the delay feature and tripod....which, I almost figured out with only a little help from Sharon, Jason, and a few suggestions from Loren. But, let it be known, that I DID read that part of the manual.

Now I just have to decide whether to use the picture with Nolan's fingers up his nose, or the one revealing my three double chins...

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My favorite little poser

Here is Trevor, just before the Thanksgiving Dinner at our church. He can't seem to pose naturally for a picture. Or, maybe this is natural...
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We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. I could not help thinking how much nicer it was to be able to celebrate all together at home this year. How well I remember being "incarcerated" at The House up in Rochester last Thanksgiving....How well I remember the lovely visit from Ardith and Sharon last year--made possible in part by Ardith's generous friends down at LeTourneau.

But, the reason for which we were separated last year, is the very thing we can be most grateful for this Thanksgiving....Loren's new heart. Just thinking about it makes it hard to keep writing......

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You can have your city life....

....'cause I got somthin' better.
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(Good news, Ardith and Sharon.....we cleaned the bathroom--including washing down the walls with bleach water, and I've cleaned out the two refrigerators....so....it's safe to come home :-) But, this whole sweeping business would go a lot better if there was any suction power in the vacuum....)

Ma Hoyt: Hey, I need to ask you a question about these STUPID dirt devil sweepers....
Ardith: Mmmm... Ok.
Ma Hoyt: Is there some button you push to use the...um....hose apart from the sweeper?
Ma Hoyt: when you want to go around edges
Ardith: I have no idea. I've never used the hose. :-D
Ma Hoyt: oh brother!!
Ma Hoyt: well, thanks for all the help:-P
Ardith: *laughs* No problem.

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The Ma Side

Bobby Robin knew it went against all reason, but he couldn't quite shake the feeling that somone, or....some-thing.....was watching him......

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This goes a long way.....

....towards erasing the rotten parts of the day

I'm gonna try and forget that I missed an easy bid on eBay due to the stupid misplacement of a decimal point.

And, I'll also endeavor to ignore the fact that I was just going to place five loaves of bread in the oven....when it suddenly dawned on me that I'd forgotten to put in the oil. You know, it's possible to knead the oil into the dough afterwards, but I don't necessarily recommend it. (it looks kinda weird, but tastes ok)

It was a day to make one wonder if Alzheimer's testing might not be appropriate....

HOWEVER, I did let the kids off some of their school today, so as to facilitate cleaning for Thanksgiving. We simply MUST impress Ardith and Sharon when they come. Or, at least not let them see how low we've sunk since they left.

By the way.....cleaning out from under the couches AND the cushions is an excellent way to discover bonanzas of pencils, Legos, and Kleenex. We plan to reuse the pencils and Legos.

Now, it is high time to engage in a more cheerful activity.

Like, watching the news.

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The Ma Side

Mable was tired. Tired of the crowding, the muck, the grime.....but mostly, Mable was just tired of being brown....

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See......?

 
....my talents are not confined merely to shopping and eating chocolates. *bows modestly*
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Incongruities of Life

• Wal-Mart actually had Dove's Dark Chocolate in stock. Planned lawsuit has been put on hold....
  
• Eating at McDonald's, while reading an article entitled "30 lbs slimmer by Christmas."
  
• Finding they left the pickle out of the sandwich, which is GOOD, since I always take out the pickle, anyway. Takes this as a sign from Above. Wonders if the couple in the next booth thought it strange to see me pawing through my sandwich....
  
• Box in the unrefrigerated candy aisle of Wal-Mart...."Fresh Cranberries Covered in Dark Chocolate." Which is worse....the combination of cranberries and chocolate, or being suspicious of just how "fresh" those cranberries can be?
  
• The label on the Thanksgiving bird says, "young turkey." Something strikes me as wrong....but.....I guess "young" comes across better than "dead."
  

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The Ma Side

Once assembled, the Turkey Lemmings commenced their inexorable march to the sea of banquet tables....

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Language....can't it all just stay the same?

'Tis most amusing how words, and meanings of words change--or maybe I should say--are manipulated over time. I am tempted to think pod people have invaded from outer space, and commandeered the minds of....well, I don't know exactly WHO....yet.....

Sort of an alternative reality. I mean, when political correctness takes on such importance that the term "failure" is replaced by "deferred success," someone has got to speak up. Or at least, laugh a little :-) Come to think of it, I'm still waiting for the deferred success of a certain tennis tournament back in high school, to finally get around to "ferring" right back at me.

It's as though we are being taken over by techno/business speak. And I'm not just talking about the text message version of Shakespeare--though, it being so objectionable it deserved a second mention.

I'll never claim people have to talk a certain way. I have a fondness for schmoozing with the vernacular, myself. But dumbing Shakespeare down to text messaging is like trying to recreate a Rembrandt with two cans of house paint and a six-inch wide brush.

I highly recommend (again) the book "Death Sentences," by Don Watson. After reading it, I was amused to hear Brian Williams on the NBC Nightly News, in reference to the "deferred success" of a satellite connection...."We will continue our efforting of that story." I wasn't completely certain what he meant, but I had a notion people were sweating. A lot.

