Happy Birthday Darlin'! "Precious" to the Long Island crew, has a husband Scott and baby Jude. celebrated last year in Macedonia, a long way from Algonia! Have fun on the beach as you blow out your cake! Alas, the only beach we find comes with a small lake!
Wow 35 how old am I? Mely went to Mexico Friday. Called her yesterday she still had a headache. Eveerybody down ther has a boombox blairing and it is driving her nuts.
PETE, HOW LONG WILL MELY BE IN MEXICO, IT'S WONDERFUL SHE CAN VISIT HER MOTHER. ESO ES MUY IMPORTANTE! VAYA CON DIOS, MELY. MI CASA ES SU CASA, VENGA AQUI, POR FAVOR. I'm only doing this 'cause Mely can't check it!
We went to see an Elvis impersonator Sat. night! At a small bar and grill he packed 'em in. It was fun...I was one of the lucky ladies...he sang to me and gave me a silk scarf, bathed in bad cologne, I'll cherish it forever. Cherish is a word I use to describe... his name is Bill He would be a huge hit at Sarah's I think!
We went to Ia State yesterday to see Ellen inducted into an education student honor society/sorority (very proud) and went out to the Dublin Pub for dinner - never knew it existed - good food! all the way home we went through alternating stretches of absolute downpour and bright sunny (or starry, depending on the time) skies. Springtime in Iowa. I have to run across to a funeral of a lady that lived across the street in parish-owned apartments. She always referred to me as "my little Cathy" as in, "Where's my little Cathy?" if I was late for our annual kaffeklatsch (which people around here call a coffee clutch). I love anyone who calls me my little anything.
Vote for your favorite mascot here: http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/10139884
It's a bracket set up, with different categories like "humans" (Notre Dame) or "In-animate" (Iowa State). Both ND and ISU are winning, but ND isn't ahead by much so go on and vote!
Hi, Everyone. Well, it was inevitable but still sad. Tom Phelan died a couple of weeks ago. We spoke to the Phelans today. I still remember how sad Tom looked when he said goodbye to Mom last September. He knew it was the last time he'd see her in this life. Since you all met him and the rest of his family, Mom and I are encouraging each of you to send them a card. His wife's name is Feeney (Philomena) and Eamon is their son. Eamonn is married to Ellen and they have 4 children. I'm sure they would love to hear from you. Their address is: Tullowglass, Jenkinstown, County Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland. We will be gone for a while at the end of May and first part of June. Our SMC and ND classes are having 55th reunions from Thursday, May 31 until Sunday, June 3. Then we will drive to Chicago (actually Naperville) and Ed will take us to O'Hare and at 6:45 that evening we will fly Aer Lingus to Dublin. We'll spend 9 days in Ireland and will fly out of Shannon on Wednesday, June 13. We have not yet decided where we will go in Ireland but we plan to visit the Phelans on Wednesday, June 6. It should be a nice trip. I just got in from the Eischen Haus meat market in downtown Whittemore where I purchased two ribeyes which I will grill tonight. Phil just opened the store which specializes in Homemade sausages, etc. Love, Mom and Dad
Okay, so Liam is in the Second Grade. His teacher sent home classwork (on Friday) for him to do because he would be out of school on Monday. Here's what she sent: 4 Reading wkshts. (two-sided) 1 Math wksht. Reading Story. ABC order his Spelling List. SS Test to study for. Whadupwihdat?
Nance...If it's his homework for a day that would be over the top...but, if you specifically asked for his schoolwork he would be missing on Monday, to be sent home...then that's another thing. That seems lke a day full of schoolwork, to me. Where did you guys go on Monday?
No...I didn't ask for homework. Liam told her that we would be o/o/t and she sent it home. I'm not mad at all...it was just soooooooooo much. :-<> She's a wonderful Teacher and person! :-)
Monica remembers you as the Pink Princess, which makes sense since when you were a tiny bald baby your little whisps of strawberr blond hair looked PINK!
I mostly remember you in that cowgirl outfit you loved and wore at least two or three times a week.
Also: Dad said when it come to kids, you will get what you deserve. Do you remember that you used to hit your siblings with golf clubs, baseball bats, etc? You may have a tough time with Jude!
We arrived in beautiful Altoona, IA around 5pm. We stayed in a lovely, pool side, family suite...for FREE! The boys swam while a 60 year old man blew his nose, IN the water, about 20 times...thank God for chemicals. We drove around in a terrential rain storm and found Red Lobster...which by the way does not offer fish sticks...whadupwihdat? Ate. Went back, swam again, watched Zach & Cody, That's So Raven and Hannah Montana. Slept. Woke up Monday and swam, went to the Food Show, bought a patio table umbrella at Pier 1, went back, swam and left. Arrived home late on Monday night. Yes, Liam did homework and lots of it! Ha. Oh and Tom was in an Iron Chef Competition. I'll let him tell y'all about that! :-)
I should re-state...I don't eat at chain restaurants here in Omaha, because it's SOOOO hard for the locally owned restaurants to compete, and we have great locally owned places here. But when traveling, the chains do offer their reputation.
There's a new rose called Brite Eyes, pink with greenish-cream centers, part of the Knock Out series. Very bright and pretty. Tom, do tell. You may employ exaggeration and hyperbole as needed. I remember Tom Phelan standing in their courtyard watching little Tommy playing with his hurly stick. He was such a funny, wry guy. He looked (to misquote "The Quiet Man") exactly like Irish farmers should look but so seldom do.
Okay - so I arrive on the scene. I'm expecting the "throw down" of my life. Mano e mano. Dueling parisiennes scoops or a quinelle poaching session the likes of which man has never seen.
The VP of the food company gets on the mic to introduce the competitors (or so I thought). He announces that my opponent has cheese-out on the competition (I scared him) and declared me the winner.
I went ahead and made a Langostino Stuffed Pork Roullade with a Wild Mushroom Demi Glace accompanied with a Fried Sweet Potato Nest.
I also made a salad which consisted of Fresh Assorted Green and Batonnet Cut Veg tossed with a Sweet and Hot Thai Dressing. All of it topped with a Pork Stir Fry marinated in same dressing. Pork Sirloin was the ingredient.
I took my booty (a $400 knife set) and marched off the scene victorious.
