Happy Birthday, C.Reps

Grandpa Charlie is 85 years old today. Here's a look at some of his life, in pictures. Tomorrow watch for pictures from his 85th birthday party in Spring Valley.

Happy Birthday, Dad/Grandpa/Great-Grandpa--we love you!

1932-- Emma and Fred Reps
Charles, Marguerite, and Arthur

Recuperating in CA from a detached retina
after serving Uncle Sam in WWII
"Charlie Reps is back in town!"C. Reps, Irene Kirsch Reps, and Father Mountain (1948)

Baby Mark, C. Reps, Jill

Mark, Jill, Grandma Bene, Grandpa Charlie,
Mary Jo

Coach Reps with assistant coaches Helgie, Pinky,
and Dick and their co captainsMr. Reps, math teacher

Grandpa Charlie with ESP(D), Charlie, Annie, and Grandma Bene

Great Grandpa Charlie with baby Hannah

Great Grandpa Charlie and Miles

Grandpappy goes to school

Dear Hannah and Miles,

Your grandpappy has settled in to a routine at school after a couple of months as a post doc at the U of Mn. You'll be happy to know he's made a number of new little friends, and he and his teacher Pete get along quite well. I've been somewhat concerned that he's been bringing home a lot of homework, but not many finished projects. His school doesn't provide me with a daily report like SFFA and Kid's Korner do and quite frankly, I 've been in the dark about his progress.

I am relieved to tell you that Grandpappy brought home his first paper today. After an evening class last night, taught by Professor Jay Johnson, DDS (Doctor of Distilled Spirits), Grandpappy completed evidence of his ability to discern fine Scotch flavors as "peaty", "mildewy", or "just plain yucky". Speaking of peaty, Pete C. was in Grandpappy's class, too.

Okay, babies. I'll keep you posted if Grandpappy gets to make a trace-your-hand turkey or a historically inaccurate Pilgrim hat with a buckle. Besitos to you, Hannah, and smoochies to you, Miles.

Love, Grandma Jill

Good-bye to green grass

Here's an early morning photo of our first snowfall of the season (yesterday). Richfield and O-Town (Sno-Town?) must have gotten snow as well, although I can't confirm it officially. Hannah, we hope there will be lovely, fluffy snow for you to play in when you come to Minnesota for Christmas. Miles, did you build a snowman yesterday?

De colores

OMG, all this time spent blogging and I didn't know until this second how to change font color! I noticed that Annie used orange to write "BOO!" in one of her entries, and it got me thinking. Naturally, within two or three seconds I was thinking about something else entirely, as often happens now that I'm in the downhill phase. There now...isn't this cheery?

A boy and his spatula

Where is she?

Yes, I went to Urgent Care tonight. No, I didn't send out a mass email or a broadcast voice message to everyone in the Northern Hemisphere. I didn't think I needed to...Charlie, Annie, and Dad/Paco/Larry/Grandpappy all knew I'd had pain in my side and back that has been bothering me for a few days. All three (or all seven, depending on how you count) knew this was a possibility. Charlie and Angie, being sick themselves, didn't feel the need to call me throughout the evening. However Annie and Larry pushed the panic button when I didn't answer the phone and sent out the National Guard (Officer Darrel from next door) and started calling around to find me. Duh, try Urgent Care at the local hospital, where I said I'd be.

Yes, it took three hours for
(a) a shot of Toridal in the backside
(b) x-rays
(c) a blood draw to remove nearly a gallon of blood from my wrist (Yes, my wrist--I hate it when the phlebotomist decides to go digging for a miniscule vein in my arm, so I offer the wrist. Of course, he or she has to poke at my arm first with a finger just to be sure I'm telling the truth.)
(d) a urine sample

The rest of the time was spent waiting and reading People magazines.

No, I don't seem to have appendicitis or liver or kidney or intestinal or urinary tract problems. No, it doesn't seem that the pain fits the profile of weekend raker and stick picker-upper.

Yes, I left with some Vicadin to get a good night of sleep.

Yes, I'm staying away from work tomorrow so I sleep in, and so I can spend the afternoon with Miles, who will understand why I didn't call everyone I know to give a non-report on a non-issue. Hannah, are you available to play with us? Frida can get along without you for a day, can't she??

Perfect November day

I've had it with this presidential campaign, which is a common complaint from nearly everyone I know. It's a crying shame that such an historic election moment has been spoiled by ridiculous ad campaigns on television, mailboxes stuffed with more of the same on shiny over-sized cardstock mailers, and by talk-show hosts who rip the candidates to shreds to get laughs. Hard to take this voting thing seriously, historic or not, when mockery is the order of the day. Whether you love or hate Hillary Clinton and/or Sarah Palin, you've gotta admit that the leadership role of women in politics has taken a giant step backward by the way the media has portrayed them. Maybe it's not a giant step backward after all, but rather a reminder that women have to wait in line a while yet before we're given permission move forward again. Not much has changed since the 60's for most women, even though our daughters might argue the point. They'e be wrong, though.

Darrel is outside blowing leaves, Mark is on his lawn tractor bagging grass and leaves, and I'm about to go out and pick up sticks so Larry/Dad/Paco can clean up our yard in anticipation of Leaf Pick-Up-North-of -Broadway Week. Yup, it's been a beautiful fall, with unbeatable weather. I hate to see it end. Living in Minnesota, where we have front row seats for the Theater of the Seasons, doesn't give us much of a choice but to clean up the leaves and get ready for snow.

Don't forget to fall back tonight and to rest up for the big voting adventure on Tuesday. I'll leave you with a happy thought to counteract the growly way I started this entry...only two more days of those disgusting campaign ads and we'll be free at last!