From Left: Lorraine Shultz, Nancy Nelson, Evadne Ann Johnson

If one is 5 years old while in kindergarten, then this photo must have been taken in 1938 or so.  Mom looks like a little boy, doesn't she?

We have a very nasty ice storm going on in Duluth.  I decided to take a vacation day and not go in when I heard the forecast yesterday.  Boy, am I glad I did.  I just called my hairdresser and cancelled my hair and nail appointment, you know it is bad when I do that!

I got a call from one of our clinics, they wanted me to change the Auto-Answer system because they are closing.  I lost the MPR news station and I am now listening to a very long list of businesses closing on KDAL 610 AM.

The ice has damaged our flag as you can see from the picture.  The power has flashed once, the only thing it did at the time was knock the time out on my microwave.

City storm drains are freezing up so water is accumulating in intersections, making things even worse.  I35 is wet and driveable but they are cautioning everyone as they exit.

Good day to stay home.

On Christmas Eve Jason asked Robin to marry him and presented her with this beautiful ring.  They met at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin seven years ago.  They live in Lexington, Kentucky and both attend Graduate School at the University of Kentucky.

See related post....

Actor Jerry Orbach, long time star of the "Law & Order TV series, died from prostate cancer yesterday; he was 69.  He first made his name on Broadway, winning a Tony for "Promises, Promises."  He was also in the original cast of "Chicago" and "42nd Street."

I have also long been a fan of the John Sanford "Prey" books.  For some reason, I always pictured the main character of Lucas Davenport from that series with the personality and demeanor of Jerry Orbach's "Lennie Driscol" of "Law & Order", but of course his looks were more like Chris Noth's "Mike Logan" also from "Law & Order."

I count 8 candles on this fun "snowmobiling" birthday cake.  In most families the number of pictures of certain children are inversely proportional to their number in birth order.  Therefore there is an overabundance of pictures of me; pictures of Glen are in very short supply.

Glen on the Cook MN page

The boys attending his birthday party are from Left: Tim Waataja, Tim Brodeen, Mark Duame, David Simonson, and Brian Duame.

Losing Terrel Owens was the end of me.  Boo hoo!!!

Glen, Emily and I spent some quality time this afternoon.  We had lunch at the Covered Bridge Restaurant and exchanged some gifts.

I spent Christmas Eve with Bonnie and Emily.  Bonnie is pictured here with her morther Barb and brother Eddie who are visiting from North Dakota.

Yes, here we all are being nice, anticipating the arrival of Santa.  Our family tradition was that Mom and Dad always gave us one gift on Christmas Eve and then Santa would bring gifts for Christmas morning.  This first picture appears that we have opened our Christmas Eve gift, most often it was new pajamas.  Notice the names are visible on the front of Alan's and Janie's pajamas.  At first I thought Janie was holding a bobber, but I guess a rattle would make more sense!

Here we are in the aftermath.  This photo brings back so many memories as I look at some of the details.  I see a high chair in the far corner near the kitchen and a potty chair just behind the gun cabinet.  Next to the high chair is the sewing maching and the bench that had a removable cover with storage for a button can.  I see Dad's boots drying near the stove.  I still have the doll that I am holding here.  Notice the old top (and we are not talking blouse here) next to my feet?  There is a doll bed behind Donna and both Donna and I have pin curls in our hair.  Alan is busy with a steam shovel and Bobby has a semi that hauls cars.  There appears to be a barn with a silo next to the steam shovel.  I would imagine there were all kinds of little plastic animals to step on.  Janie's wooden blocks are scattered next to me.  Santa was very good to us!

Here are the school pictures of my nieces and nephew that I received this year.  Justin is in 8th grade at Cook High School.  Holly is in 10th grade at Bemidji Senior High School.  Emily is  a Junior at Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School.

Sara is a Sophomore at UMD, Ryan is a Freshman at Michigan Tech, Justin is in 8th grade at Cook High School and Kelly is going to graduate from St. Cloud State in the Spring.

You hear many jokes about Holiday Letters but I absolutely love them.  I love reading a summary of the events in the lives of my friends and family.  I can count on one from my dear friend Sue Aune with a personal note on it every year and I look forward to it even though we see each other in person.  This year she included a picture of their grandchildren Peyton, Jacob (Matt's) and Rian (Spin's).

My friend Myrna Wells married Bob Uland on July 31st.  It was a beautiful wedding and a wonderful reception at the Kitchi Gammi Club.  A beautiful blue moon was rising above Lake Superior that evening.  It was the most perfect weather day we had all summer.