Monday, July 28, 2008

Cash Farm Fun!










So it was a great time at the farm this weekend. Everybody not there was missed, but we ended up having a lot of fun (a little too much fun for some of us). We had the biggest bonfire ever and Elvis proved his dominance over Caitlin.




98 comments:

Anonymous said...

It was sooo much fun, and probably the best weather ever!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh Gillian looks so old! And it looks like a great time I missed. Sad not to be there.

I just got home from work. So annoyed with foreign people who don't know to tip the server. I had three tables of Europeans who had me running. One had an $82 check and left me 0.

P

Anonymous said...

I can tell by lookin at Monica's back that she's getting ready to banish the tree for daring to fall down. If she had sleeves she'd be rolling 'em up.
Missed you all, wish we could've been there.

Anonymous said...

You guys all got together at the farm this past weekend??? Why didn't anybody tell me?



Kidding of course, work and travel has gotten the best of me lately. Another day off during this stretch would have been difficult.

Looks like a good time was had by all. Dad, did you dip those birds in bleach after everyone left like you said you were going to?

Des

Anonymous said...

Caitlin -

"WHY...SO...SERIOUS???"

des

Anonymous said...

Why So Serious?

Anonymous said...

Perhaps, Caitlin looks serious because Elvis dominated her? By the way, how did he dominate her?

Anonymous said...

Question:
My friend's computer died and needs to purchase a new one. She has heard that Dell is the best. Is this true? Anyone know?

Anonymous said...

An APPLE a day...
Throw out the Windows and smell the APPLES...

Anonymous said...

So today the same family came in for breakfast and I automatically included gratuity in the bill. Smart...
But it was only 4 orders of toast and OJ.

P

Anonymous said...

Are you allowed to add it automatically?

Anonymous said...

caffeine free diet soda.... what's the point?

Anonymous said...

The bill says gratuity included.

p

Anonymous said...

Not yet mentioned.....how m.e. spearheaded the Cash Cemetary fence repair effort. She went to town with Erin and purchased steel fenceposts and wire to support the aged wood ones, and she, Jim, Randy, Andy and more (sorry, whoever I left out - Monica? Erin? Ellen?) got the fence rebuilt and looking good. We all felt like Abe Lincoln and wanted to emancipate or proclaim or go to the theatre or something.

Anonymous said...

Those are great photos, Ed.

Creighton fans: Anthony TOlliver was signed by the Spurs. Of course he could still get cut, but they seem to like him.

Anonymous said...

Those are great photos, Ed.

Creighton fans: Anthony TOlliver was signed by the Spurs. Of course he could still get cut, but they seem to like him.

Anonymous said...

P~ That's awesome! I would always include it. :-) Perhaps, that's why some people haven't tipped because they assume it's already added in...yah think?

Anonymous said...

Sometimes you get better than the automatic gratuity, so only on these folks who probably don't know to tip (and, of course large parties).

p

Anonymous said...

do electric cars come with cigarrette lighters?

Anonymous said...

What's the elvis caitlin story?
p

Ed X said...

So I got home from the farm on Sunday night and started packing for the big move on Tues. Packed all day monday until the movers were scheduled to arrive at 1:00 PM when I felt I had everything prepared, but.....no movers. They didn't show up. I called the moving company and they said the movers had to work later on a move they did before mine and would be there shortly. They finally showed up at 5:30 PM.

Got everything loaded and headed downtown. Called the management company and was told that if I move in at this time (1-6 PM was the time I had had scheduled to move in the building) I would be fined anywhere from 600 - 1200 dollars. So I did not move in. I called Desmond and he let me sleep on his couch. All of my belongings are on a truck and the hope is that I can move in today.

I have none of my stuff and I was supposed to have my mid year review today at the office. I don't think that is going to happen and my boss flew in from NY to do it. The cable/phone/internet was to be installed this morning and now that is not going to happen and the earliest they can reschedule is like the 4th or 5th. I still need to get back out to the place in Naperville to clean it up and get it ready for the move out, but I don't want to leave Chicago since I don't know when the actual move in might take place.

