Friday night after spending some time with the Baker family and their loss, we came home and let the dogs out. Three of them escaped through the gate at the fence as Mable pushed the cinder block out of the way. Following suit were Rosie and Amos. After calling the dogs to come in all of them came but Amos. We looked and waited and decided to go to bed at 2:30am. I woke up Saturday, got in the car and searched the neighborhood only to find nothing. We had no clue where he was or even if he was alive. I wake up this morning and have an odd feeling. The phone rings and it was the VCA Animal Hospital on 86th street; they had Amos. I immediately dropped what I was doing, got dressed, and got him. I thought he was a cuddle butt before, but now he won't leave my side and won't quit looking into my eyes. I have a feeling he won't escape again... The other dogs even seemed to have missed him as they kept smelling and following him around the yard. They even were licking him. Pretty amazing how close of a pack our dogs have become.
On another note, today is my last Monday of spring intercession. It is sad to think about but then I realize I only have 9 more weeks and then it is summer vacation for 6 weeks! Wahoo! I'm just planning on cleaning the house (even the walls) and exercising at least 2 hours every day this last week. I've kept up on the exercise real well lately and I don't want to lose how good I feel about it.
That's it for now. I'm off to cuddle with Amos.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Our Condolences
Dustin and I send our condolences to the Gaff family in their loss of a wonderful husband, father, and brother. This family meant a lot to me growing up. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Another loss is a close family friend of Dustin's. Please pray for the Baker family with the loss of their 27 year old daughter Crystal.
Albion - Chris B. Gaff, 50, died Thursday March 27, 2008 at 6:55 PM surrounded by his family at his rural Albion home. He had been ill with Lou Gerhig's disease for the past 8 months.
He was born on February 14, 1958 in Columbia City, Indiana. He was the son of Burt Gaff and Jacquelyn (Norris) Gaff. His father died on October 2, 1994, his mother survives in Albion. He was a lifetime resident of the Albion area, graduating from Central Noble High School in 1976. He married Jody Smith in Albion on May 10, 1985. She survives also in Albion.
Chris was a deputy surveyor for the Noble County Surveyor's office. He was an avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing, canoeing and watching old westerns. He was a member of the Sons of the American Legion in Albion and the National Rifle Association. Also a member of Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church in rural Kendallville.
Other survivors include a son, Caleb Gaff of Ft. Carson, Colorado, in the US Army, two daughters, Jolene and Courtney Gaff, both of Albion. Two sisters and brother-n-law Candy Gaff of Fort Wayne, Carol and Jim Pankop of Kendallville. A brother and sister-n-law, Cliff and Julie Gaff of Albion. Mother and father-n-law, Ron and Marlene Smith of Albion. Brothers and sister-n-laws, Matt and Mary Smith of Albion, Kim and Dan Phares of Ligonier, and Ronda and Norm Lortie of Albion.
Funeral services for Mr. Gaff will be Monday March 31, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church in rural Kendallville. Rev. Thelma Cobbler S.T.S. will officiate. Visitation is from 2-8 on Sunday at Brazzell Funeral Home, 771 Trail Ridge Rd., Albion. Visitation is also one hour prior to the service on Monday.
Burial will be at Sweet Cemetery in Albion
Please make memorials to Whitley County Hospice or Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church.
To send online condolences, please go to brazzellfuneralhome.com
To view a memorial tribute for Chris please use the link below.
http://videos.lifetributes.com/?id=14706
Another loss is a close family friend of Dustin's. Please pray for the Baker family with the loss of their 27 year old daughter Crystal.
March 30, 2008
Crystal Lynn Bowen 27, Greenwood passed away March 27, 2008. She was born May 12, 1980 in Indianapolis to Scott and Marsha Baker of Mooresville, who survive. She married Jevon Bowen September 23, 2000 in Greenwood and he survives. She worked as a reglazer and was Assistant Leader of Girl Scout Troop #478. Crystal was a wonderful wife and mother and the light of her husband and children's lives. She is also survived by her beloved children Miranda Nicole, Austin Michael, and Caleb Joe Bowen; sister, Nicole Baker, Indianapolis; father and mother-in-law, Larry and Sharyn Bowen, Greenwood; paternal grandparents, Clinton and Marilyn Parks, Greenwood; maternal grandmothers, Phyllis Baker, Indianapolis and Nellie Whitaker, Indianapolis; maternal grandfather, Donald Baker, Colorado; and maternal great grandmother, Mabel May Hopkins, Indianapolis. Services 10:30 AM, Tuesday, April 1 in Singleton Community Mortuary and Memorial Center with visitation 4:00 – 8:00 PM, Monday, March 31. Interment Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Glenns Valley. Memorial gifts have been suggested to the Miranda, Austin, and Caleb Bowen Trust Fund at any Chase Bank location. www.singletonmortuary.comSaturday, March 29, 2008
South Dakota Trip
After a week being home from our vacation to South Dakota, I'm just now posting about it. I still don't have pictures ready to post, but I will post them when Dustin is done down converting them. We were fortunate enough to have been able to borrow Nate's camera which is a professional grade digital camera so the pictures are very large and intricate.
