Grab Your KLEENEX

Dedicated to My Kiddos...all seven of them!       (CLICK)


(Told You to...Get your Kleenex)
I confess:  I have changed my radio station from the 4-40's to "The Bridge" and hence I am getting better acquainted with Dan Fogelberg, Linda Ronstadt, and Rod Stewart. The above was actually playing as we drove home last night and I acted just like the audience. Probaly because I only had two martinis and was awake to later see the Cardinals take the Pennant! Had To Call Martha "Hello"!

Last night Ron and I went out to date night dinner again and it was another amazing "mouth explosion." We went to Plover and visited with Christain and his wait staff. I had a squash soup while RJ devoured a beet salad. I had salmon with root vegetables...No rutabagas either....RJ had cornbread catfish with jambalaya. Definitely not things in my limited pantry. Living in Biloxi for six years had it's southern refinements. Living with Ron for 36 years, also has its not just southern refinements; for that matter.

It is Halloween Party Day and Ron's is going as a Harley Davidson Biker Zombie complete with tattoos and a bullet hole between his eyes. (Footage at next blogging.) 

Gretchen, Josh, Meg and Chicago Katie D are celebrating in Abelsen, Germany as I write this.  I heard from a pretty reliable source (his wife) Josh is going in my 'refused to wear it Ron' Jersey cow costume complete with inflated exam glove utter!  I wanted to go as a WOOD Trust Debit Card and Ron as my ATM but I decided that was painting a target on my back so I am going as an "October is Cancer Awareness Month Pink Ribbon."  I am so much fun...I cannot understand why anyone would choose to not like me?  Send 'em Kleenex.

Capital Ideas

MY  GUYS GO BIRDING.

In Wisconsin's Capital,... 'My Man' is meeting with a few of Wisconsin's fellow colleagues.  Room service breakfast got a sausage for Yo-Yo who is NOW snoring under the covers. Capital Idea!

Dinner, upon arrival; found us looking at the capital dome while drinking at a downtown eatery called "Ocean Grill."   Mother Mary was my inspiration.  She loved her 'three martini lunches' at Duluth's PickWick....Well I know I am 'cut from the same cloth'!  Ron was driving so he passed me most of his third Grey Goose!  Capital Idea!

We started with hard cheeses which are always a compliment to vodka, added a dozen raw oysters; 6 from the east coast and six from the west; sampled a caesar with anchovies (which one of us cannot have anymore), then (spotted cow) beer cheese soup...wait it continues.... large lump meat crab cake, we added seared scallops & very lightly crisp-coated calamari.  Total bill $120.00.   Capital Idea!

Had to get out of "Into the Woods."  My 'Irish twin' sister recently saw Ma Ma Mia. I admit I am jealous. I have seen this show six times.  I admit am a bit of a 'groupie" when it comes to ABBA.  We are headed to Greg and Annelise's Chicago.  Capital Idea!

Got all the repairs done after the lightning strike took out the furnace, alarm system and dog fence at Bear Island.  As the December skies will soon turn to snow this couldn't happen soon enough.  I am super relieved to again be able to make a phone call and regulate the temperature. Capital Idea! 

Gregory has been happily working now for three weeks, Michael for six weeks, Gretchen actually wrote  a truancy incident report last week and it wasn't about her sister.  Meg starts her university teaching this week. (Kirschling kids remain so funny.)  Meg jokes she is now a single provider;  two income family!  Capital Idea!

Indian Summer

The colors are spectacular. . .So are My Kids. Spectacular.

The German Girls and Josh are heading to Ireland this weekend. It is Grr's BD on Monday (27th) and as it is also Columbus Day so she has a Birthday with pay without work.  Have to love the government. The birthday girl also got an iPad so perhaps we will get film of the Irish countryside.  I can hope for as much.  Gretchen and Josh sound good. In fact I think there were getting in shape by tipping the Jameson with guacamole.  I am pretty sure there are no avocados in Carey Town.

Meg sounds even better.  Seems she is seeing the world through the eyes of her friends four year old named Caden.  Caden told the group when he grows up he knows what he wants to be.  "A Teenager."   And Caden told Meg he is smart and knows why they have all those wind powered windmills on the hills in Germany.  It is "because the cows stand in the sun all day and need to be cooled."  Meg didn't know this! Me either.  Caden is brilliant.  Who Knew?

I am hopeful Michael will come home this weekend.  He is enjoying his new job including a trip to Atlanta last week. Personally I wanted to write Atlantis but Mich's meeting was in Georgia.

(Dad needs to go golfing, play Blackjack and shoot some defenseless pheasants so Michael better get here.)

And Greg called this week with the best job report ever.  He has been three weeks with the Chicago VA. He found an 81 year old homeless Korean Veteran the first home he has had in over ten years.  Greg got him furnished with a twin bed, kitchen table and a truckload of furniture and this guy was ecstatic, elated...grateful.  Greg was so excited to make a difference in someone's life and I could hear it in Greg's voice.  My kids sound very extra special.  BIG bias here.

And sometimes you need to have people to splash ideas off.  Such happened to me this morn.  A good friend called and told me it was okay if Ron was a little stuck.  I have been pressing for MyMan to be able to discuss "us" and he has been conflicted and unable to  respond.  So there is another day to wait.  As mother Mary would always say to me, "Get off his back, Barbara!" Moms never die when yours was so direct and didn't mince words.  Someone was "cut from the same cloth."

Well this writing today was more of a personal Kirschling Update Diary Edition and it is because I am starting to think Halloween costumes and Thanksgiving plans with Christmas letters and can't seem to get there just yet.  Good news is my windows are washed and my house is clean.  Thanks Ron! Spectacular.