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Sunday, August 29, 2004
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Engaged
Rebecca L. Chap To David A. O'Brien

Announcement is made of the engagement of Rebecca L. Chap. daughter of Donna and David ("Beaver") Johnson, of Ashby, and George Chap of Howard Lake, to David A. O'Brien, son of Barb and Don O'Brien, of Duluth. June 4, 2005, has been chosen for the wedding date.


Rebecca L. Chap and David A. O'Brien


To Be Wed
Brianna M. Jordet To Douglas A. Anderson

Announcement is made of the pending marriage of Brianna Jordet, daughter of Daniel and Mary Jordet of Freeport, to Douglas A. Anderson, son of Donald and Dorothy Anderson of Alexandria. The wedding is to be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2004.


announcement illustration by Brianna Jordet


Just Born
Margret Di Ann Zeppelin
To Ryan and Gin Zeppelin

OK, I know ... everyone "brags" about their Grandchildren. BUT IT'S FINALLY OUR TURN! WE ARE VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE that we FINALLY have a beautiful (tiny) Granddaughter. She is the daughter of Ryan and Gin Zeppelin. Born (a little early), on August 24th. Her name is Margret Di Ann Zeppelin; Maggie, for short! She weighs in at only 3-1/2 pounds. But, she is a very strong little girl. And doing GREAT. Maggie was born in Rochester, Minnesota, at a hospital that is part of the Mayo clinic, by emergency C-section. Doctors say she is doing fine but will have a hospital stay approximately two weeks longer than her Mom.

For those of you who are scratching your heads ... Ryan is Wes's second son, and my loving step-son. I am very lucky to be blessed with TWO wonderful step-sons! (Wes's oldest son is Danny, or Dan as he likes to be called.)

We will share pictures of Maggie as soon as Ryan is able to go home and download his pictures, and send them on to us.

We ask that you all keep Maggie (and family) in your prayers.

Have a great day!!!!

Jo Anne & Wesley Sigman


Updates -

FAMILY UPDATE
by Wyatt Johnson

I probably owe an update, as I haven't given one for a while. This weekend, Jolene worked night shifts, so Rylie and I headed home. Saturday, Rylie spent the day with my mom and stepdad. In the morning, they went to the Douglas County Fair in Alex.

They spent a lot of time looking at animals, and Rylie even got to hold a baby chicken. Later in the day, they went to Vining, as mom was marching with the Ashby Color Guard in the Watermelon Days Parade. Weston and I had spent the afternoon golfing north of Battle Lake at Balmoral golf course, so after we finished, we went and watched the parade, too. Mom and Dad both marched through this town of maybe 50 people that had exploded to a temporary population that easily numbered in the thousands. Rylie sat with Grandpa Jack (my stepdad), and loaded up on candy from the floats.

Jolene is getting bigger and bigger as the big day gets closer! She's in the 33rd week of pregnancy now. It was in the 35th week that Rylie showed up, so we're ready at any time. This weekend, at the hospital, Jolene worked on a baby that was born Saturday, in the 33rd week. She loves those real-life reminders of what size her baby is currently (especially, if they're healthy ones!).

Wyatt


STUDENT UPDATE
by Ben Johnson

I think things are starting to wind down. I think I only have two more days of hauling hay left and then I can stop working 13 to 14 hour days until fall field work.

I spent yesterday at school in the cities. The new semester started so I was required to go there for a day to learn how to use a web site that we are using for my critical thinking and ethics classes, which are classes we take at our own pace over the Internet, so we don't have to meet for class anymore. It was all pretty much common sense, but I wasn't going to miss it, just in case it was something I wouldn't be able to figure out on my own.

This semester I am taking 21 credits, so I will be very busy with that. This semester is backwards from my previous ones. I am spending the first half at my internship in Alex and the second half in the cities, at school.

It is getting late, so I better get home and get some sleep. Once again, thank you for re-sending The Bulletin to me. I will look forward to reading them tomorrow.

Editor's note: the following note explains the last sentence of Ben's report.

I have been having some problems with this email account acting strange from time to time so I decided to open another account. The address to that account is benniedj@yahoo.com I am also sick of only having 3MB of storage in this account whereas in yahoo you get 125MB of storage. If you can think of anyone that I missed in the addresses then please pass it on. Thanks.

Ben J.


UPDATE ON DOUG
by the Editorial Staff

Doug has been unable to get his work done this week. Apparently a small patch of poison ivy on the two largest toes on his right foot became infected. On Tuesday he woke up with chills and fever and discovered red lines racing up his right leg and had powerful pain in his thigh. He called Brianna to drive him to the emergency room. There they declared it to be blood poisoning and they gave him IV antibiotics, scraped the wound, and sent him home to elevate his leg and take some more antibiotics by mouth. He went in for a second IV on Wednesday.

