I celebrated St. Patrick's day at the Metro Catholic Band Festival. Why do they schedule things like that on St. Patrick's day? Seems like it happens every year.
I have a question- we have an old lamp and the lining around the top of the shade broke. It's a thick paper shade, and there was some kind of tape holding a wire to the shade. The tape cracked, so the wire doesn't stay in a circle anymore. The tape almost looks like a skinnier version of the tape that wraps around sports equipment, like hockey sticks. But that tape didn't stick to the shade. I've seen this tape before- it's a little stretchy, one-sided, maybe some kind of upholstry tape? I've looked at Lowes and a fabric store, and don't know what to search for online. Any ideas?
The parade had a good turn out (Tom said). We had a nice sized group at Sarah's too. :-) Poor Tom was sick yesterday and he still worked 13 hours! :-<> Eli and I stayed home with our strep-o-rama. :-(
Liam wore a big, green "joker" styled hat. Donny looked like a leprechaun with a green beard and pointy ears. Tom wore a green, velvet "top" hat. They looked cute. Oh and Eli wore pajamas...ha! Whatcha do at the Jayjacks?
c said... There was a story in yesterday's World-Herald about how the Creighton AD says Creighton's just going to have to agree to play some big away teams without a reciprocal agreement for them to play here, in order to get the kind of credibility they need to be considered seriously when they're on the bubble like that. Altman feels if we go there to play they should come here to play but he says the AD is the boss. So CU's schedule could be getting a little tougher in the next couple years.
The Milbraths, the Richardsons and the Jayjacks had corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, soda bread, shamrock cake, shamrock brownies and a whiskey trifle, washed down with Guinness, cider, mysterious green stuff for the kids, and Irish coffee - really good Irish coffee. How did the celebration in Algona go?
Someone asked what we did for St. Patrick's Day. We actually started on Sunday afternoon, driving to downtown West Palm Beach to attend the Irish Fest, a two day celebration. We got there just on time to see Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones perform for about an hour and a half. Talked to Derek for a few minutes after the concert and bought a double CD. We shared some appetizers for dinner D.J. Bradley's pub and then went home.
Yesterday we went to Mass, then Mom had water aerobics. I forgot that the NY parade was probably on TV. I would have watched it while she was exercising. After lunch I did some bookwork and then went to the pool while Mom napped. We still had not decided what we would do last night. We heard that McCarthy's would be so crowded that you would need a shoe horn to squeeze in. But they were serving corned beef and cabbage and they make it so well.
We decided to go to McCarthy's early. Good idea. No parking in the parking lot. Instead there was a big tent with a couple of younger musicians playing "modern" Irish music. A stand was set up outside the front door where you registered for seating in the restaurant. We checked in at 5:10 and were told it would be 20 minutes. I checked back in 20 minutes and she said it would be another 10 minutes. By this time many more people had arrived and I heard them telling people that it would be an hour. We went back later and by that time people were checking in for a 2 hour wait to be seated.
Inside, they had taken all of the seating and tables out of the bar area and people were packed in there, standing and simulating Irish dancing and listening to Noel Kingston, one of our favorites who sang every traditional Irish song and other old favorites such as George M. Cohan's "Give My Regards To Broadway," The Darktown Strutters' Ball" and many others. It was an older crowd, many of whom went through all the motons when he sang "The Unicorn." We enjoyed watching him while we waited for a table to open up.
When we got into the dining room a little after 6pm, we both started with potato leek soup. Then I had corned beef and cabbage with carrots, peas and boiled new potatoes. Mom ordered macadamia nut encrusted snapper, mashed potatoes and a vegetable. It was all really good but both of us wished we were at Sister Sarah's with friends and family.
After dinner we went back to our apartment and waited for the ND game to start. It was good to end the St. Pat's Day celebration with an Irish victory in a tough ballgame.
Slainte,
Dad
Well, we went to Mass and wished we were in Whittemore getting ready for the parade.
I wish I could've made it to the Jayjack's last night. I was certain my teacher would let us out of our night class early but she much have something against the Irish.. I was there til 9:30! My stomach was practically saying "corned beef and cabbage" all night long.
Also, yesterday during the day I was getting coffee at the neighborhood coffee shop and all of the sudden a fight broke out outside of all the Dundee bars. Seriously, it looked planned or something. The cops came and arrested a guy hitting someone with a bagpipe. I took my coffee outside and watched the entire thing- I felt like I was in a movie.
Ha! Caitlin, I told your story to Joan and she told me about when she and her husband lived in New Jersey in the 50's and they went up to New York for a St. Patrick's Day parade and a short, stocky man wearing a wide orange tie came striding around a corner and jumped into the parade. He got about 10 feet and disappeared under a joyously angry mob of bystanders - she never actually saw what happened to him, the mob just sort of moved down the block with him presumably inside it being taught a lesson.
Yesterday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" they showed a shot of Dublin with a parade going on. Willy Geist, the smart alecky sidekick type guy says, "There's Dublin Ireland. By tonight the streets will be running green with puke."
Mika, the liberal uptight patrician, said "Willy! You can't say that!"
Thanks to everyone for your birthday wishes. I don't know yet if I'll be celebrating tonight, as I have class on Wednesdays. However, I'm certain I will take the opportunity to be honored at some later point in the week. p
I like Mika...and in Ireland it's not a drunken holiday like here...but I like Will also.
We had a horrible computer virus...got it when I clicked on NIT Brackets...it's a virus scam, and the scammer sells the snti-virus pkg. to get rid of it, last week he made over $150,000! Our tenant is a computer genius and he fixed the problem for free.
It was a beautiful day for St. Patrick's day! The parade was well attended and there were lot more people lining the streets than other years. (I think we do need music, though) At Sarah's it was packed...Tom had to set up an additional food table becasue of the crowd of food and people! I think Mike picked up this builder friend of our (he's tiny) I hope he didn't call him a leprecaun...the last to leave were 3 McCalls and 2 Straubs (Joe and I) we couldn't let the McCalls win!
