The Bulletin
Sunday, June 28, 2009 Browse The Bulletin archive index
UPDATE -- it's career shift time for Anita Weiland A lot has been going on in the last couple of months. What has been on a somewhat sour note has come out to be hopefully good. I am changing jobs. I quit the mall and all the baking. My body has been telling me "I think you need to slow down, get off the cement floors, and hauling 50-pound bags from the big cooler and putting them in the bins." My legs and feet have been bothering me a lot. So I have been keeping my eyes open for ads in the newspaper for nursing positions, and finally one came. It is as a Home Health Nurse and is part time, 12 hours per week, with mileage. I see people in their homes. My duties include setting up their medications, doing assessing, dressings, wound care, vital signs, etc. It is maintenance nursing. It helps them to be able to stay in their homes. I went with one nurse last Thursday and now this next week I will be on my own. It all started the day after Memorial Day: they took my application in; the next week I had the interview; then I had to have a physical, including a drug screening test. (I haven't ever had to do that before.) After all, then came all the paper orientation, and now will be on the road. I will be working two full days a week and will cover when someone goes on vacation; then I will take part of their clients. We have also the pipeliners from the Canadian pipeline company. They will be here about six months, putting the pipeline through our county, and they will keep going south to Oklahoma, where the crude will be processed. In our trailer court, we have about 20 big RV's that families bring while they are here. We have been watching the process ... very interesting. When they get part way through Nebraska, they will move the entire work force farther south. (It's quite a way of life for them.) Our paper said we have about 500 families here! Hopefully, this next weekend I will go to Minnesota to the Miller family reunion. It will be nice to see family that I haven't seen in years! Uncle Jim and Uncle Tom will be there, and it will be so good to see them. They are the last siblings in Mom's family. It doesn't seem possible that so many years have passed and so many gone already ... and, yes, when look at what I will be in October -- 70 -- that tells you! Time, indeed, is flying.
UPDATE -- Droels celebrate 88 years with open house I think I told you too many times already that Roy Droel was turning 88 on June 20th. His son Darrel and wife Johanna came from the Washington, DC, area from Wednesday to Sunday and put together a family open house for Father's Day and Roy's birthday.
We just let them do whatever they wanted, and it was in the back yard. Balloons, streamers, children's games, etc., kept everyone in a cheerful mood. Roy just sat in a chair observing and enjoying it all. Roy has another son, Rodger, and his wife Claudia. They have two children, so they and their families came. We had two brand new babies, only 4 weeks old, to meet for the first time. Nina (pronounced Neenah ) Droel, and Camilla Iris Young. Darrel had his son and family, Tim and Heather Droel with their three sons, Houston, Boston and Raleigh. All under 14. We had cake and ice cold pop served all afternoon. The time went too fast, but that's OK -- that means we enjoyed it all very much. UPDATE -- Salutatorian Katie Pettit scores at basketball Katie Pettit started playing on the varsity basketball team when she was in 8th grade. As of the end of her high school career, she has the honor of scoring the most points of any boy or girl that has ever played basketball for the Howard Lake High School, which is now the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School. Her total points were 2,168. Sports were not the only accomplishment for her, though. She also was the Salutatorian of her senior class. And she was the president of the school's Senior National Honor Society. Katie plans to study Psychology (and play basketball) at the Bemidji State University. I would like to say to Weston that I enjoy reading about all the games he has attended, but that I attended one of the most exciting games ever played this spring right at the HLWW School. The reason for the game was this: the girls' team ended up in second place in their regional championship games; they lost by only three points. And the boys ended up in fourth place in their regional championship games this year. So the boys and girls decided they would play each other, so everyone would know who rules! Of course, the girls do -- they won, 12 to 8! It was a Donkey Basketball game. I can't understand why the boys' donkeys were kind of "spirited." The boys had a hard time sitting on them while playing the game. I am sorry the picture of Katie on her donkey was kind of blurred, but the donkey was moving sooo fast it was hard taking the picture. But she must have been able to get it somewhere near the basket as she made six of the points. There were a lot of "tears from laughter" while watching that game.
