The Bulletin
Special Mother's Day Edition
Sunday, May 9, 2004

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Happy Mother's Day

May your Mother's Day be sunny, happy
and all that a terrific mother deserves!

(This is also good for a meal out. Your choice of time and place.)

Love from Donna & Beaver


To Grandma & Great Grandma

Happy Mother's Day to you, Great Grandma!

With all of my love, Caity


from all us young 'uns
For extra sweetness, sprinkle with kisses.

Happy Mother's Day, Grandma,
with lots and lots of love.


Hugs to you, Jayce


Happy Mother's Day To Mom, Too!

Updates -

STUDENT UPDATE
by Dan Mellon

Dorothy: Thanks again for another great edition of your Bulletin. I noticed you were listing graduations in the Celebrations and Observations column. Unlikely as it may seem, I will be receiving my Bachelor of Science in Business and Management on May 29 from the University of Redlands (California). In lieu of graduating with honors, I'm hoping for the Oldest Graduate award (54).

Dan


UPDATE
by Patty Anderson

Hi! We had a computer disaster the last several days -- we got one of those "sasser worms" and we had to completely erase our hard drive and so all of our info was lost. We also now have a new E-Mail address -- it's dopaerza@netzero.net . What a mess this has been! Our earthlink account has not been cancelled yet, so we may still be able to retrieve some mail there, if we have to. We no longer have the software on our computer, but it can be accessed once we get on line. I plan to have it cancelled in the next few days. Our netzero address is up and running, so use that one. Unfortunately, our entire address book and saved e-mails were lost. The worm shut down our computer completely within a minute of signing on line. It also started to degrade several programs so it could hardly run. I think we have it fixed and steps in place to prevent this from happening again.

Patty


UPDATE
by Gert Pettit

Good Morning, this sunny beautiful, but too windy, morning. My mind keeps saying "go outside," which I plan to do. Have some flower and garden seed I want to get in the ground, just hope it doesn't freeze out during these cool nights. Not quite shirt sleeve weather, but I don't care, the outside is always more fun than inside!

It was nice being up your way for your birthdays. We stopped at Duane's to let Jim off on the way back; that was nice, too; I had never seen Duane's home before. Great having Jim along for a visit, too. I still enjoy your weekly news. Gotta get busy now....

Love, Gert


The Matriarch Speaks W
by Dorothy (Dake) Anderson
Alexandria, MN

Reflections On Publishing The Bulletin's First 100 Issues

I do think I should review this business of being an editor. I decided to pull out some of the early copies of The Bulletin. I have in my hand #3. It is a four page letter, written entirely by me -- from the letters my college going grandkids had written to me. I have on it the date, September 27, 2002. It was sent to our five college grandkids, with a copy going out to each of our 5 children.

Now then, I have just taken a peek at issue #100. On Wednesday, The Bulletin is already in the template that Jerrianne sets it up on every week. It would make 15 pages if sent today. There are already 13 different contributors' efforts set up and ready to mail out. More will be coming in.

Our mailing list now includes 55 people who receive a copy once a week. What makes it all possible is that the staff of The Bulletin now includes nine or ten of us who work to make all this possible. I hope you all remember, though, that much of our success is due to all you reporters and contributors out there!

Let's get your subscriptions paid up. If I haven't heard from you in six months, then you need to write an update of what's going on in your family and send it to dma49261@juno.com . It is nice to see someone new in print every week as you read all about the family and friends of Dorothy and Don Anderson! Thanks to a wonderful staff* and an interested group of subscribers, we continue producing The Bulletin.

*Editor's Note -- check out the credits -- we have added some staff and changed some responsibilities.


