Too Much Riding Haiku

Once each day for four

Just shy of two hundred miles

A good kind of sleep

Thirty Days Later

Right about now-ish marks thirty days to the minute since Mongo gave up his beloved Ben & Jerry's ice cream for the entire month of November. Except for the previously mentioned "Klondike Incident", Mongo has succeeded in what turned out to be not that hard of a struggle.

I have estimated that I saved 18,360 calories and 850 grams of fat over the course of the month. That's approximately 5.25 pounds that I either didn't gain or have to work off.

Sock Wreath

For Harleigh's room I wanted to do a fun wreath. I suppose I could have bought one, but this idea came to me and I had to give it a try. I bought a styrofoam wreath and cut a very small section out of it. Then I slid on two cable-knit super-long knee socks from Target, twisting the heels toward the back of the wreath. I stuck a toothpick into the top, back of the wreath and slid on an ornament (which can be changed throughout the Christmas season), and hung the wreath from a nail at the top of the window frame using fishing line. I think it came out cute. An ivory cable-knit sock would look su-weet in a Shabby Chic room.

Multi Media Class

Multi-Media is a class in St. Anthony High School taught by Mrs. Gillespie. We have learned how to use Photoshop and U-Lead Video Studio this year in the class. We have finished two projects and right now we are doing a documentary project. The great thing about the class is that you can leave school to tape for your project. My favorite video we did was the commercial project. The commercial, our group did was the Gatorade Commercial. Steven said," Their presentation was fantastic and I loved it."

Road Game

As a cyclist, it's always fun to take one's skills into unfamiliar territory. No matter how confident or relaxed you are on your home track with your buddies, there is a tendency to doubt one's abilities when surrounded by well equipped strangers. It's not until you get rolling that you can properly asses your competitors.

Mongo, and our youngest and strongest team member, Jimmy "I could probably be a pro if I wasn't getting so much tail in college", took our respective games to the local, douchey(They sell Madone's and Orca's to Lawyers and other pricks) bike shop group ride. There were about forty guys and one girl, from Cat 1/2 racers to rich Doctors on fourteen pound, eight thousand dollar everythings.

Long story short...Mongo did well. It was a fast, hilly ride, with a six-man crash thrown in for good measure. I was always under control in the peloton, even taking a short pull at the front, and it was only when the racers kicked it in on the homeward half that the group split and Mongo finished in the second third of the peloton...right next to the only girl.(Who I'm pretty sure was a Pro, by the way)

Thanksgiving Day at the Theatre

My previous experiences of Thanksgiving Day in Effingham have been limited. My family and I usually travel to Perryville, MO to visit my mom's family. Due to several conditions, we decided to stay in town this year. After a big brunch, my dad, my brothers, and I went to the Village Square Mall to watch The Blind Side. Honestly, it was probably the most touching and moving movie I have ever watched. I was near tears during the entire movie. I know... I know... I'm a sappy one when it comes to movies, but this one truly touched me.

The Blind Side is a story of a very poor high school boy who is allowed to go to a Christian high school. The story develops as he grows as a student and a person. He has no one, no where to go and no where to stay. He is taken in by a very wealthy family. He is a big boy and goes out for the football team. I don't want to ruin the movie for you, but it was definitely worth my dad's $7.25. It was the best movie I have seen all year, and the best part is that is it based on a true story on the life of Michael Oher. Take a break from the gory, scary movies and try a realistic, moving movie.

Allie Kabbes

2012

There are plenty of people that are scared that the world will end in 2012; so, I decided to go see how the movie was to determine if I want to believe this statement or not. The movie was full of tons of action and was probably one of the best movies I have ever seen. The way they decide to try to live sounds like a better idea to me than going to space but I will not say the ending just in case any of you want to see the movie still. Apparently the movie has made quite a bit of money so far and if you want to go see the movie it is probably worth the $7.25 with all the crazy action in it.



by:Steven Wolke

A Teacher's View of the Twilight Series

I've read the first three books in the Twilight series so far... and I have mixed opinions about these three books. There are reasons why I have enjoyed reading the series--and positive and negative opinions about the series overall.

· I think it's wonderful so many of my students (and teens in general) enjoy the series. Anything that keeps you all reading is a great thing!

· The vocabulary the author uses is definitely a positive attribute (from a teacher's perspective). I also like her use of literary allusions. That's cool. I would like to see more (or more elaborate) metaphors, similes, and other literary elements/devices. I realize this is "a book for fun" and you don't want me spoiling that with talk of literary devices and vocabulary--but, these things always seem to be in books (crazy isn't it?) -- and it's nice to see them in such supply in a popular novel.


· I wish Bella were a stronger role model. She's kind of weak and weepy--and even a little whiny. Okay, so she's in love--I get that. But, to sit around for the entire 2nd book (New Moon) and pine for Edward. Ugh! Then, she uses and abuses her "friend" Jacob--not because she wants to make him happy... but, because he makes her happy for the brief amount of time they spend together. Talk about selfish. And, what is with her willingness to sacrifice herself on the alter of vampirism? She would give up her family, her friends, and her own mortality to be with some guy? Gag...me...with...a...spoon. So, that is why I wish Bella was cast as a role model rather than perpetuating a stereotype.