And so birthday treats become joyless tasteless obligations. On the other hand, it's kind of like uniforms - no one's are better or worse than anyone else's. I'm all for school uniforms. I think they foster creativity instead of killing it.
I love school uniforms...the boys do not. I think it's weird though to have "uniforms" yet have 3 colors to choose from in both the shirts, pants and sweatshirts. Shouldn't the colors be "uniform?" I just heard, on the news, that in 2007 there were more births than in any other year in history. Something like 40+% of them were to unwed mothers. I guess all the education our teens receive in HS about "protection" isn't working...yes?
I would be curious to know if that statistic was leaning toward never married 40 year olds, or teenage mothers. I bet the older unmarried mothers number contributes.
Don't you think that each year practically there are more births than the year before in general? The 40% is a huge percentage though. I wonder how that compares with former years. I wouldn't take anything for granted. Is this worldwide or in the US?
Thanks to Ed for accepting our brackets via fax. I am doing pretty well so far, but I must admit my final four is pretty lame - all number one seeds. I have never done that before and I don't know why I did it this year.
If ND wins tonight and Creighton beats Kentucky on Monday, then ND and CU will face off at the Qwest Center. I am not too optimistic about the Bluejays beating the Wildcats though. They have not been playing well lately. The Kentucky-Creighton game is on ESPN Monday night.
The cherry blossoms are starting to bloom here but I still wish it were warmer. We've had a few days in the 60s and one in the 70s but for the most part it's been 45-55 with several rainy days. I shouldn't complain. It could be worse.
What is everyone doing for Easter? When do Mom and Dad return to Whittemore? We may go home that weekend.
Team Name Score Correct Emily Guilliatt 95 15 Scott Guilliatt 69 12 mike lavelle 67 13 p straub 67 12 Rob Zielinski 67 12 Ed Straub 58 11 joe straub 57 12 Mary LaVelle 57 12 Jim & Erin Straub 55 11 Catherine Jayjack 53 11 Marianne Zielinski 52 11 Tom Straub 52 11 Joe Jayjack 50 9 Frank Straub 48 11 Jim & Erin Straub 48 11
So...Wednesday Liam complained of his arms and legs hurting and then, yesterday afterschool he said that his cheek felt fat and numb/tingly. No fever, no sore throat, no tummy pain, no headache. We brouught him in and sure enough...he has strep too! My prediction...Donny gets it on Sunday.
Really, off-hand comments denigrating certain classes of people really annoy me. I'd never make a joke about special olympics even in casual conversation with a friend. This sort of thing is creeping back into the mainstream as I've heard use of the term "retard" more and more lately and there was a comedy about the special olympics a few years ago. In his defense, nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes. Especially some dumb spook.
I'm sorry but I didn't sign up for the pool in time. i would have loved to have participated but one thing led to another and I found myself on a plane to the West Coast, forgetting to make my picks.
I'm in San Francisco again working on this Dockers thing. It's fun. We're presenting to the Chief Marketing Officer of Levi's on Monday.
West Virginia ruined a lot of brackets this year I would imagine. That's usually KU's job. It looks like the Mountaineers gave the Chicken Hawks an easier road to the Sweet 16.
As for the Obama thing, that was a really stupid thing to say. I bet he regrets it, much like I do of half the things I say.
Looks like I'm going to have a pretty open weekend. I might walk around and just check this joint out. I feel like they're pretty close to offering us a full time position. Comments like, "you'd better start looking for real estate out here" kind of tipped us off.
We'll see what happens. This freelance thing has proven to be a pretty good gig. But what happens when/if the gigs stop coming? It would be hard to turn down a full time position these days.
Sheeeet. I wonder if they would let me work from Chicago?
Des, do you feel like you fit right in there in San Francisco? Perhaps a feeling of sudden liberation to experiment with that you have been curious about for so long?
An excerpt from a weekly email I get from my friend Charles K....
Obama delegates to Geithner plans for a bailout -- and Geithner (thus far) delivers nothing. Obama delegates to Nancy Pelosi and her congressional grandees the writing of all things fiscal -- and gets a $787 billion stimulus package that is a wish list of liberal social spending, followed by a $410 billion omnibus spending bill festooned with pork and political paybacks.
That bill, we now discover, contains, among other depth charges, a Teamster-supported provision inserted by Sen. Byron Dorgan that terminates a Bush-era demonstration project to allow some Mexican trucks onto American highways, as required under NAFTA.
If you thought the AIG hysteria was a display of populist cynicism directed at a relative triviality, consider this: There are more than 6.5 million trucks in the United States. The program Congress terminated allowed 97 Mexican trucks to roam among them. Ninety-seven! Shutting them out not only undermines NAFTA. It caused Mexico to retaliate with tariffs on 90 goods affecting $2.4 billion in U.S. trade coming out of 40 states.
Free trade is the one area where the world indisputably turns to Washington for leadership. What does it see? Grandstanding, parochialism, petty payoffs to truckers and a rush to mindless populism. Over what? Over 97 Mexican trucks -- and bonus money that comes to what the Yankees are paying for CC Sabathia's left arm.
Team Name Score Correct Emily Guilliatt 148 25 Ed Straub 142 24 C Jayjack 135 24 p straub 135 24 Rob Zielinski 129 23 Scott Guilliatt 129 22 J&E Straub 123 23 M Zielinski 114 22 mike lavelle 114 23 Tom Straub 114 22 Mary LaVelle 104 22 Frank Straub 97 21 J & E Straub 96 21 joe straub 95 21 Joe Jayjack 87 17
Woe is me. My brackets are obliterated as my daring, aggressive strategy has blown up in Little Bighorn fashion. Like Yellow Hair, I'll go down fighting. I may be able to pick off the two-headed monster (Jim/Erin) and Frank and I'm grateful Joe Jayjack happened to check the blog the day the brackets were up.