Eli, Liam and Nance were there to cheer me on. Nance occassionally whistling as though she a foreman of a construction crew and me a newly minted secretary from the office building across the street.
Later that day I would raise my fists in the air and declare that to this point I am undefeated! I did this several times...Eli got a kick out of this.
I forgot to tell this story - We get a bird down our fireplace chimney about twice a year,but last year, we had a guy do some repairs on the chimney and he said he put the screens back that would keep birds out. So Saturday night I heard flapping from in the fireplace very late at night, so I decided it could wait till morning, especially as it might be a bat and I didn't want it to escape into the house. Sunday we left early for Ames and got home late and went straight up to bed (I had forgotten about the flapping) so I finally heard it again Monday morning. We couldn't see it at first when we opened the fireplace doors because we had thrown in a bunch of junk mail to burn (credit-card offers etc that would be shredded if our shredder worked) and some wood, but finally, nestled way down in a pile of sticks, was a full-grown female mallard, perfectly still. Stevo put on gloves and carried it out flapping all the way. She stood in the back yard a few seconds, recovering, then flew up into a tree and hung out there a while before she finally flew away. Daffy.
Yes, Tom rocked and the salad, in particular, was awesome! :-) We were/are very proud of Dad! :-) The kids had fun at the Food Show and, actually, tried some NEW things. Halibut and Pork Loin. Amazing.
Well, that sounds like a lot of fun Tom. What kind of knives were they? Did you take them for home or for work? Do either of your kids want to be a chef?
anon. The new Bright Eyes CD is #1 on Billboard's Indie charts! (bright eyes is omaha boy Conor Oberst, he went to Pius and Prep...he's was a year ahead of Phelan, and his parents are EME's at St.John's at Creighton...he did a great job of dissing George Bush on the TONIGHT show and was then cancelled from CONAN last year)
The knife set is called, "Black Diamond." It comes in a fancy shmancy leather carrying case and they are for work. Liam says he wants to be a, "fry cook." Ha, ha. Eli wants to be a fighter pilot. Hmm. Not sure if KLGA is a good idea(?). May create a, "joke," as Tom won by forfeit. Of course, our spin would be that the other guy was, "scared," to go up against the likes of Chef Tom Straub! :-)
Who got to eat what you made? I'm hungry just reading it!
By the way... Randy is in Blacksburg now - not only does he have a meeting regarding the church they are building, he has to go to a funeral for a cadet killed in the Virginia Tech shootings. Does no one use the word massacare any more because it's too graphic?
Lots of meat references there, Chef ...chicken and livers...I'm so hungry I could eat a lilly salad with chicken and fried livers on the side, glass of white wine and fine liberal conversation!
Rush Limbaugh is a lily-livered has-been. I guess I can't live in Seattle or thereabouts, although I've always thought it would be cool. This is our fourth gray rainy day and I'm about to kill someone. Anyone. I ain't dancin' in no rain, neither.
As one who lived in Washington I can say I would almost rather live there than anywhere else. True it is rainy much of the time. Basically, about 5 months of the year it is overcast with or without rain. But, that's all you get in the winter. Just rain. I'll take that over bittercold and wind anytime.
The pay off is the most beautiful summers. Everyday, sunny, 75-80 degrees with no humidity.
Of course many liberals disdain the fact that there is no state income tax.
That "dancing in the rain..." thing is of the same mindless banality as the much earlier posted "...sliding into the grave all used up with a bar of chocolate screaming wo-hoo..." or whatever it was. Stupid stuff that appeals, as a general rule, to women more than men.
Yay. I'm back to dreaming of the Pacific Northwest. Yes, and everyone knows there are no liberals in Seattle. Gene Kelly was a hell of a man and a real buffarillo. "It is better to occasionally yield to the gentle proddings of easy sentiment than to worship always at the false altar of curmudgeonly provocateurism."
Yeah, and I liked Ricky so much on NYPD Blue. Now Jack's in handcuffs, the President's in a coma and the Chinese renegades have the bomb component. And Jack's gal apparently has traumatic amnesia.
The rabble liberals of Seattle are thankfully balanced out by the eastern Washington populace and the wealthy techno employees of Boeing and Microsoft. They graciously tolerate the liberals and thier degenerate lifestyles in order to bring an artsy feel to thier state.
Although, there was a fairly serious push by Spokane and the rest of eastern Washington to have the state split in half.
I'm making Chicken Pot Pie for dinner found on Page 135 of the newest Whittemore cookbook. I'ts yummy. I use lowef fat ingredients than listed. Easy, tasty and good comfort food on a rainy day.
I'm so mad. The St. Patty Tee's that were our cost of $12/per went up to $25/per when I had to re-order only 9. Of course, the tees were prepaid for and mailed out...can't call the people up and ask for more money. Sigh...
I hadn't eaten bacon in about 4 mos. and now I've had it the last two days in a row. (BLT with avacado) It's magically delicious. Thank you all for the birthday wishes. I have a lot to write about, so hopefully I'll have more time later today.
FYI... Uncle Fr. Bob will be arriving in Omaha tomorrow (thurs. 4/26) at 5:00...he will be with 2 nuns and they will be in town untill May 7th (mon)...they will be doing a mission at St.Peter's and will be staying there... I think Mom and Dad are coming Friday and Dad will be con-celebrating Sunday... THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND IS THE CINCO DE MAYO PARADE...it's REALLY REALLY fun and then on Sunday he has an outdoor Mass following up the festivities..if you want a cool cultural experience (great for kids) come on down! Anyway, he'll be here during that time...any questions about schedule, etc call me, Cathy, Lisa or Dad & Mom!
If you can conceive it, if you can believe it, you can achieve it! Yay! go team! "Easy sentiment" is looking at a kitten and saying how cute it is, not dancing in the rain, etc. That stupid saying is would justify fiddlin' while Rome burns.
Joe3, isn't one of your favorite movies LOVE STORY? Am I incorrect? I think that movie is pretty corny and sentimental.
