Saturday, January 31, 2009

Saturday Nite @ The Amery's

Hello from Madison. This is Deb. Your mother is trying to teach me how to post on a blog. A skill I have yet to develop.

Our two guys are at the Badger Hockey game with Cate & Nate. Cate got the tickets for her Dad for Christmas & then called Ron to see if he would come for the game. That leaves your Mom & I sitting here with the "Classic Country Music" channel on & having a few libations. We have yet to hit the "crying in our beer" stage so might as well take this opportunity to give you a hard time. I do so love to tease you.

I just read your "26 Things About Me" blog. I received Meg's "31 Things" a couple of days ago. I think you both did a great job but you need to get a bit more honest with me!! Way to nice. Come on, there has to be some deep, dark aspects to the two of you that you did not fess up to. I believe Gretchen that you forgot to mention almost laying me out up at the cabin with that well placed punch to the solarplexus.

And Miss Meg, now let me see, what secret do I know about her?? So many to choose from, which should it be? That great swimmer who actually had to be dragged to swim practice in Biloxi, kicking & screaming. Who knew she would end up being the Swim Captain at Valpo. Wow, I am really having to stretch when I depend on your Mom to give me secrets!

Oh, wait, Gretchen, you forgot to tell everyone how much you "LOVED" your new baby brother when he came along. I do believe I watched you sneak around his highchair in Biloxi, only to give him a well placed pinch. The best part was the look of total innocence on you face when I asked you why you did that. Your reply was "What? I didn't do anything." Of course Mr. Mike was so busy stuffing oatmeal in his face. I think he was more angry about having to pause in his eating to scream. I still laugh about the picture he made in that high chair. He had his spoon clutched in one hand & was using the other hand to scoop the oatmeal in his mouth. What a pair you two were.

You both forgot to mention your life aspirations when you were children. You, if I remember correctly, were going to have 27 children. Of course you had no desire to have a husband, just children. When asked how you were going to take care of so many children, your response was, "I am going to live at home and my Mom will help me." Meg was going to be a nurse, just like her Mom. So my question to you is this, Meg actually followed through. Are you still going for the 27? I will have to say, you did quite well on the husband end. Josh seems like a pretty good guy. Not sure if he can handle 27 little people but I am sure he can handle a few.

So now that I have teased you enough I need to let you know, you keep sending me the wrong e-mail address. I sent you all of Bill's & my contact info for your resume & it keeps coming back as "undeliverable". Let me know if you still want it. We would both be happy to be contacted.

Now, I am going back to drinking more beer & doing less blogging. In fact, maybe blogging & drinking beer don't mix. One more item. Go back to your blog on the "Things About Me". I have just one very small correction. On your condiments comment you said you eat them in "access". Now Gretch, I do believe you meant.....Excess.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Yikes Gretchen! I left a crock pot recipe on this blog after the Schnitzels so I am telling you to read it! Your Super Bowl party just became a Supper Bowl party. I challenge all you readers to top yours truly's Crock Pot Rubens...Also want to know why more of you have not pushed the button to create your own Blog...I read Carly's today. I was so entertained.
Also on I my list of To-Dos is to read Meg's Facebook. Seems she did the first and most original "31 things I love about Me." Of all the strange things Ron read it. Ron usually doesn't have time get on line. He gave it rave reviews and said she was very funny. And no he has not read Gretchen's. Melvin took us to dinner last night at a new place for us, old place for Wisc. Rapids called the Baker Street Inn and we had deep fried pickle spears with ranch dressing as an appetizer. Awesome and who knew?

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Gretchen is being a DW

Hello 2nd Lt. and Mrs. Rud,
Gretchen and I "skype today" She sounds ready to conquer Germany and has not bought a ticket to fly home on Feb 4th after Josh deploys (I will send money! Hope I am kidding) and the job pans out to were she will be busy during the day and painting walls during the weekends. I may have to get there with brushes and drop clothes. Yikes.

Wisconsin is in a deep freeze today at negative something. The power is out at the Technical college and otherwise we are all surviving. Real Estate not taking any of my extra time so it is nice to have "skype time".