Team Name Score Correct Ed Straub 202 38 Emily Guilliatt 199 37 C Jayjack 181 34 mike lavelle 181 38 p straub 179 35 Rob Zielinski 179 35 Jim Straub 173 35 Tom Straub 169 35 Scott Guilliatt 164 31 Mary LaVelle 160 35 M Zielinski 158 33 Erin Straub 154 34 Frank Straub 142 32 joe straub 132 30 Joe Jayjack 128 27
Since Desmond mentioned it first... Say a prayer for him...big meeting with HR at 11:00 and then at 12:30 with the CEO of Levi's International...he's already been approved by Dockers USA and Levi's USA...he would be the director of international marketing for LEVI'S (which is also Dockers). His art director from Chicago, Julie, is part of the deal, too. And yes, Jen likes San Fran...Des didn't so much untill yesterday, he went across the Bay to Sausalito(sp?) and said it's like Galena except on the Bay with a view across the Bay Bridge and the skyline of San Francisco.
If Creighton and Notre Dame both win their next game, (Creighton's is tonight) then Notre Dame will play Creighton in Omaha, perhaps Wednesday or Thursday!
Oh, a few years ago, when Mom and Dad wanted anew fridge for the farm, some of you said you had extra fridges. Do any of you still have a fridge you're not using? We're thinking of getting a new used fridge for the basement. Though I think it has to be a smaller sized one to fit down the steps.
As you may know, Father Pablo Straub will be doing a Mission in Council Bluffs next week. Since Granny and Grandpa, and my Grandma Jayjack will be here for the Mission, we thought it would be a great time to have Oscar Baptized. The Baptism will be on Wednesday, the First of April, at 2:00pm.
We went to eastern Michigan (near Detroit) for Randy's niece's wedding this past weekend. A really good time!
Many thanks to Jim, Erin and kids for putting us up on the way out (great spaghetti, too!)- the girls had so much fun with their cousins! And their house is beautiful.
On the way back, we arrived two weeks to early to see Ed's new digs, but we did get to go out to eat at a delicious and very filling Greek place and afterwards, Ed treated us all for the girl's first train ride back to his place. (The ride was about 4 blocks long) Emma was thrilled.
Here’s a horror story. Josh’s coworker Ricardo bought a condo for his family to live in about 4 or 5 years ago. I’ve been there, it’s non descript, not too big, nice enough. It’s in a complex of about 4 or 5 buildings of 5 stories each. Well, so many people are in the development that not even all the utilities are paid by the monthly association fee. One building is so empty the fire dept. made the last few tenants move out as it was unsafe. So, Ricky sent a whole bunch of his money back to Peru so it could be safe. Now he’s moved his family out bc he doesn’t think it’s safe for his kids any more. So he’s renting a place and trying to figure out a way to declare bankruptcy even though he’s never been late on a mortgage payment. He'll never sell it.
There may be more to the story, but this is what Josh told me, heard from Ricky. Two kids, wife at home. p
I dont' know what that means but it feels good. I meant to say so many in teh development have been foreclosed upon that the association fee doesn't cover anything any more. p
The problem that Josh's condo association is experiencing is becoming more and more prevalent. Every condo association assesses fees against the condo owners for upkeep of the grounds, management fees, some utilities, insurance, etc. In our condo the maintenace fee is about $1200 each quarter.
With the poor economy at least two problems have developed. Some people can't pay the quarterly assessment. The second problem is more rare but also more troublesome. Some condo owners have mortgages and cannot pay the mortgage so the bank forecloses. No one pays the assessments while the foreclosure is in court (in Florida a foreclosure can take over a year) and then when the bank takes title to the property after the foreclosure auction, it still does not pay the assessments. When the bank finally sells the condo, the association finally may receive the delinquent assessments but by this time 2 years or more may have passed since the first assessment was not paid by the original owner.
In the meantime the condo association has to keep paying the maintenance costs. Initially they are paid out of a reserve fund but eventually, in many developments, the reserves run out and the whole development starts to deteriorate unless the other property owners are willing to pick up the slack and I suppose that can vary from one development to the other. But a lot of condo developmants have gone downhill, such as where Josh's friend lived.
Here in Ocean Parks we have some exposure to that problem but it has not reached a critical stage yet. There are about 320 units in Ocean Parks and our board of directors and the management company have been quite aggressive going after delinquent assessments. About four units are in foreclosure and one has just been resold by the bank so the back assessments for that unit will soon be paid. I went to a board meeting last month and the treasurer reported that about $34,000 was owed on past assessments but he expected to receive about $6000 when the bank's sale of one of the units in foreclosure was completed. $34,000is a lot of money but if 320 units pay about $1200 four times a year, that comes to over $1.5 million, so percentage-wise we are in pretty good shape.
There are restrictions in leasing the units in Ocean Parks. There can be only one lease per year per unit and a lease must be for at lease 6 months and one day. For that reason very few speculators bought units here. Most owners are like Mom and I, who just want a nice but not extravagant place to spend the winter months and can handle the maintenance fees. Also there are many who live here year round. This is their home and they did not buy their unit to speculate.
I just thought you'd be interested in this information.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you again soon. It's really been a blessing to have Pat and Josh less than an hour away and we really enjoyed Pete and Mely's visit, but now it's time to go home.
Hot Dog, you're coming home! Mary and Mike will miss me but I do get lonely during the day...it's been fun running downtown on occasion and barking at the patrons of Berte's Back Nine...I will miss that.
Desmond "sold" his campaign for Dockers to the Levi's CEO, the guy loved it...now they're working on the next step..I'll let Des talk about that. He's in Vail, Colorado for a wedding.
Is there any way to find out which banks (local) have received "bailout" dollars? I ask because supposedly McSlimy is putting the screws to them to make small business loans. I need to buy out my contract.
He's not stupid. He is a liar, though. (So is Bush and Cheney) But, if it's true that he's putting pressure on bailout banks to make loans then I'm gonna "get mine". It's the American way.
Good job, Cathy. My greatest computer accomplishmet was learning to mail merge.
We bought the restaurant on contract with a balloon payment due after 9 years. That will be here before I know it. With credit tight I'm a little nervous.
Was sick again yesterday. Last night I soaked the sheets with sweat. Feeling better (a little) today.
B of A has a branch in Algona. On State Street across from where the kiddie pool used to be. Maybe I should, as a partial owner, demand service. "Have you no shame!?"