In short. Things stink.

Anonymous said...

That does stink! I'm sorry, Ed. :-(

Anonymous said...

That DOES stink! Maybe you can go buy some cheap target clothes or something and have your review anyway?

P

Anonymous said...

A little Algona news to make one smile:
1) I was perusing the Fair brochure for this year. In one section it names three people/businesses of interest. One is Louie McEnroe for his long time fair support and one is Cary Lane Electric for business of the year. I find it funny that two of the three listed are...one-up on sexual assault charges and the other-a long time rumored to be "peeping tom"...ha!
2) The space formerly known as the Lava Lounge has a beautiful new sign going up...as we speak. The sign reads, "Thul Business Center."
Hmm...

Anonymous said...

Brian must have decided not to rent it out anymore after the last tenant busted up everything in there....

Anonymous said...

The heat index is 109 here today.
p

Anonymous said...

Man, Ed. You were nervous about this move over the weekend (I think you had a bad feeling about it) and it has turned out bad. Hope it's all resolved by tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Ok - so I am back in the office now and fully moved. The movers were supposed to show up at 1:00 PM yesterday and they kept on telling me "oh it will be 2:00" 2:00 comes and no movers. Give a call and "oh - it will be 3:30". 3:30 comes and no movers. They finally show up at 5:30 (after I have been waiting in an empty apartment all day with nothing to do. By this time I had been all over the phone with the office and the actual driver. They KNEW they had to get me in before 6:00 and they still didn't show until 5:30.

Well - as we were unloading the van, guess who pulls up...low and behold is the representative from the management company. He is asking all sorts of questions about who I am and why I was moving after the approved hours. I make up some story about the moving truck being in an accident and I think he bought it, but it reamains to be seen if there are going to be any fines associated with the move.

Also - the moving company wanted to charge me 1 night for storage and the time it took them to load everything into storage, load it back on to the truck and then load it into my apartment. I about went ballistic when they told me that.

Anyway - I am in now an super tired. When they got done unloading I had to go back out to Naperville and clean and remove all of the leftover stuff. Didn't get back into the city until 1:00 AM, but at least I am now moved.

Anonymous said...

Did you have your review?

That sounds like a super hellish move. I bet you went ballistic.

P

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you're moved Ed...The name of that company should be "3 Idiots and a Truck" or "2 Day Movers"...

The Kossuth County Fair is in full swing, we set up our booth on Tuesday, yesterday the free BBQ brought in alot of folks...the beer garden has been totally free (for us) 'cause the first 150 beers are free beginning at 8:00, and thats when we shut down the booth, then at 9:00 free fireworks show every night of the fair, plus a free gate...we've seen lots of people, (Joe Betty, Eli and Liam where are you?) So, come one, come all to the Kossuth County Fair, there's lots of FREE!

Anonymous said...

I just got an email from a "Sister Mary Joseph" in response to a job I saw posted and thus applied for. "She" says she is the CEO of a firm called career experts and she was forwarded my resume by her client, the hospital (which has no name yet). She wants to get started with me right away, Sister Mary Joseph does, on finding me a job that makes lots of money. I followed the link and what it is is a place that will help you refine your resume for $100 and up.
How bogus!

Anonymous said...

My mid year review will happen later.

Ok so I haven't heard from:

Cathy
Don
Mary
Joe
Bob
Emily
Grace
Desmond
Molly
Joe Jayjack
Phelan
Caitlin

I need your address, phone numbers, and e-mail.

Send them to me at edward.x.straub@jpmchase.com. NOW.

Anonymous said...

I emailed you too...did you get it?

Anonymous said...

my new 4th manager started today, working part time here and at his old location until he moves to madison. he looks like Garrison Keillor on meth.

Anonymous said...

