Sunday, January 2, 2005
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T%THappy New Year!T%T
Becky Chap marries Dave O'Brien
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Story and Photo Illustrations by Kimberly Johnson
Long Lake, MN
Everyone gathered at Grandpa and Grandma Anderson's at about 3:30 p.m. to get ready for the big day. The bride and groom didn't have any flowers, so we headed up to the local floral shop on Alexandria's Main Street. Caity liked the orange and yellow flowers and thought Becky would like them, as well. They did a very nice, last minute bouquet and boutonniere for the two of them.
They were to get married at the Douglas County Courthouse at four o'clock, so the gang that went to get flowers was in a rush to get there. We decided they probably wouldn't start without us, given we had the flowers, photographer, mother of the bride, bride's daughter/ flower girl (she picked out the flowers), and pretty much half the crowd!
We all piled into the room where they were to be married, right on time. The crowd found their seats as the wedding party gathered in the front. The wedding party was Becky and Dave, Grandpa and Grandma Anderson (they stood up for the bride and groom), Caity, and the court administrator. It was a very special ceremony, which lasted not even ten minutes.
Afterwards, we all gave our hugs and then grouped together in the main foyer of the court house. I just COULDN'T let the bride and groom off without some pain, so I had to take a few pictures. We also grabbed a poor lady away from her job to take our group pictures. I decided that Becky and Dave still didn't feel like a bride and groom, so I dragged them outside, freezing and all, and took a few more pictures.
After we were all done at the courthouse, we headed over to the little restaurant back on Main Street. It was called Old Broadway and was a perfect spot to have a little reception. I stole them for some more pictures, because I'm mean, and then headed off to order our food. We all got our food and ate, as well as over-ate.
After we all finished, they brought Dave and Becky a piece of an 85 million layer chocolate cake to share. When we all finished, we got in our cars; some attacked Dave and Becky's van with "JUST MARRIED!" and "HONK" and the works. They drove off and then we went and got cake for a little more over-eating and visiting at Grandpa and Grandma's apartment.
We enjoyed our visiting, apple cider, and wedding cake, but it was getting late, so we said our goodbyes and headed for home after a very lovely day!
CONGRATULATIONS, BECKY AND DAVE!!!
Rebecca & Caity, left; with David, right; everybody, center.
The Wedding Ceremony
Grandpa Don, David, Rebecca, Caity, and Grandma Dorothy
listen to the vows and the wedding message being read
by the Court Administrator, Rhonda Russell.
A strong marriage is dependent upon many factors; beyond the love and respect a couple shares for one another, there must be a strong sense of commitment and loyalty that bonds them, and above all, a true friendship and willingness to communicate with one another.
Love is patient, is kind, and envious of no one. There is nothing love cannot face, there is no limit to its faith, its hope and its endurance. Love will never come to an end.
FAMILY UPDATE -- It's A Boy!
Jonathan Glen Hill
Born 8:22 a.m., December 21, 2004
To Nathan and Brenda Hill
Wahpeton, ND
Jonathan Glen Hill with Mom (Brenda) and Dad (Nathan)
Jonathan is named after his dad (Nathan Glen), his grandpa (Irving Glen), his uncle (Glen Dean), and his great-grandpa (John Maurer).
UPDATE -- Tsunami Disaster Relief
by The Bulletin Staff
Two weeks ago we reported on Kurt Larson's wedding and immediate deployment to Iraq aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious aircraft carrier (Bulletin 131). According to news reports, another change of plans now has the ship steaming to the Bay of Bengal, off Sri Lanka, to aid those stricken by the tsunamis earlier this week. According to various news sources, The U.S. Pacific Command is deploying 20 ships loaded with medical equipment and mobile hospitals, 41 helicopters, 2,100 Marines, 1,400 sailors and the capacity to generate 600,000 gallons of fresh water daily. Included is a five-ship fleet headed by the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard. Thanks to Elaine Wold, who first noted it in the Wahpeton Daily News.
FAMILY UPDATE -- Texas Relatives' Holiday
by Kathleen (Dake) Stahlecker
Gatesville, TX
Just received The Bulletin and it reminded me that I needed to update you on a few things before I forget. Seems that life just goes way too fast now days and I meet myself coming and going.
