OSU and the state up north 42-39

I know it's been awhile since my last official posting, sorry for the lapse in information. My busy season is upon me and things happen fast around here. Hope you enjoyed Brady's review of his football season. He soon will be starting SKI club. I remembered how much fun we had at Peak and Peek and CC's experience in Kzoo, so I signed him up, better than basketball, in my opinion.
Yes, we did tailgate down in Colunbus for the BIG game. We took Brady there for the first time. The weather was great and almost warm with the sun out. Brian had a union meeting in Cols the same day and he just happened to sign in and talk a little union stuff and announce he scored some tickets(fib) and they let him go with high 5s all around. We got down there around 11am, gametime 3:30pm, not early enough for Brian, we parked almost 2 miles away and walked and walked, pulling a cooler of beverages. We hooked up with the normal crowd and ate great food. Brady and I walked (more) down to the 'shoe. It was amazing to see the sea of Scarlet and Grey all down Lane Ave, the main drag. We watched the OSU band, the team file into St John's arena and the other team's buses roll through campus, boos all around. The game was great and an outcome that makes my husband happy. Can't wait for the BCS to make it official. OSU #1 National Champions. Oh, Charles our basketball team is #1 too! Luff ewe all

More wedding photos Jake and April

I couldn't get in all the photos I wanted to include for Jake and April's wedding so, here's some more.

Jake and April's Wedding at St Basil's in South Haven

It was a family setting and perfect ceremony for Jacob Julius and April (Fry) Filbrandt's wedding on November 22, 2006 7:00 PM at St Basil's Catholic Church in South Haven, Michigan.

Afterwards, we all went to St Basils' new parish hall on 3 levels for the reception. April's colors were autumn orange, rust and yellow and so were the flowers and candles. Chris had prepared hot cider, hot chocolate and decaf coffee. There was M&M's and wrapped chocolate candy with Jake and April printed on. The wedding cake was beautiful, 3 layers with her colors and was spice cake and white cake. Lots of South Haven friends of Chris and John's, Jake's, April's family of 5 sisters out of the 7 (her dad was helping a hospitalized family member and unable to attend).

Here are some snaps of the wedding guests.

Brady's Football Awards

This year Brady played football once more for the Eagles. They didnt finsh like we would have like 1-7:[. Brady played Fullback and Linebacker almost ever touch down Canon there Running Back scored was from Bradys last block to get him thru. On there last game of the year it rained, snowed, sleted, and haled all in one game Brady was the muddest on the team. Brady earned the reagular trophey that everone recived but brady recived the eagles pride award for his leardership!!!!!

late sundae nooz

Well, another snap of those crazy New Yawk girls after their manicure and at our breakfast deli.

Chaz - No nooz is good nooz and I love his bathroom blog. I will see Chaz and Santha for Jake's wedding Wednesday. Then they leaf for Marion.

Lisa - She called me today for the recipe clarification of scalloped oysters, a Cronley fav, right? They will be in Marion also and might see Chaz and fam at St Mary's for Mass.

Kelly - Had a great time in San and Tone with all her collegues. She really associates a town with the runs she has during the conference. This time it was on the River Walk to the end and back, seeing some great neighborhoods and lovely weather. Lucky.

CC - We only got voice mail tag and Im's briefly. The big NCState and UNC game we need a report from Charles. Speaking of football rivalry, I forgot that Lisa Brian and Brady went down to the OSU and Michigan game and had a blast, especially Brian.

Momma and Tomma - Much to tell. Tom dug 50 holes for blueberry plants on Sunday! He
has wired recessed light cans and switches in the toolroom ceiling prior to his friend installing dry wall Wednesday. I had a Priscilla moment Thursday when we went out early to the farm on Thursday then to drinks and salad, only to come home at 7:10pm to a phone message reminding me of the last USO show at 6:30 call. I quickly changed and drove madly up 131 to West Main and the performance site. I got there just before my solo much to the relief of the gal who was to have sung in my place. My cheeks were so red from the drink but we finished up and everyone was happy. Oh well, I need a personal assistant.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are all so blest with each other, our health, jobs and the Land of the Free.

Chaz’s Basement Bathroom Completed!

