One of my dreams...

Last week I saw a video (it's 18 minutes) on TED.com by a wonderful scientist named Jill Bolte Taylor who had recently appeared on Oprah, and was written about in the latest issue of AARP magazine. She was a brain scientist who had a massive stroke and she described in detail what this stroke was like as it happened, and how it left her in a state of bliss. It took her 8 years to recover to "normalcy" although it was hard to leave that perpetual state of wonder and joy.

Her book is called "A Stroke of Insight".
Here is the link: http://www.tedafrica.org/index.php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

Anyway, John's wife, Miriam's, mother, Melanie has had a stroke and I am dreaming that I can learn more in order to help her regain some more function. She has been in an extended care facility and has little rehab there.

LIVE YOUR DREAMS

Ed, I like the ending to your post! Sounds like a great topic for everyone to respond to. Let's all discuss a dream we have fulfilled or are hoping to fulfill. Kathy B.

Read some responses in the comments section :-)

Life is a Jamboree

Just got back last week from a moose hunt. I purchased this 1975 motor home about a year ago and this was the first time I used it. Yeah I waited until there was snow on the roads and I had to drive over three mountain passes. I guess because I am writing this you know I made it back. We were hunting about 12 miles south of Delta Junction, Alaska. About 350 miles from home. Words can't truly do justice to the scenery along the way. Besides it's hard to take pictures when you can't pry your fingers off the steering wheel.

Sometimes mother nature just rocks. While I do enjoy hunting the harvesting part isn't why I do it. The adventure is what I live for. Every trip it's something new and in a few cases not many others have been. The trails where frozen and had about 2" of snow. Perfect. Temps were in the high twenties. Perfect. The wind was blowing about 40 mph. Not perfect. Two out of three not bad. This trip was unsuccessful, but the adventure was worth it.

I don't no how the miners did it. Here we are about 25 mile from the RV. All the trails were build by miner's. Long before there were ever ATV's. For me and many others ATV have opened the back country. And the nice thing for me is I live about 5 mile from Hatcher Pass and there is also miles and miles of mining trails. In Willow the back country is right my back door.

The Alaska life line. Along the way there are spots that you can see the Alaska pipeline. It amazes me that it's just there and not hidden or heavily guarded. This little baby has given me a check every year for the last 27. This year alone the check was $2069.00. Sweet. Of course $2066.00 will got to heating oil this winter, but what the heck I'm up three bucks. Life is good.

Until next time, Live your dreams,

Ed

Oh my gosh I think I figured this out!!!!!

I must admit, for the last 4 weeks I'd check into this site and not have a clue how to contribute to this blog. I'd wander in, check up and down, leave the internet frustrated and challenged but not defeated as today I finally noticed the "add post" lil link up dere and here we go...

Current Mood: Grateful
Current odor: My wife is cooking sausage, onions, broccoli- I'm salivating.
Current Band: Adel
Last book read: Water for Elephants - book kinda had it all from circus freaks to murder, to romance, to family. I gave it a 8.5 rating for my book club. Yes I'm a nerd and in a book club.
Last Movie: Righteous Kill (Dinero and Pachino) wait to rent it...or not.
Movie I want to see: W but Monica feels we've seen enough of this man and won't go.
Current Event: No offense to any who think the contrary but I really admire, trust and appreciate the brilliance of Obama.

I love you guys and will contribute more now that I've cracked the code. Monica is calling me for dinner...I'm so excited!! Peace.

Here is a pic that Bill took of her from her last figure competition....she's going to punch me for posting this. Oh god, I can't figure out how to post it......i stink at this...

Black Cat

Here's Ava dress up as a cat for Halloween at her preschool class. We are all getting excited for the 31st. Lydia is dressing as Wednesday Addams, I'm going as a witch and Dave always does the scary thing and is Mike Myers from the movie Halloween. We'll send pictures from the big night and we wish everyone a Happy Halloween.

Baked Potato Soup

This is a fabulous recipe thought I'd pass it on.

Yields 8(1 cup) servings or 4 main dish servings.