Tolstoy Vs. Anderson
A (completely unbiased) Comparison

By Weston Johnson

While reading the last Bulletin, I noticed it was edition #99. My college-bought math skills tell me that means the next edition will be #100. That's a lot of Bulletins! When I read The Bulletin, I copy it into a Word document so I can save it for posterity. Generally, each Bulletin ends up being at least 10-12 pages in Word. My store-bought calculator tells me that means Grandma and her contributors have churned out over 1,000 pages worth of Bulletins over the last couple of years. That's a lot of pages! In comparison, according to amazon.com, Tolstoy's War and Peace has a total of 1,472 pages. The Bulletin is closing in fast! So I thought I'd make a few comparisons between these two great literary works. I should note that I have read all of the Bulletins, but I haven't read War and Peace. However, I did read its profile on Amazon so I feel I am qualified to conduct this analysis.

Subject: According to Amazon's summary of War and Peace, the heart of this drama is the metamorphosis of five families; some peasant, some aristocratic; amid the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. More like BORE and Peace! On the other hand, subjects covered in The Bulletin have included civil unrest in South America, the behind the scenes dramas taking place in an upscale restaurant and cats flying out of barn lofts. Advantage: Bulletin.

Author: The following is a quote by Tolstoy: I clearly realized that my biography, if it suppressed all the nastiness and criminality of my life -- as they customarily write biographies -- would be a lie. As far as I can tell, Grandma doesn't seem to possess any nastiness, and certainly no criminality. And I think I can say the same of the various co-authors and contributors. Advantage: Bulletin.

Pictures: War and Peace has no pictures. None. 1,472 pages of black and white text. Just in the past couple of weeks, The Bulletin has included pictures of such entertaining subjects as a cat eating its birthday cake, an entire family pitching in to transport a stubborn goat, and children wearing plastic buckets on their heads. Advantage: Bulletin.

Cost: Amazon.com lists War and Peace at $9.95 for paperback and $17.65 for hardcover. Not bad. But The Bulletin arrives every Sunday free of charge! Advantage: Bulletin.

I could go on and on, but I think it is clear that The Bulletin is the superior of the two 1,000-plus page works. So keep up the good work, Grandma (and co-authors)!


Day to Day R
With Donna Mae
Ashby, MN

My favorite season of the year has arrived in Minnesota: GARAGE SALE SEASON!

Barb Dewey and I made a trip to the cities this weekend to do the GRAND OPENING (for me). We set off Friday afternoon, heading to Lori's house. We made an Albertville stop, checking out various stores in that outlet mall. Barb found a good pair of tennis shoes, so she came away a happy lady. (She put them to good use the next day, doing sales.)

On to Lori's and Barb got the "tour" of her home. It's really looking good, but she still has many more things she wants to accomplish, both inside and out. The joy of home ownership!

Our next stop was downtown Minneapolis for a fancy dinner at a restaurant called Oceanairre. Now, when one has the nerve to name a restaurant that in the middle of the country, one is expected to at the very least come up with good fish. And did they EVER! Each of us tried a different kind of fresh fish (flown in that very day) and shared tastes; each choice was marvelous! It was more of an experience than most dining out proves to be, with a very elegant ambience and a well versed waiter. He was a great help to us, in choosing our selections. I would highly advise anyone getting a chance to try this place, to do so (but, you might want to rob a Brink's truck before going in. :-)

Barb & I got to use Weston & Chris's rooms, (THANKS GUYS!) as they were playing ball in Fargo with Wyatt. Lori was even up early with us and made us breakfast (THANKS, LORI!). Lori went to some sales in the A.M., too, but had plans for the afternoon, so she went her own way.

I tell you what, I think we put in several miles of walking in the A.M. (sore shins yet today!) There were so many people, though, didn't find a lot of goodies. After our noon meal we ventured into a new area and were much more successful. (At least I was!) I found many fun deals for my daycare and various other things. I had a wonderful time and enjoyed the time spent with Barb. (THANKS, BARB, for driving and the good visiting!)

Thanks again, to Lori, for sharing her home with us!

And, to any of you that enjoy garage sales ... happy hunting! (Give me a call, if you ever want a sidekick!)


Travelogue t

The Bolivian Beat
By Kjirsten Swenson

Kristen's costume Kjirsten & cholitas
Kjirsten in native dress at papa wayk'u
Two real cholitas & one pretender

The festival of papa wayk'u is unique to Morochata and translates as "the festival of potatoes that you cook with the skins on and then peel with your fingers and eat..." It was a hoot!