We were all together for Christmas Dinner at 5 p.m. yesterday at Stan's. Everyone was able to be there except Carol's and James. We missed them but it sounds like Carol had all of hers home. We had a lot of fun and played games, etc. Both sets of my kids were able to be here until today after lunch, so enjoyed having the grandkids here. They are so much fun!! So much fun to spoil them and then send them home to Mom and Dad.
Mom enjoyed the evening. She wears hearing aids now, so if there is too much racket going on she misses a lot of the conversation, but still joins in the laughter whether she knows what she is laughing at or not. She always has had a sense of humor and still has it. Earl and Dee (Tricia's husband) love to keep something stirred with her all the time. Of course James and I did not think she had so much humor when we were in trouble for some of our shenanigans. My kids have commented that they hope they can be like her when they grow older.
Carol will be making a trip by car to Midland to stay near Harold's mom while his brother and family are out of town. I think she leaves tomorrow or so. Dennis and Carol (Harold's brother and wife) are in Russia with their daughter, Jana Printz, who is in the ministry, for 6 weeks. Anyway, they like for someone to be in town, so if family is needed, someone is close. Elizabeth is in a rest home there. We hate it that, even though Carol will be in Texas, she will be about 300 miles or so from us.
Sounds like there are a lot of weddings that have been and are to come in the younger generation up there. For those I have met, they were just little ones, such as Patty's and Marlene's children and Larry's. Just tells me that I AM GETTING OLD!!!! Our Angela was 28 on Christmas Day, not far from 30. When I think of it in this context, it is scary. Earl and I will be married 30 years tomorrow (December 27). It has been great and hope we spend another 30 plus together.
I better run. I am off tomorrow, but have a full day of work at home. I will talk to you later.
Kathleen and family
The Matriarch Speaks W
by Dorothy (Dake) Anderson
Alexandria, MN
Starting with Bulletin 124, I planned to run biographical sketches of the members of our staff. Now that this has been done, I want to run sketches and pictures of the readers and subscribers who have not already done introductions. Please tell us about yourself. What is your work and what else do you do with your time? How are you related or what friend introduced you into the family? I am hoping that you can share family photos and background sketches. Send all manuscripts and pictures to me at dma49261@juno.com
Introducing our Alaska correspondent for The Bulletin... Miss Kitty.
Miss Kitty & Miss Jerrianne
The True Story Behind The Miss Kitty Letters
By Miss Kitty
When I was a lost kitten, whose owners might still show up to claim me, Miss Jerrianne didn't want to give me a name, in case I already had one. She said giving me a name would just make it that much harder to give me back, if my stay was only temporary. So she called me "Miss Kitty" ... and the next thing I knew, Miss Kitty WAS my name!
I've never been able to talk to anyone about the first five months of my life ... my shadowy past is probably going to remain obscure. One way or another, I got separated from my family a year ago last September. I approached some children playing in one of Anchorage's dog parks ... where unleashed dogs run loose ... and chase cats, if they see any. It's a terrible place for a lost kitten!
I was VERY hungry and a little bit cold ... and just a teensy bit scared ... The children were kind hearted and wanted to help me. One of the girls put me inside her sweatshirt and they walked door to door, asking everyone if I was their cat. That's how I met Miss Jerrianne's sister, Miss Kathlyn. She gave me food and water and a warm place to sleep and said I could stay there ... temporarily.
Well, I might still be there, because Miss Kathlyn's husband, Argyle, really liked me ... but their growly cat didn't. So a few nights later, Miss Jerrianne got a phone call. "This is YOUR cat," Miss Kathlyn said firmly. "She is far too good a cat for any shelter, so you need to come and get her." And that is how we met. They put me in a cage and put the cage in Miss Jerrianne's van. "Meow," I said. "Me-OUT! Me-OUT!" ... all the way home, which, fortunately, wasn't very far.
In the first 10 minutes, I leapt onto the kitchen window sill, knocking two potted plants into the sink, and I knocked over a folding chair that sliced the nose off an Easter Lily cactus. After things calmed down a bit, Miss Jerrianne took my picture and posted it on her web site, so people checking an ad about a "found" cat could see if I was their "lost" kitten. That's how it all began.