Our trip to Phoenix was fun. On the drive there I10 was closed for a strectch because of an accident, then there was an accident on the detour involving a semi and a police cruiser. This delayed us by 2 hours, but at least we weren't involved in the accidents. Scott was the best man in the wedding we were attending and so we were obligated to attend every event surrounding this wedding. Reheasal dinner Thursday, drinks Friday night, wedding on Sat, brunch on Sunday. The dinner on Thursday was my favorite. The brida and groom had a very small wedding (60 people) and only one attendant each and the reheasal dinner only had 8 people at it. It was at a pretty fancy place, the kind where they serve the salad after the entree. And the whole thing started off with pinapple martinis then we had fried calamari with sweet and hot peppers, entree was some kind of steak- very yummy , and shashimi grade ahi tuna which was only seared and I had a difficult time pretending to like it. Then asparagus and mixed greens, followed up with icecream and strawberries. Each course was served with a different wine and we had champagne with the dessert. It was fun, but I drank way too much and well let's just say the food was better going down than it was coming up several hours later. I'm blaming the tuna.
So, since we went out 3 nights in a row, Jude totally doesn't trust me now and won't let me leave him at the kids club in the gym.
Did anyone see Frontline last night? It was all aobut the Kyoto treaty which Bush refuses to take part in. I was sad to learn that Hagel wrote a letter to Bush telling him that the US should not be involved in it because developoing nations like China and India are or will be worse contributors to global environmental problems than the US and they aren't doing anything, so basically, why should we. The US pulled out of the talks shortly thereafter. Christine Todd Whitman was furious and said that there is no back and forth with Cheney. He just nods a smiles while you're talking and then just does what he wants, regardless. Not such a big fan of Hagel now, but no candidate is perfect.
Last weeks Frontline was from Iraq, detailing Bush new strategy to move from focussing on traing Iraqi police and military to eradicating the insurgents. They showed a US military unit working with Iraqis as they found a weopons cache. The US guys were pretty stoked and saying it was a great day to get this stuff off the streets. Then the Frontline camera picks up a conversation among the Iraqis who were there. They were joking around, saying that this was nothing. They knew where the really big stash in this particular area was, but none of them said a word. It is def. time to pull out. We can't help them and they won't let us help them and they can't even help themselves.
Anyway, way to go Tom. It sounds like you guys had a fun family day.
And please ignore the parts of my long post that don't make sense or that are misspelled, etc. I was writing very quickly and now I see much of what I've written doesn't make sense.
Hi, One other thing about Uncle Bob's visit. His 75th birthday is May 7. I think he is leaving Omaha Sunday night or Monday morning. We should do something to celebrate his birthday while he is in Omaha.
"Love Story" could have been so much better. The guy's illness could have developed a-la Jeff Goldblum in "THe Fly" until he's a hideous space mutant robot and she finally saves humanity by running an endless loop of "The glass is half full..." and "Give away smiles; they're free" and "Live like the little kittens" and "Better to dance in the rain..." etc. into his CPU until he finally, slowly, in stages, (like a stop-action film clip of a dead rat decomposing) shuts down. She ennuis him to death. Maybe that would beter demonstrate the title "Love Story". Throw in some atomic grenades and blaster side-arms and a little gratuitous whoopee and you've got a winner.
OK...all of you within a few hours...did Uncle Bob come thousands of miles for your weddings???? Come on down for Cinco de Mayo and a birthday party!! Why not..it will be fun and the kids will have fun (if you have any).
Caitlin found out...when you 'pay at the pump' for gas, the station hold $50 more dollars for 3 days and then releases it back to your debit card accounnt!!!
Em, I don't like sushi either although I love rare tuna. Maybe medium rare. Love means never having to go shopping for glasses with your husband. We went last night. I foolishly mentioned that Stevo might want to pick out something a little more stylish this time and he teased me mercilessly all the way there until he goaded me into saying that if he liked looking like the cute old guy in "Cocoon" that was fine with me. But then when we got there I had my frames picked out in 10 minutes and spent the next hour and 1/2 helping him decide between the brown or black version of otherwise identical frames. Fortunately, the optical place (in the mall) was closed but with the glasses all on display so he felt comfortable enough to relax and take his time. Now we have to get back there and order quickly while the sale is on. I'm hoping the bright lighting of the store when it's open won't lead him to change his mind. Actually, the whole process, if edited to ten minutes might make a funny movie. Two blind old married people trading zingers while trying on glasses that they have to get up 3 inches from the mirror to see, and then asking the other's opinion so they have to put on their old glasses to see. This is a situation that calls for trust. We both settled for mildly stylish frames and mildly dangerous-looking sunglasses.
Emily, sounds like quite the wedding...the groom is nice (can't remember his name)... I love seared ahi-tuna, it's my favorite thing to eat...is there ANY chance it could have been something else that made you sick??? Did the hotel have nanny service? Jude will get over it :-)
Ooh I forgot to mention, the maid of honor inappropriately rubbed herself on Scott's leg and asked him to dance. Scott told her to talk to his brother. I missed the whole thing. She was rubbing up on all the guys and later disappeared for over an hour with one of the groom's friends. Both are married and left their spouses at home.
Oohhh scandal, she sounds like a dog, rubbing up against people...did Scott's bro Mark keep his beard for the wedding? I think it looks good-reddish... ...(Uncle Bob will be here this weekend, too!!!)
Cathy, will you call me? I can't get through (maybe it's the receptionist, haha).
BTW: As with Eli's First Communion we are keeping it a small affair and just invited Grandparents and Godparents. So, no worries you can party harty in Omaha over Cinco de Mayo. :-)
Yes, everyone come for Uncle Bob's birthday. Anyone can stay at my house. Wouldn't it be a fun surprise? I think we should have a "Love means never having to..." short-short true story contest. Oops, gotta go for the staff day-late Administrative Professionals Day lunch. Anyone clapping a hand to their foreheads and running out to Wal-mart?
Joe, I love pugs! If it ever has puppies, I'll take one.
Mom- I've tried to help my dad pick out more stylish frames a few times, it doesn't work. Last time to tried to buy ones with lenses that reached around the sides so he could see better. I wouldn't let him. Order me new contacts though, please!
I like most sushi, but maybe you could try it with imitation crab or lobster meat. It's less expensive, easy to make, and tastes great with avacado!
Ellen, congratulations on your induction into the Education Sorority....But, aren't those the kind of frames Bono wears?
PS...anyone coming this weekend, instead? It's always sort of a whirlwind with Uncle Bob, I just talked to him on his cell phone at some airport, he sounds great!!
