Final Day in Charlotte

This was supposed to be a day that Marilyn and I would spend with the kids, but Marilyn is home sick and the kids went to school for a snow make-up day. I have spent today getting packed, reading an Elmore Leonard novel I bought yesterday, and updating my blogs and web sites.

Marilyn isn't feeling any better really and is going to see the doctor this afternoon. She may stay home from school tomorrow and perhaps even longer. This has not been a good winter for her.

It has been cloudy here today and although it isn't much cooler than yesterday feels that way without the sun. I leave tonight around 8:00 and get in around 9:40 or so. It is a non-stop so I should not have any problems.

I took some final pictures of the kids this morning. You can see them in my Picasa album.

Fourth Day in Charlotte

Our day began with attendance at Transformation Church. We went there the last time I visited. It is a newly formed church which will be celebrating its first anniversary in February. They have three services: Saturday afternoon, Sunday 9:00 am and 11:00 am. It exemplifies the well known strategy for planting a church: good contemporary music, good preaching, and good hospitality. Find out more about Transformation Church.

After church, we joined the Epperly family for lunch at don Pablo's, a wonderful Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood. A usual, I ate more than I should have and enjoyed every bite. After a quick nap--mine, that is--Liam and I took Aidan and Marin to see the latest Narnia movie. They enjoyed it a lot. When we got out of the movie, we learned that Seattle had battled back in the game with Chicago but lost nonetheless.

When we got home, we found a lot of visitors both adult and children. Liam and I started watching the Patriots and Jets. During the game, Liam grilled up some of the tenderloins from the deer he had bagged...with a bow no less. I ate that and then ate a full fillet from an ordinary cow. Both were delicious. Marcie had made a carrot cake which had been getting even better in the refrigerator over night. I had more than one piece of that as I watched the Patriots lose.

Liam and I stayed up to watch a movie: Boondock Saints with Willem Dafoe. It was different to be sure. After all that food, I, of course, had a hard time staying asleep and spent a restless night which is unusual for me.

See the photo album.

Third Day in Charlotte

Oh, no! Bad news this morning! Grandma Marilyn woke up sick and had to cancel her flight down to Charlotte. Marin had many activities planned for her, but nonetheless seems very understanding.

the kids had another XMA training and practice session. This time I focused on Marin and her routines with the bowstaff. She is quite accomplished and really looks the part as well.

When we got home, Liam and Marcie went out to dinner with their friends Russel and Judy and I babysat the kids except for Liam who had a sleep over at a friend's house. I took the opportunity to take some pictures of Marin and Eibhlin along

with Eibhlin's stuffed animals. You can take a look in the photo album. Here is a sample of Eibhlin and her menagerie.

Second Day in Charlotte

After we got Marcie off to work and the kids off to school, Liam and I took the light rail to Uptown and visited the NASCAR Museum. It is very interesting and filled with all the stuff you would expect. Since this is a school day, it was practically empty. The building itself is also quite impressive.

The two gentlemen in the picture apparently have been charged with removing ice from the entrance plaza which as you might notice is in the shade most of the day. They appeared to be unfamiliar with this particular tool which in any event would be of little use in removing the ice without some chemical application. You see snow and ice all over Charlotte from the storm earlier in the week. Even though the skies are clear and sunny, it remains cold getting down into

the teens at night. A warm up is forecast for this weekend getting close to 50 degrees. This is great because Grandma Marilyn arrives Saturday morning and will be looking for some warmth after coming 750 miles south from Rochester.

The morning was filled with the usual activity,

including some last minute homework that Aidan attended to while Dora the Explorer played in the background, keeping Eibhlin occupied.

View the photo album.

Later in the day, I was able to go watch Liam, Aidan, and Marin practice their XMA demonstrations. Originally they were to perform at the Bobcats game Saturday but that was rescheduled to March. Nonetheless I got to see them do their routines. Here is a video of Liam and Aid doing their bowstaff routines. Very impressive. They also practice Saturday and I will get some video of Marin.