Anyway, we left early Monday the 10th at 3am. We took I-74 through Illinois and then got on I-80 and took that through Iowa. We then went straight north to South Dakota. South Dakota is probably the longest state to drive through and there are no speed limit signs. So keeping that in mind my wonderful husband who wanted to drive most of the way ended up getting a real heavy foot and got pulled over by the ONLY police officer we saw in South Dakota on that stretch of road.
When we pulled into Rapid City, it seriously felt like home. I want to go back. It was a city of about 55,000 and amazingly at rush hour there were hardly any cars on the road! The scenery was so amazing. I cannot even describe. This state is definitely worth a trip back, that's for sure. We stayed on Ellsworth Air Force Base which allowed us to stay in an upscale Hotel type room for cheap. We saw Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, Custer, and many other things in Rapid City. If any of you've ever seen the show Deadwood from HBO, we went to that same town where the Gold Rush folks like Calamaty Jane and Wild Bill Hickcock lived.
We decided to leave Rapid City and head to Wyoming on Thursday. So we drove to see Devil's Tower which was hidden by a lot of clouds and rain. It was a crazy sight, that's for sure. We then drove straight south and ended up in Sundance, Wyoming and were starving. We stopped at a Cafe that was hopping. The locals looked at us like a sore thumb, but we sat at the little bar next to some locals and started talking. Dustin order this thing called a Paco. It was a deep fat fried taco. The breading was sweet like a donut but still afforded to taste great with taco meat inside. I had homemade broccoli and cheese soup and a salad.
Once filled up with local's chatter and great home cookin, we headed through to Nebraska. I saw my first tumbleweeds and tried to take pictures of it. There is a picture I took of the red roads in the west because they make their roads with a mixture of clay instead of limestone like we do. After an exhausting 8 hour drive we stopped in Omaha, Nebraska and stayed at Offutt Air Force Base. It was HUGE and we are definitely going back. Air Force Two was sitting on the tarmac and I wasn't allowed to take pictures because it is illegal to take pictures unless the planes are in the air.
We then drove the rest of the way home and got home Saturday morning at around midnight. We had such a blast and will definitely take more trips like this in the future. Pictures will be posted at some future date when I can get Dustin get them resized.
Anyway, we left early Monday the 10th at 3am. We took I-74 through Illinois and then got on I-80 and took that through Iowa. We then went straight north to South Dakota. South Dakota is probably the longest state to drive through and there are no speed limit signs. So keeping that in mind my wonderful husband who wanted to drive most of the way ended up getting a real heavy foot and got pulled over by the ONLY police officer we saw in South Dakota on that stretch of road.
When we pulled into Rapid City, it seriously felt like home. I want to go back. It was a city of about 55,000 and amazingly at rush hour there were hardly any cars on the road! The scenery was so amazing. I cannot even describe. This state is definitely worth a trip back, that's for sure. We stayed on Ellsworth Air Force Base which allowed us to stay in an upscale Hotel type room for cheap. We saw Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, Custer, and many other things in Rapid City. If any of you've ever seen the show Deadwood from HBO, we went to that same town where the Gold Rush folks like Calamaty Jane and Wild Bill Hickcock lived.
We decided to leave Rapid City and head to Wyoming on Thursday. So we drove to see Devil's Tower which was hidden by a lot of clouds and rain. It was a crazy sight, that's for sure. We then drove straight south and ended up in Sundance, Wyoming and were starving. We stopped at a Cafe that was hopping. The locals looked at us like a sore thumb, but we sat at the little bar next to some locals and started talking. Dustin order this thing called a Paco. It was a deep fat fried taco. The breading was sweet like a donut but still afforded to taste great with taco meat inside. I had homemade broccoli and cheese soup and a salad.
Once filled up with local's chatter and great home cookin, we headed through to Nebraska. I saw my first tumbleweeds and tried to take pictures of it. There is a picture I took of the red roads in the west because they make their roads with a mixture of clay instead of limestone like we do. After an exhausting 8 hour drive we stopped in Omaha, Nebraska and stayed at Offutt Air Force Base. It was HUGE and we are definitely going back. Air Force Two was sitting on the tarmac and I wasn't allowed to take pictures because it is illegal to take pictures unless the planes are in the air.
We then drove the rest of the way home and got home Saturday morning at around midnight. We had such a blast and will definitely take more trips like this in the future. Pictures will be posted at some future date when I can get Dustin get them resized.