3 lbs. potatoes, scrubbed and pierced in several places
2T. butter or marg.
1 1/2 c. finely chopped onions
2T minced garlic
1 (14 1/2 oz) can chicken broth
3c. milk
1t. salt
1/4t. pepper

Preheat oven at 400. Bake potatoes until tender, about an hour.
peel when cool enough to handle.
Melt butter over med heat, add onions and garlic; cover and cook10 mins until soft but not brown. Add 2/3 of potatoes to pot and mash. Add broth, milk, salt and pepper. Bring to simmer and stir often. I scooped out about 2 cups and blended it to make it a little smoother and add about 1cup of sour cream just before serving. Cut remaining potatoes in small cubes.

Out of the mouths of babes....

On the way to work I was singing at the top of my lungs with Josh my 4 year old, sitting in the back seat.... He yells, "MOM,STOP SINGING YOU ARE MAKING ME FEEL WEIRD."

So I turned up the music and just lip sync'd.

Bill and Monica's Wedding June, 2008

Bill & Monica have a very good wedding photo from their Long Island wedding. What a wonderful day!

Logan Morris's 2nd Birthday

Hi, family,

Today Mike & Rose threw a birthday party at a local pizza parlor for their son, Logan, age 2.
We finally were able to get a group shot of our family, minus Sharon and her family who have moved to Spokane, WA and are loving it there.

Front row: Marilyn Rogers(Glenn's fiance), Peg (Rose's Mom), Irene, Kathy, Jim (Rose's Dad)
Back row: John Thomas, Mike Morris, Rose Otterlee Morris, Logan, Miriam Thomas (married to John), Bill Thomas, Billy Morris, Monica Brennan Morris, & Ronnie Bince (Kathy's husband).

Dorothy Brady remembers.....

In deciding so write a poem for our family newsletter, I was reminded that in 1935 I was the author of the class poem for our February graduating class of the Arthur Dixon Grammar School. That day when I recited (I remember it well) the poem , I saw my mother and father sitting in the front row of the balcony of our assembly hall and I was so proud, but nervous, to be speaking. The poem was called "Out of the Harbor into the Sea". Where did those words come from? I don't truly know, but now I write a poem circa 2008. Where do the words come from? I don't know but I'll try to be an author once again.

"When I was young and fancy free,
I thought of my place on the family tree.
First as a daughter one of three.
Then as a wife to the one man in my life.
But I never, never had a hunch
That I'd be the mother of the Brady Bunch!!

Family Updates

Here are our family members who do not have computer access. If you have any questions or want me to publish any news, just send me written info. Mark & Gay Brady, Aunt Lois Koplin, Dorothy Brady, Mary Jo Johnson, Kathleen Brady Berquist, Greta Bruckelmyer. Heidi is making copies for Greta & Kathy. I will send a copy to Mom who will share with Aunt Lois & Mark & Gay.

Kathleen Berquist is now recovering from knee surgery and doing well but will be crutch bound for a month.

Greta's husband Lance's mother is very very ill.

There will be a party this weekend for Logan Morris, age 2. Sadie and Logan Nedo will have a college graduation party soon.

Sweet Home Chicago

Hi Family, my name is Catherine Berger. I know I haven't formally met all of you yet, but because of this inspiring family newsletter, I look forward to meeting and sharing stories, and making memories with everyone! First to know me is to love me, and love my cats. This picture was taken almost 40 years ago, and is a very clear window into who I am. I love being outdoors and love kitties! Currently I have two cats, Avery (a Maine Coon American Curl, his side view looks like a devil as his ears really DO curl back, I will post a picture later), and Partner, one of the most regal cats I have ever had the pleasure of meeting!

Ok, so more about me, I am probably the only family member still residing in Chicago (about 40miles NW of the actual City), and will always call this "Sweet Home Chicago". I work in the Real Estate industry and with the current state of the economy, my job a little challenging right now!

