Nothing more will be added to this site. I have made a new one for 2011 and here is a link to it right here.
| Merry Christmas!
Hopefully all you visitors had a wonderful 2010.
Except for a few low points and a couple as-yet-unanswered prayers, it was a good year for us. Diany is well on the way to recovery, Gram celebrated 100 years on the planet, and I got a new job that I like. Life is pretty good. At left, I dared to risk breaking a bone and went ice skating at the Aktau Mall. The cost will prevent me from giving into the temptation too often. Below left: My paper fireplace--better than none at all for the holidays. I had bought myself an advent calendar when in Berlin the last week of October. I put a little tea-light candle in front of the picture of the fire, in front of that is an old torn paper crown that was left in the apartment by a previous occupant. When the candle is lit, it looks like a glowing, flame-dancing, homey fireplace should look (in miniature, of course). Below that: Camilla and i enjoying a taste of the cookies we made for the holidays. Dinara and Rachel helped with that, too. Under the tree I borrowed from the school is Dinara, Gunay, me, Jasmina, and her mother, the secretary at school, Medina. Dinara and Camilla came over to help decorate the tree. The picture was taken on Christmas Day in the evening. |
Above: Rachel, Julia, Myself, and Art after the meal Julia and Art hosted for Thanksgiving the Saturday afterward (MScott's BD)
At right: My outfit for the Christmas program that took place on December 1st. I bought the new blouse here in Aktau. It was made in India, sized as 3XL, and only cost about 25 USD.
My photo's of the children's performances have not turned out too well because of the lighting and the movements.
Since it is now December, I broke out the Santa hat. It is not so out of the ordinary here. I still have had comments on it, though.
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Click here to read Seth and Lindsey's engagement write-up in the Butler Eagle.
October 27th: Had the usual nice breakfast buffet in the hotel dining room; celebrated Teddy Roosevelt's birthday (and AnnaLee's) by taking a walk in the woods; shopped for Volkswagons; and thought about renting a Segway just to try them out. I am hesitating because of the rental fee which is about 20 USD per hour, and the fact that the new owner of the company just drove his off a cliff and drowned in the stream he fell into, accidentally, it is believed.
Victory atop the Gate, over ALL below
This picture provides NO evidence that I actually have lost some weight. Not centered too well; but, had to ask companions to take one of me, too. Guess beggars can't be to picky. I am enjoying the trip so far.
Home base for the week. 647 at the NH hotel at Alexander Platz.
| Punxsy is with me for this shot in the hotel room bath mirror.
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Darth Vadir, Berlin Bear, and a German soldier were there, also.
| Closer view of Victory, Do you see that worker under the 3rd horse?
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The Kids' favorites of this year's shipment! The scooters!
Hooray! Shipment Day was Thursday! Keep those boxes movin'! It was almost like Childhood Christmases. More like the kind when you got mostly clothes and you wanted mostly toys, though. No meter sticks, no triple-beam balance, or phase microscope. Oh well, neat posters! and a couple question beachballs! Useful books!
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| This is a very shadowy photo; but, it includes all of my current students. I only have Arina (oldest and furthest to the right) for P.E. We will be finishing our Volleyball Unit by Oct. 14 and I am so pleased with how they have all progressed. Now everyone can serve pretty well, and we get some long vollies now. Parent conferences are on Oct. 15th.
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Kenny and Mimi at Sumpner, OR. . . yeeh haw!
| Deer in John Day find folks' porch flowers tastier than crispy sagebrush.
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There are links to more pages if you hover your cursor just below the gray area. All links to all pages appear more legibly at the bottom of each page.
Welcome to The space ALL my own fantastic WORLD- - - Thanks for caring. . .
ALL the WORLD is a laboratory, and all its lifeforms either observers, observed, or BOTH.Okay, so I am not William Shakespeare. No doubt what I have to share with the observers is not destined to be as popular or as entertaining as his; but, the nice thing about my writing is, unless you reALLy want to, (no one will try to force you). . . "You will never have to look at, listen to, or write a paper about my contributions to the universe." Here is a glimpse of my world:
Arrived in Kazakhstan on Thursday morning(the 19th ofAugust) about 5AM local time!.
Left Armstrong County about 2:30 PM the previous Monday. It will take me a little while to get pictures posted. | <<< MScott sent this pic of Roxy trying to keep cool in front of the fan. Five Springs has has a couple morning frosts already.
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| I've been to Punxsy to visit several times this past year. Got to see the little ones and those from Denmark and Ohio.
For pics from the visits click here. |
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Been there, done that,. . . either someone had a camera, I took the pic, or this pic reminds me of the experience Cruising along in Hundested, Denmark where there is an Aldi's market pretty much like the one in Bulter.
If you look closely, you can see that it says,"Hundested" on the building on the right.
You can also see that in Denmark, they drive on the right side of the roads and stay in their own lane.
It was a misty winter day. I had been hoping for some snow when we visited; but, I was VERY happy just to see family.
John traveled alone, and because of typical flying bothers, also got to set foot in Norway. So he has a country that I do not yet have.
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Seth sent photos earlier this summer that are
posted at various places on the site. He has provided info for more interesting captions so I updated the ones that were there earlier.
See the western gALLery for some new pics from ISR and vicinity
This Month . . .
August 6th--VJ Day Fly your flag.
August 7th--Lester Bonner's birthday (Aunt Helen would have been 102)
August 8th--Aunt Mary will be 49 ; ) Shriver Reunion will be held at Bob & Janet's Farm.
August 15th--Granddad Arnie would have been 104
August 16th--I start a one year contract by flying to Aqtau, Kazakhstan. I leave at 7:30PM from PIT and arrive in Aqtau at 4AM on the 18th. [NOT!--turned out to be the 19th.] The city's name is sometimes spelled "Aktay" or "Aktau", but it is "Aqtau" in Google Earth.
August 24th--Bethany & Jeff's baby is due [Phoebe Iris was born on August 7th and weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz.-watch for pictures later]
August 26th--Students begin in Aktau with a half day.
August 29th--Aunt Margaret would have been 87 August 30th--Constitution Day in Kazakhstan--No school August 31st--Starts a 4-day week of full school days at QSI Aktau
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John took a great photo of a rose and swallowtail when he was at Gram's for a brief visit this summer. To see it and more check the Family Garden Goodies. Just a random memory. . . . At the ceremony for the AIS class graduated the first Spring I was in Egypt, they set off a fireworks display that surprised most of the attendees. They spent lots of money on "show" !!!
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