UPDATE -- the longest day of the year We made it through to summer solstice and it didn't snow -- that came later! Instead of our usual gardening in the park, Barbara and I opted to go to the Alaska Botanical Garden for their annual Garden Fair and Garden Art Show. There were lots of flowers and lots of art, much of it whimsical, and music, too. We had a grand time. After that, I went to a friend's annual solstice pot luck and barbeque. The day, which had started out pleasantly warm, gradually chilled. It took a few more days for the weather to get really mixed up. Heading out on Wednesday evening, I noticed dark storm clouds gathering over the mountains. I came back indoors and unplugged my computer, just in case. I drove through lashing rain but it had moderated by the time I reached Eagle River, 10 miles away. My hosts said they'd had lightning, thunder and hail. By the time I returned a couple of hours later, the sun was shining brightly and a beautiful rainbow shone against the mountains ... the tops of which were now mantled in snowy white! Midsummer in Alaska -- it's full of surprises! Day to Day R
McKenna Turns 2! We went to the lake last weekend, to help McKenna celebrate her second birthday (a few days late). Guests included Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Anderson, Grandpa Larry and Grandma Shirley Ostendorf, Tammy, Wyatt, Jolene and girls, Ben and Ashley and Caity and Jayce, as well as Grandma Donna and Grandpa Beaver. Jayce, Rylie and Brooklynn went swimming in that none-too-warm lake! They'd come out and shiver for a while and then head right back in. Had to be told when it was enough. Camryn and McKenna pushed around strollers, four wheelers and generally entertained themselves very well. Fortunately we'd just finished eating when a small rain came up, so inside we all trooped, to watch McKenna open her gifts. It was good that Great Grandpa and Great Grandma had already left by then. She sure loved the little doll they gave her, though, so they missed seeing that. Both she and Camryn liked pulling the boots off and putting them on again. It looked as though McKenna enjoyed her party.
The Matriarch Speaks W You're Invited to the June 2009 Bulletin Pot Luck The Bulletin Family and Friends Pot Luck Get Together begins at noon on Sunday, June 28th, at the Beaver Johnson farm near Ashby, Minnesota. Click here for details, what to bring, etc. and to let the hosts know that you're planning to come. (No RSVP required for regrets.) Who Is This? Let's Play a Guessing Game: Whenever it is handy to do so, we will run a picture of someone of the subscribers or staff members of our e-magazine. Tell us who you think it is -- we will let you know who was the first to guess it right -- and the correct guess -- in the following week's Bulletin. (Send us some to run; we will line them up in our staging area to take their turn. Steve Weiland supplied last week's mystery photo. How many can you identify? What's going on? Answers to last week's mystery pictures (click here to review them): Editors' Note: Correct guesses appear in bold face type and incorrect guesses in normal type ... generally in the order we receive them, so the first guess received is on top. Well this one is EASY! It is Miss Pinocchio and her cousin once removed. (Also known as Shalana Weiland and Kyla Matteson.) Verlaine Weiland The one on the left is Shalana Weiland and the other one is her cousin (I think), Kari Matteson's daughter. Let me know if I'm right! Hope you're staying cool up there -- it's hot down here. Summer came in a flash. Virginia Adair Is it Shalana Weiland and Kyla Matteson, by chance? Kim Johnson I have a GUESS, but I may be wrong. Those two girls with the big noses look just like my great niece Shalana Weiland on the left, and Kyla Matteson on the right. And yes, they are related, as well as being best friends and only a few days apart in age. That beautiful red hair is natural -- you should see her mom and dad. Betty Weiland Droel Editor's Note: The big noses were a party favor they received at their cousins birthday party, which was a joint party for Kyla & Shalana. Memory Lane A series of recollections, of the five years when Bill and Lois Dake and their family lived in Minnesota, began with the episode in Bulletin 343. It's too soon to tell just how many parts there will be in this series, just after World War II. In Bulletin 349, I told more about polio (once called Infantile Paralysis) via two links, Polio and Sister Kenny, to minimize disruption of the narrative flow. Both documents are posted as a series of scanned images. We can't edit them or correct typos and they will not respond to font changes or printer settings as regular Bulletin pages do.