· The second book was pretty dull. It served as a nice segue between #1 and #3--but it was boring to read it. I couldn't wait for it to be over. The others were much better. I've heard from a reliable source that the 4th book is really good, too. It's the same with the Harry Potter series. The 2nd book, IMO, is the weakest in the series. Also, the author seems to drag the plot out for ages and ages before the climax and resolution (if there's even a real resolution until later in the series).

· Just briefly...why I prefer the Harry Potter series over Twilight: The richness of J.K. Rowling's writing far outweighs that of Stephenie Meyer. While both are consider books for adolescents, Rowling has unbelievable skill at crafting the English language. The difference is in miles rather than inches.

· Final thought--I know that many people talk about Stephenie Meyer basing Twilight off Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. But, I'm just not seeing the connection between the two. If anyone has read both novels and would care to elaborate, that would be fantastic. I've read P&P many, many, many times -- and have even read the zombie-enhanced version. I still can't see where Twilight runs a parallel course.

There are a number of things to like about this series--and if you haven't read it yet, then you probably should. If you did like this series, then maybe you'll like some of these books, too.

· The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith*

· anything by Neil Gaiman*

· Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (one of the literary allusions in Twilight)

· Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

· Bluebloods by Melissa de la Cruz**

· Dracula by Bram Stoker

· If you're just looking for more vampire books, check out The Vampire Library--probably the most comprehensive list of vampire-related novels on the web.

You might also want to check out this website dedicated to Twilight--it's called "Novel Novice"--she recommends the books in the list above marked with a single asterisk. Titles marked with two asterisks are recommendations from others who enjoyed the Twilight series.

What if you're not a fan of the Twilight series (you may be asking)...? Wwell, check out this article from Fantasy Magazine. You are not alone.

Ihilani Resort, Ko'olina: Couple Portraits

Maybe More Than I Can Chew

Mongo is putting it all on the line tomorrow...A super-fast, fifty mile group ride out of a rival bike shop. This will be the first test for my November, "No ice cream/ plenty of jumping rope/ interval riding" training program.

It's going to be cold as hell, which I hate, with lots of riders faster than me...and I've never done this ride before. My confidence level is low!

We'll see what happens...

Christmas Cupcakes

Only on the day after Thanksgiving does green bean casserole count as a breakfast food. So good.

I adore those hard icing decorations you put on top of cupcakes. For this evening's Hanging of the Greens at church I made these holiday cupcakes using decorations from last year. They last forever, so buying them on sale after Christmas and saving them for the next year works.

Still the Best Man

We live about 900 miles away from each other and, if we're lucky, we see each other in person once every four or five years. So it was a real treat to see Al Rodriguez, my best friend from high school and the best man in our wedding, come up from Santa Barbara for Jordan's wedding this past weekend.

Except for the neatly trimmed snow-white goatee, he looks as though he stepped out of our 1970 high school yearbook -- tall, dark and still thin. My family used to call him "Bean," as in stringbean. I call him Al Rod.

I also call him a trusted friend, someone who makes me a better man by gently challenging me, whether it's to better articulate what I'm saying or, just as often, to justify my views.
We've always had a great rapport, even though we've had some l-o-n-g stretches between phone calls or e-mails.

We met through our dads, who worked at a pipe foundry. We became close friends as high school freshmen and ran track and cross country. Al went away to Sioux Falls (S.D.) College on a track scholarship, but then transferred to San Jose State as a junior and we roomed together, with others, for two years. After college, I moved to Oregon and married Lori. He stayed in California and eventually married Elizabeth, an East Coast transplant. They have a daughter, Nicole, who graduated from UCSB a year ago.

Al was a lifesaver during the wedding weekend. I wound up being busier than I expected the day before and day of the wedding, and Al jumped in to spend lots of time with my mom, acting as shuttle driver, lunch companion and all-around caretaker. I owe him big time.

He arrived early enough Friday that we had a few hours together to catch up on each other's lives. (We had lunch at the Butte Falls Cafe, above, a downhome kind of place in Jamie's hometown of about 400 people.) Where we once used to confide in each other about female relationships and debate great existential questions, now -- understandably -- it's all about family, our tenuous employment situations and the future.

Watching Al converse with family and friends over the weekend, it became obvious to me why he is such a good friend and why other people like him so much. 1) He listens. 2) He doesn't interrupt. 3) He asks "why?"

That may sound simple enough but I've gotta say there are a lot of people who don't get it. Nothing aggravates me more than someone who talks over me, who doesn't give me the courtesy of finishing a sentence because they are so eager to jump in. Al really takes time to focus on what the other person is saying. As a result, the conversation doesn't jump all over the place. It stays focused.