Greg is living in, how did Meg put it once a long time ago, (?) in Minnie HaHa..the good news is Meg sounds happier than I have heard her. (Maybe I jus' made this up in order to feed my Mommy Worries Less Quota.) They are both at Bedford and Greg empty a truck load of NY Boxes in our basement before proceeding to MSP. I am going to have a huge Garage Sale any day now. Need air fare for Germany!

Sunday is the Super Bowl and I am proud to know I do not know who is playing but I will be ready for the commercials. I just googled commercials and Super Bowl and got a preview.
I am so easily amused

Friday, January 16, 2009

Gretchen and Josh Go To Market (Oink Oink)

So today I got Ron on the phone with Gretch at 5:30 am and Josh and Gretch were boarding a bus to The World Market. Then Josh's phone rings for Gretchen, Josh talks to Ron and Gretchen has a nursing job interview ON BASE next week. (Oh be still my heart...This mom would love it if Gretchen could find a position on base...infact I wouldn't mind her finding no position and making cookies and then eating all of them and then coming home when Josh returns from deployment as she is really, really fatt. Well that is a fairy tale!
Gretchen and Josh sound really good. I heard all her black dishes came in pieces along with her picture frames, monkey salt and peppers, but their two wine cork screws were intact so she is cooking for friends this weekend c wine. Didn't know you could do grilled peanut butter sandwiches sit down with paper cups and Riesling. (Be warned I hope you are not using Minnesota's finest salmonella tainted P B & J.)

So dad and I have been up since the wee hours of the morning and it kinda feels like taking care of HS ear infections (which Gretchen always had) or croup which was Meg except that I was the only one who got up and dad slept soundly way back then.. Anyway dad thought tonoc was Clint Eastwood's Toranado (?) and tomorrow is Wall-E with Grandpa. Can you tell football is winding down. Can you tell I don't care what the name of the movie is as long as Clint is there?
The US Airways hitting the Hudson River without causalities is the first world miracle of 2009. Hope all stay warm this weekend and safe, sound and feel the LOVE.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Wiener Schnitzel

Not to be confused with Wienerschnitzel, an American restaurant chain.

Wiener Schnitzel
Wiener Schnitzel (from German Wiener Schnitzel, meaning Viennese cutlet) is a traditional Austrian dish and popular part of Viennese and Austrian cuisine, consisting of a thin slice of veal coated in breadcrumbs and fried. In Austria the dish is traditionally served with a lemon slice, lingonberry jam and either potato salad or potatoes with parsley and butter. While traditional Wiener Schnitzel is made out of veal, it is now sometimes made out of pork, though in that case it is often called Schnitzel Wiener Art (Germany) or Wiener Schnitzel vom Schwein (Austria) to differentiate it from the original. The dish may have originated in Milan, northern Italy, as cotoletta alla milanese, and may have appeared in Vienna during the 15th or 16th century. According to another theory, it was introduced by Field Marshal Radetzky, who spent much of his life in Milan, in 1857. The term "Wiener Schnitzel" itself dates to at least 1862.

Hello Gretchen and Josh,

So I thought perhaps you needed a little education on the food fare of the area. and soon I will explore gingersnaps and Sour Bratten. But today here comes one of Gretchen's favorites. And I hope her crock pot wasn't a casuality of shipment arrivial. (Hint a 225 degree oven left on all night is a BIG crock pot...
Slow Cooker Reuben Sandwiches
(Easy enough to make for a weeknight meal or a friendly Oktoberfest gathering. Bring on the beer and the oompah band!)

Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 11 hours 15 min
Makes: 8 sandwiches
1 package (2 pounds) refrigerated sauerkraut
1 package (2 to 3 pounds) corned beef brisket
1 cup Thousand Island dressing (DID YOU KNOW THOUSAND ISLE IS HALF KETCHUP AND HALF MAYO WITH PICKLE RELISH)
16 slices pumpernickel rye bread, toasted
8 slices (1 ounce each) Swiss cheese

Total Time: 1 hour 5 min
1. Place sauerkraut in 3- to 4-quart slow cooker. Place beef brisket on sauerkraut. (If brisket includes packet of spices, sprinkle spices over brisket.)
2. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 9 to 11 hours.
3. Remove beef from cooker; place on cutting board. Cut beef into slices. To serve, spread 1 tablespoon dressing on each toast slice. Using slotted spoon to remove sauerkraut from cooker, top 8 slices toast with 1/2 cup sauerkraut each. Top sauerkraut with beef slices and cheese slice. Top with remaining toast. This is when I like to grill but this is optional
Serve With German Potatoe Salad which I can tell you another day how to do in the microwave.
These sandwiches cry out for a good garlic dill pickle, purchased German potato salad or crunchy potato chips and a side of deli slaw.
Variation
To make this a portable potluck sandwich, stir the sliced beef into the sauerkraut. Place the dressing in a squeeze bottle (like for ketchup), and set out a basket of rye buns and smaller slices of Swiss cheese to make it easy for guests to make their own sandwiches.

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 540 (Calories from Fat 315 ); Total Fat 35 g (Saturated Fat 12 g); Cholesterol 110 mg; Sodium 2390 mg; Total Carbohydrate 33 g (Dietary Fiber 6 g); Protein 29 g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 6 %; Vitamin C 14 %; Calcium 36 %; Iron 26 % Exchanges: 2 Starch; 1 Vegetable; 3 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

From Greg

The blog is fun! LOVING IT. Happy birthday again! Glad to see you are keeping up on DA MOVIES. I still recommend Wall-E. You might also like Slumdog MIllionaire, the story of a kid in the slums of India who goes on WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE and starts winning big.

Love
Your Bro Gregry

Too Cold for Yoyo

Yikes, the weather is frightful and the fire delightful. Got up and got going this morn and plans are to take grandpa to dinner. I'll bet you are all wishing you could come.
I am heading home to read my Greg Birthday Books. Think I will start with "Forever Liesel"
Hope all is well in Germany and wherever you are.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

It's Late

I am still awake and thinking Josh and Gretchen are just getting up so I will write. It is 11:30 pm in Wisconsin Rapids and the fireplace has been a Godsend tonoc. It is freezing. Dad is asleep. We tuned to Leverage tonoc and Bones. Think we found new entertainment. Well it is cheaper than a movie. (I was watching Jay and Mickey Rourke was on. He is pretty scarry.)
Dad was listing the top ten movies of 2008 and of them we saw one in Benjamin Buttons, This leaves me to "Flex" 1)Wall-E, (Greg recommended this once a long time ago, 2.) Happy-Go-Lucky, 3.)Milk (which hasn't been here yet, 4.)The Dark Knight where I see Heath Ledger took the Globe, 5.) Slumdog Millionaire which I have never heard of, 6.) Rachel Getting Married which I want to see, 7) is Mickey Rourke The Wrestler, 8.) Frost/Nixon, 9.) Waltz with Bashir and 10.) The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons. Guess it is a case of our starting backwards. Of course there also was the premiere of Idol. Craig Kilborne just said more people watched Idol than the moon landing. (Wasn't that in the 60's when the picture tubes were black, white and round?) I liked the new Judge Kaara DeoGardie so shoot me.
Well I am off to tuck myself in...and the bed will be warm!

Graduation too!

Dad tells me he Looked it up and graduation @ La Crosse is May 16th 2009

Birthdays

FYI
Michael is 23 years old on Saturday!
He doesn't want a pink parasol either.
(That's what Greta in the Sound of Music asked for.)
He wants to go see a girl in North Dakota.