Friends Don't Just Happen I spend quite a lot of my free time with Bertha. She is in need of a friend and so am I ... so, does it matter that there are several decades of age difference? I think not! Awhile ago, I had told Bertha that I was going to the Markham with my friend Louella. Of course, anyone who knows me probably knows Louella (and Bertha does know her). At the first opportunity after our outing, Bertha called me in to her apartment and sat me down with a freshly baked cookie and a cup of coffee -- as she was curious to know what we thought of the experience of eating out in style. After I explained how impressed I was, she told me of the times she and her husband had gone there in the first days of its existence. She had even met Duncan Hines and his wife. (She thought his wife was from northern Minnesota.) She said that he was a food critic and published a yearly soft cover book called Adventures in Good Eating. The Hines family vacationed in this area several times during the '30s. Bertha told me that she thought an article about The Markham appeared in his publication in about 1935, soon after the restaurant opened. She said The Markham was given a 4-star rating, which I understand was considered the top award. It continued to appear in later copies and it had many rave notices. But she hasn't seen a copy in many years and thinks that after Mr. Hines started his food marketing he discontinued his food critiquing. I told her I think they would still earn four stars if it were for me to decide. (But one does have to admit, I do not have much high style eating to compare it to. Mom's cafe is nice but hardly stylish!) I am so glad that I could learn a few things about the way things were in this fine city back when Bertha was my age. It seems they had lots of fun and entertainment, too. I do think that this summer we will find a thing or two to do together, even though Bertha is not able to be out and about very much at all. Memory does make a good bridge between ages! I am so glad she is so cheerful and so knowledgeable. She is fun to be with -- and beside all of that, she bakes a "mean cookie." This is just an added bit to let you know I try to make this friendship work two ways. I have found that Bertha loves the lemon-filled doughnuts that they sell at the bakery next to the Corner Drug Store. I found that out once when I bought a dozen of mixed sweets for Marie to serve with coffee. I just thought maybe Bertha would like one. It turns out the lemon-filled ones are her favorites. So now I can bring her treats for us to have together occasionally. Another thing I have found out is that she loves to have me bring her mail up to her from the table by the door, where Mrs. Walters puts it when she picks the mail out of the box where the mailman deposits it. The steps aren't my favorite either, but I do have to climb them so I might as well save her the trip! And once she asked me, as a favor, to pick up the weekly paper for her. (She insisted on sending the pay for it.) She does not subscribe to it but sometimes there are things she wants to check out ... so now she has a way to get a copy when she wants one. They are for sale in The Sports Shop next door to Photo North, so it is no problem for me. Tonight, Bertha and I are together again on the Fourth of July. This time it is in the area right at the end of the hall and my room opens onto it. The railing goes around the stairway which leads down from this general area, too. We have each found a chair we like and I have put out a little end table with a bag of popcorn and mixed nuts mixed together in a borrowed bowl. Well, this is not cooking so it should be acceptable ... and one does have to entertain a guest. (A coke is pretty legal, too, we think.) Now why are we going to all this fuss? Bertha and I are going to be watching the Independence Day fireworks from these windows. We have one of the best views in this area, as we are only a few blocks from where they are fired out over Lake Bemidji. And because this home we live in is so nice and tall, and because we can put up the shades and push back the curtain panels and the windows are kept sparkly clean ... we are all set. The whole gang back home have eaten at the Cokato Drive Inn and then have driven over to Annandale and spread out a bunch of blankets. They are probably about to enjoy the fiery spectacle from far enough back so they can wiggle their way out to get home. (How do I know? Lois told me. We do talk to one another -- phone connections are not perfect, but good enough to make me lonesome when I heard her voice!) As to the time this will all happen ... we all have to wait for the sun to go down first. In a few minutes, Bertha will finish her dishes and bring her chair down and we will visit until they start the show ... and now the fun is about to begin!
Travelogue t
Hiking The Annapurna Circuit The small village of Khudi was the starting point for our hike. There was still a rough dirt road going to the north and we took off walking, full of energy and determination to get some miles behind us with what was left of the first day. After about a half mile, we see a bridge cross the river but the road continues straight so we stay on it. A mile or so later the road comes to a stream with no bridge or crossing where a lady is washing clothes in the stream. She looks at us with a puzzled look on her face. We, too, are confused and wonder how we are going to get across the 20 to 30 foot wide stream without getting soaked. Kjirsten asks her if the next village is across the stream and up the road. The woman shakes her head and says, "Go back, go back," then carries on with her laundry. We look at the map and realize the trail crossed the river where we walked by the bridge and go back. This adds a couple of unwanted miles to our walk and I notice how much longer the distance seems as we retrace our steps. I am also wondering if we should have hired a guide. Here we are, lost in the first 20 minutes and we have 15 to 18 days to go! Fortunately, from this point on, we start seeing a few signs at trail junctions; we watched our map more carefully and never got seriously lost again.
Annapurna Recommended reading: The Violet Shyness of Their Eyes by Barbara J. Scot; Touching My Father's Soul by Jamling T. Norgay; Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson; The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen. We promptly take a path upstream instead of crossing the bridge and learn the first lesson about scrutinizing the map or asking for directions.