I've always prided myself on being a good listener. And I've always been aware how that quality contributes to being a good journalist. As an introvert at heart, I'd rather listen and observe than be the one at the heart of the action.

Al is at least a head taller than me. But I suppose I can understand people mistaking us for brothers. After all, I've always considered him mi hermano.

Thanksgiving 2009

After a string of four consecutive years spending the holiday at our cabin on Orcas Island, we stayed home this year. And the experience was different in every way.

Instead of preparing the meal ourselves and enjoying the smell of roast turkey filling the house, we set the alarm at 6:30 so we could get an early start on packing. With only two days left to prepare for moving day, we had to spend the day emptying cabinets, filling boxes and moving furniture onto the main floor for tomorrow's moving sale.

Hardly the way you want to spend your favorite holiday -- one that's rich with meaning and pretty much devoid of the commercial overkill that taints Christmas.

Thanks to our good friends Sue and Eric Wilcox, we knew we could take a break in the early afternoon to join their extended family and friends for a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. There were 20 seats at the table and we were mighty grateful to fill two of them. The food was delicious, surpassed only by their generosity.

Simone joined Kyndall on a visit to her mother's house in central Washington. Jordan and Jamie celebrated a day early and then hit the road today, aiming to arrive in Stockton, Calif., (about an hour south of Sacramento) to spend the night with one of Jamie's relatives. Nathan slept in, packed some stuff, then joined some friends later in the evening.

Even if we hadn't been preparing to move this year, I'm thinking it might have been just three of us -- Nathan, Lori and me -- at the cabin. We'll see what next year brings.

For now, it's enough to look forward to moving into our new home Saturday. We actually get the keys tomorrow, so if all goes well we might be able to take a few things over a day early.

Be Thankful For Something

"Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting."

(Author Unknown)

And thank you, God, for Gideon

I was talking to my sister-in-law on the phone this morning, catching up, and sharing stories of our dogs. Getting Gideon was all about a pet for Harleigh. But I gotta tell ya, that boy has stolen a huge part of my heart. I can't imagine life without him. I feel safer under his watchful eyes. Comforted by his warm body snuggling on my lap (yes, he is a lap dog). Proud of his obedience and gentle ways (living at Chateau Gahan requires being careful around my collections and crafts).

I'm so very thankful for him.

We Are Blessed

Got Nana's cranberry salad done yesterday. Up early this morning to make the sauerkraut and kielbasa (a Polish standard in our Thanksgiving fare). Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the TV. Fresh brewed coffee . . . ahhhh. Heading over to Mom's at 12:30. Tomorrow is a busy day of cooking. Beverly and Clif from next door bring us a huge smoked turkey breast every year and I go crazy making all kinds of casseroles and soups to freeze. Have the Hanging of the Greens tomorrow evening at church with a big chili dinner to go with.

Yes, we are blessed. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Giving Thanks

I am thankful for so many things this year. For a wonderful husband, for family and friends, for a beautiful home...

I am also thankful for all of my students. I am grateful to Ms. Larimer and Father Leo for giving me the opportunity to teach at St. Anthony High School. This year has been a wonderful one so far and I have really enjoyed meeting students, parents, and my fellow teachers and staff members. I have also enjoyed living in the Effingham area (and Newton, too). Everyone is so wonderful and giving.

But, it is you--my students--who shine brightly in my life each day. Your intelligence and intuitiveness never fail to amaze me. Your generosity and kindness, your humor and your goofiness--and, most importantly, your willingness to learn--all of these things make you fantastic students.

I want you all to know how much I appreciate you and how thankful I am to share this experience with you. I hope you all have a safe, happy, and freezing cold Thanksgiving! And, I hope you all have much to be thankful for this year.

Home Sweet Home

As if we didn't already have enough on our plate...

We've just sold the Craftsman-style home we have lived in since 1986 and are preparing to move into a brand-new condo this Saturday. As in two days after Thanksgiving.

Yes, we're downsizing. No, we didn't think things would move this fast when we decided in September that it was worth doing. We thought we'd put it on the market and see what happened. We took a couple of weekends to clean out our attic, our basement and closets, and then got it ready for staging in October. Lo and behold, it was on the market for just five days. We received two offers and just like that we were in a position to make an offer on a condo in a new 10-unit development less than two miles west of us in Northeast Portland. After some minor back and forth, our offer was accepted and it was full speed ahead.

I've waited until now to post anything about the move, partly because I didn't want to detract from the other major thing going on in our lives -- planning for this month's wedding of Jamie and Jordan -- and partly because I didn't want to jinx us in case anything went awry with financing, home inspections or the buyers of our home. Our patience was rewarded this week. The morning after we arrived back home after the wedding, we were in a title insurance office signing loan documents to close the sale. Now, all that's left is to sell selected furniture items on Friday, finish packing up and wait for the movers to show up Saturday morning.

So how does it feel to leave the comfort of a place that's been our home for 23 years?

Exciting. After living in a sturdy old house, built in 1926, we're looking forward to the conveniences of a new home where everything works, efficiently and unfailingly. Can't say that was always the case here, with some seriously old appliances and the quirks that come along with owning an older home.

