Hello! We've fianlly gained access to the blog again! So we're ready to say how grateful we are for 2009! and 2010! We had many guests in our home during 2009, including Stephen, to whom we are very thankful! He did much while he was here in repairing our house and painting our ramp! Our most recent visit was from our new daughter-in-law and grandson! What a wonderful pair! We hated so much to see them leave. Debra is a wonderfully attentive mother, a little over anxious sometimes being a first time mother! She had to get back to the fayetteville area to go to work today. She's a 'teacher' at a day care center there. She and a helper have the responsiblity of 16 toddlers from 12 monts to 2 years! She absolutely loves it!
The big highlight of our past year, other than the arrival of our grandson, was our visit to Chicago! We enjoyed it so much! Visits to the art institute and the sushi restaurant next to it, plus other attractions we took in on our trips into the city. We're hoping to see everyone at the lake this summer! Gladys
Hi everyone! Since Christmas Gladys and I have been on a diet and I have lost 16 pounds! It's a vegan diet with no sugar or oil. We eat mostly soups, beans and salads. I probably couldn't do it without Glad. She prepares the meals and I take leftovers to work with me. No snacking is allowed between meals! I have been trying to get more exercise-walking at work and sometimes climbing stairs at the airport.
I'm still working lots of hours-about 86 last week. I did enjoy my night off last night and I got plenty of sleep. Last week I started going in in the afternoons, getting to Little Rock by 3-3:30 and then coming home early in the morning. I liked that pretty well so I think I'll try to continue with it.
Before Christmas I got a phone call from cousin Paul Taussig. He and his wife live in Bradford, less than 30 miles from here. They come into Searcy regularly to see her mother so we hope to get together with them sometime. Love to all, Ken
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
My latest news: Ensign,
Dear family:
This is Martin Luthers's Weekend, and we have been reminded of his passionate dedication to freedom and justice. On Sunday in church we reflected on Speak Loudly. To say nothing i o n the face of injustice is shameful; and in the afternoon we heard Aaron Freeman, an actor, read the speech by MLKjr. against the Vietnam War in 1966. Except for the references to VN it could have been spoken today about how force and militarism have infiltrated our national psyche. This afternoon Ella Jenkins, a friend of MLKjr and folk singer, did her 20th annual concert for families. About 200 parents with their children came and sang together with her. Afterward there was a cake with candles for MLKjr's birthday, with a piece for each person.
At Christmas time we entertained 2 Korean girls (students in U S universities-California and Texas) We just loved having them with us. 8 other students were in other homes for what is called Christmas International HOuse. We took them all to a Bulls Basketball game and beat the Indiana Pacers 104 to 98. Because the home town team won everyone with a ticket was given a Big Mac free!
I'm looking forward to my trip next weekk to Mexico, a country I have never visited. Lutherans and Presbyterians are holding a seminar about world trade there for eight days. It's nice to go to Mexico in the middle of winter!
We learn from Michael that we are all set for our summer reunion at beautiful Lake Geneva WI. He made the arrangements for us. We find July 4th a good time to gather.
Mkay joy come too the hearrts of peope everywhere. May barriers crumble, suspicion disappear, hatreds cease and may all divisions be healed. Love to all. Ensign
This is Martin Luthers's Weekend, and we have been reminded of his passionate dedication to freedom and justice. On Sunday in church we reflected on Speak Loudly. To say nothing i o n the face of injustice is shameful; and in the afternoon we heard Aaron Freeman, an actor, read the speech by MLKjr. against the Vietnam War in 1966. Except for the references to VN it could have been spoken today about how force and militarism have infiltrated our national psyche. This afternoon Ella Jenkins, a friend of MLKjr and folk singer, did her 20th annual concert for families. About 200 parents with their children came and sang together with her. Afterward there was a cake with candles for MLKjr's birthday, with a piece for each person.
At Christmas time we entertained 2 Korean girls (students in U S universities-California and Texas) We just loved having them with us. 8 other students were in other homes for what is called Christmas International HOuse. We took them all to a Bulls Basketball game and beat the Indiana Pacers 104 to 98. Because the home town team won everyone with a ticket was given a Big Mac free!
I'm looking forward to my trip next weekk to Mexico, a country I have never visited. Lutherans and Presbyterians are holding a seminar about world trade there for eight days. It's nice to go to Mexico in the middle of winter!
We learn from Michael that we are all set for our summer reunion at beautiful Lake Geneva WI. He made the arrangements for us. We find July 4th a good time to gather.
Mkay joy come too the hearrts of peope everywhere. May barriers crumble, suspicion disappear, hatreds cease and may all divisions be healed. Love to all. Ensign
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Trale Travels Update
Hello from Uruguay!
My good luck in connecting with Nicolas and Marcos there in Panama has extended here to the home of Nicolas and his family in Montevideo. They have welcomed me (along with Nicolas) just like we are their sons (well I suppose one of us would fit that description).
