No Blog yesterday:
Folks I got rushed and did not get a blog out yesterday. Our very close and dear friends, Michael and Barbara Kenny, are celebrating their 40th Wedding anniversary this Sunday. Their son and his family from England and their daughter and her children from Australia are here too. Also, several of their other friends from England and Ireland are here too, for this celebration. I just got a text message from Michael letting me know he is on his way over to our house with a couple from Ireland. We also got involved making all the contacts for a Beach resort gift that we are giving Michael and Barbara too. We have to pick that up this evening, following that we are invited to a birthday dinner for another close friend. We kind of got tied up with all this yesterday and I did not get a blog out. We had nearly 30 folks (couples) contribute to a 3 night 4 day stay at a beautiful beach resort for Michael and Barbara. We could not believe the participation we got with this one. We are picking up the gift certificate this evening of which will be presented to them on Sunday at their anniversary.
Len and Lois Lilleby Fielding just returned from Egypt and Israel
Message from Lois Lilleby Fielding (51): Prescott, AZ
Hi Gary: We were computer scammed last December and lost all our e-mail contacts. Then we were gone for the holidays and were in Israel and Egypt during January. Our new e-mail address is
Israel and Egypt are amazing countries, of course. We visited many of the famous Biblical and archeological sites and cannot believe how the ancient people accomplished what they built. There is a new library in Alexandria, Egypt that has no actual books–everythiing is computerized. www.bibalex.org It was peaceful in Jerusalem and most of Israel. Grand Circle Tours avoids areas of danger, I think. We were on a riverboat on the Nile for about a week while in Egypt
In Egypt all was peaceful until about the 25th when we began to see many armed military and police everywhere–near Luxor then. We were scheduled to leave for home when the demonstrations began in earnest and we smelled tear gas and heard some gun shots near our hotel. Our buses managed to get to the airport okay.
The peole in both countries were very kind and friendly. We saw a lot of poverty in Egypt. Lets hope for peace in both countries. Gary, please put us back on the blog!! Best wishes to all, Lois and Len
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
Mark Schimetz’ story about the railroad officials from the south not knowing what a snow plow was for actually reminded me of an old story. Lloyd Awalt mentioned the winter of ’48-’49 when unbelievable amounts of snow fell. The highways were blocked for a very long time and travel came to a stand still. One story I heard was that when the Army and the National Guard came into the area to open the roads, one of the Caterpillar operators was from the deep south. Of course those of us from the north know how snow looks to be in layers when we are moving it. This southerner said that the snow on top was easy to move but the 3 and 4 year old stuff under it was kind of hard to push.
Erling Nelson used to tell us what he told his Army buddies when they asked him how long the winters are in ND. He told them we have nine months of winter and three months of ‘tough sleddin’.
Glen William’s joke about North Dakotans getting good milage on alcohol, open the door. A rancher from ND went to the National Cattleman’s Convention in Kansas City. He went to the social and noticed how the ranchers were all standing in groups talking and enjoying some drinks so he got a beer and went over to join a group. A Texan with a big hat said, “I can get in my pickup in the morning and drive east until 10 and stop for coffee and then on south and stop for lunch. I can then turn west and drive until afternoon coffee break and then back north and get home just at dark—and never get off my own land! The guy from ND said, “You know, I had a pickup like that once too,” Thanks Gary!
Dick
Dick Johnson’s reply to Gary’s question about this years ND winter:
Gary,
It hasn’t been too cold this winter. We did have a few 20-30 below nights etc. but with this much snow it insulated the lakes. Guys say there is also a lot of water on top of the ice and there is a layer of ice over that again. The creeks are all running and have been open all winter. First time in my life that I have seen this. The temps are supposed to drop this weekend but not get real cold. The first of the week we are back to 20 so that’s pretty good for February.
Dick