I say a Puggle (pug/poodle) at the pet store and I fell in love. We decided we aren't getting a dog until all of our kids are old enough to carry their own bag through an airport. Kind of a bummer because I would love to get a dog. I can't wait to see King. I just love pugs. Joe3, I saw this on a magnet today, "Kittens leave pawprints on your heart." I almost bought it for you.
Ellen used to walk a pug for the lady across the street and fell in love with the little wheezer. I don't get it myself. Those thyroid eyes make me nervous.
OK! Who's coming to: Uncle Bob's birthday Memorial Day Paint the Farm festival Cleanup Don's trailer weekend
Hi, Mom and I went to St. Peter to see Don yesterday. He's looking and feeling good and is glad to be in a different building. He is meeting with his social worker today and hopes to get more info about when he'll be discharged, but he thinks it will toward the end of June. Then he will be in a halfway house in Mankato 4to6 months and then will go back to his own home. We stopped at his mobile home on our way home. Everything is as we saw it last. All the cupboards are open and the contents on the kitchen table and counters and all the drawers throughout the place are open. I think the people who did the spraying did that so their chemicals would reach everywhere. I did not se any sign of insects when we went in and I even opened the oven door suddenly to see any signs of life. Nothing. If a crew could get up there this summer it would be nice. Love, Dad
I am not a big dog lover, but King Black the pug is a sweet dog. He has been here since Tuesday while the kids are here and Joe3 is working. (Betty missed him, so we just brought him here so he wouldn't be spending whole days alone.) He has gone to a track meet now with Joe3 and Betty. He doesn't go in the house, barks at strangers, and sleeps through the night. Yesterday Joe4 was home from school, and King spent most of the day sleeping on Joe's lap on the couch while he was reading. A good dog.
I just got out of class early, and the dog and Betty are en route from the track meet in Swea City. I guess he got pooped and had to be put in the car to nap!
I forgot to tell you Happy Birthday, Emily. I remember the first time I met you. I think you were 14. You were smiling then...a smile I've rarely seen you without! You, Mary, and I went for lunch at the old Ayres Department store tea room in Indianapolis. (When I was a little girl my mother would take me there for lunch, and I was sad to hear that it closed a few years ago.)
P I'm finishing a four year nursing degree which is mostly on line through the University of Iowa. I am almost done with stats and just finished cultural anthropology. Since I only work Friday and Saturday nights, I can go to school during the week. I'll be done next May and hope to go right into a master's program they have in occupational health. I like learning but dislike school. Just gotta do it and get it over with. The dog again slept all night. I got up before Betty and after I took him out, he went right back up to bed with her!
I think that the anon. blogger about Don's trailer is not part of the clan...and if you are, re-read it and realize how pissy it is and why would you fricken care, 'cause you aren't gonna be doing it anyway!
And if you are part of us, go and visit Don, 'cause I can guarantee that you have not.
It didn't seem pissy to me, just a question. I am happy to help clean whenever, as long as we set a date well in advance. I have a writers workshop for 7 days and a low residency program for 14 days this summer.
I just reread Dad's posting about Don and it sounds like he wouldn't be moving back into his trailer right away, so we could hold off on the cleanup until later. Anon's question made perfect sense.
127 comments:
Hey! That's a Freedom Rally tee...very cool.
Happy Birthday, Emily! :-)
happy birthday Em. is your every whim being catered to?
Happy Birthday Darlin'!
"Precious" to the Long Island crew,
has a husband Scott and baby Jude.
celebrated last year in Macedonia,
a long way from Algonia!
Have fun on the beach as you blow out your cake!
Alas, the only beach we find comes with a small lake!
Happy Birthday... Auntie Em!!! Hope you have fun.
I think she's actually only 34. I'm more of a humanities person than math..
P
I want one of those shirts.
When Emily was little she was the Pink Princess. She wore a pink night gown with a pink blanket as a cape. Whe was so cute with her blond wavy hair.
Have a happy birthday Emily! Be a princess.
Wow 35 how old am I?
Mely went to Mexico Friday.
Called her yesterday she still had a headache. Eveerybody down ther has a boombox blairing and it is driving her nuts.
ED, WHY DID THE CAR TAKE SO LONG?
PETE, HOW LONG WILL MELY BE IN MEXICO, IT'S WONDERFUL SHE CAN VISIT HER MOTHER.
ESO ES MUY IMPORTANTE! VAYA CON DIOS, MELY. MI CASA ES SU CASA, VENGA AQUI, POR FAVOR.
I'm only doing this 'cause Mely can't check it!
Happy Bortday Emily.
My car took so long because of problems ordering parts and problems with the warranty company. It runns good now though.
We went to see an Elvis impersonator Sat. night! At a small bar and grill he packed 'em in. It was fun...I was one of the lucky ladies...he sang to me and gave me a silk scarf, bathed in bad cologne, I'll cherish it forever. Cherish is a word I use to describe...
his name is Bill
He would be a huge hit at Sarah's I think!
Happy Birthday, Precious! I think she's 29 because she's 20 years younger than me. She was just a tiny baby when I was married.
We went to Ia State yesterday to see Ellen inducted into an education student honor society/sorority (very proud) and went out to the Dublin Pub for dinner - never knew it existed - good food! all the way home we went through alternating stretches of absolute downpour and bright sunny (or starry, depending on the time) skies. Springtime in Iowa.
I have to run across to a funeral of a lady that lived across the street in parish-owned apartments. She always referred to me as "my little Cathy" as in, "Where's my little Cathy?" if I was late for our annual kaffeklatsch (which people around here call a coffee clutch). I love anyone who calls me my little anything.
DOROTHY DIDN'T!
Congratulations to ELLEN!
Happy Birthday Emily!
Vote for your favorite mascot here:
http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/10139884
It's a bracket set up, with different categories like "humans" (Notre Dame) or "In-animate" (Iowa State). Both ND and ISU are winning, but ND isn't ahead by much so go on and vote!
Lisa, Oh Lisa, I've lost your email address... How did the auction/dinnergo? Did you and Randy buy anything you don't need?
Sanjia (sp) had a meeting with the Pres. and Ms. Bush, what's wrong with people?