As soon as it looked like I was going to stick around, I got stuffed into a pillow case and taken to the vet to get examined, tested, inoculated, microchipped and spayed. Not a fun day! But that was the low point. Before I knew it, I had my own web log and Miss Dorothy was reprinting my blog in The Bulletin as The Miss Kitty Letters. (Miss Jerrianne's sister-in-law Donna Mae arranged that.)
At first, Miss Jerrianne took the pictures and wrote the blog and The Miss Kitty Letters ... until Miss Hetty accused "the newest member" of The Bulletin staff of sending a naughty picture to the editor. (Bulletin 70). That turned out to be a case of mistaken identity ... but after that I wrote my own column (Bulletin 72). Miss Jerrianne busied herself with photos and building the web pages.
When summer came, Miss Jerrianne and I got busy with gardening ... I LOVE to dig in the dirt! Besides our own yard, we had lots of work to do at Chugach Foothills Park. I haven't written a regular column since summer began, though we've had lots and lots of adventures since then. But all those weekly columns I wrote are still available in The Bulletin archives (search for Miss Kitty), and also on my web log, which is here:
http://www.jlowther.com/Pages/kitty/index.html
Now that it's winter, I may even resume writing The Miss Kitty Letters and updating my blog, from time to time ... but not every week, as before. (There are lots more Bulletin contributors now, and I am a VERY busy kitty!)
Oh ... by the way ... that cactus that got a nose job my first night here grew TWO noses to replace it ... though I've since knocked one of those off, too. It annoys me when Miss Jerrianne calls them "pups." If I'm responsible for their very existence ... shouldn't they rightly be called "kittens?"
Miss Kitty
The Matriarch Learns Still Other Things:
Today, Christmas of '04, I have started still another new and modern innovation. Beaver and Donna and family presented me with my first digital camera. Then Chris and Lori gave me a lesson in the operating of it ... the camera and the computer file that I have established for my pictures.
I am going to show you my first successful attempt... Here is Grandson Ben J., who is back in the Alexandria area for another phase of his schooling. He was here this afternoon and so was the one lucky enough to have this great photographer do a lovely portrait of him!
I have taken many pictures of my thumb with my regular camera! Hopefully that has at least taught me to keep my thumbs out of the way! I do hope I will remember all the various things there are to getting usable pictures -- but Chris and Lori reassure me that I can send them an e-mail and they will walk me through again! I appreciate the fact that they trust me to be able to become a user -- of digital photography, that is.
Dorothy (Dake) Anderson
The Matriarch
Alexandria, MN
Ben Johnson
LTD Storybrooke 
The unshaven middle-aged doctor strode sleepily into the brightly lit delivery room around 4:45 a.m.
For several hours the nurses had been instructing Sherry on how to focus on a spot on the ceiling -- to breathe deeply -- and push. The "breathe, breathe, pant, pant, push, push" routine we were to have learned in the birthing classes.
It was still a new thing for husbands to come along to "help" in the delivery room. We were to be "coaches." I donned a white gown and stood like a doctor in waiting by Sherry's bed. I wasn't sure how to coach at something I'd never done myself (and likely never would!). But here I was, looking professional in my scrubs.
The nurses and Sherry seemed to be doing a fine job, so I took Sherry's hand and hung on.
Sherry had first started to have contractions back at Morris Shoe Repair, our shoe repair shop, on Main Street, in Morris, Minnesota. As usual, we had piles of work to be done, and Sherry was working hard and fast to get a few days ahead on her work load. She had the long armed, grey Adler sewing machine clicking away. She would expertly pump the foot treadle while replacing old boot zippers with new ones, sewing patches on torn shoes, and mending leather purses. When she stopped a minute to have a glass of milk, she balanced the glass on top of her protruding stomach. She was wearing one of two dresses that fit -- a big red jumper.
Sherry carefully measured the length of time between the contractions. And kept sewing!
That night, long after bedtime, she woke me. I remember her standing in the dining room of the rented farmhouse, by the wood burning kitchen range. She was holding her back with her hands, and was still wearing the red jumper.
