Sincerely EXCEPTIONAL!
Last night the Exira Vikettes won the State Class 1A Girls Basketball Tournament in Des Moines. They really did a great job. I was able to watch it on streaming video from here in Florida. And while the quality of the images weren't cable quality, it was much better than just listening to it on the radio.
Anyway, "way to go girls!" "You did us all proud!"
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
It's Great To Be A Hawkeye!
Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Perhaps if you talk to the sports "know-it-alls" they would tell you that Iowa is therefore insanity because of the way they have defied the odds. They've had a year of firsts, and a this is Iowa's time to take their first win at the Orange Bowl.
What IOWA has to do is win the game, and the Hawkeyes have found a way of getting that job done this season, usually in spectacular fashion.
So GO HAWKEYES! It won't be 80 degrees when you play but it's gonna be a whole lot warmer than it is in Iowa City.
What IOWA has to do is win the game, and the Hawkeyes have found a way of getting that job done this season, usually in spectacular fashion.
So GO HAWKEYES! It won't be 80 degrees when you play but it's gonna be a whole lot warmer than it is in Iowa City.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
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or
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We apologize for any inconvenience.
This is the BIG MOUTH'S FIRST EVER BEST HOLIDAY/CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER. TOM P of Indianola, Iowa is the recipient of this high honor. The entry shows nobility, humility, and sense of honor that is very rare indeed!
Thank You Tom for following in the spirit of the Big Mouth. This is a slam dunk!
-Lynn Nelson
editor and chief, BIG MOUTH Productions
Happy Holidays from the Petersens in Indianola
Hello everyone! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hope you all had a good 2009. I know it was a challenge at times, but perhaps better days are ahead in 2010. This year, to liven things up a bit, we’re going to give you a little multiple choice quiz to see if you can figure out what we did this year…
1. Reasons Tom and Sandy didn’t send out a Christmas card last year:
(A) Still in shock from the growing recession and our dwindling 401(k)
(B) Couldn’t decide on the style of Christmas stamp.
(C) The season got the best of us and we ran out of time. We did send it out to many of you as an email. I know, cheap and electronic, but it got out.
2. This year, we made two improvements to the house. We reshingled the roof and replaced all the windows because
(A) Homeless people were starting to lean against our house at night, staying warm from the escaping heat.
(B) The neighborhood cats were doing the same thing, sleeping on our roof at night.
(C) We were losing, oh, probably 98 percent of our heat through the old roof and windows, and it was time. The “30 year roof” that was on the house lasted about 13 years. Thanks.
3. This year Mike and Drew continued their involvement in…
(A) Beating the heck out of one another, like brothers will do
(B) Growing at an alarming rate and eating everything in sight.
(C) Playing percussion in band for Mike, and Cub/Boy Scouts for Drew/Mike
4. This year we vacationed at Backbone State Park in northeast Iowa. We stayed in a nifty little rented cabin that was air conditioned (thank you Lord) and a little kitchenette. What did we do to pass the time?
(A) Drove south to Maquoketa to go through the caves at the state park. The hiking and steep inclines just about killed Tom. Almost. The humidity didn’t help.
(B) The kids would have enjoyed swimming in the little lake if the geese hadn’t got their first and, um, “decorated” the beach…
(C) The weather was unseasonably cool most of the time, but we still were able to hike, canoe, have a fire each night and make tinfoil dinners on the coals. We had a good time.
(D) All of the above
5. We still live in Indianola and work at Wal-Mart and the Indianola School System because
(A) That grand idea to be traveling gypsies never really panned out
(B) Still haven’t won the lottery
(C) Stability in today’s world seemed much more desirable than blatant risk-taking.
6. We added two cats, Teunis and Molly, to the household this year because…
(A) We thought adding a herd of ferrets might be a little too much for our small home.
(B) Our furniture hasn’t been shredded enough by the two dogs and old black cat we already have, so…
(C) Every time we saw a “free kittens” sign the kids INSISTED we stop and check them out. These little “aw, aren’t they cute excursions” turned into “Dad can we keep one?” excursions. Of course; what were we thinking?
7. Tom still plays drums and congas for the band at church because…
(A) Even though he’s been told his services are no longer needed, he still shows up, so…
(B) He was threatened with bodily injury when he unexpectedly whipped into a pennywhistle solo during a highly anticipated flute solo, so, back on drums
(C) The regular drummer(s) were in a bad motorcycle/car accident on their way to Sturgis, South Dakota this past summer. They won’t be able to play for several months. Praise God it wasn’t worse. Because it could have been.