First Day in Charlotte

No sooner did I get home to Rochester than I left for Charlotte. Liam invited me down to celebrate my birthday--a couple of weeks early. Marilyn is coming down Saturday and we will return Monday. Unfortunately the kids here had snow days Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and thus will have a makeup day Monday. Marilyn and I will have to find somethings to keep us occupied.

The kids just got home from school. You can see Aidan and Marin to the left. Eibhlin is still napping after an exhausting first trip to the dentist. More pictures will be coming later today.

Marin took me on a tour of the house before dinner. This seemed a little strange since I have been here before...many times. However I understood her thinking when she showed me her

room, the last stop on her little tour. She did the design and it is spectacular. she even has a little fairie cave underneath the bed. Then she surprised me with two gifts. A ceramic rabbit and a paper turtle rattle. Only after I was taking a picture of them did I realize that she had given me a tortoise and a hare. When I asked her about that, she said she hadn't realized that either. We had a good laugh about it.

For more pictures, including one of Marin in her fairie cave, go to the photo album.

Final Day in Appleton

Well, it is about time to leave. I have an 11:30 flight to ORD and then on to Rochester. I checked this morning and both flights seem to be operating on time and there are currently no delays at ORD. Hopefully that will continue through the day. It is snowing in Rochester but not bad enough to cause any problems. I get home around 4:00 and then leave tomorrow morning for Charlotte to visit Liam and his family. Marilyn will be flying down Saturday for the long school holiday weekend.

I had lunch with Harry yesterday and another nice visit. Bronwen and I have had a nice time with each other as well. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with both of them as they carry on their busy lives. Meg and Lynne are both doing well. I look forward to another visit although next time I think I will come in the spring or summer. My last two visits have been in the winter and I have had enough of that.

Fourth Day in Appleton

This was a quiet day. I got some reading done and then watched the football game in the evening, or at least half of it. We are expecting some snow in the next 24 hours but not very much. I am hoping that the storm in the East will not delay my trip home on Wednesday.

I did get a nice surprise when my sister, Anola, sent me a link to her new web site. It is very nice and highlights her life long work as an author. She has several published works and her newest will hit the bookshelves this April. It is a fascinating story of what actually happened to a young girl named Hannah. More on that when it appears. Congratulations to her. Visit her website.

Third Day in Appleton

This is St. Mary's Parish in Appleton where I went to Mass this morning. My home parish is St. Mary's in Rochester so it was nice to go to another. After Mass, I stopped by the Starbuck's to enjoy some coffee and to continue reading a book written by a friend of mine: Archbishop Oscar Romero: A Disciple Who Revealed the Glory of God by Damian Zynda. I took two of her courses in spirituality at St. Bernard's. This book grew out of her doctoral dissertation at the University of Toronto. The first chapter is a very useful summary of Romero's life and especially his person, spiritual, and psychological growth. She then uses insights from St. Irenaeus to explore his life and spirituality. I haven't finished it but I would very much recommend it.

When I got back to the house, we all settled in for a day of football. After Saturday's very interesting games, it was a bit of a let down to watch the Chiefs being dismantled by the Ravens. My consolation is that the Chiefs are a young team which will only get better as it gains experience and this year they over-achieved anyone's reasonable expectations. Harry came over for the Packer's game which was much more entertaining and closely contested. Thankfully the Packers won which will put everyone in Wisconsin in a much better mood Monday morning.

Bronwen came down this morning in a darling outfit and I got some nice photos of her and Harry. I will be taking Harry to lunch Tuesday anywhere off campus he would like. Apparently this will be a Thai restaurant in town. It has been a year since I had seen Harry. Immediately I noticed that he seemed thinner. It turns out that he may be the only first year student in an American college who lost weight rather than gaining the "freshman fifteen." This may have something to do with the non-existent minimum drinking age in England and the colonists' insistence on 21.

