Sitting At The Kitchen Table

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 15 Jul 06 - 09:41 AM

That's a real shame about that guy not enjoying somebody else's performance. I just like to be part of the musical texture. Just being part of a group making good music a cappella is incredibly satisfying. (And you don't have to take any instruments).   And it's particularly wonderful when you use no sheet music. When we used to sing madrigals a lot, and had quite a few memorized, I found that as long as I could sometimes get cues from other voices coming in where they're supposed to, we could sing a lot of songs that way.

And it was a real kick.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 05:23 AM

I have been away from this table for a few days, popped by this morning and found no one here!Shame as I have a lot to get off my mind so I will make the coffee and ramble on by myself.
Last weekend my daughter and son in law had just about settled into their new home, unpacking all done.We had planned a day in London looking at things for the nursery. Then they got a phone call that the business centre where they had a unit( he has a picture framing business and gallery) had had a serious fire in the early hours. 68 businesses just about lost everything.Davids unit was smoke and water damaged, to make things worse he has not been allowed back into the building to collect anything salvagable.The company who are the landlords have been very unhelpfull, no information or contact, to add insult to injury they cashed the rent cheque after the fire!
The good news is that we have found a new unit close by so Billy and friends are there this weekend building a new shop.My job to provide dinner when they get back.Hopefully they will be able to start up again soon and the customers will stay loyal.More good news the baby is due in 10 weeks and my daughter is feeling well despite all the worry of moving house and now the fire.Count our blessings!

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 05:34 AM

ooops, that was me! lost my cookie.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: David C. Carter
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 05:49 AM

Hi there Jerry and everybody
In a bit of a daze this morning,had some friends round last night/this morning.After a fine dinner, somebody put on my CD.Everyone started dancing!Well,there's no accounting for taste!as me mammy used to say before she abandonned me in a passing bullrush!
It's a fine morning here in Paris,it's going to reach about 31 today,I'll have to water the cat again!
I gotta go now,scrape the wife out of bed.We're invited to lunch.
What a busy life I lead!

Clunky

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 07:55 AM

Hey, David: Paris? Paris!! Paris!!!!!!!! I assume you're not talking about Paris, Illinois. Man oh man. When I proposed to my wife, I asked her where she wanted to go on our honeymoon. She immediately said, "Paris!." I told her that's what I'd try to arrange, but if I couldn't get reservations, what would be her second choice. And there was dead silence. I still kid her about that. Second choice to Paris? And that's where we had our honeymoon, with a day trip to London.

Last Fall, we went on 1n 18 day tour of Europe and we started out with two days in .... Paris. It was wonderful coming back. I don't speak a word of French, and yet we went on our own for most of those two days as the tout group went to places we'd seen on our first trip. We wanted to revisit some of the places we especially loved on our first trip. I found Paris very easy to get around in, even with the language barrier. I felt very much at home there, even though the city has a bad reputation about not being welcoming to tourists .. especially ones who don't speak French. We loved it.

We also loved Switzerland and Italy and Spain and the other countries we've visited, but Paris is very special.. The guest room in our home is decorated with a Paris motif.

M
Good on you.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 08:12 AM

And good to see you, billybob. Itr's no wonder you haven't stopped by for a cuppa with all that's been going on in your life. Sounds like good may be coming out of bad, though. That's happened to me so many times that it helps to be calm when things seem to be coming apart at the seams.

And I'm not talking about clothes from Walmart.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Kitsching At The Sitting Table
From: Severn
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 09:36 AM

Good luck to you and family on everything, billybob and I hope the business thrives and the red tape from the fire and previous landlord is held to a minimum. Thanks for making the coffee, but I have to meet my mother and sister for brunch, so I can't stay for breakfast. I told Jerry I'd drop by, and now that I have, I will continue to do so in the future.I may drop back later today.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 09:45 AM

Hey, nice to see you Severn. I was trying to figure out where you live, but the Member's Profile doesn't give a clue. It's just kinda nice to be able to place people where they live. I live in Derby, CT.. the smallest city in the state. If someone says, "I want you out of town by sunset," I just say, "No problem... give me five minutes. Derby suits my style, though... no traffic jams, friendly people, mostly quiet, safe neighborhoods and a beautiful valley where the Housatonic and the Naugatuck rivers join. I was bo0rn and raised in a small town but in comparison to Derby, it was a metropolis. And, we're still close enough to New York City (and hour and a half) in case I ever get nostalgic for anxiety...

