Hello from Morris

I have a few minutes so I thought I'd write a bit about what's going on today.  I'm sitting in the Common Cup coffee shop in downtown Morris, waiting for Stephen to get out of class today around 1:00.  It was so good seeing him yesterday.  No big surprises.  No beard or tattoos or anything like that.  He is complaining about his lack of exercise and the fact that his clothes don't fit so well anymore.  Ah, the Freshman 15.  It gets us all, doesn't it?  

I caught up with him yesterday at the UMM pool where every kid within 100 miles was enjoying 'Spook & Splash' a community Halloween party that required every lifeguard in town to be on duty.  After that, we popped back to the dorm room which he apologized for.  Of course, it looked pretty much like a boy's dorm room.  Junk everywhere, electronics in abundance, but more than a little evidence of studying going on.  After that we went downtown to check out Jose's Burritos for dinner.  Very well worth the trip.  It's been a long time since I had REAL Mexican food.  Our one Mexican place in the Falls serves Cheese Whiz on the Nachos, I kid you not.  

After dropping Stephen off, I retired to the Super-8 with its mega cable featuring more than a few Halloween programs.   There was a Hammar version of Dracula, and 60's British flick titled 'Torture Garden' and the Travel Channel took us to America's Most Haunted Places.  No, I did not watch all night.  Honesty, I was wipped by 10pm.

A pretty good night's sleep, followed by some actual work getting done; a whole scene in the next Scoop Sister's script.  Amazing how a change of scenery can knock things loose upstairs.  Now, I'm downtown enjoying a fairly interesting cup of bean, and writing this.  I think I'll take a walk around town, make use of the sandwich fixings I brought for lunch, then meet-up with Stephen at 12:50.  Perfect driving weather.  I think we'll get home with no trouble.  Blessings!  

-Jeff

Wow!

It is October 26th and I can't believe how fast the month has flown by. This weekend seems to be typically busy. Yesterday Jeff worked at the radio station in the morning and I worked at home. I did laundry, made 8 loaves of french bread, 3 loaves of oatmeal bread, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, artichoke dip and lemon granita. I also talked, played and enjoyed being with Jeff and Rachel.
Today after Sunday school we came home and got ready for the rest of the day. We went back to church at noon for a meeting about CHIC 2009. Chic is the Covenant church triannual camp for high school students. It is held at the University of Tennessee campus and Rachel is planning on going next summer. Then we swung by the house, picked up games and the lemon granita and headed to Rachel friend Aleena's house for a time of conversation, food and games with four girls and their moms. It was very nice and while we were there, Jeff ran our food contribution for the Pastor Marx and family open house to the Marx house, came home and did some recording before picking us up and we all went to the open house. Then we took Rachel to teen Sunday evening youth meeting and then home to fold dry laundry and get ready for the upcoming week.

Tomorrow is the second documentary film night and discussion at the library and is also the night of the second border concert. Tuesday Rachel has her last weeknight away swim meet of the season. Wednesday is teens and worship team practice and I get ready for Thursday. Thursday Jeff drives to Morris to pick up Stephen and I provide a spaghetti dinner for the 25 girls and coaches on the swim team, as well as rooms for them to try on suits for Little Giant (junior high sections) on Saturday at Mesabi high school. Friday Jeff and Stephen drive home and Rachel goes to church to help at the Children's fall fest and I wait the for guys. Saturday Rachel rides with the swim team to Little Giant and Jeff and I take Stephen to Anna's and we go on to Little Giant and back. Sunday after Sunday School Jeff, Stephen and I will head to Morris and Rachel will spend the day with Catherine (a friend here in town). Jeff and I will drop Stephen off and head on home, hoping to be home by about eleven.

After next week I think things will slow a bit as swim season is winding down and we don't have near as many things on the calendar. We'd love to hear from you as you go through your lives. Let us know what you're up to and what is impacting your lives.
Diane

And another post

Hat Pics

Hey all,

We have a few pictures here of Rachel in her new hat, a birthday present from Aunt Michelle. Thanks Mitch!

A lot of good stuff

A big weekend that ends with a very nice Monday, that describes my life over the past few days. Late last week, I got a call from the good friend Gene in the PR business. They needed a scribbler who can work fast. That’s me, so I’m back at work all weekend coming up with radio scripts for the Paralyzed Veterans of America. I have another deadline coming up in a couple of days, but I made the first deadline this morning, and haven’t heard back from the firm, so I’m assuming everything is okay. All this freelance work has had a nice effect on our finances. It’s looking like we already have enough to cover Stephen’s tuition in January, which means we’ll have most of 2009 to get his tuition for next year. I’m feeling pretty good about this.

Of course, all this freelance writing hasn’t left a lot of time for Icebox Radio, but we did manage to move the Icebox Radio online radio station to the house where I can keep an eye on it, and make the programming sound a little more professional. Unlike a podcast, an online radio station runs just like a regular radio station, requiring a constant stream of audio, which means the station really needs its own computer. Fortunately, the theater had one donated this month, so we’re on the air. And, I admit, I kind of like being able to jump on the air and introduce the next play whenever I feel like it.

