Saturday, July 18, 2009
Condolesences to Muriel
Following up on the visit with Muriel by Tom and Nancy, we are saddened by the news of the passing of Walter Cronkite. Our thoughts are with you Muriel.
Sommers' visit Muriel
During a little five week road trip around the western part of the USA (as far east as St. Louis), Nancy and I had the chance to have a wonderful visit with Muriel Cronkhite in her "little bit of paradise" home in Pagosa Springs, CO. What a neat location in a wonderful part of our great country that is. Muriel served a superb lunch (highly recommended for those passing through, ha!) and we had a great time "remembering" our fun trip together to New Zealand. Here are a few pictures showing Muriel's home and view, and a couple of the three of us. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying life to the fullest. Cheers, Tom and Nancy Sommers
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Another gem from Dottie for all you grandparents
Subject: A 3-year-old tells all from his mother's restroom stall.
> By Shannon Popkin
My little guy, Cade, is quite a
> talker. He loves to communicate and does it quite well. He
> talks to people constantly, whether we are in the library,
> the grocery store or at a drive-thru window. People often
> comment on how clearly he speaks for a
> just-turned-3-year-old. And you never have to ask him to
> turn up the volume. It's always fully cranked. There
> have been several embarrassing times that I've wished
> the meaning of his words would have been masked by a
> not-so-audible voice, but never have I wished this more than
> last week at Costco. Halfway, through our shopping trip,
> nature called, so I took Cade with me into the restroom. If
> you'd been one of the ladies in the restroom that
> evening, this is what you would have heard coming from the
> second to the last stall: ''Mommy, are you gonna
> go potty? Oh! Why are you putting toiwet paper on the
> potty, Mommy? Oh! You gonna sit down on da toiwet paper
> now? Mommy, what are you doing? Mommy, are you gonna go
> stinkies on the potty?'' At this point I started
> mentally counting how many women had been in the bathroom
> when I walked in. Several stalls were full ... 4? 5? Maybe
> we could wait until they all left before I had to make my
> debut out of this stall and reveal my identity. Cade
> continued: ''Mommy, you ARE going stinkies
> aren't you? Oh, dats a good girl, Mommy! Are you gonna
> get some candy for going stinkies on the potty? Let me see
> doze stinkies, Mommy! Oh ... Mommy! I'm trying to see
> In dere. Oh! I see dem. Dat is a very good girl, Mommy.
> You are gonna get some candy!'' I heard a few
> faint chuckles coming from the stalls on either side of me.
> Where is a screaming new born when you need her? Good grief.
> This was really getting embarrassing. I was definitely
> waiting a long time before exiting. Trying to divert him, I
> said, ''Why don't you look in Mommy's purse
> and see if you can find some candy. We'll both have
> some!'' ''No, I'm trying to see doze
> more stinkiesŠOh! Mommy!'' He started to gag at
> this point. ''Uh - oh, Mommy. I fink I'm gonna
> frow up. Mommy, doze stinkies are making me frow up!! Dat
> is so gross!!'' As the gags became louder, so did
> the chuckles outside my stall.. I quickly flushed the toilet
> in hopes of changing the subject. I began to reason with
> myself: OK. There are four other toilets. If I count four
> flushes, I can be reasonably assured that those who
> overheard this embarrassing monologue will be long gone.
> ''Mommy! Would you get off the potty, now? I want
> you to be done going stinkies! Get up! Get up!''
> He grunted as he tried to pull me off Now I could hear
> full-blown laughter. I bent down to count the feet outside
> my door. ''Oh, are you wooking under dere, Mommy?
> You wooking under da door? What were you wooking at? Mommy?
> You wooking at the wady's feet?'' More
> laughter. I stood inside the locked door and tried to assess
> the situation. ''Mommy, it's time to wash our
> hands, now. We have to go out now, Mommy.'' He
> started pounding on the door. ''Mommy, don't
> you want to wash your hands? I want to go out!!''