People came from all the surrounding villages and even the big city to eat lots of food and drink lots of corn beer in Morochata's plaza. The afternoon included lots of traditional music and dance. I dressed up like a cholita, a Bolivian woman who uses traditional dress, which caused lots of attention... It was all good fun. The hospital staff prepared tradional plates of charke, dried llama meat which has been boiled and then fried; mote, large kernels of starchy corn; fried cheese; hard boiled eggs; and papa wayk'u. Tasty! The Italian priest prepared pizza and ñoquis,* true treats.

All right, I'm being kicked out of the Internet cafe.

Until next time,

Kjirsten

*Photo Editor's Note: Kjirsten did not translate ñoquis, but I think "potato dumplings" is close. Kjirsten periodically uploads photos to her online album at Webshots. If you wish to see more of her photos, these are from her Bolivia 2 album posted here: http://community.webshots.com/user/kjswenson


1505
Dad, With Snorkeling Gear & Sunburn

Cayman Islands J

Thursday

by Kimberly Johnson

Well, another day of fun in the sun. All we did today was stay at the resort and play in the frigid pool. There were some people that told us that there was a ridge in the ocean not far from the dock. Mom and Dad decided they should go check this out. All of us kids were probably somewhere under our beds cause it was ScArY ;). Actually, we were at the end of the dock watching them paddle out to "The Ridge."

They were pro with their snorkel gear by this time (or so they thought ... until they got a little salt in their mouths). We sat and watched them get further and further out, until we were about to jump in and pull them back. I guess the family order was getting a little messed up; this time it was the kids thinking the adults were not safe enough! Man, those adults you know ... always going out where they shouldn't and venturing out a little toooo far!

They must have hit the ridge, because mom was headed back in :). Dad was still swimming around out there for a bit, but did finally come in, as well. They both came back with feelings about this little trip they took. Both of them thought it was pretty amazing, because it was all blue and then all of a sudden ... black.

Mom thought some shark was going to come, bite her big toe off, so that must have been why she came in. Whitney and I went in by the dock later and saw some amazing star fish as well as other miscellaneous fish. It was probably the most adventurous day so far ... we only have one more day to beat this excitement, because Saturday we head home.



This and That
6
by Elaine Wold
Wahpeton, ND

Odes to Mother...

(We all learned this one in school days):

Only One Mother
by George Cooper.

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together.
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the morn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover.
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.

*************************

The Watcher
by Margaret Widdemer

She always learned to watch for us,
Anxious if we were late,
In winter by the window,
In summer by the gate.

And though we mocked her tenderly,
Who had such foolish care?
The long way home would seem more safe,
Because she waited there.
Her thoughts were all so full of us,
She never could forget,
And so I think that where she is,
She must be watching yet.

Waiting till we come home to her,
Anxious if we were late,
Watching from Heaven's window,
Leaning from Heaven's gate.

***************************

Richard Armour's tribute to Mother....

When Father carved the Christmas bird,
And asked us each what we preferred,
As sure as summer follows spring,
Came Mother's, "Please, I'll take the wing."

We children never wondered why
She did not sometimes take a thigh,
Or choose a drumstick or a breast,
WE thought she liked the wing the best.

She said it with such easy voice,
It seemed so certainly her choice......
I was grown before I knew
Why mothers do the things they do.


Being a Mother
excerpted from Somebody Said, by Renee Hawkley
sent to us by JoAnne Sigman (Cousin Wes's wife)

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby ... somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, normal is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct ... somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring ... somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will "turn out good"... somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said "good" mothers never raise their voices ... somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother ... somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the fifth child as much as you love the first ... somebody doesn't have five children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books ... somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery ... somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten ... or on a plane headed for military "boot camp."

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back ... somebody never organized seven giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married ... somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home ... somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her ... somebody isn't a mother.

Happy Mother's Day to each of you!


Celebrations & Observances
From the Files of
5
Hetty Hooper

May 9---MOTHER'S DAY
May 9---100th Issue of The Bulletin
May 15---ARMED FORCES DAY

Thank You!

