Monday, May 24

The day started out leisurely. We slept in 'til 8 AM. Yeah, I know most don't think that's sleeping in but it was great. All had a quiet breakfast and talked about the day's activities. We poked around outside for a while after breakfast but didn't really get much accomplished.

My brother, Ed, had a couple of plumbing projects that we needed to tackle so we started to work on them. The projects involved replacing the inlet valves for the clothes washer in the basement and repairing the valves in the tub faucet assemblies. Both jobs were accomplished with only two trips to the hardware store. I think that's a record.

Had a light lunch and chatted for awhile once again.

About 1 PM we went to visit Pat at the nursing home. She was happy to see Ed and I doubt that she recognized Bonnie or I. We chatted a while walked the halls, chatted a while, walked the halls, and did it some more. Pat was putting a few words together that were understandable and sometimes in appropriate places. I hadn't seen her for almost a year and she seem better than the last summer but still fully involved in the disease. We were there for a little over an hour and then moved on. It's really tough on my brother and my heart goes out to him always.

We went out and did some grocery shopping and other shopping and were back home in the middle of the afternoon. Had many phone messages including one from Kelly for Ed to check his email. Seems he seldom does that. Seems there were a couple announcing visits from folks in Europe. He answered those quite quickly after he read them.

While going through his email he got a call from Holland regarding one of the visits in the email. While he was on the phone one of the neighbors came up and asked if we were available for dinner that evening. Bonnie and I had dinner just about done so Tim thought another night might do but we still haven't set that one up.

After dinner we were outside and Ed decided to show Bonnie what bee packages looked like. We went into the lower garage and there were five packages waiting to be put into hives. Many of the bees were dieing so Ed decided that he had to put them in the hives right away. We all packed up the truck and off we went to the bee yard to insert the packages. Pictures will follow soon. Ed got stung twice, Bonnie and I not at all. Success!

A relaxing drink or two when we got home with a movie and then it was off to bed with another day of "rest" completed.

Off to Wisconsin

After a wonderful night's sleep Bonnie and I joined Ed and Joyce for Breakfast at the Hampton Inn. Had waffles, sausage, and fruit with a lot of good conversation. We changed out plan at breakfast and decided to head to my bother's that afternoon instead of waiting until Monday. So we finished packing up, checked out and loaded up the car for a short jaunt back to Chad and Heidi's before we started the drive to WI.

Heidi's family was still there and we all had a wonderful morning of conversation and watched Rachel open the rest of her gifts. That girl got a lot of turtle stuff but then that is what she wants to do with her life. No, not be a turtle, study them and bring them back for endangerment. A noble avocation is you ask me.

We all enjoyed a lunch of left over food from the day before and there was a lot of it. The food was still delicious and the company was fantastic. I called my niece Kelly and her husband Jeff to find out if we would be welcome for dinner that evening instead of Monday in the original plan. They said they were looking forward to seeing us and the steaks would be ready when we arrived. All in all a wonderful way to start our journey to Wisconsin. We said our goodbyes and loaded up for the 5 hour drive north.

As we journeyed north we ran into some nasty weather just south of Springfield, IL. Wind and heavy rain were with us for an hour or so. The sky was very dark and ominous. We watched for the possibility of a funnel cloud but fortunately none were sighted. We did follow a Target 18 wheeler through the storm. Our speed on many occasions dropped to forty-five or lower as visibility was ofter very restricted. On the north side of Bloomington, IL the rain pretty much ceased and we pulled off the highway for a pit stop, a stretch and to change drivers. My brother was pretty much exhausted from the last hour of tense driving. We also refreshed ourselves with some custard from Culvers before we returned to the journey north.

Our next leg to South Beloit, IL was pretty much uneventful but once again the skies were getting ominously dark. Just as we pulled into Kelly and Jeff's it began to rain once again. We switch Joyce's luggage to her car and then went inside for a pleasant reunion with the Graminske's and a wonderful dinner. While we were eating it once again began to thunder and flash lightening. The rain came down in buckets and was mixed with pea sized hail, very loud storm in general. We turned on the TV to catch the weather and found that there were tornado watches throughout the region. We didn't resume our trip to Wales until the weather system had passed by far enough that we thought we would not catch it on the road.

We said our goodbyes once again and were on the road to Wales and Milwaukee. Joyce followed us until we reached Mukwonago, WI. We then went our separate ways and each were shortly snug at our destinations. Boom-booms continued through much of the night. We all went to bed relatively early and I laid awake for some time listening to the thunder and watching the flashes of lighting eventually drifting off to sleep.

Here We Are in St. Louis

Meet Me in St. Louis

Arrived at the St. Louis airport on time. Had two checked bags so called my brother when we got to baggage claim. Then almost immediately picked up our bags (very good service) and waited for my brother to pick us up. Was not yet noon and already the temp was in the upper 70s. It was very warm for our Alaskan bodies. It was a very happy time when my brother pulled up to retrieve us, wonderful reunion.

