Celebrity Encounter at LGA!!!

There we were - bored, frustrated, and half-asleep at an ungodly hour on Saturday morning - when who should appear at the Midwest check-in counter...Uno!!!...the cute little beagle who famously won last year's Westminster dog show.

Uno and his travel companion were returning to his home in Austin after a jaunt to New York to make an appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Uno is part of Midwest Airlines' "Celebrity Pet Program"; an exclusive club that, apparently, entitles him to preferential treatment in the Midwest lounge and a full seat for himself (at full-fare, of course) in the front of the plane.

Uno looked just as tired and grumpy as we were but obligingly posed for a few photos (after his human travel buddy perked up his eyes and fluffed his tail into picture-perfect position). On the plane, we were seated right across the aisle from Uno, who immediately curled up in a ball on his seat and fell asleep (he rarely wakes up before noon, we were told). But when a flight attendant asked for another photo op, Uno was roused out of his slumber and made to pose once again by his handler, who also handles all of Uno's TV appearances.

"Oh, you don't have to wake him up!" the flight attendant said.

"That's okay, he knows it's his job...it's what he does," replied the handler. He took three pictures before finally getting one that he was satisfied with. Uno yawned and went back to sleep.

What a rough life!

Dallas Thursday Roundup (Thanksgiving Saturday Edition)

This Thursday, the Dallas crowd were joined by the Southern Pines Grinters! We were eleven for dinner, and there was much discussion of the fact that the advertised Turducken was switched at the last minute with a mere Turken, a turkey stuffed with a chicken, stuffed with crawfish jambalaya.

The meal was fantastic, and all were positively stuffed with food. Highlights included Mike's stuffing, Grandma JoAnne's cranberry relish, and Kelly's yams. Hardly any pie was eaten until the next day, when we could all concentrate on Alison's four pies.The football game was won by Team Kelly (Kelly, Mike, and Preston), defeating Team Amy (Amy, Rick, and Chris) by a resounding 28-7. Check this post later for updates including pictures of the titanic gridiron battle.

Rick - having never won a Thanksgiving football game, was thrilled to have given Team Kelly a "challenge" in his team's respectable 7 points.

Ralph - went to see the most recent James Bond movie and strongly recommends against Gazette readers wasting time and money on it. Ralph is happy that his trip is ending on a high note, and enjoyed himself generally.

JoAnne - is thrilled to have gotten to see fine old friends in Savannah and Springfield, as well as Cousin Carol Jo.
Alison - was really happy to be able to take Grandma and Grandpa to Kalachandji's (a vegetarian restaurant at the local Hare Krishna temple) Grandpa especially was skeptical at first, but everyone left having had a good meal and a fine time spent together.

Mike - has finally had the 2009 ad campaign approved at work, and is busy constructing/photographing/laying out ads. Happy to take some time off for the holiday. We very much enjoyed taking some time to have lunch with Ralph and JoAnne, and would like it duly noted that my team positively DESTROYED Rick's team in Thanksgiving football this year, as per usual. It should also be noted that Alison's first foray into pecan pie made me even more confident than usual that I married well.

Wendy - After the build-up and what-if planning, Chris and Amy got electricity on Wednesday and only needed to come by for showers (gas won't be on till Monday) ... Whew. Tomorrow the Granparental Units (GPUs ) leave for Atlanta and Emmy's birthday party I find myself thinking that the visit was far too short - we hope to make plans for a trip to North Carolina soon. The time we all spent together was very enjoyable.

An Immaculate Home is a Sure Sign Of the Impending Visit of a Female Relative

I've heard that adage a few times and find it generally true . I am experiencing a twist on the concept that may amuse my sweet sister-in-law.

Yesterday morning the house was totally clean, the final lists of things to do and get were made, all was peaceful and ready for the visit of the Matriarch. I had a very nice lunch out with Alison so as not to mus things up by eating lunch at home as usual - we were ready.

All was well as I headed off to my meeting that evening. When I got in the car at around 6:30 and headed to the store for last minute shopping I got a call from my house, it was Alison.

Ali - Umm Hi Mom, look Dad called and he's going to be late so I'm not going to wait to walk the dogs with him.

WJ - Why will he be late?

Ali - Ya I don't really know, something about a new law, I don't know something - and uuummm have you talked to Chris?

WJ - No , why?

Ali - Not really sure, umummm something about electricity, you probably will hear from him soon uuummm gotta go.

Time to worry! uuummmm means I don't want to tell you and you aren't going to like it when you know so I "gotta go".

The short of this long tale is that Chris and Amy and two dogs had to spend the night in our carefully prepared guest room because the new apartment (which is right in the neighborhood - we are very excited about having them so close) has no electricity or gas. Tonight if necessary they will sleep in the new office. Sometimes the best laid plans are just targets.