Emotional. This is where we've lived since Nathan was 6 and Simone was 3, the place where we brought Jordan home, at 5 months old, from the foster home where he'd been living before we adopted him. It's the place where we opened our home to a succession of dogs, cats, rats, a rabbit and a few anoles (small lizards that, unfortunately, didn't do too well with us because we couldn't regulate the heating lamp in their very well -- you can imagine the end result).

Liberating. After all these years of watering, mowing and raking, not to mention shelling out for a new roof and gutters, exterior paint jobs, etc., we can finally say goodbye to it all. Owning a home is a wonderful thing, but there's no escaping the responsibilities. There's also no escaping the escalating property taxes. Not that we're against paying our fair share to support the schools, parks and other local services. Taxes are the price of civilization -- something that (cheap partisan shot coming) too many self-centered folks fail to realize or choose to ignore.

Prideful. This is where we raised three great kids and built a warehouse of memories. From our home on the corner, we could walk our kids to school and take them to the neighborhood park. As they grew older, we could see them to the bus stop down the street. Later still, we could listen for the familiar sound of a car, signaling they'd made it home from wherever they'd been with their teenage friends.

Exciting. Did I mention we're excited? After living with, between and surrounded by boxes for the past few weeks, I'm more than ready to pack up and move. Yes, we'll be leaving a physical place. But we'll taking our memories with us and starting a whole new raft of them. Just as it's still sinking in that our youngest son is actually married, so too is it sinking in that we're actually moving. We'll be waking up in a new place, with a small balcony outside our bedroom and a new view of the world.

How cool is that?

He's Just Waiting for the Di2 Upgrade

The Evil Empire

Team RadioShack roster for 2010

Lance Armstrong (USA)
Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn)
Sam Bewley (NZl)
Jani Brajkovic (Slo)
Matthew Busche (USA)
Ben Hermans (Bel)
Chris Horner (USA)
Daryl Impey (RSA)
Markel Irizar (Spa)
Andreas Klöden (Ger)
Levi Leipheimer (USA)
Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra)
Fuyu Li (Chn)
Tiago Machado (Por)
Jason McCartney (USA)
Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz)
Sérgio Paulinho (Por)
Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr)
Gregory Rast (Swi)
Sébastien Rosseler (Bel)
Ivan Rovny (Rus)
José Luis Rubiera (Spa)
Bjorn Selander (USA)
Gert Steegmans (Bel)
Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu)
Haimar Zubeldia (Spa)

"A Living Prayer"

This is the song that Jamie chose to be played as she walked down the leaf-strewn path to her place between her pastor and her bridesmaids.


In this world I walk alone
With no place to call my home
But there's one who holds my hand
The rugged road through barren lands
The way is dark, the road is steep
But He's become my eyes to see
The strength to climb, my griefs to bear
The Savior lives inside me there

In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

In these trials of life I find
Another voice inside my mind
He comforts me and bids me live
Inside the love the Father gives

In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

New Moon

There have been a ton of people wanting to see New Moon to see if it was better than the book. I myself thought the book was awful and was too depressing. I also saw the movie on Sunday and it was way better than the book--which does not normally happen.

In the book, Edward leaves Bella and she just stays in a depressive state for three or four months. Then Jacob comes along and she starts getting all happy again. In the movie it does not go on and on about her being depressed and simply just skips quite a bit of that and just goes to Jacob. I do not want to spoil the book or movie for those of you who have not seen the movie, but who still wants to.

Now would be a good time for those who want to see the movie--now that most of those who highly anticipated the movie have already seen it--and all the tickets will not be sold out. For those of you who have not seen the movie, it is definitely worth the $7.25 you have to pay at the Effingham Mall. There has been a debate going on in society over who is for Team Jacob and who is for Team Edward. I myself am for Team Jacob because Bella is an idiot and went back for Edward even after Jacob was taking care of her for so long. New Moon (the movie) was definitely way better than the first of the series -- Twilight.

Lauryn Ragland & Lena Grunloh

Today in Speech class Mrs. Cross suggested we write a blog to have something to do. Not knowing what to write about I decided to interview my classmates, the two people sitting next to me right now, Lauryn Ragland and Lena Grunloh.

What is your favorite sport?

LR-dance! :)
LG-right now, volleyball, it might change though

Lena, I thought it was basketball?

LG-yea I did too
LR-(laugh) okay next question

What's your favorite restaurant?

LR-Joe's Pizza & Pasta with the "and sign" please.
LG-well it was El Ranch until I found two hairs in my meal this weekend

What's your favorite class?

LR-my favorite class is alg with Jones (and yes she said alg not algebra)
LG-study hall with Hoene no no no wait, chorus

Whose your favorite teacher?

LR-I don't know, you make me think about stupid stuff but Mrs. Jones
LG-ditto to both

What's your favorite school lunch?