Ed, I'm not telling mine unless you tell yours (haha)
Joe4 was just tossing big chunks of concrete into our dumpster! Actually I didn't try lifting them, maybe it's fake concrete...
We have polo shirts with our logo for the fair...the shirts look pretty cool.
TTYL, off to the Fair...I'm on the radio everyday at 2:30, yesterday I advertised one of our listings as "a short walk to Sister Sarah's"...does that earn a complimentary chardonnay?

Anonymous said...

Free glass of wine for m.e.

Anonymous said...

I just took a bunch of stuff to a consignment shop. It feels good to purge. Ed, you should get rid of stuff before you put it away in your new aprtment. What ever the shop won't take I just run to Goodwill.
Monica

Anonymous said...

Ed-since you're purging I'll be glad to take that 56" Plasma off your hands

Anonymous said...

Certainly Mary...thank you!

Anonymous said...

I recently discovered a wonderful thing. The "Honey Mooners are on every Sunday night at 8pm. Back to back episodes. One of a handful of shows that will make me laugh out loud.

Ralph Cramden...what a putz.

Tom

Anonymous said...

...on WGN.

Anonymous said...

Friday Night Lights is on your computer whenever you want.

Anonymous said...

I have heard that moving companies can be some of the most rapacious businesses there are. I hope they don't have your credit card number. They will tell people the move cost more than they quoted and hold people's furniture for ransom and then charge for storage when the people finally give up and pay.
I can't believe the management company where you live has a fine for moving in after hours - I've never heard of that. What's their reason? Fight it.

Anonymous said...

A few years ago, we rented a U-Haul to move some furniture we bought in the Twin Cities and reserved it with our Visa. A month later, I rec'd a call from my credit card company asking me if I had purchsed a computer and had it delivered to a Minneapolis address. I said, "No!" They declined the charge and I spent quite a bit of time trying to find this guy and press charges. We were able to discern that a person from U-Haul used it and I called and spoke with the manager and tried to press charges with the police. They did go over to the house and did do some investigative work as this guy had a reputation for being less than a good person. Ultimately, I couldn't press charges because the transaction never took place. I asked if it was identity theft because they used my name and credit card number...and the cop said, "Unfortunately no."

Anonymous said...

I understand the moving hours thing...who wants someone moving in and being all loud...late at night. When I was 20, I moved in one time around midnight...I didn't get into trouble...but, now looking back...I was really inconsiderate.
I think if your move was all done at a decent time...albeit later than allowed...they should cut you a break.

Anonymous said...

I have created a reward program for Teachers and Students called "Sister Sarah's Super Stars." I have offered this to both Princi"pal" Froehlich and the superintendent of public schools, Marty Fonley...both are very interested, but will discuss at their next staff meeting. It is a means to recognize Teachers for providing a comfortable and creative experience for their students...and, a recognition for Students who exhibit a positive attitude and great effort...regardless of the letter grade outcome. The reward certificate entitles the recipient to a free entrée and beverage...valid for one month and dine-in only.
I would like to create some sort of, "board," to put up at the Restaurant which identifies the Super Stars for each month...either by name/school or name/school *and* photo. I'm uncertain how to go about creating such a thing...I don't want it to look like I did it with my feet...any ideas?

Anonymous said...

Ok so I haven't heard from:

Don
Mary
Joe
Bob
Grace
Desmond
Phelan
Caitlin

I need your address, phone numbers, and e-mail.

Send them to me at edward.x.straub@jpmchase.com. NOW.

Anonymous said...

I'll send you Don and Donny's.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for putting together a new address list, Ed!
Yesterday and today are moving days in Ames. Every apartment owner ends leases on the same day. It's busy and noisy around here. We realized that because we are both done with school now, Andy and I are the creepy old people living in the same building with all the college kids :(
I use to wonder why those people would stay in the same crappy apartments, but now I'm one of them. sigh. On a happier note, Andy became an official uncle yesterday. His sister had a baby boy named Charlie.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Andy!

Vacation Bible School/Day Camp is over. My feet hurt. It's called that because afterwards you need a vacation. My feet hurt and I have piles of boxes and crates in my office to unpack. And my feet hurt.