In between the two football games, I scouted around for some likely picture making sites and found a couple along the Fox River a bit upstream from the University. Appleton and the Fox River were the home for major American paper companies because of the water power of the river and thus the possibility of mills. Many of the dams creating this power are still here even though the water power is little used. The water, the dams, the ice, and the afternoon sunlight resulted in some nice though not spectacular images.

There have been some additions to the photo album. View the Appleton Visit Photo Album.

Second Day in Appleton

Meg got off for Seattle today. After walking over to campus to work out, I spent the day around the house. I went to the store to do some shopping and then fixed a pasta dinner for Bronwen and me. Lynne is feeling better but decided to just have some the pizza left over from last night. Watched the surprising Seahawks beat the Saints and am now relaxing watching the Colts and Jets. No pictures today but some coming tomorrow.

First Day in Appleton

The day begins early here with Bronwen up at 5:00 to get her 6:40 bus to school. Tycho, the new cat, seems to be up all the time as you an hear her collar jingle at any hour. Meg and I walked over to the indoor recreation facility on campus. She ran eight miles on the track while I used the treadmill and stationary bike and then did some core work. We came home, got cleaned up and then went over to her office. Harry dropped by and we had lunch with him. He looks every bit the typical college student and seems very engaged with her studies. I came back to the house to, well, take a nap.

Lynne returned early from Whitewater. It was great to see her

although she was slowed by some back pain. Her new job is going very well. Bronwen returned from school and got ready for her job interview at Subway in the Fox Valley Mall. Since Meg had a meeting, I got to driver her there. She thinks everything went very well and I am sure they did. She is as sweet as she looks.

After her interview, I went to campus to join Meg at the faculty happy hour in the Viking Room, an on-campus pub. It was very nice meeting and re-meeting many of Meg's faculty friends. Back at the house, we enjoyed pizza and some yummy apple turnovers--Lynne's idea and an excellent one. Tomorrow Meg leaves for Seattle and my custodial duties begin.

View the photo Appleton album.

Arrival in Appleton

The weather was perfect for flying and both flights arrive early. Meg picked me up at the Appleton airport. We spent the evening at home with Bronwen who has become even more the young lady since i last saw her a year ago. I didn't unpack my camera last night so I don't have any pictures but will soon. Bronwen has a job interview at Subway on Friday to which I will take her since Meg is tied up in a meeting with a student. Meg and I will lunch with Harry on Friday and perhaps I will get a peek at his dorm room. Meg cannot go there since faculty are not allowed in student residence areas or something like that. Appleton has lived up to its reputation weather wise. It is cold but at least not windy and now snowing.

Grandaddy's Big Adventure 2000

Just a little more than ten years ago, I traveled to Chicago to be with my two oldest grandchildren--Harry and Bronwen--while their parents were attending academic conferences. It was June and Harry who was eight and Bronwen who was six had just finished school in Hyde Park. We had a great time beginning the summer vacation for several days. I posted pictures on line and kept an account of what we were up to. That narrative is long gone but the pictures are not.

This came to mind because I am preparing to travel to Appleton WI where Harry is a first year student at Lawrence University and Bronwen is a junior in high school. The reason for my trip--at this particular time--is that Meg is off to an academic conference and Lynne has taken a new job that requires her to be in Whitewater during the week. Hence, Grandaddy is again providing custodial care--sort of-- for a few days. It will be great to be with Harry and Bronwen in a reprise of our earlier adventure. Of course, school is in session and Harry lives in the residence halls. Oh yes, and they are 18 and 16 respectively.

Click here to see an album with some of those 2000 pictures.

2011 Trips Begin

This blog will contain my postings as I travel around the country visiting family. This will include Ohio, Wisconsin, California (Northern and Southern), North Carolina, and Missouri with perhaps some side vacation trips. I will be posting both text and pictures. My first trip will be to Appleton Wisconsin.