Another example is the following local radio station's sports report....(the lament of a losing football coach) "We just didn't generate enough touchdowns." You sorta get a vision of someone working really late, in a chemistry lab. Somewhere.

But maybe that's just me.

I probably haven't been efforting enough.

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Resolved........

 
....to not procrastinate in trash burning duties. Any more.

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The (evil) Ma Side

 
"Mwah, hah, hah! MWAH, HAH HAH, HAH HAH!!"

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After yesterday's breadmaking fiasco.....

 
....I've decided to delegate that chore to Trevor

Upon reflection, I think it was not the cold kitchen preventing the dough from rising...it was not my cold finger which, when plunged into the "stock," failed to detect too hot a temp, thus tossing the yeast into a feverish brew that brought on an early demise.

No, I am thinking, that since I was at the very bottom of the yeast package, it was old and practically inactive. In other words, not unlike moi.

That's the story I'm goin' with, anyway.

Despite the unfortunate chain of woe from yesterday, Ma did not go screaming off into the sun(dog)set. No, even though the last of the whole wheat flour was used up in the useless lump of dough-failure, we have rested o'er the night, regrouped, and most importantly, downed a little chocolate.

We have stew in the crock-pot. We have plans to pick up prescriptions. We may even burn the multitude of trashbags which have been waiting, OH so patiently.

In short, we--are--all--together.

(unlike the folks behind this project. Really, some people just oughtta be locked up...)

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Setting sun and setting dog

 
This is a picture of...
A) the double sun Luke Skywalker saw from his home planet
B) a comet racing toward the sun
C) a phenomenon known as a "sundog"

If you guessed "A" you are right!

(OK, I am kidding, but thanks go out to Derek for that idea :-)

Yes, Ma was zipping out of the driveway on her way to clean church, when what did I see?..... but a REAL LIVE sundog. WELL, I just zipped right back into the drive, because, yes, I had my camera...and frankly, I prefer to take pictures from the safety of our property, instead of the middle of the road where I could quite possibly be run over by a crazed deer.

Most exciting. I dedicate this picture to my father, the science teacher. I may not have gotten "A's" in that subject, Dad, but I do remember talk of sundogs. I think. ANYWAY, if you're pining for a more intellectual definition, check out this site...

I don't understand it, but somebody probably does. If you click on the picture, you will be able to see some of the rainbow effect. *looks modest*

Personally, I think this weather phenomenon caused a cascading effect of disasters, including, but not limited to: botched bread dough, broken Tupperware, a broken thumbnail, and a complete revamping of the evening menu. (we STILL don't know what's for supper, but at least there is hamburger browning in the skillet...)

There was also a little crabbing from someone in a position of authority, but we won't go into that....

Happy sundog days, everyone.

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Good News!

After the strategic placing of three triangular-shaped boxes of d-Con yesterday, I slept through the early morning hours in blissful peace and quiet. No gnawing from the incredibly noisy rodent, whittling down his chompers at the expense of our wood and my nerves. Two more nights of this, and I'll consider him a goner.

And so, a moment of silence, please, in remembrance of yesterday's vermin.
_________________

I hope no one out there is feeling too much sorrow for a dead mouse. But if you do, please don't even THINK of reading about this dead vegetable.....

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The Ma Side

 
As Farmer Brown stepped out of his pick-up truck to check on the herd, he noticed the cattle eyeing his leather coat and gloves with uncommon interest....

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Winter Blues

 
I want you to know that Ma went out into the blustery winds to capture this picture.

I am trying to convey the stark and wintry atmosphere, which having now arrived, will probably "stay on" like some undesirable relative, until March.

Basically, due to the intrepid winds, half of the house is 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the other half. And, wouldn't you know it....my computer is located in the colder half.

We are reduced to huddling over our steaming bowls of homemade rice pudding--a necessity brought about by an overabundance of milk. Some might look on this as an inaccurate assessment of the beverage inventory. I prefer to think of it as a call to comfort food. The children are ecstatic that they have been given permission to quaff milk almost at will, in a effort to reduce the surplus. (live it up while you can, guys...)

We will not be venturing out again this day, or night. A few of the children exhibited the onset of colds, yesterday. Let's see, that's Tuesday....two days after Sunday church.....well, you can do the math. This coming Sunday night is our annual church Thanksgiving supper, so we shall endeavor to acquire good health and a thankful heart, before then.

In the meantime, we shiver...

We huddle....

We eat.

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The Ma Side

 
In the cold, clear light of morning, the missing combines were discovered....huddled together in a windswept field, conserving warmth as best they could....

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A Crystalline Morning

 
It is bitter!

But apparently, folks in this neck-o-the-woods are hardy. At least that was the determination of the school authorities, since our district was THE ONLY ONE NOT TO DECLARE A TWO-HOUR SCHOOL DELAY :-(

Normally, this would matter not a whit to me, but being that this was one of 4 testing days for our high schoolers, it had an impact. Then, who should come to the rescue, but the hubby! :-) Loren decided it would be best if he drove them in. Being the ever humble and submissive wife that I am (stop laughing....), I willingly complied.

