This will be short. It is 9:00PM. This morning I had to go for a followup mammagram. Thank the Lord. It came out OK so I am back on my usual checks again. It is always a little frightening when they want you to come back to check something "questionable".

Then I had my teeth cleaned. And tonight I went to Volunteer Appreciation Night Banquet for the volunteers to Rocky Knoll. I go out there every month or so to help the residents play bingo. They have such fun that it becomes fun for the volunteers. The staff out at Rocky Knoll is very caring and obviously take such good care of their charges. For those that do not know, Rocky Knoll is the county Health Care Hospital for many disabled people. We play bingo with the mildly retarded, aged and sometimes a bit disturbed. But they are all sweet and love to win their quarters which they can use in the vending machines.

Remember - Peace starts with a smile.

Mary

Boy, did we ever get a wind storm last night and this morning. I guess we've had worse but it was pretty bad. The temperatures are in the mid to high 50s which I don't mind. Wouldn't hurt to be a little warmer though.

I guess it is in the 80s in Boston. They were running the Boston Marathon today in that heat. I wonder how many made it through this year. Several years ago, my brother George ran the Boston Marathon. He came in the upper 1/3 of the finishers. Pretty impressive for a guy in his late thirties who had just started running a couple of years earlier. His wife, Betsy, tells the story of the first marathon he ran. I think it was in Texas but would not swear to that. She was waiting at the finish line. As she waited, a man ran across the finish line, collapsed and died on the spot. Eventually, George came through and she said he looked like he was going to die too. Obviously, he didn't and he went on to run others. He said he learned from that experience. One thing he said, I have always remembered. If you are in a physically stressful event or situation, grab water whenever you can. If you wait until you are thirsty, it will be too late. Your brain just doesn't assimilate the thirsty need soon enough. Just like it takes about 15 minutes for your brain to know that you are full after eating.

Have a great day.

Mary

Today while in church I realized that I was slumping my shoulders a bit and the nicest memories of my Grandmother Matie Bowser came in to my mind.

Grandma Bowser was a lady and she ALWAYS stood proud with her shoulders back and her head high. When I think of how a lady behaves, I only need to remember her and her manners and ways and KNOW. She often said that she married Irish but she married Lace Curtain Irish not Shanty Irish.

On the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Grandma Matie and Grandpa John Bowser, my Dad wrote a parody of an old Irish Song called John O'Connor's Wedding Day.

Here are his words:

One morning Johnny Bowser was as happy as could be
For in an hour he would wed his beautiful Marie.
He whistled as he dressed himself in his Sears and Roebuck suit.
He was thinking of his sweetheart.
She really was a beaut.
Matie's face was blushing as they walked down the aisle.
And when the preacher tied the know
John's face beamed with a smile
When it all was over to the parsonage they went.
John meant to pay the preacher
But he couldn't find a cent.

Chorus:

Down went his hands into
His pockets, they were deep.
Down went they deeper
He was in an awful sweat.
50 years have passed away
And still I'll always bet
That he hasn't found the bottom yet.

Ahh Ha Ha A

(Grandma's name was Marie, but she was called Matie by those who knew her well. I called her Grandma.)

Love

Mary

Yesterday the 80s and today back down in the 50s. We are on a weather roller coaster. At lest the low is in the 50s not the 20s like it has been. More and more green is showing up all the time.

Today I am making a pork roast with bread dumplings for dinner. Most of the recipes I find have you dropping the dumplings in salt water but my Grandma Deeley used to make them by pressing the dumplings on the roast for the last hour or so of cooking. This kind of bakes them and the juices of the meat soak into them a bit too. Leftover dumplings fry up in butter the next day and are really yummy.

My cousin Patty showed me how to do this when she stayed with us for a couple of weeks when she was working out in California. I did not write down the recipe, so I searched the internet and have come up with a recipe that should work.

I took 4 hardrolls and soaked them for a while in 1/2 cup of milk. Then I added two tablespoons of butter and 2 eggs and some parsley to the soaked bread. It was pretty soupy so I added some more bread crumbs, formed the dumplings and slapped them onto the pork which had been roasting about an hour. It sure smells good. I will let you know tomorrow how they turned out.

Dick and I are also having sauerkraut. Jim hates sauerkraut, but I have some green beans for him so he will survive. I used up the last of the hard boiled eggs as deviled eggs so they won't care what else I fixed anyway.

Later

Mary

I had lunch with the "girls" I used to work with at Wells Fargo. It had been about three weeks since I saw or heard from anybody. Within the past two weeks, two of our friends who are still working had problems which I will add to my prayer list and I hope you do to. One friend, Karen, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo a double mastectomy. Another friend, Barb, has a daughter who gave birth to a baby girl with Downs Syndrome and apparently also heart, sight and hearing problems. Lots of prayers for that little person and lots of prayers for the family. Barb said that the baby is beautiful. God always gives us something. Anyway, we will pray and try to offer encouragement.

The temperature on the car thermometer was 80 degrees on my drive back from Plymouth. This is a far cry from the 32 we had just a couple of days ago. I went out and trimmed the blossoms off of a bush in the front this morning and let Chelsea enjoy the fresh air with me. I'll bet we will both sleep very well tonight.

I read the most wonderful paragraph in a book called ANAM CARA by John O'Donohue today on the transience nature of time. I would like to share it with you.

"There was never a dawn, regardless of how beautiful or promising, that did not grow into noontime. There was never a noon that did not fall into afternoon. There was never an afternoon that did not fade toward evening. There never was a day yet that did not get buried in the graveyard of the night. In this way transience makes a ghost out of everything that happens to us."

He goes on to say that these vanished moments secretly gather in a special place. That special place is memory.

Have wonderful moments to story in your special place.

Mary

Today is April 15, Tax Day. We have been done for about a month now. We paid the State and got a refund from the Federal and have spent it already.

Our dishwasher was a disaster. Not old particularly, and still kind of working but the dishes on the top shelf never got clean and it ruined all of our glasses. So we had enough of a refund to buy a new one and did. So far so good. At least the top shelf comes out clean. It is the quietist one I think we ever had and Jim said it sighs. Twice it has sighed at him while he was getting something in the kitchen and made him jump because he thought someone was there.

It was pleasant enough this afternoon that I was able to go out in the yard and clear the leaves off of my herb garden.. I am pleased to tell you that my chives, parsley, thyme, oregano and lavender are all coming back and the rhubarb is coming up too. We are supposed to have rain and warm weather this weekend. I hope there is a bit of a thunder storm because that seems to make the leaves just pop out on the trees. Yea for Spring.

Sheboygan Falls has their annual Home and Hearth Days this weekend. Every year they have a food contest. Three years ago it was bread and I won third prize with my Irish Soda Bread. Last year was cheesecake and I didn't win. This year is cheesecake again and the following is the cheesecake that I am going to enter.
I haven't tried it before so will make three little tastes for Jim, Dick and I.

Fiesta Cheesecake

Source: Casa Sedona Bed & Breakfast Inn, Sedona, Arizona

1 1/2 cups finely crushed tortilla chips
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups (10 ounces) shredded Monterey
jack cheese with peppers
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped sweet yellow pepper
1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/2 cup green onions
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped ripe olives
2 bunches fresh cilantro or parsley (optional)

Combine tortilla chips and butter; press onto bottom of a lightly greased 9-inch spring-form pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Beat all 19 ounces of cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer for 3 minutes or until fluffy; add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in cheese, chiles and ground red pepper. Pour into prepared pan, and bake at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack.

Place on a bed of fresh cilantro or parsley, if desired. Gently run a knife around edge of pan to release sides, and let cool completely. Spread sour cream evenly over top; cover and chill.

Arrange green pepper and remaining ingredients on top as desired.

Yields one 9-inch cheesecake or 25 appetizer servings.


Wish me luck

Mary

We concluded our study of the Vatican II Constitutions at the Bible Study today. We only went about half way through the book - through the changes on Sacred Liturgy because we really want to get back to a Bible Study. Next week we start the letters of Peter. We had some rather heated discussions of sacred music (how contemporary should we get? What about Gregorian Chant -where has it gone?) It was fun.

I am writing a poem about my Uncle George Deeley. He was my Dad's brother and a bachelor. He was born and raised in the home on School Street in Sheboygan Falls that my brother Randy bought after Aunt Helen died. He stayed with Aunt Helen, who also never married until he died of cancer. He was a good looking guy, rather shy and very well liked.

Once a week, he would walk down town and go to three or four bars throughout the evening, meeting friends and lifting a few and exchanging tales and whatever guys do. The last time I saw him was back in 1978. I was living in California at the time but was visiting Sheboygan Falls for my 30th High School Reunion. The boys and I were coming out of Evans (You know Evans. It is the dime store in Sheboygan Falls that has been there since I was a little kid and probably before. They say if you can't find it at Evans - it doesn't exist. Children LOVE to go to Evans.) Anyway we looked down the street and Dales Bar (now Chuck and Sue's) was burning. I rushed up the street to see and ran into Uncle George coming down the street. I said. "Dale's is burning." He said. "I know, I was in there." George used a cane for years but his friends said he really made good time getting out or that bar.

He always sent me a cheese box for Christmas. I was his goddaughter you know.

Love

Mary

Again, I have two cats sprawled on my desk. I really need two desks. One to work on and one for the cats to "be with me" under a nice warm desk lamp. I am going to add a picture of them on the desk. If you look at the computer screen, you can see our old cat Waylon. He was with us for 18 years and we still miss him. It is taking both of these kitties to make up for him. They are something else. The black one is Big Oscar and weighs 15 pounds. The tabby is Foxy Roxie. She weighs 9 pounds and has no tail.



