iamericka

What do you find interesting or unique about your family history?

As Jodi promised:

1. My great-great grandpa Finken was killed when his horse "took fright" and threw him from his wagon.
2. My great aunt, Olivia, died at the age of 8 from diphtheria.
3. My great-grandmother died a few months after giving birth. After her death, my grandfather along with his siblings spent some time in a orphanage because my great-grandfather couldn't support all the kids.
4. Rumor has it that when my great grandmother died, Olivia was exhumed so the two could be buried together. I have yet to find any documentation, but I haven't looked that hard.
5. I have a great-great aunt who spent some time in a mental hospital paranoid about bootleggers.

Inspired by my Aunt Anna, I have been researching my family tree since I was about 19. Since I've been in school I haven't been actively researching as much. However, the kids are now becoming more interested, so I took them to the history center to dig up death certificates. They are excited about our next trip when we will focus on newspaper obituaries.

In honor of Independence Day, show us something patriotic.

Peace is Patriotic

Show us two things that should never be together.

Michael and Ben at Chino

These two are dangerous together. 

Show us two things that belong together.

In honor of Canada Day, show us your favorite Canadian.

The Kids in the Hall

What would make you question a friendship?
Submitted by stueykins.

If they vote republican. I have to like that person a whole lot in order to overcome my bias against conservatives. 

Share a song you listened to in 6th grade.

Madonna - Material Girl

Show us a glimpse of your neighborhood.
Submitted by [Susan].

Setting: 3:39 am The Stripper is sitting outside on her deck chatting on the phone.

The Complainer: Take it inside!

The Stripper: Go buy a house! This is a town home community. There will be noise.

Inaudible woman shouts something in support of The Complainer

The Stripper: Shut your windows. I'm smoking a cigarette on my deck.

3:45 am
The Stripper (shouting): I'm going in now. I love being held prisoner in my own home.

the hood

Today is the first day of my summer vacation. The kids have been out for a couple of weeks, hanging with Jodi while I finish up my temporary full-time gig. Let's just say I'm not the type of person who works full-time. It seriously kicked my ass. I lost all sense of myself being stuck working for the man. Damn! Well, now I'm back to my casual self working when I want, on my terms. Ahhh...this is the life. That is what the kids and I call summer vacation "this is the life." It's hard to start summer vacation so late though. I have so many fun activities that I know September and the Ph.D program will be here before I know it. But for now, I'm going to kick back, relax, and let the fun begin.

First up, Back to the 50s car show with Ben's parents. It's at the state fair grounds which means fair food. Not to the extent of the Great State Fair, but rumor has it that there will be cheese curds and Sweet Martha's cookies. There is almost no better way to kick off my first day of summer but with a little State Fair primer.

Tonight, on a whim, we decided to go the MPR's Talking Volumes event with Judy Blume. She is one of Jaycie's favorite authors. I was a little nervous about going since we didn't have tickets, but we decided to try anyway. We pulled up to the best parking spot right smack in front of the Fitzgerald. We had about an hour before the show started so we walked to find a place to eat. It was a wonderful night to walk the city and enjoy a meal outside. After dinner we walked up right up to the box office window, purchased  tickets with our MPR discount and didn't have to pay the nasty Ticketmaster "convenience" fee. It was general admission and we managed to score third row seats. Ben bought me a nice glass of wine and we all munched on some peanut M&Ms.

The Fitzgerald

Things I love about Judy Blume
1. She loves Obama
2. She speaks out against censorship
3. She writes to tell a honest story and not to push the envelope even though that happens too
4. She is emotional and not apologetic about it

Q&A Session

Things I wrote down to tell Jodi (yes, I actually took notes):
1. She does not read when she is writing
2. She hates the 1st draft. She doesn't breathe until it's done.
3. She keeps a notebook security blanket.
4. She likes to end a day of writing on a high note (i.e. when things are going well, so she is not so afraid to start writing again the next day).
5. She thinks it's more authentic (my word) to write when you know nothing than when you are immersed in the writing/publishing world.
6. Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing was rejected multiple times. Once because a potential publisher thought it would teach children to swallow turtles.

The best part of the night was that because of our great seats we managed to get a great spot in line for the book signing and only had to wait about 15 minutes.

A great day for Jaycie