The trip to the Bladow home in Maryland Heights, MO was fortunately uneventful, the conversation was light and we were trying to catch up of the past 6 months since we had last seen one another. We were greeted with many hugs when we arrived and began a day of grazing and chatting that seemed to be unending. The graduate, Rachel, was radiant and just as pretty as I remembered.

We were wined and dined continuously while we were at the party. Seemed like Heidi and Chad (Rachel's parents and our nephew and niece) couldn't feed us enough. They were the most gracious host a hostess anyone could ever want. The food and drink was delicious and the libations were wonderful. I heartily recommend attending a party at the home of the proud parents, Heidi and Chad.

During the course of the day we were reacquainted with many and had a wonderful time meeting new people, playing games and watching the children of all ages play. Learned a new game in the afternoon called Blokus. The game is fast paced and addicting. We also played cribbage and the "kids" played on the hill grass surfing, dueling, and rolling down the hill. Ed, Don, and Andre came away with a new teenage hero. He is a friend of Rachel's named Josh. What a guy. The young kids were rolling down the hill and he some how convinced the lovely girls to not just roll down the hill but to do it in tandem with him. He would lie on the ground the girl would lie on him and they would get a push to roll down the hill. Both would return to the top and the next girl would take her turn. We sat in awe of this inventive young man.

Rachel had many friends an family with her on her great day of celebration. We and hopefully Rachel had a most wonderful time. Graduations themselves are not one of my most favorite events to attend but the graduation parties are wonderful. The Bladows from Alaska and Wisconsin retired to the hotel early as the Alaskans were very tired. But a spectacular was had by all and we thank our hosts for wonderful food, gracious company, and extraordinary weather.

Bound for St. Louis, MO

Off to St. Louis

At 10:30 PM on Friday, May 20 we are off to St Louis for a graduation party. Not either of our graduations but that of a lovely grand niece, Rachel Bladow. We will join them at about noon on Saturday. We are looking forward to the party and seeing many of our relatives and meeting new friends.

We will be tired but will certainly enjoy the party regardless of the time or lack of sleep.

Flying on Frontier Airlines was pretty much like flying on any other of the cattle cars that they call airlines these days. It cost $50 more per person to fly with six inches more legroom. We had hoped to sleep most of the way but alas people bumping you when you are in an aisle seat seems to be the rule of the day. Didn't feel the six inches was worth $50 and still do not. We arrived at our interim destination of Denver, CO on time and had breakfast as we waited for our connection to St. Louis. Left Denver on time on United Express.

The Open Window

With Egypt out of the picture for a while, we have looked to other places. It turns out there are two trip in the works for us. The first will be a domestic trip that will be quite long and begin in the mid-west of the USA and end in Florida. The second trip will be farther away and include Germany, England, and maybe some other destinations mixed in.

Our domestic trip will include a stop in the Gateway to the West, St. Louis, MO. A lovely niece of mine will be graduating from high school. While we will miss the graduation we will arrive in time for the party the following Saturday. Looking forward to a good time. From there we will accompany my brother on a road trip up to southeastern WI. We will spend some time there relaxing and visiting relatives. It will be an enjoyable time I'm sure. Then we will be off to Tampa, FL for the wedding of another niece. Florida is not a place Alaskans like to go in the summer but we will suffer the heat to enjoy the company of family.

The European trip will include arrival in Frankfurt, Germany. Plans have not yet been firmed up for the time we will be there. We will be flying to England to visit our daughter Melanie and her husband Neil. We have no firm plans there either and those will be firmed up in the near future. We may also be able to look up an exchange student in Germany that was here in Alaska a few years ago. We will see how all of this plays out.

More, much more will be written on these trips later along with possibly useful information on travel both in the USA and Europe.

Egypt Trip Canceled!

Sadly, I must say that the trip has been canceled due to the unrest in Egypt. We were offered the opportunity to go during the summer but chose not too. It is way too hot, especially in the south, during the summer. I know the people we were going to visit will be disappointed as well but there will be a time for another trip to the Land of the Pharaohs.

When the Lord closes a door he opens up a window. We just have to be open to the opportunities presented.

More on a substitute trip later.

Up the River Nile

Seems there is always more to see no matter where you go. There is always a new adventure around the corner. It could be a trip across town to some place you have never been right in your backyard or a place halfway around the world that you would like to see for the first time along with others you would like to visit again.

We are embarking on another trip to Egypt this spring. While the last Egyptian trip was to Cairo and north this time we will go up the Nile and visit Memphis, Aswan, Luxor and places in between. This trip will be very different from others we have done. There will be three people from Alaska, two wonderful Egyptians that seem like brother and sister to us, and on Egyptian guide. It should be quite a fabulous trip. Four and five star hotels are in the offing, overnight train ride, cruising on the Nile, and of course air transport when necessary. Life should be relaxing and very enjoyable of the the short time we will be away. I look forward to a time of little work and much play even if it is for just a short while.

Visas are applied for, tours are paid, anticipation is rising as the time approaches. What a wonderful trip it will be.