Normally, Doug pretty much treats sores with a "big deal" attitude but he said this one really gave him a scare! A real bout with near convulsive shaking can do that!

On Thursday Brianna informed me that the infection is clearing up and his leg wasn't nearly as red as before. Now, he just has to finish up the oral antibiotics. He had just stopped in at the bookstore where she worked to say hello on his way to work. He's lots more chipper and should be 100% healed by next week.

We all want to wish you the best of health -- and have a BEAUTIFUL WEEK!

Dorothy and Jerrianne


BIRTHDAY UPDATE
by Dorothy

Last Tuesday evening, on Becky's 30th birthday, this group met at D Michael B's to help her celebrate the occasion. She had some exciting news and a very special gift from her new fiancé, David O'Brien. Happy Birthday, Becky! Congratulations, David!


Becky Chap's Birthday Party

Clockwise from left: Dorothy Anderson, Becky Chap, David O'Brien, Caity Chap, Linda Knutson, Jayce Chap, Beaver Johnson, Don Anderson. Photographer: Donna Johnson


CAREER UPDATE
by Wyatt Johnson

This may be boring to most people, but I thought it was pretty cool. Some software that I wrote for John Deere's electronic engine control is mentioned in one of our industry magazines. This month's SAE Off Highway Engineering is their annual product guide, where they talk about the latest products available for machinery and off highway vehicles. We have Phoenix International electronic engine controllers on two different types of John Deere engines, Tier 2 and Tier 3 (referring to the tiers of emissions regulations -- the higher the tier, the less exhaust emissions allowed).

The Tier 2 engine is described on page 4 of the document linked below (under the "Multi-purpose engine" heading in the right column). The electronic controls for this began in 1994, and I began working on them as an intern in January of 1997. The description for that engine doesn't refer to any specific software that I did, but I thought I'd include that one, since we do the electronics for it.

The Tier 3 engine is described on page 5 (under the "Engine variety" heading in the middle column). Right above the picture of the engine, it talks about snapshot diagnostics, and this is the software that I wrote. Our co-workers in Waterloo, Iowa, came up with the concept, then sent us the specification, and I did the software based on their description. This software is continually monitoring many important events in the engine (the current engine speed, and possibly other things like the PTO speed, vehicle speed, coolant, oil, or air temperatures, etc.). If anything goes wrong with the engine, this "snapshot" of all the data before and after the problem occurred is saved. Assuming the problem is bad enough that the owner has to take the vehicle in to be serviced, the mechanic can connect a tool to the engine that will read all of this data, hopefully helping to diagnose exactly what went wrong.

http://www.sae.org/ohmag/prodguide/powertrain/08-2004/index.pdf

Like I said, this is probably boring to most people, but it's fun for me to share, as it's usually hard to describe what I do.

Wyatt


Wyatt's Workspace, November 4, 2003; a visual metaphor.

Photo Editor's Note: This snapshot of Wyatt's desk at a specific moment is analogous to his software's virtual "snapshot" of moments before and after a malfunction in equipment monitored by the program he wrote. The Photo is reprinted from Bulletin #69, November 9, 2003, when Wyatt wrote about his work writing software programs for Phoenix International and John Deere.


Day to Day R
With Donna Mae
Ashby, MN



Caity and Jayce at the Perham Pioneer Days log cabin

Beaver, Caity, Jayce and I made a trip to Perham this last weekend, to check out the Pioneer Days going on north of town. There weren't many people and it was rather cold, which surprised us, as we'd left home in sunshine and warm weather. It dropped under 60 degrees north of Perham! Next time, we'll try it on a Saturday and in the sunshine and warmer temps, hopefully.

We had a ride when we first arrived, which circled the area, so we saw them sawing lumber and various other things that were going on. When our ride was done, we walked around to the various buildings, stopping to watch the spinning and a rug being made on a loom. They had people playing old time music and singing some catchy tunes and various artists with their work. Next we toured the "rendezvous" camp, where they had the traders and the various Indian tents and people in period clothing.

In other areas they were playing old time whiffle ball, which some children seemed to be enjoying. There were stalls selling fur hats, wool capes and various other sundry "old time" gear and assorted items. There were several buildings to check out, plus we walked out to the range to watch them shoot the black powder guns. Noisy things, with quite a kick! They even had the babies and children dressed in the period clothing, which made Caity think she'd like to wear some too!