Hi, Everyone. Well, it was inevitable but still sad. Tom Phelan died a couple of weeks ago. We spoke to the Phelans today. I still remember how sad Tom looked when he said goodbye to Mom last September. He knew it was the last time he'd see her in this life.
Since you all met him and the rest of his family, Mom and I are encouraging each of you to send them a card. His wife's name is Feeney (Philomena) and Eamon is their son. Eamonn is married to Ellen and they have 4 children. I'm sure they would love to hear from you. Their address is: Tullowglass, Jenkinstown, County Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland.
We will be gone for a while at the end of May and first part of June. Our SMC and ND classes are having 55th reunions from Thursday, May 31 until Sunday, June 3. Then we will drive to Chicago (actually Naperville) and Ed will take us to O'Hare and at 6:45 that evening we will fly Aer Lingus to Dublin. We'll spend 9 days in Ireland and will fly out of Shannon on Wednesday, June 13. We have not yet decided where we will go in Ireland but we plan to visit the Phelans on Wednesday, June 6. It should be a nice trip.
I just got in from the Eischen Haus meat market in downtown Whittemore where I purchased two ribeyes which I will grill tonight. Phil just opened the store which specializes in Homemade sausages, etc.
Love, Mom and Dad
Tom rocks...but, I will let him tell you about it. :-)
Okay, so Liam is in the Second Grade. His teacher sent home classwork (on Friday) for him to do because he would be out of school on Monday.
Here's what she sent:
4 Reading wkshts. (two-sided)
1 Math wksht.
Reading Story.
ABC order his Spelling List.
SS Test to study for.
Whadupwihdat?
Post a memory of Tom Phelan!!!
Very much a gentleman and great host and storyteller, with a beautiful farm.
Nance...If it's his homework for a day that would be over the top...but, if you specifically asked for his schoolwork he would be missing on Monday, to be sent home...then that's another thing. That seems lke a day full of schoolwork, to me.
Where did you guys go on Monday?
Since I've been on crutches I've started carrying my cell phone in my bra...I feel like a female Antonio Banderas!
No...I didn't ask for homework. Liam told her that we would be o/o/t and she sent it home. I'm not mad at all...it was just soooooooooo much. :-<> She's a wonderful Teacher and person! :-)
My Mom carries her lipstick in her bra. :-)
OOohh, I thought you asked for it to be sent!
Isn't there a photo of Tom and Mom with the WALL in the background?
EVeryday I spend 15 - 40 minutes with Emma doing her homework.
Emily
Happy Happy Day!
Monica remembers you as the Pink Princess, which makes sense since when you were a tiny bald baby your little whisps of strawberr blond hair looked PINK!
I mostly remember you in that cowgirl outfit you loved and wore at least two or three times a week.
Also: Dad said when it come to kids, you will get what you deserve. Do you remember that you used to hit your siblings with golf clubs, baseball bats, etc? You may have a tough time with Jude!
By the way, this is my first time back to the blog in some time.
I could not view Phelan's video, sorry!
How did Tom do with his Iron Chef competition?
And... how come people can come to Des Moines so often and not even stop in to say HI! How onerous are we?
We arrived in beautiful Altoona, IA around 5pm. We stayed in a lovely, pool side, family suite...for FREE! The boys swam while a 60 year old man blew his nose, IN the water, about 20 times...thank God for chemicals. We drove around in a terrential rain storm and found Red Lobster...which by the way does not offer fish sticks...whadupwihdat? Ate. Went back, swam again, watched Zach & Cody, That's So Raven and Hannah Montana. Slept. Woke up Monday and swam, went to the Food Show, bought a patio table umbrella at Pier 1, went back, swam and left. Arrived home late on Monday night. Yes, Liam did homework and lots of it! Ha.
Oh and Tom was in an Iron Chef Competition. I'll let him tell y'all about that! :-)
T&N, even I don't go to chain restaurants!!!Why Red Lobster?? Call Lisa, she'll tell you where to eat, locally owned.
Tom...we want to hear about the competition...please tell!
We liked it well enough. The kids thought it was cool. :-)
Why did you get to stay for free?
The Food Show was put on by our food purveyor, Sysco. They paid for it. :-)
I can't wait to hear what Tom made....
Has anyone heard from Emily?
I should re-state...I don't eat at chain restaurants here in Omaha, because it's SOOOO hard for the locally owned restaurants to compete, and we have great locally owned places here. But when traveling, the chains do offer their reputation.
I'm listening to the new Bright Eyes cd.
There's a new rose called Brite Eyes, pink with greenish-cream centers, part of the Knock Out series. Very bright and pretty.
Tom, do tell. You may employ exaggeration and hyperbole as needed.
I remember Tom Phelan standing in their courtyard watching little Tommy playing with his hurly stick. He was such a funny, wry guy. He looked (to misquote "The Quiet Man") exactly like Irish farmers should look but so seldom do.
Okay - so I arrive on the scene. I'm expecting the "throw down" of my life. Mano e mano. Dueling parisiennes scoops or a quinelle poaching session the likes of which man has never seen.
The VP of the food company gets on the mic to introduce the competitors (or so I thought). He announces that my opponent has cheese-out on the competition (I scared him) and declared me the winner.
I went ahead and made a Langostino Stuffed Pork Roullade with a Wild Mushroom Demi Glace accompanied with a Fried Sweet Potato Nest.
I also made a salad which consisted of Fresh Assorted Green and Batonnet Cut Veg tossed with a Sweet and Hot Thai Dressing. All of it topped with a Pork Stir Fry marinated in same dressing. Pork Sirloin was the ingredient.
I took my booty (a $400 knife set) and marched off the scene victorious.
Eli, Liam and Nance were there to cheer me on. Nance occassionally whistling as though she a foreman of a construction crew and me a newly minted secretary from the office building across the street.
Later that day I would raise my fists in the air and declare that to this point I am undefeated! I did this several times...Eli got a kick out of this.