I made a feverish push on Friday and Saturday morning to get the bathroom finished for the big game. Maria's folks, Don and Ellen, her sister Leslie and her nephews came over to watch the big OSU-Mich game on the big screen in the basement.

I only have the trim around the trangular windows over the toilet, a TP holder and a towel holder to install. You can see the trim faked on the fourth image. I gave the shower its inaugural run this morning. I give it a 10. Maria also pointed out reluctantly that I installed the closet bi-fold door upsidedown. (not pictured)

Additionally, I helped our plumber Luke, who heroically put our washer/dryer in the upstairs closet. He "needed" my help there, too) install a new water softener and a new water heater. (You wouldn't BELIEVE the disgusting gunk in the bottom of your soon-to-fail water heater, hastened, I'm sure, by a failing water softener.) No pictures of that(thank heavens) or the boring appliances. (As if)

Some of you will thank me at Christmas.

Sundae Nooz

Here are those crazy gals in New York with Miss Vi in her apartment after dinner having a little port wine and sherry. November in NYC

You know I had to have a Empire State Building photo for Chaz. This was right outside the salon.

Sundae Nooz

Chaz and fam After a Sunday dinner of Barillo bowtie pasta andchicken, green salad and garlic bread, the fam was watching Am Funniest Videos when I called. I have my own cell phone ring on Chaz's phone so the kids know that it is Nanamama calling. Lots of nooz there. Chaz finished grouting the shower Friday and spent Sat going back and forth to Home Depot for materials and a shower door. He broke 2 drill bits attaching and leveling the door to the ceramic tiles. But it's almost there. They are having the Distel family (Leslie's too) over for the weekend, a graduation and OSU game. Chaz finally had to sell the Falcon convertible. He forgot to put in antifreeze to the radiator while storing it over the winter. The water froze all through the lines and cracked the engine block, bummer. A friend of Eric's bought it and likes to fix up cars. Chaz and Ray are working on Cub Scouts rocket races this week together. Ray went to a birthday party at the movies Flushed Away on Sat. He also has gotten his Christmas shopping done at St Francis' Deck the Halls shopping store. He was 'splaining some chritsmas toys such as Duda Monster,
SpongeBob monopoly, Size 8 PJS. Chaz suggested books for Lily as Raymond does the night time reading before bed.

Kelly You all got her post about DC. Jay had fixed her a tender brisket w/ gravy and roasted vegetables for return home dinner. She said that she remembered our trip to DC almost 30 years ago (wow) as she saw all the monuments remembering the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian the best from that trip. Lets' post some memories from that trip. Mine would be backing the poptop into the trailer part spot and being so glad that Charlie had some extra money.

She's off this Thurs for another conference in San and Tone.

CC and Charles. I got ahold of her as she was waiting for Charles to pick her up from Belks on Sunday night. It has been pouring rain there all weekend. They went to Katherine and Mike for a huge Sumner birthday party for Julia 3 and Brady 1 on Saturday. Sunday she worked all day after a dept store Christmas meeting. Ask her about that, Lisa. Charles had painted a desk and had worked on the upstairs suite on Sunday and she was anxious to see the results.

Lisa, Brady and Brian. Talked to Lisa this morning. She had already been to the gym and worked out. Works today at 1:00. She has dropped her blog and will report on Brady's football banquet and award!!!! on ours soon. They are going to Columbus for the BIG OSU game for tailgate parties, no game tickets but a great time. Brady is going for the first time, I see a buckeye in his future.

Momma and Tomma. Not much going on this weekend except the play for me. It was great, all too quick as usual. We have 2 more performances at the local retirement homes this week. We put up ceiling insulation between the rafters Saturday at the farm.

Luff ewe all.

My Weekend in Washington DC

Hey Everyone, I just got back from a conference in our nation's capital. The conference was boring, but the city is fabulous. The best part of running is that when you go to new cities, the first thing you can do to get to know it is to get out and RUN. I ran twice, Friday and Saturday early morning. Here's a brief account of those runs (skip to the bottom if you want). Friday I ran 5 miles Friday up and down the Capital mall--oh so scenic. Started at the Capital and ran almost to the Lincoln Memorial (two miles end to end). What a glorious run; 55 degrees and fully sunny at 7:15am. It was so amazing to watch the city wake up. So many runners, so many monuments.