Every once in a while this whole "role thing" pays off :-D

So, with 45 mile an hour wind gusts, and the temperature rising above 10 degrees F., we try to carry on. *take another bite of protein bar* Gighs harg, bug we goo. *chokes down last piece* (one has to eat more in cold weather....)
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On the mousal front, I have bagged me another twosome; one yesterday, and one today. But the one that is REALLY annoying me, is the industrious little vermin who wakes us up EVERY morning. (today it was 5:15) There is some rodential early riser, who insists on gnawing behind the baseboards in our bedroom. And folks, I just gotta tell ya, "This will not stand!"

Upon advice from from a friend at church--who is a nurse (so, like she should know)--I have purchased the heavily artillery of pestilence-control....that's right, d-Con Mouse-Prufe II.

The "II" denotes an upgrade, only, unlike Microsoft's, this one should work. I was always leery of this product, for fear of the kids getting into it, or even worse, mice dying and stinking for days behind some wall. While I've always appreciated a body count in the past, quite frankly, I've HAD it! Besides, the nurse told me it just dehydrates them and presto, no smello.

It's cold out there, and I'm not sharing my house with no mice...

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It is dark. Very, very dark....

.....and the wind is howling once again. For you see, those cute little fluffy flakes that were falling earlier, have turned into stinging bullets borne on a wicked wind.

It's not all fun and wintery games, here in Iowa.

Hard to believe that three days ago 20 plus tonados had just finished whipping through the state. It is good that the children went out for a brief frolic this afternoon, for there is no way they will be able to venture out for play anytime soon. It's gonna be an electric blanket kinda night.

I am not even sure I shall be able to take Derek and Kendra in for their final day of testing tomorrow. The vehicles were so shocked by the sudden change in weather, they didn't have time to put on their snow tires....poor little second-hand darlings.

But say now, I do have good news for those of you who think I am addicted to certain foods....I went the whole day without one Dove's Chocolate! Yes, it is absolutely true. And what's more, I ate TWO apples, and TWO protein bars (along with a few other sundries).

Like I've always said...."I can quit any time." At least until Wal-Mart lays in a new supply.

Speaking of foods you can do without, if anyone has a hankerin' for unusual beverages, you really ought to see the folks at Jones Soda Co. Apparently they have some holiday taste offerings that cannot be beat. Like, say, Salmon, for instance.

And for those who like to recycle, here's a place you can get rid of that extra fat....(hmmmm.....I may have to keep this in mind....)

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Late afternoon romp

 
Ethan proudly displays the head of the Abominable Snow Monster that had threatened the family, while Carolyn deals with a troublesome woolen accouterment. (and she wondered why her hair was sopping wet upon coming indoors....)

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2:45 p.m.

 
somewhere in north-central Iowa....

*goes back to house-cleaning*

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Get this...

Okay. I've got it all figured out. I now know where the Dove's Dark Chocolate has gone...

I feel so much better knowing it's for a good cause.

Fear not, O Lovers of White Chocolate... the best has been saved for you.

*looks below*

OH! I see that Loren posted....

(the wife is always the last to know :-)

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Since You Asked...

In a recent comment, one of our faithful readers asked if we base our readership numbers on the comments we receive. The answer is, no, though sometimes it feels like no one is reading when there are no comments. Unlike in-person conversations there are no clues to who is reading, or responding, let alone caring about the communication. But we have received enough comments to understand that many do read and even appreciate this blog, especially "Ma Hoyt's" "treatment" of our daily experiences. Frankly, if you knew us well, you would often think us a rather boring lot, but Becky makes up for us all with her view of life at the Iowa-Hoyts.

Actually we do track our readers via StatCounter.com. We hope you don't mind, but it installs a small cookie on your computers to verify who the returning visiters are. Anyone without the cookie is counted as a new reader, those with a cookie are returning visitors until their cookie is deleted. I suspect some also routinely clean out their cookies or even refuse all cookies and so these numbers are not totally accurate, but we have a fair idea of how many new and returning visitors we have. The cookies cannot tell us who you are as it only registers the servers that your network providers are using so we still must speculate just who you may be (well, except for you, Ardith, the only one we know in Cedar Rapids, IA who checks in both at home and work.)

If there is any interest we could also put a visible counter on the blog so everyone could at least track the total pageloads we are getting.

As of today, starting from the day we began using StatCounter to track our blog, we have had 29,230 pageloads. The blog began Aug. 7, 2004, 3 months before my heart transplant and we began the counter Jan. 13, 2005 with a total of 18 pageloads for the day, mostly our own. Early on I realized that by counting our own hits to the blog, we were getting rather distorted statistics, so these numbers no longer show the pageloads that originate from our house. We are presently averaging 92 hits , and about 30 returning visitors per day.

Well, does that answer the questions? If not, let me know and I will get some for you. Also, if anyone has a problem with this tracking, please speak up, so we can make any needed changes.

Just an aside, I probably won't be starting work this week as there is still some paperwork hangup on my DOT certification for driving commercially. We'll post the news when I actually "clockin" the first day at work, but in the meantime we continue to greatly appreciate all the prayers.