Now rather than a clean house we have a redecorated holiday featuring a new pack to run with and more overnight guests than we were originally planning - not to worry there's always room.

The much anticipated visit is still impending -- this is where the adage goes wonky on us -- Rather than an immaculate house, ours has the patina of family ... but, it truly was immaculate, yesterday!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving with unexpected blessings!

Ethan Stere

Am in the process of re-learning to blog! Our retired Gazette editor is sitting here with me!

Administrative Update

Posting to the Gazette by email has been disabled due to the recent rash of spam posts. I don't think this will be a problem since the only people posting via email are spammers. If you want to post to the gazette and you're more comfortable with email than the web form, by all means, email your post to our editor, Ralph, and he will certainly post it for you.
This decision was made unilaterally by Alison, and as such, does not have the editorial force of law, so if you'd rather we enable the email posting again, just leave a comment and we'll figure something out.

A bit of exciting news from Dallas

12 weeks along. Moving, wiggling, etc. Alison and I are pretty excited.

Trip to Florida

Norman and I visited Doris in Coconut Creek last week, then drove a short way and spent the weekend with friends, Michael and Kathy Weiss at their amazing home in Port St. Lucie.  One of the highlights of their stay was witnessing the shuttle launch from the elegant terrace at Tesaro (their resort-like Golf Club).  We were about 2 miles from Cape Canaveral and the view was amazing.

Kansas Update

If there haven't been as many posts from Kansas City lately, it's because there hasn't been much exciting news to report. Anne and Justin have been working, raking leaves, watching the Chiefs lose, and recovering from some nasty head colds.

We are both looking forward to a visit from Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday, as they make the trek down to Texas! We just hope they don't mind the affections of two attention-needy dogs - rest assured, wine and gin will be provided to help cope with the menagerie!

Next week, we are headed to New Canaan for Thanksgiving with dad and sisters - the first time I think all of us have been in the same house for a while! Justin is hoping wine and gin will be provided to help cope with all the girls.

Who's Spider Is That??

Alright guys, this is hilarious. I know how we feel about links and forwards but this really will make your day (and give you a great idea on how to handle pestering customer service people!!)

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/11/good_idea_man_submits_drawing.php

Make sure you scroll alllll the way down to read the full conversation!!!

Dilbeck Cottage - Thanksgiving Menu

We are so excited about the coming visit of the Sr Grinters! The menu planning is well underway but subject to change. There will be about 12 of us for dinner. Here's what we have so far:

*Turducken (see below)

Kalachandji's Butternut Squash

Mike's Stuffing

Kelly's Yams

Wendy's Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Mustard Greens

Cranberries

Ali's Pie

What 's on your menu?

* Turducken is a dish consisting of a partially de-boned turkey stuffed with a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed with a small de-boned chicken. The thoracic cavity of the chicken and the rest of the gaps are filled with, at the very least, a highly seasoned breadcrumb mixture or sausage meat, although some versions have a different stuffing for each bird.

The result is a relatively solid, albeit layered, piece of poultry, suitable for cooking by braising, roasting, grilling, or barbecuing. We will be roasting ours.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

The Dallas contingent would like to send out massive congratulations to friends Saedra and Ben in their newest arrival of twins!

Alison and Mike went to visit the new family of four this past weekend. Lilly and Nolan are big, happy, and healthy.

Congratulations!!

Dallas Thursday Roundup

On the Menu:

Tortellini cooked in chicken stock with fennel seed

Big Salad

Bread from Jimmy's

Kelly is absent today because she is comforting a friend who just broke up with her boyfriend. "Comforting" is a euphamism for "getting drunk with".

Rick: It's been a busy week at work, 2 major projects. I have to be at work at 6AM on Saturday for the November deployment (I'm going to ride my Vespa!) I've started walking with Alison and the Bagles in the evenings for health and recreation.

Wendy: We had a wedding party this weekend for the next-door couple Michael and Lara who were married in Austin two weeks ago. The party was attended by about 30, and it was a very enjoyable evening. We are very excited to see Ralph and JoAnne for Thanksgiving. Menu planning is underway!

Alison: I am having a very busy week. Two child sexual assault cases are resolving this week (one dismissal, and one probation and deportation). I plead the case of one of my most recalcitrant clients today, and I'm picking up a couple of new felonies (aggravated robbery, and a couple of drug possessions).  I am also feeling about 30% better, and have stretched bedtime to a howling 9:30!

Mike: I have taken on a project at work to figure out how the marketing department can simultaneously save money, go green, and stay cutting-edge. We're going to start shooting our own stock in-house, repurposing old materials in cool sort of "found art" kind of ways, and really using all the interactive Flash stuff I've learned to higher degrees. First project: for our top producers, I'm designing and hand-binding a photo book. Super-fun.