LR-well I'm not a big fan, but chicken nuggets I guess, which is today!
LG-uhhhhhhh, chicken nuggets

Uhm what else should I ask?

LR-my hidden talent even though I don't have any
LG-uhmm haha i dunno, "What do you want for Christmas"

What's your hidden talent?

LR-(angrily) I already told you I don't have any, but maybe someday I'll find one
LG-What is my hidden talent? you can't put that! well I don't know my hidden talent because it's hidden

What do you want for Christmas?

LR-I want a new TV for my room
LG-a super sweet car

What do you do in your free time?

LR-well lets see, dance, and hang out with you, and my other friends because your not my only friend
LG-I like to play sports, and I like to hang out with all my wonderful friends
LR-wow cheesy enough

What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?

LR-uhm, turkey
LG-my mommy's pumpkin pie and my grandma's noodles
LR-wow I wish my mom made pumpkin pie my mom never makes pie actually she does never mind

What are some random facts?

LR-I don't have any random facts I'm boring, well I was born in Maryville
LG-I have a dog named buddy whose probably going to die soon because he's too fat
LR-don't say that! that's horrible
LG-or you could say I like chicken wings because I had them last night and I decided i really like 'em


Thank you Lauryn and Lena for taking time to answer my questions while working on something else during Speech class.




by: Liz Wortman

A country wedding

As I sit down to write tonight, two thoughts come to mind: 1) I'm officially a father-in-law now; 2) I don't think there's any way to do justice to telling the tale of Jordan and Jamie's wedding. But I'll try.

On Sunday afternoon, Nov. 22, slightly more than 100 people gathered in folding chairs on the grass to see a handsome, suntanned young man, with a military haircut and his crisp Army uniform, and a beautiful blonde, blue-eyed young woman, wearing a sleeveless, low-cut white wedding gown, join their lives together in marriage.

The ceremony took place at the Lake Creek Historical Society grounds, about 20 miles northeast of Medford, and a million miles from the dense, urban area that's my normal.

They stood -- between two oak trees a few yards from clear, rushing waters of Lake Creek -- and gazed at each other as if they were the only two people on Earth. I felt that way when I married Lori 34 years ago, and the memories came flooding back watching our son and his bride.

If there was a theme to the day, it was City Meets Country. And I mean that in a positive way. On Jamie's side sat dozens of people, clad in blue jeans, leather vests, pearl-button shirts and cowboy hats. On Jordan's side sat men in sport coats and neckties and women in long dresses. No denim and no cowboy hats for that crowd.

A couple of older men on horseback had set up in the road outside the grounds to direct people with their cars. Jamie walked in, on her father's arm, to Alison Krauss' enchanting song, "A Living Prayer." Inside Pioneer Hall, a home-cooked buffet of teriyaki chicken, pasta salad, green salad, baked potatoes with all the fixings, and three kinds of pie. The deejay played Keith Urban and Lee Ann Womack along with Van Morrison and James Brown.

From start to finish, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was watching myself in a movie. Going into the men's room to have a few words with Jordan before the ceremony began; walking with Lori, arm in arm, to our seats in the front row; rising to grab the mike and offer a toast...all of it felt pretty surreal.

Of course, the evening went all too fast. Before we knew it, the dancing had come to a close, Jamie and Jordan had departed in a stretch limo for two nights in the honeymoon suite at the historic Jacksonville Inn, and friends and family were pitching in to fold tables, put away chairs, sweep the floors, box up leftovers and generally just clean up.

It's amazing to think that people can search a lifetime for their soulmate and never find him or her. And others? They're fortunate, like Jamie and Jordan, to recognize what they have in each other and to see past the superficial differences. How unlikely that they would even meet -- she a country girl, raised on a horse ranch in tiny Butte Falls, Oregon, spending the summer at a youth camp outside Portland one year; he a city boy, raised in the heart of Oregon's largest city and yet longing to be in the wide-open spaces. What a fluke that he would take the horsemanship class taught by Jamie that summer. Otherwise, how else would they have met?

My 82-year-old mom, Theresa, came up from Fremont and my best friend from high school, Al Rodriguez (also our best man those many years ago), came up from Santa Barbara to join us for the big event. Nathan, Jordan's older brother, served as best man. Simone, accompanied by her partner Kyndall, helped out wherever needed and mingled with our guests, including a contingent of friends whose sons and daughters have grown up with Jordan, beginning with preschool -- and even earlier.

As I said above, I don't think there's a way to fully tell the story of Jordan and Jamie's wedding. I can say the two of them have our love and total respect. In the past year, it seems that both of them have grown into more mature, self-confident individuals, totally committed to each other as a lifelong pair. This week, they'll have an early Thanksgiving with her parents and then hit the road in Jamie's Jetta, bound for El Paso, Texas, and Fort Bliss, where they'll make their home while Jordan continues with advanced infantry training. Once they get settled, Jamie can look for work, too, as a licensed veterinary technician.

We wish them peace and happiness.

(Wedding photos will be posted soon. The one above? Taken at the Rede Reunion in July.)

