Amazing Grace

Yes, I consider it to be an incident of "Amazing Grace". The truck accident that Tim had in Connecticut in the early hours of December 21, resulted in our truck being "totalled".
Pictured looking forward to the front of the truck from the rear....guardrail and the front axle torn loose. Looking the other direction under the wheel well.....the guard rail that they could not get out from under the truck, so they just cut the guard rail off. Connecticut is missing about 200 feet of intact guard rail.


Tim is bruised, not broken. Spirits are very low but the way I look at it...we were very, very lucky. No one else involved. No other vehicles involved. Only our truck and Tim. He will recover and so will we. Everything looks better in the morning. Tomorrow the insurance company reopens, we will find out the results of their adjuster and we will be hopeful that we can replace the truck and proceed with our three year plan, such as it is. Retire in three years is our goal. We start working on that plan today!

Always enough room

Christmas dinner was very lovely. A large 8 lb.
sirloin of beef, medium rare, fresh green beans, au jus, individual Yorkshire Puddings, mashed potatoes, dill pickles, and birthday cake and cheesecake for dessert.

Friends Tom and Dee Donnelly, Nathan and Traci, Tim, Monica and me. The empty chair between Tom and Monica is in memory of Uncle Don. That spot at the table was always reserved for him.

We miss our friends and family who have gone on ahead to the heavenly table.

I know they wait, and we will join them some day.
Hopefully later than sooner. Until then, there will always
be a place in our home for the memories.

Merry Christmas!

Batteries not included!

Above photo: Daniel and Tim after donning the

stocking contents of "Animal Masks"!

Photos right and below: Santa brought Daniel the "Play Mobil" Pyramid! Assembly required but no

betteries required!

What fun for a Christmas morning!

HappyBirthday Jesus!

I asked Santa's helpers for Cake Decorating equipment.

Santa obliged!

I just completed the "Garage Cake" (Uncle Don's favorite) birthday cake for the Christmas Day celebration.

It will be served as dessert after Christmas
dinner, complete with lighted candle and the
singing of "Happy Birthday Jesus".

Amen and Merry Christmas!

I know where I'm going...

...and now I know how to get there!

My family hosted a birthday dinner
last night at Nathan and Traci's. Sarah and
Daniel came with us, and Kevin called to
wish me a Happy Birthday while we
were eating dinner.

Spaghetti, Bolognaise sauce, salad and all the
trimmings. Chocolate cake (which
boasted "Birthday" the "Happy" part
must have participated in someone
else's celebration) and two kinds of
ice cream.

The gift, as you can see is a Tom Tom
GPS, programable guidance system.

I love GPS! I especially love the part when
the voice says "recalculating" because you
missed the anticipated exit or turn for what
ever reason.

I can hardly wait to try it out.

If I show up at your doorstep, it's because I
was "practicing"!

A job well done!

Thank you to all of my associates, family and friends. We could not have done it without you.
This year's Salvation Army Christmas Stocking Stuffing Party just ended. We filled to overflowing 125 stockings for the local children, who need a hand.

A special thank you for those who wrote checks: Jo Ann Wingfield, Frieda DiStaulo, Cindy Steeb, Penny Burlinson, Sherry Stell and cash donations from Bruce and Linda Vaughn, Anita Weaver, Ann Reusch, Corrine, Jean Smeal and some others who want to remain ananomous. To Gerdi Schaeffer who relentless dove in and organized all of the donations from you all. Jean, Judy, Penny, Cindy and Bill, Debi, Barbara, Tim Rhodes for purchasing all of the stockings. Buehler's for the apples, Beriswell's Farm Market for the oranges and suckers, and all of you who found a place in your hearts for children young and older.
To my wonderful Howard Hanna elves, Tim, Mike, Mollie, Tina, Marie, Donna, Randy and Gerdi (head elf herself).

God's Blessings to you all. You know who you are. I remain so very, very grateful!
You have helped reinforce the true giving spirit of Christmas.