Every day has one hour in which a wish may be granted and in which a person has the power to see spirits. Only by trial and error can that period be known. (An Irish Superstition)

May you find your hour.

Mary

It was a meeting day. This morning the book discussion group met. Our topic was Stretching Your Limits. We are a group of doers, it appears. They suggest stretching physical, mental and spiritual limits. We decided that by establishing a bible study group, we are stretching our spiritual limits and perhaps that is enough for right now. I think I mentioned in an earlier entry, that Liz Holtz, one of our participants, said that she would like to study Psalms, so that is where we will start. We have decided to skip the last week in April and begin our study on May 3rd at the same time as these discussions. I will send for the study guides from The Liturgical Press. We will use the Collegeville Bible Commentary series which I have had experience with at the Wednesday morning group that meets at St. Clements.

I am going in to quite a bit of detail because Tom Keyes, a member of the group, and Blessed Trinity's webmaster is going to put a link to my web page on the parish site. This means that I need to be more informative about some things and I want to be more entertaining as not everybody will know me so well as most of my current readers.

I figure I will be sure to add a poem (mine or some master poet), a quotation, a recipe, or an anecdote or story to each entry. Today you are getting a poem. I was at Writer's Club today and read two new ones to them and they seemed to find them likeable. I welcome comments and you can do so on the web page, on the left at the bottom of all of those dates. Just click on Tell Me and you will link to my AOL address. Otherwise, it is mkunert@aol.com. The poem I will share today is an early morning experience shared only with my dog as we walked. It is an attempt to share it with others.


AVIAN BALLET

By

Mary J. Kunert


We saw them in the morning sky
Sweeping, swirling up on high.
The starlings rival Fosse's dancers.
Never falter - forwards, backwards.
Never a trip or misstep there
Death defying in the air.

Blue Angels can't compete
With Avian Dancers o'er the street
Feathered dancers wing to wing
Glide in silence - deafening.
Thirty - forty we can't count
The tension and the beauty mount.

Back and forth in joy they flow
Like a disc on blue they go
So close we hold our breath in wonder
They do not touch or stray or blunder
Alighting finally in the trees
They chatter proudly to the breeze



Have a wonderful week

Mary

Easter was very special. The Mass was very special to me and all the choir. We sang our hearts out and even got applause a couple of times which is unusual, because, as you know, it is not a common thing during the services. We even has a Celtic dancer during the song the Lord of the Dance just before the offertory.

I talked to Bret today. He is still a bit tired but is feeling fine and will be back to work this week. We had a nice phone visit.

Steve told us the funniest Easter story today. It seems that some friends of ours took their children to see the Easter Bunny at the Mall. It was not a successful trip at all, because the four year old stated immediately that that was NOT the Easter Bunny. Easter Bunnies do NOT walk, they HOP.

Then they filled the Easter Baskets after the kids were in bed and hid them in the bathtub. The Daddy got up in the morning, reached behind the shower curtain and proceeded to turn on the shower to warm it up while he brushed his teeth. Thought it sounded funny and threw the curtain back to find a river of chocolate floating down the drain. The Easter that is best forgotten but will be remembered through all family history.

Hope your chocolate didn't get floated down the drain.

Love

Mary

I prepared as much of the Easter Dinner as I could today. I baked the Blitz Torte. Grated the cheese for the mac and cheese and got up the dishes. I also filled the Easter Baskets. I will put them out when I take Chelsea for her walk in the morning.

It snowed today. Not a lot - non stayed on the ground- the temperature stayed in the upper 30s and the road actually got wet as the snow melted on the warmer pavement. But it snowed. This is not what one wants for Easter Weather. One is supposed to be able to wear nice pastel dresses and straw hats with flowers on them and sandals just for pretty.

The choir will be singing at the 10:30 Mass. The last time with Steve directing us so we want to really be good. Then Jim and Bobbie and I will go pistol shooting and then we will have a lovely Easter Dinner at about 5:30.

I have a teeny Easter Basket and a bunny bell for Bobbie, Bill, Bart and Barb too. I hope they don't read this posting tonight. It would ruin the surprise.

Have a Blessed Easter and remember that HE IS RISEN and saved us all.


Love

Mary

Good Friday. The choir sang at the services. We are singing with such enthusiasm and trying to remember everything because we are so glad to have Steve Naffin directing us for these holy days. We will have him on Easter Sunday too. But he is ill and it is very hard on him.

Haven't heard from Bret, so I am going to assume that that means that he is doing VERY well and has nothing to report. Thank you for all your prayers.

I am going to share the reading from Cadfael's Book of Days. It was really super and worth sharing.

"Don't reach for your halo too soon. You have plenty of time to enjoy yourself, even a little maliciously sometimes, before you settle down to being a saint."

I need to get Easter Baskets out tomorrow.

Love

Mary

Hallelulah!!!!! Bret had his surgery at 7:30AM and I talked to him at 11:30AM. He sounded just fine and said everything went well. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. Now I can really rejoice this Easter.

The Holy Thursday service was very nice. Bob Born, a music teacher at Falls High school, played the organ. He is always a pleasure to listen to. As we didn't sing, I was able to be a minister of communion which is always a wonderful experience. I never grow tired or used to that. Maybe because of all those years that we were not even allowed to touch the Eucharist and received it on our tongue. Which was rather silly as it is supposed to be a meal and we feed ourselves at meals. Anyway, I find it a very moving experience to be able to be an extraordinary minister.

I took poor little Chelsea to the vet today for her heartworm test. She was a pitiful little thing. We always have to muzzle her because I think she probably would snap at them and then she would feel bad. (Ha Ha). He took blood and then her little leg bled a bit and he had to put alcohol on it to stop the bleeding. Poor baby. Well, she will enjoy the chewable heartworm pills throughout the summer anyway. Now ALL of the animals are set for about a year.

SALAD
9 cups torn mixed salad greens
1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions
2 teaspoons unsalted sunflower kernels

DRESSING
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate
1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar or additional cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped scallion
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
Water


1. Make salad: Gently toss greens, oranges, scallions, and sunflower kernels in a large salad bowl.

2. Make dressing: Combine dressing ingredients in a measuring cup. Add enough water to measure 1 cup. Pour into a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.


Per serving (1 1/2 cups): Calories 140, fat 9 g, saturated fat 1 g, cholesterol 0 mg, sodium 130 mg, carbohydrate 16 g, fiber 4 g, protein 2 g.


From Light & Tasty

The recipe is from our ChangeOne Diet and I am fixing it with the Ham dinner on Easter. It is really GOOD.

Love

Mary

Bret will have surgery tomorrow morning around 6:00AM. The angioplasty is so non invasive that he probably will be able to go home tomorrow evening. I sure hope so, then I will know that everything is OK. Please keep him in your prayers. I know this surgery is minor as far as danger but as I heard one time, I believe that Dave Barry said it, no surgery is minor if it is MY child.

We had choir practice tonight. It is so good to have Steve there to direct us and we do appreciate him pushing himself to do it for us. He is really exhausted as he is very ill but I hope he knows how much we all love him. He should from the enthusiastic singing he is getting out of us. Easter music is so beautiful.

Bobbie and Bill and Bart and Barb are coming for Easter Dinner. I found a little present for everybody and got the last of the Easter candy today. The Easter Bunny does come to our house you know.

"May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities, and promises."
John O'Donohue


Thanks for your prayers.

Mary

This was not a good day. Bret called this morning. He is back in the hospital so we need a lot of prayers again. It seems to be the same thing as he experienced four months ago. They though the balloon inserted by the angioplasty would solve the problem but now they may have to clamp off the offending blood vessel. I am very worried.

Please pray.

Love

Mary

We had a stimulating book discussion today. We were talking about love and expressing love for others and how it does become easier as we get older to do so. Perhaps we aren't so worried about rejection, or we are just more comfortable in doing so. Anyway, we had a lot to say about it. We just have two more weeks of the book and have agreed to continue meeting for a bible study. Liz said she would like to study Psalms so we are going to start with that. I love my Wednesday bible study group but it would be good to have a study group at Blessed Trinity and I would be pleased to be instrumental in starting it. I think we could grow. Spreading the word of Jesus is what we are supposed to do and knowledge and love will do it.

I guess this is a little bit of a rambling paragraph. But I just wanted to get some thoughts down. Enjoy tomorrow. I guess we will, BUT we have to take the cats to the vet for their yearly checkup. Always and adventure.

Love

Mary

We decided a year ago, when we got the cats, that this would be their birthday, so we can keep track of their ages. The cats are six now and Chelsea is ten. So on the way back from church, I bought a cake. I got a Pepperidge Farm Coconut cake so Chelsea could at least lick the plate. She was grateful.

It was a pleasant day but a busier one than I expected. After Mass, Jim and I went out to Rhine to join Bobbie in shooting and to my surprise, I was supposed to be working. So I did. It seemed rather quiet but we ran 16 teams through on a Lewis Shoot which is very good.

I hope you all remembered to "spring forward" with your clocks. One of my friends, still in the mortgate business, send postcards to her data base, telling them to turn their clocks back. I didn't call her because I am sure she heard from tons of other people and WHY rub it in. So far I am not feeling that I lost an hour.



Thought I would send a picture of (in order) Jim, Bret, Bobbie and Bart from Bret's visit last summer.