So how are we related? I am the youngest daughter of Lois Jean Rasmussen and Edward Joseph Berger (the best dad a girl could have). I have one sister Marion, and one brother Ed. The picture to the right is of Mom (Aunt Lois), Brother (Cousin Ed), Sister (Cousin Marion), and me (Cousin Catherine) in Stone Lake Wisconsin. This is the cottage that we, as a family, spent summers together for about 10 years. Although we hadn't been there, together, since 1975, the history, smells, memories, and fun has never changed. I can't wait to go again!

Now to the really important news...Chicago Sports!! It is true, I am a Chicago Sports Fan Proud and true. If you have never been to a baseball game at Wrigley Field, I challenge all of you to experience the magic. This is the CUBBIES year, REALLY! It's only been 100 years! Of course Lovie Smith is no Mike Ditka, but the da BEARS are looking kinda good.....

Look forward to getting to know everyone! Have a great week!
GO CUBS GO!!!!

Nice to meet y'all!

Warm Greetings to the Brady's Grady's Berger's and all the families in between!

I'm so excited to be part of this great big family blog.

For those of you that don't know me I am Marion oldest daughter of Aunt Lois and Uncle Ed.

Of the original 13 cousins I fall between Mary Jo and Laura.

Ed from Alaska and Catherine from Chicago (she'll be blogging soon) are my brother and sister.

I live in Atlanta with my husband Will and son Lincoln and our 4 inside and 3 outside cat's. That's Stephen II in picture sleeping on our deck.

We live in a great townhouse on the Chattahoochee River. We have Candian Geese, ducks, turtles, beavers, squirrels LOTS of squirrels and many many birds.

I have a daughter Emily, here is her cooking blog, have a look, http://emilykallos.blogspot.com/ she is married to Peter and live about 10 miles north of us.

I have another daughter Amanda she lives in Maryland with her daughter Paige who is 3. She will be visiting at the end of the month, pictures to follow.

I have a degree in culinary arts but am no longer working in in the indusrty. For the past three years I have been teaching myself how to sew quilts. It's really really fun and very rewarding.

Above (becasue I can't figure out how to move the pictures yet :D ) is a picture of one of my quilts I made for my girlfriend Erika. That's Rover he's a great assistant!

I love to read and I just finished the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer, AWESOME.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and I promise to be faithful and write to you as often as possible.

Until then,

Marion

One Less Swastika

In case you didn't already know, I love the woods. In my mind, you can't beat a beautiful day spent wandering around in the woods somewhere. Going to school in Rochester, one of the biggest things I missed was being able to walk out my door and instantly be in the woods; Left to my own thoughts and devices. Thankfully, the RIT apartment I moved into during my second year had woods close by.

Over the past few years I have spent a lot of time in those woods. Chewing on the green onions I find growing on the edges of the wood, I have seen a fair share of wildlife. One year a family of fox lived very close to my apartment. The pups were awfully cute while they explored their surroundings, wrestled each other, and chased insects. We have a fair supply of white tailed deer around. I doubt there is much hunting in the area. I swear I see more here than I had ever seen back home. I even spotted what I thought was a lynx twice. I contacted the DEC about it, and they tell me that it was most likely a bobcat. But it seemed much too big. I have read that these cats usually have very large territories and wander a lot. The first time I saw it I figured that it probably didn't live in the area and was just traveling through. But I saw one again about a year later. So I am glad they are sticking around.

During one of my outings early this summer, I was checking out an area where I had never been when I heard an eagle scream somewhere near me. It was the first time I had ever heard it in person. I only knew what it sounded like from watching nature shows on TV. There were a few farmers fields close by so I quickly went to see if I could spot the eagle. Several screams led me to a patch of wood behind a local college's building. I never did spot the eagle, but the screams did lead me right to a big oak tree. As I came closer I noticed that there were things carved all around the trunk. Upon inspection, there were many names, dates, and designs. Most of the dates were from the late 60's and early 70's. Coming around to one side, there was a big swastika with "Hells Angels" written underneath. I thought to myself, what self-respecting tree wants a swastika carved in it's trunk. So I took out my trusty leatherman and spent the next half hour or so making a few changes. Hopefully the original carvers don't see this and decide to hunt me down =)