Chef Tom Throb
Record: Undefeated
I forgot to tell this story -
We get a bird down our fireplace chimney about twice a year,but last year, we had a guy do some repairs on the chimney and he said he put the screens back that would keep birds out. So Saturday night I heard flapping from in the fireplace very late at night, so I decided it could wait till morning, especially as it might be a bat and I didn't want it to escape into the house. Sunday we left early for Ames and got home late and went straight up to bed (I had forgotten about the flapping) so I finally heard it again Monday morning. We couldn't see it at first when we opened the fireplace doors because we had thrown in a bunch of junk mail to burn (credit-card offers etc that would be shredded if our shredder worked) and some wood, but finally, nestled way down in a pile of sticks, was a full-grown female mallard, perfectly still. Stevo put on gloves and carried it out flapping all the way. She stood in the back yard a few seconds, recovering, then flew up into a tree and hung out there a while before she finally flew away. Daffy.
Way to go, Tom!
Next year's secret ingredient - wild fireplace she-mallard.
Yes, Tom rocked and the salad, in particular, was awesome! :-) We were/are very proud of Dad! :-)
The kids had fun at the Food Show and, actually, tried some NEW things. Halibut and Pork Loin. Amazing.
Well, that sounds like a lot of fun Tom. What kind of knives were they? Did you take them for home or for work? Do either of your kids want to be a chef?
Emily wherefore art thou? Fill us in.
p
Congrats Tom...call KLGA!!!
The food sounds delicious...we eat sweet potatoes now more than white potatoes, love them, especially as a nest!
anon.
The new Bright Eyes CD is #1 on Billboard's Indie charts!
(bright eyes is omaha boy Conor Oberst, he went to Pius and Prep...he's was a year ahead of Phelan, and his parents are EME's at St.John's at Creighton...he did a great job of dissing George Bush on the TONIGHT show and was then cancelled from CONAN last year)
The knife set is called,
"Black Diamond." It comes in a fancy shmancy leather carrying case and they are for work.
Liam says he wants to be a, "fry cook." Ha, ha.
Eli wants to be a fighter pilot. Hmm.
Not sure if KLGA is a good idea(?). May create a, "joke," as Tom won by forfeit. Of course, our spin would be that the other guy was, "scared," to go up against the likes of Chef Tom Straub! :-)
Tom that was impressive and so cool!
Who got to eat what you made? I'm hungry just reading it!
By the way... Randy is in Blacksburg now - not only does he have a meeting regarding the church they are building, he has to go to a funeral for a cadet killed in the Virginia Tech shootings. Does no one use the word massacare any more because it's too graphic?
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
I heard a family member ask the word massacre not be used...but it was a massacre :-(
Rush Limbaugh said the shooter must have been a "liberal"!!
It is what it is...a massacre. I hate it when people refer to rape as a sexual assault or something similar. Whatever. I say call it what it is.
I'm positive that the "Chef" who I was to compete against and who eventually chickened out was a lilly-livered liberal.
Tom
Lots of meat references there, Chef ...chicken and livers...I'm so hungry I could eat a lilly salad with chicken and fried livers on the side, glass of white wine and fine liberal conversation!
(it's true what Rush said)
Why do you have to learn how to dance in the rain?
Rush Limbaugh is a lily-livered has-been.
I guess I can't live in Seattle or thereabouts, although I've always thought it would be cool. This is our fourth gray rainy day and I'm about to kill someone. Anyone. I ain't dancin' in no rain, neither.
I like to dance in the rain! :-<>
do you like pina coladas as well?
Hey! That was me! It was I who sang and danced in the rain...back of Kenny!
Are you into health food?
Do you have half a brain?
I like to dance on the ceiling!
Let the rain fall down
and, wake my dreams...
Cathy -
As one who lived in Washington I can say I would almost rather live there than anywhere else. True it is rainy much of the time. Basically, about 5 months of the year it is overcast with or without rain. But, that's all you get in the winter. Just rain. I'll take that over bittercold and wind anytime.
The pay off is the most beautiful summers. Everyday, sunny, 75-80 degrees with no humidity.
Of course many liberals disdain the fact that there is no state income tax.
Tom
That "dancing in the rain..." thing is of the same mindless banality as the much earlier posted "...sliding into the grave all used up with a bar of chocolate screaming wo-hoo..." or whatever it was. Stupid stuff that appeals, as a general rule, to women more than men.
Jack Bauer's master plan and suicide for love was thwarted by dumb-ass Ricky Schroeder and his silver spoon.
Yay. I'm back to dreaming of the Pacific Northwest. Yes, and everyone knows there are no liberals in Seattle.
Gene Kelly was a hell of a man and a real buffarillo.
"It is better to occasionally yield to the gentle proddings of easy sentiment than to worship always at the false altar of curmudgeonly provocateurism."
Yeah, and I liked Ricky so much on NYPD Blue. Now Jack's in handcuffs, the President's in a coma and the Chinese renegades have the bomb component. And Jack's gal apparently has traumatic amnesia.
Jack's boss should have called off the manhunt before he fell on his sword.
The rabble liberals of Seattle are thankfully balanced out by the eastern Washington populace and the wealthy techno employees of Boeing and Microsoft. They graciously tolerate the liberals and thier degenerate lifestyles in order to bring an artsy feel to thier state.
Although, there was a fairly serious push by Spokane and the rest of eastern Washington to have the state split in half.
Tom
I can't take it anymore...Tom, their is spelled with an, "EI."
What's Spokane without Seattle?
I'm making Chicken Pot Pie for dinner found on Page 135 of the newest Whittemore cookbook. I'ts yummy. I use lowef fat ingredients than listed. Easy, tasty and good comfort food on a rainy day.
I'm so mad. The St. Patty Tee's that were our cost of $12/per went up to $25/per when I had to re-order only 9. Of course, the tees were prepaid for and mailed out...can't call the people up and ask for more money. Sigh...
i just realized i haven't had bacon in over a month, so dinner tonight is bacon with a side of whole-grain blueberry pancakes.
I hadn't eaten bacon in about 4 mos. and now I've had it the last two days in a row. (BLT with avacado) It's magically delicious. Thank you all for the birthday wishes. I have a lot to write about, so hopefully I'll have more time later today.
Homer Simpson wraps his bacon around breakfast sausage and then dips it in gravy...hmmmmmm.
Welcome back, Em! Hope you had Birthday Fun in beautiful Arizona! :-)
Tom -
Way to go dude! If you will it, it is no dream. Theodore Herzel
FYI...
Uncle Fr. Bob will be arriving in Omaha tomorrow (thurs. 4/26) at 5:00...he will be with 2 nuns and they will be in town untill May 7th (mon)...they will be doing a mission at St.Peter's and will be staying there...
