2008

January

From oranges in the backyard to snow and ice. On New Year's day, we returned from our Los Angeles Christmas trip. We took John's mother, Dorothy, and visited John's sister Tracey and her husband Steve. New Year's Day was spent watching the Rose Bowl Parade from the windows of Steve's architectural office in Pasadena.


Huntingdon Gardens, Near Tracey and Steve's House.

Phillip tells all his secrets at Legoland. John and Phillip enjoyed Legoland while Chris visited her old friend Elizabeth Newsome in Escondito.



February

The annual Italian Dinner, a fund raiser for the Memorial High School Orchestra was a great success. Phillip was a waiter and orchestra students played music for diners. Chris served in the kitchen and helped donate leftover lasagnas to the Community Table.



March

March is Youth Arts Month. Chris worked for a full year as a long term substitute for another teacher who took a maternity leave. In September, she started a 50% position of her own at Lakeshore Elementary School. That is the school that Phillip attended. Now I am learning the first names teachers who are now my colleagues.










April

Chris had a booth at the American Craft Council Show in St. Paul. A lot of work, few sales, and I met many wonderful artists.



Chris and John attended the Viennese Ball at UWEC. It is an adult prom. John, as usual, in a zoot suit outshines Chris. His shark skin suit took center stage this year. We actually danced three dances!! Chris found the secret to happiness. Pretend that John can dance and just have fun dancing around him on the dance floor. Also, dance to the jazz band, not the waltz orchestra, and definitely not the polka band.






May

Phillip was one of two freshmen who went to the Junior/Senior Prom. He went with a group of kids from Orchestra. Malorie was one of the group.


Chris flew to Denver for her opening at Translations Gallery. Thanks to Pat and Mr. Du, she had a great place to stay. Of course, the highlight of the trip was not the opening, or the trips to the Art museum. It was the trip to see Sauvecitos!! Sorry, John, it was closed the day I got there (even though it was only blocks away from Translations Gallery).


June and July



August

Phillip went to Mori no Ike, Japanese Camp for the seventh straight year.

John was arrested!! He met up with Voices for Creative Nonviolence in their Chicago to the RNC Peace Walk. A group of the walkers, including Kathy Kelly, entered the main gate at Fort McCoy to talk with soldiers stationed at the base. Follow this link to see some of the literature they hoped to deliver to the soldiers.
John handcuffed at Fort McCoy. This is from the gallery of photos.


September

John went to The Republican National Convention--not in hopes of catching a glimpse of Sarah Palin. He was a legal observer for the National Lawyer's Guild and was busy taking legal notes on protests, helping those arrested, and exchanging clothes with another lawyer in an adjoining porta potty, so John could appear in court. He called Chris after the Rage Against the Machine Concert quite high on good vibes. All was peaceful. Minutes later he and his legal witness partner were tear gassed


RNC Tear gas, percussion bombs, and lots of fun!!

October
Phillip went to the Homecoming dance with girlfriend Cassie. Don't let this sweet picture fool you. She is an award winning black belt expert who has broken bones and cracked skulls.


Baby you can drive my car. Beep, Beep!!
And as close to October 4th as possible, Phillip obtained his learning permit and started to drive. Now we enjoy chauffeur service any time Phillip has to go anywhere. This includes Orchestra, the band for the Memorial High Show Choir, visiting Cassie or meeting friends for video games, pizza, or Buffalo Wild Wings.

November

John contributed a very successful auction item to the Unitarian Universalist Congregations yearly Harvest Auction. There was fierce bidding or his 10 week delivery of home baked bread. He is now baking weekly. He put his humor into the auction description, not into the auction item (like the year he offered a hyper activity basket for kids and filled it with junk food and Three Stooges videos).

December

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
My son your so delightful.
A chauffeured ride complete with slips and a slides.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Our sidewalk is covered with inches
My sciatica nerve now pinches
As long as it's above 10 below
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Today

Phillip's Orchestra Concert!!
Erna and Harry's Open House!!