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The Absurdities of Nature....and other disappointments

It was hard enough to believe I was seeing snow on the way home from shopping this evening...but it would seem we are under a WINTER STORM WATCH for tomorrow.

*sigh*

Increasingly of late, I feel like curling up in a warm bed until...oh...about March 20th.

Kendra, who was driving me and two other children home this evening, dared to doubt my announcement of snow. If that's all the better she can see, maybe she shouldn't be driving........However, I have PROOF that I was not imagining things.

This, plus the fact that Wal-Mart, once again, had NO DOVE'S DARK CHOCOLATES, has left me in.....well....left me in a rather dark mood. I may be forced to go on a diet, which is just one indication of how desperate things have become.

I did notice they had several boxes of "Buck the Singing Trophy." Things have come to a pretty pass, when lame ruminants have precedence over nuggets of serotonin.

I'm gonna have to check in to ordering direct from the company.....

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Trevor helps Jason practice his piano

What you see here, is good incentive to go off to college. For one thing, Jason will not have to undergo the torture of piano practice, enforced by his chère maman, all for the purposes of neuron development. (well, that's the theory, anyway) For another thing, pesky little brothers will not be hanging upon one's neck, which they are allowed to do simply because they are just so awfully cute.

And then, there is always the tremendous allure of cafeteria food. Oh sure, the quality may be substandard, but the prospect of mediocre food in unlimited quantities, is what keeps a guy plugging away in his senior year.

I'll be curious to see how long that dream lasts....

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The winds have blown the storms of yesterday....

 
.....away

This week, Loren starts back to work with FedEx, as a swing route courier out of the Ames station. This entails:
-driving one of those nifty trucks
-delivering important packages to their appointed destinations
-smiling and looking cheerful
-having an extensive background and knowledge of Swing Music.

It has been QUITE the scenario leading up to all of this. Loren's doctors suddenly released him for work 3 months ago. Which is fine, basically, except that FedEx then required him to find a position--whether it be close to home or not--within a 3 month time-frame, or be dropped from the company.

(The cost of one heart transplant? A gazillion dollars. The value of medical insurance? priceless)

Well, he started looking at the listings.....hmmmm, there was a nice one in Hawaii....one in Longview, actually....but things around the home front area looked a little bleak.

And then, up popped a couple of jobs for his old station in Ames (a mere 90 minute drive). This is when the situation became a little foggy. Unannounced tests to be completed.....other openings being offered, and then withdrawn. Meanwhile, the days are ticking by....

Finally, after being pulled off the list, and then put back on the list, a route was again offered. Loren bid, and obtained it, pending passing a physical. He received the distinction of being the only heart transplant patient that the doc had cleared to work. AND, it was at this juncture that Loren discovered the Department of Transportation policy stated that no heart transplantee would return to work until one year post operation, with no significant rejection. Loren's heart transplant took place on November 8, 2004. His physical was passed on November 7, 2005. Obviously, God had all the timing in His Hand, we were just not privy to the details until afterwards :-)

Things are not quite set in stone--we await a few clerical details--but the edges of the concrete seem to be drying nicely.

And so, another chapter begins, in the continuing Hoyt saga.....

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The Brothers Grinn

Three no evil, Hair no evil, Chew no evil
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Would you believe this took at least seven attempts? Mostly due to Ethan's infallible blinking sense in time to the camera. This one looks like his eyes are propped open with toothpicks. I didn't do that, naturally, but it was my next plan of action...

So, from left to right....Trevor-3, Ethan-8, Nolan-6

Nolan is the one with missing teeth, top and bottom. The last top one came out with the help of a quick pull by me, after several days of torturous looseness. I'm tellin' ya, I coulda been a surgeon.

Trevor needs no further explanation....incumbent cuteness speaks for itself.
________________________________

The winds are howling outside, as a wind advisory is on for the entire night. There were some supposed tornadoes out and about, but we saw none. Course, it was dark...
We did spend about half an hour in the basement, where the little kids wrapped up in blankets, the big kids kept a weather-eye on a tiny black and white TV, and Loren fiddled with an old electrical box. Oh yes, there was lightning and hail. (pretty bold, now that he doesn't have that defibrillator, anymore)

I kept vigil on the stairway, wishing I were out cruising the roads with my camera, and trying not to remember I'd seen another bald eagle earlier in the day.....once again, cameraless :(

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Veterans Day

 

Veterans Day

Friday, November 11, 2005; Page A24

THE DAILY news from Iraq is heartbreaking: the death and suffering inflicted on the people of that country, the homeward journeys of hundreds of dead and wounded to America. This newspaper chronicles the lives of war dead as they are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. At Walter Reed Army Medical Center and elsewhere, the wounded -- and there are so many of them because of the nature of this war -- recuperate and work hard to recover. Some are fearfully maimed. The stories are full of sorrow, the personal struggles daunting, the hurt to families deep and unforgettable.