Enjoy your week.

Mary

Saturday. I didn't put any makeup on today. How lazy can one get. Chelsea got her bath today and looks just as pretty as can be. Of course, she is rather resentful. Then to top it off, Jim got up late and didn't eat breakfast so she didn't get her bits of cereal which she really expected. This has not been a particularly good Doggie Day.

I cooked up a corned beef brisket for dinner. I roasted it this time - something new. I found this recipe on Allrecipe.com. You rub about a cup of brown sugar over a 4 lb corned beef brisket and pour a bottle of Guiness gently over and around it. Then roast at 300 degrees for 2.5 hours. I is delicious. We had colcannon with it.

Hope your Saturday was a relaxing as mine.

Have a good Sunday.

Love

Mary

It was a beautiful day today. Very seasonable with temperatures in the upper 40s and no wind. So we were able to go out with light jackets and breath in the spring air. Tonight daylight savings time begins and we must remember to turn the clocks forward one hour. We lose an hour which will delight Chelsea no end - at least for the first day or two until we settle in to it.

We had a recall on the Santa Fe. Apparently they had to adjust the computer on the brake system so it would work properly at speeds under 5 MPH. Doesn't sound like a big thing but it would be bad if you were trying to stop in a garage or something at any speed.

Bart and Barb came to visit this afternoon with Bart's friend Scott Vacenovsky, who was a classmate when we lived in Huntington Beach 20 years ago. They have kept in touch all these years off and on. He was the sweetest little boy and has turned into a wonderful man. Dick and I took them to Riverdale for a traditional Sheboygan Perch Dinner. They still do a great dinner even if they have about tripled the price. When Dick and I were dating, he took me for a fish dinner almost every Friday. Once we got married, this stopped. As Dick said, he didn"t have to be courting me any more after that. Besides, he married a cook and didn't need to.

Love

Mary

April Fools Day. We are pretty quiet about it and don't tease each other. We shopped today. We went to Woodlake because we needed Glass Magic. All stores don't stock Glass Magic and with our hard water we NEED it. Even with that we get icky stuff on our glasses with hard water film.

Tonight I went to a poetry workshop led by Susan Firer, an excellent poet. She read one of hers about Pagan Babies. Pagan Babies keep popping up in my life. They resurfaced when the Sheboygan Theatre did "Do Patent Leather Shoes Reflect Up" and show up every so often. I remember asking Kay Hefling Altmeyer one St. Patrick's Day at 52 Stafford if SHE remembered them and she did of course. Susan Firer also wrote a wonderful poem about Plenary Indulgences that we "earned" for the Poor Souls in purgatory on All Saint's Day.

We wrote a collaborative list poem which I can share with you because I wrote the first line

I call it

COLLABORATIVE SHEBOYGAN

Broderick Crawford came from Sheboygan Falls, You Know.
Sheboygan is such a heavy name.
The days going down by Prange's - Once Hey
She - Boy - Again
That's what the Squaw said.
Lots of water - smelly fish
Fryouts on weekends - Brats
Hard Rolls from City Bakery
Confirmation Class to fry brats on Sunday
Kevin Costner came here.
Kaleidoscope driving through the Kettles.


Hope you like it.

Mary

Mother, Dick and I went to dinner at Richards this evening and followed that with Sheboygan Theatre Company's production of Charlie's Aunt. It was well done and very funny. A pleasant way to spend the evening. It is always a pleasure to spend an evening with Mother.

I am keeping this short because it is WAY past my bedtime, so I will leave you with today's reading from Cadfael's Book of Days.

"Never go looking for disaster. Expect the best, and walk discreetly as to invite it, and then leave all to God."

Love and stuff

Mary

So far this week has been great. And it is ABOUT time.

I went to see The Passion of the Christ last evening with my friend Debby Dobrzynski, from Blessed Trinity. It was moving. It was violent. There were a couple of messages that I didn't get. There were more that I did. I sensed the compassion of Pilot, his wife and the Centurian. I was shocked at the violence of the temple guard and the Roman soldiers. It is not a movie one enjoys, one experiences it and it is painful.

When I got home, I had a message from my cousin, Fr. Mike Shea. I am sure I have mentioned him before. He is a Redemptorist priest and a missionary in Thailand. I will attach the biography I wrote about him as it has been months since I mentioned him and it has most of the information about him and his AIDS kids. Anyway, I contacted the Elizabeth Taylor Foundation because I knew she is interested in AIDS causes and the foundation, after due consideration, is sending $10,000 to Sarnelli House. I knew she was a good woman and loves children too, so figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. And it didn't.

I wish you could see those beautiful children that Fr. Mike's mission takes care of. Perhaps I can get Jim to scan a picture in for me to send to you.

Here is the biography. Say a prayer of thanks for goodness and generosity in this world of ours. And a special prayer for Elizabeth Taylor.


Fr. Michael Shea

Fr. Michael Shea was born in Armstrong, Wisconsin July 30, 1938, the eldest child of John W. Shea and Eileen O’Conner Shea.

He was ordained a Redemptorist priest on July 2, 1964. Two years later, on January 31, 1966, he began his ministry in Thailand. His first challenge was learning the language. Then, for nine years, he cared for 12 villages strung along the Mekong River and inland.

His next assignment was in the Loei province, tending some mountain villages and also Hmong refugees in the Vinai refugee camp for six years.

In the early eighties, he built and staffed the Prince of Peace minor seminary, completing the building in 1982 and staying until 1984 when he returned to the Mekong River, staying until 1996 when he became rector and director of novices in Nongkhai in northeast Thailand.

Currently, Mike pastors four parishes. He has also established a hostel for Aids infected children called Sarnelli House in Don Wai. There are 36 Aids infected children in the hostel. Along with the Aids hostel he has a boys home called St. Patrick’s with 17 boys and a girls hospice called Viengkhuk Girl’s Hospice with 36 girls. These 53 healthy children have been orphaned and abandoned, usually because their mothers, dying of Aids were forced out of their homes because of fear of the disease.


The following is a paragraph from Fr. Mike’s Christmas 2002 letter to his friends and family.

“After 3 years with our kids, I have come to the conclusion that God made Christmas especially for children. Each year, after Midnight Masses at our four churches, kids in our hostels perform Christmas skits at the parties. This morning the Vienkhuk hostel girls told me excitedly that they are already having play practice. In their plays, the baby Jesus gets separated from His parents and never sees them again. He wanders from home to home, and the people refuse to invite Him to eat or stay with them. This achingly mirrors their lives before being taken in by us.”


Mike brings photograph albums of the children whenever he comes home, pictures of the children all dressed up for plays or playing or in school. They are all scrubbed and wide-eyed and beautiful. Someone asked him why he doesn’t show pictures of the sick children or as they arrive to invoke sympathy like some ministries do. He said that he lets the kids put the albums together and they want to put pictures of themselves and their friends looking good. Wouldn’t your children?



Last count, Mike said there are close to 100 children under his care now. The government is starting to send them now.

Have a good Wednesday. I'll be thinking of you.

Mary

It is raining. We even had a bit of thunder. Not as much as I was expecting, but enough to make Chelsea a bit nervous. She has not scooted to hide her head under the bed yet this year. I expect that will come. It seems to me that it was in July or August, the year I came to my high school reunion while I was still living in California.

As a matter of fact, the boys were still pretty young. Bret was maybe 10 and Bart 5. Anyway, a big thunder storm came up that was banging thunder and flashing lightening with unbridled fury. It was also hotter than the hinges of Hades. We were watching TV downstairs when Mother and I discussed whether we should turn it off the TV because sometimes TVs can be conduits for the lightening and dangerous. Suddenly, both boys thought it might be a good idea to just go to bed. What a night. Mother had put them in a bed together, but that night they both came in with me. One on each side in that awful humid heat. They commented on how close the thunder and lightening were with every clap and flash. We finally fell into a sticky restless sleep and by morning the storm was passed. I don't suppose they even remember it.

Hope you have a good week. Mine is shaping up to be very busy.

Love

Mary

Quite an eventful Saturday if I do say so and I do.

We started off quietly but then went over to Sears to buy a new dishwasher. I know that Kitchenaide is supposed to be a great dishwasher, but - we bought one a few years ago and have had nothing but trouble. So we got a good tax return and have decided to replace it. We picked out a Bosch which the salesman assured us is the Cadillac of dishwashers.

We will see.

Tonight we went to the Sheboygan Symphony. They presented a night of the German masters and featured Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and someone named Neruda who wrote a Trumpet concerto. The amazing thing is that Dick was not familiar with the Trumpet Concerto so it was a special night for him too. Hearing something new is always fun for him.

They had two guest performers, a trumpeter for the Neruda and a pianist for Beethoven. Wow, what a night. We came home and are capping it off with a bit of Bailey's and coffee.

Have a nice Sunday.

Love

Mary

Well, Monday I am going to see The Passion with a friend, Debbi. Dick doesn't want to go so when Debbi said she was looking for someone to go with I jumped at the chance. Everybody is talking about it - some raving and some not so much, so I will be able to discuss it sensibly after seeing it.

It has been really warm and we are getting some rain too. Enough rain that the earthworms are beginning to cover the street again. That is rather icky on the morning walk that Chelsea and I take but it makes for nice fat robins.

Have a good Saturday.

Mary

Dick and Jim did go to Oneida. It was not a happy time, I guess. However, it gave me a chance to spend alone in the house with noone to account to. I cooked and sewed and just kind of laid around.