Leaving the newspaper

I've been away from the blog for several days, so my first act is to post Doug Bates' farewell column, as I said I would.

Here it is: Autumn in the world of ink on paper

Enjoy.

New McDonald's

THE NEW McDONALD'S

The new McDonald's is finally more than just grease and fat. It finally has entertaining games to play while you are scarfing down on a Big Mac or drinking a Sweet Tea. The new double drive-thru is not very impressive though. It is still jammed everywhere, and there is bound to be a wreck someday.

What is impressive, is how it is so clean and not dirty like the old McDonald's or the one out by Deb's Wings and Subs. I have noticed that most kids that go there only go for the Sweet Tea though, because it is so cheap for such a large drink (even though they overload it with ice). Overall I give it a eight out of ten.

THANKSGIVING TREAT!

Need a cute little treat to bring to your Thanksgiving dinner? Try these turkeys; they're sure to be a hit!

Thanksgiving Turkey Gobbler Treats

What you'll need:

• One sandwich cookie. Oreos can be used, or any other brand
  


• Two tablespoons of frosting. White frosting or chocolate frosting are best
  


• Five pieces of candy corn
  


• One malted milk ball or a Reese's peanut butter cup cut in half
  


• One cinnamon candy or red gummy worm
  


• Napkins
  


• A craft stick or knife for spreading the frosting

1. First, open the cookie, and lay both sides on a napkin. Using the craft stick or knife, spread a little frosting on both cookies, directly over the frosting that is already on the cookie.


2. Make the frosting just thick enough to hold the candies to the cookies.


3. Make a small mound of frosting on one cookie, near the top of the circle. Stand the other cookie up vertically, on edge, in the mound of frosting. This becomes the back of the turkey.


4. Place the malted milk ball or Reese's in the frosting, pressing it against the cookie that is standing up. This becomes the body.


5. Place five pieces of candy corn, point side down, on the cookie that is standing up. Push the candy corn pieces into the frosting to make them secure. This becomes the tail feathers.


6. Place the cinnamon candy or the gummy worm next to the body of the Thanksgiving Gobbler. Secure the candy in the frosting. This becomes the wattle.

Happy Thanksgiving!

by Lauryn Ragland

Pumpkin Bars

For all of you pumpkin lovers out there, this is for you!!

What you need:

4 eggs, well beaten

1 1 lb. can (or 2 cups) of cooked pumpkin (like Libby's)

1 1/2 C sugar

1/4 t salt

1 t ginger

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t cloves

1 yellow cake mix

1/2 C butter, melted

1 C chopped pecans

First off, only use the 100% pure pumpkin (it should say so on the can label). Preheat the oven 325 degrees. Next, mix the eggs, pumpkin, sugar, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Pour into a 13x9x2 pan. Sprinkle the dry cake mix on top. Drizzle melted butter over mix, and spread the chopped nuts on top. Bake for 40 minutes, then loosely cover the pan with foil and bake another 40 minutes (1 hour and 20 minutes total). Enjoy!!

-Caroline Robb

Mrs. Jones Versus Chuck Norris

Sort of reminds me of Mrs. Jones --
is there anything she can't do?

It's So Safe Floating In The Glass

"Have you learned the lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed passage with you?"

(Walt Whitman)

The Hoveround Of Skateboards

Mongo's never been a big fan of the electric or motorized skateboard. That being said, this one looks pretty cool. Capable of almost 20 mph and with a ten mile range, it'll set you back about six hundy to drive it off the lot.

Sneaker Balls And Elbow Grease

In these tough economic times, Mongo has been forced to make some changes...as well as eliminate some dead weight. I was even all set to give my cat Snacks McGee* five hundred bucks cash and kick him to the curb. After all, he's been freeloading off me for ten years without contributing a dime. Unfortunately, he revealed to me that he was in possession of "certain" photographs that the authorities might find interesting. A new litter box and an ounce of premium "Nip" later, he and I have come to an understanding.

What I have been doing though is going through all my cycling equipment and apparel to see what should be kept, cleaned, repaired, or just thrown away. I have a bad habit of letting sentimentality get in the way of practicality as well as reality. An example of this is my shoe collection. Mongo owns five pairs of cycling shoes.(4 Road/ 1 Mt. Bike) In reality, you only need three pairs tops. One racing road, one training road, one mt. bike...that's it! Somehow I collected and justified two extra pairs, and the funny thing is, I was looking to get another pair soon.

Instead, I spent a rainy afternoon scrubbing, cleaning, degreasing, and waterproofing all my shoes. Every pair, from my Specialized Pro Road Carbon "Hammerfest Edition" (Made from only the softest hides of baby seals and Humpback whales), to my mismatched Pearl Izumis, got a makeover.

My efforts yielded four great results and the garbage can for the Izumis. I now have rejuvenated pairs of road race, road training, road "bad weather" training, and mt. bike shoes. Mongo is set for the 2010 season.