Team Name Score Correct Ed Straub 226 42 Emily Guilliatt 216 40 mike lavelle 200 41 Rob Zielinski 196 38 C. Jayjack 193 36 Jim Straub 190 38 p straub 189 37 Tom Straub 186 38 Scott Guilliatt 181 34 M Zielinski 175 36 Erin Straub 171 37 Mary LaVelle 170 37 Frank Straub 159 35 joe straub 149 33 Joe Jayjack 147 30
As I understand it any student who is involved in Performing Arts of any kind (from Garrigan) is on the trip to New York. This constitutes about a third of the student body.
I didn't see him at Sarah's last night...he wasn't in the Paper this week...he didn't dine with either parent on Wednesday night..he may be in New York...I don't know!
Joe4's in NY wowing the artsy types from the world over. There's never been a more beautiful rendition of "Glow-worm" heard in the big city. What do you think about the furor over McSlimey giving the commencement address at Notre Dame?
I'm off the Omaha (Mike's already there) dropping off Mom and Dad's car, licensing Caitlin's Jeep, visiting everyone and Uncle Bob is there...plus it's our 35th wedding anniversary!
Ahh, happy anniversary. Have fun. We are on springbreak. Peter spent the entire day yesterday throwing up and Sean has 2 a day soccer practices. So we're stuck here.
152 comments:
Happy Birthday Pat
Celebrate with Josh and the cats
Just don't let them bake
Or you might have to fake
Enjoying a mouse-flavored cake
What are you doing today? Not working I hope.
Happy Birthday Patsy!
Enjoy your day.
Monica
I celebrated St. Patrick's day at the Metro Catholic Band Festival. Why do they schedule things like that on St. Patrick's day? Seems like it happens every year.
Monica
Happy Birthday Pat. Doing anything good?
:-) Happy Birthday Pat! :-)
Happy Birthday Pat!
I have a question- we have an old lamp and the lining around the top of the shade broke. It's a thick paper shade, and there was some kind of tape holding a wire to the shade. The tape cracked, so the wire doesn't stay in a circle anymore. The tape almost looks like a skinnier version of the tape that wraps around sports equipment, like hockey sticks. But that tape didn't stick to the shade. I've seen this tape before- it's a little stretchy, one-sided, maybe some kind of upholstry tape? I've looked at Lowes and a fabric store, and don't know what to search for online. Any ideas?
I love this picture of Mary and Pat! You both look like you're 20.
That is a great picture of Mary and Pat and Pat's closely shaven arm pit. Good work, Pat!
Happy birthday, Patsy! What are you doing today? Go to the beach with a book. That is what I would like to do.
Love,
Lisa
Ellen-
Neutral colored florists tape?
lisa
Amazing dinner at the Jayjack's last night.
The most beautifully presented corn beef and cabbage ever. With potatoes and carrots. The girls each ate two helpings!
A very yummy bright green cake from Molly. We all feasted then groaned.
HOw was the parade?
Lisa
The parade had a good turn out (Tom said). We had a nice sized group at Sarah's too. :-)
Poor Tom was sick yesterday and he still worked 13 hours! :-<>
Eli and I stayed home with our strep-o-rama. :-(
Liam wore a big, green "joker" styled hat. Donny looked like a leprechaun with a green beard and pointy ears. Tom wore a green, velvet "top" hat. They looked cute. Oh and Eli wore pajamas...ha!
Whatcha do at the Jayjacks?
c said...
There was a story in yesterday's World-Herald about how the Creighton AD says Creighton's just going to have to agree to play some big away teams without a reciprocal agreement for them to play here, in order to get the kind of credibility they need to be considered seriously when they're on the bubble like that. Altman feels if we go there to play they should come here to play but he says the AD is the boss. So CU's schedule could be getting a little tougher in the next couple years.
The Milbraths, the Richardsons and the Jayjacks had corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, soda bread, shamrock cake, shamrock brownies and a whiskey trifle, washed down with Guinness, cider, mysterious green stuff for the kids, and Irish coffee - really good Irish coffee. How did the celebration in Algona go?
feliz cumplianos querida cunada que Dios te vendiga y que cumplas muchos anos de vida
con amor
Pete y Mely
Happy birthday, Pat. Are you doing anything fun? You guys not only look young, you look shiny. In a good way.
Aha, florists tape might work. Thanks Lisa!
GRUNK and FUNK are they kidding
Someone asked what we did for St. Patrick's Day. We actually started on Sunday afternoon, driving to downtown West Palm Beach to attend the Irish Fest, a two day celebration. We got there just on time to see Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones perform for about an hour and a half. Talked to Derek for a few minutes after the concert and bought a double CD. We shared some appetizers for dinner D.J. Bradley's pub and then went home.
Yesterday we went to Mass, then Mom had water aerobics. I forgot that the NY parade was probably on TV. I would have watched it while she was exercising. After lunch I did some bookwork and then went to the pool while Mom napped. We still had not decided what we would do last night. We heard that McCarthy's would be so crowded that you would need a shoe horn to squeeze in. But they were serving corned beef and cabbage and they make it so well.
We decided to go to McCarthy's early. Good idea. No parking in the parking lot. Instead there was a big tent with a couple of younger musicians playing "modern" Irish music. A stand was set up outside the front door where you registered for seating in the restaurant. We checked in at 5:10 and were told it would be 20 minutes. I checked back in 20 minutes and she said it would be another 10 minutes. By this time many more people had arrived and I heard them telling people that it would be an hour. We went back later and by that time people were checking in for a 2 hour wait to be seated.
Inside, they had taken all of the seating and tables out of the bar area and people were packed in there, standing and simulating Irish dancing and listening to Noel Kingston, one of our favorites who sang every traditional Irish song and other old favorites such as George M. Cohan's "Give My Regards To Broadway," The Darktown Strutters' Ball" and many others. It was an older crowd, many of whom went through all the motons when he sang "The Unicorn." We enjoyed watching him while we waited for a table to open up.