Also, tomorrow I am headed out to Texas Stadium with management to take the company holiday card photo on the 50 yardline right on the big Cowboys star. They will all be dressed as Cowboys players, Tom Landry and/or referees. I will be taking a tripod to avoid laughter-shake in the image.

3 Clubs and a Quiche

The National Golf Club's WGA had their final event of the season.  On a cold November morning they asked only nine holes from us.  The catch was, we could use only three clubs from our bag.  So, which clubs would you choose?  The power club?  No, you can't play it (easily) in the fairway. The putter, or can one putt with a low iron?  The wedge (how else to get out of the sand?)  Well, after much deliberation, I chose my rescue 4 hybrid, my 9 iron, and my putter.  Interestingly, all four in my group shot almost exactly what they normally shoot, and in record breaking time!  Afterward we had quiche in the clubhouse.

Please comment - which clubs would you have chosen?

Dylan Gets a Bath

So, not much is going on in Southern Pines.  I will share the most exciting, latest event, however.  Dylan got a bath at Petsmart.  They have a really nice facility at the back of the store.  No doggies behind closed doors and loving handlers.  I promised Dylan that when I picked him up he could pick out any toy he wanted.  He perused the toy aisle, all the while not believing his good fortune, when he spotted it!  The biggest, brightest, squeekiest toy of all.  We just call it toy.

Big Birthday Celebration

Ralph's 78th birthday was celebrated in style. On Thursday, R & J went to Finegold's for a dinner of baby back ribs, twice baked potatoes and white cake with chocolate frosting and cookies and cream ice cream.

Friday the Finegolds came over and we all had dinner in the formal Henley dining room.

Then on Saturday, JoAnne and Ralph went to Raleigh to see the play Rain, the story about the Beatles. It was quite good.

For me, it's the generational issue

I for one am so happy with our new President that I am even thankful (in retrospect) that John Kerry lost in 2004. I welcome a new generation of American politics, unmarred by the baggage of Vietnam and the tumult of the 1960s, a specter which has been haunting our every public dialogue and which has hardened our positions and our hearts toward our fellow countreymen for as long as I have been alive.

I look forward to a healing nation, one that can debate the great issues we face with respect for each person's patriotism, honor, and dignity.

November 4, 2008

Deleted at Norman's request.

Election

Without getting political, The Gazette cannot let this day pass without recognizing the significance of the Election of 2008.  I was a young, 11 year old innocent back in 1968 when Martin Luther King was assassinated. I say innocent, because racism was something that did not exist in my world. When at school the next day, one of my friends said, "my dad said we are better off without him", for the first time I felt shame. I owe (among many things) my open-minded and accepting nature to my parents who taught Rick and I that we are citizens of a world made up of so many different cultures, all of which have a legitimate and rightful place. This bigotry, I didn't understand. 

History was made last night and we as a nation should be proud no matter how we voted.  Some questioned his race, some questioned his religion, some wondered just where he came from.  Is he white, black, Christian, or Muslim?  Is he from Kenya, Indonesia, Hawaii, or Kansas? It seems to me that Senator Obama embodies the heart, soul and melting pot that is America.  His policies will be tested and criticized, the media will love him, and hate him.  There will be milestones and mistakes, protests, pageantry, and politics.  Somethings will never change.  But, the whole world is watching and last night we sent a message. Now hopefully, we will all step up. 

Dallas weekend

We're right smack in the middle of Indian Summer - just when I broke out all the sweaters, no dice: in the 80s today. BAH.

Henry the bagel turned a ripe old seven years old this week. He received treats, special dog food, and Rick and Wendy bought him a brand new dog bed. He's deeply thrilled by all of this, and is approaching middle age with quiet dignity.

The Denver Broncos continue to annoy me. Miami? REALLY?

Nonetheless, good times all around. Nothing major to report, but we're all happy and healthy, now that Wendy is over the plague.

Happy Birthday, Dylan!!!

Dylan Richter turned 3 this weekend (based on our best estimates) - and he celebrated in style. Saturday morning started with a trip to the dog park, followed by ice cream and tater tots at Sonic, some bacon for lunch, and finally, cupcakes for the official b-day celebration.

Where have all the kids gone?

Only two trick-or-treaters came by the Richter household on Halloween, despite an enticing assortment of sweet treats that is now unfortunately left for Justin and I to pick at through Thanksgiving.

It was a nice weekend though, with a late-night Halloween party downtown on Friday and a benefit for one of Justin's clients last night. Today, we will try to make a dent in the tons of leaves that have fallen in the past few days and watch the Chiefs break Justin's heart yet again.