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Severn
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 10:19 AM

I live in Laurel, Maryland near Washington DC. Lived in this area all my life. I even went to high school with tablesitter Ron Davies.
I work for the Postal Service in Rockville, MD. I guess my profile must be an amateur file. I'll have to beef it up a bit, like you folks in Darby do with your stories about that ram.

But I've gotta ramble.....

Later!

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 08:46 PM

When you're little like Derby, Severn, you gotta talk big to get any respect.. :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 17 Jul 06 - 10:31 AM

Hey, Ron:

In response to a comment you made in here about working out harmony arrangements by ear, I started a thread upstairs... Music By Ear. I'm sure that you have a lot to offer to the discussion. And, you can read my comment about how the Gospel Messengers come up with their harmonies.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 10:15 AM

Hi Jerry,
well the good news is that Billy and co. have fitted out the new workshop, it is in a better location than the old one.David got the all clear to go in to try and save anything not smoke or water damaged today, they are having to wear protective clothes as there may be asbestos contamination!
The weather here in England is fabulous, the hottest day since records began, so yesterday we chilled out all day by the pool.
Looking forward to Sidmouth Festival and listening to some great singing, may even join in!
Too hot for coffee ,any iced tea?

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 11:39 AM

Thanks for the update, Billybob: Some of the greatest blessings in my life came from short-term disasters. There was a time in my life when I seemed to be getting it from all directions and just for survivals sake I developed what I jokingly called pre-hindsight. It's easy to look back on terrible things in our lives that turned out to be blessings, but I had so many difficult things happening that I couldn't wait for enough time to pass for hindsight. I guess what I was really asking for was instant-hindsight. No waiting necessary. While I joke about it, it was a very helpful attitude to have. Sometimes I'd have to laugh at everything that was coming at me and I say to myself, "O.K. God, tell me why I should really be thankful that this is happening." Sometimes he did.

Without a sense of humor, I never would have made it.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 09:05 PM

A couple of days ago, I went to the Post Office to mail a package to Al Whittle (in case you stop by, Al, it's on its way.) As I was coming down the steps, a man was bounding up them and said, "Man, it's hot, today!" He was mvoing past me when I touched him on the shoulder and said, "Hey, wait a minute, don't you know me?" I could tell from the blank expression on his face that he didn't. I'm usually the guy in that situation. In that moment of awkwardness he said, "it was good to see you," and started into the Post Office. So, I touched him on his shoulder again and said, "Marty, don't you
remember the Stamford Museum?" And his face lit up. He suddenly realized who I was. And then, I couldn't get him to stop talking, he was so excited.

Back in the 60's during the Vietnam War, I was Director of Education at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, where I ended up becoming Executive Director and worked until my retirement. Marty was fresh out of college, looking for work. He wanted to go into Optometry but had to work for a year to save up enough money. So, he was hired as a Maintenance Man. He was just happy to get a job. But, there was something about him that I really liked. He had a childish Gee-Whiz! enthusiasm for everyone, and I thought he'd make a great teacher. We had an opening for a nature instructor and even though he had no teaching experience and precious little knowledge of nature, I hired him. He approached his new position with tremendous energy, and I spent a lot of time teaching him about the local birds, plants and animals, as well as Colonial life and Native Americans (all of which we taught.) The first time I saw him take a class of five year olds, I knew I'd made the right decision. He had a real connection with kids that can't be taught, and the kids loved him. He stayed at the Museum for a year, earned enough money and went to Optometry school and became an optometrist. I ran into him once after that, and we talked a few minutes. That was probably twenty years ago. So, it's no surprise that he didn't recognize me (despite the fact that I look EXACTLY THE SAME as I did thirty years ago.) Marty hadn't changed much.. has grey hair now, but is just as excitable and enthusiastic. His memories of the Museum just came tumbling out, along with his appreciation for what I'd done for him. Because he was teaching that year, he had a deferrment and din't have to go to Vietnam (no small gift.) Giving him the chance had a major impact on his life, and it made me feel really good to know that.