It was time to go!
She'd been hard at work all evening, and well into the night, getting ready for bringing the baby home; preparing food for me to eat while she was away; getting ready for company; and wrapping the two shirts she had sewn for my birthday.
I scraped the frost from the windshield, and away we sped to the hospital.
After several hours of hard labor in the labor room, Sherry was wheeled into the delivery room. Her dilations were periodically measured. I took my place on a stool at her shoulder.
Eventually the nurse sent word for the doctor to be called at his home. He arrived soon and was pacing the floor, stroking his stubby black whiskers, and giving orders.
Sherry was working hard, but apparently the baby wasn't coming fast enough in the doctor's estimation. Only the top of the head was visible. The doctor attempted to help things along with his gloved fingers.
When Sherry began to lose control -- going into panic mode -- the doctor gruffly told her to "Settle down!" Someone commented that Sherry was getting tired.
"Forceps ... " said the doctor.
I wondered silently what the doctor needed tweezers for. The nurse banged around in a drawer and came back with a huge and formidable implement. It looked like two big aluminum soup spoons with some sort of an interlocking design to the handles. I was a-astounded. He slid one spoon in around one side of the hidden baby's head and then worked the other spoon in around the other side of the head. He locked the handles together -- and started pulling.
There was not much progress. He looked up at the nurse who was pushing down forcibly on Sherry's stomach.
"Scissors ..." he said.
She handed him a scissors. He made a snip, as though removing the safety seal on a bottle of pickles, and, with one last yelp from Sherry, out slid the baby. Its little cry was music to our ears.
"It's a girl!" the nurse announced.
I was delighted! She was slippery, wrinkly, and wet. She had the brightest, bluest, eyes I'd ever seen! And she was looking right at me!
The nurse lay her on Sherry's chest for a few moments. The umbilical cord was cut and then they took our baby aside and cleaned her up. She had a full head of black hair. They weighed and measured her into the world at eight pounds, two-and-one-half ounces; her length was 20-1/2 inches. They made an ink print of her foot and put an identification arm band on her wrist.
"Do you have a name for the baby?" the nurse asked.
"Yes we do," we said, "Sarah Lynn Dake."
Sarah was born 23 years ago at 5:12 a.m., December 12, 1981, one day before my 26th birthday.
And she and Mike are now due to have their first baby -- in May, 2005.
(Right in the middle of lambing season!)
Travelogue t
The Bolivian Beat
By Kjirsten Swenson
Editor's Note: Kjirsten has returned to Bolivia for a second year of independent study in Morochata, prior to enrollment in medical school at Baylor University in Houston, in 2005. She spent several weeks trekking around Bolivia before returning to the hospital in Morochata. This episode occurred about a month ago; this way, we have Kjirsten's photos to illlustrate it.
Cemeterio de Trenes at The Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Greetings from Southwestern Bolivia!
The last two weeks have been packed with landscapes that first resembled perhaps Mars, then western Texas, and most recently, Andalusia. And I haven't covered as many miles as you might think.
Last week, Monday, at exactly 2 a.m. I crawled out of my comfy train seat when we stopped at Uyuni, a stark and frigid Altiplano town in Southwestern Bolivia. It's unremarkable, except for an amazing pizza restaurant owned by a former Bostonian, (Imagine roasted veggie pesto pizza, in Bolivia!!) and its proximity to The Salar de Uyuni.
The Salar is an immense salt flat that covers an area half (or was it twice?) the size of Switzerland. Apparently the region used to be covered with a salt lake, but the water evaporated and the minerals remained. A pair of Brits, two Norwegians, a Swiss girl, and I spent five days in a Toyota Land Cruiser exploring the salar and surrounding areas. I probably won't post photos until I reach Buenos Aires in a couple of weeks, but if you'd rather not leave the landscapes to your imagination, check out the sweet photos on this site:
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/South_America/Bolivia/South/Potosi/Uyuni/
We visited all of the places shown in those shots.
Rainy season hasn't arrived yet, so the salar is still dry. but moisture evaporating from underneath breaks the smooth crust into beautiful, surprisingly regular geometric patterns. Sometimes we were flying across a sea of hexagons. Everywhere, the clean whiteness suggested snow to me. Walking across the salar in the frigid dawn made me miss winter less.