When we got into the dining room a little after 6pm, we both started with potato leek soup. Then I had corned beef and cabbage with carrots, peas and boiled new potatoes. Mom ordered macadamia nut encrusted snapper, mashed potatoes and a vegetable. It was all really good but both of us wished we were at Sister Sarah's with friends and family.
After dinner we went back to our apartment and waited for the ND game to start. It was good to end the St. Pat's Day celebration with an Irish victory in a tough ballgame.
Slainte,
Dad
Well, we went to Mass and wished we were in Whittemore getting ready for the parade.
I wish I could've made it to the Jayjack's last night. I was certain my teacher would let us out of our night class early but she much have something against the Irish.. I was there til 9:30! My stomach was practically saying "corned beef and cabbage" all night long.
Also, yesterday during the day I was getting coffee at the neighborhood coffee shop and all of the sudden a fight broke out outside of all the Dundee bars. Seriously, it looked planned or something. The cops came and arrested a guy hitting someone with a bagpipe. I took my coffee outside and watched the entire thing- I felt like I was in a movie.
Happy b-day Pat!
Ha! Caitlin, I told your story to Joan and she told me about when she and her husband lived in New Jersey in the 50's and they went up to New York for a St. Patrick's Day parade and a short, stocky man wearing a wide orange tie came striding around a corner and jumped into the parade. He got about 10 feet and disappeared under a joyously angry mob of bystanders - she never actually saw what happened to him, the mob just sort of moved down the block with him presumably inside it being taught a lesson.
Randy had green hair last night.
Yesterday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" they showed a shot of Dublin with a parade going on. Willy Geist, the smart alecky sidekick type guy says, "There's Dublin Ireland. By tonight the streets will be running green with puke."
Mika, the liberal uptight patrician, said "Willy! You can't say that!"
He said, "What?! It's true."
I'm a Willy Geist fan.
Tom
Someone better tell Randy not to drink so much green beer.
Thanks to everyone for your birthday wishes. I don't know yet if I'll be celebrating tonight, as I have class on Wednesdays. However, I'm certain I will take the opportunity to be honored at some later point in the week.
p
2:08 PM
I'm also a "P" fan. Happy Birthday, Pat.
Tom
Happy Birthday Patricia Rose!
Take a moment and write some prose,
can be short
not a report
"bout the shiny sister in this pose!
I like Mika...and in Ireland it's not a drunken holiday like here...but I like Will also.
We had a horrible computer virus...got it when I clicked on NIT Brackets...it's a virus scam, and the scammer sells the snti-virus pkg. to get rid of it, last week he made over $150,000! Our tenant is a computer genius and he fixed the problem for free.
It was a beautiful day for St. Patrick's day! The parade was well attended and there were lot more people lining the streets than other years. (I think we do need music, though) At Sarah's it was packed...Tom had to set up an additional food table becasue of the crowd of food and people!
I think Mike picked up this builder friend of our (he's tiny) I hope he didn't call him a leprecaun...the last to leave were 3 McCalls and 2 Straubs (Joe and I) we couldn't let the McCalls win!
2 McCalls and 2 Straubs. All left at the same time. Those McCalls are tough, but Mary and I upheld the family honor late into the night.
Which McCalls? :-)
Maureen and Dan
Happy B-day Pat.
Did you bring cupcakes to your classmates?
Only store bought, individually wrapped, healthy treats!
And so birthday treats become joyless tasteless obligations. On the other hand, it's kind of like uniforms - no one's are better or worse than anyone else's. I'm all for school uniforms. I think they foster creativity instead of killing it.
I love school uniforms...the boys do not. I think it's weird though to have "uniforms" yet have 3 colors to choose from in both the shirts, pants and sweatshirts. Shouldn't the colors be "uniform?"
I just heard, on the news, that in 2007 there were more births than in any other year in history. Something like 40+% of them were to unwed mothers. I guess all the education our teens receive in HS about "protection" isn't working...yes?
I would be curious to know if that statistic was leaning toward never married 40 year olds, or teenage mothers. I bet the older unmarried mothers number contributes.
p
Yah, that would be interesting to know. Nadya Suleman certainly added to this figure...ha!
Don't you think that each year practically there are more births than the year before in general? The 40% is a huge percentage though. I wonder how that compares with former years. I wouldn't take anything for granted. Is this worldwide or in the US?
I don't know...The jist of the story was that it was the biggest "baby boomer" year on record. Must be US...yes?
All this phony outrage over AIG bonuses is just stupid. Everyone in Washington and beyond demanding that the bonuses be paid back.
How about this...how about every lawmaker and bureaucrat who should have stopped the unfettered greed give back their salaries?
This is really going to blow up in the face of a lot of people.
Tom
At five minutes and six seconds after 4 AM on the 8th of July this year, the time and date will be 04:05:06 07/08/09. Kinda cool...eh?
I think that means the world will end at that exact time.
Today is the last day of winter!
At nine minutes and nine seconds after 9 AM on the 9th of September this year, the time and date will be 09:09:09 09/09/09.
At 56 seconds after 12:34 on July 8th it will be 12:34:56 07/08/09.
and during the 5th Saturday of the month, during the Dark of the full moon the... oh, never mind.
I like numbers
and digital clocks
no more hands
or annoying tick tocks.
just kidding.
Thanks to Ed for accepting our brackets via fax. I am doing pretty well so far, but I must admit my final four is pretty lame - all number one seeds. I have never done that before and I don't know why I did it this year.
If ND wins tonight and Creighton beats Kentucky on Monday, then ND and CU will face off at the Qwest Center. I am not too optimistic about the Bluejays beating the Wildcats though. They have not been playing well lately. The Kentucky-Creighton game is on ESPN Monday night.
The cherry blossoms are starting to bloom here but I still wish it were warmer. We've had a few days in the 60s and one in the 70s but for the most part it's been 45-55 with several rainy days. I shouldn't complain. It could be worse.
What is everyone doing for Easter? When do Mom and Dad return to Whittemore? We may go home that weekend.
Mmmmm. Buster bars.
Emily must be hungry for some ice cream.