Not much different than any other day but it was quiet.

Bart went home today. I probably won't hear for a couple of days how things are going and I will not call til the weekend.

We had some very interesting discussions at Bible Study this morning. Somehow we got on to the subjest of gay marriage and the church's position on gays. I cannot believe that God who is all good, made 11% of his people gay and then expects them to live celebate all their lives. Perhaps if they called it something else people wouldn't be offended by it.

Good day

Mary

Here we are at Tuesday already. I can't believe that the week is going so fast. Barbara called last night. Bart will be coming home tomorrow. I hope they know what they are doing. Barbara is pleased and I believe that she knows Bart and what is happening better than anybody. So we must trust that this is OK and I need to ask for prayers again.

Tomorrow, Dick and Jim are going gambling at Oneida. They call it donating to the Indians. They say I can come along but I DON"T WANT TO. I will have a whole day ALONE. That is something to look forward to.


Work like you don't need the money
Love like you've never been hurt
Dance like nobody's watching
Sing like nobody's listening
Live like it's heaven on earth.

Go for it.

Mary

Well, I am still somewhat rested. Met with the ladies discussion group at church. We are discussing a book called Live Long and Love It. We are on the subject of fighting back. We all decided that we have done so but found it difficult to remember or determine if we actually won when we did so.

I remembered a time when I was in my early 20s and out with my then husband and at least 5 other people and we had just come from a bar, I guess. A black man was walking down the street and one of the other men started following him and harassing him verbally. I was shocked, said so and told him to stop. We left rather quickly and I hope I was instrumental in that. I had never experienced race hate before and was so upset to see that poor man trying to maintain his calm and keep walking. If I felt bad he must have been terrified. This was in Yuma Arizona and at that time they still had some restaurants that had White's Only sections. In my lifetime. I am glad we have come as far as we have. We are a funny country and have a lot of faults but are probably the closest in the world to accepting all races as equal.

Talked to Bret yesterday, he was in Laughlin Nevada and visited his Aunt Jacquie. He sent us a box of dried fruit from Cabazon and matching sweatshirts for Dick and I. (I told him that now Dick and I can be cute, dressed alike.) Also a box of Sees Candy. That is SUCH good candy.

He is a good son.

Talked to Bart and he sounds MUCH better. He was on his way to group so we talked only for a minute.

Love

Mary

Dick and I left at 1:00PM on Friday for Cashton WI. We stayed at a lovely Bed and Breakfast called Ages Past. This is in the middle of Amish Country on the far west side of Wisconsin near La Crosse.

This B&B is quite charming. It is a Sears house. I don't know if you knew this but in the late 1800's Sears sold "prefab" houses out of their catalog and they were spectacular. There are two of them in Cashton. One, which was being operated as a B&B called Dickson Manor, was built by a doctor and the other now Ages Past was built by the doctor's cousin or brother or some thing like that according to the rumors. You can see pictures of Ages Past by going on their website www.agespast.net. We stayed in Sarah's Room. The Barbagos also operate a gourmet restaurant on the ground floor of the B&B. We ended up eating all our meals there and were very pleased. I had salmon on Friday, a mushroom appetizer and dessert for Saturday evening, a tuna melt for lunch on Saturday and excellent breakfasts both Saturday and Sunday. Carl and Barbara a great hosts and have a home full of antiques and wonderful things to see. We had a comfortable king sized bed in a very attractive setting. I came home quite rested and hope I can stay that way for at least a day or two.

There was no news from Barb or Bart so until tomorrow, I will assume that the weekend went well and call then.

"Dogs come when they are called; cats take a message and get back to you." Mary Bly

Have a good week.

Mary

I have to start remembering to mark things when I put them into the freezer. I had a container in there that I could not remember at all. So we are having it tonight because I was open and don't want a lot of leftovers for the weekend. It is hot tamale mix so we will have them for supper. Fortunately I have hard rolls and sliced cheese so it will be good.

We will be leaving around noon tomorrow for Cashton to the Ages Past Bed and Breakfast there. I am so looking forward to being away for a bit where no one can reach us really. Jim will know where we are but will only contact us if it is REALLY serious.

Tonight is parish council. I really don't look forward to that at all. It seems such a useless thing at this point, for many reasons. I have one more year to serve and will do my best until the term is up.

I do look forward to stopping to see Mother before the meeting. I need to update her on Bart. He, by the way, is doing a bit better. Barbara believes that he understands that there is caring and a plan at the Hospital now. Keep praying, especially at this time for Barbara, who is in such need of comfort.


Love

Mary

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you. I took the day off from ALL chores. This morning I went to Bible Study at 6:30AM. Then took a short rest so I could go to Plymouth and walk in my friend Rip O'Dwanny's Irishman's Walk from Eastern and Highland Avenues to Stafford Street off of Mill Street.

There I had my shot of Irish Whisky and joined my dear friends Stan and Peg Payne for lunch and some music. Rip and Christine had a Piper to start the festivities followed by a singer who was very good. I had a bowl of Reuben Soup for lunch which was very good. I left about 1:30 so I could get home and rest again because

at 6:00 we went to Richard's in Sheboygan Falls for the Irish Festivities organized by Bob Mac Ewen. He also started the festivities with a piper and followed with a group called the Spring Valley Irish Rovers who were also VERY good. I had been asked to read poetry as I mentioned earlier in the week. It went very well. I read my Knockeen Dolman, Cats and the Kettles poems of my own and several from well known Irish authors as well as some Irish blessings etc. It went over very well. I hope he does it again next year. They even gave me a present, a bottle of Baileys Irish Creme. I feel like a real poet.

Happy St Patrick's Day. And remember that an Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hang on to one blade of grass and still hang on to the face of the earth.


Love

Mary

This morning God gave me a gift. Chelsea and I went for our walk at about 6:00AM and as we were walking, I looked up into the sky and saw a flock of birds (I have seen these birds before) flying like graceful dancers against the morning blue sky. They dipped, they glided they turned and spun. All in formation. They kept it up for several minutes until they landed in a tree for a rest. I felt like I was seeing a dance troup doing their most intricate routine. The Blue Angels must have learned from them but have never reached such perfection.

If anyone knows what species of bird this is . Please let me know. I have see them before out in the country but never so close and up front.

Have a good week.

Love

Mary

Sunday and March is almost 1/2 over already. Two days til St. Patrick's Day and only four days until St. Joseph's Day which is Bart's birthday.

It certainly doesn't seem like it was 33 years ago that I gave birth to that guy. We used to call him Mr. Magoo because a neighbor said he looked like Mr. Magoo when he scrinched up his little face. He was actually a really pretty baby. Nice shaped head and wonderfully clear unblotched skin. Sometimes I wish they were still little again but I guess I am glad I had them then when I was younger and able to keep up. (Kind of)

Anyway, this is a busy week with St. Patrick's Day, a council meeting, a visit with Bart and leaving on a trip on Friday.

May blessings surround you in the coming week.

Love

Mary

Mother and I went to a "Second Saturday" program presented by the Sheboygan County Reasearch Center in Cooperation with the Sheboygan Falls Library. They had Ellen Kort, Wisconsin's Poet Lauriette and author of "Wisconsin Quilts: Stories in Stitches" speaking. She was billed as an expert on quilts and stories. She was very good but Mother and I felt she spent more time telling about her poet successes, which was very interesting to me as and amatur poet AND quilter but for the avid quilter probably a little too much focused on the poetry. I was impressed. She is one of those people who does everything well and often. She will be remembered. I will be pleased to be able to say I heard her at our next Writers Club meeting.

"He prayed as he breathed, forming no words and making no specific requests, only holding in his heart, like broken birds in cupped hands, all those people who were in stress or grief." Ellis Peters

This seems to be so true right now. I try to remember all the prayer requests. I hope you remember mine.

Love

Mary

It was very cold today. However, I did notice that the tulips are poking their heads above the ground and the robin that hangs around my front yard was singing valiantly this afternoon. If he won't give up I won't either.

In more ways than one, I won't give up. Barbara called tonight. She had to take Bart back to the hospital tonight. He regressed during the week and Barbara felt he needed to be back where they can help him. Their first thought is that maybe his medication needs to be adjusted. I hope that helps and that they get him to commit to a program, predetermined, before he comes home again. Barbara says he needs a hobby and I believe she is right.

Please pray. That is all WE can really do.

"May those who love us, love us. And those that don't love us, may God turn their hearts. And if He cannot turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping." Irish Blessing (or curse depending on how you look at it.)

Countdown to St. Patrick's Day. Four more days.


Mary

I believe we are all caught up on errands. FINALLY. We had the cars serviced this morning and I havealmost finished the taxes. We will send them out a week ahead of time. AND I am all caught up on my correspondence too.

Tomorrow a new pistol league starts and if I can find two other people to shoot with me I would like to shoot trap in this spring league too. I bought a new gun on Saturday. It is a 12 gauge shot gun made in Russia that has a shorter stock than most and seems to fit me for a change. I am kind of excited to try it. If I can't get any partners, I will shoot on Sunday.

We had snow today, but very little of it stayed on the ground. It is windy and supposed to get VERY cold tonight. Then it will start warming up again, with rain in the forcast in the next couple of days. I saw some green in my day lilies and (I hope I am not imagining) I believe that my peony that I thought was dead is coming up.

Spring is such a hopeful time. We seem to be getting enough rain this year. Maybe the water table will build up and the farmers will be happy.