But this is not a day for victims. It's a day to pay tribute to those who have fought -- to their sacrifice, yes, but, more important, to the spirit that motivates them. It's a moment for honor, not pity, and for recognizing that those who served have not only suffered but have also set themselves above the rest of us -- made themselves our betters -- in a very real way. And it is also a time to acknowledge that while men -- and now increasing numbers of women -- have entered the country's service for many reasons over the years, including economic ones, a fair number do it because they seek the honor that goes to those who fulfill their duty. They do so as free people choosing a dangerous calling.


The title of Michael Shaara's novel about Gettysburg -- "The Killer Angels" -- captures the basic, cruel contradiction of warfare: a bloody business in which decent, perhaps even sublime, human beings can find themselves deeply engaged in the business of killing others like them. In fact, we've long since lost most of our illusions about war, yet many of our best young people are still willing to put themselves in harm's way if it is seen as necessary.

"If you look at history you'll see men fight for pay, or women, or some other kind of loot," Col. Joshua Chamberlain, the Maine professor turned soldier, tells his men in Mr. Shaara's Gettysburg account. "They fight for land, or because a king makes them, or just because they like killing. But we're here for something new. . . . We're an army going out to set other men free."

War is still awful, and there are still good causes on this Veterans Day.

(taken from washingtonpost.com Image taken from U.S. Department of Defense website)

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The Ma Side

 
Wesley, addicted to the thrill of danger, continued to play his daily game of "Gravel Road Roulette," until one fateful morning.....when he failed to notice Ma in her size-nine extra-wide tennies....

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Late Night Thoughts

If you are bidding on Ebay, don't forget that when you type in the dollar amount, the site usually adds the two zeros on the end. Otherwise, you might do what I did earlier this evening, and end up bidding $1051.00 instead of the planned bid of $10.51 :-)

I won the item, if you can imagine that. And only paid $10.50. This is because I never place ANY bids until the last 15 or 20 seconds.

MA RULES!

And, if I get any more gumption up, I just may lose Picasa and Blogger "Hello" altogether, and start posting my own pictures, from my own photo site, with my own html.

*feels "cool"*

They just didn't reckon on a Mad Ma and a helpful computer whiz son. (I feel compelled to acknowledge Jason's aid, though, really, I mostly outwitted the evil Picasa 2, all by myself)

Now, if you'll excuse me, there is another item on Ebay that requires my attention.....

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Melinda is a Teenager!

 

Another child enters into that special realm. Melinda's birthday was really yesterday, but we celebrated tonight, when there wasn't the crunch of prayer meeting. I would have gotten a picture posted of the "Blowin' O De Candles," but the picture turned out blurry. It might have been related to Derek's monotone version of "Happy Birthday," or, the burp that erupted from "he who shall be nameless." Fortunately, the latter will be off to college next year. Derek may require more work...

Now, what do we see in the birthday girl's hand? Ah, 'tis an 8x10 of a flower grown by Ma, the picture of which was taken by Ma.

*looks modest*

Even the very butterfly was drawn to the flower in hopes that Ma might forever preserve it in the hearts of all lovers of beauty...with a little help from the temperamental Kodak machine at Wal-Mart.

Of course, there were OTHER presents. It was just the merest of coincidences that this present was selected for blog publishing :-D I doubt there will be any complaints. If there were, I might be forced to prepare like presents for all the little chillins' this Christmas....but, I'm sure it will not come to that. After all, we would not want a reprise of the year everyone received socks, now would we?

I didn't think so.

What? It's a lovely picture? Why, THANK you! You are SO kind. Really. No, now you're embarassing me.... now really....

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My next vital mission in life will be to get rid of the Picasa picture posting update. (2.0)

I do NOT like the mandatory Picasa symbol at every post. Detracts from the whole picture display. Hey...it's MY blog, not Picasa's.

Pretty "low" to offer update, with SO MANY wonderful new options, when the only real reason they offered the update was to get their little distracting square linkage block.

Boo Picasa 2.0

[12:30 update] HA! And again, I say HA, HA!

At least I figured out how to delete the link for Picasa....you just have to keep doing it over and over, despite "error" messages that pop up. Be persistant, O Fellow Posters of the Picture.

(and, no matter what Jason says, I figured this out ALL BY MYSELF, even though I consulted him....)

Really, it takes so very little to make me happy, sometimes.

*wins*

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The Ma Side

 


Line striping....from a gravel perspective

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Notes of Pestilence

(NOT for the weak of stomach)

What is it like, being an Animal Control Officer, you ask? Let us take a peek into the life of one such person: Ma Hoyt.

When one spends each day within the proximity of unwanted critters, the five senses become finely attuned, not unlike a Stradivarius. This is why, when Ma laid her weary body down for a quick snooze the other day, the nose went on alert, even as the eyelids drooped.

Was it just her imagination? Or was there the faint whiff of "dead mouse" in the air? This being rather incompatible with true relaxation, she roused herself from blissful rest and checked an old mouse trap in the bedroom's corner.

It was indeed sprung, with a small furry body of suspiciously rodential character residing within. All thoughts of repose now fled, as the primary mission of mouse removal took precedence. Luckily, the small beast had not yet begun to jellify. (trust me, you don't wanna come home from vacation and find something which was caught on the day you left....)