Blessings be to you who helped, and to you who wanted to help.

Just a simple reminder

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately... Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat.. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each.. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

An ordinary day......not!

This snow photo could be of my driveway yesterday.

I was sitting on the sofa reading a magazine at 6:15 yesterday morning when someone appeared on my patio and knocked on the door. It was our friend Barry, the man who plows our driveway when it snows. Yesterday was a "snow" day and often Barry will stop for coffee in the early hours of a snow day in between plowing neighbors' drives.

I let him in and he announced that his truck slide off of the drive next door and did we have a tractor. No, but I have a four-wheel drive pickup truck, maybe that would help. When I went out to look at the truck there it rested at an odd angle sliding into the ditch that ran alongside Pam and Jerry's asphalt driveway. Barry said there was sheet of ice under the snow and as soon as the truck started to slide he knew it was not going to be a pretty sight.

I almost had him pulled out with my truck, but his tow rope broke. He was dangerously close to the utility pole and guide wire so we decided not to continue with a new tow strap or chain.

He ended up calling his neighbor who owns a towing company. While Barry waited, I fixed him bacon, eggs and toast, and we sat and hashed over the weather and the real estate market.

Soon enough the tow truck came and Barry was back on the road again. Barry is always in a hurry in snowy weather as he has lots of driveways to clear. But, mention coffee and the possibility of breakfast at Tim and Judy's....well, he can spare a few extra minutes.

Glad to oblige!

My second chance

I know this may sound maudlin or morbid. But Daniel's birth
renewed my life.

All of the mistakes in my former life could easily be rectified
if I only got a second chance. This little boy has given me
an opportunity to evaluate things that I did raising my own
children, good things and not so good things.

This is his first formal visit to Santa. His Mom and Dad took
him to the Great Northern mall for this special first Santa
visit and Tim and I were so very lucky to witness this first
innocance.

As Christmas approaches, Daniel has asked me to tell him the story of the "First Christmas". I know he does not refer to "his" first Christmas, but that is what I thought of today.

I will tell him the simple story of the first Christmas and I am reminded of the story of the little boy who accompanied his mother to the local mall at Christmas time. He asked the lady elf who was assisting the children waiting to see Santa
this question.

"Where is the line to see Jesus"?

Hmmmm.

"Take Joy!"...

...is the title of a book given to me as a Christmas gift in 1970. It is the Tasha Tudor Christmas Book..Songs, stories, poems and things to do for a family Christmas.

This photo was taken last weekend at a private "Breakfast with Santa" that I have had the privilege of being invited to by Daniel's Grandparents, John and Charlene Vas. This breakfast is hosted by their long time family friend, financial advisor John Lorec (sp?).

A lovely affair held this year at the Clifton Club, and private members only club on the lake in Lakewood, Ohio.

On the drive to the location, Daniel and I drove past a lone Santa standing in a driveway. There was no car or vehicle in sight and Santa just waved at us, but he had a very forlorn look on his face. Daniel and I waved back and then we started wondering what Santa was doing out on the street all alone with no vehicle in sight.

Daniel decided that perhaps Santa had an accident and was waiting for the police. Perhaps..perhaps not. Daniel's concern was that maybe Santa would not be able to come to the breakfast. I remained positive and said I'm sure he would come.

We drove into Fairview Park and suddenly appeared a very large deer. He was standing on the lawn of a neighborhood home and he was limping. He was a very unusual deer in that three quarters of his body was totally white fur and his head, neck and front legs were the usual brown. He sported a very, very large rack of antlers, but his limp was bothersome. Sure enough there appeared to be a bloody wound on the inside of his right back leg. We slowed to a stop, but he proceeded to limp to the rear of the property and disappeared. Daniel was quite concerned. He decided that this was Santa's reindeer, and that there indeed had been an accident. He was even more concerned that Santa would not arrive at the breakfast. We drove on and I tried to distract him by singing "Jingle Bells". He was pretty quiet.