Spending some time here to get to know the city with a good family base to support me has been very good. I also went with them out to their cabin down near the beach- nothing fancy, by any means, but still a nice place to stay away from the city for a weekend. In general I find the people here further south more agreeable than up north in the tropical areas. Perhaps it is just my being more comfortable with the more temperate surroundings, but all the same I feel more at home here than up there in Peru or Bolivia for example.
Uruguay is a well-kept secret, or a little known destination- there are plenty of tourists here, but they are mostly from Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay itself. It seems that the beaches are the most popular thing to visit in the summer- the beach towns are very busy, packed with all the seasonal visitors. And rightfully so! what nice towns, clean beaches, and refreshing seas there are here at the coast.
I have not lost sight of Aconcagua, but it is taking me longer than I had planned to get close to it. I've scheduled a few weeks in the area of the mountain which will be reserved for last minute high altitude training, and I have been keeping pretty active trying to focus on leg and cardio training the last few weeks down here at sea level.
The coming weeks should prove to be interesting and perhaps different from experiences that I have had in the past. I enjoy the newness of every day on this trip, but I AM beginning to have some fleeting moments here are there of wishing to be back at home.
with Love,
Trale
Piriapolis, with the family of my friend
Cooking out
Bolivia
Bolivia
My good luck in connecting with Nicolas and Marcos there in Panama has extended here to the home of Nicolas and his family in Montevideo. They have welcomed me (along with Nicolas) just like we are their sons (well I suppose one of us would fit that description).
Spending some time here to get to know the city with a good family base to support me has been very good. I also went with them out to their cabin down near the beach- nothing fancy, by any means, but still a nice place to stay away from the city for a weekend. In general I find the people here further south more agreeable than up north in the tropical areas. Perhaps it is just my being more comfortable with the more temperate surroundings, but all the same I feel more at home here than up there in Peru or Bolivia for example.
Uruguay is a well-kept secret, or a little known destination- there are plenty of tourists here, but they are mostly from Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay itself. It seems that the beaches are the most popular thing to visit in the summer- the beach towns are very busy, packed with all the seasonal visitors. And rightfully so! what nice towns, clean beaches, and refreshing seas there are here at the coast.
I have not lost sight of Aconcagua, but it is taking me longer than I had planned to get close to it. I've scheduled a few weeks in the area of the mountain which will be reserved for last minute high altitude training, and I have been keeping pretty active trying to focus on leg and cardio training the last few weeks down here at sea level.
The coming weeks should prove to be interesting and perhaps different from experiences that I have had in the past. I enjoy the newness of every day on this trip, but I AM beginning to have some fleeting moments here are there of wishing to be back at home.
with Love,
Trale
Piriapolis, with the family of my friend
Cooking out
Bolivia
Bolivia
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
(My new home)
2010 is here! I've been surprised to discover the general attitude a lot of people have is one of "thank God 2009 is over, let's hope 2010 is better." I don't agree with that sentiment. I think that every year is wonderful and filled with it's own beauty, whether it is painful and difficult or pleasure filled and carefree. So while I love the possibilities and excitement that a new year holds as much as the next person, I don't think there's any need to immediately shun 2009. It was a year of change and new horizons for me- graduating from Illinois, traveling in Europe, moving to a new town, starting my career, and a whole host of new relationships! I grew a lot.
I am a bit of a resolutions junkie regardless of the time of year, so now that it's OFFICIALY resolution time I feel like a kid in a candy shop! I decided to make 3 resolutions. One for the betterment of my mind, one for my body, and one for my soul.
Mind: Read the Bible front to back
Body: Participate in the Yoga class at my gym once a week
Soul: Learn two new guitar chords a week
I think those will work well as three big resolutions to compliment the myriad of little personal development aspirations that fleet in and out of my life.
2010 is here! I've been surprised to discover the general attitude a lot of people have is one of "thank God 2009 is over, let's hope 2010 is better." I don't agree with that sentiment. I think that every year is wonderful and filled with it's own beauty, whether it is painful and difficult or pleasure filled and carefree. So while I love the possibilities and excitement that a new year holds as much as the next person, I don't think there's any need to immediately shun 2009. It was a year of change and new horizons for me- graduating from Illinois, traveling in Europe, moving to a new town, starting my career, and a whole host of new relationships! I grew a lot.
I am a bit of a resolutions junkie regardless of the time of year, so now that it's OFFICIALY resolution time I feel like a kid in a candy shop! I decided to make 3 resolutions. One for the betterment of my mind, one for my body, and one for my soul.
Mind: Read the Bible front to back
Body: Participate in the Yoga class at my gym once a week
Soul: Learn two new guitar chords a week
I think those will work well as three big resolutions to compliment the myriad of little personal development aspirations that fleet in and out of my life.
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