New Age

I am an amazing 56 today. For those of you who called, e-mailed, sent gifts and cards I had an amazing birthday too. Life is more and more the people who surround you and then comes the celebration. . . or are you the celebration. Most of you know what I mean.
Spoke with Gretchen at 1:00 PM today and she beat Josh at cribbage last night so she gets to pick the destination for a trip this weekend. I am voting she picks to chase him around the bed becuz I am a worrier and don't want her running around the country side and across borders in a car. I would feel better if she got on a train and went from point A to Point A. It is a mom thing in the world of events.
But I doubt my cribbage winning daughter will give this any consideration. (I am wondering if I was the only one who read the typos in her opening statement.)
Spoke with dad today (as I do everyday) who suggested I quit Real Estate. Where did that come from. Of course the job is dead and I am loving the support. For those who didn't know I did apply for an interview job before Christmas with Health care at dad's job but it doesn't look promising now does it?
Well we got six inches of snow last noc and now we are hitting a cold snap. The wind chill is really low but the fireplace works so nights are warm. Hope all are just as warm.
If anyone wants to "Blog" here I think it is open. Let me know if you cannot.
Otherwise I am not driving to NY as Greg has a BIG rental truck and dad installed a lot of basement shelves this weekend as we have heard we are inheriting more "Stuff." Dad was heard to comment that perhaps Greg could go through and get rid of some of his old stuff and I was about to declare dad as being febrile. We lived in Duluth on Fifth Street in 1993 before I convinced dad to toss his college notes (1975). He just thought one of you (his children) would want to read them one day. I saved a few children politely declining such a generous invitation. Just another reason I am so amazing!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Dad's amazing blogging adventure

Gretzky and Josh; Mother assures me I can do this. I have never blogged, been blogged, desired to blog or thought I would blog. But look at me. Its well worth it(if by pure chance you get this). I read your journals Gretch and I second mom's impressions. You guys are facing this head on with the right attitude. I'm not sure it has entirely sunk in that you guys are really over there. I miss you both but it looks like we will be able to stay in close touch. Mother told me she signed up for a phone service to Germany that will allow you to call here with no cost to you. Also I hope that computer thing works out(Skyp?). I'm back at work. The first few days after a vacation are always a little challenging. Greg as you know is making plans for his transfer to Minneapolis. Mother is thinking about driving out to New York to help with some of the material transport back. Final plans haven't been made though. I had to meet with the cancer center administrator today. She asked me about time off in 2009....First on the list is a trip to Germany. As Gretchen knows I am not too good at this emailing thing. Blogging is probably similar. However, maybe I'll get more talkative as I get use to all this technology. Anyway I will sign off now; love you both and have you in my prayers every morning.....DAD

Lemonade

Gretch and Josh,
I am very proud of your putting your arms around eachother and then this amazing (Germany) adventure. Your attitudes are going to haul your butts as far as you could have done with a team of cheerleaders and a full string of offense and defense just like a major team. I love the way you two are teaming this. Kiss eachother real hard. Marriage is a team effort and you two seem to get this.
I am so proud to say I am your mom!
Life has given you lemons and you have made lemonade!
You make me proud and I mean it!

Monday, January 5, 2009

SO NOW I AM GOING TO E-MAIL THE GROUP AND ENCOURAGE ALL TO SET UP THEIR BLOG AS I AM LEARNING as I go.
I am upset the Army would get my kids to Germany and then think this mom would let Gretchen be sent to the Baumholder 'Solitary Confinement Housing' sans "a lot of sq waking from me."
The point to realize is they knew before all the household articles of personal possession were shipped and the car that if Gretchen returns to the CONUS (continental United State) the articles shipped are abandoned and as they cannot afford to ship them home are property of the Army. It is the PCS orders which allow for shipping expenses to be paid by the Army and as Josh is deployed then Gretchen returns to MSP the wedding gifts, car, etc,etc,etc stay. Sucks big...BIG
Gretchen the Army has no Intelligence so I e-mailed Barak and told him he needs to lead the way to see this debacle never happens to Mylea or Sasha. To whom it may concern; Mail the base commander of Baumholder @ COMMANDER, USAG Baumholder
UNIT 23746, BOX 3
APO AE 09034
Testing the Blog ability and can I talk to G & J

Ron and Barb in Rapids


Greeting from Ron and Barb in Rapids. This is our first attempt at Blogging. It is done to try to communicate with our Germany Children.