By the time these ministrations are performed, other duties call and any hope of supine sanctuary is but a fleeting memory.
_______________

It is now night time and the husband and wife are mere seconds away from peaceful slumber. Suddenly, a resounding "SNAP!" is heard..."What's that?....A floor joist?....another rib?....oh...one of THEM."

It is indeed a mouse, and rather lively....at least, the top half of him, anyway. And thus, an irrevocable chain of events is initiated: the donning of the bathrobe, the clumping of the stairway, the "denouement of da mousemeat."

"C'est la vie, ma Ma."
________________

It is the very next morning, and Ma awakens early, to transport her high school brainiacs to their annual testing adventure. (Walking down public school hallways where most everyone is twice your height is not for the faint of heart)

But stay! What be this scuffling in yon corner? 'Tis a-nother "squeaker," caught by two lonely digits. Alas, poor mouse, thine end is near. And it's probably good that I didn't know thee well.

Of sympathy I know little. For places have I to go, people have I to see....and

vermin....

just gotta....

be snuffed.

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The Ma Side

 

Unbeknownst to the world at large, Watson and Crick received their inspiration while gazing into the sky one morning during a visit to Jim's troubled (uncle) Felix....

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"Lord of the Beans" Review

Well, a little disappointing.

I am a life-long fan of Veggie Tales, The Penguins and what-not, but I must say this was a bit of a let-down. You simply cannot take an epic work, so marvelously woven in its literary form, so artfully embodied in the cinema, and then have it work in a 50 minute cartoon format.

And, I think this strikes more to the heart of a teen-adult. A young child will still get something entertaining and possibly edifying out of it. But that has been the beauty of Big Idea productions....they appealed on different levels to different ages.

This does not.

But, oh well.

I must say, it is somewhat amusing to hear Trevor playing with Legos and exclaiming, "Baggypants! Baggypants!"

Hopefully, the Hobbit and Trilogy will still be enthralling when he reads it on his own, someday.

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The Ma Side

Looking back over his life, Rocky began to feel immense regret for stealing the sweet corn from the mouths of the poor little Hoyt children

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Meet "Buck".........

....the tremendously talented, yet terribly annoying singing deer


Yes, folks, you will NOT believe this, but having just come back from Wal-Mart, I can testify to having seen the above apparition with my very own eyes.

Unbe-liev-able, I know, but true! Just go to your local Wal-Mart store, and I'll bet that YOU TOO, can experience this marvel of modern technology...the warbling ruminant. I myself heard him sing a snippet of, "On the Road Again." And, let me tell you, he does an AMAZING impression of Willy Nelson. Also heard....that western toe-tapper, "Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'....." or something like that. I'm a tellin' ya, it was enough to give me goose bumps. We just had to leave, before the sheer majesty (not to mention, the giggles) overwhelmed us.

You'll find him in the hunting section...if there are any left, or he hasn't been torn to bits by crazed shoppers.

After THAT cultural encounter, we had to calm ourselves down by cruising over to the pet department and looking for dead fish. We found several, but unfortunately, not quite enough for tonight's supper. So sad.

*DING*

Well, there's the timer. Looks like the guppies are done. Luckily I have meatloaf to go along with....

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Wanted....

....Nolan, age 6-going on 20, and Trevor, age 3-ish

Suspect #1 has been known to devour books, particularly those involving characters of dubious role-modling values such as Garfield, Calvin and Hobbes.

Suspect # 2, despite much cuteness and winning vernacularisms, is not to be trusted. The squinty-eyes tell all.

Both are repeat offenders of the severe crime of leaving Play-doh out to dry, as well as unauthorized pruning of their mother's houseplants. (The latter crime made all the more heineous by the obvious lack of artistic taste and unrefined cutting techniques)

Still, they are not without their redeeming graces. Mother-love demands both discipline and undying adoration. But mostly, we just hope and pray they won't grow up to embarrass us...
_____________________

On a completely unrelated note, if you had to compare the above picture with our Pastor's kids, who would you trust?

(consider yourself "gotten," Liz)

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Carolyn Turns Eleven

Carolyn opens her presents, aided by a very professional gift exhibitor

Well, I see now that I forgot to put on the flash....but you get the idea. It appears that Trevor thinks he's gotten a bead set for his little ol' self. Also on the table, Ethan's heartfelt last-minute gift of dead batteries. Remember folks, it's the thought that counts. Not to be left out, Nolan wrapped up a pair of Ethan's boxer shorts.

*sigh*

Well, it's a thought, anyway.

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Carolyn blowing out 11 candles on her cheesecake pies....blueberry on vanilla, cherries on chocolate

She made them herself, which is something the children all like to do for their birthdays. Actually, the real date is tomorrow, on the 7th. But, we thought there would be more free time on a non-school day.

Carolyn--one of the easiest births, ever. Forty-minute labor that surprised even the midwives. They claimed I had been in labor all day, just didn't know it :-) I imagine they must be telepathic....so....what am I thinking now, ladies?

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Future Building Contractor?