(I need to back up a bit and tell you that the previous evening Daniel stayed over so we could get an early start in the morning. When I picked him up his mother spoke with him about meeting with Santa the next day. She reminded him that he had indeed not be "good" as he should so he had to remind Santa of that fact.)

Gratefully, Santa did arrive and Daniel took his turn sitting on Santa's lap and when Santa asked Daniel what he wanted for Christmas, Daniel lowered his eyes and his voice and said "two bones for my two dogs". "Is that all you want for Christmas"? "Yes" said Daniel.

He was silent for a few seconds, and then Santa said he could have his picture taken, and that he needed to smile.

I hope Santa brings the two dogs some bones, but I hope Santa rewards Daniel for his soberness and not asking for something that he thought he did not deserve.

I think that this event qualifies for things to do for a family Christmas, don't you?

Try to go to this site.

www.thebeat.pegcentral.com
Or type it into your browser
This is the TV Interview I did on Wednesday
for the Salvation Army.
Hope I get a few calls to volunteer.

Are you kidding me?

FREE Personal Mobility Assessment Enclosed.

Yee Gads! This just came in the mail addressed to me.

I want to just sit down and cry!

Who are they and how did they get my name and address?

I'll tell you what, retirement is certainly not for sissies!

Everyday people

This is an excerp from a Mortgage Newsletter, Home Savings Bank Loan Officer, and my friend and client, Jim Priebe. My Red Kettle (yes I have assumed ownership after 11 years) Campaign is successful because of folks like Jim!

Give him a call and thank him!
(sad update, I spoke with Jim last evening and was told that his home had been broken into on Wed. and ransacked, all of his wife's jewelry taken, even the things that Jim had given her as gifts when they dated in high school. His precious guitars (he is an outstanding musician and teacher) were left intact, but all the drawers and file cabinets etc in the whole house were turned out onto the floors)


On a personal note:
For the third year in a row, I had the opportunity to be a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army this week. I can’t encourage you enough to volunteer for this worthwhile organization. From the little boy who asked me if I was poor, to the woman who tearfully told me she had nothing to drop in the kettle as she was fighting to keep her home, the experience of generosity I witnessed from everyday ordinary folks continues to remind me of those things that are most important in life. Please do yourself a favor and volunteer to ring the bell – even if it is only for an hour; you won’t regret it- perhaps you’ll never forget it!

If I can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to call!

Jim Priebe, CMPS
Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist
Home Savings and Loan
30700 Center Ridge Rd. Ste. C
Westlake, Ohio 44145
440-360-7771 office
440-781-9618 Cell

Betty Crocker I ain't!

Something jogged my memory yesterday and I had a flashback

of a cooking/baking incident when I was a young bride.

We moved to the farm in August of 1967. Well, it was not exactly

a "farm" perse. It was formerly a farm and what was left were the

house, bank barn, shed and small garage on a little over a acre.

All of the farm land had been sold off years before.

It was like "Mr Blandings Dream House" (an old movie that most

of you wouldn't remember). We bought the house on the hill while I looked at it through squinted eyes, much like you would envision an artist holding out a brush at arm's length and closing her eyes for whatever reason.

Anyway, I didn't even know if this house had running water or a bathroom. (there was still a pitcher pump attached to the tiny counter at the sink in the kitchen). It was a lovely old farmhouse (I later remembered that the blackberry bushes reached up to the second story windows).

The only electricity that was anywhere near where an appliance could be plugged in was an outlet on the back panel of the electric stove. Hence, if I needed to use the "hand mixer", since I had no stand mixer as a new bride, I had to plug it into the "stove". My hair was quite long (half way down my back) and very, very red. I was mixing up a box cake one fine day when I leaned over to examine my work. Zap! a large strand of my hair was instantly sucked up by the revolving blades and before I could blink an eye, the mixer's beaters were wound up to my head and were madly beating my face into a brown mush!

What to do? I unplugged the mixer's cord, ran out onto the side porch, yelled (I mean REALLY yelled) for Tim to come quick (all the while holding the weapon up to the side of my head where it seemed to be permanently attached).