This Week's Birthdays:

May 10---Curt Henderson
May 12---James Dake
May 14---Ernie Dake

Happy Birthday!

This Week's Graduations:

May 15, 2004---Tami S. Anderson
(Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University)
May 15, 2004---Eric Shockey
(Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from University of North Dakota)

May 15, 2004---Melanie Shockey
(Bachelor of Accountancy from University of North Dakota)

Congratulations!

More May Birthdays:
'
May 4---Beau Birkholz
May 7---Ben Johnson

May 16---Angelie Ann Freesemann
May 17---Dwight Anderson
May 19---Ryan Hellevang
May 22---Dan Henderson
May 23---Don Pettit
May 24---Amy Ellen Dake
May 26---Rick Anderson
May 28---Jazmine Jane Hill (1 year old)
May 29---Kristi Kay Indermark
May 31---Mavis Morgan

May Anniversaries:
Z
May 16---Nathan and Brenda Hill's Wedding Anniversary (8th)
May 20---Steve and Marian Miller's Wedding Anniversary (34th)
May 27---Dwight and Janie Anderson's Wedding Anniversary (33rd)
May 31---Tom and Mavis Morgan's Wedding Anniversary (47th)

More May Graduations
®
May 29, 2004---Dan Mellon
(Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from University of Redlands, California)

More May Holidays & Observances
O
May 31---Memorial Day (observed)
~~~~~~~~~~~~

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?

'Many Thankse
Everyone!

Miss Hetty


+ LETTERS TO THE EDITORS?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Checking The Bulletin, I notice it's number 99. Just think ... this week will be the 100th edition!!!!!!!

What a project the editor has accomplished ... with the help of those who have sent things in... Just a reminder, maybe we need to renew our subscriptions (by sending in something for it!). Keep up the good work! Thanks for all who have contributed to this project, which I look forward to each week!

Elaine (from Wahpeton)


I see by the last Bulletin of "Number 99" means that the "100th" is coming up!! On Mother's Day yet ... so congratulations on your "new" motherhood career! (Keeping everyone in touch.) I sure enjoy it too ... so thanks for keeping me on the list.

Happy Mother's Day to you!

Barb Dewey


Dorothy, What a wonderful read The Bulletin was! Good job!

Brianna


Household hint was a hit...

...for those of you who do not make your own bread...

When you buy bread in the grocery store, you wonder which is the freshest, so you "squeeze" for freshness or softness. Did you know bread is delivered to the store five days a week and each day has a different color twist tie? They are: Monday-Blue, Tuesday-Green, Thursday-Red, Friday-white, Saturday-yellow.

Editor's note: Do you remember the above statement from the Household Hints by Mavis? It was in Bulletin #98. I must admit I was very skeptical and mentioned that to  my associate editor -- this is her answer (remember now that she lives in Alaska):

I was pretty sure it wouldn't work here ... until I checked the locally made bread that I always buy ... and sure enough, some had red ties and some had white ties. I was so dumbfounded I bought a day old loaf before I remembered that white was for Friday ... Now I suspect that all bakeries DO use the system. I'll keep on checking.
 
There was no color listed for Wednesday, but maybe they don't deliver that day. That would be the main day for produce deliveries in my usual store. Now that I know the code, it's going to be fun checking out bread products. (Thanks to Mavis!)
 
Jerrianne
 
You mean it actually works! I didn't see how it could be true all over the USA! Then I have maligned Mavis -- oh my, I wonder if all bakeries use the same system.??

Dorothy


CHUCKLES

Spell Czech
sent to us by Barb Dewey

Eye halve a spelling chequer. It came with my pea sea.
It plainly marques four my revue miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word and weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write. It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid, it nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite. Its rarely ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it, I am shore your pleased two no.
Its letter perfect in it's weigh. My chequer tolled me sew.

Sauce Unknown


QUOTATION FOR THE DAY: I have always admired the ability to bite off more than one can chew and then chew it.  --William Demille

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.