Marty is one of several people I believed in and hired, who had little or no experience. I hired a young black man who was working in a necktie factory who was fascinated with reptiles. He had no teaching experience, and just a high school education. Again, he was a wonderful teacher, ended up using his time at the Museum to get a wonderful job at an exclusive private school, and went on to appear on television programs, write books and become a resource for animal use in movies... going on location around the world on film crews.

I hired a woman who had just gone through an ugly divorce and needed a job badly. She had no teaching background or nature background, but there was again something about her that made me believe that she could be a great teacher. And she was. She used her experience to go on to writing a weekly nature column and when she moved to Florida, had a successful career as a lecturer.

It's not that I taught these people everything that they knew. I just gave them a chance and a leg up and they ended up passing me along the way. There were others, too.. all they needed was a chance. And someone who believed in them.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 09:53 PM

That's great, Jerry. You must be a great judge of people--to recognize quality so quickly.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 19 Jul 06 - 08:14 AM

What a wonderful story Jerry, it must have been great to watch those people do so well with your encouragement.Sometimes I worry if my judgement is flawed, we recently hired a new therapist who enthused about working for us and was so in awe of my manager and me because of all our knowledge, I really enjoyed training her and gave as much time as possible to nuture her.You guessed it, she has left and set up in competition, hey hoo!!
Good news on David, they managed to rescue most of the things from the shop, including a pair if Shirley Bassey's shoes that he was box framing for a Charity auction.The BBC have heard what happened and are filmimg him for the TV news programme tonight.So some good publicity for him and the charity.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Jul 06 - 09:27 AM

......of course, I haven't mentioned the stupid mistakes I made, hiring people.

I ain't Claire Voyant.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Jul 06 - 10:49 PM

Just turning of the coffee pot for the night. It's been a good day today ... cooler by about 15 degrees than yesterday, and we appreciated it. Got a call from my oldest sister tonight, though, and she says Mom is losing ground. That's upsetting, although she's been given very little chance of living so many times over the years and surprised everyone that she may be doing better than people think. Whenever it comes it will be a hard loss to deal with. I know some of you have gone through that already. I've just been blessed that Mom has lived so long.

Makes me think maybe I'll stick around a while, myself.

Catch you tomorrow...

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 19 Jul 06 - 11:21 PM

Well, Jerry, regarding hiring: I haven't had occasion to have hired many people, but my track record is, shall we say, absymal. Most recently of course, my house-sitter.

I figured--how hard can that job be? I can help Betty out and possibly get a chance to hear her play piano and sing. No downside.

Wrong. It turns out Betty, among other things (problems with cats) also put a lot of kitchen utensils, etc. where Jan would not think of looking for them. Looks like I'll never hear the end of it. So any time Jan accuses Betty of some heinous crime along these lines, I've started telling her I did it myself.

I've never dealt with a female as possessive of things domestic.

But, obviously in the grand scheme of things, these concerns are. let's say, not exactly earthshaking.

Fortunately that's not required at the kitchen table.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Jul 06 - 08:54 AM

I don't think it's the can opener or the spatula, Ron. I think it's the piano.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 20 Jul 06 - 10:49 AM

Ron, when ever my mother comes for dinner, she always insists on doing the dishes, I spend the next week searching cupboards for everything from plates to the cork screw, its a woman thing! Never put anything back in the right place in another girls kitchen 'cos it will be bound to be the wrong place!
Mind you I think Jerry is right about the piano!
Talking of women, I never understand that when Billy has lost something and can never find it, I can find it in seconds and it is always where he swears he just looked? Most of my friends say the same thing!Man thing??

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ebbie
Date: 20 Jul 06 - 10:31 PM

I've got to share my good news and here's a good place to do it!

Where to start...

The state-owned museum where I'd lived and worked as the caretaker and docent (And I was a decidedly decent docent!) recently received money to do some upgrading and renovating, takiing down the lath and plaster and putting up insulation and drywall so I had to move.

I moved to a small apartment in a building I've taken care of for years and started looking for a permanent (ha! Is there such a thing?) place to land with my dog and my cat. I didn't/don't want just a normal rental- the idea of paying thousands of dollars a year just for a roof over my head bores me; I like interesting things and novel concepts. What I mostly dwelt on while I was looking was the idea of renting a large house in my name and then finding my own renters. But I also considered some other things, things like another caretaker position or doing in-home care and a bunch of other stuff. So I never did focus on any one thing which made it difficult to bring it to pass.