8. Our son Drew, 9, is a rabid beanie baby collector. He has more than 300. Why beanies?
(A) The dang things have fallen out of style just enough to allow him to afford them at garage sales at 50 cents a pop….
(B) His initial plans for a “live bug” collection were quickly halted at the back door by his mother…
(C) We’re hoping that when he “loses interest” (please Lord) we can donate them to the children’s wing at a local hospital. If they’ll take them. Or some group like that…
9. After consulting with Mike’s teachers, it was decided to skip him from 7th grade to 8th grade this year. It seems to be working out well for him. But why the change?
(A) His brain is apparently too large. He was waking up with headaches.
(B) Beats me; he obviously inherited his father’s natural intelligence (ow! ow!) Okay, excuse me, his MOTHER’s natural intelligence (Sandy go back and sit down; quit reading over my shoulder…)
(C) He had been in TAG classes since Kindergarten and he just wasn’t being challenged, and was getting bored. I keep reminding him I was changing his diapers just a few years ago. Mike doesn’t appreciate the irony of that fact like I do.
10. Tom’s personal “stimulus package” for Sandy this year was…
(A) A lengthy back massage and a promise not to let anyone wake her up before 11 a.m. on Saturdays. Almost worked.
(B) Reassuring her that the thousands we’ve undoubtedly lost in the market will one day be recouped. One day. One day far, far away…
(C) Letting her plug in that laaaaast plug on the old power strip in the basement. Oh, if I had a video of that. Her eyelashes did eventually grow back.
11. Despite the glut of electronic devices and gadgets, Tom still does not have a cell phone because
(A) Having to buy two computer towers this year because of viruses is about all the technobabble I can handle…
(B) Still has fond memories from the 1970s of one landline phone, three channels on the TV, records not CDs, no video games, no big screen TVs, no home theatre systems, no cell phones, NO TEXTING, no TWITTERING, and yes, 8-Tracks were for cruising in the car (I bought a box of 8-tracks this summer at a garage sale…Ha!)
(C) He didn’t want to use the cell phone as an excuse when he forgets to use turn signals, preferring the tried and true “mindless ignorant Iowan driver” standby
Thank You Tom for following in the spirit of the Big Mouth. This is a slam dunk!
-Lynn Nelson
editor and chief, BIG MOUTH Productions
Happy Holidays from the Petersens in Indianola
Hello everyone! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hope you all had a good 2009. I know it was a challenge at times, but perhaps better days are ahead in 2010. This year, to liven things up a bit, we’re going to give you a little multiple choice quiz to see if you can figure out what we did this year…
1. Reasons Tom and Sandy didn’t send out a Christmas card last year:
(A) Still in shock from the growing recession and our dwindling 401(k)
(B) Couldn’t decide on the style of Christmas stamp.
(C) The season got the best of us and we ran out of time. We did send it out to many of you as an email. I know, cheap and electronic, but it got out.
2. This year, we made two improvements to the house. We reshingled the roof and replaced all the windows because
(A) Homeless people were starting to lean against our house at night, staying warm from the escaping heat.
(B) The neighborhood cats were doing the same thing, sleeping on our roof at night.
(C) We were losing, oh, probably 98 percent of our heat through the old roof and windows, and it was time. The “30 year roof” that was on the house lasted about 13 years. Thanks.
3. This year Mike and Drew continued their involvement in…
(A) Beating the heck out of one another, like brothers will do
(B) Growing at an alarming rate and eating everything in sight.
(C) Playing percussion in band for Mike, and Cub/Boy Scouts for Drew/Mike
4. This year we vacationed at Backbone State Park in northeast Iowa. We stayed in a nifty little rented cabin that was air conditioned (thank you Lord) and a little kitchenette. What did we do to pass the time?
(A) Drove south to Maquoketa to go through the caves at the state park. The hiking and steep inclines just about killed Tom. Almost. The humidity didn’t help.
(B) The kids would have enjoyed swimming in the little lake if the geese hadn’t got their first and, um, “decorated” the beach…
(C) The weather was unseasonably cool most of the time, but we still were able to hike, canoe, have a fire each night and make tinfoil dinners on the coals. We had a good time.
(D) All of the above
5. We still live in Indianola and work at Wal-Mart and the Indianola School System because
(A) That grand idea to be traveling gypsies never really panned out
(B) Still haven’t won the lottery
(C) Stability in today’s world seemed much more desirable than blatant risk-taking.