Results after day 1:
Team Name Score Correct
Emily Guilliatt 95 15
Scott Guilliatt 69 12
mike lavelle 67 13
p straub 67 12
Rob Zielinski 67 12
Ed Straub 58 11
joe straub 57 12
Mary LaVelle 57 12
Jim & Erin Straub 55 11
Catherine Jayjack 53 11
Marianne Zielinski 52 11
Tom Straub 52 11
Joe Jayjack 50 9
Frank Straub 48 11
Jim & Erin Straub 48 11
So...Wednesday Liam complained of his arms and legs hurting and then, yesterday afterschool he said that his cheek felt fat and numb/tingly. No fever, no sore throat, no tummy pain, no headache. We brouught him in and sure enough...he has strep too! My prediction...Donny gets it on Sunday.
Hey! The Zielinskis are here!
If you got 11 correct you tied Obama.
Tom
The number one song on my birthday was Sittin on the Dock of the Bay. On josh's it was War (what is it good for).
p
Also, I make the coffee here at the office. This morning I accidently made it decaf. I didn't tell anyone.
p
Two good songs and one bad mistake.
Why is this day in history undefined? It's the first day of spring!
I think I was one point away from going 16 for 16 yesterday.
Go Siena Saints!
Go here if you want to know your hit song.
http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInhistory/selectMonth.htm
I think josh's was funny since he refused to sign up for selective service. It was fated from the beginning.
p
Mine - "He's A Rebel" by The Crystals.
Tom
Mine - "One Bad Apple" by the Osmonds.
Mine - 'Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head' by B.J. Thomas
Mine: "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler.
What an awful first round I had. I let this new scoring system get in my head. But maybe my upsets will pay off later.
How does one bad apple go? I don't recall that song.
McSlimey's Mr. compassionate, isn't he. The "gaffe" was incredibly insensitive.
Give him a break. He didn't have a teleprompter. He got a little off message.
Tom
Really, off-hand comments denigrating certain classes of people really annoy me. I'd never make a joke about special olympics even in casual conversation with a friend. This sort of thing is creeping back into the mainstream as I've heard use of the term "retard" more and more lately and there was a comedy about the special olympics a few years ago.
In his defense, nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes. Especially some dumb spook.
Yeah - what about him telling the Irish Prime Minister not to get too drunk and put a lampshade on his head?
So, North Dakota State isn't doing so poorly against Kansas.
p
Mine is "Auf Weidersehn Sweetheart" by Vera Lynn. I missed "Rock Around the Clock" by three years. Does that make me not a Boomer?
On the day we got married it was "You Are the Sunshine of My Life." Awwww.
Granny Cash's is "Uncle Josh's Huskin' Bee Dance." If I have her birthday right.
One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch, girl.
That's all I know, but it sounds like good advice.
OK, Morehead got into the NCAA with a record of 18-15? Who do they play?
I don't know, Cathy. But I'm watching my pick to win it all (West Virginia) struggle with an 11th seed team (Dayton). Less than 3 minutes and down 3.
Tom
Yep, I'm out of it. Just another fixed contest on the Straub Blog.
Tom
Obama's doing the commencement speech at Notre Dame this year!
I'm sorry but I didn't sign up for the pool in time. i would have loved to have participated but one thing led to another and I found myself on a plane to the West Coast, forgetting to make my picks.
I'm in San Francisco again working on this Dockers thing. It's fun. We're presenting to the Chief Marketing Officer of Levi's on Monday.
West Virginia ruined a lot of brackets this year I would imagine. That's usually KU's job. It looks like the Mountaineers gave the Chicken Hawks an easier road to the Sweet 16.
As for the Obama thing, that was a really stupid thing to say. I bet he regrets it, much like I do of half the things I say.
Looks like I'm going to have a pretty open weekend. I might walk around and just check this joint out. I feel like they're pretty close to offering us a full time position. Comments like, "you'd better start looking for real estate out here" kind of tipped us off.
We'll see what happens. This freelance thing has proven to be a pretty good gig. But what happens when/if the gigs stop coming? It would be hard to turn down a full time position these days.
Sheeeet. I wonder if they would let me work from Chicago?
yeah, Des, living in San Francisco would just be hell. no one would ever want to go out and visit you there...
Who is "us?" Is it your old partner from Burnett?
p
Des, do you feel like you fit right in there in San Francisco? Perhaps a feeling of sudden liberation to experiment with that you have been curious about for so long?
Hee Hee - Sorry....couldn't resist.
Tom
Yeah, milk that joke a little more.
An excerpt from a weekly email I get from my friend Charles K....
Obama delegates to Geithner plans for a bailout -- and Geithner (thus far) delivers nothing. Obama delegates to Nancy Pelosi and her congressional grandees the writing of all things fiscal -- and gets a $787 billion stimulus package that is a wish list of liberal social spending, followed by a $410 billion omnibus spending bill festooned with pork and political paybacks.
That bill, we now discover, contains, among other depth charges, a Teamster-supported provision inserted by Sen. Byron Dorgan that terminates a Bush-era demonstration project to allow some Mexican trucks onto American highways, as required under NAFTA.
If you thought the AIG hysteria was a display of populist cynicism directed at a relative triviality, consider this: There are more than 6.5 million trucks in the United States. The program Congress terminated allowed 97 Mexican trucks to roam among them. Ninety-seven! Shutting them out not only undermines NAFTA. It caused Mexico to retaliate with tariffs on 90 goods affecting $2.4 billion in U.S. trade coming out of 40 states.
Free trade is the one area where the world indisputably turns to Washington for leadership. What does it see? Grandstanding, parochialism, petty payoffs to truckers and a rush to mindless populism. Over what? Over 97 Mexican trucks -- and bonus money that comes to what the Yankees are paying for CC Sabathia's left arm.
Tom
Team Name Score Correct
Emily Guilliatt 148 25
Ed Straub 142 24
C Jayjack 135 24
p straub 135 24
Rob Zielinski 129 23
Scott Guilliatt 129 22
J&E Straub 123 23
M Zielinski 114 22
mike lavelle 114 23
Tom Straub 114 22
Mary LaVelle 104 22
Frank Straub 97 21
J & E Straub 96 21
joe straub 95 21
Joe Jayjack 87 17
Des, what would Jen think of San Fran?
p
Mine is "Grease" by Frankie Valli!