Love

Mary

I just returned from a Living Stations of the Cross, presented at St. Dominic's Church in Sheboygan by the combined Youth Group from St. Dominic and St. Clement Parishes.

Over 50 young people cooperated to help us pray the Stations in song and with representations of the events as put forth in the Gospels. I am impressed with the dedication, talent and devotion of the young people of Sheboygan and have faith that we do have a future.

I thank them for helping me and the other attendees on our Lenten Journey.


Mary

I have two big kitties filling up the bulk of the surface of my desk. They do like to be near and live sitting under the lamp which I am sure is very comforting to them especially during these winter months.

One week from tomorrow, as I mentioned, I will be the featured "Gaelic Poet" for St Patrick's Day in Sheboygan Falls. It is really fun to review the great poets of Irish fame such as Goldsmith, Yeats, Swift and the anonymous poems attributed to various monks, warriors and traveling seanaches who had such respect in years past in Ireland.

It never go over 36 degrees today but felt quite comfortable because the sun shone and the wind was still. It is amazing how comfortable one becomes without cold wind and how good the sun feels after the damp gray cold of winter.


Love

Mary

I fixed the best salad tonight. I found it on the Change One site. A diet site through Reader's Digest that I subscribe to. The trick is lots of greens, some onion and mandarin oranges. Then a dressing of oil, vinegars and orange juice concentrate. Nummy Nummy. We had company and the salad was a wonderful accompaniment to Cornish Pasties. I will definitely use fruit in salads and a sweet dressing too.

Went to Writers Club this afternoon. I read my Son poem and they seemed to like it. My "editor", Janice Kaat who publishes the Pike River Community News that prints my food column was there today. We are a nice group. Perhaps with the inspiration of their persistance and experience, I may do something worth leaving as a footprint to show that I really was alive on this earth.

There is a song that has a line I like that goes "And I might have done some things good enough for you to see." I feel that way a lot. It would be a shame to end 60 to 90 years of life with nothing left to remind people you were here.

Love

Mary

Wow, what a full Sunday. I started off with church at 8:00. Then came home and fixed breakfast, read the paper, cleaned up the leaked water from under the sink. (unplanned for). Then Jim and I went to Rhine and I finally shot worth a darn after three weeks of just being awful. I hope things are back on track. Then Dick and I mixed up a batch of wine. We have two big batches and the grape wine working now. Just enough with spring and summer coming. I looked at the daylillies the other day and they are starting to sprout. Another sign of spring. There is hope of a new day.

There is a very busy week ahead. I have Writer's Club tomorrow. I will read SON. I haven't heard from any of you, but Dick said he liked it so I feel comfortable sharing.

Have a wonderful week.

There is no sense in keeping a dog if you are going to do your own barking.


Mary

Only one and one half weeks until St. Patrick's Day. I must gather up and decide which poems I want to read at Richard's in Sheboygan Falls that night. I have been invited to perform as a Gaelic Poet. Probably because I won a contest a couple of years ago, which makes me very proud actually. I will get paid my dinner for this which is not bad pay for poetry these days. I wrote a couple of poems while Bart was sick and have been keeping up my articles for a friend who publishes a paper up north called the Pike River Community News. If I get enough of either (poems or cooking articles) I may try to publish a book. We will see.

It is good to have ambitions anyway. My Live Long and Love it discussion group is giving me some motivation. I lost a lot while Bart was sick.

Here is my most recent poem. I like honest criticism.

SON

Treasure of my heart
Fragment of my being
I gave you life

Pride of my heart
Mirror of my eternity
I nurtured you

Labor of my heart
Piece of my mosaic
I mentored you

Hole in my heart
Gone to YOUR horizon
I let you fly

Joy of my heart
Dream of my tomorrow
You are my legacy


Soon

Mary

I was talking to a dear friend who is suffering with diabetes related problems and she sounds so weak and sad. She is in the LONG list of people who are on my prayer list but I wish I could do more. Her first question was to ask how Bart is doing. Such a wonder. I told her of a picture that Barbara gave me of Jesus with the universe as the background. There is a statement on it that says. "I never said it would be easy... I only said it would be worth it." We need to hang on to that. And I see light now.

Did I tell you I saw my first red-winged blackbirds of the season. Actually, I heard them first. They along with the cardinals are my first signs of spring. I ALSO saw and heard a ROBIN. There is a spring and it is coming fast.

Love

Wow, have the past two days been a whirlwind. Yesterday, Dick and I were supposed to go visit Bart and on Tuesday I received a call from Barbara telling me that we could bring him HOME. I was surprised, but when one thinks about it, he has been in care for over three weeks now. They have him stabilized and his medication is working and they feel that he no longer needs to be under hospital care. We must trust the doctors, otherwise, why have him there to begin with.

He was a happy young man. We got him out of there by about 2:, stopped at Mc Donald's for a snack, (he missed lunch because of a dentist appointment.) and made it home by 4:00PM. He promptly took a nap. (No wonder after a dentist appointment, two doctor consultations and a drive to our house.) Barbara came to get him at about 6:00PM. She made really fast time from home. We treated them to dinner and sent them on their way home. They both needed to be THERE and TOGETHER. I know that Bart's critters will help him heal also.

Thank everyone for your prayers and thoughts. We are so grateful for the outpouring of love that carried us through this.

"Where there is no certainty, the mind must turn to the light and not the shadow." Ellis Peters - Cadfael.

Happy Day to you

Mary

I shared the hand made items that Fr. Mike Shea sent me from Thailand. They are hand batik painted t shirts and beautiful table clothes, wall hangings and sarongs. I need to determine a price and see if we can get some fundraising done for the Aids Moms who do the painting and their children and the orphans that are at Sarnelli.
The ladies that meet on Mondays to discuss the book Live Long and Love It were very impressed as was Fr. Gene.

We are in crisis at our parish. We have no choir director and it is the first week in Lent. We have no head of our environment committee and it is the first week in Lent. What will we do. Our music is in shambles. Fortunately SOME of our parishioners are quite content with the piano player we had last week but frankly, I don't feel he is good for the type of accompaniment we need for community singing. He doesn't keep the timing correct. At least he is learning the timing of WHEN he should play.

"May the High and Holy One
Guard us from His Heavenly Throne,
While we sing, with grateful hearts,
Hymns in ten appointed parts."

Colmcille


I have taken on the contact position for our Extraordinary Ministers and frankly find that to be quite enough along with the secretary position on the council. How long can we function? I really don't know. Dick is making noises like he is noticing that I am too busy. How does one say no when needs are so many and so important?

Love

Mary

Watching the Oscars this February 29th. I remember now that our friends the Kirby's youngest son Todd was born of February 29th probably 28 years ago.

I talked to Bart and he sounded pretty good. We are going to see him on Wednesday. He would like to go out for dinner. If it is allowed, we will take him.

I have been doing a lot of dreaming lately. It seems that I am always trying to get somewhere.

Odd isn't it.

Love

Have a good week.

Mary

This is Saturday. I have really neglected my BLOG. But I have been busy. Thursday, we got Dick's blood checked, went grocery shopping and got my new glasses. Then I got a call from Barbara. Bart really needed or at least felt he needed clean clothes and a couple of bucks for some sodas during the day. So Mom went. Barbara was going today. I have not heard from her but I am sure she was very busy as she intended to bake a batch of brownies for the ward. I am glad I went. I stopped at St. Vinnies and bought Bart a pair of sweats and a shirt. I also took him one of my Wells shirts which is an XL and looked kind of dumb on me anyway. He apparantly didn't think I would come and the look on his face and the hugs were worth the drive.

Yesterday, I cleaned and baked and cooked and had lunch with my friends and then worked at Rhine Plymouth Conservation from 5:30 to 9:30PM. My pistol shooting is still not back in there but I will keep practicing. I am 2nd on the ladies board. Did I tell you that when Dick and I went to the Sheboygan Clinic to have his blood checked we ran into Dorothy Behr, one of my shooting friends, who has not shot in this particular league. In the cold winter weather, her hand hurt too much. That makes me feel so bad, but she said she will be back in the spring.

I am going to be making Pasties. That is a two day affair for me. But they are so good. Jeff doesn't like them at all. But he is just being silly I think.

Love


Mary

I went to Bible Study this morning and then right on to church for Ash Wednesday service at 8:30AM. It was a nice way to start the day and to thank God that Bart is safe at the VA Hospital beginning treatment.

We had the strangest music at Mass. A pianist that I never heard before and a cantor that sang without a mike and never left the choir area. I hope we have some sort of a plan for a choir director and organist. I will find out at the Parish Council meeting tomorrow night.

I have two quilts that I want to start on. That is exciting. I have not been two interested in anything the past couple of weeks.

Mother and I were talking about memories this morning. She said that she really likes the smell of cigars because it reminds her of her Dad, my Grandpa Bowser and I said that I love the smell of pipe tobacco, especially half and half becaus it reminds me of Dad.

Love

Mary

Here it is Tuesday and things are showing signs of getting better. The crazy legal limbo is done with. They messed around long enough and made so many mistakes that the judge had to release him because it was over 14 days since he was brought to the hospital and his rights were being violated. This meant that Barbara and I could take him, with his consent, back down to Milwaukee to the VA Center. There they admitted him and we, the hospital and Bart are all hopeful and optimistic that he is in the right place at last. I was so pleased to see him hopeful for the first time. Thank you for your prayers - but don't stop.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Bart will be practicing this and I guess I should too.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday already. Lent is beginning which means spring is on the way too. We are expecting temperatures all the way up into the high 40's on Saturday. The worst is over.