Scholar Bowl

Well, the fall season is done for the St. Anthony Scholar Bowl team. Believe it or not, they actually did extremely well. The varsity only lost one match the entire year, and that can be accredited to the seniors not being there (they were all at Kairos that week). If they were there, the team would have indubitably been undefeated, as the seniors are the key players on the team and only get taken out to show the other teams mercy.

The seniors are Greg Schmidt, Alex Bauer, Drew Willenborg, Marty Jansen, Paul Sudkamp, and John Schultz. Even with most of the seniors not playing, one or two is enough to take care of the job. The only time the team was down, besides that one loss, was to T-town, the second match of the year. They trailed at half-time but were soon able to regain the lead. The fall season ended with matches against Stew-Stras and Windsor. They beat Windsor 170-65 and Stew-Stras 249-69. Needless to say, they are amazing at what they do.

In a Scholar Bowl match, the players have to answer a "toss-up" by buzzing in with a hand held buzzer. If one team gets it correct, then the moderator (the person reading the questions, usually the coach of the team not playing) will ask them a 3-5 part bonus question. If the team who answered the toss-up only gets, let's say, two out of the four questions right, the other team has an opportunity to answer the remaining parts to the question. Toss-ups are worth 10 pts and bonus are worth 20 (that 20 is divided depending on how many parts they get correct).

Scholar Bowl is interesting to watch, and something everybody needs to see once. Come to watch the spring season. There are plenty of home matches, but get there early; the seats fill up fast.


~Drew Willenborg

Cheerleading

With basketball season starting this week, cheerleading season beings as well. Well, only partially. Cheerleading has two different seasons. We share one with the basketball team, and that is the only season most people associate with cheerleaders. Our other season begins later; it is competition. This season of cheerleading that makes it a true sport. Although people often say cheerleaders are unnoticed or pointless, I have often heard them ask why we were not at a game, and it is not only the fans. Last year we missed a few games due to competition, and a few of the players asked why we were not there.

Our competition season does not start until late January, but we may compete in a few practice competitions before. We did so last year, and had very few fans. It would be fantastic to see some fans supporting us after we always support them. I hope that we can make a run at state again this year. Last year we placed 14th. This may not sound too great, but keep in mind it was the first year of competitive cheerleading at St. Anthony High School. We hope to improve this year by getting top 10 and competing again Saturday.

We have some great new cheerleaders this year, and yes, I say new, not freshman, because they are not all freshman. Michelle Jansen has joined us as a junior. She, and the four freshman, have been working really hard to learn all the cheers and be ready for our first game. Emmie and Taylor switch off as flyers in one of our lifting groups and are doing an excellent job. Barbara has really showed her dedication by practicing everything we teach her outside of practice, unlike some of the others. Paige unfortunately has a broken foot and can not participate right away.

This past summer we traveled to Illinois State University to attend a UCA camp. We did exceptionally well considering we did not have a coach. We seniors stepped up in her place and used our experience to win first place overall in the competition routine.

Kelly Jansen

Homecoming Dresses

I know that St. Anthony homecoming is late this year, not being until January 15th, but all the girls out there need to start looking for homecoming dresses before all the good ones are gone. No one wants to show up at homecoming to find someone else wearing the same dress, so maybe try looking in different places for a unique homecoming dress. The Internet is a wonderful place to find dresses other girls will not find. Although this may seem frightening at first due to not being able to try it on, it does not have to be this way. Some sites offer full refunds other than return shipping costs. I recommend looking on eBay. eBay has cheap or expensive dresses, new or used. I found my dress on eBay and was able to order to my custom size, but I am still able to return it for full refund. It is a great deal.

Other options include large dress stores or wedding dress stores. Although these are usually expensive, look for sales at these stores for a better deal. If your budget is low, you may want to listen for announcements about local dress sales. Girls bring their used dresses to these in hopes of getting a bit back for how much they spent on them. There are many great deals on gorgeous dresses at these dress sales. On the other hand if you have used dresses from previous years you may want to resell them here. If you still do not have enough money to purchase a dress at a dress sale, maybe ask a friend to borrow her old dress. I am sure all the girls will find a gorgeous dress that is just right for her, but we better all start looking!

Kelly

You Want None Of This

When will people learn not to mess with Mike V or his family? He has had a professional and personal relationship with the Anaheim Ducks and many of the players for years, and it was obvious from the video that Scott Niedermayer was intentionally throwing the stick to Vallely's daughter. The other fan was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person.

Mike V is one of Mongo's favorite skaters. Though half a generation younger than I am, Vallely has always embodied the tradition and core of what it means to to "be" a skateboarder...Unfortunately, he is also prone to beating the crap out of people that f**k with him.

Here is the Holy Grail of Mike V "ass whoopin'" videos.

Babies Cry In Their Own Language?

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - The wail of a newborn may sound the same to the ears of sleep-deprived parents the world over, but according to scientists, that's not the case: Babies cry in the language their parents speak from the first days of life.
An international team of researchers said a study of 60 newborns suggested babies start to learn language in the womb, long before they utter their first coos or babbles -- and their wails can be distinguished according to the mother tongue.
French newborns tend to cry with a rising melody contour, while their German neighbors prefer a falling melody shape -- patterns which the researchers said fit with characteristic differences between the two languages.