Tim came running up from the barn and to his credit he did not laugh. He just stood there with a look of disbelief on his face.

I'll tell you folks. You ain't lived until you have had an appliance of some sort flayling about your personal space!

It took quite a long time and a lot of wincing and grimacing to detangle the beaters (Tim had the prescence of mind to eject them from the motorized hand held part of the mixer) from my temple.

Alas, my favorite box cake recipe now calls for:

One chocolate cake mix, add the required 3 eggs, and 1/2 oil, but instead of liquid, add one can of cherry pie filling and 1 teas. almond extract.

DO NOT USE A MIXER!

Just stir about 60 strokes with a wooden spoon like you would a brownie mix. Place into two round cake pans and bake.

Very, very yummy and a lot less wear and tear to your head!

Angels we have heard

below. That was Uncle Don. He was so cool!
I have a letter he wrote to Nathan for the occassion of Nathan's birth. One of the most beautiful group of words I have ever read. He was Nathan's God Father, and he loved that child.

He passed in January after a long confinement at
Parkview Villas in Middleburg Hts. He had a very severe stroke that broke his body, but not his mind or wit. When he was diagnosed with lung cancer last fall, his response was "Naw, I'm not doing any of that treatment". And he didn't.

As I prepare for the Christmas holiday festivities
my thoughts will go to the empty chair at the
dining room table. Uncle Don loved life and he
was a long time family member sitting second seat
from Tim on the left. It was he who taught the proper
way to carve a turkey, goose, duck, piglet etc. I will never
smell the scent of banana between the layers of chocolate
cake without thinking of Uncle Don. He loved that kind of
cake. He called it "Garage Cake". The smell of the bananas
reminded him of his youth when banana oil was used for
cleaning up tools in the garage.

This year when I bake the "Christmas Birthday Cake" (I always
bake a birthday cake for Jesus Birthday) I think it should be a
"Garage Cake" in memory of Uncle Don.

Photo shows the last Christmas celebration at our
house. Monica and her Santa hat leaning over
Don's shoulder. Loving to be with him until the
end.

Merry Christmas Uncle Don, we miss you so!

From Boys to Men

December, 2000 I received a phone call from a woman who lived in Valley City. She said she had two sons who needed, and I repeat "Needed" to ring the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign in Brunswick, Ohio.

I gladly signed them up to ring at the then Tops Supermarket store on a Saturday morning. It happened that I was in the store that morning to bring in more empty kettles, in the hopes that they would be filled by Saturday shoppers.

I saw these two teenage boys, brothers Jordan and Colin, and they did not look exceptionally happy to be there. They rang on several other occasions also, and the following fall, one of them wrote their college entrance essay on "ringing the bell".

Time has passed, and lo and behold, who should my wondering eyes fall on......Colin Vickers.
He is the manager of my PNC Branch right here in Valley City.

Today, he signed up to ring the bell for me at Buehler's in Brunswick. He and his new bride may ring the bell again on another day before the holiday. In addition, two of his tellers have signed up for multiple spots to ring, and also, he and the tellers have taken eight angels off of our angel tree, that is in the lobby of the Buehler's store and will purchase gifts for the children.

The tellers have spread the word and I received a call from a church group leader and will pass the word on for the bell ringing need as well as the angel tree.

Strong parents, bright kids, motivated adults.
Or in reverse order, either way the community is the beneficiary!
Thank you Irene Vickers for a job well done!


Collin Vickers’s Experience

Branch Manager
PNC
(Public Company; PNC; Financial Services industry)
July 2009 — Present (1 year 6 months)

Assistant Branch Manager
National City Bank
(Public Company; PNC; Banking industry)
June 2007 — June 2009 (2 years 1 month)
Collin Vickers’s Education
Cleveland State University
MBA , 2008 — 2011 (expected)
Baldwin-Wallace College
Bachelor of Arts , Economics, Finance, Management , 2003 — 2007