Then Saturday, I was out earlier, 6:45 this time. It was warmer, probably 60 degrees and full sun again. We ran the mall again but instead of turning around at the Lincoln Memorial we peeled off near the Tidal basin and watched the sun come up behind the Jefferson Memorial. My running buddy needed to head back but I was determined to run more than an hour. I headed back to the Lincoln Memorial and as I entered it, I was treated to a number of veterans setting up their pin stands and congregating for the days events. As I turned to head back to the mall, it lay ahead of me--the Vietnam Memorial Wall. I turned off my music, slowed to a walk and took in the wall. Very moving. As I pondered the massiveness of the lost lives, I picked up the pace and ran back to the hotel with more vigor and energy. I also ran around the Capital this time and got a nice view of the city along with the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court building. It was awesome.

A couple of us ditched the conference Saturday afternoon and walked to the National Art Gallery. Here's one picture I took of a memorable sculpture.
Also, the night time picture was taken after a long night of drinking at the Capitol City Brewery--pretty good huh? That's right in front of our hotel too.

New Upstairs Master Suite

Molding with the illusion of bead board

Another view

On a Sunday afternoon, after 2 hours at Walmart, I came home with the perfect bathroom paint for the newly rearranged upstairs master suite. Charles and I have been working on making the whole upstairs out master suite. Before the upstairs was the office and the purple room as the guest room. Now, we have moved upstairs and transformed the whole upstairs to our master suite. The old office is now our sleeping quarters with the tan and red walls. The purple room is in transitioning to be our dressing room, which is perfect be that room has the biggest closet! We have a walk in closet now!!! Leaving the downstairs bedroom to be the combo office and guest room.
The green looked like highlighter green in the paint can, I wanted to stay away from pea or puke green. I would call the green a KELLY GREEN. I think I did pretty good job, if I don't say so myself. However, the handy work credit needs to go to Charles. He has done a wonderful job!

Sleeping quarters (old office)
Brodie likes it too!

late sundae nooz

Hello again all,
This time it was Lisa that called in first.
She was on her way home from work for bowling on Sunday night. Remember, she has the pink bowling shoes with flames on the side. Brady's team won his last football game, YAH. Brian is working on finishing the family room, the ceiling and trim around the room. They will refinish the wood floor when completed, then on to the laundry/mud room entrance. She was going to be off on Monday to put her garden to bed.
Kell called in to say that they were going to eat and to call back in an hour.
CC didn't answer her phone because they were eating dinner. They agreed to no phone calls during dinner, a great idea.
Chas had just finished tiling the downstairs shower, a relief that it all came out even. Our brother/son, the handyman, whodathunk? We're proud of you, Chaz. They are still having water problems upstairs, pressure and heat mainly. He swears if the water pressure is strong in the downstairs shower, he's going to shower there. I understand, as Tom and I can't shower at the same time as our water pump and/or well is getting clogged and I've had a trickle.......
Raymond and Lily were looking at Toys R Us Christmas catalogue and circling what they wanted SAnta to bring. Ray looked through the 3 bowls of Halloween candy and told me every single type of candy he got. I asked him to save me peanut m&ms. butter fingers, mild duds and licorice. Chaz and Sandra are coming for Jake and Apri's wedding, a real rushed love drive.
Kelly and Jay had a relaxing weekend if you think a 2 hour run is relaxing. She's increasing time with her running buddies each week til the February marathon. She said that the bonfire weenie roast they had last weekend with Jay's family was officially named "Woodstock". Get it? Jay "Wood" and family"stock". Washington DC is her destination this weekend for a conference.
CC checked in with wedding updates, work pressures and parties. We loved Charles' sensitive blog account of his Komen golf outing, what a guy.
Tom, MY handyman installed a dishwasher for us over the weekend, electrical, plumbing, leveling and removing existing cupboards to make room. It works! Now we just have to find room for all the stuff in the old cupboard and drawer. One thing leads to another.
My USO show is coming together this weekend, lots of fun. Business is also picking up.
Here are some of my NYC pics with the special Empire State building shot for Chaz.