In the meantime, the apartment house sold (the owner died in 04 and her heirs put the place up for sale). I told the new owner that I don't want to pay rent on this apartment because it is so substandard on so many fronts (I nearly froze in last March's cold snap- there is no piped in heat) and we agreed that I'd be out by August 1. Along about the middle of July I saw that wasn't going to happen and talked with them again. We agreed I could stay until September 1.

Anda that's where I was until a couple of hours ago.

Just got back from the grocery store where I ran into the wife who bought this place. She aaid she wanted to talk with me and joined me at a table.

The upshot: They are asking me to stay because in due time they want to turn this apartment house into a kind of bed and breakfast with emphasis on tourists in the summertime and legislators in the winter, and they think I'd be perfect for the project. I'll check them in and out and ride herd. Mostly just rent free, unless we work out something else in addition.

This is right up my alley- I operated a motel for years and later trained managers for other motels. I like working with people, I like doing research, I like helping people have a good time.

Oh, and they're putting in a Monitor stove.

So hoist those cups and celebrate with me!

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 20 Jul 06 - 10:43 PM

I really am cracking up-- the excuse will be it's the hideous pressure of explaining what Betty has done. But I really can spell "abysmal" ( I'm actually not an abysmal speller). Usually I can tell by looking at a word if it's spelled right. My instinct let me down.

And how many more generations--with the Net etc., where anything goes--will it take til there is no such thing as correct spelling?

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 08:43 AM

Don't feel bad, Ron: nun of us is perfict when it comes two speling.
That's the good thing about sitting around a kitchen table. When you talk, you don't have to spell the words.

As evidenced by other threads, some folks can real supercilious about their command of the English language. It's a way of expressing your superiority, which seems a little sad, to me. I value people more on whether they have something valuable to say than if they use perfect English saying it. And, so much is dependent upon the family and social status you were born into. (OOOOOH, I don't think I used "born" correctly.) next thing you know, I'lll split an infinitive! Some of the wisest, most generous-hearted, delightful people I've had the honor of knowing in my life have had a very limited education. It's not their grammar that I hear. I hear what they have to say, and the wisdom of it. My brother-in-law only went through 10th grade, and his speach showed it. His Father was an itinerant carpenter and he grew up moving from town to town. His speech was never a barrier between us. I've always just felt blessed that I had such good English teachers. I still remember much of what they taught me, but I must admit, I don't sweat an occasional split infinitive or a misspelled word.

It's the seasoning in conversational stew.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: GUEST,KT
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 09:15 AM

YAHOO! Ebbie, that's GREAT!!! (Amazing what developments can take place over a mere 12 hours) Everone else....hello, hello....just getting my feet on the ground after returning from the lower 48, so haven't had a chance to read your messages yet.....Jerry, I've come home to a package from you, which I've not had a chance to even open yet. Thanks SO much! More later, and best to y'all!
KT

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 11:22 AM

After being accused of ending a sentence with a preposistion, Winston Churchill said, "That's the kind of nonsense up with which I will not put."

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 12:07 PM

That's wonderful news, ebbie: As I was telling Elmer, sometimes blessings blindside you. What a way to be blindsided. I have a strong sense that something very good is coming in my life, and I have no clue as to what it will be. I'll let you know when it gets here. And it will. I feel it coming.

Glad you got home, KT. Nothing like coming back home. Enjoy the CD..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 01:19 PM

Thanks, KT. I told BevelAnn the III last night when she came down the hill for music. I'm thrilled about it- and understand why nothing meshed before.

I love having a niche. It's hard to beat riends and music and the north.

As in the third verse of a song I wrote some years back:

"Music and Laughter are friends of Delight
I'm loving and loved and I'm free
In this land of mountains and the great Northern Lights
The first time my world smiled on me"

Thanks for this table, Jerry. It is Life.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 11:01 PM

Ebbie--

Let me join in congratulating you. You certainly deserve all good fortune.

Sounds just great.