Love

Mary

Well, Bart got to Green Bay at 7:45PM or there.abouts. SIX hours. He was so upset. They had him in handcuffs the whole time and there were several other people, mainly criminals that were picked up here and there. The most upsetting parts were the handcuffs and the fact that those cruel transport people would not even let the passengers go to the bathroom. SIX hours. I am furious. At least he is angry now which is a refreshing change from the depression.

Mother said she got a "pornographic" catalog. She got one of these catalogs that has everything from towels and sheets and kitchen items to graphic videos and vibrators for pleasuring oneself or for getting a good massage. She is so funny. I found it really cute that she found the most suggestive ones to show to me.

Wednesday is our grandaughter, Sara's, birthday. She will be 17. I CANNOT believe that. It seems just a few days ago that we went to the hospital to see her and I got to go right in to the room with them because I was the Grandma.

Take Care.

Mary

Saturday, what a day. Bart has been transferred to Green Bay. This will help resolve at least the first of the legal hurdles they are facing. Now we need to pray that they will transfer him into the VA System so that a proper course of treatment can be prescribed. He needs a pain clinic and help with his depression.

We, Jim, Dick and I, took his car back up to De Pere. Then Dick took us out for dinner. I had enchiladas beans and rice. We went to Garden View. They have very good food but it is way too much. I brought my soup and two enchiladas home with me. They always have WAY too much food but it makes a good lunch the next day.

Guess what, Bart was taken from Milwaukee at 1:45Pm and it is now 6:30PM and he is still not at the Green Bay Mental Health Center and (Worse), they don't know where he is. You would think they would have an intinerary. Poor Barbara is so upset. They are taking her to the manager.


I will keep you informed.

Love

Mary

Spent a couple of hours with Bart again today. We had a nice visit. NOW, they are talking about doing something about resolving the legal limbo over the weekend (HA - HA As if any government agency does anything on the weekends.) Well, we will see. Somehow or other there must be an end to and a reason for this nightmare. Prayers are being answered very slowly these days, but I must continue to believe that they are being answered. Otherwise, my whole belief system for 63 years has been for nothing. I received an email about four candles, Peace, Love, Faith and Hope. Peace, Love and Faith were blown out by ill wind but Hope kept burning and with it Peace, Love and Faith were able to be rekindled. I am trying to hold on to Hope.

Guess what! I am listed as a "Gaelic Poet" who will be part of live entertainment at Richard's in Sheboygan Falls on St. Patrick's Day.

Love


Mary

Well, Bart is still in legal limbo but seemed to be in a fairly good mood when I talked to him today. So that is GOOD. He is asking for school books to study which means he is thinking beyond the hospital and that is good too.

We went shopping and to the Discovery Travel show today. And tonight we played Yahtzee. Something Dick and I haven't done for a long time. The first three games were fun but he beat me so badly that the last one became really a drag. So we stopped. We have fun playing board games and maybe can do more of it. We used to play Cribbage for a hundred dollars a game in years past. We figured that we could play for whatever we wanted. For a while I was doing pretty well. I probably have forgotten most of it after all this time.

Lent is fast coming upon us. Fast - I guess that is a pun. I have stocked up on fish. Dick and Jim eat what I cook for them and I have some fish that they do like. We will have Swordfish, Haddock, Salmon Patties and tuna casserole. Come for dinner on any Friday during Lent and I will feed you too.

Love

Mary

Another busy day. I drove down to the hospital to see Bart and spent most of the day. He is much better but still gets rather agitated and restless. I was a good day mostly. He is going to any therapy sessions that he can so it was a good thing I brought a book to read.

It was a beautiful day but a storm is supposed to be coming in tomorrow night.

We voted in the Wisconsin Primary yesterday. It was our first election since the new Town of Sheboygan Firehouse is complete and we voted there. It is a beautiful building adjacent to the new town park. It was the first time we were in the building and we were impressed. Enjoy the rest of the week.

Love

Mary

I quit smoking in 1978 after having smoked for 28 years. Shortly after I quit, four little league mothers and myself decided to go out on the town to a Men's Strip Show. Shocking, I know, but that is not the story. Our 12 year old sons were horrified. "You are going WHERE!!!" But that is not the story either. We went to the show and had a ball. We laughed and yelled and just had fun. We were probably only gone three hours including travel time but it was a fun night.

The next morning, I picked up my jeans, thinking that since I had only worn them for a couple of hours I could put them on again. The cigarette smoke smell just permeated the room. Needless to say, I dumped them in the machine and marvelled at the fact that for 18 years I had smelled like that every day. YEUUUU. Icky.

I talked to Bart today and he sounds a bit better and more accepting. I know he does have bad times but they are fewer. I will go to see him later this week. I would like to do it when he is settled at he VA Hospital which is taking forever.

Love

Mary

Yesterday, my niece, Denise, the winner of last year's Wild Game Feast and Beer Tasting Festival, hosted the 27th annual event. It was well attended, even more that most years, as my sister, Nora, her husband Leif and their son Stenn, and my brother George, his wife Betsy and their son Shawn with his wife Sarah, attended. All but Shawn and Sarah came all the way from Texas. Shawn and Sarah live in Chicago. Stenn informed us before the beer tasting that he fully intended to win so we would all have to come to Texas next year. He didn't (unfortunately). My nephew, Kurt won. He was so excited. He was in a taste off his first year but has not been in the running since. He says that now he feels like a full member of the family. We had 20 people participating in the contest trying to identify 21 beers.

The food was excellent. When I get Uncle Fred's summary, I will give you the complete menu. But today I will just say it was wonderful.

Today, I sang at the 10:30 AM Mass. We were all rather sad as our choir director Stevan is retiring because of health reasons. We are all so grateful for the guidance and teaching he has provided us over the past several years. We are really a good choir and I hope that we can find someone to continue with his vision. We even did a CD a few years ago and we sound GOOD. Anyway, Steve is my friend and I will not miss him. He will still be my friend. But I will miss the choir director.

Love

Mary

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming...Wow! What a ride!'"

I read the above on the Red Hat Society bulletin and thought I would share.

It is hard to keep up my steam right now, but I am working on it. Bart had a better day in himself yesterday, though his situation is still not resolved and he is still not at the VA Hospital where he will be getting some real help. They are mostly good to him where he is but he is in limbo. Remember, Limbo? It doesn't exist in the afterlife but believe me it exists here on earth.

Today is the annual Deeley Wild Game Dinner. I must get my roast in at 9:00AM and will make the potato salad. It is good to be busy. I do best when I am busy.

Your prayers are so special and so appreciated.

Love

Mary

I spent yesterday with Bart. He is much calmer though he does have bouts of crankiness and agitation. He is sometimes speaking of future plans which is much more my Bart so I am encouraged. It was a long day and I am still exhausted after a full night's sleep. He is so fragile.

"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is."

Keep praying - it is holding us together.

Love

Mary

Well, It has been a long long two days. Bart showed a little improvement yesterday. At least he ate dinner and stopped trying to get out of the hospital. I am hearing response to my prayer requests. So many people calling for help from God will surely bless my boy. I was reminded of John Lennon's song for his son Sean and I will quote a verse or two to illustrate how I feel about my boy.

BEAUTIFUL BOY

Close your eyes. Have no fear.
The monsters gone, he's on the run
and your daddy's here.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy.

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you while your busy making other plans.

Chorus:

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way, it's getting better and better.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful beautiful Boy.

By John Lennon

I hope Bart will reach for hands and know that things will get better and that we are all there to help him come back to be what he is, an honest, loving, strong man. He has no idea how proud I am of him.

Love

Mary

It has been a long three days. For anyone who reads this that I haven't contacted. My son, Bart, is in the hospital. He was admitted to St. Luke in Milwaukee and transferred to the Mental Health Unit. He is suffering from severe acute depression and it has absolutely devastated him. This has been building up since he had the back surgery five years ago. He has struggled with constant pain and become a perscription opiate addict. Hopefully, now that the problem is recognized, he will get the help he needs. The doctors say it will be a long road, as they need to get him off the drugs he is on and reintroduce SOMETHING that will help control the pain and they need to treat the depression.

We need prayers. We need a LOT of prayers and I ask you humbly for them. I read my Cadfael Book of Days and again it is appropriate.

Feb. 8: "Reverses are sent to us so that we may overcome them, and no one can presume to escape such testings for ever. The loss can be borne."

Feb. 9: "Know that you are not alone."

I pity those who do not know the presence of Jesus. He is my strength. I think that Bart and Barb have had quite enough "reverses" now and need some good things to happen. They WILL bear the losses but really need some gains now.

Love

Mary

Snow all over the place. We got at least 5 more inches last night. Chelsea loves it and it is really pretty. I guess we are still a bit behind on what we need to maintain the water table but the season is not over yet.

I have a nice quiet weekend coming up. We will go shooting on Sunday. I did just terrible tonight. I don't know what I am doing wrong but maybe practice is what I need.