Nolan contemplates what he would do with all these building materials
_________________________________

Just so Ardith and Sharon know what is going on......the new addition is all enclosed, complete with shingled roof. I guess "the guys" worked in the drizzle yesterday to add to last week's framework.

We will celebrate Carolyn's birthday later tonight. Hope to have pictures posted of the grand event, including the food, which will be strictly for Moore's benefit/torture.

In the meantime, I urge all prospective brides to consider important questions they would ask their husband-to-be, be-fore they are married....things like,

1) "If we were coming home from church and we saw a bald eagle flying across our path would you turn around the van and give a (hopefully) short chase so your dear wife could take a picture with her camera--which she'd had the amazing foresight to bring along--especially if Veteran's day were coming up and seeing how the bald eagle is the symbol of our country and all?"

2) "If your dear wife were resting on a Sunday afternoon,--due to early arising the previous morn and the dreadful disappointment of missing out on photographing a bald eagle in the middle of corn country--would you still go ahead and use noisy implements of construction, like hammers and incredibly loud saws, DESPITE the fact that she was only a thin wall away?"

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S.A.T. 's and ***s

Getting up in the dark is rather demoralizing. That is why this lovely sunrise was a gift to look at on our way to the BIG city. Cedar Rapids is the REALLY BIG city, but thankfully, we were simply headed for Waterloo, the BIG city. For you see, we are just simple folk. Really.

"Do you have your entrance ticket?"

"Yes."

"Do you have your pencils? Your calculator"

"Yes, of course, you don't really need a calculator.....Hey, where's my SS#? I know I put it in here....*rifles wallet*

"It's ok, I have everybody's on a list in my purse.....I have mine memorized. I even have your father's memorized....*tries very hard not to look smug*

Yes, he still needs me :-) *mentally jumps up and down and cheers*

I dropped Jason off and headed out shopping. I underestimated the amount of time the test takes, because, I was back almost TWO HOURS EARLY! It's a good thing I brought along a new library book. I made it all the way through Florence, the Medici's and partway through Leonardo da Vinci. ("The Renaissance-Maker of Modern Man" National Geographic Society)

But then, just as I was contemplating calling the police to report a hostage situation, out he walks. Barely able to grip his pencils, his face looking haggard, Jason opened the door and flopped down. "Wow. That was longer than I expected! It was hard to concentrate on those last three sections, I was getting so hungry."

"So, do you want to go shopping at The-Massively-Large-Goodwill-Store-That-Has-No-End first, or go scoff some roast beef?.....*glazed look*....OK, Arby's, it is :-D"
_______________________________

Upon arriving home, and being smothered by several young children, I observed my husband descending the stairway to the main floor. By the look on his face, something was "up."

"OK. WHAT's wrong?"

"We have a *** in the basement. (for purposes of anonymity, "***" will be used when referring to the ***, since it is an endangered species....) So, do you want to get rid of it now, or later?"

Yes, he still needs me :-) *mentally jumps up and down, but in a subdued manner. And no cheering*

"Let's do it now, 'cause I wanna take a nap."

I grabbed the tennis racket, which is supposed to confuse the ***'s radar, and followed Loren to the basement. (Husbands and wives should always find new activities to explore together. Even after they've been married 24 years. Working in tandem to exterminate unwanted visitors should not be excluded from the list of "warm fuzzies" couples can enjoy. After all, ***s are both warm AND fuzzy.)

Wedged behind an old electrical panel was the ***. Loren carefully pulled the panel away from the wall, and with her usual finesse, Ma crunched it, sending it to that big cave in the sky.

One big test and one little ***....gone.

If anyone from the EPA or DNR calls, I'll be napping.

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It's SAT time!

So, Jason takes the SAT tomorrow. To celebrate, I've put all the kids to bed early, which basically means they are not getting to sleep as late as usual. Another couple of years and I'll have this parenting thing all worked out.

In anticipation of an early morning, I have set my alarm for 5:40. How I de-spise getting up before the sun. Thankfully, I found a testing site only an hour away, or I would be getting up at 4:30. This cannot be conducive to clear thinking on the part of testees.

After it is all over, Jason and I will console our poor brains with lunch at Arby's. (the real reason we do this) His brain will be tired from testing, and mine will be strained from thinking supportive telepathic thoughts. And to think, after all that, I shall STILL have to undergo the stress of eating tasty chicken fingers with honey mustard sauce. All in the hopes of helping to soothe the testing fatigue of my son.

*sigh*

It's a sacrifice, but somebody has to do it...

He has been prepping all this week, taking practice tests and working on essays every day. So, tonight I tossed him the borrowed "Standard Deviants'" tapes and said, "Here, you might as well listen to these, too." Most of the other kids sat around listening and enjoying it, also. Especially the part about, "Remember, don't wait till the last minute to watch and cram for the test. Spend the Friday night before your test just relaxing...."

OOPS :-D

While he's testing, I'm going to do a little shopping, compare the prices of chocolate, and perhaps find an internet cafe and email Kofi Annan, or something.

Or, maybe I'll just take along a pillow and sleep in the parking lot....

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The Ma Side

The idea suddenly hit "Quarko the Squirrel" like a bombshell....maybe....just maybe.....E=mc3......