Woe is me. My brackets are obliterated as my daring, aggressive strategy has blown up in Little Bighorn fashion. Like Yellow Hair, I'll go down fighting. I may be able to pick off the two-headed monster (Jim/Erin) and Frank and I'm grateful Joe Jayjack happened to check the blog the day the brackets were up.
Team Name Score Correct
Ed Straub 202 38
Emily Guilliatt 199 37
C Jayjack 181 34
mike lavelle 181 38
p straub 179 35
Rob Zielinski 179 35
Jim Straub 173 35
Tom Straub 169 35
Scott Guilliatt 164 31
Mary LaVelle 160 35
M Zielinski 158 33
Erin Straub 154 34
Frank Straub 142 32
joe straub 132 30
Joe Jayjack 128 27
So, how were things at Pooh's Corner?
p
Since Desmond mentioned it first...
Say a prayer for him...big meeting with HR at 11:00 and then at 12:30 with the CEO of Levi's International...he's already been approved by Dockers USA and Levi's USA...he would be the director of international marketing for LEVI'S (which is also Dockers). His art director from Chicago, Julie, is part of the deal, too. And yes, Jen likes San Fran...Des didn't so much untill yesterday, he went across the Bay to Sausalito(sp?) and said it's like Galena except on the Bay with a view across the Bay Bridge and the skyline of San Francisco.
BUT, it all depends on how today goes.
Yes, beautiful part of California, that. I will think good thoughts for him. Will he be able to get us free levis? Or greatly reduced?
p
If my levis were greatly reduced I'd have hard time getting into them. Dad
ha ha.
One thing I do know, he's wearing Levi's right now!
I don't think I've ever seen Des in Levis.
p
We just bought Donny Levi jeans and Levi cargo shorts...we shoulda mentioned Des, maybe we woulda got a discount?
If Creighton and Notre Dame both win their next game, (Creighton's is tonight) then Notre Dame will play Creighton in Omaha, perhaps Wednesday or Thursday!
I think I'm not going to win the brackets. I already have two teams out of the elite eight.
Queen was on the radio just now and Jude said, "Why this singer like fat bottom girls?"
Good luck to Des.
"Cuz they make this rockin' world go 'round."
Oh, a few years ago, when Mom and Dad wanted anew fridge for the farm, some of you said you had extra fridges. Do any of you still have a fridge you're not using? We're thinking of getting a new used fridge for the basement. Though I think it has to be a smaller sized one to fit down the steps.
Is Caitlin going to tonights game?
p
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaugh!
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????!
Yes...???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????!
Tom
Free throws........................................
So sad for Creighton...but what a great game to watch!!!!!!!!!! I hope Notre Dame creams them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Octunannines Barred From Octuhome!"
The banner below that intolerable and intolerant skank Nancy Grace last night.
Tom
That was a great game. Anonymous is right....free throws.
The octomom fired her free 24 hour care nursing service.
Truly mentally ill.
p
As you may know, Father Pablo Straub will be doing a Mission in Council Bluffs next week. Since Granny and Grandpa, and my Grandma Jayjack will be here for the Mission, we thought it would be a great time to have Oscar Baptized.
The Baptism will be on Wednesday, the First of April, at 2:00pm.
Can't wait to see them all! It'll be so fun!
We went to eastern Michigan (near Detroit) for Randy's niece's wedding this past weekend. A really good time!
Many thanks to Jim, Erin and kids for putting us up on the way out (great spaghetti, too!)- the girls had so much fun with their cousins! And their house is beautiful.
On the way back, we arrived two weeks to early to see Ed's new digs, but we did get to go out to eat at a delicious and very filling Greek place and afterwards, Ed treated us all for the girl's first train ride back to his place. (The ride was about 4 blocks long) Emma was thrilled.
Who is coming for all or part of next week?
Lisa
Here’s a horror story. Josh’s coworker Ricardo bought a condo for his family to live in about 4 or 5 years ago. I’ve been there, it’s non descript, not too big, nice enough. It’s in a complex of about 4 or 5 buildings of 5 stories each. Well, so many people are in the development that not even all the utilities are paid by the monthly association fee. One building is so empty the fire dept. made the last few tenants move out as it was unsafe. So, Ricky sent a whole bunch of his money back to Peru so it could be safe. Now he’s moved his family out bc he doesn’t think it’s safe for his kids any more. So he’s renting a place and trying to figure out a way to declare bankruptcy even though he’s never been late on a mortgage payment. He'll never sell it.
There may be more to the story, but this is what Josh told me, heard from Ricky. Two kids, wife at home.
p
I'm coming for the whole week.
Sorry Pat, but the little computer hand icon keeps going over and fondling you!!!
I dont' know what that means but it feels good.
I meant to say so many in teh development have been foreclosed upon that the association fee doesn't cover anything any more.
p
That's very sad...he needs to talk to a lawyer!!
The problem that Josh's condo association is experiencing is becoming more and more prevalent. Every condo association assesses fees against the condo owners for upkeep of the grounds, management fees, some utilities, insurance, etc. In our condo the maintenace fee is about $1200 each quarter.
With the poor economy at least two problems have developed. Some people can't pay the quarterly assessment. The second problem is more rare but also more troublesome. Some condo owners have mortgages and cannot pay the mortgage so the bank forecloses. No one pays the assessments while the foreclosure is in court (in Florida a foreclosure can take over a year) and then when the bank takes title to the property after the foreclosure auction, it still does not pay the assessments. When the bank finally sells the condo, the association finally may receive the delinquent assessments but by this time 2 years or more may have passed since the first assessment was not paid by the original owner.
In the meantime the condo association has to keep paying the maintenance costs. Initially they are paid out of a reserve fund but eventually, in many developments, the reserves run out and the whole development starts to deteriorate unless the other property owners are willing to pick up the slack and I suppose that can vary from one development to the other. But a lot of condo developmants have gone downhill, such as where Josh's friend lived.