Ron

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 08:25 AM

Every morning (except Sundays and rainy days) Ruth and I go for an early morning walk. She is bothered by the sun, so we get up before sunrise, and are on our way. About a year ago, they completed a river walk here in Derby and it is a delight. Derby is seated at the confluence (don't get to use that word often) of the Naugatuck and Housatonic Rivers. The walk runs along the Naugatuck until it joins the Housatonic, and then follows the Housatonic up-river through the back yards of downtown Derby. Even before the walk was officially opened, people were using it, and there is a steady flow of "regulars" (us included) every morning. The total length of the walk, round trip is 3 and a half miles, and Ruth is working her way up to it. We did two and a half miles today for the first time and I know that well before the summer is over, she'll be up to three and a half. I've always been a walker, and have walked as far as ten miles when I'm by myself. But, I'd rather walk two and a half with my wife. I'm very proud of her, because she is building her strength every day and is intent upon doing the whole walk. I know that she'll do it.

One thing about getting older (which starts the day you were born) is that you become more conscious of what you need to do to maintain your good health, strength and mobility. I'm actually much healthier now than I was five years ago, as is Ruth. It's a good feeling, taking care of yourself better. Shoulda done it years ago.
If our body is a Temple, mine was closer to the City Dump (exagerating slightly, here.) I'm learning more all the time about how the body works and what is good for it... I suspect that there are others sitting around his table who are doing the same thing.

Don't look for any donuts or pizza at the table (both of which I love.) But, if you stop by in real life, I'll serve you more than carrots and seaweed. I'm discovering healthy, good-for-you recipes all the time.

Drop by for supper some time. I'll put another plate on the table.

Wrote a song about a dog once, along those lines:

"Put another bowl on the floor, Mildred, I think Rosco's got a friend
Coming back home at all hours of the night, and he don't say where he's been
Walking kinda funny with his legs stuck out, and his tail's hanging at half-mast
I don't think he's going to live to see another winter, if he don't stop living so fast"

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 07:23 PM

The kitchen table, where the conversation is always good and the pot is always on...

Just keeping the home fires burning..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 11:03 PM

Congratulations to you, Ebbie. They are lucky to have you under their roof. I'm sure you'll raise the rafters in song!

Elmer

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 09:50 PM

All good things come to those who are beFuddled.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 12:00 AM

It really was fascinating to hear the various perspectives and backgrounds on the Music by Ear thread, wasn't it? It's particularly interesting to hear the different methods employed to try to teach ear-training. It seems it is possible to do--which I hadn't realized. It must be a slow process--my hat is off to the teachers who do it.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 09:19 AM

Today is Ruth and my 8th Anniversary... what great memories. And the greatest thing of all is that our love and joy is so much deeper than it was the day we got married. And that's saying a LOT. Today is a day of remembrance shared with Joe, my bass singer in the Gospel Messengers and our Best Man. At our wedding, Joe sang the lead when the Gospel Messengers sang "Only Believe." "All things are possible, if you only believe." I can surely attest to that.

This morning, Ruth and I went for our daily walk on the River Walk here in Derby. We like to get out early to beat the sun and just enjoy the sunrise along the river. And in celebration, we walked the full 3 and 1/2 mile walk for the first time. I've done it before, but this was a first for Ruth. I'm very proud of her because she was at a point a couple of years ago when one mile was almost beyond her capacity. Now, she motors along quite nicely for 3 and 1/2 miles. We walk between four and six mornings a week, and it's a great excercise, a beautiful walk and a time we look forward to, just being alone together. O.K., there are a lot of other people who go on the walk, but it is still a private, relaxed time for us.

Later this summer in late August, I'm taking Ruth to Las Vegas, with a side trip to the Grand Canyon. Ruth really wants to see The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas. They've constructed a large area of Venice, and we'll go on a gondola ride there, as we did in Venice last Fall. Romance never wears thin.

But, that's four weeks away. In the meantime, I'll keep the kettle on here in the kitchen. Seems like we have a lot of people gone at this time of year, so the conversation may get a little thin at times, but it's still a good place to sit down for a minute.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 09:41 AM

Happy anniversary Jerry and Ruth, enjoy a beautiful day.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 11:01 AM

Here, Jerry. I picked a celebratory bouquet of colorful wild flowers on my way over here. Got a vase handy? We'll put it in the center of the table, if that's ok. Congratulations to you and Ruth. Happy for ya.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 11:37 PM

Happy Anniversary, Jerry and Ruth. May you neither be beFuddled nor Hornswoggled, and always have a bright and shining path beneath your feet for your walk together through life!