On the second day, we climbed part way up a dormant volcano and had spectacular views of the salar. From that perspective, it truly seemed an ocean dotted with higher non-salt "islands." Later that day, we visited one of them. Isla Inca Huasi or Isla de Los Pescadores is covered with enormous cacti, some of which are nearly 40 feet high.
Kjirsten with Cardon cactus; close up of its blossoms, right.
Later we bumped our way slowly across desert Altiplano among lovely rock formations shaped by the relentless wind. And we longed for the day when we flew across the ultra smooth salar at 100 km/hr. From day two on, we bumped and jostled slowly along dirt tracks that are roads only in the sense that vehicles sometimes drive on them ... and always to the 80s tunes on our driver's only cassette. Over and over and over and over again.
Each night we would stay in a "hostel," usually an adobe room filled with beds added onto some enterprising campesino's home. We always arrived jarred, cold, and sunburned. But good conversation and lots of tea and hot chocolate usually revived us by the time soup was ready.
After a few days and many miles, we reached The Reserva de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa, a reserve tucked into the southwestern corner of Bolivia. There we first visited Laguna Colorada, a lake colored blood red by the algae that live in it. Trimmed with white mineral beaches and full of flamingos, it was an astonishing sight.
The next morning we arose at 4 a.m. and were mesmerized by the clearest night sky I've ever seen anywhere. Just before sunrise we reached a high crater-like region of geysers. The red earth, steaming fumaroles, and total lack of life (except us!) combined to create a disturbingly unearthly scene. And I think it was as cold as Mars, too. My fingers were instantly numb and I barely managed to snap a few photos.
An hour later, precisely in the middle of nowhere, our abused Toyota Land Cruiser died and refused to start again. Despite our kindest words of encouragement, the fuel pump was decidedly not functional. And so we waited and read and talked and slept for a long time while our ever optimistic driver tinkered and smiled. Eventually another vehicle passed that just happened to be carrying the spare part, and a few adjustments made us mobile again.
Next stop was Laguna Verde, a bright green lake whose intense color comes from lead and other minerals. Apparently it remains liquid even at 0 degrees F., because the mineral concentrations are so high. After breakfast we left the surreal for the road to Tupiza, and the next day, around noon, we finally arrived.
Tupiza is land of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The town is located in a green river valley surrounded by beautiful red canyons and rock formations. For me, the desert landscapes and horses very much evoked Western Texas. I didn't plan to stay for long, but had too much fun hiking and exploring canyons. I ended up staying for three days and hiked every day. Best were the canyons ... rainy season is still coming, so they were dry and inviting ... playgrounds! I had a blast scrambling over boulders and under ledges until reaching sections steep enough to make me afraid.
Tuesday night I left Tupiza for Tarija, the capital of a province in Southern Bolivia. The bus arrived at 4 a.m., too early to check in without having to pay for an extra night. So I spent the wee hours of Wednesday reading a good book under a street lamp at the plaza. The high palms around me occasionally dropped huge seed things in a rather violent manner. I jumped more than once as they bombarded my head, but even so, morning managed to be peaceful.
Today I hiked! After taking a minibus to a nearby community, I walked along dirt roads for a few hours to reach a pair of 40 meter waterfalls. They were lovely, but not spectacular.
Better was the opportunity to see what rural Tarija is like. It's often compared with Andalusia, Spain, and I understand why. Oranges and figs are in season, grapes are growing, flowers are blooming, and the countryside homes have a certain aesthetic appeal that really does remind me of Andalusia. Their clay tiled roofs are prettier than the ubiquitous corrugated tin ones favored elsewhere in Bolivia, and the stucco walls are more pleasant than adobe, perhaps. And so many flowers...
Tomorrow I shall explore a little more and eat lots of figs before boarding a night bus for Villazón, the Argentine border. 'Tis past my bedtime...
Buenas noches y hasta luego!
Kjirsten
Mummy, left; road crosses salt flat polygons, right.