Ngadi Bazar is where we stop for the first night at a tea house with friendly staff and a beautiful garden. A Nepali guide and porter come to visit with us while we feast on pumpkin soup, chapati, dal bhat, rice pudding, tea and hot chocolate. The young boy serving our table sang softly to himself as he worked. Dinner and the night's lodging, with thin wooden walls and a tarp ceiling that had birds roosting and little critters running across it during the night, cost about $12 for all three of us. To be continued... Celebrations & Observances This Week's Special Days This Week's Birthdays
This Week's Anniversaries More July Birthdays More July Anniversaries July Special Days Miss Hetty's Mailbox: Dear Miss Hetty, Thank you for that nice anniversary card! Hard to believe it's been 39 years. Where have they gone! Our trip (to Minnesota) plans are firming up a bit... I sure am looking forward to seeing you! Steve Miller Thanks for your birthday greeting card. On Saturday evening some friends came in the evening and on Sunday I went to my sister and brother-in-law's. My sister has her birthday on June 18 and on that day she had to work. So on Sunday we kind of celebrated it together. Was a nice afternoon and evening. Ary Ommert, Jr. 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? This week I have to work and after that holidays. The second week I go to Norway to visit my friends. Won't be able to visit The Bulletin meeting but who knows later this year? Next week when I have holidays I want to make an article for The Bulletin. That week I have enough time tor doing that. Last weekend was cool but now the temperatures are going up and we get more sun. Haven't been to the beach many times so far. Greetings from the Netherlands, Ary Ommert, Jr. Last Week's Bulletin Review JKL That first picture is just about the cutest picture possible to depict the Father's Day issue of our Bulletin. What a treasure to that dad to have his son following in his footsteps with pride and ambition to be "like Dad." The best part of it all is that it is our friends, not some magazine story with a dolled up, posed picture with models. If you notice the tools on the ground, you will see the little fellow has a bigger wrench than his dad's screwdriver. That picture is worth a million words. Every picture we have of Hunter Holman shows him growing up and becoming a big boy with his hockey gear instead of a child's toy anymore. I really appreciate watching these newborns growing up with updates in The Bulletin. We have several now since I was introduced to this Bulletin family. It doesn't take long for changes in sizes and interests. We even get in on the stitches too close to his eye. Aiden and Austin ... nice names for brothers. Have they ever changed since this picture of them at age 1/2 and 3 in Bulletin 235!
We are so glad to follow along with the house building Wyatt Johnson is doing. It is big. It is nice they can have it before the children grow up so they can enjoy the room. Early August will be here all too soon, maybe, or is it not soon enough? Can you imagine picking out colors and textures and fabrics and designs that will wear well with them all? It's nearly time for me to start some supper here, and looking at those pictures of the Steppen gras, makes me hungry. It looks scrumptious, and even if it looks like a huge mound, I see it disappeared. I wonder if we can find shoestring French fries here? Leave it to our photo editor to include that beautiful, soft pink picture of the wild roses. With a bee on it, too, yet. I loved seeing all stages of blossom on that one picture. I spent too much time looking at the link about The Longest Day of the Year. Also the sunset and sunrise pictures it directed us to, available at Target. I remember being in Alaska in the summer one time with mosquitoes covering the back of a blouse in front of me. So far, we don't have them here, where we are, but likely they will appear. Thank you, Jerrianne, for that special update. You don't write often enough. Caity a TEENAGER? A Hawaiian theme would have been so unique for Ashby. The decorated pineapple took some time and thought. The Johnsons are making good use of their additional room. A birthday to remember, turning 13 years old. Well, I must say Donna Mae is quite photogenic there at the airport lunch. She looks pretty trim and cool before they headed for Phoenix in the summer. Oh, and then another reminder of The Bulletin Family and Friends pot luck. I would so love to be there, but that is a day that is totally occupied for us right here. I can only hope someone will write it up for The Bulletin. Memory Lane. I am always ready to stop for however long it takes to read and study and visualize and imagine Dorothy's world at that time as she so aptly describes it. I have no problem staying focused and interested in that story. I thoroughly enjoyed every single little detail of that meal in the Markham Hotel. A lifetime memory for those two working girls, newly trying their wings in this big old expensive world. I laughed at the finger bowls. Now, that would be a great idea when we serve BBQ ribs, don't you think? I wonder if I could get Roy to carry around those bowls and towels to our guests? Actually, I like to just dampen a washcloth for the ear to ear clean-up. I realize Bruce McCorkell's diary is finally completed, but I missed it being there. We can depend on the Swensons for continuation of their Travelogue, and we are glad. Fun to get both Sheldon's and Mitzi's take on their impression and ideas. Those fabrics for sale were so attractive with their vivid colors and patterns. I almost shuddered to read about the bus and pickup ride, and then to be dropped off on the edge of nowhere to begin their hike into the unknown. Thank you for the descriptive account and the excellent photography you are sharing with us. Quite a picture, Bitzi, of the laughing, dashing waters. Surely you didn't take that one yourself, or did you? Krista will miss her CHUCKLES, but this WITH LOVE is a nice change. Thanks, Photo Editor, for the variety. I can't ignore the Quotation for the day: Fathers (or mothers) are not born, but grow into their role. A "mother's or father's touch" comes with holding that newborn of your very own flesh with the love that can't be expressed or described. So, once again, our Bulletin has arrived, been read word for word, and commented on. Already we are thinking of the next one. We never get enough of the kind of family saga that we enjoy as each one submits their family events to be included in The Bulletin. Betty Droel CHUCKLES
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Quotation for the day: Summer afternoon -- summer afternoon ... the two most beautiful words in the English language. --Henry James 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.
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