Get to Know the Hofer's
We were tagged by Jill and I assume it is so we can make another post, so here ya go Jill :)
The Rules:Link to your tagger and post these 3 rules on your blog
* Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
* Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
* Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Dustin's Three:
1) I have become Danielle's personal chef. I love to cook and lately I've expanded my horizons in the cooking industry. Danielle loves Italian food so I surprised her one night by making home made meatballs and spaghetti sauce. I plan on making her homemade chicken pot pie, sushi, split pea & ham soup, hummus, lasagna, orange roughy, flounder, and probably something else Danielle flies out of her witty head.
2) One of my dogs ran away last night. I know the comedian George Carlin pokes fun at people who stay mad at their dogs, but gosh darn it, I am still mad that he ran away. He does have tags on him, but he's never not come home within the same night. So my second interesting fact is that I get upset at my dogs and stay mad for awhile.
3) I am a compulsive story teller. I don't just tell a story once or twice, I tend to tell a story multiple times, especially if I pass a place that reminds me of a story. For example, every time we pass the pyramids on I-465 on the west side I always tell whoever in the car this story: When I was young, my father lived off of 96th street. The interstate wasn't here yet. Sam and I were playing outside. I had this kickball that I had just gotten and Sam (my brother) kicked it out in the middle of the street. A semi went passed and ran over it. I was so upset.
Danielle's Three:
1) I am a die-hard conservative. I am so proud of this country and for what it stands. I tend to be old-fashioned in my thinking and my political views follow that. I do not tolerate intolerance for my country.
2) I tend to be very obsessive compulsive in only certain aspects. For example, the remote controls must be in an exact order on the coffee table, my dials in my car must all face the same way and my seat heaters must be turned off. These are just a few examples of this. The problem comes when I don't force this stringent order in my home. I have trouble keeping my clothes off of the floor and I have trouble keeping the mail and things off of the deep freezer in the kitchen.
3) One of my most favorite sounds in the world is at the end of the school day. All day long the hallways and the classrooms are booming with constant moving, action, and talking. I love it when the final bell rings and it is real loud in the hallway with all the students leaving for the bus. Once all that noise finishes going down the stairs it is this amazing peace and quiet. I can feel it come over me and it makes me feel complete.
A Weird Couple Fact: We e-mail each other all day long while we're at work. They are short e-mails just like broken conversation. People think we're odd for constantly working on our relationship, but it is working and we love spending time together.
We are tagging: I don't have anyone else to tag because I don't know many others with a blog!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Adulthood
How is it that we make the transition from child to preteen, from preteen to adolescence, from adolescence to teen, and then from teen to adult? This is what I have been perplexed about lately. This summer I will turn 24 and I find myself thinking about this adulthood stage. When is it okay to leave the past mentalities behind? I am not the same person I was when I was 15, but why do I still feel that if I don't please everyone or do what everyone thinks is right that I am a bad person? Then I wonder, what does it matter what others think about my life, especially since I have been successful at every feat I've put my mind to thus far?
I have been through one stressful 3rd quarter and only have one day left until this much needed break. People that say teachers go into the profession for money--or even better yet the time off-- frustrate me. If we didn't have the breaks I don't think anyone would physically be healthy enough to maintain the profession.
This much needed vacation can't come soon enough. I am ready to go see new sights and just enjoy life on the road, free of responsibility, and enjoying time with Dustin.
Just a few of my thoughts for today: pretty complex.
I have been through one stressful 3rd quarter and only have one day left until this much needed break. People that say teachers go into the profession for money--or even better yet the time off-- frustrate me. If we didn't have the breaks I don't think anyone would physically be healthy enough to maintain the profession.
This much needed vacation can't come soon enough. I am ready to go see new sights and just enjoy life on the road, free of responsibility, and enjoying time with Dustin.
Just a few of my thoughts for today: pretty complex.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
South Dakota
Sunday night before my last week of school is finding me quite reluctant to grade or prepare for this week. It is now 20:21 and I still haven't opened my school bag to grade or check what I'm doing this week. My grades are due by Wednesday at the latest, so I can finish grading tomorrow, right?
Most teachers have only one week off for spring break, but I have the luxury of teaching at a year around school and get three weeks off for spring break. The first thing most people ask is, "What are you doing for break?" My answer to that is: going to South Dakota. We want to go through Deadwood (like the TV show) and see Mt. Rushmore, and many other sites. We plan on staying on Air Force bases so the housing will be about $20 a night. The funny part of going to South Dakota is that Ted Frymier and I used to discuss how it would be to live in South Dakota. If anyone has his home address or e-mail you should send it to me so I can send him pictures.
If we feel up to it and have enough time, we may enter through North Dakota and circle back on around to Indianapolis. This trip will be fun because we'll get to see many sights and not feel rushed. Most vacations I've been on just seem as though I'm rushed and have to see this, see that, and oh we can't just relax. So, hopefully this vacation will prove rather relaxing and fun. I'll post photos of the vacation when we get back.