More of Kjirsten's photos may be seen in her Webshots album here:
This and That
6
by Elaine Wold
Wahpeton, ND
Recipe for a Happy New Year
Anonymous
To leave the old with a burst of song,
To recall the right and forgive the wrong;
To forget the things that bind you fast,
To the vain regret of the year that's past..
To have the strength to let go your hold
Of the not worthwhile of the days grown old,
To dare to go forth with a purpose true,
To the unknown task of the year that's new,
To help your brother along the road
To do his work and lift his load,
To add your gift to the world's good cheer
Is to have and to give a Happy New Year.
~
As we start the NEW YEAR...here are 21 things to remember....
1. No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.
2. Most people will be about as happy as they decide to be.
3. Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.
4. Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.
5. Success stops when you do.
6. When your ship comes in..make sure you are willing to unload it.
7. You will never "have it all together."
8. Life is a journey...not a destination...enjoy the trip!
9. The biggest lie on the planet..... "When I get what I want , I will be happy."
10. The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.
11. I've learned that ultimately, "takers lose and givers win."
12. Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they are shared.
13. If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive.
14. We often fear the thing we want the most.
15. He or she who laughs...lasts.
16. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.
17. Look for opportunities...not guarantees.
18. Life is what's coming...not what was.
19. Success is getting up one more time.
20. Now is the most interesting time of all.
21. When things go wrong, don't go with them.
Observations
By Don Anderson
Alexandria, MN
On Skating -- Then and Now
I want to tell you about my skating experience last week. It was a nice day, 35 degrees, and the rink was about to open in a few days. I told Dorothy to come along and watch from the car. I just got my hard toe hockey skates earlier this fall at a used items store in St. Cloud.
Now, I guess if I didn't have a spectator with me I would not be writing this letter. She is keeping me honest, at least!
It was 12 years since I had skates on, and as a kid I skated on the river at my boyhood home, played hockey and was the goalie.
I then cut figure eights and skated backwards and circles with ease, plus a lot of other skating tricks.
On this day I put the skates on, and as I was doing this, a young lady that works at the rink come over and asked if I intended to skate. She looked like she thought I was "off my rocker" and told me to be careful. She then drove off.
I wondered if I really looked THAT OLD!
Careful I was, as I walked to the rink's edge. I felt confident as I took the first stride. I soon got the feeling I had forgotten all I ever knew about skating. But soon the feeling left and I regained my confidence. I got out about 20 feet before I cut my first trick, the flip flop. (My, the ice is hard in Minnesota!)
I recovered from that and then made a daring seat slide (a fancy maneuver). I don't know what went wrong; it just seemed that I had lost my ability to go onto the ice.
Maybe 77 birthdays would enter into this, would be a normal thing; at least I was not going to give up until I tried. "You have not failed until you failed to try," I always say.
FOR SALE: One Pair hard toed hockey skates, like new, CHEAP!
SKATING INSTRUCTIONS GLADLY GIVEN! FREE!
Celebrations & Observances
From the Files of 5
Hetty Hooper
This Week's Birthdays:
January 3---Brandon Hellevang
January 3---Virginia (Dake) McCorkell
January 4---Nathan Hill
January 4---Harry "Junior" Anderson
January 5---Jayce Michael Chap (6 years old)
Happy Birthday!
More January Birthdays:
'
January 11---Brandon Harvey Lehtola (2 years old)
January 15---Shea Ashley Birkholz
January 20---Lois Dake
January 22---Timothy Mellon
January 30---Whitney Johnson
January Anniversaries
Z
January 24---David "Beaver" and Donna (Anderson) Johnson (11 Years)
January Holidays
January 1---New Year's Day
January 17---Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Observed)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miss Hetty's Mailbox:
Dear Miss Hetty,
Thanks for the beautiful birthday card. We're leaving in a few minutes for the Bismarck post office to pick up our passports that were lost in a bad weather/ Christmas combination, then on to the airport to fly to Buenos Aires to meet Kjirsten. Suffice it to say we've been pretty stressed over the passport situation!
Mitzi (Johnson) Swenson
Dickinson, ND
We want to send you our family X-mas photo. Notice all of our family members are present, which was a little tricky ... because the cat wanted to eat the bird and the dog wanted to eat the cat ... It all worked out fine, though.