We’ve heard from Stephen, and he is working a lot this weekend at the UMM pool. Not the best situation for him (the job is frustrating) but he is enduring. He’ll be home in a week, and we’re looking forward too it. Even a couple of days with Stephen is going to be wonderful, and I think he’ll enjoy the chance to decompress for a while. More later.

Jeff

Some Happy thoughts from Jeff

A busy, busy Fall so far, and many changes have come; so many that I thought I should blog about it before things move too far, and I forget.

The big development is that Gene Gee, the man who helped me form the Icebox Radio Theater and got me a job at KBHW radio, keeps trying to put my kids through college. At the moment we really did need some help financially, Gene popped back up into my life from the position of his new job in Portland. He’s head of the radio division of a PR firm that creates fundraising campaigns for non-profit organizations. He threw some work my way, which worked out pretty good so more work came my way, so now, I’m basically, for the first time in my life, a working freelance writer. And just like in the movies, PR work pays pretty well.

It’s put me in the mind of all the other help I’ve had over the years. For example, I’m writing this on an amazing desk my father built for me seven years ago. All the people that have come alongside the theater over these past four years. And, of course, Diane’s eternal patience and belief. I don’t really know where this new career is going to end up (Gene keeps half-teasingly talking about moving us to Pasadena in a few years) but it is a nice feeling knowing my ideas have value. More later.

Day After Harvest Ball

Rachel had a nice time at the ball last night, after further consultation with Rachel the first two girls in the group photo are Serena Moss (in red) and Brittney Harris after her. Ellie's last name is Sceles. I couldn't remember it last night.

She got home about 12:15 this morning and got up and went to church with us at 7:30. She spent most of the afternoon on the couch reading and watching movies. She only has 3 days of school this week and then on Thursday will come to the library and play games, enjoy pizza and hang out with friends. On Friday she will head to Bluewater for the fall teens retreat with our church's youth group.

Jeff goes to Duluth on Thursday for his almost monthly Arrowhead Arts Council board meeting. I have tomorrow off for Columbus Day and Friday off because I worked yesterday. I am ready for a three day week. I will be doing some baking and cleaning around the house.

Enjoy the fall. We are seeing a cool down in the temperatures this week.
Diane

Girls in group photo

Okay, The top photo is Rachel. The second photo is Rachel with Aleena, probably her closest friend. The group photo includes in order starting on the left and moving right, 2 girls I don't know (the first I didn't recognize at all, the second I have see, but don't know who she is), Elizabeth (the girl whose house they ate dinner at), Alyssa Bergstrom, Michelle McDonald, Kelsey Eibler, Aleena Wilson, Rachel Adams, Ellie...

Aren't they gorgeous?!? but it is hard to see them looking so grown up.

Diane

Harvest Ball pictures

Here are a few pictures from the beginning of the evening. Rachel is attending her first semi-formal dance with eight other girls, all freshmen. They were all invited to dinner at the house of one girl and then were going to be driven to the dance together. More tomorrow, after we hear how the dance itself went.

Where does the time go?

I was really going to try and update this at least once a week and almost three weeks have passed since I last updated.

We are staying very busy this fall. I really thought things would be simpler with only three schedules to keep track of. But I think that with Jeff working three part-time jobs on top of Icebox radio theater, Rachel not driving yet and things at the library really hopping that it isn't going to happen any time soon.

Rachel is now 15 and has completed the classroom portion of driver's education. We will be paying for the driving portion of the training. She will study for the written test and then we will have another driver in the family (albeit in training). She is swimming again this fall and doing very well. She has been to invitational meets every Saturday for the last 5 weeks and is glad that she has her Saturday's back. She is celebrating by having a friend come spend the night for her birthday this Friday and they are having a Serenity/Firefly marathon session. Saturday night she will attend her first semi-formal dance. The harvest ball is Saturday evening and she is getting together with a group of friends for dinner at one of the girl's home and then attending the ball together. I will make sure we get photos and post them here.

Jeff is continuing to work on IBRT projects. He is doing the tech end of Bronco radio for at least football/volleyball season, and an occasional sports story for the paper, hours at the Christian radio station, as has been getting jobs from Gene Gee. (Thank you Gene.) He wrote a series of radio ads for Union Gospel Mission of Seattle and at least one other job with potential for some big jobs to come.

I have been training a new employee, between doing storytimes, library lessons with 2 classes from the parochial school, ordering and processing materials,keeping things running, and planning, executing programs. I have also been working around the house to put the garden to bed. Prepare apples we were given (YEAH!), knit, and read and play on the computer with Rachel. I am also in charge of the concession stand for all home swim meets and that involves setup along with assigning parents food to bring to meets. And this year we jumped from 3 home meets with one invitational to 7 home meets and one invitational. It has been a lot more work and we are in transition with new coaches who haven't helped set up the concessions as in previous years.

So we are staying busy and out of trouble. At least for now.
Diane