It was fun, in spite of the cold. The kids did enjoy the sights and loved the fresh gingersnap cookies we got at the little cabin. (So did we. :-)


Caity and Jayce in front of the teepee


Travelogue t

The Bolivian Beat
By Mitzi Swenson (Kjirsten's mom)

Kjirsten returned to Bolivia at the end of July, and in August her older brother, Shane, and his friend Jayna Lee from Santa Barbara, California, and Kjirsten's younger brother Derek, and I joined her for almost two weeks. We spent time with her Bolivian host family in Cochabamba, visited the village of Morochata where she's been volunteering, and traveled to La Paz, Copacabana, Lake Titicaca, Sucre, Tarambuco, Potosi and went to a huge Bolivian festival. I'm filling in for her until she resumes writing. Currently, she's off on a vaccinating adventure in some isolated villages with the hospital team.


Derek eating lunch of Argentine food; Kjirsten, Mitzi & Jayna sharing a strawberry licuado (made from fruit blended with sugar and milk or water).

Shane and Jayna got here with a changed flight and no backpacks, so we hope they come today. We ate traditional Bolivian food yesterday at someone's house -- homemade french fries covered with sliced tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, fried meat (thin like jerky) and soft, fresh cheese (like fresh mozzarella). It was delicious! We had the best hot chocolate I've ever had, at a little cafe that was expensive; it was almost $1.

Today we're on foot in Cochabamba, going to Morochata early Tuesday on a bus, returning Wednesday and flying to La Paz on Wednesday, returning here Saturday, and probably flying to Sucre on Sunday and Potosoi on Tuesday. When you travel with Kjirsten, you travel!

Her Bolivian family is delightful; her "mom" gave us all the safety lecture, but she's the only one who can understand more than a few words. Water is limited, so today Shane washed his hair with water from a bucket while we photographed him. Spent last evening with some friends who are both physicians and spoke great English. Last night we went to a concert of live Bolivian folk music and traditional dancing -- quite impressive, beautiful, and colorful.

Everyone is still healthy. :) Shane and Jayna say the weather and trees here are similar to Santa Barbara.

Wish you were here!
Mitzi


Safe way to transport propane? Shane visits with a street vendor.


California, Here We Come! P

The Johnson Family Reunion, Day 4
by Kimberly Johnson


John (center) introduces a horse to those who want to ride.
(Dad, Mark & Whitney in rear of photo)

Friday: I guess I missed out on a pretty neat experience again. On Friday, most of the troops headed over to Cade (John's brother) and Angela's place to ride horses. Their house is only across the street, which means I could walk over there later if I changed my mind. Hmm ... maybe not. It actually takes about half an hour to get over there, without a bridge a little closer.

John has one pretty wild horse that he was riding. The horse was bucking, which caused some entertainment to the rest. I didn't go on this excursion, so I can't say what all happened, but I think many little girls are going to ask their mommies for a pony in the near future!


This and That
6
by Elaine Wold
Wahpeton, ND

In a recent issue of The Bulletin, I found it so interesting to read about the Munsinger Gardens at St. Cloud. Maybe I can put that on my "wish list" for next summer.

This has been such a stay at home summer, with my balance problem. And so ... it was with great anticipation and appreciation that I was able to visit the Bergeson Gardens last Saturday. Muriel and Meryl had been waiting for me to feel stronger so they could take me.

It was a beautiful day and we made a leisurely trip of it, stopping along the way to stretch our legs and have lunches. Arriving at the garden, Muriel exclaimed, "Breathtaking!" We toured the numerous flower beds, which were well marked as to varieties and arranged in various designs. Of course, we had to visit the gift shop and snack bar in there, too.

Eric treated us to some real ragtime music on the piano, not even looking at a note of music! We bought an original tape of Eric and his brother making music, to bring home for Mindy. (One of our family traditions, since my girls were little, is to bring a treat home for the one who couldn't go along!) We listened to it on the way home.

The Bergeson's Nursery and Gardens are located 3 miles south and 5 miles east of Fertile, Minnesota. It has over 6 acres of well manicured lawn, interspersed with over 40 large, various, floral arranged beds. It is a third generation business, having begun in 1937 by Eric's grandfather.

Eric has written several books of homespun essays, which I have read. He writes a weekly column for various newspapers, as well as a daily web log. It was interesting to see that he mentioned me in the log for that day. He was enthused to see I was wanting to get some new rose bushes, in spite of my thinking I should be cutting back on gardening. This reminded me again how we all have to have something to keep us motivated, whatever our hobbies or interests are. The outing was just what was needed to get that back in perspective again!