I think Mom and Dad are coming Friday and Dad will be con-celebrating Sunday...
THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND IS THE CINCO DE MAYO PARADE...it's REALLY REALLY fun and then on Sunday he has an outdoor Mass following up the festivities..if you want a cool cultural experience (great for kids) come on down! Anyway, he'll be here during that time...any questions about schedule, etc call me, Cathy, Lisa or Dad & Mom!
If you can conceive it, if you can believe it, you can achieve it! Yay! go team!
"Easy sentiment" is looking at a kitten and saying how cute it is, not dancing in the rain, etc. That stupid saying is would justify fiddlin' while Rome burns.
But, it's fun to walk in the rain!
And then go home and have pot pie...
Joe3, isn't one of your favorite movies LOVE STORY? Am I incorrect? I think that movie is pretty corny and sentimental.
Our trip to Phoenix was fun. On the drive there I10 was closed for a strectch because of an accident, then there was an accident on the detour involving a semi and a police cruiser. This delayed us by 2 hours, but at least we weren't involved in the accidents. Scott was the best man in the wedding we were attending and so we were obligated to attend every event surrounding this wedding. Reheasal dinner Thursday, drinks Friday night, wedding on Sat, brunch on Sunday. The dinner on Thursday was my favorite. The brida and groom had a very small wedding (60 people) and only one attendant each and the reheasal dinner only had 8 people at it. It was at a pretty fancy place, the kind where they serve the salad after the entree. And the whole thing started off with pinapple martinis then we had fried calamari with sweet and hot peppers, entree was some kind of steak- very yummy , and shashimi grade ahi tuna which was only seared and I had a difficult time pretending to like it. Then asparagus and mixed greens, followed up with icecream and strawberries. Each course was served with a different wine and we had champagne with the dessert. It was fun, but I drank way too much and well let's just say the food was better going down than it was coming up several hours later. I'm blaming the tuna.
So, since we went out 3 nights in a row, Jude totally doesn't trust me now and won't let me leave him at the kids club in the gym.
Did anyone see Frontline last night? It was all aobut the Kyoto treaty which Bush refuses to take part in. I was sad to learn that Hagel wrote a letter to Bush telling him that the US should not be involved in it because developoing nations like China and India are or will be worse contributors to global environmental problems than the US and they aren't doing anything, so basically, why should we. The US pulled out of the talks shortly thereafter. Christine Todd Whitman was furious and said that there is no back and forth with Cheney. He just nods a smiles while you're talking and then just does what he wants, regardless. Not such a big fan of Hagel now, but no candidate is perfect.
Last weeks Frontline was from Iraq, detailing Bush new strategy to move from focussing on traing Iraqi police and military to eradicating the insurgents. They showed a US military unit working with Iraqis as they found a weopons cache. The US guys were pretty stoked and saying it was a great day to get this stuff off the streets. Then the Frontline camera picks up a conversation among the Iraqis who were there. They were joking around, saying that this was nothing. They knew where the really big stash in this particular area was, but none of them said a word. It is def. time to pull out. We can't help them and they won't let us help them and they can't even help themselves.
Anyway, way to go Tom. It sounds like you guys had a fun family day.
Also, I know that I am supposed to like seared ahi, but I just don't. I am also supposed to like sushi, but I just don't. I wish I did.
And please ignore the parts of my long post that don't make sense or that are misspelled, etc. I was writing very quickly and now I see much of what I've written doesn't make sense.
Em~ It made perfect sense to me! It was Cathy's, "one sentence," at 9:36am that has me all confused! Ha, ha!
Hi, One other thing about Uncle Bob's visit. His 75th birthday is May 7. I think he is leaving Omaha Sunday night or Monday morning. We should do something to celebrate his birthday while he is in Omaha.
"Love Story" could have been so much better. The guy's illness could have developed a-la Jeff Goldblum in "THe Fly" until he's a hideous space mutant robot and she finally saves humanity by running an endless loop of "The glass is half full..." and "Give away smiles; they're free" and "Live like the little kittens" and "Better to dance in the rain..." etc. into his CPU until he finally, slowly, in stages, (like a stop-action film clip of a dead rat decomposing) shuts down. She ennuis him to death. Maybe that would beter demonstrate the title "Love Story". Throw in some atomic grenades and blaster side-arms and a little gratuitous whoopee and you've got a winner.
Hey Joe3! How's your new puppy, King?
Who named him King and what does he look like?
p
He's a 7 month old Pug.
OK...all of you within a few hours...did Uncle Bob come thousands of miles for your weddings???? Come on down for Cinco de Mayo and a birthday party!! Why not..it will be fun and the kids will have fun (if you have any).
I thought it was patches...the dog.
Caitlin found out...when you 'pay at the pump' for gas, the station hold $50 more dollars for 3 days and then releases it back to your debit card accounnt!!!
Em, I don't like sushi either although I love rare tuna. Maybe medium rare.
Love means never having to go shopping for glasses with your husband. We went last night. I foolishly mentioned that Stevo might want to pick out something a little more stylish this time and he teased me mercilessly all the way there until he goaded me into saying that if he liked looking like the cute old guy in "Cocoon" that was fine with me. But then when we got there I had my frames picked out in 10 minutes and spent the next hour and 1/2 helping him decide between the brown or black version of otherwise identical frames. Fortunately, the optical place (in the mall) was closed but with the glasses all on display so he felt comfortable enough to relax and take his time. Now we have to get back there and order quickly while the sale is on. I'm hoping the bright lighting of the store when it's open won't lead him to change his mind. Actually, the whole process, if edited to ten minutes might make a funny movie. Two blind old married people trading zingers while trying on glasses that they have to get up 3 inches from the mirror to see, and then asking the other's opinion so they have to put on their old glasses to see. This is a situation that calls for trust. We both settled for mildly stylish frames and mildly dangerous-looking sunglasses.
Emily, sounds like quite the wedding...the groom is nice (can't remember his name)... I love seared ahi-tuna, it's my favorite thing to eat...is there ANY chance it could have been something else that made you sick???
Did the hotel have nanny service? Jude will get over it :-)
Liam's First Communion is Sunday, May 6th...your Daddy will be the Deacon at the mass.