Brianna and Doug Anderson-Jordet
St. Cloud, MN
To everybody ~ Hope your holiday season is enchanted!
Doug & Brianna with Otto, Meowmers and Phoebus.
Miss Hetty Says
Congratulations and Best Wishes to David O'Brien and Rebecca Chap. A family wedding reception is being planned for Sunday afternoon, January 9th, at the home of Beaver and Donna Johnson, Ashby, MN. The newlyweds and the children, Caity and Jayce Chap, are all at home in their Ashby townhouse:
David O'Brien & Rebecca Chap
117 Iverson Avenue
PO Box 253
Ashby, MN 56309
Miss Jerrianne says new back issues from January 2003 were added to the archives this week and some new stories and recipes were added to the Collections ... there's even a new recipe collection called "Dutch Treats" with recipes for Pannekoeken, Ollie Bollen and Poffertjes. The search spider will crawl through the web site before January 1 to make the new additions available with the search feature ... as well as directly from the menu links. And Who's Who is now color coded to make it easier to see the lineages and relationships.
Keep Us Posted!
Please drop Miss Hetty a line and tell us who, and what, we've missed. And how about a report (photos welcome) of YOUR special celebration?
Everyone!
Miss Hetty
+ LETTERS TO THE EDITORS?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just turned over the last page of The Bulletin, and I couldn't believe I had read through that whole thing already. It seemed like I was going to be reading awhile, so I got the lamp situated just right and got comfortable in my chair and started reading page one ... every single word, taking notice of the colors and sizes of the font, and noticing exactly what it was saying and by whom.
I couldn't click on the links, being I was reading a printed out copy, which for me was much easier to read. So now, I have made sure I have the original copy saved, so I can click on all the links in turn after I send you my comments.
I really liked it.
It is so original, and written in such a personal, natural way. One wonders that each contributor is not a scribe by trade. I had a few questions, but I will click on some links to find the answers, for instance where Kjirsten comes in on your family. Am sure I will learn that through the archives.
I must say it is an excellent piece of journalism, and not too cluttered or filled with things that are not good reading or too silly or too deep or too dull or too trying to be funny or too whatever. Maybe I was just fortunate to have gotten this issue as the first one.
Well, that's a lot to have said, when I could have just condensed it into two words ............... IT'S GREAT.
Thanks, Don and Dorothy, -- am sure your retirement is busier than you ever were before ............
Roy and Betty Droel
Minneapolis, MN
Photo Editor's Note: Thanks for the compliments ... and for a reason to explain something about the fonts ... which are almost all "relative," meaning what YOU set is what you get. The Bulletin body copy is set to "default" for both type face and point size ... so your e-mail (or browser) preference settings determine what you see. If Dorothy's "default" is Times Roman 10 point, that's what she will see. I happen to favor Verdana 18 point ... a very different experience! Most of the headlines are also "default" type in relatively larger sizes. The Bulletin banner is set in Impact type and this week's headline is "cursive set," which for me is Comic Sans. If anyone doesn't like the way The Bulletin looks, check your preferences and "have it your way" -- just like Burger King!
You can also make the type bigger with COMMAND + (Mac) or CONTROL + (PC) or smaller with COMMAND - (Mac) or CONTROL - (PC) ... or check the "VIEW" menu for your browser or e-mail program. There may also be clickable text sizing buttons -- AA -- in your "toolbar."
Thanks for another wonderful Bulletin. I especially enjoyed Larry's story. It was written with so much feeling, or maybe it was written in such a way that it makes a person feel. Anyway, I feel the same way about fires. In fact we've got one burning right now. We've probably had 20 or more fires in our fireplace already this season.
It's amazing how many people are wanting a subscription to The Bulletin. Sometimes I think it's like the People magazine. People enjoy reading about others. They don't mind if they don't know them all, either. Anyway, you two keep up the good work, because many people are enjoying it. Markie asked me last night if I had read The Bulletin yet, and since it was only Friday, I told him it wasn't out yet. He said, "Yes, it is, I just read it."
Marlene (Anderson) Johnson
Long Lake, MN
It was great to read Beaver's autobiography. We want to get up there to see them one day. It sounds gorgeous.