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The Anna Update

I don't know much of anything, but I see (by their IM status) that both Josh and Anna are home. (I think...) So, I assume things are stable for the moment. I figure they need their rest, so I'm not gonna pester them, as yet.

(If anyone down there knows anything, feel free to comment :)

[6:35 edit] Amazingly, Anna went in to work today...her whole rundown of the rough week is on her latest blog entry. Sounds like it is not over, yet.

Thanks again, to all who prayed.

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Please pray...

Whoever is reading this late at night, please, PLEASE pray for Anna Scholl. She and Josh Scholl are the ones whose wedding we attended the day after Ardith's graduation.

I have just received word from someone in Texas that she is having convulsions and has been taken to the ER.

She teaches math in the upper high school grades at a public school in Longview Texas. Her husband, Josh is a computer technician for Plug-n-Play. Anna has had some heart irregularities in the past, and problems with wacky blood pressure.

Please pray...

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For Fun and Frivolity

So, just in case life is getting you down, here are a few tasty tidbits to pull one out of the doldrums. And, speaking of seafaring warnings, this is one that ranks right up there with the admonition to not operate one's hairdryer while taking a bath....

In keeping with our aquatic theme, it appears that Someones discovered new ways to destroy the environment, in their never-ending quest to save it....

Moving on to higher forms of sentient life, I certainly would NOT advocate being cruel to animals, but, banning certain bowls?.....I'll have to think about that one. If I ever get a fish, that is.

Having recently come face-to-face with a six-point buck, myself, I feel a certain empathy for this man. I only hope I could do the same, if the situation warranted.

Over the years, I estimate that I have personally snuffed out the lives of almost 100 mice. There were over 40 the first year we moved into this old house in the country, but then, who's counting? Having heard of the mouse sightings in a certain household of late, I feel much sympathy. BUT, having read this, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe we should all just step back, and show a little restraint. Or, at least get something down on tape, be-fore we say, "Hasta la vista, mousey..."

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Sharon......

....beauty, brawn and brains
_____________________

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt,

One of my special responsibilities as a Faculty member at Grace College is to serve as Faculty sponsor of the local chapter of Alpha Chi, a National Academic Honor society. Membership is limited to those students who are in the top 10% of the Junior and Senior class and who demonstrate a lifestyle and character which is approved by the faculty of Grace College.

It is my pleasure to inform you that Sharon has met these rigorous qualifications and will be inducted into the Grace College Chapter of Alpha Chi on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, as a part of the 2005 Homecoming/parents weekend.

I hope that it will be possible for you to attend this special recognition service for Sharon. I am looking forward to meeting you at the ceremony.

In Him,
Joseph P. Lehmann, Sponsor
Alpha Chi
Indiana Gamma Chapter

________________________

:-) :-) :-)

*sigh*

Another one of my girls has "done good."

Sorry, Sharon, but we won't be able to attend this Sunday. I am spending most of Saturday taking your brother in to Waterloo to take the SAT. (Jason doesn't need it to get into LeTourneau, but we'd already signed up for it, and, I am hoping we will get "extra points" and possible scholarship consideration just because we try harder. He is taking his second practice test of the week, even as I type)

Much as we would like to meet your advisor, give him our best, and our regards, as your father and I both went to school with him :-D, though, your dad knew him better than I.

If I WERE coming, I would be sure and bring my camera and take lots of pics :-)

Congratulations, ma chère. We remain as ever, votre chers père et mère.

(p.s. If this whole "foreign language thing" doesn't work out, you can always get a job in construction work....)

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We's Wired....

....oh yes we is.

And here is why:

• Loren had another quick check on something up at Mayo, and per my request, arrived home with new bags of Dove's !! Is he a wonderful husband, or WHAT :-)
  
• Jason's application info is all in to LeTourneau, I think. He needed to send in a photo, so I whipped out my handy digital camera and took a nice mug shot against the wall. Jason had wanted to hold up a numbered sign across his chest, and I said, "Well, why not?" No, actually, though the thought was intriguing, I vetoed that idea. (he's just a chip off the ol' block....I'm just so...so....*sniff*.....so proud)
  
• It occurred to me today that, not only was Christmas coming up, but we have two birthdays in December! Ma had to get cracking with the present procurement process. After 25 pages of eBay and a few visits to other favorite sites, Ma was half done! Oh, if you could have SEEN the exciting finish to one particular item...I got the bid in 3 seconds, that's THREE SECONDS before time was up! Winning, of course. *looks modest* Oh what a thrill! If I could place bids for other people for a living--my own little cyber-auction outsourcing business--I'm tellin' ya, that would be SUPER!

Well, maybe after I get the house cleaned up and the kids are all graduated. (as in, never)

And so in conclusion we can definitely point to two things that were learned today:

1) On-line auctions have the old ones beat, hands down, and,
2) A little chocolate makes for a harmonious household

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The Ma Side

Oh sure, the object lesson was a little pricey, but Professor Nerdso would stop at nothing to illustrate the beauties of geometry to his students. Now, if he could only figure out how to land this thing.....

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