> I saw that my wait 'em out' plan was unraveling. I
> sheepishly opened the door, and found standing outside my
> stall, twenty to thirty ladies crowded around the stall, all
> smiling and starting to applaud. My first thought was
> complete embarrassment, then I thought, where's the fine
> print on the 'motherhood contract' where I signed
> away every bit of my dignity and privacy? But as my little
> boy gave me a big, cheeky grin while he rubbed bubbly soap
> between his chubby little hands, I thought, I'd sign it
> all away again, just to be known as Mommy to this little
> fellow. (Shannon Popkin is a freelance writer and mother
> of three She lives with her family in Grand Rapids ,
> Michigan , where she no longer uses public restrooms) You
> must pass this on to all the mothers who have had
> embarrassing moments with their children. Isn't it
> great to be a parent!!!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Sommers' update
Hi there everyone. Seems like more and more folks are posting as the New Year gets going so I’ll join in. Nancy and I are doing just fine and recently celebrated our 40th anniversary. Our kids put on a surprise party for us with all our dear friends in attendance --- yes, the Milams drove all the way down to Carlsbad from LA and were there with smiles. After that, Nan and I took off for a short driving trip up the CA coast to the San Simeon area (Hearst Castle). Stayed in a nice beach-front motel and did the obligatory visit to Hearst Castle (neat place, but William Hearst must have been a tad bit off center to build it in the first place), but the highlight of the vacation was watching the elephant seals do there thing right there on the beach just up the road from where we stayed. Let me tell YOU, we got the full show from these seals. Two beta males chased each other, neck wrestled, and the weaker one was finally driven out into the ocean! His pursuer was not about to give up. Then periodically we’d hear some female yelling her lungs out as some big, 5000 lb alpha galoof, with the weirdest nose, hauled ass up the beach and jumped her bones. He would pin her down with one of his front flippers and let me tell you, it was quite a show. Ha She’d screech and he’d sort of make this whinny sound (not unlike humans, ha). They’re not a very family oriented lot. The male doesn’t care who he fools around with, doesn’t know her name, wouldn’t recognize her face later. The females give the pups one month to chow down, get it together, and then hasta lavista baby, she’s off to the ocean. Pup is left to learn to swim and fend for himself. As for the pup, he’ll nurse at any port in the storm, so to speak. He’s not particular and it doesn’t seem like the mothers are, although we did watch one mother protect her pup when another female was trying to take her pup. The pups also got an up close and personal x rated movie during all of this. The pup would attempt to stay near the mother, hoping to continue nursing, but it was clear he was left out in the cold while “dad” got his jollies. They looked sort of forlorn and befuddled by the whole event. So there, have I given you enough details to satisfy your curiosity?? This is a "must see" for OATers; so be sure to plan a trip that direction one of these days. Big trip planned for us this year is not an OAT one --- we are going to do a six-week driving trip around the US, first going up north to Idaho and Montana, and then back east as far as Saint Louis before coming west via Colorado and all places in between. Should be fun. All for now. Cheers, Tom and Nancy
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Hello from long lost Carolyn
Hi from Texas, India and Thunder Bay Ontario-the FROZEN NORTH!!!!!!!
Glad to see you guys are still having fun!
Bob finally got back from India - was at the Taj the week before the bombing-had moved from his hotel to an apartment because he had been saying it was just a matter of time before the big hotels were targeted.
We spent our first christmas in 3 years together but not on the same time zone!!!
are getting good at shovelling snow in tandem!!
Are off to a hockey game tonight then he gets on a plane to TX in the morning. I will head out to Vancouver to see my parents when the thaw hits there!!!
May in France is sounding very good right now!!
Take care and keep those pictures coming!!
Love,
Carolyn (& Bob)
Hey, Carolyn. It is good to hear from you via Chuck and Marilyn. I am glad that your Bob was safe wherever he was. Somehow the world is not as safe as I assumed it to be.
My Bob and I drove to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico at the bottom of the Baja peninsula for Christmas, and spent New Year's Eve in Loreto, Baja del Sur, Mexico. It was quiet in our hotel and especially in our room. I am sure we were asleep before midnight.
Happy New Year, and keep on having fun traveling. Love,
Dottie
Glad to see you guys are still having fun!
Bob finally got back from India - was at the Taj the week before the bombing-had moved from his hotel to an apartment because he had been saying it was just a matter of time before the big hotels were targeted.
We spent our first christmas in 3 years together but not on the same time zone!!!
are getting good at shovelling snow in tandem!!
Are off to a hockey game tonight then he gets on a plane to TX in the morning. I will head out to Vancouver to see my parents when the thaw hits there!!!
May in France is sounding very good right now!!
Take care and keep those pictures coming!!
Love,
Carolyn (& Bob)
Hey, Carolyn. It is good to hear from you via Chuck and Marilyn. I am glad that your Bob was safe wherever he was. Somehow the world is not as safe as I assumed it to be.
My Bob and I drove to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico at the bottom of the Baja peninsula for Christmas, and spent New Year's Eve in Loreto, Baja del Sur, Mexico. It was quiet in our hotel and especially in our room. I am sure we were asleep before midnight.
Happy New Year, and keep on having fun traveling. Love,
Dottie
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Topical comment by Dottie via Lee Iococca's Where Have All the Leaders Gone?
This was forwarded to me by my sister-in-law in Wisconsin. Since Lee Iacocca is one of my favorite people of importance, I simply HAD to send it on to everyone on my email list. I think he's soooooo right!!!! Love,
Dottie
Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from its death throes? He's now 82 years old and has a new book, 'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?'.