To read the rest of this interesting article go to http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE5A43TA20091105

Mr. Poston

For this blog, I interviewed a crazy cool teacher....Mr.Poston!

1. What did you want to be when you were little?

MP: Fireman

2. If you could meet one person, alive or dead, who would it be, and why?

MP: John Lennon------------ Imagine

3. What's the funniest thing you've ever experienced?

MP: My kids

4. What is your favorite subject to teach and why?

MP: All of them-St.A students Rock

5. When have you been the most embarrassed?

MP: In high school, when I went tubing on the lake.

6. Why do they put Braille on the number pads of drive up teller machines?

MP: To inspire people to do new things.

7. When you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn?

MP: Purple

8. Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?

MP: No

9. If there is no God, who pops up the next Kleenex in the box?

MP: God exists, there is no "if".

10. What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?

MP: Ostrich Burgers

11. What's been the scariest moment of your life?

MP: My child running toward the street/My child at Cardinal Glennon Hospital

12. What happens to an irresistible force when it hits an immovable object?

MP: No work is done, W=FxD

I also asked him for some random facts about himself and he said...

13. I wish I could teach as well as Joy Jones

14. My family is my world.

15. I love learning new things.

16. My heart has been broken, three times. The first time, I rarely spoke to anyone for 3 years. The 2nd and 3rd time have brought me closer to God.

17. I hate leftovers.

18. Fishing is the best way I relax.

19. Sometimes I see pink elephants.

20. Do you have any blackberry cobbler?

I would like to thank Mr.Poston very much for taking the time to answer all my questions..

--Cheslynn Litke

Big Lots = Big Love

Aren't these Christmas wreaths pretty enough to keep up all year long? I took off the sheer ribbon bow and hanger and used some ivory satin ribbon to hang them. Nailed the ribbon above the window frame and then tied a bow.

Top things of the Week (Week 2)

You know the drill readers, so let’s get started.

Food of the Week:

After the mass of candy I’m sure you had, it’s time to give it a good contrast. We’ll surely avoid scurvy if we all eat this week’s food.

Fantastic.

Beverage of the Week:

The idea for the beverage of this week is contributed by everyone’s favorite minister, Father Darren.

Slogans that got people to purchase include:

1889–1914: "King of Beverages."

1940s: "Good For Life."

1950s: "The Friendly Pepper Upper."

1970s: "The Most Original Soft Drink Ever."

1991: "Just what the Doctor ordered."

Movie of the week:

This week we’ll dig into movies past. This week our movie of the week is The Goonies.

The Goonies is truly a great movie that you should watch again soon.

Video game of the Week:

This week, I was going to spot light the first Super Mario Bros. game, but I realized that was too predictable, besides why put one in the original series when I could put all of them? The video game of this week is Super Mario All-stars.

This compilation cartridge features Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, and 3. Along with Super Mario Bros. the lost level, what game is this you may ask? Well, it’s actually the real version of Super Mario Bros. 2 that never saw a U.S. release because it was deemed ‘too difficult for the U.S. audience”.

A new segment approaches! Roll for initiative.

TV show of the week:

We’ll delve into the shows of the 80’s for a few weeks, evolve into the 90’s, and then end it with shows from the 2000’s and now. This Week’s TV show of the week is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

And I’m talking about the original, not the new age re-imaginings. It was one of the strangest concepts you’ll ever hear in a TV show, but we still love it the same.

Twitter

I did the Myspace thing, now I'm hooked on Facebook, but everyday I hear more and more about Twitter. No it isn't just the sound a bird makes anymore, it's a social networking site. What is Twitter though? I've often wondered. Why should I leave Facebook where I'm perfectly happy, just so I can say I have a Twitter account? Well I researched Twitter to better understand it and this is what I've came up with.

10. It's like Facebook, but with only Status Updates

9. Dedicated Twitter users average about 150 "tweets" a day

8. 88% of Twitter users ALWAYS check their Twitter accounts before actually starting their day

7. Most Twitter users are celebrities

6. You can get "tweets" sent to your phone as text messages (my sister has this, and I always think she has so many friends)

5. New York has the most Twitter profiles

4. 53% of Twitter users are women

3. Britney Spears is blocked by 3855 Twitter users

2. Barack Obama's Twitter account was hacked on January 5th. Hey if it's been done before it can be done again!

1. It's an excuse for people to think they have friends that are celebrities

So if you haven't done the Twitter thing, maybe it's for you? My mom has a Twitter account just so she can think she's cool, but I have yet to get one. I honestly don't care if Jessica Simpson hates Melrose Place for kicking her sister off the show, if Kanye finally apologized to Taylor, or if Miley has finally given in and gotten her teeth fixed. I'll read the tabloids for that, thank you very much.

--Courtney Kabbes