Elmer

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 11:38 PM

Congralations, Jerry and Ruth! What a great way to celebrate!

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 11:40 PM

And congratulations, too!

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: David C. Carter
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 03:51 AM

Congrats Jerry/Ruth from me here in French France,not Illinois!
A nice life you got yourselves there.Enjoy your trip to Vegas/Venice.
My better half and I spent our honeymoon in Venice,you know,that one in Italy!Happy daze!
We is off to Croatia in a week or so.Through Germany,Austria,Slovenia then into Croatia;About a 2000 klms drive.Possibly go into Bosnia to Mostar,look at the famous bridge.We crossed it before that terrible war took place.Actually,we were there during the war.May drive out to Sarajevo,see some friends who where stuck there during the siege.We're coming back through Italy,so it's going to be Venice again!Oh well,you do what you can!
It's on the "warm" side here too.The air,what there is of it,is so thick with pollution,it's like hacking through porridge!I like porridge,but even so...
Take care Jerry,Ruth and everybody at the TABLE
David

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 04:00 AM

Hope it's a happy trip, David. And you take care.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: David C. Carter
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 05:10 AM

Hi Ebbie,thanks.Don't know if your'e able to get away yourself,hope so.Whatever,take care of yourself.
David

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: bbc
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 07:56 AM

Happy Anniversary, Jerry & Ruth. I'm so happy for you both! The trip sounds great. I love the Southwest. I visited there last summer. This summer was the Northwest--Portland & Crater Lake--pretty special, too!

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 09:48 AM

Thanks for all the well wishes, friends.

David: you trip sounds like it will be fantastic! I really envy you (Whoops, envy is a baaad thing to do... how about if I say I'm really happy for you?) Our trip to Europe last Fall is something that we regularly talk about... We'd love to have a couple of months to explore more of Europe. I recently picked up a DVD of Amadeus, which brought back wonderful memories of our trip to Salzburg. Ruth spends an hour just about every day watching a program, Passport to Europe, so the places that we loved so much stay fresh in our minds. For us, Paris is the number one city on earth with nothing faintly comparable. After that, I think we'd have to take Venice. Somewhat to my surprise, Ruth loved Switzerland and Austria. I was really looking forward to visiting both of those countries and it was a special pleasure that She enjoyed them as much as I did.

Growing up in the Midwest, I was half-way to everywhere in the United States. As a teenager, I prefered thinking of it as being in the middle of nowhere. Ruth grew up in Brooklyn, so the far West started in Philadelphia. (I actually saw a photo in the New York Times of Robert Kennedy visiting Philadelphia, with the caption, Kennedy vists the West.) Wisconsin has proven to be a good staging ground for showing her the rest of this country, piggy-backing trips onto our annual trip out to Wisconsin to visit my family. We've explored all of the upper Midwest and most of the Plains states out to the Rocky Mountains. We still have some of the south central United States left to explore and the Pacific Northwest (although I've been in Washington.) Between us, we've been in close to 50 states. Next on our agenda, God willing, is Scandinavia, Buenos Aires and Mexico. Most immediately, our very next trip we're looking forward to is a cruise in the Carribean. Never been on a cruise, myself. But it should be fun.

The greatest thing of all is that we had a terrific day celebrating our Anniversary, and the furthest we traveled was about 15 miles to go out to dinner. When you can stay at home and have a beuatiful time, then you know that you are blessed. All the travel is just delightful frosting on the cake.

bbc: It's great that you were able to get out to The Pacific Northwest. We'll get there eventually, but will probably catch Newfoundland and Greenland first, just because they['re closer (and less expensive.)

Elmer: I'm walking around singing to myself, Bewitched, Bothered and BeFuddled. Softly, though. Don't want to be committed. At least not in that way..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 10:54 AM

As we approach that mystical 900th post, I wonder who will be the lucky one to take it. Is jimmyt lurking in the wings, waiting to pounce?

Or might it be Joe Offer?

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 01:44 PM

You can't get away from me this time..

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 01:45 PM

You wascally wabbit!

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 01:46 PM

I've got you now! I weally. weally do, you wascal....

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Cllr
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 01:52 PM

I have no idea t ythis thread is about but im sitting in the kitchen at the table and i thought why not Cllr