Currently, the TiVo is set to record our Sunday night shows and we're going to watch some more episodes of the Soprano's. Since all the screen writers went on strike and none of our shows have been new, we decided to find a show to watch and this was it. It's so addicting. Any other Soprano's lovers?
Other than that, Dustin and I are thinking about the summer and all that it entails. May is a really busy month as it is our wedding anniversary, the Dayton Hamfest, Indy 500, and the oh so necessary license plates due!! There are many weddings coming up this summer too: Christie Yates & Rick Wysong, Leah Fleetwood & Matt Mutton, and Molly Hunteman & Ben Shover just to name a few. Weddings make me realize how much we've all grown up and become adults. It's fun and very exciting.
Most teachers have only one week off for spring break, but I have the luxury of teaching at a year around school and get three weeks off for spring break. The first thing most people ask is, "What are you doing for break?" My answer to that is: going to South Dakota. We want to go through Deadwood (like the TV show) and see Mt. Rushmore, and many other sites. We plan on staying on Air Force bases so the housing will be about $20 a night. The funny part of going to South Dakota is that Ted Frymier and I used to discuss how it would be to live in South Dakota. If anyone has his home address or e-mail you should send it to me so I can send him pictures.
If we feel up to it and have enough time, we may enter through North Dakota and circle back on around to Indianapolis. This trip will be fun because we'll get to see many sights and not feel rushed. Most vacations I've been on just seem as though I'm rushed and have to see this, see that, and oh we can't just relax. So, hopefully this vacation will prove rather relaxing and fun. I'll post photos of the vacation when we get back.
Currently, the TiVo is set to record our Sunday night shows and we're going to watch some more episodes of the Soprano's. Since all the screen writers went on strike and none of our shows have been new, we decided to find a show to watch and this was it. It's so addicting. Any other Soprano's lovers?
Other than that, Dustin and I are thinking about the summer and all that it entails. May is a really busy month as it is our wedding anniversary, the Dayton Hamfest, Indy 500, and the oh so necessary license plates due!! There are many weddings coming up this summer too: Christie Yates & Rick Wysong, Leah Fleetwood & Matt Mutton, and Molly Hunteman & Ben Shover just to name a few. Weddings make me realize how much we've all grown up and become adults. It's fun and very exciting.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The first!
Thanks to Jill Juday for this addition! I have blogged before on our personal website, but never on a commercially-owned website. I decided to give in with this request because now I can just send people to our blog page if people walk to "blog stalk" or just see what is going on in the Hofer life.
Currently I am at home sitting in the living room on my gliding chair with gliding ottoman, obviously comfortably gliding like an elderly woman who knits. Oh, wait, what is that knitting bag doing next to me?! Yes, I am an avid knitter. I don't get to do it as often as I like because of the enormous piles of papers to grade as I am a middle school English teacher. I absolutely love the job and the students. Parents on the other hand....
Dustin is still working at Camp Atterbury. He is active duty Air Force (AGR). Currently he is non-deployable and we are able to maintain residence in Indianapolis, In. Dustin has been in the Air Force now for going on 13 years, I believe. What a life to be able to retire at 38 years old, huh? I'm just trying to get through my first year of real employment! Dustin is also still interested in ham radios, computers, and basically anything that plugs into the wall or is electronic.
Dustin and I have 6 AKC miniature Dachshunds. We do breed them, but only have one dam and one sire that are able to mate. They pretty much are our children as they do go most places with us. We have Dottie, Amos, Gracie, Rosie, Mable, and Andy. You can check out their blogs at: http://www.kb9moe.org/
Well that's it for now. I will be adding updates. Please leave comments if you like!
Currently I am at home sitting in the living room on my gliding chair with gliding ottoman, obviously comfortably gliding like an elderly woman who knits. Oh, wait, what is that knitting bag doing next to me?! Yes, I am an avid knitter. I don't get to do it as often as I like because of the enormous piles of papers to grade as I am a middle school English teacher. I absolutely love the job and the students. Parents on the other hand....
Dustin is still working at Camp Atterbury. He is active duty Air Force (AGR). Currently he is non-deployable and we are able to maintain residence in Indianapolis, In. Dustin has been in the Air Force now for going on 13 years, I believe. What a life to be able to retire at 38 years old, huh? I'm just trying to get through my first year of real employment! Dustin is also still interested in ham radios, computers, and basically anything that plugs into the wall or is electronic.
Dustin and I have 6 AKC miniature Dachshunds. We do breed them, but only have one dam and one sire that are able to mate. They pretty much are our children as they do go most places with us. We have Dottie, Amos, Gracie, Rosie, Mable, and Andy. You can check out their blogs at: http://www.kb9moe.org/
Well that's it for now. I will be adding updates. Please leave comments if you like!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)