Lee Iacocca Says:
'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder! We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course.'
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned, 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!' You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the ' America ' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis ! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership, with crisis being the first.)
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A hell of a mess, so here's where we stand.
We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs.
Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debit, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough? Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope - I believe in America . In my lifetime, I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: The 'Great Depression,' 'World War II,' the 'Korean War,' the 'Kennedy Assassination,' the 'Vietnam War,' the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11.
If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a "Call to Action" for people who, like me, believe in America '. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let' s shake off the crap and go to work. Let's t ell 'em all we've had 'enough.'
Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and care about. It's our country, folks, and it's our future. Our future is at stake!!
Dottie
Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from its death throes? He's now 82 years old and has a new book, 'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?'.
Lee Iacocca Says:
'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder! We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course.'
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned, 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!' You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the ' America ' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis ! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership, with crisis being the first.)
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A hell of a mess, so here's where we stand.
We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs.
Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debit, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough? Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope - I believe in America . In my lifetime, I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: The 'Great Depression,' 'World War II,' the 'Korean War,' the 'Kennedy Assassination,' the 'Vietnam War,' the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11.
If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a "Call to Action" for people who, like me, believe in America '. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let' s shake off the crap and go to work. Let's t ell 'em all we've had 'enough.'
Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and care about. It's our country, folks, and it's our future. Our future is at stake!!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Happy New Year from The Sommers and The Milams
To our fellow travellers on the OAT New Zealand Adventure trip:
HELLO TO THE FOUR OF YOU.
Happy New Year!!I just got back from an OAT trip to Egypt and Jordan. My youngest son, Andy went also and we had a wonderful time. Life is good and I thank you for your good wishes. I love to hear from you and appreciate that you include me. Love and Hugs,
Mary
What a nice toast. Here's best wishes back to you all too. Love,
Dottie Erdman in Arizona
To the crazy Californians from one New Yorker:
Happy New Year to the four of you. Nancy must be agog with the decisive USC win. I am a Florida fan (got to go to the Florida- Alabama game that sent them to the championship game) and intend to rah rah galore. Cath and Kate and Claire and I and another pal returned in mid- November from Patagonia. I recommend that trip, even though it is Grand Circle 37 fellow travelers). My best to you all in 2009. Drop by Central New York if you come this way. We all have lots of room.
Hetty
Glad you enjoyed what Chuck sent out. You’re right; we are good friends and we do always have fun together. You have to remember, we go back a loooooong way…to college days. J At this time of all of our lives it’s good to make time for as much fun as possible. We sure enjoyed the OAT trip where we got to meet YOU!! Tom and I have thought back on that trip and commented how much fun it was in good part due to the great people on the trip with us. We just had a terrific, amiable, fun loving group. Sure would be good to travel again together. Hopefully, one of these days.
Hope the new year is getting off to a good start for you. We’re in the process of having work done to replace our patio and walkways. It sure needed it and I have high hopes for the outcome. I’ll let you know! ‘til later, thanks for the note and you take good care.
Xoxo,
Nanc
HELLO TO THE FOUR OF YOU.
Happy New Year!!I just got back from an OAT trip to Egypt and Jordan. My youngest son, Andy went also and we had a wonderful time. Life is good and I thank you for your good wishes. I love to hear from you and appreciate that you include me. Love and Hugs,
Mary
What a nice toast. Here's best wishes back to you all too. Love,
Dottie Erdman in Arizona
To the crazy Californians from one New Yorker:
Happy New Year to the four of you. Nancy must be agog with the decisive USC win. I am a Florida fan (got to go to the Florida- Alabama game that sent them to the championship game) and intend to rah rah galore. Cath and Kate and Claire and I and another pal returned in mid- November from Patagonia. I recommend that trip, even though it is Grand Circle 37 fellow travelers). My best to you all in 2009. Drop by Central New York if you come this way. We all have lots of room.
Hetty
Glad you enjoyed what Chuck sent out. You’re right; we are good friends and we do always have fun together. You have to remember, we go back a loooooong way…to college days. J At this time of all of our lives it’s good to make time for as much fun as possible. We sure enjoyed the OAT trip where we got to meet YOU!! Tom and I have thought back on that trip and commented how much fun it was in good part due to the great people on the trip with us. We just had a terrific, amiable, fun loving group. Sure would be good to travel again together. Hopefully, one of these days.
Hope the new year is getting off to a good start for you. We’re in the process of having work done to replace our patio and walkways. It sure needed it and I have high hopes for the outcome. I’ll let you know! ‘til later, thanks for the note and you take good care.
Xoxo,
Nanc
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