Anonymous said...

Fair Food I've had to date:
Chicken and Biscuits
BBQ Beef sand (sliced thick, yummy)
Sloppy Joe sand.
Maidrites
Fresh squeezed lemonade
Goat Kebab
tonight...maybe a hot beef sand. with gravy and potatoes...because Phil Eischen just came over to my booth and described how he prepared the meat and gravy!! Maybe I don't need to eat it, just think about it...yummy
I mentioned leg of lamb on my radio spot today.

Anonymous said...

http://www.85qm.de/up/BigRedButton.swf

Anonymous said...

OK, OK! Now you made me want to go to the fair. Think I'll have a Peanut Buster Parfait on my way home and it's all your fault.

Anonymous said...

aren't maidrites and sloppy joes the same thing?
p

Anonymous said...

maidrites are better.

Anonymous said...

Ed, That was a great job on the new address sheet. Thanks, Mom & Dad

Anonymous said...

I am not fond of fair time.

Anonymous said...

Mary, haven't you had BBQ pork yet?
When is the free dinner?

Anonymous said...

Free dinners are dumb.

Anonymous said...

We rec'd a cool postcard in the mail for Straub University shirts and ballcaps.
www.AOTees.com

Anonymous said...

How was the baptism weekend?

P

Anonymous said...

Brian came over to help us with painting our house and Catie was in charge of Mia the whole day (at our house)and it was over 100 degrees out - brutal. Anyway, Catie was trying to distract Mia from goofing around when I wanted to take them to the store with me to get dinner, and she said something like "Come on, Mia, get your shoes on before I do; it's a game!" and Mia raised her nose in the air and said, "I don't want to play any more dumb little knick-knack stupid games," (this after riding on Catie the horse all over the basement for a couple hours)and later during dinner when Molly was about to make her finish her dinner she leaned toward Molly and said in the best nasal French accent, "Would you like a .....croissant?", pronouncing it kwassonh right through her nose. It pretty much broke up the table. I can't wait to hear about her parent-teacher conferences. We go on vacation next week and we're taking all the kids camping, but just for a couple days because stupid Council Bluffs schools start August 14. Two weeks of half days, I guarantee it.

Anonymous said...

I'm a firm believer that school should start the day after Labor Day. Have fun camping!
The Guilliatt's took Eli and Liam to the Fair on Saturday and they had a blast! Liam puked on a ride...but, Aunt Em said that he recovered quickly. Tom was able to get out early (Saturday) and take the boys to the races...lots of fun. We went to the Baptism lunch at Joe and Mary's and it was great. Joe3 did an excellent job with the pork loin and Grandpa made some wonderful salads. Gone are the days where we have to slip Eli and Liam a PB sammy...thank God! Scott's family is very nice. Sam looks a little more spiritually filled and Joe4 and Ellen will make outstanding Godparents...they sure are growing up fast! The kids had fun playing together. It was H-O-T.

Anonymous said...

m.e., please tell me you had a funnel cake at the fair. Here's my short list of things that smell better than anything could possibly taste:
funnel cakes (but they come close)
corn dogs
chocolate cake
brownies
cinnamon rolls
just-ground coffee

We went to see The Dark Knight last night. Ledger's Joker was pretty impressive. I bet when Jack Nicholson watches it, he's suddenly going to feel old. I didn't even really care about the story line, I just kept waiting for the Joker to come back on the screen.

Anonymous said...

At the Indiana State Fair (the fairgrounds are on 38th Street and I grew up abour four miles east on 39th Street) they had fresh sweet corn cooked in the husk. They would peel back the husk and dip it in a vat of melted butter. Then you carried it around by the husk and ate it. It was so good.

Kelli

Anonymous said...

Yummy corn!

Yes, I had a cyclone cake.

Anonymous said...

Hey Joe Jayjack, go to www.vet.uga/vpp/clerk/mwoods I was trying to find some info on microcytic anemia and was directed to this site.

Anonymous said...