Ooh I forgot to mention, the maid of honor inappropriately rubbed herself on Scott's leg and asked him to dance. Scott told her to talk to his brother. I missed the whole thing. She was rubbing up on all the guys and later disappeared for over an hour with one of the groom's friends. Both are married and left their spouses at home.
Oohhh scandal, she sounds like a dog, rubbing up against people...did Scott's bro Mark keep his beard for the wedding? I think it looks good-reddish...
...(Uncle Bob will be here this weekend, too!!!)
Cathy, will you call me? I can't get through (maybe it's the receptionist, haha).
BTW: As with Eli's First Communion we are keeping it a small affair and just invited Grandparents and Godparents. So, no worries you can party harty in Omaha over Cinco de Mayo. :-)
Yes, everyone come for Uncle Bob's birthday. Anyone can stay at my house. Wouldn't it be a fun surprise?
I think we should have a "Love means never having to..." short-short true story contest. Oops, gotta go for the staff day-late Administrative Professionals Day lunch. Anyone clapping a hand to their foreheads and running out to Wal-mart?
Joe, I love pugs! If it ever has puppies, I'll take one.
Mom- I've tried to help my dad pick out more stylish frames a few times, it doesn't work. Last time to tried to buy ones with lenses that reached around the sides so he could see better. I wouldn't let him. Order me new contacts though, please!
I like most sushi, but maybe you could try it with imitation crab or lobster meat. It's less expensive, easy to make, and tastes great with avacado!
Ok, it's not that easy to make, but it's not that hard either.
Ellen, congratulations on your induction into the Education Sorority....But, aren't those the kind of frames Bono wears?
PS...anyone coming this weekend, instead? It's always sort of a whirlwind with Uncle Bob, I just talked to him on his cell phone at some airport, he sounds great!!
Asparagus is in season right now. Yum.
Chef Wongs says...
"Pugs and asparagus, Yum!"
Sorry Ellen, King's capacity for progeny was cut short, literally, byt the previous owner. Alas! Alackaday!
my neighbor has a pug, she named it Pugly.
I say a Puggle (pug/poodle) at the pet store and I fell in love. We decided we aren't getting a dog until all of our kids are old enough to carry their own bag through an airport. Kind of a bummer because I would love to get a dog. I can't wait to see King. I just love pugs. Joe3, I saw this on a magnet today, "Kittens leave pawprints on your heart." I almost bought it for you.
I had to email someone today whose email was poeticmews
Ellen used to walk a pug for the lady across the street and fell in love with the little wheezer. I don't get it myself. Those thyroid eyes make me nervous.
OK! Who's coming to:
Uncle Bob's birthday
Memorial Day Paint the Farm festival
Cleanup Don's trailer weekend
When is clean-up Don's trailor weekend?
Hi, Mom and I went to St. Peter to see Don yesterday. He's looking and feeling good and is glad to be in a different building. He is meeting with his social worker today and hopes to get more info about when he'll be discharged, but he thinks it will toward the end of June. Then he will be in a halfway house in Mankato 4to6 months and then will go back to his own home. We stopped at his mobile home on our way home. Everything is as we saw it last. All the cupboards are open and the contents on the kitchen table and counters and all the drawers throughout the place are open. I think the people who did the spraying did that so their chemicals would reach everywhere. I did not se any sign of insects when we went in and I even opened the oven door suddenly to see any signs of life. Nothing. If a crew could get up there this summer it would be nice. Love, Dad
I am not a big dog lover, but King Black the pug is a sweet dog. He has been here since Tuesday while the kids are here and Joe3 is working. (Betty missed him, so we just brought him here so he wouldn't be spending whole days alone.) He has gone to a track meet now with Joe3 and Betty. He doesn't go in the house, barks at strangers, and sleeps through the night. Yesterday Joe4 was home from school, and King spent most of the day sleeping on Joe's lap on the couch while he was reading. A good dog.
The only good dog is a dead dog.
If we clean Don's place this summer-will it need to be redone in 4-6 months?
I just got out of class early, and the dog and Betty are en route from the track meet in Swea City. I guess he got pooped and had to be put in the car to nap!
I forgot to tell you Happy Birthday, Emily. I remember the first time I met you. I think you were 14. You were smiling then...a smile I've rarely seen you without! You, Mary, and I went for lunch at the old Ayres Department store tea room in Indianapolis. (When I was a little girl my mother would take me there for lunch, and I was sad to hear that it closed a few years ago.)
Kel
Kelli what class are you taking?
P
The first time I met Emily she was crying.
Pat - aren't most people crying the first time you meet them?
Tom
P
I'm finishing a four year nursing degree which is mostly on line through the University of Iowa. I am almost done with stats and just finished cultural anthropology. Since I only work Friday and Saturday nights, I can go to school during the week. I'll be done next May and hope to go right into a master's program they have in occupational health. I like learning but dislike school. Just gotta do it and get it over with.
The dog again slept all night. I got up before Betty and after I took him out, he went right back up to bed with her!
Re: question about Don's trailer. The answer is "Probably." But that will be his job.
Mary and I just think a welcome-home, nice clean place would be nice.
I think that the anon. blogger about Don's trailer is not part of the clan...and if you are, re-read it and realize how pissy it is and why would you fricken care, 'cause you aren't gonna be doing it anyway!
And if you are part of us, go and visit Don, 'cause I can guarantee that you have not.
Not that it matters...but it's not a teacher sorority. My dad made that up. It's bugging me though. It's a society, with a greek name.
Good job, Kelli!
I meant that if he isn't moving in for 4to6 months-we should go and clean then. relax.
You relax!
Ex-Lax will help you relax! So will Dulcolax. And fiber.
It didn't seem pissy to me, just a question. I am happy to help clean whenever, as long as we set a date well in advance. I have a writers workshop for 7 days and a low residency program for 14 days this summer.
Pat
I think MOnica is the anonymous who said "The only good dog is a dead dog." For shame, Monica, for shame. Maggie loves you.
I try to like dogs. Just like Cathy and Emily try to like sushi. I even got one for Joe. I just don't like them.
What is a low residency program?
I just reread Dad's posting about Don and it sounds like he wouldn't be moving back into his trailer right away, so we could hold off on the cleanup until later. Anon's question made perfect sense.
happy birthday Emily!!
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