Here's Andrew at my company's holiday party! He asked Santa for a fly fishing rod!

This is our new baby, Mabel, whom we got from Tara's House Animal Rescue. She is a spirited handful and a very loving dog. She was originally found as a stray in Jackson County, WV, where she was taken to a shelter where they put down animals within 24 hours. We got her in just a nick of time, lovely girl that she is.

Thought I would say hi!

I haven't posted in a year. I have been very busy with school and work!

Allegheny College - 25th reunion

In June, I had my 25th reunion with some friends at Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, which is my mother's hometown.

Here we are, stuffing our faces at Hank's like piglets. I am the extra large one in the skirt.

toad on the hose

A few days ago, I was about to water my garden, and who did I run into but this little toad who was not afraid of me at all! Cute!

Hot dog water

The other day our son Andrew commented that our dog Violet smelled like "old hot dog water." I thought that was pretty clever for a seven-year-old. He is getting really excited about the summer. We are going to vacation at the beach in Lewes, Delaware this year, which has become a bit of a family tradition. He is also enrolled in camp for the summer. I had been hoping that for three of those weeks he'd concede to bicycle camp, where you learn to ride without training wheels, but he's having none of it!

Good hair day?

Here's a cute photo of my two-year-old nephew, Nathaniel, who is definitely having a good hair day. He kind of reminds me of a dandelion gone to seed!

Hamster Luv

My son wants a hamster. Not me. He likes to go to pet stores and take photos of hamsters, cages, wheels, etc. This weekend we hosted the school hamster, Cinnamon. I kind of liked the little critter, but every time he saw me he ran!

Snow Daze

Well, we just had the "Blizzard of 2010," and more snow is in the forecast. It has been four days, and we still cannot get out of  our neighborhood. The snowfall total was 25". My sister has been feeling pretty bad and went by firetruck to the hospital yesterday. Fortunately, she is doing better. I am keeping myself busy by cleaning, doing school work, and watching movies. Andrew has been having fun, playing with his friend William.  I am more than ready for spring.

Favorite Musical Artists

I am, like many, a music fanatic. I was thinking today about whose music has left the greatest impression on me: as far as popular music I would have to say Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, and maybe Janis Joplin; there was just something there. I think Van Morrison had a style that others can't really replicate. His voice is entirely unique. I can't believe how many covers there are on the Internet of Into the Mystic, which is my favorite song of his but was not his most popular. When I think of him, I think "grouse." He is very difficult, and I have read about this again and again. And Joni, she is an incredible poet, unmatched really.

Well I don't know where this subject came from, but this cold is keeping me from doing much else than blogging, I suppose. :)

Gettin' twiggy with it in 2010

Here's probably my numero uno resolution for the new year: to look something more like twiggy (pictured below), except without the bow. I know I'm in for some hard work and that it will take a lot of discipline. But it will be worth it in the end, you dig? I mean just look at how happy twiggy looks - yay!

Coffin couches - why?!

Who in the world or perhaps in the next one would want one of these?

But, if you're interested, better not waste a single minute. Life is too short. You can purchase one via this link:

http://coffincouches.com/

Retro products

Now that I have reached mid-life, I often think of items that are retro or no longer sold. Some of them have become collector's items. Can you think of any? I will revisit this post as I think of new things. Please let me know of items you remember! If they are from before the 70s, please try to associate them with a timeframe.

• Pillsbury funny face juice characters and mugs
• metal lunch boxes with clasps (I had one with Charlie Brown on it that included a thermos) - we did not use backpacks then.
• space food sticks (chewy candy-food in honor of the astronauts who landed on the moon)

• wacky packy trading cards with bubblegum
• candy cigarettes (no longer PC)
• pixy stix
• striped knee socks with toes
• stick pins
• earth shoes
• chukka boots (70s style)
• saddle shoes (they were retro from the 50s to us)
• MIA clogs (dark red leather; Swedish)
• Lectric Shave (thinking old obnoxious commercials) - product still around
• Hai Karate cologne (for men)
• Aqua Velva grooming products (for men)
• Earthborn shampoo (featured Dorothy Hammel with her infamous haircut on the front label)

Bye-bye Christmas

I just needed an excuse to post some more photos before I packed away decorations (sniff! sniff!), which probably won't happen till next weekend because I do not feel well. Here are a few photos from the dining room.

What's this? How did that cow from Chik-Fil-A get in there? He's not even from the creche we have!

Wise men return to the east...

My son really loves this nativity set made out of banana grass that my sister got me a few years ago in Uganda. I always arrange it just so, and then he takes it upon himself to arrange his way with the whole joyous party led by Mary and Joseph heading back east. Who needs camels or strollers, for that matter, when you have wise men who will carry the baby?

"We two kings of orient are, carryin' dis babe cuz

we ain't got no car."

Meet the Bass Pro Fishing Club

That's right...the Bass Pro Fishing Club, Grandpa and Andrew. Plain and simple, these guys just like fish. Club activities include:

• visiting the local Bass Pro Shop,
• reading and chatting about fish,
• drawing fish,
• looking at fish in their aquariums and buying new ones,
• visiting the local aquarium,
• discussing tackle and bait (especially yums and night crawlers), and 
• fishing, be it in saltwater or freshwater.

So far, the duo has "tackled" the Delaware Bay, a saltwater creek, some Ohio streams and a river, and some local ponds and lakes. These two even have uniforms. Check out these recent club photos!

Club members Andrew Phillip, President; and Phillip John, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, contemplate their next catch.

Meet Nathaniel, my almost two-year-old nephew, son of my sister and her husband Tom. What a little starshine! Little pumpkie!

The farm and reunions

This year will be year of the reunion.

In May, my friend and I are planning to attend our 25th college reunion at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, where my mother grew up. I know that there are some new buildings, and I would like so see them. I guess I had better try to lose those extra pounds.

In June, we are having a family reunion at my parent's home in central Ohio ("the farm"). This cabin or lodge is located in the woods near a river and was built by local Amish. There is also a very old cabin just yards away that is over 100 years old. The land on which both stand was home to my grandparents until their deaths almost 30 years ago, so when I am there, I always remember them. When people ask me where the cabins are, I explain that they are near Kenyon College.

Here is a photo of the old cabin, where our first family reunions were held, followed by three photographs of the new cabin (which is yards away from the old). This old cabin brings back a lot of memories. I would not go inside it now. For all I know, there are snakes hibernating in there.

Christmas magic

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Click Read More to see this year's photos.

Christmas spidey boy

My son is not really into superheroes these days. In fact, his thing is sharks, fishing, bats, and Bakugan (definitely the hit toy this year). But when I saw these spiderman jammies, I had to get them. They are a riot. He looks like he is part bat. I asked him to pose, and neither of us could help from laughing. "I look absolutely ridiculous," he said. Maybe so, but how cute!