Oops, should be www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/mwoods

Anonymous said...

do you think the people living on Monster Island had Godzilla insurance? Steve, what would the deductible on something like that be?

Anonymous said...

Does Joe J have a dog's disease?
p

Anonymous said...

Schmonster Island...Godzilla should have used King Kong's agent, don't you think?

Anonymous said...

I just met with a client who is basically "squatting" in a house he's been slow to close on (the seller let him move in early). I went over to the house to get him to agree to sign a daily rent agreement of $15. untill he closes. He said he couldn't sign just then because the heat was causing him to have a schizoid attack (he's told me before he's schizophrenic) I told him I would wait untill his attack was over, and then he could sign...he signed.

Anonymous said...

Since so many here are Obama supporters I'm hoping one of you can answer a question. Why does Obama keep harping on McCain saying that it's going to be 4 more years of Bush if McCain is elected? I'm wondering because when Bush pushed for these tax breaks for the oil companies Obama voted with Bush while McCain voted against.

Why doesn't Obama mention any of this?

Tom

Anonymous said...

Yes, Pat, I do. But only when it's a full moon.

Although I think Joe K. might have wanted me to see that because it looks like my dog, Wilbur, who also has some undiagnosed problems.

Anonymous said...

My brother had squatters. His house was for sale ($380k) and unoccupied. He had some peeps that really wanted to buy it but, never qualified...move in! The realtor had given them keys, they were there without my brothers knowledge for like a month+. They switched the utilities into their name. One day, he went there with Tom and I to see if we wanted any of his old furniture/stuff and some teenager came to the door! The house stunk of ciggy smoke and it was very dirty. The cops were called, the Mom came home from work saying that she had, "rights," and it was a big mess. They moved out. Nothing ever happened to them...legally. ScArY!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

For some reason my post didn't stick. We are most likely moving. THe link above is another unit in the same complex of our new home, on the Delray Beach/ Boca Raton border. Its not quite as charming as our current place but it has washer/dryer/dishwasher and is closer.

p

Anonymous said...

http://www.bocaexecutiverealty.com/listings/R2924790

p

Anonymous said...

Way to go, Pat, moving after Ed just did the address list. Does it have lizards? One dishwasher is at least worth a TV, so a dishwasher plus washer and dryer is a good trade for a whole lotta charm, if you ask me. How's the job going?

I decline to answer the Obama question because - I hate to admit it - I just don't care any more. They both sound increasingly strident and defensive. I wish they could call a 1-week truce so they could both step back and rest and get back on message. Go for the big picture. It's degenerating into "He said/he said." Maybe during the Olympics they'll both realize that nobody's listening.
Everybody on our Confirmation prep team has been saying that this is the best class we've had in years. So 1/3 of the class were no-shows for their Confirmation interviews. No calls, no explanations. Are they just not so much nice as passive-aggressive? Are they just knuckleheads? Is there a conflict (such as high school registration) that just drove it clean out of their little heads? It ate up a lot of volunteers' valuable time sitting around waiting for the next one. I'm sending out a letter to the parents of the no-shows telling them that the makeup interviews will take place after the next class so that the team members won't have to come another time, maybe to be stood up again. How do I inflict the maximum amount of guilt without arousing their defensive irritation? Right now I'd really like to inflict a little pain. There's plenty of stuff I could have been doing. We leave on vacation Friday.

Anonymous said...

So, I have heard that China will not allow people into the Olympic Games if they have a mental illness or an STD. Assuming that these people will attend regardless of the law...does that mean they are going to pull out 1 in 4 for mental illness and 1 in 5 for an STD? Hmm.

Anonymous said...

Are crabs an STD?

Anonymous said...

If they're in your underwear...yes. If they're on a plate with melted butter...no.

Anonymous said...