Jim is home all weekend, so I made a dessert to last us for the next three evenings. I picked up some raspberries and blackberries at the store yesterday and made an upside down cake. It got kind of exciting when I got to the part of the recipe that said to alternate adding the flour and the milk to the creamed butter and sugar but did not tell me how much milk was needed. So I did some research and revamped the recipe as follows:

Raspberry Blackberry Upside Down Cake

1/4 c. Brown Sugar
2 TB Bitter
2 c. Berries (Blackberry, Raspberry, Whatever you have.)
1/2 Cup Margerine or butter
1 3/4 c. Sugar
2 Eggs
1 1/2 c. Flour
2 ts. Baking Powder
12 ts. salt
1 c. Milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Heat brown sugar and 2 tablespoons butter in an 8 or 9 inch iron skillet over medium heat. Add berries and cook. Sir until mixture bubbles then add 3/4 cups of the sugar and cook for 5 more minutes.

Mix 1/2 cup butter and remaining 1 cup sugar until fluffy. Blend in eggs. Bix four, baking powder and salt together and sift alternately with milk to the creamed butter mixture.

Pour batter over cooked fruit and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Let sit for a few minutes til lukewarm. Run a knife around the pan and turn onto a large plate. (Be sure you invert it while still warm or it won't come out of the pan.) Best served warm. Whipped cream or ice cream are nice additions but not necessary.

It sure is good.

Love

Mary

Jim and I went to Lakeland College last night to see Gaelic Storm at their theater. WoW! they are good. Jim and I have to get their fourth album. Their fifth will be out in May or thereabouts and we are behind one. They did say they would be at Irish Fest this year so I probably will have someone to go with. JIM. Dick doesn't like the crowds and talked me out of going last year for a dud of a trip somewhere else. Not this year.

They are so lively and their music is really great. They seem to like Wisconsin and can't get over the names of our towns. They are especially entrances with Oostburg and keep on talking on going to a bar in Oostburg which of course absolutely delights all of us Sheboygan County people who know it will be a cold day before you could find a bar in Oostburg. However - De Zwann's in Cedar Grove closed. The family decided to retire and the place has reopened recently and I HEARD that they serve wine and beer. What is happening to our dry cities?

Dick is slowly recovering. We are beginning to think that perhaps it is Gaelic Storm that is responsible for his being sick. They were here last year at the Stepanie Weill Center and he got sick then too. I hope he just forgets buying a ticket next time. That gets a bit expensive for a seat to throw jackets on. Jim and I always have fun at these concerts but Dick likes them too. At least he says he does.

I am writing a monthly food column for a little paper that is published up north and run by a gal who was in the Sheboygan County Writers Club. I get paid a copy of the paper and my name and column in print. I hope to eventually put these columns in to a little book. Wish me luck. I will see how they go over and how many I can turn out.

Have a great day. There is a storm warning for 4 to 7 inches of snow for tonight. It has been downgraded some from 12 inches but we always have the lake effect to contend with.

Wish us Luck

Love

Mary

Yesterday was groundhogs day. I guess we are supposed to have an early spring. It certainly doesn't look so outside today. It snowed for 12 more hours last night and the snow is piling up steadily. There does not seem to be any melting down.

I have decided to make the venison roast as a Texas Brisket roast for the 27th Annual Deeley Wild Game Dinner and Beer Tasting Contest. That is Dick's favorite way to fix venison. I can cook it all morning and then put it in the slo cooker in its juice to keep it warm. I have Daddy Hinkle's marinade and seasoning. I will also make potato salad.

Started a book discussion group with four wonderful women at church yesterday. The book is called Live Long and Love It. It should be nice, we will meet once a week for about 10 weeks and discuss how to best enjoy our older years.

Have a good Wednesday.

Mary

January is over ALREADY. Today, started off with a bang, literally. Jim, Bobbie and I went shooting at Rhine this afternoon. I shot a line of trap with a gun that I am trying for a while to see how it does. It is a 847 12 gauge shotgun and thought the stock is too long, I wasn't unhappy with it. I only shot a 9. However, the stock IS too long, I have never shot in winter with all the bulky clothes and the cold and this is the first line I have shot since September. SO. We will see. I will shoot another line next week and each week for a while.

My league pistol targets were not too bad. I blew the middle one but the first and last were in the 50s.

The Super Bowl is on and without the Packers playing it is really hard to get too interested. I don't really care who wins. The first quarter and a half were really dull, then they scored four times, going into the half 14/10 New England. So the last half of the 2nd quarter was at least fun to watch.

I am feeling pretty good now and the temperature was up into the high 20s today. Chelsea and I went for a walk this morning and she was a very very happy puppy. As I have said before, Dick and Jim's idea of taking her for a walk is sending her out the side door on her leash and saying "Run, Chelsea, Run." til she does something.

Have a good week and a great February. I have two friends who are ill and would appreciate any prayers you have hanging around for their health.

Love

Mary

Only one day left in the first month of the year. I am getting over my cold but am sick of it. I am sick of Dick telling me to take it easy but not being sympathetic to my restlessness. Men! They just DON'T get it, do they?

I've been getting interested in sewing again too. I have four squares finished for a quilt and 9 more to go. I cut out and arranged one to sew this weekend. I received a copy of the Pike River Review and Janice Kaat, the editor is publishing my food column. It is nice to see your name in print. If I do well enough, I will incorporate them in to a book eventually.

It never hit 0 Degrees today. What a cold one. It is supposed to get up in to the teens today and be in the 20's for part of next week. Where is global warming when you need it.


Love

Mary

Today is my sister Nora's birthday. When Dick and I were married, she and her husband, Leif, had already moved to Dallas and Dick didn't meet her for several years. He used to tease me about making up a sister. He said he had no idea why, with all the brothers and sisters I had, I would make up another one, but that was his conclusion. She is next in age to me. My brother Jeff better stop calling me the matriarch. My Mother is the only on who deserves that title right now and for a LONG LONG time.

I laid low again today. I did not go to help with Bingo at Rocky Knoll. Didn't see any sense spreading my germs in a hospital atmosphere and sent an e mail with my concerns to the members of the parish council that I have addresses for. Hopefully at least ONE of them picks up their mail during the day. I didn't get any acknowlegements so God only knows. I hope I am much better tomorrow. I would like to go to lunch with the Plymouth Ladies and also would like to go shoot pistol league with Bobbie and Jim.

I am re-reading a wonderful book by John O'Donohue called Anam Cara - A Book of Celtic Wisdom. I can read a short piece every day and get something out of it . Something new each time. Anam Cara means soul friend. We are our best soul friend but there are friends out there who sometimes become Anam Cara to us. Treasure them.
" I am as my Creator made me, and since He is satisfied, so am I." Minnie Smith
Love

Mary

The cold is awful today. I did not go to bible study. Dick is going to grocery shop alone tomorrow. I am goint to try to be well enough to go to the Parish Council Meeting tomorrow night. As Dick says I don't want to give everybody colds.

There is so much happening at church that I really hate to miss it.

It is supposed to remain cold for the rest of the week and more snow in a couple of days.

Does a person ever stop worrying about their children? I remember one time when Jim was having a difficult time, I told Dick that he just had to let Jim make his own decisions because he was, after all, an adult. And Dick looked at me mournfully and said that I just did not understand. None of his children were adults. (And Jim is the youngest.)

I thin that says it all.


Love

Mary

My cold has finally blossomed into a full blown head cold and I am not happy except that maybe NOW it will run its course.

I got a box of items made by Fr. Mike Shea's Aids Moms yesterday. They do batik table cloths, runners etc and t shirts. The designs are bold and dynamic. So full of life. I know this is hope to these people. I must see if I can figure out a way to market it. I will talk to Fr. Ed at bible study and bring it up to Sr. Marcia and the council to see if we can start a mission society for Sarnelli. If any one is interested in Tshirts, Bookmarks, hand crossstitched greeting cards and batik cloth, Let me know and I will send pictures . They are truely lovely.

Love Mary

Wow, have I been lazy on Blog for the past few days. Actually, I have a sore throat and have been really laying low. I have been rereading the Harry Potter books for fun and to keep me still.

I did go shooting on Friday evening and had two good targets and one terrible target. It was the last one and I am chalking it up the the cold range and tiredness.

It has been snowing for two days and looks like it will continue for a day or two. This should make the farmers happy as the water table has been low for the pas couple of years.

Bret called on Friday night and it was so good to hear his voice. He is happy with his new job, home and girlfriend.


I don't think I shared my winter poem with you so will do so now.


CRANKY OLD MAN



Cranky old man sucks joy out of the world.
Cold and harsh is his way.
Life pulls in to the ground, away from his fury
As Winter marches in, cold and forbidding.
Snow covers ground, trying to protect,
To shield the earth from his wrath

Some of God?s creatures sleep away his reign.
Some flee South before his rage.
Some timidly creep out to search for food.
Cold and hungry they nip at weeds and tree bark,
While struggling to survive
Then rush back to shelter among the trees.

Cranky old man stays much too long.
The earth sleeps and gains the strength.
To finally answer the call of sun and light
And dare to bring color back to the world.
Winter grows empty and weak
And falls before the strength and joy of Spring.


Spring always comes too.

Love

Mary

In one of my other lives, my ex husband, the boys and myself came to Wisconsin for Christmas one year. We stayed for a whole week and it was COLD. I believe that it ranged between 10 and 16 BELOW zero for our entire stay. I remember arriving at the airport and Nora picked us up. It was so cold and my California boys were not at all prepared for this. We were so grateful to get to my parents warm home and surprise them. All of my brothers and sisters knew we were coming but it was a surprise for Mom and Dad. Mother is so cool. Her only comment was that she supposed that she would have to make cut out cookies after all.

Such wonderful memories. I was reminded because we are currently having such cold days . It was 9 below while Dick and I were out shopping this morning and is still below zero. It is very hard on Chelsea but we have managed to keep her comfortable and "emptied".