6. We added two cats, Teunis and Molly, to the household this year because…
(A) We thought adding a herd of ferrets might be a little too much for our small home.
(B) Our furniture hasn’t been shredded enough by the two dogs and old black cat we already have, so…
(C) Every time we saw a “free kittens” sign the kids INSISTED we stop and check them out. These little “aw, aren’t they cute excursions” turned into “Dad can we keep one?” excursions. Of course; what were we thinking?
7. Tom still plays drums and congas for the band at church because…
(A) Even though he’s been told his services are no longer needed, he still shows up, so…
(B) He was threatened with bodily injury when he unexpectedly whipped into a pennywhistle solo during a highly anticipated flute solo, so, back on drums
(C) The regular drummer(s) were in a bad motorcycle/car accident on their way to Sturgis, South Dakota this past summer. They won’t be able to play for several months. Praise God it wasn’t worse. Because it could have been.
8. Our son Drew, 9, is a rabid beanie baby collector. He has more than 300. Why beanies?
(A) The dang things have fallen out of style just enough to allow him to afford them at garage sales at 50 cents a pop….
(B) His initial plans for a “live bug” collection were quickly halted at the back door by his mother…
(C) We’re hoping that when he “loses interest” (please Lord) we can donate them to the children’s wing at a local hospital. If they’ll take them. Or some group like that…
9. After consulting with Mike’s teachers, it was decided to skip him from 7th grade to 8th grade this year. It seems to be working out well for him. But why the change?
(A) His brain is apparently too large. He was waking up with headaches.
(B) Beats me; he obviously inherited his father’s natural intelligence (ow! ow!) Okay, excuse me, his MOTHER’s natural intelligence (Sandy go back and sit down; quit reading over my shoulder…)
(C) He had been in TAG classes since Kindergarten and he just wasn’t being challenged, and was getting bored. I keep reminding him I was changing his diapers just a few years ago. Mike doesn’t appreciate the irony of that fact like I do.
10. Tom’s personal “stimulus package” for Sandy this year was…
(A) A lengthy back massage and a promise not to let anyone wake her up before 11 a.m. on Saturdays. Almost worked.
(B) Reassuring her that the thousands we’ve undoubtedly lost in the market will one day be recouped. One day. One day far, far away…
(C) Letting her plug in that laaaaast plug on the old power strip in the basement. Oh, if I had a video of that. Her eyelashes did eventually grow back.
11. Despite the glut of electronic devices and gadgets, Tom still does not have a cell phone because
(A) Having to buy two computer towers this year because of viruses is about all the technobabble I can handle…
(B) Still has fond memories from the 1970s of one landline phone, three channels on the TV, records not CDs, no video games, no big screen TVs, no home theatre systems, no cell phones, NO TEXTING, no TWITTERING, and yes, 8-Tracks were for cruising in the car (I bought a box of 8-tracks this summer at a garage sale…Ha!)
(C) He didn’t want to use the cell phone as an excuse when he forgets to use turn signals, preferring the tried and true “mindless ignorant Iowan driver” standby
Friday, December 18, 2009
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Painting things and fancy wings carry you to the place you want to be.
-Lynn
A TRUE STORY: I have a dying person in the car...
It must have been in March. It was a drizzly, rainy night and the darkness was deep. A car pulls up and stops in front of the house. Cathy looks through the window and says, "Who can that be?", so I go to the door. Basically all I see other than the headlights are the interior light of a car and a dark body emerges, but not before I see them tending to something in the back seat of the car.
I stand at the door as the person in the car hurries to our front step. "Doctor, I need the Doctor." "What?"I said. The woman says to me in a breathless voice, "I called, I need to find the Doctor. I have a dying person in the car."
"Oh my god. I’ll call 911."
The woman says, "No, don’t. Where is the hospital, the pet hospital?"
"There isn’t a hospital around here; I should really call 911."
Cathy comes to the door, "What’s going on, can I help you?"
"I called, someone told me to pull up and flash my lights and they would let me in. I have a dying person in the car."
Cathy said, "What is the address? That is on the other side of the street, but it’s a log cabin. It’s not a hospital."
The woman is stressing, and says to Cathy, "Come with me." I see fear in Cathy’s eyes, but she slips on shoes, and they walk out to the car in the darkness to the passenger side. I watch them bow inside the car as I look on from inside the house.
Cathy and the woman return to the house talking about the Log Cabin house down the road and Cathy looks up to me and says, "She has a dying opossum in the car, Lynn, not a dying person."
We send her on her way. Then we watch to see if our neighbor lets her in.
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