I'd just stress the VOLUNTEER part of the meeting. That you have to schedule these people to help out and so you need the kids to show up.
Yes, Ed, I'm sure will be happy to update his list. The job is over. I quit. But I have an interview tomorrow for a researcher...someone who finds people - missing persons, heirs to treasures, adoptees families, etc. The ad stressed that this is NOT a private investigator position. But the law requires that you get a P.I. license (for which they would sponsor me). Cool huh?
I also have an interview as a part time admin asst. at a methodist church. Not as exciting.
p

Anonymous said...

Pat - I hope you gave 2 weeks. I hate it when they don't give 2 weeks. It's so low rent.

Cathy - I agree. It's beginning to become (once again) the lesser of 2 evils. Knucklehead democrats shoulda took Biden. Smart, charismatic, and experienced.

Tom

Anonymous said...

Pat, at least now you can say you have done it and you got a pair of comfy shoes out of the deal. I hated working in a restaurant especially creepy bossed who patted you on the butt. I don't like people enough to do it.


Monica

Anonymous said...

Go for the gumshoe job.

Anonymous said...

Don't you think Biden would be the perfect addition to the ticket, to add experience and smarts? I hope they don't choose someone weak. Now Hilary's hoping for the convention to try to elect her as the v.p. candidate. This morning on Today, some political reporter was talking about how Obama sure doesn't want Bill Clinton rampaging around in the background "like King Lear." Pretty astute simile.

Anonymous said...

Entertainment from the Iowa State Fair in the 1930. It's small, but well worth the look:

http://www.gbaproductions.com/thrills.html

Anonymous said...

School starts THURSDAY for Emma and the following Monday for Mary. Yikes! Hope the pool stays open for a few days.

So this week we went to Dennis Uniform Shop and got Mary a plaid jumper with matching plaid bow and plaid headband and white socks with a plaid ruffle. Except for the white shirts she's all set.

We took Emma to GapKids and bought a plaid babydoll shirt with a tank and sweater. It was a day for plaid.

Ed, thanks for the awsome easy to read list. You are awesome.

Lisa

Anonymous said...

Tom they didn't deserve any notice at all. So I didn't give it. But I did line up replacements for all my shifts a week out. If they'd been decent people of course I'd have given notice.
P

Anonymous said...

I went to my interview. It lasted 15 minutes. I thought that was bad, but there was someone waiting when I came out, so they scheduled them all for 15 minutes each.
I still don't think I got it which is no surprise.
P

Anonymous said...

this is pretty good... haven't gone through all of them but best game ever was pretty funny...

http://improveverywhere.com/

Anonymous said...

Well it looks like John Edwards will NOT be our next Vice President.

Tom

Anonymous said...

So....what was he thinking?? While his wife was undergoing chemo, etc...he's paying for sex (she was paid from his PAC over $100,000 for 4 mos. work for 4 short videos.) If she had only made one more video! I never liked Edwards. Ever. Thought he shouldn't put his wife through the stress of a campaign...how 'bout campaign affairs?

Anonymous said...

Why one more video? What is wrong with people in positions of power? THey know they're being watched.
p

Anonymous said...

Mike is taking Peter, Thomas, Liam and Eli to the Hobo Convention in Britt...they'll get there in time to see the coronation, you have to be a true rail-rider to be crowned!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Uncle Mike, you're a fun guy!

Anonymous said...

How was Hobo days?

By the way, an overdue thank you to Mary, Lisa and Monica for helping to get the tables, etc ready for the lunch following Sam's baptism and to Mary who ran out and got a cake -which is something I should have thought of- and left herself only 5 minutes to get ready for mass. And thanks to Dad for making all the salads and to Joe for cooking the delicious pork. IT was a fun weekend and we really enjoyed the fair - which I don't think I had been to in over 15 years. We won an antique kids pedal car, which Dad picked up for us. Yesterday we went to Irish Faire in St. Paul. It consisted of tent after tent of various muscians and dancers, beer, lots of pale people getting progressively pink as the day wore on, a native Irish Dogs dog show, kiddy races, fish n chips, etc. Summertime is so great and I fear it is going by too quickly.

Where is everyone staying for Ellen's wedding?