Here in Ocean Parks we have some exposure to that problem but it has not reached a critical stage yet. There are about 320 units in Ocean Parks and our board of directors and the management company have been quite aggressive going after delinquent assessments. About four units are in foreclosure and one has just been resold by the bank so the back assessments for that unit will soon be paid. I went to a board meeting last month and the treasurer reported that about $34,000 was owed on past assessments but he expected to receive about $6000 when the bank's sale of one of the units in foreclosure was completed. $34,000is a lot of money but if 320 units pay about $1200 four times a year, that comes to over $1.5 million, so percentage-wise we are in pretty good shape.
There are restrictions in leasing the units in Ocean Parks. There can be only one lease per year per unit and a lease must be for at lease 6 months and one day. For that reason very few speculators bought units here. Most owners are like Mom and I, who just want a nice but not extravagant place to spend the winter months and can handle the maintenance fees. Also there are many who live here year round. This is their home and they did not buy their unit to speculate.
I just thought you'd be interested in this information.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you again soon. It's really been a blessing to have Pat and Josh less than an hour away and we really enjoyed Pete and Mely's visit, but now it's time to go home.
Love, Dad
e
Hot Dog, you're coming home! Mary and Mike will miss me but I do get lonely during the day...it's been fun running downtown on occasion and barking at the patrons of Berte's Back Nine...I will miss that.
It's 31 degrees here and cloudy!!!!!!!! Yuck!
Desmond "sold" his campaign for Dockers to the Levi's CEO, the guy loved it...now they're working on the next step..I'll let Des talk about that. He's in Vail, Colorado for a wedding.
Is there any way to find out which banks (local) have received "bailout" dollars? I ask because supposedly McSlimy is putting the screws to them to make small business loans. I need to buy out my contract.
Tom
I did notice a big screwdriver sticking out of Iowa State Bank and at Northwest on the drive-thru side..it's sracping the cars...stupid McSlimy.
He's not stupid. He is a liar, though. (So is Bush and Cheney) But, if it's true that he's putting pressure on bailout banks to make loans then I'm gonna "get mine". It's the American way.
Tom
What contract?
I am ridiculously proud of myself - I figured out all by myself how to download a template and make name badge inserts.
Good job, Cathy. My greatest computer accomplishmet was learning to mail merge.
We bought the restaurant on contract with a balloon payment due after 9 years. That will be here before I know it. With credit tight I'm a little nervous.
Was sick again yesterday. Last night I soaked the sheets with sweat. Feeling better (a little) today.
Tom
Tom, I'm pretty sure Bank of America got bailout money and don't they have a branch in Mason City? Dad
Lisa's going to show me how to mail merge.
B of A has a branch in Algona. On State Street across from where the kiddie pool used to be. Maybe I should, as a partial owner, demand service. "Have you no shame!?"
Tom
For those of you who may have heard...
Yes, Emma did shake her finger at a homeless man in Chicago.
He was using naughty words.
Lisa
You Go Emma! Good girl.
Monica
It's cold and gray and spitting snow.
Why won't Winter just let go?
Five months of frosty frigid air,
forgotten snowmen have icicle hair.
I sit in the dark and watch the clouds part,
for a sliver of sunlight, blown away as it starts.
Prancing in like a lamb, this month of March
led the sunny snow melt to the gutter's arch.
But this Spring trickle met the lion's growl!
Snapped budding bulbs onto the cold trowel.
Now snow covered dirt quietly waits,
as the aging March lion slows his gait.
Trotting toward April he stops to sleep,
and Spring jumps in, this time for keeps!
They aren't matching the 401(k) anymore.
Des, is this you?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/26/johnson.stalking/index.html
Holy Cow - even Brenda Starr is being furloughed:
http://www.gocomics.com/brendastarr/
Team Name Score Correct
Ed Straub 226 42
Emily Guilliatt 216 40
mike lavelle 200 41
Rob Zielinski 196 38
C. Jayjack 193 36
Jim Straub 190 38
p straub 189 37
Tom Straub 186 38
Scott Guilliatt 181 34
M Zielinski 175 36
Erin Straub 171 37
Mary LaVelle 170 37
Frank Straub 159 35
joe straub 149 33
Joe Jayjack 147 30
BTW - Mike got 15 of the sweet 16 teams correct.
I'll move up when Michigan State wins.
p
Is Joe 4 in NY? Sarah Shey sent me an email I couldn't really understand and she said she saw him in NY.
As I understand it any student who is involved in Performing Arts of any kind (from Garrigan) is on the trip to New York. This constitutes about a third of the student body.
Tom
I didn't see him at Sarah's last night...he wasn't in the Paper this week...he didn't dine with either parent on Wednesday night..he may be in New York...I don't know!
faith-based bracketology - not the bomb.
MNMN J fg'0-`////'ZGFD
That was from Oscar - he likes the caps lock best.
EVERYTHING I do is faith based. Not you? Hmmmm. Some church lady you are.
Tom
Swollen glands, sore throat, super tired. If I had a real job I would be at home. This Red Bull does provide a little pickmeup, tho.
Tom
Joe4's in NY wowing the artsy types from the world over. There's never been a more beautiful rendition of "Glow-worm" heard in the big city.
What do you think about the furor over McSlimey giving the commencement address at Notre Dame?
I skimmed the story about McSlimy and N.D. I think Weis should sneak up on him and give him an atomic wedgy.
Tom
Did you hear about that cop in Texas who wouldn't let the football player in to say goodbye to his dying mother in law?
p
Cindy Hanna is a chaperone for the NY trip...I'd like to go!!
I'm off the Omaha (Mike's already there) dropping off Mom and Dad's car, licensing Caitlin's Jeep, visiting everyone and Uncle Bob is there...plus it's our 35th wedding anniversary!
Ahh, happy anniversary. Have fun. We are on springbreak. Peter spent the entire day yesterday throwing up and Sean has 2 a day soccer
practices. So we're stuck here.
Monica
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I'll toast you from here.
p
SNOW!
Happy Anniversary Mary & Mike! :-)
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