Keep warm. We worry about Jim coming home after midnight on these cold days. Thank God for mobile phones these days.

Love

Mary

Last night I went to St. Dominic's Church in Sheboygan to meet with other council members from parishes all over Sheboygan County and a "team" including Bishop Sklba from the Archdiocese, to discuss the plans for coping with the continuing priest shortage. Blessed Trinity, my home parish, is going to be asked to "cluster" with St. John the Evangelist in Kohler. St. John and Blessed Trinity both want to keep their own identities and their own councils. We will work towards that end.

These are distressing times. The heirarchy is shrinking but seem reluctant to give any of their authority to the laity. We must keep persisting and pray that the Spirit will guide us on this rocky path.

I keep reading and trying to learn and hoping that there is a plan here.

The temperature was 15 this morning when Chelsea and I went out for our walk but for some reason, it hurt her pads. I ended up carrying her for a bit and then we hurried home. Tomorrow, we won't even try to leave the yard because it is supposed to be below zero. I mentioned carrying her at bible study this morning and Mary, one of the others, said she is going to walk with me because her feet hurt sometimes when she walks and she wouldn't mind being carried too.

My dear Mom celebrates her 88th birthday today. What a special lady. We are so blessed to have her. I will post a poem by Austin Clarke that I feel is a portrait of her.

THE PLANTER'S DAUGHTER

When night stirred at sea
And the fire brought a crowd in,
They say that her beauty
Was music in mouth
And few in the candlelight
Thought her too proud,
For the house of the planter
Is known by the trees.

Men that had seen her
Drank deep and were silent,
The women were speaking
Wherever she went -
As a bell that is rung
Or a wonder told shyly,
And O she was the Sunday
In every week.


Have a good day and keep warm.


Mary

I was extremely lazy today. We did go grocery shopping this morning but the rest of the day was spent just hanging around really. I must have needed that, I guess.

It is a bit warmer now, all the way up to 11 degrees, whoop de doo. Dick said it is time for the January thaw.

Did I ever tell you the recipe that Jacquie gave me for beer bread? It is so simple.

3 Cups Self Rising Flour
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Can of Beer

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan. Mix the three ingredients directly in the loaf pan. If you have time, let it sit for about 15 minutes then put into the oven for about an hour.

It tastes surprisingly good and toasts beautifully. Great with chili or soups.

Enjoy.

Mary

The temperatures never got out of single digits today. There were eight of us stalwart rabbit hunters out there. I checked several times before and after we got out of the woods and the temperature was never over 5 degrees. Surprisingly it was not too cold out in the woods. We were in the sun a lot and the trees protected us from the breeze. My husband, Dick had a message for everybody. He said that as cold as it was the bunnies were going to be huddled up in their little holes keeping warm and he thought we should just skip the hunting step and high tail it right to the bar. We got out in the field at about 9AM and took Dick's advice at about 11AM. I am so excited - I got a shot off at a rabbit. My first shot. I missed darn it. They move so fast and are so small but at least I GOT a shot. Don Behr got a rabbit a little later and those were the only shots fired. Don gave me the rabbit so now we have four for the wild game dinner.

The bar was fun too. The guys all bring this year's venison sausage and everyone in the bar is invited to taste and judge. We had four different sticks of sausage from four different markets. They were all good so I had a rather big lunch of cheese, sausage and crackers with a glass of wine to wash it down. I was a busy all day and am fading fast.

I remembered that I promised a picture of the quilted wall hanging I designed for the Sheboygan County Quilt Guild Annual show. I finally installed the pictures on the computer so here it is. I call it Maid, Mother, Crone depicting the three stages of womanhood.




Have a great evening

Mary

Yesterday, Dick and I went to see the Return of the King, the third part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It certainly was spectacular and wrapped EVERYTHING up true to the books. Dick thought it went on a little too long but they had to do that in order to finish the story. We both decided that Sam the Hobbit was a bigger hero than Frodo. He was loyal, strong, full of love and practical.

Jim, Bobbie and I went pistol shooting at Rhine again. Friday is league night. My first target wasn't too good but I improved on the last two. I guess I wasn't locking my wrist. Steady is GOOD.

It snowed all afternoon and last night. The world is glistening white all over. Chelsea loves it but even she got tired walking through those drifts this morning and was more than willing to head back before we went our full mile. We went out before the plows so there were at least 3 to 8 inches with the drifting all the way. Noone else was out this morning, I only saw one set of footprints the whole way and only two cars leaving.

I am going rabbit hunting tomorrow morning with my brothers, Jeff and Randy, and friends Leroy, Dennis and maybe Vic. We had fun last year which was my first time. It is supposed to be cold and windy. I don't look forward to that, but we dress warm and the walking seems to keep a person warm too. It is such fun watching the dogs find and chase down the rabbits. Dennis Behr has two dogs and they are so good.

The 26th annual Deeley Wild Game Dinner and Beer Tasting Contest is scheduled for 2/14/04 at my niece, Denise's house in Manitowoc. I am bringing the Venison roast. I think I may do it as a Texas Rub. That is so tender and moist and flavorful. The winner of the previous year's beer tasting always hosts the next year. This is Denise's 2nd win. The ladies are doing quite well. We have a traveling trophy that started with a pewter mug and has been expanded by adding bases over the years. I am never eligible because I don't drink beer.

The Mouse That Roared

Some Guinness was spilled on the barroom floor
When the pub was shut for the night,
Out of his hole crept a wee brown mouse,
And stood in the pale moonlight.

He lapped up the frothy brew from the floor,
Then back on his haunches he sat,
And all night long you could hear him roar.
"Bring on the goddamn cat!"

Have a great day

Mary

Jim got us a wine filter for Christmas. Boy, if my Dad could see our wine equipment he would be in hog heaven. Just our corker is a wonder. When we first started, we got a simple hand corker and Dick drove them in with a rubber hammer and the heel of his hand. This one you just put the bottle on a rack, drop in the cork and pull a handle.

But the filter is even more exciting. It pulls the wine through this series of tubes and filters soaked in water and leaves the wine as clear as a bell. We used it the first time today and what an experience.

Last night, I met Ann Pirrung and Paul Hanson from the Writers Club at the Wonderful World coffee house over on Michigan for the weekly open mike that the owner hosts. It was quite an experience. I read three of my poems and Paul read and there were several musicians, some good and some quite trying. Most of the attendees were high school age. Seniors and perhaps early college. Quite an experience. I was impressed with some of the music and told Judy, the owner, that it is wonderful for these kids to have a forum where they can try out their musical performing in a real situation.

Have a nice Friday. We are going to see The Return of the King.

Love

Mary

It snowed all day off an on. And I was out and about off and on all day too. Started out with a nice walk in teh snow with Chelsea at 5:30 because today was Bible Study.

We are going over the Constitutions portion of Vatican II. This should be interesting. It is pretty easy reading, at least the book we are reading. We got in to a big discussion on the attitude of the church to Gays. Lots of opinions. What do you think? I feel that if God created 11% of the population Gay, it is not abnormal and that God does not create evil.

I read the neatest quote from a Martin Niemoeller, a German. "When the Nazis came to get the Communists, I was silent, because I was not a Communist. When they came to get the Socialists, I was silent. When they came to get the Catholics, I was silent. When they came to get the Jews, I was silent. An when they came to get me, there was no one left to speak."

We must speak for justice.

Love

Mary

I am finally all caught up naming the pictures that I have installed on the computer. I got a good one of Oscar, which is almost impossible, because he is so black that there is very little contour and you usually just bet a black blob with shiny green orbs in it. However, I am going to show you one that I took of the two of them, Oscar and Roxie enjoyin treats on the kitchen floor. Don't they look healthy and happy. Enjoy.



Love

Mary

It is a sad day in Wisconsin. The Mighty Packers have played out. Yesterday, they lost in overtime due to an interception thrown by the mighty Favre. There were a couple of other opportunities earlier in the game where they really did poorly also. Anyway!!! What an exhausing and discouraging game. Three pictures of my brother Randy in three poses of disbelief and horror are in this evening's Sheboygan Press. Well, there is always next year. We will relive the what ifs for the next several months and then move on.

Wednesday, I will meet a friend at the new coffee shop on Michigan Avenue in Sheboygan. They have an open mike on Wednesdays. My friend is interviewing the owner for an article for the Beacon a local county paper. Her name is Ann Pirrung and she is really good. I keep trying. I will be doing a reading of my poetry and the classics on St. Patricks Day at Richards in Sheboygan Falls.

Love

Mary

Here we are in Wisconsin, getting ready to watch our Packers play the Eagles in Nasty Philidelphia. Dick and I went to Minneapolis one time to see the Packers Play at the Metrodome. Those Viking fans are really mean. I mean they were loud and evil. I was actually afraid as we were leaving the stadium and the Vikings WON the game.

They say the Eagles fans pride themselves on being the nastiest fans in the league. What is that?

Anyway, I am all ready with my green jeans, my gold turtleneck, my Reggie White Jersey and my Packer hat with the superbowl pin on it. We hear they are a team of destiny. I see that they have improved the WHOLE season and have come into their prime now. They have special impetus because of their loyalty to Favre, who lost his Dad and wants to win in his memory. That is quite a lot of motivation and skill coming together. Go Pack!!!

Went out to Rhine and shot three for league today. I did pretty good. One score was in the 60s the other two in the 50s. Dick got a 71. WOW.

Have a nice day.

Love

Mary