Photo Editor's Note: Eric's weekly column and daily web log, The Country Scribe, can be found here: http://www.countryscribe.com/weblog/


The Bergeson Gardens, near Fertile, Minnesota


Celebrations & Observances
From the Files of
5
Hetty Hooper

September Holidays & Observances
O
September 6---Labor Day

This Week's Birthdays:

August 24---Becky Chap
August 24---Margret Di Ann Zeppelin (Newborn!)

August 26---Donna Richards
September 2---Patty Anderson
September 2---Brianna Anderson-Jordet
September 2--Stanley Dake
September 3--Eric Printz
September 3---Charlie Quick
September 4--Wiley Nelson

Happy Birthday!

This Week's Anniversaries:

August 28---Merna and Ken Hellevang (22 years)

Congratulations!

More September Birthdays:
'
September 5---Lori Chap
September 5---Genelle Mogck
September 12---Lindsey Hellevang
Serptember 15---Shari Schweiger
September 15---Carolyn Dake
September 19---Nathanial Kurtis Seaman (3 years old)
September 24---Wyatt Johnson
September 28---Donald L. Anderson
September 30---Sheldon Swenson
August 30---Jessica Myron
August 30---Ethan Horne (2 years old)
August 31---Devan Alexander Seaman (2 years old)

September Anniversaries:
Z
September 4---Carolyn and Ernie Dake (33 years)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miss Hetty Says

What fun! TWO engagements, a birth announcement and a birthday party, all in the same week! Congratulations and Welcome and Happy Birthday and all that from the editorial staff of The Bulletin and from Miss Hetty. Thanks to all who sent photos or illustrations and reports on these wonderful events. Keep up the good work, everybody! We love to bring you good news in The Bulletin.

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?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another great Bulletin. Thanks for all your work and efforts to put out such a great Bulletin.

I was wondering if you could send it to Ashley, as I tried but the pictures don't send on, just the writings.

Editor's Note: Of course I will send it! -- DMA ... It is also possible to download recent editions of The Bulletin directly from the web archive. Click here for a menu:

http://www.jlowther.com/Bulletin/pages/archive/


Well, it got down to 36 degrees last night [August 19], here ... How about in Alex? Sure feels like fall! Have had to have the heating stove on a couple of times the past couple of days ... in August!

Looking forward to the next Bulletin.

Diana [Martin]


Great edition, again... I was impressed when I first read Beaver's essay in the Memorial Day issue. He is so interesting to read. I can almost hear the shouts of the marchers ... such vivid descriptions. Would like to read it at historical meeting sometime for Memorial Day program.... Congratulations to him on the Award!

Elaine


Congratulations to Beaver and his writing award! Special!

Doris (Anderson)


Another great action packed Bulletin, Grandma! I can't believe the size of Brianna's fish! It looks like it ate all the ones we caught. This is the third time I've read my dad's story about Memorial Day, and for the third time I got chills from my heels all the way up through the back of my neck. It's not often enough I'm reminded how proud I am of Dad, veterans, and our country. Thankfully, now, many people will get to read this and remember their pride in America.

Wyatt


You can surely use any, or all of my letter in your wonderful Bulletin. Just need you to know ... I LOVE reading your Bulletin; But I miss hearing from Miss Kitty. Hope she writes again soon!

Jo Anne and Wesley

Photo Editor's Note: Miss Kitty has been enjoying her vacation from regular columns during the "busy" season, but she's been storing up her best adventures in the most glorious Alaska summer ever. She plans to be ready when called upon to write again. With all the reports we've heard about how cool and damp the weather has been in the midwest, she's almost afraid to tell you that we kept your usual warm, sunny summer days locked up right here. However, your luck may soon change -- it has been raining like crazy for two days and we had a dandy thunder and lightning storm Wednesday night -- most unusual for Anchorage. I doubt Miss Kitty had ever heard thunder before. -- Jerrianne


CHUCKLES

A Smart Blonde

A blonde walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer.

She says she is going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000. The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for the loan; so, the blonde hands over the keys to a new Rolls Royce. The car is parked on the street in front of the bank. She has the title and everything checks out. The bank agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan.

The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the blonde for using a $250,000 Rolls as collateral against a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then proceeds to drive the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parks it there.

Two weeks later, the blonde returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41. The loan officer says, "Miss, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely; but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multimillionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?"

The blonde replies... "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return?"

To search a name in Who's Who: 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. I know it does in mine.) 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.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY: Every man needs a wife because there are a number of things that go wrong that one can't blame on the government. --Baxter Lane

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.