I can not believe I made one of Larry's stories. You know that was really a great summer and we did have a great time on that canoe trip. Looking back, I cannot believe that I was not scared to take off into the wilds without all of the luxuries such as bathroom, etc. But I guess that I knew I was in for the time of my life with those guys, so not to worry about the niceties. I am surprised that James and I did not overturn a canoe with one of our disagreements, or something. We must have been on good behavior those few days.
Kathleen (Dake) Stahlecker
Gatesville, TX
Ahem! I was just wondering where you got that picture of the old, white haired guy that you ran with my long winded biographical sketch... Did my wife have something to do with this? Ah, well, I always figured the only way I would ever get any respect would be by getting old!
Every week, I think, "I'm going to write to Dorothy and tell her how much I enjoy The Bulletin," and every week, the next one comes out before I get anything done. So this week, just barely, I'm going to do it!
You have discovered a true treasure in adding Larry Dake to your staff. I enjoy everything he writes.
Kjirsten's stories and photos remind me of the National Geographic magazines that I have read cover to cover ever since I learned to read.
And now we have Frans with his big diesel truck -- guys who drive big trucks have always been right up in the same class as engineers of railroad locomotives in my book.
The family news is helping me get to know lots of folks, whose names I will likely never be able to remember, but whose faces and places in the family may eventually become part of my memory.
Keep up the good work; we appreciate the wonderful job that you and Jerrianne do!
Beaver Johnson
Ashby, MN
The Bulletin is especially fun to read this week, with both of our brothers [Beaver and Richard Johnson] and Kjirsten in it -- and our grandkids too! Nice job.
Kathlyn (Johnson) Anderson
Anchorage, AK
As I was reading my Bulletin, I was impressed with the genial looking, smiling Ashby correspondent. If he would put on a red hat, he would really make the best Santa Claus! And what a cute bunch of little grandchildren ... I could hug every one of them. Such lucky grandparents to have that bunch. And isn't young love grand? Just look at Heidi and Ryan ... our best to them, too! All the photos were so interesting and add so much to The Bulletin.
Elaine (Anderson) Wold
Wahpeton, ND
The Bulletin looked really nice. Good luck to Barb and Group Mackenzie! When I was on the web site I saw that they were receiving the most votes ... for good reason! Their idea was the most original.
This proves my theory that some of the best work comes after procrastination. The procrastinator may not realize it but is thinking about it (in this case gingerbread houses) while procrastinating. So, when the last minute comes the idea is actually pretty well thought out, with more time put into the thought process.
Oh, yes. I'm interested in trying out the Dutch poffertjes. If only I could find my apron.
I'm glad to hear Caity is feeling better. The hospital is no place for children.
****I hear you have a digital camera now! That's just what you needed!
Brianna Anderson-Jordet
St. Cloud, MN
CHUCKLES
ANSWERS TO THE WORLD'S EASIEST QUIZ
1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?
*116 years
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
*Ecuador
3) From which animal do we get cat gut?
*Sheep and Horses
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
*November
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?
*Squirrel fur
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
*Dogs
7) What was King George VI's first name?
*Albert
8) What color is a purple finch?
*Crimson
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
*New Zealand
10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?
*Orange, of course.
What do you mean you failed?
Pass this on to some other brilliant friends.
To search a name in Who's Who or Who's Where: click on the link to open the page, then use CONTROL F on a PC or COMMAND F on a Mac. To search for a second occurrence of the name, use CONTROL G on a PC or COMMAND G on a Mac. (This works on ANY web page with text, unless the text is converted to an image. Chances are, it works in your e-mail, too.) HINT: Search by first name only, as most entries list the family name once but do not repeat the last name for each family member. In Who's Where you can search on state or city names, too.
Click here for past editions of The Bulletin in the web archive
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EDITOR'S POLICY: If you wish to subscribe to The Bulletin, simply send me a statement of that fact. If you wish to keep receiving it I hope you will contribute to one of the columns that are running in this family epistle (at least occasionally!). My e-mail address is dma49261@juno.com This Bulletin is copyright Dorothy M. Anderson; the contents are also copyrighted by the authors and photographers and used with their permission, and the contents are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the explicit consent of the creators.